Polarized far-infrared and Raman spectra of SrCuO2 single crystals

We measured polarized far-infrared reflectivity and Raman scattering spectra of SrCuO$_2$ single crystals. The frequencies for infrared-active modes were determined using an oscillator-fitting procedure of reflectivity data. The Raman spectra were measured at different temperatures using several laser energies $\omega_L$. In addition to eight of twelve Raman active modes, predicted by factor-group analysis, we observed a complex structure in the Raman spectra for polarization parallel to the {\bf c}-axis, which consists of Raman-allowed A$_g$ symmetry modes, and B$_{1u}$ LO infrared-active (Raman-forbidden) modes of the first and higher order as well as their combinations. The Raman-forbidden modes have a stronger intensity at higher $\omega_L$ than the Raman-allowed ones. In order to explain this resonance effect, we measured the dielectric function and optical reflection spectra of SrCuO$_2$ in the visible range. We show that the Raman-allowed A$_g$ symmetry modes are resonantly enhanced when a laser energy is close to $E_0$, while Raman-forbidden (IR-active) modes resonate strongly for laser line energies close to the electronic transition of higher energy gaps.Comment: to be published in Physica

The effects of nonstoichiometry on optical properties of oxide nanopowders

In this paper we illustrate the change of optical properties of mechanically activated wurtzite ZnO powder and laser synthesized anatase TiO2 nanopowder due to the nonstoichiometry caused by mechanical activation and/or laser irradiation in vacuum. Both of the investigated materials are widely used in optoelectronics and the examination of their optical properties under different preparation and environmental conditions is of great practical interest

Charge-ordering phase transition and order-disorder effects in the Raman spectra of NaV2O5

In the ac polarized Raman spectra of NaV2O5 we have found anomalous phonon broadening, and an energy shift of the low-frequency mode as a function of the temperature. These effects are related to the breaking of translational symmetry, caused by electrical disorder that originates from the fluctuating nature of the V {4.5+} valence state of vanadium. The structural correlation length, obtained from comparisons between the measured and calculated Raman scattering spectra, diverges at T< 5 K, indicating the existence of the long-range charge order at very low temperatures, probably at T=0 K.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, new version, to appear in PR

Evolution of lattice, spin, and charge properties across the phase diagram of FeSe1-x Sx

A Raman scattering study covering the entire substitution range of the FeSe1-xSx solid solution is presented. Data were taken as a function of sulfur concentration x for 0≤x≤1, of temperature and of scattering symmetry. All types of excitations including phonons, spins, and charges are analyzed in detail. It is observed that the energy and width of the iron-related B1g phonon mode vary continuously across the entire range of sulfur substitution. The A1g chalcogenide mode disappears above x=0.23 and reappears at a much higher energy for x=0.69. In a similar way the spectral features appearing at finite doping in A1g symmetry vary discontinuously. The magnetic excitation centered at approximately 500 cm-1 disappears above x=0.23 where the A1g lattice excitations exhibit a discontinuous change in energy. The low-energy mode associated with fluctuations displays maximal intensity at the nematostructural transition and thus tracks the phase boundary

Charge kinks as Raman scatterers in quarter-filled ladders

Charge kinks are considered as fundamental excitations in quarter-filled charge-ordered ladders. The strength of the coupling of the kinks to the three-dimensional lattice depends on their energy. The integrated intensity of Raman scattering by kink-antikink pairs is proportional to $\phi ^{5}$ or $\phi ^{4},$ where $\phi$ is the order parameter. The exponent is determined by the system parameters and by the strength of the electron-phonon coupling.Comment: To be published in Phys. Rev.B (june 2001

Low energy excitations and dynamic Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in α′\alpha'-NaV2_2O5_5 studied by far infrared spectroscopy

