Oxygen-ordering phenomena in YBa2Cu3O6+χ studied by Monte Carlo simulation. Phase diagram, structure factor and oxygen equilibrium pressure

T. Fiig, J. V. Andersen, N. H. Andersen, P. A. Lindgård, O. G. Mouritsen, H. F. Poulsen

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Abstract

The oxygen order in YBa2Cu3O6+x has been investigated by Monte Carlo simulation with the two-dimensional anisotropic next-nearest-neighbor lattice gas model, the ASYNNNI model. For a specific set of interaction parameters we have calculated the structural phase diagram, the chemical potential, and the structure factor as a function of temperature and wave vector for x=0.4. The phase diagram has been determined from an investigation of the order parameters and their fluctuations as well as by the use of an improved version of the Ferrenberg-Swendsen method. The calculated phase diagram and the widths of the structure factors are in excellent agreement with measured neutron-diffraction data. We suggest that the observation of an orthorhombic distortion, simultaneously with only short-range oxygen order at T=25°C, is due to the freezing-in of an ortho-II domain state with a preferred oxygen chain direction and accordingly only two types of domains. Using thermodynamic relations the chemical potential has been related to the measured oxygen-gas pressure, and it is discussed why only qualitative agreement with experimental data is established.

Original languageEnglish
JournalPhysica. C, Superconductivity
Volume217
Issue number1-2
Pages (from-to)34-52
Number of pages19
ISSN0921-4534
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1993
Externally publishedYes

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