109 research outputs found
Singlet-Triplet Excitations in the Unconventional Spin-Peierls System TiOBr
We have performed time-of-flight neutron scattering measurements on powder
samples of the unconventional spin-Peierls compound TiOBr using the
fine-resolution Fermi chopper spectrometer (SEQUOIA) at the SNS. These
measurements reveal two branches of magnetic excitations within the
commensurate and incommensurate spin-Peierls phases, which we associate with n
= 1 and n = 2 triplet excitations out of the singlet ground state. These
measurements represent the first direct measure of the singlet-triplet energy
gap in TiOBr, which is determined to be Eg = 21.2 +/- 1.0 meV.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, submitted for publicatio
Electron doping evolution of the magnetic excitations in NaFeCoAs
We use time-of-flight (ToF) inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectroscopy
to investigate the doping dependence of magnetic excitations across the phase
diagram of NaFeCoAs with and .
The effect of electron-doping by partially substituting Fe by Co is to form
resonances that couple with superconductivity, broaden and suppress low energy
( meV) spin excitations compared with spin waves in undoped NaFeAs.
However, high energy ( meV) spin excitations are weakly Co-doping
dependent. Integration of the local spin dynamic susceptibility
of NaFeCoAs reveals a total
fluctuating moment of 3.6 /Fe and a small but systematic reduction
with electron doping. The presence of a large spin gap in the Co-overdoped
nonsuperconducting NaFeCoAs suggests that Fermi surface
nesting is responsible for low-energy spin excitations. These results parallel
Ni-doping evolution of spin excitations in BaFeNiAs, confirming
the notion that low-energy spin excitations coupling with itinerant electrons
are important for superconductivity, while weakly doping dependent high-energy
spin excitations result from localized moments.Comment: 14 pages, 16 figure
Segregation, precipitation, and \alpha-\alpha' phase separation in Fe-Cr alloys: a multi-scale modelling approach
Segregation, precipitation, and phase separation in Fe-Cr systems is
investigated. Monte Carlo simulations using semiempirical interatomic
potential, first-principles total energy calculations, and experimental
spectroscopy are used. In order to obtain a general picture of the relation of
the atomic interactions and properties of Fe-Cr alloys in bulk, surface, and
interface regions several complementary methods has to be used. Using Exact
Muffin-Tin Orbitals method the effective chemical potential as a function of Cr
content (0-15 at.% Cr) is calculated for a surface, second atomic layer and
bulk. At ~10 at.% Cr in the alloy the reversal of the driving force of a Cr
atom to occupy either bulk or surface sites is obtained. The Cr containing
surfaces are expected when the Cr content exceeds ~10 at.%. The second atomic
layer forms about 0.3 eV barrier for the migration of Cr atoms between bulk and
surface atomic layer. To get information on Fe-Cr in larger scales we use
semiempirical methods. Using combined Monte Carlo molecular dynamics
simulations, based on semiempirical potential, the precipitation of Cr into
isolated pockets in bulk Fe-Cr and the upper limit of the solubility of Cr into
Fe layers in Fe/Cr layer system is studied. The theoretical predictions are
tested using spectroscopic measurements. Hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
and Auger electron spectroscopy investigations were carried out to explore Cr
segregation and precipitation in Fe/Cr double layer and Fe_0.95Cr_0.05 and
Fe_0.85Cr_0.15 alloys. Initial oxidation of Fe-Cr was investigated
experimentally at 10^-8 Torr pressure of the spectrometers showing intense
Cr_2O_3 signal. Cr segregation and the formation of Cr rich precipitates were
traced by analysing the experimental spectral intensities with respect to
annealing time, Cr content, and kinetic energy of the exited electron.Comment: 16 pages, 14 figures, 52 reference
Zero-Point Motion of Liquid and Solid Hydrogen
We present an inelastic neutron scattering study of liquid and solid hydrogen
carried out using the wide Angular Range Chopper Spectrometer at Oak Ridge
National Laboratory. From the observed dynamic structure factor, we obtained
empirical estimates of the molecular mean-squared displacement and average
translational kinetic energy. We find that the former quantity increases with
temperature, indicating that a combination of thermal and quantum effects is
important near the liquid-solid phase transition, contrary to previous
measurements. We also find that the kinetic energy drops dramatically upon
melting of the crystals, a consequence of the large increase in molar volume
together with the Heisenberg indeterminacy principle. Our results are compared
with quantum Monte Carlo simulations based on different model potentials. In
general, there is good agreement between our findings and theoretical
predictions based on the Silvera-Goldman and Buck potentials.Comment: 20 pages, 10 figures in color, submitted to Phys. Rev.
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