Effect of a constant magnetic field on echo signals in high-temperature superconductor powders

The generation of acoustic and vortex oscillations in high-temperature superconductor (HTSC) powders excited by radiofrequency (rf) pulses was analyzed in detail in our earlier publications. The rf magnetic field stimulates oscillations of magnetic vortices on the surface of an HTSC grain, which are transformed into lattice vibrations via the pinning centers at the surface, thus inducing a propagating acoustic wave. The allowance for second-order nonlinearity in the gradient of deviation of the crystal lattice from its equilibrium position in the equation for the acoustic wave leads to a dependence of the natural frequency of crystal lattice vibrations on the amplitude and duration of pulses exciting these vibrations. Such a dependence is responsible for echo signals that can be detected experimentally. The proposed model makes it possible to interpret most experimental results for BiPbSrCaCuO superconducting samples. We consider the effect of a constant magnetic field on the amplitude and the echo signal decay time. We observed a clearly manifested peak that was not described by other authors. The model proposed here provides an obvious explanation for this peak.     

Magnetoplastic effect in LiF crystals and longitudinal spin relaxation

New features of the dependence of the average travel distance l of dislocations on the magnetic field B have been found in an investigation of the magnetostimulated dislocation mobility in LiF crystals: A transition has been found from ordinary proportionality l∝B ² to saturation l≈ const in high fields B. It is shown that the experimental points can be described satisfactorily by the theoretical dependence l∝ [(B ₀/B)²+1]⁻¹ (B ₀≈0.8 T), typical for the mechanism of longitudinal spin relaxation in a system of radical pairs, which are supposedly formed when dislocation nuclei interact with paramagnetic impurity centers. According to the theory, the level of the field B ₀ is determined by the characteristic frequency of the oscillations of the internal fields in the lattice, which for B ₀∼1 T is of the order of 10¹¹s⁻¹, which corresponds to the typical frequency of characteristic oscillations of dislocation segments between pinning centers, which, naturally, does not depend on temperature. This in turn explains the fact that the measured values of B ₀ are the same at 293 K and 77 K. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 70, No. 11, 749–753 (10 December 1999)     

Anomalies of the specific heat near the quantum critical point in Tm<Subscript>0.74</Subscript>Yb<Subscript>0.26</Subscript>B<Subscript>12</Subscript>

The behavior of the specific heat near the quantum critical point x ∼ 0.3 in the Tm_{1 − x} Yb _x B₁₂ system has been studied. Detailed measurements have been performed on high-quality single-crystalline Tm_0.74Yb_0.26B₁₂ samples within a wide temperature range of 1.9–300 K in a magnetic field up to 9 T. The temperature dependence of the magnetic contribution to the specific heat has a logarithmic divergence of the form C/T ∼ lnT at T < 4 K, which can be attributed to the quantum critical behavior regime suppressed by the external magnetic field. The Schottky anomaly of the magnetic contribution to the specific heat in Tm_0.74Yb_0.26B₁₂ has been analyzed.     

Three-particle recombination coefficient of a weakly nonideal ultracold plasma in a high magnetic field

An expression for the recombination coefficient α _B in a weakly nonideal ultracold plasma in a high magnetic field has been proposed. According to this expression, α _B ∼ T _e ^−1.5 B ⁻², where T _e is the temperature of electrons and B is the strength of the magnetic field. Comparison of calculated values with experimental data including the results of the recent experiments on recombination in antihydrogen confirms the theoretical dependence.     

