Calculation of host nuclear relaxation in dilute Kondo alloys for T ⪡ Tk

We present a microscopic calculation of the host nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate as a function of impurity-host distance r for dilute Kondo alloy at T ? T_k. The net relaxation rate involves two main parts. One, dependent up-on the local conduction electron density of states, exhibits kinematic oscillations which are due to resonant scattering. The other part, due to the impurity spin fluctuations, is shown to dominate the first mechanism allowing the Korringa relation to hold in systems with low T_k (such as Cu:Fe). In A?:Mn both mechanisms are of equal importance, and the net host relaxation rate and the excess Knight shift do not satisfy a Korringa relation.     

Investigation of impurity diffusion in dilute alloys by nuclear magnetic resonance

The diffusion of Al in a Cu: 3.8 at % Al alloy has been investigated by observing the rotating-frame nuclear magnetic relaxation time T_1π of ²⁷Al as a function of temperature. It is shown that relaxation measurements of the solute atoms in a dilute alloy provide the correlation time of the diffusive motion of these atoms, if quadrupolar interactions form the main contribution to the relaxation time. From the correlation times the Al-diffusion coefficient in the alloy has been determined.     

Propriétés magnétiques et relaxation magnétique nucléaire de Be9 dans des composés intermétalliques de terres rares: GdBe13, TbBe13 et DyBe13

Be⁹ nuclear magnetic relaxation, magnetic susceptibilities and magnetic moments measurements of intermetallic compounds GdBe₁₃, TbBe₁₃ and DyBe₁₃ have been performed. The relaxation rate is mainly due to a dipolar interaction between the nuclear moments and the paramagnetic ions moments. Antiferromagnetic ordering was observed for all compounds. Curie-Weiss behaviour was observed at high temperature. The effective moments are comparable to that expected from the three positive ions.     

Local magnetic ordering of Fe impurities in Pd2MnSn

Mössbauer effect of Fe⁵⁷ embedded as very dilute substitutional impurities in Pd₂MnSn was studied. The impurities are seen to replace the three elements in the alloy. Although the Curie temperature of the alloy is 189K, well below the room temperature, the Mössbauer spectrum recorded at room temperature consisted of two distinct 6-finger magnetic hyperfine spectra and a single unsplit line. One of the 6-finger patterns which corresponds to an internal magnetic field ofH _int=?375 kOe is inferred to arise due to local magnetic coupling of the localized magnetic moments of Fe impurities at the Pd sites with those of the 4 Mn first nearest neighbours of the Fe impurities. The other 6-finger pattern which corresponds to an internal magnetic field ofH _int=?335 kOe is inferred to arise due to the local magnetic coupling of the localized magnetic moments of the Fe impurities at the Sn sites with those of the 6 Mn second nearest neighboours of the Fe impurities. The difference in the internal magnetic fields observed at the Pd and Sn sites in the alloy could be understood qualitatively, on the basis of RKKY theory, as arising due to the different conduction electron polarization contributions to the net internal magnetic field at the Fe impurity sites. The results of the measurements suggest that the localized magnetic moments of Fe⁵⁷ impurities at Pd and Sn sites are antiferromagnetically coupled with the moments of their neighbouring Mn atoms.     

Magnetism in systems with reduced dimensionality and chemical disorder: The local environment effects

We study influence of the local chemical environment, the so-called local environment effects, on the electronic structure and properties of magnetic systems with reduced dimensionality and chemical disorder, and show that they play a crucial role in a vicinity of magnetic instability. As a model, we consider Fe–Ni Invar. We present results obtained from ab initio calculations of the electronic structure, magnetic moments, and exchange interactions in random fcc Fe–Ni alloy, for a single monolayer alloy film on a Cu (0 0 1) substrate as well as in the bulk. We analyze the difference between the film and the bulk magnetization, which is found to be most pronounced for dilute alloys. We also analyze a sensitivity of the individual magnetic moments and effective exchange parameters to the local chemical environment of the atoms.     

