Some superconducting properties of 25%Nb–75%Zr alloy

The manner of preparation of superconducting 25% wt Nb–75% wt Zr wires is described. Short samples of these wires were measured in static magnetic fields up to 80·5 kG and the authors describe the method of these measurements. The paper gives the results of measuring the critical current density dependence on the external perpendicular magnetic field for both cold-worked wires with different deformations and heat-treated wires. The dependence of the critical current density on the heat treatment temperature after wire deformation for different magnetic fields was obtained. The optimum heat treatment temperature (vacuum better than 10^–3 torr, 1 hour) is 450–600C for magnetic fields 0–80·5 kG. The values ofi _c of these wires in magnetic fields up to 60 kG are the same or higher than those of 75% Nb-25% Zr wires, and in fields above 60 kG they are much higher.     

Electrical conductivity in single crystals of GaSe<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Te<Subscript>1 – <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> solid solutions in strong electrical fields

This paper presents some results of studying the Poole–Frenkel effect with allowance for shielding in layered GaSe and GaTe single crystals and their solid solutions in strong electrical fields of up to 10⁵ V/cm at temperatures of 103–250 K. According to the relationship \(\left(\frac{\sigma}{\sigma(0)}\right)^{1/2}\) log\(\frac{\sigma}{\sigma(0)} = E\sqrt{\frac{\varepsilon}{4\pi n(0)kT}}\), there exists a linear dependence between \(\left(\frac{\sigma}{\sigma(0)}\right)^{1/2}\) log\(\frac{\sigma}{\sigma(0)}\) and the electrical field E (σ is the electrical conductivity in strong electrical fields, and σ(0) is the electrical conductivity in the ohmic region). The slopes of these lines have been determined at different temperatures (103–250 K) by estimating the concentration of current carriers n(0) = 3 × 10¹³–5 × 10¹⁵ cm^–3 in the ohmic region of the electrical conductivity of solid solutions of layered GaSe _x Te_1–x single crystals (x = 1.00, 0.95, 0.90, 0.80, 0.70, 0.30, 0.20, 0.10, 0).     

Study of plasma parameter’s distribution upon electrical wire explosion

Experimental results on electrical explosion of wires in vacuum with current density  A/m², current rise rate (dI/dt) ~ 50 A/ns and current pulse with amplitude ∼10 kA are presented. The structure of the discharge channels in vacuum has been studied using laser shadow and schlieren imaging with 7 ns frames, UV pinhole images with 5 ns frames and X pinch X-ray backlighting. The information on the dense core material and the conducting plasma distributions was obtained in our experiments by analyzing and comparing the results obtained from all diagnostics.     

Über den zeitlichen Verlauf der Lichtemission einer Gasentladung

By means of a photomultiplier the temporal course of the light emission due to electron impact is observed in vapours as methane and methylal. It is thus possible to observe single avalanches, their successors and the transition to breakdown. In methylal the rise time constant of light emission of single avalanches is compared with the rise time constant of the electron production measured by the electrical method. These rise time constants are found to be equal. By this way a quantum efficiency of 3.5 · 10^?4 photons per avalanche electron could be derived in methylal. The growing rate of single avalanches of 10⁸ electrons is shown to be decreased by space charge. —In methane series of avalanches were investigated: The electron drift velocity (v_=bp · E/p;bp=2.3 · 10⁵ Torr cm²/Vsec,E/p:40 bis 110 V/Torrcm) and the average life time of excited states (～7 · 10^?9 sec) were measured. In methane the breakdown is produced by series of avalanches, whereas in methylal with its smallerγ the rapid increase of light emission without successors indicates a breakdown mechanism by streamer formation.     

Hierarchical porous nitrogen-doped partial graphitized carbon monoliths for supercapacitor

Porous carbon monoliths have attracted great interest in many fields due to their easy availability, large specific surface area, desirable electronic conductivity, and tunable pore structure. In this work, hierarchical porous nitrogen-doped partial graphitized carbon monoliths (N–MC–Fe) with ordered mesoporous have been successfully synthesized by using resorcinol-formaldehyde as precursors, iron salts as catalyst, and mixed triblock copolymers as templates via a one-step hydrothermal method. In the reactant system, hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) is used as nitrogen source and one of the carbon precursors under hydrothermal conditions instead of using toxic formaldehyde. The N–MC–Fe show hierarchically porous structures, with interconnected macroporous and ordered hexagonally arranged mesoporous. Nitrogen element is in situ doped into carbon through decomposition of HMT. Iron catalyst is helpful to improve the graphitization degree and pore volume of N–MC–Fe. The synthesis strategy is user-friendly, cost-effective, and can be easily scaled up for production. As supercapacitors, the N–MC–Fe show good capacity with high specific capacitance and good electrochemical stability.

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Graphical abstract Hierarchical porous nitrogen-doped partial graphitized carbon monoliths with ordered mesoporous have been successfully synthesized by using resorcinol-formaldehyde as precursors, iron as catalyst, and mixed triblock copolymers as templates via a one-step hydrothermal method.

     

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis of porous silicon prepared by photo-electrochemical etching: current density effect

Electrical impedance characteristics of porous silicon nanostructures (PSiNs) in frequency function were studied. PSiNs were prepared through photo-electrochemical etching method at various current densities (15–40 mA/cm²) and constant etching time. The atomic force microscope images of PSiNs show that pore diameter and roughness increase when current density increases to 35 mA/cm². The surface roughness subsequently decreases because of continuous etching of pillars, and a second etching process occurs. Photoluminescence spectra show blue and red shift with increasing applied current density that is attributed to PSiNs size. Variations of electrical resistance and capacitance values of PSiNs were measured using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis. These results indicate that PSiNs prepared at 20 mA/cm² current density have uniform porous structures with a large number of pillars. Furthermore, this PSiNs structure influences large values of charge transfer resistance and double layer capacitance, indicating potential application in sensors.     

LETTER: Cosmological Constant, Conical Defect and Classical Tests of General Relativity

We investigate the perihelion shift of the planetary motion and the bending of starlight in the Schwarzschild field modified by the presence of a -term plus a conical defect. This analysis generalizes an earlier result obtained by Islam (Phys. Lett. A 97, 239, 1983) to the case of a pure cosmological constant. By using the experimental data we obtain that the parameter characterizing the conical defect is less than 10^–9 and 10^–7, respectively, on the length scales associated with such phenomena. In particular, if the defect is generated by a cosmic string, these values correspond to limits on the linear mass densities of 10¹⁹ g/cm and 10²¹ g/cm, respectively.     

Fabrication and transport properties of ex situ powder-in-tube (PIT) processed (Ba,K)Fe2As2 superconducting wires

Soon after the discovery of Fe based superconductors, attempts of wire fabrication started using a powder-in-tube (PIT) technique, because their high transition temperature and extremely high upper critical field bring the hope of high field applications. Although the transport critical current density, $J_c$, reported in the early stage was disappointingly low, it has been rapidly improved during the past one year to the orders of ${10}^4$ and 10⁵ A/cm² by optimizing various processing parameters of the PIT technique. This paper reports one of the works which brought such rapid progress. (Ba,K)Fe₂As₂ superconducting wires were fabricated by an ex situ powder-in-tube (PIT) process using a melt processed precursor material. The paper also discusses the influence of Ag addition, critical current irreversibility, critical current anisotropy of the tape sample, and finally future prospect in the development of Fe based superconducting wires.     

Sub-micrometre dielectric and metallic yablonovite structures fabricated from resist templates

This paper reports the optical characterisation and numerical simulations of sub-micrometre yablonovite templates fabricated in poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) resist along with the pattern transfer to metals and other dielectrics. The fabrication is based on three consecutive exposures to an X-ray beam through a triangular lattice of holes. Up to seven (111) crystal periods are repeatedly obtained in thick PMMA layers. Optical characterisations of 1.3 m period templates show well-defined stop-bands in the mid-infrared, in good agreement with the numerical simulations. Two simple and low-cost methods are used to replicate the yablonovite structures in other materials. The pattern transfers to a metal (copper) and a high-refractive-index dielectric (titanium dioxide) are obtained by electrodeposition and a sol–gel technique, respectively. Very regular yablonovite-type metallic structures of 2 m lattice constant and 4.3 m height are fabricated with metallic wires of 500 nm diameter over a surface of 150 × 150 m².     

