Thesis (Ph.D. (Natural and Agricultural Science)) -- University of Pretoria, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Physics / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Yeung, Him Ching = 以粉末混合方法及夾心樣品方法製作的硼化鎂的特性研究 / 楊謙靖. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Yeung, Him Ching = Yi fen mo hun he fang fa ji jia xin yang pin fang fa zhi zuo de peng hua mei de te xing yan jiu / Yang Qianjing. / Abstract --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iii / Acknowledgments --- p.v / Table of contents --- p.vi / List of table captions --- p.viii / List of figure captions --- p.ix / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Superconductors --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Classifications --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Conventional versus unconventional --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Type I and Type II superconductors --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Critical current Jc and the Bean´ةs Model --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2 --- Magnesium diboride --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Structure --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Physical properties --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Chemical properties --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Conduction mechanisms --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Fabrication methods --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3 --- Objectives of this work --- p.10 / References --- p.12 / Figures --- p.14 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Methodology and instrumentation --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1 --- Experimental procedures --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2 --- Samples preparation --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Powder mixing approach --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Sandwich structure approach --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3 --- Samples fabrication --- p.18 / Chapter 2.4 --- Determination of compositions --- p.18 / Chapter 2.5 --- Characterization --- p.19 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- X-ray diffractometry (XRD) --- p.19 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Microstructural analysis --- p.20 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Magnetic measurements --- p.20 / Chapter 2.5.3.1 --- Setup for Jc measurements --- p.21 / Reference --- p.22 / Figures --- p.23 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Powder mixing approach --- p.26 / Chapter 3.1 --- Results --- p.26 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- XRD results --- p.26 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Compositions --- p.27 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- SEM results --- p.28 / Chapter 3.1.3.1 --- Sample sintered at 600°C --- p.28 / Chapter 3.1.3.2 --- Samples sintered at 700°C and 800°C --- p.28 / Chapter 3.1.3.3 --- Sample sintered at 900°C --- p.29 / Chapter 3.1.3.4 --- Sample sintered at 1000°C --- p.29 / Chapter 3.1.3.5 --- Sample sintered at 1050°C --- p.29 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- VSM results --- p.30 / Chapter 3.1.4.1 --- Tc measurements --- p.30 / Chapter 3.1.4.2 --- Hysteresis loops --- p.31 / Chapter 3.1.5 --- Jc measurements --- p.31 / Chapter 3.1.5.1 --- Direct measurement --- p.31 / Chapter 3.1.5.2 --- The Bean´ةs Model --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2 --- Discussions --- p.32 / Chapter 3.3 --- Summary --- p.35 / References --- p.36 / Figures --- p.37 / Tables --- p.47 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Sandwich structure approach --- p.49 / Chapter 4.1 --- Results --- p.49 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- SEM results --- p.49 / Chapter 4.1.1.1 --- Surface of the Mg disk --- p.49 / Chapter 4.1.1.2 --- Inner region of the Mg disk --- p.50 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- XRD results --- p.50 / Chapter 4.1.2.1 --- Surface of the Mg disk --- p.50 / Chapter 4.1.2.2 --- Inner region of the Mg disk --- p.51 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- VSM results --- p.51 / Chapter 4.1.3.1 --- Tc measurement --- p.51 / Chapter 4.1.3.2 --- Hysteresis loops --- p.52 / Chapter 4.2 --- Discussions --- p.52 / Chapter 4.3 --- Summary --- p.54 / Reference --- p.54 / Figures --- p.55 / Tables --- p.61 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Growth Mechanism --- p.62 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.62 / Chapter 5.2 --- Brief summary of results --- p.62 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Powder mixing approach --- p.62 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Sandwich structure approach --- p.63 / Chapter 5.3 --- Formation of the MgB2 platelets --- p.63 / Chapter 5.4 --- Size of the MgB2 platelets --- p.67 / Chapter 5.5 --- Summary --- p.68 / References --- p.69 / Figures --- p.70 / Tables --- p.75 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusions and suggestions of future work --- p.76 / Chapter 6.1 --- Summary --- p.76 / Chapter 6.2 --- Future work --- p.77 / Appendix 1 --- p.79 / Appendix 2 --- p.81

This research concerns the effects on samples of nominal composition Bil.8Pb0.2Sr2Ca2cu30y which were exposed to hot, dense argon in a ballistic compressor. The investigations were concentrated on two specimens which were exposed to hot, dense argon at about 1800 K (peak pressure 330 atm) and 1500 K (peak pressure 230 atm), respectively. Sample Bi #1 showed a completely melted surface structure after triple exposure in the ballistic compressor at 1800 K while the surface of sample Bi #7 was just partly melted after double exposure at 1500 K. Changes in flux trapping capability and qualitative Meissner effect were investigated in addition to the properties described by Duan, et al. ( 17, 18, 3 2] , who reported changes in critical temperature, crystal structure, surface morphology and composition after exposure of samples to hot, dense argon. After triple exposure in the ballistic compressor at a temperature of approximately 1800 K, sample Bi #1 showed an enhanced Meissner effect on the exposed side compared to the unexposed side of the pellet, while no difference in Meissner effect was found between the exposed and the unexposed side of sample Bi #7. EDS analysis showed that both samples are inhomogeneous in chemical surface composition. Oxygen loss due to exposure to hot, dense argon could not be demonstrated. X-ray analysis indicated that the melted surface layer of sample Bi # 1 after triple exposure to hot, dense argon contains smaller crystals than before exposure in the ballistic compressor. Tc measurements gave varying results which are explainable by the chemical inhomogeneity of the specimens. An increase in the amount of trapped flux due to exposure of the samples to hot, dense argon could not be demonstrated

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Spin and charge density fluctuations are important excitations in the strongly correlated systems, especially in the recently discovered high temperature superconductors. Several different theories on high temperature superconductors have been proposed based on spin fluctuations. However, experiments have also shown the existence of strong charge fluctuations. It is, therefore, desirable to investigate the physical consequences of the coexistence of strong spin and charge density fluctuations. As a first step toward a full understanding of both spin and charge excitations, a self-consistent theory is established. In this self-consistent theory, there are three important quantities, the spin susceptibility, the charge susceptibility, and the phonon Green's function. These three quantities are coupled together by the electron-phonon and phonon-spin fluctuation interactions. The phonon-spin fluctuation interaction is derived by making use of the spin-orbital coupling. For a strongly correlated system, the spin and charge density excitations have to be considered self-consistently. They are intimately related. The effects of antiparamagnons on phonons are also investigated. Antiparamagnons can have dramatic effects on phononic properties. It is found that new modes are formed in the presence of antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations. The de Haas-van Alphen effect in marginal and nearly antiferromagnetic Fermi liquids is studied. It is found that the de Haas-van Alphen frequency is unaffected by the anomalous response functions of the marginal and nearly antiferromagnetic Fermi liquids due to the absence of real parts of self-energies on the imaginary frequency axis. / Graduation date: 1993

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 1989. / Submitted to the Dept. of Physics. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 192-204). Access restricted to members of the Tufts University community. Also available via the World Wide Web;

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University (Canada), 1995. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-03, Section: B, page: 1866. Adviser: J. P. Carbotte.

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. Cesar Luongo, Florida State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 23, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Physics. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.