Tunable properties of light propagation in photonic liquid crystal fibers

Tunable properties of light propagation in photonic crystal fibers filled with liquid crystals, called photonic liquid crystal fibers (PLCFs) are presented. The propagation properties of PLCFs strongly depend on contrast between refractive indices of the solid core (pure silica glass) and liquid crystals (LCs) filing the holes of the fiber. Due to relatively strong thermo-optical effect, we can change the refractive index of the LC by changing its temperature. Numerical analysis of light propagation in PLCF, based on two simulation methods, such as finite difference (FD) and multipole method (MM) is presented. The numerical results obtained are in good agreement with our earlier experimental results presented elsewhere [1].     

Nonstoichiometry and low-temperature magnetic properties of FeSi crystals

The results of experimental and theoretical studies of the low-temperature properties of FeSi crystals are presented. The specific features of the magnetic susceptibility are shown to be related to the superparamagnetic behavior of impurity clusters. The thermomagnetic hysteresis phenomena observed are explained using the model of exchange-coupled clusters.     

Near field imaging in microwave regime using double layer split-ring resonator based metamaterial

A planar metamaterial structure consisting of two layers of split-ring resonator (SRR) arrays is demonstrated to form the image of a point source with subwavelength resolution. The source frequency is swept through the resonance gap of the metamaterial layers and the lateral field intensity distribution is recorded on the transmission side of the metamaterial. When the source is tuned to the resonance frequency of SRRs, the metamaterial acts as a high permeability medium and a distinct image with subwavelength resolution in the lateral direction is obtained. Increasing the distance between the individual SRR layers reduces the interlayer coupling, and the intensity and spatial resolution of the image decrease rapidly.     

Thermal treatment on composite γ-zirconium phosphate-silica

The prepared amorphous γ-ZrP\SiO₂ composite had a complicated composition, since a part of γ-ZrP is converted to α-form during the exfoliation of it. The γ-ZrP\SiO₂ composite have specific surface area of 421 m²g^–1. The acidic P–OH groups of the lamellae species placed on the surface (it is ≈1.0 meq g^–1), do not destroy until the temperature of 1030 K. During the thermal treatment the total mass loss of 7.79% was found. This value corresponds to 0.42 mole of H₂O per molecule unit. The water loss process was found very slow, because of the placing of bilamellar species in the composite.     

Variation of supramolecular structure of heat-resistant polyimide films during thermal treatment

Variation of the supramolecular structure of heat-resistant polymide films in the course of high-temperature treatment was studied by X-ray diffraction analysis and NMR spectroscopy in solids.     

High resolution X-ray diffraction of GaN grown on Si (1 1 1) by MOVPE

High temperature GaN layers have been grown on Si (1 1 1) substrate by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). AlN was used as a buffer layer and studied as a function of thickness and growth temperature. The growth was monitored by in situ laser reflectometry. High resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) revealed that optimized monocrystalline GaN was obtained for a 40 nm AlN grown at 1080 °C. This is in good agreement with the results of morphological study by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and also confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations. The best morphology of AlN with columnar structure and lower rms surface roughness is greatly advantageous to the coalescence of the GaN epilayer. Symmetric and asymmetric GaN reflections were combined for twist and stress measurements in monocrystalline GaN. It was found that mosaicity and biaxial tensile stress are still high in 1.7 μm GaN. Curvature radius measurement was also done and correlated to the cracks observations over the GaN surface.     

Electrical and magnetic properties of CoFeAlO thin films

Influences of oxygen-partial pressure and annealing on the electrical and magnetic properties of CoFeAlO thin films were systematically investigated by means of resistivity, permeability, magnetization and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurements. It was found that, with increasing oxygen-partial pressure or under annealing, the electrical resistivity of the film increased and the magnetic softness decreased, which is attributed to the microstructural change of the film. Interestingly, an as-deposited Co_45.30Fe_20.65Al_19.34O_14.71 film was found to exhibit an inverted hysteresis loop with negative coercivity, and this peculiar phenomenon disappeared upon effects of oxygen-partial pressure and annealing. It was also found that the as-deposited films owned a narrow FMR line width that increased with increasing oxygen-partial pressure or under annealing.     

