229 research outputs found
POWTEX Neutron Diffractometer at FRM II - new perspectives for in-situ rock deformation analysis
EGU2012-13521
In Geoscience quantitative texture analysis here defined as the quantitative analysis of the crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO), is a common tool for the investigation of fabric development in mono- and polyphase rocks, their deformation histories and kinematics. Bulk texture measurements also allow the quantitative characterisation of the anisotropic physical properties of rock materials. A routine tool to measure bulk sample volumes is neutron texture diffraction, as neutrons have large penetration capabilities of several cm in geological sample materials.
The new POWTEX (POWder and TEXture) Diffractometer at the neutron research reactor FRM II in Garching, Germany is designed as a high-intensity diffractometer by groups from the RWTH Aachen, Forschungszentrum Jülich and the University of Göttingen. Complementary to existing neutron diffractometers (SKAT at Dubna, Russia; GEM at ISIS, UK; HIPPO at Los Alamos, USA; D20 at ILL, France; and the local STRESS-SPEC and SPODI at FRM II) the layout of POWTEX is focused on fast time-resolved experiments and the measurement of larger sample series as necessary for the study of large scale geological structures. POWTEX is a dedicated beam line for geoscientific research.
Effective texture measurements without sample tilting and rotation are possible firstly by utilizing a range of neutron wavelengths simultaneously (Time-of-Flight technique) and secondly by the high detector coverage (9.8 sr) and a high flux (�~1x10 7 n/cm2s) at the sample. Furthermore the instrument and the angular detector resolution is designed also for strong recrystallisation textures as well as for weak textures of polyphase rocks. These instrument characteristics allow in-situ time-resolved texture measurements during deformation experiments on rocksalt, ice and other materials as large sample environments will be implemented at POWTEX.
The in-situ deformation apparatus is operated by a uniaxial spindle drive with a maximum axial load of 250 kN, which will be redesigned to minimize shadowing effects inside the cylindrical detector. The HT deformatione experiments will be carried out in uniaxial compression or extension and an upgrade to triaxial deformation conditions is envisaged. The load frame can alternatively be used for ice deformation by inserting a cryostat cell for temperatures down to 77 K with a triaxial apparatus allowing also simple shear experiments on ice. Strain rates range between 10-8 and 10-3 s-1 reaching to at least 50% axial strain. The deformation apparatus is designed for continuous long-term deformation experiments and can be exchanged between in-situ and ex-situ placements during continuous operation inside and outside the neutron detector
Structural phase transitions and their influence on Cu+ mobility in superionic ferroelastic Cu6PS5I single crystals
The structural origin of Cu+ ions conductivity in Cu6PS5I single crystals is
described in terms of structural phase transitions studied by X-ray
diffraction, polarizing microscope and calorimetric measurements. Below the
phase transition at Tc=(144-169) K Cu6PS5I belongs to monoclinic, ferroelastic
phase, space group Cc. Above Tc crystal changes the symmetry to cubic
superstructure, space group F-43c (a=19.528); finally at 274K disordering of
the Cu+ ions increases the symmetry to F-43m, (a=9.794). The phase transition
at 274K coincides well with a strong anomaly in electrical conductivity
observed in the Arrhenius plot. Diffusion paths for Cu+ ions are evidenced by
means of the atomic displacement factors and split model. Influence of the
copper stechiometry on the Tc is also discussed.Comment: conference pape
Crystal-like high frequency phonons in the amorphous phases of solid water
The high frequency dynamics of low- (LDA) and high-density amorphous-ice
(HDA) and of cubic ice (I_c) has been measured by inelastic X-ray Scattering
(IXS) in the 1-15 nm^{-1} momentum transfer (Q) range. Sharp phonon-like
excitations are observed, and the longitudinal acoustic branch is identified up
to Q = 8nm^{-1} in LDA and I_c and up to 5nm^{-1} in HDA. The narrow width of
these excitations is in sharp contrast with the broad features observed in all
amorphous systems studied so far. The "crystal-like" behavior of amorphous
ices, therefore, implies a considerable reduction in the number of decay
channels available to sound-like excitations which is assimilated to low local
disorder.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
An Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Variation of 4f Hybridization Across the La1-xCexIn3 Series
Crystal structures of a series of La1-xCexIn3 (x = 0.02, 0.2, 0.5, or 0.8)
intermetallic compounds have been investigated by both neutron and X-ray
diffraction, and their physical properties have been characterized by magnetic
susceptibility and specific heat measurements. Our results emphasize atypical
atomic displacement parameters (ADP) for the In and the rare-earth sites.
Depending on the x value, the In ADP presents either an "ellipsoidal"
elongation (La-rich compounds) or a "butterfly-like" distortion (Ce-rich
compounds). These deformations have been understood by theoretical techniques
based on the band theory and are the result of hybridization between conduction
electrons and 4f-electrons.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure
Quantum contributions in the ice phases: the path to a new empirical model for water -- TIP4PQ/2005
With a view to a better understanding of the influence of atomic quantum
delocalisation effects on the phase behaviour of water, path integral
simulations have been undertaken for almost all of the known ice phases using
the TIP4P/2005 model, in conjunction with the rigid rotor propagator proposed
by Muser and Berne [Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 2638 (1996)]. The quantum
contributions then being known, a new empirical model of water is developed
(TIP4PQ/2005) which reproduces, to a good degree, a number of the physical
properties of the ice phases, for example densities, structure and relative
stabilities.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Journal of Chemical Physic
Ice XII in its second regime of metastability
We present neutron powder diffraction results which give unambiguous evidence
for the formation of the recently identified new crystalline ice phase[Lobban
et al.,Nature, 391, 268, (1998)], labeled ice XII, at completely different
conditions. Ice XII is produced here by compressing hexagonal ice I_h at T =
77, 100, 140 and 160 K up to 1.8 GPa. It can be maintained at ambient pressure
in the temperature range 1.5 < T < 135 K. High resolution diffraction is
carried out at T = 1.5 K and ambient pressure on ice XII and accurate
structural properties are obtained from Rietveld refinement. At T = 140 and 160
K additionally ice III/IX is formed. The increasing amount of ice III/IX with
increasing temperature gives an upper limit of T ~ 150 K for the successful
formation of ice XII with the presented procedure.Comment: 3 Pages of RevTeX, 3 tables, 3 figures (submitted to Physical Review
Letters
Ice structures, patterns, and processes: A view across the ice-fields
We look ahead from the frontiers of research on ice dynamics in its broadest
sense; on the structures of ice, the patterns or morphologies it may assume,
and the physical and chemical processes in which it is involved. We highlight
open questions in the various fields of ice research in nature; ranging from
terrestrial and oceanic ice on Earth, to ice in the atmosphere, to ice on other
solar system bodies and in interstellar space
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