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“Study of ramp-type Josephson junctions by HREM”. Verbist K, Lebedev OI, Van Tendeloo G, Verhoeven MAJ, Rijnders AJHM, Blank DHA, Electronic Applications, Vol 2: Large Scale And Power Applications , 49 (1997)
Abstract: Structural aspects of ramp-type Josephson junctions based on REBa2Cu3O7-delta high-T-c superconductors, are investigated by cross-section transmission electron microscopy and results related to fabrication process or physical properties. The barrier layer material is PrBa2Cu3-xGaxO7-delta. The ramp-geometry depends on the etching conditions. High levels of Ga doping (x>0.7) influence the microstructure of the barrier layer thereby changing the junctions properties.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
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“Study of the Ar metastable atom population in a hollow cathode discharge by means of a hybrid model and spectrometric measurements”. Baguer N, Bogaerts A, Donko Z, Gijbels R, Sadeghi N, Journal of applied physics 97, 123305 (2005). http://doi.org/10.1063/1.1929857
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 2.068
Times cited: 40
DOI: 10.1063/1.1929857
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“A study of the domain structure of epitaxial (La-Ca)MnO3 films by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy”. Lebedev OI, Van Tendeloo G, Abakumov AM, Amelinckx S, Leibold B, Habermeier H-U, Philosophical magazine: A: physics of condensed matter: defects and mechanical properties 79, 1461 (1999). http://doi.org/10.1080/01418619908210372
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Times cited: 27
DOI: 10.1080/01418619908210372
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“Study of the interaction between copper and carbon nanotubes”. Bittencourt C, Ke X, Van Tendeloo G, Thiess S, Drube W, Ghijsen J, Ewels CP, Chemical physics letters 535, 80 (2012). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cplett.2012.03.045
Abstract: Copper deposited by thermal evaporation onto pristine and oxygen plasma treated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) diffuse over the CNT surface, coalescing and forming crystalline islands. The nucleation sites of the islands are preferentially defects, and more homogeneous island dispersion was observed at the CNT oxygen functionalized surface. The presence of weakly bound oxygen atoms at the CNT surface induces the formation of CuO bonds at the Cu/CNT interface, as described through density functional calculations. Exposure to air allows further oxidation to facetted crystalline Cu2O. Oxygen plasma pre-treatment represents a promising route for homogenous disperse Cu2O nanoparticle decoration of CNTs.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 1.815
Times cited: 27
DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2012.03.045
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“Similarities and differences between gliding glow and gliding arc discharges”. Kolev S, Bogaerts A, Plasma sources science and technology 24, 065023 (2015). http://doi.org/10.1088/0963-0252/24/6/065023
Abstract: In this work we have analyzed the properties of a gliding dc discharge in argon at atmospheric pressure. Despite the usual designation of these discharges as ‘gliding arc discharges’, it was found previously that they operate in two different regimes—glow and arc. Here we analyze the differences in both regimes by means of two dimensional fluid modeling. In order to address different aspects of the discharge operation, we use two models—Cartesian and axisymmetric in a cylindrical coordinate system. The obtained results show that the two types of discharges produce a similar plasma column for a similar discharge current. However, the different mechanisms of plasma channel attachment to the cathode could produce certain differences in the plasma parameters (i.e. arc elongation), and this can affect gas treatments applications.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 3.302
Times cited: 12
DOI: 10.1088/0963-0252/24/6/065023
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“Study of the interface between rhodium and carbon nanotubes”. Suarez-Martinez I, Ewels CP, Ke X, Van Tendeloo G, Thiess S, Drube W, Felten A, Pireaux J-J, Ghijsen J, Bittencourt C, ACS nano 4, 1680 (2010). http://doi.org/10.1021/nn9015955
Abstract: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at 3.5 keV photon energy, in combination with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, is used to follow the formation of the interface between rhodium and carbon nanotubes. Rh nucleates at defect sites, whether initially present or induced by oxygen-plasma treatment. More uniform Rh cluster dispersion is observed on plasma-treated CNTs. Experimental results are compared to DFT calculations of small Rh clusters on pristine and defective graphene. While Rh interacts as strongly with the carbon as Ti, it is less sensitive to the presence of oxygen, suggesting it as a good candidate for nanotube contacts.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 13.942
Times cited: 26
DOI: 10.1021/nn9015955
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“Study of the nucleation and growth of TiO2 and ZnO thin films by means of molecular dynamics simulations”. Baguer N, Georgieva V, Calderin L, Todorov IT, van Gils S, Bogaerts A, Journal of crystal growth 311, 4034 (2009). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2009.06.034
