The structural origin of the antiferroelectric properties and relaxor behavior of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3

This work presents a study of Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃ (NBT) by transmission electron microscopy in the 20-370 °C temperature range. A new orthorhombic intermediate phase between the rhombohedral and the tetragonal phases is proposed to account for the occurrence of (oee) superstructure spots. The phase transition from the rhombohedral to the orthorhombic phase occurs via a modulated phase formed by rhombohedral blocks and orthorhombic sheets. It is shown that these latter represent rhombohedral (0 1 0) twin planes. The modulated phase is proposed to explain the antiferroelectric and relaxor behaviors of NBT.     

Phase coexistence in NaZn13-type LaFe11.4Al1.6C0.02 compound

In NaZn₁₃-type LaFe_11.4Al_1.6C_0.02 compound, a signature of weak ferromagnetism is observed at ∼100 K under a low field by ac magnetic-susceptibility and electrical-resistivity measurements, implying the coexistence of ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) phases. The hysteresis in isofield magnetization curves and large magnetic relaxation demonstrate the metastability of the magnetic state in the AFM-FM transition region. The variations of magnetization with temperature, time and field show distinct step-like behaviors, which is probably attributed to the discontinuous growth of ferromagnetic cluster in antiferromagnetic matrix.     

Electrical transport of (1−x)La0.7Ca0.3MnO3+xAl2O3 composites

We report the resistivity (ρ)-temperature (T) patterns in (1-x)La_0,7Ca_0,3MnO₃+xAl₂O₃ composites (0≤x≤0.05) over a temperature regime of 50-300 K. Al₂O₃ addition has increased the resistivity of these composites. The Curie temperature (T_C) is almost independent on the Al₂O₃ content and is about 250 K for all the samples, while the metal-insulator transition temperature (T_MI) decreases with increasing Al₂O₃ content. Based on the phenomenological equation for conductivity under a percolation approach, which is dependent on the phase segregation of ferromagnetic metallic clusters and paramagnetic insulating regions, we fitted the experimental data (ρ−T) from 50 to 300 K and find that the activation barrier increases as Al₂O₃ content increases.     

Spontaneous Resonances and the Coherent States of the Queuing Networks

We present an example of a highly connected closed network of servers, where the time correlations do not vanish in the infinite volume limit. The limiting interacting particle system behaves in a periodic manner. This phenomenon is similar to the continuous symmetry breaking at low temperatures in statistical mechanics, with the average load playing the role of the inverse temperature.     

Differential variation of laser longitudinal mode spacing induced by small intra-cavity phase anisotropies

Intra-cavity phase anisotropy causes each laser longitudinal mode to split into two orthogonally polarized frequencies. When the frequency difference generated by small anisotropy is about 40 MHz or less, only one frequency of the splitting mode oscillates while the other is always in lock-in state due to strong mode competition. In that case the longitudinal mode spacing deviates from its original value. And the spacing of two adjacent longitudinal modes shows differential variations depending on direction of cavity length tuning and mode polarization. In this paper, the relationship between spacing variation and small intra-cavity anisotropy is demonstrated experimentally and theoretically. The equivalent fast axis of anisotropy is determined additionally by its correlation with laser intensity tuning of the two orthogonally polarized components. The novel measurement method is successfully tested in several applications.     

Determination of skeleton and sign map for phase obtaining from a single ESPI image

A robust method of determining the sign map and skeletons for ESPI images is introduced in this paper. ESPI images have high speckle noise which makes it difficult to obtain the fringe information, especially from a single image. To overcome the effects of high speckle noise, local directional computing windows are designed according to the fringe directions. Then by calculating the gradients from the filtered image in directional windows, sign map and good skeletons can be determined robustly. Based on the sign map, single image phase-extracting methods such as quadrature transform can be improved. And based on skeletons, fringe phases can be obtained directly by normalization methods. Experiments show that this new method is robust and effective for extracting phase from a single ESPI fringe image.     

