Electron relaxation mechanisms in n-Bi-Sb semiconducting alloys

The magnetic field dependence of diffusion thermal electromotive force α₂₂(H) (?T ∥ C ₁) in degenerate n-Bi-Sb semiconducting alloys, in which only L electrons participate in transfer phenomena, had a maximum at H ∥ C ₃. The electron relaxation time was determined from the magnetic field value corresponding to this maximum. The dependences of the electron relaxation time on temperature and the concentration of alloy components and the dopant (on the concentration of electrons) were used to separate electron relaxation time components corresponding to scattering by phonons, ionized impurities, and component concentration fluctuations. The latter (“alloy”) mechanism of electron scattering by concentration fluctuations was for the first time considered for Bi-Sb alloys; its contribution was found to be comparable with those of the other scattering mechanisms. The obtained relaxation times were used to calculate theoretical magnetic field dependences of thermal electromotive force and the Nernst-Ettingshausen coefficient. The calculation results were in satisfactory agreement with experiment.     

Nonmonotonic magnetic-field dependence of transport coefficients for n-Bi-Sb semiconducting alloys

The transport coefficients of tellurium-doped n-Bi_{1 ? x} Sb _x semiconducting alloys (0.07 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) are studied for single-crystal samples in the temperature range 1.5 ≤ T ≤ 40 K and in magnetic fields 0 ≤ H < 20 kOe. The theory developed in this study attributes the specific features in the behavior of the transport coefficients observed in a magnetic field to a strong anisotropy of the electron spectrum and anisotropy in the electron relaxation time. It is found that the dependences of the transport coefficients on the magnetic field for H ∥ C ₃ can be theoretically expressed through one anisotropy parameter δ, and those for H ∥ C ₂, by means of several anisotropy parameters, namely, γ, η, ζ, and m ₃/m ₁. It is established that the anisotropy parameter δ in the n-Bi-Sb semiconducting alloys can be estimated from measurements of the electrical resistivity ρ₂₂(∞)/ρ₂₂(0) ? δ and the Hall coefficient R _12.3(∞)/R _12.3(H → 0) ? δ in a magnetic field H ∥ C ₃. It is shown that the observed increase in the thermoelectric efficiency by a factor of 1.5–2.0 in the transverse magnetic fields H ∥ C ₃ and H ∥ C ₂ originates from the nonmonotonic dependence of the diffusion component of the thermopower Δα₂₂(H)(?T ∥ C ₁) on the magnetic field. The nonmonotonic dependence of the diffusion thermopower in n-Bi-Sb semiconducting alloys is associated with the strong anisotropy of the electron spectrum, the anisotropy in the electron relaxation time, and the many-valley pattern of the spectrum.     

Low-temperature thermal conductivity of tellurium-doped bismuth

Phonon thermal conductivities κ₂₂ (?T ‖ C1) and κ₃₃ (? T ‖ C₃) of tellurium-doped bismuth with an electron concentration in the range 1.8 × 10¹⁹ ≤ n_L ≤ 1.4 × 10²⁰ cm^?3 were studied in the temperature interval 2 < T < 300 K. The temperature dependence of the phonon thermal conductivity obtained on doped bismuth samples of both orientations exhibits two maxima, one at a low temperature and the other at a high temperature. The effect of various phonon relaxation mechanisms on the dependence of both phonon thermal conductivity maxima on temperature, impurity concentration, and electron density is studied.     

