Spin dynamics in Gd x Y1−x Ba2Cu3O6.85 investigated by ESR of Gd spin probes

Electron spin resonance investigations of Gd³⁺ ions in YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ give distinct indications for an exchange coupling of these paramagnetic ions to the doped charge carriers and allow the corresponding interaction parameters, as well as the mutual Gd-Gd exchange coupling, to be extracted.     

Spin dynamics in the spin glass phase of Y(Mn1−xAlx)2

Zero field SR has been used to probe spin dynamics in the concentrated spin glass Y(Mn_0.9Al_0.1)₂. The spectra follow a stretched exponential form, G_z(t)=exp(–(t)), with reaching 1/3 as the freezing temperature, T_g=60K, is approached. The evolution of G_z(t) with temperature is suggestive of the behaviour of the spin correlation function found by Ogielski in Monte Carlo simulations of the dynamics of the Ising spin glass model. The SR results are correlated with results previously obtained by inelastic neutron scattering.     

The influence of the lattice on the spin transition in solids. Investigations of the high spin ag low spin transition in mixed crystals of [FexM1−x(2−pic)3]C12·MeOH

The spin transition behaviour in the iron(II) complex [Fe(2−pic)₃]Cl₂·MeOH (2−pic = 2−aminomethylpyridine) is discussed within a previously developed model which describes the High Spin (HS) ag Low Spin (LS) transition on the grounds of the elasticity theory. For this purpose, the relative HS fraction γ as a function of temperature was determined for mixed crystals of [Fe_xM_1-x(2-pic)₃]Cl₂·MeOH (M = Co, Zn, 0 < x ⩽ 1) employing ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. In addition, the temperature dependence of the lattice constants of the pure iron compound was derived from X-ray diffraction measurements and the Lamb Mössbauer factors for [Fe(2-pic)₃]Cl₂·Sol (Sol = EtOH, MeOH) were determined at room temperature. It is shown that essential features of the spin transition behaviour of the title system can be explained within the λ model. The quantitative agreement of the predicted elastic interaction energy with the experimental data, however, is not yet satisfactory.     

Influence of the synthesis method on the structural and electrochemical properties of LiCo1−yNiyO2 oxides

To optimize the LiCo_1−yNi_yO₂ cathode materials, we have systematically studied the influence of synthesis parameters on their electrochemical behavior using powders synthesized by different wet-chemistry methods (combustion and sol-gel). It is found that the thermal decomposition behavior plays an important role on the intrinsic properties of the powders. Products were studied in details. Characterizations include compositional analysis, morphology, crystallographic structure, and local structure for LiCo_1−yNi_yO₂ materials calcined at 800 °C. A comparison of the different methods is given for the synthesis of LiCo_1−yNi_yO₂ cathode materials. It is found that well-structured oxides with uniformly sized ultrafine particles are obtained using the sol-gel method assisted by succinic acid. Paper presented at the 7th Euroconference on Ionics, Calcatoggio, Corsica, France, Oct. 1–7, 2000.     

Magnetic,electronic and electron spin resonance studies of the (Gd1−xYx)Ni2 compounds

Magnetization, electron spin resonance and heat capacity measurements have been made on the (Gd_1-xYx)Ni₂ compounds. Magnetization measurements reveal a moment deficiency for gadolinium in this series. In GdNi₂ a value of 6.92μ_B is obtained for the gadolinium moment, which decreases further with yttrium substitution. In the concentration range 0.2 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.8 the samples show features seen in inhomogeneous ferromagnets.The ESR measurements reveal a negative g-shift and a very shallow ESR bottleneck in this system.The specific heat of the samples in the concentration range 0.2 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.8 show complex behaviour: downturn at low temperatures in the usual (C/T) against T² graphs, anomalously large γ-values and so on. In the remaining compounds the specific heat shows normal behaviour. At the YNi₂ end of the series a rapid increase in the host density of state takes place when gadolinium is substituted for yttrium.     

Influence of C on Ge incorporation in the growth of Ge-rich Ge1−x−ySixCy alloys on Si (100)

Amorphous carbon nitride powders are successfully produced by ammonothermal synthetic routes. The existence of the chemical bonding of C≡N in the powders is confirmed by Raman and infrared spectra. Raman spectra of various samples show that the G-band frequency shifts to higher energies, and the intensity ratio I_D/I_G decreases as the N content increases. The Knoop hardness of the sintering sample is up to 1200 kgf/mm². The hardness of the sample increases with increasing of the N content. Received: 24 May 2000 / Accepted: 26 May 2000 / Published online: 2 August 2000     

Effect of spin fluctuations on the superconducting phase of Hubbard fermions in the t-t′-t″-J* model