Phase-shifting interferometry with four interferograms using linear polarization modulation and a Ronchi grating displaced by only a small unknown amount

A method to reduce the number of captures needed in phase-shifting interferometry is proposed on the basis of grating interferometry and modulation of linear polarization. The case of four interferograms is considered. A common-path interferometer is used with two windows in the object plane and a Ronchi grating as the pupil, thus forming several replicated images of each window over the image plane. The replicated images, under proper matching conditions, superpose in such a way so that they produce interference patterns. Orders 0 and +1 and −1 and 0 form useful patterns to extract the optical phase differences associated to the windows. A phase of π is introduced between these orders using linear polarizing filters placed in the windows and also in the replicated windows, so two π-shifted patterns can be captured in one shot. An unknown translation is then applied to the grating in order to produce another shift in the each pattern. A second and final shot captures these last patterns. The actual grating displacement and the phase shift can be determined according to the method proposed by Kreis before applying proper phase-shifting techniques to finally calculate the phase difference distribution between windows. Related simulations and experimental results are given.     

Encryption and decryption using a sandwich phase diffuser made by using two speckle patterns and placed in the Fourier plane: Simulation results

In the present paper, we describe the encryption and decryption of two-dimensional images. The encryption is done by employing a sandwich phase diffuser made by using two elongated speckle patterns, and placed in the Fourier plane of a double random phase encoding system. After encryption, the two constituent phase diffusers of such a sandwich diffuser are separated. During decryption, if the conjugate of either of the two elongated phase speckle patterns is used, the image cannot be retrieved. Correct decryption is also not possible if a sandwich diffuser with any of the phase speckle patterns is shifted in position with respect to the other. For decryption, the encrypted image is Fourier transformed and multiplied by the conjugate of the sandwich diffuser, and then the product is further Fourier transformed. It is possible to generate the image only if both the elongated phase speckle patterns are matched point-to-point and then the proper conjugate is made. The use of elongated speckle patterns in constituting a sandwich phase diffuser makes the system less complicated as compared to the use of a sandwich diffuser made with normal speckle patterns, enabling an easy alignment of the random phase diffuser at the time of rejoining the constituent diffusers for making the right key. The ease of alignment is due to the reduction of the requirement of 360° scanning at the time of rejoining these diffusers with little reduction in the security of the system. Simulation results are presented in support of the proposed idea. For optical implementation, the decrypted image may be obtained by generating a phase conjugate wave by the phase conjugation technique, and passing through the same sandwich phase diffuser. To evaluate the reliability of the technique, mean square error (MSE) between the decrypted and original image has been calculated.     

Experimental investigation and thermodynamic calculation of the Bi-Ga-Sn phase equilibria

Binary thermodynamic data, successfully used for phase diagram calculations of binary systems Bi-Ga, Bi-Sn, and Ga-Sn, were used for prediction of phase equilibria in ternary Bi-Ga-Sn system. The thermodynamic functions, such as enthalpy of formation and activity, were calculated using the Redlich-Kister-Muggianu model and compared with experimental data reported in the literature. The liquidus surface, invariant equilibria and three vertical sections with molar ratio Ga:Sn=1, Bi:Sn=1 and Bi:Ga=1 of the Bi-Ga-Sn ternary system were calculated by the CALPHAD method. Alloys, situated along three calculated vertical sections, were investigated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The experimentally determined phase transition temperatures were compared with calculation results and good mutual agreement was noticed.     

Structural and electrical study of Ce-substituted bismuth vanadate

Samples of Ce^IV-substituted bismuth vanadate, formulated as Bi₄Ce_xV_2−xO_{11−(x/2)−δ}; 0≤x≤0.30, were synthesized by solid-state reactions. The phase structure and electrical conductivity were investigated using X-ray powder diffraction, FT-IR, differential thermal analysis and AC impedance spectroscopy. For a low composition range, two phase transitions, α↔β and β↔γ, were exhibited in which the system mimics in most events the parent compound. Impedance analysis evidenced no relationship between the blocking effect of charge carriers and structural changes at ambient temperatures. However, the temperature dependence of conductivity was correlated with the stability region of various phases within the system.