Epsilon iron as a spin-smectic state.

Using X-ray emission spectroscopy, we find appreciable local magnetic moments until 30 GPa to 40 GPa in the high-pressure phase of iron; however, no magnetic order is detected with neutron powder diffraction down to 1.8 K, contrary to previous predictions. Our first-principles calculations reveal a "spin-smectic" state lower in energy than previous results. This state forms antiferromagnetic bilayers separated by null spin bilayers, which allows a complete relaxation of the inherent frustration of antiferromagnetism on a hexagonal close-packed lattice. The magnetic bilayers are likely orientationally disordered, owing to the soft interlayer excitations and the near-degeneracy with other smectic phases. This possible lack of long-range correlation agrees with the null results from neutron powder diffraction. An orientationally disordered, spin-smectic state resolves previously perceived contradictions in high-pressure iron and could be integral to explaining its puzzling superconductivity.

Energy calibration of a high-resolution inelastic x-ray scattering spectrometer.

The energy scale of a triple-axis x-ray spectrometer with meV energy resolution based on perfect silicon crystal optics is calibrated, utilizing the most recent determination of the silicon lattice parameter and its thermal expansion coefficient and recording the dispersion of longitudinal acoustic and optical phonons in a diamond single crystal and the molecular vibration mode in liquid nitrogen. Comparison of the x-ray results with previous inelastic neutron and Raman scattering results as well as with ab initio phonon dispersion calculations yields an overall agreement better than 2%.

Phonon dispersion and lifetimes in MgB2.

We measure phonon dispersion and linewidth in a single crystal of MgB2 along the Gamma-A, Gamma-M, and A-L directions using inelastic x-ray scattering. We use density functional theory to compute the effect of both electron-phonon coupling and anharmonicity on the linewidth, obtaining excellent agreement with experiment. Anomalous broadening of the E(2g) phonon mode is found all along Gamma-A. The dominant contribution to the linewidth is always the electron-phonon coupling.