Commensurate incommensurate phase transitions

there are two types of Commensurate-Incommensurate Phase Transitions : t_I between the basic structure and the incommensurate phasis and t_L between the inc. phasis and the lock in phasis. They both have connected structures. So that, they must verify the relation between crystallographic groups in accordance with Landau's Theory. But we have to consider the three phases in the superspace - as we do at an ordered-disordered magnetic transition-because the inc. phasis ins't a crystal in the physical space; e.g., in order to cancel the “middle range order” of the inc. phasis at t_I, we are led to assume the grey (point) group to the basic structure in the superspace. Now both inc. phase and basic structure verify the connection between point-groups in the superspace in the same way as both para and ferro phases do at a ferroic transition in the physical space. We also show that the same type of relation is possible at t_L and we give the order parameter at both t_I and t_L.     

Isostructural phase transitions in solids

A model of electrons interacting with lattice vibrations is shown to exhibit an isostructural phase transition as a function of applied force by relating the Hamiltonian to that of an Ising model in magnetic field.     

Magnetic resonance and relaxation in structurally incommensurate systems

The present state of theoretical and experimental magnetic resonance investigations of structurally incommensurate systems is reviewed. The magnetic resonance lineshapes and the temperature and frequency dependences of the spin-lattice relaxation rates are evaluated in the plane wave and multisoliton limits. In contrast to translationally periodic systems, the spin-lattice relaxation rate is shown to vary over the incommensurate resonance line and is determined by phason and amplitudon fluctuations. The variation of the relaxation rate over the incommensurate line allows for a separate determination of the amplitudon and phason contributions as well as a discrimination between direct and Raman processes. The results further demonstrate that the soliton width is large as compared to the intersoliton spacing over most of the incommensurate phase.     

Magnetic field induced incommensurate resonance in cuprate superconductors

The influence of a uniform external magnetic field on the dynamical spin response of cuprate superconductors in the superconducting state is studied based on the kinetic energy driven superconducting mechanism. It is shown that the magnetic scattering around low and intermediate energies is dramatically changed with a modest external magnetic field. With increasing the external magnetic field, although the incommensurate magnetic scattering from both low and high energies is rather robust, the commensurate magnetic resonance scattering peak is broadened. The part of the spin excitation dispersion seems to be an hourglass-like dispersion, which breaks down at the heavily low energy regime. The theory also predicts that the commensurate resonance scattering at zero external magnetic field is induced into the incommensurate resonance scattering by applying an external magnetic field large enough.     

Photopyroelectric detection of phase transitions in solids

The recently developed photopyroelectric spectroscopy (P²ES) has been used to investigate phase transitions in solids. In our variable temperature experiments, specific heat curves for Rochelle Salt and V₂O₄ powders were obtained and found in good agreement with results obtained previously via more experimentally involved methods.     

Structural phase transitions in ionic molecular solids

An overview is presented of our studies on the nature of structural instabilities in relatively complex ionic solids. These are based on parameter-free interionic potentials based on the Gordon-Kim modified electron gas formalism extended to molecular ions.

We describe the manner in which there emerge from these studies quite general concepts of “size” and “shape” as structural determinants. In particular, we discuss how these, and the approximate symmetries that they can produce, can provide a relatively simple structure-based explanation of the origins of incommensurate phases in these systems. However, we also emphasize that the existence of such symmetries does not guarantee an incommensurate phase. This can only be realized if long-range correlations are sufficiently strong to overcome random local disordering. Thus, either the molecular units are partially linked and/or there exist long-range Coulomb interactions between individual units.     

Magnetic phase transitions in garnets

The phenomenological theory broadly applicable to magnetic transitions in ferrimagnetic garnets is discussed briefly. The experimental techniques, particularly nuclear magnetic resonance and Mössbauer effect spectroscopy, are then reviewed. Finally, there is a review of the results on specific garnets which undergo such transitions. Some remaining problems are pointed out.     

磁性量子相变

量子相变广泛存在于关联电子材料体系中,与非常规超导和奇异金属行为有着紧密的联系。近年来,人们对量子相变的认识正在不断深入,不同类型的量子相变相继被发现。揭示量子相变的普适分类,发展和完善量子相变理论,探索量子临界点附近的呈展量子态及其产生机理是当前量子相变研究的热点。文章简要介绍磁性量子相变的一些最新研究进展以及面临的挑战。     

Magnetic phase transitions in nanoclusters and nanostructures

Four nanosystems possessing the first order magnetic phase transitions (FOMPT) are considered: (1) isolated iron oxide nanoclusters, (2) iron oxide nanostructures in the beginning of sintering, (3) nanostructures induced by shear stress under high-pressure action, (4) ordered iron oxide nanostructures. The thermodynamic models for FOMPT appearance and cluster critical size are proposed. The role of surface tension, defect density and nanocluster organization are discussed.     

Magnetic phase transitions in TbAuIn compound

Magnetic properties of frustrated antiferromagnet TbAuIn are investigated by AC susceptibility, resistivity as well as specific heat measurements. In temperature dependence of the susceptibility two anomalies are visible, one at 33 K and another at 48 K. According to neutron diffraction studies the Néel temperature is 35 K. The second anomaly in the AC susceptibility seems to be attributed to antiferromagnetic cluster-glass state of Tb magnetic moments. The resistivity measurements confirm that TbAuIn exhibits long-range magnetic order below 35 K, moreover they reveal an anomalous behaviour above that temperature. However in the temperature dependence of the specific heat only one anomaly at 30 K is visible. The low temperature behaviour of susceptibility, resistivity and specific heat of the investigated antiferromagnetic material can be described, with a good accuracy, within the spin-wave theory with linear dispersion relation.     

Magnetic resonance studies of dissolving particulate solids

Magnetic resonance methods have been used to elucidate the internal pore structure of particulate solids, in particular detergent tablets. Such information is essential to a comprehensive understanding of the dissolution characteristics of these materials and how this property is related to processing conditions during tablet formation. In particular 3-D images of porosity are produced and 2-D self-diffusion maps are acquired as a function of observation time, which enables pore size to be quantified as a function of position via the extracted surface-to-volume ratio of the pore space. These properties are determined as a function of processing parameters, in particular the compression force used in tablet formation.     

Peierls and spin-Peierls phase transitions in structurally unstable quasi-one-dimensional solids

The Peierls and spin-Peierls phase transitions are studied in solids in which a structural instability is already present. It is found that the presence of this intrinsic mode can increase considerably the critical temperature. For small values of the critical temperature, the transition is of the BCS-type, like the Peierls (or spin-Peierls) phase transition, but with an effective electron (or spin)-phonon coupling constant renormalized by the anharmonicity and by the instability of the phonon. Numerical results are also presented for larger critical temperatures. Then the BCS behaviour is no longer observed.