Lattice thermal conductivity of disordered NiPd and NiPt alloys

Numerical calculations of lattice thermal conductivity are reported for the binary alloys NiPd and NiPt. The present work is a continuation of an earlier paper by us [PRB, 72, 214207 (2005)]which had developed a theoretical framework for the calculation of configuration-averaged lattice thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity in disordered alloys. The formulation was based on the augmented space theorem combined with a scattering diagram technique. In this paper we shall show dependence of the lattice thermal conductivity on a series of variables like phonon frequency, temperature and alloy composition. The temperature dependence of $\kappa(T)$ and its realtion to the measured thermal conductivity is discussed. The concentration dependence of $\kappa$ appears to justify the notion of a minimum thermal conductivity as discussed by Kittel, Slack and others. We also study the frequency and composition dependence of the thermal diffusivity averaged over modes. A numerical estimate of this quantity gives an idea about the location of mobility edge and the fraction of states in the frequency spectrum which is delocalized.Comment: 23 pages, 18 figure

Excitation of the ionospheric resonance cavity by neutral winds at middle latitudes

International audienceA new mechanism for the ionospheric Alfvén resonator (IAR) excitation at middle latitudes is considered. It is shown that the ionosphere wind system in this region is capable of sustaining the generation of geomagnetic perturbations that can be detected by ground magnetometers. The general IAR dispersion relation describing the linear coupling of the shear Alfvén and fast magnetosonic/compressional modes is obtained. The dependence of the IAR eigenfrequencies and damping rates on the perpendicular wave number and on the ground conductivity during the day- and nighttime conditions is analyzed both analytically and numerically. In order to demonstrate the IAR excitation by neutral winds the power spectra of the geomagnetic perturbation on the ground surface are calculated. Furthermore, it is found that Kolmogorov spectra of the ionospheric turbulent neutral winds and the IAR eigenfrequencies lie in the same frequency range that make it possible to enhance the IAR excitation. The relevance of the developed theoretical model to the ground-based observations is stressed

On Es-spread effects in the ionosphere connected to earthquakes

International audienceIn the present work, phenomena in the ionosphere are studied, which are connected with earthquakes (16 events) having a depth of less than 50 km and a magnitude M larger than 4. Analysed are night-time Es-spread effects using data of the vertical sounding station Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (f=53.0°, ?=158.7°) from May 2004 until August 2004 registered every 15 min. It is found that the maximum distance of the earthquake from the sounding station, where pre-seismic phenomena are yet observable, depends on the magnitude of the earthquake. Further it is shown that 1–2 days before the earthquakes, in the pre-midnight hours, the appearance of Es-spread increases. With a probability of more than 0.95, this increase of Es-spread observations before midnight is not casual

Thermal properties of vesicular rhyolite

Thermal diffusivity of rhyolite melt and rhyolite foam (70–80% porosity) has been measured using the radial heat transfer method. Cylindrical samples (length 50–55 mm, diameter 22 mm) of rhyolite melt and foam have been derived by heating samples of Little Glass Mountain obsidian. Using available data on heat capacity and density of rhyolite melt, the thermal conductivity of samples has been determined. The difference in thermal conductivity between rhyolite melt and foam at igneous temperatures ( 1000°C) is about one order of magnitude. The effect of thermal insulation of magmas due to vesiculation and foaming of the top layer is discussed in terms of the data obtained using a simple illustrative model of magma chamber convection