Effect of annealing on the magnetic and superconducting properties of single-crystalline UCoGe

Single-crystals of the new ferromagnetic superconductor UCoGe have been grown. The quality of as-grown samples can be significantly improved by a heat-treatment procedure, which increases the residual resistance ratio (RRR) from ∼5 to ∼30. Magnetization M(T) and resistivity ρ(T) measurements show the annealed samples have a sharp ferromagnetic transition with a Curie temperature T_C is 2.8 K. The ordered moment of 0.06 μ_B is directed along the orthorhombic c-axis. Superconductivity is found below a resistive transition temperature T_s=0.65 K.     

Equilibrium magnetisation structures in ferromagnetic nanorings

The ground state of the ring-shape magnetic nanoparticle is studied. Depending on the geometrical and magnetic parameters of the nanoring, there exist different magnetisation configurations (magnetic phases): two phases with homogeneous magnetisation (easy-axis and easy-plane phases) and two inhomogeneous (planar vortex phase and out-of-plane one). The existence of a new intermediate out-of-plane vortex phase, where the inner magnetisation is not strongly parallel to the easy axis, is predicted. Possible transitions between different phases are analysed using the combination of analytical calculations and micromagnetic simulations.     

Disordered loops in the two-dimensional antiferromagnetic spin–fermion model

The spin–fermion model has long been used to describe the quantum-critical behavior of 2d electron systems near an antiferromagnetic (AFM) instability. Recently, the standard procedure to integrate out the fermions and obtain an effective action for spin waves has been questioned in the clean case. We show that, in the presence of disorder, the single fermion loops display two crossover scales: upon lowering the energy, the singularities of the clean fermionic loops are first cut off, but below a second scale new singularities arise that lead again to marginal scaling. In addition, impurity lines between different fermion loops generate new relevant couplings which dominate at low energies. We outline a non-linear σ model formulation of the single-loop problem, which allows to control the higher singularities and provides an effective model in terms of low-energy diffusive as well as spin modes.     

Isomorphism of critical and off-critical operator spaces in two-dimensional quantum field theory

For the simplest quantum field theory originating from a non-trivial fixed point of the renormalization group, the Lee–Yang model, we show that the operator space determined by the particle dynamics in the massive phase and that prescribed by conformal symmetry at criticality coincide.     

Multicritical behavior of the two-field Ginzburg-Landau model coupled to a gauge field

In this paper, we study the multicritical behavior of the Ginzburg-Landau model in a O(n₁)⊕O(n₂)-symmetric version containing (n₁/2+n₂/2)-complex order parameters coupled to a gauge field. We develop the RG analysis at a one-loop approximation in the context of the ?-expansion approach. The beta functions are obtained, and in the case of equal couplings between the two scalar fields and the gauge field and n₁=n₂=n/2, the infrared stability of the fixed points is discussed. It is found that the charged infrared-stable fixed point exists for n>393.2. Calculations of the relevant critical exponents are also carried out.     

Lanthanum deficiency effect in magnetic transition and transport property of La0.8−δCa0.2MnO3

The evolution of magnetic and electrical phases in La_0.8−δCa_0.2MnO₃ was investigated in terms of La deficiency. We found that the increase of the La deficiency tends to raise the Curie temperature (T_C) in La_0.8−δCa_0.2MnO₃. The FM clusters formed in compounds with large La deficiency provide percolation paths above T_C. With increasing the La defect, the transport property changes from insulating to metallic state, which is in association with the crossover from a second order to a first order magnetic phase transition in the vicinity of T_C.     

Biquadratic exchange and critical behaviour in the diluted antiferromagnet EuxSr1−xTe

