Digital Commons Network^™

Optical Characterization Of Indium Arsenide Antimonide Semiconductors Grown By Molecular Beam Epitaxy, Michael A. Marciniak

Theses and Dissertations

The material parameters and crystalline quality of undoped, MBE-grown InAs_1-xSb_x nearly lattice-matched to (100) GaSb (-0.617% ≤ Δ a-a ≤ +0.708%) similar to material used for mid-infrared semiconductor lasers were determined by optical characterization. Absorption measurements at temperatures between 6-295 K determined the energy gap and wavelength-dependent absorption coefficient for each sample. The compositional dependence of the energy gap was anomalous when compared to previously reported data, suggesting phase separation existed in the material. The samples were also studied by temperature- and excitation-dependent photoluminescence (PL), which, for the majority of cases, showed only a single band-edge peak, …

Electron Emission From Foils Induced By Heavy-Ion Collisions, R. A. Sparrow, Ronald E. Olson, D. Schneider

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Absolute double differential yield per ion has been calculated for forward and backward electron emission produced by collisions of highly charged uranium ions with carbon foils of varying thicknesses. A Monte Carlo method has been developed which employs multiple ionization of the carbon and subsequent energy and angular straggling of freed electrons through the foil. A comparison with experimental double differential electron emission yields shows general agreement. Calculated total electron emission is in agreement with experiment at 44 fig cm-2 as well as the results of Rothard et el. In addition, the radial distribution of energy deposited by the electrons …

Naturalness And Superpartner Masses Or When To Give Up On Weak Scale Supersymmetry, Greg W. Anderson, Diego Castano

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

Superpartner masses cannot be arbitrarily heavy if supersymmetric extensions of the standard model explain the stability of the gauge hierarchy. This ancient and hallowed motivation for weak scale supersymmetry is often quoted, yet no reliable determination of this upper limit on superpartner masses exists. In this paper we compute upper bounds on superpartner masses in the minimal supersymmetric model, and we identify which values of the superpartner masses correspond to the most natural explanation of the hierarchy stability. We compare the most natural value of these masses and their upper limits to the physics reach of current and future colliders. …

College Physics Students' Conceptual Understanding Of Area And Volume, And Relationships Between These Concepts And Students' Understanding Of Physics Concepts, Jiang Yu

Dissertations

Concepts such as area and volume are foundational ideas for many concepts introduced in introductory science courses. At the college level, most instructors typically assume that incoming students have already developed an understanding of these underpinning ideas. However, doubt has surfaced in recent years about students' depth of understanding and mastery of these fundamental concepts. Because deficiencies in understanding basic concepts may relate to the learning of subsequent concepts, instructors have expressed concerns about students' understanding of fundamental ideas and if the failure to understand these ideas hinders students' subsequent progress.

This study was designed to (a) investigate the nature …

Depletion Width And Capacitance Transient Formulas For Deep Traps Of High-Concentration, David C. Look, J. R. Sizelove

Physics Faculty Publications

We derive expressions for the depletion width and capacitance transient applicable to traps which may be deep and of high concentration. The new results are compared with those obtained from the commonly used formulas, and also from an exact analysis. Experimental deep level transient spectroscopic data for EL2 in GaAs are in good agreement.

Origins And Effects Of Thermal Processes On Near-Field Optical Probes, Andres H. La Rosa, B. I. Yakobson, H. D. Hallen

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

An aluminum-coated tapered fiber probe, as used in near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM), is heated by the light coupled into it. This can destroy the probe or may modify the sample, which can be problematic or used as a tool. To study these thermal effects, we couple modulated visible light of various power through probes. Simultaneously coupled infrared light senses the thermal effects. We report their magnitude, their spatial and temporal scales, and real-time probe damage observations.Amodel describes the experimental data, the mechanisms for induced IR variation, and their relative importance.

