Grain-Size Effect on the Dielectric Properties of Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3

We prepared bismuth sodium titanate (Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3)ultrafine powders by the sol-gel method.The dielctric properties of the pressed pellets and fired ceramics with different grain sizes as a function of tempernature at various frequencies were studied.With decreasing grain size,the dielecric anomaly around 200℃ increases,while the dielectric thermal hysteresis decreases,All the samples with grain sizes larger than 100nm show dielectric peaks at temperature of about 350℃.The very little change in Tm observed down to the critical size indicates that Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 is an order-disorder system above 200℃,In addition,the dielectric peak becomes lower with decreasing grain size and the ferroelectric critical size of Bi0.5Nan0.5TiO3 was eventually determined to be about 100nm according to the disappearance of dielectric peak.     

Characterization and Magnetic Properties of Nickel Ferrite Nanoparticles Prepared by Ball Milling Technique

Nickel ferrite nanoparicles with various grain sizes are synthesized using annealing treatment followed by ball milling of its bulk component materials. Commercially available nickel and iron oxide powders are first mixed, and then annealed at 1100~C in an oxygen environment furnace and for 3h. The samples are then milled for different times in an SPEX mill. X-ray diffraction pattern indicates that in this stage the sample is single phase. The average grain size is estimated by scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and x-ray diffraction techniques. Magnetic behavior of the sample at room temperatm＇e is studied using a superconducting quantum interference device （SQUID）. The Curie temperature of the powders is measured by an LCR meter unit. The x-ray diffraction patterns clearly indicate that increasing the milling time leads to a decrease in the grain size and consequently leads to a decrease in the saturation magnetization as well as the Curie temperatures. This result is attributed to the spin-glass-like surface layer on the nanocrystalline nickel ferrite with a ferrimagnetically aligned core.     

Dislocation-mediated creep process in nanocrystalline Cu

Nanocrystalline Cu with average grain sizes ranging from ～ 24.4 to 131.3 nm were prepared by the electric brushplating technique.Nanoindentation tests were performed within a wide strain rate range,and the creep process of nanocrystalline Cu during the holding period and its relationship to dislocation and twin structures were examined.It was demonstrated that creep strain and creep strain rate are considerably significant for smaller grain sizes and higher loading strain rates,and are far higher than those predicted by the models of Cobble creep and grain boundary sliding.The analysis based on the calculations and experiments reveals that the significant creep deformation arises from the rapid absorption of high density dislocations stored in the loading regime.Our experiments imply that stored dislocations during loading are highly unstable and dislocation activity can proceed and lead to significant post-loading plasticity.     

Effects of cold rolling deformation on microstructure,hardness, and creep behavior of high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel

Effects of cold rolling deformation on the microstructure, hardness, and creep behavior of high nitrogen austenitic stainless steel （HNASS） are investigated. Microstructure characterization shows that 70% cold rolling deformation results in significant refinement of the microstructure of this steel, with its average twin thickness reducing from 6.4 μm to 14 nm. Nanoindentation tests at different strain rates demonstrate that the hardness of the steel with nano-scale twins （nt-HNASS） is about 2 times as high as that of steel with micro-scale twins （mt-HNASS）. The hardness of nt-HNASS exhibits a pronounced strain rate dependence with a strain rate sensitivity （m value） of 0.0319, which is far higher than that of mt-HNASS （m = 0.0029）. nt-HNASS shows more significant load plateaus and a higher creep rate than mt-HNASS. Analysis reveals that higher hardness and larger m value of nt-HNASS arise from stronger strain hardening role, which is caused by the higher storage rate of dislocations and the interactions between dislocations and high density twins. The more significant load plateaus and higher creep rates of nt-HNASS are due to the rapid relaxation of the dislocation structures generated during loading.     

