The magnetocaloric effect and low temperature specific heat of SmNi

The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in a magnetic SmNi sample was evaluated from magnetization and heat capacity measurements. The MCE phenomena in the vicinity of magnetic phase transitions in terms of magnetic entropy change, , and adiabatic temperature change, , are reported. Isothermal magnetization measurements at several temperatures around the transition were carried out and used for versusT calculations. A similar dependence of the magnetic entropy change was evaluated from heat capacity C_p(T) measurements under zero field and 5 T. The SmNi system provides magnetic refrigerants that induce an adiabatic cooling of about during the magnetization process with a field of 5 T in the temperature range of 35-45 K. The temperature dependence of C_p(T) is analyzed in terms of the magnetic and the lattice contributions.     

Calibration of STUD+ Parameters to Achieve Optimally Efficient Broadband Adiabatic Decoupling in a Single Transient

To provide the most efficient conditions for spin decoupling with least RF power, master calibration curves are provided for the maximum centerband amplitude, and the minimum amplitude for the largest cycling sideband, resulting from STUD+ adiabatic decoupling applied during a single free induction decay. The principal curve is defined as a function of the four most critical experimental input parameters: the maximum amplitude of the RF field,RF_max, the length of the sech/tanh pulse,T_p, the extent of the frequency sweep,bwdth,and the coupling constant,J_o. Less critical parameters, the effective (or actual) decoupled bandwidth,bw_eff, and the sech/tanh truncation factor, β, which become more important asbwdthis decreased, are calibrated in separate curves. The relative importance of nine additional factors in determining optimal decoupling performance in a single transient are considered. Specific parameters for efficient adiabatic decoupling can be determined via a set of four equations which will be most useful for¹³C decoupling, covering the range of one-bond¹³C¹H coupling constants from 125 to 225 Hz, and decoupled bandwidths of 7 to 100 kHz, with a bandwidth of 100 kHz being the requirement for a 2 GHz spectrometer. The four equations are derived from a recent vector model of adiabatic decoupling, and experiment, supported by computer simulations. The vector model predicts an inverse linear relation between the centerband and maximum sideband amplitudes, and it predicts a simple parabolic relationship between maximum sideband amplitude and the productJ_oT_p. The ratiobwdth/(RF_max)²can be viewed as a characteristic time scale, τ_c, affecting sideband levels, with τ_c≈T_pgiving the most efficient STUD+ decoupling, as suggested by the adiabatic condition. Functional relationships betweenbwdthand less critical parameters,bw_effand β, for efficient decoupling can be derived from Bloch-equation calculations of the inversion profile for a single sech/tanh pulse. Residual splitting of the centerband, normally associated with incomplete or inefficient decoupling, is not seen in sech/tanh decoupling and therefore cannot be used as a measure of adiabatic decoupling efficiency. The calibrated experimental performance levels achieved in this study are within 20% of theoretical performance levels derived previously for ideal sech/tanh decoupling at high power, indicating a small scope for further improvement at practical RF power levels. The optimization procedures employed here will be generally applicable to any good combination of adiabatic inversion pulse and phase cycle.     

Magnetic properties of a ferrimagnetic core/shell nanocube Ising model: A Monte Carlo simulation study

Monte Carlo simulation has been used to study the magnetic properties and hysteresis loops of a single nanocube, consisting of a ferromagnetic core of spin- surrounded by a ferromagnetic shell of spin-1 with antiferromagnetic interface coupling. We find a number of characteristic phenomena. In particular, the effects of the shell coupling and the interface coupling on both the compensation temperature and the magnetization profiles are investigated. The effects of the interface coupling on the hysteresis loops are also examined.     

Efficient heteronuclear dipolar decoupling in solid-state NMR using frequency-swept SPINAL sequences

Aiming to improve heteronuclear spin decoupling efficiency in NMR spectroscopy of solids and liquid crystals, we have modified the original Small Phase Incremental ALteration (SPINAL) sequence by incorporating a frequency sweep into it. For the resulting sequence, termed SW_f-SPINAL, the decoupling performance of a large number of sweep variants was explored by both numerical simulations and NMR experiments. It is found that introducing a frequency sweep generally increases both the ‘on-resonance’ decoupling performance and the robustness towards parameter offsets compared to the original SPINAL sequence. This validates the concept of extending the range of efficient decoupling by introducing frequency sweeps, which was recently suggested in the context of the frequency-swept SW_f-TPPM method. The sequence found to be best performing among the SW_f-SPINAL variants consists of fully swept 16 pulse pairs and is designated (32)-SPINAL-32. Its good decoupling performance for rigid spin systems is confirmed by numerical simulations and also experimentally, by evaluating the CH₂ resonance of a powder sample of l-tyrosine under MAS. For moderate MAS frequencies, the new sequence matches the decoupling achieved with SW_f-TPPM, and outperforms all other tested sequences, including TPPM and SPINAL-64. (32)-SPINAL-32 also shows excellent decoupling characteristics for liquid crystalline systems, as exemplified by experiments on the 5CB liquid crystal.     

