New data for the 197Au(γ, nX) and 197Au(γ, 2nX) reaction cross sections

The results from experimental and theoretical studies of the total and partial cross sections of photoneutron reactions on the ¹⁹⁷Au isotope were analyzed. The cross sections for reactions σ(γ, nX) = σ(γ, n) + σ(γ, np) + … + σ(γ, 2nX) = σ(γ, 2n) + σ(γ, 2np) + … were evaluated in the energy range 7 ≤ E _γ ≤ 30 MeV using an approach free of the shortcomings of experimental photoneutron multiplicity sorting methods. The total photoneutron reaction cross sections σ^exp(γ, xn) = σ^exp(γ, nX) + 2σ^exp(γ, 2nX) + … = σ^exp(γ, n) + σ^exp(γ, np) + 2σ^exp(γ, 2n) + 2σ^exp(γ, 2np) + … were used as the initial experimental data. The contributions from the cross sections σ(γ, nX) and σ(γ, 2nX) to the cross sections σ^exp(γ, xn) were separated using the multiplicity transition functions F ₁ ^theor = σ^theor(γ, 1nX)/σ^theor(γ, xn) and F ₂ ^theor = σ^theor(γ, 2nX)/σ^theor(γ, xn), calculated within an updated version of the pre-equilibrium model of photonuclear reactions. New evaluated data for both partial reaction cross sections, i.e., σ^eval (γ, 1nX) = F ₁ ^theorσ^exp(γ, xn) and σ^eval(γ, 2nX) = F ₂ ^theorσ^exp(γ, xn), were obtained. The cross sections σeval(γ, nX) and σ^eval.(γ, 2nX) evaluated using the theoretically calculated functions F _1,2^theor are consistent with the Livermore data, but substantially contradict the Saclay data.     

The reflectivity of relativistic ultra-thin electron layers

The coherent reflectivity of a dense, relativistic, ultra-thin electron layer is derived analytically for an obliquely incident probe beam. Results are obtained by two-fold Lorentz transformation. For the analytical treatment, a plane uniform electron layer is considered. All electrons move with uniform velocity under an angle to the normal direction of the plane; such electron motion corresponds to laser acceleration by direct action of the laser fields, as it is described in a companion paper [Eur. Phys. J. D 55, 433 (2009)]. Electron density is chosen high enough to ensure that many electrons reside in a volume λ_R ³, where λ_R is the wavelength of the reflected light in the rest frame of the layer. Under these conditions, the probe light is back-scattered coherently and is directed close to the layer normal rather than the direction of electron velocity. An important consequence is that the Doppler shift is governed by γ_x=(1-(V_x/c)²)^-1/2 derived from the electron velocity component V_x in normal direction rather than the full γ-factor of the layer electrons.     

A novel method for determining the optical constantn λ of metallic films

Optical changes of visible radiation in transmission through evaporated manganese and bismuth thin films were determined using the Rayleigh-Lowe refractometer. The variation of the phase change in transmission with thicknesst>t _c was utilized to determine directly the refractive indexn _λ.     

Ionic conductivity and structural properties of MnO-doped Bi4V2O11 system

Bi₄V₂O₁₁ exists in three phases viz. α, β, and γ. High temperature γ-phase can be stabilized to room temperature owing to its higher conductivity by the partial substitution of metallic cations for vanadium in Bi₄V₂O₁₁. Phase transitions from α → β and β → γ are composition and temperature-dependent. Mn²⁺-doped compounds Bi₄V_2−x Mn _x O_{11− δ} (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) have been synthesized by solid state reaction technique and investigated by X-ray diffraction and ionic conductivity measurement. High ionic conducting γ-phase is stabilized for x ≥ 0.2. The ionic conductivity of the series of Bi₄V_2−x Mn _x O_{11− δ} samples has been measured by using ac impedance spectroscopy technique. The conductivity data do show departure from its simple Arrhenius behavior for all of the compositions. The highest conductivity observed for x = 0.2 sample can be attributed to lower activation energy.     

