Superconductivity in the alkali metals

At ambient pressure there are 29 elemental superconductors in the periodic table, none of which is an alkali metal. The first alkali metal to become superconducting under high pressure is Cs followed years later by Li. Alkali metals are believed to be exemplary free-electron systems. The fact that an alkali metal becomes superconducting at all is surprising and is a result of the fact that under pressure it shows marked deviations from free-electron behaviour where, counterintuitively, bands narrow and gaps widen. For this reason the alkali metals are among the most interesting systems known to study in high-pressure experiments and superconductivity is one of their most fascinating properties.     

An equation of state and non-linear parameter from sound velocity measurements for liquid alkali metals

In the present paper, an equation of state has been obtained in case of liquid alkali metals like Na, K, Rb and Cs from sound velocity measurements. The theory developed gives very good agreement for both the sound velocity and the volume as a function of pressure at different temperatures in these liquid alkali metals. Further, the variation of non-linear parameter,B / A, as a function of pressure and temperature is also studied.     

Proposed lower bound for the shear viscosity to entropy density ratio in some dense liquids

Starting from relativistic quantum field theories, Kovtun et al. (2005) have quite recently proposed a lower bound η/s??/(4πkB), where η is the shear viscosity and s the volume density of entropy for dense liquids. If their proposal can eventually be proved, then this would provide key theoretical underpinning to earlier semiempirical proposals on the relation between a transport coefficient η and a thermodynamic quantity s. Here, we examine largely experimental data on some dense liquids, the insulators nitrogen, water, and ammonia, plus the alkali metals, where the shear viscosity η(T) for the four heaviest alkalis is known to scale onto an ‘almost universal’ curve, following the work of Tankeshwar and March a decade ago. So far, all known results for both insulating and metallic dense liquids correctly exceed the lower bound prediction of Kovtun et al.     

Lattice dynamical study of alkali metals: An unified approach based on CGW model

The phonon dispersion relations for lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium along the principal symmetry directions as well as their lattice specific heats have been deduced using Clark, Gazis and Wallis angular force model. This model which conforms to the translational symmetry of the lattice, reproduces the observed crossover in lithium along [ζ00] direction at ζ = 0·49, without producing any crossovers in other alkali metals. Besides, the theoretical dispersion curves of all alkali metals are in excellent agreement with the corresponding experimental or homologous dispersion relations and theirϑ _D values compare well with the experimental values over a wide temperature range. It is shown that the strength of electron-ion interactions plays a significant role in the success of any unified lattice dynamical study of alkali metals while the three-body interactions of thecgw model do not. The importance of umklapp processes, failure of the earlier models to produce a crossover and the experimentalϑ _D-T curve in lithium as well as the apparent variation in the nature and range of atomic interactions of alkali metals are discussed.     

An equation of state for alkali halide crystals

Nonparametric equations of state are obtained for NaBr, KBr, RbCl, and RbBr crystals with B1 and B2 lattices over a wide pressure range. Binding energy, lattice parameters, and free crystal compressibility are calculated together with phase-transition pressures and volume change on transition from B1 to B2 lattice. Calculated results agree well with experimental data.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 1, pp. 101–105, January. 1976.     

Interaction of alkali metals with the Fe3O4(1 1 1) Surface

The adsorption and interaction of alkali metals (Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs) with the Fe_tet1-terminated Fe₃O₄(1 1 1) surface have been computed at the level of density functional theory. At low coverage, adsorption of alkali metals on site-1 (O_a-O_c-O_d) is energetically more favorable than on site-2 (O_a-O_c-O_d). Li has the strongest adsorption energy, followed by K, Rb, Cs and Na. The computed net charges show that the alkali metals can donate electrons to surface Fe and O atoms in the order of Li < Na < K ≈ Rb ≈ Cs. It is also noted that increasing the coverage does not significantly improve the promoting effect of alkali metals. In addition, alkali metals can move facilely on the Fe₃O₄(1 1 1) surface.     

