(1)H and (87)Rb nuclear magnetic resonance study of the order-disorder phase transition of RbHSeO(4) single crystals

The ferroelectric phase transition at T(C2) (=370K) in RbHSeO(4) has been studied by (1)H and (87)Rb solid-state NMR. Although not large, the spin-lattice relaxation time, T(1), and the spin-spin relaxation time, T(2), of rubidium and of the alpha- and beta-type protons show distinct change near the phase transition. The intensity of the signal due to the alpha-type protons decreases with increasing temperature, and the intensity of alpha-type protons is quite weak above 330K: at a temperature which is about 40K lower than the phase transition temperature, the ordering of the alpha-type protons occurs. The alpha-type protons in the ferroelectric phase lead to a noticeable change in the proton magnetic resonance spectra. Our study of the (1)H spectra shows that the ferroelectric phase transition in RbHSeO(4) is of order-disorder type and is due to the ordering of protons in hydrogen bonds.     

Implanted muon study of superlattice ordering in palladium hydride PdH0.64

The superlattice ordering transition in PdH_0.64 is detected by implanted muon spectroscopy. The temperature dependence around 50K of the static μSR depolarisation rate, measured in low transverse magnetic field in a polycrystalline sample, indicates appropriate changes in the average number of nearest neighbour protons. These measurements establish the similarity of the proton-proton and muon-proton interactions within the interstitial lattice. The implanted muons reveal the onset of short range order as the transition is approached and, to the extent that vacancy sites are available, participate in the predicted structure below the critical temperature.     

Optical reflectivity study of synclinic and anticlinic structures in thin freely suspended smectic films

Optical reflectivity studies have been conducted on freely suspended films with synclinic and anticlinic structures. For the first time quantitative data were obtained on orientational ordering in films with anticlinic structure. In the same wide temperature range of more than 30 K we observed both transverse and longitudinal ferroelectricity in the films of the same thickness. Equilibrium transition temperatures between structures with transverse and longitudinal polarization were above the bulk transition temperature to the SmC phase. The molecule tilt was determined in superthin films with synclinic and anticlinic ordering. Received 29 October 1999 and Received in final form 17 February 2000     

Heat capacity and phase transition of tetrahydrofuran clathrate hydrate

Heat capacity of tetrahydrofuran clathrate hydrate THF·16.81H₂O doped with KOH (x = 1.8 × 10⁻⁴ in the mole fraction of KOH in KOH and water) was measured in the temperature range 13–280 K. A sharp first-order phase transition having a large tail on the high temperature side was observed at 62 K and excess entropy due to the transition was determined to be 2.56JK⁻¹ (H₂O-mol)⁻¹. From a comparison with thermal behavior of hexagonal ice, it was indicated that this transition was related to ordering of protons in the host lattice.     

First results of electron cooling experiments at LEAR

The first results are presented of electron cooling experiments in the Low-Energy Antiproton Ring (LEAR) at CERN, performed with a proton beam of about 50 and 21 MeV. The number of stored protons ranged from 10⁷ to 3 × 10⁹. Cooling times of the order 1 s and proton drag rates of up to 0.7 MeV/s were obtained. The capture of cooling electrons by protons producing hydrogen atoms was used to derive an effective electron temperature (0.25 eV). From the angular profile of the neutral hydrogen beam an upper limit of 3π mm.mrad could be deduced for the horizontal equilibrium proton-beam emittance. The lowest equilibrium momentum spread was 2 × 10⁵ (FWHM), as derived from the analysis of the longitudinal Schottky signal. This Schottky signal exhibited an unusual behaviour with beam intensity and under certain conditions showed a doublepeak structure which was associated with collective beam noise. For very cold beams transverse instabilities were observed, which resulted in a rapid spill-off of protons and a stabilization at lower intensities. The threshold of these instabilities was raised by heating the proton or the electron beam. The cooling of a bunched proton beam was investigated. The reduction of the proton momentum spread led to bunch lengths of about 2 m, containing 3 × 10⁸ protons.     

Proton ordering and spontaneous polarization in mixed KDP-ADP crystals

Temperature dependences of the transverse permittivity of mixed K_1?x (NH₄)_xH₂PO₄ crystals (x≈0, 0.04, 0.09, and 0.19) are experimentally investigated with the aim of determining the parameter P _A that characterizes proton ordering in the region of the ferroelectric phase transition. A comparison of the temperature dependences of the P _A parameter and spontaneous polarization shows that the spontaneous polarization is preceded by a partial ordering of protons in all the compositions studied. It is found that the crystals with a high ammonium content are characterized by a weaker effect of the lattice polarization on the proton ordering.     

