Features of faraday rotation in cs atomic vapor in a cell thinner than the wavelength of light

Features of the effect of Faraday rotation (the rotation of the radiation polarization plane) in a magnetic field of the D ₁ line in Cs atomic vapor in a nanocell with the thickness L varying in the range of 80–900 nm have been analyzed. The key parameter is the ratio L/λ, where λ = 895 nm is the wavelength of laser radiation resonant with the D ₁ line. The comparison of the parameters for two selected thicknesses L = λ and λ/2 has revealed an unusual behavior of the Faraday rotation signal: the spectrum of the Faraday rotation signal at L = λ/2 = 448 nm is several times narrower than the spectrum of the signal at L = λ, whereas its amplitude is larger by a factor of about 3. These differences become more dramatic with an increase in the power of the laser: the amplitude of the Faraday rotation signal at L = λ/2 increases, whereas the amplitude of the signal at L = λ almost vanishes. Such dependences on L are absent in centimeter-length cells. They are inherent only in nanocells. In spite of a small thickness, L = 448 nm, the Faraday rotation signal is certainly detected at magnetic fields ≥0.4 G, which ensures its application. At thicknesses L < 150 nm, the Faraday rotation signal exhibits “redshift,” which is manifestation of the van der Waals effect. The developed theoretical model describes the experiment well.     

Phonon and electronic properties of the LiCaAlF<Subscript>6</Subscript> crystal: Experiment and ab initio calculations

The results obtained in a cell with a distance between windows on the order of several hundreds of nanometers (the so-called “nanocell”) are presented. The nanocell thickness L in the vertical direction changes from 100 to 900 nm. It is shown that the use of a nanocell with thickness L = λ/2, where λ is a laser wavelength resonant to the atomic transition D2 in sodium atoms, provides sub-Doppler resolution of transmission and fluorescence spectra.     

Nanocell with a pressure-controlled Rb atomic vapor column thickness: Critical influence of the thickness on optical processes

A new device is designed: it consists of a nanocell (NC) filled with Rb atom vapors and placed in a vacuum chamber. When the pressure in the chamber changes in the range 0–1 atm, the NC thickness is smoothly varied in the range L = 140–1700 nm, which is caused by the pressure-induced deformation of thin garnet windows in the chamber. The pressure dependence has excellent reproducibility even after many hundreds of cycles of letting in of air and its complete pumping out from the chamber. The accuracy of setting required thickness L is much better than in the wedge-gap NCs to be moved mechanically that were used earlier. The processes of Faraday rotation (FR) of a polarization plane, resonance absorption, and fluorescence are studied using the D ₁-line narrow-band continuous laser radiation when the thickness changes from L = λ/2 (398 nm) to L = 2λ (1590 nm) at a step λ/2. The FR signal is shown to be maximal at L = λ/2 and 3λ/2 and to have the minimum spectral width (≈60 MHz). At L = λ and 2λ, the FR signal is minimal and has the maximum spectral width (≈200 MHz). The resonance absorption demonstrates the same oscillating behavior; however, the effect in the case of FR is much more pronounced. The oscillating effect is absent for resonance fluorescence: its spectral width and amplitude increase monotonically with L. The detected effects are explained and possible applications are noted.     

Specific heat of La(Fe<Subscript>0.873</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.007</Subscript>Al<Subscript>0.12</Subscript>)<Subscript>13</Subscript> compound in antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic states

The low-temperature specific heat C _p of La(Fe_0.873Co_0.007Al_0.12)₁₃ compound has been measured in two states: (i) antiferromagnetic (AFM) with a Néel temperature of T _N = 192 K and (ii) ferromagnetic (FM). The FM order appears at T = 4.2 K in a sample exposed to an external magnetic field with induction B _C ≥ 2.5 T and is retained for a long time in a zero field at temperatures up to T*_C = 23 K. The coefficient γ_FM in the low-temperature specific heat C = γT + βT ³ in the FM state differs quite insignificantly from that (γ_AFM) in the AFM state. Contributions to the low-temperature specific heat, which are related to a change in the elastic and magnetoelastic energy caused by magnetostrictive deformations, are considered.     

