Crystal and magnetic structure of Ho2NiGe6

The crystal and magnetic structure of Ho₂NiGe₆ was studied by powder neutron diffraction. The paramagnetic neutron diffraction data confirmed the Ce₂CuGe₆-type crystal structure reported earlier for this compound. Below the Néel temperature equal to 11 K the Ho magnetic moments form a uniaxial antiferromagnetic ordering. The Ho magnetic moments equal to 8.16(7)μ_B at 1.5 K are parallel to the b-axis. The data are compared with those published for HoNi_0.46(6)Ge₂.     

Magnetic phase coexistence in Tb- and Sr-doped La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 manganite:A temperature-dependent neutron diffraction study

We report the results of the temperature-dependent neutron diffraction measurements on the nearly half-doped (La_0.325Tb_0.125)(Ca_0.3Sr_0.25)MnO₃ manganite sample. The simultaneous doping of magnetic Tb³⁺ and divalent Sr²⁺ in the La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ system results into a large A-site size disorder. Rietveld refinement of neutron diffraction data reveal that the single phase sample crystallizes in a distorted orthorhombic structure. Increased 〈r_A〉 value affects the transport behavior that results into an insulating-like behavior of the sample. Under application of 1 T field sample exhibit insulating-like behavior while insulator-metal transition (T_IM) is exhibited under 5 and 8 T fields. Variable range hoping (VRH) mechanism of charge carriers is exhibited in the insulating region. Field cooled and zero field cooled magnetization measurement shows the Curie temperature (T_C)~47 K. The refinement of the ND data collected at various temperatures below 300 K shows that there is no structural phase transition in the compound. Around 100 K, a magnetic peak appears at lower angle that can be ascribed to the presence of the A-type antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase. Two more peaks are observed around 50 K at lower angles that can be fitted in CE-type antiferromagnetic phase. Splitting of the peaks at lower temperatures is the signature of orbital ordering in the presently studied nearly half-doped manganite system. Results of the detailed structural analysis of the temperature-dependent ND measurements on (LaTb)_0.45(CaSr)_0.55MnO₃ sample has been discussed in the light of coexisting A-type and CE-type antiferromagnetic phases present in the sample at low temperature.     

Neutron diffraction studies of Tb2Rh3Si5 compound

In this work neutron diffraction studies of Tb₂Rh₃Si₅ compound are reported. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal structure of Lu₂Co₃Si₅-type. At 1.5 K an antiferromagnetic ordering with a propagation vector k=(1/2;1/2;1/2) was observed. The Tb magnetic moments of 9.8(2) μ_B form a non-collinear magnetic structure. In the vicinity of Néel temperature of 8 K a change of the magnetic ordering is evidenced. The change seems to be connected with phase transition from commensurate to incommensurate sine-wave modulation of the Tb magnetic moments.     

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.     

Low temperature thermodynamical properties of ErCu2Si2

ErCu₂Si₂ crystallises in the tetragonal ThCr₂Si₂-type crystal structure. In this paper results of magnetometric, electrical transport, specific heat as well as neutron diffraction are reported. Results of electrical resistivity and specific heat measurements performed at low temperature yield existence of magnetic ordering roughly at 1.3 K. These results are in concert with neutron diffraction measurements, which reveal simple antiferromagnetic ordering between 0.47 and 1.00 K. At temperatures ranging from 1.00 up to 1.50 K an additional incommensurate magnetic structure was observed. The propagation vector k=(0;0;0.074) was proposed to describe magnetic reflections within the amplitude modulated magnetic structure. Basing on specific heat studies the crystal field levels splitting scheme and magnetic entropy were calculated.     

Raman scattering and optical absorption studies of an orbital ordered Ca2RuO4

We have reported the Raman scattering and infrared absorption results on a t_2g orbital ordered Ca₂RuO₄. At 10 K, a strong and clear peak was observed in Raman scattering near 1360 cm⁻¹ with x′x′ geometry. In contrast to optic phonon modes, the peak does not show any frequency shift but rapidly decreases with increasing temperature. In addition, the peak is not observed in infrared absorption measurement. By comparing the previous Raman scattering results for several transition metal oxides, we have discussed the possible origins and ambiguities of the intriguing peak in Ca₂RuO₄.     

Magnetic and structural instabilities in the hexagonal Laves hydride ErMn2H4.6 under high-pressure

The structural and magnetic properties of ErMn₂H_4.6 have been studied by X-ray and neutron diffraction up to the pressures of 15 and 6 GPa, respectively. In the pressure range 0<P<3 GPa we observe a first-order phase transition to new high-pressure (HP) phase. The HP phase has the same hexagonal unit cell as the ambient-pressure phase but smaller lattice parameters (ΔV/V=−5%). The structural transition results in suppression of the long-range antiferromagnetic order. Our results suggest that pressure changes positions of the hydrogen atoms in the metal host. We speculate that the new arrangement of hydrogen atoms induces spin frustration and, therefore, suppresses long-range magnetic order in the HP phase.     

