Photoelectric properties of Pb1−x−y Sn x Ge y Te:In epitaxial films

Pb_1–x–y Sn _x Ge _y Te:In epitaxial films are examined in a wide temperature interval and at various background fluxes. These films have high sensitivity to infrared radiation in the spectral range <20m. The lifetime depends exponentially on temperature and varies from several seconds at T=10 K to 10^–2 s at T=20 K. The two-electron model of Jahn-Teller centers is proposed to explain the results. Multielement photoresistors based on these films are fabricated and D*=1.7×10¹³ cm Hz^1/2 W^–1 at T=25 K is achieved. Noise of the photoresistors is independent of background flux when it varies from 10¹² cm^–2 s^–1 to 10¹⁸ cm^–2 s^–1. As compared with Si:Ga and Ge:Hg photoresistors, the responsitivity is several orders larger at the operating temperature 25–30 K.     

Annealing effect on the superconductivity of In2O3–ZnO thin films

We have investigated the relation among ρ–T characteristics, superconductivity, annealing conditions and the crystallinity of polycrystalline (In₂O₃)_1−x–(ZnO)_x films. We annealed as-grown amorphous films in air by changing annealing temperature and time. It is found that the films annealed at 200 °C or 300 °C for a time over 0.5 h shows the superconductivity. Transition temperature T_c and the carrier density n are T_c < 3.3 K and n ≈ 10²⁵–10²⁶ m⁻³, respectively. Investigations for films with x = 0.01 annealed at 200 °C have revealed that the T_c, n and crystallinity depend systematically on annealing time. Further, we consider that there is a suitable annealing time for sharp resistive transition because the transition width becomes wider with longer annealing times. We studied the upper critical magnetic field H_c2(T) for the film with different annealing time. From the slope of dH_c2/dT for all films, we have obtained the resistivity ρ dependence of the coherence length ξ(0) at T = 0 K.     

Gol’danskii–Karyagin effect and induced fieldsin rare earth-transition metal stannides

The asymmetric doublet obtained in earlier ¹¹⁹Sn Mssbauer measurements of ternary stannides is re-interpreted as being due to the Gol’danskii–Karyagin effect instead of a β-Sn impurity included in the structure. Measurements in applied magnetic fields show that the conduction electron polarization at the Sn(2) site of ErRh_1.1Sn_3.6 is of the opposite sign to that of PrRh _x Sn _y and PrCo _x Sn _y .     

High-pressure Mössbauer study of the Curie temperatures and transferred hyperfine fields at 151Eu and substitutional 119Sn in EuS and EuSe

Changes with pressures up to 55 kbar of the Curie temperatures and the ¹⁵¹Eu and ¹¹⁹Sn hyperfine parameters were investigated in the europium monochalcogenides EuS and EuSe doped with small amounts of substitutional Sn²⁺. In both (Eu_1-xSn_x) S and (Eu_1-xSn_x) Se with 0.01 ≤x ≤ 0.05, the observed strong increase of T_c is correlated w ith a strong increase of the transferred hyperfine fields. EuSe is found to order ferromagnetically above 14 kbar.     

119Sn-mössbauer,IR, and DSC study of tin oxyfluoride glasses

The¹¹⁹Sn-Mössbauer spectra ofxSnO·(70–x)SnF₂·30P₂O₅ glasses (0 x70) measured at 78 K comprised a doublet due to Sn²⁺ (=3.30–3.36 mm s^–1, = 1.70–1.72 mm s^–1) and a weak singlet due to Sn⁴⁺ located at –0.23 mm s^–1 with respect to BaSnO₃. The and of Sn²⁺ were comparable to those of Sn₂P₂O₇. Small Debye temperatures (146 and 155 K) were obtained from the low-temperature measurements. These results indicate that Sn²⁺ and Sn₄₊ occupied interstitial sites, being loosely and ionically bonded to distorted PO_4–x F _x tetrahedra.     

