Combined effects of pressure and Ru substitution on BaFe2As2

The ab-plane resistivity of Ba(Fe1-xRux)2As2 (x = 0.00, 0.09, 0.16, 0.21, and 0.28) was studied under nearly hydrostatic pressures, up to 7.4 GPa, in order to explore the T-P phase diagram and to compare the combined effects of iso-electronic Ru substitution and pressure. The parent compound BaFe2As2 exhibits a structural/magnetic phase transition near 134 K. At ambient pressure, progressively increasing Ru concentration suppresses this phase transition to lower temperatures at the approximate rate of ~5 K/% Ru and is correlated with the emergence of superconductivity. By applying pressure to this system, a similar behavior is seen for each concentration: the structural/magnetic phase transition is further suppressed and superconductivity induced and ultimately, for larger x Ru and P, suppressed. A detailed comparison of the T-P phase diagrams for all Ru concentrations shows that 3 GPa of pressure is roughly equivalent to 10% Ru substitution. Furthermore, due to the sensitivity of Ba(Fe1-xRux)2As2 to pressure conditions, the melting of the liquid media, 4 : 6 light mineral oil : n-pentane and 1 : 1 iso-pentane : n-pentane, used in this study could be readily seen in the resistivity measurements. This feature was used to determine the freezing curves for these media and infer their room temperature, hydrostatic limits: 3.5 and 6.5 GPa, respectively.Comment: 27 pages, 19 figure

Excitation and relaxation dynamics in ultrafast laser irradiated optical glasses

We discuss the dynamics of ultrashort pulsed laser excitation in bulk optical silica-based glasses (fused silica and borosilicate BK7) well-above the permanent modification threshold. We indicate subsequent structural and thermomechanical energy relaxation paths that translate into positive and negative refractive index changes, compression and rarefaction zones. If fast electronic decay occurs at low excitation levels in fused silica via self-trapping of excitons, for carrier densities in the vicinity of the critical value at the incident wavelength, persistent long-living absorptive states indicate the achievement of low viscosity matter states manifesting pressure relaxation, rarefaction, void opening and compaction in the neighboring domains. An intermediate ps-long excited carrier dynamics is observed for BK7 in the range corresponding to structural expansion and rarefaction. The amount of excitation and the strength of the subsequent hydrodynamic evolution is critically dependent on the pulse time envelope, indicative of potential optimization schemes

Simultaneous measurements of nuclear spin heat capacity, temperature and relaxation in GaAs microstructures

Heat capacity of the nuclear spin system (NSS) in GaAs-based microstructures has been shown to be much greater than expected from dipolar coupling between nuclei, thus limiting the efficiency of NSS cooling by adiabatic demagnetization. It was suggested that quadrupole interaction induced by some small residual strain could provide this additional reservoir for the heat storage. We check and validate this hypothesis by combining nuclear spin relaxation measurements with adiabatic remagnetization and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments, using electron spin noise spectroscopy as a unique tool for detection of nuclear magnetization. Our results confirm and quantify the role of the quadrupole splitting in the heat storage within NSS and provide additional insight into fundamental, but still actively debated relation between a mechanical strain and the resulting electric field gradients in GaAs.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl

Ageing in the musculoskeletal system

The extent of ageing in the musculoskeletal system during the life course affects the quality and length of life. Loss of bone, degraded articular cartilage, and degenerate, narrowed intervertebral discs are primary features of an ageing skeleton, and together they contribute to pain and loss of mobility. This review covers the cellular constituents that make up some key components of the musculoskeletal system and summarizes discussion from the 2015 Aarhus Regenerative Orthopaedic Symposium (AROS) (Regeneration in the Ageing Population) about how each particular cell type alters within the ageing skeletal microenvironment

High shock release in ultrafast laser irradiated metals: Scenario for material ejection

We present one-dimensional numerical simulations describing the behavior of solid matter exposed to subpicosecond near infrared pulsed laser radiation. We point out to the role of strong isochoric heating as a mechanism for producing highly non-equilibrium thermodynamic states. In the case of metals, the conditions of material ejection from the surface are discussed in a hydrodynamic context, allowing correlation of the thermodynamic features with ablation mechanisms. A convenient synthetic representation of the thermodynamic processes is presented, emphasizing different competitive pathways of material ejection. Based on the study of the relaxation and cooling processes which constrain the system to follow original thermodynamic paths, we establish that the metal surface can exhibit several kinds of phase evolution which can result in phase explosion or fragmentation. An estimation of the amount of material exceeding the specific energy required for melting is reported for copper and aluminum and a theoretical value of the limit-size of the recast material after ultrashort laser irradiation is determined. Ablation by mechanical fragmentation is also analysed and compared to experimental data for aluminum subjected to high tensile pressures and ultrafast loading rates. Spallation is expected to occur at the rear surface of the aluminum foils and a comparison with simulation results can determine a spall strength value related to high strain rates

Evaluación del comportamiento a macro-fisuración por fatiga de mezclas bituminosas modificadas con polvo de neumático

The use of crumb rubber modified bitumen (CRMB) in asphalt mixes is a road engineering technology that has become increasingly important in recent years. Given the many economic and environmental benefits of this type of binder, the goal is to give CRMB the same level of performance as conventional polymermodified bitumen. The appearance and propagation of cracks due to fatigue phenomena is one of the most common distresses affecting road pavements. Since crumb rubber enhances the mechanical properties of asphalt mixes, it can provide a viable solution for fatigue cracking. This paper presents the results of a comparative analysis of the fatigue-cracking behavior of asphalt mixtures manufactured with crumb rubber modified bitumen and polymer-modified bitumen.El empleo de betunes modificados con polvo de neumático usado en la fabricación de mezclas bituminosas es una de las técnicas que mayor auge está teniendo en los últimos años en la ingeniería de carreteras. Dadas sus grandes ventajas económicas y ambientales, este tipo de ligantes pretende conseguir prestaciones similares a la de los betunes modificados con polímeros utilizados habitualmente. La aparición de fisuras debido a fenómenos de fatiga es una de las patologías más comunes en firmes de carretera. Debido a las mejoras de las propiedades mecánicas del betún aportadas tras la incorporación de polvo de neumático, las mezclas fabricadas con estos ligantes se postulan como una posible solución a dicho problema. En este artículo se lleva a cabo un análisis comparativo del comportamiento a fisuración por fatiga realizado sobre mezclas bituminosas fabricadas con betún modificado con polvo de neumático y con polímeros.This research was carried out within the framework of the R + D + i project entitled Proyecto Integrado de Investigación, Desarrollo y Demostración de Tecnologías para la aplicación de neumáticos fuera de uso en firmes de carretera resistentes a la propagación de grietas (ref. IDI-20091076), funded by the Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI) of the Ministry of Science and Innovation in Spain

Pressure effects on superconducting properties of single-crystalline Co doped NaFeAs

Resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements under external pressure were performed on single-crystals NaFe1-xCoxAs (x=0, 0.01, 0.028, 0.075, 0.109). The maximum Tc enhanced by pressure in both underdoped and optimally doped NaFe1-xCoxAs is the same, as high as 31 K. The overdoped sample with x = 0.075 also shows a positive pressure effect on Tc, and an enhancement of Tc by 13 K is achieved under pressure of 2.3 GPa. All the superconducting samples show large positive pressure coefficient on superconductivity, being different from Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2. However, the superconductivity cannot be induced by pressure in heavily overdoped non-superconducting NaFe0.891Co0.109As. These results provide evidence for that the electronic structure is much different between superconducting and heavily overdoped non-superconducting NaFe1-xCoxAs, being consistent with the observation by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure