Pressure and temperature induced modification of luminescence from tetracene single crystals

Fluorescence spectra of crystalline tetracene have been recorded in the temperature range 120 to 300 K under hydrostatic pressure up to 600 MPa. From discontinuities in both emission spectra and spectral intensities it is concluded that two phase transitions occur. The room temperature phase is transformed to a low temperature phase/high pressure phase I at T^I_t (p = 0) = 182 K, the temperature coefficient being dT^I_t/dp = 0.395 K/MPa. The phase transition is induced by a decrease of the specific volume under pressure and/or upon cooling. Lack of a significant shift of the origin of the fluorescence band near T^I_t at constant pressure is an artifact resulting from the neglect of reabsorption effects. The Stokes shift is 260 cm^-1, independent of temperature and crystal modification. In accord with previous Raman data a second phase transition occurs at T^II_t (p) = 143 K, the pressure shift being dT^II_t/dp = 0.088 K/MPa.In addition, the shift of the triplet energy as a function of pressure as well as the pressure-dependence of the rate constants governing fission of a singlet exciton into a pair of triplets is discussed utilizing their magnetic field dependences.     

Decoupling of the order-disorder and displacive contributions to the phase transition in NH4H(ClH2CCOO)2

The effects of hydrostatic pressure and substitution of Rb⁺for the ammonium cations on the ferroelectric phase transition temperature in NH₄H(ClH₂CCOO)₂ have been studied by electric permittivity measurements. The transition temperature (T_c) decreases with increasing pressure up to 800 MPa and the pressure coefficient dT_c/dp=−1.4×10⁻² [K/MPa] has been experimentally determined. The substitution of Rb⁺ for the ammonium cations has been shown to considerably lower the ferroelectric phase transition temperature T_c. In mixed crystals, additional electric permittivity anomaly has been clearly evidenced. The results are discussed assuming a model, which combines polarizability effects, related to the heavy ion units, with the pseudo-spin tunnelling.     

The phase state revisited: the Heisenberg limit in a quantum nondemolition measurement and the nonclassical depth of the state

We consider a quantum nondemolition measurement, the apparatus consisting of a Mach–Zehnder single-photon (signal) interferometer where in one arm the signal interacts (through a Kerr medium) with a probe beam. This interaction affects the visibility of the interferometer and induces a phase shift in the state of the probe beam. Here we investigate the effects of such interaction when the probe state is in the truncated phase state, |Θ_m〉=(1+N)^−1/2∑_n=0^Ne^inΘ_m|n〉, analyze the Heisenberg limit for the phase shift measurement, and its possible relation to the nonclassical depth of the state.     

Transferred hyperfine field of Rb2CoCl4 single crystals in the ferroelectric-incommensurate-normal phase by Rb NMR

The molecular susceptibility and paramagnetic shift of Rb₂CoCl₄ single crystals grown using the slow evaporation method were measured, and from these experimental results we obtained the transferred hyperfine interaction due to the transfer of spin density from Co²⁺ ions to Rb⁺ ions. The transferred hyperfine field was obtained for the ferroelectric, incommensurate, and normal phases. In the case of Rb(I), the transferred hyperfine interaction decreases with increasing temperature in the incommensurate phase, and increases with increasing temperature in the normal phase. The value of H_hf in the incommensurate and normal phases increases abruptly with increasing temperature in the case of Rb(II). These results indicate that the effects due to the transfer of spin density from Co²⁺ ions to the Rb(I) and Rb(II) ions are large above T_i. In particular, the effect due to the transfer of spin density to Rb(II) ions in the normal phase is very large; the variations with temperature of the transferred hyperfine interactions of the Rb(I) and Rb(II) nuclei are more or less continuous in T_c1 and T_i, and are not affected by the ferroelectric-incommensurate-normal phase transitions.     

