Features of the magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of HoAl3(BO3)4

The main features of the magnetic and record magnetoelectric properties of a HoAl₃(BO₃)₄ aluminoborate single crystal have been studied experimentally and theoretically. It has been found that the electric polarization that was previously detected in HoAl₃(BO₃)₄ and is record for multiferroics is significantly larger, ΔP _ba (B _a ) ≈ ?5240 μC/m², with an increase in the magnetic field to 9 T at T = 5 K. The measured magnetic properties and revealed features have been interpreted within a united theoretical approach based on the molecular field approximation and on calculations in the crystal field model for a rare-earth ion. The experimental temperature (from 3 to 300 K) and field (up to 9 T) dependences of the magnetization have been described. The parameters of the crystal field of trigonal symmetry for a Ho³⁺ ion in HoAl₃(BO₃)₄ have been determined from the interpretation of the experimental data.     

Vibrational spectra and elastic,piezoelectric, and magnetoelectric properties of HoFe3(BO3)4 and HoAl3(BO3)4 crystals

Raman spectra of light are obtained for HoFe₃(BO₃)₄ and HoAl₃(BO₃)₄ crystals at various temperatures and are used for determining the frequencies of crystal lattice vibrations at the center of the Brillouin zone. It is also found that the HoFe₃(BO₃)₄ crystal exhibits a phase transition at T _c ≈ 366 K. The magnetoelectric effect in the paramagnetic phase of these compounds is studied experimentally. The lattice vibration frequencies, elastic and piezoelectric moduli, Born dynamic charges, and the high-frequency permittivity are calculated using the density functional method. A peculiar behavior of the transverse acoustic vibration branch is observed in the Γ → Z direction of the Brillouin zone of the HoFe₃(BO₃)₄ crystal. The electric polarization induced by an external field is estimated using the calculated values of piezoelectric moduli and experimental values of magnetostriction.     

Giant natural circular dichroism of vibronic transitions in HoAl3(BO3)4

The giant natural optical activity of vibronic replicas of the f–f ⁵ I ₈ → ⁵ F ₂ transition in HoAl₃(BO₃)₄ is observed. It exceeds the optical activity related to purely electronic transitions by two orders of magnitude and corresponds to the almost complete circular polarization of the transitions. This effect is explained by the local distortions of the crystal in the excited electronic state, which lead to the mixing of electron and vibrational wavefunctions and, as a consequence, to the delocalization of the vibronic wavefunction and the enhancement of spatial dispersion, which is responsible for the optical activity.     

Specific heat of YFe3(BO3)4, Y0.5Gd0.5Fe3(BO3)4, and GdFe3(BO3)4

The specific heat was measured in the range 0.4–300 K in YFe₃(BO₃)₄, Y_0.5Gd_0.5Fe₃(BO₃)₄, and GdFe₃(BO₃)₄ single crystals. Sharp anomalies were found at temperatures of first-order structural, second-order antiferromagnetic, and first-order spin-reorientational transitions. A Néel temperature of about 37 K was found to be virtually independent of presence of rare-earth ions, indicating rather weak coupling of Gd and Fe subsystems. The contribution of the magnetic system to specific heat was separated through the scaling procedure allowing determination of the magnetic entropy of Fe and Gd subsystems. At the lowest temperatures, the specific heat in GdFe₃(BO₃)₄ exhibits a Schottky-type anomaly, which is due to Gd³⁺ eightfold degenerate ground-level splitting by the internal magnetic field of the Fe subsystem of about 7 T. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

The growth,thermal and nonlinear optical properties of single-crystal GdAl3(BO3)4

The nonlinear optical single-crystals GdAl₃(BO₃)₄ (GAB), space group R32, were grown by the top-seed solution growth (TSSG) method. The thermal properties and the nonlinear optical characteristics have been investigated. The two principal coefficients of thermal expansion along (100) and (001) were measured to be 5.30 × 10⁻⁶, 1.88 × 10⁻⁵ K⁻¹. The transmission spectrum was measured and the second-harmonic generation (SHG) was presented. By way of our designed cross superimposed laser crystal multiplier, the frequency doubling laser at wavelength 457.5 nm was measured to be 18.2 mW and the facular properties indicated the multiplier contributed to the improvement of the frequency doubling conversion efficiency.     

Antiferromagnetic resonance and magnetic anisotropy in single crystals of the YFe3(BO3)4-GdFe3(BO3)4 system

The antiferromagnetic resonance in single crystals of the YFe₃(BO₃)₄-GdFe₃(BO₃)₄ system is studied in the frequency range 25–140 GHz and the temperature range 4.2–50.0 K. It is established that the YFe₃(BO₃)₄ crystal containing only the magnetic subsystem of Fe³⁺ ions is an antiferromagnet with an easy anisotropy plane. The temperature dependences of the gaps in the antiferromagnetic resonance spectra of GdFe₃(BO₃)₄ and Y _x Gd_{1 ? x} Fe₃(BO₃)₄ are used to calculate the contributions of the Fe³⁺ and Gd³⁺ subsystems to the magnetic anisotropy of these crystals. The contributions are found to be close in magnitude and have opposite signs. This leads to a relatively weak uniaxial anisotropy field in the crystals under investigation. Since the exchange interaction between the Gd³⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions magnetizes the magnetic subsystem of gadolinium, both subsystems start to contribute simultaneously at the Néel temperature of the iron subsystem.     

