Combining Brillouin spectroscopy and laser-SAW technique for elastic property characterization of thick DLC films

Surface Brillouin spectroscopy (SBS) has been widely used for elastic property characterization of thin films. For films thicker than 500 nm, however, the wavelength of surface acoustic wave in the frequency range available for SBS is smaller than film thickness, and the SBS measures only the Rayleigh wave of the film. The laser-SAW technique, on the other hand, measures only the low-frequency portion of the surface acoustic wave dispersion and can estimate only one elastic modulus of the film (typically Young's modulus). In this work, we have combined the two methods to determine both Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of a diamond-like carbon (DLC) film. It was found that reasonable estimates can be obtained for the longitudinal wave velocity, shear wave velocity, and Young's modulus of the film. The Poisson's ratio, however, still has a relatively large measurement error.     

Acoustic properties of multiferroic BiFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript> over the temperature range 4.2–830 K

The longitudinal acoustic wave velocity and attenuation in BiFeO₃ ceramics have been measured by ultrasonic pulse-echo technique at a frequency of 10 MHz in the temperature range from 4.2 K to 830 K. The anomalies observed in the sound velocity and attenuation behavior versus temperature are attributed to the assumed relaxation in the temperature range 200–500 K and antiferromagnetic phase transition at higher temperatures. Order parameter fluctuations along with magnetostriction are discussed as the factors determining the acoustic wave velocity anomaly in the vicinity of the antiferromagnetic phase transition point.     

Anomalous ultrasonic attenuation and velocity change in LaAl2

The attenuation and velocity of longitudinal waves has been measured in superconducting and normal LaAl₂ in the frequency range from 15 to 225 MHz. Both in the superconducting and in the normal state an unusually large damping has been found superimposed on the relatively small attenuation due to the well known electron-phonon interaction. On cooling into the superconducting state the attenuation starts to drop only at temperatures well below T_c and — as in insulating glasses — it rises again below 0.8 K. In our view this indicates that two-level systems similar to the ones found in amorphous superconductors may be present in our crystalline LaAl₂ sample and are responsible for the observed acoustic anomalies.     

Temperature-dependent attenuation of surface acoustic waves in proton-exchanged 128°-rotated Y-cut LiNbO3

3 has been experimentally studied in the frequency range 100 to 460 MHz and in the temperature range 90 to 300 K. At room temperature, the proton exchange leads to the considerable enhancement of acoustic attenuation as compared to the pure samples. Annealing in air, in general, reduces the attenuation. However, an anomalous enhancement of the attenuation at several frequencies for particular conditions of annealing is observed. When the temperature is reduced, the attenuation decreases practically to zero in as-exchanged samples. In the annealed ones, the attenuation attains a minimum in the vicinity of 160 K, and begins to grow at lower temperatures. A sharp peak in the attenuation is observed at 210 K. Several different physical mechanisms including acousto-protonic interaction and structural phase transition seem to be responsible for the observed acoustic attenuation behaviour. Received: 17 July 1996/Accepted: 2 December 1996     

Phase velocity and attenuation of 9 GHz hypersound in polycrystalline nickel films as a function of quartz-substrate temperature

Using a movable narrow beam of 9 GHz hypersound and wedge-shaped evaporated Ni films, the phase velocity and attenuation of longitudinal as well as of transverse hypersound was determined at a temperature of 2 K by multiple-beam interferometry in these Ni films. They were evaporated onto a quartz substrate at substrate temperatures ranging from 50°C to 500°C. The macroscopic moduliK (bulk modulus) andG (shear modulus) can be obtained from the measured phase velocities. WhereasK appears independent on substrate temperature and agrees within experimental error with theoretical prediction deduced from known elastic constants of the crystallites, the observed shear modulusG possesses at a substrate temperature of 50°C only 2/3 of the predicted value and increases with substrate temperature by reaching the theoretical value at about 300°C.     

