A structural study of Y2O3---Al2O3---SiO2 glass employing partial RDFs obtained by anomalous scattering

A structural study of Y₂O₃---Al₂O₃---SiO₂ glass has been performed using the partial radial distribution function (RDF) obtained by anomalous scattering at the Y absorption edge. The partial RDF consists of contributions from atom pairs, such as Y---O, Y---M(Si, Al) and Y---Y, related to the local arrangements around the Y atoms, while those of all of the constituent atom-pairs are convoluted into the ordinary RDF. The M(Si, Al)---O, Y---O, M---M, Y---M, and Y---Y interatomic distances and the coordination numbers around the Al and Y atoms are obtained from the two RDFs. The local structures around the Al and Y atoms in the glass are discussed.     

Theory of X-Ray diffuse scattering from a crystal with pores in the form of triangular prisms

A theory of X-ray diffuse scattering (XRDS) from a crystal with pores in the form of triangular prisms has been developed. Solutions for the static Debye-Waller factor, intrinsic correlation function, and the correlation volume (which characterizes the XRDS angular distribution in reciprocal space) are obtained within this model. A numerical simulation of reciprocal space maps of X-ray diffuse scattering is performed. The influence of pore-size fluctuations on the formation of XRDS intensity isolines is demonstrated.     

Small-angle X-ray scattering studies of a-Si1−xGex: H alloys

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is used to study a-Si:H, a-Ge:H, and a-Si_1−xGe_x: H alloys prepared by plasma-enhanced CVD methods. These amorphous semiconductors show various types of scattering characteristics related to their composition, deposition method, and deposition conditions. For poor quality alloys at low scattering vectors, h, the scattering curve shows an I(h)h⁻² dependence, because of the fractal nature of the inhomogeneities present. Also, a-Ge:H shows these features. Therefore, it is concluded that the inhomogeneities arise principally from clustering of Ge atoms.     

Electrical resistivity of amorphous Fe90-xCoxZr10 alloys: Weak localization and spin fluctuation effects

The results of electrical resistivity () measurements performed on amorphous Fe_90-xCo_xZr₁₀ alloys in the temperature range 77 K to 350 K are presented and discussed in the light of existing theoretical models. Besides unambiguously identifying weak localization, electron-phonon scattering, electron-magnon scattering and scattering of conduction electrons from spin fluctuations as main mechanisms governing the temperature dependence of within the temperature range covered in this work, the present results demonstrate that inelastic scattering of electrons from longitudinal phonons provides the most effective dephasing mechanism. Weak localization effects basically account for the negative temperature coefficient of observed for temperatures below the minimum and the inelastic scattering time or dephasing time increases rapidly with Co concentration. Spin fluctuation effects show up clearly for temperatures in the vicinity of the Curie temperature through a contribution to (T) which varies with temperature as . That spin fluctuations get suppressed by Co substitution is strongly indicated by a continuous decline of the coefficient of the term with increasing Co concentration.     

Statistical theory of dynamical diffraction of Mössbauer radiation

The statistical theory of dynamical diffraction of Mössbauer radiation providing the account for the mutual influence of coherent and elastic diffusion scattering has been considered. The sources of elastic and inelastic diffuse scattering for a hematite crystal are analyzed. The theoretical results are compared with the resonance nuclear scattering data obtained in the experiments performed at the Photon Factory in Tsukuba, Japan.     

The polycarbosilane-to-SixC1−x conversion studied by inelastic neutron scattering and infrared absorption

Polycarbosilane (PC) is a precursor which is converted to Si_xC_1−x fibers by pyrolysis in an inert gas atmosphere. The changes in the atomic vibrational spectrum during the conversion process from PC to Si_xC_1−x have been examined by means of inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and infrared absorption (IR). The existence of transverse-optical(TO)- and longitudinal-optical(LO)-like phonon modes due to amorphous SiC clusters was established in the original and pyrolyzed PC by INS measurements. After pyrolyzing at 700–800°C, these modes appear distinctly around 730 and 930 cm⁻¹, respectively, in the INS spectra. Pyrolysis at 1000°C makes these TO- and LO-like phonon modes sharper.     

