Generation of a hollow laser beam by a multimode fiber

A simple method to generate a hollow laser beam by multimode fiber is reported.A dark hollow laser beam is generated from a multimode fiber and the dependence of the output beam profile on the incident angle of laser beam is analyzed.The results show that this hollow laser beam can be used to trap and guide cold atoms.     

Superhydrophobic iron material surface with flower-like structures obtained by a facile self-assembled monolayer

A simple and economical route based on a K₂CO₃ mediated process was developed to synthesize three-dimensional (3D) flower-like Fe₃O₄ micro/nanoflakes on the surface of iron plates by a direct in-situ hydrothermal synthesis method. The prepared micro/nanoflakes were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the width of the nanoflakes ranges from 50 to 100 nm, and the length of the flakes is about 3 μm. The morphology of Fe₃O₄ nanostructures can be tuned from simple isolated nanoflakes to the ordered 3D flower-like shape by increasing the reaction temperature. The wettability of the surface with 3D flower-like micro/nanoflakes was changed from hydrophilicity to superhydrophobicity by chemical modification with vinyl tirethoxy-silane. The static contact angles for water on both of the modified surfaces were larger than 150°, which was closely related to the chemical modification and hierarchical structure. Furthermore, the surfaces retained good superhydrophobic stability in long-term storage as well, which should be critical to the application of iron materials in engineering.     

Strong guiding of light in hollow nanowire structures

We have theoretically investigated the guiding mode patterns of hollow nanowires.Two types of nanowires, round shape and hexagonal shape,are examined with different combination of outer and inner radii. Because of electric field discontinuity at hollow interfaces and evanescent modes overlap in low refractive index region,strong light guiding and confinement are achieved in both hollow wire structures.     

Isothermal transport properties of Fe1−δO from a polarization method

We report chemical diffusion coefficient D̃ and effective charge number Z¹ measurements for various deviations from stoichiometry in Fei_1−δO and at various temperatures. The results are compared with available data, and correlation factors ⨍ for Fe_1−δO are deduced from the comparison of our D̃ values with available self-diffusion coefficients of iron D¹_Fe ⨍ is shown to be mostly invariant with temperature and nonstoichiometry. Its value lies in the range 0.54–0.62. The charge of the moving cations is $\text{Z}{}^1\text{= 2}$. These two results indicate that iron diffusion in Fe_1−δO is mediated by a vacancy mechanism from octahedral to octahedral positions within regions where the number of first Fe neighbours of a vacancy is much lower than 12.     

Calculation of the lowest 1 S resonance state of the H− anion by the stabilization method

By the example of the lowest resonance state of the H^? system, two versions of the stabilization method are considered: with introduction of an external potential into the Hamiltonian and with enlargement of the single-particle function basis. A comparison of the results suggests the possibility of applying these methods to calculating the resonance parameters in many-electron systems.     

Synthesis and structures of Al–Ti nanoparticles by hydrogen plasma-metal reaction

Three kinds of Al–Ti nanoparticles (7.7, 27.8, and 42.6 at.% Ti) have been prepared from Al–65, Al–85, and Al–88 at.% Ti master alloys by hydrogen plasma-metal reaction, with average particle sizes of 30, 25, and 80 nm, respectively. The higher evaporation rate of Al than Ti resulted in the low Ti contents in the nanoparticles than those in the master alloys. Microscopy observation revealed that the primary nanoparticles are spherical in shape, and occur as chain aggregates of several individual nanoparticles due to the faster collision rate than the coalescence rate. All the Al–Ti nanoparticles contain amorphous alumina layers of about 2–3 nm in thickness surrounding the crystalline core. AlTi intermetallic nanoparticles were successfully produced for Al–27.8 at.% Ti, with a single crystal of AlTi in one chain aggregate. The composite nanoparticles of Al together with some Al₃Ti phases are prepared for Al–7.7 at.% Ti, with each phase in the individual particle of one chain aggregate. The composite nanoparticles of AlTi with some AlTi₃ were produced for Al–42.6 at.% Ti, with each phase in the individual particle of one chain aggregate. The formation mechanism of Al–Ti nanoparticles was interpreted in terms of phase transition and the effect of hydrogen.     

