Pressure and alloying effects on the metal to insulator transition in NiS2-xSex studied by infrared spectroscopy

The metal to insulator transition in the charge-transfer NiS2-xSex compound has been investigated through infrared reflectivity. Measurements performed by applying pressure to pure NiS2 (lattice contraction) and by Se alloying (lattice expansion) reveal that in both cases an anomalous metallic state is obtained. We find that optical results are not compatible with the linear Se-alloying vs pressure-scaling relation previously established through transport, thus pointing out the substantially different microscopic origin of the two transitions.

Aspects of atomic decompositions and Bergman projections

The concept of an atomic decomposition was introduced by Coifman and Rochberg (1980) for weighted Bergman spaces on the unit disk. By the Riemann mapping theorem, functions in every simply connected domain in the complex plane have an atomic decomposition. However, a decomposition resulting from a conformal mapping of the unit disk tends to be very implicit and often lacks a clear connection to the geometry of the domain that it has been mapped into. The lattice of points, where the atoms of the decomposition are evaluated, usually follows the geometry of the original domain, but after mapping the domain into another this connection is easily lost and the layout of points becomes seemingly random. In the first article we construct an atomic decomposition directly on a weighted Bergman space on a class of regulated, simply connected domains. The construction uses the geometric properties of the regulated domain, but does not explicitly involve any conformal Riemann map from the unit disk. It is known that the Bergman projection is not bounded on the space L-infinity of bounded measurable functions. Taskinen (2004) introduced the locally convex spaces LV-infinity consisting of measurable and HV-infinity of analytic functions on the unit disk with the latter being a closed subspace of the former. They have the property that the Bergman projection is continuous from LV-infinity onto HV-infinity and, in some sense, the space HV-infinity is the smallest possible substitute to the space H-infinity of analytic functions. In the second article we extend the above result to a smoothly bounded strictly pseudoconvex domain. Here the related reproducing kernels are usually not known explicitly, and thus the proof of continuity of the Bergman projection is based on generalised Forelli-Rudin estimates instead of integral representations. The minimality of the space LV-infinity is shown by using peaking functions first constructed by Bell (1981). Taskinen (2003) showed that on the unit disk the space HV-infinity admits an atomic decomposition. This result is generalised in the third article by constructing an atomic decomposition for the space HV-infinity on a smoothly bounded strictly pseudoconvex domain. In this case every function can be presented as a linear combination of atoms such that the coefficient sequence belongs to a suitable Köthe co-echelon space.

On Random Planar Curves and Their Scaling Limits

Planar curves arise naturally as interfaces between two regions of the plane. An important part of statistical physics is the study of lattice models. This thesis is about the interfaces of 2D lattice models. The scaling limit is an infinite system limit which is taken by letting the lattice mesh decrease to zero. At criticality, the scaling limit of an interface is one of the SLE curves (Schramm-Loewner evolution), introduced by Oded Schramm. This family of random curves is parametrized by a real variable, which determines the universality class of the model. The first and the second paper of this thesis study properties of SLEs. They contain two different methods to study the whole SLE curve, which is, in fact, the most interesting object from the statistical physics point of view. These methods are applied to study two symmetries of SLE: reversibility and duality. The first paper uses an algebraic method and a representation of the Virasoro algebra to find common martingales to different processes, and that way, to confirm the symmetries for polynomial expected values of natural SLE data. In the second paper, a recursion is obtained for the same kind of expected values. The recursion is based on stationarity of the law of the whole SLE curve under a SLE induced flow. The third paper deals with one of the most central questions of the field and provides a framework of estimates for describing 2D scaling limits by SLE curves. In particular, it is shown that a weak estimate on the probability of an annulus crossing implies that a random curve arising from a statistical physics model will have scaling limits and those will be well-described by Loewner evolutions with random driving forces.

Appearance of "Fragile" Fermi Liquids in Finite-Width Mott Insulators Sandwiched between Metallic Leads

Using inhomogeneous dynamical mean-field theory, we show that the normal-metal proximity effect could force any finite number of Mott-insulating "barrier" planes sandwiched between semi-infinite metallic leads to become "fragile" Fermi liquids. They are fully Fermi-liquid-like at T=0, leading to a restoration of lattice periodicity at zero frequency, with a well-defined Fermi surface, and perfect (ballistic) conductivity. However, the Fermi-liquid character can rapidly disappear at finite omega, V, T, disorder, or magnetism, all of which restore the expected quantum tunneling regime, leading to fascinating possibilities for nonlinear response in devices.

