Vortex lattice transitions in YNi2B2C

We have performed extensive small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) diffraction studies of the vortex lattice in single crystal YNi₂B₂C for B‖c. High-resolution SANS, combined with a field-oscillation vortex lattice preparation technique, allows us to separate Bragg scattered intensities from two orthogonal domains and accurately determine the unit cell angle, β. The data suggest that upon increasing field there is a finite transition width where both low- and high-field distorted hexagonal vortex lattice phases, mutually rotated by 45°, coexist. The smooth variation of diffracted intensity from each phase through the transition corresponds to a redistribution of populations between the two types of domains.     

Magnetism and superconductivity in ErNi2B2C

We have performed a series of neutron diffraction experiments from the magnetic order and the vortex lattice in single crystal ErNi₂B₂C. The incommensurate magnetic structure develops additional even harmonics below the ‘ferromagnetic’ ordering temperature, T _F of 2.3 K. This feature and the existence of rods of diffuse scattering suggest the development of ferromagnetic microdomain walls. The magnetic structure is very sensitive to the application of a magnetic field with changes in modulation vector and harmonic content. Studies of the vortex lattice show the presence of a 45° reorientation transition and a distorted hexagonal to square transition as a function of applied field. Further distortions of the vortex lattice occur at T _N, but no changes are seen at T _F.     

Possible coexistence of superconductivity and magnetic order in NdPt2B2C

Coexistence of superconductivity and magnetic order has been one of the exciting aspects of the quaternary borocarbide superconductors, So far, RNi₂B₂C (R=Tm, Er, Ho and Dy) are the only known magnetic superconductors in this family. Here, we present our resistivity, magnetization and heat capacity studies on NdPt₂B₂C (nominal composition, NdPt_1.5Au_0.6B₂C and NdPt_2.1B_2.4C_1.2). We find superconductivity in both samples with T _c,onset ∼ 3 K. Bulk magnetic order is found to occur below 1.7 K. We suggest that NdPt₂B₂C is a possible magnetic superconductor.     

Study of Crystal Structure of Polypropylene/Mg2B2O5 Whisker Composite

The effects of whisker content, sample holding time, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis of the crystal structure of polypropylene/Mg ₂ B ₂ O ₅ whisker composites were investigated. DSC shows a double melting peak, T ₁ at about 151°C and T ₂ at about 166°C. Detailed analysis of wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) shows that a γ phase may exist in the polypropylene/Mg ₂ B ₂ O ₅ composite. The experimental results also show that the crystal structure according to MPLT (melting peak at low temperature) was more perfect and the crystallinity according to MPLT increased with increasing whisker content. The sample holding time at room temperature following injection molding had a significant effect on the number of γ -crystal nuclei.     

Phonon-phonon interactions in (Lu, Y)Ni2B2C

The temperature dependence of the Δ₄ acoustic and optic mode, measured at q=(0.5,0,0) in LuNi₂B₂C, YNi₂B₂C were extended to 1000 K and new measurements on the mixed compound, Y_0.5Lu_0.5Ni₂B₂C, were undertaken to explore the mode coupling in these materials. The temperature behavior of each is different and cannot be explained by a simple mode coupling scheme of the acoustic and optic modes.     

de Haas-van Alphen effect in the superconducting state of YNi2B2C

To examine the Fermi surfaces of the recently discovered quaternery compounds RENi₂B₂C measurements of the de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) effect were made on YNi₂B₂C single crystals in magnetic fields up to 12 T. ForBc we observe two dHvA frequenciesF ₁=0.499 kT andF ₂=6.933 kT which corresponds to approximately 1,5% and 21% of the Brillouin zone cross section area. Both frequencies could be observed deep in the vortex state of the type-II superconductor, the lower dHvA frequency down to 2 T corresponding to roughly 1/5 of the upper critical fieldB _c2 which was found to be 10.6 T in resistivity measurements. The field dependent quasiparticle damping in the superconducting state is very weak, since the amplitude of the dHvA oscillations seems to be unaffected by the phase transition atB _c2.     

