Tc enhancement!

The equilibrium critical temperature of a superconducting aluminum strip has been determined with three different methods. The results agree to within 1 mK. By applying microwave radiation superconductivity was maintained up to 57 mK above this critical temperature. These data clearly establish the existense of T_c enhancement.     

Deep radiative transitions in AlxGa1−xAs:Sn

Deep radiative transitions in LPE-grown Al_xGa_1?xAs:Sn (0?x?0.28) have been studied at temperatures T between 78 and 297 K using photoluminescence. Each sample has a broad, featureless, saturable spectrum with a peak energy which has an x-dependence similar to that of the L-conduction band minima. The asymmetry of the line shape is similar for all x, and the T dependence of the spectral width fits an electron-lattice interaction type equation. Thermal quenching is observed and studied by measuring the photoluminescent decay time as a function of temperature. A configuration coordinate model is proposed to explain the observed spectral data.     

On the lock-in phase transformation in thiourea

Elastic neutron scattering experiments show clear evidence for the lock-in wave vector being $\text{b}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>x</mtext><mtext>9</mtext>}}$ in thiourea. A commensurate 9b superstructure is stabilized in the 2 K range just above the ferroelectric transition. A global hysteresis on the wave vector variation is also observed.     

Adsorption-desorption properties and surface structural chemistry of chlorine on Cu(111) and Ag(111)

The adsorption, desorption, and structural properties of chlorine adlayers on Cu(111) and Ag(111) have been studied by LEED, Auger, Δ?, and thermal desorption measurements. Ancillary experiments were also carried out on cuprous chloride for purposes of comparison with the Cu(111)-Cl data. Chlorine adsorption is rapid on both metals and follows precursor kinetics, the absolute initial sticking probabilities being ~1.0 (Cu) and ~0.5 (Ag). Δ? results suggest that significant depolarisation of the chemisorption bond occurs at high coverages, the maximum values being + 1.2 eV (Cu) and + 1.8 eV (Ag). On Cu(111), adsorption leads to the formation of a sequence of well-ordered phases; in order of increasing coverage, these are as follows: (√3 × √3)R30°, (12√3 × 12√3)R30°, (4√7 × 4√7)R19.2°, and (6√3 × 6√3)R30°. On Ag(111) (√3 × √3)R30°, and (10 × 10) structures are observed. All six structures are susceptible to a straightforward interpretation in terms of coincidence lattices resulting from the progressive uniform compression of a hexagonal layer of Cl atoms. This interpretation is consistent with all the experimental results, and gives values for the nearest-neighbour ClCl spacing on both Cu(111) and Ag(111) which are in good agreement with other work on other surfaces. Chlorine desorbs exclusively as atoms from both metals with first-order desorption kinetics, and apparent desorption energies of 236 (Cu) and 209 (Ag) kJ mol^?1. These values, which depend on an assumed pre-exponential factor of 10¹³ s^?1, are shown to be inconsistent with the thermochemical constraints on the system necessitated by the complete absence of Cl₂ desorption. Lower limits for the pre-exponential factors are then deduced, and the values are found to be consistent with the differences between the CuCl and AgCl systems.     

Oxygen chemisorption and the carbon monoxide-oxygen interaction on Ru(101)

The adsorption of oxygen and the interaction of carbon monoxide with oxygen on Ru(101) have been studied by LEED, Auger spectroscopy and thermal desorption. Oxygen chemisorbs at 300 K via a precursor state and with an initial sticking probability of ~0.004, the enthalpy of adsorption being ~300 kJ mol^?1. As coverage increases a well ordered ¦11,30¦ phase is formed which at higher coverages undergoes compression along [010] to form a ¦21,50¦ structure, and the surface eventually saturates at 0 ~ $\text{8}\text{9}$. Incorporation of oxygen into the subsurface region of the crystal leads to drastic changes in the surface chemistry of CO. A new high; temperature peak (γ CO, E_d ~ 800 kJ mol^?1) appears in the desorption spectra, in addition to the α and β CO peaks which are characteristic of the clean surface. Coadsorption experiments using ¹⁸O₂ indicate that γ CO is not dissociatively adsorbed, and this species is also shown to be in competition with β CO for a common adsorption site. The unusual temperature dependence of the LEED intensities of the ¦11,30¦-O phase and the nature of α, β, and β CO are discussed. Oxygen does not displace adsorbed CO at 300 K and the converse is also true, neither do any Eley-Rideal or Langmuir-Hinshelwood reactions occur under these conditions. Such processes do occur at higher temperatures, and in particular the reaction CO(g) + O(a) → CO₂(g) appears to occur with much greater collisional efficiency than on Ru(001). The oxidation of CO has been examined under steady state conditions, and the reaction was found to proceed with an apparent activation energy of 39 kJ mol^?. This result rules out the commonly accepted explanation that CO desorption is rate determining, and is compared with the findings of other authors.     

Experimental and theoretical studies of linear polyatomic molecules on surfaces of low symmetry: C2N2- on Pt(110)

The adsorption and surface dissociation of C₂N₂ on Pt(110), and the desorption kinetics of cyanide adlayers have been studied by LEED, Auger spectroscopy, and thermal desorption. The unusual adsorption kinetics which are accompanied by a (1 × 2) → (1 × 1) change in the surface periodicity are discussed in terms of absolute rate theory. The desorption process is modelled using 2D Monte Carlo and 1D analytical methods; these calculations indicate that the adlayer is only partly equilibrated — a conclusion which is confirmed by the results of CO coadsorption experiments. Values are deduced for the desorption parameters which suggest that the CN molecule is multiply bonded to the Pt surface.     

Evaluation of process parameters of ultrasonic treatment of bacterial suspensions in a pilot scale water disinfection system

In this study, several process parameters that may contribute to the efficiency of ultrasound disinfection are examined on a pilot scale water disinfection system that mimics realistic circumstances as encountered in an industrial environment. The main parameters of sonication are: (i) power; (ii) duration of treatment; (iii) volume of the treated sample. The specific energy (E_s) is an indicator of the intensity of the ultrasound treatment because it incorporates the transferred power, the duration of sonication and the treated volume. In this study, the importance of this parameter for the disinfection efficiency was assessed through changes in volume of treated water, water flow rate and electrical power of the ultrasonic reactor. In addition, the influences of the initial bacterial concentration on the disinfection efficiency were examined. The disinfection efficiency of the ultrasonic technique was scored on a homogenous and on a mixed bacterial culture suspended in water with two different types of ultrasonic reactors (Telsonic and Bandelin). This study demonstrates that specific energy, treatment time of water with ultrasound and number of passages through the ultrasonic reactor are crucial influential parameters of ultrasonic disinfection of contaminated water in a pilot scale water disinfection system. The promising results obtained in this study on a pilot scale water disinfection system indicate the possible application of ultrasound technology to reduce bacterial contamination in recirculating process water to an acceptable low level. However, the energy demand of the ultrasound equipment is rather high and therefore it may be advantageous to apply ultrasound in combination with another treatment.