Knight shift in the normal state and upper critical field curves of V1−xPtx compounds with A-15 structure

The Knight shift is measured in two series of superconducting V_{1 − x}Pt_x compounds in the normal state. The composition dependence of the Knight shift of ⁵¹V and ¹⁹⁵Pt can be explained on the basis of a variation in the density of states at the Fermi level with the Pt concentration. The orbital contribution to the Knight shift of ⁵¹V and ¹⁹⁵Pt is observed to be concentration dependent too. The transition temperature to the superconducting state together with the upper critical field curve is measured. From these data the Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ is calculated. All measurements show that it is difficult to obtain homogeneous samples especially when the concentration of Pt in the sample is about 23%. In many samples it is observed that parts of the sample do have the A-15 structure but with different Pt concentrations.     

Temperature dependence of the upper critical field as an indicator of boson effects in superconductivity in Nd2−x CexCuO4−y

The temperature dependence of the upper critical field B _c 2 was determined from the shift of the resistive transition ΔT(B) in nearly optimally doped Nd_2?x Ce_xCuO_4?y single crystals. Within the experimental accuracy, the weak-field data are described by the power function B _c 2∝(ΔT)^3/2. This result is compared with the data on heat capacity and analyzed in the context of possible manifestations of boson effects in superconductivity. The T dependence of B _c 2 persists down to the lowest temperatures, but the numerical values of B _c 2 below 1 K are different for different samples.     

Anisotropy of the upper critical field and specific heat in V3Si — a superconductor with cubic symmetry

The specific heat of a V₃Si single crystal (T _c=17 K, H _c2=20 T) in magnetic fields up to 8 T isinvestigated experimentally for three orientations of the field relative to the crystallographic directions — H∥〈001〉, H∥〈110〉, and H∥〈111〉. Both the upper critical magnetic field and the specific heat of the mixed state are observed to depend on the orientation of the magnetic field relative to the crystallographic directions (anisotropy): The critical field reaches its maximum value and the specific heat its minimum value in a field along the 〈001〉 direction. The anisotropy scale in both phenomena increases as the magnetic field and reaches 3% in a 6 T field. The interrelationship of the upper critical field anisotropy and the specific-heat anisotropy in type-II superconductors is studied. It is shown that the anisotropy of the specific heat in the mixed state in weak fields can serve as a criterion for nontrivial pairing. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 69, No. 1, 26–29 (10 January 1999)     

Interaction of Ag with the Si(1 1 1)1 × 1–H surface

Synchrotron radiation based photoemission spectroscopy (SRPES) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED) are used to study the interaction between Ag atoms and the Si(1 1 1)1 × 1–H surface. At an Ag coverage of 0.063 monolayers (ML) on the Si(1 1 1)1 × 1–H surface, the Si 2p component corresponding to Si–H bonds decreases, and an additional Si 2p component appears which shifts to a lower binding energy by 109 meV with respect to the Si bulk peak. The new Si 2p component is also observed for 0.25 ML Ag on the Si(1 1 1)7 × 7 surface. These findings suggest that Ag atoms replace the H atoms of the Si(1 1 1)1 × 1–H surface and form direct Ag–Si bonds. Contrary to the widely accepted view that there is no chemical interaction between Ag particles and the H-passivated Si surface, these results are in good agreement with recent first-principles calculations.     

Properties of parallel upper critical field within continuous Ginzburg–Landau model

In this paper, we employ a continuous Ginzburg–Landau model to study the behaviors of the parallel upper critical field of an intrinsically layered superconductor. Near T_c where the order parameter is nearly homogeneous, the parallel upper critical field is found to vary as (1−T/T_c)^1/2. With a well-localized order parameter, the same field temperature dependence holds over the whole temperature range. The profile of the order parameter at the parallel upper critical field is of a Gaussian type, which is consistent with the usual Ginzburg–Landau theory. In addition, the influences of the unit cell dimension and the average effective masses on the parallel upper critical field and the associated order parameter are also addressed.     

ICLAS of water in the 770 nm transparency window (12 746–13 558 cm−1). Comparison with current experimental and calculated databases

The absorption spectrum of water vapor has been investigated by intracavity laser spectroscopy (ICLAS) in the 12 746–13 558 cm^?1 spectral region corresponding to an interesting transparency window of the atmosphere, partly obscured by the A band of molecular oxygen.The achieved sensitivity—in the order of α_min～10^?9 cm^?1—has allowed one to measure 1062 water lines with intensities ranging from 1.6×10^?28 to 2.35×10^?24 cm/molecule at 296 K. A total of 169 new and improved energy levels belonging to 21 vibrational states could be determined from 374 newly measured transitions. The retrieved experimental line list is compared with the spectra calculated by Schwenke and Partridge, and Barber and Tennyson. Comparison with the available experimental databases shows that the obtained results represent a significant improvement of the knowledge of the water absorption in the considered region, in particular in the region of the oxygen A band.     

