Hysteresis loop construction for the metal-semiconductor phase transition in vanadium dioxide films

Thermal hysteresis of the reflectivity of vanadium dioxide films observed upon the metal-semiconductor phase transition is studied. The major hysteresis loop is assumed to form when the phase equilibrium temperature in film grains and the grain size vary and correlate with each other. Within the suggested concept of hysteresis loop formation, it is demonstrated that the major loop may be asymmetric, i.e., broadened (shifted) toward lower temperatures. Unlike hysteresis branches for VO₂ bulk single crystal, those for VO₂ films are extended along the temperature axis and may exhibit a step if the grain size distribution has several maxima. The validity of the concept is verified experimentally. It is also shown that atomic force microscopy (AFM) data for the grain size distribution can serve to determine the distribution parameters from the phase equilibrium temperatures without constructing a complete set of minor hysteresis loops, as was required before.     

橡皮筋的滞后现象实验研究

用实验研究了普通橡皮筋膜中的滞后现象,结果表明橡皮筋的伸长量和外力的关系不完全满足胡克定律,在外力作用下橡皮筋也存在滞后回著名的磁滞回线有相似的几何形状。     

Size effects upon phase transitions in vanadium oxide nanocomposites

A phenomenological model has been proposed for the formation of the major thermal hysteresis loop of optical parameters upon the semiconductor-metal phase transition in vanadium oxide nanocomposites. It has been demonstrated that the effects associated with the influence of nanocrystallite sizes on the phase transition temperature in an individual nanocrystallite, which is determined by the width of the elementary hysteresis loop and the position of the phase equilibrium temperature on the temperature scale, manifest themselves in the form of pronounced features in the loop shape. In particular, the size effects for VO₂ polycrystalline films are observed in the formation of a trapezoidal shape of the optical thermal hysteresis loop with a wide lower base, whereas these effects for nanocomposites based on porous glasses with VO₂ nanocrystals are revealed in the form of the optical hysteresis loop with a narrow lower base (wide upper base). The proposed model also explains the symmetric shape of the major hysteresis loop for vanadium oxide nanocomposites based on opals. The size effects in opal nanocomposites with strictly fixed sizes of pores and, therefore, nanocrystallite sizes manifest themselves in the form of well-defined steps in the heating and cooling branches of the major hysteresis loop.     

Magnetic and ferroelectric properties of Zn and Mn co-doped BaTiO_3

This paper reports an approach to obtaining multiferroic properties in co-doped(Zn:Mn) Ba Ti O3 near room temperature.Interestingly,an unusual magnetic hysteresis loop is observed in the co-doped compositions in which the central portion of the loop is squeezed.However,in the composition Ba0.9Zn0.1Ti0.9Mn0.1O3,a broad magnetic hysteresis loop is observed.Such a magnetic effect is attributed to the coexistence of antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic exchange interactions in the system.The observation of the above type of magnetic properties is likely to be due to the presence of exchange interactions between Mn ions.A lossy-type of ferroelectric hysteresis loop is also observed in co-doped ceramic compositions near room temperature.     

Amplitude-dependent elastic-modulus defect in the main dislocation-hysteresis models

The amplitude-dependent defect of the elastic modulus has been calculated for the three main dislocation-hysteresis models: (i) breakaway hysteresis of Granato-Lücke, (ii) Davidenkov hysteresis, and (iii) friction hysteresis without restoring force (WRF). The ratio r of the amplitude-dependent decrement to the modulus defect has been considered for all three types of loops, and it is shown that, in a general case, r depends on the vibration amplitude. In the particular case of power-law amplitude dependences of the decrement and the modulus defect, r does not depend on amplitude and depends only on the exponent n. Expressions have been obtained for the r(n) dependence for the three hysteresis-loop types, and it is demonstrated that r can serve to identify the loop shape. A comparison of calculated curves with experimental data accumulated to date shows that most of them lie closer to the Davidenkov and WRF hystereses. An analysis has been made of the applicability of the secant modulus-defect approximation used to derive the dislocation strain from internal-friction measurements. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1214–1221 (July 1999)     

Theoretical studies on the pyroelectric properties of two component composite ferroelectric thin film

Using a Ginzburg–Landau–Devonshire type model, the pyroelectric property and hysteresis loop are studied for a composite ferroelectric thin film that contains an insertion of a different type of ferroelectric material in parallel connection with the host ferroelectric film material. If these two types of ferroelectric materials are polarized along the same direction, there are two peaks occur in the pyroelectric coefficient vs temperature curve. If the two ferroelectric materials are polarized in opposite directions, one positive and one negative coefficient peaks occur in the temperature dependence of pyroelectric coefficient curve and the hysteresis loop appears to be a quasi-double loop. The effect of the external electric field on the pyroelectric coefficient is also investigated.     

