Experimental study of Ce-based heavy-fermion compounds

In the first part of the paper, a brief survey is given on the development of heavy-fermion physics with special emphasis on Ce-based intermetallic compounds. Subsequently, selected topics of current interest are discussed, e.g., heavy-fermion band magnetism, heavy-fermion superconductivity and its relationship to a novel kind of lattice instability.     

Model calculations for electronic densities of states in heavy-fermion systems

The influence of the lattice on the density of states for conduction-band andf-electrons in heavy fermion and mixed valent systems has been calculated from an extension of the non-crossing approximation to the lattice. It is shown that the main features of such a calculation can be obtained by a simple numerical simulation.     

Low-temperature electronic heat transport in La2-xSrxCuO4 single crystals: unusual low-energy physics in the normal and superconducting states

The thermal conductivity kappa is measured in a series of La2-xSrxCuO4 (0 < or = x < or = 0.22) single crystals down to 90 mK to elucidate the evolution of the residual electronic thermal conductivity kappa(res), which probes the extended quasiparticle states in the d-wave gap. We found that kappa(res)/T grows smoothly, except for a 1/8 anomaly, above x approximately 0.05, and shows no discontinuity at optimum doping, indicating that the behavior of kappa(res)/T is not governed by the metal-insulator crossover in the normal state; as a result, kappa(res)/T is much larger than what the normal-state resistivity would suggest in the underdoped region, which highlights the peculiarities in the low-energy physics in the cuprates.     

Low temperature heat capacities of DyConi

Heat capacity data are presented for DyCoNi in the temperature range 4.2 to 300 K. The sample exhibits an anomaly peaking at 63 K. This is interpreted as arising from ferromagnetic ordering. Resistivity measurements also indicate an anomaly at 63 K. The magnetic entropy, evaluated by using the heat capacity data of LaNi₂ as “a blank” ins nearly R in 4. These results are interpreted on the basis of an accidental four-fold degeneracy of the ground state of the Dy³⁺. The itinerant nature of the cobalt moment proposed by Taylor et al. appears to be valid in this compound.     

LiV2O4: electronic,magnetic structure and heavy-fermion behaviour from first principles

First principles studies based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations within the generalized gradient approximations (GGA) and GGA + U approach using the full-potential, augmented plane wave + local orbitals (APW + lo) method, as implemented in the WIEN2k code, have been used to investigate the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of spinel-structure LiV₂O₄, in particular regarding the heavy fermion (HF) behaviour. The calculations were performed for ferromagnetic, anti-ferromagnetic, and ferrimagnetic configurations using two kinds of magnetic structures (tetragonal and rhombohedral). The GGA results showed that the Fermi energy lies in the V 3d (t_2g) bands with 1.5 electrons per V atom occupying this band, and the V 3d bands are separated by a ～1.9 eV energy gap from the O 2p bands and further split into t_2g and e_g bands with a ～1.0 eV energy gap, which are in good agreement with the photoelectron spectra. The GGA + U method indicates that the ground state of LiV₂O₄ is the tetragonal anti-ferromagnetic configuration with metallic character, and ferromagnetic order character at slightly higher energy, which is consistent with experimental result. The geometric frustration and hybridization between 3d (V) and 2p (O) could induce spin fluctuation and help to explain the instability of specific heat, susceptibility and HF behaviour.     

Specific heat and velocity of sound in a moderate heavy-fermion compound YbZnCu4

The specific heat at a constant pressure (C _p) and the velocity of sound (v) are measured for a moderate heavy-fermion compound YbZnCu₄ in the temperature range 3.5–250 K and at 77 K, respectively. The experimental values of C _p and v obtained in this study and the phonon thermal conductivity previously measured in the temperature range 5–300 K are used to calculate the phonon mean free path l for this compound. The temperature dependence of the phonon mean free path l thus determined is characteristic of classical amorphous materials.     

Relativistic heavy-ion physics: Experimental overview

The field of relativistic heavy-ion physics is reviewed with emphasis on new results and highlights from the first run of the relativistic heavy-ion collider at BNL and the 15 year research programme at the super proton synchrotron (SPS) at CERN and the AGS at BNL.     

Low-temperature specific heat of the heavy-fermion superconductor PrOs4Sb12

We report the magnetic field dependence of the specific-heat C of single crystals of the first Pr-based heavy-fermion superconductor Pr(Os4Sb12. The variation of C at low temperature and the magnetic phase diagram inferred from C, the resistivity and magnetization provide compelling evidence of a doublet ground state. Two distinct superconducting anomalies in C indicate an unconventional superconducting state, where the splitting may arise from a weak lifting of the ground state degeneracy. In combination this identifies Pr(Os4Sb12 as a strong contender for quadrupolar pairing, i.e., superconductivity that is neither electron-phonon nor magnetically mediated.     

Spin physics in solid helium: Experimental results and applications

We have observed optical pumping signals from Cs atoms trapped in solid⁴He. While the longitudinal electronic spin relaxation timeT ₁ is found to be in the range of 1–2 s, the transverse relaxation timeT ₂, as inferred from magnetic resonance linewidths has a lower bound of 150 s, and is determined by magnetic field inhomogeneities. We present a quantitative discussion of how paramagnetic species trapped in solid He might be used in a highly sensitive search for permanent atomic electric dipole moments.     

