On the determination of α2F(ω) in metals by measuring I–V characteristics of “wide” (non-ballistic) point-contact junctions

For metals with small electron and phonon mean free paths (alloys, deformed or amorphous materials), there exists a possibility of determining α²F(ω) by measuring the V dependence of $\text{d}{}^2\text{I}\text{d}\text{V}{}^2$ or $\text{d}{}^3\text{I}\text{d}\text{V}{}^3$ of wide (d ? 10³ Å) point contacts (PC) and then inverting the linear equation relating these quantities to α²F(ω). The procedure is elaborated numerically and tested successfully for model electron-phonon interaction spectra.     

Functional derivative δTc/δα2 (Ω)F(Ω) for weak coupling superconductors

We present approximate analytic calculation of the functional derivative $\text{δT}{}_{\mathrm{c}}\text{δα}{}^2\text{(Ω)F(Ω)}$, where T_c is the superconducting critical temperature and $\text{α}{}^2\text{(Ω)F(Ω)}$ is the electron-phonon spectral function, within the “square-well model” for the phonon mediated electron-electron interaction and weak coupling limit $\text{ω}{}_{\mathrm{D}}\text{(2πT}{}_{\mathrm{c}}\text{)? 1 (ω}{}_{\mathrm{D}}$ is the Debye energy). It is found that $\text{δT}{}_{\mathrm{c}}\text{δα}{}^2\text{(Ω)F(Ω) = (1 + λ)}{}^{-1}\text{G(Ω)}$ where λ is the familiar electron-phonon coupling parameter and $\text{G(Ω)}$ is a universal function of the reduced frequency $\text{Ω}\text{=}\text{Ω}\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{c}}$. We compare this formula with accurate numerical results for several weak coupling superconductors. The overall agreement is good     

On some recent results concerning the superconducting transition temperature

The Eliashberg gap equations relate the transition temperature T_c of an isotropic superconductor to its electron-phonon spectral function α²F(ω) and Coulomb pseudopotential parameter $\text{μ}{}^1$. Recently the Eliashberg theory has been used to derive some supposedly rigorous results bearing on the problem of attaining higher superconducting transition temperatures: Bergmann and Rainer derived an expression for the functional derivative $\text{δT}{}_{\mathrm{c}}\text{δα}{}^2\text{F(ω)}$; Allen and Dynes showed that in the asymptotic limit of very large $\text{λ(λ?10)k}{}_{\mathrm{B}}\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{c}}\text{=f(μ}{}^1\text{)(λ〈ω}{}^2\text{〉)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ and Leavens proved that for any isotropic superconductor k_BT_c ?0.2309A, where A is the area under its electron-phonon spectral function. In this letter we show that the result of Allen and Dynes is not compatible with the other results and is, in fact, incorrect.     

Electron-phonon coupling and phonon generation in normal-metal microbridges

The second derivative of current—voltage characteristic, $\text{d}{}^2\text{I}\text{d}\text{V}{}^2$, of a small orifice connecting two pieces of normal metals is shown to be proportional to the function $\text{G(ω) =}\text{α}\text{?}{}^2\text{(ω)F(ω)}$ at ω = eV, where F(ω) is the phonon density of states, and α&#x0303;² (ω) the square of the electron—phonon matrix element averaged over the Fermi surface and multiplied by the additional structure factor taking into account the geometry of the orifice. The constriction is shown to work, in a current-carrying state, as a source of non-equilibrium phonons emitted in the immediate vicinity of the orifice.     

Conductivity of a quasi-one-dimensional metal at finite temperatures

The longitudinal conductivity of a quasi-one-dimensional metal is calculated for the case T?ω_D (ω_D being the limiting phonon frequency) and ω_Dl¹/v?1 where l¹ is the effective mean free path determined by impurity and phonon scattering: $\text{l}{}^1\text{= (l}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}{}_{\mathrm{ph}}\text{+ l}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{)}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{, l}{}_{\mathrm{ph}}\text{= v/λT, l}{}_{\mathrm{i}}$ is the impurity mean free path. The conductivity is σ = (c₁e²/πS)l³_iv^?2ω_DλT for l_i?l_ph, σ = (c₂e²/πS)vω_D(λT)^?2 for l_i?l_ph, λ being the dimensionless electron-phonon interaction constant, c₁, c₂ ～ 1, S = a_xa_y is the (xy) area per one chain.     

