Ferromagnetic resonance observation of a phase transition in magnetic field-aligned Fe2O3 nanoparticles

Fe₂O₃ hematite (alpha) nanoparticles suspended in the liquid phase of the liquid crystal 4,4-azoxyanlsole (PAA) are cooled below the freezing temperature (397 K) in a 4000 G dc magnetic field. The in field solidification locks the direction of maximum magnetization of the particles parallel to the direction of the applied dc magnetic field removing the effects of dynamical fluctuations of the nanoparticles on the magnetic properties allowing a study of the intrinsic magnetic properties of the nanoparticles as well as the anisotropic behavior of the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) signal. Freezing in PAA allows temperature-dependent measurements to be made at much higher temperature than previous measurements. The field position, line width and intensity of the FMR signal as a function of temperature as well as the magnetization show anomalies in the vicinity of 200 K indicative of a magnetic transition, likely the previously observed Morin transition shifted to lower temperature due to the small particle size. Weak ferromagnetism is observed below T_c in contrast to the bulk material where it is antiferromagnetic below T_c. The Raman spectrum above and below 200 K shows no evidence of a change in lattice symmetry associated with the magnetic transition.     

High-frequency susceptibility and ferromagnetic resonance in multidomain thin films of the yttrium-iron garnet type

The field dependence of the high-frequency susceptibility and the ferromagnetic resonance were experimentally studied in a thin (d≈0.1 µm) (111)-oriented single-crystal film of substituted yttrium-iron garnet with the factor q?1. It was shown that the anomaly in the high-frequency susceptibility observed in a magnetic field H parallel to the normal to the film surface in the magnetization saturation region (H≈H_s) has a dual nature; more specifically, this anomaly is associated with an abrupt collapse of the stripe domain structure and a ferromagnetic resonance in the experimental configuration H ∥ [111] and h ⊥ H. In this case, the film transition from the inhomogeneous multidomain state to the homogeneous (single-domain) state at the point H≈H_s has no indications of a second-order phase transition. The experimental frequency-field dependence of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) in the sample under study, having a characteristic minimum at the point ω₀=5 MHz and H_FMR=H_s, agrees qualitatively and quantitatively with calculations. The influence of the cubic magnetic anisotropy and the film thickness on the FMR spectrum and the orientation of the spontaneous magnetization in domains with respect to the film plane in the zero field H was theoretically studied.     

Influence of zeolite water on paramagnetic and ferromagnetic resonances in the Co2[Nb(CN)8] · 8H2O molecular magnet

The contributions of Co²⁺ and Nb⁴⁺ ions to the high-frequency dynamic magnetic susceptibility of the Co₂[Nb(CN)₈] · 8H₂O molecular magnet in the paramagnetic state at T > 12 K are separated. It is found that the ferromagnetic ordering, which leads to the reconstruction of the electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum into the ferromagnetic resonance spectrum, occurs at T < 12 K. The influence of zeolite water on the spectra of the paramagnetic and ferromagnetic resonances is found. Dehydration leads to a decrease in the time of the spin relaxation of the ferromagnetic system from 50 ps to 17 ps at T = 4 K and to the variation in the temperature dependences of the widths of the lines and g factors in the electron spin resonance spectra.     

Specific heat of diluted ferromagnets EuxSr1−xS

The specific heat C of diluted Eu_xSr_1?xS with Eu concentrations x = 0.95, 0.80, 0.70 and 0.60 was measured within the ferromagnetic regime. Both the temperature dependence of the magnetic part C_M and its behavior near the Curie temperature T_c show a variation with concentration which demonstrates clearly a change in magnetic behavior near x = 0.70. Eu_0.60Sr_0.40S exhibits properties which are more similar to spin glasses in spite of the long-range ferromagnetic order observed in the temperature range of measurement. This transient behavior is found to be consistent with previous observations.     

Magnetic resonance spectrum of a two-phase state in single crystals of La0.7Pb0.3MnO3 lanthanum manganite

Two absorption lines are observed over a wide temperature range below T _c in the magnetic resonance spectrum of an La_0.7Pb_0.3MnO₃ single crystal. These lines correspond to two magnetic phases in the sample. The frequency-field dependence of spectra obtained in the range of microwave radiation frequencies 10–77 GHz allows these phases to be interpreted as ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases. The phase volume ratio depends on the temperature and the magnitude of the external magnetic field. Features in the temperature behavior of parameters of the magnetic absorption line are observed in the region of the highest magnetic resistance of the sample. The results are interpreted within the mechanism of electronic phase separation.     