Effect of spatial spin modulation on the relaxation and NMR frequencies of 57Fe nuclei in a ferroelectric antiferromagnet BiFeO3

The ⁵⁷Fe NMR spectra of the ⁵⁷Fe-enriched (95.43%) ceramics of a ferroelectric antiferromagnet BiFeO₃ with a spatially modulated magnetic structure have been studied. It is established that a cycloidal spin modulation in BiFeO₃ causes a spatial modulation of the spin-spin relaxation rate along the magnetic cycloid period and results in inhomogeneous broadening of the local NMR lineshape. It is also found that the local magnetic moments of Fe ions in various parts of the cycloid depend differently on the temperature, which is indicative of a difference in the spin wave excitation. The observed phenomena can be explained in terms of the Shul-Nakamura indirect nuclear interaction which becomes effective at high concentrations of the magnetoactive nuclei and low temperatures. Similarity of the obtained experimental results to the regularities of NMR in the Bloch walls is discussed.     

A μSR study of the spin-crossover

The spin-crossover phenomenon is a cooperative low-spin to high-spin transition which can be initiated using temperature or light-irradiation. We have used muon-spin relaxation (μSR) to study this effect in Fe(PM-PEA)₂(NCS)₂ and Fe(PMAzA)₂(NCS)₂. We find Gaussian or exponential muon relaxation in the high-spin phase for the two compounds, reflecting differences in their intermolecular interactions. For both compounds, the low-spin phase gives rise to root-exponential relaxation which we associate with a dilute distribution of fluctuating moments resulting from incomplete spin crossover.     

Nuclear moments as a test of shell-model and collective model descriptions of the nucleus

The distribution of electric and magnetic charges and currents in the atomic nucleus can be used to probe various nuclear structure aspects. We discuss, in particular, magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole moments as well as nuclear radii starting from shell-model and collective model approaches. We give attention to the relation between the free electromagnetic coupling strenghts (e_p, e_n, g_l, g_s) and the corresponding renormalized quantities and to the way in which polarization properties depend on the nuclear model space chosen. The above points are largely illustrated with recent experimental data on these various static moments (μ, Q, <r²>). At the same time, the limits of applicability of the various model calculations in extracting preclse nuclear structure information from the above data are discussed.     

Magnetic resonance of paramagnetic ion-nuclei in metals and superconductors

The magnetic resonance lineshape of paramagnetic ion-nuclei in metals is calculated using the temperature Green functions method and is analyzed for limiting cases of fast and slow spin lattice relaxation of localized moments. The longitudinal spin lattice relaxation rate for paramagnetic ion-nuclei in type II superconductors due to the hyperfine coupling with local moments is calculated. The influence of the fluctuation coupling of electrons on relaxation of paramagnetic ion-nuclei in “dirty” type II superconductors is investigated in magnetic field slightly above the upper critical field H_c2.     

A comparative study of non-polar solvents effect on dielectric relaxation and dipole moment of binary mixtures of mono alkyl ethers of ethylene glycol and of diethylene glycol with ethyl alcohol

Dielectric relaxation and dipole moment of binary mixtures of homologous series of mono alkyl ethers of ethylene glycol and of diethylene glycol, i.e., mono methyl, mono ethyl and mono butyl ethers of ethylene glycol (ROCH₂CH₂OH) and mono methyl, mono ethyl and mono butyl ethers of diethylene glycol (ROCH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂OH) with ethyl alcohol (C₂H₅OH) of different concentrations were studied in dilute solutions of benzene, dioxane and carbon tetrachloride at 35 °C. Permittivity (ε′) and loss (ε″) at 10.1 GHz, static dielectric constant ε_o at 1 MHz and high frequency limiting dielectric constant ε_∞ = n_D² at optical frequency of these molecules and their binary mixtures at different concentration were measured in dilute solutions of non-polar solvents. The average relaxation time τ_o, relaxation times corresponding to overall molecular reorientation τ₁ and group rotations τ₂ were determined using Higasi's single frequency measurement equations for dilute solutions. The evaluated values of relaxation times and free energy of activation ΔF were used to explore the solvent effect on molecular dynamics of these polar binary systems in non-polar solvents. The excess inverse relaxation time and excess free energy of activation were determined to confirm the existence of hydrogen-bonded heterogeneous cooperative domains of the ethers and alcohol molecules at different concentration their binary mixtures in non-polar solvents. The dipole moment of the binary mixtures was evaluated using Higasi's and Guggenheim's equation for dilute solutions. The evaluated values of dipole moments and computed dipole moment values using a simple mixing equation of the polar molecules binary mixture were used to explore the effect of non-polar solvent environment on heterogeneous molecular interactions between ethers and alcohol molecules. The effect of number of carbon atoms in the molecular structure of these homologous series molecules was also considered for the interpretation of various evaluated dielectric parameters.     

