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This paper is in continuation of our previous work on the structural, electrical and magnetic properties of Ru doped La(0.67)Ca(0.33)MnO(3) compounds (Ref.: L.Seetha Lakshmi et.al, J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 257, 195 (2003)). Here we report the results of magnetotransport measurements on La(0.67)Ca(0.33)Mn(1-x)Ru(x)O(3) (0

We discuss here a comparative study of the role of local structure and/or nature of local magnetic coupling on the electrical transport properties of Mn site substituted La-Ca-Mn-O perovskites. Particular emphasis is being paid to explore the strong correlation between the insulator-metal transition (TIM) and the residual resistivity (rhoo) upon substitution. There exists an inverse relationship between ro and TIM in the compounds under present discussion. Best fit for TIM Vs ro could be obtained for the compounds understudy to a first order exponential decay with a functional form TIM = TIMO + Aexp (-rhoo/t) than that to a power law. There is a previous report wherein the similar correlation in the case of rare earth substituted manganites has been attributed to Anderson-type electron localization. The "universal behavior" as has been observed between ro and TIM irrespective of the electronic, magnetic and chemical nature of the substituting elements in the Mn site substituted La-Ca-Mn-O perovskites needs a rigorous theoretical investigation., Comment: 5 pages + 6 figures : PDF format

In order to explore the possibility of tuning superconducting and ferromagnetic transitions by Cu doping (for Ru) in GdSr2RuCu2O8, we have carried out synthesis and characterization of GdSr2Ru{1-x}Cu{2+x)O8 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2) and studied their physical properties. Coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism is observed in all the Cu doped samples studied here. The zero field susceptibility data suggests formation of a spontaneous vortex phase. Cu doping decreases the ferromagnetic Curie temperature, whereas the superconducting transition temperature increases until an optimal concentration x~0.1. This reflects an increase in hole transfer to the CuO2 planes and reduction of ferromagnetic order within the ruthenate layers., Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, latex, contact: jjanaki@igcar.ernet.in

X-ray diffraction, resistivity, ac susceptibility and magnetization studies on La0.67Ca0.33Mn1-xRuxO3 (0 x < 0.1) were carried out. A significant increase in the lattice parameters indicated the presence of mixed valance state of Ru: Ru3+ and Ru4+. The resistivity of the doped compounds exhibited two features: a broad maximum and a relatively sharp peak. While a para to ferromagnetic transition could be observed for the latter peak, no magnetic signal either in ac susceptibility or in magnetization measurements could be observed for the broad maximum. The magnetic moment decreases non linearly from 3.55 to 3 mB over the Ru composition from 0 to 8.5 at.%. Based on the results of the present studies and on existing literature on the Mn-site substituted systems, we argue that a magnetic phase separation occurs in the Ru doped system. While the sharp peak in the resistivity corresponds to Ru4+ enriched region with a ferromagnetic coupling with neighboring Mn ions, the broad peak corresponds to a Ru3+ rich regions, with an antiferromagnetic coupling with neighboring Mn ions., Comment: 23 pages (7 figures + 2 tables) (PDF file)

Mn site is substituted with closed shell ions (Al, Ga. Ti, Zr and a certain combination of Zr and Al) and also with Fe and Ru ions carrying the magnetic moment (S=5/2 and 2 respectively) at a fixed concentration of 5 at. %. Substitution did not change either the crystal symmetry or the oxygen stiochiometry. All substituents were found to suppress both the metal-insulator and ferromagnetic transition temperatures (TP(r) and TC respectively) to varied extents. Two main contributions identified for the suppression are the lattice disorder arising due to difference in the ionic radii (rMn3+-rM) between the substituent (rM) and the Mn3+ ion (rMn3+) and in the case of the substituents carrying a magnetic moment, the type of magnetic coupling between the substituent and that of the neighboring Mn ion., Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, To be published in Pramana-international Journal of Physics

