Gaplike excitations in the superconducting state of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 studied by resonant Raman scattering

We report on the response of the electronic continuum from inelastic light-scattering experiments over an extended energy range between 1.970 and 4.504 eV in the superconducting state of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8. The formation of a substantial Raman feature at shifts below twice the superconducting gap as well as the additional weight above this energy are found to be strongly dependent on the incident photon energy. For excitation wavelengths observed in ultraviolet, we find an enhancement of the integrated spectral weight below T(c). The resulting composite feature shows three distinct resonances at 2.5, 3.3, and 3.8 eV. We strongly suggest that the superconductivity-induced changes are the result of both the opening of a superconducting gap and the appearance of a collective mode.     

Ferro-type orbital state in the Mott transition system Ca2-xSrxRuO4 studied by the resonant x-ray scattering interference technique

We have succeeded in detecting ferro-type orbital states in Ca2-xSrxRuO4, which is the first outcome in a 4d Mott transition system by the resonant x-ray scattering interference technique. For x=0 (Mott insulator), the resonant signal for d(xy) orbital ordering is observed even at room temperature, in which the Jahn-Teller distortion is negligible. The signal disappears near the metal-insulator transition. On the other hand, in a metallic phase for x=0.5, orbital polarization with d(yz/zx) character dominates. With lowering temperature, the magnitude of the resonant signal slightly decreases owing to the additional influence of the gamma band with d(xy) character.     

On the magnetic structure of Sr3Ir2O7: an x-ray resonant scattering study

This report presents azimuthal dependent and polarization dependent x-ray resonant magnetic scattering at the Ir L(3) edge for the bilayered iridate compound Sr(3)Ir(2)O(7). The two magnetic wave vectors, k1 = (1/2, 1/2, 0) and k2 = (1/2, -1/2, 0), result in domains of two symmetry-related G-type antiferromagnetic structures, denoted A and B, respectively. These domains are approximately 0.02 mm(2) and are independent of the thermal history. An understanding of this key aspect of the magnetism is necessary for an overall picture of the magnetic behaviour in this compound. The azimuthal and polarization dependence of the magnetic reflections, relating to both magnetic wavevectors, show that the Ir magnetic moments in the bilayer compound are oriented along the c axis. This contrasts with single layer Sr(2)IrO(4) where the moments are confined to the ab plane.     

Selection rules and Raman spectrum of a molecule with a degenerate ground state and zero spin-orbit coupling: VCl4

Two interesting features can normally be expected in the Raman spectrum of a molecule with a degenerate electronic ground state (i) the contribution of asymmetric or even antisymmetric tensors to the Raman intensity (ii) lifting of the electronic degeneracy due to Jahn-Teller distortion. The experimental data and discussion on VCl₄, presented here, show that this molecule does not show any deviations in the Raman selection rules. Further, its Raman spectrum closely resembles that of TiCl₄ which also has T_d geometry but a nondegenerate singlet ground state. This suggests the absence of any static Jahn-Teller distortion in VCl₄. However, we have observed a broadening of the ν₂ band of VCl₄ over TiCl₄ and we attribute this to a possible dynamic Jahn-Teller splitting.     

Effects of the agglomeration state on the Raman properties of Co3O4 nanoparticles

The features of the Raman spectra of Co₃O₄ 30‐nm nanoparticles depend strongly on their agglomeration state. When measured at low incident laser power, the spectrum of isolated nanoparticles corresponds to that found in bulk materials, whereas the agglomerated nanoparticles present a clear red‐shift and broadening of the Raman bands. On the other hand, when measured at even lower power, both agglomerated and isolated nanoparticles show the same spectrum of microscopic particles. These effects have been studied by variations of the 532‐nm laser power and the environmental temperature. The thermal dependence of Raman spectra of agglomerated nanoparticles is different to that of isolated nanoparticles but is comparable to the one of bulk material. The different behaviour of the nanoparticles at different agglomeration state is associated to the transmission of phonons among the particles. On the other hand, an increase of the laser power causes a larger number of acoustic phonons, producing a variation of the vibration anharmonicity of the nanoparticles. This increase is more pronounced in the agglomerated nanoparticles, due to the transmission of phonons, causing a much intense modification of the Raman spectrum produced by the laser power. These results clearly indicate that the agglomeration state of the nanoparticles affects their Raman properties. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modified cascade model of resonant Raman scattering: a case study of UV Raman scattering in Zn1−xMnxO thin films