Rare earth doped α-alumina thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition: structural and optical properties

-Al₂O₃ films doped with about 1% Eu³⁺ were grown on sapphire (012) substrates by pulsed laser deposition using an ArF excimer laser under 10^-4 mbar oxygen pressure and at temperatures higher than 1050 °C. The Eu doping rate was measured by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. The crystalline structure was determined by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The films are grown epitaxially on the sapphire substrate. The Eu³⁺ fluorescence spectra are constituted of narrow lines. By means of pulsed laser deposition, Eu³⁺ ions may be introduced into a single site of the -phase lattice, with a concentration that cannot be reached using conventional crystal-growth methods. PACS 81.15.Fg; 68.37.Lp; 78.55.Hx     

Effect of Electrical Pulses on the Mechanical Behavior of Single Crystals of Nickel-Based CMSX-4 Superalloy and the Mobility of Low-Angle Grain Boundary in Aluminum Bicrystals

The electroplastic effect is studied on mechanically loaded single crystals of nickel-based CMSX-4 superalloy and pure aluminum bicrystals. Both objects of study exhibit elevated plasticity under electrical pulses. Traces of the electroplastic deformation that occurs in CMSX-4 single crystals at current densities J higher than 3 kA mm^?2 and aluminum bicrystals at J exceeding 1.6 kA mm^?2 are analyzed using a scanning electron microscope.     

Hydrophobic and physical properties of the ambient pressure dried silica aerogels with sodium silicate precursor using various surface modification agents

The experimental results on the synthesis and physical properties of the ambient pressure dried hydrophobic silica aerogels in the presence of various surface modification (silylating) agents are presented. The silica aerogels were prepared with 1.12 specific gravity ion exchanged sodium silicate solution, 1N ammonium hydroxide, solvent exchanged with ethanol and hexane, and surface modification with 20% silylating agent in hexane followed by drying the modified gel up to 200 °C. The molar ratio of sodium silicate, water, ammonium hydroxide and silylating agent was kept at 1:45:4.3 × 10⁻²:5, respectively. The physical properties of the aerogels such as density, % of porosity, pore volume, thermal conductivity and contact angle measurements were studied by using various mono, di and tri alkyl or aryl silylating agents (SAs). The tri alkyl silylating agents produced low % of volume shrinkage (2%), low density (0.06 g/cm³), low refractive index (1.011), more pore volume (16.15cm³/g), high percentage of porosity (96.9%) and hydrophobic (contact angle >150°) silica aerogels. It was found from the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) studies of the aerogels that the intensity of the bands related to the SiC and CH are more and the SiOH and OH are less with the tri than mono and di alkyl SAs. It was found from the TGA-DTA studies of the aerogels with increase in temperature above 325 °C, the % of weight decrease in TGA and exothermic peak in DTA are more with tri than the mono and di alkyl SAs. The SEM studies of the aerogels showed the large pore and particle sizes in the silica network with the tri alkyl SAs. The % of optical transmission of the aerogels is less with the tri alkyl SAs than the mono and di alkyl SAs. It was found from the contact angle and water adsorption studies that the hydrophobicity of the silica aerogel is more with tri alkyl than the di and mono alkyl silylating agents.     

Crystallographically-oriented single-crystalline copper nanowire arrays electrochemically grown into nanoporous anodic alumina templates

Highly crystallographically-oriented single-crystalline copper nanowire arrays were electrochemically deposited into nanoporous commercial alumina templates. A gold/copper backward contact was needed in the template, while the nanowires were grown from a 0.5 M CuSO₄·5H₂O solution adjusted to pH=1. The kinetics of the growing process is studied by means of current vs. time curves. The pore filling is between 80 to 90%. The structure and morphology of the wires are studied by XRD, SEM and TEM. The wires have an average diameter of 150 nm corresponding to the pore diameter of the template, with the cubic face-centered copper structure. This structure is highly oriented along the [100] direction parallel to the wire axis. The preferential growing along this direction was not previously found in the literature, which may have interesting applications when such direction is required. PACS 81.05.Bx; 82.45.Qr; 81.07.-b     

Electrical properties of p +/n + InGaAsP tunnel diodes with a bandgap of 0.95 eV grown by liquid phase epitaxy

p ⁺/n ⁺ InGaAsP tunnel diodes with a bandgap of 0.95 eV were fabricated by liquid phase epitaxy and their electrical properties were characterized. Forward conductances of 500 ^–1 cm^–2, peak current densities of 28.5 A/cm² and peak to valley current ratios of 14.3 were obtained at room temperature. These devices were incorporated successfully as Intercell Ohmic Connections (IOCs) for an InP-based, two-terminal monolithic multijunction tandem solar cell.     

