Charge density wave transport in NbSe<Subscript>3</Subscript> at low temperatures under high magnetic field

Charge density wave (CDW) depinning and sliding regimes have been studied in NbSe₃ at low temperatures down to 1.5 K under magnetic field of 19 T oriented along the c-axis. We found that the threshold field for CDW depinning becomes temperature independent below T ₀ ≈ 15 K. Also CDW current to frequency ratio characterizing CDW sliding regime increases by factor 1.7 below this temperature. The results are discussed as a crossover from thermal fluctuation to tunneling CDW depinning at T < T ₀. Besides, we found that CDW sliding strongly suppresses the amplitude of Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations of magnetoresistance.     

Investigation of thermal expansion,phase diagrams,and barocaloric effect in the (NH4)2WO2F4 and (NH4)2MoO2F4 oxyfluorides

The thermal expansion along the principal crystallographic axes of the (NH₄)₂WO₂F₄ and (NH₄)₂MoO₂F₄ oxyfluorides has been studied. The anomalous behavior of α _i (T) due to the phase transitions has been revealed at T ₁ = 271.4 K and T ₂ ≈ 180 K for the molybdate and at T ₁ = 201.5 K and T ₂ ≈ 161 K for the tungstate. The quantities dT/dp and dT/dσ _i , which characterize the dependence of the phase transition temperatures on the hydrostatic and uniaxial pressures, have been determined from analyzing the results of studies of the thermal expansion and heat capacity with the use of the Pippard relations. The p-T and α _i -T phase diagrams reflect different characters of the influence of the pressure on the stability of the initial and distorted phases of the oxyfluorides. The magnitudes of the extensive and intensive barocaloric effects determined in the vicinity of the structural phase transitions are as follows: ΔS _BCE varies from approximately −10 to −17 J/mol K and ΔT _AD ≈ 8−17 K for the molybdate and ΔS _BCE varies from approximately −10 to −17 J/mol K and ΔT _AD ≈ 8−13 K for the tungstate.     

Magnetocaloric effect in the Sm<Subscript>0.55</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.45</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite

The magnetocaloric effect ΔT has been studied by a direct method in two samples of the manganite Sm_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃, namely, a single crystal (sample A) and a ceramic sample (sample C). The temperature dependences of the ΔT effect of both samples exhibit a maximum at T _max = 143.3 K for the sample A and T _max = 143 K for the sample C. In these maxima, the values of the ΔT effect are 0.8 and 0.4 K in the magnetic field H = 14.2 kOe for the samples A and C, respectively. In addition, the ΔT(T) curve of the sample A has a minimum at T _min = 120 K, in which ΔT = −0.1 K. The maximum value of the ΔT effect increases with an increase in the magnetic field H in the range of magnetic fields up to 14.2 kOe, and the rate of this increase at H > 8 kOe is higher than that at H < 8 kOe. These features of the ΔT effect are explained by the presence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic A- and CE-type clusters in the samples.     

Charge density wave and superconductivity in 2H- and 4H-NbSe<Subscript>2</Subscript>: A revisit

Good-quality hexagonal NbSe₂ single crystals were prepared. In 2H-NbSe₂, superconducting and charge density wave (CDW) transitions were found at T _s = 7.4 K and T _c = 35 K respectively as reported previously. We have noticed that these two transitions are changed to T _c = 42 K and T _s = 6.5 K, in 4H-NbSe₂. Thermopower has shown clear anomaly at CDW transitions. The anisotropic upper critical field was calculated as ~3 and 6.3 for 2H- and 4H-single crystals around t = 0.81, where t = T/T _s, from resistivity and explained in terms of coherence length. From the relation, H_c2 (T)=H_c2 (0)[1-t²]H_{\rm c2} (T)=H_{\rm c2} (0)[1-t^2], H_c2^l (0)H_{\rm c2}^l (0) was calculated as ~8.15 T and 16.98 T at t = 0.84 in 2H-NbSe₂ and 4H-NbSe₂ respectively. However, H_c2^t (0) = 2.68H_{\rm c2}^t (0) = 2.68T for both single crystals.     

