Acoustic properties of amorphous SiO2 and PdSiCu,and of crystalline Ag,NbTi and Ta at very low temperatures

With the vibrating reed and vibrating wire techniques we have investigated the acoustic properties of vitreous silica (SiO₂, Suprasil I) and of amorphous PdSiCu as well as of polycrystalline Ag, NbTi and Ta at frequencies of 100 Hz/2<6 kHz and at temperatures of 0.1 mKT1 K. The relative change of sound velocity v/v of SiO₂ shows saturation effects, strain amplitude dependence, as well as an unexpected temperature dependence below its maximum atT<50 mK. For PdSiCu we observe that below a certain temperature, which depends on the applied strain, the temperature dependence of the sound velocityv deviates from the logarithmic behavior observed at higher temperatures and reaches an almost constant value atT<1 mK. In the same temperature rangeQ ^–1 does not remain constant but steadily decreases. The acoustic properties of the two amorphous materials at finite strain show substantial deviations from the standard tunneling model. Some of the observed anomalies can be explained taking into account the change of population of the tunneling systems energy states and a nonlinear relaxation absorption. For polycrystalline Ag we find v/v lnT andQ ^–1T ^1/3 over three decades inT atT<100 mK; it shows low-temperature acoustic properties which are strikingly similar to those of amorphous materials. The temperature and strain dependencies of the acoustic properties of polycrystalline superconducting NbTi and Ta resemble those obtained for SiO₂. These results indicate that there are basically no differences in the low-temperature acoustic properties of polycrystals and amorphous materials.     

Competing models for the relaxation of tunneling and paramagnetic defects

The phonon-assisted tunneling problem (which to a large degree is isomorphic to the phonon-assisted paramagnetic relaxation problem) is handled by means of unitary exponential transformations.In view of the hierarchical possibilities for the 3 Hamiltonian constituents (phonons, bare tunneling, coupling) there are 4 fundamental exponential transformations. These are discussed. Further, an exactly solvable model is studied. Finally, the underlying Fano problem is investigated by means of an exactly solvable model. It is found that a) the reduction of the tunneling frequency is modified by those lattice modes which lie below the bare tunneling splitting (there even may be an increase of); b) there may be more than a single relaxation path; c) there may be a relaxation process which approximately does not depend on at all; in this mechanism the tunneling behaviour is transferred to the phonon system.     

Measurement of the reaction γp → K0Σat photon energies up to 2.6 GeV⋆

The reaction p K⁰⁺ was measured in the photon energy range from threshold up to 2.6 GeV with the SAPHIR detector at the electron stretcher facility, ELSA, in Bonn. Results are presented on the reaction cross-section and the polarization of the ⁺ as a function of the kaon production angle in the centre-of-mass system, cos^c.m._K, and the photon energy. The cross-section is lower and varies less with photon energy and kaon production angle than that of p K⁺⁰. The ⁺ is polarized predominantly at cos^c.m._K 0. The data presented here are more precise than previous ones obtained with SAPHIR and extend the photon energy range to higher values. They are compared to isobar model calculations.     

The theory of neutron scattering from mixed harmonic solids

In the intermediate valent cerium alloys Ce_1–xY_xPd₃, Ce(Pd_1–xRh_x)₃ and Ce(Pd_1–xAg_x)₃ the Gd³⁺-ESR shows a non-linear increase of the linewidth H(T) in the temperature range 4.2KT300K. The deviation from the linear Korringa law can be described by a reduced conduction electron density of states at the Gd site (which is a Ce lattice site) in the energy range E _4f (=width of the Ce 4f states). This supposition allows a determination of E _4f from the H(T)-data. For CePd₃:Gd³⁺ we find E _4f=(650±100) K. E _4f increases with Y- and Rh-concentration and decreases with Ag-concentration.     

