Conductance quantization of an ideal Sharvin contact

Thorough calculations of the conductance of an idealized quantum point contact are presented. The point contact is modelled as a configuration in which two conductive half-spaces are separated by a non-conductive planar screen with a circular window of a given radius a. The screen is considered as opaque for the electrons with the exception of the window. From the viewpoint of the electrical conduction, the half-spaces are interpreted as leads which are perfectly coalesced with one another across the window. We assume that the leads are reservoirs of a strongly degenerate gas of electrons. If the leads are made from an n-type degenerate semiconductor, the Fermi wavelength λ_F = 2π/k_F = 2π/(3π²n)^1/3 may be tens of nanometers. The theory of the conductance Γ_S of such a point contact is reconsidered. Within the framework of the approximation that we use assuming that T = 0, we show that the dependence of Γ_S on the variable k_Fa manifests curved steps terminated by singular spikes. Owing to stochastic influences, the spikes should be seen as maxima in measured spectra. We predict that these maxima should demarcate the edges of the steps in the Γ_S vs. k_Fa plot. This prediction is in agreement with the STM observations reported recently by Nagaoka et al. [K. Nagaoka, S. Yaginuma, T. Nagao, T. Nakayama, Phys. Rev. B. 74 (2006) 033310].     

Fermi liquid theory: a renormalization group approach

We show how Fermi liquid theory results can be systematically recovered using a renormalization group (RG) approach. Considering a two-dimensional system with a circular Fermi surface, we derive RG equations at one-loop order for the two-particle vertex function in the limit of small momentum () and energy () transfer and obtain the equation which determines the collective modes of a Fermi liquid. The density-density response function is also calculated. The Landau function (or, equivalently, the Landau parameters F _l ^s and F _l ^a ) is determined by the fixed point value of the -limit of the two-particle vertex function (). We show how the results obtained at one-loop order can be extended to all orders in a loop expansion. Calculating the quasi-particle life-time and renormalization factor at two-loop order, we reproduce the results obtained from two-dimensional bosonization or Ward Identities. We discuss the zero-temperature limit of the RG equations and the difference between the Field Theory and the Kadanoff-Wilson formulations of the RG. We point out the importance of n-body () interactions in the latter. Received: 27 June 1997 / Received in final form: 17 December 1997 / Accepted: 26 January 1998     

Effect of the surface integral in the torque equation of the electromagnetic angular momentum on the Faraday rotation

A circularly polarized plane wave of infinite transverse extent (δ = ∞) has no spin angular momentum, while a realistic light does carry it. This paradox originates from the presence (δ = ∞) and absence (δ ≈ 0) of the surface integral in the total angular momentum J. The same holds for the torque equation of dJ/dt, so that δ is also connected with the relative Faraday rotation angle Θ_F/θ_F when a radius (a) of a cylindrical medium with optical activity is only a little larger than that (b) of light beam, where Θ_F is the Faraday rotation angle and θ_F is the intrinsic Faraday rotation angle of a medium. It is shown here that it is possible to estimate δ for a realistic light from the drastic variation in Θ_F/θ_F near b/a = 1.     

Damping of zero sound in Luttinger liquids

We calculate the damping γ_q of collective density oscillations (zero sound) in a one-dimensional Fermi gas with dimensionless forward scattering interaction F and quadratic energy dispersion k² / 2 m at zero temperature. Using standard many-body perturbation theory, we obtain γ_q from the expansion of the inverse irreducible polarization to first order in the effective screened (RPA) interaction. For wave-vectors | q| /k_F ≪F (where k_F = m v_F is the Fermi wave-vector) we find to leading order γ_q ∝| q |³ /(v_F m²). On the other hand, for F ≪| q| /k_F most of the spectral weight is carried by the particle-hole continuum, which is distributed over a frequency interval of the order of q²/m. We also show that zero sound damping leads to a finite maximum proportional to |k - k_F | ^{-2 + 2 η} of the charge peak in the single-particle spectral function, where η is the anomalous dimension. Our prediction agrees with photoemission data for the blue bronze K_0.3MoO₃. We comment on other recent calculations of γ_q.     

