Thermal expansion of CuGaSe2

The thermal expansion coefficients of CuGaSe₂ are measured in the temperature range from 300 to 670 K by an X-ray technique and are found to be α_a = 13.1 × 10^?6K^?1 and α_c = 5.2 × 10^?6K^?1 for the lattice parameters a and c, respectively. Some general trends in the temperature dependence of the tetragonal distortion of the I-III-VI₂ and II-IV-V₂ compounds are considered.     

Effect of electron irradiation on the structure and properties of the MgB2 superconductor

This paper reports on the results of an investigation into the effect of irradiation of the Bardeen-Cooper-Schriefer superconductor MgB₂ by electrons with a mean energy ē ～ 10 MeV at low doses (0 ≤ Φt ≤ ～5 × 10¹⁶ cm^?2) on the lattice parameters, the intensity and width of diffraction lines, the superconducting transition temperature T _c , and the temperature dependence of the resistivity ρ(T) in the normal state. The results of structural investigations have revealed regularities in the defect formation in the magnesium and boron sublattices of the MgB₂ compound as a function of the electron fluence. At the initial stage, irradiation leads to the formation of vacancies, originally in the magnesium sublattice and then in the boron sublattice. For fluences Φt ≥ ～1 × 10¹⁶ cm^?2, vacancies are formed in both sublattices. The evolution of the electrical and physical properties [T _c , ρ_{273 K}, residual resistivity ratio RRR = ρ_{273 K}/ρ_{50 K}, parameters of the dependence ρ(T)] under electron irradiation is in agreement with the regularities revealed in the formation of radiation-induced defects in the crystal lattice of the MgB₂ compound.     

Microscopic coexistence of antiferromagnetism and superconductivity in hole-doped Iron-pnictides Ba0.77K0.23Fe2As2 revealed by NMR

We have performed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements on an underdoped single-crystal Ba_0.77K_0.23Fe₂As₂ with T _c?=?16.5 K. Below T _N?= 46 K, an internal magnetic field splits the NMR peaks of H?∥?c and shifts those of H?∥?a to higher frequencies. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T ₁ measured at the central peak with H?∥?a shows a distinct decrease below T _c(μ ₀ H?=?12 T)?= 16 K. Our results clearly show that antiferromagnetic order and superconductivity coexist at a microscopical length scale.     

Self-broadening coefficients in the ν7 band of ethylene at room and low temperatures

Using a tunable diode-laser spectrometer, we have measured self-broadening coefficients for a few transitions in the ν₇ fundamental band of C₂H₄ at 298 and 174 K. The studied transitions J^′, K_a^′, K_c^′←J, K_a, K_c with 3?J?17, 1?K_a?4, and 1?K_c?14 are located in the spectral range 919-982 cm⁻¹. The collisional widths are measured by fitting each spectral line with Voigt, Rautian, and speed-dependent Rautian profiles. The latter model provides larger broadening coefficients than the Rautian profile and still larger coefficients than the Voigt profile. An approximate semiclassical calculation performed by considering only electrostatic interactions leads to reasonable agreement with the experimental data. By comparing the results obtained at room and low temperatures, the temperature dependence of the self-broadening has been determined both experimentally and theoretically.     

Ferroelastic phase transition and anomalous elastic and thermal properties of betaine borate (CH3)3NCH2COO·H3BO3

The temperature and pressure derivatives of the elastic constants of orthorhombic betaine borate, (CH₃)₃NCH₂COO·H₃BO₃, have been determined by measuring temperature and stress induced shifts of resonance frequencies of thick plates at ca. 15 MHz in the range between 140 and 300 K and 0 and 3 kbar. The elastic ‘shear’ resistance c₄₄ exhibits a value as low as 0.0492×10¹⁰Nm^-2at 293 K. With decreasing temperature c₄₄ approaches zero at ca. 142.5 K, indicating an acoustic soft mode behaviour connected with a ferroelastic phase transition. The softening of c₄₄ is described in a good approximation by c₄₄(T)_p=0 =alogT/T₀ with a=0.0663×10¹⁰Nm^-2 and T₀ = 139.5 K. Further, c₄₄ decreases with increasing pressure according to the linear relation c₄₄(p)_{T=293 K} = 0.0492?0.184×10^-4p (p in bar, c₄₄ in 10¹⁰ Nm^-2). All other elastic constants show a quite normal temperature and pressure dependence. At 293 K the transition is induced by a pressure of 2.65 kbar. The transition temperature T_c depends linearly on pressure according to T_c = 142.5+0.0568 p (pinbar, T_cinK). Passing through the transition no discontinuous change of the lattice constants is observed. The three principal coefficients of thermal expansion and the pressure derivatives of the dielectric constants exhibit discontinuities at the transition. The transition is of strongly second order.     

