Time of a semiconductor-metal phase transition induced by an ultrashort light pulse in vanadium dioxide

A relationship is obtained for a time τ of a photoinduced semiconductor-metal phase transition of the Peierls type under exposure to an ultrashort laser pulse. It is demonstrated that (i) the time τ increases as the pulse energy density W decreases, and (ii) the phase transition is initiated when the pulse energy density W exceeds a critical value W _c . The results obtained are compared with the experiment on irradiation of a vanadium dioxide film in a light field.     

Photoinduced semiconductor-metal phase transition in a peierls system

The dynamical equation for the order parameter of the metal-semiconductor phase transition, as well as the kinetic equation for the density of nonequilibrium electron-hole pairs of a Peierls system in a light field, has been derived. An expression for the time τ of the nonthermal photoinduced semiconductor-metal phase transition has been obtained from these equations for the case of an ultrashort light pulse. It has been shown that, to initiate the phase transition, the energy density W of the light pulse must be higher than the critical value W _c. The W _c, τ, and optical absorption coefficient γ₀ that are calculated in the framework of the proposed model are in agreement with the experimental data (W _c ≈ 12 mJ/cm², τ ≈ 75 fs, and γ₀ ≈ 10⁵ cm^?1) on the irradiation of a vanadium dioxide film by a laser pulse with a duration of τ_p ≈ 15 fs, a photon energy of ?θ₀ = 1.6 eV, and an energy density of W = 50 mJ/cm².     

Critical phenomena in the β-(2×4) → α-(2×4) reconstruction transition on the (001) GaAs surface

The critical exponents of the β-(2×4) → α-(2×4) reconstruction phase transition on the (001) GaAs surface are determined experimentally. It is found that the phase transition is analogous to a van der Waals transition. The critical parameters T _c , P _c , and Θ_c have been measured experimentally. The mean field theory is applied, and three-parameter isotherms are obtained that agree with the experimental results at the following values of the parameters: E_st = 0.36 eV, ΔE = 0.18 eV, and E _i = 0.134 eV. Precision measurements of the critical exponents β and δ are carried out. Their values β = 1/8 and δ = 15 indicate that the phase transition is truly two-dimensional.     

Conditions for implementation of the superconducting phase of copper oxides with consideration of three-site interactions and spin fluctuations

The concentration dependence of the transition temperature to the superconducting phase is calculated within the t – t' – t" – J* model, which takes into account tree-site interactions. It is shown that the processes of scattering by spin fluctuations qualitatively change the character of the concentration dependences T _c (n). These scattering processes in the normal phase significantly modify the distribution function of Hubbard fermions, determining the pronounced non-Fermi-liquid behavior of the system.     

Electron localization during an electronic-topological transition in Mo-Re alloys

Oscillations in the superconducting transition temperature ΔT _c (P), in the critical magnetic field ΔH _c (P), in the thermopower α / T (T ²), and in electrical resistivity ρ(T) (P is pressure) of Mo_1?x -Re _x alloys are observed at low temperatures against the background of specific features related to an electronic-topological transition (ETT) in these alloys. The oscillations are sensitive to the impurity concentration: they increase when the Re impurity concentration is close to the critical concentration C _c at which the ETT occurs. Oscillations are also detected in the concentration dependences of the temperature coefficient of resistivity (?ρ / ?T (C)) and the thermopower derivative (?(α/T) / ?T ² (C)) of Mo_1?x -Re _x alloys at low temperatures. The former and latter oscillations are shown to correlate with each other. These specific features are assumed to result from the ETT and to be related to the localization of the part of the electrons that fill a new cavity in the Fermi surface during this transition.     

Dielectric properties of betaine phosphite-betaine phosphate solid-solution crystals in the improper ferroelastic phase

Temperature dependences of dielectric permittivity in the improper ferroelastic phase, including the region of the improper ferroelastic phase transition occurring at T=T_c1, were studied in the betaine phosphite-betaine phosphate solid-solution crystals. At a betaine phosphate (BP) concentration of 10%, the phase transition temperature T_c1 was found to shift toward higher temperatures by about 5 K compared to betaine phosphite (BPI) crystals, where T_c1=355 K. The phase transition remains in the vicinity of the tricritical point. As the BP concentration in BPI is increased, the dielectric anomaly at T=T_c1 weakens substantially compared to pure BPI. The nonlinear temperature dependence of reciprocal dielectric permittivity in the improper ferroelastic phase of BPI_xBP_1?x crystals is described in the concentration region 0.9≤x≤1 in terms of a thermodynamic model taking into account the biquadratic relation of the nonpolar order parameter of the improper ferroelastic phase transition to polarization. The decrease in the ferroelectric phase transition temperature T_c1 (or in the temperature of loss of improper ferroelastic phase stability) with increasing BP concentration in the above limits is due to the decreasing effect of the nonpolar mode on the polar instability, which is accompanied by a weakening of the dielectric anomaly at T=T_c1     

