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A. V. Postnikov

Publications and source records attributed to A. V. Postnikov.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2004

Exchange parameters in Fe-based molecular magnets

The calculation of interatomic magnetic exchange interactions entering the Heisenberg model from the standpoint of the density functional theory (DFT) is outlined for two Fe-based molecular magnets: a trinuclear complex with a Schiff base ligand, which makes an antiferromagnetically coupled frustrated system, and a model bipyrimidine-connected planar network of Fe ions. First-principles electronic structure calculations are performed using the real-space method Siesta and the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave FLAPW method FLEUR, correspondingly. We discuss the application of fixed spin moment technique for preparing the system in a given magnetic configuration, and the effect of intraatomic Coulomb correlation, approximated by the LDA+U technique, on the values of interaction parameters.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2004

Isolated modes and percolation in lattice dynamics of (Be,Zn)Se

A mixed II-VI semiconductor Zn[1-x]Be[x]Se possesses non-trivial vibration properties, because its two constituent compounds, ZnSe and BeSe, show very different degree of covalency and hence high elastic contrast. An anomalous Be-Se vibration line has been observed mostly at intermediate Be content in the Raman spectra of thin (Zn,Be)Se films. In order to explain microscopic origins and the detailed composition of these lines, a first-principles calculation of vibration frequencies in a mixed crystal has been done, with frozen-phonon technique and supercell setup within the density functional theory, by the Siesta method, which uses norm-conserving pseudopotentials and strictly localized numerical basis functions. The calculations confirmed an earlier assumption that the anomalous Be-Se line appears due to the formation of continuous chains of a more rigid Be-rich pseudo-continuous phase formed within the more soft Zn-rich host region on crossing the Be-Se bond percolation threshold (~0.19). Different local deformation in percolated and non-percolated regions affect interatomic elastic interactions and split corresponding vibration lines. Besides confirming the percolation model qualitatively, the calculation provides details about vibration patterns in different phonon modes.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2004

Exchange interactions and magnetic anisotropy in the "Ni_4" magnetic molecule

Magnetic properties of a tetrahedral "Ni_4" molecule are discussed in terms of the Heisenberg model, with magnetic anisotropy terms included, and on the basis of first-principle calculations within the density functional theory. It is shown that the isotropic Heisenberg model does not provide an adequate description of magnetization at low temperatures; an inclusion of single-site anisotropy terms does not help to improve the situation either. We suppose that the magnetostriction of the molecule and hence the dependence of interatomic coupling parameters on the magnetization might be important for an adequate description of magnetic properties. The first-principle calculations confirm the system's general preference for antiferromagnetic coupling, as well as the failure of the isotropic Heisenberg model. A conjugated-gradient search for the relaxed structure of the "Ni_4" molecule in ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic configurations did not show any clear tendency to diversification of interatomic distances. These calculations however have not yet included the spin-orbit coupling, which can be essential for analyzing the effects of magnetostriction.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2003

Ab initio Simulations of Fe-based Ferric Wheels

Based on first-principles density-functional theory calculations we investigate the electronic structure of hexanuclear "ferric wheels" M Fe_6[N(CH_2 CH_2 O)_3]_6 Cl (M = Li, Na) in their antiferromagnetic ground state. The electronic structure is presented in form of spin- and site-resolved local densities of states. The latter clearly indicate that the magnetic moment is distributed over several sites. The local moment at the iron site is still the largest one with about 4 mu_B, thus indicating the valence state of iron to be closer to Fe(II) than to commonly accepted Fe(III). The local spin of S=5/2 per iron site, following from magnetization measurements, is perfectly reproduced if one takes the moments on the neighbor atoms into account. The largest magnetic polarization is found on the apical oxygen atom, followed by nitrogen bridging oxygens. These findings are confirmed by a map of spatial spin density. A further goal of the present study has been a comparative test of two different DFT implementations, Siesta and NRLMOL. They yield a very good agreement down to small details in the electronic structure.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2003

Electron Spectroscopy and Density-Functional Study of "Ferric Wheel" Molecules

The Li-centered "ferric wheel" molecules with six oxo-bridged iron atoms form molecular crystals. We probed their electronic structure by X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and soft X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES), having calculated in parallel the electronic structure of a single "ferric wheel" molecule from first-principles by tools of the density-functional theory, using, specifically, the Siesta method. The Fe local moments were found to be 4 mu_B, irrespective of their mutual orientation. Neighbouring atoms, primarily oxygen, exhibit a noticeable magnetic polarization, yielding effective spin S=5/2 per iron atom, that can get inverted as a "rigid" one in magnetic transitions. Corresponding energy preferences can be mapped onto the Heisenberg model with effective exchange parameter J of about -80 K.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2003

