High temperature limit in static backgrounds

We prove that the hard thermal loop contribution to static thermal amplitudes can be obtained by setting all the external four-momenta to zero before performing the Matsubara sums and loop integrals. At the one-loop order we do an iterative procedure for all the one-particle irreducible one-loop diagrams, and at the two-loop order we consider the self-energy. Our approach is sufficiently general to the extent that it includes theories with any kind of interaction vertices, such as gravity in the weak field approximation, for d space-time dimensions. This result is valid whenever the external fields are all bosonic.

Vortex dynamics in the high-temperature superconductors YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 and Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 + delta in low- and high-dissipative transport measurements

This thesis investigates phenomena of vortex dynamics in type II superconductors depending on the dimensionality of the flux-line system and the strength of the driving force. In the low dissipative regime of Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_{8+delta} (BSCCO) the influence of oxygen stoichiometry on flux-line tension was examined. An entanglement crossover of the vortex system at low magnetic fields was identified and a comprehensive B-T phase diagram of solid and fluid phases derived.In YBa_2Cu_3O_7 (YBCO) extremely long (>100 mm) high-quality measurement bridges allowed to extend the electric-field window in transport measurements by up to three orders of magnitude. Complementing analyses of the data conclusively produced dynamic exponents of the glass transition z~9 considerably higher than theoretically predicted and previously reported. In high-dissipative measurements a voltage instability appearing in the current-voltage characteristics of type II superconductors was observed for the first time in BSCCO and shown to result from a Larkin-Ovchinnikov flux-flow vortex instability under the influence of quasi-particle heating. However, in an analogous investigation of YBCO the instability was found to appear only in the temperature and magnetic-field regime of the vortex-glass state. Rapid-pulse measurements fully confirmed this correlation of vortex glass and instability in YBCO and revealed a constant rise time (~µs).

Anisotropy in plastic deformation of extruded magnesium alloy sheet during tensile straining at high temperature

Experimental measurements are used to characterize the anisotropy of flow stress in extruded magnesium alloy AZ31 sheet during uniaxial tension tests at temperatures between 350°C and 450°C, and strain rates ranging from 10-5 to 10-2 s-1. The sheet exhibits lower flow stress and higher tensile ductility when loaded with the tensile axis perpendicular to the extrusion direction compared to when it is loaded parallel to the extrusion direction. This anisotropy is found to be grain size, strain rate, and temperature dependent, but is only weakly dependent on texture. A microstructure based model (D. E. Cipoletti, A. F. Bower, P. E. Krajewski, Scr. Mater., 64 (2011) 931–934) is used to explain the origin of the anisotropic behavior. In contrast to room temperature behavior, where anisotropy is principally a consequence of the low resistance to slip on the basal slip system, elevated temperature anisotropy is found to be caused by the grain structure of extruded sheet. The grains are elongated parallel to the extrusion direction, leading to a lower effective grain size perpendicular to the extrusion direction. As a result, grain boundary sliding occurs more readily if the material is loaded perpendicular to the extrusion direction.

High temperature, low cycle fatigue of a hybrid particulate/fiber aluminum metal-matrix composite

The effect of shot particles on the high temperature, low cycle fatigue of a hybrid fiber/particulate metal-matrix composite (MMC) was studied. Two hybrid composites with the general composition A356/35%SiC particle/5%Fiber (one without shot) were tested. It was found that shot particles acting as stress concentrators had little effect on the fatigue performance. It appears that fibers with a high silica content were more likely to debond from the matrix. Final failure of the composite was found to occur preferentially in the matrix. SiC particles fracture progressively during fatigue testing, leading to higher stress in the matrix, and final failure by matrix overload. A continuum mechanics based model was developed to predict failure in fatigue based on the tensile properties of the matrix and particles. By accounting for matrix yielding and recovery, composite creep and particle strength distribution, failure of the composite was predicted.

High Temperature Superconductivity: Taming Serendipity

A century after the discovery of superconductivity, the design of new and more useful superconductors remains enigmatic. High-temperature super-conductors offer unique solutions to fundamental grid challenges of the 21st century and hold great promise in addressing global energy challenges in energy production, storage, and distribution. Traditionally guided by serendipity, researchers now endeavor to design new superconductors predictively. Advanced experimental techniques, such as point contact spectroscopy measurements, aid in identifying promising candidates.

