By using muon spin relaxation(μSR)measurements,we perform a comparative study of the microscopic magnetism in the parent compounds of infinite-layer nickelate superconductors RNiO_(2)(R=La,Nd).In either compound,the ...By using muon spin relaxation(μSR)measurements,we perform a comparative study of the microscopic magnetism in the parent compounds of infinite-layer nickelate superconductors RNiO_(2)(R=La,Nd).In either compound,the zero-fieldμSR spectra down to the lowest measured temperature reveal no long-range magnetic order.In LaNiO_(2),short-range spin correlations appear below T=150 K,and spins fully freeze below T∼10 K.NdNiO_(2)exhibits a more complex spin dynamics driven by the Nd 4f and Ni3d electron spin fluctuations.Further,it shows features suggesting the proximity to a spin-glass state occurring below T=5 K.In both compounds,the spin behavior with temperature is further confirmed by longitudinal-field μSR measurements.These results provide new insight into the magnetism of the parent compounds of the superconducting nickelates,crucial to understanding the microscopic origin of their superconductivity.展开更多
Eurofer97 steel is a primary structural material for applications in fusion reactors. Laser welding is a promising technique to join Eurofer97 plasma-facing components and overcome remote handling and maintenance chal...Eurofer97 steel is a primary structural material for applications in fusion reactors. Laser welding is a promising technique to join Eurofer97 plasma-facing components and overcome remote handling and maintenance challenges. The interaction of the induced residual stress and the heterogeneous microstructure degrades the mechanical performance of such fusion components. The present study investigates the distribution of residual stress in as-welded and post-heat treated Eurofer97 joints. The mechanistic connections between microstructure, material properties, and residual stress are also studied. Neutron diffraction is used to study the through-thickness residual stress distribution in three directions,and neutron Bragg edge imaging(NBEI) is applied to study the residual strain in high spatial resolution.The microstructures and micro-hardness are characterised by electron backscatter diffraction and nanoindentation, respectively. The M-shaped residual stress distribution through the thickness of the as-welded weldment is observed by neutron diffraction line scans over a region of 1.41 × 10 mm^(2). These profiles are cross-validated over a larger area(∼56 × 40 mm^(2)) with the higher spatial resolution by NBEI. The micro-hardness value in the fusion zone of the as-welded sample almost doubles from 2.75 ± 0.09 GPa to 5.06 ± 0.29 GPa due to a combination of residual stress and cooling-induced martensite. Conventional post weld heat treatment(PWHT) is shown to release ∼90% of the residual stress but not fully restore the microstructure. By comparing its hardness with that of stress-free samples, it is found that the microstructure is the primary contribution to the hardening. This study provides insight into the prediction of structural integrity for critical structural components of fusion reactors.展开更多
An experimental muon source(EMuS) will be built at the China Spallation Neutron Source(CSNS). In phase I of CSNS, it has been decided that EMuS will provide a proton beam of 5 kW and 1.6 GeV to generate muon beams. A ...An experimental muon source(EMuS) will be built at the China Spallation Neutron Source(CSNS). In phase I of CSNS, it has been decided that EMuS will provide a proton beam of 5 kW and 1.6 GeV to generate muon beams. A 128-channel muon spin rotation/relaxation/resonance(μSR) spectrometer is proposed as a prototype surface muon spectrometer in a sub-branch of EMuS. The prototype spectrometer includes a detection system, sample environment, and supporting mechanics. The current design has two rings located at the forward and backward directions of the muon spin with 64 detectors per ring. The simulation shows that the highest asymmetry of approximately 0.28 is achieved by utilizing two 10-mm-thick brass degraders. To obtain the optimal asymmetry, the two-ring structure is updated to a four-ring structure with 32 segments in each ring. An asymmetry of 0.42 is obtained through the simulation, which is higher than that of all the current μSR spectrometers in the world.展开更多
We investigated the mechanical and microstructural responses of a high-strength equal-molar medium entropy FeCrNi alloy at 293 and 15 K by in situ neutron diffraction testing.At 293 K,the alloy had a very high yield s...We investigated the mechanical and microstructural responses of a high-strength equal-molar medium entropy FeCrNi alloy at 293 and 15 K by in situ neutron diffraction testing.At 293 K,the alloy had a very high yield strength of 651±12 MPa,with a total elongation of 48%±5%.At 15 K,the yield strength increased to 1092±22 MPa,but the total elongation dropped to 18%±1%.Via analyzing the neutron diffraction data,we determined the lattice strain evolution,single-crystal elastic constants,stacking fault probability,and estimated stacking fault energy of the alloy at both temperatures,which are the critical parameters to feed into and compare against our first-principles calculations and dislocation-based slip system modeling.The density functional theory calculations show that the alloy tends to form shortrange order at room temperatures.However,atom probe tomography and atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy did not clearly identify the short-range order.Additionally,at 293 K,experimental measured single-crystal elastic constants did not agree with those determined by first-principles calculations with short-range order but agreed well with the values from the calculation with the disordered configuration at 2000 K.This suggests that the alloy is at a metastable state resulted from the fabrication methods.In view of the high yield strength of the alloy,we calculated the strengthening contribution to the yield strength from grain boundaries,dislocations,and lattice distortion.The lattice distortion contribution was based on the Varenne-Luque-Curtine strengthening theory for multi-component alloys,which was found to be 316 MPa at 293 K and increased to 629 MPa at 15 K,making a significant contribution to the high yield strength.Regarding plastic deformation,dislocation movement and multiplication were found to be the dominant hardening mechanism at both temperatures,whereas twinning and phase transformation were not prevalent.This is mainly due to the high stacking fault energy of the alloy as estimated to be 63 mJ m^(-2) at 293 K and 47 mJ m^(-2) at 15 K.This work highlights the significance of lattice distortion and dislocations played in this alloy,providing insights into the design of new multicomponent alloys with superb mechanical performance for cryogenic applications.展开更多
