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At least 1,099 records · Page 61

Phase structures and morphologies of tempered CA6NM stainless steel welded by hybrid laser-arc process

The post-weld tempered microstructure of hybrid laser-arc welded CA6NM, a cast low carbon martensitic stainless steel, was investigated. The microstructural evolutions from the fusion zone to the base metal were characterized in detail using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and microhardness techniques. The fusion zone, in its post-weld tempered condition, consisted of tempered lath martensite, residual delta-ferrite with various morphologies, reversed austenite and chromium carbides. The reversed austenite, which can be detected through both EBSD and XRD techniques, was found to be finely dispersed along the martensite lath boundaries, particularly at triple junctions. Based on the EBSD analysis, the orientation relationship between the reversed austenite and the adjacent martensite laths seemed to follow the Kurdjumov-Sachs (K-S) model. The results also revealed the presence of the reversed austenite in the different regions of the heat affected zone after post-weld tempering. The microindentation hardness distribution was measured, and correlated to the evolution of the corresponding microstructure across the welds. - Highlights: •The EBSD analysis was performed on hybrid laser-arc welded CA6NM. •The FZ consisted of tempered lath martensite, reversed austenite, carbides and δ ferrite after tempering. •The reversed γ was formed along the α′ lath boundaries, particularly at triple junctions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Characterization of borate glasses doped with copper oxide for optical application

Borate glasses having the formula x CuO–(50 − x)B{sub 2}O{sub 3}–30Na{sub 2}O–20ZnO where x = 0, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 4 and 7 mol% were investigated. The samples were prepared using the conventional melt-quenching technique. Physical properties were studied such as; X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectra, and UV–visible transmission. The optical basicity, average electro negativity have been estimated. The estimated optical basicity, unlike electron negativity, exhibits an increase with increasing the CuO content. FTIR spectra show that BO{sub 4} ratio decreases with increasing CuO content leading to the formation of non-bridging oxygen’s. Some optical parameters such as the optical band gap, band tail width, crystal field strength and the UV and NIR cut off were determined. The transmission spectrum revealed that the glassy samples containing high content of copper oxide behave as bandpass filters at higher content. The characterized parameters of these filters were found to be highly affected by the addition of CuO. In these glasses the broad absorption band observed at the wavelength 550 nm is characterized by the existence of Cu{sup 2+} ions. The optical absorption and ESR studies suggest that, the Cu-ions exist in the Cu{sup 2+} state and act as modifiers by increasing the degree of disorder in the glass network. Hence, the present system behaves as a bandpass filter in the ultraviolet–visible region.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Polarizer-Free Acousto-Optic Monochromators

Monochromators based on a noncollinear acousto-optic filter without external polarizers have been studied. As an element to select an operating diffracted light beam, (1) a spatial filter-telescope and (2) an output plane of a filter crystal rotated in a diffraction plane have been used. In the latter case, dispersion of the acousto-optic filter crystal is compensated using a correcting prism made from the same crystal and placed behind an output filter plane along a path of a filtered light beam. As a result, the transmission coefficient of the monochromator is increased upon an effective compensation of the angular drift of the filtered light beam, the monochromator design is simplified, and its sizes are decreased.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Highly tunable elastic dielectric metasurface lenses

Abstract Dielectric metasurfaces are two‐dimensional structures composed of nano‐scatterers that manipulate the phase and polarization of optical waves with subwavelength spatial resolution, thus enabling ultra‐thin components for free‐space optics. While high performance devices with various functionalities, including some that are difficult to achieve using conventional optical setups have been shown, most demonstrated components have fixed parameters. Here, we demonstrate highly tunable dielectric metasurface devices based on subwavelength thick silicon nano‐posts encapsulated in a thin transparent elastic polymer. As proof of concept, we demonstrate a metasurface microlens operating at 915 nm, with focal distance tuning from 600 μm to 1400 μm (over 952 diopters change in optical power) through radial strain, while maintaining a diffraction limited focus and a focusing efficiency above 50%. The demonstrated tunable metasurface concept is highly versatile for developing ultra‐slim, multi‐functional and tunable optical devices with widespread applications ranging from consumer electronics to medical devices and optical communications. image

