Microwave absorption in a Y1Ba2Cu3O7−x single crystal near the superconducting transition

Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_7−x single crystals are investigated near T _c ≈92 K in fields 0<H⩽9 kOe using a modified ESR spectrometer. The temperature modulation method is used for the first time, together with the traditional magnetic modulation method, to detect microwave responses in single crystals. Superconducting-transition peaks shifted relative to one another in temperature and differing in shape are observed in the temperature dependence of the corresponding signals ∂R/∂H and ∂R/∂T (R — microwave absorption). The evolution of these peaks as a function of the field and the angle π between H and the c axis of the single crystal is traced. It is shown that the difference in the temperature dependences of the derivatives ∂R/∂H and ∂R/∂T is due to the broadening of the superconducting transition characteristic of HTSCs. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 14–17 (January 1999)     

Effect of contacts between γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles on their phase-transition temperature

The effect of mechanical contacts between γ-Fe₂O₃ particles on the temperature of the γ-α structural transition in them is established by magnetic studies and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The sample in which γ-Fe₂O₃ particles had no mechanical contacts with one another remained in the ferromagnetic state up to T _C = 630°C and had two exothermal DTA peaks. The first peak almost coincided with the Curie temperature, while the second peak attributed to the γ → α structural transition corresponded to 760°C. The magnetic transition for particles with a larger number of contacts was shadowed by the γ → α structural transition with a temperature lowered to 550°C.     

Ferroelectric phase transition in LaBSiO5 crystals from results of thermal and dielectric measurements

The specific heat of the ceramic and the permittivity of a single-crystal sample of LaBSiO₅, a new ferroelectric in the stilwellite family, were measured in a temperature range which includes the phase transition point (T _C=140 °C). The excess entropy of the phase transition ΔS=1.05 J/mol · K and the Curie-Weiss constant C _C-W=3.2×10³ K were determined. The results indicate that the phase transition in this crystal is of a “mixed” nature and exhibits features of a displacement-type transition and an order-disorder transition. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1310–1312 (July 1998)     

Suppression of the fractal conductivity channel and superlocalization effects in porous a-Si:H

The temperature dependence of the hopping conductivity and the relaxation kinetics of the transient current in porous amorphous silicon are investigated after treatment in a hydrogen plasma at 200 °C. It is discovered that posthydrogenation of the material increases the dimension of the conducting channel from 2.5 to 3, while suppressing and slowing the relaxation of the transient current. The results obtained are attributed to passivation of the electrically active dangling bonds on the pore surface by hydrogen. It is concluded that electron transport in porous amorphous silicon in the temperature range T>T*, where T* lies in the range 130–270 K and depends on the density of states, takes place between superlocalized states of the internal surface, which is enriched with dangling bonds and acts as a fractal percolation system. When the temperature is lowered below T*, a transition to one-dimensional hopping conduction in the bulk silicon regions occurs. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 112, 926–935 (September 1997)     

Pressure dependence of the Raman frequency shifts related to the thermodynamic quantities in phase II of s-triazine

The temperature-induced frequency shifts (1/ω)(∂ω/∂T) _p are calculated from the pressure induced frequency shifts (1/ω)(∂ω/∂P) _T using the observed frequencies at various pressures for the Raman modes of II and III in phase II (P > P _C ) of s-triazine. The values of the mode Grüneisen parameters γ _T (isobaric) and γ _T (isothermal) of those Raman modes studied here, are determined through the Pippard relations in the spectroscopically modified forms for this crystal. The temperature-induced and the pressure-induced frequency shifts are then used to predict the pressure dependence of the isothermal compressibility, thermal expansion and the specific heat in phase II (P > P _C ) of s-triazine.     

Internal friction in directed-crystallization (Cu-Sn)-Nb alloys

The distinctive features of the low-frequency internal friction Q ⁻¹(T) of (Cu-Sn)-Nb composites at high temperatures (up to 400°C) are investigated for strains in the range 10⁻⁵–10⁻⁴. Considerable hysteresis of Q ⁻¹(T) in the heating-cooling cycle is recorded, including the presence of a minimum at ∼175°C when the sample is heated to 400°C and two peaks P ₂ (at 280°C) and P ₁ (at ∼100°C) when the sample is cooled from 400°C. The activation energy of the anomalous internal friction background (up to 175°C), the oxygen diffusion parameters, and the oxygen concentration in the niobium fibers (all of which govern the peak P ₂) are calculated, and the value and temperature dependence of the yield point of the bronze matrix (which govern the peak P ₁) are estimated. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 68, 114–117 (November 1998)     