Time reversal symmetry(TRS)is a key symmetry for classification of unconventional superconductors,and the violation of TRS often results in a wealth of novel properties.Here we report the synthesis and superconducting...Time reversal symmetry(TRS)is a key symmetry for classification of unconventional superconductors,and the violation of TRS often results in a wealth of novel properties.Here we report the synthesis and superconducting properties of the partially filled skutterudite Pr1-δPt4Ge12.The results from x-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements show that the[Pt4 Ge12]cage-forming structure survives and bulk superconductivity is preserved below the superconducting transition temperature Tc = 7.80 K.The temperature dependence of both the upper critical field and the electronic specific heat can be described in terms of a two-gap model,providing strong evidence of multi-band superconductivity.TRS breaking is observed using zero Held muon-spin relaxation experiments,and the magnitude of the spontaneous field is nearly half of that in PrPt4Ge12.展开更多
The structure and magnetic properties of rare-earth ions Tm^(3+)Kagomé lattice Tm_(3)Sb_(3)Mg_(2)O_(14)are studied by x-ray diffraction,magnetic susceptibility and muon spin relaxation(𝜇SR)experiments.The...The structure and magnetic properties of rare-earth ions Tm^(3+)Kagomé lattice Tm_(3)Sb_(3)Mg_(2)O_(14)are studied by x-ray diffraction,magnetic susceptibility and muon spin relaxation(𝜇SR)experiments.The existence of a small amount of Tm/Mg site-mixing disorder is revealed.DC magnetic susceptibility measurement shows that Tm^(3+)magnetic moments are antiferromagnetically correlated with a negative Curie-Weiss temperature of−26.3 K.Neither long-range magnetic order nor spin-glass transition is observed by DC and AC magnetic susceptibility,and confirmed by μSR experiment down to 0.1 K.However,the emergence of short-range magnetic order is indicated by the zero-field μSR experiments,and the absence of spin dynamics at low temperatures is evidenced by the longitudinal-field μSR technique.Compared with the results of Tm_(3)Sb_(3)Zn_(2)O_(14),another Tm-based Kagomé lattice with much more site-mixing disorder,the gapless spin liquid like behaviors in Tm_(3)Sb_(3)Zn_(2)O_(14)can be induced by disorder effect.Samples with perfect geometrical frustration are in urgent demand to establish whether QSL exists in this kind of materials with rare-earth Kagomé lattice.展开更多
We report the synthesis and superconducting properties of a layered cage compound Ba_(3)Rh_(4)Ge_(16).Similar to Ba_(3)Ir_(4)Ge_(16),the compound is composed of 2 D networks of cage units,formed by noncubic Rh-Ge buil...We report the synthesis and superconducting properties of a layered cage compound Ba_(3)Rh_(4)Ge_(16).Similar to Ba_(3)Ir_(4)Ge_(16),the compound is composed of 2 D networks of cage units,formed by noncubic Rh-Ge building blocks,in marked contrast to the reported rattling compounds.The electrical resistivity,magnetization,specific heat capacity,andμSR measurements unveiled moderately coupled s-wave superconductivity with a critical temperature T_(c)=7.0 K,the upper critical field μ_(0)H_(c2)(0)~2.5 T,the electron-phonon coupling strength λ_(e-ph)~0.80,and the Ginzburg-Landau parameterκ~7.89.The mass reduction with the substitution of Ir by Rh is believed to be responsible for the enhancement of T_(c) and coupling between the cage and vip atoms.Our results highlight the importance of atomic weight of framework in cage compounds in controlling the λ_(e-ph) strength and T_(c).展开更多
We use neutron powder diffraction to investigate the magnetic and crystalline structure of Cr_(2)GaN.A magnetic phase transition is identified at T≈170 K,whereas no trace of structural transition is observed down to ...We use neutron powder diffraction to investigate the magnetic and crystalline structure of Cr_(2)GaN.A magnetic phase transition is identified at T≈170 K,whereas no trace of structural transition is observed down to 6 K.Combining Rietveld refinement with irreducible representations,the spin configuration of Cr ions in Cr_(2)GaN is depicted as an incommensurate sinusoidal modulated structure characterized by a propagating vector k=(0.365,0.365,0).Upon warming up to the paramagnetic state,the magnetic order parameter closely resembles to the temperature dependence of c-axis lattice parameter,suggesting strong magneto-elastic coupling in this compound.Therefore,Cr_(2)Ga N provides a potential platform for exploration of magnetically tuned properties such as magnetoelectric,magnetostrictive and magnetocaloric effects,as well as their applications.展开更多
We systematically investigate the magnetic properties of Cu4-xZnx(OH)6FBr using the neutron diffraction and muon spin rotation and relaxation(μSR) techniques.Neutron-diffraction measurements suggest that the longrang...We systematically investigate the magnetic properties of Cu4-xZnx(OH)6FBr using the neutron diffraction and muon spin rotation and relaxation(μSR) techniques.Neutron-diffraction measurements suggest that the longrange magnetic order and the orthorhombic nuclear structure in the x=0 sample can persist up to x=0.23 and 0.43,respectively.The temperature dependence of the zero-field μSR spectra provides two characteristic temperatures,TA0 and Tλ,which are associated with the initial drop close to zero time and the long-time exponential decay of the muon relaxation,respectively.Comparison between TA0 and TM from previously reported magnetic-susceptibility measurements suggest that the former comes from the short-range interlayer-spin clusters that persist up to x=0.82.On the other hand,the doping level where Tλ becomes zero is about 0.66,which is much higher than threshold of the long-range order,i.e.,~0.4.Our results suggest that the change in the nuclear structure may alter the spin dynamics of the kagome layers and a gapped quantum-spin-liquid state may exist above x=0.66 with the perfect kagome planes.展开更多
