Hydrogenated and irradiatedA15 Nb3Sn layers — Preparation,Rutherford scattering analysis,resistivity and superconductivity

Niobium films on sapphire were reacted in tin-vapour to Nb₃Sn with resistance ratiosR(297 K)/R(18.3 K) up to 6 and resistively measured superconducting transition temperaturesT _c up to 17.93 K. The composition Nb_3+z Sn_1–z H _x of electrolytically hydrogenated samples was determined depth dependent by Rutherford backscattering of 30 MeV³²S and simultaneous detection of recoiled protons. Considerable concentration gradients in the thin layers (0.27 m) were detected. The increase of resistivity with hydrogen content and the change in the temperature dependence of is analyzed. A correlation betweenT _c and ₀= is found: An increase of T _c =0.2 K at ₀25cm andx0.03 is followed by a drastic decrease toT _c <1.1 K at ₀80cm andx1. TheT _c vs. ₀ andT _c vs. (T) characteristic correlations are different from universal irradiation or preparation induced correlations. The discrepancies can be interpreted by a stiffening of phonon modes and a band-shifting caused by the hydrogen.     

Effect of hydrogen doping on the magnetic properties of Gd2CuO4

We report the results of ac-susceptibility and dc-magnetization measurements for H_yGd₂CuO₄ (0y0.54). It is shown thatH doping lowers the weak ferromagnetic component in the material. The distinct hysteresis loops observed atT=77 K for both non- and hydrogenated samples change its shape withy. The magnetic ordering temperatures T _N ^Cu and T _N ^Gd , as determined from the temperature dependencies of ac-susceptibility, remain unchanged with sample's hydrogenation. This result seems to indicate that extra electrons are not doped onto the Cu-O planes of Gd₂CuO₄. The frequency dependencies ofx(, T) andx(, T) for bothy=0 andy=0.15 samples are analysed., The maximums ofx andx found at about 200K are considered in terms of susceptibility dependence on the spin-lattice relaxation time (). The anomalies in ac-susceptibility found recently in Gd₂CuO₄ atT _a=8 K andT _b=9.5 K decrease significantly withy. Results are discussed in the context of available data on 214T-type compounds.     

Kinetic equation in the kinetic region of the dilute and nonuniform electron plasma

Mori's scaling method is used to derive the kinetic equation for a dilute, nonuniform electron plasma in the kinetic region where the space-time cutoff (b, t _c) satisfies _Dbl _f , _D t _{c f} , with _D the Debye length, _D ^–1= _p the plasma frequency, andl _f and _f the mean free path and time, respectively. The kinetic equation takes account of the nonuniformity of the order ofl _f and _D for the single-and the two-particle distribution function, respectively. Thus the Vlasov term associated with the two-particle distribution function is retained. This kinetic equation is deduced from the kinetic equation in the coherent region obtained by Morita, Mori, and Tokuyama, where the space-time cutoff of the coherent region satisfies _Dbr ₀, _Dt _{c 0}, withr ₀ the Landau length and ₀ the corresponding time scale.     

Superconducting surface resistance of thin amorphous Ga films on metallic substrates

The surface resistance of a metal coated with amorphous superconducting films is investigated. With an improved microwave cryostat and a two layer model considering the influence of the substrate, much thinner films can be used than previously. As an example the surface resistance of amorphous Ga is determined. A set of parameters ₀/k _BT_c=2,27; _L=13,4 nm; ₀=223 nm andl=1,0 nm describes the temperature dependence independent of thickness. As expected a model of free electrons is in agreement with the experimental results. For crystalline-Ga ₀/k _B T _c =1,91; _L=24 nm; ₀=163 nm and a much larger mean free pathl=22 nm is found.     

