Fishtail effect and vortex dynamics in LiFeAs single crystals

We investigate the fishtail effect, critical current density ($J_c$) and vortex dynamics in LiFeAs single crystals. The sample exhibits a second peak (SP) in the magnetization loop only with the field $||$ c-axis. We calculate a reasonably high $J_c$, however, values are lower than in 'Ba-122' and '1111'-type FeAs-compounds. Magnetic relaxation data imply a strong pinning which appears not to be due to conventional defects. Instead, its behavior is similar to that of the triplet superconductor Sr$_2$RuO$_4$. Our data suggest that the origin of the SP may be related to a vortex lattice phase transition. We have constructed the vortex phase diagram for LiFeAs on the field-temperature plane.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Micro-Indentation of Metal Matrix Composites: A 3D Finite Element Analysis

This paper investigates the inhomogeneous behavior of MMCs subjected to microindentation by a spherical indenter using 3D finite element analysis. This includes the effects on hardness of volume percentage of reinforced particles and indenter-to-particle diameter-ratio. It was found that the increase of volume percentage of reinforced particles and indenter-to-particle diameterratio increases the resistance to deformation of an MMC. The hardness varies in a complex way with the changes of load, volume percentage of particles and indenter-to-particle diameter-ratio

Size-dependent electronic-transport mechanism and sign reversal of magnetoresistance in Nd0.5Sr0.5CoO3

A detailed investigation of electronic-transport properties of Nd0.5Sr0.5CoO3 has been carried out as a function of grain size ranging from micrometer order down to an average size of 28 nm. Interestingly, we observe a size induced metal-insulator transition in the lowest grain size sample while the bulk-like sample is metallic in the whole measured temperature regime. An analysis of the temperature dependent resistivity in the metallic regime reveals that the electron-electron interaction is the dominating mechanism while other processes like electron-magnon and electron-phonon scatterings are also likely to be present. The fascinating observation of enhanced low temperature upturn and minimum in resistivity on reduction of grain size is found due to electron-electron interaction (quantum interference effect). This effect is attributed to enhanced disorder on reduction of grain size. Interestingly, we observed a cross over from positive to negative magnetoresistance in the low temperature regime as the grain size is reduced. This observed sign reversal is attributed to enhanced phase separation on decreasing the grain size of the cobaltite

The interparticle interaction and crossover in critical lines on field-temperature plane in Pr0.5_{0.5}Sr0.5_{0.5}MnO3_{3} nanoparticles

The magnetic properties and the effects of interparticle interaction on it have been studied in nanoparticles of half doped Pr$_{0.5}$Sr$_{0.5}$MnO$_{3}$. Three samples consisting of nanoparticles of different average particle sizes are synthesized to render the variation in interparticle interaction. Though all the samples crystallize in the same structure to that of their bulk compound, the low temperature ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic transition, which is present in bulk compound, is not evident in the nanoparticles. Linear as well as nonlinear ac susceptibility coupled with dc magnetic measurements have shown the superparamagnetic behavior of these nanoparticles where the blocking temperature increases with the increasing particle size. Presence of interparticle interaction is confirmed from the temperature variation of coercive field and the analysis of frequency dependent ac susceptibility. We have identified the nature of this interaction to be of dipolar type, and show that its strength decreases with the increasing particle size. The effect of this dipolar interaction on magnetic properties is intriguing as the compounds exhibit crossover from de Almeida-Thouless to Gabay-Toulouse like critical lines on field-temperature plane above their respective interaction field. In agreement with theoretical prediction, we infer that this crossover is induced by the unidirectional anisotropy arising from interparticle interaction, and this is confirmed from the presence of exchange bias phenomenon.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev.

Relating supercooling and glass-like arrest of kinetics for phase separated systems: studies on doped CeFe2_2 and (La,Pr,Ca)MnO3_3

Coexisting ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases over a range of temperature as well as magnetic field have been reported in many materials of current interest, showing disorder-broadened 1st order transitions. Anomalous history effects observed in magnetization and resistivity are being explained invoking the concepts of kinetic arrest akin to glass transitions. From magnetization measurements traversing novel paths in field-temperature space, we obtain the intriguing result that the regions of the sample which can be supercooled to lower temperatures undergo kinetic-arrest at higher temperatures, and vice versa. Our results are for two diverse systems viz. the inter-metallic doped CeFe$_2$ which has an antiferromagnetic ground state, and the oxide La-Pr-Ca-Mn-O which has a ferromagnetic ground state, indicating the possible universality of this effect of disorder on the widely encountered phenomenon of glass-like arrest of kinetics

Activation of Diazo Compounds by Fluorinated Triarylborane Catalysts

The diverse applicability of diazo compounds as versatile reagents has enlarged the chemical toolbox in organic synthesis. Over the past few decades, transition-metal-catalyzed diazo compound activation has ignited the classical synthetic methodology via utilizing highly reactive metal carbenoid species. Many reviews have also appeared in the literature that show the advantages and disadvantages of metal-catalyzed activation of diazo compounds. Recently, tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane-mediated diazo activation reactions has remodeled this research area due to the potential for mild, environmentally friendly, metal-free, nontoxic reaction conditions, and the diverse reactivity patterns of boranes towards diazo compounds. In this review, we discuss the reactivity of the boron–diazo precursor adducts with compounds using catalytic and stoichiometric halogenated triarylboranes and, the mechanism of N2 release from the diazo reagent. This generates the reactive carbene species as a key intermediate which can further be exploited for O–H, N–H, S–H, and C–H insertions, azide insertion, carbonate transfer, C–C and C=C bond forming reactions, [2+2] or [2+4] cascade cyclization reactions, annulation reactions, etc

The inequality of charge and spin diffusion coefficients

Since spin and charge are both carried by electrons (or holes) in a solid, it is natural to assume that charge and spin diffusion coefficients will be the same. Drift-diffusion models of spin transport typically assume so. Here, we show analytically that the two diffusion coefficients can be vastly different in quantum wires. Although we do not consider quantum wells or bulk systems, it is likely that the two coefficients will be different in those systems as well. Thus, it is important to distinguish between them in transportmodels, particularly those applied to quantum wire based devices

Processing of Ti50Nb50-xHAx composites by rapid microwave sintering technique for biomedical applications

The main objective of this research is to fabricate porous mechanical-tuned (low elastic modulus and high strength) Ti-based composites with improved bioactivity for orthopaedic applications. Another objective is to demonstrate the potential of microwave sintering and temporary space alloying technique to synthesize porous Ti-based composites. In this study, porous Ti50Nb50−xHAx (x = 0, 10 and 20) composite was fabricated for orthopaedic applications using a powder metallurgical and rapid microwave sintering (PM-RMS) process. Effects of key PM-RMS parameters on the structural porosity, compressive strength, and elastic modulus of built composite were then analysed. The microstructure, pore characteristics, and mechanical properties were investigated in detail. Using high hydroxyapatite (HA) content (20%), short sintering time (5 min), and high compacting pressure (200 MPa) appears to be the best condition among those studied in terms of yielding a high degree of structural porosity (21%) and low elastic modulus (25 GPa) in the sintered composite. Since size of pores in the synthesized composite is in the range of 20–30 μm, structural porosity not only reduces elastic modulus but also enhances bio-activity of sintered composite. The combination of highly porous structure, low elastic modulus, high compressive strength, improved corrosion resistance, and enhanced bioactivity makes porous Ti-Nb-HA composites fabricated by microwave sintering process potential and promising candidates for orthopedic applications