Effects of broadening and electron overheating in tunnel structures based on metallic clusters

We study the influence of energy levels broadening and electron subsystem overheating in island electrode (cluster) on current-voltage characteristics of three-electrode structure. A calculation scheme for broadening effect in one-dimensional case is suggested. Estimation of broadening is performed for electron levels in disc-like and spherical gold clusters. Within the two-temperature model of metallic cluster and by using a size dependence of the Debye frequency the effective electron temperature as a function of bias voltage is found approximately. We suggest that the effects of broadening and electron overheating are responsible for the strong smoothing of current-voltage curves, which is observed experimentally at low temperatures in structures based on clusters consisting of accountable number of atoms.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Modelling of poro-visco-elastic biological systems

The research of mechanical properties of poro-visco-elastic biomaterials is an important task, especially for tailoring the best conditions for in-growth and healing of implants. In this work we analysed the behaviour of biomaterials under different static and dynamic loading regimes, in «dry» and «wet» conditions. Retrieved data revealed nonlinear relations between applied force and resulting deformation, with time and frequency dependence. These features were described by a nonlinear model, which reasonably fits mentioned peculiarities. The simplified model was validated with numerical simulations using COMSOL software. Upon validation it allows incorporation of the experimental data obtained by biomechanical spectroscopy towards prediction of biomaterials behaviour in «in vitro» conditions, with the purpose to extrapolate to clinically-relevant environment.Peer reviewe