Anisotropic paramagnetic shift of μ−O in the highT c related materials LaSrCuO and LaCuO

The negative muon (^–) was used as a microscopic probe for the study of the electronic state at the oxygen site in highT _c related LaSrCuO materials. Using good single crystals, two types of signals are obtained corresponding to two different oxygen sites: one highly anisotropic, which shows a large (order of 1%) shift under the magnetic field inc-axis direction, the other less anisotropic and with a smaller amplitude (order of 0.2%). These results of ^–OSR show quit a difference with the result of¹⁷O-NMR, where the paramagnetic shift has axial symmetry along the Cu-O bond direction and a magnitude of the order of 0.2% and 0.05%.     

Heavy atom disorder in the high Tc superconductor Ba2YCu3O7−δ studied by means of electron microscopy and electron diffraction

It is shown that on rapid cooling of the compound Ba₂YCu₃O_7-δ one obtains a highly disordered material in which the perovskite framework is conserved but in which barium and yttrium atoms exhibit a high degree of disorder. This leads to lattice deformations, which can be visualized in the electron microscope. The electron diffraction patterns also reveal the disorder. As-quenched specimens are no longer high T_c superconductors, but the superconducting properties can be recovered by an adequate heat treatment whereby the vacancies become ordered.     

The hole concentration on oxygen sites in the highT c superconductor Y1−Ba2−Cu3−O7−x

From XPS core level spectroscopy the average copper charge on the Cu sites in the high temperature superconductor Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_7–x is determined as function of the oxygen vacancy concentrationx. Analysis of these data leads to the suggestion that there are holes on the oxygen sites in the basal plane of the crystal structure. The probability for holes on these oxygen ions is rather constant for 0x0.3 with a value of 0.64 and decreases to zero forx=0.5. The dependence of the superconducting transition temperature on the hole concentration is discussed. An energy level diagram for Cu²⁺ and Cu³⁺ in YBa₂Cu₃O_7–x is constructed.     

Behavior of positive muons in highT c superconductors La2−x Sr x CuO4

An unambiguous determination of the ⁺ location in the highT _c LaSrCuO superconductor is made through zero-field spin relaxation in the paramagnetic phase and its crystal axis dependence by using single crystalline samples. The temperature dependence of the relaxation rates has a maximum between 80 and 150 K, indicating the existence of the onset of quantum diffusion at low temperature.     

Bonding in a-Si1−xCx: H films studied by electron energy loss near edge structure

Electron energy loss spectra of films of amorphous alloys of silicon and carbon were studied. Various compositions of hydrogenated alloys were prepared by glow discharge decomposition of silane and methane mixtures and a control film was prepared by rapid evaporation of crystalline silicon carbide. The near edge structure of the Si Ledge revealed chemical shifts from which bonding information was obtained. The glow discharge specimens showed a variety of local environments for silicon whereas the evaporated specimen showed almost complete heteronuclear bonding. The carbon K edge showed the presence of π¹ peaks associated with three fold coordinated carbon in all cases. The amount of this carbon could be reduced in glow discharge films by increasing the growth temperature.     

Production ofH(2s) andH(2p) by electron detachment fromH − in collisions with nitrogen and oxygen

¹⁹⁹Hg Fourier Transform NMR studies of various solutions of diverse mercury salts in H₂O and D₂O or in the appropriate protonated and deuterated acids are reported for both Hg ₂ ⁺⁺ and Hg⁺⁺. In the different solutions investigated the¹⁹⁹Hg line positions depend on the concentration of the solution, on the solvents and their isotopic composition and on the temperature of the sample. A ratio of the Larmor frequency of¹⁹⁹Hg and of²H in a Hg(NO₃)₂ solution in dilute DNO₃ is given. Using this ratio and the measured chemical shifts, a ratio of the Larmor frequencies of¹⁹⁹Hg for infinite dilution relative to²H in pure D₂O is given. From this a g_I-factor for¹⁹⁹Hg is derived and compared with the g_I-factor of an optical pumping experiment. The resulting shielding constant is σ^* (hydrated¹⁹⁹Hg⁺⁺ versus¹⁹⁹Hg atom)=?24.32(5) · 10^?4. This yields an atomic reference scale for all measured NMR line shifts of mercury.     

Growth stages of YSZ-buffer layers and YBa2Cu3O7−x thin films on silicon substrates studied by scanning probe microscopy

Scanning probe microscopy has been applied to study various growth stages of YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia) buffer layers on silicon and of YBa₂Cu₃O_7–x thin films on YSZ/Si. YSZ buffer layers of 75 nm thickness exhibit a remarkable smooth surface with a rms roughness of about 0.5 nm for a surface area of 5 m×5 m. The subsequent growth of YBa₂Cu₃O_7–x thin films was investigated from nucleation to the formation of growth hills. Screw dislocations were found only in very rare cases.     