Abstract: The nucleation and growth of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films on Fe2O3 (hematite), Al2O3 (á-alumina) and SiO2 (á-quartz) are studied by molecular dynamics simulations. The results show the formation of a strong interface region between the substrate and the film in the six systems studied here. A combination of polycrystalline and amorphous phases are observed in the TiO2 films grown on the three substrates. ZnO deposition on the Fe2O3 and Al2O3 crystals yields a monocrystalline film growth. The ZnO film deposited on the SiO2 crystal exhibits less crystallinity. The simulation results are compared with experimental results available in the literature.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 1.751
Times cited: 23
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2009.06.034
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“Study of the packing of double-walled carbon nanotubes into bundles by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction”. Colomer J-F, Henrard L, Van Tendeloo G, Lucas A, Lambin P, Journal of materials chemistry 14, 603 (2004). http://doi.org/10.1039/b311551h
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Times cited: 27
DOI: 10.1039/b311551h
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“Study of the sputtered Cu atoms and Cu+ ions in a hollow cathode glow discharge using a hybrid model”. Baguer N, Bogaerts A, Journal of applied physics 98, 033303 (2005). http://doi.org/10.1063/1.2005381
Abstract: The role of the Cu atoms sputtered from the cathode material in a cylindrical hollow cathode discharge (HCD) and the corresponding Cu+ ions are studied with a self-consistent model based on the principle of Monte Carlo (MC) and fluid simulations. In order to obtain a more realistic view of the discharge processes, this model is coupled with other submodels, which describe the behavior of electrons, fast Ar atoms, Ar+ ions, and Ar metastable atoms, also based on the principles of MC and fluid simulations. Typical results are, among others, the thermalization profile of the Cu atoms, the fast Cu atom, the thermal Cu atom and Cu+ ion fluxes and densities, and the energy distribution of the Cu+ ions. It was found that the contribution of the Ar+ ions to the sputtering was the most significant, followed by the fast Ar atoms. At the cathode bottom, there was no net sputtered flux but a net amount of redeposition. Throughout the discharge volume, at all the conditions investigated, the largest concentration of Cu atoms was found in the lower half of the HCD, close to the bottom. Penning ionization was found the main ionization mechanism for the Cu atoms. The ionization degree of copper atoms was found to be in the same order as for the argon atoms (10-4). (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 2.068
Times cited: 18
DOI: 10.1063/1.2005381
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“Study of the thermal decomposition of melt-quenched Ni-rich metastable bcc and amorphous Ni-Zr alloys”. Cziraki A, Gerocs I, Fogarassy B, Van Tendeloo G, Sommer F, Bakonyi I, International journal of non-equilibrium processing 10, 265 (1998)
Abstract: The phase transformation sequences during thermal decomposition are investigated for Ni-rich melt-quenched body-centred cubic (bcc) and amorphous Ni-Zr alloys. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) are used to determine the structure of crystallization products occurring after heating the melt-spun ribbon samples to various degrees of the phase transformation process monitored by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A single DSC peak is observed for both the bcc and amorphous Ni(91)Zr(9) alloys and a two-step process is indicated by DSC for the amorphous Ni(90)Zr(10) alloy. In the bcc-Ni(91)Zr(9) alloy which is actually a Ni(Zr) solid solution phase, the phase transformation starts with the precipitation of Ni(5)Zr crystallites followed, after a sufficient depletion of the matrix in Zr, by the subsequent transformation of the bcc-Ni(Zr) lattice to face-centred cubic (fcc) Ni. In the amorphous alloy of the same composition, the final products are fcc-Ni and Ni(5)Zr but at intermediate stages of the phase transformation, bcc-Ni(Zr) crystallites also appear. In the a-Ni(90)Zr(10) alloy the first DSC peak corresponds to the formation of the bcc-Ni(Zr) phase which then decomposes (second DSC peak) to the equilibrium phases fcc-Ni and Ni(5)Zr. Thus, in addition to the previous observation of the formation of the metastable bcc-Ni(Zr) phase by rapid quenching from the melt, here we present evidence that this phase can form also after partial crystallization of metallic glasses of appropriate chemical compositions.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Times cited: 2
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“Study of the variability in upper and lower airway morphology in Sprague-Dawley rats using modern micro-CT scan-based segmentation techniques”. de Backer JW, Vos WG, Burnell P, Verhulst SL, Salmon P, de Clerck N, de Backer W, The anatomical record: advances in integrative anatomy and evolutionary biology 292, 720 (2009). http://doi.org/10.1002/ar.20877
