Sound Velocity Measurements Research Articles

Significantly reduced lattice thermal conductivity with anharmonic lattice vibrations and band edge effect in electronic thermal conductivity in Ag2S1-xSex (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.6)

The composition dependence of the unusual behaviors in electronic and lattice thermal conductivity, κele and κlat, in Ag2S1-xSex (x = 0–0.6 in steps of 0.1, 300 K) is investigated in detail by means of precise electron and heat transport properties measurement, synchrotron X-ray crystal structure and electron density distribution analyses, and sound velocity measurement. We reveal that the κele of Ag2S1-xSex is strongly affected by the fine electronic structure of the conduction band edge near the chemical potential and the thermoelectric motive force; therefore, these effects make the κele of Ag2S1-xSe far different from that calculated by the Wiedemann–Franz law, κele = L0σT, with the Lorentz number L0 = π2kB2/(3e2). It is also clearly demonstrated that the κlat of Ag2S1-xSex is greatly reduced by anharmonic lattice vibrations and that the magnitude of κlat is quantitatively reproduced by an equation representing the thermal conductivity under the strongest scattering limit. The κlat decreases with increasing x and saturates at 0.4 W m−1 K−1 at x ≥ 0.4. This is caused by the increasing anharmonic lattice vibrations with x, and its saturating behavior is determined by the strongest scattering limit. On the other hand, a negligibly small κele at x = 0 turns out to be non-trivial at x ≥ 0.4 owing to the increasing carrier density with x, most likely contributed by the increasing interstitial Ag defects. Consequently, the total thermal conductivity of Ag2S1−xSex becomes minimum not at x = 0.5 (composition of the maximum structure entropy) but at x = 0.3.

Examinations of mechanical, and shielding properties of CeO2 reinforced B2O3–ZnF2–Er2O3–ZnO glasses for gamma-ray shield and neutron applications

The glass system 75B2O3 - 4.5ZnF2 – 0.5 Er2O3–(20−x) ZnO- x CeO2, x = (0 ≤ x ≤ 1 mol. %) was manufactured using a melt quenching process, with CeO2 substituted for ZnO in the glass matrix in concentrations ranging from 0 to 1 mol %. The Makishima–Mackenzie model and sound wave velocity measurements were used to evaluate the mechanical parameters and elastic characteristics of the examined glass system, respectively. The results showed that increasing CeO2 doping ratio from 0 to 1 mol% increased density, sound velocities, elastic properties, and microhardness from 5.80 to 9.01 GPa. Phy-X/PSD software was employed to assess the effect of replacing ZnO with CeO2 on shielding capacity. The obtained results revealed that replacing ZnO with CeO2 enhances shielding characteristics and the manufactured glass may be useful in shielding applications.

Experimental observation of mesoscopic fluctuations to identify origin of thermodynamic anomalies of ambient liquid water

We report a new experimental approach for observing mesoscopic fluctuations underlying the thermodynamic anomalies of ambient liquid water. In this approach, two sound velocity measurements with different frequencies, namely inelastic X-ray scattering (IXS) in THz band and ultrasonic (US) in MHz band, are required to investigate the relaxation phenomenon with the characteristic frequency between the two aforementioned frequencies. We performed IXS measurements to obtain the IXS sound velocity of liquid water from the ambient conditions to the supercritical region of liquid-gas phase transition (LGT) and compared the results with the US sound velocity in the literature. We found that the ratio of the two sound velocities, Sf, which corresponds to the relaxation intensity, exhibits a simple but significant change. Two distinct rises were observed in the high-temperature and low-temperature regions, implying that two relaxation phenomena exist: in the high-temperature region, a peak was observed near the LGT critical ridge line, which was linked with changes in the density fluctuation and isochoric and isobaric specific heat capacities; in the low-temperature region, Sf increased toward the low-temperature region, which was linked with the change in the isochoric heat capacity. We concluded that these two relaxation phenomena are originated from critical fluctuations of liquid-gas phase transition (LGT) and liquid-liquid phase transition, respectively. The linkage between Sf and isochoric heat capacity in the low-temperature region proves that the relaxation is the cause of the well-known heat capacity anomaly of ambient liquid water. In this study, both LGT and LLT critical fluctuations were observed, and the relationship between thermodynamics and the critical fluctuations was comprehensively discussed.

