Superconductivity and ferromagnetism in the orthorhombic system (TbxLu1−x)RuB2

The pseudoternary orthorhombic system Tb_xLu_1?xRuB₂) (0 ? x ? 0.1 andx = 1.0) has been investigated by static magnetization, ac susceptibility and resistivity measurements down to 1.5 K. Superconductivity occurs for 0 ? x ? 0.1, while ferromagnetic order occurs for x = 1.0. For each sample studied, the Tb ion maintains a configurationally stable trivalent state. The initial linear depression of the superconducting transition temperature yields a coupling constant value N(0)Γ² between conduction electrons and magnetic Tb³⁺ moments of 3.5 x 10^-4 ev-atom-states/spin-direction.     

Raman scattering from electronic excitations of samarium in semiconducting and metallic Sm1−xYxS

The Raman spectra of Sm_1?xY_xS for $\text{x?0.4}$ have been measured. Electronic scattering between the J = 0 ground state and the J = 1 and 2 excited states of Sm²⁺ is observed. The singlet-triplet transition is observed on both sides of the black to gold phase transition in Sm_1?xY_xS.     

Relation between anisotropy and crystal structure in rare-earth (3d) transition compounds (R2M17)

The ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect in Fe-rich compounds of the series Tm₂Fe_17?xCo_x was studied, using enriched iron. It was found that there exists a preference for occupancy by the Fe atoms for the f site. This fact proves useful to explain the changes in sign and magnitude of the anisotropy constant observed in other series of rare-earth transition compounds like Y₂Fe_17?xCo_x.     

Zn1-xMnxSe的低温磁化率和自旋玻璃现象

用超导量子干涉器(SQUID)磁强计对稀释磁性半导体Zn_1-xMn_xSe(0.1≤x≤0.50)的低温低场直流磁化率作了测量,测量温度从4.2K到30K,测量磁场为15Oe。当x≥0.30时,从磁化率-温度曲线的浑圆峰值,观察到了自旋玻璃的转变。自旋玻璃的转变温度T_f,对x=0.30,0.40,0.50,分别为10.5K,16K,19.5K。给出了顺磁相和自旋玻璃相的相图。比较了Zn_1-xMn_xSe和Cd_1-xMn_xSe的自旋玻璃转变温度,发现对同样的Mn离子浓度,Zn_1-xMn_xSe的T_f高于Cd_1-xMn_xSe的T_f,用交换作用的理论作了讨论。 关键词：     

The effect of Er doping on the spin reorientation transition in Ho1−xErxAl2

The magnetothermal properties of pseudo binary Ho_1−xEr_xAl₂ alloys have been investigated by heat capacity measurements. Two anomalies are observed in the heat capacity of HoAl₂. A sharp peak at 20 K represents the first order spin reorientation transition, and a second order anomaly occurs in the vicinity of the ferromagnetic transition at 32 K. As Ho is partially replaced by Er in Ho_1−xEr_xAl₂ the sharpness of the first order heat capacity peak diminishes with increasing Er concentration, while the temperature of this transition remains practically unaffected. The second order ferromagnetic transition shifts to higher temperature region with increasing Er concentration. The observed behaviors are explained considering the geometry of 4f charge densities of Ho³⁺ and Er³⁺ and the easy magnetization directions of HoAl₂ and ErAl₂.     

t−d excitons in the optical spectrum of semiconducting SmS and Sm1−xGdx alloys

Thermomodulation studies of the optical properties of Sm_1?xGd_xS alloys are presented for x ? 0.15. A new interpretation of the low energy absorption peaks as excitons, where a Sm 5d electron is bound to a localized hole in the 4f shell, is strongly suggested.     

EXAFS study of the local Gd environment in the magnetic superconductor (La1−xGdx)Os2

The near-neighbor environment of Gd in the pseudobinary compound La_1?xGd_xOs₂ has been investigated by studying the EXAFS on the Gd LIII, La LII, and Os LIII edges. For Gd concentrations of x = 0.07 and x = 0.14, we find that the Gd predominantly substitutes on the La sites in the LaOs₂ lattice rather than forming local Gd metal or GdOs₂ clusters. These results are discussed in view of the fact that La_1?xGd_xOs₂ shows spin-glass-like properties (x ≤ 0.15) in the superconducting phase.     

4f ground state properties of cerium in AuCu3 intermetallic compounds studied by x-ray absorption spectroscopy

L_III absorption edges of cerium in ternary AuCu₃ compounds Ce(Pd_1?xM_x)₃ (M = Ag and Rh) and (Ce_1?xY_x)Pd₃ are presented. We find that Ce in these compounds is mixed valent with n_f ? 0.7. The valence V of Ce(Pd_1?xRh_x)₃ becomes concentration independent of V = 3.29 ± 0.02 for x ? 0.18. In Ce_1?xY_xPd₃ we observe the valence to increase up to V = 3.32 ± 0.02 at the highest concentration of Y. We show, that a critical volume, available for the Ce atom, is associated with the concentration independent valence around 3.3. For both systems, linewidths W₁, W₀ and Δ = E(4f¹) ? E(4f⁰), as derived from L_III double-bump structure, are given. Possible falsifications due to “final states effects” on the valence are discussed.     

