TiC lattice dynamics from ab initio calculations

Ab initio calculations and a direct method have been applied to derive the phonon dispersion curves and phonon density of states for the TiC crystal. The results are compared and found to be in a good agreement with the experimental neutron scattering data. The force constants have been determined from the Hellmann-Feynman forces induced by atomic displacements in a supercell. The calculated phonon density of states suggests that vibrations of Ti atoms form acoustic branches, whereas the motion of C atoms is confined to optic branches. The elastic constants have been found using the deformation method and compared with the results obtained from acoustic phonon slopes. Received 23 February 1998     

Influence of atomic order on TA1[110] phonon softening [4] and displacive phase transition in Fe72Pt28 Invar alloys

The acoustic phonon dispersions of two Invar crystals , one ordered with the () structure, the other disordered fcc, have been investigated between 3.4 K and 470 K by inelastic and elastic neutron scattering. For the ordered crystal, pronounced softening of the whole phonon branch is observed on cooling below the Curie temperature. Particularly strong phonon softening at the M-point zone boundary of the structure leads to a displacive, antiferrodistortive phase transition at low temperatures. For the disordered crystal, much weaker softening of the phonons is observed and restricted to the region near the Brillouin zone center, where increasing elastic scattering with decreasing temperature indicates the growth of local tetragonal strain. This strain is considered as a typical precursor of the transformation to bct martensite. Specific heat measurements, performed at low temperatures on both crystals confirm the neutron scattering results and reveal considerable enhancement of the low energy phonon density of states in the ordered crystal. Received 18 January 1999     

Analysis of the crystal lattice instability for cage–cluster systems using the superatom model

We have investigated the lattice dynamics for a number of rare-earth hexaborides based on the superatom model within which the boron octahedron is substituted by one superatom with a mass equal to the mass of six boron atoms. Phenomenological models have been constructed for the acoustic and lowenergy optical phonon modes in RB₆ (R = La, Gd, Tb, Dy) compounds. Using DyB₆ as an example, we have studied the anomalous softening of longitudinal acoustic phonons in several crystallographic directions, an effect that is also typical of GdB₆ and TbB₆. The softening of the acoustic branches is shown to be achieved through the introduction of negative interatomic force constants between rare-earth ions. We discuss the structural instability of hexaborides based on 4f elements, the role of valence instability in the lattice dynamics, and the influence of the number of f electrons on the degree of softening of phonon modes.     

Theoretical study of the transverse acoustic phonons of GaSb at high pressure

We have investigated the phonon dispersion curves and one-phonon density of states up to the pressure of 8 GPa using a theoretical model, namely the rigid ion model. The transverse acoustic phonons as a function of pressure have been compared with the recently measured inelastic neutron scattering data which show a strong softening near the zone boundaries. The calculated one-phonon density of states show pronounced shift in the peak positions with the increase in pressure.     

Phonon spectra and the one-phonon and two-phonon densities of states of UO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and PuO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The vibrational spectra of uranium dioxide UO₂ and plutonium dioxide PuO₂, as well as the one-phonon densities of states and thermal occupation number weighted two-phonon densities of states, have been calculated within the framework of the phenomenological rigid ion model. It has been shown that the acoustic and optical branches of the spectra are predominantly determined by vibrations of the metal and oxygen atoms, respectively, because the atomic masses of the metal and oxygen differ from each other by an order of magnitude. On this basis, the vibrational spectra can be represented in two Brillouin zones, i.e., in the Brillouin zone of the crystal and the Brillouin zone of the oxygen sublattice. In this case, the number of optical branches decreases by a factor of two. The two-phonon densities of states consist of two broad structured peaks. The temperature dependences of the upper peak exhibit a thermal broadening of the phonon lines L01 and L02 in the upper part of the optical branches. The lower peak is responsible for the thermal broadening of the lowest two optical (T02, T01) and acoustic (LA, TA) branches.     

Phonon anomalies in transition metal nitrides: δ-NbN

The phonon dispersion curves in δ-NbN have been measured at room temperature in the high symmetry directions Δ, Σ, and ? by coherent inelastic neutron scattering. Anomalies in the dispersion of the acoustic branches have been detected which are quite different from those which have already been reported for superconducting transition metal compounds with 9 valence electrons. In the 10 valence electron compound δ-NbN the soft mode region has moved from the middle of the Σ-direction to the zone boundary. The experimental results are well described by a double shell model which has also been used to calculate the density of states. Using the formalism of Varma and Weber the measured dispersion curves have been reproduced. This shows that the change in the anomalies when going from 9 to 10 valence electrons, is due to a shift in Fermi energy in an essentially rigid band scheme.     

Phonons and their dispersion in model ferroelastics Hg2Hal2

Dispersion relations of the acoustic and optical phonon frequencies have been calculated and plotted, and the density of states of the phonon spectrum of Hg₂Cl₂ and Hg₂Br₂ crystals has been derived. The effect of hydrostatic pressure on the frequencies of acoustic and optical phonons and their dispersion has been theoretically analyzed. It has been found that an increase in the pressure leads to a strong softening of the slowest acoustic TA branch (the soft mode) at the X point of the Brillouin zone boundary, which is consistent with the phenomenological Landau theory and correlates with experiment.     

