Anomalous frequency shift of negative muon spin precession in n‐type silicon

The dependence of the residual polarization of negative muons in n‐type Si with impurity concentration (1.6\pm 0.2)\times 10¹³\ cm^-3 on temperature in the 10–300 K range has been investigated. Measurements were carried out in external magnetic field of 0.08 T transverse to the muon spin. Muon spin relaxation and frequency shift were observed at temperatures below 30 K. The relaxation rate at 30 K is equal to 0.25\pm 0.08\,μ s^-1. The frequency shift at 20 K is equal to 7\times 10^-3. Both the relaxation rate and the frequency shift grow with decrease of temperature. Below 30 K the relaxation rate is well described by the dependence \varLambda=bT^-q, where q=2.8. An analysis of present and earlier published data on behavior of negative muon polarization in silicon is given. A possible mechanism of relaxation and frequency shift of muon spin precession in silicon is considered. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Neutron diffraction studies of the negative thermal expansion in a layered indium selenide crystal

The neutron diffraction patterns have been analyzed for a layered single crystal and a powder of the γ-polytype of indium selenide in the temperature range 10–300 K. In the temperature range 10–50 K, the excitation of bending vibrations due to the charge density waves changes the phonon spectrum and gives rise to a negative thermal expansion in the plane of layers, i.e., α_‖c = −2.2 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, which is characteristic of two-dimensional structures. The average (over the range T = 50–300 K) coefficients of thermal expansion along the principal crystallographic directions have been calculated: $ \bar \alpha _{ \bot c} $ \bar \alpha _{ \bot c} = 10.48 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ and $ \bar \alpha _{\parallel c} $ \bar \alpha _{\parallel c} = 12.97 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, which agree with the X-ray diffraction data previously obtained by the authors at T = 290 K.     

Pre-exponential factor of the hopping conductivity in disordered carbon films

The conductivity of carbon films grown by polymethylphenylsiloxane vapor decomposition in stimulated dc discharge plasma was studied. It is found that the Mott hopping conductivity $ \sigma \left( T \right) = \sigma _0 \left( T \right)\exp \left\{ { - \frac{{T_0 }} {T}^{{1 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 4}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} 4}} } \right\} $ \sigma \left( T \right) = \sigma _0 \left( T \right)\exp \left\{ { - \frac{{T_0 }} {T}^{{1 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 4}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} 4}} } \right\} is characteristic of the samples under study in the temperature range of 80–400 K in the electric field E to 5 · 10⁴ V/cm. An analysis of the pre-exponential factor σ ₀(T) = σ ₀₀(T ₀)T ^α allowed the conclusion that the hopping transport is most adequately described in the model with the exponential energy dependence of the density of localized states for which α = −1/2 and the universal relation ln σ ₀₀ −T ₀^1/4 0 is valid, which is satisfied in the range where the parameter σ ₀₀ varies by eight orders of magnitude.     

Local magnetic field and muon site in CeAs

We report on zero field and longitudinal field μSR experiments on a CeAs single crystal between 3.3 and 12 K. Below the antiferromagnetic transition at 7.5 K a spontaneously precessing signal with a saturation frequency of \approx25 MHz representing the full sample amplitude has been found. From an analysis of the field dependence of the relaxation rate of this signal in \langle 100\rangle and \langle 110\rangle crystal orientation parallel to the muon spin and the applied longitudinal field, a \langle 100\rangle orientation of the local field at the muon site is concluded. This supports an AF‐I single‐\veck magnetic ordering. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

High pressure μSR studies on single crystalline gadolinium

Muon spin rotation data on a single crystalline gadolinium sample have been obtained as function of temperature and hydrostatic external pressure up to 0.6 GPa. In the ferromagnetic state the application of pressure has a strong influence on the whole spin‐turning‐process of the spontaneous magnetization: The onset of the spin‐turning is shifted towards lower temperatures with a rate of approximately dT_st/ dp\approx -50 K/GPa. Higher values of the turning angle up to \vartheta_ext=90^\circ can be reached and stabilized over a wider temperature range. At low temperatures the magnetization turns back again. In the paramagnetic regime the data show a similar behaviour as under ambient pressure: both the Knight‐shift and the muon spin relaxation show deviations from their high temperature behaviour in the critical regime below (T-T_C) < 10 K. So there is no indication of pressure induced effects in this temperature range. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Temperature dependence of the quenching of N<Subscript>2</Subscript> (C <Superscript>3</Superscript>Π<Subscript>u</Subscript>) by N<Subscript>2</Subscript> (X) and O<Subscript>2</Subscript> (X)

