Specific features of magnetoresistance during the antiferromagnet—paramagnet transition in Tm1 − x Yb x B12

The transverse magnetoresistance Δρ/ρ(H, T) of Tm_{1 ? x} Yb _x B₁₂ single crystals is studied in the ytterbium concentration range corresponding to the antiferromagnet-paramagnet transition in a magnetic field up to 80 kOe at low temperatures. A magnetic H-T phase diagram is constructed for the antiferromagnetic state of substitutional Tm_{1 ? x} Yb _x B₁₂ solid solutions with x ≤ 0.1. The contributions to the magnetoresistance in the antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases of the dodecaborides under study are separated. Along with negative quadratic magnetoresistance -Δρ/ρ ∝ H ₂, the magnetically ordered phase of these compounds is found to have component Δρ/ρ ∝ H that linearly changes in a magnetic field. The negative contribution to the magnetoresistance of Tm_{1 ? x} Yb _x B₁₂ is analyzed in terms of the Yosida model for a local magnetic susceptibility.     

Lattice distortion in the solid solutions of UAsxSe1−x

The solid solutions of UAs_xSe_1−x for x = 0.10−0.40 were studied by X-ray diffraction at the temperature region 130–200 K. A rhomboedrical distortion of the crystal structure below T_c was observed. A dependence of an intersitial angle and coefficient of spontaneous magnetostriction on the temperature or the composition of samples was determined.     

Magnetic and electrical properties of Mg1−x CuxO solid solutions and magnetic shielding in Cu-Mg1−x CuxO structures

Mg_1−x Cu_xO solid solutions having an NaCl structure with 0⩽x⩽0.20 are synthesized and Cu-Mg_1−x Cu_xO structures are prepared for superconductivity studies. The magnetic susceptibility χ, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and electrical conductivity of the solid solutions are studied at temperatures of 5–550 K. It is shown that χ ⁻¹(T) obeys the Curie-Weiss law with a paramagnetic Curie temperature Θ close to zero and an effective magnetic moment μ _eff=1.9 μ _B, close to the 1.73 μ _B of a Cu²⁺ ion with spin S=1/2. The width ΔH of the EPR line depends weakly on temperature and increases as x is raised. The volume narrowing of the EPR linewidth ΔH is used to estimate the exchange interaction parameter, 3×10⁻⁴ eV. The g-factor is close to 2 and is temperature independent. The electrical conductivity of Mg_1−x Cu_xO at T=300 K is ≈10⁻¹¹–10⁻¹² Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ for x=0 and increases to 10⁻⁵–10⁻⁶ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ for x=0.15–0.20. The conductivity is p-type. Magnetic shielding is observed in Cu-Mg_1−x Cu_xO structures with x=0.15 and 0.20. The possible connection of this phenomenon with interference superconductivity in the contact layer of the structure is discussed. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 293–296 (February 1999)     

An anomaly in the magnetic susceptibility of the Mg1−x CuxO solid solutions with 0.01≤x≤0.20

The problem of localized superconductivity has motivated the preparation of Mg_1−x Cu_xO solid solutions with NaCl structure and 0.01≤x≤0.20, as well as a study of the magnetization and magnetic susceptibility χ in the 2–400 K temperature range and in magnetic fields of up to 5 T. The temperature dependence of χ is described for all compositions by the Curie-Weiss law, χ = C/(T − θ), where the constant C is close to the value calculated for each composition for μ_eff = 1.7–1.9μ_B, and θ is close to zero. For T < 30 K, χ(T) deviates for all compositions toward lower χ, which can be attributed to magnetic ordering of exchange-coupled clusters in the solid solution. At T∼320–330 K, an anomaly of a diamagnetic type, i.e., a decrease of χ by 6–30% of its paramagnetic value, has been observed for all compositions against the background of the generally paramagnetic χ(T). A discussion is presented of alternative reasons for this anomaly and of its possible connection with localized superconductivity. __________ Translated from Fizika Tverdogo Tela, Vol. 42, No. 4, 2000, pp. 701–703. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2000 by Samokhvalov, Arbuzova, Viglin, Naumov, Smolyak, Korolev, Lobachevskaya.     

