Quasi-one-dimensional spin chains in CuSiO3: an EPR study

Temperature-dependent electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies were performed on CuSiO₃. This recently discovered compound is isostructural with the spin-Peierls compound CuGeO₃. The EPR signals show characteristics different from those of CuGeO₃ and are due to Cu²⁺ spins located along quasi one-dimensional chains. ForT>8.2 K the spin susceptibility closely follows the predictions of anS=1/2 one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet withJ/k _B=21 K. BelowT=8.2 K the spin susceptibility immediately drops to zero indicating long-range magnetic order.     

Anomalous thermal conductivity of single crystal Cu2Te2O5Cl2

A strong increase of the thermal conductivity is observed at the phase transition (T _c=18.2 K) in Cu₂Te₂O₅Cl₂ single crystal. This behavior is compared with that of the spin-Peierls system NaV₂O₅, where a similar experimental observation has been made, and the conventional spin-Peierls system CuGeO₃, where a modest kink in the thermal conductivity curve has been observed. The strong increase of the thermal conductivity atT _c in Cu₂Te₂O₅Cl₂ could be partially attributed to the opening of the energy gap in the magnetic excitation spectrum evident from the magnetic susceptibility measurements. However, the main reason for the anomaly of the thermal conductivity could be explained by a strong spin-lattice coupling in this system, which what is in agreement with the preliminary X-band electron spin resonance measurement.     

Spin dynamics in CuGeO3 studied by muon spin rotation

We report a muon spin rotation (SR) study of the magnetic properties of the Cu²⁺ quasi-one-dimensional CuGeO₃ system and its lightly-doped derivative Cu_0.97Zn_0.03GeO₃. Susceptibility measurements on CuGeO₃ show a sudden change in the vicinity of 14 K that has been interpreted before as a magnetic transition to a spin-Peierls state. SR shows no evidence of spin freezing below 14 K, implying that the transition is to a magnetic state with no static (random or ordered) electronic moments. A modest slowing down of the electronic spin dynamics is also identified at this temperature. Similarly, no evidence of a transition to a static magnetic state is found for Cu_0.97Zn_0.03GeO₃ whose susceptibility shows hysteretic behaviour between zero-field and field cooled measurements at 4 K, previously ascribed to spinglass-like behaviour. Given the nature of the muon spin as a local magnetic probe, the present results necessitate a re-interpretation of the origin of the susceptibility anomaly observed in the doped system.     

Specific heat of the spin-Peierls compound CuGeO3

The specific heat of the quasi-onedimensional magnetic compound CuGeO₃ shows a sharp anomaly at the spin-Peierls transition temperatureT _sp . The experimental decrease of the magnetic specific heat belowT _sp indicates the presence of a spin gap as observed previously with inelastic neutron scattering. A magnetic field of 6T suppressesT _sp only slightly but reduces the spin gap by a factor of two.     

Model of current and optical conductivity switching in YBa2Cu3O7−x films

A model is proposed for the thermal and electrical responses of films of the high-T _c superconducting material YBa₂Cu₃O7_7−x to current and optical pulses. Numerical calculations are compared with experimental data for current pulses of duration 100 μs and laser pulses of duration 0.1 ns; this yields improved data on the thermal conductivity of thin YBa₂Cu₃O7_7−x films (1.5–2 W/m·K) and thermal resistance of the film-substrate contact (5×10⁻⁸m²·K/W) in the neighborhood of the superconducting transition. This model can be used for optimizing the film structure parameters and control regimes for switching elements for pulses lasting longer than 0.1 ns. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 77–82 (October 1999)     

Magnetic resonance in pure and diamagnetically diluted spin-Peierls CuGeO3

Magnetic resonance at frequencies 22–75 GHz is investigated in pure single-crystalline CuGeO₃ in the temperature range 1.2–25 K. At temperatures below 4 K the magnetic resonance line splits into four spectral components. The line close to the ESR of the paramagnetic phase is associated with impurities or defects. The other three lines have the same intensity in different samples and are apparently characteristic for pure single crystals at low temperature. An antiferromagnetic resonance with two resonance absorption branches and a spectrum characteristic for an antiferromagnet with easy, average, and hard anisotropy axes was observed and investigated in the Néel compound Cu_0.98Zn_0.02GeO₃ with diamagnetic dilution of the spin subsystem. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 64, No. 4, 277–282 (25 August 1996)     

