Acoustic wave propagation through the boundary between a liquid and the Heusler ferromagnetic alloy

Incidence of an acoustic wave upon a plane boundary between a liquid and a ferromagnetic crystal is considered. The ferromagnet is the Ni_2+x+y Mn_1−x Ga_1−y Heusler alloy with a shape memory, which is in the region of the premartensite or martensite phase transition in temperature. The directions of propagation and polarization and the amplitudes of the reflected and transmitted quasilongitudinal and quasitransverse waves in the (110) plane of the crystal are determined. Starting from a certain critical angle of incidence, a longitudinal wave in the crystal becomes inhomogeneous and gliding along the boundary with an accompanying surface oscillation. In the vicinity of the phase transition point, this wave may be radiated into the crystal bulk. Proceeding from the experimental data by Trivisonno for ultrasonic velocities and absorption in a Ni₂MnGa crystal, numerical estimates are obtained for the aforementioned acoustic effects.     

Magnetotransport effects in paramagnetic Gd x Mn1 − x S

The electrical resistance of Gd _x Mn_{1 ? x} S solid solutions with x = 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2 has been measured at magnetic field H = 0.8 T and at zero magnetic field within the 100 K < T < 550 K temperature range. The magnetoresistance peak is observed above room temperature. On heating, the composition with x = 0.2 exhibits the change of magnetoresistance sign from positive to negative and the magnetoresistance peak near the transition to the magnetically ordered state. The experimental data are interpreted in the framework of the model involving the orbital ordering of electrons and the arising electrical polarization leading to the changes in the spectral density of states for electrons in the vicinity of the chemical potential in the applied magnetic field.     

Magnetic,thermal, and electrical properties of an Ni<Subscript>45.37</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>40.91</Subscript>In<Subscript>13.72</Subscript> Heusler alloy

The magnetization, the electrical resistivity, the specific heat, the thermal conductivity, and the thermal diffusion of a polycrystalline Heusler alloy Ni_45.37Mn_40.91In_13.72 sample are studied. Anomalies, which are related to the coexistence of martensite and austenite phases and the change in their ratio induced by a magnetic field and temperature, are revealed and interpreted. The behavior of the properties of the alloy near Curie temperature T_C also demonstrates signs of a structural transition, which suggests that the detected transition is a first-order magnetostructural phase transition. The nontrivial behavior of specific heat detected near the martensite transformation temperatures is partly related to a change in the electron density of states near the Fermi level. The peculiar peak of phonon thermal conductivity near the martensitic transformation is interpreted as a consequence of the appearance of additional soft phonon modes, which contribute to the specific heat and the thermal conductivity.     

Mechanism of magnetic ordering in Dy<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ni<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>-Ni bilayer films

A mechanism for the magnetic ordering of dysprosium in Dy_1?x Ni _x -Ni bilayer films is proposed. This ordering was discovered earlier by the authors when studying magnetic circular dichroism. For x exceeding a threshold value (～0.05), the contribution from the Dy_1?x Ni _x layer in a bilayer film to the magnetic circular dichroism over the temperature range 80–300 K is approximately equal in magnitude to the magnetic circular dichroism observed in a single-layer Dy film at temperatures below the ferromagnetic phase transition temperature of Dy (～100 K). Since magnetic circular dichroism is an effect linear in magnetization, the observed effect is associated with magnetic ordering of the Dy_1?x Ni _x layer in bilayer films due to the simultaneous influence of two factors: the incorporation of Ni into the Dy layer and the influence of the continuous Ni sublayer. The ferromagnetic ordering of a dysprosium layer doped with nickel (under conditions of an atomic contact with a continuous nickel layer) was confirmed by the field dependences of the polar and longitudinal Kerr effects. It was shown that both layers in the bilayer structure are magnetized in the same direction and characterized by an anisotropy of the easy-plane type. The magnetic ordering is assumed to be due to the change in the density of states of the Dy_1?x Ni _x alloy caused by hybridization with the narrow peaks near the Fermi level characteristic of nickel.     