Structural and magnetic phase transformations in the BiFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-CaFe<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

The crystal structure and magnetic properties of the Bi_{1 ? x} Ca _x Fe_{1 ? x/2}Nb _x/2O₃ system were studied. It is shown that, at x ≤ 0.15, the unit-cell symmetry of solid solutions is rhombohedral (space group R3c). Solid solutions with x ≥ 0.3 have an orthorhombic unit cell (space group Pbnm). The rhombohedral compositions are antiferromagnetic, while the orthorhombic compositions exhibit a small spontaneous magnetization due to Dzyaloshinski?-Moriya interaction. In CaFe_0.5Nb_0.5O₃, the Fe³⁺ and Nb⁵⁺ ions are partially ordered and the unit cell is monoclinic (space group P2₁/n). In the concentration range 0.15 < x < 0.30, a two-phase state (R3c + Pbnm) is revealed.     

Influence of the ground state of the Pr<Superscript>3+</Superscript> ion on magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of the PrFe<Subscript>3</Subscript>(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript> multiferroic

The magnetic, magnetoelectric, and magnetoelastic properties of a PrFe₃(BO₃)₄ single crystal and the phase transitions induced in this crystal by the magnetic field are studied both experimentally and theoretically. Unlike the previously investigated ferroborates, this material is characterized by a singlet ground state of the rare-earth ion. It is found that, below T _N = 32 K, the magnetic structure of the crystal in the absence of the magnetic field is uniaxial (l ∥ c), while, in a strong magnetic field H ∥ c (H _cr ～ 43 kOe at T = 4.2 K), a Fe³⁺ spin reorientation to the basal plane takes place. The reorientation is accompanied by anomalies in magnetization, magnetostriction, and electric polarization. The threshold field values determined in the temperature interval 2–32 K are used to plot an H-T phase diagram. The contribution of the Pr³⁺ ion ground state to the parameters under study is revealed, and the influence of the praseodymium ion on the magnetic and magnetoelectric properties of praseodymium ferroborate is analyzed.     

Magnetorefractive effect and giant magnetoresistance in Fe(<Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>)/Cr superlattices

The magnetorefractive effect in Fe(t _x , Å)/Cr(10 Å) samples grown by molecular-beam epitaxy with a variable thickness of the iron layer (superlattices, cluster-layered nanostructures) has been studied in the IR region (λ = 2–13 µm) in s and p polarizations of light. The magnetoresistive effect in a dc magnetic field, H ≤ 32 kOe, has been measured on the same samples. The iron layer thickness required for the magnetorefractive response to appear has been found to be t _Fe ≥ 3 Å. The correlation between the magnitude of the magnetorefractive effect in the mid-IR region and magnetoresistance has been discussed.     

Selective reflection from Rb vapor in half- and quarter-wave cells: Features and possible applications

The features of the effect of selective reflection from rubidium vapor in a nanocell with the thickness L ≈ λ/2 and L ≈ λ/4, where λ = 795 nm is the wavelength of laser radiation resonant with the Rb D₁ line, are studied. It is shown that, because of the behavior of the nanocell as a low-Q-factor Fabry–Pérot etalon, the sign of the derivative of the selective reflection spectra changes near L ≈ λ/2 from negative at L > λ/2 to positive at L < λ/2. The simplicity of the experimental implementation, large amplitude, and sub-Doppler width (40MHz) of a detected signal at an atomic transition frequency are appropriate for applications in metrology and magnetometry. In particular, selective reflection from the nanocell is a convenient frequency marker of atomic transitions; in this case, the amplitudes of peaks are proportional to the transition probabilities. The remote optical monitoring of a magnetic field with a spatial resolution L = λ/4 ≈ 199 of nm is possible on the basis of the splitting of selective reflection peaks in a strong magnetic field (up to 3 kG). A theoretical model describes well the experimental results.     