Hall and transverse even effects in the vicinity of a quantum critical point in Tm1 ? x Yb x B12

The angular, temperature, and magnetic field dependences of the resistance recorded in the Hall effect geometry are studied for the rare-earth dodecaboride Tm_{1 ? x} Yb _x B₁₂ solid solutions where the metal-insulator and antiferromagnetic-paramagnetic phase transitions are observed in the vicinity of the quantum critical point x _c ?? 0.3. The measurements performed on high-quality single crystals in the temperature range 1.9?C300 K for the first time have revealed the appearance of the second harmonic contribution, a transverse even effect in these fcc compounds near the quantum critical point. This contribution a is found to increase drastically both under the Tm-to-ytterbium substitution in the range x > x _c and with an increase in the external magnetic field. Moreover, as the Yb concentration x increases, a negative peak of a significant amplitude appears on the temperature dependences of the Hall coefficient R _H(T) for the Tm^{1 ? x} Yb _x B₁₂ compounds, in contrast to the invariable behavior R _H(T) ?? const found for TmB₁₂. The complicated activation-type behavior of the Hall coefficient is observed at intermediate temperatures for x ?? 0.5 with activation energies E _g /k _B ?? 200 K and E _a/k _B = 55?C75 K, and the sign inversion of R _H(T) is detected at liquid-helium temperatures in the coherent regime. Renormalization effects in the electron density of states induced by variation of the Yb concentration are analyzed. The anomalies of the charge transport in Tm_{1 ? x} Yb _x B₁₂ solid solutions in various regimes (charge gap formation, intra-gap many-body resonance, and coherent regime) are discussed in detail and the results are interpreted in terms of the electron phase separation effects in combination with the formation of nanosize clusters of rare earth ions in the cage-glass state of the studied dodecaborides. The data obtained allow concluding that the emergence of Yb-Yb dimers in the Tm_{1 ? x} Yb _x B₁₂ cage-glass matrix is the origin of the metal-insulator transition observed in the achetypal strongly correlated electron system of YbB₁₂.     

New type of excitonic radiation in the solid solutions CdS1−x Sex

Manifestations of bulk crystalline regions with stacking faults are detected in the reflection and photoluminescence spectra of CdS_1-x Sex crystals with a variety of compositions. The magnitude of the crystal-field anisotropy and the spin-orbit splitting in these crystals are estimated. It is shown that reabsorption affects the form of the photoluminescence in crystals with stacking faults. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 70, No. 3, 221–225 (10 August 1999)     

Variations of the band gap of Hg1 ? x Cd x Te solid solutions in response to a magnetic field

The optical transmission spectra of Hg_{1 ? x} Cd _x Te epitaxial layers with a magnetization gradient have been investigated experimentally. The magnetization gradient has been artificially created by the opposite arrangement of the poles of the magnets. The possibility of transforming the shape of the spectral dependences of the optical transmission of the HgCdTe films after their exposure to a magnetic field has been demonstrated. Assumptions about the mechanism underlying this phenomenon have been made.     

Spin states of cobalt and the thermodynamics of Sm1 − x Ca x CoO3 − δ solid solutions

In the rare-earth SmCoO₃ perovskite, Co³⁺ ions at low temperatures appear to be in the low-spin state with S = 0, t _2g ² e _g ⁰ . If Ca²⁺ ions partially substitute Sm³⁺ ions, oxygen deficient Sm_{1 ? x} Ca _x CoO_{3 ? δ} solid solutions with δ = x/2 appear. The oxygen deficiency leads to the formation of pyramidally coordinated cobalt ions Co _pyr ³⁺ in addition to the existing cobalt ions Co _oct ³⁺ within the oxygen octahedra. Even at low temperatures, these ions have a magnetic state, either S = 1, t _2g ⁵ e _g ¹ or S = 2, t _2g ⁴ e _g ² . At low temperatures, the magnetization of Sm_{1 ? x} Ca _x CoO_{3 ? δ} is mainly determined by the response of Co _pyr ³⁺ ions. Owing to the characteristic features of the crystal structure of the oxygen deficient perovskite, these ions form a set of nearly isolated dimers. At high temperatures, the magnetization of Sm_{1 ? x} Ca _x CoO_{3 ? δ} is mainly determined by the response of Co _oct ³⁺ ions, which exhibit a tendency to undergo the transition from the S = 0, t _2g ⁶ e _g ⁰ state to the S = 1, t _2g ⁵ e _g ¹ or S = 2, tt _2g ⁴ e _g ² state. In addition, the magnetization and specific heat of the solid solutions under study include the contribution from the rare-earth subsystem, which undergoes a magnetic ordering at low temperatures.     