Phase transformations in perovskites TbBaCo2−x FexO5 + γ

The transport, magnetic, and elastic properties of TbBaCo_2?x Fe_xO_{5 + γ} are investigated. It is shown that these compounds exhibit first-order metal-insulator and antiferromagnet-weak ferromagnet transitions in the orthorhombic phase (x < 0.12), while these transitions are not observed in the tetragonal phase (x > 0.12). In the concentration range corresponding to the orthorhombic phase, doping with iron stabilizes the weakly ferromagnetic phase. However, the tetragonal phase is antiferromagnetic. Oxygen vacancies are assumed to be ordered in the orthorhombic case and disordered in the tetragonal phase. An analysis of Young’s modulus, magnetostriction, and effects of pressure and substitution of the O¹⁸ oxygen isotopes for O¹⁶ indicates a weak correlation between magnetic transformations and the crystal lattice.     

Phase transition and ferroelastic property studied by using the Cs nuclear magnetic resonance in a CsHSO4 single crystal

The ¹³³Cs spin-lattice relaxation time in a CsHSO₄ single crystal was measured in the temperature range from 300 to 450 K. The changes in the ¹³³Cs spin-lattice relaxation rate near T_c1 (=333 K) and T_c2 (=415 K) correspond to phase transitions in the crystal. The small change in the spin-lattice relaxation time across the phase transition from II to III is due to the fact that during the phase transition, the crystal lattice does not change very much; thus, this transition is a second-order phase transition. The abrupt change of T₁ around T_c2 (II-I phase transition) is due to a structural phase transition from the monoclinic to the tetragonal phase; this transition is a first-order transition. The temperature dependences of the relaxation rates in phases I, II, and III are indicative of a single-phonon process and can be represented by T₁⁻¹=A+BT. In addition, from the stress-strain hysteresis loop and the ¹³³Cs nuclear magnetic resonance, we know that the CsHSO₄ crystal has ferroelastic characteristics in phases II and III.     

Orientational and positional disorder of ions and its freezing in the CsNO2-TlNO2 system2

The heat capacities of Cs_0.695Tl_0.305NO₂ (Specimen I) and Cs_0.385Tl_0.615NO₂ (Specimen II) have been measured between 14 and 350 K. Specimen I underwent a phase transition at (197.7 ± 0.1) K, with ΔS = (19.2 ± 1.5) JK^?mol^?, and specimen II at (214.5 ± 0.2) K, with ΔS = (5.4 ± 1.0) JK^?1mol^?1, respectively. Above the phase transition, an exothermic temperature drift due to phase separation was observed. Annealing of the sample at 203 K for 300 hr brought about complete phase separation. The solid solution system annealed at 203 K gave two heat capacity peaks at (203.3 ± 0.1) K, with ΔS = (13.8 ± 0.8) JK^?1 mol^?1, and (242.4 ± 0.2) K, with ΔS = (10.6 ± 1.3) JK^?1 for Specimen I, and at (203.0 ± 0.1) K with ΔS = (6.7 ± 0.5) JK^?1 mol^?1, and (257.5 ± 0.2) K with ΔS = (17.9 ± 1.7) JK^?1 mol^?1 for Specimen II. The phase diagram of the CsNO₂-TlNO₂ binary system was constructed on the basis of DTA, heat capacity and dielectric measurements. In the metastable phase, the existence of a residual entropy due to the freezing of a random distribution of Cs⁺₁ and Tl⁺ cations in addition to the orientational disorder of the NO₂^?1 ion was confirmed by a comparison of entropies of the stable and the metastable phases.     

Temperature dependence of EPR spectrum of Mn2+ doped in ammonium iodide single crystals

EPR of Mn²⁺ doped in ammonium iodide single crystal has been studied at X-band in the temperature range 573–577 K. The observed temperature dependence of line widths and spin Hamiltonian parameter b₂⁰ below room temperature is related to the structural transformations in the crystal. The coexistence of high temperature phase (NaCl) and low temperature phase (CsCl) is attributed to the large thermal hysteresis in line widths and b₂⁰. The dissociation of ion vacancy pairs occurs near 500 K and is reflected in the reversible change of an anisotropic EPR spectrum in an isotropic sextet near this temperature. The ion vacancy pair models for NaCl and CsCl phases are discussed along with the effects of thermal processing of the samples. Heating the crystals above 500 K leads to expulsion of Mn²⁺ impurity from the crystal.     

