Conductance of short quantum wires with sharp boundaries

The conductance of short ballistic wires with boundaries, whose curvature radius is comparable to the electron wavelength, is investigated. It is found that, in such wires, no conductance quantization takes place. Instead, pronounced interference effects are observed. These effects are related to the Fabry-Perot interference by the wire edges and with the mesoscopic interference caused by the coherent scattering of electrons by the wire edges and by the impurities located in the near-wire regions of the 2D electron gas.     

Nature of electron states and magneto-transport in a graphene geometry with a fractal distribution of holes

We investigate theoretically the spin-dependent electron transport in a Rashba quantum wire with rough edges. The charge and spin conductances are calculated as function of the electron energy and wire length by adopting the spin-resolved lattice Green function method. For a single disordered Rashba wire, it is found that the charge conductance quantization is destroyed by the edge disorder. However, a nonzero spin conductance can be generated and its amplitude can be manipulated by varying the wire length, which is attributed to the broken structure symmetries and the spin-dependent quantum interference induced by the rough boundaries. For a large ensemble of disordered Rashba wires, the average charge conductance decreases monotonically, however, the average spin conductance increases to a maximum value and then decreases, with increasing wire length. Further study shows that the influence of the rough edges on the charge and spin conductances can be eliminated by applying a perpendicular magnetic field to the wire. In addition, a very large magnitude of the spin conductance can be achieved when the electron energy lies between the two thresholds of each pair of subbands. These findings may not only benefit to further apprehend the transport properties of the Rashba low-dimensional systems but also provide some theoretical instructions to the application of spintronics devices.     

Absolute negative resistance in a nonequilibrium two-dimensional electron system in a strong magnetic field

The effect of microwave electromagnetic radiation on the resistance of the 2D electron gas in a GaAs/AlAs heterostructure in a strong magnetic field is investigated. It is shown that, under the nonequilibrium conditions caused by microwave radiation, the aforementioned 2D system exhibits giant oscillations of its resistance with varying magnetic field. When the measuring current density is small, an increase in the microwave power leads to the appearance of an absolute negative resistance at the main minimum of these oscillations, which lies near the cyclotron resonance. The experimental data are found to be in qualitative agreement with the theory of multiphoton photoinduced impurity scattering [J. Inarrea and G. Platero, Appl. Phys. Lett. 89, 052109 (2006)]. Original Russian Text ? A.A. Bykov, D.R. Islamov, D.V. Nomokonov, A.K. Bakarov, 2007, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2007, Vol. 86, No. 9, pp. 695–698.     

Absolute intensity and phase of the resonant X-ray scattering from a germanium crystal

The 222 and 600 reflections near the germanium absorption K edge were studied on the Kurchatov synchrotron radiation source. The energy spectrum of the 222 reflection is caused by the interference of the weak nonresonant and purely resonant contributions to the tensor atomic factor, whereas the 600 reflection is purely resonant. The energy dependence of the magnitude and phase of the resonant contribution to the scattering amplitude was determined from a change in the interference pattern. The numerical simulation of the energy spectra of reflections with the inclusion of the dipole-quadrupole and thermally induced contributions shows that the latter is dominant at room temperature. Original Russian Text ? E.Kh. Mukhamedzhanov, M.M. Borisov, A.N. Morkovin, A.A. Antonenko, A.P. Oreshko, E.N. Ovchinnikova, V.E. Dmitrienko, 2007, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2007, Vol. 86, No. 12, pp. 896–900.     

Magnetorotational instability in a nonuniform magnetic field

It is shown that the characteristics of the magnetorotational instability noticeably change in the presence of the inhomogeneity of a magnetic field in which rotation occurs. A decrease in the magnetic field with an increase in the distance from the rotation center, which is typical for astrophysical objects, can lead to a significant decrease in the threshold velocity of the object medium rotation, as well as to mitigation of the requirements on a rotation velocity profile that are necessary for the development of instability. Other examples that demonstrate the indicated effects are given. Original Russian Text ? V.I. Ilgisonis, I.V. Khalzov, 2007, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2007, Vol. 86, No. 11, pp. 815–818.     