Kamali, Seyedeh Mahsa↗

Anisotropy of Optical Activity in Langasite Family Crystals

The rotation of the plane of polarization of light transmitted in the directions parallel (ρ{sub ||}) and perpendicular (ρ{sub ⊥}) to the optical axis has been calculated for langasite family crystals. It is shown that the ρ{sub ||} and ρ{sub ⊥} values are, respectively, negative and positive for all the right-handed crystals under study. An analysis of the interatomic potential constructed based on X-ray diffraction data has suggested that this anisotropy of optical activity is structurally based of electron density regions shaped as helices. The atomic helix with an axis parallel to the optical axis is right-handed and three-start, whereas in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis there are three left-handed two-start helices, which intersect in the origin of the unit-cell coordinate system.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Structural, optical and electrical behavior of zinc oxide/MWCNT composite thin films

ZnO/MWCNT composite thin films were prepared on glass substrates by spray pyrolysis, and their structural and optical behavior were investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the films hexagonal wurtzite phase with a preferred (002) growth orientation. Photoluminescence spectra of the ZnO film showed two main bands, a UV emission band at 377 nm (3.28 eV) and a broad blue-yellow band at 439–546 nm with a band at 503 nm. Optical transmittance of 80–85% in the visible range was observed in all the films. In the I–V curves, conductivity was improved when incorporating the MWCNT into the zinc oxide. ZnO/MWCNT, at a value of 2 V and irradiated with visible light presented an increased current from 0.6 to 3.2 nA, and a similar pattern was observed when impinging UV light. Film thickness was measured by profilometry, obtaining thicknesses in the range from 143 to 257 nm.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Effect of reaction atmosphere on structural and optical properties of hexagonal molybdenum oxide (h-MoO{sub 3})

The present work aims to synthesize single phase h-MoO{sub 3} nanocrytals by chemical precipitation method exposed under different reaction atmospheres. The reaction atmosphere have been successfully tuned as air, nitrogen and argon and studied its effects on structural, functional, morphology and optical properties by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) measurements. The XRD result indicates that the sample exhibits characteristic hexagonal phase of MoO{sub 3}. The crystallite size is estimated by well known Scherrer’s method. The crystallite size is relative small in the case of sample prepared at argon atmosphere. The functional groups such as Mo-O, N-H and O-H are identified from FT-IR spectroscopy. The particle exhibits rod like morphology with perfect hexagonal cross-section. The optical absorption observed at 420-450 nm corresponds to fundamental optical absorption by h-MoO{sub 3}. The band gap values are estimated using Kublka-Munk (K-M) function and found to be 2. 87 eV, 2.93 eV and 2.97 eV for samples synthesized under air, nitrogen and argon, respectively.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

A study of three techniques used in the diffraction analysis of shaped dual-reflector antennas

An examination is presented of three techniques used for the efficient computation of fields diffracted by a subreflector that has been shaped by geometrical optics synthesis. It is found that these techniques, which are based on the geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD), produce errors in the computed fields that are specific to shaped reflectors. These errors are examined for a reflector system shaped to produce maximum gain from a tapered feed illumination. The discrepancies are directly related to the caustic being located near an observation point of the GTD calculations. The errors found are localized, and they increase in magnitude as the caustic approaches the main reflector. In a general offset geometry, the location of the caustic may be located arbitrarily close to the main reflector given a prescribed output aperture distribution. For the specific case considered here-the common situation of shaping to produce maximum gain-the caustic is located near the edge of the main reflector and on the reflection shadow boundary. A local correction is derived which creates a uniform solution through the caustic and across the reflection shadow boundary. Away from this point the calculation receeds to the standard GTD solution.

