Electrical transport properties of low-stage AsF5-intercalated graphite

The in-plane resistivity of stage 1 and stage 2 AsF₅-graphite intercalation compounds was measured using a contactless r.f. eddy current technique from 1.6 to 290 K. The magnetoresistance of a stage 1 compound was similarly measured from 4.2 K to 290 K. The low temperature stage 2 resistivity data show a well-defined intermediate T ² region in addition to the usual T high temperature region, in qualitative agreement with the Kukkonen theory and indicative of a small, elongated cylindrical Fermi surface. Stage 2 resistivity data also show, for the first time in a graphite-acceptor compound, an apparent low temperature phase transition at 21 K. Magnetoresistance data were used to determine a stage 1 carrier concentration of 9×10²⁰ holes cm^–3. Resistive anomalies were observed at 200 K and 220 K for stage 1 and stage 2 compounds, respectively.     

Mechanical and Corrosion Characteristics of Zr + 2.5% Nb Zirconium Reactor Alloy

The results of structural and phase hardening of pipes made of Zr + 2.5% Nb alloy show that ultrahigh-frequency thermal treatment of pipes (fast heating to the temperature of existence of the -phase followed by sharp cooling and annealing in the high-temperature range of the -phase) destroys the texture and forms a fine-grained structure (the grain diameter is about 1 m) with numerous transitional twins and a high density of precipitations of the secondary -niobium phase ( 10¹⁶cm^–3). In this state, the alloy is rather strong and plastic (at room temperature, _u 650 MPa, _0.2 550 MPa, and 20% both in the longitudinal and transverse directions). The efficiency of hardening by ultrahigh-frequency thermal treatment is not reduced with increase in the temperature of testing up to 500°C. Corrosion tests of channel pipes made of Zr + 2.5% Nb alloy subjected to ultrahigh-frequency thermal treatment in water containing various amounts of oxygen (from 0.1–0.3 to 600 mg/kg) at temperatures of 285–350°C for 700–6600 h under static conditions and in reactor water of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant for 5000 h under dynamic conditions showed that the corrosion resistance of this alloy is on a par with the corrosion resistance of the material of assembly channels of high-power channel reactors subjected to a standard treatment.     

Triple Approach to Determination of the c-Axis Penetration Depth in BSCCO Crystals

The c-axis penetration depth _c in Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈₊ (BSCCO) single crystals as a function of temperature has been determined using three high-frequency techniques, namely (1) measurements of the ac-susceptibility at a frequency of 100 kHz for different sample alignments with respect to the ac magnetic field; (2) measurements of the surface impedance in both superconducting and normal states of BSCCO crystals at 9.4 GHz; (3) measurements of the surface barrier field H_J(T) 1/_c(T) at which Josephson vortices penetrate into the sample. Careful analysis of these measurements, including both numerical solution of the electrodynamic problem of the magnetic field distribution in an anisotropic plate at an arbitrary temperature and influence of defects in the sample has allowed us to estimate _c(0) 50 m in BSCCO crystals overdoped with oxygen (T_c 84 K) and _c(0) 150 m at the optimal doping level (T_c 90 K). The results obtained by different techniques are in reasonable agreement.     

Self-assembled germanium islands grown on (0 0 1) silicon substrates by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition

The time evolution of self-assembled Ge islands, during low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) of Ge on Si at 650 °C using high growth rates, has been investigated by atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. We have found three different island structures. The smallest islands are lens-shaped and characterized by a rather narrow size distribution, 4 nm high and 20 nm wide. Next to form are a distinct population of larger multifaceted dome-shaped islands, up to 25 nm high and 80–150 nm wide. Finally, the largest islands that form are square-based truncated pyramids with a very narrow size distribution, 50 nm high and 250 nm wide. The pyramidal islands normally seen in the intermediate size range (150 nm) are not observed. The small lens-shaped islands appear to be defect free, while some of the multifaceted islands as well as all the large truncated pyramids contain misfit dislocations. The existence of multifaceted islands, in the size range where pyramids have previously been reported and of truncated pyramids in the size range where multifaceted dome-shaped islands have previously been reported, is attributed to the high growth rate used. Furthermore, under the growth conditions used, the truncated-pyramid-shaped islands are characterized by a very narrow size distribution.     

