9,771 research outputs found
Gunn Effect in Silicon Nanowires: Charge Transport under High Electric Field
Gunn (or Gunn-Hilsum) Effect and its associated negative differential
resistivity (NDR) emanates from transfer of electrons between two different
energy bands in a semiconductor. If applying a voltage (electric field)
transfers electrons from an energy sub band of a low effective mass to a second
one with higher effective mass, then the current drops. This manifests itself
as a negative slope or NDR in the I-V characteristics of the device which is in
essence due to the reduction of electron mobility. Recalling that mobility is
inversely proportional to electron effective mass or curvature of the energy
sub band. This effect was observed in semiconductors like GaAs which has direct
bandgap of very low effective mass and its second indirect sub band is about
300 meV above the former. More importantly a self-repeating oscillation of
spatially accumulated charge carriers along the transport direction occurs
which is the artifact of NDR, a process which is called Gunn oscillation and
was observed by J. B. Gunn. In sharp contrast to GaAs, bulk silicon has a very
high energy spacing (~1 eV) which renders the initiation of transfer-induced
NDR unobservable. Using Density Functional Theory (DFT), semi-empirical 10
orbital () Tight Binding (TB) method and Ensemble Monte Carlo
(EMC) simulations we show for the first time that (a) Gunn Effect can be
induced in narrow silicon nanowires with diameters of 3.1 nm under 3 % tensile
strain and an electric field of 5000 V/cm, (b) the onset of NDR in I-V
characteristics is reversibly adjustable by strain and (c) strain can modulate
the value of resistivity by a factor 2.3 for SiNWs of normal I-V
characteristics i.e. those without NDR. These observations are promising for
applications of SiNWs in electromechanical sensors and adjustable microwave
oscillators.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures, 63 reference
Thermal Density Functional Theory in Context
This chapter introduces thermal density functional theory, starting from the
ground-state theory and assuming a background in quantum mechanics and
statistical mechanics. We review the foundations of density functional theory
(DFT) by illustrating some of its key reformulations. The basics of DFT for
thermal ensembles are explained in this context, as are tools useful for
analysis and development of approximations. We close by discussing some key
ideas relating thermal DFT and the ground state. This review emphasizes thermal
DFT's strengths as a consistent and general framework.Comment: Submitted to Spring Verlag as chapter in "Computational Challenges in
Warm Dense Matter", F. Graziani et al. ed
Functional Quantum Nodes for Entanglement Distribution over Scalable Quantum Networks
We demonstrate entanglement distribution between two remote quantum nodes
located 3 meters apart. This distribution involves the asynchronous preparation
of two pairs of atomic memories and the coherent mapping of stored atomic
states into light fields in an effective state of near maximum polarization
entanglement. Entanglement is verified by way of the measured violation of a
Bell inequality, and can be used for communication protocols such as quantum
cryptography. The demonstrated quantum nodes and channels can be used as
segments of a quantum repeater, providing an essential tool for robust
long-distance quantum communication.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures. Text revised, additional information included in
Appendix. Published online in Science Express, 5 April, 200
Capturing the phase diagram of (2+1)-dimensional CDT using a balls-in-boxes model
We study the phase diagram of a one-dimensional balls-in-boxes (BIB) model
that has been proposed as an effective model for the spatial-volume dynamics of
(2+1)-dimensional causal dynamical triangulations (CDT). The latter is a
statistical model of random geometries and a candidate for a nonperturbative
formulation of quantum gravity, and it is known to have an interesting phase
diagram, in particular including a phase of extended geometry with classical
properties. Our results corroborate a previous analysis suggesting that a
particular type of potential is needed in the BIB model in order to reproduce
the droplet condensation typical of the extended phase of CDT. Since such a
potential can be obtained by a minisuperspace reduction of a (2+1)-dimensional
gravity theory of the Ho\v{r}ava-Lifshitz type, our result strengthens the link
between CDT and Ho\v{r}ava-Lifshitz gravity.Comment: 21 pages, 7 figure
Superparamagnetic nanoparticle ensembles
Magnetic single-domain nanoparticles constitute an important model system in
magnetism. In particular ensembles of superparamagnetic nanoparticles can
exhibit a rich variety of different behaviors depending on the inter-particle
interactions. Starting from isolated single-domain ferro- or ferrimagnetic
nanoparticles the magnetization behavior of both non-interacting and
interacting particle-ensembles is reviewed. A particular focus is drawn onto
the relaxation time of the system. In case of interacting nanoparticles the
usual Neel-Brown relaxation law becomes modified. With increasing interactions
modified superparamagnetism, spin glass behavior and superferromagnetism is
encountered.Comment: Corrected formula: Eq. (1
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