Dipole co-operative motions in an A-type carbonated apatite,Sr10(AsO4)6CO3

Relaxation of reorientable electric dipoles in A -type carbonated strontium arsenate, an apatite, has been studied with the thermally stimulated currents method. The fractional polarization technique permitted registration, in the range 9–428 K, of a separate current vs temperature curve for each small range of dipole-reorientation activation energies. Interpretation of these on a simple Debye model revealed four compensation temperatures, −100, 175, 392 and 573°C, with associated relaxation times τ_c = 2 × 10⁻⁶, 9 × 10⁻⁷, 2 × 10⁻⁶, and 1 × 10⁻⁵s, respectively. It is proposed that (1) the reorientable dipoles are primarily carbonate ions, and that (2) the co-operative phenomena associated with the 175°C and 392dgC temperatures are, respectively, a quasi-statically stabilized monoclinic-to-hexagonal phase transition and the onset of dynamical stabilization of the hexagonal phase.     

Measurement of the D0, D+ and Ds+ meson lifetimes at √s = 10.58 GeV

We have measured the lifetimes of the D⁰, D⁺ and D_s⁺ mesons with data from the CLEO detector. We find τ_D⁰ = (5.0 ± 0.7 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹³s, τ_D⁺ = (11.4 ± 1.6 ± 0.7) × 10⁻¹³s and τ_Ds⁺ = (4.7 ± 2.2 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹³s, giving lifetime ratios τ_D⁺/τ_D⁰ = 2.3 ± 0.5 and τ_Ds⁺/τ_D⁰ = 0.9 ± 0.5.     

Dielectric relaxation of KBr doped with KOH and KOD

The complex dielectric constant of KBr single crystals doped with KOH and with KOD has been measured in the temperature range from 0.32°K to 300°K using a small a. c. signal. A relaxation timeτ ₀ was determined by means of Cole-Cole plots. ForT<4°K the temperature dependence ofτ ₀ can be approximated byAT ^?n , wheren is between 1.2 and 1.3 for the dilute samples, and between 0.8 and 1.0 for two samples with large hydroxyl concentrations.n has the same value for OH^? and OD^? dipoles. The constantA roughly doubles upon substitution ofH byD. The relaxation behavior was found to be independent of concentration in the range between 3×10¹⁸ cm^?3 dipoles and 10¹⁹ dipoles cm^?3.     

Dielectric relaxations,magnetodielectric and magnetoelectric interactions in Bi0.6La0.4MnO3 ceramics

Complex permittivity ε*/ε₀ = ε′/ε₀–iε″/ε₀ of the bismuth–lanthanum manganite Bi_0.6La_0.4MnO₃ ceramics has been measured in the temperature range of 10–220 K at frequencies f = 20–10⁶ Hz and magnetic inductions B = 0–0.846 T. At a temperature of 80 K, the spectra ε′/ε₀(t) and ε″/ε₀(t) demonstrate the dielectric relaxation that is a superposition of contributions of several relaxation processes, each of which is dominant in its frequency range: I (f < 10³ Hz, II (10³ < f < 10⁵ Hz), and III (10⁵ < f < 10⁶ Hz). In the range of 10–120 K, anomalous behavior of ε′/ε₀(T) and ε″/ε₀(T) is observed near the temperature of the transition from the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic phase and is due to the Anderson localization of charge carrier on a spin disorder.     

Search for the decay τ− → vτηπ−

We have searched for the decay τ⁻ → v_τηπ⁻ using data accumulated by the ARGUS detector at the e⁺e⁻ storage ring DORIS II at DESY. No η signal was found in the π⁺π⁻π⁰ subsystems of the decay τ⁻ →v_τπ⁻π⁻π⁺ π⁰. We obtain an upper limit for the branching ratio of the decay τ⁻ → v_τηπ⁻ of 1.3% at the 95% confidence level.     

