TN method for the critical thickness of one-speed neutrons in a slab with forward and backward scattering

The critical slab problem in the case of combination of forward and backward scattering with usual isotropic scattering is studied for one-speed neutrons in a uniform finite slab by using T_N method based on Chebyshev polynomial approximation and Marshak boundary conditions. It is shown that T_N method gives accurate results in one-dimensional geometry and is very efficient both in derivation of equations and rapid convergence. Numerical results obtained by T_N method are compared against the P_N method in tabular form, which agreed quite well.     

Fast and accurate point-based method for time-harmonic maxwell problems involving thin layer materials

We present a high-order hybrid boundary-finite elements method well-suited for solving time-harmonic electromagnetic scattering problems. Actually, this method is specially devoted to perfect electric conductors coated with a thin layer material. On such class of problems this method is shown to be fast and accurate. The fast feature is due to the joint use of finite elements of anisotropic order fitting the layer thickness, and of a point-based boundary element method on the skin. The accuracy is ensured, first by a discretization scheme satisfying the H_curl–H_div conformity required by the integro-differential equation and, secondly, by an adaptive technique of integration based on the detection of some local potential trouble on the geometry such as sharp edges or high dilatation of the elements. This algorithm does not need further information from the user and does not deteriorate the computation time. Numerical examples confirm the efficiency of this approach.     

Magnetic excitations in triangular lattice NaCrO2

We report the first inelastic neutron scattering measurements on the rhombohedrally stacked triangular antiferromagnet NaCrO₂ which has recently been shown via μSR and NMR measurements to exhibit an unusually broad fluctuating cross-over regime extending far below the onset of spin freezing at T_c. Our results show that strong spin fluctuations persist far below T_c and that dispersive spin wave excitations only appear near the cross-over temperature 0.75T_c.     

Albedo for an inhomogeneous half space

The Albedo is calculated for an inhomogeneous half-space by assuming that the single scattering albedo behaves like c(z) = c_oe^-(z/s). The modified Eddington method is used to obtain the outgoing flux and hence the albedo. Numerical calculations and comparisons with Pomraning et al. and with an improved version of the F_N- method indicate that the approach is reasonably accurate.     

Spin- and charge-density-wave orders in La1.87Sr0.13Cu0.99Fe0.01O4

We have performed elastic neutron-scattering measurements on La_1.87Sr_0.13Cu_0.99Fe_0.01O₄ to study the magnetic impurity effects on the stripe correlations in high-T_c cuprates. Both charge-density-wave (CDW) and spin-density-wave (SDW) orders are observed in the low-temperature-orthorhombic (LTO) phase for the first time. With decreasing the temperature, CDW order first appears at followed by the SDW order at lower temperature of . The incommensurability for the CDW order (ε) was found to be 0.224±0.002 r.l.u., which is approximately twice of that for SDW order (δ) of 0.115±0.003 r.l.u. Both ordering sequence and relation of ε≈2δ are the same for SDW and CDW orders observed in the low-temperature-tetragonal (LTT) phase of La_1.60-xNd_0.4Sr_xCuO₄ (LNSCO), suggesting that the similar stripe correlations exist in the cuprate oxides, irrespective of crystal structure.     

Anomalous transport effects for the metal and insulator doped La0.833K0.167MnO3 systems

The La_0.833K_0.167MnO₃:Ag₂O and the La_0.833K_0.167MnO₃:SrTiO₃ samples are fabricated by the sol–gel method. The microstructure, magnetic and transportation properties have been systematically studied. X-ray diffraction patterns show that the La_0.833K_0.167MnO₃:Ag₂O (abbreviated as LKMO/Ag) sample is a two-phase composite and consists of a magnetic La_0.833K_0.167MnO₃ (abbreviated as LKMO) perovskite phase and a nonmagnetic Ag metal phase, while the structure of the La_0.833K_0.167MnO₃:SrTiO₃ (abbreviated as LKMO/STO) sample is a homogeneous solid solution phase. Comparing with the pure LKMO sample, the room temperature magnetoresistance (MR) effect for the LKMO/Ag sample is enhanced significantly due to the addition of Ag metal. The MR ratio increases from ∼25% for the pure LKMO sample to 65% for the LKMO/Ag sample under a higher field of 5.5 T at 300 K. For the LKMO/STO sample, however, the room temperature MR effect is weakened dramatically and is almost close to zero due to the addition of SrTiO₃ insulator. In the low temperature regime below the Curie temperature, the MR behaviors are different from that of the room temperature; that is, the MR effect is decreased for the LKMO/Ag sample and increased for the LKMO/STO sample with temperature decrease. In fact, the low-field (μ₀H=0.5 T) MR decreases from 32% to 5% for the LKMO/Ag sample, while increasing from 0.07% to 25% for the LKMO/STO sample with decreasing temperature from 300 to 4 K. The relative change between the intrinsic and the extrinsic MR, and varied roles of the spin-polarized-tunneling and the spin-dependent scattering mechanisms in different temperature regimes are employed to interpret the anomalous transport behaviors.     