Conventional and inverse magnetocaloric effects,and critical behaviors in Ni43Mn46Sn8In3 alloy

A systematic study of the conventional and inverse magnetocaloric effects, and critical behaviors in an alloy ingot of Ni₄₃Mn₄₆Sn₈In₃ has been performed. Our results reveal the sample exhibiting structural and magnetic phase transitions at temperatures T_C^M = 166 K (T_C of the martensitic phase), T_M–A = 260 K (the martensitic-to-austenitic phase transformation) and T_C^A = 296 K (T_C of the austenitic phase). The large values of refrigerant capacity (RC) around T_M–A and T_C^A are found to be RC_M–A = 172.6 and RC_A = 155.9 J kg⁻¹, respectively, under an applied field change of 30 kOe. Our critical analyses near the T_C^M and T_C^A reveal that a coexistence of the long- and short-range ferromagnetic order in the martensitic phase, while the long-range ferromagnetic order exists in the austenitic phase. Interestingly, at around T_C^A, the maximum magnetic entropy change (|ΔS_max|) versus magnetic field H obeys a power law, |ΔS_max| = a·Hⁿ, where the exponent n is found to be about 0.66.     

Effects of the single-ion anisotropy and dimerization on 1D spin-1 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain

One-dimensional quantum spin-1 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain (AFHC) with exchange anisotropy J_z, dimerization δ and single-ion anisotropy D∑_n(S_n^z)² was investigated on the basis of the continuum representation of the model Hamiltonian. Analytical results for the excitation spectrum, phase order and the phase fluctuation φ were derived in a self-consistent-harmonic-field approach. We studied the effects of the single-ion anisotropy and dimerization on two gaps by taking the different momentum cutoff α_i in two scalar field spaces H_i (i=1,2). The occurrences of richer phase transitions were understood in the viewpoints of the phase fluctuation and the z polar spin fluctuation. And the Gaussian critical line was given as J_z−D−πα₁δ=0.     

NMR studies of hydrogen diffusion in hydrogen uranyl phosphate tetrahydrate (HUP)

¹H NMR spin-lattice relaxation times, T₁ (Zeeman) and T_1ϱ (rotating frame) and spin-spin relaxation times, T₂, and ³¹P NMR solid-echoes are reported for phase I and II of hydrogen uranyl phosphate tetrahydrate (HUP) at temperatures in the range 200–323 K. The spectral density functions extracted from the measured relaxation times for phases I and II are consistent with a 2D diffusion mechanism for hydrogen motion. ³¹P second moments determined from the solid-echoes show that all the hydrogens diffuse rapidly in phase I, and that the hydrogen-bond site nearest to the phosphate oxygen is not occupied in phase II. The mechanism for diffusion in phase II is discussed.     

The heat capacity of the layer compound tetrachlorobis (methylammonium) manganese—II (CH3NH3)2MnCl4, from 10 to 300k

The heat capacity of the layer compound, tetrachlorobis (methylammonium) manganese II, (CH₃NH₃)₂MnCl₄, has been measured over the range 10K <T<300K. In this region, two structural phase transitions have been observed previously by other techniques: one transition is from a monoclinic low temperature (MLT) phase to a tetragonal low temperature (TLT) phase, and the other is from TLT to an orthorhombic room temperature (ORT) phase. The present experiments have shown that the lower transition (MLT→TLT) occurs at T = 94.37±0.05K with ΔH_t = 727±5 J mol^?1 and ΔS_t = 7.76±0.05 J K^?1 mol^?1, and the upper transition (TLT→ORT) takes place at T = 257.02±0.07K with ΔH_t = 116±1J mol^?1 and ΔS_t = 0.451±0.004 J K^?1mol^?1. These results are discussed in the light of recent measurements on (CH₃NH₃)₂CdCl₄, and also with regard to a recent theoretical model of the structural phase transitions in compounds of this type.In addition to the structural phase transitions, (CH₃NH₃)₂MnCl₄ also undergoes magnetic ordering at T < 150K. The magnetic component to the heat capacity, as deduced from a corresponding states comparison of the heat capacity of the present compound with that of the Cd compound, is shown to be consistent with the behaviour expected for a quasi 2-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet.     

