Temperature and field dependence of the magnetic properties of Nd \mathsf{_{2-x}}Ce\mathsf{_{x}}CuO\mathsf{_4}

We have investigated the magnetic ordering of Nd_2-x Ce _x CuO₄ for x = 0, 0.09, 0.13, 0.15 and 0.18 by neutron diffraction at low temperatures down to 33 mK and under magnetic field up to 5 tesla applied along [1,-1,0] crystallographic direction. At zero applied magnetic field Cu magnetic sublattice orders at , 210, 130 and 105 K for x = 0, 0.09, 0.13, 0.15, respectively. No long range magnetic order of the Cu could be detected for x = 0.18. The magnetic order of Nd was found in all samples, with a gradual increase of the polarized magnetic moment with decreasing temperature, saturating around 1 K. Hyperfine induced nuclear polarization of the Nd nuclear spin has been observed below about 400 mK for samples with x = 0, 0.13, 0.15 and 0.18. Field variation of the intensities of the principal and superstructure reflections of Nd_2-x Ce _x CuO₄ at millikelvin temperatures shows a field-induced second-order double-k to single-k phase transition at H _c = 0.75 and 0.56 tesla for samples with x = 0 and 0.15, respectively at T = 50 mK. We have also investigated the polarization of the Nd electronic sublattice due to the field of the Cu sublattice by the element specific X-ray resonant magnetic scattering investigation with synchrotron radiation.Received: 9 April 2004, Published online: 14 December 2004PACS: 75.25. + z Spin arrangements in magnetically ordered materials (including neutron and spin-polarized electron studies, synchrotron-source X-ray scattering, etc.)T. Chatterji: Has changed his surname from Chattopadhyay to Chatterji.     

Prospects for production of ultracold $\mathsf{X^{1}\Sigma^{ + }}$ RbCs molecules

Recently, we have reported photoassociation of laser-cooled Rb and Cs atoms, decay of the RbCs photoassociation resonances to high levels of the state, and reexcitation to vibronic levels of the state [Kerman et al. , Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 033004; 153001 (2004)]. Considering the reexcitation spectrum, we report here a preliminary analysis of perturbations in the c state by high levels of the and low levels of the state. Mixing with the B state provides the singlet character needed to stimulate decay to v = 0 of the ground state. We conclude that an experimental procedure that involves photoassociation of laser-cooled atoms, radiative decay, and stimulated Raman transfer to the ground electronic state is a feasible method for producing translationally, rotationally, vibrationally and electronically cold RbCs molecules. Electronic supplementary material to this article is available at and is accessible for authorized users. Received: 1 September 2004, Published online: 23 November 2004 PACS: 33.80.Ps Optical cooling of molecules; trapping - 34.50.Gb Electronic excitation and ionization of molecules; intermediate molecular states (including lifetimes, state mixing, etc.) - 33.20.Kf Visible spectra - 34.20.-b Interatomic and intermolecular potentials and forces, potential energy surfaces for collisions - 33.15.Pw Fine and hyperfine structure A supplementary table (Tab. I) is only available in electronic form at http: //www.eurphysj.org     

Magnetic order in RCr\mathsf{_{2}}Si\mathsf{_{2}} intermetallics

The magnetic structure and ordering temperatures of three intermetallic compounds which crystallize in the tetragonal ThCr₂Si₂ structure, TbCr₂Si₂, HoCr₂Si₂ and ErCr₂Si₂, have been determined by neutron diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and magnetization measurements. The Cr-sublattice orders anti-ferromagnetically with Néel temperatures of 758 K for TbCr₂Si₂, 718 K for HoCr₂Si₂ and 692 K for ErCr₂Si₂. Chromium atoms located at 4d crystallographic sites are aligned anti-parallel along the c-axis, with G_ZCr magnetic modes. In contrast with metallic bcc Cr, the refined room temperature value of the ordered Cr moment is anomalously large for all three compounds. No long range magnetic order of the R sublattice in TbCr₂Si₂ and HoCr₂Si₂ is observed, whilst the Er sublattice in ErCr₂Si₂ orders independently of the Cr sublattice below 2.4 K with moments ferromagnetically aligned in the basal plane.Received: 4 November 2003, Published online: 30 January 2004PACS: 75.25. + z Spin arrangements in magnetically ordered materials (including neutron and spin-polarized electron studies, synchrotron-source X-ray scattering, etc.) - 75.30.Cr Saturation moments and magnetic susceptibilities - 75.50.Ee Antiferromagnetics     

