Debye-Waller factor through the glass transition temperature in a-selenium,by incoherent inelastic neutron scattering

We report, in this work, Incoherent Inelastic Neutron Scattering (IINS) measurements in amorphous bulk selenium. Taking into account the low frequency Vibrational Density-of-States(VDOS), we study the modification introduced in the Debye-Waller factor by increasing temperature through the glass transition temperature (T_g). The occurrence, in the vibrational density-of-states, of a ω² dependence in the acoustic region, allowed us to apply the Debye theory from which the variations of the Deybe-Waller factor are calculated in addition. It is shown that the main contribution to it is given by the acoustic region of the vibrational density of states and has a faster increase for temperatures above T_g.     

Boson peak in various random-matrix models

A so-called boson peak in the reduced density g(ω)ω² of vibrational states is one of the most universal properties of amorphous solids (glasses). It quantifies the excess density of states above the Debye value at low frequencies ω. Its nature is not fully understood and, at a first sight, is nonuniversal. It is shown in this work that, under rather general assumptions, the boson peak emerges in a natural way in very dissimilar models of stable random dynamic matrices possessing translational symmetry. This peak can be shifted toward both higher and lower frequencies (down to zero frequency) by varying the parameters of the distribution and the degree of disorder in the system. The frequency ω_b of the boson peak appears to be proportional to the elastic modulus E of the system in all cases under investigation.     

Glass-specific behavior in the damping of acousticlike vibrations

High frequency sound is observed in lithium diborate glass, Li2O-2B2O3, using Brillouin scattering of light and x rays. The sound attenuation exhibits a nontrivial dependence on the wave vector, with a remarkably rapid increase towards a Ioffe-Regel crossover as the frequency approaches the boson peak from below. An analysis of literature results reveals that the boson-peak frequency is closely related with a Ioffe-Regel limit for sound in many glasses. We conjecture that this relation, specific to glassy materials, might be rather common among them.     

On the relation between the Huang-Rhys number and properties of the host lattice

Experimentally observed Huang-Rhys numbers for Co²⁺ impurities in several zincblende type hosts correlate well with our theoretically predicted ω^-3_Da^-12 dependence (ω_D is the Debye frequency and a the lattice constant of the host).     

Anomalous electrical conduction in disordered and non-crystalline metallic conductors

Many disordered and non-crystalline metallic conductors are characterized by both a negative temperature coefficient (α = ?^-1 d?/dT) of resistivity ? over a wide range of temperatures T and a gradual leveling-off of ? at low temperatures. Experimental results will be presented to show that ? varies as -?n T (for T ? the Debye temperature) in contrast to the prediction of existing theories. This anomalous electron transport can be understood in terms of an attractive interaction between conduction electrons and localized excitations arising from a structural indeterminacy in the atomic arrangement. The possibility of using this scattering mechanism to explain the unusual deviation from linear T dependence of resistivity (the bulge effect) in many structurally unstable superconductors such as A-15 Nb₃Ge, V₃Si, bcc Nb and alloys containing the ω-phase is also discussed.     

Acoustic attenuation in glasses and its relation with the boson peak

A theory for the vibrational dynamics in disordered solids [W. Schirmacher, Europhys. Lett. 73, 892 (2006), based on the random spatial variation of the shear modulus, has been applied to determine the wave vector (k) dependence of the Brillouin peak position (Omega(k)) and width (Gamma(k)), as well as the density of vibrational states [g(omega)], in disordered systems. As a result, we give a firm theoretical ground to the ubiquitous k2 dependence of Gamma(k) observed in glasses. Moreover, we derive a quantitative relation between the excess of the density of states (the boson peak) and Gamma(k), two quantities that were not considered related before. The successful comparison of this relation with the outcome of experiments and numerical simulations gives further support to the theory.     

On the low-temperature thermal conductivity of Ni-doped Al2O3

An attempt is made to explain the lower resonance anomaly in the thermal conductivity of Ni-doped Al₂O₃ by using τ_r ～ ω^-4s(ω² ? ω²_r)². An agreement between theory and experiment needs s = 0.71, and this is interpreted to mean that the frequency dependence of impurity-phonon coupling is approximately described by ω^0.71 for phonons having frequencies in close neighbourhood of ω_r.     

Thermal conductivity of bismuth tellurite

This paper reports on the results of investigations of the thermal conductivity along the three crystallographic directions in bismuth tellurite crystals. It is found that bismuth tellurite exhibits a low thermal conductivity inherent in glasses and disordered solid solutions. At temperatures below the Debye temperature, the thermal conductivity coefficients depend on the temperature as \(\sqrt T \), which is characteristic of disordered solid solutions. The temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity of bismuth tellurite is calculated in the framework of the Debye model.     