Magnetocaloric effect in the ferromagnetic Kondo lattice model

The Kondo lattice model describes a lattice of localized spins S_i interacting with the conduction electrons via a local exchange coupling J. Assuming a ferromagnetic Hund's rule coupling J>0, the model can be used to describe some itinerant magnetocaloric materials such as Gd(Si_xGe_1-x)₄, La(Fe_1-xSi_x)₁₃, and LaCa_1-xMn_xO₃, which are important for magnetic refrigeration near room temperature. The localized magnetic moments are described in the model Hamiltonian by spin operators, and the conduction electrons by fermionic operators. To study the magnetocaloric effect, a uniform external magnetic field is added through a Zeeman term. By averaging the fermionic degrees of freedom, one obtains an indirect exchange coupling between spins at sites i and j, which corresponds to the RKKY interaction. The self-consistent mean value is evaluated in the effective Heisenberg Hamiltonian within the random phase approximation (RPA). The conduction electron magnetization for a given value of is obtained from the corresponding Green's functions through the equation of motion method. The pressure and doping dependence of the Curie temperature are taken into account in the evaluation of . The magnetocaloric effect is characterized by the isothermal entropy change ΔS and the adiabatic temperature change ΔT_ad upon magnetic field variations in the neighborhood of the ferromagnetic phase transition. The results are obtained for and compared to measurements with Gd compounds.     

Nanostructure and excellent magnetic properties of Co19.35Fe53.28Hf7.92O19.35 films

This letter reports the novel nanostructure and excellent magnetic properties of Co_19.35Fe_53.28Hf_7.92O_19.35 films with varying thicknesses. Among the samples investigated, the film with a thickness of 432 nm exhibits the most excellent magnetic properties: high saturation magnetization, , low coercivity, , and high hard-axis anisotropy field of . The magnetic permeability remains almost stable up to 3 GHz and reaches a maximum at the ferromagnetic resonant frequency of 4.024 GHz. The excellent magnetic characteristics of this film in addition to a very high electrical resistivity of 3569 μΩ cm make it ideal for uses in high-frequency applications of micromagnetic devices. It reveals that these superior properties are ascribed to the formed peculiar nanostructure. A magnetic phase separation appears to occur strongly as the film thickness increases over 437 nm, which, in turn, modifies the high-frequency behavior.     

Photo-induced birefringence in semiconductors compared with optical fibers

We analyze the photon-induced birefringence in semiconductors based on pump-probe setups, within the semiconductor Bloch equations formalism and the Luttinger-Kohn model for the band structure. When the pump and probe pulses are well separated in time, the anisotropic momentum space filling of the photo-excited electrons is the only mechanism causing the induced birefringence. The birefringence ratio is then for pump and probe having perpendicular vs. parallel linear polarizations. This ratio is for opposite vs. identical circular polarization. When the pump and probe pulses overlap in time, these birefringence ratios become for linear polarizations and in case of circular polarizations. These predictions differ markedly from those for optical fibers.     

Magnetic properties of ErN films

We report a magnetization study of stoichiometric ErN nanocrystalline films grown on Si and protected by a GaN passivating layer. According to the temperature dependence of the resistivity the films are heavily doped semiconductors. Above 100 K the magnetization data fit well to a Curie-Weiss behavior with a moment expected within the free-ion Er³⁺ multiplet. Below 50 K the Curie-Weiss plot steepens to an effective moment corresponding to that in the crystal-field determined quartet ground state, and develops a clear paramagnetic Curie-Weiss temperature of about 4.5 K. Zero-field- and field-cooled magnetization curves and the AC susceptibility firmly establish a ferromagnetic ground state within that multiplet below a Curie temperature of . Due to the (1 1 1) texture of the film the comparison between the magnetization behavior, when the field is applied parallel and perpendicular to the film plane, gives new information about the magnetic structure. An arrangement of the moments according to the model derived from neutron diffraction for bulk HoN is strongly suggested.     

Manley-Rowe relations for an arbitrary discrete system

Manley-Rowe relations are formulated for a discrete Hamiltonian system with an arbitrary number of resonances. Assuming that the resonances are defined as , where is an n×n integer matrix of rank r<n, and |ω〉≡T(ω₁,…,ωn) is the frequency vector, the projection of the action vector |J〉 on is an adiabatic invariant. Hence n−r independent integrals, from where the conventional Manley-Rowe relations for a single resonance follow as a particular case.     