The photoassociative spectroscopy, photoassociative molecule formation, and trapping of ultracold \mathsf{^{39}K^{85}Rb}

We have observed the photoassociative spectra of colliding ultracold ³⁹K and ⁸⁵Rb atoms to produce KRb* in all eight bound electronic states correlating with the ³⁹K (4s) + ⁸⁵Rb(5p _1/2 and 5p _3/2) asymptotes. These electronically excited KRb* ultracold molecules are detected after their radiative decay to the metastable triplet (a state and (in some cases) the singlet (X ground state. The triplet (a ultracold molecules are detected by two-photon ionization at 602.5 nm to form KRb ⁺ , followed by time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. We are able to assign a majority of the spectrum to three states (2(0 ⁺ ), 2(0^-), 2(1)) in a lower triad of states with similar C ₆ values correlating to the K(4s) + Rb (5p _1/2) asymptote; and to five states in an upper triad of three states (3(0 ⁺ ), 3(0^-), 3(1)) and a dyad of two states (4(1), 1(2)), with one set of similar C ₆ values within the upper triad and a different set of similar C ₆ values within the dyad. We are also able to make connection with the short-range spectra of Kasahara et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 111, 8857 (1999)], identifying three of our levels as v = 61, 62 and 63 of the 1 4(1) state they observed. We also argue that ultracold photoassociation to levels between the K(4s) + Rb (5p _3/2) and K(4s) + Rb (5p _1/2) asymptotes may be weakly or strongly predissociated and therefore difficult to observe by ionization of a (or X molecules; we do know from Kasahara et al. that levels of the 1 4(1) and 2 5(1) states in the intra-asymptote region are predissociated. A small fraction ( 1/3) of the triplet (a ultracold molecules formed are trapped in the weak magnetic field of our magneto-optical trap (MOT).Received: 22 September 2004, Published online: 23 November 2004PACS: 33.20.Fb Raman and Rayleigh spectra (including optical scattering) - 34.20.Cf Interatomic potentials and forces - 33.80.Ps Optical cooling of molecules; trapping     

Ion trap nuclear resonance on $\mathsf{^{151}Eu^ + }$

Laser-microwave double resonance techniques applied to a cloud of a natural mixture of Eu ⁺ isotopes confined in a Penning trap has been used to induce and detect nuclear Zeeman transitions. In spite of the complex level structure of Eu ⁺ and overlapping spectra from the two isotopes five different transitions could be observed from which the nuclear magnetic moment can be derived. We obtain for ¹⁵¹ Eu ⁺ g _I = 1.377 34(6) demonstrating the potential for high accuracy of the technique. The experiment can be considered as a feasibility test that precise spectroscopy data using the ion storage technique can be obtained of very complex ions and under unfavourable conditions.Received: 13 June 2003, Published online: 12 August 2003PACS: 32.60. + i Zeeman and Stark effects - 32.10.Dk Electric and magnetic moments, polarizability     

Study of non-orthogonal Laguerre-L$\mathsf{^{2}}$ method for helium atom

We present a technique for describing solutions of the helium atom by using the non-orthogonal Laguerre-L² basis functions. The frozen-core approximation is used to calculate the helium energies. The completeness of helium wavefunctions obtained is studied in terms of weights of the Gaussian quadrature. The convergence of the energies is shown as the L² basis size increases and the completeness of the L² wave functions is also shown for different basis size.Received: 20 August 2003, Published online: 6 January 2004PACS: 34.80.Bm Elastic scattering of electrons by atoms and molecules - 34.80.Dp Atomic excitation and ionization by electron impact     

Insulating surface layer on single crystal K $\mathsf{_{3}}\mathsf{C}\mathsf{_{60}}$

Using angle-dependent photoemission spectra of core and valence levels we show that metallic, single crystal K³C₆₀ is terminated by an insulating or weakly-conducting surface layer. We attribute this to the effects of strong intermolecular correlations combined with the average surface charge state. Several controversies on the electronic structure are thereby resolved.Received: 16 July 2004, Published online: 5 November 2004PACS: 71.20.Tx Fullerenes and related materials; intercalation compounds - 73.20.-r Electron states at surfaces and interfaces - 79.60.Bm Clean metal, semiconductor, and insulator surfaces     

Rb$\mathsf{_{2}}$ diffuse band emission excited by diode lasers

We investigated collisional processes involved in the population of the Rb₂ diffuse band through resonant excitation of Rb atoms. Near-infrared (780 nm) and violet (420 nm) diode lasers were used for the Rb first ( 5 ²S_1/2? 5 ²P_3/2\rm 5 ^{2}S_{1/2}\to 5 ^{2}P_{3/2} ) and second ( 5 ²S_1/2? 6 ²P_3/2\rm 5 ^{2}S_{1/2}\to 6 ^{2}P_{3/2} ) resonant doublet excitations. Laser induced fluorescence spectra were detected and investigated at different rubidium densities, buffer gas pressures and excitation wavelengths.     

