Physics Commons^™

Towards The Electronic Response Of Carbon-Based Van Der Waals Heterostructures In A Diamond Anvil Cell, George Thomas Foskaris

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The nanoscale regime of materials has been at the forefront of research and interest in condensed matter physics for many years. In a merger of the fields of two-dimensional (2D) materials and high pressure physics, we present an investigation of the electronic response of carbon-based, van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures in a diamond anvil cell (DAC). Combining these fields presents us with the ability to study the characteristics of such systems both optically, and through electrical transport. Properties such as conductance, band structure, and layer number are considered. The samples in this study are assembled using exfoliation and stacking techniques …

Imaging Normal Fluid Flow In He Ii With Neutrons And Lasers — A New Application Of Neutron Beams For Studies Of Turbulence, Xin Wen

Doctoral Dissertations

Turbulence is ubiquitous in life —from biology to astrophysics. The best direct numeric simulations (DNS) have only been benchmarked against low resolution, time-averaged experimental configurations—partly because of limitations in computing power. With time, computing power has greatly increased, so there is need for higher quality data of turbulent flow. In this dissertation, we explore a solution that enables quantitative visualization measurement of the velocity field in liquid helium, which has the potential of breaking new ground for high Reynolds number turbulence research and model testing.

Our technique involves creation of clouds of molecular tracers using 3He-neutron absorption reaction in liquid …

Characterization Of Losses In Superconducting Radio-Frequency Cavities By Combined Temperature And Magnetic Field Mapping, Ishwari Prasad Parajuli

Physics Theses & Dissertations

Superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities are one of the fundamental building blocks of modern particle accelerators. To achieve the highest quality factors (10¹⁰-10¹¹), SRF cavities are operated at liquid helium temperatures. Magnetic flux trapped on the surface of SRF cavities during cool-down below the critical temperature is one of the leading sources of residual RF losses. Instruments capable of detecting the distribution of trapped flux on the cavity surface are in high demand in order to better understand its relation to the cavity material, surface treatments and environmental conditions. We have designed, developed, and commissioned two novel …

Exploring Cathodoluminescence Evident Features Of Tungsten Disulfide, Molybdenum Disulfide, And Tungsten-Sulfide-Selenide, Nathan Mayer

Undergraduate Theses

Cathodoluminescence (CL) microscopy can be used to characterize the quantum optical behaviors of two-dimensional nanostructures. To investigate this behavior, we mounted flakes of tungsten disulfide (WS₂), molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂)_, and tungsten-sulfide-selenide Janus structures (WSSe) on a SiO₂ substrate and analyzed these samples under both high vacuum and low H₂O vacuum conditions using a scanning electron microscope. We then captured CL and secondary-electron images of the samples at multiple electron-beam energies and currents (5 keV to 30 keV, and 0.5 nA to 5 nA, respectively). We used a range of beam currents and …

Synthesis And Assembly Of Polymer Materials At Interfaces, Xiaoshuang Wei

Doctoral Dissertations

The overarching goal of the thesis is to understand growth and assembly of polymer materials at interfaces. Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 study simultaneous polymer growth and assembly at fluid interfaces, where in-situ photopolymerization and vapor phase deposition were utilized to grow polymers, respectively. Chapter 4 leverages capillary condensation to pattern polymer growth at solid substrates. Chapter 1 provides background information on polymer materials at interfaces, and vapor phase deposition method (initiated chemical vapor deposition, iCVD) to grow polymers. This chapter also reviews polymer thin film wetting, and colloidal assemblies at interfaces. In Chapter 2, we demonstrate the preparation …

Symmetry Breaking Effects In Low-Dimensional Quantum Systems, Ke Wang

Doctoral Dissertations

Quantum criticality in low-dimensional quantum systems is known to host exotic behaviors. In quantum one-dimension (1D), the emerging conformal group contains infinite generators, and conformal techniques, e.g., operator product expansion, give accurate and universal descriptions of underlying systems. In quantum two-dimension (2D), the electronic interaction causes singular corrections to Fermi-liquids characteristics. Meanwhile, the Dirac fermions in topological 2D materials can greatly enrich emerging phenomena. In this thesis, we study the symmetry-breaking effects of low-dimensional quantum criticality. In 1D, we consider two cases: time-reversal symmetry (TRS) breaking in the Majorana conformal field theory (CFT) and the absence of conformal symmetry in …