Short-time vibrational dynamics of metaphosphate glasses

In this paper we present the picosecond vibrational dynamics of a series of binary metaphosphate glasses, namely Na₂O–P₂O₅, MO–P₂O₅ (M=Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg) and Al₂O₃–3P₂O₅ by means of Raman spectroscopy. We studied the vibrational dephasing and vibrational frequency modulation by calculating time correlation functions of vibrational relaxation by fits in the frequency domain. The fitting method used enables one to model the real line profiles intermediate between Lorentzian and Gaussian by an analytical function, which has an analytical counterpart in the time domain. The symmetric stretching modes ν_s(PO₂^?) and ν_s(P–O–P) of the PO₂^? entity of PØ₂O₂^? units and of P–O–P bridges in metaphosphate arrangements have been investigated by Raman spectroscopy and we used them as probes of the dynamics of these glasses. The vibrational time correlation functions of both modes studied are rather adequately interpreted within the assumption of exponential modulation function in the context of Kubo–Rothschield theory and indicate that the system experiences an intermediate dynamical regime that gets only slower with an increase in the ionic radius of the cation-modifier. We found that the vibrational correlation functions of all glasses studied comply with the Rothschild approach assuming that the environmental modulation is described by a stretched exponential decay. The evolution of the dispersion parameter α with increasing ionic radius of the cation indicates the deviation from the model simple liquid indicating the reduction of the coherence decay in the perturbation potential as a result of local short lived aggregates. The results are discussed in the framework of the current phenomenological status of the field.     

Phonons in disordered solids. II. Thermodynamic properties

For model disordered crystals we show that Debye theory yields the correct low-temperature specific heat if the measured low-frequency speed of sound is used in the calculation of the T³ term. This contrasts with the anomalous leading T term and other anomalies of amorphous or glassy materials, sugesting that thermodynamic properties might be useful in distinguishing a disordered-crystal phase from the amorphous or glassy phase. Our results make it plausible that below a threshold amount of disorder all thermodynamic properties are basically those of an elastic crystalline phase, while above this threshold value, they belong to a distinct phase, dependent on nonlinearities for its stability.     

Low frequency Raman spectra of chalcogenide glasses

Low frequency (< 30 cm^-1) Raman scattering lineshapes for the chalcogenide glasses As₂S₃ and As₂Se₃ have been interpreted in terms of a model which explicitly includes acoustic (∼ ω2 density-of-states) and optic (rigid-layer like) vibrational modes.     

Study of two-phonon excitations in superfluid 4He

We explain the second branch of excitations in superfluid ⁴He observed by Cowley and Woods, by accounting for two-phonon contributions to the dynamic structure function, S(k, ω). Our theory gives a good fit with the experimental data in the high energy region for several values of momentum transfer. It is observed that the contribution to S(k, ω) due to two-phonon excitations is of the order of k² as against its k⁴ dependence reported in earlier theories.     

Nonresonance spin-lattice absorption of ultrasound in Ising magnets

A theory of nonresonant acoustic absorption in Ising magnets is constructed by the nonequilibrium statistical operator method. It is assumed that the spins are coupled with the sound via modulation of the Ising exchange integral, and the nonresonant absorption is due to the interaction of the spin system with the thermal vibrations of the lattice. The frequency dependence of the absorption χ″(ω), which has an analytical form different from that of the well-known Debye function, is determined. The temperature dependence of χ″(ω), which is made up of 1) the averages of the vibrational variables and 2) the temperature dependence of the spin correlation functions of the linear Ising model, is analyzed. It is shown that the cross-coupling of the two subsystems (Ising and Zeeman) produces a second absorption peak at low frequencies together with the peak characteristic of the Debye curve. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 516–521 (March 1997)     

Phonons,Diffusons, and the Boson Peak in Two-Dimensional Lattices with Random Bonds

Within the model of stable random matrices possessing translational invariance, a two-dimensional (on a square lattice) disordered oscillatory system with random strongly fluctuating bonds is considered. By a numerical analysis of the dynamic structure factor S(q, ω), it is shown that vibrations with frequencies below the Ioffe-Regel frequency ω_IR are ordinary phonons with a linear dispersion law ω(q) ∝ q and a reciprocal lifetime б ~ q³. Vibrations with frequencies above ω_IR, although being delocalized, cannot be described by plane waves with a definite dispersion law ω(q). They are characterized by a diffusion structure factor with a reciprocal lifetime б ~ q², which is typical of a diffusion process. In the literature, they are often referred to as diffusons. It is shown that, as in the three-dimensional model, the boson peak at the frequency ωb in the reduced density of vibrational states g(ω)/ω is on the order of the frequency ω_IR. It is located in the transition region between phonons and diffusons and is proportional to the Young’s modulus of the lattice, ω _b ≃E.

