Study of the domain structure evolution in single crystals of relaxor ferroelectric Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6:Ce1

Optical visualization with simultaneous recording of the switching current was used for studying of domain structure evolution in single crystals relaxor ferroelectric strontium barium niobate (Sr_0.61Ba_0.39Nb₂O₆) doped by cerium (0.22 mol %) (SBN61:Ce). It was shown that the maze domain structures can be observed during polarization reversal due to local change of refractive index induced by formation of microscale domains with charged domain walls. It was proposed, that optical inhomogeneities occur in the switching regions, while the optical uniform areas correspond to regions where the switching either has not started yet or has already completed. The original mathematical treatment of the obtained images and switching currents has been used for quantitative characterization of the polarization reversal process.     

Resonant photoemission in DyNi2Mn x rare-earth intermetallides

The electronic structure of the DyNi₂Mn _x rare-earth (RE) intermetallides whose cubic structure is similar to the structure of RT₂ compounds is studied. Resonant photoemission and X-ray absorption methods are used in the vicinity of the 2p- and 3p-excitation thresholds of transition elements and the 3p-, 3d-, and 4d-thresholds of RE metals to find the Ni, Mn 3d-, and R 4f-partial densities of the states in the valent band. The use of resonant photoemission allows us to establish features of the interaction between the unfinished 4f-shells of ions of RE metals with ions of the transition 3d-elements in RNi₂Mn _x compounds. The contributions from atoms of various elements to the structure of the valent band are separated, and the basic regularities of band formation during the introduction of manganese atoms are found.     

Ionoluminescence of trivalent rare-earth-doped strontium barium niobate

Ionoluminescence spectra for different rare-earth ion (Pr³⁺ and Eu³⁺)-activated Sr_xBa_1?xNb₂O₆ strontium barium niobate crystals (x=0.33 and 0.60) have been induced with a 3 MeV proton beam for a variety of beam current intensities (45, 40 and 20 nA). The proton-beam induced luminescent spectra have shown features associated with the presence of the rare-earth ion and some spectral features mostly related to the host crystal, which appear only for high beam current intensities. We have compared the ionoluminescence results to those obtained under UV light excitation (photoluminescence technique) where a direct excitation of the band gap would occur.     

Fermi surface and thermoelectric power of (Bi1−x Sbx)2Te3<Ag, Sn> mixed crystals

The Fermi surface anisotropy of (Bi_1?x Sb_x)₂Te₃ single crystals (0.25 ≤ x ≤ 1) was studied by analyzing the angular dependence of the frequency of Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations and the effect of tin and silver doping on the thermoelectric power in these crystals in the temperature range 77 ≤ T ≤ 300 K. It was shown that silver doping of (Bi_1?x Sb_x)₂Te₃ mixed crystals produces acceptors, while silver in Bi₂Te₃ acts as a donor. Tin also exhibits acceptor properties. Both tin and silver doping of p-(Bi_1?x Sb_x)₂Te₃ mixed crystals decrease the thermoelectric power due to an increase in the hole concentration.     

Electrical behavior of high resistivity Ce-doped BiFeO3 multiferroic

Bi_1+xCe_xFeO₃ (Ce–BFO) for x=0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15 monophasic ceramic samples were successfully synthesized by conventional solid-state reaction routes. The influences of Ce doping on structural, dielectric, ferroelectric, leakage current and capacitive properties of BiFeO₃ ceramics were investigated intensively. At higher concentrations of x (x=0.1 and 0.15) the samples showed good crystallinity with almost impurity free phases. No structural phase transformation took place after partial doping of Ce ions and all ceramic bulk samples remain in their rhombohedral structure with space group R3c. The dielectric behavior of the samples improved significantly and the ferroelectric hysteresis loops changed their shape from rounded to a strongly nonlinear typical ferroelectric feature mainly originating from the domain switching and became enhanced with increase in doping concentration of cerium (Ce). Experimental results also suggested that partial doping of higher valence, smaller ionic radius Ce ions in BiFeO₃ forces the reduction of oxygen vacancies, resulting in a great suppression of leakage current. It is found that the sharp capacitance peak/discontinuity present in the C–V characteristics of Ce–BFO for different Ce doping concentrations is directly associated with the polarization reversal. Incorporation of excess bismuth in the presence of Ce in BiFeO₃ is expected to compensate Bi loss during high temperature sintering and caused structural distortion which also favors enhancement of ferroelectric properties in Ce-doped BFO.     

