Nanotechnology studies of layered fluoride superionic conductors

A computer simulation by a molecular dynamics method at constant volume has been performed on a model material that is composed of accumulating two different fluoride conductors: ⋯BaF₂–CaF₂–BaF₂–CaF₂⋯. The average value of CaF₂ and BaF₂ for the lattice constant of the new layered material is prepared to hold its mechanical strength. The CaF₂ region is compressed and the BaF₂ region is stretched along the c axis (z axis) in the thermal equilibrium state. It is obtained that the diffusion coefficient and ionic conductivity of F− ions in the layered fluoride conductors increases with decreasing periods, more specifically with the number of interfaces. The layer depth dependence on transport coefficients approximately coincides with the experiment.     

Electrical characterization of the [N(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript>][N(C<Subscript>2</Subscript>H<Subscript>5</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript>]ZnCl<Subscript>4</Subscript> compound

The [N(CH₃)₄][N(C₂H₅)₄]ZnCl₄ compound has been synthesized by a solution-based chemical method. The X-ray diffraction study at room temperature revealed an orthorhombic system with P2₁2₁2 space group. The complex impedance has been investigated in the temperature and frequency ranges 420–520 K and 200 Hz–5 MHz, respectively. The grain interior and grain boundary contribution to the electrical response in the material have been identified. Dielectric data were analyzed using the complex electrical modulus M ^* for the sample at various temperature. The modulus plots can be characterized by full width at half height or in terms of a non-exponential decay function ϕ(t) = exp[(−t/τ) ^β ]. The detailed conductivity study indicated that the electrical conduction in the material is a thermally activated process. The variation of the AC conductivity with frequency at different temperatures obeys the Almond and West universal law.     

The IR modulator utilizing light scattering effect with ferroelectric liquid crystal for gas analysis

Experimental infrared modulator elements have been fabricated utilizing the transient light scattering effect of ferroelectric liquid crystal with asymmetric waveform voltage drive. The new elements perform 80% modulation degrees at the 632.8nm. We have also achieved 30% modulation degrees in the 4 to 5µ m region where the strongest CO₂ absorption bands exist. A new type of analyzer which monitors ambient air quality has been developed. This analyzer uses non-dispersive infrared absorption method and composes of a double-beam, a single detector and a pair of liquid crystal light modulator as the IR chopper. The detection has achieved 10ppm noise equivalent concentration.     

Frustrated structure of an anticlinic-like smectic-C phase

We present a polarising optical microscopy study of the low-temperature anticlinic-like tilted mesophase of the liquid-crystal compound octylphenyl-2-chloro-4-(p-cyano-benzoyloxy) (DB₈Cl). This mesophase has been described as a bilayer smectic structure in which the molecules within each layer are organised in an anticlinic way. The optical textures observed in samples with planar orientation show a double stripe pattern, with the lines aligned parallel to the rubbing direction, characteristic of a double periodic modulation of the refractive index of the material. The long-period modulation is temperature dependent and disappears for thin sample cells (< 5μm). The short-period modulation is nearly independent of the thickness of the cells. The experimental results are analysed in terms of a model which considers that there is a special distribution of the principal optical axis which may be in or out of the polariser-analyser plane. The observed periodic variation of the principal optical axis could not be interpreted in terms of the original structure proposed for this phase. DB₈Cl presents a structure formed by dimers that can be viewed as flexible bent-core-like molecules, showing similarities with phases found in banana-like systems, but exhibiting a much more complex structure.     

Perturbative analysis of cross-talk of two pieces of photorefractive phase gratings stored in one point by angle multiplexing

In this paper, we have applied a perturbative expanding method to the hopping model, and studied the cross-talk between two pieces of phase gratings stored in one point of photorefractive material by angle multiplexing. The coupling equations and their steady solution have been derived. It has been found that the fundamental harmonic of the first grating is coupled with the second-order harmonic of the second grating and the second-order harmonic of the first gating is coupled with the fundamental harmonic of the second grating. The positions of maximums of the plots about the normalised fundamental and second-order harmonics of the space-charge field vs. the normalised grating vector (k/k₀) are at k/k₀=1.414 and k/k₀=1.01 for Δk/k₀=0, respectively, which are at k/k₀=1 and for the case of storing single grating in one point. This kind of deviation has been confirmed by our two-wave coupling experiment with Ce:KNSBN crystal. At the same time, we have found the degree of deviation of the second-order harmonic of the space-charge field strongly depends on the difference of normalised grating vector (k/k₀)between the two pieces of gratings, but that of fundamental harmonic weakly depends on it. In addition, it has been found that the degrees of deviation of both harmonics do not depend on the modulation depth.     

