Low temperature internal friction on γ-irradiated polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)

A least-squares fitting of the below room temperature part of the internal friction spectra, obtained by the torsion pendulum technique on as-received and-irradiated (up to 1 Grad) strips and fibres of polyvinylidene fluoride [-(CH₂-CF₂-) _n -.; PVDF] by a superposition of single Debye functions, reveals that the spectral component features are determined not only by purely amorphous chain characteristics but also by the dosedependence of crystallinity. A careful analysis of the relaxation spectra confirms that at least one relaxation effect (236 K) is created upon irradiation. The analysis of the dose dependence of the characteristics of the (glass transition; 220 K) and _u (apparent upper glass transition; 270 K) relaxations, suggests the probable influence of crystallinity on the molecular motion in the amorphous phase. The increase of the intensity of the relaxation (190 K) is related to the irradiation-induced crystallite degradation.Fellow of the Interuniversitair Instituut voor Kernwetenschappen     

Electrical conductivity of α-H x V2O5 (X=0.00-0.27): Dependence of hydrogen concentration and orientation

The dependence of the electrical conductivity, , on the hydrogen concentration and crystallographic orientation has been investigated using single crystals of H_xV₂O₅, which were grown by the Bridgeman method and doped with hydrogen within the solid solubility in the phase by the spillover technique. The temperature dependence of showed the feature of diffusive hopping of thermally activated electrons above 180 K and variable range hopping below 180 K. The dependence of on the crystallographic orientation was little different from that of V₂O₅. The change in with the hydrogen concentration was not monotonic; increases withx up tox }-0.06, but decreases abovex }-0.06. This behaviour can be explained based on the competition between the increase in the carrier density and the depression of the mobility of carriers with increasingx.     

Diaphyseal fractures treated by polylactide and hydroxyapatite pins. Experimental study in rat

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) coatings were deposited onto substrates of metal biomaterials (Ti, Ti6Al4V, and 316L stainless steel) by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Only ultra-high surface area HAp powder, prepared by the metathesis method 10Ca(NO₃)₂ + 6(NH₄)₂HPO₄ + 8NH₄OH), could produce dense coatings when sintered at 875–1000°C. Single EPD coatings cracked during sintering owing to the 15–18% sintering shrinkage, but the HAp did not decompose. The use of dual coatings (coat, sinter, coat, sinter) resolved the cracking problem. Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) inspection revealed that the second coating filled in the valleys in the cracks of the first coating. The interfacial shear strength of the dual coatings was found, by ASTM F1044-87, to be 12 MPa on a titanium substrate and 22 MPa on 316L stainless steel, comparing quite favorably with the 34 MPa benchmark (the shear strength of bovine cortical bone was found to be 34 MPa). Stainless steel gave the better result since -316L (20.5 m mK^-1) > -HAp (14 m mK^-1), resulting in residual compressive stresses in the coating, whereas -titanium (10.3 m mK^-1) < -HAp, resulting in residual tensile stresses in the coating. © 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers     

Temperature dependence of electrical resistivity of deformed and undeformed V-rich V3Si single crystals

The electrical resistivity (T) of V-rich V₃Si single crystals (T _c-11.4 K) was measured from 4.2 to 300 K along the directions of [1 0 0] and [1 1 1] before and after plastic deformation at 1573 K. Anisotropy of (T) was observed although V₃Si has the cubic A15 structure. Plastic deformation does not affect the normal-state (T) behaviour but changes the normal-superconducting transition width T_c. At low temperatures (T _c<T 40 K), (T) varies approximately as T ⁿ where n-2.5 and this behaviour does not contradict the (0)- phase-diagram plot proposed by Gurvitch, where is the electron-phonon coupling constant and (0) is the residual resistivity.     

