Comparison of the physical, chemical and electrical properties of ALD Al2O3 on c- and m-plane GaN

This study compares the physical, chemical and electrical properties of Al[subscript 2]O[subscript 3] thin films deposited on gallium polar c- and nonpolar m -plane GaN substrates by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Correlations were sought between the film's structure, composition, and electrical properties. The thickness of the Al[subscript 2]O[subscript 3] films was 19.2 nm as determined from a Si witness sample by spectroscopic ellipsometry. The gate dielectric was slightly aluminum-rich (Al:O=1:1.3) as measured from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profile, and the oxide-semiconductor interface carbon concentration was lower on c -plane GaN. The oxide's surface morphology was similar on both substrates, but was smoothest on c -plane GaN as determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Circular capacitors (50-300 μm diameter) with Ni/Au (20/100 nm) metal contacts on top of the oxide were created by standard photolithography and e-beam evaporation methods to form metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors (MOSCAPs). The alumina deposited on c -plane GaN showed less hysteresis (0.15 V) than on m -plane GaN (0.24 V) in capacitance-voltage (CV) characteristics, consistent with its better quality of this dielectric as evidenced by negligible carbon contamination and smooth oxide surface. These results demonstrate the promising potential of ALD Al[subscript 2]O[subscript 3] on c -plane GaN, but further optimization of ALD is required to realize the best properties of Al[subscript 2]O[subscript 3] on m -plane GaN

Effect of GaN surface treatment on Al2O3/n-GaN MOS capacitors

Citation: Hossain, T., Wei, D., Edgar, J. H., Garces, N. Y., Nepal, N., Hite, J. K., . . . Meyer H.M, III. (2015). Effect of GaN surface treatment on Al2O3/n-GaN MOS capacitors. Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B: Nanotechnology and Microelectronics, 33(6). doi:10.1116/1.4931793The surface preparation for depositing Al2O3 for fabricating Au/Ni/Al2O3/n-GaN (0001) metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) capacitors was optimized as a step toward realization of high performance GaN MOSFETs. The GaN surface treatments studied included cleaning with piranha (H2O2:H2SO4 = 1:5), (NH4)2S, and 30% HF etches. By several metrics, the MOS capacitor with the piranha-etched GaN had the best characteristics. It had the lowest capacitance–voltage hysteresis, the smoothest Al2O3 surface as determined by atomic force microscopy (0.2 nm surface roughness), the lowest carbon concentration (∼0.78%) at the Al2O3/n-GaN interface (from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), and the lowest oxide-trap charge (QT = 1.6 × 1011 cm−2eV−1). Its interface trap density (Dit = 3.7 × 1012 cm−2eV−1), as measured with photon-assisted capacitance– voltage method, was the lowest from conduction band-edge to midgap

Projected shell model study of odd-odd f-p-g shell proton-rich nuclei

A systematic study of 2-quasiparticle bands of the proton-rich odd-odd nuclei in the mass A ~ 70-80 region is performed using the projected shell model approach. The study includes Br-, Rb-, and Y-isotopes with N = Z+2, and Z+4. We describe the energy spectra and electromagnetic transition strengths in terms of the configuration mixing of the angular-momentum projected multi-quasiparticle states. Signature splitting and signature inversion in the rotational bands are discussed and are shown to be well described. A preliminary study of the odd-odd N = Z nucleus, 74Rb using the concept of spontaneous symmetry breaking is also presented.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, final version accepted by Phys. Rev.

New tools and recommendations for a better management of harmful algal blooms under the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Marine harmful algal blooms (HABs), caused by various aquatic microalgae, pose significant risks to ecosystems, some socio-economic activities and human health. Traditionally managed as a public health issue through reactive control measures such as beach closures, seafood trade bans or closure of mollusc production areas, the multifaceted linkages of HABs with environmental and socio-economic factors require more comprehensive ecosystem-based management approach tools to support policies. This study promotes a coordinated understanding and implementation of HAB assessment and management under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), targeting the achievement of Good Environmental Status (GES) in European marine waters. We introduce two novel tools: GES4HABs (GES for HABs) decision tree, and MAMBO (environMental mAtrix for the Management of BlOoms), a decision support matrix. These tools aim to streamline HABs reporting and prioritize resource allocation and management interventions. The GES4HABs decision tree defines a sequence of decision steps to identify HAB management strategies according to their state (evaluated against predefined baselines) and causes (anthropic or natural). MAMBO is proposed to address different HABs and their interaction with human and environmental pressures. The matrix utilizes two axes: natural trophic status and level of human influence, capturing major aspects such as nutrient supply. While acknowledging the limitations of this simplified framework, MAMBO categorizes marine regions into quadrants of varying management viability. Regions with high human influence and eutrophic conditions are identified as most suitable for effective management intervention, whereas regions with minimal or mixed human influence are deemed less amenable to active management. In addition, we explore and describe various indicators, monitoring methods and initiatives that may be relevant to support assessments of HAB status and associated pressures and impacts in the MSFD reporting. Finally, we provide some recommendations to promote the consideration of HABs in ecosystem-based management strategies, intensify efforts for harmonizing and defining best practices of analysis, monitoring and assessment methodologies, and foster international and cross-sectoral coordination to optimize resources, efforts and roles

