Some properties of an “aesthetic” field theory

We continue our study of the Lorentz-invariant field theory based on the equations _jk;l ⁱ =0 and g_ij;k=0. To first order in a perturbation expansion, we find _jk;l ⁱ =0 reduces to the wave equation. In orders higher than the first, we find that _jk;l ⁱ =0 cannot be linearized. We also find that the simple wave-type equation g^ij2g/xⁱx^j=0 is contained in the theory when an appropriate choice is made for the parameters at the origin point.     

Transient and steady state creep of Al-4.5 wt.% Mg during phase transformation

Transient and steady state creep of Al-4.5 wt. % Mg alloy was studied under various constant stresses ranging from 91 MPa to 117 MPa in the temperature range from 473 K to 553 K. The results of creep characteristics have shown two main deformation temperature regions (below 493 K and above 513 K as well as a transient region between these temperatures). Peak values of transient creep parametersB andn were obtained at 493 K. The transient creep parameterB was related to the steady state creep rate _st through the exponent which was found to range from 0.85 to 0.5. The stress exponentm of the steady state creep has been found to be minimum at the steady state strain peaks, which is characteristic of dislocation climb along the grain boundaries. Microstructural analysis confirmed that the above mentioned mechanism took place in the dissolution region of-phase.     

Lattice dynamics of the superconducting Bi2Sr2Ca(Cu,Sn)2O8−y

Phonon anomaly was observed below 140 K for the absorption area (lnA) and the isomer shift () plotted against the temperature (T) in the¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer study of the Bi₂Sr₂Ca(Cu_0.995Sn_0.005)₂O_8–y superconductor (glass-ceramic,T _c(on)=86 K), which was prepared by heat treatment of the glassy sample. The anomaly suggests that the softening (quenching) of the lattice vibration causes the superconducting transition, as was observed in several YBa₂(Cu, Sn)₃O_7–y superconductors. Fitting of the theoretical curve for the normal phonon of the combined Debye and Einstein model to the lnA versusT and versusT plots yielded _D and _E of 240 and 140 K, respectively. These results suggest that the probe (Sn⁴⁺) was located at the interstitial site close to the Cu site, and the softening of the Cu site vibration could be detected before the superconducting transition took place. Disordered structure seems to be favorable for the detection of phonon anomaly in the Bi system.     

Phase segregation dynamics in particle systems with long range interactions. I. Macroscopic limits

We present and discuss the derivation of a nonlinear nonlocal integrodifferential equation for the macroscopic time evolution of the conserved order parameter (r, t) of a binary alloy undergoing phase segregation. Our model is ad-dimensional lattice gas evolving via Kawasaki exchange with respect to the Gibbs measure for a Hamiltonian which includes both short-range (local) and long-range (nonlocal) interactions. The nonlocal part is given by a pair potential ^dJ(|x–y|), >0 x and y in ^d, in the limit 0. The macroscopic evolution is observed on the spatial scale ^–1 and time scale ^–2, i.e., the density (r, t) is the empirical average of the occupation numbers over a small macroscopic volume element centered atr=x. A rigorous derivation is presented in the case in which there is no local interaction. In a subsequent paper (Part II) we discuss the phase segregation phenomena in the model. In particular we argue that the phase boundary evolutions, arising as sharp interface limits of the family of equations derived in this paper, are the same as the ones obtained from the corresponding limits for the Cahn-Hilliard equation.     

On the attenuation factor of time-dependent magnetic hyperfine interactions within the frame of the RPA model

Approximate analytical expressions for the attenuation factor of the time-dependent magnetic hyperfine interaction have been calculated assuming the hypothesis of the random phase approximation. The Fourier transforms of those expressions were also computed. Different relaxation regimes were considered ranging/ _L over 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1/1 ratios.     

An interaction of nucleons at an energy between 1014 and 1015 eV/nucleon

A jet (0+14) with primary energy {3.3 _{– 2.2} ^{+ 5.3} }. 10¹⁴ eV/nucl. was observed in the I-stack. An interaction with very small multiplicity (n _s =3or 4)found in the axis of the jet is probably caused by another nucleon from the -primary. 10 particles of the narrow cone have opening angles of some 10^–4 radians, 4 particles in the diffuse cone are emitted at angles of a few 10^–2 radians. A pronounced anisotropy exists in the C. M. system. The coefficient of inelasticity 0.1was calculated directly extrapolating the measured energies of secondaries. The interpretation of the whole event is in good agreement with Heisenberg's theory of multiple production of particles.     