The vacancy order — disorder transition in Ba2YCu3O7−δ observed by means of electron diffraction and electron microscopy

It is shown by means of electron microscopy and electron diffraction that the “structural” vacancies in Ba₂YCu₃O_7−δ undergo an order-disorder transformation accompanied by a change in symmetry from orthorhombic to tetragonal. A superstructure due to the ordering of vacancies was found in certain crystal parts; it leads to doubling of the a₀ parameter. It is shown that the ordering of the vacancies is important for the superconducting behaviour. In order to obtain a high T_c supraconductor the final heat treatment is crucial.     

Theoretical investigation of electron paramagnetic resonance parameters and lattice distortion in α-Al2O3 crystal doped with V3+ ions

The electron paramagnetic resonance parameters D, g _∥ and g _⊥ for V³⁺ ions in α-Al₂O₃ crystals are calculated on the basis of the complete diagonalization method and the superposition model. In the calculation, the contributions of the variation of the cation–ligand bond lengths and bond angles are taken into consideration. The calculated results agree well with the experimental data. Our investigation shows that the local structure around the V³⁺ ions possesses a compressed trigonal distortion above the O^2?-triangle and an elongated trigonal distortion in the lower one.     

High-field electron paramagnetic resonance study of the polymerization in Na2Rb1−x Cs x C60

We report on the study of the magnetic properties of the low-temperature polymer phases in N₂Rb_1?xCs_xC₆₀ at 110 GHz microwave frequency withx varying between 0 and 1. The magnetic and structural properties of the polymer phase strongly depend on the Cs content and its electronic structure progressively becomes quasi-one-dimensional asx is increased. While the electronic properties of the polymeric Na₂RbC₆₀ appear to be close to three-dimensional metal, Na₂Rb_0.3Cs_0.7C₆₀ shows characteristics of quasi-one-dimensional metal where instability in the electronic structure was found as detected by the sudden disappearance of the ESR intensity due to the opening of the gap at the Fermi surface. The observation of an additional resonance line below 15 K, which could be attributed to antiferromagnetic resonance, suggests that the low-temperature polymeric phase in Na₂Rb_0.3Cs_0.7C₆₀ has a well-defined magnetic ground state.     

Itinerant electron metamagnetism in Y(Co1−xAlx)2

Magnetization measurements on the itinerant electron magnet Y(Co_1−xAl_x)₂ up to 350 kOe have clearly revealed metamagnetic transitions in the paramagnetic region (0.07⩽x⩽0.11). The transition is sharp for low x, suggesting itinerant electron metamagnetism to exist in YCo₂ at 1 MOe, while it is broadened and disappears upon the onset of ferromagnetism at x∼0.13.     

Increase in corrosion resistance of Zn–22Al–2Cu alloy by depositing an Y2O3 film studied by Auger electron spectroscopy

Thin films of Y₂O₃ were deposited on the surface of a zinalco alloy (Zn–22Al–2Cu) in order to modify the surface and increase the corrosion resistance. By means of ion sputtering and surface analysis using Auger electron spectroscopy, in-depth relative elemental intensity profiles were obtained. The growth mechanism of the surface oxides layer is modified by the deposited yttrium oxide film. On samples without film, corrosion progresses mainly at the surface as indicated by the zinc excess, while on samples with film, the growth of the oxides layer occurs at inner points of the film where migrating anions and cations are allowed to find each other. The growth of the corrosion products layer is about nine times smaller in samples with a film of 1600 Å of Y₂O₃ with respect to samples without a film. Migration of aluminum particles is higher than that of zinc particles, producing a surface highly enriched in aluminum.     

Interaction of β-cyclodextrin with mercury(II) nitrate

The interaction of β-cyclodextrin with mercury(II) nitrate has been studied using UV, IR, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and quantitative chemical analysis. The optimum conditions for complex formation were established. The stability constant of the 1:1 inclusion complex of β-cyclodextrin and nitrate was calculated. The formation of supermolecules of composition C₄₂H₇₀O₃₅·3Hg(NO₃)₂ in solution and on a silica surface chemically modified with β-cyclodextrin was shown. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 75, No. 4, pp. 476–481, July–August, 2008.     

