Zn and Ni doping effects on the low-energy spin excitations in La1.85_{1.85}Sr0.15_{0.15}CuO4_{4}

Impurity effects of Zn and Ni on the low-energy spin excitations were systematically studied in optimally doped La1.85Sr0.15Cu1-yAyO4 (A=Zn, Ni) by neutron scattering. Impurity-free La1.85Sr0.15CuO4 shows a spin gap of 4meV below Tc in the antiferromagnetic(AF) incommensurate spin excitation. In Zn:y=0.004, the spin excitation shows a spin gap of 3meV below Tc. In Zn:y=0.008 and Zn:y=0.011, however, the magnetic signals at 3meV decrease below Tc and increase again at lower temperature, indicating an in-gap state. In Zn:y=0.017, the low-energy spin state remains unchanged with decreasing temperature, and elastic magnetic peaks appear below 20K then exponentially increase. As for Ni:y=0.009 and Ni:y=0.018, the low-energy excitations below 3meV and 2meV disappear below Tc. The temperature dependence at 3meV, however, shows no upturn in constrast with Zn:y=0.008 and Zn:y=0.011, indicating the absence of in-gap state. In Ni:y=0.029, the magnetic signals were observed also at 0meV. Thus the spin gap closes with increasing Ni. Furthermore, as omega increases, the magnetic peak width broadens and the peak position, i.e. incommensurability, shifts toward the magnetic zone center (pi pi). We interpret the impurity effects as follows: Zn locally makes a non-superconducting island exhibiting the in-gap state in the superconducting sea with the spin gap. Zn reduces the superconducting volume fraction, thus suppressing Tc. On the other hand, Ni primarily affects the superconducting sea, and the spin excitations become more dispersive and broaden with increasing energy, which is recognized as a consequence of the reduction of energy scale of spin excitations. We believe that the reduction of energy scale is relevant to the suppression of Tc.Comment: 13pages, 14figures; submitted to Phys. Rev.

Weakly coupled s=1/2s = 1/2 quantum spin singlets in Ba3_{3}Cr2_{2}O8_{8}

Using single crystal inelastic neutron scattering with and without application of an external magnetic field and powder neutron diffraction, we have characterized magnetic interactions in Ba$_3$Cr$_2$O$_8$. Even without field, we found that there exist three singlet-to-triplet excitation modes in $(h,h,l)$ scattering plane. Our complete analysis shows that the three modes are due to spatially anisotropic interdimer interactions that are induced by local distortions of the tetrahedron of oxygens surrounding the Jahn-Teller active Cr$^{5+} (3d^1)$. The strong intradimer coupling of $J_0 = 2.38(2)$ meV and weak interdimer interactions ($|J_{\rm inter}| \leq 0.52(2)$ meV) makes Ba$_3$Cr$_2$O$_8$ a good model system for weakly-coupled $s = 1/2$ quantum spin dimers

Novel in-gap spin state in Zn-doped La_1.85Sr_0.15CuO_4

Low-energy spin excitations of La1.85Sr0.15Cu1-yZnyO4 were studied by neutron scattering. In y=0.004, the incommensurate magnetic peaks show a well defined ``spin gap'' below Tc. The magnetic signals at omega=3 meV decrease below Tc=27 K for y=0.008, also suggesting the gap opening. At lower temperatures, however, the signal increases again, implying a novel in-gap spin state. In y=0.017, the spin gap vanishes and elastic magnetic peaks appear. These results clarify that doped Zn impurities induce the novel in-gap state, which becomes larger and more static with increasing Zn.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Magnetic field-induced phase transitions in a weakly coupled s = 1/2 quantum spin dimer system Ba3_{3}Cr2_{2}O8_{8}

By using bulk magnetization, electron spin resonance (ESR), heat capacity, and neutron scattering techniques, we characterize the thermodynamic and quantum phase diagrams of Ba$_3$Cr$_2$O$_8$. Our ESR measurements indicate that the low field paramagnetic ground state is a mixed state of the singlet and the S$_z$ = 0 triplet for $H \perp c$. This suggests the presence of an intra-dimer Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya (DM) interaction with a DM vector perpendicular to the c-axis

INFLUENCE OF ACOUSTIC PRESSURE AND FLEXURAL VIBRATION ON FRICTION REDUCTION EFFECT BY ULTRASONIC

ABSTRACT The influence of acoustic pressure and flexural vibration on friction reduction effect by ultrasonic has been investigated in this study. Then the relationship between friction reduction of particles by each effect and the particle density has been shown by using of ultrasonic. Additionally, the maximum of particle density which could receive the friction reduction effect by the acoustic pressure has been expressed. In short, when the particle density was large, the influence of friction reduction effect by the acoustic pressure decreased and the influence of friction reduction effect by the flexural vibration grew. In this study, two plates were set parallel to each other. The dried particles were scattered on the lower plate, and the ultrasonic was applied. Then, the entire equipment setup was tilted slowly until the scattered particles began to move, and the friction coefficient was measured. Then, influence of acoustic pressure and flexural vibration were evaluated. In order to evaluate the reduction effect by acoustic pressure and flexural vibration, firstly, the distribution of acoustic pressure between reflection plate and the vibration plate have been measured. As a result, it was clarified that acoustic pressure distribution became the almost same whether ultrasonic was applied for the upper or lower plate, and the reflection plate vibrated little. Therefore it was possible to divide the influence of acoustic pressure and flexural vibration on the friction reduction