39 research outputs found

    SURVEY OF THE DEPENDENCE ON TEMPERATURE OF THE COERCIVITY OF GARNET-FILMS

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    The temperature dependence of the domain-wall coercive field of epitaxial magnetic garnets films has been investigated in the entire temperature range of the ferrimagnetic phase, and has been found to be described by a set of parametric exponents. In subsequent temperature regions different slopes were observed, with breaking points whose position was found to be sample dependent. A survey ba.ed on literature Data as well as on a large number of our own samples shows the general existence of this piecewise exponential dependence and the presence of the breaking points. This type of domain-wall coercive field temperature dependence was found in all samples in the large family of the epitaxial garnets (about 30 specimens of more than ten chemical compositionsj and also in another strongly anisotropic material (TbFeCo)

    Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy in MgB2

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    We present scanning tunneling microscopy measurements of the surface of superconducting MgB2 with a critical temperature of 39K. In zero magnetic field the conductance spectra can be analyzed in terms of the standard BCS theory with a smearing parameter Gamma. The value of the superconducting gap is 5.2 meV at 4.2 K, with no experimentally significant variation across the surface of the sample. The temperature dependence of the gap follows the BCS form, fully consistent with phonon-mediated superconductivity in this novel superconductor. The application of a magnetic field induces strong pair-breaking as seen in the conductance spectra in fields up to 6 T.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

    Giant anharmonicity and non-linear electron-phonon coupling in MgB2_{2}; A combined first-principles calculations and neutron scattering study

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    We report first-principles calculations of the electronic band structure and lattice dynamics for the new superconductor MgB2_{2}. The excellent agreement between theory and our inelastic neutron scattering measurements of the phonon density of states gives confidence that the calculations provide a sound description of the physical properties of the system. The numerical results reveal that the in-plane boron phonons (with E2g_{2g} symmetry) near the zone-center are very anharmonic, and are strongly coupled to the partially occupied planar B σ\sigma bands near the Fermi level. This giant anharmonicity and non-linear electron-phonon coupling is key to explaining the observed high Tc_{c} and boron isotope effect in MgB2_{2}Comment: In this revised version (to appear in PRL) we also discuss the boron isotope effect. Please visit http://www.ncnr.nist.gov/staff/taner/mgb2 for detail

    A magnetization and 11^{11}B NMR study of Mg1−x_{1-x}Alx_xB2_2 superconductors

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    We demonstrate for the first time the magnetic field distribution of the pure vortex state in lightly doped Mg1−x_{1-x}Alx_xB2_2 (x≤0.025x\leq 0.025) powder samples, by using 11^{11}B NMR in magnetic fields of 23.5 and 47 kOe. The magnetic field distribution at T=5 K is Al-doping dependent, revealing a considerable decrease of anisotropy in respect to pure MgB2_2. This result correlates nicely with magnetization measurements and is consistent with σ\sigma-band hole driven superconductivity for MgB2_2

    11^{11}B NMR study of pure and lightly carbon doped MgB2_2 superconductors

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    We report a 11^{11}B NMR line shape and spin-lattice relaxation rate (1/(T1T)1/(T_1T)) study of pure and lightly carbon doped MgB2−x_{2-x}Cx_{x} for x=0x=0, 0.02, and 0.04, in the vortex state and in magnetic field of 23.5 kOe. We show that while pure MgB2_2 exhibits the magnetic field distribution from superposition of the normal and the Abrikosov state, slight replacement of boron with carbon unveils the magnetic field distribution of the pure Abrikosov state. This indicates a considerable increase of Hc2cH_{c2}^c with carbon doping with respect to pure MgB2_2. The spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/(T1T)1/(T_1T) demonstrates clearly the presence of a coherence peak right below TcT_c in pure MgB2_2, followed by a typical BCS decrease on cooling. However, at temperatures lower than ≈10\approx 10K strong deviation from the BCS behavior is observed, probably from residual contribution of the vortex dynamics. In the carbon doped systems both the coherence peak and the BCS temperature dependence of 1/(T1T)1/(T_1T) weaken, an effect attributed to the gradual shrinking of the σ\sigma hole cylinders of the Fermi surface with electron doping.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

