Specific features of the strain-induced order-disorder phase transition and its mechanisms

In the present paper, the methods of x-ray diffractometry are used to investigate the influence of plastic deformation on the long-range atomic order in alloys with L1₂, L1₂(M), and L1₂(MM) superlattices. The influence of ordering energy, initial values of the long-range order parameter, and average sizes of antiphase domains on the specific features of the dependence of long-range order parameter on the strain degree is considered. It is demonstrated that the wetted strain-induced order-disorder phase transition occurs with rapid accumulation of antiphase boundaries that play an important role in the destruction of long-range atomic order.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 21–32, September, 2004.     

Metal-insulator and order-disorder phase transitions: Magnetite

A thermodynamic model is presented for a system which exhibits both metal-insulator and order-disorder phase transitions. It is found that transition temperatures could be much lower than those predicted by pure order-disorder -only considerations. A variety of behaviors, including first-order and second-order transitions and critical points is found as the parameters change. The model explains qualitatively the experimental results for magnetite and suggests other possible behaviors for closely related systems.     

Specific features of phase transitions in molecular crystals of diols

A comparative analysis of the phase transitions in molecular crystals of diols with different chain lengths [1,15-pentadecanediol (CH₂)₁₄(OH)₂ and 1,16-hexadecanediol (CH₂)₁₅(OH)₂] has been performed using differential scanning calorimetry. A quantitative analysis of the temperature dependence of the heat capacity within the theory of diffuse (Λ-shaped) first-order phase transitions and the use of the temperature hysteresis have revealed a number of new effects associated with the specific features of the phase transitions in molecular crystals of diols.     

Surface and bulk order-disorder transitions

Interrelation of surface an bulk order-disorder transitions in binary alloys A_xB_1−x is discussed within the framework of the Bragg-Williams approximation, using the fcc (100) and bcc (110) surfaces as an example. In an fcc alloy with a (100) surface, layers parallel to the surface undergo alternately second-order transitions. On the other hand, the bulk fee alloy reveals a first-order transition from the disordered phase to a mixture of the disordered and the AB₃- (or A₃B-) type ordered phases except for X = 0.5. The origin of the bulk first-order transition is discussed by taking into account order-disorder transitions in the surface region. For comparison, the bulk second-order transition in a bcc alloy is also discussed.     

Special features of the deformation-induced order-disorder phase transition and its modeling

Methods of x-ray diffractometry are used to investigate the influence of plastic deformation on the state of the long-range order in alloys with the L1₂, L1₂(M), and L1₂(MM) superstructure. It is demonstrated that the heterogeneous order-disorder phase transition accompanied by intensive accumulation of antiphase boundaries occurs under plastic deformation. The antiphase boundaries play an important role in the destruction of long-range order. Based on the available experimental results, a model of destruction of long-range order is constructed that takes into account the dislocation mechanisms of accumulation of antiphase boundaries under deformation. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 1, pp. 9–24, January, 2006.     

Special features of the order-disorder phase transformation and the role of associated antiphase boundaries

Experimental investigations of the states of long-range order in alloys with the L1₂, L1₂(M), L1₂(MM), and D1_a superlattices are discussed. The results obtained enable basic mechanisms involved in the thermal order-disorder transformation to be found and demonstrate an important role of antiphase boundaries in this transition.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 10, pp. 48–58, October 2004.     

Shear- and vibration-induced order-disorder transitions in granular media

By molecular dynamics simulations we investigate the order-disorder transitions induced in granular media by an applied drive combining vibrations and shear. As the steady state is attained, the pack is found in disordered configurations for comparatively high intensities of the drive; conversely, ordering and packing fractions exceeding the random close packing are found when vibrations and shear are weak. As forcing amplitudes get smaller, we find diverging time scales in the dynamics, as the system enters a jamming region. Under this perspective, our picture supports the intuition that externally applied forcing has, in driven granular media, a role similar to temperature in thermal systems.     

Specific features of the electrical properties upon smeared phase transitions in multicomponent ferropiezoelectric ceramics based on lead zirconate titanate

The reverse dependences of the permittivity ? _r ^′ (E ₌) and the polarization and depolarization currents in multicomponent ferropiezoelectric ceramics based on lead zirconate titanate (PZT) are investigated over a wide range of temperatures. The results obtained make it possible to separate the effects associated with the phase transformation and the effects predominantly caused by the switching of the domain structure in the studied material. The assumption is made that two smeared phase transitions occur in the system under consideration.     