Cwik, Tom A.↗

Isomorphism and solid solutions among Ag- and Au-selenides

Au-Ag selenides were synthesized by heating stoichiometric mixtures of elementary substances of initial compositions Ag{sub 2−x}Au{sub x}Se with a step of x=0.25 (0≤x≤2) to 1050 °C and annealing at 500 °C. Scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, electron microprobe analysis and X-ray powder diffraction methods have been applied to study synthesized samples. Results of studies of synthesized products revealed the existence of three solid solutions with limited isomorphism Ag↔Au: naumannite Ag{sub 2}Se – Ag{sub 1.94}Au{sub 0.06}Se, fischesserite Ag{sub 3}AuSe{sub 2} - Ag{sub 3.2}Au{sub 0.8}Se{sub 2} and gold selenide AuSe - Au{sub 0.94}Ag{sub 0.06}Se. Solid solutions and AgAuSe phases were added to the phase diagram of Ag-Au-Se system. Crystal-chemical interpretation of Ag-Au isomorphism in selenides was made on the basis of structural features of fischesserite, naumannite, and AuSe. - Highlights: • Au-Ag selenides were synthesized. • Limited Ag-Au isomorphism in the selenides is affected by structural features. • Some new phases were introduced to the phase diagram Ag-Au-Se.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Spatial and spectral image distortions caused by diffraction of an ordinary polarised light beam by an ultrasonic wave

We consider the problem of determining the spatial and spectral image distortions arising from anisotropic diffraction by ultrasonic waves in crystals with ordinary polarised light (o → e). By neglecting the small-birefringence approximation, we obtain analytical solutions that describe the dependence of the diffraction angles and wave mismatch on the acousto-optic (AO) interaction geometry and crystal parameters. The formulas derived allow one to calculate and analyse the magnitude of diffraction-induced spatial and spectral image distortions and to identify the main types of distortions: chromatic compression and trapezoidal deformation. A comparison of the values of these distortions in the diffraction of ordinary and extraordinary polarised light shows that they are almost equal in magnitude and opposite in signs, so that consistent diffraction (o → e → o or e → o → e) in two identical AO cells rotated through 180° in the plane of diffraction can compensate for these distortions. (diffraction of radiation)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

The Sensitivity of Shaped Pupil Coronagraphs to Optical Aberrations

Unlike focal-plane coronagraphs that use occulting spots and Lyot stops to eliminate diffraction, pupil-plane coronagraphs operate by shaping the pupil to redirect the diffracted stellar light into a tight core. As in focal-plane coronagraphs, the optical aberrations in the telescope must be sufficiently corrected to enable high contrast imaging. However, in shaped-pupil coronagraphs, the low-order aberrations resulting from misalignment and optical figure drift have a much smaller influence upon the contrast at at the inner working angle. These weaker sensitivities greatly relax the strict low-order wavefront stability required for high-contrast imaging the cost of some throughput. In this paper, we present the simulated performance of the concentric ring shaped pupil concepts comparing them to focal-plane coronagraphs that are optimized for the same inner working angles.

extrasolar planets↗

A comparative study of physico-chemical properties of CBD and SILAR grown ZnO thin films

Graphical abstract: Schematic model indicating ZnO nanorods by CBD (Z{sub 1}) and nanograins by SILAR (Z{sub 2}). - Highlights: • Simple methods for the synthesis of ZnO thin films. • Comparative study of physico-chemical properties of ZnO thin films prepared by CBD and SILAR methods. • CBD outperforms SILAR method. - Abstract: In the present work, nanocrystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films have been successfully deposited onto glass substrates by simple and economical chemical bath deposition (CBD) and successive ionic layer adsorption reaction (SILAR) methods. These films were further characterized for their structural, optical, surface morphological and wettability properties. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns for both CBD and SILAR deposited ZnO thin films reveal the highly crystalline hexagonal wurtzite structure. From optical studies, band gaps obtained are 2.9 and 3.0 eV for CBD and SILAR deposited thin films, respectively. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) patterns show growth of well defined randomly oriented nanorods and nanograins on the CBD and SILAR deposited samples, respectively. The resistivity of CBD deposited films (10{sup 2} Ω cm) is lower than that of SILAR deposited films (10{sup 5} Ω cm). Surface wettability studies show hydrophobic nature for both films. From the above results it can be concluded that CBD grown ZnO thin films show better properties as compared to SILAR method.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Hyperspectral Dark Field Optical Microscopy of Single Silver Nanospheres

