Crystal shape effect on nuclear orientation thermometry at ultra-low temperatures

Absolute temperature measurement (T < 100 mK region) from anisotropy of gamma radiations emitted from oriented⁶⁰Co nuclei in a single crystal of hcp cobalt is found to depend on the shape of the crystal. This dependence is attributed to some closure magnetic domains not oriented along thec-axis of the disc shaped crystal studied. A long rectangular strip of cobalt crystal is found to give correct angular distribution ofγ-radiations and, therefore, suitable for thermometry.     

Recent experiments with mapon spectroscopy

Electric quadrupole interactions of impurity nuclei in single crystals of⁵⁴MnNi,¹²⁵SbNi and¹²⁵SbFe have been studied as a function of crystal field direction and applied magnetic field using MAPON. Distributions are in all cases broad compared with the mode values of the EQI's. For⁵⁴MnNi the mode efg is isotropic to better than 5% between the easy <111> axis and a hard <100> axis. The efg is +0.88 (15)x 10¹⁹ Vm⁻². The mode efg for¹²⁵SbFe along its easy <100> axis is one half of that along a hard <112> axis, and one third of that measured along the easy <111> axis of¹²⁵SbNi. The much larger efg mode and distribution seen in¹²⁵SbNi, for four to eight times greater dilution than for¹²⁵SbFe, suggests intrinsic contributions due to valence screening effects in the more itinerant nickel host.     

Positive muons in single crystal sodium fluoride: A simple spin system

We report on the relaxation of positive muons (μ ⁺) stopped in a single crystal of sodium fluoride at 15±0.2K. At this temperature theμ ⁺ is believed to be static, and the observed time dependence of theμ ⁺ spin polarization is seen to deviate from the familiar Kubo-Toyabe form at late times. Specifically these data exhibit oscillations in the long time tail, which are attributed to hyperfine transitions between theμ ⁺ and neighboring spins. Quantitative comparison of these data to exact quantum mechanical calculations indicates that most of the time dependence can be explained by considering only interactions with the first shell (i.e., two fluorine and two sodium nuclei), and suggests strongly that the muon occupies a site along the <110> axis, midway between two fluorine nuclei.     

Ionic conductivity in tysonite-type solid solutions La1−xBaxF3−x

The ionic conductivity of single crystals of tysonite-type solid solutions La_1?xBa_xF_3?x(0?x?0.095) has been studied parallel and perpendicular to the crystallographic c axis in the temperature range 293–1300 K. Three regions can be discerned in the compositional dependence of the ionic conductivity: (i) the “pure” crystal, in which at room temperature no exchange occurs between different types of anion sites in the tysonite structure; (ii) an intermediate region(0 < x < 7 × 10^-2) which reveals changes in both the conductivity activation enthalpy and the magnitude of the conductivity; (iii) a concentrated solid-solution region (x > 7 × 10^-2), where fluoride ions interchange easily among the different anion sublattices. Diffusion coefficients calculated from ionic conductivity results, are in good agreement with those calculated from ¹⁹F NMR measurements. Using the present data, along with ¹⁹F NMR data, dielectric relaxation data and structural considerations, mechanisms governing the ionic conductivity are proposed.     

Spontaneous spin-reorientation transition in (NdSmDy)(FeCo)B alloys

A magnetic transition accompanied by a sharp decrease in magnetization has been detected in an (NdSmDy)(FeCo)B alloy at temperature T = 110 K. It is found that the sample undergoes a spin-reorientation transition accompanied with a change in the type of magnetic anisotropy. The “easy axis”-type anisotropy corresponds to high temperatures T > 110 K. A magnetic structure of the type of “the cone of easy-magnetization axes” forms at low temperatures T < 110 K.     