Hysteresis behaviors in a cylindrical Ising nanowire

The hysteresis behaviors of the cylindrical Ising nanowire are investigated within the effective-field theory with correlations at temperatures below, around and above the critical temperature. The hysteresis curves are obtained for different reduced temperatures both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions between the shell and the core. We find that the hysteresis loop areas decrease when the reduced temperatures increase, and the hysteresis loops disappear at certain reduced temperatures. Moreover, for the antiferromagnetic nanowire the hysteresis loop areas disappear earlier than the ferromagnetic case as the reduced temperature increases. An unusual form of triple hysteresis behaviors is observed for the antiferromagnetic nanowire system. The thermal behaviors of the coercivities and remanent magnetizations are also investigated. The results are in good agreement with some experimental and theoretical results.     

Hysteresis and avalanches in the site-diluted Ising model: comparison with experimental results in Cu–Al–Mn alloys

We study the zero temperature properties of hysteresis in a site-diluted Ising model. The model exhibits a critical line separating a disordered from an incipient ferromagnetic ground state: the shape of the hysteresis loop changes from a smooth cycle (formed as a sequence of tiny avalanches) to a sharp cycle exhibiting a macroscopic reversal of the magnetization for a given value of the field (infinite avalanche). Criticality is characterized by power-law distribution of avalanche sizes. Model predictions are contrasted with experimental results obtained in Cu–Al–Mn alloys.     

Switching processes and the electronic subsystem in ferroelectric ceramic of the barium-lead niobate type

This paper is devoted to the study of the relation between switching processes and the states of the electronic subsystem in a ferroelectric ceramic. Experimental observations of the dielectric hysteresis loops at 5·10^–3 Hz, thermally stimulated currents, the relaxation of the conductivity, and the temperature dependence of the stationary conductivity in the temperature range 280–423 K were performed. Formulas are proposed for calculating the hysteresis loop and the coefficient of dielectric viscosity from the parameters of the hysteresis loop. It is established that for a ferroelectric ceramic of the BLN type charge carriers localized at the levels 0.18, 0.25, 0.27, and 0.37 eV play the determining role in the formation of the equilibrium ferroelectric state far from the phase-transition point. It is shown that the coefficient of dielectric viscosity for polycrystalline samples is determined by the relaxation time of the electronic subsystem and the orientation of the internal field in the sample.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 2, pp. 9–14, February, 1989.In conclusion we thank V. P. Kamentsev and A. V. Nekrasov for a useful discussion of this work.     

Effect of annealing temperature on the structural and electrical properties of SrBi2Ta2O9 thin films for memory-based applications

Ferroelectric SrBi₂Ta₂O₉ (SBT) thin films were grown on p-type (1 0 0) Si substrates by radio frequency sputtering technique. The crystallinity of the films was studied using grazing incidence X-ray diffraction pattern. The spectra showed the films were polycrystalline with dominant orientation along (1 1 5) plane. The surface morphology was investigated by atomic force microscope. The chemical composition was studied by Rutherford back-scattering, which yielded a near stoichiometric composition of SBT. The capacitance–voltage characteristics of Al/SBT/Si capacitors measured at 100 kHz showed a hysteresis nature with a clockwise rotation and the memory window of the hysteresis loop was 0.88 V with the gate voltage ±5 V. The interface trap density was calculated by using Hills method at room temperature and a value in the order of 10¹¹–10¹² eV⁻¹ cm⁻² was found depending on the crystallization temperature at midgap region.     

