Nonergodic state of relaxation ferroelectric Cd<Subscript>2</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> in a constant electric field

The temperature dependence of the residual polarization of the nonergodic relaxation state (NERS) obtained from the measurements of pyroelectric current during zero-field heating (ZFH) in the temperature interval from 10 to 295 K is investigated for the Cd₂Nb₂O₇ relaxation system in two cases: (1) after sample cooling in a constant electric field E (FC) from T = 295 K to a preset temperature, which is much lower than the “freezing” temperature of the relaxation state (T _f ≈ 182 K), field removal, and subsequent cooling in zero field (ZFC) to T = 10 K and (2) after ZFC from T = 295 K to the same temperature below T _f , application of the same field, and FC to T = 10 K. The behavior of the P _r ^FC (T) and P _r ^ZFC (T) dependences is analyzed. In the field E < 2 kV/cm, the P _r ^ZFC curves as functions of 1/T have a broad low-intensity peak in the region T ≈ T _f , which vanishes in stronger fields, when the P _r ^FC (1/T) curves intersect at T ≈ T _f and have no anomalies. The difference in the behavior of P _r ^ZFC (T) and P _r ^FC (T) indicates the difference in the nature of NERS formed during ZFC and FC of the system upon a transition through T _f . In the ZFC mode, NERS exhibits glasslike behavior; in the FC regime, features of the ferroelectric behavior even in the weak field. Analogous variations of P _r ^ZFC (T) and P _r ^FC (T) in a classical ferroelectric KDP are also given for comparison.     

Experimental Study and Analysis of Absorption Spectra of Ni<Superscript>2+</Superscript> Ions in Nickel Orthoborate Ni<Subscript>3</Subscript>(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The results of studies of the absorption spectra of nickel orthoborate Ni₃(BO₃)₂ in the range of electronic d–d-transitions are reported. The obtained data are analyzed in the framework of the crystal field theory. The Ni²⁺ ions are located in two crystallographically nonequivalent positions 2a and 4f with point symmetry groups C_2h and C₂, respectively, surrounded by six oxygen ions forming deformed octahedra. The absorption spectra exhibit three intense bands corresponding to spin-resolved transitions from the ground state of nickel ion ³A_2g (³F) to the sublevels of the ³T_2g (³F), ³T_1g (³F) and ³T_1g (³P) triplets split by the spinorbit interaction and the rhombic component of the crystal field. At temperatures below 100 K, the spectra exhibit a thin structure, in which phonon-free lines can be distinguished. Comparison of the calculated frequencies of the zero-phonon transitions with the experimental data allows estimating parameters of the crystal field acting on the nickel ions in the 2a- and 4f-positions, as well as the parameters of electrostatic interaction between the 3d electrons and spin-orbit interaction constants.     

Optical and x-ray diffraction studies of the symmetry of distorted phases of the (NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>ZrF<Subscript>7</Subscript> crystal

(NH₄)₃ZrF₇ single crystals were grown, and polarization-optical and x-ray diffraction studies were performed on powders and crystalline plates of various cuts over a wide temperature range. Phase transitions are revealed at temperatures T _1↑ = 280 K, T _2↑ = 279.6 K, T _3↑ = 260–265 K, and T _4↑ = 238 K on heating and at T _1↓ = 280 K, T _2↓ = 269–270 K, T _3↓ = 246 K, and T _4↓ = 235 K on cooling. The sequence of changes in symmetry is established to be as follows: O _h ⁵ (Z = 4) ? D _2h ²⁵ (Z = 2) ? C _2h ³ (Z = 2) ? C _i ¹ (Z = 108) ? monoclinic²(Z = 216).     

X-ray study of [N(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript>]<Subscript>2</Subscript>ZnCl<Subscript>4</Subscript> at low temperatures

The unit cell parameters a, b, and c of [N(CH₃)₄]₂ZnCl₄ have been measured by x-ray diffraction in the temperature range 80–293 K. Temperature dependences of the thermal expansion coefficients α_a, α_b, and α_c along the principal crystallographic axes and of the unit cell thermal expansion coefficient α_V were determined. It is shown that the a=f(T), b=f(T), and c=f(T) curves exhibit anomalies in the form of jumps at phase transition temperatures T₁=161 K and T₂=181 K and that the phase transition occurring at T₃=276 K manifests itself in the a=f(T) and b=f(T) curves as a break. A slight anisotropy in the coefficient of thermal expansion of the crystal was revealed. The phase transitions occurring at T₁=161 K and T₂=181 K in [N(CH₃)₄]₂ZnCl₄ were established to be first-order.     