We record spectrally (400 nm ≤ λ ≤ 675 nm, Δλ < 4.69 nm) and spatially (diffraction-limited, sampled at 85 nm2/pixel) resolved dark field (DF) scattering from single silver nanospheres of 100 nm in diameter. Hyperspectral DF optical microscopy is achieved by coupling a hyperspectral detector to an optical microscope, whereby spectrally resolved diffraction-limited images of hundreds of silver nanoparticles can be recorded in ~30 seconds. We demonstrate how the centers and edges of individual particles can be localized in 2D to within a single pixel (85 nm2), using a statistical method for examining texture based on a co-occurrence matrix. Subsequently, spatial averaging of the spectral response in a 3x3 pixel area around the particle centers affords ample signal-to-noise to resolve the plasmon resonance of a single silver nanosphere. A close inspection of the scattering spectra of 31 different nanospheres reveals that each particle has its unique (i) relative scattering efficiency, and (ii) plasmon resonance maximum and dephasing time. These observations are suggestive of nanometric structural variations over length scales much finer than the spatial resolution attainable using the all-optical technique described herein.

Dark Field Scattering↗

Compensation of X-ray mirror shape-errors using refractive optics

Focusing of X-rays to nanometre scale focal spots requires high precision X-ray optics. For nano-focusing mirrors, height errors in the mirror surface retard or advance the X-ray wavefront and after propagation to the focal plane, this distortion of the wavefront causes blurring of the focus resulting in a limit on the spatial resolution. We describe here the implementation of a method for correcting the wavefront that is applied before a focusing mirror using custom-designed refracting structures which locally cancel out the wavefront distortion from the mirror. We demonstrate in measurements on a synchrotron radiation beamline a reduction in the size of the focal spot of a characterized test mirror by a factor of greater than 10 times. This technique could be used to correct existing synchrotron beamline focusing and nanofocusing optics providing a highly stable wavefront with low distortion for obtaining smaller focus sizes. This method could also correct multilayer or focusing crystal optics allowing larger numerical apertures to be used in order to reduce the diffraction limited focal spot size.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Coherent order parameter dynamics in SmTe 3

We present a combined ultrafast optical pump-probe and ultrafast x-ray diffraction measurement of the CDW dynamics in SmTe$_3$ at 300 K. The ultrafast x-ray diffraction measurements, taken at the Linac Coherent Light Source reveal a $\sim 1.55$ THz mode that becomes overdamped with increasing fluence. We identify this oscillation with the lattice component of the amplitude mode. Furthermore, these data allow for a more clear identification of the frequencies present in the optical pump-probe data. In both, reflectivity and diffraction, we observe a crossover of the response from linear (for small displacements) to quadratic in the amplitude of the order parameter displacement. Finally, a time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau model captures the essential features of the experimental observations.

Trigo, Mariano↗

Coupled order parameters and photoinduced domain walls in the charge density wave of (TaSe 4 ) 2 I

The charge density wave in (TaSe 4 ) 2 I has drawn much attention recently as a controversial candidate for an axion insulator where the CDW breaks the chiral symmetry of the Weyl semimetal. Here we use ultrafast x-ray scattering to study the collective modes of this CDW. By measuring several diffraction peaks we find that the order parameter involves coupled optical and acoustic modes. For strong near-infrared excitation, the dynamics of the x-ray diffraction show evidence of photoinduced inversion of both components of the CDW order parameter, and associated domain walls. These results demonstrate the potential of ultrafast methods to induce topological defects through highly nonequilibrium dynamics. In (TaSe 4 ) 2 I these defects should lead to exotic electronic states due to the nontrivial topology of the band structure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