Engineering topics

Bell, A. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Bell, A. J..

3 records

DOE OSTI2017

Electric field dependent local structure of ( K x N a 1 - x ) 0.5 B i 0.5 Ti O 3

The in situ x-ray pair-distribution function (PDF) characterization technique has been used to study the behavior of (K x Na 1–x ) 0.5 Bi 0.5 TiO 3 , as a function of electric field. As opposed to conventional x-ray Bragg diffraction techniques, PDF is sensitive to local atomic displacements, detecting local structural changes at the angstrom to nanometer scale. Several field-dependent ordering mechanisms can be observed in x = 0.15, 0.18 and at the morphotropic phase boundary composition x = 0.20. X-ray total scattering shows suppression of diffuse scattering with increasing electric-field amplitude, indicative of an increase in structural ordering. Analysis of PDF peaks in the 3–4-Å range shows ordering of Bi-Ti distances parallel to the applied electric field, illustrated by peak amplitude redistribution parallel and perpendicular to the electric-field vector. A transition from < 110 > to < 112 >-type off-center displacements of Bi relative to the neighboring Ti atoms is observable with increasing x. Analysis of PDF peak shift with electric field shows the effects of Bi-Ti redistribution and onset of piezoelectric lattice strain. Furthermore, the combination of these field-induced ordering mechanisms is consistent with local redistribution of Bi-Ti distances associated with domain reorientation and an overall increase in order of atomic displacements.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2015

Choice of tip, signal stability, and practical aspects of piezoresponse-force-microscopy

Piezoresponse force-microscopy (PFM) has become the standard tool to investigate ferroelectrics on the micro- and nanoscale. However, reliability of PFM signals is often problematic and their quantification is challenging and thus not widely applied. Here, we present a study of the reproducibility of PFM signals and of the so-called PFM background signal which has been reported in the literature. We find that PFM signals are generally reproducible to certain extents. The PFM signal difference between 180° domains on periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) is taken as the reference signal in a large number of measurements, carried out in a low frequency regime (30-70 kHz). We show that in comparison to Pt coated tips, diamond coated tips exhibit improved signal stability, lower background signal, and less imaging artifacts related to PFM which is reflected in the spread of measurements. This is attributed to the improved mechanical stability of the conductive layer. The average deviation of the mean PFM signal is 38.3%, for a diamond coated tip. Although this deviation is relatively high, it is far better than values from the literature which showed a deviation of approx. 73.1%. Additionally, we find that the average deviation of the background signal from 0 is 11.6% of the PPLN domain contrast. Thus, the background signal needs to be taken into account when quantifying PFM signals and should be subtracted from PFM signals. Those results are important for quantification of PFM signals, since PPLN might be used for this purpose when PFM signals measured on PPLN are related to its macroscopic d{sub 33} coefficient. Finally, the crucial influence of sample polishing on PFM signals is shown and we recommend to use a multistep polishing route with a final step involving 200 nm sized colloidal silica particles.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2014

Small angle detectors for study diffractive processes with CMS

The approach and detectors for diffractive physics based on two current projects—Forward Shower Counter (FSC) and Proton Precision Spectrometer (PPS) are presented. FSC system consists of six (3+3) Stations of scintillator counters, which surround closely the beam pipes along 59 m < |z| < 140 m from IP5 on both plus (+) and minus (-) sides. These will detect showers from very forward particles with rapidity 7.5 < |η| < 10 interacting in the beam pipe and surrounding material. FSC allow measurements of single diffraction: p+p → p+G+X (where G is rapidity gap) for lower masses and double diffraction p+p → X+G+X with a large central rapidity gap. The counters can also be used for beam real-time monitoring and will make an invaluable contribution to the understanding of the background environment and its topology. PPS is designed for study the central exclusive production pp → p+X+p, where the + signs denote the absence of hadronic activity (that is, the presence of a rapidity gap) between the outgoing protons and the decay products of the central system X. The precise measurement of the kinematical parameters of the outgoing protons enables to study the properties of the central state X. In PPS part we consider the detector for high precision timing of these protons—QUARTIC. It consists of L-shape bars with quartz or sapphire radiator. The time resolution of the QUARTIC prototypes achieved ≈ 10 ps.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