Material processing and surface reaction studies in free piston driven shock tube

Recently established moderate size free piston driven hypersonic shock tunnel HST3 along with its calibration is described here. The extreme thermodynamic conditions prevalent behind the reflected shock wave have been utilized to study the catalytic and non-catalytic reactions of shock heated test gases like Ar, N2 or O2 with different material like C60 carbon, zirconia and ceria substituted zirconia. The exposed test samples are investigated using different experimental methods. These studies show the formation of carbon nitride due to the non-catalytic interaction of shock heated nitrogen gas with C60 carbon film. On the other hand, the ZrO2 undergoes only phase transformation from cubic to monoclinic structure and Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 in fluorite cubic phase changes to pyrochlore (Ce2Zr2O7±δ) phase by releasing oxygen from the lattice due to heterogeneous catalytic surface reaction.

Nondiffusive Quantum Transport in a Dynamically Disordered Medium

For a dynamically disordered continuum it is found that the exact quantum mechanical mean square displacement 〈x2(t)〉∼t3, for t→∞. A Gaussian white-noise spectrum is assumed for the random potential. The result differs qualitatively from the diffusive behavior well known for the one-band lattice Hamiltonian, and is understandable in terms of the momentum cutoff inherent in the lattice, simulating a "momentum bath."

Gas-crystal photoreaction: the structures of 4,4'-dimethoxy(thiobenzophenone) (I), C15H14O2S, and 4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)thiobenzophenone (II), C17H20N2S

(I): M r = 258.34, triclinic, Pi, a = 9.810 (3), b=9.635(3), e=15.015(4)A, a=79.11(2), #= 102.38 (3), y = 107.76 (3) o, V= 1308.5 A 3, Z = 4, Din= 1.318 (3) (by flotation in KI solution), D x = 1.311 g cm -3, Cu Ka, 2 = 1.5418/~, g = 20-05 cm -1, F(000) = 544, T---- 293 K, R = 0.074 for 2663 reflections. (II): M r = 284.43, monoclinic, P2~/c, a= 17.029 (5), b=6.706 (5), c= 14.629 (4), t= 113.55 (2) ° , V=1531.4A 3, Z=4, Dm=1.230(5) (by flotation in KI solution), Dx= 1.234gem -3, Mo Ka, 2 = 0.7107 A, g = 1.63 cm-1; F(000) = 608, T= 293 K, R = 0.062 for 855 reflections. The orientation of the C=S chromophores in the crystal lattice and their reactivity in the crystalline state are discussed. The C--S bonds are much shorter than the normal bond length [1.605 (4) (I), 1.665 (8) A (II) cf. 1.71 A].

Investigation of biferroic properties in La0.6Sr0.4MnO3/0.7Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3â0.3PbTiO3 epitaxial bilayered heterostructures

Epitaxial bilayered thin films consisting of La0.6Sr0.4MnO3 (LSMO) and 0.7Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3â0.3PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) layers of relatively different thicknesses were fabricated on LaNiO3 coated LaAlO3 (100) single crystal substrates by pulsed laser ablation technique. The crystallinity, ferroelectric, ferromagnetic, and magnetodielectric properties have been studied for all the bilayered heterostructures. Their microstructural analysis suggested possible StranskiâKrastanov type of growth mechanism in the present case. Ferroelectric and ferromagnetic characteristics of these bilayered heterostructures over a wide range of temperatures confirmed their biferroic nature. The magnetization and ferroelectric polarization of the bilayered heterostructures were enhanced with increasing PMN-PT layer thickness owing to the effect of lattice strain. In addition, evolution of the ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties of these heterostructures with changing thicknesses of the PMN-PT and LSMO layers indicated possible influence of several interfacial effects such as space charge, depolarization field, domain wall pinning, and spin disorder on the observed properties. Dielectric properties of these heterostructures studied over a wide range of temperatures under different magnetic field strengths suggested a possible role of elastic strain mediated magnetoelectric coupling behind the observed magnetodielectric effect in addition to the influence of rearrangement of the interfacial charge carriers under an applied magnetic field.

Brillouin Scattering by Phonons Renormalized by Two-Magnon Excitations in Ferromagnetic Dielectrics

Brillouin scattering by one-phonon-two-magnon interacting excitations in ferromagnetic dielectrics is discussed. The basic light scattering mechanism is taken to be the modulation of the density-dependent optical dielectric polarizability of the medium by the dynamic strain field generated by the longitudinal acoustic (LA) phonons. The renormalization effects arising from the scattering of phonons by the two-magnon creation-annihilation processes have, however, been taken into account. Via these interactions, the Brillouin components corresponding to the two-magnon excitations are reflected indirectly in the spectrum of the phonon scattered light as line-broadening of the otherwise relatively sharp Brillouin doublet. The present mechanism is shown to be dominant in a clean saturated ferromagnetic dielectric with large magneto-strictive coupling constant, and with the magnetic ions in the orbitally quenched states. Following the linear response theory, an expression has been derived for the spectral density of the scattered light as a function of temperature, scattering angle, and the strength of the externally applied magnetic field. Some estimates are given for the line-width and line-shift of the Brillouin components for certain typical choice of parameters involved. The results are discussed in relation to some available calculations on the ultrasonic attenuation in ferromagnetic insulators at low temperatures.

