μ + SR studies of UM2Al3, M=Ni,Pd

Positive-muon spin rotation ( ⁺ SR) measurements have been carried out in the new heavy-fermion superconductors UM₂Al₃, M=Ni and Pd. In UNi₂Al₃ the observed ⁺ frequencies in zero applied field indicate commensurate antiferromagnetic (AF) ordering of U moments 0.1 _B /U atom. These moments coexist with superconductivity and have the highest values observed in an AF heavy-fermion superconductor. The absence of well-defined frequencies in zero-field ⁺ SR in the AF state of UPd₂Al₃ suggests symmetric ⁺ stopping sites. In this system ⁺ SR linewidths belowT _c yield a preliminary value of 8000 Å for the London penetration depth.     

Neutron diffraction study of the heavy fermion superconductors UM2Al3(M=Pd,Ni)

An elastic neutron scattering study was performed on the new superconducting heavy fermion systems UPd₂Al₃ and UNi₂Al₃. The neutron diffraction patterns reveal unambiguously long range antiferromagnetic order in UPd₂Al₃ with an ordered magnetic moment _U = (0.85±0.03) _B , which coexists with the superconducting state. This is by far the largest _U value observed for any heavy fermion superconductor. For UNi₂Al₃, no long-range magnetic order could be observed for temperaturesT1.5 K, yielding an upper limit of the ordered moment of 0.2 _B .     

μSR studies in the heavy fermion systems UNi2Al3, UPd2Al3 and U2PtC2

We have performed Muon Spin Relaxation (SR) measurements of several heavy fermion systems: UNi₂Al₃ (single crystal), UPd₂Al₃ (single crystal) and U₂PtC₂ (polycrystal). ZF -SR measurements of UNi₂Al₃ show magnetic order below the Néel temperatureT _N=4.6K, with the muon precession frequency(T 0)=2.5MHz at low temperatures. The local field distribution obtained at low temperatures in UNi₂Al₃ resembles that of the incommensurate spin density wave (SDW) system (TMTSF)₂PF₆, suggesting an incommensurate spin arrangement in UNi₂Al₃. TF -SR measurements give the penetration depth(T 0)=6100Å for UPd₂Al₃ and(T 0)=7000Å for U₂PtC₂ respectively. Since UPd₂Al₃ and U₂PtC₂ are clean superconductors (/l-0), we can combine n _s/m^* with the Sommerfeld constant n _s ^1/3 m^* to calculate the Fermi temperatureT _F ^3/4–1/4, which represents the characteristic energy scale of the superconducting carriers. We obtainT _C/T_F 0.01 for both UPd₂Al₃ and U₂PtC₂, comparable to other exotic superconductors, but quite different from simple metal BCS superconductors, whereT _C/T_F 0.01.     

Magnetic properties of amorphous Bi2DyFe5O12

Amorphous Bi₂DyFe₅O₁₂ films have been prepared by rf sputtering technique. The magnetic properties, structure and effect of annealing have been investigated. The magnetization increases with increasing magnetic field and is not saturated at a high magnetic field of 65 kOe. In the temperature range 20 K<T<200 K the susceptibility can be described by a Curie-Weiss law with a Weiss constant of =–15 K. The effective paramagnetic moment for the iron ion (4.1 _B ) is much smaller than the theoretical moment (5.9 _B ). Above 200 K the slope in ^–1 vsT curve changes. The Weiss constant and effective paramagnetic moment for the iron ion increase. After annealing above 600°C the amorphous samples crystallize to a single garnet phase with the magnetization of 21 emu/g at 1.5 K and 7.2 emu/g at 300 K, which are the same as those of the bulk Bi₂DyFe₅O₁₂ garnet ferrites.     

