Thermodynamic and magnetic properties of LaSn3

Thermal expansion coefficient between 77 and 900K, isothermal compressibility in the 0–80 Kbar pressure range, magnetic susceptibility between 77 and 1300 K and heat capacity at constant pressure in the 20–300 K temperature range were determined for the LaSn₃ compound. From the experimental data, the specific heat at constant volume was calculated and the thermal dependence of the Debye's parameter θ_D was obtained. The electron contribution to the heat capacity was also determined from the high temperature data. The magnetic properties confirm that there is no evidence of the existence of a magnetic moment localized on La atoms, in contrast with a previous report and in agreement with the general assumptions. A little anomaly found in the expansion coefficient, in the isothermal compressibility and in the specific heat is discussed in terms of a lattice order-disorder phenomenon.     

High temperature heat capacity of the LaSn3 and CeSn3 compounds

The high temperature heat capacities of LaSn₃ compound and CeSn₃ intermediate valence compound have been obtained from enthalpic contents measurements, using the technique of drop calorimetry in the 400–1200 K temperature range.The heat capacity behaviour of CeSn₃ has been compared with that of LaSn₃ and the quantitative difference between the two trends is explained in terms of residual promotional energy of the 4? electron of Ce to the conduction band.     

Induced neutron magnetic form factor of LaSn3

Polarized neutron scattering techniques have been used to study the spatial distribution of the magnetization induced in a single crystal of LaSn₃ by a magnetic field of 42.5 kG at 100 K. We find that the magnetic form factor decreases very rapidly with increasing scattering angle, and bears no resemblance to the spin or orbital free-atom magnetic form factor. The experimental results are in reasonable agreement with band theoretical calculations of the spin magnetic form factor of LaSn₃. We conclude that (a) the spin part is the dominant contribution to the bulk susceptibility of LaSn₃ and (b) there is a substantial amount of Sn-5p electronic character in the wavefunctions near the Fermi level.     

A simple Tc equation

Based on recent work of Allen and Dynes, and the existing specific heat and tunneling data, a simple T_c equation is T_c = ?_D/20(λ?0.25).     

Resistivities of CeAl3 and LaAl3 compounds under pressure

The electrical resistivity of CeAl₃ and LaAl₃ compounds has been measured in the 1.3 – 300K temperature range and under pressure up to 17 kbar. The pressure dependence of the resistivity above 25K is theoretically explained by the influence of the crystalline field on the Kondo effect, while the variation of the resistivity at low temperatures or with pressure cycles is qualitatively discussed.     

Ultrasonic attenuation in pure and Gd-Doped superconductors: LaSn3 and LaAl2

We have investigated the ultrasonic attenuation (UA) in the pure and magnetically doped superconductors LaSn₃ and LaAl₂, the latter being an ideal Abrikosov-Gorkov system. The UA of pure LaSn₃ and LaAl₂ agrees well with BCS prediction. The experiments in doped LaSn₃ proved difficult due to high background attenuation. The results in La_1?nGd_nAl₂ (_n = 0.377 at .%), though, show a significant discrepancy with the theories which is not understood.     

Low temperature structural distortion in the high Tc Chevrel-phase superconductors PbMo6S8 and SnMo6S8

High-resolution powder neutron diffraction data reveal that, at temperatures below 100 K, oxygen-free, high-T_c samples of PbMo₆S₈ and SnMo₆S₈ exhibit a small structural distortion from the R$\text{3}$ rhombohedral space group. The data cannot be refined in a simple P$\text{1}$ triclinic space group as previously reported for EuMo₆S₈ and BaMo₆S₈. Thus, a supercell ordering is suggested.     

Anomalous changes in CuO2 plane in YBa2Cu4O8 under pressure

We report the results of an atomistic simulation study of the pressure-induced structural changes in YBa₂Cu₄O₈ from 0 to 20 GPa. It is found that the crystal has similar compressibilities in the a- and b-directions over the whole pressure range, whereas in the c-direction there are quite different compressibilities at different pressures. Our results suggest that there exists a correlation between the charge transfer and the change in the Cu(2)---O(1) bond length, but we do not support the suggestion of a direct dependence of T_c on the length of this bond. However, we predict that there are anomalous changes in the CuO₂ plane with pressure, which we propose may lead to a charge carrier redistribution on in-plane copper and in-plane oxygens, which in turn may be related to the optimum carrier concentration in the CuO₂ plane.     

