20 research outputs found
The origin of defects induced in ultra-pure germanium by Electron Beam Deposition
The creation of point defects in the crystal lattices of various
semiconductors by subthreshold events has been reported on by a number of
groups. These observations have been made in great detail using sensitive
electrical techniques but there is still much that needs to be clarified.
Experiments using Ge and Si were performed that demonstrate that energetic
particles, the products of collisions in the electron beam, were responsible
for the majority of electron-beam deposition (EBD) induced defects in a
two-step energy transfer process. Lowering the number of collisions of these
energetic particles with the semiconductor during metal deposition was
accomplished using a combination of static shields and superior vacuum
resulting in devices with defect concentrations lower than cm, the measurement limit of our deep level transient
spectroscopy (DLTS) system. High energy electrons and photons that samples are
typically exposed to were not influenced by the shields as most of these
particles originate at the metal target thus eliminating these particles as
possible damage causing agents. It remains unclear how packets of energy that
can sometimes be as small of 2eV travel up to a m into the material while
still retaining enough energy, that is, in the order of 1eV, to cause changes
in the crystal. The manipulation of this defect causing phenomenon may hold the
key to developing defect free material for future applications.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figure
Experimental observation of moving intrinsic localized modes in germanium
Deep level transient spectroscopy shows that defects created by alpha
irradiation of germanium are annealed by low energy plasma ions up to a depth
of several thousand lattice units. The plasma ions have energies of 2-8eV and
therefore can deliver energies of the order of a few eV to the germanium atoms.
The most abundant defect is identified as the E-center, a complex of the dopant
antimony and a vacancy with and annealing energy of 1.3eV as determined by our
measurements. The inductively coupled plasma has a very low density and a very
low flux of ions. This implies that the ion impacts are almost isolated both in
time and at the surface of the semiconductor. We conclude that energy of the
order of an eV is able to travel a large distance in germanium in a localized
way and is delivered to the defects effectively. The most likely candidates are
vibrational nonlinear wave packets known as intrinsic localized modes, which
exist for a limited range of energies. This property is coherent with the fact
that more energetic ions are less efficient at producing the annealing effect.Comment: 20 pages, 10 figure
Discrete breathers in and related models
We touch upon the wide topic of discrete breather formation with a special
emphasis on the the model. We start by introducing the model and
discussing some of the application areas/motivational aspects of exploring time
periodic, spatially localized structures, such as the discrete breathers. Our
main emphasis is on the existence, and especially on the stability features of
such solutions. We explore their spectral stability numerically, as well as in
special limits (such as the vicinity of the so-called anti-continuum limit of
vanishing coupling) analytically. We also provide and explore a simple, yet
powerful stability criterion involving the sign of the derivative of the energy
vs. frequency dependence of such solutions. We then turn our attention to
nonlinear stability, bringing forth the importance of a topological notion,
namely the Krein signature. Furthermore, we briefly touch upon linearly and
nonlinearly unstable dynamics of such states. Some special aspects/extensions
of such structures are only touched upon, including moving breathers and
dissipative variations of the model and some possibilities for future work are
highlighted
Rate theory of acceleration of the defect annealing driven by discrete breathers
Novel mechanisms of defect annealing in solids are discussed, which are based
on the large amplitude anharmonic lattice vibrations, a.k.a. intrinsic
localized modes or discrete breathers (DBs). A model for amplification of
defect annealing rate in Ge by low energy plasma-generated DBs is proposed, in
which, based on recent atomistic modelling, it is assumed that DBs can excite
atoms around defects rather strongly, giving them energy for
100 oscillation periods. This is shown to result in the amplification of
the annealing rates proportional to the DB flux, i.e. to the flux of ions (or
energetic atoms) impinging at the Ge surface from inductively coupled plasma
(ICP)Comment: 18 pages, 11 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with
arXiv:1406.394
PT-Symmetric Dimer in a Generalized Model of Coupled Nonlinear Oscillators
Abstract In the present work, we explore the case of a general PT -symmetric dimer in the context of two both linearly and nonlinearly coupled cubic oscillators. To obtain an analytical handle on the system, we first explore the rotating wave approximation converting it into a discrete nonlinear Schrödinger type dimer. In the latter context, the stationary solutions and their stability are identified numerically but also wherever possible analytically. Solutions stemming from both symmetric and anti-symmetric special limits are identified. A number of special cases are explored regarding the ratio of coefficients of nonlinearity between oscillators over the intrinsic one of each oscillator. Finally, the considerations are extended to the original oscillator model, where periodic orbits and their stability are obtained. When the solutions are found to be unstable their dynamics is monitored by means of direct numerical simulations