Magnetoelastic Instability of a Long Graphene Nano-Ribbon Carrying Electric Current

This paper aims at investigating the resonance frequencies and stability of a long Graphene Nano-Ribbon (GNR) carrying electric current. The governing equation of motion is obtained based on the Euler-Bernoulli beam model along with Hamilton's principle. The transverse force distribution on the GNR due to the interaction of the electric current with its own magnetic field is determined by the Biot-Savart and Lorentz force laws. Using Galerkin's method, the governing equation is solved and the effect of current strength and dimensions of the GNR on the stability and resonance frequencies are investigated.     

Self-assembly of graphene nanoribbon ring on metallic nanowires

Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that metallic nanowires (NWs) can activate and guide the self-assembly of graphene nanoribbon rings (GNR), allowing them to adopt a bilayered helical configuration on NWs. This unique technology attributes to the combined effects of the van der Waals force and the π–π stacking interaction. The size and chirality effects of GNR on the self-assembly of GNR–NW system are calculated. Diverse NWs, acting as an external force, can initiate the conformational change of the GNRs to form bilayered helical structures. The stability of the formed nanosystems is further analyzed for numerous possible applications.     

Electronic and magnetic properties of copper-family-element atom adsorbed graphene nanoribbons with zigzag edges

We have investigated the electronic and magnetic properties of copper-family-element (CFE) atom adsorbed graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with zigzag edges using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. We found that CFE atoms energetically prefer to be adsorbed at the edges of nanoribbons. Charges are transferred between the CFE atom and carbon atoms at the edge, which reduce the local magnetic moment of carbon atoms in the vicinity of adsorption site and change the electronic structure of GNRs. As a result, Cu adsorbed zigzag GNR is a semiconductor with energy band gap of 0.88 eV in beta-spin and energy gap of 0.22 eV in alpha-spin, while Ag adsorbed zigzag GNR and Au adsorbed zigzag GNR are both half-metallic with the energy gaps of 0.68 eV and 0.63 eV in beta-spin, respectively. These results show that CFE atom adsorbed zigzag GNRs can be applied in nanoelectronics and spintronics.     

Specific heat of graphene nanoribbons

We studied the specific heat of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) using an extended force constant model. We found that at low temperature, the specific heat decreases, and its variation with temperature increases with increasing GNR width. However, the specific heat increases with increasing GNR width after crossing a chaotic region. Free boundary conditions, -CHOH-terminated and armchair-edge-induced phonon nondegeneracy, shift and distortion and localized vibrational modes significantly influence GNR specific heat compared with periodic boundary conditions and bare and zigzag edges in GNRs. Finally, we found a uniform expression for specific heat vs. width at every temperature except for the chaotic region.     

Electronic properties of Z-shaped graphene nanoribbon under uniaxial strain

Based on tight-binding approximation and a generalized Green's function method, the effect of uniaxial strain on the electron transport properties of Z-shaped graphene nanoribbon (GNR) composed of an armchair GNR sandwiched between two semi-infinite metallic armchair GNR electrodes is numerically investigated. Our results show that the increase of uniaxial strain enhances the band gap and leads to a metal-to-semiconductor transition for Z-shaped GNR. Furthermore, in the Landauer–Büttiker formalism, the current–voltage characteristics, the noise power resulting from the current fluctuations and Fano factor of strained Z-shaped GNR are explored. It is found the threshold voltage for the current and the noise power increased so that with reinforcement of the uniaxial strain parameter strength, the noise power goes from the Poisson limit to sub-Poisson region at higher bias voltages.     

Optoelectronic Properties for Armchair-Edge Graphene Nanoribbons

We study theoretically the electronic and transport property for an armchair-edge graphene nanoribbon （GNR.） with 12 and 11 transversal atomic lines, respectively. The ONR. is irradiated under an external longitudinal polarized high-frequency electromagnetic field at low temperatures. Within the framework of linear response theory in the perturbative regime, we examine the joint density of states and the real conductance of the system. It is demonstrated that, by numerical examples, some new photon-assisted intersubband transitions over a certain range of field frequency exist with different selection rules from those of both zigzag-edge GNR. and single-walled carbon nanotube. This opto-electron property dependence of armchair-edge GNR. on field frequency may be used to detect the high-frequency electromagnetic irradiation.     

