μSR Study of Zn-Substituted YBa2Cu3O x

We report zero field and transverse fieldSR. measurements in magnetic YBa₂(Cu_1–y Zn _y )₃O _x . Mild disorder of the antiferromagnetic state (x<6.1), a new disordered magnetic phase abovex=6.4 where superconductivity is destroyed by Zn substitution and, finally, local moments in the paramagnetic state are the most salient features related to Zn substitution described here.     

Features of the Jahn-Teller transition in Ni1 − x Co x Cr2O4 solid solutions

The structure of Ni_{1 ? x} Co _x Cr₂O₄ solid solutions has been investigated by synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction in the temperature range of 90–350 K for compositions x = 0, 0.005, 0.01, 0.015, 0.02, 0.1, 0.5, and 0.8, and their structures have been refined using the Rietveld analysis. The T-x phase diagram for solid solutions in the studied range of temperatures and concentrations has been constructed based on the obtained data. The revealed structural phase transitions have been explained from the viewpoint of the crystal field theory and the Jahn-Teller cooperative effect. Distortions of polyhedra, which are the cause of the structural phase transition, have been evaluated. The applicability of the Landau phenomenological theory and the possibility of using the magnitude of spontaneous strains as the order parameter have been discussed.     

Phase analysis in Zn1− x Cr x O through charge density

Cr-doped zinc oxide Zn_{1? x} Cr _x O powder samples are synthesized by a standard high-temperature solid-state reaction technique with x?=?0.00, 0.04, and 0.08. The powders are analyzed for the electron densities using X-ray diffraction. The electron densities of observed wurtzite phase ZnO as well as the spinel phase ZnCr₂O₄ are mapped and analyzed for Cr doping concentration. The charge density study reveals that the Cr atom is added in the lattice as Cr³⁺ rather than Cr²⁺.     

Magnetic Phase Transitions in Substituted Spinels of Zn1−x Cu χ Cr2 Se4; 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3

Magnetic and crystallographic properties have been studied by neutron powder diffraction and measurements of magnetization and magnetization hysteresis-loops for substituted spinels of Zn_1?xCu_xCr₂Se₄ with 0.0≤x≤0.3. It is found that the Zn_0.85Cu_0.15Cr₂Se₄ spinel has two magnetic phase transitions at 23.0 K (Néel temperature; T _N) and 410 K (Curie temperature; T _C) and that the Zn_0.70Cu_0.30Cr₂Se₄ spinel has magnetic transitions at 24.5 K (T _N) and 415 K (T _C) on heating. The low-temperature magnetic phase transition is from a spiral antiferromagnet to a ferromagnet, and the high-temperature magnetic phase transition is from a ferromagnet to a paramagnet, while ZnCr₂Se₄ shows a magnetic phase transition only from a spiral antiferromagnet to a paramagnet at about 21.0 K. From neutron powder diffraction, it is also found that the spinels of Zn_1?x Cu _x Cr₂Se₄; 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3. show satellite-like magnetic reflection having indexes (h ± Q, k, l) with Q = 0.470 below T _N and short-range order of spins (spin glass-like) above T _N. The incommensurate antiferromagnetic phase below T _N results from a spiral long-range order of the spins of Cr³⁺. The intermediate ferromagnetic phase between T _N and T _C is related not to the spiral spin order but to double-exchange magnetic interaction among Cr³⁺ and Cr⁴⁺ mediated by current carriers, positive holes, which is made by the substitution of Zn²⁺ ions with Cu¹⁺ ions in Zn_1?x Cu _x Cr₂Se₄.     

μSR study of a mixed compound NiC2O4 2⋅(2-methylimidazole)x(H2O)1-x

We examined the muon spin relaxation (μSR) of mixed compounds NiC₂O₄ 2⋅(2-methylimidazole)_x(H₂O)_1-x with x=1.0 and 0.49. Although the macroscopic magnetic properties are obviously different from each other, both systems exhibit similar behavior in the muon spin relaxation. In addition, in the x=0.49 (SG) sample, a critical slowing down of spin dynamics was not observed in this μSR measurement, though the spin-glass like freezing was observed in the susceptibility measurements. Qualitative explanation of these anomalous observations is given. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Studies on the complex behavior of optical phonon modes in wurtzite (ZnO)1−x (Cr2O3) x