PZT-based high-temperature ultrasonic dual mode transducer applicable to cubic-anvil apparatus for sound velocity measurement

The ultrasonic transducer is an indispensably critical component for sound velocity measurement. With the increasing demand of high-temperature ultrasonic dual mode transducer applicable to cubic-anvil apparatus, where experiments of high-pressure and high-temperature sound velocity are routinely conducted, a PZT-based ultrasonic dual mode transducer was presented in this study. It was made of a sandwich of two PZT piezoceramic wafers, the upper one generating P-waves and the lower one generating S-waves. The transducer was directly bonded onto a WC anvil of cubic-anvil apparatus using high-temperature adhesive, and then heated in an oven while measuring the bottom echoes from the WC anvil. The results showed that the high-temperature transducer could work up to 140 °C. The transducer features low cost, easy fabricating, and highquality signals, and so we believe it is useful for sound velocity measurement at high temperatures in cubic-anvil apparatus.

Low-Complexity Effective Sound Velocity Algorithm for Acoustic Ranging of Small Underwater Mobile Vehicles in Deep-Sea Internet of Underwater Things

Acoustic ranging is required to obtain the location of underwater mobile vehicles in the Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT). As seawater is an inhomogeneous medium, the sound velocity in the ocean is not constant, thereby causing sound waves to deviate from a straight line of propagation and bend. Thus, the travel time of the sound wave from the transmitter to receiver cannot be directly converted to a range value using a linear relationship as is done in the case of wireless radio ranging in the air. Therefore, the concept of effective sound velocity was introduced to account for the differences between the sound velocities at a transmitter and receiver. This enables conversion of the travel time to slant distance via a linear relationship. However, the existing methodologies for computing effective sound velocities are computationally intensive, which hinders the use of acoustic ranging in small underwater mobile vehicles operating in the deep sea. This study aimed to resolve this problem by developing an effective, computationally less demanding algorithm that could improve the precision of acoustic ranging on such platforms. The proposed algorithm converts global integrals into local integrals that correspond to depth variation ranges, thereby reducing the amount of integral calculation. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated using extensive simulations and real deep-sea experimental data sets obtained at a depth of 3000 m. The results verify the efficacy of the algorithm in realizing real-time underwater acoustic ranging in deep sea. The proposed algorithm can improve the accuracy of real-time effective sound velocity measurement by small underwater mobile vehicles, and subsequently realize low-complexity underwater acoustic ranging in the deep-sea IoUT networks.

Liquid–liquid equilibria of ternary mixtures of methanol + MEG + n‐C5, ethanol + MEG + n‐C5, and n‐butanol + MEG + n‐C5

AbstractNew liquid–liquid equilibrium data of ternary systems of mono ethylene glycol + n‐pentane + methanol, mono‐ethylene glycol (MEG) + n‐pentane + ethanol, and mono ethylene glycol + n‐pentane + n‐butanol from 283.15 to 293 K are presented in this work. Binodal curves were obtained by the cloud point titration method. Tie‐line compositions were obtained through density and sound velocity measurements of phases in equilibrium. Results show that the solubility increases with temperature in all systems and decreases as the alcohol chain increases. The relative solubility data indicate that the alcohols are more soluble in MEG than in n‐C5. The obtained experimental data were successfully correlated using the CPA and the PC‐SAFT equation with appropriate binary interaction parameters.

Direct Underwater Sound Velocity Measurement Based on the Acousto-Optic Self-Interference Effect between the Chirp Signal and the Optical Frequency Comb

Underwater sound speed plays a vital role in maritime safety. Based on the acousto-optic self-interference effect, we proposed a new method to measure underwater sound speed utilizing Raman–Nath diffraction, generated by the acousto-optic effect between an optical frequency comb and pulsed chirp signal. When the pulsed chirp travels between the measurement and reference arm in the experimental setup that we constructed, the same signal resulting from acousto-optic self-interference is produced. The time gap between the two identical signals represents the time interval. Thus, we can determine the time-of-flight using cross-correlation. The optical path difference between the two arms is double the flight distance of ultrasonic waves and can easily be obtained using femtosecond laser interferometry. The time gap and the distance can be used to measure sound speed. The experimental results show that the chirp signal improves the signal-to-noise ratio and expands the applicable time-of-flight algorithm. The waveform pulse width after cross-correlation is 1.5 μs, compared with 40 μs before. The time-of-flight uncertainty can achieve 1.03 ns compared to 8.6 ns before. Uncertainty of sound velocity can achieve 0.026 m/s.

Effect of 1,2-propanediol on the Critical Micelle Concentration of Decyltrimethylammonium Bromide at Temperatures from 293.15 K to 308.15 K.

