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Articles 1 - 9 of 9
Full-Text Articles in Physics
Studying The Interface Between Croconic Acid Thin Films And Substrates Using A Slow Positron Beam, Dean Peterson, Jiandang Liu, Jonas Etzweiler, Gabriel Sontoyo, Sara J. Callori, Kimberley R. Cousins, Timothy Usher, Renwu Zhang
Studying The Interface Between Croconic Acid Thin Films And Substrates Using A Slow Positron Beam, Dean Peterson, Jiandang Liu, Jonas Etzweiler, Gabriel Sontoyo, Sara J. Callori, Kimberley R. Cousins, Timothy Usher, Renwu Zhang
Physics Faculty Publications
Croconic acid (CA) is the first organic ferroelectric with a spontaneous polarity in bulk samples comparable to its inorganic counterparts. As a natural extension of study, ultrathin CA films (∼nm scale) were investigated to reveal ferroelectric effects in films on different substrates for their fundamental and industrial significance. However, the void defect at the interface between the film and substrate is presumed to interfere with surface effects. In this work, a non-invasive technique, a slow positron beam, coupled with Doppler broadening energy spectroscopy (DBES), is applied to study the void defects within the interfacial layer between CA films and Si …
Mini‐Review: The Promise Of Piezoelectric Polymers, Timothy D. Usher, Kimberley R. Cousins, Renwu Zhang, Stephen Ducharme
Mini‐Review: The Promise Of Piezoelectric Polymers, Timothy D. Usher, Kimberley R. Cousins, Renwu Zhang, Stephen Ducharme
Physics Faculty Publications
Recent advances provide new opportunities in the field of polymer piezoelectric materials. Piezoelectric materials provide unique insights to the fundamental understanding of the solid state. In addition, piezoelectric materials have a wide range of applications, representing billions of dollars of commercial applications. However, inorganic piezoelectric materials have limitations that polymer ferroelectric materials can overcome, if certain challenges can be addressed. This mini-review is a practical summary of the current research and future directions in the investigation and application of piezoelectric materials with an emphasis on polymeric piezoelectric materials. We will assume that the reader is well versed in the subject …
Proton Transfer In Surface-Stabilized Chiral Motifs Of Croconic Acid, Donna A. Kunkel, James Hooper, Scott Simpson, Geoffrey A. Rojas, Stephen Ducharme, Timothy Usher, Eva Zurek, Axel Enders
Proton Transfer In Surface-Stabilized Chiral Motifs Of Croconic Acid, Donna A. Kunkel, James Hooper, Scott Simpson, Geoffrey A. Rojas, Stephen Ducharme, Timothy Usher, Eva Zurek, Axel Enders
Physics Faculty Publications
The structure and cooperative proton ordering of two-dimensional sheets of croconic acid were studied with scanning tunneling microscopy and first-principles calculations. Unlike in the crystalline form, which exhibits a pleated, densely packed polar sheet structure, the confinement of the molecules to the surface results in hydrogen-bonded chiral clusters and networks. First-principles calculations suggest that the surface stabilizes networks of configurational isomers, which arise from direct hydrogen transfer between their constituent croconic acid monomers. Some of these configurations have a net polarization. It is demonstrated through constrained molecular dynamics simulations that simultaneous proton transfer between any two molecules can occur spontaneously. …
Piezoelectric Microfiber Composite Actuators For Morphing Wings, Timothy Usher, Kenneth R. Ulibarri, Gilberto S. Camargo
Piezoelectric Microfiber Composite Actuators For Morphing Wings, Timothy Usher, Kenneth R. Ulibarri, Gilberto S. Camargo
Physics Faculty Publications
Morphing wing technologies provide expanded functionality in piloted and robotic aircraft, extending particular vehicle mission parameters as well as increasing the role of aviation in both military and civilian applications. However, realizing control surfaces that do not void the benefits of morphing wings presents challenges that can be addressed with microfiber composite actuators (MFCs). We present two approaches for realizing control surfaces. In one approach, flap-like structures are formed by bonding MFCs to each side of a metal substrate. In the other approach, MFCs are bonded directly to the wing. Counter intuitively, the flap approach resulted in larger voltage actuation …