Effect of electron irradiation on the paramagnetic state of La0.67Ca0.33MnO3

The effect of point defects on the magnetic properties of La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ polycrystals and single crystals has been studied. The magnetic susceptibility χ _dc of the initial samples and samples irradiated by electrons to the maximum dose F = 9 × 10¹⁸ cm^?2 has been measured in the temperature region 80 K < T < 650 K. Local variations of Mn-O-Mn bond angles and lengths result in a nonmonotonic dose dependence of the Curie temperature T _C. At high doses of electron irradiation, F ≥ 5 × 10¹⁸ cm^?2, the temperature of the transition from the ferromagnetic to polaron state in a single crystal is found to increase. In the paramagnetic region close to T _C, ferromagnetically ordered polarons are observed to exist, while at T > 1.2T _C, localization of e _g electrons initiates formation of paramagnetic polarons with a higher magnetic moment. Electron irradiation stimulates persistence of magnetic polarons up to higher temperatures T > 2T _C.     

Evidence against reentrant magnetic behaviour in AuFe alloys

The temperature and concentration dependence of the transferred hyperfine field in Au_1−xFe_x with 0.15<x<0.28, was measured by perturbed angular correlation spectroscopy. The temperature dependence of the hyperfine field at the ¹¹¹Cd probe shows a slope change at T/T_c=0.25 for all concentrations below 20 at% Fe, but an almost continuous behaviour for higher concentrations. These results manifest a percolation-like magnetic behaviour but no magnetic double transition.     

Dependence of magnetic anisotropy of the La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 films on substrate and film thickness

Strain in the La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ films has been tuned by varying substrate and film thickness, and its effects on magnetic anisotropy are studied based on the measurements of isothermal magnetization. Measuring the strain in the films by the out-of-plane lattice parameter (c), we found a strong dependence of the magnetic anisotropy constant (Ku) on strain. Ku decreases linearly from ∼−1.1×10⁶ erg/cm³ for c=0.763 nm to 1.2×10⁶ erg/cm³ for c=0.776 nm, corresponding to a change from tensile strain to compressive strain. Positive Ku signifies a uniaxial anisotropy with the easy axis perpendicular to the film plane, while negative Ku demonstrates an anisotropy of the easy plane character. Smaller or larger c leads a decrease or increase in Ku, which indicates the presence of other effects in addition to those associated with strain. Three distinctive processes for the magnetization are observed along the hard magnetic axis of the films on (001)SrTiO₃, suggesting a possibility of strain relaxation even in ultra-thin films.     

The magnetic properties and anisotropy of the linear chain compound TlFe3Te3

The magnetic properties of TlFe₃Te₃ are studied on powdered samples and single crystals. Below 220 K TlFe₃Te₃, is a very anisotropic ferromagnet, the crystallographic c axis being the easy axis of magnetization. While in the easy direction saturation is achieved below 0.5 kOe, in the hard direction saturation is reached at 64 kOe. The angular dependence of the magnetization follows closely a cos ¦?¦ law. The magnetic transition is very abrupt at low external fields, suggesting a first order phase transition. It is accompanied by a small anomaly in the thermal dilatation of the c axis. The magnetization shows an anomalous increase below 50 K suggesting a phase transition.     

Antiferromagnetic Ordering of Magnetic Clusters Units in Nb6F15

We have studied the magnetic cluster compound Nb₆F₁₅ which has an odd number of 15 valence electrons per (Nb₆F₁₂)³⁺ cluster core, as a function of temperature using nuclear magnetic resonance, magnetic susceptibility, electron magnetic resonance and neutron powder diffraction. Nuclear magnetic resonance of the ¹⁹F nuclei shows two lines corresponding to the apical F^a?a nucleus, and to the inner Fⁱ nuclei. The temperature dependence of the signal from the Fⁱ nuclei reveals an antiferromagnetic ordering at T < 5 K, with a hyperfine field of ~2 mT. Magnetic susceptibility exhibits a Curie–Weiss behavior with T _N ~5 K, and μ _eff ~1.57 μ_B close to the expected theoretical value for one unpaired electron (1.73 μ_B). Electron magnetic resonance linewidth shows a transition at 5 K. Upon cooling from 10 to 1.4 K, the neutron diffraction shows a decrease in the intensity of the low-angle diffuse scattering below Q ~0.27 Å^?1. This decrease is consistent with emergence of magnetic order of large magnetic objects (clusters). This study shows that Nb₆F₁₅ is paramagnetic at RT and undergoes a transition to antiferromagnetic order at 5 K. This unique antiferromagnetic ordering results from the interaction between magnetic spins delocalized over each entire (Nb₆F ₁₂ ⁱ )³⁺ cluster core, rather than the common magnetic ordering.     