Temperature-dependent electronic structure of gadolinium

We investigate the electronic structure of the ferromagnetic 4f-metal Gadolinium by use of a many-body evaluation of a generalized model of magnetism, the one-particle part of which is derived from an ASW-LSDA bandstructure calculation. A striking temperature-dependence of the conduction band states is traced back to a 4f-(5d, 6s) interband exchange. The conduction electron polarization (0.63 _B atT=0) decreases forTT _c very similar to the 4f-magnetization. A red shift of the lower -band edge of about 0.25 eV appears upon cooling fromT=T _c toT=0. — The quasiparticle band-structure exibits a remarkable non uniform magnetic behaviour at different positions in the Brillouin zone, and in particular for different subbands. Weakly correlated (s-like) dispersions show a Stoner-likeT-dependence of the exchange splitting. On the other hand, stronger correlated (d-like) dispersions split belowT _c into four branches, two for each spin direction. TheirT-dependence mainly concerns the spectral weights of the quasiparticle peaks and not so much the energetic positions. An exchange caused splitting remains even forT<T _c .     

μ+SR in magnetically ordered BCC metals: Local fields, μ+ sites,quantum diffusion,and strain effects

The paper gives a critical discussion of the procedures for extracting from the ⁺SR signals obtainable on magnetically ordered metals information on ⁺ sites, on local lattice distortions induced by the ⁺, on the local magnetic fields felt by the ⁺, and on quantum diffusion. Results for-Fe are: ⁺ occupy O sites, the tetragonality of the elastic double-force tensor isA–B 2eV, the dipolar magnetic field acting on the ⁺ isB _dip=(0.66±0.02)T. Using this information ⁺ hopping rates and diffusivities in Fe are deduced and compared with diffusivities obtained for hydrogen and deuterium. From this it is concluded that hydrogen in Fe diffuses via the adiabatic mechanism. In addition, the paper contains a brief summary of the theoretical background required for taking advantage of the rather large ¦A– B¦ values expected for ⁺ at O sites in bcc metals in order to gain information on the effects of energy asymmetries between neighbouring ⁺ sites on the ⁺ hopping rates.     

Measurement of the refractive index and optical absorption spectra of epitaxial bismuth substituted yttrium iron garnet films at uv to near-ir wavelengths

Refractive-index and optical-absorption spectra of Bi-substituted yttrium iron garnet films, epitaxially grown by liquid-phase epitaxy, have been measured in the spectral regime 0.26 m1.9 m by thin-film interference for 0.52 m and by ellipsometry for0.52 m. The Y_3–x–y Bi _x Pb _y Fe_5–z Pt _z O₁₂ films contain bismuth in the range Ox 1.42, lead in the range 0.01 y0.08 and platinum in the range 0.005<=z0.03. There is satisfactory coincidence between the results from ellipsometry and thin-film interference in the overlapping wavelength region. The materials investigated are the same as reported earlier from this laboratory in ter mof their magnetic and magnetooptic properties.     

Structure and Magnetic Properties of Gadolinium Hexacyanoferrate Prussian Blue Analogue

The structure of gadolinium hexacyanoferrate Prussian blue analogue Gd[Fe(CN)₆]·4H₂O was investigated by powder x-ray diffraction technique using the Rietveld structure refinement method. Obtained results have confirmed pseudohexagonal symmetry of the compound with lattice parameters a = 7.394(4), b = 12.836(6) and c = 13.666(6). The negative value of IS in Mössbauer spectrum is due to the presence of cyano groups. Magnetic susceptibility above T = 20K obeys Curie-Weiss law. Value of effective magnetic moment _eff = 7.19 _B is lower than the expected value for a free Gd³⁺ ion ( _eff = 7.94 _B). Differences between FC and ZFC behavior of magnetic susceptibility indicate a spin-glass like magnetic arrangement. Our results support prediction that the material orders ferrimagnetically below T _c = 2.3K.     

Study of local magnetic fields in the oxide α-Bi2O3 byNQR andμSR techniques

NQR andSR investigations of the local magnetic field in-Bi₂O₃ were performed. In theNQR experiments on-Bi₂O₃ which is usually considered as diamagnetic, the splitting of the spectral lines revealed a local field on the bismuth nuclei. The internal magnetic field obtained bySR significantly exceeds the dipole field from Bi nuclear magnetic moments. A possible source of the local magnetic fields is partial covalent bonds in-Bi₂O₃.     