Dielectric relaxation in NH4HSO4 above room temperature

The dispersion curves of the dielectric response of NH₄HSO₄ show that the corrected imaginary part of permittivity, εʺ, and its real part ε′ versus frequency reveal a dielectric relaxation around 9.1 × 10⁵ Hz at 31 °C, which shifts to higher frequencies (∼ 10⁶ Hz) as the temperatures increases. The relaxation frequency shows an activated relaxation process over the temperature range 31–83 °C with activation energy E_a = 0.14 eV, which is close to that derived from the dc conductivity. We suggest that the observed dielectric relaxation could be produced by the H⁺ jump and SO₄⁻ reorientation that cause distortion and change the local lattice polarizability inducing dipoles like HSO₄⁻.     

Superparamagnetic behavior of La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 nanoparticles prepared via sol-gel method

Magnetic nanoparticles of La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ (LSMO) manganite were prepared by sol-gel method. Phase formation and crystal structure of the synthesized powder were examined by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) using the Rietveld analysis. The mean particle size was determined by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Infrared transmission spectroscopy revealed that stretching and bending modes are influenced by calcinations temperature. The temperature dependence of the ac magnetic susceptibility was measured at different frequencies and ac magnetic fields in the selected ranges of 40-1000 Hz and 80-800 A/m, respectively. The temperature dependence of ac susceptibility shows a characteristic maxima corresponding to the blocking temperature near room temperature. The frequency dependence of the blocking temperature is well described by the Vogel-Fulcher law. By fitting the experimental data with this law, the relaxation time τ₀=1.7×10⁻¹² s, characteristic temperature T₀=262±3 K, anisotropy energy E_a/k=684±15 K and effective magnetic anisotropy constant k_eff=2.25×10⁴ erg/cm³ have been obtained. dc Magnetization measurement versus magnetic field shows that some of LSMO nanoparticles are blocked at 293 K. The role of magnetic interparticle interactions on the magnetic behavior is also investigated.     

OH− dipole reorientability in hydroxyapatites: Effect of tunnel size

A study of calcium phosphate hydroxyapatite with the thermally stimulated currents methods (TSC) has led to the conclusion that the reorientable dipoles responsible for the dielectric properties measured are the structural OH⁻ ions in the “tunnels”. The co-operative motions along chains of these dipoles have been followed by the identification and determination of compensation phenomena at T_c = 212°C and 356°C. These phenomena correspond to physical events characterized by co-operative motions, such as the monoclinic-to-hexagonal phase transition observed in several apatites. Even in a material in which the higher temperature phase is frozen in at a lower temperature (e.g. by defects or by quenching), the TSC method can reveal the onset of those co-operative dipole reorientations which would otherwise produce a phase transition.An effect of the “tunnel” size and environment of OH⁻ dipole reorientation movements has been investigated with two additional hydroxyapatites, strontium phosphate hydroxyapatite, Sr₁₀(PO₄)₆OH₂, and calcium arsenate hydroxyapatite, Ca₁₀(AsO₄)₆OH₂. “Tunnel size” is here defined as the distance from the center (6, axis) to the ion center less the ion radius. The larger tunnel sizes led to lower compensation temperatures.     

Probing the magnetic state by linear and non-linear ac magnetic susceptibility measurements in under-doped manganite Nd0.8Sr0.2MnO3

We have thoroughly investigated the entire magnetic states of under-doped ferromagnetic-insulating manganite Nd_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ through temperature-dependent linear and non-linear complex ac magnetic susceptibility measurements. This ferromagnetic-insulating manganite is found to have frequency-independent ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition temperature at around 140 K. At around 90 K (≈T_?) the sample shows a second frequency-dependent re-entrant magnetic transition as explored through complex ac susceptibility measurements. Non-linear ac susceptibility measurements (higher harmonics of ac susceptibility) have also been performed (with and without the superposition of a dc magnetic field) to further investigate the origin of this frequency dependence (dynamic behavior at this re-entrant magnetic transition). Divergence of 3rd harmonic of ac susceptibility in the limit of zero exciting field indicates a spin-glass-like freezing phenomena. However, large value of spin-relaxation time (τ₀=10⁻⁸ s) and small value of coercivity (∼22 Oe) obtained at low temperature (below T_?) from critical slowing down model and dc magnetic measurements, respectively, are in contrast with what generally observed in a canonical spin glass (τ₀=10⁻¹²-10⁻¹⁴ s and very large value of coercivity below freezing temperature). We have attributed our observation to the formation of finite size ferromagnetic clusters which are formed as consequence of intrinsic phase separation and undergo cluster glass-like freezing below certain temperature in this under-doped manganite. The results are supported by the electronic- and magneto-transport data.     

