Tri-hexagonal charge order in kagome metal CsV3Sb5 revealed by 121Sb nuclear quadrupole resonance

We report ¹²¹Sb nuclear quadrupole resonance(NQR)measurements on kagome superconductor CsV₃Sb₅ with Tc=2.5 K.¹²¹Sb NQR spectra split after a charge density wave(CDW)transition at 94 K,which demonstrates a commensurate CDW state.The coexistence of the high temperature phase and the CDW phase between 91 K and 94 K manifests that it is a first order phase transition.The CDW order exhibits tri-hexagonal deformation with a lateral shift between the adjacent kagome layers,which is consistent with 2×2×2 superlattice modulation.The superconducting state coexists with CDW order and shows a conventional s-wave behavior in the bulk state.     

Half-Life of the 37.1 keV level in121Sb

The half-life of the first excited state at 37.1 keV in¹²¹Sb has been measured using the technique of delayed coincidences with a time to amplitude converter. Scintillators with fast timing properties have been used in various combinations. From 17 independent measurements a result for the half-life ofT _1/2=(3.46±0.03) ns has been obtained and this is compared with previously published values.     

121Sb and 123Sb NQR and the heterophase structure in the SbSI ferroelectric

The temperature dependences of NQR line frequencies and widths of ¹²¹Sb (for the ±1/2→±3/2 transition) and of ¹²³Sb (for the ±1/2→±3/2 and ±3/2→±5/2 transitions), as well as of the principal components and the asymmetry parameter of the electric-field-gradient tensor at the ¹²³Sb nucleus have been studied in a SbSI crystal in the 115–325 K range. The dynamic and static factors governing the character of these relations are discussed. The ±1/2→±3/2 line in the ¹²¹Sb NQR spectrum splits into a doublet within a narrow (0.5 K) temperature interval near the ferroelectric phase transition (T _c=293 K), which is associated with the formation of a macroscopic heterophase structure in the crystal. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1286–1292 (July 1999)     

Nuclear resonance fluorescence from the 58keV level in159Tb

The half-life of the 58keV level of¹⁵⁹Tb was determined by classical resonance absorption using the centrifuge technique and by Mössbauer spectroscopy measuring the natural line width and found to beτ _1/2=(58±10)ps. Mössbauer spectra for Tb and Tb₂O₃ absorbers and for Dy₂O₃ and GdFe₂ sources were investigated for temperatures between 9 and 385 K. Results for hyperfine interactions and Debye Waller factors are given. The Debye Waller factors are compared with predictions obtained from other experimental results.     

Nuclear resonance fluorescence in94Mo,95Mo and96Mo

Using gaseous sources of Tc₂O₇ containing the radioactive isotopes⁹⁴Tc,⁹⁵Tc and⁹⁶Tc, levels at 871.0keV (⁹⁴Mo), 765.8, 820.6, 947.8, 1074.0keV (⁹⁵Mo) and 778.3keV (⁹⁶Mo) have been excited. From the effective cross sections for nuclear resonance scattering and from the lifetimes of the 947.8, 1074.0 and 778.3keV levels known from Coulomb excitation experiments the profiles of theγ-lines have been determined. A broadening of theγ-lines due to Coulomb explosion of the molecules has been observed. Making use of the line profiles, lifetimes ofΤ=(6.4±1.0) ps andΤ=(0.90 ± 0.20) ps have been determined for the 765.8 and 820.6keV levels, respectively. The angular distribution of the resonantly scattered radiation yields an amplitude ratioδ for the mixed M1 E2 765.8keV transition ofδ=0.14 _?0.009 ^+0.08 . TheB(E2) from a Coulomb excitation experiment and the lifetimeΤ from the present experiment yield ¦δ¦=0.07±0.01 for the 820.6keV transition.     

