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At least 127 records · Page 7

Surface electrical properties experiment. Part 2: Theory of radio-frequency interferometry in geophysical subsurface probing

The radiation fields due to a horizontal electric dipole laid on the surface of a stratified medium were calculated using a geometrical optics approximation, a modal approach, and direct numerical integration. The solutions were obtained from the reflection coefficient formulation and written in integral forms. The calculated interference patterns are compared in terms of the usefulness of the methods used to obtain them. Scattering effects are also discussed and all numerical results for anisotropic and isotropic cases are presented.

Kong, J. A.↗

Research on electrical properties of severe thunderstorms in the Great Plains

Techniques, equipment, and results of studies (1978-1980) to determine the relationships between electrical phenomena and the dynamics and precipitation of storms are reported. Doppler and conventional radar, video tapes and movies, and VHF recording devices were used to monitor an area 200 x 100 km, aligned SW to NE. The 23 cm radar and a Doppler radar were employed to acquire radar echoes from lightning. Observations of a squall line, a severe storm, and radar echoes from electrical discharges are described. Positively charged cloud-to-ground lightning was observed during the severe and final stages of severe storms; average lightning rates and total flashes for normal and severe storms are provided. Comparisons of lightning echoes and electric field changes indicated that abrupt increases in radar reflectivity were correlated with return strokes and K-type field changes.

Rust, W. D.↗

Growth and electrical properties of ultrafine fibers

This paper reports on free-standing ultrafine fibers formed using the gas-evaporation method in the presence of electric fields. Materials up to 10 cm in length have been prepared in this way. Electrical measurements on Pd fibers 3 mm in length and about 200-300 A in diameter are given.

Webb, G. W.↗

Improved electrical properties of n-type SiGe alloys

The effect of changes in the carrier concentration and mobility for heavily doped n-type SiGe on the electrical power factor has been investigated. It has been shown that power factors of 37-40 microV/cm-K-squared can be achieved with carrier concentrations of 2.0 - 2.5 x 10 exp 20/cu cm and mobilities of 38-40 sq cm/V-sec. Many samples with suitable carrier concentration do not have high mobilities and some rationale for this behavior is presented. Initial results are presented on fabrication of n-type samples from ultrafine powders. The emphasis in this work is to achieve thermal conductivity reductions by adding inert particles to scatter midfrequency phonons.

Scoville, A. N.↗

Pressure dependence of the electrical properties of GaBi solidified in low gravity

Immiscible GaBi alloys were solidified during free fall in the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center drop tower, which provides about 4.5 seconds of low gravity. The electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility were measured as a function of pressure (up to 18 kbar) and temperature (300 K to 4.2 K) of drop tower (DT) and ground control (GC) samples prepared under identical conditions, except for gravity. At ambient pressure the electrical resistance of the DT sample exhibits a broad maximum at 100 K, while that of GC sample decreases rapidly as temperature decreases. Both DT and GC samples become superconducting at 7.7 K. However, a minor second superconducting phase with a transition temperature at 8.3 K is observed only in the DT samples.

Wu, M. K.↗

Investigations of room temperature multiferroic and magneto-electric properties of (1-Φ) PZTFT-Φ CZFMO particulate composites

Multiferroic composites consisting of a single-phase multiferroic [0.6(PbZr 0.53 Ti 0.47 O 3 )-0.4(PbFe 0.5 Ta 0.5 )O 3 ] as a matrix and a magnetostrictive phase (Co 0.6 Zn 0.4 Fe 1.7 Mn 0.3 O 4 ) dispersed in the matrix are fabricated via hybrid synthesis technique. The structure and surface morphology studies using x-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy techniques indicate the formation of 3-0 type particulate composites. Coexistence of soft-magnetic behavior and ferroelectric characteristics are confirmed for composites from magnetization vs magnetic field (M–H) and polarization vs electric field (P–E) measurements, respectively. Magneto-dielectric (MD) measurement shows significant changes in the dielectric properties with the application of a magnetic field, indicating the existence of strong MD behavior. The biquadratic nature of magneto-electric (ME) coupling is described by the Landau free energy equation arising from the strain transfer at the interfaces between the constituent phases. The direct magneto-electric voltage coefficient measurement also confirms very strong coupling between ferroelectricity and magnetism and supports the strain-mediated magneto-electric effect in composites. The Φ = 0.3 composite exhibits the maximum ME coefficient of 20.72 mV/cm Oe with M S = 24.62 emu/g, H C = 59.66 Oe, and piezoelectric coefficient value d 33 = 19 pC/N. In conclusion, the strong magneto-electric effect along with low dielectric loss at room temperature in these composites suggests their suitability for multifunctional magneto-electric device applications such as magnetic sensors, etc.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Electrical Properties of Lunar Environment Used for Predicting Lunar RF Propagation Characteristics

