High In-content InGaN layers synthesized by plasma-assisted molecular-beam epitaxy: growth conditions, strain relaxation and In incorporation kinetics

We report the interplay between In incorporation and strain relaxation kinetics in high-In-content InxGa1-xN (x = 0.3) layers grown by plasma-assisted molecular-beam epitaxy. For In mole fractions x = 0.13-0.48, best structural and morphological quality is obtained under In excess conditions, at In accumulation limit, and at a growth temperature where InGaN decomposition is active. Under such conditions, in situ and ex situ analysis of the evolution of the crystalline structure with the growth thickness points to an onset of misfit relaxation after the growth of 40 nm, and a gradual relaxation during more than 200 nm which results in an inhomogeneous strain distribution along the growth axis. This process is associated with a compositional pulling effect, i.e. indium incorporation is partially inhibited in presence of compressive strain, resulting in a compositional gradient with increasing In mole fraction towards the surface

Ferromagnetic (Ga,Mn)N epilayers versus antiferromagnetic GaMn3_3N clusters

Mn-doped wurtzite GaN epilayers have been grown by nitrogen plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Correlated SIMS, structural and magnetic measurements show that the incorporation of Mn strongly depends on the conditions of the growth. Hysteresis loops which persist at high temperature do not appear to be correlated to the presence of Mn. Samples with up to 2% Mn are purely substitutional Ga$_{1-x}$Mn$_x$N epilayers, and exhibit paramagnetic properties. At higher Mn contents, precipitates are formed which are identified as GaMn$_3$N clusters by x-ray diffraction and absorption: this induces a decrease of the paramagnetic magnetisation. Samples co-doped with enough Mg exhibit a new feature: a ferromagnetic component is observed up to $T_c\sim175$ K, which cannot be related to superparamagnetism of unresolved magnetic precipitates.Comment: Revised versio

Structure and magnetism of self-organized Ge(1-x)Mn(x) nano-columns

We report on the structural and magnetic properties of thin Ge(1-x)Mn(x)films grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on Ge(001) substrates at temperatures (Tg) ranging from 80deg C to 200deg C, with average Mn contents between 1 % and 11 %. Their crystalline structure, morphology and composition have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron energy loss spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction. In the whole range of growth temperatures and Mn concentrations, we observed the formation of manganese rich nanostructures embedded in a nearly pure germanium matrix. Growth temperature mostly determines the structural properties of Mn-rich nanostructures. For low growth temperatures (below 120deg C), we evidenced a two-dimensional spinodal decomposition resulting in the formation of vertical one-dimensional nanostructures (nanocolumns). Moreover we show in this paper the influence of growth parameters (Tg and Mn content) on this decomposition i.e. on nanocolumns size and density. For temperatures higher than 180deg C, we observed the formation of Ge3Mn5 clusters. For intermediate growth temperatures nanocolumns and nanoclusters coexist. Combining high resolution TEM and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry, we could evidence at least four different magnetic phases in Ge(1-x)Mn(x) films: (i) paramagnetic diluted Mn atoms in the germanium matrix, (ii) superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic low-Tc nanocolumns (120 K 400 K) and (iv) Ge3Mn5 clusters.Comment: 10 pages 2 colonnes revTex formatte

Polarity determination in ZnSe nanowires by HAADF STEM

High angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy is used to analyze the polarity of ZnSe nanowires grown, by molecular beam epitaxy, on GaAs substrates. The experimental results are compared to simulated images in order to verify possible experimental artefacts. In this work we show that for this type of nano-objects, a residual tilt of the specimen below 15 mrad, away from the crystallographic zone axis does not impair the interpretation of the experimental images

Comprehensive analysis of local and nonlocal amplitudes in the B 0 → K *0 μ + μ − decay

A comprehensive study of the local and nonlocal amplitudes contributing to the decay B0 → K*0(→ K+π−)μ+μ− is performed by analysing the phase-space distribution of the decay products. The analysis is based on pp collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 8.4 fb−1 collected by the LHCb experiment. This measurement employs for the first time a model of both one-particle and two-particle nonlocal amplitudes, and utilises the complete dimuon mass spectrum without any veto regions around the narrow charmonium resonances. In this way it is possible to explicitly isolate the local and nonlocal contributions and capture the interference between them. The results show that interference with nonlocal contributions, although larger than predicted, only has a minor impact on the Wilson Coefficients determined from the fit to the data. For the local contributions, the Wilson Coefficient C9, responsible for vector dimuon currents, exhibits a 2.1σ deviation from the Standard Model expectation. The Wilson Coefficients C10, C9′ and C10′ are all in better agreement than C9 with the Standard Model and the global significance is at the level of 1.5σ. The model used also accounts for nonlocal contributions from B0→ K*0[τ+τ−→ μ+μ−] rescattering, resulting in the first direct measurement of the bsττ vector effective-coupling C9τ

