Composite superconducting wires obtained by high-rate tinning in molten Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system

Long lengths of metal superconductor composites were prepared by passing a copper wire through the bismuth based molten oxide system at a constant speed. The key to successful composite preparation is the high pulling speed involved, which permits minimization of the severe interaction between the unbuffered metal surface and the oxide melt. Depending on the temperature of the melt and the pulling speed, a coating with different thickness and microstructure appeared. The nonannealed thick coatings contained a Bi2(Sr,Ca)2Cu1O6 phase as a major component. After relatively short time annealing at 800 C, both resistivity and initial magnetization versus temperature measurements show superconducting transitions beginning in the 110 to 115 K region. The effects of annealing and composition on obtained results are discussed. This method of manufacture led to the fabrication of wire with a copper core in a dense covering with uniform thickness of about h approximately equal to 5 to 50 microns. Composite wires with h approximately equal to 10 microns (h/d approximately equal to 0.1) sustained bending on a 15 mm radius frame without cracking during flexing

Composite superconducting wires obtained by high-rate tinning in molten Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system

The preparation of high-T(sub c) superconducting long composite wires by short-time tinning of the metal wires in a molten Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O compound is discussed. The application of this method to the high-T(sub c) materials is tested, possibly for the first time. The initial materials used for this experiment were ceramic samples with nominal composition Bi(1.5)Pb(0.5)Sr2Ca2Cu3O(x) and T(sub c) = 80 K prepared by the ordinary solid-state reaction, and industrial copper wires from 100 to 400 microns in diameter and from 0.5 to 1 m long. The continuously moving wires were let through a small molten zone (approximately 100 cubic mm). The Bi-based high-T(sub c) ceramics in a molten state is a viscous liquid and it has a strongly pronounced ability to spread on metal wire surfaces. The maximum draw rate of the Cu-wire, at which a dense covering is still possible, corresponds to the time of direct contact of wire surfaces and liquid ceramics for less than 0.1 s. A high-rate draw of the wire permits a decrease in the reaction of the oxide melt and Cu-wire. This method of manufacture led to the fabrication of wire with a copper core in a dense covering with uniform thickness of about h approximately equal to 5 to 50 microns. Composite wires with h approximately equal to 10 microns (h/d approximately equal to 0.1) sustained bending on a 15 mm radius frame without cracking during flexing

Introduction and development of innovative methods and technologies of e-learning at the university

The article discusses the issues of transition from traditional educational technologies to innovative methods and technologies of e-learning. Some directions of their implementation at the university within the framework of additional education and professional development programs, as well as for teaching students are given. In addition, the article discusses the forms and methods that are optimal for use in e-learning: heuristic, research, game, diagnostic, information-receptive and reproductiv

Thermoelectric prospects of nanomaterials with spin-orbit surface bands

Nanostructured composites and nanowire arrays of traditional thermoelectrics like Bi, Bi(1-x)Sb(x) and Bi(2)Te(3) have metallic Rashba surface spin-orbit bands featuring high mobilities rivaling that of the bulk for which topological insulator behavior has been proposed. Nearly pure surface electronic transport has been observed at low temperatures in Bi nanowires with diameter around the critical diameter, 50 nm, for the semimetal-to semiconductor transition. The surface contributes strongly to the thermopower, actually dominating for temperatures T < 100 K in these nanowires. The surface thermopower was found to be -1 T microvolt/(K^2), a value that is consistent with theory. We show that surface electronic transport together with boundary phonon scattering leads to enhanced thermoelectric performance at low temperatures of Bi nanowire arrays. We compare with bulk n-BiSb alloys, optimized CsBi(4)Te(6) and optimized Bi(2)Te(3). Surface dominated electronic transport can be expected in nanomaterials of the other traditional thermoelectrics.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figure

Surface state band mobility and thermopower in semiconducting bismuth nanowires

Many thermoelectrics like Bi exhibit Rashba spin-orbit surface bands for which topological insulator behavior consisting of ultrahigh mobilities and enhanced thermopower has been predicted. Bi nanowires realize surface-only electronic transport since they become bulk insulators when they undergo the bulk semimetal-semiconductor transition as a result of quantum confinement for diameters close to 50 nm. We studied 20-, 30-, 50- and 200-nm trigonal Bi wires. Shubnikov-de Haas magnetoresistance oscillations caused by surface electrons and bulklike holes enable the determination of their densities and mobilities. Surface electrons have high mobilities exceeding 2(m^2)/(Vsec) and contribute strongly to the thermopower, dominating for temperatures T< 100 K. The surface thermopower is - 1.2 T microvolt/(K^2), a value that is consistent with theory, raising the prospect of developing nanoscale thermoelectrics based on surface bands.Comment: 19 pages. 3 figure

