Frequency dependence of the freezing temperature in spin glasses: A comparative study of (La,Gd)B6, (Y,Gd)Al2 and (La,Gd)Al2

The frequency dependence of the freezing temperatureT _f(ν) is determined for the dilute spin glass systems (La, Gd)B₆ and (Y, Gd)Al₂ in the frequency range 10–1,000 Hz. While for (La, Gd)B₆,T _f(ν) is found to be weak, for (Y, Gd)Al₂ T _f(ν) is even stronger than for the previously studied system (La, Gd)Al₂. Both, measurements of the temperature dependence of the susceptibility nearT _f and calculations of the RKKY pair interaction, suggest that this difference is correlated with a different sign of the nearest-neighbor interaction, which appears to be antiferromagnetic for (La, Gd)B₆ and ferromagnetic for (Y, Gd)Al₂ as well as (La, Gd)Al₂.     

Magnetic susceptibility of (La,Ce) Al2 alloys

The low-field magnetic susceptibility of (La, Ce)Al₂ alloys with 1–20 at-% Ce was measured between 0.04 and 4 K. Up to 1.5 at-% Ce the impurity contribution to the susceptibility exhibits features which can be described in terms of a combined influence of the crystalline electric field and the Kondo effect. At very low temperatures the onset of interactions between the Ce impurities is indicated. The impurity coupling interactions determine the dependence on temperature and concentration of the more concentrated alloys. For the dilute alloys the impurity magnetization was determined from measurements of the susceptibility in magnetic fields up to 10 kOe. The magnetization as a function of temperature and field shows a typical anomaly which has been observed also in other Kondo systems.     

Hyperfine interaction of Ce and La in 3-d ferromagnets

NMR/ON measurements on¹⁴¹CeFe show the sign of the hyperfine field of CeFe to be negative. For the¹⁴¹Ce nucleus a g-factor of ¦g_N¦=0.311±0.011 is found. With this g-value a hyperfine field of H_hf=?41±2 T for CeFe is derived. Low temperature nuclear orientation experiments on¹⁴¹CeCo and¹⁴⁰LaFe yield ¦H_hf¦=30±3 T and ¦H_hf¦=46±5 T respectively. The valence of cerium impurities in Fe, Co and Ni is discussed.     

Ion implantation a powerful technique for the production of metastable superconducting alloys

Ion implantation at liquid helium temperatures is a new method of producing metastable alloys. The special features of this alloying technique are illustrated by two selected examples of dilute and concentrated alloys, respectively. Superconductors containing small amounts of paramagnetic (3d)-impurities such asHgMn, PbMn andSnMn exhibit strong pair breaking effects. In the case ofSnMn the Kondo effect is observed. Concentrated alloys of Pd and Pd-noble metal alloys with hydrogen (deuterium) are only superconducting in a very high concentration range, being unstable at room temperature. Such concentrations can be achieved by ion implantation at liquid He-temperatures. The superconducting transition temperature can thus be raised to a maximum value of 16.6 K in aH/Pd _0.55 Cu_0.45?0.7 alloy.     

Zerfall des zweiten 2+-Zustandes von44Ca

Solid solutions between the compounds Nb₃Al, Nb₃Ga, Nb₃Ge, Nb₃In, and Nb₃Sn have been prepared by arc melting in argon atmosphere. Transitions to superconductivity, lattice constants and values of microhardness have been measured for all samples as cast as well as annealed. In agreement withMatthias et al. the highest transition to superconductivity at 20.05 °K has been observed in the system Nb₃(Al_1?xGe_x). A relation between microhardness and transition to superconductivity also expressed byMatthias has been verified for most of the systems.     

Hyperfine fields in the 5sp series studied by the low temperature nuclear orientation of83Rb,83Sr,85Sr and85Ym in iron

The hyperfine fields B_hf (RbFe), B_hf (SrFe) and B_hf (YFe) have been determined by the low temperature nuclear orientation of dilute samples of⁸³Rb,^83,85Sr and⁸⁵Y^m in an iron lattice to be B_hf (RbFe)=+54 (10) kG, B_hf (SrFe)=(?)100 (30) kG and B_hf (YFe)=?226 (10) kG. These results are compared with recent calculations for these fields (1), (2).     