应用于碱卤化物固体的通用状态方程

提出一种能精确考虑固体结合能的通用状态方程,并且在高压和膨胀区域都具有正确的行为,不会出现物理上不正确的振荡现象.将新方程与文献中的典型方程应用于15种碱金属卤化物和一种碱土金属氧化物,结果表明新方程在给出正确结合能数据的同时,能够很好地拟合实验压缩数据.由Vinet方程和Morse方程定出的参数随数据范围变化很明显,新方程定出的参数随数据范围变化不明显.新方程的通用性优于Vinet方程和Morse方程. 关键词： 固体 通用状态方程 结合能 碱金属卤化物     

Thermodynamic properties of some ionic liquids using a simple equation of state

In this work, we have used a simple equation of state (EoS) to predict the density and other thermodynamic properties such as isobaric expansion coefficient, α_P , isothermal compressibility, κ_T, and internal pressure, P_i, for nine ionic liquids including trihexyl (tetradecyl) phosphonium chloride ([(C₆H₁₃)₃P(C₁₄H₂₉)][Cl]), trihexyl (tetradecyl) phosphonium acetate ([(C₆H₁₃)₃P(C₁₄H₂₉)][Ac]), trihexyl (tetradecyl) phosphonium bis {(trifluoromethyl) sulfonyl} amide ([(C₆H₁₃)₃P(C₁₄H₂₉)][NTf₂]), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis {(trifluoromethyl) sulfonyl} amide ([bmim][NTf₂]), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis {(trifluoromethyl) sulfonyl} amide ([hmim][NTf₂]), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF₄]), 1-butyl-3-octylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([omim][BF₄]), 1-butyl-3-octylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([omim][PF₆]), and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF₆]) at different temperatures and pressures. A wide comparison with experimental and literature data has been made. The results show that this EoS can be used to reproduce and predict different thermodynamic properties of ionic liquids within experimental errors.     

Explicit Gibbs free energy equation of state for solids

Semi-empirical equations of state (EOS) are used for interpolation and extrapolation of experimental data and/or electronic structure calculations. For calculation of phase equilibria, it is preferable to use an explicit Gibbs free energy EOS, that is, to express the Gibbs free energy directly as a function of the pressure and temperature. Existing explicit Gibbs free energy EOS formulations often give unphysical predictions at high pressures. The origins of these problems are internal inconsistencies and uncontrolled extrapolations. A set of conditions is put forward, that should be fulfilled by semi-empirical EOS formulations in order to constrain them to known physical behaviour, e.g., to the Thomas-Fermi and quasi-harmonic models at high pressures. A new alternative integration path is devised that eliminates the need for the problematic extrapolation of the heat capacity to high temperatures at low pressures. Based on these developments, a new explicit Gibbs free energy EOS is formulated which is suitable for computational applications. The new EOS may be fitted to represent the thermophysical properties of solids with a reasonably small number of adjustable parameters. A sample application for MgO is presented.     

Elastic and thermodynamic properties of alkali hydrides XH (X = K,Rb and Cs)

The calculation of the structural, mechanical and thermodynamic properties of the alkali hydrides XH (X?=?K, Rb and Cs) in rock-salt (RS), cesium chloride (CsCl), zinc-blende (ZB) and wurtzite (WZ) phases are done by using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method within the frame work of the density functional theory (DFT) as implemented in the WIEN2K code. The Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof generalized gradient approximation (PBE-GGA) was used for the exchange-correlation potential.The elastic constants and their related properties, as well as the thermodynamic properties, were obtained by using the IRelast package. The calculated elastic constants for the alkali hydrides, with the four structures RS, CsCl, ZB and WZ, at ambient pressure are mechanically stable. The elastic constants and their related properties in the RS structure are changeable with increasing pressure. Elastic constants, bulk modulus, shear modulus (stiffness) and Debye temperatures of these compounds are decreased as going from K to Cs in the periodic table. These compounds in the RS structure are mechanically stronger at ambient conditions.     

