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Molaison, J. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Molaison, J. J..

Compression mechanisms of ferroelectric PbTiO 3 via high pressure neutron scattering

Switchable atomic displacements generate electric dipole moments in ferroelectric materials utilized in many contemporary devices. Lead titanate, a perovskite oxide with formula PbTiO 3 , has been referred to as a textbook example of a prototype displacive ferroelectric and is a testing platform of widely used models of piezoelectric response of complex solid-solutions. PbTiO 3 has been addressed by experimental and computational studies, often with apparently conflicting conclusions. To date, hydrostatic pressure experiments have been interpreted in terms of a model in which the dipole moments gradually diminish with increasing pressure until a transition to a cubic phase, characterized by a zero average dipole moment, occurs. Additionally, the model unrealistically assumes an even compression of the crystal. Here we show by high-pressure neutron powder diffraction measurements that a fast and slow shrinkage of 12-oxygen cages around Pb and octahedra around Ti, respectively, takes place. A phase diagram consolidating earlier and present results is given.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Pressure tuning of structure, superconductivity, and novel magnetic order in the Ce-underdoped electron-doped cuprate T ' - Pr 1.3 - x La 0.7 Ce x CuO 4 ( x = 0.1 )

High-pressure neutron powder diffraction, muon-spin rotation, and magnetization studies of the structural, magnetic, and the superconducting properties of the Ce-underdoped superconducting (SC) electron-doped cuprate system with the Nd 2 CuO 4 (the so-called T ' ) structure T ' - Pr 1.3 - x La 0.7 Ce x CuO 4 with x = 0.1 are reported. A strong reduction of the in-plane and out-of-plane lattice constants is observed under pressure. However, no indication of any pressure-induced phase transition from T' to the K 2 NiF 4 (the so-called T) structure is observed up to the maximum applied pressure of p = 11 GPa. Large and nonlinear increase of the short-range magnetic order temperature T so in T ' - Pr 1.3 - x La 0.7 Ce x CuO 4 ( x = 0.1) was observed under pressure. Simultaneous pressure causes a nonlinear decrease of the SC transition temperature T c . All these experiments establish the short-range magnetic order as an intrinsic and competing phase in SC T' - Pr 1.3 - x La 0.7 Ce x CuO 4 ( x = 0.1 ). The observed pressure effects may be interpreted in terms of the improved nesting conditions through the reduction of the in-plane and out-of-plane lattice constants upon hydrostatic pressure.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Novel diamond cells for neutron diffraction using multi-carat CVD anvils

Traditionally, neutron diffraction at high pressure has been severely limited in pressure because low neutron flux required large sample volumes and therefore large volume presses. At the high-flux Spallation Neutron Source at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, we have developed in this paper new, large-volume diamond anvil cells for neutron diffraction. The main features of these cells are multi-carat, single crystal chemical vapor deposition diamonds, very large diffraction apertures, and gas membranes to accommodate pressure stability, especially upon cooling. A new cell has been tested for diffraction up to 40 GPa with an unprecedented sample volume of ~0.15 mm 3 . High quality spectra were obtained in 1 h for crystalline Ni and in ~8 h for disordered glassy carbon. Finally, these new techniques will open the way for routine megabar neutron diffraction experiments.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