Domain wall pinning in polycrystalline perovskite La0.7Sr0.3MnO3

Reversible and irreversible domain wall (DW) motions have been investigated in La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ ceramic samples using frequency-response complex permeability with various amplitudes of AC field. We also examine the effects of temperature in the range from 293 to 368 K and transverse DC magnetic field with a maximum of 4.40×10⁵ A/m on the real part of permeability (μ′). Two relaxations corresponding to reversible wall motions and domain rotations occur in low and high frequency regions, respectively. The irreversible DW displacements can be activated as the amplitude larger than the pinning field of 3 A/m, leading to an increase in μ′. The μ′ obeys a Rayleigh law at the temperature below 343 K or under DC field of less than 4.22×10⁴ A/m. The Rayleigh constant η increases from 5.45×10⁻² to 1.54×10⁻¹ (A/m)⁻¹ as the temperature rises from 293 to 343 K, and η decreases from 5.58×10⁻² to 3.67×10⁻² (A/m)⁻¹ with increasing DC field from 1.99×10³ to 4.22×10⁴ A/m.     

Z-scan determination of the third-order optical nonlinearity of a triphenylmethane dye using 633 nm He–Ne laser

The third-order nonlinear optical response of a triphenylmethane dye (Acid blue 7) was studied using the Z-scan technique with a continuous-wave He–Ne laser radiation at 633 nm. The magnitude and sign of the third-order nonlinear refractive index n₂ of aqueous solution of Acid blue 7 dye were determined; the negative sign indicates a self-defocusing optical nonlinearity in the sample studied. The negative nonlinear refractive index n₂ and nonlinear absorption coefficient β were estimated to be −1.88 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/W and −3.08 × 10⁻³ cm/W, respectively, corresponding to Re(χ⁽³⁾) = −8.35 × 10⁻⁶ esu, and Im(χ⁽³⁾) = −6.88 × 10⁻⁷ esu. The experimental results show that Acid blue 7 dye have potential applications in nonlinear optics.     

Methane mobility in carbon nanotubes

Quasi-elastic neutron scattering has been used to characterize the diffusivity of CH₄ molecules condensed in single-wall carbon nanotubes. It is shown that the two sites of adsorption, previously observed by adsorption volumetry and calorimetry measurements, correspond to a solid-like phase for the more strongly bound site at T<120 K and to a liquid-like component for the more weakly bound site at 70<T<120 K. The diffusion coefficients of the mobile molecules range between 3×10⁻⁷ to 15×10⁻⁷ cm² s⁻¹. The fraction of this viscous liquid diminishes as the temperature is decreased; the adsorbate is fully solidified at 50 K and below.     

Annealing effects on zirconium nitride films

ZrN films were deposited by dc reactive magnetron sputtering on silicon substrates under optimized nitrogen partial pressure of 6×10⁻⁵ mbar. Structural, electrical and optical properties were systematically investigated. Films deposited at room temperature exhibited Schottky structure without any silicide interfacial layer. These films have electrical resistivity of 4.23×10⁻³ Ω cm, which were crystalline in nature, with cubic (1 1 1) orientation. Refractive index and extinction coefficient were found to be 1.95 and 0.43, respectively at a wavelength of 350 nm.

Samples were annealed for 1 h in air at two temperatures, 350 and 550 °C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX) showed alloy penetration pits. Extent of penetration was greater in the films, which were annealed at higher temperature (550 °C). Variation in refractive index was observed in the range of 1.95–1.80 at 350 nm, for the annealed films, with increase in grain size from 7.25 to 11.10 nm. Poly-crystalline nature has been observed with (1 1 1) and (2 0 1) orientations. Resistivity is found to increase from 4.23×10⁻³ to 6.21×10⁻³ Ω cm.     

Picosecond nonlinear optical response of Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 thin films fabricated by pulsed laser deposition

Well-crystallized Ba_0.5Sr_0.5TiO₃ thin films with good surface morphology were prepared on MgO(1 0 0) substrates by pulsed laser deposition technique at a deposition temperature of 800 °C under the oxygen pressure of 2 × 10⁻³ Pa. X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the films. The full width at half maximum of the (0 0 2) Ba_0.5Sr_0.5TiO₃ rocking curve and the root-mean-square surface roughness within the 5 μm × 5 μm area were 0.542° and 0.555 nm, respectively. The nonlinear optical properties of the films were determined by a single beam Z-scan method at a wavelength of 532 nm with laser duration of 55 ps. The results show that Ba_0.5Sr_0.5TiO₃ thin films exhibit a fast third-order nonlinear optical response with the nonlinear refractive index and nonlinear absorption coefficient being n₂ = 5.04 × 10⁻⁶ cm²/kW and β = 3.59 × 10⁻⁶ (m/W), respectively.     