Rotation of the plane of polarization and linear birefringence of sound in hematite below the morin point

The linear antiferromagnetic birefringence of sound in hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) residing in the collinear easy-axis phase (L ‖ C ₃) below the Morin point is experimentally studied. The plane of polarization of a linearly polarized transverse acoustic wave propagating along the trigonal axis C ₃ of a hematite crystal placed in a magnetic field H applied in the basal plane (H ⊥ C ₃, 3.5 ≤ H ≤ 15 kOe) is found to rotate after a temperature-driven orientational phase transition to the easy-axis state. The angle of rotation exhibits a 180° angular dependence on the direction of the magnetic field in the basal plane and varies from zero to ～π/2. Numerical estimates suggest that the conditions necessary for rotation of the plane of polarization through appreciable angles (～π/2) can be satisfied in the easy-axis phase at orientational phase transition temperatures close to the Morin point, which actually takes place in the fields employed. The results obtained are described sufficiently well by the theory of linear antiferromagnetic birefringence of sound (E.A. Turov) and confirm its main conclusions.     

Specific features of the thermal electromotive force in Bi quantum wires in transverse magnetic and electric fields

The thermal electromotive force (emf) in Bi quantum wires has been calculated in the model of potential in the form of a paraboloid of revolution in a uniform magnetic field H, which is normal to the axis of the studied nanostructure, and in a direct-current (dc) electric field E ‖ H. It has been shown that, with an increase in E, the thermal emf α _xx is described by a nonmonotonic function at different values of H. A physical interpretation of this behavior of α _xx as a function of E is proposed with account for the interaction between carriers and the rough surface of the nanowire.     

Commensurate and incommensurate states of a spin density wave in a quasi-two-dimensional system with an anisotropic energy spectrum in an external magnetic field of arbitrary direction relative to magnetization

A theory of thermodynamic properties of a spin density wave (SDW) in a quasi-two-dimensional system (with a preset impurity concentration x) is constructed. We choose an anisotropic dispersion relation for the electron energy and assume that external magnetic field H has an arbitrary direction relative to magnetic moment M _Q . The system of equations defining order parameters M _Q ^z , M _Q ^σ , M _z , and M ^σ is constructed and transformed with allowance for the Umklapp processes. Special cases when H ‖ M _Q and H ⊥ M _Q (H _Z H ^σ = 0) are considered in detail as well as cases of weak fields H of arbitrary direction. The condition for the transition of the system to the commensurate and incommensurate states of the SDW is analyzed. The concentration dependence of magnetic transition temperature T _M is calculated, and the components of the order parameter for the incommensurate phase are determined. The phase diagram (T,~x) is constructed. The effect of the magnetic field on magnetic transition temperature T _M is analyzed for H _Z H ^σ = 0, and longitudinal magnetic susceptibility χ‖ is calculated; this quantity demonstrates the temperature dependence corresponding to a system with a gap for x < x _c and to a gapless state for x > x _c . In the immediate vicinity of the critical impurity concentration (x ～ x _c ), the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility acquires a local maximum. The effect of anisotropy of the electron energy spectrum on the investigated physical quantities is also analyzed.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance in noncollinear antiferromagnet Mn3Al2Ge3O12

The ⁵⁵Mn nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of noncollinear 12-sublattice antiferromagnet Mn₃Al₂Ge₃O₁₂ has been studied in the frequency range of 200–640 MHz in the external magnetic field H ‖ [001] at T = 1.2 K. Three absorption lines have been observed in fields less than the field of the reorientation transition H _c at the polarization h ‖ H of the rf field. Two lines have been observed at H > H _c and h ⊥ H. The spectral parameters indicate that the magnetic structure of manganese garnet differs slightly from the exchange triangular 120-degree structure. The anisotropy of the spin reduction and (or) weak antiferromagnetism that are allowed by the crystal symmetry lead to the difference of ≈3% in the magnetization of sublattices in the field H < H _c. When the spin plane rotates from the orientation perpendicular to the C ₃ axis to the orientation perpendicular to the C ₄ axis, all magnetic moments of the electronic subsystem decrease by ≈2% from the average value in the zero field.     