The methanol-to-olefins(MTO)process has the potential to bridge future gaps in the supply of sustainable lower olefins.Promoting the selectivity of propylene and ethylene and revealing the catalytic role of active sit...The methanol-to-olefins(MTO)process has the potential to bridge future gaps in the supply of sustainable lower olefins.Promoting the selectivity of propylene and ethylene and revealing the catalytic role of active sites are challenging goals in MTO reactions.Here,we report a novel heteroatomic silicoaluminophosphate(SAPO)zeolite,SAPO-34-Ta,which incorporates active tantalum(V)sites within the framework to afford an optimal distribution of acidity.SAPO-34-Ta exhibits a remarkable total selectivity of 85.8%for propylene and ethylene with a high selectivity of 54.9%for propylene on full conversion of methanol at 400°C.In situ and operando synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction,diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and inelastic neutron scattering,coupled with theoretical calculations,reveal trimethyloxonium as the key reaction intermediate,promoting the formation of first carbon-carbon bonds in olefins.The tacit cooperation between tantalum(V)and Brønsted acid sites within SAPO-34 provides an efficient platform for selective production of lower olefins from methanol.展开更多
Domain wall structures form spontaneously due to epitaxial misfit during thin film growth.Imaging the dynamics of domains and domain walls at ultrafast timescales can provide fundamental clues to features that impact ...Domain wall structures form spontaneously due to epitaxial misfit during thin film growth.Imaging the dynamics of domains and domain walls at ultrafast timescales can provide fundamental clues to features that impact electrical transport in electronic devices.Recently,deep learning based methods showed promising phase retrieval(PR)performance,allowing intensity-only measurements to be transformed into snapshot real space images.While the Fourier imaging model involves complex-valued quantities,most existing deep learning based methods solve the PR problem with real-valued based models,where the connection between amplitude and phase is ignored.To this end,we involve complex numbers operation in the neural network to preserve the amplitude and phase connection.Therefore,we employ the complex-valued neural network for solving the PR problem and evaluate it on Bragg coherent diffraction data streams collected from an epitaxial La_(2-x)Sr_(x)CuO_(4)(LSCO)thin film using an X-ray Free Electron Laser(XFEL).Our proposed complex-valued neural network based approach outperforms the traditional real-valued neural network methods in both supervised and unsupervised learning manner.Phase domains are also observed from the LSCO thin film at an ultrafast timescale using the complex-valued neural network.展开更多
In this paper, we present the results of deep inelastic neutron scattering （DINS） measurements on supercooled water confined within the pores （average pore diameter - 20A） of a disordered hydrophilic silica matrix...In this paper, we present the results of deep inelastic neutron scattering （DINS） measurements on supercooled water confined within the pores （average pore diameter - 20A） of a disordered hydrophilic silica matrix obtained through hydrolysis and polycondensation of the alkoxide precursor Tetra-Methyl- Ortho-Silicate via the sol-gel method. Experiments were performed at two temperatures （250 K and 210 K, i.e., before and after the putative liquid-liquid transition of supercooled confined water） on a ＂wet＂ sample with hydration h -40% w/w, which is high enough to have water-filled pores but low enough to avoid water crystallization. A virtually ＂dry＂ sample at h - 7% was also investigated to measure the contribution of the silica matrix to the neutron scattering signal. As ：is well known, DINS measurements allow the determination of the mean kinetic energy and the momentum distribution of the hydrogen atoms in the system and therefore, allow researchers to probe the local structure of supercooled confined water. The main result obtained is that at 210 K the hydrogen mean kinetic energy is equal or even slightly higher than at 250 K. This is at odds with the predictions of a semi-empirical harmonic model recently proposed to describe the temperature dependence of the kinetic energy of hydrogen in water. This is a new and very interesting result, which suggests that at 210 K, the water hydrogens experience a stiffer intermolecular potential than at 250 K. This is in agreement with the liquid-liquid transition hypothesis.展开更多
Water is an ubiquitous liquid and it is necessary for life;studies on water are therefore of obvious scientific and technological relevance.In view of its peculiar physical properties(the so-called water anomalies,par...Water is an ubiquitous liquid and it is necessary for life;studies on water are therefore of obvious scientific and technological relevance.In view of its peculiar physical properties(the so-called water anomalies,particularly relevant at low temperatures[1]),studies on water structure and dynamics in ample temperature intervals,covering also the supercooling region,have attracted much interest in recent years.In particular,studies focused on the supercooled phase are important in order to test theories and hypotheses[2,3],including the liquid-liquid phase transition hypothesis[4-6]and the related fragile-to-strong crossover observed in water confined in silica matrices and in the hydration water of proteins[7,8].In this context,water confined within nanometer-sized porous hydrophilic/hydrophobic matrices has been investigated both to extend the supercooling temperature range accessible to experiment and to mimic the crowding/confined conditions experienced by water molecules in biological systems relevant to biophysics,bio-preservation,and pharmaceutics.In view of the above arguments,studies on the short-time dynamics of hydrogen and oxygen atoms of supercooled water(bulk or confined)are of great relevance.展开更多
Muon spin relaxation/rotation(μSR) is a vital technique for probing the superconducting gap structure, pairing symmetry and time reversal symmetry breaking, enabling an understanding of the mechanisms behind the unco...Muon spin relaxation/rotation(μSR) is a vital technique for probing the superconducting gap structure, pairing symmetry and time reversal symmetry breaking, enabling an understanding of the mechanisms behind the unconventional superconductivity of cuprates and Fe-based high-temperature superconductors, which remain a puzzle. Very recently double layered Fe-based superconductors having quasi-2 D crystal structures and Cr-based superconductors with a quasi-1D structure have drawn considerable attention. Here we present a brief review of the characteristics of a few selected Fe-and Cr-based superconducting materials and highlight some of the major outstanding problems, with an emphasis on the superconducting pairing symmetries of these materials. We focus on μSR studies of the newly discovered superconductors ACa_2Fe_4As_4F_2(A = K, Rb, and Cs), ThFeAsN, and A_2Cr_3As_3(A = K, Cs), which were used to determine the superconducting gap structures, the presence of spin fluctuations, and to search for time reversal symmetry breaking in the superconducting states. We also briefly discuss the results of μSR investigations of the superconductivity in hole and electron doped BaFe_2As_2.展开更多
