Stability of the nonequilibrium state of a superconductor irradiated by an electromagnetic field

Irradiation of a superconductor by an electromagnetic field with a frequency ₀ larger than twice the energy gap (order parameter) decreases the order parameter . We obtain the quasiparticle distribution function n and the dependence of the order parameter on the power of the electromagnetic field P by solving numerically the kinetic equations for n and in the steady state. We take ₀/₀ = 2.1, 8, and 20, where ₀ is the equilibrium value of the order parameter at T = 0 K. In the examples considered the dependence of on the pumping power P becomes double-valued above a critical power. We allow phonons also to be out of thermal equilibrium. To discuss the stability of the steady state thus obtained, we derive kinetic equations for small deviations of the quasiparticle distribution function and the order parameter from the steady state n and by means of the nonequilibrium Green's function theory. Assuming n, exp(i kr – t), (k) is computed using n _s/, where n _sis the steadystate quasiparticle distribution function for arbitrary . It is concluded in general that the steady state on the upper branch ( > _{c 2}) is stable with respect to both spatially homogeneous and inhomogeneous fluctuations, and the lower branch ( > _{c 2}) is unstable; _{c 2}is the value where the upper and lower branches of (P) coalesce.This work is partly supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Special Project Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan.     

Effect of resonant impurity scattering on collective mode peaks in the ultrasound attenuation of heavy fermion superconductors

We have calculated the attenuation of longitudinal ultrasound due to real order parameter fluctuations in impure polar and planarp-wave superconductors. The quasiparticle self-energy and the corresponding vertex corrections have been included in thet-matrix approximation for arbitrary scattering rate =1/2_N and all scattering phase shifts _N (0 _N/2). We obtain sound attenuation peaks belowT _c whose heights, positions, and shapes depend on ₀ (sound frequency), (₀), _N, and (coupling strength due to particle-hole asymmetry). The peaks become much more distinct and sharper for _N =/2 (resonant scattering by impurities) than for _N=0 (Born approximation). By choosing , _N, and suitably, qualitative agreement between calculated and observed peaks in UBe₁₃ and UPt₃ can be achieved.     

Temperature and randomness dependence of the pair-breaking parameter in superconducting aluminum films

Magnetoconductance and excess conductance due to superconducting fluctuations in aluminum films are measured in order to study the temperature dependence of the pair-breaking parameter at temperatures nearT _c . The parameter _M is estimated from the relation =/8k _B T_in, where _in is the inelastic scattering time deduced from the analysis of the magnetoconductance. The parameter _F is determined by fitting theories to data on the excess conductance at zero magnetic field. It is shown that: (1) For films with a wide range of the sheet resistanceR , 12R 200 /, the temperature dependence of _M nearT _c agrees well with the theory of Brenig et al. (2) For clean films withR 100 /, the value of _F analyzed with theories including the correction term to the Maki-Thompson contribution shows almost the same temperature dependence as _M . In a film withR 200 /, however, a discrepancy between _M and _F remains.On leave from College of General Education, Kyushu University, Ropponmatsu, Fukuoka, Japan.     

Relations between specific heat discontinuities and Ginzburg-Landau parameters for superfluid 3He

We show that the value of the ratio ₅/₂₄ deduced from specific heat experiments is extremely sensitive to the coefficient of the quadratic term in the Ginzburg-Landau functional. A strong coupling calculation of this coefficient implies that the experimental value of ₅/₂₄ is more than three times larger than previously believed.This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation through Grant DMR7826530.     

Superconductivity in the tetragonal phase of La1.9Bi0.1CuO4+δ annealed under high oxygen pressure

We have investigated the relation between the crystal structure and superconductivity in La_1.9Bi_0.1CuO₄₊ , in which the phase separation observed in La₂CuO₄₊ is suppressed. A phase diagram in theT– plane is given for La_1.9Bi_0.1CuO₄₊ with excess oxygen. For very small values, the crystal structure is orthorhombic, and an orthorhombic-tetragonal phase transition occurs markedly at 0.03 in the measured temperature range between 13 and 293 K. Superconductivity is observed in the range of 0.04<<0.11. This is clear evidence thathigh-T _c superconductivity also appears in the tetragonal phase.     

