Magnetic and structural studies of the alloy system REIn0.5Ag0.5

The structural and magnetic properties of the alloy system REIn_0.5Ag_0.5 [RE = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb] are reported. All these alloys (except that of Yb) crystallize in a cubic CsCl type structure at room temperature. Low temperature X-ray diffraction data does not reveal any structural phase transformation down to 8 K. On the basis of magnetic susceptibility data at a different temperature (3–300 K) and applied magnetic field (2 × 10⁵ to 8 × 10⁶ A m^-1, it has been concluded that GdIn_0.5Ag_0.5 is ferromagnetic (T_c = 118 K), TbIn_0.5Ag_0.5 and DyIn_0.5Ag_0.5 are meta magnetic (T_N = 66 and 30 K, respectively) and alloys involving Ho, Er, Tm and Yb are ferrimagnetic with Néel temperatures (T_N) equal to 24, 22, 21 and 20 K, respectively. The evaluated effective magneton number (p) is found to be slightly larger compared to theoretical values for tripositive ions of Gd, Tb and Dy and a bit smaller for Ho, Er, Tm and Yb. The results have been qualitatively explained using appropriate theories.     

Specific features of local structural,valence, and magnetic states of iron ions in the perovskite Bi0.5Ca0.5FeO3

The perovskite Bi_0.5Ca_0.5FeO₃ has been investigated using the Mössbauer effect at temperatures of 295 and 675 K. The measured temperature of the magnetic phase transition (Néel temperature) is T _N = 640 ± 10 K. Above the Néel temperature, there are two nonequivalent structural states of iron ions. In the perovskite Bi_0.5Ca_0.5FeO₃ at room temperature, there are seven most probable nonequivalent magnetic states of iron ions with significantly different values of the hyperfine interaction parameters. Four iron states correspond to Fe³⁺ ions in the octahedral oxygen environment, and three iron states correspond to Fe³⁺ ions in the tetrahedral oxygen environment.     

Pyroelectric properties of a ferroelectric single crystal [NH2(CH3)2]3Sb2Cl9 (DMACA)

The pyroelectric properties of DMACA single crystals have been measured in the range 135–293 K, revealing the existence of ferroelectric second order phase transition at T_c = 243 K. The saturation value of spontaneous polarization P_s along a-axis amounts to 6.8 × 10⁻³ Cm⁻² at about 203 K. Critical exponent β = 0.5 has been found in the region 0.5–10 K away from T_c.     

Infrared absorption spectra of a Nd0.5Ho0.5Fe3(BO3)4 crystal

Infrared absorption spectra of a Nd_0.5Ho_0.5Fe₃(BO₃)₄ crystal in the spectral range of 30–1700 cm^–1 have been measured at temperatures from 6 to 300 K. The experimental spectra have been analyzed based on the semiempirical calculation of the lattice dynamics and the analysis of correlation diagrams of borate complexes. No changes associated with structural phase transitions have been detected in the temperature range of measurements; the effect of magnetic ordering on the infrared absorption spectra has not been observed.     

Causes of the Metamagnetism in a Disordered EuMn<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> Perovskite

The magnetic properties of the EuMn_0.5Co_0.5O₃ perovskite synthesized under various conditions are studied in fields up to 140 kOe. The sample synthesized at T = 1500°C is shown to exhibit a metamagnetic phase transition, which is irreversible below T = 40 K, and the sample synthesized at T = 1200°C demonstrates the field dependence of magnetization that is typical of a ferromagnet. Both samples have T_C = 123 K and approximately the same magnetization in high magnetic fields. The metamagnetism is assumed to be related to a transition from a noncollinear ferromagnetic phase to a collinear phase, and the presence of clusters with ordered Co²⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ ions leads to ferromagnetism. The noncollinear phase is formed due to the competition between positive Co²⁺–Mn⁴⁺ and negative Mn⁴⁺–Mn⁴⁺ and Co²⁺–Co²⁺ interactions, which make almost the same contributions, and to the existence of a high magnetic anisotropy.     

Maxwell–Wagner relaxation and magnetodielectric properties of Bi<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>La<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> ceramics

The complex permittivity ε = ε′–iε″ of manganite bismuth–lanthanum Bi_0.5La_0.5MnO₃ ceramics has been measured at temperature T = 78 K in the frequency range f = 200–10⁵ Hz and in the magnetic induction range B = 0–5 T. Dielectric relaxation and the pronounced magnetodielectric effect have been detected. The explanation based on the superposition of Maxwell–Wagner relaxation and the magnetoresistance effect has been proposed.     

Giant radiofrequency magnetoabsorption in La0.5Sr0.5CoO3 cobaltite

Giant radiofrequency magnetoabsorption in La_0.5Sr_0.5CoO₃ polycrystalline lanthanum cobaltite is studied in the temperature interval 77–300 K and 0.5–12.5 MHz frequency range. The specimen’s Curie temperature T _C is about 250 K. The magnetoabsorption is found to increase with decreasing frequency, reaching 58% at f = 0.5 MHz near the Curie temperature. The results are satisfactorily explained based on the known physical ideas of high-frequency wave absorption in magnetic materials. The effects of giant magnetoabsorption and rapid variation of the absorption near the Curie temperature can be used in radiofrequency sensors of the magnetic field and temperature.     

High-resolution spectroscopy of HoFe<Subscript>3</Subscript>(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystal: a study of phase transitions

The transmission spectra of HoFe₃(BO₃) multiferroic single crystals are studied by optical Fourier-transform spectroscopy at temperatures of 1.7–423 K in polarized light in the spectral range 500–10 000 cm^–1 with a resolution up to 0.1 cm^–1. A new first-order structural phase transition close to the second-order transition is recorded at T_c = 360 K by the appearance of a new phonon mode at 976 cm^–1. The reasons for considerable differences in T_c for different samples of holmium ferroborate are discussed. By temperature variations in the spectra of the f–f transitions in the Ho³⁺ ion, we studied two magnetic phase transitions, namely, magnetic ordering into an easy-plane structure as a second-order phase transition at T_N = 39 K and spin reorientation from the ab plane to the c axis as a first-order phase transition at T_SR = 4.7 ± 0.2 K. It is shown that erbium impurity in a concentration of 1 at % decreases the spin-reorientation transition temperature to T_SR = 4.0 K.     

Thermal conductivity of partially graphitized biocarbon obtained by carbonization of medium-density fiberboard in the presence of a Ni-based catalyst

The thermal conductivity k and resistivity ρ of biocarbon matrices, prepared by carbonizing medium-density fiberboard at T _carb = 850 and 1500°C in the presence of a Ni-based catalyst (samples MDF-C( Ni)) and without a catalyst (samples MDF-C), have been measured for the first time in the temperature range of 5–300 K. X-ray diffraction analysis has revealed that the bulk graphite phase arises only at T _carb = 1500°C. It has been shown that the temperature dependences of the thermal conductivity of samples MDFC- 850 and MDF-C-850(Ni) in the range of 80–300 K are to each other and follow the law of k(T) ～ T ^1.65, but the use of the Ni-catalyst leads to an increase in the thermal conductivity by a factor of approximately 1.5, due to the formation of a greater fraction of the nanocrystalline phase in the presence of the Ni-catalyst at T _carb = 850°C. In biocarbon MDF-C-1500 prepared without a catalyst, the dependence is k(T) ～ T ^1.65, and it is controlled by the nanocrystalline phase. In MDF-C-1500(Ni), the bulk graphite phase formed increases the thermal conductivity by a factor of 1.5–2 compared to the thermal conductivity of MDF-C-1500 in the entire temperature range of 5–300 K; k(T = 300 K) reaches the values of ～10 W m^–1 K^–1, characteristic of biocarbon obtained without a catalyst only at high temperatures of T _carb = 2400°C. It has been shown that MDF-C-1500(Ni) in the temperature range of 40?300 K is characterized by the dependence, k(T) ～ T ^1.3, which can be described in terms of the model of partially graphitized biocarbon as a composite of an amorphous matrix with spherical inclusions of the graphite phase.     

Neutron diffraction study of magnetic ordering in Tm0.5Eu0.5Se

A single crystal of the magnetic semiconductor Tm_0.5Eu_0.5Se was studied by means of neutron diffraction in the temperature range from 1.8 to 293 K. Long-range magnetic order is detected at temperatures below T_c = (18.5±1) K. The measured ferromagnetic moment component of (2.12±0.05) μ_B per rare-earth ion at saturation in zero external magnetic field indicates approximately antiparallel alignment of Tm moment and Eu spin (mutual angle 134°). The experimentally determined neutron magnetic form factor confirms the divalent state of both Tm and Eu in Tm_0.5Eu_0.5Se.     

