Observation of magnetization step at order–disorder transition in MgB2 single crystals

We have studied the order–disorder transition in high quality MgB₂ single crystals, using a torque magnetometry combined with a ‘vortex shaking’ technique. In the wide range of temperature T, field H and the H direction, we succeed in obtaining reversible magnetization curves M_rev(T, H) by shaking the pinned vortices. Especially at low temperatures below 25 K and high fields, where the irreversible magnetization curve exhibits the peak effect due to the order–disorder transition, it is found that the peak is transformed into the clear step in M_rev(H). Similar step-like behavior is also observed in the temperature dependence of magnetization M_rev(T). These results give direct evidence that the order–disorder transition, which is hidden by the large hysteresis of magnetization, has the nature of first-order transition.     

Acoustic spectroscopy and electrical characterization of SiO2/Si structures with ultrathin SiO2 layers formed by nitric acid oxidation

Ultrathin silicon dioxide (SiO₂) layers formed on Si substrate with nitric acid have been investigated using both acoustic deep-level transient spectroscopy (A-DLTS) and electrical methods to characterize the interface states. The set of SiO₂/Si structures formed in different conditions (reaction time, concentrations of nitric acid (HNO₃), and SiO₂ thickness [3–9 nm]) was prepared. The leakage current density was decreased by post-oxidation annealing (POA) treatment at 250°C in pure nitrogen for 1 h and/or post-metallization annealing (PMA) treatment at 250°C in a hydrogen atmosphere for 1 h. All structures of the set, except electrical investigation, current-voltage (I - V), and capacitance — voltage (C - V) measurements, were investigated using A-DLTS to find both the interface states distribution and the role of POA and/or PMA treatment on the interface-state occurrence and distribution. The evident decreases of interface states and shift of their activation energies in the structures with PMA treatment in comparison with POA treatment were observed in most of the investigated structures. The results are analyzed and discussed.      

Measurement of Gamma-Rays from 11ΛB and 12ΛC

From the ^12 C（π^＋,K^＋）^12 AC reaction the γ -rays of 261.6±0.24 ke V（7/2^＋ →5/2^＋）and 1481.7±0.7 ke V（1/2^＋ →5/2^＋） of ^11 A B,and 2667.3±2.8 keV（1^- 2 → 2^- 1）of ^12 A C hypernuclei have been identified using a large germanium detector array Hyperball2 at K6 beam line of KEK. The observed energies of the transitions 1481.7keV and 261.6 keV are significantly different from the values predicted by the shell model using the △ and SN parameters determined from the ^7 △ Li data.     

Snowballs of radioactive ions — nuclear spin polarization of core ions

Short-lived ions¹²B (beta-radioactive, T_1/2=20.3 ms) sustaining nuclear spin polarization were introduced into superfluid helium at 1.7 K. It was found that the¹²B ions were transported as charged entities under a static electric field and that the nuclear polarization was maintained throughout the lifetime of¹²B nuclei. Polarization of¹²B was determined through beta-NMR method. Snowball, a singly charged microcluster of helium atoms formed around an impurity ion, is responsible for the behaviour and thus constitutes a suitable environment for preserving nuclear polarization of the core ions¹²B. In a separate experiment snowballs were produced by implanting⁸Li (T_1/2=830 ms) into liquid helium and detected by means of alpha particles from the core ions to guarantee that the snowballs survive longer than the lifetime of¹²B.     

Laser spectroscopy and optical pumping of alkali atoms in superfluid helium

In this paper, our recent works on the alkali atoms in superfluid helim (HeII) are reported. At first we mentions the laser-sputtering method for implantation, which is simple but is very efficient to produce various kinds of neutral atoms and molecules in HeII. Secondly, we report on the laser spectroscopy of alkali atoms in HeII. Optical excitation and emission spectra are found to be roughly explained by a spherical atomic bubble model, but the spectra corresponding to the D₂ lines indicate the quadrupole oscillation of the bubble shape. Optical pumping by a circularly polarized laser beam is found to produce perfect polarization, for both electron and nuclear spins. Using the rf-optical double resonance techniques, the magnetic and hyperfine resonances are observed. It is discussed also about the phenomena which have observed in the experiments done so far but have not been fully explained.     

Unoccupied band dispersion of Si(1 1 1):√3 × √3-Ag surface studied by time- and angle-resolved two-photon photoemission spectroscopy

Band dispersion and transient population of unoccupied electronic states on Si(1 1 1):√3 × √3-Ag surface have been studied by time-resolved (TR) and angle-resolved (AR) two-photon photoemission (2PPE) spectroscopy. The band dispersions originating from unoccupied electronic states have been identified from the comparison between AR-2PPE spectra and angle-resolved one-photon photoemission spectra with synchrotron radiation. A lifetime of unoccupied surface state has been determined from the TR-2PPE spectra.     

Magnetic evaluation of intergranular interactions in thin-film media by rotational hysteresis loss analysis

Magnetic torque analysis has been carried out for CoNiPt, CoCrTa/Cr and CoCrPt/Cr thin-film media. The magnetic field H^grain_k, where the rotational hysteresis loss vanishes, remained almost constant in each material, independent of the coercive force H_c. Only in the CoCrTa media no clear correlation between the rotational hysteresis integral and H_c was observed.