Ionization-Excitation Of Helium By Fast Charged Particles, L. Nagy, J. Wang, Jack C. Straton, James H. Mcguire

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Probabilities and cross sections for ionization plus excitation in helium produced by fast heavy-particle impact have been evaluated. In these calculations, contributions from shake-off, time ordering, and independent interactions of the frozen-target electrons with the projectile are included. A comparison is made to recent experimental observations for the ratio of excitation-ionization to single-ionization total cross sections. A comparison is also made to calculations of excitation-ionization by fast electron impact.

Numerical Results For The Ground-State Interface In A Random Medium, Alan Middleton

Physics - All Scholarship

The problem of determining the ground state of a $d$-dimensional interface embedded in a $(d+1)$-dimensional random medium is treated numerically. Using a minimum-cut algorithm, the exact ground states can be found for a number of problems for which other numerical methods are inexact and slow. In particular, results are presented for the roughness exponents and ground-state energy fluctuations in a random bond Ising model. It is found that the roughness exponent $\zeta = 0.41 \pm 0.01, 0.22 \pm 0.01$, with the related energy exponent being $\theta = 0.84 \pm 0.03, 1.45 \pm 0.04$, in $d = 2, 3$, respectively. These …

Light Cone Quantization And Qcd Phenomenology, Stanley J. Brodsky, David G. Robertson

Physics Faculty Scholarship

In principle, quantum chromodynamics provides a fundamental description of hadronic and nuclear structure and dynamics in terms of their elementary quark and gluon degrees of freedom. In practice, the direct application of QCD to reactions involving the structure of hadrons is complex because of the interplay of nonperturbative effects such as color confinement and multi-quark coherence. A crucial tool in analyzing such phenomena is the use of relativistic light-cone quantum mechanics and Fock state methods to provide tractable and consistent treatments of relativistic many-body systems. We begin with a brief introduction to light-cone field theory, stressing how it may allow …

Angle-Resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy Of C60, T. Liebsch, O. Plotzke, Franz Heiser, U. Hergenhahn, Oliver Hemmers, R. Wehlitz, J. Viefhaus, B. Langer, S. B. Whitfield, U. Becker

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

Angle-resolved photoelectron spectra of gaseous C₆₀ were recorded in the photon energy regions from 21 to 108 eV and from 295 to 320 eV. Partial cross sections σ and the angular distribution anisotropy parameter β vary significantly with photon energy, particularly in the near-threshold region of the valence and the core ionization regimes. Some of these effects may be attributed to scattering of the outgoing photoelectron by the atoms of the ionized C₆₀ molecule. Our results indicate that the observed satellites of the C(1s) main line are most likely of shake-up character. Low-energy electrons emitted below the shake-off …

The Kelvin Equation And Self-Consistent Nucleation Theory, Gerald Wilemski

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Issues of self-consistency are reviewed for several unary equilibrium size distributions based on the capillarity approximation. Some apparent difficulties of interpretation are resolved. In terms of the kinetic approach to nucleation theory, the influence of self-consistency on the nucleation rate is shown to arise entirely from differences in the dimer evaporation rates for nearly all versions of classical theory. The nucleation rate behavior of the Kelvin model is explored. In this model, the Kelvin equation is used to prescribe all cluster evaporation rates. Nucleation rates predicted by the Kelvin model are quantitatively similar to those of the self-consistent classical (SCC) …

Binary Nucleation Kinetics. Ii. Numerical Solution Of The Birth-Death Equations, Barbara Ellen Wyslouzil, Gerald Wilemski

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We numerically solve the complete set of coupled differential equations describing transient binary nucleation kinetics for vapor-to-liquid phase transitions. We investigate binary systems displaying both positive and negative deviations from ideality in the liquid phase and obtain numerical solutions over a wide range of relative rates of monomer impingement. We emphasize systems and conditions that either have been or can be investigated experimentally. In almost every case, we find behavior consistent with Stauffer's idea that the major particle flux passes through the saddle point with an orientation angle that depends on the rates of monomer impingement. When this is true, …

Binary Nucleation Kinetics. I. Self-Consistent Size Distribution, Gerald Wilemski, Barbara Ellen Wyslouzil