Frontiers In The Self-Assembly Of Charged Macromolecules, Khatcher O. Margossian

Doctoral Dissertations

The self-assembly of charged macromolecules forms the basis of all life on earth. From the synthesis and replication of nucleic acids, to the association of DNA to chromatin, to the targeting of RNA to various cellular compartments, to the astonishingly consistent folding of proteins, all life depends on the physics of the organization and dynamics of charged polymers. In this dissertation, I address several of the newest challenges in the assembly of these types of materials. First, I describe the exciting new physics of the complexation between polyzwitterions and polyelectrolytes. These materials open new questions and possibilities within the context …

Reservoir Engineering Of Multi-Photon States In Circuit Quantum Electrodynamics, Jeffrey M. Gertler

Doctoral Dissertations

The field of experimental quantum information has made significant progress towards useful computation but has been handicapped by the dissipative nature of physical qubits. Except for unwieldy and unrealized topological qubits, all quantum information systems experience natural dissipation, which limits the time scale for useful computation. However, this same dissipation, which induces errors requiring quantum error correction (QEC), can be used as a resource to perform a variety of important and unrealized tasks. In this thesis I discuss research into three uses of dissipation: manifold stabilization, state transfer, and QEC. With reservoir engineering, these tasks can be addressed in an …

Anomalous Transport, Quasiperiodicity, And Measurement Induced Phase Transitions, Utkarsh Agrawal

Doctoral Dissertations

With the advent of the noisy-intermediate scale quantum (NISQ) era quantum computers are increasingly becoming a reality of the near future. Though universal computation still seems daunting, a great part of the excitement is about using quantum simulators to solve fundamental problems in fields ranging from quantum gravity to quantum many-body systems. This so-called second quantum revolution rests on two pillars. First, the ability to have precise control over experimental degrees of freedom is crucial for the realization of NISQ devices. Significant progress in the control and manipulation of qubits, atoms, and ions, as well as their interactions, has not …

Controlling Electro-Magnetic Functionality Of Ruthenates By Heterostructure Design, Zeeshan Ali

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Perovskite oxides (ABO₃) show wide range of functionalities originating from interplay of structural, spin, charge, and orbital degrees of freedoms. The bulk perovskite structure could be controlled via conventional chemical substitution, though exploiting heterostructure engineering novel ground states could be observed which otherwise are absent in bulk. In this thesis, the interest is to explore the electro-magnetic phenomena as complex oxides are confined in heterostructures.

I first investigate electromagnetic properties of ultrathin epitaxial ruthenate: SrRuO₃ (SRO); spatially confined between SrTiO₃ (STO) i.e., STO⁵-SROⁿ-STO⁵ with n = 1- and 2-unit cells. It …

Pressure-Induced Modifications To The Structural And Optoelectronic Properties Of 2d Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Perovskites, Jesse Ratte

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Recently, 2D hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIP) have garnered lots of research interest for their applications in optoelectronic devices, especially in solar cells. The optoelectronic properties of 2D HOIPs have yet to be optimized for these applications. High external pressure is well known to induce structural modifications to 2D HOIPs, and thus modify their optoelectronic properties. Herein, we report a study of the effects of high pressure (HP) on the structures and optoelectronic properties of cyclohexane methylamine (CMA) lead iodide (CMA2PbI4) and the structures of N,N-dimethylphenylene-p-diammonium (DPDA) lead iodide (DPDAPbI4).

