Graphitization of a Polycrystalline Diamond under High-Fluence Irradiation with Noble Gas and Nitrogen Ions

To analyze the process of the ion-induced graphitization of a polycrystalline diamond, the surfacelayer conductivity and microstructure are studied experimentally after high-fluence irradiation with Ne⁺, Ar⁺, N⁺, and ions with energies of 20–30 keV at irradiation and heat-treatment temperatures ranging from 30 to 720°R in vacuum. After irradiation with argon ions at room temperature and subsequent heat treatment, the resistivity ? of a modified layer decreases exponentially with increasing treatment temperature T _ht and reaches the graphite value ? at Tht = 700°R. Such a temperature T _ht is insufficient for surface-layer graphitization by nitrogen ions. The increase in the diamond temperature under irradiation leads to a decrease in the ion-induced thermal graphitization temperature T _g by several hundred degrees. It is found that the temperature T _g is almost coincident with the corresponding temperature T_a of the dynamic annealing of radiation-induced damage in graphite. Analysis of the irradiated layer using Raman spectroscopy reveals the heterogeneous structure of the modified layer containing graphite and amorphous phases, the ratio between which correlates with the layer resistivity. Under argon-ion irradiation at diamond temperatures of 500°R or more, an increase in ? of the irradiated layer is observed, which is related to the formation of nanocrystalline graphite. This effect is not observed under nitrogen-ion irradiation.     

Role of the Cluster Structure of Amorphous Fe<Subscript>67</Subscript>Cr<Subscript>18</Subscript>B<Subscript>15</Subscript> Alloy in Magnetism and in the Changing of Electron Scattering Mechanisms under the Influence of Ion (Ar<Superscript>+</Superscript>) Irradiation

The contribution of clusters of different sizes to magnetism and the switching of electron scattering mechanisms in amorphous Fe₆₇Cr₁₈B₁₅ alloy during ion Ar⁺ irradiation is studied. The cluster magnetism is found to be related to the presence of clusters of the following two types: large α-(Fe, Cr) clusters of size D = 150–250 Å and small (D = 40–80 Å) clusters in a random intercluster medium. The generation of small ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic clusters during ion irradiation leads to the formation of cluster glass, which affects the electrical properties of the alloy and causes a magnetic frustration. The temperature dependence of the barrier height is shown to characterize the magnetic state of the alloy in low fields. On the whole, the temperature dependence of the order parameter is a universal characteristic of the system. The temperature dependence of resistivity of initial alloys in the temperature range 98–300 K (ρ(T) ∝ T²) is determined by electron scattering by quantum defects, and the transition into a ferromagnetic state is revealed when the derivative ?ρ/?T ∝ T is analyzed. The increase in resistivity and the relation ρ ∝ T^1/2 in strongly inhomogeneous samples after irradiation at a dose Φ = 1.5 × 10¹⁸ ions/cm² are caused by weak localization effects, and the transition to a ferromagnetic state becomes obvious when the derivative ?ρ/?T ∝ T^–1/2 is considered. Irradiation by fluence Φ = 3 × 10¹⁸ ions/cm2 induces a giant (twofold) increase in the alloy density, restores the ferromagnetism of large clusters, decreases the resistivity by 37%, and restores the relation ρ(T) ∝ T², which results from the overlapping of the irradiation-induced small clusters when their concentration increases and from an increase in the alloy density. The overlapping of clusters lowers the barrier height and decreases the sensitivity of the alloy to an applied field. The relation ρ(T) ∝ T² is valid for the entire temperature range T = 2–300 K because of the partial screening of the magnetic moments of large clusters by a medium having the properties of cluster glass.     

Features of changes in the surface structure of K-208 glass under electron—proton irradiation

Changes in the surface structure of K-208 glass after single-time irradiation of its samples with 20-keV electrons and protons are studied using atomic-force microscopy. Irradiation is performed in a vacuum chamber under a pressure of 10^–4 Pa; the densities of the electron (? _e ) and proton (? _р ) fluxes are varied in the range of 10¹⁰–2.5 × 10¹¹ cm^?2 s^?1. Analysis of the samples irradiated in the case where the parameters ? _e and ? _р increased in a stepwise manner makes it possible to study the appearance, growth, and evolution of microscopic structures on their surfaces. The radiation-stimulated processes of defect annealing and the release and field diffusion of alkali metal ions are accompanied by crystallization of the irradiated glass layer, which gives grounds for the use of dislocation mechanisms for mass transfer in explaining the formation of microprotrusions on its surface. It is shown that the character of changes in the structure is determined by the values of the parameters ? _e and ? _р and the ratio between them. In particular, it is established that, in the case of electron— proton irradiation of the glass, electrostatic discharges begin to noticeably affect the formation of microprotrusions for ? _е > 3? _р .     

