Thermal-expansion-derived lattice instability in La2CuO4

We present results for the thermal expansion, (T), of both polycrystalline and single crystalline La₂CuO₄. Our results demonstrate the existence of an anomaly in (T) aroundT=35 K which is clearly intrinsic and most likely due to a lattice instability.     

Spin dynamics and spin correlations in the spinS=1 two-dimensional square-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet La2NiO4

The static and dynamic spin fluctuations in the spinS=1, two-dimensional (2D) square-lattice antiferromagnet La₂NiO₄ have been studied over a wide temperature range using neutron scattering techniques. The spin correlations in La₂NiO₄ exhibit a crossover from two- to three-dimensional (3D) behavior as the Néel temperature is approached from above. Critical slowing down of the low-energy spin fluctuations is also observed just aboveT _N . The correlation length, (T), and the static structure factor,S(0), have been measured and are compared with recent theoretical calculations for the quantum 2D Heisenberg antiferromagnet using microscopic parameters determined from previous spin-wave measurements. Good agreement for (T) is found with the exact low-temperature result of Hasenfratz and Niedermeyer provided that 2 p _s is renormalized by 20% from the spin-wave value.     

Electrostatic lattice coefficients and binding energy of orthorhombic La2-x Sr x CuO4

Three valency models for orthorhombic La_2-x Sr _x CuO₄ were investigated for increasing Sr concentrationsx (0x0.21): 1. Cu²⁺Cu³⁺, 2. apex O^2–O^– and 3. in-plane O^2–O^–. All calculations were done by using structural parameters valid for the temperature range from 10 to 22 K. We thereby calculated the electrostatic interaction energy which, next to ionization potentials and electron affinities, comprises a major of the binding energyE _B of crystals. Second-order effects were accounted for by calculating the strength of ionic dipole moments induced by crystal electric fields at relevant lattice sites. Their largest strengths are comparable to the dipole moment of the water molecule. Three out of five dipoles in La_2-x Sr _x CuO₄ vanish during the transition from the orthorhombic to the tetragonal phase. The binding energy differences between the different models suggest that the system is in a state of model 1. However, the differences are very small, being in the order of 0.3 to 0.76 eV atx=0.13.     

Effect of hydrogen doping on the magnetic properties of Gd2CuO4

We report the results of ac-susceptibility and dc-magnetization measurements for H_yGd₂CuO₄ (0y0.54). It is shown thatH doping lowers the weak ferromagnetic component in the material. The distinct hysteresis loops observed atT=77 K for both non- and hydrogenated samples change its shape withy. The magnetic ordering temperatures T _N ^Cu and T _N ^Gd , as determined from the temperature dependencies of ac-susceptibility, remain unchanged with sample's hydrogenation. This result seems to indicate that extra electrons are not doped onto the Cu-O planes of Gd₂CuO₄. The frequency dependencies ofx(, T) andx(, T) for bothy=0 andy=0.15 samples are analysed., The maximums ofx andx found at about 200K are considered in terms of susceptibility dependence on the spin-lattice relaxation time (). The anomalies in ac-susceptibility found recently in Gd₂CuO₄ atT _a=8 K andT _b=9.5 K decrease significantly withy. Results are discussed in the context of available data on 214T-type compounds.     

Superconductivity at 40 K in La1.8Sr0.2CuO4

High-T _c superconductivity withT _c onsets up to 42 K (midpoint: 37 K, zero resistance: 34 K) is observed in X-rays homogeneous single phase La_1.8Sr_0.2CuO₄. The quarternary compounds La_2–x Ba _x CuO₄ and La_2–x Sr _x CuO₄ (0x0.3 for Ba and 0x<1 for Sr, depending on the heating conditions) are mixed-valence oxygen defect oxides, characterized by the presence of Cu²⁺ and Cu³⁺ simultaneously. These oxides have a tetragonal symmetry (space group:I 4/mmm) similar to that of K₂NiF₄. We report the synthesis, characterization, and superconducting properties of various high-temperature superconducting La–Ba–Cu–O and La–Sr–Cu–O compounds. Through the substitution of Sr for Ba in these oxygen defect compounds an increasing superconducting transition temperature onset from 28 K to 35 K for La_1.8Sr_0.1Ba_0.1CuO₄ was observed. A positive initial pressure coefficient ofdTc/dp=290 (mK/kbar) has been found for La_1.8Sr_0.2CuO₄ with a magnetic susceptibility change consistent with the 100% diamagnetic expectation value.     