Hysteresis in the electrical properties of orthorhombic tantalum trisulphide: Evidence for an incommensurate-commensurate charge-density wave transition?

A study of electrical conduction in orthorhombic TaS₃ has revealed the existence of thermal hysteresis throughout the temperature range 55 K < T < 205 K. This is attributed to variability in the wavevector q of the charge-density wave (CDW) which develops below T_p = 215 K, and confirms the recent finding, from electron diffraction, that at temperatures not too far below T_p the CDW is incommensurate with the underlying lattice. Evidence that q becomes commensurate, at least along the chain direction at 55 K is provided by the vanishing of hysteresis at that temperature, and also by a rise in the threshold field for continuous motion of the CDW.From its dependence on temperature it is concluded that between T_p and 55 K the conduction in the linear regime is better described as that of a Peierls semi-metal, rather than that of a Peierls intrinsic semiconductor. At most temperatures within that range electrical hysteresis also is observed, and a detailed study of this leads to the tentative conclusion that translation of the CDW conveys negative charge, carried presumably by negatively-charged discommensurations. The mechanisms of conduction below 55 K remain uncertain.     

Optical studies of phase transitions in oxyfluoride (NH4)2NbOF5

Polarization-optical studies and measurements of the birefringence Δn and the angle of rotation of the optical indicatrix for the (NH₄)₂NbOF₅ crystal have been carried out in the temperature range 100–350 K. Two anomalies of the birefringence have been revealed at the temperatures T ₀₁ = 258 K and T ₀₂ ≈ 219 K. According to the twinning pattern, the crystal undergoes successive changes in symmetry: orthorhombic ↔ monoclinic 1 ↔ monoclinic 2. The twofold axis of the monoclinic phases (or the normal to the plane) is directed along [001]_or. The effect of the uniaxial compression along [011]_or and the electric field E ≈ 25 kV/cm along [100]_or on the twin structure has been studied. The ferroelastic phase transition at T ₀₁ is due to the appearance of the shear deformation x ₄(T) and is accompanied by significant anomalies of the birefringence. Strong pretransition phenomena mask the jumps in the birefringence Δn(T) and in the angle of rotation of the indicatrix φ(T) at T ₀₁.     

Infrared signature of the charge-density-wave gap in ZrTe<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The chain-like ZrTe₃ compound undergoes a charge-density-wave (CDW) transition at T_CDW=63 K, most strongly affecting the conductivity perpendicular to the chains. We measure the temperature (T) dependence of the optical reflectivity from the far infrared up to the ultraviolet with polarized light. The CDW gap Δ(T) along the direction perpendicular to the chains is compatible for T<T_CDW with the behavior of an order parameter within the mean-field Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory. Δ(T) also persists well above T_CDW, which emphasizes the role played by fluctuation effects.     

Heat capacity and magnetocaloric properties of La<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>K<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganites

The magnetocaloric effect and the heat capacity of La_{1 − x} K _x MnO₃ (x = 0.1, 0.15, 0.175) ceramic samples have been studied at temperatures in the range 77–350 K and in magnetic fields of up to 27 kOe. The technique for preparing the samples has been described. The heat capacity anomalies related to the ferromagnetic-paramagnetic magnetic phase transition have been revealed and interpreted. It has been demonstrated that the change in the magnetic entropy ΔS calculated from the data on the heat capacity C _p and direct measurements of the magnetocaloric effect ΔT reaches values that are of practical interest.     