Effect of γ irradiation on the heat capacity of (CH3)2NH2Al(SO4)2 · 6H2O crystals near the ferroelectric phase transition

The heat capacity of dimethyl ammonium-aluminum sulfate crystals (DMAAS), both nonirradiated and γ-irradiated to fluences of 10⁷, 5×10⁷, and 10⁸ R, has been measured by the adiabatic method near the ferroelectric phase transition (PT) within the 80–300 K temperature range. The C _p =f(T) curve exhibits a λ-shaped anomaly near the phase-transition point T _C =152 K. The PT temperature and the magnitude of the anomaly are shown to decrease with increasing γ-irradiation fluence. It has been established that the ferroelectric PT at T _C =152 K, which lies close to the tricritical point, shifts progressively more under γ irradiation toward the second-order PT, and that the behavior of the anomalous part of the heat capacity in the ferroelectric phase is described by the thermodynamic theory of Landau. The experimental heat-capacity data have been used to calculate the variation of the thermodynamic functions of the DMAAS crystal.     

Central peak in the strontium titanate crystal near the tetragonal-to-cubic phase transition

Raman spectra of the SrTiO3 crystal have been measured in wide temperature (22?C316 K) and frequency (2?C1020 cm^?1) ranges. It has been shown that a central peak appears in low-frequency Raman spectra at temperatures above 70 K. In the spectral geometry with polarization rotation near the temperature T _c = 106 K of the cubic-to-tetragonal phase transition, the central peak exhibits properties of the order-disorder phase transition. Such a behavior of the central peak has been explained by the interaction of the low-frequency soft mode E _g with the relaxation mode near T _c .     

Thermal conductivity of the amorphous and nanocrystalline phases of the beech wood biocarbon nanocomposite

Natural composites (biocarbons) obtained by carbonization of beech wood at different carbonization temperatures T _carb in the range of 800–2400°C have been studied using X-ray diffraction. The composites consist of an amorphous matrix and nanocrystallites of graphite and graphene. The volume fractions of the amorphous and nanocrystalline phases as functions of T _carb have been determined. Temperature dependences of the phonon thermal conductivity κ(T) of the biocarbons with different temperatures T _carb (1000 and 2400°C) have been analyzed in the range of 5–300 K. It has been shown that the behavior of κ(T) of the biocarbon with T _carb = 1000°C is controlled by the amorphous phase in the range of 5–50 K and by the nanocrystalline phase in the range of 100–300 K. The character of κ(T) of the biocarbon with T _carb = 2400°C is determined by the heat transfer (scattering) in the nanocrystalline phase over the entire temperature range of 5–300 K.     

Electronic properties of single-crystal diamonds heavily doped with boron

Single-crystal diamonds with characteristic sizes of 2–7 mm doped with boron in the concentration range 10¹⁹–10²⁰ cm^?3 have been grown by the temperature gradient method at high static pressures. The temperature dependence of the resistance R of the synthesized single crystals has been measured in the range 0.5 K < T < 297 K. An activated dependence R(T) with an activation energy of about 50 meV is observed in the range from room temperature to T ≈ 200 K. At temperatures below approximately 50 K, the temperature dependence of the conductivity for heavily doped crystals is proportional to T ^1/2, which is characteristic of degenerate semiconductors with a high number of defects.     

Mössbauer studies of FexNbS2 (x = 0.25, 0.33 and 0.5)

Mössbauer studies of Fe_xNbS₂ (x = 0.25, 0.33 and 0.5) have been carried out for temperatures from 4.2K to about 715K. The iron exists in high spin divalent state for all the compositions. The temperature dependence of quadrupole splitting and center shift shows a reversible phase transition at about 600K and a possible disordering of Fe vacancies beyond this temperature for Fe_0.25NbS₂ and a reversible phase transition at 490K for Fe_0.5NbS₂. The hyperfine magnetic fields have been evaluated from the magnetically ordered spectra. The observed temperature dependent line intensities of the quadrupole doublet are attributable to the temperature dependence of the difference in the meansquare amplitude of vibrations parallel and perpendicular to the EFG axis.     

