Probing nanoscale ferroelectricity by ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy

We demonstrated that ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy is an effective technique to measure the transition temperature (Tc) in ferroelectric ultrathin films and superlattices. We showed that one-unit-cell-thick BaTiO3 layers in BaTiO3/SrTiO3 superlattices are not only ferroelectric (with Tc as high as 250 kelvin) but also polarize the quantum paraelectric SrTiO3 layers adjacent to them. Tc was tuned by approximately 500 kelvin by varying the thicknesses of the BaTiO3 and SrTiO3 layers, revealing the essential roles of electrical and mechanical boundary conditions for nanoscale ferroelectricity.     

Real-space imaging of two-dimensional antiferromagnetism on the atomic scale

A two-dimensional antiferromagnetic structure within a pseudomorphic monolayer film of chemically identical manganese atoms on tungsten(110) was observed with atomic resolution by spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy at 16 kelvin. A magnetic superstructure changes the translational symmetry of the surface lattice with respect to the chemical unit cell. It is shown, with the aid of first-principles calculations, that as a result of this, spin-polarized tunneling electrons give rise to an image corresponding to the magnetic superstructure and not to the chemical unit cell. These investigations demonstrate a powerful technique for the understanding of complicated magnetic configurations of nanomagnets and thin films engineered from ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic materials used for magnetoelectronics.     

Importance of surface morphology in interstellar H2 formation

Detailed laboratory experiments on the formation of HD from atom recombination on amorphous solid water films show that this process is extremely efficient in a temperature range of 8 to 20 kelvin, temperatures relevant for H2 formation on dust grain surfaces in the interstellar medium (ISM). The fate of the 4.5 electron volt recombination energy is highly dependent on film morphology. These results suggest that grain morphology, rather than the detailed chemical nature of the grain surface, is most important in determining the energy content of the H2 as it is released from the grain into the ISM.     

Antiferromagnetic Ordering and Paramagnetic Behavior of Ferromagnetic Cu6 and Cu18 Clusters in BaCuO2+x

Magnetization and neutron diffraction measurements on polycrystalline BaCuO2+x revealed a combination of magnetic behaviors. The Cu(6) ring clusters and Cu(18) sphere clusters in this compound had ferromagnetic ground states with large spins 3 and 9, respectively. The Cu(6) rings ordered antiferromagnetically below the Néel temperature T(N) = 15 +/- 0.5 kelvin, whereas the Cu(18) spheres remained paramagnetic down to 2 kelvin. The ordered moment below T(N) was 0.89(5) Bohr magnetons per Cu in the Cu(6) rings, demonstrating that quantum fluctuation effects are small in these atomic clusters. The Cu(18) clusters are predicted to exhibit ferromagnetic intercluster order below about 1 kelvin.     

Pressure-induced enhancement of tc above 150 k in hg-1223

The recently discovered homologous series HgBa(2)Can-1 Cun O2n+2+delta possesses remarkable properties. A superconducting transition temperature, T(c), as high as 133 kelvin has been measured in a multiphase Hg-Ba-Ca-Cu-O sample and found to be attributable to the Hg-1223 compound. Temperature-dependent electrical resistivity measurements under pressure on a (> 95%) pure Hg-1223 phase are reported. These data show that T(c) increases steadily with pressure at a rate of about 1 kelvin per gigapascal up to 15 gigapascals, then more slowly and reaches a T(c) = 150 kelvin, with the onset of the transition at 157 kelvin, for 23.5 gigapascals. This large pressure variation (as compared to the small effects observed in similar compounds with the optimal T(c)) strongly suggests that higher critical temperatures could be obtained at atmospheric pressure.     

