Growth of nanostructures by cluster deposition : a review

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of simple models useful to analyze the growth of nanostructures obtained by cluster deposition. After detailing the potential interest of nanostructures, I extensively study the first stages of growth (the submonolayer regime) by kinetic Monte-Carlo simulations. These simulations are performed in a wide variety of experimental situations : complete condensation, growth with reevaporation, nucleation on defects, total or null cluster-cluster coalescence... The main scope of the paper is to help experimentalists analyzing their data to deduce which of those processes are important and to quantify them. A software including all these simulation programs is available at no cost on request to the author. I carefully discuss experiments of growth from cluster beams and show how the mobility of the clusters on the surface can be measured : surprisingly high values are found. An important issue for future technological applications of cluster deposition is the relation between the size of the incident clusters and the size of the islands obtained on the substrate. An approximate formula which gives the ratio of the two sizes as a function of the melting temperature of the material deposited is given. Finally, I study the atomic mechanisms which can explain the diffusion of the clusters on a substrate and the result of their mutual interaction (simple juxtaposition, partial or total coalescence...)Comment: To be published Rev Mod Phys, Oct 99, RevTeX, 37 figure

Current trends in planar Hall effect sensors: evolution, optimization, and applications

The advantages of planar Hall effect (PHE) sensors-their thermal stability, very low detection limits, and high sensitivities-have supported a wide range of advanced applications such as nano-Tesla (nT) magnetometers, current sensing, or low magnetic moment detection in lab-on-a-chip devices. In this review we outline the background and implications of these PHE sensors, starting from fundamental physics through their technological evolution over the past few decades. Key parameters affecting the performance of these sensors, including noise from different sources, thermal stability, and magnetoresistance magnitudes are discussed. The progression of sensor geometries and junctions from disk, cross-to-bridge, ring, and ellipse configuration is also reviewed. The logical sequence of these structures from single magnetoresistive layers to bi-, tri-layers, and spin-valves is also covered. Research contributions to the development of these sensors are highlighted with a focus on microfluidics and flexible sensorics. This review serves as a comprehensive resource for scientists who wish to use PHE for fundamental research or to develop new applications and devices. The conclusions from this report will benefit the development, production, and performance evaluation of PHE-based devices and microfluidics, as well as set the stage for future advances.1

Enhanced Magneto-optic Kerr Effect and Magnetic Properties of CeY[subscript 2]Fe[subscript 5]O[subscript 12] Epitaxial Thin Films

The magnetic and magneto-optic properties of epitaxial CeY[subscript 2]Fe[subscript 5]O[subscript 12] (Ce ∶ YIG) and Y[subscript 3]Fe[subscript 5]O[subscript 12] (yttrium iron garnet or YIG) thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition on gadolinium gallium garnet substrates are determined. An enhanced Faraday effect is known to result from Ce substitution into the yttrium iron garnet lattice, and here we characterize the magneto-optic Kerr effect, as well as the magnetic hysteresis and ferromagnetic resonance response that result from the Ce substitution. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals a high crystallographic quality for the Ce ∶ YIG films. Measurements of the magneto-optic Kerr effect for two different wavelengths demonstrate that the Ce ∶ YIG exhibits an up-to-tenfold increase in Kerr rotation compared to YIG. The Ce ∶ YIG has a slightly larger magnetic moment, as well as increased magnetic damping and higher magnetic anisotropy compared to YIG with a dependence on the crystalline orientation. By specific cerium substitution in YIG, our results show that the engineering of a large Kerr effect and tailored magnetic anisotropy becomes possible as required for magneto-optically active spintronic devices.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SPP 1538 "Spin Caloric Transport")Graudate School of Excellence Materials Science in Mainz (GSC 266)Germany. Federal Ministry of Education and Science ("Mainz-MIT Seed Fund" BMBF 01DM12012)European Commission (IFOX, NMP3-LA-2012246102)European Commission (INSPIN, FP7-ICT-2013-X 612759)European Commission (MASPIC, ERC-2007-StG 208162)National Science Foundation (U.S.

Spincaloritronic Measurements: A Round Robin Comparison of the Longitudinal Spin Seebeck Effect

The rising field of spin caloritronics focuses on the interactions between spin and heat currents in a magnetic material; the observation of the spin Seebeck effect opened the route to this branch of research. This paper reports the results of a round robin test performed by five partners on a single device highlighting the reproducibility problems related to the measurements of the spin Seebeck coefficient, the quantity that describes the strength of the spin Seebeck effect. This paper stimulated the search for more reproducible measurement methods through the analysis of the systematic effects