On the vibration of an elastic plate on an elastic foundation

The forced vibration of an elastic plate under a time harmonic point force is studied. The plate is infinite in extent and supported by an elastic foundation. This study is made on the basis of the improved (Timoshenko) plate theory. The mathematical problem is to seek a fundamental solution (the Green's function) of the time-reduced plate equation of the improved plate theory. Such a fundamental solution is constructed by the distributional Fourier transform method. From the explicit expressions of the fundamental solution, the behavior of the fundamental singularity as a function of the vibration frequency and the foundation stiffness is examined. Conditions under which plate resonance occurs are also determined.     

The influence of edge defects on the electrical and thermal transport of graphene nanoribbons

The electrical conductance, thermopower, thermal conductance and figure of merit of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are investigated using Green function formalism in the linear response regime. The Hamiltonian of GNR is described by the tight-binding approach and the effect of elastic interactions due to the electron–electron interaction or the thermal environmental fluctuations is considered by dephasing approach within the self-consistent Born approximation. The results show that the dephasing process leads to the reduction of the electrical transport of GNRs. Since the edge configuration of GNRs has the significant role in their electronic properties, it is shown that the electrical and thermal transports of the GNRs are decreased by the edge defects while the reduction of thermal conductance is more efficient, therefore, the thermal efficiency of GNRs is increased.     

双光栅测量微弱振动位移量的实验研究

对于利用双光栅测量微弱振动仪寻找谐振频率、改变配重物体的质量分布对谐振点的影响,驱动电流对谐振点的影响以及一些实验中的技术问题,利用观察法、控制变量法等方法作图,由于谐振点附近拍频波个数变化较大,提高精度可以绘出较准确的谐振曲线并找到较精确的谐振点;通过对比小棒和橡皮泥,得出橡皮泥改变配重物体的质量分布实验效果更明显,排除了小棒颤动的影响;且得出了谐振频率与驱动电流呈正相关的结论。提出对实验中遇到问题的解决方法提高了该实验的准确性,降低实验误差。     

Beam reconfigurable antenna for the THz band based on a graphene high impedance surface

In this paper a reconfigurable beam antenna is proposed for THz applications, based on a switchable Graphene High Impedance Surface (G-HIS) that acts as a reflector for a primary radiator. The Graphene-HIS structure composed of two layers of graphene cells arranged in a 5×5 array, the two planes of the array are separated by a thin silicon oxide layer; patches in the same row are connected together, to be biased by a common DC voltage to the entire row; this gives the ability to control the graphene conductivity σ. The results show that the shape of the radiation pattern can be changed by changing the voltage applied to each row of G-HIS array. The antenna was fabricated and characterized using a THz-TDS laser system. Measurements are in good agreement with simulations as far as the graphene surface impedance and the resonance frequency are concerned. The scanning reflection on the antenna surface due to the change on the applied voltage is presented to show the effect of biased graphene layer on the dipole properties.     

Developing accelerometer based on graphene nanoribbon resonators

We investigated an ultrahigh sensitive accelerometer based on graphene nanoribbon resonators. Sensing acceleration can be made by their resonance frequency shift and/or their capacitance change. Schematics and the static properties were introduced and the dynamic properties were investigated via classical molecular dynamics simulation. As the acceleration increased, the oscillations of the deflections were going dramatically faster and the mean deflections increased, then the capacitance continually varied with large amplitudes and the resonance frequencies linearly increased in a log–log scale by power regression. The energy loss decreased with increasing time, and the average quality factors were dramatically reduced with increasing acceleration.     

