We study critical properties of the relaxation time at a threshold point in switching processes between bistable states under change in external fields. In particular, we investigate the relaxation processes near the spinodal point of the infinitely long-range interaction model (the Husimi-Temperley model) by analyzing the scaling properties of the corresponding Fokker-Planck equation. We also ...

The NIST Ceramics Division maintains two databases on the physical, mechanical, thermal, and other properties of high temperature superconductors and structural ceramics. Crystallographic data are featured prominently among the physical property data and serve several important functions in the classification and evaluation of the property values. The scope of materials, properties, and data ev...

BACKGROUND The physical characteristics of bandage kits, in which different materials are combined, cannot be predicted by laboratory tests. They can only be assessed in vivo by measuring the interface pressure and calculation of stiffness. OBJECTIVE The objective was to investigate pressure and stiffness of some widely used multicomponent, multilayer bandages and to investigate the effect of...

The surface dynamics of amorphous and semicrystalline polymer films have been measured using helium atom scattering. Time-of-flight data were collected to resolve the elastic and inelastic scattering components in the diffuse scattering of neutral helium atoms from the surface of a thin poly(ethylene terephthalate) film. Debye-Waller attenuation was observed for both the amorphous and semicryst...

Bi₂Se₃ nanocrystals with various morphologies, including nanotower, nanoplate, nanoflake, nanobeam and nanowire, have been synthesized. Well-distinguished Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations were observed in Bi₂Se₃ nanoplates and nanobeams. Careful analysis of the SdH oscillations suggests the existence of Berry's phase π, which confirms the quantum transport of the surface Dirac fermions in b...

Despite the remarkable rise in efficiencies of solar cells containing the lead-halide perovskite absorbers RPbX3 (R = organic cation; X = Br(-) or I(-)), the toxicity of lead remains a concern for the large-scale implementation of this technology. This has spurred the search for lead-free materials with similar optoelectronic properties. Here, we use the double-perovskite structure to incorpora...

Widening gap in housing need and housing supply to the populace has led to an apparent housing crisis in Nigerian urban centres. Various studies concluded that an acquisition of indigenous building materials is the way out of the housing crisis. The National Housing Policy in Nigeria has recognized earth in form of Compressed Stabilized Laterite Bricks (CSLBs) as one of the abundant indigenous ...

Superconducting materials for magnets will be discussed from three viewpoints: firstly the basic physical properties of the materials themselves, secondly the constraints and preferences imposed by the requirements of magnet building and finally, the manufacture of magnet conductors as a commercial product.

There is intense interest in graphene in fields such as physics, chemistry, and materials science, among others. Interest in graphene's exceptional physical properties, chemical tunability, and potential for applications has generated thousands of publications and an accelerating pace of research, making review of such research timely. Here is an overview of the synthesis, properties, and appli...

A versatile new class of organic photochromic molecules that offers an unprecedented combination of physical properties including tunable photoswitching using visible light, excellent fatigue resistance, and large polarity changes is described. These unique features offer significant opportunities in diverse fields ranging from biosensors to targeted delivery systems while also allowing non-exp...