Magnetic behaviour of Eu x (Rh1−y Fe y )3B2;x=0.6, 0.75, 1.04 andy=0.02

⁵⁷Fe ME spectra taken for Eu_x(Rh_1–yFe_y)₃B₂ compounds (x=0.6, 0.75, 1.04 and y=0.02) show quadrupole doublet and a magnetically split pattern for T < T_c ^*. Above T_c ^* the spectra merge into a single quadrupole doublet. It is seen that the addition of Fe shifts the T_c corresponding to undoped compound to T_c ^*, T_c ^*>300 K for all the three samples.     

Self-assembling of C and Sn in Ge

Self-assembling of isoelectronic C and Sn impurities in Ge is predicted. The formation of the 1C4Sn tetrahedral cells is thermodynamically profitable in Ge-rich C_xSn_yGe_1−x−y (4x<y) alloys in the ultra dilute C impurity limit with 1×10^-8x1×10^-3. The concentrations of Sn atoms when all C atoms are surrounded only by Sn atoms are estimated for the lower molecular beam epitaxy, intermediate annealing and higher bulk crystallization temperatures. The origin of this phenomenon is a considerable decrease of the strain energy after self-assembling. The same self-assembling in Si is thermodynamically non-profitable due to the large cohesive energy of Si–C chemical bonds.     

The effect of Sb concentration on the superconducting properties and phase composition of Bi-Pb-Sb-Sr-Ca-Cu oxide materials

The effect of Sb superconducting materials with nominal composition Bi_1.6Pb_0.4–x Sb _x Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O _y (x=0.01–0.14) and Bi_1.5Pb_0.5–x Sb _x Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O _y (x=0.025–0.12) has been investigated. These materials were subjected to DTA, ICP emission spectrometry, SEM, XRD and electric resistance measurements. It was found that the introduction of Sb raises the melting temperature of the material, it also raisesT _c (up to 110K) at several defined stoichiometric ratios. A certain lack of correspondence between the 2223 phase volume and theT _c value was noticed and a possible explanation has been proposed.     

Magnetic Parameters of Hg1–x Mn x Se1–y S y and Hg1–x Mn x Te1–y S y Crystals

The magnetic susceptibility of Hg_1–x Mn _x Se_1–y S _y and Hg_1–x Mn _x Te_1–y S _y crystals is investigated by the Faraday method at H = 3 kOe in the temperature interval T = 77–300 K. It is established that the specific features of are due to Mn–S–Mn–S, Mn–Se–Mn–Se, and Mn–Te–Mn–Te clusters and mixed Mn–Se–Mn–S and Mn–Te–Mn–S clusters of different sizes in which the indirect exchange antiferromagnetic interaction between Mn atoms is realized through chalcogen atoms. Based on the dependences 1/_Mn = f(T), the magnetic parameters are determined and their dependences on the crystal composition (x and y) are established.     

Diffusion of Au in amorphous Zr x Ni100−x alloys studied by Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry

The diffusion coefficients (D) of Au in three binary amorphous Zr _x Ni_100–x (x=61, 65, and 67) alloys were measured in the temperature range 549–623 K using the technique of the Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS). The D values were found to lie in the range 1.0×10^–21–9.0×10^–20 m²s^–1 for different alloys. The activation energy (Q) was calculated in each case on the basis of an observed Arrhenius temperature dependence of D. The activation energy was found to scale with the crystallization temperature (T _x) of the alloy. Other published measurements for Au diffusion in amorphous Zr-Ni alloys also appear to follow the scaling relation between Q and T _x.     

