Speaker:
John Neumeier, Department of Physics, Montana State University

Title:
""Measuring length changes with sub-atomic resolution for the study of phase transitions in novel materials "
 

Abstract:
The volume is a fundamental thermodynamic property, but meaningful analysis requires that the volume of a specimen, or its length, as a function of temperature (the thermal expansion) be measured with very high precision. Over the last five years, we have developed a device for measuring the thermal expansion of millimeter-sized specimens with sub-atomic scale resolution. This device is now used to study phase transitions of novel superconductors, ferromagnets and other systems which exhibit long-range order. The device will be described, the thermodynamics of phase transitions will be discussed and some recent results will be presented.
 

Host:
Charles Kankelbor
 

Refreshments 3:45 p.m. EPS - 2nd Floor Atrium