Metal Silicides in CMOS Technology: Past,Present, and Future Trends

Metal silicides have played an indispensable role in the raped development of microelectronics since PtSi was first used to improve the rectifying characteristics of diodes in early 1960s. This work first provides a brief historical overview of the many different silicides, and, correspondingly, the different processing methodologies used in the past.With regard to the present use of silicides in CMOS technologies a convergence becomes clear with the self aligned technology using only a limited number of silicides, namely, TiSi₂, CoSi ₂, and NiSi. A section on fundamental aspects is included to cover thermodynamics and kinetics, which are essential for understanding the silicide formation processes. The advantage and disadvantages of TiSi₂, CoSi ₂, and NiSi are analyzed with the development trend of CMOS technologies as a measure. Specifically, the reactive diffusion and phase formation of these silicades in the three terminals of a metal-oxides-semiconductor device, that is, gate, source, and drain are scrutinized. The review ends with an extended discussion of about future trends of metal-silicides in micro/nanoelectronics, with reference to the potential material aspects and device structures outlined in the International Technologies Roadmap for Semiconductors.     

Fixed points of <Emphasis Type="Italic">IA</Emphasis>-endomorphisms of a free metabelian Lie algebra

Let L be a free metabelian Lie algebra of finite rank at least 2. We show the existence of non-trivial fixed points of an IA-endomorphism of L and give an algorithm detecting them. In particular, we prove that the fixed point subalgebra Fix φ of an IA-endomorphism φ of L is not finitely generated.     

Ultrasoft colloids in cavities of oscillating size or sharpness

We employ dynamical density functional theory (DDFT) and Brownian Dynamics (BD) simulations to examine the fully developed dynamics of ultrasoft colloids interacting via a Gaussian pair potential in time-dependent external fields. The DDFT formalism employed is that of Marconi and Tarazona [J. Chem. Phys., 110, 8032 (1999)], which allows for determination of the time-dependent density profile based on knowledge of the static, equilibrium density functional. Three different dynamical situations are examined: firstly, the behaviour of Gaussian particles in a spherical cavity of oscillating size, including both sudden and continuous changes in the size of the cavity. Secondly, a spherical cavity with a fixed size but varying sharpness. Finally, to investigate a strong inhomogeneity in the density profile we study the diffusion of one layer of particles which is initially strongly confined and separated from the remaining system via an external potential. In all cases, DDFT is in excellent agreement with BD results, demonstrating the applicability of the theory to dynamical problems involving overdamped interacting particles in a solvent.     

The Role of Interactions Between Student and Classroom Context in Developing Adaptive Self‐Efficacy in One Sixth‐Grade Mathematics Classroom

Research and theory suggest several instructional practices that could enhance student self‐efficacy. However, little is known about the ways these instructional practices interact with individual students to create opportunities or challenges for developing adaptive self‐efficacy. In this study, we focused on two sources of efficacy, mastery experiences, and social persuasion, and examined how these sources were structured for three students with different levels of mathematics achievement and self‐efficacy within a sixth‐grade mathematics classroom. Analyses within each case showed that each student experienced success and received social persuasion differently. On the other hand, analyses across the cases suggest that not only the amount but also the form (i.e., with and without assistance) of successful experiences and the type of performances (e.g., stating definitions, explaining solution procedures, sharing problem‐solving strategies, and making comments on others' ideas) through which the student experienced mastery may have played important role in developing self‐efficacy. Consistently, the amount and form of teacher feedback was different for each focal student. Examining these differences provide insight into each student's self‐efficacy assessed over the course of the study as well as the kind of support each student needed to develop adaptive self‐efficacy.     

The Crystal Structure of Platyphylline and Molecular Conformational Analysis of Integerrimine

The title compounds platyphylline (C₁₈H₂₉NO₅.0.5H₂O) and integerrimine (C₁₈H₂₅NO₆) have been isolated from the serial parts of the Senecio species. the crystal and molecular structures of platyphylline have been determined. the compound crystallises in orthorhombic space group, P2₁2₁2₁. the pyrrolizidine nucleus exhibits exo-buckling conformation. the molecular geometry was stabilized by C-H[ddot]O and C-H[ddot]N hydrogen bonds. a search for the low energy conformations of integerrimine as a similar alkaloid was also carried out. Force field calculations were undertaken by the MM3 program and some particular conformations were computed with the semi-emprical molecular orbital methods by the AMI and PM3 programs.     

Twenty-third MAX-lab User Meeting

The 23^rd Annual User Meeting for MAX-lab users was held at Scandic Star Hotel in Lund, Sweden, on November 8-10, 2010. The meeting was, as in previous years, jointly organized by MAX-lab and the MAX-lab Association for Synchrotron Radiation Users (FASM). From the start in the late 1980s these meetings have grown with the user community of MAX-lab, and with increasing interest in the development of MAX IV, the coming synchrotron radiation facility in Sweden (http://www.maxlab.lu.se/maxlab/max4/index.html.), this growth has accelerated. The last four meetings have hosted around 300 participants, with a new record number of 342 registered participants and 26 commercial exhibitors at this meeting!