Long-wavelength magnetic excitations in the Zn0.55Mn0.45Fe2O4 ferrite

The small-angle neutron scattering energy spectra of the Zn_0.55Mn_0.45Fe₂O₄ ferrite are analyzed at different temperatures (both below and above T _C ? 390 K) and scattering angles. The thermal expansion coefficient α(T) is measured in the temperature range 80–600 K. It is revealed that inelastic neutron scattering is governed not only by spin waves of the Holstein-Primakoff type but also by the substantial contribution of additional long-wavelength magnetic excitations. The physical nature of these low-energy magnetic excitations is discussed.     

An x-ray and Raman study of the diffuse transition in SrCl2

The temperature dependence of X-ray scattering and Raman scattering in SrCl₂ to temperatures above the region of the diffuse transition is reported. The lattice parameter increases quite smoothly with increasing temperature; however the intensity of certain X-ray reflections changes drastically at temperatures above the transition region. The frequency of the Raman active vibrational mode decreases with increasing temperature. At high temperatures a background appears in the Raman spectrum which is attributed to Cl sublattice disorder.     

Temperature variation of phonon frequency distribution in the fast ion conductor lead fluoride

A weighted phonon frequency distribution has been measured in PbF₂ at temperatures 10, 302, 660 and 910 K, using a neutron scattering technique. At 10 K good agreement is found between the measured distribution and the phonon density-of-states calculated from the low temperature dispersion relation of PbF₂. At the higher temperatures, near the ionic conductivity transition temperature, T_c ～ 700 K, the optic modes are observed to broaden into a high energy tail consistent with strong anharmonicity or extensive disorder. A low energy peak arising from transverse acoustic modes remains well defined even at temperatures above T_c.     

Density of vibrational states in amorphous solid media: Measurement by single-molecule spectroscopy

The energy spectrum of low-frequency vibrational modes in amorphous polyisobutylene doped with chromophore tetra-tert-butylterrylene molecules has been measured. The technique for measuring the spectra of vibrational modes in solid amorphous media by single-molecule spectroscopy is described. The measured spectrum is compared with the data on the density of vibrational states (bosonic peak) in pure polyisobutylene, which were obtained by inelastic neutron scattering. It is shown that incorporation of small amounts of tetra-tert-butylterrylene into polyisobutylene did not significantly change the low-temperature vibrational dynamics of the matrix.     

Frequency spectrum of tantalum at temperatures of 293–2300 K

The temperature dependence of the frequency spectrum of tantalum in the temperature range from room temperature to 2300 K has been studied for the first time using inelastic slow-neutron scattering. The inelastic slow-neutron scattering spectra have been measured at different temperatures on a DIN-2PI time-of-flight spectrometer installed at the IBR-2 nuclear reactor (Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russia) with the use of a TS3000K high-temperature thermostat. From the measured spectra, the frequency spectra of the tantalum crystal lattice have been determined at temperatures of 293, 1584, and 2300 K by the iteration method. As the temperature increases, the frequency spectrum, on the whole, is softened and the specific features manifested themselves at room temperature are smoothed. The variations observed have been explained by the increase in the role of the effects of vibration anharmonism at high temperatures.     

The phonon densities of states of trigonal,vitreous and red amorphous selenium

For trigonal, vitreous and red amorphous Se the phonon densities of states F(hω) have been determined by inelastic neutron scattering from powder samples. For trigonal Se F(hω) is compared with the phonon dispersion measured by Teuchert[1] and a frequency spectrum derived from a model calculation by Etchepare et al.[2]. This calculation helps interpreting the changes in characteristic vibrational modes when going from the ordered to the disordered phase of Se. It is shown that at present, however, the models for trigonal Se are not good enough to calculate a reliable F(hω). The ω-dependence of F(hω) at low frequencies nicely confirms the predictions of a model which was developed for high polymeric chains by Genensky et al.[3]. For all three modifications the lattice specific heat c_v(T) was deduced from the phonon spectra. The data obtained for the different modifications are compared among each other and also with the measured data of Grosse et al.[4] (c_v(T) for red amorphous Se has not been measured before). From our data as well as from the c_p-data of Grosse the Debye temperatures as a function of temperature have been calculated. For vitreous Se between 10 and 160 K the agreement is excellent, for trigonal Se there are certain deviations which are discussed.     