X-ray photoelectron studies of changes in the electronic structure upon phase transitions in Co–Ni and Co–Fe alloys

The changes in the electronic structure of Co–Ni and Co–Fe systems upon phase transitions are studied. X-ray photoelectron study of the valence-band spectra and the parameters of the multiplet splitting of Co, Ni and Fe 3s spectra is carried out at different temperatures. It is established that the ordering–separation phase transition in Co–Ni alloys takes place in the temperature range of 600–700°C. As opposed to Co–Ni alloys, in the Fe–Co alloy, ordering–separation–ordering phase transitions are observed. High-temperature ordering of the Fe₅₀Co₅₀ alloy is observed above 1200°C. The transition from ordering to separation is shown to lead to changes in the d electron spectra of the valence band and in the parameters of the multiplet splitting of the 3s spectra.     

Low-temperature variation of magnetic order in a nonmagnetic n-Ge:As semiconductor in the vicinity of the metal-insulator phase transition

The phenomenon of the low-temperature transition from antiferro- to ferromagnetic ordering of impurity spins in a nonmagnetic compensated n-Ge:As semiconductor near the metal-insulator phase transformation has been experimentally observed. The effect is manifested by rather sharp changes in the spin density and g-factor in the electron spin resonance spectra. As the relative content of a compensating impurity (gallium) is reduced below 0.7, the transition temperature begins to decrease and, at a degree of compensation below 0.3, drops below the studied temperature range (i.e., below 2 K).     

Ultrasound attenuation in solid CD4

We have measured the attenuation of 4 and 12 MHz longitudinal and transverse sound in solid CD₄ between 4 and 77 K. Absolute values for absorption at 77 K were determined from the variation in output amplitude as the length of the solid was reduced. As temperature is varied, the excess attenuation over a constant background undergoes maxima in the vicinity of the phase transitions at 22.1 and 27.0 K. The peak around the upper transition, which involves orientational ordering but not structural change, does not obey all the criteria of a single-relaxation model, but that model produces useful information on the hindering of molecular reorientation near the transition temperature, consistent with inferences drawn from thermal expansion measurements. Neither a relaxation model nor a critical-exponent model fits the attenuation data for the lower transition, in which both orientational and structural changes are now known to occur.     

Structure and orbital ordering of ultrathin LaVO3 probed by atomic resolution electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy

Orbital ordering has been less investigated in epitaxial thin films, due to the difficulty to evidence directly the occurrence of this phenomenon in thin film samples. Atomic resolution electron microscopy enabled us to observe the structural details of the ultrathin LaVO₃ films. The transition to orbital ordering of epitaxial layers as thin as ≈4 nm was probed by temperature‐dependent Raman scattering spectroscopy of multilayer samples. From the occurrence and temperature dependence of the 700 cm^–1 Raman active mode it can be inferred that the structural phase transition associated with orbital ordering takes place in ultrathin LaVO₃ films at about 130 K.     

High-temperature B2 ordering in Fe50Co50 alloy

High-temperature (above 1200 °C) B2 ordering was experimentally found in the Fe₅₀Co₅₀ alloy with the help of the electron diffraction. Using the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy method the “ordering-phase separation” transition was shown to lead to changes both in the 3d-electron spectra of the valence band (3d-valence electron localization on Fe atoms increases at phase separation and it decreases at ordering). The investigation of multiplet splitting of the 3s-electron spectra of core-level electrons reveals that magnetic moments on Fe and Co atoms in the Fe₅₀Co₅₀ alloy are larger, when there is the tendency toward ordering, and they are smaller in the case of the tendency toward phase separation. A number of examples are presented, which are indicative of the fact that chemical ordering can influence magnetic ordering by the formation of the respective microstructures and magnetic ordering has no influence on chemical ordering. It can be concluded that the phase transition “ordering-phase separation” takes place both at 730 °C and at the temperature somewhat higher that 1200 °C.     

Nd0.5Ca0.5Mn0.97Co0.03O3体系的超声研究

系统研究了Nd0.5Ca0.5Mn0.97Co0.03O3单相多晶样品在低温下的电磁性质和超声特性.超声测量结果表明,体系在低温下超声声速出现异常,超声声速从室温开始随着温度的降低逐渐减小,并在220K附近声速达到最小,其相对变化(ΔV/V)超过2%.之后,随着温度的进一步降低,声速急剧硬化,其相对变化达到14.5%.分析表明这是由于体系中电-声子相互作用导致的电荷有序态转变的结果,该电声子耦合来源于Mn3 的JahnTeller效应.同时,该体系在100K左右出现了金属绝缘体转变同时伴随着铁磁相变,分析表明在低温下Co离子与Mn离子之间存在着铁磁交换作用,因此微量的Co掺杂会在反铁磁区域内形成部分铁磁小团簇,当铁磁团簇连通后,体系由反铁磁电荷有序态(AFMCO)向铁磁金属态(FMM)转变.研究结果表明了样品在电荷有序相变温度TCO与金属绝缘体转变温度TMI之间(TMI相似文献   

