Low temperature thermal properties of PbI2

The heat capacity and thermal conductivity of a large (56.5 g) crystal of PbI₂ have been measured in the temperature region 0.5 < T < 3.9°K. Analysis of the heat capacity data yields a value of the limiting apparent Debye characteristic temperature θ₀^c = 99.4 (±0.3)°K, which corresponds to an average lattice wave velocity of 1.151 (±0.005) × 10⁵ cm sec^?1. It is consistent with a wave velocity estimated from neutron scattering experiments, but not with one determined from Brillouin spectra. The heat capacity data also show that dispersion of the low frequency waves is not unusual, as might have been expected for a layer-type crystal. The apparent thermal conduction is found to be surprisingly small in the crystal.     

Kondo anomalies of heat conductivity and Lorenz ratio in normal state (La,Ce) Al2

The thermal conductivity of LaAl₂ and of two dilute (La, Ce)Al₂ alloys was measured in the normal state between 0.4 and 8 K. From the lattice conductivity of LaAl₂ a high dislocation densityN _d caused by the arc melting process can be inferred. After annealingN _d is reduced by an order of magnitude. For the (La, Ce)Al₂ samples minima are observed at 5 K in theW ^e ·T vs.T curves (W ^e =electronic thermal resistivity). Below 1 K the quantityW ^e ·T is linear in (— lnT). The electronic Lorenz ratioL ^e (T)=ρ(T)/W ^e (T) ·T shows a maximum at 2 K with a value 23% aboveL ^e (0). It is for the first time that this Kondo anomaly is established in its full temperature dependence.     

Charge density wave transition in Na2Ti2Sb2O probed by 23Na NMR

Herein we investigated the electronic properties of layered transition-metal oxides Na2Ti2Sb2O by23Na nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)measurement.The resistivity,susceptibility and specific heat measurements show a phase transition at approximately 114 K(TA).No splitting or broadening in the central line of23Na NMR spectra is observed below and above the transition temperature indicating no internal field being detected.The spin-lattice relaxation rate divided by T(1/T1T)shows a sharp drop at about 110 K which suggests a gap opening behavior.Below the phase transition temperature zone,1/T1T shows Fermi liquid behavior but with much smaller value indicating the loss of large part of electronic density of states(DOS)because of the gap.No signature of the enhancement of spin fluctuations or magnetic order is found with the decreasing temperature.These results suggest a commensurate charge-density-wave(CDW)phase transition occurring.     

Landau behaviour of the heat capacity of AgNa(NO2)2 close to the nearly tricritical ferroelectric phase transition

The heat capacity of a single crystal of the uniaxial ferroelectric AgNa(NO₂)₂ was measured close to the nearly tricritical phase transition. In the ferroelectric phase a strong temperature dependence of the anomaleous specific heat is found which obeys a temperature law (θ _f —T)^?0.494. A small latent heat was detected nearT _c. The thermal behaviour of AgNa(NO₂)₂ is described by a Landau type theory, from which the non linear coefficientsζ andζ of the free energy expansion are derived. The thermal data fit well to the known dielectric behaviour.     

Low-temperature anomalies in the specific heat and thermal conductivity of MgB<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The temperature dependences of the specific heat C(T) and thermal conductivity K(T) of MgB₂ were measured at low temperatures and in the neighborhood of T _c . In addition to the well-known superconducting transition at T _c ≈40 K, this compound was found to exhibit anomalous behavior of both the specific heat and thermal conductivity at lower temperatures, T≈10–12 K. Note that the anomalous behavior of C(T) and K(T) is observed in the same temperature region where MgB₂ was found to undergo negative thermal expansion. All the observed low-temperature anomalies are assigned to the existence in MgB₂ of a second group of carriers and its transition to the superconducting state at T_c2≈10?12 K.     

