Nonlinear dynamics of vortices pinned to unidirectional twins

The nonlinear resistive properties of superconductors in the mixed state in the presence of a system of unidirectional planar defects (twins) have been investigated theoretically within the framework of the two-dimensional stochastic model of anisotropic pinning based on the Fokker-Planck equations with a concrete form of the pinning potential. These equations allow one to obtain an exact analytical solution of the problem. Formulas are obtained for experimentally observable even and odd (relative to reversal of the direction of the external magnetic field) nonlinear longitudinal and transverse magnetoresistivities ρ _‖,⊥ ^± ( j,t,α,ε) as functions of the transport current density j, temperature t, the angle α between the directions of the current and the twins, and the relative volume fraction ε occupied by the twins. In light of the great variety of types of nonlinear resistive dependences contained in these expressions for ρ _‖,⊥ ^± the most characteristic of them are presented in the form of graphs with commentary. The desired nonlinear dependences ρ _‖,⊥ ^± are linear combinations of the even and odd parts of the function v(j,t, α,ε), which has the sense of the probability of overcoming the potential barrier of the twins; this makes it possible to give a simple physical treatment of the nonlinear regimes. New scaling relations for the Hall conductivity are obtained and investigated which differ from the previously known relations for isotropic pinning. The interaction of vortex motion directed along the twins and the Hall effect is considered for Hall constants which are arbitrary in magnitude and sign, and it is shown that in the case of small Hall viscosity vortex motion directed along the twins has an effect on the odd magnetoresistivities ρ _‖ ⁻ and ρ _⊥ ⁻ , whereas the reverse effect can be neglected. It is shown that pinning anisotropy is sufficient to manifest the new nonlinear (in the current) magnetoresistivities ρ _⊥ ⁺ and ρ _‖ ⁻ . Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 116, 2103–2129 (December 1999)     

Diffusion and transport phenomena in a collisional magnetoplasma having both streaming and temperature anisotropy: Collisional kinetics

Boltzmann-transport equation is analytically solved for two-component magnetoplasma using Chapman-Enskog analysis to include collisional diffusion transport having anisotropies in both streaming velocity and temperature components. The modified collisional integrals are analytically solved with flux integrals and perturbed kinetic equation to arrive at drift diffusion velocity and resulting transport coefficients which are markedly affected by both streaming and temperature anisotropy. The early isotropic results are recovered in the limit V ₀ = 0 and T _‖ = T _⊥ which reduce to eqs (11.30) and (11.31) of [1] and eqs (2.7) and (2.13) of [2]. The electrical resistivity (η_⊥) diminishes sharply in fusion temperature limit kT _⊥ = 1 keV. The shape of the curves for both electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity is rectangular hyperbolic. However, for low thermal ratio (T _‖/T _⊥ < 1), the curves are raised up and for high thermal ratio (T _‖/T _⊥ > 1), they are lowered down the isotropic case (T _‖/T _⊥ > 1), showing comparatively diminished magnitudes of the quantities.      

EPR study of the Jahn-Teller effect of Cu2+ ions in ZnGa2O4

The Jahn-Teller effect in the ZnGa₂O₄ spinel single crystal has been investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance of Cu²⁺ ions in the temperature range 110–560 K. It has been shown that copper ions occupy octahedral sites 16d in the ZnGa₂O₄ crystal with cubic symmetry O _h ⁷ (Fd-3m). At T < 560 K, the octahedra undergo tetragonal distortions (predominantly tension) and rotation around the fourfold axes by the angle θ ≈ 2.6°. The parameters of the spin Hamiltonian, which characterize the prolate (g _‖ = 2.355, g _⊥ = 2.077, A _‖ = 116 Oe, A _tp = 12 Oe) and oblate (g _‖ = 2.018, g _⊥ = 2.246, A _‖ = 75 Oe, A _⊥ = 44 Oe) octahedra, have been determined. At temperatures above 560 K, the static Jahn-Teller effect transforms into the dynamic effect and the spectrum of the magnetic resonance becomes isotropic with g = 2.116 (the experimental frequency corresponds to the X band).     

