Dynamics of Na clusters in picosecond laser pulses

We investigate the electronic and ionic dynamics of Na clusters under the influence of a laser pulse in the range 100 femtoseconds to picoseconds. The dynamics is described by means of the time-dependent local-density approximation coupled to ionic molecular dynamics (TDLDA-MD). Variation of pulse length allows us to explore the time scales of ionic motion in a manner similar to pump and probe experiments. Resonant enhancement of electron emission serves as a measure for the time scale of Coulomb explosion. Received: 3 July 2001 / Published online: 10 October 2001     

A qualitative model for the growth mechanism of silver clusters in polymer solution

A simple and high-reproducible method for the synthesis of polymer-protected silver cluster of controlled size is described. UV-visible spectroscopy has been used for investigating the influence of the aging of the protective poly(vinylpyrrolidone) layer on the cluster growth rate at different reaction temperatures and poly(vinylpyrrolidone)/ethylene glycol weight ratios. The obtained results show that the aging time of the polymeric stabilizer solution plays a fundamental role in the reproducibility of the cluster growth process. A model for the metal cluster formation-grow process is also proposed. Received 18 July 2001 and Received in final form 3 October 2001     

Remarkable power-law temperature dependencies of inter-grain conductivity

Electrical conductivities with temperature dependencies of the type σ(T)−σ(0)∝T^p are remarkable when measurements over extended ranges of T show that p=1 or 2 over wide ranges of σ. We report on such behaviors for inter-grain conductivities of polycrystalline Sr₂CrMoO₆ samples. We show that for certain ranges of parameters the ‘fluctuation induced tunneling’ model fits these dependencies very well.     

Highly cation-deficient manganese perovskite, La1−xMn1−yO3 with x=y

Oxidative (δ>0) nonstoichiometry in the perovskite ‘LaMnO_3+δ’ has been known to be manifested not with O interstitials but rather with cation vacancies of equal amounts at the two cation sites, La and Mn, i.e. La_1−xMn_1−yO₃ with x=y. Here, we report the fabrication of samples with record-high cation-vacancy concentrations (x>0.12 or δ>0.4) by means of a variety of high-pressure oxygenation techniques. Linear (negative) dependence of the cell volume on x was observed within the whole x range investigated, down to 56.9 Å³ (per formula unit) for a sample oxygenated at 5 GPa and 1100 °C using Ag₂O₂ as an excess oxygen source. With increasing degree of cation deficiency in La_1−xMn_1−xO₃, the ferromagnetic transition temperature was found to follow a bell shape with respect to x exhibiting a maximum of ∼250 K about x≈0.1. For moderately oxygenated samples large magnetoresistance effect was evidenced.     

Magnetoresistance and interlayer exchange coupling in perovskite manganite junctions

We study magnetoresistance (MR) and interlayer exchange coupling (IEC) in perovskite manganite junctions. We show that in La_2/3Sr_1/3MnO₃/SrTiO₃/La_2/3Sr_1/3MnO₃ tunneling junctions, the MR ratio remains finite up to high temperatures near T_C of bulk manganites. In the case of La_2/3Ba_1/3MnO₃/LaNiO₃/La_2/3Ba_1/3MnO₃ metallic trilayers, we predict that the oscillation period of the IEC constant is dramatically changed by hole doping into the LaNiO₃ spacer, while the MR ratio is relatively unaffected.     

Comparison of tunneling through molecules with Mott-Hubbard and with dimerization gaps

In order to study the tunneling of electrons through an interacting, 1D, dimerized molecule connected to leads, we consider the persistent current in a ring embedding this molecule. We find numerically that, for spinless fermions, a molecule with a gap mostly due to interactions, i.e. a Mott-Hubbard gap, gives rise to a larger persistent current than a molecule with the same gap, but due only to the dimerization. In both cases, the tunneling current decreases exponentially with the size of the molecule, but more slowly in the interacting case. Implications for molecular electronic are briefly discussed. Received: 17 November 1997 / Revised: 16 January 1998 / Accepted: 16 January 1998     

Thickness dependence of electroresistance in La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 epitaxial films

The electroresistance (ER) of La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ (LCMO) epitaxial thin films with different thicknesses was studied. For the 110 nm thick LCMO film, its ER shows a maximum at T_p, where the resistance shows a peak, and decreases to zero at lower temperatures. While for the 30 nm thick LCMO film, its ER is remarkable in a wide temperature range. Another interesting observation in this work is that the electric current can tune the magnetoresistance of the ultrathin LCMO thin film. The results were discussed by considering the coexistence of ferromagnetic metallic phase with the charge ordered phase, and the variation of the phase separation with film thickness and electric current. This work also demonstrates that electric current can tune the magnetoresistance of the manganites, which is helpful for their applications.     

Magnetic properties and charge ordering in Pr0.75Na0.25MnO3 manganite

The structural and magnetic properties of Pr_0.75Na_0.25MnO₃ have been investigated experimentally. At room temperature, the compound shows paramagnetic characteristic. Along with decreasing temperature, a peak appears in the magnetization versus temperature curve around 220 K. To clarify whether this peak is associated with the ordering arrangement of Mn³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ ions, electron diffraction experiments were carried out below and above 220 K respectively. Only basic Brag diffraction spots can be observed at high temperatures, however, superlattice diffraction appears below 220 K. This provides direct evidence for the existence of charge ordering in Pr_0.75Na_0.25MnO₃. We find the Mn³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ cations form zigzag chains in a-c plane by analyzing the diffraction patterns. Combining with the magnetization measurements and the results of electron spin resonance, we confirm the antiferromagnetic phase and ferromagnetic component coexist in Pr_0.75Na_0.25MnO₃ below 120 K.     

Experimental evidence for narrow baryons in the mass range 1.0≤M≤1.46 GeV

The reaction pp → pπ⁺ X was studied at different incident energies around T _p = 2 GeV. Narrow baryonic structures were observed in the missing mass M _X and in the invariant mass M _pπ{+}. The masses of these structures are 1004, 1044, 1094, 1136, 1173, 1249, 1277, and 1384 MeV (and possibly 1339 MeV). Some of them were also observed at the same masses in the missing-mass spectra of the dp → ppX reaction although with a weaker signature. Many checks were performed to make sure that these structures were not produced by experimental artifacts. Several narrow small-amplitude peaks, were also extracted using already published photonucleon cross-sections. The small widths of all these results, and the stability of the observed structures, regardless of the experiment, were used to conclude that they are genuine baryons and not merely the consequence of dynamical rescatterings. These baryons cannot be associated with classical q³ quark configurations. We associate them with two colored-quark cluster configurations. Received: 3 July 2002 / Accepted: 30 January 2003 / Published online: 5 June 2003     

Tunneling time in magnetic barrier structures

We adopt the group velocity approach to the issue of tunneling time in two configurations of magnetic barrier structures, which are arranged with identical or unidentical building blocks. The effects of an external electric field are also taken into account. The tunneling time in magnetic barrier structures is found to be strongly dependent on the magnetic configuration, the applied bias, the incident energy as well as the longitudinal wave vector. The results indicate that for electrons with equal energy but different incident angles, the tunneling processes are significantly separated in time within the same magnetic barrier structure. In the configuration arranged with unidentical building blocks, there exists obvious asymmetry of tunneling time in two opposite tunneling directions. Such a discrepancy of the tunneling time varies distinctly with the longitudinal wave vector and the applied bias. Received 4 March 2002 / Received in final form 22 May 2002 Published online 17 September 2002