Metallization of the Ge(111) surface at high-temperature probed by energy-loss and Auger spectroscopies

We present new electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and Auger (AES) experiments aimed to study the structural transition of the Ge(111) surface taking place at high temperatures. Our advanced high-temperature set-up allowed us to collect accurate EELS spectra near the M_2,3 excitation edges and AES MMV and MVV spectra, corresponding to different probing depths ranging from 4 to 10 Å. The metallization of the surface has been clearly detected by the shift of the M_2,3 edge and of the MMV, MVV Auger energies. A detailed study of the transition has been performed using a fine temperature step under thermal equilibrium conditions. The AES and EELS experiments show that a sudden semiconductor-metal transition takes place at about 1000 K involving mainly the topmost layers. Deeper layers within 10 Å are also involved in the metallization process (in a range of 10 above 1010 K) and a smooth change in the topmost layers is also observed at higher temperatures up to 1070 K. These transitions are not fully reversible upon cooling (down to 870 K). Structural and electronic characteristics of the surface transition are discussed in light of available models.     

Inclusiveπ° production in 360 GeVpp interactions using the european hybrid spectrometer

The intermediate and forward gamma detectors of EHS are used to reconstructπ°'s produced by 360 GeV/cpp interactions in the Rapid Cycling Bubble Chamber (RCBC). Using thepp forwardbackward symmetry, the inclusiveπ° production cross section is obtainedσ _π°=(132±11) mb. The averageπ° multiplicity is determined as a function of the charged particle multiplicity. The (1?x) dependence is given for differentp _T regions.     

A method of whispered speech enhancement based on speech absence probability and modified mel-domain masking model

Whispered speech enhancement using auditory masking model in modified Meldomain and Speech Absence Probability(SAP)was proposed.In light of the phonation characteristic of whisper,we modify the Mel-frequency Scaling model.Whispered speech is filtered by the proposed model.Meanwhile,the value of masking threshold for each frequency band is dynamically determined by speech absence probability.Then whispered speech enhancement is conducted by adaptively rectifying the spectrum subtraction coefficients using different masking threshold values.Results of objective and subjective tests on the enhanced whispered signal show that compared with other methods;the proposed method can enhance whispered signal with better subjective auditory quality and less distortion by reducing the music noise and background noise under the masking threshold value.     

Anisotropic magnetic susceptibility and phase transitions in intercalated graphite: KC24

We measured the magnetic susceptibility of KC₂₄ from 4.2 to 300 K and found no anomalies near the phase transitions at 95 and 123 K as observed in the resistivity. We conclude that the transitions must be due to order- disorder transitions of the K atoms and not charge density wave formation. The susceptibility is anisotropic; at room temperature $\text{χ}{}_{\mathrm{g}}\text{(}\text{H}\text{6}\text{c}\text{)= + 1.50 × 10}{}^{-6}\text{emu g}{}^{-1}\text{± 2\%}$ and $\text{χ}{}_{\mathrm{g}}\text{(}\text{H}\text{⊥}\text{c}\text{)= + 0.045 × 10}{}^{-6}\text{emu g}{}^{-1}\text{± 50\%}$. This anisotropy is not understood in terms of simple rigid band extensions of the band structure of graphite.     

Measurements of climatic parameters and ground-level ozone at Terra Nova Bay in Antarctica

Summary The results of local meteorology, solar radiation and ground-level ozone measurements taken in Antarctica during the second Italian expedition (December 86–February 87) at Terra Nova Bay are presented. During the summer months the site of the Italian base camp is characterized by a thin strip of deglaciated ground, along which the temperature measurements close to the ground and up to 6 m high show a strongly superdiabatic profile. This irregular trend of the temperature in the surface layer is mainly due to the notable incoming amounts of radiation and to the extreme transparency of the atmosphere. This is also shown by the low values of the ratio between total radiation and diffuse radiation. The ground is thus subjected to intense heating, especially in the warmer hours of the day, while the surface layer of the atmosphere will be characterized by strong upward heat fluxes and by turbulent convective movements. Vertical-temperature-profile measurements show an almost forced persistence in the superdiabatic trend, which tends towards isothermic values only as a resultof rapid variations in the direction and intensity of the wind, connected to the downward flux of cold air masses, shown also by the simultaneous increases in ground-level ozone concentrations which would support the presence of dry-deposition processes in the lower layer. However, the complex local orography and the horizontal discontinuity (sea, deglaciated coast, snow-covered surfaces) do not permit a correct application of profile flux relations, normally used in studies on groundlevel dry-deposition. Paper presented at the IV Congresso del Gruppo Nazionale per la Fisica dell'Atmosfera e dell'Oceano, June 22–24, 1987, Rome.     

Analysis of the crystallization kinetics in poly(ethylene oxide) by calorimetric measurements

Summary Differential scanning calorimetric measurements in the early stage of isothermal crystal growth of polyethylene oxide are analysed in the light of irreversible thermodynamics. An accurate evaluation of the equilibrium melting temperature is done by fitting the thermograms obtained at different undercoolings and referring to the activation energy values already known from the literature. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling Concepts and Complex Fluids, Copanello, Italy, July 4–8, 1994.     

Biomagnetic measurements utilising a superparamagnetic marker: a feasibility study

Summary A preliminary study is here reported on a new potential marker for biomagnetic measurements. The marker consists of superparamagnetic polymer microspheres which were detected in the presence of external steady magnetic fields by means of an r.f.-SQUID magnetometer. The particles were prepared in samples differing in the concentration value and immersed in a homogeneous magnetic field of variable intensity. A simple model was taken into account for the distribution of the microspheres in the samples, so that the theoretical values were compared to the marker field values measured by the biomagnetic sensor. The overall sensitivity of the experimental apparatus and the minimum concentration value of the marker were then estimated.     

Infrared spectrum and vibrational potential function of thionylimide (HNSO)

The ir absorption of gaseous HNSO, DNSO and H¹⁵NSO is recorded in the range 300–4100 cm^?1 at medium resolution. Besides the fundamental vibrations, overtones and combination bands are measured and assigned. From these data, combined with the ir absorptions of four more isotopic species of thionylimide, and with the centrifugal distortion constants of HNSO and DNSO, a harmonic force field, with 11 constants was derived.