High-Temperature Superconducting Microstrip Transmission Lines

A model calculation of a two-wire Josephson transmission line with a quasi-transverse electromagnetic wave is performed. The dispersion characteristics of the wave are estimated. The group velocity is shown to be (4.1–2.5)·10⁷ m/s for a temperature of 76–85.9 K, a critical current of 10⁹ A/m², a dielectric plate thickness of 10 m, and a relative permittivity of 40. The wave attenuation in this temperature range is 2 db/dm at a frequency of 10 GHz. The rough estimates suggest the feasibility of designing microstrip transmission lines based on granular high-temperature superconducting films. These lines will provide delays up to 1 s and picosecond pulse transmission.     

Low-resistivity indium tantalum oxide films by magnetron sputtering

Low-resistivity Ta-doped In₂O₃ (InTaO) films from ceramic targets of In₂O₃ doped with 2, 5, and 10 wt% Ta₂O₅ were deposited on Corning glass # 1737 substrates by magnetron sputtering. The electrical and optical properties of these films were studied. The carrier type of InTaO films was found to be n-type. The resistivity, carrier density, and Hall mobility of InTaO films were in the range of 0.28–200.2×10^-4 cm, 0.2–7.4×10²⁰ cm^-3, and 3–31 cm²V^-1s^-1, respectively. A minimum resistivity of 2.8×10^-4 cm with a mobility of 31 cm²V^-1s^-1 and a high transparency of 85% in the visible were achieved for the InTaO thin films doped with 5 wt% Ta₂O₅. PACS 81.15.Cd; 81.40.Rs; 73.90.+f     

Multicomponent composites,electrical networks and new types of continued fraction I

The development of bounds on the complex effective conductivity tensor * (that relates the average current to the average electric field in a multicomponent composite) has been hindered by lack of a suitable continued-fraction representation for *. Here a new field equation recursion method is developed which gives an expression for * as a continued fraction of a novel form incorporating as coefficients the component conductivities and a set of fundamental geometric parameters reflecting the composite geometry. A hierarchy of field equations is set up such that the solutions of the (j+1)th-order equation generate the solutions of thejth-order equation. Consequently the effective tensor ^(j) associated with thejth-order field equation is expressible as a fractional linear matrix transformation of ^(j+1). These transformations combine to form the continued fraction expansion for *=⁽⁰⁾ which is exploited in the following paper, Part II, to obtain bounds: crude bounds on ^(j), forj1, give narrow bounds on *. The continued fraction is a generalization to multivariate functions of the continued fraction expansion of single variable Stieltjes functions that proved important in the development of the theory of Páde approximants, asymptotic analysis, and the theory of orthogonal polynomials in the last century. The results extend to other transport problems, including conduction in polycrystalline media, the viscoelasticity of composites, and the response of multicomponent, multiterminal linear electrical networks.     

The resistivity of fine platinum wires

We have measured the resistivity of pure platinum wires ranging in diameter from 16 mil to 0.3 mil in the temperature range 1.2 to 4.2°K, and observed size-dependent deviations from Matthiessen’s rule. The temperature dependent portion of the resistivity is dominated in this temperature range by a term of the formAT ², whereA increases from about 12×10^?12 Ω cm/°K² for the thickest wires to 18×10^?12 Ω cm/°K² for the thinnest ones. There is an additional resistivity contribution which appears to increase more rapidly thanT ⁵, and which also evidences some increase with decreasing wire diameter. The observed deviations from Matthiessen’s rule display temperature and size variations consistent with the theory ofBlatt andSatz, and the magnitude of the deviations can be accounted for by this theory taking into account only that portion of the electrical resistivity produced by electron-phonon scattering. Thus the data are consistent with arguments suggesting that interband electron-electron scattering does not lead to size-dependent deviations from Matthiessen’s rule.