Giant magnetoresistance of MexMn1−x S (Me=Fe, Cr) sulfides

The structural, electrical, and magnetic properties, as well as the magnetoresistance of polycrystalline Me_xMn_1?x S (Me=Fe and Cr) sulfides were investigated in longitudinal magnetic fields of up to 50 kOe over the temperature range 4.2–300 K. The ferromagnetic compound Fe_xMn_1?x S (x=0.29) exhibits the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect with magnitude δ_H=?450% in a field of 30 kOe at 50 K. Antiferromagnetic Cr_xMn_1?x S (x=0.5) sulfide undergoes a transition to the GMR state δ_H～?25% in a field of 30 kOe at 4.2 K) in the region of antiferromagnet-ferromagnet transition (T _c ～66 K). A mechanism of the GMR in these compounds is discussed.     

Ferromagnetic resonance and bistability field in a uniaxial magnetic film

Peculiarities of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) corresponding to bias along the “hard” magnetic axis of a film with 2D uniaxial anisotropy are studied based on numerical solution of magnetic moment dynamics equations. It is shown that an additional resonance peak is formed in the FMR spectrum in the vicinity of “bistability field” H _b . The dependence of this field on the amplitude of the microwave field and damping parameters is analyzed.     

A neutron small angle scattering study of the onset of ferromagnetism in TiBe2-xCux alloys

The onset of ferromagnetic order in TiBe_2-xCu_x alloys, with x = 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, 0.2 and 0.15, has been examined using the technique of neutron small-angle scattering. The Curie temperature, T_c, for these alloys has been determined from the temperature dependence of the magnetic critical scattering. A linear extrapolation of T_c versus copper concentration yields a critical concentration for ferromagnetic order of x_c = 0.05 ± 0.02. For the alloys with x = 0.4, 0.5 the lineshape of the magnetic critical scattering, at and above T_c, is well explained by the Ornstein-Zernicke form of the spin correlation function. For the lower concentration alloys the exact form of the spin correlation function is still unclear.     

FMR studies in the TbFeCo/GdFeCoSi bilayers

Bilayers, TbFeCo/GdFeCoSi, made by sputtering on glass substrate with buffer and capping layers were studied by measuring the hysteresis loop and by ferromagnetic resonance (FMR). When the field H was applied along the film normal, a double H_C hysteresis loop related to the two sublayers was observed. In ferromagnetic resonance measurements, a peculiar out-of-plane angular dependence of FMR spectrum was obtained. When scanning field H was 0-637 kA/m less than the anisotropy field of TbFeCo sublayer, two FMR peaks were observed. One peak was characteristic of uniaxial and unidirectional anisotropy. The anisotropy constants were obtained by fitting the data with the theory of FMR, and this peak was considered to be related to the low anisotropy GdFeCoSi layer. The second peak appeared only when the dc field H was orientated in a limited angular range around 180°. This peak was considered to be related to an uncoupled interfacial GdFeCoSi sublayer near Al capping layer. However, when H was scanned between 0-1114 kA/m, only one peak is observed due to magnetization reversal of TbFeCo layer with uniaxial anisotropy.     

Magnetic structure of the Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>2</Subscript> two-subsystem antiferromagnet according to nuclear quadrupole resonance data

The magnetic structure of the Sr₂Cu₃O₄Cl₂ two-subsystem antiferromagnet is studied by the nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) method on the ^{63, 65}Cu and ³⁵Cl nuclei. The resonance spectrum above T _N2 = 40 K is determined by the Zeeman splitting of the levels of the ^{63, 65}Cu nuclei of the copper atoms at the Cu1 site with the first-order quadrupole perturbation. The magnetic field on the copper nuclei is equal to 93 kOe. The spectrum below n is significantly different: it includes a low-frequency part, which is associated with the ordering of the second magnetic subsystem Cu2. The splitting of the NQR lines of ³⁵Cl is observed above and below T _N2. This fact indicates the ferromagnetic ordering of the moments of the Cu1 subsystem, which are located along the c axis of the crystal, and makes it possible to determine the direction of the magnetic field on Cu1 copper as (110).     

Superconductivity of (Sn1−z Pbz)1−x InxTe alloys

The temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity of (Sn_1?z Pb_z)_1?x In_xTe alloys with different concentrations of lead (z=0–0.60) and indium (x=0.03–0.20) were studied at temperatures T=0.4–4.2 K in magnetic fields from zero to H=15 kOe. A resistivity drop of no less than three-four orders of magnitude was observed in this range of alloy compositions. Application of a magnetic field above a critical level resulted in a recovery of the sample resistivity to the original value. The observed resistivity drop is identified with a superconducting transition. The critical parameters of the superconducting transition (T _c and H _c2) were determined at the drop to one half the normal resistivity level. Experimental dependences of the critical supercon-ducting-transition temperature T _c and of the second critical magnetic field H _c2 on the contents of lead (z) and indium (x) were measured. The data obtained confirm a strong localization of the In impurity states and are evidence of the extrinsic nature of superconductivity in the class of materials under study. It was established that as the Pb content in (Sn_1?z Pb_z)_1?x In_xTe increases, T _c and H _c2 decrease as the Fermi level E _F (fixed in the In impurity resonance band) leaves the Δ extremum and the superconductivity breaks down when E _F leaves the LΣ saddle point in the valence-band energy spectrum.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance in noncollinear antiferromagnet Mn3Al2Ge3O12

