Positron lifetime as a function of grain size

Published data on positron annihilation lifetime in copper as a function of grain size have been analyzed to show that there is a linear relationship between the internal grain boundary surface area, per unit volume,S _v, and the positron lifetime, τ. The analysis indicates that grain boundaries are important in the trapping of positrons. It is suggested that the slope of the resulting straight line,dS _v/dτ, can be used to determine the annihilation rate of the grain boundaries.     

Atomistic Simulation of Curvature Driven Grain Boundary Migration

We present two dimensional molecular dynamics simulations of grain boundary migration using the half-loop bicrystal geometry in the experiments of Shvindlerman et al. We examine the dependence of steady-state grain boundary migration rate on grain boundary curvature by varying the half-loop width at constant temperature. The results confirm the classical result derived by absolute reaction rate theory that grain boundary velocity is proportional to the curvature. We then measure the grain boundary migration rate for fixed half-loop width at varying temperatures. Analysis of this data establishes an Arrhenius relation between the grain boundary mobility and temperature, allowing us to extract the activation energy for grain boundary migration. Since grain boundaries have an excess volume, curvature driven grain boundary migration increases the density of the system during the simulations. In simulations performed at constant pressure, this leads to vacancy generation during the boundary migration, making the whole migration process jerky.     

Size-dependent grain-growth kinetics observed in nanocrystalline Fe

Measurements of grain growth in nanocrystalline Fe reveal a linear dependence of the grain size on annealing time, contradicting studies in coarser-grained materials, which find a parabolic (or power-law) dependence. When the grain size exceeds approximately 150 nm, a smooth transition from linear to nonlinear growth kinetics occurs, suggesting that the rate-controlling mechanism for grain growth depends on the grain size. The linear-stage growth rate agrees quantitatively with a model in which boundary migration is controlled by the redistribution of excess volume localized in the boundary cores.     

Quantitative phase-field approach for simulating grain growth in anisotropic systems with arbitrary inclination and misorientation dependence

A phase-field approach for quantitative simulations of grain growth in anisotropic systems is introduced, together with a new methodology to derive appropriate model parameters that reproduce given misorientation and inclination dependent grain boundary energy and mobility in the simulations. The proposed model formulation and parameter choice guarantee a constant diffuse interface width and consequently give high controllability of the accuracy in grain growth simulations.     

Effects of positron density and temperature on ion acoustic dressed solitons in an electron–positron–ion plasma

Ion acoustic dressed solitons in a three component plasma consisting of cold ions, hot electrons and positrons are studied. Using reductive perturbation method, Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation and a linear inhomogeneous equation, governing respectively the evolution of first and second order potentials are derived for the system. Renormalization procedure of Kodama and Taniuti is used to obtain nonsecular solutions of these coupled equations. It is found that electron–positron–ion plasma system supports only compressive solitons. For a given amplitude of soliton on increasing the positron concentration, velocity of the KdV as well as dressed soliton increases. For any arbitrary values of soliton's amplitude and positron concentration, velocity of the dressed soliton is found to be larger than that of the KdV soliton. For small amplitude of solitons, the width of KdV as well as dressed soliton decreases as positron concentration increases and width of dressed soliton is found to be larger than that of the KdV soliton. However, for a large value of soliton's amplitude as concentration of positrons increases, instead of decreasing width of dressed soliton starts to increase.     

Three-dimensional finite-element simulation of Zener pinning dynamics

The Zener pinning dynamics of a moving boundary interacting with one or more particles is described by a three-dimensional (3D) finite-element model. The model, based upon a variational formulation for boundary motion by viscous drag, is solved by a finite-element method to obtain the velocity at each node of triangular linear elements on the grain boundary. It is first applied to relatively simple and validated cases, for which analytical and numerical results are available. These cases correspond to an axisymmetrical geometry, in which the grain boundary interacts with a centred particle. A simple analytical pinning criterion is derived from these simulations. The model is then applied to general 3D cases, in which the grain boundary interacts with arbitrarily localized and sized particles. The aim of these 3D simulations is to quantify the influence of the position and the number of particles on the average grain-boundary velocity. It is shown, for example, that the drag effect is enhanced when the particle, or the cluster of particles, is off-centre and that pinning is less efficient with several particles than with a single particle producing the same Zener force.     

Wetting Properties of Grain Boundaries in Solid 4He

We have observed boundaries between hcp 4He crystal grains in equilibrium with liquid 4He. We have found that, when emerging at the liquid-solid interface, a grain boundary makes a groove whose dihedral angle 2theta is nonzero. This measurement shows that grain boundaries are not completely wet by the liquid phase, in agreement with recent Monte Carlo simulations. Depending on the value of theta, the contact line of a grain boundary with a solid wall may be wet by the liquid. In this case, the line is a thin channel with a curved triangular cross section, whose measured width agrees with predictions from a simple model. We discuss these measurements in the context of grain boundary premelting and for a future understanding of the possible supersolidity of solid 4He.     