Doping – Dependent irreversible magnetic properties of Ba(Fe1−xCox)2As2 single crystals

We discuss the irreversible magnetic properties of self-flux grown Ba(Fe_1?xCo_x)₂As₂ single crystals for a wide range of concentrations covering the whole phase diagram from the underdoped to the overdoped regime, x = 0.038, 0.047, 0.058, 0.071, 0.074, 0.10, 0.106 and 0.118. Samples were characterized by a magneto-optical method and show excellent spatial uniformity of the superconducting state down to at least the micrometer scale. The in-plane properties are isotropic, as expected for the tetragonal symmetry, and the overall behavior closely follows classical Bean model of the critical state. The field-dependent magnetization exhibits second peak at a temperature and doping – dependent magnetic field, H_p(T, x). The evolution of this fishtail feature with doping is discussed. In particular we find that H_p, measured at the same reduced temperature for different x, is a unique monotonic function of the superconducting transition temperature, T_c(x), across all dopings. Magnetic relaxation is time-logarithmic and unusually fast. Similar to cuprates, there is an apparent crossover from collective elastic to plastic flux creep above H_p. At high fields, the field dependence of the relaxation rate becomes doping independent. We discuss our results in the framework of the weak collective pinning and show that vortex physics in iron-based pnictide crystals is much closer to high-T_c cuprates than to conventional s-wave (including MgB₂) superconductors.     

Phase transitions induced by a strong magnetic field in electron-doped manganites

The magnetic and magnetoelastic properties of single crystals of electron-doped rare-earth manganites La_1?x Sr _x MnO₃ are studied. Phase transitions from the A-type antiferromagnetic phase to the C-type anti-ferromagnetic phase in a strong magnetic field are revealed in La_1?x Sr _x MnO₃ manganites with a strontium content x = 0.65. A similar phase transition is observed in manganites with a strontium content x = 0.8, at which the La_0.2Sr_0.8MnO₃ manganite is assumed to transform from the C-type antiferromagnetic phase to the G-type antiferromagnetic phase.     

Domain switching in strontium-barium niobate crystals investigated by photorefractive self-focusing

The domain switching behaviour of undoped and Ce-doped Sr_0.61Ba_0.39Nb₂O₆ (SBN) crystals is investigated for different experimental conditions. For the investigation the photorefractive self-focusing technique is used. This method is demonstrated to be well suited for determining the polarization state of SBN crystals spatially resolved. We find that the repoling behaviour of nominally pure SBN is spatially inhomogeneous. The crystals are well repoled at the positive electrode, but are depolarized at the negative electrode. The larger the Ce doping concentration is, the smaller the depolarized crystal area. The domain switching depends on the switching velocity, while no influence of the electrode material is observed. This revised version was published online in March 2005. In the previous version, the published online date was missing     

Anomalous magnetism of La2CuO4+x single crystals

Measurements of the differential magnetic susceptibility are performed to study the changes in the magnetic properties of La₂CuO_4+x due to oxygen doping in the concentration interval 0<x<0.011. For crystals with 0.005<x<0.011, a ferromagnetic-type phase transition is observed at T _c >T _N , and it occurs even in crystals with T _N ～0. The concentration dependence of the transition temperature T _c (x) is obtained.     

Effect of annealing on the pyroelectric properties of SBN crystals

Single crystals of barium strontium niobate Sr_0.61Ba_0.39Nb₂O₆ (SBN) subjected to high-temperature annealing are shown to be more uniformly polarized in a dc electric field than unannealed samples. The experiments are carried out with undoped SBN crystals and with chromium-and cerium-doped SBN crystals.     

