Anisotropic magnetoresistance in nanocontacts

We present ab initio calculations of the evolution of anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) in Ni nanocontacts from the ballistic to the tunnel regime. We find an extraordinary enhancement of AMR, compared to bulk, in two scenarios. In systems without localized states, like chemically pure break junctions, large AMR only occurs if the orbital polarization of the current is large, regardless of the anisotropy of the density of states. In systems that display localized states close to the Fermi energy, like a single electron transistor with ferromagnetic electrodes, large AMR is related to the variation of the Fermi energy as a function of the magnetization direction.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures; revised for publication, new figures in greyscal

Coherent transport in graphene nanoconstrictions

We study the effect of a structural nanoconstriction on the coherent transport properties of otherwise ideal zig-zag-edged infinitely long graphene ribbons. The electronic structure is calculated with the standard one-orbital tight-binding model and the linear conductance is obtained using the Landauer formula. We find that, since the zero-bias current is carried in the bulk of the ribbon, this is very robust with respect to a variety of constriction geometries and edge defects. In contrast, the curve of zero-bias conductance versus gate voltage departs from the $(2n+1) e^2/h$ staircase of the ideal case as soon as a single atom is removed from the sample. We also find that wedge-shaped constrictions can present non-conducting states fully localized in the constriction close to the Fermi energy. The interest of these localized states in regards the formation of quantum dots in graphene is discussed.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figure

Metastability and paramagnetism in superconducting mesoscopic disks

A projected order parameter is used to calculate, not only local minima of the Ginzburg-Landau energy functional, but also saddle points or energy barriers responsible for the metastabilities observed in superconducting mesoscopic disks (Geim et al. Nature {\bf 396}, 144 (1998)). We calculate the local minima magnetization and find the energetic instability points between vortex configurations with different vorticity. We also find that, for any vorticity, the supercurrent can reverse its flow direction on decreasing the magnetic field before one vortex can escape.Comment: Modified version as to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Many-body excitations in tunneling current spectra of a few-electron quantum dot

Inherent asymmetry in the tunneling barriers of few-electron quantum dots induces intrinsically different tunneling currents for forward and reverse source-drain biases in the non-linear transport regime. Here we show that in addition to spin selection rules, overlap matrix elements between many-body states are crucial for the correct description of tunneling transmission through quantum dots at large magnetic fields. Signatures of excited (N-1)-electron states in the transport process through the N-electron system are clearly identified in the measured transconductances. Our analysis clearly confirms the validity of single-electron quantum transport theory in quantum dots.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Phonon runaway in nanotube quantum dots

We explore electronic transport in a nanotube quantum dot strongly coupled with vibrations and weakly with leads and the thermal environment. We show that the recent observation of anomalous conductance signatures in single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) quantum dots can be understood quantitatively in terms of current driven `hot phonons' that are strongly correlated with electrons. Using rate equations in the many-body configuration space for the joint electron-phonon distribution, we argue that the variations are indicative of strong electron-phonon coupling requiring an analysis beyond the traditional uncorrelated phonon-assisted transport (Tien-Gordon) approach.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

Capas finas de ZrO2 para mejorar la resistencia química de los vidriados mates de calcio

La resistencia al ataque químico de vidriados cerámicos susceptibles al mismo, concretamente formulados a partir de una frita mate de calcio, se ha mejorado depositando en la superficie una capa delgada de óxido de circonio. Un sol de circonio estabilizado es el precursor de la capa, el cual se deposita mediante aerografía sobre el vidriado cocido y con un tratamiento térmico suave (Tmax ≈ 400 ºC), es transformado en ZrO2 y anclado a la superficie. Los ensayos de resistencia química demuestran que el vidriado protegido no sufre un ataque apreciable visualmente por parte del ácido clorhídrico concentrado, condiciones en las que el mismo vidriado sin el recubrimiento resulta gravemente dañado. El precursor utilizado genera una capa de óxido de circonio que protege el vidriado subyacente, de modo que el ataque químico por parte del ácido clorhídrico queda confinado al entorno de las grietas y discontinuidades de la capa depositadaPeer reviewe

Correlated few-electron states in vertical double-quantum-dot systems

The electronic properties of semiconductor, vertical, double quantum dot systems with few electrons are investigated by means of analytic, configuration-interaction, and mean-field methods. The combined effect of a high magnetic field, electrostatic confinement, and inter-dot coupling, induces a new class of few-electron ground states absent in single quantum dots. In particular, the role played by the isospin (or quantum dot index) in determining the appearance of new ground states is analyzed and compared with the role played by the standard spin.Comment: 20 pages, Latex, figures upon request. To appear in Phys. Rev. B (January 1995

Skyrmions in quantum Hall ferromagnets as spin-waves bound to unbalanced magnetic flux quanta

A microscopic description of (baby)skyrmions in quantum Hall ferromagnets is derived from a scattering theory of collective (neutral) spin modes by a bare quasiparticle. We start by mapping the low lying spectrum of spin waves in the uniform ferromagnet onto that of free moving spin excitons, and then we study their scattering by the defect of charge. In the presence of this disturbance, the local spin stiffness varies in space, and we translate it into an inhomogeneus metric in the Hilbert space supporting the excitons. An attractive potencial is then required to preserve the symmetry under global spin rotations, and it traps the excitons around the charged defect. The quasiparticle now carries a spin texture. Textures containing more than one exciton are described within a mean-field theory, the interaction among the excitons being taken into account through a new renormalization of the metric. The number of excitons actually bound depends on the Zeeman coupling, that plays the same role as a chemical potencial. For small Zeeman energies, the defect binds many excitons which condensate. As the bound excitons have a unit of angular momentum, provided by the quantum of magnetic flux left unbalanced by the defect of charge, the resulting texture turns out to be a topological excitation of charge 1. Its energy is that given by the non-linear sigma model for the ground state in this topological sector, i.e. the texture is a skyrmion.Comment: 17 pages, 1 figur

An effective lowest Landau level treatment of demagnetization in superconducting mesoscopic disks

Demagnetization, which is inherently present in the magnetic response of small finite-size superconductors, can be accounted for by an effective $\kappa$ within a two-dimensional lowest Landau level approximation of the Ginzburg-Landau functional. We show this by comparing the equilibrium magnetization of superconducting mesoscopic disks obtained from the numerical solution of the three-dimensional Ginzburg-Landau equations with that obtained in the ``effective'' LLL approximation.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Spin effects in a confined 2DEG: Enhancement of the g-factor, spin-inversion states and their far-infrared absorption

We investigate several spin-related phenomena in a confined two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) using the Hartree-Fock approximation for the mutual Coulomb interaction of the electrons. The exchange term of the interaction causes a large splitting of the spin levels whenever the chemical potential lies within a Landau band (LB). This splitting can be reinterpreted as an enhancement of an effective g-factor, g*. The increase of g* when a LB is half filled can be accompanied by a spontaneous formation of a static spin-inversion state (SIS) whose details depend on the system sision state (SIS) whose details depend on the system size. The coupling of the states of higher LB's into the lowest band by the Coulomb interaction of the 2DEG is essential for the SIS to occur. The far-infrared absorption of the system, relatively insensitive to the spin splitting, develops clear signs of the SIS.Comment: 7 figure