Proton diffusion in the room-temperature phase of [(NH4)1−xRbx]3H(SO4)2 as studied by 1H spin-lattice relaxation in the rotating frame

Proton diffusion in the room-temperature phase (phase II) of [(NH₄)_1?xRb_x]₃H(SO₄)₂ (0≤x≤1) has been studied by means of ¹H spin-lattice relaxation times in the rotating frame, T_1ρ. The ¹H T_1ρ values were measured at 200.13 MHz in the range of 380–490 K. The ammonium protons and the acidic protons have independent T_1ρ values in the higher temperature range of phase II, suggesting that the spin diffusion between the two species is ineffective. The translational diffusion of the acidic protons is the most dominant mechanism to relax both the ammonium protons and the acidic protons in phase II. The ¹H T_1ρ values in phase II are analyzed theoretically and the motional parameters are obtained. The results of NMR well explain the macroscopic proton conductivity.     

Homogeneous He-He solid solutions in the pre-separation region

Temperature dependences of the pressure P(T) in homogeneous solid ³He-⁴He mixtures have been studied experimentally in the wide range of concentrations (35.0%, 62.0%, 68.3%, 74.1%, 75.0%, and 89.3% ³He) above and below the equilibrium phase separation temperature T_s. An anomalous behaviour of the pressure in the vicinity of T_s is found for all investigated samples. With decreasing temperature, as T_s is approached, the pressure increases instead of expected reduction due to decrease in the phonon contribution (P_ph∼T⁴). Such an increase in pressure continues in the metastable region below T_s until the mixture separates. Theoretical interpretation of the observed effects based on a rigorous thermodynamic approach is proposed. The found experimentally pressure behaviour can be described only with the consistent account for fluctuations in the impurity subsystem which near T_s dominates over phonon contribution into the pressure. The obtained theoretical results are in good quantitative agreement with the experimental data. Density fluctuations in the concentrated mixtures give rise to a spontaneous formation of impuriton nano-clusters containing several hundreds of atoms. The fluctuation can be rigorously interpreted as a nucleus of the second phase in the pre-separated homogeneous solid mixture. The estimated size of the fluctuation nano-clusters agrees with the corresponding value for second phase nuclei obtained from the Lifshits-Slesov phenomenological theory of homogeneous nucleation.     

Characterization of uranium(VI) sorption by organobentonite

The U(VI) sorption on the bentonite modified by hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA) was studied in the concentration range: 0.0001-0.001 mol/dm³ in the aqueous phase and in the pH range: 3-10. The experiments concerning the pH influence on the molar absorption coefficient c_b of U(VI) in the bentonite phase showed that the species: UO₂²⁺, UO₂(OH)⁺, UO₂(OH)₂ UO₂(OH)₃⁻, UO₂(OH)₄²⁻, (UO₂)₃(OH)₅⁺, (UO₂)₃(OH)₇⁻, present in the aqueous phase, are responsible for uranium sorption. Their sorption parameters K were determined and it is evident that for higher concentrations of HDTMA⁺ cations in the bentonite phase, i.e. for b96-b157 bentonite, the presence of anionic species: UO₂(OH)₃⁻, UO₂(OH)₄²⁻, and (UO₂)₃(OH)₇⁻ in the aqueous phase results in the increase of U(VI) molar absorption coefficient c_b in the sorbent phase.     

