Thermodynamic parameters of diffuse phase transitions in Ag2Te

A differential thermal analysis in vacuum and studies of the coefficients of electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity, and of the thermal emf are made in Ag₂Te in the neighborhood of the structural phase transition. It is shown that these data can be used to calculate the switching factor L(T), determine the region in which the phases coexist within the transition, and calculate the thermodynamic parameters. Prior to and after the main phase transition, additional displacement transitions are observed. It is found that the phase transition takes place roughly according to the scheme α _{385 K}→α′_{405 K}→β′_{420 K}→β _{440 K}. The specific heat C _p, changes in entropy ΔS and transition enthalpy ΔH, as well as the minimum phase fluctuation volume V, and the heat Q of the phase transition are determined. It is shown that excesses of Te and Ag have almost no effect on the transition temperatures T ₀, but have a substantial effect on the thermodynamic parameters. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1693–1697 (September 1998)     

T Violation in Neutrino Oscillation above GUT Scale

We study the Planck scale effects in the neutrino sector on the asymmetry between T-conjugate oscillation probabilities. ΔP _T =P(ν _α →ν _β )−P(ν _β →ν _α ), in a three flavor neutrino mixing. In this paper, we discuss some aspect of T violation effects in three flavor neutrino oscillation.     

Investigation of thermal expansion,phase diagrams,and barocaloric effect in the (NH4)2WO2F4 and (NH4)2MoO2F4 oxyfluorides

The thermal expansion along the principal crystallographic axes of the (NH₄)₂WO₂F₄ and (NH₄)₂MoO₂F₄ oxyfluorides has been studied. The anomalous behavior of α _i (T) due to the phase transitions has been revealed at T ₁ = 271.4 K and T ₂ ≈ 180 K for the molybdate and at T ₁ = 201.5 K and T ₂ ≈ 161 K for the tungstate. The quantities dT/dp and dT/dσ _i , which characterize the dependence of the phase transition temperatures on the hydrostatic and uniaxial pressures, have been determined from analyzing the results of studies of the thermal expansion and heat capacity with the use of the Pippard relations. The p-T and α _i -T phase diagrams reflect different characters of the influence of the pressure on the stability of the initial and distorted phases of the oxyfluorides. The magnitudes of the extensive and intensive barocaloric effects determined in the vicinity of the structural phase transitions are as follows: ΔS _BCE varies from approximately −10 to −17 J/mol K and ΔT _AD ≈ 8−17 K for the molybdate and ΔS _BCE varies from approximately −10 to −17 J/mol K and ΔT _AD ≈ 8−13 K for the tungstate.     

Pressure-induced amorphization of Gd2(MoO4)3: A high pressure Raman investigation

High pressure Raman spectroscopic studies on Gd₂(MoO₄)₃(GMO) have been carried out at ambient temperature in the diamond cell to 10 GPa hydrostatic pressure. These experiments have revealed pressure-induced phase transitions in GMO near 2 GPa and 6.0 GPa. The first transition is from Pba2(β′) phase to another undetermined crystalline phase, designated as phase II, and the second transition is to an amorphized state. On releasing pressure there is a partial reversion to the crystalline state. The Raman data indicate that the amorphization is due to disordering of the MoO₄ tetrahedral units. Further, it is inferred from the nature of the Raman bands in the amorphized material that the Mo-O bond lengths and bond angles have a range of values, instead of a few set values. The results of the present study as well as previous high pressure-high temperature quenching experiments strongly support that pressure-induced amorphization in GMO is a consequence of the kinetically impededβ toα phase transition. The system in frustration becomes disordered. The rare earth trimolybdates crystallizing in theβ′ structure are all expected to undergo similar pressure-induced amorphization.     

Glass: Kohlrausch exponent,fragility, anharmonicity

The thermodynamical and mechanical properties of (fragile and strong) glass are modeled based on a generalised activation energy relationship log _τ = ΔG _β /RTn(T′) process of glass-forming liquids. This cooperative process involves 1/n(T′) elementary β motions of activation Gibbs energy ΔG _β dependent on the equivalent temperature T′, the temperature of the liquid in equilibrium having the volume of the glass, function of temperature and aging conditions. From this modified VFT law the relaxation of any properties (V , H , stress, creep) can be calculated and approximated by the Kohlrausch function. This model predicts consistency relationships for: a) the temperature (and aging time) variation of the Kohlrausch exponent; b) the temperature dependence of the stabilisation time domain of strong and fragile glass; c) the linear relation between the activation parameters (E ^* energy, S ^* entropy, V ^* volume) of the α and β transition. The Lawson and Keyes (LK) relations are recalled and it is shown that these relations (somewhat equivalant to the compensation law or Meyer-Neldel rule) are observed generally in glass. Morever the (macroscopic) ratios ΔH/ΔV observed during aging or after a temperature jump and the (microscopic) ratio E ^*/V ^* are found equal to κγ (κ compressibily, γ Grüneisen parameter), in agreement with the LK predictions. From various experiments and in agreement with predictions of this model we conclude that the Grüneisen parameter γ _B (pressure derivative of the bulk modulus) and the Mean Square Displacement (MSD) characterising the anharmonicity of solids (and liquids) are the main parameters which govern the relaxation properties of the glass state. Linear relations between the parameters γ _B , the fragility m, and the Kohlrausch exponent n _g at T _g are explained. These correlations underscore a strong relationship between the fragilty of glass formers and the extent of the anharmonicity in the interatomic interactions.     