The ⁵⁵Mn nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of noncollinear 12-sublattice antiferromagnet Mn₃Al₂Ge₃O₁₂ has been studied in the frequency range of 200–640 MHz in the external magnetic field H ‖ [001] at T = 1.2 K. Three absorption lines have been observed in fields less than the field of the reorientation transition H _c at the polarization h ‖ H of the rf field. Two lines have been observed at H > H _c and h ⊥ H. The spectral parameters indicate that the magnetic structure of manganese garnet differs slightly from the exchange triangular 120-degree structure. The anisotropy of the spin reduction and (or) weak antiferromagnetism that are allowed by the crystal symmetry lead to the difference of ≈3% in the magnetization of sublattices in the field H < H _c. When the spin plane rotates from the orientation perpendicular to the C ₃ axis to the orientation perpendicular to the C ₄ axis, all magnetic moments of the electronic subsystem decrease by ≈2% from the average value in the zero field.     

Peculiarities of the magnetic,galvanomagnetic, elastic,and magnetoelastic properties of Sm<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Sr<Subscript>x</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganites

Manganites of the Sm1?xSr_xMnO₃ system (x=0.33, 0.4, and 0.45) possess giant negative values of the magnetoresistance Δρ/ρ and the volume magnetostriction ω near the Curie temperature T_C. In the compound with x=0.33, the isotherms of Δρ/ρ, ω, and magnetization σ exhibit smooth variation and do not reach saturation up to maximum magnetic field strengths (120 kOe) studied (according to the neutron diffraction data, this substance comprises a ferromagnetic (FM) matrix with distributed clusters of a layered antiferromagnetic (AFM) structure of the A type). In the compounds with x=0.4 and 0.45 containing, besides the FM matrix and A-type AFM phase, a charge-ordered AFM phase of the CE type (thermally stable to higher temperatures as compared to the A-type AFM and the FM phases), the same isotherms measured at T ≥ T_C show a jumplike increase in the interval of field strengths between H_c1 and H_c2 and then reach saturation. In the interval H_c1 > H > H_c2, the σ, ω, and Δρ/ρ values exhibit a metastable behavior. At temperatures above T_C, the anisotropic magnetostriction changes sign, which is indicative of rearrangements in the crystal structure. The giant values of ω and Δρ/ρ observed at T ≥ T_C for all compounds, together with excess (relative to the linear) thermal expansion and a maximum on the ρ(T) curve, are explained by the phenomenon of electron phase separation caused by a strong s-d exchange. The giant values of magnetoresistance and volume magnetostriction (with ω reaching ～10^?3) are attributed to an increase in the volume of the FM phase induced by the applied magnetic field. In the compound with x=0.33, this increase proceeds smoothly as the FM phase grows through the FM layers in the A-type AFM phase. In the compounds with x=0.4 and 0.45, the FM phase volume increases at the expense of the charge-ordered CE-type AFM structure (in which spins of the neighboring manganese ions possess an AFM order). The jumps observed on the σ(H) curves, whereby the magnetization σ reaches ～70% of the value at T=1.5 K, are indicative of a threshold character of the charge-ordered phase transition to the FM state. Thus, the giant values of ω and Δρ/ρ are inherent in the FM state, appearing as a result of the magnetic-field-induced transition of the charge-ordered phase to the FM state, rather than being caused by melting of this phase.     

Influence of annealing on magnetic properties of Co-based metallic glasses

The influence of low-temperature annealing on the magnetic hysteresis loop parameters of magnetostrictive Co-Si-B and nonmagnetostrictive Co-Fe-Si-B glasses was studied. The dependence of Curie temperature (T_C), crystallization temperature (T_x), full-stress-relaxation temperature, saturation magnetostriction constant, saturation magnetization and coercive field H_c on metalloids contents for as quenched Co_100-x(Si_0.5B_0.5)_x glasses was determined.It was found that annealing enhances remanence magnetization for all investigated Co-Si-B glasses. The coercive field of these glasses is influenced by annealing owing to: stress relaxation (resulting in an H_c decrease) and domain structure stabilization (resulting in an H_c increase). Significant H_c reduction for both magnetostrictive and non-magnetostrictive glasses was observed, after annealing above T_C. For glasses with T_C<>T_x, it was necessary to apply an external magnetic field in ord er to decrease H_c.It was found that non-magnetostrictive metallic glasses with low Curie temperatures (T_C ? 450 K) exhibit the most stable magnetic hysteresis loop parameters.     

