4,147 research outputs found
Towards device-size atomistic models of amorphous silicon
The atomic structure of amorphous materials is believed to be well described
by the continuous random network model. We present an algorithm for the
generation of large, high-quality continuous random networks. The algorithm is
a variation of the "sillium" approach introduced by Wooten, Winer, and Weaire.
By employing local relaxation techniques, local atomic rearrangements can be
tried that scale almost independently of system size. This scaling property of
the algorithm paves the way for the generation of realistic device-size atomic
networks.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure
Strong and Tunable Nonlinear Optomechanical Coupling in a Low-Loss System
A major goal in optomechanics is to observe and control quantum behavior in a
system consisting of a mechanical resonator coupled to an optical cavity. Work
towards this goal has focused on increasing the strength of the coupling
between the mechanical and optical degrees of freedom; however, the form of
this coupling is crucial in determining which phenomena can be observed in such
a system. Here we demonstrate that avoided crossings in the spectrum of an
optical cavity containing a flexible dielectric membrane allow us to realize
several different forms of the optomechanical coupling. These include cavity
detunings that are (to lowest order) linear, quadratic, or quartic in the
membrane's displacement, and a cavity finesse that is linear in (or independent
of) the membrane's displacement. All these couplings are realized in a single
device with extremely low optical loss and can be tuned over a wide range in
situ; in particular, we find that the quadratic coupling can be increased three
orders of magnitude beyond previous devices. As a result of these advances, the
device presented here should be capable of demonstrating the quantization of
the membrane's mechanical energy.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl
Dynamics of a deep-water seagrass population on the Great Barrier Reef: annual occurrence and response to a major dredging program
Global seagrass research efforts have focused on shallow coastal and estuarine seagrass populations where alarming declines have been recorded. Comparatively little is known about the dynamics of deep-water seagrasses despite evidence that they form extensive meadows in some parts of the world. Deep-water seagrasses are subject to similar anthropogenic threats as shallow meadows, particularly along the Great Barrier Reef lagoon where they occur close to major population centres. We examine the dynamics of a deep-water seagrass population in the GBR over an 8 year period during which time a major capital dredging project occurred. Seasonal and inter-annual changes in seagrasses were assessed as well as the impact of dredging. The seagrass population was found to occur annually, generally present between July and December each year. Extensive and persistent turbid plumes from a large dredging program over an 8 month period resulted in a failure of the seagrasses to establish in 2006, however recruitment occurred the following year and the regular annual cycle was re-established. Results show that despite considerable inter annual variability, deep-water seagrasses had a regular annual pattern of occurrence, low resistance to reduced water quality but a capacity for rapid recolonisation on the cessation of impacts
First-Principles Studies of Hydrogenated Si(111)--77
The relaxed geometries and electronic properties of the hydrogenated phases
of the Si(111)-77 surface are studied using first-principles molecular
dynamics. A monohydride phase, with one H per dangling bond adsorbed on the
bare surface is found to be energetically favorable. Another phase where 43
hydrogens saturate the dangling bonds created by the removal of the adatoms
from the clean surface is found to be nearly equivalent energetically.
Experimental STM and differential reflectance characteristics of the
hydrogenated surfaces agree well with the calculated features.Comment: REVTEX manuscript with 3 postscript figures, all included in uu file.
Also available at http://www.phy.ohiou.edu/~ulloa/ulloa.htm
Calculating response functions in time domain with non-orthonormal basis sets
We extend the recently proposed order-N algorithms (cond-mat/9703224) for
calculating linear- and nonlinear-response functions in time domain to the
systems described by nonorthonormal basis sets.Comment: 4 pages, no figure
Fast algorithm for calculating two-photon absorption spectra
We report a numerical calculation of the two-photon absorption coefficient of
electrons in a binding potential using the real-time real-space higher-order
difference method. By introducing random vector averaging for the intermediate
state, the task of evaluating the two-dimensional time integral is reduced to
calculating two one-dimensional integrals. This allows the reduction of the
computation load down to the same order as that for the linear response
function. The relative advantage of the method compared to the straightforward
multi-dimensional time integration is greater for the calculation of non-linear
response functions of higher order at higher energy resolution.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. It will be published in Phys. Rev. E on 1, March,
199
Suppression of extraneous thermal noise in cavity optomechanics
Extraneous thermal motion can limit displacement sensitivity and radiation
pressure effects, such as optical cooling, in a cavity-optomechanical system.