We report thermodynamic and neutron scattering measurements of the triangular-lattice quantum Ising magnet TmMgGaO_(4)in longitudinal magnetic fields.Our experiments reveal a quasi-plateau state induced by quantum flu...We report thermodynamic and neutron scattering measurements of the triangular-lattice quantum Ising magnet TmMgGaO_(4)in longitudinal magnetic fields.Our experiments reveal a quasi-plateau state induced by quantum fluctuations.This state exhibits an unconventional non-monotonic field and temperature dependence of the magnetic order and excitation gap.In the high field regime where the quantum fluctuations are largely suppressed,we observed a disordered state with coherent magnon-like excitations despite the suppression of the spin excitation intensity.Through detailed semi-classical calculations,we are able to understand these behaviors quantitatively from the subtle competition between quantum fluctuations and frustrated Ising interactions.展开更多
We reply to the comment [Front.Phys.14(5),53G05 (2019)] by Y.Finkelstein and R.Moreh on our article Front.Phys.13(1).138205 (2018).We agree with some of their criticisms about our calculation of the temperature effect...We reply to the comment [Front.Phys.14(5),53G05 (2019)] by Y.Finkelstein and R.Moreh on our article Front.Phys.13(1).138205 (2018).We agree with some of their criticisms about our calculation of the temperature effect on the kinetic energy of hydrogen atoms of supercooled confined water;we also agree with their statoincnt that ,in view of the current sensitivity of the technique,possible effects of the liquid liquid water transition are hardly detected with deep inelastic neutron scattering (DINS).However,we disagree with tlieir use of the translational mass ratio of a single water molecule and,in general,with their underostimation of collective effects.展开更多
Water properties are dominated by the hydrogen bond interaction that gives rise in the stable liquid phase to the formation of a dynamical network.The latter drives the water thermodynamics and is at the origin of its...Water properties are dominated by the hydrogen bond interaction that gives rise in the stable liquid phase to the formation of a dynamical network.The latter drives the water thermodynamics and is at the origin of its well known anomalies.The HB structural geometry and its changes remain uncertain and still are challenging research subjects.A key question is the role and effects of the HB tetrahedral structure on the local arrangement of neighboring molecules in water.Here the hydrogen dynamics in bulk water is studied through the combined use of Neutron Compton Scattering and NMR techniques.Results are discussed in the framework of previous studies performed in a wide temperature range,in the liquid,solid,and amorphous states.For the first time this combined studies provide an experimental evidence of the onset of the water tetrahedral network at T^315 K,originally proposed in previous studies of transport coefficients and thermodynamical data;below this temperature the local order in water changes and the lifetime of local hydrogen bond network becomes long enough to gradually develop the characteristic tetrahedral network of water.展开更多
The hydrogen mean force from experimental neutron Compton profiles is derived using deep inelastic neutron scattering on amorphous and polycrystalline ice. The formalism of mean force is extended to probe its sensitiv...The hydrogen mean force from experimental neutron Compton profiles is derived using deep inelastic neutron scattering on amorphous and polycrystalline ice. The formalism of mean force is extended to probe its sensitivity to anharmonicity in the hydrogen-nucleus effective potential. The shape of the mean force for amorphous and polycrystalline ice is primarily determined by the anisotropy of the underlying quasi-harmonic effective potential. The data from amorphous ice show an additional curvature reflecting the more pronounced anharmonicity of the effective potential with respect to that of ice Ih.展开更多
Lowering the operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells(SOFCs)has extensively stimulated the development of new oxide ion conductors.Here,inspired by the structural commonalities of oxide ion conductors,the inabi...Lowering the operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells(SOFCs)has extensively stimulated the development of new oxide ion conductors.Here,inspired by the structural commonalities of oxide ion conductors,the inability to accommodate oxygen vacancies in the rigid,isolated,3-fold tetrahedral rings of SrSi/GeO_(3)-based materials,and the considerable flexibility of BO_(n) polyhedra in terms of coordination number,rotation,deformation,and linkage,we report the first borate-base family of oxide ion conductors,(Gd/Y)_(1−x)Zn_(x)BO_(3−0.5x),through combined computational prediction and experimental verification.The oxygen vacancies in(Gd/Y)BO_(3)can be accommodated by forming B_(3)O_(8)units in isolated,3-fold,tetrahedral rings of B_(3)O_(9)and transported through a cooperative mechanism of oxygen exchange between the B_(3)O_(9)and B_(3)O_(8)units,which is assisted by the intermediate opening and extending of these units.This study opens a new scientific field of the borate system for designing and discovering oxide ion conductors.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2022YFA1402203)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.12174065)supported by the Shenzhen Fundamental Research Program(Grant Nos.JCYJ20220818100405013 and JCYJ20230807093204010)。
文摘By using muon spin relaxation(μSR)measurements,we perform a comparative study of the microscopic magnetism in the parent compounds of infinite-layer nickelate superconductors RNiO_(2)(R=La,Nd).In either compound,the zero-fieldμSR spectra down to the lowest measured temperature reveal no long-range magnetic order.In LaNiO_(2),short-range spin correlations appear below T=150 K,and spins fully freeze below T∼10 K.NdNiO_(2)exhibits a more complex spin dynamics driven by the Nd 4f and Ni3d electron spin fluctuations.Further,it shows features suggesting the proximity to a spin-glass state occurring below T=5 K.In both compounds,the spin behavior with temperature is further confirmed by longitudinal-field μSR measurements.These results provide new insight into the magnetism of the parent compounds of the superconducting nickelates,crucial to understanding the microscopic origin of their superconductivity.
