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2023-01-18
Probing electron-electron interaction along with superconducting fluctuations in disordered TiN thin films
Here, we demonstrate an interplay between superconducting fluctuations and electron-electron interaction (EEI) by low temperature magnetotransport measurements for a set of 2D disordered TiN thin films. While cooling down the sample, a characteristic temperature T* is obtained from the R(T) at which superconducting fluctuations start to appear. The upturn in R(T) above T* corresponds to weak localization (WL) and/or EEI. By the temperature and field dependences of the observed resistance, we show that the upturn in R(T) originates mainly from EEI with a negligible contribution from WL. Further, we have used the modified Larkins electron-electron attraction strength beta(T/Tc), containing a field induced pair breaking parameter, in the Maki-Thompson (MT) superconducting fluctuation term. Here, the temperature dependence of the beta(T/Tc) obtained from the magnetoresistance analysis shows a diverging behavior close to Tc and it remains almost constant at higher temperature within the limit of ln(T/Tc) < 1. Interestingly, the variation of beta(T/Tc) on the reduced temperature (T/Tc) offers a common trend which has been closely followed by all the concerned samples presented in this study. Finally, the temperature dependence of inverse phase scattering time , as obtained from the magnetoresistance analysis, clearly shows two different regimes; the first one close to Tc follows the Ginzburg-Landau relaxation rate , whereas, the second one at high temperature varies almost linearly with temperature indicating the dominance of inelastic electron-electron scattering for the dephasing mechanism. These two regimes are followed in a generic way by all the samples in spite of being grown under different growth conditions.
2301.07648v1
2023-02-08
Bioabsorbable WE43 Mg alloy wires modified by continuous plasma electrolytic oxidation for implant applications. Part II: degradation and biological performance
The corrosion, mechanical degradation and biological performance of cold-drawn WE43 Mg wires were analyzed as a function of thermo-mechanical processing and the presence of a protective oxide layer created by continuous plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO). It was found that the corrosion properties of the non-surface-treated wire could be optimized by means of thermal treatment within certain limits, but the corrosion rate remained very high. Hence, strength and ductility of these wires vanished after 24 h of immersion in simulated body fluid at 37$^\circ$C and, as a result of that rather quick degradation, direct tests did not show any MC3T3-E1 preosteoblast cell attachment on the surface of the Mg wires. In contrast, surface modification of the annealed WE43 Mg wires by a continuous PEO process led to the formation of a homogeneous oxide layer of $\approx$ 8$\mu$m and significantly improved the corrosion resistance and hence the biocompatibility of the WE43 Mg wires. It was found that a dense layer of Ca/P was formed at the early stages of degradation on top of the Mg(OH)2 layer and hindered the diffusion of the Cl-ions which dissolve Mg(OH)2 and accelerate the corrosion of Mg alloys. As a result, pitting corrosion was suppressed and the strength of the Mg wires was above 100 MPa after 96 h of immersion in simulated body fluid at 37$^\circ$C. Moreover, many cells were able to attach on the surface of the PEO surface-modified wires during cell culture testing. These results demonstrate the potential of thin Mg wires surface-modified by continuous PEO in terms of mechanical, degradation and biological performance for bioabsorbable wire-based devices.
2302.13778v1
2023-02-28
Quantifying interaction mechanism in infinite layer nickelate superconductors
The relationship between the long-range antiferromagnetic order in cuprates and the high-temperature superconductivity in these compounds represents unresolved, nearly four-decades long scientific problem. Because recently discovered nickelate superconductors are crystallographical counterparts of cuprates, many properties and difficulties into describing these compounds are common to both families. Recently, Fowlie et al (2022 Nature Physics 18 1043) aimed to detect the antiferromagnetic order in $R_{1-x}Sr_{x}NiO_{2}$ (R = Nd, Pr, La, x ~ 0.2) films by using the muon spin rotation (muSR) technique. This research group reported on the existence of short-range antiferromagnetic order in all studied nickelates. Here, we aimed to reveal the existence of this interaction in the same nickelate films by analyzing the temperature dependent resistivity, $\rho(T)$, reported by the same research group. Global $\rho(T)$ data fits to the advanced Bloch-Gr\"uneisen model showed that each of R1-xSrxNiO2 compounds can be characterized by a unique power-law exponent, p (where p=2 for the electron-electron scattering, p=3 for the electron-magnon scattering, and p=5 for the electron-phonon scattering), and global characteristic temperature, $T_{\omega}$ (which has the meaning of the Debye temperature at p=5). We found that p=2.0 in Nd- and Pr-based compounds, and p=1.3 for La-based compound. The latter value does not have any interpretation within established theoretical models. We also analyzed $\rho(T)$ data for $Nd_{1-x}Sr_{x}NiO_{2}$ (0.125 < x < 0.325) reported by Lee et al (2022 arXiv2203.02580). Because our analysis showed that p-values in nickelates are remarkably different from p=3, we call for the developent of a new theoretical model to describe $\rho(T)$ in materials exhibiting a short-range antiferromagnetic order.
2302.14729v3
2023-03-11
Non-Fermi-Liquid Behavior of Superconducting SnH$_4$
We studied chemical interaction of Sn with H$_2$ by X-ray diffraction methods at pressures of 180-210 GPa. A previously unknown tetrahydride SnH$_4$ with a cubic structure (${fcc}$) exhibiting superconducting properties below ${T}$$_C$ = 72 K was obtained; the formation of a high molecular ${C2/m}$-SnH$_{14}$ superhydride and several lower hydrides, ${fcc}$ SnH$_2$ and ${C2}$-Sn$_{12}$H$_{18}$, was also detected. The temperature dependence of critical current density ${J}$$_C$(T) in SnH$_4$ yields the superconducting gap 2$\Delta$(0) = 23 meV at 180 GPa. SnH$_4$ has unusual behavior in strong magnetic fields: ${B,T}$-linear dependences of magnetoresistance and the upper critical magnetic field ${B}$$_{C2}$(T) $\propto$ (${T}$$_C$ - ${T}$). The latter contradicts the Wertheimer-Helfand-Hohenberg model developed for conventional superconductors. Along with this, the temperature dependence of electrical resistance of ${fcc}$ SnH$_4$ in non-superconducting state exhibits a deviation from what is expected for phonon-mediated scattering described by the Bloch-Gr\"uneisen model, and is beyond the framework of the Fermi liquid theory. Such anomalies occur for many superhydrides, making them much closer to cuprates than previously believed.
2303.06339v2
2023-06-16
Tailoring defects and nanocrystal transformation for optimal heating power in bimagnetic $Co_yFe_{1-y}O@Co_xFe_{3-x}O_4$ particles
The effects of cobalt incorporation in spherical heterostructured iron oxide nanocrystals (NCs) of sub-critical size have been explored by colloidal chemistry methods. Synchrotron X-ray total scattering methods suggest that cobalt (Co) substitution in rock salt iron oxide NCs tends to remedy its vacant iron sites, offering a higher degree of resistance to oxidative conversion. Self-passivation still creates a spinel-like shell, but with higher volume fraction of the rock salt Co-containing phase in the core. The higher divalent metal stoichiometry in the rock salt phase, with increasing Co content, results in a population of unoccupied tetrahedral metal sites in the spinel part, likely through oxidative shell creation, involving an ordered defect-clustering mechanism, directly correlated to the core stabilization. To shed light on the effects of Co-substitution and atomic-scale defects (vacant sites), Monte Carlo simulations suggest that designed NCs, with desirable, enhanced magnetic properties (cf. exchange bias and coercivity), are developed with magnetocrystalline anisotropy raised at relatively low content of Co ions in the lattice. Growth of optimally performing candidates combines also a strongly exchange-coupled system, secured through a high volumetric ratio rock salt phase, interfaced by a not so defective spinel shell. In view of these requirements, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) calculations demonstrate that the sufficiently protected from oxidation rock salt core and preserved over time heterostructure, play a key role in magnetically-mediated heating efficacies, for potential use of such NCs in magnetic hyperthermia applications.