High pressure measurements of CMA2PbI4 were performed using Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform …

Driven Dipolaritons In Van Der Waals Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Heterostructures: Properties And Applications, Patrick Serafin

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The need for advances in optical computation leads us toward the investigation of novel methods of re-routing light in optical circuits. The behavior and properties of electrically driven exciton-dipolaritons in van der Waals transition metal dichalcogenides are investigated as a platform for realizing working elements of a polaritronic transistor. In this work, we consider exciton-dipolaritons, which are three-way superposition of cavity photons, direct excitons, and indirect excitons in a bilayer semiconducting system embedded in an optical microcavity. We start by providing motivation for our study of polaritons and then survey the fundamental properties of exciton-dipolaritons. We also survey the basic …

Control Of Nonlinear Properties Of Van Der Waals Materials, Rezlind Bushati

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Van der Waals materials are a broad class of materials that exhibit unique optoelectronic properties. They provide a rich playground for which they can be integrated into current on-chip devices due to their nanometer-scale size, and be utilized for studying fundamental physics. Strong coupling of emitters to microcavities provides many opportunities for new exotic physics through the formation of hybrid quasi-particles exciton-polaritons. This thesis
focuses on exploring and enhancing nonlinearity of van der Waals materials through strongly coupling to microcavities. By taking advantage of the stacking order of TMDs, we show intense second-harmonic generation from bulk, centrosymmetric TMD systems. In …

Electron Transport In Quantum Systems With Interaction, Sara Abedi

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Engineering Rare-Earth Based Color Centers In Wide Bandgap Semiconductors For Quantum And Nanoscale Applications, Gabriel I. López-Morales

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

For many years, atomic point-defects have been readily used to tune the bulk properties of solid-state crystalline materials, for instance, through the inclusion of elemental impurities (doping) during growth, or post-processing treatments such as ion bombardment or high-energy irradiation. Such atomic point-defects introduce local ‘incompatible’ chemical interactions with the periodic atomic arrangement that makes up the crystal, resulting for example in localized electronic states due to dangling bonds or excess of electrons. When present in sufficient concentrations, the defects interact collectively to alter the overall bulk properties of the host material. In the low concentration limit, however, point-defects can serve …

Stability Of Two-Dimensional Magnetic Skyrmions, Amel Derras-Chouk

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Magnetic skyrmions are whirls formed by magnetic moments in a crystal. They have attracted attention largely due to their topological protection, which provides an avenue for technology like next-generation memory storage. The idea of topologically protected solutions of a quantum field theory was originally proposed by Tony Skyrme when he developed a model to explain the stability of hadrons in particle physics. His work has extended far beyond his original intent to several areas of condensed matter physics. Here we focus on skyrmions in magnetic materials.

Skyrme's original theory modeled excitations which exist in three spatial dimensions, a requirement for …

Coupled Oscillators: Protein And Acoustics, Angelique N. Mcfarlane

Theses

This work encompassed three different vibrational energy transfer studies of coupled resonators (metal, topological, and microtubule comparison) inspired by the lattices of microtubules from regular and cancerous cells. COMSOL Multiphysics 5.4 was utilized to design the experiment. The simulation starts with an acoustic pressure study to examine the vibrational modes present in coupled cylinders, representing α-, β-tubulin heterodimers. The Metal Study consisted of 3 models (monomer, dimer, and trimer) to choose the correct height (40 mm) and mode (Mode 1) for study. The Topological Study was run to predict and understand how the lattice structure changes over a parametric sweep …

Geometry Of Discrete And Continuous Bounded Surfaces, Kyung Eun Kim

Dissertations - ALL

We work on reconstructing discrete and continuous surfaces with boundaries using length constraints. First, for a bounded discrete surface, we discuss the rigidity and number of embeddings in three-dimensional space, modulo rigid transformations, for given real edge lengths. Our work mainly considers the maximal number of embeddings of rigid graphs in three-dimensional space for specific geometries (annulus, strip). We modify a commonly used semi-algebraic, geometrical formulation using Bézout's theorem, from Euclidean distances corresponding to edge lengths. We suggest a simple way to construct a rigid graph having a finite upper bound. We also implement a generalization of counting embeddings for …

Understanding Liquid Dynamics Using The Van Hove Function From Inelastic Neutron Scattering Measurements, Yadu Krishnan Sarathchandran

