Metal-insulator transition in Fe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>S crystals

Results of an experimental study of MnS, FeS, and Fe _x Mn_1?x S single crystals are presented. The phase composition, the lattice parameters, and the state of paramagnetic ions in Fe _x Mn_1?x S have been determined by x-ray diffraction analysis and Mössbauer spectroscopy. A sequence of transitions have been found in iron manganese sulfide with x = 0.29 at temperatures T ₁ ≈ 25–50 K, T ₂ ≈ 125 K, and T ₃ ≈ 190 K with a change in kinetic properties and the formation of a metallic state at low temperatures T ≈ 2 K. The possibility of a Mott-Hubbard transition in Fe _x Mn_1?x S sulfides with variation of the composition and the temperature is discussed.     

New magnetic materials Cu<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>S with a metal-insulator transition

This paper reports on first results of the synthesis and study of the thermal, structural, electrical, resonance, and magnetic properties of new sulfide materials Me _x Mn_{1 − x} S (Me = Cu, 0 < x < 0.2) synthesized based on manganese monosulfide. The materials have a NaCl cubic structure at 300 K and undergo a concentration metal-insulator transition with increasing degree of substitution and with varying temperature. The magnetic transition occurs in the region of the heat capacity anomaly. The Néel temperature is slightly dependent on the copper concentration. The samples with a high copper content exhibit metallic conduction at T < 260 K and semiconductor conduction at T > 260 K.     

Magnetism and superconductivity in Eu(Fe<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ni<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>)As<Subscript>2</Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> = 0, 0.04)

We report Eu-local-spin magnetism and Ni-doping-induced superconductivity (SC) in a 112-type ferroarsenide system Eu(Fe_1?xNi_x)As₂. The non-doped EuFeAs₂ exhibits two primary magnetic transitions at ~100 and ~40 K, probably associated with a spin-density-wave (SDW) transition and an antiferromagnetic ordering in the Fe and Eu sublattices, respectively. Two additional successive transitions possibly related to Eu-spin modulations appear at 15.5 and 6.5 K. For the Ni-doped sample with x = 0.04, the SDW transition disappears, and SC emerges at T_c = 17.5 K. The Eu-spin ordering remains at around 40 K, followed by the possible reentrant magnetic modulations with enhanced spin canting. Consequently, SC coexists with a weak spontaneous magnetization below 6.2 K in Eu(Fe_0.96Ni_0.04)As₂, which provides a complementary playground for the study of the interplay between SC and magnetism.     

Magnetocaloric effect in La(Fe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Si<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>)<Subscript>13</Subscript> ferromagnets

The isothermal changes in the magnetic entropy and the lattice entropy and the adiabatic temperature change in La(Fe_0.88Si_0.12)₁₃ and La(Fe_0.86Si_0.14)₁₃ ferromagnets in a magnetic field are calculated. The calculations are performed with a generalized magnetostriction model of a ferromagnet; the calculation results are compared to experimental data. It is shown that the change in the lattice entropy decreases the magnetocaloric effect and makes it possible to explain the experimental data obtained for La(Fe _x Si_{1 − x} )₁₃ (x = 0.86, 0.88) ferromagnets. The temperature dependences of the bulk compression moduli of these ferromagnets are calculated, and these dependences indicate a strong lattice softening in the vicinity of the magnetic phase transition in them. The thermal expansion coefficient and some magnetic properties of the ferromagnet with x = 0.86 are measured to determine the numerical values of the parameters entering into calculation formulas.     

Spectral-luminescent properties of AgLa<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Eu<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> solid solutions

The luminescent properties of AgLa_{1 − x} Eu _x (MoO₄)₂ (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0) under laser excitation (λ = 337.1 nm) are studied. It is shown that, upon substitution of Eu³⁺ for La³⁺, the symmetry of luminescence centers does not vary. According to the X-ray diffraction data, all samples have scheelite-like structure; the pattern of variation in volumes of their unit cells counts in favor of the presence of a continuous series of solid solutions. It is found that an increase in the europium concentration in AgLa_{1 − x} Eu _x (MoO₄)₂ leads to an increase in the luminescence intensity with a maximum at x = 0.9.     

Crystal structure and magnetic susceptibility of (CuInSe<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>(2MnSe)<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>

The crystal structure of samples in the (CuInSe₂)_{1 ? x} (2MnSe) _x system at room temperature and their magnetic susceptibility in the temperature range 77–1000 K are investigated. It is established that compositions with concentrations 0≤ x ≤ 0.2 form solid solutions with a tetragonal structure, space group I \(\bar 4\)2d (122). The specific magnetic susceptibility χ of samples with 0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.4 at 77 K lies in the range 9 × 10^?4?1.6 × 10^t-3cm³/g. The temperature dependence of the inverse magnetic susceptibility of the sample with x = 0.4 suggests the presence of a component with antiferromagnetic ordering and a reliably measured Néel temperature that is characteristic of MnSe. The dependences χ = f(T) of the compositions with x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 indicate the occurrence of magnetic phase transitions with a change in the spin state.     

