Intrinsic carrier concentration in Hg1−xCdxTe

The effective mass of heavy holes has been determined on the basis of simultaneous analysis of the Hall coefficient and conductivity data obtained in the temperature region 100–300 K on well characterized p-type Hg_1–x Cd_xTe (x0·2) samples. Its value is 0·7m₀. The calculation of intrinsic carrier concentration for 0·19 x0·3 and 50 Kg T 300 K has been carried out using the above value of the effective mass of holes, Hansen's expression for the band gap and momentum matrix element from magneto-optical measurements.     

The small momentum transfer k L o C→K S 0 C regeneration at high energies

Results of the first elastic K _S ^o regeneration experiment on carbon, using magnetic spark chamber spectrometer, are presented in the beam momentum interval 10p50 GeV/c. The d ifferentia cross section d/dt is reconstructed in the range 0·0025–t0·02 (GeV/c)² and its slopeB is found to be momentum independent with an average valueB=(65±11) (GeV/c)^–2. The results are in agreement with the calculations using the coherent production model.     

Acoustic properties of amorphous SiO2 and PdSiCu,and of crystalline Ag,NbTi and Ta at very low temperatures

With the vibrating reed and vibrating wire techniques we have investigated the acoustic properties of vitreous silica (SiO₂, Suprasil I) and of amorphous PdSiCu as well as of polycrystalline Ag, NbTi and Ta at frequencies of 100 Hz/2<6 kHz and at temperatures of 0.1 mKT1 K. The relative change of sound velocity v/v of SiO₂ shows saturation effects, strain amplitude dependence, as well as an unexpected temperature dependence below its maximum atT<50 mK. For PdSiCu we observe that below a certain temperature, which depends on the applied strain, the temperature dependence of the sound velocityv deviates from the logarithmic behavior observed at higher temperatures and reaches an almost constant value atT<1 mK. In the same temperature rangeQ ^–1 does not remain constant but steadily decreases. The acoustic properties of the two amorphous materials at finite strain show substantial deviations from the standard tunneling model. Some of the observed anomalies can be explained taking into account the change of population of the tunneling systems energy states and a nonlinear relaxation absorption. For polycrystalline Ag we find v/v lnT andQ ^–1T ^1/3 over three decades inT atT<100 mK; it shows low-temperature acoustic properties which are strikingly similar to those of amorphous materials. The temperature and strain dependencies of the acoustic properties of polycrystalline superconducting NbTi and Ta resemble those obtained for SiO₂. These results indicate that there are basically no differences in the low-temperature acoustic properties of polycrystals and amorphous materials.     

Oxygen content of superconducting Ba2YCu3O6.5+x

Single-phase non-stoichiometric Ba₂YCu₃O_6.5+x with –0.248x0.300 can be obtained by annealing prereacted samples at 0.01–1 bar oxygen partial pressure. Samples withx=–0.248 are semiconducting, samples at 0.239x0.300 are metallic withT _c increasing from 92.2 to 94.0 K for annealing in 0.02–1 bar O₂.     

Electronic phase separation in La-Cuprates

The mechanisms driving the phase separation in high-T _c La cuprates is studied by magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity measurements. The experiments are performed under different thermal treatment. Three temperature ranges can be resolved characteristic for different physical processes: At 150T170K a space limited diffusion of superparamagnetic clusters (single hole clusters) occurs leading to the formation of a small but rather tight percolative subphase which at highT _c values becomes superconducting. Above 180 K the cluster motion becomes unrestricted in space and a more extended subphase is built up, however, with lowerT _c values. Above 230 K oxygen diffusion starts leading to an unexpected destruction of the conducting/superconducting phase.     

Anomalies of the refractive index and the optical energy gap of ferroelectric Pb1−x Ge x Te

The refractive index and the optical energy gap of Pb_1–x Ge _x Te (0x0.11) have been determined from transmission- and reflectivity measurements in the temperature range from 4.2 K to 300 K. At the ferroelectric phase transition a change of the temperature coefficient of both quantities is observed. A two bandk·p model calculation demonstrates a correlation of the optical energy gap with the high frequency dielectric constant. For higher values ofx (x=0.09) a splitting of absorption edge and birefringence have been observed.     

Formation area of amorphous thin V−Zr films prepared by cocondensation on hot substrates

Thin V_100–x Zr _x -films of various compositions (10x87) are cocondensed onto hot substrates (280 KT _s 803 K). The formation area of amorphous films is determined by X-ray diffraction. Crystallization temperatures are measured and crystallization products are identified. The glass formation area extends at room temperature from 15 at%-Zr to 69 at%-Zr. V₆₀Zr₄₀-films become amorphous up to 753 K. The extent of the glass formation area of V–Zr is quite similar to those of Co–Zr and Cu–Zr, although the heats of mixing of the three systems differ enormously. We conclude that the glass formation area of cocondensed Vanadium-Zirconium films is not determined by thermodynamical data, but seems to be dominated by the kinetic constraints of the cocondensation process.     