Quantitative relation between the thermionic contrast of metal surfaces and their degree of monocrystallization

For better understanding the peculiarities of work function, a simple model is devised to calculate the effective work functions (?⁺ and ?^e) for positive-ionic and electronic emissions from polycrystalline surfaces, which have a work function range from the maximum (?_max) to the minimum (?_min). Analysis of the theoretical results thus obtained and also of experimental data published to date enables us to find the quantitative relation between the thermionic contrast (Δ?^* ≡ ?⁺ − ?^e) and the degree of monocrystallization (δ_m), thereby yielding the three formulae of (1) Δ?^* = c for 0 < δ_m ? 1/2 (polycrystal), (2) Δ?^* = 4 cδ_m (1 − δ_m) for l/2 ? δ_m ? 1 (polycrystal), and (3) Δ?^* = 0 for δ_m = 1 (monocrystal). For a given surface consisting of a number of patchy faces (i), δ_m corresponds to the largest among its fractional surface areas (F_i) having different values of local work function (?_i). In a typical case of tungsten, the constant of c is evaluated theoretically to be 0.53 ± 0.09 eV, which well agrees with 0.59 ± 0.06 eV determined experimentally by many workers and also which satisfies the essential condition of Δ?^* ≦ c < ?_max − ?_min ≈ 0.8-1.0 eV. Our theoretical model is quite simple, but it is very useful for (1) evaluating both ?⁺ and ?^e with an uncertainty of less than ±0.1 eV, (2) finding the quantitative relation between Δ?^* and δ_m for actual surfaces of both poly- and monocrystals, and also (3) getting a substantial clue as to the problem how the effective work functions are governed by the surface characteristics of both F_i and ?_i.     

Density-matrix renormalization group study of the spin-Peierls instability in the antiferromagnetic Heisenberg ladder

The columnar dimerized antiferromagnetic S?=?1/2 spin ladder is numerically studied by the density-matrix renormalization-group (DMRG) method. The elastic lattice with spin-phonon coupling ?? and lattice elastic force k is introduced into the system. Thus the S?=?1?/?2 Heisenberg spin chain is unstable towards dimerization (the spin-Peierls transition). However, the dimerization should be suppressed if the rung coupling J _?? is sufficiently large, and a Columnar dimer to Rung singlet phase transition takes place. After a self-consistent calculation of the dimerization, we determine the quantum phase diagram by numerically computing the singlet-triplet gap, the dimerization amplitude, the order parameters, the rung spin correlation and quantum entropies. Our results show that the phase boundary between the Columnar dimer phase and Rung singlet phase is approximately of the form J _?? ~ \hbox{$(\frac{k}{\alpha^{2}})^{-\frac{5}{4}}$} ( k ?? 2 ) ? 5 4.     

Charge density waves and bond order waves in a quarter filled extended Hubbard ladder

We investigate the phase diagram of a quarter filled Hubbard ladder with nearest-neighbor Coulomb repulsion using bosonization and renormalization group approach. Focusing on the strong-repulsion regime, we discuss the effect of an interchain exchange interaction J and interchain repulsion V on the possible ground states of the system and charge order configurations. Since the spin excitations always possess a gap, we find competing bond-order wave and charge density wave phases as possible ground states of the ladder model. We discuss the elementary excitations in these various phases and point an analogy between the excitations on some of these phases and those of a Kondo-Heisenberg insulator. We also study the order of the quantum phase transitions between the different ground states of the system. We obtain second order transitions in the Ising or SU(2)₂ universality class or first order transitions. We map the complete phase diagram in the J –V plane by integrating perturbative renormalization-group equations. Finally, we discuss the effect of doping away from half-filling and the effect of an applied magnetic field.     

Magnetic properties and microstructure study of high coercivity Au/FePt/Au trilayer thin films

High-coercivity Au(60 nm)/FePt(δ nm)/Au(60 nm) trilayer samples were prepared by sputtering at room temperature, followed by post annealing at different temperatures. For the sample with δ=60 nm, L1₀ ordering transformation occurs at 500 °C. Coercivity (H_c) is increased with the annealing temperature in the studied range 400–800 °C. The H_c value of the trilayer films is also varied with thickness of FePt intermediate layer (δ), from 27 kOe for δ=60 nm to a maximum value of 33.5 kOe for δ=20 nm. X-ray diffraction data indicate that the diffusion of Au atoms into the FePt L1₀ lattice is negligible even after a high-temperature (800 °C) annealing process. Furthermore, ordering parameter is almost unchanged as δ is reduced from 60 to 15 nm. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) photos indicate that small FePt Ll₀ particles are dispersed amid the large-grained Au. We believe that the high coercivity of the trilayer sample is attributed to the small and uniform grain sizes of the highly ordered FePt particles which have perfect phase separation with Au matrix.     

Observation of nonstationary effects in saturation spectroscopy

We have studied the nonstationary effects in saturated absorption spectroscopy of the ⁸⁷Rb D₂ line. Varying the size of the σ⁺ polarized pump laser beam, we observed saturated absorption spectra for the σ^± polarized probe beam. For equal polarizations of the pump and probe beams, we found that the resonance signal for the F_g = 1 → F_e = 2 line, and the crossover lines between F_g = 1 → F_e = 2 and F_g = 1 → F_e = 1 (and 0) lines increased to a greater extent than the others. This observation can be understood from the calculated time evolution of the populations of the ground-state sublevels by means of a rate equation model. We also compared experimental data for other conditions with the calculated results. We found good agreement between the calculated results and the data.     