This paper reports on the use of phonon spectra obtained with laser Raman spectroscopy for the uncertainty concerned to the optical phonon modes in pure and composite ZnO_1?x (Cr₂O₃) _x . Particularly, in previous literature, the two modes at 514 and 640 cm^?1 have been assigned to ZnO are not found for pure ZnO in our present study. The systems investigated for the typical behavior of phonon modes with 442 nm as excitation wavelength are the representative semiconductor (ZnO)_1?x (Cr₂O₃) _x (x = 0, 5, 10 and 15 %). Room temperature Raman spectroscopy has been demonstrated polycrystalline wurtzite structure of ZnO with no structural transition from wurtzite to cubic with Cr₂O₃. The incorporation of Cr³⁺ at most likely on the Zn sub-lattice sites is confirmed. The uncertainty of complex phonon bands is explained by disorder-activated Raman scattering due to the relaxation of Raman selection rules produced by the breakdown of translational symmetry of the crystal lattice and dopant material. The energy of the E ₂ (high) peak located at energy 53.90 meV (435 cm^?1) due to phonon–phonon anharmonic interaction increases to 54.55 meV (441 cm^?1). A clear picture of the dopant-induced phonon modes along with the B ₁ silent mode of ZnO is presented and has been explained explicitly. Moreover, anharmonic line width and effect of dislocation density on these phonon modes have also been illustrated for the system. The study will have a significant impact on the application where thermal conductivity and electrical properties of the materials are more pronounced.     

Magnetic behaviour of U(MnxAl1−x)2 compounds

The results of magnetic measurements performed on U(Mn_xAl_1−x)₂ compounds in the temperature range 4.2K < T < 800K are reported. In the low temperature range (T < 200K), UMn₂ shows a Pauli-type paramagnetism. Above 420K a Curie-Weiss behaviour is evidenced. The magnetic properties of U(Mn_xAl_1−x)₂ compounds were analysed assuming a superposition of a temperature dependent term on a Pauli-type contribution, χ_O. The effective moments as well as the χ_O values were determined both in the low (T < 200K) and high (T > 420K) temperature range. The experimental data were discussed considering changes in the band structure and/or quenching of spin fluctuations.     

A μSR Study of Er Spin Dynamics in (Y1−x Er x )Ni2B2C Superconductors

Zero field μSR has been used to probe rare earth spin dynamics in the magnetic superconductors, Y_1−x Er _x Ni₂B₂C. The muon spin relaxation function is stretched exponential, exp (−(λt)^β), in form, as usually found for spin glass systems above the glass temperature. However, the Y_1−x Er _x Ni₂B₂C compounds show no evidence of coexisting superconducting and static spin glass ground states even at concentrations below the critical value (x=0.6) for long range antiferromagnetic order. The temperature dependence of both the muon spin relaxation rate λ and the exponent β suggests that Er spin dynamics change significantly at the superconducting transition temperature. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Supertransferred Hyperfine Magnetic Fields at 111Cd Impurity Sites in Cd x Fe3−x O4 and Zn x Fe3−x O4

The hyperfine magnetic field at ¹¹¹Cd impurities substituting iron in the mixed spinels Cd _x Fe_3−x O₄ and Zn _x Fe_3−x O₄ has been determined by means of the Perturbed Angular Correlation technique. Compounds with different concentrations x were investigated as a function of temperature. The possibility of determining the lattice location of probes at octahedral or tetrahedral sites through the magnitude of the electric field gradient is analyzed. The measured hyperfine magnetic field at impurities in tetrahedral sites is discussed in terms of the populations of magnetic ions in the nearest neighbor sites. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

27Al Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Study of Al1−x Cr x K(SO4)2·12H2O (x = 0, 0.07, and 0.2)

The physical properties of Al_1?x Cr _x K(SO₄)₂·12H₂O (x = 0, 0.07, and 0.2) were studied as a function of temperature using magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance for ²⁷Al. On the basis of the physical properties of pure AlK(SO₄)₂·12H₂O, the effects of partially replacing Al³⁺ with Cr³⁺ ions were examined. Molecular motion changed with the concentration of Cr³⁺ ions. The relaxation process near 320 K was found to undergo molecular motion as described by the Bloembergen–Purcell–Pound theory. The activation energies, phase transition temperatures, and spin–lattice relaxation times in the rotating frame T _1ρ changed with the concentration of paramagnetic ions.     

