Phase diagram of the Kondo necklace: a mean-field renormalization group approach

In this paper we investigate the magnetic properties of heavy fermions in the antiferromagnetic and dense Kondo phases in the framework of the Kondo necklace model. We use a mean field renormalization group approach to obtain a temperature versus Kondo coupling $(T-J)$ phase diagram for this model in qualitative agreement with Doniach's diagram, proposed on physical grounds. We further analyze the magnetically disordered phase using a two-sites approach. We calculate the correlation functions and the magnetic susceptibility that allow to identify the crossover between the spin-liquid and the local moment regimes, which occurs at a {\em coherence} temperature.Comment: 5 figure

Improved 1000-m running performance and pacing strategy with caffeine and placebo effect: a balanced placebo design study

Purpose: To investigate the placebo effect of caffeine on pacing strategy and performance over 1000-m running time-trials using a balanced placebo design. Methods: Eleven well-trained male middle-distance athletes performed seven 1000-m time-trials (one familiarisation, two baseline and four experimental). Experimental trials consisted of the administration of four treatments: informed caffeine/received caffeine (CC), informed caffeine/received placebo (CP), informed placebo/received caffeine (PC), and informed placebo/received placebo (PP). Treatments were randomized. Split times were recorded at 200-, 400-, 600-, 800- and 1000-m and peak heart rate (HRpeak) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded at the completion of the trial. Results: Relative to baseline, participants ran faster during CC (d = 0.42) and CP (d = 0.43). These changes were associated with an increased pace during the first half of the trial. No differences were shown in pacing or performance between baseline and the PC (d = 0.21) and open administration of placebo (d = 0.10). No differences were reported between treatments for HRpeak (η2 = 0.084) and RPE (η2 = 0.009). Conclusions: Our results indicate that the effect of believing to have ingested caffeine improved performance to the same magnitude as actually receiving caffeine. These improvements were associated with an increase in pace during the first half of the time-trial

On the origin of macroturbulence in hot stars

Since the use of high-resolution high signal-to-noise spectroscopy in the study of massive stars, it became clear that an ad-hoc velocity field at the stellar surface, termed macroturbulence, is needed to bring the observed shape of spectral lines into agreement with observations. We seek a physical explanation of this unknown broadening mechanism. We interprete the missing line broadening in terms of collective pulsational velocity broadening due to non-radial gravity-mode oscillations. We also point out that the rotational velocity can be seriously underestimated whenever the line profiles are fitted assuming a Gaussian macroturbulent velocity rather than an appropriate pulsational velocity expression.Comment: To appear in a special volume of the journal Communications in Asteroseismology dedicated to the Proceedings of the Liege conference; 6 pages, 3 figure

Unusual Ground State Properties of the Kondo-Lattice Compound Yb2Ir3Ge5

We report sample preparation, structure, electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity studies of a new compound Yb$_2$Ir$_3$Ge$_5$. We find that this compound crystallizes in an orthorhombic structure with a space group PMMN unlike the compound Ce$_2$Ir$_3$Ge$_5$ which crystallizes in the tetragonal IBAM (U$_2$Co$_3$Si$_5$ type) structure. Our resistivity measurements indicate that the compound Yb$_2$Ir$_3$Ge$_5$ behaves like a typical Kondo lattice system with no ordering down to 0.4 K. However, a Curie-Weiss fit of the inverse magnetic susceptibility above 100 K gives an effective moment of only 3.66 $\mu$$_B$ which is considerably less than the theoretical value of 4.54 $\mu$$_B$ for magnetic Yb$^3+$ ions. The value of $\theta_{P}$ = -15.19 K is also considerably higher indicating the presence of strong hybridization. An upturn in the low temperature heat capacity gives an indication that the system may order magnetically just below the lowest temperature of our heat capacity measurements (0.4 K). The structure contains two sites for Yb ions and the present investigation suggests that Yb may be trivalent in one site while it may be significantly lower (close to divalent) in the other.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures. submitted to Phys. Rev.

Periodic mass loss episodes due to an oscillation mode with variable amplitude in the hot supergiant HD50064

We aim to interpret the photometric and spectroscopic variability of the luminous blue variable supergiant HD\,50064 ($V=8.21$).CoRoT space photometry and follow-up high-resolution spectroscopy, with a time base of 137\,d and 169\,d, respectively, was gathered, analysed and interpreted using standard time series analysis and light curve modelling methods as well as spectral line diagnostics.The space photometry reveals one period of 37\,d, which undergoes a sudden amplitude change with a factor 1.6. The pulsation period is confirmed in the spectroscopy, which additionally reveals metal line radial velocity values differing by $\sim 30\,$km\,s$^{-1}$ depending on the spectral line and on the epoch. We estimate \teff$\sim$13\,500\,K, \logg$\sim$1.5 from the equivalent width of Si lines. The Balmer lines reveal that the star undergoes episodes of changing mass loss on a time scale similar to the changes in the photometric and spectroscopic variability, with an average value of $\log\dot{\rm M}\simeq-5$ (in M$_\odot$\,yr$^{-1}$). We tentatively interpret the 37\,d period as due to a strange mode oscillation.Comment: 4 pages, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics Letter

