Effect of high pressure on temperature dependences of the resistivity in the ab-plane of Y0.77Pr0.23Ba2Cu3O7-δ single crystals

In the present work, we investigated the influence of high hydrostatic pressure up to 11 kbar on the conductivity in the basal ab-plane of medium-doped with praseodymium (x approximate to 0.23) single-crystal Y1-xPrxBa2Cu3O7-delta samples. It was determined that, in contrast to the pure YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-delta)samples with the optimal oxygen content, the application of high pressure leads to the formation of phase separation in the basal plane of Y0.77Pr0.23Ba2Cu3O7-delta single crystals. Possible mechanisms of the effect of Pr doping and high pressure on the two-step resistive transition to the superconducting state are discussed. It was determined that in the normal state, the conductivity is metallic and is limited by phonons scattering (Bloch-Gruneisen regime) and defects. The fluctuation conductivity is considered within the Lorentz-Doniach model. Hydrostatic pressure, accompanied by a decrease in anisotropy, leads to a decrease in the residual and phonon resistances. Debye temperature and coherence length are independent of pressure. The applicability of the McMillan formula in the presence of significant anisotropy is discussed.

Automated summary

In this study, the influence of high hydrostatic pressure on the conductivity of praseodymium-doped single-crystal samples was investigated. It was found that high pressure resulted in phase separation in the crystals. The mechanisms of the resistive transition and the conductivity were analyzed.