Structural,magnetic, and magnetothermal properties of the Tb<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>Dy<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Co<Subscript>2</Subscript> compound

A complex investigation of the structural, magnetic, and magnetothermal properties of the Tb_0.3Dy_0.7Co₂ compound synthesized with the use of high-purity rare-earth metals has been performed. The phase composition has been controlled using the X-ray structural analysis, and the topology of the alloy surface has been investigated using atomic-force microscopy. It has been established that the Tb_0.3Dy_0.7Co₂ compound is single-phase, while the samples selected for measurements possess a clearly pronounced texture. The magnetization has been measured using a vibrating-sample magnetometer in the fields up to 100 kOe in a temperature range from 4.2 to 200 K. The Curie temperature of the compound is 170 K. The data on the temperature dependence of heat capacity of Tb_0.3Dy_0.7Co₂ have been obtained. The magnetocaloric effect ΔT has been measured by a direct method in the fields up to 18 kOe applied both along and perpendicularly to the texture axis. The anisotropic behavior of the magnitude ΔT for this compound, which possesses the cubic structure, has been found. The maximum value of the magnetocaloric effect ΔT = 2.3 K (ΔH = 18 kOe) has been observed upon applying the magnetic field along the texture axis.     

Phase transitions in oxyfluoride (NH4)2WO2F4

(NH₄)₂WO₂F₄ single crystals are grown, and their polarization-optical, calorimetric, and birefringence properties are studied in the temperature range 90–350 K. A first-order structural phase transition is found to occur at T ₀₁↑ = 202 K with thermal hysteresis of ΔT ₀₁ ≈ 6–12 K. The phase transition is accompanied by twinning and modification of the symmetry . An additional weak anomaly in the differential scanning calorimeter signal is found at T ₀₂ ≈ 170 K. The total thermal effect of both anomalies is ∑ΔH _i = 3200 ± 400 J/mol and ∑ΔS _i = 16.5 ± 2.0 J/mol K. The phase transition at T ₀₁ is of the order-disorder type.     

Enhanced temperature-independent magnetoresistance below the metal-insulator transition temperature of epitaxial La0.2Nd0.4Ca0.4MnO3 thin films

Epitaxial La_0.2Nd_0.4Ca_0.4MnO₃ thin films have been deposited at 800°C on LaAlO₃ substrate using pulsed laser deposition technique. The structural and magnetotransport properties of the films have been studied. The sharp peak in the temperature dependence of the resistance corresponding to metal-to-insulator transition (T _p) has been observed at a temperature of T _p=82 K, 97 K and 110 K for 0 Oe, 20 kOe and 40 kOe magnetic fields, respectively. The film exhibits a large nearly temperature-independent magnetoresistance around 99% in the temperature regime below T _p. The zero field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled (FC) magnetization data at 50 Oe shows irreversibility between the ZFC and FC close to the ferromagnetic transition temperature T _c=250 K. The ZFC temperature data of the film displays ferromagnetic behavior for higher temperature regime T _c=250 K>T>T _p=82 K, and a decrease in magnetization with decreasing temperature up to 5 K below 82 K exhibiting a sort of antiferromagnetic behavior in the low temperature regime (T<82 K=T _p=T _N).     

Low temperature electrical conductivity and magnetoconductivity of Fe39Ni39Mo4Si6B12 and Co58Ni10Fe5Si11B16 metallic glass alloys

A detailed study on the weak localization phenomenon vis-a-vis electron-electron interaction effects in magnetic metallic glasses has been carried out. We measured the electrical conductivity and magnetoconductivity within the temperature range 1.8≤T≤300K. A maximum on the conductivity versus temperature curve exists atT=T _m. The conductivity was observed to follow aT ^1/2 law forT<T _m andT ² law forT>T _m. Magnetoconductivity data of these alloys indicate the prominence of electron-electron interaction at low temperatures. The authors have determined the inelastic scattering field and spin-orbit scattering field from the magnetoconductivity data. The inelastic scattering field obeys aT ^p law (p=2) at low temperatures.     