Spatial dispersion in polariton spectra of CuGaS2 crystals

The unmodulated and wavelength-modulated reflectivity spectra of CuGaS₂ crystals for the polarization E ‖ c, k ⊥ c at 77 and 8 K have been studied. The states n=1, 2, and 3 of A excitons and n=1 and 2 of B and C excitons are established. The luminescence spectra from the surface at k ‖ c and k ⊥ c are obtained. The fine structure of the reflectivity spectra of excitons are analyzed with due regard for the normal and oblique incidence of light onto the crystal surface. The main parameters of the A, B, and C excitonic series are determined such as the energies of the longitudinal and transverse excitons Γ₄ (E ‖ c) for states n=1 and 2, the longitudinal and the transverse mass of excitons in CuGaS 2, and the effective masses of electrons (m _c1*) and holes (m _v1*, m _v2*, m _v3*). It is shown that the mass m _v1* in the upper valence band at k ‖ c equals (0.7–0.8)m ₀ and at k ⊥ c, 1.87m ₀.     

Analysis of the spin splitting of maxima of quantum oscillations of the resistivity of n-Bi-Sb semiconductor alloys in a magnetic field parallel to the bisector axis

In samples of semiconductor alloys n-Bi_0.93Sb_0.07 with different electron concentrations (n ₁ = 8 × 10¹⁵ cm^?3, n ₂ = 1.2 × 10¹⁷ cm^?3, and n ₃ = 1.9 × 10¹⁸ cm^?3), dependences of the electrical resistivity on magnetic fields up to 45 T parallel to the current and the bisector axis (H ‖ C ₁ ‖ j) have been measured at temperatures of 1.5, 4.5, and 10 K. The obtained dependences ρ₂₂(H) demonstrate quantum oscillations of the resistivity (Shubnikov-de Haas effect), and, in high magnetic fields, there is a resistivity maximum far away from other maxima. On assumption that this maximum is related to the spin-split Landau level N = 0^? for electrons of the main ellipsoid, the spin-splitting parameters are calculated for electrons of the main ellipsoid: γ₁ = 0.87, γ₂ = 0.8, and γ₃ = 0.73. Using these values, the oscillation maxima can be reliably related to the numbers of split Landau levels for electrons of the main and secondary ellipsoids. The dependences of the resistivity ρ₁₁ and the Hall coefficient R _31.2 on magnetic field have been measured in a transverse magnetic field at H ‖ C ₁ and j ‖ C ₂ on the sample with the electron concentration n ₄ = 1.4 × 10¹⁷ cm^?3. Using similar analysis, the spin-splitting parameter is found to be γ₄ = 0.85, which is close to the value of γ₂ = 0.8 obtained for the sample with close electron concentration (n ₂ = 1.2 × 10¹⁷ cm^?3) during the measurements in a longitudinal magnetic field. The quantum oscillation maxima of Hall coefficient R _31.2 are shifted to the range of high magnetic fields as compared to the quantum oscillation maxima of resistivity ρ₁₁.     

Penetration of a magnetic field into the YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7−δ</Subscript> high-temperature superconductor: Magnetoresistance in weak magnetic fields

The penetration of a magnetic field into superconducting grains and weak links of YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ ceramic high-temperature superconductors is investigated using measurements of the transverse and longitudinal magnetoresistances at T=77.3 K and 0≤H≤～500 Oe as a function of the transport current in the range ～0.01≤I/I _c ≤～0.99. The effects associated with the complete penetration of Josephson vortices into weak links of the high-temperature superconductor in magnetic fields H_c2J, the onset of penetration of Abrikosov vortices into superconducting grains in magnetic fields H_c1A, and the first-order transition from the Bragg glass phase to the vortex glass phase in fields H_BG-VG are revealed and interpreted. The I-H phase diagrams YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ high-temperature superconductors are constructed for I ⊥ H and I ‖ H.     

