One-dimensional effects in the intermetallic compound Al11Mn4

Magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity measurements show that the intermetallic compound Al₁₁Mn₄ has a one-dimensional magnetic character. This is attributed to the presence of chains of nearest neighbour Mn atoms together with a strongly depressed interaction between distant Mn atoms.     

Linear chain antiferromagnetism in FeOHSO4

Magnetic susceptibility measurements on Fe OH SO₄ suggest linear chain antiferromagnetism up to at least 200°K with a transition to three dimensional antiferromagnetism at 56°K. Mössbauer spectra show magnetic hyperfine splitting up to ～ 90°K and this is interpreted in terms of intrachain spin correlation with relaxation effects caused by interchain spin relaxation. The 4·2°K spectrum is strongly asymmetric because of the admixture of nuclear eigenfunctions by non-parallel magnetic and quadrupolar principal axes systems. Using this the first complete derivation of a complete set of hyperfine interaction parameters from a Mössbauer spectrum is made and correlated with the crystallographic structure.     

NMR study of magnetic properties in antiferromagnetic BaMnF4

¹⁹F NMR was used to study the magnetic structure of BaMnF₄. The spectrum consists of four clusters of lines, and the cluster positions are compatible with an antiferromagnetic coupling between nearest neighbours within each of the puckered layers in the crystal. The splitting of the lines indicate that the crystal symmetry at low temperatures is lower than the $\text{A}\text{2}{}_1\text{am}$ structure known for BaMnF₄ at room temperature. The angular dependence of the lines is explained by two sublattice uni-axial-antiferromagnet model. An NMR line which appears at about 10 kOe in a wide range of frequencies is attributed to the spin flop transition.     

A light scattering investigation of the incommensurate transition in BaMnF4

The results of a Brillouin scattering investigation of BaMnF₄ near its incommensurate structural phase transition at T_i=247 K are reported. We have observed an anomalous dynamic central peak in the polarized (bb) spectrum, with $\text{q}\text{6}\text{c}$. This feature is visible only very near T_i, and possesses a width which is strongly wavevector dependent. The indicated behavior is Λ=D_tq², with D_t=0.14 ± 0.02 cm²sec^-1. It is identified as the result of a coupling between the LA phonon and the soft mode, where the latter contains a relaxing self energy due to a linear coupling to a diffusive process, possibly entropy fluctuations. The narrow central peak is not visible for $\text{q}\text{6}\text{a}$. In addition, we report an anomalous dispersion (～4%), in the LA mode propagating along $\text{c}$ (V_cc) near T_i.     

Neutron diffraction study of antiferromagnetism in YbVO4

The antiferromagnetism of YbVO₄ has been studied by neutron diffraction down to 50 mK. The structure is collinear with the spins along the c-axis. The Néel point is at 93 mK and the saturated moment on the ytterbium is (3.1 ± 0.16)μB. The results are in reasonable agreement with Mössbauer work.     

Raman scattering in layered compound 2H-WS2

Raman scattering of layer-type compound 2H-WS₂ has been studied at room temperature. The first-order Raman peaks are observed at 27.4, 357 and 423 cm^-1. The low-frequency peak at 27.4 cm^-1 is a rigid-layer mode, from which the interlayer shear force constant is estimated. The central force model is applied to the high-frequency phonons. The interlayer shear force constant is much smaller than the intralayer force constants. We also find several peaks due to the second-order processes.     

Deviations from soft mode behaviour in the Raman spectrum of incommensurate BaMnF4

New measurements of the Raman spectrum of incommensurate BaMnF₄ reveal that there is not a classically ‘soft’ amplitude mode as has hitherto been assumed. This finding questions the validity of predictions based on straightforward Landau theory.     

