Theoretical stability,thin film synthesis and transport properties of the Mon +1GaCn MAX phase

The phase stability of Mo_{n +1}GaC_n has been investigated using ab‐initio calculations. The results indicate stability for the Mo₂GaC phase only, with a formation enthalpy of –0.4 meV per atom. Subsequent thin film synthesis of Mo₂GaC was performed through magnetron sputtering from elemental targets onto Al₂O₃ [0001], 6H‐SiC [0001] and MgO [111] substrates within the temperature range of 500 °C and 750 °C. High structural quality films were obtained for synthesis on MgO [111] substrates at 590 ºC. Evaluation of transport properties showed a superconducting behavior with a critical temperature of approximately 7 K, reducing upon the application of an external magnetic field. The results point towards the first superconducting MAX phase in thin film form. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Phase stability of Crn+ 1GaCn MAX phases from first principles and Cr2GaC thin‐film synthesis using magnetron sputtering from elemental targets

Ab‐initio calculations have been used to investigate the phase stability and magnetic state of Cr_{n+ 1}GaC_n MAX phase. Cr₂GaC (n = 1) was predicted to be stable, with a ground state corresponding to an antiferromagnetic spin configuration. Thin‐film synthesis by magnetron sputtering from elemental targets, including liquid Ga, shows the formation of Cr₂GaC, previously only attained from bulk synthesis methods. The films were deposited at 650 °C on MgO(111) substrates. X‐ray diffraction and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy show epitaxial growth of (000?) MAX phase. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Understanding chicken walks on n × n grid: Hamiltonian paths,discrete dynamics,and rectifiable paths

Understanding animal movements and modeling the routes they travel can be essential in studies of pathogen transmission dynamics. Pathogen biology is also of crucial importance, defining the manner in which infectious agents are transmitted. In this article, we investigate animal movement with relevance to pathogen transmission by physical rather than airborne contact, using the domestic chicken and its protozoan parasite Eimeria as an example. We have obtained a configuration for the maximum possible distance that a chicken can walk through straight and nonoverlapping paths (defined in this paper) on square grid graphs. We have obtained preliminary results for such walks which can be practically adopted and tested as a foundation to improve understanding of nonairborne pathogen transmission. Linking individual nonoverlapping walks within a grid‐delineated area can be used to support modeling of the frequently repetitive, overlapping walks characteristic of the domestic chicken, providing a framework to model fecal deposition and subsequent parasite dissemination by fecal/host contact. We also pose an open problem on multiple walks on finite grid graphs. These results grew from biological insights and have potential applications. © 2014 The Authors. Mathematical Methods in the Applied Sciences published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Excitation of radial collective modes in a quantum dot: Beyond linear response

The recent results on the linear breathing mode of the excitation spectrum of a quantum dot obtained by McDonald et. al [Phys. Rev. Lett. 111 , 256801 (2013)] are extended to the nonlinear regime. To accomplish this and analyze the results the response of five different models of two interacting electrons in a quantum dot to an external short lived radial excitation that is strong enough to excite the system well beyond the linear response regime is compared. The models considered describe the Coulomb interaction between the electrons in different ways ranging from mean‐field approaches to configuration interaction (CI) models, where the two‐electron Hamiltonian is diagonalized in a large truncated Fock space. The radially symmetric excitation is selected in order to severely put to test the different approaches to describe the interaction and correlations of an electron system in a nonequilibrium state. As can be expected for the case of only two electrons none of the mean‐field models can in full details reproduce the results obtained by the CI model. Nonetheless, some linear and nonlinear characteristics are reproduced reasonably well. All the models show activation of an increasing number of collective modes as the strength of the excitation is increased. By varying slightly the confinement potential of the dot it was observed how sensitive the properties of the excitation spectrum are to the Coulomb interaction and its correlation effects. In order to approach closer the question of nonlinearity one of the mean‐field models has been solved directly in a nonlinear fashion without resorting to iterations.     

Synthesis and characterization of arc deposited magnetic (Cr,Mn)2AlC MAX phase films

(Cr_1–xMn_x)₂AlC MAX phase thin films were synthesized by cathodic arc deposition. Scanning transmission electron microscopy including local energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analysis of the as‐deposited films reveals a Mn incorporation of as much as 10 at% in the structure, corresponding to x = 0.2. Magnetic properties were characterized with vibrating sample magnetometry, revealing a magnetic response up to at least room temperature. We thus verify previous theoretical predictions of an antiferromagnetic or ferromagnetic ground state for Cr₂AlC upon alloying with Mn. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)