Hybrid model analysis of the excitation function for alpha induced reaction on121Sb and123Sb

Excitation functions for the reactions¹²¹Sb(α, xn)^125−x I,¹²³Sb(α, xn)^127−x I and¹²¹Sb(α, p3n)¹²¹Te were obtained from the measurements of the residual activity of stacked foils of antimony trioxide evaporated on Al backings from threshold to 60 MeV. The excitation functions for the production of¹²¹I,¹²³I,¹²⁴I,¹²⁶I and¹²¹Te are presented. The experimental data are compared with calculations considering equilibrium as well as pre-equilibrium reaction mechanism according to the hybrid model of Blann. The high energy part of the excitation functions are dominated by the pre-equilibrium reaction mechanism. Calculations were done using a priori calculational method of Overlaid Alice Code of Blann. Most of the excitation functions in the energy range mentioned above could very well be fitted with the hybrid model calculation for exciton numbern=4 withn _n=2 andn _p=2. The overall agreement with the theory is good. Certain discrepancies for example¹²¹Sb(α, p3n)¹²¹Te excitation function, indicate that the production mechanism is different from the one presumed for the calculation.     

Calculation of 121Sb and 125Te Mössbauer Spectra

We propose an alternative approach for the analysis of the Mössbauer spectra of complex crystalline materials when the determination of the Mössbauer parameters from the only experimental data fails. This approach is based on first principle calculations of the electron density and electric field gradients at the nucleus based on the linearized augmented plane wave method. Results are given for tellurium and antimony compounds.

     

Nuclear stochastic resonance

Quantitative theory of the effect of nuclear ferromagnetism on the superconductivity of metals is proposed taking into account the electron-nuclear spin-spin interactions. At negative nuclear temperatures, when the nuclear magnetization is in opposition to an external magnetic field, nuclear ferromagnetism is favorable to superconductivity rather than suppressing it. The critical magnetic field in Be and TiH_2.07 hydrate metals may exceed the critical field of a nonmagnetic superconductor by an order of magnitude.     

Nuclear resonance scattering

Nuclear resonance scattering is an atomistic spectroscopy sensitive to magnetic and electronic properties as well as slow and fast structural dynamics. Applications, which take advantage of both the outstanding properties of third generation synchrotron radiation sources and those of the Mössbauer effect, benefit most. Examples resulting from investigations at the ESRF will be given in applications to high pressure and low temperatures, nano-scale materials, and dynamics of disordered systems. To cite this article: R. Rüffer, C. R. Physique 9 (2008).     

Two-photon resonance fluorescence

The excitation spectrum of a two-level atom interacting with a strong electromagnetic field is considered when the atomic transition frequency is nearly twice the frequency of the laser field. The spectral function consists of four Lorentzian lines describing: the central line peaked near the two-photon resonance, two sidebands peaked at the high and low frequency regions respectively and the one-photon frequency mode. In the limit of high photon densities, the low frequency photon mode is induced by the pump field which removes the singularity occurring at the two-photon resonance frequency.     

Non-markovian resonance fluorescence

The power spectrum of a strong field resonance fluorescence is derived from non-markovian Bloch equations. It is shown that the Mollow spectrum is modified by non-markovian corrections. The main feature of the non-markovian behavior is a nonsymmetric power spectrum even at exact resonance. The magnitude of the non-markovian asymmetry depends on the power of the driving light.     

Magnetism-Related Properties of CdSb Revealed by the Zeeman 121Sb NQR Spectra

The ¹²¹Sb NQR spectra of CdSb single crystal were measured in the presence of weak (up to 500 Oe) external magnetic fields. As the analysis of the ¹²¹Sb EFG symmetry showed, two magnetically nonequivalent Sb sites exist in the CdSb crystal lattice. An upper limit of the local magnetic field, which may exist in CdSb characterized with the observed ¹²¹Sb NQR spectra, was estimated by modeling the Zeeman perturbed patterns. This amounted to H _loc ∼10 G, hence being much less than earlier found local fields H _loc ∼30–200 G in bismuth-based compounds.     

