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The presented studies of resistivity (R), thermal conductivity (k) and specific heat (C) at low temperature 1.8-7 K in magnetic field up to 90 kOe made it possible to detect for the first time the exponential field dependences R(H), 1/k(H), $C(H) \sim \exp(-{\mu}_{\rm eff}H/kBT)$ of the charge transport and thermal characteristics in the so-called antiferroquadrupole (AFQ) phase of the archetypal heavy-fermion CeB$_6$ hexaboride. From magnetoresistance measurements it is shown that in the AFQ state the effective magnetic moment varies in the range ${\mu}_{\rm eff}(T) = 1.4$-1.9$\mu$B, and its value is very close to ${\mu}_{\rm eff}(\tau)(T) = 2{\mu}$B, derived from the field dependence of the relaxation time $|tau(H)$ observed in the heat capacity and thermal conductivity experiments. The phenomenological model proposed here allowed us to attribute the magnetic moments to spin droplets (ferrons), that appear in the bulk AFQ phase of CeB$_6$ crystals. The relevant electron phase separation at the nanoscale, manifested by dynamic charge stripes, that leads to the formation of ferrons, was revealed from the analysis of low-temperature X-ray diffraction experiments using the maximum entropy method. We argue that the Jahn-Teller collective mode of B$_6$ clusters is responsible for the charge stripe formation, which subsequently induces transverse quasi-local vibrations of Ce ions in the form of pairs and triples. These lead to 4f-5d spin fluctuations providing spin-polarons (ferrons) in the CeB$_6$ matrix., Comment: 25 pages, 9 figires and 2 tables

The use of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with anchoring groups was considered as an effective approach for interface engineering in perovskite solar cells with metal oxide charge transporting layers. However, the coating of SAM layers in PSMs by means of a slot-die is a challenging process due to the low viscosity of the solutions and the low wettability of the films. In this study, we integrate a triphenylamine-based polymer, pTPA-TDP, blended with SAM based on 5-[4-[4-(diphenylamino) phenyl] thiophene-2-carboxylic acid (TPATC), to address the challenges of uniform slot-die coating and interface passivation in large-area modules. We fabricated p-i-n oriented PSMs on 50x50 mm2 substrates (12-sub-cells) with NiO hole transport layer (HTL) and organic interlayers for surface modification. Wetting angle mapping demonstrated that ununiform regions of the slot-die coated SAM have hydrophobicity with contact angle values up to 90{\deg}, causing fluctuations in absorber thickness and the presence of macro-defects at buried interfaces. The incorporation of the blended interlayer to NiO/perovskite junction homogenized the surface wettability (contact angle=40{\deg}) and mitigated lattice strain in the absorber. This enabled the effective use of SAM properties on a large-area surface, improving energy level alignment and enhancing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the modules from 13.98% to 15.83% and stability (ISOS-L-2, T80 period) from 500-1000 hours to 1630 hours. Investigation of PSMs upon cooling till -5 {\deg}C showed that the PCE increased by +0.19%/{\deg}C for samples with NiO HTL, while using SAM and blended interlayers raised the coefficient to ~0.40%/{\deg}C due to changes in activation energy and trap contributions to device performance across a wide temperature range.

A detailed study of charge transport in the paramagnetic phase of Ho0.8Lu0.2B12 strongly correlated antiferromagnet was carried out at temperatures 1.9-300 K in magnetic fields up to 80 kOe. Four mono-domain single crystals with different orientation of normal vectors to the lateral surface of Ho0.8Lu0.2B12 samples were investigated in order to establish the changes in Hall effect due to the anisotropy, induced by (i) the electronic phase separation (dynamic charge stripes) and (ii) formation of the disordered cage-glass state below 60 K. It was demonstrated that in magnetic fields above 40 kOe directed along the 001 and 110 axes in fcc crystals a considerable intrinsic anisotropic positive component Ranxy appears in addition to the ordinary negative Hall resistivity contribution. The relation Ranxy prop. Ranxx 1.7 was found between anomalous components of the resistivity tensor for H along 001 below 60 K, and the power law Ranxy prop. Ranxx 0.83 was detected for the orientation H along 110 at temperatures T below TS about 15 K. It is argued that below TS about 15 K the anomalous odd Ranxy(T) and even Ranxx(T) parts of the resistivity tensor may be interpreted in terms of formation of a large size clusters in the filamentary structure of fluctuating charges (stripes). We assume that these Ranxy(001) and Ranxy(110) components represent the intrinsic (Berry phase contribution) and extrinsic (skew scattering) mechanism, respectively. An additional ferromagnetic contribution to anomalous Hall effect (AHE) for both ordinary and anisotropic components in Hall signal was registered and attributed to the effect of magnetic polarization of 5d states (ferromagnetic nano-domains) in the conduction band of Ho0.8Lu0.2B12., Comment: 46 pages including 17 figures