The temperature dependences of the quenching rate constants of the states N₂ (${\rm C} \ {^{3}{ \rm \Pi }_{u}}${\rm C} \ {^{3}{ \rm \Pi }_{u}} v^′=0,1) by N₂ (X) and of the state N₂ (${\rm C} \ {^{3}{ \rm \Pi }_{u}} \ v^{\prime}=0${\rm C} \ {^{3}{ \rm \Pi }_{u}} \ v^{\prime}=0) by O₂ (X) are studied. Time-resolved light emission from the gas was analyzed in the temperature range from 300 K to 210 K keeping the gas at constant density. In case of quenching by N₂ (X), the quenching rate constant for the vibrational level v^′= 0 increases by (13 ±3)% with gas cooling whereas the quenching rate constant for v^′= 1 decreases by (5.0 ±2.5)% in this temperature range. For quenching by O₂ (X), the quenching rate constant decreases by (3 ±2)% with gas cooling. The temperature variation of the N₂ (C ³Π_u v^′=0) emission intensity for pure nitrogen and dry air are calculated using the obtained quenching rate constants and is compared with the experimental data available in the literature.     

A fresh look at hadronic light-by-light scattering in the muon g - 2 with the Dyson-Schwinger approach

Using the Dyson-Schwinger and Bethe-Salpeter equations, we calculate the hadronic light-by-light scattering contribution to the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon a_m\ensuremath a_\mu , using a phenomenological model for the gluon and quark-gluon interaction. We find a_m=(84 ±13)×10^-11\ensuremath a_\mu=(84 \pm 13)\times 10^{-11} for meson exchange, and a_m = (107 ±2 ±46)×10^-11\ensuremath a_\mu = (107 \pm 2 \pm 46)\times 10^{-11} for the quark loop. The former is commensurate with past calculations; the latter much larger due to dressing effects. This leads to a revised estimate of a_m=116 591 865.0(96.6)×10^-11\ensuremath a_\mu=116 591 865.0(96.6)\times 10^{-11} , reducing the difference between theory and experiment to ≃ 1.9s \sigma .     

Quantum diffusion of muonium in GaAs

The diffusion rate of muonium in the III–V compound semiconductor GaAs has been determined from measurements of muon spinT ₁ relaxation induced by motion in the presence of nuclear hyperfine interactions. It is shown for the first time in a semiconductor that (a) there is a crossover of the transport mechanism at about 90 K from stochastic to zero-phonon hopping, as evidenced by a steep rise in the hop rate at lower temperatures, and that (b) the muonium diffuses at the hop rate of 10¹⁰ s⁻¹ (corresponding diffusion constantD≈10⁻⁶ cm²s⁻¹) at lower temperatures as well as at room temperature.     

Muonium centers in heavily n‐doped Si under illumination: Evidence for Mu–hole interaction

A small fraction of implanted muons exists as a paramagnetic state (presumably Mu_BC ⁰, muonium at the Si—Si bond center) in heavily Sb‐doped Si (n-type, [Sb]\ \simeq 10¹⁸\ cm^–3). The paramagnetic state is susceptible to illumination both at 10–20 K and 290 K, providing evidence that holes (minority carriers) play an important role in determining the dynamical properties of muonium centers, where change may occur via a process Mu_BC ⁰+ h⁺\to Mu_BC ⁺ followed by charge exchange reaction (or transition Mu⁺ _BC+ e⁻→ Mu⁰ _T). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Dielectric spectroscopy study of the new compound [C<Subscript>12</Subscript>H<Subscript>17</Subscript>N<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Subscript>2</Subscript>CdCl<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity of the compound 2,4,4-trimethyl-4,5-dihydro-3H-benzo[b] [1,4] diazepin-1-ium tetrachlorocadmiate in the different phases follows the Arrhenius law. The imaginary part of the permittivity constant is analyzed with the Cole–Cole formalism. In the temperature range 348–394 K, the activation energy of conductivity obtained from complex permittivity in regions I and II are, respectively, 1.03 and 0.33 eV, and E _m (in regions I and II are, respectively, 0.97 and 0.36 eV) obtained from the modulus spectra is close, suggesting that the ion transport is probably due to a hopping mechanism. The Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts function, j(t) = exp( - ( \fractt_\textKWW )^b ) \varphi (t) = \exp \left( { - {{\left( {\frac{t}{{{\tau_{\text{KWW}}}}}} \right)}^\beta }} \right) , and the coupling model are utilized for analyzing electric modulus at various temperatures. The decreasing of β at 373 K is due to approaching the temperatures of change in the conduction mechanism of the sample.     