Measurement of the e+e? → π+π? cross section with the CMD-2 detector in the 370–520-MeV energy range

The results of the experiment on the measurement of the e ⁺ e ⁻ → π⁺π⁻ cross section in a cm energy range of 370–520 MeV are presented. The systematic measurement error is equal to 0.7%. In the vector dominance model, the pion electromagnetic radius is calculated using all the CMD-2 data on the pion form factor. The cross section for the production of a muon pair is measured in the energy range of the experiment. Original Russian Text ? V.M. Aul’chenko, R.R. Akhmetshin, V.Sh. Banzarov, L.M. Barkov, N.S. Bashtovoĭ, D.V. Bondarev, A.E. Bondar’, A.V. Bragin, N.I. Gabyshev, D.A. Gorbachev, A.A. Grebenyuk, D.N. Grigor’ev, S.K. Dhawan, D.A. Epifanov, A.S. Zaĭtsev, S.G. Zverev, F.V. Ignatov, V.F. Kazanin, S.V. Karpov, I.A. Koop, P.P. Krokovny, A.S. Kuz’min, I.B. Logashenko, P.A. Lukin, A.P. Lysenko, A.I. Mil’shteĭn, K.Yu. Mikhaĭlov, I.N. Nesterenko, M.A. Nikulin, A.V. Otboev, V.S. Okhapkin, E.A. Perevedentsev, A.S. Popov, S.I. Redin, B.L. Roberts, N.I. Root, A.A. Ruban, N.M. Ryskulov, A.L. Sibidanov, V.A. Sidorov, A.N. Skrinsky, V.P. Smakhtin, I.G. Snopkov, E.P. Solodov, J.A. Thompson, G.V. Fedotovich, B.I. Khazin, V.W. Hughes, A.G. Shamov, Yu.M. Shatunov, B.A. Shvarts, S.I. éĭdel’man, Yu.V. Yudin, 2006, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2006, Vol. 84, No. 8, pp. 491–495.     

Effect of the size of nanoparticles on the properties of a capacitive high-frequency discharge

The properties of a capacitive HF discharge with growing nanoparticles are studied with the use of kinetic PIC-MCC simulation. At the initial stage of growth, the nanoparticles are shown to be localized at the interface between the near-electrode layer and quasi-neutral plasma, where the rate of ionization by electron impact has the maximum value. At the beginning of formation of particles, plasma parameters change rapidly and a transition between the capacitive and spatial discharge burning modes is observed for a certain critical size of the particles. If the growth of the dust particles continues, their distribution over the discharge becomes more uniform and the steady-state parameters of the gas-discharge plasma hardly change. Original Russian Text ? I.V. Shveigert, F.M. Peeters, 2007, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2007, Vol. 86, No. 9, pp. 657–661.     

Formation of nanosystems under near-equilibrium copper condensation in an ultrapure inert medium

Mechanisms of the self-organization of nanosystems at the condensation of the extremely weak steady flows of copper vapors obtained in magnetron sputtering in an ultrapure argon are studied. It is shown that the free-energy minimization near equilibrium condensation creates prerequisites for the self-organization of statistically homogeneous layers of nanoclusters and determines the transition to the formation of nanosystems in the form of fractal networks. Original Russian Text ? V.I. Perekrestov, A.S. Kornyushchenko, Yu.A. Kosminskaya, 2007, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2007, Vol. 86, No. 12, pp. 879–883.     

Optical control of the anisotropy of the orientation of molecules in a liquid

The control of the anisotropy of the orientation of molecules in pure 1,2-dichlorobenzene, C₆H₄Cl₂ at room temperature is demonstrated experimentally. To accomplish the optical control, the medium is exposed to non-resonant excitation with two successive linearly polarized laser pulses with a duration of 60 fs. The state of transient anisotropy is probed with the third pulse by detecting the ultrafast optical Kerr effect via optical heterodyne detection and synchronous demodulation. It is shown that variations in the two parameters, the delay time between two pump pulses, and the angle between the polarization directions of the pump pulses ensure the control of the anisotropy of the orientation of molecules in the subpicosecond region. Original Russian Text ? V.G. Nikiforov, G.M. Safiullin, A.G. Shmelev, A.V. Leont’ev, V.S. Lobkov, 2007, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2007, Vol. 86, No. 10, pp. 757–761.     

