Effect of low-temperature annealing on the magnetization curve of YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>6 + <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> ceramics

The effect of low-temperature annealing on the magnetization curve of YBa₂Cu₃O_{6 + x} ceramics in the superconducting state (x ≈ 0.9) is investigated. When the annealing time is fairly long, the field dependence of magnetic moment M exhibits a feature in the form of a plateau, where the value of M remains almost constant. The evolution of this feature in the magnetization curves of annealed samples with annealing time and temperature is studied. It is assumed that low-temperature annealing gives rise to metastable ferromagnetic clusters in YBa₂Cu₃O_{6 + x} ceramics, the contribution of which to the magnetic moment accounts for the feature in the magnetization curves of the annealed samples.     

States of cobalt fluoride in a strong magnetic field

The behavior of the magnetic subsystem of cobalt fluoride is investigated in a strong magnetic field oriented in an arbitrary direction in space. In the case where the magnetic field is out of the planes passing through the easiest magnetization axis A and the axis [100] ‖ X or through the easiest magnetization axis A and the axis [010] ‖ Y, it follows from the derived system of equations that the antiferromagnetic vector l does not change direction to be align with the basal plane, provided the magnetic field has a nonzero component along the A axis. It is demonstrated that the antiferromagnetic vector l becomes parallel to the basal plane only when the magnetic field is perpendicular to the A axis. The case of the magnetic field directed parallel to the [110] axis is examined thoroughly. The critical value of the magnetic field is determined at which the antiferromagnetic vector l becomes parallel to the basal plane and perpendicular to the external magnetic field H for H _⊥ → ∞.     

The Langevin formula for describing the magnetization curve of a magnetic liquid

It has been shown that, at the initial stage of the magnetization curve, the magnetic susceptibility of magnetic liquid determined as χ = Mμ₀/B (M is the magnetization, B is the magnetic induction in a sample) obeys the Curie law, and the magnetic susceptibility determined as χ = M/H (H is the magnetic field intensity in a sample) obeys the Curie–Weiss law. Since the Curie law is a particular case of the Langevin dependence, it is assumed that an experimental magnetization curve is described by the Langevin formula with a Langevin parameter ξ = PB/kT, where P is the magnetic moment of a particle and T is the temperature. Experimental verification has shown that, at parameter ξ, the mean relative deviation between the values of M measured and calculated by the Langevin formula is 5%. This deviation can be accounted for by the influence of dispersion of the magnetic moments of nanoparticles.     

Magnetic and thermal properties of single-crystal NdFe<Subscript>3</Subscript>(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The neodymium ferroborate NdFe₃(BO₃)₄ undergoes an antiferromagnetic transition at T _N = 30 K, which manifests itself as a λ-type anomaly in the temperature dependence of the specific heat C and as inflection points in the temperature dependences of the magnetic susceptibility χ measured at various directions of an applied magnetic field with respect to the crystallographic axes of the sample. Magnetic ordering occurs only in the subsystem of Fe³⁺ ions, whereas the subsystem of Nd³⁺ ions remains polarized by the magnetic field of the iron subsystem. A change in the population of the levels of the ground Kramers doublet of neodymium ions manifests itself as Schottky-type anomalies in the C(T) and χ(T) dependences at low temperatures. At low temperatures, the magnetic properties of single-crystal NdFe₃(BO₃)₄ are substantially anisotropic, which is determined by the anisotropic contribution of the rare-earth subsystem to the magnetization. The experimental data obtained are used to propose a model for the magnetic structure of NdFe₃(BO₃)₄.     

Magnetic properties of Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>C ferromagnetic nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon nanotubes

The low-temperature dependences of magnetic characteristics (namely, the coercive force H _c , the remanent magnetization M _r , local magnetic anisotropy fields H _a, and the saturation magnetization M _s ) determined from the irreversible and reversible parts of the magnetization curves for Fe₃C ferromagnetic nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon nanotubes are investigated experimentally. The behavior of the temperature dependences of the coercive force H _c (T) and the remanent magnetization M _r (T) indicates a single-domain structure of the particles under study and makes it possible to estimate their blocking temperature T _B = 420–450 K. It is found that the saturation magnetization M _s and the local magnetic anisotropy field H _a vary with temperature as ～T ^5/2.     