Magnetic properties of amorphous sputtered CoxSi1−x films

Magnetic properties have been measured by transverse magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) in amorphous sputtered Co_xSi_1?x films which are ferromagnetic and amorphous at room temperature with 0.55<x<0.80. These as-sputtered films show an in-plane easy axis with the ratio of coercitive force in the hard axis H_c (HA) to easy axis H_c (EA) and the value of the blocking field H_B almost constant with 0.60<x<0.80. Transverse magnetic susceptibilities with bias magnetic field parallel (χ_t0) and perpendicular $\text{(χ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>t\pi </mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{)}$ to the easy axis has been measured. These measurements show a deviation of Hoffmann's micromagnetic law for the susceptibilities.     

EPR Study of the Vanadium Ions in Mg2SiO4 Crystal

Vanadium-doped forsterite crystal has been studied with X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The sample was grown by the Czochralski technique in an argon atmosphere with 2 vol% of hydrogen. The EPR spectrum of the sample at T = 15 K is predominantly represented by the V⁴⁺ ion signals that possess a characteristic eight-line hyperfine structure and are observed close to g = 2. The observation of the two magnetically nonequivalent centers in the angular dependence in the (ab) crystal plane and one center in the (ac) and (bc) planes, combined with the published optical spectroscopy data, unambiguously show that the V⁴⁺ ions are located at the silicon lattice site. Principal values of the hyperfine A and g-tensor and magnetic axes orientations of the V⁴⁺ centers have been determined. The orientation disorder of the V⁴⁺ centers has been found around the crystalline c axis but not in the (ab) crystal plane. The angular variation of the hyperfine component linewidth is described best with a disorder range of ±3.0°.     

The upper critical field of superconducting polysulfur nitride, (SN)x

A measurement of the temperature and angular dependence of the upper critical magnetic field H_c² in crystals of polymeric (SN)_x is reported. A large anisotropy is observed at all temperatures with H_c²6 = 8.1 ± 0.4 kOe parallel to, and H_c²⊥ = 870 ± 80 Oe perpendicular to, the polymer axis at 0°K. The results are explained in terms of the polymeric crystal structure and fibrous morphology of (SN)_x.     

Dynamics of plume and crater formation after action of femtosecond laser pulse

Using microinterferometric method, a transition in laser plume from the regime with spallation to the regime without spallation is experimentally studied for the first time. The transition occurs when the fluence F_inc of incident radiation exceeds a threshold of “evaporation” (F_inc)_ev. It has been shown previously that the spallation layer is formed at fluence above the ablation threshold (F_inc)_abl. Thus the spallation exists within the limits (F_inc)_abl<F_inc<(F_inc)_ev. A laser beam has a maximum fluence (F_inc)_c on the axis of the beam. The threshold F_ev separates two cases with qualitatively different morphology: (1) with unbroken shell covering the crater entirely if F_abl<F_c<F_ev, and (2) with the shell having an aperture in the center (like the volcano muzzle) if F_c>F_ev.     

