Magnetostriction of Fe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>S (<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> = 0.27) crystals

The magnetostriction of Fe _x Mn_{1 − x} S (x = 0.27) single crystals in strong magnetic fields up to 120 kOe has been investigated. It has been found that the magnetostriction reaches colossal values (±3 × 10⁻⁴) atypical of compounds of 3d elements. It has been found that the magnetostriction changes sign when varying temperature and magnetic field; this behavior indicates an important role of the spin-phonon interactions in the formation of the magnetic order in solid solutions of iron-manganese sulfides.     

Variability of the resulting microdeformation field in the Zn<Subscript>1 – <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>V<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Se crystals (0.01 ≤ <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> ≤ 0.10)

A detailed neutronographic study of the bulk ZnSe crystals doped with vanadium up to the content commensurate with the solubility limit in a semiconductor matrix has been carried out for the first time at room temperature. The data that characterize nonuniformly-deformed states based on the cubic structural modification of the II–VI compounds are obtained. A simplified analysis of the broadening patterns of the diffraction profiles of main Bragg reflexes of the studied crystals shows that the resulting deformation covers macroscopic volumes, and the distribution of vanadium ions in the given cases may significantly deviate from the uniform distribution over volume. Relative to the initial cubic lattice, dominating trends towards symmetry changes preceding the phase stratification in the ZnSe crystals heavily doped with vanadium are revealed.     

High-temperature study of SrFe<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mo<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>3−<Emphasis Type="Italic">z</Emphasis></Subscript> perovskites

The structure of high-temperature SrFe_{1 − x} Mo _x O_{3 − z} (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) phases was studied. Such studies are necessary to understand the mechanism of oxygen transport in membrane materials used for high-temperature oxygen separation.     

Magnetic properties of single crystals of the Cr<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>S solid solutions (0 ≤ <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> < 0.3)

The Cr _x Mn_{1 − x} S single crystals have been synthesized based on manganese monosulfide as a result of cation substitution, and their magnetic properties have been studied. It has been established that the Cr _x Mn_{1 − x} S solid solutions with a face-centered cubic NaCl structure are formed in the concentration region 0 ≤ x < 0.3. The unit cell parameter of the solid solution decreases as the degree of substitution increases due to the variation in the ionic radius of cations. These substances are antiferromagnets. An increase in the degree of cation substitution in the Cr _x Mn_{1 − x} S solid solutions is accompanied by a decrease in the number of 3d electrons in the d shell of manganese monosulfide and causes a decrease in the magnetic transition temperature from 149 K (x = 0) to 96 K (x = 0.29), which differs from previously known results.     

Electronic structure and ground state parameters of Ru<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">Me</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Al refractory alloys

The electronic structure and ground state parameters of B2 RuAl-based refractory alloys have been investigated in the framework of the density functional theory using the exact muffin-tin orbital method in combination with the coherent potential approximation. It has been demonstrated that the number of states at the Fermi level for the Ru_{1 − x} Me _x Al alloys as a function of the alloying metal content has a minimum, which indicates a change in the Fermi surface topology and the presence of specific features in the behavior of elastic constants. It has been concluded that the electronic structure of the alloys can be described in terms of the rigid band model. The nonlinear variations of the lattice parameters of the alloys has been explained.     

Metal-insulator transition in Fe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>S crystals

Results of an experimental study of MnS, FeS, and Fe _x Mn_1?x S single crystals are presented. The phase composition, the lattice parameters, and the state of paramagnetic ions in Fe _x Mn_1?x S have been determined by x-ray diffraction analysis and Mössbauer spectroscopy. A sequence of transitions have been found in iron manganese sulfide with x = 0.29 at temperatures T ₁ ≈ 25–50 K, T ₂ ≈ 125 K, and T ₃ ≈ 190 K with a change in kinetic properties and the formation of a metallic state at low temperatures T ≈ 2 K. The possibility of a Mott-Hubbard transition in Fe _x Mn_1?x S sulfides with variation of the composition and the temperature is discussed.     

Physical properties of Fe<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Dy<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Si crystals

The results of experimental investigation of magnetic and electric properties of Fe_1?x Dy _x Si crystals are reported. It is shown that the magnitude and position of the anomaly observed in the temperature dependences of magnetization are controlled to a considerable extent by the external magnetic field. It is found that the introduction of Dy ions leads to a weak magnetoresistive effect.     

