Analysis of the phonon spectrum emitted by superconducting Al-tunneling junctions at high quasiparticle injection rates

The phonon spectrum emitted by superconducting Al-tunneling junctions is analyzed by experiments, in which two junctions of different energy gaps are used as phonon generator and detector. The energy gap of the Al-films is varied by the evaporation conditions. The experiments show clearly that the phonon spectrum and the quasiparticle distributions in the generator are strongly nonthermal and depend markedly on the primary tunneling injection. At high injection rates also significant consequences of gap reductions and instabilities are observed.     

Isotopic phonon effects in β-rhombohedral boron--non-statistical isotope distribution

On the basis of the spectra of IR- and Raman-active phonons, the isotopic phonon effects in β-rhombohedral boron are analysed for polycrystalline (10)B- and (11)B-enriched samples of different origin and high-purity (nat)B single crystals. Intra- and inter-icosahedral B-B vibrations are harmonic, hence meeting the virtual crystal approximation (VCA) requirements. Deviations from the phonon shift expected according to the VCA are attributed to the anharmonic share of the lattice vibrations. In the case of icosahedral vibrations, the agreement with calculations on α-rhombohedral boron by Shirai and Katayama-Yoshida is quite satisfactory. Phonon shifts due to isotopic disorder in (nat)B are separated and determined. Some phonon frequencies are sensitive to impurities. The isotopic phonon effects yield valuable specific information on the nature of the different phonon modes. The occupation of regular boron sites by isotopes deviates significantly from the random distribution.     

Anomalous diffusion of a quantum particle in the field of a nonthermal vibration

The diffusion of quantum particles is investigated within a generalized Haken-Strobl-Reinecker model. The stochastic part in this model is assumed to be the result of a nonthermal vibration in the system. Transport is modified since the statistical properties of nonthermal vibrations differ significantly from those of thermal ones. To determine these statistical properties an equation for the characteristic functional is solved. Applying the result to a special model one obtains that the mean square displacement of quantum particle increases as the 3/2th power of time, instead of the usual first power of time.     

Spectral distribution of high-frequency phonons generated by nonradiative transitions

Using optical techniques of phonon detection, we determined the spectral distribution of high-frequency phonons generated by nonradiative transitions in CaF₂:Eu²⁺ at low crystal temperature. We found that the distribution is strongly nonthermal.     

Theoretical explanation of superconductivity in C6Ca

Using density functional theory, we demonstrate that superconductivity in C6Ca is phonon mediated with lambda = 0.83 and phonon frequency (omega)log = 24.7 meV. The calculated isotope exponents are alpha(Ca) = 0.24 and alpha(C) = 0.26. Superconductivity is due mostly to C vibrations perpendicular and Ca vibrations parallel to the graphite layers. Since the electron-phonon couplings of these modes are activated by the presence of an intercalant Fermi surface, the occurrence of superconductivity in graphite intercalated compounds requires a noncomplete ionization of the intercalant.     

Lattice vibrations and optical properties of wurtzite InN in the reststrahlen region

The lattice vibrations and optical properties of wurtzite InN are studied by the first-principle calculations based on the density functional theory. The phonon spectra of lattice vibration are calculated under the Generalized-Gradient Approximation (GGA). The optical properties are investigated based on the phonon spectra. The phonon dispersion curve and the phonon density of state are calculated and compared with the existing experimental data. The calculation indicates that InN has a metal-like behavior. Our calculation shows that the fundamental vibration is therefore infrared active in wurtzite structure semiconductors.     

第一性原理计算:MgCNi_3镁位空穴(Na)掺杂的声子谱研究

应用全势线性响应线性糕模轨道(FP-LR-LMTO)方法对MgcM3镁位进行钠掺杂的虚原子近似,计算晶格振动的动力学矩阵,得到Mg1-xNaxCNi3(x=0,0.06)的声子谱.计算结果表明MgCNi3声子谱中最低声学支沿F-M方向有接近一半距离的不稳定声子模存在,不稳定声子模都包括存原胞内x-y平面上两个相邻Ni原子沿着与C-Ni键垂直的方向上,向着镍八面体间隙区的垂直运动x为0.06的掺杂,使得布里渊区沿三个主要高对称性方向(Г-x、Г-M、Г-R)虚频范围扩大,容易使MgCNi3结构不稳定而产生结构相变.     

