Theory of transient spectroscopy of multiple quantum well structures

A theory of the transient spectroscopy of quantum well (QW) structures under a large applied bias is presented. An analytical model of the initial part of the transient current is proposed. The time constant of the transient current depends not only on the emission rate from the QWs, as is usually assumed, but also on the subsequent carrier transport across QWs. Numerical simulation was used to confirm the validity of the proposed model, and to study the transient current on a larger time scale. It is shown that the transient current is influenced by the nonuniform distribution of the electric field and related effects, which results in a step-like behavior of the current. A procedure of extraction of the QW emission time from the transient spectroscopy experiments is suggested.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to be published in J. Appl. Phy

Frustrated square lattice with spatial anisotropy: crystal structure and magnetic properties of PbZnVO(PO4)2

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of the layered vanadium phosphate PbZnVO(PO4)2 are studied using x-ray powder diffraction, magnetization and specific heat measurements, as well as band structure calculations. The compound resembles AA'VO(PO4)2 vanadium phosphates and fits to the extended frustrated square lattice model with the couplings J(1), J(1)' between nearest-neighbors and J(2), J(2)' between next-nearest-neighbors. The temperature dependence of the magnetization yields estimates of averaged nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor couplings, J(1) ~ -5.2 K and J(2) ~ 10.0 K, respectively. The effective frustration ratio alpha=J(2)/J(1) amounts to -1.9 and suggests columnar antiferromagnetic ordering in PbZnVO(PO4)2. Specific heat data support the estimates of J(1) and J(2) and indicate a likely magnetic ordering transition at 3.9 K. However, the averaged couplings underestimate the saturation field, thus pointing to the spatial anisotropy of the nearest-neighbor interactions. Band structure calculations confirm the identification of ferromagnetic J(1), J(1)' and antiferromagnetic J(2), J(2)' in PbZnVO(PO4)2 and yield J(1)'-J(1) ~ 1.1 K in excellent agreement with the experimental value of 1.1 K, deduced from the difference between the expected and experimentally measured saturation fields. Based on the comparison of layered vanadium phosphates with different metal cations, we show that a moderate spatial anisotropy of the frustrated square lattice has minor influence on the thermodynamic properties of the model. We discuss relevant geometrical parameters, controlling the exchange interactions in these compounds, and propose a new route towards strongly frustrated square lattice materials.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, 5 table

Interplay of atomic displacements in the quantum magnet (CuCl)LaNb2O7

We report on the crystal structure of the quantum magnet (CuCl)LaNb2O7 that was controversially described with respect to its structural organization and magnetic behavior. Using high-resolution synchrotron powder x-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and band structure calculations, we solve the room-temperature structure of this compound [alpha-(CuCl)LaNb2O7] and find two high-temperature polymorphs. The gamma-(CuCl)LaNb2O7 phase, stable above 640K, is tetragonal with a(sub) = 3.889 A, c(sub) = 11.738 A, and the space group P4/mmm. In the gamma-(CuCl)LaNb2O7 structure, the Cu and Cl atoms are randomly displaced from the special positions along the {100} directions. The beta-phase [a(sub) x 2a(sub) x c(sub), space group Pbmm] and the alpha-phase [2a(sub) x 2a(sub) x c(sub), space group Pbam] are stable between 640 K and 500 K and below 500 K, respectively. The structural changes at 500 K and 640 K are identified as order-disorder phase transitions. The displacement of the Cl atoms is frozen upon the gamma --> beta transformation, while a cooperative tilting of the NbO6 octahedra in the alpha-phase further eliminates the disorder of the Cu atoms. The low-temperature alpha-(CuCl)LaNb2O7 structure thus combines the two types of the atomic displacements that interfere due to the bonding between the Cu atoms and the apical oxygens of the NbO6 octahedra. The precise structural information resolves the controversy between the previous computation-based models and provides the long-sought input for understanding the magnetic properties of (CuCl)LaNb2O7.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, 5 tables; crystallographic information (cif files) include

(CuCl)LaTa2O7 and quantum phase transition in the (CuX)LaM2O7 family (X = Cl, Br; M = Nb, Ta)

We apply neutron diffraction, high-resolution synchrotron x-ray diffraction, magnetization measurements, electronic structure calculations, and quantum Monte-Carlo simulations to unravel the structure and magnetism of (CuCl)LaTa2O7. Despite the pseudo-tetragonal crystallographic unit cell, this compound features an orthorhombic superstructure, similar to the Nb-containing (CuX)LaNb2O7 with X = Cl and Br. The spin lattice entails dimers formed by the antiferromagnetic fourth-neighbor coupling J4, as well as a large number of nonequivalent interdimer couplings quantified by an effective exchange parameter Jeff. In (CuCl)LaTa2O7, the interdimer couplings are sufficiently strong to induce the long-range magnetic order with the Neel temperature TN~7 K and the ordered magnetic moment of 0.53 mu_B, as measured with neutron diffraction. This magnetic behavior can be accounted for by Jeff/J4~1.6 and J4~16 K. We further propose a general magnetic phase diagram for the (CuCl)LaNb2O7-type compounds, and explain the transition from the gapped spin-singlet (dimer) ground state in (CuCl)LaNb2O7 to the long-range antiferromagnetic order in (CuCl)LaTa2O7 and (CuBr)LaNb2O7 by an increase in the magnitude of the interdimer couplings Jeff/J_4, with the (CuCl)LaM2O7 (M = Nb, Ta) compounds lying on different sides of the quantum critical point that separates the singlet and long-range-ordered magnetic ground states.Comment: 13 pages, 13 figures, 4 tables + Supplementary informatio

