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At least 613 records · Page 34

Microstructure Formations in the Two-Phase Region of the Binary Peritectic Organic System TRIS-NPG

In order to prepare for an onboard experiment on the International Space Station (ISS), systematic directional solidification experiments with transparent hypoperitectic alloys were carried out at different solidification rates around the critical velocity for morphological stability of both solid phases. The investigations were done in the peritectic region of the binary transparent organic TRIS-NPG system where the formation of layered structures is expected to occur. The transparent appearance of the liquid and solid phase enables real time observations of the dynamic of pattern formation during solidification. The investigations show that frequently occurring nucleation events govern the peritectic solidification morphology which occurs at the limit of morphological stability. As a consequence, banded structures lead to coupled growth even if the lateral growth is much faster compared to the growth in pulling direction.

Mogeritsch, Johann↗

Tuning the electronic properties of MgB 2 by substitution with Mn and C

We use high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to investigate the electronic band structure of the superconductors Mg 0.995 Mn 0.005 B 2 and Mg(B 0.98 C 0.02 ) 2 , in comparison with pristine MgB 2 . Our experimental findings reveal modest changes in the size of the Fermi surface sheets following manganese or carbon substitution, with the most pronounced effect observed in the outermost σ band. Additionally, the dispersion kink, indicative of strong renormalization due to the interaction between conduction electrons and phonon modes near −0.065 eV, remains unaffected by chemical substitution. Given that the superconducting transition temperature decreases significantly more rapidly in Mn-substituted MgB 2 than in C-substituted MgB 2 , our ARPES results strongly suggest that the primary mechanism behind the pronounced T C suppression in Mn–MgB 2 is the disruption of Cooper pairs via Abrikosov–Gorkov spin-flip scattering caused by the local magnetic moments of Mn.

ARPES↗

Achieving large uniform tensile elasticity in microfabricated diamond

Diamond is not only the hardest material in nature, but is also an extreme electronic material with an ultrawide bandgap, exceptional carrier mobilities, and thermal conductivity. Straining diamond can push such extreme figures of merit for device applications. We microfabricated single-crystalline diamond bridge structures with ~1 micrometer length by ~100 nanometer width and achieved sample-wide uniform elastic strains under uniaxial tensile loading along the [100], [101], and [111] directions at room temperature. We also demonstrated deep elastic straining of diamond microbridge arrays. The ultralarge, highly controllable elastic strains can fundamentally change the bulk band structures of diamond, including a substantial calculated bandgap reduction as much as ~2 electron volts. Our demonstration highlights the immense application potential of deep elastic strain engineering for photonics, electronics, and quantum information technologies.

Dang, Chaoqun↗

High-temperature fractional quantum Hall state in the Floquet kagome flat band

A fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE) has been predicted in a topological flat band (FB) by a single-particle band structure combined with phenomenological theory or solution of a many-body lattice Hamiltonian with fuzzy parameters. A long-standing roadblock toward the realization of a FB-FQHE is lacking the many-body solution of specific materials under realistic conditions. Here, we demonstrate a combined study of single-particle Floquet band theory with exact diagonalization (ED) of a many-body Hamiltonian. We show that a time-periodic circularly polarized laser inverts the sign of second-nearest-neighbor hopping in a kagome lattice and enhances spin-orbit coupling in one spin channel to produce a Floquet FB with a high flatness ratio of bandwidth over band gap, as exemplified in monolayer Pt 3 C 36 S 12 H 12 . The ED of the resultant Floquet-kagome lattice Hamiltonian gives a one-third-filling ground state with a laser-dependent excitation gap of a FQH state, up to an estimated temperature above 70 K. Our findings pave the way for exploring the alluding high-temperature FB-FQHE.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Charge correlations suppress unconventional pairing in the Holstein model