A Simple Analytical Model of the Angular Momentum Transformation in Strongly Focused Light Beams

A ray-optics model is proposed to describe the vector beam transformation in a strongly focusing optical system. In contrast to usual approaches basing on the focused field distribution near the focal plane, we employ the transformed beam pattern formed immediately near the exit pupil. In this cross section, details of the output field distribution are of minor physical interest but proper allowance is made for transformation of the incident beam polarization state. This enables to obtain the spin and orbital angular momentum representations which are valid everywhere in the transformed beam space. Simple analytical results are available for the transversely homogeneous circularly polarized incident beam limited only by the circular aperture. Behavior of the spin and orbital angular momenta of the output beam and their dependences on the focusing strength (aperture angle) are analyzed. The obtained analytical results are in good qualitative and reasonable quantitative agreement to the calculation performed for the spatially inhomogeneous Gaussian and Laguerre-Gaussian beams. In application to Laguerre-Gaussian beams, the model provides possibility for analyzing the angular momentum transformation in beams already possessing some mixture of the spin and orbital angular momenta. The model supplies efficient and physically transparent means for qualitative analysis of the spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion. It can be generalized to incident beams with complicated spatial and polarization structure.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures. The paper has appeared as an attempt to clearly understand transformations of the light beam polarization in the course of strong focusing. It provides description of the optical vortex formation after focusing a circularly polarized beam and explains why the the orbital angular momentum emerges in the focused bea

Consensus Statement on Proton Therapy in Mesothelioma

Purpose: Radiation therapy for mesothelioma remains challenging, as normal tissue toxicity limits the amount of radiation that can be safely delivered to the pleural surfaces, especially radiation dose to the contralateral lung. The physical properties of proton therapy result in better sparing of normal tissues when treating the pleura, both in the postpneumonectomy setting and the lung-intact setting. Compared with photon radiation, there are dramatic reductions in dose to the contralateral lung, heart, liver, kidneys, and stomach. However, the tissue heterogeneity in the thorax, organ motion, and potential for changing anatomy during the treatment course all present challenges to optimal irradiation with protons. Methods: The clinical data underlying proton therapy in mesothelioma are reviewed here, including indications, advantages, and limitations. Results: The Particle Therapy Cooperative Group Thoracic Subcommittee task group provides specific guidelines for the use of proton therapy for mesothelioma. Conclusions: This consensus report can be used to guide clinical practice, insurance approval, and future research

Elicitation of Neutralizing Antibodies Targeting the V2 Apex of the HIV Envelope Trimer in a Wild-Type Animal Model

Correction of: Cell Reports 21, 222–235; October 3, 2017

Single-molecule experiments in biological physics: methods and applications

I review single-molecule experiments (SME) in biological physics. Recent technological developments have provided the tools to design and build scientific instruments of high enough sensitivity and precision to manipulate and visualize individual molecules and measure microscopic forces. Using SME it is possible to: manipulate molecules one at a time and measure distributions describing molecular properties; characterize the kinetics of biomolecular reactions and; detect molecular intermediates. SME provide the additional information about thermodynamics and kinetics of biomolecular processes. This complements information obtained in traditional bulk assays. In SME it is also possible to measure small energies and detect large Brownian deviations in biomolecular reactions, thereby offering new methods and systems to scrutinize the basic foundations of statistical mechanics. This review is written at a very introductory level emphasizing the importance of SME to scientists interested in knowing the common playground of ideas and the interdisciplinary topics accessible by these techniques. The review discusses SME from an experimental perspective, first exposing the most common experimental methodologies and later presenting various molecular systems where such techniques have been applied. I briefly discuss experimental techniques such as atomic-force microscopy (AFM), laser optical tweezers (LOT), magnetic tweezers (MT), biomembrane force probe (BFP) and single-molecule fluorescence (SMF). I then present several applications of SME to the study of nucleic acids (DNA, RNA and DNA condensation), proteins (protein-protein interactions, protein folding and molecular motors). Finally, I discuss applications of SME to the study of the nonequilibrium thermodynamics of small systems and the experimental verification of fluctuation theorems. I conclude with a discussion of open questions and future perspectives.Comment: Latex, 60 pages, 12 figures, Topical Review for J. Phys. C (Cond. Matt