Physica B: Condensed Matter 316-317, 539 (2002)

R. König, F. Mrowka, I. Usherov-Marshak, P. Esquinazi and W. Wasserbäch

Abstract

We have studied the influence of low H concentrations (10 and 100 ppm) as well as of mechanical deformation (cold-rolling) on the acoustic properties of a series of well-characterized crystalline tantalum samples of very high purity in the temperature range 1mKT10K using the vibrating reed technique. The measurements reveal a different behaviour of the acoustic properties of the samples before and after deformation depending on whether the samples have been previously surface oxidized or not. The experimental findings are discussed in terms of the influence of H and dislocations on the acoustic properties.