Hyperfine fields at surfaces and interfaces

Magnetism and hyperfine fields at transition metal surfaces are discussed using state-of-the-art local spin density methods. Emphasis is placed on recent results obtained for the Fe(001), Ni(001), Cr(001) and Ag/Fe(001) ferromagnetic surfaces, and for the Knight shift in Pt(001).     

Magnetism at surfaces and interfaces

The current state-of-the-art of ab-initio calculations of the magnetic structures of surfaces and interfaces is highlighted by presenting results obtained with the recently developed full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method for thin films. In particular, spin density maps, (induced) magnetic moments and hyperfine-fields are presented for the clean metal surfaces Fe(001), Ni(001) and Pt(001). The magnetic moments on an interface are discussed for the prototypical case Ni/Cu.     

Microgels and fractal structures at interfaces and surfaces

The behavior of microgels near surfaces and their adsorption is studied by simple scaling theory. Two different types of microgels can be studied, i.e., fractal type microgels and randomly crosslinked polymer chains. In the first case the gel can be described mainly by introducing a spectral dimension. The second type requires more attention and uses the number of crosslinks as parameter. The main result is that soft gels with weakly coupled crosslinks and a low number of crosslinks adsorb much better than hard gels, with many crosslinks. Similar results for fractal gels and branched polymer are presented. Fractal gels with low connectivity adsorb easier than gels with a large connectivity dimension. We discuss also consequences on surface protection by microgels. Received: 11 August 1997 / Received in final form: 20 November 1997 / Accepted 22 January 1998     

Frontiers in infrared spectroscopy at surfaces and interfaces

An overview of advances in infrared (IR) spectroscopy is presented. Recent results in several areas of topical interest, including examples in biocompatibility, dielectric films, in situ chemical reactions, and electron relaxation in nanoparticles, are highlighted. Major advances in IR experimental methods include the development of accelerator-based sources of IR light and the application of novel techniques to examine complex systems. These advances, and their role in elucidating crucial insights about surfaces and interfaces, are illustrated by recent work in the literature. After reviewing the current state of the art, promising future directions are discussed. In particular, superb opportunities are expected to develop in a broad range of scientific disciplines, e.g., biology, device engineering, chemistry, and physics.     

Hyperfine interactions in chromium

Conclusion Our experiments suggest that Tantalum in Chromium is non magnetic and does not clamp the S.D.W. The various transitions of chromium have been observed. On the other hand rhodium seems to couple with the S.D.W. but the interaction, if any, between rhodium and the S.D.W. does not strongly modify the shape of the S.D.W. TDPAC experiments are therefore a useful tool to investigate the magnetic properties of impurities dissolved in a chromium matrix. This is extremely interesting because the formation of a localized moment in an itinerant antiferromagnet as well as their interaction with the S.D.W.'s have never been studied. It is also interesting to note that S.D.W.'s could couple magnetic impurities at very large distances and then could give rise to a special type of spin glass.     

Radioactive ions for solid-state investigations at magnetic surfaces and interfaces

Hyperfine interactions observed at isomeric states of radioactive probe nuclei are used as a tool for solid-state investigations. This method is sensitive to atomic-scale properties. In recent years surface and interface investigations using radioactive probes delivered many results which can hardly be achieved by any other method. Several groups, e.g., from Konstanz, Leuven, Groningen, Aarhus, Uppsala, Tel Aviv, Pennsylvania, contributed to this field. Our group studies magnetic properties at surfaces and interfaces performing perturbed angular correlation (PAC) measurements in the UHV chamber ASPIC (Apparatus for Surface Physics and Interfaces at CERN). We take advantage of the enhanced variety of PAC probes delivered by the on-line mass separator ISOLDE. First, we report on measurements of magnetic hyperfine fields ( B _hf) at Se adatoms on a ferromagnetic substrate using ⁷⁷Se as a PAC probe. The investigation of induced magnetic interactions in nonmagnetic materials is a further subject of our studies. Here the nonmagnetic 4d element Pd is investigated, when it is in contact with ferromagnetic nickel. An outlook will be given on studies to be done in the future. The experiments were performed at the HMI, Berlin, and at CERN, Geneva. Received: 1 May 2001 / Accepted: 4 December 2001     

Defects at surfaces and interfaces — A scattering theoretical approach

A theory for isolated defects at surfaces and interfaces of semiinfinite solids is presented and applied to vacancies at or near surfaces. Vacancy-induced changes in the surface electronic structure of a simple cubic s-band model are discussed in detail and are found to converge very slowly to corresponding bulk vacancy results when the defect is moved into the solid. Results for Ga and As vacancies at GaAs surfaces are discussed in connection with recent experimental data.     