The effect of spin-fluctuation scattering processes on the region of the superconducting phase in strongly correlated electrons (Hubbard fermions) is investigated by the diagram technique for Hubbard operators. Modified Gor’kov equations in the form of an infinitely large system of integral equations are derived taking into account contributions of anomalous components $ P_{0\sigma ,\bar \sigma 0} The effect of spin-fluctuation scattering processes on the region of the superconducting phase in strongly correlated electrons (Hubbard fermions) is investigated by the diagram technique for Hubbard operators. Modified Gor’kov equations in the form of an infinitely large system of integral equations are derived taking into account contributions of anomalous components of strength operator . It is shown that spinfluctuation scattering processes in the one-loop approximation for the t-t′-t″-J* model taking into account long-range hoppings and three-center interactions are reflected by normal (P _{0σ, 0σ}) and anomalous () components of the strength operator. Three-center interactions result in different renormalizations of the kernels of the integral equations for the superconducting d phase in the expressions for the self-energy and strength operators. In this approximation for the d-type symmetry of the order parameter for the superconducting phase, the system of integral equations is reduced to a system of nonhomogeneous equations for amplitudes. The resultant dependences of critical temperature on the electron concentrations show that joint effect of long-range hoppings, three-center interactions, and spin-fluctuation processes leads to strong renormalization of the superconducting phase region. Original Russian Text ? V.V. Val’kov, A.A. Golovnya, 2008, published in Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2008, Vol. 134, No. 6, pp. 1167–1180.     

Influence of Covalence on the Metal-Insulator Temperature in the CuIr 2 (S 1− x Se x ) 4 Spinels

Influence of the covalence on the metal-insulator (M-I) temperature in the CuIr 2 (S 1 m x Se x ) 4 spinel series is considered. For this purpose a vacancy model and the effective number of valence electrons per molecule are used. Calculations of the vacancy model parameters, i.e., the ion packing coefficients, the filling coefficient of the unit cell, the difference of the Pauling electronegativities and the vacancy parameter suggest that the covalence increases with increasing selenium concentration x , leading to a decrease of the metal-insulator temperature. It was observed that the metal-insulator temperature is related to the effective number of valence electrons per molecule, suggesting that with increasing covalence, less and less valence electrons take part in the metal-insulator transition. These effects are explained within the framework of the mixed valence of the iridium ions including structural defects.     

Influence of spin–orbit interactions on the polaron properties in wurtzite semiconductor quantum well

We have study the simultaneous effect of Rashba and Dresselhaus spin–orbit interactions on the polaron properties in wurtzite semiconductor quantum wells. The linear and cubic contributions of the bulk Dresselhaus spin–orbit coupling and the effects of phonon confinement on electron–optical-phonon interaction Hamiltonians are taken into account. We have found analytical solutions for the polaron energies as well as polaron effective mass within the range of validity of perturbation theory. It is shown that the polaron energy and effective mass correction are both significantly enhanced by the spin–orbit coupling. Wave number dependent phonon contribution on the electron energy has minima and varies differently of the spin-up and spin-down states. Polaron self-energy due to interface optical phonon modes has larger values than of the confined optical phonon modes ones. The polaron effective mass exhibits anisotropy and the contribution of the Dresselhaus spin–orbit coupling term on the polaron effective mass is dominated by Rashba one.     

Influence of the spin–orbit interaction in the impurity-band states of n-doped semiconductors

We study numerically the effects of an extrinsic spin–orbit interaction on the model of electrons in n-doped semiconductors of Matsubara and Toyozawa (MT). We focus on the analysis of the density of states (DOS) and the inverse participation ratio (IPR) of the spin–orbit perturbed states in the MT set of energy eigenstates in order to characterize the eigenstates with respect to their extended or localized nature. The finite sizes that we are able to consider necessitate an enhancement of the spin–orbit coupling strength in order to obtain a meaningful perturbation. The IPR and DOS are then studied as a function of the enhancement parameter.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance of Gd3+ ions in Ca1 − x − y Y x Gd y F2 + x + y crystals

Electron paramagnetic resonance of Ca_{1 ? x ? y} Y _x Gd _y F_{2 + x + y} single crystals has revealed spectra that are not typical of gadolinium-doped CaF₂ crystals. These spectra have a nearly tetragonal symmetry and are most probably caused by Gd³⁺ ions localized in yttrium clusters. Weak spectra of tetragonal Gd³⁺ centers, whose parameters are close to those of a cubic gadolinium center caused by an isolated Gd³⁺ ion, have been also detected. These centers are attributed to isolated Gd³⁺ ions localized near octahedral rare-earth clusters or their associations.     

Temperature variation of the spin reorientation in Er2−xDyxFe14B alloys

The competition between the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy of the iron sublattice and the basal anisotropy of the rare earth sublattice in the R₂Fe₁₄B alloys, occuring for the rare earths with a positive Steven's factor (a_j> 0), leads to spin reorientation at 316 K for the Er₂Fe₁₄B compound. We have succeeded, by making a series of pseudoternaries of the type Er_2−xDy_xFe₁₄b, to establish a correlation between the spin reorientation temperature and the quantity x. Mossbauer spectra of aligned powders show a smooth decrease of the spin reorientation temperature for values of x up to 1, while for larger values spin reorientation is absent.     

