Low-frequency noise and inelastic tunneling spectroscopy in Fe(1 1 0)/MgO(1 1 1)/Fe(1 1 0) epitaxial magnetic tunnel junctions

We report on tunnelling magnetoresistance (TMR), current–voltage (IV) characteristics and low-frequency noise in epitaxially grown Fe(1 1 0)/MgO(1 1 1)/Fe(1 1 0) magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) with dimensions from 2×2 to 20×20 μm². The evaluated MgO energy barrier (0.50±0.08 eV), the barrier width (13.1±0.5 Å) as well as the resistance times area product (7±1 MΩ μm²) show relatively small variation, confirming a high quality epitaxy and uniformity of all MTJs studied. At low temperatures (T<10 K) inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS) shows anomalies related to phonons (symmetric structures below 100 meV) and asymmetric features above 200 meV. We explain the asymmetric features in IETS as due to generation of electron standing waves in one of the Fe electrodes. The noise power, though exhibiting a large variation, was observed to be roughly anti-correlated with the TMR. Surprisingly, for the largest junctions we observed a strong enhancement of the normalized low-frequency noise in the antiparallel magnetic configuration. This behavior could be related to the influence of magnetostriction on the characteristics of the insulating barrier through changes in local barrier defects structure.     

Electrophoretic study of the effect of ultradisperse iron powder on cotton seed proteins

The protein composition of seeds treated with a suspension of ultradisperse iron was studied using electrophoresis on PAAG. Changes were noted in the fractions with relative electrophoretic mobility (REM) 0.11 of water-soluble and REM 0.37 of buffer-soluble An-9 cotton seed proteins. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 384–385, July–August, 2006.     

Effects of ground-state correlations on 2νββ decay rates and limitations of the QRPA approach

Half-lives of the 2νββ decay are calculated in the proton-neutron QRPA for⁷⁶Ge,⁸²Se,¹⁰⁰Mo,^128,130Te,¹³⁶Xe and¹⁵⁰Nd. The strength of the particle-particle interaction, which plays a decisive role for a reliable evaluation of the half-lives, is determined from a QRPA calculation of singleβ ⁺ decays. The 2ν decay rates calculated with the interaction strength fitted in this way are strongly suppressed and found to be consistent with the existing experimental data. Effects of the ground-state correlations on the suppression are investigated. On the other hand, the present calculation indicates limitations of the QRPA approach.     

Oil Migration in Chocolate

Oil migration in filled chocolates limits shelf life due to texture changes and loss of visual appeal. Spatial and temporal oil concentration changes of a two-layer chocolate and peanut butter filling system, which models a filled chocolate, were monitored by magnetic resonance imaging. Formulations of chocolate varied with respect to particle size, milk fat content and emulsifier level. Sorption-time experimental data was used to establish the best fit diffusion coefficient for a Fickian diffusion model. On the basis of the comparison of spatial experimental data to the model, Fickian diffusion alone does not account for oil migration. Authors' address: Michael J. McCarthy, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA     

Y2Rh3Ge, a rhombohedral substitution variant of the MgCu2 type

The structure of Y₂Rh₃Ge has been determined and refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data (R = 0.042). It is a rhombohedral, ternary, ordered variant of the cubic Laves structure type MgCu₂, with space group and c = 11.82(1)Å for the triple hexagonal cell. The c/a ratio (2.13) is significantly lower than the value for the triple hexagonal cell of the cubic lattice of the parent structure type (2.45), resulting in shorter distances between Rh and Ge atoms than between Rh atoms. The isotypy of Pr₂Rh₃Si, Er₂Rh₃Si, Pr₂Rh₃Ge, and Er₂Rh₃Ge has been established from Guinier films. The Y₂Rh₃Ge structure is compared with the binary compound YRh₂, crystallizing with the MgCu₂ structure, and with three other simple, ternary, ordered substitution derivatives of the Laves phase types MgZn₂ and MgCu₂.     

Dynamics of a polymer chain in an array of obstacles

On the basis of the model “polymer chain in an array of obstacles” the influence of the topology effects on the dynamics of concentrated polymer systems is investigated theoretically. The 1/z-expansion (where z is the coordinational number of the lattice of obstacles) is proposed for this problem. By means of this expansion the diffusion coefficient of a linear unclosed polymer chain is calculated. The equilibrium properties of linear closed chain (i.e. ring) unentangled with either of the edges of the lattice are investigated in detail. In particular, it is shown that the diffusion coefficient D of the center of mass of closed chain consisting of N links is proportional to N^−5/2.     

Critical points in the Bragg glass phase of a weakly pinned crystal of Ca3Rh4Sn13

New experimental data are presented on the scan rate dependence of the magnetization hysteresis width ΔM(H) (∞ critical current densityJ _c(H)) in isothermalMH scans in a weakly pinned single crystal of Ca₃Rh₄Sn₁₃, which displays second magnetization peak (SMP) anomaly as distinct from the peak effect (PE). We observe an interesting modulation in the field dependence of a parameter which purports to measure the dynamical annealing of the disordered bundles of vortices injected through the sample edges towards the destined equilibrium vortex state at a givenH. These data, in conjunction with the earlier observations made while studying the thermomagnetic history dependence inJ _c(H) in the tracing of the minor hysteresis loops, imply that the partially disordered state heals towards the more ordered state between the peak field of the SMP anomaly and the onset field of the PE. The vortex phase diagram in the given crystal of Ca₃Rh₄Sn₁₃ has been updated in the context of the notion of the phase coexistence of the ordered and disordered regions between the onset field of the SMP anomaly and the spinodal line located just prior to the irreversibility line. A multi-critical point and a critical point in the (H,T) region of the Bragg glass phase have been marked in this phase diagram and the observed behavior is discussed in the light of recent data on multi-critical point in the vortex phase diagram in a single crystal of Nb.     

A Mössbauer spectroscopic study of an industrial catalyst for dehydrogenation of etylbenzene to styrene

Iron oxide catalyst with spinel structure used for dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene is one kind of important catalyst in petrochemical industry. In this work several series of industrial catalyst were prepared with different components and different manufacturing processes. Mössbauer Spectroscopy has been used to determine the optimal components and the better manufacturing process for spinel structure formation. The results may prove useful for producing the industrial dehydrogenation catalyst with better catalytic property.     

Precise lattice parameter measurements in CsCl-Br solid solutions between room temperature and 90°K by powder x-ray diffraction

Solid solutions of CsCl-Br in five different concentrations were prepared in sealed quartz tubes by heating the mixture to 1123°K for 6–8 hr and quenching to room temperature. X-ray diffractograms were taken at eight different temperatures between room temperature and 90°K for these solid solutions using the YPC50NM powder diffractometer and a continuous flow cryostat. The observed lattice parameters for each sample at each temperature obtained from the powder diffractograms were then extrapolated to give the true lattice parameters using the least square method with Nelson-Riley extrapolation scheme. The values of the true lattice parameters at each concentration and at each temperature were tabulated and the results discussed. It is shown that the lattice parameters vs temperature for some concentrations exhibit an anomalous behaviour. Contribution No. 691