Anisotropy Effects on Polar Optical Vibrations in a Freestanding Wurtzite Cylindrical Quantum Dot

The properties of polar optical phonon vibrations in a quasi-zero- dimensional (Q0D) anisotropic wurtzite cylindrical quantum dot (QD) are analyzed based on the dielectric continuum model and Loudon's uniaxial crystal model.The analytical electrostatic potentials of the phonon vibrations in the systems are deduced and solved exactly. The result shows that there exist four types of polar mixing optical phonon modes in the Q0D wurtzite cylindrical QD systems. The dispersive equations and electron-phonon coupling function for the quasi-confined-half-space (QC-HS) mixing modes are derived and discussed. It is found that once the radius or the height of the QD approach infinity, the dispersive equations of the QC-HS mixing modes in the Q0D cylindrical QD can naturally reduce to those of the QC and HS modes in Q2D QWs or Q1D QWWs systems. This has been analyzed reasonably from both of physical and mathematical viewpoints.     

TATB晶体声子谱及比热容的第一性原理研究

利用第一性原理并结合vd W-DF2范德瓦耳斯力校正研究了TATB(C6H6O6N6)晶体声子谱及比热容.采用冷冻声子法计算了TATB晶体声子谱和声子态密度,发现在2.3 THz附近TATB声子态密度最大,证实了太赫兹光谱实验观察到的2.22 THz附近的强吸收峰.基于声子态密度研究了振动模式对比热容的贡献,分析结果表明,常温下0—27.5 THz频段振动模式贡献了比热容的93.7%.同时比较了升温过程中振动模式对比热容的贡献,指出TATB热分解的引发键是C—NO_2键断裂的可能性更大.     

Anisotropy Effects on Polar Optical Vibrations in a Freestanding Wurtzite Cylindrical Quantum Dot

The properties of polar optical phonon vibrations in a quasi-zero- dimensional （QOD） anisotropic wurtzite cylindrical quantum dot （QD） are analyzed based on the dielectric continuum model and Loudon＇s uniaxial crystal model. The analytical electrostatic potentials of the phonon vibrations in the systems are deduced and solved exactly. The result shows that there exist four types of polar mixing optical phonon modes in the QOD wurtzite cylindrical QD systems. The dispersive equations and electron-phonon coupling function for the quasi-confined-half-space （QC-HS） mixing modes are derived and discussed. It is found that once the radius or the height of the QD approach infinity, the dispersive equations of the QC-HS mixing modes in the QOD cylindrical QD can naturally reduce to those of the QC and HS modes in Q2D QWs or Q1D QWWs systems. This has been analyzed reasonably from both of physicM and mathematical viewpoints.     

Optical vibration modes and electron－phonon interaction in ternary mixed crystals of polar semiconductors

Optical vibrations of the lattice and the electron－phonon interaction in polar ternary mixed crystals are studied in the framework of the continuum model of Born and Huang and the random-element-isodisplacement model. A normal-coordinate system to describe the optical vibration in ternary mixed crystals is correctly adopted to derive a new Fr?hlich-like Hamiltonian for the electron－phonon interaction including the unit-cell volume variation influence. The numerical results for the phonon modes, the electron－phonon coupling constants and the polaronic energies for several typical materials are obtained. It is verified that the nonlinearity of the electron－phonon coupling effects with the composition is essential and the unit-cell volume effects cannot be neglected for most ternary mixed crystals.     

MBE生长的In_(1-x-y)Ga_xAl_yAs/InP四元混晶的拉曼散射

ＭＢＥ生长的Ｉｎ１－ｘ－ｙＧａｘＡｌｙＡｓ／ＩｎＰ四元混晶的拉曼散射韩和相汪兆平李国华徐士杰刘南竹朱作明（中国科学院半导体研究所半导体超晶格国家重点实验室北京１０００８３）ＯｐｔｉｃａｌＰｈｏｎｏｎＲａｍａｎＳｃａｔｅｒｉｎｇｆｒｏｍＩｎ１－ｘ－ｙＧ...     

Dynamic properties of graphene

The phonon spectrum of graphene has been studied with the minimum set of the nearest neighbors in the Born-von Kármán model taking into account the electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions. The widths, both natural and owing to interactions with defects, of phonons have been estimated. Symmetry constraints imposed on force constants are taken into account. For symmetry reasons, vibrations with the polarization normal to the plane of the layer are not related to in-plane vibrations. The phonon frequencies at symmetry points and elastic moduli are expressed in terms of force constants.     

Theoretical examination of electron–phonon interaction and superconductivity in the hexagonal pnictide SrPtAs

We have calculated the structural and electronic properties of SrPtAs in a hexagonal KZnAs-type of crystal structure using a generalized gradient approximation of the density functional theory and the ab initio planewave pseudopotential method. These results are used to further calculate the phonon dispersions curves and the phonon density of states using a linear response approach based on the density functional theory. Using the electronic and phonon results, the electron–phonon coupling is computed to be of the intermediate strength of 0.78. In large part, this is contributed by the phonon modes dominated by the vibrations of Pt and As atoms. The superconducting critical temperature is estimated to be 1.9 K, in good accord with its experimental value of 2.4 K.     

