Neutron-scattering studies of the two magnetic correlation lengths in terbium

Magnetic skin effect in Pb(Fe _{1/2}$Nb _{1/2}$)O3

Relaxor-ferroelectrics display exceptional dielectric properties resulting from the underlying random dipolar fields induced by strong chemical inhomogeneity. An unusual structural aspect of relaxors is a skin-effect where the near-surface region in single crystals exhibit structures and critical phenomena that differ from the bulk. Relaxors are unique in that this skin effect extends over a macroscopic lengthscale of ∼100 μmwhereas usual surface layers only extend over a few unit cells (or ∼nm). We present a muon spectroscopy study of Pb(Fe_{1/2}Nb_{1/2})O3(PFN) which displays ferroelectric order, including many relaxor-like dielectric properties such as a frequency broadened dielectric response, and antiferromagnetism with spatially short-range polar correlations and hence can be termed a multiferroic. In terms of the magnetic behavior determined by the Fe3+(S=5/2,L ≈ 0) ions, PFN has been characterized as a unique example of a 'cluster spin-glass'. We use variable momentum muon spectroscopy to study the depth dependence of the slow magnetic relaxations in a large 1 cm3crystal of PFN. Zero-fieldpositivemuon spin relaxation is parameterized using a stretched exponential, indicative of a distribution of relaxation rates of the Fe3+spins. This bandwidth of frequencies changes as a function of muon momentum, indicative of a change in the Fe3+relaxation rates as a function of muon implantation depth in our single crystal. Usingnegativemuon elemental analysis, we find small-to-no measurable change in the Fe3+/Nb5+concentration with depth implying that chemical concentration alone cannot account for the change in the relaxational dynamics. PFN displays an analogous magnetic skin effect reported to exist in the structural properties of relaxor-ferroelectrics.

Depth dependant element analysis of PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3 using muonic x-rays

The relaxor PbMg_1/3Nb_2/3O₃ (PMN) has received attention due to its potential applications as a piezoelectric when doped with PbTiO₃ (PT). Previous results have found that there are two phases existing in the system, one linked to the near-surface regions of the sample, the other in the bulk. However, the exact origin of these two phases is unclear. In this paper, depth dependant analysis results from negative muon implantation experiments are presented. It is shown that the Pb content is constant throughout all depths probed in the sample, but the Mg and Nb content changes in the near-surface region below 100 μm. At an implantation depth of 60 μm, it is found that there is a 25% increase in Mg content, with a simultaneous 5% decrease in Nb content in order to maintain charge neutrality. These results show that the previously observed skin effects in PMN are due to a change in concentration and unit cell.

Monte Carlo study of the competition between long-range and short-range correlated disorder in a second-order phase transition

The influence of coexisting correlated and noncorrelated impurities on the critical behavior of the three-dimensional Ising model is studied using Monte Carlo numerical simulations and finite-size scaling. The amount of correlated and noncorrelated vacancies is modified and controlled during the simulations. The long-range correlated (LRC) critical behavior is always found for any value of the concentration of correlated vacancies. The smaller the amount of correlated vacancies the larger the system size needed to detect the LRC universality class. This result explains why critical values measured in xerogel liquid-vapor experiments, where the concentration of correlated vacancies is marginal, seem to correspond to a short-range correlated disorder.

Irrelevance of canonical or grand canonical constraints near a random fixed point in large L systems

The equivalence between canonical and grand canonical constraints near a random fixed point in a critical disordered system is confirmed by means of Monte Carlo simulations. The slow approach to the asymptotic distribution for canonical averaging given by the L((alpha/nu)(random)) term is overcome by simulating long range correlated diluted Ising systems with (alpha/nu)(random)=(a-d) for the particular values a=2 (linear defects) and d=3 (three dimensional systems).

Universality class of thermally diluted ising systems at criticality

The universality class of thermally diluted Ising systems, in which the realization of the disposition of magnetic atoms and vacancies is taken from the local distribution of spins in the pure original Ising model at criticality, is investigated by finite size scaling techniques using the Monte Carlo method. We find that the critical temperature, the critical exponents, and therefore the universality class of these thermally diluted Ising systems depart markedly from the ones of short-range correlated disordered systems. Our results agree fairly well with theoretical predictions previously made by Weinrib and Halperin for systems with long-range correlated disorder.