Novel charge density wave transition in crystals of R5Ir4Si10

We review the observation of novel charge density wave (CDW) transitions in ternary R₅Ir₄Si₁₀ compounds. A high quality single crystal of Lu₅Ir₄Si₁₀ shows the formation of a commensurate CDW along c-axis below 80 K in the (h, 0, l) plane that coexists with BCS type superconductivity below 3.9 K. However, in a single crystal of Er₅Ir₄Si₁₀, one observes the development of a 1D-incommensurate CDW at 155 K, which then locks into a purely commensurate state below 55 K. The well-localized Er³ moments are antiferromagnetically ordered below 2.8 K which results in the coexistence of strongly coupled CDW with local moment antiferromagnetism in Er₅Ir₄Si₁₀. Unlike conventional CDW systems, extremely sharp transition (width ∼ 1.5 K) in all bulk properties along with huge heat capacity anomalies in these compounds makes this CDW transition an interesting one.     

Thermal expansion of orthorhombic and tetragonal phases of the highT c superconductors RE1Ba2Cu3O y (RE=Y,Gd, Dy)

Measurements of the coefficient of linear thermal expansion α have been carried out for the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases of RE₁Ba₂Cu₃O _y (RE=Y, Gd, Dy) compounds using a high resolution capacitance dilatometer in the temperature range 77–300 K. All the superconducting samples exhibit a jump Δα at their respective transition temperatures,T _c. Evidences of, sample-to-sample variation in α values and dependence of Δα on the sample preparation conditions, have been obtained. The non-superconducting samples, in general, exhibit lower values of α possibly because of lowering of oxygen content.     

Current-voltage characteristics for a Peierls-conducting point contact

Current-voltage (J-V) and differential-conductivity-voltage ( dJ/dV-V) characteristics are analytically calculated at zero temperature for a point contact consisting of: two Peierls conductors P ( = 1, 2) separated by an insulator (I). Here P is a conductor with charge density wave (CDW). The J-V and dJ/dV-V characteristics depend on the CDW phases ( = 1, 2) in the mean field approximation. To calculate them analytically we assumed, = ≡Δ where ( = 1, 2) are the energy gaps of P ( = 1, 2). The current J has a discontinuous jump at eV = 2Δ for ϕ ₁ = ϕ ₂≠ 0. The differential conductivity dJ/dV has a singularity at eV = 2Δ for ϕ ₁ = ϕ ₂≠ 0. The relation J(V,ϕ ₁,ϕ ₂) = - J(- V,ϕ ₁ + π,ϕ ₂ + π) is obtained. Received 4 July 2001 and Received in final form 13 September 2001     

PHENIX study of dihadron correlation in Au+Au collision at ?{sNN } \sqrt {s_{NN} } = 200 GeV: jet quenching and medium response

We provide a detailed survey study of dihadron azimuthal angle (Δϕ) correlations in a broad range of transverse momentum (0.4 < p _T < 10 GeV/c) and centrality (0–92%) in Au+Au collisions at 149-2 = 200 GeV. The evolution of the jet shape and yield with p _T seems to suggest two distinct components at the away-side pairs: a suppressed jet fragmentation component around Δϕ ∼ π, and a medium-induced components around |Δϕ − π| ∼ 1.1. The former dominates p _T > 5 GeV/c and the later dominates at p _T < 4 GeV/c.     

Dielectric properties of solid solutions (1 ? x)(KBi)1/2TiO3-xNa1/4Bi3/4Fe1/2Ti1/2O3 near the morphotropic phase boundary

The dielectric properties of solid solution ceramics (1 − x)(KBi)_1/2TiO₃-(x/2)(NaBi)_1/2TiO₃-(x/2)BiFeO₃ near the morphotropic phase boundary lying near x = 0.75 and separating the compositions with the orthorhombic (x < 0.75) and rhombohedral (x > 0.75) structures have been studied. The solid solutions are shown to undergo a diffuse phase transition with the Curie temperature T _C = 640–650 K. Based on an analysis of the frequency dependence of the imaginary component of the electric modulus in the range T > T _C, it is concluded that the transition of the system of solid solutions near the morphotropic phase boundary (x = 0.75) to the dipole-ordered state is accompanied by the formation of heterophase microregions with different relaxation times of the dielectric polarization. The activation energies of the relaxation of the dielectric polarization (ΔE _M ) in the aforementioned temperature range and of the dc charge carriers (ΔE _dc ) are determined. It is found that ΔE _dc stepwise increases near 570 K in going toward higher temperatures. It is shown that the behavior of the characteristics of the dielectric response of the solid solutions below 400 K corresponds to a relaxor ferroelectric. For the compositions 0.7 ≤ x ≤ 0.8, the estimated freezing temperature of dipole clusters of the relaxation state is about 240 K, and their activation energy decreases with increasing x.     

