Temperature dependence of nonlinear auto-oscillator linewidths: Application to spin-torque nano-oscillators

The temperature dependence of the generation linewidth for an auto-oscillator with a nonlinear frequency shift is calculated. It is shown that the frequency nonlinearity creates a finite correlation time, tau, for the phase fluctuations. In the low-temperature limit in which the spectral linewidth is smaller than 1/tau, the line shape is approximately Lorentzian and the linewidth is linear in temperature. In the opposite high-temperature limit in which the linewidth is larger than 1/tau, the nonlinearity leads to an apparent "inhomogeneous broadening" of the line, which becomes Gaussian in shape and has a square-root dependence on temperature. The results are illustrated for the spin-torque nano-oscillator.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

Generation linewidth of an auto-oscillator with a nonlinear frequency shift: Spin-torque nano-oscillator

It is shown that the generation linewidth of an auto-oscillator with a nonlinear frequency shift (i.e. an auto-oscillator in which frequency depends on the oscillation amplitude) is substantially larger than the linewidth of a conventional quasi-linear auto-oscillator due to the renormalization of the phase noise caused by the nonlinearity of the oscillation frequency. The developed theory, when applied to a spin-torque nano-contact auto-oscillator, predicts a minimum of the generation linewidth when the nano-contact is magnetized at a critical angle to its plane, corresponding to the minimum nonlinear frequency shift, in good agreement with recent experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Field-induced confinement in (TMTSF)2ClO4 under accurately aligned magnetic fields

We present transport measurements along the least conducting c direction of the organic superconductor (TMTSF)2ClO4, performed under an accurately aligned magnetic field in the low temperature regime. The experimental results reveal a two-dimensional confinement of the carriers in the (a,b) planes which is governed by the magnetic field component along the b' direction. This 2-D confinement is accompanied by a metal-insulator transition for the c axis resistivity. These data are supported by a quantum mechanical calculation of the transverse transport taking into account in self consistent treatment the effect of the field on the interplane Green function and on the intraplane scattering time

Lineshape distortion in a nonlinear auto-oscillator near generation threshold: Application to spin-torque nano-oscillators

The lineshape in an auto-oscillator with a large nonlinear frequency shift in the presence of thermal noise is calculated. Near the generation threshold, this lineshape becomes strongly non-Lorentzian, broadened, and asymmetric. A Lorentzian lineshape is recovered far below and far above threshold, which suggests that lineshape distortions provide a signature of the generation threshold. The theory developed adequately describes the observed behavior of a strongly nonlinear spin-torque nano-oscillator.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Characterization and synthesis of mono- and diphytanyl ethers of glycerol.

The methanolyzed lipids of the extreme halo- phile, Halobacterium cutirubrum, were separated into glycerol diether and glycerol monoether fractions. The diether was shown by synthesis to be 2,3-di-O-(3'R,7'R,ll 'R,15'-tetra- methylhexadecy1)-sn-glycerol. The monoether fraction was separated by thin-layer chromatography on boric acid-im- pregnated silicic acid into about equal amounts of a- and j3- isomers. The a-isomer was found to be identical with the synthetic 3-0-(3'R,7 'R,ll 'R,15 '-tetramethylhexadecy1)-sn- glycerol, and the j3-isomer was identical with the synthetic 2-0-(3 'R,7 'R,11 'R,15 '-tetramethylhexadecyl) glycerol

Proximity Effect in Nb/Au/CoFe Trilayers

We have investigated the superconducting critical temperatures of Nb/Au/CoFe trilayers as a function of Au and CoFe thicknesses. Without the CoFe layer the superconducting critical temperatures of Nb/Au bilayers as a function of Au thickness follow the well-known proximity effect between a superconductor and a normal metal. The superconducting critical temperatures of Nb/Au/CoFe trilayers as a function of Au thickness exhibit a rapid initial increase in the small Au thickness region and increase slowly to a limiting value above this region, accompanied by a small oscillation of Tc. On the other hand, the superconducting critical temperatures of Nb/Au/CoFe trilayers as a function of CoFe thickness show non-monotonic behavior with a shallow dip feature. We analyzed the Tc behavior in terms of Usadel formalism and found that most features are consistent with the theory, although the small oscillation of Tc as a function of the Au thickness cannot be accounted for. We have also found quantitative values for the two interfaces: Nb/Au and Au/CoFe.Comment: 25 pages, 6 figure

Stochastic theory of spin-transfer oscillator linewidths

We present a stochastic theory of linewidths for magnetization oscillations in spin-valve structures driven by spin-polarized currents. Starting from a nonlinear oscillator model derived from spin-wave theory, we derive Langevin equations for amplitude and phase fluctuations due to the presence of thermal noise. We find that the spectral linewidths are inversely proportional to the spin-wave intensities with a lower bound that is determined purely by modulations in the oscillation frequencies. Reasonable quantitative agreement with recent experimental results from spin-valve nanopillars is demonstrated.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review

Agility of vortex-based nanocontact spin torque oscillators

We study the agility of current-tunable oscillators based on a magnetic vortex orbiting around a point contact in spin-valves. Theory predicts frequency-tuning by currents occurs at constant orbital radius, so an exceptional agility is anticipated. To test this, we have inserted an oscillator in a microwave interferometer to apply abrupt current variations while time resolving its emission. Using frequency shift keying, we show that the oscillator can switch between two stabilized frequencies differing by 25% in less than ten periods. With a wide frequency tunability and a good agility, such oscillators possess desirable figures of merit for modulation-based rf applications.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure

Population Dynamics in Spatially Heterogeneous Systems with Drift: the generalized contact process

We investigate the time evolution and stationary states of a stochastic, spatially discrete, population model (contact process) with spatial heterogeneity and imposed drift (wind) in one- and two-dimensions. We consider in particular a situation in which space is divided into two regions: an oasis and a desert (low and high death rates). Carrying out computer simulations we find that the population in the (quasi) stationary state will be zero, localized, or delocalized, depending on the values of the drift and other parameters. The phase diagram is similar to that obtained by Nelson and coworkers from a deterministic, spatially continuous model of a bacterial population undergoing convection in a heterogeneous medium.Comment: 8 papes, 12 figure