Magnetoelectric response of multiferroic BiFeO3 and related materials

We present a first-principles scheme for computing the magnetoelectric response of multiferroics. We apply our method to BiFeO3 (BFO) and related compounds in which Fe is substituted by other magnetic species. We show that under certain relevant conditions -- i.e., in absence of incommensurate spin modulation, as in BFO thin films and some BFO-based solid solutions -- these materials display a large linear magnetoelectric response. Our calculations reveal the atomistic origin of the coupling and allow us to identify the most promising strategies to enhance it.Comment: 4 pages with 1 figure embedded. More information at http://www.icmab.es/dmmis/leem/jorg

Negative high-frequency differential conductivity in semiconductor superlattices

We examine the high-frequency differential conductivity response properties of semiconductor superlattices having various miniband dispersion laws. Our analysis shows that the anharmonicity of Bloch oscillations (beyond tight-binding approximation) leads to the occurrence of negative high-frequency differential conductivity at frequency multiples of the Bloch frequency. This effect can arise even in regions of positive static differential conductivity. The influence of strong electron scattering by optic phonons is analyzed. We propose an optimal superlattice miniband dispersion law to achieve high-frequency field amplification

Superlattice with hot electron injection: an approach to a Bloch oscillator

A semiconductor superlattice with hot electron injection into the miniband is considered. The injection changes the stationary distribution function and results in a qualitative change of the frequency behaviour of the differential conductivity. In the regime with Bloch oscillating electrons and injection into the upper part of the miniband the region of negative differential conductivity is shifted from low frequencies to higher frequencies. We find that the dc differential conductivity can be made positive and thus the domain instability can be suppressed. At the same time the high-frequency differential conductivity is negative above the Bloch frequency. This opens a new way to make a Bloch oscillator operating at THz frequencies.Comment: RevTeX, 8 pages, 2 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. B, 15 Januar 200

Field dependence of the magnetocaloric effect in materials with a second order phase transition: A master curve for the magnetic entropy change

The field dependence of the magnetic entropy change can be expressed as SM Hn. For soft magnetic amorphous alloys n=1 well below the Curie temperature TC , n=2 in the paramagnetic range, and n 0.75 for T=TC. The first value can be explained with simple arguments, n=2 is a consequence of the Curie-Weiss law, but n TC deviates from mean field predictions. From the Arrott-Noakes equation of state, a relation between n TC and the critical exponents has been obtained, showing remarkable agreement with experimental data for an example alloy, predicted n=0.72 versus experimental n=0.73 . A master curve behavior for the temperature dependence of SM measured for different maximum fields is proposed

Continuous Neel to Bloch Transition as Thickness Increases: Statics and Dynamics

We analyze the properties of Neel and Bloch domain walls as a function of film thickness h, for systems where, in addition to exchange, the dipole-dipole interaction must be included. The Neel to Bloch phase transition is found to be a second order transition at hc, mediated by a single unstable mode that corresponds to oscillatory motion of the domain wall center. A uniform out-of-plane rf-field couples strongly to this critical mode only in the Neel phase. An analytical Landau theory shows that the critical mode frequency varies as the square root of (hc - h) just below the transition, as found numerically.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Magnetocaloric response of FeCrB amorphous alloys: Predicting the magnetic entropy change from the Arrott–Noakes equation of state.

The magnetic entropy change in Fe92−xCr8Bx x=12,15 amorphous alloys has been studied. Increasing the B content, both the peak entropy change and the Curie temperature of the alloy increase. This is in agreement with an increase in the average magnetic moment per iron atom. The thermal and field dependences of the magnetic entropy change curves have been analyzed with the use of the Arrott–Noakes equation of state. It is shown that determining the parameters in this equation of state through fitting the magnetization data allows prediction of the field and temperature dependences of the magnetic entropy change curves in a broad temperature range around the Curie temperature

Dynamical Symmetry Breaking in Models with the Yukawa Interaction

We discuss models with a massless fermion and a self-interacting massive scalar field with the Yukawa interaction. The chiral condensate and the fermion mass are calculated analytically. It is shown that the models have a phase transition as a function of the squared mass of the scalar field.Comment: 7 pages, no figures, in Eqs. (7) and (11) one coefficient was change

The magnetocaloric effect in materials with a second order phase transition: Are T C and T peak necessarily coincident?

Using the Arrott–Noakes equation of state it is shown that the Curie point TC and the temperature where the magnetic entropy change is maximum Tpeak coincide only in the mean field approximation, but the Heisenberg model implies that Tpeak TC even for homogeneous materials. The distance between Tpeak and TC increases with applied magnetic field following a power law. In both cases, TC corresponds to a singular point in the temperature dependence of the magnetic entropy change. The field dependence of the magnetic entropy change is exactly the same at the Curie temperature and at the temperature of the peak

Luminescent properties of Bi-doped polycrystalline KAlCl4

We observed an intensive near-infrared luminescence in Bi-doped KAlCl4 polycrystalline material. Luminescence dependence on the excitation wavelength and temperature of the sample was studied. Our experimental results allow asserting that the luminescence peaked near 1 um belongs solely to Bi+ ion which isomorphically substitutes potassium in the crystal. It was also demonstrated that Bi+ luminescence features strongly depend on the local ion surroundings