Pressure-induced isostructural phase transition in α-Ni(OH)_2 nanowires

High pressure structural phase transition of monoclinic paraotwayite type α-Ni(OH)_2 nanowires with a diameter of15 nm–20 nm and a length of several micrometers were studied by synchrotron x-ray diffraction(XRD) and Raman spectra.It is found that the α-Ni(OH)_2 nanowires experience an isostructural phase transition associated with the amorphization of the H-sublattice of hydroxide in the interlayer spaces of the two-dimensional crystal structure at 6.3 GPa–9.3 GPa. We suggest that the isostructural phase transition can be attributed to the amorphization of the H-sublattice. The bulk moduli for the low pressure phase and the high pressure phase are 41.2(4.2) GPa and 94.4(5.6) GPa, respectively. Both the pressure-induced isostructural phase transition and the amorphization of the H-sublattice in the α-Ni(OH)_2 nanowires are reversible upon decompression. Our results show that the foreign anions intercalated between the α-Ni(OH)_2 layers play important roles in their structural phase transition.     

Liquid–gas and other unusual thermal phase transitions in some large-N magnets

Much insight into the low temperature properties of quantum magnets has been gained by generalizing them to symmetry groups of order N, and then studying the large-N limit. In this paper we consider an unusual aspect of their finite temperature behavior—their exhibiting a phase transition between a perfectly paramagnetic state and a paramagnetic state with a finite correlation length at N=∞. We analyze this phenomenon in some detail in the large “spin” (classical) limit of the SU(N) ferromagnet which is also a lattice discretization of the CP^N−1 model. We show that at N=∞ the order of the transition is governed by lattice connectivity. At finite values of N, the transition goes away in one or less dimension but survives on many lattices in two dimensions and higher, for sufficiently large N. The latter conclusion contradicts a recent conjecture of Sokal and Starinets [Nucl. Phys. B 601 (2001) 425], yet is consistent with the known finite temperature behavior of the SU(2) case. We also report closely related first order paramagnet–ferromagnet transitions at large N and shed light on a violation of Elitzur's theorem at infinite N via the large-q limit of the q state Potts model, reformulated as an Ising gauge theory.     

Pressure-induced structural phase transition and electronic properties of RESb (RE = Ho,Er and Tm) compounds: ab initio calculations

The structural phase transition and electronic properties at ambient (B ₁-phase) and high pressure (B ₂-phase) of heavy rare earth monoantimonides (RESb; RE?=?Ho, Er, and Tm) have been studied theoretically using the self-consistent tight binding linear muffin tin orbital method. These compounds show metallic behavior under ambient condition and undergo a structural phase transition to the B ₂ phase at high pressure. We predict a structural phase transition from the B ₁ to B ₂ phase in the pressure range 30.0–35.0?GPa. Apart from this, the ground state properties, such as lattice parameter and bulk modulus are calculated and compared with the available theoretical and experimental results.     

Structural phase transitions in Cu2–x Te crystals (x = 0.00, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25)

Structural phase transitions in Cu_2–x Te crystals have been investigated by high-temperature X-ray diffraction.

At room temperature Cu₂Te and Cu_1.90Te specimens are two-phased, i.e. they consist of an orthohombic phase with a = 7.319, b = 22.236, c = 36.458 Å and a hexagonal phase with a = 4.150, c = 7.188 Å. The changes in both compounds take place generally in the hexagonal phase with increasing temperature. At 821, 873 K they transform to a FCC phase. Monocrystals of the other compounds at room temperature crystallize in the hexagonal system and at 673, 773, 723 K, respectively, they transform to a FCC phase. It is determined that as the cation deficiency increases the crystal quality becomes better.     

Structures and phase transitions in some Pb2B′B″O6 complex perovskite-type compounds

In order to study the influence of substitutions and of the ionic radii of B’ ions on structure and phase transitions, we present some physical measurements and data on Pb₂B′B″O₆ (B”=W, Nb, Mo) complex perovskite compounds. By Mn and Fe substitution for Mg in Pb₂MgWO₆ compound a change in lattice parameters and shift of antiferroelectric transition temperature is observed. It appears that in all three series of compounds a linear dependence between ferroelectric or antiferroelectric transition temperature and B’ ionic radii is observed.     

