A partir de medidas isotérmicas e isobáricas de susceptibilidade magnética diferencial, determinamos o diagrama de fases magnéticas do metamagneto Ni(NO3)2.2H2O, para pressões hidrostáticas de até cerca de 11 kbar. Determinamos o campo de transição à temperatura nula Hc(0,P) e à temperatura de Néel, ambos apresentando um crescimento aproximadamente linear com P. A partir de efeitos de desmagnetização, pudemos determinar o ponto de união das linhas de primeira e segunda ordem de cada diagrama, e para P=0 pudemos caracterizá-lo com um ponto tricrítico, com temperatura tricrítica Tt=3.70K. Observamos ainda a existência de uma transição metamagnética induzida por pressão para valores do intervalo de 0 a 8 kbar. Usando a Aproximação de Campo Médio num modelo elástico aproximado para metamagnetos com S=1, pudemos obter expressões para TN(P) e Hc(0,P), ambas apresentando uma dependência linear em P, em bom acordo com os dados experimentais. Usando este modelo obtivemos também uma expressão analítica para Tt(P). Uma vez que TN(P), Hc(0,P) e Tt(P) dependem dos parâmetros de \"exchange\", pudemos determinar a dependência de tais parâmetros com a pressão. Também através deste modelo simples, pudemos compreender que a transição metamagnética induzida por pressão está provavelmente associada a uma forte dependência do campo cristalino com a pressão / From isothermical and isobaric differential magnetic susceptibility measurements we have determined the magnetic phase diagram of the metamagnetic system Ni(NO3)2.2H2O, for several hydrostatic pressures up to 11 kbar. The zero temperature transition field Hc(0,P) and the Néel temperature TN(P) were determined, both increasing almost linearly with P. From demagnetizing effects we were able to determine the joint point of the first and second order lines of each diagram, which for P=0 is a tricritical point, with tricritical temperature Tt=3.70K. We also observed a pressure induced metamagnetic transition in the range from 0 to 8 kbar. Using Mean Field Theory in an approximated elastic S=1 metamagnetic model, we could obtain expressions for TN(P) and Hc(0,P), both showing linear dependence on P, in agreement with experimental data. We could also obtain, using this model, an analytical expression for Tt(P). Once TN(P), Hc(0,P) and Tt(P) are dependent on the exchange parameters, we cou1d obtain the pressure dependence of these parameters. From this simple model we could understand that the pressure induced metamagnetic transition is probably associated with a strong variation of the crystalline field with pressure

A partir de medidas isotérmicas e isobáricas de susceptibilidade magnética diferencial, determinamos o diagrama de fases magnéticas do metamagneto Ni(NO3)2.2H2O, para pressões hidrostáticas de até cerca de 11 kbar. Determinamos o campo de transição à temperatura nula Hc(0,P) e à temperatura de Néel, ambos apresentando um crescimento aproximadamente linear com P. A partir de efeitos de desmagnetização, pudemos determinar o ponto de união das linhas de primeira e segunda ordem de cada diagrama, e para P=0 pudemos caracterizá-lo com um ponto tricrítico, com temperatura tricrítica Tt=3.70K. Observamos ainda a existência de uma transição metamagnética induzida por pressão para valores do intervalo de 0 a 8 kbar. Usando a Aproximação de Campo Médio num modelo elástico aproximado para metamagnetos com S=1, pudemos obter expressões para TN(P) e Hc(0,P), ambas apresentando uma dependência linear em P, em bom acordo com os dados experimentais. Usando este modelo obtivemos também uma expressão analítica para Tt(P). Uma vez que TN(P), Hc(0,P) e Tt(P) dependem dos parâmetros de \"exchange\", pudemos determinar a dependência de tais parâmetros com a pressão. Também através deste modelo simples, pudemos compreender que a transição metamagnética induzida por pressão está provavelmente associada a uma forte dependência do campo cristalino com a pressão / From isothermical and isobaric differential magnetic susceptibility measurements we have determined the magnetic phase diagram of the metamagnetic system Ni(NO3)2.2H2O, for several hydrostatic pressures up to 11 kbar. The zero temperature transition field Hc(0,P) and the Néel temperature TN(P) were determined, both increasing almost linearly with P. From demagnetizing effects we were able to determine the joint point of the first and second order lines of each diagram, which for P=0 is a tricritical point, with tricritical temperature Tt=3.70K. We also observed a pressure induced metamagnetic transition in the range from 0 to 8 kbar. Using Mean Field Theory in an approximated elastic S=1 metamagnetic model, we could obtain expressions for TN(P) and Hc(0,P), both showing linear dependence on P, in agreement with experimental data. We could also obtain, using this model, an analytical expression for Tt(P). Once TN(P), Hc(0,P) and Tt(P) are dependent on the exchange parameters, we cou1d obtain the pressure dependence of these parameters. From this simple model we could understand that the pressure induced metamagnetic transition is probably associated with a strong variation of the crystalline field with pressure