Field dependence of the thermal conductivity of K2CuCl4 · 2H2O near its ferromagnetic Curie temperature

The thermal conductivity of the ferromagnetic insulator K₂CuCl₄ · 2H₂O has been measured near its Curie temperature T_c. The measurements were made as a function of temperature in constant external magnetic field and as a function of field along isotherms. The results indicate a relaxation rate for magnetic critical scattering of phonons varies as H^?1/2.     

Crystal structure of and evidence of a lattice distortion in (Me2ø2P)(TCNQ)2

(Dimethyldiphenylphosphonium)⁺(7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethanide)^?₂ is monoclinic, space group C_c, with a = 32.01(2), b = 6.56(1), $\text{c = 15.72(2)}\text{A}\text{?}$, β = 107.4(8)°. The TCNQ's stack plane-to-plane in columns parallel to b with (i) a mean interplanar spacing of 3.28 Å along the conducting chains and (ii) an exocyclic bond to quinonoid ring overlap of adjacent molecules. The conductivity along b, the needle axis, varies as $\text{σ = σ}{}_0\text{exp}\text{(}\text{?E}{}_{\mathrm{a}}\text{kT}\text{)}$ where σ_{300 K} = 0.05 S cm^?1 and E_a = 0.20 eV (Diethyldiphenylphosphonium)⁺(7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethanide)^?₂ is similarly monoclinic, space group C_c, with a = 31.48(2), b = 6.51(1), $\text{c = 15.48(2)}\text{A}\text{?}$, β = 104.2(8)°. The conductivity at 300 K and activation energy, both determined along b, are 1–10 S cm^?1 and 0.05 eV respectively. There is evidence of a lattice distortion in the dimethyl analogue only.     

Specific features of anion transfer in HoF<Subscript>3</Subscript> crystals at high temperatures

The anionic conductivity of HoF₃ single crystals with a β-YF₃ structure (orthorhombic crystal system, space group Pnma) is investigated over a wide range of temperatures (323–1073 K). The unit cell parameters of HoF₃ crystals are as follows: a=0.6384±0.0009 nm, b=0.6844±0.0009 nm, and c=0.4356±0.0005 nm. It is revealed that the conductivity anisotropy of the HoF₃ crystals is insignificant over the entire temperature range covered. The crossover from one mechanism of ion transfer to another mechanism is observed near the critical temperature T_c≈620 K. The activation enthalpy of electrical conduction is found to be ΔH₁=0.744 eV at T<T_c and ΔH₂=0.43 eV at T>T_c. The fluorine vacancies are the most probable charge carriers in HoF₃ crystals. The fluorine ionic conductivities at temperatures of 323, 500, and 1073 K are equal to 5×10^?10, 5×10^?6, and 2×10^?3 S cm^?1, respectively.     

Raman studies of lattice dynamics in 1T-TiSe2

Raman scattering measurements were carried out on 1T-TiSe₂ above and below the phase transition temperature. Below _c many new lines appear, which are the Γ-point phonon modes folded from the original zone boundary points L, M and A due to the formation of the 2a₀ × 2a₀ × 2c₀ superlattice. Among them the strong A_1g line at 119 cm^?1 and the E_g line at 78 cm^?1 at 11 K show softening, as the temperature approaches to T_c, but the modes become overdamped before the energies go to zero.     

Effect of γ irradiation on the structural and thermal properties of [N(C2H5)4]2ZnBr4 in the vicinity of a first-order phase transition

The unit cell parameters a and c of nonirradiated [N(C₂H₅)₄]₂ZnBr₄ crystals in the temperature region 90–300 K and of samples irradiated with γ rays to doses of 10⁶ and 5 × 10⁶ R in the 270-to 300-K interval were measured using x-ray diffraction. The data obtained were used to derive the thermal expansion coefficients α_a and α_c. It is shown that the parameter a increases and the parameter c decreases with increasing temperature. In the vicinity of the phase transition (PT) at T = 285 K, the temperature dependences of a(T) and c(T) reveal anomalies in the form of jumps and the α_a(T) and α_c(T) curves have a maximum and a minimum, respectively. The heat capacity of nonirradiated and irradiated [N(C₂H₅)₄]₂ZnBr₄ samples was measured by adiabatic calorimetry. A maximum was found in the C _p(T) curve at T = 285 K. Both x-ray diffraction and heat capacity measurements showed that the PT temperature decreased after γ irradiation.     

