Anomalous physical properties of underdoped weak-ferromagnetic superconductor RuSr2_2EuCu2_{2}O8_{8}

Similar to the optimal-doped, weak-ferromagnetic (WFM induced by canted antiferromagnetism, T$_{Curie}$ = 131 K) and superconducting (T$_{c}$ = 56 K) RuSr$_{2}$GdCu$_{2}$O$_{8}$, the underdoped RuSr$_{2}$EuCu$_{2}$O$_{8}$ (T$_{Curie}$ = 133 K, T$_{c}$ = 36 K) also exhibited a spontaneous vortex state (SVS) between 16 K and 36 K. The low field ($\pm$20 G) superconducting hysteresis loop indicates a weak and narrow Meissner state region of average lower critical field B$_{c1}^{ave}$(T) = B$_{c1}^{ave}$(0)[1 - (T/T$_{SVS}$)$^{2}$], with B$_{c1}^{ave}$(0) = 7 G and T$_{SVS}$ = 16 K. The vortex melting transition (T$_{melting}$ = 21 K) below T$_{c}$ obtained from the broad resistivity drop and the onset of diamagnetic signal indicates a vortex liquid region due to the coexistence and interplay between superconductivity and WFM order. No visible jump in specific heat was observed near T$_{c}$ for Eu- and Gd-compound. This is not surprising, since the electronic specific heat is easily overshadowed by the large phonon and weak-ferromagnetic contributions. Furthermore, a broad resistivity transition due to low vortex melting temperature would also lead to a correspondingly reduced height of any specific heat jump. Finally, with the baseline from the nonmagnetic Eu-compound, specific heat data analysis confirms the magnetic entropy associated with antiferromagnetic ordering of Gd$^{3+}$ (J = S = 7/2) at 2.5 K to be close to $\it{N_{A}k}$ ln8 as expected.Comment: 7 figure

Optimum design of structures of composite materials in response to aerodynamic noise and noise transmission

Elastic wave propagation and attenuation in a model fiber matrix was investigated. Damping characteristics in graphite epoxy composite materials were measured. A sound transmission test facility suitable to incorporate into NASA Ames wind tunnel for measurement of transmission loss due to sound generation in boundary layers was constructed. Measurement of transmission loss of graphite epoxy composite panels was also included

Attenuation of stress waves in single and multi-layered structures

Analytical and experimental studies were made of the attenuation of the stress waves during passage through single and multilayer structures. The investigation included studies on elastic and plastic stress wave propagation in the composites and those on shock mitigating material characteristics such as dynamic stress-strain relations and energy absorbing properties. The results of the studies are applied to methods for reducing the stresses imposed on a spacecraft during planetary or ocean landings