Abstract: Solving the nonlinear Ginzburg-Landau equations self-consistently, we investigate the influence of a triangular surface defect (i.e. pacman shaped sample) on the vortex transitions in mesoscopic superconducting disks. Depending on the size of the defect, vortices may enter/leave one by one or in pairs.

Abstract: The melting transition of the five different lattices of a bilayer crystal is studied using the Monte-Carlo (MC) technique. We found the surprising result that the square lattice has a substantial larger melting temperature as compared to the other lattice structures, which is a consequence of the specific topology of the temperature induced defects. A new melting criterion is formulated which we show to be universal for bilayers as well as for single layer crystals.

Abstract: The intersublevel absorption in n-doped InAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum-dot molecules composed of three quantum dots is theoretically considered. The transition matrix elements and the transition energies are found to vary considerably with the spacer thickness. For s polarized light, decreasing the thickness of the spacer between the dots brings about crossings between the transition matrix elements, but the overall absorption is not affected by the variation of the spacer thickness. For p-polarized light and thick spacers, there are no available transitions in the single quantum dot, but a few of them emerge as a result of the electron state splitting in the stacks of coupled quantum dots, which leads to a considerable increase of the transition matrix elements, exceeding by an order of magnitude values of the matrix elements for s-polarized light.

Abstract: We study the quantum Hall effect (QHE) in bilayer graphene using the Kubo-Greenwood formula. At zero temperature the Hall conductivity sigma(yx) is given by sigma(yx) – 4(N + 1)e(2)/h with N the index of the highest occupied Landau level (LL). Including the dispersion of the LLs and their width, due to e. g. scattering by impurities, produces the plateau of the n = 0 LL in agreement with experimental results on doped samples and similar theoretical results on single-layer graphene plateaus widen with impurity concentration. Further, the evaluated resistivity rho(xx) exhibits a strong, oscillatory dependence on the electron concentration. Explicit results are obtained for delta-function impurities.

Abstract: We study the confinement of a C-60 molecule encapsulated in a cylindrical nanotube as a function of the tube radius. Drawing the Mercator maps of the potential, we find two distinct molecular orientations; for tubes with small radii, R-T less than or similar to 7 angstrom, a fivefold axis of the molecule coincides with the tube long axis, for larger radii, R-T less than or similar to 8 angstrom, a threefold axis of the molecule coincides with the tube long axis. These different orientations are caused by the relative importance of the repulsive and the attractive parts of the van der Waals potentials of the molecule with the tube wall for small and large tubes respectively. Experimental evidence is provided by the apparent splitting of A(g) modes of the C-60 molecule in resonant Raman scattering.

Abstract: We have studied the molecular energy terms of the hole configurations (h(u)(+))(m), m=2,3,4,5 of C-60(m+) cations and the electronic configurations (t(1u))(n) n=2,3,4, as well as (t(1u))(n-1)t(1g) of the C-60(n-) anions. The lowest terms (within an energy span of 0.03 eV) for C-60(2+) are three triplets T-3(1g), (3)G(g), T-3(2g) and for C-60(3+) are three quartets T-4(1u), (4)G(u), T-4(2u), which favor Jahn-Teller distortions. For the ground state of C-60(2-) we find a triplet T-3(1g) in agreement with Hund's rules. Our method takes into account intramolecular direct and exchange multipolar Coulomb interactions.

Abstract: The transition Fm (3) over bar m -->Pa (3) over bar in solid C-60 is driven by the condensation of orientational modes belonging to X-5(+) irreducible representations (irreps) of Fm (3) over bar m. Taking into account irreps up to the manifold l = 12, we have studied the primary and secondary orientational order parameters loops). We have numerically solved the coupled molecular field equations for these oops and calculated the temperature dependence of Bragg reflection intensities. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: This paper proposes a new quantum mechanical model for the calculation of leakage currents. The model incorporates both variational calculus and the transfer matrix method to compute the subband energies and the life times of the inversion layer states. The use of variational calculus simplifies the subband energy calculation due to the analytical firm of the wave functions, which offers an attractive perspective towards the calculation of the electron mobility in the channel. The model can be extended to high-k dielectrics with several layers. Good agreement between experimental data and simulation results is obtained for metal gate capacitors.

Abstract: When floating on a two-dimensional surface of superfluid He-4, electrons arrange themselves in two-dimensional crystalline structure known as Wigner crystal. In channels, the boundaries interfere the crystalline order and in case of very narrow channels one observes a quasi-one-dimensional (quasi-1D) Wigner crystal formed by just a few rows of electrons and, ultimately, one row in the “quantum wire” regime. Recently, the “quantum wire” regime was accessed experimentally [D.G. Rees, H. Totsuji, K. Kono, Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 176801 (2012)] resulting in unusual transport phenomena such as, e.g., oscillations in the electron conductance. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we study the nonlinear transport of electrons in channels with various types of constrictions: single and multiple symmetric and asymmetric geometrical constrictions with varying width and length, and saddle-point-type potentials with varying gate voltage. In particular, we analyze the average particle velocity of the particles and the corresponding electron current versus the driving force or the gate voltage. We have revealed a significant difference in the dynamics for long and short constrictions: The oscillations of the average velocity of the particles for the systems with short constrictions exhibit a clear correlation with the transitions between the states with different numbers of rows of particles; on the other hand, for the systems with longer constrictions these oscillations are suppressed. The obtained results qualitatively agree with the experimental observations. Next, we propose a FET-like structure that consists of a channel with asymmetric constrictions. We show that applying a transverse bias results either in increase of the average particle velocity or in its suppression thus allowing a flexible control tool over the electron transport. The advantage of the asymmetric FET is that it does not have a gate and it allows an easy control of relatively large electron flow. Furthermore, the asymmetric device can be used for rectification of an ac-driven electron flow. Our results bring important insights into the dynamics of electrons floating on the surface of superfluid He-4 in channels with constrictions and allow the effective control over the electron transport.