2306.09684v1
2023-11-19
Discovery of Superconductivity and Electron-Phonon Drag in the Non-Centrosymmetric Weyl Semimetal LaRhGe$_3$
We present an exploration of the effect of electron-phonon coupling and broken inversion symmetry on the electronic and thermal properties of the semimetal LaRhGe$_3$. Our transport measurements reveal evidence for electron-hole compensation at low temperatures, resulting in a large magnetoresistance of 3000% at 1.8 K and 14 T. The carrier concentration is on the order of $10^{21}\rm{/cm}^3$ with high carrier mobilities of $2000~\rm{cm}^2/\rm{Vs}$. When coupled to our theoretical demonstration of symmetry-protected $\textit{almost movable}$ Weyl nodal lines, we conclude that LaRhGe$_3$ supports a Weyl semimetallic state. We discover superconductivity in this compound with a $T_{\text c}$ of 0.39(1) K and $B_{\rm{c}}(0)$ of 2.2(1) mT, with evidence from specific heat and transverse-field muon spin relaxation. We find an exponential dependence in the normal state electrical resistivity below $\sim50$ K, while Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity measurements each reveal a prominent peak at low temperatures, indicative of strong electron-phonon interactions. To this end, we examine the temperature-dependent Raman spectra of LaRhGe$_3$ and find that the lifetime of the lowest energy $A_1$ phonon is dominated by phonon-electron scattering instead of anharmonic decay. We conclude that LaRhGe$_3$ has strong electron-phonon coupling in the normal state, while the superconductivity emerges from weak electron-phonon coupling. These results open up the investigation of electron-phonon interactions in the normal state of superconducting non-centrosymmetric Weyl semimetals.
2311.11402v2
2024-01-10
Droplet morphology-based wettability tuning and design of fog harvesting mesh to minimize mesh-clogging
Fog harvesting relies on intercepting atmospheric or industrial fog by placing a porous obstacle, e.g., a mesh and collecting the deposited water. In the face of global water scarcity, such fog harvesting has emerged as a viable alternative source of potable water. Typical fog harvesting meshes suffer from poor collection efficiency due to aerodynamic bypassing of the oncoming fog stream and poor collection of the deposited water from the mesh. One pestering challenge in this context is the frequent clogging up of mesh pores by the deposited fog water, which not only yields low drainage efficiency but also generates high aerodynamic resistance to the oncoming fog stream, thereby negatively impacting the fog collection efficiency. Minimizing the clogging is possible by rendering the mesh fiber superhydrophobic, but that entails other detrimental effects like premature dripping and flow-induced re-entrainment of water droplets into the fog stream from the mesh fiber. Herein, we improvise on the traditional interweaved metal mesh designs by defining critical parameters, viz., mesh pitch, shade coefficient, and fiber wettability, and deduce their optimal values from numerically and experimentally observed morphology of collected fog-water droplets under various operating scenarios. We extend our investigations over a varying range of mesh-wettability, including superhydrophilic and hydrophobic fibers, and go on to find optimal shade coefficients which would theoretically render clog-proof fog harvesting meshes. The aerodynamic, deposition, and overall collection efficiencies are characterized. Hydrophobic meshes with square pores, having fiber diameters smaller than the capillary length scale of water, and an optimal shade coefficient, are found to be the most effective design of such clog-proof meshes.
2401.05284v2
2024-02-18
Impact of the La2NiO4+δ oxygen content on the synaptic properties of the TiN/La2NiO4+δ/Pt memristive devices
The rapid development of brain-inspired computing requires new artificial components and architectures for its hardware implementation. In this regard, memristive devices emerged as potential candidates for artificial synapses because of their ability to emulate the plasticity of the biological synapses. In this work, the synaptic behavior of the TiN/La2NiO4+{\delta}/Pt memristive devices based on thermally annealed La2NiO4+{\delta} films is thoroughly investigated. Using electron energy loss spectroscopy, we show that annealing using reducing (Ar) or oxidizing (O2) atmospheres affects the interstitial oxygen content ({\delta}) in the La2NiO4+{\delta} films. Electrical characterization shows that both devices exhibit long-term potentiation/depression and spike-timing-dependent plasticity, which makes them suitable for neuromorphic applications. At the same time, the Ar annealed TiN/La2NiO4+{\delta}/Pt device demonstrates non-volatile properties with low energy consumption during the learning process. On the other hand, in the O2 annealed TiN/La2NiO4+{\delta}/Pt device the resistive switching behavior is more volatile and requires more energy for synaptic learning. Finally, the simulation tools show that spiking neural network architectures with unsupervised learning rules based on the experimental data achieve high inference accuracy in the digit recognition task, which proves the potential of TiN/La2NiO4+{\delta}/Pt devices for artificial synapse applications.
2402.11612v1
2024-03-12
Electronic and dynamical properties of cobalt monogermanide CoGe phases under pressure
We present the pressure dependence of the electronic and dynamical properties of six different CoGe phases: orthorhombic Cmmm, hexagonal P6/mmm and P$\bar{6}$2m, monoclinic C2/m, cubic P2$_{1}$3, and orthorhombic Pnma. Using first-principles DFT calculations and the direct force-constants method, we study the dynamical stability of individual phases under external pressure. We show that the orthorombic Cmmm and hexagonal P6/mmm structures are unstable over a broad pressure range and most pronounced imaginary phonon soft mode in both cases leads to a stable hexagonal P$\bar{6}$2m structure of the lowest ground-state energy of all studied phases at ambient and low (below $\sim 3$ GPa) external pressure. Under these conditions, the cubic P2$_{1}$3 phase has the highest energy, however, together with monoclinic C2/m and orthorombic Pnma it is dynamically stable and all these three structures can potentially coexist as meta-stable phases. Above $\sim 3$ GPa, the cubic P2$_{1}$3 phase becomes the most energetically favorable. Fitting the Birch--Murnaghan equation of state we derive bulk modulus for all mentioned phases, which indicate relatively high resistance of CoGe to compression. Such conclusions are confirmed by band structure calculations. Additionally, we show that electronic bands of the hexagonal P$\bar{6}$2m phase reveal characteristic features of the kagome-like structure, while in the cubic P2$_{1}$3 phase spectrum, one can locate spin-1 and double Weyl fermions. In both cases, the external pressure induces the Lifshitz transition, related to the modification of the Fermi surface topology.
2403.07580v1
1996-07-09
Anomalous magnetic response of the valence-fluctuating compound YbInCu4
The exact solution of the spin one-half Falicov-Kimball model, with random hopping between the lattice sites, is used to explain the anomalous magnetic response of Yb-based valence-fluctuating intermetallic compounds. The anomalous behavior arises from an entropy-driven local-moment--nonmagnetic transition of unhybridized Yb ions in these materials which can also be used to explain the observed metamagnetism and resistivity anomalies.
9607068v1
1996-09-27
Magnetoresistance in La(1-x)SrxCoO3 for 0.05 - x - 0.25
The dc resistivity, magnetoresistance and magnetic susceptibility of La(1-x)SrxCoO3 compounds have been investigated in the temperature range of 4K to 300K for magnetic fields up to 7 T. In the doping range studied (0.05 - x - 0.25) the electronic properties of the material exhibit a crossover from semiconducting to metallic behavior. The magnetoresistance is highest in the semiconducting state. A correlation was found between the energy gap determined from the dc conductivity and the energy scale identified from neutron scattering data. The results are interpreted in terms of a double exchange model.
9609274v1
1997-07-01
e-h Coherence and Charging Effects in Ultrasmall Metallic Grains
We consider a model for electron tunneling between a pair of ultrasmall metallic grains. Under appropriate circumstances, non-equilibrium final state effects can strongly enhance tunneling and produce electron-hole coherence between the grains. The model displays a quantum phase transition between a Coulomb blockaded state to a coherent state exhibiting subohmic tunneling conductance. The critical state of the junction exhibits a temperature independent resistance of order $h/e^2$. Finally we discuss the possible relevance to granular materials and quantum dots. In particular, similarities between the quantum transition in our model and the metal-insulator transition in granular wires observed by Herzog et al. are described in detail.
9707014v1
1997-07-18
Shearing the Vacuum - Quantum Friction
We consider two perfectly smooth featureless surfaces at T=0, defined only by their respective dielectric functions, separated by a finite distance, and ask the question whether they can experience any friction when sheared parallel to their interface. We find large frictional effects comparable to everyday frictional forces provided that the materials have resistivities of the order of 1 m-Ohm and that the surfaces are in close proximity. The friction depends solely on the reflection coefficients of the surfaces to electromagnetic waves and its detailed behaviour with shear velocity and separation is dictated by the dispersion of the reflectivity with frequency.