High-temperature induced dehydration, phase transition and exsolution in amicite: A single-crystal X-ray study

Temperature dependent single-crystal X-ray data were collected on amicite K4Na4(Al8Si8O32)·11H2O from Kola Peninsula (Russia) in steps of 25 °C from room temperature to 175 °C and of 50 °C up to 425 °C. At room temperature amicite has space group I2 with a = 10.2112(1), b = 10.4154(1), c = 9.8802(1) Å, β = 88.458(1)°, V = 1050.416(18) Å3. Its crystal structure is based on a Si–Al ordered tetrahedral framework of the GIS type with two systems of eight-membered channels running along the a and c axes. Extraframework K and Na cations are ordered at two fully occupied sites. Above 75 °C amicite was found to partly dehydrate into two separate but coherently intergrown phases, both of space group I2/a, one K-rich ∼K8(Al8Si8O32) ·4H2O (at 75 °C: a = 10.038(2), b = 9.6805(19), c = 9.843(2) Å, β = 89.93(3)°, V = 956.5(3) Å3) and the other Na-rich ∼Na8(Al8Si8O32)·2H2O (at 75 °C: a = 9.759(2), b = 8.9078(18), c = 9.5270(19) Å, β = 89.98(3)°, V = 828.2(3) Å3). Upon further heating above 75 °C the Na- and K-phases lost remaining H2O with only minor influence on the framework structure and became anhydrous at 175 °C and 375 °C, respectively. The two anhydrous phases persisted up to 425 °C. Backscattered electron images of a heated crystal displayed lamellar intergrowth of the K- and Na-rich phases. Exposed to ambient humid conditions K- and Na-rich phases rehydrated and conjoined to the original one phase I2 structure.

Metamorphic and geochronogical study of the Triassic El Oro metamorphic complex, Ecuador: Implications for high-temperature metamorphism in a forearc zone

In the forearc of the Andean active margin in southwest Ecuador, the El Oro metamorphic complex exhibits a well exposed tilted forearc section partially migmatized. We used Raman spectroscopy on carbonaceous matter (RSCM) thermometry and pseudosections coupled with mineralogical and textural studies to constrain the pressure–temperature (P–T) evolution of the El Oro metamorphic complex during Triassic times. Our results show that anatexis of the continental crust occurred by white-mica and biotite dehydration melting along a 10 km thick crustal domain (from 4.5 to 8 kbar) with increasing temperature from 650 to 700 °C. In the biotite dehydration melting zone, temperature was buffered at 750–820 °C in a 5 km thick layer. The estimated average thermal gradient during peak metamorphism is of 30 °C/km within the migmatitic domain can be partitioned into two apparent gradients parts. The upper part from surface to 7 km depth records a 40–45 °C/km gradient. The lower part records a quasi-adiabatic geotherm with a 10 °C/km gradient consistent with an isothermal melting zone. Migmatites U–Th–Pb geochronology yielded zircon and monazite ages of 229.3 ± 2.1 Ma and 224.5 ± 2.3 Ma, respectively. This thermal event generated S-type magmatism (the Marcabeli granitoid) and was immediately followed by underplating of the high-pressure low-temperature (HP-LT) Arenillas–Panupalí unit at 225.8 ± 1.8 Ma. The association of high-temperature low-pressure (HT-LP) migmatites with HP-LT unit constitutes a new example of a paired metamorphic belt along the South American margin. We propose that in addition to crustal thinning, underplating of the Piedras gabbroic unit before 230 Ma provided the heat source necessary to foster crustal anatexis. Furthermore, its MORB signature shows that the asthenosphere was involved as the source of the heat anomaly. S-type felsic magmatism is widespread during this time and suggests that a large-scale thermal anomaly affected a large part of the South American margin during the late Triassic. We propose that crustal anatexis is related to an anomaly that arose during subduction of the Panthalassa ocean under the South American margin. Slab verticalization or slab break-off can be invoked as the origin of the upwelling of the asthenosphere.