Stiffness matrix and debye temperature of ReO3 from ultrasonic measurements

We have measured the propagation velocities of bulk acoustic waves in the simple cubic transition-metal oxide ReO₃ by ultrasonic pulse propagation. The elastic stiffness constants at 300 K are: C₁₁ = (47.9 ± 1.4) × 10¹¹ dyne/cm²; C₄₄ = (6.1 ± 0.2) × 10¹¹ dyne/cm²; C₁₂ = (?0.7 ± 2.8) × 10¹¹ dyne/cm². These elastic constants indicate a crystal with highly anisotropic shear propagation. The Debye temperature of the compound from these measurements is 528 K. This value is somewhat higher than previous results from specific heat and resistivity determinations.     

Possible observation of the coexistence of superconductivity and long-range magnetic order in NdRh4B4

The ternary rare earth compound NdRh₄B₄ has been studied by means of critical field, low temperature heat capacity, and static magnetic susceptibility measurements. Features in the upper critical field and heat capacity data at 1.31 K and 0.89 K suggest the occurrence of long-range magnetic order in the superconducting state. The temperature dependence of the static magnetic susceptibility follows a Curie-Weiss law with an effective magnetic moment μ_eff = 3.58 ± 0.05 μ_B and a Curie-Weiss temperature θ_p = ?6.2 ± 1.0 K between 20 K and room temperature. However,, magnetization vs. applied magnetic field isotherms suggest the development of a ferromagnetic component in the Nd³⁺ magnetization at low temperatures.     

Muon Knight shift in palladium

The Knight shift at positive muons implanted in pure palladium has been measured as a function of temperature from 19.8 to 883 K. The Knight shift variation is strictly proportional to the Pd magnetic susceptibility with ΔK^μ/Δ_x=-(0.43±0.02) mole/emu=-(2.39±0.11)kG/μ_B. A temperature independent term K^μ(x=0)=+45±10 ppm is found. The results are discussed in terms of the electronic structure of H in Pd.     

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.     

Cationic Order in Double Perovskite Oxide, Sr2Fe1−x Sc x ReO6 (x = 0.05, 0.1)

We have synthesized by sol–gel method the following polycrystalline double perovskite samples: Sr₂Fe_1?x Sc _x ReO₆ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1). The results of the Rietveld refinements presented single double perovskite phases with orthorhombic symmetry for the system Sr₂Fe_1?x Sc _x ReO₆, the differences in atomic radii between Fe³⁺ and Sc³⁺ cause a lowering in symmetry with respect to the parent Sr₂FeReO₆ tetragonal compound. The Curie temperatures are found at about 426 and 436 (±5) K for Sr₂Fe_0.9Sc_0.1ReO₆ and Sr₂Fe_0.9Sc_0.05ReO₆, respectively. The Mössbauer spectra measured at 77 K show complex hyperfine structures resulting from different magnetic contributions at Fe³⁺ sites; the average hyperfine field is estimated 50 T and the isomer shift at 0.5 mm/s. At room temperature an intermediate valence state for Fe is also observed.     

Magnetic and ESR studies of Er3+ in lanthanum dihydride LaH2

Er³⁺ electron spin resonance ESR and magnetic susceptibility have been studied in metallic lanthanum dihydride host. The ESR spectrum contains a single asymmetrical line with g-factor g = 6.68 ± 0.05 close to that expected for Γ₇ as ground state. The experimental magnetic susceptibility was interpreted on the base of LLW cubic crystal field Hamiltonian. The best fit of the experimental data has been obtained for the following B₄ and B₆ crystal field parameters: B₄ = ?5.2 × 10^?3 K; B₆ = 3.8 × 10^?5 K which support the anionic-like character hydridic model of hydrogen atoms in this hydride.     