Crystallographic characteristics and phase transitions in the [N(C<Subscript>2</Subscript>H<Subscript>5</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript>]<Subscript>2</Subscript>CdBr<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystal in the low-temperature range

The results of x-ray structural studies of the [N(C₂H₅)₄]₂CdBr₄ crystal at low temperatures are presented. The unit cell parameters and the thermal expansion coefficients along the main crystallographic directions are measured at temperatures in the range from 90 to 320 K. The integrated intensities of the diffraction reflections are investigated as a function of the temperature. It is shown that the curves a = f(T), c = f(T), I ₅₀₀ = f(T), and I ₀₀₆ = f(T) at temperatures T ₁ ≈ 174 K and T ₂ ≈ 226 K exhibit anomalies in the form of abrupt changes in the lattice parameters and the diffraction reflection intensities. This indicates that the [N(C₂H₅)₄]₂CdBr₄ crystal undergo phase transitions at these temperatures. Moreover, there is an anomaly in the form of a small maximum at the temperature T ₃ = 293 K.     

Dissipation of ripplon flow at the surface of superfluid <Superscript>4</Superscript>He

Within the framework of quantum hydrodynamics of a superfluid helium surface, the momentum relaxation rate caused by the annihilation of two ripplons with phonon creation, inelastic phonon scattering with ripplon annihilation, and in the case of helium films one-particle ripplon scattering from the surface-level inhomogeneities introduced by the substrate roughness (new relaxation mechanism) was obtained for a ripplon gas at T?0.25 K. The contribution from the inelastic phonon scattering is negligible at these temperatures. For a film at T≤0.15 K, one-particle scattering dominates, leading to a temperature dependence of the form K∝T^5/3 for the convective thermal conductance.At higher temperatures, phonon creation with annihilation of two ripplons is the dominant mechanism, giving K∝T^?3. These results are in quantitative agreement with the available experimental data.     

Luminescence of Tl<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions in a KZnF<Subscript>3</Subscript> crystal

The luminescence spectra of a KZnF₃: Tl⁺ crystal are investigated in the energy range from 4.75 to 5.9 eV at temperatures of 10–300 K upon excitation into the A absorption band (5.7–6.3 eV). At T=300 K, the luminescence spectra exhibit an intense band with a maximum at 5.45 eV, which is attributed to single Tl⁺ ions substituted for K⁺ ions. The 5.723-eV intense narrow band observed at T<20 K is assigned to the ³Γ_1u-¹Γ_1g zero-phonon transition, which is weakly allowed by the hyperfine interaction. The luminescence decay is studied as a function of temperature. The main characteristics of the luminescence spectra are adequately described in terms of the semiclassical theory based on the Franck-Condon principle and the Jahn-Teller effect for an excited sp configuration of the Tl⁺ ion with the use of the parameters obtained earlier from analyzing the absorption spectra of the system under investigation.     

Specific heat of La(Fe<Subscript>0.873</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.007</Subscript>Al<Subscript>0.12</Subscript>)<Subscript>13</Subscript> compound in antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic states

The low-temperature specific heat C _p of La(Fe_0.873Co_0.007Al_0.12)₁₃ compound has been measured in two states: (i) antiferromagnetic (AFM) with a Néel temperature of T _N = 192 K and (ii) ferromagnetic (FM). The FM order appears at T = 4.2 K in a sample exposed to an external magnetic field with induction B _C ≥ 2.5 T and is retained for a long time in a zero field at temperatures up to T*_C = 23 K. The coefficient γ_FM in the low-temperature specific heat C = γT + βT ³ in the FM state differs quite insignificantly from that (γ_AFM) in the AFM state. Contributions to the low-temperature specific heat, which are related to a change in the elastic and magnetoelastic energy caused by magnetostrictive deformations, are considered.     

