Abstract: We show how a single flux quantum can be effectively manipulated in a superconducting film with a matrix of blind holes. Such a sample can serve as a basic memory element, where the position of the vortex in a k×l matrix of pinning sites defines the desired combination of n bits of information (2n = k×l). Vortex placement is achieved by strategically applied current and the resulting position is read out via generated voltage between metallic contacts on the sample. Such a device can also act as a controllable source of a nanoengineered local magnetic field for, e.g., spintronics applications.

Abstract: An approach to observe snake states in a graphene Hall bar containing a pn-junction is proposed. The magnetic field dependence of the bend resistance in a ballistic graphene Hall bar structure containing a tilted pn-junction oscillates as a function of applied magnetic field. We show that each oscillation is due to a specific snake state that moves along the pn-interface. Furthermore, depending on the value of the magnetic field and applied potential, we can control the lead in which the electrons will end up and hence control the response of the system.

Abstract: Straining graphene results in the appearance of a pseudo-magnetic field which alters its local electronic properties. Applying a pressure difference between the two sides of the membrane causes it to bend/bulge resulting in a resistance change. We find that the resistance changes linearly with pressure for bubbles of small radius while the response becomes non-linear for bubbles that stretch almost to the edges of the sample. This is explained as due to the strong interference of propagating electronic modes inside the bubble. Our calculations show that high gauge factors can be obtained in this way which makes graphene a good candidate for pressure sensing. Published by AIP Publishing.

Abstract: We study ballistic electron transport through a finite chain of quantum circular rings in the presence of spin-orbit interaction of strength alpha. For a single ring, the transmission and reflection coefficients are obtained analytically and from them the conductance for a chain of rings as a function of alpha and of the wave vector k of the incident electron. We show that due to destructive spin interferences, the chain can be totally opaque for certain ranges of k, the width of which depends on the value of alpha. A periodic modulation of the strength alpha or of the ring radius widens the gaps considerably and produces a nearly binary conductance output. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.

Abstract: We demonstrate controllable dual-bath electrodeposition of nickel on architecture-tunable three-dimensional (3D) silver microcrystals. Magnetic hysteresis loops of individual highly faceted Ag-Ni core-shell elements reveal magnetization reversal that comprises multiple sharp steps corresponding to different stable magnetic states. Finite-element micromagnetic simulations on smaller systems show several jumps during magnetization reversal which correspond to transitions between different magnetic vortex states. Structures of this type could be realizations of an advanced magnetic data storage architecture whereby each element represents one multibit, storing a combination of several conventional bits depending on the overall number of possible magnetic states associated with the 3D core-shell shape.

Abstract: The buckling of graphene nano-ribbons containing a grain boundary is studied using atomistic simulations where free and supported boundary conditions are invoked. We consider the buckling transition of two kinds of grain boundaries with special symmetry. When graphene contains a large angle grain boundary with theta = 21.8 degrees, the buckling strains are larger than those of perfect graphene when the ribbons with free (supported) boundary condition are subjected to compressive tension parallel (perpendicular) to the grain boundary. This is opposite for the results of theta = 32.2 degrees. The shape of the deformations of the buckled graphene nanoribbons depends on the boundary conditions, the presence of the particular used grain boundaries, and the direction of applied in-plane compressive tension. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3692573]

Abstract: Moire patterns in the pseudo-magnetic field and in the strain profile of graphene (GE) when put on top of a hexagonal lattice substrate are predicted from elasticity theory. The van der Waals interaction between GE and the substrate induces out-of-plane deformations in graphene which results in a strain field, and consequently in a pseudo-magnetic field. When the misorientation angle is about 0.5 degrees, a three-fold symmetric strain field is realized that results in a pseudo-magnetic field very similar to the one proposed by F. Guinea, M. I. Katsnelson, and A. K. Geim [Nature Phys. 6, 30 (2010)]. Our results show that the periodicity and length of the pseudo-magnetic field can be tuned in GE by changing the misorientation angle and substrate adhesion parameters and a considerable energy gap (23 meV) can be obtained due to out-of-plane deformation of graphene which is in the range of recent experimental measurements (20-30 meV). (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

Abstract: The capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristic is calculated for p-type In_0.53Ga_0.47As metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) structures based on a self-consistent PoissonSchrödinger solution. For strong inversion, charge quantization leads to occupation of the satellite valleys which appears as a sharp increase in the capacitance toward the oxide capacitance. The results indicate that the charge quantization, even in the absence of interface defects (D_it), is a contributing factor to the experimental observation of an almost symmetric C-V response for In_0.53Ga_0.47As MOS structures. In addition, nonparabolic corrections are shown to enhance the depopulation of the Γ valley, shifting the capacitance increase to lower inversion charge densities.

Abstract: We demonstrate the epitaxial growth of Fe₃O₄ films on ZnO by a simple reactive deposition procedure using molecular oxygen as an oxidizing agent. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results evidence that the iron-oxide surface is nearly stoichiometric magnetite. X-ray diffraction results indicate monocrystalline epitaxy and almost complete structural relaxation. Scanning transmission electron micrographs reveal that the microstructure consists of domains which are separated by antiphase boundaries or twin boundaries. The magnetite films show rather slow magnetization behavior in comparison with bulk crystals probably due to reduced magnetization at antiphase boundaries in small applied fields.

Abstract: The vibrational properties of graphene fluoride and graphane are studied using ab initio calculations. We find that both sp(3) bonded derivatives of graphene have different phonon dispersion relations and phonon densities of states as expected from the different masses associated with the attached atoms of fluorine and hydrogen, respectively. These differences manifest themselves in the predicted temperature behavior of the constant-volume specific heat of both compounds. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3551712]

Abstract: Addition of yttrium in HfO(2) thin films prepared on silicon by metal organic chemical vapor deposition is investigated in a wide compositional range (2.0-99.5 at. %). The cubic structure of HfO(2) is stabilized for 6.5 at. %. The permittivity is maximum for yttrium content of 6.5-10 at. %; in this range, the effective permittivity, which results from the contribution of both the cubic phase and silicate phase, is of 22. These films exhibit low leakage current density (5x10(-7) A/cm(2) at -1 V for a 6.4 nm film). The cubic phase is stable upon postdeposition high temperature annealing at 900 degrees C under NH(3). (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.