326 research outputs found

    STM induced hydrogen desorption via a hole resonance

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    We report STM-induced desorption of H from Si(100)-H(2×1\times1) at negative sample bias. The desorption rate exhibits a power-law dependence on current and a maximum desorption rate at -7 V. The desorption is explained by vibrational heating of H due to inelastic scattering of tunneling holes with the Si-H 5σ\sigma hole resonance. The dependence of desorption rate on current and bias is analyzed using a novel approach for calculating inelastic scattering, which includes the effect of the electric field between tip and sample. We show that the maximum desorption rate at -7 V is due to a maximum fraction of inelastically scattered electrons at the onset of the field emission regime.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. To appear in Phys. Rev. Let

    Coulomb Explosion and Thermal Spikes

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    A fast ion penetrating a solid creates a track of excitations. This can produce displacements seen as an etched track, a process initially used to detect energetic particles but now used to alter materials. From the seminal papers by Fleischer et al. [Phys. Rev. 156, 353 (1967)] to the present [C. Trautmann, S. Klaumunzer and H. Trinkaus, Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 3648 (2000)], `Coulomb explosion' and thermal spike models are treated as conflicting models for describing ion track effects. Here molecular dynamics simulations of electronic-sputtering, a surface manifestation of ion track formation, show that `Coulomb explosion' produces a `heat' spike so that these are early and late aspects of the same process. Therefore, differences in scaling are due to the use of incomplete spike models.Comment: Submitted to PRL. 4 pages, 3 figures. For related movies see: http://dirac.ms.virginia.edu/~emb3t/coulomb/coulomb.html PACS added in new versio

    Surface Screening Charge and Effective Charge

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    The charge on an atom at a metallic surface in an electric field is defined as the field-derivative of the force on the atom, and this is consistent with definitions of effective charge and screening charge. This charge can be found from the shift in the potential outside the surface when the atoms are moved. This is used to study forces and screening on surface atoms of Ag(001) c(2×2)(2\times 2) -- Xe as a function of external field. It is found that at low positive (outward) fields, the Xe with a negative effective charge of -0.093 ∣e∣|{e}| is pushed into the surface. At a field of 2.3 V \AA−1^{-1} the charge changes sign, and for fields greater than 4.1 V \AA−1^{-1} the Xe experiences an outward force. Field desorption and the Eigler switch are discussed in terms of these results.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, RevTex (accepted by PRL

    Atomic Tunneling from a STM/AFM tip: Dissipative Quantum Effects from Phonons

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    We study the effects of phonons on the tunneling of an atom between two surfaces. In contrast to an atom tunneling in the bulk, the phonons couple very strongly, and qualitatively change the tunneling behavior. This is the first example of {\it ohmic} coupling from phonons for a two-state system. We propose an experiment in which an atom tunnels from the tip of an STM, and show how its behavior would be similar to the Macroscopic Quantum Coherence behavior predicted for SQUIDS. The ability to tune and calculate many parameters would lead to detailed tests of the standard theories. (For a general intro to this work on the on the World-Wide-Web: http://www.lassp.cornell.edu. Click on ``Entertaining Science Done Here'' and ``Quantum Tunneling of Atoms'')Comment: 12 pages, ReVTex3.0, two figures (postscript). This is a (substantially) revised version of cond-mat/9406043. More info (+ postscript text) at : http://www.lassp.cornell.edu/ardlouis/publications.htm

    Mapping the unconventional orbital texture in topological crystalline insulators

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    The newly discovered topological crystalline insulators (TCIs) harbor a complex band structure involving multiple Dirac cones. These materials are potentially highly tunable by external electric field, temperature or strain and could find future applications in field-effect transistors, photodetectors, and nano-mechanical systems. Theoretically, it has been predicted that different Dirac cones, offset in energy and momentum-space, might harbor vastly different orbital character, a unique property which if experimentally realized, would present an ideal platform for accomplishing new spintronic devices. However, the orbital texture of the Dirac cones, which is of immense importance in determining a variety of materials properties, still remains elusive in TCIs. Here, we unveil the orbital texture in a prototypical TCI Pb1−x_{1-x}Snx_xSe. By using Fourier-transform (FT) scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) we measure the interference patterns produced by the scattering of surface state electrons. We discover that the intensity and energy dependences of FTs show distinct characteristics, which can directly be attributed to orbital effects. Our experiments reveal the complex band topology involving two Lifshitz transitions and establish the orbital nature of the Dirac bands in this new class of topological materials, which could provide a different pathway towards future quantum applications

