Instrumentation with polarized neutrons

Neutron scattering with polarization analysis is an indispensable tool for the investigation of novel materials exhibiting electronic, magnetic, and orbital degrees of freedom. In addition, polarized neutrons are necessary for neutron spin precession techniques that path the way to obtain extremely high resolution in space and time. Last but not least, polarized neutrons are being used for fundamental studies as well as very recently for neutron imaging. Many years ago, neutron beam lines were simply adapted for polarized beam applications by adding polarizing elements leading usually to unacceptable losses in neutron intensity. Recently, an increasing number of beam lines are designed such that an optimum use of polarized neutrons is facilitated. In addition, marked progress has been obtained in the technology of ³He polarizers and the reflectivity of large-m supermirrors. Therefore, if properly designed, only factors of approximately 2–3 in neutron intensity are lost. It is shown that S-benders provide neutron beams with an almost wavelength independent polarization. Using twin cavities, polarized beams with a homogeneous phase space and P>0.99 can be produced without significantly sacrificing intensity. It is argued that elliptic guides, which are coated with large m polarizing supermirrors, provide the highest flux.     

Observation of nonadditive mixed-state phases with polarized neutrons

In a neutron polarimetry experiment the mixed-state relative phases between spin eigenstates are determined from the maxima and minima of measured intensity oscillations. We consider evolutions leading to purely geometric, purely dynamical, and combined phases. It is experimentally demonstrated that the sum of the individually determined geometric and dynamical phases is not equal to the associated total phase which is obtained from a single measurement, unless the system is in a pure state.     

New gravitational experiment with ultracold neutrons

The results of a new neutron gravitation experiment are reported. The change in the energy of a neutron falling to a known height in the Earth’s gravitational field is compensated by an energy quantum ?Θ transferred to the neutron as a result of the phase modulation of the neutron wave. A phase diffraction grating moving across the direction of the propagation of the neutron wave is used as a modulator. The experiment has been carried out with ultracold neutrons Interference filters, neutron analogues of Fabry-Perot interferometers, are used for the spectrometry of ultracold neutrons. The force m _g g _n acting on the neutron in the Earth’s gravitational field has been measured with an accuracy of about 0.2%.     

高压下Fe从bcc到hcp结构相变机理的第一性原理计算

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法, 分别研究了压力作用下Fe从体心立方 (bcc,α 相) 结构到六角密排(hcp, ε相) 结构相变的两种不同的相变机理: 相变过程中出现亚稳定的面心立方(fcc) 结构(bcc-fcc-hcp) , 以及相变过程中没有出现亚稳定的fcc结构(bcc-hcp) . 计算结果表明: 静水压力条件下, 相变过程中并不会产生亚稳定的fcc结构, 这与最近的原位XRD实验测量结果相一致. 随着压力的增加, fcc-hcp的相变势垒逐渐增加, 压力趋向于阻止Fe从fcc结构到hcp结构的相变. 计算得到了相变过程中原子磁性和结构的详细信息, 分析表明相变过程中涉及复杂的磁性转变, 并且讨论了原子磁性对结构转变影响的物理机理. 此外, 对分子动力学模拟中产生亚稳定的fcc结构的原因也进行了讨论. 关键词： 相变机理 静水压力 第一性原理 铁     

Parastatistics and phase transition from a cluster as a fluctuation to a cluster as a distinguishable object

A phase transition of the first kind is a jump of a function, a phase transition of the second kind is a jump of its first derivative, a phase transition of the third kind, a jump of the second derivative. A phase transition from one statistic to another is very gradual, but finally it is as considerable as the phase transition of the first kind. However, we cannot introduce a clearly defined parameter to which this transition corresponds. This is due to the fact that the fluctuations near the critical point are huge, and this violates, in the vicinity of that point, the main law of equilibrium thermodynamics, which asserts that fluctuations are relatively small. The paper describes the transition in the supercritical fluid region of equilibrium thermodynamics from parastatistics to mixed statistics, in which the Boltzmann statistics is realized for long-living clusters. In economics this corresponds to a negative nominal credit rate. Examples of this non-standard situation are presented.     

Delayed neutrons and high-energy γ-rays from decay of 87Br

Delayed neutrons and high-energy γ-rays following decay of ⁸⁷Br have been studied to characterize the β-decay to and the decay of neutron unbound levels in ⁸⁷Kr. The principal part of the neutron spectrum appears due to some 20–30 individual transitions and for seven of these, decay by γ-ray emission has been demonstrated. The β-strength function derived from these data and the decay scheme at lower energies is dominated by a broad resonance located near the neutron binding energy which can be identified with the main strength of a single-particle transition. The fluctuations in the reduced β-transition probabilities are found to be in accord with the Porter-Thomas distribution and the observed level density just above the neutron binding energy is consistent with the Gilbert and Cameron prediction after accounting for fluctuation in the β-decay transition probabilities.     