文摘Eurofer97 steel is a primary structural material for applications in fusion reactors. Laser welding is a promising technique to join Eurofer97 plasma-facing components and overcome remote handling and maintenance challenges. The interaction of the induced residual stress and the heterogeneous microstructure degrades the mechanical performance of such fusion components. The present study investigates the distribution of residual stress in as-welded and post-heat treated Eurofer97 joints. The mechanistic connections between microstructure, material properties, and residual stress are also studied. Neutron diffraction is used to study the through-thickness residual stress distribution in three directions,and neutron Bragg edge imaging(NBEI) is applied to study the residual strain in high spatial resolution.The microstructures and micro-hardness are characterised by electron backscatter diffraction and nanoindentation, respectively. The M-shaped residual stress distribution through the thickness of the as-welded weldment is observed by neutron diffraction line scans over a region of 1.41 × 10 mm^(2). These profiles are cross-validated over a larger area(∼56 × 40 mm^(2)) with the higher spatial resolution by NBEI. The micro-hardness value in the fusion zone of the as-welded sample almost doubles from 2.75 ± 0.09 GPa to 5.06 ± 0.29 GPa due to a combination of residual stress and cooling-induced martensite. Conventional post weld heat treatment(PWHT) is shown to release ∼90% of the residual stress but not fully restore the microstructure. By comparing its hardness with that of stress-free samples, it is found that the microstructure is the primary contribution to the hardening. This study provides insight into the prediction of structural integrity for critical structural components of fusion reactors.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.11527811)the Key Program of State Key Laboratory of Particle Detection and ElectronicsA part of the work performed in the UKRI ISIS Detector Group was sponsored by the China Scholarship Council
文摘An experimental muon source(EMuS) will be built at the China Spallation Neutron Source(CSNS). In phase I of CSNS, it has been decided that EMuS will provide a proton beam of 5 kW and 1.6 GeV to generate muon beams. A 128-channel muon spin rotation/relaxation/resonance(μSR) spectrometer is proposed as a prototype surface muon spectrometer in a sub-branch of EMuS. The prototype spectrometer includes a detection system, sample environment, and supporting mechanics. The current design has two rings located at the forward and backward directions of the muon spin with 64 detectors per ring. The simulation shows that the highest asymmetry of approximately 0.28 is achieved by utilizing two 10-mm-thick brass degraders. To obtain the optimal asymmetry, the two-ring structure is updated to a four-ring structure with 32 segments in each ring. An asymmetry of 0.42 is obtained through the simulation, which is higher than that of all the current μSR spectrometers in the world.
基金supported by the City U grant 9360161 and RGC grant 25202719funding from the Euratom research and training programs 2014–2018 and 2019–2020 under Grant Agreement No.633053+4 种基金the RCUK Energy Programme[Grant No.EP/T012250/1]funding from the European Research Council(ERC)under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program(grant agreement No.714697)support from high-performing computing facility MARCONI(Bologna,Italy)provided by EUROfusiona part of an international project co-financed from the funds of the program of the Polish Minister of Science and Higher Education entitled"PMW"in 2019,Agreement No.5018/H2020-Euratom/2019/2support of the Interdisciplinary center for Mathematical and Computational Modeling(ICM),University of Warsaw,under grant No.GB79–6。
文摘We investigated the mechanical and microstructural responses of a high-strength equal-molar medium entropy FeCrNi alloy at 293 and 15 K by in situ neutron diffraction testing.At 293 K,the alloy had a very high yield strength of 651±12 MPa,with a total elongation of 48%±5%.At 15 K,the yield strength increased to 1092±22 MPa,but the total elongation dropped to 18%±1%.Via analyzing the neutron diffraction data,we determined the lattice strain evolution,single-crystal elastic constants,stacking fault probability,and estimated stacking fault energy of the alloy at both temperatures,which are the critical parameters to feed into and compare against our first-principles calculations and dislocation-based slip system modeling.The density functional theory calculations show that the alloy tends to form shortrange order at room temperatures.However,atom probe tomography and atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy did not clearly identify the short-range order.Additionally,at 293 K,experimental measured single-crystal elastic constants did not agree with those determined by first-principles calculations with short-range order but agreed well with the values from the calculation with the disordered configuration at 2000 K.This suggests that the alloy is at a metastable state resulted from the fabrication methods.In view of the high yield strength of the alloy,we calculated the strengthening contribution to the yield strength from grain boundaries,dislocations,and lattice distortion.The lattice distortion contribution was based on the Varenne-Luque-Curtine strengthening theory for multi-component alloys,which was found to be 316 MPa at 293 K and increased to 629 MPa at 15 K,making a significant contribution to the high yield strength.Regarding plastic deformation,dislocation movement and multiplication were found to be the dominant hardening mechanism at both temperatures,whereas twinning and phase transformation were not prevalent.This is mainly due to the high stacking fault energy of the alloy as estimated to be 63 mJ m^(-2) at 293 K and 47 mJ m^(-2) at 15 K.This work highlights the significance of lattice distortion and dislocations played in this alloy,providing insights into the design of new multicomponent alloys with superb mechanical performance for cryogenic applications.
基金Supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China under Grant Nos 2017YFA0303104 and2016YFA0300503the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No 11774061the Chinese Government Scholarship of China Scholarship Council
文摘Time reversal symmetry(TRS)is a key symmetry for classification of unconventional superconductors,and the violation of TRS often results in a wealth of novel properties.Here we report the synthesis and superconducting properties of the partially filled skutterudite Pr1-δPt4Ge12.The results from x-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements show that the[Pt4 Ge12]cage-forming structure survives and bulk superconductivity is preserved below the superconducting transition temperature Tc = 7.80 K.The temperature dependence of both the upper critical field and the electronic specific heat can be described in terms of a two-gap model,providing strong evidence of multi-band superconductivity.TRS breaking is observed using zero Held muon-spin relaxation experiments,and the magnitude of the spontaneous field is nearly half of that in PrPt4Ge12.
