106 research outputs found
Atomic-scale identification of novel planar defect phases in heteroepitaxial YBaCuO thin films
We have discovered two novel types of planar defects that appear in
heteroepitaxial YBaCuO (YBCO123) thin films, grown by
pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) either with or without a
LaCaMnO (LCMO) overlayer, using the combination of
high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy
(HAADF-STEM) imaging and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) mapping for
unambiguous identification. These planar lattice defects are based on the
intergrowth of either a BaO plane between two CuO chains or multiple Y-O layers
between two CuO planes, resulting in non-stoichiometric layer sequences
that could directly impact the high- superconductivity
Atomic resolution mapping of phonon excitations in STEM-EELS experiments
Atomically resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy experiments are
commonplace in modern aberrationcorrected transmission electron microscopes.
Energy resolution has also been increasing steadily with the continuous
improvement of electron monochromators. Electronic excitations however are
known to be delocalised due to the long range interaction of the charged
accelerated electrons with the electrons in a sample. This has made several
scientists question the value of combined high spatial and energy resolution
for mapping interband transitions and possibly phonon excitation in crystals.
In this paper we demonstrate experimentally that atomic resolution information
is indeed available at very low energy losses around 100 meV expressed as a
modulation of the broadening of the zero loss peak. Careful data analysis
allows us to get a glimpse of what are likely phonon excitations with both an
energy loss and gain part. These experiments confirm recent theoretical
predictions on the strong localisation of phonon excitations as opposed to
electronic excitations and show that a combination of atomic resolution and
recent developments in increased energy resolution will offer great benefit for
mapping phonon modes in real space
Synthesis of high-oxidation Y-Ba-Cu-O phases in superoxygenated thin films
It is known that solid-state reaction in high-pressure oxygen can stabilize
high-oxidation phases of Y-Ba-Cu-O superconductors in powder form. We extend
this superoxygenation concept of synthesis to thin films which, due to their
large surface-to-volume ratio, are more reactive thermodynamically. Epitaxial
thin films of grown by pulsed laser deposition are
annealed at up to 700 atm O and 900C, in conjunction with Cu
enrichment by solid-state diffusion. The films show clear formation of
and as well as regions
of and YBaCuO phases,
according to scanning transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and
x-ray absorption spectroscopy. Similarly annealed
powders show no phase conversion. Our results demonstrate a novel route of
synthesis towards discovering more complex phases of cuprates and other
superconducting oxides.Comment: Accepted for publication in Physical Review Material
Long-term dry immersion: review and prospects
Dry immersion, which is a ground-based model of prolonged conditions of microgravity, is widely used in Russia but is less well known elsewhere. Dry immersion involves immersing the subject in thermoneutral water covered with an elastic waterproof fabric. As a result, the immersed subject, who is freely suspended in the water mass, remains dry. For a relatively short duration, the model can faithfully reproduce most physiological effects of actual microgravity, including centralization of body fluids, support unloading, and hypokinesia. Unlike bed rest, dry immersion provides a unique opportunity to study the physiological effects of the lack of a supporting structure for the body (a phenomenon we call \u27supportlessness\u27). In this review, we attempt to provide a detailed description of dry immersion. The main sections of the paper discuss the changes induced by long-term dry immersion in the neuromuscular and sensorimotor systems, fluid-electrolyte regulation, the cardiovascular system, metabolism, blood and immunity, respiration, and thermoregulation. The long-term effects of dry immersion are compared with those of bed rest and actual space flight. The actual and potential uses of dry immersion are discussed in the context of fundamental studies and applications for medical support during space flight and terrestrial health care
Controlled growth of hexagonal gold nanostructures during thermally induced self-assembling on Ge(001) surface
Nano-sized gold has become an important material in various fields of science and technology, where control over the size and crystallography is desired to tailor the functionality. Gold crystallizes in the face-centered cubic (fcc) phase, and its hexagonal closed packed (hcp) structure is a very unusual and rare phase. Stable Au hcp phase has been reported to form in nanoparticles at the tips of some Ge nanowires. It has also recently been synthesized in the form of thin graphene-supported sheets which are unstable under electron beam irradiation. Here, we show that stable hcp Au 3D nanostructures with well-defined crystallographic orientation and size can be systematically created in a process of thermally induced self-assembly of thin Au layer on Ge(001) monocrystal. The Au hcp crystallite is present in each Au nanostructure and has been characterized by different electron microscopy techniques. We report that a careful heat treatment above the eutectic melting temperature and a controlled cooling is required to form the hcp phase of Au on a Ge single crystal. This new method gives scientific prospects to obtain stable Au hcp phase for future applications in a rather simple manner as well as redefine the phase diagram of Gold with Germanium
Coupling charge and topological reconstructions at polar oxide interfaces
In oxide heterostructures, different materials are integrated into a single
artificial crystal, resulting in a breaking of inversion-symmetry across the
heterointerfaces. A notable example is the interface between polar and
non-polar materials, where valence discontinuities lead to otherwise
inaccessible charge and spin states. This approach paved the way to the
discovery of numerous unconventional properties absent in the bulk
constituents. However, control of the geometric structure of the electronic
wavefunctions in correlated oxides remains an open challenge. Here, we create
heterostructures consisting of ultrathin SrRuO, an itinerant ferromagnet
hosting momentum-space sources of Berry curvature, and LaAlO, a polar
wide-bandgap insulator. Transmission electron microscopy reveals an atomically
sharp LaO/RuO/SrO interface configuration, leading to excess charge being
pinned near the LaAlO/SrRuO interface. We demonstrate through
magneto-optical characterization, theoretical calculations and transport
measurements that the real-space charge reconstruction modifies the
momentum-space Berry curvature in SrRuO, driving a reorganization of the
topological charges in the band structure. Our results illustrate how the
topological and magnetic features of oxides can be manipulated by engineering
charge discontinuities at oxide interfaces.Comment: 5 pages main text (4 figures), 29 pages of supplementary informatio
Depth-resolved resonant inelastic x-ray scattering at a superconductor/half-metallic-ferromagnet interface through standing wave excitation
We demonstrate that combining standing wave (SW) excitation with resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) can lead to depth resolution and interface sensitivity for studying orbital and magnetic excitations in correlated oxide heterostructures. SW-RIXS has been applied to multilayer heterostructures consisting of a superconductor La1.85Sr0.15CuO4 (LSCO) and a half-metallic ferromagnet La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 (LSMO). Easily observable SW effects on the RIXS excitations were found in these LSCO/LSMO multilayers. In addition, we observe different depth distribution of the RIXS excitations. The magnetic excitations are found to arise from the LSCO/LSMO interfaces, and there is also a suggestion that one of the dd excitations comes from the interfaces. SW-RIXS measurements of correlated-oxide and other multilayer heterostructures should provide unique layer-resolved insights concerning their orbital and magnetic excitations, as well as a challenge for RIXS theory to specifically deal with interface effects
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