Melting of heterogeneous vortex matter: The vortex ‘nanoliquid’

Disorder and porosity are parameters that strongly influence the physical behavior of materials, including their mechanical, electrical, magnetic and optical properties. Vortices in superconductors can provide important insight into the effects of disorder because their size is comparable to characteristic sizes of nanofabricated structures. Here we present experimental evidence for a novel form of vortex matter that consists of inter-connected nanodroplets of vortex liquid caged in the pores of a solid vortex structure, like a liquid permeated into a nanoporous solid skeleton. Our nanoporous skeleton is formed by vortices pinned by correlated disorder created by high-energy heavy ion irradiation. By sweeping the applied magnetic field, the number of vortices in the nanodroplets is varied continuously from a few to several hundred. Upon cooling, the caged nanodroplets freeze into ordered nanocrystals through either a first-order or a continuous transition, whereas at high temperatures a uniform liquid phase is formed upon delocalization-induced melting of the solid skeleton. This new vortex nanoliquid displays unique properties and symmetries that are distinct from both solid and liquid phases.     

Covariant Newtonian and relativistic dynamics of (magneto)-elastic solid model for neutron star crust

This work develops the dynamics of a perfectly elastic solid model for application to the outer crust of a magnetised neutron star. Particular attention is given to the Noether identities responsible for energy-momentum conservation, using a formulation that is fully covariant, not only (as is usual) in a fully relativistic treatment but also (sacrificing accuracy and elegance for economy of degrees of gravitational freedom) in the technically more complicated case of the Newtonian limit. The results are used to obtain explicit (relativistic and Newtonian) formulae for the propagation speeds of generalised (Alfven type) magneto-elastic perturbation modes.     

固体密度秤

根据杠杆平衡原理,使用杠杆平衡仪设计了固体密度秤.采用与液体密度计读数类似的方法,能够直接读出被测固体的密度.     

Homogeneous immunoassays

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology -     

Stabilization of valence fluctuations in the cerium solid by the time-dependent collision approach

The collision-generated hybridization which has been found responsible for the on-site mixing of the atomic-likef-state and the band-liked states in mixed valence solids has been studied for the cerium solid. A practical expression which depends on the lattice constant and temperature has been obtained for the collision-generated hybridization. Numerical calculations show that the valence varies continuously with lattice constant and that temperature makes the transition smoother. The collision-generated hybridization is found to be of significant strength in the intermediate valence regime; but over a wide range of the valence near 3.5 it varies rather slowly without preferring a particular valence. Factors which can assist the collision-generated hybridization in stabilizing the mixed valence phase at a particular lattice constant are discussed.     

用干涉方法测量薄膜应力

基于基片弯曲法和牛顿环的基本原理,使用He-Ne激光器、扩束镜、凸透镜和带分光镜的移测显微镜,搭建了薄膜应力测量装置.采用直流溅射法制备了厚度为30~144 nm的银薄膜,衬底采用厚度为0.15 mm、直径为18 mm的圆形玻璃片.实验发现,薄膜厚度对银薄膜的内应力有显著的影响,在薄膜厚度很小时,随着薄膜厚度的增加,应力迅速增大,达到最大值后,随着厚度的继续增加,薄膜应力下降较快并趋于稳定值.     

The dehydration of copper(II) acetate monohydrate

The thermal dehydration of copper(II) acetate hydrate has been studied between 353 and 406 K, over a range of humidities. The dehydration is controlled by nucleation-and-growth kinetics at low temperatures, with an activation energy of 154 kJ·mol⁻¹, which changes to contracting-disc kinetics at higher temperatures with a lower activation energy of 76 kJ·mol⁻¹. Frequency factors have also been derived; the value for the high temperature process is low (10⁷s⁻¹) and that for the low temperature step is high (10¹⁷s⁻¹). Optical microscopy has been used to clarify the bulk kinetics; there is evidence for a reactive layer at the surface of the decomposing solid. In celebration of the 60^th birthday of Dr Andrew K. Galwey     

利用电泳技术在不锈钢和铁基底上制备MgB2带材

本文首次报道了利用电泳技术在铁和不锈钢基底上制备MgB2超导带材.电阻测量表明,沉积在铁和不锈钢基底上MgB2带材的超导零电阻转变温度分别为37.5K和31K,超导转变宽度分别为0.3K和1K.磁测量表明,(5K,OT)时不锈钢基底上带材的临界电流密度为6×105(A/cm2).X射线衍射谱和扫描电子显微镜图象表明样品结晶良好,晶粒生长致密.本工艺制备MgB2带材时不受系统真空度的限制,生长迅速,成本低廉,并且可以根据不同的需要任意选择基底的形状和大小.     

Succinic acid adsorption from fermentation broth and regeneration

More than 25 sorbents were tested for uptake of succinic acid from aqueous solutions. The best resins were then tested for successive loading and regeneration using hotwater. The key desired properties for an ideal sorbent are high capacity, complete stable regenerability, and specificity for the product. The best resins have a stable capacity of about 0.06 g of succinic acid/g of resin at moderate concentrations (1–5 g/L) of succinic acid. Several sorbents were tested more exhaustively for uptake of succinic acid and for successive loading and regeneration using hot water. One resin, XUS 40285, has a good stable isotherm capacity, prefers succinate over glucose, and has good capacities at both acidic and neutral pH. Succinic acid was removed from simulated media containing salts, succinic acid, acetic acid, and sugar using a packed column of sorbent resin, XUS 40285. The fermentation byproduct, acetate, was completely separated from succinate. A simple hot water regeneration successfully concentrated succinate from 10 g/L (inlet) to 40–110 g/L in the effluent. If successful, this would lower separation costs by reducing the need for chemicals for the initial purification step. Despie promising initial results of good capacity (0.06 g of succinic/g of sorbent), 70% recovery using hot water, and a recovered concentration of >100 g/L, this regeneration was not stable over 10 cycles in the column. Alternative regeneration schemes using acid and base were examined. Two (XUS 40285 and XFS-40422) showed both good stable capacities for succinic acid over 10 cycles and >95% recovery in a batch operation using a modified extraction procedure combining acid and hot water washes. These resins showed comparable results with actual broth.