Magnetostriction and thermal expansion of HoAl3(BO3)4

The magnetostriction and thermal expansion of rare-earth aluminoborate HoAl₃(BO₃)₄ have been studied theoretically. The calculated field and temperature dependences of the multipole moments of the Ho³⁺ ion in HoAl₃(BO₃)₄ made it possible to describe the known experimental data and to predict possible anomalies of thermal expansion. It has been shown that, for the direction of the field B ‖ c, the nonmonotonic character of magnetostriction along the axis a is determined by the multipole moments, the main of which is β _J 〈O ₄ ⁰ 〉. For B ‖ a and B ‖ b, the maximum moments are β _J 〈O ₄ ² 〉and α _J 〈O ₂ ² 〉; their variation with the field and temperature explain well the form of magnetostriction. It has been established that the greater value of magnetostriction Δa/a for B ‖ b than for B ‖ a and the greater value of magnetostriction for the field in the basal plane than for B ‖ c are caused by greater variations in the field of actual multipole moments.     

Aging effect in CaLaBa{Cu1???xFex}3O7???�� with 0 �� x �� 0.07 studied by M?ssbauer spectroscopy

In this work, we study the long-term aging effect caused by Fe atoms in the superconductor CaLaBa{Cu_1???xFe_x}₃O_7????? with 0 ?? x ?? 0.07. XRD confirms that this system has a YBCO-like structure. The critical temperature (T_c) is strongly affected by aging and depends on the amount of Fe in the structure. Room temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy reveals the presence of the typical species A, B?CB ??, C and new species E ?? and F. Interestingly; A, which corresponds to the Fe^3?+? atom located in the Cu(1) of the chains with spin S _z = 3/2, shows a drastic reduction which means migration to the species B, B ?? and C. Species B and B ?? correspond to the Fe^3?+? in the Cu(2) site forming planar quasi-octahedral and planar square pyramidal, while the C specie is a square pyramidal with O(5) respectively (spin S_z = 3/2 in all these cases). Aging causes loss of superconductivity in the samples with 5 and 7% of iron content.     

Spatial representation of groups of automorphisms of von Neumann algebras with properly infinite commutant

Theorem. Let a topological groupG be represented (a→φ _a ) by *-automorphisms of a von Neumann algebraR acting on a separable Hilbert spaceH. Suppose that

1. G is locally compact and separable,
2. R′ is properly infinite,
3. for anyT∈R,x,y∈H the function

$$a \to \left\langle {\phi _a (T)x,y} \right\rangle _H $$ is measurable onG. Then there exists a strongly continuous unitary representation ofG onH,a→U _a , such that forT∈R,a∈G, $$\phi _\alpha (T) = U_a TU_a *.$$ .     

Localization in the ground state of the ising model with a random transverse field

We study the zero-temperature behavior of the Ising model in the presence of a random transverse field. The Hamiltonian is given by $$H = - J\sum\limits_{\left\langle {x,y} \right\rangle } {\sigma _3 (x)\sigma _3 (y) - \sum\limits_x {h(x)\sigma _1 (x)} } $$ whereJ>0,x,y∈Z ^d, σ₁, σ₃ are the usual Pauli spin 1/2 matrices, andh={h(x),x∈Z ^d} are independent identically distributed random variables. We consider the ground state correlation function 〈σ₃(x)σ₃(y)〉 and prove:

1. Letd be arbitrary. For anym>0 andJ sufficiently small we have, for almost every choice of the random transverse fieldh and everyx∈Z ^d, that $$\left\langle {\sigma _3 (x)\sigma _3 (y)} \right\rangle \leqq C_{x,h} e^{ - m\left| {x - y} \right|} $$ for ally∈Z ^d withC _{x h} <∞.
2. Letd≧2. IfJ is sufficiently large, then, for almost every choice of the random transverse fieldh, the model exhibits long range order, i.e., $$\mathop {\overline {\lim } }\limits_{\left| y \right| \to \infty } \left\langle {\sigma _3 (x)\sigma _3 (y)} \right\rangle > 0$$ for anyx∈Z ^d.

