Neutron diffraction determination of the magnetic structures of NpCo2Si2 and NpCu2Si2

A small polycrystalline ingot sample of NpCo₂Si₂ (weight ≈ 1.5 g) has been studied by neutron diffration between 2 and 160 K on the multi-detector D1B of ILL, Grenoble. At 100 K, the crystal structure is body-centered tetragonal (space group 14/mmm) with a = 3.886 Å and c =9.649 Å. Below T_N = (44 ± 2) K, seven superlattice lines are observed which correspond to a simple tetragonal lattice with lattice constants as above. They are consistent with a type I antiferromagnetic structure of the Np (2a) sublattice, with (001) ferromagnetic sheets coupled antiferromagnetically according to the sequence +-+-. At 6 K, the neptunium moment obtained from the diffracted intensities is: (1.48 ± 0.20)_μuB, and makes an angle 52° ± 15° with the c axis. The cobalt moment is certainly smallet than 0.3_μuB. The Np moment correlates well with the ²³⁷Np hyperfine field deduced from Mos?sbauer spectroscopy; the sublattice magnetization-temoperature curve follows very well the $\text{J=}\text{1}\text{2}$ brillouin curve. The magnetism is therefore probably of lovalized character in this compound. An isomorphous sample of NpCu₂Si₂ (a = 3.990 Å c = 9.920 Å) was shown to be ferromagnetic below (41 ± 2) K, with the Np moment [1.5 ± 0.2)_μuB] aligned along the c axis.     

Magnetic transitions in K2MnCl4·2H2O

Results of (dM/dH) measurements on tetrahedral K₂MnCl₄·2H₂O as a function of temperature and magnetic field, are presented. An antiferromagnetic transition along the tetragonal axis is observed at T_N = (3.05±0.05) K. The H-T magnetic phase diagram was completely determined, and shows the usual characteristics of that of a low anisotropy antiferromagnet. The T = 0 critical fields are compatible with the values H_E = (29.2±0.3) kOe and H_A = (5.9±0.6) kOe for the exchange and anisotropy fields.     

Covalent distribution of spin in V2O3:O17 nuclear resonance

O¹⁷ nuclear magnetic resonance has been observed in metallic V₂O₃ with frequency shifts from (?0.10 ± 0.02)-(?0.05 ± 0.02) per cent between 170 and 460°K respectively, a linewidth of 37 ± 5 oe and spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T₁ ≈ 60 sec^?1 at 296°K. From these quantities, covalency parameters f_s/2S = ? 0.35 × 10^?3 and ?_π/2S ≈ ? 0.07 are calculated. One of the two vanadium 3d electrons in the antiferromagnetic state below the 170°K metal-insulator transition is inferred to lie in a non-magnetic state, while covalent charge transfer augments the spin moment of the other 3d electron to the observed 1.2 μ_B.     

The heat capacity of the layer compounds (CH3CH2CH2NH3)2MnCl4 and (CH3CH2CH2NH3)2CdCl4 from 10 K TO 300 K

The heat capacity of the layer compounds tetrachlorobis (n-propylammonium) manganese II and tetrachlorobis (n-propylammonium) cadmium II, (CH₃CH₂CH₂NH₃)₂MnCl₄ and (CH₃CH₂CH₂NH₃)₂CdCl₄ respectively, has been measured over the temperature range 10 K ?T ? 300 K.Two known structural phase transitions were observed for the Mn compound in this temperature region: at T = 112.8 ± 0.1 K (ΔH_t= 586 ± 2 J mol^?1; ΔS_t = 5.47 ± 0.02 J K^?1mol^?1) and at T =164.3 ± (ΔH_t = 496 ± 7 J mol^?1; ΔS_t =3.29 ± 0.05 J K^?1mol^?1). The lower transition is known to be from a monoclinic structure to a tetragonal structure, while the upper is from the tetragonal phase to an orthorhombic one. From comparison with the results for the corresponding methyl Mn compound it is deduced that the lower transition primarily involves changes in H-bonding while the upper transition involves motion in the propyl chain.A new structural phase transition was observed in the Cd compound at T= 105.5 ± 0.1 K (ΔH_t= 1472.3 ± 0.1 J mol^?1; ΔS_t = 13.956 ± 0.001 J K^?1mol^?1), in addition to two transitions that have been observed previously by other techniques. The higher of these transitions(T = 178.7 ± 0.3 K; ΔH_t = 982 ± 4 J mol^?1 ΔS_t = 6.16 ± 0.02 J K^? mol^?1) is known to be between two orthorhombic structures, while the structural changes at the lower transition (T= 156.8 ± 0.2 K; ΔH_t = 598 ± 5 J mol^?1, ΔS_t = 3.85 ± 0.03 J K^?1 mol^?1) and at the new transition are not known. It is proposed that these two transitions correspond respectively to the tetragonal to orthorhombic and monoclinic to tetragonal transitions in the propyl Mn compounds.In addition to the structural phase transitions (CH₃CH₂CH₂NH₃)₂MnCl₄ magnetically orders at t? 130 K. The magnetic contribution to the heat capacity is deduced from the heat capacity of the corresponding diamagnetic Cd compound and is of the form expected for a quasi 2-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet.     

