Magnetic-field-induced change in optical transmission spectra of Hg<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Cd<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Te epitaxial films

The optical transmission spectra of epitaxial Hg_{1 − x} Cd _x Te films with a gradient of the band gap have been studied experimentally. The possibility of transforming the spectra after exposure of the samples to a homogeneous magnetic field has been demonstrated. This effect is possibly caused by the dependence of the magnetization of the Hg_{1 − x} Cd _x Te films on the composition gradient of the solid solution.     

Spin-wave resonance in Ge<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> films exhibiting percolation ferromagnetism

Magnetic properties of Ge_{1 ? x} Mn _x (x = 0.02, 0.04, 0.08) thin films obtained by ion-implanting Mn⁺ ions into single-crystal Ge plates are investigated. The contributions of the subsystem of dispersed Mn²⁺ ions, Ge³Mn⁵ ferromagnetic clusters, and Mn-enriched ferromagnetic domains of Ge to the magnetic moment of Ge_{1 ? x} Mn _x films are distinguished. In the subsystem of dispersed Mn²⁺ ions in Ge_{1 ? x} Mn _x films at temperatures below 10 K, a spin-wave resonance is observed in the magnetically ordered state due to percolation ferromagnetism. It is established that, in the films with percolation ferromagnetism, the exchange integrals determined from static measurements correspond to those determined by dynamic measurements.     

Short-Range order of TlIn<Subscript>1–<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Sn<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Te<Subscript>2</Subscript> thin films

The formation of the short-range order structure of amorphous nanometer-thick TlIn_1–x Sn _x Te₂ films (х = 0.02–0.09) obtained via vacuum deposition onto substrates of fresh KCl and KJ chips and celluloid at a temperature below Т = 213 K is studied by high-energy electron diffraction. Both freshly deposited films and films held in vacuum (10^–2 Pa) at room temperature in darkness for several months are studied. The effect of the tin concentration on the interatomic distances, the coordination numbers, and the time of amorphous phase stability of TlIn_1–x Sn _x Te₂ films due to a great spread in bond lengths and bond angles is established.     

Magnetic capacitance of the Gd<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Bi<Subscript>1–<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>FeO<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin films

The capacitance, inductance, and dissipation factor of the Gd _x Bi_1–x FeO₃ films were measured in the temperature range of 100 K < T < 800 K in magnetic fields of up to 8 kOe at frequencies of 0.1–100 kHz. The magnetic susceptibility maxima in the low-temperature region and dependences of the relaxation time and inductance on prehistory of the films cooled in zero and nonzero magnetic fields are established. The giant increase in magnetic capacitance in the external bias electric field is found. The results obtained are explained by the domain structure transformation in external electric and magnetic fields.     

Non-linear optical properties of (Pb<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Sr<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>)TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin films

Thin films of (Pb_1−x Sr _x )TiO₃, x=0,0.5,1.0 have been prepared on glass substrates by the chemical-solution method using the spin-coating technique. The optical nonlinearity in the visible spectral region is investigated using short (5 ns) laser pulses at the off-resonant wavelength of 532 nm employing the open aperture z-scan technique. It is found that the third order nonlinear absorption is dependent on the lead content of the films, with the compositions x=0, 0.5 exhibiting large values (β∼10⁻⁷ m/W), thereby suggesting the possible use of these materials as optical limiters. No optical nonlinearity is observed for the composition with x=1.0.     

High-temperature study of SrFe<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mo<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>3−<Emphasis Type="Italic">z</Emphasis></Subscript> perovskites

The structure of high-temperature SrFe_{1 − x} Mo _x O_{3 − z} (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) phases was studied. Such studies are necessary to understand the mechanism of oxygen transport in membrane materials used for high-temperature oxygen separation.     

Energy spectrum of charge carriers in Bi<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Sb<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> alloys

Analysis of the quantum oscillations of magnetoresistance (the Shubnikov-de Haas effect) in Bi_{1 ? x} Sb _x alloys with an antimony content in the range 0.255 < x < 0.260 has revealed a Lifshitz electronic-topological transition, which quite possibly can be explained in terms of the existence of a saddle point in the energy spectrum of these compositions. Such a peculiarity comes into existence when the direct band gap at the L point of the Brillouin zone in the semiconductor region of the compounds with x > 0.04 becomes negative. This compel one to revise essentially all earlier calculations based on the previously obtained values of the band parameters. In order to check the agreement between the new values of the band parameters and the data on the density of states obtained from measurements of the thermopower in the classical limit of strong magnetic fields, theoretical calculations of the charge carrier concentration n and the density of states at the Fermi level ρ(E _F) have been performed for the case of negative values of the direct band gap at the L point E _gL. The calculations of the parameters n and ρ(E _F) have demonstrated that the change in E _gL and the corresponding correction of the band parameters ensure good agreement with the experimental data. According to these calculations, one electronic-topological transition occurs at an antimony content x ～ 0.165, when a saddle point appears in the energy spectrum. The second transition is associated with the transformation of the six ellipsoids of the Fermi surface into three dumbbell-like figures at antimony concentrations in the range 0.255 < x < 0.260.     

