Abstract: This work provides values of electron scattering 002 structure factors for InxGa1-xAs as a function of the In concentration x=0 to 1. These results allow accurate compositional analysis of pseudomorphically grown InxGa1-xAs/GaAs layers by transmission electron microscopy methods relying on the chemical sensitivity of the (002) beam. The calculations go beyond the limits of the isolated atom approximation, because they take into account charge redistribution effects between atomic sites in the crystal, strain, and static atomic displacements. The computations were performed by the full potential linearized augmented plane-wave method using a generalized gradient approximation for the exchange and correlation part of the potential. The calculations of strained InxGa1-xAs correspond to the strain state in specimens with large, small, and intermediate thickness in the electron beam direction. Additionally, the effect of static atomic displacements is taken into account. All results are listed in a parameterized form. The calculated 002 structure factor vanishes at an In concentration of 16.4%. This value is in a good agreement with previously reported experimental measurements. Hence, our results are a significant improvement with respect to the isolated atom approximation which is conventionally applied in transmission electron microscopy simulations, and which predicts a value of 22.5%.

Abstract: The electronic properties of a set of intrinsic and extrinsic point defects in gamma-Al2O3 are investigated using quasiparticle calculations within the G(0)W(0) approximation. We find that the electronic signature of atomic vacancies lie deep in the band gap, close to the top of the valence band edge. The introduction of C, Si, and N impurities induces defective levels that are located close to the conduction band edge and near the middle of the band gap of the oxide. The comparison with electrical measurements reveals that the energy levels of some of these defects match with the electronic fingerprint of the defects reported in gamma-Al2O3 based nonvolatile memories. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3507385]

Abstract: The electronic and vibrational properties of 2D honeycomb structures of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) subjected to strain have been investigated using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. We have studied the evolution of the electronic properties of bulk and layered MoS2, going down from a few layers up to a mono-layer, and next investigated the effect of bi-axial strain on their electronic structure and vibrational frequencies. Both for tensile and compressive biaxial strains, the shrinking of the energy band-gap of MoS2 with increasing level of applied strain is observed and a transition limit of the system from semiconducting to metallic is predicted to occur for strains in the range of 8-10%. We also found a progressive downshift (upshift) of both the E-2g(1) and A(1g) Raman active modes with increasing level of applied tensile (compressive) strain. Interestingly, significant changes in the curvature of the conduction and valence band near their extrema upon the application of strain are also predicted, with correlated variations of the electron and hole effective masses. These changes present interesting possibilities for engineering the electronic properties of 2D structures of MoS2. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: A numerical parameter study has been performed for a cylindrical atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in helium with nitrogen impurities using a two-dimensional time-dependent fluid model. The calculated electric currents and gap voltages as a function of time for a given applied potential are presented, as well as the number densities of the various plasma species. This study shows that for the geometry under consideration the applied voltage parameters have a large impact on the electric current profiles and that the discharge current is always determined by the electron and ion conduction currents while the displacement current is nearly negligible. A relative broadening of the current profiles (compared with the duration of the half cycle of the applied voltage) with an increase in the applied frequency is obtained. Nearly sinusoidal current wave forms, usually typical for radio frequency DBDs, are observed while still operating at the frequencies of tens of kilohertz. For the setup under investigation, the Townsend mode of the DBD is observed in the entire range of applied voltage amplitudes and frequencies. It is shown that the average power density dissipated in the discharge increases with rising applied voltage and frequency. An increase in applied voltage frequency leads to an increase in the electron density and a decrease in electron energy, while increasing the voltage amplitude has the opposite effect.

Abstract: The recent infatuation for LiFePO4 as positive electrode material in Li-ion batteries has prompted a renewed interest in olivine-type structures, with a view to enhance their conduction proper-ties. We show that the dual substitution of Li for Fe and of P for Si in the olivine LiFePO4 phase leads to a complete solid solution Li1-xFe1+xP1-xSixO4 as deduced from combined X-ray diffraction, Mossbauer, and NMR experiments. Our findings challenge the common belief that the anionic network cannot be substituted. Moreover. it is found that such a substitution promotes Li intersite mixing between the olivine M1 and M2 sites. Such mixing, together with the worsening of the conducting properties of the dually substituted samples, is believed to be responsible for the poor electrochemical performances of the member's series. Beyond x = 0.20, the samples were electrochemically inactive. While the current materials are disappointing application-wise, such a study provides clues to the rich chemistry remaining to be unveiled with olivine-type structures in particular and polyanionic compounds in general.

Abstract: We study vortex configurations in mesoscopic superconducting squares. Our theoretical approach is based on the analytical solution of the London equation using the Green's function method. The potential energy landscape found is then used in Langevin-type molecular-dynamics simulations to obtain stable vortex configurations. We show that the filling rules for vortices in squares with increasing applied magnetic field can be formulated, although in a different manner than in disks, in terms of the formation of vortex 'shells'. We discuss metastable states and the stability of the vortex configurations found with respect to variations of the material parameters and deformations of the shape of the sample.