TiB2-reinforced B4C composites produced by reaction sintering at high-pressure and high temperature

ABSTRACT

Obtaining both high hardness and toughness is a challenge in B₄C-nano-adhesive composites. Solving the inhomogeneous distribution of nano-adhesives in B₄C and forming the chemical bonding at grain boundary is an effective method. Here, we reported that the uniform distribution of titanium diboride (TiB₂)-reinforced B₄C composites synthesized by high-pressure and high temperature (HPHT). It is found that HPHT sintering can effectively inhibit the grain growth and increase the relative density. Moreover, HPHT sintering can cross high reaction energy barrier and effectively promote the formation of chemical bonding at grain boundary between B₄C and TiB₂. The optimal hardness and toughness value reach 30.0?±?0.9?GPa and 7.87?MPa·m^1/2, respectively. The improvement of hardness and toughness in the final products are ascribed to the strengthening of nanoTiB₂ connection of B₄C boundary and intergranular fracture mechanism. This work suggests a new way to achieve the uniform distribution of nanoTiB₂ in B₄C and form the chemical bonding at grain boundary, which is of great significance to the further development of TiB₂-reinforced B₄C composites with excellent mechanical properties.     

Elastic and electronic properties of YNi2B2C under pressure from first principles

The elastic and electronic structure properties of YNi₂B₂C under pressure are investigated by performing the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and local density approximation (LDA) correction scheme in the frame of density functional theory (DFT). The pressure dependences of the normalized lattice parameters a/a₀ and c/c₀, the ratio c/a, and the normalized primitive volume V/V₀ of YNi₂B₂C are also obtained. The lattice constants and bulk modulus obtained are in agreement with the available experimental and other theoretical data. We have also studied the pressure dependences of elastic properties. It is found that, as pressure increases, the elastic constants C₁₁, C₃₃, C₆₆, C₁₂, and C₁₃ increase, the variation of elastic constant C₄₄ is not obvious. Moreover, our compressional and shear wave velocities V_L=6.99 km/s and V_S=3.67 km/s as well as the Debye temperature Θ=549.7 K at 0 GPa compare favorably with the available experimental data. The pressure dependences of band structures, energy gap and density of states are also investigated.     

TEM Characterisation of YNi2B2C Thin Film Microstructure

A thin film of the superconductor YNi₂B₂C deposited on an MgO(001) substrate by pulsed laser deposition has been investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Plan-view TEM analyses show that the YNi₂B₂C film consists of isolated rectangular grains distributed within a second phase. This phase was identified as the monoclinic phase Y₂Ni₁₅B₆ with lattice parameters a=1.422 nm,b=1.067 nm,c=0.958 nm and β=95°. Additionally, the cubic phase Y₂O₃ with lattice constant a=1.06 nm was identified within the film. PACS 74.70.Dd; 74.78.Db; 68.37.Lp; 68.55.-a     

Anomalous vortex dynamics in

We report on measurements of current–voltage (I–V) characteristics for YNi₂B₂C single crystals with weak pinning in various fields at 7.6 K. We find nonmonotonic, N-shaped I–V curves in a certain field region deep in the vortex solid phase. This behavior is anomalous, since there exists an intermediate I region where flow voltage V shows a decrease with increasing I (a driving force). While the exact nature remains unknown, this phenomenon suggests vortex motion (driving I) induced pinning.     

SrAl_2B_2O_7:Dy~(3+)材料的制备及其发光性能

采用高温固相法制备了SrAl2B2O7:Dy3+发光材料.在350nm紫外光激发下,测得SrAl2B2O7:Dy3+材料的发射光谱为一个多峰宽谱,主峰分别为480,573和678nm;分别和Dy3+的4F9/2→6H15/2,4F9/2→6H13/2,4F9/2→6H11/2的跃迁发射相对应;监测573nm的发射峰,得到材料的激发光谱为一个多峰宽谱,主峰分别为295,325,350,365,400nm.研究了Dy3+掺杂浓度对SrAl2B2O7:Dy3+材料发射光谱的影响,随着Dy3+掺杂浓度的增大,SrAl2B2O7:Dy3+材料的Iy/Ib逐渐增大,根据Judd-Ofelt理论解释了其原因.随着Dy3+掺杂浓度的增大,Dy3+的4F9/2→6H13/2跃迁产生的573nm发射峰强度先增大,在4%时达到最大值,之后减小,其自身的浓度猝灭机理为电偶极-电偶极相互作用.不同的电荷补偿剂Li+,Na+,K+的引入均使发光强度得到提高,尤其以Li+最佳,发光强度提高了大约33%.     

