Velocity dispersion and attenuation in granular marine sediments: comparison of measurements with predictions using acoustic models

The large velocity dispersion recently reported could be explained by a gap stiffness model incorporated into the Biot model (the BIMGS model) proposed by the author. However, at high frequencies, some measured results have been reported for negative velocity dispersion and attenuation proportional to the first to fourth power of frequency. In this study, first, it is shown that the results of velocity dispersion and attenuation calculated using the BIMGS model are consistent with the results measured in two kinds of water-saturated sands with different grain sizes, except in the high-frequency range. Then, the velocity dispersion and attenuation in six kinds of water-saturated glass beads and four kinds of water-saturated silica sands with different grain sizes are measured in the frequency ranges of 80-140 and 300-700 kHz. The measured results are compared with those calculated using the BIMGS model plus some acoustic models. It is shown that the velocity dispersion and attenuation are well predicted by using the BIMGS model in the range of kd ≤ 0.5 (k: wavenumber in water, d: grain diameter) and by using the BIMGS model plus multiple scattering effects in the range of kd ≥ 0.5 in which negative velocity dispersion appears.     

Ring polymers in melts and solutions: scaling and crossover

We propose a simple mean-field theory for the structure of ring polymer melts. By combining the notion of topological volume fraction and a classical van der Waals theory of fluids, we take into account many-body effects of topological origin in dense systems. We predict that although the compact statistics with the Flory exponent ν=1/3 is realized for very long chains, most practical cases fall into the crossover regime with the apparent exponent ν?2/5 during which the system evolves toward a topological dense-packed limit.     

Finsler geometry of topological singularities for multi‐valued fields: Applications to continuum theory of defects

Topological singularity in a continuum theory of defects and a quantum field theory is studied from a viewpoint of differential geometry. The integrability conditions of singularity (Clairaut‐Schwarz‐Young theorem) are expressed by a torsion tensor and a curvature tensor when a Finslerian intrinsic parallelism holds for the multi‐valued function. In the context of the quantum field theory, the singularity called an extended object is expressed by the torsion when the intrinsic parallelism is related to the spontaneous breakdown of symmetry. In the continuum theory of defects, the path‐dependency of point and line defects within a crystal is interpreted by the non‐vanishing condition of torsion tensor in a non‐Riemannian space osculated from the Finsler space, and the domain is not simply connected. On the other hand, for the rotational singularity, an energy integral (J‐integral) around a disclination field is path‐independent when a nonlinear connection is single‐valued. This means that the topological expression for the sole defect (Gauss‐Bonnet theorem with genus ) is understood by the integrability of nonlinear connection.

     

Multiphoton double ionization of Ar in intense extreme ultraviolet laser fields studied by shot-by-shot photoelectron spectroscopy

Photoelectron spectroscopy has been performed to study the multiphoton double ionization of Ar in an intense extreme ultraviolet laser field (hν ～ 21 eV, ～ 5 TW/cm2), by using a free electron laser (FEL). Three distinct peaks identified in the observed photoelectron spectra clearly show that the double ionization proceeds sequentially via the formation of Ar(+): Ar+hν→Ar (+) + e? and Ar2(+) + 2hν→Ar(+) + e?. Shot-by-shot recording of the photoelectron spectra allows simultaneous monitoring of FEL spectrum and the multiphoton process for each FEL pulse, revealing that the two-photon ionization from Ar(+) is significantly enhanced by intermediate resonances in Ar(+).     

Superconducting property of Zr–Co and Zr–Co–Al alloys fabricated by rapid solidification

The superconducting property of Zr_(1−x)Co_x (x = 10–50 at.%) alloys and a Zr₅₅Co₃₀Al₁₅ bulk metallic glass fabricated using techniques of rapid solidification was investigated. The Zr₅₅Co₃₀Al₁₅ alloy crystallized by heat treatment in a vacuum atmosphere exhibited superconductivity of T_c,on = 2.4 K. This was attributable to the superconducting property of a crystalline Zr–Co alloy precipitated in the Zr₅₅Co₃₀Al₁₅ alloy. The T_c,on of the crystalline Zr_(1−x)Co_x alloy was sensitive to the Co content. The increase of Co content for the Zr_(1−x)Co_x alloy led to the decrease of T_c,on. The Zr_(1−x)Co_x alloy exhibited superconductivity of a maximum T_c,on = 3.9 K for the Zr₈₀Co₂₀ alloy with superconducting nanocrystal particles embedded in the amorphous matrix.     

