184 research outputs found
Imaging Pulsed Laser Deposition oxide growth by in-situ Atomic Force Microscopy
To visualize the topography of thin oxide films during growth, thereby
enabling to study its growth behavior quasi real-time, we have designed and
integrated an atomic force microscope (AFM) in a pulsed laser deposition (PLD)
vacuum setup. The AFM scanner and PLD target are integrated in a single support
frame, combined with a fast sample transfer method, such that in-situ
microscopy can be utilized after subsequent deposition pulses. The in-situ
microscope can be operated from room temperature (RT) up to 700C and at
(process) pressures ranging from the vacuum base pressure of 10 mbar up
to 1 mbar, typical PLD conditions for the growth of oxide films. The
performance of this instrument is demonstrated by resolving unit cell height
surface steps and surface topography under typical oxide PLD growth conditions.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure
Critical thickness and orbital ordering in ultrathin La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 films
Detailed analysis of transport, magnetism and x-ray absorption spectroscopy
measurements on ultrathin La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 films with thicknesses from 3 to 70
unit cells resulted in the identification of a lower critical thickness for a
non-metallic, non-ferromagnetic layer at the interface with the SrTiO3 (001)
substrate of only 3 unit cells (~12 Angstrom). Furthermore, linear dichroism
measurements demonstrate the presence of a preferred (x2-y2) in-plane orbital
ordering for all layer thicknesses without any orbital reconstruction at the
interface. A crucial requirement for the accurate study of these ultrathin
films is a controlled growth process, offering the coexistence of
layer-by-layer growth and bulk-like magnetic/transport properties.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review
Determination of the spin-flip time in ferromagnetic SrRuO3 from time-resolved Kerr measurements
We report time-resolved Kerr effect measurements of magnetization dynamics in
ferromagnetic SrRuO3. We observe that the demagnetization time slows
substantially at temperatures within 15K of the Curie temperature, which is ~
150K. We analyze the data with a phenomenological model that relates the
demagnetization time to the spin flip time. In agreement with our observations
the model yields a demagnetization time that is inversely proportional to T-Tc.
We also make a direct comparison of the spin flip rate and the Gilbert damping
coefficient showing that their ratio very close to kBTc, indicating a common
origin for these phenomena
Parallel electron-hole bilayer conductivity from electronic interface reconstruction
The perovskite SrTiO-LaAlO structure has advanced to a model system
to investigate the rich electronic phenomena arising at polar interfaces. Using
first principles calculations and transport measurements we demonstrate that an
additional SrTiO capping layer prevents structural and chemical
reconstruction at the LaAlO surface and triggers the electronic
reconstruction at a significantly lower LaAlO film thickness than for the
uncapped systems. Combined theoretical and experimental evidence (from
magnetotransport and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy) suggests two
spatially separated sheets with electron and hole carriers, that are as close
as 1 nm.Comment: Phys. Rev. Lett., in pres
Two-Dimensional Confinement of 3d1 Electrons in LaTiO3/LaAlO3 Multilayers
We report spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements of the anisotropy of the
interband transitions parallel and perpendicular to the planes of
(LaTiO3)n(LaAlO3)5 multilayers with n = 1-3. These provide direct information
about the electronic structure of the two-dimensional (2D) 3d^1 state of the Ti
ions. In combination with LDA+U calculations, we suggest that 2D confinement in
the TiO2 slabs lifts the degeneracy of the t_{2g} states leaving only the
planar d_xy orbitals occupied. We outline that these multilayers can serve as a
model system for the study of the t_{2g} 2D Hubbard model.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let
Magnetic effects at the interface between nonmagnetic oxides
The electronic reconstruction at the interface between two insulating oxides
can give rise to a highly-conductive interface. In analogy to this remarkable
interface-induced conductivity we show how, additionally, magnetism can be
induced at the interface between the otherwise nonmagnetic insulating
perovskites SrTiO3 and LaAlO3. A large negative magnetoresistance of the
interface is found, together with a logarithmic temperature dependence of the
sheet resistance. At low temperatures, the sheet resistance reveals magnetic