Superconductivity of proximity coupled superconductor-antiferromagnetic multilayers

Nucleation of superconducting phase in proximity coupled superconductor(SC)-antiferromagnetic(AF) multilayers is studied theoretically. For SC layer we use the usual Usadel equations. As an AF layer we consider a normal metal which undergos the magnetic phase transition associated with the nesting electron and hole Fermi surfaces. The basic formalism, suitable for study of the SC phase of the SC/AF system is presented. The superconducting transition temperature,T _c , and upper critical fields,H _c2‖ (T) andH _c2⊥ (T) have been calculated.     

Mandelstam-Brillouin scattering spectra of aqueous solutions of γ-picoline and manifestation of a phase transition of the structural type in these spectra at low concentrations of γ-picoline

The frequency shift Δv of the Mandelstam-Brillouin components in an solution of γ-picoline is studied in relation to the temperature t of the solution (in the range 10–80°C) and the concentration x of γ-picoline (x < 0.1 ppm). The following specific features of the behavior of the quantity Δv are observed: (i) an inversion of the sign of the temperature coefficient of the dependence Δv(t) with a change in the concentration of the solution and (ii) the occurrence of two maxima on the isotherms of the dependence Δv(x), which behave significantly differently with the solution temperature and concentration. These experimental results are discussed from the viewpoint of the manifestation of a phase transition of the structural type in these spectra at small concentrations of γ-picoline in water.     

Superconductivity of vanadium and vanadium-titanium alloys at high pressure

The effect of pressure on the superconducting transition temperature T _c of vanadium and V₉₄Ti₆, V₈₅Ti₁₅, V₆₇Ti₃₃, and V₄₈Ti₅₂ (at %) bcc alloys has been studied. It has been found that the T _c(P) dependence of pure vanadium is close to linear in the pressure ranges 0–14 and 23–32 GPa, whereas dT _c/dP decreases to zero with a pressure increase in the 14–23 GPa range. The T _c(P) curves for all alloys are nonmonotonic and have two features in the respective pressure ranges of 3–11 and (a peak-shaped feature) 15–25 GPa.     

Phasenumwandlung zweiter Art als kritische Erscheinung eines inneren Phasengleichgewichtes

It is demonstrated that the transition in a state with two internal phases is a second order phase transition. The term internal phases means phase-like regions inside the system which are not separated by boundaries in the sense of ordinary phase boundaries, and the dimensions and shape of which as well as their properties as such are object of an equilibrium. In a generalization (quasi phases) a long ranged correlation of alternating or periodical character is considered as a typical element of the low temperature state. Such states can be described thermodynamically with the help of a new pair of variablesQ-η. The transition intoQ-η-T is generally analogous to the critical point of ordinary phase transitions inP-V-T, andη ～(?t)^1/3 andC _p～(?t)^?2/3 with a small constant of proportionality are obtained (t=T-T _u). Using the Pippard-relations in the formV-V _γ=(dT _γ/dP) (S-S _γ) the low temperature behaviour of the entropy and density surface as a function ofP andT near the transition line can be completely described. E.g. the saturation magnetization of a ferromagnetic model is derived proportional to (?t)^1/3. Under the action of a magnetic field the transition will be of first order when the saturation magnetization is achieved, without the outer field being analogous toP orQ. Should only one internal phase differ from the high temperature state we obtain an edge point (x=0 analogous to theμ ₁?x-diagram of solutions) with finite jump inC _p andη～({t). A possible relationship to the BCS- model of the supraconductors is indicated.     

Anomalous temperature dependence of magnetic relaxation in YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7 − δ</Subscript> oxygen-deficient single crystals

The dependence of the magnetization relaxation rate S = ?d lnM/dlnt on temperature T is measured in YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 ? δ} samples with various oxygen concentrations. It is found that the S(T) curve changes qualitatively when oxygen deficit δ exceeds the threshold value δ_th = 0.37. For δ < δ_th (T _c > 60 K, where T _c is the superconducting transition temperature), function S(T) has the well-known peak at T/T _c = 0.4. For δ > δ_th (at T _c < 51 K), this peak transforms into a plateau and a new sharp peak appears at T/T _c = 0.1. The threshold value δ_th of the oxygen deficit corresponds to the transition of the sample from the disordered state into the ordered state of oxygen vacancies. We consider the change in the shape of the S(T) curve as a macroscopic manifestation of this transition.     

