1,045 research outputs found
Differential thermal analysis and solution growth of intermetallic compounds
To obtain single crystals by solution growth, an exposed primary
solidification surface in the appropriate, but often unknown, equilibrium alloy
phase diagram is required. Furthermore, an appropriate crucible material is
needed, necessary to hold the molten alloy during growth, without being
attacked by it. Recently, we have used the comparison of realistic simulations
with experimental differential thermal analysis (DTA) curves to address both
these problems. We have found: 1) complex DTA curves can be interpreted to
determine an appropriate heat treatment and starting composition for solution
growth, without having to determine the underlying phase diagrams in detail. 2)
DTA can facilitate identification of appropriate crucible materials. DTA can
thus be used to make the procedure to obtain single crystals of a desired phase
by solution growth more efficient. We will use some of the systems for which we
have recently obtained single-crystalline samples using the combination of DTA
and solution growth as examples. These systems are TbAl, PrNiSi,
and YMnAl.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figure
A small sealed Ta crucible for thermal analysis of volatile metallic samples
Differential thermal analysis on metallic alloys containing volatile elements
can be highly problematic. Here we show how measurements can be performed in
commercial, small-sample, equipment without modification. This is achieved by
using a sealed Ta crucible, easily fabricated from Ta tubing and sealed in a
standard arc furnace. The crucible performance is demonstrated by measurements
on a mixture of Mg and MgB, after heating up to 1470. We
also show data, measured on an alloy with composition GdMg, that
clearly shows both the liquidus and a peritectic, and is consistent with
published phase diagram data
Rhino Attacks on Man in Udjung Kulon
Reports of attacks by Javanese rhino (Rhinoceros sandaicus are quite rare. HOOGERWERF (1938) and SODY (1959) mentioned some cases, and SCHENKEL & SCHENKEL-HULLIGER (1969) also provided a general discussion of the aggressive behaviour of rhinos
Charge Order Superstructure with Integer Iron Valence in Fe2OBO3
Solution-grown single crystals of Fe2OBO3 were characterized by specific
heat, Mossbauer spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction. A peak in the specific
heat at 340 K indicates the onset of charge order. Evidence for a doubling of
the unit cell at low temperature is presented. Combining structural refinement
of diffraction data and Mossbauer spectra, domains with diagonal charge order
are established. Bond-valence-sum analysis indicates integer valence states of
the Fe ions in the charge ordered phase, suggesting Fe2OBO3 is the clearest
example of ionic charge order so far.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. Fig. 3 is available in higher resolution from the
authors. PRL in prin
Incommensurate Charge Order Phase in Fe2OBO3 due to Geometrical Frustration
The temperature dependence of charge order in Fe2OBO3 was investigated by
resistivity and differential scanning calorimetry measurements, Mossbauer
spectroscopy, and synchrotron x-ray scattering, revealing an intermediate phase
between room temperature and 340 K, characterized by coexisting mobile and
immobile carriers, and by incommensurate superstructure modulations with
temperature-dependent propagation vector (1/2,0,tau). The incommensurate
modulations arise from specific anti-phase boundaries with low energy cost due
to geometrical charge frustration.Comment: 4 p., 5 fig.; v2: slightly expanded introduction + minor changes. PRL
in prin
Charge order, dynamics, and magneto-structural transition in multiferroic LuFeO
We investigated the series of temperature and field-driven transitions in
LuFeO by optical and M\"{o}ssbauer spectroscopies, magnetization, and
x-ray scattering in order to understand the interplay between charge,
structure, and magnetism in this multiferroic material. We demonstrate that
charge fluctuation has an onset well below the charge ordering transition,
supporting the "order by fluctuation" mechanism for the development of charge
order superstructure. Bragg splitting and large magneto optical contrast
suggest a low temperature monoclinic distortion that can be driven by both
temperature and magnetic field.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, PRL in prin
Atypical depressive syndromes in varying definitions