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Using the principle of detailed balance, we derive a new self-consistency requirement, termed the kinetic product rule, relating the evaporation coefficients and equilibrium cluster distribution for a binary system. We use this result to demonstrate and resolve an inconsistency for an idealized Kelvin model of nucleation in a simple binary mixture. We next examine several common forms for the equilibrium distribution of binary clusters based on the capillarity approximation and ideal vapor behavior. We point out fundamental deficiencies for each expression. We also show that each distribution yields evaporation coefficients that formally satisfy the new kinetic product rule but are …

The Study Of Pion Absorption On -4he At 355 Mev/C With Lads (Large Acceptance Detector System), Thomas A. Dooling

Physics Theses & Dissertations

The medium and long range part of the nucleon-nucleon interaction can be described within the framework of pion exchange. In order to understand this fundamental interaction, it is therefore important to study the interaction of pions with nucleons and nuclei, which can either be elastic or inelastic scattering or absorption. Whereas the elastic and inelastic channels can be well described by different models, our understanding of pion absorption is still rather poor. There are still a lot of open questions, for instance on the strength of three and more nucleon absorption and the role of initial and final state interactions. …

Effects Of Symmetry Breaking On The Strong And Electroweak Interactions Of The Vector Nonet, Joseph Schechter, Masayasu Harada

Physics - All Scholarship

Starting from a chiral invariant and quark line rule conserving Lagrangian of pseudoscalar and vector nonets we introduce first and second order symmetry breaking as well as quark line rule violating terms and fit the parameters, at tree level, to many strong and electroweak processes. A number of predictions are made. The electroweak interactions are included in a manifestly gauge invariant manner. The resulting symmetry breaking pattern is discussed in detail. Specifically, for the ``strong'' interactions, we study all the vector meson masses and V -> \phi \phi decays, including isotopic spin violations. In the electroweak sector we study the …

Oscillons: Resonant Configurations During Bubble Collapse, E J. Copeland, M Gleiser, H R. Müller

Dartmouth Scholarship

Oscillons are localized, non-singular, time-dependent, spherically-symmetric solutions of nonlinear scalar field theories which, although unstable, are extremely long-lived. We show that they naturally appear during the collapse of subcritical bubbles in models with symmetric and asymmetric double-well potentials. By a combination of analytical and numerical work we explain several of their properties, including the conditions for their existence, their longevity, and their final demise. We discuss several contexts in which we expect oscillons to be relevant. In particular, their nucleation during cosmological phase transitions may have wide-rangingconsequences.

Simultaneous Determination Of Fe 3p Spin-Orbit And Exchange Splittings In Photoemission, D. J. Huang, D. Mark Riffe, J. L. Erskine

All Physics Faculty Publications

Spin-resolved core-level photoemission data from the 3p level of ultrathin Fe films [1.4–5.1 monolayers (ML)] epitaxially grown on W(110) have been obtained. A nonlinear least-squares analysis, based on a one-particle Hamiltonian that simultaneously includes core-valence exchange and core-hole spin-orbit interactions, is developed. It is first tested on Fe 2p magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) photoemission spectra and shown to successfully describe the MCD asymmetry data. The model is then used to analyze our thin-film 3p data. With increasing film thickness the spin-orbit splitting (0.67±0.02 eV) remains constant (as expected), the exchange splitting increases from 0±0.12 eV to 0.41±0.05 eV, the average …

Molecular Hydrogen Formation On Astrophysically Relevant Surfaces, Gianfranco Vidali, N. Katz, Itay Furman, Ofer Biham, Valerio Pirronello

Physics - All Scholarship

Recent experimental results about the formation of molecular hydrogen on astrophysically relevant surfaces under conditions close to those encountered in the interstellar medium are analyzed using rate equations. The parameters of the rate equation model are fitted to temperature-programmed desorption curves obtained in the laboratory. These parameters are the activation energy barriers for atomic hydrogen diffusion and desorption, the barrier for molecular hydrogen desorption, and the probability of spontaneous desorption of a hydrogen molecule upon recombination. The model is a generalization of the Polanyi-Wigner equation and provides a description of both first and second order kinetic processes within a single …