Anisotropy of the low temperature resistivity of hexagonal single crystalline spin glass systems

The impurity contribution to the resistivity in zero field (T) of dilute hexagonal single crystals of ZnMn, CdMn and MgMn has been studied in the mK range on samples cut parallel () and perpendicular () to thec-axis, using a SQUID technique for the measurements. Typical spin glass behavior is found in (T) as well as (T) for all alloys, with Kondo like logarithmic increases at higher temperatures and maxima atT _m at lower temperatures, indicating the influence of impurity interactions. The differences in the corresponding isotropic resistivity _poly(T) between the three systems can qualitatively be understood within the framework of a theoretical model by Larsen, describing (T) as a function of universal quantitiesT/T _K and _RKKY/T _K , where _RKKY is the RKKY-interaction strength andT _K the Kondo temperature. With respect to the two lattice directions studied, the behavior of (T and (T is anisotropic in the Kondo regime as well as in the range where ordering becomes important. While the anisotropy in the Kondo slope can be understood by an anisotropic unitarity limit, the understanding of the anisotropy in region where impurity interactions are important remains problematic.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. S. Methfessel on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

A “hydrodynamic” theory of surface reaction rates

The Brownian motion of adsorbed particles is described in terms of the first four velocity moments of the distribution function (number density, momentum density, energy density and energy current density). The resulting hydrodynamic equations turn out to be sufficient for a simple derivation and extension of Kramers' results for chemical reaction rates in terms of the friction constant of an underlying Fokker-Planck equation. An interpolation formula is obtained for() containing Kramers' results for small and large as limiting cases. For temperaturesT small compared to the well depthV ₀ one finds a large regionT/V ₀/v ₀V ₀/T in which Eyring's absolute rate theory is approximately valid.On leave of absence from Physikdepartment der TUM, München-Garching     

Zeros of the finite-size scaling region partition function for a model with a wetting transition

We derive a finite-size scaling representation for the partition function for an Onsager-Temperley string model with a wetting transition, and analyze the zeros of this partition function in the complex scaled coupling parameter of relevance. The system models the one-dimensional interface between two phases in a rectangular two-dimensional region (x, y) ²,–L yL,oxN. The two phases are at coexistence. The string or interface has a surface tension 2KkT per unit length and an extra Boltzmann weighta per unit length if it touches the surfaces aty=±L. There is a critical valuea _c=1/2K and fora>a _c the string is confined to one of the surfaces, while fora a _c the string moves roughly in the rectangular region. The finite-size scaling parameters are =a _c ² N/L ² and =L(a–a _c)/a _c ² . We find that for || large, the zeros of the scaled partition function lie close to the lines arg()=±/4 with re()>0. We discuss the motion of all the zeros as changes by both analytic and numerical arguments.     

Electron-electron interaction and magnon scattering in the d-electron dominated resistivity of Ni80−xFe x Si8B12 glasses

Our investigation of the electrical resistivity (T) betweenT=0.1 K and 295 K revealed for all Fe-concentrations, 2.4x16, a minimum of betweenT _min=7 K and 15 K. Above the minimum, scattering from structural disorder prevails in the paramagnetic alloy (x=2.4), while in the ferromagnetic glasses (x5.6) coherent magnon scattering appears to dominate. With one exception, (TT _min) increases as down to the lowest temperatures for all investigated Fe-contents (x10.4) in zero magnetic field as well as in applied 6 T. The value of the slopes, 6.3(6) ( cm)^–1 K^–1/2, agrees with the universal scaling behaviour reported recently by Cochrane and Strom-Olsen for systems with strong electron-electron interaction. A large, linear rise of (T<T _min,B=0) observed in the most diluted sample (x=2.4) is tentatively attributed to quantum localization in the non-reentrant spin glass phase. The magnitude of the temperature effects on (T) above as well as belowT _min indicates significantd-band contributions to the conductivity.     

Low-temperature properties of amorphous (Mo1−x Ru x )0.8P0.2 alloys

Amorphous (Mo_1–x Ru _x )_0.8P_0.2 alloys (0.3x0.7) have been investigated with measurements of the specific heatC and thermal conductivity . Also the superconducting properties (critical temperatureT _c and upper critical field) have been determined. Well belowT _c , all alloys show the familiar behavior known for glasses, i.e.CT ⁿ and T _m withn1 andm2 which is attributed to tunneling states (TLS). The largeT _c allows an unambiguous determination of the coefficients ofC and . Compairing our data with literature data, we find no correlation between the TLS density of states and the glass temperature or crystallization temperature, as opposed to insulating glasses where such a correlation appears to exist. The unusual annealing behavior found previously in amorphous Zr–Ni and Zr–Cu, which was attributed to a change in the TLS relaxation-time spectrum, is confirmed in the present work.     