89Y NMR probe of Zn induced local magnetism in YBa2(Cu1-yZny) 3O6+x

We present detailed data and analysis of the effects of Zn substitution on the planar Cu site in YBa₂Cu₃O_6+x (YBCO_6+x) as evidenced from our ⁸⁹Y NMR measurements on oriented powders. For x << 1x \ll 1 we find additional NMR lines which are associated with the Zn substitution. From our data on the intensities and temperature dependence of the shift, width, and spin-lattice relaxation rate of these resonances, we conclude that the spinless Zn 3d ¹⁰ state induces local moments on the near-neighbour (nn) Cu atoms. Additionally, we conjecture that the local moments actually extend to the farther Cu atoms with the magnetization alternating in sign at subsequent nn sites. We show that this analysis is compatible with ESR data taken on dilute Gd doped (on the Y site) and on neutron scattering data reported recently on Zn substituted YBCO_{6 + x}. For optimally doped compounds ⁸⁹Y nn resonances are not detected, but a large T-dependent contribution to the ⁸⁹Y NMR linewidth is evidenced and is also attributed to the occurence of a weak induced local moment near the Zn. These results are compatible with macroscopic magnetic measurements performed on YBCO_{6 + x} samples prepared specifically in order to minimize the content of impurity phases. We find significant differences between the present results on the underdoped YBCO_{6 + x} samples and ²⁷Al NMR data taken on Al³⁺ substituted on the Cu site in optimally doped La₂CuO₄. Further experimental work is needed to clarify the detailed evolution of the impurity induced magnetism with hole content in the cuprates.     

Nuclear spin-lattice relaxation of impurities in ferromagnetic iron

Due to the development of Green's function method the calculation of the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation time of impurities in ferromagnets has become feasible in the last years. We present the result of calculations for allsp andd impurities in ferromagnetic iron. The calculations are based on the density functional formalism. They well, reproduce the experimental trend of the relaxation timeT ₁ for bothsp andd impurities. By decomposing the relaxation rate into various contributions, we explain the observed systematic behavior ofT ₁ T in terms of the local electronic structure.     

Hyperfine fields and impurity configurations for indium and palladium in nickel

Hyperfine field distributions and electric field gradients due to impurity configurations in dilute NiPd alloys were measured by time differential perturbed angular correlation techniques, using the nuclear probe¹¹¹Cd(¹¹¹In). The onset of various near neighbour impurity configurations could be followed with increasing Pd impurity concentration from 0.2 to 2.5 at %. An enhancement of their populations due to a strong indium-palladium attraction in nickel was observed. These observations were complemented by measurements at¹⁰⁰Rh (¹⁰⁰Pd) probe nuclei in a Ni_98.5In_1.5 alloy.     

Defect-induced magnetic fluctuations in YbB12

We present the results of nuclear spin–lattice relaxation rate (1/T₁) measurements in a typical Kondo insulator YbB₁₂ for ^10,11B and ¹⁷¹Yb nuclei. Above 20 K, 1/T₁ at the B sites shows thermally activated temperature dependence with a gap of about 100 K. However, it shows anomalous enhancement below 15 K, which is partially suppressed by magnetic field up to 16 T. No such anomaly was observed at the Yb sites. The ratio of 1/T₁ for ¹¹B and ¹⁰B nuclei indicates that the anomaly below 15 K is caused by dilute magnetic moments assisted by nuclear spin diffusion. The origin and the nature of the low temperature magnetic fluctuations are discussed.     

Anisotroper β-Zerfall nach Absorption polarisierter Neutronen an Indium

The anisotropicβ-decay of In¹¹⁶(14 sec)-nuclei, which were polarized by means of polarized neutron absorption, is described. The anisotropy on InF₃, In₂O₃, InP and In-metal at room temperature, 77 °K, 4,2 °K and different magnetic field strengths was measured. Based on the magnitude of the anisotropy and its time dependence it was possible to make predictions concerning nuclear spins, nuclear moments and relaxation phenomena of In¹¹⁶. It was possible to measure by means of this method the nuclear lattice relaxation time of the short-livingβ-active In¹¹⁶(14sec)-nuclei in the different compounds with a great sensitivity.     