Equations for the Magnetization Modes in a System Having a Quadruple Nucleus with the Spin S = 1

Within the framework of the method of a density matrix, differential equations are obtained that describe the evolution of the modes of magnetization <Î₊>, <Î_{+ z} >, and <Î_{+ z} ²> for a spin system containing a nucleus with a 1/2 spin connected scalarly with the quadruple nucleus of the spin S = 1 in the presence of crosscorrelation between the dipole ISinteractions, anisotropy of the chemical shift of the I and S nuclei, and quadruple interaction of the S nucleus. The equations are used for analysis of the evolution of the intensities of each line in the triplet of the Raman spectrum of the 1/2 spin. Expressions for the times of crossrelaxation and the times of transverse relaxation of each of the lines of the triplet are obtained.     

On interpretation of EPR spectrum of free radicals in γ-irradiated methanol

Some authors interpret the EPR spectrum in-irradiated methanol at 77K either by the radical H₂OH or by ⁺ H₂. In order to contribute to this question we have calculated the values of the hyperfine splitting constants of this EPR spectrum as a function of the valence angle H-C-H in a CH₂ fragment. The comparison of the experimental and calculated values of the hyperfine splitting constant and a discussion of the possible valence angles leads us to the conclusion that the EPR spectrum in irradiated methanol originates from the radical H₂OH.The author thanks J. Teplý for valuable remarks which helped this work.     

Motion of vortex lines and mutual friction in superfluid4He nearT λ

The motion of a single vortex line in superfluid⁴He nearT is studied within modelF. The linear response of the vortex-line velocityv _L to a homogeneous counterflowv _s –v _n is calculated up to lowest order of renormalized perturbation theory. The critical temperature dependence is taken into account via the renormalizationgroup theory. Non-asymptotic critical effects are found to be important. The results are generalized to describe collective vortex motion and mutual friction in rotating superfluid⁴He. The phenomenological mutual-friction coefficientsB andB of Hall and Vinen are determined without adjustment of parameters. ForB quantitative agreement with experiments nearT is found whereas forB the agreement is only semiquantiative.     

Über dieKα-Satelliten von Fluor in Lithiumfluorid

Using a focussing crystal spectrometer with photoelectric registration theK-emission spectrum of fluorine in solid lithium fluoride (=18.3 Å) was studied. If the spectrum is excited by Co or CuL-radiation or bremsstrahlung of a W-target the satellitesK ₃ andK ₄ appear with considerable intensity, whereas they appear only faintly ifL-radiation of Fe is used for excitation. In agreement with these observations the calculated threshold energies of the satellites are near the photon energy of FeL _{1, 2}. The measured energies of the components agree with values obtained from the energies of the singly and doubly ionized F^– ion as calculated by means of optical data. The results show that the satellitesK ₃ andK ₄ in the spectrum of fluorine in solid LiF correspond to transitions in the doubly ionized F^–-ion.     

Magnetic and electric hyperfine interactions in the system EuSm

Magnetic and electric hyperfine interactions in the system EuSm were investigated with the isomeric 11/2^– state in¹⁴⁵Eu by applying the time-differential perturbed angular distribution (TDPAD) method. The temperature dependence of paramagnetism was studied between 90 K and 1000 K by measuring the magnetic hyperfine interaction frequency _L=g_NN¹ (T)B_ext. The paramagnetic correction factor strictly follows the Curie-Weiss relation =1+C/(T-), withC=–50(2) K and =–29(5) K. This is compatible with a hyperfine field ofB _int(0)=–25(1) T, a valence of two for Eu in Sm, and antiferromagnetic order at low temperatures.The temperature dependence of the electric quandrupole coupling constant v_Q, investigated between 100 K and 400 K, can be reproduced by a linear temperature variation v_Q(T)=v_Q(0) (1-AT), with v_Q(0)=16.2(4) MHz andA=7.2(8)·10^–4 K^–1.The paramagnetic relaxation time _rel of the nuclear alignment is proportional to the temperature of the sample, with _rel T^–1=3.7(2) ·10^–9s K^–1.This leads to the Korringa relation _J T=const=5.1(5)·10^–11s K for the relaxation time of the 4f electronic spinJ. Assuming that the relaxation ofJ is mainly caused by exchange interaction between conduction electrons and localized 4f electrons at the Eu site, an exchange integral of |J _eff|=0.10(2) eV can be deduced.     