Dynamic magnetic permeability of a thin, high-T c superconducting wafer

The field dependence of the vibrational contribution to the dynamic magnetic permeability μ _V(H) is calculated for a thin (of thickness d∼λ) high-T _c superconducting wafer in a magnetic field parallel to the surface. The resulting curves are plotted on the basis of an exact numerical analysis of the vortex structures both for the thermodynamic-equilibrium vortex lattice and in the presence of pinning forces and the Bean-Livingston surface barrier. It is shown that the μ _V(H) curves are highly sensitive to the size factor (d/λ) and exhibit abrupt changes corresponding to a change in the number of vortex rows. The equilibrium μ _V(H) curve is found to be similar in its general behavior and absolute value (obtained with allowance for the distribution of grain sizes and with appropriate values of λ and ϰ) to the experimental μ _V(H) curve plotted at nitrogen temperature for fine-grained YBa₂Cu₃O_x with grain diameters 〈D〉∼λ in an increasing magnetic field. It is established that the main cause of the experimentally observed irreversible behavior of the μ _V(H) curves during cyclic variation of the applied magnetic field is the existence of a surface barrier to the exit of vortices from the superconductor. The lower limit H _min(B) of stability of the mixed state in the presence of an ideal surface barrier in a thin, high-T _c superconducting wafer (d∼λ) is determined, along with the range of the vortex state (H _max-H _min) for a fixed number of vortices in micrometer-size grains of the investigated YBaCuO samples. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 1943–1947 (November 1997)     

Condition of strong magnetic field in the mode of quantum reluctance oscillations

The volume (3D), quasi-two-dimentional (Q2D), and two-dimentional (2D) oscillations of degenerated electrons of the Shubnikov-de Haase reluctance reveal common properties. The region of quantum oscillations is bounded (in the magnetic field) from below by the weak field condition (ω_cτ_t≤1) and from above by the quantum limit condition (ξ_F≥ħω_c/2). The monotonic oscillation component is saturated for the occupied main conduction E_m-subband and excitation E_p-subband of dimensional quantization for the Q2D and 2D electron systems in strong magnetic fields. The reluctance of the Q2D system in the quantum limit changes according to a law ∼B ^α with α ≈ 2.6–2.8. The oscillation amplitude is described by an exponential dependence on the magnetic field strength and temperature, similarly to the 3D case. This is caused by the identity of physical conditions and the topology of resonant escape of the Landau levels out of the Fermi surface. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 3, pp. 33–39, March, 2006.     

Magnetism-Related Properties of CdSb Revealed by the Zeeman 121Sb NQR Spectra

The ¹²¹Sb NQR spectra of CdSb single crystal were measured in the presence of weak (up to 500 Oe) external magnetic fields. As the analysis of the ¹²¹Sb EFG symmetry showed, two magnetically nonequivalent Sb sites exist in the CdSb crystal lattice. An upper limit of the local magnetic field, which may exist in CdSb characterized with the observed ¹²¹Sb NQR spectra, was estimated by modeling the Zeeman perturbed patterns. This amounted to H _loc ∼10 G, hence being much less than earlier found local fields H _loc ∼30–200 G in bismuth-based compounds.     

Decay of an electronic vortex of a collisionless shock wave as a possible mechanism of a “Coulomb explosion”

A new mechanism of a “Coulomb explosion,” where ions are accelerated by the electric field separating charges at the magnetic Debye radius r _B∼B/4πen _e, is proposed on the basis of a nonquasineutral model of electronic vortices in a magnetic field. It is shown by means of numerical calculations that in the process of acceleration of the ions a collisionless shock wave, whose front has an effective width of the order of δ∼r _B, determined by the breakdown of quasineutrality, is formed in a time of the order of ω _pi ⁻¹ , where ω_pi is the ion plasma frequency. The origin of such explosive dynamics is the formation of “holes” in the electron density at characteristic times of the order of ω _pe ⁻¹ (ω_pe is the electronic plasma frequency) as a result of the generation of electronic vorticity by the Weibel instability of an electromagnetic wave. Calculations for a laser pulse with intensity J∼6×10¹⁸ W/cm² show that the ions expand in the radial direction with velocities up to 3.5×10⁸ cm/s. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 70, No. 10, 669–674 (25 November 1999)     

Properties of ferromagnetic resonance in Fe<Subscript>73.5</Subscript>CuNb<Subscript>3</Subscript>Si<Subscript>13.5</Subscript>B<Subscript>9</Subscript> nanocrystalline alloys

The structural properties and parameters of ferromagnetic resonance have been studied for Fe_73.5CuNb₃Si_13.5B₉ nanocrystalline alloys produced from the initial amorphous state via annealing under different conditions. The dependence of the linewidth of the ferromagnetic resonance on the grain size ΔH ∼ D ⁶ has been found. The result is discussed within the framework of the random magnetic anisotropy model.     