Peculiarities of magnetic,galvanomagnetic, elastic,and magnetoelastic properties of Eu<Subscript>0.55</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.45</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Magnetic, elastic, magnetoelastic, transport, and magnetotransport properties of the Eu_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃ ceramics have been studied. A break was detected in the temperature dependence of electrical resistivity ρ(T) near the temperature of the magnetic phase transformation (41 K), with the material remaining an insulator down to the lowest measurement temperature reached (ρ=10⁶ Ω cm at 4.2 K). In the interval 4.2≤T≤50 K, the isotherms of the magnetization, volume magnetostriction, and ρ were observed to undergo jumps at the critical field H_C1, which decreases with increasing T. For 50≤T≤120 K, the jumps in the above curves persist, but the pattern of the curves changes and H_C1 grows with increasing T. The magnetoresistance Δρ/ρ = (ρ _H ?ρ_H=0)/ρ _H is positive for H<H_C1 and passes through a maximum at 41 K, where Δρ/ρ = 6%. For H>H_C1, the magnetoresistance is negative, passes through a minimum near 41 K, and reaches a colossal value of 3×10⁵ % at H=45 kOe. The volume magnetostriction is negative and attains a giant value of 4.5×10^?4atH=45 kOe. The observed properties are assigned to the existence of three phases in Eu_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃, namely, a ferromagnetic (FM) phase, in which carriers are concentrated because of the gain in s-d exchange energy, and two antiferromagnetic (AFM) phases of the A and CE types. Their fractional volumes at low temperatures were estimated to be as follows: ～3% of the sample volume is occupied by the FM phase; ～67%, by the CE-type AFM phase; and ～30%, by the A-type AFM phase.     

Thermal quenching of luminescence of BaY<Subscript>2</Subscript>F<Subscript>8</Subscript> crystals activated with Er<Superscript>3+</Superscript> and Tm<Superscript>3+</Superscript> ions

Thermal quenching of interconfigurational 5d-4f luminescence of Er³⁺ and Tm³⁺ ions in BaY₂F₈ crystals is studied in the temperature range of 330–790 K. The quenching temperatures are ~575 and ~550 K for Er³⁺ and Tm³⁺, respectively. It is shown that quenching of 5d-4f luminescence of Tm³⁺ ions is caused by thermally stimulated ionization of 5d electrons to the conduction band.     

Structural Phase Transition of Perovskite-Type N(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript>CdBr<Subscript>3</Subscript> Studied by MAS NMR and Static NMR

The structural geometry change in the perovskite-type N(CH₃)₄CdBr₃ single crystal near the phase transition temperature of T _C = 390 K was investigated using magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. For ¹H and ¹³C nuclei, the temperature dependences of their chemical shift, spectral intensity, and spin–lattice relaxation time (T _1ρ) in the rotating frame were obtained and analyzed. While the chemical shift and T _1ρ of ¹H showed change near T _C, those of ¹³C did not. In addition, the ¹¹³Cd spin–lattice relaxation time T ₁ in the laboratory frame near T _C show no evidence of anomalous change near the phase transition temperature, which coincides with the measured changes in the ¹H T _1ρ. The driving force for this phase transition was connected to the ¹H in the CH₃ groups.     

Manifestation of pseudogap features in structurally inhomogeneous optimally doped HTSC YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>6.92</Subscript>

Magnetization M(H,T) in magnetic fields H up to 90 kOe and at temperatures 2 K ≤ T < T _c (where Tc is the superconducting transition temperature), along with magnetic susceptibility χ(T) in the normal state T _c < T < 400 K for optimally oxygen-doped samples of YBa₂Cu₃O_6.92 with varying degrees of defects in the crystal structure, are studied to determine the influence of structural inhomogeneity on the electron systems characteristics of cuprate superconductors. It is shown that the existence of structural inhomogeneity of samples leads to the manifestation of peculiarities appropriate to pseudogap regime in their properties.     

Influence of the ground state of the Pr<Superscript>3+</Superscript> ion on magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of the PrFe<Subscript>3</Subscript>(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript> multiferroic

The magnetic, magnetoelectric, and magnetoelastic properties of a PrFe₃(BO₃)₄ single crystal and the phase transitions induced in this crystal by the magnetic field are studied both experimentally and theoretically. Unlike the previously investigated ferroborates, this material is characterized by a singlet ground state of the rare-earth ion. It is found that, below T _N = 32 K, the magnetic structure of the crystal in the absence of the magnetic field is uniaxial (l ∥ c), while, in a strong magnetic field H ∥ c (H _cr ～ 43 kOe at T = 4.2 K), a Fe³⁺ spin reorientation to the basal plane takes place. The reorientation is accompanied by anomalies in magnetization, magnetostriction, and electric polarization. The threshold field values determined in the temperature interval 2–32 K are used to plot an H-T phase diagram. The contribution of the Pr³⁺ ion ground state to the parameters under study is revealed, and the influence of the praseodymium ion on the magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of praseodymium ferroborate is analyzed.     

