Response of metal-insulator-metal point contact diodes to visible laser light

Video response and mixing behaviour of metal-insulator-metal point contact diodes have been investigated for visible laser light. Thermally enhanced tunneling is shown to dominate the dc detection behavior of those diodes, while mixing of frequencies being more than several MHz apart is a more complex phenomenon involving thermal, field-and photo-assisted tunneling. In further experiments the potential of point contact diodes for optical heterodyne spectroscopy was examined. Two green laser lines of 122 GHz frequency difference were mixed with the second harmonic of an appropriate microwave frequency, generated simultaneously on the diode. The modestS/N ratio achieved has to be assigned to the different behaviour of metal-insulator-metal diodes in the visible and rf range.     

Scanning tunneling microscopy of RF oscillating surfaces

Amplitude and phase of high frequency surface acoustic wave (SAW) fields are investigated by a novel scanning tunneling microscopy technique. The gap voltage is modulated at a slightly detuned high frequency. Due to the nonlinearity of the tunneling process a frequency mixing appears. For scanned areas with dimensions much smaller than the wavelength of the SAW a remarkable local variation of amplitude and phase of the tunneling current at the difference frequency is observed. Depending on the local morphology different components of the particle displacement vector are detected. Model calculations of amplitude and phase images are presented for a real topography.     

Thermal field emission as a mechanism for infrared laser light detection in metal whisker diode

The non-linear current-voltage characteristic of thermally enhanced field emission is proposed to explain the operation of a metal-metal point contact diode used for laser harmonic frequency generation and frequency mixing in the infrared region. This mechanism can explain several experimental observations which appear inconsistent with the previous analysis based on a planar metal-oxide-metal tunneling geometry.     

A quasiparticle SIN mixer for the 230 GHz frequency range

We report on quasiparticle mixing in the frequency range 220 to 230 GHz using SIN junctions. The lowest double sideband receiver noise temperature measured was about 230 K. This result shows that the SIN junction provides an interesting alternative for high frequency heterodyne receivers where pair tunneling in SIS junctions could give rise to interference from Josephson effects.     

Microwave photon - assisted tunneling in niobium triselenide,NbSe3.

Nonlinear conduction has been observed in NbSe₃ with microwave fields of amplitudes below the threshold field for nonlinear dc conduction at temperatures of about 25 K by the method of harmonic mixing. The observation is considered to support Bardeen's theory of tunneling assisted by photons whose frequency is the microwave frequency.     

Effect of strain on hole tunneling dynamics in double barrier heterostructures

A study of the effects of strain due to external stress and lattice mismatch on hole tunneling times in double barrier heterostructures is presented. The band structure of holes is calculated based on a k·p method within the envelope function approximation, including band mixing effects. The phase delay time is obtained from the energy derivative of the total phase shift of the wave function upon tunneling and is used to estimate the hole tunneling time. The results demonstrate that strain can be utilized to tailor hole tunneling times by changing the energy separation and, consequently, the mixing between heavy hole and light hole states in the quantum well.     

An equilibrium focused approach to calculating the Raman spectrum of the symmetric OH stretch in formic acid dimer

The recent reaction surface Hamiltonian model for the double proton tunneling in formic acid dimer of Barnes et al. [G.L. Barnes, S.M. Squires, E.L. Sibert, J. Phys. Chem. B. 112 (2008) 595.] has been applied to the calculation of the symmetric OH stretching Raman spectra. We interpret the full Raman spectra obtained through use of a simplified, single minimum spectrum. Extensive state mixing is found, leading to broad spectral features. Results compare well with the experimental measurements of Bertie et al. [J.E. Bertie, K.H. Michaelian, H.H. Eysel, D. Hager, J. Chem. Phys. 85 (9) (1986) 4779]. We also report improvements upon our previous approach and present ground state and fundamental frequencies as well as tunneling splittings obtained with our new method.     

Tunneling through a time-dependent barrier — a numerical study

We present a numerical investigation of quantum mechanical tunneling process in a double well potential with fluctuating barrier. The tunneling probability and rate are calculated for two cases in which (i) the height of the barrier is undergoing harmonic oscillation with frequency θ and (ii) the height of the barrier is undergoing random fluctuation with frequency θ. It is observed that in both cases, the quantum mechanical tunneling probability and rate exhibit a maximum as a function of the fluctuation frequency. The optimal frequency i.e. the frequency at which rate exhibits a maximum shows a strong isotopic mass effect.     

汞蒸汽中双光子共振四波和频产生125nm的相干辐射

利用汞原子6~1S_0—7~1S_0双光子共振四波和频产生了125nm的相干辐射.对双光子共振增强效应、双光子共振克尔(Kerr)效应进行了研究.讨论了平面波和聚焦情况下最佳相位匹配的条件.实验中还观测到了四波参量振荡和四波差频的信号输出.     