Superconducting and normal state properties of Ag1−xSn1 + xSe2−y

The occurrence of superconductivity in a new ternary non-transition element compound with the cubic NaCl structure is reported. The composition of this compound is Ag_1?xSn_{1 + x}Se_2?y, with a maximum homogeneity range given by ?0.02 ?x?0.24 and 0 ? y ?0.1. The superconducting transition temperature (T_c) ranges from a minimum of 4.5 K for x = ?0.02, y = 0 to a maximum of 6.9 K for x = 0.24,y = 0. These T_c's are higher than previously observed in nontransition element NaCl structure compounds. Electrical resistivity data show a positive temperature coefficient, and room temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal a rapidly increasing density of states at the Fermi level with increasing x. Two ionic models for calculating the carrier concentration of Ag_1?xSn_{1 + x}Se_2?y are discussed, and a third model based on the band picture is proposed. The composition dependence of the magnetic susceptibility was used to test the validity of each of the models.     

Magnetocaloric effect and multifunctional properties of Ni–Mn-based Heusler alloys

The studies of magnetocaloric properties, phase transitions, and phenomena related to magnetic heterogeneity in the vicinity of the martensitic transition (MT) in Ni–Mn–In and Ni–Mn–Ga off-stoichiometric Heusler alloys are summarized. The crystal structure, magnetocaloric effect (MCE), and magnetotransport properties were studied for the following alloys: Ni₅₀Mn_50−xIn_x, Ni_50−xCo_xMn₃₅In₁₅, Ni₅₀Mn_35−xCo_xIn₁₅, Ni₅₀Mn₃₅In₁₄Z (Z=Al, Ge), Ni₅₀Mn₃₅In_15−xSi_x, Ni_50−xCo_xMn_25+yGa_25−y, and Ni_50–xCo_xMn_32−yFeyGa₁₈. It was found that the magnetic entropy change, ΔS, associated with the inverse MCE in the vicinity of the temperature of the magneto-structural transition, TM, persists in a range of (125-5) J/(kg K) for a magnetic field change ΔH=5 T. The corresponding temperature varies with composition from 143 to 400 K. The MT in Ni₅₀Mn_50−xIn_x (x=13.5) results in a transition between two paramagnetic states. Associated with the paramagnetic austenite-paramagnetic martensite transition ΔS=24 J/(kg K) was detected for ΔH=5 T at T=350 K. The variation in composition of Ni₂MnGa can drastically change the magnetic state of the martensitic phase below and in the vicinity of TM. The presence of the martensitic phase with magnetic moment much smaller than that in the austenitic phase above TM leads to the large inverse MCE in the Ni₄₂Co₈Mn_32−yFeyGa₁₈ system. The adiabatic change of temperature (ΔT_ad) in the vicinity of TC and TM of Ni₅₀Mn₃₅In₁₅ and Ni₅₀Mn₃₅In₁₄Z (Z=Al, Ge) was found to be ΔT_ad=−2 K and 2 K for ΔH=1.8 T, respectively. It was observed that |ΔT_ad|≈1 K for ΔH=1 T for both types of transitions. The results on resistivity, magnetoresistance, Hall resistivity in some In-based alloys are discussed.     

Mössbauer studies in amorphous Fe80−x−y Ni x Mn y B12Si8 alloys

Room temperature Mössbauer studies have been carried out on amorphous Fe_80?x?y Ni _x Mn _y B₁₂Si₈ (x=35, 40, 45, 50 and 0≤y≤1). Thex=40 and 45 samples, showed an increase in the average hyperfine field, wheny increased from 0.0 to 0.2 at% in the former and 0.0 to 0.5 at% in the latter. The hyperfine field decreased fory=1.0. This is similar to the results of the magnetic moment on these samples, published earlier.     

Influence of electric current and magnetic field on terahertz photoconductivity in Pb1 − x Sn x Te(In)

Photoconductivity of Pb_{1 ? x} Sn _x Te(In) solid solutions in the terahertz spectral range is defined by a new type of local electron states linked to the quasi-Fermi level. The paper deals with investigation of the influence of electric current and magnetic field on the amplitude of the terahertz photoconductivity in Pb_{1 ? x} Sn _x Te(In) alloys of different composition. It is shown that the density of local electron states responsible for the positive persistent photoconductivity decreases with increasing electric current via a sample, as well as with transition to the hole conductivity in samples with a high content of tin telluride (x > 0.26). It is found that the magnetic field dependence of the positive photoconductivity is non-monotonous and has a maximum. The maximum position in magnetic field is proportional to the terahertz radiation quantum energy. Mechanisms responsible for the effects observed are discussed.     