Magnetization, specific heat, magnetocaloric effect, and neutron diffraction measurements have been performed in order to better understand the magnetic interactions and phase transitions in the diluted antiferromagnetic system Eu_xSr_1–xTe. Due to the low Néel temperature ofT _N =9.8 K and the associated small critical field ofB _C (T=0)=7.5 T, EuTe provides the opportunity to change the angle between the antiferromagnetic moments continuously between 180° and 0° by applying a magnetic field and allows thus to probe the type of the magnetic interaction. It is found that in addition to the common bilinear Heisenberg exchange mechanism there is evidence for a small biquadratic exchange term, which has important consequences on the critical behaviour of Eu_xSr_1–xTe. In the case of EuTe the biquadratic exchange supports the antiferromagnetic order, such that virtually no anisotropy exists and this restricts the anti-Herromagnetic (AF) to spin-flop (SF) transition toB ₀=0. On dilution with strontium, the biquadratic interaction decreases strongly and changes its sign at x0.83 thus favouring the perpendicular moment orientation. This acts like an anisotropy on the dominating antiferromagnetic bilinear interaction and shifts the AF-SF phase line to finite fields which reach values of 0.3 T forT0. No bicritical behaviour is observed, but instead, the SF phase is the state of lowest energy in a small temperature interval belowT _N . The critical exponent (x) of the specific heat decreases in a non-linear way with dilution starting from a large positive value for EuTe. (x) is close to the Heisenberg value –0.12 nearx0.83 where the biquadratic interaction is zero. The same applies for the exponent of the sublattice magnetization.     

Fine structure of the field-induced magnetic transition in Nd0.1La0.9Fe11.5Al1.5

For the Nd_0.1La_0.9Fe_11.5Al_1.5 compound, the fine structure of the magnetic transition from the ferromagnetic (FM) to the antiferromagnetic (AFM) states has been studied carefully by means of magnetization (M) and heat capacity (C_p) measurements. Although a single phase with the cubic NaZn₁₃-type structure (Fm3c) has been proved by the room temperature X-ray diffraction pattern, the phase transition has been clearly found to be a stepwise process in M(T) and C_p(T) curves under proper fields. Due to the strong competition between the FM order and AFM order, the characteristic is especially evident under low fields, weakens gradually with the increasing applied field and finally vanishes when the field is higher than 2 T. This multi-step magnetic transition results from the inhomogeneity of the sample, probably due to the inhomogeneous distribution of Nd atoms.     

Signatures of phase separation across the disorder broadened first order ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic transition in doped-CeFe2 alloys

Experimental evidences of phase coexistence and metastability are presented over a substantial field-temperature regime across the ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic transition in CeFe₂ based alloys. The idea of phase separation due to the influence of quenched disorder on a first order transition is used to interpret the results. Certain thermomagnetic history effects raise additional questions concerning the kinetics of such phase transitions.     

First observation of ferromagnetism and ferromagnetic domains in a liquid metal

80 Pd₂₀ alloy below the Curie temperature T_C(l)=1257 K of the liquid state. The magnetization of the undercooled liquid sample has been measured as a function of temperature using a modified Faraday balance. Below T_C(l), the magnetization of the liquid metal shows a plateau in the weak external field of μ₀H_z=5.6 mT. The effect is comparable to the behaviour of the corresponding solid phase, indicating the onset of spontaneous magnetization with ferromagnetic domains. T_C(l) is about 20 K lower than the Curie temperature of the solid phase T_C(s). Received: 24 February 1997/Accepted: 16 May 1997     

Unusual magnetic and transport properties above the Curie temperature in La2/3Ca1/3MnO3

Measurements of susceptibility, electron paramagnetic resonance and resistivity for La_2/3Ca_1/3MnO₃ reveal a common temperature range between ∼266 and ∼300 K, where unusual aspects of physical properties are observed. The experimental results are discussed from the Griffiths theory that predicts the formation of ferromagnetic clusters before the Curie temperature is reached. It is emphasized that this theory incorporating the double-exchange mechanism could provide a good physical basis for the understanding of unusual transport properties.     

Magnetic structure and phase diagram of the frustrated spinel Cd1−xZnxCr2Se4

In attempt to characterise the magnetic ordering in the whole composition range of the Cd_1−xZn_xCr₂Se₄ system, various magnetic measurements were performed on both crystalline and polycrystalline samples with 0?x?1. The magnetic properties of the system are typical of a ferromagnet below x=0.4 and of a complex antiferromagnet one above x=0.6. In this work the intermediate region was carefully studied. The variations of both M(T) and χ_ac at low fields suggest that transitions from ferromagnetic to Gabay–Toulouse ferromagnetic-spin-glass mixed phase at low temperature occur in the range 0.41?x?0.58. The high-temperature susceptibility measurements show that for the whole concentration range the system obeys Curie–Weiss laws. The results can be explained by the coexistence of competing interactions (ferromagnetic between nearest neighbours and antiferromagnetic between higher order neighbours) and disorder due to the random substitution between zinc and cadmium ions in the tetrahedral sites of the spinel lattice. An experimental magnetic phase diagram of the system is established.     