In this work we report on physical properties of Nd2RhIn8 and Nd2IrIn8 rare-earth intermetallic compounds from the RmTnX{2n+3m} compound family. The compounds crystallize in the P4/mmm space group. Both compounds are anti-ferromagnetic with Néel temperatures TN of 10.8 K, 12.5 K respectively and their magnetization curves show characterisic step-like transitions at low temperatures. The measured M(T) and/or M(H) magnetization curves were used to determine magnetic phase diagrams for field along the c-axis. The specific heat of Nd2IrIn8 was analyzed at temperatures T<TN with respect to the dimensionality of the magnetic excitations. In the T>TN region the Schottky specific heat and susceptibility were compared to calculations based on the crystal field scheme in Nd2IrIn8 obtained by ab-initio methods. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

The work presented in this thesis was broadly focussed on the investigation of the magnetic behaviour of different superconducting materials in the form of bulk (singe crystals and pellets) and thin films (nanomagnetic devices like superconducting spin valves etc). Neutrons and muons were extensively used to probe the structural and magnetic behaviour of these systems at the nanoscale along with bulk characterisation techniques like high-sensitive magnetic property measurements, scanning probe microscopy and magneto-transport measurements etc. The nanoscale interplay of Superconductivity and Ferromagnetism was studied in the thin film structures using a combination of Polarised Neutron Reflectivity (PNR) and Low Energy Muon Spin Rotation (LE-µSR) techniques while bulk Muon Spin Rotation (µSR) technique was used for microscopic magnetic investigation in the bulk materials. In the Fe/Pb heterostructure, evidence of the Proximity Effect was observed in the form of an enhancement of the superconducting penetration depth (λs) with an increase in the ferromagnetic layer thickness (dF) in both the bilayered and the trilayered structures. The existence of an Inverted Magnetic Region was also detected at the Ferromagnet-Superconductor (F/S) interface in the normal state possibly originating from the induced spin polarisation within the Pb layer in the presence of the neighbouring Fe layer(s). The spatial size (height and width) of the Inverted Magnetic Region did not change much while cooling the sample below the superconducting transition temperature(Tc)and it also stayed unaffected by an increase in the Fe layer thickness and by a change of the applied magnetic field. In the superconducting spin valve structure containing Permalloy (Py) as ferromagnetic layer and Nb as the superconducting layer, LE-µSR measurements revealed the evidence of the decay of magnetic flux density (as a function of thickness) within the Nb layer symmetrically from the Py/Nb interfaces towards the centre of the Nb layer in the normal state. The thickness dependent magnetisation decay occurred over two characteristic length scales in the normal state that stayed of similar values in the superconducting state also. In the superconducting state, an additional contribution towards the magnetisation was found in the vicinity of the Py/Nb interfaces possibly originating from the spin polarisation of the singlet Cooper pairs in these areas. The nanoscale magnetic investigation on a highly engineered F/S/F structure (where each of the F blocks made of multiple Co/Pd layers with magnetic moments aligned perpendicular to the plane of these layers and neighbouring magnetic blocks separated by Ru layers giving rise to antiferromagnetic alignment) using LE-µSR showed an antisymmetric thickness dependent magnetic flux density profile with two characteristic length scales. In the superconducting state, the magnetic flux density profile got modified within the superconducting Nb₆₇Ti₃₃ layer near the F/S interfaces in a way similar to that of observed in the case of Py/Nb system, most likely because of the spin polarisation of the superconducting electron pairs. The vortex magnetic phase diagram of Bi₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O10-δ was studied using the Muon Spin Rotation (µSR) technique to explore the effects of vortex lattice melting and rearrangements for vortex transitions and crossover as a function of magnetic field and temperatures. At low magnetic fields, the flux vortices undergo a first order melting transition from a vortex lattice to a vortex liquid state with increasing temperature while another transition also occurred with increasing field at fixed temperature to a vortex glass phase at the lowest temperatures. Evidence of a frozen liquid phase was found in the intermediate field region at low temperature in the form of a lagoon in the superconducting vortex state which is in agreement with earlier observations made in BiSCCO-2212. The magnetic behaviour of the unconventional superconductor Sr₂RuO₄ was investigated using µSR to find the evidence of normal state magnetism and the nature of the vortex state. In the normal state, a weak hysteretic magnetic signal was detected over a wide temperature and field range believed to be supporting the evidence of a chiral order parameter. The nature of the vortex lattice structure was obtained in different parts of the magnetic phase diagram and the evidence of magnetic field driven transition in the lattice structure was detected from a Triangular→Square structure while the vortex lattice stayed Triangular over the entire temperature region below Tc at low fields with a disappearance of pinning at higher temperatures.

