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Articles 91 - 120 of 129

Full-Text Articles in Condensed Matter Physics

Nanoscale Domain Patterns In Ultrathin Polymer Ferroelectric Films, Pankaj Sharma, Timothy J. Reece, Daniel W. Wu, Vladimir M. Fridkin, Stephen Ducharme, Alexei Gruverman Oct 2009

Nanoscale Domain Patterns In Ultrathin Polymer Ferroelectric Films, Pankaj Sharma, Timothy J. Reece, Daniel W. Wu, Vladimir M. Fridkin, Stephen Ducharme, Alexei Gruverman

Stephen Ducharme Publications

High-resolution studies of domain configurations in Langmuir–Blodgett films of ferroelectric polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene), P(VDF-TrFE), have been carried out by means of piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). Changes in film thickness and morphology cause significant variations in polarization patterns. In continuous films and nanomesas with relatively low thickness/grain aspect ratio (<1/10), the relationship between the average domain size and thickness follows the Kittel law. Nanomesas with high aspect ratio (>1/5) exhibit significant deviations from this law, suggesting additional surface-energy-related mechanisms affecting the domain patterns. Polarization reversal within a single crystallite has been demonstrated and local switching parameters (coercive voltage and remnant piezoresponse) have been measured by monitoring the local hysteresis loops. Reliable control of polarization at the sub-grain level demonstrates …


Dielectric Nanocomposites: An Inside-Out Approach To Storing Electrostatic Energy, Stephen Ducharme Sep 2009

Dielectric Nanocomposites: An Inside-Out Approach To Storing Electrostatic Energy, Stephen Ducharme

Stephen Ducharme Publications

The ability to achieve high-energy densities is the central challenge in energy storage and recovery. A promising strategy for increasing energy storage is to use highperformance dielectric materials, such as highly polarizable nanoparticles or polymers, or nanocomposites of the two. In this issue, Kim et al. use a molecular coating and clever chemistry to combine oxide nanoparticles with a polymer matrix, thereby producing an improved nanocomposite dielectric. Some advantages and challenges of using nanocomposites as improved dielectric materials are presented in this Perspective.


Peeling Adhesive Tape Emits Electromagnetic Radiation At Terahertz Frequencies, J. Horvat, R. A. Lewis Jul 2009

Peeling Adhesive Tape Emits Electromagnetic Radiation At Terahertz Frequencies, J. Horvat, R. A. Lewis

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

An unusual concept for a simple and inexpensive terahertz source is presented: unpeeling adhesive tape. The observed spectrum of this terahertz radiation exhibits a peak at 2 THz and a broader peak at 18 THz. The radiation is not polarized. The mechanism of terahertz radiation is tribocharging of the adhesive tape and subsequent discharge, possibly bremsstrahlung with absorption or energy density focusing during the dielectric breakdown of a gas. The accompanying optical emission is also a consequence of tribocharging.


Polarization Switching Kinetics Of Ferroelectric Nanomesas Of Vinylidene Fluoride-Trifluoroethylene Copolymer, R. V. Gaynutdinov, O. A. Lysova, S. G. Yudin, A. L. Tolstikhina, A. L. Kholkin, V. M. Fridkin, Stephen Ducharme Jul 2009

Polarization Switching Kinetics Of Ferroelectric Nanomesas Of Vinylidene Fluoride-Trifluoroethylene Copolymer, R. V. Gaynutdinov, O. A. Lysova, S. G. Yudin, A. L. Tolstikhina, A. L. Kholkin, V. M. Fridkin, Stephen Ducharme

Stephen Ducharme Publications

The polarization switching kinetics of ferroelectric polymer nanomesas was investigated using piezoresponse force microscopy. The nanomesas were made by self-organization from Langmuir–Blodgett films of a 70% vinylidene fluoride and 30% trifluoroethylene copolymer. The polarization switching time exhibits an exponential dependence on reciprocal voltage that is consistent with nucleation-type switching dynamics.


Nanometrology Device Standards For Scanning Probe Mmicroscopes And Processes For Their Fabrication And Use, Peter Moeck Jan 2009

Nanometrology Device Standards For Scanning Probe Mmicroscopes And Processes For Their Fabrication And Use, Peter Moeck

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Nanometrology device standards and methods for fabricating and using such devices in conjunction With scanning probe microscopes are described. The fabrication methods comprise: (1) epitaxial growth that produces nanometer sized islands of knoWn morphology, structural, morphological and chemical stability in typical nanometrology environments, and large height-to-width nano-island aspect ratios, and (2) marking suitable crystallographic directions on the device for alignment With a scanning direction.


