Multiple magnetic transitions in single crystals of Ce<Subscript>12</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>57.5</Subscript>As<Subscript>41</Subscript> and La<Subscript>12</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>57.5</Subscript>As<Subscript>41</Subscript>

Measurements of magnetic and transport properties were performed on needle-shaped single crystals of Ce₁₂Fe_57.5As₄₁ and La₁₂Fe_57.5As₄₁. The availability of a complete set of data enabled a side-by-side comparison between these two rare earth compounds. Both compounds exhibited multiple magnetic orders within 2–300 K and metamagnetic transitions at various fields. Ferromagnetic transitions with Curie temperatures of 100 and 125 K were found for Ce₁₂Fe_57.5As₄₁ and La₁₂Fe_57.5As₄₁, respectively, followed by antiferromagnetic type spin reorientations near Curie temperatures. The magnetic properties underwent complex evolution in the magnetic field for both compounds. An antiferromagnetic phase transition at about 60 K and 0.2 T was observed merely for Ce₁₂Fe_57.5As₄₁. The field-induced magnetic phase transition occurred from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic structure. A strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy was evident from magnetization measurements of Ce₁₂Fe_57.5As₄₁. A temperature-field phase diagram was present for these two rare earth systems. In addition, a logarithmic temperature dependence of electrical resistivity was observed in the two compounds within a large temperature range of 150–300 K, which is rarely found in 3D-based compounds. It may be related to Kondo scattering described by independent localized Fe 3d moments interacting with conduction electrons.     

Structure and Anisotropy of the Superconducting Order Parameter in Ba<Subscript>0.65</Subscript>K<Subscript>0.35</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript> Probed by Andreev Spectroscopy

The superconducting order parameters in optimally doped Ba_0.65K_0.35Fe₂As₂ single crystals have been directly measured using multiple Andreev reflection effect spectroscopy of superconductor–normal metal–superconductor break-junctions. We determine two superconducting gaps, which are nodeless in the k _x k _y -plane of the momentum space, and resolve a substantial in-plane anisotropy of the large gap. The temperature dependences of the gaps indicate a strong coupling within the bands where Δ_L develops, a weak coupling in the condensate with the small gap Δ_S, and a moderate interband interaction between the two condensates. The own critical temperatures of both condensates have been estimated (under the hypotherical assumption of zero interband interaction).     

Electron paramagnetic resonance in YbNiAl<Subscript>2</Subscript> single crystals with strong magnetic anisotropy

Anisotropy in the magnetic properties of YbNiAl₂ intermetallide has been studied. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals assigned to the localized magnetic moments of trivalent ytterbium have been detected at temperatures below 20 K. Spin–lattice relaxation processes like the Orbach–Aminov process with participation of the first excited Stark sublevel of the Yb³⁺ ion with an energy of 96 K govern electron–spin dynamics and the disappearance of spectrum lines with a further increase in temperature. Strong magnetic anisotropy effects are discussed as a main reason for the appearance of electron paramagnetic resonance.     

Electron transport,penetration depth,and the upper critical magnetic field in ZrB<Subscript>12</Subscript> and MgB<Subscript>2</Subscript>

We report on the synthesis and measurements of the temperature dependences of the resistivity ρ, the penetration depth λ, and the upper critical magnetic field H_c2, for polycrystalline samples of dodecaboride ZrB₁₂ and diboride MgB₂. We conclude that ZrB₁₂ behaves as a simple metal in the normal state with the usual Bloch-Grüneisen temperature dependence of ρ(T) and with a rather low resistive Debye temperature T_R = 280 K (to be compared to T_R = 900 K for MgB₂). The ρ(T) and λ(T) dependences for these samples reveal a superconducting transition in ZrB₁₂ at T_c = 6.0 K. Although a clear exponential λ(T) dependence in MgB₂ thin films and ceramic pellets was observed at low temperatures, this dependence was almost linear for ZrB₁₂ below T_c/2. These features indicate an s-wave pairing state in MgB₂, whereas a d-wave pairing state is possible in ZrB₁₂. In disagreement with conventional theories, we found a linear temperature dependence, of H_c2(T) for ZrB₁₂ (H_c2(0) = 0.15 T).     

