μSR investigation of the magnetic ordering in EuAs3

We have investigated the magnetic ordering and the incommensurate-commensurate phase transition in EuAs₃ by zero-field (ZF) and longitudinal-field μSR. In the commensurate phase, stable at temperatures below T_L=10.3 K, the ZF muon signal exhibits oscillations corresponding to four muon precession frequencies the lowest of which behaves anomalously. The muon signal shows no oscillation but exponential decay in the incommensurate phase stable in temperature range from T_L≈10.3 K up to T_N≈11 K. The temperature dependence of the fitted relaxation rate shows divergence-like behaviour at the ordering temperature T_N≈11 K and also at the lock-in transition T_L≈10.3 K. The results are in qualitative agreement with those previously obtained by neutron and X-ray magnetic scattering investigations except for the anomalous temperature dependence of the lowest frequency in the commensurate phase. We propose a model for this anomalous behaviour.     

Elastic anomalies of La0.67Sr0.33−xBaxMnO3 in the vicinity of TC

With a view to understand the elastic behaviour of a material system, La_0.67Sr_0.33−xBa_xMnO₃ (where x=0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.33) especially in the vicinity of their magnetic transition temperature T_C, a systematic investigation of ultrasonic velocity over a temperature range 300-400 K has been carried out. The materials prepared by citrate gel route, were characterized structurally by XRD and on analyzing the XRD patterns, it has been concluded that all the samples are having rhombohedral structure with space group of R3?c. The magnetic (T_C) transition temperatures determined by AC susceptibility measurements are found to decrease continuously with increasing barium concentration. Finally, the ultrasonic longitudinal velocities of all the samples are found to exhibit considerable softening in the vicinity of their magnetic transition temperatures, T_C and the observed behaviour is explained using mean field theory and Jahn-Teller theorem.     

Dielectric properties and phase transitions of (Pb0.87La0.02Ba0.1)(Zr0.6Sn0.4−xTix)O3 ceramics with compositions near AFE/RFE phase boundary

The electrical properties and phase transition behavior of (Pb_0.87La_0.02Ba_0.1)(Zr_0.6Sn_0.4−xTi_x)O₃ solid solutions (PLBZST, 0.04≤x0.2) were investigated by the X-ray diffraction, permittivity, pyroelectric current, and P-E electric hysterisis loops. As the composition x increased from 0.04 to 0.2, the antiferroelectric ceramics (x≤0.07, AFE) with tetragonal phase changed to the ferroelectric relaxors (RFE, 0.09≤x). AFE ceramics showed a peculiar diffuse phase transition and dielectric relaxation at the low temperature (down to −100 °C) due to a frustration between AFE and FE state. With an increase in composition x, electrically field-induced AFE-FE switching field (E_AFE-FE) and AFE-paraelectric (PE) phase transition temperature (T_c) are depressed in the temperature (T)-Ti composition (x) phase diagram, a FE-AFE-PE triple phase point (T_tr) with the lowest transition temperature occurred at x=0.09. The pyroelectric currents under an application of various external electric field (E) were measured to identify a T-E phase diagram of the PLBZST compound.     

The effect of hydrostatic pressure on the ferroelectric phase transition in [NH2(CH3)2]3[Sb2Cl9]

The effect of hydrostatic pressure on the ferroelectric phase transition temperature in [NH₂(CH₃)₂]₃[Sb₂Cl₉] (DMACA) has been studied by electric permittivity measurements at pressures up to 400 MPa. The pressure-temperature phase diagram is given. The phase transition temperature (T_c) increases with increasing pressure up to 150 MPa, passes through a maximum and then decreases with a further increase of pressure. The unexpected nonlinear decrease in T_c with pressure increasing above 150 MPa suggests that the mechanism of ferroelectric phase transition in DMACA is different from hitherto assumed.     

Electrical transport behavior of La0.67Ca0.33MnO3/Fe3O4 composites

The influence of Fe₃O₄ contents on the electrical transport properties (resistivity and ac susceptibility) of a series of composite samples of La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃/Fe₃O₄ is studied. Results show that the Fe₃O₄ phase not only shifts the intrinsic insulator-metal (I-M) transition temperature T_P1 to a lower temperature, but also causes a new I-M transition at a lower temperature T_P2 (T_P2<T_P1). On the basis of an analysis by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, we suggest that the decrease of the I-M transition temperature and the formation of the new I-M transition are caused by the segregation of a new phases related to the Fe₃O₄ at grain boundaries or surfaces of the La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ grains.     