再结晶和外力场下第二相析出的相场法模拟

在讨论相场法模拟基本方程的基础上,提出了晶界范围宽度的新概念,解释了相场模拟模型中有序化参数梯度范围的物理意义,论证了晶界范围不是晶界原子错排的宽度,而是界面能和界面元素偏析存在范围的观点.建立了一个模拟合金再结晶的相场模型,提出了一系列法则来获得模型中各参数的物理真实值,以AZ31镁合金为例,实现了再结晶过程晶粒长大的真实时间和空间的模拟,通过与试验数据的对比证明了模型的有效性.此外,还列举了相场法模拟Ti-25Al-10Nb合金中O相在外力场作用下析出过程的一系列有趣的新结果,讨论了外力场对第二相析出的重要影响和机理以及模拟结果对合金开发潜在的重要指导意义. 关键词： 相场法 再结晶 析出 外力场     

Temperature dependence of the structure and shear response of a Σ11 asymmetric tilt grain boundary in copper from molecular-dynamics

We investigate the effect of temperature on the structure and shear response of a Σ11 asymmetric tilt grain boundary in a classical embedded-atom model of elemental copper using molecular dynamics simulations. As the temperature is increased the structure of the boundary disorders considerably, but with a boundary width that remains finite at the melting point. The disordering of the boundary structure becomes significant for homologous temperatures above 0.83 (1100?K). As temperature increases above this point the boundary width and roughness increases monotonically. Near the temperature where the boundary starts to disorder we observe a change in the temperature dependence of the ideal shear strength of the boundary, as well as the value of the coupling parameter β, defined as the ratio of the velocity of relative translation of the grains parallel to the boundary plane to that corresponding to the motion of the boundary normal to its plane.     

Short-Circuit Diffusion in Ceramics

This article discusses grain boundary diffusion in ceramics. It gives a brief review of the experimental data available for ionic oxides and the problems of interpretation associated with it. The fundamental differences between grain boundary diffusion in metals and ceramics are noted. Calculations of the segregation of defects and impurities to grain boundaries are discussed together with methods of calculating diffusion coefficients in these boundaries. New results for alumina and chromia are presented. The problem of defining a grain boundary width is discussed with respect to new calculations on nickel oxide.     

Positron reemission brightness enhancement method

Numerical results are presented for a one-dimensional diffusion model for freely diffusing positrons in thin films with an initial exponential positron profile. The results are for two boundary conditions which are experimentally realizable. Since thermalized positrons generally obey this diffusion model, it should be possible to extract the bulk diffusion constant by fitting experimental measurements to the model's predictions. Recently, a scheme has been proposed for the brightness enhancement of slow positron beams. We discuss experimental methods for implementing this scheme and the various problems that may arise.Summer student at Brookhaven National Laboratory, 1980     

A positron injector for the LEPTA accumulator

An injector of monochromatic positrons for the low-energy positron accumulator (LEPTA) is being tested at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. The source of positrons is the radioactive source ²²Na. At the output of the source, positrons are slowed down in a solid target. Frozen neon is used as a moderator. For this purpose, a system of cryocooling of the source and the neon supply line have been assembled. A method of detection of slow positrons has been developed and tuned. The first experiments with the frozen moderator have been performed. A continuous beam of slow positrons with an average energy of 1.2 eV and spectrum width of 1 eV has been obtained.     

Grain Boundary Resistivity and Electrically Induced Grain Boundary Migration (EIGM) in Metallic Bamboo Microstructures

As VLSI conductor line dimensions continue to decrease, electrotransport properties increasingly effect device lifetimes. Grain boundaries are intimately linked to these processes, providing paths of varying diffusivity, and as mobile defects themselves. Haessner et al. [6] make a challenging finding in experiments with thin gold films: based on calorimetric data, in order to account for the velocity of grain boundaries migrating in high electric current densities, the force on the atoms of a grain boundary would have to be two orders of magnitude larger than what the accepted theory for bulk ions predicts. The failure is attributed to the simplicity of the model which does not account for possible variations of the resistivity and effective valance charge that could occur in the vicinity of a grain boundary. In this paper, expressions are developed for the electron wind force on the atoms near grain boundaries, and they are written in terms of thermodynamic variables: the boundary specific volume expansion and specific resistivity. The enhancement of the wind force of the boundary atoms over the bulk wind force is calculated using published data. This model allows for more than an order of magnitude enhancement in gold, and Haessner's observation is rationalized.     

