11,676 research outputs found
Near-field spectroscopy of bimodal size distribution of InAs/AlGaAs quantum dots
We report on high-resolution photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy of spatial
structure of InAs/AlGaAs quantum dots (QDs) by using a near-field scanning
optical microscope (NSOM). The double-peaked distribution of PL spectra is
clearly observed, which is associated with the bimodal size distribution of
single QDs. In particular, the size difference of single QDs, represented by
the doublet spectral distribution, can be directly observed by the NSOM images
of PL.Comment: 3pages, 3figue
Fracture of a viscous liquid
When a viscous liquid hits a pool of liquid of same nature, the impact region
is hollowed by the shock. Its bottom becomes extremely sharp if increasing the
impact velocity, and we report that the curvature at that place increases
exponentially with the flow velocity, in agreement with a theory by Jeong and
Moffatt. Such a law defines a characteristic velocity for the collapse of the
tip, which explains both the cusp-like shape of this region, and the
instability of the cusp if increasing (slightly) the impact velocity. Then, a
film of the upper phase is entrained inside the pool. We characterize the
critical velocity of entrainment of this phase and compare our results with
recent predictions by Eggers
Quasiparticle Interference on the Surface of Topological Crystalline Insulator Pb(1-x)Sn(x)Se
Topological crystalline insulators represent a novel topological phase of
matter in which the surface states are protected by discrete point
group-symmetries of the underlying lattice. Rock-salt lead-tin-selenide alloy
is one possible realization of this phase which undergoes a topological phase
transition upon changing the lead content. We used scanning tunneling
microscopy (STM) and angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to probe
the surface states on (001) PbSnSe in the topologically
non-trivial (x=0.23) and topologically trivial (x=0) phases. We observed
quasiparticle interference with STM on the surface of the topological
crystalline insulator and demonstrated that the measured interference can be
understood from ARPES studies and a simple band structure model. Furthermore,
our findings support the fact that PbSnSe and PbSe have
different topological nature.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Direct observation of the formation of polar nanoregions in Pb(MgNb)O using neutron pair distribution function analysis
Using neutron pair distribution function (PDF) analysis over the temperature
range from 1000 K to 15 K, we demonstrate the existence of local polarization
and the formation of medium-range, polar nanoregions (PNRs) with local
rhombohedral order in a prototypical relaxor ferroelectric
Pb(MgNb)O. We estimate the volume fraction of the PNRs as a
function of temperature and show that this fraction steadily increases from 0 %
to a maximum of 30% as the temperature decreases from 650 K to 15 K.
Below T200 K the PNRs start to overlap as their volume fraction reaches
the percolation threshold. We propose that percolating PNRs and their
concomitant overlap play a significant role in the relaxor behavior of
Pb(MgNb)O.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Weak spin-orbit interactions induce exponentially flat mini-bands in magnetic metals without inversion symmetry
In metallic magnets like MnSi the interplay of two very weak spin-orbit
coupling effects can strongly modify the Fermi surface. In the absence of
inversion symmetry even a very small Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interaction of
strength delta<<1 distorts a ferromagnetic state into a chiral helix with a
long pitch of order 1/delta. We show that additional small spin-orbit coupling
terms of order delta in the band structure lead to the formation of
exponentially flat minibands with a bandwidth of order exp(-1/sqrt(delta))
parallel to the direction of the helix. These flat minibands cover a rather
broad belt of width sqrt(delta) on the Fermi surface where electron motion
parallel to the helix practically stops. We argue that these peculiar
band-structure effects lead to pronounced features in the anomalous skin
effect.Comment: 7 pages, minor corrections, references adde
Lattice dynamics and correlated atomic motion from the atomic pair distribution function
The mean-square relative displacements (MSRD) of atomic pair motions in
crystals are studied as a function of pair distance and temperature using the
atomic pair distribution function (PDF). The effects of the lattice vibrations
on the PDF peak widths are modelled using both a multi-parameter Born
von-Karman (BvK) force model and a single-parameter Debye model. These results
are compared to experimentally determined PDFs. We find that the near-neighbor
atomic motions are strongly correlated, and that the extent of this correlation
depends both on the interatomic interactions and crystal structure. These
results suggest that proper account of the lattice vibrational effects on the
PDF peak width is important in extracting information on static disorder in a
disordered system such as an alloy. Good agreement is obtained between the BvK
model calculations of PDF peak widths and the experimentally determined peak
widths. The Debye model successfully explains the average, though not detailed,
natures of the MSRD of atomic pair motion with just one parameter. Also the
temperature dependence of the Debye model largely agrees with the BvK model
predictions. Therefore, the Debye model provides a simple description of the
effects of lattice vibrations on the PDF peak widths.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figure
Implications of the B20 Crystal Structure for the Magneto-electronic Structure of MnSi
Due to increased interest in the unusual magnetic and transport behavior of
MnSi and its possible relation to its crystal structure (B20) which has unusual
coordination and lacks inversion symmetry, we provide a detailed analysis of
the electronic and magnetic structure of MnSi. The non-symmorphic P2_13
spacegroup leads to unusual fourfold degenerate states at the zone corner R
point, as well as ``sticking'' of pairs of bands throughout the entire
Brillouin zone surface. The resulting Fermi surface acquires unusual features
as a result of the band sticking. For the ferromagnetic system (neglecting the
long wavelength spin spiral) with the observed moment of 0.4 \mu_B/Mn, one of
the fourfold levels at R in the minority bands falls at the Fermi energy (E_F),
and a threefold majority level at k=0 also falls at E_F. The band sticking and
presence of bands with vanishing velocity at E_F imply an unusually large phase
space for long wavelength, low energy interband transitions that will be
important for understanding the unusual resistivity and far infrared optical
behavior.Comment: Nine two-column pages with eight figures include
- …