Crystallized state,thickening process,and crystal transformation of single crystal of trans-1,4-polybutadiene

The effect of heat treatment of trans-1,4-polybutadiene single crystals prepared from dilute benzene solution was studied by dilatometry, X-ray diffraction, and dynamic viscoelastic measurement. The crystal transformation temperature of the single crystal is 55.5[ddot]C, 20[ddot]C lower than that of the bulk crystallized sample. After heat treatment of the single crystal above 55.5[ddot]C, their crystal transformation temperature increases to 69.5[ddot]C. At the same time, thickening of the lamellae suddenly occurs and the viscoelastic primary absorption observed in the single crystal mat disappears. It is suggested that this means that the amorphous region attached to the single crystal rapidly crystallized above this temperature, in particular the loose loops attached to the end surface of the crystal are dragged into the crystalline phase to form tight loops as a result of the sliding diffusion of molecules along their axes. This is accompanied by the sudden thickening of the lamellae at the crystal transformation temperature. These observations confirmed more thoroughly our previous prediction that the single crystal of trans-1, 4-polybutadiene, as formed, contains loose loops. The thickening phenomena and the change in the crystal transformation temperature of the trans-1,4-polybutadiene single crystal by heat treatment are also discussed from the thermodynamic viewpoint.     

Growth,crystal perfection,optical and electrical properties of organic crystal: Brucinium 5-sulfosalicylate trihydrate

Single crystals of brucinium 5-sulfosalicylate trihydrate (B5ST) were grown from ethanol–water (1:1) mixed solvent by slow evaporation method. Structure and crystallinity of the grown crystal were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Presence of functional groups and coordination of brucine and 5-sulfosalicylic acid (5SSA) were confirmed by FT-IR and FT-Raman analyses. Optical transmittance spectrum shows the crystal having 90% transmittance in the visible region. The laser-induced surface damage threshold for the grown crystal was measured as 13.64 GW cm⁻² with Nd:YAG laser assembly. Dielectric study was performed on the single crystal to study the power dissipation of the material in the presence of alternating electric field. Crystal defects and surface morphology are studied by dissolution solvent technique and it reveals the layer growth mechanism for B5ST compound.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of the Li8FeSm22O38 single crystal

New single crystals of Li₈FeSm₂₂O₃₈ have been grown by spontaneous crystallization from a solution in melt. The structure of these crystals has been determined: it corresponds to the space group Im $\bar 3$ m. Investigations of the magnetic susceptibility in the ranges of temperatures 2?C24 K and fields up to 50 kOe have revealed a magnetic transition near 3 K. The temperature behavior of the magnetic susceptibility of the two-level system has been simulated. The results of the simulation agree with the experimental data. The resonance properties of Li₈FeSm₂₂O₃₈ have been studied in the temperature range 100?C300 K.     

Synchronization,zero-resistance states and rotating Wigner crystal

We show, in a framework of a classical nonequilibrium model, that rotational angles of electrons moving in two dimensions (2D) in a perpendicular magnetic field can be synchronized by an external microwave field whose frequency is close to the Larmor frequency. The synchronization eliminates collisions between electrons and thus creates a regime with zero diffusion corresponding to the zero-resistance states observed in experiments with high mobility 2D electron gas (2DEG). For long range Coulomb interactions electrons form a rotating hexagonal Wigner crystal. Possible relevance of this effect of synchronization-induced self-assembly for planetary rings is discussed.     

Misfit disclinations at crystal/crystal and crystal/glass interfaces

Theoretical concepts have been developed for a new type of misfit defects, misfit disclinations, at crystal/crystal and crystal/glass interfaces. It is shown, in particular, that the formation of misfit disclinations is an efficient physical micromechanism of misfit stress relaxation at crystal/crystal interfaces. A model describing misfit disclinations at crystal/glass interfaces has been constructed. The energy characteristics of phase boundaries with misfit disclination ensembles are estimated. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1637–1643 (September 1999)     

Thermal, mechanical, and electronic properties of glycine-sodium nitrate crystal

Glycine-sodium nitrate, C₂H₅N₂NaO₅ (GSN), crystals were grown from aqueous solutions by slow cooling with a temperature lowering rate of 1 °C/day in the range of 40-22 °C. These crystals were analyzed by differential thermal and thermogravimetric analysis (DTA-TGA) and mechanical hardness tester in order to obtain their thermal and mechanical properties. Mechanical characterization was done by studying the variation of microhardness with applied load. The dielectric properties of GSN were calculated by using the CASTEP code within the framework of the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). For better understanding of the optical properties of GSN, the second derivative of ε₂(E) was evaluated. DTA-TGA analysis showed that the material has a thermal stability up to 198 °C. The microhardness test was carried out for several faces of GSN crystals, and the tests revealed a load dependence to hardness. Analysis of the second derivative of ε₂(E) allowed to obtain better resolution of the electronic transitions involving the energy bands. Besides, a theoretical representation of the orbitals’ energy diagram was obtained. A discussion about the relation of structure-properties and molecular character of GSN is presented here.     

