First-order phase transition in potassium dysprosium tungstate induced by the field renormalization and softening of the elastic moduli in the vicinity of a structural Jahn-Teller-type transition

The magnetostriction of KDy(WO₄)₂ single crystals is measured in an external magnetic field at temperatures below the temperature of a structural phase transition of the Jahn-Teller type. A steplike irreversible variation in the elastic strain is observed to occur with an increase in the magnetic field applied along the a or b axis of the monoclinic cell of the crystal. The residual change in the strain is retained after changing the sign of the magnetic field. The return to the initial state characterized by field-induced jumps in the strain is possible only after thermal cycling well above the structural phase transition temperature. The theory of this phenomenon is developed using a phenomenologically derived thermodynamic potential of the elastic sub-system that takes into account the crystal symmetry and the field renormalization of the elastic moduli. The jumplike transitions are interpreted as being due to the magnetic softening of the elastic moduli in the vicinity of the structural phase transition temperature.     

Serrated creep of zinc single crystals under compression in a magnetic field

The compressive creep rate of zinc single crystals was measured for sample deformation increments of 150 nm, which permits the measurement of deformation jumps larger than 300 nm. A weak magnetic field B = 0.2 T is shown to increase the average creep rate and decrease the height and sharpness of submicron-sized deformation jumps. Preliminary holding of a sample in a magnetic field also influences the creep rate and the characteristics of deformation jumps. The data are explained in terms of a model relating the effect of a magnetic field to the destruction of barriers to dislocation motion.     

On the theory of josephson coupling between layers in layered compounds

The amplitude of the Josephson current between superconducting layers and layer coupling are found to be decreased sharply with the increase of crystal structure disorder. In crystals intercalated with magnetic atoms or molecules the amplitude includes a component dependent on the state of localised spins and this component increases sharply when magnetic field is applied or ferromagnetic phase transition occurs.     

The influence of a magnetic field on the mosaic spread and growth rate of small Rochelle salt crystals

The growth rates of small (length <1 mm) crystals of Rochelle salt grown with and without a magnetic field have been measured at constant supersaturation (4%). It has been shown that some crystals grown in the presence of a magnetic field exhibit a decrease in the linear growth rate in the [010] direction relative to that shown under normal conditions. It was further noticed that a few crystals of the total number showed slight increases in growth rate. The fact that a majority of crystals showed a decrease in growth rate has given rise to speculations that this should be caused by an increase of strain (mosaic spread), resulting from a change of the mode of incorporation of the growth units into the crystal surface brought about by the applied magnetic field. The results show that most of crystals grown in the magnetic field have a higher mosaic spread and lower growth rate than observed during growth without an applied field. An increase in growth rate in the presence of the magnetic field, observed for a few crystals, might be explained by the relaxation of this strain by formation of dislocations, which in turn enhance the growth rate.     

Optical detection of spin coherence in a defect center of a molecular crystal

Various optically detected spin coherence experiments have been performed at zero magnetic field in a tunable loop-gap cavity adapted for optical detection of magnetic resonance. Experiments on X-traps induced by guest molecules in chemically mixed p-dibromobenzene (DBB) crystals provide evidence that optically excited triplet states perform at 1.4 K fast jumps between magnetically well defined trap molecules. We conclude that the guest molecule p-dichlorobenzene is surrounded by at least 4 energetically distorted DBB host molecules.     

Delayed demagnetization jumps in (NdDy)(FeCo)B magnets in a steady-state magnetic field

Spontaneous demagnetization jumps are observed in sintered magnets (Nd_0.6Dy_0.4)₁₆(Fe_0.77Co_0.23)₇₈B₆ in a constant magnetic field after a sharp decrease in an external magnetic field from the value corresponding to the saturation to a value close to the coercive force. It is shown that the number of the magnetization jumps is proportional to their amplitudes. A low value of the autocorrelation coefficient between the jump amplitude and the time of its appearance (R < 0.1) demonstrate the stochasticity of the jumps. It is found that the spectral jump density is independent of the frequency, i.e., a white magnetic noise is observed. The distribution of the magnetic field gradient has been obtained near the sample surface that makes it possible to distinguish domains and the grain magnetization in the dependence on the direction of the texturing of the sintered magnet.