Thermal and magnetic studies of the nearly one-dimensional antiferromagnetic system CsNiBr3

Magnetic susceptibility, specific heat and ¹³³Cs magnetic resonance measurements in a single crystal of CsNiBr₃ are reported. The data reveal two magnetic transitions separating the paramagnetic phase from the antiferromagnetic ground state. At the higher transition temperature T_N2 = (14.25 ± 0.05)K a net magnetic moment is observed only along the hexagonal c-axis, while only below the lower transition temperature T_N1 = (11.75 ± 0.05)K a perpendicular component of the magnetic moment appears also. Above T_N2 CsNiBr₃ can be described as a one-dimensional antiferromagnet with intrachain exchange interaction $\text{J}\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{B}}\text{= ?(17.0 ± 0.2)}\text{K}$ and single-ion anisotropy constant $\text{D}\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{B}}\text{? ?1.5}\text{K}$. Below T_N1, the data are consistent with the non-colinear triangular structure of the Ni²⁺ moments proposed previously for the isomorphic crystal CsNiCl₃. A reduced value of the zero-temperature susceptibility over the classical value is found and atrributed to the zero point deviations.     

CsNiF3: Ferromagnetic chains with X-Y like anisotropy

We have measured the specific heat and the susceptibility of powdered samples of CsNiF₃, a compound which can be considered as consisting of nearly isolated ferromagnetic chains with a large uniaxial anisotropy, which favours the plane perpendicular to the chain-axis. For the intrachain exchange constant a value J/k=(8.3±0·8)K has been deduced from the susceptibility. Using this we were able to separate the magnetic contribution from the measured specific heat. The magnetic part shows a broad maximum at kT_max/J=1.8 and a small anomaly at kT_c/J=0.32, the latter reflecting the transition to 3-dimensional order. Only about 13 per cent of the magnetic entropy is gained below T_c.     

XPS and thermomagnetic characterization of the CeNi4Cr compound

The magnetic, thermodynamic and electronic structure properties are discussed for the CeNi₄Cr compound. The X-ray photoemission spectra (XPS) provide an evidence of a mixed valence behavior with the occupancy of the f states n_f=0.89 and their hybridization with the conduction electrons Δ=30 meV. These values reproduce well the magnetic susceptibility χ(T=0), which is enhanced compared to similar CeNi₄M (M=Al, B, Cu) compounds. In combination with a slightly increased electronic specific heat coefficient (up to 100 mJ mol⁻¹ K⁻²), this compound can be classified as being on the border of the heavy fermion and mixed valence behavior. Using a small magnetic field in the χ(T) measurements reveals a presence of magnetically ordered impurity phase, which is easily damped by higher fields and it is shown that the contribution of this phase is minor. The question of the dependence of the electronic specific heat coefficient on the magnetic field is also addressed and the observations agree well with theoretical predictions based on the Anderson model.     

Specific heat anomaly of single phase YBa2Cu3O7-δ at superconducting transition temperature

The specific heat of single phase YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ has been measured using non-adiabatic method between 4.2K and 120K. There is a specific heat anomaly Δc at 90K (about 3.2% of total specific heat) approximately, due to superconducting transition. From the measured value of ΔC and transition temperature T_c, the electronic density of state at Fermi level N(E_F) and Sommerfeld parameter γ calculated are 2.55±0.30states/eV.Cu-atom and 2.77±0.30 mJ/mole.K², respectively. The experimental result of N(E_F) is consistent with that of the band calculation by Mattheiss. The Debye temperature above T_c in this material deduced from Debye function is about 340K. Below 20K, the relation C=γ'T+βT³ is satisfied. But the value of γ' is smaller. That means, most of the electrons have formed superconducting Cooper pairs which give no contribution to specific heat below 20K.     

