Magnetic properties and structure of nonstoichiometric rare-earth transition-metal intermetallic compounds TbNi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Mn<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> (0 ≤ <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> ≤ 1.5)

Crystal structure, magnetization, coercive force, magnetic susceptibility, and anisotropic magnetostriction of nonstoichiometric rare-earth transition-metal intermetallic compounds TbNi₂Mn _x (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.5) have been studied. The samples with x ≤ 1 have an fcc structure, whereas TbNi₂Mn_1.25 has a rhombohedral structure of the PuNi₃ type. It has been found that the magnetic ordering temperature increases sharply when manganese is added. As the Mn concentration grows, the magnetization and the magnetostriction decrease monotonically, while the coercive force increases. The experimental data obtained have been interpreted on the assumption that a partial substitution of manganese for terbium in TbNi₂Mn _x leads to local distortions of the crystal field acting on Tb ions, to the appearance of a local uniaxial random anisotropy, and to the formation of a noncollinear magnetic structure in the terbium sublattice.     

Effect of ion irradiation on the nanocrystallization and magnetic properties of soft magnetic Fe7<Subscript>2.5</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>1</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Mo<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>Si<Subscript>14</Subscript>B<Subscript>9</Subscript> alloy

The effect of accelerated Ar⁺ ions on the crystallization process and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Fe_72.5Cu₁Nb₂Mo_1.5Si₁₄B₉ alloy has been studied using X-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, thermomagnetic analysis, and other magnetic methods. Irradiation by Ar⁺ ions with an energy of 30 keV and a fluence of 3.75 × 10¹⁵ cm^–2 at short-term heating to a temperature of 620 K (which is 150 K below the thermal threshold of crystallization) leads to the complete crystallization of amorphous alloy, which is accompanied by the precipitation of the α-Fe(Si) solid solution crystals (close in composition to Fe₈₀Si₂₀), Fe₃Si stable phase, and metastable hexagonal phases. The crystallization caused by irradiation leads to an increase in the grain size and changes the morphology of grain boundaries and volume fraction of crystalline phases, which is accompanied by changes in the magnetic properties.     

Magnetic anisotropy of the Nd<Subscript>2</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>14</Subscript>B compound and its hydride Nd<Subscript>2</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>14</Subscript>BH<Subscript>4</Subscript>

Magnetization curves of single crystals of Nd₂Fe₁₄B and its hydride Nd₂Fe₁₄BH₄ have been measured along their principal crystallographic directions in a temperature range of 4.2–280 K. The magnetic anisotropy constants, which allow one to describe experimental magnetization curves as well as the low-temperature “easy-cone”-type magnetic structure and field-induced first-order magnetic phase transitions, have been determined in terms of a collinear-ferrimagnetic-ordering model. The anisotropy constants were shown to decrease in magnitude upon hydrogenation. In this case, the ratios of the effective fourth-and sixth-order constants to the second-order constant increase, whereas the constants responsible for the basal-plane anisotropy exhibit a more than threefold decrease. At the same time, the spin-reorientation temperature and opening of the magnetization cone at 4.2 K remain virtually unchanged. The results obtained are discussed in terms of the single-ion-anisotropy theory.     

Magnetoresistance of the La<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> single crystal

The dependence of the resistance ρ of the La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ single crystal on the temperature (in a range of 77 < T < 410 K) and magnetic field H is studied. The dependence of the magnetoresistance Δρ/ρ of the ferromagnetic phase on the field is shown to be determined by the competition of two mechanisms. In low magnetic fields, the magnetoresistance is positive Δρ/ρ > 0 and is determined by changes in the resistance with changing magnetization orientation with respect to the crystallographic axes; in high magnetic fields, the magnetoresistance is negative Δρ/ρ < 0, since it is the suppression of spin fluctuations in the magnetic field that plays the principal role. The phase transition from the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic state is a first-order transition close to the second-order one. In the transition range, the magnetoresistance is determined by the resistivity in the zero field ρ(T) and by the shift of the transition temperature T _C(H) in the magnetic field. In the paramagnetic state, the resistivity ρ(T) has an activation character; similarly to the magnetoresistance of other lanthanum manganites, the magnetoresistance of this single crystal is controlled by a change in the activation energy in the magnetic field.     

Magnetoelectrical effect in layered composites PbZr<Subscript>0.53</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>0.47</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Mn<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>Zn<Subscript>0.6</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The magnetoelectric (ME) effect in two- and three-layered composites made up of polarized ceramic plates of lead zirconate-titanate PbZr_0.53Ti_0.47O₃ (PZT) and manganese-zinc ferrite Mn_0.4Zn_0.6Fe₂O₄ (MZF) has been studied. Dependences of the transverse ME voltage coefficient (α₃₁) on the magnetostrictive layer thickness and the magnetic field intensity and frequency have been established. The mechanical coupling coefficient of the composite plates has been estimated. Results obtained for two-layered PZT-MZF structures have been analyzed using the method of efficient medium parameters.     