Thermal expansion of orthorhombic and tetragonal phases of the highT c superconductors RE1Ba2Cu3O y (RE=Y,Gd, Dy)

Measurements of the coefficient of linear thermal expansion α have been carried out for the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases of RE₁Ba₂Cu₃O _y (RE=Y, Gd, Dy) compounds using a high resolution capacitance dilatometer in the temperature range 77–300 K. All the superconducting samples exhibit a jump Δα at their respective transition temperatures,T _c. Evidences of, sample-to-sample variation in α values and dependence of Δα on the sample preparation conditions, have been obtained. The non-superconducting samples, in general, exhibit lower values of α possibly because of lowering of oxygen content.     

Di-pion emission in heavy quarkonia decays

The dipion spectrum for the ϒ(nS) → ϒ(n′S) transition with n < 4 has the form dw/dq ∼ (phase space) |η − x|², with x = q ² − 4m _π² / (ΔM)² − 4m _π² < q ² ≡ M _ππ², and ΔM = M(nS) − M(n′S). The parameter η is calculated and the spectrum is shown to reproduce the experimental data for all three types of decays: 3 → 1, 2 → 1, and 3 → 2 with η ≈ 0.5, 0, and −3, respectively. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

Optical studies of phase transitions in oxyfluoride (NH4)2NbOF5

Polarization-optical studies and measurements of the birefringence Δn and the angle of rotation of the optical indicatrix for the (NH₄)₂NbOF₅ crystal have been carried out in the temperature range 100–350 K. Two anomalies of the birefringence have been revealed at the temperatures T ₀₁ = 258 K and T ₀₂ ≈ 219 K. According to the twinning pattern, the crystal undergoes successive changes in symmetry: orthorhombic ↔ monoclinic 1 ↔ monoclinic 2. The twofold axis of the monoclinic phases (or the normal to the plane) is directed along [001]_or. The effect of the uniaxial compression along [011]_or and the electric field E ≈ 25 kV/cm along [100]_or on the twin structure has been studied. The ferroelastic phase transition at T ₀₁ is due to the appearance of the shear deformation x ₄(T) and is accompanied by significant anomalies of the birefringence. Strong pretransition phenomena mask the jumps in the birefringence Δn(T) and in the angle of rotation of the indicatrix φ(T) at T ₀₁.     

Rapid solidification of Al-Cu-Ag ternary alloy under the free fall condition

The rapid solidification of Al-30%Cu-18%Ag ternary alloy is investigated by using the free fall method. Its solidified microstructure is composed of θ(Al₂Cu), α(Al) and ξ(Ag₂Al) phases. The liquidus temperature and solidus temperature are determined as 778 and 827 K, respectively. The alloy melt undercooled amounts up to ΔT _Max=171 K (0.20T _L). Its microstructural evolution is investigated based on the theoretical analysis of undercooling behavior and nucleation mechanics. It is found that the undercooling increases with the decrease of the diameter of the alloy droplet. When ΔT<78 K, the primary θ(Al₂Cu) phase of the alloy grows into coarse dendrite. When 78 K⩽ΔT⩽171 K, its refined θ(Al₂Cu) phase grows alternatively with α(Al) phase. Once ΔT⩾171 K, its microstructure is characterized by the anomalous (θ+α+ξ) ternary eutectic. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 50121101 and 50395105)     

Microscopic theory of a strongly correlated two-dimensional electron gas

The rearrangement of the Fermi surface in a diluted two-dimensional electron gas beyond the topological quantum critical point has been examined within an approach based on the Landau theory of Fermi liquid and a nonperturbative functional method. The possibility of a transition of the first order in the coupling constant at zero temperature between the states with a three-sheet Fermi surface and a transition of the first order in temperature between these states at a fixed coupling constant has been shown. It has also been shown that a topological crossover, which is associated with the joining of two sheets of the Fermi surface and is characterized by the maxima of the density of states N(T) and ratio C(T)/T of the specific heat to the temperature, occurs at a very low temperature T _⋄ determined by the structure of a state with the three-sheet Fermi surface. A momentum region where the distribution n(p, T) depends slightly on the temperature, which is manifested in the maximum of the specific heat C(T) near T _*, appears through a crossover at temperatures T ∼ T _* > T _⋄. It has been shown that the flattening of the single-particle spectrum of the strongly correlated two-dimensional electron gas results in the crossover from the Fermi liquid behavior to a non-Fermi liquid one with the density of states N(T) ∝ T ^−α with the exponent α }~ 2/3.     