Structural study of CuCr<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>V<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>S<Subscript>2</Subscript> substitutional solid solutions

The local structure and charged state of metal atoms in the CuCrS₂ matrix and CuCr_{1 − x} V _x S₂ solid solutions of substitution of vanadium for chromium (0 < x < 0.25) are studied by x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAFS) using synchrotron radiation. According to XANES spectra (near-edge fine structures), introducing vanadium does not change the charged state of matrix elements and they exist as Cu(1+), Cr(3+), V(3+), and S(2−) in the solid solution. According to EXAFS spectra (extended fine structures), introducing vanadium slightly distorts the local structures of both Cr and Cu atoms (to a greater extent for copper than for chromium). The XAFS analysis data show that vanadium only partially filled vacant positions (specified by the composition of the initial mixture) in the chromium sublattice, the majority of them being located in irregular positions of slightly distorted octahedrons consisting of sulphur atoms. It is shown that the substitution effect leads to deformation (compression) of the lattices of CuCr_{1 − x} V _x S₂ samples without changing their crystallochemical structures and symmetries, but changes their magnetic structures.     

Spectral-luminescent properties of LiRbLa<Subscript>2 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Eu<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript> solid solutions

The luminescent properties of LiRbLa_{2 − x} Eu _x (MoO₄)₄ (x = 0.002, 0.02, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0) solid solutions are investigated under laser excitation {λ_ex = 337.1 nm). It is established that the composition containing 50 at % Eu³⁺ is the brightest of the considered set of phosphors and has the highest quantum yield.     

High-temperature study of SrFe<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mo<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>3−<Emphasis Type="Italic">z</Emphasis></Subscript> perovskites

The structure of high-temperature SrFe_{1 − x} Mo _x O_{3 − z} (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) phases was studied. Such studies are necessary to understand the mechanism of oxygen transport in membrane materials used for high-temperature oxygen separation.     

Magnetostriction of Fe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>S (<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> = 0.27) crystals

The magnetostriction of Fe _x Mn_{1 − x} S (x = 0.27) single crystals in strong magnetic fields up to 120 kOe has been investigated. It has been found that the magnetostriction reaches colossal values (±3 × 10⁻⁴) atypical of compounds of 3d elements. It has been found that the magnetostriction changes sign when varying temperature and magnetic field; this behavior indicates an important role of the spin-phonon interactions in the formation of the magnetic order in solid solutions of iron-manganese sulfides.     

Hall effect in the Ce(Al<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Co<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> heavy-fermion system

The influence of substitution on the binding energy of many-body states and the formation of the magnetically ordered state in a heavy-fermion compound (CeAl₂) have been studied by measuring the transport characteristics (Hall effect, resistivity) in intermetallic compounds of the Ce(Al_1?x M _x )₂ system (M = Ni, Co; x ≤ 0.08). It is established that the Hall coefficient R _H in Ce(Al_1?x Co _x )₂ intermetallides with x = 0.05 and 0.08 grows by more than an order of magnitude as the temperature decreases from 1.8 to 300 K. The experimental data are used to estimate the effective mass of charge carriers, the relaxation time, and the localization radius of many-body states.     

Electronic structure and ground state parameters of Ru<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">Me</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Al refractory alloys

The electronic structure and ground state parameters of B2 RuAl-based refractory alloys have been investigated in the framework of the density functional theory using the exact muffin-tin orbital method in combination with the coherent potential approximation. It has been demonstrated that the number of states at the Fermi level for the Ru_{1 − x} Me _x Al alloys as a function of the alloying metal content has a minimum, which indicates a change in the Fermi surface topology and the presence of specific features in the behavior of elastic constants. It has been concluded that the electronic structure of the alloys can be described in terms of the rigid band model. The nonlinear variations of the lattice parameters of the alloys has been explained.     

Thermal expansion and permittivity of (Ba<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Bi<Subscript>2<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>/3</Subscript>)TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> solid solutions

The strain, the thermal expansion coefficient, and the permittivity of ceramic samples of (Ba_{1 − x} Bi_2x/3)TiO₃ solid solutions with x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, and 0.05 have been studied in the temperature range 120–700 K. Based on an analysis of the results, the temperature-composition phase diagram has been refined, and the temperature dependence of the polarization has been calculated.     