Magnetic properties of HoFe3(BO3)4

The magnetic properties of an antiferromagnet with trigonal symmetry, namely, HoFe₃(BO₃)₄, have been investigated theoretically. The calculations have been performed in the molecular field approximation and in the framework of the crystal field model for the rare-earth subsystem. Extensive experimental data on the magnetic properties of HoFe₃(BO₃)₄ have been interpreted and good agreement between theory and experiment has been achieved using the obtained theoretical dependences. The spontaneous spin-reorientation transition and the spin-reorientation transition induced by a magnetic field B ‖ a from the easy-axis to easy-plane state, as well as the spin-flop transition in a magnetic field B ‖ c, have been described. It has been shown that the spontaneous spin-reorientation transition is a magnetic analog of the Jahn-Teller effect. The temperature dependences of the initial magnetic susceptibility at temperatures ranging from 2 to 300 K, the nonlinear curves of magnetization for B ‖ c and B ⊥ c in a magnetic field up to 1.2 T (which indicate the occurrence of first-order phase transitions), and their evolution with variations in the temperature have been described, as well as the temperature and field dependences of the magnetization in a magnetic field up to 9 T. The parameters of the trigonal crystal field for the rare-earth ion Ho³⁺ and the parameters of the Fe-Fe and Ho-Fe exchange interactions have been determined in the course of interpretation of the experimental data.     

6 MHz BAW resonators fabricated using new piezoelectric crystals PrCa4O(BO3)3 and NdCa4O(BO3)3

Thickness shear mode Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) resonators with frequency of 6 MHz, were fabricated using monoclinic piezoelectric crystals PrCa₄O(BO₃)₃ (PrCOB) and NdCa₄O(BO₃)₃ (NdCOB). Zero temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) characteristics were achieved over the temperature range of –140 °C to 200 °C for (YXt)–1.5° cut PrCOB and (YXt)15° cut NdCOB, with the turnover temperature at 20 °C. The electromechanical coupling factor k₂₆ and the piezoelectric coefficient d₂₆ were determined to be 30.2% and 15.8 pC/N for PrCOB, 29.0% and 15.1 pC/N for NdCOB resonators, respectively. The temperature independent frequency behavior, large coupling factor, high piezoelectric coefficient, together with noticeable mechanical quality factors (Q > 2,500), make PrCOB and NdCOB crystals good candidates for sensing applications with expanded temperature usage range. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

High-temperature heat capacity of YFe3(BO3)4

The molar heat capacity of YFe₃(BO₃)₄ has been measured using differential scanning calorimetry in the temperature range 339–1086 K. It has been found that the dependence C _p = f(T) exhibits an extremum at a temperature of 401 K due to the structural transition.     

High-temperature heat capacity of TbFe3(BO3)4

The molar heat capacity of TbFe₃(BO₃)₄ in the temperature range of 346–1041 K has been measured by differential scanning calorimetry. It has been found that the C _p = f(T) curve does not show extremes. The thermodynamic properties of the oxide compound have been determined from the experimental data.     

Comparison of the Absorption Spectra of Nd3+ Ions in the NdFe3(BO3)4, Nd0.5Gd0.5Fe3(BO3)4, and Ho0.75Nd0.25Fe3(BO3)4 Crystals

Physics of the Solid State - The polarized optical absorption spectra in the region of a series of the f–f  transitions of Nd3+ ions in the Ho0.75Nd0.25Fe3(BO3)4,...     

Magnetic and Magnetoelectric Properties of Scandoborate NdSc3(BO3)4

Physics of the Solid State - Trigonal neodymium scandoborate NdSc3(BO3)4 single crystals have been grown by the batch flux method using bismuth trimolybdate and their magnetic and magnetoelectric...     

Linear electro-optic properties of YCa4O(BO3)3

We have characterized the effective linear electro-optic coefficients of YCa4O(BO3)3 (YCOB) relative to KH2PO4 and KD2PO4 at 632.8 nm. We measured a maximum r(eff) value of 10.8 +/- 1.4 pm/V for YCOB in a transverse electric field configuration for propagation along the X or the alpha dielectric axis, with the electric field applied along the Z or the gamma dielectric axis. We also found effective coefficients of 10.7 +/- 1.0 and 3.4 +/- 0.4 pm/V for YCOB in longitudinal configurations. The remaining values of r(eff) for various transverse applied voltages were found to be less than 3 pm/V. The excellent thermomechanical properties of this crystal, coupled with moderate electro-optic coefficients, make YCOB and its isomorphs potential candidates for use as high-average-power electro-optic switches.     