基金the ISIS cryogenics Group for their valuable help during the μSR experiments (10.5286/ISIS.E.RB1820271)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.12034004 and 12174065)the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology (Major Project Grant Nos.2019SHZDZX01 and 20ZR1405300)
文摘The structure and magnetic properties of rare-earth ions Tm^(3+)Kagomé lattice Tm_(3)Sb_(3)Mg_(2)O_(14)are studied by x-ray diffraction,magnetic susceptibility and muon spin relaxation(𝜇SR)experiments.The existence of a small amount of Tm/Mg site-mixing disorder is revealed.DC magnetic susceptibility measurement shows that Tm^(3+)magnetic moments are antiferromagnetically correlated with a negative Curie-Weiss temperature of−26.3 K.Neither long-range magnetic order nor spin-glass transition is observed by DC and AC magnetic susceptibility,and confirmed by μSR experiment down to 0.1 K.However,the emergence of short-range magnetic order is indicated by the zero-field μSR experiments,and the absence of spin dynamics at low temperatures is evidenced by the longitudinal-field μSR technique.Compared with the results of Tm_(3)Sb_(3)Zn_(2)O_(14),another Tm-based Kagomé lattice with much more site-mixing disorder,the gapless spin liquid like behaviors in Tm_(3)Sb_(3)Zn_(2)O_(14)can be induced by disorder effect.Samples with perfect geometrical frustration are in urgent demand to establish whether QSL exists in this kind of materials with rare-earth Kagomé lattice.
基金Supported the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2018YFA0704300)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.U1932217,11974246,and 12004252)+5 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai(Grant No.19ZR1477300)the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality(Grant No.19JC1413900)the Analytical Instrumentation Center,SPST,Shanghai Tech University(Grant No.SPST-AIC10112914)the SERB,India for Core Research grant supportUK-India Newton Funding for funding supportthe Royal Society of London for Newton Advanced Fellowship funding and International Exchange funding between UK and JapanISIS Facility for beam time(Grant No.RB1968041)。
文摘We report the synthesis and superconducting properties of a layered cage compound Ba_(3)Rh_(4)Ge_(16).Similar to Ba_(3)Ir_(4)Ge_(16),the compound is composed of 2 D networks of cage units,formed by noncubic Rh-Ge building blocks,in marked contrast to the reported rattling compounds.The electrical resistivity,magnetization,specific heat capacity,andμSR measurements unveiled moderately coupled s-wave superconductivity with a critical temperature T_(c)=7.0 K,the upper critical field μ_(0)H_(c2)(0)~2.5 T,the electron-phonon coupling strength λ_(e-ph)~0.80,and the Ginzburg-Landau parameterκ~7.89.The mass reduction with the substitution of Ir by Rh is believed to be responsible for the enhancement of T_(c) and coupling between the cage and vip atoms.Our results highlight the importance of atomic weight of framework in cage compounds in controlling the λ_(e-ph) strength and T_(c).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11822411,12061130200,11961160699,11974392,and 52101236)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant Nos.2018YFA0704200,2017YFA0303100,and 2020YFA0406003)+4 种基金the Strategic Priority Research Program(B)of the CAS(GrantNo.XDB25000000)K.C.Wong Education Foundation(Grant No.GJTD-2020-01)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the CAS(Grant No.Y202001)Beijing Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.JQ19002)the Newton Advanced Fellowship funding from the Royal Society of UK(Grant No.NAFR1201248)。
文摘We use neutron powder diffraction to investigate the magnetic and crystalline structure of Cr_(2)GaN.A magnetic phase transition is identified at T≈170 K,whereas no trace of structural transition is observed down to 6 K.Combining Rietveld refinement with irreducible representations,the spin configuration of Cr ions in Cr_(2)GaN is depicted as an incommensurate sinusoidal modulated structure characterized by a propagating vector k=(0.365,0.365,0).Upon warming up to the paramagnetic state,the magnetic order parameter closely resembles to the temperature dependence of c-axis lattice parameter,suggesting strong magneto-elastic coupling in this compound.Therefore,Cr_(2)Ga N provides a potential platform for exploration of magnetically tuned properties such as magnetoelectric,magnetostrictive and magnetocaloric effects,as well as their applications.
基金Supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant Nos.2017YFA0302900,2016YFA0300500,2018YFA0704200,2017YFA0303100,and 2016YFA0300600)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11874401,11674406,11674372,11961160699,11774399,12061130200,11974392,and 11822411)+4 种基金the Strategic Priority Research Program(B)of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant Nos.XDB25000000,XDB07020000,XDB33000000,and XDB28000000)the Beijing Natural Science Foundation(Grant Nos.Z180008 and JQ19002)Guangdong Introducing Innovative and Entrepreneurial Teams(Grant No.2017ZT07C062)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS(Grant No.2016004)the Royal Society-Newton Advanced Fellowship(Grant No.NAF∖R1∖201248).
文摘We systematically investigate the magnetic properties of Cu4-xZnx(OH)6FBr using the neutron diffraction and muon spin rotation and relaxation(μSR) techniques.Neutron-diffraction measurements suggest that the longrange magnetic order and the orthorhombic nuclear structure in the x=0 sample can persist up to x=0.23 and 0.43,respectively.The temperature dependence of the zero-field μSR spectra provides two characteristic temperatures,TA0 and Tλ,which are associated with the initial drop close to zero time and the long-time exponential decay of the muon relaxation,respectively.Comparison between TA0 and TM from previously reported magnetic-susceptibility measurements suggest that the former comes from the short-range interlayer-spin clusters that persist up to x=0.82.On the other hand,the doping level where Tλ becomes zero is about 0.66,which is much higher than threshold of the long-range order,i.e.,~0.4.Our results suggest that the change in the nuclear structure may alter the spin dynamics of the kagome layers and a gapped quantum-spin-liquid state may exist above x=0.66 with the perfect kagome planes.
