Relaxor properties of Fe-doped TlInS<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The relaxor properties of Fe-doped TlInS₂ crystals are investigated. It is shown that Fe-doped TlInS₂ compounds exhibit all features inherent in relaxor ferroelectric materials. The temperature range of existence of the microdomain (relaxor) state and the temperature of the transition from this state to a macro-domain state are determined.     

An EOQ model with process reliability considerations

The classical economic order quantity (EOQ) model assumes that items produced are of perfect quality and that the unit cost of production is independent of demand. However, in realistic situations, product quality is never perfect, but is directly affected by the reliability of the production process. In this paper, we consider an EOQ model with imperfect production process and the unit production cost is directly related to process reliability and inversely related to the demand rate. In addition, a numerical example is given to illustrate the developed model. Sensitivity analysis is also performed and discussed.     

Appearance of anomalous phase in <Superscript>4</Superscript>He crystal in the presence of small <Superscript>3</Superscript>He impurity

The kinetics of formation of an anomalous phase from a solution with a small ³He impurity was studied in the temperature range 0.2–0.7 K up to a supersaturation of ～30 mbar. The phase diagram was determined for normal and anomalous growths. It is found that, in the presence of impurities, the formation of a fast-growing state is retarded. This experimental fact indicates that the dissipative processes in fluids have an appreciable effect on the phase formation kinetics. The retardation is, possibly, caused by the direct interaction of an impurity with the crystal surface.     

Phase Diagrams of Polytype Transformations in Close-Packed Crystals Including Metastable States

The paper offers a method for calculating phase diagrams of polytype transformations in close-packed crystals based on the generalized axial Ising's model of finite dimensions at non-zero temperatures. Using the Metropolis algorithm, the behavior of systems with polytype transitions is studied under the conditions of changing external shear stress and temperature. The longest polytype period considered here is taken to be 30 close-packed planes.     

Integral Equation Method in Electromagnetic-Sounding Inverse Problems

The use of the integral equation method in electromagnetic-sounding inverse problems is considered. Several approaches to the solution of these inverse problems are proposed.     

Preparation of colloidal solutions of noble metals stabilized by polyoxometalates and supported catalysts based on these solutions

Conditions for the preparation of stable aqueous monometallic and bimetallic colloidal solutions (sols) of noble metals (Ru, Rh, Pd, Pt, Ir, Ag, and Au) in the presence of polyoxometalates containing W, Mo, V, and Nb were found. The stability of sols against coagulation at room temperature was studied. The metal/C samples prepared by metal adsorption from sols were studied by powder X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The following factors of importance for the preparation of a stable sol are discussed: (1) the formation of a sol of a metal polyhydroxo complex stabilized by a polyoxometalate (preliminary stage) and (2) the formation of polyoxometalate-metal clusters in the course of reduction of polyhydroxo complexes.Translated from Kinetika i Kataliz, Vol. 45, No. 6, 2004, pp. 921–929.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Maksimova, Chuvilin, Moroz, Likholobov, Matveev.     

On wave radiation induced by a fast shock wave in an oblique magnetic field

The corrugation stability of the flat surface of a fast magnetohydrodynamic shock wave in a perfect monoatomic gas with a constant heat capacity is studied with numerical techniques. The magnetic field makes an arbitrary angle with the plane of discontinuity. It is shown that the shock wave remains stable only if it is strictly perpendicular to the magnetic field. At any other angle between the fast shock wave and magnetic field, the former may spontaneously radiate outwardly propagating magnetohydrodynamic waves under certain conditions. Incoming flow characteristics at which these waves are induced are determined.     

Investigation and modelling of damping in a plate with a bonded porous layer

Behavior of a poro-elastic material bonded onto a vibrating plate is investigated in the low-frequency range. From the analysis of dissipation mechanisms, a model accounting for damping added by the porous layer on the plate is derived. This analysis is based on a 3-D finite element formulation including poro-elastic elements based on Biot displacement theory. First, dissipated powers related to thermal, viscous and viscoelastic dissipation are explicited. Then a generic configuration (simply-supported aluminium plate with a bonded porous layer and mechanical excitation) is studied. Thermal dissipation is found negligible. Viscous dissipation can be optimized as a function of airflow resistivity. It can be the major phenomenon within soft materials, but for most foams viscoelastic dissipation is dominant. Consequently an equivalent plate model is proposed. It includes shear in the porous layer and only viscoelasticity of the skeleton. Excellent agreement is found with the full numerical model.     

Charge manipulation and imaging of the Mn acceptor state in GaAs by cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy

An individual Mn acceptor in GaAs is mapped by cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy (X-STM) at room temperature and a strongly anisotropic shape of the acceptor state is observed. An acceptor state manifests itself as a cross-like feature which we attribute to a valence hole weakly bound to the Mn ion forming the (Mn²⁺3d⁵+hole) complex. We propose that the observed anisotropy of the Mn acceptor wavefunction is due to the d-wave present in the acceptor ground state.     

Two scenarios for phase-transformation in disordered media

The reasons for the existence of various scenarios for structural transformations in disordered condensed media, such as liquids and amorphous substances, where both smeared transformations and sharp first-order transitions may occur, were analyzed. The ratio between the spatial scale of structural correlations and the size of the smallest possible region occupied by a new phase in the matrix of initial modification is the key parameter determining the scenario for equilibrium phase transformations in liquids. In amorphous substances, the experimentally observed transformations occur far from equilibrium, and the possible size of the region occupied by the new phase corresponds to the minimal nucleus size. For some amorphous solids, quantitative analysis of the transformation width was carried out and the main classes of covalent substances, in which the smeared or sharp transitions occur, were revealed. Specific features of the interparticle interactions determining various transformation scenarios are discussed.