The A′(3Π2) state of ICl

Although $\text{A′(}{}^3\text{Π}{}_2\text{) ← X(}{}^1\text{Σ}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}$ is forbidden in near case c molecules the A′ ← X transition can be efficiently accomplished by the three-step sequence $\text{A′(}{}^3\text{Π}{}_2\text{) ← D′(2) ← A(}{}^3\text{Π}{}_1\text{) ← X(}{}^1\text{Σ}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}$. Transitions to a range of levels of A′, v_A′ = 2–38, have been recorded by this means, using J-selective polarization-labeling spectroscopy. Principal constants of the A′ state of I³⁵Cl are T_e = 12682.05, ω_e = 224.57, ω_eχ_e = 1.882, ω_ey_e = ?0.0107, B_e = 0.08653, and α_e = 0.000675 cm^?1. The A′ state is therefore similar in its physical characteristics to two other (relatively) deep states, $\text{A(}{}^3\text{Π}{}_1\text{)}$ and $\text{B(}{}^3\text{Π}{}_0\text{+)}$, of the 2431 configuration.     

Polariton modes at the interface between two conducting or dielectric media

A review of polariton modes at interfaces composed of two semiinfinite, homogeneous, and isotropic media is given. Both media are characterized by frequency-dependent dielectric functions ?_i(ω), i = 1, 2, and may become “interface-wave-active” in different frequency regions. The conditions for the existance of propagation windows are analyzed and applied to two particular cases: an interface composed of (a) two dielectrics with dielectric functions $\text{?}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{= ?}{}_{\mathrm{?\infty i}}\text{(}\text{ω}{}^2\text{ω}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Li</mtext>}}{}^2\text{ω}{}^2\text{ω}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>T</mtext><mtext>i</mtext>}}{}^2$, where ?_t8i are the dielectric constants for very large frequencies and ωTi and ωLi are the transverse and longitudinal phonon frequencies; (b) two conductors with dielectric functions $\text{?}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{= ?}{}_{\mathrm{\infty i}}\text{(}\text{1 ?ω}{}_{\mathrm{i}}{}^2\text{ω}{}^2\text{)}$, where ω_iare the plasma frequencies. In the first case there exist two propagation windows in the infrared region, while in the second case there is one propagation window in the ultraviolet, visible, or infrared region. The dispersion relations of the modes and their decay distances into the two media are presented, and various damping effects are discussed. The review is concluded with theoretical results on the optical excitation and detection (ATR) of the interface modes.     

Reorientational motion of the OH− ion in cubic sodium hydroxide

The rotational motion of the OH^? ion was studied in cubic NaOH at 575 K with quasielastic incoherent neutron scattering. The data are compared to two simple models yielding values for the radius of rotation R, the translational mean square displacement 〈u²〉_H, the rotational jump rate τ^?1 and the rotational diffusion coefficient D_R. The following parameter values are obtained: (a) rotational jump model: $\text{R = 0.95}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{〈u}{}^2\text{〉}{}_{\mathrm{H}}\text{= 0.052}\text{A}\text{?}{}^2\text{, τ}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{= 2}\text{meV}$, (b) rotational diffusion model: $\text{R = 0.99}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, 〈u}{}^2\text{〉}{}_{\mathrm{H}}\text{= 0.046}\text{A}\text{?}{}^2\text{, D}{}_{\mathrm{R}}\text{= 0.72}\text{meV}$.     

A least upper bound on the superconducting transition temperature

It is rigorously shown that the superconducting transition temperature of any material for which the Eliashberg theory is valid must satisfy k_BT_c ? 0.2309 A, where A is the area under its electron-phonon spectral function α²F(ω). This relation is a least upper bound, not just an upper bound, in the sense that there is an optimal situation in which the equality holds. This occurs when the Coulomb pseudopotential parameter $\text{μ}{}^1$ is zero and the spectral function is the Einstein spectrum Aδ(ω ? 1.750 A). These results are generalized in an approximate, but sufficiently accurate, way to the case $\text{μ}{}^1\text{≠ 0}$ to obtain the more useful least upper bound $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>B</mtext>}}\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}\text{? c(μ}{}^1\text{) A}$ and the corresponding optimal spectrum $\text{Aδ[ω ? d(μ}{}^1\text{)A]}$. Numerical results for the functions $\text{c(μ}{}^1\text{)}$ and d(μ¹) are presented for $\text{0 ? μ}{}^1\text{? 0.20}$. It is shown that the T_c's of many materials (including Nb₃Sn), for which experimental values of A and $\text{μ}{}^1$ are available, do not lie very far below the upper bound.     