Neutron scattering study of the two-dimensional spinS=1/2 square-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet Sr2CuO2Cl2

We have carried out a neutron scattering investigation of the static structure factorS(q _2D ) (q _2D is the in-plane wave vector) in the two-dimensional spinS=1/2 square-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet Sr₂CuO₂Cl₂. For the spin correlation length we find quantitative agreement with Monte Carlo results over a wide range of temperature. The combined Sr₂CuO₂Cl₂-Monte Carlo data, which cover the length scale from 1 to 200 lattice constants, are predicted without adjustable parameteres by renormalized classical theory for the quantum nonlinear sigma model. For the structure factor peakS(0), on the other hand, we findS(0) ² for the reduced temperature range 0.16<T/2 _s <0.36, whereas current theories predict that at low temperaturesS(0)T ^{2 2}. This discrepancy has important implications for the interpretation of many derivative quantities such as NMR relaxation rates. In the ordered phase, we have measured the temperature dependence of the out-of-plane spin-wave gap. Its low-temperature value of 5.0 meV corresponds to an XY anisotropyJ _XY /J=1.4×10^–4. From measurements of the sublattice mangetization we obtain =0.22±0.01 for the order parameter exponent. This may either reflect tricricality as in La₂CuO₄, or it may indicate finite-size two-dimensional XY behavior as suggested by Bramwell and Holdsworth. As in theS=1 system K₂NiF₄, the gap energy in Sr₂CuO₂Cl₂ scales linearly with the order parameter up to the Néel temperature. We also reanalyze static structure factor data for K₂NiF₄ using the exact low temperature result for the correlation length of Hasenfratz and Niedermayer and including the Ising anisotropy explicitly. Excellent agreement between experiment and theory is obtained for the correlation length, albeit with the spin-stiffness _s reduced by 20% from the spin-wave value. As in Sr₂CuO₂Cl₂ we find thatS(0) ² for the reduced temperature range 0.22<T/2 _s <0.47.     

Theory of the reentrant transition in a lamellar antiferromagnet: doped La2CuO4

The effect of impurity-induced states on the long range order in a lamellar antiferromagnet (AF) is studied and the magnetic phase-diagram of a lightly doped La_2–x Sr _x CuO₄ is proposed. It is shown that long range magnetic perturbations and the layered structure cause the shrinkage of AF domain on the phase diagram and lead to the reentrant AF transition. A nonmonotonous dependence of the correlation length _2D on temperatureT is obtained; the dependence _2D (x) is exponential for highT and _2D x ^1/2 for lowT.     

Quantitative interpretation ofc-axis magnetoresistivity for fields parallel toc-axis in single crystalline La1.86Sr0.14CuO4

The magnetoresistivity, (T, B), of single crystalline La_1.86SrO_0.14CuO₄ as a function of temperature (T) and magnetic field (B) is experimentally studied in a typical Lorentz force free configuration ofB//I//C-axis. It is shown that the extended Josephson coupling model recently developed can quantitatively account for the variation in (T, B) in a wide transition region (five orders)     

Theory of location and associated hyperfine properties of the positive muon in La2CuO4

The current understanding regarding the location of the positive muon, which is a valuable tool for probing the magnetic properties of copper oxide superconducting systems, will be reviewed for La₂CuO₄. The results of our present investigations by the Unrestricted Hartree-Fock Cluster procedure, which leads to a location for the muon of about 1.08 Å away from an apical oxygen and with the O-⁺ direction making an angle of 25° with the O-Cu direction, will be discussed, including the magnitude and direction of the hyperfine field obtained from the calculated wave functions. These latter results, which are in reasonable agreement with earlier muon spin rotation data in powdered samples and recent data in single crystals, show the importance of including the local contact and dipolar contributions to the hyperfine field associated with the unpaired electron spin distribution in the neighborhood of the muon. Possible additional factors besides those included here, that will involve substantial computational efforts but could lead to a bridging of the remaining quantitative differences with experimental hyperfine data, will be discussed.     

