Microwave fluctuational conductivity in YBa\mathsf{_{2}}Cu\mathsf{_{3}}O \mathsf{_{7-\delta}}

We present measurements of the microwave complex conductivity at 23.9 and 48.2 GHz in YBa₂Cu₃O $_{7-\delta}$ films, in the fluctuational region above T _c . With increasing temperature, the fluctuational excess conductivity drops much faster than the well-known calculations within the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory [H. Schmidt, Z. Phys. 216, 336 (1968)]. Approaching the transition temperature, slowing down of the fluctuations is observed. We discuss the results in terms of a modified Gaussian theory for finite-frequency fluctuational conductivity, where renormalization is introduced in order to account for the $T\rightarrow T_{c}$ regime, and a spectral cutoff is inserted in order to discard high-momentum modes. The data are in excellent agreement with the modified theory, when formulated for three-dimensional, anisotropic superconductors, in the whole experimentally accessible temperature range, and for both frequencies.     

Magnetic order in RCr\mathsf{_{2}}Si\mathsf{_{2}} intermetallics

The magnetic structure and ordering temperatures of three intermetallic compounds which crystallize in the tetragonal ThCr₂Si₂ structure, TbCr₂Si₂, HoCr₂Si₂ and ErCr₂Si₂, have been determined by neutron diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and magnetization measurements. The Cr-sublattice orders anti-ferromagnetically with Néel temperatures of 758 K for TbCr₂Si₂, 718 K for HoCr₂Si₂ and 692 K for ErCr₂Si₂. Chromium atoms located at 4d crystallographic sites are aligned anti-parallel along the c-axis, with G_ZCr magnetic modes. In contrast with metallic bcc Cr, the refined room temperature value of the ordered Cr moment is anomalously large for all three compounds. No long range magnetic order of the R sublattice in TbCr₂Si₂ and HoCr₂Si₂ is observed, whilst the Er sublattice in ErCr₂Si₂ orders independently of the Cr sublattice below 2.4 K with moments ferromagnetically aligned in the basal plane.Received: 4 November 2003, Published online: 30 January 2004PACS: 75.25. + z Spin arrangements in magnetically ordered materials (including neutron and spin-polarized electron studies, synchrotron-source X-ray scattering, etc.) - 75.30.Cr Saturation moments and magnetic susceptibilities - 75.50.Ee Antiferromagnetics     

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.     

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.