Charge density of Ga<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Al<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Sb

Charge density calculations and electronic band structures for Ga _x Al_{1 − x} Sb with x = 1.0, 0.5 and 0.0 are presented in this work. The calculations are performed using the empirical pseudopotential method. The charge density is computed for a number of planes, i.e. z = 0.0, 0.125 and 0.25 A ₀ by generating the potential through a number of potential parameters available in the literature. The virtual crystal approximation was applied for the semiconducting alloy. The characteristics of the band structure and charge density are observed to be affected by the potential parameters. Calculated band gaps and the nature of gaps are in good agreement with the experimental data reported. The ionicity is also reasonably in good agreement with other scales proposed in the literature; however the formulation needs to be improved. The present work also demands indirect experimental band gap for the alloy.      

Phase transitions and dielectric relaxation in (1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>)SrTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>BiFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript> (0 ≤ <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> ≤ 0.04)

The dielectric and acoustic properties of (1 − x)SrTiO₃-xBiFeO₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.04) solid solutions have been studied in the temperature range 10–300 K. The polar state exhibiting permittivity dispersion and dielectric hysteresis loops has been revealed at temperatures of 40–100 K. At 20–40 K, we have observed one more dielectric relaxation, which is not associated with the polar state and vanishes at a concentration of the second solid-solution component x = 0.04. The antiferrodistorsive transition has been found to vary with increasing concentration x. At temperatures below the antiferrodistorsive transition point, the polar (relaxor) state has been shown to persist in all the measured solid solutions.     

Magnetocapacitance effect in Gd<Subscript> <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> </Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1–<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> </Subscript>S

The capacitance and dielectric loss tangent of Gd_xMn_1–xS (x ≤ 0.2) solid solutions have been measured at a frequency of 10 kHz without magnetic field and in a magnetic field of 8 kOe in the temperature range of 90–450 K. An increase in the permittivity and a dielectric loss maximum have been detected in the low-temperature region. It has been found that the temperature of the maximum of the imaginary part of the permittivity shifts to higher temperatures with increasing concentration. The magnetocapacitance effect has been revealed for two compositions. The dielectric loss has been described in the Debye model with “freezing” dipole moments and in the orbital-charge ordering model.     

Metallic-like conductivity of asymmetric <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-In<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ga<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>As quantum wells

The temperature dependence of the conductivity of the two-dimensional hole gas in an asymmetric GaAs/In _x Ga_{1 ? x} As/GaAs quantum well has been investigated. It is shown that fast spin relaxation leads to metallic-like behavior of the temperature dependence of the conductivity.     

Ordered phases of lithium nickelite Li<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>−<Emphasis Type="Italic">z</Emphasis></Subscript>Ni<Subscript>1+<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript>

A symmetry analysis of ordering in lithium nickelite Li_1?x?zNi_1+xO₂ (Li_1?x?z□_yNi_1+xO₂) was performed with regard to the substitution of Li and Ni atoms and the occurrence of structural vacancies □ in the metal sublattice. For all the ordered phases, the k ₉ ⁽³⁾ ray of the Lifshitz {k₉} star is present in the order-disorder transition channel. This ray determines the consecutive alternation of atomic planes filled with only Ni atoms or only Li atoms and vacancies in the \([1\bar 11]_{B1} \) direction. It was shown that the rhombohedral ordered LiNiO₂ phase is formed in the defect-free lithium nickelite, whereas a family of three monoclinic Li₃□Ni₄O₈ (C2/m space group) and Li₂□Ni₃O₆ (C2/m and C2 space groups) superstructures arises as the concentration of structural vacancies increases. For all the superstructures, the order-disorder phase-transition channels were determined and the distribution functions of Li and Ni atoms have been calculated. The long-range order parameters describing each superstructure were found as functions of the Li_{1?x? z}Ni_1+xO₂ composition.     

Magnetocaloric properties of La<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>K<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganites

A technology for obtaining single-phase ceramic samples of La_{1 − x} K _x MnO₃ manganites, as well as the dependence of their structure parameters on the potassium content, is described. The magnetocaloric effect in the samples has been measured by two direct methods, the classical method and the magnetic field modulation method, and has been calculated from the specific heat data. The values of the magnetocaloric effect obtained by these methods are significantly different. The observed discrepancies have been explained. Correlation between the doping level and the value of the effect has been found. It has been shown that the magnetic-field dependence of variation of the magnetic entropy near T _C in weak fields corresponds to theoretical calculations and that the value of the magnetocaloric effect in high magnetic fields can be predicted using this dependence.     