Structure of La(Fe0.88Si x Al0.12 − x )13 compounds in the paramagnetic state

X-ray diffraction patterns and nuclear gamma resonance spectra of La(Fe_0.88Si _x Al_{0.12 ? x} )₁₃ compounds in the paramagnetic state at room temperature have been investigated. It has been found that all samples have a cubic structure of the NaZn₁₃ type, in which Si and Al atoms disorderly substitute for iron in the crystallographic position 96i. An analysis of the Mössbauer spectra using the fitting with doublets with different quadrupole splittings has revealed that the distributions of the aluminum and silicon impurity atoms substituting for iron differ significantly. Aluminum is statistically distributed over nine positions of the 96i type in the generalized coordination sphere of the Fe2 atom, whereas silicon predominantly substitutes for only six of the nine positions.     

Adsorption of nitrogen and ammonia by polycrystalline iron surfaces in the temperature range 80–290 K studied by electron spectroscopy

X-ray and uv induced photoelectron spectroscopy have provided information on the various molecular states of nitrogen formed on polycrystalline iron surfaces from dinitrogen and ammonia. At 85 K two distinct states are observed with N₂(g) which have N(1s) binding energy values of 405.3 and 400.2 eV. These are in equilibrium with N₂(g), are weakly held, and are desorbed on warming to 290 K leaving a nitrogen free surface. The two states are assigned to a molecularly adsorbed

and linear

species the former characterised by an N(1s) value of 400.2 eV and the latter by 405.3 eV. At 290 K nitrogen is adsorbed with a very low sticking probability (?10^?6) giving rise to an N(1s) value of 397.2 eV. This is undoubtedly the dissociatively chemisorbed

species. At a nitrogen pressure of l Torr adsorption is “instantaneous” and the N(1s) value is 397 eV. No evidence for the unstable bridged and linear forms of nitrogen is obtained at 290 K although they may well be precursors to the formation of the strongly chemisorbed nitrogen species. Shifts in the N(1s) binding energy induced by subsequent oxygen adsorption are discussed briefly. At 85 K ammonia adsorbs largely in the molecular form with a broad N(1s) peak centred at about 400 eV but on warming to 290 K this splits to give two peaks one at 397 eV and the other at 400 eV. Interaction at 290 K leads to a dominant peak at 397.2 eV and a subidiary one at 400 eV. Helium (1) spectra support the assignment of the 397.2 eV peak to dissociated species (N, NH) and the 400 eV peak to molecular adsorption. The conclusions with N₂ and NH₃ are substantiated further by comparing the data with results for nitric oxide. The concentration of nitrogen adatom species formed from NO at 290 K and 10^?6 Torr is some ten times that formed from N₂ at 1 Torr and three times that from NH₃ at 10^?6 Torr and the same temperature.     

The adsorption of nitric oxide on a silicon (100) 2 × 1 surface studied with Auger electron spectroscopy

We present an Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) study of the adsorption of nitric oxide (NO) on a clean Si(100)2 × 1 surface at 300 and 550 K. Accurate measurement reeveal well resolved fine structure at Auger SiL_2.3VV transitions at 62 and 83 eV. These peaks can be attributed to SiO and SiN bonds. Furthermore, it is argued that the broadening in the SiLi_2.3VV Auger transition at 83 eV at 300 K may be composed of two nearby peaks, which could be attributed to two different kinds of chemical bonding, SiN and SiO. The absence of a peak at 69 eV at room temperature strongly suggests the NO adsorption on a Si(100)2 × 1 surface to be molecular. Dissociation of NO on the Si(100)2 × 1 surface is observed at 550 K.     

Probing of local electron states in Pb1 − x Sn x Te(In) narrow-gap semiconductors by laser terahertz radiation

Local electron states in indium-doped lead telluride-based solid solutions exhibit a number of features which separate them from the diversity of impurity states in semiconductors. These features are most pronounced in terahertz photoconductivity. The results of the corresponding experiments performed during the last years and supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research are reviewed.     

Coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism in single crystalline highT c superconductor La2−x Sr x CuO4 revealed by the muon spin relaxation method

The positive muon (⁺) spin relaxation method under zero external field is applied to probe magnetic ordering in the superconducting phase of a high quality single crystal of La_2–x Sr _x CuO₄ (0.10<x<0.15). A series of well characterized crystals with nearly complete flux exclusion were found to exhibit a magnetic ordering with transition temperature depending onx with a peak atx=0.11. Possible explanations are given.     

Redox reaction of μ−O in water determined by the chemical shift

The chemical shift of ^–O in water, ice and in aqueous hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was examined using ^–O resonance. Two distinct signals are obtained in water and ice. Using ⁺ resonance signal as a standard, the observed shiftsg are –7.0×10^–4 (signal A) and –12.1×10^–4 (signal B) respectively. The intensity of the two fractions are almost equivalent in water; however, in ice, the intensity of signal B decreases with increase of signal A. After the addition of hydrogen peroxide to the water signal B disappears, A increases, and the total amplitude is increased.