0000000000004244
AUTHOR
Winfried Petry
Localized Motion in Supercooled Glycerol as Measured by 2 H-NMR Spin-Lattice Relaxation and Incoherent Neutron Scattering
Selectively deuterated glycerol has been subjected to 2H-NMR spin-lattice relaxation and quasi-elastic neutron scattering experiments. The measurements yield relaxation rates and a non-Gaussian Q-dependence of the Debye-Waller factor which are different for the two hydrogen sites. The data analysis shows that below the onset of the glass transition α-process the hydrogens perform a local motion (≈ 10-12 s) in addition to what is expected from harmonic phonons. The resulting mean-square displacements are highly temperature dependent but are significantly smaller than those found in van der Waals glasses. Amplitudes and activation energies of the carbon-bonded and oxygen-bonded hydrogens are …
Inelastic Neutron Scattering Experiments on Van der Waals Glasses - A Test of Recent Microscopic Theories of the Glass Transition
Etude realisee sur un verre d'o-terphenyle afin de montrer l'existence d'une relaxation secondaire presentant des caracteristiques inhabituelles et le comportement Kohbrausch de la fonction de correlation de densite decrivant la relaxation structurale
Elastic torsion effects in magnetic nanoparticle diblock-copolymer structures
Magnetic properties of thin composite films, consisting of non-interacting polystyrene-coated γ-Fe(2)O(3) (maghemite) nanoparticles embedded into polystyrene-block-polyisoprene P(S-b-I) diblock-copolymer films are investigated. Different particle concentrations, ranging from 0.7 to 43 wt%, have been used. The magnetization measured as a function of external field and temperature shows typical features of anisotropic superparamagnets including a hysteresis at low temperatures and blocking phenomena. However, the data cannot be reconciled with the unmodified Stoner-Wohlfarth-Néel theory. Applying an appropriate generalization we find evidence for either an elastic torque being exerted on the …
Dynamic anomaly in the glass transition region of orthoterphenyl
We report on incoherent and coherent neutron scattering results in the supercooled liquid and the glassy regime of the van der Waals fluido-terphenyl using the backscattering and spin echo technique, respectively. A critical comparison of both techniques is presented. The data are analysed in the time domain assuming that microscopic correlation times (τ) scale with the viscosity η according to τ(T)∼η(T)/T. With this assumption we obtain an agreement with several predictions of mode coupling theory: the existence of a critical temperatureT c is shown, independently for both incoherent and coherent data, by a cusp in the temperature dependence of the Debye-Waller factorf Q (T). BelowT c fQ(T…
Mode-coupling crossover in viscous toluene revealed by neutron and light scattering
The dynamics of supercooled toluene, studied in a GHz-THz range by incoherent neutron and depolarized light scattering, is found to be in full accord with mode coupling predictions. Around the susceptibility minimum, neutron spectra are wavenumber independent and proportional to light scattering data; the fast β-relaxation scaling law applies; amplitude and frequency diverge with power laws that extrapolate towards a crossover temperature Tc K.
Relaxation and phonons in viscous and glassy orthoterphenyl by neutron scattering
We present an extended set of incoherent neutron scattering measurements on the van der Waals liquido-terphenyl, obtained by time-of-flight and backscattering spectroscopy. In the supercooled liquid regime, data from three instruments are combined and analysed in terms of the selfcorrelationS(Q, t). In the time range 1...100 ps, the crossover from α-to β-relaxation is well described by the masterfunction of mode coupling theory, and fitted parameters are consistent with the previously established critical temperatureT c [Z. Phys. B83, 175 (1991)]. In the glassy regime, vibrations are harmonic and can be described by a density of states. Deviations at lowQ are quantitatively explained by a m…
Fast Local Motion around T g in a Molecular Glass as Observed by Incoherent Neutron Scattering
Incoherent quasi-elastic neutron scattering experiments on a molecular glass (1,3,5-tri-α-naphtylbenzene, C36H24) are reported. We find clear evidence for an anomalously strong decrease of the elastic and a corresponding increase of the inelastic scattering around the glass transition temperature. The line shape of this extra inelastic intensity gives evidence for a quasi-elastic scattering implying the existence of a localized and fast (τc ≈ 4.10-12s) molecular motion. From the elastic incoherent structure factor (EISF) a mean jump length ≤ 0.6 A is estimated. The significance of this motion as precursor of the glass instability is discussed within the framework of dynamic glass transition…
Secondary relaxation in the glass-transition regime of ortho-terphenyl observed by incoherent neutron scattering.
We report on incoherent-neutron-scattering measurements in the supercooled regime of the van der Waals liquid ortho-terphenyl. A secondary localized relaxational process on the picosecond time scale is found. In accordance with mode-coupling theories of the glass transition, the relaxational dynamics around a critical temperature ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ decomposes into two time regimes.
Dynamic Anomalies and their Relation to the Glass Transition: A Neutron Scattering Study of the Glass Forming Van der Waals Liquid Ortho-terphenyl
Neutron scattering experiments on the molecular glass former ortho-terphenyl reveal a dynamic anomaly at a temperature Tc ≈ 290 K well above the calorimetric glass temperature Tg = 243 K. Close above Tc the density autocorrelation function ΦQ(t) shows a two step decay over 4–5 decades in time. The slower component obeys the time-temperature superposition principle. Its line shape can be well parametrized by a Kohlrausch law and is strongly temperature dependent as its relaxation time scales with the shear viscosity. Thus this component is identified with the structural relaxation (α-process). The faster component (β-process) is much less temperature dependent. Its line shape factorizes in a…