基金University of Manchester,the National Natural Science Foundation of China and BNLMS for funding,and the EPSRC for funding of the EPSRC National EPR Facility at Manchester(EP/W014532/1 and EP/X034623/1)We are grateful to the STFC/ISIS Facility and Diamond Light Source for access to the beamlines TOSCA/MAPS,and I11/B18/B22,respectively+8 种基金We are grateful to the STFC/ISIS Facility and Diamond Light Source for access to the beamlines TOSCA/MAPS,and I11/B18/B22,respectivelyWe acknowledge the UK catalysis Hub Block Allocation Group(BAG)Programme Mode Application for provision of beamtime at B18 for collection of the data presented in this work and the initial discussion of the dataThe UK Catalysis Hub is kindly thanked for resources and support provided via our membership of the UK Catalysis Hub Consortium and funded by EPSRC grant:EP/R026939,EP/R026815,EP/R026645,EP/R027129 and EP/M013219(biocatalysis)We acknowledge the support of The University of Manchester's Dalton Cumbrian Facility(DCF),a partner in the National Nuclear User FacilityWe recognise Dr.R.Edge for the assistance during the 60Co-irradiation processesWe thank M.Kibble for help at ISIS beamlinesTEM access was supported by the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials,funded through EPSRC grants EP/R00661X,EP/S019367,EP/P025021 and EP/P025498Zhaodong Zhu thanks the President's Doctoral Scholar award of University of Manchester for fundingMeng He and Lutong Shan thank the China Scholarship Council(CSC)for funding.
文摘The methanol-to-olefins(MTO)process has the potential to bridge future gaps in the supply of sustainable lower olefins.Promoting the selectivity of propylene and ethylene and revealing the catalytic role of active sites are challenging goals in MTO reactions.Here,we report a novel heteroatomic silicoaluminophosphate(SAPO)zeolite,SAPO-34-Ta,which incorporates active tantalum(V)sites within the framework to afford an optimal distribution of acidity.SAPO-34-Ta exhibits a remarkable total selectivity of 85.8%for propylene and ethylene with a high selectivity of 54.9%for propylene on full conversion of methanol at 400°C.In situ and operando synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction,diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and inelastic neutron scattering,coupled with theoretical calculations,reveal trimethyloxonium as the key reaction intermediate,promoting the formation of first carbon-carbon bonds in olefins.The tacit cooperation between tantalum(V)and Brønsted acid sites within SAPO-34 provides an efficient platform for selective production of lower olefins from methanol.
基金supported by the U.S.Department of Energy,Office of Science,Office of Basic Energy Sciences,under Contract No.DE-SC0012704supported by EPSRC.Work at Argonne National Laboratory was supported by the U.S.Department of Energy,Office of Science,Office of Basic Energy Sciences,Materials Science and Engineering Division+2 种基金X.H.was supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s EPiQS Initiative through Grant No.GBMF9074S.D.M.and P.G.E.gratefully acknowledge support from the U.S.DOE Office of Science under grant no.DE-FG02-04ER46147from the US NSF through the University of Wisconsin Materials Research Science and Engineering Center(DMR-2309000 and DMR-1720415).
文摘Domain wall structures form spontaneously due to epitaxial misfit during thin film growth.Imaging the dynamics of domains and domain walls at ultrafast timescales can provide fundamental clues to features that impact electrical transport in electronic devices.Recently,deep learning based methods showed promising phase retrieval(PR)performance,allowing intensity-only measurements to be transformed into snapshot real space images.While the Fourier imaging model involves complex-valued quantities,most existing deep learning based methods solve the PR problem with real-valued based models,where the connection between amplitude and phase is ignored.To this end,we involve complex numbers operation in the neural network to preserve the amplitude and phase connection.Therefore,we employ the complex-valued neural network for solving the PR problem and evaluate it on Bragg coherent diffraction data streams collected from an epitaxial La_(2-x)Sr_(x)CuO_(4)(LSCO)thin film using an X-ray Free Electron Laser(XFEL).Our proposed complex-valued neural network based approach outperforms the traditional real-valued neural network methods in both supervised and unsupervised learning manner.Phase domains are also observed from the LSCO thin film at an ultrafast timescale using the complex-valued neural network.
文摘In this paper, we present the results of deep inelastic neutron scattering （DINS） measurements on supercooled water confined within the pores （average pore diameter - 20A） of a disordered hydrophilic silica matrix obtained through hydrolysis and polycondensation of the alkoxide precursor Tetra-Methyl- Ortho-Silicate via the sol-gel method. Experiments were performed at two temperatures （250 K and 210 K, i.e., before and after the putative liquid-liquid transition of supercooled confined water） on a ＂wet＂ sample with hydration h -40% w/w, which is high enough to have water-filled pores but low enough to avoid water crystallization. A virtually ＂dry＂ sample at h - 7% was also investigated to measure the contribution of the silica matrix to the neutron scattering signal. As ：is well known, DINS measurements allow the determination of the mean kinetic energy and the momentum distribution of the hydrogen atoms in the system and therefore, allow researchers to probe the local structure of supercooled confined water. The main result obtained is that at 210 K the hydrogen mean kinetic energy is equal or even slightly higher than at 250 K. This is at odds with the predictions of a semi-empirical harmonic model recently proposed to describe the temperature dependence of the kinetic energy of hydrogen in water. This is a new and very interesting result, which suggests that at 210 K, the water hydrogens experience a stiffer intermolecular potential than at 250 K. This is in agreement with the liquid-liquid transition hypothesis.
