arXiv subjects

R. Mittal

Publications and source records attributed to R. Mittal.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Cold gas dynamics in Hydra-A: evidence for a rotating disk

We present multi-frequency observations of the radio galaxy Hydra-A (3C218) located in the core of a massive, X-ray luminous galaxy cluster. IFU spectroscopy is used to trace the kinematics of the ionised and warm molecular hydrogen which are consistent with a ~ 5 kpc rotating disc. Broad, double-peaked lines of CO(2-1), [CII]157 $μ$m and [OI]63 $μ$m are detected. We estimate the mass of the cold gas within the disc to be M$_{gas}$ = 2.3 $\pm$ 0.3 x 10$^9$ M$_{\odot}$. These observations demonstrate that the complex line profiles found in the cold atomic and molecular gas are related to the rotating disc or ring of gas. Finally, an HST image of the galaxy shows that this gas disc contains a substantial mass of dust. The large gas mass, SFR and kinematics are consistent with the levels of gas cooling from the ICM. We conclude that the cold gas originates from the continual quiescent accumulation of cooled ICM gas. The rotation is in a plane perpendicular to the projected orientation of the radio jets and ICM cavities hinting at a possible connection between the kpc-scale cooling gas and the accretion of material onto the black hole. We discuss the implications of these observations for models of cold accretion, AGN feedback and cooling flows.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

Negative Thermal Expansion in cubic ZrW2O8: Role of Phonons in Entire Brillouin Zone From ab-inito Calculations

We report ab-inito density functional theory calculation of phonons in cubic phase of ZrW2O8 in the entire Brillouin zone and identify specific anharmonic phonons that are responsible for large negative thermal expansion (NTE) in terms of translation, rotation and distortion of WO4 and ZrO6. We have used density functional calculations to interpret the experimental phonon spectra as a function of pressure and temperature as reported in literature. We discover that the phonons showing anharmonicty with temperature are different from those showing anharmonicity with pressure although both are of similar frequencies. Only the latter phonons are associated with NTE. Therefore the cubic and/or quadratic anharmonicity of phonons is not relevant to NTE but just the volume dependence of frequencies. The calculations are able to reproduce the observed anomalous trends, namely, the softening of the low frequency peak at about 5 meV in the phonon spectra with pressure and its hardening with temperature, while both the changes involve a compression of the lattice.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Spin-Lattice Coupling in K0.8Fe1.6Se2 and KFe2Se2: Inelastic Neutron Scattering and ab-initio Phonon Calculations

We report measurements of the temperature dependence of phonon densities of states in K0.8Fe1.6Se2 using inelastic neutron scattering technique. While cooling down to 150 K, a phonon peak splitting around 25 meV is observed and a new peak appears at 31 meV. The measurements support the recent Raman and infra-red measurements indicating a lowering of symmetry of K0.8Fe1.6Se2 upon cooling below 250 K. Ab-initio phonon calculations have been carried out for K0.8Fe1.6Se2 and KFe2Se2. The comparison of the phonon spectra as obtained from the magnetic as well as non magnetic calculations show pronounced differences. We show that in the two calculations the energy range of the vibrational contribution from both Fe and Se are quite different. We conclude that Fe magnetism is correlated to the phonon dynamics and it plays an important role in stabilizing the structure of K0.8Fe1.6Se2 as well as that of KFe2Se2. The calculations highlight the presence of low energy librational modes in K0.8Fe1.6Se2 as compared to KFe2Se2.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

Phase Stability of Multiferroic GaFeO3 up to 1368 K from In situ Neutron Diffraction

We report a detailed high-temperature powder neutron diffraction investigation of the structural behavior of the multiferroic GaFeO3 between 296 and 1368 K. Temperature dependent neutron diffraction patterns do not show any appreciable change either in intensity or appearance/disappearance of the observed peaks upto 1368 K, ruling out any structural transition in the entire temperature range. The lattice parameters and volume exhibit normal thermal expansion behaviour, indicating the absence of any structural changes with increasing temperature. The origin of the magnetoelectric couplings and multiferroicity in GaFeO3 is known to be influenced by the site disorder from Ga/Fe atoms. Our analysis shows that this disorder remains nearly the same upon increase of temperature from 296 to 1368 K. The structural parameters as obtained from Rietveld refinement of neutron diffraction data are used to calculate the interatomic distances and distortions of the oxygen polyhedra around the Ga1, Ga2, Fe1 and Fe2 cations. Evolution of the distortion of the oxygen polyhedra around these sites suggests that the Ga1-O tetrahedron is least distorted and Fe1-O is most distorted. Structural features regarding the distortion of polyhedral units would be crucial to understand the temperature dependence of the microscopic origin of polarizations. The electric polarization has been estimated using a simple ionic model and its value is found to decrease with increasing temperature.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2012