Vibrational and electronic properties of the amorphous systems Ni<Subscript>44</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>56</Subscript>, Ni<Subscript>62</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>38</Subscript>, and Cu<Subscript>33</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>67</Subscript> as derived from specific heat measurements

The specific heats of the amorphous systems Ni₄₄Nb₅₆, Ni₆₂Nb₃₈, and Cu₃₃Zr₆₇ were studied in the temperature range 3–273 K. The data obtained allow one to isolate the contribution due to atomic vibrations from the experimentally measured specific heat, to determine the density of electronic states at the Fermi level and the temperature dependence of the characteristic Debye parameter Θ over a broad temperature range, and to calculate a few frequency moments that characterize the vibrational spectrum. The information derived on the average characteristics of vibrational spectra is in good agreement with earlier data on inelastic neutron scattering. In transferring from Ni₄₄Nb₅₆ to Ni₆₂Nb₃₈, the density of electronic states at the Fermi level decreases and the characteristic vibrational frequencies increase. The density of electronic states at the Fermi level for Cu₃₃Zr₆₇ is close to that for Ni₆₂Nb₃₈. The characteristic frequencies of the vibrational spectrum of the Cu₃₃Zr₆₇ system are substantially lower (by 30%) than those of the Ni₄₄Nb₅₆ and Ni₆₂Nb₃₈ systems.     

Temperature dependence of the kinetic energy in the Zr<Subscript>40</Subscript>Be<Subscript>60</Subscript> amorphous alloy

The average kinetic energy 〈E(T)〉 of the atomic nucleus for each element of the amorphous alloy Zr₄₀Be₆₀ in the temperature range 10–300 K has been measured for the first time using VESUVIO spectrometer (ISIS). The experimental values of 〈E(T)〉 have been compared to the partial ZrBe spectra refined by a recursion method based on the data obtained with thermal neutron scattering. The satisfactory agreement has been reached with the calculations using partial spectra based on thermal neutron spectra obtained with recursion method. In addition, the experimental data have been compared to the Debye model. The measurements at different temperatures (10, 200, and 300 K) will provide an opportunity to evaluate the significance of anharmonicity in the dynamics of metallic glasses.     

Temperature dependence of the dielectric constant and I.R. reflection spectrum of LiNBO3 by Raman scattering

The temperature and frequency dependence of the dielectric constant, ?_xx, and the reflection coefficient associated with LiNbO₃ in the far infrared (i.r.) was obtained from Raman scattering measurements. The Raman spectrum associated with the E symmetry vibrational mode was carefully studied in the temperature range of 77 to 1190 K. The first order scattering intensity was related to the imaginary part of the dielectric constant and the Kramers-Kronig relation was used to obtain the dielectric constant.     

Magnon Raman scattering in CoBr2

The one-magnon Raman spectrum of CoBr₂ has been investigated as a function of temperature, and peak frequency, integrated intensity and width parameters obtained. The results obtained for the band energy at low temperature (22.2 ± 0.2 cm^-1 at 5.7.K) are in good agreement with AFMR and neutron scattering results. The one-magnon energy renormalises relatively slowly with increasing temperature and is about 15 cm^-1 at T_N = 19 K, whereas the integrated intensity approaches zero like the magnetization at T_N and the width diverges. A low intensity band at 26.8 ± 1 cm^-1 (7.6K) may be due to two-magnon scattering from spin waves along the c-axis.     

Neutron inelastic scattering spectrum and valence force field for neopentane

The neutron inelastic scattering spectrum of neopentane has been measured between 10 and 2000 cm^?1. A partial reassignment of the normal modes of vibration is presented. A vibrational analysis based on the Snyder and Schachtschneider valence force field has been carried out using the frequencies of neopentane and neopentane-d₁₂. The calculated neutron spectrum, using our new force field, is found to be in good agreement with the observed neutron data.     

Normal vibrational modes in benzil crystals

A group-theoretical analysis of the vibrational spectrum of benzil crystals was carried out. The selection rules and normal coordinates were found. Raman scattering spectra of benzil single crystals were studied in polarized light within a broad temperature range from 100 K to the melting point (T _m=96°C). The experimental data were found to correlate with theory. The temperature dependences of the spectral-line half-widths were used to separate the observed vibrations into translational and librational modes, and the correspondence between the experimentally observed vibrations and their normal coordinates was established in some cases.     

