13,506 research outputs found
Large Magneto-Dielectric Effects in Orthorhombic HoMnO3 and YMnO3
We have found a remarkable increase (up to 60 %) of the dielectric constant
with the onset of magnetic order at 42 K in the metastable orthorhombic
structures of YMnO3 and HoMnO3 that proves the existence of a strong
magneto-dielectric coupling in the compounds. Magnetic, dielectric, and
thermodynamic properties show distinct anomalies at the onset of the
incommensurate magnetic order and thermal hysteresis effects are observed
around the lock-in transition temperature at which the incommensurate magnetic
order locks into a temperature independent wave vector. The orders of Mn3+
spins and Ho3+ moments both contribute to the magneto-dielectric coupling. A
large magneto-dielectric effect was observed in HoMnO3 at low temperature where
the dielectric constant can be tuned by an external magnetic field resulting in
a decrease of up to 8 % at 7 Tesla. By comparing data for YMnO3 and HoMnO3 the
contributions to the coupling between the dielectric response and Mn and Ho
magnetic orders are separated.Comment: revised manuscrip
Ferroelectricity in perovskite and
Ferroelectricity is observed in orthorhombic and at the
magnetic lock-in transitions into an E-type structure or an incommensurate
phase with a temperature independent wave vector, respectively. In
the ferroelectric polarization strongly depends on the external magnetic field
indicating the involvement of the rare earth moment order in this compound. The
results are discussed within the framework of recent theoretical models, in
particular the double exchange driven polar displacements predicted for E-type
magnetic structures.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Pressure-Temperature Phase Diagram of Multiferroic
The pressure-temperature phase diagram of multiferroic is
investigated for hydrostatic pressures up to 2 GPa. The stability range of the
ferroelectric phase associated with the incommensurate helical spin order is
reduced by pressure and ferroelectricity is completely suppressed at the
critical pressure of 1.64 GPa at 6.2 K. Thermal expansion measurements at
ambient pressure show strong step-like anomalies of the lattice parameters
associated with the lock-in transition into the commensurate paraelectric
phase. The expansion anomalies are highly anisotropic, the related volume
change is consistent with the high-pressure phase diagram
Detection of an X-ray Pulsar Wind Nebula and Tail in SNR N157B
We report Chandra X-ray observations of the supernova remnant N157B in the
Large Magellanic Cloud, which are presented together with an archival HST
optical image and a radio continuum map for comparison. This remnant contains
the recently discovered 16 ms X-ray pulsar PSR J0537-6910, the most rapidly
rotating young pulsar known.
Using phase-resolved Chandra imaging, we pinpoint the location of the pulsar
to within an uncertainty of less than 1 arcsec. PSR J0537-6910 is not detected
in any other wavelength band. The X-ray observations resolve three distinct
features: the pulsar itself, a surrounding compact wind nebula which is
strongly elongated and a feature of large-scale diffuse emission trailing from
the pulsar. This latter comet tail-shaped feature coexists with enhanced radio
emission and is oriented nearly perpendicular to the major axis of the pulsar
wind nebula. We propose the following scenario to explain these features. The
bright, compact nebula is likely powered by a toroidal pulsar wind of
relativistic particles which is partially confined by the ram-pressure from the
supersonic motion of the pulsar. The particles, after being forced out from the
compact nebula (the head of the ``comet''), are eventually dumped into a bubble
(the tail), which is primarily responsible for the extended diffuse X-ray and
radio emission. The ram-pressure confinement also allows a natural explanation
for the observed X-ray luminosity of the compact nebula and for the unusually
small X-ray to spin-down luminosity ratio, compared to similarly energetic
pulsars. We estimate the pulsar wind Lorentz factor of N157B as about 4 times
10^6 (with an uncertainty of a factor about 2, consistent with that inferred
from the modeling of the Crab Nebula.Comment: 15 pages plus 4 figures. The postscript file of the whole paper is
available at http://xray.astro.umass.edu/wqd/papers/n157b/n157b.ps. accepted
for publication in Ap
A Critical Examination of Hypernova Remnant Candidates in M101. II. NGC 5471B
NGC 5471B has been suggested to contain a hypernova remnant because of its
extraordinarily bright X-ray emission. To assess its true nature, we have
obtained high-resolution images in continuum bands and nebular lines with the
Hubble Space Telescope, and high-dispersion long-slit spectra with the Kitt
Peak National Observatory 4-m echelle spectrograph. The images reveal three
supernova remnant (SNR) candidates in the giant HII region NGC 5471, with the
brightest one being the 77x60 pc shell in NGC 5471B. The Ha velocity profile of
NGC 5471B can be decomposed into a narrow component (FWHM = 41 km/s) from the
background HII region and a broad component (FWHM = 148 km/s) from the SNR
shell. Using the brightness ratio of the broad to narrow components and the Ha
flux measured from the WFPC2 Ha image, we derive an Ha luminosity of
(1.4+-0.1)x10^39 ergs/s for the SNR shell. The [SII]6716,6731 doublet ratio of
the broad velocity component is used to derive an electron density of ~700
cm^-3 in the SNR shell. The mass of the SNR shell is thus 4600+-500 Mo. With a
\~330 km/s expansion velocity implied by the extreme velocity extent of the
broad component, the kinetic energy of the SNR shell is determined to be
5x10^51 ergs. This requires an explosion energy greater than 10^52 ergs, which
can be provided by one hypernova or multiple supernovae. Comparing to SNRs in
nearby active star formation regions, the SNR shell in NGC 5471B appears truly
unique and energetic. We conclude that the optical observations support the
existence of a hypernova remnant in NGC 5471B.Comment: 27 pages, 9 figures, to appear in May 2002 issue of The Astronomical
Journa
The Suppression and Recovery of the Ferroelectric Phase in Multiferroic
We report the discovery of a complete suppression of ferroelectricity in
by 10 % iron substitution and its restoration in external magnetic
fields. The spontaneous polarization in arises below 12
K in external fields above 4 T. The magnetic/ferroelectric phase diagram is
constructed from the anomalies of the dielectric constant, polarization,
magnetization, and heat capacity. The observations are qualitatively described
by a mean field model with competing interactions and strong anisotropy. We
propose that the magnetic field induces a non-collinear inversion symmetry
breaking magnetic structure in
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