EXAFS study of intermetallics of the type RGe2 (R=La,Ce, Pr,Nd, Sm,Gd, Tb,Dy, Ho,Er and Y) Part I: Determination of Ge-Ge distances

A study of theEXAFS associated with theK x-ray absorption discontinuity of germanium in pure germanium and in the rare-earth germanides RGe₂ (where R=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Y) has been carried out. The Ge-Ge distances have been obtained in these compounds. Considering the phase to the RGe₂ system, the bond lengths in these compounds have been determined. The values obtained by us for the RGe₂ compounds (R=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy and Y) agree with those obtained earlier by crystallographic methods. The bond lengths for the compounds TbGe₂, HoGe₂ and ErGe₂ are also being reported.     

EXAFS study of intermetallics of the type RGe2 (R=La,Ce, Pr,Nd, Sm,Gd, Tb,Dy, Ho,Er and Y) Part II: Determination of Ge-R distances

The extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) associated with the GeK x-ray absorption discontinuity in pure germanium and in the intermetallics RGe₂ (R=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Y) has been studied. The Ge-R distances in these compounds have been determined by comparing the experimental phase shifts with the theoretical ones. The Ge-R distances in the compounds TbGe₂, HoGe₂ and ErGe₂ are being reported for the first time in this work.     

Magnetic properties and structure of hydrogen-amorphized intermetallic compounds RFe2Hx (R=Y, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er)

The magnetic properties and structure of hydrogen-amorphized RFe₂H_x compounds (R=Y, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er) have been studied. It is shown that amorphization of the RFe₂H_x hydrides results in an increase of Fe-Fe, and a decrease of R-Fe exchange interaction energy compared to their crystalline hydride counterparts. The magnetic structure of amorphous RFe₂H_x compounds, with the exception of those with R=Y and Gd is apparently noncollinear ferrimagnetic, as in the crystalline hydrides. A model of the heterophase state of amorphous RFe₂H_x hydrides based on x-ray diffraction and magnetic data is proposed. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 908–912 (May 1997)     

MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF NEW SERIES R-Mo-Fe NITRIDES WITH THE ThMn12-TYPE STRUCTURE AT A LOWER Mo CONTENT

A systematic study has been made on formation condition, crystallographic structure and magnetic properties of RMo_1.5Fe_10.5N_x, where R=Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er. The interstitial nitrogen atom effects on Curie temperature, saturation magnetization and magneto-crystalline anisotropy have been investigated. Two important preliminary results have been obtained. (1) A single phase crystallized in the ThMn₁₂-type structure was stabilized with a smaller content of molybdenum, thus, the compounds possess a higher Curie temperature and a larger spontaneous magnetization. (2) A complete system of compounds with 1:12 type structure containing the light rare earth cerium and praseodymium was synthesized, which will be favorable for developing new rare earth hard magnetic materials.     

Fluorescence studies of the Er ↔ Ho and Er ↔ Tm energy transfer in erbium aluminum garnet

We have studied the flourescence characteristics of Ho³⁺ and Tm³⁺ in ErAlG:Ho, Tm and investigated the Er ? Ho and Er ? Tm energy transfer present in this system. In the infrared, the crystal ErAlG:Ho, Tm presents three groups of sharp lines (centered at ～18 000, ～19 300, and ～21 000 Å), whose intensities are strongly temperature-dependent. The first two groups are attributable to the Tm ³H₄ → ³H₆ transition, while the third group represents the Ho ⁵I₇ → ⁵I₈ transition. In YAlG:Er (50%), Ho(2%), only the Ho emission centered at ～21 000 Å is observed in the infrared. Under pulsed excitation, the emissions at ～17 900, ～19 000, and ～21 000 Å in ErAlG:Ho, Tm present a double exponential decay; the time dependences of the decays of the first two emissions are essentially the same; however, the 19 000 and 21 000 Å emissions present different decay patterns. In YAlG:Er (50%), Ho (2%), on the other hand, the decay of the 21 000 Å emission is purely exponential at all temperatures studied. The above results for ErAlG:Ho, Tm are explained by means of a rate-equation model in which the Ho → Er and Tm → Er transfer are treated as activation-type processes which effect a coupling between (1) the Ho and Tm ions, and (2) the Ho or Tm ions and quenching impurities.     

