Hydrogenated and irradiatedA15 Nb3Sn layers — Preparation,Rutherford scattering analysis,resistivity and superconductivity

Niobium films on sapphire were reacted in tin-vapour to Nb₃Sn with resistance ratiosR(297 K)/R(18.3 K) up to 6 and resistively measured superconducting transition temperaturesT _c up to 17.93 K. The composition Nb_3+z Sn_1–z H _x of electrolytically hydrogenated samples was determined depth dependent by Rutherford backscattering of 30 MeV³²S and simultaneous detection of recoiled protons. Considerable concentration gradients in the thin layers (0.27 m) were detected. The increase of resistivity with hydrogen content and the change in the temperature dependence of is analyzed. A correlation betweenT _c and ₀= is found: An increase of T _c =0.2 K at ₀25cm andx0.03 is followed by a drastic decrease toT _c <1.1 K at ₀80cm andx1. TheT _c vs. ₀ andT _c vs. (T) characteristic correlations are different from universal irradiation or preparation induced correlations. The discrepancies can be interpreted by a stiffening of phonon modes and a band-shifting caused by the hydrogen.     

Surviving extrema for the action on the twisted SU(∞) one point lattice

We give a simplified construction of twist eating configurations, based on a theorem due to Frobenius. These configurations are defined through the equation:U U U ⁺ U ⁺ =exp(2in /N) withU SU(N), =1 tod andn an antisymmetric matrix with integer entries. In the (Twisted)-Eguchi-Kawai model they yield extrema some of which survive forN. Comparison is made with the Monte Carlo data of the internal energy in the small coupling region.     

On the absence of intermediate phases in the two-dimensional Coulomb gas

For a simple, continuum two-dimensional Coulomb gas (with soft cutoff), Gallavotti and Nicoló [J. Stat. Phys. 38:133–156 (1985)] have proved the existence of finite coefficients in the Mayer activity expansion up to order 2n below a series of temperature thresholdsT _n =T [1+(2n–1)^–1] (n=1, 2,...). With this in mind they conjectured that an infinite sequence of intermediate, multipole phases appears between the exponentially screened plasma phase aboveT ₁ and the full, unscreened Kosterilitz-Thouless phase belowT T _KT. We demonstrate that Debye-Hückel-Bjerrum theory, as recently investigated ford=2 dimensions, provides a natural and quite probably correct explanation of the pattern of finite Mayer coefficients while indicating the totalabsence of any intermediate phases at nonzero density ; only the KT phase extends to >0.     

Temperature-dependent electronic structure of gadolinium

We investigate the electronic structure of the ferromagnetic 4f-metal Gadolinium by use of a many-body evaluation of a generalized model of magnetism, the one-particle part of which is derived from an ASW-LSDA bandstructure calculation. A striking temperature-dependence of the conduction band states is traced back to a 4f-(5d, 6s) interband exchange. The conduction electron polarization (0.63 _B atT=0) decreases forTT _c very similar to the 4f-magnetization. A red shift of the lower -band edge of about 0.25 eV appears upon cooling fromT=T _c toT=0. — The quasiparticle band-structure exibits a remarkable non uniform magnetic behaviour at different positions in the Brillouin zone, and in particular for different subbands. Weakly correlated (s-like) dispersions show a Stoner-likeT-dependence of the exchange splitting. On the other hand, stronger correlated (d-like) dispersions split belowT _c into four branches, two for each spin direction. TheirT-dependence mainly concerns the spectral weights of the quasiparticle peaks and not so much the energetic positions. An exchange caused splitting remains even forT<T _c .     

Explaining μ+ spin-lattice relaxation in MnF2, belowT N,by scattering function

A relation between the spin-lattice relaxation rate (1/T ₁) of positive muons and the scattering functionS ^T (q,) is derived for the antiferromagnet MnF₂. We find good agreement between previousSR measurements of 1/T ₁ and our calculation using neutron scattering measurements ofS ^T (q,).     