Electron Transport In Magnetic Inhomogeneous Media, Horacio E. Camblong

Physics and Astronomy

Giant magnetoresistance has been observed in both magnetic multilayers and magnetic granular solids. We develop a framework for unifying these particular realizations of inhomogeneous magnetic media, based on the real-space Kubo formula. It constitutes a spin-dependent form of linear response theory, associated with internal spin-dependent fields arising from spin accumulation; moreover, we discuss the physical meaning of these spin dependences. For magnetic multilayers we discuss the particular cases of collinear and noncollinear configurations, and we consider limiting cases of the elastic mean-free path to inhomogeneity-scale ratio for granular solids. Furthermore, we introduce the concept of magnetically self-averaging systems, which include …

The Mandelstam-Leibbrandt Prescription In Light Cone Quantization Gauge Theories, Gary Mccartor, David G. Robertson

Physics Faculty Scholarship

Quantization of gauge theories on characteristic surfaces and in the light-cone gauge is discussed. Implementation of the Mandelstam-Leibbrandt prescription for the spurious singularity is shown to require two distinct null planes, with independent degrees of freedom initialized on each. The relation of this theory to the usual light-cone formulation of gauge field theory, using a single null plane, is described. A connection is established between this formalism and a recently given operator solution to the Schwinger model in the light-cone gauge.

Scaling Of Thin-Film Nd1.85ce0.15cuo4-Y Resistivity-Current Isotherms At Low Fields: Implications For Vortex Phase Transitions And Universality, Brandon R. Brown

Physics and Astronomy

We have investigated a second-order phase transition of the vortex lattice in thin-film Nd_1.85Ce_0.15CuO_4-y from 1 mT to 1 T applied magnetic fields. The dc resistivity-current density data for each field exhibit critical scaling consistent with a second-order vortex-liquid to vortex-solid phase transition. The high-field data support the vortex-glass model and have the same critical exponents as thin-film YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ. At low fields we observe a change in the critical exponents and universal functions. The critical regime diminishes as the field is decreased but remains nonzero even at 1 mT. …

A Stochastic Theory Of Inhomogeneously Broadened Linewidths In Solids, Ulrich Zürcher

Physics Faculty Publications

We investigate spectral diffusion decay using a model for solids that consists of two-level-systems (TLSs) interacting via strain fields. For the case when the rate of TLS flips vanishes, we find algebraic decay of correlation functions of the local field. We show that properties of equilibrium fluctuations are in agreement with the hierarchical picture proposed by Basché and Moerner: TLSs far away produce fast fluctuations that are small in magnitude, and close TLSs produce large fluctuations that are less frequent.

Optimal Wavefront Reconstruction For A Coherent Diffracted Field, William W. Arrasmith

Theses and Dissertations

In sheared coherent beam interferometric imaging, an estimate of the average reflectivity profile of the object can be computed from measurements of point to point phase differences in the far field interference pattern and a suitable phase reconstruction technique. The phase difference information is encoded in the irradiance of three identical, shifted and superimposed speckled laser beam patterns. A minimum variance phase reconstruction technique is presented to estimate the phase of the field in the measurement plane from the phase differences and evaluate its performance. Prior knowledge of the phase covariance is used in the minimum variance reconstructor. Analytic calculations …

State-Selected Ion-Molecule Reactions: Statistical Calculations With Constraints, Cornelis J. Uiterwaal, J. Van Eck, A. Niehaus

C.J.G.J. Uiterwaal Publications

For the two reactive systems, NH₃⁺(E_int)+N H₃→NH₄⁺+NH₂ and H₂⁺ (E_int)+H₂→H₃⁺ + H, for which the relative cross sections were measured earlier in our group for E_c.m.≈40 meV we calculated the relative cross section as a function of internal energy using the statistical Rice– Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM) theory that implicitly conserves total energy and total angular momentum. We found satisfactory agreement between theory and experiment by imposing rather mild constraints upon the loose transition state configuration. These constraints involve …

Distortion And Evolution Of A Localized Vortex In An Irrotational Flow, Joseph F. Lingevitch, Andrew J. Bernoff