Specific heat anomaly in the 90 K superconductor HoBa2Cu3O7−y

We report here the results of our heat capacityC _p measurements on a monophasic material HoBa₂Cu₃O_7−y . ΔC _p/T_c, the jump inC _p at the superconducting transition temperature (=91 K) of the material is measured to be 31 mJ/mol-K².     

Negative magnetoresistance in mixed-valence La0.6Y0.1Ca0.3MnO3: Evidence for charge localization governed by the Curie-Weiss law

The colossal negative magnetoresistance Δρ observed in La_0.6Y_0.1Ca_0.3MnO₃ at B=1 T shows an unusual, nearly perfect symmetry (around the peak temperature T ₀=160 K), suggestive of a Curie-Weiss-dominated transport mechanism in this material both above and below the field-dependent Curie temperature T _C ≡ T ₀. Attributing this symmetry to strong magnetic fluctuations below T _C (which are triggered by the Y substitution and cause a “bootstrap” destruction of the ferromagnetic phase), the data are interpreted in terms of the nonthermal spin hopping and magnetization-dependent charge carrier localization scenario leading to , with the magnetization M(T,B)=CB/|T−T _C(B)|^ν. The separate fits through all the data points above and below T _C yield C ⁺≃2C ⁻ and ν₊≃ν₋≃1, in agreement with the predictions of the Landau mean-field theory. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 70, No. 2, 136–140 (25 July 1999) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

Magnetoresistance and magnetic ordering in praseodymium and neodymium hexaborides

The magnetoresistance Δρ/ρ of single-crystal samples of praseodymium and neodymium hexaborides (PrB₆ and NdB₆) has been measured at temperatures ranging from 2 to 20 K in a magnetic field of up to 80 kOe. The results obtained have revealed a crossover of the regime from a small negative magnetoresistance in the paramagnetic state to a large positive magnetoresistive effect in magnetically ordered phases of the PrB₆ and NdB₆ compounds. An analysis of the dependences Δρ(H)/ρ has made it possible to separate three contributions to the magnetoresistance for the compounds under investigation. In addition to the main negative contribution, which is quadratic in the magnetic field (−Δρ/ρ ∝ H ²), a linear positive contribution (Δρ/ρ ∝ H) and a nonlinear ferromagnetic contribution have been found. Upon transition to a magnetically ordered state, the linear positive component in the magnetoresistance of the PrB₆ and NdB₆ compounds becomes dominant, whereas the quadratic contribution to the negative magnetoresistance is completely suppressed in the commensurate magnetic phase of these compounds. The presence of several components in the magnetoresistance has been explained by assuming that, in the antiferromagnetic phases of PrB₆ and NdB₆, ferromagnetic nanoregions (ferrons) are formed in the 5d band in the vicinity of the rareearth ions. The origin of the quadratic contribution to the negative magnetoresistance is interpreted in terms of the Yosida model, which takes into account scattering of conduction electrons by localized magnetic moments of rare-earth ions. Within the approach used, the local magnetic susceptibility χ_loc has been estimated. It has been demonstrated that, in the temperature range T _N < T < 20 K, the behavior of the local magnetic susceptibility χ_loc for the compounds under investigation can be described with good accuracy by the Curie-Weiss dependence χ_loc ∝ (T − Θ _p )⁻¹.