1,636 research outputs found
Spin-polarized surface states close to adatoms on Cu(111)
We present a theoretical study of surface states close to 3d transition metal
adatoms (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu) on a Cu(111) surface in terms of an
embedding technique using the fully relativistic Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method.
For each of the adatoms we found resonances in the s-like states to be
attributed to a localization of the surface states in the presence of an
impurity. We studied the change of the s-like densities of states in the
vicinity of the surface state band-edge due to scattering effects mediated via
the adatom's d-orbitals. The obtained results show that a magnetic impurity
causes spin-polarization of the surface states. In particular, the long-range
oscillations of the spin-polarized s-like density of states around an Fe adatom
are demonstrated.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, submitted to PR
Non-equilibrium transport theory of the singlet-triplet transition: perturbative approach
We use a simple iterative perturbation theory to study the singlet-triplet
(ST) transition in lateral and vertical quantum dots, modeled by the
non-equilibrium two-level Anderson model. To a great surprise, the region of
stable perturbation theory extends to relatively strong interactions, and this
simple approach is able to reproduce all experimentally-observed features of
the ST transition, including the formation of a dip in the differential
conductance of a lateral dot indicative of the two-stage Kondo effect, or the
maximum in the linear conductance around the transition point. Choosing the
right starting point to the perturbation theory is, however, crucial to obtain
reliable and meaningful results
Ab-initio spin dynamics applied to nanoparticles: canted magnetism of a finite Co chain along a Pt(111) surface step edge
In order to search for the magnetic ground state of surface nanostructures we
extended first principles adiabatic spin dynamics to the case of fully
relativistic electron scattering. Our method relies on a constrained density
functional theory whereby the evolution of the orientations of the spin-moments
results from a semi-classical Landau-Lifshitz equation. This approach is
applied to a study of the ground state of a finite Co chain placed along a step
edge of a Pt(111) surface. As far as the ground state spin orientation is
concerned we obtain excellent agreement with the experiment. Furthermore we
observe noncollinearity of the atom-resolved spin and orbital moments. In terms
of magnetic force theorem calculations we also demonstrate how a reduction of
symmetry leads to the existence of canted magnetic states.Comment: 4 pages, ReVTeX + 3 figures (Encapsulated Postscript), submitted to
PR
Ab initio study of canted magnetism of finite atomic chains at surfaces
By using ab initio methods on different levels we study the magnetic ground
state of (finite) atomic wires deposited on metallic surfaces. A
phenomenological model based on symmetry arguments suggests that the
magnetization of a ferromagnetic wire is aligned either normal to the wire and,
generally, tilted with respect to the surface normal or parallel to the wire.
From a first principles point of view, this simple model can be best related
to the so--called magnetic force theorem calculations being often used to
explore magnetic anisotropy energies of bulk and surface systems. The second
theoretical approach we use to search for the canted magnetic ground state is
first principles adiabatic spin dynamics extended to the case of fully
relativistic electron scattering. First, for the case of two adjacent Fe atoms
an a Cu(111) surface we demonstrate that the reduction of the surface symmetry
can indeed lead to canted magnetism. The anisotropy constants and consequently
the ground state magnetization direction are very sensitive to the position of
the dimer with respect to the surface. We also performed calculations for a
seven--atom Co chain placed along a step edge of a Pt(111) surface. As far as
the ground state spin orientation is concerned we obtain excellent agreement
with experiment. Moreover, the magnetic ground state turns out to be slightly
noncollinear.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures; presented on the International Conference on
Nanospintronics Design and Realizations, Kyoto, Japan, May 2004; to appear in
J. Phys.: Cond. Matte
Magnetic properties of Quantum Corrals from first principles calculations
We present calculations for electronic and magnetic properties of surface
states confined by a circular quantum corral built of magnetic adatoms (Fe) on
a Cu(111) surface. We show the oscillations of charge and magnetization
densities within the corral and the possibility of the appearance of
spin--polarized states. In order to classify the peaks in the calculated
density of states with orbital quantum numbers we analyzed the problem in terms
of a simple quantum mechanical circular well model. This model is also used to
estimate the behaviour of the magnetization and energy with respect to the
radius of the circular corral. The calculations are performed fully
relativistically using the embedding technique within the
Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, submitted to J. Phys. Cond. Matt. special issue
on 'Theory and Simulation of Nanostructures
Magnetism in systems with various dimensionality: A comparison between Fe and Co
A systematic ab initio study is performed for the spin and orbital moments
and for the validity of the sum rules for x-ray magnetic circular dichroism for
Fe systems with various dimensionality (bulk, Pt-supported monolayers and
monatomic wires, free-standing monolayers and monatomic wires). Qualitatively,
the results are similar to those for the respective Co systems, with the main
difference that for the monatomic Fe wires the term in the spin sum rule
is much larger than for the Co wires. The spin and orbital moments induced in
the Pt substrate are also discussed.Comment: 4 page
Transition-metal dimers and physical limits on magnetic anisotropy
Recent advances in nanoscience have raised interest in the minimum bit size
required for classical information storage, i.e. for bistability with
suppressed quantum tunnelling and energy barriers that exceed ambient
temperatures. In the case of magnetic information storage much attention has
centred on molecular magnets[1] with bits consisting of ~ 100 atoms, magnetic
uniaxial anisotropy energy barriers ~ 50 K, and very slow relaxation at low
temperatures. In this article we draw attention to the remarkable magnetic
properties of some transition metal dimers which have energy barriers
approaching ~ 500 K with only two atoms. The spin dynamics of these ultra small
nanomagnets is strongly affected by a Berry phase which arises from
quasi-degeneracies at the electronic Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO)
energy. In a giant spin-approximation, this Berry phase makes the effective
reversal barrier thicker. [1] Gatteschi, D., Sessoli, R. & Villain, J.
Molecular Nanomagnets. (Oxford, New York 2006).Comment: 14 pages, 1 figur
ART influences HIV persistence in the female reproductive tract and cervicovaginal secretions
The recently completed HIV prevention trials network study 052 is a landmark collaboration demonstrating that HIV transmission in discordant couples can be dramatically reduced by treating the infected individual with antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, the cellular and virological events that occur in the female reproductive tract (FRT) during ART that result in such a drastic decrease in transmission were not studied and remain unknown. Here, we implemented an in vivo model of ART in BM/liver/thymus (BLT) humanized mice in order to better understand the ability of ART to prevent secondary HIV transmission. We demonstrated that the entire FRT of BLT mice is reconstituted with human CD4+ cells that are shed into cervicovaginal secretions (CVS). A high percentage of the CD4+ T cells in the FRT and CVS expressed CCR5 and therefore are potential HIV target cells. Infection with HIV increased the numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in CVS of BLT mice. Furthermore, HIV was present in CVS during infection. Finally, we evaluated the effect of ART on HIV levels in the FRT and CVS and demonstrated that ART can efficiently suppress cell-free HIV-RNA in CVS, despite residual levels of HIV-RNA+ cells in both the FRT and CVS
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