Wave shape of de Haas-van Alphen oscillations and effective mass in the two-dimensional organic conductor α-(BEDT-TTF)2KHg(SCN)4

De Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations in the two dimensional organic conductor α-(BEDT-TTF)₂KHg(SCN)₄ have been measured by a canti-lever technique at high magnetic fields up to 30 T. The wave shape of the dHvA oscillations undergoes a drastic change around the transition field B_K (24 T). The effective mass shifts 1.5 m₀ in the density wave phase (B<B_K) to 1.65 m₀ in the normal metallic phase (B>B_K). Based on the simulation, we have determined that the primary cause of the characteristic field dependence of the wave shape is the change in the effective mass.     

Magnetic studies with μSR at high pressures

A newly developed high pressure-low temperature μSR spectrometer was employed for two types of magnetic studies. Firstly we measured the pressure dependence of the local magnetic field B_μ in Fe, Co and Ni at 77 K up to 7 kbar. From the pressure derivative dlnB_μ/dP the volume derivative dlnB _Hf /dlnV was deduced. In connection with previous room temperature data we calculated the temperature dependence of B_hf at constant volume. It deviates markedly from the temperature dependence of the host magnetization. Secondly, we looked at the pressure dependence of the muonic Knight shift in Sb at 30 K for polycrystalline and single crystal samples. A strong pressure dependence was observed which depends on the orientation of the magnetic field relative to the c-axis. The pressure coefficients of the isotropic and the axial term of the Knight shift were deduced.     

Spontaneous magnetization of the vacuum and the strength of the magnetic field in the hot Universe

Intergalactic magnetic fields are assumed to have been spontaneously generated at the reheating stage of the early Universe, due to vacuum polarization of non-Abelian gauge fields at high temperature. The fact that the screening mass of this type of fields has zero value was discovered recently. A procedure to estimate their field strengths, B(T), at different temperatures is here developed, and the value B(T _ew)∼10¹⁴ G at the electroweak phase transition temperature is derived by taking into consideration the present value of the intergalactic magnetic field strength, B ₀∼10⁻¹⁵ G, coherent on the ∼1 Mpc scale. As a particular case, the standard model is considered and the field scale at high temperature is estimated in this case. Model-dependent properties of the phenomena under investigation are briefly discussed, too.     

Magnetic and thermal properties of CuFeS<Subscript>2</Subscript> at low temperatures

The magnetic moment M, the magnetic susceptibility χ, and the thermal conductivity of chalcopyrite CuFeS₂, which is a zero-gap semiconductor with antiferromagnetic ordering, have been measured in the temperature range 10–310 K. It has been revealed that the quantities χ(T) and M(T) increase anomalously strongly at temperatures below ∼100 K. The temperature dependence M(T) is affected by the magnetic prehistory of the sample. An analysis has demonstrated that the magnetic anomalies are associated with the presence of a system of noninteracting magnetic clusters in the CuFeS₂ sample under investigation. The formation of the clusters is most likely caused by the disturbance of the ordered arrangement of Fe and Cu atoms in the metal sublattice of the chalcopyrite, which is also responsible for the phase inhomogeneity of the crystal lattice. The inhomogeneity brings about strong phonon scattering, and, as a result, the temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity coefficient exhibits a behavior characteristic of partially disordered crystals.     

Effect of easy-plane anisotropy on the transient process time in magnetic films and plates

The effect of easy-plane anisotropy on the damping of the nonlinear magnetization oscillations that accompany 90° pulsed magnetization of magnetic films and plates is analyzed numerically. It is shown that the magnetization time can be decreased to ∼0.5 ns at an effective anisotropy field H _{K p} ≥ 6 kOe and that magnetization oscillations are fully damped at H _{K p} ≥ 20–40 kOe. The magnetization time can be ∼0.15–0.20 ns at a magnetizing pulse amplitude H _m ∼ 20–40 Oe.     