Magnetic properties of the compounds N(CH3)4MnIIMIII(CN)6 ·8 H2O(MIII = Mn,Fe)

In the isostructural cyanobridged chain compounds N(CH₃)₄Mn^IIM^III(CN)₆ · 8H₂O high spin Mn(II) ions couple antiferromagnetically to low spin Mn(III) of Fe(III) ions. The Mn^II–Mn^III compound orders ferrimagnetically below T_N = 28.5 ± 1 K. The tetragonal a and b axes are easy ones for the magnetic moments. In the Mn^II–Fe^III compound antiferromagnetic order occurs below T_N = 9.3 K, with spins aligned along the tetragonal c axis. The compound undergoes a meta-magnetic transition from the antiferromagnetic to a ferrimagnetic phase. This occurs at 2 K for a field H_crit ≈ 1.2 T. The temperature dependence of H_crit, which vanishes at T_N, is followed. The tricritical temperature T¹ is ～ 5 K.     

Magnetic structure of BaCaFe4O8-analysis of neutron diffraction measurements

The compound BaCaFe₄O₈ crystallizes in the trigonal space group P$\text{31}$m with one formula unit per unit cell with lattice constants $\text{a = 5.4059}\text{A}$ and $\text{c = 7.7023}\text{A}$ Neutron diffraction measurements carried out on a powder sample over the temperature range 300–900 K showed that the compound undergoes a magnetic transition to an antiferromagnetic state at a Néel temperature T_N = 680 ± 5 K. Analysis of the room temperature neutron diffraction pattern gave a magnetic unit cell that has the same periodicty as the crystallographic one. An antiferromagnetic model is proposed with the iron spin magnetic moments parallel to the c-axis of the unit cell. The magnetic moment of the Fe³⁺ ion was found to be (4.5 ± 0.1)μ_B     

Neutron diffraction studies of the magnetic ordering in the rare earth compounds TbNi2Si2, HoCo2Si2 and TbCo2Si2

Neutron diffraction studies and magnetic measurements on the compounds TbNi₂Si₂ (1), HoCo₂Si₂ (2) and TbCo₂Si₂ (3) revealed a collinear antiferromagnetic order below T_N = 10 ± 1 K (1), T_N = 13 ± 1 K (2) and T_N = 30 ± 2 K (3) with the rare earths moments oriented along the c-axis [m₀ = 8.8 ± 0.2 μ_B (1), m₀ = 8.1 ± 0.2 μ_B (2), m₀ = 8.8 ± 0.2 μ_B (3)] and the corresponding wavevector are $\text{k}\text{= [}\text{1}\text{2}\text{1}\text{2}\text{0] (1)}\text{and}\text{k}\text{= [ 0 0 1] (2) (3)}$. The magnetic structure of the compounds HoCo₂Si₂ and TbCo₂Si₂ consists of ferromagnetic layers perpendicular to the c-axis coupled antiferromagnetically (+?+?) while for TbNi₂Si₂ the ordering within (0 0 1) plane is antiferromagnetic and the planes (0 0 1) are indeed decoupled.     

Specific heat studies of high-Tc superconductor YBa2Cu3O7−x

Specific heat studies of the high-T_c superconducting compound YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x with bulk transition temperature at 92K are reported. A distinct anomaly of electronic origin in the specific heat is observed with granular-like behavior corresponding to a Sommerfeld constant γ = 7±2mJ(moleCuK²)^±1 Debye temperature (φo ≈ 400K) is obtained by fitting the experimental data with the theoretical Debye specific heat.     

Structural and magnetic properties of the layered compound Ca2.375La0.125Sr0.5GaMn2O8

The brownmillerite-type layered compound Ca_2.375La_0.125Sr_0.5GaMn₂O₈ has been synthesized. The crystal and magnetic structures have been refined by the Rietveld analysis of the neutron powder diffraction patterns at 300 and 20 K. This compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic symmetry under the space group Pcm2₁ (a = 5.447(2), b = 11.359(4) and c = 5.322(2) Å). The compound is found to be antiferromagnetic at 20 K. The ordered Mn magnetic moment, aligned along the crystallographic b-direction, is derived to be 2.53(5) µ_B per Mn ion at 20 K.     