     

Domain structure in centroantisymmetric antiferromagnets

The domain structure of an antiferromagnet whose magnetic-symmetry group contains a center of antisymmetry is studied theoretically. The magnetoelectric effect and weak ferromagnetism are shown to coexist in a domain wall. It is established that when the inhomogeneous magnetic moment interacts with a sufficiently strong magnetic field H ‖ C ₃, a multidomain state with an odd number of 180° domain walls becomes energetically favorable. The critical field for the transition from a single-domain state to a multidomain state is found. It is shown that domain reversal occurs when the magnetic field H is reversed.     

Magnetic structure of the quasi-one-dimensional frustrated antiferromagnet LiCu<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> with Spin <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis> = 1/2

The magnetic properties of LiCu₂O₂ single-crystal samples without twinning are investigated using electron spin resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The experimental results obtained are described in terms of the model of a planar spiral antiferromagnet for the orientation of the magnetic field H ‖ b or H ‖ c and the model of a collinear spin-modulated antiferromagnet for the orientation of the static magnetic field H ‖ a.     

Theory of spatial dispersion of dielectric and magnetic constants in magnetic uniaxial gyrotropic crystals

The theory of spatial dispersion of dielectric and magnetic constants of magnetic uniaxial crystals based on generalized Maxwell’s equations D = ε?E = (ε + inγ E = ?ns ^× H and B = μ?H = (μ + inδ)H = ns ^× E with spatial dispersion parameters γ and δ is considered. Generalized Fresnel’s and polarization equations for the obtained vectors E, D, H, and B are analyzed for the wave normal direction s ⊥ C (where C is the optic axis of a crystal). The possibility of the existence of a third natural wave in a crystal is proved.     

Anomalies in the Magnetic Susceptibility in the Second-Order Phase Transitions beyond the Curie Point

Taking into account the inexhaustible interest in studying the peculiarities of physical properties in the neighborhood of phase transitions and the growth of experimental investigations of cobalt fluoride, we have studied the peculiarities of magnetic susceptibility in the vicinity of the critical field H_C at which cobalt fluoride performs the second-order phase transition from the antiferromagnetic phase to the angular phase. It is discovered that in the magnetic field H ‖ C₄, the magnetic susceptibility becomes infinite at H → H_C. It is shown that as the magnetic field direction deviates from the C₄ axis, the magnetic susceptibility in the critical field H_C proves to be finite. It is also shown that the change in the magnetic susceptibility with the change in the magnetic field considerably decreases at extremely insignificant deviations of the field H from the C₄ axis. Since the calculations are performed in terms of the Landau theory of phase transitions, we pay attention to the similarity and difference between the obtained results and those in the vicinity of the Curie point obtained by using the Landau theory of phase transitions.     

Colossal room-temperature magnetoresistance in thin La<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ag<Subscript>y</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> epitaxial films

The first thin La_1?xAg_yMnO₃ epitaxial films (_y ≤ x) were grown on SrTiO₃ (110) substrates with silver present in the ionized state (Ag⁺) only. The Curie temperatures T_C of the compositions with x = y = 0.05, x = y = 0.1, and x = 0.3 and y = 0.27 crystallizing in the hexagonal structure \(R\bar 3c\) above or close to room temperature. The temperature dependences of electrical resistivity ρ and of magnetoresistance ¦Δρ/ρ/¦ = ¦(ρ_H ? ρ _H = 0)/ρ_H=0¦ pass through maxima near T_C, with the magnetoresistance being negative and reaching colossal values of ～7–20% in a magnetic field H = 8.2 kOe not only at T_C but also at room temperature. The magnetic moment per formula unit as derived from the saturation magnetization at T = 5 K is substantially smaller than expected for complete ferromagnetic ordering. The magnetization in fields of up to 6 kOe depends on the actual sample cooling conditions, and the hysteresis loop of a field-cooled sample is displaced along the H axis by ΔH. The above properties can be accounted for by the fact that the films are in a two-phase magnetic (ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic) state induced by strong s-d exchange. The maximum value of Δ H was used to calculate the energy of exchange coupling between the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic parts of a sample.