Corrosion monitoring of stainless steel 304L in lithium bromide aqueous solution using transmittance optical detection technique

We report a method based on the power ratio of transmittance for monitoring the corrosion rate in stainless steel 304L immersed in an aqueous solution of lithium bromide at 50 wt%, at 70 °C. The optical transmittance measured in the solution contaminated with corrosion oxides at different times of exposure is related to the physical degradation of the stainless steel samples. Lasers at 532 and 632 nm were utilized for monitoring the accumulation of corrosion oxides dissolved in the lithium bromide solution of the metallic samples for 480 h. The change in the optical power of transmittance was 13 μW/480 h measured at 532 nm and 3.6 μW/480 h at 632 nm. The variation of the power ratio for 532 nm was from 0.01 to 0.24, and for 632 nm, from 0.01×10⁻³ to 15.61×10⁻³; this is proportional to an accumulated corrosion rate of [0.0142×10⁻³–0.552×10⁻³ g/cm²] for an exposure time of 432 h.     

Characterization of optical and nonlinear optical properties of silver nanoparticles prepared by laser ablation in various liquids

The optical, structural, and nonlinear optical properties of silver nanoparticles prepared by laser ablation in various liquids were investigated at 397.5, 532, and 795 nm. The TEM and spectral measurements have shown temporal dynamics of size distribution of Ag nanoparticles in solutions. The thermal-induced self-defocusing dominated in the case of high pulse repetition rate as well as in the case of nanosecond pulses. In the case of low pulse repetition rate, the self-focusing (γ = 3 × 10⁻¹³ cm² W⁻¹) and saturated absorption (β = −1.5 × 10⁻⁹ cm W⁻¹) of picosecond and femtosecond radiation were observed in these colloidal solutions. The nonlinear susceptibility of Ag nanoparticles ablated in water was measured to be 5 × 10⁻⁸ esu (at λ = 397.5 nm).     

Structural and electrical properties of crystalline (1−x)Ta2O5−xTiO2 thin films fabricated by metalorganic decomposition

Polycrystalline (1−x)Ta₂O₅−xTiO₂ thin films were formed on Si by metalorganic decomposition (MOD) and annealed at various temperatures. As-deposited films were in the amorphous state and were completely transformed to crystalline after annealing above 600 °C. During crystallization, a thin interfacial SiO₂ layer was formed at the (1−x)Ta₂O₅−xTiO₂/Si interface. Thin films with 0.92Ta₂O₅–0.08TiO₂ composition exhibited superior insulating properties. The measured dielectric constant and dissipation factor at 1 MHz were 9 and 0.015, respectively, for films annealed at 900 °C. The interface trap density was 2.5×10¹¹ cm⁻² eV⁻¹, and flatband voltage was −0.38 V. A charge storage density of 22.8 fC/μm² was obtained at an applied electric field of 3 MV/cm. The leakage current density was lower than 4×10⁻⁹ A/cm² up to an applied electric field of 6 MV/cm.     

Density, viscosity and ultrasonic velocity studies of aqueous solutions of sodium acetate at different temperatures

The densities and viscosities of aqueous solutions of sodium acetate have been measured at 298.15, 303.15, 308.15 and 313.15 K and at atmospheric pressure. The molality range has been studied between 6.09 × 10^− 2 to 7.314 × 10^− 1 mol kg^− 1. The experimental values of density have been used to calculate apparent molar volume, partial molar volume, solute–solute interaction parameter, and Hepler's constant. The viscosity data have been analyzed with Jone–Dole equation. Furthermore, ultrasonic velocity measurements of aqueous solutions of sodium acetate have been made at 298.15 and 308.15 K and at atmospheric pressure. From experimental values of ultrasonic velocity, apparent molar isentropic compressibility and limiting apparent molar isentropic compressibility have been calculated. All the parameters calculated from density, viscosity, and ultrasonic velocity indicate that the sodium acetate is water structure maker.     

Effects of surface treatments and annealing on carbon-based molecular sieve membranes for gas separation

A new method in preparing carbon-based molecular sieve (CMS) membranes for gas separation has been proposed. Carbon-based films are deposited on porous Al₂O₃ disks using hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) by remote inductively coupled plasma (ICP) chemical vapor deposition (CVD). After treating the film with ion bombardment and subsequent pyrolysis at a high temperature, carbon-based molecule sieve membranes can be obtained, exhibiting a very high H₂/N₂ selectivity around 100 and an extremely high permeance of H₂ around 1.5 × 10⁻⁶ mol m⁻² s⁻¹ Pa⁻¹ at 298 K. The O₂/N₂ selectivity could reach 5.4 with the O₂ permeance of 2 × 10⁻⁷ mol m⁻² s⁻¹ Pa⁻¹ at 423 K.

