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Energy-dispersive X-ray reflectivity and GID for real-time growth studies of pentacene thin films
(2007)
We use energy-dispersive X-ray reflectivity and grazing incidence diffraction (GID) to follow the growth of the crystalline organic semiconductor pentacene on silicon oxide in-situ and in real-time. The technique allows for monitoring Bragg reflections and measuring X-ray growth oscillations with a time resolution of 1 min in a wide q-range in reciprocal space extending over 0.25-0.80 angstrom(-1), i.e. sampling a large number of Fourier components simultaneously. A quantitative analysis of growth oscillations at several q-points yields the evolution of the surface roughness, showing a marked transition from layer-by-layer growth to strong roughening after four monolayers of pentacene have been deposited. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Alexander der Große
(2007)
Experiments using a simple X-ray interferometer to measure the degree of spatial coherence of hard X-rays are reported. A monolithic Fresnel bimirror is used at small incidence angles to investigate synchrotron radiation in the energy interval 5-50 keV with monochromatic and white beam. The experimental setup was equivalent to a Young's double-slit experiment for hard X-rays with slit dimensions in the micrometre range. From the high-contrast interference pattern the degree of coherence was determined.
The third-generation X-ray source BESSYII (Berlin, Germany) provides coherent X-ray radiation which can be used for static and dynamic speckle analysis. Recently we have demonstrated that one can perform experiments with coherent white radiation provided by a bending magnet (5 < E < 20 keV). In this paper we show that the diffraction figure of the initial pinhole must be considered for the interpretation of coherent experiments. The reflectivity spectrum of a sample results from the Fresnel diffraction of the incident pinhole deformed by the static speckle features of the sample surface. For dynamical experiments all speckle like features alter with time whereas the pure Fresnel fringes remain constant. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Temperature dependent energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction and magnetic study of Fe/Al interface
(2007)
In situ temperature dependent energy-dispersive structural and magnetic study of electron beam evaporated Fe/Al multilayer sample (MLS) has been investigated. The structural studies show the formation of an intermixed FeAl transition layer of a few nanometers thick at the interface during deposition, which on annealing at 300 degrees C transforms to B2FeAl intermetallic phase. Magnetization decreases with increase in temperature and drops to minimum above 300 degrees C due to increase in anti-ferromagnetic interlayer coupling and formation of nonmagnetic FeAl phase at the interface. The Curie temperature (T-c) is found to be 288 degrees C and is much less than that of bulk bcc Fe.
In der Nanotechnologie und der molekularen Biologie werden immer kleinere Strukturelemente, wie beispielsweise einzelne Atomlagen oder Molekülgruppen, manipuliert, um bestimmte Funktionen zu erzielen. Veränderungen in solchen Systemen laufen auf atomarer Längen- und Zeitskala ab. Für das physikalische Verständnis dieser ultraschnellen Prozesse ist ein anschauliches Bild wichtig. Dank ihrer hohen Struktur- und Zeitauflösung liefert die Femtosekunden-Röntgenbeugung Bildsequenzen atomarer Bewegung von Molekülen und Festkörpern und ermöglicht somit Rückschlüsse über die komplexe Wechselwirkung zwischen Elektronen- und Kernbewegungen. Die aktuellen und zukünftigen Möglichkeiten, Atomen bei ihren Bewegungen zuzusehen, diskutiert der Referent an aktuellen Beispielen.
We study possible interrelations between the 300-year record of the yearly sunspot numbers and the solar inertial motion (SIM) using the recently developed technique of synchronization analysis. Phase synchronization of the sunspot cycle and the SIM is found and statistically confirmed in three epochs (1734-1790, 1855-1875 and 1907-1960) of the whole period 1700-2000. These results give quantitative support to the hypothesis that there is a weak interaction between the solar activity and the SIM.
Context. Reliable measurements of the solar magnetic field are restricted to the phoptosphere. As an alternative to measurements, the field in the higher layers of the atmosphere is calculated from the measured photospheric field, mostly under the assumption that it is force-free. However, the magnetic field in the photosphere is not force-free. Moreover, most methods for the extrapolation of the photospheric magnetic field into the higher layers prescribe the magnetic vector on the whole boundary of the considered volume, which overdetermines the force-free field. Finally, the extrapolation methods are very sensitive to small-scale noise in the magnetograph data, which, however, if sufficienly resolved numerically, should affect the solution only in a thin boundary layer close to the photosphere. Aims. A new method for the preprocessing of solar photospheric vector magnetograms has been developed that, by improving their compatibility with the condition of force- freeness and removing small-scale noise, makes them more suitable for extrapolations into three- dimensional nonlinear force-free magnetic fields in the chromosphere and corona. Methods. A functional of the photospheric field values is minimized whereby the total magnetic force and the total magnetic torque on the considered volume above the photosphere, as well as a quantity measuring the degree of small-scale noise in the photospheric boundary data, are simultaneously made small. For the minimization, the method of simulated annealing is used and the smoothing of noisy magnetograph data is attained by windowed median averaging. Results. The method was applied to a magnetogram derived from a known nonlinear force-free test field to which an artificial noise had been added. The algorithm recovered all main structures of the magnetogram and removed small- scale noise. The main test was to extrapolate from the noisy photospheric vector magnetogram before and after the preprocessing. The preprocessing was found to significantly improve the agreement of the extrapolated with the exact field.