Abstract: Animal models are being used extensively in pre-clinical and safety assessment studies to assess the effectiveness and safety of new chemical entities and delivery systems. Although never entirely replacing the need for animal testing, the use of computer simulations could eventually reduce the amount of animals needed for research purposes and refine the data acquired from the animal studies. Computational fluid dynamics is a powerful tool that makes it possible to simulate flow and particle behavior in animal or patient-specific respiratory models, for purposes of inhaled delivery. This tool requires an accurate representation of the respiratory system, respiration and dose delivery attributes. The aim of this study is to develop a representative airway model of the Sprague-Dawley rat using static and dynamic micro-CT scans. The entire respiratory tract was modeled, from the snout and nares down to the central airways at the point where no distinction could be made between intraluminal air and the surrounding tissue. For the selection of the representative model, variables such as upper airway movement, segmentation length, airway volume and size are taken into account. Dynamic scans of the nostril region were used to illustrate the characteristic morphology of this region in anaesthetized animals. It could be concluded from this study that it was possible to construct a highly detailed representative model of a Sprague-Dawley rat based on imaging modalities such as micro-CT scans
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT); Laboratory Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics (LEMP)
Impact Factor: 1.431
Times cited: 16
DOI: 10.1002/ar.20877
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“Study on the giant positive magnetoresistance and Hall effect in ultrathin graphite flakes”. Vansweevelt R, Mortet V, D' Haen J, Ruttens bart, van Haesendonck C, Partoens B, Peeters FM, Wagner P, Physica status solidi : A : applications and materials science 208, 1252 (2011). http://doi.org/10.1002/pssa.201001206
Abstract: In this paper, we report on the electronic transport properties of mesoscopic, ultrathin graphite flakes with a thickness corresponding to a stack of 150 graphene layers. The graphite flakes show an unexpectedly strong positive magnetoresistance (PMR) already at room temperature, which scales in good approximation with the square of the magnetic field. Furthermore, we show that the resistivity is unaffected by magnetic fields oriented in plane with the graphene layers. Hall effect measurements indicate that the charge carriers are p-type and their concentration increases with increasing temperature while the mobility is decreasing. The Hall voltage is non-linear in higher magnetic fields. Possible origins of the observed effects are discussed. Ball and stick model of the two topmost carbon layers of the hexagonal graphite structure.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 1.775
Times cited: 8
DOI: 10.1002/pssa.201001206
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“Sub-nanometer free electrons with topological charge”. Schattschneider P, Stöger-Pollach M, Löffler S, Steiger-Thirsfeld A, Hell J, Verbeeck J, Ultramicroscopy 115, 21 (2012). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2012.01.010
Abstract: The holographic mask technique is used to create freely moving electrons with quantized angular momentum. With electron optical elements they can be focused to vortices with diameters below the nanometer range. The understanding of these vortex beams is important for many applications. Here, we produce electron vortex beams and compare them to a theory of electrons with topological charge. The experimental results show excellent agreement with simulations. As an immediate application, fundamental experimental parameters like spherical aberration and partial coherence are determined. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 2.843
Times cited: 24
DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2012.01.010
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“Substitution of mercury for thallium in the 2223 cuprate: the 130K superconductor Tl1.6Hg0.4Ba2Cu3O10-x”. Goutenoire F, Maignan A, Van Tendeloo G, Martin C, Michel C, Hervieu M, Raveau B, Solid state communications 90, 47 (1994)
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 1.897
Times cited: 16
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“Substitutional phosphorus incorporation in nanocrystalline CVD diamond thin films”. Janssen W, Turner S, Sakr G, Jomard F, Barjon J, Degutis G, Lu YG, D'Haen J, Hardy A, Bael MV, Verbeeck J, Van Tendeloo G, Haenen K, Physica status solidi: rapid research letters 8, 705 (2014). http://doi.org/10.1002/pssr.201409235
Abstract: Nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) thin films were produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and doped by the addition of phosphine to the gas mixture. The characterization of the films focused on probing the incorporation and distribution of the phosphorus (P) dopants. Electron microscopy evaluated the overall film morphology and revealed the interior structure of the nanosized grains. The homogeneous films with distinct diamond grains featured a notably low sp(2):sp(3)-ratio as confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. High resolution spectroscopy methods demonstrated a homogeneous P-incorporation, both in-depth and in-plane. The P concentration in the films was determined to be in the order of 10(19) cm(-3) with a significant fraction integrated at substitutional donor sites. (C) 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 3.032
