Biomedical subjects

S J Blundell

Publications and source records attributed to S J Blundell.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Characterization of the crystal and magnetic structures of the mixed-anion coordination polymer Cu(HCO2)(NO3)(pyz) {pyz = Pyrazine} by X-ray diffraction, ac magnetic susceptibility, dc magnetization, muon-spin relaxation, and spin dimer analysis.

The mixed-anion coordination polymer Cu(HCO2)(NO3)(pyz) was synthesized, its crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction, and its magnetic structure was characterized by ac susceptibility, dc magnetization, muon-spin relaxation, and spin dimer analysis. The crystal structure consists of five-coordinate Cu2+ ions that are connected through syn-anti bridging mu-HCO2- and mu-pyz ligands to form a highly corrugated two-dimensional layered network. Bulk magnetic measurements show a broad maximum in chi(T) at 6.6 K. The HCO2- and pyz ligands mediate ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic spin exchange interactions between adjacent Cu2+ ions with the spin exchange parameters J/kB = 8.17 and -5.4 K, respectively (H = -JSigmaSi x Sj). The muon-spin relaxation data show a transition to a long-range magnetic ordering below TN = 3.66(3) K. For T < TN, the M(H) and chi'ac measurements provide evidence for a field-induced spin-flop transition at 15.2 kOe. That Cu(HCO2)(NO3)(pyz) undergoes a long-range magnetic ordering is an unexpected result because the one-dimensional Cu(NO3)2(pyz) and three-dimensional Cu(HCO2)2(pyz) compounds display linear chain antiferromagnetism with no long-range magnetic ordering down to 2 K.

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PubMed2006

Low-temperature spin diffusion in a highly ideal S=1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chain studied by muon spin relaxation.

The organic radical-ion salt DEOCC-TCNQF4 contains linear chains of stacked molecules with significant Heisenberg antiferromagnet interactions along the chain and extremely weak interactions between the chains. Zero-field muSR has confirmed the absence of long-range magnetic order down to 20 mK and field-dependent muSR is found to be consistent with diffusive motion of the spin excitations. The anisotropic spin dynamics and the upper boundary for magnetic ordering temperature both indicate interchain magnetic coupling /J'/<7 mK. As the intrachain coupling J is 110 K, /J'/J/ is significantly less than 10(-4). This system therefore provides one of the most ideal examples of the one-dimensional S=1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet yet discovered.

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PubMed2005

Universal scaling relations in molecular superconductors.

Scaling relations between the superconducting transition temperature T(c), the superfluid stiffness rho(s), and the normal state conductivity sigma(0)(T(c)) are identified within the class of molecular superconductors. These new scaling properties hold as T(c) varies over 2 orders of magnitude for materials with differing dimensionality and contrasting molecular structure and are dramatically different from the equivalent scaling properties observed for cuprate superconductors. These scaling relations place strong constraints on theories for molecular superconductivity.

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PubMed2005

Cu(HCO2)2(pym) (pym = pyrimidine): low-dimensional magnetic behavior and long-range ordering in a quantum-spin lattice.

We synthesized and structurally and magnetically characterized the novel 3D coordination polymer Cu(HCO2)2(pym) (pym = pyrimidine). The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 14.4639(8) A, b = 7.7209(4) A, c = 8.5172(5) A, beta = 126.076(2) degrees, and V= 768.76(7) A3. In the structure buckled layers of Cu(HCO2)2 are interconnected by pym ligands to afford 1D Cu-pym-Cu chains. Bulk magnetic susceptibility measurements show a broad maximum at 25 K that is indicative of short-range magnetic ordering. Between 12 and 300 K a least-squares fit of the chi(T) data to a mean-field-corrected antiferromagnetic chain model yielded excellent agreement for g = 2.224(3), J/kB = -26.9(2) K, and zJ'/kB = -1.1(3) K. Below approximately 3 K a transition to long-range magnetic ordering is observed, as suggested by a sharp and sudden decrease in chi(T). This result is corroborated by muon spin relaxation measurements that show oscillations in the muon asymmetry below T(N) = 2.802(1) K and rapidly fluctuating moments above T(N).

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PubMed2002

Spin freezing and magnetic inhomogeneities in bilayer manganites.

We have performed a muon spin rotation study on polycrystalline samples of electron-doped layered manganites, La2-2xSr1+2xMn2O7 (0.4< or =x<1), in order to investigate the local magnetic structure and spin dynamics. Our results provide evidence for phase separation into A-type antiferromagnetic and charge-ordered phases for x=0.52 and spin freezing at low temperatures (T<100 K) for 0.52< or =x<0.75. A new phase diagram which includes this spin-freezing region is proposed.

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PubMed2002

The hydride anion in an extended transition metal oxide array: LaSrCoO3H0.7.