We investigate the dynamo effect in a flow configuration introduced by G. O. Roberts in 1972. Based on a clear energetic hierarchy of Fourier components on the steady-state dynamo branch, an approximate model of interacting modes is constructed covering all essential features of the complete system but allowing simulations with a minimum amount of computation time. We use this model to study the excitation mechanism of the dynamo, the transition from stationary to time-dependent dynamo solutions and the characteristic properties of the latter ones.
We present projects for future space missions using new quantum devices based on ultracold atoms. They will enable fundamental physics experiments testing quantum physics, physics beyond the standard model of fundamental particles and interactions, special relativity, gravitation and general relativity.
We compute the local spectrum of the magnetic field near a metallic microstructure at finite temperature. Our main focus is on deviations from a plane-layered geometry for which we review the main properties. Arbitrary geometries are handled with the help of numerical calculations based on surface integral equations. The magnetic noise shows a significant polarization anisotropy above flat wires with finite lateral width, in stark contrast to an infinitely wide wire. Within the limits of a two-dimensional setting, our results provide accurate estimates for loss and dephasing rates in so-called `atom chip traps' based on metallic wires. A simple approximation based on the incoherent summation of local current elements gives qualitative agreement with the numerics, but fails to describe current correlations among neighboring objects.
In this paper we study the role of surface plasmon modes in the Casimir effect. The Casimir energy can be written as a sum over the modes of a real cavity and one may identify two sorts of modes, two evanescent surface plasmon modes and propagative modes. As one of the surface plasmon modes becomes propagative for some choice of parameters we adopt an adiabatic mode definition where we follow this mode into the propagative sector and count it together with the surface plasmon contribution, calling this contribution ``plasmonic''. We evaluate analytically the contribution of the plasmonic modes to the Casimir energy. Surprisingly we find that this becomes repulsive for intermediate and large mirror separations. The contribution of surface plasmons to the Casimir energy plays a fundamental role not only at short but also at large distances. This suggests possibilities to taylor the Casimir force via a manipulation of the surface plasmon properties.
Coherent thermal radiation
(2007)
The radiation emitted by a heated body is generally quoted as a typical example of incoherent radiation, in distinction to laser radiation. One is nearly isotropic, the other highly directional; one is spectrally broad, the other quasi-monochromatic. It may come as a surprise that the thermal radiation of a large number of substances is coherent, both in space and time, when it is observed at a distance from the body that is shorter than the wavelength. This behaviour can be understood within an electromagnetic approach to thermal emission. Several recent experiments have confirmed these unexpected properties.
We discuss the laser theory for a single-mode laser with nonlinear gain. We focus in particular on a micromaser which is pumped with a dilute beam of excited atoms crossing the laser cavity. In the weak-coupling regime, an expansion in the coupling strength is developed that preserves the Lindblad form of the master equation, securing the positivity of the density matrix. This can be improved with an alternative approach, not restricted to weak coupling: the Lindblad operators are expanded in orthogonal polynomials adapted to the probability distribution for the atom-laser interaction time. Results for the photon statistics and the laser linewidth illustrate the theory.
An approach for creating complex structures with embedded actuation in planar manufacturing steps is presented. Self-organization and energy minimization are central to this approach, illustrated with a model based on minimization of the hyperelastic free energy strain function of a stretched elastomer and the bending elastic energy of a plastic frame. A tulip-shaped gripper structure illustrates the technological potential of the approach. Advantages are simplicity of manufacture, complexity of final structures, and the ease with which any electroactive material can be exploited as means of actuation. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.
Spectroscopic study of dielectric barrier discharges in cellular polypropylene ferroelectrets
(2007)
The transient light emission from the dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) in cellular polypropylene ferroelectrets subjected to high electric poling fields was spectroscopically measured. The spectrum shows strong emission from the second positive system of molecular nitrogen, N-2(C (3)Pi(u))-> N-2(B (3)Pi(g)), and the first negative system of N-2(+), N-2(+)(B (2)Sigma(+)(u))-> N-2(+)(X (2)Sigma(+)(g)), consistent with a DBD in air. When a dc voltage is applied stepwise to the ferroelectret film, light emission starts above a threshold, coinciding with the threshold voltage in obtaining piezoelectricity. From selected vibronic band strength ratios, the electric field in the discharge was determined and found to agree with Townsend breakdown.