New results in the study of Brillouin scattering in thiourea

Below T₂ = 202 K, in the incommensurate phase, a Debye relaxation appears for c₃₃; it can be attributed to a linear coupling between an acoustical mode and a phason. The relaxation time is τ = τ₀/(T₀?T) with τ₀ = 6.2 x 10^?12 sec deg and T₀ = 200.9 K. The same phenomenon appears more weakly for c₁₁. The c₆₆ elastic constant has a double discontinuity around T₁ = 169 K; this shows that in the vicinity of T₁ there are two transitions, separated by a temperature interval of 3°.     

Proton dynamics in Cs3(HSO4)2(HPO4) studied by 1H NMR

Proton dynamics in Cs₃(HSO₄)₂(H₂PO₄) has been studied by means of ¹H solid-state NMR as well as thermal analyses. The thermal analysis shows an endothermic peak at 408 K, which corresponds to a superprotonic transition. Above the transition temperature a mass loss is observed in a dry atmosphere, which is easily recovered in a conventional dry atmosphere below the transition temperature. The ¹H magic-angle-spinning NMR spectra at room temperature show two peaks at 13.5 and 15.8 ppm, and a shoulder at 11.3 ppm from tetramethylsilane, demonstrating a presence of several inequivalent proton sites. Translational diffusion of protons takes place in both a room-temperature phase (RT) and a high-temperature phase (HT). In both phases reorientation of the SO₄/PO₄ tetrahedron limits the rate of the proton transport. The ¹H mean residence times are estimated as E_a = 33 kJ mol^− 1 and τ₀ = 0.97 × 10^− 9 s for phase RT from the second moment analysis and as E_a = 20 kJ mol^− 1 and τ₀ = 5.0 × 10^− 12 s for phase HT from the analysis of the ¹H T₁ results.     

Flavour-violating charged lepton decays in seesaw-type models

Analytic expressions of lepton-flavour- and lepton-number-violating decays of charged leptons are derived in the context of general SU(2)_L ⊗ U(1)_Y seesaw scenarios that are motivated by grand unified theories (GUT's) or superstring models, in which left-handed and/or right-handed neutral singlets are present. Possible constraints imposed by cosmology and low-energy data are briefly discussed. The violation of the decoupling theorem in flavour-dependent graphs due to the presence of heavy neutral leptons of Dirac or Majorana nature is emphasized. Numerical estimates reveal that the decays τ⁻ → e⁻ e⁻ e⁺or τ⁻ → e⁻ μ⁻ μ⁺ can be as large as ∼ 10⁻⁶, which may be observed in LEP experiments or other τ factories.     

ESR study of vanadyl ion in tripotassium citrate

ESR spectra of VO²⁺ doped tripotassium citrate are recorded at room temperature. The observed spectra are fitted to a spin Hamiltonian of orthorhombic symmetry with g_x = 2.001 ± 0.001, g_y = 1.997 ± 0.001, g_z = 1.945 ± 0.001, A_x = (49.0 ± 1) × 10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹, A_y = (66.8 ± 1) × 10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹ and A_z = (168.4 ± 1) × 10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹. The covalency and Fermi contact terms are evaluated and compared with those of other lattices.     

Heavy particle effects in grand unified theories with fine-structure constant matching

We note the presence of very significant mismatchings in α(M_w) in some GUT predictions where superheavy particle effects have been included, and adopt a new method to correct them leading to new solutions for the GUT coupling, τ_p or sin²θ_w. An SO(10) model with a grand desert is also noted to yield τ_p ≅ 10³²−10³³ yr and sin²θ_w = 0.225−0.235.     

