ALBERT

Description:    In this report, we study crystallization and Raman spectral and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) changes in amorphous and nanocrystalline Si. Micro-Raman spectra combined with TEM show that considerable crystallization occurs in a-Si:H and a-Si(Al) (the structure of aluminum-diffused amorphous Si/Al/c-Si), but no additional crystallization was observed for nc-Si:H, after the exposure to a laser or accelerating electrons. Meanwhile, moving toward lower or higher energy for a-Si:H and nc-Si:H, by contrast, the Raman shift appeared for a-Si(Al) as if it were for single-crystalline Si, in which it remained constant at one energy, as the laser intensity increased or decreased. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6781-1 Authors Jong H. Lyou, College of Science and Technology, Korea University, Chungnam, 339-700 South Korea Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Nickel is an important sheath material for the fabrication of MgB 2 wires. However, the effects of Ni doping on the phase formation and superconducting properties of MgB 2 remain controversial. In this work, Ni powder is selected for doping in MgB 2 bulk in order to examine the corresponding changes. Combining with the DSC analysis and in-situ XRD results, we find indications that the Ni powder reacted with Mg and B, forming MgNi 2.5 B 2 at 600°C. The ternary compound began to decompose at a temperature above 800°C. The reactive phase, MgNi 2.5 B 2 , acted as an obstacle to the supercurrent flow, creating weak links among the MgB 2 grain boundaries. However, it is found that the added Ni formed a eutectic liquid phase with Mg at 506°C. The liquid phase helps the formation of MgB 2 at low temperature, which not only increases the density of the sample, but also improves the grain connectivity. Consequently, the presence of Ni in the MgB 2 sample is not necessarily a disadvantage; it depends on the desired application. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6812-y Authors Qian Zhao, Tianjin Key Lab of Composite and Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 P.R. China Yongchang Liu, Tianjin Key Lab of Composite and Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 P.R. China Qi Cai, Tianjin Key Lab of Composite and Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 P.R. China Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    We describe a novel ion-implantation method for fabricating a dichroic nanoparticle film by controlling the nucleation and growth of silver nanoparticles in fused silica. We first implant Sc and O ions into the silica substrate to create a high-index layer and modify the short- and intermediate-range order; this dual-implantation technique defines a sharper interface between the silica substrate and the nanoparticle layer. By modifying the short- and intermediate-range order in a thin layer of the silica matrix, Ag ions that are subsequently implanted are subject to altered diffusion and nucleation dynamics, yielding a bilayer structure comprising spatially separated regions of smaller and larger Ag nanoparticles. Depending on the implanted dose of Sc, the peak resonant wavelength in reflectivity can shift as much as 100 nm between front-side (implanted face) and back-side (non-implanted face) illumination. Implications for the optimization of bidirectional optical filters and optical cavities are discussed and compared to calculations of scattering efficiency based on Mie theory. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6827-4 Authors R. H. Magruder, Department of Chemistry and Physics, Belmont University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA S. Robinson, Department of Chemistry and Physics, Belmont University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA C. Smith, Department of Chemistry and Physics, Belmont University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA A. Meldrum, Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2J1, Canada R. F. Haglund, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Most previous studies have employed surface patterning to improve the performance of lubrication systems. However, few have experimentally analyzed improved effects on friction reduction in SiC mechanical seals by ultra-fast laser pulse texturing. This work applies surface texturing on a non-contact mechanical seal and analyzes the characteristics of the resultant surface morphology. A femtosecond laser system is employed to fabricate micro/nanostructures on the SiC mechanical seal, and generates microscale-depth stripes and induces nanostructures on the seal surface. This work examines the morphology and cross section of the SiC nanostructures that correspond to the different scanning speeds of the laser pulse. Results show that varying the scanning speed enables the application of nanostructures of different amplitudes and widths on the surface of the seal. The friction coefficient of the introduced SiC full-textured seal is about 20% smaller than that of a conventional SiC mechanical seal. Hence, femtosecond laser texturing is effective and enables direct fabrication of the surface micro/nanostructures of SiC seals. This technique also serves as a potential approach to lubricating applications. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6822-9 Authors Chien-Yu Chen, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, University Road, Tainan, 70101 Taiwan, R.O.C. Chung-Jen Chung, Center for Micro/Nano Science and Technology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101 Taiwan, R.O.C. Bo-Hsiung Wu, Center for Micro/Nano Science and Technology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101 Taiwan, R.O.C. Wang-Long Li, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, University Road, Tainan, 70101 Taiwan, R.O.C. Chih-Wei Chien, Laser Application Technology Center, ITRI South, Industrial Technology, Research Institute, Tainan, 73445 Taiwan, R.O.C. Ping-Han Wu, Laser Application Technology Center, ITRI South, Industrial Technology, Research Institute, Tainan, 73445 Taiwan, R.O.C. Chung-Wei Cheng, Laser Application Technology Center, ITRI South, Industrial Technology, Research Institute, Tainan, 73445 Taiwan, R.O.C. Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Advanced applications of glass span the range from biomedical technology to special optical lenses to mobile phones and computers. Such advanced applications demand high-precision machining, which is like multiple single scratches occurring simultaneously on the glass surface. However, in spite of the wealth of literature on scratch deformation behavior of glass there is no significant information available on whether the nanomechanical properties are affected inside the scratch grooves. Therefore, nanoindentation experiments were deliberately conducted at a fixed load of 100 mN through the scratch grooves made at various applied normal loads (5–15 N) at a constant speed of 200 μm s −1 on polished soda–lime–silica (SLS) glass slides. The results showed that depending upon the applied normal load used to generate the scratch grooves, the nanohardness and Young’s modulus inside the scratch grooves decreased by about ∼30–60% from the corresponding data of the undamaged SLS glass due to the presence of sub-surface shear deformation and microcracking as observed by optical, scanning and field emission scanning electron microscopy. A model for microcracked brittle solids was utilized to explain these results. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6828-3 Authors Payel Bandyopadhyay, CSIR—Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata, 700032 India Arjun Dey, CSIR—Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata, 700032 India Sudakshina Roy, CSIR—Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata, 700032 India Nitai Dey, CSIR—Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata, 700032 India Anoop Kumar Mukhopadhyay, CSIR—Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kolkata, 700032 India Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    The introduction of porosity into ferroelectric ceramics has been of great interest in recent years. In particular, studies of porous lead-zirconate-titanate ceramic (PZT) have been made. In the research reported, samples of Ferroperm Pz27 with porosities of 20, 25 and 30% were studied. Very complete measurements were made of all of the physical properties relevant for ferroelectric applications including thermal conductivity and diffusivity, heat capacity, dielectric, pyroelectric, piezoelectric and elastic properties. Scanning electron micrographs indicated a change from 3-0 to 3-3 connectivity with increasing porosity. Although most of the physical properties are degraded by the presence of porosity, both piezoelectric and pyroelectric figures-of-merit are improved because of the markedly reduced relative permittivity. Porous ferroelectric ceramics are very promising materials for a number of applications. Content Type Journal Article Category Invited paper Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6846-1 Authors Sidney B. Lang, Department of Chemical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer Sheva, Israel Erling Ringgaard, Meggitt Sensing Systems, Hejreskovvej 18A, 3490 Kvistgård, Denmark Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    CdS quantum dot (QD) sensitized TiO 2 nanorod array (NRA) film electrodes with different rod geometries were fabricated via a solvothermal route followed by a sequentialchemical bath deposition (S-CBD) process. By controlling the solution growth conditions, the rod geometries, especially the tip structures, of the TiO 2 NRAs were tuned. The results indicated that the vertically aligned hierarchical NRAs possessed conically shaped tip geometry, which was favorable for film electrodes due to the reduced reflectance, enhanced light harvesting, fast charge-carrier separation and transfer, suppression of carrier recombination, sufficient electrolyte penetration and subsequent efficient QD assembly. CdS QD sensitized TiO 2 NRA film electrodes with tapered tips exhibited an enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance, a photocurrent intensity of 5.13 mA/cm 2 at a potential of 0 V vs. saturated calomel electrode, an open-circuit potential of −0.68 V vs. saturated calomel electrode and an incident photon to current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 22% in the visible-light region from 400 to 500 nm. The effects of rod geometry on the optical absorption, reflectance, hydrophilic properties and PEC performance of bare TiO 2 and CdS QD sensitized TiO 2 NRA film electrodes were investigated. The mechanism of charge-carrier generation and transfer in these CdS QD sensitized solar cells based on vertically aligned TiO 2 nanorods is discussed. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6825-6 Authors Jing Zhou, State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials & Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027 P.R. China Bin Song, Department of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027 P.R. China Gaoling Zhao, State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials & Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027 P.R. China Weixia Dong, State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials & Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027 P.R. China Gaorong Han, State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials & Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027 P.R. China Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Previously we have reported the existence of small-amplitude charge pulses in crosslinked Polyethylene (XLPE) and epoxy resin with a mobility several orders of magnitude higher than that found for the incoherent charge transport relevant to the steady state current. Here the relationship of this phenomenon to mechanical relaxation in the material is investigated by using a series of epoxy resin nanocomposites based on a resin that has its flexibility increased above that of the fully cured glassy epoxy network by the addition of a suitable flexibilizing chemical. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) measurements show that the stiffness of the nanocomposite is progressively increased as the nanoparticle concentration increases. Pulsed Electro-Acoustic (PEA) measurements reveal that both positive and negative fast charge pulses exist in the unfilled epoxy at 45 and 70°C under a field of 10 kV/mm with mobility 5×10 −10 to 9×10 −10 m 2  V −1  s −1 , amplitude between 2×10 −5 and 3.6×10 −5 C m −2 and repetition rates between 8 and 12 s −1 . These values are reduced progressively as the nanoparticle concentration is increased from 0% in the unfilled epoxy. A  β -mode mechanical relaxation is identified in the loss modulus by Dynamical Mechanical Analysis (DMA), whose activation energy moves to higher values with increasing nanoparticle concentration. It is shown that the repetition rates of both positive and negative pulses have similar values and are correlated with the β -mode activation energy; a similar correlation is found for the activation energy of the mobility of positive pulses. The correlation of the activation energy of the mobility of negative pulses and that of the β -mode is weaker although both show a progressive increase with nanoparticle concentration. The modification of the fast charge pulse properties by the mechanical stiffness of the epoxy nanocomposite is discussed in terms of the theory presented previously for their formation and transport. Content Type Journal Article Category Invited paper Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6845-2 Authors G. C. Montanari, LIMAT-DIE, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy M. Xu, LIMAT-DIE, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy D. Fabiani, LIMAT-DIE, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy L. A. Dissado, Department of Engineering, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    The electrocaloric effect (ECE) of poly (vinyledene fluoride–trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF–TrFE)) 55/45 mol% copolymers was directly measured, which confirms the results deduced from Maxwell relation. The adiabatic temperature change Δ T under a given electric field peaks at the ferroelectric–paraelectric (FE–PE) transition. Away from it, ECE becomes small. Δ T versus applied electric field can be described well by a modified Belov–Goryaga equation. The ECE in ferroelectric polymers, especially near FE–PE transition where larger ECE is observed, are analyzed under different boundary conditions employing phenomenological theory and constitutive equations. The secondary pyroelectricity is found to play a significant role which enhances ECE in ferroelectric polymers. Content Type Journal Article Category Invited paper Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6830-9 Authors S. G. Lu, Materials Research Institute and Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA B. Rozic, Jozef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Q. M. Zhang, Materials Research Institute and Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA Z. Kutnjak, Jozef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia R. Pirc, Jozef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Surface photovoltage is used to study the dynamics of photogenerated carriers which are transported through a highly interconnected three-dimensional network of indium phosphide nanowires. Through the nanowire network charge transport is possible over distances far in excess of the nanowire lengths. Surface photovoltage was measured within a region 10.5–14.5 mm from the focus of the illumination, which was chopped at a range of frequencies from 15 Hz to 30 kHz. Carrier dynamics were modeled by approximating the nanowire network as a thin film, then fitted to experiment suggesting diffusion of electrons and holes at approximately 75% of the bulk value in InP but with significantly reduced built-in fields, presumably due to screening by nanowire surfaces. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6810-0 Authors Andrew J. Lohn, Baskin School of Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA Nobuhiko P. Kobayashi, Baskin School of Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    This work studies the resonant behavior of nanoscale magnetic materials. This behavior, henceforth referred to as magnetostatic resonance, occurs at frequencies where the permeability is negative and the particle is much smaller than the wavelength. A surface integral equation is formulated on the boundary of the particle to calculate the resonance frequencies and modes. Unique physical properties of these resonances such as scale invariance of resonance frequency and orthogonality properties of resonant modes are studied. A numerical technique is presented to calculate the magnetostatic resonance frequencies of an arbitrary shape. Possible applications of these phenomena are outlined. Content Type Journal Article Category Invited paper Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6767-z Authors A. Kabiri, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Harvard, MA 02138, USA L. Talbi, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Quebec, Quebec, Canada O. M. Ramahi, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    In holographic femtosecond laser processing, diffractive parallel pulses are distorted by phase discontinuities and mutual interference between the neighborhoods in the reconstructed image of a Fourier computer-generated hologram when the interval is smaller than the beam diameter. We investigated holographic fabrication on a glass surface using parallel pulses with different intervals. We found the closest parallel pulses with sufficient separation to avoid mutual interference in holographic femtosecond laser processing. The minimum interval was 2.8 times larger than the diffracted beam diameter. The experimental results were also supported by a computer simulation. Our findings will be very useful in the design of holographic laser processing systems. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6801-1 Authors Yoshio Hayasaki, Center for Optical Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, 7-1-2 Yoto, Utsunomiya, 321-8585 Japan Maki Nishitani, Institute of Technology and Science, The University of Tokushima, 2-1 Minamijosanjima-cho, Tokushima, 770-8506 Japan Hidetomo Takahashi, Institute of Technology and Science, The University of Tokushima, 2-1 Minamijosanjima-cho, Tokushima, 770-8506 Japan Hirotsugu Yamamoto, Institute of Technology and Science, The University of Tokushima, 2-1 Minamijosanjima-cho, Tokushima, 770-8506 Japan Akihiro Takita, Center for Optical Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, 7-1-2 Yoto, Utsunomiya, 321-8585 Japan Daichi Suzuki, Center for Optical Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, 7-1-2 Yoto, Utsunomiya, 321-8585 Japan Satoshi Hasegawa, Center for Optical Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, 7-1-2 Yoto, Utsunomiya, 321-8585 Japan Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Ag:ZnO hybrid nanostructures were successfully prepared by a twice arc discharge method in liquid. The visible light photocatalytic activities were successfully demonstrated for the degradation of Rhodamine B (Rh. B), Methyl orange (MO), and Methylene blue (MB) as standard organic compounds under the irradiation of 90 W halogen light for 2 h. The Ag:ZnO nanostructures were characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis). The results revealed that the Ag:ZnO nanostructures extended the light absorption spectrum toward the visible region and significantly enhanced the Rh. B photodegradation under visible light irradiation. 3 mM Ag:ZnO nanostructures exhibited highest photocatalytic efficiency. It has been confirmed that the Ag:ZnO nanostructures could be excited by visible light ( E 〈3.3 eV). The significant enhancement in the Ag:ZnO nanostructures photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation can be ascribed to the effect of physisorbed noble metal Ag by acting as electron traps in ZnO band gap. A mechanism for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutant over Ag:ZnO photocatalyst was proposed based on our observations. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6797-6 Authors Ali Akbar Ashkarran, Plasma Physics Research Center, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, P.O. Box: 14665-678, Tehran, Iran Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    We characterized the conduction mechanisms in thin sputtered films of three representative binary Me–O (Me=Ta, W, and Nb) systems as a function of oxygen content, by combining in situ chemical state and electronic band structure studies from X-ray photoemission with temperature-dependent transport measurements. Despite certain differences, these amorphous films all displayed Fermi glass behavior following an oxidation-induced transition from metallic to hopping conduction, down to a sub-percolation threshold. The electron localization estimated from the band structure was in good agreement with that from the transport measurements, and the two were used to construct phase diagrams of conduction in the degree of oxidation-conductivity coordinates, which should prove important in the design of resistive switching and other electronic devices. Content Type Journal Article Category Invited paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6856-z Authors I. Goldfarb, Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, 1501 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA F. Miao, Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, 1501 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA J. Joshua Yang, Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, 1501 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA W. Yi, Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, 1501 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA J. P. Strachan, Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, 1501 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA M.-X. Zhang, Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, 1501 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA M. D. Pickett, Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, 1501 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA G. Medeiros-Ribeiro, Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, 1501 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA R. Stanley Williams, Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, 1501 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    The role of defects in the room temperature ferromagnetism of the Co–ZnO based diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) was investigated by co-doping the DMS with Na. The structure characterizations indicate that both Na and Co ions enter into the ZnO lattice without the formation of secondary phase. The oxygen vacancy of ZnCoNaO increased while the carrier concentration decreased compared with that of ZnCoO, leading to the enhancement of the ferromagnetic property in the ZnCoNaO. The observed ferromagnetism introduced by Na ions is attributed to the exchange interaction via the electron trapped oxygen vacancies coupled with the magnetic Co ions. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6824-7 Authors Hao Gu, State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027 China Yinzhu Jiang, State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027 China Yongbing Xu, York Laboratory of Spintronics and Nanodevices, Department of Electronics, The University of York, York, YO10 5DD UK Mi Yan, State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027 China Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Ferro- or piezoelectrets are dielectric materials with two elastically very different macroscopic phases and electrically charged interfaces between them. One of the newer piezoelectret variants is a system of two fluoroethylenepropylene (FEP) films that are first laminated around a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) template. Then, by removing the PTFE template, a two-layer FEP structure with open tubular channels is obtained. After electrical charging, the channels form easily deformable macroscopic electric dipoles whose changes under mechanical or electrical stress lead to significant direct or inverse piezoelectricity, respectively. Here, different PTFE templates are employed to generate channel geometries that vary in height or width. It is shown that the control of the channel geometry allows a direct adjustment of the resonance frequencies in the tubular-channel piezoelectrets. By combining several different channel widths in a single ferroelectret, it is possible to obtain multiple resonance peaks that may lead to a rather flat frequency-response region of the transducer material. A phenomenological relation between the resonance frequency and the geometrical parameters of a tubular channel is also presented. This relation may help to design piezoelectrets with a specific frequency response. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6848-z Authors Ruy Alberto Pisani Altafim, Department of Electrical Engineering, Engineering School of São Carlos, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil Ruy Alberto Corrêa Altafim, Department of Electrical Engineering, Engineering School of São Carlos, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil Xunlin Qiu, Applied Condensed-Matter Physics, Institute of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany Sebastian Raabe, Applied Condensed-Matter Physics, Institute of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany Werner Wirges, Applied Condensed-Matter Physics, Institute of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany Heitor Cury Basso, Department of Electrical Engineering, Engineering School of São Carlos, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil Reimund Gerhard, Applied Condensed-Matter Physics, Institute of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    The morphological manipulation, structural characterization, and optical properties of different CdSe nanocrystals were reported. Several different CdSe nanostructures, including nanowires, tetrapod crystals, and nanoparticles were grown by varying the volume ratio of triethylenetetraamine (TETA) and water (WA) in their mixed solution. By manipulating the growth driving force (i.e., the degree of supersaturation) and kinetics of the process (i.e., growth rate), the morphology and crystal structure of CdSe nanocrystals can be tailored. Growth driving force changed their morphology from nanowires to tetrapod structures and from the latter structure to nanoparticles. Moreover, kinetics of the process altered their crystal structure from wurtzite to zinc blende. The optical property of CdSe nanocrystals was investigated using UV-vis spectroscopy. The absorption edge of CdSe nanostructures showed a blue shift. CdSe nanocrystals prepared under optimized conditions showed good microstructural and optical properties for solar cell application. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6789-6 Authors M. R. Mohammadi, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Street, Tehran, Iran V. Zarghami, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Street, Tehran, Iran D. J. Fray, Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, UK Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Free-standing optoelectronic graphene–CdS–graphene oxide (G–CdS–GO) composite papers were prepared by vacuum-assisted self-assembly. G–CdS hybrids were first prepared by a hydrothermal method and GO acts as a dispersant which makes it easier to disperse them to form relatively stable aqueous suspensions for fabricating paper. Transmission electron microscopy shows that CdS quantum dots (QDs) with an average size of approximately 1–2 nm were distributed uniformly on the graphene sheets. Photoluminescence measurements for the as-prepared G–CdS–GO composite paper showed that the surface defect related emissions of attached CdS QDs decrease and blue shift obviously due to the change in particle size and the interaction of the surface of the CdS QDs with both the GO and the graphene sheets. The resulting paper holds great potential for applications in thin film solar cells, sensors, diodes, and so on. Content Type Journal Article Category Rapid communication Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-6774-0 Authors Yong-Feng Li, Key Laboratory of Carbon Materials, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan, 030001 China Yan-Zhen Liu, Key Laboratory of Carbon Materials, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan, 030001 China Wen-Zhong Shen, Key Laboratory of Carbon Materials, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan, 030001 China Yong-Gang Yang, Key Laboratory of Carbon Materials, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan, 030001 China Mao-Zhang Wang, Key Laboratory of Carbon Materials, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Taiyuan, 030001 China Yue-Fang Wen, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 China Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    This paper reports on a study of the Seebeck coefficient and power factor κ of p -Bi 2 − x Sb x Te 3 solid solutions with different contents of antimony atoms in the bismuth sublattice for x = 0, 1.4, 1.5, and 1.6 under variation of pressure of up to 15 GPa. The magnitude of κ has been found to grow nonmonotonically within the pressure region of 2–4 GPa. The effective mass of the density of states m / m 0 and the mobility μ 0 have been calculated with due account of degeneracy within the parabolic model of the energy spectrum assuming isotropic charge carrier scattering. It has been shown that application of pressure brings about a decrease of the effective mass m / m 0 and an increase of carrier mobility. The power factor κ of the p -Bi 0.6 Sb 1.4 Te 3 composition exhibits at the pressure P ≈ 4 GPa the largest increase of the power factor κ as a result of a weak decrease of the effective mass m / m 0 and an increase of carrier mobility as compared to the other solid solution compositions. The specific feature of the variation of the power factor κ with a change of the pressure in bismuth telluride near P ≈ 3 GPa, which is accompanied by formation of a knee in the m / m 0 vs. P dependence, can be assigned to an electronic topological transition. Content Type Journal Article Category Semiconductors Pages 261-266 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412020254 Authors S. V. Ovsyannikov, Institute of Metal Physics, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Sofii Kovalevskoi 18, Yekaterinburg, 620990 Russia Yu. A. Grigor’eva, Institute of Metal Physics, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Sofii Kovalevskoi 18, Yekaterinburg, 620990 Russia G. V. Vorontsov, Institute of Metal Physics, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Sofii Kovalevskoi 18, Yekaterinburg, 620990 Russia L. N. Luk’yanova, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia V. A. Kutasov, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia V. V. Shchennikov, Institute of Metal Physics, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Sofii Kovalevskoi 18, Yekaterinburg, 620990 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 2