Etching and forward transfer of fused silica in solid-phase by femtosecond laser-induced solid etching (LISE)

We present a femtosecond laser-based technique for etching and forward transfer of bulk transparent materials in solid-phase. Femtosecond laser pulses with were focused through a fused silica block onto an absorbing thin film of Cr. A constraining Si wafer was pressed into tight contact with the Cr film to prevent lift-off of the film. A combination of the high temperature and pressure of the Cr, and compressive stress from the Si, resulted in etching of smooth features from the fused silica by cracking. Unlike in conventional ablative or chemical etching, the silica was removed from the bulk as single solid-phase pieces which could be collected on the Si. Using this so-called laser-induced solid etching (LISE) technique, 1-2 m deep pits and channels have been produced in the silica surface, and corresponding dots and lines deposited on the Si. The threshold fluence for etching was found to be with duration pulses. The morphology of the etched features are investigated as functions of fluence and exposure to multiple pulses.     

A general formula of two-dimensional Franck-Condon integral and the photoelectron spectroscopy of sulfur dioxide

We derived a general formula of Franck-Condon integral for two-dimensional harmonic oscillators () taking into account the Duschinsky effect and applied it to study the photoelectron spectroscopy of SO₂ and . The equilibrium geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies of , SO₂ and were calculated by using the density functional theory (B3LYP functional) and the coupled cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] methods with various basis sets up to 6-311+G(3df) and aug-cc-pVTZ. The adiabatic ionization energy and electron affinity were computed by using the CCSD(T) method extrapolated to the complete basis set limit with aug-cc-pVXZ (X = D, T, Q, 5). The simulated photoelectron spectra of both SO₂ and are in accord with the experiment. While the Duschinsky effect plays a role for some weak transitions of SO₂, it can be neglected for . A splitting observed in the experimental photoelectron spectrum of SO₂ is interpreted as contributing from hot bands and combination bands of ν₁ and ν₂, rather than arising from perturbation of a potential barrier as previous researchers proposed. The calculated adiabatic ionization energy and electron affinity are in agreement with the experiment within 0.027 and 0.040 eV, respectively.     

Unitary transformations purely based on geometric phases of two spins with Ising interaction in a rotating magnetic field

We consider how to obtain a nontrivial two-qubit unitary transformation purely based on geometric phases of two spin-'s with Ising-like interaction in a magnetic field with a static z-component and a rotating xy-component. This is an interesting problem both for the purpose of measuring the geometric phases and in quantum computing applications. In previous approach, coupling of one of the qubit with the rotating component of field is ignored. By considering the exact two-spin geometric phases, we find that a nontrivial two-spin unitary transformation purely based on Berry phases can be obtained by using two consecutive cycles with opposite directions of the magnetic field and opposite signs of the interaction constant. In the nonadiabatic case, starting with a certain initial state, a cycle in the projected space of rays and thus Aharonov-Anandan phase can be achieved. The two-cycle scheme cancels the total phases, hence any unknown initial state evolves back to itself without a phase factor.     

Room-temperature ferromagnetism in nanoparticles of superconducting materials

Nanoparticles of superconducting (YBCO) () exhibit ferromagnetism at room temperature while the bulk YBCO, obtained by heating the nanoparticles at high temperature (940 ^°C), shows a linear magnetization curve. Across the superconducting transition temperature, the magnetization curve changes from that of a soft ferromagnet to a superconductor. Furthermore, our experiments reveal that not only nanoparticles of metal oxides but also metal nitrides such as NbN () and δ-MoN () exhibit room-temperature ferromagnetism.     

Nonlinear statistical coupling

By considering a nonlinear combination of the probabilities of a system, a physical interpretation of Tsallis statistics as representing the nonlinear coupling or decoupling of statistical states is proposed. The escort probability is interpreted as the coupled probability, with Q=1−q defined as the degree of nonlinear coupling between the statistical states. Positive values of Q have coupled statistical states, a larger entropy metric, and a maximum coupled-entropy distribution of compact-support coupled-Gaussians. Negative values of Q have decoupled statistical states and for −2<Q<0 a maximum coupled-entropy distribution of heavy-tail coupled-Gaussians. The conjugate transformation between the heavy-tail and compact-support domains is shown to be for coupled-Gaussian distributions. This conjugate relationship has been used to extend the generalized Fourier transform to the compact-support domain and to define a scale-invariant correlation structure with heavy-tail limit distribution. In the present paper, we show that the conjugate is a mapping between the source of nonlinearity in non-stationary stochastic processes and the nonlinear coupling which defines the coupled-Gaussian limit distribution. The effects of additive and multiplicative noise are shown to be separable into the coupled-variance and the coupling parameter Q, providing further evidence of the importance of the generalized moments.     

Magnetization reversal of microsized Fe elliptic rings

We report on the magnetization reversal of elliptic ring patterns lithographically prepared from Fe films. The elliptic rings in four different arrays are all of the same size , but their geometry is disturbed by introducing an increasing number of slits into the rings. The magnetization reversal is studied by regular longitudinal vector magneto-optical Kerr effect in specular geometry as well as in Bragg geometry, using the diffraction spots from the grating for hysteresis measurements. The measurements are compared with the results of micromagnetic simulation, which allow a detailed interpretation of the experimental data. We find that the remagnetization process in an external magnetic field is characterized by single-step switching or double switching depending on the geometry of the structure.