This contribution treats the lunar propagation environment as a three region medium: lunar exosphere, lunar regolith, and lunar bedrocks. Then it provides models for predicting the electromagnetic characteristics of each region. The electromagnetic characteristics could be electric characteristics represented by the complex relative permittivity, or magnetic characteristics represented by the complex relative permeability or both electric and magnetic characteristics. The lunar exosphere and the lunar bedrocks have only electric characteristics. The lunar regolith has both electric and magnetic characteristics. The complex relative permittivity models for lunar regolith are mapping of the corresponding models for Earth surface components reported in ITU-R P. 527-6. The complex relative permittivity prediction model of lunar exosphere is expressed in terms of a plasma frequency similar to the ordinary wave critical frequency in the corresponding model for the ionosphere. Based on this fascicle the following can be concluded for the frequency bands of 390 MHz and above: • The lunar exosphere can be treated as a free space, • The lunar regolith can be considered as non-magnetic, • The regolith complex relative permittivity has no temperature dependence, • The real part of the regolith complex relative permittivity depends only on regolith bulk density and it has no frequency dependence, and • The variation of regolith complex relative permittivity with regolith depth should be taken into consideration. Moreover, at frequencies of 2400 MHz and above, the lunar regolith can be treated as a uniform medium with complex relative permittivity equal to the corresponding complex relative permittivity at the regolith surface.

Electrical Permittivity↗

Influence of oxygen on the optical and electrical properties of magnetron-sputtered indium tin oxide thin films at ambient temperature

Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) thin films are commonly used as transparent conductive layers in the production of solar cells. ITO films are typically heat-treated at temperatures exceeding 200 °C after magnetron sputtering to optimize the physical, optical, and electrical characteristics for photovoltaic devices. Here, this high temperature heating procedure greatly limits the use of potential substrates, particularly those comprised of low-temperature-rated polymers. Herein, we examine the physical, optical, and electrical transport effects of oxygen:argon plasmas during radio frequency magnetron sputtering of ITO on glass and flexible polymer surfaces without subsequent heat treatment. ITO thin films were characterized via sheet resistance testing, UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy imaging. Sheet resistance measurements revealed an increase in surface resistance with increasing oxygen concentration during sputtering. UV-Vis optical transmittance measurements demonstrated an improvement in optical transmittance with an increase in oxygen concentration reaching a maximum transmittance at an oxygen concentration of 1-2 %. Most importantly, it was discovered that producing bilayers of ITO with pure argon sputtered plasmas followed by oxygen:argon plasmas produced ITO thin films with suitable resistance and transmittance without the need for high temperature post annealing. These results highlight a methodology for the deposition of ITO thin films on temperature sensitive substrates for flexible photovoltaics and low-cost module production.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Electrical Properties of Carbon Dioxide Hydrate: Implications for Monitoring CO 2 in the Gas Hydrate Stability Zone

CO 2 and CH 4 clathrate hydrates are of keen interest for energy and carbon cycle considerations. While both typically form on Earth as cubic structure I (sI), we find that pure CO 2 hydrate exhibits over an order of magnitude higher electrical conductivity ( σ ) than pure CH 4 hydrate at geologically relevant temperatures. In this study, the conductivity was obtained from frequency-dependent impedance ( Z ) measurements made on polycrystalline CO 2 hydrate (CO 2 ·6.0 ± 0.2H 2 O by methods here) with 25% gas-filled porosity, compared with CH 4 hydrate (CH 4 ·5.9H 2 O) formed and measured in the same apparatus and exhibiting closely matching grain characteristics. The conductivity of CO 2 hydrate is 6.5 × 10 –4 S/m at 273K with an activation energy ( E a ) of 46.5 kJ/mol at 260–281 K, compared with ~5 × 10 –5 S/m and 34.8 kJ/m for CH 4 hydrate. Equivalent circuit modeling indicates that different pathways govern conduction in CO 2 versus CH 4 hydrate. Results show promise for use of electromagnetic methods in monitoring CO 2 hydrate formation in certain natural settings or in CO 2 /CH 4 exchange efforts.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Chatanika radar measurements of the electrical properties of auroral arcs

