Magnetocapacitance effect in Gd<Subscript> <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> </Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1–<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> </Subscript>S

The capacitance and dielectric loss tangent of Gd_xMn_1–xS (x ≤ 0.2) solid solutions have been measured at a frequency of 10 kHz without magnetic field and in a magnetic field of 8 kOe in the temperature range of 90–450 K. An increase in the permittivity and a dielectric loss maximum have been detected in the low-temperature region. It has been found that the temperature of the maximum of the imaginary part of the permittivity shifts to higher temperatures with increasing concentration. The magnetocapacitance effect has been revealed for two compositions. The dielectric loss has been described in the Debye model with “freezing” dipole moments and in the orbital-charge ordering model.     

Magnetocaloric properties of La<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>K<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganites

A technology for obtaining single-phase ceramic samples of La_{1 − x} K _x MnO₃ manganites, as well as the dependence of their structure parameters on the potassium content, is described. The magnetocaloric effect in the samples has been measured by two direct methods, the classical method and the magnetic field modulation method, and has been calculated from the specific heat data. The values of the magnetocaloric effect obtained by these methods are significantly different. The observed discrepancies have been explained. Correlation between the doping level and the value of the effect has been found. It has been shown that the magnetic-field dependence of variation of the magnetic entropy near T _C in weak fields corresponds to theoretical calculations and that the value of the magnetocaloric effect in high magnetic fields can be predicted using this dependence.     

Theory of the giant magnetoresistance in La<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>A<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

To clarify the origin of the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) observed in La_1?x A _x MnO₃ (A²⁺=Sr²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ba²⁺ and Ca²⁺), we have investigated theoretically the electrical resistivity ρ of carriers in the background of Mn spins which interact with each other through the double exchange interaction. It has been found that extraordinarily large pin fluctuations caused by the instability of the ferromagnetic state are responsible for the transport anomalies including the GMR.     

Relationship between the magnetoresistance and the magnetocaloric effect in La<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ag<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganites

A generalized expression relating the magnetoresistance of manganites La_{1 − x} Ag _x MnO₃ with the change in the magnetic entropy has been proposed. The correct inclusion of the acting mechanisms of appearance of the magnetoresistance is shown to lead to adequate agreement between the experimental and calculated values of ΔS _M .     

Magnetocaloric effect in sandwich structures of La<Subscript>1–<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> </Subscript>K<Subscript> <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> </Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganites

This paper reports on the results of the investigation into the magnetocaloric properties of sandwich structures of La_1–xK_xMnO₃ manganites with x = 0.11 (LKM11), 0.13 (LKM13), and 0.15 (LKM15) in magnetic fields of up to 18 kOe. The results of the analysis of the field and temperature dependences of the magnetocaloric effect in the structures LKM11 + LKM13 and LKM13 + LKM15 have demonstrated that the use of sandwich structures increases the efficiency of magnetic cooling in a magnetic field of 18 kOe by 45%.     

Magnetostriction of Fe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>S (<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> = 0.27) crystals

The magnetostriction of Fe _x Mn_{1 − x} S (x = 0.27) single crystals in strong magnetic fields up to 120 kOe has been investigated. It has been found that the magnetostriction reaches colossal values (±3 × 10⁻⁴) atypical of compounds of 3d elements. It has been found that the magnetostriction changes sign when varying temperature and magnetic field; this behavior indicates an important role of the spin-phonon interactions in the formation of the magnetic order in solid solutions of iron-manganese sulfides.     

High-temperature study of SrFe<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mo<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>3−<Emphasis Type="Italic">z</Emphasis></Subscript> perovskites

The structure of high-temperature SrFe_{1 − x} Mo _x O_{3 − z} (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) phases was studied. Such studies are necessary to understand the mechanism of oxygen transport in membrane materials used for high-temperature oxygen separation.     

Thermal properties of K<Subscript>3</Subscript>Li<Subscript>2−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Nb<Subscript>5+<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>15±δ</Subscript> crystals

The unit-cell parameters of the nonlinear crystal K₃Li_2?xNb_5+xO_15±δ were measured with x-ray diffraction in the temperature region 80–300 K. The room-temperature parameters of the crystal of this composition are a=12.599±0.001 and c=4.018±0.001 Å. The temperature dependences of the thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) along the [100] and [001] crystallographic directions were determined. A small TEC anisotropy was established. The specific heat of this crystal was measured using adiabatic calorimetry in the temperature interval 80–300 K. The experimental data on the specific heat were used to calculate the changes in the thermodynamic functions.     

Metal-insulator transition in Fe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>S crystals

Results of an experimental study of MnS, FeS, and Fe _x Mn_1?x S single crystals are presented. The phase composition, the lattice parameters, and the state of paramagnetic ions in Fe _x Mn_1?x S have been determined by x-ray diffraction analysis and Mössbauer spectroscopy. A sequence of transitions have been found in iron manganese sulfide with x = 0.29 at temperatures T ₁ ≈ 25–50 K, T ₂ ≈ 125 K, and T ₃ ≈ 190 K with a change in kinetic properties and the formation of a metallic state at low temperatures T ≈ 2 K. The possibility of a Mott-Hubbard transition in Fe _x Mn_1?x S sulfides with variation of the composition and the temperature is discussed.     

