First Measurement Using Elliptically Polarized Photons of the Double-Polarization Observable E for γp→pπ^{0} and γp→nπ^{+}

We report the measurement of the helicity asymmetry E for the pπ^{0} and nπ^{+} final states using, for the first time, an elliptically polarized photon beam in combination with a longitudinally polarized target at the Crystal Ball experiment at MAMI. The results agree very well with data that were taken with a circularly polarized photon beam, showing that it is possible to simultaneously measure polarization observables that require linearly (e.g., G) and circularly polarized photons (e.g., E) and a longitudinally polarized target. The new data cover a photon energy range 270-1400 MeV for the pπ^{0} final state (230-842 MeV for the nπ^{+} final state) and the full range of pion polar angles, θ, providing the most precise measurement of the observable E. A moment analysis gives a clear observation of the pη cusp in the pπ^{0} final state.

Measurement of Compton Scattering at MAMI for the Extraction of the Electric and Magnetic Polarizabilities of the Proton

A precise measurement of the differential cross sections dσ/dΩ and the linearly polarized photon beam asymmetry Σ_{3} for Compton scattering on the proton below pion threshold has been performed with a tagged photon beam and almost 4π detector at the Mainz Microtron. The incident photons were produced by the recently upgraded Glasgow-Mainz photon tagging facility and impinged on a cryogenic liquid hydrogen target, with the scattered photons detected in the Crystal Ball/TAPS setup. Using the highest statistics Compton scattering data ever measured on the proton along with two effective field theories (both covariant baryon and heavy-baryon) and one fixed-t dispersion relation model, constraining the fits with the Baldin sum rule, we have obtained the proton electric and magnetic polarizabilities with unprecedented precision: α_{E1}=10.99±0.16±0.47±0.17±0.34, β_{M1}=3.14±0.21±0.24±0.20±0.35; in units of 10^{-4}  fm^{3} where the errors are statistical, systematic, spin polarizability dependent, and model dependent.

Single π 0 production off neutrons bound in deuteron with linearly polarized photons

The quasifree γ → d → π 0 n ( p ) photon beam asymmetry, Σ , has been measured at photon energies, E γ , from 390 to 610 MeV, corresponding to center of mass energy from 1.271 to 1.424 GeV, for the first time. The data were collected in the A2 hall of the MAMI electron beam facility with the Crystal Ball and TAPS calorimeters covering pion center-of-mass angles from 49 ∘ to 148 ∘ . In this kinematic region, polarization observables are sensitive to contributions from the Δ ( 1232 ) and N(1440) resonances. The extracted values of Σ have been compared to predictions based on partial-wave analyses (PWAs) of the existing pion photoproduction database. Our comparison includes the SAID, MAID and Bonn-Gatchina analyses; while a revised SAID fit, including the new Σ measurements, has also been performed. In addition, isospin symmetry is examined as a way to predict π 0 n photoproduction observables, based on fits to published data in the channels π 0 p , π + n and π - p .

Helicity-Dependent Cross Sections for the Photoproduction of π^{0} Pairs from Nucleons

The double-polarization observable E and helicity-dependent cross sections σ_{1/2}, σ_{3/2} have been measured for the photoproduction of π^{0} pairs off quasifree protons and neutrons at the Mainz MAMI accelerator with the Crystal Ball/TAPS setup. A circularly polarized photon beam was produced by bremsstrahlung from longitudinally polarized electrons and impinged on a longitudinally polarized deuterated butanol target. The reaction products were detected with an almost 4π covering calorimeter. The results reveal for the first time the helicity- and isospin-dependent structure of the γN→Nπ^{0}π^{0} reaction. They are compared to predictions from reaction models in view of nucleon resonance contributions and also to a refit of one model that predicted results for the proton and for the neutron target. The comparison of the prediction and the refit demonstrates the large impact of the new data.

Signatures of the d^{*}(2380) Hexaquark in d(γ,pn[over →])

We report a measurement of the spin polarization of the recoiling neutron in deuterium photodisintegration, utilizing a new large acceptance polarimeter within the Crystal Ball at MAMI. The measured photon energy range of 300-700 MeV provides the first measurement of recoil neutron polarization at photon energies where the quark substructure of the deuteron plays a role, thereby providing important new constraints on photodisintegration mechanisms. A very high neutron polarization in a narrow structure centered around E_{γ}∼570  MeV is observed, which is inconsistent with current theoretical predictions employing nucleon resonance degrees of freedom. A Legendre polynomial decomposition suggests this behavior could be related to the excitation of the d^{*}(2380) hexaquark.

