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Morin transition of shock-modified hematite

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)
Hematite (..cap alpha..-Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/) powder compacts have been subjected to controlled, quantitative high-pressure shock loading at peak pressures from 8 to 27 GPa and preserved for postshock analysis. Analysis of broadened x-ray line profiles shows a reduction of average crystallite size to about 60 nm and retained lattice strains near 0.1% in the recovered samples. Moessbauer and magnetization measurements show drastically altered behavior of the Morin transition: large fractions of the Fe sites do not exhibit the transition, and those that do have a significantly reduced transition temperature and an increased thermal hysteresis. The Moessbauer quadrupole splitting is sensitive to the shock compression conditions and provides evidence for a less than 90/sup 0/ spin flip at the Morin transition for the higher-pressure shock loading. A small fraction of the hematite is converted to magnetite (Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/) under the most extreme shock condition examined. In some cases the observed effects can be attributed to either the reduced crystallite size or the large defect density associated with the residual strain.
Research Organization:
Physics Department, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401
OSTI ID:
5587088
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 34:3; ISSN PRBMD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English