EPR Features of Spin-Crossover in Tris(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Dialkyl-Dithiocarbamato)Iron(III)

The temperature dependence of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of a series of dithiocarbamates Fe(RR′dtc)₃ was studied in the temperature range from 5 to 300 K. A small part of solvated complexes serving as spin probes in the EPR-silent matrix enabled the observation of EPR of the Fe(III) ion in the whole temperature range. The spin transition was revealed in the reduction of the integral intensity of the signal from the high-spin complexes and in the non-monotonous change of the line width with temperature decrease due to the effect of the low-spin complexes with short spin–lattice relaxation times. Below ca. 60 K, the ferromagnetic ordering of the magnetic moments in low-spin particles (“domains”) arising at the spin transition was observed.     

Study of the influence of hydrogen absorption on the magnetic properties of V−Fe−H alloys by low-temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy

The change of the magnetic properties of disordered bcc V?Fe alloys induced by hydrogen absorption has been studied by the Mössbauer spectra measurements at 4.2 K. The magnetic ordering reflecting the para-/ferromagnetic transition was observed in these alloys as a result of hydrogenation, at the same electron concentration at which the local magnetic moments were observed by room-temperature measurements.     

Elastic behavior of neodymium based manganites

With a view to investigate the elastic behavior of Nd_0.67A_0.33MnO₃ (where A = Ca, Sr, Ba, Pb) manganite system, the samples were prepared by the sol gel method. After characterizing the samples structurally, a systematic investigation of ultrasonic longitudinal and transverse sound velocities of all the samples was undertaken by pulse transmission technique in the temperature range, 100-300 K. It has been found that all the elasticity parameters, including Debye temperature, are found to increase continuously with increasing ionic radii of the dopant ion. All the samples are also found to exhibit anomalies in both the longitudinal and transverse velocities near their ferro to para magnetic transition (T_C) temperatures. Apart from this, Nd_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ sample is also found to exhibit, a transition at its charge ordering temperature (T_co). An explanation for the observed elastic anomalies based on a mean field theory has been given.     

Transverse momentum spectra of the produced hadrons at SPS energy and a random walk model

The transverse momentum spectra of the produced hadrons have been compared to a model, which is based on the assumption that a nucleus–nucleus collision is a superposition of isotropically decaying thermal sources at a given freeze-out temperature. The freeze-out temperature in nucleus–nucleus collisions is fixed from the inverse slope of the transverse momentum spectra of hadrons in nucleon–nucleon collision. The successive collisions in thessss nuclear reactions leads to gain in transverse momentum, as the nucleons propagate in the nucleus following a random walk pattern. The average transverse rapidity shift per collision is determined from the nucleon–nucleus collision data. Using this information, we obtain parameter-free result for the transverse momentum distribution of produced hadrons in nucleus–nucleus collisions. It is observed that such a model is able to explain the transverse mass spectra of the produced pions at SPS energies. However, it fails to satisfactorily explain the transverse mass spectra of kaons and protons. This indicates the presence of collective effect which cannot be accounted for, by the initial state collision broadening of transverse momentum of produced hadrons, the basis of random walk model.     

Transverse magnetic ordering

There is an increasing number of ferromagnets and antiferromagnets which are observed to undergo either a further long range magnetic order or spin glass transition in components of the moment transverse to either the ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic ordering direction. Necessary conditions include exchange frustration and some atomic disorder. We discuss the observation of transverse antiferromagnetic order in the ferromagnet (Fe, Mn)₃Si and the transverse spin glass phase observed in the ferromagnetic glassy metal a-(Fe, Zr) and the antiferromagnet γ-Mn–Cu.     

Electrical properties of orbitally oriented crystals allowing for electron-deformation interaction

This paper studies the effect of orbital ordering of the electron density on the electrical properties of transition metal compounds including electron-deformation [strain] interaction. The electrical conductivity was calculated on the basis of the Kubo equation. It is shown that in a certain temperature region, orbital ordering is realized in the electron subsystem. The destruction of the ordered state can take place by a I or II order phase transition as a function of the amount of electron-deformation interaction. There is a finite jump in the electrical conductivity function at the point of disorder. The activation energy in the ordered state is greater than in the disordered state. The results of the calculations coincide with the experimental data on the electrical resistance of compounds with a spinel and perovskite structure containing Jahn-Teller ions.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 12, pp. 31–36, December, 1986.The authors express their gratitude to I. Ya. Kanovskii for his valuable discussions on the obtained results.