微纳米电子器件散热过程中的物理问题

微纳米电子器件的散热问题是目前制约半导体工业发展的重要瓶颈.将电子器件工作时产生的热量传输到封装外壳后再耗散到环境中去需要好几个步骤,每个步骤需要不同的方法,其中有些步骤涉及到了固体中的界面热传导问题和高性能导热材料.文章先介绍了近期关于微纳米尺度器件散热问题中碰到的热传导问题在理论和实验两方面的研究进展.在热传导理论和计算方法方面,作者讨论了傅里叶定律在微纳米尺度的适用性,介绍了玻尔兹曼方程、分子动力学模拟和格林函数方法.在热传导实验方面,介绍了用扫描热显微镜测量样品表面温度和用超快激光反射法测量薄膜材料的热导率及其界面热阻.然后介绍了界面热传导问题,包括界面热阻的计算以及电子—声子相互作用对界面热阻的影响.最后作者介绍了关于高性能导热材料方面的最新进展,包括碳基导热材料、晶格结构类似于石墨烯的氮化硼材料、高分子有机材料以及界面热阻材料.     

微纳米电子器件散热过程中的物理问题

微纳米电子器件的散热问题是目前制约半导体工业发展的重要瓶颈。将电子器件工作时产生的热量传输到封装外壳后再耗散到环境中去需要好几个步骤,每个步骤需要不同的方法,其中有些步骤涉及到了固体中的界面热传导问题和高性能导热材料。文章先介绍了近期关于微纳米尺度器件散热问题中碰到的热传导问题在理论和实验两方面的研究进展。在热传导理论和计算方法方面,作者讨论了傅里叶定律在微纳米尺度的适用性,介绍了玻尔兹曼方程、分子动力学模拟和格林函数方法。在热传导实验方面,介绍了用扫描热显微镜测量样品表面温度和用超快激光反射法测量薄膜材料的热导率及其界面热阻。然后介绍了界面热传导问题,包括界面热阻的计算以及电子—声子相互作用对界面热阻的影响。最后作者介绍了关于高性能导热材料方面的最新进展,包括碳基导热材料、晶格结构类似于石墨烯的氮化硼材料、高分子有机材料以及界面热阻材料。     

Low temperature heat capacities of transition metal phosphidest2

Low temperature heat capacities of transition metal phosphides, T₃P, (T = transition metal) are characterized by large γ values which indicate the existence of a narrow d-band in these materials. Anomalous γ values are observed at compositions close to the onset of a long range magnetic state.     

The influence of the dynamics of ionic multiplets onto electronic transport properties of heavy-fermion systems: a semi-phenomenological approach

We present calculations of the electronic transport properties of heavy-fermion systems within a semi-phenomenological approach to the dynamical mean field theory. In this approach the dynamics of the Hund's rules 4f (5f )-ionic multiplet split in a crystalline environment is taken into account. Within the scope of this calculation we use the linear response theory to reproduce qualitative features of the temperature-dependent resistivity and hall conductivity, the magneto-resistivity and the thermoelectric power typical for heavy-fermion systems. The model calculations are directly compared with experimental results on CeCu ₂ Si ₂. Received 30 June 2000 and Received in final form 15 December 2000     

Investigation of heat capacities of proteins by statistical mechanical methods

In this study additional heat capacity of the proteins in water dissociation have been investigated by statistical mechanical methods. For this purpose, taking electric field E$E$ and total dipole moment M$M$ as thermodynamical variables and starting with the first law of thermodynamics, an expression which reveals the thermodynamical relation between additional heat capacity in effective electric field Δ_CE$\mathrm{\Delta }{C}_E$ and additional heat capacity at the constant total dipole moment Δ_CM$\mathrm{\Delta }{C}_M$, has been obtained. It is found that, difference between the heat capacities depends linearly on temperature. To establish the hydration effect during the folding and unfolding of the proteins, physical properties of the apolar dissociation have been used [G. Oylumluoglu, et al., Physica A 361 (2006) 255–262]. In the thermodynamical investigation of the protein system, in order to introduce the chemical potential μ$\mu$ (here it takes place of pH), one has to consider the system as a macro-canonical ensemble. In this study, the macro-canonical ensemble is obtained from the canonical ensemble. In this approach the proteins are taken in a heat bath, and also it is supposed that the system is in a particle reservoir. When this reservoir reaches to an equilibrium the number of particles take an average value. In this study, with the purpose of revealing the additional effect to the heat capacity, the partition functions of the proteins obtained in single protein molecule approach are taken. In this way, additional free energy has been related to heat capacities. Calculating the heat capacity Δ_CE$\mathrm{\Delta }{C}_E$ and taking the heat capacity at constant total dipole moment Δ_CM$\mathrm{\Delta }{C}_M$ from the experimental data, the outcomes of the performed calculations have been investigated for Myoglobin and other proteins.     

Superconductivity and electronic specific heat in V-Mo system

The parameters of superconductivity and specific heat are determined from the low temperature specific heat measurements of V_(1−x)Mo_x (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 1) solid solutions. The coefficient of electronic specific heat γ decreases with increasing Mo concentration and shows a minimum around 80 at. %Mo. Debye temperature θ_D varies slightly over the whole composition range. The superconducting transition temperature T_c also decreases with increasing Mo concentration. The variation of T_c is explained by the variation of γ and discussed in terms of the band structure.     

Theoretical and experimental investigation of the influence of external effects on the electronic structure of Ce-based heavy-fermion systems

The electronic structure of Ce systems with different degrees of hybridization of f electrons with outer-shell electrons and the effect of pressure on the change in the electronic structure has been investigated. A correlation between the parameters of X-ray photoelectron spectra and the magnitude of the heavy-fermion state is established. The total and partial densities of states of atoms were calculated using the TB LMTO ASA method. X-ray photoelectron study of the effect of an X-ray induced vacancy in the inner levels on the shape of the Ce3d spectra for Ce-based systems with different degrees of covalence has been performed. It is shown that there is a relationship between the magnitude of the heavy-fermion state and the intensity of the shakedown satellites in X-ray photoelectron spectra and that the magnitude of the heavy-fermion state decreases under pressure.