Raman investigation of ro-vibrational modes of interstitial H2 in Si

A Raman scattering study of ro-vibrational transitions Q(J) of the interstitial H₂ in Si is presented. It is shown that the Q(2) mode of para hydrogen is coupled to the TA_X phonon of Si. The mode appears in the spectra at temperatures above 200 K. The results presented also suggest that the Q  (3) transition of ortho hydrogen is resonantly coupled to the O_Γ$O_{\Gamma }$ phonon.     

Raman characterization of Pb2Na1−xLaxNb5−xFexO15 and Pb0.5(5−x)LaxNb5−xFexO15 (0≤x≤1) solid solutions

The ferroelectric compounds Pb₂Na_1−xLa_xNb_5−xFe_xO₁₅ and Pb_0.5(5−x)La_xNb_5−xFe_xO₁₅ (0≤x≤1) with the tungsten bronze type structure have been investigated using Raman spectroscopy. The evolution of the spectra as a function of composition at room temperature is reported. In the frequency range 200-1000 cm⁻¹ three main A₁ phonons around 240 (υ₁), 630 (υ₂) and 816 (υ₃) cm⁻¹ were observed. The broadening of the Raman lines for high values of x originates from a significant structural disorder. This is in good agreement with the relaxor character of these compositions. The lowest-frequency part of the spectra, below 180 cm⁻¹, reveals a structural change in the studied solid solutions. The behaviour of the Raman shift of the υ₁ mode confirms that in Pb₂Na_1−xLa_xNb_5−xFe_xO₁₅, a clear anomaly occurs in the vicinity of x=0.4.     

Structural, magnetic and magnetotransport behavior of La0.7SrxCa0.3−xMnO3 compounds

A systematic investigation of the structural, magnetic and electrical properties of a series of nanocrystalline La_0.7Sr_xCa_0.3−xMnO₃ materials, prepared by high energy ball milling method and then annealed at 900 °C has been undertaken. The analysis of the XRD data using the Win-metric software shows an increase in the unit cell volume with increasing Sr ion concentration. The La_0.7Sr_xCa_0.3−xMnO₃ compounds undergo a structural orthorhombic-to-monoclinic transition at x=0.15. Electric and magnetic measurements show that both the Curie temperature and the insulator-to-metal transition temperature increase from 259 K and 253 K correspondingly for La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ (x=0) to 353 K and 282 K, respectively, for La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ (x=0.3). It is argued that the larger radius of Sr²⁺ ion than that of Ca²⁺ is the reason to strengthen the double-exchange interaction and to give rise to the observed increase of transition temperatures. Using the phenomenological equation for conductivity under a percolation approach, which depends on the phase segregation of ferromagnetic metallic clusters and paramagnetic insulating regions, we fitted the resistivity versus temperature data measured in the range of 50-320 K and found that the activation barrier decreased with the raising Sr²⁺ ion concentration.     

On the “overlapping resonances” concept of acoustic transmission through an elastic plate,II: Numerical examples and physical implications

In a companion paper [1] the Fiorito, Madigosky and Überall approximate theory of transmittivity of an infinite, isotropic, elastic plate in terms of Lamb mode resonances [2] is examined, and extended by validating coherent addition of these overlapping resonances. The present paper provides numerical and heuristic tests which yield convincing proof of the applicability of the overlapping resonances concept. At various thicknesses of a water-immersed, steel plate, including the half-space and zero thickness limits, the behaviour is shown to be compatible with known exact behaviour. Overlapping resonances explain the reduction towards zero of the transmittivity near the coincidence angles of the zero order Lamb modes as these converge to the Rayleigh angle. Contrary to earlier interpretations, both zero order modes survive at the half-space limit. The A₀ mode is shown to contribute below (fd)_critical, becoming then highly damped and, effectively, non-propagating. The interpretation provided of the transition of the A₀ mode in this region bridges the gap between conventional Lamb mode theory and thin plate theory.     