9707190v2
1998-02-25
Magnetization Controlled Superconductivity in a Film with Magnetic Dots
We consider a superconducting film with Magnetic Dots Array (MDA) placed on it. Magnetic moments of these dots are supposed to be normal to the film and strong enough to create vortices in the superconducting film. Magnetic interaction between dots is negligible. Below the superconducting transition temperature of the film in zero magnetic field the MDA with randomly magnetized dots produces resistive state of the film. Paradoxically, in a finite magnetic field the film with MDA is superconductive.
9802276v1
1998-03-28
Anomalous Hall Effect in Double Exchange Magnets
We investigate the possible origin of anomalous Hall effect in the CMR (colossal magnetoresistance) materials - the doped rare earth manganites - observed recently by Matl et al. It is demonstrated that the spin-orbit interaction in the double exchange model couples magnetization to the Berry phase associated with three dimensional spin textures and induces a non-zero average topological flux which in turn generates an anomalous contribution to transverse resistivity. The same effect, but involving the orbital Berry phase, occurs in the model with orbital degeneracy and Coulomb repulsion.
9803350v1
1998-07-13
Magnetoresistance of Epitaxial Fe Wires with Varied Domain Wall Structure
The low temperature negative domain wall (DW) contribution to the resistivity observed in expitaxial Fe microstructures has been investigated as a function of film thickness. The DW spin structure changes from Bloch to Neel-like with decreasing film thickness. Results suggest that an interplay between orbital effects in the internal magnetic fields near DWs and thin film surface scattering are at the origin of the observed negative wall contribution.
9807183v1
1998-09-02
Rolling friction of a hard cylinder on a viscous plane
The resistance against rolling of a rigid cylinder on a flat viscous surface is investigated. We found that the rolling-friction coefficient reveals strongly non-linear dependence on the cylinder's velocity. For low velocity the rolling-friction coefficient rises with velocity due to increasing deformation rate of the surface. For larger velocity, however, it decreases with velocity according to decreasing contact area and deformation of the surface.
9809053v1
1998-12-10
Electric field and potential around localized scatterers in thin metal films studied by scanning tunneling potentiometry
Direct observation of electric potential and field variation near local scatterers like grain boundaries, triple points and voids in thin platinum films studied by scanning tunneling potentiometry is presented. The field is highest at a void, followed by a triple point and a grain boundary. The local field near a void can even be four orders of magnitude higher than the macroscopic field. This indicates that the void is the most likely place for an electromigration induced failure. The field build up near a scatterer strongly depends on the grain connectivity which is quantified by the average grain boundary reflection coefficient, estimated from the resistivity.
9812167v1
1999-01-11
Effect of disorder on the Kondo behavior of thin Cu(Mn) films
We have studied the influence of disorder on the Kondo effect in thin films of Cu(Mn), i.e., Cu doped with a small amount of Mn. We find that the Kondo contribution to the resistivity is suppressed when the elastic mean-free-path, $\lambda$, is reduced. While this is qualitatively similar to results found previously by our group in a different material, our new experiments reveal in detail how this suppression depends on both film thickness and $\lambda$. These results are compared with the theory of Martin, Wan, and Phillips. While there is general qualitative agreement with this theory, there appear to be some quantitative discrepancies.
9901092v1
1999-03-10
Large Thermopower in a Layered Oxide NaCo_2O_4
A transition-metal oxide NaCo_2O_4 is a layered oxide in which CoO_2 and Na alternately stack along the c axis. Recently we have found that this compound shows unusually large thermopower with low resistivity, which is comparable to those of Bi_2Te_3. The negative transverse magnetoresistance and the strongly temperature-dependent Hall coefficient suggest that electron correlation dominates the conduction mechanism in NaCo_2O_4.
9903162v1
1999-07-05
Chiral Glass Phase in Ceramic Superconductors
A three-dimensional lattice of the Josephson junctions with a finite self-conductance is employed to model the ceramic superconductors. By Monte Carlo simulations it is shown that the chiral glass phase is stable in three dimensions even under the influence of screening. The nonlinear ac susceptibility and the compensation effect are also studied. The compensation effect is shown to be due to the existence of the chiral glass phase. In agreement with experiments, this effect is demonstrated to be present in the ceramic superconductors which show the paramagnetic Meissner effect.
9907060v1
1999-09-01
Polyethylene under tensile load: strain energy storage and breaking of linear and knotted alkanes probed by first-principles molecular dynamics calculations
The mechanical resistance of a polyethylene strand subject to tension and the way its properties are affected by the presence of a knot is studied using first-principles molecular dynamics calculations. The distribution of strain energy for the knotted chains has a well-defined shape that is very different from the one found in the linear case. The presence of a knot significantly weakens the chain in which it is tied. Chain rupture invariably occurs just outside the entrance to the knot, as is the case for a macroscopic rope.
9909013v1
1999-11-09
Heat capacity and transport studies of the ferromagnetic superconductor RuSr2GdCu2O8
Resistivity, thermoelectric power and heat capacity are investigated in the ferromagnetic superconductor RuSr2GdCu2O8 with and without Zn substitution. The thermodynamic signatures of the ordering of the Ru moments and the paramagnetic Gd moments as well as the onset of superconductivity are all clearly seen and quantified. The materials are shown to exhibit bulk superconductivity which coexists with spatially-uniform ferromagnetism. They appear to be typical underdoped superconducting cuprates in which the pseudogap dominates normal-state transport, thermodynamic and substitutional properties. However, a field-induced increase in Tc could suggest some degree of triplet pairing.
9911135v1
2000-02-14
Scanned Probe Microscopy of Electronic Transport in Carbon Nanotubes
We use electrostatic force microscopy and scanned gate microscopy to probe the conducting properties of carbon nanotubes at room temperature. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes are shown to be diffusive conductors, while metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes are ballistic conductors over micron lengths. Semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes are shown to have a series of large barriers to conduction along their length. These measurements are also used to probe the contact resistance and locate breaks in carbon nanotube circuits.
0002209v1
2000-03-27
Current and power spectrum in a magnetic tunnel device with an atomic size spacer
Current and its noise in a ferromagnetic double tunnel barrier device with a small spacer particle were studied in the framework of the sequential tunneling approach. Analytical formulae were derived for electron tunneling through the spacer particle containing only a single energy level. It was shown that Coulomb interactions of electrons with a different spin orientation lead to an increase of the tunnel magnetoresistance. Interactions can also be responsible for the negative differential resistance. A current noise study showed, which relaxation processes can enhance or reduce fluctuations leading either to a super-Poissonian or a sub-Poissonian shot noise.
0003418v1
2000-05-25
Magnetic-Field-Driven Superconductor-Insulator-Type Transition in Graphite
A magnetic-field-driven transition from metallic- to semiconducting-type behavior in the basal-plane resistance takes place in highly oriented pyrolytic graphite at a field $H_c \sim 1~$kOe applied along the hexagonal c-axis. The analysis of the data reveals a striking similarity between this transition and that measured in thin-film superconductors and Si MOSFET's. However, in contrast to those materials, the transition in graphite is observable at almost two orders of magnitude higher temperatures.
0005439v1
2000-11-29
Giant Magnetoresistance at the Interface of Iron Thin Films
Ag/Fe/Ag and Cr/Fe/Cr trilayers with a single $25 nm$ thick ferromagnetic layer exhibit giant magnetoresistance (GMR) type behavior. The resistance decreases for parallel and transversal magnetic field alignements with a Langevin-type magnetic field dependence up to B=12 T. The phenomenon is explained by a granular interface structure. Results on Fe/Ag multilayers are also interpreted in terms of a granular interface magnetoresistance.
0011491v1
2001-01-22
Orbital Correlations in the Ferromagnetic Half-Metal $CrO_{2}
We deduce a model relevant for the description of the ferromagnetic half-metal Chromium dioxide ($CrO_{2}$), widely used in magnetic recording technology. The model describes the effect of dynamical, local orbital correlations arising from local quantum chemistry of the material. A finite temperature solution of the model in $d=\infty$ provides a natural explanation of the optical response, photoemission, resistivity and the large Woods-Saxon ratio observed in experiments. Our study confirms the important role of many body dynamical correlation effects for a proper understanding of the metallic phase of $CrO_{2}$.
0101335v1
2001-03-06
Coherent description of electrical and thermal impurity-and-phonon limited transport in simple metals
The electrical resistivity, thermoelectric power and electronic thermal conductivity of simple (isotropic) metals are studied in a uniform way. Starting from results of a variational solution of the Boltzmann equation, a generalized Matthiessen rule is used in order to superpose the inelastic (or not) electron-phonon and elastic electron-impurity scattering cross sections ("matrix elements"). The temperature dependence relative to these processes is given through simple functions and physical parameters over the usually investigated range of temperature for each transport coefficient. The coherence of such results is emphasized.
