Large intrinsic birefringence in zinc-blende based artificial semiconductors

A new attempt to solve the phase matching problem for semiconductor-based frequency conversion devices, based on the implementation of intrinsic birefringence in artificial materials, is discussed. The first results concerning the growth and characterization of ultrashort period superlattices are presented. To cite this article: J.-M. Jancu et al., C. R. Physique 8 (2007).     

Supersymmetry and its spontaneous breaking in the random field Ising model

We provide a resolution of one of the long-standing puzzles in the theory of disordered systems. By reformulating the functional renormalization group for the critical behavior of the random field Ising model in a superfield formalism, we are able to follow the associated supersymmetry and its spontaneous breaking along the functional renormalization group flow. Breaking is shown to occur below a critical dimension d(DR) ? 5.1 and leads to a breakdown of the "dimensional reduction" property. We compute the critical exponents as a function of dimension and give evidence that scaling is described by three independent exponents.     

A neutron powder diffraction study of the helimagnetic structure of TlCo2Se2−xSx

The magnetic layer structure of TlCo₂Se_2−xS_x has been thoroughly re-investigated with neutron powder diffraction. The cobalt magnetic moments are ferromagnetically arranged within the layers, but the interlayer coupling differs profoundly with varying composition (x): the spins in TlCo₂Se₂ form a helix along the c-axis with a turning-angle of ∼119° at 1.4 K. This kind of helical structure prevails for 0≤x≤1.5 with a gradual decrease of the angle with increasing sulphur content, down to 34°, showing an almost linear relationship with the interlayer distance of Co-Co. For x≥1.75 the interlayer coupling changes to ferromagnetic. Unexpectedly, two helices were found to coexist at x=0.5 and x=1.0. The interaction between adjacent cobalt layers is there characterized by an incommensurate angle (106°, resp., 73°) together with a commensurate angle of 90°. The magnetic structures have been refined as two magnetic phases, each having a characteristic wave vector. A tentative model where the symmetry of the structure and the interlayer distance compete is considered for explaining the simultaneous occurrence of the two kinds of diffraction profile satellites.     

Etude comparative des proprietes magnetiques des oxydes lamellaires ACrO2 (A = Li,Na, K)—I: Etude par effet Mössbauer de LiCrO2 dope par le fer

A Mössbauer study of the dimensionality of magnetic interactions in the layer oxide LiCr_0.99Fe_0.01O₂ shows a 2-D behaviour.     

Weak localization in multiterminal networks of diffusive wires

We study the quantum transport through networks of diffusive wires connected to reservoirs in the Landauer-Büttiker formalism. The elements of the conductance matrix are computed by the diagrammatic method. We recover the combination of classical resistances and obtain the weak localization corrections. For arbitrary networks, we show how the Cooperon must be properly weighted over the different wires. Its nonlocality is clearly analyzed. We predict a new geometrical effect that may change the sign of the weak localization correction in multiterminal geometries.     

Ferromagnetic hcp chromium in Cr/Ru(0001) superlattices

We report the first observation of a weak ferromagnetic state of Cr in Cr/Ru(0001) superlattices, based on magnetic hysteresis and corroborated by x-ray magnetic circular dichroism at the CrL(2,3) edges. In situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction, x-ray diffraction, and Cr K-edge polarized x-ray absorption investigations have shown that the Cr layers thinner than 8 angstroms adopt a slightly distorted hcp structure, accompanied by a large atomic volume expansion of up to 14% compared to the bcc packing volume. The expanded hcp structure clearly induces the observed ferromagnetism, in agreement with theory.     

Realization of single-mode telluride rib waveguides for mid-IR applications between 10 and 20 μm

The feasibility of all-telluride integrated optics devices based on waveguides presenting a single-mode behavior in the spectral range (10-20 μm) is demonstrated. These waveguides are constituted of a several micrometer thick Te(82)Ge(18) film deposited onto a Te(75)Ge(15)Ga(10) bulk glass substrate by thermal coevaporation and further etched by reactive ion etching under the CHF(3)/O(2)/Ar atmosphere. The obtained structures were proven to behave as channel waveguides with a good single-mode transmission over the whole spectral range. These results allowed validating our technological solution for the fabrication of integrated optics modal filters for spatial interferometry.     

Braiding structures on formal Poisson groups and classical solutions of the QYBE

If is a quasitriangular Lie bialgebra, the formal Poisson group can be given a braiding structure. This was achieved by Weinstein and Xu using purely geometrical means, and independently by the authors by means of quantum groups. In this paper we compare these two approaches. First, we show that the braidings they produce share several similar properties (in particular, the construction is functorial); secondly, in the simplest case (G=SL₂) they do coincide. The question then rises of whether they are always the same this is positively answered in a separate paper.     

Ultrasonic wave propagation in heterogeneous solid media: theoretical analysis and experimental validation

This research deals with the ultrasonic characterization of thermal damage in concrete. This damage leads to the appearance of microcracks which then evolve in terms of volume rate and size in the material. The scattering of ultrasonic waves from the inclusions is present in this type of medium. The propagation of the longitudinal wave in the heterogeneous media is studied via a homogenization model that integrates the multiple scattering of waves. The model allows us to determine the phase velocity and the attenuation according to the elements which make the medium. Simulations adapted to the concrete are developed in order to test the responses of the model. These behaviors are validated by an experimental study: the measurements of phase velocity and attenuation are performed in immersion, with a comparison method, on a frequency domain which ranges from 160 kHz to 1.3 MHz. The analysis of different theoretical and experimental results obtained on cement-based media leads to the model validation, on the phase velocity behavior, in the case of a damage simulated by expanded polystyrene spheres in granular media. The application to the case of a thermally damaged concrete shows a good qualitative agreement for the changes in velocity and attenuation.     

Huge fluctuations in weight measurements at the bottom of a two-dimensional vertical sheet of grains

Weight measurements at the bottom of a quasi-2D vertical sheet of static cohesionless grains are carried out. The grains are held between two coaxial cylinders. This peculiar setup allows us to set either periodic or fixed lateral boundary conditions. Huge relative fluctuations in weight measurements appear in case of fixed lateral walls. This may be related to some indetermination in the mobilization state of friction forces on lateral walls. This argument would hold for any piling, but would lead to huge fluctuations in 2D systems only, because of averaging effects in 3D.