It is well known that polar organic compounds, such as alcohols and polyols, exert an appreciable influence on water structure and thus have important effects on surfactant micellization. These substances are often used to modify the properties of surfactants in aqueous solutions, increasing the practical applications they have in diverse industries. In this work, the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of decyltrimethylammonium bromide (C10TAB) in water and in 1,2-propanediol aqueous solutions was determined from both sound velocity and surface tension measurements as a function of surfactant concentration in the temperature range of (293.15 to 308.15) K. The critical micelle concentration of the surfactant increases as the concentration of 1,2-propanediol becomes higher, while the effect on temperature does not show important changes within the range considered. At the selected temperatures, the standard thermodynamic parameters of micellization suggests that the addition of 1,2-propanediol makes the micellization process less favorable. Thermodynamic analysis suggests that the micelle formation of C10TAB is an entropy-driven process at the temperatures considered in this study.

Molecular interactions of local anesthetics in aqueous MgCl2 solutions: A volumetric, acoustic and spectroscopic analysis

Investigations of the physicochemical properties of drugs in the presence of co-solutes in aqueous solutions have always been a keen interest of the researchers. Such properties are very important to derive the information about solute–solute and solute–solvent type interactions. Therefore, in this communication, various physicochemical properties of two local anesthetics viz. Procaine hydrochloride (PC) and Tetracaine hydrochloride (TC) in aqueous and in aqueous solutions of MgCl2 (mB = 0.024, 0.047, 0.070 mol kg−1) have been studied using density and sound velocity measurements at different temperatures (288.15, 298.15, 308.15, and 318.15 K) along with 1H NMR spectroscopy. Various parameters like apparent molar volume (V) and isentropic compressibility (Ks) of solutes, apparent molar volume (V°) and isentropic compressibility (Ks°) of solutes at infinite dilution, apparent molar expansibility (E°) and their double derivatives (∂2V°/∂T2)P have been evaluated using density and sound velocity data. The transfer volumes (ΔtrV°) of PC and TC drugs from water to aqueous MgCl2 solutions and the various acoustical parameters like acoustic impedance (Z), intermolecular free length (Lf), and relative association (RA) have also been computed. All these parameters have been used to throw light on the effect of temperature as well as the effect of co-solute (MgCl2) concentration on the various solute–solvent/co-solute interactions with the help of co-sphere overlap model. The structure breaker/or maker ability of both local anesthetics in the presence of MgCl2 has also been analyzed. The spectroscopic results indicate the presence of hydrophobic–ionic interactions at higher concentrations of co-solute.

Strong Anharmonicity‐Induced Low Thermal Conductivity and High n‐type Mobility in the Topological Insulator Bi1.1Sb0.9Te2S

AbstractIntrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity (κlat) while maintaining the high carrier mobility (μ) is of the utmost importance for thermoelectrics. Topological insulators (TI) can possess high μ due to the metallic surface states. TIs with heavy constituents and layered structure can give rise to high anharmonicity and are expected to show low κlat. Here, we demonstrate that Bi1.1Sb0.9Te2S (BSTS), which is a 3D bulk TI, exhibits ultra‐low κlat of 0.46 Wm−1 K−1 along with high μ of ≈401 cm2 V−1 s−1. Sound velocity measurements and theoretical calculations suggest that chemical bonding hierarchy and high anharmonicity play a crucial role behind such ultra‐low κlat. BSTS possesses low energy optical phonons which strongly couple with the heat carrying acoustic phonons leading to ultra‐low κlat. Further, Cl has been doped at the S site of BSTS which increases the electron concentration and reduces the κlat resulting in a promising n‐type thermoelectric figure of merit (zT) of ≈0.6 at 573 K.

Strong Anharmonicity-Induced Low Thermal Conductivity and High n-type Mobility in the Topological Insulator Bi1.1 Sb0.9 Te2 S.

Intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity (κlat ) while maintaining the high carrier mobility (μ) is of the utmost importance for thermoelectrics. Topological insulators (TI) can possess high μ due to the metallic surface states. TIs with heavy constituents and layered structure can give rise to high anharmonicity and are expected to show low κlat . Here, we demonstrate that Bi1.1 Sb0.9 Te2 S (BSTS), which is a 3D bulk TI, exhibits ultra-low κlat of 0.46 Wm-1 K-1 along with high μ of ≈401 cm2 V-1 s-1 . Sound velocity measurements and theoretical calculations suggest that chemical bonding hierarchy and high anharmonicity play a crucial role behind such ultra-low κlat . BSTS possesses low energy optical phonons which strongly couple with the heat carrying acoustic phonons leading to ultra-low κlat . Further, Cl has been doped at the S site of BSTS which increases the electron concentration and reduces the κlat resulting in a promising n-type thermoelectric figure of merit (zT) of ≈0.6 at 573 K.