Start The Presses, Stephen V. Ducharme, Alexei Gruverman Jan 2009

Start The Presses, Stephen V. Ducharme, Alexei Gruverman

Stephen Ducharme Publications

A simple nanoimprinting method creates arrays of ferroelectric polymer structures suitable for low-cost, non-volatile memories. With the development of nanoimprinted high-quality ferroelectric nanomesa arrays, it seems that we now have all the necessary ingredients to print inexpensive, disposable organic memory chips.


Precession Electron Diffraction And Its Advantages For Structural Fingerprinting In The Transmission Electron Microscope, Peter Moeck, Sergei Rouvimov Jan 2009

Precession Electron Diffraction And Its Advantages For Structural Fingerprinting In The Transmission Electron Microscope, Peter Moeck, Sergei Rouvimov

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The foundations of precession electron diffraction in a transmission electron microscope are outlined. A brief illustration of the fact that laboratory-based powder X-ray diffraction fingerprinting is not feasible for nanocrystals is given. A procedure for structural fingerprinting of nanocrystals on the basis of structural data that can be extracted from precession electron diffraction spot patterns is proposed.


Regulating Self-Organizing Nanostructures Via External Mechanism, Jiangyu Li, Q. G. Du, Stephen Ducharme Nov 2008

Regulating Self-Organizing Nanostructures Via External Mechanism, Jiangyu Li, Q. G. Du, Stephen Ducharme

Stephen Ducharme Publications

Self-organizing nanostructures are ubiquitous in both natural and synthetic materials. They are not only appealing scientifically, by revealing the intrinsic atomic and molecular interactions that might be difficult to detect otherwise, but may also hold the key for the development of novel functional structures and devices. For their technological potential to be fully realized, the size, morphology, and distribution of the self-organizing nanostructures must be regulated. In this paper, we investigate the principles under which the self-organizing nanostructures can be regulated via external mechanisms. Using nanomesa and nanowell formation in polyvinylidene fluoride trifluoroethylene copolymer film as an example, we demonstrate …


Structural Identification Of Cubic Iron-Oxide Nanocrystal Mixtures: X-Ray Powder Diffraction Versus Quasi-Kinematic Transmission Electron Microscopy, Peter Moeck Mar 2008

Structural Identification Of Cubic Iron-Oxide Nanocrystal Mixtures: X-Ray Powder Diffraction Versus Quasi-Kinematic Transmission Electron Microscopy, Peter Moeck

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Two novel (and proprietary) strategies for the structural identification of a nanocrystal from either a single high-resolution (HR) transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image or a single precession electron diffraction pattern are proposed and their advantages discussed in comparison to structural fingerprinting from powder X-ray diffraction patterns. Simulations for cubic magnetite and maghemite nanocrystals are used as examples.


Transport And Magnetic Critical Current In Superconducting Mgb2 Wires, J. Horvat, W. K. Yeoh, J. H. Kim, S. X. Dou Jan 2008

Transport And Magnetic Critical Current In Superconducting Mgb2 Wires, J. Horvat, W. K. Yeoh, J. H. Kim, S. X. Dou

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Direct comparison of the magnetic and transport critical current density (Jc) for the same pieces of copper-sheathed MgB2 wires shows a large discrepancy in magnitude and field dependence of the two. The value of magnetic Jc can differ from the value of transport Jc by a factor of 10 or more. This discrepancy does not occur merely because of the difference in the voltage at which the magnetic and transport Jc are measured, but mainly because of the specific microstructure of MgB2. Such microstructure results in superconducting screening on at least two different length-scales, despite the absence of weak links …


Oligo(Vinylidene Fluoride) Langmuir-Blodgett Films Studied By Spectroscopic, Rafal Korlacki, J. Travis Johnston, Jihee Kim, Stephen Ducharme, Daniel W. Thompson, Vladimir M. Fridkin, Zhongxin Ge, James M. Takacs Jan 2008

Oligo(Vinylidene Fluoride) Langmuir-Blodgett Films Studied By Spectroscopic, Rafal Korlacki, J. Travis Johnston, Jihee Kim, Stephen Ducharme, Daniel W. Thompson, Vladimir M. Fridkin, Zhongxin Ge, James M. Takacs

Stephen Ducharme Publications

Thin films of amphiphilic vinylidene fluoride oligomers prepared by Langmuir–Blodgett deposition on silicone substrates were investigated by comparing experimental and theoretical mid-infrared (IR) spectra. The experimental spectra were obtained using infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry. Theoretical spectra were calculated using density functional theory. Excellent correspondence of major IR bands in both data sets shows that the molecular backbone is oriented with the long axis normal to the substrate plane. This is in contrast to poly vinylidene fluoride[1] LB films, in which the polymer chains are parallel to the substrate.


