Paramagnetic Collective Electronic Mode and Low Temperature Hybrid Modes in the Far Infrared Dynamics of Orthorhombic NdMnO3

We report on far- and mid-infrared reflectivity of NdMnO3 from 4 K to 300K. Two main features are distinguished in the infrared spectra: active phonons in agreement with the expected for orthorhombic D2h 16-Pbnm (Z=4) space group remaining constant down to 4 K and a well-defined collective excitation in the THz region due to eg electrons in a d-orbital fluctuating environment. We trace its origin to the NdMnO3 high temperature orbital disordered intermediate phase not being totally dynamically quenched at lower temperatures. This results in minute orbital misalignments that translate in randomize non-static eg electrons within orbitals yielding a room temperature collective excitation. Below TN~78 K, electrons gradually localize inducing long-range magnetic order as the THz band condenses into two modes that emerge pinned to the A-type antiferromagmetic order. They harden simultaneously down to 4 K obeying power laws with TN as the critical temperature and exponents {\beta}~0.25 and {\beta}~0.53, as for a tri-critical point and Landau magnetic ordering, respectively. At 4K they match known zone center spin wave modes. The power law dependence is concomitant with a second order transition in which spin modes modulate orbital instabilities in a magnetoelectric hybridized orbital/charge/spin/lattice scenario. We also found that phonon profiles also undergo strong changes at TN~78 K due to magnetoelasticity.Comment: 40 pages with 8 figure

Energy-dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy at LNLS: Investigation on strongly correlated metal oxides

An energy-dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy beamline mainly dedicated to X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) and material science under extreme conditions has been implemented in a bending-magnet port at the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory. Here the beamline technical characteristics are described, including the most important aspects of the mechanics, optical elements and detection set-up. The beamline performance is then illustrated through two case studies on strongly correlated transition metal oxides: an XMCD insight into the modifications of the magnetic properties of Cr-doped manganites and the structural deformation in nickel perovskites under high applied pressure. © 2010 International Union of Crystallography. Printed in Singapore - all rights reserved.Fil: Cezar, Julio C.. Laboratorio Nacional de Luz Síncrotron; BrasilFil: Souza Neto, Narcizo M.. Laboratorio Nacional de Luz Síncrotron; BrasilFil: Piamonteze, Cínthia. Laboratorio Nacional de Luz Síncrotron; BrasilFil: Tamura, Edilson. Laboratorio Nacional de Luz Síncrotron; BrasilFil: Garcia, Flávio. Laboratorio Nacional de Luz Síncrotron; BrasilFil: Carvalho, Edson J.. Laboratorio Nacional de Luz Síncrotron; BrasilFil: Neueschwander, Régis T.. Laboratorio Nacional de Luz Síncrotron; BrasilFil: Ramos, Aline Y.. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Tolentino, Hélio C. N.. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Caneiro, Alberto. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Massa, Nestor Emilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino"; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Lope, Maria Jesus. Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid; España. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Alonso, José Antonio. Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid; España. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Itié, Jean Paul. L'Orme des Merisiers. Synchrotron SOLEIL; Franci

Local symmetry breaking and spin–phonon coupling in SmCrO3 orthochromite

Raman scattering and infrared reflectivity performed on polycrystalline SmCrO3 support stronginfluence of the antiferromagnetic order on phononmodes. Both measurements show softening of some modes below TN. Such a behavior is explained by spin–phonon coupling in this compound. Furthermore, temperature dependence of the infrared spectra has demonstrated important changes compared to the Raman spectra, suggesting strong structural modifications due to the cation displacements rather to those of the oxygenions. Our results reveal that polar distortions originating in local symmetry breaking, i.e. local non-centrosymmetry, resulting in Cr off-centring.Fil: El Amrania, M.. Université F. Rabelais; FranciaFil: Zaghrioui, M.. Université F. Rabelais; FranciaFil: Ta Phuoc, V.. Université F. Rabelais; FranciaFil: Gervais, F.. Université F. Rabelais; FranciaFil: Massa, Nestor Emilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino"; Argentin

Far Infrared near normal specular reflectivty of Nix(SiO2)1-x (x=1.0,0.84,0.75,0.61,0.54,0.28) granular films