Pressure-induced antiferromagnetism in La<Subscript>0.75</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.25</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite

The crystal and magnetic structures of La_0.75Ca_0.25MnO₃ manganite are studied under high pressures up to 4.5 GPa in the temperature range 12–300 K by the neutron diffraction method. At normal pressure and temperature T _C = 240 K, a ferromagnetic state is formed in La_0.75Ca_0.25MnO₃. At high pressures P ≥ 1.5 GPa and at temperatures T < T _N ≈ 150 K, a new A-type antiferromagnetic state appears. A further increase in pressure leads to an increase in the volume fraction of the antiferromagnetic phase, which coexists with the initial ferromagnetic phase. The effect of high pressure causes a considerable increase in T _C with the slope dT _C /dP ≈ 12 K/GPa. Calculations performed in the framework of the double exchange model with allowance for the electron-phonon interaction make it possible to explain this pressure dependence of T _C on the basis of experimental data.     

Phase transition in a KPb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Br<Subscript>5</Subscript> crystal

Crystals of the KPb₂Br₅compound are investigated using polarized light microscopy and calorimetry. The birefringence and the angle of rotation of the optical indicatrix are measured in the temperature range 270–620 K. It is found that the KPb₂Br₅ crystal undergoes a first-order ferroelastic phase transition at temperatures T_0↑ = 519.5 K and T_0↓ = 518.5 K with a change in the enthalpy ΔH = 1300 ± 200 J/mol. This transition is accompanied by both twinning and the symmetry change mmm ? P2₁/c. It is revealed that the angle of rotation of the optical indicatrix exhibits an unusual behavior under variations in the temperature due to a strong temperature dependence of the birefringence.     

Magnetism of gadolinium nanoparticles near <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis></Subscript>

Influence of temperature and magnetic field H on magnetism of spherical Gd nanoparticles of different sizes (89, 63, 47, 28, and 18 nm) was studied in the temperature range 250 K < T < 325 K. The particles were obtained by metal vapor condensation in the flow of helium. The particles with d = 18 nm did not show a magnetic transition; their structure is a combination of two cubic phases (FCC1 and FCC2). Large particles remained in the HCP phase and had an admixture of the FCC1 phase, the amount of which decreased as the particle sizes increased; magnetic transition took place at T _c = 293 K. The admixture of O₂ did not alter the structure but decreased the magnetization σ and magnetic permeability μ. An orientation transition in polycrystalline gadolinium initiated by the magnetic field H was proved in an experiment. The orientation transition in Gd particles smaller than 63 nm, the magnetic structure of which is close to the single-domain structure, occurred near T _c without the influence of H.     

Switching of spontaneous electric polarization in the DyMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> multiferroic

For the DyMnO₃ multiferroic with a modulated magnetic structure, switching of its spontaneous electric polarization (P ‖ c axis) near the ferroelectric transition (T < T _FE ～ 20 K) is revealed by measuring the dielectric hysteresis loops. It is found that the coercive field strongly increases as the temperature decreases (up to 2.6 kV/mm at 17.6 K). The values obtained for the spontaneous polarization are found to agree well with the data obtained from pyroelectric measurements. In addition, anomalies are observed in the temperature dependences of the spontaneous polarization P _c , dielectric constant ? _c , and magnetic susceptibility x _b at T ～ 6 K; these anomalies are attributed to the antiferromagnetic ordering of the Dy³⁺ ions.     

