Angular dependence of magnetoresistivity in c-oriented MgB thin film

The anisotropy of MgB₂ is still under debate: its value, strongly dependent on the kind of sample and on the measuring method, ranges between 1.2 and 13. In this work we present our results on MgB₂ c-oriented superconducting thin film. To evaluate the anisotropy, we followed two different approaches. Firstly, magnetoresistivity was measured as a function of temperature at selected magnetic fields applied both parallel and perpendicular to the c-axis; secondly, we measured magnetoresistivity at selected temperatures and magnetic fields, varying the angle θ between the magnetic field and the c-axis. The anisotropy estimated from the ratio between the upper critical fields parallel and perpendicular to the c-axis and the one obtained in the framework of the scaling approach within the anisotropic Ginzburg-Landau theory are different but show a similar trend in the temperature dependence. Some differences in the upper critical field and in its anisotropy of our film with respect to single crystals are emphasized: some of these aspects can be accounted for by an analysis of upper critical fields within a two-band model in presence of disorder and/or crystallographic strain. Received 12 July 2002 / Received in final form 17 September 2002 Published online 29 November 2002     

Magnetostructural transition in NdCu2

The magnetic (H , T)-phase diagram of the orthorhombic compound NdCu₂ was investigated for external magnetic fields up to 15 T parallel to the crystallographic c-direction. Magnetization and magnetostriction measurements reveal an anomalous change of the magnetic properties as well as giant magnetostriction (GMS) and large hysteretic effects. This behaviour is similar to that observed in some other RCu₂ compounds where it has been interpreted as a conversion of the magnetic Ising axis. In contrast to these other RCu₂ compounds, however, the easy axis of magnetization in NdCu₂ is the b-axis. The macroscopic measurements are compared with neutron diffraction experiments which reveal GMS along the b-axis and a new magnetic phase with propagation vector in the converted crystal. Received 27 March 2000 and Received in final form 11 September 2000     

Magnetic phases in UNi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Si<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The tetragonal compound UNi₂Si₂ exhibits in zero magnetic field three different antiferromagnetic phases belowT _N =124 K. They are formed by ferromagnetic basal planes, which are antiferromagnetically coupled along thec-axis with the propagation vectorq=(0, 0, q _z ). Two additional order-order magnetic phase transitions are observed below T _N , namely atT ₁=108 K and T ₂=40 K in zero magnetic field. All three phases exhibit strong uniaxial anisotropy confining the U moments to a direction parallel to the c-axis. UNi₂Si₂ single crystals were studied in detail by measuring bulk thermodynamic properties, such as thermal expansion, resistivity, susceptibility, and specific heat. A microscopic study using neutron diffraction was performed in magnetic fields up to 14.5 T parallel to the c-axis, and a complex magnetic phase diagram has been determined. Here, we present the analysis of specific-heat data measured in magnetic fields up to 14 T compared with the results of the neutron-diffraction study and with other thermodynamic properties of UNi₂Si₂.     

Triangular antiferromagnetic order in the honeycomb layer lattice of

ErCl₃ crystallizes in the AlCl₃-type layer structure. The crystal structure was refined in the paramagnetic state by powder neutron diffraction. The monoclinic lattice parameters at 1.5 K are a = 6.8040(3)?, b = 11.7456(5)?, c = 6.3187(3)? and . The space group is C2/m. Short-range, predominantly in-plane, magnetic ordering occurs above 350 mK up to several Kelvin. Below mK a three-dimensional antiferromagnetic order with a propagation vector of sets in. The magnetic structure of ErCl₃ was determined by powder and single-crystal neutron diffraction at temperatures down to 45 mK. The Er³⁺ ions are located on two-dimensional honeycomb layers in the a–b plane. There are two antiferromagnetically coupled triangular sublattices which form right- and left-handed helices along the c-axis. The magnetic moments are oriented in the a–b plane and amount to 3.3(1) at saturation. From the temperature dependence of the integrated neutron magnetic peak intensity a critical exponent (2) was derived for the magnetic phase transition. Received 1 December 1999 and Received in final form 21 July 2000     

