Growth of Large Domain Epitaxial Graphene on the C-Face of SiC

Growth of epitaxial graphene on the C-face of SiC has been investigated. Using a confinement controlled sublimation (CCS) method, we have achieved well controlled growth and been able to observe propagation of uniform monolayer graphene. Surface patterns uncover two important aspects of the growth, i.e. carbon diffusion and stoichiometric requirement. Moreover, a new "stepdown" growth mode has been discovered. Via this mode, monolayer graphene domains can have an area of hundreds of square micrometers, while, most importantly, step bunching is avoided and the initial uniformly stepped SiC surface is preserved. The stepdown growth provides a possible route towards uniform epitaxial graphene in wafer size without compromising the initial flat surface morphology of SiC.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figure

Ultrafast Relaxation Dynamics of Photoexcited Dirac Fermion in The Three Dimensional Dirac Semimetal Cadmium Arsenide

Three dimensional (3D) Dirac semimetals which can be seen as 3D analogues of graphene have attracted enormous interests in research recently. In order to apply these ultrahigh-mobility materials in future electronic/optoelectronic devices, it is crucial to understand the relaxation dynamics of photoexcited carriers and their coupling with lattice. In this work, we report ultrafast transient reflection measurements of the photoexcited carrier dynamics in cadmium arsenide (Cd3As2), which is one of the most stable Dirac semimetals that have been confirmed experimentally. By using low energy probe photon of 0.3 eV, we probed the dynamics of the photoexcited carriers that are Dirac-Fermi-like approaching the Dirac point. We systematically studied the transient reflection on bulk and nanoplate samples that have different doping intensities by tuning the probe wavelength, pump power and lattice temperature, and find that the dynamical evolution of carrier distributions can be retrieved qualitatively by using a two-temperature model. This result is very similar to that of graphene, but the carrier cooling through the optical phonon couplings is slower and lasts over larger electron temperature range because the optical phonon energies in Cd3As2 are much lower than those in graphene

Discovery and regulation of chiral magnetic solitons: Exact solution from Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation

The Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (LLG) equation has emerged as a fundamental and indispensable framework within the realm of magnetism. However, solving the LLG equation, encompassing full nonlinearity amidst intricate complexities, presents formidable challenges. In this context, we develop a precise mapping through geometric representation, establishing a direct linkage between the LLG equation and an integrable generalized nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation. This novel mapping provides accessibility towards acquiring a great number of exact spatiotemporal solutions. Notably, exact chiral magnetic solitons, critical for stability and controllability in propagation with and without damping effects are discovered. Our formulation provides exact solutions for the long-standing fully nonlinear problem, facilitating practical control through spin current injection in magnetic memory applications.Comment: main text:5 pages, 4 figures, supplementary materials:5 pages, 2 figure

IL-1β, the first piece to the puzzle of sepsis-related cognitive impairment?

Sepsis is a leading cause of death resulting from an uncontrolled inflammatory response to an infectious agent. Multiple organ injuries, including brain injuries, are common in sepsis. The underlying mechanism of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE), which is associated with neuroinflammation, is not yet fully understood. Recent studies suggest that the release of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) following activation of microglial cells plays a crucial role in the development of long-lasting neuroinflammation after the initial sepsis episode. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the recent literature on the molecular signaling pathways involved in microglial cell activation and interleukin-1β release. It also explores the physiological and pathophysiological role of IL-1β in cognitive function, with a particular focus on its contribution to long-lasting neuroinflammation after sepsis. The findings from this review may assist healthcare providers in developing novel interventions against SAE