Observation of three-dimensional behavior in surface states of bismuth nanowires and the evidence for bulk Bi charge fractionalization

Whereas bulk bismuth supports very-high mobility, light, Dirac electrons and holes in its interior, its boundaries support a layer of heavy electrons in surface states formed by spin orbit interaction in the presence of the surface electric field. Small diameter d trigonal Bi nanowires (30 nm < d < 200 nm) were studied via magnetotransport at low temperatures and for fields up to 14 T in order to investigate the role of surfaces in electronic transport. A two-dimensional behavior was expected for surface charges; however we found instead a three-dimensional behavior, with a rich spectrum of Landau levels in a nearly spherical Fermi surface. This is associated with the long penetration length of surface states of trigonal wires. The prospect of the participation of surface transport and surface-induced relaxation of bulk carriers in the electronic properties of macroscopic samples is evaluated. We show that recent observations of magnetoquantum peaks in the Nernst thermopower coefficient, attributed to two-dimensional electron gas charge fractionalization, can be more plausibly interpreted in terms of these surface states.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figure

Aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera from Parque Provincial Ernesto Tornquist (Buenos Aires Province, República Argentina)

Se presenta una lista de las especies de Heteroptera presentes en los cuerpos de agua del Parque Provincial Ernesto Tornquist. Se registraron 18 especies de Gerromorpha y Nepomorpha distribuidas en 10 géneros y 8 familias; sólo 4 especies fueron citadas previamente para el parque. El género Merragata White, con la especie M. hebroides White, son citados aquí por primera vez para la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Se incluye una clave para las especies de Gerromorpha y Nepomorpha presentes y esperables en el Parque Provincial Ernesto Tornquist.A list of the species of aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera occurring in Parque Provincial Ernesto Tornquist is presented. Eighteen species of Gerromorpha and Nepomorpha belonging to 10 genera and 8 families were recorded; only 4 species had been previously cited from the park. One species and one genus of Hebridae (Merragata hebroides White) are reported from Buenos Aires Province for the first time. A key to species of Gerromorpha and Nepomorpha occurring or expected to occur in Parque Provincial Ernesto Tornquist is added.Fil: Konopko, Susana Amanda. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental. Laboratorio de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Mazzucconi, Silvia Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental. Laboratorio de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: López Ruf, Mónica L.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Bachmann, Axel Oscar. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental. Laboratorio de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; Argentin

Quantum interference of surface states in bismuth nanowires probed by the Aharonov-Bohm oscillatory behavior of the magnetoresistance

We report the observation of a dependence of the low temperature resistance of individual single-crystal bismuth nanowires on the Aharonov-Bohm phase of the magnetic flux threading the wire. 55 and 75-nm wires were investigated in magnetic fields of up to 14 T. For 55 nm nanowires, longitudinal magnetoresistance periods of 0.8 and 1.6 T that were observed at magnetic fields over 4 T are assigned to h/2e to h/e magnetic flux modulation. The same modes of oscillation were observed in 75-nm wires. The observed effects are consistent with models of the Bi surface where surface states give rise to a significant population of charge carriers of high effective mass that form a highly conducting tube around the nanowire. In the 55-nm nanowires, the Fermi energy of the surface band is estimated to be 15 meV. An interpretation of the magnetoresistance oscillations in terms of a subband structure in the surface states band due to quantum interference in the tube is presented.Comment: 30 pages, 9 figure

Diameter-dependent thermopower of Bi nanowires

We present a study of electronic transport in individual Bi nanowires of large diameter relative to the Fermi wavelength. Measurements of the resistance and thermopower of intrinsic and Sn-doped Bi wires with various wire diameters, ranging from 150-480 nm, have been carried out over a wide range of temperatures (4-300 K) and magnetic fields (0-14 T). We find that the thermopower of intrinsic Bi wires in this diameter range is positive (type-p) below about 150 K, displaying a peak at around 40 K. In comparison, intrinsic bulk Bi is type-n. Magneto-thermopower effects due to the decrease of surface scattering when the cyclotron diameter is less than the wire diameter are demonstrated. The measurements are interpreted in terms of a model of diffusive thermopower, where the mobility limitations posed by hole-boundary scattering are much less severe than those due to electron-hole scattering.Comment: 32 pages, 12 figures. Previous version replaced to improve readabilit