X-ray powder diffractometer for in situ structural studies in magnetic fields from 0 to 35 kOe between 2.2 and 315 K

Abstract

A technique for studying magnetic field induced structural changes at the atomic resolution is described. The instrument involves the coupling of a high resolution laboratory x-ray powder diffractometer, a helium flow cryostat, and a split-coil superconducting magnet allowing for in situ structural studies in a magnetic field between 0 to 35 kOe, and a temperature between 2.2 to 315 K. The data collected from a copper sample, which is used as a standard, at temperatures down to 4.3 K and in fields up to 10 kOe are presented. The ability to image massive magnetic field induced structural transformations is demonstrated utilizing powder diffraction data of Gd5Ge4 collected under both isothermal and isofield conditions at various temperatures below 15 K and magnetic fields up to 35 kOe. These results show the utility of our approach to obtain high precision structural information in the presence of a strong magnetic field.

Tunable magnetism and structural transformations in mixed light- and heavy-lanthanide dialuminides

“…Er) lanthanides, and the competition between different single-ion anisotropies of Pr and Er ions coupled with nearest-neighbor and next-neighbor exchange interactions may lead to unusual behaviors. Indeed we have observed some fundamentally new and interesting radiation) equipped by a continuous flow cryostat and a split-coil superconducting magnet [15]. The room temperature XRD measurements confirm that all Pr 1-x Er x Al 2 alloys crystallize in the MgCu 2 type cubic Laves-phase structure with no detectable secondary phases (Fig.…”

Magnetic and structural properties of single-crystalline Er5Si4

“…ppm) 35 and silicon (purchased from Alfa Aesar, 99.9995 wt.% pure). Some tungsten from the 7 crucible has been detected as a minor impurity in the x-ray powder diffraction pattern collected after grinding a small portion of this Bridgman-grown single crystal; very weak Bragg peaks of Cu from a sample holder contamination of the surface during sample preparation 37 are seen in the x-ray diffraction patterns as well (Fig. 1a).…”

“…37 The 2θ range of the measured Bragg angles for the regular x-ray patterns was from 9 to 49 deg. 2θ (Δ2θ = 0.01°).…”

Synthesis and structural, magnetic, thermal, and transport properties of several transition metal oxides and aresnides

“…Temperature-dependent powder x-ray diffraction studies were done in the temperature range 10 K -295 K using a standard Rigaku TTRAX diffractometer system equipped with a theta/theta wide-angle goniometer and a Mo Kα radiation source. [124] The magnetic measurements were done using a Quantum Design superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer in the temperature range 1.8 K -350 K and magnetic field range 0 -5.5 T. The heat capacity and electrical resistivity measurements were done using a Quantum Design physical property measurement system (PPMS). For the heat capacity measurements, Apiezon N grease was used for thermal coupling between the samples and the sample platform.…”