Grain growth as a stochastic and curvature-driven process

Grain growth subjected to the interplay of stochastic and curvature-driven mechanisms in a single-phase system has been investigated. Numerical results have shown that when the grains are smaller than several tens of nanometres the dominating mechanism is stochastic diffusion control of boundaries. As the grains grow the influence of the deterministic curvature-driven mechanism increases and finally controls the process. In terms of finite-difference solutions to the Fokker–Planck continuity equation, the predicted grain size approaches a log-normal distribution, which agrees well with experimental observations.     

Shape deformation by moving a glissile interface with one set of misfit dislocations

Transformation and misfit dislocations are used to describe the motion of glissile interfaces with one set of misfit dislocations in the framework of the Frank?Bilby equation. The sweep of these glissile interfaces brings about an invariant-plane-strain type shape deformation. Our approach explains the glissile motion of martensitic interfaces and small-angle symmetrical tilt grain boundaries. It is consistent with the phenomenological theory of martensite crystallography but more flexible.     

Roughening kinetics of reactively sputter-deposited Ti-Al-N films on Si(100)

The roughening kinetics of Ti_{1? x} Al _x N (0?x? 1) films 600 nm thick synthesized by reactive dc magnetron sputtering on Si(100) substrates has been investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The quantification of surface roughening was achieved by calculation of both vertical root-mean-square roughness and lateral correlation lengths of the film surface using the height-height correction functions of measured AFM images. For all the Ti_{1? x} Al _x N films, a steady roughness exponent α = 0.94 ± 0.03 was determined. The evolution of the surface topography as a function of Al concentration is discussed in terms of the competition between surface diffusion and shadowing instability during sputter deposition.     

The kinetic limit of superheating induced by semicoherent interfaces

The superheating behaviour of embedded particles induced by semicoherent interfaces has been observed in many circumstances. In this paper, a phenomeno‐ logical model for melt nucleation on misfit dislocations at a semicoherent interface is proposed. A kinetic limit for semicoherent-interface-induced superheating, which is in good agreement with the results of experiments and computer simulations, is derived from this model. Calculations and analyses based on the model reveal that melting prefers to initiate at the semicoherent interface and that superheating of embedded particles is possible for a melt nucleation contact angle less than 90°. Among the matrix-dependent parameters, the contact angle and the shear modulus of the matrix are found to be dominant in determining the superheating of embedded particles.     

Nanocomposite-like structure in an epitaxial CaCu3Ti4O12 film on LaAlO3 (001)

We report the detailed microstructural study of a CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) thin film using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The CCTO thin film studied in this work was deposited on a (001)-oriented LaAlO₃ (LAO) substrate by pulsed-laser ablation and has a high dielectric constant of about 10⁴ at 1?MHz at room temperature; however, the mechanism for such a dielectric property is not yet understood. Plan-view TEM studies show that the CCTO samples have orthogonal domain structures with the edge nearly parallel to either the [100] or the [010] direction of the CCTO. A minor anatase TiO₂ phase was found at the domain boundaries. The CCTO and the TiO₂ phases are separated by an amorphous-like layer that has a thickness of several nanometres. Cross-sectional TEM studies reveal that both CCTO and TiO₂ in the films are c axis oriented with a very sharp interface to the LAO-(001) substrate and possess a unique crystallographic orientation relationship of (001) _CCTO //(001)_{TiO 2} //(001) _LAO and [100] _CCTO //[100] _{TiO 2} //[100] _LAO. The Rutherford back-scattering ion chanelling studies suggest a composition of Ca_1.5Cu₃Ti_5.5O₁₆ for the film, in which the extra calcium, titanium and oxygen form the anatase TiO₂ phase and amorphous calcium oxide layer that separates the CCTO and TiO₂ phases. Such nanocomposite-like structures may provide an important clue to the mechanism of the dielectric property of these films.     

Pragmatism and Radical Empiricism

A rational reconstruction of James's doctrine of pure experience is attempted, showing how it can be formulated in terms of a Ramsey sentence so that its credibility is comparable to contemporary functionalism about the mind. Whereas functionalism treats only mental predicates as theoretical terms and quantifies over physical objects, Jamesian 'global-functionalism' treats both mental and physical predicates as theoretical terms and quantifies over pure experience. Rehabilitated in this way, the doctrine of pure experience is a fit partner for Jamesian pragmatism. When James says that pragmatism guides us in the course of our experience, this 'experience' must be understood as ultimately pure experience. Pure experience is just what appears , pre-conceptually, and Ramsey-sentence analysis shows how James's employment of the pre-conceptual demonstrative that can refer to pure experience with conditions of identity given by its physical or mental properties, while being itself 'colourless', neither mental nor physical. It is concluded that functionalists about the mind have reason to be global-functionalists about mind and body, in just the way that James's doctrine of pure experience lays out; and Jamesian pragmatists should also accept his radical empiricism.     

Petition and contemplation in Maimonides’ conception of prayer

Maimonides’ statements on prayer pose considerable challenges to interpreters who seek to find his work a unified and coherent philosophy of religion. It is especially difficult to see how his advocacy of a silent meditation that follows intellectual comprehension of divine matters can be harmonized with his thoroughly ritualized approach to the daily supplicatory prayer of Jewish liturgy. Yet, it is the purpose of the following pages to outline an interpretation of Maimonides’ philosophy of religion according to which supplicatory prayer and intellectual meditation are not disparate spiritual phenomena, but complementary dimensions of a distinctive form of ethical‐intellectual worship.     

Interaction Testing as a Measure of Therapeutic Change in Groups

Two therapy groups were followed by means of repeated interaction testing over the course of their therapeutic lifetime. The consensus Rorschach, analyzed as if it were the product of a single individual, indicated marked differences in the progress of the two groups with evidence of growth, expansion in the case of one group and a therapeutic stalemate in the case of the second group. Independent clinical evaluation of therapeutic progress by the therapists of both groups were in complete agreement with the consensus Rorschach psychograms. The possibility that non-conformist members may contribute to poor therapeutic progress is considered.     

Still an American? Mortality Salience and Treatment of Suspected Terrorists

In today's post‐9/11 world, it is important to consider the psychological factors related to beliefs about the proper treatment of those suspected of terrorist involvement. We report 2 experiments on the impact of mortality salience on people's willingness to deny procedural protections to terror suspects. Reminders of mortality led participants to extend more procedural protections to an American terrorism suspect, but fewer toward a Saudi Arabian. In Study 2, we replicated and extended the results of Study 1 by showing that support of extreme interrogation measures was specific to members of enemy out‐groups (e.g., Saudis), as opposed to non‐enemy out‐groups (e.g., Bulgarians). The results are discussed in terms of terror‐management theory.