Low-temperature thermal conductivity of terbium-gallium garnet

Thermal conductivity of paramagnetic Tb₃Ga₅O₁₂ (TbGG) terbium-gallium garnet single crystals is investigated at temperatures from 0.4 to 300 K in magnetic fields up to 3.25 T. A minimum is observed in the temperature dependence κ(T) of thermal conductivity at T _min = 0.52 K. This and other singularities on the κ(T) dependence are associated with scattering of phonons from terbium ions. The thermal conductivity at T = 5.1 K strongly depends on the magnetic field direction relative to the crystallographic axes of the crystal. Experimental data are considered using the Debye theory of thermal conductivity taking into account resonance scattering of phonons from Tb³⁺ ions. Analysis of the temperature and field dependences of the thermal conductivity indicates the existence of a strong spin-phonon interaction in TbGG. The low-temperature behavior of the thermal conductivity (field and angular dependences) is mainly determined by resonance scattering of phonons at the first quasi-doublet of the electron spectrum of Tb³⁺ ion.     

Photoexcited Eu2+ spin dynamics in EuFe2As2

Employing temperature dependent time-resolved optical femtosecond spectroscopy, we investigated the quasiparticle and Eu²⁺ spin relaxation dynamics in EuFe₂As₂ (EFA). As previously reported in other undoped iron-based pnictides, we observe the quasiparticle relaxation bottleneck due to the charge gap opening in the spin density wave (SDW) state below T _SDW = 189 K. Below the Eu²⁺ antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin ordering temperature, T _AFM = 19 K, we observe another slower relaxation component, which we attribute to the Eu²⁺ AFM order dynamics. The slow dynamics of this component suggests a weak coupling between the Eu²⁺ spins and the carriers in the Fe-d derived bands.     

Pulsed ESR on the organic ion radical salt: 3,3′-diethyl-4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-thiazolocyanine-[TCNQ]2

We present firstT _1e ^?1 andT _2e ^?1 measurements on the organic ion radical salt 3,3′-diethyl-4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-thiazolocyanine-(TCNQ)₂ as function of temperature and of orientation. The electronic spin diffusion constant could be determined directly by the electron spin echo field gradient technique:D (300 K)=0.03±0.02 cm²/sec. Pulsed ESR experiments have — in comparison to conventional cw-ESR — the advantage to monitor viaT _1e ^?1 andT _2e ^?1 the spectral density of dynamical processes at different frequencies. This is shown in a general manner on 3,3′-diethyl-4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-thiazolocyanine-(TCNQ)₂. Between 300 and 60 K,T _1e ^?1 andT _2e ^?1 are close in amplitude and have a similar temperature dependence. At 60 K their degeneracy is lifted, yielding a quantitative value for the effective spin exchange between localized spinsτ _ex ^?1 sec^?1 and via the absolute value of the relaxation an average distance of the localized centers of about 12 Å. The dynamical data as evaluated above cannot be correlated with the conductivity, clearly indicating that the conduction electrons are a minority, not being monitored by the ESR-experiments.     

Anomalous low-temperature behavior of the thermal characteristics of MgB<Subscript>2</Subscript>

We have studied the behavior of the thermal expansion coefficient α(T) (in a zero magnetic field and at H≈4 T), the heat capacity C(T), and the thermal conductivity κ(T) of magnesium boride (MgB₂) in the vicinity of T_c and at lower temperatures. It was established that MgB₂, like oxide-based high-temperature superconductors, exhibits a negative thermal expansion coefficient at low temperatures. The anomaly of α(T) in MgB₂ is significantly affected by the magnetic field. It was established that, in addition to the well-known superconducting transition at T_c≈40 K, MgB₂ exhibits an anomalous behavior of both heat capacity and thermal conductivity in the region of T≈10–12 K. The anomalies of C(T) and κ(T) take place in the same temperature interval where the thermal expansion coefficient of MgB₂ becomes negative. The low-temperature anomalies are related to the presence of a second group of charge carriers in MgB₂ and to an increase in the density of the Bose condensate corresponding to these carriers at T_c2≈10–12 K.     

Sequence of phase transitions in a quasi-one-dimensional β-Na<Subscript>0.33</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> compound with variable valence

The thermal properties—specific heat, thermal conductivity, and thermal expansion coefficients—of a single crystal of quasi-one-dimensional variable-valence β-Na_0.33V₂O₅ compound were studied. With lowering temperature, it sequentially undergoes the structural (T _S ～ 230 K), charge (T _C ～ 136 K), and magnetic (T _N ～ 22 K) phase transitions. The structural transition at T _S , resulting in the ordering of the Na ions, and the charge ordering at T _C , resulting in the charge redistribution over the positions of V ions, are accompanied by the anomalies in the temperature dependences of all the studied properties. The magnetic ordering at T _N results in the appearance of the canted antiferromagnetic structure and manifests itself only in the anomaly in the temperature dependences of the thermal expansion coefficients.     

