Abstract
In this paper, $Mn^{2+}$ ion was doped in Y-Ba-Cu-O as an EPR probe. The following samples were prepared by conventional solid-state reaction method : $YBa_{2}Cu_{2.96}Mn_{0.04}O_{7-\delta}$ (MN-I), annealed $YBa_{2}Cu_{2.96}Mn_{0.04}O_{7-\delta}$ (AMN) and $YBa_{2}Cu_{2.94}Mn_{0.06}O_{7-\delta}$ (MN-II). AMN sample was obtained from MN-I by annealing for 1 hr under the Ar gas atmosphere at $600^{\circ}C$. X-band (~9.05 GHz) EPR spectra were measured from 103 K to room temperature by employing a JES-RE3X spectroscopy with a $TE_{0.11}$ cylindrical cavity and 100 kHz modulation frequency. In MN-I we have observed only the $Cu^{2+}$ signal. The fact that no $Mn^{2+}$ signal was observed, in spite of $Mn^{2+}$ being a very sensitive EPR probe, indicates that most likely isolated $Mn^{2+}$ ions don't exist in the MN-I sample. Most probably $Mn^{2+}$ ions in the MN-I sample interact antiferromagnetically and hence are EPR silent. The AMN spectra of at room temperature and 103 K indicate not only the $Cu^{2+}$ signal but also an extra signal, which increases with decreasing temperature. It is suggested that the extra signal originates from Mn ions that were antiferromagnetically coupled before the annealing process. In MN-II, from 103 K to room temperature, also, the extra signal was observed together with the $Cu^{2+}$ signal. The extra signal in MN-II, however, decreases with decreasing temperature and nearly disappears at 103 K. The signal originates from Mn ions in impurity phases that include $Mn^{2+}$ ions. We suppose that there exist at least two $Mn^{2+}$ doped phases in Y-Ba-Cu-O. The $Mn^{2+}$ signal of one phase is undectable at all temperature and that of another phase decreases with decreasing temperature and disappears around 103 K.