Observation of multi-gap superconductivity in GdO(F)FeAs by Andreev spectroscopy

We have studied current-voltage characteristics of Andreev contacts in polycrystalline GdO_0.88F_0.12FeAs samples with bulk critical temperature T _c = (52.5 ± 1) K using break-junction technique. The data obtained can- not be described within the single-gap approach and suggests the existence of a multi-gap superconductivity in this compound. The large and small superconducting gap values estimated at T = 4.2 K are Δ _L = 10.5 ± 2 meV and Δ _s = 2.3 ± 0.4 meV, respectively.     

Magnetic structures and magnetic susceptibilities of terbium oxysulfide and oxyselenide

For the two isomorphous compounds Tb₂O₂S and Tb₂O₂Se, the magnetic susceptibility measurements on powder samples show an antiferromagnetic ordering with Néel temperatures of about 7.7 and 7K respectively. Differing in this respect from the other rare earth oxyselenides, the magnetic anisotropy of Tb₂O₂Se at low temperature is weaker than that of Tb₂O₂S.We also determine the magnetic structures of these two compounds by neutron diffraction experiments at 1.5K. The magnetic cell is orthohexagonal and doubled along the c-axis; the magnetic moments make an angle, with the c-axis, of 47 ± 10° for Tb₂O₂S and 30 ± 10° for Tb₂O₂Se and the moment values at 1.5K are 8.14 ± 0.2μ_B and 6.5 ± 0.2μ_B, respectively.It is rather exceptional that in a rare earth uniaxial compound the magnetic moment makes an angle with the c-axis. However we interpret this situation by the fact that several levels exist very near to the ground state. The crystal field calculations are in good agreement with the experimental results.     

One- and two-dimensional S=12 Heisenberg antiferromagnetism in Cu(C5H5NO)6 (ClO4)2 and Cu(C5H5NO)6 (BF4)2, respectively

Specific-heat data on CuL₆(ClO₄)₂ and CuL₆(BF₄)₂ in the temperature range 0.05 < T < 20 K are presented (L ≡ C₅H₅NO). The magnetic contributions are found to have the form of broad maxima, occurring near 1 K. Small χ-type anomalies are observed at T_c = 0.62 ± 0.01 K and 0.142 ± 0.002 K for CuL₆(BF₄)₂ and CuL₆(ClO₄)₂, respectively. The analyses show the magnetic structure to be an assembly of weakly coupled antiferromagnetic chains or layers for CuL₆(ClO₄)₂ and CuL₆(BF₄)₂, respectively. For CuL₆(ClO₄)₂ the intrachain exchange constant is J/K = -1.02 ± 0.02 K, for CuL₆(BF₄)₂ the intralayer exchange constant is J/K = -1.10 ± 0.02 K. Additional evidence for the lower-dimensional magnetic structures is obtained from the temperature dependences of the antiferromagnetic susceptibilities. The data on CuL₆(BF₄)₂ clearly indicate the absence of a divergence in the specific heat for the quadratic-layer Heisenberg antiferromagnet, and provide an estimate for the specific heat for this model. A comparison is made with the corresponding result for the ferromagnetic Heisenberg layer.     

Determination of the antiferromagnetic exchange constants between nearest-neighbour Mn2+ ions in Cd1-xMnxS and Zn1-xMnxSe

Steplike magnetization vs magnetic field dependence obtained in pulsed magnetic field up to 34 T in 1.8 K enables us to determine the value of the antiferromagnetic exchange constant between nearest-neighbour Mn²⁺ ion (J₁). The analysis of the first and the second step position in the framework of a generalized cluster model [1] yields J₁ = −8.6±0.9 K for Cd_0.945Mn_0.055 S and J₁ = −9.9±0.9 K for Zn_0.95 Mn_0.05 Se.     

The heat capacity of the layer compound tetrachlorobis (methylammonium) manganese—II (CH3NH3)2MnCl4, from 10 to 300k

The heat capacity of the layer compound, tetrachlorobis (methylammonium) manganese II, (CH₃NH₃)₂MnCl₄, has been measured over the range 10K <T<300K. In this region, two structural phase transitions have been observed previously by other techniques: one transition is from a monoclinic low temperature (MLT) phase to a tetragonal low temperature (TLT) phase, and the other is from TLT to an orthorhombic room temperature (ORT) phase. The present experiments have shown that the lower transition (MLT→TLT) occurs at T = 94.37±0.05K with ΔH_t = 727±5 J mol^?1 and ΔS_t = 7.76±0.05 J K^?1 mol^?1, and the upper transition (TLT→ORT) takes place at T = 257.02±0.07K with ΔH_t = 116±1J mol^?1 and ΔS_t = 0.451±0.004 J K^?1mol^?1. These results are discussed in the light of recent measurements on (CH₃NH₃)₂CdCl₄, and also with regard to a recent theoretical model of the structural phase transitions in compounds of this type.In addition to the structural phase transitions, (CH₃NH₃)₂MnCl₄ also undergoes magnetic ordering at T < 150K. The magnetic component to the heat capacity, as deduced from a corresponding states comparison of the heat capacity of the present compound with that of the Cd compound, is shown to be consistent with the behaviour expected for a quasi 2-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet.     