On the microstructure of the charge density wave observed in La1− x Ca x MnO3

We have used low temperature (90?K) transmission electron microscopy to investigate the ‘charge ordering’ modulation in the mixed valent manganite, La_{1? x} Ca _x MnO₃. It has been stated that Mn³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ ions order at low temperature to produce a structural modulation composed of supercells whose size is an integer multiple of the unmodulated unit cell. Here, we use convergent beam electron diffraction to show that the periodicity of the modulation need not be an integer multiple of the undistorted cell, even on the smallest scales. We therefore suggest that this modulation is a charge density wave with a uniform periodicity. We show that the modulation wavevector lies close to the a* axis of the crystal but need not be exactly collinear. A typical grain of size 0.5?µm in La_0.48Ca_0.52MnO₃ had a wavevector which varied on a scale of tens of nanometres with an average of ?q??=?0.450a * and a standard deviation Δq?=?0.004?a* in its magnitude and Δθ?=?0.56° in its direction at 90?K. The magnitude of the wavevector in this composition fell by 20% as the temperature was increased from 90?K to room temperature. This change occurred by nucleation and growth. Although weak, the modulation was still present at room temperature, some 30?K above the ‘charge ordering temperature’.     

GeI2 monolayer: a model thermoelectric material from 300 to 600 K

ABSTRACT

In this work, the electronic structure, optical properties and thermoelectric properties of the GeI₂ monolayer are calculated by the first principles with the Boltzmann transport equation. The monolayer is calculated as an indirect band gap semiconductor with an indirect band gap of a value 2.19?eV. This GeI₂ monolayer is good for absorbing low-energy photons, and it is insensitive to high-energy photons. The material is stable at temperatures up to 600?K, so we calculated the thermal conductivity (K_L), Seebeck coefficient (S), power factor (PF) and thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of the GeI₂ monolayer at various carrier concentrations from 300 to 600?K. Due to the lower group velocity, the GeI₂ monolayer has a lower thermal conductivity of 0.48?W/m?K at 300K. In P-type doping, the power factor can up to 0.11?mW/m?K², and its ZT value is 4.04 at 600?K of the GeI₂ monolayer, indicating that the GeI₂ monolayer is a potential thermoelectric material.     

Influence of Strouhal number on pulsating methane–air coflow jet diffusion flames

Four periodically time-varying methane–air laminar coflow jet diffusion flames, each forced by pulsating the fuel jet's exit velocity U _j sinusoidally with a different modulation frequency w _j and with a 50% amplitude variation, have been computed. Combustion of methane has been modeled by using a chemical mechanism with 15 species and 42 reactions, and the solution of the unsteady Navier–Stokes equations has been obtained numerically by using a modified vorticity-velocity formulation in the limit of low Mach number. The effect of w _j on temperature and chemistry has been studied in detail. Three different regimes are found depending on the flame's Strouhal number S = aw _j /U _j , with a denoting the fuel jet radius. For small Strouhal number (S = 0.1), the modulation introduces a perturbation that travels very far downstream, and certain variables oscillate at the frequency imposed by the fuel jet modulation. As the Strouhal number grows, the nondimensional frequency approaches the natural frequency of oscillation of the flickering flame (S ? 0.2). A coupling with the pulsation frequency enhances the effect of the imposed modulation and a vigorous pinch-off is observed for S = 0.25 and S = 0.5. Larger values of S confine the oscillation to the jet's near-exit region, and the effects of the pulsation are reduced to small wiggles in the temperature and concentration values. Temperature and species mass fractions change appreciably near the jet centerline, where variations of over 2 % for the temperature and 15 % and 40 % for the CO and OH mass fractions, respectively, are found. Transverse to the jet movement, however, the variations almost disappear at radial distances on the order of the fuel jet radius, indicating a fast damping of the oscillation in the spanwise direction.     

“Zeeman modulation spectroscopy” with spin-flip Raman laser

With a spin-flip Raman laser paramagnetic species can be observed selectively at high sensitivity by magnetic-field modulation. Zeeman modulation spectroscopy (ZMS) at zero external field has been tested with the² II _3/2 Q-branch of nitric oxide. The sensitivity of this new technique is high enough to observe the “hot” bandv=2←1 of nictric oxide at room temperature. Therefore this method should be suitable for free radical investigations.     