In a recent work by Schrodi et al. [Phys. Rev. B. 104, L140506 (2021)], the authors find an unconventional superconducting state with a sign-changing order parameter using the Migdal-Eliashberg theory, including the first vertex correction. This unconventional solution arises despite using an isotropic bare electron-phonon coupling in the Hamiltonian. We examine this claim using hybrid quantum Monte Carlo for a single-band Holstein model with a cuprate-like noninteracting band structure and identical parameters to Schrodi et al.. Our Monte Carlo results for these parameters suggest that unconventional pairing correlations do not exceed their noninteracting values at any carrier concentration we have checked. Instead, strong charge-density-wave correlations persist at the lowest accessible temperatures for dilute and nearly half-filled bands. As a result, we present arguments for how vertex-corrected Migdal-Eliashberg calculation schemes can lead to uncontrolled results in the presence of Fermi surface nesting.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Photon energy and polarization-dependent electronic structure of Cr-doped Bi 2 Se 3

In this article, we report a comparative study of the electronic structure of Cr-doped and pristine Bi 2 Se 3 . Circular dichroism and photon-energy-dependent angle-resolved photoemission experiments were performed. Even though the surface states seen on the Cr-doped samples are gapped, they exhibit strong circular dichroism, for which we provide its origin in accordance with the nontrivial band structure of the bulk. We note the surface electronic structure measurements with linear and circular polarized light show signatures that the orbital composition of the surface states is changed with Cr doping. Our observations not only provide further spectroscopic information about topological materials, but also promotes an alternative experimental tool to control their spin-orbital texture.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Disorder and diffuse scattering in single-chirality (TaSe 4 ) 2 ⁢I crystals

The quasi-one-dimensional chiral compound (TaSe 4 ) 2 I has been extensively studied as a prime example of a topological Weyl semimetal. Upon crossing its phase transition temperature $T$ CDW ≈263K, (TaSe 4 ) 2 I exhibits incommensurate charge density wave (CDW) modulations described by the well-defined propagation vector ∼(0.05,0.05,0.11), oblique to the TaSe 4 chains. Although optical and transport properties greatly depend on chirality, there is no systematic report about chiral domain size for (TaSe 4 ) 2 I. In this study, our single-crystal scattering refinements reveal a bulk iodine deficiency, and Flack parameter measurements on multiple crystals demonstrate that separate (TaSe 4 ) 2 I crystals have uniform handedness, supported by direct imaging and helicity-dependent terahertz emission spectroscopy. Our single-crystal x-ray scattering and calculated diffraction patterns identify multiple diffuse features and create a real-space picture of the temperature-dependent (TaSe 4 ) 2 I crystal structure. Further, the short-range diffuse features are present at room temperature and decrease in intensity as the CDW modulation develops. These transverse displacements, along with electron pinning from the iodine deficiency, help explain why (TaSe 4 ) 2 I behaves as an electronic semiconductor at temperatures above and below $T$ CDW , despite a metallic band structure calculated from density functional theory of the ideal structure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Thickness-dependent polaron crossover in tellurene

Polarons, quasiparticles from electron-phonon coupling, are crucial for material properties including high-temperature superconductivity and colossal magnetoresistance. However, scarce studies have investigated polaron formation in low-dimensional materials with phonon polarity and electronic structure transitions. In this work, we studied polarons of tellurene, composed of chiral Te chains. The frequency and linewidth of the A 1 phonon, which becomes increasingly polar for thinner tellurene, change abruptly for thickness below 10 nanometers, where field-effect mobility drops rapidly. These phonon and transport signatures, combined with phonon polarity and band structure, suggest a crossover from large polarons in bulk tellurium to small polarons in few-layer tellurene. Effective field theory considering phonon renormalization in the small-polaron regime semiquantitatively reproduces the phonon hardening and broadening effects. This polaron crossover stems from the quasi–one-dimensional nature of tellurene, where modulation of interchain distance reduces dielectric screening and promotes electron-phonon coupling. Our work provides valuable insights into the influence of polarons on phononic, electronic, and structural properties in low-dimensional materials.

42 ENGINEERING↗

What determines the location of satellites and planets?

