Investigating the vortex melting phenomenon in BSCCO crystals using magneto-optical imaging technique

Using a novel differential magneto-optical imaging technique we investigate the phenomenon of vortex lattice melting in crystals of Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ (BSCCO). The images of melting reveal complex patterns in the formation and evolution of the vortex solid-liquid interface with varying field (H)/temperature (T). We believe that the complex melting patterns are due to a random distribution of material disorder/inhomogeneities across the sample, which create fluctuations in the local melting temperature or field value. To study the fluctuations in the local melting temperature/field, we have constructed maps of the melting landscape T _m(H, r), viz., the melting temperature (T _m) at a given location (r) in the sample at a given field (H). A study of these melting landscapes reveals an unexpected feature: the melting landscape is not fixed, but changes rather dramatically with varying field and temperature along the melting line. It is concluded that the changes in both the scale and shape of the landscape result from the competing contributions of different types of quenched disorder which have opposite effects on the local melting transition.     

Time-Reverse ODESSA. A 1D Exchange Experiment for Rotating Solids with Several Groups of Equivalent Nuclei

A one-dimensional exchange experiment is proposed for magic-angle-spinning samples with several groups of equivalent nuclei undergoing internal exchange, such as pure reorientation, as opposed to mutual exchange. The method, which we term time-reverse ODESSA, is an extension of the recently proposed 1D ODESSA experiment for a single group of exchanging nuclei. When several different groups of spins are present, as is usually the case for carbon-13 in polymers and molecular crystals, the normal ODESSA spectrum yields phase-twisted spectra which are difficult to analyze quantitatively. This problem is solved in the time-reverse ODESSA experiment which yields pure absorption spectra for all families of side bands, as long as only internal exchange need be considered. The experiment consists of the usual three pulse sequence of 2D exchange,P1—t₁—P2—τ_m—P3—t₂(acquisition), except that the evolution time is fixed at half a rotation period,t₁= T_R/2, the mixing time is set to an odd number of half rotation periods, τ_m= (2G− 1)T_R/2, and the acquisition starts att₂= T_R/2 after the detection pulse,P3. The method is demonstrated using the carbon-13 spectra of dimethyl sulfone and an enriched sample of tropolone, and is applied to the study of the π flip of the inner benzene ring of 1,4-diphenoxybenzene. The scope and limitations of the method are discussed.     

Surface morphology of sputter deposited low melting point metallic thin films

This paper describes the development of surface morphology of thin InSn(90/10), In, Sn and Cr films, deposited on unheated glass substrates by d.c. magnetron sputtering, with the film thickness. The experiments show that the surface morphology of metallic films with low melting pointsT _m[InSn(90/10)–150°C, In–156.6°C, Sn–231.8°C] and that with high melting pointT _m [Cr–1875°C] strongly differ. InSn(90/10) and Sn films with thickness greater than about 30 nm and also In films with even lower thickness of about 20 nm have a rough surface, milky color and matt appearance. On the contrary, Cr films of the same thickness have a smooth and shiny surface. It is due to a large difference in normalized temperaturesT/T _m for low-T _m films [Sn–0.59, In–0.70, InSn(90/10) –0.71] and for high-T _m films [Cr–0.14] deposited at low temperatures close to room temperature (RT). High values of the ratioT/T _m>0.5 clearly indicate that just the low melting point materials can crystallize at low temperatures close to RT. A crystallization of lowT _m films results in rough surface, milky color and matt appearance of these films.This work was supported in part by the Grant Agency of Czech Republic under Grant No. 202/93/0508.     