The Dynamics of N(2)-O(3) and N(2)-SO(2) Probed by Microwave Spectroscopy

The microwave spectra of N(2)-O(3) and N(2)-SO(2) have been recorded in the 6-18 GHz range using a pulsed-nozzle, Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. C-type transitions have been observed for both complexes which are slightly shifted by internal tunneling motions of the O(3) or SO(2) moieties. In addition, unshifted a-type transitions have been observed for N(2)-O(3). The nuclear hyperfine pattern is typical of equivalent nitrogen nuclei. Two sets of rotational and hyperfine constants are required to fit the symmetric and antisymmetric nuclear spin states, indicating that the equivalence arises from tunneling rotation of the nitrogen molecule. Internal tunneling motions along three tunneling pathways have been identified, although no information on the N(2) tunneling frequency is available from the spectra. From the N(2)-O(3) data the tunneling frequencies cannot be decorrelated from the rotational parameters; however, the O(3) tunneling frequency upper limit is estimated to be 2.0 MHz and the frequency of the concerted tunneling motion of both moieties is estimated to be about 8.9 MHz. For N(2)-SO(2), the SO(2) tunneling frequency is 11.5 kHz and the concerted frequency 173.9 kHz. Both complexes are roughly T shaped with the N(2) axis approximately perpendicular to the O(3) or SO(2) plane. In the equilibrium structures of both complexes, the a-c inertial plane is a plane of symmetry. The centers of mass separations are estimated from the rotational parameters to be 3.582 ? for N(2)-O(3) and 3.875 ? for N(2)-SO(2). The angle between the symmetry axes of the O(3) or SO(2) and the line joining their centers of mass have been calculated as 130.84 degrees (or 49.16 degrees ) and 119.71 degrees (or 60.29 degrees ), respectively. From the quadrupole analysis, the average angle between the N(2) axis and the a-inertial axis is 32.12 degrees for N(2)-O(3) and 27.81 degrees for N(2)-SO(2). Model electrostatic and ab initio calculations confirm these structures. Differences between the experimental and calculated structural parameters highlight the role of tunneling dynamics in these complexes. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Reflectionless tunneling of light in gradient optics

We analyze the optical (or microwave) tunneling properties of electromagnetic waves passing through thin films presenting a specific index profile that provides a cutoff frequency when the films are used below this frequency. We show that, contrary to the usual case of a square index profile, where tunneling is accompanied by a strong attenuation of the wave due to reflection, such films present the possibility of reflectionless tunneling, where the incoming intensity is totally transmitted.     

Comments on nonlinearity,response time and polarity reversal in a thermal field emission metal whisker diode

In a series of recent experiments, research groups have made absolute frequency measurements with laser beams in the infrared region (μm) using a metal-metal point contact diode for the generation, frequency mixing and detection. At present there are two models which attempt to explain the rectification mechanism of the diode: 1) Tunneling of electrons through an intermediate oxide film from whisker to the metal base, i.e., configuration is considered to be a metal-oxide-metal (MOM) tunneling junction. 2) Rectification and nonlinear processes are the result of a thermal enchanced field emission. Such emission is a consequence of the immersion of the whisker in the laser radiation which results in conduction induced thermionic emission and/or generation of an electric field at the tip necessary for electron tunneling by field emission. The purpose of this comment is: a) to discuss qualitatively the basic difference between MOM and TFE theories as regards the origin of the nonlinearity and rectification properties of the metal point contact junction; b) to review the analyses describing the ultimate frequency response of the device; and 3) to provide a possible explanation for polarity reversal consistent with the TFE mechanism describing the operation of the whisker diode. This research was supported in part by the NATO Research Grants Program, Scientific Affairs, Brussels, Belgium, and under the auspices of the joint projects ESIS (electronic structure in solids) and IRIS (Institute for Research in Interface Sciences) of the Belgian Ministry for Science Policy     

Tunneling between asymmetric potential wells and mixing of normal and superdeformed nuclear bands

The equation for the nuclear deformational motion in an asymmetric potential with two minima is solved quasi-classically in analogy with the familiar symmetric case. Taking into account the tunneling, we obtained formulas for the energies and wave functions similar to those which were previously derived for two-band mixing. This enabled us to interpret the mixing of close-lying levels of normal and superdeformed rotational bands in ¹³³Nd as a manifestation of tunneling. In addition, mixing of superdeformed levels with normal configurations is analyzed in the framework of the theory of overlapping resonant levels.     

Dominance of Fermi-surface holes in p-type tunneling

In-plane uniaxial stress is used to tune continuously the mixing between the heavy-hole (HH) and light-hole (LH) states in a p-type double-barrier structure. The LH1 and HH2 resonant tunneling peaks shift at almost the same rate with stress, in contrast to the corresponding exciton peaks observed by photoreflectance, which exhibit a strong Fano-related anticrossing. Comparison between the observed shifts and a four-band k x p calculation of the state energies in the well provides the first experimental proof that the flow of holes through off-zone center states dominates the resonant tunneling current in p-type structures.     

