Publications

The paper outlines conditions under which the statistical shift of the Fermi level within the density-of-states (DOS) distribution may result in the Meyer-Neldel correlation. Sufficient conditions have been found: (i) The DOS should have, around the Fermi level, two competing exponential slopes; (ii) The temperature range for the statistical shift should correspond to kT values higher than at least one of these two characteristic energies associated with the slopes. Under such conditions, the Fermi level is no longer the dominant energy for carrier-concentration changes. Relating the Mayer-Neldel correlation to DOS parameters is an essential step in a correct deduction of Mott's minimum-metallic-conductivity value from experiment.

Mossbauer effect was used for the characterization of the radioactive waste treatment products, e.g. precipitate formed during the treatment of LLAW (Low Level Active Waste) using iron compounds and their conditioned matrix obtained by cementation.

Some new results concerning the appearance of a periodic structure in a pi/2-twist cell filled with MBBA under d.c. excitation are reported. This structure consists of rectilinear domains whose orientation varies with the applied voltage around the normal to the molecular orientation in the middle of the cell and this variation covers a large range of angles even for fixed polarity of the excitation. When the polarity is changed, the sense of the domain orientation is also changed.

The effect of a periodic distribution of easy directions on the surface macroscopic properties of nematic samples are considered. Our analysis shows that the effective surface energy of the sample contains an interference term coming from the two different easy axis. This allows to introduce an effective uniform easy direction, depending on the two easy directions and containing an interference term too, as suggested a few years ago by some researchers.

A texture model suitable for use in Rietveld-refinement programs is proposed. It is based on the series expansion of the pole distribution function in symmetrized harmonics. The model was tested on a textured plate sample of Al2O3.

This Comment refers to a recent publication on the ac hopping conduction of the Fibonacci chain [Phys. Rev. B 43, 1183 (1991)]. The renormalization procedure proposed by its authors gives a correct formula for the conductivity [Eq. (15)]. Nevertheless, their conclusion regarding the vanishing of the dc conductivity disagrees with the low-frequency asymptotics previously derived by us for the same model, and also disagrees with the general result given by the resistance-network analogy of the Miller-Abrahams rate equations. Their result assumes the factorization of the frequency in Eq. (15), which we prove is not true. We show also that their numerical curves, which apparently support their conclusion, are strongly influenced by errors in the low-frequency range.

A method for measuring the neutron lifetime is proposed, using simultaneous detection of electrons and upscattered neutrons generated during the ultracold neutron storage.

Results of magnetic measurements performed on xGd2O3.(1-x)[3B2O3.PbO] glasses, in the temperature range 4.2-300 K are reported. For samples with x > 2 mol% Gd2O3, a downward curvature of the reciprocal susceptibilities, at T 2 mol% Gd2O3 are negative and increase in absolute magnitude when increasing the Gd2O3 content. The magnetic behaviour of Gd2O3-B2O3-PbO glasses are analyzed in terms of a random distribution of gadolinium ions in glass matrix.