Structural and magnetic properties of nano nickel-zinc ferrite synthesized by reverse micelle technique

Nanocrystalline nickel-zinc ferrites (Ni_0.58Zn_0.42Fe₂O₄) at different pH values (less than 9.6, 9.6, 10.96, and 11.40) for the alkali-precipitating reaction were synthesized by reverse micelle technique. X-ray diffraction reveals a well-defined nickel-zinc ferrite crystal phase at pH=9.6. Increase in pH value obstructs pure-phase formation and results in partial formation of α-Fe₂O₃. The magnetic behaviour of the samples was studied by superconducting quantum interference device. All the samples show superparamagnetic behaviour at room temperature (300 K) and negligible hysteresis at low temperature (5 K). The low value of saturation magnetization is explained on the basis of spin canting. The high-field irreversibility and shifting of the hysteresis loop detected in single-phase sample has been assigned to a spin-disordered phase, which has a spin-freezing temperature of approximately 42 K and other two samples have an antiferromagnetic phase (α-Fe₂O₃) coupled to the ferromagnetic phase.     

Numerical simulations of the flapping of a three-dimensional flexible plate in uniform flow

The self-sustained flapping of a three-dimensional flexible plate in a uniform viscous flow is numerically simulated with a fictitious domain method. The effects of the various non-dimensional control parameters including the Reynolds number, the density ratio, the dimensionless shear modulus, the length–thickness ratio, and the width–length ratio on the flapping of the plate are investigated. The results show that there exist two flapping modes: symmetrical and asymmetrical flapping about the centerline in the spanwise direction. Near the critical point a decrease in the plate width–length ratio, or the increase in the Reynolds number or the reduced velocity (a combination of the density ratio, the dimensionless shear modulus, and the length–thickness ratio) can make symmetric (or nearly symmetric) flapping become asymmetric. It is found that the flapping amplitude is mainly controlled by the density ratio and the dimensionless elastic modulus, while the frequency by the density ratio and the length–thickness ratio. In addition, the flapping amplitude and frequency are affected significantly by the confinement effect of the computational domain, and normally enhanced as the confinement effect becomes stronger. The effects of the plate width and the mass ratio (i.e., the ratio of the length–thickness and density ratios) on the critical reduced velocities are examined. The results indicate that when the fluid–plate mass ratio (or the plate length–thickness ratio) is relatively small there exist two significantly different critical velocities for the flapping instability, depending on the strength of initial plate deformation, a hysteresis phenomenon. No obvious hysteresis can be observed when the fluid–plate mass ratio (or the plate length–thickness ratio) is large.     

Molecular mechanism of adsorption/desorption hysteresis: dynamics of shale gas in nanopores

Understanding the adsorption and desorption behavior of methane has received considerable attention since it is one of the crucial aspects of the exploitation of shale gas. Unexpectedly, obvious hysteresis is observed from the ideally reversible physical sorption of methane in some experiments. However, the underlying mechanism still remains an open problem. In this study, Monte Carlo (MC) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are carried out to explore the molecular mechanisms of adsorption/desorption hysteresis. First, a detailed analysis about the capillary condensation of methane in micropores is presented. The influence of pore width, surface strength, and temperature on the hysteresis loop is further investigated. It is found that a disappearance of hysteresis occurs above a temperature threshold. Combined with the phase diagram of methane, we explicitly point out that capillary condensation is inapplicable for the hysteresis of shale gas under normal temperature conditions. Second, a new mechanism, variation of pore throat size, is proposed and studied. For methane to pass through the throat, a certain energy is required due to the repulsive interaction. The required energy increases with shrinkage of the throat, such that the originally adsorbed methane cannot escape through the narrowed throat. These trapped methane molecules account for the hysteresis. Furthermore, the hysteresis loop is found to increase with the increasing pressure and decreasing temperature. We suggest that the variation of pore throat size can explain the adsorption/desorption hysteresis of shale gas. Our conclusions and findings are of great significance for guiding the efficient exploitation of shale gas.     

Importance of pore length and geometry in the adsorption/desorption process: a molecular simulation study

Discrete potentials can describe properly the liquid vapour boundary that is necessary to model the adsorption of gas molecules in mesoporous systems with computer simulations. Although there are some works in this subject, the simulations are still highly time-consuming. Here we show that an efficient alternative is to use the three-dimensional Ising model, which allows one to model large systems, with geometries as complex as required that accurately represent the liquid vapour boundary. In particular, we report molecular simulations of cylindrical pores of two different geometries, using a discrete potential. The effect of the length of the pore in the hysteresis loop for a finite pore and infinite one is studied in detail. Lastly, we compare our predictions with experimental results and find excellent agreement between the area of the hysteresis loop predicted for the finite pore and that found in adsorption/desorption experiments.     