Incomplete decomposition of alkali metal azides

The thermal decomposition of sodium azide has been studied in the temperature range 240–360°C in vacuum and under pressure of an inert gas, argon. The results show that the decomposition is partial 360°C. From the observations made in the present work, namely: (i) the decomposition is incomplete both under vacuum and inert gas; (ii) mass spectrometric studies do not reveal any decrease in the intensity of the background species, CO+2, CO+, H2O+, and (iii) sodium metal remains in the ‘free state’ as seen by the formation of a metallic mirror at temperatures above 300°C, it has been argued that the partial nature of decompostion is due to the confinement of the decomposition to intermosaic regions within the lattice.

Self-consistent theory of localization in weakly disordered systems

An analytic treatment of localization in a weakly disordered system is presented for the case where the real lattice is approximated by a Cayley tree. Contrary to a recent assertion we find that the mobility edge moves inwards into the band as disorder increases from zero.

Hyperfine structure in the ESR spectra of exchange-coupled pairs—copper diethyidithiocarbamate

A study of the hyperfine interaction in the ESR of coupled Cu---Cu pairs in single crystals of copper diethyldithiocarbamate as a function of temperature has shown distinct differences in the hyperfine structure in the two fine-structure transitions at 20 K; the spectrum does not have the usual binomial hyperfine pattern for the fine-structure transition of the low field in contrast to that of the high field. The details of the structure of both fine-structure transitions in the 20-K spectrum can be explained by recognizing the fact that the mixing of the nuclear spin states caused by the anisotropic hyperfine interaction affects the electron spin states |+1 and |−1 differently. The anomalous hyperfine structure is found to become symmetric at 77 and 300 K. It is proposed that the reason for this lies in the dynamics of spin-lattice interaction, which limits the lifetime of the spin states in each of the electronic levels |−1 , |0 , and |+1 . The estimate of spin-lattice relaxation time in the temperature range where the changes are observed agrees with those indicated by other studies. The model proposed here for the hyperfine interaction of pairs in the electronic triplet state is of general validity.

Electron spin resonance study of copper(II) doped ferroelectric ammonium sulphate

Single crystal electron spin resonance studies of Cu2+ doped ferroelectric ammonium sulphate ((NH4)2SO4, Tc = 223 K) are reported at 300 and 77 K. The Cu2+ ion is found to enter the lattice interstitially with a trigonal bipyramidal coordination. Proton superhyperfine interaction is found for magnetic field directions close to the a-axis. Changes are observed in the 77 K recordings indicating a distortion of the trigonal bipyramid consistent with crystal structure data. An increase of the proton superhyperfine constant in the ferroelectric phase is indicative of stronger hydrogen bonding. The Cu2+ ion doped as an impurity in a trigonal bipyramid environment in a diamagnetic host lattice is reported for the first time.

Metal-insulator transition of naxwo3 studied by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

The electronic structure of sodium tungsten bronzes NaxWO3 is investigated by high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). The ARPES spectra measured in both insulating and metallic phases of NaxWO3 reveals the origin of metal-insulator transition (MIT) in sodium tungsten bronze system. It is found that in insulating NaxWO3 the states near the Fermi level (E-F) are localized due to the strong disorder caused by the random distribution of Na+ ions in WO3 lattice. Due to the presence of disorder and long-range Coulomb interaction of conduction electrons, a soft Coulomb gap arises, where the density of states vanishes exactly at E-F. In the metallic regime the states near E-F are populated and the Fermi level shifts upward rigidly with increasing electron doping (x). Volume of electron-like Fermi surface (FS) at the Gamma(X) point of the Brillouin zone gradually increases with increasing Na concentration due to W 5d t(2g) band filling. A rigid shift of the Fermi energy is found to give a qualitatively good description of the Fermi surface evolution. As we move from bulk-sensitive to more surface sensitive photon energy, we found the emergence of Fermi surfaces at X(M) and M(R) point similar to the one at the Gamma(X) point in the metallic regime, suggesting that the reconstruction of surface was due to rotation/deformation of WO6 octahedra.

Thermal expansion and a new phase transition in pyroelectric LiKSO4

Single crystal macroscopic thermal expansion coefficient measurements have been made on uniaxial lithium potassium sulphate crystal both along and normal to the six fold axis, employing Fizeau’s interferometer method. Measurements were made in the range of −120°C to 500°C. The results show that lithium potassium sulphate exhibits two major anomalies in its expansion coefficients around −95°C and 422°C respectively, the one at −95°C has been observed for the first time. The nature of dimensional changes of the crystal at the upper and lower transition points are opposite in nature. The crystal shows considerable lattice anisotropy. Megaw’s tilt concept has been invoked to explain the relative magnitudes of expansion coefficients alonga andc directions. Structural features responsible for the absence of ferroelectricity in this crystal have been pointed out.