Surface dependence of the magnetic configurations of the ordered B2 FeCr alloy

Tight-binding linear muffin tin orbitals calculations with generalized gradient approximation were carried out for the magnetic configurations at the surface of the ferromagnetic ordered B2 FeCr alloys. For both (001) and (111) crystallographic phases, non ferromagnetic configurations are shown to be more stable than the ferromagnetic configuration of the bulk alloy. For (001) surface we display a c ground state for either Cr or Fe at the surface. For Cr top layer the magnetic moments are larger than in the bulk B2 FeCr while they are slightly enhanced for Fe top layer. For (111) surface an antiferromagnetic coupling between surface and subsurface is always obtained i.e. for either Fe or Cr at the surface. This change of coupling between Fe and Cr (from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic) is expected to be fundamental to any explanation of the experimental results obtained for the interface alloying at the Fe/Cr interfaces. Received 23 March 1998     

The non-perturbative renormalization group in the ordered phase

We study some analytical properties of the solutions of the non-perturbative renormalization group flow equations for a scalar field theory with Z₂ symmetry in the ordered phase, i.e. at temperatures below the critical temperature. The study is made in the framework of the local potential approximation. We show that the required physical discontinuity of the magnetic susceptibility χ(M) at M=±M₀ (M₀ spontaneous magnetization) is reproduced only if the cut-off function which separates high and low energy modes satisfies to some restrictive explicit mathematical conditions; we stress that these conditions are not satisfied by a sharp cut-off in dimensions of space d<4.By generalizing a method proposed earlier by Bonanno and Lacagnina [Nucl. Phys. B 693 (2004) 36] to any kind of cut-off we propose to solve numerically the renormalization group flow equations for the threshold functions rather than for the local potential. It yields an algorithm sufficiently robust and precise to extract universal as well as non-universal quantities from numerical experiments at any temperature, in particular at sub-critical temperatures in the ordered phase. Numerical results obtained for the φ⁴ potential with three different cut-off functions are reported and compared. The data confirm our theoretical predictions concerning the analytical behavior of χ(M) at M=±M₀.Fixed point solutions of the adimensioned renormalization group flow equations are also obtained in the same vein, that is by solving the fixed points equations and the associated eigenvalue problem for the threshold functions rather than for the potential. We report high precision data for the odd and even spectra of critical exponents for different cut-offs obtained in this way.     

Absence of the partially ordered phase in theq-state models

We investigate theq-state models called (N ,N ) model using an infinitesimal Migdal-Kadanoff renormalization-group method. We distinguish two cases namely the isotropic model and the anisotropic model. The first one presents a critical value ofq,q _c such that forq _c we obtain an Ashkin-Teller phase diagrams while forq>q _c the partially ordered phase disappears then the model exhibits only phase transition between ferromagnetic phase and disordered one. The phase diagrams in the second case are qualitatively similar to one obtained forZ(6) model for all values ofq.     

Chiral phase transition at finite temperature in the linear sigma model

We study the chiral phase transition at finite temperature in the linear sigma model by employing a self-consistent Hartree approximation. This approximation is introduced by imposing self-consistency conditions on the effective meson mass equations which are derived from the finite temperature one-loop effective potential. It is shown that in the limit of vanishing pion mass, namely when the chiral symmetry is exact, the phase transition becomes a weak first order accompanying a gap in the order parameter as a function of temperature. This is caused by the long range fluctuations of meson fields whose effective masses become small in the transition region. It is shown, however, that with an explicit chiral symmetry breaking term in the Lagrangian which generates the realistic finite pion mass the transition is smoothed out irrespective of the choice of coupling strength. Recieved: 19 September 1997 / Revised version: 30 October 1997     

Collective modes in the loop ordered phase of cuprate superconductors

We show that the two branches of collective modes discovered recently in underdoped cuprates with a large spectral weight are a necessary consequence of the loop-current state. Such a state has been shown in earlier experiments to be consistent with the symmetry of the order parameter competing with superconductivity in four families of cuprates. We also predict a third branch of excitations which cannot be discovered by neutron scattering but may be discovered by other techniques. Using parameters to fit the observed modes, we show that quantum fluctuations change the direction of the effective moments in the ground state to lie at an angle to the c axis as observed in experiments.     

Critical spin dynamics in the ordered phase of a uniaxial ferromagnet

We report the results of a study of the critical hydrodynamics of an easy axis ferromagnet with weak anisotropic exchange. Self-consistent equations based on the mode coupling hypothesis are solved for the decay rates of the longitudinal and transverse spin fluctuations in the region below the Curie point.     