Dilatometric analysis of the process of the nanocrystallization of Fe<Subscript>72.5</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>1</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Mo<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>Si<Subscript>14</Subscript>B<Subscript>9</Subscript> soft magnetic alloy

The process of the nanocrystallization of magnetically soft Fe_72.5Cu₁Nb₂Mo_1.5Si₁₄B₉ alloy has been studied using dilatometry and thermomagnetic analysis, together with structural investigations. It has been shown that the amount of nanocrystalline phase precipitated upon heating of the amorphous precursor is in good agreement with a shortening of the ribbon length in the course of crystallization. Thermal expansion at the different stages of heating and cooling depends on the structural and phase states, as well as on the magnetic state of the alloy. The numerical value of the coefficient of linear thermal expansion decreases with an increase in the fraction of the ferromagnetic crystalline phase.     

Formation of ferromagnetism in pseudobinary PrNi<Subscript>5 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Cu<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> (2.5 ≤ <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis> ≤ 5) solid solutions

The structure and magnetic properties of the PrNi_{5 − x} Cu _x alloys have been studied in a composition range of 2.5 ≤ x ≤ 5. Single-phase solid solutions with a hexagonal structure of the CaCu₅ type have been shown to be realized within this composition range. It has been found that upon the introduction of nickel into the Van Vleck paramagnet PrCu₅ the ground state of the alloys with x ≤ 4.3 becomes ferromagnetic. All the compositions under study exhibit high magnetocrystalline anisotropy of the “easy-basal-plane” type. With allowance for the literature data available, a complete magnetic phase diagram of the PrNi_{5 − x} Cu _x system was constructed; it is characterized by two maxima in the compositional dependence of the Curie temperature. The earlier suggested model of the effect of local random crystal fields on the magnetic state of Pr³⁺ ions in alloys with low copper contents was shown to be applicable also for the explanation of magnetic properties of alloys with low nickel contents. The results of this study confirm the hypothesis about the determining role of local irregular crystal fields in the formation of the magnetic properties of the pseudobinary PrNi_{5 − x} Cu _x intermetallic compounds.     

Structure,magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of nonstoichiometric TbCo<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ni<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> compounds

The structure and magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of new nonstoichiometric TbCo₂Ni _x compounds (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) have been studied. The alloys with х ≤ 0.1 have been shown to be single-phase with the MgCu₂-type structure; in alloys with х > 0.1, an additional phase with a PuNi₃-type structure has been formed. It has been found that the concentration dependences of the Curie temperature and magnetic moment of the 3d-metal sublattice have a maximum at x = 0.025. The magnetocaloric effect magnitude for the TbCo2Nix compounds has been estimated using the results of magnetic and heat-capacity measurements.     

High-pressure-torsion deformation of melt-spun Nd<Subscript>9</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>85</Subscript>B<Subscript>6</Subscript> alloy

The effect of severe plastic deformation by high-pressure torsion (HPT) at room temperature and subsequent annealing on the magnetic properties and structural transformations of the melt-spun alloy (MSA) Nd₉Fe₈₅B₆ is studied. The melt-spun ribbons in three structural states, such as nanocrystalline, mixed amorphous-nanocrystalline, and quasi-amorphous, have been subjected to deformation. In the nanocrystalline alloy, HPT leads to the decomposition of part of the Nd₂Fe₁₄B phase into the amorphous phase and α-Fe nanocrystals. The deformation of the alloy in the quasi-amorphous state leads also to the precipitation of a great amount of α-Fe nanocrystals; in this case, the amorphous matrix is depleted of iron. During the HPT of the MSA in the mixed amorphous + nanocrystaline state, both structural transformations occur. The annealing of deformed samples at above 500°C restores the two-phase (Nd₂Fe₁₄B + α-Fe) nanocrystalline state. This is accompanied by increasing magnetic hysteretic properties. The HPT has been found to suppress the formation of nonequilibrium magnetically soft phases, such as NdFe₇ and Nd₂Fe₂₃B₃, that precipitate upon annealing of the melt-spun amorphous alloy. This promotes the formation of an optimum nanocrystalline structure of the α-Fe/Nd₂Fe₁₄B composite material and an increase in its magnetic hysteretic properties because of enhancement of the intergranular exchange interaction. Compact micromagnets 6–15 mm in diameter and 0.2 mm thick, which were prepared from the Nd₉Fe₈₅B₆ alloy using HPT and subsequent annealing, exhibit the following characteristics: B _r = 11.4 kG, H _c = 5.4 kOe, and (BH)_max = 17.1 MG Oe.     