Proton and light-ion acceleration to relativistic GeV energies by the superstrong laser radiation interacting with a structured plasma target

A new scheme is proposed for proton and light-ion acceleration to relativistic energies by superstrong laser radiation interacting with a structured plasma target. The proposal consists in the use of two-component targets consisting of heavy and light ions, where an ambipolar field is formed under the action of the ponderomotive force of incident radiation, and, in contrast to the traditional schemes, acceleration starts from the front boundary of the layer. It is shown that, for the optimized target parameters, monoenergetic GeV ion beams can be produced for radiation pulse intensities on the order of 10²¹−10²² W/cm². Original Russian Text ? A.V. Korzhimanov, A.A. Gonoskov, A.V. Kim, A.M. Sergeev, 2007, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2007, Vol. 86, No. 9, pp. 662–669.     

On twinning in smectic crystals

It is shown that mechanical twinning in smectic crystals is possible. The structure of the boundary of twins for a small disorientation of crystallites is determined. The periodic twin structure, which should appear at the tension of the smectic layer, is proposed. Original Russian Text ? V.I. Marchenko, 2007, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2007, Vol. 86, No. 11, p. 841.     

Characteristics of quantum conductance in a quasi-one-dimension quantum wire containing cavity structures

Quantum-mechanical calculations of the conductance for model devices, consisting of dual semi-infinite quantum wires connected in series by a cavity, are carried out with use of the coupled-mode transfer method and mode matching technique. The effects of the mode-mode coupling and geometry-induced scattering on the quantum conductance are in detail studied by varying the geometric structure of the cavity. There are no traces of quantization conductance. The pattern of the conductance displays many peaks and dips. The threshold energy of the first onset of the conductance is lower than the normal value for opening the propagation channel of the lowest subband in the quantum wire. The overall character of the conductance exhibits heavy fluctuations around the classical conductance for the relevant point contact. The fluctuation amplitude is of order of 2e ²/h, similar to universal conductance fluctuations. The oscillatory structure becomes rich and dense as the scale of the cavity increases. There is a global trend for the conductance to rise as the cavity is compressed. The structures of resonant peaks and antiresonance dips in the conductance are originated from the mode coupling among the subbands in the cavity and quantum wires. The heavy conductance fluctuation may be caused by the quantum interference of the electron waves due to the multiple scattering (reflections) of electrons by the cavity boundaries.     

Alternative method of the opening of cavities in small icosahedral electrolytic-metal particles

Results of an experiment on the opening of cavities in small icosahedral electrolytic-copper particles by means of an experimental technique alternative to the chemical etching of their surface are presented. This experimental technique is theoretically justified. Original Russian Text ? I.S. Yasnikov, A.A. Vikarchuk, 2007, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2007, Vol. 86, No. 9, pp. 699–701.     

Anomalous hall effect in HoB12

Within a wide temperature range of 1.8–300 K, the Hall effect in holmium dodecaboride is investigated. The measurements of the angular dependences of the Hall resistance ρ_H(φ, T, H) for HoB₁₂ performed in a high magnetic field up to 80 kOe at helium and intermediate temperatures made it possible to separate the normal and anomalous contributions to the Hall effect. Analysis of the anomalous component behavior in the paramagnetic and Néel phases suggests the appearance of the 5d-state magnetic polarization (the spin polaron effect) and makes it possible to compare the revealed features of the Hall coefficient R _H(T, H) with the H-T magnetic phase diagram of HoB₁₂. Original Russian Text ? N.E. Sluchanko, D.N. Sluchanko, V.V. Glushkov, S.V. Demishev, N.A. Samarin, N.Yu. Shitsevalova, 2007, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2007, Vol. 86, No. 9, pp. 691–694.     

Multiplicity fluctuations of particles produced in interactions of light nuclei with carbon nuclei at a momentum of 4.2 A GeV/ c and their theoretical interpretation

New experimental data on fluctuations in the multiplicities of negatively charged particles in interactions of light nuclei (p, d, ⁴He, ¹²C) with carbon nuclei at a momentum of 4.2 A GeV/c in 4π geometry are reported. The data indicate a behavior similar to that earlier observed by the NA49 Collaboration. The cascade evaporation model, FRITIOF model, and UrQMD 1.3 model are used to analyze the data. The dependence of the fluctuations on nuclear collision centrality is theoretically described without any exotic assumptions. According to the FRITIOF model, the dependence of the multiplicity fluctuations on the collision centrality is to a large extent governed by fluctuations in the number of “wounded” nucleons that are associated with the experimental observation conditions. The NA49 Collaboration data are also described. Original Russian Text ? A.S. Galoyan, E.N. Kladnitskaya, V.V. Uzhinsky, 2007, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2007, Vol. 86, No. 10, pp. 718–721.     

