General covariance of the non-abelian DBI-action: checks and balances

We perform three tests on our proposal to implement diffeomorphism invariance in the non-abelian D0-brane DBI action as a base-point independence constraint between matrix Riemann normal coordinate systems. First, we show that T-duality along an isometry correctly interchanges the potential and kinetic terms in the action. Second, we show that the method to impose base-point independence using an auxiliary dN²-dimensional nonlinear sigma model also works for metrics which are curved along the brane, provided a physical gauge choice is made at the end. Third, we show that without alteration this method is applicable to higher order in velocities. Testing specifically to order 4, we elucidate the range of validity of the symmetrized trace approximation to the non-abelian DBI action.     

Cliffordization, spin, and fermionic star products

Deformation quantization is a powerful tool for quantizing theories with bosonic and fermionic degrees of freedom. The star products involved generate the mathematical structures which have recently been used in attempts to analyze the algebraic properties of quantum field theory. In the context of quantum mechanics they provide a quantization procedure for systems with either bosonic or fermionic degrees of freedom. We illustrate this procedure for a number of physical examples, including bosonic, fermionic, and supersymmetric oscillators. We show how non-relativistic and relativistic particles with spin can be naturally described in this framework.     

Magnetism and magneto-transport studies in sonochemically prepared amorphous Co100−xPtx nano alloys

Bulk amorphous Co_(100−x)Pt_x (0≤x≤50) nano-alloys have been synthesized using high frequency ultrasound, displaying single domain (4-5 nm) behavior wherein weakly exchange-coupled particles lead to a field-dependent resistivity behavior. Magneto-resistivity is correlated to the order-disorder parameter in these powder compacts. The plot of Δρ/ρ₀ as a function of reduced magnetization indicates that all the systems are weakly exchange coupled.     

Thermal conductance for single wall carbon nanotubes

We report a theoretical analysis of the phonon thermal conductance, κ(T), for single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCN). In a range of low temperatues up to 100 K, κ(T) of perfect SWCN is found to increase with temperature, approximately, in a parabolic fashion. This is qualitatively consistent with recent experimental measurements where the tube-tube interactions are negligibly weak. When the carbon-carbon bond length is slightly varied, κ(T) is found to be qualitatively unaltered which implies that the anharmonic effect does not change the qualitative behavior of κ(T). Received 12 June 2001     

Quantization of collective regular structures of particles

The theory of many-body systems constitutes one of the most complex part of quantum mechanics. Closed results are not readily available and approximations become extremely involved. It is, therefore, of considerable interest that the quantization of certain simple collective motions of particles can describe the energies of atoms, nuclei and particle models rather well. We describe here the most elementary examples of such structures.Dedicated to H. Walther, a great scientist and who demonstrated among many other things the regular shapes of atomic particles, the subject of this essay     

Thermal and chemical nanofractal relaxation

We studied shape relaxation of nano-fractal islands, during annealing, after their growth from antimony cluster deposition on graphite surface. Annealing at 180^°C shows evidence of an increase of the fractal branch width with time followed by branch fragmentation, without changing the fractal dimension. The time evolution of the width of the arm suggests the surface self-diffusion mechanism as the main relaxation process. With Monte Carlo simulations, we confirmed the observed behavior. Comparison is done with our previous results on fragmentation of nano-fractal silver islands when impurity added to the incident cluster promotes rapid fragmentation by surface self-diffusion enhancement [1].     

External influence on magnetic properties of Fe-based nanocrystalline alloys

Amorphous and nanocrystalline ribbons of NANOPERM, FINEMET and HITPERM were studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS) after the influence of external factors: different annealing atmospheres, tensile stress and several kinds of corrosion. MS is a suitable tool for such studies because the spectral parameters are very sensitive to changes in the vicinity of the probe — ⁵⁷Fe nuclei. The most sensitive parameters were hyperfine magnetic field in crystalline component, average hyperfine field in amorphous component and direction of net magnetic moments. Influence of external factors modified also the structure of the alloys, i.e. new or modified phases were identified by MS phase analysis.     

Initial study on the structure and photoluminescence properties of SiC films doped with Al

SiC films doped with aluminum (Al) were prepared by the rf-magnetron sputtering technique on p-Si substrates with a composite target of a single crystalline SiC containing several Al pieces on the surface. The as-deposited films were annealed in the temperature range of 400-800 °C under nitrogen ambient. The thin films have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the introduction of Al into films hinders crystalline formation process. And with the increase of annealing temperature, more Si particles are formed in the films, which strongly affect the optical absorption properties. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the samples show two peaks at 370 nm and 412 nm. The intensities of the PL peaks are evidently improved after Al doped. We attribute the origin of the two PL peaks to a kind of Si-related defect centres. The obtained results are expected to have important applications in modern optoelectronic devices.     

Thickness induced transversal percolation in Pt-Al2O3 nano-composites

Investigations of thickness induced percolation process in Pt_ξ-Al₂O₃ nano-composites were carried out using grazing angle X-ray scattering. It is shown that the morphological characteristics of the nano-scaled Pt particles change significantly within the growth transversal direction. The initially non percolated two phases Pt_ξ-Al₂O₃ nano-composites show a noteworthy tendency to a percolated morphology with a gradual transversal increase of Pt nano-particles' average diameter in addition to the increase of the Pt nano-particles' poly-dispersity. This transversal morphological evolution is followed by a percolation phenomenon of the Pt nano-particles for a thickness of about ∼119.5 nm. This transversal morphological evolution seems to corroborate far too much with a columnar growth process.     

Hetergeneous-nucleation synthesis of monodisperse ε-cobalt nanoparticles using palladium seeds

Monodisperse bimetallic Pd–Co nanoparticles were prepared via a thermal decomposition of cobalt carbonyl using palladium seeds at the Pd/Co molar ratios 0.5%, 1%, and 5%. The heterogeneously nucleated nanoparticles without any size-selective precipitation are sufficiently uniform to self-assemble into ordered arrays. The as-synthesized nanoparticles are each a single crystal with a complex cubic structure called ε-Co. The presence of Pd seeds seems to improve the stability of Co nanoparticles against oxidation based on the results from time-dependent magnetization measurement.