The mapon technique and recent developments

Typical linewidths observed in NMRON on dilute impurities in ferromagnetic metals are of order 1 MHz, making difficult the observation of structure in the resonance with splitting Δv much less than this value. The technique of Modulated Adiabatic Passage on Oriented Nuclei (MAPON) was recently developed as a means of measuring the weak electric quadrupole splitting Δv_Q of the nuclear hyperfine interaction due to an electric field gradient V_zz. MAPON has successfully been applied to measure Δv_Q as low as 4 kHz, i.e. less than 0.5% of the inhomogeneously broadened NMRON CWFM resonance line. The isotopes⁵⁶Co,⁵⁷Co,⁵⁸Co and⁶⁰Co have been studied in iron single crystal hosts, yielding Δv_Q consistent with known and estimated quadrupole moments. In addition the results to date give striking confirmation of analyses based on the single impurity relaxation model. Following a brief summary of the theoretical development of MAPON a review of experimental data is given for the CoFe<100> system. The variation of Δv_Q with direction of magnetization, measured in⁵⁸CoFe and⁶⁰CoFe single crystal samples, is also described. Further MAPON measurements are described for a⁵⁶CoFe polycrystalline sample, for which the most probable value and width of the distribution of V_zz can be described simply in terms of the single crystal principal axis results. The application of the MAPON technique to the measurement of nuclear electric quadrupole moments in implanted and diffused samples is discussed.     

Spin-fluctuation mediated high-temperature ferromagnetism in Si:Mn dilute magnetic semiconductors

We discuss a possible route to explain high-temperature ferromagnetism in Si:Mn dilute magnetic semiconductors. We argue that most Mn atoms are segregated within nanometer-sized regions of magnetic precipitate and form the alloy, or compound, MnSi_{2 -z} with z ≈ (0.25?\div0.30), whereas a small minority of Mn atoms forms ?ngstr?m-sized magnetic defects embedded in the host. Assuming that MnSi_{2 -z} is a weak itinerant ferromagnet which supports sizable spin fluctuations (paramagnons) far above the intrinsic Curie temperature, we show that the Stoner enhancement of the exchange interaction between the local magnetic moments of the defects occurs. As a result, a significant increase of the temperature of global ferromagnetic order in the system is achieved. We develop a phenomenological approach, to qualitatively describe this effect.     

Nuclear spin-lattice relaxation of192Ir in ferromagnetic amorphous alloy Fe-B studied by nuclear orientation

The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation of¹⁹²Ir in the glassy alloy Ir_3.1Fe_80.5B_16.4 has been studied by low-temperature nuclear orientation technique. The thermal cycling method has been used. No dependence on extermal magnetic field in the range 0.25–1.2 T has been observed. Weger’s mechanism seems to play a crucial role.     

Electron spin resonance in the Heusler alloy YbRh2Pb

An electron spin resonance (ESR) signal was observed in a concentrated Kondo lattice, Heusler alloy YbRh₂Pb. It is attributed to the combined effect of the 4f local magnetic moments of Yb³⁺ and conduction electrons. It is shown that the significant broadening and disappearance of the ESR line at temperatures above 20 K is caused by the processes of the spin-lattice relaxation of the Yb³⁺ ions through the first excited Stark doublet with an activation energy Δ ≈ 73.5 K. A comparison of the ESR data for YbRh₂Pb and some other undoped intermetallic compounds based on ytterbium, cerium, and europium indicates that hybridized electronic states occurring as the result of hybridization between the localized 4f electrons and the collectivized conduction electrons constitute a fundamentally new source of ESR.     

First-principle calculations of dilute nitride GaP1−xNx alloy in zinc-blende structures

First-principle plane-wave pseudopotential calculations using the density-functional theory within the local density approximation (LDA) have been carried out to investigate the structural, electronic and thermodynamic properties of zinc-blende dilute nitride GaP_1−xN_x alloy. We have found that the unit cell volumes of GaP_1−xN_x alloys are smaller than the value calculated from the linear interpolation of GaN and GaP binary alloys and there exists a negative deviation from Vegard's law. The Ga-P and Ga-N bond lengths of GaP_1−xN_x alloys reveal a slight relaxation. The incorporation of nitrogen into GaP leads to the giant reduction of the bandgap energy. We have investigated the thermal stabilities and obtained the most stable configurations of the GaP_1−xN_x alloy. In addition, the formation enthalpies have also been calculated, which could explain the difficulty in nitrogen incorporation into GaP.