Background: Atypical depression (AD) exhibits distinct patterns of gender,bipolar-II disorder, genetic, and neuro-biological measures. Using prospective data from a community sample, this paper identifies criteria (and correlates) for an AD syndrome that maximizes the association with female sex and bipolar-II. Methods: The Zurich cohort study is composed of 591 subjects selected from a population-based cohort of young adults in the canton of Zurich in Switzerland, screened in 1978 and followed with six interviews through 1999. Seven definitions of atypical depression were tested, using varying combinations of vegetative symptoms and mood reactivity. Results: The atypical definitions using 2 of 3 (fatigue, overeating, oversleeping) or 2 of 2 (overeating, oversleeping) vegetative symptoms showed the strongest association with gender, bipolarity, and family history of mania. The 2/3 definition was chosen for further analysis due to its high sensitivity for identifying these characteristics. This syndrome had cumulated weighted prevalence of 16.4% (males 9.7%, females 23%); when associated with major depressive episodes, 8.2% (males 3.2%, females 15.1%). AD patients were characterized by high treatment rates, severity, and work impairment, early age of onset and long illness. AD was comorbid with social phobia, binge eating, neurasthenia, migraine headache, and subjective cognitive impairmen
Distinct order of Gd 4f and Fe 3d moments coexisting in GdFe4Al8
Single crystals of flux-grown tetragonal GdFe4Al8 were characterized by
thermodynamic, transport, and x-ray resonant magnetic scattering measurements.
In addition to antiferromagnetic order at TN ~ 155 K, two low-temperature
transitions at T1 ~ 21 K and T2 ~ 27 K were identified. The Fe moments order at
TN with an incommensurate propagation vector (tau,tau,0) with tau varying
between 0.06 and 0.14 as a function of temperature, and maintain this order
over the entire T<TN range. The Gd 4f moments order below T2 with a
ferromagnetic component mainly out of plane. Below T1, the ferromagnetic
components are confined to the crystallographic plane. Remarkably, at low
temperatures the Fe moments maintain the same modulation as at high
temperatures, but the Gd 4f moments apparently do not follow this modulation.
The magnetic phase diagrams for fields applied in [110] and [001] direction are
presented and possible magnetic structures are discussed.Comment: v2: 14 pages, 12 figures; PRB in prin
Unlocking Complex Soil Systems as Carbon Sinks: Multi-pool Management as the Key
Much research focuses on increasing carbon storage in mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM), in which carbon may persist for centuries to millennia. However, MAOM-targeted management is insufficient because the formation pathways of persistent soil organic matter are diverse and vary with environmental conditions. Effective management must also consider particulate organic matter (POM). In many soils, there is potential for enlarging POM pools, POM can persist over long time scales, and POM can be a direct precursor of MAOM. We present a framework for context-dependent management strategies that recognizes soils as complex systems in which environmental conditions constrain POM and MAOM formation
Growth methods of c-axis oriented MgB2 thin films by pulsed laser deposition
High quality MgB2 thin films have been obtained by pulsed laser deposition
both on MgO and on Al2O3 substrates using different methods. In the standard
two-step procedure, an amorphous precursor layer is deposited at room
temperature starting both from stoichiometric target and from boron target:
after this first step, it is annealed in magnesium atmosphere in order to
crystallize the superconducting phase. The so obtained films show a strong
c-axis orientation, evidenced by XRD analysis, a critical temperature up to 38
K and very high critical fields along the basal planes, up to 22T at 15K. Also
an in situ one step technique for the realization of superconducting MgB2 thin
films has been developed. In this case, the presence of an argon buffer gas
during deposition is crucial and we observe a strong dependence of the quality
of the deposited film on the background gas pressure. The influence of the Ar
atmosphere has been confirmed by time and space-resolved spectroscopy
measurements on the emission spectrum of the plume. The Ar pressure modifies
strongly the plasma kinetics by promoting excitation and ionization of the
plume species, especially of the most volatile Mg atoms, increasing their
internal energy.Comment: Paper presented at Boromag Workshop, Genoa 17-19 June 2002, in press
on SUS
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