α-Al_2O_3介孔材料导热特性的模拟

本文针对α-Al2O3有序介孔材料的导热特性开展分子动力学模拟分析.提出了一种保证电中性的孔道结构构造方法;采用逆非平衡分子动力学方法(muller-plathe法),选取Matsui势为作用势,模拟计算了Al2O3介孔晶体材料在不同环境温度下沿孔道轴向方向的热导率;并借助全面实验分析法,设计了模拟条件,以考察孔径和孔隙率对热导率的影响.模拟结果显示:介孔Al2O3热导率先随温度的升高呈上升趋势,并在200—400 K之间取得极值;而后在400—1400 K范围内,热导率随温度的升高几乎呈线性下降.孔隙率一定时,随孔径增大,介孔Al2O3材料比表面积降低,界面散射的抑制作用减弱,使材料热导率略有上升;孔径一定时,随孔隙率上升,孔道壁面声子数减少,材料热导率下降明显;相对于孔径因素,材料孔隙率对声子导热影响更大.     

Spin-wave resonance in multilayer films (one-dimensional magnon crystals). Identification rules

The characteristic modification of the spectrum of the exchange spin waves has been revealed in ferromagnet/ferromagnet multilayer films with a thickness of N(d ₁ + d ₂) by the spin-wave resonance method. This modification is due to the first bandgap at the wavenumber k _b = π/(d ₁ + d ₂) of a magnon crystal, which is formed by one-dimensional modulation of the magnetization. It has been shown that the transformation of the multilayer film with thermal annealing to the film of a single-phase alloy is accompanied by the disappearance of this modification of the spectrum.     

Fluorescence Quenching Studies of 1,3‐Diphenyl Benzene

Fluorescence quenching of 1,3‐diphenyl benzene (m‐terphenyl) by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) at steady state in different solvents, namely n‐hexane, n‐heptane, cyclohexane, toluene, benzene acetonitrile, 1,4‐dioxane, and with a transient method in benzene has been done at room temperature to understand the role of quenching mechanisms. The Stern–Volmer plot was found to be linear for all the solvents studied. The probability of quenching per encounter p was determined in all the solvents and was found to be less than unity. Further, from the studies of rate parameters and lifetime measurements in benzene at different temperatures (30–60°C), it was shown that the phenomenon of quenching is generally governed by the well‐known Stern–Volmer (S‐V) plot. The activation energy E _a (E′_a) of quenching was determined using literature values of activation energy of diffusion E _d, and it was found to be greater than E _d, which confirms the fact that the quenching mechanism is not solely due to material diffusion but there is also contribution from activation energy.     

Line shape analysis for Zeeman modulation spectroscopy

The technique of Zeeman modulation spectroscopy has been applied to the nitric oxide fundamental in order to compare the observed line shapes and intensities with theory. A predicted change of the sign of theg _J factor at high rotational states has been verified experimentally. The tunable laser source used in the experiment was a spin-flip Raman laser.     

Modulated magnetic structure in quasi-one-dimensional clinopyroxene NaFeGe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript>

The magnetic structure of the NaFeGe₂O₆ monoclinic compound has been experimentally investigated using the elastic scattering of neutrons. At a temperature of 1.6 K, an incommensurate magnetic structure has been observed in the form of an antiferromagnetic helix formed by a pairs of the spins of the Fe³⁺ ions with helical modulation in the ac plane of the crystal lattice. The wave vector of the magnetic structure has been determined and its temperature behavior has been studied. The analysis of the temperature dependences of the specific heat and susceptibility, as well as the isotherms of the field dependence of the magnetization, has revealed the existence of not only the order-disorder magnetic phase transition at the point T _N = 13 K, but also an additional magnetic phase transition at the point T _c = 11.5 K, which is assumingly an orientation phase transition.     

Er$lt;sup$gt;3+$lt;/sup$gt;：YAlO$lt;sub$gt;3$lt;/sub$gt;晶体中Λ型四能级系统的量子相干左手性

用相干量子干涉和电磁感应透明（Electromagnetically induced transparency,EIT） 效应在Er³⁺：YAlO₃晶体中计算得到了Thommen,Mandel和Kastel对原子气提出的Λ型四能级系统的负折射率.计算结果得到的负折射率对应的频带宽度约为1 MHz,比先前报道的10³ Hz量级要宽得多.通常而言对应于折射/吸收比|Re［n］/lm［n］|≈1,而计算所得结果是|Re［n］/lm［n］|为4.6,表明吸收被EIT效应很好地抑制.Im［n］出现的负值可能与Er³⁺的⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2跃迁的受激发射有关.由此可知,稀土离子掺杂材料具有丰富的能级和各种不同的电磁跃迁,也是电磁感应负折射率材料中出色的应用材料的候选者. 关键词： 稀土掺杂晶体 量子干涉 电磁感应透明 负折射率材料     

