Dielectric Response in Microscopically Heterogeneous Dielectrics: Example of KTaO_3:Nb

New experimental data on solid solutions of quantum paraelectrics with KTaO_3:Nb as an example are considered within a framework of a quantum theory of ferroelectric phase transitions. In order to describe the effect of local heterogeneities a percolation type theory together with a random field approach were employed.Comment: 4 figure

High-frequency dielectric spectroscopy of batio3 core - silica shell nanocomposites: Problem of interdiffusion

Three types of BaTiO3 core - amorphous nano-shell composite ceramics were processed from the same core-shell powder by standard sintering, spark-plasma sintering and two-step sintering techniques and characterized by XRD, HRSEM and broad-band dielectric spectroscopy in the frequency range 10^3 - 10^13 Hz including the THz and IR range. The samples differed by porosity and by the amount of interdiffusion from the cores to shells, in correlation with their increasing porosity. The dielectric spectra were also calculated using suitable models based on effective medium approximation. The measurements revealed a strong dielectric dispersion below the THz range, which cannot be explained by the modeling, and whose strength was in correlation with the degree of interdiffusion. We assigned it to an effect of the interdiffusion layers, giving rise to a strong interfacial polarization. It appears that the high-frequency dielectric spectroscopy is an extremely sensitive tool for detection of any gradient layers and sample inhomogeneities even in dielectric materials with negligible conductivity

Noninvasive Embedding of Single Co Atoms in Ge(111)2x1 Surfaces

We report on a combined scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT) based investigation of Co atoms on Ge(111)2x1 surfaces. When deposited on cold surfaces, individual Co atoms have a limited diffusivity on the atomically flat areas and apparently reside on top of the upper pi-bonded chain rows exclusively. Voltage-dependent STM imaging reveals a highly anisotropic electronic perturbation of the Ge surface surrounding these Co atoms and pronounced one-dimensional confinement along the pi-bonded chains. DFT calculations reveal that the individual Co atoms are in fact embedded in the Ge surface, where they occupy a quasi-stationary position within the big 7-member Ge ring in between the 3rd and 4th atomic Ge layer. The energy needed for the Co atoms to overcome the potential barrier for penetration in the Ge surface is provided by the kinetic energy resulting from the deposition process. DFT calculations further demonstrate that the embedded Co atoms form four covalent Co-Ge bonds, resulting in a Co4+ valence state and a 3d5 electronic configuration. Calculated STM images are in perfect agreement with the experimental atomic resolution STM images for the broad range of applied tunneling voltages.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures, 3 table

The lightest scalar glueball

Recently performed investigations of meson spectra allow us to determine the resonance structure for the waves $IJ^{PC}=00^{++}$, $10^{++}$, $02^{++}$, $12^{++}$ = $IJ^P= 1/2 0^+$ in the mass region up to 1900 MeV, thus establishing the meson multiplets $1^3P_0q\bar q$ and $2^3P_0q\bar q$. Experimental data demonstrate that there are five scalar/isoscalar states in this mass region. Four of them are $q\bar q$ states, that is, members of the $1^3P_0q\bar q$ and $2^3P_0q\bar q$ nonets, while the fifth state is an extra one not accomodated by $q \bar q$ systematics; it has the properties of the lightest scalar glueball. Analysis of the $00^{++}$-wave performed within the framework of the dispersion relation technique allows us to reconstruct the mixing of a pure gluonium with neighbouring scalar $q \bar q$ states belonging to $1^3P_0q\bar q$ and $2^3P_0q\bar q$ nonets: three scalar mesons share the gluonium state between each other -- those are two comparatively narrow resonances $f_0(1300)$ and $f_0(1500)$ and a broad resonance $f_0(1530^{+90}_{-250})$. The broad state is a descendant of the gluonium, keeping about 40-50% of its component.Comment: 48 pages, LaTeX, 25 PostScript figures, epsfig.sty. Submitted to Russian Journal Uspekhi Fiz. Nauk (Phys-Uspekhi