Orientation of the oxygen-induced non-axially symmetric electric field gradient at181Ta in Ta

The interaction of dilute¹⁸¹Ta in Ta with interstitial oxygen has been investigated via the γ-γ TDPAC-technique applied to the 482 keV state in¹⁸¹Ta. The trapping of Oxygen leading to a quadrupole interaction frequency ν_Q=580(5) MHz with an asymmetry parameter of η-0.37 (1) has been observed after melting the radioactive parent isotope¹⁸¹Hf with Ta. The temperature dependence of the quadrupole interaction frequency between 17 K and 293 K was found to be very weak whereas η varied by about 10%. In a single crystal experiment the orientation of the three principal axes of the electric field gradient leading to ν_Q was determined. The V_zz-axis points in <110>, the V_yy-axis in <100> and the V_xx-axis in <110> direction. These results can be understood in the charge cloud model, suggested by Wrede et al. /1/ for a similar situation found in the HfNb system.     

TDPAC studies of the intercalation compound Li x TiS2 in the region 0≤x≤1

The electrochemical intercalation of Li⁺ into hafnium-doped TiS₂ was studied using time-differential perturbed angular correlations (TDPAC). The¹⁸¹Ta nuclear quadrupole interaction was monitored as a function of the charge transfer,n _F. For low uptakes, 0≤n _F≤0.03, a two-phase region was found with an empty host interaction, characterized byV _q=458(4) MHz, η=0.19(3) and δ-0.083(5), and a second interaction corresponding to lithiated material withv _q=597(5) MHz, η=0.13(4) and δ=0.061(5). No evidence was found for intermediate phases.     

Hyperfine interaction study of electric field gradient in hafnium phosphide using181Ta probe

The hyperfine interaction of¹⁸¹Ta in HfP has been investigated by time differential perturbed angular correlation method which yielded interaction frequencyv _Q=630.20(15) MHz. The observed electric field gradient is calculated to be 1.66(25) × 10²⁰ V/m².     

Hydrogen and deuterium trapping at nitrogen in tantalum studied by PAC

PAC experiments using¹⁸¹Hf as probe atom were performed in Ta samples containing 1.1 at% of N and loaded with 0.2 at% of H or of 1.6 at% of D. At room temperature only the known frequency due to N is present. Below 100K or 140K, for H and D respectively, the amplitude of this interaction decreases and two new interaction frequencies characterized by V₀=240MHz, η=0.80 and V₀=250 MHz, η=0.40 appear. These frequencies are attributed to H(D) trapped by N in the vicinity of the probe atom¹⁸¹Hf. The disappearance of these interactions at 100K and 140K is interpreted as a release of H (D) from Hf but not from N. From the data the jump rates of H(D) around N in Ta are derived.     

The Ag−In intermetallic compound formation from Ag and In electrodeposited layers observed by PAC

The PAC method was applied to study the intermetallic compound formation at Ag−In interfaces. The electrodeposited Ag−In layers of different Ag: In atomic ratios were prepared and isochronal annealing program was performed. For the comparison the bulk Ag₇₅In₂₅ and Ag₆₆In₃₄ specimens were examined. The Ag₂In and AgIn₂ compounds were detected and the quadrupole hyperfine interaction parameters for¹¹¹In in Ag₂In were measured as υ_Q107.9(3) MHz and η=0.48 (2).     

Magnetic hyperfine field of Ta in iron measured by means of the dpac method

The magnetic hyperfine field of Ta in iron was measured by means of DPAC using the 5/2⁺ state in¹⁸¹Ta. At room temperature, this field was found to be |H _hf(RT)|=6.08(7) T, which confirms the result of an earlier DPAC experiment. A hyperfine anomaly^5/2Δ^7/2=−4.6(23)% between the above state and the 7/2⁺ ground state of¹⁸¹Ta is deduced.     

Defect-acceptor pairs in germanium

The PAC probe¹¹¹In was implanted into intrinsic, n-and p-doped germanium. After removing the radiation damage by thermal annealing the samples were irradiated with different lons to study defect-acceptor pairs by means of the PAC technique. In all samples a high electric field gradient could be observed, characterized by a quadrupole interaction frequency of υ_Q2=415MHz and an axial symmetry (η=0). Some samples show another frequency of υ_Q152.5 MHz and η=0. The results give evidence for an intrinsic defect trapped at the¹¹¹In probe.     

Decoupling experiments for the study of electric and magnetic hyperfine interactions in ferromagnetic compounds

The decoupling experiments involving the time-differential perturbed angular correlation (TDPAC) of the 133–482 keV γ-γ cascade in the presence of an external magnetic field applied along the quantization axis have been performed to measure the electric quadrupole and the magnetic hyperfine interactions experienced by the¹⁸¹Ta nuclei at Hf sites in the pseudobinary compounds HfFe_2-xSi_x, withx=0.1 andx=0.3. The hyperfine magnetic fields measured at 298 K areH _hf=133.1±12.0 kG in the cubic (C15) Laves phase compound HfFe_1.9Si_0.1 andH _hf=76.8±7.0 kG in the hexagonal (C14) Laves phase compound HfFe_1.7Si_0.3. The decoupling technique has also been used to obtain a —ve sign for the hyperfine field experienced by¹⁸¹Ta nuclei at the Ti or Hf sites in the Heusler compound Co₂Ti_0.8Hf_0.2Sn and a+ve sign for the hyperfine field at Zr sites in the cubic (C15) Laves phase compound ZrFe₂.     