Zeros of the finite-size scaling region partition function for a model with a wetting transition

We derive a finite-size scaling representation for the partition function for an Onsager-Temperley string model with a wetting transition, and analyze the zeros of this partition function in the complex scaled coupling parameter of relevance. The system models the one-dimensional interface between two phases in a rectangular two-dimensional region (x, y) ²,–L yL,oxN. The two phases are at coexistence. The string or interface has a surface tension 2KkT per unit length and an extra Boltzmann weighta per unit length if it touches the surfaces aty=±L. There is a critical valuea _c=1/2K and fora>a _c the string is confined to one of the surfaces, while fora a _c the string moves roughly in the rectangular region. The finite-size scaling parameters are =a _c ² N/L ² and =L(a–a _c)/a _c ² . We find that for || large, the zeros of the scaled partition function lie close to the lines arg()=±/4 with re()>0. We discuss the motion of all the zeros as changes by both analytic and numerical arguments.     

On the variation of hopping transport in amorphous silicon with preparation conditions

Thedc conductivity of amorphous silicon prepared by two successive ion bombardments at different temperatures has been measured as a function of temperature. The results may be expressed in terms of a generalized hopping formula =₀ exp [–(T ₀/T) ⁿ where the parameter set {n,T ₀, ₀} varies with the irradiation conditions. In particular, the hopping exponent has been found to assume the limiting values ofn1/4 at irradiation temperatures ofT _i100 K and ofn1/2 atT _i500 K, whereas intermediate values ofn have been observed for temperatures inbetween. It is concluded that thermally activated redistribution processes of radiation defects control the final state of disorder in the irradiated samples, which in turn determines the particular hopping characteristics. Within the framework of existing theories the two limiting cases can be explained to be due to a disordered solid of homogeneous and granular structure, respectively.     

Critical current density of a YBa2Cu3O7 film: Comparison between experiment and collective pinning theory

With the vibrating reed technique we have measured the critical current densityJ _c of a Y 123 200 nm thin film as a function of magnetic field perpendicular to the CuO₂ planes (O T<B8 T) and temperature (20KT60 K). At fieldsB<0.1 TJ _c is magnetic field independent and decreases at higher fields. A comparison with theory indicates that a crossover from a single pinning to a small bundle collective pinning regime may explain the observed behaviour. According to our estimate the main pinning centers are weak point pins due to oxygen vacancies. From the temperature dependence ofJ _c atB0 we obtain a temperature dependence of the thermodynamical critical fieldB _c (1–T/T _c )² forT20 K which agrees with the anomalous temperature dependence ofB _c2 observed recently in highly anisotropic high temperature superconductors.     

On the thermodynamics of associative recall of structured patterns within a given context

Within a thermodynamic approach we study the associative recall of structured patterns, e.g. complex impressions composed of auditory and visual components, or words consisting of various letters. These words can be recognized either without context, i.e. letter by letter in an independent way, or they can be put into context by favouring a certain percentage of preferred letter combinations (meaningful words) in the Hamiltonian. Particular emphasis is put on the question, under which conditions the system can recognize the preferred words in an improved way without loosing the quality of retrieval of the remaining arbitrary letter combinations. For two-letter words we find a phase diagram depending on three parameters, i.e. the temperatureT, the ratio between the number of letters within the alphabet and the number of neurons, and the enhancement parameter for the preferred combinations. This phase diagram is very rich, e.g. for a given and 0<<1, below a critical temperatureT ₂() one can recognize both the preferred words and-with somewhat reduced error tolerance-also any arbitrary letter combination, whereas forT ₂()<T<T ₁() only the preferred words can be recognized. For <0 the role of preferred and non-preferred combinations is interchanged.     