Entanglement spectrum and magnetization plateaus in an S = 1 bond-alternative Heisenberg chain with single-ion anisotropy and magnetic field

Entanglement spectrum and quantum phase transitions (QPTs) in S = 1 bond-alternative antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain with single-ion anisotropy and magnetic field are investigated by the infinite time-evolving block decimation (iTEBD) method. The combined effects of the single-ion anisotropy and magnetic field have been discussed, and a rich ground-state phase diagram is obtained. We find that the single-ion anisotropy is advantageous to the stability of the 1/2 magnetization plateau. Both entanglement entropy and entanglement spectrum, as two model-independent measures, are capable of describing all the QPTs. Especially, doubly degenerate entanglement spectrum on even bond is observed in the 1/2 plateau phase. Besides constant spontaneous magnetization, three magnetization plateaus (M ^z = 0, 1/2, and 1) are found to have constant entanglement entropy, entanglement spectrum, and nearest-neighbor correlation. In addition, all the QPTs in such a model have been determined to belong to the second-order category.     

Collapse of static magnetization of type II anisotropic superconductors

The effect of suppression of static magnetization (magnetization collapse) of an anisotropic hard superconductor by an alternating magnetic field is studied experimentally and theoretically. The measurements are performed in constant and alternating magnetic fields H and h(t) which are parallel to the sample surface and are mutually orthogonal. Superconducting samples of the Y-123 system are cut from a grain-oriented piece in such a way that the c axis lies in the plane of the plate. It has been established that the amplitude of the alternating field for which the complete suppression of the magnetization occurs significantly depends on the field orientation relative to the crystallographic axes of the sample. The dynamics of the magnetization collapse is studied, and it is established that, in some cases, the magnetic moment varies nonmonotonically with the growth in amplitude h₀ of the alternating field. A peculiar effect of transition (induced by field h(t)) of the superconductor from the paramagnetic into the diamagnetic state is discovered. The results of observations are explained in the framework of the model of critical state generalized to the anisotropic case.     

Magnetic Properties of Composite Materials Based on a Solid Solution of Type (CuInSe<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>1 – <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>(MeSe)<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> (Me = Mn,Fe) and Polyethylene

Basic magnetic characteristics (coercive force H_c, residual magnetization M_r, magnetization M, and saturation magnetization M_s) of solid solutions of type (CuInSe₂)_1–x(MeSe)_x (Me = Mn, Fe) have been investigated in a wide temperature interval (100–300 K). The existence of a magnetic phase transition has been established for all studied solid solutions at low temperatures, and the Néel temperatures have been determined from the temperature dependences of the magnetization. It is shown that the temperature dependences of coercive force H_c and of magnetization M can be described using the thermal relaxation (fluctuation) theory.     

Relaxation of the remanent resistance of granular HTSC Y-Ba-Cu-O + CuO composites after magnetic field treatment

The hysteresis of magnetoresistance R(H) and relaxation of the remanent resistance R _rem with time after magnetic field treatment of HTSC (Y-Ba-Cu-O) + CuO composites are studied. Such a composite constitutes a network of Josephson junctions wherein the nonsuperconducting component (CuO) forms Josephson barriers between HTSC grains. By comparing the experimental R _rem(t) and R(H) dependences, it is shown that the relaxation of the remanent resistance is caused by the decreased magnetic field in the intergrain medium due to relaxation of magnetization. The reason is uncovered for the differences between the published values of pinning potentials determined by measuring the relaxation of magnetization or resistance and fitting them by the Anderson law.     

