227 research outputs found
Nucleation and Growth of GaN/AlN Quantum Dots
We study the nucleation of GaN islands grown by plasma-assisted
molecular-beam epitaxy on AlN(0001) in a Stranski-Krastanov mode. In
particular, we assess the variation of their height and density as a function
of GaN coverage. We show that the GaN growth passes four stages: initially, the
growth is layer-by-layer; subsequently, two-dimensional precursor islands form,
which transform into genuine three-dimensional islands. During the latter
stage, island height and density increase with GaN coverage until the density
saturates. During further GaN growth, the density remains constant and a
bimodal height distribution appears. The variation of island height and density
as a function of substrate temperature is discussed in the framework of an
equilibrium model for Stranski-Krastanov growth.Comment: Submitted to PRB, 10 pages, 15 figure
Spin injection from perpendicular magnetized ferromagnetic -MnGa into (Al,Ga)As heterostructures
Electrical spin injection from ferromagnetic -MnGa into an (Al,Ga)As
p-i-n light emitting diode (LED) is demonstrated. The -MnGa layers show
strong perpendicular magnetocrystalline anisotropy, enabling detection of spin
injection at remanence without an applied magnetic field. The bias and
temperature dependence of the spin injection are found to be qualitatively
similar to Fe-based spin LED devices. A Hanle effect is observed and
demonstrates complete depolarization of spins in the semiconductor in a
transverse magnetic field.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Self-assembled zinc blende GaN quantum dots grown
Zinc blende ~ZB! GaN quantum dots have been grown by plasma-assisted molecular-beam epitaxy
on AlN buffer layers using 3C-SiC~001! substrates. The two- to three-dimensional growth mode
transition is studied by following the evolution of the reflection high-energy electron diffraction
pattern. ZB GaN island layers are further examined by atomic force microscopy and transmission
electron microscopy, extracting a mean island height of 1.6 nm and a mean diameter of 13 nm at a
density of 1.331011 cm22. Embedded ZB GaN quantum dots show strong ultraviolet
photoluminescence without any thermal quenching up to room temperature.SFERERegion Rhône-AlpesConsejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologí
Lattice dynamics and electron-phonon coupling in transition metal diborides
The phonon density-of-states of transition metal diborides TMB2 with TM = Ti,
V, Ta, Nb and Y has been measured using the technique of inelastic neutron
scattering. The experimental data are compared with ab initio density
functional calculations whereby an excellent agreement is registered. The
calculations thus can be used to obtain electron-phonon spectral functions
within the isotropic limit. A comparison to similar data for MgB2 and AlB2
which were subject of prior publications as well as parameters important for
the superconducting properties are part of the discussion.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Particles at oil–air surfaces : powdered oil, liquid oil marbles, and oil foam
The type of material stabilized by four kinds of fluorinated particles (sericite and bentonite platelet clays and spherical zinc oxide) in air–oil mixtures has been investigated. It depends on the particle wettability and the degree of shear. Upon vigorous agitation, oil dispersions are formed in all the oils containing relatively large bentonite particles and in oils of relatively low surface tension (γla < 26 mN m⁻¹) like dodecane, 20 cS silicone, and cyclomethicone containing the other fluorinated particles. Particle-stabilized oil foams were obtained in oils having γla > 26 mN m⁻¹ where the advancing air–oil–solid contact angle θ lies between ca. 90° and 120°. Gentle shaking, however, gives oil-in-air liquid marbles with all the oil–particle systems except for cases where θ is <60°. For oils of tension >24 mN m⁻¹ with omniphobic zinc oxide and sericite particles for which advancing θ ≥ 90°, dry oil powders consisting of oil drops in air which do not leak oil could be made upon gentle agitation up to a critical oil:particle ratio (COPR). Above the COPR, catastrophic phase inversion of the dry oil powders to air-in-oil foams was observed. When sheared on a substrate, the dry oil powders containing at least 60 wt % of oil release the encapsulated oil, making these materials attractive formulations in the cosmetic and food industries
Spectral Evidence for Emergent Order in BaNaFeAs
We report an angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study of the
iron-based superconductor family, BaNaFeAs. This system
harbors the recently discovered double-Q magnetic order appearing in a
reentrant C phase deep within the underdoped regime of the phase diagram
that is otherwise dominated by the coupled nematic phase and collinear
antiferromagnetic order. From a detailed temperature-dependence study, we
identify the electronic response to the nematic phase in an orbital-dependent
band shift that strictly follows the rotational symmetry of the lattice and
disappears when the system restores C symmetry in the low temperature
phase. In addition, we report the observation of a distinct electronic
reconstruction that cannot be explained by the known electronic orders in the
system
Phonon spectrum and soft-mode behavior of MgCNi_3
Temperature dependent inelastic neutron-scattering measurements of the
generalized phonon density-of-states for superconducting MgCNi_3, T_c=8 K, give
evidence for a soft-mode behavior of low-frequency Ni phonon modes. Results are
compared with ab initio density functional calculations which suggest an
incipient lattice instability of the stoichiometric compound with respect to Ni
vibrations orthogonal to the Ni-C bond direction.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Electronic Collective Modes and Superconductivity in Layered Conductors
A distinctive feature of layered conductors is the presence of low-energy
electronic collective modes of the conduction electrons. This affects the
dynamic screening properties of the Coulomb interaction in a layered material.
We study the consequences of the existence of these collective modes for
superconductivity. General equations for the superconducting order parameter
are derived within the strong-coupling phonon-plasmon scheme that account for
the screened Coulomb interaction. Specifically, we calculate the
superconducting critical temperature Tc taking into account the full
temperature, frequency and wave-vector dependence of the dielectric function.
We show that low-energy plasmons may contribute constructively to
superconductivity. Three classes of layered superconductors are discussed
within our model: metal-intercalated halide nitrides, layered organic materials
and high-Tc oxides. In particular, we demonstrate that the plasmon contribution
(electronic mechanism) is dominant in the first class of layered materials. The
theory shows that the description of so-called ``quasi-two-dimensional
superconductors'' cannot be reduced to a purely 2D model, as commonly assumed.
While the transport properties are strongly anisotropic, it remains essential
to take into account the screened interlayer Coulomb interaction to describe
the superconducting state of layered materials.Comment: Final version (minor changes) 14 pages, 6 figure
Gap structure in the electron-doped Iron-Arsenide Superconductor Ba(Fe0.92Co0.08)2As2: low-temperature specific heat study
We report the field and temperature dependence of the low-temperature
specific heat down to 400 mK and in magnetic fields up to 9 T of the
electron-doped Ba(Fe0.92Co0.08)2As2 superconductor. Using the phonon specific
heat obtained from pure BaFe2As2 we find the normal state Sommerfeld
coefficient to be 18 mJ/mol.K^2 and a condensation energy of 1.27 J/mol. The
temperature dependence of the electronic specific heat clearly indicate the
presence of the low-energy excitations in the system. The magnetic field
variation of field-induced specific heat cannot be described by single clean s-
or d-wave models. Rather, the data require an anisotropic gap scenario which
may or may not have nodes. We discuss the implications of these results.Comment: New Journal of Physics in press, 10 pages, 5 figure
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