Searching for the standard model Higgs particle in Bs decays

Purely leptonic B_s decay, B_s→τ⁺τ⁻ and B_s→μ⁺μ⁻ are shown to be very sensitive to a standard model (SM) Higgs particle, for a t quark of mass ≳ 100 GeV, and for a Higgs mass of up to about 7 GeV, the latter being exchanged in the s-channel. B_d→ℓ⁺ℓ⁻ decays are also discussed. Theoretical cleanliness (i.e. absence of long-distance effects) of these modes also suggests that they should be very useful as precision tests of the SM and indicators of new physics.     

Crystal structure,NMR study,dielectric relaxation and AC conductivity of a new compound [Cd3(SCN)2Br6(C2H9N2)2]n

The crystal structure, the ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and the complex impedance have been carried out on [Cd₃(SCN)₂Br₆(C₂H₉N₂)₂]_n. Crystal structure shows a 2D polymeric network built up of two crystallographically independent cadmium atoms with two different octahedral coordinations. This compound exhibits a phase transition at (T=355±2 K) which has been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-rays powder diffraction, AC conductivity and dielectric measurements. Examination of ¹³C CP/MAS line shapes shows indirect spin–spin coupling (¹⁴N and ¹³C) with a dipolar coupling constant of 1339 Hz. The AC conductivity of this compound has been carried out in the temperature range 325–376 K and the frequency range from 10⁻² Hz to 10 MHz. The impedance data were well fitted to two equivalent electrical circuits. The results of the modulus study reveal the presence of two distinct relaxation processes. One, at low frequency side, is thermally activated due to the ionic conduction of the crystal and the other, at higher frequency side, gradually disappears when temperature reaches 355 K which is attributed to the localized dipoles in the crystal. Moreover, the temperature dependence of DC-conductivity in both phases follows the Arrhenius law and the frequency dependence of σ(ω,T) follows Jonscher's universal law. The near values of activation energies obtained from the conductivity data and impedance confirm that the transport is through the ion hopping mechanism.     

Penetration depths of superconducting U6X (X = Fe,Co, Mn)

The penetration depths, λ(T), of the heavy-fermion uranium-based superconductors U₆X (X = Fe, Co, Mn) have been measured as a function of temperature at ∼ 35 MHz. It was found that the temperature dependence of λ(T) for these compounds agrees well with the BCS theory. However, the values of λ(0) are large. By comparing the Slater-Pauling curve of the X elements with λ(0)^-1 for the U₆X superconductors, we have found that λ(0)^-1 is proportional to the saturation spin moments of elemental X, suggesting that there is a correlation between the superconductivity of these U₆X superconductors and the magnetic nature of the X elements.     

Heat capacity and phase transition of tetrahydrofuran clathrate hydrate

Heat capacity of tetrahydrofuran clathrate hydrate THF·16.81H₂O doped with KOH (x = 1.8 × 10⁻⁴ in the mole fraction of KOH in KOH and water) was measured in the temperature range 13–280 K. A sharp first-order phase transition having a large tail on the high temperature side was observed at 62 K and excess entropy due to the transition was determined to be 2.56JK⁻¹ (H₂O-mol)⁻¹. From a comparison with thermal behavior of hexagonal ice, it was indicated that this transition was related to ordering of protons in the host lattice.     

Effect of an ac field on the conductance fluctuations for mescoscopic systems

With the use of perturbation theory to perform impurity averaging, the conductance fluctuations (CF) in mesoscopic systems are evaluated at finite frequency (ω) of the applied electric field. Calculations are carried out for frequencies much smaller than the inverse elastic mean free time, ω≪τ_el⁻¹. It is shown that the CF decrease monotonically as ω increases. Also, the frequency scale over which this decrease occurs is given by τ_diff⁻¹≪τ_el⁻¹, where τ_diff is the time for an electron to diffuse across the sample. This means that the universality of the CF at zero frequency is not preserved at finite frequency. These calculations are for a rectangular prism. Six leads covering the probe faces are attached to the cube. It is also shown that at finite frequency the sample-to-sample CF have the same size as the fluctuations of a given sample as a function of frequency.