The duty cycle of radio-mode feedback in complete samples of clusters

The Chandra X-ray Observatory has revealed X-ray bubbles in the intracluster medium (ICM) of many nearby cooling flow clusters. The bubbles trace feedback that is thought to couple the central active galactic nucleus (AGN) to the ICM, helping to stabilize cooling flows and govern the evolution of massive galaxies. However, the prevalence and duty cycle of such AGN outbursts is not well understood. To this end, we study how cooling is balanced by bubble heating for complete samples of clusters (the Brightest 55 clusters of galaxies, hereafter B55, and the HIghest X-ray FLUx Galaxy Cluster Sample, HIFLUGCS). We find that the radio luminosity of the central galaxy only exceeds 2.5 x 10^30 erg s^-1 Hz^-1 in cooling flow clusters. This result implies a connection between the central radio source and the ICM, as expected if AGN feedback is operating. Additionally, we find a duty cycle for radio mode feedback, the fraction of time that a system possesses bubbles inflated by its central radio source, of > 69 per cent for B55 and > 63 per cent for HIFLUGCS. These duty cycles are lower limits since some bubbles are likely missed in existing images. We used simulations to constrain the bubble power that might be present and remain undetected in the cooling flow systems without detected bubbles. Among theses systems, almost all could have significant bubble power. Therefore, our results imply that the duty cycle of AGN outbursts with the potential to heat the gas significantly in cooling flow clusters is at least 60 per cent and could approach 100 per cent.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Suppression of Antiferroelectric State in NaNbO3 at High Pressure from In Situ Neutron Diffraction

We report direct experimental evidence of antiferroelectric to paraelectric phase transition under pressure in NaNbO3 using neutron diffraction at room temperature. The paraelectric phase is found to stabilize above 8 GPa and its crystal structure has been determined in orthorhombic symmetry with space group Pbnm. The variation of the structural parameters of the both orthorhombic phases as a function of pressure was determined. We have not found evidence for structural phase transition around 2 GPa as previously suggested in the literature based on Raman scattering experiments, however, significant change in Nb-O-Nb bond angles are found around this pressure. The response of the lattice parameters to pressure is strongly anisotropic with a largest contraction along <100>. The structural phase transition around ~ 8 GPa is followed by an anomalous increase in the orthorhombic strain and tilt angle associated with the R point (q= 1/2 1/2 1/2). Ab-initio calculation of the enthalpy in the various phases of NaNbO3 is able to predict the phase transition pressure well.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2012

Residual Cooling and Persistent Star Formation amid AGN Feedback in Abell 2597

New Chandra X-ray and Herschel FIR observations enable a multiwavelength study of active galactic nucleus (AGN) heating and intracluster medium (ICM) cooling in the brightest cluster galaxy of Abell 2597. The new Chandra observations reveal the central < 30 kiloparsec X-ray cavity network to be more extensive than previously thought, and associated with enough enthalpy to theoretically inhibit the inferred classical cooling flow. Nevertheless, we present new evidence, consistent with previous results, that a moderately strong residual cooling flow is persisting at 4%-8% of the classically predicted rates in a spatially structured manner amid the feedback-driven excavation of the X-ray cavity network. New Herschel observations are used to estimate warm and cold dust masses, a lower-limit gas-to-dust ratio, and a star formation rate consistent with previous measurements. The cooling time profile of the ambient X-ray atmosphere is used to map the locations of the observational star formation entropy threshold as well as the theoretical thermal instability threshold. Both lie just outside the < 30 kpc central region permeated by X-ray cavities, and star formation as well as ionized and molecular gas lie interior to both. The young stars are distributed in an elongated region that is aligned with the radio lobes, and their estimated ages are both younger and older than the X-ray cavity network, suggesting both jet-triggered as well as persistent star formation over the current AGN feedback episode. Bright X-ray knots that are coincident with extended Ly-alpha and FUV continuum filaments motivate a discussion of structured cooling from the ambient hot atmosphere along a projected axis that is perpendicular to X-ray cavity and radio axis. We conclude that the cooling ICM is the dominant contributor of the cold gas reservoir fueling star formation and AGN activity in the Abell 2597 BCG.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Multiphase Signatures of AGN Feedback in Abell 2597

