Pressure-induced anomalous insulating behavior in frustrated iridate La_3Ir_3O_(11)

The geometrically frustrated iridate La_3Ir_3O_(11) with strong spin–orbit coupling and fractional valence was recently predicted to be a quantum spin liquid candidate at ambient conditions. Here, we systematically investigate the evolution of structural and electronic properties of La_3Ir_3O_(11) under high pressure. Electrical transport measurements reveal an abnormal insulating behavior rather than metallization above a critical pressure P_c ～ 38.7 GPa. Synchrotron x-ray diffraction(XRD)experiments indicate the stability of the pristine cubic KSbO_3-type structure up to 73.1 GPa. Nevertheless, when the pressure gradually increases across P_c, the bulk modulus gets enhanced and the pressure dependence of bond length d_(Ir-Ir) undergoes a slope change. Consistent with the XRD data, detailed analyses of Raman spectra reveal an abnormal redshift of Raman mode and a change of Raman intensity around P_c. Our results demonstrate that the pressure-induced insulating behavior in La_3Ir_3O_(11) can be assigned to the structural modification, such as the distortion of IrO_6 octahedra. These findings will shed light on the emergent abnormal insulating behavior in other 5 d iridates reported recently.     

Au-Nanoparticle-Array/Aligned-Ag-Nanowire-Based Flexible Dual Plasmonic Substrate for Sensitive Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Detection

The fabrication of flexible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates for sensitive detection on uneven or irregular surfaces is challenging. In this study, a flexible dual plasmonic SERS (FDPS) substrate rationally constructed using Au nanoparticle (AuNP) arrays/aligned Ag nanowires (AgNWs) and elastic polyurethane (PU) is demonstrated. It exhibits high sensitivity (detection limit of 10⁻⁸ m for melamine and 10⁻¹⁰ m for malachite green) and excellent reproducibility. The well-designed structure of AuNP arrays/aligned AgNWs fabricated using block copolymer self-assembly and oil–water–air interfacial self-assembly successfully enhances the electromagnetic field through plasmonic coupling. In addition, the FDPS substrate retains a high SERS sensitivity after exposure to air at room temperature for 30 days because of the high stability of AuNP arrays and antioxidation characteristic of the PU covered on the aligned AgNWs. Even after undergoing stretching, bending, and twisting for 100 cycles, the FDPS substrate maintains a stable SERS activity owing to the introduction of the elastic PU. This study demonstrates a potential application of SERS detection under practical conditions for irregular surfaces and may be helpful in the development of flexible sensors.     

高信噪比多波长2 μm主动锁模光纤激光器

介绍一种多波长掺铥主动锁模光纤激光器,增益介质为长2 m的掺铥光纤,主动锁模通过铌酸锂强度调制器实现。腔内加入基于双折射的光学滤波器,利用保偏光纤双折射滤波效应在滤除腔内多余超模噪声的同时,还可以实现多波长输出。基频下的锁模脉冲频谱信噪比可达68.48 dB,在稳定的锁模状态下波长信道数最大为5。此外,腔内偏振无关隔离器被替换为偏振相关隔离器后,将锁模脉冲加载数字信号同步调制,测得的眼图光信噪比提高了8.67 dB。测试结果表明,锁模脉冲的时间稳定性得到有效提升。     

Constraints on the kinetic energy of type-Ic supernova explosion from young PSR J1906+0746 in a double neutron star candidate

So far among the nineteen pairs of detected double neutron star (DNS) systems, it is a usual fact that the first-born recycled pulsar is detected, however the youngest DNS system PSR J1906+0746, with the characteristic age of 113 kyr, is one of the three detected DNS as a non-recycled and second-born NS, which is believed to be formed by an electron capture or a low energy ultra-stripped iron core-collapse supernova (SN) explosion. The SN remnant around PSR J1906+0746 is too dim to be observed by optical telescopes, then its x-ray flux limit has been given by Chandra. A reference pulsar PSR J1509-5850 with the young characteristic age of 154 kyr was chosen as an object of comparison, which has an SN remnant observed by Chandra and is believed to be formed by iron core SN explosion. We impose a restriction on the maximum kinetic energy of electron-capture (EC) SN explosion that induces the formation of PSR J1906+0746. The estimated result is (4-8)×10⁵⁰ erg (1 erg=10^-7 J), which is consistent with that of the published simulations of the EC process, i.e., a lower value than that of the conventional iron core SN explosion of (1-2)×10⁵¹ erg. As suggested, EC process for NS formation is pertained to the subluminous type Ic SN by the helium star with ONeMg core, thus for the first time we derived the kinetic energy of EC SN explosion of DNS, which may be reconciled with the recent observation of type Ic SN 2014ft with kinetic energy of 2×10⁵⁰ erg.     