Isotope dependence of particle-decay rates of muonic molecular ions (d3,4Heμ) J=1 below (dμ)1s-3,4He threshold

Rates of particle-emitting decay of the resonant state of the muonic molecular ion (dHe) _J=1 lying below the (d)_1s-He threshold can decay to the d-He scattering state. The resonant state is estimated by scattering calculations with the non-adiabatic coupled-rearrangement-channel method. Strong isotope dependence of the decay rates of (d³He) _J=1 and (d⁴He) _J=1 is predicted, though the calculated radiative decay rates of the states are almost the same. In (d³He) _J=1, the particle decay width is three times larger than the radiative decay width, while the two types of decay widths are almost the same in (d⁴He) _J=1. This results in a strong hindrance of the branching ratio of the radiative decay of (d³He) _J=1 compared with the case of (d⁴He) _J=1. This is consistent with a recent observation of the radiative decay of the two molecular states.     

Muon catalyzed fusion: old and new aspects of energy production

Muon catalyzed fusion of deuterium and tritium (CF) yields the same energy gain per reaction as fusion with magnetic or inertial confinement (17.6 MeV). The crucial points of Cf are, however, very different, namely (a) the energy costW ₍₎ for production of one ^– and (b) the numbern of reactions a single muon can catalyze on the average. (b) is ultimately limited by theeffective sticking probability _f :n1/ _f. With standard methods one hasW ₍₎5 GeV, _f=0.5%. Hence a standard CF reactor can never reach a net energy gain. To solve this problem, ways discussed since about a decade are to increase the efficiency by both (i) energy multiplication using a fissionable blanket and (ii) breeding. A new way to increase the safety of fission devices mostly due to Yu. Petrov is outlined. On the other hand there is a hope to lowerW ₍₎ slightly and _f drastically, the latter by artificial reactivation. New theoretical results for beam cooling in an omegatron type driven integrated CF reactor, important forW ₍₎ and, in particular, _f, is presented.     

Upconversion in YAlO3:Er pumped at 800 nm

Fluorescence at 3 m and 545 nm in a YAlO₃:Er (30 at.%) crystal has been measured as a function of wavelength, intensity and polarization for the excitation in the 800 nm wavelength region. Emission at 545 nm is an indicator of losses for 3 m emission due to excited-state absorption and upconversion. The experimental results allow to determine the excitation mechanisms, the upconversion coefficient W ₂ and the optimum pump wavelengths to generate 3 m radiation.     

Magnetic moments of Gd nuclei

Low temperature nuclear orientation experiments down to 2 mK on¹⁴⁷GdFe,¹⁴⁹GdFe,¹⁴⁹GdGd and¹⁵³GdGd have yielded the magnetic hyperfine interaction strength. Bhf as 31.0(1.6) _NT, 28.3(2.0) _NT, 33.8(4.7) _NT and 13.3(2.1) _NT respectively. From these values the respective ground state magnetic moments ¦¦ of¹⁴⁷Gd,¹⁴⁹Gd and¹⁵⁹Gd were deduced as 1.12(20) _N, 1.01(16) _N and 0.40(8) _N.     

Spin fluctuations in both the ordered and paramagnetic phases of MnSi! MnSi a heavy Fermi liquid?

Polarised neutrons and polarisation analysis have been used to determine the diffuse magnetic scattering from MnSi as a function of temperature. Measurements at 50 K (1.72T _c) and 100 K (3.45T _c) in the paramagnetic phase confirmed the presence of strong spatial correlations previously reported at 300 K (10T _c) and 580 K (20T _c). The spatial correlations between regions of spin density separated by 12 Å are of a ferromagnetic nature and determine the static susceptibility. Integration of the paramagnetic response over an inverse atomic volume yields a moment per manganese atom of 1.2 _B , a value considerably larger than the 0.4 _B observed in Bragg scattering and magnetisation measurements at 4.2 K. Measurements made at 11 K in the ordered magnetic phase reveal strong diffuse scattering corresponding to 0.8 _B per Mn atom. The increase in the diffuse scattering observed in the paramagnetic phase corresponds to the passage of the Bragg component into the background.The presence of significant scattering in the ordered phase and the very unusual wave vector dependence of the diffuse scattering observed at 11 K has been interpreted assuming MnSi to be a heavy Fermi liquid. Furthermore we believe these measurements give the first direct observation of the exchange hole.     