Detailed study of the de Haas-van Alphen effect in the Shubnikov state of LuNi2B2C

We present de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) measurements in the normal and in the superconducting state of LuNi₂B₂C. Inside the superconducting state, we observe quantum oscillations of a spherical Fermi-surface sheet in all crystallographic directions. Apart from the field region close to the phase transition where a strong peak effect hampers the analysis of the dHvA signal, the additional damping of the quantum oscillations inside the superconducting state is much smaller than expected from theory. For the magnetic field aligned along the [100] direction, three different dHvA frequencies are visible in the superconducting state. In particular, the orbit related to a cushion-like Fermi surface does not show any additional damping at and below the upper critical field contrary to theoretical expectations of simple effective one-band theories. Consequently, the superconducting gap on this Fermi-surface sheet can only evolve at lower fields than the observed bulk critical field, B _c2 ≈ 8 T, which clearly points to a Fermi-surface-sheet-dependent gap opening in LuNi₂B₂C.     

Theoretical study of B3O radical isomers and their interconversion pathways

Despite the fact that B₃O is the second simplest B _n O radical after BO, a controversy recently emerged concerning the molecular structure of its global minimum. Two recent theoretical groups predicted the linear quartet BBBO to be the ground isomer. By contrast, another recent theoretical group reported that B₃O has a doublet B₃-ring ground structure. Moreover, larger B _n O clusters usually have low-lying B₃-ring isomers. In order to determine the accurate energetic competition between linear and cyclic structures in both the doublet and quartet, and to understand the detailed isomerism between various isomers, which is vital for understanding the formation mechanism of B₃O, we report the first potential energy surface (PES) study of B₃O at various computational levels, including CCSD(T)/6-311+G(2df), CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ, CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVQZ and G3B3 for the single-point energy, as well as B3LYP/6-311+G(d) and QCISD/6-311+G(d) for geometrical optimisation. It is shown that the isomers in the quartet state are all thermodynamically more stable than the corresponding doublet ones, and on both the quartet and doublet PESs, the linear form has the lowest energy. Therefore, our study on both linear and cyclic isomers shows that the linear quartet BBBO ⁴ 01 is definitively the ground isomer. Although being much less stable than the quartet linear BBBO global minimum by >20 kcal mol^?1, five cyclic isomers exist as local minima, with the bi-cyclic structure ⁴ 02 possessing the smallest barrier of around 15 kcal mol^?1. The dissociation energies for direct combination processes B₃ + O, B₂ + BO and B + B₂O are discussed. The present work may be helpful in obtaining a deep understanding of the doping and oxidation process of pure B _n clusters.     

Vortex lattices in type-II superconductors studied by small-angle neutron scattering

Here we review recent small-angle scattering studies of the vortex lattice in a range of type-II superconductors carried out by our group. Emphasis is placed on providing examples of the kind of information which can be obtained by such measurements, focusing in particular on studies of the vortex lattice structure and form factor in LuNi₂B₂C, TmNi₂B₂C, CeCoIn₅ and Ba(Fe_0.93Co_0.07)₂As₂.     

