Max Kresch

Phonon Density of States of LaFeAsO1-xFx

We have studied the phonon density of states (PDOS) in LaFeAsO(1-x)Fx with inelastic neutron scattering methods. The PDOS of the parent compound (x=0) is very similar to the PDOS of samples optimally doped with fluorine to achieve the maximum Tc (x approximately 0.1). Good agreement is found between the experimental PDOS and first-principles calculations with the exception of a small difference in Fe mode frequencies. The PDOS reported here is not consistent with conventional electron-phonon mediated superconductivity.

Vibrational entropy of the γ−α martensitic transformation in Fe71Ni29

The low-temperature martensitic phase transformation in Fe71Ni29 was studied by X-ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and inelastic neutron scattering. From inelastic neutron scattering spectra, the phonon density of states of the high-temperature austenite and low-temperature martensite were obtained, showing a substantial stiffening in the martensite phase. The change in vibrational entropy associated with this stiffening was found to be . Using published results for the Fe partial density of states in disordered BCC Fe–Ni of similar composition, a Ni partial density of states was obtained, which shows a significant number of modes at much lower energies than its Fe counterpart. The martensitic and reverse-martensitic transformations occur at different temperatures and the total entropies of transformation were measured by DSC for both. From these measurements and published magnetisation results for this alloy, it is found that the change in magnetic entropy is twice as large as the phonon contribution in the reverse martensitic transformation, accounting for the inequality of the total entropies of the forward and reverse transformations.

Phonon Density of States ofLaFeAsO1−xFx

We have studied the phonon density of states (PDOS) in LaFeAsO(1-x)Fx with inelastic neutron scattering methods. The PDOS of the parent compound (x=0) is very similar to the PDOS of samples optimally doped with fluorine to achieve the maximum Tc (x approximately 0.1). Good agreement is found between the experimental PDOS and first-principles calculations with the exception of a small difference in Fe mode frequencies. The PDOS reported here is not consistent with conventional electron-phonon mediated superconductivity.