Times cited: 20
DOI: 10.1002/pssr.201409235
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“Substrate-induced chiral states in graphene”. Zarenia M, Leenaerts O, Partoens B, Peeters FM, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 86, 085451 (2012). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.86.085451
Abstract: Unidirectional chiral states are predicted in single layer graphene which originate from the breaking of the sublattice symmetry due to an asymmetric mass potential. The latter can be created experimentally using boron-nitride (BN) substrates with a line defect (B-B or N-N) that changes the induced mass potential in graphene. Solving the Dirac-Weyl equation, the obtained energy spectrum is compared with the one calculated using ab initio density functional calculations. We found that these one-dimensional chiral states are very robust and they can even exist in the presence of a small gap between the mass regions. In the latter case additional bound states are found that are topologically different from those chiral states.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 41
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.86.085451
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“Sulfur species and associated trace elements in south-west Bulgarian thermal waters”. Veldeman E, Van 't dack L, Gijbels R, Pentcheva E, Applied geochemistry 6, 49 (1991)
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 2.268
Times cited: 7
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“Superconducting disk with magnetic coating: re-entrant Meissner phase, novel critical and vortex phenomena”. Milošević, MV, Rakib MTI, Peeters FM, Europhysics letters 77, 27005 (2007). http://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/77/27005
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 1.957
Times cited: 1
DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/77/27005
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“Superconducting films with antidot arrays: novel behaviour of the critical current”. Berdiyorov GR, Milošević, MV, Peeters FM, Europhysics letters 74, 493 (2006). http://doi.org/10.1209/epl/i2006-10013-1
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 1.957
Times cited: 36
DOI: 10.1209/epl/i2006-10013-1
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“Superconducting films with weak pinning centers: incommenssurate vortex lattices”. Berdiyorov GR, Milošević, MV, Peeters FM, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 76, 134508 (2007). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.76.134508
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 19
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.76.134508
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“Superconducting mesoscopic square loop”. Fomin VM, Misko VR, Devreese JT, Moshchalkov VV, Physical Review B 58, 11703 (1998). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.58.11703
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT);
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 43
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.58.11703
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“Superconducting mesoscopic square loops: phase boundaries and magnetization”. Devreese JT, Fomin VM, Misko VR, Moshchalkov VV, 1/2, 33 (1998)
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT);
Times cited: 1
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“Superconducting nanofilms: Andreev-type states induced by quantum confinement”. Shanenko AA, Croitoru MD, Peeters FM, Physical review : B : solid state 78, 054505 (2008). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.78.054505
Abstract: Quantum confinement of the transverse electron motion is the major effect governing the superconducting properties of high-quality metallic nanofilms, leading to a nonuniform transverse distribution of the superconducting condensate. In this case the order parameter can exhibit significant local enhancements due to these quantum-size effects and, consequently, quasiparticles have lower energies when they avoid the local enhancements of the pair condensate. Such excitations can be considered as new Andreev-type quasiparticles but now induced by quantum confinement. By numerically solving the Bogoliubovde Gennes equations and using Anderson's approximate solution to these equations, we: (a) formulate a criterion for such new Andreev-type states (NATS) and (b) study their effect on the superconducting characteristics in metallic nanofilms. We also argue that nanofilms made of low-carrier-density materials, e.g., of superconducting semiconductors, can be a more optimal choice for the observations of NATS and other quantum-size superconducting effects.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT); Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 14
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.78.054505
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“Superconducting nanofilms : molecule-like pairing induced by quantum confinement”. Chen Y, Shanenko AA, Perali A, Peeters FM, Journal of physics : condensed matter 24, 185701 (2012). http://doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/24/18/185701
