Two-flux composite fermion series of the fractional quantum Hall states in strained Si

Magnetotransport properties are investigated in a high-mobility two-dimensional electron system in the strained Si quantum well of a (100) Si(0.75)Ge(0.25)/Si/Si(0.75)Ge0.25 heterostructure, at temperatures down to 30 mK and in magnetic fields up to 45 T. We observe around nu=1/2 the two-flux composite fermion (CF) series of the fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE) at nu=2/3, 3/5, 4/7, and at nu=4/9, 2/5, 1/3. Among these FQHE states, the nu=1/3, 4/7, and 4/9 states are seen for the first time in the Si/SiGe system. Interestingly, of the CF series, the 3/5 state is weaker than the nearby 4/7 state and the 3/7 state is conspicuously missing, resembling the observation in the IQHE regime that the nu=3 is weaker than the nearby nu=4 state. Our results can be quantitatively understood in the picture of CF's with the valley degree of freedom.     

Measurement of internal magnetic field fluctuations in a reversed-field pinch by Faraday rotation

Magnetic field fluctuations (and the associated current perturbation) have been measured in the core of a high-temperature reversed-field pinch using a newly developed fast-polarimetry system. Radial magnetic field fluctuation levels of approximately 1% are measured in standard-reversed-field pinch discharges which increase to approximately 4% during the sawtooth crash (enhanced dynamo). The fluctuation level is reduced fourfold for high-confinement plasmas where the core-resonant tearing modes are suppressed.     

Microlens formation in microgel/gold colloid composite materials via photothermal patterning

We report on the nature of photothermally patterned regions inside self-assembled hydrogel nanoparticle materials containing coassembled colloidal Au. These composite materials are prepared from approximately 226-nm diameter particles composed of the environmentally responsive polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAm). Upon centrifugation to achieve a proper volume fraction, these close-packed assemblies display a sharp Bragg diffraction peak in the midvisible region of the spectrum and can be reversibly converted into a nondiffracting glassy material as the temperature is raised above the characteristic phase transition temperature of the polymer. The addition of 16-nm colloidal Au prior to centrifugation allows the homogeneous distribution of metal nanoparticles throughout the close-packed material. Localized heating is then possible upon excitation of the Au plasmon absorption with a frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser (lambda = 532 nm). Such localized heating events lead to patterned regions of ordered crystalline phases inside of bulk glassy phases. We illustrate that the nature of the locally patterned area results in the formation of a microlens due to density/refractive index gradient in the patterned crystalline region. The Gaussian power distribution of the incident beam is thought to be a contributing factor in the microlens formation. Microlens formation is shown by observing interference patterns similar to Newton's rings, which change over time as the region is formed. A true hallmark of the lens is also demonstrated by focusing an image through the patterned structure.     

First observation of the sigma(*+)(c) baryon and a new measurement of the sigma(*+)(c) mass

Using data recorded with the CLEO II and CLEO II.V detector configurations at the Cornell Electron Storage Rings, we report the first observation and mass measurement of the Sigma(*+)(c) charmed baryon, and an updated measurement of the mass of the Sigma(+)(c) baryon. We find M(Sigma(*+)(c))-M(Lambda(+)(c)) = (231.0+/-1.1+/-2.0) MeV, and M(Sigma(+)(c))-M(Lambda(+)(c)) = (166.4+/-0.2+/-0.3) MeV, where the errors are statistical and systematic, respectively.     

Photogreying of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles

Photogreying, the change in brightness on UV irradiation in the absence of oxygen, of TiO₂ nanoparticulate dispersions is shown to depend on the nature of the liquid, consistent with a surface reaction. Measurements on a series of TiO₂ particles (mainly 75×10 nm) dispersed in, e.g., alkyl benzoate correlate well with those on the same TiO₂’s dispersed in a second liquid (e.g. propan-2-ol). Photogreying in propan-2-ol is paralleled by photocatalytic-oxidation activity, indicating a common origin – UV-generation of charge carriers. Further, photogreying parallels Ti³⁺ formation. Hence, although appearance and the visible spectra of photogreyed particles both differ from those of Ti³⁺ in ≤10 nm colloidal TiO₂, we suggest that photogreying is caused by capture of UV excited electrons to form Ti³⁺. Surface treatment reduces photogreying, and we speculate that differences between uncoated samples reflect differences in the number of potentially reducible Ti’s.     

Band‐gap engineering of polythiophenes via dithienophosphole doping

A series of polythiophenes doped with dithieno[3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d]phosphole units at varying levels (0–17%) were synthesized and characterized. Polymer work up provided two series of polymers from chloroform (C) and hexanes (H) for each doping level, respectively. Systematic structure–property studies revealed that the C‐series polymers generally had higher molecular weights than the H‐series, but also slightly higher relative dithienophosphole concentrations, both having a significant impact on the photophysical and electrochemical properties of the polymers. Furthermore, the presence of the dithienophosphole units also stabilizes the LUMO levels, whereas the HOMO levels remain dominated by the thiophene units, resulting in desirable electronics for an interaction with acceptor materials, such as 1‐(3‐methoxycarbonyl)propyl‐1‐phenyl[6,6]C₆₁. Importantly, increasing amount of dithienophosphole doping results in increased conductivities for the polymers in their oxidized state, while concurrently significantly stabilizing the neutral polythiophenes toward oxidation under environmental conditions. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Nanoscale Science and Technology at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Research in the emerging field of nanoscale science and technology has grown steadily at Los Alamos National Laboratory since 1990. This article summarizes some of this work, examining research highlights within the seven key categories of nanoscience in which Los Alamos has ongoing projects, capabilities, and facilities: (1) Materials and chemistry, (2) Theory and modeling, (3) Bioscience, (4) Investigative tools and facilities, (5) Sensors and devices, (6) Synthesis and fabrication, and (7) Education and outreach. Future research horizons are indicated throughout while institutional strategies for advancing nanoscale science are summarized at the end.     

Fortieth Anniversary of the New Brunswick Laboratory

Research sponsored by the Office of Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy, under Contract DE-AC05-84OR21400 with Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.