Comparing the physical properties of Pr/Gd and Pr/Ce substitutions in Ru(Gd<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>Ce<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>)Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>10−<Emphasis Type="Italic">δ</Emphasis></Subscript>

We have compared the electrical and magnetic properties of Ru(Gd_1.5−x Pr _x )Ce_0.5Sr₂Cu₂O_10−δ (Pr/Gd samples) with x = 0.0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.033, 0.035, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.1 and RuGd_1.5(Ce_0.5−x Pr _x ) Sr₂ Cu₂O_10−δ (Pr/Ce samples) with x = 0.0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.08, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 prepared by the standard solid-state reaction technique. We obtained the XRD patterns for different samples with various x. The lattice parameters versus x for different substitutions have been obtained from Rietveld analysis. To determine how the magnetic and superconducting properties of these layered cuprate systems can be affected by Pr substitution, the resistivity, and magnetoresistivity, with H _ext varying from 0.0 to 15 kOe, have been measured at various temperatures. Superconducting transition temperature T _c and magnetic transition T _irr , have been obtained through resistivity and ac susceptibility measurements. The T _c suppression due to Pr/Gd and Pr/Ce substitutions show competition between pair breaking by magnetic impurities, hole doping due to different valances of ions, difference in ionic radii, and oxygen stoichiometry. Pr/Gd substitution suppresses superconductivity more rapidly than for Pr/Ce, showing that the effect of hole doping and magnetic impurity pair breaking is stronger than the difference in ionic radii. In Pr/Gd substitution, the small difference between the ionic radii of Pr^3+,4+ and Gd³⁺, and absorption of more oxygen due to the higher valence of Pr with respect to Gd, decreases the mean Ru-Ru distance, and as a result, the magnetic exchange interaction becomes stronger with the increase of x. However, Pr/Ce substitution has the opposite effect. The magnetic parameters such as H _c , obtained through magnetization measurements versus applied magnetic field isotherm at 77 K and room temperatures, become stronger with x in Pr/Gd and weaker with x in Pr/Ce substitution.     

Influence of γ irradiation on the electrical conductivity and dielectric properties of β TlInS2 in the temperature range of the incommensurate phase

The influence of γ irradiation on the electrical conductivity σ, the dielectric permittivity ɛ, and the dielectric loss tangent tanδ of β-TlInS₂ crystals is investigated in the temperature range of the incommensurate phase. It is established that γ irradiation lowers the values of ɛ and tanδ over the entire investigated temperature range and decreases the maxima of the σ(T) and tanδ(T) curves in the vicinity of the transition temperature T _c, but does not alter the transition temperature. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 1088–1090 (May 1997)     

Spontaneous photorefractive effect in Sr1−x CaxTiO3 (x=0.014)

The temperature dependence of the principal values of the refractive index in Sr_1−x Ca_xTiO₃ (x=0.014) has been measured in the 17–275 K range under various conditions of sample illumination with 1.96 eV photons. The spontaneous photorefractive contribution δn ^ph to the temperature-induced variation of the refractive index of Sr_1−x Ca_xTiO₃, which appears after illumination of the sample in the ferrophase (transition temperature T _c=32 K) and persists in the paraphase under heating up to 150 K, has been separated. The photoinduced polarization has been estimated. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 711–713 (April 1997)     

Evaluated cross sections of the σ(γ, nX) and σ(γ, 2nX) reactions on 112, 114, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 122, 124Sn isotopes

A combined analysis of experimental data on total and partial photoneutron reaction cross sections, obtained using bremsstrahlung γ-radiation and quasi-monoenergetic annihilation photon beams, was performed for nine Sn isotopes. The partial reactions σ^eval(γ, nX) and σ^eval(γ, 2nX) cross sections were evaluated using an approach free of the shortcomings of experimental neutron multiplicity sorting methods. This approach involves calculations within the photonuclear reaction model, based on Fermi gas densities and considering the effects of nucleus deformation, the isospin splitting of its giant dipole resonance (GDR), and experimental data on the total photoneutron cross sections σ^exp(γ, xn) = σ^exp(γ, nX) + 2σ^exp(γ, 2nX) = σ^exp(γ, n) + σ^exp(γ, np) + … + 2σ^exp(γ, 2n) + 2σ^exp(γ, 2np) + …. The evaluated σ^eval(γ, nX) and σ^eval(γ, 2nX) reactions cross sections were obtained using the introduced transition multiplicity functions F ^theor = σ^theor(γ, 2nX)/σ^theor(γ, xn) = σ^theor(γ, 2nX)/[σ^theor(γ, nX) + 2σ^theor(γ, 2nX) + …]; and σ^eval.(γ, 2nX) = F ^theor.σ^exp.(γ, xn) = σ^eval(γ, nX) = (1 − 2F ^theor)σ^exp(γ, xn). The evaluated partial reaction cross sections were used to assess the total photoneutron reaction cross sections σ^eval(γ, sn) = σ^eval(γ, nX) + σ^eval(γ, 2nX) + … as functions of the mass number A. The GDR features of ^{112, 114, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 122, 124}Sn isotopes were studied and are discussed here.     