TDPAC studies of Hf doped YBCO

Time differential perturbed angular correlation measurements of the 133–482 keVγ-γ cascade of¹⁸¹Ta in Hf-doped YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x are presented. The¹⁸¹Hf precurser nuclei are incorporated into the sample by thermal neutron irradiation. Two quadrupole interaction frequencies are observed in the as-irradiated sample:v _Q1=161±10 MHz with intensityf ₁=75%, asymmetry parameterη ₁=0.32 and damping parameter Λ₁=0.42, andv _Q2=1108±40 MHz withf ₂=25%,η ₂=0.62, and Λ₂=0.60. On annealing the sample in air at various temperaturesT _a and quenching to room temperature,f ₁ remained nearly constant forT _a<600°C andv _Q1 for all annealing temperatures indicating that these are insensitive to oxygen stoichiometry. This frequency is interpreted to be due to¹⁸¹Hf substitutingY sites. BeyondT _a=600°C,f ₁ increased and reached a constant value of 90% forT _a=800°C. The value ofv _Q2 showed a slight variation between 1086 and 1160 MHz, whilef ₂ remained nearly constant at 25% forT _a<600°C. This component is identified to be due to¹⁸¹Hf substituting Cu 1 sites in the Cu-O chains of YBCO. Above 600°Cv _Q2 decreased and reached a value of 808 MHz beyond 750°C.     

Cavity formation at indium impurities in bcc metals

The defect formation in the bcc metals W and Mo above annealing stage III and the influence of rare gases on this process were investigated by means of the perturbed angular correlation technique using¹¹¹In as radioactive probe. In both metals a relatively high electric field gradient (EFG) could be observed at the indium site, characterized by the quadrupole interaction frequencies υ_Q=263 MHz, ν=0 and υ_Q=220 MHz, ν≈0.15 for W and Mo, respectively. The observations are assigned to the growth of threedimensional vacancy clusters at the probe atoms with the indium atoms situated in the inner surface of this cavities, thus experiencing the corresponding surface EFG.     

Time-dependent perturbed angular correlation study of181Ta in Mg

The quadrupole interaction of¹⁸¹Ta in Mg metal has been investigated at room temperature by time differential perturbed angular correlation method yieldingv _Q=127±7 MHz. The observed EFG is calculated to be 20.8×10¹⁶ V/cm².     

Hyperfine Interactions in the Sr0.88Ba0.12HfO3 Compound

The temperature dependence of the hyperfine parameters in a powder sample of the Sr_0.88Ba_0.12HfO₃ compound has been investigated for the first time using perturbed angular correlation spectroscopy. The time spectra were measured as a function of the temperature from 293 to 1273 K. Activated ¹⁸¹Ta nuclei were used as hyperfine probes at the Hf sites. The analysis of the time spectra indicates the presence of two different surroundings for the Ta probes. The most populated site (f ₁≈75% at laboratory temperature) was fitted with the usual static quadrupole hyperfine interactions found in most perovskite-type compounds. The resulting quadrupole frequency is ω _Q ≈24 Mrad/s at this temperature. This frequency continuously decreases to nearly 9 Mrad/s at 1273 K. Its line width temperature dependence displays three regions and the changes observed probably correspond to phase transitions. The other site has a large and temperature independent quadrupole frequency ω _Q ≈120 Mrad/s that reversibly transforms into the first at high temperatures and probably originates from some defect in the structure. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Temperature dependence of the electric quadrupole interaction at scandium impurities in zirconium and hafnium

The PAC probe⁴⁴Sc was employed to study the magnitude and temperature dependence of the electric quadrupole interaction at the site of the transition metal Sc in the hexagonal host lattices Zr and Hf. In Zr ∼ 100% of the probe atoms were situated on regular lattice sites and a quadrupole interaction frequency of υ_Q=7.8(1)MHz was measured at room temperature. For Hf the fraction of the probe atoms on regular lattice sites was smaller and a damping of the interaction pattern (υ_Q=9.3(5)MHz at 293 K) could not be excluded. The temperature dependence of the electric field gradient in both host lattices was found to be weak.     