We present the synthesis and structural characterization of a transition metal oxide hydride, LaSrCoO3H0.7, which adopts an unprecedented structure in which oxide chains are bridged by hydride anions to form a two-dimensional extended network. The metal centers are strongly coupled by their bonding with both oxide and hydride ligands to produce magnetic ordering at temperatures up to at least 350 kelvin. The synthetic route is sufficiently general to allow the prediction of a new class of transition metal--containing electronic and magnetic materials.

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PubMed2002

Test for interlayer coherence in a quasi-two-dimensional superconductor.

Peaks in the magnetoresistivity of the layered superconductor kappa - (BEDT-TTF)2Cu(NCS)(2), measured in fields < or =45 T applied within the layers, show that the Fermi surface is extended in the interlayer direction and enable the interlayer transfer integral (t( perpendicular) approximately 0.04 meV) to be deduced. However, the quasiparticle scattering rate tau(-1) is such that Planck's over 2pi/tau approximately 6t( perpendicular), implying that kappa - (BEDT-TTF)2Cu(NCS)(2) meets the criterion used to identify interlayer incoherence. The applicability of this criterion to anisotropic materials is thus shown to be questionable.

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PubMed2001

Chemically induced magnetism and magnetoresistance in La(0.8)Sr(1.2)Mn(0.6)Rh(0.4)O(4).

It is shown by magnetometry and microSR spectroscopy that short-range magnetic interactions between the Mn cations in the nonmetallic K(2)NiF(4)-like phase La(0.8)Sr(1.2)Mn(0.6)Rh(0.4)O(4) become significant below approximately 200 K. Negative magnetoresistance (rho/rho(0) approximately 0.5 in 14 T at 108 K) is apparent below this temperature. Neutron diffraction has shown that an applied magnetic field of 5 T is sufficient to induce saturated (3.38(7)mu(B) per Mn) long-range ferromagnetic ordering of the atomic moments at 2 K, and that the induced ordering persists up to a temperature of 50 K in 5 T. Spin glass behavior is observed below 20 K in the absence of an applied field. The induced magnetic ordering is attributed to the subtle changes in band structure brought about by the external field, and to the controlling influence of Rh(3+) over the relative strength of competing magnetic exchange interactions.

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PubMed2001

Control of magnetic ordering by Jahn--Teller distortions in Nd(2)GaMnO(6) and La(2)GaMnO(6).

The substitution of Ga(3+) into the Jahn--Teller distorted, antiferromagnetic perovskites LaMnO(3) and NdMnO(3) strongly affects both the crystal structures and resulting magnetic ordering. In both compounds the Ga(3+) and Mn(3+) cations are disordered over the six coordinate sites. La(2)GaMnO(6) is a ferromagnetic insulator (T(c) = 70 K); a moment per Mn cation of 2.08(5) mu(B) has been determined by neutron powder diffraction at 5 K. Bond length and displacement parameter data suggest Jahn--Teller distortions which are both coherent and incoherent with the Pnma space group symmetry of the perovskite structure (a = 5.51122(4) A, b = 7.80515(6) A, c = 5.52947(4) A) at room temperature. The coherent distortion is strongly suppressed in comparison with the parent LaMnO(3) phase, but the displacement ellipsoids suggest that incoherent distortions are significant and arise from local Jahn--Teller distortions. The preparation of the new phase Nd(2)GaMnO(6) has been found to depend on sample cooling rates, with detailed characterization necessary to ensure phase separation has been avoided. This compound also adopts the GdFeO(3)-type orthorhombically distorted perovskite structure (space group Pnma, a = 5.64876(1) A, b = 7.65212(2) A, c = 5.41943(1) A at room temperature). However, the B site substitution has a totally different effect on the Jahn--Teller distortion at the Mn(3+) centers. This phase exhibits a Q(2) mode Jahn--Teller distortion similar to that observed in LaMnO(3), although reduced in magnitude as a result of the introduction of Ga(3+) onto the B site. There is no evidence of a dynamic Jahn-Teller distortion. At 5 K a ferromagnetically ordered Nd(3+) moment of 1.06(6) mu(B) is aligned along the y-axis and a moment of 2.8(1) mu(B) per Mn(3+) is ordered in the xy plane making an angle of 29(2) degrees with the y-axis. The Mn(3+) moments couple ferromagnetically in the xz plane. However, along the y-axis the moments couple ferromagnetically while the x components are coupled antiferromagnetically. This results in a canted antiferromagnetic arrangement in which the dominant exchange is ferromagnetic. Nd(2)GaMnO(6) is paramagnetic above 40(5) K, with a paramagnetic moment and Weiss constant of 6.70(2) mu(B) and 45.9(4) K, respectively. An ordered moment of 6.08(3) mu(B) per Nd(2)GaMnO(6) formula unit was measured by magnetometry at 5 K in an applied magnetic field of 5 T.

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