Temperature dependence of the surface upper critical field of superconducting alloys

The temperature dependence of the surface upper critical field,H _c3, nearT _c is calculated for arbitrary values of the mean free pathl by taking into account the fourthorder term of the generalized Ginzburg-Landau theory. For finitel the boundary condition is modified such that the normal derivative of the energy gap at the surface becomes positive. The slope of the curveH _c3/H _c2 versust=T/T _c att=1 is found to decrease monotoneously from zero to ?1.040 as one goes from the “dirty” to the “clean” limit.     

Dominant decays of scalar leptoquarks and scalar gluons in the minimal four-color symmetry model

Fermionic and weak decays of the scalar leptoquarks S = S ₁ ⁽⁺⁾ , S ₁ ^(?) , and S _m and the scalar gluons F = F ₁ and F ₂ predicted by the minimal model involving four-color symmetry and the Higgs mechanism of quark-and lepton-mass splitting are considered. The widths and the branching ratios are calculated for these decays, and the results are analyzed versus the couplings and masses of decaying particles. It is shown that, at relatively small mass splittings Δm within scalar doublets (Δm < m _W), the fermionic decays S ₁ ⁽⁺⁾ → tl _j ⁺ , S ₁ ^(?) → v _i \(\tilde b\), S _m → t \(\tilde \nu \) _j, F ₁ → t \(\tilde b\), and F ₂ → t \(\tilde t\), which are characterized by few-GeV widths for m _S, m _F < 1 TeV and decay branching ratios close to unity, are dominant, but that, for Δm > m _W, the weak decays S → S′W and F → F’W compete with the above fermionic decays. In the case of m _S < m _t, the processes S ₁ ⁽⁺⁾ → cl _j ⁺ , S ₁ ^(?) → v _i \(\tilde b\), S _m → bl _j ⁺ , and S _m → c \(\tilde \nu \) _j, whose total branching ratios are Br(S ₁ ⁽⁺⁾ → cl ⁺) ≈ Br(S ₁ ^(?) → v \(\tilde b\)) ≈ 1, Br(S _m → bl ⁺) ≈ 0.9, and Br(S _m → c \(\tilde \nu \)) ≈ 0.1, appear to be dominant decays of scalar leptoquarks. Searches for these decays at LHC and the Tevatron are of interest.     

C<Subscript>60</Subscript> heat capacity anomaly at the orientational phase transition

An orientational phase transition in C60 crystals was studied by differential scanning calorimetry with the highest resolution provided by this method. The temperature dependence of the specific heat ΔC _p (T) was found to have a double peak in the range 250–270 K. An analysis of the temperature dependences of heat capacity in the region of the peaks revealed that the lower temperature peak follows a power law of the type ΔC _p = A/(T?T₀)^1/2 characteristic of order-disorder second-order phase transitions, while the high-temperature peak can be identified with a diffuse Λ-shaped first-order phase transition.     

Optical investigations of structural phase transformations in PbMg<Subscript>1/3</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2/3</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>PbTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> single crystals located at the morphotropic phase boundary

A study has been made of the effect of a dc electric field (0 < E < 4 kV/cm) on the optical transmittance of single-crystal compounds PbMg_1/3Nb_2/3O₃-xPbTiO₃ (PMN-xPT) located at the boundaries of the morphotropic region (x = 32.0 and 36.5%) and directly at the center of the morphotropic region (x = 35%). It is shown that, at temperatures close to the morphotropic phase transition point, the electric field induces two phase transitions in PMN-32PT and PMN-35PT crystals and only one phase transition in PMN-36.5PT. The tetragonal (T) phase induced in all three compounds remains stable after the electric field is removed only in crystals with x = 35.0 and 36.5%, whereas the T phase is metastable and transforms into the monoclinic M _c phase after the field is switched off in the PMN-32PT crystals lying at the boundary of the morphotropic region on the rhombohedral side. It is found that the electric-field-induced intermediate phase M _c in PMN-35PT is inhomogeneous and that M _c transforms into the tetragonal phase in a continuous transition. It is suggested that only the presence of a third orthorhombic phase can account for the continuous character of the transition between the M _c and T phases in PMN-35PT crystals. The results obtained are interpreted in terms of the Devonshire theory for strongly anharmonic crystals. The E-T phase diagrams are constructed for all the crystals.     

