NMR Observation of Rattling Phonons in the Pyrochlore SuperconductorKOs2O6

M. Yoshida, K. Arai, R. Kaido, M. Takigawa, S. Yonezawa, Y. Muraoka, Z. Hiroi
2007 Physical Review Letters  
We report nuclear magnetic resonance studies on the beta-pyrochlore oxide superconductor KOs2O6. The nuclear relaxation at the K sites is entirely caused by fluctuations of electric field gradient, which we ascribe to highly anharmonic low frequency oscillation (rattling) of K ions. A phenomenological analysis shows a crossover from overdamped to underdamped behavior of the rattling phonons with decreasing temperature and its sudden sharpening below the superconducting transition temperature
more » ... Absence of the Hebel-Slichter peak in the relaxation rate at the O sites below Tc also indicates strong electron-phonon coupling.
doi:10.1103/physrevlett.98.197002 pmid:17677651 fatcat:gtj3j6p75zfi5bkkku7cujjzqm