Heat capacity and magnetocaloric properties of La<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>K<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganites

The magnetocaloric effect and the heat capacity of La_{1 − x} K _x MnO₃ (x = 0.1, 0.15, 0.175) ceramic samples have been studied at temperatures in the range 77–350 K and in magnetic fields of up to 27 kOe. The technique for preparing the samples has been described. The heat capacity anomalies related to the ferromagnetic-paramagnetic magnetic phase transition have been revealed and interpreted. It has been demonstrated that the change in the magnetic entropy ΔS calculated from the data on the heat capacity C _p and direct measurements of the magnetocaloric effect ΔT reaches values that are of practical interest.     

Magnetic and magnetoresistive properties of Gd<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1–<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Se selenides

Gd _x Mn_1–x Se (0 ≤ х ≤ 0.15) solid solutions are synthesized on the basis of manganese monoselenide. Their magnetic and electrical properties are studied in the temperature range of 80–900 K in magnetic fields up to 10 kOe. An FCC lattice with the Fm3m space group and antiferromagnetic ordering of the magnetic moments of manganese ions is found. A monotonic reduction in the Néel temperature and an increase in the effective magnetic moment along with the gadolinium concentration are observed. Anomalies in the temperature dependence of electrical resistivity and a shift in the temperatures of anomalies in a magnetic field are found.     

Kinetic Properties of the Mn<Subscript>1 – <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Gd<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Se Solid Solutions

The results of kinetic study of the Mn_{1 – x}Gd_xSe chalcogenide solid solutions with different substitute concentrations (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) in the temperature range of 80–400 K are reported. The difference between the Hall constant and thermopower signs has been found. The electron-type conductivity determined from the Hall constant and hysteresis of the I–V characteristics have been explained by the existence of nanoareas with local electric polarizations. The sharp extrema observed in the temperature dependence of thermopower are explained by splitting of a narrow 4f subband by the crystal field.     

Thermal and magnetic properties of La<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Pb<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The thermodynamic and magnetic properties of the La_{1 − x} Pb _x MnO₃ (0.24 ≤ x ≤ 0.40) solid solution system were investigated in the temperature range of 4.2–340 K. All objects were ferromagnetics with Curie temperature T _C ≈ 320–340 K, which slowly increased with x. The M(T) behavior in the magnetic ordering region indicated a nonuniform ground state, due possibly to the competition of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions. The increase in the saturation magnetic moment with x can be described by a simple model of the binary bonds in La_{1 − x} Pb _x MnO₃.     

Spin-wave resonance in Ge<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> films exhibiting percolation ferromagnetism

Magnetic properties of Ge_{1 ? x} Mn _x (x = 0.02, 0.04, 0.08) thin films obtained by ion-implanting Mn⁺ ions into single-crystal Ge plates are investigated. The contributions of the subsystem of dispersed Mn²⁺ ions, Ge³Mn⁵ ferromagnetic clusters, and Mn-enriched ferromagnetic domains of Ge to the magnetic moment of Ge_{1 ? x} Mn _x films are distinguished. In the subsystem of dispersed Mn²⁺ ions in Ge_{1 ? x} Mn _x films at temperatures below 10 K, a spin-wave resonance is observed in the magnetically ordered state due to percolation ferromagnetism. It is established that, in the films with percolation ferromagnetism, the exchange integrals determined from static measurements correspond to those determined by dynamic measurements.     

Magnetic properties of single crystals of the Cr<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>S solid solutions (0 ≤ <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> < 0.3)

The Cr _x Mn_{1 − x} S single crystals have been synthesized based on manganese monosulfide as a result of cation substitution, and their magnetic properties have been studied. It has been established that the Cr _x Mn_{1 − x} S solid solutions with a face-centered cubic NaCl structure are formed in the concentration region 0 ≤ x < 0.3. The unit cell parameter of the solid solution decreases as the degree of substitution increases due to the variation in the ionic radius of cations. These substances are antiferromagnets. An increase in the degree of cation substitution in the Cr _x Mn_{1 − x} S solid solutions is accompanied by a decrease in the number of 3d electrons in the d shell of manganese monosulfide and causes a decrease in the magnetic transition temperature from 149 K (x = 0) to 96 K (x = 0.29), which differs from previously known results.     

Structure and Surface Morphology of Cd<Subscript>1–<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Se Epitaxial Films

Cd_1–xMn _x Se (х = 0.03) epitaxial films are produced by the molecular beam condensation method in a vacuum chamber with a residual pressure of 10^–4 Pa on mica and glass substrates. It is established that at room temperature and at a substrate temperature of T = 573 K films of polycrystalline structure grow on the mica substrates, but films of both polycrystalline and amorphous structure grow on the glass substrates. It is shown that the polycrystalline Cd_1–xMn _x Se (х = 0.03) films, unlike the bulk crystals, have a sphalerite-type structure with a lattice parameter of a = 6.05 Å. Increasing the substrate temperature to 673 K leads to epitaxial growth with the direction [111]. Dark aggregates, observed on the film surface, are removed using a source of compensating Se vapors during the growth process. The optimal conditions for the production of structurally perfect epitaxial films are defined.     