High-temperature molecular magnets based on cyanovanadate building blocks: spontaneous magnetization at 230 k

The molecular-based magnetic materials Cs(2)Mn(||)[V(||)(CN)(6)] (1) and (Et(4)N)(0.5)Mn(l.25)- [V(CN)(5)].2H(2)O (2) (where Et is ethyl) were prepared by the addition of manganese(II) triflate to aqueous solutions of the hexacyanovanadate(II) ion at 0 degrees C. Whereas 1 crystallizes in a face-centered cubic lattice, 2 crystallizes in a noncubic space group. The cesium salt (1) has features characteristic of a three-dimensional ferrimagnet with a Néel transition at 125 kelvin. The tetraethylammonium salt (2) also behaves as a three-dimensional ferrimagnet with a Néel temperature of 230 kelvin; only two other molecular magnets have higher magnetic ordering temperatures. Saturation magnetization measurements indicate that in both compounds the V(II) and high-spin Mn(II) centers are antiferromagnetically coupled. Both 1 and 2 exhibit hysteresis loops characteristic of soft magnets below their magnetic phase-transition temperatures. The high magnetic ordering temperatures of these cyano-bridged solids confirm that the incorporation of early transition elements into the lattice promotes stronger magnetic coupling by enhancing the backbonding into the cyanide pi* orbitals.     

The thermal stability of water ice at the poles of mercury

Recent radar observations of Mercury have revealed the presence of anomalous radar reflectivity and polarization features near its north and south poles. Thermal model calculations show that, despite Mercury's proximity to the sun, the temperatures of flat, low-reflectivity surfaces at Mercury's poles are not expected to exceed 167 kelvin. The locations of the anomalous polar radar features appear to be correlated with the locations of large, high-latitude impact craters. Maximum surface temperatures in the permanently shadowed regions of these craters are expected to be significantly colder, as low as 60 kelvin in the largest craters. These results are consistent with the presence of water ice, because at temperatures lower than 112 kelvin, water ice should be stable to evaporation over time scales of billions of years.     

Ultrasonic shear wave velocities of MgSiO3 perovskite at 8 GPa and 800 K and lower mantle composition

Ultrasonic interferometric measurements of the shear elastic properties of MgSiO3 perovskite were conducted on three polycrystalline specimens at conditions up to pressures of 8 gigapascals and temperatures of 800 kelvin. The acoustic measurements produced the pressure (P) and temperature (T) derivatives of the shear modulus (G), namely ( partial differentialG/ partial differentialP)T = 1.8 +/- 0.4 and ( partial differentialG/ partial differentialT)P = -2.9 +/- 0.3 x 10(-2) gigapascals per kelvin. Combining these derivatives with the derivatives that were measured for the bulk modulus and thermal expansion of MgSiO3 perovskite provided data that suggest lower mantle compositions between pyrolite and C1 carbonaceous chondrite and a lower mantle potential temperature of 1500 +/- 200 kelvin.     

Mercury-Based Cuprate High-Transition Temperature Grain-Boundary Junctions and SQUIDs Operating Above 110 Kelvin

The superconducting transport characteristics of HgBa(2) CaCu(2)O(6+delta) (Hg-1212) films and grain-boundary junctions grown on (100)-oriented SrTiO(3) bicrystal substrates have been investigated. The films exhibit a zero-resistance temperature of approximately 120 kelvin and sustain large critical current densities, with values as high as 10(6) amperes per square centimeter at around 100 kelvin. On the other hand, the grain boundaries behave as weak links, with substantially lower critical currents, as is observed for other cuprate superconductors. A reduction of three orders of magnitude in critical current was observed for transport across a 36.8 degrees grain boundary. The current-voltage characteristics of bridges across such a grain boundary show weak-link behavior qualitatively resembling that of a resistively shunted junction. Single-level direct-current superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) have been fabricated with such bicrystal junctions. These SQUIDs show clear periodic voltage modulations when subjected to applied magnetic fields. The SQUIDs operate at temperatures as high as 111.8 kelvin, which makes them attractive for operation in portable sensors and devices that utilize nonconventional cooling methods.     