Intensity and Anisotropy of the Dynamic Ligh Scattering in Nematic Liquid Crystals

The dependence on voltage of the correlation length of turbulence in the dynamic scattering mode in an ac excited nematic liquid crystal has been measured and discussed. The influence of a high frequency stabilizing field has been shown. The total anisotropy of the turbulent medium has been demonstrated, using measurements on a wedge-shaped sample.     

A comparison of the medium-range order in glassy GeS2 and Sb2S3

In amorphous (a-) GeS₂ there is only one medium-range order (MRO) dependent X-ray scattering feature, i.e., the ‘first sharp diffraction peak’ (FSDP), whereas in a-Sb₂S₃ all scattering features in the interval 1–2.4 Å⁻¹ are in fact MRO-dependent. The basic element of MRO in a-GeS₂ is a part of a chain of corner bound tetrahedra extracted from the high temperature form of c-GeS₂; in a-Sb₂S₃ it is a part of a crystalline-like (Sb₂S₃)_n band. Ordering of parts of these bands is characterized by a greater interband separation than in the crystal. By contrast with a-GeS₂, the MRO-dependent medium-angle scattering features in a-Sb₂S₃ are less sensitive to fluctuations of the interband (intercluster) ordering distance.     

Phonon behavior and interfacial stress in the strained (InAs)m/(GaAs)n ultrathin superlattices

Phonon behavior in the strained (InAs)_m/(GaAs)_n ultrathin superlattices grown by molecular beam epitaxy has been investigated by means of Raman scattering spectroscopy. The phonon frequency in the GaAs layers shifts toward lower energy with increasing InAs layer thickness under fixed thickness of GaAs layers. The frequency in the InAs layers does not change significantly, as deduced from the behavior of the InAs-like mode in In_xGa_1−xAs alloys. These observed results are phenomenologically discussed on the basis of the combined effect of phonon confinement in the respective layer and stress at the alternating interfaces. Furthermore, a large softening of the phonon confined in the GaAs layers decreases the frequency gap, resulting in traveling of the optical phonons confined in both layers. The strain at the interfaces is estimated by an empirical method, i.e., by comparing the frequency in the superlattice and in the alloy of equivalent composition. In the In_xGa_1−xAs alloys, the composition dependence of the mode frequency is considered as being due to the local strain. The group III elements are considered to be in the local strain state from an extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis.     

X-ray diffraction analysis of multilayer porous InP(001) structure

Multilayer structures composed of four porous bilayers have been studied by high-resolution X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation, and the photoluminescence of these structures has been investigated at 4 K. The porous structures were formed by anodic oxidation of InP(001) substrates in aqueous HCl solution. The structural parameters of the sublayers were varied by changing the electrochemical etching mode (potentiostatic/galvanostatic). The X-ray scattering intensity maps near the InP 004 reflection are obtained. A model for scattering from such systems is proposed based on the statistical dynamical diffraction theory. Theoretical scattering maps have been fitted to the experimental ones. It is shown that a mathematical analysis of the scattering intensity maps makes it possible to determine the structural parameters of sublayers. The reconstructed parameters (thickness, strain, and porosity of sublayers and the shape and arrangement of pores) are in satisfactory agreement with the scanning electron microscopy data.     

Origin of Rayleigh scattering and anomaly of elastic properties in vitreous and molten GeO2