Search for the NN → 6q phase transition in the np-polarized measurements at T kin = 1–6 GeV

The measurements of np-spin observables at 0° have been performed for the first time on the Delta-Sigma experimental facility of LHE JINR up to P _n = 4.5 GeV/c using the monochromatic neutron beam. They include detailed measurements of the Δσ _L(np) spin differences and the study of the np → pn elastic charge-exchange process. In the Δσ _L(np) and −Δσ _L(I = 0) energy dependencies over the energy region T_kin = 1.2–3.7 GeV the peculiarity at 1.8 GeV was observed. Such energy behavior was predicted by the QCD approach as a signal of the NN → 6q phase transition. For the exhaustive investigation of this effect it is necessary to measure the energy dependence of the complete set of np observables with both longitudinal (L) and transverse (T) polarizations of the neutron beam and proton target. This will allow Direct Reconstruction of all three NN forward Scattering Amplitudes (DRSA) to be performed, and the observed peculiarity to be checked around T_kin = 1.8 GeV and at the higher energies using the Argand diagrams method.     

Absorption spectrum and excitons in thin films of the solid electrolyte RbCu4Cl3I2

We have investigated the absorption spectrum of thin films of the superionic conductor RbCu₄Cl₃I₂ synthesized on NaCl crystalline substrates. It is shown that the electron and exciton excitations in the energy interval 3–6 eV are associated with optical transitions in the CuHal sublattice, and the edge of the fundamental band is controlled by optical transitions in the Cu(II)Hal sublattice. It is found that the large band gap of this compound (E _g =3.86 eV) in comparison with those of CuCl and CuI is a result of the small number of Cu ions in the second coordination sphere. The temperature dependence of the spectral position and half-width of the low-temperature exciton band reveals features associated with the phase transitions γ→β (T _c1=170 K) and β→α (T _c2=220 K) and with disordering of the cation sublattice attendant to the transition to the superionic state. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1022–1026 (June 1998)     

Magnetocaloric effect in the Sm<Subscript>0.55</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.45</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganite

The magnetocaloric effect ΔT has been studied by a direct method in two samples of the manganite Sm_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃, namely, a single crystal (sample A) and a ceramic sample (sample C). The temperature dependences of the ΔT effect of both samples exhibit a maximum at T _max = 143.3 K for the sample A and T _max = 143 K for the sample C. In these maxima, the values of the ΔT effect are 0.8 and 0.4 K in the magnetic field H = 14.2 kOe for the samples A and C, respectively. In addition, the ΔT(T) curve of the sample A has a minimum at T _min = 120 K, in which ΔT = −0.1 K. The maximum value of the ΔT effect increases with an increase in the magnetic field H in the range of magnetic fields up to 14.2 kOe, and the rate of this increase at H > 8 kOe is higher than that at H < 8 kOe. These features of the ΔT effect are explained by the presence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic A- and CE-type clusters in the samples.     

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.     

A comprehensive,time-resolved SANS investigation of temperature-change-induced sponge-to-lamellar and lamellar-to-sponge phase transformations in comparison with <Superscript>2</Superscript>H -NMR results

Time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (TR-SANS) was employed to observe temperature-induced phase transitions from the sponge (L ₃ to the lamellar ( L _α phase, and vice versa, in the water-oil (n -decane)-non-ionic surfactant ( C₁₂E₅ system using both bulk and film contrast. Samples of different bilayer volume fractions φ and solvent viscosities η were investigated applying various amplitudes of temperature jump ΔT . The findings of a previous ²H -NMR study could be confirmed, where the lamellar phase formation was determined to occur through a nucleation and growth process, while it was concluded that the L ₃ -phase develops in a mechanistically different and more rapid manner involving uncorrelated passage formation. Likewise, the kinetic trends of the nucleation and growth transition (decreased transition time with increase of φ and ΔT were witnessed once again. Additionally, NMR and SANS data that demonstrate a strong dependency of that process on solvent viscosity η are presented. Contrariwise, it is made evident via both SANS and NMR results that the L _α -to-L ₃ transition time is independent (within experimental sensitivity) of the varied parameters (φ , ΔT , η . Unusual scattering evolution in one experiment, originating from a highly ordered lamellar phase, intriguingly hints that a major rate determining factor is the disruption of long-range order. Furthermore, the bulk contrast investigations give insight into structure peak shifts/development during the transitions, while the film contrast experiments prove the bilayer thickness to be constant throughout the phase transitions and show that there is no evidence for a change in the short-range order of the bilayer structure. The latter was considered possible, due to the different topology of the L ₃ and L _α phases. Lastly, an unexpected yet consistent appearance of anisotropic scattering is detected in the L ₃ -to- L _α transitions.     