Direct Radiometric Observations of the Water Vapor Greenhouse Effect Over the Equatorial Pacific Ocean

Airborne radiometric measurements were used to determine tropospheric profiles of the clear sky greenhouse effect. At sea surface temperatures (SSTs) larger than 300 kelvin, the clear sky water vapor greenhouse effect was found to increase with SST at a rate of 13 to 15 watts per square meter per kelvin. Satellite measurements of infrared radiances and SSTs indicate that almost 52 percent of the tropical oceans between 20°N and 20°S are affected during all seasons. Current general circulation models suggest that the increase in the clear sky water vapor greenhouse effect with SST may have climatic effects on a planetary scale.     

Giant Piezoelectric Effect in Strontium Titanate at Cryogenic Temperatures

Piezoelectric materials have many applications at cryogenic temperatures. However, the piezoelectric response below 10 kelvin is diminished, making the use of these materials somewhat marginal. Results are presented on strontium titanate (SrTiO3), which exhibits a rapidly increasing piezoelectric response with decreasing temperature below 50 kelvin; the magnitude of its response around 1 kelvin is comparable to that of the best materials at room temperature. This "giant" piezoelectric response may open the way for a broad class of applications including use in ultralow-temperature scanning microscopies and in a magnetic field-insensitive thermometer. These observations, and the possible divergence of the mechanical response to electric fields at even lower temperatures, may arise from an apparent quantum critical point at absolute zero.     

MgB2 superconducting thin films with a transition temperature of 39 kelvin

We fabricated high-quality c axis-oriented epitaxial MgB2 thin films using a pulsed laser deposition technique. The thin films grown on (1 i 0 2) Al2O3 substrates have a transition temperature of 39 kelvin. The critical current density in zero field is approximately 6 x 10(6) amperes per cubic centimeter at 5 kelvin and approximately 3 x 10(5) amperes per cubic centimeter at 35 kelvin, which suggests that this compound has potential for electronic device applications, such as microwave devices and superconducting quantum interference devices. For the films deposited on Al2O3, x-ray diffraction patterns indicate a highly c axis-oriented crystal structure perpendicular to the substrate surface.     

Room-temperature ferromagnetism in transparent transition metal-doped titanium dioxide

Dilute magnetic semiconductors and wide gap oxide semiconductors are appealing materials for magnetooptical devices. From a combinatorial screening approach looking at the solid solubility of transition metals in titanium dioxides and of their magnetic properties, we report on the observation of transparent ferromagnetism in cobalt-doped anatase thin films with theconcentration of cobalt between 0 and 8%. Magnetic microscopy images reveal a magnetic domain structure in the films, indicating the existence of ferromagnetic long-range ordering. The materials remain ferromagnetic above room temperature with a magnetic moment of 0.32 Bohr magnetons per cobalt atom. The film is conductive and exhibits a positive magnetoresistance of 60% at 2 kelvin.     

Dislocations and Flux Pinning in YBa2Cu3O7-delta

Bulk YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-delta) superconductors, under certain processing conditions such as melt texturing, exhibit a very high dislocation density of 10(9) to 10(10) per square centimeter. In addition, the density of low-angle grain boundaries in such samples can be significantly increased (to less than 700-nanometer spacing) through a dispersion of submicrometer-sized Y(2)BaCuO(5) inclusions. These defect densities are comparable to those in high critical current thin films as revealed through scanning tunneling microscopy, and yet the critical current densities in the bulk materials (at 77 kelvin and a field of 1 tesla for example) remain at a 10(4) amperes per square centimeter level, about two orders of magnitude lower than in thin films. The results imply that these defect density levels are not significant enough to explain the difference in flux pinning strength between the thin film and bulk materials. The observation of spiral-like growth of the superconductor phase in bulk Y-Ba-Cu-O is also reported.     