Scaling solutions of Smoluchowski's coagulation equation

We investigate the structure of scaling solutions of Smoluchowski's coagulation equation, of the formc _k (t)s(t)^– (k/s(t)), wherec _k (t) is the concentration of clusters of sizek at timet,s(t) is the average cluster size, and(x) is a scaling function. For the rate constantK(i, j) in Smoluchowski's equation, we make the very general assumption thatK(i, j) is a homogeneous function of the cluster sizesi andj:K(i,j)=a ^– K(ai,aj) for alla>0, but we restrict ourselves to kernels satisfyingK(i, j)/j0 asj. We show that gelation occurs if>1, and does not occur if1. For all gelling and nongelling models, we calculate the time dependence ofs(t), and we derive an equation for(x). We present a detailed analysis of the behavior of(x) at large and small values ofx. For all models, we find exponential large-x behavior: (x)A x ^– e ^–x asx and, for different kernelsK(i, j), algebraic or exponential small-x behavior: (x)Bx ^– or (x)=exp(–Cx ^–|| + ...) asx0.     

Dependence ofT c on doping in oxygen-hole induced Jahn-Teller mediated superconductors

A bipolaronic model of high-T _c superconductivity, that is based upon the idea that a doped oxygenhole reduces the separation between the and levels of the neighbouring Cu-ion and hence causes a Jahn-Teller mixing between the two levels, is suggested. Within the BCS scheme, the bipolaron Hamiltonian is investigated for the superconducting order parameter and the critical temperatureT _c as a function of hole-doping. Under suitable approximation for the bipolaronic kinetic energy, the hole-doping dependence ofT _c shows a universal behaviour. For temperatures close toT _c and forT _c 1, obeys the BCS type of relation with pre-factor of (1–T/T _c )² related to the range of superconducting-phase against the doping axis.     

A disordered ising model with internal degrees of freedom

A solvable Ising-system withnn-interactions as a basic system is considered. This system is assumed to undergo a phase transition so that the thermal quantityq= _i> ₀ ² /N, which is not necessarily the order parameter of the basic system, is different from zero (q0) forT _c. The whole system consists of the basis {S _i} and an equal number of additional spins _i which are coupled linearly with the basic spinsS _i through an exchange constantJ _i which is distributed at random. The pairs of spinsS _i – _i can be interpreted as clusters with an internal degree of freedom. The specific heat c and the susceptibility of the internal degree of freedom can be separated exactly and show typical spin glass properties: the specific heat c is an analytic function over the whole temperature range and the susceptibility shows a cusp at the transition temperatureT _c of the basic system.     

Spin fluctuations in both the ordered and paramagnetic phases of MnSi! MnSi a heavy Fermi liquid?

Polarised neutrons and polarisation analysis have been used to determine the diffuse magnetic scattering from MnSi as a function of temperature. Measurements at 50 K (1.72T _c) and 100 K (3.45T _c) in the paramagnetic phase confirmed the presence of strong spatial correlations previously reported at 300 K (10T _c) and 580 K (20T _c). The spatial correlations between regions of spin density separated by 12 Å are of a ferromagnetic nature and determine the static susceptibility. Integration of the paramagnetic response over an inverse atomic volume yields a moment per manganese atom of 1.2 _B , a value considerably larger than the 0.4 _B observed in Bragg scattering and magnetisation measurements at 4.2 K. Measurements made at 11 K in the ordered magnetic phase reveal strong diffuse scattering corresponding to 0.8 _B per Mn atom. The increase in the diffuse scattering observed in the paramagnetic phase corresponds to the passage of the Bragg component into the background.The presence of significant scattering in the ordered phase and the very unusual wave vector dependence of the diffuse scattering observed at 11 K has been interpreted assuming MnSi to be a heavy Fermi liquid. Furthermore we believe these measurements give the first direct observation of the exchange hole.     