Surface states of metastable (GaAs)1−xGe2x alloys

The proposed order-disorder transition as x varies in metastable (GaAs)_1?xGe_2x alloys should be observable in photoemission experiments. There should be large “kinks” in the (100) surface state energies as functions of x near the critical composition x_c.     

EPR and magnetic susceptibility studies of the interaction between Cu2+ and Mn2+ ions in x(CuO·MnO)(1−x)[2B2O3·K2O] glasses

EPR and magnetic susceptibility experiments have been performed on x(CuO·MnO)(1?x)[2B₂O₃·K₂O] glasses with x varying in the range 0?x?50 mol.%. For x?3 mol.% both Cu²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions are present mostly as the isolated species. The increase of the g-tensor values and bonding parameters (α², β², δ²) for Cu²⁺ ions together with the increase of TM ions concentration in the 0.2–1 mol.% range was noticed. In the case of 5 ? x ? 30 mol.% the dipole-dipole and superexchange interactions occur between transition metal ions, the first type of interactions prevailing in this range of concentration. For x30 mol.% the superexchange interaction prevail. The strong interaction between Cu²⁺ and Mn²⁺ gives rise to the exchange coupled Cu²⁺Mn²⁺ pairs in the studied glasses with x 3 mol.%.     

Temperature and composition dependence of vibrational modes in Sm1−xLaxAlO3

At room temperature and for x₀ ～ 0.43, the system Sm_1?xLa_xAlO₃ undergoes a first order phase transition in which an orthorhombic structure transforms into a rhomboedral structure as x increases. This phase transition was investigated by Raman scattering experiments on polycrystalline compounds in the range 0 ? x ? 1. The dependence of low frequency modes on x is reported and compared with their well known temperature dependence. Soft modes have been observed in the orthorhombic (D_2h¹⁶) and rhomboedral (D_3d⁶) phases. It was found that the first order phase transition is probably driven by a double degenerate mode whose two components in the low symmetry phase display a linear composition dependence of their squared frequencies. The source of anomalous behaviour of Raman bands near the phase transition is discussed.     

On the magnetic properties of Pt1−xAgx

The observed rapid continuous isothermal change from enhanced paramagnetism to weak diamagnetism with increasing silver mole fraction x of the Pt_1?xAg_x alloy system is interpreted by means of a semiphenomenological magnetic alloy susceptibility function X(x). The x-dependent Knight shift K(x) of both ¹⁰⁹Ag and ¹⁹⁵Pt nuclei in Pt_1?xAg_x is closely related to the alloy susceptibility and therefore can be used in a combined K(x)?X(x)-analysis.     

Investigation of complex impedance and modulus properties of Nd doped 0.5BiFeO3-0.5PbTiO3 multiferroic Composites

0.5BiNd _x Fe_1?x O ₃ ? 0.5PbTiO₃ (BN _x F_1?x ? PT)(x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20) composites were successfully synthesized by a solid state reaction technique. At room temperature, X-ray diffraction shows tetragonal structure for all concentrations of Nd doped 0.5BiFeO₃ ? 0.5PbTiO₃ composites. The nature of Nyquist plot confirms the presence of bulk effects only for BN _x F_1?x ? PT (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20) composites. The bulk resistance is found to decreases with the increasing temperature as well as Nd concentration and exhibits a typical negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) behavior. Both the complex impedance and modulus studies have suggested the presence of non-Debye type of relaxation in the composites. Conductivity spectra reveal the presence of hopping mechanism in the electrical transport process of the composites. The activation energy calculated from impedance plot of the composite decreases with increasing Nd _x concentration and found to be 0.89, 0.76, 0.71 and 0.70 eV for x=0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 respectively.     

Spin state and magnetic interaction of cobalt ions in niobium-doped cobaltites

The magnetic properties and electrical conductivity of La_1?x Sr_xCo_1?x/2Nb _x/2O₃ solid solutions with trivalent cobalt ions are studied. These solid solutions are found to be spin glasses with T _f ～ 25 K. The ferromagnetic component is most pronounced in the composition with x = 0.15. The electrical conductivity decreases with increasing strontium content. The results obtained are interpreted within a model according to which cobalt ions located in the vicinity of strontium ions reside in an intermediate-spin state and the Co³⁺-O-Co³⁺ super-exchange interaction is ferromagnetic because of the local dynamic orbital correlations.     