Magnetic and structural phase transitions in the shape-memory ferromagnetic alloys Ni2+x Mn1−x Ga

The results of an experimental investigation of the temperature dependences of the magnetic susceptibility and resistivity in the shape-memory ferromagnetic alloys Ni_2+x Mn_1−x Ga (x=0–0.20) are reported. A T−x phase diagram is constructed on the basis of these data. It is shown that partial substitution of Ni for Mn causes the temperatures of the structural (martensitic) T _M and magnetic T _C (Curie point) phase transitions to converge. In the region where T _C =T _M the transition temperature increases linearly with magnetic field in the range from 0 to 10 kOe. The kinetics of a magnetic-field-induced martensitic phase transition is investigated, and the velocities of the martensite-austenite interphase boundary during direct and reverse transitions are measured. A theoretical model is proposed and the T−x phase diagram is calculated. It is shown that there exist concentration ranges where the magnetic and martensitic transitions merge into a first-order phase transition. The theoretical results are in qualitative agreement with experiment. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 115, 1740–1755 (May 1999)     

Transition to gapless superconductivity in YBa2(Cu1−x Zn x )3O7

Point-contact spectra of YBa₂(Cu_1–x Zn _x )₃O₇/Ag are studied at various temperatures. The differential resistance dV/dI of the point contacts shows gap-related structures belowT _c which can be attributed to Andreev reflection. Evaluation of many spectra for each sample taken at 4.2 K yields a wide distribution of voltages /e at which these structures occur. The upper limit varies roughly as expected from the depression ofT _c by Zn-doping from /e=29 mV (x=0) to 9 mV (x=0.05), while the lower limit decreases much faster and disappears forx=0.05. Hence, the Zn doped samples exhibit a tendency to gapless superconductivity as suggested earlier on the basis of specific-heat measurements.     

Magnetic properties and peculiarity of magnetic states in dilute antiferromagnets Mn1−x Zn x F2

The dependence of magnetic moment and susceptibility on temperature, magnetic field and frequency of some single crystals Mn_1?x Zn _x F₂ (x≈x _e=0.75—percolation limit) were experimentally investigated. Our experiments show that (Bazhan and Petrov 1984; Cowleyet al 1984; Villain 1984) in these crystals the nonequilibrium magnetic state of spinglass type with finite correlation length appears as temperature decreasesT<T in weak magnetic fields. This state is determined by fluctuation magnetic moments √nμ (wheren is the number of magnetic ions, corresponding to finite correlation length andμ the magnetic moment Mn⁺¹). In the experiments in low magnetic fields and frequencies there are no peculiarities in the magnetic susceptibility temperature dependence atT≠T _f. At temperaturesT>T _f andT<T _f magnetic susceptibility is determined by 1 $$\chi \left( {T > T_f } \right) = \frac{{N\left\langle \mu \right\rangle ^2 }}{{3k\left( {T + \theta } \right)}} = \frac{N}{n}\frac{{\left\langle {\sqrt n \mu } \right\rangle ^2 }}{{3k\left( {T + \theta } \right)}} = \chi \left( {T< T_f } \right)$$ . In strong magnetic fields and large frequencies there are peculiarities in thex(T) dependence atT=T _f. AtT<T _f and strong magnetic fieldsX(T)=x ₀ andT<T _f and at large frequenciesx(T)=x ₀+α/T. The dependences of magnetic susceptibility on the frequency are determined by the magnetic system relaxation. Calculations and comparison with experiments show that the relaxation of the investigated magnetic systems atT<T _f follows the relaxation lawM(t)=M(0) exp[?(t/τ) ^r ], suggested in Palmeret al (1984) for spin-glasses relaxation taking into account the time relaxation distributionτ ₀....τ _max in the system and its ‘hierarchically’ dynamics.     

Magnetic properties of (GdxY1−x)Co2B2 compounds

Magnetic measurements were performed on the (Gd_xY_1−x)Co₂B₂ compounds, in the temperature range 2–800 K and fields up to 70 kOe. YCo₂B₂ is a paramagnet. The (Gd_xY_1−x)Co₂B₂ compounds with x≥0.2 shows a ferromagnetic type ordering. The saturation magnetization at 2 K coincides only with the contribution of gadolinium. The Curie temperatures are nearly linearly dependent on the composition. Above the Curie points, the thermal variations of the magnetic susceptibility can be described as a superposition of a temperature independent term ϰ₀ on a Curie-Weiss behavior. The Curie constants are determined by the contribution of Gd³⁺ ions only. The ϰ₀ values increase when the gadolinium content is greater. The observed properties are discussed in the wider framework of the magnetic behavior of cobalt in GdCo_xB_y compounds.     