Formation and characterization of oxynitride glasses in the Si-Ca-Al-O-N and Si-Ca-Al,B-O-N systems

Oxynitride compositions in the Si-Ca-Al-O-N and Si-Ca-Al, B-O-N systems were melted and furnace-cooled in BN crucibles at temperatures from 1650 to 1850° C under dry nitrogen atmosphereS. Glass formation, phase stability and crystallization were studied by characterizing the cooled melts by X-ray diffraction, DTA, and electron microscopy. Oxynitride batches with nitrogen content up to 11 at % formed glasses in the Si-Ca-Al-O-N system. Glasses in the Si-Ca-Al, B-O-N system could be formed only when the B₂O₃ content of the batch was less than 3 wt %. Oxynitride glasses in these boron-containing systems were characteristically inhomogeneous, difficult to process, and prone to crystallization. In both the systems, glasses exhibited glass transitions beginning at 1000° C and crystallization at 1300 to 1500° C. Nitrogen-containing crystalline phases were identified in devitrified glasses via microstructural and micro-mechanical analyses.     

Coupling of order parameter collective modes to spin density in3He-B

We derive a general expression for the dynamic spin susceptibility of³He-B which is valid for all magnetic fields. The coupling of real and imaginary modes by particle-hole asymmetry is taken into account. Then we calculate the contribution of the mode at frequency =2 – 1/4 ( is the effective Larmor frequency) to the transverse susceptibility. The spectral weight of this mode in magnetic resonance absorption is proportional to (/)^1/2 (–)², where and are particle-hole asymmetry parameters. From the experimental coupling strength of the real squashing mode to sound we estimate (–)²10^–4. The dynamic susceptibility satisfies the sum rules of Leggett. Finally we point out the difficulties in calculating the transverse NMR frequency of³He-B. These difficulties arise from theS _z =0 Cooper pairs and from the coupling ofJ _z =±1 modes forJ=1 andJ=2.     

Mechanical properties of alkaline earth-doped lanthanum gallate

Lanthanum gallate doped with alkaline earths was prepared from combustion-synthesized powders. Mechanical properties of the doped gallates were evaluated as a function of composition and temperature. The indentation fracture toughness of Sr-substituted gallates was significantly better than the Ca- and Ba-substituted materials, but the toughness of all the doped gallates was significantly lower than yttria-stabilized zirconia, a typical electrolyte material. Small improvements in room temperature toughness and strength were measured in (La_0.9Sr_0.1)_xGa_0.8Mg_0.2O_3–, (LSGM-1020) samples with significant A-site cation non-stoichiometry (x = 0.9). The flexural strength of stoichiometric LSGM-1020 decreased from 150 MPa at room temperature, to 100 MPa at higher temperatures (600–1000°C). The notched-beam fracture toughness of LSGM-1020 decreased from 2.0–2.2 MPam at room temperature, to 1.0 MPam at 600°C. The decrease in mechanical properties over this temperature range was correlated to changes in crystal structure that have been identified by neutron diffraction. These crystallographic changes were also accompanied by significant changes in the thermal expansion behavior and elastic modulus. For off-stoichiometric LSGM-1020 with A/B cation stoichiometry of 0.90, strength and toughness also decreased with temperature, but the retained toughness (1.5 MPam) at elevated temperatures was higher than the toughness of the stoichiometric LSGM material.     

(Ga,Mn)N : Sn Epilayers

We have prepared (Ga,Mn)N : Sn epilayers on sapphire(0001) substrates by RF-plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy. We found that codoping with Sn enhances the incorporation of Mn into a GaN host crystal. With increasing the Sn content, the offset ferromagnetic magnetization component tends to disappear and the epilayers become completely paramagnetic. The effective spin number is S 2.5 without Sn, whereas it decreases to S 2.0 when Sn is incorporated. n-type conduction starts to take place when Sn contents exceed beyond the Mn contents.     

A study of electron paramagnetic resonance and optical absorption in calcium manganese phosphate glasses containing praseodymium

This paper reports on electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical absorption studies for Mn ions in praseodymium calcium manganese phosphate glasses. The EPR spectra exhibit three resonance signals at g2.0, g3.3 and g4.8. A six line hyperfine structure spectrum centered at g2.0 has been observed in the EPR spectra of all the glasses at lower concentration of Mn ions. The effects of the concentration of Mn ions and praseodymium oxide on resonance signals have been studied. The temperature dependence of EPR signals were also studied. The intensity of the resonance signals decreases with increase in temperature whereas the linewidths are found to be independent of temperature. As temperature is increased small fluctuations in hyperfine splitting are observed. From the optical absorption spectrum, the crystal field parameters and optical band gap energy were evaluated. The optical band gap energy is found to depend quite sensitively on added manganese content. The theoretical values of optical basicity were also evaluated.     

Influence of Electron–Phonon Interaction on Superconducting State Parameters of MgB2

A three-square well model is employed for the three interactions namely, electron–acoustic phonon, electron–optical phonon, and Coulomb in the calculation of superconducting transition temperature (T _c) for layered structure MgB₂. The analytical solutions for the energy gap equation allow us to understand the relative interplay of these interactions. The values of the coupling strength and of the Coulomb interaction parameter indicate that the test material is in the intermediate coupling regime. The superconducting transition temperature of MgB₂ is estimated as 41 K for _ac 0.3, _op 0.1, and * 0.07. We suggest from these results that both the acoustic and optical phonons within the framework of a three-square well scheme consistently explains the effective electron–electron interaction leading to superconductivity in layered structure MgB₂.     