Magnetic and exchange studies in amorphous $\mathsf{Co_{80-x}Ho_xB_{20}}$ alloys

Amorphous Co_80-x Ho _x B₂₀ alloys were prepared by melt spinning technique and their magnetic properties have been studied. The magnetic compensation occurs at about x=8. Antiferromagnetic coupling between Co and Ho prevails and breaks at relatively high-fields. The mean field theory has been used to explain the temperature dependence of the magnetization. The exchange interactions between Co-Co and Co-Ho atom pairs have been evaluated.Received: 7 June 2003, Published online: 9 September 2003PACS: 75.50.Kj Amorphous and quasicrystalline magnetic materials - 75.30.Et Exchange and superexchange interactionsS. Sayouri: ssayouri@yahoo.com     

Interplay between structural and magnetic properties of Lu\mathsf{_{2}}Fe \mathsf{_{17}} at high pressure

A crystal structure of Lu₂Fe₁₇ was studied by means of neutron powder diffraction method in the pressure range up to 1.65 GPa and ambient temperature. Modification of the magnetic properties corresponding to the pressure-induced change of the crystal structure of Lu₂Fe₁₇ is analysed on the basis of local moment model in the mean field approximation. The experimentally observed suppression of FM state and stabilization of the non-collinear AFM state under high pressure in Lu₂Fe₁₇ can be explained qualitatively from model calculations. FM and non-collinear AFM states in Lu₂Fe₁₇ are found to be nearly degenerate at ambient pressure with the estimated difference between the total energy minima of mRyd and the application of high pressure removes this degeneracy in the favor of non-collinear AFM state.Received: 6 September 2004, Published online: 5 November 2004PACS: 61.50.Ks Crystallographic aspects of phase transformations; pressure effects - 75.25. + z Spin arrangements in magnetically ordered materials - 61.12.Ld Neutron diffraction     

Spectroscopic and dc-transport investigations of the electronic properties of $\mathsf{TaSe_{3}}$

TaSe₃ belongs to a class of low-dimensional materials characterized by the interplay and competition between dimensionality crossover and broken symmetry ground states. A comprehensive study by dc-transport, optical, and angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) experiments shows that the electronic properties of this compound are strongly anisotropic between the chain and the transverse crystallographic direction. Even though TaSe₃ fails to undergo a charge-density-wave (CDW) phase transition, we found evidence for short range order CDW segments, which progressively disappear with decreasing temperature.Received: 27 April 2004, Published online: 23 July 2004PACS: 78.20.-e Optical properties of bulk materials and thin films - 71.30. + h Metal-insulator transitions and other electronic transitions - 71.45.Lr Charge-density-wave systems     

Sign change of the thermoelectric power in LaCoO$_\mathsf{3}$

The substitution of 1%-Ce^{4 +} for La^{3 +} in LaCoO₃ is found to change the sign of the Seebeck coefficient at room temperature. This demonstrates that not only holes but also electrons can be created in LaCoO₃. The result is compatible with the Heikes formula for doping levels close to the pure trivalent Co^{3 +} state. Nonetheless, the physical properties such as magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, thermal conductivity and resistivity are found to be asymmetric for hole and electron-doped LaCoO₃. Such a different behaviour is ascribed to the very different spin-states of Co^{4 +} (low-spin, t _2g ⁵ e _g ⁰) and Co^{2 +} (high-spin, t _2g ⁵ e _g ²).Received: 26 April 2004, Published online: 29 June 2004PACS: 72.15.Jf Thermoelectric and thermomagnetic effects - 75.30.Et Exchange and superexchange interactions - 71.38.-k Polarons and electron-phonon interactions     

