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Evidence of unconventional low-frequency dynamics in the normal phase of Ba(Fe1-xRhx)2As2 iron-based supercondutors
This work presents 75As NMR spin echo decay rate (1/T2) measurements in
Ba(Fe1-xRhx)2As2 superconductors, for 0.041 < x < 0.094. It is shown that 1/T2
increases upon cooling, in the normal phase, suggesting the onset of an
unconventional very low-frequency activated dynamic. The correlation times of
the fluctuations and their energy barriers are derived. The motion is favored
at large Rh content, while it is hindered by the application of a magnetic
field perpendicular to the FeAs layers. The same dynamic is observed in the
spin-lattice relaxation rate, in a quantitatively consistent manner. These
results are discussed in the light of nematic fluctuations involving domain
wall motion. The analogies with the behaviour observed in the cuprates are also
outlined
Measurement of opaque film thickness
The theoretical and experimental framework for thickness measurements of thin metal films by low frequency thermal waves is described. Although it is assumed that the films are opaque and the substrates are comparatively poor thermal conductors, the theory is easily extended to other cases of technological interest. A brief description is given of the thermal waves and the experimental arrangement and parameters. The usefulness of the technique is illustrated for making absolute measurements of the thermal diffusivities of isotropic substrate materials. This measurement on pure elemental solids provides a check on the three dimensional theory in the limiting case of zero film thickness. The theoretical framework is then presented, along with numerical calculations and corresponding experimental results for the case of copper films on a glass substrate
Quantum critical dynamics of a S = 1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain studied by 13C-NMR spectroscopy
We present a 13C-NMR study of the magnetic field driven transition to
complete polarization of the S=1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain system
copper pyrazine dinitrate Cu(C_4H_4N_2)(NO_3)_2 (CuPzN). The static local
magnetization as well as the low-frequency spin dynamics, probed via the
nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T_1, were explored from the low to the
high field limit and at temperatures from the quantum regime (k_B T << J) up to
the classical regime (k_B T >> J). The experimental data show very good
agreement with quantum Monte Carlo calculations over the complete range of
parameters investigated. Close to the critical field, as derived from static
experiments, a pronounced maximum in 1/T_1 is found which we interpret as the
finite-temperature manifestation of a diverging density of zero-energy magnetic
excitations at the field-driven quantum critical point.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
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