Non-collinear vortex states in twinned YBa2Cu3O7?δ single crystals

The magnetic moments parallel and perpendicular to thec-axis (measured simultaneously) have been studied as a function of direction of applied magnetic fieldH in twinned and de-twinned YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ single crystals. They show pronounced anomalies when the field direction approaches thec-axis. These allow clear identification of the angle ϕ_L at which vortices are locked into twin planes. Complete shielding of theH _ab field component (transverse Meissner effect) was observed in the locked state. For larger angles, up to ϕ_T, the vortices continue to be non-collinear with the applied field, but their direction deviates from the trapping plane. ϕ_L exhibits a 1/H field-dependence, whereas ϕ_T shows only weak logarithmic variations withH.     

Crystal field interactions in DyFe2Si2 and DyFe2Ge2

Two sets of crystal field (CF) parameters have been proposed for DyFe₂Si₂, none of which could provide a simultaneous explanation of the available experimental data, particularly at low temperatures (below 100 K). The set derived from magnetic studies could not even explain the thermal variation of the magnetic specific heat reported in the same work. Although the set of CF parameters, obtained from a fit to the Mossbauer spectra, could provide a fairly good explanation of the thermal variation of the magnetic susceptibilities along the c-axis, it could not explain the observed thermal variation of other reported experimental findings. In the present work, an appraisal of the CF parameters proposed earlier has been done and a set of CF parameters has been derived, which provide a simultaneous explanation of all the available experimental data. The effect of substitution of Ge for Si on the magnetic properties and the magnetic specific heat of DyFe₂Si₂ has been studied in the framework of one electron crystal field model. The inelastic neutron scattering studies and EPR measurements are required to check the predicted Stark energies and the paramagnetic resonance g-values.     

The anomalous anisotropy in the ac susceptibility of La1.45Nd0.4Sr0.15CuO4 single crystal

The dependencies of ac susceptibility on the superimposed dc magnetic fields for the stripe-ordered La_1.45Nd_0.4Sr_0.15CuO₄ single crystal with two superconducting transitions have been studied in the 3D and 2D superconducting ranges for the fields along different orientations of the crystal. The results show that with increasing fields the interlayer Josephson coupling and the in-plane superconductivity are suppressed orderly for the fields perpendicular to CuO₂ planes. The influences of the field parallel to CuO₂ planes on the 3D and 2D superconductivity are much weaker than those of the field parallel to the c-axis. The irreversibility lines for the 3D and 2D superconducting states are also studied.     

Magnetic properties of NdAu2Ge2

Physical properties of NdAu₂Ge₂, crystallising with the tetragonal ThCr₂Si₂-type crystal structure, were investigated by means of magnetic, calorimetric and electrical transport measurements as well as by neutron diffraction. The compound exhibits antiferromagnetic ordering below T_N=4.5 K with a collinear magnetic structure of the AFI-type. The neodymium magnetic moments are parallel to the c-axis and amount to 1.04(4) μ_B at 1.5 K. The observed magnetic behaviour is strongly influenced by crystalline electric field effect.     

Mössbauer study of Lu2Fe3O7: A two-dimensional antiferromagnet on a triangular lattice

Mössbauer studies reveal that there are two kinds of Fe³⁺ spins with completely different characteristics in Lu₂Fe₃O₇: one is an Ising-like property and the other is a Heisenberg-like property in a two-dimensional antiferromagnet on a triangular lattice. The former spin orders ferrimagnetically along thec-axis at around 220 K. The latter spin is lying in thec-plane and a corresponding hyperfine magnetic field is observed at temperatures below 50 K. At very low temperatures, however, the latter spin has a component parallel to thec-axis and couples with the former spin. This finding is consistent with the modulated profile of the magnetic scattering in neutron diffraction and the result of a magnetization measurement.     

Thermal expansion and ultrasonic attenuation anomalies in antiferromagnetic dysprosium and terbium-50% holmium

Anomalies in the c-axis thermal expansion of single crystal Dy and Tb-50% Ho have been observed at 113.0 ±1.0 K and 121.5 ±1.0 K respectively. In dysprosium this is accompanied by an anomalous increase in the attenuation coefficient, α₄₄, of 15 MHz ultrasonic shear waves propagated along the c-axis. In both materials the anomaly occurs when the helical turn angle, as measured by neutron diffraction, assumes a values of 30°. The observations are compared with a similar effect in holmium and discussed in terms of a model involving helical spin domains which may be commensurate, or otherwise, with the crystal lattice.     