Nonlinear dynamics of domain walls with a vortex internal structure in magnetouniaxial films with planar anisotropy

The nonlinear and generally unsteady dynamics of domain walls with a vortex internal structure in a constant magnetic field H is investigated on the basis of the numerical solution of the Landau-Lifshitz equation for a 2D distribution of magnetization M in magnetic films with planar anisotropy taking into account exactly the main interaction, including the dipole-dipole interaction. It is shown that in addition to field H _c (bifurcation field) above which the motion of a wall becomes unsteady and its internal structure experiences global dynamic changes, there exists a field H₀ separating two steady motions of the wall with different structures. The data clarifying the physical origin of the nonlinear dynamic rearrangement of the wall structure are presented. New rearrangement mechanisms associated with the generation and attenuation of vortices as well as their tunneling through the central surface of the wall are established. The existence of subperiod oscillations of the wall velocity in a static field in addition to the oscillations associated with the precession of M around the easy magnetization axis is predicted. The period T of dynamic variations of the wall structure is studied, and an empirical formula is proposed for describing the singular behavior of the T(H) dependence near H=H _Hc with the critical index depending on the film parameters. The bifurcation process is studied, and a nonlinear dependence of the critical field H _c on the film thickness and the saturation magnetization is established. The possibility of direct experimental investigation of the dynamic rearrangement of the internal structure of the wall is indicated.     

Phase diagram and exotic spin-spin correlations of anisotropic Ising model on the Sierpiński gasket

The anisotropic antiferromagnetic Ising model on the fractal Sierpiński gasket is intensively studied, and a number of exotic properties are disclosed. The ground state phase diagram in the plane of magnetic field-interaction of the system is obtained. The thermodynamic properties of the three plateau phases are probed by exploring the temperature-dependence of magnetization, specific heat, susceptibility and spin-spin correlations. No phase transitions are observed in this model. In the absence of a magnetic field, the unusual temperature dependence of the spin correlation length is obtained with 0 ≤ J_b/J_a< 1, and an interesting crossover behavior between different phases at J_b/J_a = 1 is unveiled, whose dynamics can be described by the J_b/J_a-dependence of the specific heat, susceptibility and spin correlation functions. The exotic spin-spin correlation patterns that share the same special rotational symmetry as that of the Sierpiński gasket are obtained in both the 1 / 3 plateau disordered phase and the 5/9 plateau partially ordered ferrimagnetic phase. Moreover, a quantum scheme is formulated to study the thermodynamics of the fractal Sierpiński gasket with Heisenberg interactions. We find that the unusual temperature dependence of the correlation length remains intact in a small quantum fluctuation.     

Effect of the morphology on the mechanisms of the magnetization reversal of multilayered thin Co/Pd films

A comparative study of the magnetization curves of continuous and porous multilayered Pd_10nm/[Co_0.3nm]/Pd_0.55nm]15/Pd_2nm films deposited on an anodized TiO₂ template was performed by magnetometry. Based on the comparison of the dependences of coercive field H_C on angle θ between the easy-magnetization axis and the direction of external magnetic field H with theoretical dependences H_C(θ) for the magnetization reversal by domain walls motion (according to the Kondorski model) and the rotation of magnetic moments (by the Stoner–Wohlfarth model), the differences in the mechanisms of magnetization reversal for two mentioned types of the films were revealed. The correlation between the difference in the morphologies of the continuous and porous films and revealed change in the mechanisms of the magnetization reversal, as well as the changes in values of H_C and calculated constants of the magnetic anisotropy, is discussed.     

On a quantum plateau of magnetization in metal-organic quasi-one-dimensional ferrimagnets

The possibility of realizing a quantum plateau of magnetization in [Mn(hfac)₂BNO_R] metal-organic compounds is investigated theoretically. A model of a one-dimensional ferrimagnetic chain (5/2, 1) is used for calculating the magnetization as a function of an external field by the method of discrete path integral representation (DPIR). Within this model, the coexistence of classical and quantum plateaus of magnetization is revealed. It is shown that the critical field H_c1 that destroys the classical plateau (ground-state magnetization) is determined by the optical gap in zero field, which is estimated by the matrix-product method and a numerical method of exact diagonalization (recursion method).     