Doctoral Dissertations

Liquid state physics remains relatively unexplored compared to solid-state physics, which achieved massive progress over the last century. The theoretical and experimental methodologies used in solid-state physics are not suitable to study the liquid state due to the latter's strong time dependence and the lack of periodicity in structure. The approaches based on phonon dynamics break down when phonons are over-damped and localized in liquids. The microscopic nature of atomic dynamics and many-body interactions leading to liquid state properties such as viscosity and dielectric loss in liquids remain unclear. Inelastic neutron scattering measurements were done to study the microscopic origins …

Studying Electron Dynamics For Quantum Materials With Real Space Resolution: A Wannier Orbital Approach To Spectroscopy Using High-Performance Supercomputers, Casey J. Eichstaedt

Doctoral Dissertations

Quantum materials have a promising future for energy and security applications which will lay the bedrock for material science research for decades to follow. Partic- ularly, ‘one-dimensional’ Mott-insulating cuprates such as SrCuO 2 and (Ca)Sr 2 CuO 3 have been deemed to fall under a ‘fractionalization’ paradigm in which the electrons disintegrate into bosonic collective excitations of their fundamental constituents— spin, charge, and ‘orbital’ degrees of freedom— due to the anisotropic crystalline structure, deeming them outside the band theory of solids. Here, I provide ab initio theory for the ‘one-dimensional’ cuprates SrCuO 2 and (Ca)Sr 2 CuO 3 using no …

Topological States In Matter, Hasitha W. Suriya Arachchige

Doctoral Dissertations

Topologically nontrivial spin textures, mesoscopic spin configurations that cannot be continuously transformed to an elementary magnetic configuration such as a ferromagnet or antiferromagnet, are of interest due to their ability to exhibit magnetic solitons, with topological protection. Such properties have the potential for applications in future data storage and communication devices. For example, spin textures found in materials such as MnSi, Cu2OSe3, Co-Zn-Mn alloys, and GaV4S8, commonly known as skyrmions, are driven by the interplay of atomic-scale exchange interactions, single-ion anisotropy, and an applied magnetic field. Of particular importance to this class of materials is the presence of a Dyaloshinski …

Semi-Classical Theories Of Quantum Magnets, Hao Zhang

Doctoral Dissertations

Recent progress in magnetism has been driven by embracing the complexity associated with entangled spin, orbital, and lattice degrees of freedom and by understanding the emergent quantum behaviors of magnetic systems. Over the past decades, intense efforts have been devoted to “extreme quantum materials” comprising low-dimensional lattices of spin S = 1/2 degrees of freedom, that are candidates to host quantum spin liquid phases with no classical counterpart. Finite-spin (S ≥ 1) systems that exhibit ground states with short-ranged entanglement have not been the center of much attention because they are expected to behave semi-classically. However, as we will demonstrate …

Quantum Computational Simulations For Condensed Matter Systems, Trevor Alan Keen

Doctoral Dissertations

In condensed matter physics, and especially in the study of strongly correlated electron systems, numerical simulation techniques are crucial to determine the properties of the system including interesting phases of matter that arise from electron-electron interactions. Many of these interesting phases of matter, including but not limited to Mott-insulating materials and possibly high-temperature superconducting systems, can be modeled by the Hubbard model. Although it is one of the simplest models to include electron-electron interactions, it cannot be solved analytically in more than one dimension and thus numerical techniques must be employed. Although there have been great strides in classical numerical …

Numerical Studies Of Correlated Topological Systems, Rahul Soni

Doctoral Dissertations

In this thesis, we study the interplay of Hubbard U correlation and topological effects in two different bipartite lattices: the dice and the Lieb lattices. Both these lattices are unique as they contain a flat energy band at E = 0, even in the absence of Coulombic interaction. When interactions are introduced both these lattices display an unexpected multitude of topological phases in our U -λ phase diagram, where λ is the spin-orbit coupling strength. We also study ribbons of the dice lattice and observed that they qualitative display all properties of their two-dimensional counterpart. This includes flat bands near …

Quantum-Mechanical Evaluation Of Defects In Uranium-Bearing Materials, Megan Hoover

