Lattice dynamics of cubic PbTiO3 by inelastic neutron scattering

High-temperature dispersion relations of the phonon modes in a cubic PbTiO₃ single crystal have been investigated along the [ξ 0 0] and [ξ ξ 0] directions by inelastic neutron scattering. Above T _c, the phonon dispersions are only temperature-dependent close to the Brillouin zone centre where the mode softening comes through. The measurements indicate large cubic anisotropy of the elastic tensor and relatively low anisotropy of the soft mode dispersion. The differences from an earlier inelastic neutron scattering study are discussed.     

Hydrogen dynamics in Ce2Fe17H5: inelastic and quasielastic neutron scattering studies

The vibrational spectrum of hydrogen and the parameters of H jump motion in the rhombohedral Th(2)Zn(17)-type compound Ce(2)Fe(17)H(5) have been studied by means of inelastic and quasielastic neutron scattering. It is found that hydrogen atoms occupying interstitial Ce(2)Fe(2) sites participate in the fast localized jump motion over the hexagons formed by these tetrahedral sites. The H jump rate τ(-1) of this localized motion is found to change from 3.9 × 10(9) s(-1) at T = 140 K to 4.9 × 10(11) s(-1) at T = 350 K, and the temperature dependence of τ(-1) in the range 140-350 K is well described by the Arrhenius law with the activation energy of 103±3 meV. Our results suggest that the hydrogen jump rate in Th(2)Zn(17)-type compounds strongly increases with decreasing nearest-neighbor distance between the tetrahedral sites within the hexagons. Since each such hexagon in Ce(2)Fe(17)H(5) is populated by two hydrogen atoms, the jump motions of H atoms on the same hexagon should be correlated.     

Collective dynamics of lipid membranes studied by inelastic neutron scattering

We have studied the collective short wavelength dynamics in deuterated 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phoshatidylcholine (DMPC) bilayers by inelastic neutron scattering. The corresponding dispersion relation variant Planck's over 2pi omega(Q) is presented for the gel and the fluid phase of this model system. The temperature dependence of the inelastic excitations indicates a phase coexistence between the two phases over a broad range and leads to a different assignment of excitations from that reported in a preceding inelastic x-ray scattering study [Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 740 (2001)]]. As a consequence, we find that the minimum in the dispersion relation is actually deeper in the gel than in the fluid phase. Finally, we can clearly identify an additional nondispersive (optical) mode predicted by molecular dynamics simulations [Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 238101 (2001)]].     

Diffusional and vibrational dynamics of ZnCl2 aqueous solutions by inelastic neutron scattering

We have studied saturated solutions of ZnCl₂ (and NiCl₂) in D₂O by time-of-flight quasi-elastic and inelastic neutron scattering spectroscopy. Spectra were taken at room temperature as a function of transferred momentum. We find that ionic diffusion in these solutions is best described by a crystal vacancy diffusion model. We also find evidence of collective excitations in the region of ～ 20 meV.     

非弹性中子散射在稀土钙钛矿研究中的应用

中子散射技术在科学研究中应用的重要性、独特性源自于中子本身的一些基本物理特点：带自旋、不带电荷、与原子核直接发生强相互作用、恰当的质量使其色散关系与一般物质内部的原子振动和磁性振动的元激发相当,以及可用于无损探测的强穿透性等。这些特点决定了中子散射探测技术在科学研究中无可替代的重要地位。经过多年发展,中子散射技术已经成为研究凝聚态物理中材料晶体结构以及磁结构的主要手段。此外由于中子的能量与物质中的元激发,如声子,磁振子等能量相当,中子散射也是研究物质动力学性质不可替代的关键技术。对于磁性材料来说,非弹性中子散射不仅可以研究对称性破缺下磁有序相的自旋波激发,而且可以直接探测无对称性破缺情况下的自旋关联。这对于研究磁阻挫等量子磁体中新奇的量子化自旋激发尤其重要。文章将主要介绍两种常用的非弹性散射谱仪,并结合最近在稀土钙钛矿结构体系中的具体应用,尤其是低维稀土自旋链中的分数化自旋子的激发,重点介绍非弹性散射技术的特色。     

Incoherent inelastic neutron scattering from hexamethylene-tetramine and adamantane

The incoherent inelastic neutron scattering spectra of hexamethylene tetramine (HMT) and adamantane have been measured at high resolution between 200 and 1000 cm^-1. The agreement between the frequencies of the observed spectra and the optical spectra of Mecke and Spieseche (HMT) and Bailey (adamantane) is good. The observed neutron spectra are also matched very closely by the calculated one-phonon spectra, computed from a normal-coordinate analysis. There is some additional structure in the neutron spectra which appears to be due to multiphonon scattering involving lattice modes.     

Elastic constants in RbI,determined by inelastic neutron scattering

Long-wavelength acoustic phonons have been studied in the whole (100)-plane of RbI at 295 K by means of inelastic neutron scattering. The raw data have been corrected for resolution effects taking into account the curvature of the dispersion surface and variations of the mode eigenvectors. The shifts of the neutron groups due to these resolution effects are discussed in detail. The analysis of the experimental results gives for the zero sound elastic constantsc ₁₁=28.15±0.5,c ₁₂=3.7±0.5 andc ₄₄=2.85±0.1 10¹⁰ dyn/cm². A comparison with first sound elastic constants taken from ultrasonic measurements yields significant differences between the high and low frequency elastic constantsc ₁₁ andc=(c ₁₁–c ₁₂)/2. The differences calculated from recent theories are in agreement with the experimental results for the elastic constantsc ₁₁,c ₄₄ andc, but not forc ₁₂. The dispersion surface in the (100)-plane is also shown for some out-of-symmetry data and compared with ultrasonic data as well as with theoretical results.Research supported by BMFT     

Crystal fields and pressure dependence of spin dynamics in CeAg measured by inelastic neutron scattering

We have studied polycrystalline CeAg and LaAg by inelastic neutron scattering at various temperatures betweenT=2 and 300 K and at different hydrostatic pressures up to 2.3GPa (23kbar). We point out the difficulties in the interpretation of the magnetic part of the measured spectra of CeAg at zero pressure and compare our results and interpretation with previous neutron scattering experiments. Applying pressure we find a broadening of the magnetic quasielastic line, i.e. the Ce³⁺ ion becomes more unstable. We observe still a strong temperature dependence, which means there is no indication of a classical intermediate-valent behaviour of the Ce ions up to 2.3 GPa.     

Laser-induced time-resolved luminescence of natural sillimanite Al2SiO5 and synthetic Al2SiO5 activated by chromium

Luminescence of natural sillimanite Al₂SiO₅ was studied by a laser-induced time-resolved technique combined with absorption spectroscopy. It was found that two red broad emission bands are connected to Fe³⁺ and Cr³⁺ luminescence centers. Chromium participation in luminescence was proved by the study of synthetic sillimanite activated by Cr. Several narrow emission lines have been found which were preliminary ascribed to Mn⁴⁺ and V²⁺ luminescence centers.     

Magnetic excitations in the low-temperature ferroelectric phase of multiferroic YMn2O5 using inelastic neutron scattering

We studied magnetic excitations in a low-temperature ferroelectric phase of the multiferroic YMn(2)O(5) using inelastic neutron scattering (INS). We identify low-energy magnon modes and establish a correspondence between the magnon peaks observed by INS and electromagnon peaks observed in optical absorption [A. B. Sushkov et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 027202 (2007).]. Furthermore, we explain the microscopic mechanism, which results in the lowest-energy electromagnon peak, by comparing the inelastic neutron spectral weight with the polarization in the commensurate ferroelectric phase.     

Ferromagnetic in-plane spin fluctuations in NaxCoO2 observed by neutron inelastic scattering

We present neutron scattering spectra taken from a single crystal of Na0.75CoO2, the precursor to a novel cobalt-oxide superconductor. The data contain a prominent inelastic signal at low energies ( approximately 10 meV), which is localized in wave vector about the origin of two-dimensional reciprocal space. The signal is highly dispersive, and decreases in intensity with increasing temperature. We interpret these observations as direct evidence for the existence of ferromagnetic spin fluctuations within the cobalt-oxygen layers.     

Excess pions in Drell-Yan and deep inelastic scattering experiments

Recent data on Drell-Yan processes induced by protons on nuclear targets gives non trivial information about nuclear effects. A very simple model for excess pions in nuclei reproduces the main features of these data, and also of those comming from deep inelastic experiments. This simple scheme gives an unified treatement of nuclear effects highlighting its importance in the deuteron and provides a precise prediction for futurep-p andp-d Drell-Yan experiments.     

Constraints on new interactions from neutron scattering experiments

Constraints for the constants of hypothetical Yukawa-type corrections to the Newtonian gravitational potential are obtained from analysis of neutron scattering experiments. Restrictions are obtained for the interaction range between 10⁻¹² and 10⁻⁷ cm, where Casimir force experiments and atomic-force microscopy are not sensitive. Experimental limits are obtained also for nonelectromagnetic inverse-power-law neutron-nucleus potentials. Some possibilities are discussed to strengthen these constraints. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

Study of the atomic structure and dynamics of Cu-Fe nanocomposites by X-ray diffraction and inelastic neutron scattering

The atomic structure and the dynamics of Cu_{1 ? x} Fe _x samples (x = 0.15, 0.5, and 0.85) obtained by melt spinning from the elements that are immiscible under standard conditions has been investigated. The change in the physical properties of the system obtained in this way is due to the formation of nanocrystallites.     

Vibrational properties and phase transitions in II-VI materials: lattice dynamics, ab initio studies and inelastic neutron scattering measurements

Inelastic neutron scattering measurements were carried out to determine the phonon density of states of ZnSe and interpreted with lattice dynamical computations (ab initio as well as a potential model). Calculations are also reported for other II-VI compounds, ZnTe and ZnS. Vibrational (phonon spectra and Grüneisen parameters), and thermal (negative thermal expansion and non-Debye specific heat) properties have been calculated and found to be in good agreement with available experimental data. This model has been further employed to study the pressure-induced solid-solid phase transitions exhibited by these compounds and the results have been compared with experimental data. Total energy calculations for zincblende and SC16 phases of ZnSe were carried out employing the pseudopotential approach under the local density approximation (LDA) as well as the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The density functional perturbation theory is applied to study the vibrational properties of the zincblende and SC16 phases of ZnSe. An investigation of the pressure dependence of the phonon frequencies shows that the existence of the (experimentally undetected) SC16 phase as a thermodynamically stable high pressure phase is impeded due to dynamical instabilities. A detailed investigation of the polarization of phonons of different energies for the various phases of these compounds indicates that in the case of the zincblende phase the low energy modes are librational, while in the rocksalt phase the low energy modes are bending modes. Further, in ZnTe the low energy bending modes display a larger amplitude of bending than that in ZnSe and ZnS.