Abstract: The use of an energy-filtering held emission gun transmission electron microscope (CM30 FEG Ultratwin) allows, apart from imaging morphologies down to nanometer scale, the fast acquisition of high-resolution element distributions. Electrons that have lost energy corresponding to characteristic inner-shell loss edges are used to form the element maps. The production of Ultra Large-Scale Integration (ULSI) devices with dimensions below 0.25 mum requires among others the formation of a multilayer metallization scheme by means of repeatedly applying the deposition and etching of dielectrics and metals. In this work the evolution of the surface chemical species on etched Al lines in a post-etch cleaning process has been investigated by energy filtering transmission electron microscopy, with the aim to understand the role of each process step on the removal of the etching residues. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Nickel foams were used as catalysts to dissociate acetylene and deposit carbon atoms. Graphite nanofibers with distinct structures were developed at 550degreesC with nickel foams pretreated with hydrogen. HREM observations showed that the graphite layers of the nanofibers were aligned at a certain angle to the fiber axis. It is suggested that hydrogen treatment and metal catalysts have a tremendous impact on the yields and microstructures of the graphite nanofibers. The growth mechanism of these fish-bone graphite nanofibers is also discussed.

Abstract: Using the nonlinear Ginzburg-Landau theory we investigated the dependence of the magnetic coupling between two concentric mesoscopic superconducting rings on their thickness. The size of this magnetic coupling increases with the thickness of the rings. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: The double phosphate Ca9In(PO4)(7) was obtained by solid-state reaction and was studied by room and high-temperature Xray powder diffraction, electron diffraction, high-resolution electron microscopy, second-harmonic generation (SHG) technique, differential scanning calorimetry, dielectric and conductivity measurements. The beta-Ca9In(PO4)(7) room-temperature phase is related to the mineral whitlockite and is similar to beta-Ca-3(PO4)(2). It has space group R (3) over barc, with unit cell parameters: a = 10.4008(1) Angstrom, c = 37.272(1) Angstrom, Z = 6. The structure was refined by the Rietveld method (R-wp = 4.69, R-I = 1.81). A reversible first-order beta <----> beta' phase transition of the ferroelectric type with T-c = 902 K is revealed by SHG, differential scanning calorimetry and dielectric measurements. The centrosymmetric beta'-Ca9In(PO4)(7) (973 K) has space group R (3) over barc, a = 10.4611(2) Angstrom, c = 37.874 (1) Angstrom (R-wp = 4.27, R-I = 4.11). Compared to the low-temperature beta-Ca9In(PO4)(7) structure, beta'-Ca9In(PO4)(7) can be described as an orientational disordering of the P1O(4) tetrahedra together with a calcium disordering on the M3 site. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).

Abstract: The behavior of excitons in spatially modulated magnetic fields is described taking into account the exciton spin contribution. The results show that the exciton trapping in periodic magnetic fields is possible and dependent on the modulation profile.

Abstract: We investigate low-temperature magnetotransport of high-mobility two-dimensional electron gases subjected to one-dimensional periodic magnetic and electric modulations. Our previous quantum perturbation theory is extended to lower temperatures and the energy broadening due to impurity scattering is incorporated. Numerical calculations are made for situations where several Landau bands overlap. We find that the Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations are dominated by collisional resistance. The amplitudes of the SdH oscillations are strongly modulated and the positions of the SdH minima switch between even and odd Landau-level filling factors, in the resistance both parallel and perpendicular to the one-dimensional modulation. This is a consequence of the internal structure (i.e., smeared out van Hove singularities) of overlapping Landau bands. Our theoretical results are in good agreement with recent experiments.