Magnetostructural behavior in the non-centrosymmetric compound Nd7Pd3

A systematic study of the physical properties and microscopic magnetism of Nd₇Pd₃ compound, which in the paramagnetic state crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric hexagonal Th₇Fe₃-type structure (hP20-P6₃ mc; with a  =  10.1367(1) Å and c  =  6.3847(1) Å at 300 K), confirms multiple magnetic ordering transitions that occur upon cooling. Antiferromagnetic transition is observed at T _N  =  37 K, which is followed by ferromagnetic transformation at T _C  =  33 K. The first-order magnetic transition at T _C is magnetoelastic: it involves a change of crystal symmetry from P6₃ mc to Cmc2₁ and leads to anisotropic changes of the unit cell parameters. While the antiferromagnetic structure is symmetry allowed in P6₃ mc, the ferromagnetic structure with magnetic moments along the a-direction of the original hexagonal unit cell induces the first order transition to Cmc2₁. Density functional theory calculations confirm the experimentally observed ground state with the a-axis as the easy magnetization direction.

Non-hysteretic first-order phase transition with large latent heat and giant low-field magnetocaloric effect

First-order magnetic transitions (FOMTs) with a large discontinuity in magnetization are highly sought in the development of advanced functional magnetic materials. Isosymmetric magnetoelastic FOMTs that do not perturb crystal symmetry are especially rare, and only a handful of material families, almost exclusively transition metal-based, are known to exhibit them. Yet, here we report a surprising isosymmetric FOMT in a rare-earth intermetallic, Eu₂In. What makes this transition in Eu₂In even more remarkable is that it is associated with a large latent heat and an exceptionally high magnetocaloric effect in low magnetic fields, but with tiny lattice discontinuities and negligible hysteresis. An active role of the Eu-5d and In-4p states and a rather unique electronic structure borne by In to Eu charge transfer, altogether result in an unusual exchange mechanism that both sets the transition in motion and unveils an approach toward developing specific magnetic functionalities ad libitum.

Crystal, magnetic, calorimetric and electronic structure investigation of GdScGe1-x Sb x compounds

Experimental investigations of crystal structure, magnetism and heat capacity of compounds in the pseudoternary GdScGe-GdScSb system combined with density functional theory projections have been employed to clarify the interplay between the crystal structure and magnetism in this series of RTX materials (R  =  rare-earth, [Formula: see text]  =  transition metal and X  =  p-block element). We demonstrate that the CeScSi-type structure adopted by GdScGe and CeFeSi-type structure adopted by GdScSb coexist over a limited range of compositions [Formula: see text]. Antimony for Ge substitutions in GdScGe result in an anisotropic expansion of the unit cell of the parent that is most pronounced along the c axis. We believe that such expansion acts as the driving force for the instability of the double layer CeScSi-type structure of the parent germanide. Extensive, yet limited Sb substitutions [Formula: see text] lead to a strong reduction of the Curie temperature compared to the GdScGe parent, but without affecting the saturation magnetization. With a further increase in Sb content, the first compositions showing the presence of the CeFeSi-type structure of the antimonide, [Formula: see text], coincide with the appearance of an antiferromagnetic phase. The application of a finite magnetic field reveals a jump in magnetization toward a fully saturated ferromagnetic state. This antiferro-ferromagnetic transformation is not associated with a sizeable latent heat, as confirmed by heat capacity measurements. The electronic structure calculations for [Formula: see text] indicate that the key factor in the conversion from the ferromagnetic CeScSi-type to the antiferromagnetic CeFeSi-type structure is the disappearance of the induced magnetic moments on Sc. For the parent antimonide, heat capacity measurements indicate an additional transition below the main antiferromagnetic transition.

Study of η and η' Photoproduction at MAMI

The reactions γp→ηp and γp→η^{'}p are measured from their thresholds up to the center-of-mass energy W=1.96  GeV with the tagged-photon facilities at the Mainz Microtron, MAMI. Differential cross sections are obtained with unprecedented statistical accuracy, providing fine energy binning and full production-angle coverage. A strong cusp is observed in the total cross section for η photoproduction at the energies in the vicinity of the η^{'} threshold, W=1896  MeV (E_{γ}=1447  MeV). Within the framework of a revised ηMAID isobar model, the cusp, in connection with a steep rise of the η^{'} total cross section from its threshold, can only be explained by a strong coupling of the poorly known N(1895)1/2^{-} state to both ηp and η^{'}p. Including the new high-accuracy results in the ηMAID fit to available η and η^{'} photoproduction data allows the determination of the N(1895)1/2^{-} properties.

