The magnetism of rare earth intermetallics RFe4Al8

Hyperfine Interactions - The YFe4Al8 and ErFe4Al8 intermetallics were studied by57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy between 2 K and room temperature. The spectra are consistent with iron occupying 8f...     

Testing monotonicity over graph products

We consider the problem of monotonicity testing over graph products. Monotonicity testing is one of the central problems studied in the field of property testing. We present a testing approach that enables us to use known monotonicity testers for given graphs G₁, G₂, to test monotonicity over their product G₁ × G₂. Such an approach of reducing monotonicity testing over a graph product to monotonicity testing over the original graphs, has been previously used in the special case of monotonicity testing over [n]^d for a limited type of testers; in this article, we show that this approach can be applied to allow modular design of testers in many interesting cases: this approach works whenever the functions are boolean, and also in certain cases for functions with a general range. We demonstrate the usefulness of our results by showing how a careful use of this approach improves the query complexity of known testers. Specifically, based on our results, we provide a new analysis for the known tester for [n]^d which significantly improves its query complexity analysis in the low‐dimensional case. For example, when d = O(1), we reduce the best known query complexity from O(log ²n/ε) to O(log n/ε). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2008     

Absence of magnetism in hcp iron-nickel at 11 K

Synchrotron M?ssbauer spectroscopy (SMS) was performed on an hcp-phase alloy of composition Fe92Ni8 at a pressure of 21 GPa and a temperature of 11 K. Density functional theoretical calculations predict antiferromagnetism in both hcp Fe and hcp Fe-Ni. For hcp Fe, these calculations predict no hyperfine magnetic field, consistent with previous experiments. For hcp Fe-Ni, however, substantial hyperfine magnetic fields are predicted, but these were not observed in the SMS spectra. Two possible explanations are suggested. First, small but significant errors in the generalized gradient approximation density functional may lead to an erroneous prediction of magnetic order or of erroneous hyperfine magnetic fields in antiferromagnetic hcp Fe-Ni. Alternately, quantum fluctuations with periods much shorter than the lifetime of the nuclear excited state would prohibit the detection of moments by SMS.     

Magnetic sublattices in Np2Co17 and Np2Ni17

Rare-earth-based compounds R₂T₁₇ (R=Rare earth; T=Transition metal) have been extensively studied and developed for applications as permanent magnets. The actinide-based analogues, however, are much less documented and we report here about the magnetic properties of Np₂Co₁₇ and Np₂Ni₁₇, as inferred from ²³⁷Np Mössbauer spectroscopy, the best resonance in actinides, and specific heat.     

High Pressure Study of HfNi Crystallographic and Electronic Structure

The crystallographic structure and electronic properties of HfNi were studied as a function of pressure by combining X-ray diffraction results with the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (LAPW) calculations. No phase transition was observed up to a pressure of 35.3 GPa, with a total volume contraction of V/V ₀ = 0.85, a bulk modulus value of B ₀ = 52 ± 3 GPa and B ₀ ^′ = 1.29 ± 0.26. The calculated linear increase in the V _zz value as a function of the pressure induced volume reduction at the hafnium site was attributed mainly to the p–p contribution, while in the nickel site, a non negligible d–d contribution to V _zz is also observed, and attributed to the high 3d-partial DOS near the nickel nucleus. Based on the total electronic DOS at E _Fermi calculated for 0 K (N(E ⁰ _Fermi)), a value of 6.85 and 5.03 (mJ/mol/k²) was calculated for the band contribution (γ _band) to the electronic specific heat coefficient (γ) at a pressure of 0 and 35.3 GPa, respectively.     