CO/pH2: A Molecular Thermometer

We utilize reversible temperature dependent changes in the IR absorption spectrum of CO molecules isolated in solid parahydrogen (pH₂) to probe bulk temperature changes during rapid vapor deposition. The intensity of a well resolved feature near 2135 cm^–1 increases monotonically with temperature over the 2 to 5 K range. The thermally populated initial state of this transition lies 12 K above the CO/pH₂ ground state. During the deposition of 100 ppm CO/pH₂ samples, we detect temperature gradients 10 K/cm in 0.1 cm-thick samples subjected to heat loads 10 mW/cm². The resulting estimated thermal conductivity (TC) is 3(±2) mW/cm-K, averaged over the 2 to 5 K region. This value is 1000 times lower than the TC of single crystal solid pH₂, and 10 times lower than previously measured for pH₂ solids doped with 100 ppm concentrations of heavy impurities [Manzhelii, Gorodilov, and Krivchikov, Low Temp. Phys. 22, 131 (1996)]. We attribute this abnormally low TC to the known mixed fcc/hcp structure of the rapid vapor deposited solids.     

Correlation between Superconducting Gap and Pseudogap in High-T c Cuprates

We studied the low-temperature energy gap 2 ₀ on Bi ₂ Sr ₂ CaCu ₂ o ₈₊ (Bi2212) and La _2–x Sr _x CuCO ₄ (La214) systematically over a wide range of doping level p using STS, break junction tunneling spectroscopy, Raman scattering and low-T electronic specific heat data. We have also studied the electronic specific heat of La214 in the normal state at T > T _c , and confirmed that pseudogap behavior appears at around T*, below which the in-plane resistivity and magnetic susceptibility tend to be slightly suppressed. Similar suppression appears in and of Bi2212 below the onset temperature of pseudogap T*. It is pointed out in the present study that 2 ₀ is closely related to T* in both Bi2212 and La214 systems; T* 2 ₀ /4.3k _B . It is also pointed out that 2 ₀ is in almost linear proportion to k _B T _max ( T*), where T _max is the temperature exhibiting a broad peak in –T curves and k _B T _max can be considered to give a measure of the effective antiferromagnetic exchange energy J _eff. The factors in 2 ₀ k _B T _max J _eff are 1 for La214 and 2 for Bi2212, respectively. We also report that in both Bi22l2 and La214 systems T _c roughly scales with p ₀ except in highly doped samples, where T _c 2 ₀ .     

The constitution of the Ni-Al-Ru system

The constitution of the Ni-Al-Ru system has been investigated in the range 0 to 50 at% Al. Isothermal sections at 1523 and 1273 K have been determined using microstructural observations, electron probe microanalysis and X-ray diffraction. The phases present were: nickel-based solid solution (); (based on Ni₃Al); solid solutions based on NiAl and RuAl, respectively (designated ₁ and ₂), and ruthenium-based solid solution (Ru). The maximum solubility of Ru in was 5 at%. ₁, and ₂ show extensive range of solubilities, namely up to 20at% Ru in ₁ and up to 25 to 35 at% Ni in ₂. Three-phase equilibrium between , ₂ and (Ru) existed at 1523 and 1273 K. Also at 1523 K, three-phase equilibria existed between , and ₁ and ,₁ and ₂, while at 1273 K, the equilibria were between , ₁,₂ and , , ₂ indicating the occurrence of a reaction +₁, +₂ at a temperature between 1523 and 1273 K. Liquidus features have been deduced from data on as-solidified structures. Lattice parameter data and hardnesses are also reported.     

Hall-Effect in LuNi2B2C and YNi2B2C Borocarbides in Normal and Superconducting Mixed States

It was shown that the Hall resistivity _xy for LuNi ₂ B ₂ C and YNi ₂ B ₂ C is negative in the normal and mixed states and has no sign reversal below T _c . In the mixed state the scaling relation _{xy xx} (_xx is the longitudinal resistivity) was found for both compounds with 2.0. In the normal state a distinct nonlinearity in the _xy(H) dependence, accompanied by a large magnetoresistance, was found below 40 K only for LuNi ₂ B ₂ C. The difference in the behaviour of Lu- and Y-based borocarbides seems to be connected with the difference in the Fermi surfaces of these compounds.     

Superconductivity of 2212 phase in Bi-based high-Tc superconductors

In the Bi-based high-T _c superconductors, three superconducting transition points were observed above the liquid-N₂ temperature range. Allotropes of the 2212 phase were found. These allotropes were metastable and can interchange with the 2212 phase, and theirT _c's vary from 85 to 100 K.     

Modified mixed oxide perovskites 0.7Sr(Al1/2B1/2) O3·0.3LaAlO3 and 0.7Sr(Al1/2B1/2) O3·0.3NdGaO3 (B=Ta5+ or Nb5+) for high-T c superconductor substrate applications

Single-crystal fibres of modified strontium aluminium tantalum oxide (1-x)Sr(Al_1/2Ta_1/2) O₃·xLaAlO₃(SAT-LA) and (1-x)Sr(Al_1/2Ta_1/2)O₃·xNdGaO₃ (SAT·NG), and modified strontium aluminum niobium oxide (1-x)Sr(Al_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃·xNdGaO₃(SAT·NG) and (1-x)Sr (Al_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃·xLaAlO₃ (SAN·LA) were grown using a laser-heated pedestal growth technique. 0.7SAT·0.3LA grows congruently and retains a twin free simple cubic perovskite structure (as the SAT) when cooled down to room temperature. 0.7SAT·0.3LA crystals have a moderate dielectric constant ( = 21.7) and low dielectric loss (tan = 7.5 × 10^–5) at 10 kHz and 90 K. The reduction problem of Ta⁵⁺ is eliminated (which is common in the case of SAT growth). 0.7SAT·0.3NG and 0.7SAN·0.3NG have lower melting temperatures and crystal growth is easier. NdGaO₃ addition to the SAT and SAN enhances the potential of SAT and SAN as large-area substrates for high-T _c superconductor growth. However, the dielectric constants increased from -12 to -16(0.7SAT·0.3NG) and from 18 to 23 (0.7SAN·0.3NG) as a result of NdGaO₃ incorporation.     

High resolution TEM study of ceramic BaO·Pr2O3·4TiO2

Ceramic specimens of BaO·Pr₂O₃·4TiO₂ (Ba_4.5Pr₉Ti₁₈O₅₄) were prepared by the mixed oxide-route. The single phase products were examined by High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). Orthorhombic symmetry, with cell parameters a22.2 Å, b12.2 Å and c7.6 Å, was confirmed. On the basis of space group pnam (No. 62) and the crystal structural data of Rawn et al., good agreement was obtained between the experimental HRTEM images and images simulated by the multislice method.     

Sol-gel prepared Ni-alumina composite materials

The sol-gel method has been utilized for the preparation of dense, homogeneous ceramic-metal composites with up to 50% Ni in Al₂O₂. Examination by SEM and TEM shows that the materials consist of micrometre-size Al₂O₃ with metallic Ni in isolated regions from 50 m down to nanometre size. The density ranges from 97% (10% Ni) to 74% (50% Ni) of the theoretical number. The hardness decreases from 18 GPa for pure alumina to 10 GPa for alumina containing 50% Ni. The fracture toughness increases significantly from K _1c=3–4 MPa m^1/2 to K _1c=8.5 MPa m^1/2. The elastic and shear moduli decrease from E=400 GPa and G=160 GPa for pure alumina to E=320 GPa and G=135 GPa when containing 50% Ni. The electrical resistivity is 10⁶m with 10 to 40% Ni but decreases drastically at 50% Ni content.     

Vortex imaging in superconducting films by scanning hall probe microscopy

We have used a low noise Scanning Hall Probe Microscope (SHPM) to study vortex structures in superconducting films. The microscope has high magnetic field (2.9×10^–8T/Hz at 77K) and spatial resolution, 0.85m. Magnetic field profiles of single vortices in High T_c YBa₂Cu₃O_7– thin films have been successfully measured and the microscopic penetration depth of the superconductor has been extracted as a function of temperature. Flux penetration into the superconductor has been imaged in real time (8s/frame).     

