The anisotropic glass-like properties of disordered crystals
The low temperature acoustic and thermal properties of amorphous, glassy materials are remarkably similar. All these properties are described theoretically with reasonable quantitative accuracy by assuming that the amorphous solid contains dynamical defects that can be described at low temperatures as an ensemble of two-level systems (TLS), but the deep nature of these TLSs is not clarified yet. Moreover, glassy properties were found also in disordered crystals, quasicrystals, and even perfect crystals with a large number of atoms in the unit cell. In crystals, the glassy properties are not universal, like in amorphous materials, and also exhibit anisotropy. Recently it was proposed a model for the interaction of two-level systems with arbitrary strain fields (Phys. Rev. B 75, 64202, 2007), which was used to calculate the thermal properties of nanoscopic membranes at low temperatures. The model is also suitable for the description of anisotropic crystals. We describe here the results of the calculation of anisotropic glass-like properties in crystals of various lattice symmetries.
Origin of the tunneling states in SiO2.
Ultrasonic velocity change and attenuation measurements are performed in neutron-irradiated {ital z}-cut quartz, for three different doses. From numerical fits of the data using the tunneling model, the typical parameters of the tunneling states (TS) are determined and compared with those found in comparable {ital x}-cut samples (irradiated under the same conditions and with similar doses). This study reveals a remarkable anisotropy, which has to be attributed to the tunneling mechanism itself. In search of the microscopic origin of the tunneling states, these results give direct experimental evidence for a microscopic picture of the TS as a rotation of coupled SiO{sub 4} tetrahedra. At the same time, they provide important evidence for the missing link to obtain a common interpretation of all three low-frequency excitations in vitreous silica.
Degradable polymers : principles and applications
1. Why Biodegradable Polymers? G. Scott. 2. An Overview of Biodegradable Polymers and Biodegradation of Polymers S.H. Huang. 3. Degradation and Stabilization of Carbon-Chain Polymers G. Scott. 4. Techniques and Methods of Polymer Degradation S. Karlsson, A.-C. Albertsson. 5. Biodegradation of Aliphatic Polyesters Suming Li, M. Vert. 6. Starch-Polymer Composites C. Bastioli. 7. Polymers from Renewable Sources E. Chiellini, et al. 8. Sustainable Poly(Hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA) Production G. Braunegg. 9. Polyhydroxyalkanoates: Properties and Modification for High Volume Application I. Chodak. 10. Biodegradable Polymers in Medicine E Piskin. 11. Environmentally Biodegradable Water-Soluble Polymers G. Swift. 12. Plastics and the Environment J. Guillet. 13. Degradable Hydrocarbon Polymers in Waste and Litter Control G. Scott, D.M. Wiles. Subject Index.