Peculiarities of pseudogap in Y0.95Pr0.05Ba2Cu3O7-δ single crystals under pressure up to 1.7 GPa.

The effect of hydrostatic pressure up to P = 1.7 GPa on the fluctuation conductivity σ'(T) and pseudogap ∆*(T) in Y0.95Pr0.05Ba2Cu3O7-δ single crystal with critical temperature Тс = 85.2 K (at P = 0) was investigated. The application of pressure leads to the increase in Tc with dTc/dP = +1.82 K∙GPa-1 while the resistance decreases as dlnρ(100 K)/dP = -(10.5 ± 0.2) %∙GPa-1. Regardless of the pressure, in the temperature interval from Tc to T0 (~88 K at P = 0) the behaviour of σ'(T) is well described by the Aslamazov - Larkin (AL - 3D) fluctuation theory, and above the T0 by the Lawrence - Doniach theory (LD). The Maki-Thompson (MT - 2D) fluctuation contribution is not observed. This indicates the presence of structural defects in the sample induced by Pr. Here it is determined for the first time that when the pressure is applied to the Y1-xPrxBa2Cu3O7-δ single crystal, the pseudogap increases as dlnΔ*/dP = 0.17 GPa-1.

A scanning Hall probe microscope for high resolution magnetic imaging down to 300 mK.

We present the design, construction, and performance of a low-temperature scanning Hall probe microscope with submicron lateral resolution and a large scanning range. The detachable microscope head is mounted on the cold flange of a commercial (3)He-refrigerator (Oxford Instruments, Heliox VT-50) and operates between room temperature and 300 mK. It is fitted with a three-axis slip-stick nanopositioner that enables precise in situ adjustment of the probe location within a 6x6x7 mm(3) space. The local magnetic induction at the sample surface is mapped with an easily changeable microfabricated Hall probe [typically GsAs/AlGaAs or AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs Hall sensors with integrated scanning tunnel microscopy (STM) tunneling tips] and can achieve minimum detectable fields >or=10 mG/Hz(1/2). The Hall probe is brought into very close proximity to the sample surface by sensing and controlling tunnel currents at the integrated STM tip. The instrument is capable of simultaneous tunneling and Hall signal acquisition in surface-tracking mode. We illustrate the potential of the system with images of superconducting vortices at the surface of a Nb thin film down to 372 mK, and also of labyrinth magnetic-domain patterns of an yttrium iron garnet film captured at room temperature.