Evolutionary Status of Brightest and Youngest Source in the Orion Molecular Cloud-3 Region

The brightest continuum source in the Orion Molecular Cloud-3 region (OMC-3), MMS 6, was observed with the Very Large Array (VLA), the Nobeyama Millimeter Array (NMA), and the Submillimeter Array (SMA). Our data were supplemented by near- to mid-infrared archival data taken by Spitzer Space Telescope. The compact continuum source, MMS 6-main, was detected with an H_2 mass of 3.0 Msun with a size of 510 AU. Despite its compact and well condensed appearance, neither clear CO outflow, radio jet, nor infrared sources (at a wave-length shorter than 8 um) were detected at MMS 6-main even with the present high-spatial resolution and high-sensitivity observations. The derived H_2 column density, 2.6x10^25 cm^-2, corresponds to a visual extinction of A_v~15000 mag., and the derived number density is at least two orders of magnitude higher than for the other OMC-2/3 continuum sources. The volume density profile of the source was estimated to have a power-law index of 2 or steeper down to a radius of ~450 AU. The time scale to form a protostar at the center or the time scale elapsed after its formation is estimated to be 830 to 7600 yr. This is much shorter than the typical lifetime of the Class 0/I protostars, which is ~10^(4-5) yr, suggesting that MMS 6-main is probably in either the earliest stage of the proto-stellar core or in the latest stage of the pre-stellar phase.Comment: 34 pages, 7 figures, accepted to Ap

Influence of hydrogen on strain localization and fracture behavior in Al-Zn-Mg-Cu aluminum alloys

Hydrogen-induced dislocation motion is characterized in terms of the microscopic strain distribution in Al-Zn-Mg-Cu aluminum alloys. Hydrogen-induced strain localization was visualized in 3D using X-ray tomography and related microstructural tracking techniques. The strain localization was observed as a form of obliquely aligned shear bands. The strain localization becomes more intense with an increase in holding time at each loading step, indicating that more internal hydrogen is partitioned to the strain localization regions with holding time. In addition, the concentration of hydrostatic strain is observed in the strain localization region. Numerous nano voids were generated after deformation and were determined from the precise interpretation of the measured hydrostatic tension. Direct observation of the nano voids was then successfully performed by employing high-angle annular dark-field (i.e., HAADF) scanning transmission electron microscopy imaging and imaging-type computed tomography (CT) techniques. It is assumed that nano voids can serve a dual role as a fracture origin site and a hydrogen trap site. However, no evidence for hydrogen embrittlement originating from nano voids was observed. Instead, it can be assumed that the most hydrogen was partitioned to nano voids in strain localization regions during deformation due to its high density. A hydrogen embrittlement model was proposed based on these findings, where in-situ hydrogen repartitioning, which is necessary for hydrogen embrittlement to occur, is considered. Keywords X-ray tomography, Hydrogen embrittlement, Strain localization, Nano void, Al-Zn-Mg-Cu aluminum allo

Damage micromechanisms of stress corrosion cracking in Al-Mg alloy with high magnesium content

Al-10Mg alloys, which are highly susceptible to SCC, were prepared with various β precipitate morphologies. Interrupted in-situ tensile tests were conducted under synchrotron X-ray radiation, employing a recently developed X-ray microtomography technique that combines high-energy, applicability to metallic materials, and ultra-high resolution. Preferential dissolution of the β phase along grain boundaries, and incidental intergranular and transgranular fracture, were observed in 3D. A drastic decrease in SCC resistance was measured after hydrogen charging. The additional effect of external hydrogen absorbed from an aqueous solution during loading was also revealed, by directly measuring crack-tip plasticity. The aquatic environment, one of the most extreme conditions for hydrogen uptake, caused continuous crack-tip corrosion. Catastrophic failure was observed when an alloy had both a relatively high areal grain boundary coverage by film-like β phase, and a reticulately interconnected plate-like β phase in the grain interior. Hydrogen bubble formation was also observed, in relation to the progress of crack-tip corrosion. The main corrosion product was identified as Al(OH)3, based on its linear absorption coefficient. The respective amounts of corrosion products and hydrogen gas in the gas bubbles, and the pH value of the aqueous solution, were accurately measured during in-situ tensile testing, enabling estimation of the local elevation of hydrogen content in the crack-tip vicinity. Finally, a quantitative criterion for the occurrence of hydrogen embrittlement in inter-β ligaments is discussed, together with the applicability of the findings to the prevention of SCC