COLLABORATION IN BASIC SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (COBASE)

Paul Canfield hosted Lev Vinnikov of the Institute of Solid State Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, from March 29 to April 11, 1999. The aim of this visit was to develop a joint experimental program in the field of superconductivity, which is of great interest for both Iowa State University (ISU), and the Russian institutions. In recent years, the Physics Department of ISU developed a strong program of study in the physical properties of a new class of rare earth materials (RE), RE-Ni2B2C, with a rich interplay between magnetic and superconducting properties. Large high quality single crystals of these materials became available after development of crystal-growth technique in the laboratory headed by Canfield. Vinnikov’s group is one of the leaders in the Bitter decoration technique, which is used in the study of the vortex lattice structure of these crystals. Hence, it was of interest for both Russian and American groups to meet and discuss possibilities for the joined research program of studying vortex lattices in borocarbides by means of the decoration technique. A colleague of Canfield and Vinnikov, Vladimir Kogan, has applied for a long-term COBASE grant and hopes to bring Vinnikov back begin a related project with him as well.