Effect of annealing on structure and magnetic properties of Fe-N and Fe-Ti-N thin films

The structure and magnetic properties of Fe-N and Fe-Ti-N films have been studied as a function of annealing temperature T_a with a transmission electron microscope and a vibrating sample magnetometer. The as-prepared Fe-N films consist of the γ^′-Fe₄N and α^′′-Fe₁₆N₂ phases, and the Fe-Ti-N films are composed of the γ^′-Fe₄N, α^′′-Fe₁₆N₂, and TiN phases. The structural changes with annealing temperature in the Fe-N films are distinct. The α^′′-Fe₁₆N₂ decomposes into α+γ^′ phases in the Fe-N film annealed at about 300 °C, and it disappears in the film annealed at 350 °C. Annealing of the Fe-Ti-N films shows no structural changes between room temperature (RT) and 500 °C. The saturation magnetization 4πM_S and coercivity H_c of the Fe-N films change drastically with the annealing temperature T_a, whereas those of the Fe-Ti-N films do not change with T_a up to 500 °C. These results indicate that the additon of Ti may improve the thermal stability of Fe-N films. Recieved: 6 Juli 1998 / Accepted: 19 Oktober 1998 / Published online: 10 March 1999     

TDPAC studies of Hf doped YBCO

Time differential perturbed angular correlation measurements of the 133–482 keVγ-γ cascade of¹⁸¹Ta in Hf-doped YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x are presented. The¹⁸¹Hf precurser nuclei are incorporated into the sample by thermal neutron irradiation. Two quadrupole interaction frequencies are observed in the as-irradiated sample:v _Q1=161±10 MHz with intensityf ₁=75%, asymmetry parameterη ₁=0.32 and damping parameter Λ₁=0.42, andv _Q2=1108±40 MHz withf ₂=25%,η ₂=0.62, and Λ₂=0.60. On annealing the sample in air at various temperaturesT _a and quenching to room temperature,f ₁ remained nearly constant forT _a<600°C andv _Q1 for all annealing temperatures indicating that these are insensitive to oxygen stoichiometry. This frequency is interpreted to be due to¹⁸¹Hf substitutingY sites. BeyondT _a=600°C,f ₁ increased and reached a constant value of 90% forT _a=800°C. The value ofv _Q2 showed a slight variation between 1086 and 1160 MHz, whilef ₂ remained nearly constant at 25% forT _a<600°C. This component is identified to be due to¹⁸¹Hf substituting Cu 1 sites in the Cu-O chains of YBCO. Above 600°Cv _Q2 decreased and reached a value of 808 MHz beyond 750°C.     

Size effects in the exciton energy and first-order phase transitions in CuCl nanocrystals in glass

The absorption spectra and the melting and crystallization kinetics of CuCl nanocrystals in glass are investigated in the range of particle radii 1–30 nm. Three discontinuities are found on the curves representing the size dependence of the melting point T _m(R) and the crystallization point T _c(R). As the particle radius gradually decreases from 30 nm in the range R⩽12.4 nm there is a sudden 60° drop in the temperature T _c in connection with the radius of the critical CuCl nucleus in the melt. A 30° drop in T _m is observed at R=2.1 nm, and a second drop of 16° in the temperature T _c is observed for CuCl particles of radius 1.8 nm. The last two drops are associated with changes in the equilibrium shape of the nanoparticles. In the range of smaller particles, R⩽1.34 nm the T _c(R) curve is observed to merge with the T _m(R) curve, owing to the disappearance of the work of formation of the crystal surface during crystallization of the melt as a result of the zero surface tension of CuCl particles of radii commensurate with the thickness of the effective surface layer. An increase in the size shift of the exciton energy is observed in this same range of CuCl particle radii (1–1.8 nm). The size dependence of the melting and crystallization temperatures of the nanoparticles is attributed to variation of the free energy in the surface layer of a particle. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 310–318 (February 1999)     

Thermal stability of submicrocrystalline copper strengthened with HfO2 nanoparticles in the temperature range 20–500 °C