Shubnikov-de Haas effect in tricrystals of the system of alloys Bi1−x Sbx (x=0.1; 0.13) with n-type conductivity

The Shubnikov-de Haas effect has been investigated in tricrystals of the alloy system Bi_1−x Sb_x (x=0.1; 0.13) with n-type conductivity in stationary (up to 14 T) and pulsed (up to 40 T) magnetic fields. Reconstruction of the internal boundary of the tricrystals was observed, along with a number of new component oscillations of ρ(B) indicating a rotation of the constant-energy surfaces of the L electrons on the intercrystallite boundary at an angle of ∼74° in the binary-trigonal plane. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 991–993 (June 1999)     

Crystal field in valence-fluctuating CeNi-based compounds

The effects of the crystal field (CF) on the paramagnetic Pr ion in a number of compounds of the type R_1−x Pr_xNi (R = Ce, La, Y), in which a transition of the cerium ions from an intermediate-valence into a Kondo state occurs as La is substituted for Ce, are investigated. The level schemes of the Pr ion in the CF are reconstructed from inelastic neutron scattering spectra and the temperature dependence of the heat capacity in different magnetic fields (B=0–8 T). The parameters of the low-symmetry CF in the compounds RNi are determined from the experimental data. It is established that in the Kondo regime the hybridization of the f electrons with conduction electrons only gives a proportional increase in all the parameters of the CF potential. At the same time, partial delocalization of the f electrons in the intermediate-valence state results in charge redistribution, which is manifested in different scales for the changes in the different CF parameters. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 63, No. 12, 947–952 (25 June 1996)     

Propagation of electromagnetic waves generated by moving sources in dispersive media

The propagation of electromagnetic waves issued by modulated moving sources of the form j( t,x ) = a( t )e ^{- iw₀ t} [(x)\dot]₀ ( t )d( x - x₀ ( t ) )j\left( {t,x} \right) = a\left( t \right)e^{ - i\omega _0 t} \dot x_0 \left( t \right)\delta \left( {x - x_0 \left( t \right)} \right) is considered, where j(t, x) stands for the current density vector, x = (x ₁, x ₂, x ₃) ∈ ℝ³ for the space variables, t ∈ ℝ for time, t → x ₀(t) ∈ ℝ³ for the vector function defining the motion of the source, ω ₀ for the eigenfrequency of the source, a(t) for a narrow-band amplitude, and δ for the standard δ function. Suppose that the media under consideration are dispersive. This means that the electric and magnetic permittivity ɛ(ω), μ(ω) depends on the frequency ω. We obtain a representation of electromagnetic fields in the form of time-frequency oscillating integrals whose phase contains a large parameter λ > 0 characterizing the slowness of the change of the amplitude a(t) and the velocity [(x)\dot]₀ ( t )\dot x_0 \left( t \right) and a large distance between positions of the source and the receiver. Applying the two-dimensional stationary phase method to the integrals, we obtain explicit formulas for the electromagnetic field and for the Doppler effects. As an application of our approach, we consider the propagation of electromagnetic waves produced by moving source in a cold nonmagnetized plasma and the Cherenkov radiation in dispersive media.     

Comparison of negative magnetoresistance mechanisms in manganese perovskites and chromium spinels

A transition of the field dependence of the electrical resistivity from a square law (∼H ²) above T _c to a linear function (∼H) below T _c is observed in the degenerate ferromagnetic semiconductor HgCr₂Se₄(n). Together with the large negative magnetoresistance, these magnetoelectric effects correspond to effects observed in the perovskite-type oxides La_1−x Ca _x MnO _δ . Inasmuch as the undoped semiconductor HgCr₂Se₄ is a ferromagnet with approximately the same critical temperature as the doped semiconductor and in view of the total lack of data on the Jahn-Teller effect in this compound, we infer that our results cast doubt on existing hypotheses (polaron and binary exchange) regarding the origin of the giant magnetoresistance in La_1−x Ca _x MnO _δ . Impurity sd scattering is discussed as a possible magnetoresistance mechanism for both compounds. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1800–1803 (October 1999)     