Ultrasonic attenuation in the Gd-doped superconductor LaAl2

The ultrasonic attenuation (10–250MHz) in (LaGd)Al₂ with 0.23at% Gd has been measured between 293 K and 0.5 K. Below 10K the absorption is caused by superposition of phonon/electron absorption of Pippard type and a mechanical relaxation process which is attributed to a lattice defect of either vacancy, dislocation or impurity type. The relaxation takes place by interaction of the defect with both conduction electrons and lattice phonons with a mixed relaxation time. Superconductivity offers the unique chance to separate both relaxation mechanisms since during superconducting transition relaxation into the electronic system vanishes and leaves the phonon process alone to determine the defect dynamics. The temperature dependence of the individual relaxation times has been derived.     

Kondo anomalies of heat conductivity and Lorenz ratio in normal state (La,Ce) Al2

The thermal conductivity of LaAl₂ and of two dilute (La, Ce)Al₂ alloys was measured in the normal state between 0.4 and 8 K. From the lattice conductivity of LaAl₂ a high dislocation densityN _d caused by the arc melting process can be inferred. After annealingN _d is reduced by an order of magnitude. For the (La, Ce)Al₂ samples minima are observed at 5 K in theW ^e ·T vs.T curves (W ^e =electronic thermal resistivity). Below 1 K the quantityW ^e ·T is linear in (— lnT). The electronic Lorenz ratioL ^e (T)=ρ(T)/W ^e (T) ·T shows a maximum at 2 K with a value 23% aboveL ^e (0). It is for the first time that this Kondo anomaly is established in its full temperature dependence.     

Crystalline field effects in superconducting La1−xTbxAl2 under pressure

The pressure dependence of the superconducting transition temperature of LaAl₂ and alloys with Tb and Gd impurities has been measured. The results are compared with a theoretical calculation of the pressure dependence ofT _c , which is based on the variation by pressure of the crystalline field experienced by the Tb ions. Measurements onLaGdAl₂ where crystal field effects are absent have been used to study the influence of pressure on the scattering rate.     

A fast, low perturbation ionization beam profile monitor based on a gas-jet curtain for the ultra low energy storage ring

An ionization beam profile monitor relying on a supersonic gas-jet shaped into an extended, thin curtain is proposed for operation in an ultra high vacuum environment for very low perturbation on the accelerated beam, as requested for the in-ring profile monitoring at the Ultra low energy Storage Ring (USR) at the Facility for Low-energy Antiproton and Ion Research (FLAIR), in Darmstadt. In this paper, we describe the working principle of the monitor, as well as providing an analysis of sensitivity and resolution dependence on geometrical design and gas curtain thickness.     

Enhancement of superconductivity by an external magnetic field in magnetic alloys

An infinite-volume limit solution of the thermodynamics of a BCS superconductor containing spin 1/2 and 7/2 magnetic impurities, obtained recently in [D. Borycki, J. Ma?kowiak, Supercond. Sci. Technol. 24, 035007 (2011)] is exploited to derive the expressions for critical magnetic field $\mathcal{H}_c$ (T). The credibility of the resulting thermodynamically limited theoretical equations, which depend on the magnetic coupling constant g and impurity concentration c, is verified on the experimental data for the following superconducting alloys: LaCe, ThGd and SmRh₄B₄. Good quantitative agreement with experimental data is found for sufficiently small values of c. The discrepancies between theoretical and experimental values of $\mathcal{H}_c$ (T) for larger values of c in case of LaCe and ThGd are reduced by introducing the concept of the effective temperature $\tilde T$ , which accounts for the Coulomb interactions between the electron gas and impurity ions. At low temperatures, the critical magnetic field is found to increase with decreasing temperature T. This enhancement of the critical magnetic field provides evidence of the Jaccarino-Peter effect, which was experimentally observed in the Kondo systems like LaCe, (La_{1 ? x} Ce _x )Al₂ and also in the pseudoternary compounds, including Sn_{1 ? x} Eu _x Mo₆S₈, Pb_{1 ? x} Eu _x Mo₆S₈ and La_{1.2 ? x} Eu _x Mo₆S₈. The effect of an external magnetic field $\mathcal{H}$ on a BCS superconductor perturbed by magnetic impurities was also studied. On these grounds, by analyzing the dependence of superconducting transition temperature T _c on $\mathcal{H}$ of (La_{1 ? x} Ce _x )Al₂, we have shown, that for certain parameter values, external magnetic field compensates the destructive effect of magnetic impurities.     