Magnetization behavior and metamagnetic transitions in electron-doped manganites induced by a strong magnetic field

The behavior of magnetization M of the R_xA_1?xMnO₃ manganites (R=La, Pr, Nd, Sm, etc., A=Ca, Sr, Ba) in the electron doping region (x<0.4) is studied as a function of external magnetic field H. The M(H) relations for homogeneous magnetic structures are obtained by performing band calculations in the double-exchange model. Three different types of magnetization behavior corresponding to three electron concentration ranges (x<0.14, 0.14<x<0.27, x>0.27) are revealed. The M(H) relations are interpreted in terms of the phase diagram for the homogeneous ground state of the manganites calculated for H=0, and the results agree qualitatively with experimental data on the magnetization of Sm_xCa_1?xMnO₃.     

Generality of spontaneous and stimulated magnetization reversal in MnSb clusters embedded in GaMnSb thin films

Generality of the spontaneous and stimulated magnetization reversal in MnSb clusters embedded in GaMnSb thin films is established. In experiments, the similarity of the thermoactivation and field magnetization reversal processes can be observed as the coincidence of the maximum in the field dependences of magnetic viscosity S(H) with the sample coercivity H _C . Analysis of this experimental fact yields the relation between H _C and parameters of the model describing the S(H) dependences. The obtained formula is identical to the well-known Kneller law determining the H _C (T) dependence of noninteracting superparamagnetic nanoparticles.     

Crystallographic,magnetic, and electrical properties of thin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Re</Emphasis><Subscript>0.6</Subscript>Ba<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> epitaxial films (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Re</Emphasis> = La,Pr, Nd,Gd)

Thin Re_0.6Ba_0.4MnO₃ epitaxial films (Re = La, Pr, Nd, Gd) grown on (001)SrTiO₃ and (001)ZrO₂(Y₂O₃) single crystal substrates have been prepared and studied. All the films were found to have a cubic perovskite structure, with the exception of the film with Re = La, which revealed rhombohedral distortion of the perovskite cell. The temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity and magnetoresistance pass through a maximum near the Curie point T_C, where the magnetoresistance reaches a colossal value. The magnetization isotherms M(H) are superpositions of a magnetization that is linear in field (like that of an antiferromagnet) and a weak spontaneous magnetization. The magnetic moment per formula unit is substantially smaller than that expected under complete ferro-or ferrimagnetic ordering. The magnetizations of samples cooled in a magnetic field (FC samples) and with no field applied (ZFC samples) differ by an amount that persists up to the highest measurement fields (50 kOe). The M(T) dependence obtained in strong magnetic fields is close to linear. Hysteresis loops of the FC samples are shifted along the field axis. The above magnetic and electric properties of thin films are explained in terms of two coexisting magnetic phases, which are due to strong s-d exchange coupling.     

Specific features of the states of cobalt fluoride in the vicinity of the critical field

The state of cobalt fluoride in the vicinity of the critical value H _c of a longitudinal magnetic field H, in which the magnetic subsystem of a CoF₂ crystal with a strong Dzyaloshinskii interaction is transformed from the antiferromagnetic phase into the canted phase, has been investigated taking into account the increasing number of experimental studies related to the use of cobalt fluoride. It has been found that, despite the unusually high magnetic anisotropy of the crystal, the state of the magnetic subsystem at H = H _c is extremely sensitive to a small deviation of the vector H from the C ₄ axis. Another feature is that the high sensitivity disappears with an increase or decrease in the magnetic field by only a few thousandths of H _c . The results of the investigations performed in this work are applicable to magnetically ordered crystals FeF₃ and Cu₂OSeO₃, which, as well as the CoF₂ crystals, are characterized by a strong Dzyaloshinskii interaction and a significant magnetic anisotropy. The revealed anomaly in the reduction of the effective magnetic anisotropy is of interest in connection with numerous attempts to decrease the magnetic anisotropy in crystals with giant magnetostriction, which are necessary for the use as sensors and vibrators.     