Cyclic stress-strain curves and internal friction of steel at ultrasonic frequencies

A new interpretation of some characteristics of material push-pull loaded at a frequency of 23 kHz can be evaluated by measuring the internal friction and elasticity modulus defect at different strain amplitudes. It is possible to obtain interesting relations describing the material's cyclic microplasticity response. The paper presents some basic relationships between the ‘plastic’ internal friction, elasticity modulus defect, hysteresis loop area, plastic strain amplitude and the cyclic deformation hardening coefficient, for low carbon steel with different grain sizes.     

Photoinduced phase transition in an organic radical crystal with room-temperature optical and magnetic bistability

A phase control by photoirradiation is successfully achieved in a spin-Peierls system of the organic radical crystal, 1,3,5-trithia-2,4,6-triazapentalenyl (TTTA), which exhibits optical and magnetic bistability around room temperature with a large hysteresis loop. A nanosecond laser pulse is found to induce a transition from a diamagnetic low-temperature phase to a paramagnetic high-temperature phase both inside (296 K) and outside (11 K) the hysteresis loop. Comparison of the excitation energy dependence between transition efficiency and photoconductivity suggests that the photoinduced transition is driven by suppression of the spin-Peierls instability by the accumulation of photocarriers.     

外场作用下铁电/铁磁双层膜的极化磁化性质

建立了铁电/铁磁双层膜模型,铁电层的电矩用连续标量描述,而铁磁层的自旋应用经典矢量描述.利用蒙特卡罗方法模拟了体系的热力学性质和极化、磁化行为.给出了零场下体系的内能、比热、极化和磁化随温度变化的关系,并分别研究了体系在外磁场和外电场下的极化和磁化行为.模拟结果表明,双层膜体系的内能、比热、极化和磁化性质因层间耦合系数的不同而明显不同,当界面耦合较弱时,双层膜表现出各自的热力学性质,当层间耦合增强到一定程度时,双层膜耦合为一个整体,表现出统一的热力学性质.该双层膜在外场中形成电滞回线和磁滞回线,并表现出偏置特性,界面耦合强度和温度影响滞后回线和偏置现象.     

磁性薄膜的晶格结构和磁性

采用Monte-Carlo模拟方法对六边形、正方形和三角形晶格结构磁性薄膜的磁学特性及磁畴结构进行了模拟,结果表明,磁性薄膜的磁性特征及其磁相变温度和薄膜结构密切相关并存在临界膜厚,当薄膜厚度大于临界膜厚时薄膜磁性特征稳定.在低温区,不同结构磁性薄膜的磁滞回线均出现台阶现象,结果同相关实验一致.     

Hysteresis mediated by a domain wall motion

The position of an interface (domain wall) in a medium with random pinning defects is not determined unambiguously by the instantaneous value of the driving force, even on average. Employing the general theory of the interface motion in a random medium, we study this hysteresis, different possible shapes of the hysteresis loop, and the dynamical phase transitions between them. Several principal characteristics of the hysteresis, including the coercive force and the curves of dynamical phase transitions obey scaling laws and display a critical behavior in the vicinity of the mobility threshold. At finite temperature the threshold is smeared and a new range of thermally activated hysteresis appears. At a finite frequency of the driving force there exists a range of the non-adiabatic regime in which not only the position, but also the average velocity of the domain wall, displays hysteresis.     

Exchange bias with Fe substitution in LaMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

We observe the negative shift of the magnetic hysteresis loop at 5 K, while the sample is cooled in external magnetic field in case of 30% of Fe substitution in LaMnO₃. The negative shift and training effect of the hysteresis loops indicate the phenomenon of exchange bias. The cooling field dependence of the negative shift increases with the cooling field below 7.0 kOe and then, decreases with further increase of cooling field. The temperature dependence of the negative shift of the hysteresis loops exhibits that the negative shift decreases sharply with increasing temperature and vanishes above 20 K. Temperature dependence of dc magnetization and ac susceptibility measurements show a sharp peak (T_p) at 51 K and a shoulder (T_f) around 20 K. The relaxation of magnetization shows the ferromagnetic and glassy magnetic components in the relaxation process, which is in consistent with the cluster-glass compound.