Performance Comparison Of Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3-Only And Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3-On-Silicon Resonators, Hengky Chandrahalim, Sunil A. Bhave, Ronald G. Polcawich, Jeff Pulskamp, Dan Judy, Roger Kaul, Madan Dubey Jan 2008

Performance Comparison Of Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3-Only And Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3-On-Silicon Resonators, Hengky Chandrahalim, Sunil A. Bhave, Ronald G. Polcawich, Jeff Pulskamp, Dan Judy, Roger Kaul, Madan Dubey

Faculty Publications

This paper provides a quantitative comparison and explores the design space of lead zirconium titanate (PZT)–only and PZT-on-silicon length-extensional mode resonators for incorporation into radio frequency microelectromechanical system filters and oscillators. We experimentally measured the correlation of motional impedance (RX) and quality factor (Q) with the resonators’ silicon layer thickness (tSi). For identical lateral dimensions and PZT-layer thicknesses (tPZT), the PZT-on-silicon resonator has higher resonant frequency (fC), higher Q (5100 versus 140), lower RX (51 Ω versus 205 Ω), and better linearity [third-order input intercept …


Plasma Medicine, Mounir Laroussi, Alexander Fridman Jan 2008

Plasma Medicine, Mounir Laroussi, Alexander Fridman

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Recent demonstrations of plasma technology in the treatment of living cells, tissues, and organs are creating a newfield at the intersection of plasma science and technology with biology and medicine - Plasma Medicine.


Effect Of Tip Resonances On Tunnelling Anisotropic Magnetoresistance In Ferromagnetic Break Junctions: A First-Principles Study, John D. Burton, Renat F. Sabirianov, Julian P. Velev, O. N. Mryasov, Evgeny Y. Tsymbal Oct 2007

Effect Of Tip Resonances On Tunnelling Anisotropic Magnetoresistance In Ferromagnetic Break Junctions: A First-Principles Study, John D. Burton, Renat F. Sabirianov, Julian P. Velev, O. N. Mryasov, Evgeny Y. Tsymbal

Materials Research Science and Engineering Center: Faculty Publications

First-principles calculations of electron tunneling transport in nanoscale Ni and Co break-junctions reveal strong dependence of the conductance on the magnetization direction, an effect known as tunneling anisotropic magnetoresistance TAMR. An important aspect of this phenomenon stems from resonant states localized in the electrodes near the junction break. The energy and broadening of these states is strongly affected by the magnetization orientation due to spin-orbit coupling, causing TAMR to be sensitive to bias voltage on a scale of a few millivolts. Our results bear a resemblance to recent experimental data and suggest that TAMR driven by resonant states is a …


Ferroelectric Properties Of Langmuir-Blodgett Copolymer Films At The Nanoscale, A. Tolstousov, R. V. Gaynutdinov, R. Tadros-Morgane, Herbert Kliem, Stephen Ducharme, Vladimir M. Fridkin Jan 2007

Ferroelectric Properties Of Langmuir-Blodgett Copolymer Films At The Nanoscale, A. Tolstousov, R. V. Gaynutdinov, R. Tadros-Morgane, Herbert Kliem, Stephen Ducharme, Vladimir M. Fridkin

Stephen Ducharme Publications

Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films are well known structures prepared as a result of successive transfer of monolayers (ML) from the gas-liquid interface onto solid substrates. One impressive possibility of LB method is the opportunity to vary the thickness of the film to an accuracy of one transfer, which could coincide with one ML. The ferroelectric properties of a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and trifluorethylene P[VDF-TrFE] prepared by LB deposition are investigated in the region of a few monolayers.