The cascade model of inelastic resonant Raman scattering considers real electronic states in the conduction band (CB) as intermediaries to explain multiple longitudinal optical (LO) Stokes‐shifted lines in the emission spectra. In this study, we report modification in the cascade model under conditions where the scattered photons after multiple transitions have energy lower than the bandgap (E_g) and give rise to higher order n‐LO lines. The higher order n‐LO lines involve electron transition between the trap levels, which are created by impurities or defects in the forbidden energy gap, and are analogous to the real electronic states in CB, depending on the density of defects or impurities in the lattice. The presence of traps in the forbidden gap (1) acts as virtual intermediate states giving rise to higher order n‐LO modes and (2) tends to decrease the radiative recombination probability leading to quenching of the luminescence emission and line width (full‐width at half‐maximum) broadening. Ultraviolet Raman scattering in Mn‐doped ZnO (Zn_1−xMn_xO) thin films were investigated and the experimental observations analyzed in the domain of the modified cascade model. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theory of resonant Raman enhancement of a forbidden phonon in Cu2O

A theoretical calculation is given of the frequency dependence of resonant enhancement of Raman scattering by the normally forbidden 109 cm^?1 (Γ12-) optic phonon for incident frequencies near the 1s Yellow exciton energy. The theoretical results are in good agreement with recent experiments. This gives support to a quadrupole-dipole mechanism with Yellow-Blue exciton scattering in the intermediate state.     

Charge-order pattern of the low-temperature phase from a monoclinic single domain of NaV2O5 uniquely determined by resonant x-ray scattering

The present resonant x-ray scattering has been performed on a monoclinically split single domain of NaV(2)O(5). The observation of a critically enhanced contrast between V(4+) and V(5+) ions has led us to the unequivocal conclusion of the charge-order pattern of the low-temperature phase of NaV(2)O(5) below T(c) = 35 K. In spite of the possible four types of configuration of the zigzag-type charge-order patterns in the ab plane (A,A',B and B'), the stacking sequence along the c axis is determined as the AAA'A' type by comparison with model calculations.     

Magnetic excitation spectra of Sr2IrO4 probed by resonant inelastic x-ray scattering: establishing links to cuprate superconductors

We used resonant inelastic x-ray scattering to reveal the nature of magnetic interactions in Sr2IrO4, a 5d transition-metal oxide with a spin-orbit entangled ground state and J(eff)=1/2 magnetic moments. The magnon dispersion in Sr2IrO4 is well-described by an antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model with an effective spin one-half on a square lattice, which renders the low-energy effective physics of Sr2IrO4 much akin to that in superconducting cuprates. This point is further supported by the observation of exciton modes in Sr2IrO4, whose dispersion is strongly renormalized by magnons, which can be understood by analogy to hole propagation in the background of antiferromagnetically ordered spins in the cuprates.     

Momentum dependence of charge excitations in the electron-doped superconductor Nd1.85 Ce0.15 CuO4: a resonant inelastic x-ray scattering study

We report a resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) study of charge excitations in the electron-doped high-T(c) superconductor Nd1.85 Ce0.15 CuO4. The intraband and interband excitations across the Fermi energy are separated for the first time by tuning the experimental conditions properly to measure charge excitations at low energy. A dispersion relation with q-dependent width emerges clearly in the intraband excitation, while the intensity of the interband excitation is concentrated around 2 eV near the zone center. The experimental results are consistent with theoretical calculation of the RIXS spectra based on the Hubbard model.     

Synthesis of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles embedded in a silica matrix by the citrate precursor technique

A metals–citrate–silica gel was prepared from metallic salts, citric acid and tetraethylorthosilicate by sol–gel method (citrate precursor technique) and it was further used to prepare magnetic nanocomposites. The gel was dried at 100 °C and then calcined at temperatures between 600 and 1000 °C to obtain powder samples. The nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, IR, VSM and TEM techniques. The diffraction patterns show the formation of a single magnetic phase identified as CoFe₂O₄. Magnetic nanoparticles with average size less than 50 nm were obtained which are well dispersed in the silica matrix. The combination of different metals concentrations and calcining temperatures allowed obtaining samples with magnetization ranging from 3.6 to 25.3 emu/g.     

Magnetic field induced orbital polarization in cubic YbInNi4: determining the quartet ground state using x-ray linear dichroism

We have been able to induce a linear dichroic signal in the Yb M(5) x-ray absorption white line of cubic YbInNi(4) by the application of a magnetic field. The nonzero integrated intensity of the magnetic field induced dichroic spectrum indicates a net noncubic 4f orbital polarization. A quantitative analysis of the temperature and field strength dependence establishes that the crystal-field ground state is a Γ(8) quartet. The results demonstrate the potential of magnetic field induced linear dichroism as a new powerful approach for the investigation of the degeneracy and orbital degrees of freedom of cubic heavy-fermion and Kondo systems.     

Existence of the multiferroic property at room temperature in Ti doped CoFe2O4

The appearance of ferroelectricity has been observed in magnetically ordered Co(Fe_1?xTi_x)₂O₄ at room temperature. Magnetization and dielectric constant is found to increase with Ti doping. It is observed from an X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy study that Ti goes to the octahedral site with (+4) ionic state. An M–H hysteresis curve at room temperature shows the ferrimagnetic ordering and a P–E loop at room temperature clearly indicates the existence of ferroelectricity.