Structure and phase stability of nanocrystalline Ce1−x Ln x O2−x/2−δ (Ln = Yb, Lu) in oxidizing and reducing atmosphere

The structure and phase evolution of nanocrystalline Ce_{1− x} Ln _x O_{2− x/2−δ} (Ln = Yb, Lu, x = 0 − 1) oxides upon heating in H₂ was studied for the first time. Up to 950 °C the samples were single-phase, with structure changing smoothly with x from fluorite type (F) to bixbyite type (C). For the Lu-doped samples heated at 1100 °C in the air and H₂, phase separation into coexisting F- and C-type structures was observed for ~0.40 < x < ~0.70 and ~0.25 < x < ~0.70, respectively. It was found also that addition of Lu³⁺ and Yb³⁺ strongly hinders the crystallite growth of ceria during heat treatment at 800 and 950 °C in both atmospheres. Valency of Ce and Yb in Ce_0.1Lu_0.9O_1.55−δ and Ce_0.95Yb_0.05O_1.975−δ samples heated at 1100 °C was studied by XANES and magnetic measurements. In the former Ce was dominated by Ce⁴⁺, with small contribution of Ce³⁺ after heating in H₂. In the latter, Yb existed exclusively as 3+ in both O₂ and H₂.     

Colossal magnetoresistance of FexMn1−xS magnetic semiconductors

The magnetic, electric, magnetoresistive, and structural properties are investigated in the sulfide solid solutions Fe_xMn_1−2x S, which are based on the antiferromagnetic semiconductor α-MnS (the fcc NaCl lattice). Colossal negative magnetoresistance (δ_H∼−83% at 160 K for x ∼ 0.29), comparable to that observed in La-Ca-Mn-O polycrystals and films (δ_H∼−90% at 100 K and 40 kOe), is observed in compounds with intermediate concentrations 0.26<x<0.4, corresponding to the region of incipient ferromagnetism. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 69, No. 12, 895–899 (25 June 1999)     

Investigation of the antineutrino angular distribution in experiments on the β decay of polarized neutrons

Since the emission of γ grays unavoidably accompanies β decay, the final state after the β decay of a neutron includes a photon along with a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino, i.e., four particles, rather than three. Therefore, when only the electron and proton momenta are detected and the γ-ray momentum is not detected in an experiment, the antineutrino momentum cannot be uniquely reconstructed, and only its mean value over a γ-ray momentum distribution determined from corresponding calculations can be considered. The γ grays are significant for finding the asymmetry parameter B of the antineutrino angular distribution from experiments on the β decay of polarized neutrons, where the electron momentum p directed along the x axis and the projection of the proton momentum P _x onto the x axis are detected, and the neutron polarization vector ξ is parallel or antiparallel to x. Since the γ rays are not detected in such experiments, the antineutrino kinematics are not uniquely specified by the observables p and P _x and can be reconstructed only on the average, so that the antineutrino momentum distribution averaged over a γ-ray momentum distribution is considered. Thus, the exact value of B cannot be obtained from these experiments, but the true value of B can be estimated on the average by considering the mean (most likely) value 〈B〉 and the dispersion (rms deviation) ΔB. The unavoidable uncertainty in the estimate of B amounts to several percent and is thus significant for present-day experiments, which are intended to obtain the value of B to a very high accuracy of ∼ (0.1–1)%. If electromagnetic interactions are taken into account, measurements of the electron and proton momentum distributions can also be used to obtain g _A, i.e., the axial β-decay amplitude, to high accuracy. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 116, 1505–1522 (November 1999)     

Lattice Dislocations in a 1-Dimensional Model

The spectral properties of the Schr?dinger operator T(t)=−d ²/dx ²+q(x,t) in L ²(ℝ) are studied, where the potential q is defined by q=p(x+t), x>0, and q=p(x), x<0; p is a 1-periodic potential and t∈ℝ is the dislocation parameter. For each t the absolutely continuous spectrum σ _ac (T(t))=σ _ac (T(0)) consists of intervals, which are separated by the gaps γ _n (T(t))=γ _n (T(0))=(α _n ⁻,α _n ⁺), n≥1. We prove: in each gap γ _n ≠?, n≥ 1 there exist two unique “states” (an eigenvalue and a resonance) λ _n ^±(t) of the dislocation operator, such that λ _n ^±(0)=α _n ^± and the point λ _n ^±(t) runs clockwise around the gap γ _n changing the energy sheet whenever it hits α _n ^±, making n/2 complete revolutions in unit time. On the first sheet λ _n ^±(t) is an eigenvalue and on the second sheet λ _n ^±(t) is a resonance. In general, these motions are not monotonic. There exists a unique state λ₀(t) in the basic gap γ₀(T(t))=γ₀(T(0))=(−∞ ,α₀ ⁺). The asymptotics of λ _n ^±(t) as n→∞ is determined. Received: 5 April 1999 / Accepted: 3 March 2000     