Transmission Electron Goniometry And Its Relation To Electron Tomography For Materials Science Apoplications, Peter Moeck, P. Fraundorf Nov 2006

Transmission Electron Goniometry And Its Relation To Electron Tomography For Materials Science Apoplications, Peter Moeck, P. Fraundorf

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Aspects of transmission electron goniometry are discussed. Combined with high resolution phase contrast transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and atomic resolution scanning TEM (STEM) in the atomic number contrast (Z-STEM) or the phase contrast bright field mode, transmission electron goniometry offers the opportunity to develop dedicated methods for the crystallographic characterization of nanocrystals in three dimensions. The relationship between transmission electron goniometry and electron tomography for materials science applications is briefly discussed. Internet based java applets that facilitate the application of transmission electron goniometry for cubic crystals with calibrated tilt-rotation and double-tilt specimen holders/goniometers are mentioned. The so called cubic-minimalistic tilt …


Boron-Rich Semiconducting Boron Carbide Neutron Detector, Andrew D. Harken, Ellen E. Day, Brian W. Robertson, Shireen Adenwalla Jan 2005

Boron-Rich Semiconducting Boron Carbide Neutron Detector, Andrew D. Harken, Ellen E. Day, Brian W. Robertson, Shireen Adenwalla

Shireen Adenwalla Papers

Data on the neutron detection capabilities of a variety of boron carbide/Si heterojunction diodes is presented. The pulse height spectra are compared with previously measured conversion layer devices and the variations in shape and position of the peaks are discussed.


The Effects Of Humidity On The Dielectric Response In Ferroelectric Polymer Films Made By Langmuir-Blodgett Deposition, Kristin L. Kraemer, Alexander V. Sorokin, Christina M. Othon, Stephen Ducharme, Vladimir M. Fridkin Jan 2005

The Effects Of Humidity On The Dielectric Response In Ferroelectric Polymer Films Made By Langmuir-Blodgett Deposition, Kristin L. Kraemer, Alexander V. Sorokin, Christina M. Othon, Stephen Ducharme, Vladimir M. Fridkin

Stephen Ducharme Publications

No abstract provided.


Investigation Of Ferroelectricity In Newly Synthesized Nitrile Polymer Systems, Matt Poulsen, Stephen Ducharme, Alexander V. Sorokin, Sahadeva Reddy, James M. Takacs, Y. Wen, Jihee Kim, Shireen Adenwalla Jan 2005

Investigation Of Ferroelectricity In Newly Synthesized Nitrile Polymer Systems, Matt Poulsen, Stephen Ducharme, Alexander V. Sorokin, Sahadeva Reddy, James M. Takacs, Y. Wen, Jihee Kim, Shireen Adenwalla

Stephen Ducharme Publications

The ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of newly synthesized polymer systems have been studied. To date PVDF and its copolymers P(VDF-TrFE) have provided the bulk of the knowledge pertaining to ferroelectricity in polymers. Recently, ultrathin ferroelectric films of P(VDF-TrFE) 70:30 have been fabricated using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique [4]. In this study, various new polymers have been synthesized by chemically altering the PVDF structure. This alteration was performed in order to enhance the amphiphilic nature of the polymer and thus improve the LB film quality and control. Various chemical groups have been used to replace the electropositive hydrogen and electronegative fluorine found …


Condensation On (002) Graphite Of Liquid Bismuth Far Below Its Bulk Melting Point, M. K. Zayed, H. E. Elsayed-Ali Jan 2005

Condensation On (002) Graphite Of Liquid Bismuth Far Below Its Bulk Melting Point, M. K. Zayed, H. E. Elsayed-Ali

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Condensation of thermally evaporated Bi on (002) graphite, at temperatures of 300-523K, was studied using in situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and room temperature ex situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). For deposition at temperatures below 415±5K, transmission RHEED patterns of Bi appeared at an average thickness of ∼0.5 monolayer (ML). AFM images showed that the film consisted of crystallites in the shape of triangular step pyramids with step heights corresponding to single and double Bi layers in the [111] direction. This morphology indicates crystallization from the vapor. For deposition at higher temperatures, diffuse RHEED patterns appeared independent of the …


Anisotropy Of Exchange Stiffness And Its Effect On The Properties Of Magnets, K. D. Belashchenko Apr 2004

Anisotropy Of Exchange Stiffness And Its Effect On The Properties Of Magnets, K. D. Belashchenko