Description:    Neutron diffraction studies of many magnetoelectrics and corresponding symmetry analysis indicate that the description of their magnetic structures requires of invoking two or more order parameters, so that the temperature proximity of their “condensation” has to be postulated when constructing a consistent thermodynamic theory. In this work, MnWO 4 , CuO, and CuCl 2 magnetoelectrics are analyzed from the standpoint of symmetry of the exchange Hamiltonian. The magnetically ordering states observed in them are shown to be induced by one irreducible representation of the symmetry group of the exchange Hamiltonian. This fact provides the proximity of corresponding instabilities in the thermodynamic path and some features of magnetoelectrics. Content Type Journal Article Category Magnetism Pages 311-315 DOI 10.1134/S106378341202028X Authors V. P. Sakhnenko, Research Institute of Physics, Southern Federal University, pr. Stachki 194, Rostov-on-Don, 344090 Russia N. V. Ter-Oganessian, Research Institute of Physics, Southern Federal University, pr. Stachki 194, Rostov-on-Don, 344090 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 2

Description:    Dispersion properties of circularly polarized eigenwaves propagating in the “semiconductor-magnet” layered periodic structure along the axis of its periodicity and external magnetic field have been considered. The possibility of controlling the effective material parameters of the structure and the feasibility of negative refractive index for the wave with right (resonant) circular polarization has been shown. High magneto-optical activity of this gyrotropic structure has been ascertained, which leads to large Faraday rotation angles if the structure is in the state of “left-handed” medium. Content Type Journal Article Category Optical Properties Pages 332-337 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412020035 Authors S. A. Afanas’ev, Ulyanovsk State University, ul. L. Tolstogo 42, Ulyanovsk, 432970 Russia D. G. Sannikov, Ulyanovsk State University, ul. L. Tolstogo 42, Ulyanovsk, 432970 Russia D. I. Sementsov, Ulyanovsk State University, ul. L. Tolstogo 42, Ulyanovsk, 432970 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 2

Description:    The interaction of ytterbium nanofilms evaporated on tungsten substrates with oxygen has been studied by Auger electron spectroscopy, thermal desorption spectroscopy, and contact potential difference measurements. It has been shown that at room temperature, no oxide is formed in the above interaction. In place of the oxide, a chemisorbed layer of nondissociated O 2 molecules is formed on the surface of the ytterbium nanofilms. This layer modifies the ytterbium. This modification transforms ytterbium from the divalent state into the trivalent state. Content Type Journal Article Category Surface Physics and Thin Films Pages 404-408 DOI 10.1134/S106378341202014X Authors M. V. Kuz’min, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia M. A. Mittsev, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 2

Description:    The behavior of the impedance spectra of island permalloy films prepared through vacuum evaporation onto optically polished glass-ceramic substrates has been investigated in the frequency range from 0.0001 to 100 MHz. A resistor-capacitor model of the films has been developed and the model parameters, for which there is a good agreement with experimental data on the frequency dependences of the real and imaginary components of the impedance, have been determined. The specific features in the behavior of the electrical and physical characteristics with variations in the thickness of the sample and the gap between the measuring electrodes have been investigated. It has been found that the relative permittivity of the films under investigation reaches values ɛ ∼ 10 7 –10 8 . The structural relaxation times have been calculated. Content Type Journal Article Category Low-Dimensional Systems Pages 360-367 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412020084 Authors B. A. Belyaev, Kirensky Institute of Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Akademgorodok 50-38, Krasnoyarsk, 660036 Russia N. A. Drokin, Kirensky Institute of Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Akademgorodok 50-38, Krasnoyarsk, 660036 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 2

Description:    The influence of the first-order phase transition on the parameters of the potential barrier at the indium/polymer interface has been investigated. It has been established that the phase transition occurring in the metal initiates switching of the polymer insulator into a high-conductivity state. Performed investigations have shown that the main charge transfer mechanism in the metal-polymer-metal structure at high temperatures is the current caused by the electron thermionic emission. The analysis of current-voltage characteristics has demonstrated that the first-order phase transition in indium leads to the variation in the potential barrier height at the metal/polymer interface by Δφ ≈ 0.18 eV. It is this phenomenon that is responsible for the electronic switching. Content Type Journal Article Category Metals Pages 243-247 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412020199 Authors I. R. Nabiullin, Institute of Molecule and Crystal Physics, Ufa Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Oktyabrya 151, Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, 450075 Russia A. N. Lachinov, Institute of Molecule and Crystal Physics, Ufa Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Oktyabrya 151, Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, 450075 Russia A. F. Ponomarev, Birsk State Socially-Pedagogical Academy, ul. Internatsionalnaya 10, Birsk, Republic of Bashkortostan, 452453 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 2

Description:    A model of electron transfer by tunneling between trapped electron and hole centers in crystals with hydrogen bonds under the conditions of thermostimulated mobility of one carrier type in the recombination process has been developed. The proposed model describes all features in the kinetics of induced optical density relaxation observed in nonlinear optical crystals of KH 2 PO 4 (KDP) and NH 4 H 2 PO 4 (ADP) on a wide temporal scale (10 −8 –10 s) under pulsed irradiation. The results of model calculations have been compared with experimental data on the photoinduced transient optical absorption (TOA) in KDP and ADP crystals in the visible and UV ranges. The nature of the radiation-induced defects, which account for the TOA, and the dependence of the TOA decay kinetics on the temperature, excitation power, and other experimental conditions have been considered. Content Type Journal Article Category Dielectrics Pages 273-278 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412020230 Authors I. N. Ogorodnikov, Ural Federal University named after the First President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin (on the basis of Ural State Technical University-UPI), ul. Mira 19, Yekaterinburg, 620002 Russia M. S. Kiseleva, Ural Federal University named after the First President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin (on the basis of Ural State Technical University-UPI), ul. Mira 19, Yekaterinburg, 620002 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 2