Electron pairs for HTSC

A simple physical picture of superconductivity is proposed for extremely doped CuO₂ planes. It possesses features that are observed for HTSC, such as a high superconducting transition temperature, $d_{x^2 - y^2 } $ the symmetry of order parameter, and the coexistence of a one-electron Fermi surface and the Bose-Einstein condensate of preformed electron pairs.     

Preliminary design studies of an extraction of the USR

The next-generation Facility for Low energy Antiproton and Ion Research (FLAIR) at GSI is going to be a dedicated research facility for ion research in the keV range. These ion beams will allow to explore fundamental properties in matter-antimatter research at ultra-low energies of only 20 keV/q in hitherto impossible experiments. To provide these very low energy beams, the Ultra-low energy Storage Ring (USR), an electrostatic synchrotron, will play a major role within the FLAIR complex. It combines the electrostatic storage mode with deceleration from an initial energy of 300 keV/q down to 20 keV/q—as well as an efficient beam cooling. To fulfill its role as a multi-purpose experimental facility, the design of the USR has not only to cover in-ring experiments, but needs to include a highly flexible beam extraction for serving different external experiments as well.     

NMR/ON of206BiFe produced by decay of cold implanted206Po

²⁰⁶Po was implanted into iron at T<0.2 K. After electron capture decay to²⁰⁶Bi nuclear magnetic resonance of oriented²⁰⁶BiFe was observed with an asymmetric resonance line shape. Evaluation of the data with the superposition of two Gaussian lines results in ν=693.7(2) MHz for the center frequency of the narrow one of the two lines at external field zero. From this B_hf (BiFe)=119.0(1.3) T is derived. The effective spin-lattice relaxation time of²⁰⁶BiFe at T=13 mK was measured as Ti=0.94(5) s.     

Low-temperature nuclear orientation of173Lu,175Hf,178Ta and182m,183,184,186Re in Re

Quadrupole-interaction nuclear-orientation experiments were performed on dilute samples of the Group IIIb and IVb impurities¹⁷³Lu and¹⁷⁵Hf in a (Group VIIb) Re single crystal, the samples being preparedin situ by irradiation of a Re single crystal with 172.5 MeV alpha particles. From the γ-anisotropies at temperatures down to 8mk the quadrupole interaction frequencies Ν_Q=e²qQ/h of¹⁷³LuRe and¹⁷⁵HfRe were determined to be ?1149 (100) and ?540 (43) MHz, respectively. The negative sign in both cases indicates that the direction of the electric field gradient (EFG) at the impurity sites is fixed uniquely by the properties of the host lattice. The absolute magnitudes of these EFG's differ strongly from that of the pure system ReRe; the electronic contribution to the EFG of different impurities in Re decreases with increasing impurity valence, contrary to the expectation. As a byproduct, the quadrupole splittings of¹⁷⁸Ta,^{182m, 183, 184, 186}Re in Re were measured to be ?103(10), ?502(30), ?281(20), ?340(22) and ?73(7) MHz.     

Are there other reentrant superconductors besides\left( {\mathop {La Ce_x }\limits_{1 - x} } \right) Al2?

One superconductor \(\left( {\mathop {La Ce_x }\limits_{1 - x} } \right)\) Al₂ has apparently been found which, for a limited range of Ce impurity concentrations, shows a transition back into the normal state at a temperature below the transition temperatureT _c. The question is considered here as to whether other superconductors showing this up until now unique second transition in all likelihood exist. It is argued that the best possibilities exist among numerous superconducting lanthanum intermetallic compounds which upon the addition of cerium should become Kondo superconductors.     