0103138v1
2001-03-08
Localization corrections to the anomalous Hall effect in a ferromagnet
We calculate the localization corrections to the anomalous Hall conductivity related to the contribution of spin-orbit scattering into the current vertex (side-jump mechanism). We show that in contrast to the ordinary Hall effect, there exists a nonvanishing localization correction to the anomalous Hall resistivity. The correction to the anomalous Hall conductivity vanishes in the case of side-jump mechanism, but is nonzero for the skew scattering. The total correction to the nondiagonal conductivity related to both mechanisms, does not compensate the correction to the diagonal conductivity.
0103182v1
2001-03-23
Premartensitic Transition in Ni2+xMn1-xGa Heusler Alloys
The temperature dependencies of the resistivity and magnetization of a series of Ni2+XMn1-XGa (X = 0 - 0.09) alloys were investigated. Along with the anomalies associated with ferromagnetic and martensitic transitions, well-defined anomalies were observed at the temperature of premartensitic transformation. The premartensitic phase existing in a temperature range 200 - 260 K in the stoichiometric Ni2MnGa is suppressed by the martensitic phase with increasing Ni content and vanishes in Ni2.09Mn0.91Ga composition.
0103483v1
2001-04-24
Electrical current distribution across a metal-insulator-metal structure during bistable switching
Combining scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron-beam-induced current (EBIC) imaging with transport measurements, it is shown that the current flowing across a two-terminal oxide-based capacitor-like structure is preferentially confined in areas localized at defects. As the thin-film device switches between two different resistance states, the distribution and intensity of the current paths, appearing as bright spots, change. This implies that switching and memory effects are mainly determined by the conducting properties along such paths. A model based on the storage and release of charge carriers within the insulator seems adequate to explain the observed memory effect.
0104452v1
2001-04-24
A simple one-dimensional model of heat conduction which obeys Fourier's law
We present the computer simulation results of a chain of hard point particles with alternating masses interacting on its extremes with two thermal baths at different temperatures. We found that the system obeys Fourier's law at the thermodynamic limit. This result is against the actual belief that one dimensional systems with momentum conservative dynamics and nonzero pressure have infinite thermal conductivity. It seems that thermal resistivity occurs in our system due to a cooperative behavior in which light particles tend to absorb much more energy than the heavier ones.
0104453v1
2001-06-29
Landau diamagnetism revisited
The problem of diamagnetism, solved by Landau, continues to pose fascinating issues which have relevance even today. These issues relate to inherent quantum nature of the problem, the role of boundary and dissipation, the meaning of thermodynamic limits, and above all, the quantum-classical crossover occasioned by environment-induced decoherence. The Landau Diamagnetism provides a unique paradigm for discussing these issues, the significance of which are far-reaching. Our central result is a remarkable one as it connects the mean orbital magnetic moment, a thermodynamic property, with the electrical resistivity, which characterizes transport properties of materials.
0106646v1
2001-07-12
Theory of Angular Magnetoresistance in CPP spin valves
The resistance of CPP spin valve is a continuous function of the angle $\theta $ between the magnetizations of both ferromagnets. We use the cicuit theory for non-collinear magnetoelectronics to compute the angular magnetoresistance of CPP spin valves taking the spin accumulation in the ferromagnetic layers into account.
0107250v1
2001-07-27
Large magnetoresistance using hybrid spin filter devices
A magnetic "spin filter" tunnel barrier, sandwiched between a non-magnetic metal and a magnetic metal, is used to create a new magnetoresistive tunnel device, somewhat analogous to an optical polarizer-analyzer configuration. The resistance of these trilayer structures depends on the relative magnetization orientation of the spin filter and the ferromagnetic electrode. The spin filtering in this configuration yields a previously unobserved magnetoresistance effect, exceeding 100%.
0107571v1
2001-08-17
Negative Magneto-Resistance Beyond Weak Localization in Three-Dimensional Billiards: Effect of Arnold Diffusion
We investigate a semiclassical conductance for ballistic open three-dimensional (3-d) billiards. For partially or completely broken-ergodic 3-d billiards such as SO(2) symmetric billiards, the dependence of the conductance on the Fermi wavenumber is dramatically changed by the lead orientation. Application of a symmetry-breaking weak magnetic field brings about mixed phase-space structures of 3-d billiards which ensures a novel Arnold diffusion that cannot be seen in 2-d billiards. In contrast to the 2-d case, the anomalous increment of the conductance should inevitably include a contribution arising from Arnold diffusion as well as a weak localization correction. Discussions are devoted to the physical condition for observing this phenomenon.
0108276v1
2001-08-29
Anomalous Co-site substitution effects on the physical properties of the thermoelectric oxide NaCo2O4
We prepared polycrystalline samples of NaCo2-xMxO4 substituted for the Co site by other 3d or 4d elements (M=Mn,Cu, Zn, Ru, Rh, and Pd). While some of the elements (M=Mn,Ru and Rh) act as a strong scatterer to give rise to a rapid increase in resistivity, the others (M=Cu, Zn and Pd) do not deteriorate the electric conduction of the host. Most unusually, the Cu substitution significantly enhances the thermopower, which increases the figure of merit by several times at 100 K.
0108485v1
2001-10-05
Successive Phase Transitions in a Metal-Ordered Manganite Perovskite YBaMn2O6
Structural, magnetic and electric properties of a metal-ordered perovskite YBaMn2O6 have been studied by means of powder X-ray diffraction, DSC, magnetic susceptibility, and electric resistivity. It is found that this material undergoes a 1st order structural phase transition at Tc1=520 K, from a pseudo orthorhombic (monoclinic) phase to a pseudo tetragonal (monoclinic) one. Accompanied by this transition, the susceptibility exhibits a sharp drop, where ferromagnetic exchange interaction becomes antiferromagnetic. Furthermore, two more transitions, a metal-insulator transition at Tc2=480 K and an antiferromagnetic ordering at Tc3=200 K, have been observed respectively.
0110114v1
2002-04-29
Nonlinear charging, and transport times in doped nanotubes junctions
The nonlinear capacitance in doped nanotube junctions is calculated self consistently. It decreases as a function of the applied bias when the latter becomes larger than the pseudogap of the nanotube. For this device, one can deduce a relaxation time of about 0.1 femtosecond. Because of its negative differential resistance (NDR), a switching time of less than a fs can also be deduced.
0204609v3
2002-06-24
Boltzmann theory of engineered anisotropic magnetoresistance in (Ga,Mn)As
We report on a theoretical study of dc transport coefficients in (Ga,Mn)As diluted magnetic semiconductor ferromagnets that accounts for quasiparticle scattering from ionized Mn$^{2+}$ acceptors with a local moment $S=5/2$ and from non-magnetic compensating defects. In metallic samples Boltzmann transport theory with Golden rule scattering rates accounts for the principle trends of the measured difference between resistances for magnetizations parallel and perpendicular to the current. We predict that the sign and magnitude of the anisotropic magnetoresistance can be changed by strain engineering or by altering chemical composition.
0206416v1
2002-07-16
Carbon Nanotubes as Schottky Barrier Transistors
We show that carbon nanotube transistors operate as unconventional "Schottky barrier transistors", in which transistor action occurs primarily by varying the contact resistance rather than the channel conductance. Transistor characteristics are calculated for both idealized and realistic geometries, and scaling behavior is demonstrated. Our results explain a variety of experimental observations, including the quite different effects of doping and adsorbed gases. The electrode geometry is shown to be crucial for good device performance.
0207397v1
2002-09-13
Some Thermal and Electrical Properties of Candelilla Wax
We report the values of some thermal and electrical properties of Candelilla Wax (euphorbia cerifera). The open-cell photoacoustic technique and another photothermic technique - based on the measure of the temperature decay of a heated sample - were employed to obtain the thermal diffusivity ($\alpha_{s} = 0.026 \pm 0.00095 {cm}^{2}{/sec}$) as well as the thermal conductivity ($k=2.132 \pm 0.16 {W/mK}$) of this wax. The Kelvin null method was used to measure the dark decay of the surface potential of the sample after a Corona Discharge, obtaining a resistivity of $\rho_e=5.98 \pm 0.19 \times 10^{17} {ohm-cm}$.
0209328v1
2002-09-25
Magnetic properties of Ni2.18Mn0.82Ga Heusler alloys with a coupled magnetostructural transition
Polycrystalline Ni2.18Mn0.82Ga Heusler alloys with a coupled magnetostructural transition are studied by differential scanning calorimetry, magnetic and resistivity measurements. Coupling of the magnetic and structural subsystems results in unusual magnetic features of the alloy. These uncommon magnetic properties of Ni2.18Mn0.82Ga are attributed to the first-order structural transition from a tetragonal ferromagnetic to a cubic paramagnetic phase.
0209574v1
2002-10-04
The Effects of the Misfit Structure on Thermoelectric Properties of Bi2-xPbxSr2Co2Oy Single Crystals
In-plane anisotropy of the resistivity and thermopower was measured for single crystal Bi2-xPbxSr2Co2Oy. There is large in-plane anisotropy, which is attributed to the anisotropic pseudogap formation due to the different crystal symmetry between the square Bi2Sr2O4 layer and the triangular CuO2 layer. The magnitude of the thermopower both along a- and b-axis direction increases with Pb doping from x=0 to 0.4, where we observe discontinuous shrink of b-axis length. We attribute this to the enhancement of the misfitness. Thus, we can improve the thermoelectric properties by tuning the misfitness.
0210087v1
2002-10-21
Competing SDW Phases and Quantum Oscillations in (TMTSF)2ClO4 in Magnetic Field
We propose a new approach for studying spin density waves (SDW) in the Bechgaard salt (TMTSF)2ClO4 where lattice is dimerized in transverse direction due to anion ordering. The SDW response is calculated in the matrix formulation that rigorously treats the hybridization of inter-band and intra-band SDW correlations. Since the dimerization gap is large, of the order of transverse bandwidth, we also develop an exact treatment of magnetic breakdown in the external magnetic field. The obtained results agree with the experimental data on the fast magneto-resistance oscillations. Experimentally found 260T rapid oscillations and the characteristic Tc dependance on magnetic field of relaxed material are fitted with our results for anion potential of the order of interchain hopping.
0210452v1
2002-10-28
Fine "mist" vs large droplets in phase separated manganites
The properties of phase-separated systems, e.g. manganites, close to a I order phase transition between charge-ordered insulator and ferromagnetic metal, are usually described by the percolation picture. We argue that the correlated occupation of metallic sites leads to the preferential formation of larger metallic clusters, which explains the often observed inverse, or ``overshot'' hysteresis in manganites (when the resistivity with increasing temperature is larger than with decreasing T). It also explains the recently discovered thermal cycling effect in manganites. Thus in treating this and similar systems in percolation picture, not only the total concentration of metallic phase, but also the distribution of metallic clusters by shape and size may significantly influence the properties of such systems.
0210616v1
2002-11-12
Infrared properties of W-doped charge-density-wave material K$_{0.3}$MoO$_3$
The optical conductivity spectra of quasi-one dimensional compounds K$_{0.3}$Mo$_{1-x}$W$_x$O$_3$ (x=0, 0.03 and 0.15) have been studied over broad frequencies. While the dc resistivity measurements indicate no sign of CDW transition in heavily W-doped blue bronze, the optical conductivity spectra still show a single particle gap at around 0.2 eV for \textbf{E} parallel to the chain direction. Such impurity effect challenges our understanding about the occurrence of the optical gap with the CDW transition.
0211225v1
2002-11-18
Anomalous Hall Effect of Reentrant Spin Glass System Fe1-xAlx (x ~ 0.3)
The anomalous Hall coefficient Rs has been studied for the reentrant spin glass system Fe0.7Al0.3 by measuring the magnetization M and the Hall resistivity r_H. We have found that R_s exhibits anomalous temperature dependence at the spin-glass transition temperature T_G, indicating that an additional term appears along with the beginning of the spin glass phase. The result is discussed in relation to the recent proposal of the chirality mechanism of the Hall effect in the spin glass phase.
0211368v1
2002-12-01
The superconducting gap of \QTR{em}{in situ} $MgB_{2}$ thin films by microwave surface impedance measurements
Precision measurements of the microwave surface resistance $R_{s}$ of in situ $MgB_{2}$ films directly reveal an exponential behavior of $R_{s}$ at low temperature indicating a fully-gapped order parameter. The entire temperature dependence of $R_{s}$ is well described by a Mattis-Bardeen formalism but with a small gap ratio of $\Delta (0)/kT_{c}=0.72$, corresponding to $\Delta (0)=1.9meV$.
0212009v1
2002-12-09
Conductance switching in a molecular device: the role of sidegroups and intermolecular interactio
We report first-principles studies of electronic transport in monolayers of Tour wires functionalized with different side groups. An analysis of the scattering states and transmission eigenchannels suggests that the functionalization does not strongly affect the resonances responsible for current flow through the monolayer. However, functionalization has a significant effect on the interactions within the monolayer, so that monolayers with NO$_2$ side groups exhibit local minima associated with twisted conformations of the molecules. We use our results to interpret observations of negative differential resistance and molecular memory in monolayers of NO$_2$ functionalized molecules in terms of a twisting of the central ring induced by an applied bias potential.
0212191v1
2003-04-24
The spin-torque transistor
A magnetoelectronic thin-film transistor is proposed that can display negative differential resistance and gain. The working principle is the modulation of the soure-drain current in a spin valve by the magnetization of a third electrode, which is rotated by the spin-torque created by a control spin-valve. The device can operate at room temperature, but in order to be useful, ferromagnetic materials with polarizations close to unity are required.
0304550v1
2003-05-27
Double Magnetic Transition in Pr0.5Sr0.5CoO3
We report studies of polycrystalline samples of the metallic ferromagnet Pr0.5Sr0.5CoO3 through measurements of the magnetization, a.c. magnetic susceptibility, resistivity, and specific heat. We find an unusual anomaly around TA = 120 K, much below the ferromagnetic transition (TC = 226 K). The anomaly is manifested in field cooled magnetization as a downward step in low fields (H less than or equal to 0.01 T) but is transformed into an upward step for H greater than or equal to 0.05 T. The anomaly cannot be easily attributed to antiferromagnetic ordering, but may correspond to a second ferromagnetic transition or an alteration of the ferromagnetic state associated with orbital ordering.
0305621v1
2003-06-08
Analysis Of Critical Power Loss In A Superconductor
A critical power dissipation resulting from an oscillating magnetic field, Hp cos wt, can produce a magnetic breakdown field, H <Hc, the critical field of the superconductor. The analysis shows, for example, why the breakdown field of a superconducting microwave cavity can be well below Hc in some cases, and indicates what the functional dependence of the cavity Q may be for values of Hp near H . The effective resistivity of a single isolated oscillating fluxoid, as well as that of a stationary normal region, is also derived for both type I and type Il superconductors.
0306202v1
2003-07-11
Enhanced thermoelectric properties of NaxCoO2 whisker crystals
Single-crystalline whiskers of thermoelectric cobalt oxide, NaxCoO2, have been grown by an unconventional method from potassium-containing compositions, and their transport properties, and chemical compositions were determined. The growth mechanism was analyzed and interpreted by means of thermogravimetric analysis. At 300 K, electrical resistivity r and thermoelectric power S of the whisker are 102 u ohm cm and 83 uV/K, respectively. The power-factor, S2/r, thus is enhanced up to ~ 68 uW/K2 cm.
0307277v1
2003-07-31
Reflection of electrons from a domain wall in magnetic nanojunctions
Electronic transport through thin and laterally constrained domain walls in ferromagnetic nanojunctions is analyzed theoretically. The description is formulated in the basis of scattering states. The resistance of the domain wall is calculated in the regime of strong electron reflection from the wall. It is shown that the corresponding magnetoresistance can be large, which is in a qualitative agreement with recent experimental observations. We also calculate the spin current flowing through the wall and the spin polarization of electron gas due to reflections from the domain wall.
0307765v1
2003-08-16
Frequency Dependence of Superconducting Cavity Q and Magnetic Breakdown Field
A theoretical explanation is given to account for the unexpected observation that L- and S-band Nb superconducting cavities were found to have lower Q and lower magnetic breakdown field than those of the higher X-band frequencies. Both effects can be related to the trapping of magnetic flux in the cavity walls. The frequency dependence arises from the frequency dependence of the resistivity of oscillating fluxoids. Calculations based on this model are in agreement with experimental observations.