(Hf0.5Zr0.5V2)Hx的声子谱与超导性的关系

本文报道了用Be过滤探测器谱仪对C-15相的(Hf_0.5Zr_0.5V₂₎H_x等五种样品的声子谱的测量。观察到了它们的声子谱随含氢量而变化以及声学支有规则的软化现象。表明(Hf_0.5Zr_0.5V₂₎H_x的T_c随x的变化,主要是声学支的贡献,声学文软化有利于T_c的提高,而光学支“软化”可能会抑制超导性。 关键词：     

Site-specific phonon density of states discerned using electronic states

We have performed the measurement of the site-specific phonon densities of states (PDOS) discerned using electronic states. As far as we know, no general method could give the site-specific PDOS, although oscillating properties of the individual atoms in nonequivalent positions are not necessarily equivalent. However, the combination of the energy and time domain measurements of the nuclear resonant scattering of synchrotron radiation allows the identification of site-specific PDOS. We measured the site-specific PDOS of iron atoms in magnetite, which is a mixed valent compound, and the difference between partial phonon densities of the iron sites was clearly observed.     

Unusual phonon softening in delta-phase plutonium

The phonon density of states and adiabatic sound velocities were measured on fcc-stabilized 242Pu0.95Al0.05. The phonon frequencies and sound velocities decrease considerably (soften) with increasing temperature despite negligible thermal expansion. The frequency softening of the transverse branch along the [111] direction is anomalously large ( approximately 30%) and is very sensitive to alloy composition. The large magnitude of the phonon softening is not observed in any other fcc metals and may arise from an unusual temperature dependence of the electronic structure in this narrow 5f-band metal.     

Phonon softening,chaotic motion,and order-disorder transition in Sn/Ge(111)

The phonon dynamics of the Sn/Ge(111) interface is studied using high-resolution helium atom scattering and first-principles calculations. At room temperature we observe a phonon softening at the Kmacr; point in the (sqrt[3]xsqrt[3])R30 degrees phase, associated with the stabilization of a (3x3) phase at low temperature. That phonon band is split into three branches in the (3x3) phase. We analyze the character of these phonons and find out that the low- and room-temperature modes are connected via a chaotic motion of the Sn atoms. The system is shown to present an order-disorder transition.     

Effect of magnon–phonon interaction on transverse acoustic phonon excitation at finite temperature

A magnon–phonon interaction model is developed on the basis of two-dimensional square Heisenberg ferromagnetic system. By using Matsubara Green function theory transverse acoustic phonon excitation is studied and transverse acoustic phonon excitation dispersion curves is calculated on the main symmetric point and line in the first Brillouin zone. On line Σ it is found that there is hardening for transverse acoustic phonon on small wave vector zone (nearby point Γ), there is softening for transverse acoustic phonon on the softening zone and there is hardening for transverse acoustic phonon near point M. On line Δ it is found there is no softening and hardening for transverse acoustic phonon. On line Z it is found that there is softening for transverse acoustic phonon on small wave vector zone (nearby point X) and there is hardening for transverse acoustic phonon nearby point M. The influences of various parameters on transverse acoustic phonon excitation are also explored and it is found that the coupling of the magnon–phonon and the spin wave stiffness constant play an important role for the softening of transverse acoustic phonon.     

有限温度下二维Heisenberg铁磁系统的横向声频支声子激发

在二维正方Heisenberg铁磁系统的基础上建立了磁振子-声子相互作用模型.利用Matsubara格林函数理论研究了系统的横向声频支声子激发，计算了布里渊区的主要对称点线上的横向声频支声子色散曲线，发现在第一布里渊区的Σ线上，小波矢区(Γ附近k_xa＜0.2)横向声频支声子有硬化现象，但是在软化区(0.25＜k_xa＜0.7)有横向声频支声子有软化现象，在M附近(0.75＜k_xa)横向声频支声子有硬化现象.在Δ线上没有发生横向声频支声子有软化与硬化现象.在Z线上小波失区(X附近k_xa＜0.65)横向声频支声子有软化现象，但是在M附近横向声频支声子有硬化现象.并且又讨论了各项参数对横向声频支声子激发的影响，发现磁振子-声子耦合与自旋波劲度常数对横向声频支声子软化起很大的作用. 关键词： 磁振子-声子相互作用 横向声频支声子软化 Matsubara格林函数理论 铁磁系统     

An analysis of phonon emission as controlled by the combined interaction with the acoustic and piezoelectric phonons in a degenerate III–V compound semiconductor using an approximated Fermi–Dirac distribution at low lattice temperatures