Phases and phase transitions in the mixed molecular system (NaCN)1−x(KCN)x

The phase diagram of (NaCN)_1–x(KCN)_x was examined by neutron powder diffraction in the temperature range 5K T300 K. Several non-cubic low-temperature phases were identified for concentrationsx<x _c1=0.15 andxx _c2=0.89. Lattice parameters and ferroelastic deformations were determined from the observed powder patterns. The phase transformations were characterized following the temperature dependence of the appropriate order parameters.     

Investigation of half-metallic and magnetic phase transition in Co2TiZ (Z = Al,Ga, In) Heusler alloys

ABSTRACT

The half-metallic and ferromagnetic properties of Co₂TiZ (Z?=?Al, Ga, In) Heusler alloys are investigated. The structural stability is analyzed among the two possible structures, namely, L2₁ (Cu₂MnAl phase) and XA (Hg₂CuTi phase) structures. It is found that these alloys are stable in L2₁ (Cu₂MnAl phase) structure. The electronic structure of Co₂TiZ reveals that these alloys exhibit half-metallic ferromagnetism with small spin-flip gap at the minority spin state. As the pressure is increased, ferromagnetic to non-magnetic phase transition is observed at the pressures of 380.9, 363.0 and 317.8?GPa for Co₂TiAl, Co₂TiGa and Co₂TiIn, respectively. Half-metallic to metallic phase transition occurs in Co₂TiAl, Co₂TiGa and Co₂TiIn at the pressures of 76.5?GPa, 73.1?GPa and 63.9?GPa respectively.     

Nonequilibrium crystal-to-amorphcs phase transitions in “high pressure” phases SiOz and Ge(A1)

Abstract

The pressure dependences of the temperatures of the crystal-to-amorphous transformations for SiO₂ and Geo.7Alo.9 are presented. The field of the existence of amorphous phases of both substances vanishes at high pressure.

Les variations avec P de la temperature de transformations cristal-to-amorphous de SiO₂ et Ga. 7 Ala. 9 sont presentes. Le champ d'existence de phase amorphe de ces substances desparait a haute pression.     

Dielectric characteristics and phase transitions in Tl(InS2) 1 − x (FeSe2) x solid solutions

This paper reports on a study of the electrical conductivity and permittivity of Tl(InS_{2) 1−x} (FeSe_{2) x} crystals as functions of composition and temperature. It has been found that the permittivity decreases in magnitude, while the electrical conductivity increases with increasing x. Crystals Tl(InS_{2) 1−x} (FeSe_{2) x} have been observed to undergo a sequence of phase transitions characteristic of TlInS₂, which manifests itself in formation of anomalies in the σ = f(T) and ɛ = f(T) temperature dependences. It has been shown that as x increases, the phase transition temperatures decrease, while the temperature region within which the incommensurate phase persists broadens slightly.     

Investigation of multipole mixtures in gamma transitions by means of the reaction 232Th(n, n′γ)

The spectrumof gamma rays from the reaction ²³²Th(n, n′γ) induced by a beam of fast reactor neutrons and the angular distribution of the gamma rays in question with respect to this beam were measured. The multipole-mixture parameter δ was found for many gamma transitions.     

Nonequilibrium phase transitions in ferromagnetic semiconductors (EuO<Subscript>1–δ</Subscript>)

The features of metal‒semiconductor kinetic phase transformation in ferromagnetic semiconductors are studied. It is shown that heat release caused by current results in a positive feedback between the current density and the sample temperature, magnetization, and thermal-spin fluctuation amplitude. The Joule heating of the sample leads to disappearance of magnetization and, as a result, to restoration of the forbidden band between the conduction and valence bands. However, the energy gap width continues to change due to an increase in the fluctuations of internal exchange fields splitting the electron states. Within the framework of the developed model, an S-shaped volt-ampere characteristic is obtained for a EuO_1–δ, ferromagnetic semiconductor. The lower branch of the characteristic corresponds to a ferromagnetic metal state (a “cold” phase) and the upper one is due to a semiconductor paramagnetic state (a “hot” phase).     