Abstract: We present a model of pressure effects of a two-band superconductor based on a Ginzburg-Landau free energy with two order parameters. The parameters of the theory are pressure as well as temperature dependent. New pressure effects emerge as a result of the competition between the two bands. The theory then is applied to MgB2. We identify two possible scenaria regarding the fate of the two Q subbands under pressure, depending on whether or not both subbands are above the Fermi energy at ambient pressure. The splitting of the two subbands is probably caused by the E-2g, distortion. If only one subband is above the Fermi energy at ambient pressure (scenario I), application of pressure diminishes the splitting and it is possible that the lower subband participates in the superconductivity. The corresponding crossover pressure and Gruneisen parameter are estimated. In the second scenario both bands start above the Fermi energy and they move below it, either by pressure or via the substitution of Mg by Al. In both scenaria, the possibility of electronical topological transition is emphasized. Experimental signatures of both scenaria are presented and existing experiments are discussed in the light of the different physical pictures.

Abstract: Tetrahedral chain ordering in the Sr2MnGaO5 structure is studied using electron diffraction (ED) and high-resolution electron microscopy. The ED patterns show the presence of satellite reflections, which indicate a commensurately modulated structure with a = 5.4056(8) Angstrom b 16.171(3) Angstrom, c = 5.5592(7) Angstrom, q – 1/2c*, superspace group Immma(00gamma,)s00. The Superstructure arises due to ordering of the two types of symmetry related tetrahedral chains (L and R) according to a ... LRLR ... sequence, where L and R chains alternate along the c-axis within the same (GaO) layer. Numerous defects at different structural levels were observed, comprising interleaving L and R chains, violation of the ... LRLR ... chain sequence within one layer, different stacking modes of the ... LRLR ... ordered layers with subsequent alternation of blocks of different width along the h-axis of the brownmillerite subcell and island fragmentation of the modulated superstructure. By in situ heating ED experiments it is found that the long-range ordering of the tetrahedral chains is stable tip to 665degreesC and is completely suppressed at 905degreesC. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Ibis work illustrates the development of X-ray fluorescence tomography and polycapillary based confocal imaging towards a three-dimensional (313), quantitative analytical method with lateral resolution levels down to the 2-20 mum scale. Detailed analytical characterization is given for polycapillary based confocal XRF imaging, which is a new variant of the 3D micro-XRF technique. Applications for 2D/3D micro-XR-F are illustrated for the analysis of biological (zooplankton) and geological samples (microscopic inclusions in natural diamonds and fluid inclusions in quartz). Based on confocal imaging, fully three-dimensional distributions of trace elements could be obtained, representing a significant generalization of the regular 2D scanning technique for micro-XRF spectroscopy. The experimental work described in this paper has been carried out at the ESRF ID18F microfluorescence end-station and at HASYLAB Beam Line L.

Abstract: The deviation effect of spinor mode from the single-mode for a spin-1 Bose gas of trapped atoms is studied beyond the mean field theory. Based on the effective Hamiltonian with nondegenerated level of the collective spin states, the splitting level of the system energy due to the deviation effect has been calculated. For the large condensates of (87)Rb and (23)Na with atom number N > 10(5), the splitting fraction of the energy, arising from the magnetization exhibited by the trapped Bose gas, is found to have a typical order of (10(-4) similar to 10(-8)), decreasing as N(-2) for (87)Rb and increasing as -N(-2) for 23 Na, respectively.

Abstract: We propose a scheme to generate the entangled state of two Lambda-type three-level atoms trapped in a cavity. The atoms are initially prepared in their excited state and the cavity in vacuum state. Each atom has two possibilities to deexcite to one of the ground states. If two different polarized photons are detected subsequently, it is sure that both atoms are in different ground states. But which atom is in which ground state cannot be determined, the atoms are thus prepared in a superposition of two ground states, i.e., an entangled state. In comparison with the proposal of Hong and Lee [Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 237901 (2002)], the requirement of a single polarized photon source can be avoided in our scheme.

