Longitudinal quantum plasmons in copper, gold, and silver

The propagation of plasmonic waves in various metallic quantum nanostructures have considered attention for their applications in technology. The quantum plasmonic properties of metallic nanostructures in the quantum size regime have been difficult to describe by an appropriate model. Here the nonlocal quantum plasmons are investigated in the most important metals of copper, gold, and silver. Dispersion properties of these metals and propagation of longitudinal quantum plasmons in the high photon energy regime are studied by a new model of nonlocal quantum dielectric permittivity. The epsilon near zero properties are investigated and the spectrum and the damping rate of the longitudinal quantum plasmons are obtained in these metals. The quantum plasmon s wave function is shown for both classical and quantum limits. It is shown that silver is the most appropriate for quantum metallic structures in the development of next generation of quantum optical and sensing technologies, due to low intrinsic loss

Plasma Nanoscience: from Nano-Solids in Plasmas to Nano-Plasmas in Solids

The unique plasma-specific features and physical phenomena in the organization of nanoscale solid-state systems in a broad range of elemental composition, structure, and dimensionality are critically reviewed. These effects lead to the possibility to localize and control energy and matter at nanoscales and to produce self-organized nano-solids with highly unusual and superior properties. A unifying conceptual framework based on the control of production, transport, and self-organization of precursor species is introduced and a variety of plasma-specific non-equilibrium and kinetics-driven phenomena across the many temporal and spatial scales is explained. When the plasma is localized to micrometer and nanometer dimensions, new emergent phenomena arise. The examples range from semiconducting quantum dots and nanowires, chirality control of single-walled carbon nanotubes, ultra-fine manipulation of graphenes, nano-diamond, and organic matter, to nano-plasma effects and nano-plasmas of different states of matter.Comment: This is an essential interdisciplinary reference which can be used by both advanced and early career researchers as well as in undergraduate teaching and postgraduate research trainin

Charging and trapping of macroparticles in near-electrode regions of fluorocarbon plasmas with negative ions

Charging and trapping of macroparticles in the near-electrode region of fluorocarbon etching plasmas with negative ions is considered. The equilibrium charge and forces on particles are computed as a function of the local position in the plasma presheath and sheath. The ionic composition of the plasma corresponds to the etching experiments in 2.45 GHz surface-wave sustained and 13.56 MHz inductively coupled C4F8+Ar plasmas. It is shown that despite negligible negative ion currents collected by the particles, the negative fluorine ions affect the charging and trapping of particulates through modification of the sheath/presheath structure

Series in vector spherical harmonics: an efficient tool for solution of nonlinear problems in spherical plasmas

The series expansion of the plasma fields and currents in vector spherical harmonics has been demonstrated to be an efficient technique for solution of nonlinear problems in spherically bounded plasmas. Using this technique, it is possible to describe the nonlinear plasma response to the rotating high-frequency magnetic field applied to the magnetically confined plasma sphere. The effect of the external magnetic field on the current drive and field configuration is studied. The results obtained are important for continuous current drive experiments in compact toruses

Ge/Si Quantum Dot Formation From Non-Uniform Cluster Fluxes

The controlled growth of ultra-small Ge/Si quantum dot (QD) nuclei (≈1 nm) suitable for the synthesis of uniform nanopatterns with high surface coverage, is simulated using atom-only and size non-uniform cluster fluxes. It is found that seed nuclei of more uniform sizes are formed when clusters of non-uniform size are deposited. This counter-intuitive result is explained via adatom-nanocluster interactions on Si(100) surfaces. Our results are supported by experimental data on the geometric characteristics of QD patterns synthesized by nanocluster deposition. This is followed by a description of the role of plasmas as non-uniform cluster sources and the impact on surface dynamics. The technique challenges conventional growth modes and is promising for deterministic synthesis of nanodot arrays.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/56174/1/638_ftp.pd

Plasma-enabled growth of ultralong straight, helical, and branched silica photonic nanowires

This article reports on the lowerature inductively coupled plasma-enabled synthesis of ultralong (up to several millimeters in length) SiO2 nanowires, which were otherwise impossible to synthesize without the presence of a plasma. Depending on the process conditions, the nanowires feature straight, helical, or branched morphologies. The nanowires are amorphous, with a near-stoichiometric elemental composition ([O] / [Si] =2.09) and are very uniform throughout their length. The role of the ionized gas environment is discussed and the growth mechanism is proposed. These nanowires are particularly promising for nanophotonic applications where long-distance and channelled light transmission and polarization control are required

Equilibrium and relaxation of particulate charge in fluorocarbon plasmas

Charging of micron-size particulates, often appearing in fluorocarbon plasma etching experiments, is considered. It is shown that in inductively coupled and microwave slot-excited plasmas of C4F8 and Ar gas mixtures, the equilibrium particle charge and charge relaxation processes are controlled by a combination of microscopic electron, atomic (Ar+ and F+), and molecular ion (CF3+, CF2+, and CF+) currents. The impact of molecular ion currents on the particulate charging and charge relaxation processes is analyzed. It is revealed that in low-power (<0.5 kW) microwave slot-excited plasmas, the impact of the combined molecular ion current to the total positive microscopic current on the particle can be as high as 40%. The particulate charge relaxation rate in fluorocarbon plasmas appears to exceed 108 s−1, which is almost one order of magnitude higher than that from purely argon plasmas. This can be attributed to the impact of positive currents of fluorocarbon molecular ions, as well as to the electron density fluctuations with particle charge, associated with electron capture and release by the particulates

Diffusivity of adatoms on plasma-exposed surfaces determined from the ionization energy approximation and ionic polarizability

Microscopic surface diffusivity theory based on atomic ionization energy concept is developed to explain the variations of the atomic and displacement polarizations with respect to the surface diffusion activation energy of adatoms in the process of self-assembly of quantum dots on plasma-exposed surfaces. These polarizations are derived classically, while the atomic polarization is quantized to obtain the microscopic atomic polarizability. The surface diffusivity equation is derived as a function of the ionization energy. The results of this work can be used to fine-tune the delivery rates of different adatoms onto nanostructure growth surfaces and optimize the low-temperature plasma based nanoscale synthesis processes.Comment: Published versio

Electron-conduction mechanism and specific heat above transition temperature in LaFeAsO and BaFe(2)As(2) superconductors

The ionization energy theory is used to calculate the evolution of the resistivity and specific heat curves with respect to different doping elements in the recently discovered superconducting Pnictide materials. Subsequently, the electron-conduction mechanism in the Pnictides above the structural transition temperature is explained unambiguously, which is also consistent with other strongly correlated matter, such as cuprates, manganites, titanates and magnetic semiconductors. Therefore, the superconductivity is not uniquely corresponds to the electronic properties above the structural transition temperature. Detailed prediction are given on these compounds for various doping elements, namely, La(Sm,Ce,Ba,Sr,Ca)FeAsO(F,Cl,Br) and Ba(Sr,Ca,K,Rb,Cs)Fe(2)As(2).Comment: Published online: J. Supercond. Nov. Magn. (2009