Mechanism of wave formation at the interface in explosive welding

Some of the main progress on the investigation of the mechanism of the wave formation in explosive welding at the Institute of Mechanics is summarized and others' previous works are reviewed. Our systematic experiments and analysis do not substantiate the theory of wave formation based on Karman vortex-street analogy or Helmholtz instability. On the contrary, they show that material strength insensitive to strain rate plays an important role. A simple hydro-plastic model is presented to explain the main features regarding the interfacial wave formation and to estimate the magnitude of wave length. The result is in broad agreement with experiment.     

Characterization of high‐aspect‐ratio periodic structures by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy

X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is a powerful surface characterization technique often relied on for quantification of surface species and coverages. Investigation of silicon microrods, considered a model for high‐aspect‐ratio structures, at different angles with respect to substrate normal was determined to have a significant impact on the relative sensitivity of surface‐bound species on rods relative to the base substrate. Comparison between planar silicon and microrod arrays demonstrates that the angular dependence is complicated and that careful studies must optimize conditions to differentiate between surfaces. In addition, the use of reverse angle resolved XPS, where the substrate is turned away from the X‐ray source, is shown to assist in simplifying the spectrum by removing underlying signal from the substrate near the base. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of selected trace elements in marine biota samples with the application of fast temperature programs and solid sampling continuous source high resolution atomic absorption spectroscopy: method validation

Analytical procedure for the determination of As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Co and Cr in marine biota samples using solid sampling high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry (HR CS AAS) and accelerated fast temperature programmes has been developed. Calibration technique based on the use of solid certified reference materials similar to the nature of the analysed sample and statistics of regression analysis were applied. A validation approach in line with the requirements of ISO 17025 standard and Eurachem guidelines was followed. Accordingly, blanks, selectivity, calibration, linearity, working range, trueness, repeatability and reproducibility, limits of detection and quantification and expanded uncertainty for all investigated elements were assessed. The major contributors to the combined uncertainty of the analyte mass fractions were found to be the homogeneity of the samples and the microbalance precision. Traceability to the SI system of units of the obtained with the proposed analytical procedure results was also demonstrated. The potential of the proposed analytical procedure based on solid sampling HR CS AAS technique was demonstrated by direct analysis of marine reference biota samples. Overall, the use of solid sampling HR CS AAS permits obtaining significant advantages for the determination of selected trace elements in marine biota samples, such as straightforward calibration, a high sample throughput, sufficient precision, a suitable limit of detection and reduced risk of analyte loss and contamination.     

铝基复合材料高速干摩擦行为的遗传神经网络预测模型

对4种SiC颗粒增强铝基复合材料在5种速度和4种压力条件下进行了销-盘摩擦磨损试验,运用遗传神经网络技术建立了铝基复合材料在高速干滑动过程中的摩擦行为预报模型,并用该模型对铝基复合材料进行预报.结果表明,蓄热能力较大的铝基复合材料在服役条件下具有较高的摩擦系数,与实际情况相一致.用遗传神经网络建立的铝基复合材料摩擦行为预测模型为服役条件下提供了简便、可靠的优选材料方法.     

一种表面裂纹高温断裂韧性测试方法

提出了一种表面裂纹高温断裂韧性测试方法，包括试样加热、温控和裂纹嘴张开位移测试方法．该方法适合于在相对简单的条件下测试表面裂纹高温断裂韧性．最后给出了铝合金焊缝表面裂纹高温断裂韧性的测试结果．     

轴对称高速碰撞问题的拉格朗日无结构网格有限体积法的并行计算

给出计算轴对称高速碰撞问题的拉格朗日无结构三角形网格有限体积法的并行格式，并给出以小巨型机ＡｌｉａｎｔＦＸ／４０为目标计算机的算例数值模拟结果和效率分析