Negative magnetoresistance in binary distorted perovskites Ca(Cu<Subscript>x</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>3−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>)Mn<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript>

The substitution of copper for manganese in one position of the double distorted perovskite Ca(Cu_xMn_3?x)Mn₄O₁₂ leads to a change in the valence of manganese atoms in the other position. This is accompanied by a sharp increase in the temperature of magnetic ordering and by a change in the conductivity type from semiconductor to metallic. These perovskites also exhibit a negative magnetoresistance in a broad temperature range, with the [ρ(H)?ρ(0)]× 100%/ρ(0) ratio (at liquid nitrogen temperature) reaching 10% in a field of 1 T.     

Anomalous magnetotransport in LaMn<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Te<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The LaMn_1−x Te _x O_3+δ (x=0.1, 0.2, 0.3) were synthesized using solid-state reaction method for the first time. X-ray photoemission spectrum (XPS) shows that in the samples the Te ions have a valence of Te⁴⁺, and Mn³⁺ ions are partly converted into Mn²⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ due to the excess oxygen and Te doping. The magnetotransport associated with Mn²⁺, Mn³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ was investigated. The experimental results show that the samples are insulator at 0 T when the amount of Mn³⁺ is much larger or less than the sum of Mn²⁺ and Mn⁴⁺; by contrast, the samples display metal to insulator transition with increasing temperature when the amount of Mn³⁺ is close to the sum of Mn²⁺ and Mn⁴⁺. These anomalous magnetotransport behaviors were analyzed in the frame of the double-exchange (DE) mechanism. Supported by the National Major Fundamental Research Program of China (Grant No. G1998061412) and the Foundation for Fostering Elitists of Beijing, China (Grant No. 20071D1100500379)     

Magnetic ordering in La<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Sr<Subscript>x</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>/2</Subscript> anion-deficient manganites

The structural, magnetic, and electrotransport properties of La_1?xSr_xMnO_{3? x/2}(0≤x≤0.30) manganites with perovskite structure are investigated experimentally as a function of oxygen deficiency. In the solid solutions La_1?xSr_xMnO₃, a change in the type of symmetry of the unit cell is observed at x=0.125. Samples with x≤0.125 are characterized by an O′-orthorhombic unit cell, whereas samples with x>0.125 are characterized by a rhombohedral unit cell. The structural properties of the anion-deficient solid solutions La_1?xSr_xMnO_3?x/2 are analogous to those of the stoichiometric system. It is assumed that, as the oxygen content decreases, La_{1? x}Sr_xMnO_3?x/2 anion-deficient solid solutions experience a series of successive magnetic phase transformations in the ground state: from an A-type (x=0) antiferromagnet to a cluster spin-glass-type inhomogeneous magnetic state (0.175>x≤0.30) through a two-phase (antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic) state (0>x≤0.175). The anion-deficient solid solution with x=0.175 has the maximal value of the ferromagnetic component. As the oxygen deficiency increases, the resistivity of La_{1? x}Sr_xMnO_3?x/2 samples first decreases (up to a value of x=0.175), acquiring an activation character, and then increases (up to a value of x=0.30). In this case, none of the anion-deficient solid solutions exhibits a metal-semiconductor transition in the whole range of concentrations considered. A peak of magnetoresistance at a temperature below the point of magnetic ordering is observed only in the sample with x=0.175. The results of experiments carried out with a series of La_1?xSr_xMnO_3?x/2 anion-deficient solid solutions are summarized in the concentration diagrams of the spontaneous magnetic moment and the critical temperature of magnetic phase transitions. Hypothetical magnetic phase states are pointed out. The experimental results obtained can be interpreted in terms of the phase-separation model and the competition between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic indirect superex-change interactions. It is assumed that Mn³⁺-O-Mn³⁺ indirect superexchange interactions in the orbitally disordered phase are positive in the case of octahedral coordination of manganese ions and are negative when the coordination of at least one Mn³⁺ ion is pentahedral.     

Mn<Superscript>2+</Superscript> 3<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis> luminescence kinetics in Zn<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript>x</Subscript>Se

Intracenter luminescence (IL) of Mn²⁺ in Zn_1?xMn_xSe (x=0.07, 0.02) was studied under pulsed excitation by the neodymium laser second harmonic. At 4 K, the IL saturation originates from the nonlinearity of the system only at the instant of excitation, the IL decay kinetics after the exciting pulse termination depending only weakly on the pumping level. At 77 K, the decay kinetics in Zn_0.93Mn_0.07Se depends substantially on the pumping level, because the migration of intracenter excitation over the manganese ions initiates up-conversion, which is a slow nonlinear process. As shown by IL decay measurements in Zn_0.98Mn_0.02Se (x=0.02), excitation migration over the Mn²⁺ ions is insignificant even at a high temperature and under strong optical pumping.