Effects of vitrification suppression on structure morphology, conductivity and dielectric properties of vanadium phosphate glasses

Vitrification suppression in the (V₂O₅)_1−x (P₂O₅)_x glasses where x=0.10, 0.15, 0.20, and 0.25 was controlled by changing the rate of quenching glasses. The structure variations occurring in the glasses were detected by differential thermal analysis and optical microscope. The results implied the separation and growth of V₂O₅ orthorhombic microcrystal in the samples with x=0.10 and 0.15 whereas other samples did not illustrate remarkable changes in their microstructure. However, in temperature range between 300 and 473 K a semiconducting behavior for all samples appears during the study of electrical conductivity-temperature dependence. A decrease in conductivity values accompanied with some variations in activation energies by reducing quenching rate was observed. The conductivity results suggested that the conduction occurs by the phonon assisted hopping of a small polaron between V⁴⁺ and V⁵⁺ states at relatively higher temperature range above θ_D/2. Whereas at relatively low temperatures the conduction may occur by electron jumping between filled and empty states at Fermi level in the disordered matrix besides polaronic conduction. Reasonable values for the density of localized states, carrier concentration and carrier mobility were estimated and discussed. Also, dielectric constant and dielectric loss were studied as a function of frequency at different temperatures confirming the structure variations in the glass system.     

The non-isotropic character of electric and dielectric properties of ammonium zinc chloride crystal

The dielectric constant, ε, and the d.c. conductivity, σ, were measured along the a-, b- and c-axes of (NH₄)₂ZnCl₄ (AZC) crystal in the 300-450 K temperature range. Crystals of AZC grown from aqueous solutions containing excess of ZnCl₂ were used. The value of the dielectric permittivity of AZC is extremely small compared to other ferroelectric crystals. Pronounced broad or step-like peaks at the phase transition temperatures were detected along the a- and b-axes, while ε along the c-axis is temperature independent up to the end of the measuring range. Reciprocal of the dielectric permittivity in the range of the commensurate to incommensurate phase transition obeys a relation similar to the Curie-Weiss law that is valid for second order ferroelectric/paraelectric phase transitions. The constants of the proposed relationship applied to the cooling run are given. The J-E characteristics along the three crystallographic axes were measured in the normal, incommensurate, commensurate and antiferroelectric phases. Hence, the type of conduction mechanism has been estimated. Parameters of Poole-Frenkel and Richardson-Schottky types of conduction mechanism have been determined. The effect of applied electric field on the conductivity measurement was also tested. Conductivity anomalies with different character were observed at the phase transition temperatures. The lnσ−1000/T dependence revealed thermal activation energy of conduction along the a-, b- and c-axes with different values in different phases of AZC.     

The Loewner Equation: Maps and Shapes

An approach called Schramm–Loewner evolution (SLE) provides a new method for dealing with a wide variety of scale-invariant problems in two dimensions. This approach is based upon an older method called Loewner Evolution (LE), which connects analytic and geometrical constructions in the complex plane. In this paper, the bases of LE and SLE are described and some simple applications are discussed in relatively non-technical form. A bibliography of the subject is presented.     

The Flux-Across-Surfaces Theorem and Zero-Energy Resonances

In this contribution we shall first introduce the Flux Across Surfaces (FAS) theorem, placing it in the general context of the Quantum Scattering Theory. Then we shall review briefly the theory of resonances in non-relativistic Quantum Mechanics and outline a proof of the FAS theorem for non-relativistic potential scattering, which covers also the case in which there is a zero energy resonance.     

Gravitational Collapse of Self-Similar Perfect Fluid in 2 + 1 Gravity

Perfect fluid with kinematic self-similarity is studied in 2+1 dimensional spacetimes with circular symmetry, and various exact solutions to the Einstein field equations are given. These include all the solutions of dust and stiff perfect fluid with self-similarity of the first kind, and all the solutions of perfect fluid with a linear equation of state and self-similarity of the zeroth and second kinds. It is found that some of these solutions represent gravitational collapse, and the final state of the collapse can be either a black hole or a null singularity. It is also shown that one solution can have two different kinds of kinematic self-similarity.     

Peculiar relics from Primordial Black Holes in the inflationary paradigm

Depending on various assumptions on the energy scale of inflation and assuming a primordial power spectrum of a step‐like structure, we explore new possibilities for Primordial Black Holes (PBH) and Planck relics to contribute substantially to Cold Dark Matter in the Universe. A recently proposed possibility to produce Planck relics in four‐dimensional string gravity is considered in this framework. Possible experimental detection of PBHs through gravitational waves is also explored. We stress that inflation with a low energy scale, and also possibly when Planck relics are produced, leads unavoidably to relics originating from PBHs that are not effectively classical during their formation, rendering the usual formalism inadequate for them.     

T-duality in Affine NA Toda Models

The construction of non-Abelian affine Toda models is discussed in terms of its underlying Lie algebraic structure. It is shown that a subclass of such non-conformal two-dimensional integrable models naturally leads to the construction of a pair of actions, which share the same spectra and are related by canonical transformations.     

Multipulse regimes of excitation of optical superradiance due to a two-photon transition

Multimode triggered optical superradiance due to a two-photon transition is theoretically studied. Kinetic equations are derived for the dynamics of cooperative development of coherence and population inversion of optical centers interacting with each other through a common field of emitted photons. Various regimes of triggering of optical superradiance due to a two-photon transition are considered. The possibility of creating a quantum photomultiplier on the basis of the triggered optical superradiance is discussed.     

Focusing of singular beams

The process of focusing of an inhomogeneously polarized beam passed through a system consisting of a uniaxial crystal and a polarization filter is considered. It is shown that the action of this system is equivalent to the action of a phase transparency with a complex relief of the refractive index. In particular, if the angle between the axes of the quarter-wave plate and the polarizer is equal to 45°, this transparency has a helicoidal relief. Simultaneously, two singular beams with different curvatures of their wavefronts arise in the transparency. The action of the lens consists in formation of a combined singular beam having three focal waists. The boundary wave arising upon focusing is able not only to form a new spectrum of toroidal vortices, but also to straighten the focusing region, forming a fairly extended range with a weak divergence.