1,246 research outputs found
Structural origins of electronic conduction in amorphous copper-doped alumina
We perform an {\it ab initio} modeling of amorphous copper-doped alumina
(a-AlO:Cu), a prospective memory material based on resistance
switching, and study the structural origin of electronic conduction in this
material. We generate molecular dynamics based models of a-AlO:Cu at
various Cu-concentrations and study the structural, electronic and vibrational
properties as a function of Cu-concentration. Cu atoms show a strong tendency
to cluster in the alumina host, and metallize the system by filling the band
gap uniformly for higher Cu-concentrations. We also study thermal fluctuations
of the HOMO-LUMO energy splitting and observe the time evolution of the size of
the band gap, which can be expected to have an important impact on the
conductivity. We perform a numerical computation of conduction pathways, and
show its explicit dependence on Cu connectivity in the host. We present an
analysis of ion dynamics and structural aspects of localization of classical
normal modes in our models
Agro-environmental project duration and effectiveness in South-east Asia
Considerable emphasis has been placed on developing technologies for agricultural sustainability. Many bilateral projects are working to achieve this outcome. A desk review was conducted to study the importance of project duration for the effectiveness of sustainable agricultural projects. Longer-duration projects were successful in addressing more holistic issues than short projects. However, funding agencies tend to fund shorter-duration projects, so projects become progressively shorter. At the same time, the number of projects implemented each year is increasing. Despite the decrease in total development assistance, increases in project numbers, particularly since 1986, appear to be at the cost of project duration. Short project duration was one of the most cited reasons for not completing essential dissemination activities for wider adoption, whereas longer- duration projects were usually considered more successful in addressing more holistic issues. It is difficult to produce tangible outputs from agricultural and soil conservation projects within five years. Considering the slow changes in the system and in agricultural and environmental sustainability, the authors suggest that project developers should be advised to plan for a minimum of 5â10 years, depending on the nature of activities. It is time for funding agencies to reconsider their tendency to fund shorter-duration projects
Low-energy description of the metal-insulator transition in the rare-earth nickelates
We propose a simple theoretical description of the metal-insulator transition of rare-earth nickelates. The theory involves only two orbitals per nickel site, corresponding to the low-energy antibonding eg states. In the monoclinic insulating state, bond-length disproportionation splits the manifold of eg bands, corresponding to a modulation of the effective on-site energy. We show that, when subject to a local Coulomb repulsion U and Hund's coupling J, the resulting bond-disproportionated state is a paramagnetic insulator for a wide range of interaction parameters. Furthermore, we find that when Uâ3J is small or negative, a spontaneous instability to bond disproportionation takes place for large enough J. This minimal theory emphasizes that a small or negative charge-transfer energy, a large Hund's coupling, and a strong coupling to bond disproportionation are the key factors underlying the transition. Experimental consequences of this theoretical picture are discussed
Evaluation of Barley Genotypes Against Spot Blotch Disease in Inner Tarai Region of Nepal
Spot blotch caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc. in Sorok.) Shoem. is an important disease of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). A total of 126 barley genotypes received from Hill Crops Research Program, Kabre, Dolakha having SoluUwa as a susceptible check and Bonus as a resistant check were evaluated as barley disease screening nursery (BDSN) under natural epiphytotic condition at National Maize Research Program, Rampur, Chitwan during winter seasons of 2017 and 2018. The nursery was planted in augmented design. The resistant and susceptible checks were repeated and planted after each 10 tested entries. The unit plot size was 2 rows of one meter length for each genotype planted continuously with 25cm row to row spacing. The seed rate was 100 kg/ha. The recommended fertilizer dose of 23:30:0 N:P2O5:K2O kg/ha was applied. The double digit scale (00 to 99) was used to measure overall foliar infection on the whole plant during flowering, soft dough and hard dough stages. Other agronomic practices were followed as per recommendation. Genotypes B86019-1K-3K-0K3, ACC 2087, ACC 2441, ACC GHv-06816, ACC 1597, ACC 1612, ACC 2059 and ACC 2032 were resistant against spot blotch disease. Similarly, 32 barley genotypes were moderately resistant and rest of the tested genotypes were susceptible to the disease. The selected resistant barley genotypes can be used in crossing program and/or promoted for further testing to develop spot blotch resistant varieties for inner Tarai region of Nepal
Electronic Structure, Magnetism and Superconductivity of Layered Iron Compounds
The layered iron superconductors are discussed using electronic structure
calculations. The four families of compounds discovered so far, including
Fe(Se,Te) have closely related electronic structures. The Fermi surface
consists of disconnected hole and electron cylinders and additional hole
sections that depend on the specific material. This places the materials in
proximity to itinerant magnetism, both due to the high density of states and
due to nesting. Comparison of density functional results and experiment
provides strong evidence for itinerant spin fluctuations, which are discussed
in relation to superconductivity. It is proposed that the intermediate phase
between the structural transition and the SDW transition in the oxy-pnictides
is a nematic phase.Comment: Proceedings ISS200
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