Explaining μ+ spin-lattice relaxation in MnF2, belowT N,by scattering function

A relation between the spin-lattice relaxation rate (1/T ₁) of positive muons and the scattering functionS ^T (q,) is derived for the antiferromagnet MnF₂. We find good agreement between previousSR measurements of 1/T ₁ and our calculation using neutron scattering measurements ofS ^T (q,).     

Spin fluctuations in both the ordered and paramagnetic phases of MnSi! MnSi a heavy Fermi liquid?

Polarised neutrons and polarisation analysis have been used to determine the diffuse magnetic scattering from MnSi as a function of temperature. Measurements at 50 K (1.72T _c) and 100 K (3.45T _c) in the paramagnetic phase confirmed the presence of strong spatial correlations previously reported at 300 K (10T _c) and 580 K (20T _c). The spatial correlations between regions of spin density separated by 12 Å are of a ferromagnetic nature and determine the static susceptibility. Integration of the paramagnetic response over an inverse atomic volume yields a moment per manganese atom of 1.2 _B , a value considerably larger than the 0.4 _B observed in Bragg scattering and magnetisation measurements at 4.2 K. Measurements made at 11 K in the ordered magnetic phase reveal strong diffuse scattering corresponding to 0.8 _B per Mn atom. The increase in the diffuse scattering observed in the paramagnetic phase corresponds to the passage of the Bragg component into the background.The presence of significant scattering in the ordered phase and the very unusual wave vector dependence of the diffuse scattering observed at 11 K has been interpreted assuming MnSi to be a heavy Fermi liquid. Furthermore we believe these measurements give the first direct observation of the exchange hole.     

Some critical exponent inequalities for percolation

For a large class of independent (site or bond, short- or long-range) percolation models, we show the following: (1) If the percolation densityP (p) is discontinuous atp _c , then the critical exponent (defined by the divergence of expected cluster size, nP _n (p) (P _c –P)^– asp p _c ) must satisfy 2. (2) or (defined analogously to, but asp p _c ) and [P _n (p _c ) (n ^–1–1/) asn ] must satisfy, 2(1 – 1/). These inequalities for improve the previously known bound 1(Aizenman and Newman), since 2 (Aizenman and Barsky). Additionally, result 1may be useful, in standardd-dimensional percolation, for proving rigorously (ind>2) that, as expected,P _x has no discontinuity atp _c .     

The effect of low-temperature electron irradiation on the transition temperature of YBa2Cu3O7−δ superconductors

Measurements of the complex susceptibility =–i of electron-irradiated YBa₂Cu₃O_7– show a strong influence of the electron irradiation dose, ·t on the transition temperatureT _c . For irradiation doses of ·t=2.2·10¹⁹ e^–/cm² we find a damage rate of T _c /(·t)=–1.6·10^–19 K/(e^–/cm²). It is assumed that the decrease ofT _c is mainly a bulk effect due to the production of atomic defects like vacancies and interstitials in the Cu–O–Cu chains and in the basal planes of the unit cells.     

Microstructure of fiber-like SiC/Si3N4 composite particulate

The microstructure of fiber-like SiC/Si₃N₄ composite particulate was investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy techniques. The SiC/Si₃N₄ composite particulate consisted of a-SiC core and a -Si₃N₄ outer shell. Two kinds of composite particulate were distinguished when the observed orientation of the SiC core was <110>. In one type of the SiC/Si₃N₄ composite particulate, a crystal relationship of (111)-SiC | (102) -Si₃N₄ and (111)-SiC (114) -Si₃N₄ was identified; in the other type of the SiC/Si₃N₄ composite particulate, a crystal relationship of (111)-SiC (001) -Si₃N₄, and (111)-SiC (101) -Si₃N₄ was observed.     

Far-infrared spectroscopy of the supreconductor YBa2Cu4O8

The frequencies of allB _1u (z) phonon modes predicted by a group-theoretical analysis were measured and found to agree well with recent lattice dynamical calculations for this compound. We report also the determination of two superconducting gap values in YBa₂Cu₄O₈ through phonon self-energy effects in the normal and superconducting conducting state. The gap-to-T _c ratios obtained from an analysis of these effects are 2 ₁/kT _c 2.5 and 5.82 ₂/kT _c 9.2. This coincides with previous results of both phononic and electronic Raman scattering where values of 2.1 and 6.3 were found. We further find anomalous softenings of two phonon modes 40 Kabove T _c , which correlate with an observed deviation from the linear temperature dependence of the average plasma frequency _p (T).     