Structure and magnetic properties of mechanically alloyed Tb0.2Pr0.8（Fe0.4Co0.6）1.93 and magnetostriction of its epoxy composite

The C15 Laves phase with composition Tb_0.2Pr_0.8(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)_1.93 was synthesized by mechanical alloying (MA) and subsequent annealing process. The structure and magnetic properties of Tb_0.2Pr_0.8(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)_1.93 were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), a vibrating sample magnetometer, and a standard strain technique. The effect of annealing on the structure and magnetic properties was studied. The analysis of XRD shows that the high Pr-content Tb_0.2Pr_0.8(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)_1.93 alloy with the single phase of MgCu₂-type structure can be successfully synthesized by MA method. The sample annealed at 450°C is found to have a coercivity of 196 kA/m at room temperature. An epoxy/Tb_0.2Pr_0.8(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)_1.93 composite was produced by a cold isostatic pressing technique. A large magnetostriction of 400 ppm, at an applied magnetic field of 800 kA/m, was found for the composite. The epoxy-bonded Tb_0.2Pr_0.8(Fe_0.4Co_0.6)_1.93 composite combines a high magnetostriction with a significant coercivity, which is a promising magnetostrictive material.     

<Superscript>63</Superscript>Cu NMR spectra,magnetic susceptibility,and transmission electron microscopy of the rapidly quenched alloy Ti<Subscript>50</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>25</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>25</Subscript>

Methods of transmission and scanning electron microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) at ⁶³Cu nuclei, as well as measurements of the static magnetic susceptibility χ(T) have been used to study a shape-memory alloy (SMA) Ti₅₀Ni₂₅Cu₂₅, which experiences a thermoelastic martensite transformation. The alloy was obtained from an amorphous ribbon in a bimodal nano- and submicrocrystalline state via a crystallization annealing for 1 h at 770 K with a subsequent quenching to room-temperature water. The resultant B2 austenite is characterized by a fine structure of the ⁶³Cu NMR spectra, which is connected with the different distribution of ⁶³Cu atoms on the second coordination shell. The evolution of the shape of the spectra with decreasing temperature reveals a structural transition B2 → B19. In addition, the ⁶³Cu NMR spectra, just as the transmission electron microscopy, indicate the presence of phase separation in the alloy, with the precipitation of a TiCu (B11) phase. The temperature dependence of the static magnetic susceptibility χ(T) also indicates the occurrence of a structural transition and has a hysteretic nature of “stepped” type. The discovered stepped nature of the χ(T) dependence is explained by the bimodal size distribution of grains of the B2 phase due to the size effect of the martensitic transformation.     

Electrical resistivity and thermal electromotive force of Ni<Subscript>75</Subscript>V<Subscript>25</Subscript>, Ni<Subscript>72</Subscript>V<Subscript>28</Subscript>, and Ni<Subscript>67</Subscript>V<Subscript>33</Subscript> alloys at high temperatures

The temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity and thermal electromotive force (thermal e.m.f.) of the Ni–25 at % V, Ni–28 at % V, and Ni–33 at % V alloys in a temperature range of 300–1600 K have been reported; the dependences have been measured during slow heating and cooling of quenched and annealed samples. It has been shown that, near the order–disorder phase-transformation temperature, the temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity of the Ni₇₅V₂₅ and Ni₆₇V₃₃ alloys demonstrate a kink (second-order phase transition) and a jump (first-order phase transition), respectively. The behavior of the experimental dependences is discussed in terms of the band Mott s–d scattering model.     

Influences of NiCO<Subscript>3</Subscript> content on the microstructure and magnetic properties of Ni<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Zn<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> powders prepared by SHS

Stoichiometric Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ powders were produced by self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS). The effects of NiCO₃ content in the raw materials on the microstructure and magnetic properties of Ni-Zn ferrite powders were systematically studied. The Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The magnetic properties of the powders were evaluated by vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The results show that the introduction of NiCO₃ into reactants improves the conversion percentage and refines the Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ particles. The increase of NiCO₃ content enhances the magnetic properties of Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄. Particularly, the saturation magnetization reaches the maximum when the NiCO₃ content is 3 at.%.     