Neutron diffraction study of DyCu2Ge2

The DyCu₂Ge₂ compound was studied by neutron diffraction on the Grenoble Nuclear Research Center multicounter system. The compound is isostructural to the rare earth RCu₂Ge₂ compounds with space group I4/mmm. 19 superlattice lines were observed in the 3 K pattern which are consistent with a doubling of the unit cell in the a and c directions. The moment value is 8 μ_B making an angle of 30° with a and 70° with c axis. The structure consists of ferromagnetic (1 0 1) layers with antiferromagnetic coupling between them. The Néel and Curie paramagnetic temperature of this compound is 8 K and ? 15 K respectively.     

Accurate determination of the interchain exchange in CsCoCl3 · 2H2O from detailed low-temperature susceptibility data

Detailed measurements of the b and c axis susceptibilities of CsCoCl₃ · 2H₂O have been made between 1.5 and 30 K. The results support the canted antiferromagnetic linear chain model previously used to describe this determine the value of the intrachain exchange. The results give J/k = ?52 ± 2 K and g_b = 4.18 ± 0.08. This value for J/k is significantly larger than what other investigators have reported for CsCoCl₃ · 2H₂O and if the Ising model is applicable it will be more accurate because of the simplicity of the analysis.     

Neutron diffraction study of Ho(Rh0.3Ir0.7)4B4

Using powder neutron diffraction techniques, we have examined the magnetic order of the pseudoternary compound Ho(Rh_0.3Ir_0.7)₄B₄ below the Néel temperature T_N=2.7K. The magnetic structure consists of stacked antiferromagnetic basal plane sheets forming a body centered tetragonal unit cell, with a sublattice magnetization corresponding to 9.6±0.6μ_B per Ho³⁺ion at 1.5 K. Magnetic intensity versus temperature measurements indicate that the transition is second order and reveal no anomalous effects when the compound becomes superconducting at T_c=1.34K.     

Effet Mössbauer sur les noyaux d'impuretes 119Sn4+ dans la matrice de VO2

The phase transition in VO₂ doped with 0.16 at.% Sn⁴⁺ was investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy of ¹¹⁹Sn. Hyperfine magnetic fields were observed on ¹¹⁹Sn nuclei below the transition temperature. At 77 K the maximum hyperfine magnetic field was found to be H(0)_{77 K} = 120 ± 10 kOe The results obtained are discussed in terms of fine antiferromagnetic particles.     

Magnetic properties of NH4CoF3

Susceptibility and magnetization measurements on powdered samples of NH₄CoF₃ are presented. The compound has the simple cubic perovskite structure at room temperature. At T_c = 124.5 ± 0.1K a structural transition to a pseudo-tetragonal symmetry occurs which is accompanied by the onset of long-range antiferromagnetic order. Evidence for the presence of a small weak-ferromagnetic moment is found. The susceptibility in the paramagnetic regime is compared with published data on KCoF₃, RbCoF₃ and TlCoF₃. A calculation of the susceptibility, including both the crystal-field contribution and the exchange contribution within the molecular-field approximation, is found to yield reasonable fits to these data in the range T ⪆ 200 K.     

Neutron diffraction study of magnetic ordering in PrCu2Si2, PrCu2Ge2, PrFe2Ge2 and NdFe2Ge2

A neutron diffraction study of polycrystalline PrCu₂Si₂ [1], PrCu₂Ge₂ [2], PrFe₂Ge₂ [3] and NdFe₂Ge₂ [4] intermetallics carried out at liquid helium temperature shows the presence of a collinear antiferromagnetic order below T_N = 19 ± 1 K [1], T_N = 16 ± 1 K [2], T_N = 9 ± 1 K [3] and 13 ± 1 K [4]. Magnetic moment, parallel to the c-axis is localized on RE ions only. The magnetic structure of these compounds consists of ferromagnetic layers perpendicular to the c-axis coupled antiferromagnetically with sequence +-+- for PrCu₂Si₂ and PrCu₂Ge₂ and +--+ for PrFe₂Ge₂ and NdFe₂Ge₂. The RE moments amount close to the free ion values for Fe containing compounds but are smaller in those containing Cu suggesting a fairly strong influence of crystal field.