Abstract: Insulating and metallic stripes above and below the Curie temperature, T-C, respectively, were observed by a high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and/or spectroscopy (STS) in A-site ordered and macroscopically strain free epitaxial La0.75Ca0.25MnO3 film grown on MgO substrate. The “insulating” stripes were found to be incommensurable to the lattice and aligned along (110) direction. Metallic stripes were commensurable with periodicity 2a(p)similar to 0.8 nm and aligned parallel to the crystallographic a/b-axis. Formation of these stripes involves competing charge, orbital, and lattice orders and is an outcome of an overlapping of electron wave functions mediated by the local lattice-strain distribution, existed even in A-site ordered film due to the difference in cation radii of La and Ca. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: The properties of a clean superconductor with nanoscale dimensions are governed by quantum confinement of the electrons. This results in a spatially inhomogeneous superconducting condensate and in the formation of new Andreev-type quasiparticle states. These states are mainly located beyond regions where the superconducting condensate is enhanced. A numerical self-consistent solution of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations for a cylindrical metallic nanowire shows that these new Andreev-type states decrease the ratio of the energy gap to the critical temperature.

Abstract: Computer simulations have been performed to describe the effect of small admixtures of hydrogen to an argon glow discharge in the Grimm-type configuration. The two-dimensional density profiles of the various plasma species (i.e., electrons, Ar+, ArH+, H+, H2+ and H3+ ions, H atoms and H2 molecules, Ar metastable atoms and sputtered Cu atoms) are presented for 1% H2 added to the argon glow discharge, and the effect of different H2 additions (varying between 0.1 and 10%) on the species densities, the hydrogen dissociation degree, and the sputtering process, are investigated. Finally, the relative contributions of various production and loss processes for the different plasma species are calculated.

Abstract: We report on the observation of self-organized stripe-like structures on the as-grown surface and in the bulk of (Nd,Eu,Gd)Ba2Cu3Oy single crystals. The periodicity of the stripes on the surface lies between 500800 nm. These are possibly the growth steps of the crystal. Transmission electron microscopy investigations revealed stripes of periodicity in the range of 2040 nm in the bulk. From electron back scattered diffraction investigations, no crystallographic misorientation due to the nanostripes has been found. Scanning tunneling spectroscopic experiments revealed nonsuperconducting regions, running along twin directions, which presumably constitute strong pinning sites.

Abstract: Dislocation microstructures have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy in polycrystalline coesite deformed experimentally at 4 GPa, 1200 degrees C. Burgers vectors have been determined by large-angle convergent-beam electron diffraction. Sample orientation was assisted by precession electron diffraction to overcome difficulties arising from pseudo-hexagonal symmetry. The results are explained by using a pseudo-hexagonal setting. We found that most dislocations observed are of the 1/3 < 2 (1) over bar(1) over bar0 > type. No clear glide plane was identified, suggesting that climb is activated under these conditions. This conclusion is supported by the observation of numerous subgrain boundaries. We have also observed some [00011 dislocations. Finally, the C12/cl space group to which coesite belongs being centred, an additional slip system is observed: 1/6[(1) over bar2 (1) over bar3](01 (1) over bar1) (1/2[(1) over bar 10](110) in the monoclinic setting).