Amplitude analysis and branching fraction measurement of B + → D ∗ − D s + π + decays

The decays of the B+ meson to the final state D∗−Ds+π+ are studied in proton-proton collision data collected with the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, corresponding to a total integrated luminosity of 9 fb−1. The ratio of branching fractions of the B+→D∗−Ds+π+ and B0→D∗−Ds+ decays is measured to be 0.173 ± 0.006 ± 0.010, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. Using partially reconstructed Ds∗+→Ds+γ and Ds+π0 decays, the ratio of branching fractions between the B+→D∗−Ds∗+π+ and B+→D∗−Ds+π+ decays is determined as 1.31 ± 0.07 ± 0.14. An amplitude analysis of the B+→D∗−Ds+π+ decay is performed for the first time, revealing dominant contributions from known excited charm resonances decaying to the D*−π+ final state. No significant evidence of exotic contributions in the Ds+π+ or D∗−Ds+ channels is found. The fit fraction of the scalar state Tcs¯0∗2900++ observed in the B+→D−Ds+π+ decay is determined to be less than 2.3% at a 90% confidence level

Transverse polarization measurement of Λ hyperons in pNe collisions at s NN = 68. 4 GeV with the LHCb detector

A measurement of the transverse polarization of the Λ and Λ¯ hyperons in pNe fixed-target collisions at sNN = 68.4 GeV is presented using data collected by the LHCb detector. The polarization is studied using the decay Λ → pπ− together with its charge conjugated process, the integrated values measured arePΛ=0.029±0.019stat±0.012syst, PΛ¯=0.003±0.023stat±0.014syst. Furthermore, the results are shown as a function of the Feynman x variable, transverse momentum, pseudorapidity and rapidity of the hyperons, and are compared with previous measurements

Tracking of charged particles with nanosecond lifetimes at LHCb

A method is presented to reconstruct charged particles with lifetimes between 10ps and 10ns, which considers a combination of their decay products and the partial tracks created by the initial charged particle. Using the Ξ- baryon as a benchmark, the method is demonstrated with simulated events and proton-proton collision data at s=13TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.0fb-1 collected with the LHCb detector in 2018. Significant improvements in the angular resolution and the signal purity are obtained. The method is implemented as part of the LHCb Run 3 event trigger in a set of requirements to select detached hyperons. This is the first demonstration of the applicability of this approach at the LHC, and the first to show its scaling with instantaneous luminosity

Amplitude analysis of the radiative decay B s 0 → K + K − γ

A search for radiative decay of Bs0 mesons to orbitally excited K+K− states is performed using proton proton collisions recorded by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb−1. The dikaon spectrum in the mass range mKK < 2400 MeV/c2 is dominated by the ϕ(1020) resonance that accounts for almost 70% of the decay rate. Considering the possible contributions of f2(1270), f2′(1525) and f2(2010) meson states, the overall tensor contribution to the amplitude is measured to beFf2=16.8±0.5stat.±0.7syst.%, mostly dominated by the f2′(1525) state. Several statistically equivalent solutions are obtained for the detailed resonant structure depending on whether the smaller amplitudes interfere destructively or constructively with the dominant amplitude. The preferred solution that corresponds to the lowest values of the fit fractions along with constructive interference leads to the relative branching ratio measurementBBs0→f2′γBBs0→ϕγ=19.4−0.8+0.9stat.−0.5+1.4syst.±0.5B%, where the last uncertainty is due to the ratio of measured branching fractions to the K+K− final state. This result represents the first observation of the radiative Bs0→f2′1525γ decay, which is the second radiative transition observed in the Bs0 sector

Multiplicity dependence of σ ψ (2 S ) /σ J/ψ in pp collisions at s = 13 TeV

The ratio of production cross-sections of ψ(2S) over J/ψ mesons as a function of charged-particle multiplicity in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy s = 13 TeV is measured with a data sample collected by the LHCb detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 658 pb−1. The ratio is measured for both prompt and non-prompt ψ(2S) and J/ψ mesons. When there is an overlap between the rapidity ranges over which multiplicity and charmonia production are measured, a multiplicity-dependent modification of the ratio is observed for prompt mesons. No significant multiplicity dependence is found when the ranges do not overlap. For non-prompt production, the ψ(2S)-to-J/ψ production ratio is roughly independent of multiplicity, irrespective of the rapidity range over which the multiplicity is measured. The results are compared to predictions of the co-mover model and agree well except in the low multiplicity region. The ratio of production cross-sections of ψ(2S) over J/ψ mesons are cross-checked with other measurements in di-lepton channels and found to be compatible