Charge density wave transport in NbSe<Subscript>3</Subscript> at low temperatures under high magnetic field

Charge density wave (CDW) depinning and sliding regimes have been studied in NbSe₃ at low temperatures down to 1.5 K under magnetic field of 19 T oriented along the c-axis. We found that the threshold field for CDW depinning becomes temperature independent below T ₀ ≈ 15 K. Also CDW current to frequency ratio characterizing CDW sliding regime increases by factor 1.7 below this temperature. The results are discussed as a crossover from thermal fluctuation to tunneling CDW depinning at T < T ₀. Besides, we found that CDW sliding strongly suppresses the amplitude of Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations of magnetoresistance.     

Commensurability oscillations and a new phase transition in YBa2Cu3Oy single crystals

Magnetization oscillations due to the commensurability of the vortex and crystal lattice periods in YBa₂Cu₃O_y (y=6.97±0.02) single crystals are investigated using a high angular resolution magnetometer. A sharp peak in the temperature dependence of the oscillation amplitude as well as other features in the behavior of the oscillation amplitude and of the irreversible magnetization are observed at T _f ∼60 K. It is inferred that T _f is the temperature of a transition of the solid vortex state to a smectic phase. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 69, No. 11, 832–837 (10 June 1999)     

Dependence on substrate bias of the effective mass and dingle temperature of electrons in the surface inversion layer of silicon

The amplitude of the quantum oscillations in the magnetoconductance of a silicon inversion layer has been studied as a function of gate voltage V_g, for different values of the temperature T, applied magnetic field strength H and substrate bias V_s. By analyzing the amplitude of the oscillations at fixed V_g and V_g as a function of T and H, the dependence of the cyclotron effective mass m¹ and the Dingle temperature T_D on V_g and V_s can be obtained. The dependence of m¹ on V_g for different values of V_s is compared with the prediction of theory.     

Ultrasonic determination of electron-phonon scattering rates in copper

Electron-phonon scattering rates in ultrapure single crystals of copper have been determined from the temperature dependence of the magnetoacoustic oscillation amplitudes for various orbits on the Fermi surface using both longitudinal and transverse waves. The central belly orbit seattering rate is found to be (6.0±0.3)×10⁶ T ³ sec^–1. Additionally, a rate of (2.9±0.2)×10⁶ T ³ sec^–1 is found which is attributed to belly orbits displaced from the zone center by about 1.25/a ₀, wherea ₀ is the lattice constant. Geometric oscillations associated with the [111]—directed open orbit are observed at low fields forq [113] and the rate for this orbit is found to be (4.8±0.3)×10⁶ T ³ sec^–1. Geometric oscillations for the dog's bone and neck orbits are observable but rates for these orbits are believed to be unreliable. Our measured rates are compared with those of other workers.     

de Haas van Alphen (dHvA) effect in two-dimensional (2D) conductors: susceptibility oscillations

A new scheme for analyzing the de Haas van Alphen (dHvA) effect in nearly two dimensional (2D) metals (i.e. with nearly cylindrical Fermi surface) is presented. The envelope of the magnetic susceptibility oscillations is calculated in the entire range of magnetic fields and temperatures. The resulting envelope function is found to be proportional to a universal function of the dimensionless parameter Q=hω_c/k _B T. The upper (i.e. paramagnetic) branch of the susceptibility envelope has a maximum at a certain Q = 5.45. This universal value may be useful for determining the effective cyclotron mass and the Fermi energy of nearly 2D metals. A simple relation between magnetization oscillations amplitude and calculated susceptibility amplitudes is derived. The corresponding limiting formulae for the magnetization oscillations envelope are found to match smoothly around the value X = 2π²/Q?2 of the Lifshitz-Kosevich (LK) smearing parameter. The influence of Fermi surface sheets with open orbits on magneto-quantum oscillations is considered. Triangle-like rather than saw-tooth-like oscillations at ultralow temperatures are obtained and substantially diminished magnetization and susceptibility amplitudes are calculated. This suggests the possibility of estimating the band structure parameters of Fermi surface sheets from magneto-quantum oscillations measurements.     

Nonmonotonic behavior of the superconducting transition temperature in bimetallic ferromagnet-superconductor structures

For layered ferromagnet/superconductor (F/S) structures we develop a theory of the proximity effect. In contrast to previous approaches, this theory allows for a finite transmission coefficient of the interface between the two metals and competition between the diffusion and spin-wave types of quasiparticle motion in the ferromagnet’s strong exchange field. The superconductivity in F/S systems proves to be a superposition of BCS pairing with a constant-sign pair amplitude in the S-layers and Larkin-Ovchinnikov-Fulde-Ferrell (LOFF) pairing with an oscillating wave function in the F-layers. We show that the oscillatory behavior of the superconducting transition temperature T _c is due to oscillations of the Cooper pair flux from the S-layer to the F-layer, which are the result of oscillations of the discontinuity (jump) of the pair amplitude at the F/S boundary as the thickness d _f of the F-layer increases. The presence of nonmagnetic impurities leads to heavy damping of the oscillations of the LOFF pair amplitude and rapid deterioration of the coherent coupling of the boundaries of the F-layer in which the T _s vs. d _f dependence reaches a plateau as d _f increases. In F/S superlattices, in contrast to F/S double-layer junctions, there are two forms of the LOFF state, the 0-phase and the π-phase, which differ in their symmetry with respect to the center of the F layer. This gives rise to additional oscillations in the T _c (d _f ) dependence due to the 0-π transitions. As the most vivid manifestation of LOFF states in F/S-systems, we predict the existence of recurrent and periodically recurrent superconductivities. We give a qualitative explanation of the different behavior of the superconducting transition temperature observed by different groups of experimenters dealing with the same ferromagnet-superconductor structures. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 113, 1708–1730 (May 1998)     

Existence of two-dimensional closed orbits and delocalized carriers in the spin-ordered state of quasi-one-dimensional (TMTSF)2PF6

The magnetoresistance in spin-ordered state of quasi-one-dimensional (TMTSF)₂PF₆ has been studied. Both the frequency and anisotropy of the magnetoresistance oscillations are found to be independent of temperature; this proves the temperature independence of the geometry of two-dimensional closed contours at the Fermi level. At the same time, the oscillation amplitude decreases with the temperature, indicating the depopulation of the closed contours in the T = 0 limit. An explanation for the above seemingly controversial results has been proposed. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Initiation and Sustainment of Unipolar Arc Discharges by a Microsecond Pulse Plasma

Unipolar arcs have been produced by contacting metal surfaces with microsecond pulse plasmas. Plasma temperature T_e, density n_e and potential (with respect to ground) were controlled in the limits 7–12 eV, 10¹⁸–10¹⁹ m^?3, 20–40 V, respectively, and the influence of these parameters on arc current amplitude (50–500 A) and ignition probability has been investigated. It was found that the ignition is the most limiting process requiring surface contaminations as well as the transport of net currents to the surface. The amplitude of the current was proportional to n_eT_e^1/2.     

Electronic thermal capacity in one-dimensional mesoscopic rings

Summary We have investigated the Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effects of electronic thermal capacityC _v in a one-dimensional normal ring using the free-electron model. The results show that the thermal capacity is an oscillation function of external magnetic flux with periods ϕ₀=hc/e, ϕ₀/2, ϕ₀/3,... The amplitude of the capacity fluctuation decreases when temperature increases forT>3T ^* (T ^*=ħ V _F/(K _BπL)). We suggest an appropriate temperatureT∼3T ^* to observe in experiment the capacity-flux characteristic for metallic rings. The authors of this paper have agreed to not receive the proofs for correction.     

Investigation of a gap in the AFMR spectrum in the quasi-one-dimensional hexagonal antiferromagnet CsMnBr3

The low-frequency part of the magnetic resonance spectrum of the hexagonal six-sublattice quasi-one-dimensional antiferromagnet CsMnBr₃ at temperatures which are low compared with T _N =8.3 K is investigated experimentally. A temperature-dependent gap Δ(T) is found in the spectrum ω _e (H) of the lower AFMR branch; this gap is due to the hyperfine interaction of the nuclear spins with the electronic spins of the (⁵⁵Mn)²⁺ ions. The spectrum of the low-lying resonance frequencies of such a system is calculated taking this interaction into acount in the approximation of fluctuationless spin hydrodynamics for the electronic branch of the oscillations. The computational results are in good qualitative and satisfactory quantitative agreement with experiment. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 64, No. 6, 433–437 (25 September 1996)     

Quantum and semiclassical oscillations in the organic metal (BEDO-TTF)2Clx(H2O)y

We study quantum (Shubnikov-de Haas and de Haas-van Alphen) oscillations and angular oscillations of the reluctance in the organic quasi-two-dimensional metal (BO)₂Cl_x(H₂O)_y. We show that the Fermi surface in this compound consists of a slightly corrugated cylinder with its axis perpendicular to the conducting plane. The cross section of the cylinder in this plane is a perfect circle of radius k _F≃3×10⁷ cm⁻¹. The effective carrier mass associated with this cylinder is m*=(1.65–2.0) m ₀ in the conducting plane, while the Dingle temperature is T _D=3–4 K. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 114, 1137–1146 (September 1998)     