Bestimmung von Transportkoeffizienten des Stickstoffs bis 13000 °K

In a cascade arc chamber a stationary nitrogen plasma was produced at a pressure of 1 atm. In this plasma the integral material function, the E-I-characteristic, could be measured very exactly. From this characteristic the transport coefficients of nitrogen — the electrical conductivity σ and the heat flux potentialS — were evaluated in dependence on the arc radiusr with the arc currentI as parameter. With these and by the help of the temperature distributions measured by Schade the transport coefficients dependent on temperatureT only were obtained. The thermal conductivity κ was found by differentiation of theS(T)-curve. The evaluation was only performed up to 13,000 °K because the radiation has been neglected in the calculation what is no longer allowed above 13,000 °K. At low currents the influence of the high field strength causes non-LTE increasing with rising field strength. This effect of non-LTE could be regarded qualitatively and quantitatively. As result the thermal and electrical conductivity ofN ₂ from 5,000 °K to 13,000 °K were obtained. The consistence with former measurements and with theoretical calculations is very satisfying.     

Mössbauer spectroscopic study of the thermal spin crossover in [Fe(II)(isoxazole)6](ClO4)2

The ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy of mononuclear [Fe(II)(isoxazole)₆](ClO₄)₂ has been studied to reveal the thermal spin crossover of Fe(II) between low-spin (S=0) and high-spin (S=2) states. Temperature-dependent spin transition curves have been constructed with the least-square fitted data obtained from the Mössbauer spectra measured at various temperatures between 84 and 270 K during a cooling and heating cycle. This compound exhibits an unusual temperature-dependent spin transition behaviour with T_C(↓)=223 and T_C(↑)=213 K occurring in the reverse order in comparison to those observed in SQUID observation and many other spin transition compounds. The compound has three high-spin Fe(II) sites at the highest temperature of study of which two undergo spin transitions. The compound seems to undergo a structural phase transition around the spin transition temperature, which plays a significant role in the spin crossover behaviour as well as the magnetic properties of the compound at temperatures below T_C. The present study reveals an increase in high-spin fraction upon heating in the temperature range below T_C, and an explanation is provided.     

Electron hopping and optic phonons in Eu3S4

Raman scattering on single crystals of Eu₃S₄ does not show the allowed q=o phonon modes in the cubic phase and exhibits no new modes in the distorted low temperature phase (T<186 K). Above the Curie temperature T_c=3.8 K the scattering is dominated by a spin-disorder induced one-phonon density of states allowing for the observation of the zone boundary phonon breathing mode of the S^2?ions. This mode does not show any anomaly near the charge order -disorder phase transition T_t=186 K. Temperature tunable spin fluctuations associated with the temperature activated Eu²⁺→Eu³⁺ electron hopping are detected in the scattering intensity, superimposed on the usual thermal spin disorder.     

Effect of pressure on the temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity of InSb

The dependence of the thermal conductivity of indium antimonide on temperature (in the range 300–450 K) and hydrostatic pressure (up to 0.4 GPa) has been investigated. It is shown that the phonon thermal conductivity λ_ph obeys the law T ^?n (n ≥ 1). Hydrostatic pressure affects the magnitude and temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity of InSb: with an increase in pressure, the thermal conductivity increases, while the parameter n in the dependence λ_ph ≈ T ^?n decreases.     

Heat transport over nonmagnetic lithium chains in LiCuVO<Subscript>4</Subscript>, a new one-dimensional superionic conductor

The thermal conductivity of three single-crystal samples of the quasi-one-dimensional spin system of LiCuVO₄ with different concentrations of defects (primarily, vacancies on the lithium sublattice) was measured along the crystallographic a axis (along the nonmagnetic lithium chains) in the temperature interval 5–300 K. An increase in thermal conductivity from that of the crystal lattice was revealed for T>150–200 K. This increase can be accounted for only by assuming LiCuVO₄ to be a superionic conductor. This assumption was confirmed by measuring its electrical conductivity in the temperature interval 300–500 K. Li⁺ ions move over vacancies on the lithium sublattice (conducting channels) and act as charge carriers in LiCuVO₄. It is shown that LiCuVO₄ is a fairly good superionic conductor with application potential.     