Hot dense silica glass with ultrahigh elastic moduli

Silicate and oxide glasses are often chemically doped with a variety of cations to tune for desirable properties in technological applications, but their performances are often limited by relatively lower mechanical and elastic properties. Finding a new route to synthesize silica-based glasses with high elastic and mechanical properties needs to be explored. Here, we report a dense SiO2-glass with ultra-high elastic moduli using sound velocity measurements by Brillouin scattering up to 72 GPa at 300 K. High-temperature measurements were performed up to 63 GPa at 750 K and 59 GPa at 1000 K. Compared to compression at 300 K, elevated temperature helps compressed SiO2-glass effectively overcome the kinetic barrier to undergo permanent densification with enhanced coordination number and connectivity. This hot compressed SiO2-glass exhibits a substantially high bulk modulus of 361–429 GPa which is at least 2–3 times greater than the metallic, oxide, and silicate glasses at ambient conditions. Its Poisson’s ratio, an indicator for the packing efficiency, is comparable to the metallic glasses. Even after temperature quench and decompression to ambient conditions, the SiO2-glass retains some of its unique properties at compression and possesses a Poisson’s ratio of 0.248(11). In addition to chemical alternatives in glass syntheses, coupled compression and heating treatments can be an effective means to enhance mechanical and elastic properties in high-performance glasses.

Magnetic and magnetoelastic properties of Er3Al2

We report on comprehensive investigations of ${\mathrm{Er}}_{3}{\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$ exhibiting a number of magnetic states. We observe three spontaneous antiferromagnetic transitions at 10, 14, and 24 K. Furthermore, our high-field magnetization and sound-velocity measurements reveal a number of crystal-electric-field (CEF) transitions. Additionally, the velocity of transverse acoustic waves shows a pronounced softening with decreasing temperature in the paramagnetic state. A CEF model that includes quadrupolar interactions explains the observed magnetic and elastic properties and provides a CEF scheme of ${\mathrm{Er}}_{3}{\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$. However, to explain some of the observations, a refined, more sophisticated model needs to be developed.

Thermodynamic Properties and Equation of State for Solid and Liquid Aluminum

High-temperature equations of state for solid and liquid aluminum were constructed herein using experimental data on thermodynamic properties, thermal expansion, compressibility, bulk modulus and sound velocity measurements, supplemented with phase diagram data (melting curve). The entire set of experimental data was optimized using the temperature-dependent Tait equation over a pressure range of up to 800 kbar and over a temperature range from 20 K to the melting point for solid aluminum and to 3800 K for liquid aluminum. The temperature dependence of thermodynamic and thermophysical parameters was described by an expanded Einstein model. The resultant equations of state describe well the totality of experimental data within measurement errors of individual variables.

Sound Velocity Measurements of B2‐Fe‐Ni‐Si Alloy Under High Pressure by Inelastic X‐Ray Scattering: Implications for the Composition of Earth's Core

AbstractElastic properties of B2‐Fe0.67Ni0.06Si0.27 (15 wt.% Si) alloy have been investigated by combined high‐resolution inelastic X‐ray scattering and powder X‐ray diffraction in diamond anvil cells up to 100 GPa at room temperature. Densities (ρ), compressional (VP) and shear (VS) wave velocities were extrapolated to inner core conditions to enable comparison with the preliminary reference Earth model. The modeled aggregate compressional and shear wave velocities and densities of the two‐phase mixture of B2‐Fe0.67Ni0.06Si0.27 and hcp‐Fe‐Ni are consistent with inner core PREM values of VP, VS, and ρ based on a linear mixing model with 30(5) vol % B2‐Fe0.67Ni0.06Si0.27 and 70(5) vol % hcp Fe‐Ni, which corresponds to ∼3–5 wt.% Si and ∼5–12 wt.% Ni.

Evidence for a Square-Square Vortex Lattice Transition in a High-T_{c} Cuprate Superconductor.

Using sound velocity and attenuation measurements in high magnetic fields, we identify a new transition in the vortex lattice state of La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4}. The transition, observed in magnetic fields exceeding 35T and temperatures far below zero field T_{c}, is detected in the compression modulus of the vortex lattice, at a doping level of x=p=0.17. Our theoretical analysis based on Eilenberger's theory of the vortex lattice shows that the transition corresponds to the long-sought 45° rotation of the square vortex lattice, predicted to occur in d-wave superconductors near a van Hove singularity.