Magnetic properties of Nd3+ in Nd−Ba−Cu−O-compounds

Neutron diffraction, neutron spectroscopy and magnetization measurements have been employed to study the structural, electronic, and magnetic behavior of eleven compounds with the general formula Nd_1+y Ca _v Ba_2–y–v Cu₃O _x (0y0.5; 0v0.25; 6x7). The structure turned out to react to oxygen reduction similar as other 123-compounds, yielding discontinuities close to the metal-insulator-transition and the well-known relations of bond lengths as a function ofT _c. The crystalline electric field (CEF) interaction, splitting the 10-fold degenerate ground-state J-multiplet of the Nd³⁺-ions into five doublet states, was investigated by neutron spectroscopy. The derived CEF parameters have been used to determine changes in the electronic surroundings of the Nd³⁺ ions. In addition, with the help of the CEF parameters the thermodynamic magnetic properties of these compounds were calculated which turn out to be in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Lattice defects in cadmium studied by the angular correlation method

The perturbed angular correlation of the 173 keV—247 keV--cascade in¹¹¹Cd was measured for proton-irradiated and quenched cadmium as a function of the annealing temperature. Three distinct defect configurations were identified by the quadrupole interaction frequencies:D ₁ with MHz visible for annealing temperaturesT _A between 110 K and 130 K,D ₂ with |v _Q | between 4 and 22 MHz observed for 110 K T _A 150 K, andD ₃ with no electric field gradient. The fractionD ₃ is seen from 77 K to room temperature. The defect configurationsD ₁ andD ₂ are of vacancy type. It is argued thatD ₁ originates from simple defect structures (probably mono- or divacancies) whileD ₂ is attributed to small vacancy agglomerates. Because of its larger stability,D ₃ is ascribed to defect loops. The experiment shows clearly that a vacancy-like defect is mobile in recovery stage III in Cd.On leave from the Fachbereich Physik, Universität Konstanz, 7750 Konstanz, Germany     

Critical current density of a YBa2Cu3O7 film: Comparison between experiment and collective pinning theory

With the vibrating reed technique we have measured the critical current densityJ _c of a Y 123 200 nm thin film as a function of magnetic field perpendicular to the CuO₂ planes (O T<B8 T) and temperature (20KT60 K). At fieldsB<0.1 TJ _c is magnetic field independent and decreases at higher fields. A comparison with theory indicates that a crossover from a single pinning to a small bundle collective pinning regime may explain the observed behaviour. According to our estimate the main pinning centers are weak point pins due to oxygen vacancies. From the temperature dependence ofJ _c atB0 we obtain a temperature dependence of the thermodynamical critical fieldB _c (1–T/T _c )² forT20 K which agrees with the anomalous temperature dependence ofB _c2 observed recently in highly anisotropic high temperature superconductors.     

Anomalies of the static dielectric constant of Pb1−x Ge x Te

The static dielectric constant of Pb_1–x Ge _x Te (0x0.05) has been determined from differential capacitance measurements on Schottky-barriers in the temperature range of 4.2–300 K. A comparison with data deduced from the phonon frequencies via the Lyddane-Sachs-Teller relation shows substantial discrepancies which are attributed to lattice defects.Work supported by Jubiläumsfonds der Österreichischen Nationalbank     

Intrinsic point defects in niobium: Trapping at100Pd and111In impurities observed by PAC

Radiation-induced lattice defects in high-purity niobium have been investigated in the temperature range of 30K to 540 K by means of - perturbed angular correlation (PAC) measurements using the radioactive probes¹⁰⁰Pd/¹⁰⁰Rh and¹¹¹In/¹¹¹Cd. Both probes were produced within the niobium samples by means of heavy-ion nuclear reactions. At the Pd impurities trapping of defects occurred during heavy-ion irradiation at about 30 K in two defined configurations: defect 1(Pd) withv _Q1=e ² qQ/h=42(±2) MHz, ₁=0 and defect 2 (Pd) withv _Q2=(±2) MHz, ₂=1. Two defects were observed at the In impurities in annealing stage III (around 250 K) after heavy-ion as well as electron irradiations: defect 1(In) withv _Q1=87(±1) MHz, ₁=0 and defect 2(In) withv _Q2=105(±2) MHz, ₂=0.65(±0.02). A third defect (defect 3(In):v _Q3=177(±2) MHz, ₃0.2) appeared above 260 K after heavy-ion irradiation only. The data are interpreted in terms of interstitial trapping at the Pd impurities and vacancy trapping at the In impurities. Information on the microscopic structure of defect 1(In) and 2(In) is obtained from a PAC-single-crystal experiment. For defect 1(In) axial 111-symmetry is found, which leads us to identify this defect with a monovacancy as nearest neighbor with respect to the In probe. Defect 2(In) is the trapped divacancy for which an orientation is found that is consistent with both vacancies being nearest neighbor to the probe but second nearest neighbors to each other.     