Growth and properties of air-processed GdBa2Cu3O7−δ superconductors with fined Gd2BaCuO5 and Gd2Ba4CuFeOy additions

We have succeeded in synthesizing a powder form of Gd₂Ba₄CuFeO_y (Gd2411) in air. GdBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (Gd123)/Gd₂BaCuO₅ (Gd211) precursor powders added with different amounts of Gd₂Ba₄CuFeO_y (x = 0, 0.002, 0.004, 0.02) in molar ratio to Gd123 have been fabricated successfully into the form of large, single grains by the top seeded melt growth (TSMG) process. The relation between the additions amounts of Gd2411/Gd211 and critical current density (J_C) was analyzed. We found Gd2411 particles stably exist in the Gd123 matrix without degradation of superconducting properties owing to the existence of the Fe magnetic ion. The trapped field was observed to increase significantly compared with the bulk without Gd2411 additions.     

Polymer electrolytes plasticized with hyperbranched polymer for lithium polymer batteries

Hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) with different terminal groups and different ethylene oxide (EO) chain lengths were prepared, and the influence of the HBP structures including molecular weights and molecular weight distribution on the ionic conductivity and the mechanical property of the composite polymer electrolytes composed of poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO), HBP, BaTiO₃ as a ceramic filler, and LiN(CF₃SO₂)₂ as a lithium salt were investigated. It was found that the molecular weights of the HBP do not affect significantly the ionic conductivity, but the molecular weight distribution might affect it, and also further branching at the terminals of the HBP led to a decrease in the ionic conductivity. The HBP with longer EO chain length was effective for enhancement of the ionic conductivity in comparison with the HBP with shorter one. The increase in cross-linkable groups (acryloyl group) at the terminals of the HBP improved the tensile strength, but caused the ionic conductivity to decrease. Loosely cross-linked composite polymer electrolyte showed higher ionic conductivity and higher tensile strength than no cross-linked one. Paper presented at the Patras Conference on Solid State Ionics — Transport Properties, Patras, Greece, Sept. 14 – 18, 2004.     

Optical investigations of the clathrate α-Eu<Subscript>8</Subscript>Ga<Subscript>16</Subscript>Ge<Subscript>30</Subscript>

We performed measurements of the optical reflectivity in the energy range 0.007–30 eV on the clathrate-VIII type compound α-Eu₈Ga_{16- x}Ge_{30 x} in order to investigate its electronic band structure. The very low charge carrier concentration as well as ferromagnetic ordering of the divalent Eu ions below 10.5 K characterize the spectra at photon energies below ≃0.4 eV in accordance with the results of band structure calculations. Disorder induced bound states have been identified to affect the optical conductivity at energies between 10 and 100 meV.     

Hilbert phase microscopy for investigating fast dynamics in transparent systems

We introduce Hilbert phase microscopy (HPM) as a novel optical technique for measuring high transverse resolution quantitative phase images associated with optically transparent objects. Because of its single-shot nature, HPM is suitable for investigating rapid phenomena that take place in transparent structures such as biological cells. The potential of this technique for studying biological systems is demonstrated with measurements of red blood cells, and its ability to quantify dynamic processes on a millisecond scale is exemplified with measurements of evaporating micrometer-sized water droplets.     

Field-induced thermal metal-to-insulator transition in underdoped La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4+delta)

The transport of heat and charge in cuprates was measured in single crystals of La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4+delta) (LSCO) across the doping phase diagram at low temperatures. In underdoped LSCO, the thermal conductivity is found to decrease with increasing magnetic field in the T-->0 limit, in striking contrast to the increase observed in all superconductors, including cuprates at higher doping. In heavily underdoped LSCO, where superconductivity can be entirely suppressed with an applied magnetic field, we show that a novel thermal metal-to-insulator transition takes place upon going from the superconducting state to the field-induced normal state.