Zerstörungsfreie Tomographie von Raumladungs- und Polarisationsverteilungen mittles Wärmepulsen
(2007)
Non-destructive, three-dimensional imaging of space-charge and polarization distributions in electret materials has been implemented by means of laser-induced thermal pulses. In pyroelectric films of poled poly(vinylidene fluoride), images of up to 45 x 45 pixels with a depth resolution of less than 0.5 mu m and a lateral resolution of 40 mu m were recorded, the latter being limited by fast thermal diffusion in the absorbing metallic front electrode. Initial applications include the analysis of polarization distributions in corona-poled piezoelectric sensor cables and the detection of patterned space-charge distributions in polytetrafluoroethylene films.
Charging properties and time-temperature stability of innovative polymeric cellular ferroelectrets
(2007)
After appropriate mechanical and electrical treatments, some cellular polymers become able to retain space charge for a long time, i.e. they acquire electret behavior. The electrical treatment consists of charging under high levels of DC electric field. The mechanical treatment, based on the application of stretching forces to cellular polymer slabs that were before expanded under pressurized gas, affects the cavity size and shape, and therefore also the effectiveness of the charging process itself. An investigation of charging mechanisms, as well as of mechanical treatment, is therefore fundamental for optimizing the ferro- and piezo-electret properties. The aim of this paper is to discuss the effect of the physical dimension of the cavities on the charging behavior of cellular ferroelectrets and to focus on the time-temperature stability for two families of polymeric cellular ferroelectrets based on polypropylene (PP) and on a cyclo-olefin copolymer (COC). Emphasis will be given to the stretching process and in particular to the expansion rate applied during the manufacturing process (which affects the radial dimension and the height of the cavities, respectively). Space-charge and partial-discharge measurements as a function of time and temperature are the main tools to infer the influence of the cavity size on charging and stability characteristics.
Cork is a natural cellular and electrically insulating material which may have the capacity to store electric charges on or in its cell walls. Since natural cork has many voids, it is difficult to obtain uniform samples with the required dimensions. Therefore, a more uniform material, namely commercial cork agglomerate, usually used for floor and wall coverings, is employed in the present study. Since we know from our previous work that the electrical properties of cork are drastically affected by absorbed and adsorbed water, samples were protected by means of different polymer coatings (applied by spin-coating or soaking). Corona charging and isothermal charging and discharging currents were used to study the electrical trapping and detrapping capabilities of the samples. A comparison of the results leads to the conclusion that the most promising method for storing electric charges in this cellular material consists of drying and coating or soaking with a hydrophobic, electrically insulating polymer such as polytetraflouroethylene (Teflon (R)). (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Polymer foams with electrically charged cellular voids, the so-called ferroelectrets, are soft piezoelectric transducer materials. Several polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate or cyclo-olefin copolymers are under investigation with respect to their suitability as ferroelectrets. Here, the authors report an additional ferroelectret polymer, cellular polyethylene-naphthalate (PEN), which was prepared from commercial uniform polymer films by means of foaming in supercritical carbon dioxide, inflation, biaxial stretching, electrical charging, and metallization. Piezoelectric d(33) coefficients of up to 140 pC/N demonstrate the suitability of such cellular PEN films for transducer applications. Their piezoelectricity is partially stable at elevated temperatures as high as 100 degrees C.
Electrically charged cellular polymer films can exhibit very high piezoelectric activity and are therefore more and more often employed in advanced electromechanical and electro-acoustical transducers. In this paper, we report an optimized sequence of steps for preparing such ferroelectrets from commercial nonvoided ploy(ethylene terephthalate) (PETP) films by means of foaming with CO2 biaxial mechanical stretching, controlled void inflation, and bipolar electric charging. The nonvoid PETP films foamed with supercritical CO2 at a suitably high pressure and subsequently annealed for stabilization. The cellular foam structure was further optimized by means of well controlled biaxial stretching in a commercial stretcher and sometimes subsequent inflamation in a pressure chamber. Bipolar electric charging of the internal voids was achieved through the application of high electric fields in an SF0 atmosphere. The new optimized PETP ferroelectric exhibit quite large piezoelectric coefficients up to almost 500 pCN(-1), for which unusually low elastic stiffness of only around 0.3 MPa are essential. The PETP foam ferroelectrics posses unclamped thickenss-extension resonance frequences between approximately 120 and 250 kHz, and are thus highly suitable for several established as well as novel ultrasonic-transductant applications.