Coexistence of superconductivity and antiferromagnetism in the La[sub 1-x]Pr[sub x]Ba[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 7] system.

Structural, magnetic, and calorimetric properties are reported for the La[sub 1-x]Pr[sub x]Ba[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 7] solid solution. The structure remains orthorhombic with lattice parameter increases from a=0.3872, b=0.3927, and c=1.1709 nm for PrBa[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 7] to a=0.3903, b=0.3944, and c=1.1801 nm for LaBa[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 7]. Substitution of Pr for La depresses T[sub c] from 90 to 52 K for La[sub 0.5]Pr[sub 0.5]Ba[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 7], which was reported to be a nonsuperconductor. The Pr antiferromagnetic ordering temperature T[sub N] decreases monotonically from 18 K for PrBa[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 7] to 6 K for La[sub 0.8]Pr[sub 0.2]Ba[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 7]. Thus there is a large range of coexistence of superconductivity and antiferromagnetism for 0.2≤x≤0.5. The superconductivity and anomalous Pr ordering will be discussed with the R[sub 1-x]Pr[sub x]Ba[sub 2]Cu[sub 3]O[sub 7] systems (R=Y, Nd-Lu). © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]