Energy-level statistics of model quantum systems: Universality and scaling in a lattice-point problem

We investigate the statistics of the numberN(R, S) of lattice pointsnZ ², in an annular domain (R, w)=(R+w)A\RA, whereR, w>0. HereA is a fixed convex set with smooth boundary andw is chosen so that the area of (R, w) isS. The statistics comes fromR being taken as random (with a smooth density) in some interval [c ₁ T,c ₂,T],c ₂>c ₁>0. We find that in the limitT the variance and distribution of N=N(R; S)–S depend strongly on howS grows withT. There is a saturation regimeS/T, asT, in which the fluctuations in N coming from the two boundaries of are independent. Then there is a scaling regime,S/Tz, 0<z<, in which the distribution depends onz in an almost periodic way going to a Gaussian asz0. The variance in this limit approachesz for genericA, but can be larger for degenerate cases. The former behavior is what one would expect from the Poisson limit of a distribution for annuli of finite area.     

Quantization of the Maxwell field in linear conformal invariant gauges

It is shown that the generalized Lorentz gauges provide all linear conformal invariant gauges, i.e. gauges such that A =0.     

Self-avoiding walks in quenched random environments

The self-avoiding walk in a quenched random environment is studied using real-space and field-theoretic renormalization and Flory arguments. These methods indicate that the system is described, ford _c =4, and, for large disorder ford>d _c , by a strong disorder fixed point corresponding to a glass state in which the polymer is confined to the lowest energy path. This fixed point is characterized by scaling laws for the size of the walk,LN ^p withN the number of steps, and the fluctuations in the free energy,fL ^p. The bound 1/-d/2 is obtained. Exact results on hierarchical lattices yield> _pure and suggests that this inequality holds ford=2 and 3, although= _pure cannot be excluded, particularly ford=2. Ford>d _c there is a transition between strong and weak disorder phases at which= _pure. The strong-disorder fixed point for SAWs on percolation clusters is discussed. The analogy with directed walks is emphasized.     

Critical exponentβ for hyperfine fields in nickel

The magnetic hyperfine fields for⁶³Ni,⁶⁶Cu, and⁶⁷Zn nuclei in nickel metal have been measured by means of perturbed-ray angular distribution techniques at different temperatures up to 1 K below the Curie temperature,T _C . The temperature dependence of the fields can be very well fitted by (1—T/T _C ) with best values=0.322(16) for⁶³NiNi, = 0.427(42) for⁶⁶CuNi, and=0.427(14) for⁶⁷ZnNi respectively. The differences between these exponents indicate that there could be probe atom dependent deviations from proportionality between hyperfine field and bulk magnetization in the critical region.Work performed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a doctorate in physics at the Freie Universität, Berlin     

Thermodynamics of the re-entrant regime of type II two-dimensional superconductivity in a strong transverse magnetic field

The thermodynamics (including energy gap and critical temperatureT _c ) of a two-dimensional type II BCS superconductor subjected to a strong transverse magnetic fieldH in the re-entrant regime is studied. There are qualitative differences with the re-entrant 3D case; in particularT _c grows unboundedly likeB/lnB asB (filling factor 1) for fixedN. The thermodynamics atT=0 is completely described by the evaluation of the magnetic Gibbs free energy as a function of andH. A first order magnetic phase transition (failure of H/ B>0 for around each lowlying Landau level) found for the normal phase for unbroadened Landau levels, is washed out in the superconducting phase.     

Bifurcations of circle maps: Arnol'd tongues,bistability and rotation intervals

We study the bifurcations of two parameter families of circle maps that are similar tof _b,w (x)=x+w+(b/2) sin (2x) (mod1). The bifurcation diagram is constructed in terms of setsT _r , whereT _r is the set of parameter values (b, w) for whichf _{b, w} has an orbit with rotation numberr. We show that the known structure whenb<1 (forr rational,T _r is an Arnol'd tongue and forr irrational, it is an arc) extends nicely into the regionb>1, wheref _{b, w} is no longer injective and can have an interval of rotation numbers. Specifically, the tongues overlap in a uniform, monotonic manner and forr irrational,T _r opens into a tongue. Our other theorems give information about the dynamics off _{b, w} (e.g., bistability or aperiodicity) for (b, w) in various subsets of parameter space.