Muon-spin rotation measurements of an unusual vortex-glass phase in the layered superconductor Bi2.15Sr1.85CaCu2O8+δ.

Muon-spin rotation measurements, performed on the mixed state of the classic anisotropic superconductor Bi(2.15)Sr(1.85)CaCu(2)O(8+δ), obtain quantities directly related to two- and three-body correlations of vortices in space. A novel phase diagram emerges from such local probe measurements of the bulk, revealing an unusual glassy state at intermediate fields which appears to freeze continuously from the equilibrium vortex liquid but differs both from the lattice and the conventional high-field vortex glass state in its structure.

Formation of a nematic fluid at high fields in Sr3Ru2O7.

In principle, a complex assembly of strongly interacting electrons can self-organize into a wide variety of collective states, but relatively few such states have been identified in practice. We report that, in the close vicinity of a metamagnetic quantum critical point, high-purity strontium ruthenate Sr3Ru2O7 possesses a large magnetoresistive anisotropy, consistent with the existence of an electronic nematic fluid. We discuss a striking phenomenological similarity between our observations and those made in high-purity two-dimensional electron fluids in gallium arsenide devices.

Coupled magnetic excitations in single crystal PrBa(2)Cu(3)O(6.2).

The dispersion of the low-energy magnetic excitations of the Pr sublattice in PrBa(2)Cu(3)O(6.2) is determined by inelastic neutron scattering measurements on a single crystal. The dispersion, which shows the effect of interactions with the Cu spin waves, is well described by a model of the coupled Cu-Pr magnetic system. This model enables values for the principal exchange constants to be determined. The results suggest that both Pr-Pr and Cu-Pr interactions are important in producing the anomalously high ordering temperature of the Pr sublattice. Measurements of the Cu optic spin wave mode show that the interlayer Cu-Cu exchange is significantly lower than in YBa(2)Cu(3)O(6.2).

Localized 4f states and dynamic Jahn-Teller effect in PrO2.

Neutron spectroscopic measurements of the magnetic excitations in PrO2 reveal (1) sharp peaks characteristic of transitions between levels of the 4f(1) configuration of Pr4+ split by the cubic crystal field, and (2) broad bands of scattering centered near 30 and 160 meV. We present a simple model based on a vibronic Hamiltonian that accounts for these contrasting features of the data. The analysis shows that 90%+/-10% of the Pr ions have a localized 4f(1) configuration and provides strong evidence for a dynamic Jahn-Teller effect in the gamma(8) electronic ground state.

Correcting the calculation of extent of degradation to account for particulate matter loss at zero time when applying the polyester bag method.

The established calculation of ruminal extent of degradation using the polyester bag method overestimates extent. The wash fraction, at least in part, is subject to losses from the rumen due to passage. Four formulae are proposed to minimize this risk of overestimation. Four options are considered: 1) passage losses for particulate matter escaping from the bag at zero time are according to the particulate fractional passage rate, 2) the liquid rate, and 3) the average of the two, and additionally 4) there is no instantly degradable fraction. The established and proposed formulae were examined using polyester bag data for six forages: grass silage, fresh ryegrass, fresh white clover, alfalfa hay, mixed grasses hay, and hay from a permanent mountain meadow. The established formula gave appreciably higher estimates of extent of degradation in all cases. Overestimation was at least 6.9, 4.9, 2.9, 2.1, 2.4, and 4.5%, respectively, for the six forages.