High-resolution spectroscopy of HoFe<Subscript>3</Subscript>(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystal: a study of phase transitions

The transmission spectra of HoFe₃(BO₃) multiferroic single crystals are studied by optical Fourier-transform spectroscopy at temperatures of 1.7–423 K in polarized light in the spectral range 500–10 000 cm^–1 with a resolution up to 0.1 cm^–1. A new first-order structural phase transition close to the second-order transition is recorded at T_c = 360 K by the appearance of a new phonon mode at 976 cm^–1. The reasons for considerable differences in T_c for different samples of holmium ferroborate are discussed. By temperature variations in the spectra of the f–f transitions in the Ho³⁺ ion, we studied two magnetic phase transitions, namely, magnetic ordering into an easy-plane structure as a second-order phase transition at T_N = 39 K and spin reorientation from the ab plane to the c axis as a first-order phase transition at T_SR = 4.7 ± 0.2 K. It is shown that erbium impurity in a concentration of 1 at % decreases the spin-reorientation transition temperature to T_SR = 4.0 K.     

Phase transition behavior of hydrogen bonded liquid crystal (6BA)<Subscript>2</Subscript>-(BPy)<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Bold">x</Emphasis></Subscript> as studied by <Superscript>2</Superscript>H NMR

The thermal properties and the orientational order of hydrogen-bonded liquid crystals (6BA)₂-(BPy)_0.4 and (6BA)₂-(BPy)_0.3 (6BA: 4-n-hexylbenzoicacid, BPy: 4,4’-bipyridine) were investigated by DSC and ²H NMR. On cooling, isotropic liquid - liquid crystal phase transition temperatures were T _C= 409 and 405 K for (6BA)₂-(BPy)_0.4 and (6BA)₂-(BPy)_0.3, respectively. Thermal anomalies in the liquid crystal phase were observed at T _LC1= 402 and T _LC2= 375 K for (6BA)₂-(BPy)_0.4 and at T _LC1= 398 and T _LC2= 375 K for (6BA)₂-(BPy)_0.3. For (6BA)₂-(BPy)_0.4, only the smectic component was created above T _LC1. In addition, the nematic component was created below T _LC1. The nematic component gradually changed to the smectic component with decreasing temperature and only the smectic component was observed below T _LC2. For (6BA)₂-(BPy)_0.3, only the nematic component was created above T _LC2. The phase transition from the nematic phase to the smectic phase took place at around T _LC2.     

EPR study of copper ions in Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ge<Subscript>7</Subscript>O<Subscript>15</Subscript> crystals

The EPR spectra of Cu²⁺ ions (² D _5/2) located at two structurally nonequivalent positions Cu1 and Cu2 in crystals of lithium heptagermanate Li₂Ge₇O₁₅ are recorded. The angular dependences of the EPR spectrum are measured in the paraelectric phase of the Li₂Ge₇O₁₅ compound (T = 300 K). The components of the g factor and the hyperfine interaction tensor A are determined, and the orientation of the magnetic axes with respect to the crystallographic basis is established. The EPR spectra are recorded in the temperature range in the vicinity of the temperature T _C = 283 K of the transition from the paraelectric phase to the ferroelectric phase. The position symmetry of the Cu1 and Cu2 centers is determined at temperatures above and below the phase transition temperature T _C . The localization of paramagnetic centers in the structure is discussed, An analysis of the results obtained demonstrates that the Cu1 and Cu2 centers in the Li₂Ge₇O₁₅ crystal lattice replace lithium ions located at two structurally nonequivalent positions with the symmetries described at temperatures above T _C by the triclinic C _i and monoclinic C ₂ point groups, respectively.     