The paramagnetic state (μ+e−) in silicon and tellurium at high temperature

The paramagnetic state (⁺e^–) in Si and Te was observed in a longitudinal magnetic field. The mean lifetimes of these states were obtained: _Si = 1.45(3) s, _Te = 12.5(8) s at 290 K, _Te = 12(2) s at 250 K.     

Excited Muonic Atom Scattering: New Adiabatic Approach

New results on the applied field dependence of the NMR of ⁷⁵Se implanted in pure iron and oriented at millikelvin temperatures are reported. They yield the magnetic hyperfine field acting on Se nuclei present as dilute impurities in the iron matrix and the magnetic dipole moment of the 5/2⁺ ground state of ⁷⁵Se with significantly improved precision. The results are B _hf(SeFe) =+67.9(10)T and ||(⁷⁵Se) =0.683(10)_N. The improved value of the hyperfine field, with data from[2], gives the magnetic dipole moment of the 9/2⁺ ground state of ⁷³Se as ||=0.892(13)_N.     

Magnetic moments of proton drip-line nuclei13O and9C

The magnetic moments of the proton drip-line nuclei¹³O(I = 3/2^–,T _1/2 = 8.6 ms) and 9C(I = 3/2^–,T _1/2 = 126 ms) have been determined for the first time through the combined techniques of polarized radioactive nuclear beams and-NMR detection. The observed magnetic moments are ¦(¹³O)¦ = 1.3891 ±0.0003 _N and ¦(⁹C)¦ = 1.3914 ±0.0005 _N. Spin expectation values are deduced to be 0.76 and 1.44 for¹³O and⁹C, respectively. While the of¹³O is consistent with the systematics from isospinT= 1/2 mirror pairs, the of⁹C is unusually large, even far larger than the single particle value, = 1.     

Imaging and focusing of an atomic beam with a large period standing light wave

A novel atomic lens scheme is reported. A cylindrical lens potential was created by a large period ( 45 m) standing light wave perpendicular to a beam of metastable He atoms. The lens aperture (25 m) was centered in one antinode of the standing wave; the laser frequency was nearly resonant with the atomic transition 2³ S ₁–2³ P ₂ (=1.083 m) and the interaction time was significantly shorter than the spontaneous lifetime (100 ns) of the excited state. The thickness of the lens was given by the laser beam waist (40 m) in the direction of the atomic beam. Preliminary results are presented, where an atomic beam is focused down to a spot size of 4 m. Also, a microfabricated grating with a period of 8 m was imaged. We discuss the principle limitations of the spatial resolution of the lens given by spherical and chromatic aberrations as well as by diffraction. The fact that this lens is very thin offers new perspectives for deep focusing into the nm range.     

Positivity of entropy production in the presence of a random thermostat

We study nonequilibrium statistical mechanics in the presence of a thermostat acting by random forces, and propose a formula for the rate of entropy productione() in a state . When is a natural nonequilibrium steady state we show thate()0, and sometimes we can provee()>0.     

Singularity theorems and the [General Relativity + additional matter fields] formulation of metric theories of gravitation

By using the [General Relativity + additional matter fields] formulation (which depends on a redefined metrich ) of metric theories of gravitation, the study of singularities characterized by incomplete nonspacelike geodesics is simplified, but may be used only if (at least) the non-spacelike geodesics of the original metricg are conserved under the transformation betweeng and the new metrich . In order that every class of geodesies of a diagonal Bianchi I metric correspond to the same class of geodesies of a diagonal metrich , it is necessary that the transformation between these two metrics be a constant (positive) conformal transformation. We analyse the implications of the previous results for the singularitiesg when the latter is a solution of theories with a quadratic or polynomial Lagrangian.