Cu-isotope effect on the spin-Peierls transition of CuGeO3

The Cu-isotope effect on the spin-Peierls transition temperature T _SP in samples of the Cu²⁺ linear-chain compound CuGeO₃ has been determined by dc-magneticsusceptibility and specific-heat measurements. A downshift of the spin-Peierls transition by about 0.1 K for the ⁶⁵Cu-isotope enriched ⁶⁵CuGeO₃ as compared to ^natCuGeO₃ containing the natural mixture of isotopes is found consistently in the magnetization and specific heat. This result suggests different isotope effects on the phonon characteristic frequency θ₀ on the one hand and on the spin-phonon coupling constant g on the other hand. However, the isotope effect on T _SP is smaller than estimated if all atoms were to contribute to ω₀ and only the Cu atoms to g.     

Abnormal thermal conductivity of [720]‐oriented BaTiO3 single crystal

The 3ω ‐scanning thermal microscopy and piezoresponse force microscopy techniques were combined to characterize the local thermal conductivity (λ) of ferroelastic domains in [720]‐oriented and [001]‐oriented BaTiO₃ single crystal. The [720]‐oriented BaTiO₃ showed a local λ value of 3.39 W/m·K, while it was 5.95 W/m·K for [001]‐oriented BaTiO₃. The underlying mechanism for such drastic thermal conductivity reduction in [720]‐oriented BaTiO₃ is ascribed to a stronger phonon‐scattering effect due to the high strains appearing in [720]‐oriented BaTiO₃ single crystals. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Magnetic resonance of intrinsic defects in the spin-Peierls magnet CuGeO3

Magnetic resonance in pure single-crystal CuGeO₃ at frequencies 9–75 GHz in the temperature range 1.2–25 K is investigated. Splitting of the magnetic-resonance line into several spectral components is observed at temperatures below 5 K, where spin-Peierls dimerization suppresses the magnetic susceptibility and the ESR signal intensity. Analysis of the magnetic resonance spectra over a wide frequency range with different directions of the magnetic field at different temperatures makes it possible to identify among these components the ESR signals due to defects, having effective spin S=1/2 and spin S=1, in the spin-Peierls phase. The g factor corresponding to these ESR signals is the same and close to the value characteristic for the ion Cu²⁺. Another magnetic-resonance line is characterized by a strongly anisotropic g factor and an increase (at a threshold in the excitation power) in the susceptibility both at resonance and in the line wings. These signals are tentatively attributed to two possible types of planar defects arising on the walls of domains of the spin-Peierls state with different values of the dimerization phase. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 114, 1876–1896 (November 1998)     

Thermal conductivity of nitrogen in the temperature range 350–2500 K

The thermal conductivity of nitrogen is determined in a conductivity column instrument in the temperature range of 338 to 2518 K with an estimated uncertainty of about ± 1·5 per cent. The experimental data points are correlated by a cubic polynomial in temperature, viz. k(T)/(mW m^-1 K^-1) = 12·18 + 0·05224(T/K) - 0·6482 × 10^-6(T/K)² - 0·2765 × 10^-9(T/K)³. These conductivity values determined from heat transfer data taken in the continuum regime are found to be in fair agreement with the values obtained from similar data referring to low pressure range.

The present results are compared with the conductivity determinations of other workers and with the predictions of various theories developed for polyatomic gases. It is pointed out that a reliable calculation of thermal conductivity over an extended temperature range is impossible at the present time due to the absence of a large variety of experimental molecular data needed for such an effort. Average values of the vibrational energy diffusion coefficient, D _vib, are computed from the present k(T) data.     

ESR millimeter-band spectroscopy of magnetic ordering in the low-dimensional magnet CuGeO3