Fluid mechanics revisited

Öttinger's recent nontraditional incorporation of fluctuations into the formulation of the friction matrix appearing in the phenomenological GENERIC theory of nonequilibrium irreversible processes is shown to furnish transport equations for single-component gases and liquids undergoing heat transfer which support the view that revisions to the Navier–Stokes–Fourier (N–S–F) momentum/energy equation set are necessary, as empirically proposed by the author on the basis of an experimentally supported theory of diffuse volume transport. The hypothesis that the conventional N–S–F equations prevail without modification only in the case of “incompressible” fluids, where the density ρ of the fluid is uniform throughout, serves to determine the new phenomenological parameter α^′ appearing in the GENERIC friction matrix. In the case of ideal gases the consequences of this constitutive hypothesis are shown to yield results identical to those derived theoretically by Öttinger on the basis of a “proper” coarse-graining of Boltzmann's kinetic equation. A major consequence of the present work is that the fluid's specific momentum density v is equal to its volume velocity v_v, rather than to its mass velocity v_m, contrary to current views dating back 250 years to Euler. In the case of rarefied gases the proposed modifications are also observed to agree with those resulting from Klimontovich's molecularly based, albeit ad hoc, self-diffusion addendum to Boltzmann's collision integral. Despite the differences in their respective physical models—molecular vs. phenomenological—the role played by Klimontovich's collisional addition to Boltzmann's equation in modifying the N–S–F equations is noted to constitute a molecular counterpart of Öttinger's phenomenological fluctuation addition to the GENERIC friction matrix. Together, these two theories collectively recognize the need to address multiple- rather than single-encounter collisions between a test molecule and its neighbors when formulating physically satisfactory statistical–mechanical theories of irreversible transport processes in gases. Overall, the results of the present work implicitly support the unorthodox view, implicit in the GENERIC scheme, that the translation of Newton's discrete mass-point molecular mechanics into continuum mechanics, the latter as embodied in the Cauchy linear momentum equation of fluid mechanics, cannot be correctly effected independently of the laws of thermodynamics. While Öttinger's modification of GENERIC necessitates fundamental changes in the foundations of fluid mechanics in regard to momentum transport, no basic changes are required in the foundations of linear irreversible thermodynamics (LIT) beyond recognizing the need to add volume to the usual list of extensive physical properties undergoing transport in single-species fluid continua, namely mass, momentum and energy. An alternative, nonGENERICally based approach to LIT, derived from our findings, is outlined at the conclusion of the paper. Finally, our proposed modifications of both Cauchy's linear momentum equation and Newton's rheological constitutive law for fluid-phase continua are noted to be mirrored by counterparts in the literature for solid-phase continua dating back to the classical interdiffusion experiments of Kirkendall and their subsequent interpretation by Darken in terms of diffuse volume transport.     

Glass-forming liquids

When liquids are cooled below their melting temperature T_m, sometimes they do not solidify immediately but remain in supercooled state up to temperatures far below the melting point. Under certain conditions, they can solidify into the form of amorphous solids without crystallizing. A supercooled liquid and a amorphous solid are metastable phases, which are not completely understood in terms of structural arrangement and thermodynamic behaviour. But by far the most interesting feature is the glass transition which is the manifestation of a true thermodynamic transition and a dynamic event since a dramatic dynamic arrest intervenes. A unified theory of supercooled liquids and glass transition does not yet exist and, more specifically, the link between the sharp increase of the relaxation time and the correlation length is a question still largely open. This article presents in the most elementary manner a brief overview of this delicate issue.     

Low-field NMR measurement procedure when SQUID detection is used

In reported low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements using Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) detection, the pre-polarizing magnetic field has been usually oriented orthogonal to the measuring field, B_p  B_m. Melton et al. systematically analyzed the consequences of B_p decay in time after turnoff and showed that this decay should be nonadiabatic. We evaluated our measuring procedure in the light of that analysis, and found good quantitative agreement. It was showed that, when the decay time constant is comparable to the precession period of the magnetization of the sample, M, the optimum procedure is to orient B_p parallel to B_m and to apply a π/2 pulse to flip M, similar as in the case of conventional NMR.     

Vacancy formation energy related to liquid structure in a nonlinear scaled potential theory

Summary A scaling relation is derived for the vacancy formation energyE _v in a family of homologous systems at their melting temperatureT _m, using a pair potential theory which relatesE _v atT _m to liquid structure under the assumption that atomic relaxation round the vacancy can be neglected.