Charge transfer in TlFeS2 and TlFeSe2

The temperature dependences of the conductivity and the thermoelectric coefficient in TlFeS₂ and TlFeSe₂ samples have been investigated in the temperature range 85–400 K. The variable-range hopping conduction has been established. It is found that the density of localized states N _F near the Fermi level is 1.7×10¹⁸ and 3.3×10¹⁸ eV^?1 cm^?3, and the average hopping length R is 109 and 104 Å for TlFeS₂ and TlFeSe₂, respectively. The non-Arrhenius (activationless) behavior of the hopping conductivity is established in the temperature region T<200 K for TlFeS₂ and T<250 K for TlFeSe₂.     

Electrical resistivity of UMn2

The electrical resistivity of polycristalline UMn₂ has been measured between 4.2 and 300 K. There is a very small anomaly around the distortion (T_D = 2212 K). At low temperature the T² dependence is tentatively attributed to 3d spin fluctuations.     

Effect of structural relaxation on low energy excitations in amorphous Zr x Cu1−x

We report on an investigation of the liquid-quenched metallic glass Zr _x Cu_1?x (0.6≦x≦0.74) subjected to heat treatments below the glass transition temperatureT _g. Annealing temperatures up to 200°C (<0.8T _g) were chosen as to achieve topological relaxation only. The superconducting transition temperaturesT _c are lowered, as already observed for other metallic glasses. Low temperature measurements of the thermal conductivity (0.5 K≦T≦15 K) and of the specific heat (0.1 K≦T≦3 K) were carried out in order to determine the effect of structural relaxation on the low energy configurational excitations characteristic of the amorphous state. The annealed samples show no detectable (<20%) change in the specific heat forT?T _c, but an increase of the thermal conductivity by a factor of 2 forT?T _c is observed. Within the tunneling model of two level systems (TLS) for the low energy excitations, this behavior can be qualitatively understood in terms of a change of the TLS relaxation time distribution upon annealing. This distribution differs from that of the commonly used standard tunneling model. The change of the phonon scattering by TLS directly observed forT?T_c is largely responsible for the enhancement of the thermal conductivity found also aboveT _c.     

Lattice thermal conductivity of compounds with inhomogeneous intermediate rare-earth ion valence

The thermal conductivity κ (within the range 4–300 K) and electrical conductivity σ (from 80 to 300 K) of polycrystalline Sm₃S₄ with the lattice parameter a=8.505 Å (with a slight off-stoichiometry toward Sm₂S₃) are measured. For T>95 K, charge transfer is shown to occur, as in stoichiometric Sm₃S₄ samples, by the hopping mechanism (σ ～ exp(?ΔE/kT) with ΔE ～ 0.13 eV). At low temperatures [up to the maximum in the lattice thermal conductivity κ_ph(T)], κ_ph ～ T ^2.6; in the range 20–50 K, κ_ph ～ T ^?1.2; and for T>95 K, where the hopping charge-transfer mechanism sets in, κ_ph ～ T ^?0.3 and a noticeable residual thermal resistivity is observed. It is concluded that in compounds with inhomogeneous intermediate rare-earthion valence, to which Sm₃S₄ belongs, electron hopping from Sm²⁺ (ion with a larger radius) to Sm³⁺ (ion with a smaller radius) and back generates local stresses in the crystal lattice which bring about a change in the thermal conductivity scaling of κ_ph from T ^?1.2 to T ^?0.3 and the formation of an appreciable residual thermal resistivity.     

High-temperature electronic and thermal properties of icosahedral quasicrystals

We discuss the high-temperature electronic and thermal properties of an icosahedral quasicrystal within the framework of the fractional multicomponent Fermi-surface model. When intervalley electron-phonon scattering sets in above a characteristic temperature T^∗ of the order of the Debye temperature ΘD the quasicrystal becomes more “metallic”. In this regime the electrical conductivity and the electronic contribution to the thermal conductivity vary as T and T², respectively. We predict that at elevated temperatures the electronic specific heat will vary faster than γT and the low-frequency Drude-type component of the optical conductivity σ₁(ω) will gain weight.