Hyperfine Interactions at 181Ta in Hf2Co7

In this paper we report a time differential perturbed angular correlation (TDPAC) study of hyperfine interactions at ¹⁸¹Ta in Hf₂Co₇ compound. The TDPAC measurements have been performed in the temperature range 77–1023K. The measured spectra showed broad distribution of hyperfine interactions up to 388K. Above this temperature, in a reversible manner, two nuclear electric quadrupole interactions (EQI) have been observed: at 393K, _Q1=449.0(27)MHz, ₁=0.00(4) and _Q2=144.7(41)MHz, ₂=0.44(2). Since the Curie temperature for this compound is known from the literature to be around 420K, only magnetic order transition could be responsible for such an observation. However, the measurements of magnetization did not exhibit any drastic change in this temperature range.     

Hf3Al2 and Zr3Al2 Isostructural Aluminides Studied by PAC with 181Ta and 111Cd Probes

The electric quadrupole hyperfine interactions for ¹⁸¹Hf/¹⁸¹Ta and for ¹¹¹In/¹¹¹Cd probes in polycrystalline Zr₃Al₂ and Hf₃Al₂ compounds were measured in the temperature range 24–1100 K. The hyperfine quadrupole interaction parameters were determined after different doping techniques and heat treatments of the samples.¹⁸¹Hf/¹⁸¹Ta was found to substitute the Hf/Zr sites and the ¹¹¹In/¹¹¹Cd impurities appear to substitute both the 8(j) Al sites and the three nonequivalent Hf/Zr sites.     

Study of the structure and electric quadrupole interaction in the intermetallic compound Hf2Fe

The electric quadrupole interactions at¹⁸¹Ta probe nuclei in a cubic Hf₂Fe lattice were studied by the TDPAC method. In addition, the crystalline structure study of the Hf₂Fe compound was performed. The results of the EQI measurement show the presence of two independent interactions, one at low frequency, characterized by ω _Q ⁽¹⁾ =33 Mrad/s and δ=30%, and the other at high frequency described by ω _Q ⁽²⁾ =207 ± 2 Mrad/s and δ=4%. Both interactions are found to be compatible with the crystalline structure established in this investigation. The large temperature dependence of the electric field gradient of the second interaction in the range from 78K to 1183K was determined. The change in the EFG follows the empiricalT ^3/2 -relation.     

The electric quadrupole interaction of 111Cd in ZrZn2 and Zn in the samples prepared at 8 GPa

The perturbed angular correlation (PAC) measurements with the ¹¹¹In-¹¹¹Cd nuclear probe embedded into the lattice of the cubic (C15) Laves compound ZrZn₂ showed that ¹¹¹Cd nuclei experienced an axially symmetric electric quadrupole interaction with a frequency ν _Q  = 132.4 MHz at room temperature. The samples were synthesized and doped with the probe at a pressure 8 GPa. The temperature dependence of ν _Q was shown to be linear: ν _Q (T) = 147(1 − 0.033 T) MHz. Since the value of ν _Q is very close to that known for ¹¹¹Cd in the lattice of Zn, we have checked if it could be assigned to residual Zn metal in the sample. For the Zn sample melted and doped with ¹¹¹In at 8 GPa we have obtained ν _Q  = 117.3 MHz at 300 K and 127 MHz at 80 K – both values considerably lower than that for ¹¹¹In doped Zn samples prepared at an ambient pressure. These data, and the fact that ν _Q (T) in Zn is known to follow the T ^3/2 law, allow to attribute the ν _Q value quoted above to ¹¹¹Cd nuclei at the substitutional sites with tetrahedral symmetry in the Zn sublattice of ZrZn₂.     

The Nonanuclear [Mo(IV){(CN)Fe(III)(3-ethoxy-saldptn)}8]Cl4 Complex Compound Exhibits Multiple Spin Transitions Observed by Mössbauer Spectroscopy

The hyperfine interactions at ¹⁸¹Ta ions on Fe³⁺ sites in α-Fe₂O₃ (hematite) were studied in the temperature range 11–1100 K by means of the perturbed angular correlation (PAC) technique. The ¹⁸¹Hf(β⁻)¹⁸¹Ta probe nuclei were introduced chemically into the sample during the preparation. The hyperfine interaction measurements allow to observe the magnetic phase transition and to characterize the supertransferred hyperfine magnetic field B_hf and the electric field gradient (EFG) at the impurity sites. The angles between B_hf and the principal axes of the EFG were determined. The Morin transition was also observed. The results are compared with those of similar experiments carried out using ¹¹¹Cd probe. ^aAlso at Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.     

Mössbauer Studies of Dilute 119Sn and 57Fe in SrRuO3 and Sr2FeRuO6

Nuclear magnetic resonance on oriented ¹⁷⁵Hf in iron host has been measured. Samples of ¹⁷⁵HfFe were made by recoil implantation of the precursor ¹⁷⁵Ta isotope. The resonance frequency and the resonance line width have been determined to be 139.0 (1) MHz and FWHM = 2.7 (2) MHz, respectively, in an external magnetic field of 0.1 T. The resonance width was very narrow compared with the previously reported value of 11.0 (1.1) MHz. With the known value of the magnetic moment of μ(¹⁷⁵Hf) = −0.62 (3) μ_N, the hyperfine field has been deduced as B _HF = −73.6 (3.5) T.