Density functional simulation of small Fe nanoparticles

We calculate from first principles the electronic structure, relaxation and magnetic moments in small Fe particles, applying the numerical local orbitals method in combination with norm-conserving pseudopotentials. The accuracy of the method in describing elastic properties and magnetic phase diagrams is tested by comparing benchmark results for different phases of crystalline iron to those obtained by an all-electron method. Our calculations for the bipyramidal Fe_5 cluster qualitatively and quantitatively confirm previous plane-wave results that predicted a non-collinear magnetic structure. For larger bcc-related (Fe_35) and fcc-related (Fe_38, Fe_43, Fe_62) particles, a larger inward relaxation of outer shells has been found in all cases, accompanied by an increase of local magnetic moments on the surface to beyond 3 mu_B.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2001

Ab initio zone-center phonons in LiTaO3: comparison to LiNbO3

The four A1-TO Gamma phonon frequencies in lithium tantalate are calculated in the frozen-phonon approach from first principles using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method. A good agreement with the experimental data available is found for all modes; reliable displacement pattern of different modes becomes available from the calculated eigenvectors. The Raman spectra recorded for A1 modes in LiNbO3 exhibit a counter-intuitive softening of the A1-TO3 mode frequency with respect to that measured in LiTaO3. We explain this behaviour by a comparatively harder oxygen rotation in LiTaO3 and discuss other differences in lattice dynamics of these two materials, namely a notably delocalization of Ta and Li contributions over more that one corresponding mode in LiTaO3, which is different from the situation in lithium niobate. The Li isotope shift is predicted in the calculation.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2000

Electronic structure of Co_xTiSe_2 and Cr_xTiSe_2

The results of investigations of intercalated compounds Cr_xTiSe_2 and Co_xTiSe_2 by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) are presented. The data obtained are compared with theoretical results of spin-polarized band structure calculations. A good agreement between theoretical and experimental data for the electronic structure of the investigated materials has been observed. The interplay between the M3d--Ti3d hybridization (M=Cr, Co) and the magnetic moment at the M site is discussed. A 0.9 eV large splitting of the core Cr2p{3/2} level was observed, which reveals a strong exchange magnetic interaction of 3d-2p electrons of Cr. In the case of a strong localization of the Cr3d electrons (for x<0.25), the broadening of the CrL spectra into the region of the states above the nominal Fermi level was observed and attributed to X-ray re-emission. The measured kinetic properties are in good accordance with spectral investigations and band calculation results.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv1999

First-principles and semi-empirical calculations for bound hole polarons in KNbO3

The ab initio linear muffin-tin-orbital (LMTO) formalism and the semi-empirical method of the Intermediate Neglect of the Differential Overlap (INDO) based on the Hartree-Fock formalism are combined for the study of the hole polarons (a hole trapped nearby the cation vacancy) in a cubic phase of KNbO3 perovskite crystals. The 40-atom and 320-atom supercells were used, respectively. We predict existence of both, one-site and two-site (molecular) polarons with close optical absorption energies (0.9 eV and 0.95 eV). The relevant experimental data are discussed.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv1999

X-ray photoelectron 3s spectra of transition metal oxides

We present metal 3s x-ray photoelectron spectra of different transition metal oxides. The values of the 3s exchange splitting for the 3d metal oxides are given as a function of the 3d electron number in the ground state. The spectra were analysed using the simple two-configuration model of the interatomic configuration mixing. The change of the 3s spectra is ascribed to the change of the charge-transfer energy.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv1999

Structure Optimization and Frozen Phonons in LiNbO3

The equilibrium ground-state structure of LiNbO3 in the paraelectric and ferroelectric phases is fully optimized in a first-principles calculation using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method. The equilibrium volume, c/a ratio and all (four, in the ferroelectric phase) internal parameters are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data. Frozen phonon calculations are performed for TO-Gamma phonons corresponding to the A1 and A2 irreducible representations of the R3c space group in the ferroelectric phase. The comparison with available experimental frequencies for the A1 modes is satisfactory (including the 6Li isotope effect), and the displacement patterns are unambiguously attributed. For the (Raman inactive) A2 modes, phonon frequencies and eigenvectors are predicted.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv1999

Combined study of KNbO3 and KTaO3 by different techniques of photoelectron and X-ray emission spectroscopy