     

Low-temperature fatigue behaviour and development of dislocation structure in aluminium single crystals with single-slip orientation

Al single crystals oriented for single slip were cyclically deformed under constant plastic strain amplitudes between 1?×?10^?3 and 5?×?10^?2 at 77?K. Al single crystals showed hardening to saturation at all applied shear stress amplitudes. The resultant cyclic stress–strain curve (CSSC) showed a stress plateau in a range of plastic strain amplitude from 2?×?10^?3 to 2?×?10^?2. Surface observation revealed that multiple slip systems were active even at the strain amplitude in the plateau region. At plastic strain amplitudes corresponding to the plateau of the CSSC, persistent slip bands (PSBs) were formed parallel to the primary slip plane. In the PSBs, well-developed dislocation walls parallel to the {100} planes were observed. The microstructure in the PSBs was explained by the fact of multiple activation of the primary and critical slip systems. The above results indicate that the high stacking fault energy of Al is an important factor affecting the fatigue behaviour even at 77?K.     

Electromagnetically induced transparency in crystals of magnetic molecules

The effect of electromagnetically induced transparency in crystals of magnetic molecules was theoretically investigated. The problem of choosing the polarizations of strong and weak resonant magnetic fields acting on a crystal is discussed. Estimates of the amplitude of strong resonant field that is necessary for manifestation of this effect in crystals of magnetic molecules Mn₁₂ and Fe₈ are reported.     

Direct determination of the relaxation-time of electrons using Alfvén-waves

It is shown that the absorption coefficient of weakly-damped Alfvén-waves exhibits standing wave oscillations, amplitude of which grows exponentially in an increasing magnetic field. Measurements of the power absorption as a function of magnetic field are used to make a direct determination of the relaxation-time of the charge-carriers in single crystals of bismuth.     

Effect of the length of action of a steady electric field on the polarization buildup process in triglycene sulfate and barium titanate single crystals

During the investigation of the Barkhausen effect and the reversal current [1] in ferroelectric crystals, it was observed that, together with other factors, the length of time during which the specimens had been kept in a steady electric field has a substantial effect on the polarization reversal process. In this connection, it is of interest to investigate parallely the Barkhausen effect and the reversal current in ferroelectric crystals at various lengths of action of the electric field. In this paper we have investigated the number of Barkhausen jumps, the charge being reversed, the buildup time of the total and irreversible polarization, as well as the starting field for jumps and reversal current as a function of the length of action of the field on specimens of TGS and BaTiO₃ single crystals during the quasistatic polarization reversal process.     

Softening of ionic crystals as a result of a change in the spin states of structural defects under paramagnetic resonance conditions

The purpose of this work was to investigate the plastic properties of Ca-or Eu-doped NaCl and KCl single crystals in crossed constant and microwave magnetic waves under paramagnetic resonance conditions. It was found that when the photon energy of the microwave field equals the Zeeman splitting of the electronic spin sublevels, resonance softening of the crystals, manifested as an increase in the free path of individual dislocations and the macroplastic flow velocity as well as a decrease of the microhardness of the crystals, is observed. It was established that metastable Ca-and Eu-impurity complexes, which are also sensitive to the constant magnetic field in the absence of the microwave field, as well as complexes formed by dislocations and point defects are responsible for resonance softening.     

Effect of a magnetic field on the flow stress of Co and Fe single crystals

In a range of plastic deformation, the flow stress drop and the stress relaxation of Co and Fe single crystals are observed under an a.c. magnetic field. The magnitude of these drops is discussed on the basis of different deformation modes due to the crystal structure.     

