S. Cottenier

The relative stability of different crystal structures for pure Fe under applied pressure is calculated from quantum mechanics, using the highly accurate APW+lo method. In the pressure range of 0–100 TPa, we corroborate the prediction that iron adopts subsequently the bcc, hcp, fcc, hcp and bcc structures. In contrast to previous studies, we identify a family of stacking fault structures that are competing with the ground state structure at all pressures. Implications for the properties of the inner core of the Earth and heavy terrestrial exoplanets are discussed.

By reviewing the experimental and theoretical literature on γ′-Fe4N, and by a systematic survey of predictions by the LDA, PBE, WC, LDA + U (2×), PBE + U (2×) and B3PW91 exchange-correlation functionals, the structural, magnetic and hyperfine properties of this material as well as their pressure dependencies are interpreted. The hypothesis is put forward that γ′-Fe4N as found in Nature is exactly at a steep transition between low-spin and high-spin behaviour. PBE + U (U = 0.4 eV) is identified as the most accurate exchange-correlation functional for this material, although it is needed to fix the magnetization at the experimental value to obtain a satisfying description. Remaining disagreement between theory and experiment is pointed out. A recent experimental claim for a giant magnetic moment in γ′-Fe4N is discussed, and is not reproduced by our calculations. We expect that the new insight obtained in the present work can lead to a consistent ab initio modeling of other materials in the iron-nitrogen binary system. In an accompanying didactic section, the physics behind some common exchange-correlation functionals is outlined. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

In this work, we present a lattice location study of Sn in Ge. From emission channeling experiments, we determined the exact lattice location of ion implanted 121Sn atoms and compared the results to predictions from density-functional calculations. The majority of the Sn atoms are positioned on the substitutional site, as can be expected for an isovalent impurity, while a second significant fraction occupies the sixfold coordinated bond-centered site, which is stable up to at least 400 °C. Corroborated by ab initio calculations, we attribute this fraction of bond-centered Sn atoms to the Sn-vacancy defect complex in the split-vacancy configuration. Furthermore, we are able to assign specific defect complex geometries to resonances from earlier Mössbauer spectroscopy studies of Sn in Ge.

Applying time differential perturbed angular correlation (TDPAC) spectroscopy and ab initio calculations, we have investigated possible lattice instabilities in Sr2RuO4 by studying the electric quadrupole interaction of a 111Cd probe at the Ru site. We find evidence for a dynamic lattice distortion, revealed from the observations of: (i) a rapidly fluctuating electric-field gradient (EFG) tensor showing non-Arrhenius relaxation, (ii) an anomalous temperature dependence of the quadrupole interaction frequency, and (iii) a monotonic increase of the EFG asymmetry (η) below 300 K. We argue that the observed dynamic lattice distortion is caused by strong spin fluctuations associated with the inherent magnetic instability in Sr2RuO4.