Effect of nuclear quadrupole interactions on the dynamics of two-level systems in glasses

The standard tunneling model describes quite satisfactorily the properties of amorphous solids at temperatures T < 1K in terms of an ensemble of two-level systems including the logarithmic temperature dependence of the dielectric constant. Yet, experiments have shown that at ultralow temperatures T< 5 mK such a temperature behavior breaks down and the dielectric constant becomes temperature independent (plateau effect). In this Letter we suggest an explanation of this behavior exploiting the effect of the nuclear quadrupole interaction on tunneling. We also predict that the application of a sufficiently large magnetic field B> 10T should restore the logarithmic dependence because of the suppression of the nuclear quadrupole interaction.     

Pressure induced quantum critical point and non-fermi-liquid behavior in BaVS3

We report on experiments giving evidence for quantum effects of electromagnetic flux in barium alumosilicate glass. In contrast to expectation, below 100 mK the dielectric response becomes sensitive to magnetic fields. The experimental findings include both lifting of the dielectric saturation by weak magnetic fields and oscillations of the dielectric response in the low temperature resonant regime. As the origin of these effects we suggest that the magnetic induction field violates the time reversal invariance leading to a flux periodicity in the energy levels of tunneling systems. At low temperatures, this effect is strongly enhanced by the interaction between tunneling systems and thus becomes measurable.     

Magnetic study of the UPt3 superconducting phases

In order to distinguish the UPt₃ superconducting (s.c.) phases we have studied their magnetic properties at low fields in a SQUID magnetometer and up to fields >H_c2(0) with a capacitive torque-meter. With the SQUID we measure the magnetic penetration depth and find the second s.c. transition at T_c⁻ when the field is applied along the c-axis, but not with . This result, combined with power-law behavior at low temperature T, is most consistent with the two-dimensional E_2u s.c. order parameter. Below 20 mK we find an additional diamagnetic signal that we ascribe to the normal state magnetism. In high fields our torque measurements show a kink of the perpendicular magnetization component at the B–C phase line, pointing to an enhanced Ginzburg–Landau parameter in the C phase.     

Low frequency elastic properties of glasses at low temperatures—implications on the tunneling model

We have measured the low frequency elastic properties of dielectric, normal conducting and superconducting metallic glasses at audio-frequencies (f1 kHz) and temperatures down to 10 mK. Our results are discussed in the framework of the tunneling model of glasses. The major assumption of the tunneling model regarding the tunneling states with long relaxation time has been verified, but discrepancies to high frequency measurements have been found. In addition, our experiments on superconducting metallic glasses seem to indicate that the present treatment of the electron-tunneling state interaction is not sufficient.     

Magnetic Field Dependent Tunneling of Atoms and Molecules in Non-Magnetic Disordered Solids

The low-temperature properties of disordered solids, such as glasses or crystals with certain substitutional defects are governed by atomic tunneling systems. Until recently it was believed that the dielectric properties of insulating materials devoid of magnetic impurities should not—or only very weakly—depend on external magnetic fields. In contrast, new experiments on glasses and crystalline defect systems show a pronounced magnetic field dependence of the dielectric properties of such materials at ultra-low temperatures. In particular, the low-frequency dielectric susceptibility and the amplitude of polarization echoes appear to be strongly affected by magnetic fields. These very surprising findings clearly indicate that atomic tunneling systems can couple to magnetic fields. We summarize the available data and discuss the possible origin of these intriguing phenomena.     

“Glassy” properties of crystalline Li3N at low temperatures

We have studied the acoustic and dielectric behaviour of the superionic conductor Li₃N at temperatures between 100 K and 20 mK. At low temperatures its properties are determined by low-energy excitations similar to those observed in glasses. In Li₃N these excitations are ascribed to the tunneling of hydrogen impurities, whereas thermally activated hopping of lithium ions accounts for the behaviour at higher temperatures.     

Evidence for magnetic field induced changes of the phase of tunneling states: spontaneous echoes in (KBr)(1-x)(KCN)(x) in magnetic fields

Recently it was discovered that, in contrast to expectations, the low-temperature dielectric properties of some multicomponent glasses depend strongly on magnetic fields. The low-temperature dielectric response of these materials is governed by atomic tunneling systems. We now have investigated the influence of magnetic fields on the coherent properties of atomic tunneling states in a crystalline host in two-pulse echo experiments. As in glasses, we observe a very strong magnetic field dependence of the echo amplitude. Moreover, for the first time we have direct evidence that the magnetic fields change the phase of coherent tunneling systems.     