Photoyellowing inhibition of bleached high yield pulps using novel water-soluble UV screens

To address the deficiencies of benzophenone UV screens for preventing brightness reversion in high yield mechanical papers, we synthesized a new series of such materials with enhanced water solubility and compatibility with the lignocellulosic substrate. A series of 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenones (DHB) were synthesized containing various Mannich bases at the C3 position of one of its rings. They possess the UV-screening ability of o-hydroxylbenzophenones, and they also contain tertiary nitrogen atoms that may function as radical scavengers. Aqueous solutions of the hydrochloride salt of 3-(dimethylaminomethylene)-2,4-dihydroxylbenzophenone (1), when applied on bleached chemithermomechanical pulp (CTMP) sheets, were significantly more efficient in preventing photoyellowing than the original DHB applied on the sheets from ethanol-water solutions. This confirmed our original hypothesis that increasing the compatibility of the UV screen with the lignocellulosic matrix would increase its efficiency in preventing photoyellowing. Compound 1, however, was found to be somewhat more effective than its hydrochloride salt toward preventing photoyellowing. This was attributed to the synergistic action of the free tertiary aminic center attached on the molecule with its UV-screening ability. To comprehend further the various parameters that influence the photoyellowing inhibition performance of these compounds and DHB with bleached CTMP pulp fibers, a series of handsheets were prepared at different pH. The interactions of the protonated compound 1 with pulp fibers were then evaluated by studying their kinetics of absorption and desorption to and from the fiber matrix. This part of our study found that the adsorption of protonated Mannich derivatives of DHB onto pulp is most likely governed by a cation-exchange mechanism involving the cationic amine group with the sulfonic and carboxylic acid groups located on the surface of the fibers. The pH the paper sheet was made from was also found to affect profoundly the adsorption and retention characteristics of these compounds onto the lignocellulosic matrix.     

Crystallographic and magnetic structure of HAVAR under high-pressure using diamond anvil cell (DAC)

Annealed (H1) and cold-rolled (H2) HAVAR has been studied using high-pressure synchrotron X-ray diffraction. A structural phase transformation was discovered at ～13 GPa at ambient temperature, transforming from m ??3 m (S.G. 225) to P 63/m m c (S.G. 194) symmetry. The transition was not reversible on pressure release. The low-pressure cubic phase was found to be more compressible than the high-pressure hexagonal phase. Conventional Mössbauer and NFS shows that the HAVAR is not magnetic at room temperature and no splitting is observed. The SQUID indicates a huge difference in the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility between the cold Rolled HAVAR compared to the annealed HAVAR.     

XRD, TDPAC and LAPW study of Hf10B2 under high pressure

The crystallographic structure and electronic properties of Hf¹⁰B₂ were studied as a function of pressure by combining X-ray diffraction measurements with full potential linearized augmented plane wave (LAPW) calculations. No phase transition was observed up to a pressure of 30.8 GPa, with a total volume contraction of V/V ₀?=?0.85 and a bulk modulus value of B ₀?=?232 ±13 GPa. The calculated V _zz value at the hafnium site is linearly increasing as a function of the pressure induced volume reduction, while the V _zz value at the boron site stays almost zero. The major contribution to the V _zz value at the hafnium site comes from a p–p contribution next to the probe nucleus, with a relatively large d–d contribution of about 25%. This unusual large d–d contribution arises from the hafnium p–d electrons coupling.     

Projection of two biphoton qutrits onto a maximally entangled state

Bell state measurements, in which two quantum bits are projected onto a maximally entangled state, are an essential component of quantum information science. We propose and experimentally demonstrate the projection of two quantum systems with three states (qutrits) onto a generalized maximally entangled state. Each qutrit is represented by the polarization of a pair of indistinguishable photons-a biphoton. The projection is a joint measurement on both biphotons using standard linear optics elements. This demonstration enables the realization of quantum information protocols with qutrits, such as teleportation and entanglement swapping.     

Micro- and nano-spheres of low melting point metals and alloys,formed by ultrasonic cavitation

Metals and alloys of low melting points (<430 °C) can be melted in hot silicone oil to form two immiscible liquids. Irradiation of the system with ultrasonic energy induces acoustic cavitation in the oil, which disperses the molten metals into microspheres that solidify rapidly upon cooling. This method has been applied to seven pure metals (Ga, In, Sn, Bi, Pb, Zn, Hg) and two eutectic alloys of gold (Au–Ge and Au–Si). The morphology and composition of the resulting microspheres were examined by SEM and EDS. Eutectic Au–Si formed also crystalline Au nanoparticles, which were separated and studied by HRTEM.