Description:    The differential magnetization of LaCoO 3 in magnetic fields of up to 500 T has been measured at a temperature of 4.2 K. The magnetization curve reveals several features which suggest a complex pattern of the transition of LaCoO 3 from the low-spin state to the high-spin state. The magnetic moment starts to grow in fields above 50 T to reach a plateau in the 130–240-T region, after which the magnetic moment continues to rise up to saturation in fields ∼500 T. Content Type Journal Article Category Magnetism Pages 279-282 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412020266 Authors V. V. Platonov, Russian Federal Nuclear Center-All-Russia Research Institute of Experimental Physics, pr. Mira 37, Sarov, Nizhni Novgorod oblast, 607188 Russia Yu. B. Kudasov, Russian Federal Nuclear Center-All-Russia Research Institute of Experimental Physics, pr. Mira 37, Sarov, Nizhni Novgorod oblast, 607188 Russia M. P. Monakhov, Russian Federal Nuclear Center-All-Russia Research Institute of Experimental Physics, pr. Mira 37, Sarov, Nizhni Novgorod oblast, 607188 Russia O. M. Tatsenko, Russian Federal Nuclear Center-All-Russia Research Institute of Experimental Physics, pr. Mira 37, Sarov, Nizhni Novgorod oblast, 607188 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 2

Description:    Molecular-mechanical and semiempirical quantum-mechanical methods have been applied to simulate and calculate a geometrically optimized structure of clusters of polymorphic types of silicon carbide, and their structural parameters and some properties (densities, sublimation energies) have been determined. A classification of silicon carbide phases has been proposed, which shows the possible existence of twenty one SiC phases whose atoms are at crystallographically equivalent sites. The structures of seventeen proposed silicon carbide phases have been described and studied for silicon carbide for the first time. Content Type Journal Article Category Atomic Clusters Pages 433-440 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412020072 Authors E. A. Belenkov, Chelyabinsk State University, ul. Br. Kashirinykh 129, Chelyabinsk, 454001 Russia E. N. Agalyamova, Chelyabinsk State University, ul. Br. Kashirinykh 129, Chelyabinsk, 454001 Russia V. A. Greshnyakov, Chelyabinsk State University, ul. Br. Kashirinykh 129, Chelyabinsk, 454001 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 2

Description:    The magnetic-field-induced optical alignment-orientation transition in a system of triplet bound excitons in a resonantly excited GaSe crystal has been studied using optical spectroscopy. It has been demonstrated that this effect can be assigned to a variation of the properties of Zeeman (spin) states of triplet excitons in a magnetic field, which initiates a change in the optical activity of these states in circularly and linearly polarized light. For the transition to become possible, the model requires that the electronic system of the crystal supports spin-orbit coupling. The approach employed permits the adequate description of experimental data, as well as calculation of the evolution of the effect during the bound-exciton lifetime. Content Type Journal Article Category Optical Properties Pages 338-345 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412020308 Authors A. N. Starukhin, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia D. K. Nelson, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia B. S. Razbirin, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 2

Description:    It has been shown that the phase transitions observed at temperatures of about 250 K in crystals of protein amino acids and of their compounds grown from water solutions are related to drops of these solutions trapped by crystals in their growth. Content Type Journal Article Category Phase Transitions Pages 346-349 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412020163 Authors V. V. Lemanov, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia V. K. Yarmarkin, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia V. M. Egorov, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia G. A. Pankova, Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bolshoi pr. 31, St. Petersburg, 199004 Russia N. V. Zaitseva, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia L. A. Markova, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 2

Description:    Ultra-thin anodic aluminum oxide membranes were prepared and served as deposition masks for fabrication of uniformly sized Ag nanodots with different aspect ratios on glass substrates. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) properties of the supported Ag nanodots were investigated and compared with the predictions of the generalized Maxwell–Garnett theory. By modeling the nanodots as spheroids without adjusting their real geometrical parameters input to the calculation, the resulting theoretical SPR wavelengths are in good agreement with measured extinction peaks. The discrepancy between the theoretical and experimental plasmon resonance peak maxima is within 10 nm for the nanodots with an aspect ratio of less than 1.5. Although this wavelength discrepancy becomes large as the aspect ratio is increased, it is kept at approximately 35 nm for the nanodots with an aspect ratio of 2.44. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7404-6 Authors I-Chen Chen, Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, National Central University, Jhongli, 320 Taiwan Yen-Hsun Chen, Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, National Central University, Jhongli, 320 Taiwan Yu-Cian Wang, Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, National Central University, Jhongli, 320 Taiwan Meng-Hong Shih, Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, National Central University, Jhongli, 320 Taiwan Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Superluminal transmission of electromagnetic waves is usually observed in a narrow bandwidth range and the velocity outside this range is subluminal. In this paper, it is shown that the transmission coefficient for superluminal propagation through a periodic metamaterial structure satisfies a sum rule. The sum rule and its corresponding physical bound relate frequency regions with a phase velocity above an arbitrary threshold with the thickness of the slab. The theoretical results are illustrated with numerical examples. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7407-3 Authors Mats Gustafsson, Department of Electrical and Information Technology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Optical devices for the terahertz wave band are being developed now and require better designs. This paper proposes an artificial dielectric lens with metallic corrugated structures for the terahertz wave band. A periodic analysis model extracted from the full model by assuming periodicity confirms the phase delay, which produces the focusing effect. Full model analysis also confirms the focusing effect. The full model analysis also confirms that the focusing length is longer as the spacing of corrugated baffles is wider. The focusing length is longer the metallic groove width is wider. The focusing length is longer as the groove depth is shallower. The lens shape without grooves does not produce the focusing effect. The results of the full model analysis are qualitatively consistent with those of the periodic model ones. This implies that the design for an exact size lens is possible by using the periodic model. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7394-4 Authors Takuya Konno, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Ibaraki University, 4-12-1 Nakanarusawa, Hitachi, Ibaraki 316-8511, Japan Takahiro Suzuki, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Ibaraki University, 4-12-1 Nakanarusawa, Hitachi, Ibaraki 316-8511, Japan John C. Young, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0046, USA Mikio Saigusa, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Ibaraki University, 4-12-1 Nakanarusawa, Hitachi, Ibaraki 316-8511, Japan Keisuke Takano, Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Hideaki Kitahara, Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Masanori Hangyo, Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Takehito Suzuki, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Ibaraki University, 4-12-1 Nakanarusawa, Hitachi, Ibaraki 316-8511, Japan Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been produced by the tunneling of cobalt nanoparticles in carbon fibers that are derived from electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers. During annealing, the PAN fibers transform to a composite of cobalt nanodroplets and carbon fibers. Driven by the high chemical potential of wrinkled graphene platelets and amorphous carbon with respect to graphite, the cobalt nanodroplets are to tunnel in the carbon fibers. When cobalt nanodroplets have an elongated shape, carbon atoms dissolved in the droplets precipitate preferentially and completely at their lateral sides, producing perfect CNTs that form bulk structures. Content Type Journal Article Category Rapid communication Pages 1-3 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7398-0 Authors J. L. Li, School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228 China H. T. Ye, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET UK Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    We investigate terahertz plasmon–polariton (PP) resonances for hetero-structures (AlGaN/GaN, SiGe/Si/SiGe, AlGaAs/GaAs, and InAlN/GaN) with a grating coupler in order to find the overall optimal structure showing the strongest absorption for terahertz detection (THz). We show by a parametric study (influence of geometric dimensions, electron concentration, temperature, etc.) that refined and intense resonances can be obtained at specific frequency. GaN based heterostructures present the higher PP resonances at room temperature. The roles of the finite thicknesses of lossy metal grating and a two-dimensional gas (2DEG) layer on observed absorption are also investigated. Absorption spectra for three kinds of heterogeneous charge density profiles (piecewise, linear, and parabolic) of 2DEG was investigated and compared for an AlGaAs/GaAs structure because some physical parameters such as the Fermi level pinning at the interface semiconductor/air are well established only for this heterostructure. We show that the PP resonance (amplitude and frequency position) is modulated by the charge concentration but also by the metallization biasing. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7371-y Authors L. Cao, Institut d’Electronique Fondamentale, CNRS UMR 8622, Université Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay cedex, France A.-S. Grimault-Jacquin, Institut d’Electronique Fondamentale, CNRS UMR 8622, Université Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay cedex, France F. Aniel, Institut d’Electronique Fondamentale, CNRS UMR 8622, Université Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay cedex, France Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) are flexible lightweight actuators that can generate strains of over 100 %. They are used in applications ranging from haptic feedback (mm-sized devices), to cm-scale soft robots, to meter-long blimps. DEAs consist of an electrode-elastomer-electrode stack, placed on a frame. Applying a voltage between the electrodes electrostatically compresses the elastomer, which deforms in-plane or out-of plane depending on design. Since the electrodes are bonded to the elastomer, they must reliably sustain repeated very large deformations while remaining conductive, and without significantly adding to the stiffness of the soft elastomer. The electrodes are required for electrostatic actuation, but also enable resistive and capacitive sensing of the strain, leading to self-sensing actuators. This review compares the different technologies used to make compliant electrodes for DEAs in terms of: impact on DEA device performance (speed, efficiency, maximum strain), manufacturability, miniaturization, the integration of self-sensing and self-switching, and compatibility with low-voltage operation. While graphite and carbon black have been the most widely used technique in research environments, alternative methods are emerging which combine compliance, conduction at over 100 % strain with better conductivity and/or ease of patternability, including microfabrication-based approaches for compliant metal thin-films, metal-polymer nano-composites, nanoparticle implantation, and reel-to-reel production of μm-scale patterned thin films on elastomers. Such electrodes are key to miniaturization, low-voltage operation, and widespread commercialization of DEAs. Content Type Journal Article Category Invited paper Pages 1-27 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7402-8 Authors Samuel Rosset, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Jaquet-Droz 1, 2002 Neuchâtel, Switzerland Herbert R. Shea, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Jaquet-Droz 1, 2002 Neuchâtel, Switzerland Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Compact plasmonic structures made of gold nanoparticles chains are inserted on silicon optical waveguides. We show that silicon-on-insulator waveguide TE mode energy can be almost totally transferred in a 5 gold nanoparticles plasmonic chain, and that this short chain can also behave as a waveguide. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7406-4 Authors M. Fevrier, Laboratoire IEF, UMR 8622, Univ. Paris-Sud, Orsay, 91405 France P. Gogol, Laboratoire IEF, UMR 8622, Univ. Paris-Sud, Orsay, 91405 France A. Aassime, Laboratoire IEF, UMR 8622, Univ. Paris-Sud, Orsay, 91405 France D. Bouville, Laboratoire IEF, UMR 8622, Univ. Paris-Sud, Orsay, 91405 France R. Megy, Laboratoire IEF, UMR 8622, Univ. Paris-Sud, Orsay, 91405 France B. Dagens, Laboratoire IEF, UMR 8622, Univ. Paris-Sud, Orsay, 91405 France Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Novel concepts of nonlinear-optical (NLO) photonic metamaterials (MMs) are proposed. They concern with greatly enhanced coherent NLO energy exchange between ordinary and backward waves (BWs) through the frequency-conversion processes. Two different classes of materials which support BWs are considered: crystals that support optical phonons with negative group velocity and MMs with specially engineered spatial dispersion. The possibility to replace plasmonic NLO MMs enabling magnetic response at optical frequencies, which are very challenging to engineer, by the ordinary readily available crystals, are discussed. The possibility to mimic extraordinary NLO frequency-conversion propagation processes attributed to negative-index MMs (NIMs) is shown in some of such crystals, if optical phonons with negative group velocity and a proper phase-matching geometry are implemented. Here, optical phonons are used as one of the coupled counterparts instead of backward electromagnetic waves (BEMWs). The appearance of BEMWs in metaslabs made of carbon nanotubes, the possibilities and extraordinary properties of BW second harmonic generation in such MMs is another option of nonmagnetic NIMs, which is described too. Among the applications of the proposed photonic materials is the possibility of creation of a family of unique BW photonic devices such as frequency doubling metamirror and Raman amplifiers with greatly improved efficiency. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7390-8 Authors Alexander K. Popov, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI 54481, USA Mikhail I. Shalaev, Siberian Federal University, 660041 Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation Sergey A. Myslivets, Institute of Physics of Russian Academy of Sciences, 660036 Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation Vitaly V. Slabko, Siberian Federal University, 660041 Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation Igor S. Nefedov, SMARAD Center of Excellence, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    We show that the metal nanoparticle chains supporting localized surface plasmon resonance can behave as transmission Bragg gratings on a dielectric waveguide. An analytical model is developed to interpret the experimental results. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7395-3 Authors M. Fevrier, Laboratoire IEF, UMR 8622, Univ Paris-Sud, Orsay, 91405 France P. Gogol, Laboratoire IEF, UMR 8622, Univ Paris-Sud, Orsay, 91405 France A. Aassime, Laboratoire IEF, UMR 8622, Univ Paris-Sud, Orsay, 91405 France R. Megy, Laboratoire IEF, UMR 8622, Univ Paris-Sud, Orsay, 91405 France D. Bouville, Laboratoire IEF, UMR 8622, Univ Paris-Sud, Orsay, 91405 France J. M. Lourtioz, Laboratoire IEF, UMR 8622, Univ Paris-Sud, Orsay, 91405 France B. Dagens, Laboratoire IEF, UMR 8622, Univ Paris-Sud, Orsay, 91405 France Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Modeling of ion-implanted boron redistribution in silicon crystals during low-temperature annealing with a small thermal budget has been carried out. It was shown that formation of “tails” in the low-concentration region of impurity profiles occurs due to the long-range migration of boron interstitials. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7378-4 Authors O. I. Velichko, Department of Physics, Belorussian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, 6, P. Brovki Street, Minsk, 220013 Belarus A. P. Kavaliova, Department of Physics, Belorussian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, 6, P. Brovki Street, Minsk, 220013 Belarus Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    This paper reports on the results of the investigation into the dielectric properties of perovskite ceramics of the relaxor ferroelectrics (1 − x )(NaBi) 1/2 TiO 3− x Bi(ZnTi) 1/2 O 3 ( x 〈 0.2) with the use of the impedance spectra measured in the frequency range from 25 to 106 Hz at temperatures from 100 to 1000 K. It has been found that the temperature dependence of the real part of the permittivity is characterized by a maximum at a temperature T ′ m (590–610 K). It has been shown that, in the temperature region of the existence of the relaxor state ( T 〈 T ′ m ), the permittivity ɛ is determined by the sum of the contributions from the matrix and dipole clusters. The temperature dependence of the contribution from the clusters, which is determined by the kinetics of their formation and freezing, is characterized by a curve with a maximum. It has been revealed that, in the temperature range T 〉 T ′ m , there are two mechanisms of polarization. One mechanism is associated with the thermal hopping motion of charges, whereas the other mechanism provides an induction-type response (system with a negative capacitance). The latter makes a negative contribution to the real part of the permittivity ɛ and a positive contribution to the imaginary part of the permittivity. A quantitative analysis of the experimental data has been carried out with the use of an equivalent circuit that includes a constant-phase element of the induction type. Content Type Journal Article Category Ferroelectricity Pages 2236-2242 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412110248 Authors N. M. Olekhnovich, Scientific-Practical Materials Research Centre of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, ul. Petrusya Brovki 19, Minsk, 220072 Belarus Yu. V. Radyush, Scientific-Practical Materials Research Centre of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, ul. Petrusya Brovki 19, Minsk, 220072 Belarus A. V. Pushkarev, Scientific-Practical Materials Research Centre of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, ul. Petrusya Brovki 19, Minsk, 220072 Belarus Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 11

