Effect of solute atoms on grain boundary sliding in magnesium alloys

The effect of solid-solution alloying on grain boundary sliding (GBS) was investigated using pure magnesium and six kinds of Mg–X (X?=?Ag, Al, Li, Pb, Y and Zn) dilute binary solid solutions with an average grain size of 10?µm. A sharp increase in damping capacity caused by GBS was observed above a certain temperature. The temperature at which a sharp increase in damping capacity occurred depended on the alloying element. The addition of Y and Ag markedly increased the onset temperature (more than 100?K) for a sharp increase in damping capacity, whereas the addition of Zn, Al and Li slightly increased the onset temperature (less than 50?K) as compared with that for pure magnesium. Tensile tests at a temperature of 423?K revealed that the higher the onset temperature, the lower the strain rate sensitivity of the flow stress. It is suggested that the former elements (Y and Ag) are more effective in suppressing GBS in magnesium alloys than the latter ones (Zn, Al and Li). The suppression of GBS was associated with low grain boundary energy, and the extent to which the energy is reduced depended on the alloying element. It was suggested that the change in the lattice parameter (the so-called c/a ratio) affects the grain boundary energy, and thus, the occurrence of GBS.     

Observation of the fast potential change at L-H transition by a heavy-ion-beam probe on JFT-2M

The fast potential change near the separatrix is measured directly at the L-H transition by a heavy-ion-beam probe. The potential changes with two different time scales at the L-H transition triggered by a sawtooth crash: it drops at first with the time scale of 10--100 mus just after the arrival of the heat pulse due to the sawtooth crash. Then, it decreases again at a few 100 mus after the first drop at a time scale of about 200 mus.     

Density matrix and eigenstates for an excess electron in water

We extend the molecular theory of the solvated electrons [Chandler, Singh and Richardson, J. Chem. Phys. 81, 1975 (1984)] to calculate the density matrix for an excess electron in water. Using this density matrix, the numerically obtained solvent induced interaction [Miura and Hirata, J. Phys. Chem. 98, 9649 (1994)] and our developed method [Sethia, Sanyal and Singh, J. Chem. Phys. 93, 7268 (1990)], we have calculated the eigenstates of the electron in water. These results show that the excees electron in water behaves almost like a free particle with effective mass m* in a constant potential well.     

Multiresolution Approach to Image Reconstruction with Phase-Diversity Technique

A multiresolution analysis is adopted to improve an image reconstruction with a phase-diversity technique. The phase distribution at low resolution is first estimated and then is used as an initial estimate for phase reconstruction at a higher resolution level. Computer simulations are conducted to confirm the proposed method. The method is applied for image reconstruction of solar granulation.     

Development of Very-Low-Temperature Millimeter-Wave Electron-Spin-Resonance Measurement System

We report the development of a millimeter-wave electron-spin-resonance (ESR) measurement system at the University of Fukui using a ³He/⁴He dilution refrigerator to reach temperatures below 1 K. The system operates in the frequency range of 125–130 GHz, with a homodyne detection. A nuclear-magnetic-resonance (NMR) measurement system was also developed in this system as the extension for millimeter-wave ESR/NMR double magnetic-resonance (DoMR) experiments. Several types of Fabry–Pérot-type resonators (FPR) have been developed: A piezo actuator attached to an FPR enables an electric tuning of cavity frequency. A flat mirror of an FPR has been fabricated using a gold thin film aiming for DoMR. ESR signal was measured down to 0.09 K. Results of ESR measurements of an organic radical crystal and phosphorous-doped silicon are presented. The NMR signal from ¹H contained in the resonator is also detected successfully as a test for DoMR.     

Magnetism in singlet ground states

The spin‐gap phenomenon is a key characteristic of high T_c superconducting cuprates, whose experimental results are summarized and discussed in the context of the slave‐boson mean field theory of the extended t–J model. It is seen that there exists satisfactory agreement between theory and experiments in bilayer cuprates. As regards the apparent absence of the spin‐gap in single layer La_2-xSr_xCuO₄ (LSCO), the possible roles played by disorder have been pointed out in view of the recent neutron scattering experiment on other spin singlet systems, the spin‐Peierls CuGeO₃ and two‐leg ladders. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Raman probe using a single hollow waveguide

A simple Raman probe was realized using a single flexible hollow waveguide (HW). A HW coated with a silver film, which had reasonable transmission and little optical background noise, was used as a bidirectional transmission fiber for both the excitation and collection of Raman scattered light. The HW itself generated no Raman scattering or fluorescence noise during transmission. A complex filtering system at the end of the waveguide was thus unnecessary. In addition, the measured Raman spectra showed better signal-to-noise ratios than a conventional Raman fiber probe. The HW's suitability as a Raman fiber probe was also demonstrated.