First principle energies of binary and ternary phases of the Fe–Nb–Ni–Cr system

We present first principles enthalpies of formation and lattice parameters of iron, nickel, chromium and niobium alloys. Some of these results have been partially used in a recent assessment of the Fe–Ni–Cr–Nb quaternary phase diagram. Emphasis has been put on the fcc (A1) and bcc (A2) unary structures, the X3Y-D022, -L12, -D03, -D0a, X2Y-C14(MgZn2), -C15(MgCu2) and -C36 (MgNi2) Laves and X7Y6-D85 (μ) binary phases, and the X8Y4Z18-D8b (σ) ternary phase. We employed the state of the art to compute their properties by means of the DFT (PBE functional and PAW pseudo potentials). A comparison with experimental and theoretical data is also provided

Modification of cosmic-ray energy spectra by stochastic acceleration

Context: Typical space plasmas contain spatially and temporally variable turbulent electromagnetic fields. Understanding the transport of energetic particles and the acceleration mechanisms for charged particles is an important goal of today's astroparticle physics. Aims: To understand the acceleration mechanisms at the particle source, subsequent effects have to be known. Therefore, the modification of a particle energy distribution, due to stochastic acceleration, needs to be investigated. Methods: The diffusion in momentum space was investigated by using both a Monte-Carlo simulation code and by analytically solving the momentum-diffusion equation. For simplicity, the turbulence was assumed to consist of one-dimensional Alfven waves. Results: Using both methods, it is shown that, on average, all particles with velocities comparable to the Alfven speeds are accelerated. This influences the energy distribution by significantly increasing the energy spectral index. Conclusions: Because of electromagnetic turbulence, a particle energy spectrum measured at Earth can drastically deviate from its initial spectrum. However, for particles with velocities significantly above the Alfven speed, the effect becomes negligible.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Bound State and Order Parameter Mixing Effect by Nonmagnetic Impurity Scattering in Two-band Superconductors

We investigate nonmagnetic impurity effects in two-band superconductors, focusing on the effects of interband scatterings. Within the Born approximation, it is known that interband scatterings mix order parameters in the two bands. In particular, only one averaged energy gap appears in the excitation spectrum in the dirty limit. [G. Gusman: J. Phys. Chem. Solids {\bf 28} (1967) 2327.] In this paper, we take into account the interband scattering within the $t$-matrix approximation beyond the Born approximation in the previous work. We show that, although the interband scattering is responsible for the mixing effect, this effect becomes weak when the interband scattering becomes very strong. In the strong interband scattering limit, a two-gap structure corresponding to two order parameters recovers in the superconducting density of states. We also show that a bound state appears around a nonmagnetic impurity depending on the phase of interband scattering potential.Comment: 28pages, 10 figure

Spin wave mediated non-reciprocal effects in antiferromagnets

By using an effective field theory for the electromagnetic interaction of spin waves, we show that, in certain antiferromagnets, the latter induce non-reciprocal effects in the microwave region, which should be observable in the second harmonic generation and produce gyrotropic birefringency. We calculate the various (non-linear) susceptibilities in terms of a few parameters the order of magnitude of which is under control.Comment: Latex file, 22p . Published versio

Characterizing precipitation defects in nickel based 718 alloy

In the present study we examine the crystallographic structure of the ϒ, ϒ'' and δ phases present in nickel base 718 alloy. The chemical ordering of Nb atoms and possible planar faults that may be observed in ϒ'' precipitates are detailed. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) observations of various faults are reported. The decomposition of a matrix dislocation to form a locked V shaped configuration is shown. The observation along [110] type direction allows to identify the type of defect, which is observed as a pure geometric stacking fault