Determining Mechanical Moduli of Disordered Materials with Hierarchical Porosity on Different Structural Levels.

The impact of synthesis parameters and structural properties, respectively, on mechanical properties of porous materials on different structural levels provides valuable information for designing materials for specific applications. Within this study, we apply two nonstandard approaches for determining the mechanical properties of the mesoporous backbone phase in a series of disordered SiO2-based monolithic materials possessing hierarchical meso-macroporosity, that is, deformation upon mercury porosimetry and in situ dilatometry during nitrogen adsorption analysis. By using ordered porous model materials, the latter method has been recently proven to provide reliable mechanical moduli. This concept was now applied to a SiO2 monolith developed for high-performance liquid chromatography exhibiting disordered hierarchical meso- and macroporosity, as well as a series of analogue phenyl-modified meso-macroporous SiO2 monoliths with up to 36.1 at% organic modification. The phenyl group was introduced by adding phenyltrimethoxysilane to the sol-gel mixture. The study aimed at investigating in detail the impact of the organic modification on the morphology of the porous solid and the resulting mechanical properties. The study shows that both Hg porosimetry and in situ dilatometry performed during N2 adsorption at 77 K provide similar and reasonable moduli of compression for the mesoporous backbone of the silica materials investigated. These data were compared with moduli of the macroscopic sample as determined from sound velocity measurements by describing the fully connected macroporous backbone with a foam model. The comparison reveals an otherwise overseen side effect of the organic modification of the silica framework: in contrast to the pure reference SiO2 meso-macroporous monoliths, the hybrid material is composed of a more particulate morphology on the mesoscale, that is, mesoporous particles and corresponding necks between them are formed, which results in significant softening of the porous solid on the macroscale.

Shear wave velocities across the olivine – wadsleyite – ringwoodite transitions and sharpness of the 410 km seismic discontinuity

The seismic signature of the 410-km seismic discontinuity is generally attributed to the olivine to wadsleyite polymorphic transformation. However, apparent discrepancies exist between seismic and experimental observations. Among those, the sharpness of the discontinuity as inferred from the reflectivity of seismic waves is difficult to reconcile with the gradual nature of the olivine to wadsleyite transformation predicted by phase equilibria. In this study, we explore the contribution of the phase transition kinetics to the sharpness of the discontinuity by performing X-ray diffraction and sound velocity measurements on (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 with an unprecedented time resolution as a function of the reaction progress. Our data document for the first time a transient velocity softening phenomenon and attenuation which we relate to the formation of a metastable spineloid phase. In the Earth's mantle this transformation mechanism would affect the elastic gradient within the olivine-wadsleyite two-phase loop, potentially creating a low-velocity layer; hence explaining the unique sharpness and reflectivity of the discontinuity.

Experimental Evidence Supporting an Overturned Iron‐Titanium‐Rich Melt Layer in the Deep Lunar Interior

AbstractDense Fe‐Ti‐rich cumulates, formed as the last dregs of the lunar magma ocean, are thought to have driven a large‐scale overturn of the lunar mantle over 4 Ga ago. Analysis of lunar seismic data has implied that some of the overturned bodies may have reached the lunar core‐mantle boundary and remained there until the present day as a partially molten layer. However, whether such a molten layer could be stable during >4 Ga of post‐magma‐ocean lunar history and explain lunar seismic observations remains poorly constrained. Here, we report the first sound velocity measurements on a Fe‐Ti‐rich lunar melt up to conditions of the lowermost lunar mantle. Our results suggest that a partial melt layer with at least 20% overturned Fe‐Ti‐rich melt can be trapped atop the lunar core‐mantle boundary until the present day, strongly influencing the thermochemical evolution of the lunar interior.

Simultaneous measurement of thickness and sound velocity of porous coatings based on the ultrasonic complex reflection coefficient

The ultrasonic pulse-echo method is widely adopted in measuring coating thickness via parameter inversion of the reflection coefficient. However, the ultrasonic application to thermal barrier coatings (TBCs, as typically applied on aero-engine blades) remains a challenge, as the porous structure significantly attenuates sonic propagation, which is also difficult to characterize. In this article, a method that effectively addresses this issue without the need of the wave attenuation coefficient is presented. Specifically, the complex ultrasonic reflection coefficient can help calculate the coating-induced phase shift, which is found to linearly vary against the ultrasonic wave frequency. The slope of this linear function, depending on the structural porosity, enables simultaneous measurements of both the sound velocity and the thickness of the coating. Moreover, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by acoustic finite element simulations and experimental measurements of 8YSZ thermal barrier coatings.