Temperature‐dependent Raman scattering study of multiferroic MnWO4

We have measured polarized Raman spectra of MnWO₄ single crystals at low temperatures, and studied the temperature dependence of the various phonon modes. From our Raman studies of the MnWO₄, a new transition temperature, ∼180 K, was found. We have completely assigned the symmetries of the 18 observed Raman modes of the MnWO₄, as expected from a group theoretical analysis. These Raman modes have been classified into three groups according to weak, intermediate and strong temperature dependence of the modes in each group. Six internal modes have been identified by their weak temperature dependence of the Raman wavenumbers. The temperature dependence of the wavenumbers of the B_g modes in Mg O bonds, modes of intermediate temperature dependence group, shows an anomalous behavior under 50 K. The phonon modes of strong temperature dependence show an anomalous change at ∼180 K in the linewidths. This is believed to be a new transition temperature which involves the changes in the inter‐WO₆ octahedra structure. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical study of the temperature dependence of the width of magnetic domain walls

The temperature dependence of magnetic domain walls in ferromagnetic systems with strong exchange coupling and weak lattice anisotropy is studied assuming that the thermal influence results mainly from the temperature dependence of the magnetization. We obtain that in lattices with an uniaxial symmetry like Co the wall width increases with temperature, but stays finite up to the Curie temperature T_c. In contrary, for a cubic lattice like Fe the wall width diverges for T → T_c, if only the lattice anisotropy is taken into account. The shape of the domain walls is not conserved, since at T_c the wall is determined only by the lowest order of anisotropy. In addition, the temperature dependence of a domain wall width for a thin magnetic film is determined. Using a special symmetry, we obtain a diverging wall width at a temperature markedly lower than T_c. However, the consideration of additional domain wall modes should modify this result.     

Critical temperature of low-dimensional high-T c superconductors

We generalized the Coherent Potential Approximation (CPA) method for the calculation of the critical temperature of superconductors of lower dimensionality. Two dimensional (2d) and one-dimensional (1d) models have been considered. The critical temperature is calculated as function of the electronic concentration and of the position of the Fermi level. The critical temperature can be expressed with either of these two parameters. We also calculate the dependence ofT _c on an additional parameter which is the measure of the interplane coupling.     

Moderate hydrostatic pressure–temperature combinations for inactivation of Bacillus subtilis spores

We report the effect of using moderate hydrostatic pressure, 40–140?MPa, at moderate temperature (38–58°C) to inactivate Bacillus subtilis spores in McIlvaine's citric phosphate buffer at pH 6. We have investigated several parameters: pressure applied, holding time, pressure cycling, and temperature. The kinetics of spore inactivation is reported. The results show that spore inactivation is exponentially proportional to the time the sample is exposed to pressure. Spore germination and inactivation occur at the hydrostatic pressures/temperature combinations we explored. Cycling the pressure while keeping the total time at high pressure constant does not significantly increase spore inactivation. We show that temperature increases spore inactivation at two different rates; a slow rate below 33°C, and at a more rapid rate at higher temperatures. Increasing pressure leads to an increase in spore inactivation below 95?MPa; however, further increases in pressure give a similar rate kill. The time dependence of the effect of pressure is consistent with the first-order model (R²?>?0.9). The thermal resistance values (Z_T) of B. subtilis spores are 30°C, 37°C, and 40°C at 60, 80, 100?MPa. The increase in Z_T value at higher pressures indicates lower temperature sensitivity. The pressure resistance values (Z_P) are 125, 125 and 143?MPa at 38°C, 48°C, and 58°C. These Z_P values are lower than those reported for B. subtilis spores in the literature, which indicates higher sensitivity at pressures less than about 140?MPa. We show that at temperatures <60°C, B. subtilis spores are inactivated at pressures below 100?MPa. This finding could have implications for the design of the sterilization equipment.     

Electrical properties of a-Ge<Subscript>x</Subscript>Se<Subscript>100-<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>

In general, the conductivity in chalcogenide glasses at higher temperatures is dominated by band conduction (DC conduction). But, at lower temperatures, hopping conduction dominates over band conduction. A study at lower temperature can, eventually, provide useful information about the conduction mechanism and the defect states in the material. Therefore, the study of electrical properties of Ge_xSe_100-x in the lower temperature region (room temperature) is interesting. Temperature and frequency dependence of Ge_xSe_{100-x (x} = 15, 20 and 25) have been studied over different range of temperatures and frequencies. An agreement between experimental and theoretical results suggested that the behaviour of germanium selenium system (Ge_xSe_100-x ) have been successfully explained by correlated barrier hopping (CBH) model.     