Quantum superposition of high spin states in the single molecule magnet Ni4

Quantum tunneling of the magnetization in a single molecule magnet has been studied in experiments that combine microwave spectroscopy with high sensitivity magnetic measurements. By monitoring spin-state populations in the presence of microwave radiation, the energy splittings between low lying superpositions of high-spin states of single molecule magnet Ni4 (S=4) have been measured. Absorption linewidths give an upper bound on the rate of decoherence. Pulsed microwave experiments provide a measure of energy relaxation time, which is found to increase with frequency.     

Superluminal Signal Velocity and Causality

A superluminal signal velocity (i.e. faster than light) is said to violate causality. However, superluminal signal velocities have been measured in tunneling experiments recently. The classical dipole interaction approach by Sommerfeld and Brillouin results in a complex refractive index with a finite real part. For the tunneling process with its purely imaginary refractive index this model obtaines a zero-time traversing of tunneling barriers in agreement with wave meechanics. The information of a signal is proportional to the product of its frequency band width and its time duration. The reasons that superluminal signal velocities do not violate causality are: (i) physical signals are frequency band limited and (ii) signals have a finite time duration.     

The use of antenna theory to calculate the electric fields in a thermal field emission metal whisker diode

In recent years, research groups have used metal-metal point contact diodes for frequency mixing and detection of infrared laser radiation. It has been postulated that the mechanism for the nonlinear current-voltage characteristic of the diode is the tunneling of electrons through an intermediate oxide film from the whisker tip to the metal base, i.e., the configuration is considered to be a metal-oxide-metal (MOM) tunneling junction. Several features of the diodes' operation create considerable doubt concerning the applicability of the MOM tunneling mechanism. Analysis of the available data led us to postulate an alternate solid state mechanism, namely a thermally enhanced field emission process. Such emission would be a consequence of the immersion of the whisker in the laser radiation resulting in (1) conduction heating which induces thermionic emission and (2) generation of an electric field at the tip necessary for electron tunneling. In an earlier paper, we calculated the power absorbed by the cylindrical shank of a point contact diode in an infrared radiation field. Using the absorbed power as a source, detailed calculations were made of the laser induced temperature distributions on the diode; more approximate treatments were used to obtain the electric fields developed on the tip. Values of the computed temperature and field parameters for tungsten were found to be consistent with a thermal field emission process. In this paper we present a more rigorous calculation of the voltages and fields induced on different metal whisker tips by the incident laser radiation. Linear antenna theory is used to describe the receiving properties of the diode. The actual pointed geometry of the diode tip has been taken into account using Schelkunoff's theory of the conical antenna. The electric fields at the tip are found to be comparable with those necessary for field emission. The highest fields are established on gold tips, consistent with the experiments of Green et al. who found the best responsivity occurs with gold-gold contacts. Finally we discuss the significance of the experimental results of Young et al. on metal-vacuum-metal tunneling characteristics to the MOM tunneling hypothesis.     

Thermal population in asymmetric double wells coupled by hole mixing tunneling

The themal population in photocarrier systems coupled by hole mixing tunneling is studied by an analysis of the high energy tails in cw photoluminescence spectra of asymmetric coupled double wells. Photocarriers in wide well are heated due to hole transfer from the narrow well through resonant tunneling as well as by photon heating. The influences of the excitation intensity and lattice temperature on the tunneling transfer and thermal population are discussed.     

基于传输线的单负材料双层结构的隧穿性质

通过传输线方法实现了负介电常数(ENG)和负磁导率(MNG)材料,并在实验上研究了由两种单负材料组成的双层结构(ENG-MNG)的电磁隧穿性质.结果表明,两种单负材料均不支持电磁波的传播,然而ENG-MNG双层结构在结构的平均介电常数和平均磁导率分别为零的条件下,具有完全隧穿模,并且这一隧穿模不随着结构尺度的改变而改变.在隧穿频率点,通过对ENG-MNG双层结构中电场分布的模拟与测量,实验上观察到了倏逝场的指数放大.     

d(x2-y2)+idxy混合波正常金属/绝缘层/超导体结中的隧道谱

考虑界面粗糙散射,在Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk(BTK)理论框架下,通过求解Bogoliubov-de-Gennes(BdG)方程,分别计算T=0K和有限温度下,d_(x²-y²)+id_xy混合波正常金属绝缘层超导体结中的准粒子输运系数和隧道谱.研究表明:隧道谱中的电导峰的劈裂程度强烈地依赖于d_xy波分量的强度、超导体的晶轴方位和界面粗糙强度,而温度的升高能压低电导峰. 关键词： NIS结 (x²-y²)+id_xy混合波超导体')" href="#">d_(x²-y²)+id_xy混合波超导体 隧道谱