Phase diagram and transport properties of Sb-doped Ca0.88La0.12Fe2As2 single crystals

The effects of isovalent Sb substitution on the superconducting properties of the Ca_0.88La_0.12Fe₂(As_1-ySb_y)₂ system have been studied through electrical resistivity measurements. It is seen that the antiferromagnetic or structural transition is suppressed with Sb content, and a high-T_c superconducting phase, accompanied by a low-T_c phase, emerges at 0.02 ≤ y ≤ 0.06. In this intermediate-doping regime, normal-state transport shows non-Fermi-liquid-like behaviors with nearly T-linear resistivity above the high-T_c phase. With further Sb doping, this high-T_c phase abruptly vanishes for y > 0.06 and the conventional Fermi liquid is restored, while the low-T_c phase remains robust against Sb impurities. The coincidence of the high-T_c phase and non-Fermi liquid transport behaviors in the intermediate Sb-doping regime suggests that AFM fluctuations play an important role in the observed non-Fermi liquid behaviors, which may be intimately related to the unusual nonbulk high-T_c phase in this system.     

Thermophysical studies of the phase transitions in (NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>NbOF<Subscript>6</Subscript> crystals

The thermophysical properties of oxyfluoride (NH₄)₃NbOF₆ were studied in detail over wide ranges of temperatures and pressures. At atmospheric pressure, a sequence of four structural phase transitions was established with the following changes in entropy: ΔS ₁ = Rln 2.7, δS ₂ = Rln38.3, ΔS ₃ = 0.08R, and ΔS ₄ = 0.17R. An external hydrostatic pressure was found to narrow the region of existence of the initial cubic phase. A triple point was detected in the p-T diagram; at a pressure above 0.07 GPa, the transition between the tetragonal and monoclinic phases occurs through a distorted high-pressure phase.     

The influence of phase transitions in the Rb<Subscript>2</Subscript>CdI<Subscript>4</Subscript> ferroelastic on the exciton absorption spectrum

The parameters of the long-wavelength exciton band for Rb₂CdI₄ films are investigated in the temperature range 90–410 K. It is found that the Rb₂CdI₄ films undergo a sequence of phase transitions at temperatures T_c1=380 K (paraphase → incommensurate phase), T_c2=290 K (incommensurate phase → ferroelastic phase I), and T_c3 = 210 K (ferroelastic phase I → ferroelastic phase II). The parameters of the exciton band (such as the spectral position and the half-width) measured during heating and cooling of the Rb₂CdI₄ film differ significantly. This is especially true for the incommensurate phase. Upon heating of the incommensurate phase, the domain boundaries become frozen, whereas the cooling of this phase is accompanied by the generation of solitons and their pinning, which, in turn, results in a first-order phase transition at the temperature T_c2. It is revealed that the oscillator strength of the exciton band anomalously increases in the range of existence of commensurate phase I (T_c3<-T<-T_c2) due to ordering of the Rb₂CdI₄ crystal lattice.     

Signal velocity in oscillator arrays

We investigate a system of coupled oscillators on the circle, which arises from a simple model for behavior of large numbers of autonomous vehicles where the acceleration of each vehicle depends on the relative positions and velocities between itself and a set of local neighbors. After describing necessary and sufficient conditions for asymptotic stability, we derive expressions for the phase velocity of propagation of disturbances in velocity through this system. We show that the high frequencies exhibit damping, which implies existence of well-defined signal velocitiesc₊ > 0 and c_? < 0 such that low frequency disturbances travel through the flock as f₊(x ? c₊t) in the direction of increasing agent numbers and f_?(x ? c_?t) in the other.     

Crystallographic and dynamic characteristics of K<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Rb<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>TiOPO<Subscript>4</Subscript> solid solutions in the low-temperature ranges

The unit cell parameters a and c of K_{1 ? x} Rb _x TiOPO₄ (x= 0, 0.3, and 0.5) crystals are investigated using x-ray diffraction in the temperature range 90–320 K. The thermal expansion coefficients along the principal crystallographic axes of the crystals are determined from the obtained temperature dependences of the unit cell parameters. It is found that the parameter a increases with increasing temperature, while the parameter c decreases. For the crystals under investigation, the elastic moduli c ₁₁ and c ₃₃ along the [100] and [001] directions are determined by the ultrasonic pulse-echo technique in the temperature range 100–350 K. It is shown that c ₃₃ > c ₁₁. The anomalies revealed in the temperature dependences of the crystallographic and dynamic characteristics of the samples at a temperature T ≈ 280 K indicate the occurrence of a phase transition. The temperature of the phase transition is found to increase with increasing rubidium content x.