One of the current issues at the basis of the understanding of novel materials is the degree of the role played by spatial inhomogeneities due to subtle phase separations. To clarify this picture here we compare the plain glass network response of transition metal granular films with different metal fractions against what it is known for conducting oxides Films for Nix(SiO2)1-x ,x= 1.0, 0.84,0.75, 0.61,0.54, 0.28, were studied by temperature dependent far infrared measurements. While for pure Ni the spectrum shows a flat high reflectivity, those for x ~0.84 and ~0.75 have a Drude component, vibrational modes mostly carrier screened, and a long tail that extents toward near infrared. This is associated with hopping electron conductivity and strong electron-phonon interactions. The relative reduction of the number of carriers in Ni0.75(SiO2)0.25 allows less screened phonon bands on the top of a continuum and a wide and overdamped oscillator at mid-infrared frequencies. Ni0.54(SiO2)0.46 and Ni0.28(SiO2)0.72 have well defined vibrational bands and a sharp threshold at ~1450 cm-1. It is most remarkable a distinctive resonant peak at 1250 cm-1 found for p-polarized angle dependent specular reflectivity. It originates in an electron cloud traced to electrons that are not able to overcome the metal-dielectric interface that, beating against the positive background, generates the electric dipole. Overall, we conclude that the spectra are analogous to those regularly found in conducting oxides where with a suitable percolating network polarons are formed.Fil: Massa, Nestor Emilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino"; ArgentinaFil: Denardin, Juliano C.. Universidad de Santiago de Chile; ChileFil: Socolovsky, Leandro Martin. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Tecnologías y Ciencias de la Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Knobel, Marcelo. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: de la Cruz, Fernando Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino"; ArgentinaFil: Zhang, XiXiang. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Arabia Saudit

Spectroscopic and theoretical study of 2-acetylphenyl-2-naphthoate

Mid-, far-infrared and Raman vibrational spectra of 2-acetylphenyl-2-naphthoate have been measured at room and low temperatures. The molecule was also analyzed by means of ab initio calculations. The conformational space has been scanned using molecular dynamics and complemented with functional density calculations that optimize the geometry of the lowest energy conformers 2-acetylphenyl-2-naphthoate as obtained in the simulations. The vibrational frequencies and the 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts were assigned using functional density calculations. The theoretical chemical shift values were compared with the experimental ones. The molecular electrostatic potential maps were obtained and analyzed.Fil: Suarez, Gabriel Sebastian. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Massa, Nestor Emilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica ; ArgentinaFil: Jubert, Alicia Haydee. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica ; ArgentinaFil: Jios, Jorge Luis. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Química. Laboratorio de Servicios a la Industria y al Sistema Científico; ArgentinaFil: Autino, Juan Carlos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Química. Laboratorio de Estudio de Compuestos Orgánicos; ArgentinaFil: Romanelli, Gustavo Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas ; Argentin

Raman and infrared spectroscopy of Sr2B′UO6 (B′ = Ni; Co) double perovskites

Temperature dependent normal modes and lattice thermal expansion of Sr 2B′UO6 (B′ = Ni, Co) double perovskites were investigated by Raman/infrared spectroscopies and synchrotron X-ray diffraction, respectively. Monoclinic crystal structures with space group P21/n were confirmed for both compounds, with no clear structural phase transition between 10 and 400 K. As predicted for this structure, the first-order Raman and infrared spectra show a plethora of active modes. In addition, the Raman spectra reveal an enhancement of the integrated area of an oxygen stretching mode, which is also observed in higher-order Raman modes, and an anomalous softening of ∼1 cm-1 upon cooling below T* ∼ 300 K. In contrast, the infrared spectra show conventional temperature dependence. The band profile phonon anomalies are possibly related to an unspecified electronic property of Sr2B′UO6 (B′ = Ni, Co).Fil: Moreira, A. F. L.. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: García Flores, A. F.. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Granados, E.. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Massa, Nestor Emilio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino"; ArgentinaFil: Pinacca, Ruben Miguel. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Pedregosa, Jose Carmelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Carbonio, Raul Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Muñoz, A.. Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Instituto de Salud; EspañaFil: Martínez Lope, M. J.. Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid; EspañaFil: Alonso, J. A.. Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid; EspañaFil: del Campo, L.. Conditions Extrêmes et Matériaux Haute Température et Irradiation; FranciaFil: De Sousa Meneses, D.. Conditions Extrêmes et Matériaux Haute Température et Irradiation; FranciaFil: Echegut, P.. Conditions Extrêmes et Matériaux Haute Température et Irradiation; Franci

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field