Structure, magneto-structural transitions and magnetocaloric properties in Ni50−xMn37+xIn13 melt spun ribbons

Melt spun Ni_50−xMn_37+xIn₁₃ (2≤x≤5) ribbons were investigated for the structure, microstructure, magneto-structural transitions and inverse magnetocaloric effect (IMCE) associated with the first-order martensitic phase transition. The influence of excess Mn in Ni site (or Ni/Mn content) on the martensite transition and the associated magnetic and magnetocaloric properties are discussed. It was found that with the increase in Mn content, the martensitic transition shifted from 325 to 240 K as x is varied from 2 to 4, and the austenite phase was stabilized at room temperature. The x=5 ribbon did not show the martensitic transition. For the x=3 ribbon, the structural and magnetic transitions are close together unlike in the x=4 ribbon in which they are far (∼60 K) apart. The zero field cooled and field cooled curves support the presence of exchange bias blocking temperature due to antiferromagnetic interactions in the ribbons. A large change in the magnetization between the martensite and austenite phases was observed for a small variation in the Ni/Mn content, which resulted in large IMCE. A large positive magnetic entropy change (ΔS_M) of 32 J/kg K at room temperature (∼ 300 K) for a field change of 5 T with a net refrigeration capacity of 64 J/kg was obtained in the Ni₄₇Mn₄₀In₁₃ ribbon.     

Gd3+ electron spin resonance spectroscopy on LaO1 ? x F x FeAs superconductors

We report an electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy study on polycrystalline samples of the LaO_{1 ? x} F _x FeAs (x = 0 and 0.1) compound with small levels of Gd doping (2% and 5%). The Gd ESR signal is found to be sensitive to the magnetic phase transition from the paramagnetic to the spin density wave (SDW) state occurring in the parent LaO_{1 ? x} F _x FeAs compounds at T _SDW ?? 130 K. Interestingly, the analysis of the low-temperature ESR spectra of the c-axis oriented Gd_{1 ? y} La _y OFeAs samples gives evidence for the magnetically nonequivalent Gd sites and also for sites having a different local charge environment. The analysis of the temperature dependence of the ESR linewidths gives evidence for a coupling of the localized 4f electrons of Gd to the conduction electrons in the FeAs layers. The ESR data reveal that the fluorine substitution, which provides electron doping, suppresses the SDW order and enhances the density of states in the electronic bands stemming from the xz and yz orbital states of Fe to which the 4f electrons are most strongly coupled.     

Magnetic and structural transition of Ni50+xMn25−x/2Ga25−x/2 (x=2–5) alloys

Magnetic and structural transitions of non-stoichiometric Ni_50+xMn_25−x/2Ga_25−x/2 (x=2–5) alloys are systematically investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry and modified thermogravimetry (TG) are used to measure magnetic and structural transitions simultaneously. The structural transition temperatures increase monotonically with increasing Ni substitution for Mn and Ga. Different magnetic transition sequences on heating were observed from ferromagnetic martensite to ferromagnetic autensite, then to paramagnetic autensite, from ferromagnetic martensite to paramagnetic austensite or from ferromagnetic martensite to paramagnetic martensite, respectively. Three kinds of NiMnGa alloys were obtained according to the sequence of the structural and magnetic transition, whose structural transition temperatures are lower, equal to or higher than the magnetic transition temperatures.     

Model of colossal magnetostriction in the martensite phase of Ni-Mn-Ga alloys

A model is proposed for describing the experimentally observed martensite and magnetic domain structures in Heusler ferromagnetic alloys Ni_2+x Mn_1?x Ga. On the basis of this model, the field dependences of magnetization and deformation of the alloys are calculated numerically and an expression for the maximum attainable strains induced by external magnetic fields in these alloys is derived. It is shown that for small values of the effective elastic modulus and demagnetizing factor of alloys, the strains induced by the magnetic field may attain maximum possible values of approximately 5%, which are determined by lattice distortions as a result of the martensite transition in fields of about 1 kOe.     