Determination of the Existence Region of a Griffith-Like Phase in Pr<Subscript>1–<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Sr<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/YSZ Films

We have studied the temperature dependences of the magnetic susceptibility and the electron magnetic resonance in Pr_1–xSr _x MnO₃/YSZ polycrystalline films (x = 0.2, 0.4). The paramagnetic properties of samples indicate the presence of short-range-order ferromagnetic correlations above the phase transition temperature (T _c ). The existence region of such correlations has been considered using the Griffith theory.     

Characterization of magnetic phases in the FexMn0.65−xAl0.35 disordered alloys

Melted alloys of the Fe_xMn_0.65−xAl_0.35 disordered system, 0.25?x?0.65, were experimentally studied by Mössbauer spectrometry, vibrating sample magnetometry and AC magnetic susceptibility. All the alloys exhibit the BCC structure with a nearly constant lattice parameter (2.92 Å). Mössbauer studies at room temperature (RT) show that in the 0.25 ?x?0.45 range the alloys are paramagnetic (P) while in the 0.50?x?0.65 range, they are ferromagnetic. At 77 K, Mössbauer studies show that the alloy with x=0.25$x=0.25$ presents weak magnetic character that is consistent with an antiferromagnetic (AF) behavior due to the high Mn content, while those with 0.30?x?0.40 are paramagnetic, and those in the 0.45?x  ?0.65 range are ferromagnetic (F) with a mean field increasing with the Fe content. Hysteresis cycles at RT prove the paramagnetic character of the alloys between x=0.25$x=0.25$ and 0.40 and the ferromagnetic character for x?0.45$x?0.45$. Complementary measurements using AC magnetic susceptibility permit a magnetic phase diagram to be proposed, with the P phase for high temperature and all the compositions, the AF phase for low Fe content and at low temperature, the F phase for high Fe content above RT and the spin glass phase for all the compositions and at temperatures lower than 46 K. In addition, the mean field renormalization group (MFRG) method, applied to a random competitive and site dilute Ising model with nearest-neighbor, gives rise to magnetic phase diagram, which fairly agrees with previous experimental one.     

Ferromagnetism in epitaxial layers of gallium and indium antimonides and indium arsenide supersaturated by manganese impurity

We report on laser synthesis of thin 30–200 nm epitaxial layers with mosaic structure of diluted magnetic semiconductors GaSb:Mn and InSb:Mn with the Curie temperature T_C above 500 K and of InAs:Mn with T_C no less than 77 K. The concentration of Mn was ranged from 0.02 to 0.15. In the case of InSb:Mn and InAs:Mn films, the additional pulse laser annealing was needed to achieve ferromagnetic behavior. We used Kerr and Hall effects methods as well as ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectroscopy to study magnetic properties of the samples. The anisotropy FMR was observed for both layers of GaSb:Mn and InSb:Mn up to 500 K but it takes place with different temperature dependencies of absorption spectra peaks. The resonance field value and amplitude of FMR signal on the temperature is monotonically decreased with the temperature increase for InSb:Mn. In the case of GaSb:Mn, this dependence is not monotonic.     

Ferromagnetic resonance in the randomly mixed insulating ferromagnet and antiferromagnet Rb2Mn(1-x)CrxCl4

An electron spin resonance experiment has been performed on the Cr-rich concentrations of the random mixture Rb₂Mn(_1-x)Cr_xCl₄ of an insulating ferromagnet (Rb₂CrCl₄) and an insulating antiferromagnet (Rb₂MnCl₄). The resonance fields in x = 0.6, 0.7 and 0.8 samples begin to shift towards low field side at temperatures well above the Curie temperatures, when the external field is applied in the c-plane of the crystal. The shift of the resonance field with temperature of the x = 0.7 sample agreed well with that of the x = 0.8 sample, after scaling the temperature axis, while the shift in the x = 0.6 crystal did not. From this observation, we argue that the x = 0.7 and x = 0.8 samples have a long-range ordered ferromagnetic phase below T_c, and that the low temperature phase of the x = 0.6 sample is not a truely long-range ordered one. A weak resonance line was observed in the x = 0.8 sample below about 20 K. This resonance is discussed in connection with the re-entrant spin-glass behavior of this mixed system found in the ac susceptibility measurement.