Novel pattern formation in the collapse process of floating monolayer at the air-water interface

We have observed a remarkable two-armed spiral in the collapse process of a floating monolayer at the air-water interface by phase contrast microscopy. This demonstrates that the floating monolayer as a form of soft condensed matter reorganizes itself due to a certain kind of macroscopic or collective behavior of molecules as it collapses. This pattern formation is caused by the breakdown of a critical dynamical balance between the deformation of solid domain and the applied surface pressure. The fragility as well as the flexibility of the floating monolayer can be associated with the observed pattern growth. There are also observed interesting, periodically arranged collections of molecules in numerous collapsed regions. Received: 8 July 1997 / Accepted: 4 November 1997     

Shape anisotropy and magnetic domain structures in striped monolayers

We study the effect of dipolar interactions on a magnetic striped monolayer with a microscopic unit cell of square symmetry, and of size spins. Even if the aspect ratio r=N _x /N _y is very large, an in-plane shape anisotropy is always negligible, except if N_y is fairly small (N _y <40). In-plane domains are not possible, except for values of the dipolar coupling larger than the domain wall energy. Received: 11 July 1997 / Revised: 24 September 1997 / Accepted: 24 October 1997     

Proximity effect in Fe/Pb/Fe trilayers

We have studied superconducting and magnetic properties of sputtered Fe/Pb/Fe-trilayers. For a fixed Pb thickness and with changing Fe thickness, , a monotonic decrease of the superconducting transition temperature was observed. Magnetization measurements clearly showed that Fe remains ferromagnetic down to the monolayer range. A quantitative comparison of with the theory of pair breaking by the exchange field reveals that the observed -suppression by the ferromagnetic Fe-layer is much weaker than expected. Possible reasons for the reduced -suppression in this system are discussed. Received: 30 June 1997 / Revised: 20 August 1997 / Accepted: 16 December 1997     

Quantum and semiclassical dynamics of differential optical collisions

We apply quantum and semiclassical theories to differential optical collisions Na(3²S_1/2) + Kr + Na(3²P_1/2,3/2) + Kr. Our results provide a basis to analyze recent experiments in which for the first time optical collisions were investigated with angular resolution under crossed-beam conditions. A characteristic feature of the differential cross sections is the pronounced oscillatory structure due to interferences of different Condon paths. These Stueckelberg oscillations form an extremely sensitive probe of the collisional dynamics and of the molecular interactions. We demonstrate perspectives to determine geometric properties of the collision complex by excitation with polarized light. By final state analysis nonadiabatic (spin-orbit, rotational) interactions can be studied with complete control of the path. In summary it is shown that the method of differential detection of optical collisions opens a variety of new accesses to atomic and molecular subcollisions. Received: 30 July 1997 / Received in final form: 5 November 1997 / Accepted: 8 January 1998     

Collision induced dissociation of the heteronuclear alkali ion .Comparison with the and dissociations

An experimental study of the dissociation of the heteronuclear Na ion by collisions with He and H₂ targets at a collision energy of 2.4 keV is presented. The use of a technique based on the measurement of the velocity vectors of the fragments allows investigating in detail the two basic dissociation mechanisms: impulsive and electronic. In the present asymmetric case, one is able to assess the relative role of close encounters with each of the Na⁺ and atomic cores of the molecule. Electronic transitions at a surface crossing are proposed to explain processes which happens in close collisions between the core and the He target. Received: 3 October 1997 / Revised: 1 December 1997 / Accepted: 16 January 1998     

Inelastic neutron scattering from H2 on vapour deposited CO2

Inelastic neutron scattering spectra at 17 meV and 68 meV incident energies of molecular hydrogen adsorbed on vapour deposited substrates of pure CO₂, 90:10 and 50:50 CO₂:Kr are reported. The ortho-para transition is shifted from 14.7 meV in the free H₂-molecule to 9.4 meV in a presumably commensurate ortho-H₂ monolayer on the CO₂ surface. The quadrupole-quadrupole interaction of ortho-H₂ molecules with the CO₂ substrate results in a strongly anisotropic potential. In addition to rotations the dynamics of this layer comprise a local Einstein mode and phonons in resonance with the substrate, giving rise to intense multiphonon transitions. Quasielastic scattering on warmer samples is assigned to a liquidlike adsorption layer, in which the H₂ rotations are strongly perturbed. Received: 15 October 1996 / Revised: 25 August 1997 / Accepted: 24 October 1997     

Multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock calculation of transition energies in highly ionized bismuth, thorium, and uranium

Structure and QED effects for and levels are calculated for lithiumlike U⁸⁹⁺ trough neonlike U⁸²⁺, lithiumlike Th⁸⁷⁺ trough neonlike Th⁸⁰⁺ and lithiumlike Bi⁸⁰⁺ trough neonlike Bi⁷³⁺. The results of the first two sets are compared with recent measurements of the transition energy in 3 to 10-electron ions. Good agreement with experiment is found for most of the observed lines. Forty-one possible transitions are calculated for each ion in the eight ionization states, in the experimental energy range. Twenty-eight of these transitions have not been observed, nor calculated previously. We also calculate transition rates, branching ratios, excitation and ionization cross sections and confirm that the thirteen experimental o bserved transitions correspond to the ones with highest relative intensities. However, we find nineteen more transitions that could be measured in a more sensitive experiment. Received: 5 November 1997 / Accepted: 8 December 1997     

Can we rationalize the structure of small silicon-carbon clusters?

