Temperature and field dependence of the magnetic properties of Nd \mathsf{_{2-x}}Ce\mathsf{_{x}}CuO\mathsf{_4}

We have investigated the magnetic ordering of Nd_2-x Ce _x CuO₄ for x = 0, 0.09, 0.13, 0.15 and 0.18 by neutron diffraction at low temperatures down to 33 mK and under magnetic field up to 5 tesla applied along [1,-1,0] crystallographic direction. At zero applied magnetic field Cu magnetic sublattice orders at , 210, 130 and 105 K for x = 0, 0.09, 0.13, 0.15, respectively. No long range magnetic order of the Cu could be detected for x = 0.18. The magnetic order of Nd was found in all samples, with a gradual increase of the polarized magnetic moment with decreasing temperature, saturating around 1 K. Hyperfine induced nuclear polarization of the Nd nuclear spin has been observed below about 400 mK for samples with x = 0, 0.13, 0.15 and 0.18. Field variation of the intensities of the principal and superstructure reflections of Nd_2-x Ce _x CuO₄ at millikelvin temperatures shows a field-induced second-order double-k to single-k phase transition at H _c = 0.75 and 0.56 tesla for samples with x = 0 and 0.15, respectively at T = 50 mK. We have also investigated the polarization of the Nd electronic sublattice due to the field of the Cu sublattice by the element specific X-ray resonant magnetic scattering investigation with synchrotron radiation.Received: 9 April 2004, Published online: 14 December 2004PACS: 75.25. + z Spin arrangements in magnetically ordered materials (including neutron and spin-polarized electron studies, synchrotron-source X-ray scattering, etc.)T. Chatterji: Has changed his surname from Chattopadhyay to Chatterji.     

Structural studies of La \mathsf{_{1-x}}Sr\mathsf{_{x}}MnO \mathsf {_{3 + \delta}} (x = 0.1-1.0)

We report here for the first time (particularly for $x \ge 0.5$ ) a systematic structural study using Rietveld Profile Refinement of powder X-ray diffraction data on the series of polycrystalline compounds La_1-x Sr _x MnO $_{3 + \delta}$ (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 1.0). The iodometric redox titration results show that the compounds $0.1\le x\le 0.4$ and the end compound are oxygen excess and deficient respectively and the compounds in the compositional range 0.5 ≤ x ≤ 0.9 are oxygen stoichiometric within the experimental error. It is found that the structure remains hexagonal until x = 0.4 composition. On further doping, at x = 0.5 composition, a structural transition to orthorhombic phase is observed. Around this composition, very small variations in the Mn-O(2)-Mn and average Mn-Mn bond distances are observed. For above x = 0.5, until x = 0.8 composition, the structure remains orthorhombic with reduced orthorhombic distortion. For the next compound, x = 0.9, a mixed hexagonal and orthorhombic phase is observed where the hexagonal phase is 6 layered with stacking sequence of ABCACB type and the orthorhombic phase is more distorted than that of x = 0.8 composition. The end compound is a four layered hexagonal structure with stacking sequence ABAC type which is more distorted than ABCACB type. As one goes down the series, a decrease in the volume per formula unit and average Mn-O bond distance are observed except at x = 0.9 composition. The observed structural transitions from hexagonal to orthorhombic to layered hexagonal phase can be explained under the electrostatic limit.     

The 2-site Hubbard and $\mathsf{t}$-$\mathsf{J}$ models

The fermionic and bosonic sectors of the 2-site Hubbard model have been exactly solved by means of the equation of motion and Greens function formalism. The exact solution of the t-J model has been also reported to investigate the low-energy dynamics. We have successfully searched for the exact eigenoperators, and the corresponding eigenenergies, having in mind the possibility to use them as an operatorial basis on the lattice. Many local, single-particle, thermodynamical and response properties have been studied as functions of the external parameters and compared between the two models and with some numerical and exact results. It has been shown that the 2-site Hubbard model already contains the most relevant energy scales of the Hubbard model: the local Coulomb interaction U and the spin-exchange one . As a consequence of this, for some relevant properties (kinetic energy, double occupancy, energy, specific heat and entropy) and as regards the metal-insulator transition issue, it has resulted possible to almost exactly mime the behavior of larger systems, sometimes using a higher temperature to get a comparable level spacing. The 2-site models have been also used as toy models to test the efficiency of the Greens function formalism for composite operators. The capability to reproduce the exact solutions, obtained by the exact diagonalization technique, gives a firm ground to the approximate treatments based on this formalism.Received: 16 July 2003, Published online: 30 January 2004PACS: 71.10.-w Theories and models of many-electron systems - 71.10.Fd Lattice fermion models (Hubbard model, etc.)     

Precursor diamagnetism above the superconducting transition in YNi_\mathsf{2}B_\mathsf{2}C

High-resolution SQUID magnetization measurements in a single crystal of YNi₂B₂C around the superconducting transition are reported. The diamagnetic magnetization -M _fl at constant field H as a function of temperature and isothermal magnetization curves -M _fl vs. H are used to derive insights on precursor phenomena approaching the bulk transition temperature K. The precursor diamagnetism is found strongly enhanced with respect to the conventional Ginzburg-Landau value for Gaussian fluctuations and the curves -M _fl vs. H exhibit an upturn with the field and hysteretic effects up to T ^* = 15.4 K. These results are interpreted in terms of a non-zero order parameter in superconducting droplets above the bulk T _c . These droplets are likely to be related to inhomogeneities resulting from small amount of boron to carbon substitutions.Received: 23 April 2003, Published online: 15 October 2003PACS: 74.40.+k Fluctuations (noise, chaos, nonequilibrium superconductivity, localization, etc.) - 74.20.De Phenomenological theories (two-fluid, Ginzburg-Landau, etc.) - 74.25.Ha Magnetic properties