Superconductivity is one of the most amazing properties that metallic conductors exhibit. Electrical resistance is completely eliminated below the critical temperature (Tc), which is the most important parameter in superconductivity. Since the discovery of copper oxide superconductors 39 years ago, many solid state chemists have made significant contributions to the field by discovering new compounds and producing high-quality samples for physical measurements. However, superconductivity research remains challenging for most solid state chemists because it requires knowledge of complicated solid state physics. This manuscript aims to provide a simple, intuitive introduction to superconductivity using only fundamental physics concepts that solid state chemists are familiar with. The author investigates a wide range of materials and classifies them according to the superconductivity mechanisms that may drive them. Specifically focusing on a series of copper oxide superconductors with the highest Tc at ambient conditions, the remarkable material dependence of Tc and the underlying, unconventional superconductivity mechanism that leads to the high Tc are thoroughly examined. Although o
It was shown by Visser that Peano Arithmetic has the property that any two bi-interpretable extensions of it (in the same language) are equivalent. Enayat proposed to refer to this property of a theory as \emph{tightness} and to carry out a more systematic study of tightness and its stronger variants that he called neatness and solidity. Enayat proved that not only $\mathsf{PA}$, but also $\mathsf{ZF}$ and $\mathsf{Z}_2$ are solid. On the other hand, it was shown in later work by a number of authors that many natural proper fragments of those theories are not even tight. Enayat asked whether there is a proper solid subtheory of the theories listed above. We answer that question in the case of $\mathsf{PA}$ by proving that for every $n$, there exist both a solid theory and a tight but not neat theory strictly between $\mathsf{I}Σ_n$ and $\mathsf{PA}$. Moreover, the solid subtheories of $\mathsf{PA}$ can be required to be unable to interpret $\mathsf{PA}$. We also provide simple examples of proper solid subtheories of $\mathsf{ZF}$ and $\mathsf{Z}_2$, as well as further separations between properties related to tightness, including an example of a sequential theory that is neat but n
We construct a covariant realization functor, denoted \textsc{Solidm}, from the category of motives with modulus to the derived category of solid modules in the sense of Clausen--Scholze. For any smooth modulus pair (X, D), the dual of Solidm(X, D) recovers the Hodge realization of Kelly--Miyazaki for (X, D). Using Ren's pro-solid comparison theorem, we give an explicit description of Solidm(X, D) and compute Solidm of the cone of M(U, D restricted to U) $\to$ M(X, D), in the setting where X is a smooth proper variety over a field, D $\subset$ X is a simple normal crossings divisor, and U $\subset$ X is an open immersion. We identify the result via the formal completion of X along the complement X $\setminus$ U.
In this review, from crystallographic symmetry to amorphous local polyhedra arrangement and combinations, we examine inorganic solid state electrolytes through the lens of structure property relationships, with oxides, sulfides, and halides representing three major framework chemistries. Halide solid electrolytes and their derivatives, including mixed anion halides and antiperovskite related materials, have expanded this landscape further by introducing new ways to regulate local coordination chemistry, defect populations, and transport active frameworks. Across these families, fast ion conduction depends not simply on composition or crystallographic diffusion pathways, but on the coupled effects of framework topology, site energy distribution, defect chemistry, bottleneck response, and local anion flexibility. Oxides illustrate transport within chemically robust but geometrically constrained frameworks. Sulfides demonstrate that a soft, easily polarizable lattice can broaden the array of low energy migration pathways. Halides occupy an intermediate state, in which the closely packed anion sublattices, an approximately degenerate lithium environment, and mixed anion coordination en
EXAFS spectroscopy is used to study the local environment of lead and selenium atoms in PbTe$_{1-x}$Se$_x$ solid solution. In addition to a bimodal distribution of bond lengths in the first shell, unusually large Debye--Waller factors for the Pb--Pb interatomic distances in the second shell and a substantial deviation of these distances from Vegard's law are observed. Valence force field (VFF) calculations show that these observations are due to the complex structure of the distribution function for Pb--Pb distances. It is found that the number of Se--Se pairs in the second shell surpasses the statistical value, which indicates that chemical factors play an important role in the structure of the solid solution. The contribution of these chemical factors to the enthalpy of mixing of the solid is estimated to be approximately 0.5 kcal/mole, which is comparable to the strain contribution.
We correct some errors found in [T. Oikhberg and M.A. Tursi, Order extreme points and solid convex hulls, in ``The Mathematical Legacy of Victor Lomonosov'' (ed. R. Aron et.al.), de Gryuter, 2020, 297--315.]
On the basis of the extended classical elasticity theory, we propose universal semi-empirical analytical expressions for the energy and the equation of state for poly-crystalline solids. The validation of the relations has been made by means of first principle density functional theory simulations with the use of pseudo-potential approach and generalized gradient approximation for the exchange-correlation energy. The calculations performed for a large number of inorganic crystalline compounds with metal, covalent and ionic bonding (including diamond, Mg, sphalerite, B, magnesium carboboride, topaz, rocksalt, etc.) within the pressure range up to 300 GPa demonstrated an excellent agreement with the predictions of the analytical theory comparable in accuracy with Birch-Murnaghan approach.