Magnetic and dynamic properties of Sm x Mn1 − x S solid solutions

The real and imaginary parts of the magnetic permeability at frequencies of 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 kHz, as well as the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) line width and g-factor, have been measured in Sm _x Mn_{1 ? x} S (0.10 < x < 0.25) solid solutions in the temperature range 5–300 K. The logarithmic dependence of the maximum in the imaginary part of the magnetic permeability on the frequency and the power-law dependence of Imμ on the temperature have been determined. The mechanism of relaxation of the magnetic moment in the magnetically ordered and paramagnetic phases has been established. The experimental results have been explained in terms of the Heisenberg model with competing exchange interactions and the formation of the antiaspiromagnetic state at low temperatures.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Zn1–x Fe x O solid solutions

Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences: Physics - Zn1–x Fe x O nanocrystalline solid solutions (x = 0, 0.025, 0.05) with wurtzite structure and ferromagnetic properties at room...     

Cathodoluminescence spectra of Cd1−x Zn x Te solid solutions

An investigation is made of the cathodoluminescence, electrical properties, and structural features of crystals of Cd_1−xZn_xTe solid solutions with composition x ranging from 0.02 to 0.20 mole fraction as compared with CdTe and ZnTe. The main bands of the cathodoluminescence spectra are identified within the range 500–2700 nm. The role of oxygen in Cd_1−xZn_xTe cathodoluminescence is shown. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 67, No. 1, pp. 96–100, January–February, 2000.     

EXAFS studies of the local environment of lead and selenium atoms in PbTe1−x Sex solid solutions

EXAFS spectroscopy is used to study the local environment of lead and selenium atoms in PbTe_1−x Se_x solid solutions. In addition to a bimodal distribution of the bond lengths in the first-coordination sphere, an unusually large value of the Debye-Waller factors for the Pb-Pb interatomic distances (second-coordination sphere) and a substantial deviation of this value from Vegard’s law are observed. Monte Carlo calculations show that these observations are related to the complicated structure of the distribution function for Pb-Pb distances. It is found that the number of Se-Se pairs in the second-coordination sphere exceeds the statistical value, which indicates that chemical factors play an important role in the structure of the solid solutions. The contribution of chemical factors to the enthalpy of mixing of the solid solution is estimated (≈0.5 kcal/mole) and this value is shown to be comparable to the deformation contribution. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1394–1402 (August 1999)     

Galvanomagnetic properties of the Al1−x Six nonequilibrium substitutional solid solutions

Galvanomagnetic characteristics of the A_1−x Si_x solid solutions (x<12 at. %) have been studied within a broad range of temperatures (1.8–290 K) and magnetic fields (up to 15 T). An anomaly in the concentration dependence of the Hall coefficient R _H (x,T=290 K) has been revealed near the boundary of absolute instability (x<8.5 at. %) of compounds in the Al_1−x Si_x series. The variation of the Hall coefficient and of the magnetoresistance in the A_1−x Si_x series at low (T<77 K) temperatures is analyzed within models taking into account the anisotropy in conduction-band electron scattering. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 3–10 (January 1999)     

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of Li8 − x Zr1 − x Nb x O6 solid solutions

New lithium-conducting solid solutions based on lithium orthozirconate have been synthesized by mutual doping of the related structures Li₈ZrO₆ and Li₇NbO₆. The main factor determining the increase in the electrical conductivity of the Li_{8 ? x} Zr_{1 ? x} Nb _x O₆ solid solutions is the formation of lithium vacancies in the tetrahedral and octahedral layers. The practical stability of the Li_{8 ? x} Zr_{1 ? x} Nb _x O₆ ceramics to metallic lithium has been studied.     

Phase transitions and processes of disordering in crystals of the Cu6PS5I1 − x Cl x solid solutions

The temperatures of phase transitions in crystals of the Cu₆PS₅I_{1 ? x} Cl _x solid solutions have been determined and the x-T phase diagram of the crystals has been constructed using isoabsorption and polarization-optical measurements. The absorption edge of the Cu₆PS₅I_{1 ? x} Cl _x crystals has been investigated in the temperature range 77–320 K and at high absorption levels. The parameters of the Urbach absorption edge and exciton-phonon interaction in the Cu₆PS₅I_{1 ? x} Cl _x crystals have been determined, and the influence of the compositional disorder on these crystals has been analyzed.     