Visualization of the magnetic flux structure in phosphorus-doped EuFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript> single crystals

Magnetic flux structure on the surface of EuFe₂(As_1-x P _x )₂ single crystals with nearly optimal phosphorus doping levels x = 0.20 and x = 0.21 is studied by low-temperature magnetic force microscopy and decoration with ferromagnetic nanoparticles. The studies are performed in a broad temperature range. It is shown that the single crystal with x = 0.21 in the temperature range between the critical temperatures T _SC= 22 K and T _C = (18 ± 0.3) K of the superconducting and ferromagnetic phase transitions, respectively, has the vortex structure of a frozen magnetic flux, typical for type-II superconductors. The magnetic domain structure is observed in the superconducting state below T _C. The nature of this structure is discussed.     

Normal-state electrical resistivity and superconducting magnetic penetration depth in Eu<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>K<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript> polycrystals

We report measurements of the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity, ρ(T), and magnetic pen-etration depth, λ(T), for polycrystalline samples of Eu_0.5K_0.5Fe₂As₂ with T _c = 31 K. ρ(T) follows a linear temperature dependence above T _c and bends over to a weaker temperature dependence around 150 K. The magnetic penetration depth, determined by radio frequency technique displays an unusual minimum around 4 K which is associated with short-range ordering of localized Eu³⁺ moments. The article is published in the original.     

Magnetic properties of Pb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ge<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript> single crystals

Single crystals of Pb₂Fe₂Ge₂O₉ have been grown. They were subjected to X-ray diffraction, magnetic, neutron diffraction, Mössbauer and spin resonance studies. It has been established that Pb₂Fe₂Ge₂O₉ is a weak ferromagnet with a Néel temperature T _N = 46 K, and the exchange and spin-flop transition fields have been estimated. It has been demonstrated that the weak ferromagnetic moment is actually the result of the single-ion anisotropy axes for the magnetic moments of different magnetic sublattices being not collinear.     

Synthesis and properties of barium ferrigermanate Ba<Subscript>2</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>GeO<Subscript>7</Subscript>

The magnetic susceptibility and specific heat of single crystals of the Ba₂Fe₂GeO₇ barium ferrigermanate are investigated. It is revealed that the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility exhibits a kink at a temperature T = 8.5 K. The number of nonequivalent positions of Fe³⁺ ions and their occupancies are determined using Mössbauer spectroscopy. It is shown that the Fe³⁺ ions located in tetrahedral positions T2 are ordered incompletely, which is inconsistent with the results obtained previously. An assumption is made regarding the possible ground magnetic state of the Ba₂Fe₂GeO₇ compound.     

Relaxation phenomena in TlGa<Subscript>0.99</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>0.01</Subscript>Se<Subscript>2</Subscript> single crystals

The relaxation electronic phenomena occurring in TlGa_0.99Fe_0.01Se₂ single crystals in an external dc electric field are investigated. It is established that these phenomena are caused by electric charges accumulated in the single crystals. The charge relaxation at different electric field strengths and temperatures, the hysteresis of the current-voltage characteristic, and the electric charge accumulated in the TlGa_0.99Fe_0.01Se₂ single crystals are consistent with the relay-race mechanism of transfer of a charge generated at deep-lying energy levels in the band gap due to the injection of charge carriers from the electric contact into the crystal. The parameters characterizing the electronic phenomena observed in the TlGa_0.99Fe_0.01Se₂ single crystals are determined to be as follows: the effective mobility of charge carriers transferred by deep-lying centers μ_f=5.6×10^?2 cm²/(V s) at 300 K and the activation energy of charge transfer ΔE=0.54 eV, the contact capacitance of the sample C _c =5×10^?8 F, the localization length of charge carriers in the crystal d _c =1.17×10^?6 cm, the electric charge time constant of the contact τ=15 s, the time a charge carrier takes to travel through the sample t _t =1.8×10^?3 s, and the activation energy of traps responsible for charge relaxation ΔE _σ = ΔE _Q = 0.58 eV.     

Pressure-induced superconductivity and structural transitions in Ba(Fe<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Ru<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Electrical transport and structural characterizations of isoelectronically substituted Ba(Fe_0.9Ru_0.1)₂As₂ have been performed as a function of pressure up to ～ 30 GPa and temperature down to ～ 10 K using designer diamond anvil cell. Similar to undoped members of the AFe₂As₂ (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) family, Ba(Fe_0.9Ru_0.1)₂As₂ shows anomalous a-lattice parameter expansion with increasing pressure and a concurrent ThCr₂Si₂ type isostructural (I4/mmm) phase transition from tetragonal (T) phase to a collapsed tetragonal (cT) phase occurring between 12 and 17 GPa where the a is maximum. Above 17 GPa, the material remains in the cT phase up to 30 GPa at 200 K. The resistance measurements show evidence of pressure-induced zero resistance that may be indicative of high-temperature superconductivity for pressures above 3.9 GPa. The onset of the resistive transition temperature decreases gradually with increasing pressure before completely disappearing for pressures above ～ 10.6 GPa near the T-cT transition. We have determined the crystal structure of the high-T _c phase of Ru-doped BaFe₂As₂ to remain as tetragonal (I4/mmm) by analyzing the X-ray diffraction pattern obtained at 10 K and 9.7 ± 0.7 GPa, as opposed to inferring the structural transition from electrical resistance measurement, as in a previous report [S.K. Kim, M.S. Torikachvili, E. Colombier, A. Thaler, S.L. Bud’ko, P.C. Canfield, Phys. Rev. B 84, 134525 (2011)].     

