X-ray and neutron scattering

Abstract:

A simple crossover from two-dimensional to three-dimensional correlated disorder of O and N atoms on a cubic lattice has been discovered within the Ba1-xSrxTaO2N series of perovskite oxynitrides. The crossover is driven by lattice expansion as x decreases, and provides a rapid increase in entropy due to a change from subextensive to extensive configurational entropy regimes.

Abstract:

In a recent paper [Huang, Gog, Kim, Kasman, Said, Casa, Wieczorek, Hönnicke and Assoufid (2018). J. Appl. Cryst. 51, 140–147], a description of the structure of quartz was given that is incorrect. There is a long history of such errors in publications describing the quartz structure. This was fully and correctly discussed in 1978 [Donnay and Le Page (1978). Acta Cryst. A34, 584–594], and yet these errors still persist. In the present paper the description by Huang et al. is corrected and the seminal work of Donnay and Le Page revisited.

Abstract:

The magnetic properties of CuO encompass several contemporary themes in condensed matter physics, including quantum magnetism, magnetic frustration, magnetically-induced ferroelectricity and orbital currents. Here we report polarized and unpolarized neutron inelastic scattering measurements which provide a comprehensive map of the cooperative spin dynamics in the low temperature antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase of CuO throughout much of the Brillouin zone. At high energies $(E \gtrsim 100\,meV)$ the spectrum displays continuum features consistent with the des Cloizeax--Pearson dispersion for an ideal $S=\frac{1}{2}$ Heisenberg AFM chain. At lower energies the spectrum becomes more three-dimensional, and we find that a linear spin-wave model for a Heisenberg AFM provides a very good description of the data, allowing for an accurate determination of the relevant exchange constants in an effective spin Hamiltonian for CuO. In the high temperature helicoidal phase, there are features in the measured low-energy spectrum that we could not reproduce with a spin-only model. We discuss how these might be associated with the magnetically-induced multiferroic behavior observed in this phase.