Investigation of the GdMn2O5 multiferroic by the μSR method

The GdMn₂O₅ multiferroic (a ceramic sample and a sample consisting of a large array of randomly oriented single crystals with linear dimensions 2–3 mm) has been studied by the μSR method within the temperature range 10–300 K. Three anomalies in the temperature behavior of the parameters of the muon polarization relaxation function, namely, close to the phase transition driven by the onset of long-range magnetic order in the manganese ion subsystem (T _N1 = 40–41 K), near the lock-in transition initiated by an abrupt change of the wave vector of magnetic order (T _L = 35 K), and close to the Gd³⁺ ion ordering temperature (T _N2 = 15 K), have been found. An analysis of the time spectra of muon spin precession in the internal magnetic field of the samples has revealed two positions of preferable muon localization sites in samples, which differ in precession frequencies and the character of their behavior with temperature. The lower-frequency precession driven by Mn⁴⁺ ions, ferromagnetic Mn4⁺-Mn⁴⁺ + muonium complexes, and Gd³⁺ions is observed throughout the temperature region T < T _N1 and is practically independent of temperature. At temperatures T < T _L = 35 K, a higher-frequency precession associated with Mn³⁺ ions appears also. It is characterized by a temperature dependence ～(T/T _N1)^β with the index β = 0.39, which is typical of Heisenberg-type 3D magnets. For T < T _N1, a deficiency of the rest total asymmetry is observed. This phenomenon can probably be assigned to formation of muonium, which suggests that charge transfer processes play an important role in formation of long-range magnetic order.     

Effect of electron and gamma irradiation on elastic characteristics of KTiOPO4 crystals

The elastic moduli C ₁₁ and C ₃₃ of KTiOPO₄ crystals unirradiated and irradiated by electrons and gamma quanta in the temperature range 100–330 K have been measured by the echo-pulse technique. It has been shown that C ₁₁ < C ₃₃ and, with increasing temperature, their values smoothly decrease; moreover, in the temperature range of the second-order phase transition at T ～ 281 K, the curves C ₁₁ = f(T) and C ₃₃ = f(T) exhibit anomalies in the form of a kink. It has been established that, under electron irradiation, the elastic moduli decrease and the phase transition temperature increases. Irradiation of KTiOPO₄ crystals by gamma quanta with a dose of 10⁷ R has no substantial effect on the dynamic characteristics of this crystal.     

Metamagnetic phase transitions induced by static and pulsed fields in (Sm0.5Gd0.5)0.55Sr0.45MnO3 ceramics

It has been found that the magnetic susceptibility of (Sm_0.5Gd_0.5)_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃ ceramic samples in zero external magnetic field exhibits a sharp peak near the temperature of 48.5 K with a small temperature hysteresis that does not depend on the frequency of measurements and is characteristic of the phase transition to an antiferromagnetic state with a long-range charge orbital ordering, which is accompanied by an increase in the magnetic susceptibility with a decrease in the temperature. The magnetization isotherms in static and pulsed magnetic fields at temperatures below 60 K demonstrate the occurrence of an irreversible metamagnetic transition to a homogeneous ferromagnetic state with a critical transition field independent of the measurement temperature, which, apparently, is associated with the destruction of the insulating state with a long-range charge ordering. In the temperature range 60 K ?? T ?? 150 K, the ceramic samples undergo a magnetic-field-induced reversible phase transition to the ferromagnetic state, which is similar to the metamagnetic transition in the low-temperature phase and is caused by the destruction of local charge/orbital correlations. With an increase in the temperature, the critical transition fields increase almost linearly and the field hysteresis disappears. Near the critical fields of magnetic phase transitions, small ultra-narrow magnetization steps have been revealed in pulsed fields with a high rate of change in the magnetic field of ??400 kOe/??s.     

Phase transitions in the oxyfluoride (NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>NbOF<Subscript>6</Subscript>

(NH₄)₃NbOF₆ single crystals were grown, polarization-optical studies were performed, and birefringence was measured over the temperature range 90–500 K. A sequence of first-order structural phase transitions was found at temperatures T _1↓ = 259.7 K and T _2↓ = 257.7 K with temperature hysteresis δT ₁ = 0.9 K and δT ₂ = 1.9 K. The transitions are accompanied by twinning and the following change in the crystal symmetry: cubic ? tetragonal ? monoclinic. Optical second harmonic generation is found to occur at room temperature, which indicates that the cubic phase is not centrosymmetric. It is assumed that the phase transitions are ferroelastic and ferroelectric in nature.