Structural,magnetic, and dielectric properties of Ni–Zn ferrite and Bi_2O_3 nanocomposites prepared by the sol-gel method

Ni–Zn ferrite and Bi_2O_3 composites were developed by the sol-gel method. The structural, magnetic, and dielectric properties were studied for all the prepared samples. X-ray diffraction(XRD) was performed to study the crystal structure.The results of field emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM) showed that the addition of Bi_2O_3 can increase the grain size of the Ni–Zn ferrite. Magnetic properties were analyzed by a hysteresis loop test and it was found that the saturation magnetization and coercivity decreased with the increase of Bi_2O_3 ratio. In addition, the dielectric properties of the Ni–Zn ferrite were also improved with the addition of Bi_2O_3.     

On the use of exchange biased top electrodes in magnetic tunnel junctions

We have investigated the magnetic behavior and the structural properties of ferromagnetic–antiferromagnetic systems (NiFe–IrMn and Co–IrMn) deposited directly on a thin tantalum buffer layer (bottom configuration) or above a thin Al₂O₃ tunnel barrier layer (top configuration). In the bottom configuration, the bilayer system exhibits higher magnetic performances than in the top configuration in terms of thermal stability. We have performed a detailed structural study by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy which allow us to establish a clear correlation between the situation of the bilayer with respect to the tunnel barrier, its texture and its magnetic properties.     

Tuning the multiferroic properties of Pb(Fe1/2Nb1/2)O3 by cationic substitution

A series of substituted lead iron niobate compounds with the general formula Pb²⁺_(1−x)A^Z_x(Fe_{{(1−(2−Z)x)/2}}Nb_{{(1+(2−Z)x)/2}})O₃ (0<x<0.6 and A=La³⁺, K⁺ or Sr²⁺) were prepared by a modified solid-state synthesis. The relative concentrations of Fe³⁺ and Nb⁵⁺ were adjusted to compensate the charge imbalance due to the aliovalent substitution. The dielectric constant and magnetic susceptibilities were studied as a function of temperature. The temperature of the dielectric maximum, T_M, of the substituted compounds decreased linearly with increasing concentration of the substituent ions. The magnetic measurements showed an antiferromagnetic transition at temperatures T_N1 due to the superexchange interactions mediated by Fe–O–Fe and an additional antiferromagnetic-type transition at T_N2. T_N1 linearly increased with the increasing concentration of Fe³⁺ ion at the B-site of ABO₃-type substituted compounds. T_M is shown to be directly dependent on the concentration of the ferroactive Nb⁵⁺ ions at the B-site and Pb²⁺ ions at the A-site.     

Magnetic moment oscillation in ammonium perchlorate in a DC SQUID-based magnetic resonance experiment

In this work we describe experimental results in which a DC SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) is used as free induction decay detector. Measurements of a solid ammonium perchlorate (NH₄ClO₄) sample were performed, in zero field, at 4.2 K. Unexpected magnetic moment oscillations were detected at 1.5 kHz. The computation of the magnetic fields suggests that the proton nuclear magnetic resonance may explain the measured resonance, considering reorientation of the ammonium group by quantum tunneling of protons and a magnetic proton dipole–dipole intermolecular interaction model.     

Characterization of heterogeneous interaction in binary mixtures of ethylene glycol oligomer with water, ethyl alcohol and dioxane by dielectric analysis

