Elastic instability of the nano-structured state as an intrinsic probe to study the early formation stages of sol–gel derived (Pb<Subscript>1-x</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>x</Subscript>)TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin films

A novel method to investigate the early formation stages of polycrystalline (Pb_1-xCa_x)TiO₃ (PCT) perovskite films by means of traditional Brillouin and micro-Brillouin spectroscopy (BS, mBS) is described in the present work. The films were prepared by chemical solution deposition (CSD) onto oxidized (100)Si substrates and treated at temperatures between 350–650 °C by rapid thermal processing (RTP). The elastic instability observed by Brillouin spectroscopy at the nano-structured state of the PCT films was used here to determine their crystallization temperatures. Coexistence of different nanocrystalline phases (e.g., pyrochlore, perovskite) in the films could also be detected by this technique. The reliability of these results is demonstrated by complementary information obtained by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning force microscopy (SFM). The effects of the annealing temperature and of the Ca²⁺ content on the crystallization process of these films are also discussed. PACS 78.35.+c; 77.84.-s; 61.82.Rx     

Binding energy of impurity states in an inverse parabolic quantum well under magnetic field

 We have investigated the effects of the magnetic field which is directed perpendicular to the well on the binding energy of the hydrogenic impurities in an inverse parabolic quantum well (IPQW) with different widths as well as different Al concentrations at the well center. The Al concentration at the barriers was always x_max=0.3. The calculations were performed within the effective mass approximation, using a variational method. We observe that IPQW structure turns into parabolic quantum well with the inversion effect of the magnetic field and donor impurity binding energy in IPQW strongly depends on the magnetic field, Al concentration at the well center and well dimensions.     

Dark matter annihilation in the Galaxy

The awaited dark matter (DM) neutralino annihilation signal from the galactic halo crucially depends on the presence of small-scale clumps. A mass function of the DM small-scale clumps is calculated in the standard cosmological scenario. The final distribution of clumps in the Galaxy is influenced by their tidal destruction. The basic sources of clump destruction are (i) clumps of larger scales, (ii) the gravitational field of the galactic disk, (iii) the stars in the galactic bulge, and (iv) the stars in the galactic halo. The destruction of clumps due to their mutual tidal interactions is important at earl stages of hierarchical clustering and the galactic halo formation. The clumps surviving through the hierarchical clustering are continuously destroyed by interactions with the galactic disk and stars. It is shown that, among the Moon or Earth mass DM clumps surviving through the hierarchical clustering, only 20% will further survive near the Sun’s position mainly because of the tidal destruction by the galactic disk. This reduction of DM clump density significantly diminishes the expected DM annihilation signal from the galactic halo. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Control of the temperature hysteresis and diffuse dielectric anomaly in the temperature range of the ferroelectric-antiferroelectric phase transition in PbZr1 − x TixO3 (0.03 ≤ x ≤ 0.05) ceramics

The magnitudes of the temperature hysteresis and diffuse dielectric anomaly corresponding to the transition from the antiferroelectric phase to the ferroelectric phase in PbZr_{1 ? x} Ti_xO₃ (0.03 ≤ x ≤ 0.05) ceramics can be reversibly changed by varying the temperatures of heating and cooling in the course of thermocycling. The results obtained indicate that the antiferroelectric-ferroelectric transition in the PbZr_{1 ? x} Ti_xO₃ ceramics materials is a smeared first-order phase transition.     

Influence of the prehistory of NaNbO3-Gd1/3NbO3 ceramics and single crystals on their dielectric properties

The dielectric properties of a ceramic and a single crystal of the same composition 0.9NaNbO₃-0.1Gd_1/3NbO₃ (NNG10) with different prehistories of the material are investigated in the low-and infralow-frequency ranges. It is revealed that the dielectric aging of the material based on the NaNbO₃ antiferroelectric with a smeared phase transition differs in character from similar phenomena observed in relaxor ferroelectrics.     

Influence of the defect structure on the electrical conductivity of Pb5Ge3O11 single crystals at high temperatures

The impedance spectra of Pb₅Ge₃O₁₁ single crystals are measured in the frequency range from 5 Hz to 13 MHz at temperatures of 600 to 800 K in dry air and in a dry or wet nitrogen gas. It is found that the temperature and the gas composition significantly affect the electrical properties of the compound. The data obtained are used to discuss the origin of crystal lattice defects and their influence on charge transfer. It is concluded that the conduction is mixed in character (p-type electronic and ionic due to oxygen ions). The proton conduction is shown experimentally to be feasible. The possible mechanisms of proton transport in Pb₅Ge₃O₁₁ are discussed.     

Structural phase transitions of the B1–B2 type in small-sized ionic crystals

The features of structural phase transitions that occur under high pressure are studied. The density functional theory is used to calculate the B1–B2 phase transition pressure as a function of the crystal size for small-sized alkali halide crystals. A size effect (an increase in the phase transition pressure as the crystal grain radius decreases) is revealed for the B1–B2 transitions in all halogen compounds except for lithium fluoride, for which the dependence is inverse.     

Design of the cold atom PHARAO space clock and initial test results

In this paper we describe the cold atom clock PHARAO, designed for microgravity operation. All elements of the PHARAO engineering model have been manufactured and delivered to CNES, the French space agency. We present the clock design, its main characteristics, and initial science operation. PHARAO is one of the main components of the Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space payload that is scheduled to fly on board the International Space Station in 2010. PACS 07.87.+v; 06.30.Ft; 95.55.Sh; 32.80.Pj     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of multilayer Ni/Cu and NiFe/Cu nanowires

Highly ordered composite nanowires with multilayer Ni/Cu and NiFe/Cu have been fabricated by pulsed electrodeposition into nanoporous alumina membrane. The diameter of wires can be easily varied by pore size of alumina, ranging from 30 to 100 nm. The applied potential and the duration of each potential square pulse determine the thickness of the metal layers. The nanowires have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), magnetic force microscopy (MFM), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements. The MFM images indicate that every ferromagnetic layer separated by Cu layer was present as single isolated domain-like magnet. This technique has potential use in the measurement and application of magnetic nanodevices.     

Noether analysis of zilch conservation laws and their generalization for the electromagnetic field. II. Use of poincaré-invariant formulation of the principle of least action

Uzhgorod Branch, Institute of Nuclear Research, Ukrainian SSR Academy of Sciences. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Matematicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 80, No. 3, pp. 340–352, September, 1989.