    Modern optical astronomy: technology and impact of interferometry

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    The present `state of the art' and the path to future progress in high spatial resolution imaging interferometry is reviewed. The review begins with a treatment of the fundamentals of stellar optical interferometry, the origin, properties, optical effects of turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere, the passive methods that are applied on a single telescope to overcome atmospheric image degradation such as speckle interferometry, and various other techniques. These topics include differential speckle interferometry, speckle spectroscopy and polarimetry, phase diversity, wavefront shearing interferometry, phase-closure methods, dark speckle imaging, as well as the limitations imposed by the detectors on the performance of speckle imaging. A brief account is given of the technological innovation of adaptive-optics (AO) to compensate such atmospheric effects on the image in real time. A major advancement involves the transition from single-aperture to the dilute-aperture interferometry using multiple telescopes. Therefore, the review deals with recent developments involving ground-based, and space-based optical arrays. Emphasis is placed on the problems specific to delay-lines, beam recombination, polarization, dispersion, fringe-tracking, bootstrapping, coherencing and cophasing, and recovery of the visibility functions. The role of AO in enhancing visibilities is also discussed. The applications of interferometry, such as imaging, astrometry, and nulling are described. The mathematical intricacies of the various `post-detection' image-processing techniques are examined critically. The review concludes with a discussion of the astrophysical importance and the perspectives of interferometry.Comment: 65 pages LaTeX file including 23 figures. Reviews of Modern Physics, 2002, to appear in April issu

    Non-Lorentzian single-molecule line shape: Pseudolocal phonons and coherence transfer

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    The excitation line shape of a single terrylene molecule in a naphthalene crystal has been investigated. In addition to the conventional Lorentzian, it consists of a dispersive component in the core region and a sideband. This is due to a pseudolocal phonon caused by the substitution of a host molecule with the chromophore. When the pseudolocal phonon is excited, the resonance frequency of the chromophore slightly changes, resulting in the appearance of a second, quasiresonant transition. Coherence transfer between these two optical transitions causes the deviation from the purely Lorentzian line shape

    Association of Accelerometry-Measured Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Events in Mobility-Limited Older Adults: The LIFE (Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders) Study.

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    BACKGROUND:Data are sparse regarding the value of physical activity (PA) surveillance among older adults-particularly among those with mobility limitations. The objective of this study was to examine longitudinal associations between objectively measured daily PA and the incidence of cardiovascular events among older adults in the LIFE (Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders) study. METHODS AND RESULTS:Cardiovascular events were adjudicated based on medical records review, and cardiovascular risk factors were controlled for in the analysis. Home-based activity data were collected by hip-worn accelerometers at baseline and at 6, 12, and 24 months postrandomization to either a physical activity or health education intervention. LIFE study participants (n=1590; age 78.9±5.2 [SD] years; 67.2% women) at baseline had an 11% lower incidence of experiencing a subsequent cardiovascular event per 500 steps taken per day based on activity data (hazard ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.84-0.96; P=0.001). At baseline, every 30 minutes spent performing activities ≄500 counts per minute (hazard ratio, 0.75; confidence interval, 0.65-0.89 [P=0.001]) were also associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular events. Throughout follow-up (6, 12, and 24 months), both the number of steps per day (per 500 steps; hazard ratio, 0.90, confidence interval, 0.85-0.96 [P=0.001]) and duration of activity ≄500 counts per minute (per 30 minutes; hazard ratio, 0.76; confidence interval, 0.63-0.90 [P=0.002]) were significantly associated with lower cardiovascular event rates. CONCLUSIONS:Objective measurements of physical activity via accelerometry were associated with cardiovascular events among older adults with limited mobility (summary score >10 on the Short Physical Performance Battery) both using baseline and longitudinal data. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION:URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01072500
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