996 research outputs found
On the Crystallization of Terbium Aluminium Garnet
Attempts to grow terbium aluminium garnet (Tb3Al5O12, TAG) by the Czochralski
method lead to crystals of millimeter scale. Larger crystals could not be
obtained. DTA measurements within the binary system showed that TAG melts
incongruently at 1840 deg. C. The perovskite (TbAlO3, TAP) with a congruent
melting point of 1930 deg. C is the most stable phase in this system. The
region for primary crystallization of TAP covers the chemical composition of
TAG and suppresses the primary crystallization of the terbium aluminium garnet.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure
Magnetization reversal and local switching fields of ferromagnetic Co/Pd microtubes with radial magnetization
Three-dimensional nanomagnetism is a rapidly growing field of research covering both noncollinear spin textures and curved magnetic geometries including microtubular structures. We spatially resolve the field-induced magnetization reversal of free-standing ferromagnetic microtubes utilizing multifrequency magnetic force microscopy (MFM). The microtubes are composed of Co/Pd multilayer films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy that translates to an anisotropy with radial easy axis upon rolling-up. Simultaneously mapping the topography and the perpendicular magnetostatic force derivative, the relation between surface angle and local magnetization configuration is evaluated for a large number of locations with slopes exceeding 45 degrees. The angle-dependence of the switching field is concurrent with the Kondorsky model, i.e., the rolled-up nanomembrane behaves like a planar magnetic film with perpendicular anisotropy and a pinning dominated magnetization reversal. Additionally, we discuss methodological challenges when detecting magnetostatic force derivatives near steep surfaces
Microbial reduction of iron and porewater biogeochemistry in acidic peatlands
International audienceTemporal drying of upper soil layers of acidic methanogenic peatlands might divert the flow of reductants from CH4 formation to other electron-accepting processes due to a renewal of alternative electron acceptors. In this study, we evaluated the in situ relevance of Fe(III)-reducing microbial activities in peatlands of a forested catchment that differed in their hydrology. Intermittent seeps reduced sequentially nitrate, Fe(III), and sulfate during periods of water saturation. Due to the acidic soil conditions, released Fe(II) was transported with the groundwater flow and accumulated as Fe(III) in upper soil layers of a lowland fen apparently due to oxidation. Microbial Fe(III) reduction in the upper soil layer accounted for 26.7 and 71.6% of the anaerobic organic carbon mineralization in the intermittent seep and the lowland fen, respectively. In an upland fen not receiving exogenous Fe, Fe(III) reduction contributed only to 6.7%. Fe(II) and acetate accumulated in deeper porewater of the lowland fen with maximum concentrations of 7 and 3 mM, respectively. Both supplemental glucose and acetate stimulated the reduction of Fe(III) indicating that fermentative, incomplete, and complete oxidizers were involved in Fe(II) formation in the acidic fen. Amplification of DNA yielded PCR products specific for Acidiphilium-, Geobacter-, and Geothrix-, but not for Shewanella- or Anaeroromyxobacter-related sequences. Porewater biogeochemistry observed during a 3-year-period suggests that increased drought periods and subsequent intensive rainfalls due to global climate change will further favor Fe(III) and sulfate as alternative electron acceptors due to the storage of their reduced compounds in the soil
Growth of Oxide Compounds under Dynamic Atmosphere Composition
Commercially available gases contain residual impurities leading to a
background oxygen partial pressure of typically several 10^{-6} bar,
independent of temperature. This oxygen partial pressure is inappropriate for
the growth of some single crystals where the desired oxidation state possesses
a narrow stability field. Equilibrium thermodynamic calculations allow the
determination of dynamic atmosphere compositions yielding such self adjusting
and temperature dependent oxygen partial pressures, that crystals like ZnO,
Ga2O3, or Fe{1-x}O can be grown from the melt.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, talk on CGCT-4 Sendai, May 21-24, 200
Design considerations for table-top, laser-based VUV and X-ray free electron lasers
A recent breakthrough in laser-plasma accelerators, based upon ultrashort
high-intensity lasers, demonstrated the generation of quasi-monoenergetic
GeV-electrons. With future Petawatt lasers ultra-high beam currents of ~100 kA
in ~10 fs can be expected, allowing for drastic reduction in the undulator
length of free-electron-lasers (FELs). We present a discussion of the key
aspects of a table-top FEL design, including energy loss and chirps induced by
space-charge and wakefields. These effects become important for an optimized
table-top FEL operation. A first proof-of-principle VUV case is considered as
well as a table-top X-ray-FEL which may open a brilliant light source also for
new ways in clinical diagnostics.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures; accepted for publication in Appl. Phys.
Si-compatible candidates for high-K dielectrics with the Pbnm perovskite structure
We analyze both experimentally (where possible) and theoretically from
first-principles the dielectric tensor components and crystal structure of five
classes of Pbnm perovskites. All of these materials are believed to be stable
on silicon and are therefore promising candidates for high-K dielectrics. We
also analyze the structure of these materials with various simple models,
decompose the lattice contribution to the dielectric tensor into force constant
matrix eigenmode contributions, explore a peculiar correlation between
structural and dielectric anisotropies in these compounds and give phonon
frequencies and infrared activities of those modes that are infrared-active. We
find that CaZrO_3, SrZrO_3, LaHoO_3, and LaYO_3 are among the most promising
candidates for high-K dielectrics among the compounds we considered.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, 4 tables. Supplementary information:
http://link.aps.org/supplemental/10.1103/PhysRevB.82.064101 or
http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/~sinisa/highk/supp.pd
Suppressing ghost beams: Backlink options for LISA
In this article we discuss possible design options for the optical phase reference system, the so called backlink, between two moving optical benches in a LISA satellite. The candidates are based on two approaches: Fiber backlinks, with additional features like mode cleaning cavities and Faraday isolators, and free beam backlinks with angle compensation techniques. We will indicate dedicated ghost beam mitigation strategies for the design options and we will point out critical aspects in case of an implementation in LISA. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.DFG/SFB/1128Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR)Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie/50 OQ 0601NASA/NNX15AC48
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