Quantum bicriticality in Mn1 − x Fe x Si solid solutions: Exchange and percolation effects

The T-x magnetic phase diagram of Mn_{1 ? x} Fe _x Si solid solutions is probed by magnetic susceptibility, magnetization and resistivity measurements. The boundary limiting phase with short-range magnetic order (analogue of the chiral liquid) is defined experimentally and described analytically within simple model accounting both classical and quantum magnetic fluctuations together with effects of disorder. It is shown that Mn_{1 ? x} Fe _x Si system undergoes a sequence of two quantum phase transitions. The first “underlying” quantum critical (QC) point x* ～ 0.11 corresponds to disappearance of the long-range magnetic order. This quantum phase transition is masked by short-range order phase, however, it manifests itself at finite temperatures by crossover between classical and quantum fluctuations, which is predicted and observed in the paramagnetic phase. The second QC point x _c ～ 0.24 may have topological nature and corresponds to percolation threshold in the magnetic subsystem of Mn_{1 ? x} Fe _x Si. Above x _c the short-range ordered phase is suppressed and magnetic subsystem becomes separated into spin clusters resulting in observation of the disorder-driven QC Griffiths-type phase characterized by an anomalously divergent magnetic susceptibility χ ～ 1/T ^ξ with the exponents ξ ～ 0.5–0.6.     

Structural and magnetic inhomogeneities, phase transitions, 55Mn NMR, and magnetoresistive properties of La0.6Sr0.2Mn1.2 − x Nb x O3 ceramics

Ceramic samples of lanthanum strontium manganite perovskites La_0.6Sr_0.2Mn_{1.2 ? x} Nb _x O₃ (x = 0–0.3) annealed at temperatures of 1260 and 1500°C have been investigated using the X-ray diffraction, electron microscopic, resistive, magnetoresistive, and magnetic (χ_ac, ⁵⁵Mn NMR) methods. It has been found that there is a correlation between the increasing unit cell parameter a of the rhombohedral R $\bar 3$ c structure and the average ionic radius with increasing niobium concentration x and annealing temperature for the case where the lattice contains anion vacancies, cation vacancies, and nanostructured clusters. The observed increase in the electrical resistivity and decrease in the temperatures of metal-semiconductor phase transition T _ms and ferromagnetic-paramagnetic phase transition T _C with an increase in the niobium concentration x and the annealing temperature have been explained by the decrease in the content of the ferromagnetic phase, as well as by changes in the ratio Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺, the oxygen nonstoichiometry, and the concentration of defects weakening the high-frequency electronic exchange of the ions Mn³⁺ ? Mn⁴⁺. The presence of nanostructured clusters in the lattice has been confirmed by an anomalous hysteresis associated with the unidirectional exchange anisotropy of the interaction between the ferromagnetic matrix and antiferromagnetic clusters with Mn²⁺ and Nb³⁺ in distorted A-positions. An analysis of the asymmetrically broadened ⁵⁵Mn NMR spectra and their computer decomposition have revealed a high-frequency electronic exchange and an inhomogeneity of the magnetic and valence states of manganese due to the nonuniform distribution of all ions and defects. Two types of magnetoresistive effects have been found: one effect, which is observed near the phase transition temperatures T _C and T _ms, is caused by scattering at intracrystalline nanostructured heterogeneities of the imperfect perovskite structure, and the other effect, which is observed in the low-temperature range, is induced by tunneling through intercrystalline mesostructured boundaries. The phase diagram has demonstrated that there is a strong correlation between the composition, structure, resistive and magnetic properties of rare-earth manganites.     