0308324v1
2003-08-22
Relevance of Cooperative Lattice Effects and Correlated Disorder in Phase-Separation Theories for CMR Manganites
Previous theoretical investigations of colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) materials explain this effect using a ``clustered'' state with preformed ferromagnetic islands that rapidly align their moments with increasing external magnetic fields. While qualitatively successful, explicit calculations indicate drastically different typical resistivity values in two- and three-dimensional lattices, contrary to experimental observations. This conceptual bottleneck in the phase-separated CMR scenario is resolved here considering the cooperative nature of the Mn-oxide lattice distortions. This induces power-law correlations in the quenched random fields used in toy models with phase competition. When these effects are incorporated, resistor-network calculations reveal very similar results in two and three dimensions, solving the puzzle.
0308456v1
2003-09-13
Metal-insulator transition in Ca_{1-x}Li_xPd_3O_4
Metal-insulator transition in Ca_{1-x}Li_xPd_3O_4 has been studied through charge transport measurements. The resistivity, the Seebeck coefficient, and the Hall coefficient are consistently explained in terms of a simple one-band picture, where a hole with a moderately enhanced mass is itinerant three-dimensionally. Contrary to the theoretical prediction [Phys. Rev. B62, 13426 (2000)], CaPd_3O_4 is unlikely to be an excitonic insulator, and holds a finite carrier concentration down to 4.2 K. Thus the metal-insulator transition in this system is basically driven by localization effects.
0309335v1
2003-10-10
Charge transport in l-DNA probed by conducting-AFM, and relationship with its structure
We studied the electrical conductivity of DNA samples as function of the number of DNA molecules. We showed that the insulating gap (no current at low voltage) increases from ~1-2 V for bundles and large ropes to ~4-7 V for few DNA molecules. From the distance dependent variation of the current, a unique hopping distance of ~3 nm is calculated (polaron-hopping model) independently of the number of DNA in the sample. The highly resistive behavior of the single DNA is correlated with its flattened conformation on the surface (reduced thickness, ~0.5-1.5 nm, compared to its nominal value, ~2 nm).
0310242v1
2003-12-18
Spin momentum transfer in current perpendicular to the plane spin valves
We present experimental and numerical micromagnetic data on the effect of spin momentum transfer in current perpendicular to the plane spin valves. Starting from a configuration with orthogonal free and pinned layer magnetizations, the free layer magnetization exhibits abrupt current induced switching that is qualitatively consistent with the spin torque model. When operating the spin valve as a field sensor, spin transfer can produce a change in resistance that mimics an effective magnetic field and induce magnetic instability that requires a larger bias field in order to stabilize the device.
0312505v1
2004-03-24
New Pyrochlore Oxide Superconductor RbOs2O6
We report the discovery of a new pyrochlore oxide superconductor RbOs2O6. The compound crystallizes in the same beta-pyrochlore structure as the recently discovered superconductor KOs2O6, where Os atoms form a corner-sharing tetrahedral network called the pyrochlore lattice with Rb or K atoms in the cage. Resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements on polycrystalline samples evidence a bulk superconductivity with Tc = 6.3 K.
0403601v2
2004-04-16
Quenched growth of nanostructured lead thin films on insulating substrates
Lead island films were obtained via vacuum vapor deposition on glass and ceramic substrates at 80 K. Electrical conductance was measured during vapor condensation and further annealing of the film up to room temperature. The resistance behavior during film formation and atomic force microscopy of annealed films were used as information sources about their structure. A model for the quenched growth, based on ballistic aggregation theory, was proposed. The nanostructure, responsible for chemiresistive properties of thin lead films and the mechanism of sensor response are discussed.
0404393v2
2004-04-28
Current-induced magnetization reversal in a (Ga,Mn)As-based magnetic tunnel junction
We report current-induced magnetization reversal in a ferromagnetic semiconductor-based magnetic tunnel junction (Ga,Mn)As/AlAs/(Ga,Mn)As prepared by molecular beam epitaxy on a p-GaAs(001) substrate. A change in magneto-resistance that is asymmetric with respect to the current direction is found with the excitation current of 10^6 A/cm^2. Contributions of both unpolarized and spin-polarized components are examined, and we conclude that the partial magnetization reversal occurs in the (Ga,Mn)As layer of smaller magnetization with the spin-polarized tunneling current of 10^5 A/cm^2.
0404663v1
2004-04-30
Spin-dependent transport in molecular tunnel junctions
We present measurements of magnetic tunnel junctions made using a self-assembled-monolayer molecular barrier. Ni/octanethiol/Ni samples were fabricated in a nanopore geometry. The devices exhibit significant changes in resistance as the angle between the magnetic moments in the two electrodes is varied, demonstrating that low-energy electrons can traverse the molecular barrier while maintaining spin coherence. An analysis of the voltage and temperature dependence of the data suggests that the spin-coherent transport signals can be degraded by localized states in the molecular barriers.
0404740v1
2004-08-07
Hystersis like behaviour in Thin Films with heating-cooling cycle
The expression of temperature distribution along a film thickness is derived and distribution of temperature in the film as the substrate is heated is shown. The variation of film resistance with different substrate temperature is calculated and the existence of temperature gradient along the film thickness with finite thermal conductivity leads to hysteresis like behaviour on heating-cooling the film.
0408163v1
2004-10-12
Quasi-ballistic electron transport in double-wall carbon nanotubes
Room-temperature quasi-ballistic electron transport in double-wall carbon nanotubes (DWNT) is demonstrated. Conductance dependence on the length was measured by submerging DWNTs into liquid mercury. The conductance plots show plateaus, indicating weak dependence of the electrode-tube-electrode electrical resistance on the length of the connecting nanotube. We infer a mean free path between 0.6 and 10 micron meters for around 80% of the DWNTs, which is in good agreement with calculations based on the electron scattering by acoustic phonons and by disorder.
0410310v1
2004-11-07
Sub 20 nm Short Channel Carbon Nanotube Transistors
Carbon nanotube field-effect transistors with sub 20 nm long channels and on/off current ratios of > 1000000 are demonstrated. Individual single-walled carbon nanotubes with diameters ranging from 0.7 nm to 1.1 nm grown from structured catalytic islands using chemical vapor deposition at 700 degree Celsius form the channels. Electron beam lithography and a combination of HSQ, calix[6]arene and PMMA e-beam resists were used to structure the short channels and source and drain regions. The nanotube transistors display on-currents in excess of 15 microA for drain-source biases of only 0.4 Volt.
0411177v1
2004-11-11
Ferromagnetic-superconducting hybrid films and their possible applications: A direct study in a model combinatorial film
Model combinatorial films (CFs) which host a pure superconductor adjacent to a ferromagneticsuperconducting hybrid film (HF) are manufactured for the study of the influence of ferromagnetic nanoparticles (FNs) on the nucleation of superconductivity. Careful resistance measurements were performed simultaneously on two different sites of the CFs. Enhancement of superconductivity and magnetic memory effects were observed only on the hybrid site of the CFs but were absent on their purely superconducting part. Our results give direct proof that the FNs modulate the superconducting order parameter in an efficient and controlled way giving us the possibility of miscellaneous practical applications.
0411311v1
2004-12-20
Carbon Nanotubes for Interconnect Applications
We briefly review the status of the application of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for future interconnects and present results concerning possible integration schemes. Growth of single nanotubes at lithographically defined locations (vias) has been achieved which is a prerequisite for the use of CNTs as future interconnects. For the 20 nm node, a current density of 5 10^8 A/cm^2 and a resistance of 7.8 kOhm could be achieved for a single multi-walled CNT vertical interconnect.
0412537v1
2005-01-12
Nanoengineered Curie Temperature in Laterally-Patterned Ferromagnetic Semiconductor Heterostructures
We demonstrate the manipulation of the Curie temperature of buried layers of the ferromagnetic semiconductor (Ga,Mn)As using nanolithography to enhance the effect of annealing. Patterning the GaAs-capped ferromagnetic layers into nanowires exposes free surfaces at the sidewalls of the patterned (Ga,Mn)As layers and thus allows the removal of Mn interstitials using annealing. This leads to an enhanced Curie temperature and reduced resistivity compared to unpatterned samples. For a fixed annealing time, the enhancement of the Curie temperature is larger for narrower nanowires.
