887 research outputs found
Spin-dependent resonant tunneling through quantum-well states in magnetic metallic thin films
Quantum-well (QW) states in {\it nonmagnetic} metal layers contained in
magnetic multilayers are known to be important in spin-dependent transport, but
the role of QW states in {\it magnetic} layers remains elusive. Here we
identify the conditions and mechanisms for resonant tunneling through QW states
in magnetic layers and determine candidate structures. We report
first-principles calculations of spin-dependent transport in epitaxial
Fe/MgO/FeO/Fe/Cr and Co/MgO/Fe/Cr tunnel junctions. We demonstrate the
formation of sharp QW states in the Fe layer and show discrete conductance
jumps as the QW states enter the transport window with increasing bias. At
resonance, the current increases by one to two orders of magnitude. The
tunneling magnetoresistance ratio is several times larger than in simple spin
tunnel junctions and is positive (negative) for majority- (minority-) spin
resonances, with a large asymmetry between positive and negative biases. The
results can serve as the basis for novel spintronic devices.Comment: 4 figures in 5 eps file
Detailed studies of non-linear magneto-optical resonances at D1 excitation of Rb-85 and Rb-87 for partially resolved hyperfine F-levels
Experimental signals of non-linear magneto-optical resonances at D1
excitation of natural rubidium in a vapor cell have been obtained and described
with experimental accuracy by a detailed theoretical model based on the optical
Bloch equations. The D1 transition of rubidium is a challenging system to
analyze theoretically because it contains transitions that are only partially
resolved under Doppler broadening. The theoretical model took into account all
nearby transitions, the coherence properties of the exciting laser radiation,
and the mixing of magnetic sublevels in an external magnetic field and also
included averaging over the Doppler profile. Great care was taken to obtain
accurate experimental signals and avoid systematic errors. The experimental
signals were reproduced very well at each hyperfine transition and over a wide
range of laser power densities, beam diameters, and laser detunings from the
exact transition frequency. The bright resonance expected at the F_g=1 -->
F_e=2 transition of Rb-87 has been observed. A bright resonance was observed at
the F_g=2 --> F_e=3 transition of Rb-85, but displaced from the exact position
of the transition due to the influence of the nearby F_g=2 --> F_e=2
transition, which is a dark resonance whose contrast is almost two orders of
magnitude larger than the contrast of the bright resonance at the F_g=2 -->
F_e=3 transition. Even in this very delicate situation, the theoretical model
described in detail the experimental signals at different laser detunings.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure
Ensemble v-representable ab-initio density functional calculation of energy and spin in atoms: atest of exchange-correlation approximations
The total energies and the spin states for atoms and their first ions with Z
= 1-86 are calculated within the the local spin-density approximation (LSDA)
and the generalized-gradient approximation (GGA) to the exchange-correlation
(xc) energy in density-functional theory. Atoms and ions for which the
ground-state density is not pure-state v-representable, are treated as ensemble
v- representable with fractional occupations of the Kohn-Sham system. A newly
developed algorithm which searches over ensemble v-representable densities [E.
Kraisler et al., Phys. Rev. A 80, 032115 (2009)] is employed in calculations.
It is found that for many atoms the ionization energies obtained with the GGA
are only modestly improved with respect to experimental data, as compared to
the LSDA. However, even in those groups of atoms where the improvement is
systematic, there remains a non-negligible difference with respect to the
experiment. The ab-initio electronic configuration in the Kohn-Sham reference
system does not always equal the configuration obtained from the spectroscopic
term within the independent-electron approximation. It was shown that use of
the latter configuration can prevent the energy-minimization process from
converging to the global minimum, e.g. in lanthanides. The spin values
calculated ab-initio fit the experiment for most atoms and are almost
unaffected by the choice of the xc-functional. Among the systems with
incorrectly obtained spin there exist some cases (e.g. V, Pt) for which the
result is found to be stable with respect to small variations in the
xc-approximation. These findings suggest a necessity for a significant
modification of the exchange-correlation functional, probably of a non-local
nature, to accurately describe such systems. PACS numbers: 31.15.
Current-induced magnetization dynamics in disordered itinerant ferromagnets
Current-driven magnetization dynamics in ferromagnetic metals are studied in
a self-consistent adiabatic local-density approximation in the presence of
spin-conserving and spin-dephasing impurity scattering. Based on a quantum
kinetic equation, we derive Gilbert damping and spin-transfer torques entering
the Landau-Lifshitz equation to linear order in frequency and wave vector.