The associating behaviour of the binary mixtures of ethylene glycol oligomer (EGO), i.e. ethylene glycol (EG), diethylene glycol (DEG) and poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEG200, PEG300, PEG400 and PEG600) with water (W), ethyl alcohol (EA) and 1,4-dioxane (DX) over the entire concentration range at 25 °C have been investigated through their accurately measured values of dielectric constant. The static dielectric constant ε_o, high frequency limiting dielectric constant ε_∞, dielectric relaxation strength Δε, excess dielectric parameters ε^E₀ and ε^E_∞, effective Kirkwood correlation factor g^eff and corrective correlation factor g_f of EGO–W, EGO–EA and EGO–DX mixtures were determined to obtain qualitative and quantitative information about the complex formation through H-bond in these systems. Most of the evaluated dielectric parameters of EG and DEG in different ‘cosolvents’ have different characteristics as compared to the PEG–cosolvent mixture. The observed linear and non-linear behaviour of Δε against EGO monomer unit mole fraction X confirms the variation in the homogeneous structures in their binary mixtures with concentration variation. Appearance of the maximum in ε^E₀ against X plots indicates that a complex stable adduct is formed in the EGO–W mixtures at stoichiometric ratio 1:1.7 for lower oligomers but this ratio seems to be 1.7:1 for higher EGO molecules, which confirms that the EGO size and chain flexibility affects the complex formation between EGO and W. In case of EG–EA mixture 1:1 stoichiometric ratio form stable adduct whereas for higher EGO–EA, it is 3:1, at EGO monomer unit level. The complex formation behaviour of DEG–EA has entirely different characteristics when compared to the other studied EGO–EA mixtures. Although, 1,4-dioxane has weak polar behaviour dielectric properties of EG–DX and DEG–DX confirm the formation of stable adducts at the stoichiometric ratio 2:1 of EGO monomer unit mole fraction to the DX. For the higher EGO–DX mixtures, stable adduct forms at the stoichiometric ratio 9:1. Except DEG–EA mixtures, the EGO–W and EGO–EA form the complex with reduction in the effective number of dipoles. In EG–DX mixtures, the heterogeneous species form with a large reduction in the effective number of dipoles, which changes as the effective number of dipoles increases with the increase in monomer repeat units of EGO. Further the net electronic polarization in these binary mixtures increases due to heterogeneous interaction over the entire mixing concentration range.     

Dissipative quantum-creep studies in single-crystal La2CuO4+δ

Temperature-dependent magnetic relaxation was studied in a La₂CuO_4+δ crystal in the low-temperature range 2–10 K. The experimental data exhibited a non-vanishing magnetic relaxation in the low-temperature limit. These data could be well interpreted by a quantum-creep theory, suggesting the non-vanishing relaxation at low temperatures due to quantum tunneling of vortices. The effective Euclidean action determined as /|d ln M/d ln t| showed a quadratic temperature dependence. The quantitative analysis of the effective Euclidean action yields a classical activation energy, crossover temperature and zero-temperature quantum-tunneling rate.     

Growth behavior of high k LaAlO3 films on Si by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition for alternative gate dielectric application

LaAlO₃ (LAO) is explored in this work to replace SiO₂ as the gate dielectric material in metal–oxide–semiconductor field effect transistor. Amorphous LAO gate dielectric films were deposited on Si (0 0 1) substrates by low pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition using La(dpm)₃ and Al(acac)₃ sources. The effect of processing parameters such as deposition temperature and precursor vapor flux on growth, structure, morphology, and composition of LAO films has been investigated by various analytical methods deeply. The film growth mechanism on Si is reaction limiting instead of mass transport control. The reaction is thermally activated with activation energy of 37 kJ/mol. In the initial growth stage, Al element is deficient due to higher nucleation barrier on Si. The LAO films show a smooth surface and good thermal stability and remain amorphous up to a high temperature of 850 °C. The electrical properties of amorphous LAO ultrathin films on Si have also been evaluated, indicating LAO is suitable for high k gate dielectric applications.     

Ti Impurity Effect on the Optical Coefficients in 2D Cu_2Si: A DFT Study

The electronic and optical properties of 2D Cu_2Si and Cu_2Si:Ti are investigated based on the density functional theory(DFT) using the FP-LAPW method and GGA approximation. The 2D Cu_2Si has metallic and non magnetic properties, whereas adding Ti impurity to its structure changes the electronic behavior to the half-metallic with 3.256μB magnetic moment. The optical transition is not occurred in the infrared and visible area for the 2D Cu_2Si in x-direction and by adding Ti atom, the real part of dielectric function in the x-direction, Re(ε(ω))_x is reached to a Dirac peak at this energy range. Moreover, the absorption gap tends to zero in x-direction of the 2D Cu_2Si:Ti.     