Bidimensional antiferromagnetism in layered NH4FeF4

Summary The compound NH₄FeF₄, characterized by layers of (FeF₆)³⁻ octahedra alternating with NH ₄ ⁺ layers, has been investigated by means of M?ssbauer spectroscopy. Experimental data, which evidentiate an antiferromagnetic order, are compared with the molecular-field model for anisotropic media. Magnetization is found orthogonal to the octahedra layers and the octahedra axes are found to be tilted by 17° with respect to the magnetization direction.

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Riassunto Il composto NH₄FeF₄, caratterizzato da strati di ottaedri (FeF₆)³⁻ alternati con strati NH ₄ ⁺ , è stato studiato con la spettroscopia M?ssbauer. I dati sperimentali, che evidenziano un ordine antiferromagnetico, sono stati interpretati col modello del campo molecolare per mezzi anisotropi. Si è trovato che la magnetizzazione è ortogonale agli strati ottaedrici e che gli assi ottaedrici sono inclinati di 17° rispetto alla direzione di magnetizzazione.

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Резюме С помощью м?ссбауэровской спектроскопии исследуется соединение NH₄FeF₄, характеризующееся слоями (FeF₆)³⁻, которые чередуются с NH ₄ ⁺ слоями. Экспериментальные данные, которые подтверждают антиферромагнитную упоряденность, сравниваются с моделью молекулярного поля для анизотропной среды. Обнаружено, что намагниченность ортогональна октаэдрическим слоям, а октаэдрические оси наклонены под углом 17° к направлению намагниченности.

     

Nonlinear conductivity of quasi-one-dimensional layered compound TiS3

The crystal structure and transport properties of TiS₃ whiskers in the plane of layers (ab) have been studied. Maxima of the logarithmic derivative of resistance, dln R/d(1/T), are observed at 17, 60 and 120 K both along and across the chains. Strong nonlinearity of the current–voltage characteristics has been revealed in both directions. Nonlinear conductivity along the chains is observed up to T=60 K, while in the transverse direction it is observed up to T=130 K. The results indicate possible phase transitions of electrons to collective states, probably, charge density waves.     

Linear-chain antiferromagnetism in Ni(N2H5)2(SO4)2

The compound dihydrazinium bis(sulfato) niccolate(II), Ni(N₂H₅)₂(SO₄)₂, containing sulfato-bridged chains of Ni(II) ions, can be described as an antiferromagnetic Heisenberg linear-chain system. A reasonable agreement of susceptibility measurements in the temperature region 2–80K, with a theory developed by Weng for antiferromagnetic Heisenberg linear chains with spin S=1, is obtained for a value of the intra-chain interaction $\text{J}\text{k}\text{=?3.35K}$. Preliminary results of specific heat measurements, on the other hand, do not fit quite well using this model. The origin of this discrepancy is suggested to be a zero-field splitting of the single ion.     

Structural phase transitions in the layered bismuth oxide BaBi4Ti4O15

The structure of the n=4 Aurivillius oxide BaBi₄Ti₄O₁₅ has been studied at room temperature using powder neutron diffraction, and from 300 to 1000 K using synchrotron X-ray diffraction methods. The structure is orthorhombic (space group A2₁am) at 300 K and transforms to a tetragonal (I4/mmm) structure near 700 K.     

Band structure calculations on the layered compounds FeGa2S4 and NiGa2S4

For the compounds FeGa₂S₄ and NiGa₂S₄ band structure calculations have been performed by the ab initio plane wave pseudo-potential method. The valence charge density distribution points to an ionic type of chemical bonding between the transition metal atoms and the ligand atoms. Two models for the pseudo-potentials are used to calculate the band structures: (a) only s and p electrons and (b) also the d-shells of the transition metal atoms are included in the pseudo-potentials. The differences between these two cases of band structures are discussed. Energy gap formation peculiarities are analysed for both crystals. Zak's elementary energy band concept is demonstrated for the energy spectra of the considered crystals.     