Pressure-induced structural transformations,orbital order and antiferromagnetism in La<Subscript>0.75</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.25</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

High pressure evolution of structural, vibrational and magnetic properties of La_0.75Ca_0.25MnO₃ was studied by means of X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy up to 39 GPa, and neutron diffraction up to 7.5 GPa. The stability of different magnetic ground states, orbital configurations and structural modifications were investigated by LDA + U electronic structure calculations. A change of octahedral tilts corresponding to the transformation of orthorhombic crystal structure from the Pnma symmetry to the Immaone occurs above P ~ 6 GPa. At the same time, the evolution of the orthorhombic lattice distortion evidences an appearance of the e _g d _{x² ? z²} orbital polarization at high pressures. The magnetic order in La_0.75Ca_0.25MnO₃ undergoes a continuous transition from the ferromagnetic 3D metallic (FM) ground state to the A-type antiferromagnetic (AFM) state of assumedly 2D pseudo-metallic character under pressure, that starts at about 1 GPa and extends possibly to 20–30 GPa.     

Superconducting Properties of Indium Nanostructured in Pores of Thin Films of SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Microspheres

Samples of a superconducting indium nanocomposite based on a thin-film porous dielectric matrix prepared by the Langmuir–Blodgett method are obtained for the first time, and their low-temperature electrophysical and magnetic properties are studied. Films with thickness b ≤ 5 μm were made from silicon dioxide spheres with diameter D = 200 and 250 nm; indium was introduced into the pores of the films from the melt at a pressure of P ≤ 5 kbar. Thus, a three-dimensional weakly ordered structure of indium nanogranules was created in the pores, forming a continuous current-conducting grid. Measurements of the temperature and magnetic field dependences of the resistance and magnetic moment of the samples showed an increase in the critical parameters of the superconductivity state of nanostructured indium (critical temperature T_c ≤ 3.62 K and critical magnetic field H_c at T = 0 K H_c(0) ≤ 1700 Oe) with respect to the massive material (T_c = 3.41 K, H_c(0) = 280 Oe). In the dependence of the resistance on temperature and the magnetic field, a step transition to the superconductivity state associated with the nanocomposite structure was observed. A pronounced hysteresis M(H) is observed in the dependence of the magnetic moment M of the nanocomposite on the magnetic field at T < T_c, caused by the multiply connected structure of the current-conducting indium grid. The results obtained are interpreted taking into account the dimensional dependence of the superconducting characteristics of the nanocomposite.     

On the correlation between supercooling,superheating and kinetic arrest in a magnetic glass Pr<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.975</Subscript>Al<Subscript>0.025</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

We report a quantitative investigation of the magnetic field-temperature phase diagram by taking into account a simple phenomenological model arising out of the interplay of kinetic arrest and thermodynamic transitions in a magnetic glass Pr_0.5Ca_0.5Mn_0.975Al_0.025O₃, through magnetization measurements. Such studies are necessary as kinetic arrest plays an important role in the formation of “magnetic glasses”, which has been observed in systems undergoing first order magnetic phase transitions. It has been shown that disorder in a system results in the formation kinetic arrest (H _K ,T _K ) band, like supercooling (H ^*,T ^*) and superheating (H ^**,T ^**) band. Quantitative proofs are given to show that (H _K ,T _K ) band is anticorrelated with (H ^*,T ^*) and (H ^**,T ^**) bands, while the later two are correlated among themselves. Analysis of time dependence of magnetization at different temperatures is carried out to establish the fact that the kinetic arrested state is different from the supercooled state.     

Nonstoichiometric high-pressure phase of Tm<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>V<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript>

Tm _x Cu₃V₄O₁₂, a perovskite-like oxide (space group, Im-3; Z = 2; a = 7.279–7.293 Å) containing vacancies in its cationic sublattice, was obtained barothermally (P = 7.0–9.0 GPa, t = 1000–1100°C) for the first time. The temperature dependences on the electrical resistivity (10–300 K) and the magnetic susceptibility (0–300 K) were investigated. It was shown that the oxide Tm _x Cu₃V₄O₁₂ is characterized by metal-type conductivity and paramagnetic properties.     