Flux line lattice symmetries in the borocarbide superconductor LuNi2B2C

We compare the results of small angle neutron scattering on the flux line lattice (FLL) obtained in the borocarbide superconductor LuNi₂B₂C with the applied field along the c- and a-axes. For H‖c the temperature dependence of the FLL structural phase transition from square to hexagonal symmetry was investigated. Above 10 K the transition onset field. H ₂(T), rises sharply, bending away from H _c2(T) in contradiction to theoretical predictions of the two merging. For H‖a a first order FLL reorientation transition is observed at H _tr=3–3.5 kOe. Below H _tr the FLL nearest neighbor direction is parallel to the b-axis, and above H _tr to the c-axis. This transition cannot be explained using nonlocal corrections to the London model.     

Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8单晶中的反常尖锋效应

使用牛津震动样品磁强计(VSM)研究了Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈单晶的磁滞回线.在20到40K温度之间发现了反常的尖锋效应,随样品O含量的增加,发生尖锋效应的外场也相应提高.可以认为在尖峰效应处发生了由涡漩物质的有序固态到无序固态的相变,在有少量点缺陷存在的BSCCO单晶相图上,B_sp线终止于20K温度处,在20K以下温区没有发生准格子到涡漩玻璃的相变,涡漩固相始终以准格子形式存在;可以认为尖峰效 关键词： 2Sr₂CaCu₂O₈单晶')" href="#">Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈单晶 磁滞回线 尖锋效应 相变     

Investigation on densification of Al2O3/B4C ceramic by ab initio calculation and experiment

Compared to experiment, the adsorption energies, bonding properties, and electronic structure of two different Al₂O₃/B₄C bridge sites with seven different Al₂O₃ surfaces are investigated by ab initio periodic density functional theory. The Al₂O₃/B₄C ceramic sintered in Ar is synthesized and measured by XRD and TEM. The calculated results reveal that the densification of O_bridge site of Al₂O₃/B₄C surface is better than that of Al_bridge. The Al₂O₃ (1 1 3)/B₄C with O_bridge is the most favorable and stable. The electronic structure shows that the electron hybridization exists between Al, O atoms and C, B atoms. The results indicate that the calculated results are in good agreement with the experiment.     

Comparison of thermomagnetic history effects in weakly pinned single crystals of R 3Rh4Sn13 (R=Yb, Ca)

A comparative study of the thermomagnetic memory effects of J _c in two weakly pinned low T _c superconductors, Ca₃Rh₄Sn₁₃ (CaRhSn) and Yb₃Rh₄Sn₁₃ (YbRhSn), is presented. In both the systems, the peak effect (PE) phenomenon appears as an order-disorder transformation through stepwise amorphization of the flux line lattice (FLL). However, in CaRhSn. we can witness another disorder-driven transition (Bragg glass (BG) to a vortex glass (VG) in a distinct manner as in a single crystal of high T _c YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ for H‖c.     

Synthesis and characterization of thermoluminescent Li2B4O7 nanophosphor

Lithium borate (Li₂B₄O₇) is a low Z_eff, tissue equivalent material that is commonly used for medical dosimetry using the thermoluminescence (TL) technique. Nanocrystals of lithium borate were synthesized by the combustion method for the first time in the laboratory. TL characteristics of the synthesized material were studied and compared with those of commercially available microcrystalline Li₂B₄O₇. The optimum pre-irradiation annealing condition was found to be 300 °C for 10 min and that of post-irradiation annealing was 300 °C for 30 min. The synthesized Li₂B₄O₇ nanophosphor has very poor sensitivity for low doses of gamma up to 10¹ Gy whereas from 10¹ to 4.5×10² Gy this phosphor exhibits a linear response and then from 4.5×10² to 10³ Gy it shows supralinearity. Thermoluminescence properties of Li₂B₄O₇ nanophosphor doped with Cu has also been investigated in this paper. It shows low fading and a linear response over a wide range of gamma radiation from 1×10² to 5×10³ Gy. Therefore the synthesized lithium borate nanophosphor doped with Cu may be used for high dose measurements of gamma radiations.     

Critical current density of a YNi2B2C superconductor in the two-band Ginzburg-Landau model

An analytical formula is obtained for the temperature dependence of the critical current density of a two-band superconductor. In deriving the formula, linearized equations of the two-band Ginzburg-Landau theory are used and the results are compared with the experimental data for YNi₂B₂C.