Here we present an active noise suppression scheme and its experimental
implementation. The main challenge is to selectively sense and suppress
extraneous thermal noise without affecting motion of the oscillator. Our
solution is to monitor two modes of the optical cavity, each with different
sensitivity to the oscillator's motion but similar sensitivity to the
extraneous thermal motion. This information is used to imprint "anti-noise"
onto the frequency of the incident laser field. In our system, based on a
nano-mechanical membrane coupled to a Fabry-P\'{e}rot cavity, simulation and
experiment demonstrate that extraneous thermal noise can be selectively
suppressed and that the associated limit on optical cooling can be reduced.Comment: 27 pages, 14 figure
Vertical current induced domain wall motion in MgO-based magnetic tunnel junction with low current densities
Shifting electrically a magnetic domain wall (DW) by the spin transfer
mechanism is one of the future ways foreseen for the switching of spintronic
memories or registers. The classical geometries where the current is injected
in the plane of the magnetic layers suffer from a poor efficiency of the
intrinsic torques acting on the DWs. A way to circumvent this problem is to use
vertical current injection. In that case, theoretical calculations attribute
the microscopic origin of DW displacements to the out-of-plane (field-like)
spin transfer torque. Here we report experiments in which we controllably
displace a DW in the planar electrode of a magnetic tunnel junction by vertical
current injection. Our measurements confirm the major role of the out-of-plane
spin torque for DW motion, and allow to quantify this term precisely. The
involved current densities are about 100 times smaller than the one commonly
observed with in-plane currents. Step by step resistance switching of the
magnetic tunnel junction opens a new way for the realization of spintronic
memristive devices
First principles study of the origin and nature of ferromagnetism in (Ga,Mn)As
The properties of diluted GaMnAs are calculated for a wide range
of Mn concentrations within the local spin density approximation of density
functional theory. M\"ulliken population analyses and orbital-resolved
densities of states show that the configuration of Mn in GaAs is compatible
with either 3d or 3d, however the occupation is not integer due to the
large - hybridization between the Mn states and the valence band of
GaAs. The spin splitting of the conduction band of GaAs has a mean field-like
linear variation with the Mn concentration and indicates ferromagnetic coupling
with the Mn ions. In contrast the valence band is antiferromagnetically coupled
with the Mn impurities and the spin splitting is not linearly dependent on the
Mn concentration. This suggests that the mean field approximation breaks down
in the case of Mn-doped GaAs and corrections due to multiple scattering must be
considered. We calculate these corrections within a simple free electron model
and find good agreement with our {\it ab initio} results if a large exchange
constant (eV) is assumed.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figure
High-reflectivity, high-Q micromechanical membranes via guided resonances for enhanced optomechanical coupling
Using Fano-type guided resonances (GRs) in photonic crystal (PhC) slab
structures, we numerically and experimentally demonstrate optical reflectivity
enhancement of high-Q SiNx membrane-type resonators used in
membrane-in-the-middle optomechanical (OM) systems. Normal-incidence
transmission and mechanical ringdown measurements of 50-nm-thick PhC membranes
demonstrate GRs near 1064 nm, leading to a ~ 4\times increase in reflectivity
while preserving high mechanical Q factors of up to ~ 5 \times 10^6. The
results would allow improvement of membrane-in-the-middle OM systems by virtue
of increased OM coupling, presenting a path towards ground state cooling of
such a membrane and observations of related quantum effects
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