Anomalous behavior of curves of pseudo-elastic deformation of Ni–Fe–Ga–Co alloy crystals as a result of interphase stresses

The compression diagram of Ni₄₉Fe₁₈Ga₂₇Co₆ alloy crystals in the [011] direction was studied until full shape memory strain at various temperatures in the range of 259–340 K. It is found that all load curves are anomalously shaped and contain portions of sharp and gradual decreases in deformation stresses. Simulation of pseudo-elastic stress–strain curves within the theory of diffuse martensitic transitions, describing not only equilibrium of phases, but also the kinetics of the transition between them, shows that elastic interphase stresses during martensitic reactions Ll ₂ → 14M and 14M → Ll ₀ characteristic of this alloy can be responsible for the extraordinary shape of compression diagrams.     

Effect of gamma irradiation on internal friction in lithium tetraborate

The effect of gamma irradiation on the mechanical properties of lithium tetraborate Li₂B₄O₇ in the single-crystal and vitreous states is investigated. It is found that, after irradiation of the Li₂B₄O₇ single crystal, the temperature range of the dissipative process initially occurring at 380–420 K becomes broader and the fine structure of the peak in the temperature dependence of the internal friction Q^?1(T) undergoes a substantial trans-formation. After irradiation of the vitreous Li₂B₄O₇ sample, the increase in the internal friction, which is characteristic of the onset of the α relaxation in this material, is not observed in the dependence Q^?1(T) up to a temperature of 570 K. It is shown that the mechanical properties of the irradiated samples are almost completely recovered after annealing at 570 K for 1 h.     

Peculiarities of magnetic field-induced ferromagnetic ordering in narrow-band manganites

The temperature dependences of the residual magnetization in narrow-band manganites (Pr_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃, Sm_0.55Sr_0.45Mn¹⁸O₃, Sm_0.55Sr_0.45Mn¹⁶O₃, and (NdEu)_0.55Sr_0.45Mn¹⁸O₃) have been studied. All compounds studied are characterized by a fairly high residual magnetization M _R (about 0.5 μ_B/Mn) at 4.2 K, which vanishes upon sample heating to the temperature T _RE ≈ 30–35 K, which is much lower than the temperature T _C of the ferromagnetic transition. However, upon magnetization of the samples at T _RE < T < T _C , the residual magnetization (smaller in magnitude) remains up to T _C . For the composition (NdEu)_0.55Sr_0.45Mn¹⁸O₃, the residual magnetization remains at T < T _C , independent of the temperature of magnetization. The disappearance of the residual magnetization found at intermediate temperatures is apparently related to the destruction of the magnetic field-induced ferromagnetic ordering (which contains an additional contribution of the rare-earth sublattice).     

The magnetic field dependence of the low temperature (0.1K to 3K) residual specific heat of Pr<Subscript>2−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ce<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>CuO<Subscript>4−δ</Subscript>

Measurements are presented of the low temperature specific heat of three polycrystalline samples of Pr_2?x Ce _x CuO₄ in magnetic fields of 0, 2 and 4 Tesla. The residual specific heat contribution in zero field seems to have a form αT ⁿ (n<1) for all of the samples, whether superconducting or non-superconducting. The behaviour in magnetic fields is similar to that reported for other high Tc superconductors where a change in exponent of the residual term occurs at some crossover temperature in magnetic fields.     

Internal friction in alloys due to plasticity of the diffusion phase transformation

An analytic expression is obtained for the time dependence Q ^?1(t) of internal friction associated with plasticity of a phase transformation. Time dependences Q ^?1(t) of internal friction of the Pb-62Sn and Pb-1.9Sn alloys (wt.%) alloys were studied in the regime of continuous excitation of resonant flexural vibrations. The measurements of the Q ^?1(t) dependences for 1 h at room temperature and a fixed strain amplitude ε₀ ≈ 7 and 19 min) for the Pb-62Sn alloy. For the Pb-1.9Sn alloy under the same conditions, an exponential decrease followed by an internal friction peak (at t _m ≈ 7 min) is observed. It is shown numerically that the above singularities of internal friction are formed by processes of intermittent phase decomposition of Pb-Sn alloys in the cyclic stress field produced by an external load. Experimental data on Q ^?1(t) are used for reconstructing the kinetic curves describing the decomposition (conversion) ratio as a function of time and for calculating the corresponding values of parameters K and n of the Avrami kinetic equation for the Pb-62Sn alloy.     