Chiral Magnetization Configurations In Magnetic Nanostructures In The Presence Of Dzyaloshinski-Moriya Interactions, Naoise Grisewood, John Eves, Timothy Usher, Hans-Benjamin Braun
Chiral Magnetization Configurations In Magnetic Nanostructures In The Presence Of Dzyaloshinski-Moriya Interactions, Naoise Grisewood, John Eves, Timothy Usher, Hans-Benjamin Braun
Physics Faculty Publications
Many low-dimensional systems, such as nanoscale islands, thin films, and multilayers, as well as bulk systems, such as multiferroics, are characterized by the lack of inversion symmetry, a fact that may give rise to a Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction. For sufficient strength, the DM interaction will favor spiral spin configurations of definite chirality. In order to harness such systems for applications, it is important to understand the conditions under which these spiral spin configurations form and how they can be controlled via an external field. Here, we present exact solutions of the 1D magnetization profiles in such systems for arbitrary material …
Nonlinear Dynamics Of Piezoelectric High Displacement Actuators In Cantilever Mode, Timothy Usher, Alec Sim
Nonlinear Dynamics Of Piezoelectric High Displacement Actuators In Cantilever Mode, Timothy Usher, Alec Sim
Physics Faculty Publications
Experimental results of the nonlinear dynamic response of a piezoelectric high displacement actuator known as thin-layer composite unimorph ferroelectric driver and sensor were compared to a theoretical model, which utilizes the multiple scales method to connect the effective spring constant to higher-order stiffness constants c4 of the piezoelectric layer. This type of actuator has prestress gradients resulting from the manufacturing process that have been reported to play an important role in enhanced actuation. A value of c4=−4.7x1020 N/m2 was obtained for the higher-order lead zirconate titanate (PZT) stiffness coefficient, which is higher than other published results …
Suppression Of Switchable Polarization In Kdp By Ionizing Radiation, Timothy D. Usher
Suppression Of Switchable Polarization In Kdp By Ionizing Radiation, Timothy D. Usher
Physics Faculty Publications
Switching curves were obtained from KH2PO4 single crystals exposed to x-ray radiation for various time intervals, up to 8 h. The applied electric field was varied between 370 and 740 V/cm, as well. The temperature was held constant at 99 K. The switching curves were fit to a three-parameter nucleation and growth model based on the original works by Johnson and Mehl, and independently by Avrami. The two dynamic parameters, characteristic time tc, and effective domain wall dimensionality n, produced values consistent with unirradiated studies, however, they did not show any clear dependancy on …
Demonstrating Hysteresis In Ferroelectric Materials, Deborah Schurr, Timothy Usher
Demonstrating Hysteresis In Ferroelectric Materials, Deborah Schurr, Timothy Usher
Physics Faculty Publications
No abstract provided.
High-Voltage Mosfet Bipolar Square-Wave Generator, T. D. Usher, Grant A. Mcauley
High-Voltage Mosfet Bipolar Square-Wave Generator, T. D. Usher, Grant A. Mcauley
Physics Faculty Publications
he construction of a high‐voltage (up to 1000 V) bipolar metal‐oxide‐semiconductor field‐effect transistor square‐wave generator is described. This generator is capable of producing both positive and negative going square waves with variable amplitude, repetition rate, and width. The circuit was designed for ferroelectrics research, however other applications are possible. The rise time of the prototype was 200 ns which was quite satisfactory for the present ferroelectric research project however the rise time can be decreased to 50 ns if necessary. The reader with a modest knowledge of electronics should be able to construct the circuit. Possible pitfalls and critical points …