Band structure of new layered arsenides SrRu<Subscript>2</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript> and BaRu<Subscript>2</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript>

This paper reports on the results of the ab initio FLAPW-GGA band structure calculations for two new layered phases SrRu₂As₂ and BaRu₂As₂, which are isostructural and isoelectronic to the known tetragonal (Ca,Sr,Ba)Fe₂As₂ basis phases of the FeAs superconductor family. The energy bands, densities of states, topology of the Fermi surface, low-temperature electron specific heats, and molar Pauli paramagnetic susceptibilities of SrRu₂As₂ and BaRu₂As₂ are determined for the first time and discussed in comparison with those for BaFe₂As₂ and BaRh₂As₂.     

Conductivity anisotropy and localization of charge carriers in TlInTe<Subscript>2</Subscript> single crystals

The electrical resistivity of TlInTe₂ chain-structure semiconductors in directions parallel and perpendicular to the chains is analyzed as a function of temperature. It is demonstrated that, in both cases, the temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity in the temperature range under investigation are characterized by two portions associated with different mechanisms of electrical conduction. In the high-temperature range, the electrical conduction is predominantly provided by thermally excited impurity charge carriers in the allowed band. In the low-temperature range, the conduction occurs through charge carrier hopping between localized states lying in a narrow energy band near the Fermi level. The activation energy for impurity conduction is determined. The localization lengths and the density of localized states near the Fermi level, the spread in energies of these states, and the average carrier-hopping distances are estimated for different temperatures.     

Features of low-temperature thermal expansion of n-type Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Se<Subscript>3</Subscript> single crystals in magnetic field

Tensometric study of n-type Bi₂Se₃ single crystals in dc magnetic fields to 6 T in a temperature range of 7–23 K detected a weak negative thermal expansion (NTE) in the basal plane. The NTE increases with the field strength and depends on its orientation with respect to the trigonal c axis. In a magnetic field of 6 T, parallel to the c axis, the linear NTE coefficient reaches ?7 · 10^?7 K^?1, and a minimum sample length is reached at a temperature of 13 K, where a Hall carrier concentration maximum is also detected. The found magnetoelastic anomaly can be associated with the topological insulator state.     

Superconductivity in Ti-doped iron-arsenide compound Sr<Subscript>4</Subscript>Cr<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>1.2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Superconductivity was achieved in Ti-doped iron-arsenide compound Sr₄Cr_0.8Ti_1.2O₆Fe₂As₂ (abbreviated as Cr-FeAs-42622). The X-ray diffraction measurement shows that this material has a layered structure with the space group of P4/nmm, and with the lattice constants a = b = 3.9003 Å and c = 15.8376 Å. Clear diamagnetic signals in ac susceptibility data and zero-resistance in resistivity data were detected at about 6 K, confirming the occurrence of bulk superconductivity. Meanwhile we observed a superconducting transition in the resistive data with the onset transition temperature at 29.2 K, which may be induced by the nonuniform distribution of the Cr/Ti content in the FeAs-42622 phase.     

Observation of multiple superconducting gaps in the infrared reflectivity spectra of Ba(Fe<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The results of infrared reflectivity measurements for the iron-based high-temperature superconductor Ba(Fe_0.9Co_0.1)₂As₂ are reported. The reflectivity is found to be close to unity at frequencies ω lower than 2Δ/h (2Δ is the superconducting gap and h is Planck’s constant). This is evidence for the s ^+/− or s ^+/+ symmetry of the superconducting order parameter in the studied compound. The infrared reflectivity spectra of Ba(Fe_0.9Co_0.1)₂As₂ manifest opening of several superconducting gaps at temperatures lower than critical T _c .     