During surface treatments, HMDSO ions were found to be more effective than CH₄, Ar, O₂ and N₂ ions to improve the selectivity and permeance. Short and optimized surface treatment periods were required for high efficiency. Without pyrolysis, surface treatments alone greatly reduced the H₂ and N₂ permeances and had no effect on the selectivity. Besides, without any surface treatment, pyrolysis alone greatly increased the H₂ and N₂ permeances, but had no improvement on the selectivity, owing to the creation of large pores by desorption of carbon. A combination of surface treatment and pyrolysis is necessary for simultaneously enhancing the permeance and the selectivity of CMS membranes, very different from the conventional pore-plugging mechanism in typical CVD.     

Magnetic properties of carbonado diamonds

Carbonados are porous polycrystalline diamonds of uncertain origin, which are found at locations in Bahia (NE Brazil) and in the Central African Republic. Their combination of extreme hardness and toughness is ideal for drilling and cutting tools. A variety of elements including Fe, Ni, Cu and Ag are associated with the diamonds. Following a suggestion that Mn-doped diamond may be intrinsically ferromagnetic, we have analysed six samples from Brazil which show ferromagnetic moments of up to 3 A m² kg⁻¹, which is reduced by acid leaching. X-ray diffraction on the crushed powder showed a cubic diamond structure, with no secondary phases visible. Scanning electron microscopy shows an inhomogeneous distribution of heavy metals and Mössbauer spectroscopy indicates that iron is present as native iron. We find no evidence from the carbonados for the existence of transition-metal doped ferromagnetic carbon. The intrinsic diamagnetic susceptibility of carbonados is −4.5×10⁻⁹ m³ kg⁻¹, similar to the accepted value for diamond,−5×10⁻⁹ m³ kg⁻¹.     

Study of effects of Mn in CdS nanocrystals

Mn²⁺-doped CdS nanocrystals have been synthesized by adopting an aqueous solution precipitation method. These nanocrystals have been studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), optical absorbance, photoluminescence (PL), DC electrical conductivity measurements and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). The system has been found to be in the hexagonal phase. PL spectra have been studied on most prominent exciton peaks within the wavelength range (586–731 nm). The emission intensity is found to increase on increasing Mn²⁺ ion concentration (0–5%). Electrical conductivity lies within 0.819×10⁻⁶ to 1.69×10⁻⁶ Ω⁻¹ m⁻¹ and the system shows power law dependence for n=3–3.77. The Cd vacancies concentration has been found to decrease on increasing Mn%.     

Low-field negative magnetization and coercive-field magnetization reversal in transition metal chalcogenides; Cr2FeSe4 magnetic structure from neutron diffraction

Low-field negative magnetization, of the order of −10⁻¹ emu/g-Oe, from 4.2 K up to room temperature and higher (350 K), and coercive-field magnetization reversal are both present in Cr_(3−x)Fe_xX₄ for X=S, Se, Te and x=0 to 3, and for Cr₅Te₈ and Cr₇Te₈. For Cr₂FeSe₄ the zero-field-cooled (ZFC) magnetization is negative for 5 Oe and below. To obtain a more detailed knowledge of the magnetic phases involved in the observed magnetization versus temperature M(T) curves, we obtained and studied neutron diffraction (n.d.) scans on the compound Cr₂FeSe₄, taken at 14 temperatures from 4.2 to 300 K. For this same n.d. sample, the temperature for magnetization reversal of value −3×10⁻⁴ emu/g-Oe is 80 K in 40 Oe applied field, then the reversal disappears for 65 Oe applied field. The complex magnetic interactions responsible for this reversal are revealed in the hysteresis curves.     

Limits on neutrino electromagnetic properties — an update

Limits on neutrino electromagnetic properties from laboratory experiments and astrophysical arguments are reviewed with an emphasis on the currently favored range of small neutrino masses. We derive a helioseismological limit on the charge and dipole moment for all flavors of e_ν6×10⁻¹⁴e and μ_ν4×10⁻¹⁰μ_B (Bohr magneton). The most restrictive limits remain those from the plasmon decay in globular-cluster stars of e_ν2×10⁻¹⁴e and μ_ν3×10⁻¹²μ_B.     

