3,709 research outputs found
Diffuse Neutron Scattering Study of Relaxor Ferroelectric (1-x)Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3(PZN-xPT)
Diffuse neutron scattering is a valuable tool to obtain information about the
size and orientation of the polar nanoregions that are a characteristic feature
of relaxor ferroelectrics. In this paper, we present new diffuse scattering
results obtained on Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PZN for short) and
(1-x)Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3(PZN-xPT)single crystals (with x=4.5 and 9%),
around various Bragg reflections and along three symmetry directions in the
[100]-[011] zone. Diffuse scattering is observed around reflections with mixed
indices, (100), (011) and (300), and along transverse and diagonal directions
only. No diffuse scattering is found in longitudinal scans. The diffuse
scattering peaks can be fitted well with a Lorentzian function, from which a
correlation length is extracted. The correlation length increases with
decreasing temperatures down to the transition at Tc, first following a
Curie-Weiss law, then departing from it and becoming flat at very low
temperatures. These results are interpreted in terms of three temperature
regions: 1) dynamic polarization fluctuations (i.e. with a finite lifetime) at
high temperatures, 2) static polarization reorientations (condensation of polar
nanoregions) that can still reorient as a unit (relaxor behavior) at
intermediate temperatures and 3) orientational freezing of the polar
nanoregions with random strain fields in pure PZN or a structural phase
transition in PZN-xPT at low temperatures. The addition of PT leads to a
broadening of the diffuse scattering along the diagonal ([111]) relative to the
transverse ([100]) direction, indicating a change in the orientation of the
polar regions. Also, with the addition of PT, the polar nanoregions condense at
a higher temperature above Tc.Comment: AIP 6x9 style files, 9 pages, 5 figures, Conference-Fundamental
Physics of Ferroelectrics 200
Preparation of Spent Bleaching Earth-supported Calcium From Limestone as Catalyst in Transesterification of Waste Frying Oil
An investigation was conducted on palm oil refinery waste-spent bleaching earth (POR-SBE), POR-SBE supported by calcium as catalysts for methyl esters production through transesterification process using waste frying oil. The catalysts showed longer lasting activity than the traditional alkali catalysts. The optimum conditions for the process were: Ca-POR-SBE catalyst amount 7 %; methanol to oil molar ratio 12:1; and a reaction duration is 4 h. The process was able to transesterify oil to methyl esters at 96.8 % conversion at 65 °C. The catalysts were easily separated from the reaction mixture and the final product met selected biodiesel fuel properties in accordance with European Standard EN 14214
Conformations of confined biopolymers
Nanoscale and microscale confinement of biopolymers naturally occurs in cells
and has been recently achieved in artificial structures designed for
nanotechnological applications. Here, we present an extensive theoretical
investigation of the conformations and shape of a biopolymer with varying
stiffness confined to a narrow channel. Combining scaling arguments, analytical
calculations, and Monte Carlo simulations, we identify various scaling regimes
where master curves quantify the functional dependence of the polymer
conformations on the chain stiffness and strength of confinement.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, minor correction
Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorem for the Microcanonical Ensemble
A derivation of the Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorem for the microcanonical
ensemble is presented using linear response theory. The theorem is stated as a
relation between the frequency spectra of the symmetric correlation and
response functions. When the system is not in the thermodinamic limit, this
result can be viewed as an extension of the fluctuation-dissipation relations
to a situation where dynamical fluctuations determine the response. Therefore,
the relation presented here between equilibrium fluctuations and response can
have a very different physical nature from the usual one in the canonical
ensemble. These considerations imply that the Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorem
is not restricted to the context of thermal equilibrium, where it is usually
derived. Dispersion relations and sum rules are also obtained and discussed in
the present case. Although analogous to the Kramers-Kronig relations, they are
not related to the frequency spectrum but to the energy dependence of the
response function.Comment: 15 pages, v3: final version, new text added, new reference
Elasticity of Stiff Polymer Networks
We study the elasticity of a two-dimensional random network of rigid rods
(``Mikado model''). The essential features incorporated into the model are the
anisotropic elasticity of the rods and the random geometry of the network. We
show that there are three distinct scaling regimes, characterized by two
distinct length scales on the elastic backbone. In addition to a critical
rigidiy percolation region and a homogeneously elastic regime we find a novel
intermediate scaling regime, where elasticity is dominated by bending
deformations.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Important role of alkali atoms in A4C60
We show that hopping via the alkali atoms plays an important role for the t1u
band of A4C60 (A=K, Rb), in strong contrast to A3C60. Thus the t1u band is
broadened by more than 40 % by the presence of the alkali atoms. The difference
between A4C60 and A3C60 is in particular due to the less symmetric location of
the alkali atoms in A4C60.Comment: 5 pages, revtex, 2 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. B more
information at http://www.mpi-stuttgart.mpg.de/dokumente/andersen/fullerene
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