Growth and characterization of model oxide catalysts

Oxide catalysts are frequently used to convert toxic species to environmentally benign molecules, and to prevent the formation of toxic species in the first place. In this paper, growth and characterization of model oxide systems employed in both approaches is discussed. An example of the former approach is the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO emitted from power plants by NH₃, which employs tungsten and vanadium oxides supported on the anatase polymorph of TiO₂. To model SCR catalysts, epitaxial titanium, vanadium and tungsten oxide films were grown using molecular beam epitaxy and magnetron sputtering. Two different anatase orientations were grown on LaAlO₃ substrates and their interactions with vanadia were characterized. On LaAlO₃ (0 0 1), anatase exposed a (4 × 1) reconstructed (0 0 1) surface. Vanadia lifted the reconstruction and at 1 ML a (1 × 1) surface with mostly V⁵⁺ was observed. Continued V₂O₅ growth led to loss of order, but at high temperatures epitaxial VO₂ could be grown; vanadia behaved similarly on anatase films on LaAlO₃ (1 1 0). Results suggested that the monolayer is pseudomorphic with O adsorption oxidizing the surface V to 5+, since the anatase structure cannot accommodate more bulk oxygen, only a monolayer can be pseudomorphic and have only V⁵⁺. Thus the vanadia monolayer has unique structural and chemical properties that can help explain why vanadia monolayers on TiO₂ are much more active than bulk V₂O₅. For WO₃, a series of added row reconstructions were observed as the epitaxial films were reduced. The effect of these structures on surface chemistry was characterized by studying 1-propanol adsorption. The results indicated that the structure of the WO₃ surface did not alter its catalytic function but had a strong effect on reaction kinetics. As an example of a system where catalysts prevent the formation of toxic species, the reactivity of oxidized Pd surfaces used in CH₄ catalytic combustion were studied. An ordered PdO-like monolayer was found to be less reactive towards CO than adsorbed O on Pd. On the other hand, the PdO layer favored a lower activation energy C₃H₆ oxidation pathway. The results indicated that Pd oxidation reduces the sticking coefficient of reactive species but once molecules adsorb, the oxide surface can reduce the activation energy for subsequent reaction.     

Quadrupole interactions at 57Fe and 119Sn in 3d-metal antimonides

3d-metal antimonides: Fe_1+x Sb, N_+x Sb, Co_+x Sb and the (Ni_1?y Fe _y )Sb solid solution have been studied by the Mössbauer effect method at ⁵⁷Fe and ¹¹⁹Sn. It was found that the quadrupole interactions at the Fe and Sn nucleus in 3d-metal antimonides are very sensitive to the filling of different crystallographic sites with metal atoms. The metal atoms in trigonal-bipyramidal sites have a strong effect on the quadrupole splitting of ¹¹⁹Sn. They are nearest to anions (Sb or Sn) with the typical axial ratio of c/a = 1.25. The QS(x) dependence of ¹¹⁹ Sn in 3d-metal antimonides in the 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1 concentration range can be used to determine x – the concentration of transition metal excess relative to the stoichiometric composition.     

In situ observations of domain wall motion in Mn–Zn and Ni–Zn ferrites by Lorentz microscopy and electron holography

Domain wall motion in Mn–Zn and Ni–Zn ferrites with applied magnetic fields is investigated by in situ observations with Lorentz microscopy and electron holography. It is found that both Mn–Zn and Ni–Zn ferrites have a mean grain size of approximately 10 μm and several pores with sizes ranging from 0.2 to 1.1 μm. In situ observations by Lorentz microscopy with an applied magnetic field reveals that in Mn–Zn ferrite, the domain walls move easily across the grain boundary, while in Ni–Zn ferrite, the domain walls move along the grain boundary but are pinned at the grain boundary and pores. From in situ observations of Ni–Zn ferrite by electron holography, it is clarified that domain wall pinning at the grain boundary retards a sensitive increase in magnetic flux parallel to the applied field direction, which is considered to result in high hysteresis loss.