Electronic transport and magnetic studies of La1−xCax−0.08Sr0.04Ba0.04MnO3

Lanthanum based mixed valence manganite system La_1−xCa_x−0.08Sr_0.04Ba_0.04MnO₃ (LCSBMO; x=0.15, 0.24 and 0.33) synthesized through the sol-gel route is systematically investigated in this paper. The electronic transport and magnetic susceptibility properties are analyzed and compared, apart from the study of unit cell structure, microstructure and composition. Second order phase transition is observed in all the samples and significant difference is observed between the insulator to metal transition temperature (T_MI) and paramagnetic (PM) to ferromagnetic (FM) transition temperature (T_C). In contrast to the insulating FM behaviour usually observed in La_1−xCa_xMnO₃ (LCMO) for x=0.15, a clear insulator to metal transition is observed for LCSBMO for the same percentage of lanthanum. The temperature dependent resistivity of polycrystalline pellets, when obeying the well studied law ρ=ρ_o+ρ₂T² for T<T_MI, is observed to differ significantly in the values of ρ_o and ρ₂, with the electrical conductivity increasing with x. The variable range hopping model has been found to fit resistivity data better than the small polaron model for T>T_MI. AC magnetic susceptibility study of the polycrystalline powders of the manganite system shows the highest PM to FM transition of 285 K for x=0.33.     

EPR study of a new low-temperature phase transition in Zn(ClO4)2·6H2O

From a temperature variation EPR study of Mn²⁺ doped single crystals of Zn(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O phase transition has been detected at T₂~290 K. The phase relationships in this crystal are as follows. Phase I transforms atT₂~346K to Phase II, which in turn transforms to Phase III at T₂ ~ 290K. The latter exists down to at least 220 K. The space group symmetry of crystal may be the same, i.e. Pmn2₁ both above and below T₂. The water-perchlorate sublattice symmetry below T₂ is found to be lower than the P6₃mc symmetry determined previously by X-ray measurements. The onset of a monoclinic or lower symmetry distortion of the water octahedron around a metal ion which starts just below T₂, is reflected through the observed temperature dependence of the rhombic distortion parameter E. It is felt that during this phase transition a change in the degree of configurational disorder associated with the perchlorate tetrahedra takes place, which in turn modifies the hydrogen bonded interaction in the crystal and consequently results in the onset of temperature dependent displacements of the mean positions of the oxygens of the water molecules.     

Structural phase transitions in semiconducting SrTiO3

From ultrasonic velocity measurements we found that in SrTiO₃ the temperature for the structural phase transition is lowered in samples reduced in hydrogen, and increased in Nb-doped samples. In the reduced samples the shift in T_c is proportional to the concentration of oxygen vacancies. The results can qualitatively be understood in terms of local changes in the d_?/p_σ-hybridization of Ti-3d and 0–2p orbitals.     

Current-induced effect on resistivity and magnetoresistance of La0.67Ba0.33MnO3 manganite

The influence of dc biasing current on temperature dependence of resistivity and low-field magnetoresistance (MR) of La_0.67Ba_0.33MnO₃ bulk sample is reported. A prominent finding is the change in resistivity around the insulator-to-metal transition temperature (T_IM) and the change in MR around the ferromagnetic transition temperature (T_C). The decrease in MR around T_C at higher biasing current indicates a strong interaction between carrier spin and spin of Mn ions resulting in a higher alignment of Mn ion spins. Change in resistivity around T_IM is interpreted in the framework of percolative conduction model based on the mixed phase of itinerant electrons and localized magnetic polarons.     

Decoupling of the order-disorder and displacive contributions to the phase transition in NH4H(ClH2CCOO)2

The effects of hydrostatic pressure and substitution of Rb⁺for the ammonium cations on the ferroelectric phase transition temperature in NH₄H(ClH₂CCOO)₂ have been studied by electric permittivity measurements. The transition temperature (T_c) decreases with increasing pressure up to 800 MPa and the pressure coefficient dT_c/dp=−1.4×10⁻² [K/MPa] has been experimentally determined. The substitution of Rb⁺ for the ammonium cations has been shown to considerably lower the ferroelectric phase transition temperature T_c. In mixed crystals, additional electric permittivity anomaly has been clearly evidenced. The results are discussed assuming a model, which combines polarizability effects, related to the heavy ion units, with the pseudo-spin tunnelling.     