Erzeugung und Ausheilung von Gitterstörungen und ihr Einfluß auf die Supraleitung von Indium und Thallium

The Variation of the transition temperature with residual resistance of coldworked In and Tl shows a similar behaviour as in dilute alloy experiments. Subsequent annealing removes lattice defects in distinct steps and restores the properties of pure samples at temperatures below 250 °K. Some of the results can be interpreted in accordance with the model developed byMarkowitz andKadanoff on alloy experiments. Values for the anisotropy parameter 〈a ²〉_In=0.02 and 〈a ²〉_Tl=0.04 were obtained. The interpretation of the “valence” effect and the influence of stress is discussed.     

Effect of the chemical composition on amorphization of titanium-nickelide-based alloys with fast neutrons

The structural state of a Ti₅₀Ni₄₇Fe₃ single crystal irradiated with fast neutrons (F = 2.5 × 10²⁰ cm^?2) at a temperature of 340 K was studied using thermal neutron diffraction. The alloy of this chemical composition was chosen in searching for a radiation-resistant shape memory material. It is established that this alloy retains its crystalline state after irradiation, whereas the Ti₄₉Ni₅₁ crystal studied previously is completely amorphized after similar irradiation. A detailed analysis of the structural state of the irradiated ternary alloy allowed us to discover the main physical causes of its radiation resistance.     

Effect of the temperature and way of preliminary torsion in the austenitic state on the shape memory effect in TiNi alloy

The effect of temperature and direction of preliminary torsion in the austenitic state on the degree of strain recovery upon heating of a TiNi alloy has been investigated. It is shown that an increase in the preliminary deformation temperature from 500 to 700 K leads to an increase in the degree of shape recovery upon heating of the material studied. In particular, a 20% strain at a temperature of 500 K decreases the recovery coefficient by 20%, whereas the same preliminary strain at 700 K deteriorates the shape recovery by only 4%. It is established that, applying preliminary torsion in the austenitic and martensitic states in opposite directions, one can obtain an increase in the shape memory strain with an increase in the preliminary plastic strain. Thus, at some plastic strains (λ _pl > 10%), the strain recovered upon heating may even exceed the strain set in the martensitic state.     

Effect of upsetting deformation temperature on the formation of the fine-grained cast alloy structure of the Ni–Mn–Ga system

The plastic behavior during deformation by upsetting and its effect on the microstructure in the polycrystalline Ni_2.19Fe_0.04Mn_0.77Ga alloy are studied. The temperatures of martensitic and magnetic phase transformations were determined by the method for analyzing the temperature dependence of the specific magnetization as M _F = 320 K, A _S = 360 K, and T _C = 380 K. Using differential scanning calorimetry, it is shown that the phase transition from the ordered phase L2₁ to the disordered phase B2 is observed in the alloy during sample heating in the temperature range of 930–1070 K. The melting temperature is 1426 K. An analysis of the load curves constructed for sample deposition at temperatures of 773, 873, and 973 K shows that the behavior of the stress–strain curve at a temperature of 773 K is inherent to cold deformation. The behavior of the dependences for 873 and 973 K is typical of hot deformation. After deforming the alloy, its microstructure is studied using backscattered scanning electron microscopy. Plastic deformation of the alloy at study temperatures results in grain structure fragmentation in the localized deformation region. At all temperatures, a recrystallized grain structure is observed. It is found that the structure is heterogeneously recrystallized after upsetting at 973 K due to the process intensity at such a high temperature. The alloy microstructure after plastic deformation at a temperature of 873 K is most homogeneous in terms of the average grain size.     

Multistage radiation-stimulated changes in the microhardness of silicon single crystals exposed to low-intensity β irradiation

Radiation-stimulated and postradiation changes in the microhardness of silicon single crystals exposed to irradiation with a low-intensity flux of β particles (I = 9 × 10⁵ cm^?2 s^?1, W = 0.20 + 0.93 MeV) are studied. It is established that the inversion of the radiation-induced plastic effect occurs at a characteristic irradiation time τ_c = 75 min; i.e., irradiation of silicon single crystals for a time τ < τ_c leads to nonmonotonic reversible hardening, whereas nonmonotonic reversible softening is observed under irradiation for a time τ > τ_c. It is demonstrated that there exists a correlation between the nonmonotonic dependences of the microhardness and the concentration of electrically active defects at acceptor levels with energies E _c ? 0.11 eV, E _c ? 0.13 eV, and E _c ? 0.18 eV on the irradiation time.     

