Temperature characteristics of positron trapping at defects in electron-irradiated silicon

Positron-annihilation lifetime and Doppler-broadening measurements are used to investigate defects in silicon irradiated at 373 K with 6 MeV electrons to a dose of 1×l0¹⁹e/cm². In the unirradiated silicon sample (p type) a temperature-independent behaviour of the bulk-lifetime is observed in the temperature interval 110–500 K with a constant value of 220±1 ps. The slight effect observed on the S-parameter evolution is explained taking into account the thermal expansion of the lattice. The lifetime results obtained at 80 K and at 300 K after isochronal annealing as well as the behaviour of the intensity of the second lifetime componentI ₂ during lifetime measurements below the irradiation temperature in the irradiated silicon sample (n type), clearly indicate the temperature dependent characteristics of the positron trapping cross section _t(T) T ⁿ withn= –1.905±0.016. From isochronal annealing results, an annealing stage is observed in which di-vacancies agglomerate into quadri-vacancies. The mean positron lifetime in those quadri-vacancies is 350 ps.A.B.O.S., on leave from University of Kinshasa, Zaïre     

An estimator of the stable tail dependence function based on the empirical beta copula

The replacement of indicator functions by integrated beta kernels in the definition of the empirical tail dependence function is shown to produce a smoothed version of the latter estimator with the same asymptotic distribution but superior finite-sample performance. The link of the new estimator with the empirical beta copula enables a simple but effective resampling scheme.     

Closed Shell Iron(IV) Oxo Complex with an Fe–O Triple Bond: Computational Design,Synthesis, and Reactivity

Iron(IV)-oxo intermediates in nature contain two unpaired electrons in the Fe–O antibonding orbitals, which are thought to contribute to their high reactivity. To challenge this hypothesis, we designed and synthesized closed-shell singlet iron(IV) oxo complex [(quinisox)Fe(O)]⁺ ( 1⁺ ; quinisox-H =(N-(2-(2-isoxazoline-3-yl)phenyl)quinoline-8-carboxamide). We identified the quinisox ligand by DFT computational screening out of over 450 candidates. After the ligand synthesis, we detected 1⁺ in the gas phase and confirmed its spin state by visible and infrared photodissociation spectroscopy (IRPD). The Fe–O stretching frequency in 1⁺ is 960.5 cm⁻¹, consistent with an Fe–O triple bond, which was also confirmed by multireference calculations. The unprecedented bond strength is accompanied by high gas-phase reactivity of 1⁺ in oxygen atom transfer (OAT) and in proton-coupled electron transfer reactions. This challenges the current view of the spin-state driven reactivity of the Fe–O complexes.     

Characterization of defects in a martensitic CuAlNi shape-memory alloy

A water-quenched martensitic CuAlNi shape-memory alloy was investigated by a combination of coincidence Doppler broadening and positron-lifetime spectroscopy, supported by positron-lifetime calculations. We find a high defect concentration in the as-quenched samples. The positron-lifetime calculations suggest that the defects are not only single vacancies but also vacancies associated with dislocations and stacking faults. Annealing in the martensitic phase has no significant influence on the vacancy concentration but results in a different chemical environment around the vacancies. After aging in the austenitic phase the vacancy concentration decreases significantly. PACS 61.72.Ji; 78.70.Bj     

On the smallest poles of Igusa's p-adic zeta functions

Let K be a p-adic field. We explore Igusa's p-adic zeta function, which is associated to a K-analytic function on an open and compact subset of Kⁿ. First we deduce a formula for an important coefficient in the Laurent series of this meromorphic function at a candidate pole. Afterwards we use this formula to determine all values less than −1/2 for n=2 and less than −1 for n=3 which occur as the real part of a pole.     

Determination of the recovery stress under constraint in Fe29Mn7Si5Cr SMA

Ferrous shape memory alloys (SMAs) do not possess a complete shape recovery. Several attempts to improve the shape recovery still fail to achieve 100% recovery. For some applications, however, the recovery stress under constraint might be more important. In this work, a procedure was designed to measure these stresses under constraint in a Fe29MnSiCr SMA. The net recovery stress was defined as the maximal difference between the stresses developed in deformed and an undeformed sample. The calculation of σ_thermal(T) = E(T)α(T)(T-T₀) can replace the measurement of the stress developed in the undeformed sample. The effect of partially free recovery before recovery under constraint is also investigated. It was remarkable that after annealing at 200°C, the net stress did not decrease although about 50% of the shape recovery has already taken place. This allows to use this alloy as a pipe joint, where the diameter of the joint can be larger than the one of the pipes, since the free recovery will hardly lower the recovery stresses under constraint.     

Slow positron studies of anodized aluminium

Porous anodic layers were grown on aluminium alloys under different anodizing conditions. Positron annihilation energy spectra were measured as a function of the positron energy. Ortho-positronium formation in the porous layer was detected. The positron characteristics could be correlated to known parameters of the layers. This demonstrates that the positron annihilation method is a particularly useful technique to characterise the anodic layers.     

Observation of a parity oscillation in the conductance of atomic wires

Using a scanning tunnel microscope or mechanically controllable break junctions atomic contacts for Au, Pt, and Ir are pulled to form chains of atoms. We have recorded traces of conductance during the pulling process and averaged these for a large number of contacts. An oscillatory evolution of conductance is observed during the formation of the monoatomic chain suggesting a dependence on the numbers of atoms forming the chain being even or odd. This behavior is not only observed for the monovalent metal Au, as was predicted, but is also found for the other chain-forming metals, suggesting it to be a universal feature of atomic wires.     

The influence of the source on the resolution of a positron annihilation lifetime spectrometer

A detailed study of the prompt resolution curve of a positron annihilation lifetime spectrometer shows that the isotope used as source has great influence on its shape.     

Positron trapping and detrapping from dislocation-like defects in the pre-vacancy region in iron

The 511 keV positron annihilation lineshape was measured as a function of temperature in pure iron and in carbon doped (50 appm C) iron. After annealing at 900°C, trapping and detrapping from dislocation-like defects in the pre-vacancy region in iron was seen around 650°C. A positron-dislocation binding energy of (0.63±0.03) eV was derived for iron.