Metamagnetism in ErGa2 studied on a single crystal

Magnetization measurements and neutron difrraction experiments were performed on a single crystal of ErGa₂. Because of the strong crystal field effects a huge uniaxial anisotropy imposes the Er moments to be parallel to the c-axis of the hexagonal structure. We have shown that the transition from the antiferromagnetic structure to the ferromagnetic one, when the field is applied along c, occurs through an intermediate phase. Such a behaviour is very well accounted for using a simple Ising-like model which takes into account first and second nearest neighbours exchange interactions in the hexagonal layers. A quantitative determination of the crystalline electric field effects is also presented.     

Crystal and magnetic structures of the oxyphosphates MFePO 5 (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu). Analysis of the magnetic ground state in terms of superexchange interactions

We have studied in detail the crystal and magnetic structures of the oxyphosphates MFePO₅ (M: divalent transition metal) using neutron powder diffraction as a function of temperature. All of them are isomorphic to the mixed valence compound α-Fe₂PO₅ with space-group Pnma. No disorder exists between the two metallic sites. The M²⁺O₆ octahedra share edges between them and faces with Fe³⁺O₆ octahedra building zigzag chains running parallel to the b-axis that are connected by PO₄ tetrahedra. The topology of this structure gives rise to a complex pattern of super-exchange interactions responsible of the observed antiferromagnetic order. The magnetic structures are all collinear with the spin directed along the b-axis except for M = Co. The experimental magnetic moments of Cu⁺² and Ni²⁺ correspond to the expected ionic value, on the contrary the magnetic moment of Fe³⁺ is reduced, probably due to covalence effects, and that of Co²⁺ is greater than the spin-only value indicating a non negligible orbital contribution. Using numerical calculations we have established a magnetic phase diagram adapted for this type of crystal structure and determined the constraints to be satisfied by the values of the exchange interactions in order to obtain the observed magnetic structure as the ground state. Received 15 December 2000 and Received in final form 25 June 2001     

Magnetic structure of low-dimensional LiCu2O2 multiferroic according to 63,65Cu and 7Li NMR studies

The complex NMR study of the magnetic structure of LiCu₂O₂ multiferroic has been performed. It has been shown that the spin spirals in LiCu₂O₂ are beyond the ab, bc, and ac crystallographic planes. The external magnetic field applied along the c axis of the crystal does not change the spatial orientation of spirals in Cu²⁺ chains. A magnetic field of H ₀ = 94 kOe applied along the a and b axes rotates the planes of spin spirals in chains, tending to orient the normal n of spirals along the external magnetic field. The rotation angle of the planes of the magnetic moments are maximal at H ₀ ?? b.     

Time series of ac conductivities of terbium nitrate crystals at low temperatures

Time series of ac conductivities are measured at 2 kHz along three crystal directions in terbium nitrate crystal below 50 K. The anisotropy is found in the structure of the fluctuation observed in the time series of the conductivities. The bursts with non-periodic oscillations are found in only the measurements of the time series of the ac conductivities for one direction perpendicular to the c-axis (c2-axis). The anisotropy is seen in probability distribution functions and power spectral ones derived from the time series of the conductivities. The characteristic behaviors are found in the time series of the conductivity for the one crystal direction perpendicular to the c-axis. Asymmetric non-Gaussian line shape of the probability distribution function is seen for the c2-axis. Chaotic behavior is also found in the function of the correlation exponent to the embedding dimension derived from the time series of the conductivities.     