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

This paper examines the interaction of an axisymmetric vortex monopole, such as a Lamb vortex, with a background irrotational flow. At leading order, the monopole is advected with the background flow velocity at the center of vorticity. However, inhomogeneities of the flow will cause the monopole to distort. It is shown that a shear‐diffusion mechanism, familiar from the study of mixing of passive scalars, plays an important role in the evolution of the vorticity distribution. Through this mechanism, nonaxisymmetric vorticity perturbations which do not shift the center of vorticity are homogenized along streamlines on a Re1/3 time scale, much faster …

Visible Luminescence From Single Crystal‐Silicon Quantum Wells, Peter N. Saeta, A. C. Gallagher

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

Single crystal‐silicon quantum wells with SiO₂ barriers have been grown from SIMOX silicon‐on‐insulator substrates. Photoluminescence in the red and near‐infrared is observed for average well width <8 >nm, with peak signal for 2‐nm average width. The luminescence spectrum is independent of well width for SiO₂ barriers, but shifts 0.3 eV to higher energy upon removal of the upper oxide layer with HF. Both results suggest the importance of radiation from surface states.

Observation Of Postcollision Effects In The Scattered Projectile Spectra For Ionizing Proton-Helium Collisions, Tibor Vajnai, A. D. Gaus, Joachim A. Brand, W. T. Htwe, Don H. Madison, Ronald E. Olson, Jerry Peacher, Michael Schulz

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We have measured and calculated doubly differential single ionization cross sections as a function of the scattering angle and the projectile energy loss for 50 to 150 keV proton-helium collisions. These cross sections show unexpected structures as a function of both the energy loss and the scattering angle, which are interpreted as due to the postcollision interaction. Although the effects of postcollision interactions have previously been observed in electron spectra, this is the first observation of such effects for the scattered protons.

The Evolution Of Density-Driven Circulation Over Sloping Bottom Topography, G. H. Wheless, J. M. Klinck

CCPO Publications

The short timescale temporal evolution of buoyancy-driven coastal flow over sloping bottom topography is examined using a two-dimensional, vertically averaged numerical model. Winter shelf circulation driven by a coastal ''point source'' buoyancy flux is modeled by initiating a coastal outflow with density anomaly epsilon into well-mixed shelf water. The nonlinear interaction between the time-varying velocity and density field is represented by an advection-diffusion equation. Three cases are discussed: that of a buoyant (epsilon < 0) outflow, a neutral (epsilon = 0) outflow, and a dense (epsilon > 0) outflow. Results are similar to observations from well-mixed shelf areas and show that density-topography interactions are capable of substantially influencing coastal circulation. A negative (buoyant) coastal …

Novel Swelling Structures And Electromotility Response In Polyelectrolyte Gels, Dana Deardorff

Honors Projects

Electromotility, the bending in response to an electric field, of polyelectrolyte gels in ionic solutions has been identified as a candidate for a potential chemomechanical engines such as muscles. We discovered that the underlying physics of these systems is more complex than previously believed. We found that the bending as a function of time obeys a square root power law. This points strongly towards a diffusion mechanism for the bending. Kinetic evidence for diffusion was independently corroborated by experiments on gels grown or bent in the presence of dyes. We explored the effects of varying poly-ion concentration in the backbone …

Partial-Wave Representations Of Laser Beams For Use In Light-Scattering Calculations, Gérard Gouesbet, James A. Lock, Gérard Gréhan

Physics Faculty Publications

In the framework of generalized Lorenz-Mie theory, laser beams are described by sets of beam-shape coefficients. The modified localized approximation to evaluate these coefficients for a focused Gaussian beam is presented. A new description of Gaussian beams, called standard beams, is introduced. A comparison is made between the values of the beam-shape coefficients in the framework of the localized approximation and the beam-shape coefficients of standard beams. This comparison leads to new insights concerning the electromagnetic description of laser beams. The relevance of our discussion is enhanced by a demonstration that the localized approximation provides a very satisfactory description of …