Phase transition of the doubly disordered Ba1−x Sn x Cl1+y F1−y solid solution at high temperature

The Ba_1−x Sn _x Cl_1+y F_1−y solid solution has the BaClF structure, with full disorder of the cations and partial disorder of the anions. It can be prepared either by the wet method or the dry method. Most samples prepared by the aqueous route give a tin(II) single line at ca. 4.1 mm/s characteristic of the Sn²⁺ stannous ion, and therefore of ionic bonding. In some rare cases, a very weak quadrupole doublet indicates the presence of a small amount of covalently bonded tin(II). The solid solution prepared by the dry method has different unit-cell parameters, and it contains a larger amount of covalently bonded tin, except at very low x values or highly positive y values, and the Sn²⁺ recoil-free fraction is much smaller. In the present work, a study of the phase transition that takes place when precipitated Ba_1−x Sn _x Cl_1+y F_1−y is heated has been undertaken. A dramatic increase of the amount of covalently bonded tin(II) occurred on heating.     

Superconductivity as a function of carrier density and magnetic spin concentration in the SnTe-MnTe system

Superconductivity results on self doped as-cast tin telluride show a strong particle size dependence of the superconducting critical temperature (T_c, °K). The T_c of the powdered as-cast material (size ? 100μ) approaches the T_c of the pressed and sintered samples. A similar but larger effect was observed in Sn_0·87 Ag_0·10 Te, where the T_c of the as-cast material (1·8°K) decreased to about 1°K on grinding (size ? 100μ). Pressing and sintering the same material did not increase the T_c Complete T_c data on the as-cast Sn_0·97?x Ag_x Te samples with 0·01 < × < 0·16 along with their ‘pressed and sintered’ counterpart of the same composition are presented. The effect of the magnetic impurity Mn on the T_c of Sn_0·97?x?y Ag_x Mn_y Te samples was also studied by changing the parameters and the results are discussed on the basis of prevalent theories.     

Mössbauer study of spin states in amorphous Fe100−x Zr x alloys

Spin states in amorphous Fe_100–x Zr_x (7x12) are investigated using hyperfine field distributions (HFDs) as derived from⁵⁷Fe transmission Mössbauer experiments. The existence of low-, medium- and high-spin states is demonstrated by three-dimensional projections of HFDs. Temperature dependences of the corresponding average values revealed anomalous behaviour in the vicinity ofT _fc. An increase in the hyperfine magnetic fields observed towards low temperatures is discussed in terms of a ferromagnet-to-spin-glass transition. Utilizing also theT _c values, which were obtained from a thermal scanning Mössbauer technique, we propose a diagram of spin states in amorphous Fe-Zr.     

Mössbauer study of magnetic critical behavior of F0.875V0.125

The disordered alloy Fe_1–xV_x has a well defined maximum in T_c at x=0.125. Working at this value to suppress T_c broadening, we have made high precision Mössbauer measurements in the ferromagnetic region. When analyzed in terms of four hyperfine field components our spectra suggest that the sample isannealed. Fitting the hyperfine field over reduced temperatures 1.7×10^–3 < t < 5×10^–1 with corrections to scaling yields p =0.362(8), in agreement with earlier work on pure Fe, and with Fisher's predictions for annealed disordered systems.     

Superconductivity and normal electrical conductivity of amorphous lead films nucleated with molybdenum

Lead films vapor quenched onto nucleating monolayers of Mo or W exhibit strong lattice disorder and can be considered to be amorphous. The amorphous-to-crystalline transformation temperatureT _tr is indicated by a sharp drop of the electrical resistivity in the course of annealing.T _tr is found to be proportional tod ^–2 for Pb thicknessd smaller than 30 nm. The superconducting transition temperatureT _c is by 0.6 to 1 K smaller in the amorphous state than after crystallization. In both states,T _c is proportional tod ^–1. Prenucleation with about half a monolayer of Mo leads to quite the sameT _c depression as observed earlier by Strongin et al. on Pb films vapor quenched onto predeposited films of SiO, Ge or Al₂O₃. For comparison, experiments have been carried out with 2.5 nm Ge predeposits. As with Mo prenucleation, a well defined transformation temperatureT _tr of about the same value has been observed.T _c of bulk amorphous Pb can be extrapolated to be about 6.6 K.     

