Predicted band structures of III-V semiconductors in wurtzite phase

While non-nitride III-V semiconductors typically have a zincblende structure, they may also form wurtzite crystals under pressure or when grown as nanowhiskers. This makes electronic structure calculation difficult since the band structures of wurtzite III-V semiconductors are poorly characterized. We have calculated the electronic band structure for nine III-V semiconductors in the wurtzite phase using transferable empirical pseudopotentials including spin-orbit coupling. We find that all the materials have direct gaps. Our results differ significantly from earlier {\it ab initio} calculations, and where experimental results are available (InP, InAs and GaAs) our calculated band gaps are in good agreement. We tabulate energies, effective masses, and linear and cubic Dresselhaus zero-field spin-splitting coefficients for the zone-center states. The large zero-field spin-splitting coefficients we find may lead to new functionalities for designing devices that manipulate spin degrees of freedom

Spin properties of single electron states in coupled quantum dots

Spin properties of single electron states in laterally coupled quantum dots in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field are studied by exact numerical diagonalization. Dresselhaus (linear and cubic) and Bychkov-Rashba spin-orbit couplings are included in a realistic model of confined dots based on GaAs. Group theoretical classification of quantum states with and without spin orbit coupling is provided. Spin-orbit effects on the g-factor are rather weak. It is shown that the frequency of coherent oscillations (tunneling amplitude) in coupled dots is largely unaffected by spin-orbit effects due to symmetry requirements. The leading contributions to the frequency involves the cubic term of the Dresselhaus coupling. Spin-orbit coupling in the presence of magnetic field leads to a spin-dependent tunneling amplitude, and thus to the possibility of spin to charge conversion, namely spatial separation of spin by coherent oscillations in a uniform magnetic field. It is also shown that spin hot spots exist in coupled GaAs dots already at moderate magnetic fields, and that spin hot spots at zero magnetic field are due to the cubic Dresselhaus term only.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figure

Generation of spin currents and spin densities in systems with reduced symmetry

We show that the spin-current response of a semiconductor crystal to an external electric field is considerably more complex than previously assumed. While in systems of high symmetry only the spin-Hall components are allowed, in systems of lower symmetry other non-spin-Hall components may be present. We argue that, when spin-orbit interactions are present only in the band structure, the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic contributions to the spin current is not useful. We show that the generation of spin currents and that of spin densities in an electric field are closely related, and that our general theory provides a systematic way to distinguish between them in experiment. We discuss also the meaning of vertex corrections in systems with spin-orbit interactions.Comment: 4 page

Steady-state spin densities and currents

This article reviews steady-state spin densities and spin currents in materials with strong spin-orbit interactions. These phenomena are intimately related to spin precession due to spin-orbit coupling which has no equivalent in the steady state of charge distributions. The focus will be initially on effects originating from the band structure. In this case spin densities arise in an electric field because a component of each spin is conserved during precession. Spin currents arise because a component of each spin is continually precessing. These two phenomena are due to independent contributions to the steady-state density matrix, and scattering between the conserved and precessing spin distributions has important consequences for spin dynamics and spin-related effects in general. In the latter part of the article extrinsic effects such as skew scattering and side jump will be discussed, and it will be shown that these effects are also modified considerably by spin precession. Theoretical and experimental progress in all areas will be reviewed

Quantum Spectra of Triangular Billiards on the Sphere

We study the quantal energy spectrum of triangular billiards on a spherical surface. Group theory yields analytical results for tiling billiards while the generic case is treated numerically. We find that the statistical properties of the spectra do not follow the standard random matrix results and their peculiar behaviour can be related to the corresponding classical phase space structure.Comment: 18 pages, 5 eps figure

On the validity of the Wigner-Seitz approximation in neutron star crust

The inner crust of neutron stars formed of nuclear clusters immersed in a neutron sea has been widely studied in the framework of the Wigner-Seitz approximation since the seminal work of Negele and Vautherin. In this article, the validity of this approximation is discussed in the framework of the band theory of solids. For a typical cell of $^{200}$Zr, present in the external layers of the inner crust, it is shown that the ground state properties of the neutron gas are rather well reproduced by the Wigner-Seitz approximation, while its dynamical properties depend on the energy scale of the process of interest or on the temperature. It is concluded that the Wigner-Seitz approximation is well suited for describing the inner crust of young neutron stars and the collapsing core of massive stars during supernovae explosions. However the band theory is required for low temperature fluid dynamics.Comment: 7 pages, with figures - PTH, version