Synthesis and structure refinement of layered perovskites Ba5−xLaxNb4−xTixO15 (x=0, 1, 2, 3 and 4) solid solutions

Ba_5−xLa_xNb_4−xTi_xO₁₅ solid solutions were prepared by solid state reaction method. Structural analysis for the stoichiometric phases was performed for x=0, 1, 2 and 3 by Rietveld analysis of neutron powder diffraction data. The x=0, 1 and 2 members could be refined in the space group P-3m1 (stacking sequence chhcc, polytypoid 5 H). There is a decrease in cell volume as x increases. La³⁺ occupies preferentially the A2 site (Wyckoff site 2d) and Ti⁴⁺ the B2 site (Wyckoff site 2c). As x increases there is an increase of the global instability index (GII) (which is a measure of the extent to which the BVS rule is violated over the whole structure) indicating the presence of intrinsic strains large enough to cause instability at room temperature. This strain is responsible for a structural change for the member with x=3, which could be refined in the space group P-3c1 (stacking sequence (chhcc)₂, polytypoid 2×5H=10H). This change in space group is associated with a cooperative rotation of (Nb/Ti)O₆ octahedra around the c-axis, necessary to accommodate the smaller La³⁺ ion in the cuboctahedral cavity.     

A new parametrization for the N/D method

A new treatment of the left-hand cut for N/D problems is presented whereby, instead of poles, the cut is parametrized by a Legendre expansion which fixes the discontinuity. The method is tested through the use of analytic forms, and is found to work very well in a wide variety of circumstances. An extension is made to situations where there are errors in the input, and resulting problems are discussed. The method is applied to elastic pion-pion scattering. Both the rho and f₀ mesons are produced dynamically, but trouble is encountered for the s-waves. The relation of this trouble to ambiguities found in other s-wave calculations is discussed.     

Magnetoelectric behavior of ferrimagnetic BixCo2−xMnO4 (x=0, 0.1 and 0.3) thin films

Thin films of Bi_xCo_2−xMnO₄ (x=0, 0.1 and 0.3) were grown on quartz, LaAlO₃ (LAO) and YBa₂Cu₃O₇ (YBCO) buffer layer coated LAO substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman scattering measurements showed that the thin films exhibit single phase polycrystalline cubic spinel structure on all the substrates. Near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) studies confirmed the octahedral occupancy of the substituted Bi³⁺ ions. Temperature dependent zero-field cooled (ZFC) magnetization measurements show the ferrimagnetic (FM) behavior (T_C∼186 K) and magnetization undergoes a crossover from positive to negative, owing to the opposite contributions of magnetic moments from Co and Mn ions. A weak ferroelectric property exhibited by the films above room temperature was evidenced through the capacitance-voltage (C-V) and dielectric measurements. Magnetoelectric coupling was found to be maximum just below FM-T_C.     

Dispersive effects and correction term in two-mode phonon conduction model for Ge

A complete analysis of the phonon conductivity κ, still lacking in the literature, is presented in the two-mode conduction model for Germanium. First a method is derived from which the correction term κ_c of the Callaway model is separated into its longitudinal and transverse parts and then the effects of strong phonon dispersion and the role of longitudinal and transverse phonons on κ_c are studied. For this purpose we have also proposed some new empirical expressions for the three phonon relaxation rates τ_3ph⁻¹'s which are valid in the entire temperature range. This improvised model, when applied simultaneously to the phonon conductivity data of both normal and enriched Ge, yields some new results. These are (i) κ_c neglected by the earlier workers in the two-mode phonon conduction model, gives a substantial contribution beyond the conductivity maximum and (ii) the longitudinal phonons are the major carriers of heat at high temperature.     