Abstract: Quantum confinement of the perpendicular motion of electrons in single-crystalline metallic superconducting nanofilms splits the conduction band into a series of single-electron subbands. A distinctive feature of such a nanoscale multi-band superconductor is that the energetic position of each subband can vary significantly with changing nanofilm thickness, substrate material, protective cover and other details of the fabrication process. It can occur that the bottom of one of the available subbands is situated in the vicinity of the Fermi level. We demonstrate that the character of the superconducting pairing in such a subband changes dramatically and exhibits a clear molecule-like trend, which is very similar to the well-known crossover from the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer regime to Bose-Einstein condensation (BCS-BEC) observed in trapped ultracold fermions. For Pb nanofilms with thicknesses of 4 and 5 monolayers (MLs) this will lead to a spectacular scenario: up to half of all the Cooper pairs nearly collapse, shrinking in the lateral size (parallel to the nanofilm) down to a few nanometers. As a result, the superconducting condensate will be a coherent mixture of almost molecule-like fermionic pairs with ordinary, extended Cooper pairs.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 2.649
Times cited: 26
DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/24/18/185701
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“Superconducting nanowires: interplay of discrete transverse modes with supercurrent”. Croitoru MD, Shanenko AA, Kaun CC, Peeters FM, Physical review : B : solid state 80, 024513 (2009). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.80.024513
Abstract: From a numerical solution of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations, we investigate an interplay of the transverse discrete modes with a longitudinal supercurrent in a metallic cylindrical superconducting nanowire. The superconductor-to-normal transition induced by a longitudinal superflow of electrons is found to occur as a cascade of jumps in the order parameter (supercurrent and superfluid density) as a function of the superfluid velocity for diameters d<1015 nm (for Al parameters) and sufficiently low temperatures T<0.30.4Tc, with Tc the critical temperature. When approaching Tc, the jumps are smoothed into steplike but continuous drops. A similar picture occurs for d>1520 nm. Only when the diameter exceeds 5070 nm the quantum-size cascades are fully washed out, and we arrive at the mesoscopic regime. Below this regime the critical current density jc exhibits the quantum-size oscillations with pronounced resonant enhancements: the smaller the diameter, the more significant is the enhancement. Thickness fluctuations of real samples will smooth out such oscillations into an overall growth of jc with decreasing nanowire diameter.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 21
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.80.024513
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“Superconducting nanowires: quantum confinement and spatially dependent Hartree-Fock potential”. Chen Y, Croitoru MD, Shanenko AA, Peeters FM, Journal of physics : condensed matter 21, 435701 (2009). http://doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/21/43/435701
Abstract: It is well known that, in bulk, the solution of the Bogoliubovde Gennes equations is the same whether or not the HartreeFock term is included. Here the HartreeFock potential is position independent and so gives the same contribution to both the single-electron energies and the Fermi level (the chemical potential). Thus, the single-electron energies measured from the Fermi level (they control the solution) stay the same. This is not the case for nanostructured superconductors, where quantum confinement breaks the translational symmetry and results in a position-dependent HartreeFock potential. In this case its contribution to the single-electron energies depends on the relevant quantum numbers. We numerically solved the Bogoliubovde Gennes equations with the HartreeFock term for a clean superconducting nanocylinder and found a shift of the curve representing the thickness-dependent oscillations of the critical superconducting temperature to larger diameters.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 2.649
Times cited: 12
DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/21/43/435701
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“Direct observation of Josephson vortex cores”. Roditchev D, Brun C, Serrier-Garcia L, Cuevas JC, Bessa VHL, Milošević, MV, Debontridder F, Stolyarov V, Cren T, Nature physics 11, 332 (2015). http://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3240
Abstract: Superconducting correlations may propagate between two superconductors separated by a tiny insulating or metallic barrier, allowing a dissipationless electric current to flow(1,2). In the presence of a magnetic field, the maximum supercurrent oscillates(3) and each oscillation corresponding to the entry of one Josephson vortex into the barrier(4). Josephson vortices are conceptual blocks of advanced quantum devices such as coherent terahertz generators(5) or qubits for quantum computing(6), in which on-demand generation and control is crucial. Here, we map superconducting correlations inside proximity Josephson junctions(7) using scanning tunnelling microscopy. Unexpectedly, we find that such Josephson vortices have real cores, in which the proximity gap is locally suppressed and the normal state recovered. By following the Josephson vortex formation and evolution we demonstrate that they originate from quantum interference of Andreev quasiparticles(8), and that the phase portraits of the two superconducting quantum condensates at edges of the junction decide their generation, shape, spatial extent and arrangement. Our observation opens a pathway towards the generation and control of Josephson vortices by applying supercurrents through the superconducting leads of the junctions, that is, by purely electrical means without any need for a magnetic field, which is a crucial step towards high-density on-chip integration of superconducting quantum devices.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 22.806