The quadrupole moments of the 5− states in 116Sn, 118Sn and 120Sn

The quadrupole interaction frequencies $\text{ω}{}_0\text{=}\text{3eQ}{}_1\text{V}{}_{\mathrm{zz}}\text{41(21-1)}\text{h}\text{?}$ in the 5^? state of ¹¹⁸Sn have been measured by time differential perturbed angular correlation technique in Sn, Sb and (95% Sn+5% Sb) environments. The ω₀ for ¹¹⁶Sn was determined in Sn environment only. With the help of the known electric field gradient ¹) of Sn in a Sn lattice the quadrupole moments have been deduced as $\text{Q(5}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{,}{}^{118}\text{Sn}\text{) = ±0.10(4) b}\text{and}\text{Q(5}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{,}{}^{116}\text{Sn}\text{) = ±0.165(60)}\text{b}$. These values together with the known²) quadrupole moment of the analogous 5^? state in ¹²⁰Sn are interpreted in terms of the pure single-particle model. The data exhibit the expected strong systematic variation of Q_I with the number of particles in the h_{$\text{11}\text{2}$}. subshell which is being filled with 1, 3 and 5 neutrons in ¹¹⁶Sn, ¹¹⁸Sn, and ¹²⁰Sn, respectively.     

g-factors of 2.7 h 93Tc, 4.9 h 94Tc and 20 h 95Tc

The hyperfine splitting frequencies gμ_NB_H.F./h of 2.7 h ⁹³Tc $\text{(J}{}^{\mathrm{\pi }}\text{=}\text{9}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}$, 4.9 h ⁹⁴Tc (J^π = 7⁺) and 20 h ⁹⁵Tc $\text{(J}{}^{\mathrm{\pi }}\text{=}\text{9}\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)}$ as dilute impurities in Fe have been measured with NMR on oriented nuclei as 336.36(5) MHz, 175.11(1) MHz and 315.97(2) MHz, respectively. From the resonance shifts with an external magnetic field B₀ the hyperfine field of Tc$\text{Fe}$ has been determined as -317(5) kG. Taking this into account the nuclear g-factors are deduced as $\text{g(}{}^{93}\text{Tc}\text{) = 1.392(22), g(}{}^{94}\text{Tc}\text{) = 0.725(11)}\text{and}\text{g(}{}^{95}\text{Tc}\text{) = 1.308(21)}$.     

The emission spectra of H35Cl+, H37Cl+, D35Cl+, and D37Cl+ in the region 2700–4100 Å

The $\text{A}{}^2\text{Σ}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{-X}{}^2\text{Π}$ emission spectrum of HCl⁺ has been measured and analyzed for four isotopic combinations. These analyses extend previous work and provide rotational constants for the v = 0–2 levels of the ground state and for the v = 0–9 levels of the excited state. RKR potentials have been determined for both states, although the upper state could not be fitted precisely to such a model. Calculated relative intensities based on these potentials demonstrated that the electronic transition moment must change rapidly with lower state vibrational quantum number. Although considerable caution should be exercised in applying the concept of equilibrium constants to the $\text{A}{}^2\text{Σ}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ state, the following are the best estimates of these constants (in cm^?1) for the $\text{X}{}^2\text{Π}$ state of H³⁵Cl⁺: B_e = 9.9406, ω_e = 2673.7, A_e = ? 643.7, and $\text{r}{}_{\mathrm{e}}\text{= 1.315}\text{A}\text{?}$. For the $\text{A}{}^2\text{Σ}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ state of H³⁵Cl: T_e = 28 628.08, B_e ～ 7.505, ω_e ～ 1606.5, and $\text{r}{}_{\mathrm{e}}\text{= 1.514}\text{A}\text{?}$.     

Central peak in polaronic crystals

A possibility of the central peak appearance in crystals with low concentration of small-radius polarons is pointed out. The intensity of the central peak increases sharply with the softening of the phonon mode $\text{(ω}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>K</mtext><mtext>0</mtext>}}\text{→ 0)}$ in the vicinity of the structural phase transition . The peak width γ₀ is determined by the probability W of the polaron hopping between the sites γ₀ = K₀²a²W.     