Gilbert damping and a current-driven dissipative torque scale identically and
compete, with the result that a steady current-driven domain-wall motion is
insensitive to spin dephasing in the limit of weak ferromagnetism. A uniform
magnetization is found to be much more stable against spin torques in the
itinerant than in the \textit{s}-\textit{d} model for ferromagnetism. A dynamic
spin-transfer torque reminiscent of the spin pumping in multilayers is
identified and shown to govern the current-induced domain-wall distortion
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Developing a Drought Metric with Water Managers
Though numerous drought metrics have been developed by the research community, adoption of these metrics by water managers has been limited. The reasons for this vary, but some include mismatches in time scales and spatial scales between the metric supplied and the operational decisions (e.g. water managers often work within political boundaries, such as counties). The focus of many drought metrics is on the physical parameters with little regard to actual available water supply or societal demand. A drought in 2015 in the Pacific Northwest was unlike any other before it and caused drought advisors to seek out help with drought prediction.
One of the objectives of this study is to co-develop a metric with water managers in the Pacific Northwest to ensure that the results are useful and applicable for water management and drought declarations. Multiple discussions with the water managers led to developing a metric that is based on a measure of total moisture. Total moisture is derived from snow water equivalent and soil moisture modeled by Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) hydrologic model. We have developed an indicator that projects probabilistically how the year may progress based on historical patterns. This indicator enables water managers to see the probability of recovery from current drought conditions and can aid in drought declaration and water allocation.
The results of the first part of this study prompted the second part, the purpose of which is to understand the atmospheric flow and temperature patterns in spring that distinguish recovery conditions from continued dry conditions using reanalysis data. Recovery years are characterized by low geopotential height anomalies that indicate spring storms and precipitation, whereas continued dry conditions are characterized by high geopotential height anomalies that indicate reduced storm activity in the region. During years when a ridge is present over the Pacific Northwest or Eastern Pacific Ocean, optimism about spring precipitation averting an incipient drought – though historically common – is shown to be unrealistic. Understanding these relationships between geopotential height during years with low total moisture and years when total moisture recovers give insight into the drivers of these conditions
Narrow structure in the coherent population trapping resonances in rubidium and Rayleigh scattering
The measurement of the coherent-population-trapping (CPT) resonances in
uncoated Rb vacuum cells has shown that the shape of the resonances is
different in different cells. In some cells the resonance has a complex shape -
a narrow Lorentzian structure, which is not power broadened, superimposed on
the power broadened CPT resonance. The results of the performed investigations
on the fluorescence angular distribution are in agreement with the assumption
that the narrow structure is a result of atom interaction with Rayleigh
scattering light. The results are interesting for indication of the vacuum
cleanness of the cells and building of magnetooptical sensors
Spin Screening and Antiscreening in a Ferromagnet/Superconductor Heterojunction
We present a theoretical study of spin screening effects in a
ferromagnet/superconductor (F/S) heterojunction. It is shown that the magnetic
moment of the ferromagnet is screened or antiscreened, depending on the
polarization of the electrons at the Fermi level. If the polarization is
determined by the electrons of the majority (minority) spin band then the
magnetic moment of the ferromagnet is screened (antiscreened) by the electrons
in the superconductor. We propose experiments that may confirm our theory: for
ferromagnetic alloys with certain concentration of Fe or Ni ions there will be
screening or antiscreening respectively. Different configurations for the
density of states are also discussed.Comment: 5 pages; 4 figures. to be published in Phys. Rev,
Structural Properties and Relative Stability of (Meta)Stable Ordered, Partially-ordered and Disordered Al-Li Alloy Phases
We resolve issues that have plagued reliable prediction of relative phase
stability for solid-solutions and compounds. Due to its commercially important
phase diagram, we showcase Al-Li system because historically density-functional
theory (DFT) results show large scatter and limited success in predicting the
structural properties and stability of solid-solutions relative to ordered
compounds. Using recent advances in an optimal basis-set representation of the
topology of electronic charge density (and, hence, atomic size), we present DFT
results that agree reasonably well with all known experimental data for the
structural properties and formation energies of ordered, off-stoichiometric
partially-ordered and disordered alloys, opening the way for reliable study in
complex alloys.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, 2 Table
Optical properties and electronic structure of β′−NiAl
The optical constants and their temperature derivatives have been determined for β′−NiAl from absorption and thermoreflectance measurements in the energy range of 0.2-4.4 eV. The results are interpreted using the self-consistent energy bands of Moruzzi, Williams, and Gelatt. By comparing a calculated joint density of states with ε2, the imaginary part of the dielectric function, good overall agreement is found between theory and experiment. In contrast to earlier analyses, it is found that the 2.5-eV peak in ε2 is primarily due to direct interband transitions terminating near the Fermi surface. This new interpretation of the 2.5-eV feature is discussed in relation to previously reported concentration effects and the rigid-band model
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