Landau theory of compressible magnets near a quantum critical point

Landau theory is used to investigate the behaviour of a metallic magnet driven towards a quantum critical point by the application of pressure. The observed dependence of the transition temperature with pressure is used to show that the coupling of the magnetic order to the lattice diverges as the quantum critical point is approached. This means that a first order transition will occur in magnets (both ferromagnets and antiferromagnets) because of the coupling to the lattice. The Landau equations are solved numerically without further approximations. There are other mechanisms that can cause a first order transition so the significance of this work is that it will enable us to determine the extent to which any particular first order transition is driven by coupling to the lattice or if other causes are responsible.Comment: 12 pages including 5 figures, to be presented at MMM-Intermag conference and accepted for publication in Journal of Applied Physic

Neutron Diffuse Scattering from Polar Nanoregions in the Relaxor Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3

We have studied the neutron diffuse scattering in the relaxor PMN. The diffuse scattering appears around the Burns temperature (~620K), indicating its origin from the polar nanoregions (PNR). While the relative diffuse intensities are consistent with previous reports, they are entirely different from those of the lowest-energy TO phonon. Because of that, it has been considered that this TO mode could not be the ferroelectric soft mode. Recently, a neutron scattering study has unambiguously shown that the TO mode does soften on cooling. If the diffuse scattering in PMN originates from the soft mode condensation, then the atomic displacements must satisfy the center of mass condition. But, the atomic displacements determined from diffuse scattering intensities do not fulfill this condition. To resolve this contradiction, we propose a simple model in which the total atomic displacement consists of two components: $\delta_{CM}$ is created by the soft mode condensation, satisfying the center of mass condition, and, $\delta_{shift}$ represents a uniform displacement of the PNR along their polar direction relative to the surrounding (unpolarized) cubic matrix. Within this framework, we can successfully describe the neutron diffuse scattering intensities observed in PMN.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures (Revised: 11-16-2001

Diagenesis of ferriferous phases in the Northampton ironstone in the Cowthick quarry near Corby (England)

Berthierine, siderite and pyrite are the major ferriferous phases in the Northampton ironstone (NIS). Mineralogical and chemical data suggest a formation of these phases in a diagenetic marine environment changing from post-oxic to sulphidic conditions. Berthierine was formed first when the Fe2+ activity in the diagenetic system increased. Later, this phase was partially replaced by siderite and/or pyrite. A second stage of the diagenetic development in the NIS with increasing CO2 partial pressure (PCO2 ) is documented by siderite. The isotopic composition (δ18O mean value: -1.7‰PDB; δ13C mean value: -8.6‰PDB) points to siderite precipitation from a marine porewater environment with a microbial CO2 source. The shift from post-oxic to sulphidic conditions is indicated by the occurrence of pyrite and can be considered as a final stage. The diagenetic processes in the marine environment and the formation of the ferriferous phases were stopped by the influx of brackish or fresh water when the Midland Shelf turned estuarin

Soft Mode Dynamics Above and Below the Burns Temperature in the Relaxor Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O_3

We report neutron inelastic scattering measurements of the lowest-energy transverse optic (TO) phonon branch in the relaxor Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O_3 from 400 to 1100 K. Far above the Burns temperature T_d ~ 620 K we observe well-defined propagating TO modes at all wave vectors q, and a zone center TO mode that softens in a manner consistent with that of a ferroelectric soft mode. Below T_d the zone center TO mode is overdamped. This damping extends up to, but not above, the waterfall wave vector q_wf, which is a measure of the average size of the PNR.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures; modified discussion of Fig. 3, shortened captions, added reference, corrected typos, accepted by Phys. Rev. Let

Theory of magnetism with temporal disorder applied to magnetically doped ZnO

A dynamic model of the asymmetric Ising glass is presented: an Ising model with antiferromagnet bonds with probabilities q arranged at random in a ferromagnetic matrix. The dynamics is introduced by changing the arrangement of the antiferromagnetic bonds after n Monte Carlo steps but keeping the same value of q and spin configuration. In the region where there is a second order transition between the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic states the dynamic behaviour follows that expected for motional narrowing and reverts to the static behaviour only for large n. There is a different dynamic behaviour where there is a first order transition between the ferromagnetic and spin glass states where it shows no effects of motional narrowing. The implications of this are discussed. This model is devised to explain the properties of doped ZnO where the magnetisation is reduced when the exchange interactions change with time.Comment: Paper was presented at MMM 2008 and is accepted for publication in J.A.