Abstract: We calculate the quasiparticle energy spectrum of SnO2 within the GW approximation, properly taking into account the contribution of core levels to the energy corrections. The calculated fundamental gap is of 3.85 eV. We propose that the difference with respect to the experimental optical gap (3.6 eV) is due to excitonic effects in the latter. We further consider the effect applied on uniaxial pressure along the c-axis. Compared to GW, the effect of pressure on the quasiparticle energies and band gap is underestimated by the local-density approximation. The quasiparticle effective masses, however, appear to be well described by the latter.

Abstract: Electron spin resonance and electronic spectroscopy techniques were used to study the symmetry and electronic structure of Mn2+ dopants in solvothermally synthesized ZnS nanowires. The average diameter of ∼ 5 nm leads to the observable quantum confinement effects in the photoluminescence excitation spectra. The results clearly demonstrate the three symmetry locations of Mn2+ incorporation. Together with the inferred Mn2+ center densities, these data indicate a much higher efficiency of Mn2+ substitution in the nanowire sample with about two times larger diameter.

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: Epitaxial rare earth manganite thin films (ReMnO3; Re = Tb, Ho, Er, and Y) and multilayers were grown by liquid injection metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on YSZ(111) and the same systems were grown c-oriented on Pt(111) buffered Si substrates. They have been structurally investigated by electron diffraction (ED) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Nanodomains of secondary orientation are observed in the hexagonal YMnO3 films. They are related to a YSZ(111) and Pt(111) misorientation. The epitaxial film thickness has an influence on the defect formation. TbO2 and Er2O3 inclusions are observed in the TbMnO3 and ErMnO3 films respectively. The structure and orientation of these inclusions are correlated to the resembling symmetry and structure of film and substrate. The type of defect formed in the YMnO3/HoMnO3 and YMnO3/ErMnO3 multilayers is also influenced by the type of substrate they are grown on. In our work, atomic growth models for the interface between the film/substrate are proposed and verified by comparison with observed and computer simulated images.

Abstract: A new cyclosilicate hydrate with composition (C6H14N)4·[Si8O16(OH)4]·12H2O was crystallized and the structure determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure, described by the tetragonal space group I41/a, with unit cell dimensions of a = 39.2150(2) Å and c = 14.1553(2) Å, contains columns of hydrogen-bonded cubic octamer silicate anions. The space between silicate columns holds hydrogen-bonded water and protonated hexamethyleneimine molecules compensating the negative charge of the silicate. The crystal water can be removed resulting in a rearrangement of the columns into orthorhombic symmetry. Removal of the organic moiety causes amorphisation. Flash evacuation results in a new microporous material with pore volumes typical of a zeolite.

Abstract: FeMnC and FeMnSiAl TWIP steels deformed under the same conditions exhibit different work-hardening rates. The present study investigates the microstructure of plastically deformed FeMnC and FeMnSiAl samples, particularly the internal structure of the mechanically generated twins and their topology at the grain scale. Twins in the FeMnC steel are finer and full of sessile dislocations, rendering this material distinctly stronger with an improved work-hardening rate.

Abstract: The thermal signatures of superconductivity in mesoscopic disks, rings and cylinders are calculated within the Ginzburg-Landau theory. In an applied perpendicular magnetic field H the heat capacity of mesoscopic samples shows a strong dependence on the realized vortex state; discontinuities are found at the critical field for different vorticities, as well as at the superconducting-to-normal state transition. The same applies to the intermediate state of type-I superconductors. Even the subtle changes in the fluxoid distribution inside the sample leave clear signatures on heat capacity, which is particularly useful for fully three-dimensional samples whose interior is often inaccessible by magnetometry. The heat-capacity jump ΔC(H) at the critical temperature exhibits quasiperiodic modulations as a function of magnetic field. In mesoscopic superconducting rings, these oscillations provide calorimetric verification of the Little-Parks effect.

Abstract: We study by magnetoresonant tunneling spectroscopy single-particle energy spectra of the constituent weakly coupled dots in vertical quantum dot molecules over a wide energy window. The measured energy spectra are well modeled by calculated spectra for dots with in-plane confinement potentials that are elliptical and parabolic in form. However, in the regions where two, three, or four single-particle energy levels are naively expected to cross, we observe pronounced level anticrossing behavior and strong variations in the resonant currents as a consequence of coherent mixing induced by small deviations in the nearly ideal dot confinement potentials. We present detailed analysis of the energy spectra, and focus on two examples of three-level crossings whereby the coherent mixing leads to concurrent suppression and enhancement of the resonant currents when the anticrossing levels are minimally separated. The suppression of resonant current is of particular interest since it is a signature of dark state formation due to destructive interference. We also describe in detail and compare two measurement strategies to reliably extract the resonant currents required to characterize the level mixing.

Abstract: The density of states (DOS) and the optical conductivity of graphene is calculated in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field and where scattering on charged and short-range impurities is included. The standard Kubo formula is employed where the self-energy induced by impurity scattering and the Green's function are calculated self-consistently including inter-Landau level (LL) coupling and screening effects. It is found that the scattering from those two types of impurities results in a symmetric LL broadening and asymmetric inter-LL coupling renormalizes the LL positions to lower energy. The peak position and intensity of the magneto-optical conductivity depends on the filling factor and the broadened DOS. Good agreement is found with recent cyclotron resonance measurements.