We present new Chandra X-ray observations of the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) in the cool core cluster Abell 2597. The data reveal an extensive kpc-scale X-ray cavity network as well as a 15 kpc filament of soft-excess gas exhibiting strong spatial correlation with archival VLA radio data. In addition to several possible scenarios, multiwavelength evidence may suggest that the filament is associated with multiphase (10^3 - 10^7 K) gas that has been entrained and dredged-up by the propagating radio source. Stemming from a full spectral analysis, we also present profiles and 2D spectral maps of modeled X-ray temperature, entropy, pressure, and metal abundance. The maps reveal an arc of hot gas which in projection borders the inner edge of a large X-ray cavity. Although limited by strong caveats, we suggest that the hot arc may be (a) due to a compressed rim of cold gas pushed outward by the radio bubble or (b) morphologically and energetically consistent with cavity-driven active galactic nucleus (AGN) heating models invoked to quench cooling flows, in which the enthalpy of a buoyant X-ray cavity is locally thermalized as ambient gas rushes to refill its wake. If confirmed, this would be the first observational evidence for this model.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

High-Temperature Phonon Spectra of Multiferroic BiFeO3 from Inelastic Neutron Spectroscopy

We report inelastic neutron scattering measurements of the phonon spectra in a pure powder sample of the multiferroic material BiFeO3. A high-temperature range was covered to unravel the changes in the phonon dynamics across the Neel (T_N ~ 650 K) and Curie (T_C ~ 1100 K) temperatures. Experimental results are accompanied by ab-initio lattice dynamical simulations of phonon density of states to enable microscopic interpretations of the observed data. The calculations reproduce well the observed vibrational features and provide the partial atomic vibrational components. Our results reveal clearly the signature of three different phase transitions both in the diffraction patterns and phonon spectra. The phonon modes are found to be most affected by the transition at the T_C. The spectroscopic evidence for the existence of a different structural modification just below the decomposition limit (T_D ~ 1240 K) is unambiguous indicating strong structural changes that may be related to oxygen vacancies and concomitant Fe3+ to Fe2+ reduction and spin transition.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2011

Behavior of Lithium Oxide at Superionic Transition: First Principles and Molecular Dynamics Studies

We report studies on the vibrational and elastic behavior of lithium oxide, Li2O around its superionic transition temperature. Phonon frequencies calculated using the ab-initio and empirical potential model are in excellent agreement with the reported experimental data. Further, volume dependence of phonon dispersion relation has been calculated, which indicates softening of zone boundary transverse acoustic phonon mode along [110] at volume corresponding to the superionic transition in Li2O. The instability of phonon mode could be a precursor leading to the dynamical disorder of the lithium sub lattice. Empirical potential model calculations have been carried out to deduce the probable direction of lithium diffusion by constructing a super cell consisting of 12000 atoms. The barrier energy for lithium ion diffusion from one lattice site to another at ambient and elevated temperature has been computed. Barrier energy considerations along various symmetry directions indicate that [001] is the most favourable direction for lithium diffusion in the fast ion phase. This result corroborates our observation of dynamical instability in the transverse mode along (110) wave vector. Using molecular dynamics simulations we have studied the temperature variation of elastic constants, which are important to the high-temperature stability of lithium oxide.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2011

Strong coupling of Sm and Fe magnetism in SmFeAsO as revealed by magnetic x-ray scattering

