491 research outputs found
Coupling of shells in a carbon nanotube quantum dot
We systematically study the coupling of longitudinal modes (shells) in a
carbon nanotube quantum dot. Inelastic cotunneling spectroscopy is used to
probe the excitation spectrum in parallel, perpendicular and rotating magnetic
fields. The data is compared to a theoretical model including coupling between
shells, induced by atomically sharp disorder in the nanotube. The calculated
excitation spectra show good correspondence with experimental data.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Single wall carbon nanotube double quantum dot
We report on two top-gate defined, coupled quantum dots in a semiconducting
single wall carbon nanotube, constituting a tunable double quantum dot system.
The single wall carbon nanotubes are contacted by titanium electrodes, and
gated by three narrow top-gate electrodes as well as a back-gate. We show that
a bias spectroscopy plot on just one of the two quantum dots can be used to
extract the addition energy of both quantum dots. Furthermore, honeycomb charge
stability diagrams are analyzed by an electrostatic capacitor model that
includes cross capacitances, and we extract the coupling energy of the double
quantum dot.Comment: Published in Applied Physics Letters 4 December 2006.
http://link.aip.org/link/?APL/89/23211
Quantum transport in carbon nanotubes
Carbon nanotubes are a versatile material in which many aspects of condensed
matter physics come together. Recent discoveries, enabled by sophisticated
fabrication, have uncovered new phenomena that completely change our
understanding of transport in these devices, especially the role of the spin
and valley degrees of freedom. This review describes the modern understanding
of transport through nanotube devices.
Unlike conventional semiconductors, electrons in nanotubes have two angular
momentum quantum numbers, arising from spin and from valley freedom. We focus
on the interplay between the two. In single quantum dots defined in short
lengths of nanotube, the energy levels associated with each degree of freedom,
and the spin-orbit coupling between them, are revealed by Coulomb blockade
spectroscopy. In double quantum dots, the combination of quantum numbers
modifies the selection rules of Pauli blockade. This can be exploited to read
out spin and valley qubits, and to measure the decay of these states through
coupling to nuclear spins and phonons. A second unique property of carbon
nanotubes is that the combination of valley freedom and electron-electron
interactions in one dimension strongly modifies their transport behaviour.
Interaction between electrons inside and outside a quantum dot is manifested in
SU(4) Kondo behavior and level renormalization. Interaction within a dot leads
to Wigner molecules and more complex correlated states.
This review takes an experimental perspective informed by recent advances in
theory. As well as the well-understood overall picture, we also state clearly
open questions for the field. These advances position nanotubes as a leading
system for the study of spin and valley physics in one dimension where
electronic disorder and hyperfine interaction can both be reduced to a very low
level.Comment: In press at Reviews of Modern Physics. 68 pages, 55 figure
Magnetic-Field Dependence of Tunnel Couplings in Carbon Nanotube Quantum Dots
By means of sequential and cotunneling spectroscopy, we study the tunnel
couplings between metallic leads and individual levels in a carbon nanotube
quantum dot. The levels are ordered in shells consisting of two doublets with
strong- and weak-tunnel couplings, leading to gate-dependent level
renormalization. By comparison to a one- and two-shell model, this is shown to
be a consequence of disorder-induced valley mixing in the nanotube. Moreover, a
parallel magnetic field is shown to reduce this mixing and thus suppress the
effects of tunnel renormalization.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures; revised version as publishe
Superconductivity-enhanced bias spectroscopy in carbon nanotube quantum dots
We study low-temperature transport through carbon nanotube quantum dots in
the Coulomb blockade regime coupled to niobium-based superconducting leads. We
observe pronounced conductance peaks at finite source-drain bias, which we
ascribe to elastic and inelastic cotunneling processes enhanced by the
coherence peaks in the density of states of the superconducting leads. The
inelastic cotunneling lines display a marked dependence on the applied gate
voltage which we relate to different tunneling-renormalizations of the two
subbands in the nanotube. Finally, we discuss the origin of an especially
pronounced sub-gap structure observed in every fourth Coulomb diamond
Developing a Simple and Rapid Test for Monitoring the Heat Evolution of Concrete Mixtures for Both Laboratory and Field Applications
Recently, activities and interest in monitoring the heat evolution of cement hydration in concrete have increased. This is because the development of early-age concrete properties (such as workability, setting time, strength gain, and thermal cracking resistance) is predominantly influenced by the kinetics of cement hydration. Various test methods are currently available for measuring heat of cement hydration; however, most existing methods require expensive equipment, complex testing procedures, and/or extensive time, thus making them unsuitable for field application. Although ASTM C 186 is used for determining the heat of hydration of cement, there is no standard test method for concrete. The overall object of this three-phase study is to identify, develop, and evaluate a standard test procedure for monitoring pavement concrete using a calorimetry technique. It is envisioned that the newly developed calorimetry test method will be able to verify appropriate concrete proportions, to identify potentially incompatible materials and conditions, and to predict concrete performance. The primary objective of Phase II (presented in this report) is to establish a standard test procedure as well as the methods for interpreting the calorimeter test results. The newly developed calorimeter test is completed more quickly than ASTM C 186, in approximately 24 hours. Among a number of uses, the test can be utilized as a quality control measure for prescreening concrete materials and a prediction tool for early-age cracking. The Phase II results demonstrate that the new calorimetry test method has a high potential for detecting concrete incompatibility problems, predicting fresh concrete properties (such as set time), and assessing hardened concrete performance characteristics (such as strength gain and thermal cracking)
Initial results from the Caltech/DRSI balloon-borne isotope experiment
The Caltech/DSRI balloonborne High Energy Isotope Spectrometer Telescope (HEIST) was flown successfully from Palestine, Texas on 14 May, 1984. The experiment was designed to measure cosmic ray isotopic abundances from neon through iron, with incident particle energies from approx. 1.5 to 2.2 GeV/nucleon depending on the element. During approximately 38 hours at float altitude, 100,000 events were recorded with Z or = 6 and incident energies approx. 1.5 GeV/nucleon. We present results from the ongoing data analysis associated with both the preflight Bevalac calibration and the flight data
Impact of Early-Age Behaviors on Pavement Smoothness
Knowledge of how pavement temperature variations affect pavement curvature is essential for understanding the effects on joint shifting, vertical slab movement, and overall pavement smoothness
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