Transmission spectra of thin CdS and CdSe crystals near higher-order isotropic points

Summary For photon energies below the absorption edge in CdS, CdSe and other II–VI crystals the polariton dispersion curves forE⊥c andE‖c (c-axis in a wurtzite crystal) corss at some points called isotropic points (IP). The occurrence of isotropic points provides the possibility of mode coupling between ordinary and extraordinary waves. Since the consequences of mode coupling on the optical properties for photon energies near the lowest IP lying much below the first excitonic state were widely discussed in recent years, more attention is now paid to isotropic points lying near the band gap and related to then=2,3, … excitonic states (?higher isotropic points?). Making use of Stahl's real density matrix approach we derive the polariton dispersion relationsk _⊥ (ω), andk _‖ (ω), for CdS and CdSe bulk crystals and determine the positions of IP's due to the crossing of theB-polariton with higherA-excitonic resonances. By the method of multiple internal reflection we calculate the transmission spectra for various crystal thicknesses (between 3 μm and 0.5 mm) and coupling mechanisms. The calculated transmission shows sharply peaked structures centred at the isotropic points.     

Effect of upflowing field-aligned electron beams on the electron cyclotron waves in the auroral magnetosphere

The role of low density upflowing field-aligned electron beams (FEBs) on the growth rate of the electron cyclotron waves at the frequencies ω _r < Ω_e, propagating downward in the direction of the Earth’s magnetic field, has been analysed in the auroral region at ω _e/Ω_e < 1 where ω _e is the plasma frequency and Ω_e is the gyrofrequency. The FEBs with low to high energy (E _b) but with low temperature (T _‖b) have no effect on these waves. The FEBs with E _b < 1 keV and T _‖b (> 1.5 keV) have been found to have significant effect on the growth rate. Analysis has revealed that it is mainly the T _‖b which inhibits the growth rate (magnitude) and the range of frequency (bandwidth) of the instability mainly in the higher frequency spectrum. The inhibition in the growth rate and bandwidth increases with increase in T _‖b. The FEBs with less E _b (giving drift velocity) reduce growth rate more than the beams with larger E _b. The inhibition of growth rate increases with the increase in the ratio ω _e/Ω_e indicating that the beams are more effective at higher altitudes.      

Dielectric properties of 4′-n-alkyl-4-cyanobiphenyls in their nematic phases

The principal dielectric constants of the pentyl to octyl derivatives of 4′-n-alkyl-4-cyanobiphenyl have been measured as functions of temperature in their nematic and isotropic phases. All the compounds exhibit a strong positive dielectric anisotropy due to the presence of a large dipole moment along the major molecular axis. The principal dielectric constantsε _‖ andε _⊥ as well as the anisotropy Δε decrease with increasing alkyl chain length. The experimental value of (ε_‖+2ε_⊥) decreases with decreasing temperature, and is throughout less than the extrapolated isotropic value, in conformity with the model of antiferroelectric short range order proposed by Madhusudana and Chandrasekhar.     

Superhyperfine structure of the EPR spectra of Ce<Superscript>3+</Superscript> ions in Li<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>F<Subscript>4</Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis> = Y,Lu, Tm) double fluorides

The EPR spectra of Ce³⁺ impurity ions in LiYF₄, LiLuF₄, and LiTmF₄ double-fluoride single crystals have been investigated at a frequency of ∼9.3 GHz in the temperature range 5–25 K. The effective g factors of the ground Kramers doublet of the cerium ions in three crystals are close to each other (g _‖ = 2.737, g _⊥ = 1.475 for LiYF₄:Ce³⁺). A superhyperfine structure of the EPR spectrum of Ce³⁺ ions in the LiTmF₄ Van Vleck paramagnet has been observed in the external magnetic field B oriented along the crystallographic axis c (B ‖ c). The superhyperfine structure of the EPR soectra of the Ce³⁺ ions in the LiYF₄ and LiLuF₄ diamagnetic matrices is resolved for B ⊥ c. Possible factors responsible for this pronounced difference in the properties of the systems studied have been discussed.     