0501298v2
2005-01-29
Spin accumulation and decay in magnetic Schottky barriers
The theory of charge and spin transport in forward-biased Schottky barriers reveals characteristic and experimentally relevant features. The conductance mismatch is found to enhance the current induced spin-imbalance in the semiconductor. The GaAs|MnAs interface resistance is obtained from an analysis of the magnetic field dependent Kerr rotation experiments by Stephens et al. and compared with first-principles calculations for intrinsic interfaces. With increasing current bias, the interface transparency grows towards the theoretical values, reflecting increasingly efficient Schottky barrier screening.
0501726v1
2005-02-01
Adsorption of Oxygen Molecules on Individual Carbon Single-walled Nanotubes
Our study of the adsorption of oxygen molecules on individual semiconductiong single-walled carbon nanotubes at ambient conditions reveals that the adsorption is physisorption, that the resistance without O2 increases by ~two orders of magnitude as compared to that with O2, and that the sensitive response is due to the pinning of the Fermi level near the top of the valence band of the tube resulting from impurity states of O2 appearing above the valence band.
0502012v1
2005-03-07
Physical properties, strontium ordering and structural modulation in layered hexagonal Sr0.35CoO2
Layered Sr0.35CoO2 has been synthesized by means of an ion exchange reaction from Na0.7CoO2. Resistivity measurements show that this material can be either metallic or semiconducting depending on the annealing conditions. Magnetic susceptibility, following the Curie-Weiss law, increases with lowering temperature and shows a small anomalous kink at around 30 K. Transmission-electron-microscopy observations reveal the presence of two superstructures arising respectively from the intercalated Sr-ordering (a compositional modulation) with q1 = a* / 3 + b* / 3 and a periodic structural distortion (a transverse structural modulation) with q2 = a* / 2.
0503136v1
2005-04-12
Polaron Transport in the Paramagnetic Phase of Electron-Doped Manganites
The electrical resistivity, Hall coefficient, and thermopower as functions of temperature are reported for lightly electron-doped Ca(1-x)La(x)MnO(3)(0 <= x <= 0.10). Unlike the case of hole-doped ferromagnetic manganites, the magnitude and temperature dependence of the Hall mobility for these compounds is found to be inconsistent with small-polaron theory. The transport data are better described by the Feynman polaron theory and imply intermediate coupling (alpha \~ 5.4) with a band effective mass, m*~4.3 m_0, and a polaron mass, m_p ~ 10 m_0.
0504303v1
2005-04-26
Spin filtering through ferromagnetic BiMnO3 tunnel barriers
We report on experiments of spin filtering through ultra-thin single-crystal layers of the insulating and ferromagnetic oxide BiMnO3 (BMO). The spin polarization of the electrons tunneling from a gold electrode through BMO is analyzed with a counter-electrode of the half-metallic oxide La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 (LSMO). At 3 K we find a 50% change of the tunnel resistances according to whether the magnetizations of BMO and LSMO are parallel or opposite. This effect corresponds to a spin filtering effciency of up to 22%. Our results thus show the potential of complex ferromagnetic insulating oxides for spin filtering and injection.
0504667v1
2005-05-16
Electronic mean free path in as-produced and purified single-wall carbon nanotubes
The effect of purification on room temperature electronic transport properties of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) was studied by submerging samples into liquid mercury. The conductance plots of purified SWNTs showed plateaus, indicating weak dependence of the electrical resistance on the length of the tube connecting the electrodes, providing evidence of quasi-ballistic conduction in SWNTs. The electronic mean free path of the purified SWNTs reached a few microns, which is longer than that of the as-produced SWNTs, and which is consistent with the calculation based on the scattering by acoustic phonons.
0505377v1
2005-06-03
Magnetic and Transport Properties of Fe-Ag granular multilayers
Results of magnetization, magnetotransport and Mossbauer spectroscopy measurements of sequentially evaporated Fe-Ag granular composites are presented. The strong magnetic scattering of the conduction electrons is reflected in the sublinear temperature dependence of the resistance and in the large negative magnetoresistance. The simultaneous analysis of the magnetic properties and the transport behavior suggests a bimodal grain size distribution. A detailed quantitative description of the unusual features observed in the transport properties is given.
0506072v2
2005-07-06
A single molecule switch based on two Pd nanocrystals linked by a conjugated dithiol
Tunneling spectroscopy measurements have been carried out on a single molecule device formed by two Pd nanocrystals (dia, $\sim$5 nm) electronically coupled by a conducting molecule, dimercaptodiphenylacetylene. The I-V data, obtained by positioning the tip over a nanocrystal electrode, exhibit negative differential resistance (NDR) on a background M-I-M characteristics. The NDR feature occurs at $\sim$0.67 V at 300 K and shifts to a higher bias of 1.93 V at 90 K. When the tip is held in the middle region of the device, a coulomb blockade region is observed ($\pm\sim$0.3 V).
0507147v1
2005-07-15
Spin transference and magnetoresistance amplification in a transistor
A current problem in semiconductor spin-based electronics is the difficulty of experimentally expressing the effect of spin-polarized current in electrical circuit measurements. We present a theoretical solution with the principle of transference of the spin diffusion effects in the semiconductor channel of a system with three magnetic terminals. A notable result of technological consequences is the room temperature amplification of the magneto-resistive effect, integrable with electronics circuits, demonstrated by computation of current dependence on magnetization configuration in such a system with currently achievable parameters.
0507378v2
2005-09-27
Electron-Hole Asymmetry in GdBaCo_{2}O_{5+x}: Evidence for Spin Blockade of Electron Transport in a Correlated Electron System
In RBaCo_{2}O_{5+x} compounds (R is rare earth) variability of the oxygen content allows precise doping of CoO_2 planes with both types of charge carriers. We study transport properties of doped GdBaCo_{2}O_{5+x} single crystals and find a remarkable asymmetry in the behavior of holes and electrons doped into a parent insulator GdBaCo_{2}O_{5.5}. Doping dependences of resistivity, Hall response, and thermoelectric power reveal that the doped holes greatly improve the conductivity, while the electron-doped samples always remain poorly conducting. This doping asymmetry provides strong evidence for a spin blockade of the electron transport in RBaCo_{2}O_{5+x}.
0509673v1
2005-10-13
The electrical current effect in phase separated La5/8-yPryCa3/8MnO3: Charge order melting vs. Joule heating
We have studied the effect of electric field on transport properties of the prototypical phase separated manganite La5/8-yPryCa3/8MnO3 with y=0.34. Our results show that the suggested image in which the charge ordered state is melted by the appliance of an electric current and/or voltage has to be revised. We were able to explain the observed resistivity drop in terms of an artifact related to Joule heating and the particular hysteresis that the system under study display, common to many other phase separated manganites.
0510366v1
2005-12-16
A possible minimum toy model with negative differential capacitance for self-sustained current oscillation
We generalize a simple model for superlattices to include the effect of differential capacitance. It is shown that the model always has a stable steady-state solution (SSS) if all differential capacitances are positive. On the other hand, when negative differential capacitance is included, the model can have no stable SSS and be in a self-sustained current oscillation behavior. Therefore, we find a possible minimum toy model with both negative differential resistance and negative differential capacitance which can include the phenomena of both self-sustained current oscillation and $I-V$ oscillation of stable SSSs.
0512370v2
2006-01-13
Gamma radiation exposure of MCT diode arrays
Investigations of electrical properties of long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) arrays exposed to gamma-radiation have been performed. Resistance-area product characteristics of LWIR n{+}-p photodiodes have been investigated using microprobe technique at T=78 K before and after an exposure to various doses of gamma-radiation. The current transport mechanisms for those structures are described within the framework of the balance equation model taking into account the occupation of the trap states in the band gap.
0601276v1
2006-01-13
Influence of Roughness and Disorder on Tunneling Magnetoresistance
A systematic, quantitative study of the effect of interface roughness and disorder on the magnetoresistance of FeCo$|$vacuum$|$FeCo magnetic tunnel junctions is presented based upon parameter-free electronic structure calculations. Surface roughness is found to have a very strong effect on the spin-polarized transport while that of disorder in the leads (leads consisting of a substitutional alloy) is weaker but still sufficient to suppress the huge tunneling magneto-resistance (TMR) predicted for ideal systems.