THERMAL STABILITY AND GRAIN GROWTH OF NANOCRYSTALLINE METAL SILVER

The nanocrystalline metal silver (n-Ag) with average grain size of 10 nm was synthesized by using an inert gas evaporation and in situ compacting technique. The thermal stability of grain size and grain growth caused by isothermally annealing heat treatment, as well as the thermal behavior during grain growth, have been studied. The results indicated that the thermal stability temperature of grain size is about 200℃. The grain growth depends upon the annealing temperature and exhibits threedifferent stages, i.e., slow, fast, and rapid growth stages, corresponding to the temperature ranges from 200℃ to 300℃, from 300℃ to 400℃ and above 400℃, respectively. An exothermal peak and an endothermal peak occur on the differential scanning calorimetriy (DSC) curve of n-Ag. The exothermal peak and the endothermal peak appear in the temperature range from 200℃ to 400℃, and from 400℃ to 660℃, respectively. The enthalpies calculated from the above two peaks depend on the compacting pressure. Further analyses indicated that the grain growth of n-Ag is related to the release of the surface energy of grains and the interracial energy, as well as the strain energy stored in the bulk samples induced by compacting process.     

Microstructure and photoluminescence of Er-doped SiOx films synthesized by ion beam assisted deposition

Er-doped SiO_x films were synthesized at 500℃ by ion beam assisted deposition technique and annealed at 800 and 1100℃ for 2h in the air atmosphere. The analysis by using energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy showed that the ratio of Si to O decreased from 3 in the as-deposited films to about 1 in the annealed films. The investigation by using transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction indicated that annealing induces a microstructure change from amorphous to crystalline. The grain sizes in the films were about 10 and 40nm when annealed at 800 and 1100℃, respectively. The films annealed at temperatures of 800 and 1100℃ exhibited a sharp photoluminescence (PL) at 1.533μm from the Er centres when pumped by 980nm laser. The influence of microstructure and grain size on the PL from Er-doped SiO_x films has been studied and discussed.     

Study of lattice thermal conductivity of alpha-zirconium by molecular dynamics simulation

The non-equilibrium molecular dynamics method is adapted to calculate the phonon thermal conductivity of alphazirconium. By exchanging velocities of atoms in different regions, the stable heat flux and the temperature gradient are established to calculate the thermal conductivity. The phonon thermal conductivities under different conditions, such as different heat exchange frequencies, different temperatures, different crystallographic orientations, and crossing grain boundary (GB), are studied in detail with considering the finite size effect. It turns out that the phonon thermal conductivity decreases with the increase of temperature, and displays anisotropies along different crystallographic orientations. The phonon thermal conductivity in [0001] direction (close-packed plane) is largest, while the values in other two directions of [2īī0] and [01ī0] are relatively close. In the region near GB, there is a sharp temperature drop, and the phonon thermal conductivity is about one-tenth of that of the single crystal at 550 K, suggesting that the GB may act as a thermal barrier in the crystal.     

The influence of annealing temperature on the morphology of graphene islands

We report on temperature-programmed growth of graphene islands on Ru(0001) at annealing temperatures of 700°C,800°C,and 900°C.The sizes of the islands each show a nonlinear increase with the annealing temperature.In 700°C and 800°C annealings,the islands have nearly the same sizes and their ascending edges are embedded in the upper steps of the ruthenium substrate,which is in accordance with the etching growth mode.In 900°C annealing,the islands are much larger and of lower quality,which represents the early stage of Smoluchowski ripening.A longer time annealing at 900°C brings the islands to final equilibrium with an ordered moir’e pattern.Our work provides new details about graphene early growth stages that could facilitate the better control of such a growth to obtain graphene with ideal size and high quality.     

Influences of grain size and microstructure on optical properties of microcrystalline diamond films

Microcrystalline diamond(MCD) films with different grain sizes ranging from 160 nm to 2200 nm are prepared by using a hot filament chemical vapor deposition(HFCVD) system, and the influences of grain size and structural features on optical properties are investigated. The results show that the film with grain size in a range of 160 nm–310 nm exhibits a higher refractive index in a range of(2.77–2.92). With grain size increasing to 620±300 nm, the refractive index shows a value between 2.39 and 2.47, approaching to that of natural diamond(2.37–2.55), and a lower extinction coefficient value between 0.08 and 0.77. When the grain size increases to 2200 nm, the value of refractive index increases to a value between 2.66 and 2.81, and the extinction coefficient increases to a value in a range of 0.22–1.28. Visible Raman spectroscopy measurements show that all samples have distinct diamond peaks located in a range of 1331 cm~(-1)–1333 cm~(-1),the content of diamond phase increases gradually as grain size increases, and the amount of trans-polyacetylene(TPA)content decreases. Meanwhile, the sp~2 carbon clusters content and its full-width-at-half-maximum(FWHM) value are significantly reduced in MCD film with a grain size of 620 nm, which is beneficial to the improvement of the optical properties of the films.     