Effect of Grain Size on the Modulus of Elasticity and Strength of Synthetic Graphites

The effect of the grain size of the filler on the mechanical properties (compressive, bending, and tensile strength and modulus of elasticity) of synthetic graphite is analyzed using data for commercial structural graphites. As the mean particle size of the filler (_av) decreases from 3000 to 1 m, the modulus of elasticity increases, on the average, from 10 to 15 GPa, and the compressive, bending, and tensile strength increases by about one order of magnitude. The Griffith equation is used to evaluate the size of defects that initiate fracture (c _c) in different types of graphites. It is shown that the factors determining the critical defect size depend on the particle size of the filler. For _av > 150 m, c _c is comparable to _av or _max. In the range 30 < _av < 150 m, c _c is equal to or greater than _max. In graphites with _av < 30 m, c _c far exceeds _max and, presumably, corresponds to the particle size of the molding powder.     

Piezoelectric and mechanical properties of ceria-doped lead zirconate titanate ceramics

Phases, microstructures and properties of lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) ceramics with the compositions Pb(Zr_0.535– Ce Ti_0.465) O₃ where =0.0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.02 and 0.05 were studied. Rhombohedral and tetragonal phases were present at =0.0. The amount of the rhombohedral phase increased with increasing , and only the tetragonal phase was present for >0.001. Thec/a ratio of the tetragonal phase also increases with increasing . Particles of CeO₂ were found to be present in compositions with >0.01, indicating that the solubility of CeO₂ is less than 1a/o on the metals basis. The piezoelectric and electromechanical constants achieved maximum values for =0.001. The hardness increased monotonically with increasing . The modulus of rupture and the fracture toughness, however, went through a minimum and both stayed lower than their values for =0.     

Investigations of the copper isotope effect in oxygen-deficient YBa2Cu3O7−δ

We present data on the copper isotope effect (⁶³Cu-⁶⁵Cu), C_u =-nT_c/nm_Cu, for two isotopic pairs of oxygen-deficient YBa₂Cu₃O_7–, where varies between 0.06 and 0.52. _Cu is below 0.01 at =0.06 (fully oxygenated), it takes values between –0.14 and –0.34 in the 60 K plateau. Larger negative values of _Cu are observed away from the plateau. The dependence of _Cu is similar to that of the pressure effect dnT_c/dP.     

Swelling parameter of polypropylene used in household appliances

Samples of unfilled copolymer polypropylene were immersed in various solvents and the equilibrium swelling was recorded. Two-dimensional solubility maps of the Hildebrand parameter, , versus hydrogen bonding parameter, _c, and _h versus _v for polypropylene were plotted. Using the calculated percentage swell values and the solubility maps, the and _h values for detergent were postulated. No changes in the polypropylene backbone were revealed by mid- or far-infrared spectra, showing that the polypropylene polymer, when subjected to a number of different solvents, had not altered substantially.     

Breakup of an anomolously viscous liquid film in a centrifugal force field

An equation is obtained for the breakup radius with consideration of tipping moments and Laplacian pressure forces acting on the liquid ridge at the critical point.Notation K, n rhenological constants - density - surface tension - r current cup radius - R maximum cup radius - r_c critical radius for film breakup - ¯r=¯r=r/R dimensionless current radius - ¯r_c=r_c/R dimensionless critical radius - ₀, _c actual and critical film thicknesses - current thickness - R_r ridge radius - h₀ ridge height - h current ridge height - ₀ limiting wetting angle - current angle of tangent to ridge surface - angle between axis of rotation and tangent to cup surface - angular velocity of rotation - q volume liquid flow rate - v₁ and v meridional and tangential velocities - =4vv _lm/r,=4v_m/r dimensionless velocities - M moments of surface and centrifugal forces - M_v moment from velocity head - p_r pressure within ridge - P_vm pressure from velocity head - p_m, p_pm pressures from centrifugal force components tangent and normal to cup surface - deviation range of breakup radius from calculated value - ¯r_max, ¯r_min limiting deviations of breakup radius - _c angle of tangent to curve _c/°₀=f(¯r) at critical point - t random oscillation of ratio _c/_c Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 51–56, July, 1980.