Relaxation spectroscopy on amorphous high polymers

Summary Measurements of the dynamic Youngs modulus and shear modulus of Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) in the frequency range from 10^–3 cps to 10^–1 cps and in the temperature range from –20°C to 100°C up to stress amplitudes of 4 kN/cm² are presented. The measured nonlinear viscoelastic behavior is discussed with regard to nonlinear elasticity and nonlinear effects caused by the shift of relaxation times due to the reaction rate theory.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird über Messungen des dynamischen Elastizitätsmoduls und Schubmodells von Polymethacrylsäuremethylester (PMMA) im Frequenzbereich von 10^–3 Hz bis 10^–1 Hz und im Temperaturbereich von –20°C bis +100°C bei Spannungsamplituden bis zu 4 kN/cm² berichtet. Das gemessene nichtlineare viskoelastische Verhalten wird hinsichtlich einer nichtlinearen Elastizität und hinsichtlich nichtlinearer Effekte, die durch eine Verschiebung der Relaxationszeiten nach der Platzwechseltheorie verursacht sind, diskutiert.

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With 21 figures     

Transport properties of intermediate valence compounds studied within the alloy analog approximation of the Periodic Anderson Model

We use the Periodic Anderson Model (PAM) to describe the transport properties of intermediate valence compounds. The transport quantities of interest are related to the current-current response function. Therefore, a current operator being consistent with the PAM Hamiltonian must be defined. This aim is achieved by defining a proper particle density operator and using the continuity equation. The PAM is treated within the alloy analog approximation, i.e. it is replaced by the sum of two effective single-particle alloy-Hamiltonians, which are treated within the coherent potential approximation (CPA). Then the CPA for transport quantities is used to calculate the current-current response function. It is shown that for all reasonable assumptions for the conduction band and the hybridization dispersion the current vertex corrections vanish within the CPA. For different assumptions concerning the hybridization dispersion, we present numerical results for the temperature and parameter dependence of some transport quantities, in particular the static resistivity. The relevance of these results for the understanding of the typical experimental resistivity behaviour obtained for different intermediate valence compounds and possible shortcomings of our approach are discussed.Work performed within the research program of the Sonderforschungsbereich 125 Aachen-Jülich-Köln, FRG     

Theory of substitutional alloys of intermediate valence systems: Concentration and temperature dependence of the static magnetic susceptibility

The effect of alloying in intermediate valence compounds is studied within an extended version of the Anderson model which takes into account substitutional disorder of the rare earth ions. In particular, we concentrate on modifications of the conduction band, describe them by an effective shift in the Fermi energy, and consider its influence on the mixed valence behaviour. By applying the alloy analog approximation to the manyparticle Hamiltonian describing the local magnetic 4f shells, the complete effective Hamiltonian is that of a ternary alloy. This problem is solved within the coherent potential approximation and the static magnetic susceptibility is calculated as a function of temperature and disorder. Depending on the shift of the Fermi energy with respect to the 4f levels, qualitatively different behaviour is obtained which corresponds very well with magnetic measurements on different Yb alloys. The model yields an inverse proportionality between the susceptibility atT=0 and the temperatureT _M of the susceptibility maximum as functions of the disorder.Work performed within the research program of the Sonderfor-schungsbereich 125 Aachen-Jülich-Köln     

Particle sizing by time-resolved Mie calculations—A numerical study

If a small transparent particle is illuminated with a short laser pulse, the signals of the individual scattering light orders appear temporally successively. Since to each scattered light order belongs a specific optical path through the particle, the particle size can be determined from the time difference between the detected scattered light signals. For the case of a detector position within the backscatter region, which especially is important in measuring practice, the time difference between the specular reflection signal and the signal after a single internal reflection (refraction of second order) must to be evaluated. In the numerical simulation we generate the concerned scattered light signals by using time-resolved Mie calculations and in this paper we present the geometrical models, which permit a correct interpretation of the temporal behavior of these pulse-induced scattered light signals.     

Speaking rate of adventitiously deaf male cochlear implant candidates

No objective group data on speaking rate or speaking duration have been reported on the speech of adventitiously profoundly hearing-impaired adults. Results of the present study showed that speaking rate, i.e., number of syllables per second, was significantly slower and speaking duration was significantly longer for 25 adventitiously profoundly hearing-impaired adult male cochlear implant candidates than for 10 normal-hearing control subjects. The factors of length of time since onset of profound hearing loss and hearing aid use did not significantly affect speaking rate. Based on these objective data, a rationale and method are presented for aural rehabilitation of the profoundly hearing-impaired who exhibit speaking rate abnormalities.     

Phonon induced instabilities in intermediate valence compounds

The coupling of 4f electrons and longitudinal optical phonons and its implications on different types of structural phase transitions in intermediate valence compounds is discussed within the framework of the periodic Anderson model. Two types of interactions are considered. First, the usual density type of coupling of 4f electrons and phonons leads to a weakly temperature dependent renormalization of the positionE ₀ of the 4f level with respect to the 5d band. Secondly, phonon induced 4f–5d interband transitions lead to a renormalization of the hybridization energyV of 4f and conduction electrons. For appropriate parameter values the latter effect gives rise to discontinuous changes of the occupation of the 4f state.The tendency towards a ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic instability is essentially suppressed by the presence of phonons.The dependence of the susceptibility on temperature and onE ₀ is calculated and a jump is found whenever a discontinuous change of the occupation of the 4f state occurs.Work performed within the research program of the Sonderforschungsbereich 125, Aachen-Jülich-Köln     

Hybridization effect on phase transitions in the Falicov-Kimball model

The Falicov-Kimball model extended by the hybridization between the localized electron states and the conduction band states is studied in Hartree-Fock approximation. Taking into account the periodicity of the system, the occupation number of the localized levels always varies continuously with the level energy for non-vanishing hybridization. This result is in contradiction with earlier mean-field calculations which are not self- consistent for the periodic model. Since first order phase transitions in intermediate valence compounds such as SmS have been observed experimentally, it follows that their explanation needs a more general theoretical frame than the model considered here.     

Observation of a meson X→2γ, with mass 2.85 GeV/c2, produced in the charge-exchange reaction π−p → Xn at 40 GeV/c

The invariant mass spectrum of neutral final states produced in π^?p charge-exchange scattering at 40 GeV/c has been studied, searching for heavy particles decaying in 2γ. A peak is observed around 2.85 GeV/c². The cross section of the reaction π^?p→X(2.85)+n, times the branching ratio of the X→2γ decay, is measured to be $\text{σ ×}\text{BR}\text{? 2 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?34}}\text{cm}{}^2$.     

Searching and exploring properties of geometric configurations using dynamic software

The decline in enrolments and interest in advanced mathematics studies is of growing concern internationally. Previous research suggests that a range of factors can influence students' academic decisions. The focus of the paper is on one of these potential sources of influence— students' perceptions of the tertiary mathematics learning environment. Data from two large-scale surveys (N = 1883) and from a smaller number of interviews (N = 71) with students enrolled in tertiary mathematics courses at five Australian universities are presented and discussed. Collectively, the survey results and the interview data reveal considerable variations in the quality of the teaching and student support available in different mathematics departments. Students' comments were constructive and offered valuable ideas for improving the existing situation, retaining current students and attracting others to mathematics.