The thermal stability of the yield stress and Young’s modulus was investigated in ultrafinegrained copper (99.98%) and a Cu-HfO₂ composite obtained by intensive plastic deformation using the method of equichannel angular pressing. It is shown that both the pure copper and the composite strengthened with HfO₂ nanoparticles demonstrate in this state a high yield stress (σ _0.2≈400 MPa). When the two-hour annealing temperature T _a is increased above 200 °C, the yield stress in pure copper decreases to 40 MPa at T _a=400 °C, whereas in the Cu-HfO₂ composite, high yield stresses are conserved up to T _a=500 °C. A recovery stage of Young’s modulus is found at around 200 °C both in pure copper and in the Cu-HfO₂ composite. It is concluded that this stage reflects the transition of the grain boundaries from a nonequilibrium to an equilibrium state, and the high-strength properties of the materials are determined mainly by the grain size and depend weakly on the grain-boundary structure. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1268–1270 (July 1998)     

Specific features of the structural states in Pb2CdWO6 in the temperature range 15 ≤ T ≤ 770°C

In the temperature range 15–770°C, a correlation between the dielectric and structural specific features of lead cadmium tungstate is established. When studying the structure of Pb₂CdWO₆ in the temperature range 15 ≤ T ≤ 770°C, the unit-cell parameters and atomic parameters of the orthorhombic phase with space group Pmc2₁ (15 ≤ T ≤ 380°C) and cubic phase with space group Fm3m (380 ≤ T ≤ 770°C) are determined. It is revealed that the antiferroelectric state observed in of Pb₂CdWO₆ in the orthorhombic phase is associated with antiparallel displacements of Pb atoms. In the cubic phase, the Cd atoms are found to have disordered static displacements along [100]-type directions.     

The activation energy for γ-Fe precipitates inCuFe

The precipitation of the fcc γ-phase of iron has been studied by a systematic series of isothermal and isochronal (0–48 h) heat treatments (300–800°C) on a supersaturated solution ofCuFe containing 3 at% Fe. The optimal conditions (450–600°C) for precipitation of the maximum fraction (90%) of iron attainable within 48 h in the form of γ-Fe have been delineated from analysis of the room temperature spectra. The time dependence for formation of γ-Fe precipitates is well described by the equation for long term annealing. An activation energyE _a ≈0.6 eV for the formation of γ-Fe in Cu is obtained. It indicates short range rather than long range diffusion in theCuFe sample studied.     

Superconductivity in the presence of fermion condensation

Fermion condensation (FC) is studied within the density functional theory. FC can fulfill the role of a boundary, separating the region of strongly interacting electron liquid from the region of strongly correlated electron liquid. Consideration of the superconductivity in the presence of FC shows that, under certain circumstances, at temperatures above T _c the superconductivity vanishes and the superconducting gap smoothly transforms into a pseudogap. The pseudogap occupies only a part of the Fermi surface, and one that shrinks with increasing temperature and vanishes at T=T*, and the single-particle excitations of the gapped area of the Fermi surface have a width γ ∼(T-T _c ). Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 68, No. 6, 491–496 (25 September 1998) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

Contribution of the massive photon decay channel to neutrino cooling of neutron stars

We consider massive photon decay reactions via intermediate states of electron-electron-holes and proton-proton-holes into neutrino-antineutrino pairs in the course of neutron star cooling. These reactions may become operative in hot neutron stars in the region of proton pairing where the photon due to the Higgs-Meissner effect acquires an effective mass m _γ that is small compared to the corresponding plasma frequency. The contribution of these reactions to neutrino emissivity is calculated; it varies with the temperature and the photon mass as T ^3/2 m _γ ^7/2 exp(−m _γ /T) for T<m ^γ . Estimates show that these processes appear as extra efficient cooling channels of neutron stars at temperatures T≅10⁹–10¹⁰ K. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 114, 385–397 (August 1998) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Reproduced here with stylistic changes by the Translation Editor.     

Thermo-optic coefficients of monoclinic KLu(WO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The three thermo-optic coefficients of the biaxial laser host KLu(WO₄)₂ are measured at 633 nm by a deflection method. Their values at 300 K amount to ∂ n _g /∂ T=−7.4×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹; ∂ n _m /∂ T=−1.6×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ and ∂ n _p /∂ T=−10.8×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹. Nearly athermal propagation directions are found for polarizations along the N _m and N _p dielectric axes.     