Superionic conductivity of the heterovalent solid solutions R 1−x M x F 3−x (R=REE, M=Ca, Ba) with tysonite-type structure

The fluorine-ion conductivity of anion-deficient solid solutions R _1−x Ca_xF_3−x and R _1−x Ba_xF_3−x having the tysonite (LaF₃) structure was investigated by the impedance spectroscopy method. R _1−x Ca_xF_3−x (R=La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho) and R _1−x Ba_xF_3−x (R=La, Pr, Nd) single crystals were grown from the melt by the Bridgman-Stockbarger method. The electrophysical measurements were performed in the frequency range 5−5×10⁵ and temperature range 300–700 K. The temperature dependences of the electrical conductivity for the crystals studied is determined by the migration of fluorine anions along various structural positions. It is shown that, from the standpoint of increasing the conductivity of tysonite matrices RF₃ (R=La, Pr, Nd), doping by CaF₂ and BaF₂ is less promising than SrF₂. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 638–640 (April 1999)     

Two-dimensional quantum interference contributions to the magnetoresistance of Nd2−x CexCuO4−δ single crystals

Two-dimensional (2D) weak localization effects at low temperatures T=0.2–4.2 K are investigated in a nonsuperconducting sample Nd_1.88Ce_0.12CuO_4−δ and in the normal state of a superconducting sample Nd_1.82Ce_0.18CuO_4−δ for B>B _c2≃3 T. The phase coherence time τφ (≃5×10⁻¹¹ s at 1.9 K) and the effective thickness d of a conducting CuO₂ layer (≃1.5 Å) are estimated by fitting the expressions from the 2D weak localization theory to the magnetoresistivity data for the normal-to-plane and in-plane magnetic fields. The estimated value of the parameter d ensures the condition of strong carrier confinement and justifies a model of almost decoupled 2D metallic sheets for the Nd_2−x Ce_xCuO_4−δ single crystals. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 70, No. 2, 93–99 (25 July 1999) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

Two-dimensional weak localization effects in high temperature superconductor Nd2−x CexCuO4−δ

A systematic study of the resistivity and Hall effect in single-crystal films Nd_2−x Ce_xCuO_4−δ (0.12⩽x⩽0.20) is presented, with special emphasis on the low-temperature dependence of the normal state conductance. Two-dimensional weak localization effects are found both in a normally conducting underdoped sample (x=0.12) and in situ superconducting optimally doped (x=0.15) or overdoped (x=0.18) samples in a high magnetic field B>B _c2. The phase coherence time τ _ϒ (5.4 · 10⁻¹¹ s at 2 K) and the effective thickness of a CuO₂ conducting layer d (≃1.5Å) have been estimated by fitting 2D weak localization theory expressions to magnetoresistivity data for magnetic fields perpendicular to the ab plane and in plane. Estimates of the parameter d ensure strong carrier confinement and justify a model consisting of almost decoupled 2D metallic sheets for the Nd_2−x Ce_xCuO_4−δ single crystal. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 116, 1723–1734 (November 1999) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Reproduced here with stylistic changes by the Translation Editor.     

Photoluminescence response of a quantum well to a change in the magnetic field of the Mn δ Layer in InGaAs/GaAs heterostructures

Ferromagnetic ordering of two types (depending on the sample geometry) is found to occur in a thin Ga_{1 − x} Mn _x As alloy layer (Mn δ layer) in heterostructures containing an InGaAs/GaAs quantum well. Singular samples in which the δ Mn layer is parallel to the (001) GaAs plane exhibit the “3/2” Bloch temperature dependence of magnetization, and vicinal samples in which the δ Mn layer deviates from the (001) GaAs plane exhibit a “percolation” ferromagnetic transition. The photoluminescence polarization of the quantum well is shown to follow changes in the magnetization of the Mn δ layer as a function of temperature according to the Bloch law in the singular samples and to a percolation law in the vicinal samples.