Determination of the critical indium composition corresponding to the metal–insulator transition in InxGa1−xN (0.06 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.135) layers

The low-temperature conductivity of In_xGa_1−xN alloys (0.06 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.135) is analyzed as a function of indium composition (x). Although our In_xGa_1−xN alloys were on the metallic side of the metal–insulator transition, neither the Kubo-Greenwood nor Born approach were able to describe the transport properties of the In_xGa_1−xN alloys. In addition, all of the In_xGa_1−xN alloys took place below the Ioeffe–Regel regime with their low conductivities. The observed behavior is discussed in the framework of the scaling theory. With decreasing indium composition, a decrease in thermal activation energy is observed. For the metal–insulator transition, the critical indium composition is obtained as x_c = 0.0543 for In_xGa_1−xN alloys.     

Electronic property and structure of double-doping Y1−2xPrxCaxBa2Cu3O7−δ with 0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.14

Equal amount Pr and Ca double-doping Y_1?2xPr_xCa_xBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ with 0 ? x ? 0.14 have been investigated by X-ray diffraction, resistivity, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). The deviation of the linearly decreasing of T_c vs. x curve was observed when x < 0.10. The resistivity and the temperature coefficient of resistivity also exhibit abnormal behaviors around x = 0.10. It is revealed that the conductivity behavior of Y_1?2xPr_xCa_xBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ with low Pr content (x < 0.10) is different from that of the relative high Pr content (x > 0.10), which suggests a change of Pr valence with the Pr content. XPS measurement shows that the relative amount of Pr³⁺ and Pr⁴⁺ is closely related to the total Pr content x. The valence of Pr is close to +3 when x < 0.10 and increases towards +4 when x > 0.10, which implies a different mechanism for depression of superconductivity of Pr content x < 0.10 from that of Pr content x > 0.10 in Pr doping Y-123.     

Effective line strengths of trans-nitrous acid near 1275 cm−1 and cis-nitrous acid at 1660 cm−1

We determined the effective line strengths of the trans conformer of nitrous acid (HONO) near 1275 cm^?1 (R-branch of ν₃ mode, NOH bend) and of the cis conformer at 1660 cm^?1 (R-branch of ν₂ mode, NO stretch), both at a spectral resolution of 0.001 cm^?1 by tunable infrared laser differential absorption spectroscopy (TILDAS) utilizing continuous-wave quantum cascade (cw-QC) lasers. Absorbance of one conformer was measured while simultaneously quantifying the mixing ratio of total HONO by catalytic conversion to nitric oxide (NO) followed by calibrated absorption spectroscopy. Line strengths obtained here are consistent with previously reported band strengths for the trans conformer but are lower by a factor of approximately 2.4 for the cis conformer.     

Superconductivity in the Ba1−x LaxPbO3 system

An analysis of the relationship between the local crystal and electronic structure of the Ba_1?x K_xBiO₃ and BaPb_1?x Bi_xO₃ perovskite systems, which was made in terms of an empirical model based on EXAFS spectroscopy studies of the above compounds, led to the conclusion that superconductivity is possible in the Ba_1?x La_xPbO₃ system. The Ba_1?x La_xPbO₃ multiphase compound synthesized at a pressure of 6.7 GPa was found to contain a superconducting phase with a critical temperature T _c ?11 K.     

Modification of B-site doping of perovskite LaxSr1 − xFe1 − y−zCoyCrzO3 − δ oxide by Mg2+ ion

Co-doping B-site of perovskite oxide La_xSr_1 ? xCo_yFe_1 ? yO_3 ? δ (LSCFO) with Cr⁶⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions has been attempted in this research for revamping chemical stability and oxygen ionic conductivity of this mixed conducting oxide. It is known that partial substitution for B-site cations of LSCFO by Cr gives rise to a significant improvement on chemical and thermal stability of the perovskite oxide. On the basis of this doped structure, introduction of an immaterial dose of Mg²⁺ ion into its B-site results in a microstructure consisting of smaller grains with higher density than its precursor. Furthermore, the resulting perovskite oxide La_0.19Sr_0.8Fe_0.69Co_0.1Cr_0.2 Mg_0.01O_3 ? δ (LSFCCMO) displays higher O^2? conductivity than the solely Cr-doped LSCFO besides the improved chemical stability against reduction in 5% CH₄/He stream at 850 °C. A detailed examination of the oxidation states of B-site transition metal ions by XPS has also been conducted as a part of structural characterizations of LSFCCMO. The assessment of relative O^2? conductivity shows that the grain boundary area plays a more important role than the bulk phase in facilitating ion transport, but with comparable boundary areas the higher densification level is favorable.     