Polarization properties of Li2−x Na x Ge4O9 (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) crystals

The polarization switching in sinusoidal fields and the pyroelectric properties of Li_2?x Na _x Ge₄O₉ (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) crystals are measured in the temperature range T _c ?T ≤ 40 K. The behavior of the P?E hysteresis loops with variations in temperature is investigated for crystals with phase transition temperatures T _c < 300 K and T _c > 300 K. It is shown that, for crystals with phase transition temperatures T _c < 300 K, the temperature dependence of the hysteresis loop exhibits a behavior typical of crystals with second-order phase transitions. The crystals with phase transition temperatures T _c > 300 K are characterized by double hysteresis loops in the temperature range T _c ?T ₁ ≈ 30 K. The correlation between the polarization properties and possible structural transformations of the Li_2?x Na _x Ge₄O₉ crystals due to the change in the concentration ratio of Na and Li ions is discussed.     

Infrared spectra study of Nd1.85−xRxCe0.15CuO4±δ (R = Gd and Sm) single crystals

The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, and resistivity ρ are measured on Nd_1.85?xR_xCe_0.15CuO_4±δ (R = Gd and Sm) single crystals. From the XRD and FTIR spectra studies, the lattice constant c are found to decrease faster for Gd doping than that for Sm doping with increasing doping concentration x. Upon Gd doping, all the transmission peaks shift to high frequency but nearly unchanged with increasing Sm doping content. The volume of the unit cell observed through XRD and FTIR spectra decreases faster for Gd doping than that for Sm doping. Furthermore, for Gd doping the superconducting T_c decreases rapidly with increasing the doping concentration, while the T_c decreases slowly for Sm doping with increasing Sm content, which is found to be very well consistent with the evolution of the volume of the unit cell for two series.     

Existence of two types of perfect Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>2−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>La<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>CuO<Subscript>6+δ</Subscript> single crystals

It is found that perfect Bi₂Sr_2?x La _x CuO_6+δ single crystals with the same concentrations of lanthanum x = 0.64 and excess oxygen δ = 0.237 exist in two types. Single crystals of the first type are obtained by slow cooling (the synthesis time is 90–105 h). They have a monoclinic superlattice and exhibit no superconducting transition down to 2 K. Crystals of the second type are obtained by rapid cooling (the synthesis time is 30–40 h) and are characterized by a orthorhombic superlattice and T _c = 18 K. Thus, the superconducting transition temperature is determined not only by the concentration of carriers but also by the configuration of defects. A rhombic superlattice prevails in single crystals obtained by slow cooling in the lanthanum concentration range x = 0.3–0.5, while a monoclinic superlattice dominates in the range x = 0.75–0.85. This fact explains the high values of T _c at optimal doping (x = 0.4) and the absence of high-T _c superconductivity at p < 0.10.     

An origin of light induced centers in the visible range in ferroelectric oxides: possible role of the states of charge transfer vibronic excitons

A light induced absorption peculiarity connected with an absorption peak in the visible range for SBN/Ce was detected. The analysis of these data together with investigation results for a visible range center (VIS-center) absorption study in SBN/Ce and Cr, in nominally pure strontium barium niobate (SBN) as well as in Ba_0.77Ca_0.23TiO₃ crystals give support to charge transfer vibronic excitons (CTVEs) as origin of the phenomenon. While the fast (with relaxation time ∼1 ns at T∼300 K) response can be connected with transitions between excited branches of the adiabatic potential of the CTVE phase, the slow (with relaxation time ∼50 s at T∼230 K for SBN/Cr) response is connected with transitions between ground and first excited CTVE phase branches. The additional contribution to the latter effect due to the absorption of recharged oxygen ions which are in the framework of charge transfer induced by the CTVE cannot be disregarded. The explanation of the main results of the experiments shows that the VIS-center phenomena can be induced by the CTVE-states.     