Magnetic properties of the compounds N(CH3)4MnIIMIII(CN)6 ·8 H2O(MIII = Mn,Fe)

In the isostructural cyanobridged chain compounds N(CH₃)₄Mn^IIM^III(CN)₆ · 8H₂O high spin Mn(II) ions couple antiferromagnetically to low spin Mn(III) of Fe(III) ions. The Mn^II–Mn^III compound orders ferrimagnetically below T_N = 28.5 ± 1 K. The tetragonal a and b axes are easy ones for the magnetic moments. In the Mn^II–Fe^III compound antiferromagnetic order occurs below T_N = 9.3 K, with spins aligned along the tetragonal c axis. The compound undergoes a meta-magnetic transition from the antiferromagnetic to a ferrimagnetic phase. This occurs at 2 K for a field H_crit ≈ 1.2 T. The temperature dependence of H_crit, which vanishes at T_N, is followed. The tricritical temperature T¹ is ～ 5 K.     

The low temperature electrical properties of 1T-TaS2

Measurements of the electrical resistivity of 1T-TaS₂ to 0.03 K show that the increase in resistivity below ～ 50 K is extrinsic.Below 2 K the resistivity is described by ? = ?₀ exp $\text{T}{}_0\text{/T)}\text{1}\text{3}$. Because of this fractional power law behavior, we conclude that the increase is due to Anderson localization by random impurity and/or defect potentials. Other difficulties in understanding the properties of 1T-TaS₂ are also pointed out.     

Disordering effects and property changes in fast neutron irradiated YIG

Damage region structure and property changes of YIG irradiated atD=10¹⁸?7.8×10¹⁹ n/cm² were studied. Damage regions at 300 K were found to consist of 1) a core of Fe³⁺ paramagnetic phase (PP) withgΔ=0.8 mm/s; 2) a shell of Fe³⁺ intermediate magnetic phase with heavily distorted bond geometry and <H _eff>≤300 kOe; 3) Fe³⁺ (a, d) surrounded by oxygen vacancies and interstitials. The dose dependence of PP concentration is given byC _PP=1-exp(?βD), yielding PP core radiusr _PP=12,5 Å. Magnetic ordering in PP was found to arise atT _tr=90 K. NGR probabilityf′ under irradiation was found to decrease linearly according to Δf′/f′=?C _PP(D). Net magnetization change was found, using the Gilleo model, to obey an analogous relationship ΔM(T)/M(T)=?C _PP(D).T _c dose dependence is given by ΔT _c/T _c=?0.5×C _PP(D) and can be related to lattice parameter change to yield Δa ₀/a ₀=(1.42±0.04)×10^?4×C _PP(D). External field experiments revealed a complex dependence ofK ₁ on PP concentration, elastic stress field magnitude and a with a minimum atD=10¹⁹ n/cm².     

Phonon coupled cooperative low-spin 1A1high-spin 5T2 transition in [Fe(phen)2(NCS)2] and [Fe(phen)2(NCSe)2] crystals

Heat capacities of [Fe(phen)₂(NCS)₂] and [Fe(phen)₂(NCSe)₂] were measured between 13⁵ and 375 K. A heat capacity anomaly due to the spin-transition from low-spin ¹A₁ to high-spin π₂ electronic ground state was found at 176·29 K for the SCN-compound and at 231·26 K for the SeCN-compound, respectively. Enthalpy and entropy of transition were determined to be ΔH = 8·60 ± 0·14 kJ mol^?1 and ΔS = 48·78 ± 0·71 J K^?1 mol^?1 for the SCN-compound and ΔH = 11·60 ± 0·44 kJ mol^?1 and ΔS = 51·22 ± 2·33 J K^?1 mol^?1 for the SeCN-compound. To account for much larger value of ΔS compared with the magnetic contribution, we suggest that there is significant coupling between electronic state and phonon system. We also present a phenomenological theory based on heterophase fluctuation. Gross aspects of magnetic, spectroscopic, and thermal behaviors were satisfactorily accounted for by this model. To examine closely the transition process, infrared spectra were recorded as a function of temperature in the range 4000 ? 30 cm^?1. The spectra revealed clearly the coexistence of the ¹A₁, and the ⁵T₂ ground states around T_c.     