The SoLid experiment is a very-short-baseline experiment aimed at searching for nuclear reactor-produced active to sterile antineutrino oscillations. The detection principle is based on the pairing of two types of solid scintillators: polyvinyl toluene and $^6$LiF:ZnS(Ag), which is a new technology used in this field of Physics. In addition to good neutron-gamma discrimination, this setup allows the detector to be highly segmented (the basic detection unit is a 5 cm side cube). High segmentation provides numerous advantages, including the precise location of Inverse Beta Decay (IBD) products, the derivation of the considerate antineutrino energy estimator, and a powerful background reduction tool based on the topological signature of the signal. Finally, the system is read out by a network of wavelength-shifting fibres coupled to a photodetector (MPPC). This paper describes the design of the reconstruction algorithm that allows maximum use of the granularity of the detector. The goal of the algorithm is to convert the output of the optical-fibre readout to the list of the detection units from which it originated. This paper provides a performance comparison for three methods and co
SoLid is a neutrino experiment at very-short baseline searching for active-to-sterile oscillations of reactor antineutrinos. The detection principle is based on the pairing of two types of solid scintillators: polyvinyl toluene and $^6$Li:ZnS(Ag), which is a new technology used in this field of Physics. In addition to good neutron-gamma discrimination, this setup allows the detector to be highly segmented; the basic detection unit is a 5 cm cube. High segmentation provides numerous advantages including precise localisation of the Inverse Beta Decay (IBD) products, the derivation of an antineutrino energy estimator based on the isolated positron energy, and a powerful background reduction tool that relies on the topological signature of the signal. Finally, the system is read out by a network of WLS fibres coupled to photosensors. A relative electromagnetic calibration is performed with horizontal cosmic muons. This source poses the simplest calibration problem in which a single detection unit is involved. In addition, large muon energy deposits allow us to perform a calibration at the most detailed level (i.e. per fibre) and to accurately define the fraction of energy escaping to n
The states of gas accumulated at the liquid-solid interface are analyzed based on the continuum theory where the Hamaker constant is used to describe the long-range interaction at the microscopic scale. The Hamaker constant is always negative, whereas the gas spreading coefficient can be either sign. Despite the complexity of gas, including that the density profile may not be uniform due to absorption on both solid and liquid surfaces, we predict three possible gas states at the liquid-solid interface, i.e. complete wetting, partial wetting and pseudopartial wetting. These possible gas states correspond respectively to a gas pancake (or film) surrounded by a wet solid, a gas bubble with a finite contact angle, and a gas bubble(s) coexisting with a gas pancake. Typical thickness of the gas pancakes is at the nanoscale within the force range of the long-range interaction, whereas the radius of the gas bubbles can be large. The state of gas bubble(s) coexisting with a gas film is predicted theoretically for the first time. Our theoretical results can contribute to the development of a unified picture of gas nucleation at the liquid-solid interface.
The Solenoidal Large Intensity Device (SoLID) is a new experimental apparatus planned for Hall A at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab). SoLID will combine large angular and momentum acceptance with the capability to handle very high data rates at high luminosity. With a slate of approved high-impact physics experiments, SoLID will push JLab to a new limit at the QCD intensity frontier that will exploit the full potential of its 12 GeV electron beam. In this paper, we present an overview of the rich physics program that can be realized with SoLID, which encompasses the tomography of the nucleon in 3-D momentum space from Semi-Inclusive Deep Inelastic Scattering (SIDIS), expanding the phase space in the search for new physics and novel hadronic effects in parity-violating DIS (PVDIS), a precision measurement of $J/ψ$ production at threshold that probes the gluon field and its contribution to the proton mass, tomography of the nucleon in combined coordinate and momentum space with deep exclusive reactions, and more. To meet the challenging requirements, the design of SoLID described here takes full advantage of recent progress in detector, data acquisition and c
The Solenoidal Large Intensity Device (SoLID) is a large acceptance spectrometer capable of operating at the luminosity frontier. It is proposed to fully exploit the scientific potential of the continuous electron beam accelerator facility (CEBAF) 12 GeV energy upgrade at Jefferson Lab. Its conceptual design is mature, having passed multiple reviews and been validated by a successful pre-R\&D phase. The envisioned scientific program consists of three avenues of research, namely the 3D momentum imaging of the structure of the nucleon, the origin of the proton mass through the gluonic gravitational form factors (GFFs), and the search of physics beyond the standard model of particle physics. These avenues are complemented by a growing supplemental list of run group experiments that address a variety of important topics.