Resonant absorption of microwaves in CuGeO₃ single crystals in a frequency band of 40 to 120 GHz, in magnetic field B⩽15 T, at temperatures ranging between 0.5 and 300 K, and in the configuration B∥a has been investigated. Several absorption lines (S ₀, S _a, and S _b) whose parameters strongly depend on temperature have been detected close to ESR. The temperature dependence of the total absorption in the main line S ₀ with the Landé g-factor g ₀=2.154 at temperatures above the spin-Peierls transition temperature is in good agreement with Bonner and Fisher’s theoretical prediction for a one-dimensional Heisenberg spin chain. In addition to the main resonance, a resonance of smaller amplitude, S _a, with the g-factor g _a=2.72 has been detected at temperatures ranging down to a characteristic temperature T≃1 K, below which the amplitude of this feature drops to zero. A radical restructuring of the magnetoabsorption spectrum occurs at the temperature of the spin-Peierls transition T _SP≈14 K. At T<12 K new features emerge in the spectrum, namely, a broad absorption line overlapping with the narrow lines S ₀ and S _a, and a line S _b with g _b=1.83, which is not detected at temperatures above T _SP. An analysis of amplitudes and total absorption of ESR lines as functions of temperature has shown that the temperature range below 1 K is anomalous, which may be caused by an additional ordering in the CuGeO₃ magnetic subsystem at low temperatures. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 112, 1727–1738 (November 1997)     

Mössbauer study of Fe‐doped CuGeO3 system Cu0.9Ge0.9Fe0.2O3

The Fe‐doped system Cu_0.9Ge_0.9Fe_0.2O₃ has been investigated by means of X‐ray diffractometry, Mössbauer spectroscopy and superconducting quantum interference device. The structure of this system is orthorhombic and the lattice constants are a=4.784 Å, b=8.472 Å and c=2.904 Å, respectively. Magnetic measurements confirm that the spin‐Peierls transition appears in our sample at about 12 K, which is near to the spin‐Peierls transition temperature (T _sp) 14 K of pure CuGeO₃ system. The Mössbauer spectrum shows the superposition of two Zeeman sextets and a broad central line due to Fe³⁺ ions from room temperature to 4.2 K. The Mössbauer parameters show a discontinuity near T _sp. The jump of the magnetic hyperfine field at temperatures lower than T _sp means increasing of the superexchange interaction among the magnetic ions. The jump of the quadrupole splitting and the isomer shift values could be interpreted as due to decrement in symmetry of lattice sites and spontaneous thermal contraction.     

Microwave EPR spectroscopy of cobalt-doped germanium cuprate

Resonance magnetoabsorption spectra of CuGeO₃ single crystals containing 2% Co impurity have been studied in the frequency range 60–360 GHz in magnetic fields of up to 16 T and in the temperature interval 2–60 K with the magnetic field B aligned parallel to the a crystallographic axis. In addition to the Cu²⁺ chain resonance, a new absorption line (unobserved previously in doped CuGeO₃ and deriving apparently from the Co²⁺ ions) was detected in EPR spectra. Quantitative analysis of the spectra suggests that the spin-Peierls transition occurs in about 10% Cu²⁺ chains, while the spin-Peierls state in the remaining 90% chains is completely destroyed by cobalt doping. The results obtained reveal considerable deviations from the universally accepted scenario of CuGeO₃ doping and are discussed within alternative theoretical models, namely, the quantum critical behavior (based on the EPR theory for quasi-one-dimensional systems) and a three-dimensional antiferromagnet with the Néel temperature lowered by disorder.     

Magnetostriction of the spin-Peierls compound CuGeO3

The longitudinal and transverse magnetostriction λ of the spin-Peierls compound CuGeO₃ in the b-c plane is measured in magnetic fields up to 20 T both above and below the transition temperature T _sp=14.3K. It is found that for a given crystallographic direction the value of magnetostriction is weakly dependent on the magnetic field direction. In the uniform U phase at T⩾T _sp, λ is negative and approximately equal in the b and c directions, while in the dimerized D phase at T<T _sp, λ is positive and λ _b >λ _c . At low temperatures, λ increases sharply at the magnetic-field-induced transition from the dimerized to the magnetic M phase. The experimental data allow estimation of the stress derivatives of the antiferromagnetic intrachain exchange interaction parameter and of the stress dependence of the critical field of the D-Mphase transition. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 64, No. 3, 156–159 (10 August 1996) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