Model for superconducting current in HTSC: How to calculate the maximum intrinsic values

Summary In order to explain the HTSC electrical density values, the authors propose a new original model for these new superconductors, introducing the parameterSc, given by the ratio between the coherence distance ξ₀ and the lattice constant λ₁. The value ofSc is less than 1 in HTSC and higher than 1 in normal s.c. In HTSC the pair electron transport mechanism became different than in other s.c., in which a wave function linear coherence is established. A Josephson intrinsic electrical conduction mechanism is established. The HTSC behaves like a good diamagnetic material but a bad superconductor.     

Commensurability oscillations and a new phase transition in YBa2Cu3Oy single crystals

Magnetization oscillations due to the commensurability of the vortex and crystal lattice periods in YBa₂Cu₃O_y (y=6.97±0.02) single crystals are investigated using a high angular resolution magnetometer. A sharp peak in the temperature dependence of the oscillation amplitude as well as other features in the behavior of the oscillation amplitude and of the irreversible magnetization are observed at T _f ∼60 K. It is inferred that T _f is the temperature of a transition of the solid vortex state to a smectic phase. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 69, No. 11, 832–837 (10 June 1999)     

Magnetism and superconductivity in ErNi2B2C

We have performed a series of neutron diffraction experiments from the magnetic order and the vortex lattice in single crystal ErNi₂B₂C. The incommensurate magnetic structure develops additional even harmonics below the ‘ferromagnetic’ ordering temperature, T _F of 2.3 K. This feature and the existence of rods of diffuse scattering suggest the development of ferromagnetic microdomain walls. The magnetic structure is very sensitive to the application of a magnetic field with changes in modulation vector and harmonic content. Studies of the vortex lattice show the presence of a 45° reorientation transition and a distorted hexagonal to square transition as a function of applied field. Further distortions of the vortex lattice occur at T _N, but no changes are seen at T _F.     

Plasma parameters in the upgraded Trimyx-M Galathea

Results are presented from measurements of the plasma parameters in the upgraded Trimyx-M Galathea. After the barrier magnetic field and the energy of the injected hydrogen plasma bunch were increased to B _bar ∼ 0.1 T and W ₀ ≈ 200 J, respectively, the following plasma parameters were achieved: the density n ∼ 5 × 10¹³ cm⁻³, the plasma confinement time τ* = 800–900 μs, the elergy of the confined plasma W ₁ ∼ 100 J, the ratio of the plasma pressure to the barrier magnetic pressure β ₀ ∼ 0.2, the electron temperature T _e ∼ 20 eV, and the ion temperature T _i ∼ 2T _e . The maximum time during which the plasma density decreased e-fold, τ _p , was found to be 300 μs at B _bar = 0.1 T, which agrees with the classical transport model.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of Cu3B2O6 single crystals

The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility of Cu₃B₂O₆ single crystals grown by spontaneous crystallization from a melt consisting of a mixture of CuO and B₂O₃ and the behavior of their magnetization are investigated in magnetic fields up to 55 kOe. A broad susceptibility maximum is observed near 39 K, and a sharp drop in susceptibility is observed at T<10 K. The paramagnetic Néel temperatures for all orientations of the magnetic field in the crystal investigated are negative, attesting to the predominantly antiferromagnetic character of the exchange interactions. The effective magnetic moment of the Cu²⁺ ion is anisotropic and lies in the range from 1.054μ _B to 1.545μ _B. The magnetization depends linearly on magnetic field at T>10 K, whereas at temperatures below 10 K a discontinuity is observed at fields of the order of 40 kOe. At room temperature, electron magnetic resonance characterized by an almost isotropic g factor (g=2.165) is detected at 36.22 GHz. The exchange interactions in Cu₃B₂O₆ are analyzed on the basis of the Goodenough-Kanamori rules. The possibility of the establishment of a singlet magnetic state in the crystal is analyzed. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 677–679 (April 1999)