Magnon-phonon coupling in antiferromagnetic FeCl2 ⋅ 2H2O

The temperature dependence of the Raman spectra of FeCl₂ 2H₂O demonstrate the existence of level crossing and repulsion between a one-magnon and a nearby phonon excitation. The magnon-phonon coupling constant derived from a two oscillator decoupling technique shows the same variation with temperature as the measured sublattice magnetization. In addition the temperature dependences of the energies and of the half-widths of the uncoupled magnon and phonon states are derived and discussed.A project of the Sonderforschungsbereich 65 Festkörperspektroskopie Darmstadt-Frankfurt, supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

On the absence of intermediate phases in the two-dimensional Coulomb gas

For a simple, continuum two-dimensional Coulomb gas (with soft cutoff), Gallavotti and Nicoló [J. Stat. Phys. 38:133–156 (1985)] have proved the existence of finite coefficients in the Mayer activity expansion up to order 2n below a series of temperature thresholdsT _n =T [1+(2n–1)^–1] (n=1, 2,...). With this in mind they conjectured that an infinite sequence of intermediate, multipole phases appears between the exponentially screened plasma phase aboveT ₁ and the full, unscreened Kosterilitz-Thouless phase belowT T _KT. We demonstrate that Debye-Hückel-Bjerrum theory, as recently investigated ford=2 dimensions, provides a natural and quite probably correct explanation of the pattern of finite Mayer coefficients while indicating the totalabsence of any intermediate phases at nonzero density ; only the KT phase extends to >0.     

Some Remarks on a Nongeometrical Interpretation of Gravity and the Flatness Problem

In a nongeometrical interpretation of gravity,the metric g(x) = + (x)is interpreted as an effective metric, whereas(x) is interpreted as afundamental gravitational field, propagated in spacetime which isactually flat. Some advantages and disadvantages of suchan interpretation are discussed. The main advantage isa natural resolution of the flatness problem.     

Nondispersive sample arrangement in neutron interferometry

The visibility of the interference at high order decreases due to the longitudinal coherence length of the beam which is determined by its wavelength spread. Much higher interference orders can be observed if the surfaces of the phase shifting sample is placed parallel to the reflecting planes of the interferometer crystal. In this case the contrast of the interference pattern is determined by the transverse coherence length which is orders of magnitudes larger than the longitudinal coherence length. Moreover the pattern is nearly independent from the wavelength spread of the beam. This feature has been shown by experiments performed at the high flux reactor at Grenoble. This method permits higher intensities and therefore higher accuracies in neutron interferometer measurements. An accuracy of _/ =2.2.10^–5 has been achieved for the phase shift of a nondispersively cut Bismuth sample whose coherent scattering length has been determined asb _c =8.521(4) fm.     

Interfaces in the Potts model II: Antonov's rule and rigidity of the order disorder interface

Within the ferromagneticq-state Potts model we discuss the wetting of the interface between two ordered phasesa andb by the disordered phasef at the transition temperature. In two or more dimensions and forq large we establish the validity of the Antonov's rule, _ab = _af + _fb , where denotes the surface tension between the considered phases. We also prove that at this temperature, in three or more dimensions the interface between any ordered phase and the disordered one is rigid.Laboratoire Propre du CNRS: LP 7061     

Electronic structure and excitonic effects in Sm1−x R x S prior to collapse

X-ray photoemission spectra of Sm_1–x R _x S (R=Ca, Y, Gd and Th) in the range prior to collapse (black phase) exhibit only divalent samarium components. The 4f final state energy is found independent of lattice constant, but sensitive to 5d band screening. The fully screened final state 4f ⁵5d,⁶ H, which is also involved in the interconfiguration fluctuation process, is found to reach the Fermi energy in a gradual insulator to metal transition. The results are interpreted to show that the modifications of the band structure which give rise to the phase transition are confined to the 5d level.     

Relationship between field shift and phase constant change in two-dimensional three-layered dielectric or hollow waveguides due to uniform bends

It is shown theoretically that the field shift x and phase constant change in two-dimensional three-layered dielectric or hollow waveguides bent uniformly with large bending radiusR are related by x = 2R/ ₀, where ₀ is the axial phase constant. The relationship predicts that the field distributions of the TE₀ or TM₀ mode shift toward the outward direction of bending, whereas those of other TE _n or TM _n (n=1,2,...) modes shift inward in a hollow waveguide. Characteristic features in dielectric waveguides are also described.     