Magnetic transitions in LaFe13−x−yCoySix compounds

The magnetic properties of a set of LaFe_13?x?yCo_ySi_x compounds (x = 1.6 ? 2.6; y = 0, y = 1.0) have been investigated using magnetic measurements, thermal expansion, ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and high resolution neutron powder diffraction methods over the temperature range 10–300 K. The natures of the magnetic transitions in these LaFe_13?x?yCo_ySi_x compounds have been determined. The Curie temperatures of LaFe_13?xSi_x were found to increase with Si content from T_C = 219(5) K for Si content x = 1.6 to T_C = 250(5) K for x = 2.6. Substitution of Co for Fe in LaFe_10.4Si_2.6 resulted in a further enhancement of the magnetic ordering temperature to T_C = 281(5) K for the LaFe_9.4CoSi_2.6 compound. The nature of the magnetic transition at the Curie temperature changes from first order for LaFe_11.4Si_1.6 to second order for LaFe_10.4Si_2.6 and LaFe_9.4CoSi_2.6. The temperature dependences of the mean magnetic hyperfine field values lead to T_C values in good agreement with analyses of the magnetic measurements. The magnetic entropy change, ?ΔS_M, has been determined from the magnetization curves as functions of temperature and magnetic field (ΔB = 0 ? 5 T) by applying the standard Maxwell relation. In the case of LaFe_12.4Si_1.6 for example, the magnetic entropy change around T_C is determined to be -ΔS_M ～ 14.5 J kg^?1 K^?1 for a magnetic field change Δ B = 0 ? 5 T.     

Reversible structural phase transition in Ni-Mn-Ga alloys in a magnetic field

In Ni_2+x Mn_1?x Ga shape-memory ferromagnetic alloys with coincident magnetic and structural phase transitions, a reversible structural field-induced phase transition was observed at constant temperature and pressure in magnetic fields of about 10 T. Computational results are in qualitative agreement with experiment.     

Mössbauer studies of ɛ-Fe3−x Ni x N and γ′-Fe4−y Ni y N nanoparticles

Nanocrystalline ?-Fe_3?x Ni _x N (0.0?≤?×?≤?0.8) particles are synthesized by precursor technique and nitridation of decomposed products in NH₃ (g) in the temperature range 673 K-823 K. For x?=?0.1–0.4 compositions, single phase ?-Fe_3?x Ni _x N hexagonal structure with space group P6₃/mmc is formed, while for x?=?0.5–0.8, fcc γ′-Fe_4?y Ni _y N phase is also precipitated. The room temperature Mössbauer spectrum for all the compositions shows the presence of superparamagnetic doublet, which is attributed to ?-Fe_3?x Ni _x N phase. For x?=?0.5–0.8 compositions, two additional sextets are observed corresponding to two different iron sites, the corner position (Fe^c) and the fcc position (Fe^f), in γ′-Fe_4?y Ni _y N. The added Ni atoms preferentially substitute the corner Fe^c positions. The isomer shift, quadrupole splitting and hyperfine field values are found to change with the Ni content.     

Lattice distortion-induced phase transformations in La1 − y Pr y MnO3 + δ manganites

The structural and magnetic phase transformations that occur in the system of self-doped La_{1 ? y} Pr _y MnO_{3 + δ} (δ ≈ 0.1, 0 ≤ y ≤ 1) manganites in the temperature range 4.2–300 K are studied by X-ray diffraction and measuring the temperature and field dependences of dc magnetization. The low-temperature magnetic phase transformations induced by the substitution of Pr for La correlate well with the structural phase transformations at T = 300 K, which indicates a strong coupling of the electronic and magnetic subsystems of La_{1 ? y} Pr _y MnO_{3 + δ} manganites with the crystal lattice. The anomalies of the magnetic and structural properties detected in this work in the form of peaks and inflection points in the concentration dependences of the magnetization and lattice parameters of the pseudocubic phase of La_{1 ? y} Pr _y MnO_{3 + δ} (0.1 ≤ y ≤ 0.7) in the temperature range 4.2–300 K are explained in terms of the existing concepts of the effect of Fermi surface nesting on the renormalization of the density of states and the hole dispersion near E _F in the presence of a strong coupling of holes with low-frequency optical phonons, which results in their transformation into quasiparticles. The narrow peak in the magnetization curve M(y) of La_{1 ? y} Pr _y MnO_{3 + δ} that is detected near y = 0.3 at T = 4.2 K is assumed to correspond to the peak of coherence of quasiparticles with a low energy of coupling with the crystal lattice near E _F, which was found earlier in the photoelectron emission spectra of manganites. The disappearance of the narrow magnetization peak with increasing Pr concentration is explained by the transition of charge carriers from the mode of “light” holes weakly coupled to one of the soft phonons to the mode of “heavy” holes strongly coupled to several phonons. The transition between phases with strongly different effective quasiparticle masses proceeds jumpwise; that is, it has features of the metal-insulator Mott transition and is accompanied by the transition from 3D to 2D quasiparticle motion in planes ab.     