All Dissertations

Quantum-mechanical calculations using density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation were employed to investigate the effects dopants have on the uranium dioxide (UO₂) structure. Uraninite is a common U⁴⁺ mineral in the Earth's crust and an important material used to produce energy and medical isotopes. Though the incorporation mechanism remains unclear, divalent cations are known to incorporate into the uranium dioxide system. Three charge-balancing mechanisms were evaluated to achieve a net neutral system, including the substitution of (1) a divalent cation for a tetravalent uranium atom and oxygen atom; (2) two divalent cations for a tetravalent …

Pressure-Induced Phase Transition And Electronic Structure Changes In Equiatomic Fev, Homero Reyes Pulido

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Classical molecular dynamics methods can accurately describe a broad set of many-atomssystems. Although more economical, the results given by this framework lack the precision capable of density functional theory (DFT). Therefore, the structural stability of the B2 phase of a body-centered-cubic iron-vanadium (FeV) alloy using DFT on the electronic structure level is analyzed to verify and further explain classical results obtained by our group in this same alloy. Using Quantum Espresso and Phonopy for the computational simulations, the plotted band structure, electronic density of states (eDOS), phonon dispersions, charge density, and Fermi surfaces for various compressed unit cells are presented. …

Electrical And Optical Characterization Of Two-Dimensional Semiconductors Using Ultrafast Spectroscopy, Pan Adhikari

All Dissertations

The emergence of two-dimensional (2D) layered materials provides unprecedented opportunities for studying excitonic physics due to the strong Coulomb interaction between the electron-hole pair. Because of the reduced dimensionality and weak dielectric screening, the exciton is stable at room temperature, unlike bulk semiconductors. The evolution from low to high carrier density for optical gain in 2D semiconductors involves insulating exciton gas, exciton condensation, co-existence of various excitonic complexes, electron-hole plasmas (EHPs), or electron-hole liquids (EHLs), leading to the Mott transition. Strong interaction among the excitons, such as exciton-exciton annihilation (EEA), serves as a hot-carrier generation. A bound exciton dissociates into …

Quantum Transport And Electric-Field Effects In Layered Topological Semimetals And Magnetic Materials, Arash Fereidouni Ghaleh Minab

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation describes transport experiments on quantum devices in layered Dirac nodal line topological semimetals and antiferromagnetic materials down to a few layers. We used gate-induced effects to alter the transport properties of these materials.

First, we introduced current annealing in topological semimetals to achieve high-quality devices. We demonstrate current annealing to substantially improve the electronic transport properties of 2D topological semimetal flakes. Contact resistance and resistivity were improved by factors up to 2,000,000 and 20,000, respectively, in devices based on exfoliated flakes of two topological semimetals, ZrSiSe and BaMnSb2. Using this method, carrier mobility in ZrSiSe improved by a …

Study Of Thermoelectric And Lattice Dynamics Properties Of 2d Layered Mx (M = Sn, Pb; X = S, Se, Te) And Zrs2 Compounds Using First-Principles Approach, Abhiyan Pandit

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this dissertation is the investigation of thermoelectric and lattice dynamics properties of two-dimensional (2D) MX (M = Sn, Pb; X = S, Se, Te) and ZrS2 compounds based on the first-principles density functional theory. The dimensionality reduction (e.g., using 2D structure) of bulk materials is found to have enhanced thermoelectric efficiency. This enhancement is attributed to the increase of the Seebeck coefficient as a result of higher electronic density of states near the Fermi level in low-dimensional materials. In addition, lowering the dimensionality increases phonon scattering near interfaces and surfaces in 2D materials, which leads to a …

Multi-Technique Characterization Of Superconducting Materials For Particle Accelerator Applications, Junki Makita

Physics Theses & Dissertations

We investigated the performance limitations of superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities and materials using multiple experimental techniques. In particular, this study focuses on understanding the surface properties of nitrogen-doped Nb cavities and superconducting thin films with higher T_c such as Nb₃Sn. The main goal of this work is to use different techniques to better understand each aspect of the complex loss mechanism in superconductors to further improve the already highly efficient SRF cavities.

Nitrogen doping applied to a Nb SRF cavity significantly improves the quality factor Q₀ compared to a conventional Nb cavity, at an expense of …