Modeling of the source mechanism of the April 5, 2003 paroxysmal eruption at Stromboli volcano (Italy) by the inversion of broadband seismic data

Abstract: On April 5, 2003, one of the largest eruptions in the last decades was observed at Stromboli volcano, Italy. The eruption occurred in a period of anomalous volcanic activity, after a previous explosion in December 2002 interrupted the typical moderate "Strombolian" behaviour. An exhaustive analysis of the available broadband seismic data is here presented and related to the observed eruption phases. Prominent features of the seismic signals include a very long period signal a few tens of seconds prior to the explosive eruption, as well as a strong energetic signal a few seconds after the onset of the eruption

Influence of topograhy on the seismic waveforms associated to eruptive events at Stromboli volcano

The steep topography, which characterizes certain volcanic areas, may strongly influence the displacement field associated to seismic signals. As a consequence, the interpretation of seismic data for the inversion of the seismic source and the crustal structure properties should carefully take into account these effects. We propose a set of numerical simulations for seismic wave propagation in a 3-D homogeneous model of Stromboli volcano, Italy, based on the application of a pseudospectral technique. The model assumes a topography with a discretization of 100 m on the horizontal directions, and 1 m on the vertical direction, while bathymetry is not yet included. We estimate the surface displacement field for different seismic sources, reproducing possible phenomena occurring during an eruptive process. These include purely isotropic sources, the realistic inclusion of an additional deviatoric CLVD component, which may take into account the effects of explosive events in presence of conduits and the final fall-out of material at the volcanic surface. Different durations of the source time function are tested in order to compare the effects of topography for seismic radiations with a variable range of frequency content. The comparison of results highlights the effects, which are strictly related to the presence of a steep topography

Direct observation of micron-scale ordered structure in a two-dimensional electron system

We have applied a novel scanned probe method to directly resolve the interior structure of a GaAs/AlGaAs two-dimensional electron system in a tunneling geometry. We find that the application of a perpendicular magnetic field can induce surprising density modulations that are not static as a function of the field. Near six and four filled Landau levels, stripe-like structures emerge with a characteristic wave length ~2 microns. Present theories do not account for ordered density modulations on this length scale.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. To appear in Phys. Rev.

Scanning-probe Single-electron Capacitance Spectroscopy

The integration of low-temperature scanning-probe techniques and single-electron capacitance spectroscopy represents a powerful tool to study the electronic quantum structure of small systems - including individual atomic dopants in semiconductors. Here we present a capacitance-based method, known as Subsurface Charge Accumulation (SCA) imaging, which is capable of resolving single-electron charging while achieving sufficient spatial resolution to image individual atomic dopants. The use of a capacitance technique enables observation of subsurface features, such as dopants buried many nanometers beneath the surface of a semiconductor material. In principle, this technique can be applied to any system to resolve electron motion below an insulating surface. As in other electric-field-sensitive scanned-probe techniques, the lateral spatial resolution of the measurement depends in part on the radius of curvature of the probe tip. Using tips with a small radius of curvature can enable spatial resolution of a few tens of nanometers. This fine spatial resolution allows investigations of small numbers (down to one) of subsurface dopants. The charge resolution depends greatly on the sensitivity of the charge detection circuitry; using high electron mobility transistors (HEMT) in such circuits at cryogenic temperatures enables a sensitivity of approximately 0.01 electrons/Hz[superscript ½] at 0.3 K[superscript 5].National Science Foundation (U.S.) (DMR-0305461)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (DMR-0906939)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (DMR-0605801)Michigan State University. Institute for Quantum Science

Modifying the surface electronic properties of YBa2Cu3O7-delta with cryogenic scanning probe microscopy

We report the results of a cryogenic study of the modification of YBa2Cu3O7-delta surface electronic properties with the probe of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). A negative voltage applied to the sample during STM tunneling is found to modify locally the conductance of the native degraded surface layer. When the degraded layer is removed by etching, the effect disappears. An additional surface effect is identified using Scanning Kelvin Probe Microscopy in combination with STM. We observe reversible surface charging for both etched and unetched samples, indicating the presence of a defect layer even on a surface never exposed to air.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. To appear in Superconductor Science and Technolog

Anisotropy and periodicity in the density distribution of electrons in a quantum-well

We use low temperature near-field optical spectroscopy to image the electron density distribution in the plane of a high mobility GaAs quantum well. We find that the electrons are not randomly distributed in the plane, but rather form narrow stripes (width smaller than 150 nm) of higher electron density. The stripes are oriented along the [1-10 ] crystal direction, and are arranged in a quasi-periodic structure. We show that elongated structural mounds, which are intrinsic to molecular beam epitaxy, are responsible for the creation of this electron density texture.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure

Electrostatics of Inhomogeneous Quantum Hall Liquid

The distribution of electron density in the quantum Hall liquid is considered in the presence of macroscopic density gradient caused by side electrodes or inhomogeneous doping. In this case different Landau levels are occupied in different regions of a sample. These regions are separated by incompressible liquid. It is shown that the applicability of the approach by Chklovskii et al. is substantially restricted if the density gradient is not very large and disorder is important. Due to the fluctuations of the remote donor's density the liquid in the transition region can not be considered as completely incompressible. In the typical situation, when the gap between Landau levels is not much larger than the energy of disorder, the transition region is a wide band where electron density, averaged over the fluctuations, is independent of magnetic field. The band is a random mixture of regions occupied by electrons of upper level, by holes of lower level and by incompressible liquid. The width of this band is calculated and an analytical expression for the fraction of incompressible liquid in different parts of this band is given.Comment: 12 pages, RevTe

Random Matrix Model for Superconductors in a Magnetic Field

We introduce a random matrix ensemble for bulk type-II superconductors in the mixed state and determine the single-particle excitation spectrum using random matrix theory. The results are compared with planar tunnel junction experiments in PbBi thin films. More low energy states appear than in the Abrikosov-Gor'kov-Maki or Ginzburg-Landau descriptions, consistent with observations.Comment: 4 pages, 1 postscript figure, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Observation of the screening signature in the lateral photovoltage of electrons in the Quantum Hall regime

The lateral photovoltage generated in the plane of a two-dimensional electron system (2DES) by a focused light spot, exhibits a fine-structure in the quantum oscillations in a magnetic field near the Quantum Hall conductivity minima. A double peak structure occurs near the minima of the longitudinal conductivity oscillations. This is the characteristic signature of the interplay between screening and Landau quantization.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev.