71 research outputs found
Yb-Yb correlations and crystal-field effects in the Kondo insulator YbB12 and its solid solutions
We have studied the effect of Lu substitution on the spin dynamics of the
Kondo insulator YbB12 to clarify the origin of the spin-gap response previously
observed at low temperature in this material. Inelastic neutron spectra have
been measured in Yb1-xLuxB12 compounds for four Lu concentrations x = 0, 0.25,
0.90 and 1.0. The data indicate that the disruption of coherence on the Yb
sublattice primarily affects the narrow peak structure occurring near 15-20 meV
in pure YbB12, whereas the spin gap and the broad magnetic signal around 38 meV
remain almost unaffected. It is inferred that the latter features reflect
mainly local, single-site processes, and may be reminiscent of the inelastic
magnetic response reported for mixed-valence intermetallic compounds. On the
other hand, the lower component at 15 meV is most likely due to dynamic
short-range magnetic correlations. The crystal-field splitting in YbB12
estimated from the Er3+ transitions measured in a Yb0.9Er0.1B12 sample, has the
same order of magnitude as other relevant energy scales of the system and is
thus likely to play a role in the form of the magnetic spectral response.Comment: 16 pages in pdf format, 9 figures. v. 2: coauthor list updated; extra
details given in section 3.2 (pp. 6-7); one reference added; fig. 5 axis
label change
Collective magnetic excitations in mixed-valence Sm0.83Y0.17S
The magnetic spectral response of black-phase mixed-valence Sm0.83Y0.17S has
been measured by inelastic neutron scattering on a single crystal. Two magnetic
peaks are observed in the energy range of the Sm2+ spin-orbit transition (25-40
meV). Both of them exhibit significant dispersion along the three main symmetry
directions, reminiscent of the spin-orbit exciton branch found in pure divalent
SmS. The results can be reproduced by a simple phenomenological model
accounting for the existence of sizeable Sm-Sm exchange interactions, and a
microscopic mechanism is proposed on the basis of the "local-bound-state"
theory developed previously for SmB6.Comment: 6 pages in pdf format, 3 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Development of methods for the preparation of radiopure <sup>82</sup>Se sources for the SuperNEMO neutrinoless double-beta decay experiment
A radiochemical method for producing 82Se sources with an ultra-low level of contamination of natural radionuclides (40K, decay products of 232Th and 238U) has been developed based on cation-exchange chromatographic purification with reverse removal of impurities. It includes chromatographic separation (purification), reduction, conditioning (which includes decantation, centrifugation, washing, grinding, and drying), and 82Se foil production. The conditioning stage, during which highly dispersed elemental selenium is obtained by the reduction of purified selenious acid (H2SeO3) with sulfur dioxide (SO2) represents the crucial step in the preparation of radiopure 82Se samples. The natural selenium (600 g) was first produced in this procedure in order to refine the method. The technique developed was then used to produce 2.5 kg of radiopure enriched selenium (82Se). The produced 82Se samples were wrapped in polyethylene (12 ÎĽm thick) and radionuclides present in the sample were analyzed with the BiPo-3 detector. The radiopurity of the plastic materials (chromatographic column material and polypropylene chemical vessels), which were used at all stages, was determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The radiopurity of the 82Se foils was checked by measurements with the BiPo-3 spectrometer, which confirmed the high purity of the final product. The measured contamination level for 208Tl was 8-54 ÎĽBq/kg, and for 214Bi the detection limit of 600 ÎĽBq/kg has been reached.</p
- …