Phase diagram for stripes in YBa2Cu3O6+x superconductors

Neutron scattering has been used to measure the charge and spin structure in the YBa₂Cu₃O_6+x superconductors. Incommensurate static charge ordering is found at low doping levels while only charge fluctuations are found at higher doping. The spin structure is complex with both a commensurate resonance and incommensurate structure observed at low temperatures. The scattering results are used to construct a phase diagram for stripes in the YBa₂Cu₃O_6+x system.     

Contact and non-contact magnetoimpedance in amorphous and nanocrystalline Fe73.5Si13.5B8CuV3Al ribbons

The giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) effect in amorphous and nanocrystalline Fe_73.5Si_13.5B₈CuV₃Al ribbons has been studied as a function of a dc magnetic field, by contact and non-contact methods. In the contact method, an MI of 19% was obtained in the nanocrystalline ribbon while it is of the order of 10⁴ in the non-contact method. The huge sensitivity of the non-contact method is promising with regard to the increase of the sensitivity of the MI sensors. Field dependence of MI has shown double peak behavior in contact method and single peak profile in non-contact method. The domains were found to lie normal to the plane of the ribbon, through MFM studies. All the experimental results were discussed using the Polivanov model.     

Refractive index of Ga1−xAlxAs

A semi-empirical method for calculating the room temperature refractive index of Ga_1?xAl_xAs at energies below the direct band edge is presented. This quantity is important in the design of GaAs heterostructure lasers as well as other wave-guiding devices using these materials. The calculated values compare favorably with recent data. The method is shown to be useful for the Ga_1?xAs_xP system as well.     

Spontaneous volume magnetostriction in Y(Fe1−xCox)2 and Zr(Fe1−xCox)2

The spontaneous volume magnetostriction is calculated for Y(Fe_1?xCo_x)₂ and Zr(Fe_1?xCo_x)₂ in the simple itinerant-electron model. The density of states for various compositions is calculated by the recursion method. The calculated results on the composition dependence of the spontaneous volume magnetostriction are shown to be consistent with the experimental ones.     

Electronic states and phonon properties of GexSi1−x nanostructures

Ge_xSi_1−x nanostructures that can be manipulated through size reduction, geometry variation, and alloying, are considered as one of the key developments for next generation technologies, due to their easy processing, unique properties, and compatibility with the existent silicon-based microelectronic industry. In this review, we have thoroughly discussed the major advances in electronic structures and phonon properties of Ge_xSi_1−x nanocrystals (NCs). Experimental and theoretical characterization related to several main factors, for example, size, composition, strain, temperature, and interface and surface were presented with special emphasis in low-frequency Raman scattering. Current difficulties in explaining the Raman spectra are the assignment of the low-frequency modes because of the complexity of the environment around the NCs, thus different theoretical models are introduced in detail to deal with different properties of Ge_xSi_1−x alloy NCs including Lamb’s theory, complex-frequency (CF) model, core–shell matrix (CMS) model and spatial coherence effect model.     

Residual strain and alloying effects on the vibrational properties of step-graded InxAl1−xAs layers grown on GaAs

Lattice-relaxed In_xAl_1−xAs-graded buffer layers grown by MBE on GaAs substrate have been studied by micro-Raman scattering and photoluminescence (PL). In these heterostructures, the indium composition was gradually increased in six or four intermediate layers each of 100 nm thickness. The alloying effect in the In_xAl_1−xAs layers has been interpreted using the modified random element isodisplacement (MREI) formalism. The dependence in the MREI model of the longitudinal optical (LO) phonon energy and the In composition in the InAlAs alloy with PL measurements and Raman analysis allow the evaluation of disorder degree and give the In composition in the InAlAs active layers. The obtained InAs- and AlAs-like phonon frequencies from the fitting of Raman spectra are in reasonable agreement with those calculated according to the MREI model. Raman spectra show that InAs-like phonon frequencies are not strongly dependent either on the buffer structure or on the residual strain in the active layers. Using the AlAs-like LO phonon frequency shifts, we have calculated the residual strain in the In_xAl_1−xAs active layer. Raman results show that the slope of the grade is an important parameter that allows the growth of samples with good quality. The lower residual strain value was obtained by thick buffer with a smaller grading rate. PL measurements show that In compositions of active layers of the different studied samples are slightly higher than those measured during growth.