High‐pressure μSR studies of ferro‐ and antiferromagnetic metals

High‐pressure μSR experiments on ferromagnetic nickel and \alpha‐iron and antiferromagnetic chromium are reported. In Ni above 260 K B_Fermi was found to be proportional to the saturation magnetization, whereas at lower temperatures it is temperature independent apart from a small anomaly below 30 K which is presumably caused by a magnetoelastic interaction. There was no evidence for an occupation of metastable sites by the μ⁺ below the Curie temperature. By contrast, in \alpha‐Fe the temperature dependence of \curpartialB_μ/\curpartialp shows a structure which might be attributed to the occupation of excited muon states at elevated temperatures. High‐pressure zero‐field experiments on Cr performed in the temperature regime between 4.5 K and 8 K revealed a pressure dependence of B_μ as large as \curpartialB_μ/\curpartialp=-(89.15\pm 0.06)\times 10^-12 T/Pa. In terms of volume dependence a very large negative Grüneisen parameter \gamma =-27 was obtained. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Muon/Muonium in an Isotopically Pure 13C Diamond

A preliminary study of the diamagnetic (μ_d) and the paramagnetic (Mu _T ) states in a synthetic ¹³C diamond has been performed using the Transverse Field Muon Spin Rotation method. This system could be used to verify the quantum diffusion behaviour observed before, however, with a more reliable extraction of the hopping rate. The results were obtained in an applied magnetic field of 7.5 mT and at sample temperatures of 10 K, 100 K and 200 K. The prompt fraction, f, of the μ_d state remains constant at 22(5)% in the range 10–200 K; that of the Mu _T state increases from 53(10)% at 10 K to 78(10)% at 200 K. The fractions of the two states add to 100% at 200 K, suggesting non-population of the bond-centred state, Mu_BC, which is often observed in other diamond samples. The μ_d state has a spin relaxation rate of 0.20(5) μs⁻¹, in contrast to the zero value obtained in type II diamond samples. This indicates appreciable interaction of the μ_d state with the ¹³C atoms. The Mu _T state has a large spin relaxation rate ranging from 3.0(5) μs⁻¹ at 10 K to 7.0(5) μs⁻¹ at 200 K, consistent with values obtained in diamond samples with defects. This work is part of ongoing studies of muon/muonium-defect interactions in diamonds. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

μSR on the novel heavy‐fermion system Nd2-yCeyCuO4

The magnetic correlations in Nd_2-yCe_yCuO₄ have been studied by zero and longitudinal field μSR. Nd_1.8Ce_0.2CuO₄ reveals a saturation of the muon relaxation rate below 0.5 K. Even down to 70 mK LF spectra evidence spin fluctuations in the dynamic regime with a rate of \sim 10⁹ s^-1 excluding long range magnetic order or spin glass freezing. The average Nd moment is estimated to be \approx 0.2\mu_B, i.e., strongly reduced from the value determined for the ground state Kramers doublet of Nd₂CuO₄. Extending former μSR measurements on Nd₂CuO₄, a gradual enhancement of the internal field has been detected below 10 K which is accompanied by an increase of the relaxation rate. These results are attributed to the development of ordered Nd moments. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Muon catalyzed fusion in deuterium gas

We present the results of an experiment performed at PSI to investigate muon catalyzed fusion in pure deuterium gas of 5% density (LHD) at temperatures ranging from 28 K to 350 K. Using a new high pressure ionization chamber the reactions dd → n + ³He and dd → p+t were observed with 100% detection efficiency. The rates of dμd formation were measured with the absolute precision of 1% and the μd spin-flip rates with 0.5%. The temperature dependence of molecular formation and spin-flip rates display pronounced resonance structures. A preliminary fit based on the Vesman mechanism of resonant muonic molecule formation was carried out yielding a dd fusion rate of 3.5·10⁸ s^-1 and a hfs splitting energy of 24.3 meV, both in good agreement with the theory. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Determination of very slow μ+ hop rates in Cu by LLF-μSRhop rates in Cu by LLF-μSR

Muon spin relaxation in low (weak) longitudinal magnetic field (LLF-μSR) provides a means of independently determining the static dipolar width Δ characterizing the μ⁺ lattice site and the correlation time τ_c for μ⁺ hopping, in a manner that is nearly model-independent for τ_c and especially accurate in the near-static limit (τ_c>τ_μ). The advantages of this method are illustrated by its application to muon hopping in Cu near the τ_c maximum around 50 K.     