Abstract: Neutron and high resolution X-ray diffraction investigations on perfect single crystals of RbH2PO4 (RDP), a hydrogen bonded ferroelectric of KDP type are reported. The results of crystal structure analysis from diffraction data, below and above the paraelectric – ferroelectric phase transition, support a disorder – order character Of [PO4H2](-)-groups. The tetragonal symmetry of the paraelectric phase with the double well potential of the hydrogen atoms obtained by diffraction, results simply from a time-space average of orthorhombic symmetry. According to the group – subgroup relation between the tetragonal space group 142d and the orthorhombic Fdd2 a short range order of ferroelectric clusters in the tetragonal phase is observed. With decreasing temperature the ferroelectric clusters increase and the long range interaction between their local polarisation vectors leads to the formation of lamellar ferroelectric domains with alternating polarisation directions at T-C = 147 K. From the high resolution X-ray data it is concluded that below T-C the ferroelastic strain in the (a,b)-plane leads to micro-angle grain boundaries at the domain walls. The tilt angle is enhanced by an applied electric field parallel to the ferroelectric axis. The resulting dislocations at the domain walls persist in the paraelectric phase leading to a memory effect for the arrangement of twin lamellae. With increased electric field the phase transition temperature T-C is decreased.

Abstract: A flow injection hydride generation graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric (FI-HG-GFAAS) method was applied to the determination of Se in Se-doped and undoped cereals and bakery products. For the purpose of doping, the soils used for the cultivation of the cereals were dosed with Se- doped foliar fertilizers. The samples were dissolved in a mixture of HNO(3) and H(2)O(2) solutions using micro-waveassisted digestion. The decomposition of H(2)Se generated from the sample solutions and the trapping of elemental Se were performed at a temperature of 300 degrees C on an Ir-pretreated integrated graphite platform of a transversally heated graphite atomizer(THGA). For release of the trapped Se within a fairly short atomization time (5s), an atomization temperature of 2200 degrees C was observed to be optimal. The overall efficiency of hydride generation, transport and trapping was similar to 86%. The upper limit of the linear dynamic range of calibration was 10 mu gL(-1), which corresponds to 0.5 mu g g(-1) for solid samples. Recovery of the samples spiked with Se(VI) solutions was found to be 93 +/- 6% on average. The relative standard deviation of the determinations was less than 8%. The limit of detection was found to be 0.06 mu gL(-1), corresponding to 3 ng g(-1) for solid samples. The accuracy of the method was verified with the use of IAEA-155 ( whey powder) certified reference material. End-capped THGA tubes resulted in an extension of the linear calibration range compared to that of standard THGAs. The Se content in bakery products made of undoped cereals ranged from 7.7 to 68 ng g(-1) ( wet weight) in 18 samples, whereas the Se content of the corresponding cereals was found to be below 100 ng g(-1) ( wet weight). The Se level of cereals grown on soils treated with Se- doped fertilizers ranged from 128 to 1046 ng g(-1) ( wet weight), and it depended linearly on the Se concentration of the corresponding foliar fertilizer.

Abstract: The confinement of a C-60 molecule encapsulated in a cylindrical nanotube depends on the tube radius. In small tubes with radius R-T less than or similar to 7 A, a fivefold axis of the molecule coincides with the tube axis. The interaction between C-60 molecules in the nanotube is then described by a O-2-rotor model on a 1D liquid chain with coupling between orientational and displacive correlations. This coupling leads to chain contraction. The structure factor of the 1D liquid is derived. In tubes with a larger radius the molecular centers of mass are displaced off the tube axis. The distinction of two groups of peapods with on- and off-axis molecules suggests an explanation of the apparent splitting of A(g) modes of C-60 in nanotubes measured by resonant Raman scattering.

Abstract: We consider magnetic flux moving in superconductors with periodic pinning arrays. We show that sample heating by moving vortices produces negative differential resistivity (NDR) of both N and S type (i.e., N- and S-shaped) in the voltage-current characteristic (VI curve). The uniform flux flow state is unstable in the NDR region of the VI curve. Domain structures appear during the NDR part of the VI curve of an N type, while a filamentary instability is observed for the NDR of an S type. The simultaneous existence of the NDR of both types gives rise to the appearance of striking self-organized (both stationary and nonstationary) two-dimensional dynamical structures.