Short-range order in Fe<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Si<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>=0.05−0.08) alloys with induced magnetic anisotropy

Previously, iron—silicon alloys were investigated using X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. It was demonstrated that, at low silicon concentrations, the alloys undergo a local separation into regions of the α iron phase depleted in silicon and silicon-rich clusters with a B2 ordering. The structure of locally ordered regions of the B2 phase is characterized by a pair ordering of silicon atoms: the Si—Si pairs are formed by next-nearest neighbors, and the axes of pairs are oriented along the 〈100〉 directions, which are the easy-magnetization axes. The thermomagnetic treatment in a constant magnetic field applied along the 〈100〉 axis induces an axial magnetic anisotropy, results in the formation of an anisotropic distribution of the B2 phase, and leads to a slight decrease in the volume fraction of the coordination 6: 2 with two silicon atoms in the first coordination shell of the iron atom. Therefore, the formation of an anisotropic local order of pairs of silicon atoms occurs as a result of their reorientation.     

Higher <Emphasis Type="Italic">η</Emphasis><Subscript>c</Subscript>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">nS</Emphasis>) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">η</Emphasis><Subscript>b</Subscript>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">nS</Emphasis>) mesons

The hyperfine splittings in heavy quarkonia are studied in a model-independent way using experimental data on dielectron widths. Relativistic correlations are taken into account together with the smearing of spin-spin interaction. The radius of smearing is fixed by known G/ψ−η _c(1S), ψ(2S)−η _c′(2S) splittings, which appears to be small, r _ss ≅ 0.06 fm. Nevertheless, even with such a small radius, substantial suppression of hyperfine splittings (∼50%) is observed in bottomonium. For nS b states (n = 1, 2, ..., 6), our predicted splittings (in MeV) are 28, 12, 10, 5, 6, 3. For the 3S and 4S charmonium states, the splittings 16(2) and 12(4) MeV are obtained. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Magnetocaloric effect in La(Fe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Si<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>)<Subscript>13</Subscript> ferromagnets

The isothermal changes in the magnetic entropy and the lattice entropy and the adiabatic temperature change in La(Fe_0.88Si_0.12)₁₃ and La(Fe_0.86Si_0.14)₁₃ ferromagnets in a magnetic field are calculated. The calculations are performed with a generalized magnetostriction model of a ferromagnet; the calculation results are compared to experimental data. It is shown that the change in the lattice entropy decreases the magnetocaloric effect and makes it possible to explain the experimental data obtained for La(Fe _x Si_{1 − x} )₁₃ (x = 0.86, 0.88) ferromagnets. The temperature dependences of the bulk compression moduli of these ferromagnets are calculated, and these dependences indicate a strong lattice softening in the vicinity of the magnetic phase transition in them. The thermal expansion coefficient and some magnetic properties of the ferromagnet with x = 0.86 are measured to determine the numerical values of the parameters entering into calculation formulas.     

Elasticity moduli of Cd<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Hg<Subscript>1–<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Te solid solutions

Results of investigations into the temperature dependences (4.2–300 K) of the low-frequency ultrasound velocity in Cd _x Hg_1–x Te single crystals are presented. The elastic moduli and the Debye temperatures are calculated for different solid solution compositions. Based on the data obtained, possible stresses are estimated on the heteroboundary of the materials with a number of substrates.     

Fabrication and magnetic characterization of Co<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Pt<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> nanowire arrays

Co _x Pt_1−x (x≥0.7) alloy nanowires are grown into self-synthesized anodic alumina templates by electrodeposition. Magnetic and magnetization properties of Co _x Pt_1−x alloy nanowires are measured as functions of wire length, temperature, and field orientation. X-ray diffraction shows that as-prepared CoPt nanowires are of fcc polycrystalline structure. A crossover of easy axis of magnetization is observed from parallel to perpendicular of the nanowire axis as a function of length. The coercivity (H _c) and remanent squareness (SQ) of Co _x Pt_1−x nanowire arrays are derived from hysteresis loops measured at various angles (θ) between the field and wire axis. H _c(θ) and SQ(θ) curves show bell-shaped or otherwise bell-shaped behavior corresponding to the easy axis of their magnetization.     

Optical and electrical properties of β-Tl<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Cu<Subscript>x</Subscript>InS<Subscript>2</Subscript> (0 ≤ <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> ≤ 0.015) single crystals

The peculiarities of fundamental optical absorption, thermally stimulated conductivity, and depolarization currents in β-Tl_{1 ? x} Cu_xInS₂ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.015) single crystals have been investigated in the temperature range 4.2–300 K. It is found that the temperature coefficient of the band gap E _g changes near the temperature of the structural phase transition.