Phase transitions of YbX (X = P,As and Sb) with a NaCl-type structure at high pressures

The powder X-ray diffraction of YbX (X?=?P, As and Sb) with a NaCl-type structure has been studied with synchrotron radiation up to 63?GPa at room temperature. YbSb undergoes the first-order structural phase transition from the NaCl-type (B1) to the CsCl-type (B2) structure at around 13?GPa. The structural change to the B2 structure occurs with the volume collapse of about 1% at 13?GPa. The transition pressure of YbSb is surprisingly lower than that of any other heavier LnSb (Ln?=?Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Lu). The pressure-induced phase transitions in YbP and YbAs are observed at around 51?GPa and 52?GPa respectively. The transition pressure of both compounds is much higher than that of YbSb. The high-pressure structural behaviour of YbX (X?=?P, As and Sb) is discussed. The volume versus pressure curve for YbX with the NaCl-type structure is fitted by a Birch equation of state. The bulk moduli of these compounds with the NaCl-type structure are 104?GPa for YbP, 85?GPa for YbAs and 52?GPa for YbSb.     

In-plane magnetic penetration depth in FeSe1-xSx (x = 0, 0.04, 0.09) and FeTe1-xSex (x = 0.40) single crystals

The magnetization anomaly of FeSe_1–xS_x(x?=?0, 0.04, 0.09) and FeTe_1–xSe_x(x?=?0.40) single crystals are examined through our Modified Phenomenological Ginzburg–Landau (MPGL) theory applicable to two-band superconducting systems. The theory in the London limit calculates the values of λ_ab(0) as 445.695, 372.058 and 432.957?nm of FeSe_1–xS_x for x?=?0, 0.04, 0.09 which are very close to the experimental values reported by Hafiez et al. [Superconducting properties of sulfur-doped iron selenide. Phys Rev B. 2015;91(16):165109–165120] and as 534?nm for FeTe_1–xSe_x(x?=?0.40) single crystal, which is close to the experimental value reported by Yadav and Paulose [Upper critical field, lower critical field and critical current density of FeTe_0.60Se_0.40 single crystals. New J Phys 2009;11:103046]. In addition, the variation of temperature-dependent in-plane magnetic penetration depth λ_ab(T) with the temperature (T) has been presented, which agrees well as reported by Hafiez et al. [Superconducting properties of sulfur-doped iron selenide. Phys Rev B. 2015;91(16):165109–165120] and Yadav and Paulose [Upper critical field, lower critical field and critical current density of FeTe_0.60Se_0.40 single crystals. New J Phys. 2009;11:103046].     

237Np Mössbauer Investigations of (U1−x Np x )2Rh2Sn

Surprisingly, Np₂Rh₂Sn does not order magnetically whereas the uranium counterpart U₂Rh₂Sn orders antiferromagnetically at 24 K with a 5f moment μ _U ≈0.38μ _B . We have investigated the magnetic and electronic properties of (U_1−x Np _x )₂Rh₂Sn solid solutions. For x=0.25 and 0.5, the ordering temperature decreases to 11 K whereas the Np-rich compound (x=0.75) shows the onset of magnetic order around T≈6 K. The average Np magnetic moment amounts to 0.84 μ _B ,0.83μ _B and 0.25 μ _B respectively. The isomer shift slightly decreases, from −9.6 mm/s to −10.4 mm/s (versus NpAl₂) as x increases. The values of the quadrupole interaction parameter in the ordered and paramagnetic state suggest that Np moments are parallel to c for x=0.25 and then rotate to the basal plane for higher x. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mössbauer (237Np) and structural studies of some oxouranates and oxoneptunates

Two oxoneptunates have been investigated using²³⁷Np Mössbauer spectroscopy. The crystal structures of Na₂U₂O₇ and -Na₂UO₄ were recently determined by one of us. The two isotypic compounds Na₂Np₂O₇ and -Na₂NpO₄ were prepared. For -Na₂NpO₄ the Mössbauer spectrum confirms the structural study. For Na₂Np₂O₇ the structural study enabled the fit of the complex Mössbauer spectrum recorded at 77K.