窗口声阻抗对锆相变动力学的影响

基于磁驱动加载装置CQ-4开展了锆的斜波压缩相变实验,研究了锆样品后表面窗口声阻抗对相变波形的影响.实验结果显示,锆后表面为较低声阻抗窗口(自由面和LiF窗口)时,相变起始对应的特征粒子速度约331.0 m/s,而高阻抗蓝宝石窗口时,特征粒子速度约301.9 m/s,特征速度对应的压力从约9.14 GPa下降到8.27 GPa.相变对应的速度特征拐点是与多种因素相关的实验信息,因此它对应的压力并不是材料属性参数相变压力.结合基于热力学Helmholtz自由能的多相状态方程和非平衡相变动力学方程开展了锆的相变动力学数值模拟研究,相变弛豫时间为30 ns,计算结果与三种情况的实验结果符合良好,可以较好地模拟斜波压缩下锆的弹塑性转变、相变等物理过程.在压力-比容和温度-压力热力学平面,相变前锆的准等熵线与冲击绝热线差异很小,相变后准等熵线都位于冲击绝热线下方,随着压力的增加准等熵线和冲击绝线偏差越来越大,温度-压力平面中在20 GPa时相差约100 K.相变开始后,由于相变引起比容的间断,导致锆的拉氏声速迅速下降约7%,相变完成后拉氏声速恢复到体波声速.     

Locally ordered regions in the phase transition in the systems with a finite-range correlated quenched disorder

The locally ordered regions (LOR) in the phase transition in disordered systems are studied. There are two parts in this paper. One part is to report our numerical results on the one-dimensional saddle point equation of the Ginzburg-Landau Hamiltonian with random temperature in the presence of an ordering field. The disordered system is modelled as a lattice, on which each cell has a local reduced temperature. The random part of the local reduced temperature is distributed in the Gaussian form. The one-dimensional saddle point equation is solved numerically. The average, the fluctuation and the correlation length of the solution are calculated. The scaling relations for these quantities with the temperature, the ordering field and the disorder strength are derived. The numerical data are fitted with the scaling relations well. Another part is to discuss qualitatively the phase diagram of the finite-range correlated disordered systems. There are two proposed classes for the phase transition in connection with the LOR. One class is described by the percolative scenario, in which the phase transition is inhomogeneous. In the percolative scenario the percolation of the LOR dominates the phase transition. In another class, the phase transition is homogeneous, and can be described by the renormalization group (RG) with replica symmetry breaking (RSB). In the RG with RSB, there is nothing to do with the percolation of LOR. We shall show that these two theories, which seem contradictory, may describe two parts of the whole phase diagram. Whether the phase transition is homogeneous or inhomogeneous depends on the interaction between the LOR. If the interaction between the LOR is strong enough, the phase transition is percolative and inhomogeneous. If the interaction between the LOR is weak, the phase transition is homogeneous. The interaction between the LOR is discussed with the numerical solution on the saddle point equation.     

Parity nonconservation in binary and ternary nuclear fission induced by polarized neutrons

Within the quantum-mechanical theory of the nuclear-fission process, the conditions of the emergence of coherent effects in the angular distributions of fragments originating from the binary and ternary fission of polarized nuclei are analyzed with allowance for the properties of transition fission states. In the case of ternary fission, the coefficients of P-odd asymmetry in the angular distributions of a light particle and a third particle, which is taken here to be an alpha particle, are calculated under the assumption that the third particle and two fragments are produced through a one-step mechanism. In order to confirm the ideas developed here, it is proposed to repeat, at a higher level of statistical accuracy, experiments devoted to seeking P-odd asymmetries for alpha particles in the ternary fission of nuclei.     

Vapor-crystal phase transition in synthesis of paracetamol films by vacuum evaporation and condensation

We report on the structural and technological investigations of the vapor-crystal phase transition during synthesis of paracetamol films of the monoclinic system by vacuum evaporation and condensation in the temperature range 220–320 K. The complex nature of the transformation accompanied by the formation of a gel-like phase is revealed. The results are interpreted using a model according to which the vapor-crystal phase transition is not a simple first-order phase transition, but is a nonlinear superposition of two phase transitions: a first-order transition with a change in density and a second-order phase transition with a change in ordering. Micrographs of the surface of the films are obtained at different phases of formation.     

Der harmonische Oszillator — ein Beispiel für nicht-thermische Phasenübergänge

It is shown that the transition of the harmonic oscillator to the state of self-sustained oscillations is described by equations which are valid for the laser phase transition as well. Experimental results of a 2nd order phase transition of the harmonic oscillator are given.     