Description:    A model has been developed for nucleation and growth of particles of the second phase in alloys based on the Fe-Cr system. It has been assumed that the main mechanisms of change in the distribution of phases in the alloy are the fluctuation activationless nucleation of clusters enriched with chromium and their subsequent growth due to the diffusion of chromium atoms. The model is applied to the description of the growth kinetics of particles of the second phase in the alloy Fe- x Cr ( x = 14, 16, 18, 20 at %) at the temperature T = 500°C. The obtained values of the diffusion coefficient D Cr = 3.12 × 10 −19 cm 2 /s and the rate of fluctuation nucleation (decomposition) of the clusters τ −1 = 0.868 × 10 −3 s −1 are consistent with the data available in the literature. Content Type Journal Article Category Low-Dimensional Systems Pages 2285-2290 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412110182 Authors P. E. L’vov, Ulyanovsk State University, ul. L’va Tolstogo 42, Ulyanovsk, 432017 Russia V. V. Svetukhin, Ulyanovsk State University, ul. L’va Tolstogo 42, Ulyanovsk, 432017 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 11

Description:    Based on the developed technique for synthesizing spherical mesoporous particles of yttrium oxide with a size dispersion of 10–15% and methods for infiltrating active components into them, spherical nanocrystalline particles of composition Y 2 O 3 -ZnO have been synthesized. The nanocomposite structure has been studied, and the spectra of diffuse reflection and photoluminescence of heteroparticles, as well as the stimulated emission spectra of zinc oxide excitons, have been analyzed after annealing at various temperatures. The formation of ZnO nanocrystals in Y 2 O 3 sphere pores is observed during material synthesis with a single infiltration procedure. The lasing is associated with a change in the effective refractive index and local photon density of states in phosphor nanoparticles, i.e., spherical optical cavities. Content Type Journal Article Category Optical Properties Pages 2260-2265 DOI 10.1134/S106378341211011X Authors A. N. Gruzintsev, Institute of Microelectronics Technology and High Purity Materials, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Akademika Ossipyana 6, Chernogolovka, Moscow oblast, 142432 Russia N. A. Dulina, State Scientific Institution “Institute for Single Crystals,”, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, pr. Lenina 60, Kharkiv, 61178 Ukraine G. A. Emel’chenko, Institute of Solid State Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Akademika Ossipyana 2, Chernogolovka, Moscow oblast, 142432 Russia Yu. V. Ermolaeva, State Scientific Institution “Institute for Single Crystals,”, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, pr. Lenina 60, Kharkiv, 61178 Ukraine E. A. Kudrenko, Institute of Solid State Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Akademika Ossipyana 2, Chernogolovka, Moscow oblast, 142432 Russia A. V. Tolmachev, State Scientific Institution “Institute for Single Crystals,”, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, pr. Lenina 60, Kharkiv, 61178 Ukraine Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 11

Description:    The characteristics of the microhardness and microplasticity of ionic single crystals related to the dislocation structure formed in the near-surface layer of the samples around the indentor print have been analyzed. It has been shown that the most informative characteristic of the contact microplasticity reflecting both the bulk and surface properties of materials is the so-called “ray ratio,” i.e., the ratio of the lengths of edge l e and screw l s “arms” of dislocation indentation rosettes θ = l e / l s . Content Type Journal Article Category Mechanical Properties, Physics of Strength, and Plasticity Pages 2256-2259 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412110273 Authors V. I. Savenko, Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii pr. 31, Moscow, 199071 Russia E. D. Shchukin, Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii pr. 31, Moscow, 199071 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 11

Description:    Precision in situ measurements of the shear modulus of bulk metallic glass based on Zr have been performed. The contribution to the shear modulus due to the structural relaxation has been separated. Based on the interstitial theory, the relaxation model explaining the obtained experimental results has been constructed. Content Type Journal Article Category Metals Pages 2145-2149 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412110200 Authors Yu. P. Mitrofanov, Voronezh State Pedagogical University, ul. Lenina 86, Voronezh, 394043 Russia G. V. Izotova, Voronezh State Pedagogical University, ul. Lenina 86, Voronezh, 394043 Russia G. V. Afonin, Voronezh State Pedagogical University, ul. Lenina 86, Voronezh, 394043 Russia S. V. Khonik, Voronezh State Pedagogical University, ul. Lenina 86, Voronezh, 394043 Russia N. P. Kobelev, Institute of Solid State Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, Moscow oblast, ul. Akademika Ossipyana 2, 142432 Russia A. A. Kaloyan, Kurchatov Centre of Converging of Nano-, Bio-, Information and Cognitive Sciences and Technologies (Kurchatov NBIC Centre), National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute,”, pl. Akademika Kurchatova 1, Moscow, 123182 Russia V. A. Khonik, Voronezh State Pedagogical University, ul. Lenina 86, Voronezh, 394043 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 11

Description:    The spectral and temporal characteristics of X-ray luminescence of composites consisting of microparticles of “heavy” components (oxides, fluorides, sulfates) and an organic polymer binder containing optically active impurities have been investigated. It has been found that, in the case of pulsed X-ray excitation of the composites with a photon energy of 130–150 keV, the fast component (τ 〈 10 ns) of the luminescence arises whether or not the “heavy” component of the composite is doped with an optically active impurity. A mechanism has been proposed for the formation of the fast component of the luminescence: electrons and low-energy X-ray photons generated during the interaction of high-energy X-ray photons with the “heavy” component of the composite are effectively absorbed by the polymer binder and, thus, induce its luminescence. It has been shown that, in order to produce a composite-based fast scintillator with a high light yield, it is necessary to use a binder prepared from an organic material with a short scintillation decay time and another component prepared from a compound whose composition includes an element of a large atomic number Z . Content Type Journal Article Category Optical Properties Pages 2266-2276 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412110297 Authors S. Z. Shmurak, Institute of Solid State Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Akademika Ossipyana 2, Chernogolovka, Moscow oblast, 142432 Russia V. V. Kedrov, Institute of Solid State Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Akademika Ossipyana 2, Chernogolovka, Moscow oblast, 142432 Russia N. V. Klassen, Institute of Solid State Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Akademika Ossipyana 2, Chernogolovka, Moscow oblast, 142432 Russia O. A. Shakhrai, Institute of Solid State Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Akademika Ossipyana 2, Chernogolovka, Moscow oblast, 142432 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 11

Description:    The X-ray diffraction investigations have been performed for nanocomposite materials based on porous aluminum oxide with inclusions of TGS and TGS, which is doped with L ,α-alanine (ATGS). The presence of the TGS and ATGS textures in pores of Al 2 O 3 films has been found. It has been established that, under conditions of confined geometry, the broadening of diffraction maxima of the reflection is caused by the size effect. The temperature dependences of the order parameter for porous aluminum oxide with TGS inclusions have been constructed. Content Type Journal Article Category Low-Dimensional Systems Pages 2296-2300 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412110091 Authors O. M. Golitsyna, Voronezh State University, Universitetskaya pl. 1, Voronezh, 394006 Russia S. N. Drozhdin, Voronezh State University, Universitetskaya pl. 1, Voronezh, 394006 Russia I. E. Zanin, Voronezh State University, Universitetskaya pl. 1, Voronezh, 394006 Russia A. E. Gridnev, Voronezh State University, Universitetskaya pl. 1, Voronezh, 394006 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 11

Description:    The phenomenon of surface plasmon resonance in composite films consisting of gold nanoclusters in matrices of organic molecular materials calix[4]arene and poly(N-vinylcarbazole) has been investigated. The internal reflection coefficients R s 2 and R p 2 of s - and p -polarized light and their physical difference ρ = R s 2 − R p 2 have been measured according to the Kretschmann scheme as a function of the angle of light incidence θ at different wavelengths λ in the range 400–1000 nm. The angular characteristics reflect the cluster structure of the films, which is confirmed by electron microscopy. A topological size effect has been revealed. This effect is associated with the dependence of the excitation energy efficiency of surface plasmons on the azimuth of the linearly polarized light, the shape, and the distribution of nanoclusters in the coordinate space. The dependences ρ(λ) demonstrate that the local plasmon resonance is excited by both s - and p -polarized light, whereas the polariton resonance is excited by s -polarized light. The sign of the curvature of the dependence ρ(θ) determines the predominance of the excitation energy efficiency of electromagnetic modes with one of the two states of polarization of the excitation radiation. Content Type Journal Article Category Surface Physics and Thin Films Pages 2301-2308 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412110108 Authors D. A. Grynko, Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, pr. Nauki 41, Kyiv, 03028 Ukraine Yu. M. Barabash, Institute of Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, pr. Nauki 46, Kyiv, 03028 Ukraine L. S. Maksimenko, Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, pr. Nauki 41, Kyiv, 03028 Ukraine I. E. Matyash, Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, pr. Nauki 41, Kyiv, 03028 Ukraine O. N. Mishchuk, Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, pr. Nauki 41, Kyiv, 03028 Ukraine S. P. Rudenko, Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, pr. Nauki 41, Kyiv, 03028 Ukraine B. K. Serdega, Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, pr. Nauki 41, Kyiv, 03028 Ukraine Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 11

Description:    The domain structure in a biaxial ferroelectric layer perforated by cylindrical channels has been investigated using the numerical simulation based on the phenomenological theory of ferroelectricity and the equations of electrostatics in the framework of the Gauss-Seidel iterative method. Both polar axes lie in the plane of the film, which is characteristic of thin epitaxial films of BaTiO 3 and (Ba 1 − x Sr x )TiO 3 on a MgO substrate. The calculations have been performed using the parameters of BaTiO 3 , which does not matter because of the qualitative character of the results: the electrostatic problem is two-dimensional and formally applies to infinitely thick layers rather than to thin layers. The primary attention has been paid to the systems containing sixteen channels. Two different orientations of the polar axes with respect to the lattice channels have been considered. It has been shown that, for these orientations, the domain structure has a different character: when the line with the minimum distance between the channels is perpendicular to the bisector of the angle between the polar axes, this structure contains a single channel in the repeating motif and a polarization vortex; when one of the polar axes is perpendicular to the line with the minimum distance between the channels, the situation is less clear. There are indications that the repeating motif of the domain structure in a system of many channels contains two channels and does not contain vortices. The strong influence of the electrodes on the domain structure in this case has been noted. Content Type Journal Article Category Ferroelectricity Pages 2243-2252 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412110170 Authors A. P. Levanyuk, Moscow State Technical University of Radio-Engineering, Electronics and Automation, pr. Vernadskogo 78, Moscow, 117454 Russia I. B. Misirlioglu, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Orhanli-Tuzla, Istanbul, 34956 Turkey E. D. Mishina, Moscow State Technical University of Radio-Engineering, Electronics and Automation, pr. Vernadskogo 78, Moscow, 117454 Russia A. S. Sigov, Moscow State Technical University of Radio-Engineering, Electronics and Automation, pr. Vernadskogo 78, Moscow, 117454 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 11

Description:    The 55 Mn NMR studies of nano-sized and polycrystalline La 1 − x Ca x MnO 3 samples have been performed. It has been shown that a decrease in the average size of the nanoparticles leads to the disappearance of the phase separation of the ferromagnetic phase, which is likely a general property of manganites. The studies in constant magnetic fields have demonstrated that the phase separation under consideration occurs within domains rather than as a result of the separation of the samples into domains and domains walls. Content Type Journal Article Category Magnetism Pages 2222-2225 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412110194 Authors A. S. Mazur, Donetsk Institute for Physics and Engineering named after O. O. Galkin, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, ul. R. Lyuksemburg 72, Donetsk, 83114 Ukraine Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 11

Description:    The microhardness of single-crystal samples of ZnSe: Cr 2+ with a chromium concentration in the range from 3.3 × 10 17 to 4.0 × 10 19 cm −3 has been studied. The microhardness as a function of the load on the indenter on the faces (111), (1 0), and (001) of the ZnSe: Cr 2+ and ZnSe samples has been measured. It has been established that doping of zinc selenide with chromium leads to a decrease in the anisotropy of the mechanical properties and stabilization of the cubic sphalerite structure. Content Type Journal Article Category Mechanical Properties, Physics of Strength, and Plasticity Pages 2253-2255 DOI 10.1134/S106378341211008X Authors O. A. Fedorenko, State Scientific Institution “Institute for Single Crystals,”, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, pr. Lenina 60, Kharkiv, 61178 Ukraine Yu. A. Zagoruiko, State Scientific Institution “Institute for Single Crystals,”, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, pr. Lenina 60, Kharkiv, 61178 Ukraine N. O. Kovalenko, State Scientific Institution “Institute for Single Crystals,”, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, pr. Lenina 60, Kharkiv, 61178 Ukraine Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 11