hysteresis. Magnetic ordering is a key issue in solid-state science and its
underlying mechanisms are still the subject of intense research. In particular,
the interplay between localized magnetic moments and the spin of itinerant
conduction electrons in a solid gives rise to intriguing many-body effects such
as Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interactions, the Kondo effect, and
carrier-induced ferromagnetism in diluted magnetic semiconductors. The
conducting oxide interface now provides a versatile system to induce and
manipulate magnetic moments in otherwise nonmagnetic materials.Comment: Nature Materials, July issu
Management of cerebral azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus infection : a role for intraventricular liposomal-amphotericin B
Objectives: In the pre-azole era, central nervous system (CNS) infections with Aspergillus had a dismal outcome. Survival improved with voriconazole but CNS infections caused by azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus preclude its use. Intravenous liposomal-amphotericin B (L-AmB) is the preferred treatment option for azole-resistant CNS infections but has suboptimal brain concentrations. Methods: We describe three patients with biopsy-proven CNS aspergillosis where intraventricular L-AmB was added to systemic therapy. Two patients with azole-resistant aspergillosis and one patient with azole-susceptible CNS aspergillosis were treated with intraventricular L-AmB at a dose of 1 mg weekly. Results: We describe three patients successfully treated with a combination of intravenous and intraventricular L-AmB. All three patients survived but one patient developed serious headaches, most likely not related to this treatment. Conclusions: Intraventricular L-AmB may have a role in the treatment of therapy-refractory CNS aspergillosis when added to systemic therapy. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
Outpatient parenteral antifungal therapy (OPAT) for invasive fungal infections with intermittent dosing of liposomal amphotericin B
Triazole resistant A. fumigatus has been documented in many parts of the world. In the Netherlands, incidence is now above 10% and results in the need for long-term parenteral therapy with liposomal amphotericin B (LAmB). The long terminal half-life of LAmB suggests that intermittent dosing could be effective, making the application of outpatient antifungal therapy (OPAT) possible. Here, we report our experience with the use of OPAT for Invasive Fungal Infections (IFI). All adult patients treated with LAmB with a 2 or 3 times weekly administration via the outpatient departments in four academic tertiary care centers in the Netherlands and Belgium since January 2010 were included in our analysis. Patient characteristics were collected, as well as information about diagnostics, therapy dose and duration, toxicity, treatment history and outcome of the IFI. In total, 18 patients were included. The most frequently used regimen (67%) was 5 mg/kg 3 times weekly. A partial response to the daily treatment prior to discharge was confirmed by CT-scan in 17 (94%) of patients. A favorable outcome was achieved in 13 (72%) patients. Decrease in renal function occurred in 10 (56%) cases but was reversible in all and was treatment limiting in one patient only. The 100-day mortality and 1-year mortality after initiation of OPAT were 0% and 6%, respectively. In a selected population, and after confirmation of initial response to treatment, our data support the use of OPAT with LAmB for treatment of IFI in an intermittent dosing regimen
Interspecies discrimination of A. fumigatus and siblings A. lentulus and A. felis of the Aspergillus section Fumigati using the AsperGeniusĀ® assay
The AsperGeniusĀ® assay detects several Aspergillus species and the A. fumigatus Cyp51A mutations TR34/L98H/T289A/Y121F that are associated with azole resistance. We evaluated its contribution in identifying A. lentulus and A. felis, 2 rare but intrinsically azole-resistant sibling species within the Aspergillus section Fumigati. Identification of these species with conventional culture techniques is difficult and time-consuming. The assay was tested on (i) 2 A. lentulus and A. felis strains obtained from biopsy proven invasive aspergillosis and (ii) control A. fumigatus (n=3), A. lentulus (n=6) and A. felis species complex (n=12) strains. The AsperGeniusĀ® resistance PCR did not detect the TR34 target in A. lentulus and A. felis in contrast to A. fumigatus. Melting peaks for L98H and Y121F markers differed and those of the Y121F marker were particularly suitable to discriminate the 3 species. In conclusion, the assay can be used to rapidly discriminate A. fumigatus, A. lentulus and A. felis.
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