Magnetic and superconducting behaviour of the oxides, Pr_1−xGd_xBa₂Cu₃O_y

Abstract

The results of our investigation on the superconducting behaviour of the oxides Pr_1−xGd_xBa₂Cu₃O_y by resistivity and AC susceptibility measurements suggest that the superconducting transition temperature (T_c) increases monotonically with x for x=0.6. The concentration of Pr required to depress T_c in this Gd series appears to be smaller than in the corresponding Y series, possibly due to volume dependent hole trapping effects. Specific heat measurements were performed in the temperature range 0.4-20 K in order to understand the magnetism of the rare-earth ions. Interestingly, Pr and Gd ions undergo magnetic ordering independently though both are presumably present in the same magnetic sub-lattice and the observed ordering temperatures rule out any direct intersite Pr-Gd magnetic interaction in this series of compounds.