    Superconducting properties and c-axis superstructure of Mg1-xAlxB2

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    The superconducting and structural properties of a series of Mg1-xAlxB2 samples have been investigated. X-ray diffraction results confirmed the existence of a structural transition associated with the significant change in inter-boron layer distance as reported previously by Slusky et al. Moreover,transmission-electron-microscopy observations revealed the existence of a superstructure with doubled lattice constant along the c-axis direction. We propose that this superstructure is essentially related to the structural transition. The modifications of superconducting transition temperature Tc, the normal state resistivity, and the upper critical field Bc2 by Al doping are discussed in terms of Al-substitution induced changes in the electronic structure at the Fermi energy.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figure

    Electric field gradients in s-, p- and d-metal diborides and the effect of pressure on the band structure and Tc_c in MgB2_2

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    Results of FLMTO-GGA (full-potential linear muffin-tin orbital -- generalized gradient approximation) calculations of the band structure and boron electric field gradients (EFG) for the new medium-Tc_c superconductor (MTSC), MgB2_2, and related diborides MB2_2, M=Be, Al, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mo and Ta are reported. The boron EFG variations are found to be related to specific features of their band structure and particularly to the M-B hybridization. The strong charge anisotropy at the B site in MgB2_2 is completely defined by the valence electrons - a property which sets MgB2_2 apart from other diborides. The boron EFG in MgB2_2 is weakly dependent of applied pressure: the B p electron anisotropy increases with pressure, but it is partly compensated by the increase of core charge assymetry. The concentration of holes in bonding σ\sigma bands is found to decrease slightly from 0.067 to 0.062 holes/B under a pressure of 10 GPa. Despite a small decrease of N(EF_F), the Hopfield parameter increases with pressure and we believe that the main reason for the reduction under pressure of the superconducting transition temperature, Tc_c, is the strong pressure dependence of phonon frequencies, which is sufficient to compensate the electronic effects.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

    Associations between self-reported pest treatments and pesticide concentrations in carpet dust

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    BACKGROUND: Recent meta-analyses demonstrate an association between self-reported residential pesticide use and childhood leukemia risk. Self-reports may suffer from recall bias and provide information only on broad pesticide categories. We compared parental self-reported home and garden pest treatments to pesticides measured in carpet dust. METHODS: Parents of 277 children with leukemia and 306 controls in Northern and Central California (2001–2007) were asked about insect and weed treatments during the previous year. Carpet dust samples were analyzed for 47 pesticides. We present results for the 7 insecticides (carbaryl, propoxur, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, permethrin), 5 herbicides (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid [2,4-D], chlorthal, dicamba, mecoprop, simazine), and 1 synergist (piperonyl butoxide) that were present in home and garden products during the study period and were detected in ≥25% of carpet dust samples. We constructed linear regression models for the relative change in pesticide concentrations associated with self-reported treatment of pest types in cases and controls separately and combined, adjusting for demographics, housing characteristics, and nearby agricultural pesticide applications. RESULTS: Several self-reported treatments were associated with pesticide concentrations in dust. For example, households with flea/tick treatments had 2.3 (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.4, 3.7) times higher permethrin concentrations than households not reporting this treatment. Households reporting treatment for ants/cockroaches had 2.5 (95% CI: 1.5, 4.2) times higher cypermethrin levels than households not reporting this treatment. Weed treatment by a household member was associated with 1.9 (1.4, 2.6), 2.2 (1.6, 3.1), and 2.8 (2.1, 3.7) times higher dust concentrations of dicamba, mecoprop, and 2,4-D, respectively. Weed treatments by professional applicators were null/inversely associated with herbicide concentrations in dust. Associations were generally similar between cases and controls and were consistent with pesticide active ingredients in these products during the study time period. CONCLUSIONS: Consistency between self-reported pest treatments, concentrations in dust, and pesticides in products lends credibility to the exposure assessment methods and suggests that differential recall by case–control status is minimal. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12940-015-0015-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users
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