Kirill Belashchenko Publications

Using the spin-spiral formulation of the tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital method, the principal components of the exchange stiffness tensor are calculated for typical hard magnets including tetragonal CoPt-type and hexagonal YCo5 alloys. The exchange stiffness is strongly anisotropic in all studied alloys. This anisotropy makes the domain wall surface tension anisotropic. Competition between this anisotropic surface tension and magnetostatic energy controls the formation and dynamics of nanoscale domain structures in hard magnets. Anisotropic domain wall bending is described in detail from the general point of view and with application to cellular Sm–Co magnets. It is shown that the repulsive …


Mapping Surface Polarization In Thin Films Of The Ferroelectric Polymer P(Vdf-Trfe)., Bradley W. Peterson, Stephen Ducharme, Vladimir M. Fridkin, Timothy J. Reece Jan 2004

Mapping Surface Polarization In Thin Films Of The Ferroelectric Polymer P(Vdf-Trfe)., Bradley W. Peterson, Stephen Ducharme, Vladimir M. Fridkin, Timothy J. Reece

Stephen Ducharme Publications

Pyroelectric Scanning Microscopy (PSM) has been developed to enable mapping of surface polarization in ferroelectric thin films, in particular the copolymer polyvinylidene fluoride trifluororethylene, or P(VDF-TrFE). The Chynoweth method for dynamically measuring pyroelectric current is employed in conjunction with a micropositioning system to construct two-dimensional images of the film polarization. These images have revealed enhancement of the polarization near the edges of the film below the average coercive field, with the center's polarization increasing thereafter to meet the edge value at saturation.


Electron Irradiation Effects On Ferroelectric Copolymer Langmuir-Blodgett Films, Christina M. Othon, Stephen Ducharme Jan 2004

Electron Irradiation Effects On Ferroelectric Copolymer Langmuir-Blodgett Films, Christina M. Othon, Stephen Ducharme

Stephen Ducharme Publications

The effect of irradiation on the ferroelectric properties of Langmuir-Blodgett films of the copolymer poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluorethelene) is investigating using 1.26 MeV electrons with dosages from 16 to 110 Mrad. Irradiation causes a systematic decrease in the phase transition temperature, coercive field and polarization of these thin films.


Ferroelectricity At Molecular Level, L. M. Blinov, A. V. Bune, Peter A. Dowben, Stephen Ducharme, Vladimir M. Fridkin, S. P. Palto, K. A. Verkhovskaya, G. V. Vizdrik, S. G. Yudin Jan 2004

Ferroelectricity At Molecular Level, L. M. Blinov, A. V. Bune, Peter A. Dowben, Stephen Ducharme, Vladimir M. Fridkin, S. P. Palto, K. A. Verkhovskaya, G. V. Vizdrik, S. G. Yudin

Stephen Ducharme Publications

he synthesis of ultrathin ferroelectric nanostructures by the Langmuir-Blodgett method and their properties are reviewed. It is shown that ferroelectricity exists in one monolayer of the ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer, i.e., at the molecular level. The specific characteristics of switching of ultrathin ferroelectric films are established.


Comment On: 'Depolarization Corrections To The Coercive Field In Thin-Film Ferroelectrics', Stephen Ducharme, Vladimir Fridkin Jul 2003

Comment On: 'Depolarization Corrections To The Coercive Field In Thin-Film Ferroelectrics', Stephen Ducharme, Vladimir Fridkin

Stephen Ducharme Publications

The Letter by Dawber et al. [J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 15 L393 (2003)] notes that incomplete screening in the electrodes of a ferroelectric capacitor can result in an underestimate for the true coercive field in films of nanometer thickness. We show that their estimate of the magnitude of this correction it too large in the case of ferroelectric copolymer Langmuir- Blodgett films and, as a result, invalidates the claim that finite-size scaling of the ferroelectric coercive field is evident in films thinner than 15 nm.


Dielectric Properties Of A Ferroelectric Copolymer Langmuir–Blodgett Film, Mahantappa S. Jogad, Stephen Ducharme Aug 2002

Dielectric Properties Of A Ferroelectric Copolymer Langmuir–Blodgett Film, Mahantappa S. Jogad, Stephen Ducharme

Stephen Ducharme Publications

We report measurements of the real (epsilon prime) and imaginary (epsilon double-prime) parts of the relative complex permittivity of a Langmuir–Blodgett film of ferroelectric copolymer of vinylidene fluoride (70%) with trifluoroethylene (30%). The measurements were made in the temperature range of 35 to 125° C, and frequency range of 19 Hz to 5 MHz. The results indicate low frequency loss due to conduction and dielectric loss peak near the ferroelectric–paraelectric phase transition.


