Anisotropy of magnetic properties of a twin-free EuBaCo2O5.5 single crystal

The magnetic characteristics of a twin-free EuBaCo₂O_5.5 single crystal were studied. It is shown that Co ions exhibit an Ising-type behavior with an easy axis directed along the a axis in the temperature range from 2 K to T _c (250 K). As the temperature decreases from 300 K, a number of magnetic phase transitions occur under magnetic fields H ∥ a. In the range where antiferromagnetic ordering of Co³⁺ ions exists, metamagnetic transitions were observed to occur in fields whose values were dependent on temperature. The strengths of competing interactions in the crystal are estimated.     

A new salicin derivative from the stem bark of Populus davidiana

Phytochemical study on the BuOH-soluble fraction of the stem bark of Populus davidiana resulted in the isolation of a new salicin derivative(1),named davidianoside.The structure was elucidated on the basis of extensive physicochemical and spectroscopic analyses.     

Effect of doping Ca on polaron hopping in LaSr2Mn2O7

From the transport studies in the bilayer manganites LaSr_2−x Ca _x Mn₂O₇, we have found the variable-range hopping model proposed by Viret et al to be inadequate to describe the transport of charge in these materials. The polarons appear to hop to their nearest neighbors with an activation energy, which in part is dependent on the magnetic interactions in the lattice.     

Geometrically frustrated Kagome staircase lattice with chemical disorder

The effect of nonmagnetic Mg²⁺ and magnetic Co²⁺ doping in Kagome staircase compounds was investigated using DC magnetic susceptibility. The main effect of doping is to change effective anisotropy of the Ni₃V₂O₈ and Co₃V₂O₈ crystals. It has a considerable effect on magnetic field induced phase transitions in both kinds of crystals. The doping has also an effect on the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya exchange interactions. In some cases the doping enhances this interaction while in another it suppresses it completely.     

Dispersion of the Г 6 (1) -Г 6 (2) Nd crystal field excitation in Nd2CuO4

We performed inelastic neutron scattering experiments to determine the dispersion of the Г ₆ ⁽¹⁾ -Г ₆ ⁽²⁾ crystal field excitation in Nd₂CuO₄. Our results can be very well described within the random phase approximation model. This allows a direct determination of the exchange coupling constants between the Nd ions. The superexchange interactions mediated by the oxygen and copper-oxygen layers are determined to be significantly stronger than the in-plane exchange between the Nd ions.     

Soft phonons and structural phase transition in superconducting Ba0.59K0.41BiO3

We have observed a softening of phonons and a structural phase transition in a superconducting Ba_0.59K_0.41BiO₃ (T_c = 31 K) single crystal using elastic and inelastic neutron scattering measurements. The soft phonon occurs for the [1 1 1] transverse acoustic mode at the zone boundary. The phonon energies in this vicinity are found to continuously decrease with decreasing temperature from above room temperature. This softening stops at a temperature close to T_s, where a structural phase transition from cubic to tetragonal symmetry occurs. The overall results are consistent with previous data that reported phonon softening and a (0.5, 0.5, 0.5) type superstructure in several Ba_1?xK_xBiO₃ systems. However, we also find weaker (0.5, 0.5, 0) type superstructure peaks that reveal an additional component to the modulation. No significant change related to the superconductivity was observed for these soft phonon energies or linewidths.     

Discussion on a possible neutrino detector located in India

We have identified some important and worthwhile physics opportunities with a possible neutrino detector located in India. Particular emphasis is placed on the geographical advantage with a stress on the complimentary aspects with respect to other neutrino detectors already in operation.