14 September 1941 BERNALILLO County Specimen Collection Data

Specimen collected 14 September 1941. Original Locality: Albuquerque, Rio Grande below Diversion Dam. Locality: Rio Grande, below a diversion dam, Albuquerque.Catalog number: MSB637; Taxa: Pimephales promelas; Common name: fathead minnow; Count of specimens: 96; Standard length:Catalog number: MSB782; Taxa: Rhinichthys cataractae; Common name: longnose dace; Count of specimens: 5; Standard length:Catalog number: MSB1079; Taxa: Gambusia affinis; Common name: western mosquitofish; Count of specimens: 60; Standard length:Catalog number: MSB1162; Taxa: Hybognathus amarus; Common name: Rio Grande silvery minnow; Count of specimens: 33; Standard length:Catalog number: MSB1377; Taxa: Notropis jemezanus; Common name: Rio Grande shiner; Count of specimens: 1; Standard length:Catalog number: MSB1410; Taxa: Notropis simus; Common name: bluntnose shiner; Count of specimens: 25; Standard length:Catalog number: MSB1586; Taxa: Cyprinus carpio; Common name: common carp; Count of specimens: 9; Standard length:Catalog number: MSB1645; Taxa: Gila pandora; Common name: Rio Grande chub; Count of specimens: 73; Standard length:Catalog number: MSB1757; Taxa: Platygobio gracilis; Common name: flathead chub; Count of specimens: 118; Standard length:Catalog number: MSB1875; Taxa: Macrhybopsis aestivalis; Common name: speckled chub; Count of specimens: 147; Standard length:Catalog number: MSB2012; Taxa: Salmo trutta; Common name: brown trout; Count of specimens: 1; Standard length:Catalog number: MSB2074; Taxa: Oncorhynchus mykiss; Common name: rainbow trout; Count of specimens: 13; Standard length:Catalog number: MSB3218; Taxa: Carpiodes carpio; Common name: river carpsucker; Count of specimens: 27; Standard length

Invariant expansion for the trigonal band structure of graphene

We present a symmetry analysis of the trigonal band structure in graphene, elucidating the transformational properties of the underlying basis functions and the crucial role of time-reversal invariance. Group theory is used to derive an invariant expansion of the Hamiltonian for electron states near the K points of the graphene Brillouin zone. Besides yielding the characteristic k-linear dispersion and higher-order corrections to it, this approach enables the systematic incorporation of all terms arising from external electric and magnetic fields, strain, and spin-orbit coupling up to any desired order. Several new contributions are found, in addition to reproducing results obtained previously within tight-binding calculations. Physical ramifications of these new terms are discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure; expanded version with more details and additional result

Heterovalent interlayers and interface states: an ab initio study of GaAs/Si/GaAs (110) and (100) heterostructures

We have investigated ab initio the existence of localized states and resonances in abrupt GaAs/Si/GaAs (110)- and (100)-oriented heterostructures incorporating 1 or 2 monolayers (MLs) of Si, as well as in the fully developed Si/GaAs (110) heterojunction. In (100)-oriented structures, we find both valence- and conduction-band related near-band edge states localized at the Si/GaAs interface. In the (110) systems, instead, interface states occur deeper in the valence band; the highest valence-related resonances being about 1 eV below the GaAs valence-band maximum. Using their characteristic bonding properties and atomic character, we are able to follow the evolution of the localized states and resonances from the fully developed Si/GaAs binary junction to the ternary GaAs/Si/GaAs (110) systems incorporating 2 or 1 ML of Si. This approach also allows us to show the link between the interface states of the (110) and (100) systems. Finally, the conditions for the existence of localized states at the Si/GaAs (110) interface are discussed based on a Koster-Slater model developed for the interface-state problem.Comment: REVTeX 4, 14 pages, 15 EPS figure

Quasiparticle transport equation with collision delay. II. Microscopic Theory

For a system of non-interacting electrons scattered by neutral impurities, we derive a modified Boltzmann equation that includes quasiparticle and virial corrections. We start from quasiclassical transport equation for non-equilibrium Green's functions and apply limit of small scattering rates. Resulting transport equation for quasiparticles has gradient corrections to scattering integrals. These gradient corrections are rearranged into a form characteristic for virial corrections