Microstructure and mechanical characteristics of nanodiamond-SiC compacts

Superhard nanodiamond-SiC ceramics are prepared by infiltrating liquid Si into porous nanodiamond compacts under pressure. Synthesized samples are 2.2 mm thick and 3–4 mm in diameter. The effect of particle size of dynamically synthesized nanodiamond powders on silicon infiltration and SiC phase formation is studied. It is established that silicon does not penetrate into the pores of nanodiamond powders if the original particle size is smaller than 0.5–1.0 μm. The critical pore size for infiltration is 100–200 nm. A study of the microstructure of the samples showed the presence of the nanometer-and submicron-scale SiC phase. The ultrasound velocities are measured in the prepared compacts, and the elastic moduli are calculated. __________ Translated from Fizika Tverdogo Tela, Vol. 46, No. 4, 2004, pp. 734–736. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2004 by Ekimov, Gromnitskaya, Mazalov, Pal’, Pichugin, Gierlotka, Palosz, Kozubowski.     

Plasmon-induced terahertz absorption and photoconductivity in a grid-gated double-quantum-well structure

The terahertz absorption spectra of plasmon modes in a grid-gated double-quantum-well field-effect transistor structure is analyzed theoretically and numerically using the scattering matrix approach and is shown to faithfully reproduce strong resonant features of recent experimental observations of terahertz photo-conductivity in such a structure.     

Destruction and stabilization of the electromagnetic transparency of a semiconductor superlattice

Three types of transparency of a semiconductor superlattice, namely, self-induced, induced, and selective transparency, were studied. The conditions of their existence and the causes of their destruction were revealed. It was shown that the state of self-induced transparency, which is unstable in a harmonic field, can be stable in a biharmonic field.     

On the history of the discovery of nanodiamond synthesis

The history of the discovery of nanodiamond synthesis, the investigation of nanodiamond properties, and the application and organization of their production in the second half of the 20th century is expounded. It is noted that this history is unique, since nanodiamond synthesis was discovered in the USSR three times over 19 years: first by K.V. Volkov, V.V. Danilenko, and V.I. Elin at the VNIITF (Snezhinsk) in 1963 and then, in 1982, by A.M. Staver and A.I. Lyamkin at the Institute of Hydrodynamics, Siberian Division, Academy of Sciences of the USSR (Novosibirsk), and by G.I. Savvakin at the Institute of Problems of Materials Science, Academy of Sciences of the UkSSR (Kiev). All of these researchers discovered nanodiamond synthesis accidentally while studying diamond synthesis by shock compression of nondiamond carbon modifications in blast chambers. The priority of work by Russian scientists in this field is demonstrated.     

Optical properties of CdF<Subscript>2</Subscript> in a wide energy range

For either of the two reflection spectra of cadmium difluoride that are known from experiments, a complete set of the fundamental optical functions is calculated in the energy range 4–45 eV with the Kramers-Kronig relationships. The basic features of the optical spectra are established, and a hypothesis for their origin is suggested based on the known theoretical results for the band structure.     

Diffusion of a low-soluble impurity in a solid matrix

An analytical expression for the concentration profile of a low-soluble diffusant in a sample is derived for a high-capacity diffusion source. The model is checked by determining the diffusion coefficient of yttrium in beryllium.     

Theoretical analysis of the formation of a layered ice structure at the surface of a plate placed in a flow of a supercooled water aerosol

The motion of the front of crystallization and the growth of a film at the surface of a plate are analyzed in the case of a laminar and in the case of a turbulent flow mode. Conditions are determined under which there occurs a transition from a matt inhomogeneous structure to a transparent homogeneous structure of ice. It is shown that, for a film to be steadily preserved at the plate surface, the film thickness must be larger than a critical equilibrium-thickness value h _b.c, in which case a transparent homogeneous structure of ice is formed. Otherwise, the film at the plate surface is unstable and disappears in the course of time. The icing of aircrafts is the most important application of the results obtained in this study.     

Influence of the skin effect on the absorption of electromagnetic radiation by a fine metal particle

The cross section of absorption of electromagnetic radiation by a fine spherical metal particle is calculated. The influence of the skin effect on the absorption cross-section is estimated for an arbitrary ratio between the free path and size of the particle. The results of this work are compared with those obtained earlier in the framework of classical electrodynamics. It is shown that taking into account the kinetic effects modifies essentially the known data for the skin effect in a spherical particle.     

Controlling the diffusion process via time-variable diffusion coefficient

The establishment of the steady-state dopant profile in a medium with a time-variable diffusion coefficient is considered within the approach proposed previously for estimating mass-and heat-transfer time characteristics. It is shown that the time it takes for the equilibrium concentration to set in may be increased or decreased by appropriately choosing the law of variation of the diffusion coefficient.