Vitreous (v) and molten (m) GeO₂ were studied by Rayleigh and Mandel’shtam–Brillouin scattering spectroscopy and high-temperature acoustics. Original measurement apparatus and procedure were used that included Bayseian deconvolution of light scattering spectra of vGeO₂ and a specially designed high-temperature (up to 1500 °C) acoustic interferometer to measure temperature and frequency dependence of ultrasonic (US) velocity and attenuation in mGeO₂. Landau–Placzek ratios for vGeO₂ were found optically (from the light scattering spectrum) and acoustically (through the Schroeder’s formalism). Dispersion of optical and other physical parameters of vGeO₂ found by many authors is explained by the existence of small amount of GeO in the samples. It means that properties of vGeO₂ are under the influence of redox synthesis conditions controlling the GeO₂ ↔ GeO and coordination [GeO₄] ↔ [GeO₆] equilibrium in vGeO₂. Measurements of temperature dependencies of longitudinal ultrasonic velocities in mGeO₂ and in the PbO–GeO₂ glass melts as a function of PbO concentration shows existence of ‘water-like anomaly’ in mGeO₂ and in liquid germanates with the rich content of GeO₂ where equilibrium sound velocity increases with the temperature.     

Short range structure of mechanically alloyed amorphous Ni2Zr investigated by anomalous X-ray scattering

The differential anomalous scattering technique has been used to study the local order in an amorphous Ni₂Zr sample, prepared by mechanical alloying. The resulting structural parameters are compared with previous data obtained for a sample prepared by rapid quenching.     

Diffraction study of Li2O·SiO2 glass with computer simulation

The structure of Li₂O·SiO₂ glass has been determined by the pair-function analysis of the radial distribution function (RDF) obtained by X-ray and neutron diffraction measurements. The structure models were constructed by the molecular dynamics method (MD). The calculated RDFs, the summation of the pair-functions of the model, were compared with the observed RDFs while varying the MD parameters. Taking advantage of the negative scattering length of Li for neutron diffraction, the glass structure was investigated in detail, and it was found that the chains of SiO₄ tetrahedra bend at 20 °, which is a little less than for the crystal (23.48 °). It is known that the larger the size of the alkali ions (Na⁺ → K⁺ → Cs⁺), the smaller the bending angle of the chains. It was found that this rule also applies to Li⁺.     

Occurrence of Kondo-like behavior in electrical-conductivity of Al70Pd20+xMn10−x (x = 0, 1 and 2) icosahedral quasicrystals

Zero-field and in-field (at 8 T) conductivity vs temperature (σ-T), magneto-resistance (Δρ/ρ), magnetization vs temperature (M-T) and magnetization vs field (M-H) of unannealed Al₇₀Pd₂₀Mn₁₀ and annealed Al₇₀Pd₂₀Mn₁₀, Al₇₀Pd₂₁Mn₉ and Al₇₀Pd₂₂Mn₈ quasicrystalline alloys have been studied in the temperature range of 1.4-300 K. Room temperature resistivity and the low-temperature magneto-resistance show a correlation with the corresponding magnetization. The σ-T for all the studied samples shows a pair of minima and maxima. The σ-T maxima show a correlation with the total magnetization. The analysis shows that σ-T is dominated by weak-localization effects. The minima are arising due to competing inelastic scattering times τ_i (e-ph scattering in the dirty metallic limit, τ_i ∝ T⁻²) and the Kondo-type spin-flip scattering time τ_sf whereas the maxima has been attributed to ‘Kondo-maxima’, occurring due to maxima in the spin-flip rate . The magneto-resistance of these samples shows a changeover from negative to positive where the negative component shows a correlation with the magnetization of the sample. The values of parameters derived from refinement give spin-flip scattering fields, which are found to be correlated with the total sample magnetization.     

Peculiarities of liquid phase epitaxy in GaInPAs/InP lattice-matched heterostructures

The temperature phase stability of Ga_xIn_1−xP_yAs_1−y solid solution has been analyzed. A simple solution theory with the temperature-independent interaction parameters in solid and liquid phases has been used. The absence of miscibility gaps for all the compositions of the solid solution, lattice-matched to InP at a growth temperature of 640°C, has been demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally. The influence of the elastic deformations on the Ga_xIn_1−xP_yAs_1−y (λ_g = 1.4 μm) solid solution parameters has been observed assuming the model of the layer coherent conjugation in heterostructures.     