Phase transition in electronic manganite Ca0.85Sm0.15MnO3

The resistivity, the magnetic susceptibility, the magnetization, and the specific heat of electronic manganite Ca_0.85Sm_0.15MnO₃ were studied. The data obtained suggest that this compound undergoes phase transition into the insulator antiferromagnetic state at T _c ～115 K and displays negative magnetoresistance at T<T _c . A minor ferromagnetic component of 0.025µ_B in the magnetization of Ca_0.85Sm_0.15MnO₃ may be caused by the deviation of this composition from the exact stoichiometry Mn³⁺: Mn⁴⁺=1: 8. The Debye temperature Θ_D=575 K and the entropy of phase transition ΔS=5.1 J/(mol K) were derived from the temperature dependence of specific heat.     

Thermal and magnetic properties of some YBa2Cu3O7−δ samples

Thermal and magnetic measurements have been performed on several YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ compounds, some ones showing a large content of high T_c (93 K) superconducting phase. A jump in the specific heat ΔCp, is well evidenced at the transition allowing a determination of the ratio ΔCp/T_c ≅ 23 ± 5. mJ/ (mole Cu)K². In addition, an estimation of the γ value (≅ 11 mJ/(mole Cu). K²) has been drawn from the determination of the electronic entropy at T_c. The samples have been characterized by susceptibility, magnetization and resistivity experiments. The critical field slopes at T_c were found to be dHc₁/dT ≅ 17 Oe/K and dHc₂/dT ≅ 20 kOe/K. The results are discussed in the framework of the Ginzburg-Landau theory.     

Magnetic susceptibility and electrical conductivity of transition-metal platinum oxides: Evidence for one-dimensional electronic interactions

Bulk magnetic susceptibility measurements have been made on the orthorhombic compounds CoPt₃O₆, MnPt₃O₆, and NiPt₃O₆, and the structurally related cubic phase Co_0.37Na_0.14Pt₃O₄, in the temperature range 300-4 K. These compounds, which are rather unusual in that they contain first-row transition metals in eight coordination, are all paramagnetic above 25 K and show Curie-Weiss behavior with effective magnetic moments μ_eff(Co) = 4.8 ± 0.2μ_B,μ_eff(Mn) = 5.8 ± 0.1 μ_B, μ_eff(Ni) = 3.9 ± 0.2 μ_B, and μ_eff(Co) = 4.2 ± 0.5 μ_B, respectively. The inverse susceptibilities of CoPt₃O₆ and MnPt₃O₆ exhibit deviations from Curie-Weiss behavior below 25 K, and a minimum is observed for CoPt₃O₆ at about 8K. Single-crystal electrical conductivity measurements along the c-axis (σ_∥) in CoPt₃O₆ and MnPt₃O₆ show these materials to be semiconducting, but with relatively high conductivities and low activation energies σ_∥ (294 K) = 40 Ω^?1-cm^?1 and E_a = 0.07 eV for CoPt₃O₆ and σ_∥ (303 K) = 111Ω^?1cm^?1 and E_a = 0.02 eV for CoPt₃O₆. The results for CoPt₃O₆. MnPt₃O₆, and NiPt₃O₆are discussed in terms of their anisotropic structures, which favor magnetic coupling in one-dimension along linear arrays of eight-coordinated paramagnetic ions and one-dimensional electrical conduction along columnar stacks of planar PtO₄ groups containing partially oxidized linear chains of platinum. One-dimensional electronic interactions in MPt₃O₆ compounds are suggested by metal-metal distances along the c-axis of 3&#x0303;.1 A for both the platinum and the 3d transition metal ions, compared to a distance of 6.1 A between the chains in the perpendicular plane. These materials and their electronic properties are compared with systems with well characterized examples of one-dimensional magnetic coupling and electrical conductivity.     

The low temperature heat capacity and electrical resistivity of ReO3

Low temperature heat capacity and electrical resistivity measurements are reported for ReO₃. The heat capacity data give an acoustical mode Debye temperature θ = 327 K, and an electrronic density of states parameter γ = 2.83 mJ/mole-K². The observed temperature dependence of the resistivity is consistent with the existence of electron scattering both from acoustic mode phonons and from optical mode phonons of characteristic temperature θ_E = 1080 K. The above measurements are used to evaluate the electron-phonon interaction parameter λ = 0.24.     