The discrete structural pattern in the distribution of the satellites and planets around their primaries has since its discovery been thought to hold the key to the origin and evolution of the solar system. Different attempts to rationalize this distribution are reviewed with emphasis on theories with foundation in verifiable physical processes. Foremost among these is the band structure theory, which relates the emplacement of interstellar dust and gas source material around the magnetized primarily to the critical velocity for ionization of the four major interstellar gas components. The uncertainties, that are inevitable in all reconstructions, are in this theory compensated by the support from precise manifestations of the 2/3 effect in the Saturnian ring system and in the asteroid belt, and by the reproduction of related phenomena in laboratory and space experiments.

Arrhenius, G.↗

Substrate Effects on Electronic Properties of Atomic Chains

Atomic chains, precise structures of adatoms created on an atomically regulated surface, are candidates for constituent elements in future electronics. It was predicted that Si chains were metallic and Mg chains were semiconducting, and a doping method was also discussed. The substrate was assumed to work as a non-interacting template holding the adatoms. However, this scheme requires a low-temperature environment so that the adatoms will not displace from their ideal positions due to unwanted thermal agitation. For better structural stability, we may seek a scheme to allow the adatoms to form chemical bonding with the substrate atoms and secure their positions. The chemical bonding has two major effects on the chain electronic properties. First, only the remaining s and p orbitals in an adatom not used for the chemical bonding can decide chain band structures, rather than the full set of orbitals previously assumed. Second, because of a possible HOMO energy difference between adatom and substrate atom, semiconducting chains are unintentionally doped. These effects are studied with a self-consistent tight-binding method with universal parameters. With one adatom per unit cell, adatom chains are semiconducting: (1) if adatoms are of group III and form one chemical bond per adatom, or (2) if adatoms are of group IV and form two chemical bonds. 'Me previous result [I I of realizing semiconducting chains by group II adatoms without chemical bonds is consistent with this picture. When the HOMO energy in an adatom is shallower than that in a substrate atom, the entire chain is positively polarized, unintentionally achieving p-type doping. When deeper, the chain is negatively charged, achieving n-type doping.

Yamada, Toshishige↗

On the New Oxyarsenides Eu 5 Zn 2 As 5 O and Eu 5 Cd 2 As 5 O

The new quaternary phases Eu5Zn2As5O and Eu5Cd2As5O have been synthesized by metal flux reactions and their structures have been established through single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both compounds crystallize in the centrosymmetric space group Cmcm (No. 63, Z = 4; Pearson symbol oC52), with unit cell parameters a = 4.3457(11) Å, b = 20.897(5) Å, c = 13.571(3) Å; and a = 4.4597(9) Å, b = 21.112(4) Å, c = 13.848(3) Å, for Eu5Zn2As5O and Eu5Cd2As5O, respectively. The crystal structures include one-dimensional double-strands of corner-shared MAs4 tetrahedra (M = Zn, Cd) and As–As bonds that connect the tetrahedra to form pentagonal channels. Four of the five Eu atoms fill the space between the pentagonal channels and one Eu atom is contained within the channels. An isolated oxide anion O2– is located in a tetrahedral hole formed by four Eu cations. Applying the valence rules and the Zintl concept to rationalize the chemical bonding in Eu5M2As5O (M = Zn, Cd) reveals that the valence electrons can be counted as follows: 5 × [Eu2+] + 2 × [M2+] + 3 × [As3–] + 2 × [As2–] + O2–, which suggests an electron-deficient configuration. The presumed h+ hole is confirmed by electronic band structure calculations, where a fully optimized bonding will be attained if an additional valence electron is added to move the Fermi level up to a narrow band gap (Eu5Zn2As5O) or pseudo-gap (Eu5Cd2As5O). In order to achieve such a formal charge balance, and hence, narrow-gap semiconducting behavior in Eu5M2As5O (M = Zn, Cd), europium is theorized to be in a mixed-valent Eu2+/ Eu3+ state.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Bulk Fermi surfaces of the Dirac type-II semimetallic candidate NiTe 2