High-resolution photoemission study of FeSr2YCu2O7+δ

We have performed high-resolution photoemission spectroscopy (PES) on FeSr₂YCu₂O_7+δ, of which superconductivity of T_c=49 K was recently reported. We clearly observed opening of a d-wave-like superconducting gap and estimated the maximum gap value (Δ_max) to be 10 meV at 15 K. This gap value gives 2Δ_max/k_BT_c∼5, suggesting a strong-coupling nature of superconductivity in FeSr₂YCu₂O_7+δ. Comparative PES study with superconducting and insulating samples shows that the valence band is rigidly shifted as a function of doping without evolution of additional states within the insulating gap.     

Photophysical studies on axially substituted indium and gallium phthalocyanines upon UV-Vis laser irradiation

A series of results from different photophysical experiments on indium and gallium phthalocyanine (Pc) compounds is reported. Gallium Pc's have much longer singlet and triplet excited state lifetimes in comparison with indium Pc's. The strong reverse saturable absorption observed at 532 nm excitation is a consequence of the increase in absorbance of Pc's in the triplet excited state in the optical window comprised between Q- and B-bands, as verified upon laser irradiation with ns pulses at 355 nm. Using C₆₀ as a reference, the intersystem cross quantum yields of tBu₄PcInCl and tBu₄PcGaCl are 0.70 and 0.36, respectively.     

Effective biaxial modulus and strain energy density of ideally (h k l)-fiber-textured cubic polycrystalline films

The effective biaxial modulus (M_eff) and strain energy density (W) of cubic polycrystalline films with ideally (h k l) fiber textures are estimated using Vook-Witt (VW) grain interaction model and the data are compared with those derived from Voigt, Reuss and Voigt-Reuss-Hill (VRH) models. Numerical results show that the VW average of M_eff for ideally (1 0 0)- or (1 1 1)-fiber-textured films is identical to the VRH average of M_eff. For (1 1 0) and (1 1 2) planes, however, the VW average of M_eff for (1 1 0)-fiber-textured film is larger than that of (1 1 2)-fiber-textured film when the Zener anisotropic factor (A_R) is not equal to 1. Furthermore, M_eff and W exhibit incremental tendencies with the increase of the orientation factor (Γ_h k l) for the [h k l] axis when A_R > 1, implying that M_eff and W have the minimums on the (1 0 0) plane. Reversely, M_eff and W decrease with the increasing Γ_h k l when A_R < 1. This means that M_eff and W on (1 1 1) plane have the minimums.     

Tails of the dynamical structure factor of 1D spinless fermions beyond the Tomonaga approximation

We consider one-dimensional (1D) interacting spinless fermions with a non-linear spectrum in a clean quantum wire (non-linear bosonization). We compute diagrammatically the 1D dynamical structure factor, S(ω,q), beyond the Tomonaga approximation focusing on it's tails, |ω| ≫vq, i.e. the 2-pair excitation continuum due to forward scattering. Our methodology reveals three classes of diagrams: two “chiral” classes which bring divergent contributions in the limits ω→±vq, i.e. near the single-pair excitation continuum, and a “mixed” class (so-called Aslamasov-Larkin or Altshuler-Shklovskii type diagrams) which is crucial for the f-sum rule to be satisfied. We relate our approach to the T=0 ones present in the literature. We also consider the case and show that the 2-pair excitation continuum dominates the single-pair one in the range: |q|T/k_F ≪ω±vq ≪T (substantial for q ≪k_F). As applications we first derive the small-momentum optical conductivity due to forward scattering: σ∼1/ω for T ≪ω and σ∼T/ω² for T ≫ω. Next, within the 2-pair excitation continuum, we show that the attenuation rate of a coherent mode of dispersion Ω_q crosses over from , e.g. γ_q ∼|q|³ for an acoustic mode, to , independent of Ω_q, as temperature increases. Finally, we show that the 2-pair excitation continuum yields subleading curvature corrections to the electron-electron scattering rate: , where V is the dimensionless strength of the interaction.     

Giant Faraday rotation in Fe–ZnSe granular films

The giant magneto-optical Faraday effect (giant Faraday rotation) of ferromagnetic metal–semiconductor matrix Fe–ZnSe granular films prepared by radio frequency sputtering is studied. The result shows that the Faraday rotation angle θ_F value of the granular films sample with Fe volume fraction x=35% is of the order of 10⁵ °/cm at room temperature. Temperature dependence of the θ_F of Fe_0.35(ZnSe)_0.65 granular films shows that θ_F value, below 150 K, increases rapidly with the decrease of the temperature, and when T=10 K θ_F value is 6×10⁵ °/cm. Through the study of the structure and dependence of magnetic properties on temperature, it has been found that the remarkable increase of the θ_F value of Fe_0.35(ZnSe)_0.65 granular films below 150 K seems to arise from the sp–d exchange interaction inside the granular films.     