Times cited: 102
DOI: 10.1038/nphys3240
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“Superconducting nanowires: quantum-confinement effect on the critical magnetic field and supercurrent”. Croitoru MD, Shanenko AA, Peeters FM, International journal of modern physics: B: condensed matter physics, statistical physics, applied physics
T2 –, 32nd International Workshop on Condensed Matter Theories, Aug 12-19, 2008, Loughborough Univ, Loughborough, England 23, 4257 (2009). http://doi.org/10.1142/S0217979209063419
Abstract: We study the effect of electron confinement on the superconducting-to-normal phase transition driven by a magnetic field and/or on the current-carrying state of the superconducting condensate in nanowires. Our investigation is based on a self-consistent numerical solution of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations. We show that in a parallel magnetic field and/or in the presence of supercurrent the transition from superconducting to normal phase occurs as a cascade of discontinuous jumps in the superconducting order parameter for diameters D < 10 divided by 15 nm at T = 0. The critical magnetic field exhibits quantum-size oscillations with pronounced resonant enhancements.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT); Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 0.736
Times cited: 1
DOI: 10.1142/S0217979209063419
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“Superconducting properties of mesoscopic cylinders with enhanced surface superconductivity”. Baelus BJ, Yampolskii SV, Peeters FM, Montevecchi E, Indekeu JO, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 65, 024510 (2002). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.65.024510
Abstract: The superconducting state of an infinitely long superconducting cylinder surrounded by a medium which enhances its superconductivity near the boundary is studied within the nonlinear Ginzburg-Landau theory. This enhancement can be due to the proximity of another superconductor or due to surface treatment. Quantities such as the free energy, the magnetization and the Cooper-pair density are calculated. Phase diagrams are obtained to investigate how the critical field and the critical temperature depend on this surface enhancement for different values of the Ginzburg-Landau parameter kappa. Increasing the superconductivity near the surface leads to higher critical fields and critical temperatures. For small cylinder diameters only giant vortex states nucleate, while for larger cylinders multivortices can nucleate. The stability of these multivortex states also depends on the surface enhancement. For type-I superconductors we found the remarkable result that for a range of values of the surface extrapolation length the superconductor can transit from the Meissner state into superconducting states with vorticity L > 1. Such a behavior is not found for the case of large kappa, i.e., type-II superconductivity,
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 13
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.65.024510
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“Superconducting proximity effect in graphene under inhomogeneous strain”. Covaci L, Peeters FM, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 84, 241401 (2011). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.84.241401
Abstract: The interplay between quantum Hall states and Cooper pairs is usually hindered by the suppression of the superconducting state due to the strong magnetic fields needed to observe the quantum Hall effect. From this point of view, graphene is special since it allows the creation of strong pseudomagnetic fields due to strain. We show that in a Josephson junction made of strained graphene, Cooper pairs will diffuse into the strained region. The pair correlation function will be sublattice polarized due to the polarization of the local density of states in the zero pseudo-Landau level. We uncover two regimes: (1) one in which the cyclotron radius is larger than the junction length, in which case the supercurrent will be enhanced, and (2) the long junction regime where the supercurrent is strongly suppressed because the junction becomes an insulator. In the latter case quantized Hall states form and Andreev scattering at the normal/superconducting interface will induce edge states. Our numerical calculation has become possible due to an extension of the Chebyshev-Bogoliubovde Gennes method to computations on video cards (GPUs).
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 27
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.84.241401
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