Non-Amontons behavior of friction in single contacts

We report on the frictional properties of a single contact between a glassy polymer lens and a flat silica substrate covered either by a disordered or by a self-assembled alkylsilane monolayer. We find that, in contrast to a widely spread belief, the Amontons proportionality between frictional and normal stresses does not hold. Besides, we observe that the velocity dependence of the sliding stress is strongly sensitive to the structure of the silane layer. Analysis of the frictional rheology observed on both disordered and self-assembled monolayers suggests that dissipation is controlled by the plasticity of a glass-like interfacial layer in the former case, and by pinning of polymer chains on the substrate in the latter one.     

Dielectric properties of ferroelectric diisopropylammonium iodide

Temperature dependences of dielectric constant, amplitude of the third harmonic and heat capacity for the organic ferroelectric of diisopropylammonium iodide (C₆H₁₆NI) have been investigated. The measurements were carried out through heating and cooling cycles in the range of 300–400?K. It was found that upon the first heating, only one phase transition occurred without the presence of the ferroelectric phase. For samples preheated over 420?K, two phase transitions at 363 and 378?K appeared in the heating process, and the ferroelectric state was also observed between them. Upon cooling, the ferroelectric phase was detected in the range of lower 361?K and persisted up to room temperature.     

On the steady motions of a flat domain wall in a ferromagnet

A new derivation is presented of Walker's exact solution to Gilbert equation, a solution which mimicks the travelling-wave motion of a flat domain wall at 180^°. It is shown that a process during which the working of the applied magnetic field exactly compensates dissipation (the Walker condition) exists both under the constitutive circumstances considered in the standard Gilbert equation and when either the internal free-energy or the dissipation, or both, are generalized by the introduction of higher-gradient terms; but that such a process cannot solve the generalized Gilbert equation. It is also shown that, when dry-friction dissipation is considered and a suitable magnetic field is applied, the associated Gilbert equation has a Walker-type solution mimicking a flat wall, at 90^° this time, which however does not satisfy the Walker condition. Received 16 November 2001     

Microstructure performance and formation mechanism of laser alloying rare earth oxides modified nanocrystalline layer on TA7

Nanoscale particles (NP) were observed in a Ni60–Ag–Si₃N₄–Y₂O₃ laser alloying (LA) layer on a TA7 titanium alloy, NP usually locate on the grain boundaries, which are able to block the motion of dislocation in a certain extent. Such layer mainly consisted of γ-Ni, TiN, γ-(Fe, Ni), TiAg and lots of amorphous phases. The wear resistance of such layer with laser scanning speed 3 mm/s was better than that of a LA layer with 6 mm/s, which was mainly ascribed to an uniform microstructure and less defect of layer. The high laser scanning speed made the existing time of laser molten pool be shorter than before, favoring the formation of a fine microstructure. However, the defects, such as pores were produced in LA layer (higher scanning speed), decreasing the wear resistance.     

Beam-helicity asymmetry in photon and pion electroproduction in the Δ(1232)-resonance region at Q2 = 0.35(GeV/c)2

The beam-helicity asymmetry has been measured simultaneously for the reactions p→epγ and p→epπ ⁰ in the Δ(1232)-resonance region at Q ² = 0.35(GeV/c)². The experiment was performed at MAMI with a longitudinally polarized beam and an out-of-plane detection of the proton. The results are compared with calculations based on dispersion relations for virtual Compton scattering and with the MAID model for pion electroproduction. There is an overall good agreement between experiment and theoretical calculations. The remaining discrepancies may be ascribed to an imperfect parametrization of some γ ^(*) N→πN multipoles, mainly contributing to the non-resonant background. The beam-helicity asymmetry in both channels (γ and π ⁰) shows a good sensitivity to these multipoles and should allow future improvement in their parametrization.     