Synthesis,growth, optical properties of a new metalic crystal

The present fascinating field of research is synthesize, grow, and characterize NLO crystals. Optically good quality single crystals of Potassium Thiourea Carbonate (PTC) crystals have been grown by a slow evaporation method. The grown crystals were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR, UV–vis, micro hardness, impedence analysis. FTIR studies confirm the functional groups present in the grown crystal. The UV–vis spectrum showed the transmitting ability of the crystals in the visible region. Vickers micro hardness is showed the hardness of the material. The impedence of the crystal for various frequencies is also reported.     

Advanced piezoelectric crystal Ca3TaGa3Si2O14: growth,crystal structure perfection,and acoustic properties

A five-component crystal of the lanthanum–gallium silicate family Ca₃TaGa₃Si₂O₁₄ (CTGS) was grown by the Czochralski method. The CTGS crystal, like the langasite crystal (La₃Ga₅SiO₁₄, LGS), possesses unique temperature properties and the fewer number of the Ga atoms in the unit cell makes the density much lower and, consequently, increases the velocity of acoustic wave propagation. The unit-cell parameters were determined by the powder diffraction technique. The defects in the CTGS crystal structure were studied by X-ray topography, which enables the visualization of growth banding characteristics of crystals grown by the Czochralski method. Surface acoustic wave (SAW) propagation in the CTGS crystal was investigated by the high-resolution X-ray diffraction method on the BESSY II synchrotron radiation source. The velocities of propagation and power flow angles of SAWs in the Y- and X-cuts of the CTGS crystal were determined from the X-ray diffraction spectra.     

A review of: “Comparative crystal chemistry: temperature,pressure, composition and the variation of crystal structure”

By R. M. Hazen and L. W. Finger. Wiley (1982). Price: £19.50 (U.K.)     

Piezoelectric La3Ga5.3Ta0.5Al0.2O14 crystal: growth,crystal structure perfection,piezoelectric, and acoustic properties

A five-component crystal of lanthanum–gallium silicate group La₃Ga_5.3Ta_0.5Al_0.2O₁₄ (LGTA) was grown by the Czochralski method. The LGTA crystal possesses unique thermal properties and substitution of Al for Ga in the unit cell leads to a substantial increase of electrical resistance at high temperatures. The unit cell parameters of LGTA were determined by powder diffraction. X-ray topography was used to study the crystal structure perfection: the growth banding normal to the growth axis were visualized. The independent piezoelectric constants d ₁₁ and d ₁₄ were measured by X-ray diffraction in the Bragg and Laue geometries. Excitation and propagation of surface acoustic waves were studied by the double-crystal X-ray diffraction at the BESSY II synchrotron radiation source. The analysis of the diffraction spectra of acoustically modulated crystals permitted the determination of the velocity of acoustic wave propagation and the power flow angles in different acoustic cuts of the LGTA crystal.     

Synthesis, crystal growth and characterization of 1,5-diphenylpenta-1,4-dien-3-one: An organic crystal

1,5-Diphenylpenta-1,4-dien-3-one ( dibenzalacetone, DBA) was synthesized by a base-catalyzed aldol condensation reaction between benzaldehyde and acetone. High quality single crystals have been grown by the slow evaporation of ethanol solution and the crystal belongs to monoclinic system with centrosymmetric space group C 2/c. The DBA crystals are transparent in the entire visible region and have a lower optical cutoff at ∼440 nm. It is stable up to 119 °C and has a good chemical stability. The high resolution X-ray diffraction curve (DC) indicates that the specimen is free from structural grain boundaries. Molecular packing leads to a centrosymmetric arrangement resulting in zero second harmonic generation (SHG; χ⁽²⁾=0) efficiency.     