Anomalous magnetotransport in LaMn<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Te<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The LaMn_1−x Te _x O_3+δ (x=0.1, 0.2, 0.3) were synthesized using solid-state reaction method for the first time. X-ray photoemission spectrum (XPS) shows that in the samples the Te ions have a valence of Te⁴⁺, and Mn³⁺ ions are partly converted into Mn²⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ due to the excess oxygen and Te doping. The magnetotransport associated with Mn²⁺, Mn³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ was investigated. The experimental results show that the samples are insulator at 0 T when the amount of Mn³⁺ is much larger or less than the sum of Mn²⁺ and Mn⁴⁺; by contrast, the samples display metal to insulator transition with increasing temperature when the amount of Mn³⁺ is close to the sum of Mn²⁺ and Mn⁴⁺. These anomalous magnetotransport behaviors were analyzed in the frame of the double-exchange (DE) mechanism. Supported by the National Major Fundamental Research Program of China (Grant No. G1998061412) and the Foundation for Fostering Elitists of Beijing, China (Grant No. 20071D1100500379)     

Observation of Meyer-Neldel rule in thermally activated Poole-Frenkel photoconduction in a-Se<Subscript>70</Subscript>Te<Subscript>30−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Cd<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> thin films

In the present paper, we report the compensation effect on photoconductivity of thin films of Se₇₀Te_30−x Cd _x (x = 2, 4, 6) alloys for high field conduction. Steady state photoconductivity measurements have been made in thin films for different electric fields. The photoconduction was found to be ohmic at low fields and Poole-Frenkel type at high fields. Meyer-Neldel rule (MN rule) for the pre-exponential factor (σ _ph)₀ and activation energy (ΔE _ph) of photoconduction in thin films of Se₇₀Te_30−x Cd _x is observed in the present study.     

Low-frequency optical lattice vibrations in Hg<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Cd<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Te alloys

The lattice reflection spectra of the Hg_{1 ? x} Cd _x Te (x = 0.06–0.70) alloys measured in the low-frequency range of optical vibrations (the region of the anomalous mode of Hg-Te vibrations in HgTe) at room temperature are interpreted. The low-frequency modes observed at frequencies of 98, 105, and 112 cm^?1 for all compositions of the Hg_{1 ? x} Cd _x Te alloy are assigned to the modes of Hg-Te vibrations, as was previously done for modes of Cd-Te vibrations in the quasi-molecular approximation. According to the double-well potential model for the Hg atom in the crystal lattice of the alloy, the Hg atom either can occupy the center of the anion tetrahedron or can be located in the off-center position. The fundamental strong mode of Hg-Te vibrations at a frequency of about 120 cm^?1 (at T = 300 K) corresponds to the vibrations of the off-center Hg atom, and the low-frequency vibration modes correspond to the vibrations of the Hg atom located at the center of the anion tetrahedron.     

Low-frequency optical spectra of lattice vibrations of the Hg<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Zn<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>Te alloy

The paper reports on assignment of lattice reflection spectra of the Hg_1?x Zn_x Te alloys (x = 0.10, 0.35, and 0.55) measured in the 40–300-K temperature interval and on a comparative analysis of the lattice vibration parameters for two alloy systems, HgZnTe and HgCdTe, in the low-frequency optical vibration region (the region of the anomalous Hg-Te vibrational mode in HgTe). While the parameters of the fundamental lattice modes are closely similar, the temperature dependences of the low-frequency modes of the two alloy systems are radically different. Their thermal activation energies for the HgZnTe and HgCdTe alloys are 3.3 and 50.0 meV, respectively. The results of the experiment are treated in terms of the double-well potential model for the Hg atom in the alloy lattice.     

Polarization characteristics of graded thick Ba<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Sr<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> films

The barium strontium titanate ceramics Ba_{1 − x} Sr _x TiO₃ with a spatially variable composition has been prepared according to the thick film technology (tape casting). The strontium content over the film thickness is varied from 0 to 30 mol %. The structure and polarization characteristics of the samples prepared have been investigated. It has been found that the polarization characteristics of multilayer structures are determined by the ratio between the thicknesses of layers with different compositions and by their properties. No shift of the hysteresis loops in the graded thick Ba_{1 − x} Sr _x TiO₃ ( _x = 0–0.3) films has been revealed. The results obtained have been analyzed in the framework of modern theoretical approaches.     

Magnetostriction of Fe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>S (<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> = 0.27) crystals

The magnetostriction of Fe _x Mn_{1 − x} S (x = 0.27) single crystals in strong magnetic fields up to 120 kOe has been investigated. It has been found that the magnetostriction reaches colossal values (±3 × 10⁻⁴) atypical of compounds of 3d elements. It has been found that the magnetostriction changes sign when varying temperature and magnetic field; this behavior indicates an important role of the spin-phonon interactions in the formation of the magnetic order in solid solutions of iron-manganese sulfides.     