Spin glass ordering of Zn0.75Co0.25Fe0.5Cr1.5O4 cubic spinel

The linear and nonlinear low field AC susceptibilities of Zn_0.75Co_0.25Fe_0.5Cr_1.5O₄ show peaks due to non-critical contributions, which mask the peak due to spin glass ordering. They extend into the region of temperatures in which Mössbauer spectra do not show any magnetic component. When a DC field of 200 Oe suppresses the non-critical contributions, peak due to spin glass ordering is clearly visible. The spin glass ordering is thus shown to be a thermodynamic transition. The critical exponent is found to fall within the range found using other spin glasses. Mössbauer spectra in zero fields provide T_SG, which agrees with the peak temperature of AC susceptibilities in the absence of non-critical contributions. 〈S_Z〉 determined using Mössbauer spectra does not show any anomaly. In the presence of a field of 5 T, the spectra show SG ordering at 4.2 K, which converts into ferrimagnetic ordering at higher temperatures.     

Raman study of phase transitions in KNbO3

The influence of grain size on the phase transitions of ferroelectric KNbO₃ was studied by micro Raman spectroscopy. It was found that the three transitions observed are not sharp for small particles (∼50 μm), indicating that they do not behave like bulk particles. The transition temperatures depend on the size and all particles show hysteresis. From these experiments we have obtained some evidence that in small particles monodomains of the rhombohedral and orthorhombic phases coexist in a range of temperatures.     

Enhanced magnetization in Co and Ta-substituted BiFeO3 ceramics

Cobalt (Co) and tantalum (Ta) co-substituted BiFeO₃ polycrystalline ceramics were prepared by a solid-state reaction and their magnetic and dielectric properties were investigated. Magnetic hysteresis loops were clearly observed in co-substituted specimens and magnetization was greatly improved. The co-substitution decreased the electrical conductivity by six orders of magnitude along with the reduction of grain size. The magnetoelectric coupling was estimated in co-substituted BiFeO₃ by determining the changes of the dielectric constant with an external magnetic field.     

Phase transformation in (0.90−x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3-0.10PbZrO3 piezoelectric ceramic: X-ray diffraction and Raman investigation

Piezoelectric ceramics with compositions of (0.90−x)Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-xPbTiO₃-0.10PbZrO₃, x=0.28, 0.31, 0.34, 0.37, 0.40 and 0.43, were prepared using the conventional columbite precursor method, and their structural phase transformation and piezoelectric behaviors near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) have been systematically investigated as a function of PbTiO₃ content. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results demonstrate that the structure of the ceramics experiences a gradual transition process from rhombohedral phase to tetragonal phase with the increasing of PbTiO₃ content, and that compositions with x=0.34-0.40 lie in the MPB region of this ternary system. A Raman spectra investigation of the ceramic samples testified to the transformation process of rhombohedral phase to tetragonal phase by comparing the relative intensities of tetragonal E(2TO₁) mode and rhombohedral phase R_h mode. The structure information was also correlated to the parabola change of the piezoelectric constant; the maximum piezoelectric constants were obtained near the MPB region.     

Raman study of BiFeO3 with different excitation wavelengths

Raman spectra of bismuth ferrite (BiFeO₃) over the frequency range of 100-1500 cm⁻¹ have been systematically investigated with different excitation wavelengths. The intensities of the two-phonon modes are enhanced obviously under the excitation of 532 nm wavelength. This is attributed to the resonant behavior when incident laser energy closes to the intrinsic bandgap of BiFeO₃. The Raman spectra of BiFeO₃ excited at 532 nm were measured over the temperature range from 77 to 678 K. Besides the abnormal changes of the peak position and the linewidth of the A₁ mode at 139 cm⁻¹, the prominent frequency shift, the line broadening and the decrease of the intensity for the two-phonon mode at 1250 cm⁻¹ were observed as the temperature increased to Néel temperature (T_N). All these results indicate the existence of strong spin-phonon coupling in BiFeO₃.     

Magnetic structure determination using polarised resonant X-ray scattering

Full polarisation analysis of resonant X-ray magnetic scattering (RXMS) is shown to advance the determination of magnetic moment directions of complex magnetic structures within single crystals. Key features of this novel method are the variation of the incident beam polarisation through the use of an X-ray phase plate, and the measurement of the scattered beam polarisation in terms of Poincaré-Stokes parameters. Contrary to the established method, no azimuthal rotation is required. Thus, the major sources of systematic error are eliminated, and the method is compatible with exotic and complex sample environments. The technique is demonstrated with the example of TbMn₂O₅. The RXMS theory briefly outlined in this paper was fitted to the data, and the local and delocalized, band-specific moment directions associated with the magnetic order of the resonating species was refined with a high degree of accuracy.     