Transition of a homogeneous type II superconductor cylinder under the influence of axial current

We have calculated the magnetic field distribution and the resistance of a homogeneous type II superconductor cylinder at transition under the influence of axial current in zero external magnetic field. In this calculation we have expressed the magnetic field dependence on flow resistivity _f by two or more potential functions and have shown that the accuracy of this approximation is sufficient. For some values of the lower critical field and various temperatures, the magnetic field distribution and the resistance of the cylinder are calculated as a function of the applied electrical field and/or the applied current. The temperature dependence of the electric field at which, the normal state appears on the surface of the cylinder is also given.     

多晶薄膜表面粗化与生长方式转变

采用原子力显微镜研究了磁控溅射多晶薄膜表面粗化行为对归一化沉积温度T_s/T_m(T_s是沉积温度，T_m是材料熔点)的依赖性与薄膜生长方式转变行为.随着T_s/T_m增加，薄膜表面粗糙度增加，而表征粗糙度随时间演化特征的生长指数β历经了先减小再增加的过程.β对T_s/T_m的依赖关系反映了薄膜生长方式的转变行为，即薄膜生长依次由随机生长方式向表面扩散驱动生长方式与异常标度行为生长方式转变.在低于体扩散控制薄膜生长的温度时，晶界扩散机理导致多晶薄膜的表面粗化的异常标度行为. 关键词： 多晶薄膜 表面粗化 温度 生长     

Self-broadening coefficients in the ν2 and ν5 bands of CH3F at 183 and 298 K

The self-broadening coefficients of 33 rovibrational lines in the ν₂ and ν₅ bands of ¹²CH₃F were measured at a sample temperature of 183 K using a diode-laser spectrometer. We have also realized the measurement of these coefficients at room temperature for 10 of these lines in order to determine their temperature dependence. These results were obtained by fitting to the experimental profile the Voigt lineshape and the Rautian and Galatry models taking into account the collisional narrowing. Calculations of the self-broadening coefficients were also performed for the same temperatures from a semiclassical model involving only electrostatic interactions in the intermolecular potential. The calculated values are significantly larger than the experimental data for both temperatures but the J-dependences of the self-broadenings are well reproduced. Moreover, the theoretical temperature dependence of these coefficients is in good agreement with that derived from the measurements.     

QCD sum rule determination of the axial-vector coupling of the nucleon at finite temperature

A thermal QCD Finite Energy Sum Rule (FESR) is used to obtain the temperature dependence of the axial-vector coupling of the nucleon, g_A(T). We find that g_A(T) is essentially independent of T, in the very wide range 0≤T≤0.9 T_c, where T_c is the critical temperature. While g_A at T=0 is q²-independent, it develops a q² dependence at finite temperature. We then obtain the mean square radius associated with g_A and find that it diverges at T=T_c, thus signalling quark deconfinement. As a byproduct, we study the temperature dependence of the Goldberger-Treiman relation.     

Temperature dependence of the Ho L2‐edge XMCD spectra of Ho6Fe23

An X‐ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) study performed at the Ho L_2,3‐edges in Ho₆Fe₂₃ as a function of temperature is presented. It is demonstrated that the anomalous temperature dependence of the Ho L₂‐edge XMCD signal is due to the magnetic contribution of Fe atoms. By contrast, the Ho L₃‐edge XMCD directly reflects the temperature dependence of the Ho magnetic moment. By combining the XMCD at both Ho L₂‐ and L₃‐edges, the possibility of determining the temperature dependence of the Fe magnetic moment is demonstrated. Then, both μ_Ho(T) and μ_Fe(T) have been determined by tuning only the absorption L‐edges of Ho. This result opens new possibilities of applying XMCD at these absorption edges to obtain quantitative element‐specific magnetic information that is not directly obtained by other experimental tools.     