The physicochemical characteristics of oxidized polysaccharides

The paper presents the results obtained in studies of the physicochemical characteristics of modified polysaccharides prepared by the catalytic oxidation of starch with molecular oxygen in an alkaline medium. The amorphous-crystalline structure of starch was partially retained after oxidation. The differential scanning calorimetry data were used to determine the specific heat capacity of oxidized polysaccharides in the vitreous state over the temperature range 10–160°C and the enthalpy and temperature characteristics of fusion of amorphous-crystalline lamellae. The structural and thermodynamic parameters of crystallites (surface free energy, enthalpy, and entropy) were calculated. The segmental mobility of oxidized polysaccharide macromolecules and the transition from the vitreous to high-elasticity state were observed at T _g = 187.7°C, and the transition to the viscous-flow state, above 209°C. The pyrolysis of the polymer began after the unfreezing of its segmental mobility and was accompanied by the release of water and carbon dioxide and the formation of a large amount of coke foam.     

Influence of γ irradiation on the electrical conductivity and dielectric properties of β TlInS2 in the temperature range of the incommensurate phase

The influence of γ irradiation on the electrical conductivity σ, the dielectric permittivity ɛ, and the dielectric loss tangent tanδ of β-TlInS₂ crystals is investigated in the temperature range of the incommensurate phase. It is established that γ irradiation lowers the values of ɛ and tanδ over the entire investigated temperature range and decreases the maxima of the σ(T) and tanδ(T) curves in the vicinity of the transition temperature T _c, but does not alter the transition temperature. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 1088–1090 (May 1997)     

Electrolyte interaction with DPPC vesicles: An ESR study

Summary The partition of the spin probe TEMPO between the fluid lipid phase of single-walled vesicles of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and the aqueous bulk solution have been used to investigate the interaction of monovalent ions with polar head of neutral phospholipids. The study has been performed by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy in the temperature range of (20÷60)°C and in the presence of (0÷3) M 1∶1 electrolyte. In the absence of electrolyte the spin probe TEMPO reveals the characteristic order→disorder DPPC main phase transition atT _m≈37°C, while the pretransition occurs atT _p≈27.5°C. On increasing the ionic strength of the dispersion medium it results for the partition coefficient,P _C, that, at each temperature,P _C(3)>P _C(2)>P _C(1)>P _C(0). Correspondingly, the pretransition disappears and theT _m value downshifts from ≈37°C with 0 M electrolyte to ≈34°C with 3M salt in the order:T _m(3)>T _m(2)>T _m(1)>T _m(0). The results suggest an increase in the net surface charge density of vesicles due to high ionic-strength values. The alteration of the electric interactions occurring into the polar zone of DPPC bilayer reduces the hindrances which, in turn, favour the enhancement of TEMPO partitioning in the hydrophobic core of phospholipid bilayers. The authors of this paper have agreed to not receive the proofs for correction.     

Anomalous behavior of the interlayer resistance of a BSCCO-2212 crystal in a parallel magnetic field

The electrical resistance across the Cu-O layers of a BSCCO-2212 single crystal is investigated in the range of angles 0°⩽φ⩽90° between the magnetic field H⩽15 T and the ab plane. It is found that the temperature dependence R(T) at the transition into the mixed state is much sharper for φ≃0° than for 1°≲φ≲90°, where R is determined by the perpendicular component of the magnetic field and is described by the Arrhenius law R∼exp(−U/T). For H∥ ab hysteretic jumps in R(T, H), which vanish as the current increases, are observed at fields in the range 5.5⩽H⩽11 T. This effect can be attributed to a commensurate phase transition in a lattice of Josephson vortices. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 63, No. 2, 123–128 (25 January 1996)     

Thermopower of beech wood biocarbon

This paper reports on measurements of the thermopower S of high-porosity samples of beech wood biocarbon with micron-sized sap pores aligned with the tree growth direction. The measurements have been performed in the temperature range 5–300 K. The samples have been fabricated by pyrolysis of beech wood in an argon flow at different carbonization temperatures (T _carb). The thermopower S has been measured both along and across the sap pores, thus offering a possibility of assessing its anisotropy. The curves S(T _carb) have revealed a noticeable increase of S for T _carb < 1000°C for all the measurement temperatures. This finding fits to the published data obtained for other physical parameters, including the electrical conductivity of these biocarbons, which suggests that for T _carb ∼ 1000°C they undergo a phase transition of the insulator-(at T _carb < 1000°C)-metal-(at T _carb > 1000°C) type. The existence of this transition is attested also by the character of the temperature dependences S(T) of beech wood biocarbon samples prepared at T _carb above and below 1000°C.