高温高压气体的状态方程与热力学性质

本文根据高温高压下气体分子要压缩的观点出发,提出了一个简单实用的高温高压气体状态方程,并用以研究和计算气体在高温高压下的热力学函数与性质.     

Structural properties of low-density liquid alkali metals

The static structure factors of liquid alkali metals have been modelled at temperatures close to their melting points and a few higher temperatures using the reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) method. The positions of 5000 atoms in a box, with full periodicity, were altered until the experimental diffraction data of the structure factor agrees with the associated model structure factor within the errors. The model generated is then analysed. The position of the first peak of the pair distribution function g(r) does not show any significant temperature dependence and the mean bond lengths can be approximated within an interval of 3.6–5.3 Å, 4.5–6.6 Å, 4.8–6.7 Å and 5.1–7.3 Å for Na, K, Rb and Cs respectively. The cosine bond distributions show similar trend with the flattening up of the first peak with increase in temperature. In addition, the coordination numbers of these liquid metals are high due to the presence of non-covalent bonding between them. On the average, we surmise that the coordination number decreases with increase in temperature     

应用于金属固体的四参数通用状态方程

提出一种能精确考虑固体结合能的四参数通用状态方程, 并且在高压和膨胀区域都具有正确的行为, 不会出现物理上不正确的振荡现象. 新方程可以将Vinet方程和普遍化Lennard-Jones (GLJ) 方程作为特例包括于其中. 将新方程与文献中的典型方程应用于32种金属固体, 结果表明新方程在给出正确结合能数据的同时, 能够很好的拟合实验压缩数据. 结果还表明, 多数金属的相互作用具有短程相互作用的性质, 但是结合能较大相互作用的强度较强.     

The temperature dependence of the equation of state at high pressures revisited: a universal model for solids

A general method to include temperature effects into the equation of state (EOS) of solids is discussed. A universal model based on a pseudo-spinodal approach is used to predict the pressure and temperature dependencies of the thermodynamic properties for a variety of solids: n-H₂, Ar, Kr, Xe, NaCl, LiF, NaF, KCl, CsCl, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd, Pt, Au, and Pb. The predictive capabilities of the complete EOS are discussed and compared with available models.     

Properties of the superconducting state in molecular metallic hydrogen under pressure at 347 GPa

The thermodynamic properties of the superconducting state induced in metallic molecular hydrogen under the influence of pressure 347 GPa were determined. In particular, it has been shown that the critical temperature (T_C) changes in the range from 120 to 90 K for μ^?∈〈0.08,0.15〉, where μ^? is the value of the Coulomb pseudopotential. Next, the energy gap near the temperature of zero Kelvin (2Δ(0)) was calculated. It has been stated, that the dimensionless ratio 2Δ(0)/k_BT_C slightly decreases with the increase of μ^? from 3.98 to 3.84. In the last step, the ratio of effective electron mass (m^?_e) to the bare electron mass (m_e)) was determined. It has been proved that m^?_e/m_e takes its highest value equal to 1.96 for T=T_C.     