Influence of water vapor on the formation of pinning centers in YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript> upon low-temperature annealing

The influence of the double heat treatment (T = 300 and 930°С) on the critical parameters of highly textured YBa₂Cu₃O_6.96 and YBa₂Cu₃O_6.8 ceramics has been investigated. It has been shown that, upon low-temperature annealing in humid air, planar stacking faults are formed in these ceramics. These defects are partly retained after reduction annealing (at T = 930°С) and are efficient pinning centers in magnetic fields applied parallel and perpendicular to the c axis. Due to the absorption of water, the oxygen content is increased in the ceramics, which is accompanied by an increase in the critical temperature of superconducting transition up to 94 K for YBa₂Cu₃O_6.96 and up to 90 K for YBa₂Cu₃O_6.8. Optimal conditions of the double annealing have been established, after which the critical-current density increased to j _c ≥ 10⁴ А/сm² in an external magnetic field of up to 6 T. The low-temperature treatment in the neutral atmosphere saturated by water vapors deteriorates the current-carrying capacity of the highly textured ceramics, which is connected with the disappearance of texture due to the copper reduction and the precipitation of impurity phases.     

Thermal evolution of magnetic-excitation spectrum of PrB<Subscript>6</Subscript>

The magnetic dynamic response of a PrB₆ single crystal has been studied using inelastic neutron scattering in a temperature range of 10–120 K, which is above the temperatures of the phase transitions to the magnetic-ordered state. The study is aimed at revealing peculiarities of the state with a low magnetic moment in a temperature range of 7 K < T ≤ 20 K, which was identified in a number of magnetometric experiments. In addition to a quasielastic signal, a weak-dispersion excitation with an energy of ~1 meV has been detected, which exists at temperatures below 24 K. The results have been analyzed from the viewpoint of the formation of a spatially nonuniform state based on domains with short-range magnetic correlations at temperatures of 10–20 K. Judging by the dispersion of excitations, the character of the correlation is similar to that observed in a state with long-range magnetic order which arises at lower temperatures.     

Effects of H<Superscript>+</Superscript> Ion Implantation and Annealing on the Properties of CuIn<Subscript>0.75</Subscript>Ga<Subscript>0.25</Subscript>Se<Subscript>2</Subscript> Thin Films

In this paper the effects of post-deposition annealing followed by hydrogen ion-implantation on the properties of CuIn_0.75Ga_0.25Se₂ thin films have been investigated. The samples were grown by flash evaporation onto glass substrates heated at temperature between room temperature and 200 °C. Selected samples were subsequently processed under several sets of conditions, including vacuum, selenium, inert (argon) and forming gas (a 9:1 mixture of N₂:H₂) followed by hydrogen ion-implantation. A high-resolution near-infrared photoacoustic spectrometer (PAS) of the gas-microphone type was used for room temperature analysis of non-radiative defect levels in the as-grown, annealed and hydrogen implanted thin films. The absorption coefficient has been derived from the PA spectra to determine the gap energy and to establish the activation energies for several defect-related energy levels. The changes observed in the PA spectra following annealing and ion-implantation has been directly correlated with the compositional and structural properties of the samples.     

Enhancement of room-temperature magnetoresistance in La<Subscript>0.6</Subscript>Dy<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/Ag<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>

The samples of La0.6Dy0.1Sr0.3MnO3/(Ag2O)x/2(x = 0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10, 0.20, 0.25, and 0.30) were prepared by using the solid-state reaction method.Their magnetic property, transport behavior, transport mechanism and magnetoresistance effect were studied through the measurements of magnetization-temperature(M-T) curves, ρ-T curves and the fitting of ρ-T curves.The results indicated that Ag could take part in the reaction when the doping amount is small.However, when the doping amount is compar...     

Magnetic properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>Co<Subscript>2</Subscript> compounds in the exchange-striction model of ferrimagnets

The original version of the exchange-striction model of a ferrimagnet has been employed for calculating a number of magnetic properties of RCo₂ ferrimagnets, where R = Er, Ho, Dy, Tb, and Gd are rareearth ions. The following magnetic properties are calculated: pressure dependence of the Curie temperature (Т _С), temperature dependences of magnetization in sublattices of cobalt and rare-earth atoms, and isotherms of magnetization of these lattices at Т > Т _С. For an ErСо₂ sample, the Н–Т phase diagram has been constructed and the magnetization in the magnetic fields Н = 0–70 Т has been calculated. The calculated and experimental results have been compared. Based on the exchange-striction model, the qualitative explanation of the difference in the type of the magnetic phase transformation in the intermetallic compounds with R = Tb and Gd and R = Er, Ho, and Dy is given.     

Effect of Dy doping on magnetism of La<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>CoO<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

The effect of Dy doping on magnetism of La0. 7Sr0. 3CoO3 system was studied through the measurements of M-T curves and M-H curves. The results show that with Dy content increasing, Tc decreases, M weakens, the coercive force strengthens, and the samples exhibit the abnormal phenomenon that M increases continuously with T decreasing in low temperature range. Research indicates that the variation of magnetism in the system comes from the changes of lattice parameters and magnetic environment caused by Dy doping and from the spin-state transition of Co ions induced by Dy ions.