Incommensurate superlattices in the Pb-substituted Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductors

Abstract

We have studied incommensurate superlattice modulations in the Pb-substituted Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O single-crystalline superconductors by electron diffraction and electron microscopy. New incommensurate superlattice modulations characterized by a wave vector Q=(0,1/p,0) with (p>6) have been observed. The incommensurate modulation arises from chemical substitutions with a sizable lattice displacive distortion.