TiC lattice dynamics from ab initio calculations

Ab initio calculations and a direct method have been applied to derive the phonon dispersion curves and phonon density of states for the TiC crystal. The results are compared and found to be in a good agreement with the experimental neutron scattering data. The force constants have been determined from the Hellmann-Feynman forces induced by atomic displacements in a supercell. The calculated phonon density of states suggests that vibrations of Ti atoms form acoustic branches, whereas the motion of C atoms is confined to optic branches. The elastic constants have been found using the deformation method and compared with the results obtained from acoustic phonon slopes. Received 23 February 1998     

Phonon spectrum in a plasma crystal

The Fourier spectra of longitudinal and transverse waves corresponding to random particle motion were measured in a two-dimensional plasma crystal. The crystal was composed of negatively charged microspheres immersed in a plasma at a low gas pressure. The phonons were found to obey a dispersion relation that assumes a Yukawa interparticle potential. The crystal was in a nonthermal equilibrium, nevertheless phonon energies were almost equally distributed with respect to wave number over the entire first Brillouin zone.     

Femtosecond reflectivity study of coherent phonons in doubly photoexcited bismuth

Ultrafast optical excitation generates coherent A_1g optical phonons in bismuth via the mechanism of displacive excitation of coherent phonons (DECP). Here, femtosecond pump-probe reflectivity spectroscopy examines the dynamics of coherent phonons in doubly photoexcited bismuth. Two successive pump pulses are employed to generate optic phonons and thus to investigate the phonon dynamics including bond softening and dephasing with variable pump fluence and inter-pump separation times. Combined with thermal analysis, it distinguishes thermal and nonthermal effects of photoexcitation on the phonon dynamics. It also reveals that photocarriers relax via electron-hole recombination and diffusion out of the optical penetration depth on ultrafast timescales of 10–20?ps.     

Observation of anomalous phonon softening in bilayer graphene

The interaction of electron-hole pairs with lattice vibrations exhibits a wealth of intriguing physical phenomena such as the renowned Kohn anomaly. Here we report the observation in bilayer graphene of an unusual phonon softening that provides the first experimental proof for another type of phonon anomaly. Similar to the Kohn anomaly, which is a logarithmic singularity in the phonon group velocity [W. Kohn, Phys. Rev. Lett. 2, 393 (1959)], the observed phonon anomaly exhibits a logarithmic singularity in the optical-phonon energy. Arising from a resonant electron-phonon coupling effect, the anomaly was also expected, albeit not observed, in monolayer graphene. We propose an explanation for why it is easier to observe in bilayer samples.     

The kinetics of low-temperature electron-phonon relaxation in a metallic film following instantaneous heating of the electrons

The theoretical analysis of experiments on pulsed laser irradiation of metallic films sputtered on insulating supports is usually based on semiphenomenological dynamical equations for the electron and phonon temperatures, an approach that ignores the nonuniformity and the nonthermal nature of the phonon distribution function. In this paper we discuss a microscopic model that describes the dynamics of the electron-phonon system in terms of kinetic equations for the electron and phonon distribution functions. Such a model provides a microscopic picture of the nonlinear energy relaxation of the electron-phonon system of a rapidly heated film. We find that in a relatively thick film the energy relaxation of electrons consists of three stages: the emission of nonequilibrium phonons by “hot” electrons, the thermalization of electrons and phonons due to phonon reabsorption, and finally the cooling of the thermalized electron-phonon system as a result of phonon exchange between film and substrate. In thin films, where there is no reabsorption of nonequilibrium phonons, the energy relaxation consists of only one stage, the first. The relaxation dynamics of an experimentally observable quantity, the phonon contribution to the electrical conductivity of the cooling film, is directly related to the dynamics of the electron temperature, which makes it possible to use the data of experiments on the relaxation of voltage across films to establish the electron-phonon and phonon-electron collision times and the average time of phonon escape from film to substrate. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 111, 2106–2133 (June 1997)     

Imaging nonequilibrium atomic vibrations with x-ray diffuse scattering

We use picosecond x-ray diffuse scattering to image the nonequilibrium vibrations in the lattice following ultrafast laser excitation. We present images of nonequilibrium phonons in InP and InSb throughout the Brillouin zone which remain out of equilibrium up to nanoseconds. The results are analyzed using a Born model that helps identify the phonon branches contributing to the observed features in the time-resolved diffuse scattering. In InP this analysis shows a delayed increase in the transverse-acoustic (TA) phonon population along high-symmetry directions accompanied by a decrease in the longitudinal-acoustic phonons. In InSb the increase in TA phonon population is less directional.