Quantum frustrations in quasi-2D antiferromagnets

An influence of localized holes on magnetic properties of the CuO₂ planes in quasi-2D antiferromagnets (La₂CuO₄, YBa₂Cu₃O_+x etc.) is studied. It is demonstrated that the hole localized on the bond connecting Cu²⁺ ions gives birth to frustration which in a wide range of parameters behaves as the two-level system with the energyEJ, whereJ is the exchange interaction of the neighbouring copper spins. As a result forTE the spin-wave energy may noticeably decrease even at a low concentration of the holesc if the parametercJ|E| is not small. When this parameter is greater than unity, the reentrant transition may occur in the system. Experimental data presently available are in a qualitative agreement with the theoretical predictions.     

Magnetic phase transitions in 187-01187-01187-01

We report SR measurements of Pr₂CuO_4– and (Pr_2–xCe_x)CuO_4– single crystals in the temperature range 4.2K300K. Two spin reorientation phase transitions were observed, although neutron scattering experiment could not detect these phase transitions. These allow us to conclude that magnetic moments of the Cu atoms order in an antiferromagnetic noncollinear cross like structure including a hidden canting spin arrangement.     

Scaling the c-axis resistive transitions of single crystalline La1.86Sr0.14CuO4 for fields parallel to the c-axis

It was recently suggested that the out-of-plane resistive dissipation in the high-T _c systems could be quantitatively described in terms of the extended Josephson coupling model that accounts for both effective thermal energy and unusual anisotropy. This model is further confirmed in the present work by scaling the c-axis resistive transition data for Hc observed in single crystalline La_1.86Sr_0.14CuO₄ onto a single curve, in which only parameters extracted from experiments are used. We also argue the difficulty of the other dissipation models as a dominating origin of the field-induced broadening of c-axis resistive transition for Hc.     

Tunneling and point contact investigations of La1.85Sr0.15CuO4

The high-T _c superconductor La_1.85Sr_0.15CuO₄ was investigated by means of point contact and tunneling measurements on small-sized contacts. We find different values for the energy gap at different points of the samples. The ratio 2/k _B T _c ranges from about 3 to 6. For some point contacts we observe a clear signature of a supercurrent. Data for the temperature dependence of the critical current are presented.     

Quantum antiferromagnetism in 2 dimensions

We study the spin dynamics of the 2-dimensional spin 1/2 Heisenberg model at finite temperatureT, in particular the frequency region <TJ (the coupling constant). The main conclusion reached is that the spin fluctuations have relaxational character, no propagating spin waves exist for <T. Comparison with experimental results on La₂CuO₄ give good agreement. Similarities and differences to previous theoretical treatments are discussed.     

Local hyperfine field vector of positive muon in mono-domain single crystal of antiferromagnetic La2CuO4

By using a monodomain single crystal La₂CuO₄ grown by the travelling solvent floating zone method, the strength and direction of the local hyperfine field vector at positive muon sites were determined. Combining with the ⁺ location determined separately, we found the importance of the local hyperfine field contributions with dipolar symmetry as well as the distant dipolar field from surrounding point dipoles of Cu atomic moments.     

Pb1−x Fe x films prepared by vapor condensation

ZF, LF and TF SR experiments with antiferromagnetic (AF) ceramical samples La_2–x Sr _x CuO_4–y have been performed in the temperature range 10–300 K. Zero field muon spin polarization functions obtained below the Neel temperature clearly show a nonzero initial precession phase-–0.35 rad. We propose an explanation based on existence of the dynamical magnetic fields on the muon.We thank Drs. A.G. Chistov and A.M. Brjazkalo from RSC Kurchatov Institute for the preparation the #2 La₂CuO_4–y sample.     