Measuring the surface dynamics of glassy polymers

The motion of polymer chain segments cooled below the glass transition temperature slows markedly; with sufficient cooling, segmental motion becomes completely arrested. There is debate as to whether the chain segments near the free surface, or in thin films, are affected in the same way as the bulk material. By partially embedding and then removing gold nanospheres, we produced a high surface coverage of well-defined nanodeformations on a polystyrene surface; to probe the surface dynamics, we measured the time-dependent relaxation of these surface deformations as a function of temperature from 277 to 369 kelvin. Surface relaxation was observed at all temperatures, providing strong direct evidence for enhanced surface mobility relative to the bulk. The deviation from bulk alpha relaxation became more pronounced as the temperature was decreased below the bulk glass transition temperature. The temperature dependence of the relaxation time was much weaker than that of the bulk alpha relaxation of polystyrene, and the process exhibited no discernible temperature dependence between 277 and 307 kelvin.     

Io's thermal emission from the Galileo photopolarimeter-radiometer

Galileo's photopolarimeter-radiometer instrument mapped Io's thermal emission during the I24, I25, and I27 flybys with a spatial resolution of 2.2 to 300 kilometers. Mapping of Loki in I24 shows uniform temperatures for most of Loki Patera and high temperatures in the southwest corner, probably resulting from an eruption that began 1 month before the observation. Most of Loki Patera was resurfaced before I27. Pele's caldera floor has a low temperature of 160 kelvin, whereas flows at Pillan and Zamama have temperatures of up to 200 kelvin. Global maps of nighttime temperatures provide a means for estimating global heat flow.     

Superconducting mercury-based cuprate films with a zero-resistance transition temperature of 124 Kelvin

The synthesis of high-quality films of the recently discovered mercury-based cuprate films with high transition temperatures has been plagued by problems such as the air sensitivity of the cuprate precursor and the volatility of Hg and HgO. These processing difficulties have been circumvented by a technique of atomic-scale mixing of the HgO and cuprate precursors, use of a protective cap layer, and annealing in an appropriate Hg and O(2) environment. With this procedure, a zero-resistance transition temperature as high as 124 kelvin in c axis-oriented epitaxial HgBa(2)CaCu(2)O(6+delta) films has been achieved.     

New light on the heart of darkness of the solar chromosphere

Solar carbon monoxide spectra indicate the existence of a cool (less than 4000 kelvin) component to the solar chromosphere coexisting with the hot, bright gas at 6000 to 7000 kelvin. However, both the existence and the location of the cool component have been controversial. New high-resolution spectra show that carbon monoxide goes into emission just beyond the limb, allowing it to be probed without photospheric contamination. The cool component has temperatures as low as 3000 to 3500 kelvin and appears to cover 50 to 85 percent of the quiet solar surface. There is a steep temperature rise to normal chromospheric temperatures at a height of 900 to 1100 kilometers. Large horizontal velocities are seen, suggesting that the cool component is maintained by the supersonic adiabatic expansion of upwelling gas in overshooting granules.     

Solidus of Earth's deep mantle

The solidus of a pyrolite-like composition, approximating that of the lower mantle, was measured up to 59 gigapascals by using CO2 laser heating in a diamond anvil cell. The solidus temperatures are at least 700 kelvin below the melting temperatures of magnesiowustite, which in the deep mantle has the lowest melting temperatures of the three major components-magnesiowustite, Mg-Si-perovskite, and Ca-Si-perovskite. The solidus in the deep mantle is more than 1500 kelvin above the average present-day geotherm, but at the core-mantle boundary it is near the core temperature. Thus, partial melting of the mantle is possible at the core-mantle boundary.     

Order-disorder transition in polycrystalline c60 films

High-resolution Raman spectroscopy of polycrystalline films of C(60) deposited under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions show that the spectrum below 244 +/- 3 kelvin consists of a superposition of two components whose relative contributions are temperature-dependent. The spectrum of the more intense of the two components is similar to that obtained for air- or oxygen-exposed samples of C(60) at room temperature, whereas the spectrum above 244 +/- 3 kelvin corresponds to one previously reported for oxygen-free samples of C(60). The results may indicate an order-disorder phase transition involving the percolation of a cluster of C(60) molecules engaged in coherent Raman scattering.