Description:    We have designed a flat graded index lens made from a metallic graded 2D photonic crystal. The gradient of index has been obtained by varying the filling factor of a flat slab of photonic crystal in the direction perpendicular to that of the propagation of the electromagnetic field. This gradient has been designed in such a way that the flat slab focuses a plane wave. With applications in the microwave range in view, we considered a photonic crystal which consists of copper strips. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7386-4 Authors Fabian Gaufillet, Institut d’Électronique Fondamentale, UMR8622, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, 91405 France Éric Akmansoy, Institut d’Électronique Fondamentale, UMR8622, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, 91405 France Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    This paper presents a method to improve the circular polarization of an Archimedean spiral antenna placed over a radial Artificial Magnetic Conductor (AMC). Results have been compared with the same radiating element over a more classical AMC reflector. A prototype of an Archimedean two-wire spiral antenna has been built to operate from 0.5 GHz to 6 GHz. Measurement results with this radial AMC give a relative bandwidth of 79 %, in which the broadside RHCP gain is improved. In this bandwidth the axial ratio of Archimedean spiral antenna placed over a radial AMC is less than 2 dB whereas it is higher than 3 dB with a classical cartesian shape of AMC reflector. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7401-9 Authors M. Grelier, Institut Mines-Telecom, Telecom ParisTech—LTCI CNRS UMR 5141, 46 rue Barrault, 75634 Paris Cedex 13, France C. Djoma, Institut Mines-Telecom, Telecom ParisTech—LTCI CNRS UMR 5141, 46 rue Barrault, 75634 Paris Cedex 13, France M. Jousset, Thales Systèmes Aéroportés, 10 avenue de la 1ère DFL, 29238 Brest Cedex 3, France S. Mallégol, Thales Systèmes Aéroportés, 10 avenue de la 1ère DFL, 29238 Brest Cedex 3, France A. C. Lepage, Institut Mines-Telecom, Telecom ParisTech—LTCI CNRS UMR 5141, 46 rue Barrault, 75634 Paris Cedex 13, France X. Begaud, Institut Mines-Telecom, Telecom ParisTech—LTCI CNRS UMR 5141, 46 rue Barrault, 75634 Paris Cedex 13, France Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    In this paper we study the electro-optical behavior and the application of indium–tin oxide (ITO) and aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) bilayer thin films for silicon solar cells. ITO–AZO bilayer thin films were deposited on glass substrates using radio-frequency magnetron sputtering. The experimental results show that a decrease in the electrical resistivity of the ITO–AZO bilayer thin films has been achieved without significant degradation of optical properties. In the best case the resistivity of the bilayer films reached a minimum of 5.075×10 −4  Ω cm when the thickness of the AZO buffer layer was 12 nm. The ITO–AZO bilayer films were applied as the front electrodes of amorphous silicon solar cells and the short-circuit current density of the solar cells was considerably increased. Content Type Journal Article Category Rapid communication Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7431-3 Authors Chao Wang, Henan Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Materials, School of Physics and Electronics, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004 P.R. China Yanli Mao, Henan Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Materials, School of Physics and Electronics, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004 P.R. China Xiangbo Zeng, Key Laboratory of Semiconductor Materials, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100083 P.R. China Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    In this paper, the effect of coupling two kinds of metamaterial cells with a coil to achieve Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is investigated. Both an array of four spirals then a single spiral-shaped metamaterial are put on the top of the coil antenna. These metamaterial based resonant structures are designed to work at 63 MHz. They are intended to increase the sensitivity of the whole system and to improve the homogeneity of the RF magnetic field pattern. The spiral-shaped metamaterials added on the top of the antenna gave very promising numerical results. The calculated magnetic fields are homogeneous and their magnitudes are multiplied by factor of 4 up to 6. We are fabricating both structures using microfabrication techniques because of the small size of the structures. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7408-2 Authors M. S. Khennouche, IEF, University of Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay cedex, France F. Gadot, IEF, University of Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay cedex, France B. Belier, IEF, University of Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay cedex, France A. de Lustrac, IEF, University of Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay cedex, France Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Formation of periodic subwavelength ripples on a metallic tungsten surface is investigated through a line-scribing method under the irradiation of 800 nm, 50 fs to 8 ps ultra-short laser pulses. The distinctive features of the induced ripple structures are described in detail with different laser parameters. Experimental measurements reveal that with gradual decrease of the laser fluence, the pulse duration or the scanning speed, the ripple period is inclined to reduce but the ripple depth tends to become pronounced. Theoretical analyses suggest that the transient dielectric function change of the tungsten surface mainly originates from the nonequilibrium distribution of electrons due to the d -band transitions. A sandwich-like physical model of air–plasma–target is proposed and the excitation of a surface plasmon polaritonic (SPP) wave is supposed to occur on the interface between the metallic target and the electron plasma layer. Formation of ripples can be eventually attributed to the laser–SPP interference. Theoretical interpretations are consistent with the experimental observations. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7261-3 Authors Lu Xue, Key Laboratory of Optical Information Science and Technology, Education Ministry of China, Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071 China Jianjun Yang, Key Laboratory of Optical Information Science and Technology, Education Ministry of China, Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071 China Yang Yang, Key Laboratory of Optical Information Science and Technology, Education Ministry of China, Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071 China Yishan Wang, State Key Laboratory of Transient Optics and Photonics, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Science, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710119, China Xiaonong Zhu, Key Laboratory of Optical Information Science and Technology, Education Ministry of China, Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071 China Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    A composite of graphene (GE) supported by rod-like Fe 3 O 4 nanocrystals has been fabricated by a simple one-step chemical route. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy results show that the Fe 3 O 4 nanorods with diameters in the range of 15–20 nm and lengths of 150–200 nm were firmly assembled on the GE nanosheet surface. Magnetic property investigation indicated that the Fe 3 O 4 /GE composites exhibit a ferromagnetic behavior and possess a saturation magnetization of 50.11 emu g −1 . Moreover, Fe 3 O 4 /GE composites showed a very high adsorption capacity of Congo red. Content Type Journal Article Category Rapid communication Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7278-7 Authors Xiao-hua Jia, School of the Environment, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China Hao-Jie Song, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China Chun-ying Min, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China Xue-Qiang Zhang, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    A contact transient electrothermal technique (CTET) is developed to characterize the thermal transport between one-dimensional conductive and nonconductive microscale wires that are in point contact. This technique is a significant advance from the transient electrothermal method that is used to characterize the thermophysical properties of individual one-dimensional micro-wires. A steady-state analytical solution and a transient numerical solution are used to independently determine the value for the thermal contact resistance between the wires at the contact point. The CTET technique is applied to measurement of the thermal contact resistance between crossed Pt wires (25.4 μm diameter) and the thermal contact resistance between a glass fiber (8.9 μm diameter) in contact with a Pt wire (25.4 μm diameter). For Pt wire contact, the thermal contact resistance increases from 8.94×10 4 to 7.05×10 5  K/W when the heating current changes from 20 to 50 mA. For the Pt/glass fiber contact, the thermal contact resistance is much larger (2.83×10 6  K/W), mainly due to the smaller area at the contact point. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7177-y Authors Nathan Van Velson, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, 2010 Black Engineering Building, Ames, IA 50011, USA Xinwei Wang, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, 2010 Black Engineering Building, Ames, IA 50011, USA Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Optical conductivity of a zigzag carbon nanotube is investigated in the context of the Holstein model. Green’s function approach is applied to calculate the optical conductivity as a function of photon frequency, temperature, and electron–phonon coupling strength. Based on our results, optical conductivity decreases with electron–phonon coupling constant for both metallic and semiconducting carbon nanotubes. Our results show that temperature yields shortening the height of peaks of zigzag CNT optical absorption. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7178-x Authors Hamed Rezania, Department of Physics, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran Farid Taherkhani, Department of Chemistry, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    The dielectric constant is an essential electrical parameter to the achievable voltage-induced deformation of the dielectric elastomer. This paper primarily focuses on the temperature dependence of the dielectric constant (within the range of 173 K to 373 K) for the most widely used acrylic dielectric elastomer (VHB 4910). First the dielectric constant was investigated experimentally with the broadband dielectric spectrometer (BDS). Results showed that the dielectric constant first increased with temperature up to a peak value and then dropped to a relative small value. Then by analyzing the fitted curves, the Cole–Cole dispersion equation was found better to characterize the rising process before the peak values than the Debye dispersion equation, while the decrease process afterward can be well described by the simple Debye model. Finally, a mathematical model of dielectric constant of VHB 4910 was obtained from the fitted results which can be used to further probe the electromechanical stability of the dielectric elastomers. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7254-2 Authors Junjie Sheng, State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 China Hualing Chen, State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 China Bo Li, State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 China Longfei Chang, State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049 China Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Mn-doped ZnO nanowires have been fabricated through a high temperature vapor-solid deposition process. The low-temperature photoluminescence spectra of the samples show that there are multipeak emissions at the ultraviolet (UV) region (about 3.4–3.0 eV). The excitonic and phonon-assisted transitions in Mn-doped ZnO nanowires were investigated. The results show that there is an obvious oscillatory structure emission at the UV region under low temperature from 12–125 K. The oscillatory structure has an energy periodicity about 70 meV and the oscillatory structure is mainly attributed to longitudinal optical (LO) phonon replicas of free excitons (FX). The multipeak emissions at 12 K are attributed to a donor-bound exciton (DBX, 3.3617 eV), 1LO-phonon replicas of a free exciton (FX-1LO, 3.3105 eV), 2LO-phonon replicas of a free exciton (FX-2LO, 3.2396 eV), and 3LO-phonon replicas of a free exciton (FX-3LO, 3.1692 eV), respectively. The intensity of UV emission and the efficiency of emission from the Mn-doped ZnO nanowires are improved. Content Type Journal Article Category Rapid communication Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7294-7 Authors Jun Zhang, Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information Techniques of Shandong, Institute Optoelectronic Information Science &Techniques, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005 P.R. China Feihong Jiang, Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information Techniques of Shandong, Institute Optoelectronic Information Science &Techniques, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005 P.R. China Shuanghong Ding, Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Information Techniques of Shandong, Institute Optoelectronic Information Science &Techniques, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005 P.R. China Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    Powdered layered double hydroxides (LDHs)—also known as hydrotalcite-like (HT)—compounds have been widely studied due to their applications as catalysts, anionic exchangers or host materials for inorganic or organic molecules. Assembling thin films of nano-sized LDHs onto flat solid substrates is an expanding area of research, with promising applications as sensors, corrosion-resistant coatings, components in optical and magnetic devices. The exploitation of LDHs as vehicles to carry dispersed metal nanoparticles onto a substrate is a new approach to obtain composite thin films with prospects for biomedical and optical applications. We report the deposition of thin films of Ag nanoparticles embedded in a Mg–Al layered double hydroxide matrix by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The Ag-LDH powder was prepared by co-precipitation at supersaturation and pH = 10 using aqueous solutions of Mg and Al nitrates, Na hydroxide and carbonate, and AgNO 3 , having atomic ratios of Mg/Al = 3 and Ag/Al = 0.55. The target to be used in laser ablation experiments was a dry pressed pellet obtained from the prepared Ag-LDH powder. Three different wavelengths of a Nd:YAG laser (266, 532 and 1064 nm) working at a repetition rate of 10 Hz were used. X-Ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and secondary ions mass spectrometry (SIMS) were used to investigate the structure, surface morphology and composition of the deposited films. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7162-5 Authors A. Matei, National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 409 Atomistilor Str., 77125 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania R. Birjega, National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 409 Atomistilor Str., 77125 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania A. Vlad, National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 409 Atomistilor Str., 77125 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania C. Luculescu, National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 409 Atomistilor Str., 77125 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania G. Epurescu, National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 409 Atomistilor Str., 77125 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania F. Stokker-Cheregi, National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 409 Atomistilor Str., 77125 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania M. Dinescu, National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 409 Atomistilor Str., 77125 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania R. Zavoianu, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Chemical Technology and Catalysis, University of Bucharest, 4-12 Regina Elisabeta Bd., Bucharest, Romania O. D. Pavel, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Chemical Technology and Catalysis, University of Bucharest, 4-12 Regina Elisabeta Bd., Bucharest, Romania Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    The possibility of printing two-dimensional micropatterns of biomolecule solutions is of great interest in many fields of research in biomedicine, from cell-growth and development studies to the investigation of the mechanisms of communication between cells. Although laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) has been extensively used to print micrometric droplets of biological solutions, the fabrication of complex patterns depends on the feasibility of the technique to print micron-sized lines of aqueous solutions. In this study we investigate such a possibility through the analysis of the influence of droplet spacing of a water and glycerol solution on the morphology of the features printed by LIFT. We prove that it is indeed possible to print long and uniform continuous lines by controlling the overlap between adjacent droplets. We show how, depending on droplet spacing, several printed morphologies are generated, and we offer, in addition, a simple explanation of the observed behavior based on the jetting dynamics characteristic of the LIFT of liquids. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7279-6 Authors A. Palla-Papavlu, Departament de Física Aplicada i Optica, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Martí i Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain C. Córdoba, Departament de Física Aplicada i Optica, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Martí i Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain A. Patrascioiu, Departament de Física Aplicada i Optica, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Martí i Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain J. M. Fernández-Pradas, Departament de Física Aplicada i Optica, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Martí i Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain J. L. Morenza, Departament de Física Aplicada i Optica, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Martí i Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain P. Serra, Departament de Física Aplicada i Optica, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Martí i Franquès 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    The refractive index dispersion of the γ-BiB 3 O 6 crystal in the wavelength range 0.43–0.81 μm has been measured. It has been shown that the principal refractive indices n 1 , n 2 , and n 3 are on average higher than those of α-BiB 3 O 6 , but are slightly lower than those of δ-BiB 3 O 6 . The temperature dependences of the rotation angle φ( T ) of the optical indicatrix and birefringence Δ n 2 ( T ) = ( n 1 − n 3 )( T ) have been studied in the temperature range 100–963 K. It has been shown that the γ-BiB 3 O 6 crystal is stable in this temperature region. Content Type Journal Article Category Dielectrics Pages 1966-1969 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100228 Authors S. V. Melnikova, Kirensky Institute of Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Akademgorodok 50 building 38, Krasnoyarsk, 660036 Russia L. I. Isaenko, Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Akademika Koptyuga 3, Novosibirsk, 630090 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The influence of an electric field on stable photostimulated triplet states of NH 4 BPh 4 at a temperature of 77 K have been studied by EPR spectroscopy. It has been established that, on exposure to UV radiation, electron capture by traps in the band gaps takes place with formation of triplet state. After application of an electric field, triplet states are destructed because, with an increase in the applied voltage, a gradual inclination of energy bands takes place and electrons found in traps on different energy levels are released. The assumption that captured electrons are found in traps on different energy levels is confirmed by earlier studies of thermoluminescence spectra. Content Type Journal Article Category Dielectrics Pages 1970-1974 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100046 Authors O. V. Antonova, Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 3, Novosibirsk, 630090 Russia V. A. Nadolinny, Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 3, Novosibirsk, 630090 Russia E. A. Il’inchik, Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 3, Novosibirsk, 630090 Russia S. V. Trubin, Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 3, Novosibirsk, 630090 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    Quantum oscillations of the resistivity ρ 22 and Hall coefficient R 12.3 in the semiconductor alloy n -Bi 0.93 Sb 0.07 have been studied at H ‖ C 3 and j ‖ C 1 in magnetic fields to 14 T and at temperatures of 1.5, 4.5, 10, and 20 K. At temperatures of 1.5 and 4.5 K, beats of quantum oscillations of ρ 22 and R 12.3 due to a small deviation of the magnetic field H from the crystallographic C 3 axis have been observed. To determine the oscillation period Δ i , cyclotron mass m ci , cyclotron frequency ω ci , and extreme section S extri , experimentally measured quantum oscillation beats have been compared with the model beats of oscillations of three harmonic functions, two of which have close frequencies. The deviation of the parameters Δ i , m ci , and S extri from the same parameters when the magnetic field H exactly coincides with the trigonal C 3 axis has made it possible to estimate the magnetic field H deflection angle from the trigonal C 3 axis, which is ∼1°. Content Type Journal Article Category Semiconductors Pages 1951-1956 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100290 Authors N. A. Red’ko, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia V. D. Kagan, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia M. P. Volkov, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    Polypropylene fibers with fillers in the form of carbon nanoparticles of four types (technical carbon, graphitized carbon nanofibers, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and single-walled carbon nanotubes) have been synthesized. For all types of fillers, the electrical conductivity of the fibers has been measured as a function of the concentration of nanoparticles and the percolation thresholds have been determined. A correlation between the nanoparticle concentration and the electrical conductivity of the percolation cluster at the percolation threshold with the cross section, the axial ratio, and the shape of the nanoparticles dispersed in the polymer matrix has been discussed. The dependence of the electrical conductivity of the composite material with carbon nanofibers on the temperature has been measured. Content Type Journal Article Category Polymers Pages 2122-2127 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100253 Authors O. A. Moskalyuk, St. Petersburg State University of Technology and Design, Bol’shaya Morskaya ul. 18, St. Petersburg, 191186 Russia A. N. Aleshin, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia E. S. Tsobkallo, St. Petersburg State University of Technology and Design, Bol’shaya Morskaya ul. 18, St. Petersburg, 191186 Russia A. V. Krestinin, Institute of Problems of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Akademika Semenova 1, Chernogolovka, Moscow oblast, 142432 Russia V. E. Yudin, Institute of Macromolecular Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Bol’shoi pr. 31, St. Petersburg, 199004 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The results of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies of Ce 3+ impurity ions in single crystals of lead thiogallate PbGa 2 S 4 have been reported. The Ce 3+ ions substitute for Pb 2+ ions in the crystal lattice of PbGa 2 S 4 . A number of paramagnetic cerium centers in lead thiogallate have been observed. The spectra are described by the spin Hamiltonian of rhombic symmetry with the effective spin S = 1/2. The g factors of the main cerium centers have been determined. A large number of paramagnetic centers are due to both nonequivalent positions of lead and local charge compensation under the substitution Ce 3+ → Pb 2+ . Content Type Journal Article Category Impurity Centers Pages 2057-2060 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100071 Authors G. R. Asatryan, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia V. V. Badikov, Kuban State University, ul. Stavropolskaya 149, Krasnodar, 350040 Russia D. D. Kramushchenko, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia V. A. Khramtsov, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The temperature dependences of the capacitance and conductance measured for samples of porous aluminum oxide films with inclusions of triglycine sulfate have been investigated. The character of these dependences obtained for the films treated in a humid atmosphere differs from that of the corresponding dependences measured for the initial porous Al 2 O 3 matrix, bulk triglycine sulfate, and dried Al 2 O 3 + triglycine sulfate composite. The observed changes are determined by the influence of the water adsorbed on the surface of the film and the water structured in pores of the composite. Content Type Journal Article Category Dielectrics Pages 1961-1965 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100149 Authors O. M. Golitsyna, Voronezh State University, Universitetskaya pl. 1, Voronezh, 394006 Russia S. N. Drozhdin, Voronezh State University, Universitetskaya pl. 1, Voronezh, 394006 Russia A. E. Gridnev, Voronezh State University, Universitetskaya pl. 1, Voronezh, 394006 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The decrease in the luminescence intensity (luminescence “fatigue”) of long-wavelength emission bands with time in CdI 2 -Cd (λ max = 700 nm) and CdI 2 -Ag (λ max = 680 nm) crystals upon exposure to light in the fundamental absorption region has been studied. The process parameters, i.e., the capture cross section σ and the fraction β of centers disappeared during interband irradiation, have been determined. The model of electronic processes has been proposed, within which experimental data have been consistently explained. Content Type Journal Article Category Impurity Centers Pages 2061-2065 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100083 Authors I. M. Bolesta, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, ul. Universytetska 1, Lviv, 79000 Ukraine S. R. Vel’gosh, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, ul. Universytetska 1, Lviv, 79000 Ukraine I. D. Karbovnik, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, ul. Universytetska 1, Lviv, 79000 Ukraine V. N. Lesivtsiv, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, ul. Universytetska 1, Lviv, 79000 Ukraine I. N. Rovetskii, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, ul. Universytetska 1, Lviv, 79000 Ukraine Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The structural and magnetic properties of the Tm 0.65 Sr 0.35 Mn 1 − x Fe x O 3 ( x = 0.3−0.4) have been studied by methods of magnetic resonance and differential thermomagnetic analysis. A magnetic phase separation has been revealed in structurally single-phase samples. Content Type Journal Article Category Magnetism Pages 1996-2000 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100265 Authors I. I. Nig’matullina, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, ul. Kremlevskaya 18, Kazan, 420008 Tatarstan, Russia V. V. Parfenov, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, ul. Kremlevskaya 18, Kazan, 420008 Tatarstan, Russia A. A. Rodionov, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, ul. Kremlevskaya 18, Kazan, 420008 Tatarstan, Russia Sh. Z. Ibragimov, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, ul. Kremlevskaya 18, Kazan, 420008 Tatarstan, Russia R. M. Eremina, Zavoisky Kazan Physical-Technical Institute, Kazan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Sibirskii trakt 10/7, Kazan, 420029 Tatarstan, Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The influence of a magnetic defect on the field distribution and magneto-optical properties of a one-dimensional photonic crystal has been investigated. It has been shown that the maximum localization of the wave field in the defect layer is achieved in an asymmetric photonic crystal structure. A greater Faraday rotation, which significantly exceeds the angle of rotation of the polarization plane in an isolated magnetized layer, and a higher degree of localization of the wave field can be achieved when the magnetic layer is surrounded by layers of photonic crystal mirrors with a lower refractive index. An increase in the Faraday rotation angle is determined not only by an increase in the thickness of the magnetic defect but also by a symmetric increase in the number of periods in the photonic crystal mirrors. Content Type Journal Article Category Magnetism Pages 1981-1987 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100125 Authors S. V. Eliseeva, Ulyanovsk State University, ul. L’va Tolstogo 42, Ulyanovsk, 432700 Russia D. I. Sementsov, Ulyanovsk State University, ul. L’va Tolstogo 42, Ulyanovsk, 432700 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    Possible magnetic states of the commensurate antiferromagnetic manganate phase with a nonzero wave vector of the structure have been analyzed within the group-theoretical approach using only the space symmetry group. A phenomenological description of the magnetoelectric effect has been performed and the possibility of the existence of the antiferromagnetic photogalvanic effect in this phase has been established using the magnetic states obtained in this study. Content Type Journal Article Category Magnetism Pages 2015-2023 DOI 10.1134/S106378341210023X Authors V. V. Men’shenin, Institute of Metal Physics, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Sofii Kovalevskoi 18, Yekaterinburg, 620219 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    This paper reports on a thermal desorption spectroscopy study of the interaction of chemisorbed molecules of oxygen and carbon monoxide with ytterbium films of nanosized thickness formed on the surface of silicon substrates at room temperature. As follows from the results obtained, at 300 K, the CO and O 2 molecules reside on the film surface in chemisorbed state and do not dissociate under these conditions into atoms. The molecules decompose at high temperatures. The oxygen released in the process reacts with ytterbium and silicon to form silicate compounds, which decompose at still higher temperatures. Content Type Journal Article Category Surface Physics and Thin Films Pages 2117-2121 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100216 Authors M. V. Kuz’min, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia M. A. Mittsev, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The deformation surface pattern generated on the faces of a copper single crystal loaded by a compression force and simultaneously sliding over the counterbody surface has been studied. The samples under study are copper single crystals with different orientations of the compression axis, which are grown by the Bridgman method. The study of the friction of single crystals with the orientations [110] and [ - 1   11] has revealed that the shear systems whose action manifests itself on side faces are localized near the friction zones. The density of traces formed in this process decreases with the distance from the butt-end. The [110] single crystal has regions of higher density near the butt-end. Different patterns of shear on the side faces of [ - 1   11] single crystals, resulting from the friction and uniaxial compressions, have been observed: they consist in the absence of deformation macrobands during friction. Content Type Journal Article Category Mechanical Properties, Physics of Strength, and Plasticity Pages 2034-2038 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100320 Authors S. Yu. Tarasov, Tomsk State University of Architecture and Building, pl. Solyanaya 2, Tomsk, 634003 Russia D. V. Lychagin, Tomsk State University of