Dielectric and conductivity relaxation in mixtures of glycerol with LiCl

We report a thorough dielectric characterization of the α relaxation of glass-forming glycerol with varying additions of LiCl. Nine salt concentrations from 0.1 to 20mol% are investigated in a frequency range of 20Hz-3GHz and analyzed in the dielectric loss and modulus representation. Information on the dc conductivity, the dielectric relaxation time (from the loss) and the conductivity relaxation time (from the modulus) is provided. Overall, with increasing ion concentration, a transition from reorientationally to translationally dominated behavior is observed and the translational ion dynamics and the dipolar reorientational dynamics become successively coupled. This gives rise to the prospect that, by adding ions to dipolar glass formers, dielectric spectroscopy may directly couple to the translational degrees of freedom determining the glass transition, even in frequency regimes where usually strong decoupling is observed.     

Universality in the tail of musical note rank distribution

Although power laws have been used to fit rank distributions in many different contexts, they usually fail at the tails. Languages as sequences of symbols have been a popular subject for ranking distributions, and for this purpose, music can be treated as such. Here we show that more than 1800 musical compositions are very well fitted by the first kind two parameter beta distribution, which arises in the ranking of multiplicative stochastic processes. The parameters a and b are obtained for classical, jazz and rock music, revealing interesting features. Specially, we have obtained a clear trend in the values of the parameters for major and minor tonal modes. Finally, we discuss the distribution of notes for each octave and its connection with the ranking of the notes.     

Structural, vibrational and electrical characterization of PVA-NH4Br polymer electrolyte system

Polymer electrolyte based on PVA doped with different concentrations of NH₄Br has been prepared by solution casting technique. The complexation of the prepared polymer electrolytes has been studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infra red (FTIR) spectroscopy. The maximum ionic conductivity (5.7×10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹) has been obtained for 25 mol% NH₄Br-doped PVA polymer electrolyte. The temperature dependence of ionic conductivity of the prepared polymer electrolytes obeys Arrhenius law. The ionic transference number of mobile ions has been estimated by dc polarization method and the results reveal that the conducting species are predominantly ions. The dielectric behavior of the polymer electrolytes has been analyzed using dielectric permittivity and electric modulus spectra.     

High-resolution laser spectroscopy of theQ v(0) transitions in solid parahydrogen

Our recent high-resolution laser spectroscopy of theQ _v(0) (=0,J=00) transitions in solid parahydrogen is discussed. The systems studied include the fundamental vibrational bands of impurity D₂ and HD, the first and second overtones of parahydrogen, and the charge-induced spectrum of-ray irradiated parahydrogen. Additionally, Stark and stimulated Raman-gain spectroscopies are applied to the solid. The linewidths are as sharp as 2 MHz HWHM, which is highly unusual for a solid. Our spectra demonstrate a variety of physical phenomena, particularly thek = 0 selection rule, as well asJ = 1/J = 0 pair intermolecular interactions.     

Theory of electron escape from the surface of liquid helium

We have studied the properties of an electron bubble close to the surface of liquid³ He, by using a Density Functional approach. We find that up to an electron-surface distanced ₀ 23 Åthe bubble is stable, while at smaller distances it becomes unstable and bursts. A potential energy barrier /K _B 38°K for the thermal emission of electrons is obtained from our results, in agreement with experiments. Even when the electron-surface distance is larger thand ₀, however, tunneling through the surface layer dominates the electron escape probability. Large deviations of the electron potential energy from its ideal value are found close to the surface. These deviations have a profound effect on the calculated decay rates of the tunneling curent, which are much smaller than those obtained previously and in semi-quantitative agreement with experiments.     

Preparation, luminescence and defect studies of Eu-activated strontium hexa-aluminate phosphor prepared via combustion method

Preparation of Eu²⁺ ions activated strontium hexa-aluminate phosphor using the combustion method is described. An efficient phosphor can be prepared by this method at reaction temperatures as low as 500 °C in a few minutes. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscope analysis were used to characterize the as prepared product and the optical properties were studied by photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Thermally stimulated luminescence studies also have been carried out on SrAl₁₂O₁₉:Eu²⁺ phosphor. The TSL glow curve is broad and indicates two dominant peaks at 206 and 345 °C. Defect centres formed in irradiated phosphor have been studied using the technique of electron spin resonance. One of the centres is characterized by an isotropic g-value of 2.0055 and is assigned to a F⁺ centre. The two annealing stages of F⁺ centre in the region 125-230 and 340-390 °C appear to correlate with the release of carriers resulting in TSL peaks at 206 and 345 °C, respectively.     

Modelling and optimisation of solid electrolyte sintering behaviour by thermokinetic analysis

Burnout of organic binder and sintering behaviour of yttria doped zirconia electrolyte green tapes were investigated by thermogravimetry and dilatometry. The burnout which precedes the actual sintering, as well as the sintering itself were described by a mathematical model based on formal kinetics. Thus, the measured data were reduced to a set of a few parameters which can be easily used to simulate the kinetic behaviour for an arbitrary temperature profile, so that good accordance between prediction and respective measurement was accomplished. Using rate controlled binder burnout and rate controlled sintering, optimisation of the temperature profile was achieved with respect to time and energy saving. These results were confirmed by SEM analysis of the microstructure and determination of the electrical conductivity.     

Simulation and scaling of ac conductivities in ion-conducting glasses

Simulation is made about ac conductivity, σ(ω), in ion-conducting glass by recurring to one of the Maxwell’s equations. It is concluded that (1) σ(ω) is made of conduction and conduction-related polarization of the mobile ions, both governed by the same relaxation time, τ, and that (2) high frequency dispersion in σ(ω), high frequency dispersion in the electric modulus peak, and distortion of a semicircle in the complex impedance plane, all arise from a distribution in τ, caused by the disordered structure of glass. Finally, a procedure of scaling ac data measured at various temperatures into a single master curve is given.     

Dielectric losses measured in a sodium aluminosilicate glass by using electrical insulating barriers and non-isothermal experimental conditions

Ac conductivity and dielectric losses are measured on a sodium aluminosilicate glass using various experimental conditions. Data obtained using metallic contacts and insulating barriers are compared. The influences of the thermal environment, i.e. iso versus non-isothermal, and of the application of a constant dc electric field, i.e. BIAS, are also investigated. It is thus shown that the use of non-isothermal conditions and insulating barriers is a convenient tool for extracting and hence for analyzing the bulk intrinsic polarization response of the sample. The analysis of this response with a simple model based on distribution of energy barriers gives some insights into the glass structure which turns out to be rather homogeneous.     

Interaction of gamma rays with some sodium phosphate glasses containing cobalt

Undoped and cobalt-doped sodium phosphate glasses of various compositions and with varying cobalt contents were prepared. UV-visible absorption spectra were measured before and after successive gamma irradiation. Experimental results indicated that the undoped base glass reveals strong ultraviolet absorption which is related to the presence of unavoidable trace iron impurities in the raw materials. Cobalt-doped glasses show characteristic visible absorption bands which are related to the presence of Co²⁺ ions mostly in the tetra-coordination state. The generated induced color centers in the UV and visible regions by gamma irradiation are characterized in relation to intrinsic defects from the host base sodium phosphate glass and the extrinsic defects from both trace iron impurities and added doped cobalt ions. Infrared absorption measurements were carried out for some selected samples to identify the structural building groups in the studied glasses. Cobalt ions showed a shielding behavior towards the effects of progressive gamma irradiation especially in the visible spectral region.