Piezoelectric-Layered Structures Based on Synthetic Diamond

Results of theoretical, modeling, and experimental investigation of microwave acoustic properties of piezoelectric layered structure “Me1/AlN/Me2/(100) diamond” have been presented within a wide frequency band 0.5–10 GHz. The highest among known material quality parameter Q × f ~ 1014 Hz for the IIa type synthetic diamond at operational frequency ~10 GHz has been found. Conditions of UHF excitation and propagation of the bulk, surface, and Lamb plate acoustic waves have been established and studied experimentally. Frequency dependencies of the impedance and quality factor have been studied to obtain a number of piezoelectric layered structure parameters as electromechanical coupling coefficient, equivalent circuit parameters, etc. Results of 2D finite element modeling of a given piezoelectric layered structure have been compared with the experimental ones obtained for the real high-overtone bulk acoustic resonator. An origin of high-overtone bulk acoustic resonator’s spurious resonant peaks has been studied. Results on UHF acoustic attenuation of IIa-type synthetic single crystalline diamond have been presented and discussed in terms of Akhiezer and Landau–Rumer mechanisms of phonon–phonon interaction. Identification and classification of Lamb waves belonging to several branches as well as dispersive curves of phase velocities have been executed. Necessity of introducing a more correct Lamb-mode classification has been recognized

Femtosecond X-ray emission study of the spin cross-over dynamics in haem proteins

In haemoglobin (consisting of four globular myoglobin-like subunits), the change from the low-spin (LS) hexacoordinated haem to the high spin (HS) pentacoordinated domed form upon ligand detachment and the reverse process upon ligand binding, represent the transition states that ultimately drive the respiratory function. Visible-ultraviolet light has long been used to mimic the ligand release from the haem by photodissociation, while its recombination was monitored using time-resolved infrared to ultraviolet spectroscopic tools. However, these are neither element- nor spin-sensitive. Here we investigate the transition state in the case of Myoglobin-NO (MbNO) using femtosecond Fe Kalpha and Kbeta non-resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) at an X-ray free-electron laser upon photolysis of the Fe-NO bond. We find that the photoinduced change from the LS (S = 1/2) MbNO to the HS (S = 2) deoxy-myoglobin (deoxyMb) haem occurs in ca. 800 fs, and that it proceeds via an intermediate (S = 1) spin state. The XES observables also show that upon NO recombination to deoxyMb, the return to the planar MbNO ground state is an electronic relaxation from HS to LS taking place in ca. 30 ps. Thus, the entire ligand dissociation-recombination cycle in MbNO is a spin cross-over followed by a reverse spin cross-over process

Slow Magnetic Relaxation of Dy Adatoms with In-Plane Magnetic Anisotropy on a Two-Dimensional Electron Gas

We report on the magnetic properties of Dy atoms adsorbed on the (001) surface of SrTiO3. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism reveals slow relaxation of the Dy magnetization on a time scale of about 800 s at 2.5 K, unusually associated with an easy-plane magnetic anisotropy. We attribute these properties to Dy atoms occupying hollow adsorption sites on the TiO2-terminated surface. Conversely, Ho atoms adsorbed on the same surface show paramagnetic behavior down to 2.5 K. With the help of atomic multiplet simulations and first-principles calculations, we establish that Dy populates also the top-O and bridge sites on the coexisting SrO-terminated surface. A simple magnetization relaxation model predicts these two sites to have an even longer magnetization lifetime than the hollow site. Moreover, the adsorption of Dy on the insulating SrTiO3 crystal leads, regardless of the surface termination, to the formation of a spin-polarized two-dimensional electron gas of Ti 3dxy character, together with an antiferromagnetic Dy-Ti coupling. Our findings support the feasibility of tuning the magnetic properties of the rare-earth atoms by acting on the substrate electronic gas with electric fields.We acknowldege funding from the National Research Council (CNR) within the CNR/CAS Cooperative Programme project "Advanced characterization methods for the study of rare-earth single-ion magnets on oxide substrates", from the Czech Academy of Sciences (Mobility Plus Project No. CNR-19-03), and from the Swiss National Science Foundation (200020_176932 and 200021_175941). ICN2 was funded by the CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya and supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, MINECO (grant nos. SEV-2017-0706 and PID2019-107338RB-C65/AEI/10.13039/501100011033). IMDEA Nanociencia acknowledges support from the Severo Ochoa Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (MINECO, grant SEV-2016-0686).Peer reviewe

Slow magnetic relaxation of Dy adatoms with in-plane magnetic anisotropy on a two-dimensional electron gas

We report on the magnetic properties of Dy atoms adsorbed on the (001) surface of SrTiO3. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism reveals slow relaxation of the Dy magnetization on a time scale of about 800 s at 2.5 K, unusually associated with an easy-plane magnetic anisotropy. We attribute these properties to Dy atoms occupying hollow adsorption sites on the TiO2-terminated surface. Conversely, Ho atoms adsorbed on the same surface show paramagnetic behavior down to 2.5 K. With the help of atomic multiplet simulations and first-principles calculations, we establish that Dy populates also the top-O and bridge sites on the coexisting SrO-terminated surface. A simple magnetization relaxation model predicts these two sites to have an even longer magnetization lifetime than the hollow site. Moreover, the adsorption of Dy on the insulating SrTiO3 crystal leads, regardless of the surface termination, to the formation of a spin-polarized two-dimensional electron gas of Ti 3dxy character, together with an antiferromagnetic Dy-Ti coupling. Our findings support the feasibility of tuning the magnetic properties of the rare-earth atoms by acting on the substrate electronic gas with electric fields

The influence of size effect on the electronic and elastic properties of diamond films with nanometer thickness

The atomic structure and physical properties of few-layered oriented diamond nanocrystals (diamanes), covered by hydrogen atoms from both sides are studied using electronic band structure calculations. It was shown that energy stability linear increases upon increasing of the thickness of proposed structures. All 2D carbon films display direct dielectric band gaps with nonlinear quantum confinement response upon the thickness. Elastic properties of diamanes reveal complex dependence upon increasing of the number of layers. All theoretical results were compared with available experimental data.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, 3 table

Juxtaposing BTE and ATE – on the role of the European insurance industry in funding civil litigation

One of the ways in which legal services are financed, and indeed shaped, is through private insurance arrangement. Two contrasting types of legal expenses insurance contracts (LEI) seem to dominate in Europe: before the event (BTE) and after the event (ATE) legal expenses insurance. Notwithstanding institutional differences between different legal systems, BTE and ATE insurance arrangements may be instrumental if government policy is geared towards strengthening a market-oriented system of financing access to justice for individuals and business. At the same time, emphasizing the role of a private industry as a keeper of the gates to justice raises issues of accountability and transparency, not readily reconcilable with demands of competition. Moreover, multiple actors (clients, lawyers, courts, insurers) are involved, causing behavioural dynamics which are not easily predicted or influenced. Against this background, this paper looks into BTE and ATE arrangements by analysing the particularities of BTE and ATE arrangements currently available in some European jurisdictions and by painting a picture of their respective markets and legal contexts. This allows for some reflection on the performance of BTE and ATE providers as both financiers and keepers. Two issues emerge from the analysis that are worthy of some further reflection. Firstly, there is the problematic long-term sustainability of some ATE products. Secondly, the challenges faced by policymakers that would like to nudge consumers into voluntarily taking out BTE LEI