Estimates of general Mayer graphs. II. Long-range behavior of graphs with two root points occurring in the theory of ionized systems

We find the asymptotic behavior of general Mayer 2-graphs (Mayer graphs with two root points), which occur in the theory of ionized systems. This problem arises when one wants to compute corrections to the Debye length for large values of the plasma parameter. For a given 2-graph (r) with Debye-Hückel linese ^– /r, we prove the inequalitiesC _m r ^– e ^– (r) (r ₀)C_Mr^3k–l e ^– , for anyrr ₀, and whereC _m andC _M are positive and finite constants which depend only on . These bounds are finite whenever (r) is not infinite everywhere. The integersl, k, and denote, respectively, the number of lines of the graph , its number of field points, and its local line connectivity (the maximum number of chains linking the root points, which have no line in common). From this result, we deduce that the simple irreducible 2-graphs dominant at large distances decay exponentially likee ^– and have an isthmus between the root points (an isthmus is a line whose deletion separates the graph into two disjoint components, each one containing a root point). We prove also that 2-graphs that have a number of linesl > 3k+ are infinite. We exhibit simple, irreducible prototypes satisfying this condition, for anyk 6. This implies that the Abe-Meeron theory of ionized gases as applied to a classical plasma is not free from divergences. Finally, we extend the preceding results to 2-graphs with lines F_L=(e ^– /r)^k L, withk _L real positive. We prove that they still decay exponentially likee ^– , where is now the maximal flow in a network associated to by assigning the capacityk _L to each lineL.     

Structural relaxation effects on the low-temperature properties of vitreous silica

Measurements of the low-temperature specific heatC and thermal conductivity of vitreous silica after heat treatment at temperaturesT _a between 900°C and 1,400°C are reported. A decrease ofC and an increase of are observed over the whole temperature range studied (C0.06K<T<6K; 0.5 K<T<20 K). Below 1 K the changes inC and (10%) are attributed to a dependence of the density of tunneling states on the fictive temperature. Measurements of the thermal conductivity show that these changes are reversible, thus strongly supporting the evidence for a connection between the tunneling states and the quasi-equilibrium state which is frozen in when an undercooled liquid drops out of thermal equilibrium. Our results are compared to predictions of the free-volume theory of the glass transition. At higher temperaturesC decreases by roughly the same amount as below 1 K while increases by up to 30%. The dependence ofC and onT _a cannot be explained unambigously in terms of a phonon-fraction crossover in the vibrational density of states. Instead, a recently proposed model of coupled SiO₄ rotations is favored.Dedicated to B. Mühlschlegel on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Statistical mechanics of the isothermal lane-emden equation

For classical point particles in a box with potential energy H^(N)=N ^–1(1/2) _ij=1 ^N V(x _i,x _j) we investigate the canonical ensemble for largeN. We prove that asN the correlation functions are determined by the global minima of a certain free energy functional. Locally the distribution of particles is given by a superposition of Poisson fields. We study the particular case =[–L, L] andV(x, y)=}- cos(x–y),L}>0, }>0.References     

An inequality for partition functions with disturbed Hamiltonians

We consider a thermodynamic system consisting ofn independent subsystems. Each subsystem is described by a HamiltonianH=H ₀+ ⁱ H ₁,i=1, 2,...,n. We answer the question of how the entirety=( ¹, ²,..., ⁿ ) must be varied in order to change the total partition function and the total free energy of the system monotonically.     