Role of the Cluster Structure of Amorphous Fe<Subscript>67</Subscript>Cr<Subscript>18</Subscript>B<Subscript>15</Subscript> Alloy in Magnetism and in the Changing of Electron Scattering Mechanisms under the Influence of Ion (Ar<Superscript>+</Superscript>) Irradiation

The contribution of clusters of different sizes to magnetism and the switching of electron scattering mechanisms in amorphous Fe₆₇Cr₁₈B₁₅ alloy during ion Ar⁺ irradiation is studied. The cluster magnetism is found to be related to the presence of clusters of the following two types: large α-(Fe, Cr) clusters of size D = 150–250 Å and small (D = 40–80 Å) clusters in a random intercluster medium. The generation of small ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic clusters during ion irradiation leads to the formation of cluster glass, which affects the electrical properties of the alloy and causes a magnetic frustration. The temperature dependence of the barrier height is shown to characterize the magnetic state of the alloy in low fields. On the whole, the temperature dependence of the order parameter is a universal characteristic of the system. The temperature dependence of resistivity of initial alloys in the temperature range 98–300 K (ρ(T) ∝ T²) is determined by electron scattering by quantum defects, and the transition into a ferromagnetic state is revealed when the derivative ?ρ/?T ∝ T is analyzed. The increase in resistivity and the relation ρ ∝ T^1/2 in strongly inhomogeneous samples after irradiation at a dose Φ = 1.5 × 10¹⁸ ions/cm² are caused by weak localization effects, and the transition to a ferromagnetic state becomes obvious when the derivative ?ρ/?T ∝ T^–1/2 is considered. Irradiation by fluence Φ = 3 × 10¹⁸ ions/cm2 induces a giant (twofold) increase in the alloy density, restores the ferromagnetism of large clusters, decreases the resistivity by 37%, and restores the relation ρ(T) ∝ T², which results from the overlapping of the irradiation-induced small clusters when their concentration increases and from an increase in the alloy density. The overlapping of clusters lowers the barrier height and decreases the sensitivity of the alloy to an applied field. The relation ρ(T) ∝ T² is valid for the entire temperature range T = 2–300 K because of the partial screening of the magnetic moments of large clusters by a medium having the properties of cluster glass.     

On the correlation between supercooling,superheating and kinetic arrest in a magnetic glass Pr<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.975</Subscript>Al<Subscript>0.025</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

We report a quantitative investigation of the magnetic field-temperature phase diagram by taking into account a simple phenomenological model arising out of the interplay of kinetic arrest and thermodynamic transitions in a magnetic glass Pr_0.5Ca_0.5Mn_0.975Al_0.025O₃, through magnetization measurements. Such studies are necessary as kinetic arrest plays an important role in the formation of “magnetic glasses”, which has been observed in systems undergoing first order magnetic phase transitions. It has been shown that disorder in a system results in the formation kinetic arrest (H _K ,T _K ) band, like supercooling (H ^*,T ^*) and superheating (H ^**,T ^**) band. Quantitative proofs are given to show that (H _K ,T _K ) band is anticorrelated with (H ^*,T ^*) and (H ^**,T ^**) bands, while the later two are correlated among themselves. Analysis of time dependence of magnetization at different temperatures is carried out to establish the fact that the kinetic arrested state is different from the supercooled state.     

Pressure-induced antiferromagnetism in La<Subscript>0.75</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.25</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite

The crystal and magnetic structures of La_0.75Ca_0.25MnO₃ manganite are studied under high pressures up to 4.5 GPa in the temperature range 12–300 K by the neutron diffraction method. At normal pressure and temperature T _C = 240 K, a ferromagnetic state is formed in La_0.75Ca_0.25MnO₃. At high pressures P ≥ 1.5 GPa and at temperatures T < T _N ≈ 150 K, a new A-type antiferromagnetic state appears. A further increase in pressure leads to an increase in the volume fraction of the antiferromagnetic phase, which coexists with the initial ferromagnetic phase. The effect of high pressure causes a considerable increase in T _C with the slope dT _C /dP ≈ 12 K/GPa. Calculations performed in the framework of the double exchange model with allowance for the electron-phonon interaction make it possible to explain this pressure dependence of T _C on the basis of experimental data.     

Frustrated antiferromagnetism in the Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>YRuO<Subscript>6</Subscript> double perovskite

The spins of Ru⁵⁺ ions in Sr₂YRuO₆ form a face-centered cubic lattice with antiferromagnetic nearest neighbor interaction J≈25 meV. The antiferromagnetic structure of the first type experimentally observed below the Néel temperature T _N =26 K corresponds to four frustrated spins of 12 nearest neighbors. In the Heisenberg model in the spin-wave approximation, the frustrations already cause instability of the antiferromagnetic state at T=0 K. This state is stabilized by weak anisotropy D or exchange interaction I with the next-nearest neighbors. Low D/J～I/J～10^?3 values correspond to the experimental T _N and sublattice magnetic moment values.