Effect of Weak Magnetic Fields on the Electric Properties of CdTe Crystals

The effect of static and pulsed magnetic fields (~1 T) on the electrical conductivity of CdTe crystals has been revealed. With a delay after the magnetic exposure of crystals, the effect is observed in the form of two peaks of their conductivity with the subsequent relaxation return. The first peak at both types of magnetic treatment is observed ~1 h after exposure and its amplitude exceeds the background value by ~23–36% (the larger value corresponds to the static field). The second peak appears in both cases also at commensurate but much larger delays of ~50–60 h, and its amplitudes are much different for the two types of exposure, exceeding the background by ~60% for the static field and only by ~11% for the pulsed field. Possible mechanisms of the observed effects have been discussed.     

Reverse Barkhausen jumps

The magnetic parameters, forward and reverse magnetic reversal jumps in iron-core quartzite specimens and in magnetite single crystals, and the effect of thermal treatment on the magnetic and electric parameters of quartzites are studied. Reverse Barkhausen jumps are larger than the forward ones, but they are considerably fewer. The maxima of forward jumps correspond to the coercive force, while those of the reverse ones to fields exceeding the coercive force. Possible causes of the manifestation of reverse Barkhausen jumps are discussed.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fkika, No. 12, pp. 8–12, December, 1984.     

Microplasticity of biomorphic SiC/Al composite under uniaxial compression

Inhomogeneity of the microplastic strain rate (deformation jumps) of a biomorphic SiC/Al composite under uniaxial compression has been studied by laser interferometry on the nanometer level. The value of strain rate jumps has been calculated from the deviation of the form of separate beats in the interferogram of a deformation from the standard form corresponding to a constant strain rate within one beat. In addition to strain rate oscillations extended by 100–180 nm along the displacement (the variation in the length of the specimen), peaks of small width and amplitude with a distance of 10–20 nm between them are observed, as well as peaks with a width of ∼ 50 nm. These peaks may be associated with the sizes of structural formations of an aluminum alloy (grains, subgrains, precipitates, etc.) or with the sizes of SiC nano- and microcrystals situated separately from large-grain crystals and surrounded by residual carbon. The results of this work offer hope to the possibility of enhancing plasticity and strength of biomorphic composites by increasing the fraction of fine-grain elements (< 1.5 μm) in their structure.     

Effect of the magnetic field on nanometer-scale deformation jumps in polymers

The effect of a constant magnetic field on the rate of jumplike creep under compression is investigated for vitreous polymers with a globular structure. The interferometric method used for recording the creep makes it possible to measure deformation jumps from 300 nm and larger. It is demonstrated that the sizes of deformation jumps in polyester and epoxy resins decrease in the magnetic field (B = 0.2 T). Taking into account that the deformation jump size corresponds to the size of structural inhomogeneities, it is assumed that macroglobules under the action of a constant magnetic field are separated into smaller structural units on the nanometer level.     

Normal forces of magnetorheological fluids under oscillatory shear

The normal forces of magnetorheological fluids under oscillatory shear are investigated by a commercial magneto-rheometer with plate-plate geometry. At the constant strain amplitude and frequency, the normal forces almost keep a steady value with the testing time if the strain amplitude is smaller than the critical value. When a larger strain is applied, they will fluctuate periodically. Under the strain sweep mode, the relationships between normal forces and strain amplitude can be divided into three regions: linear viscoelastic region, nonlinear viscoelastic region and the viscoplastic region. Under the frequency sweep method, it is found that the angular frequency show little influence on the normal forces. At last, the normal forces increase with increasing of the temperature under a low magnetic field, while they decrease under a high magnetic field.     

Strain characteristics and superelastic response of single crystals

The intermartensitic transformation, in a two-step complete thermoelastic martensitic transformation in Ni_53.2Mn_22.6Ga_24.2 single crystals, provides a much larger strain than that of the martensitic transformation. With a biasing magnetic field, the intermartensitic transformation strain is inhibited and the martensitic transformation strain is enhanced. Compressive stress–strain characteristics can be affected greatly by a static magnetic field. At low deformation temperature, the irreversible transformation strain induced by the stress becomes reversible, when a static magnetic field is applied. Further, the magnitude of the stress necessary for rearrangement of martensitic variants is dependent on the direction of the biasing magnetic field. Moreover, a well-defined character of the twin-boundary motion, similar to the soliton motion, has been observed upon loading or unloading.