The magnetic structures adopted by the Fe and Sm sublattices in SmFeAsO have been investigated using element specific x-ray resonant and non-resonant magnetic scattering techniques. Between 110 and 5 K, the Sm and Fe moments are aligned along the c and a directions, respectively according to the same magnetic representation $Γ_{5}$ and the same propagation vector (1, 0, 0.5). Below 5 K, magnetic order of both sublattices change to a different magnetic structure and the Sm moments reorder in a magnetic unit cell equal to the chemical unit cell. Modeling of the temperature dependence for the Sm sublattice as well as a change in the magnetic structure below 5 K provide a clear evidence of a surprisingly strong coupling between the two sublattices, and indicate the need to include anisotropic exchange interactions in models of SmFeAsO and related compounds.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Pressure dependence of the low- temperature crystal structure and phase transition behaviour of CaFeAsF and SrFeAsF: A synchrotron x-ray diffraction study

We report systematic investigation of high pressure crystal structures and structural phase transition upto 46 GPa in CaFeAsF and 40 GPa in SrFeAsF at 40 K using powder synchrotron x-ray diffraction experiments and Rietveld analysis of the diffraction data. We find that CaFeAsF undergoes orthorhombic to monoclinic phase transition at Pc = 13.7 GPa while increasing pressure. SrFeAsF exhibits coexistence of orthorhombic and monoclinic phases over a large pressure range from 9 to 39 GPa. The coexistence of the two phases indicates that the transition is of first order in nature. Unlike in the 122 compounds (BaFe2As2 & CaFe2As2) we do not find any collapse tetragonal transition. The transition to a lower symmetry phase (orthorhombic to monoclinic) in 1111 compounds under pressure is in contrast with the transition to a high symmetry phase (orthorhombic to tetragonal) in 122 type compounds. On heating from 40 K at high pressure, CaFeAsF undergoes monoclinic to tetragonal phase transition around 25 GPa and 200 K. Further, it does not show any post-tetragonal phase transition and remains in the tetragonal phase upto 25 GPa at 300 K. The dPc/dT is found to be positive for the CaFeAsF & CaFe2As2, however the same was not found in case of BaFe2As2. We discuss observations of structural evolution in the context of superconductivity in these and other Fe-based compounds. It appears that the closeness of the Fe-As-Fe bond angle to its ideal tetrahedral value of 109.470 might be associated with occurrence of superconductivity at low temperature.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Phase stability and structural temperature dependence in sodium niobate: A high resolution powder neutron diffraction study

We report investigation of structural phase transitions in technologically important material sodium niobate as a function of temperature on heating over 300-1075 K. Our high resolution powder neutron diffraction data show variety of structural phase transitions ranging from non-polar antiferrodistortive to ferroelectric and antiferroelectric in nature. Discontinuous jump in lattice parameters is found only at 633 K that indicates that the transition of orthorhombic antiferroelectric P (space group Pbcm) to R (space group Pbnm) phase is first order in nature, while other successive phase transitions are of second order. New superlattice reflections appear at 680 K (R phase) and 770 K (S phase) that could be indexed using an intermediate long-period modulated orthorhombic structure whose lattice parameter along <001> direction is 3 and 6 times that of the CaTiO3-like Pbnm structure respectively. The correlation of superlattice reflections with the phonon instability is discussed. The critical exponent (β) for the second order tetragonal to cubic phase transition at 950 K, corresponds to a value β$\approx 1/3$, as obtained from the temperature variation of order parameters (tilt angle and intensity of superlattice reflections). It is argued that this exponent is due to a second order phase transition close to a tricritical point. Based on our detailed temperature dependent neutron diffraction studies, the phase diagram of sodium niobate is presented that resolves existing ambiguities in the literature.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2010

Magnetic correlations in spin ice Ho2-xYxTi2O7 as revealed by neutron polarization analysis

We present single-crystal neutron-diffuse-scattering measurements with polarization analysis on the spin ice Ho2-xYxTi2O7 (x = 0, 0.3, and 1). At 2 K, the spin flip scattering patterns are typical of a nearest-neighbor spin ice and the effects of Y doping are seen in the width of the pinch points. At low-T, the spin flip patterns are characteristic of a dipolar spin ice and are unaffected by Y doping. In the non-spin flip channel, we observe the signature of strong antiferromagnetic correlations at the same T as the dipolar spin ice correlations appear in the spin flip channel. These experimental observations have been well reproduced by our Monte Carlo simulations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Study of BaFe2As2 and CaFe2As2 at High Pressures up to 56 GPa: Ambient and Low-Temperatures Down to 33 K