Electronic and magnetic properties of Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>SiC

The electronic structure and magnetic properties of Fe₂SiC compound have been studiedusing the framework of an all-electron full-potential linearized augmented-plane wave(FP-LAPW) method within the local density (LSDA) and + U corrected(LSDA + U)approximations. An antiferromagnetic spin ordering of Fe atoms is shown to be the groundstate for this compound. From the electronic band structures and density of states (DOS),Fe₂SiC has ametallic character and from the analysis of the site and momentum projected densities, itis deduced that the bonding is achieved through hybridization of Fe-3d with C-2p states andFe-3d withSi-3pstates. It is also pointed out that the Fe-C bonding is more covalent than Fe-Si. In theFM phase, the spin polarized calculations indicate that the total magnetic moment ofFe₂SiC increasesfrom 0.41 to 4.33μ _B when the Hubbard U parameter for iron isconsidered.     

Baric changes in refractive indices of K<Subscript>2</Subscript>ZnCl<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystals

The influence of uniaxial pressure applied along the principal crystallophysical directions on the dispersion and temperature dependences of the refractive indices n _i of K₂ZnCl₄ crystals has been investigated. The n _i values are found to be fairly sensitive to uniaxial pressure, whereas an uniaxial stress does not change the behavior of the dispersion and temperature dependences of n _i . The baric changes in n _i have been studied. The electronic polarizability α _i , refractions R, and parameters of UV oscillators (λ_0i , B _1i ) of mechanically deformed K₂ZnCl₄ crystals have been calculated. The contributions of UV and IR oscillators to n _i (λ) have been estimated for different temperatures, spectral regions, and stresses. A significant baric shift of the points of the paraelectric phase-incommensurate phase-commensurate phase transitions to different temperature ranges, depending on the direction of pressure application, is found; this shift is due to the effect of uniaxial stress on the K₂ZnCl₄ crystal structure.     

Ginzburg-landau slopes of the anisotropic upper critical magnetic field and band parameters in the superconductor (TMTSF)<Subscript>2</Subscript>ClO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

We theoretically determine the Ginzburg-Landau slopes of the anisotropic upper critical magnetic field in a quasi-one-dimensional superconductor and correct the previous works on this issue. By using the experimentally measured values of the Ginzburg-Landau slopes in the superconductor (TMTSF)ClO₄, we determine band parameters of its electron spectrum. Our main result is that the so-called quantum dimensional crossover has to happen in this material in magnetic fields, H = 3–8 T, which are much lower than the previously assumed. We discuss how this fact influences metallic and superconducting properties of the (TMTSF)₂ClO₄.     

Optical properties of mechanically compressed K<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystals

The effect of a uniaxial mechanical compression (σ_m ≤ 100 bar) on the spectral dependences (300–800 nm) of the birefringence Δn _i and refractive indices n _i of K₂SO₄ crystals is studied. The electronic polarizabilities, refractions, and parameters (λ_0i , B _1i ) of ultraviolet oscillators of mechanically compressed crystals are calculated. It is shown that the dispersions of Δn _i(λ) and n _i(λ) are normal and sharply increase near the absorption edge. It is found that the uniaxial compression changes the value of the dispersions dΔn _i/dλ and dn _i/dλ rather than their character. It is ascertained that the simultaneous action of the compressions σ_x and σ_z, as well as of σ_y and σ_z, leads to the appearance of new isotropic states in the K₂SO₄ crystal, which manifests itself in the equality of corresponding birefringences. It is shown that the baric dependences n _i(σ) are determined by the change in the density of oscillators (～30%), by the shift of the absorption edge and effective band maximum and by the change in the oscillator strength (～70%).     

Electronic structure of Ti-doped Sr<Subscript>4</Subscript>Sc<Subscript>2</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript> as a possible parent phase for the new FeAs superconductors

First principle FLAPW-GGA calculations have been performed with the purpose to understand the effect of Ti-doping on the electronic properties for the newly discovered tetragonal iron arsenide-oxide Sr₄Sc₂Fe₂As₂O₆ (abbreviated as FeAs42226) as the possible parent phase for the new FeAs superconductors. Our results show that the insertion of Ti into Sc sublattice of this five-component iron arsenide-oxide phase leads to the resolute change of electronic structure of FeAs42226. Namely, the insulating oxygen-containing [Sr₄Sc₂O₆] blocks in Ti-doped FeAs42226 became conducting, and this differs essentially from the known picture for all others FeAs superconductors where the conducting [Fe₂As₂] blocks are alternated with insulating blocks. Moreover in sharp contrast with FeAs-based superconductors with Fe 3d bands near the Fermi level, for Ti-doped FeAs42226 in this region the Ti 3d states are dominated, whereas the Fe 3d states are suppressed.