24,919 research outputs found
Skyrmion-skyrmion and skyrmion-edge repulsions in skyrmion-based racetrack memory
Magnetic skyrmions are promising for building next-generation magnetic
memories and spintronic devices due to their stability, small size and the
extremely low currents needed to move them. In particular, skyrmion-based
racetrack memory is attractive for information technology, where skyrmions are
used to store information as data bits instead of traditional domain walls.
Here we numerically demonstrate the impacts of skyrmion-skyrmion and
skyrmion-edge repulsions on the feasibility of skyrmion-based racetrack memory.
The reliable and practicable spacing between consecutive skyrmionic bits on the
racetrack as well as the ability to adjust it are investigated. Clogging of
skyrmionic bits is found at the end of the racetrack, leading to the reduction
of skyrmion size. Further, we demonstrate an effective and simple method to
avoid the clogging of skyrmionic bits, which ensures the elimination of
skyrmionic bits beyond the reading element. Our results give guidance for the
design and development of future skyrmion-based racetrack memory.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure
Spin-injection through an Fe/InAs Interface
The spin-dependence of the interface resistance between ferromagnetic Fe and
InAs is calculated from first-principles for specular and disordered (001)
interfaces. Because of the symmetry mismatch in the minority-spin channel, the
specular interface acts as an efficient spin filter with a transmitted current
polarisation between 98 an 89%.
The resistance of a specular interface in the diffusive regime is comparable
to the resistance of a few microns of bulk InAs.
Symmetry-breaking arising from interface disorder reduces the spin asymmetry
substantially and we conclude that efficient spin injection from Fe into InAs
can only be realized using high quality epitaxial interfaces.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Tilt-Induced Anisotropic to Isotropic Phase Transition at
A modest in-plane magnetic field \Bpar\ is sufficient to destroy the
fractional quantized Hall states at and 7/2 and replace them with
anisotropic compressible phases. Remarkably, we find that at larger \Bpar\
these anisotropic phases can themselves be replaced by isotropic compressible
phases reminiscent of the composite fermion fluid at . We present
strong evidence that this transition is a consequence of the mixing of Landau
levels from different electric subbands. We also report surprising dependences
of the energy gaps at and 7/3 on the width of the confinement
potential.Comment: Accepted by Phys. Rev. Lett. This is a final version with rewritten
introduction and modified figure
Vortex State in Na_xCoO_2.yH_2O: p_x\pm ip_y-wave versus d_{x^2-y^2}\pm id_{xy}-wave Pairing
Based on an effective Hamiltonian specified in the triangular lattice with
possible - or -wave pairing, which has
close relevance to the newly discovered NaCoOHO, the
electronic structure of the vortex state is studied by solving the
Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations. It is found that -wave is favored
for the electron doping as the hopping integral . The lowest-lying vortex
bound states are found to have respectively zero and positive energies for
- and -wave superconductors, whose vortex
structures exhibit the intriguing six-fold symmetry. In the presence of strong
on-site repulsion, the antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic orders are induced
around the vortex cores for the former and the latter, respectively, both of
which cause the splitting of the LDOS peaks due to the lifting of spin
degeneracy. STM and NMR measurements are able to probe the new features of
vortex states uncovered in this work.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, The slightly shorter version was submitted to PR
Interface resistance of disordered magnetic multilayers
We study the effect of interface disorder on the spin-dependent interface
resistances of Co/Cu, Fe/Cr and Au/Ag multilayers using a newly developed
method for calculating transmission matrices from first-principles. The
efficient implementation using tight-binding linear-muffin-tin orbitals allows
us to model interface disorder using large lateral supercells whereby specular
and diffuse scattering are treated on an equal footing. Without introducing any
free parameters, quantitative agreement with experiment is obtained. We predict
that disorder {\it reduces} the majority-spin interface resistance of
Fe/Cr(100) multilayers by a factor 3.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, submitted to PR