Onset of bulk pinning in BSCCO single crystals

The long growth defects often found in Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈, single crystals effectively weaken the geometrical barrier and lower the field of first flux penetration. This means that the intrinsic (bulk) magnetic properties can be more easily accessed using magnetic measurements. Thus, the onset of strong bulk flux pinning in the sample bulk is determined to lie at T 40 K, indepedent of whether the field strength is above or below the field of the second peak in the magnetisation.     

Effect of Pulse Flows of Charged Particles on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Metals

We investigate the effect of pulse flows of hydrogen, helium, and hydrogen–helium plasma of a specific power of 20–30 GW/m² on the surface structure and mechanical properties of vanadium, niobium, and Kh16N15M3B and Kh18N10T austenitic stainless steels. Plasma bunches acted for 2 sec with an average energy of particles of 2 keV. Tests of samples made of austenitic steels for tension showed that irradiation up to doses of 10¹⁸ cm^–2 strengthens them by a factor of 1.8 and decreases the relative elongation by a factor of 2.3–2.7. A layer-by-layer electron-microscopic analysis revealed that a cellular structure is formed in the surface layer 25 m in thickness as a result of irradiation, which explains the change in mechanical characteristics of the steels.     

Analysis of cold rolled steels of different reduction ratio using the magnetic Barkhausen noise technique

Magnetic Barkhausen Noise (MBN) was used to evaluate the magnetic behaviour of nuclear reactor pressure vessel steel specimens cold rolled to reduction ratios between 0% and 60%. Measurements performed at increasing reduction ratios revealed variations in the angular dependence of a parameter termed MBN_energy, concurrent with modifications in the shape of the pulse height distribution curves. The angular preference of MBN_energy present prior to cold rolling was destroyed at intermediate reduction ratios (25%), and restored with further reduction (40%). Along the rolling direction, the number of large voltage pulses was reduced at reduction ratios of 25%, increasing again at 60% reduction ratio. Results were attributed to competing effects between crystallographic texture, microscopic and macroscopic residual stresses.     

The effect of silica characterization on the microstructure of BaFe12O19 ferrites

The anisotropically formed BaFe₁₂O₁₉ ferrites were prepared from the hot-rolled mill scale and silica was added to the ferrite during fine milling in the range 0.15 to 0.50 wt%. These ferrites were sintered at 1220° C for 2 h. The grain growth of the ferrites is dominantly influenced by the sizes of the silica added. Coarse-grain ( 1m) silica tends to promote discontinuous grain growth, which increases drastically with slightly increasing amounts of silica added, while fine-grain ( 0.013m) silica tends to retain fine grain microstructures with the same increasing amount of silica. The average grain size of the ferrite without silica addition was 8 to 10m. The size was increased to as large as 30m on addition of 0.15% coarse-grain silica and the microstructure was full of extremely large grains on the addition of 0.50% coarse-grain silica.     

Influence of Microstructure on the Strength and Cyclic Crack Resistance of Cast Irons

We study the influence of microstructure of high-strength cast irons of ferritic, ferritic-pearlitic, and pearlitic classes on the characteristics of strength and cyclic crack resistance and establish the relationship between the characteristics of strength and cyclic crack resistance and the chemical composition and microstructural parameters of the matrix and graphite inclusions of high-strength cast irons. Indeed, the ultimate strength _u = 750–850 MPa, fatigue threshold K _th = 8–10 MPa , and cyclic fracture toughness K _fc = 50–60 MPa are guaranteed by the pearlitic matrix and the following parameters of the graphite phase: the content of graphite f _p 10%, the degree of its spheroidization of about 95%, the size of globules d _gl 20–50 m, and the distance between them 40–70 m, obtained in high-strength cast irons containing (wt.%): 3.2–3.5 C, 1.9–2.5 Si, 0.35–0.4 Mn, and 0.05 Mg.     