Insight into the Narrow Structure in η Photoproduction on the Neutron from Helicity-Dependent Cross Sections

The double polarization observable E and the helicity dependent cross sections σ_{1/2} and σ_{3/2} were measured for η photoproduction from quasifree protons and neutrons. The circularly polarized tagged photon beam of the A2 experiment at the Mainz MAMI accelerator was used in combination with a longitudinally polarized deuterated butanol target. The almost 4π detector setup of the Crystal Ball and TAPS is ideally suited to detect the recoil nucleons and the decay photons from η→2γ and η→3π^{0}. The results show that the narrow structure previously observed in η photoproduction from the neutron is only apparent in σ_{1/2} and hence, most likely related to a spin-1/2 amplitude. Nucleon resonances that contribute to this partial wave in η production are only N 1/2^{-} (S_{11}) and N 1/2^{+} (P_{11}). Furthermore, the extracted Legendre coefficients of the angular distributions for σ_{1/2} are in good agreement with recent reaction model predictions assuming a narrow resonance in the P_{11} wave as the origin of this structure.

Complex Magnetism of Lanthanide Intermetallics and the Role of their Valence Electrons: Ab Initio Theory and Experiment

We explain a profound complexity of magnetic interactions of some technologically relevant gadolinium intermetallics using an ab initio electronic structure theory which includes disordered local moments and strong f-electron correlations. The theory correctly finds GdZn and GdCd to be simple ferromagnets and predicts a remarkably large increase of Curie temperature with a pressure of +1.5 K kbar(-1) for GdCd confirmed by our experimental measurements of +1.6  K kbar(-1). Moreover, we find the origin of a ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic competition in GdMg manifested by noncollinear, canted magnetic order at low temperatures. Replacing 35% of the Mg atoms with Zn removes this transition, in excellent agreement with long-standing experimental data.

Electronically- and crystal-structure-driven magnetic structures and physical properties of RScSb (R = rare earth) compounds: a neutron diffraction, magnetization and heat capacity study

The synthesis of the new equiatomic RScSb (R = La-Nd, Sm, Gd-Tm, Lu, Y) compounds has been recently reported. These rare earth compounds crystallize in two different crystal structures, adopting the CeScSi-type (I4/mmm) for the lighter R (La-Nd, Sm) and the CeFeSi-type (P4/nmm) structure for the heavier R (R = Gd-Tm, Lu, Y). Here we report the results of neutron diffraction, magnetization and heat capacity measurements on some of these compounds (R = Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd and Tb). Band structure calculations have also been performed on CeScSb and GdScGe (CeScSi-type), and on GdScSb and TbScSb (CeFeSi-type) to compare and understand the exchange interactions in CeScSi and CeFeSi structure types. The neutron diffraction investigation shows that all five compounds order magnetically, with the highest transition temperature of 66 K in TbScSb and the lowest of about 9 K in CeScSb. The magnetic ground state is simple ferromagnetic (τ = [0 0 0]) in CeScSb, as well in NdScSb for 32 > T > 22 K. Below 22 K a second magnetic transition, with propagation vector τ = [¼ ¼ 0], appears in NdScSb. PrScSb has a magnetic structure within, determined by mostly ferromagnetic interactions and antiferromagnetic alignment of the Pr-sites connected through the I-centering (τ = [1 0 0]). A cycloidal spiral structure with a temperature dependent propagation vector τ = [δ δ ½] is found in TbScSb. The results of magnetization and heat capacity lend support to the main conclusions derived from neutron diffraction. As inferred from a sharp peak in magnetization, GdScSb orders antiferromagnetically at 56 K. First principles calculations show lateral shift of spin split bands towards lower energy from the Fermi level as the CeScSi-type structure changes to the CeFeSi-type structure. This rigid shift may force the system to transform from exchange split ferromagnetic state to the antiferromagnetic state in RScSb compounds (as seen for example in GdScSb and TbScSb) and is proposed to explain the change-over from a ferromagnetic structure as found in the CeScSi-type compounds CeScSb and NdScSb to the antiferromagnetic state as found in TbScSb and GdScSb.

Anomalous Schottky specific heat and structural distortion in ferromagnetic PrAl2

Unique from other rare earth dialuminides, PrAl(2) undergoes a cubic to tetragonal distortion below T = 30 K in a zero magnetic field, but the system recovers its cubic symmetry upon the application of an external magnetic field of 10 kOe via a lifting of the 4f crystal field splitting. The nuclear Schottky specific heat in PrAl(2) is anomalously high compared to that of pure Pr metal. First principles calculations reveal that the 4f crystal field splitting in the tetragonally distorted phase of PrAl(2) underpins the observed unusual low temperature phenomena.

Controlling magnetism of a complex metallic system using atomic individualism

When the complexity of a metallic compound reaches a certain level, a specific location in the structure may be critically responsible for a given fundamental property of a material while other locations may not play as much of a role in determining such a property. The first-principles theory has pinpointed a critical location in the framework of a complex intermetallic compound--Gd(5)Ge(4)--that resulted in a controlled alteration of the magnetism of this compound using precise chemical tools.