Influence of the Grain Boundaries on the Heat Transfer in Laser Ceramics

Grain boundaries play a key role in determining several key properties of polycrystalline laser ceramics. Heat transfer measurements at low temperature constitute a good tool to probe grain boundaries. We review the results of heat transfer measurements in polycrystalline Y₃Al₅O₁₂ garnets as well as Y₂O₃ and Lu₂O₃ sesquioxide materials obtained by self-energy-driven sintering of nano-particles. The average phonon mean free path in Y₃Al₅O₁₂ was found to be significantly larger than the average grain size and to scale with temperature as T ⁻² at low temperature. Existing models describing the interaction between phonons and grain boundaries are reviewed. Correct temperature dependence of the mean free path and order of magnitude of scattering rates were found by assuming the existence of a grain boundary layer having acoustic properties different from those of the bulk. A different temperature dependence of phonon mean free path was found for the sesquioxides and was ascribed to the stronger elastic anisotropy of these materials. The thermal resistance associated to the grain boundaries of laser ceramics was found to be lower than in other dense polycrystalline ceramic materials reported in the literature.     

Influence of transport current and thermal fluctuations on the resistive properties of HTSC+CuO composites

Measurements of the temperature dependence of the electrical resistance R(T) below the superconducting transition temperature have been performed at different values of the transport current in HTSC+CuO composites modeling a network of weak S-I-S Josephson junctions (S—superconductor, I—insulator). It has been shown experimentally that the temperature dependence R(T) at different values of the transport current is adequately described by means of the mechanism of thermally activated phase slippage developed by Ambegaokar and Halperin for tunnel structures. Within the framework of this model we have numerically calculated the temperature dependence of the critical current J _c(T) as defined by various criteria. Qualitative agreement obtains between the measured and calculated temperature dependences J _c(T). Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 969–974 (June 1999)     

Relation between vortex excitation and thermal conductivity in superconductors

Thermal conductivity κ _xx(T) under a field is investigated in d _{x2 - y2}-wave superconductors and isotropic s-wave superconductors by the linear response theory, using a microscopic wave function of the vortex lattice states. To study the origin of the different field dependence of κ_xx(T) between higher and lower temperature regions, we analyze the spatially-resolved thermal conductivity around a vortex at each temperature, which is related to the spectrum of the local density of states. We also discuss the electric conductivity in the same formulation for a comparison. Received 8 December 2001 and Received in final form 20 March 2002 Published online 6 June 2002     

The CH3D absorption spectrum in the 1.58 μm transparency window of methane: Empirical line lists at 81 K and 294 K and temperature dependence

In spite of its low isotopic abundance in methane (about 5×10⁻⁴), CH₃D contributes greatly to the very weak absorption in the 1.58 μm methane transparency window. This methane window deserves to be characterized in details because it is important for planetary applications in particular for Titan and the giant planets. In this work, we recorded the CH₃D spectrum by high sensitivity differential absorption spectroscopy (α_min≈5×10⁻⁸ cm⁻¹) both at room temperature and at 81 K. A list of more than 9000 lines was constructed from the 81 K spectrum for the 6099–6530 cm⁻¹ region. In order to get the temperature dependence of the line intensities, the low energy values have to be determined. The rovibrational assignments available in the literature provide low energy values for about 380 strong transitions of the region. This is insufficient to characterize the temperature dependence of the CH₃D absorption between 6200 and 6400 cm⁻¹. In this interval, a list of 5500 lines was constructed from the room temperature spectrum. The empirical energy values of the transitions were derived from the ratio of the intensities at 81 K and 294 K. The exact and empirical lower state energies included in the final line lists provided as Supplementary Material, allow for accounting for the temperature dependence of the CH₃D spectrum in the entire 6099–6530 cm⁻¹ region.Our measurements have been compared to the spectroscopic parameters and assignments available in the literature in particular those adopted in the HITRAN database. Improvements and corrections are proposed for the wavenumber calibration and for some lower state energies.     

Linear and nonlinear susceptibilities of samarium manganites

The temperature and field behaviors of the linear and nonlinear responses to a weak ac magnetic field in the Sm_1−x Sr_xMnO₃ manganites with x=0.25, 0.3, and 0.4 have been investigated. It is found that the hysteresis of the second harmonic of magnetization in the dc magneticfield arises in the far-paramagnetic range at T≤180 K, whereas the hystereses of the linear susceptibility and the dc resistivity are observed at lower temperatures. This phenomenon is associated with the formation of macroscopic ferromagnetic (ferrimagnetic) domains in the paramagnetic matrix. The shape of the temperature dependence of the linear susceptibility at T>T _c is determined by the degree of doping, and the susceptibility itself nonmonotonically depends on x.     