Architecture and Building, pl. Solyanaya 2, Tomsk, 634003 Russia A. V. Chumaevskii, Tomsk State University of Architecture and Building, pl. Solyanaya 2, Tomsk, 634003 Russia E. A. Kolubaev, Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Akademicheskii 2/4, Tomsk, 634021 Russia S. A. Belyaev, Tomsk State University of Architecture and Building, pl. Solyanaya 2, Tomsk, 634003 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The heat capacity of copper metaborate CuB 2 O 4 has been measured over a wide temperature range. A correlation between the composition of the CuO-B 2 O 3 system and the heat capacity of the oxide compounds has been found. Content Type Journal Article Category Thermal Properties Pages 2142-2144 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100113 Authors V. M. Denisov, Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals and Materials Science, Siberian Federal University, pr. im. Gazety “Krasnoyarskii Rabochii” 95, Krasnoyarsk, 660025 Russia L. T. Denisova, Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals and Materials Science, Siberian Federal University, pr. im. Gazety “Krasnoyarskii Rabochii” 95, Krasnoyarsk, 660025 Russia L. A. Irtyugo, Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals and Materials Science, Siberian Federal University, pr. im. Gazety “Krasnoyarskii Rabochii” 95, Krasnoyarsk, 660025 Russia N. V. Volkov, Kirensky Institute of Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Akademgorodok, Krasnoyarsk, 660036 Russia G. S. Patrin, Kirensky Institute of Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Akademgorodok, Krasnoyarsk, 660036 Russia L. G. Chumilina, Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals and Materials Science, Siberian Federal University, pr. im. Gazety “Krasnoyarskii Rabochii” 95, Krasnoyarsk, 660025 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The fractal dimension of the boundaries of clusters formed by pores and granules in polycrystalline materials is shown to be determined by the sample density and crystallite sizes. The dependence of the fractal dimension on the density has a maximum. It is shown that the maximum diamagnetic response can be obtained in a porous high-temperature superconductor with a porosity of 50–60% and small crystallite sizes. Content Type Journal Article Category Superconductivity Pages 1947-1950 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100095 Authors A. A. Bykov, Kirensky Institute of Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Akademgorodok, Krasnoyarsk, 660036 Russia K. Yu. Terent’ev, Kirensky Institute of Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Akademgorodok, Krasnoyarsk, 660036 Russia D. M. Gokhfeld, Kirensky Institute of Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Akademgorodok, Krasnoyarsk, 660036 Russia M. I. Petrov, Kirensky Institute of Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Akademgorodok, Krasnoyarsk, 660036 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The compound Bi 24 (CoBi)O 40 has been synthesized using the solid-phase reaction method. The temperature and field dependences of the magnetic moment in the temperature range 4 K 〈 T 〈 300 K and the temperature dependences of the EPR line width and g -factor at temperatures 80 K 〈 T 〈 300 K have been investigated. The electrical resistivity and thermoelectric power have been measured in the temperature range 100 K 〈 T 〈 1000 K. The activation energy has been determined and the crossover of the thermoelectric power from the phonon mechanism to the electron mechanism with variations in the temperature has been observed. The thermal expansion coefficient of the samples has been measured in the temperature range 300 K 〈 T 〈 1000 K and the qualitative agreement with the temperature behavior of the electrical resistivity has been achieved. The electrical and structural properties of the compound have been explained in the framework of the model of the electronic-structure transition with inclusion of the exchange and Coulomb interactions between electrons and the electron-phonon interaction. Content Type Journal Article Category Magnetism Pages 2005-2014 DOI 10.1134/S106378341210006X Authors S. S. Aplesnin, Reshetnev Siberian State Aerospace University, pr. imeni Gazety “Krasnoyarskii Rabochii” 31, Krasnoyarsk, 660014 Russia L. V. Udod, Reshetnev Siberian State Aerospace University, pr. imeni Gazety “Krasnoyarskii Rabochii” 31, Krasnoyarsk, 660014 Russia M. N. Sitnikov, Reshetnev Siberian State Aerospace University, pr. imeni Gazety “Krasnoyarskii Rabochii” 31, Krasnoyarsk, 660014 Russia D. A. Velikanov, Kirensky Institute of Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Akademgorodok 50-38, Krasnoyarsk, 660036 Russia M. V. Gorev, Kirensky Institute of Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Akademgorodok 50-38, Krasnoyarsk, 660036 Russia M. S. Molokeev, Kirensky Institute of Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Akademgorodok 50-38, Krasnoyarsk, 660036 Russia A. I. Galyas, Scientific-Practical Materials Research Centre, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, ul. Petrusya Brovki 19, Minsk, 220072 Belarus K. I. Yanushkevich, Scientific-Practical Materials Research Centre, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, ul. Petrusya Brovki 19, Minsk, 220072 Belarus Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    This paper reports on the results of the 57 Fe Mössbauer investigation of the short-range order in FeCoZr nanoparticles and also the studies of the electrical and magnetotransport properties of (FeCoZr) x (CaF 2 ) 100 − x granular nanocomposite films in the concentration range x = 16–75 at %. A correlation between the oxygen partial pressure during the synthesis of nanocomposites and the magnetic state of iron-containing nanoparticles has been established. The influence of the oxidation of metallic particles on the electron transport mechanisms and on the magnetoresistance of the films has been analyzed. It has been found that, in the nanocomposites with a high FeCoZr concentration ( x ∼ 70–75 at %), there is a preferred orientation of the magnetic moments of α-FeCo(Zr) nanoparticles in the direction perpendicular to the film plane. Content Type Journal Article Category Low-Dimensional Systems Pages 2091-2099 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100186 Authors J. V. Kasiuk, National Scientific and Educational Centre of Particle and High-Energy Physics, Belarusian State University, ul. M. Bogdanovicha 153, Minsk, 220040 Belarus J. A. Fedotova, National Scientific and Educational Centre of Particle and High-Energy Physics, Belarusian State University, ul. M. Bogdanovicha 153, Minsk, 220040 Belarus I. A. Svito, Belarusian State University, pr. Nezavisimosti 4, Minsk, 220030 Belarus Yu. E. Kalinin, Voronezh State Technical University, Moskovskii pr. 14, Voronezh, 394026 Russia A. V. Sitnikov, Voronezh State Technical University, Moskovskii pr. 14, Voronezh, 394026 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The temperature dependence of the heat capacity of the 0.7PbNi 1/3 Nb 2/3 O 3 -0.3PbTiO 3 compound has been studied in the temperature range 120–800 K. The temperature dependence of the heat capacity C p has two diffuse anomalies in the temperature ranges 250–450 K and 450–650 K and a λ anomaly at temperatures T ≈ 225 K. The results are discussed with inclusion of the dielectric and structural data. Content Type Journal Article Category Ferroelectricity Pages 2030-2033 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100162 Authors S. N. Kallaev, Institute of Physics, Dagestan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Yaragskogo 94, Makhachkala, 367003 Dagestan, Russia Z. M. Omarov, Institute of Physics, Dagestan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Yaragskogo 94, Makhachkala, 367003 Dagestan, Russia R. G. Mitarov, Dagestan State Technical University, pr. Imama Shamilya 70, Makhachkala, 367015 Dagestan, Russia K. Bormanis, Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, bulv. Raina 19, Riga, LV-1063 Latvia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The genetic origin of a ferroelectric crystal of guanidinium aluminum sulfate hexahydrate has been established and the spectral dependences of the electron density of states, the electron energy, and the optical functions ɛ 1 ( ħ ω) and ɛ 2 ( ħ ω) for this crystal have been calculated in terms of the density functional theory. It has been found that there is a weak dependence of the energy of electrons in the upper valence bands on the wave vector. The calculated values of the band gap ( E g ∼ 5.44 eV) and refractive indices are in agreement with the experimental results. It has been shown that there is a strong anisotropy of the spectral band ɛ 2 ( ħ ω) in the region of 6 eV, which is predominantly formed by the p states of carbon (∼60%) and nitrogen (∼40%) atoms of the C(NH 2 ) 3 group. Content Type Journal Article Category Optical Properties Pages 2066-2072 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100034 Authors B. V. Andriyevsky, Koszalin University of Technology, ul. Sniadeckich 2, Koszalin, 75-453 Poland N. A. Romanyuk, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, ul. Universytetska 1, Lviv, 79000 Ukraine N. N. Romanyuk, Lviv Polytechnic National University, ul. Bandery 12, Lviv, 79013 Ukraine O. Ya. Myshchyshyn, Lviv State Academy of Finance, ul. Kopernika 3, Lviv, 79000 Ukraine M. Jaskólski, Koszalin University of Technology, ul. Sniadeckich 2, Koszalin, 75-453 Poland V. I. Stadnyk, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, ul. Universytetska 1, Lviv, 79000 Ukraine Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The stable paramagnetic center Cd + ( 2 S 1/2 ) in natural sedimentary calcium phosphates containing a cadmium impurity has been studied using electron paramagnetic resonance. The parameters of the spectrum have been determined, and the influence of different radiation types on the paramagnetic center has been investigated. Content Type Journal Article Category Impurity Centers Pages 2051-2056 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100137 Authors L. G. Gilinskaya, Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Akademika Koptyuga 3, Novosibirsk, 630090 Russia R. I. Mashkovtsev, Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Akademika Koptyuga 3, Novosibirsk, 630090 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The heat capacity of the ferromagnetic shape memory effect alloy Ni 2 MnGa in submicrocrystalline and amorphous-nanocrystalline states has been measured in the temperature range 2 K ≤ T ≤ 310 K. Changes in the electron, magnetic, and lattice contributions to C P ( T ) as a result of megaplastic torsion deformation of samples under high pressure have been discussed. Content Type Journal Article Category Thermal Properties Pages 2128-2131 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100204 Authors N. I. Kourov, Institute of Metal Physics, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. S. Kovalevskoi 18, Yekaterinburg, 620219 Russia A. V. Korolev, Institute of Metal Physics, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. S. Kovalevskoi 18, Yekaterinburg, 620219 Russia V. G. Pushin, Institute of Metal Physics, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. S. Kovalevskoi 18, Yekaterinburg, 620219 Russia E. V. Marchenkova, Institute of Metal Physics, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. S. Kovalevskoi 18, Yekaterinburg, 620219 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    Samples of β-SiC/Si ecoceramics with a silicon concentration of ∼21 vol % have been prepared using a series of consecutive procedures (carbonization of sapele wood biocarbon, synthesis of high-porosity biocarbon with channel-type pores, infiltration of molten silicon into empty channels of the biocarbon, formation of β-SiC, and retention of residual silicon in channels of β-SiC). The electrical resistivity ρ and thermal conductivity κ of the β-SiC/Si ecoceramic samples have been measured in the temperature range 5–300 K. The values of ρ Si chan ( T ) and κ Si chan ( T ) have been determined for silicon Si chan located in β-SiC channels of the synthesized β-SiC/Si ecoceramics. Based on the performed analysis of the obtained results, the concentration of charge carriers (holes) in Si chan has been estimated as p ∼ 10 19 cm −3 . The factors that can be responsible for such a high value of p have been discussed. The prospects for practical application of β-SiC/Si ecoceramics have been considered. Content Type Journal Article Category Thermal Properties Pages 2132-2141 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100289 Authors L. S. Parfen’eva, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia T. S. Orlova, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia B. I. Smirnov, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia I. A. Smirnov, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia H. Misiorek, Trzebiatowski Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Okólna 2, Wroclaw, 50-422 Poland J. Mucha, Trzebiatowski Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Okólna 2, Wroclaw, 50-422 Poland A. Jezowski, Trzebiatowski Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Okólna 2, Wroclaw, 50-422 Poland A. Gutierrez-Pardo, Departamento de Fisica de la Materia Condensada—Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Sevilla (ICMSE), Universidad de Sevilla, Apartado de Correos 1065, Sevilla, ES-41080 Spain J. Ramirez-Rico, Departamento de Fisica de la Materia Condensada—Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Sevilla (ICMSE), Universidad de Sevilla, Apartado de Correos 1065, Sevilla, ES-41080 Spain Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The electronic structure of diphenylsilane Ph 2 SiH 2 has been investigated using X-ray emission spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations in the approximation of the density functional theory. The SiK b 1 X-ray emission spectrum of Ph 2 SiH 2 has been constructed using the results of theoretical calculations. The energy structure and shape of this spectrum are in good agreement with the experiment. A comparative analysis of the results of calculations and the fine structure of the experimental SiK b 1 X-ray emission spectrum of diphenylsilane has made it possible to describe in detail the specific features of the chemical interaction in this compound. The quantitative characteristics of the hybridization of atomic orbitals in the studied molecule have been obtained by analyzing the natural bonding orbitals. Content Type Journal Article Category Low-Dimensional Systems Pages 2100-2105 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100101 Authors T. N. Danilenko, Research Institute of Physics, Southern Federal University, pr. Stachki 194, Rostov-on-Don, 344090 Russia M. M. Tatevosyan, Research Institute of Physics, Southern Federal University, pr. Stachki 194, Rostov-on-Don, 344090 Russia V. G. Vlasenko, Research Institute of Physics, Southern Federal University, pr. Stachki 194, Rostov-on-Don, 344090 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The subnanosecond time-resolved ultraviolet luminescence of Li 6 Gd(BO 3 ) 3 : Ce crystals under selective excitation by ultrasoft X-rays in the region of the 4 d →4 f core transitions at temperatures of 7 and 293 K has been investigated for the first time. The performed investigation has revealed the following features: an intense fast component of the luminescence decay kinetics in the subnanosecond range due to the high local density of electronic excitations and the processes of Auger relaxation of the core hole; the modulation of the luminescence excitation spectrum by the “giant resonance” absorption band of the 4 d -4 f photoionization in the energy range 135–160 eV; and a new broad luminescence band at an energy of 4.44 eV due to the direct radiative recombination between the genetically related electron in the states of the conduction band bottom and hole in the 4 f ground state of the Ce 3+ ion. Content Type Journal Article Category Impurity Centers Pages 2039-2050 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100277 Authors I. N. Ogorodnikov, Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin (Ural State Technical University-UPI), ul. Mira 19, Yekaterinburg, 620002 Russia I. N. Sedunova, Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin (Ural State Technical University-UPI), ul. Mira 19, Yekaterinburg, 620002 Russia V. Yu. Ivanov, Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin (Ural State Technical University-UPI), ul. Mira 19, Yekaterinburg, 620002 Russia L. I. Isaenko, Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Akademika Koptyuga 3, Novosibirsk, 630090 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    A method of nondestructive control of the damaged layer and roughness parameters of the surface of a hexagonal crystal and an isotropic solid with the use of Rayleigh and shear-polarized surface acoustic waves has been proposed. The surface under study borders on vacuum and can be a rough surface or an isotropic damaged surface layer. The problem is considered in the long-wavelength limit (as compared to the roughness amplitude or the thickness of the damaged layer, as well as to the characteristic radius of the surface heterogeneity). It has been shown that, in the long-wavelength limit, the dispersion of phase velocity and the damping length of shear-polarized waves can be found from the known values of the phase velocity dispersion and the damping length of the Rayleigh surface acoustic waves or vice versa. The problem for an isotropic damaged surface layer is treated in a special case where only the density fluctuates. Content Type Journal Article Category Surface Physics and Thin Films Pages 2112-2116 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100198 Authors V. V. Kosachev, National Research Nuclear University “Moscow Engineering Physics Institute,”, Kashirskoe sh. 31, Moscow, 115409 Russia Yu. N. Gandurin, National Research Nuclear University “Moscow Engineering Physics Institute,”, Kashirskoe sh. 31, Moscow, 115409 Russia S. E. Murav’ev, National Research Nuclear University “Moscow Engineering Physics Institute,”, Kashirskoe sh. 31, Moscow, 115409 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    Lanthanum-free high-transparency ferroelectric ceramics PbMg 1/3 Nb 2/3 O 3 − x PbZr 0.53 Ti 0.47 O 3 (PMN- x PZT) have been prepared for the first time by a two-stage sintering method. The dielectric and electro-optical properties of the PMN- x PZT ceramics of different compositions, with the values of x both far from the morphotropic phase boundary ( x = 10, 16, 23%) and close to it ( x = 33%), have been studied. It has been shown that, in compositions lying closer to the morphotropic phase boundary ( x = 23 and 33%), one observes, with no electric field applied, a first-order phase transition to a macrodomain ferroelectric phase, whereas the compositions far from the boundary ( x = 10, 16%) persist in the relaxor cubic phase down to the low-temperature domain. It has been found that, in the ceramic with x = 33%, the quadratic electro-optical coefficients have at high temperatures ( T 〉 340 K) the largest value among the relaxor systems, which expands the temperature interval of applicability of these solid solutions in industry. Content Type Journal Article Category Ferroelectricity Pages 2024-2029 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100174 Authors L. S. Kamzina, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia Wei Ruan, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1295 Ding-Xi Road, Shanghai, 200050 China Guorong Li, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1295 Ding-Xi Road, Shanghai, 200050 China Jiangtao Zeng, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1295 Ding-Xi Road, Shanghai, 200050 China Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    Small-angle X-ray diffraction from synthetic opal films has been investigated as a function of the orientation of the sample. All the observed ( hkl ) diffraction reflections have been interpreted. The reconstruction of the reciprocal lattice of the studied opal films has been carried out. The diffraction patterns and scattering intensity profiles along chains of reciprocal lattice points have been calculated. It has been shown that, in the reconstructed reciprocal lattice of the opal films, the appearance of chains of partially overlapping nodes that are oriented along the direction Γ → L is caused by two factors: the small thickness of the film and the existence of stacking faults in it. Content Type Journal Article Category Optical Properties Pages 2073-2082 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100307 Authors A. K. Samusev, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia I. S. Sinev, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia K. B. Samusev, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia M. V. Rybin, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia A. A. Mistonov, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab. 7, St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia N. A. Grigoryeva, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab. 7, St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia S. V. Grigoriev, B.P. Konstantinov Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute,”, Orlova Roshcha, Gatchina, Leningrad oblast, 188300 Russia A. V. Petukhov, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, Utrecht, 3584 CC The Netherlands D. V. Byelov, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, Utrecht, 3584 CC The Netherlands E. Yu. Trofimova, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia D. A. Kurdyukov, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia V. G. Golubev, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia M. F. Limonov, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The thermal conductivity and heat capacity of manganese-doped zinc oxide polycrystals have been studied in the temperature range 30–300 K. A substantial influence of the secondary phase or MnO clusters formed as a result of doping on the temperature dependences of thermophysical properties of polycrystalline zinc oxide films has been shown. Content Type Journal Article Category Semiconductors Pages 1957-1960 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100150 Authors Kh. T. Igamberdiev, Quantum-Functional Semiconductor Research Center, Dongguk University, 3-26 Pil-Dong, Chung-Gu, Seoul, 100-715 Korea Sh. U. Yuldashev, Quantum-Functional Semiconductor Research Center, Dongguk University, 3-26 Pil-Dong, Chung-Gu, Seoul, 100-715 Korea T. W. Kang, Quantum-Functional Semiconductor Research Center, Dongguk University, 3-26 Pil-Dong, Chung-Gu, Seoul, 100-715 Korea V. O. Pelenovich, Department of Thermophysics, Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, ul. Katartal 28, Tashkent, 700135 Uzbekistan Sh. M. Rakhimova, Department of Thermophysics, Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, ul. Katartal 28, Tashkent, 700135 Uzbekistan T. Kh. Akhmedov, Department of Thermophysics, Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, ul. Katartal 28, Tashkent, 700135 Uzbekistan Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The effect of an external magnetic field with a strength up to 140 kOe on the phase transitions in manganese arsenide single crystals has been investigated. The existence of unstable magnetic and crystal structures at temperatures above the Curie temperature T C = 308 K has been established. The displacements of manganese and arsenic atoms during the magnetostructural phase transition and the shift in the temperature of the first-order magnetostructural phase transition in a magnetic field have been determined. It has been shown that the magnetocaloric effect in a magnetic field of 140 kOe near the Curie temperature T C is equal to Δ T ∼ 13 K. A model of the superparamagnetic state in MnAs above the temperature T C has been proposed using the data on the magnetic properties and structural transformation in the region of the first-order magnetostructural phase transition. It has been demonstrated that, at temperatures close to T C , apart from the contribution to the change in the entropy from the change in the magnetization there is a significant contribution from the transformation of the crystal lattice due to the magnetostructural phase transition. Content Type Journal Article Category Magnetism Pages 1988-1995 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100241 Authors V. I. Mitsiuk, Scientific-Practical Materials Research Centre, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, ul. P. Brovki 19, Minsk, 220072 Belarus N. Yu. Pankratov, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991 Russia G. A. Govor, Scientific-Practical Materials Research Centre, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, ul. P. Brovki 19, Minsk, 220072 Belarus S. A. Nikitin, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991 Russia A. I. Smarzhevskaya, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    This paper reports on the synthesis of glassy nanostructures in which the framework is a face-centered cubic lattice of inverse yablonovite with a disordered glassy superstructure. The synthesis has been performed by the direct laser writing method based on two-photon polymerization of a photosensitive material. The fabricated structures have been investigated using scanning electron microscopy. A theoretical calculation of the photonic band structures of the direct yablonovite and the inverse yablonovite has been carried out. Content Type Journal Article Category Dielectrics Pages 1975-1980 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100319 Authors I. I. Shishkin, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia K. B. Samusev, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia M. V. Rybin, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia M. F. Limonov, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia Yu. S. Kivshar, National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics, pr. Kronverkskii 49, St. Petersburg, 197101 Russia A. Gaidukeviciute, Laser Zentrum Hannover, Hollerithallee 8, Hannover, D-30419 Germany R. V. Kiyan, Laser Zentrum Hannover, Hollerithallee 8, Hannover, D-30419 Germany B. N. Chichkov, Laser Zentrum Hannover, Hollerithallee 8, Hannover, D-30419 Germany Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The effect of the sintering temperature from 1070 to 1670 K of ceramic samples of lanthanum manganite La 0.7 Mn 1.3 O 3 on their grain size, structure, magnetic and resistive properties has been studied. An increase in the sintering temperature to 1270 K is shown to lead to an insignificant increase in the grain size and an increase in the density, fraction of the ferromagnetic phase in a grain, and colossal magnetoresistance. The ceramics sintering at temperatures higher than 1470 K is found to sharply increase the grain size; simultaneously, the grain takes a layered structure. The grain growth at these temperatures is established to be accompanied by manganese precipitation at the grain boundaries and likely in the grain interior. The increase in the sintering temperature is accompanied by appearance of a magnetically phase heterogeneity and a decrease in the Curie temperature and magnitude of the colossal magnetoresistance effect. Content Type Journal Article Category Magnetism Pages 2001-2004 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100022 Authors G. Ya. Akimov, Donetsk Institute for Physics and Engineering named after O.O.Galkin, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, ul. R. Luxemburg 72, Donetsk, 83114 Ukraine A. A. Novokhatskaya, Donetsk Institute for Physics and Engineering named after O.O.Galkin, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, ul. R. Luxemburg 72, Donetsk, 83114 Ukraine S. Yu. Prylypko, Donetsk Institute for Physics and Engineering named after O.O.Galkin, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, ul. R. Luxemburg 72, Donetsk, 83114 Ukraine Yu. F. Revenko, Donetsk Institute for Physics and Engineering named after O.O.Galkin, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, ul. R. Luxemburg 72, Donetsk, 83114 Ukraine Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    The crystal structure of two-phase and porous alkali borosilicate glasses with embedded magnetic atoms has been investigated using X-ray powder diffraction. It has been shown that, during the preparation of two-phase (nonporous) glasses, the α-Fe 2 O 3 phase undergoes a transition to magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) with the formation (at particular concentrations of α-Fe 2 O 3 in the initial mixture) and stabilization of the β-Fe 2 O 3 phase. The characteristic sizes of nanoparticles of iron oxides (Fe 3 O 4 and β-Fe 2 O 3 ) in these glasses have been determined. For two types of porous glasses (namely, the macroporous glass Fe20-MAP and the microporous glass Fe20-MIP), the occupancies of the octahedral (Fe 2+ ) and tetrahedral (Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ ) iron positions in magnetite have been found. Content Type Journal Article Category Low-Dimensional Systems Pages 2106-2111 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100058 Authors T. V. Antropova, Grebenshchikov Institute of Silicate Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, nab. Admirala Makarova 2, St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia I. N. Anfimova, Grebenshchikov Institute of Silicate Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, nab. Admirala Makarova 2, St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia I. V. Golosovsky, Konstantinov Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, Orlova Roshcha, Gatchina, Leningrad oblast, 188300 Russia Yu. A. Kibalin, Konstantinov Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, Orlova Roshcha, Gatchina, Leningrad oblast, 188300 Russia A. A. Naberezhnov, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 26, St. Petersburg, 194021 Russia N. I. Porechnaya, St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 29, St. Petersburg, 195251 Russia O. A. Pshenko, Grebenshchikov Institute of Silicate Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, nab. Admirala Makarova 2, St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia A. V. Filimonov, St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University, Politekhnicheskaya ul. 29, St. Petersburg, 195251 Russia Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    Raman spectra of ZnO and core-shell ZnTe/ZnO nanowires have been measured under conditions of nonresonant and resonant excitations by Ar + and He-Cd lasers. The optical vibration frequencies that are characteristic of the wurtzite structure of ZnO crystals have been determined. The Raman-active longitudinal optical (LO) phonons in all the studied structures have a mixed A 1 and E 1 symmetry. Surface optical modes with frequencies of 460–470 cm −1 have been found. Surface optical modes of single-layer nanowires have been analyzed using the calculation performed in the previous work by P.M. Chassaing and his colleagues, and those of double-layer nanowires have been analyzed in terms of the expressions obtained in the present work. The size of heterogeneities of the nanowires along their axis has been determined. Content Type Journal Article Category Low-Dimensional Systems Pages 2083-2090 DOI 10.1134/S1063783412100332 Authors V. S. Vinogradov, Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii pr. 53, Moscow, 119991 Russia V. N. Dzhagan, Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, pr. Nauki 41, Kyiv, 03028 Ukraine T. N. Zavaritskaya, Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii pr. 53, Moscow, 119991 Russia I. V. Kucherenko, Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii pr. 53, Moscow, 119991 Russia N. N. Mel’nik, Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii pr. 53, Moscow, 119991 Russia N. N. Novikova, Institute of Spectroscopy, Russian Academy of Sciences, Fizicheskaya ul. 5, Troitsk, Moscow oblast, 142190 Russia E. Janik, Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Al. Lotników 32/46, Warsaw, 02-668 Poland T. Wojtowicz, Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Al. Lotników 32/46, Warsaw, 02-668 Poland O. S. Plyashechnik, Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii pr. 53, Moscow, 119991 Russia D. R. T. Zahn, Semiconductor Physics, Chemnitz University of Technology, Reichenhainer Str. 70, Chemnitz, 09107 Germany Journal Physics of the Solid State Online ISSN 1090-6460 Print ISSN 1063-7834 Journal Volume Volume 54 Journal Issue Volume 54, Number 10

