Possible thermal and chemical stabilization of body-centred-cubic iron in the Earth's core

The nature of the stable phase of iron in the Earth's solid inner core is still highly controversial. Laboratory experiments suggest the possibility of an uncharacterized phase transformation in iron at core conditions and seismological observations have indicated the possible presence of complex, inner-core layering. Theoretical studies currently suggest that the hexagonal close packed (h.c.p.) phase of iron is stable at core pressures and that the body centred cubic (b.c.c.) phase of iron becomes elastically unstable at high pressure. In other h.c.p. metals, however, a high-pressure b.c.c. form has been found to become stabilized at high temperature. We report here a quantum mechanical study of b.c.c.-iron able to model its behaviour at core temperatures as well as pressures, using ab initio molecular dynamics free-energy calculations. We find that b.c.c.-iron indeed becomes entropically stabilized at core temperatures, but in its pure state h.c.p.-iron still remains thermodynamically more favourable. The inner core, however, is not pure iron, and our calculations indicate that the b.c.c. phase will be stabilized with respect to the h.c.p. phase by sulphur or silicon impurities in the core. Consequently, a b.c.c.-structured alloy may be a strong candidate for explaining the observed seismic complexity of the inner core.     

The elastic constants of MgSiO3 perovskite at pressures and temperatures of the Earth's mantle.

The temperature anomalies in the Earth's mantle associated with thermal convection can be inferred from seismic tomography, provided that the elastic properties of mantle minerals are known as a function of temperature at mantle pressures. At present, however, such information is difficult to obtain directly through laboratory experiments. We have therefore taken advantage of recent advances in computer technology, and have performed finite-temperature ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of the elastic properties of MgSiO3 perovskite, the major mineral of the lower mantle, at relevant thermodynamic conditions. When combined with the results from tomographic images of the mantle, our results indicate that the lower mantle is either significantly anelastic or compositionally heterogeneous on large scales. We found the temperature contrast between the coldest and hottest regions of the mantle, at a given depth, to be about 800 K at 1,000 km, 1,500 K at 2,000 km, and possibly over 2,000 K at the core-mantle boundary.     

热输入对深海X70粗晶区组织和韧性的影响

为解决深海X70管线钢在实际焊接中粗晶区(CGHAZ)的脆化问题,在不同热循环工艺下对X70管线钢进行了热模拟研究。采用Gleeble-3800热模拟机模拟X70管线钢CGHAZ,研究CGHAZ在10～60 kJ/cm不同热输入(HI)条件下组织和韧性的变化规律,并通过光学显微镜(OM)、扫描电镜(SEM)和夏比冲击试验等手段表征CGHAZ的组织和韧性。结果表明,不同热输入下试验钢的组织主要由粒状贝氏体(GB)、贝氏体铁素体(BF)和马-奥组元(M-A组元)组成;当HI不断增大时,BF比例减少,GB比例增加,M-A组元粗化,冲击吸收能先升高再降低;当HI为20 kJ/cm时,BF和GB可获得优异组合,断口为韧性断裂,冲击吸收能达到173.8 J;当HI大于20 kJ/cm时,断口解离断裂,冲击吸收能下降明显,最低为18.8 J。因此,较低的热输入可提高CGHAZ的韧性,使X70管线钢具有高强度、高韧性和良好的焊接性。研究结果可为优化焊接工艺提供理论依据。     

临近空间等离子体鞘套对太赫兹波传播特性分析

针对高超声速飞行器在临近空间巡航时出现的通信"黑障"问题,根据RAM C提供的飞行试验数据,建立一维等离子体鞘套模型,通过数值计算分析了等离子体与太赫兹波的相互作用机理,并从等离子体厚度、等离子体电子密度、等离子体碰撞频率和太赫兹波入射角等条件得到了太赫兹波在等离子体鞘套中的传输特性曲线。仿真结果表明:把太赫兹波段作为临近空间平台通信,有利于解决"黑障"问题,其中在大气窗口0.22THz处的衰减均在30dB以下。此论证结果可为临近空间平台设计的高超声速飞行器选用通信频段时提供参考。     

Efficacy of the post-perovskite phase as an explanation for lowermost-mantle seismic properties

