200 research outputs found
Enhanced electron correlations at the SrxCa1-xVO3 surface
We report hard x-ray photoemission spectroscopy measurements of the
electronic structure of the prototypical correlated oxide SrxCa1-xVO3. By
comparing spectra recorded at different excitation energies, we show that 2.2
keV photoelectrons contain a substantial surface component, whereas 4.2 keV
photoelectrons originate essentially from the bulk of the sample.
Bulk-sensitive measurements of the O 2p valence band are found to be in good
agreement with ab initio calculations of the electronic structure, with some
modest adjustments to the orbital-dependent photoionization cross sections. The
evolution of the O 2p electronic structure as a function of the Sr content is
dominated by A-site hybridization. Near the Fermi level, the correlated V 3d
Hubbard bands are found to evolve in both binding energy and spectral weight as
a function of distance from the vacuum interface, revealing higher correlation
at the surface than in the bulk
Local Structure and It's Effect on The Ferromagnetic Properties of LaSrCoO thin films}
We have used high-resolution Extended X-ray Absorption Fine-Structure and
diffraction techniques to measure the local structure of strained
LaSrCoO films under compression and tension. The lattice
mismatch strain in these compounds affects both the bond lengths and the bond
angles, though the larger effect on the bandwidth is due to the bond length
changes. The popular double exchange model for ferromagnetism in these
compounds provides a correct qualitative description of the changes in Curie
temperature , but quantitatively underestimates the changes. A microscopic
model for ferromagnetism that provides a much stronger dependence on the
structural distortions is needed.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Strain Relaxation Mechanisms and Local Structural Changes in Si_{1-x}$Ge_{x} Alloys
In this work, we address issues pertinent to the understanding of the
structural and electronic properties of Si_{1-x} Ge_{x}alloys, namely, (i) how
does the lattice constant mismatch between bulk Si and bulk Ge manifests itself
in the alloy system? and (ii) what are the relevant strain release mechanisms?
To provide answers to these questions, we have carried out an in-depth study of
the changes in the local geometric and electronic structures arising from the
strain relaxation in Si_{1-x} Ge_{x} alloys using an ab initio molecular
dynamics scheme. The optimized lattice constant, while exhibiting a general
trend of linear dependence on the composition (Vegard's law), shows a negative
deviation from Vegard's law in the vicinity of x=0.5. We delineate the
mechanisms responsible for each one of the above features. We show that the
radial-strain relaxation through bond stretching is responsible for the overall
trend of linear dependence of the lattice constant on the composition. On the
other hand, the negative deviation from Vegard's law is shown to arise from the
angular-strain relaxation.Comment: 21 pages, 7 figure
Subtle local structural variations in oxygen deficient niobium germanate thin film glasses as revealed by x-ray absorption spectroscopy
6 págs.; 4 figs.; 2 tabs. 16th International Conference on X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS16) ; Open Access funded by Creative Commons Atribution Licence 3.0The local electronic and crystal structure of niobium-lead-germanate, Nb2O5-PbO- GeO2 (NPG), glass thin films on silicon substrates were probed by XANES and EXAFS. NPG glasses are promising candidates for applications in nonlinear optical devices because they exhibit interesting optical characteristics such as high nonlinear third order optical susceptibility. In this work NPG glasses were prepared with pulsed laser deposition method with varying oxygen partial pressure to induce thin films with different oxygen stoichiometry. Previously, it was shown that oxygen stoichiometry has a very important effect to produce unusual high optical susceptibility. Detailed EXAFS and XANES analyses in a series of NPG thin films revealed the subtle variations in the local environment around Nb atoms and the Nb oxidation states caused by oxygen deficiencies. Published under licence by IOP Publishing LtdPeer Reviewe
Mechanical-alloying and lattice distortions in ball-milled CuFe
A least-square fitting analysis of EXAFS data collected from partially-crystallized Fe_80B_20 thin films (t=15 nm), using data collected from pure phase standards of the crystallization products, was found effective in determining the relative atomic fraction of each crystalline phase present. This fitting scheme provides a means for the quantitative treatment of crystallization and precipitation kinetics in thin films and multilayered structures
Design and Performance of the Advanced-Light-Source Double-crystal Monochromator
A new “Cowan type” double-crystal monochromator, based on the boomerang design used at National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) beamline X-24A, has been developed for beamline 9.3.1 at the Advanced Light Source (ALS), a windowless ultrahigh vacuum beamline covering the 1-6 keV photon-energy range. Beamline 9.3.1 is designed to simultaneously achieve the goals of high energy resolution, high flux, and high brightness at the sample. The mechanical design of the monochromator has been simplified, and recent developments in technology have been included. Measured mechanical precision of the monochromator shows significant improvement over existing designs. In tests with x-rays at NSLS beamline X-23Ʌ2, maximum deviations in the intensity of monochromatic light were just 7% during scans of several hundred eV in the vicinity of the Cr K edge (6 keV) with the monochromator operating without intensity feedback. Such precision is essential because of the high brightness of the ALS radiation and the overall length of beamline 9.3.1 (26 m)
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