Description:    Based on local density approximation and Hubbard-U corrections (LDA+U), we study the influence of Coulomb interaction for Tb 4f states on the optical properties of the recently discovered superconductor, such as TbOFeAs. Within the incorporation of onsite Hubbard effect in TbOFeAs, we discuss the electronic structure, as well as the optical spectra and we compared them to LDA calculations. For non-magnetic (NM) configuration, the electronic structure exhibits high density of states, N ( E F ) in the proximity of Fermi level. With and without the electronic correlation effects, we carried out the calculations for the optical properties such as the optical conductivity, joint density of states (JDOS), optical absorption, the electron energy loss function and reflectivity of TbOFeAs in a large photon energy scale of 30 eV. Despite the absence of a Mott insulator transition, we infer that the electronic correlation effects are prominent in the recently discovered superconductor, like TbOFeAs. We also predict the in-plane anisotropy of plasma frequency that has been evaluated recently in the other ReOFeAs systems. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7286-7 Authors A. Laref, Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11145 King Saudi Arabia Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    While the emergence of pottery manufacturing is a wide-spread historical occurrence, and one that has garnered the attention of archaeologists for decades, we know very little about how these ancient vessels were created. Through the application of radiographic scanning and computed tomography this paper provides insights into the manufacturing techniques used by the earliest potters in North America. While x-rays have been used to investigate ceramic manufacturing techniques for decades, this paper provides a reassessment of radiography in light of advances in both computed tomography and reconstructive software. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7287-6 Authors Matthew Sanger, The American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA James Thostenson, The American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA Morgan Hill, The American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA Hannah Cain, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    A thorough microscopic investigation by SR XRF and micro-PIXE brings insight into the probable techniques used in the manufacture of thirteen Dacian gold bracelets, one of the most spectacular archaeological finds ever on the territory of Romania. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7306-7 Authors Bogdan Constantinescu, Horia Hulubei National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering Bucharest, str. Atomiştilor 407, Măgurele, Ilfov 077125, Romania Angela Vasilescu, Horia Hulubei National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering Bucharest, str. Atomiştilor 407, Măgurele, Ilfov 077125, Romania Martin Radtke, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Richard-Willstätter Strasse 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany Uwe Reinholz, Laboratoire du Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France, Palais du Louvre (CNRS-LC2RMF UMR 171), 14 Quai F. Mitterand, 75001 Paris, France Claire Pacheco, Laboratoire du Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France, Palais du Louvre (CNRS-LC2RMF UMR 171), 14 Quai F. Mitterand, 75001 Paris, France Laurent Pichon, Laboratoire du Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France, Palais du Louvre (CNRS-LC2RMF UMR 171), 14 Quai F. Mitterand, 75001 Paris, France Ernest Oberländer-Târnoveanu, National History Museum of Romania (MNIR), calea Victoriei 12, Bucharest, sector 3, 030026 Romania Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description: Erratum to: Direct laser printing of thin-film polyaniline devices Content Type Journal Article Category Erratum Pages 1-1 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7307-6 Authors M. Kandyla, Physics Department, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechniou Street, Zografou, Athens, 15780 Greece C. Pandis, Physics Department, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechniou Street, Zografou, Athens, 15780 Greece S. Chatzandroulis, Institute of Microelectronics, NCSR Demokritos, Agia Paraksevi, Athens, 15310 Greece P. Pissis, Physics Department, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechniou Street, Zografou, Athens, 15780 Greece I. Zergioti, Physics Department, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechniou Street, Zografou, Athens, 15780 Greece Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    A facile, green method was explored for the organic-inorganic complex coating with superhydrophobic and transparent property on glass matrix. The glass surface was firstly treated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and SiO 2 organic-inorganic solution and then modified with a layer of 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS). The glass samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle (CA) measurement, and UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The results showed that the optical transmission over the visible range up to 89 % (in reference to 100 % transmission defined by bare glass substrate), and the water CA of the film reached 168 ∘ . Superhydrophobic coatings with excellent optical transmittance will have potential applications in our daily life. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7176-z Authors Ye Zhang, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230039 P.R. China Jialin Li, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230039 P.R. China Fangzhi Huang, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230039 P.R. China Shikuo Li, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230039 P.R. China Yuhua Shen, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230039 P.R. China Anjian Xie, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230039 P.R. China Wei Duan, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230039 P.R. China Fang Wang, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230039 P.R. China Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396