Crystalline structure and dielectric properties of Ba(Ti1−y Ce y )O3

Crystalline structure, microstructure and dielectric properties for Ba(Ti_1–y Ce _y )O₃ (0 y 0.5) ceramics have been studied. Dense ceramics with the relative density higher than 95% and grain size of 0.7–1.5 m have been obtained. The limit of the solid solubility is determined as y = 0.3 by the X-ray diffraction, SEM, and dielectric properties measurements. The crystalline symmetry is tetragonal for the sample with y = 0.02 and cubic for y 0.06 at room temperature, and the unit cell increases with increasing Ce content in the solid solution range. Correspondingly, the dielectric response exhibits three dielectric peaks for y = 0.02, and one pinched dielectric peak with ferroelectric relaxor behavior for y 0.06.     

Preparation and analysis of high-T c Nb-Ge films

The dependence of T_c on sputtering conditions, chemical composition, and phase structure for Nb-Ge films has been studied. It was found that T_c varied with composition, but was not dependent on exact stoichiometry of the film; the Nb/Ge ratio was <3 for very high T_c 23 K films and 4 for films with T_c 20 K. X-ray results showed that the films with T_c 23 K contained a certain amount of tetragonal Nb₅Ge₃ with a lattice parameter of A15 phase 5.14 Å. The depth profile of very high T_c films showed no increase of oxygen concentration at the film-substrate interface; no correlation of high T_c and impurities was found.     

Sr2YRu1?uCuuO6: Evidence for SrO-Layer Superconductivity

Sr₂YRuO₆ doped on its Ru site by Cu superconducts at the below 45 K, although its Ru and Cu are magnetically ordered at 23 K and 86 K, respectively. The SrO layers superconduct. Ba₂GdRuO₆, when doped with Cu, does not superconduct, because L = 0 Gd is not crystal-field split, and so induces Cooper pair-breaking.     

rf-SQUID Effect in Bulk Quaternary Borocarbide Superconductors

This paper reports observation of rf-SQUID effect due to natural grain boundary junctions in YNi₂B₂C (T _c 15.5 K), ErNi₂B₂C (T _c 11.5 K, T _N 6.5 K), and DyNi₂B₂C (T _c 6.5 K, T _N 11K), LuNi₂B₂C (T _c 16.5 K) and YPd₅B₃C_0.35 (T _c 23 K) bulk borocarbide superconductors. The observation of rf-SQUID effect due to natural grain boundary junctions in all the five borocarbide superconductors clearly indicates that natural grain boundary junctions in these superconductors behave as Josephson junctions, and this behavior of natural grain boundary junctions in the quaternary borocarbides appear to be universal in this class of superconductors. Observation of rf-SQUID effect in magnetic borocarbide superconductors (ErNi₂B₂C and DyNi₂B₂C) at 4.2 K also indicates that antiferromagnetic ordering does not destroy SQUID effect, as T _N > 4.2 K in both cases. Rapid increase in flux noise due to thermally activated flux hopping has been observed in all the SQUIDs as temperature approaches T _c.     

Preparation of YBa2Cu3O7 ? δ Thin Films by the Self-Template Sputtering Method

Using the self-template technique, c-axis-oriented epitaxial YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 –} thin films have been prepared in situ on LaAlO₃ substrate by the d.c. magnetron sputtering method. The properties of thin film dependence on the deposition conditions of the two-step self-template method have been systematically investigated. By optimizing the parameters, high-quality YBCO thin films with T _c0 90 K, T _c 1 K, R _s (77 K, 10 GHz)500 were reproducibly obtained. The best sample grown under optimal conditions gave a low R _s of 330 at 77 K, 10 GHz, which can be used in a microwave field.     

A simple theory for the cuprates: the Antiferro-magnetic van Hove scenario

A model of weakly interacting hole quasiparticles is proposed to describe the normal state of the high temperature superconductors. The effect of strong correlations is contained in the dispersion of the holes. Many-body effects induce anomalous quasiparticleflat bands similar to those observed in recent angle-resolved photoemission experiments. A model of weakly interacting hole quasiparticles is proposed to describe the physics of carriers in the cuprates. The model predicts superconductivity in the d_x2-_y2 channel, with a typical T_c 100K. The concept of optimal doping appears naturally in this model, as well as a large ratio 2/T _c 5.