The present work deals with the comparison of sizes, optical and electronic properties of COOH functionalized CdTe quantum dots (QDs) in freezed solid polymeric (polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix and in solution phase (water). PVA has been chosen as host material for guest CdTe QDs because of its unique properties like hydrophilicity, good thermo stability, and easy process ability. Experimental absorption, emission, X-Ray diffraction spectra and electronic band gap have been studied by UV-Vis absorption, luminescence and X-Ray diffraction spectroscopy. The smaller size of CdTe QDs in solid PVA polymer matrix (~ 6 nm) and larger band gap of ~9.5 eV validates their quantum confinement regime in freezed solid phase. The smaller particle size in solid phase compared to that of the particle size in its solution phase (8 nm) validates the non existence of agglomeration in solid phase. Appearance of high intense and wide luminescence emission in solid form proves the strong candidature of CdTe QDs as promising sensors for today's optoelectronic and biomedical industry.
In order to fully exploit the physics potential of Jefferson Lab after 12 GeV energy upgrade, a new Solenoidal Large Acceptance Device (SoLID) is proposed. The SoLID spectrometer, with its unique capability of large acceptance and high luminosity, is ideal for precision measurements in semi-inclusive DIS to study transverse spin and transverse-momentum-dependent parton distributions of the nucleon, and for parity-violating Deep Inelastic Scattering (DIS) to perform precision tests of the Standard Model at low energy as well as addressing specific issues in nucleon structure including charge symmetry violation, d/u ratio and higher-twist effects due to di-quark. SoLID is also essential for precision measurements of J/ψelectroproduction in the threshold region to study non-perturbative gluon dynamics and interaction. Five highly rated SoLID experiments and two "run group" experiments have been approved by the JLab Physics Advisory Committee. The physics program is presented along with an overview of the SoLID instrumentation and its current status.
On the basis of energy calculations we investigate the competition between quantum-liquid and electron-solid phases in the Landau levels n=1,2, and 3 as a function of their partial filling factor. Whereas the quantum-liquid phases are stable only in the vicinity of quantized values 1/(2s+1) of the partial filling factor, an electron solid in the form of a triangular lattice of clusters with a few number of electrons (bubble phase) is energetically favorable between these fillings. This alternation of electron-solid phases, which are insulating because they are pinned by the residual impurities in the sample, and quantum liquids displaying the fractional quantum Hall effect explains a recently observed reentrance of the integral quantum Hall effect in the Landau levels n=1 and 2. Around half-filling of the last Landau level, a uni-directional charge density wave (stripe phase) has a lower energy than the bubble phase.
Coherent population transfer by adiabatic passage is a well-known method in quantum optics. This remarkable technique which is based on simple ideas has remained largely unknown to solid-state physicists. Here we provide an introduction to the basic principles of this method and discuss also some applications in solid-state systems.
We study the oxo-hexametallate Li$_7$TaO$_6$ with first-principles and classical molecular dynamics simulations, obtaining a low activation barrier for diffusion of $\sim$0.29 eV and a high ionic conductivity of $5.7 \times 10^{-4}$ S cm$^{-1}$ at room temperature (300 K). We find evidence for a wide electrochemical stability window from both calculations and experiments, suggesting its viable use as a solid-state electrolyte in next-generation solid-state Li-ion batteries. To assess its applicability in an electrochemical energy storage system, we performed electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements on multicrystalline pellets, finding substantial ionic conductivity, if below the values predicted from simulation. We further elucidate the relationship between synthesis conditions and the observed ionic conductivity using X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and study the effects of Zr and Mo doping.
The work is presented, leading to the universal contact molecular mechanism of phase transitions and other reactions in solid state. The two components of the mechanism - nucleation and interface propagation - are investigated in detail and their role in the kinetics is specified. They were shown to be peculiar: nucleation is "pre-coded", rather than resulted from a successful fluctuation, and the interface propagates by molecular filling of thin layers in the transverse direction. The structure of the nucleation sites is determined. The inherent instability and irreproducibility of the kinetics in question is revealed. A linear kinetics, as opposed to the bulk kinetics, is introduced and shown to be in accord with the contact mechanism. Ferromagnetic phase transition and magnetization are added to the list of solid-state reactions; neither occurs without structural rearrangement.
The SoLid experiment, short for Search for Oscillations with a Lithium-6 detector, is a new generation neutrino experiment which tries to address the key challenges for high precision reactor neutrino measurements at very short distances from a reactor core and with little or no overburden. The primary goal of the SoLid experiment is to perform a precise measurement of the electron antineutrino energy spectrum and flux and to search for very short distance neutrino oscillations as a probe of eV-scale sterile neutrinos. This paper describes the SoLid detection principle, the mechanical design and the construction of the detector. It then reports on the installation and commissioning on site near the BR2 reactor, Belgium, and finally highlights its performance in terms of detector response and calibration.
The diffraction spectrum of an aperiodic solid is related to the group of eigenvalues of the dynamical system associated with the solid. Those eigenvalues with continuous eigenfunctions constitute the topological Bragg spectrum. We relate the topological Bragg spectrum to the topological invariants (Chern numbers) of the solid and to the gap-labelling group, which is the group of possible gap labels for the spectrum of a Schrödinger operator describing the electronic motion in the solid.