Anisotropic magnetic properties and giant magnetocaloric effect in antiferromagnetic RRMnO3_3 crystals (RR=Dy, Tb, Ho and Yb)

We have systematically investigated the magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in $R$MnO$_3$ ($R$$=$Dy, Tb, Ho and Yb) single crystals. Above a critical value of applied field ($H_c$), $R$MnO$_3$ undergo a first-order antiferromagnetic (AFM) to ferromagnetic (FM) transition below the ordering temperature ($T_{N}^{R}$) of $R^{3+}$ moment and a second-order FM to paramagnetic (PM) transition above $T_{N}^{R}$. Both $H$ and $T$ dependence of $M$ shows that the system is highly anisotropic in the FM as well as PM states and, as a result, the magnetic entropy change ($\Delta S_{M}$) is extremely sensitive to the direction of applied field and can be negative (normal MCE) or positive (inverse MCE). For hexagonal HoMnO$_3$ and YbMnO$_3$ systems, a very small inverse MCE is observed only for $H$ parallel to c axis and it decreases with increasing $H$ and crosses over to normal one above $H_c$. On the other hand, for orthorhombic DyMnO$_3$ and TbMnO$_3$, though the inverse MCE disappears above $H_c$ along easy-axis of magnetization, it increases rapidly with $H$ along hard-axis of magnetization for $T$$\ll$$T_{N}^{R}$. Except for YbMnO$_3$, the values of $\Delta S_{M}$, relative cooling power and adiabatic temperature change along easy-axis of magnetization are quite large in the field-induced FM state for a moderate field strength. The large values of these parameters, together with negligible hysteresis, suggest that the multiferroic manganites could be potential materials for magnetic refrigeration in the low-temperature region.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figure

Cooling and heating by adiabatic magnetization in the Ni50_{50}Mn34_{34}In16_{16} magnetic shape memory alloy

We report on measurements of the adiabatic temperature change in the inverse magnetocaloric Ni$_{50}$Mn$_{34}$In$_{16}$ alloy. It is shown that this alloy heats up with the application of a magnetic field around the Curie point due to the conventional magnetocaloric effect. In contrast, the inverse magnetocaloric effect associated with the martensitic transition results in the unusual decrease of temperature by adiabatic magnetization. We also provide magnetization and specific heat data which enable to compare the measured temperature changes to the values indirectly computed from thermodynamic relationships. Good agreement is obtained for the conventional effect at the second-order paramagnetic-ferromagnetic phase transition. However, at the first order structural transition the measured values at high fields are lower than the computed ones. Irreversible thermodynamics arguments are given to show that such a discrepancy is due to the irreversibility of the first-order martensitic transition.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in the Physical Review

Crystallographic analysis of rock grain orientation at meso- and microscale levels

This paper studies the results of electron backscatter diffraction analysis of naturally deformedpolycrystalline olivine. It also defines the dependence of lattice-preferred orientations of grains on their microstructural position and size. The authors detect the basic mechanisms, consequence and thermal dynamic modes of deformation. They also show that the development of a polycrystalline structure is determined by the following consecutive activation of sliding systems (010)[100] → {0kl}[100] → (100)[010] → {100}[001] → {110}[001], when dislocation sliding and diffusion creep change under the temperature decrease from 1000°C to 650°C

The integrated exploration of Raifa lake sediments and dendrochronological analysis of Raifa forestry pines

© 2006-2017 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN). All rights reserved.The article presents some results of comprehensive research on the properties of Raifa lake bottom sediments and dendrochronological study of Raifa forestry pines (Russia). A preliminary seismic acoustic investigations have been carried out, which allowed to select the sampling site (E 48 ° 43'40.6" N 55 ° 54'21.7"). The length of core sample was 32 cm. Laboratory studies of the core, including the study of the elemental composition, magneto-mineralogical and carcinologic analysis revealed the features of sedimentation mass formation

Magnetism, FeS colloids, and Origins of Life

A number of features of living systems: reversible interactions and weak bonds underlying motor-dynamics; gel-sol transitions; cellular connected fractal organization; asymmetry in interactions and organization; quantum coherent phenomena; to name some, can have a natural accounting via $physical$ interactions, which we therefore seek to incorporate by expanding the horizons of `chemistry-only' approaches to the origins of life. It is suggested that the magnetic 'face' of the minerals from the inorganic world, recognized to have played a pivotal role in initiating Life, may throw light on some of these issues. A magnetic environment in the form of rocks in the Hadean Ocean could have enabled the accretion and therefore an ordered confinement of super-paramagnetic colloids within a structured phase. A moderate H-field can help magnetic nano-particles to not only overcome thermal fluctuations but also harness them. Such controlled dynamics brings in the possibility of accessing quantum effects, which together with frustrations in magnetic ordering and hysteresis (a natural mechanism for a primitive memory) could throw light on the birth of biological information which, as Abel argues, requires a combination of order and complexity. This scenario gains strength from observations of scale-free framboidal forms of the greigite mineral, with a magnetic basis of assembly. And greigite's metabolic potential plays a key role in the mound scenario of Russell and coworkers-an expansion of which is suggested for including magnetism.Comment: 42 pages, 5 figures, to be published in A.R. Memorial volume, Ed Krishnaswami Alladi, Springer 201

Magnetism, entropy, and the first nano-machines

The efficiency of bio-molecular motors stems from reversible interactions $\sim$ $k_B T$; weak bonds stabilizing intermediate states (enabling $direct$ conversion of chemical into mechanical energy). For their (unknown) origins, we suggest that a magnetically structured phase (MSP) formed via accretion of super-paramagnetic particles (S-PPs) by magnetic rocks on the Hadean Ocean floor had hosted motor-like diffusion of ligand-bound S-PPs through its template-layers; its ramifications range from optical activity to quantum coherence. A gentle flux gradient offers both detailed-balance breaking non-equilibrium and $asymmetry$ to a magnetic dipole, undergoing infinitesimal spin-alignment changes. Periodic perturbation of this background by local H-fields of template-partners can lead to periodic high and low-template affinity states, due to the dipole's magnetic degree of freedom. An accompanying magnetocaloric effect allows interchange between system-entropy and bath temperature. We speculate on a magnetic reproducer in a setting close to the mound-scenario of Russell and coworkers that could evolve bio- ratchets.Comment: 17 pages, 1 figur

Cs2NaAl1-xCrxF6: A family of compounds presenting magnetocaloric effect

In this paper we explore the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of chromium-doped elpasolite Cs2NaAl1-x,CrxF6 (x = 0.01 and 0.62) single crystals. Magnetization and heat capacity data show the magnetocaloric potentials to be comparable to those of garnets, perovskites, and other fluorides, producing magnetic entropy changes of 0.5 J/kg K (x = 0.01) and 11 J/kg K (x = 0.62), and corresponding adiabatic temperature changes of 4 and 8 K, respectively. These values are for a magnetic field change of 50 kOe at a temperature around 3 K. A clear Schottky anomaly below 10 K, which becomes more apparent when an external magnetic field is applied, was observed and related to the splitting of the Cr3+ energy levels. These results hint at a new family of materials with potential wide use in cryorefrigeration