Stimulated radiation pressure acting on an atom nonadiabatically interacting with the field of counterpropagating frequency-modulated waves

The stimulated radiation pressure acting on an atom nonadiabatically interacting with the field of counterpropagating frequency-modulated waves is shown to reach high values typical for the rapid adiabatic passage of the instantaneous frequency of the field of the counterpropagating waves through resonance with an atomic transition. Under the appropriate choice of interaction parameters, the radiation pressure changes insignificantly in a wide range of atomic velocities. Original Russian Text ? V.I. Romanenko, L.P. Yatsenko, 2007, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2007, Vol. 86, No. 12, pp. 868–872.     

High-frequency acoustic noise of Lake Baikal

High-frequency noise of Lake Baikal is investigated using a submersible self-contained instrument to determine the noise background for the acoustic detection of superhigh-energy neutrinos. It is found that, under stationary and uniform meteorological conditions, the integral noise power in the frequency band 1–50 kHz is virtually independent of depth and is 10–200 mPa or more, depending on the specific conditions. The noise itself contains multiple short pulses of different amplitudes and shapes. Original Russian Text ? V.M. Aĭnutdinov, V.A. Balkanov, I.A. Belolaptikov, L.B. Bezrukov, N.M. Budnev, R.V. Vasil’ev, R. Wischnewski, O.N. Gaponenko, R.Yu. Gnatovskiĭ, O.A. Gress, T.I. Gress, O.G. Grishin, I.A. Danil’chenko, Zh.-A.M. Dzhilkibaev, A.A. Doroshenko, A.N. Dyachok, G.V. Domogatskiĭ, V.A. Zhukov, A.M. Klabukov, A.I. Klimov, S.I. Klimushin, K.V. Konishchev, A.A. Kochanov, A.P. Koshechkin, V.F. Kulepov, L.A. Kuz’michev, B.K. Lubsandorzhiev, T. Mikolajskiĭ, M.B. Milenin, R.R. Mirgazov, S.P. Mikheev, é.A. Osipova, A.I. Panfilov, A.A. Pavlov, G.L. Pan’kov, L.V. Pan’kov, E.N. Pliskovskiĭ, V.A. Poleshchuk, E.G. Popova, P.G. Pokhil, V.V. Prosin, M.I. Rozanov, V.Yu. Rubtsov, B.A. Tarashchanskiĭ, S.V. Fialkovskiĭ, A.G. Chenskiĭ, B.A. Shaĭbonov, Ch. Spiering, O. Streicher, I.V. Yashin, 2006, published in Akusticheskiĭ Zhurnal, 2006, Vol. 52, No. 5, pp. 581–591.     

The effect of semi-infinite crystalline electrodes on transmission of gold atomic wires using DFT

First principle calculations of the conductance of gold atomic wires containing chain of 3–8 atoms each with 2.39 Å bond lengths are presented using density functional theory. Three different configurations of wire/electrodes were used. For zigzag wire with semi-infinite crystalline electrodes, even–odd oscillation is observed which is consistent with the previously reported results. A lower conductance is observed for the chain in semi-infinite crystalline electrodes compared to the chains suspended in wire-like electrode. The calculated transmission spectrum for the straight and zig-zag wires suspended between semi-infinite crystalline electrodes showed suppression of transmission channels due to electron scattering occurring at the electrode-wire interface.     

Effect of high pressure and chemical substitution on the crystal structure and magnetic state of R2Fe17 ? x Six (R = Lu or Y; x = 0 or 1.7)

The effect of high pressure on the crystal structure of the intermetallic compounds R₂Fe_{17 − x} Si_x (R = Lu or Y; x = 0 or 1.7) was studied using neutron diffraction. A correlation between changes in structural parameters and magnetic properties under the action of high pressure, as well as under chemical substitution of Si for Fe atoms, was analyzed in terms of localized moment and spin fluctuation models. The spin fluctuation model was found to describe more adequately the experimentally observed increase in the Curie temperature upon chemical substitution and the decrease in this temperature under the action of high pressure. Possible reasons for the suppression of a collinear ferromagnetic state and the occurrence of a noncollinear antiferromagnetic state in R₂Fe_17−x Si_x under pressure are discussed based on estimated differences between the total energy minima of these states. Original Russian Text ? D.P. Kozlenko, V.I. Voronin, V.P. Glazkov, B.N. Savenko, 2007, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2007, Vol. 86, No. 9, pp. 675–680.