Comparison of Measured and Calculated Specific Resistances of Pd/Pt Interfaces
We compare specific resistances (AR equals area A times resistance R) of
sputtered Pd/Pt interfaces measured in two different ways with
no-free-parameter calculations. One way gives 2AR(Pd/Pt) of 0.29 (0.03)
fohm-m(2) and the other 0.17 (0.13) fohm-m(2). From these we derive a best
estimate of 2AR(Pd/Pt) of 0.28 (0.06) fohm-m(2), which overlaps with
no-free-parameter calculations: 2AR(predicted) of 0.30 (0.04) fohm-m(2) for
flat, perfect interfaces, or 0.33 (0.04) fohm-m(2) for interfaces composed of 2
monolayers of a 50percent-50percent PdPt alloy. These results support three
prior examples of agreement between calculations and measurements for pairs of
metals having the same crystal structure and the same lattice parameter to
within 1 percent. We also estimate the spin-flipping probability at Pd/Pt
interfaces as 0.13 (0.08).Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, submitted for publication New version has
corrected value of delta(Pd/Pt
Orientation-Dependent Transparency of Metallic Interfaces
As devices are reduced in size, interfaces start to dominate electrical
transport making it essential to be able to describe reliably how they transmit
and reflect electrons. For a number of nearly perfectly lattice-matched
materials, we calculate from first-principles the dependence of the interface
transparency on the crystal orientation. Quite remarkably, the largest
anisotropy is predicted for interfaces between the prototype free-electron
materials silver and aluminium for which a massive factor of two difference
between (111) and (001) interfaces is found
Sensitivity of Ag/Al Interface Specific Resistances to Interfacial Intermixing
We have measured an Ag/Al interface specific resistance, 2AR(Ag/Al)(111) =
1.4 fOhm-m^2, that is twice that predicted for a perfect interface, 50% larger
than for a 2 ML 50%-50% alloy, and even larger than our newly predicted 1.3
fOhmm^2 for a 4 ML 50%-50% alloy. Such a large value of 2ARAg/Al(111) confirms
a predicted sensitivity to interfacial disorder and suggests an interface
greater than or equal to 4 ML thick. From our calculations, a predicted
anisotropy ratio, 2AR(Ag/Al)(001)/2AR(Ag/Al)(111), of more then 4 for a perfect
interface, should be reduced to less than 2 for a 4 ML interface, making it
harder to detect any such anisotropy.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. In Press: Journal of Applied Physic
Setting, Mechanical, Morphological, Degradation and Antibacterial Properties of Brushite cements
Aims: This study aim was to develop high strength, antibacterial-releasing brushite cements with controllable setting and porosity for bone-filling. Materials and Methods: Monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (MCPM) was reacted with equimolar β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and 800mM aqueous citric acid (CA) containing 0, 20, or 40wt% of antibacterial ε-polylysine (PLS). The large MCPM monoclinic crystals (10x100x500 micron) were used as received or after grinding. The powder to liquid ratio was 3:1 or 4:1. Setting kinetics, mechanical strengths, fracture surface morphologies, degradation rates, and PLS release was undertaken. Additionally, MRSA colony forming units (CFU) on set material discs with 0 versus 40wt% PLS and in surrounding broth medium was compared. Results Use of smaller particles and increased PLS lead to formation of more stable intermediate complexes and slower Brushite formation. Formulations with intermediate MCPM particle size and higher powder content had significantly higher flexural strengths. Pores / channels with dimensions comparable with those of the original MCPM crystals were detected on the fracture surfaces. Dissolution rates were affected by MCPM particle size but not PLS content. PLS release occurred primarily in the first 24 hours of set disc immersion in water. Addition of PLS enabled MRSA growth to decline from 1.8 x 107 to 2.5 x 104 on a set disc and from 2.0 x 109 to 1.2 x 104 CFU in the surrounding medium. . Conclusion and significance The above antibacterial Brushite cements could be employed in the treatment of infected bone (e.g. periodontitis, implantitis, osteomyelitis). Controlled setting is required to minimise leakage away from the required site of application. The channels in the cements and dissolution will allow bone cell penetration and provide ions for new bone formation respectively. The higher strengths will enable application in greater load bearing clinical situations
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