Thermoelastic behaviour of hexagonal graphite-like boron nitride

Abstract

A synchrotron X-ray diffraction study on hexagonal graphite-like boron nitride (h-BN) was performed under high pressures and temperatures. From the measured P-V-Trelation for h-BN (with a three-dimensional ordering parameter P₃ = 0.9) in the temperature range from 298 to 1273 K and up to 6.7 GPa, the thermoelastic parameters are derived by fitting a modified high temperature Birch-Murnaghan equation of state. The results are: bulk modulus B₀[GPa] = 27.6-0.0081(T[K]-298) and its pressure derivative B¹ = 10.5 + 0.0016(T [K] - 298). These values are for samples with P₃ = 0.9 and are quite different for samples with different values of the order parameter. This parameter is shown to have a leading role in the determination of the thermoelastic properties of h-BN, which explains and reconciles the differences between previous results.     

Grüneisen parameter for HCP iron at extreme compression

The Thomas–Fermi approximation gives the Grüneisen parameter γ=γ_∞=1/2 for all materials at extreme compression (P→∞ or V→0). After re-analyzing the existing experimental data of volume dependence of Grüneisen parameter γ of hexagonal close-packed (HCP) iron, we find that γ=1/2+a(V/V ₀)^1/3+b(V/V ₀) ⁿ , where a, b and n are constants. Based on this new form of γ, the second Grüneisen parameter q, the Debye temperature θ_D and the shear sound velocity v _s of HCP iron are discussed in the present work. It is found that the zero pressure second Grüneisen parameter q ₀=0.654, which is consistent with the previously determined value of HCP iron for Earth's core physics from Dubrovinsky et al. The calculations for the Debye temperature and the shear sound velocity are also found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.     

SF分子基态及低激发态势能函数与光谱常数的研究

采用含Davidson修正的内收缩多参考组态相互作用的方法和考虑相对论修正, 在价态范围内的最大相关一致基 aug-cc-pV6Z 的条件下, 对SF分子的基态²∏及几个低激发态⁴∑^-, ²∑^-, ²Δ进行了势能扫描计算. 对SF分子的势能曲线进行拟合, 得到了该分子的光谱常数R_e, ω_e, ω_eχ_e, D₀, D_e, B_e和 α_e, 通过比较发现它们与已有的实验结果较为一致. 利用SF分子的势能曲线, 通过求解双原子分子核运动的径向Schrödinger方程得到J=0 时SF分子所计算各电子态的多个振动态. 对于每一振动态, 分别计算了振动能级、惯性转动常数和离心畸变常数. 关键词： SF 势能曲线 光谱常数 分子常数     

Effects of molecular geometry on liquid crystalline phase behaviour: isotropic-nematic transition

The effects of range and geometry of a simple attractive square-well on the phase diagram of hard ellipsoids and hard spherocylinders is systematically studied using a simple van der Waals type theory. The orientational single particle distribution function is approximated using the Onsager trial function. The quantitative errors introduced by this are thought to be considerably smaller than the use of the van der Waals approximation, which has been shown to give qualitatively correct phase diagrams for similar models. The phase diagrams obtained for hard ellipsoids and hard spherocylinders of aspect ratios ranging between 3 and 10 with a variety of square-well attractions are found to fall into three general types. The first type shows liquid-vapour coexistence and an isotropic-nematic transition, which meet at a liquid-vapour-nematic triple point. The second type shows a marked widening of the isotropic-nematic biphasic region which pre-empts the liquid-vapour coexistence. The final phase diagram shows a strong destabilization of the nematic phase with respect to the isotropic, which results in a shift of the phase transition to higher densities and pressures as the temperature is lowered.     

Theoretical study of LiCl− and LiBr− molecular ions

The molecular structures and spectroscopic constants of the ground electronic states of LiCl^? and LiBr^? are investigated with the coupled-cluster method. To improve the accuracy of our calculations, we have employed the extrapolation schemes as well as corrections of the core–valence correlation and scalar relativistic effect. The equilibrium parameters, potential energy curves, force constants, vibrational energy levels and spectroscopic parameters of both molecular ions are derived, in which those of LiBr^? are reported for the first time. The electron affinities and vertical detachment energies of neutral and anionic LiCl and LiBr are also evaluated.     

Effect of magnetic fields on out-of-plane orientations of nematic liquid crystalline polymers under simple shear flow

The effect of magnetic fields on out-of-plane orientations of liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) under simple shear flows is numerically analyzed using the Doi–Hess equation. The evolution equation for the probability distribution function of the LCP molecules is directly solved without any approximation closure. The initial director is parallel to the vorticity direction. Two cases of the magnetic fields are considered (1) the magnetic field parallel to the flow direction, and (2) the magnetic field parallel to the velocity gradient direction. For both cases a log-rolling orientation state is detected at low shear rates. However, the director is quickly aligned along the direction of magnetic fields because of the deformation of molecules. The field affects on the scalar order parameter rather than the major orientation direction for the magnetic field parallel to the flow direction. On the other hand regarding the magnetic field along the vorticity gradient direction, the effect of the magnetic field is more remarkable on the major orientation in comparison with the effect on the scalar order parameter. Also it is be found that the order parameter is increased obviously with increasing the magnetic fields. It is an efficient way to improve the performance of LCP materials.     

FP-LMTO method to calculate the structural,thermodynamic and optoelectronic properties of SixGe1−xC alloys

The structural and electronic properties of the ternary Si_xGe_1?xC alloys have been calculated using the full-potential linear muffin-tin-orbital (FP-LMTO) method based on density functional theory within both local density approximation (LDA) and generalised gradient approximation (GGA). The calculated equilibrium lattice constants and bulk moduli are compared with previous results. The concentration dependence of the electronic band structure and the direct and indirect band gaps are investigated. Using the approach of Zunger and co-workers, the microscopic origins of the band gap bowing are investigated also. Moreover, the refractive index and the optical dielectric constant for Si_xGe_1?xC are studied. The thermodynamic stability of the alloys of interest is investigated by means of the miscibility. This is the first quantitative theoretical prediction to investigate the effective masses, optical and thermodynamic properties for Si_xGe_1?xC alloy, and still awaits experimental confirmations.     

Kinetic study of the thermoluminescence glow curve of natural dolerite

T _m–T _stop and glow curve deconvolution methods have been used to determine the number of glow peaks and kinetic parameters (activation energy E and frequency factor s) associated with the glow peaks in a natural dolerite. The T _m–T _stop method indicated that the glow curve of the mineral is the superposition of at least seven first-order components, whereas deconvolution analysis indicated the presence of at least eight peaks. A possible reason for this discrepancy is given. The kinetic parameters of the eight peaks are presented and used to estimate the lifetimes of the glow peaks. The lifetimes of the peaks at 120.8 and 143 °C are few days. For application in dosimetry and dating, we suggest the use of a preheat temperature around 170 °C to ensure the complete removal of these peaks with small lifetimes.     

Searching and exploring properties of geometric configurations using dynamic software

The decline in enrolments and interest in advanced mathematics studies is of growing concern internationally. Previous research suggests that a range of factors can influence students' academic decisions. The focus of the paper is on one of these potential sources of influence— students' perceptions of the tertiary mathematics learning environment. Data from two large-scale surveys (N = 1883) and from a smaller number of interviews (N = 71) with students enrolled in tertiary mathematics courses at five Australian universities are presented and discussed. Collectively, the survey results and the interview data reveal considerable variations in the quality of the teaching and student support available in different mathematics departments. Students' comments were constructive and offered valuable ideas for improving the existing situation, retaining current students and attracting others to mathematics.