Fine structure of strength functions for beta decays of atomic nuclei

The β transition strength function S _β(E) is the nuclear excitation energy distribution of moduli squared of the β-decay-type matrix elements. The function S _β(E) determines the characteristics of β decay, the spectra of accompanying radiation, and the probabilities of delayed processes following the β decay. Until recently, tools widely used for experimental investigation of the S _β(E) structure have been total absorption gamma spectrometers and total absorption gamma-ray spectroscopy (TAGS) which could not provide high energy resolution. Development of experimental techniques allows nuclear spectroscopy methods with high energy resolution to be used for studying the fine structure of S _β(E). A thorough investigation of this kind has been carried out for a number of nuclei produced at the YASNAPP-2 facility in Dubna. In this review, studies involving works on measuring the fine structure of S _β(E) in spherical and deformed nuclei are analyzed. Modern nuclear spectroscopy methods made it possible to identify the splitting of peaks from nuclear deformation in S _β(E) for Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions. The resonance nature of S _β(E) for first-forbidden (FF) transitions in both spherical and deformed nuclei is experimentally proven. It is shown that for some nuclear excitation energies, FF transitions can be comparable in intensity with GT transitions. Criteria for verifying the completeness of nuclear decay schemes are considered. The S _β(E) functions obtained by TAGS and by the high-resolution spectroscopy are compared.     

Influence of Thomson effect on the resultant local Seebeck coefficient in thermoelectric composite materials

The resultant local Seebeck coefficient α _R (=α _S−α _T) at the interface of a thermoelement has not yet been measured, although it is an important factor governing the thermoelectric efficiency, where α _S is the local Seebeck coefficient and α _T is the one caused by the Thomson effect. It is shown in this paper that α _S, α _T, and α _R of the p- and n-type Cu/Bi–Te/Cu composites are obtained analytically and experimentally on the assumption that the local temperature of the composite on which the temperature difference ΔT is imposed varies linearly with changes in position along the composite. They were indeed estimated as a function of position from the local experimental data of R,ΔI,ΔT, and V generated by applying an additional current of ±I to the composite, where R is the electrical resistance and ΔI is a current generated by the composite. As a result, it was found that the absolute values of α _S at the hot interface of the p- and n-type composites are approximately 1.5 and 1.4 times higher than their lowest values in the middle region of the composite, respectively, while those of α _T are less than 8% of α _S all over the composite and are so small that the relation α _R≈α _S can be held. We thus succeeded in measuring α _R at the interfaces of the composite.     

Quark momentum-space charge distribution in deuteron and neutron/proton structure functions ratio

The electromagnetic polarizabilities of the nucleon are shown to be essentially composed of the nonresonant α _p(E ₀₊) = + 3.2, α _n(E ₀₊) = + 4.1, the t-channel α ^t _{p, n} = - β ^t _{p, n} = + 7.6 and the resonant β _{p, n}(P ₃₃(1232)) = + 8.3 contributions (in units of 10^-4fm^3). The remaining deviations from the experimental data Δα _p = 1.2±0.6, Δβ _p = 1.2±0.6, Δα _n = 0.8±1.7 and Δβ _n = 2.0±1.8 are contributed by a larger number of resonant and nonresonant processes with cancellations between the contributions. This result confirms that dominant contributions to the electric and magnetic polarizabilities may be represented in terms of two-photon coupling to the σ-meson having the predicted mass m _σ = 666MeV and two-photon width Γ _γγ = 2.6keV.     

Effect of γ irradiation on the hysteresis phenomena at the incommensurate-commensurate phase transition in Rb2ZnBr4

The effect of γ irradiation on the temperature hysteresis in dielectric permittivity ɛ and loss tangent tan δ of crystalline Rb₂ZnBr₄ has been studied in the vicinity of the incommensurate-commensurate phase transition. The ɛ(T) and tan δ(T) curves were found to exhibit anomalies in the form of maxima. Hysteresis was observed in the measured properties, including the transition temperature T _c (ΔT=T _c ^h −T _c ^c ), in both unirradiated and irradiated samples. It is shown that, as the radiation dose increases the extent of the hysteresis ΔT increases, the values of ɛ _max and tan δ _max at the transition point decrease, and the anomalies wash out. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1911–1914 (October 1998)