Field dependence of uniform magnon energies in lamellar CoCl2 and CoBr2 by AFMR experiments

AFMR experiments in the frequency range 77<v<600 GHz and in the magnetic field range 0<H<75 kG on antiferromagnetic CoCl₂ and CoBr₂ single crystals at 4.2 K are reported. The waves propagate along the c axis of the crystals and the steady magnetic field is in the plane of the layers, which is also the easy plane of the spins.The influence of a rotation of the field in the easy magnetization plane is investigated, showing the existence of antiferromagnetic domains.The results of the field dependence of uniform magnon energies are reported in detail for the two compounds CoCl₂ and CoBr₂. In CoBr₂, the two magnon modes at zero field are non degenerate, their frequencies are v₁(0) = 60 GHzandv₂(0) = 675 GHz, and the field required for saturation is H_s⊥ = 74.2 kG.     

Non-analytical angular dependence of the upper critical magnetic field in a quasi-one-dimensional superconductor

We have derived the so-called gap equation, which determines the upper critical magnetic field, perpendicular to conducting chains of a quasi-one-dimensional superconductor. By analyzing this equation at low temperatures, we have found that the calculated angular dependence of the upper critical magnetic field is qualitatively different than that in the so-called effective mass model. In particular, our theory predicts a non-analytical angular dependence of the upper critical magnetic field, H _c2(0) − H _c2(α) ∼ α^3/2, when magnetic field is close to some special crystallographic axis and makes an angle α with it. We discuss possible experiments on the superconductor (DMET)₂I₃ to discover this non-analytical dependence.     

Magnetic structure of the Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>2</Subscript> two-subsystem antiferromagnet according to nuclear quadrupole resonance data

The magnetic structure of the Sr₂Cu₃O₄Cl₂ two-subsystem antiferromagnet is studied by the nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) method on the ^{63, 65}Cu and ³⁵Cl nuclei. The resonance spectrum above T _N2 = 40 K is determined by the Zeeman splitting of the levels of the ^{63, 65}Cu nuclei of the copper atoms at the Cu1 site with the first-order quadrupole perturbation. The magnetic field on the copper nuclei is equal to 93 kOe. The spectrum below n is significantly different: it includes a low-frequency part, which is associated with the ordering of the second magnetic subsystem Cu2. The splitting of the NQR lines of ³⁵Cl is observed above and below T _N2. This fact indicates the ferromagnetic ordering of the moments of the Cu1 subsystem, which are located along the c axis of the crystal, and makes it possible to determine the direction of the magnetic field on Cu1 copper as (110).     

NMR study in a single crystal of the one-dimensional antiferromagnet CsCuCl3

The Cu²⁺ hyperfine field directions were determined by means of the ⁶³Cu magnetic resonance on a single crystal of CsCuCl₃ in a dc magnetic field. They make an angle 57° with the c axis. It was suggested a possible spiral spin configuration with the Cu²⁺ spins lying in the c plane. From the temperature dependence of the nuclear resonance frequency it was deduced an energy gap of about 4°K for this antiferromagnetic compound.     

Triple resonance investigation of F centres in BaFCl

Abstract

In BaFCl two types of F centres can be produced, where the electron occupies a Cl^? vacancy [F(Cl^?)-centres] or an F^? vacancy [F(F^?)-centres]. When producing F(F^?)-centres the simultaneous production of F(Cl^?)-centres cannot be avoided. Both ESR spectra overlap strongly. The ENDOR spectra contain very many lines of both centres and have a very complicated angular dependence. It is shown that the angular dependence of the ENDOR spectra of both F centres can be measured separately by applying a double ENDOR technique (called also Triple Resonance). The ratio of the signal heights of the ENDOR lines compared to the double ENDOR lines is characteristic for the neighbour shell to which the nuclei involved belong. The use of this effect for the analysis of the spectra and its explanation are discussed.     

New results on the peierls transition of TTF-TCNQ by electron tunneling

We realized TTF-TCNQ(Al₂O₃)Al junctions with a point contact geometry using the TTF-TCNQ crystal as the point electrode. Junctions have been studied in the two different regimes, T>T_c and T<T_c. For T>T_c the numerically analyzed dynamic conductance shows a parabolic dependence which reflects the metallic regime. For T<T_c a clear deviation from the parabola has been pointed out and a rough estimation of the gap can be deduced from the “conductance well” width.