Optical properties of CdIn2Se4 thin films

The optical constants (the refractive index n, the absorption index k, and the absorption coefficient ) of CdIn₂Se₄ thin films were determined in the spectral range of 500–2000 nm. Graphical representation of log() as a function of log(1/) shows two distinct, linear parts indicating the existance of both direct and indirect optical transitions. The corresponding forbidden energy gaps E _g ^d and E _g ^Emphasis>d were determined. The effect of both annealing temperature as well as the substrate temperature on the optical constants of CdIn₂Se₄ thin films was also investigated.     

Thermal expansion,sound velocities,specific heat and pressure derivative ofT c in YBa2Cu3O7

We report measurements, between helium and room temperature, of the thermal expansion (T), sound velocitiesv _L (T) andv _T (v) and specific heatC(T) of YBa₂Cu₃O₇ samples, all cut from the same sintered pellet. A linear term in (T) is resolved at low temperatures. It is compared with a corresponding term in the low temperature specific heat and, using the bulk modulus from our sound propagation measurements, a Grüneisen parameter of usual size (1.2±0.4) is derived-in conformity with the possible existence of non-superconducting carriers well belowT _c . Longtime drift effects in the length of the sample between 30 K and 60 K point to the vicinity of a structural instability. The Debye temperature derived fromC(T) amounts to about 450 K atT=T _c =91 K and forT0 approaches 350 K, in agreement with the value deduced fromv _L (T) andv _T (T). The superconducting transition is indicated by anomalies with idealized discontinuities and C. A thermodynamic relation between and C yields the relative pressure derivative ofT _c ,t _p =T _c ^–1 (T _c /p) _p0=+(0.7±0.2)·10^–7 kbar^–1.     

A Double Infinity of Oscillator Massless Boson Resonances

In the simplest coupling of a harmonic oscillator with a massless boson field, we show that a family of coupling functions leads to resonances or bound-states of the form E _{n1 n0}()=n ₁ z ₁()+n ₀ z ₀(), where z ₁(), z ₀() are in and n ₁, n ₀ are any nonnegative integers. This holds for arbitrary values of the coupling constant.     

Theory of Raman scattering and infrared absorption by interacting phonon-magnon states in FeF2

It is shown theoretically that, in the presence of a strong magnetic field, effects due to the interaction betweenB _1g ,E _g,TA phonons and magnons should be important in the Raman and infrared absorption spectrum of FeF₂. As a result the two magnon line should split. A microscopic Hamiltonian for the interactions has been derived. The calculated values of theE _g phonon-one magnon interaction, 9.9 cm^–1, and of theB _1g phonon-two magnon coupling, 6.3 cm^–1, are comparable to those in FeCl₂2H₂O metamagnet, in which C phonon-magnon hybrydization has been observed [1]. It is shown that hybridization between two magnon andB _1g orTA phonon can occur in FeF₂ if the magnon energy approaches the phonon energy due to increasing magnetic field or increasing temperature.On the leave from Technical University, Pozna, Institute of Physics, Pozna 61–138 Piotrowo 3, Poland     

On the pointwise behavior of semi-classical measures

In this paper we concern ourselves with the small asymptotics of the inner products of the eigenfunctions of a Schrödinger-type operator with a coherent state. More precisely, let _j and E _j denote the eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of a Schrödinger-type operator H with discrete spectrum. Let _(x,) be a coherent state centered at the point (x, ) in phase space. We estimate as 0 the averages of the squares of the inner products ( _a ^(x,) , _j ) over an energy interval of size around a fixed energy, E. This follows from asymptotic expansions of the form for certain test function and Schwartz amplitudes a of the coherent state. We compute the leading coefficient in the expansion, which depends on whether the classical trajectory through (x, ) is periodic or not. In the periodic case the iterates of the trajectory contribute to the leading coefficient. We also discuss the case of the Laplacian on a compact Riemannian manifold.Research supported in part by NSF grant DMS-9303778