Lattice and spin excitations in multiferroic h-YMnO3

We used Raman and terahertz spectroscopies to investigate lattice and magnetic excitations and their cross-coupling in the hexagonal YMnO3 multiferroic. Two phonon modes are strongly affected by the magnetic order. Magnon excitations have been identified thanks to comparison with neutron measurements and spin wave calculations but no electromagnon has been observed. In addition, we evidenced two additional Raman active peaks. We have compared this observation with the anti-crossing between magnon and acoustic phonon branches measured by neutron. These optical measurements underly the unusual strong spin-phonon coupling

Spin fluctuation effects in substituted CeRu<SUB>2</SUB>Si<SUB>2</SUB> and YbPd<SUB>2</SUB>Si<SUB>2</SUB> alloys

Effects of chemical substitution in CeRu2Si2, a well-studied heavy fermion system and YbPd2Si2 have been investigated through magnetic susceptibility and X-ray diffraction in the systems CeRuxSi2, CeRu2&#8722;xOsxSi2, CeRu2Si2&#8722;x Gex and YbPd2Si2&#8722;x Gex. Replacing silicon by germanium generates normal chemical pressure effect, namely, Ce and Yb atoms in CeRu2Si2 and YbPd2Si2 became more and less magnetic respectively. With increasing Ge concentration, CeRu2Si2&#8722;x Gex exhibits larger susceptibility at low temperature, goes to an antiferromagnetic state and finally becomes ferromagnetic. In YbPd2Si2&#8722;xGex , increasing Ge concentration drives Yb atoms to more divalent state. Electronic effects are more pronounced in CeRu2&#8722;xOsx Si2 though CeRu2Si2 and CeOs2Si2 have very nearly the same lattice parameters. It is conjectured that CeRu2Si2&#8722;xGex may be the first Ce-based heavy fermion having a magnetic ground state

Magnetic properties of pure and Gd doped EuO probed by NMR

An Eu NMR study in the ferromagnetic phase of pure and Gd doped EuO was performed. A complete description of the NMR lineshape of pure EuO allowed for the influence of doping EuO with Gd impurities to be highlighted. The presence of a temperature dependent static magnetic inhomogeneity in Gd doped EuO was demonstrated by studying the temperature dependence of the lineshapes. The results suggest that the inhomogeneity in 0.6% Gd doped EuO is linked to colossal magnetoresistance. The measurement of the spin-lattice relaxation times as a function of temperature led to the determination of the value of the exchange integral J as a function of Gd doping. It was found that J is temperature independent and spatially homogeneous for all the samples and that its value increases abruptly with increasing Gd doping.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, to be published in Physical Review

Quaternary borocarbides: New class of intermetallic superconductors

Our recent discovery of superconductivity (SC) in the four-element multiphase Y-Ni-B-C system at an elevated temperature (TC approximately 12 K) has opened up great possibilities of identifying new superconducting materials and generating new physics. Superconductivity with Tc (greater than 20 K) higher than that known so far in bulk intermetallics has been observed in multiphase Y-Pd-B-C and Th-Pd-B-C systems and a family of single phase materials RENi2B2C (RE= Y, rare earth) have been found. Our investigations show YNi2B2C to be a strong coupling hard type-II SC. HC2(T) exhibits an unconventional temperature dependence. Specific heat and magnetization studies reveal coexistence of SC and magnetism in RNi2B2C (R = Ho, Er, Tm) with magnetic ordering temperatures (Tc approximately 8 K, 10.5 K, 11 K and Tm approximately 5 K, approximately 7K, approximately 4 K respectively) that are remarkably higher than those in known magnetic superconductors . Mu-SR studies suggest the possibility of Ni atoms carrying a moment in TmNi2B2C. Resistivity results suggests a double re-entrant transition (SC-normal-SC) in HoNi2B2C. RENi2B2C (RE = Ce, Nd, Gd) do not show SC down to 4.2 K. The Nd- and Gd-compounds order magnetically at approximately 4.5 K and approximately 19.5 K, respectively. Two SC transitions are observed in Y-Pd-B-C (Tc approximately 22 K, approximately 10 K) and in Th-Pd-B-C (Tc approximately 20 K, approximately 14 K) systems, which indicate that there are at least two structures which support SC in these borocarbides. In our multiphase ThNi2B2C we observe SC at approximately 6 K. No SC was seen in multiphase UNi2B2C, UPd2B2C, UOs2Ge2C and UPd5B3C(0.35) down to 4.2 K. Tc in YNi2B2C is depressed by substitutions (Gd, Th and U at Y-sites and Fe, Co at Ni-sites)