Pressure-induced antiferromagnetism in ferromagnetic Fe51.5Rh48.5 alloy

The pressure-temperature magnetic phase diagram based on electrical resistivity measurements was determined for Fe-Rh alloys, ferromagnetic down to 4.2 K, from room temperature to the Curie point (750 K) and for pressure up to 100 kbar. A pressure-induced first order ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic phase transition line was found with an inhomogeneous, mixed phase existing at pressures lower than 50 kbar. A new, qualitative model is proposed to explain the phase transitions, the absence of magnetic moment on Rh atoms in the AF state and the shape of the p-T diagram. The model is based on the excitonic antiferromagnetism of semimetallic Fe-Rh and it is connected with the pecularities of the electroni structure and the shape of the Fermi surface.     

Optical properties of the layered semiconductor ZnIn2S4

The wavelength modulated reflectivity spectrum of ZnIn₂S₄ in the range 1.5–8.0 eV is presented. The first absorption onset near 3.0 eV has been related to transitions from sulphur p-like and cation s-like valence bands to a sulphur first group p-like conduction band. Evidence was also found for the existence of two M₁-type singularities above 5.0 eV.     

Photoluminescence in the mixed valence compound Eu3S4

We have investigated the 5d-4f interband and the intra-4f photoluminescence of Eu₃S₄. An anomalous shift of the interband luminescence can be explained by temperature dependent valence fluctuations. The ferromagnetic ordering of Eu₃S₄ is also verified.     

Magnetic properties for the Mn2GeTe4 compound

Measurements of magnetic susceptibility χ, in the temperature range from 2 to 300 K, and of magnetization M vs. applied magnetic field B, up to 5 T, at various temperatures were made on polycrystalline samples of the Mn₂GeTe₄ compound. It was found that Mn₂GeTe₄ has a Néel temperature T_N of about 135 K, shows mainly antiferromagnetic behavior with a very weak superimposed ferromagnetic component that is attributed to spin canting. Also, the magnetic results suggest that a possible spin-glass transition takes place at T_f≈45 K. The spin-glass order parameter q(T), determined from the susceptibility data, was found to be in agreement with the prediction of conventional spin-glass theory. The M vs. B results indicated that bound magnetic polarons (BMPs) occur in the compound, and that the effects from BMPs disappear at approximately 80 K. The M vs. B curves were well fitted by a Langevin type of equation, and the variation of the fitting parameters determined as a function of temperature. Using a simple spherical model, the radius of the BMP in the material was found to be about 27 Å; this value is similar to the effective Bohr radius for an acceptor in the II-IV-V₂ and I-III-VI₂ ternary semiconductor compounds.     

Synthesis of PEO/4Hb-TaS2 layered nanocomposite

Single-phase layered nanocomposite containing 4Hb-TaS₂ and poly(ethylene oxide) [PEO] has been first synthesized by using the exfoliation-adsorption technique. It has been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electrical dc resistivity measurements. As the product exhibited lattice expansions along the stacking direction, PEO was intercalated into 4Hb-TaS₂ galleries.     

Fundamental optical constant of the layered semiconductor ZnIn2S4

Reflectivity measurements, carried out on ZnIn₂S₄ single crystals for E⊥c at RT and LNT, are presented. The experimental results have been analyzed by means of Kramers-Kronig relations; the optical constants so obtained have been compared with recent photoemission spectra and band structure calculations and a substantial agreement has been found.     

Dense-Kondo antiferromagnetism in (CePd3)8Ge

We report the existence of (CePd₃)₈Ge and (LaPd₃)₈Ge, and find them to have the same cubic superstructure as reported for (CePd₃)₈T (T=Ga, In, Sn, Sb, Pb and Bi) by Gordon and co-workers [1 and 2]. The cerium ions in (CePd₃)₈Ge are trivalent and undergo an antiferromagnetic transition below 5 K with a dense-Kondo-lattice behaviour.     

Transverse piezoelectric properties of KH2PO4 type crystals

It is shown that the anomalous temperature dependence of the transverse piozoelectric constant d₁₄ for KH₂PO₄ type crystals is the result of the antiferroelectric-like properties along the x-axis.