Fe3O4 nanowire arrays synthesized in AAO templates

Fe₃O₄ nanowire arrays with an average diameter of about 120 nm and lengths up to 8 m were synthesized in anodic aluminum oxide templates through electrodepositing and heat treating a precursor -FeOOH. The nanowires have a polycrystalline spinel structure with a=8.31 Å and each nanowire is composed of fine particles. Influences of the sintering and the reducing temperatures on the products have been demonstrated by Mössbauer spectra and X-ray diffraction. It was found that high-coercivity nanowires can be obtained when the precursor was sintered at 500 °C in air and then reduced at 325 °C in H₂. Hysteresis loops measured at room temperature show a clear perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. PACS 75.75.+a; 81.07.-b     

Magnetic relaxation spectra of YbPd2Si2

We present the results of inelastic neutron scattering experiments on the intermediate-valent system YbPd₂Si₂ to investigate the magnetic relaxation behaviour. We have performed measurements on polycrystalline samples with neutrons of incident energyE ₀=3.1 meV at temperatures between 1.5 K and 250 K, and withE ₀=12.7 meV andE ₀=50.8 meV at temperatures between 5 K and 50 K using time-of-flight spectrometers. At temperaturesT>50 K we find a pure quasielastic magnetic response with a rather broad linewidth typical for intermediate-valent systems. AtT50 K an inelastic excitation line appears at about 21 meV; its intensity increases with decreasing temperature. In the same temperature range (T<50 K) the quasielastic linewidth decreases rapidly and atT=5 K the quasielastic response has been apparently transformed to a second inelastic feature at about 4.7 meV. The width of this low-energy excitation fits well to the temperature dependence of the quasielastic linewidth forT>5 K.     

Energy-Momentum Properties and the Spin of Short-Lived Particles

The space–time translation property of a stable particle is characterized by a time-like Lorentz vector (E, _k ). We show in this contribution that unstable particles are, in addition, characterized by a space-like Lorentz 4-vector of uncertainties, or spreads, ( E, k). This is true for unstable states created in formation-, in production-, and in decay-experiments. The space-like nature of the spread vector causes a nonzero momentum spread to be present in all Lorentz frames so that there is no Lorentz frame in which the unstable particle is entirely at rest. With the space-like spreadvector ( E, k) in addition to the time-like (E, _k ), also the rotation property of an unstable particle is affected, and unstable states have an uncertainty in their spin. This means neighboring spin states are occupied in addition to the original spin. Experiments are discussed that show a principal limitation of the accuracy of spin measurement from finite lifetimes. Wave functions for unstable particles are discussed, and we show in the example of a short-lived spin-0 state that the appearance of a spin neighbor in the amplitude is proportional to the inverse lifetime.     

57Fe and119Sn Mössbauer studies on La1.25Nd0.6Sr0.15CuO4

⁵⁷Fe- and¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer effect studies on 0.5 at %⁵⁷Fe (or¹¹⁹Sn) dopednon-superconducting La_1.25Nd_0.6Sr_0.15CuO₄ in the temperature region 300 K T4.2 K reveal an onset of local magnetic ordering occurring atT _m 32 K for both⁵⁷Fe—as well as¹¹⁹Sn-doped samples. The local magnetic ordering shows up in the presence of a very large transferred hyperfine field ofB _thf 11.0(5)T at the¹¹⁹Sn nuclei. Since such a large field is neither present in antiferromagnetic La₂CuO₄, nor in superconducting La_1.85Sr_0.15CuO₄ or overdoped La_2–xSr_xCuO₄ (x=0.4), the occurrence of such local spin correlations seems to be a signature of the non-superconducting low temperature tetragonal phase of La_1.25Nd_0.6Sr_0.15CuO₄.