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.     

Enhanced paramagnetism of TiBe2 and ferromagnetic transitions in TiBe2-xCux

The magnetic behavior of TiBe₂ is found to be similar to that of strongly enhanced paramagnets like Pd and Ni₃Ga. The susceptibility curves _χ(H, T = 0) and _χ(H, T = 0) both go through a smooth maximum, at 55 kOe and 10 K, respectively, which might be due to the electron-electron interaction. For TiBe_2-xCu_x compounds the transition from paramagnetism to ferromagnetism is analyzed, starting from Arrott plots of the magnetization. A critical concentration x_cr = 0.155 ± 0.005 is obtained. The Stoner-Edwards-Wohlfarth model of itinerant-electron magnetism is well followed near x_cr. The low temperature behavior of the specific heat of TiBe₂ is tentatively ascribed to the effect of the electron-phonon interaction on the electronic specific heat coefficient γ.     

Heat capacity of Heusler alloys: Ferromagnetic Ni2MnSb,Ni2MnSn,NiMnSb and antiferromagnetic CuMnSb

We report the results of the investigation of the specific heat of the ferromagnetic Heusler Ni₂MnSn, Ni₂MnSb, NiMnSb and antiferromagnetic CuMnSb alloys. The low-temperature behaviour of the specific heat may be described as C=γT+βT³ for ferromagnetic compounds and as C=γT+δ T²+βT³ for antiferromagnetic CuMnSb. The values of the density of states from the heat capacity measurements are higher than those from electronic band structure calculations. Debye temperatures are in a good agreement with those obtained from thermal expansion measurements. The Grüneisen parameter is calculated for Ni₂MnSn and CuMnSb from the magnetic contribution to the specific heat in the vicinity of T_C or T_N.     

Synthesis and properties of barium ferrigermanate Ba<Subscript>2</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>GeO<Subscript>7</Subscript>

The magnetic susceptibility and specific heat of single crystals of the Ba₂Fe₂GeO₇ barium ferrigermanate are investigated. It is revealed that the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility exhibits a kink at a temperature T = 8.5 K. The number of nonequivalent positions of Fe³⁺ ions and their occupancies are determined using Mössbauer spectroscopy. It is shown that the Fe³⁺ ions located in tetrahedral positions T2 are ordered incompletely, which is inconsistent with the results obtained previously. An assumption is made regarding the possible ground magnetic state of the Ba₂Fe₂GeO₇ compound.     

Local and itinerant magnetism and superconductivity in R Rh2si2 (R = rare earth)

Magnetization and Mossbauer studies reveal that R Rh₂Si₂ (R = rare earth) have two magnetic phase transitions, one corresponding to the ordering of the rare earth (T^N = 27?130K) and the other to the itinerant electron ordering of the Rh sublattice (T^M= 5?17K). LaRh₂si₂ has also been studied by resistivity, specific heat and a.c. susceptibility measurements. All studies indicate that LaRh₂Si₂ orders magnetically at T^M= 7K and becomes superconducting, type II, at T^c= 3.8±0.2K.     

The critical specific heat of a glassy ferromagnet

Using standard ac calorimetry, we have measured the specific heat of the amorphous ferromagnet Fe₇₅P₁₅C₁₀ in the neighborhood of its Curie temperature T_C ? 600 K. Even though this material is structurally disordered, a sharp lambda-like cusp was observed, typical of a pure crystalline substance. We report the first determination of the critical specific heat exponent α = δ′ = -.18 ± .04 and the amplitude ratio A⁺/A^- = 1.2 ± .3 for an amorphous ferromagnet and find that these values are typical of a Heisenberg system. Our results are in agreement with recent renormalization group calculations which indicate that the fixed point which characterizes the critical behavior will be stable against the addition of disorder to the ordered system if α < 0.