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We present a systematic powder neutron diffraction study on Sr-based M-type hexaferrites SrScxFe12−xO19 using high-resolution and high-flux instruments. We have derived the magnetic configurations for the compounds with x=1.4, 1.6, and 1.8 at room temperature and at 2 K revealing a ferrimagnetic structure and a complex conical magnetic structure, respectively, where the latter is decomposed into the axial ferrimagnetic and the helicoidally modulated component in the hexagonal a−b plane. Our temperature- and composition-dependent investigation reveals that doping nonmagnetic Sc into this system reinforces the frustration and pushes the transition between the two ordered phases toward higher temperatures. The continuous opening of the spin cone suggests a smooth transition from an easy-axis toward an easy-plane anisotropy with decreasing temperature, which can be reinforced by increasing Sc content.

The thermal conductivity κ(T) of the fully ordered stable phase II, the metastable phase III, the orientationally disordered (plastic) phase I, as well as the nonergodic orientational glass (OG) phase, of the glass former cyclohexanol (C 6H 11OH) has been measured under equilibrium vapor pressure within the 2-200 K temperature range. The main emphasis is here focused on the influence of the conformational disorder upon the thermal properties of this material. Comparison of results with those regarding cyanoclyclohexane (C 6H 11CN), a chemically related compound, serves to quantify the role played by the terminal groups -OH and -CN on the phonon scattering processes. The picture that emerges shows that motions of such groups do play a minor role as scattering centers, both within the low-temperature orientationally ordered phases as well as in the OG states. The results are analyzed within the Debye-Peierls relaxation time model for isotropic solids comprising mechanisms for long-wave phonon scattering within the OG and orientational ordered low-temperature phases, as well as others arising from localized short-wavelength vibrational modes as pictured by the Cahill-Pohl model. By means of complementary neutron and Raman scattering we show that in the OG state the energy landscapes for both compounds are very similar. © 2012 American Physical Society.

The spectra of liquid 85%Fe5%Ni10%S (Tm = 1650 K) and liquid 85%Fe15%Ni have been studied by means of inelastic neutron scattering. Our aim was to explore at high frequencies some observed anomalies as reported from ultrasound studies. Contrary to the behavior of the pure liquid-metals, the phase velocity of the observed excitation for the sulfur-containing sample increases with temperature while their damping decreases. On the other hand, data of the binary Fe/Ni alloy do not show such an anomalous behavior.

The stochastic dynamics in molten nickel is studied by neutron scattering. The quasielastic spectrum shows two distinct components having disparate linewidths. The wave-vector dependence of the narrow component is shown to arise from incoherent scattering at low momentum transfers. In turn, the spectral half-width of the wider component shows a modulation with wave vector characteristic of coherent quasielastic scattering. The analysis of both components provides direct experimental estimates for the self-diffusion coefficient, as well as the effective particle diameter. The experimental data are then used to validate computer simulation results which are derived using an embedded-atom potential. Such results are also employed to explore regions in frequency-wave-vector space not easily amenable to experiment. In addition, simulation results are also compared with data pertaining to the collective motions. Such an exercise reveals the need to develop a further level in the memory function expansion of the coherent dynamic structure factor. The implications of such findings for our current understanding of the dynamics of liquid metals are finally assessed. © 2007 The American Physical Society.

The spectra of collective excitations of liquid and glassy tellurium have been studied by means of inelastic neutron scattering. Here we report on the dynamics of liquid Te as measured at two different temperatures, just above melting (Tm =723 K) and at ∼1000 K as well as the glass that is studied at room temperature. Estimates for the velocity of propagating excitations for both temperatures have been obtained from the experimental data, and a contrasting behavior is found with respect to anomalies shown by the adiabatic sound velocity measured by ultrasound methods. The origin of such differences is finally discussed. © 2006 The American Physical Society.