Ionospheric parameters measured in the presence of auroral arcs by the incoherent scatter Chatanika radar are used to define properties of the arcs. The radar broadcasts at 3-5 MW with a range resolution of 4.5 km along the radar line-of-sight, and has yielded auroral measurements on the variation of electron density, Hall and Pederson conductivity, horizontal electric fields, electrojet currents, precipitating electron energy flux, and the Joule heating rate. Elevation-scan techniques have been utilized to study the latitude and altitude variation of the ionospheric plasma parameters, and fixed-position scans allow determination of ionization conditions, including the electric fields and the acceleration of precipitating auroral electrons. Arcs in the diffuse aurora have been found to be local conductivity enhancements, while discrete arcs correspond to the boundary plasma sheet and have an asymmetric electric field pattern reduced on the northward side.

Vondrak, R. R.↗

Acoustic and electrical properties of Fe-Ti oxides with application to the deep lunar mantle

The overturn of titanium-rich mantle cumulates has been invoked to explain the structure and dynamics of the Moon. These dense cumulates are stable at the core-mantle boundary (CMB) and could explain field observations inferred from geophysical studies. Here, we report acoustic and electrical experiments on natural ilmenite-rutile aggregates up to 4.5 GPa and 1920 K. Seismic velocities show a weak pressure and temperature dependence, with Vs ~ 4.2 (+/-0.2) km/s and Vp ~8.0 (+/-0.2) km/s at the CMB conditions. Conductivity increases by a factor of 10 4 from 373 to 1920 K and is >10(3) S/m above 1573 K. Seismic and electrical models for the lunar mantle based on our results, considering mixtures of Fe-Ti oxides and olivine, indicate that field velocity and conductivity estimates are reproduced satisfactorily with 3-16 vol.% Fe-Ti oxides and 20 vol.% melt. Interactions between a Ti-rich, melt-bearing layer and the adjacent core likely affect the cooling and magnetic history of the Moon.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Electrical properties of dry rocks

The mechanism by which atmospheric moisture affects the conductivity and dielectric constant of rock specimens was studied in time and frequency domains. It is suggested that adsorbed water molecules alter the surface conductivity in a manner similar to that observed in semiconductors and insulators. Powdered basalts show a low-frequency dispersion produced by the atmospheric moisture remaining in the pore system of the sample in a high vacuum; this effect is attributed to isolated adsorption centers. Simulated lunar permafrost at 100 K and a vacuum of 10 to the -8th power torr together with data on lunar samples contaminated with atmospheric moisture and the dielectric properties of ice at various temperatures indicate that, if permafrost exists in the moon it should present a relaxation peak at approximately 300 Hz; for temperatures up to 263 K it may go up to 20 KHz. It is concluded that in order to have electrical steady state conditions in rock samples it is necessary to have volume charge accumulations at interfaces within the sample and at the electrode sample interface. A method for measuring heterogeneous dielectrics with non-negligible ohmic and dielectric conductivities is proposed and experimentally verified.

Morrison, H.↗

Electrical properties of polyimides containing a near-surface deposit of silver

Films containing a surface or near-surface deposit of palladium, gold or copper metal as well as tin, cobalt, copper, or lithium oxides have been prepared by dissolving appropriate metal salts into poly(amide-acid)/N,N-dimethylacetamide solutions and curing the solvent cast films to temperatures up to 300 C. This preparation technique has been extended to evaluate the thermal, spectroscopic, and electrical characteristics of condensation polyimide films modified with silver nitrate. A near-surface deposit of metallic silver results but the reflective surface has high electrical resistivity (sheet resistivity) due to a polymer coating or overlayer above the metal. Details pertaining to the silver nitrate modified condensation polyimides are presented. Also, the applicability of the structural model and electrical model previously proposed for the cobalt oxide system are assessed.

