Abstract
There has been intense recent interest in the '1-2-3' family of high-temperature superconductors, including the parent compound YBa2Cu3O7–x(YBCO). This structure1–5 consists of corner-linked CuO4 square-pyramidal groups (nominally Cu2+) connected as sheets in the a-b plane, and distorted square-planar CuO4 groups (nominally Cu3+)corner-linked parallel to the b direction (see Fig. 1). Although the mechanism of the superconductivity has not been identified, these 'planes' and 'chains' are thought to be involved. The existence of a specific heat anomaly6,7 at the transition temperature (Tc) implies a second-order phase transition, with an accompanying discontinuity in the volume expansitivity. In addition, Horn et al. have inferred from X-ray measurements the existence of a large anomaly in the orthorhombic splitting (b – a) close to Tc in YBCO. Here we present precise structural information from neutron powder diffraction indicating an anisotropic isostructural phase transition in YBCO. Unlike Horn et al.8, however, we do not find a large anomaly in the orthorhombic strain,which would seem to contradict their suggestion that the superconducting wave-function is anisotropic in the a–b plane.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chen, C. H., Werder, D. J., Liou, S. H., Kwo, J. R. & Hong, M. Phys. Rev. B35, 8767–8769 (1987).
van Tendeloo, G., Zandbergen, H. W. & Amerlinckx, S. Solid St. Commun. 63, 389–393 (1987).
Hervieu, M., Domenges, B., Michel, C. & Raveau, B. Europhys. Lett. 4, 205–210 (1987).
Domenges, B., Hervieu, M., Michel, C. & Raveau, B. Europhys. Lett. 4, 211–214 (1987).
David, W. I. F. et al. Nature 327, 310–312 (1987).
Junod, A. et al. Europhys. Lett. 4, 247–252 (1987).
Li, F. et al. Solid St. Commun. 64, 209–212 (1987).
Horn, P. M. et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 59, 2772–2775 (1987).
Johnson, M. W. & David, W. I. F. Rutherford Appleton Lab. Rep. No. RAL-85-112 (1985).
Hor, P. H. et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 58, 911–912 (1987).
Dietrich, M. R., Fietz, W. H., Ecke, J. & Politis, C. Jap. J. appl. Phys. 26, 1113–1114 (1987).
Bayot, V. Solid St. Commun. 64, 327–328 (1987).
Chu, C. W. et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 58, 405–407 (1987).
Chu, C. W., Hor, P. H., Meng, R. L., Gao, L. & Huang, Z. J. Science 235, 567–569 (1987).
David, W. I. F., Wilson, C. C., Edwards, P. P., Jones, R. & Harrison, M. R. Rutherford Appleton Lab. Rep. No. RAL-87-099 (1987).
Paul, D. McK., Balakrishnan, G., Bernhoeft, N. R., David, W. I. F. & Harrison, W. T. A. Phys. Rev. Lett. 58, 1976–1978 (1987).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
David, W., Edwards, P., Harrison, M. et al. Structural evidence for an isostructural phase transition in YBa2Cu3O7–x at the superconducting transition temperature. Nature 331, 245–247 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/331245a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/331245a0
This article is cited by
-
Mössbauer and X-ray investigations of YBa2−x Sn x Cu3O7−δ superconductors
Hyperfine Interactions (1989)
-
Crystal structures of high-T c oxides
Zeitschrift f�r Physik B Condensed Matter (1989)
-
Positron annihilation anomaly in the high-temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O7−x
Zeitschrift für Physik B Condensed Matter (1989)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
