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Condensed Matter Physics Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Condensed Matter Physics

Thermodynamic Limit To Photonic-Plasmonic Light-Trapping In Thin Films On Metals, Eric A. Schiff Nov 2011

Thermodynamic Limit To Photonic-Plasmonic Light-Trapping In Thin Films On Metals, Eric A. Schiff

Physics - All Scholarship

We calculate the maximum optical absorptance enhancements in thin semiconductor films on metals due to structures that diffuse light and couple it to surface plasmon polaritons. The calculations can be used to estimate plasmonic effects on light-trapping in solar cells. The calculations are based on the statistical distribution of energy in the electromagnetic modes of the structure, which include surface plasmon polariton modes at the metal interface as well as the trapped waveguide modes in the film. The enhancement has the form 4n2+/h (n – film refractive index, λ – optical wavelength, h …


Thermodynamics Of Magnetic Multilayers, Tathagata Mukherjee Nov 2011

Thermodynamics Of Magnetic Multilayers, Tathagata Mukherjee

Department of Physics and Astronomy: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Our interest in thermodynamics of magnetic thin film heterostructure began by exploring the possibility to use magnetic nanostructures in the search for optimized magnetocaloric materials for potential room temperature refrigeration. In the present thesis magnetic thin film heterostructures are experimentally realized by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) and Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD). Co/Cr and Fe/Cr superlattices were fabricated using mean-field theoretical concepts as guiding principles. The potential of artificial antiferromagnets for near room-temperature refrigeration is explored. Magnetocaloric properties are deduced from measurements of the temperature and field dependence of the magnetization of our samples. The effects of intra-plane and inter-plane exchange …


Domain Size And Structure In Exchange Coupled [Co/Pt]/Nio/[Co/Pt] Multilayers, Andrew G. Baruth, Shireen Adenwalla Aug 2011

Domain Size And Structure In Exchange Coupled [Co/Pt]/Nio/[Co/Pt] Multilayers, Andrew G. Baruth, Shireen Adenwalla

Shireen Adenwalla Papers

We investigate the competing effects of interlayer exchange coupling and magnetostatic coupling in the magnetic heterostructure ([Co/Pt]/NiO/[Co/Pt]) with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA). This particular heterostructure is unique among coupled materials with PMA in directly exhibiting both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic coupling, oscillating between the two as a function of spacer layer thickness. By systematically tuning the coupling interactions via a wedge-shaped NiO spacer layer, we explore the energetics that dictate magnetic domain formation using high resolution magnetic force microscopy coupled with the magneto-optical Kerr effect. This technique probes the microscopic and macroscopic magnetic behavior as a continuous function of thickness and …


Scanning Capacitance Spectroscopy On N+-P Asymmetrical Junctions In Multicrystalline Si Solar Cells, Chun-Sheng Jiang, Jennifer T. Heath, Helio R. Moutinho, Mowafak M. Al-Jassim Jan 2011

Scanning Capacitance Spectroscopy On N+-P Asymmetrical Junctions In Multicrystalline Si Solar Cells, Chun-Sheng Jiang, Jennifer T. Heath, Helio R. Moutinho, Mowafak M. Al-Jassim

Faculty Publications

We report on a scanning capacitance spectroscopy (SCS) study on the n+-p junction of multicrystalline silicon solar cells. We found that the spectra taken at space intervals of ∼10 nm exhibit characteristic features that depend strongly on the location relative to the junction. The capacitance-voltage spectra exhibit a local minimum capacitance value at the electrical junction, which allows the junction to be identified with ∼10-nm resolution. The spectra also show complicated transitions from the junction to the n-region with two local capacitance minima on the capacitance-voltage curves; similar spectra to that have not been previously reported in …


Density Functional Theory Study On The Electronic Structure Of N- And P-Type Doped Srtio3 At Anodic Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Conditions, S. Suthirakun, Salai Cheettu Ammal, G. Xiao, Fanglin Chen, Hans-Conrad Zur Loye, Andreas Heyden Jan 2011

Density Functional Theory Study On The Electronic Structure Of N- And P-Type Doped Srtio3 At Anodic Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Conditions, S. Suthirakun, Salai Cheettu Ammal, G. Xiao, Fanglin Chen, Hans-Conrad Zur Loye, Andreas Heyden

Faculty Publications

The electronic conductivity and thermodynamic stability of mixed n-type and p-type doped SrTiO3 have been investigated at anodic solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) conditions using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In particular, constrained ab initio thermodynamic calculations have been performed to evaluate the phase stability and reducibility of various Nb- and Ga-doped SrTiO3 at synthesized and anodic SOFC conditions. The density of states (DOS) of these materials was analyzed to study the effects of n- and p-doping on the electronic conductivity. In agreement with experimental observations, we find that the transformation from 20% Nb-doped Sr-deficient SrTiO3 to a non-Sr-deficient phase …