Spin-orbit effect on Tc of anisotropic superconductors

It is shown that spin-orbit impurity scattering brings about only a negligible change on the transition temperature T_c for anisotropic superconductors with an ellipsoidal Fermi surface.     

Magnetic properties of the compounds ThCO2Ge2 and ThCo2Si2

Rather old preparation of the compounds ThCo₂Ge₂ and ThCo₂Si₂ and their magnetic study in the temperature range 100–570 K, published by Omejec and Ban [Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 380 (1971) 111], indicated that both compounds ordered ferrromagnetically below 100 K. In order to verify the old data, polycrystalline samples of ThCo₂Ge₂ and ThCo₂Si₂ have been prepared by arc melting and subsequent annealing, and studied by X-ray diffraction at room temperature (RT), by superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID)-magnetization and AC-susceptibility measurements at 2–320 K, and by dc-magnetization measurements in variable magnetic fields up to 120 kOe at 5, 80, and 283 K. The magnetic measurements confirm the ferromagnetic ordering in both compounds, but with totally different Curie temperatures: ≈120(20) K for ThCo₂Ge₂ and above 320 K for ThCo₂Si₂. The paramagnetic values of ThCo₂Ge₂ and the ordering of both compounds are discussed and compared with the old results of Omejec and Ban.     

Magnetic properties of Mn-substituted GdCoxMn1−xO3 and LaCoxMn1−xO3

Partial substitution of manganese by cobalt in rare-earth perovskites REMnO₃ leads to unusual magnetic phenomena because of the simultaneous presence of Mn³⁺, Mn⁴⁺, Co²⁺ and Co³⁺ species. The magnetic nature of the RE cation plays a fundamental role in the magnetic properties. We present herein two specific families: for RE=La the magnetic behavior of the |Co+Mn| network is observed, while for Gd its strong magnetic moment interacts with the transition metals, leading to a spin reversal state. Magnetic interactions are maximized at x=0.50, as if two regimes exist: for x<0.5 Co substitutes Mn in the REMnO₃ manganite, and for x>0.5 Mn substitutes Co in the RECoO₃ cobaltite.     

Iron isotope effect on Tc in optimally-doped (Ba,K)Fe2As2 (Tc = 38 K) and SmFeAsO1−y (Tc = 54 K) superconductors

We report the iron isotope effect on a transition temperature (T_c) in an optimally-doped (Ba,K)Fe₂As₂ (T_c = 38 K) and SmFeAsO_1−y (T_c = 54 K) superconductors. In order to obtain the reliable isotope shift in T_c, twin samples with different iron isotope mass are synthesized in the same conditions (simultaneously) under high-pressure. We have found that (Ba,K)Fe₂As₂ shows an inverse iron isotope effect α_Fe = −0.18 ± 0.03 while SmFeAsO_1−y shows a small iron isotope effect α_Fe = −0.02 ± 0.01, where the isotope exponent α is defined by T_c ∼ M^−α (M is the isotopic mass). The results show that α_Fe changes in the iron-based superconductors depending on the system. The distinct iron isotope effects imply the exotic coupling mechanism in the iron-based superconductors.     

Heat capacity of CeIrSi3 under pressure

We measured the heat capacity of CeIrSi₃ (100 mK<T<6 K) under high pressure up to P=1.38 GPa. The measurements have been used a quasiadiabatic method utilizing a CuBe piston-cylinder pressure cell in a dilution refrigerator. At 0 GPa, a sharp anomaly which indicates the antiferromagnetically transition is observed at T_N=5 K. T_N decreases monotonically with increasing pressure up to P=1.38 GPa. The magnetic entropy is released below T_N only 19% of R ln 2 at 0 GPa. And the magnetic entropy decreases with increasing pressure up to 1.38 GPa, 64% compared to that at 0 GPa.     