Optical absorption and electrical conductivity of flash evaporated CuGaTe2 thin films

The optical absorption edge of CuGaTe₂ thin films in the energy range 1 to 2·3 eV was studied. The characteristic band gaps were found to be 1·23 eV and 1·28 eV whereas the acceptor ionization energy was 170 meV. Electrical conductivity measurements were carried out in the temperature range 300–550 K and two acceptor states with ionization energies 400 meV and 140 meV were found. The origin of acceptor states is explained based on covalent model.     

Synthesis and characterization of the new high pressure phases ACu3 V4O12(A=Gd,Tb, Er)

New ACu₃V₄O₁₂ (A=Gd, Tb, Er) phases have been prepared at high pressure and high-temperature conditions (P～8–9 GPa, T～1000°C) in a toroid-type high pressure cell. These compounds crystallize in the cubic symmetry with a perovskite-like structure. At ambient pressure, they are paramagnetic and have activation-type conductivity. The effect of high pressure (10–50 GPa) on the electrical properties of the materials was analyzed in the temperature range from 78 to 300 K. Pressure ranges of the transition from activation type to metallic conductivity have been determined. The crystal structure of ACu₃V₄O₁₂ (A=Gd, Tb, Er) was found to be stable up to 50 GPa.     

Positron annihilation studies in high-Tc superconductors RBa2Cu3Oy,R: La,Nd, Sm,Eu, Gd,Dy, Ho,Y, Er

Positron lifetime and Doppler broadening of the annihilation line measurements have been performed at room temperature in high-T_c superconductors RBa₂Cu₃O_y, where R: La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Y, Er and 6.9 < y ≤ 7. Doppler broadening of the annihilation line measurements have also been performed in high-T_c superconducting samples R RBa₂Cu₃O_y, where R: Nd, Sm, Eu, Ho, Y, Er as a function of temperature between 14 K and 293 K. It was observed that the positron lifetime and the S parameter values at room temperature have no obvious trend in their variation from the yttrium substitution by a rare-earth element. It was also observed that the temperature dependence of the positron annihilation parameters is similar in the high-T_c superconducting samples.     

Magnetic properties of RCoSi2 compounds (R=rare earth)

New ternary silicides of composition RCoSi₂ (R=rare earth and Y) have been prepared and found to crystallize in the orthorhombic CeNiSi₂-type structure. Their magnetic properties have been studied by means of susceptibility measurements between 2 and 250 K. The Ce and Y compounds show essentially temperature independent Pauli paramagnetism. The compounds with R=Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Tm show antiferromagnetic ordering below 20 K. The effective rare earh moments in the paramagnetic state agree well with the free ion values, and, for the heavy rare earths, the Néel temperatures vary with the De Gennes factor. There is no indication for a magnetic contribution from the Co sublattice.     

Crystal structure and optical properties of germanates <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ln</Emphasis><Subscript>2</Subscript>Ca(GeO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ln</Emphasis> = Gd,Ho, Er,Yb, Y)

This paper reports on the results of structural and optical investigations of a new class of layered compounds Ln ₂Ga(GeO₃)₄ (Ln = Gd, Ho, Er, Yb, Y), which are promising for the use in photonics as converters of laser radiation.     

Amorphous germanium III. Optical properties

The optical properties of thick sputtered films (～30μ) of amorphous Ge, grown with different substrate temperatures (0ˇ-T _sˇ-350°C), were obtained between 0·05 and 4·5 eV by a combination of reflectance, transmittance and ellipsometric measurements. The refractive index at 0·15 eV decreases monotonically with increasing T _s, or equivalently, with increasing density, and is 4·13±0·05 eV in the highest density films. The absorption edge is approximately exponential (10²?α?10⁴ cm^?1) but shifts monotonically to higher energy and increases in slope with increasing T _s. Similarly, the peak in ε₂ grows by about 10% and shifts by about 0·15 eV to higher energies, reaching a maximum of about 23 at 2·90±0·05 eV in the high density films. The peak in the transition strength ω²ε₂ occurs at 4·2±0·2 eV in all films, but increases in magnitude with increasing T _s. The sum rules for n _eff(ω) and ε_0,eff(ω) are evaluated for ▄ω?5 eV and vary monotonically with T _s. These trends are neither compatible with Galeener's void resonance theory nor with changes in the oxygen content of the films, determined by the examination of absorption peaks at 0·053 eV and 0·09 eV. An explanation, suggested here and expanded in I, is based on the observed changes in the structure of the network and voids.     