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Riassunto Il lavoro deriva una relazione di scala per l’energiaE _v di formazione di un posto vacante in una famiglia di sistemi omologhi alla loro temperatureT _m di fusione, nell’ambito di una teoria a potenziale di coppia che legaE _v aT _m alla struttura della fase liquida nell’ipotesi che rilassamenti atomici attorno al posto vacante possano essere trascurati.

     

Generation of laser-polarized xenon using fiber-coupled laser-diode arrays narrowed with integrated volume holographic gratings

Volume holographic gratings (VHGs) can be exploited to narrow the spectral output of high-power laser-diode arrays (LDAs) by nearly an order of magnitude, permitting more efficient generation of laser-polarized noble gases for various applications. A 3-fold improvement in ¹²⁹Xe nuclear spin polarization, P_Xe, (compared to a conventional LDA) was achieved with the VHG-LDA’s center wavelength tuned to a wing of the Rb D₁ line. Additionally, an anomalous dependence of P_Xe on the xenon density within the OP cell is reported—including high P_Xe values (>10%) at high xenon partial pressures (1000 torr).     

Isospin breaking in nuclear physics: The Nolen-Schiffer effect

Using the QCD sum rules we calculate the neutron-proton mass difference at zero density as a function of the difference in bare quark massm _d—m _u. We confirm results of Hatsuda, Høgaasen and Prakash that the largest term results from the difference in up and down quark condensates, the explicitC(m _d—m _u) entering with the opposite sign. The quark condensates are then extended to finite density to estimate the Nolen-Schiffer effect. The neutron-proton mass difference is extremely density dependent, going to zero at roughly nuclear matter density.The Ioffe formula for the nucleon mass is interpreted as a derivation, within the QCD sum rule approach, of the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio formula. This clarifies theN _c counting and furthermore provides an alternative interpretation of the Borel mass.     

Further studies of the sensitivities attainable in using three optical functions to calculate n, k and thickness for thin films

All 56 combinations of three optical functions chosen from R_s, R_p, T_s, T_p, Φ_rs, Φ_rp, Φ_ts and Φ_tp have been investigated to discover their regions of sensitivity in n, k and d/λ coordinate space. When the arrays of error parallelepipeds were plotted, single quadrant patterns of high sensitivity were generated by 21 of these combinations, these being the ones containing one photometric and two polarimetric functions; the best combination was R_pΦ_rpΦ_tp which was viable at all angles of incidence and all thicknesses up to d/λ = 0.08. The remaining 35 combinations produced two-lobe patterns which were insensitive at small angles of incidence but improved as the angle of incidence increased and were best at 60°.     

The structure of liquid In - Te and Tl - Te alloys

The atomic structure of liquid In—Te and Tl—Te alloys have been investigated as a function of composition and temperature by means of X-ray diffraction. The following features emerge from this experiment. The structure of liquid In—Te alloys is similar to that of pure Te in the range of composition from 35 to 100 at % Te. This implies that the structure of pure Te plays a significant role in these alloys. At the composition of In₂Te₃, the second peak near the region ofQ=3.2Å^–1 disappears with the increase of temperature. This corresponds to the breakdown of the electron localization based on the measurement of magnetic susceptibility. On the other hand, there is no substantial change in the structure of liquid Tl—Te alloys as the delocalization temperature of the electrons is approached.     

Thermal property of binary tetrahedral semiconductors

In this paper we present an expression relating the lattice thermal expansion coefficient α_L (10⁻⁶ K⁻¹) for the A^IIIB^V and A^IIB^VI semiconductors with the product of ionic charges (Z₁Z₂), melting temperature (T_m) and nearest neighbor distance d (Å). The lattice thermal expansion coefficient of these compounds exhibit a linear relationship when plotted on a log–log scale against the melting temperature (T_m), but fall on different straight lines according to the ionic charge product of the compounds. A good agreement has been found between the experimental and calculated values of the lattice thermal expansion coefficient for A^IIIB^V and A^IIB^VI semiconductors.     