Mössbauer and magnetization studies of the U1−xNpxO2 fluorites

²³⁷Np Mössbauer effect and magnetic susceptibility measurements of the U_1?Np_xO₂ fluorite solid solution have been performed in the composition range 0.15 ? x ? 0.75. For x = 0.15 and 0.25, the Np ions order magnetically at a lower temperature T₀ than the bulk material (T_N) (T₀ ～ 19 K, T_N ～ 27 K for x = 0.15). For x = 0.50, T₀ ～ 10 K (T_N ～ 12 K from recent neutron diffraction measurements). For x = 0.75, T₀ ～ T_N ～ 9 K. The Np (induced) ordered moment is ～ 0.5 μ_B. The ²³⁷Np Mössbauer isomer shift shows that the Np ions are in a IV charge state.     

Near stabilization of the Ce moment upon dilution in (Ce,La)Al3

Susceptibility measurements taken for 1.5 ≤ T ≤ 17 K on the system Ce_xLa_1?xAl₃ indicate that the Ce moment is nearly stabilized on dilution. Evidence for this is the fact that the fractional occupancy of the 4f¹ configuration and the spin correlation time both increase as x → 0. Crystalline electric fields influence the susceptibility of these valence fluctuation systems.     

151Eu Mössbauer studies on Eu1+x Ba2−x Cu3O7+δ oxide systems

Mössbauer parameters of¹⁵¹Eu in Eu_1+x Ba_2?x Cu₃O_7+δ have been studied as a function of temperature, forx=0.15 andx=0.25. The areas of the absorption spectra for the two samples are almost equal. This could mean that thef-Mössbauer factor for¹⁵¹Eu at the barium sites is much smaller than that for¹⁵¹Eu at the rare earth sites, i.e. we only observe the spectra of the latter sites. According to this, the fits of the spectra with a single quadrupolar pattern and with two quadrupolar patterns have given equivalent χ² values.     

Ferroelastic transition and the relaxor state in SrTiO3-PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3

Dielectric and acoustic properties of the (1 ? x)SrTiO₃?xPbMg_1/3Nb_2/3O₃ solid solutions (0 ? x ? 1) have been studied at temperatures ranging from 4.2 to 350 K. It has been found that the improper ferroelastic transition exists up to a concentration x = 0.4 and that the phase transition temperature grows with x increasing from 0 to 0.4. As the concentration of the second component is further increased, the transition becomes suppressed by the relaxor phase forming at x _c ≈ 0.22. The results obtained are discussed in terms of the current concepts of relaxor ferroelectrics.     

Dielectric,electrical transport and magnetic properties of Er3+substituted nanocrystalline cobalt ferrite

Erbium substituted cobalt ferrite (CoFe_2−xEr_xO₄; x=0.0–0.2, referred to CFEO) materials were synthesized by sol-gel auto-combustion method. The effect of erbium (Er³⁺) substitution on the crystal structure, dielectric, electrical transport and magnetic properties of cobalt ferrite is evaluated. CoFe_2−xEr_xO₄ ceramics exhibit the spinel cubic structure without any impurity phase for x≤0.10 whereas formation of the ErFeO₃ orthoferrite secondary phase was observed for x≥0.15. All the CFEO samples demonstrate the typical hysteresis (M–H) behavior with a decrease in magnetization as a function of Er content due to weak superexchange interaction. The frequency (f) dependent dielectric constant (ε′) revealed the usual dielectric dispersion. The ε′–f dispersion (f=20 Hz to 1 MHz) fits to the modified Debye's function with more than one ion contributing to the relaxation. The relaxation time and spread factor derived are ∼10⁻⁴ s and ∼0.61(±0.04), respectively. Electrical and dielectric studies indicate that ε′ increases and the dc electrical resistivity decreases as a function of Er content (x≤0.15). Complex impedance analyses confirm only the grain interior contribution to the conduction process. Temperature dependent electrical transport and room temperature ac conductivity (σ_ac) analyses indicate the semiconducting nature and small polaron hopping.     

The origin of magnetism in UNi2 — a simple band approach

The magnetization and susceptibility investigation of pseudo-binary U(Ni_1?xFe_x)₂ and U(Ni_1?xCu_x)₂ for chosen concentrations of x ? 0.1, x ? 0.8, and x ? 0.06, respectively, are presented. The most significant result is that the substitution of Ni (in UNi₂) by Fe reduces both the magnetic moment and the ordering temperature rapidly although it appears to be established that the magnetic moment of UFe₂ is predominantly residing on the Fe sites. The small concentration of Cu substituted into UNi₂, on the other hand, increases the magnetic moment. The obtained results are discussed together with those of U(Ni_1?xCo_x)₂ and seem to support the recently proposed explanation on the origin of magnetism in UNi₂.