基金supported under the CNR-STFC Agreement (2014-2020) concerning collaboration in scientific research at the ISIS pulsed neutron and muon source
文摘Water is an ubiquitous liquid and it is necessary for life;studies on water are therefore of obvious scientific and technological relevance.In view of its peculiar physical properties(the so-called water anomalies,particularly relevant at low temperatures[1]),studies on water structure and dynamics in ample temperature intervals,covering also the supercooling region,have attracted much interest in recent years.In particular,studies focused on the supercooled phase are important in order to test theories and hypotheses[2,3],including the liquid-liquid phase transition hypothesis[4-6]and the related fragile-to-strong crossover observed in water confined in silica matrices and in the hydration water of proteins[7,8].In this context,water confined within nanometer-sized porous hydrophilic/hydrophobic matrices has been investigated both to extend the supercooling temperature range accessible to experiment and to mimic the crowding/confined conditions experienced by water molecules in biological systems relevant to biophysics,bio-preservation,and pharmaceutics.In view of the above arguments,studies on the short-time dynamics of hydrogen and oxygen atoms of supercooled water(bulk or confined)are of great relevance.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11874320)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2017YFA0303100)+2 种基金the Royal Society of London for the UK-China Newton funding and CMPC-STFC(Grant No.CMPC-09108)the DST India,for Inspire Faculty Research(Grant No.DST/INSPIRE/04/2015/000169)and UK-India Newton funding
文摘Muon spin relaxation/rotation(μSR) is a vital technique for probing the superconducting gap structure, pairing symmetry and time reversal symmetry breaking, enabling an understanding of the mechanisms behind the unconventional superconductivity of cuprates and Fe-based high-temperature superconductors, which remain a puzzle. Very recently double layered Fe-based superconductors having quasi-2 D crystal structures and Cr-based superconductors with a quasi-1D structure have drawn considerable attention. Here we present a brief review of the characteristics of a few selected Fe-and Cr-based superconducting materials and highlight some of the major outstanding problems, with an emphasis on the superconducting pairing symmetries of these materials. We focus on μSR studies of the newly discovered superconductors ACa_2Fe_4As_4F_2(A = K, Rb, and Cs), ThFeAsN, and A_2Cr_3As_3(A = K, Cs), which were used to determine the superconducting gap structures, the presence of spin fluctuations, and to search for time reversal symmetry breaking in the superconducting states. We also briefly discuss the results of μSR investigations of the superconductivity in hole and electron doped BaFe_2As_2.
基金supported by the Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission(2017–01-07–00-07-E00018)the National Key R&D Program of the MOST of China(2016YFA0300203,2016YFA0300500,2016YFA0301001,and 2018YFE0103200)+6 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(11874119)Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project(2019SHZDZX04)the Hong Kong Research Grants Council(17303819 and 17306520)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(11875265)the Scientific Instrument Developing Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(3He based neutron polarization devices)the Institute of High Energy Physicsthe Chinese Academy of Sciences。
文摘We report thermodynamic and neutron scattering measurements of the triangular-lattice quantum Ising magnet TmMgGaO_(4)in longitudinal magnetic fields.Our experiments reveal a quasi-plateau state induced by quantum fluctuations.This state exhibits an unconventional non-monotonic field and temperature dependence of the magnetic order and excitation gap.In the high field regime where the quantum fluctuations are largely suppressed,we observed a disordered state with coherent magnon-like excitations despite the suppression of the spin excitation intensity.Through detailed semi-classical calculations,we are able to understand these behaviors quantitatively from the subtle competition between quantum fluctuations and frustrated Ising interactions.
文摘We reply to the comment [Front.Phys.14(5),53G05 (2019)] by Y.Finkelstein and R.Moreh on our article Front.Phys.13(1).138205 (2018).We agree with some of their criticisms about our calculation of the temperature effect on the kinetic energy of hydrogen atoms of supercooled confined water;we also agree with their statoincnt that ,in view of the current sensitivity of the technique,possible effects of the liquid liquid water transition are hardly detected with deep inelastic neutron scattering (DINS).However,we disagree with tlieir use of the translational mass ratio of a single water molecule and,in general,with their underostimation of collective effects.
基金supported by the framework of past and present(2014-2020)agreements between the CNRthe STFC for collaborative research between Italy and ISIS
文摘Water properties are dominated by the hydrogen bond interaction that gives rise in the stable liquid phase to the formation of a dynamical network.The latter drives the water thermodynamics and is at the origin of its well known anomalies.The HB structural geometry and its changes remain uncertain and still are challenging research subjects.A key question is the role and effects of the HB tetrahedral structure on the local arrangement of neighboring molecules in water.Here the hydrogen dynamics in bulk water is studied through the combined use of Neutron Compton Scattering and NMR techniques.Results are discussed in the framework of previous studies performed in a wide temperature range,in the liquid,solid,and amorphous states.For the first time this combined studies provide an experimental evidence of the onset of the water tetrahedral network at T^315 K,originally proposed in previous studies of transport coefficients and thermodynamical data;below this temperature the local order in water changes and the lifetime of local hydrogen bond network becomes long enough to gradually develop the characteristic tetrahedral network of water.
文摘The hydrogen mean force from experimental neutron Compton profiles is derived using deep inelastic neutron scattering on amorphous and polycrystalline ice. The formalism of mean force is extended to probe its sensitivity to anharmonicity in the hydrogen-nucleus effective potential. The shape of the mean force for amorphous and polycrystalline ice is primarily determined by the anisotropy of the underlying quasi-harmonic effective potential. The data from amorphous ice show an additional curvature reflecting the more pronounced anharmonicity of the effective potential with respect to that of ice Ih.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22090043 and 21622101)Guangxi Natural Science Foundation(2019GXNSFGA245006)for financial support+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21527803 and 21621061)the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(2016YFA0301004)for financial supportthe funding from China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(8206300392)。
文摘Lowering the operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells(SOFCs)has extensively stimulated the development of new oxide ion conductors.Here,inspired by the structural commonalities of oxide ion conductors,the inability to accommodate oxygen vacancies in the rigid,isolated,3-fold tetrahedral rings of SrSi/GeO_(3)-based materials,and the considerable flexibility of BO_(n) polyhedra in terms of coordination number,rotation,deformation,and linkage,we report the first borate-base family of oxide ion conductors,(Gd/Y)_(1−x)Zn_(x)BO_(3−0.5x),through combined computational prediction and experimental verification.The oxygen vacancies in(Gd/Y)BO_(3)can be accommodated by forming B_(3)O_(8)units in isolated,3-fold,tetrahedral rings of B_(3)O_(9)and transported through a cooperative mechanism of oxygen exchange between the B_(3)O_(9)and B_(3)O_(8)units,which is assisted by the intermediate opening and extending of these units.This study opens a new scientific field of the borate system for designing and discovering oxide ion conductors.
