Fabrication of graphene nanoribbon by local anodic oxidation lithography using atomic force microscope

We conducted local anodic oxidation (LAO) lithography in single-layer, bilayer, and multilayer graphene using tapping-mode atomic force microscope. The width of insulating oxidized area depends systematically on the number of graphene layers. An 800-nm-wide bar-shaped device fabricated in single-layer graphene exhibits the half-integer quantum Hall effect. We also fabricated a 55-nm-wide graphene nanoribbon (GNR). The conductance of the GNR at the charge neutrality point was suppressed at low temperature, which suggests the opening of an energy gap due to lateral confinement of charge carriers. These results show that LAO lithography is an effective technique for the fabrication of graphene nanodevices.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Spin transport through a single self-assembled InAs quantum dot with ferromagnetic leads

We have fabricated a lateral double barrier magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) which consists of a single self-assembled InAs quantum dot (QD) with ferromagnetic Co leads. The MTJ shows clear hysteretic tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) effect, which is evidence for spin transport through a single semiconductor QD. The TMR ratio and the curve shapes are varied by changing the gate voltage.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Randomly Diluted e_g Orbital-Ordered Systems

Dilution effects on the long-range ordered state of the doubly degenerate $e_g$ orbital are investigated. Quenched impurities without the orbital degree of freedom are introduced in the orbital model where the long-range order is realized by the order-from-disorder mechanism. It is shown by the Monte-Carlo simulation and the cluster-expansion method that a decrease in the orbital ordering temperature by dilution is remarkable in comparison with that in the randomly diluted spin models. Tiltings of orbitals around impurity cause this unique dilution effects on the orbital systems. The present theory provides a new view point for the recent experiments in KCu$_{1-x}$Zn$_x$F$_3$.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Limits to in vivo fate changes of epithelia in thymus and parathyroid by ectopic expression of transcription factors Gcm2 and Foxn1

The development of the parathyroid and the thymus from the third pharyngeal pouch depends on the activities of the Gcm2 and Foxn1 transcription factors, respectively, whose expression domains sharply demarcate two regions in the developing third pharyngeal pouch. Here, we have generated novel mouse models to examine whether ectopic co-expression of Gcm2 in the thymic epithelium and of Foxn1 in the parathyroid perturbs the establishment of organ fates in vivo. Expression of Gcm2 in the thymic rudiment does not activate a parathyroid-specific expression programme, even in the absence of Foxn1 activity. Co-expression of Foxn1 in the parathyroid fails to impose thymopoietic capacity. We conclude that the actions of Foxn1 and Gcm2 transcription factors are cell context-dependent and that they each require permissive transcription factor landscapes in order to successfully interfere with organ-specific cell fate

Numerical analysis of tsunami-induced inundation behind building along coasts

To evaluate the effects of impermeable rigid buildings located near vertical quay walls on the reduction of the inundation water volumes due to run-up tsunamis, a full-scale three-dimensional numerical analysis is performed using a three-dimensional coupled fluid-structure-sediment interaction model. Numerical results show that the inundation water volume can be reduced with an increase in the shielding ratio of the long-shore width of the buildings with respect to the total width of the coastline, and accordingly the buildings located along the coasts have the reduction effects of the inundation water volume. This suggests that countermeasures against tsunamis can be evaluated in a\ud comprehensive manner in terms of not only shore protection facilities for tsunamis at relatively high frequencies but also such buildings. Furthermore, the inundation depth at the seaward side of the buildings and the cross-shore bottom flow velocity at the gaps between the buildings increase with the shielding ratio, suggesting an increase in tsunami force and the onset of local scouring when the shielding ratio is large. Consequently, when designing buildings along the coasts, it is essential to consider an appropriate balance between the reduction effects of the inundation water volume and the instability of the buildings caused by the tsunami force and the local scouring

Optical properties of metallic (III,Mn)V ferromagnetic semiconductors in the infrared to visible range

We report on a study of the ac conductivity and magneto-optical properties of metallic ferromagnetic (III,Mn)V semiconductors in the infrared to visible spectrum. Our analysis is based on the successful kinetic exchange model for (III,Mn)V ferromagnetic semiconductors. We perform the calculations within the Kubo formalism and treat the disorder effects pertubatively within the Born approximation, valid for the metallic regime. We consider an eight-band Kohn-Luttinger model (six valence bands plus two conduction bands) as well as a ten-band model with additional dispersionless bands simulating phenomenologically the upper-mid-gap states induced by antisite and interstitial impurities. These models qualitatively account for optical-absorption experiments and predict new features in the mid-infrared Kerr angle and magnetic-circular-dichroism properties as a function of Mn concentration and free carrier density.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, some typos correcte