Rotational and Vibrational Temperature Measurements in a High‐Pressure Cylindrical Dielectric Barrier Discharge (C‐DBD)

The rotational (T_R) and vibrational (T_v) temperatures of N₂ molecules were measured in a high‐pressure cylindrical dielectric barrier discharge (C‐DBD) source in Ne with trace amounts (0.02 %) of N₂ and dry air excited by radio‐frequency (rf) power. Both T_R and T_v of the N₂ molecules in the C ³Π_u state were determined from an emission spectroscopic analysis the 2^nd positive system (C ³Π_u → B³Π_g). Gas temperatures were inferred from the measured rotational temperatures. As a function of pressure, the rotational temperature is essentially constant at about 360 K in the range from 200 Torr to 600 Torr (at 30W rf power) and increases slightly with increasing rf power at constant pressure. As one would expect, vibrational temperature measurements revealed significantly higher temperatures. The vibrational temperature decreases with pressure from 3030 K at 200 Torr to 2270 K at 600 Torr (at 30 W rf power). As a function of rf power, the vibrational temperature increases from 2520 K at 20 W to 2940 K at 60 W (at 400 Torr). Both T_R and T_v also show a dependence on the excitation frequency at the two frequencies that we studied, 400 kHz and 13.56 MHz. Adding trace amounts of air instead of N₂ to the Ne in the discharge resulted in higher T_R and T_v values and in a different pressure dependence of the rotational and vibrational temperatures. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Large harmonic softening of the phonon density of states of uranium

Phonon density-of-states curves were obtained from inelastic neutron scattering spectra from the three crystalline phases of uranium at temperatures from 50 to 1213 K. The alpha-phase showed an unusually large thermal softening of phonon frequencies. Analysis of the vibrational power spectrum showed that this phonon softening originates with the softening of a harmonic solid, as opposed to vibrations in anharmonic potentials. It follows that thermal excitations of electronic states are more significant thermodynamically than are the classical volume effects. For the alpha-beta and beta-gamma phase transitions, vibrational and electronic entropies were comparable.     

Collective excitations in solid hydrogen as observed by incoherent neutron scattering

Incoherent neutron scattering experiments are reported at a number of scattering angles for solid H₂ using the time-of-flight technique. The samples had an ortho concentration ofX0.91 and the temperatures were 4.2, 2.2 and 1.2 K. The recorded scattering functions exhibit the elastic line, the ortho-para conversion line, the phonon spectrum on the energy-gain side of the neutrons and finally the phonon spectrum on the energy-loss side. Analysis of the data shows multiple scattering to be very important especially at small scattering angles. Accordingly, the results of an extensive calculation are reported that include up to four-fold scattering. The phonon spectrum that brings calculation and experiment in agreement at all angles is presented. It is concluded from the comparison between the spectra at various temperatures that unexpectedly the samples have always remained in the hexagonal close-packed phase even below the usual transition temperature into the cubic phase. Comparison is made with the spectrum (also in thehcp phase) obtained from coherent neutron scattering. The high-energy phonon tail, to be expected for quantum crystals, is observed and is qualitatively consistent with that in a similar spectral density derived theoretically from ortho-para conversion data under pressure. No evidence of a libron spectrum atT=2.2 K for a sample withX=0.91 could be found, which is consistent with the absence of the cubic orientationally ordered phase in these experiments.Supported in this research by a grant from the National Science Foundation     

Crystal fields and pressure dependence of spin dynamics in CeAg measured by inelastic neutron scattering

We have studied polycrystalline CeAg and LaAg by inelastic neutron scattering at various temperatures betweenT=2 and 300 K and at different hydrostatic pressures up to 2.3GPa (23kbar). We point out the difficulties in the interpretation of the magnetic part of the measured spectra of CeAg at zero pressure and compare our results and interpretation with previous neutron scattering experiments. Applying pressure we find a broadening of the magnetic quasielastic line, i.e. the Ce³⁺ ion becomes more unstable. We observe still a strong temperature dependence, which means there is no indication of a classical intermediate-valent behaviour of the Ce ions up to 2.3 GPa.     