We report high pressure powder synchrotron x-ray diffraction studies on MFe2As2 (M=Ba, Ca) over a range of temperatures and pressures up to about 56 GPa using a membrane diamond anvil cell. A phase transition to a collapsed tetragonal phase is observed in both compounds upon compression. However, at 300 (33) K in the Ba-compound the transition occurs at 26 (29) GPa, which is a much higher pressure than 1.7 (0.3) GPa at 300 (40) K in the Ca-compound, due to its larger volume. It is important to note that the transition in both compounds occurs when they are compressed to almost the same value of the unit cell volume and attain similar ct/at ratios. We also show that the FeAs4 tetrahedra are much less compressible and more distorted in the collapsed tetragonal phase than their nearly regular shape in the ambient pressure phase. We present a detailed analysis of the pressure dependence of the structures as well as equation of states in these important BaFe2As2 and CaFe2As2 compounds.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Magnetic structure and orbital ordering in KCrF3 perovskite

KCrF3 represents another prototypical orbital-ordered perovskite, where Cr2+ possesses the same electronic configuration of 3d4 as that of strongly Jahn-Teller distorted Mn3+ in many CMR manganites. The crystal and magnetic structures of KCrF3 compound are investigated by using polarized and unpolarized neutron powder diffraction methods. The results show that the KCrF3 compound crystallizes in tetragonal structure at room temperature and undergoes a monoclinic distortion with the decrease in temperature. The distortion of the crystal structure indicates the presence of cooperative Jahn-Teller distortion which is driven by orbital ordering. With decreasing temperature, four magnetic phase transitions are observed at 79.5, 45.8, 9.5, and 3.2 K, which suggests a rich magnetic phase diagram. Below T_N = 79.5 K, the Cr2+ moment orders in an incommensurate antiferromagnetic arrangement, which can be defined by the magnetic propagation vector (1/2$\pm\,$$δ\,$, 1/2$\pm\,$$δ\,$, 0). The incommensurate-commensurate magnetic transition occurs at 45.8 K and the magnetic propagation vector locks into (1/2, 1/2, 0) with the Cr moment of 3.34(5) $μ_B \,$ aligned ferromagnetically in (220) plane, but antiferromagnetically along [110] direction. Below 9.5 K, the canted antiferromagnetic ordering and weak ferromagnetism arise from the collinear antiferromagnetic structure, while the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction and tilted character of the single-ion anisotropy might give rise to the complex magnetic behaviors below 9.5 K.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Magnetisation distribution in the tetragonal phase of BaFe2As2

We have determined the spatial distribution of the magnetisation induced by a field of 9 T in the tetragonal phase of BaFe2As2 using polarised neutron diffraction. Magnetic structure factors derived from the polarisation dependence of the intensities of Bragg reflections were used to make a maximum entropy reconstruction of the distribution projected on the 110 plane. The reconstruction shows clearly that the magnetisation is confined to the region around the iron atoms and that there is no significant magnetisation associated with either the As or Ba atoms. The distribution of magnetisation around the Fe atom is significantly non-spherical with a shape which is extended in the <111> directions in the projection. These results show that the electrons which give rise to the paramagnetic susceptibility are confined to the Fe atoms their distribution suggests that they occupy 3d t_2g type orbitals with about 60% in those of xy symmetry.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Herschel observations of FIR emission lines in brightest cluster galaxies

The question of how much gas cools in the cores of clusters of galaxies has been the focus of many, multiwavelength studies in the past 30 years. In this letter we present the first detections of the strongest atomic cooling lines, [C II], [O I] and [N I] in two strong cooling flow clusters, A1068 and A2597, using Herschel PACS. These spectra indicate that the substantial mass of cold molecular gas (>10^9 Mo) known to be present in these systems is being irradiated by intense UV radiation, most probably from young stars. The line widths of these FIR lines indicate that they share dynamics similar but not identical to other ionised and molecular gas traced by optical, near-infrared and CO lines. The relative brightness of the FIR lines compared to CO and FIR luminosity is consistent with other star-forming galaxies indicating that the properties of the molecular gas clouds in cluster cores and the stars they form are not unusual. These results provide additional evidence for a reservoir of cold gas that is fed by the cooling of gas in the cores of the most compact clusters and provide important diagnostics of the temperature and density of the dense clouds this gas resides in.

astro-ph.CO↗