Lattice thermal expansion of silver indium disulphide

Lattice parameters of chalcopyrite type compound silver indium disulphide (AgInS₂) were determined as a function of temperature by the x-ray method in the temperature range 28 to 685°C. Using these data, the coefficients of thermal expansion,a _⊥ anda _‖, were evaluated by a graphical method. The temperature dependence ofa _⊥ anda _‖ is represented by a suitable equation. The anisotropic thermal expansion of AgInS₂ is explained in terms of the thermal expansion of the Ag-S and In-S bonds of the AgInS₂ lattice.     

Study of cosmic ray diurnal variation on a day-to-day basis

From a careful examination of the diurnal variation of cosmic ray intensity at high energies and the interplanetary field characteristics, the average characteristics of diurnal variation were recently explained by us in terms of a balance between outward convection and field aligned diffusion, the latter arising out of a positive radial density gradient. In this paper, we extend this new concept to explain the large variability observed in the diurnal variation on a day-to-day basis and further demonstrate that the measurement of diurnal anisotropy characteristic of cosmic ray particles on a day-to-day basis can be used directly to infer the nature and scale sizes of interplanetary field parameters. Comparing with the magnetic field vector, we show that this simple concept holds good on more than 80% of days. On the rest 20% of days which have a predominant morning maxima, the diurnal anisotropy characteristics seem to indicate the presence of a significant component of transverse diffusion current in addition to the normal convection and diffusion flow. Such days are found to be present in the form of trains of consecutive days and are found to be associated with abrupt changes in the interplanetary field direction having scale sizes >4 hr. The value ofK _⊥/K _‖ which is normally about ⩽0.05 is found to be ≈1.0 on non-field aligned days.     

Magnetic circular dichroism in the absorption of theF A centre in KCl doped with Li and Na

Summary The spin-orbit structure ofF _A centres in KCl:Li and KCl:Na have been studied by means of the magnetic circular dichroism. Due to theirC _4V symmetry theF _A centres have two different spin-orbit parameters, Δ^‖ and Δ^⊥, which only in the KCl:Li case follow the relation: Δ^‖ < Δ_F < Δ^⊥ as expected from the theory. For a close comparison we have also reported our measurement of the spin-orbit coupling ofF centre in KCl. The spin-orbit parameters of theF andF _A centres have been determined using the method of moment.     

Investigations of EPR parameters and impurity structure for Co<Superscript>2+</Superscript> in Ca(OH)<Subscript>2</Subscript> crystal

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameters (g _‖ andg _⊥ factors and hyperfine structure constantsA _‖,A _⊥) for Co²⁺ in Ca(OH)₂ are studied from the second-order perturbation formulas on the basis of the cluster approach. In these formulas, the contributions to EPR parameters from the state interactions and covalency effects are considered and the parameters related to both effects are obtained from the optical spectra and impurity structure of the studied system. From the study, it is found that the β angle between the metal-ligand bond and the C₃ axis changes from 61° in a pure crystal to 53.68(26)° in the impurity center of a Co²⁺-doped Ca(OH)₂ crystal because of the impurity-induced local lattice relaxation. The reduction of the angle β in the impurity center is also supported by the result obtained by analyzing the EPR zero-field splitting for Mn²⁺ in the same Ca(OH)₂ crystal. The EPR parameters of Ca(OH)₂:Co²⁺ are also reasonably explained by considering the suitable local lattice relaxation.     