Nanoparticles of elemental Boron are generated for the first time by laser ablation of a sintered Boron target in liquid isopropanol and subsequent laser fragmentation of the suspension. For this purpose an ytterbium doped fiber laser was used at wavelength of 1060-1070 nm, pulse repetition rate of 20 kHz, and pulse duration of 200 ns. The size of Boron nanoparticles after ablation and fragmentation of the suspension is around 30 nm. Nanoparticles are made mostly of Boron and carbon, some particles have carbon shell. Allotropic composition of nanoparticles differs from that of the initial Boron target. Possible applications are discussed., Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures

The model strongly correlated electron system Ho0.8Lu0.2B12 which demonstrates a cooperative Jahn-Teller instability of the boron sub-lattice in combination with rattling modes of Ho(Lu) ions, dynamic charge stripes and unusual antiferromagnetic (AF) ground state has been studied in detail at low temperatures by magnetoresistance, magnetization and heat capacity measurements. Based on received results it turns out that the angular H-fi-T magnetic phase diagrams of this non-equilibrium AF metal can be reconstructed in the form of a Maltese cross. The dramatic AF ground state symmetry lowering of this dodecaboride with fcc crystal structure can be attributed to the redistribution of conduction electrons which leave the RKKY oscillations of the electron spin density to participate in the dynamic charge stripes providing with extraordinary changes in the indirect exchange interaction between magnetic moments of Ho3+ ions and resulting in the emergence of a number of various magnetic phases. It is also shown that the two main contributions to magnetoresistance in the complex AF phase, the (i) positive linear on magnetic field and the (ii) negative quadratic component can be separated and analyzed quantitatively, correspondingly, in terms of charge carrier scattering on spin density wave (5d) component of the magnetic structure and on local 4f-5d spin fluctuations of holmium sites., Comment: 45 pages, 16 figures

We study the effects of the phonon-phonon coupling on the low-energy electric dipole response within a microscopic model based on an effective Skyrme interaction. The finite rank separable approach for the quasiparticle random phase approximation is used. Choosing as an example the isotopic chain of Calcium, we show the ability of the method to describe the low-energy $E1$ strength distribution. With one and the same set of parameters we describe available experimental data for $^{48}$Ca and predict the electric dipole strength function for $^{50}$Ca., Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, proceedings of International Conference on Nuclear Structure and Related Topics (NSRT18), June 3-9 2018, Burgas, Bulgaria

Starting from the quasiparticle random phase approximation based on the Skyrme interaction SLy5, we study the effects of phonon-phonon coupling~(PPC) on the low-energy electric dipole response in $^{40-58}$Ca. Using the same set of parameters we describe available experimental data for $^{40,44,48}$Ca and give prediction for $^{50-58}$Ca. The inclusion of the PPC results in the formation of low-energy $1^-$ states. There is an impact of the PPC effect on low-energy $E1$~strength of $^{40,44,48}$Ca. The PPC effect on the electric dipole polarizability is discussed. We predict a strong increase of the summed $E1$~strength below 10MeV, with increasing neutron number from $^{48}$Ca till $^{58}$Ca., Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures

Background: The coupling of the last nucleon with configurations in the ground state of the even-even core is known to augment the single quasiparticle fragmentation pattern. In a recent experimental study by Yordanov \emph{et al.} the values of the magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole moments of the $11/2^-$ state in a long chain of Cd isotopes were found to follow a simple trend which we try to explain by means of incorporating long-range correlations in the ground state. Purpose: Our purpose is to study the influence of the ground-state correlations (GSC) on the magnetic moments and compare our results with the data for the odd-A Cd isotopes. Method: In order to evaluate if the additional correlations have bearing on the magnetic moments we employ an extension to the quasiparticle-phonon model (QPM) which takes into account quasiparticle$\otimes$phonon configurations in the ground state of the even-even core to the structure of the odd-A nucleus wave function. Results: It is shown that the values for the magnetic moments which the applied QPM extension yields deviate further from the Schmidt values. The latter is in agreement with the measured values for the Cd isotopes. Conclusions: The GSC exert significant influence on the magnetic dipole moments and reveal a potential for reproducing the experimental values for the studied cadmium isotopes.