Room temperature static lattice dielectric constant of lead telluride by a microwave cavity-perturbation technique

We have measured the room-temperature static lattice dielectric constant of PbTe using a cavity-perturbation technique. The result, ?_s = 800 ± 220, implies a transverse optic phonon frequency $\text{ω}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>TO</mtext>}}\text{= 23 ±}{}^4{}_3$ cm^-1 in agreement with values extrapolated from low-temperature magnetoplasma measurements but in disagreement with the commonly-quoted neutron-diffraction result of Cochran et al., ω_TO = 31.7 ± 1.3 cm^-1.     

Temperature variation of the magnetic cluster structures in an iron-nickel invar alloy

Small-angle scattering of long wavelength neutrons $\text{(λ = 6.42}\text{A}\text{?}\text{)}$ from an Fe₆₅Ni₃₅ single crystal has been measured with the applied magnetic field (6.2 kG) parallel and perpendicular to the scattering vector $\text{K}$ of the elastic scattering over the temperature range from 25 to 422°C (T_c = 227°C). The scattering cross sections due to the longitudinal spin fluctuation have been analyzed by means of Guinier's approximation $\text{(dσ/dω)}{}_0\text{exp}\text{(?κ}{}^2\text{R}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>g</mtext>}}{}^2\text{3}\text{)}$, where the forward cross section (dσ/dω)₀ is proportional to n, which is the number of atoms in a paramagnetic cluster, and R_g is the radius of gyration of the cluster. The empirical relation between n and R_g is = 0.298 × R_g^2.34 to be compared with that calculated for a simple spherical cluster model n = 1.274 R_g³.     

Dynamical scaling and ultrasonic attenuation in 4He near Tλ

Ultrasonic attenuation in ⁴He near T_λ has been measured at frequencies between 10.9 MHz and 163 MHz. The attenuation above T_λ is described by a scaling function as $\text{α∝ω}{}^{\mathrm{x}}\text{F(}\text{ε}\text{ω}{}^{\mathrm{Y}}\text{)}$, and which proves the dynamical scaling hypothesis.     

Analysis of the 2770-Å emission system in I2

A weak emission spectrum of I₂ near 2770 Å is reanalyzed and found to to minate on the A(1u³Π) state. The assigned bands span v″ levels 5–19 and v′ levels 0–8. The new assignment is corroborated by isotope shifts, band profile simulations, and Franck-Condon calculations. The excited state is an ion-pair state, probably the 1g state which tends toward $\text{I}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{(}{}^1\text{S) +}\text{I}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{(}{}^3\text{P}{}_1\text{)}$. In combination with other results for the A state, the analysis yields the following spectroscopic constants: T″_e = 10 907 cm^?1, $\text{D}$″_e = 1640 cm^?1, ω″_e = 95 cm^?1, $\text{R″}{}_{\mathrm{e}}\text{= 3.06}\text{A}\text{?}$; T′_e = 47 559.1 cm^?1, ω′_e = 106.60 cm^?1, $\text{R′}{}_{\mathrm{e}}\text{= 3.53}\text{A}\text{?}$.     

Correlation of mode grüneisen parameter with the ratio of phonon frequencies in binary cubic compounds

A correlation formula between the mode Grüneisen parameter γ_j and the frequency ratio of LO and TO phonons is semiempirically derived and compared with the experimental values for a large number of cubic binary and few ternary compounds. This relationship is represented by a linear function of $\text{x}{}^2\text{(x=}\text{ω}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>LO</mtext>}}\text{ω}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>TO</mtext>}}\text{)}$.     

On the physical basis for Urbach's rule

The low-energy tail of the E 6 a exciton in GeS obeys Urbach's rule, with Urbach parameters σ₀ = 1.45 ± 0.05, and $\text{h}\text{?}\text{ω}{}_{\mathrm{p}}\text{= 8.7 ± 0.6 meV}$. The energy ?ω_p corresponds to a previously measured rigid-layer vibrational mode which has no associated electric field. This finding is inconsistent with Dow and Redfield's unified theory of Urbach and exponential absorption edges. Our results are consistent with Sumi and Toyazawa's theory of Urbach edges, and with Fivaz and Mooser's model for electron-phonon interactions in layered compounds.