Acoustic anomalies in SrTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>−BiFeO<Subscript>3</Subscript> solid solutions

The results of acoustic investigations of solid solutions SrTiO₃?BiFeO₃ in the temperature range from 100 to 650 K have been presented. The measurements of the velocity and attenuation of the longitudinal ultrasonic mode at a frequency of 10 MHz were carried out by the pulse-echo method. The observed anomalies in velocity and attenuation correlate with the maxima of the dielectric constant in the temperature range of the relaxor state. In addition, the attenuation peaks in the temperature range 400–600 K, which define Burns and T* temperatures, which are characteristic of relaxors, have been identified. The obtained results have allowed the clarifying of the phase diagram of the solid solution system SrTiO₃?BiFeO₃.     

Combining Brillouin spectroscopy and laser-SAW technique for elastic property characterization of thick DLC films

Surface Brillouin spectroscopy (SBS) has been widely used for elastic property characterization of thin films. For films thicker than 500 nm, however, the wavelength of surface acoustic wave in the frequency range available for SBS is smaller than film thickness, and the SBS measures only the Rayleigh wave of the film. The laser-SAW technique, on the other hand, measures only the low-frequency portion of the surface acoustic wave dispersion and can estimate only one elastic modulus of the film (typically Young's modulus). In this work, we have combined the two methods to determine both Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of a diamond-like carbon (DLC) film. It was found that reasonable estimates can be obtained for the longitudinal wave velocity, shear wave velocity, and Young's modulus of the film. The Poisson's ratio, however, still has a relatively large measurement error.     

Acoustic properties of multiferroic PbFe1/2Ta1/2O3

The longitudinal acoustic wave velocity and attenuation in PbFe_1/2Ta_1/2O₃ ceramics have been measured by pulse-echo technique in the temperature range from 4.2 to 530 K. The anomalies observed in the sound velocity and attenuation behavior versus temperature were correlated with Burns temperature, temperature range of the coexistence of relaxor ferroelectric and antiferromagnetic states, and a suggested second antiferromagnetic phase transition at low temperatures.     

Temperature dependent ultrasonic properties of aluminium nitride

Hexagonal wurtzite structured aluminium nitride has been characterized by the theoretical calculation of ultrasonic attenuation, ultrasonic velocity, higher order elastic constants, thermal relaxation time, acoustic coupling constants and other related parameters in temperature range 200-800 K for wave propagation along the unique axis of the crystal. Higher order elastic constants of AlN at different temperatures are calculated using Lennard-Jones potential for the determination of ultrasonic attenuation. A decrease in ultrasonic velocity with temperature has been predicted, which is caused by reduction in higher order elastic constants with temperature. The temperature dependent ultrasonic properties have been discussed in correlation with higher order elastic constants, thermal relaxation time, thermal conductivity, acoustic coupling constants and thermal energy density. Anomalous behaviour of the attenuation is found at 400 K. On the basis of attenuation, the ductility and performance of AlN have been studied.     

Elastic and inelastic properties of SiC/Si biomorphic composites and biomorphic SiC based on oak and eucalyptus

This paper reports on the results of a comparative investigation into the elastic and microplastic properties of biomorphic SiC/Si composites and biomorphic SiC prepared by pyrolysis of oak and eucalyptus with subsequent infiltration of molten silicon into a carbon matrix and additional chemical treatment to remove excess silicon. The acoustic studies were performed by the composite oscillator technique using resonant longitudinal vibrations at frequencies of about 100 kHz. It is shown that, in biomorphic SiC (as in biomorphic SiC/Si) at small-amplitude strains ε, adsorption and desorption of the environmental (air) molecules determine to a considerable extent the Young’s modulus E and the internal friction (decrement of acoustic vibrations δ) and that the changes in E and δ at these amplitudes are irreversible. The stress-microplastic strain curves are constructed from the acoustic data for the materials under study at temperatures of 100 and 290 K.     

Optimal Acoustic Attenuation of Weakly Compressible Media Permeated with Air Bubbles

Based on fuzzy logic （FL） and genetic algorithm （GA）, we present an optimization method to obtain the optimal acoustic attenuation of a longitudinal acoustic wave propagating in a weakly compressible medium permeated with air bubbles. In the optimization, the parameters of the size distribution of bubbles in the medium are optimized for providing uniformly high acoustic attenuation in the frequency band of interest. Compared with other traditional optimization methods, the unique advantage of the present method is that it can locate the global optimum quickly and effectively in need of knowing the mathematical model precisely. As illustrated by a numerical simulation, the method is effective and essential in enhancing the acoustic attenuation of such a medium in an optimal manner. The bubbly medium with optimized structural parameters can effectively attenuate longitudinal waves at intermediate frequencies with an acoustic attenuation approximating a constant value of lO（dB/cm）. Such bubbly media with optimal acoustic attenuations may be applied to design acoustic absorbent by controlling broader attenuation band and higher efficiency.     