Based on low temperature resistivity, heat capacity and magnetization investigations we show that the unusually strong suppression of superconductivity in Lu$_x$Zr$_{1-x}$B$_{12}$ BSC-type superconductors in the range $x$$<$0.08 is caused by the emergence of static spin polarization in the vicinity of non-magnetic lutetium impurities. The analysis of received results points to a formation of static magnetic moments with $\mu_{eff}$$\approx$$3\mu_B$ per Lu-ion. The size of these spin polarized nanodomains was estimated to be about 5 ${\AA}$., Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures

Separating between ordinary (OHE) and anomalous (AHE) Hall effect in the paramagnetic phase of Mn$_{1-x}$Fe$_{x}$Si reveals OHE sign inversion associated with the hidden quantum critical (QC) point $x^*\sim0.11$. The semimetallic behavior at intermediate Fe content leads to verifiable predictions in the field of fermiology, magnetic interactions and QC in Mn$_{1-x}$Fe$_{x}$Si. The change of electron and hole concentrations is considered as a driving force for tuning the QC regime in Mn$_{1-x}$Fe$_{x}$Si via modifying of RKKY exchange interaction within the Heisenberg model of magnetism., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 1 supplement

The magnetoresistance (MR) $\Delta \rho/\rho$ of cage-glass compound Ho$_x$Lu$_{1-x}$B$_{12}$ with various concentration of magnetic holmium ions ($x$$\leq$0.5) has been studied in detail concurrently with magnetization M(T) and Hall effect investigations on high quality single crystals at temperatures 1.9-120 K and in magnetic field up to 80 kOe. The undertaken analysis of $\Delta\rho/\rho$ allows us to conclude that the large negative magnetoresistance (nMR) observed in vicinity of Neel temperature is caused by scattering of charge carriers on magnetic clusters of Ho$^{3+}$ ions, and that these nanosize regions with AF exchange inside may be considered as short range order AF domains. It was shown that the Yosida relation $-\Delta \rho/\rho$$\sim$$M^2$ provides an adequate description of the nMR effect for the case of Langevin type behavior of magnetization. Moreover, a reduction of Ho-ion effective magnetic moments in the range 3-9$\mu_B$ was found to develop both with temperature lowering and under the increase of holmium content. A phenomenological description of the large positive quadratic contribution $\Delta \rho/\rho$$\sim$$\mu_D^2 H^2$ which dominates in Ho$_x$Lu$_{1-x}$B$_{12}$ in the intermediate temperature range 20-120 K allows to estimate the drift mobility exponential changes $\mu_D$$\sim$$T^{-a}$ with $a$=1.3-1.6 depending on Ho concentration. An even more comprehensive behavior of magnetoresistance has been found in the AF state of Ho$_x$Lu$_{1-x}$B$_{12}$ where an additional linear positive component was observed and attributed to charge carriers scattering on the spin density wave (SDW). High precision measurements of $\Delta\rho/\rho=f(H,T)$ have allowed us also to reconstruct the magnetic H-T phase diagram of Ho$_{0.5}$Lu$_{0.5}$B$_{12}$ and to resolve its magnetic structure as a superposition of 4f (based on localized moments) and 5d (based on SDW) components., Comment: 25 pages, 19 figures

The effects of the phonon-phonon coupling on the beta-decay rates of neutron-rich nuclei are studied in a microscopic model based on Skyrme-type interactions. The approach uses a finite-rank separable approximation of the Skyrme-type particle-hole (p-h) residual interaction. Very large two-quasiparticle spaces can thus be treated. A redistribution of the Gamow-Teller (G-T) strength is found due to the tensor correlations and the 2p-2h fragmentation of G-T states. As a result, the beta-decay half-lives are decreased significantly. Using the Skyrme interaction SGII together with a volume-type pairing interaction we illustrate this reduction effect by comparing with available experimental data for the Ni isotopes and neutron-rich N=50 isotones. We give predictions for 76Fe and 80Ni in comparison with the case of the doubly-magic nucleus 78Ni which is an important waiting point in the r-process., Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review C

Starting from an effective Skyrme interaction we study effects of phonon-phonon coupling on the low-energy electric dipole response in $^{124-132}$Sn. The QRPA calculations are performed within a finite rank separable approximation. The inclusion of two-phonon configurations gives a considerable contribution to low-lying strength. Comparison with available experimental data shows a reasonable agreement for the low-energy $E1$ strength distribution., Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, proceedings of International Conference on Nuclear Structure and Related Topics (NSRT12), July 2-7 2012, JINR, Dubna, Russia

