Temperature driven α\alpha to β\beta phase-transformation in Ti, Zr and Hf from first principles theory combined with lattice dynamics

Lattice dynamical methods used to predict phase transformations in crystals typically deal with harmonic phonon spectra and are therefore not applicable in important situations where one of the competing crystal structures is unstable in the harmonic approximation, such as the bcc structure involved in the hcp to bcc martensitic phase transformation in Ti, Zr and Hf. Here we present an expression for the free energy that does not suffer from such shortcomings, and we show by self consistent {\it ab initio} lattice dynamical calculations (SCAILD), that the critical temperature for the hcp to bcc phase transformation in Ti, Zr and Hf, can be effectively calculated from the free energy difference between the two phases. This opens up the possibility to study quantitatively, from first principles theory, temperature induced phase transitions.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

MAELAS 2.0: A new version of a computer program for the calculation of magneto-elastic properties

MAELAS is a computer program for the calculation of magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy, anisotropic magnetostrictive coefficients and magnetoelastic constants in an automated way. The method originally implemented in version 1.0 of MAELAS was based on the length optimization of the unit cell, proposed by Wu and Freeman, to calculate the anisotropic magnetostrictive coefficients. We present here a revised and updated version (v2.0) of MAELAS, where we added a new methodology to compute anisotropic magnetoelastic constants from a linear fitting of the energy versus applied strain. We analyze and compare the accuracy of both methods showing that the new approach is more reliable and robust than the one implemented in version 1.0, especially for non-cubic crystal symmetries. This analysis also help us to find that the accuracy of the method implemented in version 1.0 could be improved by using deformation gradients derived from the equilibrium magnetoelastic strain tensor, as well as potential future alternative methods like the strain optimization method. Additionally, we clarify the role of the demagnetized state in the fractional change in length, and derive the expression for saturation magnetostriction for polycrystals with trigonal, tetragonal and orthorhombic crystal symmetry. In this new version, we also fix some issues related to trigonal crystal symmetry found in version 1.0

Automated calculations of exchange magnetostriction

We present a methodology based on deformations of the unit cell that allows to compute the isotropic magnetoelastic constants, isotropic magnetostrictive coefficients and spontaneous volume magnetostriction associated to the exchange magnetostriction. This method is implemented in the python package MAELAS (v3.0), so that it can be used to obtain these quantities by first-principles calculations and classical spin-lattice models in an automated way. We show that the required reference state to obtain the spontaneous volume magnetostriction combines the equilibrium volume of the paramagnetic state and magnetic order of the ground state. The presented computational tool may be helpful to provide a better understanding and characterization of the relationship between the exchange interaction and magnetoelasticity

The superconducting phase of Calcium under the pressure at 200 GPa: the strong-coupling description

The thermodynamic parameters of the superconducting state in Calcium under the pressure at 200 GPa have been determined. The numerical analysis by using the Eliashberg equations in the mixed representation has been conducted. It has been stated, that the critical temperature ($T_{C}$) decreases from 36.15 K to 20.79 K dependently on the assumed value of the Coulomb pseudopotential ($\mu^{*}\in$). Next, the order parameter near the temperature of zero Kelvin ($\Delta(0)$) has been obtained. It has been proven, that the dimensionless ratio $2\Delta(0)/k_{B}T_{C}$ decreases from 4.25 to 3.90 together with the growth of $\mu^{*}$. Finally, the ratio of the electron effective mass to the electron bare mass ($m^{*}_{e}/m_{e}$) has been calculated. It has been shown, that $m^{*}_{e}/m_{e}$ takes the high value in the whole range of the superconducting phase's existence, and its maximum is equal to 2.23 for T=T_{C}.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Simple Metals at High Pressure

In this lecture we review high-pressure phase transition sequences exhibited by simple elements, looking at the examples of the main group I, II, IV, V, and VI elements. General trends are established by analyzing the changes in coordination number on compression. Experimentally found phase transitions and crystal structures are discussed with a brief description of the present theoretical picture.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figures, lecture notes for the lecture given at the Erice course on High-Pressure Crystallography in June 2009, Sicily, Ital

First-principles calculations of the spontaneous volume magnetostriction based on the magnetoelastic energy

We present a simple methodology to compute the spontaneous volume magnetostriction with first-principles calculations on the basis of the magnetoelastic energy. This method makes use of deformations of the unit cell only at the ferromagnetic state. Hence, it does not require the difficult first-principles calculation of the equilibrium volume at the paramagnetic state. To validate this methodology, we apply it to body-centered cubic Fe and face-centered cubic Ni single crystals, finding consistent results with experiment and previous first-principles calculations. The simplicity and reliability of this approach could be exploited in the high-throughput screening of spontaneous volume magnetostriction, as well as associated quantities like isotropic magnetoelastic constants and isotropic magnetostrictive coefficients

Creation Of Information Technologies For Sign Language Modeling And Learning

In the article a conception is developed and new information technology is proposed for sign language modelling on the base of human spatial model. For the transmission of movements of the real human-informant of sign language on a spatial model technology of motion capture is used. The algorithm of synchronization of vocal information with its visualization on the human face is developed. Efficiency of the developed information technology is shown on realization of Ukrainian sign language. The proposed approach is carried by universal character and can be used for the modelling of other sign languages

Effect of the boundary roughness on the conductance of double quantum wire in a magnetic field

We investigate the effect of the boundary roughness scattering on the conductance of a disordered tunnel-coupled quantum wire in the presence of a magnetic field. It is shown that the average distance between the neighboring discontinuities of the boundary profile plays an important role in the transport properties of the system and the manifestation of the localization-delocalization effect. Present studies point out a new effect consisting in the decrease of the conductance with the increase of the disorder correlation length