Thermodynamic,elastic, elastic anisotropy and minimum thermal conductivity of β-GaN under high temperature

The thermodynamic, elastic, elastic anisotropy and minimum thermal conductivity of β-GaN are investigated at ambient pressure and high temperature by using first-principles calculations method with the ultrasoft psedopotential scheme. The elastic constants calculations reveal β-GaN is mechanically stability at ambient pressure and high temperature. The elastic modulus (Poisson's ratio, shear modulus and Young's modulus) decreases with increasing temperature. The calculations of anisotropy show that β-GaN has a larger elastic anisotropy in Poisson's ratio, shear modulus, Young's modulus and Zener anisotropy index. In addition, when the temperature increases from 0 to 1500 K, the elastic anisotropy decreases for β-GaN. The quasi-harmonic Debye model is successfully applied to determine the thermodynamic properties at different pressures and temperatures. Using the quasi-harmonic Debye model, the thermodynamic properties including the Debye temperature, Grüneisen parameter, the heat capacity, adiabatic bulk modulus, and the thermal expansion coefficients of β-GaN are predicted under high temperature and high pressure.     

Low temperature elastic constants and Debye temperature of NbO2

The transit times of ultrasonic waves have been measured in single crystal NbO₂ from 295 K down to 1.5 K for quasilongitudinal and shear waves propagating in the [100] direction and down to 160 K for eight other waves. Values are obtained for the C₄₄ elastic constant and for an elastic constant combination which is approximately equal to C₁₁ for temperatures down to 1.5 K and for C₁₁, C₁₂, C₁₃, C₁₆, C₃₃, and C₆₆ down to 160 K. These results are used to deduce 0 K values for the elastic constants and an elastic Debye temperature of 596 ± 7 K at 1.5 K. The acoustic mode heat capacity calculated from the latter is significantly smaller than the heat capacity measured by Wenger and Keesom at low temperatures. Following Wenger and Keesom, the difference is attributed to phasons (excitations involving the phase modulation of charge density waves). An average velocity is deduced for the phasons.     

非晶态快离子导体(AgI)x(Ag4P2O7)1-x的声学性质

用液氮骤冷方法制备了(AgI)_x(Ag₄P₂O₇)_1-x系列非晶态快离子导体。对AgI摩尔浓度x=0.50,0.60,0.67,0.75,0.80的样品,在77—300K温度范围及2,5,10,15MHz的频率上测量了纵波和横波的超声衰减和声速。发现在200—240K附近存在一个异常强的弛豫型超声吸收峰,随AgI含量的增加,该峰的位置向低温方向移动,且峰的高度增大。在实验的温度范围内,观察到纵波和 关键词：     

Structural instability and superconductivity in B{a_{1 - x}}{K_x}Bi{o_3}

We report results of the ultrasonic investigation of Ba_1-xK_xBiO₃ superconducting (SC) single crystals for two potassium concentrations and in a wide temperature range including the normal and the SC states. An instability of the crystal lattice that develops above the superconducting phase transition leads to a softening of both the transverse c₄₄ and the longitudinal c₁₁ modes at temperatures between 200 K and 50 K. In the case of Ba_0.65K_0.35BiO₃ a pronounced hysteresis was discovered. Low temperature X-ray powder diffraction analysis does not reveal any change of the cubic structure in the samples within a resolution of our X-ray technique. The softening of the elastic moduli, the hysteresis, the maximum in the attenuation of sound along with the possible short- (or long-) range structural distortion can be explained qualitatively in a simple model by assuming a coupling of the acoustic modes with the anharmonic oscillations of BiO₆ octahedra. Some weak anomalies are discovered in the velocity of the longitudinal sound in the vicinity of the superconducting phase transition. Received 25 June 1999 and Received in final form 14 February 2000     

Acoustic metamaterial with negative density

We fabricated a one-dimensional acoustic metamaterial with negative effective density using an array of very thin elastic membranes. We observed acoustic equivalence of the plasma oscillation at ωc=735 Hz. The metamaterial was opaque in the frequency range from 0 to 735 Hz, and was transparent above 735 Hz. We report direct observation of negative acceleration in this acoustic medium below 735 Hz. The frequency characteristics of the metamaterial have the same form as that of metals with negative permittivity. We also provide a simple theory to explain the experimental results.     

