Ferroelectric Materials and Their Applications


Book Description

This book presents the basic physical properties, structure, fabrication methods and applications of ferroelectric materials. These are widely used in various devices, such as piezoelectric/electrostrictive transducers and actuators, pyroelectric infrared detectors, optical integrated circuits, optical data storage, display devices, etc. The ferroelectric materials described in this book include a relatively complete list of practical and promising ferroelectric single crystals, bulk ceramics and thin films. Included are perovskite-type, lithium niobate, tungsten-bronze-type, water-soluable crystals and other inorganic materials, as well as organic ferroelectrics (polymers, liquid crystals, and composites). Basic concepts, principles and methods for the physical property characteristics of ferroelectric materials are introduced in the first two chapters for those readers new to the subject of ferroelectricity. Not only professional researchers and engineers but also students and other readers who have limited physical knowledge and an interest in ferroelectrics, will welcome this book.







Polar Oxides


Book Description

Here, more than 20 experts from leading research institutes around the world present the entire scope of this rapidly developing field. In so doing, they cover a wide range of topics, including the characterization and investigation of structural, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of ceramic materials, a well as phase transitions, electrical and optical properties and microscopic investigations. Another feature is a complete profile of the properties of polar oxides -- from their proof to their latest applications. Throughout, the authors review, discuss and assess the material properties with regard to new and advanced characterization and imaging techniques. For physicists, physicochemists, semiconductor and solid state physicists, materials scientists, and students of chemistry and physics.




Phase Transitions in Liquid Crystals


Book Description

The Nato Advanced Study Institute "Phase Transitions in Liquid Crystals" was held May 2-12, 1991, in Erice, Sicily. This was the 16th conference organized by the International School of Quantum Electronics, under the auspices of the "Ettore Majorana" Centre for Scientific Culture. The subject of "Liquid Crystals" has made amazing progress since the last ISQE Course on this subject in 1985. The present Proceedings give a tutorial introduction to today's most important areas, as well as a review of current results by leading researchers. We have brought together some of the world's acknowledged experts in the field to summarize both the present state of their research and its background. Most of the lecturers attended all the lectures and devoted their spare hours to stimulating discussions. We would like to thank them all for their admirable contributions. The Institute also took advantage of a very active audience; most of the students were active researchers in the field and contributed with discussions and seminars. Some of these student seminars are also included in these Proceedings. We did not modify the original manuscripts in editing this book, but we did group them according to the following topics: 1) "Theoretical Foundations"; 2) "Thermotropic Liquid Crystals"; 3) "Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals"; 4) "Polymeric Liquid Crystals"; and 5) "Lyotropic Liquid Crystals".










Complementarity Between Neutron And Synchrotron X-ray Scattering - Proceedings Of The Sixth Summer School Of Neutron Scattering


Book Description

Understanding and manipulating the properties of materials naturally occurring in our world and artificially produced by modern technologies requires detailed information on their properties on the atomic scale. This information is the basis for any kind of research in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, metallurgy, and ceramics. Among the various experimental methods, neutron and photon scattering have become the key techniques of choice.This book provides an overview of the complementarity between neutron and synchrotron x-ray scattering. The most important topics are covered, including structure determination, magnetic correlations, polymer dynamics, thin films and multilayers, photoemission studies, etc; they are thoroughly introduced and discussed by experts from both the experimental and the theoretical side.




Actuators and Their Applications


Book Description

As demand has increased for new types of equipment that are more suited to the ever-evolving world of industry, demand for both new and traditional types of actuators has soared. From automotive and aeronautical to biomedical and robotics, engineers are constantly developing actuating devices that are adapted to their particular needs in their particular field, and actuators are used in almost every field of engineering that there is. This volume not only lays out the fundamentals of actuators, such as how they operate, the different kinds, and their various applications, but it also informs the engineer or student about the new actuators that are being developed and the state-of-the-art of actuators. Edited and written by highly experienced and well-respected engineers with a deep understanding of their subject, there is no other volume on actuators that is more current or comprehensive. Whether as a guide for the latest innovations in actuators, a refresher reference work for the veteran engineer, or an introductory text for the engineering student, this is a must-have for any engineer's or university's library. Covering the theory and the practical applications, this breakthrough volume is a "one stop shop" for any engineer or student interested in actuators.




Neutron and X-Ray Scattering in Materials Science and Biology


Book Description

All papers have peer-reviewed. Neutron, especially together with X-ray scattering techniques have been showing the elegant and tremendous achievements in revealing the static and dynamic structures in the wide range of materials, i.e. alloys, ceramics, polymers, composites, and also biological materials for advanced purposes. With the intention on establishing the techniques due to the availibility of the facilities at neutron scattering laboratory in Indonesia and a light X-ray synchrotron laboratory in Singapore, then the next future works and collaborations, especially in the southeast Asian region will be strengthened and enlightened.




Complementarity Between Neutron and Synchrotron X-ray Scattering


Book Description

I. Theoretical principles of neutron and synchrotron X-ray scattering. Neutron- and synchrotron X-ray scattering (the theoretical principles) / W. E. Fischer -- II. Structure determination. Structure determination by powder synchrotron X-ray diffraction / A. N. Fitch -- Structure determination by powder neutron diffraction / E. Gray and E. Kisi -- Seminar on "structure" / K. Yvon -- III. Magnetism. Magnetic neutron and synchrotron X-ray scattering / W. G Stirling -- Magnetic excitations through the eye of the neutron / W. J. L. Buyers -- Topological excitations in low dimensional magnets / H. B. Braun -- Seminar on "magnetism" / G. H. Lander -- IV. Correlated electron systems. Elastic and inelastic X-ray scattering from correlated electrons: A theoretical perspective / M. Altarelli -- SANS measurements on vortices in superconductors. What can we learn? / V. B. Geshkenbein -- Seminar on "electronic structures" / J. Mesot -- V. Multilayers. From thin films to superlattices studied with X-rays and neutrons / D. E. McMorrow -- Seminar on "multilayers" / S. K. Sinha -- VI. Other topics in condensed matter research. From entropy driven motion to reptation - Large scale dynamics in polymer melts / D. Richter -- Small-angle and surface scattering from porous and fractal materials / S. K. Sinha -- Hot topics in condensed matter physics / H. R. Ott -- Seminar on "dynamics" / B. Dorner -- VII. Beam optics. Neutron beam optics / P. Boni -- Synchrotron X-ray beam optics / A. Freund -- VIII. Summary. Summary lecture: Some features of the scattering and absorption of beams of neutrons and beams of X-rays / S. W. Lovesey