Effect of Microstructure of TiO2 Thin Films on Optical Band Gap Energy

TiO2 coatings are prepared on fused silica with conventional electron beam evaporation deposition. After annealed at different temperatures for four hours, the spectra and XRD patterns of TiO2 thin film are obtained. XRD patterns reveal that only anatase phase can be observed in TiO2 coatings regardless of the different annealing temperatures, and with the increasing annealing temperature, the grain size gradually increases. The relationship between the energy gap and microstructure of anatase is determined and discussed. The quantum confinement effect is observed that with the increasing grain size of TiO2 thin film, the band gap energy shifts from 3.4 eV to3.21 eV. Moreover, other possible influence of the TiO2 thin-film microstructure, such as surface roughness and thin film absorption, on band gap energy is also expected.     

First-Principles Study on the Electronic Structures for Y^3＋：PbWO4 Crystals

The possible defect models of Y^3＋：PbWO4 crystals are discussed by defect chemistry and the most possible substituting positions of the impurity Y^3＋ ions are studied by using the general utility lattice program （GULP）. The calculated results indicate that in the lightly doped Y^3＋ ：PWO crystal, the main compensating mechanism is [2Ypb^＋ ＋ VPb^2-], and in the heavily doped Y^3＋ ：PWO crystal, it will bring interstitial oxygen ions to compensate the positive electricity caused by YPb^＋, forming defect clusters of [2Ypb^＋ ＋Oi^2-] in the crystal. The electronic structures of Y3＋ ：PWO with different defect models are calculated using the DV-Xα method. It can be concluded from the electronic structures that, for lightly doped cases, the energy gap of the crystal would be broadened and the 420nm absorption band will be restricted; for heavily doped cases, because of the existence of interstitial oxygen ions, it can bring a new absorption band and reduce the radiation hardness of the crystal.     

Tunable Nongeometric Phase Gates for Two Hot Ions via Adiabatic Evolution of Dark States

We propose a scheme for implementing nongeometric phase gates fbr two trapped ions via adiabatic passage of dark states. During the operation, the vibrational mode is only virtually excited, thus the scheme is insensitive to heating. Furthermore, the spontaneous emission is suppressed since the ions are always in the electronic ground states. The scheme is robust against small fluctuations of parameters, and the conditional phase is tunable.     

Fisher Information of Wavefunctions： Classical and Quantum

A parametric quantum mechanical wavefunction naturally induces parametric probability distributions by taking absolute square, and we can consider its classical Fisher information. On the other hand, it also induces parametric rank-one projections which may be viewed as density operators, and we can talk about its quantum Fisher information. Among many versions of quantum Fisher information, there are two prominent ones. The first, defined via a quantum score function, was introduced by Helstrom in 1967 and is well known. The second, defined via the square root of the density operator, has its origin in the skew information introduced by Wigner and Yanase in 1963 and remains relatively unnoticed. This study is devoted to investigating the relationships between the classical Fisher information and these two versions of quantum Fisher information for wavefunctions. It is shown that the two versions of quantum Fisher information differ by a factor 2 and that they dominate the classical Fisher information. The non-coincidence of these two versions of quantum Fisher information may be interpreted as a manifestation of quantum discord. We further calculate the difference between the Helstrom quantum Fisher information and the classical Fisher information, and show that it is precisely the instantaneous phase fluctuation of the wavefunctions.     