μ+SR Study of Ordering Phenomena in the Heavy-Fermion State of Ce3Pd20Ge6

Magnetic and quadrupolar ordering phenomena in a Ce₃Pd₂₀Ge₆ single crystal have been investigated by muon spin rotation/relaxation (μ⁺SR) spectroscopy. We have observed spontaneous precession of muons in zero-field below T _N =0.7 K in the antiferromagnetic state. The precession frequency follows the power law: ν(T)=ν(0)(1−T/T _N ) ⁿ . The exponent n=0.43(2) is close to the mean-field value of 0.5. The muon longitudinal spin relaxation rate 1/T ₁ is found to be nearly independent of temperature in the range of 0.3 to 2 K, i.e., across either T _N or T _Q =1.2 K, the quadrupolar ordering temperature. Two likely mechanisms for the temperature independent behavior of 1/T ₁ are suggested. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Characterization and magnetic properties of electrospun Co1−x Zn x Fe2O4 nanofibers

By the electrospinning and calcination techniques, we have prepared uniform nanofibers of Co_1−x Zn _x Fe₂O₄ (0.0≤x≤0.5) ferrites with diameters of 110–130 nm. The Co_1−x Zn _x Fe₂O₄ nanofibers are single-phase spinels and the lattice constant with Zn content deviates from the Vegard’s law for these Co_1−x Zn _x Fe₂O₄ nanofibers. The Co_1−x Zn _x Fe₂O₄ nanocrystal grains by which are built nanofibers increase with calcination temperature. Variations of coercivity and saturation magnetization with calcination temperature can be explained in terms of the grain-size (D) effect. The coercivity (H _c) of Co_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanofibers varies as D ^0.65 and basically follows the predicted D ^2/3 dependence based on the random anisotropy model in a D range below the single-domain size around 40 nm. The saturation magnetization of Co_1−x Zn _x Fe₂O₄ nanofibers initially increases with increasing Zn content, reaches a maximum value at x=0.3 and then decreases with further increase of Zn content, while the coercivity exhibits a continuous reduction with the increase of Zn content.     

Magnetic and Mössbauer study of Mg0.9Mn0.1Cr x Fe2−x O4 ferrites

The ferrites Mg_0.9Mn_0.1Cr _x Fe_2?x O₄ ( The ferrites Mg_0.9Mn_0.1Cr _x Fe_2−x O₄ () were prepared using the conventional double sintering method. The XRD showed that the samples maintain a single spinel cubic phase. The M?ssbauer measurements were carried out at room and liquid nitrogen temperatures. From the area ratios of the A and B sites, it was found that the Fe cation population of the A and B sites decreases in proportion to Cr concentration. The contact hyperfine fields at the A and B sites were found to decrease with increasing Cr contents. This was found to be in approximate agreement with the results of magnetization measurement. The distributions of Mg and Mn cations versus Cr concentration were also determined using the M?ssbauer and magnetization results. The Curie temperatures were determined and found to agree with the reported values. As the Cr contents increases the relative magnetization, was found to increase at low temperatures and decreases at higher temperatures.     

ODMR Study of Zn1−x Mn x Se/Zn1−y Be y Se and (Cd1−x ,Mn)Te/Cd1−y Mg y Te Diluted Magnetic Semiconductor Quantum Wells

The effects of microwave pumping with a frequency of 60 GHz on the magneto-optical properties of diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs) are studied in (Zn,Mn)Se/(Zn,Be)Se and (Cd,Mn)Te/(Cd,Mg)Te quantum wells. Resonant heating of the Mn²⁺ ions in the electron spin resonance conditions leads to an increase in the Mn-spin temperature, which exceeds the bath temperature by up to 5.2 K, as detected by the shift of exciton emission line and decrease of its integral intensity. Nonresonant heating mediated by free carriers is also observed through variation of the polarization degree of emission. Direct measurements of spin–lattice relaxation times for both materials using time-resolved optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) technique have been performed. The mechanisms of ODMR in nanostructures of DMSs are discussed.     

EXAFS Studies of the Local Structure Around Zn in Cd1−x Zn x Te

X-ray absorption spectroscopy has been used to obtain information on the local structure around Zn atoms in CdTe. The Zn–Te distance is 5% smaller than the Cd–Te bond-length in the bulk, but slightly larger than in pure ZnTe. A similar effect is predicted by FLAPW calculations. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Correlation of the magnetic and transport properties with polymorphic transitions in bismuth pyrostannate Bi2(Sn1 − x Cr x )2O7

Physics of the Solid State - The correlation of the electrical, magnetic, and structural properties of Bi2(Sn1 − x Cr x )2O7 solid solutions has been investigated for two compositions with x...