Doping-induced temperature evolution of a helicoidal spin structure in the MnGe compound

The helicoidal magnetic structure of a MnGe compound doped with 25% Fe is studied by means of small-angle neutron scattering in a wide temperature range of 10–300 K. Analysis of the scattering-function profile demonstrates that magnetic structures inherent to both pure MnGe and its doped compounds are unstable. The doping of manganese monogermanide is revealed to lead to higher destabilization of the magnetic system. In passing from MnGe to Mn_0.75Fe_0.25Ge, the magnetic-ordering temperature T _N decreases from 130 to 95 K, respectively. It is demonstrated that, at temperatures close to 0 K, the intensity of the contribution to scattering from stable spin helices decreases and the intensity of scattering by spin helix fluctuations increases with increasing impurity-metal concentration. An increased intensity of anomalous scattering caused by spin excitations existing in the system is observed. Helicoidal fluctuations and spin excitations corresponding to low temperatures indicate the quantum nature of the instability in the doped compound. However, MnGe doping with Fe atoms has no influence on the compound’s magnetic properties at temperatures of higher than T _N. The temperature range of short-range ferromagnetic correlations is independent of concentrations and is restricted by temperatures T ranging from 175 to 300 K.     

Soft vibrational mode in LiNbO3 and LiTaO3

The temperature dependence of the far-infrared reflectivity as obtained with a scanning interferometer for the A₁- and E-type modes of both LiNbO₃ and LiTaO₃ is reported in the ferroelectric phase. Results of a Kramers-Kronig analysis are compared with Raman and neutron scattering data which are controversial about the existence of a soft vibrational mode. For LiTaO₃, spectra are obtained 300 K above the Curie temperature, in the paraelectric phase. The lowest-frequency A₁ (TO) mode is unambiguously found as soft and becomes rapidly overdamped.     

Infrared spectroscopy of the intermediate-valence semiconductor YbB12

The dynamic conductivity and permittivity spectra of the intermediate-valence compound YbB₁₂ are measured in the frequency range (6–10⁴) cm^?1 (quantum energy 0.75 meV-1.24 eV) at temperatures of 5–300 K. Analysis of the spectral singularities associated with the response of free charge carriers has made it possible for the first time to determine the temperature dependences of their microscopic parameters, viz., concentration, effective mass, relaxation frequency and time, mobility, and plasma frequency. It is shown that the relaxation frequency decreases upon cooling from 300 K to the coherence temperature T ^* = 70 K for YbB₁₂, which is mainly associated with the phonon mechanism of scattering of charge carriers. For cooling below the coherence temperature T ^* = 70 K, the temperature dependence of the relaxation frequency for charge carriers of the Fermi-liquid type is found to be γ ～ γ₀ + T ², while their effective mass and relaxation time increase, respectively, to m ^*(20 K) = 34m ₀ (m ₀ is the free electron mass) and τ(20 K) = 4 × 10^?13 s, indicating the establishment of coherent scattering of carriers from localized magnetic moments of the f centers. At a temperature of T = 5 K, the conductivity spectrum contains an absorption line at a frequency of 22 cm^?1 (2.7 meV); the origin of this line can be associated with the exciton-polaron bound state. Since such a state was observed earlier in other intermediate-valence semiconductors (such as SmB₆, TmSe_1?x Te, and (Sm, Y)S), it is probably typical of this class of compounds.     

Studies of high-temperature electron–phonon interactions with inelastic neutron scattering and first-principles computations

Several recent studies of phonons combining inelastic neutron scattering and first-principles calculations are summarized. Inelastic neutron scattering was used to measure the phonon densities of states of the A15 compounds V₃Si, V₃Ge, and V₃Co at temperatures from 10 K to 1273 K. It was found that phonons in V₃Si and V₃Ge, which are superconducting at low temperatures, exhibit an anomalous stiffening with increasing temperature, whereas phonons in V₃Co have a normal softening behavior. Additional measurements of the phonon DOS of BCC V alloys were performed, and it was found that a stiffening anomaly present in pure V is suppressed upon introduction of extra d-electrons by alloying. First-principles calculations of the electronic and phonon densities of states show that in both these systems, the anomalous phonon stiffening originates with an adiabatic electron–phonon coupling mechanism. The anomaly is caused by the thermally-induced broadening of sharp peaks in the electronic density of states, which tends to decrease the electronic density at the Fermi level. These results illustrate how the combined use of first-principles calculations and inelastic neutron scattering provides powerful insights into couplings of excitations in condensed-matter.