Effects of the phase transition in Hg2(Br,I)2 crystals

The effects of the phase transition in Hg₂(Br,I)₂ crystals have been investigated over a wide range of temperatures by the Raman scattering spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The overtones (at the X point of the Brillouin zone boundary) and the fundamental tones (at the center of Brillouin zone) of soft modes are found in the Raman spectra of these crystals and studied in detail. The density of one-phonon states of the soft TA branch manifests itself in the Raman spectra of mixed crystals. The potentialities of the soft-mode spectroscopy are realized in full measure. Analysis of the ratio between intensities of overtones and fundamental tones of the soft modes has demonstrated the applicability of the Landau phenomenological theory of phase transitions. The orthorhombic splitting of the reflections corresponding to the basal plane is revealed in the X-ray diffraction patterns and thoroughly explored. The temperature dependences of the isotropic and shear spontaneous strains are obtained. It is shown that the shear spontaneous strain plays a decisive role. The critical indices are determined and the model of the improper ferroelastic phase transition D _4h ¹⁷ → D _2h ¹⁷ in the vicinity of the tricritical point is corroborated.     

Mössbauer and optical investigation of Co3−x Fe x O4 thin films grown by sol–gel process

Structural transformation and the related variation in magnetic and optical properties of Co_3?x Fe _x O₄ thin films grown by a sol–gel method have been investigated as the Fe composition varies up to x?=?2. The normal spinel phase is dominant below x?=?0.55 and the inverse spinel phase grows as x increases further. Conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) measurements indicate that the normal spinel phase have octahedral Fe³⁺ ions mostly while the inverse spinel phase contain octahedral Fe²⁺ and tetrahedral Fe³⁺ ions. For higher Fe composition (x?>?1.22), Co²⁺ ions are found to substitute the octahedral Fe²⁺ sites. The measured optical absorption spectra for the Co_3?x Fe _x O₄ films by spectroscopic ellipsometry support the CEMS interpretation.     

Imperfection of the clustered perovskite structure, phase transitions, and magnetoresistive properties of ceramic La0.6Sr0.2Mn1.2 ? x Ni x O3 ± δ (x = 0–0.3)

Ceramic samples of lanthanum strontium manganite perovskites La_0.6Sr_0.2Mn_{1.2 ? x} Ni _x O_{3 ± ??} (0 ?? x ?? 0.3) have been investigated using the X-ray diffraction, magnetic (??_ac), ⁵⁵Mn NMR, resistive, and magnetoresistive methods. The specific features of the influence of the composition on the structure and properties of nonstoichiometric manganite perovskites have been established. It has been found that the rhombohedrally (R $\bar 3$ c) distorted perovskite structure contains cation and anion vacancies, as well as nanostructured clusters with Mn²⁺ ions in the A-positions. The substitution of Ni³⁺ ions (r = 0.74 ?) for Mn³⁺ ions (r = 0.785 ?) leads to a decrease in the lattice parameter a, the ferromagnetic-paramagnetic phase transition temperature T _C, and the metal-semiconductor phase transition temperature T _ms due to the disturbance of the superexchange interactions between heterovalent manganese ions Mn³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺. The observed anomalous magnetic hysteresis at 77 K has been explained by the antiferromagnetic effect of the unidirectional exchange anisotropy of the ferromagnetic matrix structure on the magnetic moments of the superstoichiometric manganese Mn²⁺ ions located in nanostructured planar clusters. An analysis of the asymmetrically broadened ⁵⁵Mn NMR spectra of the compounds has revealed a high-frequency electronic superexchange of the ions Mn³⁺ ? O^2? ? Mn⁴⁺; a local heterogeneity of their surrounding by other ions, vacancies, and clusters; and a partial localization of Mn⁴⁺ ions. The local hyperfine interaction fields on ⁵⁵Mn nuclei have been determined. The concentration dependences of the activation energy and charge hopping frequency have confirmed that the Ni ions decrease the electrical conductivity due to the weakening of the electronic superexchange Mn³⁺ ? O^2? ? Mn⁴⁺. Two types of magnetoresistive effects have been found: one effect, which is observed near the phase transition temperatures T _C and T _ms, is caused by scattering at intracrystalline nanostructured heterogeneities, and the other effect, which is observed in the low-temperature range, is induced by tunneling through intercrystalline mesostructured boundaries. The phase diagram has demonstrated that there is a strong correlation between magnetic and electrical properties in rare-earth manganites.