     

The turbulence of capillary waves on the surface of liquid hydrogen

It is experimentally demonstrated that the surface excitation of liquid hydrogen at a low frequency results in the turbulent mode in a system of capillary waves. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theory of weak wave turbulence. The pair correlation function of the surface deviations is described by the exponential function ω^m. The exponent m decreases in magnitude from m=?3.7±0.3 to ?2.8±0.2 when the pumping at a single resonant frequency changes to broadband noise excitation. Measurements are made of the dependence of the boundary frequency ω_b of the upper edge of the inertial range in which the Kolmogorov spectrum is formed on the wave amplitude η_p at the pumping frequency. It is demonstrated that the obtained data are well described by a function of the form ω_b∝η _p ^4/3 ω _p ^23/9 .     

Low-temperature specific heats of lanthanum and yttrium phosphate glasses

Summary The specific heats of (R₂O₃) _x (P₂O₅)_1−x glasses containing high concentrations of La³⁺ and Y³⁺ ions have been measured between 1.5K and 30K. It is shown that, in addition to the usual Debye contribution, there is an excess specific heat arising from localized vibrational states which has been discussed in terms of two distinct models. The first predicts a maximum in the temperature dependence of the excess specific heat associated with the crossover frequency from phonon to fracton behaviour. The phonon-fracton density of states used to fit the excess specific heat gives rise to model parameters having the same magnitudes as those found previously for other glasses including samarium phosphates. The second model, formulated on the basis of soft vibrations in glasses, predicts a minimum in the excess specific heat, which is also observed. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling Concepts and Complex Fluids, Capanello, Italy, July 4–8, 1994.     

Effect of thermal nonlinearity in high-absorption media on the parameters of the photoacoustic signal detected by the gas microphone method: The fundamental and second harmonics

A perturbation theory is put forward that describes the effect of thermal nonlinearity due to the temperature dependence of the thermophysical parameters of high-absorption systems with a low thermal conductivity on the parameters of the photoacoustic signal detected by the gas microphone technique. It is found that the dependence of the photoacoustic signal amplitude on incident beam intensity I ₀ stems from the dependence of the illuminated surface temperature on I ₀. This dependence is a complicated function instead of being a simple quadratic function as was expected. In the limiting cases (μ_sβ ? 1 and μ_sβ ? 1), this contribution to the photoacoustic signal amplitude is described by simple expressions, which are convenient for determining the thermal coefficients of the thermophysical parameters of the medium. It is found that the thermal nonlinearity significantly affects the photoacoustic signal phase in the frequency region meeting the condition μ_sβ ～ 1. In the above limiting cases, its effect is insignificant. A theory of generation of the photoacoustic signal second harmonic is proposed. The second harmonic is related to the temperature dependence of the thermophysical parameters of the buffer gas and sample. It is shown that the amplitude of the signal is a quadratic function of the incident beam intensity and varies with its frequency as ω^?3/2 for μ_sβ ? 1 and ω^?5/2 for μ_sβ ? 1.     

Structure and electrophysical properties of a lead iron niobate-based amorphous material

An amorphous material based on lead iron niobate (PFN) is studied by X-ray diffraction and dielectric and Mössbauer measurements over a wide temperature range. The atomic structure of amorphous PFN is found to be substantially disordered, which suppresses the transitions into ordered states in the electric and magnetic dipole subsystems that are inherent in crystalline PFN. The dependence of electrical conductivity σ on field frequency ω is shown to correspond to the law σ ～ ω ^s , where parameter s decreases linearly with increasing temperature. This law corresponds to a hopping carrier transfer mechanism that is correlated due to the Coulomb interaction.     

Dispersive viscosity coefficient of nuclear matter

By application of Landau's kinetic theory of a Fermi liquid in non-equilibrium, we have deduced a dispersive, momentum and frequency dependent shear viscosity coefficient η(q, ω) for symmetric nuclear matter. The resulting formula for η is found to be complicated for arbitrary q, ω; however, simple interpretation is possible in the limit of small momentum q → 0. In the static limit, ω → 0, η reduces to the well known kinetic formula for the hydrodynamic viscosity coefficient η_o, while in the high frequency (zero sound) limit, ωτ ? 1, η(ω) is found proportional to (?iω)^? indicating elastic behaviour of nuclear matter. As is discussed shortly, application of these results to finite nuclei unfortunately does not seem justified.     

On the theory of Boson peak in glasses

A universal mechanism of the Boson peak formation in glasses is proposed. The mechanism is based on the concept of interacting quasilocal oscillators. Even in the case of weak interaction, the low-frequency spectrum becomes unstable. Due to anharmonicity, the system undergoes a transition into a new stable configuration. As a result, below some characteristic frequency ω_c, proportional to the typical strength of interaction, the renormalized density of states becomes a universal function of ω with a Boson peak feature; i.e., the reduced density of states g(ω)/ω² has a maximum at a frequency ω_b?ω_c. We derive an analytic form of this function.