Time-Resolved Structural Study Of Low-Index Surfaces Of Germanium Near Its Bulk Melting Temperature, Xinglin Zeng, H. E. Elsayed-Ali Jan 2001

Time-Resolved Structural Study Of Low-Index Surfaces Of Germanium Near Its Bulk Melting Temperature, Xinglin Zeng, H. E. Elsayed-Ali

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The structure of the low-index surfaces of germanium near its bulk melting temperature is investigated using 100-ps time-resolved reflection high-energy electron diffraction. The surface is heated by 100-ps laser pulses while a synchronized electron beam probes the structure. Ge(111)was observed to remain in its incomplete melting structure up to at least Tm + 134 ± 40 K when heated by a 100-ps laser pulse. Both the Ge(100) and Ge(110) surfaces are observed to melt near the bulk melting temperature when heated with 100-ps laser pulses. Because of the low-diffraction intensity-to-background ratio at high temperatures and because of the temperature …


Time-Resolved Reflection High-Energy Electron Diffraction Study Of The Ge(111)-C(2×8)-(1×1) Phase Transition, Xinglin Zeng, Bo Lin, Ibrahim El-Kholy, Hani E. Elsayed-Ali Jan 1999

Time-Resolved Reflection High-Energy Electron Diffraction Study Of The Ge(111)-C(2×8)-(1×1) Phase Transition, Xinglin Zeng, Bo Lin, Ibrahim El-Kholy, Hani E. Elsayed-Ali

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The dynamics of the Ge(111)-c(2×8)-(1×1) phase transition is investigated by 100-ps time-resolved reflection high-energy electron diffraction. A laser pulse heats the surface while a synchronized electron pulse is used to obtain the surface diffraction pattern. Slow heating shows that the adatoms in Ge(111)-c(2×8) start to disorder at ∼510 K and are converted to a disordered adatom arrangement at 573 K. For heating with 100-ps laser pulses, the Ge(111)-c(2×8) reconstructed adatom arrangement starts to disorder at 584±16K, well above the onset temperature of ∼510 K for the disordering of Ge(111)-c(2×8) observed for slow …


Two-Dimensional Ferroelectric Films, Alexander V. Bune, Vladimir M. Fridkin, Stephen Ducharme, Lev M. Blinov, Serguei P. Palto, Alexander V. Sorokin, S. G. Yudin, A. Zlatkin Feb 1998

Two-Dimensional Ferroelectric Films, Alexander V. Bune, Vladimir M. Fridkin, Stephen Ducharme, Lev M. Blinov, Serguei P. Palto, Alexander V. Sorokin, S. G. Yudin, A. Zlatkin

Stephen Ducharme Publications

Ultrathin crystalline films offer the possibility of exploring phase transitions in the crossover region between two and three dimensions. Second- order ferromagnetic phase transitions have been observed in monolayer magnetic films [1,2], where surface anisotropy energy stabilizes the two-dimensional ferromagnetic state at finite temperature [3]. Similarly, a number of magnetic materials have magnetic surface layers that show a second-order ferromagnetic–paramagnetic phase transition with an increased Curie temperature [4]. Ferroelectricity is in many ways analogous to ferromagnetism, and bulk-like ferroelectricity and finite-size modifications of it have been seen in nanocrystals as small as 250 Å in diameter [5], in perovskite films …


Surface Morphology Of Laser-Superheated Pb(111) And Pb(100), Z. H. Zhang, Bo Lin, X. L. Zeng, H. E. Elsayed-Ali Jan 1998

Surface Morphology Of Laser-Superheated Pb(111) And Pb(100), Z. H. Zhang, Bo Lin, X. L. Zeng, H. E. Elsayed-Ali

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The surface step density on the vicinal Pb(111) and the surface vacancy density on Pb(100) after laser superheating and melting are investigated using reflection high-energy electron diffraction. With ∼100-ps laser pulses, Pb(111) surface superheating does not significantly change the density of the steps and step-edge roughness. However, after laser surface melting, the average terrace width and the string length at the step edge become as large as those at room temperature. The average terrace width at 573 K changes from 38±15 to 64±19 Å after laser surface melting, while the average string length at the step edge changes from 90±14 …