Lattice dynamics of sapphire (Al2O3)

Using inelastic neutron scattering we have determined all the dispersion branches of the ₁, ₂ and ₃ representations along the three-fold axis as well as the 2 times 15 branches of ₁ and ₂ symmetry along the -A-direction plus some branches along the -D-direction. The experimental data are analyzed using various rigid ion, polarizable ion and shell models. The shell models give a very satisfactory account of the dispersion curves as well as the scattering intensities. Special attention is given to the investigation of dielectric constants and equilibrium conditions.     

Phases of the number-theoretic spin chain

We present numerical and analytical evidence for a first-order phase transition of the ferromagnetic spin chain with partition functionZ()=(–1)/() at the inverse temperature _cr=2.     

High-temperature resistivity of Ti1-X Al X alloys

We have measured the high-temperature resistivities of dilute Ti_1-x Al _x alloys withx0.135 up to 1100 K (2.6 _D , where _D is the Debye temperature). We observe that possesses a strong downward deviation from a linear temperature-dependence at high temperatures (several hundred degrees Kelvin). Eventually, saturates to a constant. This non-Bloch-Grüneisen-like behavior is compared with the predictions of current theories.     

Low-temperature transport properties of UCu5

The electrical resistivity (T) and the thermal conductivity (T) have been measured for UCu₅ in the temperature range between 0.02 and 20 K. Two distinct anomalies in (T) are due to previously established phase transitions at approximately 15 and 1 K, respectively. They indicate considerable changes in the electronic structure of this compound, implying sizeable truncations of the Fermi surface with decreasing temperature at both transitions. In almost the entire covered temperature range the thermal conductivity is dominated by phonon contributions. Its temperature dependence is fairly well reproduced by a calculation considering phonon scattering by electrons and by point defects. At very low temperatures, asT approaches 0 K, the Wiedemann-Franz law _e L ₀ T, where _e is the electronic part of (T) andL ₀ is the Lorenz number, is almost perfectly fulfilled.     

Electronic phase separation in La-Cuprates

The mechanisms driving the phase separation in high-T _c La cuprates is studied by magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity measurements. The experiments are performed under different thermal treatment. Three temperature ranges can be resolved characteristic for different physical processes: At 150T170K a space limited diffusion of superparamagnetic clusters (single hole clusters) occurs leading to the formation of a small but rather tight percolative subphase which at highT _c values becomes superconducting. Above 180 K the cluster motion becomes unrestricted in space and a more extended subphase is built up, however, with lowerT _c values. Above 230 K oxygen diffusion starts leading to an unexpected destruction of the conducting/superconducting phase.     

Anisotropy of the low temperature resistivity of hexagonal single crystalline spin glass systems

The impurity contribution to the resistivity in zero field (T) of dilute hexagonal single crystals of ZnMn, CdMn and MgMn has been studied in the mK range on samples cut parallel () and perpendicular () to thec-axis, using a SQUID technique for the measurements. Typical spin glass behavior is found in (T) as well as (T) for all alloys, with Kondo like logarithmic increases at higher temperatures and maxima atT _m at lower temperatures, indicating the influence of impurity interactions. The differences in the corresponding isotropic resistivity _poly(T) between the three systems can qualitatively be understood within the framework of a theoretical model by Larsen, describing (T) as a function of universal quantitiesT/T _K and _RKKY/T _K , where _RKKY is the RKKY-interaction strength andT _K the Kondo temperature. With respect to the two lattice directions studied, the behavior of (T and (T is anisotropic in the Kondo regime as well as in the range where ordering becomes important. While the anisotropy in the Kondo slope can be understood by an anisotropic unitarity limit, the understanding of the anisotropy in region where impurity interactions are important remains problematic.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. S. Methfessel on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Persistent Random Walks in Stationary Environment

We study the behavior of persistent random walks (RW) on the integers in a random environment. A complete characterization of the almost sure limit behavior of these processes, including the law of large numbers, is obtained. This is done in a general situation where the environmental sequence of random variables is stationary and ergodic. Szász and Tóth obtained a central limit theorem when the ratio /, of right- and left-transpassing probabilities satisfies /a<1 a.s. (for a given constant a). We consider the case where / has wider fluctuations; we shall observe that an unusual situation arises: the RW may converge a.s. to infinity even with zero drift. Then, we obtain nonclassical limiting distributions for the RW. Proofs are based on the introduction of suitable branching processes in order to count the steps performed by the RW.