Applications of photoconductivity measurements in n-InSb under crossed fields

The photocurrent in n-InSb at 85K was measured as function of the applied longitudinal voltage and an additionally applied transverse magnetic field. In the driftconfiguration the photoionized electron-hole plasma was driven into the sample volume, and negative photocurrents resulted from the negative feedback of this motion. With the magnetic field being reversed, in the Suhl configuration, only positive photocurrents were measured. All results are in agreement with the theory in [1]. They were used to determine recombination coefficients in n-InSb, and, principally, the transverse diffusion coefficientD _⊥. As first observed in [13],D _⊥ proved to be anomalously enhanced above classical values if plasma instabilities were generated in the samples.     

One-dimensional ionic conduction in solid Ag2 Tl6I10

The ionic and electronic conductivities of Ag₂Tl₆I₁₀ single crystals have been studied as a function of crystallographic orientation and temperature from 20 to 135°C. EMF as well as AC and DC techniques have been employed. The highly anisotropic material is predominantly an Ag⁺-ion conductor parallel toc-direction, with the Ag⁺ ions moving through linear channels that are not interconnected. The conductivity σ_‖c =1.6×10⁻⁷Ω⁻¹cm⁻¹ at 25°C, with an activation enthalpy for σ_‖c of 0.38 eV. The conduction perpendicular toc-direction has been found to be predominantly electronic with a value of σ_⊥c =3×10⁻⁹Ω⁻¹cm⁻¹ at 25°C and an activation enthalpy for σ_⊥c of 0.64 eV. This is the first observation of one-dimensional Ag⁺ conduction and this type of orientation-dependent change from ionic to electronic conduction. On leave from Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Peking, China.     

Crystal growth,electrical and photophysical properties of Tl<Subscript>2</Subscript>S layered single crystals

The Tl₂S compound was prepared in a single crystal form using a special local technique, and the obtained crystals were analysed by X-ray diffraction. For the resultant crystals, the electrical properties (electrical conductivity and Hall effect) and steady-state photoconductivity were elucidated in this work. The electrical measurements extend from 170 to 430 K, where it was found that σ _⊥ = 8.82 × 10⁻⁵ Sm⁻¹ when current flow direction makes right angle to the cleavage plane of the crystals. In the same range of temperatures, it was found that σ _‖ = 4.73 × 10⁻⁵ Sm⁻¹ when the current flow is parallel to the cleavage plane. In line with the investigated range of temperatures, the widths of the band gaps were calculated and discussed as also the results of the electrical conductivity and Hall effect measurements. In addition, the anisotropy of the electrical conductivity (σ _⊥/σ _‖) for the obtained crystals was also studied in this work. Finally the photosensitivity was calculated for different levels of illumination as a result of the photoconductivity measurements, which showed that the recombination process in Tl₂S single crystals is a monomolecular process.      

Anisotropy of permittivity of the hexagonal multiferroic HoMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> in the spectral range 0.6–5.0 eV

The anisotropy of the optical properties of a single crystal of the hexagonal manganite HoMnO₃ has been investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry in the spectral range 0.6–5.0 eV. It has been demonstrated that the optical absorption edge for the polarization E ⊥ c is determined by the intense narrow transition O(2p) → Mn(3d) centered at 1.5 eV, whereas this transition for the polarization E ‖ c is strongly suppressed and shifted toward higher energies by 0.2 eV. It has been revealed that, at the temperature T = 293 K, the spectra for both polarizations E ‖ c and E ⊥ c exhibit a broad absorption band centered at ∼2.4 eV, which was earlier observed in nonlinear spectra during optical second harmonic generation.     

Is the Abrikosov model applicable for describing electronic vortices in plasmas?

