Multiscale distribution of oxygen puddles in 1/8 doped YBa2Cu3O6.67.

Despite intensive research a physical explanation of high Tc superconductors remains elusive. One reason for this is that these materials have generally a very complex structure making useless theoretical models for a homogeneous system. Little is known on the control of the critical temperature by the space disposition of defects because of lack of suitable experimental probes. X-ray diffraction and neutron scattering experiments used to investigate y oxygen dopants in YBa2Cu3O6+y lack of spatial resolution. Here we report the spatial imaging of dopants distribution inhomogeneity in YBa2Cu3O6.67 using scanning nano X-ray diffraction. By changing the X-ray beam size from 1 micron to 300 nm of diameter, the lattice inhomogeneity increases. The ordered oxygen puddles size distribution vary between 6-8 nm using 1 × 1 µm(2) beam, while it is between 5-12 nm with a fat tail using the 300 × 300 nm(2) beam. The increased inhomogeneity at the nanoscale points toward a network of superconducting puddles made of ordered oxygen interstitials.

A possible mechanism for evading temperature quantum decoherence in living matter by feshbach resonance.

A new possible scenario for the origin of the molecular collective behaviour associated with the emergence of living matter is presented. We propose that the transition from a non-living to a living cell could be mapped to a quantum transition to a coherent entanglement of condensates, like in a multigap BCS superconductor. Here the decoherence-evading qualities at high temperature are based on the Feshbach resonance that has been recently proposed as the driving mechanism for high T(c) superconductors. Finally we discuss how the proximity to a particular critical point is relevant to the emergence of coherence in the living cell.