The new results are presented of the experimental study of KNbO3 and KTaO3 by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, soft X-ray emission and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. In particular, Nb M(4,5) spectra have been measured over a range of near-threshold excitation energies 206.5 - 240.6 eV, and Ta N(3) spectra over 399.4 - 420.4 eV at the Advance Light Source in Berkeley. These spectra were found to be strongly dependent on the excitation energy. Moreover, the O K(alpha) X-ray emission spectra in both compounds as well as the valence-band photoelectron spectra are brought to the binding energy scale and discussed in combination. The trends in the spectra are explained on the basis of first-principles band-structure calculations, with the dipole transition matrix elements taken into account.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv1998

Computer simulations of defects in perovskite KNbO3 crystals

An ab initio LMTO approach and semi-empirical quantum chemical INDO method have been used for supercell calculations of basic point defects - F-type centers and hole polarons bound to cation vacancy - in partly covalent perovskite KNbO3. We predict the existence of both one-site and two-site (molecular) polarons with close absorption energies (~ 1 eV). The relevant experimental data are discussed and interpreted.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv1998

Electronic structure of VO2 studied by x-ray photoelectron and x-ray emission spectroscopies

A VO2 single-crystal has been subject of a combined investigation by high resolution XPS, x-ray emission spectroscopy with electron and energy-selective x-ray excitation (V L-alpha, V K-beta-5- and O K-alpha emission) and x-ray absorption spectroscopy (O1s). We performed first principles tight-binding LMTO band structure calculations of VO2 in both monoclinic and tetragonal rutile structures and compare the densities of states with the experimental data. From this we conclude that the electronic structure of VO2 is more bandlike than correlated.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv1998

First-principles and semiempirical Hartree-Fock calculations for F centers in KNbO3 and Li impurities in KTaO3

The LMTO method based on the density-functional theory and the semi-empirical INDO method based on the Hartree--Fock formalism are used for the supercell study of the F centers in cubic and orthorhombic ferroelectric KNbO3 crystals. Two electrons are found to be considerably delocalized even in the ground state of the defect. The absorption energies were calculated by means of the INDO method using the Delta-SCF scheme after a relaxation of atoms surrounding the F center. As an example of another type of point defect in perovskite, an isolated Li impurity in KTaO3 as well as interacting Li pairs are considered in the supercell approach, using the supercells of up to 270 atoms. The off-center Li displacement, reorientational energy barriers and the lattice relaxation around impurities are calculated. The results are compared with those obtained earlier within the shell model, revealing the relaxation pattern somehow different from the shell model estimations.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv1998

LAPW vs. LMTO full-potential simulations and anharmonic dynamics of KNbO3

With the aim to get an insight in the origin of differences in the earlier reported calculation results for KNbO3 and to test the recently proposed implementation of the FP-LMTO method by Methfessel and van Schilfgaarde, we perform a comparative study of the ferroelectric instability in KNbO3 by FP-LMTO and LAPW methods. It is shown that a high precision in the description of the charge density variations over the interstitial region in perovskite materials is essential; the technical limitations of the accuracy of charge-density description apparently accounted for previously reported slight disagreement with the LAPW results. With more accurate description of the charge density by sufficiently fine real-space grid, the results obtained by both methods became almost identical. In order to extract additional information (beyond the harmonic approximation) from the total energy fit obtainable in total-energy calculations, a scheme is proposed to solve the multidimensional vibrational Schroedinger equation in the model of non-interacting anharmonic oscillators via the expansion in hyperspherical harmonics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv1997

First-principles and semiempirical calculations for F centers in KNbO3

The linear muffin-tin-orbital method combined with density functional theory (local approximation) and the semiempirical method of the intermediate neglect of the differential overlap (INDO) based on the Hartree-Fock formalism are used for the study of the $F$ centers (O vacancy with two electrons) in cubic and orthorhombic ferroelectric KNbO$_3$ crystals. Calculations for 39-atom supercells show that the two electrons are considerably delocalized even in the ground state of the defect. Their wave functions extend over the two Nb atoms closest to the O vacancy and over other nearby atoms. Thus, the $F$ center in KNbO$_3$ resembles electron defects in the partially-covalent SiO$_2$ crystal (the so-called $E^{\prime}_1$ center) rather than usual $F$ centers in ionic crystals like MgO and alkali halides. This covalency is confirmed by the analysis of the electronic density distribution. Absorption energies were calculated by means of the INDO method using the $Δ$ self-consistent-field scheme after a relaxation of atoms surrounding the $F$ center. For the orthorhombic phase three absorption bands are calculated to lie at 2.72 eV, 3.04 eV, and 3.11 eV. The first one is close to that observed under electron irradiation. For the cubic phase, stable at high temperatures, above 708 K, only the two bands, at 2.73 eV and 2.97 eV, are expected.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