A new model of electronic vortices in plasma is studied. The model assumes that the profile of the Lagrangian invariant I, equal to the ratio I=Ω/n of the electronic vorticity to the electron density, is given. The proposed approach takes into account the magnetic Debye scale r _B ≃B/4πen, which leads to breakdown of plasma quasineutrality. It is shown that the Abrikosov singular model cannot be used to describe electron vortices in plasmas because of the fundamental limitation on the electron vorticity on the axis of a vortex in a plasma. Analysis of the equations shows that in the model considered for the electronic vorticity, the total magnetic flux decreases when the size r ₀ of the region in which I≠0 becomes less than c/ω_pe (ω_pe is the electron plasma frequency). For ω _pe r ₀/c≪1, an electronic vortex is formed in which the magnetic flux decreases as r ₀ ² and the inertial component predominates in the electronic vorticity. The structure arising as ω _pe r ₀/c⇒0 is a narrow “hole” in the electron density, which can be identified from the spectrum of electromagnetic waves in this region. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 7, 461–466 (10 April 1998)     

Quasi-one dimensional electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power studies on a discotic liquid crystal

We have studied the electrical conductivity of well aligned samples of hexahexylthiotriphenylene (HHTT) in the pure as well as doped states. The dopant used was a small concentration (0.62 mole %) of the electron acceptor trinitrofluorenone (TNF). In the columnar phases, doping causes the AC(1 kHz) conductivity along the columnar axis (σ _‖) to increase by a factor of 10⁷ or more relative to that in undoped samples; σ _‖ attains a value of 10⁻²S/m, which was the maximum measurable limit of our experimental set up. On the other hand, in the isotropic phase doping makes hardly any difference to the conductivity. The frequency dependence of the conductivity has been investigated. The DC conductivity of doped samples exhibits an enormous anisotropy, σ _‖/σ _⊥ ≥ 10¹⁰, which is 7 orders higher than that reported for any liquid crystalline system, and, to our knowledge, the largest observed in an organic conductor. We also report the first thermoelectric power studies on these ‘molecular wires’. The sign of the thermoelectric power is in conformity with the expected nature of the charge carriers, namely, holes.     

Bilayer exchange coupling and neel temperature of YBa2Cu3O6.2

The present paper attempts to study the Neel temperature of bilayer antiferromagnetic cuprate YBa₂Cu₃O_6.2 within anisotropic Heisenberg model. The double time Green’s function formalism within random phase approximation (RPA) has been used to obtain various correlation functions. The magnetization and the Neel temperature (T _N) are evaluated. It is observed that the ratio of intrabilayer to inplane exchange coupling (r=J⊥/J‖) plays an important role in the magnetic dynamics of bilayer systems. The recent experimental data of bilayer system YBa₂Cu₃O_6.2 have been used to estimate the ratio r from the expression for Neel temperature. The estimated values of spin gap and the ratio of hopping matrix elements t⊥/t‖ are found to be in fairly good agreement with the existing experimental results.     

Matter-wave propagation in optical lattices

Coherent propagation of atomic-matter waves in a one-dimensional optical lattice is studied. Wave packets of cold two-level atoms propagate simultaneously in two optical potentials in a dressed-state basis. Three regimes of the wave-packet propagation are specified by the quantity Δ² /ω _D , where Δ and ω _D are the dimensionless atom–laser detuning and the Doppler shift, respectively. At Δ² /ω _D ≫ 1, the propagation is essentially adiabatic, at Δ² /ω _D ≪ 1, it is (almost) resonant, and at Δ² ≃ ω _D , the wave packets propagate nonadiabatically, splitting at each node of the standing wave. The latter means that the atom makes a transition from one potential to the other one when crossing each node, and the probability of that transition is given by a Landau–Zener-like formula. All the regimes of propagation are studied with δ-like and Gaussian wave packets in the momentum and position spaces. Varying the control parameters, we can create wave packets trapped in a well of optical potentials and moving ballistically in a given direction in close analogy with point-like atoms. Within some range of the parameters, we force the atom to move in a pure quamtum-mechanical manner in such a way that a part of the packet is trapped in a well, and the other part propagates ballistically. The propagation modes are found to be characterized by different types of time evolution of the uncertainty product and the Wigner function.