Investigation of phase transition mechanisms of CsH3(SeO3)2 single crystals by observation of nuclear magnetic resonance

The relaxation times of the ¹H and ¹³³Cs nuclei in CsH₃(SeO₃)₂ crystals were investigated using FT NMR. The ¹³³Cs spectrum does change from seven resonance lines to one resonance line near T_m (=350 K). The presence of only one ¹³³Cs signal is due to the liquid state resulting from the melting of the crystal. The variation in the separation of the ¹³³Cs resonance lines with temperature indicates that the EFG at the Cs sites produced by the (SeO₃)²⁻ groups varies with temperature, which in turn means that the atoms neighboring ¹³³Cs are displaced. And, the T₁ for ¹³³Cs is very long and undergoes significant changes near T_m. The change in the temperature dependence of T₁ at T_m for the ¹³³Cs nuclei coincides with the melting temperature. These results are compared with those obtained for MH₃(SeO₃)₂ (M=Na, K, and Cs) crystals.     

Spin-dependent magnetotransport through one or more rings in the presence of the Rashba and Dresselhaus terms of the spin–orbit interaction

Magnetotransport through one or several quasi-one-dimensional rings, in the presence of the Rashba (RSOI) and Dresselhaus (DSOI) terms of the spin–orbit interaction (SOI) and of a magnetic field B, is investigated. The RSOI field and an effective DSOI field are taken as E_R=E_R(sinγ₁e_r+cosγ₁e_z) and E_D=E_D(sinγ₂e_r+cosγ₂e_z), their strengths are denoted by α and β, respectively. The exact one-electron eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are obtained and used to evaluate the transmission as a function of α, β, and of the angles γ₁,γ₂. Because the RSOI term couples the electronic orbit (along the θ direction) with the Pauli matrices σ_z and σ_r while the DSOI term couples it with σ_θ, they affect the electronic spin transport through a ring in distinctly different ways. The resulting transmission shows a considerable structure as a function of the angles γ₁ or γ₂. The same holds for the transmission, versus α or β, with the SOI present only in one arm of the ring and for that through two rings with the same or different radii. Various results of the literature, valid for β=0, are readily recovered. For weak magnetic fields the influence of the Zeeman term on the transmission, assessed by perturbation theory, is negligible.     

Laser thermal response of a finite slab as a function of the laser pulse parameters

This paper deals with the problem of heating a finite slab using laser radiation in relation to the parameters characterizing the laser pulse, namely: q_max(W/m²), the maximum laser power density, t₀ the time interval required to reach q_max and t_d, the pulse time duration. The pulse shape q(t) is suggested in the form: q(t)=βq_max(t/t_d)(1-(t/t_d))exp-B(t-t₀/t_d), where β and B are parameters. Fitting with published experimental pulse [Ready JF. Effects due to absorption of laser radiation. J Appl Phys 1965;36:462–68] is made. Fourier series expansion technique is considered to solve the problem. The critical time required to initiate melting t_m is estimated for four metallic elements and five semiconductors, namely: Al, Cu, Ag, Au (aluminum, copper, silver, and gold), cadmium sulfide, germanium, silicon, alpha beryllium oxide, and silicon carbide. Five pulses with different characteristic parameters are considered.Computations revealed that the thermal response of the targets is highly affected by q_max and t_o, while the pulse time duration is less effective in determining the value of t_m. Moreover, it is revealed that the relation between t_m and the melting temperature for the same laser pulse is nonlinear for the considered targets under the indicated conditions.     