The structure of a cast dental Ni-Cr-Be alloy

The structure of a typical dental Ni-Cr-Be alloy with 1.8 wt% Be has been investigated by SEM and TEM as well as by quantitative X-ray microanalyses in both instruments. Due to its low atomic weight the atomic fraction of Be is as high as 0.10. During solidification beryllium segregates substantially, and a large volume fraction of the casting is made up of a eutectic with coarse ( 1 µm diameter) alternating rods of fcc Ni-Cr and NiBe with a CsCl-type structure (ordered bcc). Smaller ( 0.1 µm diameter) rods of NiBe are precipitated in matrix in the solid state. Microanalyses of the NiBe rods show that they have a low chromium content ( 1.5 wt%). The cube boundary planes of the ordered b cc and fcc structures have a slight difference in orientation of about 7° which is most probably due to a small coherency misfit of the two types of lattices. The 100 directions in cube boundary plane of the fcc structure are nearly parallel to the 110 directions of the ordered bcc cube boundary plane. Sometimes another and more complex relationship between the two lattices occurs. The alloy contains 3.9 wt% Al which gives rise to numerous small ( 10 nm), spherical, ordered particles of Ni₃Al both in matrix as well as in the fcc eutectic rods.     

Sintering and crystallization of mullite powder prepared by sol-gel processing

Mullite powder with the stoichiometric composition (3Al₂O₃.2SiO₂) was synthesized by a sol-gel process, followed by hypercritical drying with CO₂. Within the limits of detection by X-ray diffraction, the powder was amorphous. Crystallization of the powder commenced at 1200 °C and was completed after 1 h at 1350 °C. In situ X-ray analysis showed no intermediate crystalline phases prior to the onset of mullite crystallization and the pattern of the fully crystallized powder was almost identical to that of stoichiometric mullite. The synthesized powder was compacted and sintered to nearly theoretical density below 1250 °C. The microstructure of the sintered sample consisted of nearly equiaxial grains with an average size of 0.2 m. The effect of heating rate (1–15 °C min^–1) on the sintering of the compacted powder was investigated. The sintering rate increased with increasing heating rate, and the maximum in the sintering curve shifted to higher temperatures. The sintering kinetics below 1150 °C can be described by available models for viscous sintering.     

Sintering mechanisms and microstructural development of coprecipitated mullite

Coprecipitated mullite precursor powders of the bulk compositions 78 wt% Al₂O₃+22 wt% SiO₂ (high-Al₂O₃ material) and 72 wt% Al₂O₃+28 wt% SiO₂ (low-Al₂O₃ material) have been used as starting materials. The precursor powders were calcined at 600, 950, 1000, 1250, and 1650 C, and test sintering runs were performed at 1550, 1600, 1650, 1700, and 1750 C. Homogeneous and dense ceramics were obtained from cold isostatically pressed (CIPed) powders sintered in air at 1700 C. Therefore, all further sintering experiments were carried out at 1700 C. After pressureless sintering, sample specimens were hot isostatically pressed (HIPed) at 1600 C and 200 bar argon gas pressure. Sintering densifications of low Al₂O₃ materials ranged between 94% and 95.5%. There was no clear dependency between densification and calcination temperature of the starting powders. High-Al₂O₃ compositions displayed sintering densities which increased from 97% at 600 C calcination temperature to 99% at 950 C calcination temperature. Higher calcination temperatures first caused slight lowering of the sintering density to 95.5% (calcination temperature 1250 C) but later the density strongly decreased to a value of 85% (calcination temperature 1650 C). HIPing of pressureless sintered specimens prepared from powders calcined between 600 and 1100 C yielded 100% density. At the given sintering temperature of 1700 C, the microstructure of sample specimens was influenced by Al₂O₃/SiO₂ ratios and by calcination temperatures of the starting powders. Homogeneous and dense microstructures consisting of equiaxed mullite plus some minor amount of -Al₂O₃ were produced from high-Al₂O₃ powders calcined between 600 and 1100 C. Low-Al₂O₃ sample specimens sintered from precursor powders calcined between 600 and 1100 C were less dense than high-Al₂O₃ materials. Their microstructure consisted of relatively large and elongated mullite crystals which were embedded in a fine-grained matrix of mullite plus a coexisting glass phase. The different microstructural developments of high- and low-Al₂O₃ compositions may be explained by solid-state and liquid-phase sintering, respectively. The microstructure of HIPed samples was very similar to that of pressureless sintered materials, but without any pores occurring at grain boundaries.     

Magnetic field dependence of the density of states of YBa2Cu3O6.95: Implications for the vortex structure

The total specific heat of YBa₂Cu₃O_6.95 single crystals includes contributions from phonons and spin-1/2 particles, as well as electronic contributions. The electronic specific heat is described by a quadratic term T² in zero field and a linear term [(0)+(H)]T which is increased when a magnetic field H is applied perpendicular to the CuO₂ planes. In agreement with d-wave superconductivity, we find that _n/T_c and (H)_n(H/H_c2)^1/2, where _n is the coefficient of the normal-state linear term. The H^1/2 dependence of the density of states at the Fermi level was predicted by G. Volovik for lines of nodes in the gap: the quasiparticles which contribute to this density of states are close to the nodes in momentum space and are located outside the vortex core.