An isothermal equation of state for solids

An isothermal equation of state (EOS) for solids, recently suggested by the authors in the realistic form, V/V₀=f(P), with relative volume as the dependent and the pressure as the independent variable, was shown to have an advantage for some close-packed materials in that it allows B′_∞=(∂B_s/∂P)_s(P→∞) to be fitted, and this is where the usual standard equations fail. In the present study, our EOS is applied to a number of inorganic as well as organic solids, including alloys, glasses, rubbers and plastics; varying widely in their bonding and structural characteristics, as well as in their bulk modulus values. A very good agreement is observed between the data and fits. The results obtained are compared with those from two well-known equations, expressible in the realistic form, proposed by Murnaghan and Luban. Further, the results are also compared with those from the widely used two- and three-parameter EOSs, expressible in the unrealistic form only, P=f(V/V₀), proposed by Birch—and also with those from the EOS model of Keane in which B′_∞ is explicitly expressed as an equation of state parameter. The results obtained from our model compare well to these EOSs. Our EOS, in general, yields the smallest mean-squared deviations between data and fits. The values of B′_∞calculated from our EOS are compared with those from Keane's model. Further, we have studied the variation of B′_∞with temperature using the experimental isotherms of Mo and W at 10 different temperatures ranging from 100 to 1000 K, and observed that the values of B′_∞ yielded by our model and that of Keane vary, as expected, within a narrow range. Furthermore, our EOS is applied to study the stability of the fit parameters with variation in the pressure ranges with reference to the isothermal compression data on Mo and W—and also to study the variation of isothermal bulk modulus with pressure, with reference to the ultrasonic data on NaCl and noted a very good agreement with experiment. In addition, our model is applied, with B₀ and B′₀ constrained to the theoretical values, to the five theoretical isotherms of MgO at 300, 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 K obtained on the basis of a first principles approach—a good agreement is observed with the predictions, and the values of B′_∞ inferred at different temperatures tend to converge to a constant value.     

Structure of some liquid transition metals using integral equation theory

We present the results of calculations of the structure factorS(q) of some liquid 3d transition metals using the self consistent hybridized mean spherical approximation (HMSA) integral equation. The local pseudopotential used is composed of the empty core model and a part that takes care of s-d mixing through an inverse scattering approach to model the interionic pair potential. The results presented are in very good agreement with experiment for most of the systems investigated near freezing, as well as for the noble metals Cu, Ag and Au, thus, confirming the reliability of the pseudopotential in the present integral equation scheme.     

Three equations of state for solids considering thermal effect

 The Einstein model to consider thermal effect in universal equations of state (UEOS) is modified. It is proposed that the zero-point vibration term should be deleted in a thermal UEOS, and the parameters cannot be directly taken as experimental data at a reference temperature, V_R, B_R, and , but their values at absolute zero temperature, V₀, B₀, and . An approach is proposed to solve V₀, B₀, and from V_R, B_R, and . The approaches are applied to three typical universal EOSs, including the Baonza, mGLJ and Morse EOSs. The numerical results show that the solved values of parameters are almost identical for different EOSs. And the thermo-physical properties predicted through different EOSs are almost identical at zero- and low-pressure conditions, once the same approach and input experimental data are used to solve the parameters. It is concluded that the prediction of thermo-physical properties at zero- and low-pressure conditions cannot be taken as the criteria to judge the applicability of a universal EOS.     

Temperature-dependence of phonons,solid state properties and liquid structure of noble metals: A comparison of pair-potentials

Two groups of effective pair-potentials are studied from the viewpoint of their suitability in being able to describe solid state properties and liquid state structure of noble metals Cu, Ag and Au over a wide temperature range. Since the effective pair-potentials are usually empirical in nature, with parameters obtained by fitting to some reference state properties, the objective of the present study is to determine whether a particular parametrization scheme has any definite advantage over another. We consider Morse potentials with parameters determined by equilibrium lattice parameter, cohesive/sublimation energies as well as bulk modulus values of the solid at low/room temperatures. The other group of potentials considered is Erkoç potentials, where the parameters were determined first by studying dimers and further modified using bulk stability condition and bulk cohesive energy values. The potentials were then used to study the energetics of microclusters containing 3–7 atoms. Quasiharmonic results for the solid obtained at different temperatures and Monte Carlo simulation for the liquid state show that phonon spectra, thermal expansion, temperature-dependence of specific heats and liquid structure are much better described by the latter group. The first group of potentials may have an advantage in reproducing the temperature-dependence of elastic constants and bulk moduli, since they are based on room temperature values of these properties, which show only weak temperature-dependence in general for all metals. It is argued that potentials based on parameters fitted to the properties at a single volume are less versatile in capturing the temperature-dependence of various thermodynamic properties over a wide range. Potentials capable of reproducing the energetics of clusters of different co-ordination numbers and volumes per atom may fare better in this regard.