Change of electrostatic potential of mean force between two curved surfaces due to different salt composition,ion valence and size under certain ionic strength

Change of an electrostatic potential of mean force (EPMF) between two cylindrical rod surfaces with salt composition, ion valence, and ion size at a constant ionic strength of 0.3 M is studied by a classical density functional theory (CDFT) in a primitive model electrolyte solution. Several novel observations are made: (i) strength of a so-called like charge attraction (LCA) reduces in an invariable manner with the salt solution changing from single 2:1 electrolyte to mixture of 2:1 and 1:1 type electrolytes of varying concentration ratios; the change is even over entire range of the composition variation under low surface charge strength, and tends to be insensitive to the composition variation in the presence of the divalent counter-ion, and more and more drastic at a critical point the divalent counter-ion disappears, respectively, as the surface charge strength becomes big enough. (ii) Both monovalent counter-ion and co-ion diameters have only a marginal effect on both the LCA strength and equilibrium distance, and the former “abnormally” affects less than the latter. (iii) Depending on the surface charge strength considered, the divalent counter-ion diameter influences the LCA strength in solution comprised of 2:1 type and 1:1 type electrolytes, monotonously or non-monotonously. All of these findings provide forceful support for a recently proposed hydrogen-bonding style mechanism explaining the LCA.     

Simultaneous differential thermal and volume analysis at high pressure

Abstract

A method for simultaneous measurement of heat and volume changes associated with phase transformations is presented. Examples for melting, polymorphism and structural relaxation illustrate the method.     

Effects induced by 𝛄-irradiation on intraband transitions in Sr2+-doped ammonium zinc chloride crystals

Considerable changes were observed in the X-ray diffraction pattern of ammonium zinc chloride after doping with Sr²⁺ in different concentrations and after irradiating with γ rays at different doses. The effect of γ-radiation and Sr²⁺ content on optical parameters of (NH₄)₂ZnCl₄: x Sr²⁺ single crystals (x?=?0.00, 0.020, 0.039, 0.087 or 0.144?wt.%) has been investigated. The transmittance near the absorption edge of unirradiated crystals and crystals irradiated with different γ-doses has been measured, hence the absorption coefficient (α) was calculated. The values of α at room temperature increased under the influence of γ-irradiation. The rate by which α increases with photon energy just before the absorption edge is strongly inhibited by higher γ-doses. The type of intraband transition in (NH₄)₂ZnCl₄: x Sr²⁺ single crystals was found to be of the allowed indirect transition, and γ-irradiation had no effect on the type of transition. The values of the optical energy gap (E _g ) were calculated as a function of γ-dose. The effect of γ-irradiation was found to be more pronounced on samples doped with x?=?0.087 or 0.144?wt.% Sr²⁺. The results can be discussed on the basis of γ-irradiation-induced defects and Sr²⁺ concentration. A diagram representing probable transitions to the created bands due to irradiation could be constructed.     

Asymptotic behaviour and general properties of harmonic generation susceptibilities

We use the Kubo response function formalism to derive the asymptotic behaviour of the harmonic generation susceptibilities to all orders n. The results show a stringent correspondence with the ones previously obtained from the classical anharmonic oscillator model. They are characterized by a dependence and a coefficient proportional to the trace of the (n+1)th derivative of the potential energy on the equilibrium density matrix. Using the above results we derive new Kramers-Kr?nig relations and sum rules for all orders of harmonics susceptibilities. Received 17 April 2000     

Energy Spectrum and Its Pressure-Induced Shift and g Factor of ZnS:Mn2+

By using strong-field scheme, the complete d⁵ energy matrix with D_2d symmetry has been constructed. Then, by diagonalization of this matrix at normal and various pressures,the whole energy spectrum [including the ground-state zero-field-splitting (GSZFS)], its PS and the g factor of the ground state for zns:Mn²⁺ have uniformly been calculated. According to the eigenfunctions and PS, the new assignments of five absorption bands have been given.The variation of tetragonal field with pressure makes a main contribution to the pressureinduced shift (PS) of GSZFS of zns:Mn²⁺, which supports the existence of tetragonal Jahn-Teller distortion in zns:Mn²⁺. It is found that when P≥62 kbar, t₂⁴(³T₁)e⁴T₁ merges with t₂e^{4 2}T₂, which has to be taken into account in the calculation of PS of the fifth band in the range of 1 bar ~ 95 kbar. It is demonstrated that the Mn²⁺ ions in ZnS:Mn²⁺ have tetrahedral coordination, and the difference between ζ and ζ' caused by the covalency effect is very important for GSZFS. The physical essentials of typical levels, GSZFS and their PS have been revealed. By taking into account the influence of covalency on t₂³(⁴A₂)e²(³A₂)⁴A₁ and t₂³(²E)e²(³A₂)⁴E, the positon of the third absorption band at normal pressure has been estimated.