Surface second-harmonic generation in Au: TiO$\mathsf{_{2}}$ cermet thin films

The Surface Second-Harmonic Generation (SSHG) in Au: TiO₂ thin films of nanocermets is studied with samples of different metallic volume fractions using an IR Nd: YAG pulsed laser. We worked in a reflection geometry by varying the incidence angle and the directions of the incident beam polarization and of an analyzer of the Second Harmonic beam. We show that the SH signal is not due to electric dipolar processes only but can be treated within the general a, b, and d formalism where surfaces and bulk SH currents are well distinguished, and by describing the dielectric function of cermets within the effective-medium theory. The effective values obtained for a, b, and d are attributed to gold but the rather small discrepancies between them and those given by models are understandable by the fact that our samples are heterogeneous and not semi-infinite.Received: 19 March 2004, Published online: 6 July 2004PACS: 42.65.Ky Frequency conversion; harmonic generation, including higher-order harmonic generation - 78.66.-w Optical properties of specific thin films - 78.30.Ly Disordered solids     

Charged cores in ionized $\mathsf{{^{4}He}}$ clusters III: A quantum modeling for the collisional relaxation dynamics

When a pure ⁴He droplet is ionized by electron impact, the most abundant fragment detected in mass spectra after ionization is He₂ ⁺ . All the models that have been proposed thus far to explain the experimental evidence therefore involve the formation of the He₂ ⁺ molecular ion. The understanding of the interactions between this ion and the surrounding He atoms in the cluster and of their dynamical behavior during cluster break-up is an important element for the modeling of the cluster evolution after the ionization event. In previous works [1,2] we have computed and described the Potential Energy Surface (PES) of the electronic ground state for the He₃ ⁺ system that provides the required forces between He₂ ⁺ and He. After ionization He₂ ⁺ is presumably formed by association of an He ⁺ and any of the neutral atoms in the cluster via a 3-body collision process. The ensuing vibrational quenching of the hot molecular ion may release the energy necessary to evaporate the entire droplet, or most of it, and give the fragmentation patterns detected by experiments. We present here a model quantum dynamics that generates vibrational deexcitation cross-sections and the corresponding rate coefficients for the collision of He₂ ⁺ with He. A timescale of the cluster evaporation due to vibrational relaxation is estimated and the present findings are compared with earlier studies on the same system.Received: 15 June 2004, Published online: 24 August 2004PACS: 31.15.Qg Molecular dynamics and other numerical methods - 34.50.Ez Rotational and vibrational energy transfer - 36.40.Wa Charged clusters     

Defects in nanocrystalline SnO$\mathsf{_{2}}$ studied by Tight Binding

In this work we present a study of the properties of defective nanostructures. The material chosen to this purpose, i.e. SnO₂, has practical applications and many of them rely on the spontaneous formation of vacancies. Therefore, crystalline grains with shape and size comparable to the experimental ones have been considered. According to the bulk properties, the grains lattice has the rutile structure and may also include vacancy defects. The calculations describe the effects of the structural grain parameters, i.e. size and shape, as well as of the defect type, on the grain cohesion and are based on a Tight Binding method. The comparison with Density Functional calculations, also carried out in the course of this study, illustrates the limits of both methods when used for these complex structures.Received: 7 October 2004, Published online: 23 December 2004PACS: 61.46. + w Nanoscale materials: clusters, nanoparticles and nanocrystals - 31.10. + z Theory of electronic structure, electronic transitions and chemical bonding - 31.15.Ew Density functional theory     

A theoretical study of the Y$\mathsf{_{3}}$O clusters

Hybrid density functional calculations are performed to study the structural and electronic properties of neutral, anionic and cationic Y₃O clusters. The most stable structures of these clusters are found to be triply bridging oxygen atom structures with C_S symmetry. The ground states of Y₃O, Y₃O^- and Y₃O ⁺ are doublet (²A), triplet (³A) and singlet (¹A), respectively. The calculated electron affinities and ionization potentials are in good agreement with the available experimental data. Time-dependent density functional theory is used to calculate the low-lying excited states. A theoretical assignment for the features in the experimental photoelectron spectra is given.Received: 5 November 2003, Published online: 20 January 2004PACS: 36.40.Mr Spectroscopy and geometrical structure of clusters - 31.15.Ew Density-functional theory - 34.50.Gb Electronic excitation and ionization of molecules; intermediate molecular states (including lifetimes, state mixing, etc.)     

