Effects of process parameters on mechanical properties of abrasive-assisted electroformed nickel

AbstractA cathode mandrel with translational and rotational motion, which was supposed to obtain uniform friction effect on surface, was employed in abrasive-assisted electroforming for revolving parts with complex profile. The effects of current density, translational speed and rotational speed on the deposit properties were studied by orthogonal test. The tensile strength, elongation and micro hardness value were measured to find out how the factors affected the properties. The optimized results show that changes of current density affect the tensile strength of nickel layer most, while translational speed has the most remarkable influences on both elongation and micro hardness. The low rotational speed affects the properties least. In this experiment, a smooth nickel layer with tensile strength 581MPa, elongation 17% and micro hardness 248HV is obtained by the orthogonal test

Nernst effect and dimensionality in the quantum limit

Nernst effect, the transverse voltage generated by a longitudinal thermal gradient in presence of magnetic field has recently emerged as a very sensitive, yet poorly understood, probe of electron organization in solids. Here we report on an experiment on graphite, a macroscopic stack of graphene layers, which establishes a fundamental link between dimensionality of an electronic system and its Nernst response. In sharp contrast with single-layer graphene, the Nernst signal sharply peaks whenever a Landau level meets the Fermi level. This points to the degrees of freedom provided by finite interlayer coupling as a source of enhanced thermoelectric response in the vicinity of the quantum limit. Since Landau quantization slices a three-dimensional Fermi surface, each intersection of a Landau level with the Fermi level modifies the Fermi surface topology. According to our results, the most prominent signature of such a topological phase transition emerges in the transverse thermoelectric response.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures and supplementary information; To appear in Nature Physic

Phonon thermal Hall effect in strontium titanate

It has been known for more than a decade that phonons can produce an off-diagonal thermal conductivity in presence of magnetic field. Recent studies of thermal Hall conductivity, $\kappa_{xy}$, in a variety of contexts, however, have assumed a negligibly small phonon contribution. We present a study of $\kappa_{xy}$ in quantum paraelectric SrTiO$_3$, which is a non-magnetic insulator and find that its peak value exceeds what has been reported in any other insulator, including those in which the signal has been qualified as 'giant'. Remarkably, $\kappa_{xy}(T)$ and $\kappa(T)$ peak at the same temperature and the former decreases faster than the latter at both sides of the peak. Interestingly, in the case of La$_2$CuO$_4$ and $\alpha$-RuCl$_3$, $\kappa_{xy}(T)$ and $\kappa(T)$ peak also at the same temperature. We also studied KTaO$_3$ and found a small signal, indicating that a sizable $\kappa_{xy}(T)$ is not a generic feature of quantum paraelectrics. Combined to other observations, this points to a crucial role played by antiferrodistortive domains in generating $\kappa_{xy}$ of this solid.Comment: Main text: 6 pages, 4 figures, Supplemental Material is included. Accepted by Phys. Rev. Let

Emptying Dirac valleys in bismuth using high magnetic fields

The Fermi surface of elemental bismuth consists of three small rotationally equivalent electron pockets, offering a valley degree of freedom to charge carriers. A relatively small magnetic field can confine electrons to their lowest Landau level. This is the quantum limit attained in other dilute metals upon application of sufficiently strong magnetic field. Here, we report on the observation of another threshold magnetic field never encountered before in any other solid. Above this field, $B_{\rm{empty}}$, one or two valleys become totally empty. Drying up a Fermi sea by magnetic field in the Brillouin zone leads to a manyfold enhancement in electric conductance. We trace the origin of the large drop in magnetoresistance across $B_{\rm{empty}}$ to transfer of carriers between valleys with highly anisotropic mobilities. The non-interacting picture of electrons with field-dependent mobility explains most results. Coulomb interaction may play a role in shaping the fine details.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures, Supplemental Material available upon reques