Spiral ground state against ferroelectricity in the frustrated magnet BiMnFe2O6

The spiral magnetic structure and underlying spin lattice of BiMnFe2O6 are investigated by low-temperature neutron powder diffraction and density functional theory band structure calculations. In spite of the random distribution of the Mn3+ and Fe3+ cations, this compound undergoes a transition into an incommensurate antiferromagnetically ordered state below TN ~ 220 K. The magnetic structure is characterized by the propagation vector k=[0,beta,0] with beta ~ 0.14 and the P22_12_11'(0 \beta 0)0s0s magnetic superspace symmetry. It comprises antiferromagnetic helixes propagating along the b-axis. The magnetic moments lie in the ac plane and rotate about pi*(1+beta) ~ 204.8 deg angle between the adjacent magnetic atoms along b. The spiral magnetic structure arises from the peculiar frustrated arrangement of exchange couplings in the ab plane. The antiferromagnetic coupling along the c-axis leads to the cancellation of electric polarization, and results in the lack of ferroelectricity in BiMnFe2O6.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, 8 table

Hydrodynamic Simulations of Counterrotating Accretion Disks

Hydrodynamic simulations have been used to study accretion disks consisting of counterrotating components with an intervening shear layer(s). Configurations of this type can arise from the accretion of newly supplied counterrotating matter onto an existing corotating disk. The grid-dependent numerical viscosity of our hydro code is used to simulate the influence of a turbulent viscosity of the disk. Firstly, we consider the case where the gas well above the disk midplane rotates with angular rate +\Omega(r) and that well below has the same properties but rotates with rate -\Omega(r). We find that there is angular momentum annihilation in a narrow equatorial boundary layer in which matter accretes supersonically with a velocity which approaches the free-fall velocity and the average accretion speed of the disk can be enormously larger than that for a conventional \alpha-disk rotating in one direction. Secondly, we consider the case of a corotating accretion disk for rr_t. In this case we observed, that matter from the annihilation layer lost its stability and propagated inward pushing matter of inner regions of the disk to accrete. Thirdly, we investigated the case where counterrotating matter inflowing from large radial distances encounters an existing corotating disk. Friction between the inflowing matter and the existing disk is found to lead to fast boundary layer accretion along the disk surfaces and to enhanced accretion in the main disk. These models are pertinent to the formation of counterrotating disks in galaxies and possibly in Active Galactic Nuclei and in X-ray pulsars in binary systems.Comment: LaTeX, 18 pages, to appear in Ap

Sodium-Vanadium Bronze Na9V14O35: An Electrode Material for Na-Ion Batteries

Na9V14O35 (η-NaxV2O5) has been synthesized via solid-state reaction in an evacuated sealed silica ampoule and tested as electroactive material for Na-ion batteries. According to powder X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction and atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, Na9V14O35 adopts a monoclinic structure consisting of layers of corner- and edge-sharing VO5 tetragonal pyramids and VO4 tetrahedra with Na cations positioned between the layers, and can be considered as sodium vanadium(IV,V) oxovanadate Na9V104.1+O19(V5+O4)4. Behavior of Na9V14O35 as a positive and negative electrode in Na half-cells was investigated by galvanostatic cycling against metallic Na, synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction and electron energy loss spectroscopy. Being charged to 4.6 V vs. Na+/Na, almost 3 Na can be extracted per Na9V14O35 formula, resulting in electrochemical capacity of ~60 mAh g−1. Upon discharge below 1 V, Na9V14O35 uptakes sodium up to Na:V = 1:1 ratio that is accompanied by drastic elongation of the separation between the layers of the VO4 tetrahedra and VO5 tetragonal pyramids and volume increase of about 31%. Below 0.25 V, the ordered layered Na9V14O35 structure transforms into a rock-salt type disordered structure and ultimately into amorphous products of a conversion reaction at 0.1 V. The discharge capacity of 490 mAh g−1 delivered at first cycle due to the conversion reaction fades with the number of charge-discharge cycles

Energy transfer in Eu3+ doped scheelites : use as thermographic phosphor

In this paper the luminescence of the scheelite-based CaGd2(1-x)Eu2x(WO4)4 solid solutions is investigated as a function of the Eu content and temperature. All phosphors show intense red luminescence due to the 5D0 – 7F2 transition in Eu3+, along with other transitions from the 5D1 and 5D0 excited states. For high Eu3+ concentrations the intensity ratio of the emission originating from the 5D1 and 5D0 levels has a non-conventional temperature dependence, which could be explained by a phonon-assisted cross-relaxation process. It is demonstrated that this intensity ratio can be used as a measure of temperature with high spatial resolution, allowing the use of these scheelites as thermographic phosphor. The main disadvantage of many thermographic phosphors, a decreasing signal for increasing temperature, is absent