Growth Stress Induced Tunability of Dielectric Constant in Thin Films

It is demonstrated here that growth stress has a substantial effect on the dielectric constant of zirconia thin films. The correct combination of parameters - phase, texture and stress - is shown to yield films with high dielectric constant and best reported equivalent oxide thickness of 0.8 nm. The stress effect on dielectric constant is twofold, firstly, by the effect on phase transitions and secondly by the effect on interatomic distances. We discuss and explain the physical mechanisms involved in the interplay between the stress, phase changes and the dielectric constant in detail.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

Effect of lattice mismatch-induced strains on coupled diffusive and displacive phase transformations

Materials which can undergo slow diffusive transformations as well as fast displacive transformations are studied using the phase-field method. The model captures the essential features of the time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagrams, continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams, and microstructure formation of these alloys. In some materials systems there can exist an intrinsic volume change associated with these transformations. We show that these coherency strains can stabilize mixed microstructures (such as retained austenite-martensite and pearlite-martensite mixtures) by an interplay between diffusive and displacive mechanisms, which can alter TTT and CCT diagrams. Depending on the conditions there can be competitive or cooperative nucleation of the two kinds of phases. The model also shows that small differences in volume changes can have noticeable effects on the early stages of martensite formation and on the resulting microstructures. -- Long version of cond-mat/0605577 -- Keywords: Ginzburg-Landau, martensite, pearlite, spinodal decomposition, shape memory, microstructures, TTT diagram, CCT diagram, elastic compatibilityComment: 10 pages, 13 figures, long version of cond-mat/0605577. Physical Review B, to appear in volume 75 (2007

Symmetries of Large N Matrix Models for Closed Strings

We obtain the symmetry algebra of multi-matrix models in the planar large N limit. We use this algebra to associate these matrix models with quantum spin chains. In particular, certain multi-matrix models are exactly solved by using known results of solvable spin chain systems.Comment: 12 pages, 1 eps figure, RevTex, some minor typos in the publised version are correcte

Signatures of Spin Glass Freezing in NiO Nanoparticles

We present a detailed study of the magnetic properties of sol-gel prepared nickel oxide nanoparticles of different sizes. We report various measurements such as frequency, field and temperature dependence of ac susceptibility, temperature and field dependence of dc magnetization and time decay of thermoremanent magnetization. Our results and analysis show that the system behaves as a spin glass.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure

Genetic relationships among seven sections of genus Arachis studied by using SSR markers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The genus <it>Arachis</it>, originated in South America, is divided into nine taxonomical sections comprising of 80 species. Most of the <it>Arachis </it>species are diploids (2<it>n </it>= 2<it>x </it>= 20) and the tetraploid species (2<it>n </it>= 2<it>x </it>= 40) are found in sections <it>Arachis</it>, <it>Extranervosae </it>and <it>Rhizomatosae</it>. Diploid species have great potential to be used as resistance sources for agronomic traits like pests and diseases, drought related traits and different life cycle spans. Understanding of genetic relationships among wild species and between wild and cultivated species will be useful for enhanced utilization of wild species in improving cultivated germplasm. The present study was undertaken to evaluate genetic relationships among species (96 accessions) belonging to seven sections of <it>Arachis </it>by using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers developed from <it>Arachis hypogaea </it>genomic library and gene sequences from related genera of <it>Arachis</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The average transferability rate of 101 SSR markers tested to section <it>Arachis </it>and six other sections was 81% and 59% respectively. Five markers (IPAHM 164, IPAHM 165, IPAHM 407a, IPAHM 409, and IPAHM 659) showed 100% transferability. Cluster analysis of allelic data from a subset of 32 SSR markers on 85 wild and 11 cultivated accessions grouped accessions according to their genome composition, sections and species to which they belong. A total of 109 species specific alleles were detected in different wild species, <it>Arachis pusilla </it>exhibited largest number of species specific alleles (15). Based on genetic distance analysis, the A-genome accession ICG 8200 (<it>A. duranensis</it>) and the B-genome accession ICG 8206 (<it>A. ipaënsis</it>) were found most closely related to <it>A. hypogaea</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A set of cross species and cross section transferable SSR markers has been identified that will be useful for genetic studies of wild species of <it>Arachis</it>, including comparative genome mapping, germplasm analysis, population genetic structure and phylogenetic inferences among species. The present study provides strong support based on both genomic and genic markers, probably for the first time, on relationships of <it>A. monticola </it>and <it>A. hypogaea </it>as well as on the most probable donor of A and B-genomes of cultivated groundnut.</p

On the evolution of tachyonic perturbations at super-Hubble scales

In the slow-roll inflationary scenario, the amplitude of the curvature perturbations approaches a constant value soon after the modes leave the Hubble radius. However, relatively recently, it was shown that the amplitude of the curvature perturbations induced by the canonical scalar field can grow at super-Hubble scales if there is either a transition to fast roll inflation or if inflation is interrupted for some period of time. In this work, we extend the earlier analysis to the case of a non-canonical scalar field described by the Dirac-Born-Infeld action. With the help of a specific example, we show that the amplitude of the tachyonic perturbations can be enhanced or suppressed at super-Hubble scales if there is a transition from slow roll to fast roll inflation. We also illustrate as to how the growth of the entropy perturbations during the fast roll regime proves to be responsible for the change in the amplitude of the curvature perturbations at super-Hubble scales. Furthermore, following the earlier analysis for the canonical scalar field, we show that the power spectrum evaluated in the long wavelength approximation matches the exact power spectrum obtained numerically very well. Finally, we briefly comment on an application of this phenomenon.Comment: v1: 15 pages, 4 figures; v2: 16 pages, 5 figures, power spectrum included, discussion in section 5 enlarged, references added; v3: 17 pages, 5 figures, enhancement AS WELL AS suppression of modes at super-Hubble scales pointed out, title changed, discussions enlarged, references added, to appear in JCA