Knight shift in superconducting oxides BaPb<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Bi<Subscript>x</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> < 0.35)

The Knight shift ²⁰⁷K_s for the ²⁰⁷Pb nuclei in the metal phase of the oxides BaPb_1?xBi_xO₃ (x < 0.35) has been analyzed as a function of the concentration. The shift, which is proportional to the density of states near the Fermi energy: ²⁰⁷K_s ～ N(E_F), reaches a maximum for an oxide with the maximum superconducting transition temperature T_c(x ≈ 0.25) = 12 K. A significant increase in the width of the shift distribution with the Bi concentration testifies to the formation of a nonuniform state of the electronic system in the conduction band of superconducting oxides, which is accompanied by an increase in short-wavelength contributions to the spin susceptibility. To detect the ²⁰⁷Pb NMR spectra in superconducting oxides with x > 0.2, the ¹⁷O-²⁰⁷Pb spin-echo double-resonance method is used, which provides successful detection of the ²⁰⁷Pb NMR signal with an anomalously high rate of spin-spin relaxation T ₂ ^?1 > 500 ms^?1. Thus, fundamental restrictions arising in investigations of rapidly relaxing ²⁰⁷Pb nuclei, which are “unobservable” in superconducting oxides BaPb_1?xBi_xO₃ when they are studied by traditional single-resonance methods of pulse NMR spectroscopy, have been overcome.     

Electronic structure and ground state parameters of Ru<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">Me</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Al refractory alloys

The electronic structure and ground state parameters of B2 RuAl-based refractory alloys have been investigated in the framework of the density functional theory using the exact muffin-tin orbital method in combination with the coherent potential approximation. It has been demonstrated that the number of states at the Fermi level for the Ru_{1 − x} Me _x Al alloys as a function of the alloying metal content has a minimum, which indicates a change in the Fermi surface topology and the presence of specific features in the behavior of elastic constants. It has been concluded that the electronic structure of the alloys can be described in terms of the rigid band model. The nonlinear variations of the lattice parameters of the alloys has been explained.     

Short-range order in Fe<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Si<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>=0.05−0.08) alloys with induced magnetic anisotropy

Previously, iron—silicon alloys were investigated using X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. It was demonstrated that, at low silicon concentrations, the alloys undergo a local separation into regions of the α iron phase depleted in silicon and silicon-rich clusters with a B2 ordering. The structure of locally ordered regions of the B2 phase is characterized by a pair ordering of silicon atoms: the Si—Si pairs are formed by next-nearest neighbors, and the axes of pairs are oriented along the 〈100〉 directions, which are the easy-magnetization axes. The thermomagnetic treatment in a constant magnetic field applied along the 〈100〉 axis induces an axial magnetic anisotropy, results in the formation of an anisotropic distribution of the B2 phase, and leads to a slight decrease in the volume fraction of the coordination 6: 2 with two silicon atoms in the first coordination shell of the iron atom. Therefore, the formation of an anisotropic local order of pairs of silicon atoms occurs as a result of their reorientation.     

Charge density of Ga<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Al<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Sb

Charge density calculations and electronic band structures for Ga _x Al_{1 − x} Sb with x = 1.0, 0.5 and 0.0 are presented in this work. The calculations are performed using the empirical pseudopotential method. The charge density is computed for a number of planes, i.e. z = 0.0, 0.125 and 0.25 A ₀ by generating the potential through a number of potential parameters available in the literature. The virtual crystal approximation was applied for the semiconducting alloy. The characteristics of the band structure and charge density are observed to be affected by the potential parameters. Calculated band gaps and the nature of gaps are in good agreement with the experimental data reported. The ionicity is also reasonably in good agreement with other scales proposed in the literature; however the formulation needs to be improved. The present work also demands indirect experimental band gap for the alloy.      

Metallic-like conductivity of asymmetric <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-In<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ga<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>As quantum wells

The temperature dependence of the conductivity of the two-dimensional hole gas in an asymmetric GaAs/In _x Ga_{1 ? x} As/GaAs quantum well has been investigated. It is shown that fast spin relaxation leads to metallic-like behavior of the temperature dependence of the conductivity.     

Physical properties of Fe<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Dy<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Si crystals

The results of experimental investigation of magnetic and electric properties of Fe_1?x Dy _x Si crystals are reported. It is shown that the magnitude and position of the anomaly observed in the temperature dependences of magnetization are controlled to a considerable extent by the external magnetic field. It is found that the introduction of Dy ions leads to a weak magnetoresistive effect.     

Metal-insulator transition in Fe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>S crystals

Results of an experimental study of MnS, FeS, and Fe _x Mn_1?x S single crystals are presented. The phase composition, the lattice parameters, and the state of paramagnetic ions in Fe _x Mn_1?x S have been determined by x-ray diffraction analysis and Mössbauer spectroscopy. A sequence of transitions have been found in iron manganese sulfide with x = 0.29 at temperatures T ₁ ≈ 25–50 K, T ₂ ≈ 125 K, and T ₃ ≈ 190 K with a change in kinetic properties and the formation of a metallic state at low temperatures T ≈ 2 K. The possibility of a Mott-Hubbard transition in Fe _x Mn_1?x S sulfides with variation of the composition and the temperature is discussed.