Preparation,stoichiometry and magnetic properties of Cu y Cr2Se4−z Br x spinels with 0.5≲x≲2

The chemical composition of Cu _y Cr₂Se_4?z Br _x spinels depends strongly on the preparation parameters. Spinels with 0.8?y?1.2, 0.5?x?2, and 0?z?x?0.2 have been prepared. Whereas the lattice constanta _o of these spinels differs only by less than approximately 0.6%, their Curie temperatureT _c depends sensitively on the spinel composition. For Cu_1.1Cr₂Se_3.4Br_o.46,a _o=1.0410 nm andT _c=310 K were found to compared witha ₀=1.0447 nm andT _c=84 K of CuCr₂Se₂Br₂.     

Hall coefficients for A15 compounds: Nb-Sn and V-Si

The Hall coefficients, R_H, for A15 structure single crystal V₃Si and polycrystal V25.25 at.% Si and Nb 26 at.% Sn have been measured as functions of temperature. The data between the superconducting transition temperature, T_c, and 80 K for the Nb-Sn show a small dip centred arounf 30 K which accompanies a cubic-to-tetragonal lattice distortion commencing at about 45 K. R_H for the VSi samples, which are believed to be non-transforming, is temperature independent in the range 17–40 K and equal to 2.0 ± 0.2×10^?10m³C^?1. These result are discussed in relation to the effect of the tetragonal distortion on the band structures of these compounds.     

Critical behaviour of a uniaxial ferromagnet,ErCl3·6H2O with predominant dipolar interactions

The parallel magnetic susceptibility χ of a uniaxial ferromagnet ErCl₃·6H₂O has been measured between 0.3 and 4.2K and specially near T_c = 0.353 K. The predominant contribution to the Curie-Weiss temperature is due to the dipolar interactions. χ is proportional to ?^?γ with $\text{? =}\text{T}\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{c}}\text{?1}$ in the range 10^?3 < ? < 5 × 10^?2. The γ value, γ = 1.01 ±0.03 is consistent with the theoretical prediction for a uniaxial dipolar ferromagnet.     

Electrophysical parameters of <Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>-oriented Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript> films with a low concentration of antistructural defects

Epitaxial c-oriented Bi₂Te₃ films 1.2 μm in thickness are grown by the hot wall method for a low supersaturation of the vapor phase over the surface of mica substrates. The hexagonal unit cell parameters a = 4.386 Å and c = 30.452 Å of the grown films almost coincide with the corresponding parameters of stoichiometric bulk Bi₂Te₃ crystals. At T = 100 K, the Hall concentration of electrons in the films is on the order of 8 × 10¹⁸ cm^?3, while the highest values of the thermoelectric coefficient (α ≈ 280 μV K^?1) are observed at temperatures on the order of 260 K. Under impurity conduction conditions, conductivity σ of the films increases upon cooling in inverse proportion to the squared temperature. In the temperature range 100–200 K, thermoelectric power parameter α²σ of Bi₂Te₃ films has values of 80–90 μW cm^?1 K^?2.     

Thermal expansion of lT-TaS2 and 2H-NbSe2

The thermal expansion of the a and c axes of lT-TaS₂ and of the a axis of 2H-NbSe₂ have been measured between 4 K and 360 K. Discontinuities in the lattice parameters of TaS₂ were observed at the known charge density wave phase transitions near 200 K and 352 K, and a new transition was found near 283 K. These results are used to estimate the entropy changes occurring at the phase transitions. At the charge density wave onset temperature in NbSe₂ we find an upper limit to any discontinuity in the a axis of 2 × 10^-7 and to any discontinuity in the expansion coefficient of 3 × 10^-7 K^-1.     

Magnetoresistance of La<Subscript>0.67</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.33</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> epitaxial films grown on a substrate with low lattice mismatch

The structure, electrical resistivity, and magnetoresistance of La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ heteroepitaxial films (120-nm thick) practically unstrained by lattice mismatch with the substrate were studied. A strong maximum of negative magnetoresistance of ≈27% (for μ₀H = 4 T) was observed at T ≈360 K. While the magnetoresistance decreased monotonically in magnitude with decreasing temperature, it was still in excess of 2% at 150 K. For T < 250 K, the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity ρ of La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ films is fitted well by the relation ρ = ρ₀ + ρ ₁(H)T^2.3, where ρ₀ = 1.1×10^?4 Ω cm, ρ₁(H = 0) = 1.8×10^?9 Ω cm/K^2.3, and ρ₁(μ₀H = 4 T)/ρ₁(H = 0) ≈0.96. The temperature dependence of a parameter γ characterizing the extent to which the electrical resistivity of the ferromagnetic phase of La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ films is suppressed by a magnetic field (μ ₀H = 5 T) was determined.