Short- and long-range order in La1−xSrxCoO3 and La1−xBaxCoO3

The short- and long-range order correlations of the crystal structure in the distorted perovskites La_1−xSr_xCoO₃ and La_1−xBa_xCoO₃ (0.0?x?0.5) have been studied by the neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and the Co K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements. The results of XAS and NPD indicate a local distortion around the Co³⁺ ions in LaCoO₃ at room temperature. The substitution of the La³⁺ ions by the Sr²⁺(Ba²⁺) ions leads to a gradual increase of the Co-O-Co angle and is accompanied by an increase of the mean square relative displacement (MSRD) of the Co-O bond. These results correlate with an increase of the oxygen amplitude vibration in the direction perpendicular to the Co-O bond. The possible explanation of the observed changes of the crystal and electronic structures in the above-mentioned cobaltites is discussed.     

Magnetism on Mg1−xZnxCyNi3

The magnetic phase diagram for Mg_1−xZn_xC_yNi₃ has been tentatively constructed based on magnetization and muon spin relaxation (μSR) measurements. The superconducting phase was observed to fade as x (y) increases (decreases). The low y samples show early stages of long-range ferromagnetism, or complete long-range ferromagnetism. In the phase diagram, the ferromagnetic phase exists in addition to the superconducting phase, suggesting that there is some correlation between superconductivity and ferromagnetism, even though the coexistence of ferromagnetism and superconductivity is not observed from the μSR measurements down to 20 mK for the superconducting sample (T_c=2.5 K, (x, y)=(0, 0.9)).     

Anomalous thermoelectric power behaviour in PrSn3 and NdSn3

Results of the thermoelectric power (TEP) measurements done on monocrystalline samples of RESn₃ compounds (RE=La, Pr, Nd, and Gd) are presented for the temperature range of 5.5-300 K. It was found that the TEP is positive and weakly temperature dependent at temperatures T>100 K. For T<100 K pronounced anomalies have been observed for the PrSn₃ and the NdSn₃ compounds in the vicinity of 10 K.We argue that the Kondo and crystal field effects cause these anomalies. A shape of the TEP anomaly found for PrSn₃ resembles very much that observed in the electrical resistivity.     

钙钛矿CaTiO3的超高压结构研究

利用同步辐射x射线衍射和 DAC 高压技术在室温下测量了钙钛矿CaTiO₃在压力0—44.53 GPa下的结构变化.结果表明，随着压力的增加CaTiO₃的三个晶轴都受到不同程度的压缩，a,b的压缩率相近且相对比较大，c的压缩率最小，但没有证据表明有相变的发生.在压力范围内CaTiO₃的P-V关系用Murnaghan状态方程表示，设定K′0=4，得到V0=0.2245(6)nm3和K0=222(9) GPa.应用赝立方角γpc与压力的关系，初 关键词： 3')" href="#">CaTiO₃ 结构 超高压 状态方程     

Raman spectroscopy study of REH3 under pressure

The Raman spectroscopic studies of two rare earth trihydrides: Y H₃, HoH₃, have been performed in the pressure range from ambient up to 16 GPa and 25 GPa respectively. For the first time samples of REH₃ in the form of powder have been studied by Raman spectroscopy using the Diamond Anvil Cell (DAC) technique. A rapid decrease of Raman activity has been observed for the hydrides under pressure values in the vicinity of structural phase transition. Metallization as a possible reason for the observed dramatic change of the REH₃ Raman activity has been discussed.     

Hyperfine interactions in some Aurivillius Bim+1Ti3Fem−3O3m+3 compounds

X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy were applied as complementary methods to investigate the structure and hyperfine interactions in the series of Bi_m+1Ti₃Fe_m−3O_3m+3 Aurivillius compounds with m=4, 6, 7 and 8. Samples were synthesized by the solid-state sintering method at various temperatures. As X-ray diffraction analysis proved, the compounds formed single phases at temperature above 993 K. Mössbauer studies have confirmed diffraction measurements. Compounds synthesized at 993 K contained residual hematite, however these sintered at elevated temperatures were single-phased materials. Room-temperature Mössbauer spectra of Bi_m+1Ti₃Fe_m−3O_3m+3 compounds revealed their paramagnetic properties, what is consistent with the literature data concerning the Néel temperature of these ceramics (T_N is smaller than room temperature). Detailed analysis of MS spectra allowed to state that iron ions may occupy both tetrahedral and octahedral sites in the crystallographic lattice of Aurivillius compounds.