Vacancy trapping by 5sp series impurities in rolled and implanted nickel foils

Nickel foils containing substitutional¹¹⁹Sb,¹²¹Sb and¹²⁵Sb impurities were deformed by rolling at room temperature and subsequently subjected to an isochronal annealing treatment. After each annealing step, a Mössbauer spectrum was measured. In the annealing temperature range from 350 to 800 K, in addition to the component for substitutional impurities, components ascribed to impurity atoms associated with one or more vacancies were observed in all cases. After annealing at 850 K and higher, only the substitutional component remains. Though very similar in general, some of the spectra for deformed¹¹⁹SbNi samples show clear differences from those obtained for implanted¹¹⁹SnNi samples. Additional experiments were performed on implanted sources of¹²¹Te and¹²⁹Te in nickel. Here, substantial vacancy trapping is already present in undeformed and unannealed foils. Rolling of the¹²⁹TeNi sources leads to a considerable increase of trapping after subsequent annealing at intermediate temperatures. For the insoluble Te impurities, a purely substitutional solution can not be recovered by annealing at higher temperatures. The evolution of vacancy trapping at the impurities that serve as probes and the dependence of the hyperfine field and the isomer shift of the impurities on the trapped vacancy configurations are discussed.     

Der Einfluß von Strom und Magnetfeld auf die Supraleitungseigenschaften von Nb3Sn-, V3Ga- und V3Si-Diffusionsschichten

For diffusion layers of Nb₃Sn, V₃Ga, and V₃Si on niobium and vanadium wires, respectively, the transition to superconductivity has been measured at various currents in longitudinal and transverse magnetic fields. Current and field shift the transition curve to lower temperatures, except near the onset of superconductivity where the core of the wire influences the transition. The critical current vs. temperature curves are linear at higher currents, the critical field curves are bended. The results are explained by local variations of the transition temperature due to inhomogeneities and by a displacement of the current paths under the influence of the Lorentz force. For very thin diffusion layers an influence of thickness on the transition temperature has been observed. In addition quenching curves of the diffusion layers have been measured. The shape is in accordance with the model ofKim and coworkers. The absolute values and deviations at higher fields are discussed. A deduction of the critical values at low temperatures from measurements near the transition is possible.     

Gadolinium as a ferromagnetic host for IMPAC experiments

The properties of ferromagnetic Gd as a host for IMPAC measurements have been investigated. The transient and internal magnetic fields at Cd, Nd, Sm, Dy, Er, Yb and Hf nuclei recoil implanted into polarized Gd at 80 K have been studied by the IMPAC technique. All available experimental transient field data for Gd have been analysed in the framework of the Lindhard-Winther theory. Empirical values of the parametersv _p andC _ion C _atom have been deduced which give good agreement between experiments and theory. Internal magnetic fields at rare-earth nuclei in magnetized Gd at 80 K have been deduced. The results areH _h.f. (NdGd)=?1370±440 kG,H _h.f.(SmGd)=?1440±120 kG,H _h.f.(DyGd)=1410±400 kG,H _h.f.(ErGd)=2310±420 kG andH _h.f.(YbGd)=?216±32 kG. The signs of these fields are, except for Yb which is in a 2⁺ ionic state, consistent with a ferromagnetic coupling between the 4f spins of the implanted ion and the Gd host. The deduced internal field at Hf in Gd is ?440±90 kG. The observed time-dependent interactions for rare-earth nuclei in ferromagnetic Gd are consistent with the Abragam-Pound theory. For the Cd isotopes,g-factors of the first 2⁺ states were deduced from the experiments. The results areg(¹¹⁰Cd)=0.49±0.11,g(¹¹⁴Cd)=0.34±0.09 andg(¹¹⁶Cd)=0.41±0.11. The use of transient magnetic fields forg-factor measurements on high-spin rotational states is discussed.     

The MTV experiment: a test of time reversal symmetry using polarized 8Li

The MTV (Mott Polarimetry for T-Violation Experiment) experiment at TRIUMF-ISAC (Isotope Separator and ACcelerator), which aims to achieve the highest precision test of time reversal symmetry in polarized nuclear beta decay by measuring a triple correlation (R-correlation), is motivated by the search for a new physics beyond the Standard Model. In this experiment, the existence of non-zero transverse electron polarization is examined utilizing the analyzing power of Mott scattering from a thin metal foil. Backward scattering electron tracks are measured using a multi-wire drift chamber for the first time. The MTV experiment was commissioned at ISAC in 2009 using an 80 % polarized ⁸Li beam at 10⁷ pps, resulting in 0.1 % statistical precision on the R-parameter in the first physics run performed in 2010. Next generation cylindrical drift chamber (CDC) is now being installed for the future run.