Here, we present a study on the Fermi surface of the Dirac type-II semimetallic candidate NiTe 2 via the temperature and angular dependence of the de Haas–van Alphen (dHvA) effect measured in single crystals grown through Te flux. In contrast to its isostructural compounds like PtSe 2 , band-structure calculations predict NiTe 2 to display a tilted Dirac node very close to its Fermi level that is located along the Γ to A high-symmetry direction within its first Brillouin zone. The angular dependence of the dHvA frequencies is found to be in agreement with the first-principles calculations when the electronic bands are slightly shifted with respect to the Fermi level (ε F ), and therefore provide support for the existence of a Dirac type-II node in NiTe 2 . Nevertheless, we observed mild disagreements between experimental observations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations as, for example, nearly isotropic and light experimental effective masses. This indicates that the dispersion of the bands is not well captured by DFT. Despite the coexistence of Dirac-like fermions with topologically trivial carriers, samples of the highest quality display an anomalous and large either linear or sublinear magnetoresistivity. Finally, this suggests that Lorentz invariance breaking Dirac-like quasiparticles dominate the carrier transport in this compound.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Topological Green’s Function Zeros in an Exactly Solved Model and Beyond

The interplay of topological electronic band structures and strong interparticle interactions provides a promising path towards the constructive design of robust, long-range entangled many-body systems. As a prototype for such systems, we here study an exactly integrable, local model for a fractionalized topological insulator. Using a controlled perturbation theory about this limit, we demonstrate the existence of topological bands of zeros in the exact fermionic Green’s function and show that in this model they do affect the topological invariant of the system, but not the quantized transport response. Close to (but prior to) the Higgs transition signaling the breakdown of fractionalization, the topological bands of zeros acquire a finite “lifetime.” We also discuss the appearance of edge states and edge zeros at real space domain walls separating different phases of the system. This model provides a fertile ground for controlled studies of the phenomenology of Green’s function zeros and the underlying exactly solvable lattice gauge theory illustrates the synergetic cross pollination between solid-state theory, high-energy physics, and quantum information science.

Bollmann, Steffen↗

Two-dimensional Dirac semimetal based on the alkaline earth metal CaP 3

Using an evolutionary algorithm in combination with first-principles density-functional theory calculations, we identify a two-dimensional (2D) CaP 3 monolayer as a new Dirac semimetal due to inversion and nonsymmorphic spatial symmetries of the structure. This new topological material, composed of light elements, exhibits high structural stability (higher than the phase known in the literature), which is confirmed by thermodynamic and kinetic stability analysis. Moreover, it satisfies the electron filling criteria, so that its Dirac state is located near the Fermi level. The existence of the Dirac state predicted by the theoretical symmetry analysis is also confirmed by first-principles electronic band structure calculations. We find that the energy position of the Dirac state can be tuned by strain, while the Dirac state is unstable against an external electric field since it breaks the spatial inversion symmetry. In conclusion, our findings should be instrumental in the development of 2D Dirac fermions based on light elements for their application in nanoelectronic devices and topological electronics.

2-dimensional systems↗

Multifunctional Cu 2 TSiS 4 (T = Mn and Fe): Polar Semiconducting Antiferromagnets with Nonlinear Optical Properties

In this work, Cu 2 TSiS 4 (T = Mn and Fe) polycrystalline and single-crystal materials were prepared with high-temperature solid-state and chemical vapor transport methods, respectively. The polar crystal structure (space group Pmn2 1 ) consists of chains of corner-sharing and distorted CuS 4 , Mn/FeS 4 , and SiS 4 tetrahedra, which is confirmed by Rietveld refinement using neutron powder diffraction data, X-ray single-crystal refinement, electron diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and second harmonic generation (SHG) techniques. Magnetic measurements indicate that both compounds order antiferromagnetically at 8 and 14 K, respectively, which is supported by the temperature-dependent (100–2 K) neutron powder diffraction data. Additional magnetic reflections observed at 2 K can be modeled by magnetic propagation vectors k = (1/2,0,1/2) and k = (1/2,1/2,1/2) for Cu 2 MnSiS 4 and Cu 2 FeSiS 4 , respectively. The refined antiferromagnetic structure reveals that the Mn/Fe spins are canted away from the ac plane by about 14°, with the total magnetic moments of Mn and Fe being 4.1(1) and 2.9(1) μ B , respectively. Both compounds exhibit an SHG response with relatively modest second-order nonlinear susceptibilities. Density functional theory calculations are used to describe the electronic band structures.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Electronic Structure of InAs and InSb Surfaces: Density Functional Theory and Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy

The electronic structure of surfaces plays a key role in the properties of quantum devices. However, surfaces are also the most challenging to simulate and engineer. Here, in this work, the electronic structure of InAs(001), InAs(111), and InSb(110) surfaces is studied using a combination of density functional theory (DFT) and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). Large-scale first principles simulations are enabled by using DFT calculations with a machine-learned Hubbard U correction [npj Comput. Mater. 6, 180 (2020)]. To facilitate direct comparison with ARPES results, a “bulk unfolding” scheme is implemented by projecting the calculated band structure of a supercell surface slab model onto the bulk primitive cell. For all three surfaces, a good agreement is found between DFT calculations and ARPES. For InAs(001), the simulations clarify the effect of the surface reconstruction. Different reconstructions are found to produce distinctive surface states, which may be detected by ARPES with low photon energies. For InAs(111) and InSb(110), the simulations help elucidate the effect of oxidation. Owing to larger charge transfer from As to O than from Sb to O, oxidation of InAs(111) leads to significant band bending and produces an electron pocket, whereas oxidation of InSb(110) does not. The combined theoretical and experimental results may inform the design of quantum devices based on InAs and InSb semiconductors, for example, topological qubits utilizing the Majorana zero modes.

42 ENGINEERING↗

A Study of the Kinematic and Dynamic Processes associated with Mesoscale Snowbands in a Midwest United States Snowstorm on 5 February 2020

Mesoscale snowbands are frequently responsible for dumping large amounts of snow over a relatively small region and pose a considerable forecasting challenge. The present study focuses on the mesoscale snowbands observed on 5 February 2020 over the Midwest United States. In order to improve the forecasting of mesoscale snowbands, it is important to understand the processes that organize these features. To this end, we are investigating the kinematic and dynamic processes that shape the mesoscale snowbands using a combination of high-altitude airborne radar, in-situ aircraft measurements, surface observations, and model simulations. This presentation will primarily focus on the three-dimensional structure of the mesoscale snowbands in terms of EXRAD reflectivity and horizontal winds. The horizontal winds are retrieved from the EXRAD scanning-beam Doppler velocities using a VAD technique. These winds, in combination with virtual potential temperature taken from the HRRR operational analysis, are used to compute the bulk Richardson number in order to investigate any contributions to banding features that might be tied to Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. Our analysis does not support the presence of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. That said, low, but not subcritical, Richardson numbers were found near the top of some banding features in this event and it is possible that the model analysis is smoothing out the virtual potential temperature fields. Finally, we present arguments for using a flight module designed to sample the along-band structures with particular emphasis on observing generating cells and low-level microphysics.

Charles N. Helms↗

Linker-Based Bandgap Tuning in Conductive MOF Solid Solutions

Herein, the synthesis of Cu 3 (HAB) x (TATHB) 2-x (HAB: hexaaminobenzene, TATHB: triaminotrihydroxybenzene) is reported. Synthetic improvement of Cu 3 (TATHB) 2 leads to a more crystalline framework with higher electrical conductivity value than previously reported. The improved crystallinity and analogous structure between TATHB and HAB enable the synthesis of Cu 3 (HAB) x (TATHB) 2-x with ligand compositions precisely controlled by precursor ratios. The electrical conductivity is tuned from 4.2 × 10 -8 to 2.9 × 10 -5 S cm -1 by simply increasing the nitrogen content in the crystal lattice. Furthermore, computational calculation supports that the solid solution facilitates the band structure tuning. In conclusion, it is envisioned that the findings not only shed light on the ligand-dependent structure–property relationship but create new prospects in synthesizing multicomponent electrically conductive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for tailoring optoelectronic device applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