Magnetic phase diagram of the Bi<Subscript>1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ca<Subscript>x</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganites

The magnetic and elastic properties of the Bi_1-xCa_xMnO₃ manganites are studied. The phase transformations revealed are ferromagnet-spin glass (x≥0.15) and spin glass-charge-ordered antiferromagnet (x≥0.25). The ferromagnetic state is characterized by ordering of the Mn³⁺d _x ²-y orbitals. It is suggested that thespin glass state originates from local static Jahn-Teller distortions. The antiferromagnetic charge-ordered and the spin-glass disordered phases coexist in samples with 0.25<x<0.32, which may be due to the charge order-disorder phase transformation being martensitic in character. The magnetic phase diagram is constructed.     

Effect of gallium alloying on the structure,the phase composition,and the thermoelastic martensitic transformations in ternary Ni–Mn–Ga alloys

The effect of gallium alloying on the structure, the phase composition, and the properties of quasibinary Ni₅₀Mn_50–zGa_z (0 ? z ? 25 at %) alloys is studied over a wide temperature range. The influence of the alloy composition on the type of crystal structure in high-temperature austenite and martensite and the critical martensitic transformation temperatures is analyzed. A general phase diagram of the magnetic and structural transformations in the alloys is plotted. The temperature–concentration boundaries of the B2 and L2₁ superstructures in the austenite field, the tetragonal L1₀ (2M) martensite, and the 10M and 14M martensite phases with complex multilayer crystal lattices are found. The predominant morphology of martensite is shown to be determined by the hierarchy of the packets of thin coherent lamellae of nano- and submicrocrystalline crystals with planar habit plane boundaries close to {011}_B2. Martensite crystals are twinned along one of the 24 \(24\left\{ {011} \right\}{\left\langle {01\bar 1} \right\rangle _{B2}}\) “soft” twinning shear systems, which provides coherent accommodation of the martensitic transformation–induced elastic stresses.     

Metal-insulator transition in a radiation-disordered La<Subscript>0.85</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.15</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite

The temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity ρ(T) and the ac magnetic susceptibility χ(T, H = 0) are thoroughly investigated for a perovskite-like lanthanum manganite, namely, La_0.85Sr_0.15MnO₃, which is preliminarily exposed to neutron irradiation with a fluence _F = 2 × 10¹⁹ cm^?2 and then annealed at different temperatures ranging from 200 to 1000°C. The results of the electrical resistance measurements demonstrate that neutron irradiation of the samples leads to the disappearance of the low-temperature insulating phase. As the annealing temperature increases, the insulating phase is not restored and the manganite undergoes a transformation into a metallic phase. Analysis of the magnetic properties shows that, under irradiation, the ferromagnet-paramagnet phase transition temperature T_C decreases and the magnetic susceptibility is reduced significantly. With an increase in the annealing temperature, the phase transition temperature T_C and magnetic susceptibility χ(_{T, H} = 0) increase and gradually approach values close to those for an unirradiated sample. This striking difference in the behavior of the electrical and magnetic properties of the radiation-disordered La_0.85Sr_0.15MnO₃ manganite is explained qualitatively.     

Large successive magnetocaloric effects around room temperature in Ni<Subscript>50</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>34</Subscript>In<Subscript>15</Subscript>Al alloy

Two successive magnetocaloric effects consisting of inverse magnetocaloric effect around martensitic transition and negative magnetocaloric effect around magnetic transition of austenitic phase have been observed in Ni₅₀Mn₃₄In₁₅Al alloy. Large inverse magnetic entropy change ΔS_m ( ~ 21.3 J kg^?1 K^?1), small thermal and magnetic hysteresis of martensitic transition give rise of large net refrigerant capacity ( ~ 152.3 J kg^?1) under a magnetic field of 50 kOe, which is comparable with that ( ~ 157.9 J kg^?1) of second-order transition. The large combined magnetocaloric effects make the Ni₅₀Mn₃₄In₁₅Al alloy as a promising candidate material for room temperature magnetic refrigeration.     

Critical magnetic field of the vortex-free state in NbC thin films and prospects for its observation in MgB<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The critical magnetic fields H _c‖ and H _c2 are measured for thin films of the isotropic superconductor NbC. It is revealed that the critical fields exhibit strong anisotropy due to the vortex-free state of the film in a magnetic field aligned parallel to its surface. The H _c‖/H _c2 ratio at 2 K exceeds 6 and increases with increasing temperature. The dependence H _c‖(T) agrees quantitatively with the concepts of microscopic theory on the vortex-free state of a thin film of a clean superconductor in the temperature range below T _c . As the electron mean free path decreases under irradiation of the film with a low dose of He⁺ ions, the critical field H _c‖ remains unchanged near T _c but increases significantly at lower temperatures. The well-known theoretical models are used to estimate the electronic parameters and thicknesses of MgB₂ films for which the specific features associated with the vortex-free state of the two-gap superconductor can manifest themselves in the temperature dependence of the critical magnetic field H _c‖(T).