Crystal growth and optical properties of Cr3+, Er3+, RE3+: Gd3Ga5O12 (RE=Tm,Ho, Eu) for mid-IR laser applications

In this paper we report on the optical properties of triply Cr³⁺, Er³⁺, and RE³⁺ (RE=Tm, Ho, Eu) doped Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂ crystals that were grown by the Czochralski method. Optical absorption, near-infrared (NIR), and mid-infrared (mid-IR) fluorescence spectra were characterized for the fabricated crystals and corresponding luminescence decay measurements under 654 nm excitation were also carried out. Based on the analysis of energy transfer process between Er and RE (RE=Tm, Ho, Eu) ions, the energy transfer efficiency (ETE) values were evaluated, correspondingly. From the spectral data of all the studied crystals, it is observed that the co-doped Cr³⁺ ion highly increases the absorption pump power and the three kinds of co-doped RE³⁺ ions depopulate the Er:⁴I_13/2 energy level effectively. The spectral analysis shows that titled rare earth doped crystals are promising materials for ～3.0 μm mid-IR laser applications and among them Cr,Er,Eu:GGG is relatively more suitable due to its excellent optical properties compared with others.     

Magnetic and structural studies of the alloy system REIn0.5Ag0.5

The structural and magnetic properties of the alloy system REIn_0.5Ag_0.5 [RE = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb] are reported. All these alloys (except that of Yb) crystallize in a cubic CsCl type structure at room temperature. Low temperature X-ray diffraction data does not reveal any structural phase transformation down to 8 K. On the basis of magnetic susceptibility data at a different temperature (3–300 K) and applied magnetic field (2 × 10⁵ to 8 × 10⁶ A m^-1, it has been concluded that GdIn_0.5Ag_0.5 is ferromagnetic (T_c = 118 K), TbIn_0.5Ag_0.5 and DyIn_0.5Ag_0.5 are meta magnetic (T_N = 66 and 30 K, respectively) and alloys involving Ho, Er, Tm and Yb are ferrimagnetic with Néel temperatures (T_N) equal to 24, 22, 21 and 20 K, respectively. The evaluated effective magneton number (p) is found to be slightly larger compared to theoretical values for tripositive ions of Gd, Tb and Dy and a bit smaller for Ho, Er, Tm and Yb. The results have been qualitatively explained using appropriate theories.     

Optical and resistivity studies of intercalated layer compounds

The optical absorption of three layered compounds has been studied at 4K between 0·1 and 3·0eV. The three compounds, TaS_1·6Se_0·4, TaS_1·6Se_0·4 (pyridine)_1/2, and TaS_1·6Se_0·4 (aniline)_3/4 have layer separations of 6·14, 12·09 and 18·07 A, respectively. Well-defined, free-carrier absorption edges exist near 1.0 eV in all three materials, from which values of the plasma frequency, the interband dielectric constant, and the optical scattering time were derived using the Drude theory. As the layer spacing increases both the plasma frequency and the dielectric constant decrease. The scattering time is short, 3 × 10^?15 sec, and almost independent of layer spacing. The calculated d.c. resistivity is consistent with the measured value in two of the three compounds.The variations of plasma frequency and dielectric constant with layer spacing are successfully interpreted in terms of a simple model which assumes the organic material acts as a dielectric separating metallic layers unchanged by its presence. Although a number of possibilities are put forward, no complete explanation is given for the short relaxation time in these compounds.     

Susceptibility measurements on some R5In3 compounds

The magnetic susceptibility of some rare earth-indium compounds has been measured in the temperature range 4.2–300 K under a constant field of 1 kOe. The compounds with R = Gd, Tb and Dy are antiferromagnetic, having Néel temperatures between 4.2 and 78 K ; those with R = Ho, Er and Tm seem to be ferromagnetic with ordering temperatures probably below 4.2 K. Y₅In₃ presents a temperature independent susceptibility.     

