Publications

The effect of Rashba spin-orbit coupling on the spin interference in a noninteracting one-dimensional ring connected to two leads is studied theoretically within the nonequilibrium Greens' function formalism. We compute the charge and spin currents and analyze their Aharonov-Bohm oscillations. The geometry of the system is conveniently described by the angle delta between the two leads. We show that for delta=180 degrees (i.e., for symmetrically coupled leads), a good filtering of up-or down-spin orientation is obtained around half-integer multiples of Phi/Phi(0). These particular flux values are degeneracy points for clockwise and counterclockwise propagating states, corresponding to the same spin orientation in the local spin frame of the ring. In contrast, for the asymmetric coupling, i.e., delta=135 degrees, the filter efficiency is maximum around integer multiples of Phi/Phi(0). The numerical results suggest that the spin filtering is obtained when the clockwise or counterclockwise states interfere destructively. It turns out that the spin filtering regime is stable against variations in the bias applied on the system. The quasiperiodic oscillations of the charge current, as a function of the Rashba strength, are obtained and discussed.

In-plane gate (IPG) transistors with various channel geometries have been fabricated by focus ion beam implantation technique in positive pattern definition mode on GaAs/Al(x)Ga(1-x)As heterostructures. Both n- and p-type channel transistors were obtained for either n- or p-doped heterostructures, by implantation of the channnel or the gate regions with the complementary dopant type to compensate the initial doping. The current-voltage charactristics showed that the channel can be fully controlled by a gate bias, i.e., it can be completely depleted or enhanced, but two gates are needed to control the channel. Different channel geometries were studied, the most efficient being the "Z-shaped" one. The n-type channel IPG transistors present source-drain currents of few hundreds of microamperes, which is two to three orders of magnitudes higher than that for the p-type channel ones. (C) 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Continuous-wave (CW) simultaneous laser emission on the 0.9-mu m F-4(3/2)-> I-4(9/2) transition and the F-4(3/2)-> I-4(11/2) transition at 1.06 mu m is obtained in Nd-based laser crystals of thin-disk geometry and using a multi-pass pumping scheme. A Nd:Y3Al5O12 (Nd:YAG) thin disk emitted simultaneous laser radiation at 946 and 1064 nm with 5.1 W output power, and Nd:YVO4 and Nd:GdVO4 thin-disk lasers with more than 3 W output power at 0.91 and 1.06 mu m were realized. The ratio between the output power at one of the wavelengths and the total output power could be varied by the laser resonator design. An intracavity frequency-doubled Nd:YVO4 thin-disk laser with alternate green at 532 nm and "deep-blue" at 457 nm gener ation of high average output powers is demonstrated.

We studied the synthesis of lanthanum zirconate from lanthanum nitrate and zirconium butoxide in the transition from liquid to amorphous and crystalline phase. Thermal behaviour of lanthanum nitrate dissolved in 2-methoxyethanol is different from that of the salt, which we ascribe to the potential coordination of the solvent to lanthanum atoms. IR analysis shows that lanthanum nitrate remains strongly associated in the solvent. The lanthanum environment in the lanthanum nitrate and lanthanum zirconate sols, determined by EXAFS, is similar to that of the lanthanum nitrate hydrate. The environment is completely changed in the dried lanthanum zirconate precursor powder and powder heated at 500 degrees C due to the decomposition of nitrates. Zirconium species form polynuclear oxo-alkoxide complexes during thermolysis and they are stable from room temperature to 500 degrees C. The powder heated up to 700 degrees C for 1 h is amorphous, while after heating at 800 degrees C for 1h pure pyrochlore phase crystallizes. No link between La and Zr species is established either in the sol or in the dried precursor powder or amorphous powder heated at 500 degrees C. The reaction between the metallic species proceeds as a solid-state reaction. The synthesis route ensures a very good mixing of the species at the nanometre level. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Calcium phosphate compounds have been studied for biomedical applications due to chemical and structural similarity to the mineral phase of bone and tooth. The composition, physico-chemical properties, crystal size and morphology of synthetic apatite are extremely sensitive to preparative conditions and sometimes it resulted into non-stoichiometric calcium deficient hydroxyapatite (HAp) powders. The present paper refers to calcinations of hydroxyapatite ceramics at 600, 800 and 1000 degrees C. The effect of heat treatment was previously investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The ultrasonic characterisation of hydroxyapatite powders were performed using the ultrasonic air-coupling technique. Modulated ultrasonic signals of 450 kHz central frequency have been transmitted through the hydroxyapatite ceramics specimens. Correlation between signals allowed to draw some conclusions concerning density, attenuation and influence of the preparation temperature influence on these samples. These comparisons and correlation of methods, allow a better characterization of such important materials.

A THz Time Domain Spectroscopy experimental set-up was built for studying the biomolecules absorption spectra in the THz range and obtaining information on their collective motions. Details on the set-up calibration and performances are presented, together with the used noise and artefacts reduction data processing techniques. Preliminary results on the absorbance spectrum of the solvated Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) for different water concentration are given.

Two multiphoton absorption processes were revealed in a perylenediimide derivative, at the wavelength of 1064 nm, by using the thermal lens technique. One of the observed multiphoton processes is two photon absorption (TPA) while the second is a four photons process. The value of the measured TPA coefficient is beta = 0.12 x 10(-19) cm W-1.

Poly(styrene-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) [P(ST-HEMA)] latex particles were prepared by surfactant-free emulsion copolymerization. As water-soluble initiator was used potassium persulfate (KPS). The influence of different reactions parameters, such as the reaction temperature, the both monomers (ST and HEMA) concentrations and the KPS concentration on the particles average diameter and particles size dispersion was investigated. Generally monodisperse spherical particles are synthesized, but we also obtained stable large three-dimensional colloidal aggregates. These are formed by the agglomeration of monodispersed spheres in certain polymerization conditions. The P(ST-HEMA) monodispersed spheres with 350 nm average diameter were assembled into colloidal crystals using dip-coating technique. Colloidal crystals with different thickness were obtained by modifying two experimental factors, the colloidal concentration and the substrate lifting speed. The morphologies of copolymer latex particles and colloidal crystals were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optical properties of colloidal crystals films were also investigated by transmission spectroscopy.

We investigate the scattering phenomena in two dimensions produced by a general finite-range nonseparable potential. This situation can appear either in a Cartesian geometry or in a heterostructure with cylindrical symmetry. Increasing the dimensionality of the scattering problem, new processes as the scattering between conducting channels and the scattering from conducting to evanescent channels are allowed. For certain values of the energy called resonance energy, the transmission through the scattering region changes dramatically in comparison with an one-dimensional problem. If the potential has an attractive character, even the evanescent channels can be seen as dips of the total transmission. The multi-channel current scattering matrix is determined using its representation in terms of the R-matrix. The resonant transmission peaks are characterized quantitatively through the poles of the current scattering matrix. Detailed maps of the localization probability density sustain the physical interpretation of the resonances. Our formalism is applied to a quantum dot in a two-dimensional electron gas and to a conical quantum dot embedded inside a cylindrical nanowire.

Thin films with nominal composition Fe(78)Si(9)B(13) generated by radio-frequency (rf) sputtering on Si substrates with (100) orientation were irradiated with an eyeliner laser with 130mJ/cm(2) fluence. Information on the induced structural changes were obtained by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, while the magnetization curves were determined by the magneto-optical Kerr effect. The effects of the irradiation consist in the growing of crystallites,appearence of melted and ultra-fast frozen zones, surface oxidation and changes in the magnetic properties of the thin films.