Evidence for two superconducting gaps in the unconventional superconductor PrPt4Ge12

We report the results of magnetization measurements on the unconventional superconductor PrPt₄Ge₁₂ in its superconducting state. A distinct positive curvature is observed in the temperature dependence of the lower critical field H _C1(T) and the upper critical field H _C2(T) around 5.5?K. The zero field critical current density J _C(T, H?=?0) is found to vary nearly linearly with temperature. We argue that these observed features are due to the existence of two superconducting gaps in the material. The normalized superfluid density is estimated from the temperature dependence of H _C1. Our detailed analysis of the normalized superfluid density using a two-gap model indicates the presence of line nodes in the larger gap. The H _C2(T) line can be fitted with the Usadel equations, and the positive curvature in H _C2(T) is shown to be consistent with the two-gap picture of superconductivity.     

Electrical transport in La1−x Ca x MnO3 thin films at low temperatures

We report here the low-temperature resistivity of the chemical solution deposited La_1−x Ca _x MnO₃ (x=0.2, 0.3 and 0.33) thin films on LaAlO₃ substrates. The films were post-annealed in atmosphere at 850°C. The low temperature resistivity data has been studied in order to understand the nature of low-temperature conduction processes. The data showed T ² dependence from 60 K to 120 K consistent with the single magnon scattering process. The deviation from this quadratic temperature dependence at low temperatures is attributed to the collapse of the minority spin band. The two-magnon and electron-phonon processes contribute to scattering of carriers in the temperature range above 120 K.     

Properties of clinopyroxene LiFeGe2O6

The polycrystalline compound LiFeGe₂O₆ has been synthesized by the solid-phase reaction. The X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer, calorimetric, and magnetic investigations have been carried out. The Mössbauer spectrum at 300 K represents a single quadrupole doublet. The isomer shift with respect to the metal iron α-Fe is 0.40 mm/s, which is characteristic of the Fe³⁺ high-spin ion in the octahedral coordination. The quadrupole splitting of 0.42 mm/s indicates a distortion of the oxygen octahedron around the iron cation. The results of the measurement of the temperature dependence of the heat capacity in the range 2–300 K have shown the presence of the only anomaly with a maximum at T _m ～ 20.5 K, which indicates the occurrence of a magnetic phase transition in this point. The data of the measurement of the temperature dependence of the magnetization have confirmed that the magnetic order with the dominant antiferromagnetic interaction of magnetically active ions exists in LiFeGe₂O₆ at a temperature below 20.5 K. The investigation of the temperature dependence of the heat capacity in the magnetic field H up to 9 T has demonstrated that the external factor insignificantly changes the order-disorder transition point (at H = 9 T, there occurs a shift of ～0.5 K toward the low-temperature range).

     

The thermopower of amorphous CuTi-alloys as a function of concentration and temperature

We report on thermopower measurements of several Cu_100–x Ti _x -alloys (x=30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 and 65) in the temperature range from 4.4 to 320 K. In all cases the thermopower is positive. It shows a strong variation with concentration. An analysis of the temperature dependence is presented at low and high temperatures. The correlation of the thermopower with the pressure dependence of the electrical resistivity and the Hall-coefficient is discussed and compared with theoretical predictions.We wish to dedicate this article to the memory of A.B. Bhatia who died on September 27, 1984     

Normal-state electrical resistivity and superconducting magnetic penetration depth in Eu<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>K<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript> polycrystals

We report measurements of the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity, ρ(T), and magnetic pen-etration depth, λ(T), for polycrystalline samples of Eu_0.5K_0.5Fe₂As₂ with T _c = 31 K. ρ(T) follows a linear temperature dependence above T _c and bends over to a weaker temperature dependence around 150 K. The magnetic penetration depth, determined by radio frequency technique displays an unusual minimum around 4 K which is associated with short-range ordering of localized Eu³⁺ moments. The article is published in the original.