Linear analysis of a three-dimensional rectangular Cerenkov maser with a sheet electron beam

A linear theory of a rectangular Cerenkov maser (RCM) with a sheet electron beam is developed by using the field-match method. Based on the three-dimensional beam-wave interaction model proposed in this paper, a hybrid-mode dispersion equation and its analytical solution are derived for the RCM. Through numerical calculations, the effects of the beam-grating gap, beam thickness, current density, beam voltage and waveguide width on the linear growth rate are analysed. Moreover, the performance difference between the RCM with the closed transverse boundary and that with the upper open boundary is compared. The results show that the closed RCM model can avoid the effect of RF radiation on beam-wave interaction, which is more rational for practical applications.     

考虑界面散射的金属纳米线热导率修正

理论分析了声子和电子输运对Cu, Ag金属纳米线热导率的贡献. 采用镶嵌原子作用势模型描述纳米尺寸下金属原子间的相互作用, 应用平衡分子动力学方法和Green-Kubo函数模拟了金属纳米线的声子热导率; 采用玻尔兹曼输运理论和Wiedemann-Franz定律计算电子热导率; 并通过散射失配模型和Mayadas-Shatzkes模型引入晶界散射的影响. 在此基础上, 考察分析了纳米线尺度和温度的影响. 研究结果表明: Cu, Ag纳米线热导率的变化规律相似; 电子输运对金属纳米线的导热占主导地位, 而声子热导率的贡献也不容忽视; 晶界散射导致热导率减小, 尤其对电子热导率作用显著; 纳米线总热导率随着温度的升高而降低; 随着截面尺寸减小而减小, 但声子热导率所占份额有所增加. 关键词： 纳米线 热导率 表面散射 晶界散射     

Effect of positron density and temperature on the electron acoustic waves in a magnetized dissipative plasma

Zakharov–Kuznetsov–Burgers (ZKB) equation is derived for electron acoustic shock waves in magnetized e–p–i plasma. In the present model, magnetized plasma containing two electron population with kappa distributed positrons has been considered. The propagation characteristics of three dimensional electron acoustic (EA) shock waves have been studied under the influence of magnetic field. Our present plasma model supports the negative potential shocks. Combined action of dissipation (η), superthermality (κ), concentration of positrons (β), temperature ratio of cold electrons to positrons (σ), and magnetic field (ω_c) significantly modify the properties of EA shock waves. The width and amplitude of the shock structures are modified by various physical parameters. It is found that shock wave width decreases with increase in β, η₀, and ω_c whereas it becomes wider for κ and σ. Further, potential of the shock wave decreases as one departs away from superthermal distribution.     

Triple Junction Mobility: A Molecular Dynamics Study

We present a molecular dynamics simulation study of the migration of individual grain boundary triple junctions. The simulation cell was designed to achieve steady state migration. Observations of the triple junction angle and grain boundary profiles confirm that steady state was achieved. The static, equilibrium grain boundary triple junction angles and the dynamic triple junction angles were measured as a function of grain size and grain boundary misorientation. In most cases, the static and dynamic triple junction angles are nearly identical, while substantial deviations were observed for low boundary misorientations. The intrinsic, steady-state triple junction mobilities were extracted from measurements of the rate of change of grain boundary area in simulations with and without triple junctions. The triple junction velocity is found to be inversely proportional to the grain size width. The normalized triple junction mobility exhibits strong variations with boundary misorientation, with strong minima at misorientations corresponding to orientations corresponding to low values of . The triple junctions create substantial drag on grain boundary migration at these low mobility misorientations.     

Grain boundary interdiffusion in the case of concentration-dependent grain boundary diffusion coefficient

The grain boundary diffusion in a binary system which exhibits a grain boundary phase transition is considered in the framework of Fisher's model. The kinetic law of the growth of the grain boundary phase and the distribution of the diffusant near the grain boundary are calculated. The method of determining of the concentration dependence of the grain boundary diffusion coefficient from the experimentally measured penetration profiles of the diffusant along the grain boundaries is suggested. The experimental results on Zn diffusion in Fe(Si) bicrystals, Ni diffusion in Cu bicrystals and grain boundary grooving in Al in the presence of liquid In are discussed in light of the suggested model.     

Radiation,pair creation,and semiclassical QED in crystals

Abstract

The surface potential on pure and doped sodium chloride single crystals fits conventional defect theory, but the potential on grain boundaries in bicrystals is difficult to explain. The electrical width of the grain boundary is also an uncertain quantity that needs further investigation.