Effect of inhomogeneity on magnetic, magnetocaloric, and magnetotransport properties of La0.6Pr0.1Ca0.3MnO3 single crystal

The effect of magnetic inhomogeneity on magnetic, magnetocaloric, and transport properties of the colossal magnetoresistance manganites with first order ferromagnetic-to-paramagnetic phase transition is studied. The experiments were performed on the single-crystalline samples of La_0.6Pr_0.1Ca_0.3MnO₃. The inhomogeneity is described by the Curie temperature distribution function, which is found from the magnetization data. The temperature dependence of the magnetic field induced change in the entropy is shown to be determined by the distribution function and the shift of the transition temperature in a magnetic field. Similarly, magnetoresistance in the transition region is determined by the resistivity at H=0 and the shift of the transition temperature. The maximum entropy change as well as maximum magnetoresistance can be achieved in the magnetic field of order δT_C/B_M where δT_C is the transition width and B_M is the rate of change of the Curie temperature with magnetic field.Our approach to analysis of the effects of inhomogeneity is general and therefore can be used for all compounds with the first order magnetic phase transition.     

Electrical investigations in the normal and incommensurate phases of [N(CH3)4]2ZnCl4 single crystals

The dielectric permittivity (?) of TMA-ZC single crystals was measured along the mean crystallographic axes a, b and c, in a temperature range from 273 to 340 K. The ?-T relationship exhibited peak values at T_i=296 K and T_c1=279 K for the three axes. These peaks are attributed to the contribution of discommensurations. The d.c. and a.c. electrical conductivity showed anomalous variation at the same transition temperatures, with a remarkable change in the value of the activation energy around the transition temperatures. The j-E characteristic indicates different types of electrical conduction. The mechanism of the phase transition and the electrical process were discussed on the basis of Shottky and Frenkel conduction mechanisms.     

Preparation and study of silver added La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 film

La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ (LCMO) and Ag admixed La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ (Ag-LCMO) polycrystalline films have been prepared on SrTiO₃ single crystal (100) substrates by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique. These films are characterized using XRD, SEM, and temperature dependence of resistivity (ρ-T) and ac susceptibility (χ-T). The films are having cubic structure with lattice parameters as 3.890 and 3.885 Å for LCMO and Ag-LCMO films, respectively. The peek in ρ-T curve (T_p) and the ferromagnetic transition temperature (T_C) for the Ag-LCMO film is higher than that of LCMO film. The stability of both the films was tested by repeated measurements of its characteristics over a period of one week after several thermal cycling from room temperature to 77 K. In the LCMO film, the peak in the ρ-T curve (T_p) is found to shift towards lower value and conduction noise of the film increases in the subsequent measurements. In the case of Ag-LCMO the value of T_p, T_C and conduction noise of the film did not change even after several measurements. Silver segregating at the grain boundaries in Ag-LCMO polycrystalline film seems to be responsible for improving the characteristics of Ag-LCMO films.     

Electron hopping and optic phonons in Eu3S4

Raman scattering on single crystals of Eu₃S₄ does not show the allowed q=o phonon modes in the cubic phase and exhibits no new modes in the distorted low temperature phase (T<186 K). Above the Curie temperature T_c=3.8 K the scattering is dominated by a spin-disorder induced one-phonon density of states allowing for the observation of the zone boundary phonon breathing mode of the S^2?ions. This mode does not show any anomaly near the charge order -disorder phase transition T_t=186 K. Temperature tunable spin fluctuations associated with the temperature activated Eu²⁺→Eu³⁺ electron hopping are detected in the scattering intensity, superimposed on the usual thermal spin disorder.     

Field-induced structural transition and the related magnetic entropy change in Ni43Mn43Co3Sn11 alloy

Magnetic properties and magnetic entropy change ΔS were investigated in Heusler alloy Ni₄₃Mn₄₃Co₃Sn₁₁. With decreasing temperature this alloy undergoes a martensitic structural transition at T_M=188 K. The incorporation of Co atoms enhances ferromagnetic exchange for parent phases. Austenitic phase with cubic structure shows strong ferromagnetic behaviors with Curie temperature T_C^A at 346 K, while martensitic phase shows weak ferromagnetic properties. An external magnetic field can shift T_M to a lower temperature at a rate of 4.4 K/T, and a field-induced structural transition from martensitic to austenitic state takes place at temperatures near but below T_M. As a result, a great magnetic entropy change with positive sign appears. The size of ΔS reaches 33 J/kg K under 5 T magnetic field. More important is that the ΔS displays a table-like peak under 5 T, which is favorable for Ericsson-type refrigerators.     