Hall effect in a GdBa2Cu3O7−δ/La0.75Sr0.25MnO3 perovskite bilayer

We present results on the Hall coefficient R_H in the normal state for a GdBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ/La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ bilayer and a La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ film grown by dc magnetron sputtering on (1 0 0) SrTiO₃. We find that the electric transport on the bilayer can be qualitatively described using a simple parallel layers model. The GdBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ layer presents a carrier density approximately equal to that reported for 7 − δ = 6.85 oxygen doping. Also we observe an unexpected presence of two Hall resistivity regimes, effects that may be associated with the internal magnetic field induced on the superconducting layer by the ferromagnetic layer.     

Structural, electrical and magnetic characterizations of Ni-Cu-Zn ferrite synthesized by citrate precursor method

Fine powders of NiCuZn ferrite with composition Ni_(0.7−x)Cu_xZn_0.3Fe₂O₄ (where x=0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6) were prepared by the citrate precursor method. X-ray diffraction measurements confirm the formation of single-phase cubic spinel structure. The grain size was estimated by SEM micrograph which increases with Cu content. Dielectric constant (?) and loss tangent (tan δ) were measured as a function of frequency. The ? and tan δ show a decreasing trend with increase of frequency for all the samples. The DC resistivity was measured as a function of temperature. The temperature-dependent DC resistivity measurements show that the room-temperature DC resistivity of NiCuZn ferrite with x=0.2 is of the order of 10⁹ Ω cm. The AC conductivity (σ_AC) was studied as a function of frequency. The hysteresis data indicate that the maximum saturation magnetization of 38.66 emu/g is obtained for the composition with x=0.2.     

Electrical properties of high Curie temperature (1−x)Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-xPbTiO3 single crystals grown by the solution Bridgman technique

0.65Pb(In_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃-0.35PbTiO₃ (PINT65/35) (starting composition) single crystals were grown successfully through the solution Bridgman technique using PbO flux and PMNT67/33 seed crystals. Because of the composition variation, the final composition of achievable crystals is in a range of 0.32-0.34 with the corresponding T_c range of 265-269 °C. The (001) plates of as-grown PINT66/34 single crystals show high Curie temperature (T_c=269 °C) and rhombohedral-tetragonal phase transition temperature (T_rt=134 °C). Besides, good electrical properties with high dielectric constant (ε>3000), low dielectric loss (tan δ∼1.2%), high piezoelectric constant (d₃₃∼2000 pC/N) and large electromechanical coupling factor (k_t≈59%) at room temperature have been obtained on the (001) plates. The sound velocity, acoustic impedance and other piezoelectric parameters were also measured on the (001) plates in this study, which provide us more detailed information about PINT66/34 single crystals.     

The microwave absorption properties of La0.8Sr0.2Mn1−yFeyO3 nanocrystalline powders in the frequency range 2-18 GHz

La_1−xSr_xMn_1−yFe_yO₃ nanocrystalline powders were prepared by the sol-gel method as a microwave absorption material. The reflectance, the dielectric loss tan δ_e and the magnetic loss tan δ_m of the samples were calculated according to the data of electromagnetism parameters measured by a microwave vector network analyzer in the frequency range 2-18 GHz. The dielectric loss tan δ_e and the magnetic loss tan δ_m had a step-change at a certain frequency so that the superiority of dielectric loss change into the superiority of magnetic loss, which indicated that anti-ferromagnetic clusters in the material change into ferromagnetic clusters by absorbing quantum of microwave electromagnetic field when the frequency of incident microwave reaches a certain value. The effective absorption bandwidth higher than 10 dB reached 6.2 GHz. As a result, the La_0.8Sr_0.2Mn_1−yFe_yO₃ has shown useful applications as a microwave absorption material.     

The influence of pre-adsorbed water on adsorption of methane on fumed and nanoporous silicas

Co-adsorption of water and methane onto fumed (A-300, A-380) and micro/mesoporous (Gasil 200DF) silicas was studied. FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy with layer-by-layer freezing-out of bound water were used at different levels of hydration (h = 0.005-1.0 g of water per gram of silica). Methane adsorption was largest (1-2 wt% at T < 280 K) for nanosilica A-300 (S_BET = 337 m²/g) at hydration h = 0.1 g of water per gram of silica for a non-equilibrated system. This sample was characterised by a large amount of weakly associated water (δ_H ≈ 1 ppm), and maximal clustering of all bound water. These conditions provide the increased microporosity necessary for enhanced methane adsorption. Heating and subsequent wetting, or long equilibration of nanosilica, decreased the adsorption of methane. The adsorption of methane on silica 200DF decreased with increasing amounts of pre-adsorbed water, characterised by significant associativity (δ_H ≈ 5 ppm) at h ≥ 0.005 g/g.