Tunable band structure effects on ballistic transport in graphene nanoribbons

Graphene nanoribbons (GNR) in mutually perpendicular electric and magnetic fields are shown to exhibit dramatic changes in their band structure and electron transport properties. A strong electric field across the ribbon induces multiple chiral Dirac points, closing the semiconducting gap in armchair GNRs. A perpendicular magnetic field induces partially formed Landau levels as well as dispersive surface-bound states. Each of the applied fields on its own preserves the even symmetry Ek=E−k of the subband dispersion. When applied together, they reverse the dispersion parity to be odd and gives Ee,k=−Eh,−k and mix the electron and hole subbands within the energy range corresponding to the change in potential across the ribbon. This leads to oscillations of the ballistic conductance within this energy range.     

Energy exchange between vibration modes of a graphene nanoflake oscillator: Molecular dynamics study

We investigated the oscillatory behaviors of a square graphene-nanoflake (GNF) on a rectangular GNF via classical molecular dynamics simulations, and analyzed the energy exchange and the oscillation frequencies for three different modes. The simulation results using a model structure show that the GNF oscillator can be considered as a high frequency oscillator. As its initial velocity increases, its telescoping region increases, then its structural asymmetry along the axis due to own small rotation exerted asymmetric van der Waals (vdW) force on it, and finally, this asymmetric vdW force enhances its rotational motions during its axial translational motions. So the initial kinetic energy of the axial translational motion is changed into the energy of the orthogonal vibrational and the rotational motions. Its resonance frequencies are dependent on the aspect ratio of the bottom rectangular GNF, the difference between the lengths of the GNF oscillator and the bottom rectangular GNF, and the initial velocity.     

Surface plasmon resonance and field confinement in graphene nanoribbons in a nanocavity

In this work, we demonstrate surface plasmon resonance properties and field confinement under a strong interaction between a waveguide and graphene nanoribbons (GNRs), obtained by coupling with a nanocavity. The optical transmission of a waveguide–cavity–graphene structure is investigated by finite-difference time-domain simulations and coupled-mode theory. The resonant frequency and intensity of the GNR resonant modes can be precisely controlled by tuning the Fermi energy and carrier mobility of the graphene, respectively. Moreover, the refractive index of the cavity core, the susceptibility χ⁽³⁾ and the intensity of incident light have little effect on the GNR resonant modes, but have good tunability to the cavity resonant mode. The cavity length also has good tunability to the resonant mode of cavity. A strong interaction between the GNR resonant modes and the cavity resonant mode appears at a cavity length of L₁ = 350 nm. We also demonstrate the slow-light effect of this waveguide–cavity–graphene structure and an optical bistability effect in the plasmonic cavity mode by changing the intensity of the incident light. This waveguide–cavity–graphene structure can potentially be utilised to enhance optical confinement in graphene nano-integrated circuits for optical processing applications.     

Quantitative measurement of local elasticity of SiOx film by atomic force acoustic microscopy

<正>In this paper the elastic properties of SiO_x film are investigated quantitatively for local fixed point and qualitatively for overall area by atomic force acoustic microscopy(AFAM) in which the sample is vibrated at the ultrasonic frequency while the sample surface is touched and scanned with the tip contacting the sample respectively for fixed point and continuous measurements.The SiO_x films on the silicon wafers are prepared by the plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition(PECVD).The local contact stiffness of the tip-SiO_x film is calculated from the contact resonance spectrum measured with the atomic force acoustic microscopy.Using the reference approach,indentation modulus of SiO_x film for fixed point is obtained.The images of cantilever amplitude are also visualized and analysed when the SiO_x surface is excited at a fixed frequency.The results show that the acoustic amplitude images can reflect the elastic properties of the sample.     