Magnetization and Static Magnetic Susceptibility of Fine-Crystalline High-Temperature YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript> Superconductors Synthesized by the Sol–Gel Method

A comparative study of the magnetization and static magnetic susceptibility of high-temperature superconductors (HTSC) YBa₂Cu₃O_y synthesized by two variants of the sol–gel method with different average sizes of crystallites 〈 D〉 ranging 0.4–2 μm has been performed in constant magnetic fields (Н ≤ 6 kOe). It has been shown that the different annealing temperatures and times, at which their crystal structure is formed, change both the average sizes of crystallites 〈D〉 and the sizes of the structural homogeneity regions 〈l〉 and, at the same time, the magnetic field penetration depth (λ) and the coherence length (ξ). As a result, such parameters as 〈D〉 ~ λ and 〈l〉 ~ ξ become comparable, leading to a change in the physical characteristics of HTSCs. It has also been shown that the superconducting transition temperature T_c determined from the measurements of magnetic characteristics in constant magnetic fields remains within values optimal for superconductivity (T_c ≈ 92 K) in the case of an optimal number (y) of oxygen atoms, which determine the levels of charge doping for a given compound.     

Theoretical prediction of a surface-induced spin-reorientation phase transition in BaFe<Subscript>12</Subscript>O<Subscript>19</Subscript> nanocrystals

The equation of the magnetization of a hexagonal crystal is derived for the first time for an arbitrary orientation of the external magnetic field relative to the crystallographic c axis. In order to clarify the magnetization mechanism for a real ensemble of small particles in the framework of the given problem, surface anisotropy (which is significant for nanosize objects) was taken into account along with crystalline magnetic anisotropy and anisotropy in the particle shape. Model computer experiments prove that the magnetization curves for nanocrystals oriented in a polar angle range of 65–90° exhibit an anomaly in the form of a jump, indicating a first-order spin-reorientation phase transition. This explains a larger steepness of the experimental curve reconstructed taking into account the interaction between particles as compared to the theoretical dependence obtained by Stoner and Wohlfarth [IEEE Trans. Magn. MAG 27 (4), 3469 (1991)]. An analysis of variation of the characteristic anisotropy surface and its cross section with increasing ratio |K₂|/K₁ of the crystalline magnetic anisotropy constants upon a transition from a macroscopic to a nanoscopic crystal shows that surface anisotropy leads to a change in the magnetic structure. As a result, an additional easy magnetization direction emerges in the basal plane apart from the easiest magnetization direction (along the c axis). The direction of hard magnetization emerges from the basal plane, the angle of its orientation relative to the c axis being a function of the ratio | K₂|/K₁.     

Size effects in electrical and magnetic properties of quasi-one-dimensional tin wires in asbestos

Bulk composites have been prepared based on one-dimensional fibers of natural chrisothil-asbestos with various internal diameters (d = 6–2.5 nm) filled with tin. The electrical and magnetic properties of quasi-one-dimensional Sn wires have been studied at low temperatures. The electrical properties have been measured at T = 300 K at a pressure P = 10 kbar. It has been found that the superconducting (SC) characteristics of the nanocomposites (critical temperature T_c and critical magnetic field H_c) increase as the Sn filament diameter decreases. The temperature spreading of the resistive SC transition also increases as the Sn filament diameter decreases, which is explained by the SC order parameter fluctuations. The size effects (the increase in critical temperature T_c and transition width ΔT_c) in Sn nanofilaments are well described by the independent Aslamazov–Larkin and Langer–Ambegaokara fluctuation theories, which makes it possible to find the dependence of T_c of the diffuse SC transition on the nanowire diameter. Using the temperature and magnetic-field dependences of the magnetic moment M(T, H), it has been found that the superconductor–normal metal phase diagram of the Sn–asbestos nanocomposite has a wider region of the SC state in T and H as compared to the data for bulk Sn. The magnetic properties of chrisotil-asbestos fibers unfilled with Sn have been studied. It has been found that the Curie law is fulfilled and that the superparamagnetism is absent in such samples. The obtained results indicate the absence of magnetically ordered impurities (magnetite) in the chrisotil-asbestos matrix, which allowed one to not consider the problem of the interaction of the magnetic subsystem of the asbestos matrix and the superconducting subsystem of Sn nanowires.