The third-order optical nonlinearity of The pyrochlore phase 0.7Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.3PbTiO3 thin film on quartz

The xPb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃–(1−x)PbTiO₃ (PMNT) (with x=0.7) thin film is prepared on quartz substrates prepared using a sol–gel process. The PMNT thin film has a well-crystallized pyrochlore phase structure. The sign and magnitude of both real and imaginary parts of third-order nonlinear susceptibility χ⁽³⁾ of the thin film have been determined by the Z-scan technique performed at 800 nm with a femtosecond laser. The nonlinear refraction index coefficient γ, the nonlinear absorption coefficient β of the thin film are 1.37×10⁻¹² cm²/W and −6.73×10⁻⁸ m/W, respectively. The real and imaginary part of the third-order nonlinear susceptibility of the film are 1.06×10⁻¹⁷ and −1.65×10⁻¹⁹ m²/V², respectively. The results suggested that the nonlinearity is dominated by the refractive for the film.     

Optical constants of Tl4Ga3InSe8 layered single crystals

The optical properties of Tl₄Ga₃InSe₈ layered single crystals have been studied by means of transmission and reflection measurements in the wavelength range of 500–1100 nm. The analysis of the room temperature absorption data revealed the presence of both optical indirect and direct transitions with band gap energies of 1.94 and 2.20 eV, respectively. Transmission measurements carried out in the temperature range of 10–300 K revealed that the rate of change of the indirect band gap with temperature is γ=−4.1×10⁻⁴ eV/K. The absolute zero value of the band gap energy was obtained as E_gi(0)=2.03 eV. The dispersion of the refractive index is discussed in terms of the Wemple–DiDomenico single-effective-oscillator model. The refractive index dispersion parameters: oscillator energy, dispersion energy, oscillator strength and zero-frequency refractive index were found to be 4.10 eV, 23.17 eV, 6.21×10¹³ m⁻² and 2.58, respectively. From X-ray powder diffraction study, the parameters of monoclinic unit cell were determined.     

Transparent conductive oxide thin films of CdTe-doped indium oxide prepared by pulsed-laser deposition

Transparent conducting oxide thin film CdTe-doped indium oxide (In₂O₃) has been grown by pulsed-laser deposition from a target of CdTe powder embedded in metallic indium. The electro-optical and structural properties were investigated as a function of oxygen partial pressure (PO₂) and substrate temperature (T_s). A film deposited at T_s=420 °C and PO₂=4 Pa shows the minimum resistivity 7.5×10⁻⁴ Ω cm, its optical transmission is 83% and the carrier concentration was 8.9×10²⁰ cm³. The optical band gap and the average roughness of that sample were 3.6 eV and 6.45 Å, respectively. X-ray diffraction studies indicated that the films were polycrystalline. This material is a good candidate for being used as transparent conductor in the CdTe–CdS solar cell.     

Promoting effect of low concentration of benzotriazole on the corrosion of Cu10Ni alloy in sulfide polluted salt water

The interaction of benzotriazole (BTAH) with the surface of a corroding copper–nickel alloy in a sulfide polluted salt solution reveals a change in its role from an inhibitor to a promoter of localized corrosion as its concentration changes. A concentration of BTAH ≥5 × 10⁻⁴ M inhibits the corrosion reaction in both the polluted and the unpolluted media. On the other hand, a concentration of 10⁻⁴ M BTAH promotes the localized corrosion of the alloy in the polluted medium while it acts as an inhibitor in the unpolluted salt solution. This finding is substantiated by measurements of mass loss and current transients and examination of the surface by SEM microscopy.     

Electrode contact study for SiGe thin film operated at high temperature

A study on the electrode contact of the sputtered SiGe thin film is reported for application of devices working at high temperature. Surface morphological characterization with optical microscope and AFM (atomic force microscope) together with the electrical characterization by TLM measurements (transmission line method) were performed before and after aging at 500 °C for 24 h using various sputtered multilayer electrodes, Ti/Au/Ti, Ta/Pt/Ta and Ti/Pt/Ti, on 300-nm B-doped SiGe thin film deposited by magnetron sputtering and furnace crystallisation at high temperature. After aging at 500 °C for 24 h, the Ti/Au/Ti multilayer electrodes seriously degraded to be non-ohmic contact, showing rough surface morphology. The Ti/Pt/Ti metal layers showed the lowest specific contact, resistivity before and after aging, 1.46 × 10⁻³ Ω cm² and 1.68 × 10² Ω cm² respectively.     

Z-scan study of third-order optical nonlinearities in bismuth-based glasses

The third-order optical nonlinearity was measured in bismuth-based glasses by Z-scan technique using femto-second laser pulses. Re(χ⁽³⁾) = 4.9 × 10⁻¹¹ esu at 748 nm was obtained in the glass containing 65.5 mol% of Bi₂O₃. Although, the wavelength dependence of Re(χ⁽³⁾) shows resonant effect significantly, relatively small nonlinear absorption coefficient β = 0.8 cm/GW at 769 nm was estimated. Bismuth-based glass exhibits the largest third-order optical nonlinearity in oxide glasses, indicating they are promising materials used for nonlinear optical devices.