Crystal structure and inelastic neutron scattering in the infinite-layer compounds Sr1-xNdxCuO2

The infinite-layer compounds have rather simple crystal structure and thereby offer an ideal system towards an improved understanding of the phenomenon of high-Tc superconductivity. New method for synthesis of IL compounds has been developed. The sets of the samples with rare-earth content of 0.05 < x < 0.18 were produced. Their crystal structure and oxygen distribution in sublattices were studied by means of X-ray and neutron powder diffraction. Inelastic neutron scattering has been employed to search for crystalline-electric-field transitions in these compounds. Based on the present results as well as taken from the current literature, the ratio a/c of the crystal lattice constants is suggested to be an empirical parameter for the existence of superconductivity in the electron-doped infinite-layer system Sr1-xNdxCuO2. (author)