Description:    The corrosion of iron-based archaeomaterials in anoxic environments leads mainly to Fe(II) compounds, like the hydroxychloride β -Fe 2 (OH) 3 Cl, chukanovite Fe 2 (OH) 2 CO 3 or siderite FeCO 3 . The understanding of the mechanisms then necessarily implies a thorough investigation of the chemical, mechanical and morphological characteristics of the Fe(II)-based layer that develops between the metal surface and the environment. In the peculiar case of Fe(II) compounds, generally very reactive towards O 2 , the main concern is to prevent any transformation by air during the analysis. The EBSD technique is adapted on a scanning electron microscope (SEM) where the samples are analysed under vacuum and consequently sheltered from air. Different options offered by EBSD for phase characterisation and microstructural study were tested for the first time on the rust layers of two archaeological iron nails. Results were confronted to those obtained by micro-Raman spectroscopy, which was used as reference method. Magnetite, Fe(II) hydroxychloride β -Fe 2 (OH) 3 Cl and siderite were analysed successfully but improvements have to be brought for the study of other compounds such as iron oxyhydroxides and chukanovite. The choice of experimental parameters in our approach as well as the potentialities and limits of the technique for this kind of application are discussed. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00339-012-7174-1 Authors Ilanith Azoulay, Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Ingénieur pour l’Environnement, FRE 3474 CNRS—Université de La Rochelle, Bât. Marie Curie, Avenue Michel Crépeau, 17042 La Rochelle cedex 01, France Egle Conforto, Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Ingénieur pour l’Environnement, FRE 3474 CNRS—Université de La Rochelle, Bât. Marie Curie, Avenue Michel Crépeau, 17042 La Rochelle cedex 01, France Philippe Refait, Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Ingénieur pour l’Environnement, FRE 3474 CNRS—Université de La Rochelle, Bât. Marie Curie, Avenue Michel Crépeau, 17042 La Rochelle cedex 01, France Céline Rémazeilles, Laboratoire des Sciences de l’Ingénieur pour l’Environnement, FRE 3474 CNRS—Université de La Rochelle, Bât. Marie Curie, Avenue Michel Crépeau, 17042 La Rochelle cedex 01, France Journal Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing Online ISSN 1432-0630 Print ISSN 0947-8396