Abstract: We study electron tunneling through a planar magnetic and electric barrier on the surface of a three-dimensional topological insulator. For the double barrier structures, we find (i) a directional-dependent tunneling which is sensitive to the magnetic field configuration and the electric gate voltage, (ii) a spin rotation controlled by the magnetic field and the gate voltage, (iii) many Fabry-Pérot resonances in the transmission determined by the distance between the two barriers, and (iv) the electrostatic potential can enhance the difference in the transmission between the two magnetization configurations, and consequently lead to a giant magnetoresistance. Points (i), (iii), and (iv) are alike with that in graphene stemming from the same linear-dispersion relations.

Abstract: Zigzag graphene nanoribbons patterned on graphane are studied using spin-polarized ab initio calculations. We found that the electronic and magnetic properties of the graphene/graphane superlattice strongly depends on the degree of hydrogenation at the interfaces between the two materials. When both zigzag interfaces are fully hydrogenated, the superlattice behaves like a freestanding zigzag graphene nanoribbon, and the magnetic ground state is antiferromagnetic. When one of the interfaces is half hydrogenated, the magnetic ground state becomes ferromagnetic, and the system is very close to being a half metal with possible spintronics applications whereas the magnetic ground state of the superlattice with both interfaces half hydrogenated is again antiferromagnetic. In this last case, both edges of the graphane nanoribbon also contribute to the total magnetization of the system. All the spin-polarized ground states are semiconducting, independent of the degree of hydrogenation of the interfaces. The ab initio results are supplemented by a simple tight-binding analysis that captures the main qualitative features. Our ab initio results show that patterned hydrogenation of graphene is a promising way to obtain stable graphene nanoribbons with interesting technological applications.

Abstract: The electronic structure of GaAs/AlxGa1−xAs and AlxGa1−xAs/GaAs core-shell nanowires grown in the [001] direction is studied. The k⋅p method with the 6×6 Kohn-Lüttinger Hamiltonian, taking into account the split-off band is used. The variation in the energy level dispersion, the spinor contribution to the ground state and the optical interband absorption are studied. For some range of parameters the top of the valence band exhibits a camelback structure which results in an extra peak in the optical absorption.

Abstract: We investigate the emergence of extra Dirac points in the electronic structure of a periodically spaced barrier system, i.e., a superlattice, on single-layer graphene, using a Dirac-type Hamiltonian. Using square barriers allows us to find analytic expressions for the occurrence and location of these new Dirac points in k space and for the renormalization of the electron velocity near them in the low-energy range. In the general case of unequal barrier and well widths the new Dirac points move away from the Fermi level and for given heights of the potential barriers there is a minimum and maximum barrier width outside of which the new Dirac points disappear. The effect of these extra Dirac points on the density of states and on the conductivity is investigated.

Abstract: Si nanowires with a ⟨111⟩ orientation, synthesized by vapor-liquid-solid process with low silane partial pressure reactant and gold as the catalyst, are known to exhibit sawtooth facets containing gold adsorbates. We report herein the study of the nanowire morphology by means of transmission electron microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. The nanowires consist of faceted sidewalls. The number of the sidewalls changes from 12 to 6 along the growth axis, giving rise to nanowires with an irregular hexagonal cross section at their base. The sidewalls are covered with Au-rich clusters. Their facets also exhibit atomic structures that reveal the presence of gold, resulting from the diffusion of gold during the growth. Based on these observations, the tapering of the nanowire is found to be related to two contributions: the reduction in the catalyst particle size during the growth and lateral overgrowth from the direct incorporation of Si species onto the nanowire sidewalls. Because the rearrangement of atoms at surfaces and interfaces might affect the growth kinetics, the trigonal symmetry as well as the higher lateral growth rate on the widest sidewalls are explained from the existence of an interfacial atomic structure with two inequivalent parts in the unit cell. Finally, spectroscopic measurements were performed on the major facets and revealed a metallic behavior at 77 K.

Abstract: Crystal structure and magnetic properties of the layered vanadium phosphate PbZnVO(PO4)2 are studied using x-ray powder diffraction, magnetization and specific-heat measurements, as well as band-structure calculations. The compound resembles AA′VO(PO4)2 vanadium phosphates and fits to the extended frustrated square-lattice model with the couplings J1, J1′ between nearest neighbors and J2, J2′ between next-nearest neighbors. The temperature dependence of the magnetization yields estimates of averaged nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor couplings, J̅ 1≃−5.2 K and J̅ 2≃10.0 K, respectively. The effective frustration ratio α=J̅ 2/J̅ 1 amounts to −1.9 and suggests columnar antiferromagnetic ordering in PbZnVO(PO4)2. Specific-heat data support the estimates of J̅ 1 and J̅ 2 and indicate a likely magnetic ordering transition at 3.9 K. However, the averaged couplings underestimate the saturation field, thus pointing to the spatial anisotropy of the nearest-neighbor interactions. Band-structure calculations confirm the identification of ferromagnetic J1, J1′ and antiferromagnetic J2, J2′ in PbZnVO(PO4)2 and yield (J1′−J1)≃1.1 K in excellent agreement with the experimental value of 1.1 K, deduced from the difference between the expected and experimentally measured saturation fields. Based on the comparison of layered vanadium phosphates with different metal cations, we show that a moderate spatial anisotropy of the frustrated square lattice has minor influence on the thermodynamic properties of the model. We discuss relevant geometrical parameters, controlling the exchange interactions in these compounds and propose a strategy for further design of strongly frustrated square-lattice materials.