Boron–Carbon Nanocomposites Fabricated at High Pressures and Temperatures

Interaction of amorphous boron and C₆₀ fullerite is analyzed at pressures of 2.0 and 7.7. GPa and temperatures of 600–1800°C. Effect of pressure and temperature on the material structure is studied, temperatures for synthesis of boron carbide and diamond are found, and the sequence of transformations of the carbon component is determined. Ultrasonic method is used to measure elastic moduli of the samples, and the dependences of the moduli on the structure are analyzed. It is demonstrated that the boron–carbon nanocomposite synthesized at relatively low pressure (2.0 GPa) and temperature (about 1000°C) exhibits high elastic parameters (bulk modulus, B ≈ 75.3–84.0 GPa; Young modulus, E ≈ 108–119 GPa; and shear modulus, G ≈ 43–47 GPa at a density of about 2.2 g/cm³). The results can be used for development of novel nanocomposite materials.     

Ultrasonic wave propagation in IIIrd group nitrides

The ultrasonic attenuation in hexagonal structured (wurtzite) third group nitrides (GaN, AlN and InN) has been evaluated at 300 K for an ultrasonic wave propagating along the unique axis of the crystal. Higher order elastic constants of these materials are calculated using the Lennard-Jones potential for the determination of ultrasonic attenuation. The ultrasonic velocity, Debye average velocity, thermal relaxation time and acoustic coupling constant are evaluated along the z-axis of the crystal using the second order elastic constants and other related parameters. The contributions of the elastic constants, thermal conductivity, thermal energy density, ultrasonic velocity and acoustic coupling constant to the total attenuation are studied. On the basis of the ultrasonic attenuation, it can be concluded that the AlN is more ductile than either GaN or InN at 300 K. Orientation dependent characterization has been achieved by calculation of the orientation dependent ultrasonic velocity, Debye average velocity and thermal relaxation time for the materials.     

Acoustic anomalies and relaxation dynamics of relaxor ferroelectric Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3 single crystals studied by using Brillouin spectroscopy

Acoustic anomalies of relaxor ferroelectric Na_1/2Bi_1/2TiO₃ single crystals were investigated over a wide temperature range from −196 °C to 900 °C by using Brillouin spectroscopy. The longitudinal sound velocity, the acoustic absorption coefficient and the elastic constant C₁₁ were determined for the acoustic phonon mode propagating in the [100] direction. Two acoustic anomalies, weaker ones at the cubic-tetragonal phase transition temperature of ~540 °C and more pronounced ones at temperatures near 315 °C near the dielectric maximum temperature, were investigated and discussed in relation with the relevant order parameters coupled to the acoustic waves. The relaxation dynamics in the cubic phase were studied based on the flattening of the mode frequency and the half width, which was observed for the first time, and a modified Arrhenius law.     

Ultrasound Attenuation in Biological Tissue Predicted by the Modified Doublet Mechanics Model

Experimental results have shown that in the megahertz frequency range the relationship between the acoustic attenuation coefficient in soft tissues and frequency is nearly linear. The classical continuum mechanics （CCM）, which assumes that the materiaJ is uniform and continuous, faJls to explain this relationship particularly in the high megahertz range. Doublet mechanics （DM） is a new elastic theory which takes the discrete nature of material into account. The current DM theory however does not consider the loss. We revise the doublet mechanics （DM） theory by including the loss term, and cMculate the attenuation of a soft tissue as a function of frequency using the modified the DM theory （MDM）. The MDM can now well explain the nearly linear relationship between the acoustic attenuation coefficient in soft tissues and frequency.