A Study of Evaporation of Complex Oxide Systems Based on Chromium(III) Oxide

Evaporation of chromium ore and concentrates was studied using high-temperature differential mass-spectrometry. The data obtained, concerning the component vapor pressures in evaporation of complex oxide systems in the range 1700-2100 K, can be used to calculate the evaporation loss in melting and to assess the possibility of utilization of the sublimates formed.     

Crossover from high-temperature vortex-liquid to low-temperature vortex-glass behavior in single phase HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+δ superconductor

The ρ-T curves in our single phase HgBa₂Ca₂Cu₃O_8+δ superconductor were measured as a function of temperature and magnetic field, ρ=ρ₀exp(−U_eff/κ_BT). It can be transformed to another form d(lnρ)/d(1/T)=−U_eff+TdU_eff/dT, then this becomes a plot of the activation energy U_eff as a function of temperature. Our data plotted in these ways show a clear crossover from high-temperature two-dimensional vortex-liquid to a critical region associated with the low-temperature three-dimensional vortex-glass phase transition. The critical exponents v(z−1)=3.9±1.9 in this system are little different with previous measurements in BSCCO and YBCO systems.     

Single-electron charging spectra: from natural to artificial atoms

We present a theoretical study of the charging spectra in natural and artificial atoms. We apply a model electrostatic potential created by a homogenously charged sphere. This model potential allows for a continuous passage from the Coulomb potential of the nucleus to parabolic confinement potential of quantum dots. We consider electron systems with N=1,…,10 electrons with the use of the Hartree–Fock method. We discuss the qualitative similarities and differences between the chemical potential spectrum of electron systems bound to nucleus and confined in quantum dots.     

Reconstruction of the fine structure of an acoustic scatterer against the distorting influence of its large-scale inhomogeneities

In the ultrasonic diagnostics of small-size neoplasms of biological tissues at the earliest stage of their development, an efficient way to eliminate the distorting influence of high-contrast or large inhomogeneities of the biological medium is to apply the iterative technique. A simple approach is proposed, which makes it possible with only two iteration steps to achieve an efficient focusing of the tomograph array. At the first step, the unknown distribution of the large-scale inhomogeneities of sound velocity and absorption over the scatterer is reconstructed, where the large-scale inhomogeneities are those whose size exceeds several wavelengths. At the second step, the fine structure of the scatterer is reconstructed against the large-scale background, which can be performed with a high accuracy owing to the evaluation of the background at the first step. The possibility of simultaneous reconstruction of the large-scale and fine structures by the noniterative Grinevich-Novikov algorithm is considered as an alternative. This algorithm reconstructs in an explicit form two-dimensional refractive-absorbing acoustic scatterers of almost arbitrary shape and strength. Taking into account the effects of multiple scattering, this algorithm provides resolution of the fine structure almost as good as that achieved in reconstructing the same structure against an undistorting homogeneous background. The results of numerical simulations of both algorithms are presented.     

Local adsorption sites and bondlength changes in Ni(1 0 0)/H/CO and Ni(1 0 0)/CO

The local adsorption geometry of CO adsorbed in different states on Ni(1 0 0) and on Ni(1 0 0) precovered with atomic hydrogen has been determined by C 1s (and O 1s) scanned-energy mode photoelectron diffraction, using the photoelectron binding energy changes to characterise the different states. The results confirm previous spectroscopic assignments of local atop and bridge sites both with and without coadsorbed hydrogen. The measured Ni–C bondlengths for the Ni(1 0 0)/CO states show an increase of 0.16 ± 0.04 Å in going from atop to bridge sites, while comparison with similar results for Ni(1 1 1)/CO for threefold coordinated adsorption sites show a further lengthening of the bond by 0.05 ± 0.04 Å. These changes in the Ni–CO chemisorption bondlength with bond order (for approximately constant adsorption energy) are consistent with the standard Pauling rules. However, comparison of CO adsorbed in the atop geometry with and without coadsorbed hydrogen shows that the coadsorption increases the Ni–C bondlength by only 0.06 ± 0.04 Å, despite the decrease in adsorption energy of a factor of 2 or more. This result is also reproduced by density functional theory slab calculations. The results of both the experiments and the density functional theory calculations show that CO adsorption onto the Ni(1 0 0)/H surface is accompanied by significant structural modification; the low desorption energy may then be attributed to the energy cost of this restructuring rather than weak local bonding.     

Multi-Item Scheduling by Benders' Decomposition

Scheduling the production of several items requires the determination of production quantities in different periods in the presence of resource constraints. Several approximate and heuristic algorithms have been proposed to solve this problem. However, no method for finding an optimal solution has as yet been developed. It is shown that the problem may be solved advantageously using Benders' decomposition. The subproblem in Benders' decomposition is shown to be a transportation problem, and some strategies for solving the master problem are indicated. The paper concludes with a sample problem demonstrating the application of the method.     

Thin film synthesis and the influence of irradiation-induced defects on the superconductivity of La1.8Sr0.2CuO4

Thin superconducting films of La_1.8Sr_0.2CuO₄ have been prepared by magnetron sputter deposition and subsequent temperature treatment. The composition of the films has been determined by Rutherford backscattering and the structure by thin film X-ray diffraction. The onset of superconductivity was about 32 K and the midpoint near 28 K. Defect production in the films by He ion bombardment revealed a drasticT _c reduction with a sensitivity similar to that observed in the Chevrel phases. Oxygen implantation and subsequent annealing led to an enhancement of theT _c onset.