Photo-thermal Shot Noise in End Mirrors of LIGO due to Correlation of Power Fluctuation

The effect of input power fluctuation on photo-thermal shot noise in the end mirrors of a laser interferometer gravitational-wave observatory （LIGO） is analysed according to the statistical optics, which is a supplement of Braginsky＇s research. The laser light folding in LIGO increases a correlation of input power fluctuation in the photo-thermal shot noise. This part of noise has spectral density proportional to -2 in low frequency bands, and -4 in high frequency bands. It is not a white noise and may affect the processing about data of interferometers. To obtain an advanced LIGO, photo-thermal shot noise in end mirrors due to correlation of input power fluctuation is up to Braginsky＇s photo-thermal noise in the frequency range 1-100 Hz.     

Application of Electron-Shelving Detection via 423 nm Transition in Calcium-Beam Optical Frequency Standard

A new scheme of small compact optical frequency standard based on thermal calcium beam with application of 423 nm shelving detection and sharp-angle velocity selection detection is proposed. Combining these presented techniques, we conclude that a small compact optical frequency standard based on thermal calcium beam will outperform the commercial caesium-beam microwave dock, like the 5071 Cs clock （from Hp to Agilent, now Symmetricom company）, both in accuracy and stability.     

Search for strangeness changing neutral currents induced by neutrinos in gargamelle

A sample of 9930 neutrino neutral current interactions has been examined for single strange particle production. No signal in the channels νN → νγX and νN → ν|gS⁰X, where X means non-strange hadrons, has been found. This yields an upper limit of 5.4 × 10^?3 to a 90% confidence level on the ratio [(ν → νΓX) + (ν → νΣ⁰X)]/[ν → ν + anything]     

Effects of in situ thermal annealing on the structural, optical, and electrical properties in Hg0.7Cd0.3Te epilayers grown on CdTe buffer layers

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) transmission, and Hall effect measurements were performed to investigate the structural, optical, and electrical properties of as-grown and in situ-annealed Hg_0.7Cd_0.3Te epilayers grown on CdTe buffer layers by using molecular beam epitaxy. After the Hg_0.7Cd_0.3Te epilayers had been annealed in a Hg-cell flux atmosphere, the SEM images showed that the surface morphologies of the Hg_0.7Cd_0.3Te thin films were mirror-like with no indication of pinholes or defects, and the FTIR spectra showed that the transmission intensities had increased in comparison to that of the as-grown Hg_0.7Cd_0.3Te epilayer. Hall-effect measurements showed that n-Hg_0.7Cd_0.3Te epilayers were converted to p-Hg_0.7Cd_0.3Te epilayers. These results indicate that the surface, optical, and electrical properties of the Hg_1 − xCd_xTe epilayers are improved by annealing and that as-grown n-Hg_1 − xCd_xTe epilayers can be converted to p-Hg_1 − xCd_xTe epilayers by in situ annealing.     

Suppression of Chaos and Phase Locking in Two Coupled Nonidentical Neurons under Periodic Input

Dynamical behaviour of two coupled neurons with at least one of them being chaotic is presented. Bifurcation diagrams and Lyapunov exponents are calculated to diagnose the dynamical behaviour of the coupled neurons with the increasing coupling strength. It is found that when the coupling strength increases, a chaotic neuron can be controlled by the coupling between neurons. At the same time, phase locking is studied by the maxima of the differences of instantaneous phases and average frequencies between two coupled neurons, and the inherent connection of phase locking and the suppression of chaos is formulated. It is observed that the onset of phase locking is closely related to the suppression of chaos. Finally, a way for suppression of chaos in two coupled nonidentical neurons under periodic input is suggested.     

Fabrication of Long-Period Fibre Gratings Using 800 nm Femtosecond Laser Pulses

Long-period fibre gratings inside standard single-mode optical communication fibres are successfully fabricated with infrared femtosecond laser pulses. The refractive index perturbations are well confined within the fibre core by choosing the proper laser focusing parameters and translation speed of the fibre during the direct laser writing process. With the self-focusing effect considered and at a constant average irradiation dose of 1.62 × 10^3 J/（cm^2μm）, the threshold intensity for fabricating long-period gratings with infrared femtosecond laser pulses is determined to be 5.13 × 10^13 W/cm2.