Ca-doping effects on N-type ferrimagnetism of NdVO3

Ca²⁺-doping effects were studied on the N-type ferrimagnet of NdVO₃. The chemical pressures by Ca²⁺-doping induced lowering of ferrimagnetic transition temperature T_c and compensation temperature θ_c, resulting in the phase transition from N- to P-type ferrimagnetic phase. In the N-phase, spontaneous magnetization M_sp becomes zero at finite temperature θ_c and in the P-phase, M_sp is positive in whole temperature range. It was revealed that NdVO₃ and Ca_0.1Nd_0.9VO₃ located in the N-phase and Ca_0.2Nd_0.8VO₃ in the P-phase. This N→P transition by the chemical pressure was discussed by the intra- and inter-sublattice exchange integrals estimated from the molecular field approximation.     

Sequence of the phase transitions in a two-dimensional ferromagnet with competing one-ion and exchange anisotropies

The phase states of a two-dimensional ferromagnet system with anisotropic exchange interaction have been investigated for various relations between the material constants. It is shown that the competition between the exchange and the one-ion anisotropies, and the account of the magnetodipolar and the magnetoelastic interactions lead to the sequence of the phase transitions. The explicit solutions of the dispersion equation have been found in the homogeneous phase states.     

Phase diagram of lithium-doped copper oxide, Cu1−xLixO

Heat capacities of lithium-doped samples of CuO have been measured below room temperature by adiabatic calorimetry. The antiferromagnetic ordering transition to incommensurately modulated state was detected as a step in the heat capacity. Its concentration dependence was compatible with existing reports based on Li-NMR. The incommensurate-commensurate transition of lithium-doped copper oxide was clearly detected for the first time. The magnetic phase diagram of Cu_1−xLi_xO was thus constructed. The suppression of both transition temperatures by the Li doping is nearly twice as strong as that expected from mean-field and percolation theories.     

Magnetic structure of TbNiAl4

Magnetisation and specific heat measurements, in the range 2 K to room temperature, demonstrate that three magnetic phases exist for the intermetallic compound TbNiAl₄. Powder neutron diffraction, also carried out over a wide temperature range, establishes that the intermediate magnetic phase is incommensurate, and confirms that the lowest temperature phase has a linear antiferromagnetic structure with a (0 1 0) propagation vector. The respective transition (Néel) temperatures, in zero applied magnetic field are 34.0 and 28.0 K.     

Hydrostatic pressure effects on the magnetic susceptibility of ruthenium oxide Sr3Ru2O7: evidence for pressure-enhanced antiferromagnetic instability

Hydrostatic pressure effects on the temperature- and magnetic field dependencies of the in-plane and out-of-plane magnetization of the bi-layered perovskite Sr₃Ru₂O₇ have been studied by SQUID magnetometer measurements under a hydrostatic helium-gas pressure. The anomalously enhanced low-temperature value of the paramagnetic susceptibility has been found to systematically decrease with increasing pressure. The effect is accompanied by an increase of the temperature T_max of a pronounced peak of susceptibility. Thus, magnetization measurements under hydrostatic pressure reveal that the lattice contraction in the structure of Sr₃Ru₂O₇ promotes antiferromagnetism and not ferromagnetism. The effects can be explained by the enhancement of the inter-bi-layer antiferromagnetic spin coupling, driven by the shortening of the superexchange path, and suppression, due to the band-broadening effect, of competing itinerant ferromagnetic correlations.     

Magnetic Properties and Spin State Transition of Gallium Doped Perovskite Cobaltite Oxide

A series of Ga doping perovskite cobaltite La2/3Sr1/3 （Co1-y Gay）03 （y = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4） are prepared by the standard solid-state reaction method. Their magnetic properties and Co ions spin state transitions are studied. Upon doping, no appreciable structure changes can be found. However, the corresponding Curie temperature sharply decreases and the magnetization is greatly reduced, indicating that Ga doping destroys the ferromagnetic interaction in the system. In addition, the high temperature magnetization data follow the Curie-Weiss law. At least one kind of Co ions （Co^3＋ or Co^4＋） favours the mixed spin state, and most Co ions are at the lower spin state （low and intermediate state）. With increasing Ga content, more Co ions transit to the higher spin state.