Simulations of Dynamical Ordering in Pinned Vortex Systems

We model a vortex system in a sample with bulk pinning and superficial pinning generated by a magnetic decoration. We perform a sequence of finite temperature numerical experiments in which external forces are applied to obtain, a dynamically ordered vortex lattice. We analyze the final structures and the behavior of the total energy of the system.     

Quantum Critical Ferromagnetism in Ni x Pd1- x Alloys

We analyze the non-Fermi liquid behavior in the proximity of the quantum phase transition induced by the strong polarization of the electrons due to local magnetic moments in Ni _x Pd_1-x alloys. We use the renormalization group approach introduced by Hertz–Mi11is–Moriya (HMM) to estimate the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity for the case of three dimensional itinerant ferromagnets. We study two different cases, namely, the clean and disordered ferromagnets, and argue that at the present time more experimental data are needed to decide if the HMM theory can accurately describe the physical properties in Ni _x Pd_1-x alloys.     

Oscillations of the Electric-Dipole Echo in Glasses in a Magnetic Field

Using a simple diagram technique we derive the electric-dipole echo amplitude from two-level systems with a quadrupole nuclear moment in glasses in an external magnetic field. We show, that due to the quadrupole moment interaction of a tunneling particle with a gradient of an internal electric field, the echo amplitude experiences oscillations in rather weak magnetic fields. With an increase of the magnetic field, when the Zeeman energy becomes larger than the quadrupole energy splitting, the average echo amplitude increases and saturates (for high magnetic fields) at some level which is above the average level of echo oscillations for small magnetic fields. PACS numbers: 77.22.Ch, 61.43.Fs, 76.60.Gv, 76.60.Lz     

Temperature and Frequency Dependence of the Ultrasound Velocity in Neutron-Irradiated Quartz Crystals Above 5 K

Neutron-irradiated quartz crystal is one of the interesting materials for the study of the glassy dynamics. The temperature and frequency dependence of the sound velocity in amorphous materials at temperatures above the low-temperature maximum is not well understood. In this paper we present the results of our measurements of the variation of the ultrasound velocity (270 – 650 MHz) in neutron-irradiated quartz crystals with different irradiation doses in temperature range 5 - 35 K. We have found that the temperature dependence of the ultrasound velocity is linear in the sample with a dose < 10 ¹⁹ n/cm² and is sublinear in samples with a dose > 10 ¹⁹ n/cm² . We discuss our results in the framework of the different theoretical approaches. PACS numbers: 61.43. j, 62.65.+k, 63.     

Point Contact Spectroscopy and Temperature Dependence of Resistivity of Metallic Sodium Tungsten Bronzes - Role of Optical Phonons

In this paper we report the results of electrical resistivity (1.5≤ T ≤ 300K) and point contact spectroscopy (PCS) measurements on single crystals of metallic sodium tungsten bronze with varying sodium content. We have shown that the electron-phonon coupling function as measured through PCS can explain quantitatively the large temperature dependence of resistivity ρ seen in these materials over the entire temperature range. The electron-phonon coupling function shows predominately large peaks for phonon frequency range of 30 meV ≤ ω ≤ 100 meV which match well with the calculated optical phonons for WO₆ octahedron. The integrated electron-phonon coupling constant λ from this data is ≈ 0.25-0.45, depending on the Na content. PACS numbers: 72.15.-v, 72.80.Ga     

Influence of the shape of fiber cross section on fabric surface characteristics

Fiber cross sections for use in textiles and composites are becoming more and more complex. Shape impacts fiber or filaments properties and therefore the yarn and fabric characteristics. This paper presents the influence of the fiber cross section on the fabric surface characteristics. The material used was polyester staple fibers, of four different shapes: round, scalloped oval, cruciform and hexachannel. All fibers had the same cut length with different fineness. Yarns obtained from these fibers had nominally the same yarn count, torsion value and structure. Plain jersey fabrics were knitted from each of the yarns under identical conditions and then relaxed prior to testing. Friction behavior was evaluated and a roughness-friction criterion developed. An indirect measurement of the real area of contact was obtained in order to provide roughness and friction properties. The influence of fiber cross section on yarn bending rigidity and on the state of the knitted fabric surface was characterized.     

The coating of cadmium compounds with copper compounds

Fine particles of cadmium carbonate (CdCO₃) were prepared by heating aqueous solutions containing dissolved urea and cadmium sulfate at 85°C for 1 h. Effect of the composition of the reactant mixture on the morphology of the precipitated particles was investigated. It was found that the cadmium sulfate content of the reactant mixture significantly affected the shape and size of the precipitated particles. At certain range of reactant mixture composition, cauliflower-shaped uniform particles were obtained. The later particles were coated with basic copper carbonate (Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃) by heating aqueous dispersions, containing CdCO₃ particles, copper (II) nitrate, and urea at 85°C for various periods of time with constant stirring. The coating process was found sensitive to the experimental conditions and in most of the trials; mixtures of the coated and coating precursor particles were obtained. As such, extensive optimizations were carried out and conditions were established for the production of uniformly coated particles.On calcination at 700°C for 1 h, the CdCO₃ particles converted into CdO, whereas the coated particles (CdCO_{3 (core)}/Cu₂(OH)₂CO_{3 (coating)} transformed into CdO_(core)/CuO_(coating)) without sintering. In the coated particles, the core and coating materials stayed mutually inert during the calcination reaction and independently converted into their respective oxides.All the calcined and uncalcined products were characterized by various physical and chemical methods.     

On the stabilizing behavior of zirconia: A Combined experimental and theoretical study

Reactive zirconia powder was synthesized by the complexation of zirconium metal from zirconium hydroxide using a solution of 8-hydroxiquinoline. The kinetics of zirconia crystallization was followed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and surface area measured by the nitrogen adsorption/desorption technique. The results indicated that zirconia with a surface area as high as 100 m²/g can be obtained by this method after calcination at 500°C. Zirconia presents three polymorphic phases (monoclinic, tetragonal and cubic), which are reversibly interconversible. The cluster model Zr₄O₈ and Zr₄O₇ ⁺² was used for a theoretical study of the stabilization process. The ab initio RHF method was employed with the Gaussian94 program and the total energies and the energy gap of the different phases were calculated and compared with the experimental energy gap. The theoretical results show good reproducibility of the energy gap for zirconia.