Nonlinear optical properties of LaCa(4)O(BO(3))(3)

We have grown LaCa(4)O (BO(3))(3) (LaCOB), an isostructural member of GdCa(4)O(BO(3))(3) (GdCOB) family and characterized its nonlinear optical properties. At 1064nm, d(eff) of 0.52+/-0.05 pm /V and an angular sensitivity of 1224+/-184(cm rad)(-1) for type I frequency doubling in LaCOB were determined relative to those of KTiOPO(4) , beta-BaB(2)O(4) , KD(2)PO(4) , LiB(3)O(5) , YCa(4)O(BO(3))(3) (YCOB), and GdCOB. The d(alphabetabeta) and d(gammabetabeta) coefficients of the nonlinear optical tensor for LaCOB, GdCOB, and YCOB were determined to be equivalent within the experimental uncertainty and have values of ?0.26+/-0.04?pm/V and ?1.69+/-0.17?pm /V , respectively. From phase-matching angle measurements at 1064 and 1047nm, we predict that LaCOB is noncritically phase matched at 1042+/-1.5 nm .     

Magnetoelectric and magnetoelastic interactions in NdFe3(BO3)4 multiferroics

Complex experimental and theoretical investigations of the magnetic, magnetoelectric, and magnetoelastic properties of neodymium iron borate NdFe₃(BO₃)₄ along various crystallographic directions have been carried out in strong pulsed magnetic fields up to 230 kOe in a temperature range of 4.2–50 K. It has been found that neodymium iron borate, as well as gadolinium iron borate, is a multiferroic. It has a much larger (above 300 μC/m²) electric polarization controlled by the magnetic field and giant quadratic magnetoelectric effect. The exchange field between the rare-earth and iron subsystems (～50 kOe) has been determined for the first time from experimental data. The theoretical analysis based on the magnetic symmetry and quantum properties of the Nd ion in the crystal provides an explanation of the unusual behavior of the magnetoelectric and magnetoelastic properties of neodymium iron borate in strong magnetic fields and correlation observed between them.     

Magnetization and specific heat of DyFe3(BO3)4 single crystal

We present thermodynamic and magnetic studies of single crystalline DyFe₃(BO₃)₄. The data indicate an easy axis antiferromagnetic order below T_N~ 38 K which we attribute to the Fe subsystem. The Dy subsystem remains paramagnetic down to the lowest investigated temperatures of 2 K, but it is polarized by the Fe spins due to a f-d interaction. External magnetic field leads to a spin-flop transition in the iron subsystem as well as to superposed magnetization in the Dy subsystem. The repopulation of two low-lying Kramers doublets in Dy³⁺ ions results in well defined Schottky anomalies in specific heat and magnetization.     

Magnetic properties of the rare-earth ferroborate SmFe3(BO3)4

The magnetic properties of trigonal antiferromagnet SmFe₃(BO₃)₄ are studied experimentally and theoretically. The measured characteristics are considered in terms of a theoretical approach based on the molecular field approximation and a crystal field model for a rare-earth ion. The temperature dependences of the initial magnetic susceptibility and the field and temperature dependences of magnetization in fields up to 5 T are described, and the anomaly in the magnetization curve for B ⊥ c near 1 T, which points to a first-order phase transition, is analyzed.     

Intracavity frequency-doubled diode-pumped Nd : LaSc3(BO3)4 lasers

 An intracavity frequency-doubled 10%Nd : LaSc₃(BO₃)₄ (Nd : LSB) laser was investigated in different resonator configurations and in different operation modes under continuous wave (cw) and quasi-cw laser-diode pumping. With a Cr⁴⁺ : YAG passive modulator and a KTP crystal the second-harmonic output power at 531 nm amounted to 190 mW in Q-switched TEM₀₀ mode at 750 mW of pump power. In a sandwich resonator, when all the optical elements were in direct contact with each other, 0.8 W of green output power was obtained in cw mode under 2.7 W of pump power with a slope efficiency of 44%. In the same setup under fiber-coupled diode-laser array pumping (5.6 W of incident power), 1.2 W of green output power was achieved in cw mode and 1.4 W in quasi-cw mode. Received: 30 April 1996/Revised version: 1 July 1996     

The luminescence of bismuth and europium in Ca4YO(BO3)3

A series of Bi³⁺/Eu³⁺ singly and doubly activated Ca₄YO(BO₃)₃ phosphors were synthesized by solid-state reaction method. The structures and photoluminescent properties of the phosphors were investigated at room temperature. Under UV excitation Bi³⁺ and Eu³⁺ show a high light output. Ca₄YO(BO₃)₃:Eu³⁺ has potential application as a phosphor for fluorescent lamps. The luminescence of Bi³⁺ and Eu³⁺ in Ca₄YO(BO₃)₃ resembles more that in the rare earth oxides than that in borates. The free oxygen ion in the host lattice, which is not bonded to any boron ions seems to be responsible for that. In this host lattice energy migration between linear Eu³⁺ chains occurs. The emission of Bi³⁺ is completely quenched when Eu³⁺ is co-doped. A model was proposed to explain it.