Effect of nickel on the magnetic state of dysprosium in Dy<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ni<Subscript>x</Subscript>-Ni bilayer films

This paper reports on the results of investigations into the temperature and spectral dependences of the magnetic circular dichroism in Dy_1?xNi_x-Ni bilayer films prepared through thermal sputter deposition of components under ultrahigh vacuum. The distribution of the components over the layer thickness is examined by Auger spectroscopy. The nickel content x in Dy_1?xNi_x layers varies from 0.005 to 0.06. It is shown that, in the temperature range 80–300 K, the contribution made to the magnetic circular dichroism by a Dy_1?xNi_x layer in a bilayer film with a nickel content higher than the threshold value is approximately equal to the magnetic circular dichroism observed in an isolated Dy_1?xNi_x film at temperatures below the temperature of the phase transition to a ferromagnetic state (～100 K). This phenomenon is explained by magnetic ordering in the Dy_1?xNi_x layer of the bilayer film due to the combined effect of two factors, namely, the incorporation of nickel into a dysprosium layer and the presence of a continuous nickel sublayer in the film.     

Phase boundary between uniaxial and planar ferromagnets in layered perovskite manganite La2−2xSr1+2xMn2O7 (0.313⩽x⩽0.350)

We have examined magnetizations as a function of temperature and magnetic field in layered perovskite manganites La_2−2xSr_1+2xMn₂O₇ single crystals (x=0.313, 0.315, 0.318, 0.320 and 0.350) in order to determine the phase boundary between two ferromagnets (one is an uniaxial ferromagnet whose easy axis is parallel to the c-axis and the other is a planar ferromagnet whose easy axis is within the ab-plane) and following results are obtained: (i) all the present manganites exhibit magnetic transitions from a ferromagnet to a paramagnet at 76, 107, 116, 120 and 125 K for x=0.313, 0.315, 0.318, 0.320 and 0.350, respectively; (ii) for x=0.318, 0.320 and 0.350, the magnetic structure is a planar ferromagnet below Curie temperature; (iii) for x=0.313 and 0.315, the magnetic structure changes from an uniaxial to a planar ferromagnet at 66 and 85 K, respectively. From the results described above we have constructed the magnetic phase diagram of layered perovskite manganite La_2−2xSr_1+2xMn₂O₇ (0.313?x?0.350).     

Hyperfine magnetic fields on Cd impurity in the Pd2MnIn1-xSnx and Pd2MnSn1-ySby heusler alloys

The TDPAC technique was used to measure the magnetic hyperfine field (mhf) acting on Cd impurity in the Heusler alloys Pd₂MnIn_1-xSn_x and Pd₂MnSn_1-ySb_y for various values of x and y in the range 0 ? x, y ? 1. The alloys of Pd₂MnIn_1-xSn_x are antiferromagnetic at the In-rich end and ferromagnetic at the Sn-rich end, with a transition region x ≈ 0.5?0.7 where both phases coexist; the alloys containing Sn/Sb are ferromagnetic for all values of y. The mhf on the Cd impurity in the antiferromagnetic, transition and ferromagnetic regions of Pd₂MnIn_1-xSn_x are respectively zero, -150 and -200 kOe. For the Sn/Sb alloys the field changes from -200 at the Sn-rich end to -235 kOe at the Sb-rich end. The values of the field very closely follow the trend of the ferromagnetic Curie temperatures for the same alloys as a function of the s-p electron concentration. The observed large distribution of field intensities (～20%) and the lower values of the field in the region x = 0.5?0.6 are attributed mainly to the effect of antiferromagnetic domains. The results are compared with previous Mössbauer mhf measurements at the sites of Sn and Sb in the same alloys as well as with measurements in other Heusler alloys.     

Magnetic and57Fe Mössbauer studies of intermetallic compounds R2 (Fe1−x−y Ni x Co y )17 (R=Y,Gd,Tb,x=0,0.10, 0.20,y=0,0.05, 0.10)

Mössbauer studies of R₂(Fe_1?x?y Ni _x Co _y )₁₇ showed that the transferred hyperfine field at Fe nuclei due to magnetic rare earth (R) atoms is about one Tesla. Magnetic moments of the R atoms were determined from magnetic measurements as μTb=8.52μB, μGd=6.22μB. The mixed substitution of Ni and Co for Fe leads to an increase of the ordering temperature. A slight preference occupancy for Fe was observed involving the dumbbell shaped f or c site. The substitution effects of Ni and Co on the hyperfine field of f or c site, the average hyperfine field and the average isomer shift were also discussed.