Nonergodic state of relaxation ferroelectric Cd<Subscript>2</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> in a constant electric field

The temperature dependence of the residual polarization of the nonergodic relaxation state (NERS) obtained from the measurements of pyroelectric current during zero-field heating (ZFH) in the temperature interval from 10 to 295 K is investigated for the Cd₂Nb₂O₇ relaxation system in two cases: (1) after sample cooling in a constant electric field E (FC) from T = 295 K to a preset temperature, which is much lower than the “freezing” temperature of the relaxation state (T _f ≈ 182 K), field removal, and subsequent cooling in zero field (ZFC) to T = 10 K and (2) after ZFC from T = 295 K to the same temperature below T _f , application of the same field, and FC to T = 10 K. The behavior of the P _r ^FC (T) and P _r ^ZFC (T) dependences is analyzed. In the field E < 2 kV/cm, the P _r ^ZFC curves as functions of 1/T have a broad low-intensity peak in the region T ≈ T _f , which vanishes in stronger fields, when the P _r ^FC (1/T) curves intersect at T ≈ T _f and have no anomalies. The difference in the behavior of P _r ^ZFC (T) and P _r ^FC (T) indicates the difference in the nature of NERS formed during ZFC and FC of the system upon a transition through T _f . In the ZFC mode, NERS exhibits glasslike behavior; in the FC regime, features of the ferroelectric behavior even in the weak field. Analogous variations of P _r ^ZFC (T) and P _r ^FC (T) in a classical ferroelectric KDP are also given for comparison.     

Visualization of the magnetic flux structure in phosphorus-doped EuFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript> single crystals

Magnetic flux structure on the surface of EuFe₂(As_1-x P _x )₂ single crystals with nearly optimal phosphorus doping levels x = 0.20 and x = 0.21 is studied by low-temperature magnetic force microscopy and decoration with ferromagnetic nanoparticles. The studies are performed in a broad temperature range. It is shown that the single crystal with x = 0.21 in the temperature range between the critical temperatures T _SC= 22 K and T _C = (18 ± 0.3) K of the superconducting and ferromagnetic phase transitions, respectively, has the vortex structure of a frozen magnetic flux, typical for type-II superconductors. The magnetic domain structure is observed in the superconducting state below T _C. The nature of this structure is discussed.     

Charge Distribution and Hyperfine Interactions in the CuFeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Multiferroic According to <Superscript>63,65</Superscript>Cu NMR Data

For the first time, the CuFeO₂ single crystal has been studied by ^63,65Cu nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The measurements have been carried out in the temperature range of T = 100?350 K in the magnetic field H = 117 kOe applied along different crystallographic directions. The components of the electric field gradient tensor and the hyperfine coupling constants are determined. It is shown that electrons of copper 4s and 3d orbitals are involved in the spin polarization transfer Fe → Cu. The occupancies of these orbitals are estimated.     

Electrical resistivity and magnetotransport properties of La<Subscript>0.67</Subscript>Ba<Subscript>0.33</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> epitaxial films biaxially compressed by the substrate

The structure, electrical resistivity, and magnetoresistance of La_0.67Ba_0.33MnO₃(20 nm) films grown coherently on an La_0.3Sr_0.7Al_0.65Ta_0.35O₃(001) substrate with a lattice misfit of about 1% were studied. The rigid connection of the manganite layer with the bulk substrate brought about the unit cell distortion of the substrate (a _⊥/a _‖ = 1.02) and a decrease in the unit cell volume as compared to that of the corresponding bulk crystals (a _‖ and a _⊥ are the unit cell parameters measured in the substrate plane and along the surface normal, respectively). The temperature T _M ≈ 295 K, at which the electrical resistivity ρ of the (20 nm)La_0.67Ba_0.33MnO₃ films reached a maximum, was 40–45 K lower than that for the corresponding bulk crystals. The negative magnetoresistance (MR ≈ ?0.25 for μ₀ H = 1 T) attained a peak value at T _MR ≈ 270 K. The response of ρ to a magnetic field depended substantially on the angle between the current flow in the film and the direction of the magnetic field.