R. Mittal

Magnetic structure of EuFe2As2 determined by single-crystal neutron diffraction

Among various parent compounds of iron pnictide superconductors, EuFe2As2 stands out due to the presence of both spin density wave of Fe and antiferromagnetic ordering (AFM) of the localized Eu2+ moment. Single crystal neutron diffraction studies have been carried out to determine the magnetic structure of this compound and to investigate the coupling of two magnetic sublattices. Long range AFM ordering of Fe and Eu spins was observed below 190 K and 19 K, respectively. The ordering of Fe2+ moments is associated with the wave vector k = (1,0,1) and it takes place at the same temperature as the tetragonal to orthorhombic structural phase transition, which indicates the strong coupling between structural and magnetic components. The ordering of Eu moment is associated with the wave vector k = (0,0,1). While both Fe and Eu spins are aligned along the long a axis as experimentally determined, our studies suggest a weak coupling between the Fe and Eu magnetism.

Magnetic structure ofEuFe2As2determined by single-crystal neutron diffraction

Among various parent compounds of iron pnictide superconductors, EuFe2As2 stands out due to the presence of both spin density wave of Fe and antiferromagnetic ordering (AFM) of the localized Eu2+ moment. Single crystal neutron diffraction studies have been carried out to determine the magnetic structure of this compound and to investigate the coupling of two magnetic sublattices. Long range AFM ordering of Fe and Eu spins was observed below 190 K and 19 K, respectively. The ordering of Fe2+ moments is associated with the wave vector k = (1,0,1) and it takes place at the same temperature as the tetragonal to orthorhombic structural phase transition, which indicates the strong coupling between structural and magnetic components. The ordering of Eu moment is associated with the wave vector k = (0,0,1). While both Fe and Eu spins are aligned along the long a axis as experimentally determined, our studies suggest a weak coupling between the Fe and Eu magnetism.

Inelastic neutron scattering and lattice dynamics of minerals

This paper reviews the inelastic-neutron-scattering measurements and theoretical lattice-dynamics calculations, which have aimed at providing a microscopic understanding of the vibrational and thermodynamic properties of geophysically important minerals. In the last decade, detailed inelastic-neutron-scattering measurements supported by extensive model calculations have extended our knowledge of the nature of phonon-dispersion relations and density of states of minerals and their variations in various mineral phases in the Earths mantle. An accurate understanding of these vibrational properties of minerals is crucial for predicting the phase transitions and thermodynamic properties of minerals at the pressures and temperatures prevalent in the Earths mantle. The mineral studies reviewed here include the olivine end members forsterite and fayalite, the pyroxene end member enstatite, the garnet minerals pyrope, almandine, grossular and spessartine, the silicate perovskite MgSiO3, the mineral zircon, the aluminium-silicate minerals sillimanite, kyanite and andalusite, the layer silicates vermiculite and muscovite, the oxide minerals MgO, FeO, Al2O3 and the SiO2 polymorphs, and the carbonate minerals rhodochrosite and calcite. Inelastic-neutron-scattering measurements using reactors and spallation sources on single crystals and powder samples have provided data of their phonon-dispersion relations and density of states, which have been interpreted using theoretical calculations. While quantum mechanical ab initio calculations have been successfully employed to understand the vibrational properties of minerals like MgO, Al2O3, MgSiO3 perovskite etc ., theoretical studies of structurally more complex minerals have largely employed an atomistic approach involving semi-empirical interatomic potentials. The calculations enabled microscopic interpretations of the experimental data and have been very useful in providing an atomic-level understanding of the vibrational and thermodynamic properties of these minerals.

Antiferromagnetic ordering and structural phase transition in Ba2Fe2As2 with Sn incorporated from the growth flux

Neutron diffraction experiments have been carried out on a Sn-flux grown BaFe2As2 single crystal, the parent compound of the A-122 family of FeAs-based high-Tc superconductors. A tetragonal to orthorhombic structural phase transition and a three dimensional long-range antiferromagnetic ordering of the iron moment, with a unique magnetic propagation wavevector k = (1, 0, 1), have been found to take place at ~90 K. The magnetic moments of iron are aligned along the long a axis in the low temperature orthorhombic phase (Fmmm with b<a<c). Our results thus demonstrate that the magnetic structure of BaFe2As2 single crystal is the same as those in other A-122 iron pnictides compounds. We argue that the tin incorporation in the lattice is responsible for a smaller orthorhombic splitting and lower Neel temperature T_N observed in the experiment.

Magnetic order in the CaFe1-xCoxAsF (x=0.00,0.06,0.12) superconducting compounds

A Neutron Powder Diffraction (NPD) experiment has been performed to investigate the structural phase transition and magnetic order in CaFe1-xCoxAsF superconductor compounds (x = 0, 0.06, 0.12). The parent compound CaFeAsF undergoes a tetragonal to orthorhombic phase transition at 134(3) K, while the magnetic order in form of a spin-density wave (SDW) sets in at 114(3) K. The antiferromagnetic structure of the parent compound has been determined with a unique propagation vector k = (1,0,1) and the Fe saturation moment of 0.49(5)uB aligned along the long a-axis. With increasing Co doping, the long range antiferromagnetic order has been observed to coexist with superconductivity in the orthorhombic phase of the underdoped CaFe0.94Co0.06AsF with a reduced Fe moment (0.15(5)uB). Magnetic order is completely suppressed in optimally doped CaFe0.88Co0.12AsF. We argue that the coexistence of SDW and superconductivity might be related to mesoscopic phase separation.

Ab initio lattice dynamics simulations and inelastic neutron scattering spectra for studying phonons in BaFe 2 As 2 : Effect of structural phase transition, structural relaxation, and magnetic ordering

We have performed extensive ab initio calculations to investigate phonon dynamics and their possible role in superconductivity in

Investigation of the phase stability of LuVO4 at high pressure using powder x-ray diffraction measurements and lattice dynamical calculations

{\text{BaFe}}_{2}{\text{As}}_{2}

Lattice dynamics and Born instability in yttrium aluminum garnet, Y3A15O12

and related systems. The calculations are compared to inelastic neutron scattering data that offer improved resolution over published data [Mittal et al., Phys. Rev. B 78, 104514 (2008)], in particular at low frequencies. Effects of structural phase transition and full and/or partial structural relaxations, with and without magnetic ordering, on the calculated vibrational density of states are reported. Phonons are best reproduced using either the relaxed magnetic structures or the experimental cell. Several phonon branches are affected by the subtle structural changes associated with the transition from the tetragonal to the orthorhombic phase. Effects of phonon-induced distortions on the electronic and spin structure have been investigated. It is found that for some vibrational modes, there is a significant change in the electronic distribution and spin populations around the Fermi level. A peak at 20 meV in the experimental data falls into the pseudogap region of the calculation. This was also the case reported in our recent work combined with an empirical parametric calculation [Mittal et al., Phys. Rev. B 78, 104514 (2008)]. The combined evidence for the coupling of electronic and spin degrees of freedom with phonons is relevant to the current interest in superconductivity in

Negative thermal expansion in cubic ZrW2O8: Role of phonons in the entire Brillouin zone from ab initio calculations

{\text{BaFe}}_{2}{\text{As}}_{2}

Relationship between phonons and thermal expansion in Zn(CN)2 and Ni(CN)2 from inelastic neutron scattering and ab initio calculations

and related systems.