Professor Stephen Blundell

Abstract:

Muon-spin relaxation measurements have been carried out on NaV2O5 in the temperature range from 6 up to 300 K, through the spin-Peierls transition temperature at T-SP = 33 K. The relaxation is fitted throughout to a stretched exponential, exp( - (lambda(T)t)(beta(T))). The parameter beta is greater than 1 above the transition, but falls surprisingly to below 1/3 at 6 K, as usually observed in frustrated magnetic systems. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract:

Depolarization measurements of muons have been carried out on NaV2O5 in the temperature range from 6 K up to 150 It. through the spin-Peierls transition at T-sp = 33 K. Surprisingly. the relaxation is fitted throughout to a stretched eponential, exp( - (lambda( T)t)(beta(T))). We observe a dramatic rise in the relaxation rate lambda below T-sp. On the other hand, the exponent beta is greater than 1 above the transition temperature but falls to below 1/3 at 6 K, as in frustrated systems. Furthermore, the fit of the data shows that a fraction of muons is rapidly dc polarized when implanted in the sample. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract:

Colossal magnetoresistance manganites have been synthesised by the microwave dielectric heating of metal nitrates, which act both as effective microwave susceptors, and a ready source of oxidizing NO2 to induce mixed valency.

Abstract:

Muon-spin rotation (μSR) measurements have been used to study the superconducting vortex properties of the organic superconductors κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu(SCN)2, α-(BEDT-TTF)2NH4Hg(SCN)4 and β-(BEDT-TTF)2IBr2. These materials all have highly anisotropic structures consisting of metallic layers of BEDT-TTF molecules alternating with less well conducting anion layers. Varying the anion gives rise to a change in the anisotropy of the superconductivity and also to changes in the superconducting transition temperature. We have used both transverse and longitudinal magnetic fields to study the three-dimensional flux line lattice that is present at low temperatures and fields and to study also the loss of flux lattice order that occurs on increasing the temperature and field.

Abstract:

Significant muon spin-lattice relaxation is found in a number of non-magnetic semimetals and metals. Measured in longitudinal magnetic field, the relaxation rate is independent of field up to several kilogauss and generally increases monotonically with temperature. This suggests a form of Korringa relaxation, originating in the hyperfine interaction between the implanted muons and the conduction electrons. Bearing in mind that NMR data on Korringa relaxation refers chiefly to the host nuclei, the muon offers a probe of conduction-electron encounter at an interstitial site, linking the topic to the nature of defect screening in metals, to relaxation by spin-density fluctuations in magnetic materials and to spin- and charge-exchange on paramagnetic muonium centres in semiconductors. Data are presented for C (graphite), Bi, Pb and Cd and compared with the Korringa predictions using known values of the muon Knight shift. Control experiments are described on Zn and Cu, both pure and deliberately doped with magnetic impurity. For graphite, an interpretation is given in terms of charge-exchange on a molecular radical formed by the chemical reaction of interstitial muonium.