Dielectric and modulus behavior of LiFe1/2Ni1/2VO4 ceramics

The polycrystalline sample of LiFe_1/2Ni_1/2VO₄ was prepared by a standard solid-state reaction technique and confirmed by X-ray diffractometry. LiFe_1/2Ni_1/2VO₄ has orthorhombic crystal structure whose dielectric and electric modulus properties were studied over a wide frequency range (100 Hz–1 MHz) at different temperatures (296–623 K) using a complex impedance spectroscopy (CIS) technique. The frequency and temperature dependence of dielectric constant (ε_r) and tangent loss (tan δ) of LiFe_1/2Ni_1/2VO₄ are studied. The variation of ε_r as a function frequency at different temperatures exhibits a dispersive behavior at low frequencies. The variation of the ε_r as a function of temperature at different frequencies shows the dielectric anomaly in ε_r at 498 K with maximum value of dielectric constant 274.49 and 96.86 at 100 kHz and 1 MHz, respectively. Modulus analysis was carried out to understand the mechanism of the electrical transport process, which indicates the non-exponential type of conductivity relaxation in the material. The activation energy calculated from electric modulus spectra is 0.38 eV.     

Pinning enhancement in MgB2-magnetic particles composites

The temperature dependence of microwave absorption hysteresis is measured in superconducting composites, prepared from MgB₂ and powders of magnetic Ni, Co, and non-magnetic Ti. In MgB₂–Ni and MgB₂–Ti composites the increase of microwave absorption hysteresis, by 150% and 25%, respectively, is found. In both cases this is connected with pinning enhancement. In MgB₂–Co composites a decrease of the superconducting transition temperature and worsening of pinning properties are observed.     

Nuclear magnetism of sub-monolayer solid He on graphite

Nuclear magnetization has been measured with NMR down to temperatures around 0.1 mK for sub-monolayer solid ³He formed on graphite preplated with two layers of HD. The data for the commensurate phase show no evidence of a magnetic transition and a rather slow increase of the magnetization even at ultra-low temperature (0.15 mK), much lower than the antiferromagnetic exchange interaction of −6.3 mK.     

The influence of different fabrication processes on characteristics of excess Bi2O3-doped 0.95 (Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3–0.05 BaTiO3 ceramics

In this study, we will develop the influences of the excess x wt% (x=0, 1, 2, and 3) Bi₂O₃-doped and the different fabricating process on the sintering and dielectric characteristics of 0.95 (Na_0.5Bi_0.5)TiO₃–0.05 BaTiO₃ ferroelectric ceramics with the aid of SEM and X-ray diffraction patterns, and dielectric–temperature curves. The 0.95 (Na_0.5Bi_0.5)TiO₃–0.05 BaTiO₃+x wt% Bi₂O₃ ceramics are fabricated by two different processes. The first process is that (Na_0.5Bi_0.5)TiO₃ composition is calcined at 850 °C and BaTiO₃ composition is calcined at 1100 °C, then the calcined (Na_0.5Bi_0.5)TiO₃ and BaTiO₃ powders are mixed in according to 0.95 (Na_0.5Bi_0.5)TiO₃–0.05 BaTiO₃+x wt% Bi₂O₃ compositions. The second process is that the raw materials are mixed in accordance to the 0.95 (Na_0.5Bi_0.5)TiO₃–0.05 BaTiO₃+x wt% Bi₂O₃ compositions and then calcining at 900 °C. The sintering process is carried out in air for 2 h from 1120 to 1240 °C. After sintering, the effects of process parameters on the dielectric characteristics will be developed by the dielectric–temperature curves. Dielectric–temperature properties are also investigated at the temperatures of 30–350 °C and at the frequencies of 10 kHz–1 MHz.     

Observation of enhanced dielectric permittivity in Bi doped BaFe12O19 ferrite

The dielectric properties of a 2.5 mol% Bi₂O₃ doped Ba-ferrite (BaFe₁₂O₁₉) have been investigated. The specimen shows a drastically enhanced (≈ 10⁵ times) permittivity (ε) through local polarization of Fe³⁺ electronic charges activated with nearby Bi³⁺ sites. The ε value also depends reasonably on thermal annealing (causes grain growth) of the samples. The specimens comprising large particle sizes (1–20 μ m) usually exhibit smaller ε values and low dielectric losses.