Improving magnetic properties of barium hexaferrites by La or Pr substitution

La or Pr substituted barium hexaferrites, Ba_1−x(La or Pr)_xFe₁₂O₁₉, x=0.00-0.20, were successfully prepared by a citrate combustion process. The sintered bodies were structurally and magnetically studied by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). All XRD patterns show the single phase of the magnetoplumbite barium ferrite without other intermediate phases. Magnetization (M_S) and coercive field (H_C) could be improved by substitutions of La or Pr ions on Ba ion basis sites. The M_S reveal magnetic behavior with respect to La or Pr ions content, showing an increase at first and then a decrease. The H_C increases remarkably with increasing La or Pr ions content.     

Loss analysis of non-oriented soft-magnetic materials associating results from hexagonal single sheet testers and Epstein frame testers

The main subject of this work was to analyze magnetic losses of non-oriented soft magnetic materials, which are used in rotating machines like motors or generators, under the conditions of alternating and rotating magnetic flux. For this purpose a hexagonal rotational single sheet tester (HRSST) and a standardized 25 cm Epstein frame tester (EFT) were used, respectively. Since each HRSST sample represents only one random sample, whereas a stack of EFT samples represents a basic population of a production lot, a simple procedure is introduced to derive characteristic rotational loss data from EFT measurements and previously acquired loss factors.     

Band-edge exciton transitions in (Ga1−xMnx)N diluted magnetic semiconductor films with above room temperature ferromagnetic transition

(Ga_1−xMn_x)N thin films grown on GaN buffer layers by using molecular beam epitaxy were investigated with the goal of producing diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMSs) with band-edge exciton transitions for applications in optomagnetic devices. The magnetization curve as a function of the magnetic field at 5 K indicated that ferromagnetism existed in the (Ga_1−xMn_x)N thin films, and the magnetization curve as a function of the temperature showed that the ferromagnetic transition temperature of the (Ga_1−xMn_x)N thin film was above room temperature. Photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation spectra showed that band-edge exciton transitions in (Ga_1−xMn_x)N thin films appeared. These results indicate that the (Ga_1−xMn_x)N DMSs with a magnetic single phase hold promise for potential applications in spin optoelectronic devices in the blue region of the spectrum.     

Comparative first-principles analysis of the absorption spectra of ZnAl2S4 and ZnGa2O4 crystals doped with Cr3+

Systematic first-principles analysis of the energy level schemes and ground state absorption spectra of trivalent chromium in ZnAl₂S₄ and ZnGa₂O₄ crystals has been performed in the present paper. The recently developed first-principles approach to the analysis of the absorption spectra of impurity ions in crystals based on the discrete variational multi-electron (DV-ME) method [K. Ogasawara et al., Phys. Rev. B 64, 115413 (2001)] was used in the calculations. The method is based on the numerical solution of the Dirac equation; no phenomenological parameters are used in the calculations. As a result, complete energy level schemes of the Cr³⁺ ion and its absorption spectra in both crystals were calculated, assigned and compared with experimental data. By performing analysis of the molecular orbital (MO) population, it was shown that the covalency of the chemical bonds between the Cr³⁺ and S^2- ions is more significant than that one between the Cr³⁺ and O^2- ions.     

Investigations of the first order magnetic phase transition in dysprosium

The first order magnetic phase transition in polycrystalline sample of dysprosium (Dy) has been investigated in detail by dc-resistance vs. temperature (R-T) measurements. Distinct signature of coexistence of two magnetically ordered phases (i.e. ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic), originating as a result of the metastable behavior associated with the first order phase transition (FOPT) is found near 90 K. By successfully recording the minor hysteresis loops within the hysteretic R-T regime of Dy, a varying degree of phase coexistence in the FOPT is demonstrated.     

Very high field magnetization and AC susceptibility of native horse spleen ferritin

The magnetization of native horse spleen ferritin protein is measured in pulsed magnetic fields to 55 T at T=1.52 K. The magnetization rises smoothly with negative curvature due to uncompensated Fe³⁺ spins and with a large high field slope due to the underlying antiferromagnetic ferritin core. Even at highest fields the magnetic moment is only ∼4% of the saturation moment of the full complement of Fe³⁺ in the ferritin molecule. The AC magnetic susceptibility, χ_AC(T,f), responding to the uncompensated spins, reaches a maximum near the superparamagnetic blocking temperature with the temperature of the maximum, T_M, varying with excitation frequency, T_M⁻¹ α log f for 10?f?10⁴ Hz.     

The effect of compound addition Dy2O3 and Sn on the structure and properties of NdFeNbB magnets

NdFeNbB with the additions of Dy₂O₃ and Sn permanent magnets have been attained by means of powder-blending technique, and their magnetic properties, temperature performance and microstructure were studied in this paper. The addition of just 2.0 wt% Dy₂O₃ or 0.3 wt% Sn proved to be very effective in improving the permanent magnetic properties of NdFeNbB magnets. Dy₂O₃ additions result in the increase in the H_ci and temperature dependence due to the increase of T_c, formation of (NdDy)-rich phase and grain refinement of Φ phase. This improvement of the coercivity stability of the magnets from the addition of Sn is attributed to the smoothing effect of the Sn addition at the grain boundaries. The magnetic properties, the temperature dependence and Curie temperature of NdFeNbB with Dy₂O₃ and Sn combined addition were found to be considerably improved. From the X-ray diffraction, SEM-EDAX studies and the thermo-magnetic study, the improved properties due to the solution of Dy and Sn to the Φ phase, the reduced N_eff and the smaller Φ phase.     

Monodispersed nanocrystalline Co1–xZnxFe2O4 particles by forced hydrolysis: Synthesis and characterization

Zinc-substituted cobalt ferrites, Co_1–xZn_xFe₂O₄, were for the first time successfully prepared by forced hydrolysis method. The obtained materials are single phase, monodispersed nanocrystalline with an average grain size of about 3 nm. These materials are superparamagnetic at room temperature and ferrimagnetic at temperature lower than the blocking temperature. When the zinc substitution increases from x=0 to 0.4, at 4.2 K, the saturation magnetization increases from 72.1 to 99.7 emu/g. The high saturation magnetization of these samples suggests that this method is suitable for preparing high-quality nanocrystalline magnetic ferrites for practical applications.     

Magnetic ordering in CeMnCuSi2

Temperature and field-dependent magnetization measurements on polycrystalline CeMnCuSi₂ reveal that the Mn moments in this compound exhibit ordering with a ferromagnetic (FM) component ordered instead of the previously reported purely antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering. The FM ordering temperature, T_c, is about 120 K and almost unchanged with external fields up to 50 kOe. Furthermore, an AFM component (such as in a canted spin structure) is observed to be present in this phase, and its orientation is modified rapidly by the external magnetic field. The Ce L₃-edge X-ray absorption result shows that the Ce ions in this compound are nearly trivalent, very similar to that in the heavy fermion system CeCu₂Si₂. Large thermomagnetic irreversibility is observed between the zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled (FC) M(T) curves below T_c indicating strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy in the ordered phase. At 5 K, a metamagnetic-type transition is observed to occur at a critical field of about 8 kOe, and this critical field decreases with increasing temperature. The FM ordering of the Mn moments in CeMnCuSi₂ is consistent with the value of the intralayer Mn–Mn distance R^a_Mn–Mn=2.890 Å, which is greater than the critical value 2.865 Å for FM ordering. Finally, a magnetic phase diagram is constructed for CeMnCuSi₂.