Seebeck-effect in the mixed state of Y−Ba−Cu−O

We report on measurements of the Seebeck-effect, the Nernst-effect, and the magnetoresistance in the mixed state of ac-axis oriented expitaxial film of Y–Ba–Cu–O. In contrast to conventional superconductors we find a large Seebeck-coefficientS, which is comparable in magnitude to the Nernst-effect. The broadening of the super-conducting transitions of magnetoresistance and Seebeck-effect are rather similar with respect to (1) the temperature dependence, (2) the dependence on the direction between magnetic field and crystal axis and (3) the dependence on the direction between magnetic field and driving forces. The large Seebeck-effect has to be attributed to dissipation due to normal quasiparticle-excitations, since the vortex-contribution to the Seebeck-effect is by far too small to account for the observed magnitude ofS. It is argued that such a quasiparticle contribution to the dissipation is large in the high-T _c superconductors because of the small coherence lengths and thus the small vortex cores. Another possibility is that granularity leads to dissipation proportional to the normal state transport properties. The Seebeck-voltage depends on all dissipative processes other than vortex motion, whereas the Nernst-effect depends only on the vortex motion. Therefore by measurements of thermomagnetic effects the various dissipative properties may be separated.     

Valence fluctuations in La2−xSrxCuO4

Ab-initio electronic band structure calculations are presented for the perovskite La₂CuO₄ and for this material doped with Sr for a supercell of composition La₃SrCu₂O₈. This material is close to the high Tc superconductor La_2−xSr_xCuO₄ discovered recently. The Sr doping gives rise to strong valence fluctuations. We discuss the effect of the valence fluctuations on the stability of the lattice, indicating a small value of U and enhancing the electron-phonon coupling λ, mainly by a mechanism of incipient peroxide formation.     

Quantum spin fluctuations in the spin-liquid state of Tb?Ti?O?

Neutron scattering experiments on a polycrystalline sample of the frustrated pyrochlore magnet Tb(2)Ti(2)O(7), which does not show any magnetic order down to 50 mK, have revealed that it shows condensation behavior below 0.4 K from a thermally fluctuating paramagnetic state to a spin-liquid ground state with quantum spin fluctuations. Energy spectra change from quasielastic scattering to a continuum with a double-peak structure at energies of 0 and 0.8 K in the spin-liquid state. Specific heat shows an anomaly at the crossover temperature.     

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.     

Magnetic properties and Mössbauer studies in Y1−x Gd x Fe2

Alloys of Y_1???x Gd _x Fe₂B _y (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1; y = 0, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2) have been prepared and investigated for structural and magnetic properties. The compounds with x = 0 and 1 are found to form in single phase with C15-type cubic Laves phase structure, while those with x = 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 are observed to form with small quantities of secondary (Y,Gd)Fe₃ phase. The lattice parameters, Curie temperature and the average Fe hyperfine field are found to increase with increasing x. The Gd–Gd and Gd–Fe interactions are attributed to be the main reason for the enhancement of magnetic properties. Boron was found to stabilize the (Y,Gd)Fe₂ phase without affecting the magnetic properties.     

Influence of oxygen reduction on the structural and electronic properties of electron-doped Sr1−xLaxCuO2 thin films

Single-phase, c-axis oriented, e-doped, Sr_1?xLa_xCuO₂ thin films were epitaxially grown on KTaO₃ and DyScO₃ substrates by reactive rf sputtering. As-grown films being insulating due to oxygen excess, oxygen reduction is necessary to observe superconductivity. Two different procedures were employed to reach superconductivity. On one hand an in situ reduction process was conducted on a series of films deposited on both type of substrates. On the other hand, an ex situ reduction procedure was performed sequentially on a single film deposited on DyScO₃. The study of the influence of oxygen reduction on the structural and electronic properties of the thin films is presented and discussed.     

Looking for a quantum spin liquid in the BaNi2(V1−xPx)2O8 spin 1 honeycomb system

The general magnetic characterisation of a series of materials in the BaNi₂V₂O₈-BaNi₂P₂O₈ layered honeycomb spin-1 system is reported. A change from dominantly 2-dimensional (2D) to dominantly 3-dimentional (3D) magnetic character is observed on progressing from the pure V to the pure P material. The change is continuous with composition in BaNi₂(V_1?xP_x)₂O₈. But a variety of features in the temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibilities at low temperatures suggest that the magnetic system is complex. Although the Curie–Weiss temperature becomes less strongly negative on increasing the P content, an indication of increased competition between different types of magnetic coupling, the system does not appear to be approaching a quantum spin liquid state at low temperatures.