Introduction of bismuth into the highT c superconductor La2−x Sr x CuO4−y

Novel high-T _c superconductors La_2–x Bi _x Sr _x–x CuO_4–y have been isolated and studied. The influence of the experimental conditions of synthesis on the superconductivity has been especially studied for the composition La_1.7Bi_0.1Sr_0.2CuO_4–y ; it is shown thatT _c decreases as oxygen is introduced into the matrix, likely due to the partial oxidation of Bi(III) to Bi(V). The highT _c value observed for one sample (T _c 42 K), as compared withT _c 38 K of La_1.8Sr_0.2CuO_4–y suggests that bismuth is also a potential candidate for improving the superconducting properties in these oxides.     

Crystallisation kinetics of amorphous Fe72.5−xCu1Nb4.5Si10+x+y B12-y alloy

Fe_73.5Cu₁Nb₃Si_13.5B₉ and Fe_72.5–xCu₁Nb_4.5Si_10+x+y B_12–y alloys are compared from the point of view of crystallisation behaviour and changes in the short-range order in the amorphous reminder. The increase in Nb to 4.5 at.% in the latter system slows down the formation of nanocrystals to approximately 40% even after 16 hours of anneal at 550 °C forx=0.5,y=3. Segregation-induced changes in the short-range order are manifested via hyperfine field distributions corresponding to the amorphous reminder.     

Positron annihilation studies on the electronic structure of Pd−Ag−H system

Angular Correlation of Annihilation Radiation (ACAR) is shown to be useful to examine the electronic structure of -phase Pd_1–y Ag _y H _x system. Hydrogen absorption by Pd_1–y Ag _y alloys results in the increase of both nearly free andd-localized electron numbers in compliance with the KKR-CPA calculation outcomes. The investigation of -phase systems, PdH _x hydrides as well as Pd_1–y Ag _y H _x materials, failed because of a high concentration of lattice defects.     

Magnetic behavior of amorphous Sm-Co alloy films

Amorphous films of Sm_100–x Co _x with 70x90 were made by vapor deposition on flat glass substrates kept at 300 K. The films crystallize above 700 K. The film plane is the easy plane with the planar anisotropy of the order of 10⁷ erg cm^–3, indicating a local anisotropy of the order 10⁸ erg cm^–3. With regard to local anisotropy and magnetization, the films appear to correspond to the random anisotropy concept of amorphous magnets. Films evaporated in a magnetic field parallel to the film plane have an induced uniaxial anisotropy of the order of 10⁶ erg cm^–3. Hysteresis loops in fields parallel to the easy axis are perfectly rectangular with coercive fieldsH _c in the range 30 Oe<H _c<3000 Oe, depending on composition, temperature and heat treatment. The magnetization reverses by a thermally activated domain nucleation and growth process having a narrow distribution of time constants. Aging at temperatures below the crystallization temperature reduces the anisotropies andH _c.     

The anisotropic 3D Ising model

An expression for the free energy of an (001) oriented domain wall of the anisotropic 3D Ising model is derived. The order--disorder transition takes place when the domain wall free energy vanishes. In the anisotropic limit, where two of the three exchange energies (e.g. J_x and J_y ) are small compared to the third exchange energy (J_z ), the following asymptotically exact equation for the critical temperature is derived, sinh(2J_z /k _B T _c)sinh(2(J_x ?+?J_y )/k _B T _c))?=?1. This expression is in perfect agreement with a mathematically rigorous result (k _B T _c/J_z ?=?2[ln(J_z /(J_x ?+?J_y ))?ln(ln(J_z /(J_x ?+?J_y ))?+?O(1)]^?1) derived earlier by Weng, Griffiths and Fisher (Phys. Rev. 162, 475 (1967)) using an approach that relies on a refinement of the Peierls argument. The constant that was left undetermined in the Weng et al. result is estimated to vary from ～0.84 at ((H_x ?+?H_y )/H_z )?=?10^?2 to ～0.76 at ((H_x ?+?H_y )/H_z )?=?10^?20.