Ultra-wideband single-polarization single-mode, high nonlinearity photonic crystal fiber

We report a novel design of photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with a rectangular array of four closely-spaced, highly elliptical air holes in the core region and a circular-air-hole cladding. The proposed PCF is able to support ultra-wideband single-polarization single-mode (SPSM) transmission from the visible band to the near infrared band. With the aid of the inner cladding formed by the central air holes, one polarization of the fundamental mode can be cut off at very short wavelengths and ultra-wideband SPSM propagation can be achieved. The inner cladding also suppresses the higher order modes and allows large air filling fraction in the outer cladding while the proposed fiber remains SPSM, which significantly reduces the mode effective area and the confinement loss. Our simulation results indicate that the proposed PCF has a 1540 nm SMSP range with <0.25 dB/km confinement loss and an effective area of 2.2 μm². Moreover, the group velocity dispersion (GVD) of the proposed PCF can also be tuned to be flat and near zero at the near infrared band (∼800 nm) by optimizing the outer cladding structure, potentially enabling many nonlinear applications.     

光子晶体光纤的原理、结构、制作及潜在应用

传统光纤中的光能损耗和色散是阻碍其进一步向大容量和远距离通信方向发展的主要原因，因此制造具有低色散和低损耗的光子晶体光纤成为光纤技术努力的方向。在介绍光子晶体光纤的制作、导光原理和特点的基础上，研究了普通光纤不具备，而光子晶体光纤所具有的无休止的单模特性、奇异的色散特性、可控的非线性和易于实现的多芯传输等特点。研究结果表明，光子晶体光纤在光纤传感器、光子晶体天线、超宽色散补偿、光学集成电路等多方面具有广泛的应用前景。     

Switchable photonic crystal for polymer dispersed liquid crystal

Single-prism systems are used to fabricate electrically switchable Photonic Crystal (PhC) structures in Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) films. The optical configuration is simple, stable and repeatable. A good agreement between theoretical and experimental results is obtained for the PhC structures. Hexagonal far-field diffraction patterns and electrical switching characteristics are also investigated. The smallest droplets of liquid crystals are 10 nm in diameter. The switching voltage can be decreased to 13.3 V/μm.     

相场晶体法模拟过冷熔体中的晶体生长

利用相场晶体(phase-field crystal)模型,采用有限差分法,模拟了过冷熔体中晶体生长过程,研究了不同相区、不同过冷度对晶体生长过程的影响.结果表明,在共存区中,随着演化的进行,晶体生长被抑制,液-晶边界层逐渐变厚;在单相区中,随着过冷度的增大,晶态区面积显著增加,液-晶边界层逐渐变薄.晶体生长速度和过冷度成近似线性的关系. 关键词： 相场晶体 自由能函数 过冷熔体 晶体生长     

Liquid crystal deposition on poled, single crystalline lithium niobate

For the purpose of elucidating the mechanisms for molecular organization at poled ferroelectric surfaces, single crystalline lithium niobate (LN), ‘Z-cut’ along the (0 0 0 1) plane, has been prepared and characterized and subsequently exposed to liquid crystal molecules. As a model system we chose to study the anchoring of 4-n-octyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (8CB) to LN. Liquid crystalline films are of interest because of their useful electronic and optical properties as well as chemical sensing attributes. Low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), atomic force microscopy (AFM), surface contact angle measurements (CA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the surface of lithium niobate as well as the nature of 8CB films grown on the surface. Atomically flat LN surfaces were prepared as a support for monolayer thick, 8CB molecular domains. 8CB liquid crystal molecules were deposited by an ambient vaporization technique and the films were analyzed using XPS and CA. Understanding electrostatic anchoring mechanisms and thin film organization for this molecule on uniformly poled surfaces allows for a fuller appreciation of how molecular deposition of other polarizable molecules on periodically poled and patterned poled lithium niobate surfaces would occur.     

Annealing effect on Cr,Yb:YAG laser crystal

The absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, and lifetimes of as-grown and annealed Cr,Yb:YAG crystal grown by Czochralski technique have been measured. The broad absorption bands in the visible region increase in intensity and shift to long wavelength after annealing, and the additional absorption around 482 nm may be possibly due to new octahedral Cr4+ center in the crystal, and the increase in the infrared (IR) region is due to the increase of Cra+. The increase of Cr4+ also results in the groud state absorption and the concentration quenching of Ybs+ in Cr,Yb:YAG crystal after annealing, the fluorescence intensity is reduced to 75% and the emission lifetime is shortened from 1.40 to 0.44 ms.