A Reply to the Comment by A. Rivera et al.

in Physical Review Letters (2005), 94

Imaging of microwave-induced acoustic fields in LiNbO3 by high-performance Brillouin microscopy

in Journal of Physics : D Applied Physics (2005), 38(12), 2026-2030

High performance Brillouin microscopy (BM) has been used to characterize the spatial distribution of piezoelectrically induced acoustic fields excited at microwave frequencies in a LiNbO3 single crystal ... [more ▼]

High performance Brillouin microscopy (BM) has been used to characterize the spatial distribution of piezoelectrically induced acoustic fields excited at microwave frequencies in a LiNbO3 single crystal. It is demonstrated that under suitable conditions BM is able to detect microwave-induced bulk as well as surface acoustic waves. Brillouin spectroscopy is able to probe sound wave intensities of induced phonons, which are as small as those of thermal phonons. [less ▲]

Gradient of the Mechanical Modulus in Glass-Epoxy-Metal Joints as Measured by Brillouin Microscopy.

in Journal of Adhesion (2004), 80(7), 585-599

The newly developed Brillouin microscopy is used for the first time to measure in situ the longitudinal elastic stiffness coefficient in the GHz-range inside of glass-epoxy-metal joints as a function of ... [more ▼]

The newly developed Brillouin microscopy is used for the first time to measure in situ the longitudinal elastic stiffness coefficient in the GHz-range inside of glass-epoxy-metal joints as a function of distance from the substrates. Interphases with a local variation of mechanical properties are quantitatively characterized. These interphases possess unexpected widths of tens to hundreds of microns. Inside the interphases, the spatial variation of the longitudinal stiffness coefficient depends on the type of substrate, on the curing conditions for the epoxy and probably on the distribution of internal stresses. The obtained spatial mechanical profiles provide valuable insight into the morphology-driven mechanics of the interphase, but additional information is needed for a full understanding of their physical and chemical origin. The presented results prove the sensitivity of the Brillouin microscopy; the elastic stiffness coefficients are detected with an accuracy in the subpercentage range. The spatial resolution is better than 10 µm. [less ▲]

Acoustic profilometry within polymers as performed by Brillouin microscopy

in Journal of Physics : D Applied Physics (2003), 36(21), 2738-2742

Using high performance Brillouin spectroscopy we present a new technique, which enables us to perform acoustic microscopy with a spatial resolution of about 1 μm. This technique, called Brillouin ... [more ▼]

Using high performance Brillouin spectroscopy we present a new technique, which enables us to perform acoustic microscopy with a spatial resolution of about 1 μm. This technique, called Brillouin microscopy, is tested on several bulk- and film-like polymer samples. [less ▲]

Cauchy-like relation between elastic constants in amorphous materials.

in Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (2002), 66(1), 012206-012210

It is well known that in addition to the longitudinal modulus, viscoelastic liquids show a shear stiffness at sufficiently high probe frequencies due to structural relaxations. For probe frequencies that ... [more ▼]

It is well known that in addition to the longitudinal modulus, viscoelastic liquids show a shear stiffness at sufficiently high probe frequencies due to structural relaxations. For probe frequencies that are large compared to the structural relaxation frequency, the measured elastic longitudinal and shear moduli become so-called clamped properties (c11∞ and c44∞, respectively). During freezing or polymerization of amorphous liquids, these clamped moduli behave in a strongly nonlinear fashion as a function of temperature or polymerization time. Based on Brillouin spectroscopy data we will show that there exists a linear relation between c11∞ and c44∞ over a large temperature or polymerization time range. Surprisingly, the parameters of this linear relation between the elastic moduli vary only little for different materials. Implications for the nonlinear elastic behavior at the glass transition will be discussed on the basis of mode Grüneisen parameters. [less ▲]

Freezing of Nano-Scaled Fractal Molecules: Dendrimers

in Ferroelectrics (2001), 259(1-4), 27-36

Within this paper we present mono-disperse dendrimers as a new class of ideal canonical glass formers where the frustration mechanism originates from the self similar intramolecular order. Because of ... [more ▼]