Nuclear resonance fluorescence in238U and a new approach to Doppler-shift-attenuation using high speed rotation

Using⁵⁶Co sources, a 3.254 MeV level in²³⁸U was photoexcited by aγ-line emitted in the decay of the 4.100 MeV level in⁵⁶Fe. 10γ-transitions deexciting this 3.254 MeV level were identified. Spin and parity were determined to be 1⁻. By moving the⁵⁶Co source in a high speed centrifuge the profile of the 3.254 MeV emission line was investigated. By applying a new variety of Doppler shift analysis a lifetime ofτ _Fe=55±25fs was obtained for the 4.100 MeV level in⁵⁶Fe. The cross section for nuclear resonance fluorescence yields a lifetime ofτ _U =0.33±0.12 ps for the 3.254 MeV level in²³⁸U.

     

Nuclear acoustic resonance in metals

A comprehensive quantum theoretical treatment of nuclear acoustic resonance (NAR) in metals is presented for the first time. Basic equations describing the NAR-absorption and NAR-dispersion are derived from the sound induced perturbation Hamiltonian Ih(t) by applying a generalized form of the Kubo susceptibility. It is shown that in metals, where a sound wave may induce nuclear magnetic dipole and nuclear electric quadrupole transitions simultaneously, the appearance of interference terms enables one to determine not only the absolute values but also the signs of the gradient-elastic tensor components. Explicit expressions are displayed for the dipolar, quadrupolar and interference contributions to the generalized NAR susceptibility in cubic metals. As an example the derivative of the expected⁹³Nb NAR-absorption line (|m|=1) is calculated for different signs of the gradient elastic tensor componentS ₄₄.     

Nuclear quadrupolar relaxation and association in liquid InSb

A thermodynamic model of associates is applied to discuss the large increase of nuclear quadrupolar relaxation rate R_Q found in many liquid alloys with compound-forming tendency, by considering the concentration and lifetime of associates. Data for concentration and temperature dependence of R_Q of Sb in In_1-cSb_c are presented and explained by known thermodynami properties of the alloy; a characteristic time of the order of 10^?11 s is estimated.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance cryoporometry

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) cryoporometry is a technique for non-destructively determining pore size distributions in porous media through the observation of the depressed melting point of a confined liquid. It is suitable for measuring pore diameters in the range 2 nm–1 μm, depending on the absorbate. Whilst NMR cryoporometry is a perturbative measurement, the results are independent of spin interactions at the pore surface and so can offer direct measurements of pore volume as a function of pore diameter. Pore size distributions obtained with NMR cryoporometry have been shown to compare favourably with those from other methods such as gas adsorption, DSC thermoporosimetry, and SANS. The applications of NMR cryoporometry include studies of silica gels, bones, cements, rocks and many other porous materials. It is also possible to adapt the basic experiment to provide structural resolution in spatially-dependent pore size distributions, or behavioural information about the confined liquid.     

119Sn and121Sb Mössbauer studies of BaSn1−x Sb x O3 Perovskite system

The relations between the electrical characteristics of BaSn_1?x Sb _x O₃ perovskite system and the contents of BaO, Sb₂O₃ and silicate sintering agent were studied by X-ray diffraction analysis and Mössbauer spectroscopy. It was found that the electrical conductivity is related to the substitution of Sb³⁺ for Sn⁴⁺, the content of sintering agent and the phase constitutents in samples. BaSnO₃, Ba₃Sn₂O₇, Ba₂SnO₄ and SnO₂ phases might appear in different fractions when the contents of BaO change from 0.5 mole to 3.5 mole. In low antimony percentage condition, pentavalent Sb³⁺ ions inserted in Sn⁴⁺ sites and formed the donor center. In high antimony percentage (x≥0.20) condition, the existence of an insulating phase (BaSb₂O₆) was confirmed.