We have studied far infrared transmission spectra of alpha'-NaV2O5 between 3 and 200cm-1 in polarizations of incident light parallel to a, b, and c crystallographic axes in magnetic fields up to 33T. The triplet origin of an excitation at 65.4cm-1 is revealed by splitting in the magnetic field. The magnitude of the spin gap at low temperatures is found to be magnetic field independent at least up to 33T. All other infrared-active transitions appearing below Tc are ascribed to zone-folded phonons. Two different dynamic Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) mechanisms have been discovered that contribute to the oscillator strength of the otherwise forbidden singlet to triplet transition. 1. The strongest singlet to triplet transition is an electric dipole transition where the polarization of the incident light's electric field is parallel to the ladder rungs, and is allowed by the dynamic DM interaction created by a high frequency optical a-axis phonon. 2. In the incident light polarization perpendicular to the ladder planes an enhancement of the singlet to triplet transition is observed when the applied magnetic field shifts the singlet to triplet resonance frequency to match the 68cm-1 c-axis phonon energy. The origin of this mechanism is the dynamic DM interaction created by the 68cm-1 c-axis optical phonon. The strength of the dynamic DM is calculated for both mechanisms using the presented theory.Comment: 21 pages, 22 figures. Version 2 with replaced fig. 18 were labels had been los

Optical spectroscopic study of the interplay of spin and charge in NaV2O5

We investigate the temperature dependent optical properties of NaV2O5, in the energy range 4meV-4eV. The symmetry of the system is discussed on the basis of infrared phonon spectra. By analyzing the optically allowed phonons at temperatures below and above the phase transition, we conclude that a second-order change to a larger unit cell takes place below 34 K, with a fluctuation regime extending over a broad temperature range. In the high temperature undistorted phase, we find good agreement with the recently proposed centrosymmetric space group Pmmn. On the other hand, the detailed analysis of the electronic excitations detected in the optical conductivity, provides direct evidence for a charge disproportionated electronic ground-state, at least on a locale scale: A consistent interpretation of both structural and optical conductivity data requires an asymmetrical charge distribution on each rung, without any long range order. We show that, because of the locally broken symmetry, spin-flip excitations carry a finite electric dipole moment, which is responsible for the detection of direct two-magnon optical absorption processes for E parallel to the a axis. The charged-magnon model, developed to interpret the optical conductivity of NaV2O5, is described in detail, and its relevance to other strongly correlated electron systems, where the interplay of spin and charge plays a crucial role in determining the low energy electrodynamics, is discussed.Comment: Revtex, 19 pages, 16 postscript pictures embedded in the text, submitted to PRB. Find more stuff at http://www.stanford.edu/~damascel/andreaphd.html or http://www.ub.rug.nl/eldoc/dis/science/a.damascelli

Thermal shock of ceramic material : Damage resistance parameters and critical flaw size

The alumina refractories used in this study included a serias of 12 commertial products (two fireclay and ten high alumina brands ) containing ≈ 45 - 90 % Al2O3. Damage resistance parameters R,, R, and RSt were used in this paper. Critical flaw size was calculated from the fracture toughnesses of the chosen materials. Calculated values of damage resistance parameters were compared to critical flaw size, (YCcrit1/2). Statistical analysis was used to determine the corelation between the R parameter and the critical flaw size. Results of the regresion analysis showed a linear dependence of the damage resistance parameter R, on the critical flaw size. Linear dependences were also obtained for the comparison R, and RSt parameters on the critical flaw size, but coeffitient of corelation were less satisfactory

Thermal shock of ceramic material : Comparison of resistance parameter with the critical ΔT values ΔTc = ΔTc(Bi) of ceramic materials

Thermal shock resistance of ceramic material can be characterized by using resistance parameters or critical temperature difference. Correlation between fracture resistance parameter, R and critical temperature difference, ΔTc was presented for four products (99% Al2O3, 86% Al2O3 , mullite and glass). Six equations representing dependence critical temperature difference on Biot number were used. Comparison of critical temperature difference as a function of Biot number with R parameter was also discussed. Statistical analysis was used to determine correlation between R parameter and critical temperature difference. This method showed that linear dependance was acceptibile to use in comparison R parameter with critical ΔTc values