Features of the Jahn-Teller transition in Ni1 − x Co x Cr2O4 solid solutions

The structure of Ni_{1 ? x} Co _x Cr₂O₄ solid solutions has been investigated by synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction in the temperature range of 90–350 K for compositions x = 0, 0.005, 0.01, 0.015, 0.02, 0.1, 0.5, and 0.8, and their structures have been refined using the Rietveld analysis. The T-x phase diagram for solid solutions in the studied range of temperatures and concentrations has been constructed based on the obtained data. The revealed structural phase transitions have been explained from the viewpoint of the crystal field theory and the Jahn-Teller cooperative effect. Distortions of polyhedra, which are the cause of the structural phase transition, have been evaluated. The applicability of the Landau phenomenological theory and the possibility of using the magnitude of spontaneous strains as the order parameter have been discussed.     

Structural and optical properties of ZnSe x Te1−-x solid solutions in thin-film form

Solid solutions of ZnSe _x Te_1–x (0. 1 x 1) were synthesized by vacuum fusion of stoichiometric proportions of ZnSe and ZnTe. X-ray diffraction data revealed that they have polycrystalline cubic zinc-blende structure. The calculated unit cell lattice constant (a) for the different compositions in powder form vary linearly, with molecular fractionx following Vegard's law:a(x) = 6.165 – 0.485x. Thin films of ZnSe _x Te_1–x (0.1 x 1) solid solutions deposited onto glass or quartz substrates by thermal evaporation in a vacuum of 10^–4 Pa were found to be polycrystalline with a preferred (1 1 1) orientation. The obtained data were confirmed by electron diffraction. The optical studies showed that ZnSe _x Te_1–x polycrystalline films of different compositions have two direct transitions with corresponding energy gapsE _g andE _g + _so The variations in bothE _g andE _g + _so, withx indicate that ZnSe _x Te_1–x solid solution belongs to an amalgamation-type following quadratic equations with bowing parameters 1.251 and 1.275, respectively.     

Anomalous spin relaxation and quantum criticality in Mn1 − x Fe x Si solid solutions

We report results of the high frequency (60 GHz) electron spin resonance (ESR) study of the quantum critical metallic system Mn_{1 ? x} Fe _x Si. The ESR is observed for the first time in the concentration range 0 < x < 0.24 at temperatures up to 50 K. The application of the original experimental technique allowed carrying out line shape analysis and finding full set of spectroscopic parameters, including oscillating magnetization, line width and g factor. The strongest effect of iron doping consists in influence on the ESR line width and spin relaxation is marked by both violation of the classical Korringa-type relaxation and scaling behavior. Additionally, the non-Fermi-liquid effects in the temperature dependence of the ESR line width, which may be quantitatively described in the theory of Wölfle and Abrahams, are observed at quantum critical points x* ～ 0.11 and x _c ～ 0.24.     

Temperature evolution of the crystal structure of Bi1 − x Pr x FeO3 solid solutions

The crystal structure of solid solutions in the Bi_{1 ? x} Pr _x FeO₃ system near the structural transition between the rhombohedral and orthorhombic phases (0.125 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) has been studied. The structural phase transitions induced by changes in the concentration of praseodymium ions and in the temperature have been investigated using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. It has been established that the sequence of phase transformations in the crystal structure of Bi_{1 ? x} Pr _x FeO₃ solid solutions with variations in the temperature differs significantly from the evolution of the crystal structure of the BiFeO₃ compounds with the substitution of other rare-earth elements for bismuth ions. The regions of the existence of the single-phase structural state and regions of the coexistence of the structural phases have been determined in the investigation of the crystal structure of the Bi_{1 ? x} Pr _x FeO₃ solid solutions. A three-phase structural state has been revealed for the solid solution with x = 0.125 at temperatures near 400°C. The specific features of the structural phase transitions of the compounds in the vicinity of the morphotropic phase boundary have been determined by analyzing the obtained results. It has been found that the solid solutions based on bismuth ferrite demonstrate a significant improvement in their physical properties.     

Dielectric properties and phase transitions in crystals of TlInS x Se2 − x solid solutions

This paper reports on a study of the dielectric permittivity and electrical conductivity of single-crystal TlInS _x Se_{2 − x} solid solutions as functions of temperature and composition. It has been found that the dielectric permittivity ɛ and electrical conductivity σ decrease with increasing x and increase with growing temperature. The temperature dependences ɛ = f(T) and σ = f(T) for TlInS _x Se_{2 − x} crystals have been demonstrated to reveal anomalies in the form of maxima, which suggests that these crystals undergo phase transitions. The temperatures of the phase transitions increase with increasing x.