Temperature dependent Raman scattering in polycrystalline Bi4Ti3O12 thin films

Polycrystalline Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ thin films were prepared on quartz substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The films were crystallized in the orthorhombic layer perovskite structure confirmed by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectra are strongly dependent on temperature. A subtle phase transition in the temperature range 473-573 K exists in polycrystalline BTO thin films, which is evidenced by the disappearance of the Raman band at 116 cm⁻¹ and appearance of a new Raman band at 151 cm⁻¹. The two broad Raman bands centered at the 57 and 93 cm⁻¹ at 300 K break up into clusters of several sharp Raman peaks at 77 K, due to monoclinic distortion of orthorhombic structure at low temperature in the as-prepared Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ thin films.     

Inter-network magnetic interactions in GdMexMn1−xO3 perovskites (Me=transition metal)

The gadolinium-based manganite GdMnO₃ of perovskite structure has been partially substituted at the manganese site by transition metal elements Me like Cu, Ni and Co, leading to a general formula GdMe_xMn_1−xO₃, in which different magnetic entities (e.g., Gd³⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Co³⁺, Mn³⁺, Mn⁴⁺) can coexist, depending on charge equilibrium conditions. For divalent cations such as Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺, the solid solution extends from x  (Me)=0–0.5, with O-type orthorhombic symmetry (a<c/√2<b)$\left(a<c/\surd 2<b\right)$. When the substituting element is cobalt, the solid solution extends over the whole range [0?x  ?1], changing from O′-type symmetry (c/√2<a<b)$\left(c/\surd 2<a<b\right)$ to O-type for x>0.5. In this latter case, the synthesis is performed under oxygen flow, which allows the cobalt ion to take a 3+ oxidation state.     

Magnetic and transport properties of double distorted perovskites CaCuMn6O12 and CaCu2Mn5O12

Magnetic and transport properties of double distorted perovskites CaCuMn₆O₁₂ and CaCu₂Mn₅O₁₂ are studied in a range 2–300 K. The leading role in magnetism of these compounds belongs to antiferromagnetic exchange interaction of Cu²⁺ in square coordination with Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ in octahedral coordination. The values of saturation magnetization indicate that Mn³⁺ ions in square coordination are coupled ferromagnetically with Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ in octahedral coordination. The colossal magnetoresistance in the pellet samples is due assumingly to intergranular spin-polarized tunneling of current carriers.     

Low-temperature magnetic structures in the DySi FeB-type compound 27.03.09

The low-temperature magnetic ordering of the dimorphic DySi compound has been studied at 1.5 K by neutron diffraction on two polycrystalline samples. The samples comprise various amounts of the two orthorhombic modifications: CrB-type (Cmcm Nr. 63, all atoms at 4c site: (0, y, )) and FeB-type (Pnma Nr. 62, all atoms at 4c site: (x, , z)), both order antiferromagnetically (T_N≈38 K). The CrB-type phase orders with a uniaxial structure with the wave vector q₁=(0, 0, ) requiring a doubling of the c-axis. The Dy moments point along the linear chain with the shortest distance c. At 1.5 K, the ordered moment value is 8.57(1) μ_B/Dy atom.Two symmetry independent wave vectors describe the 1.5 K magnetic ordering of the FeB-type phase: q₂=(0, , ) and q₃=(0, 0.484(1), 0.0892(1)), coexisting in form of domains. In both structures the magnetic moments are confined to the (0 0 1) plane at an angle of 2(2)° and 22(3)° from the shortest axis b, respectively. Both structures correspond to sine wave modulations. The amplitude of the q₂ wave is m_o=7.5(1) μ_B/Dy atom and that of q₃ 8.2(1) μ_B/Dy atom. The wave vector q₂ when referring to the (a, 2b, c) cell and the wave vector q=(0, 0, ) corresponds to a transversal modulation, which by a proper origin choice can be also described as an antiphase domain structure with two amplitudes. The moments point to the b-axis and are stacked in the sequence (+m_o/2, −m_o/2, −m_o, −m_o/2, +m_o/2, +m_o, …) along the c-direction, while t_b acts as an antitranslation. For the q₃ phase, the local moment value depends on the atom position in the wave. We also discuss the case where q₃ and q₂ act simultaneously in physical space.     

Study of CeNi4Mn by neutron diffraction

We report neutron diffraction measurements on CeNi₄Mn, which has recently been identified as a soft ferromagnet with a sizeable spin-transport polarization. Our data show conclusively that the Mn atoms occupy a unique site (4c) in the unit cell, which has the symmetry of the cubic MgCu₄Sn-type structure. We infer a moment of 4.6 μ_B on Mn at 17 K, which is oriented ferromagnetically along the {101} plane. The amplitude of the Mn vibrational motion is found to be larger than that of Ce and Ni atoms at all temperatures, thereby lending support to theoretical prediction of rattling phonon modes in this compound.