Proton configurations in the hydrogen bonds of KH2PO4 as seen by resonant x-ray diffraction

KH2PO4 (KDP) belongs to the class of hydrogen-bonded ferroelectrics, whose paraelectric to ferroelectric phase transition is driven by the ordering of the protons in the hydrogen bonds. We demonstrate that forbidden reflections of KDP, when measured at an x-ray absorption edge, are highly sensitive to the asymmetry of proton configurations. The change of average symmetry caused by the "freezing" of the protons during the phase transition is clearly evidenced. In the paraelectric phase, we identify in the resonant spectra of the forbidden reflections a contribution related to the transient proton configurations in the hydrogen bonds, which violates the high average symmetry of the sites of the resonant atoms. The analysis of the temperature dependence reveals a change of relative probabilities of the different proton configurations. They follow the Arrhenius law, and the activation energies of polar and Slater configurations are 18.6 and 7.3 meV, respectively

An X-ray study of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in the weak ferromagnet FeBO3

International audienceWe report on the axis, magnitude and direction of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction in the weak ferromagnet FeBO3. The latter relies on the determination of the phase of the magnetic x-ray scattering amplitude. We outline a new technique based on interference with forbidden quadrupole resonant scattering to obtain this phase information

Phase transition of KDP observed by Resonant X-ray Diffraction at forbidden reflections

International audienceWe report observations of space-group-forbidden Bragg reflections in Potassium (KH2PO4), at the potassium K edge. We find clear evidence for a transition from one class of space-group-forbidden reflections, where scattering is ruled out by the electric dipole approximation, to a second class, in the ferroelectric phase, where scattering can proceed due to resonant anisotropy within the dipole approximation. The change of symmetry is clearly evidenced by the sudden change of intensity and energy spectrum of the forbidden reflections

Metallurgical Properties and Phase Transformations of Barium-Strontium Modifier

Metallurgical properties and phase transformations of barium-strontium modifier were tested in laboratory conditions resembling steel processing in furnace and ladle. When heating barium-strontium modifier start of melting, kinetics of decomposition, phase and structure transformation were studied. The concentrate under consideration has been revealed to be a complex mineral compound containing barytocalcite, calcite, calciostrontianite, dolomite and siderite. The reaction kinetics of decomposing mineral components of barium-strontium modifier to oxides does not considerably affect slag formation in conditions of out-of-furnace steel processing

Dzyaloshinskii--Moriya interaction: How to measure its sign in weak ferromagnetics?

Three experimental techniques sensitive to the sign of the Dzyaloshinskii--Moriya interaction are discussed: neutron diffraction, Moessbauer gamma-ray diffraction, and resonant x-ray scattering. Classical examples of hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) and MnCO3 crystals are considered in detailComment: 5 pages, 1 figure; to be published in JETP Letter

Teeth sizes in their correlation with parameters of dentofacial arches and maxillofacial area based on native cranial preparations examination

The work offers a view on the results obtained from a radiological and morphometric study of native preparations obtained from 43 passported skulls with physiological occlusion and normodontia of permanent teeth under neutral position of the jaws and a neutral type of gnathic facial skull. It was found that in patients with physiological occlusion of permanent teeth, skulls with neutral type of gnathic facial part of the cranium as well as neutral jaw relationships proved to be predominant, while the major parameters of the dentofacial arches are determined through mesial-distal diameters of the teeth