Production of strange secondaries in high-energy Σ<Superscript>−</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis> collisions

The WA89 Collaboration experimental data on production of Λ, Σ⁻, Σ⁺, Ξ⁻, Ω⁻ baryons, $ \bar \Lambda $ \bar \Lambda and $ \bar \Xi ^ + $ \bar \Xi ^ + antibaryons in Σ⁻ collisions with C and Cu targets at 345 GeV/c ($ \sqrt {s_{\Sigma N} } $ \sqrt {s_{\Sigma N} } ≈ 25.5 GeV) in the frame of the Quark-Gluon String Model is described. The comparison of the theoretical results with the experimental data is discussed. Finally, some relations among the values of the model parameters obtained with the help of quark combinatorics are presented.     

Spin fluctuations and magnetic order in the heavy fermion compound CePt2Sn2

We present zero and longitudinal field μ SR measurements of single crystal and polycrystalline specimens of the heavy fermion compound CePt₂Sn₂. Above 1 K the behaviour of the two samples is indistinguishable; the muon 1/T_1 increases with decreasing temperature until 25 K when it plateaus. The 1/T_1 relaxation rate differs strongly for the two cases below \sim\,0.8\ K. At 0.1 K a rate of about 20 μ s^-1 is seen in the polycrystal while in the single crystal it is only about 5 μ s^-1. Even more revealing is the fact that longitudinal field decoupling spectra at very low temperatures demonstrate an essentially static spin system to be present in the polycrystalline material while the single crystal shows definite dynamic spin properties. We conclude that, in the presence of the distortion, long range magnetic order occurs below 0.9 K while in tetragonal symmetry long range order is suppressed (probably due to frustration) and spin fluctuations remain for T\rightarrow0. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Neutral meson oscillations and equivalence principle for particles and antiparticles

Oscillations of neutral meson (K ⁰-$ \overline {K^0 } $ \overline {K^0 } , D ⁰-$ \overline {D^0 } $ \overline {D^0 } , and B ⁰-$ \overline {B^0 } $ \overline {B^0 } are extremely sensitive to the meson and antimeson energies at rest. This energy is determined as mc ²—with the corresponding inertial mass—and as the energy of gravitational interaction. Assuming that the CPT theorem is correct for inertial masses and estimating the gravitational potential for which the largest contribution originates from the field of the galaxy center, we obtain the estimate from experimental data on K ⁰-$ \overline {K^0 } $ \overline {K^0 } oscillations:

Recent progress in NMR studies on organic conductors

Recent ¹³\mathrmC\mbox-NMR studies on a family of quasi‐two‐dimensional organic conductors based on BEDT‐TTF molecules are reviewed in the light of the role of electron–electron correlation in a variety of electronic states and of the symmetry of electron pairing in the superconducting state. Comparison of the nuclear spin‐lattice relaxation rate, conducting property and molecular arrangement indicates a close relationship between the molecular arrangement and manifestation of electron correlation. The metal/nonmetal phases in the isostructural \kappa\mbox- (BEDT\mbox-TTF)₂X systems, which are in the strong dimeric regime, are understood as highly correlated metals and insulators crossing the Mott transition. For the 10‐K superconducting phase situated near the Mott transition, the absence of Hebel–Slichter coherence peak and a low‐temperature T³-dependence of the nuclear spin‐lattice relaxation rate suggest unconventional superconductivity with line nodes in gap parameter or highly anisotropic one. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Microscopic state of the positive muon in 2H-NbSe2

The microscopic state of the positive muon in the transition metal dichalcogenide 2H-NbSe₂ was studied using the muon spin relaxation method (μ⁺SR). We found that the μ⁺SR spectra consist of two components. The ratio of the two components and the dynamics of the muon change at 140 K, at the charge-density-wave transition temperature (32 K), and again at the superconducting transition temperature (7 K). We discuss the relation between conduction electron properties and the muon's behavior. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.