Dans cette thèse, nous avons synthétisé de nouveaux matériaux moléculaires hétérométalliques pontés par des groupements cyanures en utilisant la chimie de coordination donneur-accepteur. Les précurseurs moléculaires basés sur un ion métallique 3d (MnII/III, FeII, NiII, CuII) agissent en tant qu’unités acceptrices, alors que les précurseurs 4d (RuIII) et 5d (ReIV) de type trans-cyanido ont été utilisés comme groupements donneurs. Le chapitre I présente une approche théorique avec quelques exemples des matériaux magnétiques de basse dimensionnalité : molécule et chaîne aimant qui illustrent le rôle du ligand cyanido pour concevoir les matériaux magnétiques. En outre, nous avons sélectionné des précurseurs cyanido à base de métaux 4d/5d pour leur anisotropie magnétique plus élevée par rapport aux ions de métaux 3d. Le choix des précurseurs moléculaires, leur synthèse et leur caractérisation ont été largement décrits dans le chapitre II. Au cours de ce travail de recherche, nous avons obtenu de nombreux systèmes moléculaires hétérométalliques mais également des systèmes unidimensionnels. Les chapitres III, IV et V décrivent la synthèse, la structure cristallographique et la caractérisation magnétique de tous les complexes synthétisés. L’empilement cristallin compact des molécules conduit à un état fondamental antiferromagnétique pour la plupart des complexes ce qui perturbe souvent les phénomènes de relaxation magnétique. Nous avons donc établi les diagrammes de phases magnétiques pour la plupart de ces systèmes. De plus, certaines des chaînes ReIV/MnIII et une chaîne ReIV/FeII présentent des comportements magnétiques de type "chaîne aimant" et donc une bistabilité magnétique. / In this thesis, we have synthesised new cyanido bridged heterometallic molecule-based magnetic materials with the tool of simple donor-acceptor coordination chemistry. The 3d metal ion (MnII/III,FeII, NiII, CuII) based molecular precursors acted as acceptor building blocks, whereas the 4d (RuIII)and 5d (ReIV) trans-cyanido type molecular precursors were used as donor moieties.Chapter I contains a theoretical approach with examples of low dimensional magnetic materials:Single Molecule and Single Chain Magnets that illustrate the role of the cyanido ligand to design such magnetic materials. Furthermore, we emphasized the 4d/5d metal based cyanido precursors for their higher magnetic anisotropy over the 3d metal ions. The choice of molecular precursors, their synthesis and characterization were extensively described in chapter II. In this research work, we have obtained many heterometallic molecular complexes and also one dimensional systems. Chapter III, IV and V contain the synthesis, X-ray crystallographic and magnetic characterization of all the newly synthesized complexes. The close crystal packing of the molecules lead to an antiferromagnetic ground state for most of the complexes and this often perturbed the magnetic relaxation phenomena. As expected, we have found metamagnetic phase diagrams for most of these systems. Some of the ReIV/MnIII and a ReIV/FeII one dimensional compounds exhibited Single-Chain magnet like properties and thus magnetic bistability.

La réfrigération magnétique attire beaucoup d’attention ces dernières années parce qu’elle est considérée comme une technologie respectueuse de l’environnement et énergétiquement économique. Aujourd’hui, cette technologie avancée est encore en phase de recherche que des dispositifs de réfrigérations magnétiques soient déjà opérationnels. Ce travail de thèse consiste à étudier la potentialité de résistance à la corrosion de différents types de matériaux magnétocaloriques (Gd6Co1.67Si3, Ni2Mn0.75Cu0.25Ga et Pr0.66Sr0.34MnO3) en contact avec un fluide caloporteur. Afin de comprendre les propriétés magnétocaloriques des matériaux, nos recherches se sont aussi focalisées sur les relations entre la transition magnéto-structurales d’alliages Heusler Ni2Mn0.75Cu0.25Ga et (i) la distribution cationique au sein de la structure cristalline et/ou (ii) la microstructure. Finalement, le diagramme de phase magnétique et nucléaire en lien avec les effets magnétocalorique obtenu grâce à la diffraction de neutrons et de pérovskite Pr1-xSrxMnO3 (0.25≤x≤0.45) est également présenté. / Magnetic refrigeration has gained lot of importance and attention as they are highlighted to be environmental friendly, energy efficient. Presently, though at research stage, the magnetic refrigerators are pushed towards realization in domestic application with extensive work on materials and with few working models. One critical issue, the potential resistance to corrosion in case of different class of magnetocaloric materials (Gd6Co1.67Si3, Ni2Mn0.75Cu0.25Ga and Pr0.66Sr0.34MnO3) against the heat transport fluid is addressed. To better understand and improve the observed magnetocaloric properties in Heulser alloys Ni2Mn0.75Cu0.25Ga and to elaborate the same with the magneto-structural relation, studies on (i) cation distribution with in crystal structure and/or (ii) microstructural dependence are presented. Nuclear and magnetic phase diagram based on detailed neutron diffraction and magnetism studies for magnetocaloric perovskite oxide Pr1-xSrxMnO3 (0.25≤x≤0.45) is also presented