On the magnetic susceptibility of the liquid Pd1−x Si x alloy system at 1825 K

The isothermal magnetic susceptibility (x) of the completely miscible liquid Pd_1–x Si _x alloy system shows a rapid monotonous decrease withx from strong paramagnetism to weaklyx-dependent diamagnetism. The measured susceptibility isotherm at 1825 K is analysed within 0x1 by using a semiphenomenological method of decomposing the magnetic susceptibility into its constituent parts. Because of the empirical similarity between liquid and glassy metals this interpretation also provides assertions about the magnetism of glassy Pd_1–x Si _x aroundx=0.2.     

Properties of RF sputtered ZnxCd1−xS thin films

Zn _x Cd_1–x S thin films (0x0.20) were prepared using rf sputtering in argon atmosphere and characterized using X-ray diffraction, optical transmission, electrical resistivity and photoconductive decay measurements. The films were found to possess hexagonal structure. The crystallite size and degree of preferential orientation were found to decrease with the increase ofx and to improve upon annealing in vacuum at 250 °C. The transmission edge shifted towards shorter wavelengths with the increase ofx in agreement with the expected shift in the energy band gap. The films were found to exhibit room temperature resistivity in the range 100–1000 cm. The obtained values of long wavelength transmission (70–80%) and minority carrier diffusion length (30 m) are high enough for the application of these films in the field of solar cells.     

M?ssbauer effect in superconducting tin-europium-molybdenum-sulfides

Mössbauer spectra of¹¹⁹Sn in Sn_1–z Eu _z Mo₆S₈ (z=0, 1/3, 2/3) have been measured in the temperature range 4.9 KT293 K. The spectra consist of a quadrupole doublett with unequal intensities at all temperatures. The Debye-Waller factor, the isomeric shift and the asymmetry of the intensity of the quadrupole components show irregularities between 50 K and 110 K which are interpreted as arising from a structural phase transition. The temperature dependence of the Debye-Waller factor can be approximated by a simple phonon spectrum. No quantitative explanation can be given for the large values of the asymmetry. Evidence is presented that this behavior is connected with the properties of the librational modes of the Mo₆S₈-units in the crystal.     

The Becker-Döring cluster equations: Basic properties and asymptotic behaviour of solutions

Existence and uniqueness results are established for solutions to the Becker-Döring cluster equations. The density is shown to be a conserved quantity. Under hypotheses applying to a model of a quenched binary alloy the asymptotic behaviour of solutions with rapidly decaying initial data is determined. Denoting the set of equilibrium solutions byc ⁽⁾, 0 _s , the principal result is that if the initial density _{0 s} then the solution converges strongly toc ^(o), while if ₀ > _s the solution converges weak* toc ^(s). In the latter case the excess density ₀– _s corresponds to the formation of larger and larger clusters, i.e. condensation. The main tools for studying the asymptotic behaviour are the use of a Lyapunov function with desirable continuity properties, obtained from a known Lyapunov function by the addition of a special multiple of the density, and a maximum principle for solutions.     

Valence change of europium in the Eu(Ir1−x Pd x )2Si2 silicides

Eu(Ir_1–x Pd _x )₂Si₂ solid solutions which exist only for 0x0.125 and 0.75x1 crystallize in the tetragonal ThCr₂Si₂-type structure. X-ray diffraction data, magnetic susceptibility and¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer measurements suggest that these compounds can be characterized as homogeneous mixed valence systems. At room temperature and for 0x0.125, the europium valence decreases asx increases. For 0.75x1, a sharp continuous valence transition from Eu²⁺ to Eu³⁺ occurs near 48 K, 54 K and 78 K forx=0.75, 0.81 and 0.94 respectively. These valence changes are discussed in relation with the Eu–(Ir, Pd) interatomic distance.     

High-temperature conductivity study on single-crystal C60

We report about dc, ac (100Hzv100kHz) and contactless microwave (10 GHz) conductivity studies on C₆₀ crystalline bulk material from room temperature to 850 K. The high temperature regime is governed by an activated behavior with a frequency and sample independent activation energy of about 0.9 eV. The low temperature regime exhibits a frequency dependent and weakly temperature dependent conductivity due to extrinsic properties.Anomalies in the heating curves of virgin samples (dynamical vacuum conditions) in the temperature ranges 560 K and 740 K are ascribed to the desorption of oxygen.     

The electrical resistivity of the reentrant spin glass alloys (Fe0.65Ni0.35)1−x Mn x in the temperature range 4 to 280 K

The specific electrical resistivityp(T) was measured for the reentrant spin glass system (Fe_0.65Ni_0.35)_1–x Mn _x (0x0.102) in the temperature range 4 KT280 K. We used our own phenomenological ansatz to explain the results obtained in order to provide the fitted parameters with physical meaning. The cause of the observed minimum in the measured curves can be given by a model of local magnetism.     

Structural changes of Zr x Cu100-x metallic glasses investigated by low temperature specific heat measurements

Amorphous alloys of Zr _x Cu_100–x (55x72) quenched from the melt are investigated by low temperature specific heat measurements. The influence of concentrationx, temperature of the melt before the quenching process and heat treatment on the electronic density of states, the Debye temperature and the superconducting transition temperature is examined. The latter one is the most affected value by structural relaxation while the specific heat in the normal conducting region remains nearly unchanged.