Effects of sputter deposition parameters and post-deposition annealing on the electrical characteristics of LaAlO3 dielectric films on Si

The influence of processing parameters on the electrical characteristics of RuO₂/LaAlO₃/Si metal-oxide-semiconductor structures was investigated. In particular, the sputtering regime during deposition of LaAlO₃ on Si and the atmosphere used in the post-deposition annealing step were addressed by determining capacitance-voltage and gate current-voltage characteristics. These results were correlated with compositional information obtained by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and nuclear reaction analysis. A post-deposition annealing step in oxygen at 600 °C resulted in better electrical characteristics of the final structure as compared to the same treatment performed in nitrogen. This result is explained by oxygen ability to heal oxygen vacancies in the LaAlO₃ film, especially at the dielectric/semiconductor interface region. A thermalized sputtering regime during deposition of LaAlO₃ on Si leads to capacitors with electrical characteristics superior to those deposited in ballistic regime. PACS 77.84.Dy; 81.15.Cd; 81.40.Gh; 73.40.Qv; 82.80.Yc     

Finite-Band Potentials with Trigonal Curves

We construct Dubrovin equations and trace formulas for finite-band operators with trigonal curves and present some examples.     

On Periodic Solutions of Degenerate Singularly Perturbed Linear Systems with Multiple Elementary Divisor

We establish sufficient conditions for the existence and uniqueness of a periodic solution of a system of linear differential equations with a small parameter and a degenerate matrix of coefficients of derivatives in the case of a multiple spectrum of a boundary matrix pencil. We construct asymptotics of this solution.     

Inequalities for the Moments and Distribution of the Ladder Height of a Random Walk

We obtain upper bounds for the tail distribution of the first nonnegative sum of a random walk and for the moments of the overshoot over an arbitrary nonnegative level if the expectation of jumps is positive and close to zero. In addition, we find an estimate for the expectation of the first ladder epoch.     

Temperature Stresses in a Piecewise-Homogeneous Cylindrical Shell Caused by the Presence of a Longitudinal Crack

By using the method of generalized conjugation problems, we propose a numerical scheme for investigation of the redistribution of temperature stresses in a piecewise-homogeneous cylindrical shell caused by a longitudinal crack. This scheme is based on systems of integral equations (some of them are singular) to determine the unknown jumps of integral characteristics of the disturbed temperature field and displacements and their derivatives on the line of a crack and on the interface as well as the derivatives of these integral characteristics with respect to the longitudinal coordinate at the interface.     

An interior–exterior Schwarz algorithm and its convergenceUn algorithme de Schwarz intérieur–extérieur et sa convergence

In this work we study the solution of Laplace's equation in a domain with holes by an iteration consisting of splitting the problem in an exterior one, around the holes, plus an interior problem in the unholed domain. We show the existence of a decomposition of the solution when the exterior problem is represented by means of a single-layer protential. Also, for the three-dimensional case and with some adjustments for the two-dimensional case, we prove convergence of the method by writing the iteration as a Jacobi iteration for an operator equation and studying the spectrum of the iteration operator. To cite this article: R. Celorrio et al., C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 334 (2002) 923–926.     

Collisional excitation of Na-Rydberg atoms

The scattering of heavy ion with a multilevel Rydberg atom in the presence of an electromagnetic field is studied. The interaction of Rydberg atom and the e.m field is explored using non-perturbative quasi-energy technique. Although the results are presented for selected excitations but in actual calculations we have included many levels of the atom. The effect of various parameters are shown on collisional excitation process. As an illustration detailed calculations are performed for the inelastic proton-Na Rydberg atom collision accompanied by the transfer of photons and the effects of dressing due to the field are considered. The emphasis of the present work is on collision induced transitions especially the case that involves change of orbital as well as principal quantum number. Received 26 December 2001 / Received in final form 8 April 2002 Published online 19 July 2002     

Algebraic methods in quantum mechanics: from molecules to polymers

We present a brief review of algebraic techniques developed and applied in molecular spectroscopy in the last five years. We also outline perspectives for new applications of the Lie algebraic method in the first decade of the new century. Received 21 November 2001