Rancourt, J. D.↗

Radiation response and electrical properties of polymer energy storage capacitors: PVF2, Polysulfone, and Mylar

Efforts were made to develop a polymer film capacitor that is tolerant to radiation. The capacitors are to be utilized in a high voltage pulse discharge application. Radiation response data at high dose/dose rate levels are presented for polyvinylidene fluoride (PVF2), polysulfone, and Mylar. The results show that PVF2 is the most radiation tolerant while Mylar is the least tolerant. The data also show that the radiation response is quite dependent on operating electric stress.

Edwards, L. R.↗

Electrical properties of epitaxial 3C- and 6H-SiC p-n junction diodes produced side-by-side on 6H-SiC substrates

3C-SiC (beta-SiC) and 6H-SiC p-n junction diodes have been fabricated in regions of both 3C-SiC and 6H-SiC epitaxial layers which were grown side-by-side on low-tilt-angle 6H-SiC substrates via a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. Several runs of diodes exhibiting state-of-the-art electrical characteristics were produced, and performance characteristics were measured and compared as a function of doping, temperature, and polytype. The first 3C-SiC diodes which rectify to reverse voltages in excess of 300 V were characterized, representing a six-fold blocking voltage improvement over experimental 3C-SiC diodes produced by previous techniques. When placed under sufficient forward bias, the 3C-SiC diodes emit significantly bright green-yellow light while the 6H-SiC diodes emit in the blue-violet. The 6H-SiC p-n junction diodes represent the first reported high-quality 6H-SiC devices to be grown by CVD on very low-tilt-angle (less than 0.5 deg off the (0001) silicon face) 6H substrates. The reverse leakage current of a 200 micron diameter circular device at 1100 V reverse bias was less than 20 nA at room temperature, and excellent rectification characteristics were demonstrated at the peak characterization temperature of 400 C.

EPITAXIAL LAYER↗

Characterization of Soil Thermal and Electrical Properties along Multiple Hillslope Transects at Teller Road Site, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, 2017

This dataset has been acquired along five-119 m long transects located on the bottom part of the watershed hillslope at the NGEE Arctic Teller Road site at mile marker 27 (TL_MM27) on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska in July and September 2017. The Distributed Temperature Profiling (DTP) system dataset consist in vertically-resolved profile of soil temperature covering the top 0.8 m of soil with 8 cm interval. In addition to DPT data, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) data, soil moisture, depth to rock or thaw layer thickness (no differentiation) and ground elevations data have been acquired along each of the transects. A UAV-based geotiff mosaic of the investigated site is also provided. The four data types provided with this dataset of 37 files (*.csv, *.tif, *.DATA): (1) soil temperature profiles, (2) ERT data, (3) the physical measurements of the thaw layer, and (4) an orthomosaic GeoTIFF of the transect study area.The Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments: Arctic (NGEE Arctic), was a research effort to reduce uncertainty in Earth System Models by developing a predictive understanding of carbon-rich Arctic ecosystems and feedbacks to climate. NGEE Arctic was supported by the Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research.The NGEE Arctic project had two field research sites: 1) located within the Arctic polygonal tundra coastal region on the Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO) and the North Slope near Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska and 2) multiple areas on the discontinuous permafrost region of the Seward Peninsula north of Nome, Alaska.Through observations, experiments, and synthesis with existing datasets, NGEE Arctic provided an enhanced knowledge base for multi-scale modeling and contributed to improved process representation at global pan-Arctic scales within the Department of Energy's Earth system Model (the Energy Exascale Earth System Model, or E3SM), and specifically within the E3SM Land Model component (ELM).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Micromechanical and Electrical Properties of Monolithic Aluminum Nitride at High Temperatures

Micromechanical spectroscopy of aluminum nitride reveals it to possess extremely low background internal friction at less than 1x10(exp-4) logarithmic decrement (log dec) from 20 to 1200 T. Two mechanical loss peaks were observed, the first at 350 C approximating a single Debye peak with a peak height of 60x10(exp-4) log dec. The second peak was seen at 950 'C with a peak height of 20x 10' log dec and extended from 200 to over 1200 C. These micromechanical observations manifested themselves in the electrical behavior of these materials. Electrical conduction processes were predominately intrinsic. Both mechanical and electrical relaxations appear to be thermally activated processes, with activation energies of 0.78 and 1.32 eV respectively.

Goldsby, Jon C.↗