Y1Ba2Cu3O7-δ thin films from KrF laser ablation with substrate heating and in situ patterning by CO2 laser radiation

Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_7– thin films were deposited by KrF laser ablation while replacing conventional contact heating by cw CO₂ laser irradiation of the substrate front surface. The HTSC films obtained on (100)ZrO₂ showed T _c(R=0)=90 K, T(90–10%)=0.5 K, j _c=2.5 × 10⁶ A/cm², a sharp transition in the ac susceptibility X(T), and pure c-axis orientation. Micrographs of thin films (< 0.5 m) showed a smooth morphology while thick films (>1 m) contained many crystallites sticking in the bulk material. Furthermore, in situ patterning was achieved during deposition by local laser heating of a selected substrate surface area. The resulting planar films contained amorphous, semiconducting parts only 1 mm or less apart from crystalline material showing the above HTSC quality.Presented at LASERION '91, June 12–14, 1991, München (Germany)     

Mössbauer study of oxygen-related lattice instabilities in oriented 1-2-3 HTSC

⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect measurements as a function of temperature between 78 and 293 K in grain-aligned YBaCuO (T _c=89 K, T _c<2 K) with bothc andc orientations revealed a sequence of anomalies in the recoilless fraction, center shift and linewidth of all⁵⁷Fe quadrupole doublets in the host lattice. These anomalies are believed to arise due to antiferroelectric phase transitions driven by a nonlinear anharmonic vibrational motion of oxygen atoms in a breathing mode configuration. The results obtained are indicative of a possible coexistence of high-T _c superconductivity and antiferroelectricity in 1-2-3 ceramics.     

Some results on electronic two- and one photon raman scattering in CdS

Two photon Raman scattering (TPRS) via virtually excited biexcitons is observed in CdS over a rather large spectral region in a scattering configuration which favours stimulated emission. We observe either a pure longitudinal exciton or-for the first time—a bound exciton (I ₂) as final state particles. Furthermore, the anomaly in the relation between _exc and _R at _exc= E_blex is observed for the first time in a II–VI compound, indicating an energy of the ₁ biexciton level of 5.098 eV in agreement with two photon absorption measurements. With an applied magnetic fieldB, the corresponding shift of the exciton eigenenergies can be observed. For the longitudinal exciton, the diamagnetic shift is 0.35 meV atB=10T forBc in agreement with theoretical predictions. In this configuration also a stimulated one photon spin flip Raman scattering is observed, yielding the well known electronicg-value of 1.78.     

Calculation of the force-dipole tensor for hydrogen in palladium and platinum

The force-dipole tensorP , also known as the elastic dipole and the double-force tensor, is calculated for hydrogen dissolved in palladium and platinum, using a microscopic model for the interaction potentials; the so-called effective medium theory. The force-dipole tensor describes the long range displacement field induced by hydrogen dissolved in the host metal lattice in the dilute limit. It can be related to the mean elastic hydrogen-hydrogen interaction energy and the critical temperatureT _c for the gas-liquid phase transition observed in systems such as PdH _x and NbH _x . Comparison show a fair agreement between theoretical and experimental values for the force-dipole tensor.     

Spectral theory,zeta functions and the distribution of periodic points for Collet-Eckmann maps

We study unimodal interval mapsT with negative Schwarzian derivative satisfying the Collet-Eckmann condition |DT ⁿ (Tc)|K _c ⁿ for some constantsK>0 and _c>1 (c is the critical point ofT). We prove exponential mixing properties of the unique invariant probability density ofT, describe the long term behaviour of typical (in the sense of Lebesgue measure) trajectories by Central Limit and Large Deviations Theorems for partial sum processes of the form , and study the distribution of typical periodic orbits, also in the sense of a Central Limit Theorem and a Large Deviations Theorem.This is achieved by proving quasicompactness of the Perron Frobenius operator and of similar transfer operators for the Markov extension ofT and relating the isolated eigenvalues of these operators to the poles of the corresponding Ruelle zeta functions.Supported by an Alexander von Humboldt grant