Theory of elastic phase transitions in metals at high pressures. Application to vanadium

Structural transformations in elementary metals under high pressures are considered using the Landau theory of phase transitions, in which the finite strain tensor components play the role of the order parameter. As an example, the phase transition in vanadium observed at a pressure of 69 GPa is analyzed. It is shown that it is a first-order elastic phase transition, which is close to a second-order transition.     

公度-无公度相变与朗道的相变唯象理论

本文主要介绍晶体中公度-无公度相变。无公度相是结构相变的产物,它与软模概念有着紧密联系。应用朗道的相变唯象理论可以相当好地解释这一相变行为,本文将给予详细综述。基于朗道自由能公式,讨论了无公度相的热力学性质,介电性质和弹性性质,以及杂质和缺陷将影响相变过程,杂质的“钉扎”效应导致各种观察量在相变过程中出现滞后现象。最后,无公度相中的新元激发-振幅子和相位子的色散特性,也从唯象观点作了讨论。主要的理论结果将与有关的实验数据和曲线进行比较,同时指出理论不完善之处以及尚待进一步研究的课题。     

Phase transitions in 2D and 3D non-Heisenberg ferromagnets with temperature-dependent anisotropy

A model of a non-Heisenberg ferromagnet is considered in which the single-ion anisotropy constant is linearly dependent on temperature. The conditions are found under which phase transitions occur in 2D and 3D non-Heisenberg ferromagnets as the temperature is varied. It is shown that, in the case where the biquadratic interaction is dominant, quadrupole states can occur in the system, which are specified by the orientation of the quadrupole moment. As the temperature is varied, a phase transition between quadrupole states can occur in 2D magnets. Depending on the ratios between the material constants, this transition can be either a second-order phase transition with the continuously changing orientation of the principal axes of the quadrupole moment tensor or a first-order phase transition with hysteresis through a state with a nonhomogeneous distribution of the principal axes of the quadrupole moment tensor. In 3D magnets, the phase transition between quadrupole states is of the first order with hysteresis. Phase diagrams of the system are constructed.     

煤粉燃烧过程中相转变点的小波识别

相变点的识别对研究煤粉的低温共熔和结焦有重要意义.本文分别对活性炭和加入SiO2的活性炭混合物的DSC曲线求导得到的DDSC曲线进行小波分析,提取DDSC曲线的近似部分和细节部分,得到更多关于相变的定量信息,再结合其TG,DTG曲线进行分析,实现对以上两种样品燃烧过程中相变点的识别;并将该方法运用到煤粉燃烧过程的相变分析中,对相变点后的烧结形态的场发射扫描电镜分析结果表明该方法是可行的.     

KINK AND PHASE TRANS ITION IN THREE-DIMENSIONASLY STEM WITH DOUBLE-WELL POTENTIAL

This paper is a generalization of an article on the twodimensional system, in which the kink and phase transition were treated at a unified level. As in the two-dimensional case,there are two sorts of kink which correspond to domain walls with 90° and 180° transition angle. But unlike the two-dimensional case, there are two types of phase transition, one of which is displacive and the other is of order-disorder.     

The Weinberg-Salam model and early cosmology

The consequences for cosmology of the phase transition in which SU(2)×U(1) symmetry is broken in the Weinberg-Salam model are discussed. The qualitative arguments concerning the effect of the phase transition on the baryon-to-entropy ratio that were recently posed by Witten for the case of a Coleman-Weinberg light Higgs boson are confirmed through exact numerical computations, but some quantitative disagreement is found. The computations are extended to the case in which the light Higgs boson is not of the Coleman-Weinberg type and the nature of the phase transition is discussed. Other cosmological effects are considered.     

Features of sound propagation in the vicinity of “symmetry-dictated” isostructural phase transitions in ferroelastics

Using a proper ferroelastic phase transition of the tension-compression type as an example, it is shown that, if the order parameter characterizing a structural phase transition allows the existence of a third-power invariant in the Landau potential, then there must be “symmetry-dictated” isostructural phase transition lines in the vicinity of the line of that structural phase transition. These isostructural transitions may manifest themselves both directly and as supercritical anomalies in the behavior of elastic moduli and lattice parameters. These effects are discovered and investigated without invoking the perturbation theory in terms of which the second-order phase transitions are commonly described. A hypothesis is made on the basis of the results obtained that the sound velocity anomalies observed in orthoclase and sanidine crystals are due to the super-critical behavior of the lattice parameters in the vicinity of a symmetry-dictated isostructural phase transition in the prototype phase of these crystals.     

Quantitative phase radiography with polychromatic neutrons

We develop and experimentally demonstrate a formalism that allows accurate phase imaging using neutron sources producing highly polychromatic beams. The results of measurements from a rectangular block of silicon compare favorably with theoretical simulations based upon the known composition and geometry of the block. The increased flux and reduced exposure times will permit a simple extension of the technique to tomographic phase imaging.