A quantitative understanding for the Tc suppression in Y1-xPrxBa2Cu3O7

We present a quantitative interpretation for the T-c suppression in Y1-xPrxBa2Cu3O7 in terms of the combination of partial hole-transfer (from pd sigma band to p-f hybridization band) and magnetic scattering effects. The hole density which resided in the pd sigma band decides T-c,T-o(x) by the phenomenological inverted parabolic relation, while the magnetic scattering further lowers T-c,T-o(x) obeying the pair-breaking theory. We use a simplified band picture to analyze the hole-transfer behavior, succeeding in accounting for the gradual and non-linear decrease of itinerant hole concentration against Pr-doping. Finally, we give a good explanation for the whole T-c suppression. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.