Short range order in high-T c superconductors investigated by electron diffraction

Observation of modulated diffuse streaks in electron diffraction patterns of Tl₂Ba₂CuO₆ and YBa₂Cu₃O_7– ceramic superconductors is reported. These streaks are parallel with the c-axis and the intensity modulation has a period in reciprocal space which is larger than the c*-parameter. This behaviour is interpreted in terms of disordered sublattices. It is shown that the fine structure results from short range order in two successive homologous layers forming one bi-layer and that the intensity modulation in the diffuse streaks therefore allows one to determine which of the bi-layers in the material exhibit disorder.Research assistant of the National Fund for Scientific Research, Belgium     

Optimization of direct modulation rate for circular microlasers by adjusting mode Q factor

Semiconductor microcircular lasers have been investigated as potential light sources for photonic integrated circuits and optical interconnections for more than two decades. However, the direct modulation bandwidths of the circular microlasers remain a challenge, especially when being compared with other microlasers, such as photonic crystal lasers. In this paper, microcircular lasers connected to an output waveguide are investigated for high‐speed direct modulation with optimized mode Q factors. Small signal modulation with a resonance frequency of f_R = 12.5 GHz is realized for a AlGaInAs/InP circular microlaser with a radius of 10 µm at 290 K. Furthermore, clear eye diagrams are observed at 12.5 Gbit/s for a 15‐µm radius circular microlaser with f_R = 6.9 GHz.     

Spatial filtering using poled polymer etalon light modulators

Spatial filtering using poled polymer light modulators is studied. The use of a resonator structure is proposed to minimize the driving voltage. Side-chain polymer poly-orange tom-1 isophoronedisocyanate is used as a material. The measured electro-optic coefficient r ₃₃ is 23 pm/V at the wavelength of 633 nm. Spatial filtering of the input images are realized with 30 V applied voltage.     

Phase transition in Pb5Al3F19

A study of the PbF₂-AlF₃ system has resulted in a new material Pb₅Al₃F₁₉ with a tetragonal structure at room temperature closely related to that of Pb₅Cr₃F₁₉. A phase transition in Pb₅Al₃F₁₉ has been detected by means of X-ray diffraction, calorimetric and dielectric measurements. The coexistence of the high and low-temperature Pb₅Al₃F₁₉ phases over the range 270 to 300 K and the abrupt 0.7% increase in the a-axis and 1.5% decrease in the c-axis, on heating through the phase transition, are characteristic of a first-order phase change. The increase in symmetry from point group 4 below to point group 4/m above the phase transition is consistent with a ferroelectric to paraelectric transition, as found previously in Pb₅Cr₃F₁₉.     

Magnetic and electric studies of a new Co(II) perovskite-like material

Structural phase transitions in the perovskite-like material [(CH₄)₁₂(NH₃)₂]CoCl₄ have been observed using differential thermal scanning. The material shows an order-disorder transition at T ₁ = 396 ± 5 K with entropy, (ΔS ₁) = 12.8 J/mole/K. A "chain melting" transition with a major endothermic peak at T ₂ = 337 ± 3 K and a minor one at T ′ = 316 ± 2 K, has total entropy ΔS = 28 J/mole/K. At low temperatures, the transitions at T ₃ = 288 ± 3 K and at T ₄ = 188 ± 3 K, have entropies of ΔS ₃ = 14.4 J/mole/K and ΔS ₄ = 2.6 J/mole/K respectively. AC magnetic susceptibility in the temperature range 78-290 K, in a magnetic field of 160 A/m and at a frequency of 320 Hz is presented. The results indicate changes in symmetry at 188 K. Dielectric permittivity has been studied as a function of temperature in the range 300-430 K and frequency range (60 Hz-100 kHz), confirming the observed transitions. The dielectric permittivity reflects rotational and conformational transition for the material. The variation of the real part of the conductivity with temperature is thermally activated with different activation energies in the range of ionic hopping. The temperature dependence of the dc conductivity and that of the ions hopping rate have indicated that the concentration of mobile ions is independent of temperature. The dependence of the conductivity on frequency follows the universal power law, <artwork name="GPHT31040ei1"> in the temperature range 340 K<T<390 K. Values 0 <s ₁ <1 dominate at low frequency and correspond to translational hopping motion and values 1<s ₂<2 dominate at high frequencies and correspond to well localized hopping and/or reorientational motion. For T > 396 K, the AC conductivity was fitted to <artwork name="GPHT31040ei2"> with 0<s<1. Comparison with the corresponding Cu-containing material is discussed.