An enhanced model, based on the Extended Boson Approximation, for the lowest-lying states in odd-mass nuclei is presented. Our approach is built on the Quasiparticle Phonon Model, extending it to take into account the ground state correlations due to the action of the Pauli principle more accurately than in the conventional theory. The derived interaction strengths between the quasiparticles and the phonons in this model depend on the quasiparticle occupation numbers explicitly coupling the odd-mass nucleus equations with those of the even-even core. Within this model we calculated the transition probabilities in several Te, Xe and Ba isotopes with A$\approx$130., Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures; Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. C

The properties of the low-lying 2^+ states in the even-even nuclei around 132Sn are studied within the quasiparticle random phase approximation. Starting from a Skyrme interaction in the particle-hole channel and a density-dependent zero-range interaction in the particle-particle channel, we use the finite rank separable approach in our investigation. It is found that the fourth 2^+ state in 132Te could be a good candidate for a mixed-symmetry state., Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, proceedings of International Conference on Nuclear Structure and Related Topics (NSRT09), June 2009, JINR, Dubna, Russia

Making use of the finite rank separable approach for the quasiparticle random phase approximation enables one to perform nuclear structure calculations in very large two-quasiparticle spaces. The approach is extended to take into account the residual particle-particle interaction. The calculations are performed by using Skyrme interactions in the particle-hole channel and density-dependent zero-range interactions in the particle-particle channel. To illustrate our approach, we study the properties of the lowest quadrupole states in the even-even nuclei $^{128}$Pd, $^{130}$Cd, $^{124-134}$Sn, $^{128-136}$Te and $^{136}$Xe., Comment: 8 pages REVTEX, 4 eps figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. C

It is well known that the Pauli principle plays a substantial role at low energies because the phonon operators are not ideal boson operators. Calculating the exact commutators between the quasiparticle and phonon operators one can take into account the Pauli principle corrections. Besides the ground state correlations due to the quasiparticle interaction in the ground state influence the single particle fragmentation as well. In this paper, we generalize the basic QPM equations to account for both mentioned effects. As an illustration of our approach, calculations on the structure of the low-lying states in $^{131}$Ba have been performed., Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure

In the framework of the Relativistic Mean Field Approach a pseudospin dependence of the residual forces in nuclei is considered. It is shown that this dependence is relatively weak. As a consequence, a pseudospin dependence of the particle--core coupling is weak as well. This leads to a small splitting of the pseudospin doublets produced by a vector coupling of an odd particle pseudospin and a pseudo--orbital momentum of the core. Some possibilities for experimental investigations of the manifestations of the pseudospin symmetry in the spectra of odd nuclei with $Z\ge$ 100 are indicated., Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures

A neutron number dependence of the E1 0+ --> 1- reduced transition probability in spherical even--even nuclei is analysed within the Q--phonon approach in the fermionic space to describe the structure of collective states. Microscopic calculations of the E1 0+ --> 1- transition matrix elements are carried out for the Xe isotopes based on the RPA for the ground state wave function. A satisfactory description of the experimental data is obtained., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures

The properties of 1^-_1 two-phonon states and the characteristics of E1 transition probabilities between low-lying collective states in spherical nuclei are analysed within the Q-phonon approach to the description of collective states. Several relations between observables are obtained. Microscopic calculations of the E1 0^+_1 -> 1^-_1 transition matrix elements are performed on the basis of the RPA. A satisfactory description of the experimental data is obtained., Comment: 16 pages, 2 figures, 9 tables

Starting from an effective Skyrme interaction we present a method to take into account the coupling between one- and two-phonon terms in the wave functions of excited states. The approach is a development of a finite rank separable approximation for the quasiparticle RPA calculations proposed in our previous work. The influence of the phonon-phonon coupling on energies and transition probabilities for the low-lying quadrupole and octupole states in the neutron-rich Sn isotopes is studied., Comment: 18 pages

A finite rank separable approximation for the quasiparticle RPA calculations with Skyrme interactions that was proposed in our previous work is extended to take into account the coupling between one- and two-phonon terms in the wave functions of excited states. It is shown that characteristics calculated within the suggested approach are in a good agreement with available experimental data., Comment: 6 pages, proceedings of the International Symposium on Physics of Unstable Nuclei (ISPUN02), Halong Bay, Vietnam, November 20-25, 2002