Chemical pressure effect in CeFeAs1−xPxO0.95F0.05

We investigate the chemical pressure effect due to P doping in the CeFeAs_1−xP_xO_0.95F_0.05(0≤x≤0.4) system. The compound CeFeAsO_0.95F_0.05 without P doping is on the boundary between antiferromagnet (AFM) and superconductor. The AFM order of Ce³⁺ local moments causes a significant reentrance behavior in both resistivity and magnetic susceptibility. Upon P doping, T_c increases and reaches a maximum of 21.3 K at x=0.15, and then it is suppressed to lower temperatures. Meanwhile, the AFM order of Ce³⁺ ions remains nearly the same in the whole doping range (0≤x≤0.4). Our experimental results suggest a competition between superconductivity and Kondo effect in the Ce 1111 system.     

Ferromagnetism in a new dilute magnetic semiconductor Sb<Subscript>2−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Cr<Subscript>x</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Magnetic and galvanomagnetic properties of single crystals of a new dilute magnetic semiconductor p-Sb_2?xCr_xTe₃ (x = 0, 0.0115, 0.0215) are investigated in a temperature range of 1.7–300 K. A ferromagnetic phase with a Curie temperature of T_C ≈ 5.8 (x = 0.0215) and 2.0 K (x = 0.0115) is detected. The easy magnetization axis is parallel to the C₃ crystallographic axis. Analysis of the Shubnikov-de Haas effect observed in these crystals in strong magnetic fields leads to the conclusion that the hole concentration decreases as a result of doping with Cr. Negative magnetoresistance and the anomalous Hall effect are observed in Cr-doped samples at liquid helium temperature.     

EPR observation of the spin pair correlation above Tc in lightly alkali metal-doped C60 fullerene

The existence of two temperatures: T_p-Cooper pairing and T_c-Bose–Einstein condensation in high temperature superconductors has been stipulated in a lightly potassium-doped C₆₀ by Magnetically Modulated Microwave Absorption. This doping level corresponds to the carrier density greater than the critical one: x>x₁. In case of rubidium lightly doped C₆₀, where the carrier density x was smaller than the critical one: x<x₁, anomalous EPR temperature dependence was observed. The characteristic temperature of bound electron pair formation T_p≈65 K and the energy gap 2Δ/k=30 K were estimated from the temperature dependence of the EPR signal intensity in non-superconducting state. These results suggest that the liquid fermions–liquid bosons transition can be observed as the opening of the spin gap at temperature T_p postulated in Micnas–Ranninger–Robaszkiewicz theory.     

Formation of nanodomain ensembles during polarization reversal in Sr<Subscript>0.61</Subscript>Ba<Subscript>0.39</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript>: Ce single crystals

The results of the study of nano- and microdomain structure evolution in single crystals of relaxor ferroelectric strontium barium niobate Sr_0.61Ba_0.39Nb₂O₆ doped by cerium are presented. It was shown that the initial nanodomain structure represents a self-similar three-dimensional maze. The fractal dimension and average period were revealed. It was demonstrated that application of series of alternating electric field pulses makes it possible to produce a single-domain state in the surface layer. The features of the growth and “merging,” as well as the shape of ensembles of isolated nanodomains formed during switching from the single-domain state, were investigated. The formation of the nanodomain ensembles was considered as a result of the self-organized discrete switching controlled by determined nucleation.     

Effect of disorder on the transport properties of the high-T c superconductor Nd2− x CexCuO4+δ

The temperature dependences ρ_ab(T) of Nd_2?x Ce_xCuO_4+δ single crystals with 0≤x≤0.20 are studied and analyzed on the basis of the concepts in the theory of disordered 2D systems. The results are compared with the data obtained for other copper-oxide HTSC. It is found that a transition to the superconducting state in the optimal doping region 0.14≤x≤0.18 occurs only in crystals with a fairly small degree of disorder (k _Fl≥2, where l is the mean free path). This transition is compatible with the weak 2D-localization mode as long as the localization radius is longer than the characteristic size of a Cooper pair. The superconducting transition temperature in the optimal doping region increases monotonically with the parameter k _Fl characterizing the degree of disorder in the crystal. The degradation of superconducting properties upon a further increase in the doping level (x>0.18) is apparently associated with a transition from 2D to 3D conductivity in the single crystal.