A theoretical study of clusters with using density functional theory is presented. Tests of various functionals demonstrate that local spin density approximation (LSDA) is the most adequate functional for the study of these systems. Structures, vibrational frequencies, and IR intensities of the lowest energy isomer of the studied clusters obtained using LSDA are described, and the unusual properties of the Si-C clusters are discussed. A quantitative analysis of the obtained structures was carried out, and relations between the coordinations, interatomic distances, and angles observed in the Si-C clusters were obtained through introduction of the notion of coordination. This analysis also shows that the carbon atoms mainly exhibit sp and sp² hybridizations, and that a majority of silicon atoms do not hybridize. This study is the fi rst step of the implementation of a semi-empirical potential, which would describe the moderately small Si-C clusters. Received: 20 October 1997 / Received in final form: 16 December 1997 / Accepted: 17 December 1997     

Noise-assisted mound coarsening in epitaxial growth

Two types of mechanisms are proposed for mound coarsening during unstable epitaxial growth: stochastic, due to deposition noise, and deterministic, due to mass currents driven by surface energy differences. Both yield the relation H=(RWL)² between the typical mound height W, mound size L, and the film thickness H. An analysis of simulations and experimental data shows that the parameter R saturates to a value which discriminates sharply between stochastic () and deterministic () coarsening. We derive a scaling relation between the coarsening exponent 1/z and the mound-height exponent which, for a saturated mound slope, yields . Received: 11 November 1997 / Revised in final form: 28 November 1997 / Accepted: 28 November 1997     

Fermi liquid theory: a renormalization group approach

We show how Fermi liquid theory results can be systematically recovered using a renormalization group (RG) approach. Considering a two-dimensional system with a circular Fermi surface, we derive RG equations at one-loop order for the two-particle vertex function in the limit of small momentum () and energy () transfer and obtain the equation which determines the collective modes of a Fermi liquid. The density-density response function is also calculated. The Landau function (or, equivalently, the Landau parameters F _l ^s and F _l ^a ) is determined by the fixed point value of the -limit of the two-particle vertex function (). We show how the results obtained at one-loop order can be extended to all orders in a loop expansion. Calculating the quasi-particle life-time and renormalization factor at two-loop order, we reproduce the results obtained from two-dimensional bosonization or Ward Identities. We discuss the zero-temperature limit of the RG equations and the difference between the Field Theory and the Kadanoff-Wilson formulations of the RG. We point out the importance of n-body () interactions in the latter. Received: 27 June 1997 / Received in final form: 17 December 1997 / Accepted: 26 January 1998     

Scattering from solutions of star polymers

We study the scattering intensity of dilute and semi-dilute solutions of star polymers. The star conformation is described by a model introduced by Daoud and Cotton. In this model, a single star is regarded as a spherical region of a semi-dilute polymer solution with a local, position dependent screening length. For high enough concentrations, the outer sections of the arms overlap and build a semi-dilute solution (a sea of blobs) where the inner parts of the actual stars are embedded. The scattering function is evaluated following a method introduced by Auvray and de Gennes. In the dilute regime there are three regions in the scattering function: the Guinier region (low wave vectors, ) from where the radius of the star can be extracted; the intermediate region () that carries the signature of the form factor of a star with f arms: ; and a high wavevector zone () where the local swollen structure of the polymers gives rise to the usual q ^-5/3 decay. In the semi-dilute regime the different stars interact strongly, and the scattered intensity acquires two new features: a liquid peak that develops at a reciprocal position corresponding to the star-star distances; and a new large wavevector contribution of the form q ^-5/3 originating from the sea of blobs. Received: 3 September 1997 / Revised: 13 January 1988 / Accepted: 31 March 1998     

Effective magnetic anisotropy of nanocrystalline Nd-Fe-Ti-N hard magnetic alloys

The intermetallic compound Nd-Fe-Ti-N has been successfully synthesized by a mechanical alloying process. The structure and magnetic properties of the sample have been studied using X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. It is found that alloy exhibits a nanocrystalline ThMn₁₂-type tetragonal structure with lattice parameters of a=0.8723 nm and c=0.4896 nm. The saturation magnetization M_S and effective magnetic anisotropy K_eff of the compound have been determined by investigating magnetization processes. The calculated results based on the law of approach to magnetic saturation have been successfully used to determine the constant K_eff. The difference between observed and calculated values in magnetization is lower than 3%. Of all terms in the law of approach to saturation, it is the 1/H ² term, which is attributed more to non-compensated anisotropy energy, that has the prevailing effect for the compound. The absorption of nitrogen is found to increase unit cell volume, M_S and K_eff. Received: 28 October 1996 / Revised: 14 March 1997 and 4 August 1997 / Accepted: 8 August 1997     