Quantitative Evaluation of the Lactate Signal Loss and Its Spatial Dependence in PRESS Localized H NMR Spectroscopy

Localized ¹H NMR spectroscopy using the 90°−t₁−180°−t₁+t₂−180°−t₂−Acq. PRESS sequence can lead to a signal loss for the lactate doublet compared with signals from uncoupled nuclei which is dependent on the choice of t₁ and t₂. The most striking signal loss of up to 78% of the total signal occurs with the symmetrical PRESS sequence (t₁=t₂) at an echo time of 2/J (290 ms). Calculations have shown that this signal loss is related to the pulse angle distributions produced by the two refocusing pulses which leads to the creation of single quantum polarization transfer (PT) as well as to not directly observable states (NDOS) of the lactate AX₃ spin system: zero- and multiple-quantum coherences, and longitudinal spin orders. In addition, the chemical shift dependent voxel displacement (VOD) leads to further signal loss. By calculating the density operator for various of the echo times TE=n/J, n=1, 2, 3, …, we calculated quantitatively the contributions of these effects to the signal loss as well as their spatial distribution. A maximum signal loss of 75% can be expected from theory for the symmetrical PRESS sequence and TE=2/J for Hamming filtered sinc pulses, whereby 47% are due to the creation of NDOS and up to 28% arise from PT. Taking also the VOD effect into account (2 mT/m slice selection gradients, 20-mm slices) leads to 54% signal loss from NDOS and up to 24% from PT, leading to a maximum signal loss of 78%. Using RE-BURP pulses with their more rectangular pulse angle distributions reduces the maximum signal loss to 44%. Experiments at 1.5 T using a lactate solution demonstrated a maximum lactate signal loss for sinc pulses of 82% (52% NDOS, 30% PT) at TE=290 ms using the symmetrical PRESS sequence. The great signal loss and its spatial distribution is of importance for investigations using a symmetrical PRESS sequence at TE=2/J.     

Dynamics of a quantum particle in a static modulated magnetic field B=(0,0,B/cosh ((x−x 0)/δ))

Quantum motion of a particle with its massm and its chargee>0 in thex–y plane under the influence of the static unidirectionally modulated magnetic fieldB=(0,0,B/cosh²((x–x ₀)/)) is studied in this paper. We solved the single-particle problem exactly. Expressions for eigenenergies and eigenfunctions are found. Several physical phenomena are described: the energy spectrum separates into two parts which we call a discrete part and a continuous part—the discrete part of the spectrum corresponds with those states states which describe localized behavior in the direction of the field modulation; these states are extended in the perpendicular direction; the effective mass of this quasi-one-dimensional motion is found to be negative and dependent on the discrete quantum numbern—the states corresponding to the continuous part of the energy spectrum are found to be of two types: the reflection states, which are extended only in that part of thex–y plane where the effective potential barrier is small, and the states describing overbarrier motion in the whole plane; there exists a minimum of the energy for the states from this part of the spectrum which corresponds with a nonzero momentum of the particle motion in they-direction and almost zero momentum for thex-direction motion; there exists twofold degeneracy for those states from the continuous part of the spectrum for which their energy is lower than a certain value.     

Stages of melting of graphene model in two-dimensional space

Spontaneous melting of a perfect crystalline graphene model in 2D space is studied via molecular dynamics simulation. Model containing 10⁴ atoms interacted via long-range bond-order potential (LCBOP) is heated up from 50 to 8,450 K in order to see evolution of various thermodynamic quantities, structural characteristics and occurrence of various structural defects. We find that spontaneous melting of our graphene model in 2D space exhibits a first-order behaviour of the transition from solid 2D graphene sheet into a ring-like structure 2D liquid. Occurrence and clustering of Stone–Wales defects are the first step of melting process followed by breaking of C–C bonds, occurrence/growth of various types of vacancies and multi-membered rings. Unlike that found for melting of a 2D crystal with an isotropic bonding, these defects do not occur homogeneously throughout the system, they have a tendency to aggregate into a region and liquid phase initiates/grows from this region via tearing-like or crack-propagation-like mechanism. Spontaneous melting point of our graphene model occurs at T_m = 7,750 K. The validity of classical nucleation theory and Berezinsky–Kosterlitz–Thouless–Nelson–Halperin–Young (BKTNHY) one for the spontaneous melting of our graphene model in strictly 2D space is discussed.