Synthesis and optical properties of La1−XCeXMnO3 studied by infrared reflectivity measurements

The bulk polycrystalline La_1−xCe_xMnO₃ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8) manganites were synthesized through citrate sol-gel auto-combustion method for a wide range of composition 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis suggests the single phase rhombohedral (R-3c) symmetry for parent LaMnO₃ compound, however a secondary cubic (Fm-3 m) phase of cerium oxide (CeO₂) is appeared when Ce is incorporated into the LaMnO₃. A detailed XRD study of these materials were discussed, and specifically the infrared reflectivity measurements on La_1−xCe_xMnO₃ materials are discussed in this study for the first time. The phonon softening and hardening was observed for different modes but softening was found to be more pronounced which implied strong electron–phonon coupling. The most affected phonon mode was appeared for the doping range 0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.4, in which the largest softening was observed. The Lyddane–Sachs–Teller relation is verified by experimental FTIR data.     

Microstructure and magnetic characteristics of nanocrystalline Ni0.5Zn0.5 ferrite synthesized by a spraying-coprecipitation method

Nanocrystalline Ni0.5Zn0.5 ferrite with average grain sizes ranging from 10 to 100 nm is prepared by using a spraying-coprecipitation method. The results indicate that the nanocrystalline Ni0.5Zn0.5 ferrite is ferromagnetic without the superparamagnetic phenomenon observed at room temperature. Specific saturation magnetization of nanocrystalline Nio.sZno.5 ferrite increases from 40.2 to 75.6 emu/g as grain size increases from 11 to 94nm. Coercivity of nanocrystalline Ni0.5Zn0.5 ferrite increases monotonically when d 〈 62 nm.The relationship between the coercivity and the mean grain size is well fitted into a relation Hc - d^3. A theoretically evaluated value of the critical grain size is 141nm larger than the experimental value 62nm for nanocrystalline Ni0.5Zn0.5 ferrite. The magnetic behaviour of nanocrystalline Ni0.5Zn0.5 ferrite may be explained by using the random anisotropy theory.     

Comments on a peak of AlxGa1−xN observed by infrared reflectance

Al_xGa_1−xN epilayers, grown on c-plane oriented sapphire substrates by metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD), were evaluated using FTIR infrared reflectance spectroscopy. A peak at ∼850 cm⁻¹ in the reflectance spectra, not reported before, was observed. Possible origins for this peak are considered and discussed.     

Preparation and properties of Y1−xHoxBa2Cu3O7−δ thin films by TFA-MOD method

Y_1?xHo_xBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) thin films were prepared on LaAlO₃ (0 0 1) substrates by trifluoroacetate metal organic deposition (TFA-MOD) without change of the processing parameters. The highest J_c was attributed to the sample of Y_0.6Ho_0.4Ba₂Cu₃O_7?δ thin film, whose critical current density is about 1.6 times as compared to that of YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ thin film at 77 K and self field. The flux pinning type was not varied with Ho substitution and can be attributed to δl pinning model, which is attributed to the close ionic radius between the Y³⁺ and Ho³⁺ ions. The improvement of J_c by Ho substitution without change of the processing parameters will provide an effective route to enhance the J_c of YBCO-based thin films using TFA-MOD method.     

Galvanomagnetic infrared-luminescence of varying-gap CdxHg1−xTe/CdTe structures

Luminescence of varying-gap epitaxial Cd_xHg_1−xTe films at T = 295 K under conditions of magnetoconcentration effect were investigated theoretically and experimentally. Field and spectral characteristics of the positive and negative luminescence were studied. The use of varying-gap structures in combination with the magnetoconcentration effect for the excitation of luminescence in narrow-gap semiconductors at high temperatures is shown to be promising. In this case, high radiation power and the possibility of controlling the luminescence spectrum are demonstrated.     

Synthesis and characterisation of La1−xMnO3±δ nanopowders prepared by acrylamide polymerisation