Constraining the chemical, rheological and electromagnetic properties of the lowermost mantle (D') is important to understand the formation and dynamics of the Earth's mantle and core. To explain the origin of the variety of characteristics of this layer observed with seismology, a number of theories have been proposed, including core-mantle interaction, the presence of remnants of subducted material and that D' is the site of a mineral phase transformation. This final possibility has been rejuvenated by recent evidence for a phase change in MgSiO3 perovskite (thought to be the most prevalent phase in the lower mantle) at near core-mantle boundary temperature and pressure conditions. Here we explore the efficacy of this 'post-perovskite' phase to explain the seismic properties of the lowermost mantle through coupled ab initio and seismic modelling of perovskite and post-perovskite polymorphs of MgSiO3, performed at lowermost-mantle temperatures and pressures. We show that a post-perovskite model can explain the topography and location of the D' discontinuity, apparent differences in compressional- and shear-wave models and the observation of a deeper, weaker discontinuity. Furthermore, our calculations show that the regional variations in lower-mantle shear-wave anisotropy are consistent with the proposed phase change in MgSiO3 perovskite.     

基于社区森林模型的分布式重叠社区发现算法

重叠社区发现是复杂网络挖掘中的重要基础工作,可以应用于社交网络、通讯网络、蛋白质相互作用网络、代谢路径网络、交通网络等多种网络的数据分析,从而服务智慧交通、传染病防治、舆情分析、新药研制和人力资源管理等领域.传统的单机运算架构已经难以满足各类大规模复杂网络的分析和计算要求.人工智能领域的研究人员提出将社区发现应用到网络...     

Subducted banded iron formations as a source of ultralow-velocity zones at the core-mantle boundary

Ultralow-velocity zones (ULVZs) are regions of the Earth's core-mantle boundary about 1-10 kilometres thick exhibiting seismic velocities that are lower than radial-Earth reference models by about 10-20 per cent for compressional waves and 10-30 per cent for shear waves. It is also thought that such regions have an increased density of about 0-20 per cent (ref. 1). A number of origins for ULVZs have been proposed, such as ponding of dense silicate melt, core-mantle reaction zones or underside sedimentation from the core. Here we suggest that ULVZs might instead be relics of banded iron formations subducted to the core-mantle boundary between 2.8 and 1.8 billion years ago. Consisting mainly of interbedded iron oxides and silica, such banded iron formations were deposited in the world's oceans during the late Archaean and early Proterozoic eras. We argue that these layers, as part of the ocean floor, would be recycled into the Earth's interior by subduction, sink to the bottom of the mantle and may explain all of the observed features of ULVZs.     

Pressure-induced changes in the compression mechanism of aluminous perovskite in the Earth's mantle

Although aluminium is the fifth most abundant element in the Earth's mantle, its effect on the physical properties of perovskite, the main mineral phase in the lower mantle, has largely been ignored. It is becoming clear, however, that many properties of MgSiO3 perovskites are remarkably sensitive to small amounts of aluminium. In particular, perovskite with only 5 wt% Al2O3 has a bulk modulus 10% lower than that of the pure magnesian end-member. The increased compressibility may be due to the high concentrations of oxygen vacancies required to balance the charge of the aluminium; if so, this would have important consequences for the mantle, as aluminous perovskites could be weaker, have lower seismic velocities and be hosts for water. To test whether oxygen vacancies exist in aluminous perovskites, I have calculated the compressibility of end-member defect-bearing perovskites using ab initio methods. The results show that perovskites with oxygen vacancies do have significantly greater compressibilities than those without such vacancies. But the results also suggest that oxygen vacancies become unfavourable at high pressures, in which case only the physical properties of the shallow lower mantle would be affected by aluminium-with the deeper mantle retaining properties similar to those of aluminium-free perovskite.     

解体好氧颗粒污泥修复

考察了加入新的活性污泥使解体好氧颗粒污泥完成修复的可行性.解体好氧颗粒污泥对新加入的活性污泥进行吸附,在各种选择压力特别是水力剪切力作用下和原有颗粒污泥形成一个有机整体.大约3周时间,解体颗粒污泥被完全修复.扫描电镜观察发现,被修复后的颗粒污泥呈现非常规则的结构,微生物相十分致密.在解体颗粒污泥逐渐被修复的过程中,颗粒平均粒径仅从最初的2.8mm增至2.9mm,说明活性污泥在颗粒污泥上的附着主要发生在颗粒的空穴.而颗粒污泥的沉降性能和强度都得到了极大的改善,颗粒沉降速率和完整性系数分别由最初的72m/h和56.8%提高到110m/h和65.8%.新加入的活性污泥除了部分用于修复解体颗粒污泥,其余在选择压力等的作用下形成了新的好氧颗粒污泥.