Lattice damage and Al-metal precipitation in 2.5 MeV-electron-irradiated AlH3

AlH₃ powder was bombarded with energetic electrons at 20 K and at room temperature and investigated by EPR, NMR, X-ray diffractometry, and microwave dielectric-constant measurements. The EPR spectra of the irradiated powder and of a selected single crystal cuboid of mm edge show a complex asymmetric line centered at g = 2.009, with a Curie-like temperature dependence, attributed to radiation-induced color centers and/or their agglomerates. At the same time, the grains, which have become shiny black after irradiation, exhibit an increase of both the real and the imaginary part of . ²⁷Al-NMR spectra of the irradiated powder present a Knight-shifted line at 1600(50) ppm, close to the position of bulk metallic Al, and corresponding to a concentration of c(Al) . In addition, the main hydride line differs from that before irradiation, demonstrating an alteration of environmental symmetry. The irradiation induces also a change in shape and width of the ¹H-NMR line, another indication of symmetry change in the lattice. Finally, a refined X-ray single-crystal structure analysis of the irradiated cuboid indicates a change of structure from trigonal R -3 c to R -3, with a loss of mirror symmetry for the two Al sites caused by the introduction of Al-defects in the vicinity of one of them. Received: 20 October 1997 / Revised: 24 December 1997 / Accepted: 30 January 1998     

Low frequency dielectric permittivity of quasi-one-dimensional conductor (TMTTF)2Br

Conductivity and permittivity of the organic transfer salt (TMTTF)₂Br have been measured at low frequencies (10²-10⁷ Hz) between room temperature down to 4 K. The real part of the permittivity, , is shown to grow below the temperature at which the conductivity is maximum due to charge localization of Mott-Hubbard type. reaches a maximum of 10⁵-10⁶ at 35 K-50 K depending on the samples. Decreasing temperature below , sharply decreases down to helium temperature through the antiferromagnetic phase transition at T _N = 15 K. We explain the magnitude, the temperature and frequency dependence of as resulting from short range charge density wave states in the temperature range where charge localization occurs. This interpretation is supported by recent X-ray scattering measurements. Received: 10 October 1997 / Revised: 28 February 1998 / Accepted: 3 March 1998     

Evolution from BCS superconductivity to Bose condensation: analytic results for the crossover in three dimensions

We provide an analytic solution for the mean-field equations and for the relevant physical quantities at the Gaussian level, in terms of the complete elliptic integrals of the first and second kinds, for the crossover problem from BCS superconductivity to Bose-Einstein condensation of a three-dimensional system of free fermions interacting via an attractive contact potential at zero temperature. This analytic solution enables us to follow the evolution between the two limits in a particularly simple and transparent way, as well as to verify the absence of singularities during the evolution. Received: 9 May 1997 / Revised: 4 August 1997 / Accepted: 6 November 1997     

Induced ferrielectricity in antiferroelectric liquid crystals

The behaviour of the antiferroelectric SmC_A liquid crystal phase under applied electric field is discussed theoretically. The phase diagram involving the SmA, SmC_A and SmC _A ^* phases is worked out and shown to exhibit a Lifshitz critical point. The deformation of the bilayer structures induced by the field transforms the SmC_A phases into a ferrielectric phase whose specific configuration is described. Received: 23 October 1997 / Revised: 8 April 1998 / Accepted: 14 July 1998     

Impurity scattering in d-wave superconductivity. Unitarity limit versus Born limit

As is well known, Zn-substitution of Cu in the Cu-O₂ plane in the hole-doped high T_c cuprates provides a semi-quantitative test of underlying d-wave superconductivity. Here we complement this with a parallel study of Ni-substitution, which gives rise to weak scattering described with the Born approximation. Received: 7 November 1997 / Revised: 14 November 1997 / Accepted: 24 November 1997     

Non-linear response and electron-electron interactions in mesoscopic metal rings

A time-dependent electric field gives rise to a stationary non-equilibrium current I ⁽²⁾ around a mesoscopic metal ring threaded by a magnetic flux. We show that this current, which is proportional to the intensity of the field, is closely related to the exchange part of the interaction contribution to the equilibrium persistent current, and that the corresponding non-linear conductivity directly measures the weak localization correction to the polarization. We explicitly calculate the disorder average of I ⁽²⁾ in the diffusive regime as function of the frequency of the electric field and the static flux piercing the ring, and suggest an experiment to test our theory. Received: 5 September 1997 / Accepted: 4 November 1997     

Mode-coupling crossover in viscous toluene revealed by neutron and light scattering

The dynamics of supercooled toluene, studied in a GHz-THz range by incoherent neutron and depolarized light scattering, is found to be in full accord with mode coupling predictions. Around the susceptibility minimum, neutron spectra are wavenumber independent and proportional to light scattering data; the fast -relaxation scaling law applies; amplitude and frequency diverge with power laws that extrapolate towards a crossover temperature K. Received: 20 June 1997 / Accepted: 3 November 1997