Physical properties of Fe<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Dy<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Si crystals

The results of experimental investigation of magnetic and electric properties of Fe_1?x Dy _x Si crystals are reported. It is shown that the magnitude and position of the anomaly observed in the temperature dependences of magnetization are controlled to a considerable extent by the external magnetic field. It is found that the introduction of Dy ions leads to a weak magnetoresistive effect.     

Electrical conductivity and thermopower in Co<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> Mn<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> S sulfides

This paper reports on the results of investigations into the structural, electrical, and thermoelectrical properties of sulfides Co _x Mn_{1 ? x} S (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) in the temperature range 80–950 K. It is established that the thermopower coefficient α decreases significantly with an increase in the cobalt concentration in the lattice of the α-MnS compound. The Co _x Mn_{1 ? x} S compounds with cobalt concentrations in the range 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3 are semiconductors with hole conduction (α > 0), whereas the compound with x = 0.4 exhibits metallic conduction (α < 0). It is found that the band gap E _g of the compounds under investigation varies in the range from 1.46 eV for α-MnS (x = 0) to 0.26 eV for Co _x Mn_{1 ? x} S (x = 0.4).     

Fabrication and magnetic characterization of Co<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Pt<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> nanowire arrays

Co _x Pt_1−x (x≥0.7) alloy nanowires are grown into self-synthesized anodic alumina templates by electrodeposition. Magnetic and magnetization properties of Co _x Pt_1−x alloy nanowires are measured as functions of wire length, temperature, and field orientation. X-ray diffraction shows that as-prepared CoPt nanowires are of fcc polycrystalline structure. A crossover of easy axis of magnetization is observed from parallel to perpendicular of the nanowire axis as a function of length. The coercivity (H _c) and remanent squareness (SQ) of Co _x Pt_1−x nanowire arrays are derived from hysteresis loops measured at various angles (θ) between the field and wire axis. H _c(θ) and SQ(θ) curves show bell-shaped or otherwise bell-shaped behavior corresponding to the easy axis of their magnetization.     

Short-range order in Fe<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Si<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>=0.05−0.08) alloys with induced magnetic anisotropy

Previously, iron—silicon alloys were investigated using X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. It was demonstrated that, at low silicon concentrations, the alloys undergo a local separation into regions of the α iron phase depleted in silicon and silicon-rich clusters with a B2 ordering. The structure of locally ordered regions of the B2 phase is characterized by a pair ordering of silicon atoms: the Si—Si pairs are formed by next-nearest neighbors, and the axes of pairs are oriented along the 〈100〉 directions, which are the easy-magnetization axes. The thermomagnetic treatment in a constant magnetic field applied along the 〈100〉 axis induces an axial magnetic anisotropy, results in the formation of an anisotropic distribution of the B2 phase, and leads to a slight decrease in the volume fraction of the coordination 6: 2 with two silicon atoms in the first coordination shell of the iron atom. Therefore, the formation of an anisotropic local order of pairs of silicon atoms occurs as a result of their reorientation.     

Analysis of structural defects in the CdSe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>S<Subscript>1 – <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> nanocrystals

Spectral dependence of the absorption coefficient of the CdSe _x S_{1 – x} nanocrystals in silicate glass with different perfections of crystalline lattice is experimentally studied. A dependence of the concentration of defects on the time of thermal processing is obtained. It is demonstrated that the defect elimination results from thermal activation process.     

Higher <Emphasis Type="Italic">η</Emphasis><Subscript>c</Subscript>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">nS</Emphasis>) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">η</Emphasis><Subscript>b</Subscript>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">nS</Emphasis>) mesons

The hyperfine splittings in heavy quarkonia are studied in a model-independent way using experimental data on dielectron widths. Relativistic correlations are taken into account together with the smearing of spin-spin interaction. The radius of smearing is fixed by known G/ψ−η _c(1S), ψ(2S)−η _c′(2S) splittings, which appears to be small, r _ss ≅ 0.06 fm. Nevertheless, even with such a small radius, substantial suppression of hyperfine splittings (∼50%) is observed in bottomonium. For nS b states (n = 1, 2, ..., 6), our predicted splittings (in MeV) are 28, 12, 10, 5, 6, 3. For the 3S and 4S charmonium states, the splittings 16(2) and 12(4) MeV are obtained. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Structure and Curie temperature of Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>17−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Cr<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>

The structures of Y₂Fe_17−x Cr _x are simulated by theab initio potentials. The site preference of Cr atom in Y₂Fe₁₇ is evaluated and the order is determined as 4f, 12j, which is close to the experimental result. Based on the site preference behavior, the calculated parameters and the atom sites of Y-Fe-Cr system are studied. The result corresponds well to observed data. Further, the DOS of the relaxed structures are calculated and the variation in Curie temperature is explained qualitatively by the spin-fluctuation theory.