Neutron diffraction study of the magnetic ordering in the series R 2 BaNiO 5 (R = Rare Earth)

A neutron diffraction study, as a function of temperature, of the title compounds is presented. The whole family (space group Immm, a ≈ 3.8?, b ≈ 5.8?, c ≈ 11.3?) is structurally characterised by the presence of flattened NiO₆ octahedra that form chains along the a-axis, giving rise to a strong Ni-O-Ni antiferromagnetic interaction. Whereas for Y-compound only strong 1D correlations exist above 1.5 K, presenting the Haldane gap characteristic of 1D AF chain with integer spin, 3D AF ordering is established simultaneously for both R and Ni sublattices at temperatures depending on the rare earth size and magnetic moment. The magnetic structures of R₂BaNiO₅ ( R = Nd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Tm) have been determined and refined as a function of temperature. The whole family orders with a magnetic structure characterised by the temperature-independent propagation vector = (1/2, 0, 1/2). At 1.5 K the directions of the magnetic moments differ because of the different anisotropy of the rare earth ions. Except for Tm and Yb (which does not order above 1.5 K), the magnetic moment of the R³⁺ cations are close to the free-ion value. The magnetic moment of Ni²⁺ is around 1.4 , the strong reduction with respect to the free-ion value is probably due to a combination of low-dimensional quantum effects and covalency. The thermal evolution of the magnetic structures from T _N down to 1.5 K is studied in detail. A smooth re-orientation, governed by the magnetic anisotropy of R³⁺, seems to occur below and very close to T _N in some of these compounds: the Ni moment rotates from nearly parallel to the a-axis toward the c-axis following the R moments. We demonstrate that for setting up the 3D magnetic ordering the R-R exchange interactions cannot be neglected. Received 19 July 2001     

Magnetization and magnetic susceptibility of single crystals of HoTiO3 and ErTiO3

Bulk magnetization measurements have been performed on single crystals of HoTiO₃ and ErTiO₃. The easy direction of magnetization is along the b-axis for HoTiO₃ and along the c-axis for ErTiO₃ with respect to the Pbnm chemical cell. These findings are in qualitative agreement with the results of two independent powder neutron diffraction studies. The saturation magnetic moments at 4.2 K along the easy axes are 7.3(2)μ_B per formula unit for HoTiO₃ and 6.9(2)μ_B for ErTiO₃. In addition, single crystal susceptibility data were analyzed using the theory of Boutron to yield values for the Heisenberg exchange coupling and the second-order crystal field terms B⁰₂ and B²₂.     

Magnetic properties of V5S8 single crystals

The magnetic properties of V₅S₈ single crystals have been investigated by susceptibility and torque measurements. The susceptibilities parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic easy axis show a remarkable anisotropy below the Neel temperature of 32 K and are nearly Isotropie above that temperature. The easy axis is found to be nearly along the c-axis of the monoclinic lattice, being inclined at an angle of 9.6 ± 1.0° from the c-axis toward the a-axis. The torque curves, measured up to 24.4 kOe at liquid helium temperature, deviate from the usual form of a sine function with increasing magnetic field. The analysis of these torque curves suggests that spin flopping may occur at 43 kOe, a comparatively low critical field. Using these experimental results, a localized d-electron model for a particular site of the vanadium-ion, proposed by previous investigators, is examined.     

Flux line lattice symmetries in the borocarbide superconductor LuNi2B2C

We compare the results of small angle neutron scattering on the flux line lattice (FLL) obtained in the borocarbide superconductor LuNi₂B₂C with the applied field along the c- and a-axes. For H‖c the temperature dependence of the FLL structural phase transition from square to hexagonal symmetry was investigated. Above 10 K the transition onset field. H ₂(T), rises sharply, bending away from H _c2(T) in contradiction to theoretical predictions of the two merging. For H‖a a first order FLL reorientation transition is observed at H _tr=3–3.5 kOe. Below H _tr the FLL nearest neighbor direction is parallel to the b-axis, and above H _tr to the c-axis. This transition cannot be explained using nonlocal corrections to the London model.     

Irreversible magnetovolume effect in Nd7Rh3 single crystal

Magnetovolume effect in Nd₇Rh₃ single crystal has been studied by measuring the magnetostriction as a function of external magnetic field at 4.2 K. An irreversible magnetovolume effect having a negative remanent volume magnetostriction was observed when the external magnetic field was applied along the b-axis. The irreversible magnetostrictive effect takes place in the longitudinal magnetostriction along the b-axis. The remanent magnetostriction along the b-axis relaxes after removing external magnetic field for several hours and equilibrium state is stabilized.