Compound semiconductors being piezoelectric in nature, the intrinsic thermal vibration of the lattice atoms at any temperature gives rise to an additional potential field that perturbs the periodic potential field of the atoms. This is over and above the intrinsic deformation acoustic potential field which is always produced in every material. The scattering of the electrons through the piezoelectric perturbing potential is important in all compound semiconductors, particularly at the low lattice temperatures. Thus, the electrical transport in such materials is principally controlled by the combined interaction of the electrons with the deformation potential acoustic and piezoelectric phonons at low lattice temperatures. The study here, deals with the problem of phonon growth characteristics, considering the combined scattering of the non-equilibrium electrons in compound semiconductors, at low lattice temperatures. Beside degeneracy, other low temperature features, like the inelasticity of the electron–phonon collisions, and the full form of the phonon distribution have been duly considered. The distribution function of the degenerate ensemble of carriers, as given by the heated Fermi–Dirac function, has been approximated by a simplified, well-tested model. The model which has been proposed earlier, makes it much easier to carry out analytically the integrations without usual oversimplified approximations.     

Phonons in mixed valence systems

The effect of valence changes due to f?d electronic transitions on phonons is studied. A large electronic density of states at the Fermi-energy in the intermediate valence state causes significant softening of the longitudinal acoustic and optic phonons and large phonon line-widths. These phonon renormalizations due to strong electron-lattice coupling are largest for phonon wavevectors q along the (111)-direction and maximal at the zone-boundary for LO modes and nearly half-way towards the zone-boundary in the case of LA mode. The results agree well with recent neutron scattering data on Sm_0.75Y_0.25S.     

Acoustic and optical phonons and their dispersion in model ferroelastics Hg<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Thefrequency dispersion curve of acoustic and optical phonons are calculated and constructed, and the density of states of the phonon spectrum is obtained for Hg₂Cl₂ crystals. The influence of the hydrostatic pressure on the frequencies of acoustic and optical phonons and their dispersion is analyzed theoretically. It is revealed that an increase in the pressure leads to a considerable softening of the slowest acoustic TA branch (soft mode) at the X point of the Brillouin zone boundary. This behavior is consistent with the phenomenological Landau theory and correlate with experiments.     

First principles vibrational dynamics of magnesium telluride

The lattice dynamics of large-gap semiconductor MgTe compound at various crystallographic phases; rocksalt (B1), zincblende (B3), NiAs (B8₁) and wurtzite (B4), has been investigated from first principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) within plane-wave pseudopotential method and generalized gradient approximation (GGA) of the exchange-correlation functional. The static equation of states of the compound has been studied with Vinet equation of states. The ground state of the compound is a fourfold coordinated wurtzite structure, which is consistent with experiments and recent theoretical calculations. Full phonon dispersion spectra of all related phases of the MgTe have been calculated using density functional perturbation theory within the linear-response approach. In view of the total energy calculations and the obtained vibrational spectra, it can be emphasized that the MgTe polymorphs with tetrahedral coordination (zincblende and wurtzite structures) are of covalent character rather than ionic. The large TO-LO splitting of phonon branches of rocksalt and NiAs phases reflect the high ionicity of these phases.     

Anomalous dispersion of longitudinal optical phonons in Nd(1.86)Ce(0.14)CuO(4+delta) determined by inelastic x-ray scattering

The phonon dispersions of Nd(1.86)Ce(0.14)CuO(4+delta) along the [xi,0,0] direction have been determined by inelastic x-ray scattering. Compared to the undoped parent compound, the two highest longitudinal phonon branches, associated with the Cu-O bond stretching and out-of-plane oxygen vibration, are shifted to lower energies. Moreover, an anomalous softening of the bond-stretching band is observed at about q = (0.2,0,0). These signatures provide evidence for strong electron-phonon coupling in this electron-doped high-temperature superconductor.     

Sm atomic dynamics in a charge density wave compound SmNiC2

¹⁴⁹Sm nuclear resonant inelastic scattering was carried out in a charge density wave compound SmNiC₂. We have investigated temperature dependences of the Sm partial phonon density of states and recoil-free fraction at the Sm site and the average sound velocity estimated from the Sm partial density of states. The Sm partial density of states exhibits temperature dependence, suggesting that the phonon modes between 20 and 25 meV may correlate with the charge density wave. Temperature dependence of the recoil-free fraction is difficult to prove the correlation with either the charge density wave or ferromagnetic ordering. The average sound velocity obtained by the Sm partial phonon density of states exhibits temperature dependence, agreeing qualitatively with very recent elastic constant measurements.     

Static and dynamic properties of KCN<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Cl<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>

An extended three-body force shell model (ETSM) has been applied to investigate the static and dynamic properties of KCN _x Cl_1−x for the compositionx = 0.56 and 1.0 at 300 K. The phonon dispersion curves computed by us are compared with the single crystal neutron diffraction data. The unusual features of these curves are the upward curvature seen in some of the acoustic branches. This is a result ofK-dependent softening of the phonon due to translation-rotation coupling. The transverse acoustic branch is more soft near the zone centre.