Chemical analysis by X-ray spectroscopy near phase transitions in the solid state

The methods discussed in this work show that the types of changes which may be observed, by precise XAS measurements of Absorbance A versus temperature, across a phase transition are: the changes in the relaxation time of the final states due to fluctuations near a phase transition; the detection of the anomalous Bragg condition coupled to phonon modes XAS enhancement that identifies the temperature interval where the phonon modes are active, the symmetry changes which introduce new allowed transitions to finite states below an element edge, near Tc indicate what symmetry changes occur, and the method of XTDAFST0 = XAFS(T) - XAFS(T0), allows the precise measurement of the progressive changes in the Debye-Waller factor versus T near a phase transition, and identify (when no other structural changes occur, except in the vibrational modes of a specific bond) the bond responsible for the transition. The methods have been applied to the superconducting transition in layer cuprates and the metal to insulator transition in NiS2-xSex

Dynamic phenomena in superconducting oxides by ESR

Dynamic electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements compare the paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic (AF) properties of superconducting oxides in the range 4 K to room temperature, at 8 MHz and 9.36 GHz. Two are derivatives of YBa2Cu30 7: 1: Nd(Nd0.05Ba0.95 )2Cu30 7, Te0 =72 K and II: Y0.2Cao.8Sr2[Cu2(Tlo.5Pb0.5 )]07, Te0 =108 K and two are cases where AF ordering dominates the weak superconductivity: III: Nb01.1\u3e 1. 25 ~Teo~ 10 K and IV: La2Ni04.00, 70 K :::: Teo:::: 40 K. At temperatures 298:::: T:::: 64 K, the ESR absorption by I indicates orthorhombic symmetry. The peaks at Ke =2.06, gb =2.13, and Ka =2.24 are identified with the presence of 5% Nd3+( 41912 ) in the Ba layer because the characteristic Cu2+ impurity hyperfine structure is absent and the ESR signal disappears several degrees below Te. Near Te the ESR absorption is reduced by two orders of magnitude. Proximity effects give rise to interference fringes with period r1 ( T) independent of the field B and the rate of sweep dBzldt. ESR is observed below Te because flux penetrates the superconductor. The temperature dependence of r1 leads to an activation energy for the flux motion E0 (1)/R ~ 16 K and Ea (111)/R ~3 K =Te /4. In the superconducting state a coherent flux expulsion response to a change in B. from 500 mT to zero is observed in times T, = 8 to 10 s. The inverse rate of noise spikes due to flux expulsion, when the samples are cooled through Te in a magnetic field, varies from Tnoise=3.5 s for III to 21 s for IV. The microwave absorption spectra identify three temperature regimes: (i) For 3.5 K \u3c T \u3c T m T* \u3c Teo superconducting behavior was confirmed by the energy loss near zero magnetic field and the kinetics of high-field noise due to flux expulsion. Near g =2.00 ESR absorption is observed for all materials. A broad absorption near 50 to 100 mT at 9.36 GHz has been attributed to AF resonance. (ii) T m T* ~ T ~ Te identifies the range where flux motion gives rise to interference fringes in the ESR absorption. (iii) ESR and AF resonance are observed immediately after warming above Tc

Modus Vivendi Beyond the Social Contract: Peace, Justice, and Survival in Realist Political Theory

This essay examines the promise of the notion of modus vivendi for realist political theory. I interpret recent theories of modus vivendi as affirming the priority of peace over justice, and explore several ways of making sense of this idea. I proceed to identify two key problems for modus vivendi theory, so conceived. Normatively speaking, it remains unclear how this approach can sustain a realist critique of Rawlsian theorizing about justice while avoiding a Hobbesian endorsement of absolutism. And conceptually, the theory remains wedded to a key feature of social contract theory: political order is conceived as based on agreement. This construes the horizontal tensions among individual or group agents in society as prior to the vertical, authoritative relations between authorities and their subjects. Political authority thereby appears from the start as a solution to societal conflict, rather than a problem in itself. I argue that this way of framing the issue abstracts from political experience. Instead I attempt to rethink the notion of modus vivendi from within the lived experience of political conflict, as oriented not primarily toward peace, but political survival. With this shift of perspective, the idea of modus vivendi shows us, pace Bernard Williams, that the “first political question” is not how to achieve order and stability, but rather: what can I live with

The Role of Grain Boundaries in Determining the Transport Properties in Magnetite

We present magnetoresistance and Hall-effect measurements on single crystal magnetite (Fe3O4) close to the Verwey transition TV = 123.8 K. We show that the formation of grain boundaries accompanying the reduction in crystal symmetry plays a significant role in the electron scattering mechanism, and that grain boundaries can account for the apparent change in sign of the charge carriers below TV

Like-charge attraction through hydrodynamic interaction

We demonstrate that the attractive interaction measured between like-charged colloidal spheres near a wall can be accounted for by a nonequilibrium hydrodynamic effect. We present both analytical results and Brownian dynamics simulations which quantitatively capture the one-wall experiments of Larsen and Grier (Nature 385, p. 230, 1997).Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Characterization of nanometer-sized, mechanically exfoliated graphene on the H-passivated Si(100) surface using scanning tunnelling microscopy

We have developed a method for depositing graphene monolayers and bilayers with minimum lateral dimensions of 2-10 nm by the mechanical exfoliation of graphite onto the Si(100)-2x1:H surface. Room temperature, ultra-high vacuum (UHV) tunnelling spectroscopy measurements of nanometer-sized single-layer graphene reveal a size dependent energy gap ranging from 0.1-1 eV. Furthermore, the number of graphene layers can be directly determined from scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) topographic contours. This atomistic study provides an experimental basis for probing the electronic structure of nanometer-sized graphene which can assist the development of graphene-based nanoelectronics.Comment: Accepted for publication in Nanotechnolog

Origin of atomic clusters during ion sputtering

Previous studies have shown that the size distributions of small clusters ( n<=40 n = number of atoms/cluster) generated by sputtering obey an inverse power law with an exponent between -8 and -4. Here we report electron microscopy studies of the size distributions of larger clusters ( n>=500) sputtered by high-energy ion impacts. These new measurements also yield an inverse power law, but one with an exponent of -2 and one independent of sputtering yield, indicating that the large clusters are produced when shock waves, generated by subsurface displacement cascades, ablate the surface

Error Rate of the Kane Quantum Computer CNOT Gate in the Presence of Dephasing

We study the error rate of CNOT operations in the Kane solid state quantum computer architecture. A spin Hamiltonian is used to describe the system. Dephasing is included as exponential decay of the off diagonal elements of the system's density matrix. Using available spin echo decay data, the CNOT error rate is estimated at approsimately 10^{-3}.Comment: New version includes substantial additional data and merges two old figures into one. (12 pages, 6 figures

Incommensurate spin density wave in metallic V_(2-y)O_3

We show by neutron diffraction that metallic V_(2-y)O_3 develops a spin density wave below T_N≊9 K with incommensurate wave vector q≊1.7c* and an ordered moment of 0.15μ_B. The weak ordering phenomenon is accompanied by strong, nonresonant spin fluctuations with a velocity c = 67(4) meV Å. The spin correlations of the metal are very different from those of the insulator and place V_(2-y)O_3 in a distinct class of Mott-Hubbard systems where the wave vector for magnetic order in the metal is far from a high symmetry commensurate reciprocal lattice point