Josephson vortex lattice melting in Bi-2212 probed by commensurate oscillations of Josephson flux-flow

We studied the commensurate semifluxon oscillations of Josephson flux-flow in Bi-2212 stacked structures near T_c as a probe of melting of a Josephson vortex lattice. We found that oscillations exist above 0.5 T. The amplitude of the oscillations is found to decrease gradually with the temperature and to turn to zero without any jump at T = T₀ (3.5 K below the resistive transition temperature T_c), thus, indicating a phase transition of the second order. This characteristic temperature T₀ is identified as the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition temperature, T_BKT, in the elementary superconducting layers of Bi-2212 at zero magnetic field. On the basis of these facts, we infer that melting of a triangular Josephson vortex lattice occurs via the BKT phase with formation of characteristic flux loops containing pancake vortices and antivortices. The B-T phase diagram of the BKT phase found from our experiment is consistent with theoretical predictions.     

<Superscript>57</Superscript>Fe NMR study of multiferroic BiFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The effects of the ⁵⁷Fe isotope content and high-frequency magnetic field amplitude h ₁ on the shape of the NMR spectrum of multiferroic BiFeO₃ at T = 4.2 K are studied by pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance. The NMR spectrum shape and transverse relaxation time T ₂ are found to depend strongly on the ⁵⁷Fe isotope content and h ₁ in multiferroic BiFeO₃ in the presence of a spatial spin-modulated structure of a cycloid type. In a sample with a high ⁵⁷Fe isotope content, the Suhl-Nakamura interaction contributes substantially to T ₂. When these dynamic effects are taken into account for analysis of the NMR spectrum shape, an undisturbed (without an anharmonicity effect) spatial spin-modulated structure of a cycloid type is shown to exist in BiFeO₃.     

Fluctuation-induced broadening of Mn2+ EPR lines in the incommensurate phase of Rb2ZnCl4 crystals

The EPR spectra of Mn²⁺ ions in Rb₂ZnCl₄ crystals is investigated in the vicinity of the transition from the paraelectric phase to an incommensurate modulated phase. When these crystals are cooled below the transition temperature T _i =304 K, a splitting of the resonance lines is observed in the singular spectrum. A one-harmonic model is used to discuss the contributions that fluctuations in the amplitude and phase of the incommensurate displacement wave make to the local width of the singular spectra. It is shown that anomalies in the local width of the low-temperature singular peaks observed in the vicinity of T _i are caused by amplitude fluctuations. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1668–1674 (September 1999)     

Vaidya Space-Time in Black-Hole Evaporation

We take a boundary-value approach to quantum amplitudes arising in gravitational collapse to a black hole. Pose boundary data on initial and final space-like hypersurfaces Σ _F,I , separated at spatial infinity by a Lorentzian proper-time interval T. Quantum amplitudes are calculated following Feynman's approach; rotate: T→|T|exp (−iθ) into the complex, where 0< θ≤π/2, and solve the corresponding well-posed complex classical boundary-value problem. We compute the classical Lorentzian action S _class and corresponding semi-classical quantum amplitude, proportional to exp (iS _class). To recover the Lorentzian amplitude, take the limit θ→ 0₊ of the semi-classical amplitude. For the classical boundary-value problem with given perturbative boundary data, we compute an effective spherically-symmetric energy-momentum tensor 〉 T ^μν〈 _EFF , averaged over several wavelengths of the radiation, describing the averaged extra energy-momentum contribution in the Einstein field equations, due to the perturbations. This takes the form of a null fluid, describing the radiation (of quantum origin) streaming radially outwards. The classical space-time metric, in this region of the space time, is of Vaidya form, justifying the adiabatic radial mode equations, for spins s = 0 and s = 2.     

Hall effect plateaus and giant Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations in (BiSb)Telayered single crystals near the quantum limit

On bulk layered single crystals (Bi_0.25Sb_0.75)₂Te₃ with a hole concentration cm^-3 and a mobility cm²/Vs magnetoresistance and Hall effect investigations were performed in the temperature range T = 1.4 K ... 20 K in magnetic fields up to 18 T. For the magnetic field perpendicular to the layered structure giant Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations are measured; the positions of the maxima are triplets in the reciprocally scaled magnetic field. From the damping of the amplitudes with increasing temperature the cyclotron mass m _c = 0.12m ₀ is evaluated. Correlated with the SdH oscillations doublets of Hall effect plateaus (or kinks in low fields) are found. The weak well known Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations from the generally accepted multivallied highest valence band can be detected as a modulation on the giant oscillation. The high anisotropy of the SdH oscillations and their triplet structure in connection with the layered crystal structure lead us to suggest that the effects are caused by hole carrier pairing (mediated by the bipolaron mechanism) in quasi 2D sheets parallel to the crystal layer stacks. The measured Hall plateau resistances coincide with the quantum Hall effect values considering the number of layer stacks and the valley degeneracy of the 3D hole carrier reservoir. The ratio of spin splitting to Landau (cyclotron) splitting is observed to be . Received: 12 September 1997 / Revised: 8 January 1998 / Accepted: 22 January 1998     

Friedel oscillation about a Friedel-Anderson impurity

The Friedel oscillations in the vicinity of a Friedel-Anderson (FA) impurity are investigated numerically. For an FA impurity in the local moment limit the normalized amplitude A(ξ) is S-shaped, approximately zero at short distances, approaching two at large distances and crossing the value one at the characteristic length ξ _1/2. Surprisingly, the Friedel oscillations of a simple non-interacting Friedel impurity with a narrow resonance at the Fermi level show a very similar behavior of their amplitude A(ξ). A comparison correlates the resonance width and the Kondo energy of the FA impurity with the characteristic length ξ _1/2 of the Friedel oscillations.     

Isospin and density waves in asymmetric nuclear matter

The excitation of small density oscillations (zero sound) and isospin oscillations (isospin sound) in cold asymmetric nuclear matter (in the ground state ?⁰_n> ?⁰_p, ?⁰ = ?⁰_n+?⁰_p = 0.17 nucleons/fm³) is investigated within the framework of the Landau theory of normal Fermi liquids. There is only one undamped mode of excitation, which consists predominantly of isospin oscillations, with some admixture of density oscillations. The phase velocity of this undamped wave depends very weakly on the neutron excess and is close to that of a pure isospin wave (isospin sound) in symmetric nuclear matter of the same density. At the neutron excess corresponding to that existing in heavy nuclei the amplitude of the density oscillations constitutes about 30 % of the amplitude of the neutron excess density oscillations. Calculation with a suitably parametrized charge dependent quasiparticle interaction in asymmetric nuclear matter shows that for (?⁰_n??⁰_p)/?⁰ > 0.63 both zero sound and isospin sound are strongly damped.     

Rotating-frame spin—lattice relaxation measurements (T 1ρ) with weak spin-locking fields in the presence of homonuclear dipolar coupling

The rotating-frame spin-lattice relaxation time T_1ρ, for two identical protons in the presence of residual dipole-dipole coupling is examined both theoretically and experimentally. The measured T_1ρ, value as well as the amplitude and frequency of the dipolar oscillations are described by a theoretical framework involving three coupled rotating-frame magnetization modes. These modes include the magnetization along the spin-lock field, an antiphase magnetization, and an unobservable form of two-spin order. Inhomogeneity in the spin-locking field decouples the two latter modes resulting in the rapid damping of dipolar oscillations. Both theoretical considerations and experimental observations demonstrate conclusively that whenever the amplitude of the spin-locking field B₁ greatly exceeds the dipolar coupling, the measured T_1ρ, is independent of B₁. Conversely, if B₁ is on the order of the dipolar coupling, the measured T_1ρ, increases as B₁ increases. Dipolar oscillations that are important for times short compared to T_1ρ, are rapidly damped for larger magnitudes of B₁.     

Thermal diffusion near glass transition in Ge-Se glasses measured by photoacoustics

The glass transition in Ge _x Se_1−x ) (0·1 ⩽x ⩽ 0·25) glasses has been investigated using the photoacoustic (PA) technique. It is found that the PA amplitude and phase undergo anomalous changes at the glass transition temperatureT _g. The amplitude has critical minimum and phase has maximum values atT _g. The variation of the thermal diffusivity, determined by measuring the frequency dependence of the PA amplitude and phase, with temperature shows sharp decrease near the glass transition temperature. The temperature dependence of the optical energy gap also has been measured and it shows a decrease with temperature for all compositions, the rate of decrease being higher for temperatures greater thanT _g.