Superconductivity of (Sn1−z Pbz)1−x InxTe alloys

The temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity of (Sn_1?z Pb_z)_1?x In_xTe alloys with different concentrations of lead (z=0–0.60) and indium (x=0.03–0.20) were studied at temperatures T=0.4–4.2 K in magnetic fields from zero to H=15 kOe. A resistivity drop of no less than three-four orders of magnitude was observed in this range of alloy compositions. Application of a magnetic field above a critical level resulted in a recovery of the sample resistivity to the original value. The observed resistivity drop is identified with a superconducting transition. The critical parameters of the superconducting transition (T _c and H _c2) were determined at the drop to one half the normal resistivity level. Experimental dependences of the critical supercon-ducting-transition temperature T _c and of the second critical magnetic field H _c2 on the contents of lead (z) and indium (x) were measured. The data obtained confirm a strong localization of the In impurity states and are evidence of the extrinsic nature of superconductivity in the class of materials under study. It was established that as the Pb content in (Sn_1?z Pb_z)_1?x In_xTe increases, T _c and H _c2 decrease as the Fermi level E _F (fixed in the In impurity resonance band) leaves the Δ extremum and the superconductivity breaks down when E _F leaves the LΣ saddle point in the valence-band energy spectrum.     

CRDS of water vapor at 0.1 Torr between 6886 and 7406 cm−1

The absorption spectrum of water vapor in “natural” isotopic abundance has been recorded by high sensitivity CW-Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy (CW-CRDS) between 6885.79 and 7405.91 cm^?1. This strong absorbing region includes the first hexad of interacting vibrational bands which was previously studied by Fourier Transform Spectroscopy. The achieved sensitivity of the recordings varies from α_min～2×10^–11 to 2×10^?10 cm^?1 allowing us to use a sample pressure of 0.1 Torr, making pressure broadening of the line profile mostly negligible. Weak lines in the vicinity of much stronger lines could then be accurately measured. The weakest lines have intensity on the order of 5×10^–28 cm/molecule at 296 K. A set of 4471 lines were assigned to 4916 transitions of five water isotopologues (H₂ ¹⁶O, H₂ ¹⁸O, H₂ ¹⁷O, HD¹⁶O and HD¹⁸O). A small number of new energy levels was determined mostly for the H₂ ¹⁷O isotopologue. The previous investigations and existing databases are critically evaluated. In particular, a number of corrections and new assignments are proposed for the water list provided by the HITRAN database in the considered region. As a result, a complete list of 12,700 transitions for water in “natural” isotopic abundance is provided as Supplementary Material for the 6885–7408 cm^?1 region.     

Existence of the critical point in φ4 field theory

We consider the ⁴ quantum field theory in two and three spacetime dimensions. In the single phase region the physical mass (inverse correlation length)m() decreases continuously to zero as the bare mass parameter approaches a critical value _c from above. In three dimensions the critical point _c is in the single phase region and the physical mass vanishes there,m( _c )=0.A consequence of our results is that the critical exponentv governing the approach to infinite correlations is bounded below (rigorously) by its classical value, 1/2.Supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant MPS74-13252     

H/D Isotope Effect in the Conductivity of CaZr1 – xScxO3 – α in Reducing Atmospheres

Physics of the Solid State - The ionic (proton and deuteron) conductivity of the system CaZr1&nbsp;–&nbsp;xScxO3&nbsp;–&nbsp;α (x = 0.03–0.20) is studied...     

Electronic structure of CuClxBr1 − x,CuClxI1 − xand CuBrxI1 − xalloys

In this work, the electronic structure and disorder effects in copper halides alloys are studied by means of the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FLAPW) method. The calculated bowing parameter shows that the main contribution is due to the relaxation effects, though the charge transfer remains relatively significant, while the volume deformation contribution is negligible. The total bowing is found to be small in the three studied alloys. Results agree well with experimental and available theoretical works.