Hyperfine interactions in cubic perovskites

ABO₃ perovskites display several physical properties determined by the characteristics of A and B cations. These compounds have cubic structure at high temperature. Lower symmetry cells that are distorted cubes are found at low temperature. Defects modify the properties of these compounds. Under standard conditions oxygen vacancies are produced. Cation substitution also alters the characteristics of perovskites. These materials have been studied by Perturbed Angular Correlation (PAC) spectroscopy and other hyperfine techniques. In this way abundant information is available to determine charge distributions close to probes. In the cubic phase perturbations were detected that are produced by the interaction of probes with defects. To show up these effects we analyze the quadrupole interaction at ¹⁸¹Ta in several compounds: ABO₃ with A=Ca, Sr and Ba, BaTi_1−x Hf _x O₃ and PbZr_1−x Ti _x O₃ for 0⩽x⩽1. Three different quadrupole interactions were found and are interpreted in terms of distinct probe-oxygen vacancy configurations. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Hyperfine interactions in isolated ions

Conclusion It has been demonstrated that the effect of a tilted multifoil array on an ensemble of nuclei approaches a regular precession in a field of magnitude pH in the direction of the tilt axis. The magnitude of the precession can, under certain circumstances, be considerably larger than in a transient field, the only other method available today for measurements in the picosecond range. The technology of multifoil arrays has not been fully mastered to date, the immediate objective being the construction of arrays which keep their shape and spacings for many hours in a particle beam.     

Mapping out electron-electron interactions at surfaces

Using a high resolution coincidence technique, we measured for the first time the angular and energy correlation of an electron pair emitted from the valence band of a single crystal upon the impact of an electron with a specified momentum. We observe a hole in the measured two-particle correlation function when the two excited electrons have comparable momentum vectors, a fact traced back to exchange and repulsion among the electrons. We find the hole is not isotropic, has a finite extension, and is strongly suppressed when decoherence is operating.     

Hyperfine interactions in magnetoelectric hexaferrite system

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in Y-hexaferrite system (Ba_1?xSr_x)₂Zn₂Fe₁₂O₂₂ was measured on both monocrystalline and polycrystalline samples at liquid helium temperature. Corresponding ab-initio calculation of the hyperfine parameters was also performed. The signal from ⁵⁷Fe was detected in the frequency interval 65–76 MHz, while NMR spectrum of ⁶⁷Zn nuclei occurs between 15 and 30 MHz. Due to the disorder in two tetrahedral sublattices occupied partly by Zn and partly by Fe, the NMR lines are broad and the spectra are poorly resolved. Comparison between the experimentally observed ⁶⁷Zn spectra and the spectra modelled using the calculated hyperfine parameters was made. It indicates that the spectra of ⁶⁷Zn can be used to determine the distribution of Zn and Fe between the two tetrahedral sublattices.     

Hyperfine interactions of muonium in alpha-quartz

We present the properties of muonium which are connected with the presence of the muonium quadrupole moment and discuss the results of experimental studies of the quadrupole interactions of muonium with the alpha-quartz lattice.     

Transient thermo-mechanical interactions during high-speed slip at metal-on-metal interfaces

The paper describes results obtained from plate-impact pressure-shear friction experiments to investigate the phenomena of high-speed slip at metal-on-metal interfaces. Using a CH tool-steel/Ti-6Al-4V tribo-pair the authors have studied the effects of normal pressure, slip-speed, temperature and surface roughness on the evolution of the dynamic slip-resistance. Moreover, a finite-element procedure is developed to simulate the evolution of thermo-mechanical fields and understand their relationship to the observed slip response.Next, the pressure-shear friction experiments are extended to investigate the behavior of CH tool-steel/7075-T6 Al alloy tribo-pair. This material combination allows dynamic friction characteristics to be studied in the near-melt and the fully melt temperature regime of the lower-melting-point metal (7075-T6 Al alloy) comprising the tribo-pair. Besides providing information on the slip-velocity versus friction-stress relationship under extreme interfacial conditions, the experiments provides critical information on the shearing resistance of confined molten metal films under high pressures and extremely high shearing rates.