0601291v2
2006-02-09
Strong Pinning Enhancement in MgB2 Using Very Small Dy2O3 Additions
0.5 to 5.0 wt.% Dy2O3 was in-situ reacted with Mg + B to form pinned MgB2. While Tc remained largely unchanged, Jc was strongly enhanced. The best sample (only 0.5 wt.% Dy2O3) had a Jc of 6.5 x 10^5 A/cm^2 at 6K, 1T and 3.5 x 10^5 A/cm^2 at 20K, 1T, around a factor of 4 higher compared to the pure sample, and equivalent to hot-pressed or nano-Si added MgB2 at below 1T. Even distributions of nano-scale precipitates of DyB4 and MgO were observed within the grains. The room temperature resistivity decreased with Dy2O3 indicative of improved grain connectivity.
0602234v1
2006-02-27
Origin of the large thermoelectric power in oxygen-variable RBaCo_{2}O_{5+x} (R=Gd, Nd)
Thermoelectric properties of GdBaCo_{2}O_{5+x} and NdBaCo_{2}O_{5+x} single crystals have been studied upon continuous doping of CoO_2 planes with either electrons or holes. The thermoelectric response and the resistivity behavior reveal a hopping character of the transport in both compounds, providing the basis for understanding the recently found remarkable divergence of the Seebeck coefficient at x=0.5. The doping dependence of the thermoelectric power evinces that the configurational entropy of charge carriers, enhanced by their spin and orbital degeneracy, plays a key role in the origin of the large thermoelectric response in these correlated oxides.
0602618v1
2006-03-27
Modeling transient absorption and thermal conductivity in a simple nanofluid
Molecular dynamics simulations are used to simulate the thermal properties of a model fluid containing nanoparticles (nanofluid). By modelling transient absorption experiments, we show that they provide a reliable determination of interfacial resistance between the particle and the fluid. The flexibility of molecular simulation allows us to consider separately the effect of confinement, particle mass and Brownian motion on the thermal transfer between fluid and particle. Finally, we show that in the absence of collective effects, the heat conductivity of the nanofluid is well described by the classical Maxwell Garnet equation model.
0603704v1
2006-05-04
Optical conductivity of charge carriers interacting with a two-level systems reservoir
Using the functional-integral method we investigate the effective dynamics of a charged particle coupled to a set of two-level systems as a function of temperature and external electric field. The optical conductivity and the direct current (dc) resistivity induced by the reservoir are computed. Three different regimes are found depending on the two-level system spectral function, which may lead to a non-Drude optical conductivity in a certain range of parameters. Our results contrast to the behavior found when considering the usual bath of harmonic oscillators which we are able to recover in the limit of very low temperatures.
0605105v1
2006-05-24
Controlling charge injection in organic field-effect transistors using self-assembled monolayers
We have studied charge injection across the metal/organic semiconductor interface in bottom-contact poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) field-effect transistors, with Au source and drain electrodes modified by self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) prior to active polymer deposition. By using the SAM to engineer the effective Au work function, we markedly affect the charge injection process. We systematically examine the contact resistivity and intrinsic channel mobility, and show that chemically increasing the injecting electrode work function significantly improves hole injection relative to untreated Au electrodes.
0605605v1
2006-08-10
Gate-controlled nuclear magnetic resonance in an AlGaAs/GaAs quantum Hall device
We study the resistively detected nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in an AlGaAs/GaAs quantum Hall device with a side gate. The strength of the hyperfine interaction between electron and nuclear spins is modulated by tuning a position of the two-dimensional electron systems with respect to the polarized nuclear spins using the side-gate voltages. The NMR frequency is systematically controlled by the gate-tuned technique in a semiconductor device.
0608237v1
2006-08-27
Magnetic Switching of Phase-Slip Dissipation in NbSe2 Nanobelts
The stability of the superconducting dissipationless and resistive states in single-crystalline NbSe2 nanobelts is characterized by transport measurements in an external magnetic field (H). Current-driven electrical measurements show voltage steps, indicating the nucleation of phase-slip structures. Well below the critical temperature, the position of the voltage steps exhibits a sharp, periodic dependence as a function of H. This phenomenon is discussed in the context of two possible mechanisms: the interference of the order parameter and the periodic rearrangement of the vortex lattice within the nanobelt.
0608586v1
2006-08-28
Inverse Spin Hall Effect by Spin Injection
Motivated by a recent experiment[Nature {\bf 442}, 176 (2006)], we present a quantitative microscopic theory to investigate the inverse spin-Hall effect with spin injection into aluminum considering both intrinsic and extrinsic spin-orbit couplings using the orthogonalized-plane-wave method. Our theoretical results are in good agreement with the experimental data. It is also clear that the magnitude of the anomalous Hall resistivity is mainly due to contributions from extrinsic skew scattering, while its spatial variation is determined by the intrinsic spin-orbit coupling.
0608594v2
2006-08-31
Atomic and electronic structure of ultra-thin Al/AlOx/Al interfaces
Interfaces between metals based on AlO$_{x}$ represent the most popular basis for Josephson junctions or, more recently, also for junctions exhibiting substantial tunneling magneto-resistance. We have performed a computational study of possible local geometric structures of such interfaces at the ab-initio DFT/GGA level of approximation to complement recent experimental data on ultra-thin AlO$_{x}$-based interfaces. We present two competing structures that we characterise with their electronic properties: fragmentation and interface energies.
0608718v1
2006-09-01
Nonlinear screening of charge impurities in graphene
It is shown that a ``vacuum polarization'' induced by Coulomb potential in graphene leads to a strong suppression of electric charges even for undoped case (no charge carriers). A standard linear response theory is therefore not applicable to describe the screening of charge impurities in graphene. In particular, it overestimates essentially the contributions of charge impurities into the resistivity of graphene.
0609026v3
2006-09-14
Strain induced pressure effect in pulsed laser deposited thin films of the strongly correlated oxide V2O3
V2O3 thin films about 10 nm thick were grown on Al2O3 (0001) by pulsed laser deposition. The XRD analysis is in agreement with R-3c space group. Some of them exhibit the metal / insulator transition characteristic of V2O3 bulk material and others samples exhibit a metallic behavior. For the latter, the XPS analysis indicates an oxidation state of +III for vanadium. There is no metal / insulator transition around 150 K in this sample and a strongly correlated Fermi liquid rho = AT2 behavior of the resistivity at low temperature is observed, with a value of A of 1.2 10-4 ohm cm, 3 times larger than the bulk value at 25 kbar.
0609342v1
2006-09-19
Adaptive Programming of Unconventional Nano-Architectures
Novel assembly processes for nanocircuits could present compelling alternatives to the detailed design and placement currently used for computers. The resulting architectures however may not be programmable by standard means. In this paper, nanocomputers with unconventional architectures are programmed using adaptive methods. The internals of the device are treated as a "black box" and programming is achieved by manipulating "control voltages". Learning algorithms are used to set the controls. As examples, logic gates and simple arithmetic circuits are implemented. Additionally, similar methods allow for reconfiguration of the devices, and makes them resistant to certain kinds of faults.
0609489v1
2006-09-20
Spin Injection and Nonlocal Spin Transport in Magnetic Nanostructures
We theoretically study the nonlocal spin transport in a device consisting of a nonmagnetic metal (N) and ferromagnetic injector (F1) and detector (F2) electrodes connected to N. We solve the spin-dependent transport equations in a device with arbitrary interface resistance from a metallic-contact to tunneling regime, and obtain the conditions for efficient spin injection, accumulation, and transport in the device. In a device containing a superconductor (F1/S/F2), the effect of superconductivity on the spin transport is investigated. The spin-current induced spin Hall effect in nonmagnetic metals is also discussed.
0609508v1
2006-09-21
Resistive and rectifying effects of pulling gold atoms at thiol-gold nano-contacts
We investigate, by means of first-principles calculations, structural and transport properties of junctions made of symmetric dithiolated molecules placed between Au electrodes. As the electrodes are pulled apart, we find that it becomes energetically favorable that Au atoms migrate to positions between the electrode surface and thiol terminations, with junction structures alternating between symmetric and asymmetric. As a result, the calculated $\emph{IV}$ curves alternate between rectifying and non-rectifying behaviors as the electrodes are pulled apart, which is consistent with recent experimental results.
0609558v1
2006-11-15
Tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance and spin-orbit coupling in Fe/GaAs/Au tunnel junctions
We report the observation of tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance effect (TAMR) in the epitaxial metal-semiconductor system Fe/GaAs/Au. The observed two-fold anisotropy of the resistance can be switched by reversing the bias voltage, suggesting that the effect originates from the interference of the spin-orbit coupling at the interfaces. Corresponding model calculations reproduce the experimental findings very well.
0611406v1