Features of the ordered phase formation in Au4V alloy

The kinetics of ordering in Au₄V alloy has been studied by X-ray diffraction. The features of ordering, coexisting with the ordered phase decomposition, have been investigated. Coexistence of these processes leads to a nonmonotonic change in the volume fraction of the ordered phase. Possible models of realization of ordering and decomposition processes are considered.     

Magnon dispersion in the field-induced magnetically ordered phase of TlCuCl3

The magnetic properties of the interacting dimer system TlCuCl3 are investigated within a bond-operator formulation. The observed field-induced staggered magnetic order perpendicular to the field is described as a Bose condensation of magnons which are linear combinations of dimer singlet and triplet modes. This technique accounts for the magnetization curve and for the field dependence of the magnon dispersion curves observed by high-field neutron scattering measurements.     

Spin correlations among the charge carriers in an ordered stripe phase

We have observed a diffuse component to the low-energy magnetic excitation spectrum of stripe-ordered La(5/3)Sr(1/3)NiO4 probed by neutron inelastic scattering. The diffuse scattering forms a square pattern with sides parallel and perpendicular to the stripe directions. The signal is dispersive, with a maximum energy of approximately 10 meV. Probed at 2 meV, the scattering decreases in strength with increasing temperature, and is barely visible at 100 K. We argue that the signal originates from dynamic, quasi-one-dimensional, antiferromagnetic correlations among the stripe electrons.     

c-axis optical response in the static stripe ordered phase of the cuprates

The c-axis far-infrared reflectivity spectra in the superconducting state were investigated for La1.85-yNd(y)Sr0.15CuO4. The Josephson plasma edge rapidly shifts towards lower frequency with increasing y, and almost disappears when y exceeds a critical value ( y(c) approximately 0.12) above which the low-temperature-tetragonal (LTT) deformation switches on, stabilizing the spin/charge ordered stripe phase. In the vicinity of y(c), a "normal state" reentrant behavior was observed with lowering temperature below Tc. This clearly demonstrates that the static stripe order pinned by the LTT distortion suppresses the interlayer phase coherence.     

Iron oxide nanoparticles stabilized inside highly ordered mesoporous silica

Nanosized iron oxide, a moderately large band-gap semiconductor and an essential component of optoelectrical and magnetic devices, has been prepared successfully inside the restricted internal pores of mesoporous silica material throughin-situ reduction during impregnation. The samples were characterized by powder XRD, TEM, SEM/EDS, N₂ adsorption, FT-IR and UV-visible spectroscopies. Characterization data indicated well-dispersed isolated nanoclusters of (Fe₂O₃) _n , within the internal surface of 2D-hexagonal mesoporous silica structure. No occluded Fe/Fe₂O₃ crystallites were observed at the external surface of the mesoporous silica nanocomposites. Inorganic mesoporous host, such as hydrophilic silica in the pore walls, directs a physical constraint necessary to prevent the creation of large Fe₂O₃ agglomerates and enables the formation of nanosized Fe₂O₃ particles inside the mesopore     

Electrostatic stabilization of an ordered phase in titanium monoxide

The influence of the ordering of titanium and oxygen atoms on the Madelung energy has been studied using the computer simulation. The dependence of the Madelung constant on the crystal size for the titanium monoxide with ordered and disordered distributions of atoms and vacancies has been obtained for the first time. It has been demonstrated that the Madelung energy in the ordered titanium monoxide is considerably (by 6%) lower than that in the disordered monoxide. The electrostatic interaction between titanium and oxygen ions stabilizes the ordered phase in titanium monoxide up to high temperatures and should substantially affect the disordering processes that occur in this compound at high temperatures.     

Spin re-orientation in FeCr2S4

The spinel FeCr₂S₄has been studied intensely for its peculiar magnetic and local structural changes which are sensitively influenced by the Jahn?CTeller properties of Fe^2?+?in tetrahedral sulfur coordination. Recent muon spin rotation data give strong evidence that the commonly assumed collinear magnetic structure of this compound is only found between the Curie temperature T_C = 165 K and 50 K. For lower temperatures a helical structure has been proposed. We present new Mössbauer spectroscopic data taken on the same sample as used for muon spin rotation. Also the hyperfine spectra revealing non-equivalent iron sites support the appearance of a spin re-orientation around 50 K which may be related to the onset of short-range orbital order. Below 20 K severe dynamic broadenings are found which may indicate orbital fluctuations. Orbital order occurs around 11 K accompanied by severe changes in the crystalline electric field ground state as traced from quadrupole interaction.