Magnetically-induced electric polarization in an organo-metallic magnet

The coupling between magnetic order and ferroelectricity has been under intense investigation in a wide range of transition-metal oxides. The strongest coupling is obtained in so-called magnetically-induced multiferroics where ferroelectricity arises directly from magnetic order that breaks inversion symmetry. However, it has been difficult to find non-oxide based materials in which these effects occur. Here we present a study of copper dimethyl sulfoxide dichloride (CDC), an organo-metallic quantum magnet containing $S = 1/2$ Cu spins, in which electric polarization arises from non-collinear magnetic order. We show that the electric polarization can be switched in a stunning hysteretic fashion. Because the magnetic order in CDC is mediated by large organic molecules, our study shows that magnetoelectric interactions can exist in this important class of materials, opening the road to designing magnetoelectrics and multiferroics using large molecules as building blocks. Further, we demonstrate that CDC undergoes a magnetoelectric quantum phase transition where both ferroelectric and magnetic order emerge simultaneously as a function of magnetic field at very low temperatures

L'entreprise sociale : essai de renouvellement des théories de l'entreprise à la croisée du droit des groupements et du droit du travail

La notion d’entreprise dans le champ du droit demeure présente comme une problématique irréductible. Toute tentative de caractérisation se heurte à la diversité des entreprises et à la multiplicité des approches que les disciplines juridiques ont du sujet. Pourtant, une appréhension multidimensionnelle de l’entreprise pourrait paradoxalement contribuer à un renouvellement théorique. Ce projet consiste à envisager l’entreprise sous l’angle de ses fonctions, afin de mieux comprendre le discours que le droit porte sur elle. Ce regard neuf porté sur l’entreprise permet de saisir les dynamiques à l’œuvre dans les champs des droits du travail et des groupements. Refermée sur sa fonction économique et renvoyée à la figure de l’agent économique opérant sur un marché, l’entreprise répond à des standards irréalistes, et ce d’autant plus que sa production normative s’autonomise. Une autre voie existe cependant, à travers les principes de participation, de justice sociale ou de développement durable : celle d’une entreprise exprimant sa fonction sociale dans le droit qu’elle se donne ou que le législateur lui assigne. Dans le même temps, des contre-modèles se fondent sur la remise en question d’une fonction économique hégémonique et font de la fonction sociale un déterminant de leur action. L’entreprise sociale apparaît alors comme la possibilité d’une entreprise resituée dans son environnement social, combinant ses fonctions à la recherche d’équilibres nouveaux, et présentant en définitive un paysage économique démocratique et pluraliste.The notion of enterprise in the field of legal science remains an irreductible issue. Any attempt of definition falls short to the diversity of enterprises and to the numerous approaches given by various legal disciplines. However, a multidimensional interpretation of the enterprise can paradoxally contribute to a theoretical renewal. The project is to consider the enterprise under its functions, in order to understand the legal discourses about the notion. This fresh look at the notion of enterprise helps understanding the many dynamics in the fields of labour and company law. Enclosed on its economic function and reduced to the condition of an economic agent operating on a market, the enterprise applies unrealistic standards, especially in the legal production it creates. But there is another way, through the principles of participation, social justice or sustainable development: that of an enterprise revealing its social function in its own norms or in the law given by the legislator. In the meantime, counter-models are founded on the idea of questioning the hegemony of the economic function, and are trying to build their action around a social function. The social enterprise therefore offers the potential of an enterprise inserted in its social environment, combining its functions to attain a new equilibrium, and finally setting forth a more democratic and pluralist economic landscape

Isothermal Oxidation Behaviour of NiCoCrAlYTa Coatings Produced by HVOF Spraying and Tribomet™ Process

Protective NiCoCrAlYTa coatings are used on gas turbine single crystal superalloy blades to provide environmental resistance. They can be deposited by several processes. In this study, isothermal oxidation behaviour of NiCoCrAlYTa coatings produced by HVOF spraying and Tribomet TM process and deposited on single crystal nickel-based superalloy CMSX-4 were compared between 950 and 1,150°C for several exposure durations. Microstructure and chemical composition of both coatings were examined before and after oxidation testing and quite similar observations were made for both coating processes. The combination of phase and chemical analyses allowed the establishment of an occurrence diagram of phases for both coating processes, according to temperature and duration of exposure. The obtained diagrams seemed similar for both processes. Finally both processes appeared to be equivalent for the protection of CMSX-4 superalloy in isothermal oxidation conditions

Magnetic properties of GdT2T_2Zn20_{20} (T = Fe, Co) investigated by X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy

We investigate the magnetic and electronic properties of the Gd$T_2$Zn$_{20}$ ($T$ = Fe and Co) compounds using X-ray resonant magnetic scattering (XRMS), X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) techniques. The XRMS measurements reveal that the GdCo$_2$Zn$_{20}$ compound has a commensurate antiferromagnetic spin structure with a magnetic propagation vector $\vec{\tau}$ = $(\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2},\frac{1}{2})$ below the N\'eel temperature ($T_N \sim$ 5.7 K). Only the Gd ions carry a magnetic moment forming an antiferromagnetic structure with magnetic representation $\Gamma_6$. For the ferromagnetic GdFe$_2$Zn$_{20}$ compound, an extensive investigation was performed at low temperature and under magnetic field using XANES and XMCD techniques. A strong XMCD signal of about 12.5 $\%$ and 9.7 $\%$ is observed below the Curie temperature ($T_C \sim$ 85 K) at the Gd-$L_2$ and $L_3$ edges, respectively. In addition, a small magnetic signal of about 0.06 $\%$ of the jump is recorded at the Zn $K$-edge suggesting that the Zn 4$p$ states are spin polarized by the Gd 5$d$ extended orbitals

Advanced data analysis procedure for hard x-ray resonant magnetic reflectivity discussed for Pt thin film samples of various complexity

X-ray resonant magnetic reflectivity (XRMR) is a powerful method to determine the optical, structural and magnetic depth profiles of a variety of thin films. Here, we investigate samples of different complexity all measured at the Pt L$_3$ absorption edge to determine the optimal procedure for the analysis of the experimental XRMR curves, especially for nontrivial bi- and multilayer samples that include differently bonded Pt from layer to layer. The software tool ReMagX is used to fit these data and model the magnetooptic depth profiles based on a highly adaptable layer stack which is modified to be a more precise and physically consistent representation of the real multilayer system. Various fitting algorithms, iterative optimization approaches and a detailed analysis of the asymmetry ratio features as well as $\chi^2$ (goodness of fit) landscapes are utilized to improve the agreement between measurements and simulations. We present a step-by-step analysis procedure tailored to the Pt thin film systems to take advantage of the excellent magnetic sensitivity and depth resolution of XRMR.Comment: 16 pages, 14 figure

High-magnetic field lattice length changes in URu2Si2

We report high magnetic field (up to 45 T) c-axis thermal expansion and magnetostriction experiments on URu2Si2 single crystals. The sample length change associated with the transition to the hidden order phase becomes increasingly discontinous as the magnetic field is raised above 25 T. The re-entrant ordered phase III is clearly observed in both the thermal expansion and magnetostriction above 36 T, in good agreement with previous results. The sample length is also discontinuous at the boundaries of this phase, mainly at the upper boundary. A change in the sign of the coefficient of thermal-expansion is observed at the metamagnetic transition (B_M = 38 T) which is likely related to the existence of a quantum critical end point.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to be published in PR

On the problem of the relation between phason elasticity and phason dynamics in quasicrystals

It has recently been claimed that the dynamics of long-wavelength phason fluctuations has been observed in i-AlPdMn quasicrystals. We will show that the data reported call for a more detailed development of the elasticity theory of Jaric and Nelsson in order to determine the nature of small phonon-like atomic displacements with a symmetry that follows the phason elastic constants. We also show that a simple model with a single diffusing tile is sufficient to produce a signal that (1) is situated at a "satellite position'' at a distance q from each Bragg peak, that (2) has an intensity that scales with the intensity of the corresponding Bragg peak, (3) falls off as 1/q-squared and (4) has a time decay constant that is proportional to 1/(D q-squared). It is thus superfluous to call for a picture of "phason waves'' in order to explain such data, especially as such "waves'' violate many physical principles.Comment: 36 pages, 0 figures, discussion about vacancies, fluctuating Fourier components, and difference between static and dynamical structure factors added, other addition

Magnetic Properties Of Gdt2zn20 (t=fe, Co) Investigated By X-ray Diffraction And Spectroscopy

We investigate the magnetic and electronic properties of the GdT2Zn20 (T=Fe and Co) compounds using x-ray resonant magnetic scattering (XRMS), x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). The XRMS measurements reveal that GdCo2Zn20 has a commensurate antiferromagnetic spin structure with a magnetic propagation vector τ - =(12,12,12) below the Néel temperature (TN∼5.7 K). Only the Gd ions carry a magnetic moment forming an antiferromagnetic structure with magnetic representation Γ6. For the ferromagnetic GdFe2Zn20 compound, an extensive investigation was performed at low temperature and under magnetic field using XANES and XMCD. A strong XMCD signal of about 12.5% and 9.7% is observed below the Curie temperature (TC∼85K) at the Gd L2 and L3 edges, respectively. In addition, a small magnetic signal of about 0.06% of the jump is recorded at the Zn K edge, suggesting that the Zn 4p states are spin polarized by the Gd 5d extended orbitals. © 2016 American Physical Society.93