Optical properties of iron alloys with heavy rare-earth elements

Spectral-ellipsometric measurements by the Beatty method were made in the region from 1 eV to 4 eV at temperatures of 100, 293, and 700 K to determine the relation between the distinctive features of the optical absorption spectrum and the principal parameters of the electron energy spectrum in iron alloys with rare-earth elements. The fundamental bands of interband optical absorption of Fe₂-R alloys (R=Gd, Ho, Er) in the region 2.8–3.1 eV are formed by indirect transitions from d-like states, which are genetically bound to 3d–5d electrons of the transition metal and the rare-earth metal, in a state above the Fermi level.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 12, pp. 64–67, December, 1988.We thank our senior research colleague V. A. Domyshev for supplying the samples and carrying out the x-ray structure analysis.     

金属氢化物力学性能的第一性原理研究

采用第一性原理方法详细研究了氟化钙结构的多种金属氢化物MH₂ (M= La, Nd, Gd, Tb, Y, Dy, Ho, Er, Lu, Sc, Ti, Zr, Hf)的力学性质(弹性常数、体弹模量、剪切模量、杨氏模量).计算结果表明, MH₂ (M= La, Nd, Gd, Tb, Y, Dy, Ho, Er, Lu, Sc)在低温下具有稳定的氟化钙结构,其抵抗体积形变, 切应变和拉伸(或压缩)形变的能力从LaH₂, NdH₂, GdH₂, TbH₂, YH₂, DyH₂, HoH₂, ErH₂, LuH₂到ScH₂逐次递增, 而MH₂ (M= Ti, Zr, Hf)在低温下的氟化钙结构不稳定.通过对两种稳定的氢化物(TbH₂, ErH₂) 和两种不稳定的氢化物(TiH₂, HfH₂)的电子态密度以及差分电荷密度进行对比, 发现它们的稳定性与金属和氢之间的相互作用有密切关系.     

Temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity of R6(Fe1-xMnx)23 compounds in the temperature range 4.2 to 300 K

The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity of binary R₆Mn₂₃, R₆Fe₂₃ (R = Y, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm) and pseudobinary R₆(Fe_1-xMn_x)₂₃ (R = Y, Er, Ho) compounds has been determined by a four-probe measuring technique in the temperature range 4 to 400 K.The binary compounds exhibit a prop. T² dependence at low temperatures, while above 100 K a negative curvature of the -T-curves is observed.These experimental results are discussed on the basis of electron-spin wave scattering in the low temperature range and on the basis of s-d scattering in the high temperature range, taking explicitly into account the temperature dependence of the chemical potential.The pseudobinary compounds generally exhibit a decreasing resitivity with increasing temperature, combined with a high residual resistivity. These facts are explained by the so-called strong scattering mechanism and the appearance of “quasilocalized” states.     

The TDPAC study of the hyperfine interactions at Cd nuclei in RAl3 compounds synthesized under high pressure

The time-differential perturbed angular correlations technique (TDPAC) has been employed for measuring the parameters of hyperfine interactions in earlier known RAl₃ compounds, synthesized at high pressure (8 GPa) and high temperature, where R = La, Ce, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb and Lu. The ¹¹¹Cd(¹¹¹In) radioactive atom was used as a probe nucleus. The X-ray method has revealed that with the increase in the atomic number of a rare-earth element R, the obtained RAl₃ high-pressure phases crystallize, respectively, into orthorhombic, hexagonal and cubic structures. It has been found that in the compounds containing R=La, Ce, Sm and Gd, a deviation from earlier known structural types and the formation of new ones is observed, which is associated with the change of the stoichiometric composition of the said compounds. The results of the PAC measurements have confirmed the deviation from the predetermined stoichiometric composition 1R:3Al for the compounds LaAl₃, CeAl₃, SmAl₃ and GdAl₃ and have verified the RAl₃ stoichiometric structure for the other high-pressure phases obtained in this work.     

Nonlinear optical spectroscopy of electronic transitions in hexagonal manganites

The hexagonal rare-earth manganites RMnO₃ (R = Sc, Y, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) are a group of materials with an unusual combination of magnetic, electric and optical properties. The electronic structure of these materials was studied by second harmonic (SH) spectroscopy in the range from 1.2 to 3.0 eV. Faraday rotation and absorption spectra were measured in the range from 1.0 to 1.6 eV. Broad bands at ∼1.7 eV and ∼2.7 eV are assigned to electronic transitions between Mn³⁺(3d⁴) levels. The SH spectra are discussed on the basis of a recently developed microscopic theory. Received: 26 April 2001 / Published online: 18 July 2001