RESUMEN

Powder samples of Fe1-xCuxCr2S4 with x = 0,0.2,0.5,0.8 were studied, between 5 and 300 K. The results reveal that for x < 1, the magnetic order in the series is more varied than the simple collinear ferrimagnetic structure traditionally assumed to exist everywhere from the Curie point to T â†’ 0. In FeCr2S4 several ordered magnetic phases are present, with the ground state likely to have an incommensurate cone-like helical structure. Fe0.8Cu0.2Cr2S4 is the compound for which simple collinear ferrimagnetism is best developed. In Fe0.5Cu0.5Cr2S4 the ferrimagnetic spin structure is not stable, causing spin reorientation around 90 K. In Fe0.2Cu0.8Cr2S4 the ferrimagnetic structure is at low temperatures considerably distorted locally, but with rising temperature this disorder shows a rapid reduction, coupled to increased spin fluctuation rates. In summary, the present data show that the changes induced by the replacement of Fe by Cu have more profound influences on the magnetic properties of the Fe1-xCuxCr2S4 compounds than merely a shift of Curie temperature, saturation magnetization and internal field magnitude.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

FeCr(2)S(4) orders magnetically at T(N)≈ 170 K. According to neutron diffraction, the ordered state down to 4.2 K is a simple collinear ferrimagnet maintaining the cubic spinel structure. Later studies, however, claimed trigonal distortions below ∼ 60 K coupled to the formation of a spin glass type ground state. To obtain further insight, muon spin rotation/relaxation (µSR) spectroscopy was carried out between 5 and 200 K together with new (57)Fe Mössbauer measurements. Below ∼ 50 K, our data point to the formation of an incommensurately modulated noncollinear spin arrangement like a helical spin structure. Above 50 K, the spectra are compatible with collinear ferrimagnetism, albeit with a substantial spin disorder on the scale of a few lattice constants. These spin lattice distortions become very large at 150 K and the magnetic state is now better characterized as consisting of rapidly fluctuating short-range ordered spins. The Néel transition is of second order, but ill defined, extending over a range of ∼ 10 K. The Mössbauer data around 10 K confirm the onset of orbital freezing and are also compatible with the noncollinear order of iron. The absence of a major change in the quadrupole interaction around 50 K renders the distortion of crystal symmetry to be small.

RESUMEN

Muon spin rotation/relaxation measurements have been performed in the itinerant helical magnet MnSi at ambient pressure and at 8.3 kbar. We have found the following: (a) the spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T(1) shows divergence as T1T proportional, variant (T-T(c))(beta) with the power beta larger than 1 near T(c); (b) 1/T(1) is strongly reduced in an applied external field B(L) and the divergent behavior near T(c) is completely suppressed at B(L)> or =4000 G. We discuss that (a) is consistent with the self-consistent renormalization theory and reflects a departure from "mean-field" behavior, while (b) indicates selective suppression of spin fluctuations of the q=0 component by B(L).

RESUMEN

The static magnetic susceptibilities of different ferric high spin and low spin compounds of myoglobin (Mb(H2O), Mb(H2O) frozen under high pressure, MbF, MbCN) were measured in the temperature region between 4.2 K and 130 K. Mössbauer absorption experiments on Mb(H2O) and MbF were performed at different temperatures between 4.2 K and 180 K and in small magnetizing fields H less than or equal to 1 kOe. The evaluation of our experimental data was performed with a Hamiltonian describing of 3d-configuration of the ferric iron by taking into account the Coulomb repulsion of the five electrons within the 3d-shell, the crystal electric field of C2v-symmetry, and the spine-orbit coupling. The Hamiltonian contains the splitting energies of the five antibonding d-orbitals (dxy, dx2, dy2, dx2-y2, dz2) as parameters. The values of these energies were obtained by a least squares fitting procedure using our magnetic susceptibility data together with the g-factors taken from the literature. In the case of MbF the energy difference between the two lowest Kramers doublets was also determined from present Mössbauer data. The results of the susceptibility and the Mössbauer data are in good agreement. The splitting energies of the 3d-orbitals can be correlated to the distances between the iron and its nearest neighbours. The different positions of the iron in the compounds investigated are discussed.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Haemoglobin Haptoglobin complexes formed when [Hp+]/[Hb]= 1/1 and [Hp]/[Hb] =2/1 were investigated by 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. Both samples gave a spectrum consisting of a single quadrupole doublet. The temperature dependence of the quadrupole splitting was also identical for both samples. This proves that in both samples the nearest neighbour environment of the iron atom must be the same. A comparison with earlier investigations on myoglobin and haemoglobin indicates that the electronic structure of iron in the HbHp-complexes is similar to that in myoglobin.

Asunto(s)