Thermal conductivity of crystalline fullerite C60 in the simple cubic phase

The behavior of the thermal conductivity k(T) of bulk faceted fullerite C₆₀ crystals is investigated at temperatures T=8–220 K. The samples are prepared by the gas-transport method from pure C₆₀, containing less than 0.01% impurities. It is found that as the temperature decreases, the thermal conductivity of the crystal increases, reaches a maximum at T=15–20 K, and drops by a factor of ∼2, proportional to the change in the specific heat, on cooling to 8 K. The effective phonon mean free path λ _p, estimated from the thermal conductivity and known from the published values of the specific heat of fullerite, is comparable to the lattice constant of the crystal λ _p∼d=1.4 nm at temperatures T>200 K and reaches values λ_p∼50d at T<15 K, i.e., the maximum phonon ranges are limited by scattering on defects in the volume of the sample in the simple cubic phase. In the range T=25−75 K the observed temperature dependence k(T) can be described by the expression k(T)∼exp(Θ/bT), characteristic for the behavior of the thermal conductivity of perfect nonconducting crystals at temperatures below the Debye temperature Θ (Θ=80 K in fullerite), where umklapp phonon-phonon scattering processes predominate in the volume of the sample. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 65, No. 8, 651–656 (25 April 1997)     

Thermal conductivity and expansion of PbF2 single crystals

In order to check a phenomenon of the negative correlation between ionic and thermal conductivities of solid substances, we studied the thermal conductivity and expansion of cubic PbF₂ single crystals at 50–300 and 5.6–317 K, respectively. We found that lead difluoride had a thermal expansion coefficient α that was equal to (28.5 ± 0.3)10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ at 300 K, and a thermal conductivity coefficient k(T) was equal to 1.40 ± 0.07 W/(m K) at the same temperature. Thus, the thermal conductivity for PbF₂ is the lowest among fluorite-type MF₂ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba, Cd, Pb) thermal conductivities, whereas its fluoride-ion conductivity is the highest one among MF₂ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba, Cd, Pb) ionic conductors.

     

Paramagnetism in Cu-doped ZnO

Zn0.98 Cu0.02 O powders are prepared by the sol-gel method.A small number of CuO impurity phases are observed by the x-ray diffraction,indicating the solubility of Cu in ZnO is less than 2 at.%.The Zn0.98 Cu0.02 O powders exhibit diamagnetism at 300 K and paramagnetism at 5 K.After subtracting the diamagnetic contribution of ZnO bulk and the paramagnetic contribution of defects,Cu ions exhibit weak paramagnetism.By codoping Cu with Co or Mn in ZnO,only paramagnetism is observed at room temperature.     

Submillimeter wave esr and far infrared spectroscopy measurements of CuGeO3

Submillimeter wave ESR and far infrared transmission measurements of first inorganic spin-Peierls system CuGeO₃ have been performed using the single crystals. Our new results are discussed in connection with the magnetic properties of the spin-Peierls systems and the recent neutron measurements of CuGeO₃.     

Magnetic Phase Transitions in Substituted Spinels of Zn1−x Cu χ Cr2 Se4; 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3

Magnetic and crystallographic properties have been studied by neutron powder diffraction and measurements of magnetization and magnetization hysteresis-loops for substituted spinels of Zn_1?xCu_xCr₂Se₄ with 0.0≤x≤0.3. It is found that the Zn_0.85Cu_0.15Cr₂Se₄ spinel has two magnetic phase transitions at 23.0 K (Néel temperature; T _N) and 410 K (Curie temperature; T _C) and that the Zn_0.70Cu_0.30Cr₂Se₄ spinel has magnetic transitions at 24.5 K (T _N) and 415 K (T _C) on heating. The low-temperature magnetic phase transition is from a spiral antiferromagnet to a ferromagnet, and the high-temperature magnetic phase transition is from a ferromagnet to a paramagnet, while ZnCr₂Se₄ shows a magnetic phase transition only from a spiral antiferromagnet to a paramagnet at about 21.0 K. From neutron powder diffraction, it is also found that the spinels of Zn_1?x Cu _x Cr₂Se₄; 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3. show satellite-like magnetic reflection having indexes (h ± Q, k, l) with Q = 0.470 below T _N and short-range order of spins (spin glass-like) above T _N. The incommensurate antiferromagnetic phase below T _N results from a spiral long-range order of the spins of Cr³⁺. The intermediate ferromagnetic phase between T _N and T _C is related not to the spiral spin order but to double-exchange magnetic interaction among Cr³⁺ and Cr⁴⁺ mediated by current carriers, positive holes, which is made by the substitution of Zn²⁺ ions with Cu¹⁺ ions in Zn_1?x Cu _x Cr₂Se₄.