Results of our study on the superconducting and normal state properties of the recently discovered superconductor MgCNi_3, the effect of Fe and Co substitution at the Ni site and the effect of pressure are reported. It is shown that a two band model provides a consistent interpretation of the temperature dependence of the normal state resistance and the Hall constant. Whereas band structure calculations suggest an increase in T_c upon partial substitution of Ni with Fe and Co, Co substitution quenches superconductivity and Fe substitution leads to an increase followed by a decrease in T_c. The observed variation of T_c may be explained in terms of a competition between increase in T_c due to increase in density of states and a decrease due to spin fluctuations. Based on these results, it is suggested that the spin fluctuations are weaker in Fe doped samples as compared to the Co doped ones. An initial decrease in T_c (and the normal state resistance) followed by an increase is observed on application of pressure. The decrease in T_c for small applied pressures can be understood in terms of the decrease in the density of states at the Fermi level. The subsequent increase in T_c with pressure is due to a lattice softening or a structural phase transition, consistent with the band structure calculations. It is conjectured that suppression of spin fluctuations by pressure may also be responsible for the observed increase in T_c at higher pressures., Comment: 8 pages of LateX, 12 figures

Successful replacement of B by C in the series MgB2-xCx for values of x upto 0.3 are reported. Resistivity and ac susceptibility measurements have been carried out in the samples. Solubility of carbon, inferred from the observed change in the lattice parameter with carbon content indicates that carbon substitutes upto x=0.30 into the MgB2 lattice. The superconducting transition temperature, TC measured both by zero resistivity and the onset of the diamagnetic signal shows a systematic decrease with increase in carbon content upto x=0.30, beyond which the volume fraction decreases drastically. The temperature dependence of resistivity in the normal state fits to the Bloch-Gruneisen formula for all the carbon compositions studied. The Debye temperatures, extracted from the fit is seen to decrease with carbon content from 900K to 525K, whereas the electron-phonon interaction parameter, obtained from the McMillan equation using the measured TC and the Debye temperature, is seen to increase monotonically from 0.8 in MgB2 to 0.9 in the x=0.50 sample. The ratio of the resistivities between 300K and 40K versus TC is seen to follow the Testardi correlation for the C substituted samples. The decrease in TC is argued to mainly arise due to large decrease in the Debye temperature with C concentration and a decrease in the hole density of states at N(EF)., Comment: 13 pages including figures in PDF format

Infrared absorption measurements in the range of 125 to 700 cm^(-1) have been carried out as a function of temperature upto 5 K in MgB2. The absorption spectrum is characterised by a broad band centred at 485 cm^{-1}, with shoulders at 333 and 387 cm^{-1}. Studies on the temperature dependence of absorption, indicate that these modes initially harden with the lowering of temperature, and this trend is arrested at ~ 100 K, below which they soften. Further, in the case of the mode at 333 cm^{-1}, there is a distinct softening associated with the superconducting transition at 39 K. The implications of these experimental results in the context of superconductivity in MgB2 are discussed., Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures

We report intermolecular potential-energy calculations for solid C_${70}$ and determine the optimum static orientations of the molecules at low temperature; we find them to be consistent with the monoclinic structural model proposed by us in an earlier report [Solid State Commun. {\bf 105), 247 (1998)]. This model indicates that the C_5 axis of the molecule is tilted by an angle $\approx$18^o from the monoclinic b axis in contrast with the molecular orientation proposed by Verheijen {\it et al.} [J. Chem. Phys. {\bf 166}, 287 (1992)] where the C_5 axis is parallel to the monoclinic b axis. In this calculation we have incorporated the effective bond charge Coulomb potential together with the Lennard-Jones potential between the molecule at the origin of the monoclinic unit cell and its six nearest neighbours, three above and three below. The minimum energy configuration for the molecular orientations turns out to be at $\theta$=18^o, $\phi$=8^o, and $\psi$=5^o, where $\theta$, $\phi$, and $\psi$ define the molecular orientations., Comment: ReVTeX (4 pages) + 2 PostScript figures

We follow the structural transformation in solid C$_{70}$ from the high temperature hcp to a low temperature monoclinic phase using x-ray diffraction studies at controlled cooling-rates from 0.0033 to 0.42 K/min. Rapid cooling of the sample gives the signature of a two-step transformation which disappears when the system is transformaed quasi-statically. These experimental results can be rationalised using a simple mean field, Langevin dynamical theory using a free energy functional with minima corresponding to the parent and two competing product phases such that one of these product phases remains metastable throughout. The implication of our results on the existence of the intermediate phase in the sequence, hcp-dhcp-monoclinic, of structural transitions in solid C$_{70}$ with the lowering of temperature is discussed., Comment: ReVTex (4 pages), 4 eps figures, accepted in Phys. Rev. B, minor changes in the title as well as in text