Observation of chiral ordering of moments in the magnetic mesostucture of the (Pd0.984Fe0.016)0.95Mn0.05 alloy by means of polarized neutrons

Investigation of the magnetic structure of the diluted (Pd_0.984Fe_0.016)_0.95Mn_0.05 alloy at meso-and nanoscale levels by means of two techniques of small-angle polarized-neutron scattering (within a direct beam and beyond it) has been performed in the temperature range 10<T<60 K. The dependences of the neutron beam depolarization, the polarization rotation angle, and the polarization-dependent magnetic scattering cross section on a weak (0<H<40 A/cm) external magnetic field have been studied. A simple model of neutron beam depolarization by a sample with uniaxial magnetic anisotropy was used to analyze the results obtained. The experiment on polarized-neutron scattering in the so-called direct geometry showed the existence of a polarization-dependent scattering cross section. This scattering has left-right asymmetry and depends on temperature. Comparison of these results with the depolarization data leads to a conclusion about the existence of static chiral fluctuations in large-scale inhomogeneities.     

Effect of the age of the C60/N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone solution on the structure of clusters in the C60/N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone/water system according to the small-angle neutron scattering data

Fullerene clusters in the C₆₀/N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)/water system have been investigated by small-angle neutron scattering. It is shown that the scattering cross section corresponding to the size range 10–100 nm depends on the water content in the mixture. Addition of water to a C₆₀/NMP solution in an amount exceeding 40% leads to a sharp increase in the average scattering cross section. This effect depends on the interval between the times of preparation of a C₆₀/NMP solution and its dilution with water: the size of the clusters formed as a result of adding water increases with increasing the age of the initial solution. The reasons for this effect are discussed.     

X-ray scattering studies of the short and medium range ordering in AsxTe1−x glasses

The structures of As_xTe_1−x(x = 0.2, 0.4, and 0.5) glasses are studied using the differential X-ray anomalous scattering technique. The partial distribution functions have also been obtained for the stoichiometric As₂Te₃ glass, giving information on the medium range ordering. All the glasses show chemical disorder to differing extents, the As₂Te₃ glass being the most disordered. The Te coordination number undergoes a change at x=0.4 where it is 2.5 compared with 2 for AsTe. This change indicates the existence of about 50% of threefold Te sites in the stoichiometric glass, as well as in the Te-rich glasses. Some of the physical properties of the glasses may be explained based on these results.     

Quasicrystalline and related phases in titanium based alloy systems

Amongst the non-aluminium based quasicrystalline alloys, investigations of titanium containing alloys in regard to the occurrence and stability of quasicrystalline phases have aroused considerable interest in recent years. Employing X-ray and TEM techniques a systematic investigation of the influence of substitution for Fe by Si and Ni on the stability of icosahedral phase in rapidly quenched Fe-Ti alloy has been carried out. The occurrence of metastable phases including commensurately modulated phase and the decagonal phase in Fe-Ti-Si system have been found. In addition, the occurrence ofstructural disorder manifested by arcs of diffuse scattering in diffraction patterns and anisotropy in the shape of idffraction spots has also been pointed out. It has been observed that 6 at.% of Si in Fe-Ti-Si system results in the formation of single-phase icosahedral quasicrystals. We have shown that contrary to some earlier reported results on Ti₂Ni, Ti₂Ni(Si) and Ti₅₆Ni₂₃Fe₅Si₁₆ alloys do not possess the icosahedral phase. In Ti₆₈Fe_26−xNi_xSi₆ alloy system, icosahedral phase formation ability is limited to the value of x < 9. The occurrence of icosahedral phase in these alloy systems has been analysed in terms of e/a ratio.     

The effect of the AlxGa1−xN/AIN buffer layer on the properties of GaN/Si(1 1 1) film grown by NH3-MBE

We describe the growth of GaN on Si(1 1 1) substrates with Al_xGa_1−xN/AlN buffer layer by ammonia gas source molecular beam epitaxy (NH₃-GSMBE). The influence of the AlN and Al_xGa_1−xN buffer layer thickness and the Al composition on the crack density of GaN has been investigated. It is found that the optimum thickness is 120 and 250 nm for AlN and Al_xGa_1−xN layers, respectively. The optimum Al composition is between 0.3<x<0.6.