Determining the optimal pre-tightening force of a sandwich transducer by measuring resonance resistance

The pre-tightening force applied on a sandwich transducer plays a key role on the transducer’s vibration performance. Typically, a transducer’s optimal pre-tightening force is not known during assembly. The objective of this study is to examine a method for determining the optimal pre-tightening force for a sandwich transducer. We propose that the transducer’s optimal pre-tightening force can be measured indirectly through the resonance resistance. Resonance resistance is an equivalent electric parameter which reflects the transducer’s mechanical energy loss, and can be measured easily using an impedance analyzer. The relationship between resonance resistance and the pre-tightening force is analyzed both theoretically and experimentally. Measurement of resonance resistance based on transducer’s admittance circle is studied. Experiments involving this relationship are conducted. Results indicate that the front-end surface amplitude of the sandwich transducer reaches a maximum when the pre-tightening force is optimal, the resonance resistance tends to a minimum, but with a small offset. This indicates that the minimum value of resonance resistance corresponds closely to the highest vibration amplitude of the transducer, but not exactly. Thus, by determining the minimum resonance resistance, the optimal pre-tightening force can be determined.     

Direct observation of dynamical bifurcation between two driven oscillation states of a Josephson junction

We performed a novel phase-sensitive microwave reflection experiment which directly probes the dynamics of the Josephson plasma resonance in both the linear and the nonlinear regime. When the junction was driven below the plasma frequency into the nonlinear regime, we observed for the first time the transition between two different dynamical states predicted for nonlinear systems. In our experiment, this transition appears as an abrupt change in the reflected signal phase at a critical excitation power. This controlled dynamical switching can form the basis of a sensitive amplifier, in particular, for the readout of superconducting qubits.     

Tailoring electronic and transport properties of edge-terminated armchair graphene by defect formation and N/B doping

First principle calculations based on Density Functional Theory and nonequilibrium Green's function methods were carried out on a p-n junction device made of armchair graphene nanoribbons (GNR), with B and N doping and with defects, to examine transport properties of these systems. Doping and defects were found to lower band gap compared to pristine GNR. N-doping leads to the smallest band gap and the highest current (17.18 μA at 0.9 V bias, −12.82 μA at −1 V bias). B-doping shows the least current. Extensive delocalisation in N-doped system suggests a strong coupling between p and n parts, making the system a high rectifying diode. Linear correspondence between transmission coefficient and projected density of states suggest robust negative differential resistance effect. Tuning of efficiency of such p-n junction by doping and defect suggests the design of suitable nanoelectronic devices in future.     

Inertial mass and the quantum vacuum fields

Even when the Higgs particle is finally detected, it will continue to be a legitimate question to ask whether the inertia of matter as a reaction force opposing acceleration is an intrinsic or extrinsic property of matter. General relativity specifies which geodesic path a free particle will follow, but geometrodynamics has no mechanism for generating a reaction force for deviation from geodesic motion. We discuss a different approach involving the electromagnetic zero‐point field (ZPF) of the quantum vacuum. It has been found that certain asymmetries arise in the ZPF as perceived from an accelerating reference frame. In such a frame the Poynting vector and momentum flux of the ZPF become non‐zero. Scattering of this quantum radiation by the quarks and electrons in matter can result in an acceleration‐dependent reaction force. Both the ordinary and the relativistic forms of Newton's second law, the equation of motion, can be derived from the electrodynamics of such ZPF‐particle interactions. Conjectural arguments are given why this interaction should take place in a resonance at the Compton frequency, and how this could simultaneously provide a physical basis for the de Broglie wavelength of a moving particle. This affords a suggestive perspective on a deep connection between electrodynamics, the origin of inertia and the quantum wave nature of matter.     

Monitoring thickness deviations in planar multi-layer elastic structures using impedance signatures

In this letter, a low frequency ultrasonic resonance technique that operates in the 20-80-kHz regime is presented that demonstrates detection of thickness changes on the order of +/-10 mum. This measurement capability is a result of the direct correlation between the electrical impedance of an electro-acoustic transducer and the mechanical loading it experiences when placed in contact with a layered elastic structure. The relative frequency shifts of the resonances peaks can be estimated through a simple one-dimensional transmission model. Separate experimental measurements confirm this technique to be sensitive to subtle changes in the underlying layered elastic structure.