Within this paper we present mono-disperse dendrimers as a new class of ideal canonical glass formers where the frustration mechanism originates from the self similar intramolecular order. Because of their fractal intramolecular structure these dendrimers are hardly able to build up a three dimensional translation symmetry necessary to form the crystalline state. Instead they show an unconventional dynamic and static freezing behavior at rather low temperatures. Based on temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC) and Brillouin spectroscopy (BS) we give further evidences for the existence of an ideal primary glass transition with a thermal glass transition temperature which increases with the generation index of the fractal molecule. However, the primary glass transitions of higher generations do not completely erase the memory of the fractal intramolecular mobility but allow the survival of dynamic processes significant for the freezing of the constituting molecular unit. [less ▲]

Elastic properties of single-crystalline and consolidated nano-structured yttrium oxide at room temperature.

in Journal of Physics : Condensed Matter (2000), 12(25), 5403-5409

High resolution Brillouin spectroscopy was used to characterize the elastic stiffness properties of consolidated nano-crystalline yttrium oxide as well as of the related single-crystalline state. Defect ... [more ▼]

High resolution Brillouin spectroscopy was used to characterize the elastic stiffness properties of consolidated nano-crystalline yttrium oxide as well as of the related single-crystalline state. Defect enriched grain boundaries are discussed as sources for the extremely soft elastic properties of the nano-crystalline state. [less ▲]

On the Influence of Nano-Scaling on the Glass Transition of Molecular Liquids

in Nanostructured Materials (1999), 12(1), 519-522

The nature of the glass transition is still a matter of debate. We used temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC) and Brillouin spectroscopy ( BS ) to investigate the freezing behaviour of canonical glasses ... [more ▼]

The nature of the glass transition is still a matter of debate. We used temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC) and Brillouin spectroscopy ( BS ) to investigate the freezing behaviour of canonical glasses ( salol and di-n-butyl-phtalate (DBP)) confined to controlled pore glasses (CPG) with pore diameters between 2.5 and 20 nm. The temperature behaviour of the heat capacity of the composite system deviates from the bulk fluid properties and we interpret the remaining kink-like anomaly at Tg as a static glass transition. In smaller pores Tg is only slightly shifted to lower temperatures. This operative Tg is in good agreement with sound velocity data showing a sharp kink at Tg. The working hypothesis of the existence of a static glass transition is supported by the fact that the -relaxation process disappears with decreasing pore diameter. [less ▲]

Surface-induced organization of linear molecules on nanostructured polytetrafluoroethylene: Crystalline state of poly[vinylidenefluoride-trifluoroethylene].

in Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (1997), 55(6), 3497-3506

Highly crystalline and uniaxial-oriented polytetrafluoroethylene films, nanostructured in one dimension, were used to produce a fully crystalline, thermoreversible morphology in the ferroelectric ... [more ▼]

Highly crystalline and uniaxial-oriented polytetrafluoroethylene films, nanostructured in one dimension, were used to produce a fully crystalline, thermoreversible morphology in the ferroelectric copolymer poly[vinylidenefluoride-trifluoroethylene]. The resulting state is built up of regularly stacked lamellar crystals of about 100 nm thickness and lateral dimensions of about 6 μm. [less ▲]

Second-order elasticity of liquid crystals within their nematic state at high frequencies

in Physical Review. E : Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics (1995), 51(3), 2115-2128

Within this work we present Brillouin and ultrasonic investigations performed on the liquid crystals p-methoxybenzylidene p-(n-butylaniline) (MBBA), p-azoxyanisol (PAA), 4-cyano-4-n-alkylbiphenyles (nCB ... [more ▼]

Within this work we present Brillouin and ultrasonic investigations performed on the liquid crystals p-methoxybenzylidene p-(n-butylaniline) (MBBA), p-azoxyanisol (PAA), 4-cyano-4-n-alkylbiphenyles (nCB), and 4-n-pentoxybenzylidene-4'-n-octoaniline (5O.8). Special attention has been paid to the evolution of a significant splitting of the two longitudinal polarized acoustic modes within the nematic phase. Angle-resolving Brillouin spectroscopy allowed the determination of the complete stiffness tensors and hence a discussion of the propagation of quasitransverse polarized acoustic modes in the nematic state of liquid crystals. We analyze the behavior of the eigenvectors of the relevant acoustic modes and discuss their significance for the propagation of quasishear modes. For 5O.8 we report an acoustic instability within its nematic state. We confirm the existence of a universal thermal relaxation mechanism of weak activation energy for the nematic state of classical liquid crystals. The observed hypersonic anisotropy is discussed in terms of that relaxation mechanism and is compared with that of glass-forming liquid crystals. [less ▲]