Dynamics and order-disorder transitions in bidisperse diblock copolymer blends

We employ the dynamic extension of self-consistent field theory (DSCFT) to study dynamics and order-disorder transitions (ODT) in AB diblock copolymer binary mixtures of two different monodisperse chain lengths by imitating the dynamic storage modulus G′ corresponding to any given morphology in the oscillatory shear measurements. The different polydispersity index (PDI) is introduced by binary blending AB diblock copolymers with variations in chain lengths and chain number fractions. The simulation results show that the increase of polydispersity in the minority or symmetric block introduces a decrease in the segregation strength at the ODT, (χN)_ODT, whereas the increase of polydispersity in the majority block results in a decrease, then increase and final decrease again in (χN)_ODT. To the best of our knowledge, our DSCFT simulations, for the first time, predict an increase in (χN)_ODT with the PDI in the majority block, which produces the experimental results. The simulations by previous SCFT, which generally speaking, is capable of describing equilibrium morphologies, however, contradict the experimental data. The polydispersity acquired by properly tuning the chain lengths and number fractions of binary diblock copolymer blends should be a convenient and efficient way to control the microphase separation strength at the ODT.     

Generic features of vacuum phase transitions in the early universe

A simple Higgs model is utilized to show the occurrence of a four-phase pattern of vacuum symmetry. As temperature changes, an interplay of spontaneous symmetry breaking and spontaneous symmetry restoration ensues, and resonant field interchange occurs. The generality of models which may contain a sequence of vacuum phase transitions is emphasized. The laboratory for these multi-phase transitions is the early Universe.     

Structural order-disorder transitions and phonon conductivity of partially filled skutterudites

Filled skutterudites are high-performance thermoelectric materials and we show how their phonon conductivity is greatly influenced by the topology of the filler species. We predict (ab initio) the phase diagram of Ba(x)Co4Sb12 and find several stable configurations of Ba ordering over the intrinsic voids. The phonon conductivity predicted using molecular dynamics shows a minimum in the two-phase mixture regime, dominated by significantly reduced long-range acoustic phonon transport.     

Specific features of magnetic phase diagram of an MnSi helimagnet

Magnetization curves of MnSi single crystals have been measured in a range of temperatures T = 5.5–35 K and magnetic field strengths H ≤ 11 kOe for H ∥ [1 1 1], [0 0 1], and [1 1 0]. Special attention has been paid to the temperature interval near T _N = 28.8 K, where MnSi exhibits a transition to the state with a long-period helical magnetic structure. Some new features in the magnetic behavior of MnSi have been found. In particular, in an intermediate temperature region above the transition (28.8 K = T _N ≤ T < 31.5 K), the dM(H)/dH curves exhibit anomalies that are not characteristic of the typical paramagnetic state. It is established that the line of the characteristic field H*(T) of this anomaly is a natural extrapolation of the temperature dependence of the field of the transition from a conical phase to an induced ferromagnetic phase observed at T < T _N. It is concluded that the properties of MnSi in the indicated intermediate region are related to and governed by those of the conical phase (rather than of the A phase). Based on these data, magnetic phase diagrams of MnSi for H ∥ [1 1 1], [0 0 1], and [1 1 0] are plotted and compared to diagrams obtained earlier by other methods.     

Order-order and order-disorder transitions in the quantum spin-1 Ising-Heisenberg models

The critical properties of a quantum spin-1 ferromagnetic multidimensional Ising-Heisenberg model with uniaxial and single-ion anisotropy are examined in the framework of a mean-field approximation. A Landau free energy expansion is performed to identify critical lines and surfaces. The resulting phase diagram, defined in a three-dimensional space characterized by a single-ion anisotropy variable, a parameter measuring the interaction anisotropy and the temperature, is particularly interesting because it exhibits three different phases, one paramagnetic and two ferromagnetic; the latter two differing for the orientation of the dipolar ordering. The presence of both first order reorientation transitions (order-order transitions) and order-disorder transitions makes the present model promising for describing several physical systems.     

Paramagnetic curie temperature in dilute magnetic alloys: Influence of order-disorder transitions

The influence of order-disorder transitions upon the paramagnetic Curie temperature, θ, of alloys with dilute concentrations of Mn has been measured. (Cu_0.83Pd_0.17)_1-cMn_c in the ordered state yields results very similar to those for $\text{Cu}$Mn with one striking exception. The sign of the contribution to θ which is linearly dependent upon Mn concentration is reversed. This sign reversal has serious implications for any model of RKKY coupling between impurities and several possibilities are discussed.