La_1−xMnO_3±δ (x=−0.02 to 0.35) nanocrystalline powders were prepared by a new sol–gel method. It is used the acrylamide gelification to form an organic 3D tangled network where a solution of the respective cations is soaked. This method was adapted to cover a broad range of high impact electro–ceramic oxides, which a particular example is the CMR nanopowders reported in this work. The acrylamide sol–gel process is a fast, cheaper and easy to scale-up method for obtaining fine powders of complex oxides. This synthesis method allows performing 100 g of highly pure nanopowders in one run with simple laboratory scale. The sponge like powder obtained consists of thin sheets composed of nanocrystallites whose size varies from 66 nm to 30 nm, depending on composition. The oxygen content of the manganite powder is shown to decrease with vacancy-doping on lanthanum site. Such a evolution can be explained for La/Mn<0.9 by considering a demixtion of the powder into La_0.9MnO₃ and Mn₃O₄ phases, while for La/Mn>0.9, the high oxygen excess leads to consider vacancies on both lanthanum and manganese sites. Both hypotheses are supported by magnetic measurements, which show a constant Curie temperature of 295 K for La/Mn<0.9, while for La/Mn>0.9, the occurrence of vacancies on manganese sites progressively impedes the ferromagnetic interactions, leading to a cluster–glass behaviour in the case of the highly manganese-deficient La_0.94Mn_0.92O₃ compound.     

Synthesis and superconductivity properties of Ba1−xKxBiO3

Ba_1?xK_xBiO₃ with x from 0.315 to 0.6 were successfully synthesized by molten salts method and characterized by XRD and magnetic susceptibility measurements. It is found that Ba_1?xK_xBiO₃ powders could directly be precipitated from KOH melts. Superconductivity has been observed in all samples and the highest superconducting transition temperature was found to be T_c = 30.6 K with x = 0.4. The lattice constant linearly depended on the potassium content in accord with the equation of a = 4.3548–0.1743x, and the decrease of the mole ratio of Bi³⁺/Bi⁵⁺ resulted in the increase of the potassium content, which suggested the disproportionation of Bi valence.     

Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured (Pb1− x Sr x )TiO3 thin films by a modified chemical route

The coating solutions of nanostructured (Pb_{1– x} Sr _x )TiO₃ (PST) thin films have been prepared by the sol–gel combined metallo-organic decomposition method. The coating solutions were deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates using a spin-coating technique with spinning speed of 4300 rpm and annealed at 650°C. The effect of Sr content in reducing the grain size and tetragonal distortion of PST films has been studied. The optimum conditions for crystalline phase formation in the films have been analyzed by thermogravimetric, differential thermal analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The phase and microstructure of the films were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The XRD pattern shows that the PST thin films are crystallized into tetragonal structures without any impurity phase and the distortion ratio reduces with increasing Sr concentration. The AFM results indicate an increase in grain size with increasing annealing temperature of the film and reduction in grain size with increasing Sr concentration.     

Synthesis of Ag–ZnO powders by means of a mechanochemical process

Nowadays, Ag–CdO alloys are widely used in electrical contact applications, because of their good electrical and thermal conductivity is as well as high resistance to arc erosion and contact welding. Considering the restricted use of Cd due to its toxicity, it is necessary to find a material that can replace those alloys. The objective of this work was to study the possibility of obtaining an Ag–ZnO alloy from an Ag–Zn solid solution powders by means of a mechanochemical method. The mechanochemical process was carried out in a SPEX 8000D mill, under air and with ethanol as a reaction agent. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that an Ag–ZnO alloy with a fine and uniform ZnO distribution in the Ag matrix can be obtained by applying the mechanochemical process for 25 h.     

Synthesis,microstructure and dielectric properties of (1−x)PSN−xPLuN

Ceramic lead niobates and their solid solutions PSN–PLuN (pure lutecium niobate) were synthesized by solid state reactions. The sequence of phases formed at PSN–PLuN synthesis has been studied by X-ray analysis. Their symmetry changed from rhombohedral for PSN to pseudo-monoclinic for the 0.75PSN–0.25PLuN compositions. The performed EDS investigations revealed that the samples PSN–PLuN are perfectly sintered. They contain a little glassy phase and their grains are well shaped. The increase of lutecium content in the examined solid solution caused downward shift of the temperature of the phase transition. The decrease of the achieved permittivity values ? was observed as well.     

Preparation of CeO2 by a simple microwave–hydrothermal method

Cerium carbonate hydroxide (orthorhombic Ce(OH)CO₃) hexagonal-shaped microplates were synthesized by a simple and fast microwave–hydrothermal method at 150 °C for 30 min. Cerium nitrate, urea and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide were used as precursors. Ceria (cubic CeO₂) rhombus-shape was obtained by a thermal decomposition oxidation process at 500 °C for 1 h using as- synthesized Ce(OH)CO₃. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy. The use of microwave–hydrothermal method allowed to obtain cerium compounds at low temperature and shorter time compared to other synthesis methods.