Ferroelectricity and phase transition from incommensurate phase into commensurate one in (NH4)2ZnCl4

Phase transition has been found in (NH₄)₂ZnCl₄ at T = 266 ± 0.5 K by NQR method. There is a ferroelectric phase below T_c with a space group P2₁cn and with the trebling of the elementary lattice parameter along the axis c. Above the phase transition temperature in the crystal (NH₄)₂ZnCl₄ an incommensurate phase is realized.     

Phase transition of [(C6H5)3PCH3]+(TCNQ)-2 and electrical transport properties

The electrical conductivity at 10GHz, the dielectric constant, and the thermoelectric power (TEP) of [(C₆H₅)₃PCH₃]⁺(TCNQ)^-₂, from 230 up to 400 K, have been measured. This organic quasi-one-dimensional solid undergoes a first order phase transition at 314 K. At the transition the conductivity increases by a factor of 2.2 and the activation energy drops to 0.26 from 0.31 eV. At 314 K TEP decreases abruptly from -75 to -60μVK^-1 and remains almost constant for T > 314 K. The dielectric permeability ?₀ is constant and equal to 5 in the low temperature phase, increases abruptly by 7% at the transition, and then depends strongly on temperature in the high temperature phase. Results of the high temperature phase are interpreted in terms of a strongly correlated salt.     

Detection of structural and magnetic transitions in La0.67Ba0.23Ca0.1MnO3 using the rf resonance technique

We report radio-frequency (rf) electrodynamics in polycrystalline La_0.67Ba_0.23Ca_0.1MnO₃ as a function of temperature and magnetic field using a home-built LC resonant circuit powered by an integrated chip oscillator. The resonance frequency (f_r) of the oscillator and the power (P) absorbed by the sample are measured simultaneously. The paramagnetic to ferromagnetic phase transition in the absence of an external magnetic field is accompanied by a rapid decrease in both P and f_r around the Curie temperature T_C=300 K. However, much below T_C, the f_r shows a step-like anomaly around 165 K (195 K) while cooling (warming), which we attribute to a structural phase transition from high temperature rhombohedral () to low temperature orthorhombic (Imma) phase. The step-like anomaly in f_r versus T disappears in a field of 300 G. Fractional changes as large as 19% in Δf_r/f_r and 10% in ΔP/P are observed under H=1 kG around T_C. Our study suggests that the rf resonance technique is a versatile tool to study the magnetization dynamics as well as to investigate the structural phase transition in manganites.     

Josephson vortex lattice melting in Bi-2212 probed by commensurate oscillations of Josephson flux-flow

We studied the commensurate semifluxon oscillations of Josephson flux-flow in Bi-2212 stacked structures near T_c as a probe of melting of a Josephson vortex lattice. We found that oscillations exist above 0.5 T. The amplitude of the oscillations is found to decrease gradually with the temperature and to turn to zero without any jump at T = T₀ (3.5 K below the resistive transition temperature T_c), thus, indicating a phase transition of the second order. This characteristic temperature T₀ is identified as the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition temperature, T_BKT, in the elementary superconducting layers of Bi-2212 at zero magnetic field. On the basis of these facts, we infer that melting of a triangular Josephson vortex lattice occurs via the BKT phase with formation of characteristic flux loops containing pancake vortices and antivortices. The B-T phase diagram of the BKT phase found from our experiment is consistent with theoretical predictions.     

Temperature-dependent Brillouin scattering studies of surface acoustic modes in Nd0.5Sr0.5MnO3

Brillouin scattering experiments are carried out to study the surface acoustic waves in Nd_0.5Sr_0.5MnO₃ as a function of temperature in the range of 40-300 K covering the metal-insulator and charge-ordering phase transitions. The surface modes include surface Rayleigh wave, pseudo-surface acoustic wave (PSAW) and high velocity PSAW. The observed softening of the sound velocities for the surface modes below paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition, T_c is related to the softening of the C₄₄ elastic constant. The subsequent hardening of the sound velocity below the charge ordering transition temperature T_co is attributed to the coupling of the acoustic phonon to the charge ordered state via long range ordering of the strong Jahn-Teller (JT) distortion.