Spin-Peierls lattice fluctuations and disorders in CuGeO$_\mathsf{3}$ and its solid solutions

The inorganic quasi-one dimensional (1D) S = 1/2 antiferromagnetic (AF) system CuGeO₃ undergoes a 2nd order spin-Peierls (SP) phase transition at T _SP = 14.2 K. In this study we present an X-ray synchrotron radiation investigation which confirms that the SP instability is announced by an important regime of pretransitional structural fluctuations which have been detected until 36 K. Furthermore we show that these fluctuations are 1D above 24 K, a feature expected for a structural instability triggered by the Cu^{2 +} chains of spin 1/2. By extrapolating the thermal dependence of the correlation length in the chain direction, we show that formation of singlet dimers begins at about 50 K, a temperature that we identify as the mean field temperature of the SP chain. The critical nature of the pretransitional fluctuations does not change when low amounts (<1%) of non-magnetic dopants substitute either the Cu site (case of Zn and Mg) or the Ge site (case of Si and Al) of CuGeO₃. However, the spatial extension of the fluctuations is considerably reduced when the magnetic dopant Ni substitutes the Cu site. In the SP ground state of doped materials we have been able to detect, in addition to the superlattice SP reflections previously observed, a very weak anisotropic diffuse scattering. We give evidences that this scattering originates from dopant-induced quasi-1D domains in which the dimerisation is perturbed. If we assume that each domain is limited by a soliton-antisoliton pair, pinned either on the substituent of the Cu site or by the deformation field induced by the substituent of the Ge site, we deduce that the soliton and antisoliton are separated by a distance of about Å, and that the soliton half width amounts to about Å. With these numbers we are able to account for the rate of decrease of T _SP as a function of the dopant concentration, and to deduce the critical concentration above which the long-range SP order vanishes. The overall size of the perturbed domains thus obtained, Å, is comparable with the size of the magnetic inhomogeneities determined by muon spin spectroscopy in the AF phase of doped CuGeO₃.Received: 22 December 2003, Published online: 8 June 2004PACS: 71.27. + a Strongly correlated electron systems; heavy fermions - 61.72.Dd Experimental determination of defects by diffraction and scattering - 75.45. + j Macroscopic quantum phenomena in magnetic systems     

Microwave fluctuational conductivity in YBa\mathsf{_{2}}Cu\mathsf{_{3}}O \mathsf{_{7-\delta}}

We present measurements of the microwave complex conductivity at 23.9 and 48.2 GHz in YBa₂Cu₃O $_{7-\delta}$ films, in the fluctuational region above T _c . With increasing temperature, the fluctuational excess conductivity drops much faster than the well-known calculations within the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory [H. Schmidt, Z. Phys. 216, 336 (1968)]. Approaching the transition temperature, slowing down of the fluctuations is observed. We discuss the results in terms of a modified Gaussian theory for finite-frequency fluctuational conductivity, where renormalization is introduced in order to account for the $T\rightarrow T_{c}$ regime, and a spectral cutoff is inserted in order to discard high-momentum modes. The data are in excellent agreement with the modified theory, when formulated for three-dimensional, anisotropic superconductors, in the whole experimentally accessible temperature range, and for both frequencies.     

Feshbach resonances in an ultracold mixture of 87Rb and 40K

We report the experimental preparations of the absolute ground states of ⁸⁷Rb and ⁴⁰K atoms (| F=1, m_F=1,〉+ |F=9/2, m_F=-9/2,〉) by means of the radio-frequency and microwave adiabatic rapid passages, and the observation of magnetic Feshbach resonances in an ultracold mixture of bosonic ⁸⁷Rb and fermionic ⁴⁰K atoms between 0 T and 6.0 × 10^-2 T, including 7 homonuclear and 4 heteronuclear Feshbach resonances. The resonances are identified by the abrupt trap loss of atoms induced by the strong inelastic three-body collisions. These Feshbach resonances should enable the experimental control of interspecies interactions.     

Precursor diamagnetism above the superconducting transition in YNi_\mathsf{2}B_\mathsf{2}C

High-resolution SQUID magnetization measurements in a single crystal of YNi₂B₂C around the superconducting transition are reported. The diamagnetic magnetization -M _fl at constant field H as a function of temperature and isothermal magnetization curves -M _fl vs. H are used to derive insights on precursor phenomena approaching the bulk transition temperature K. The precursor diamagnetism is found strongly enhanced with respect to the conventional Ginzburg-Landau value for Gaussian fluctuations and the curves -M _fl vs. H exhibit an upturn with the field and hysteretic effects up to T ^* = 15.4 K. These results are interpreted in terms of a non-zero order parameter in superconducting droplets above the bulk T _c . These droplets are likely to be related to inhomogeneities resulting from small amount of boron to carbon substitutions.Received: 23 April 2003, Published online: 15 October 2003PACS: 74.40.+k Fluctuations (noise, chaos, nonequilibrium superconductivity, localization, etc.) - 74.20.De Phenomenological theories (two-fluid, Ginzburg-Landau, etc.) - 74.25.Ha Magnetic properties