arXiv subjects

Andrea Piarristeguy

Publications and source records attributed to Andrea Piarristeguy.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

X-ray photo-induced atomic motion in Phase Change Materials and conventional covalent chalcogenide glasses

X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (XPCS) enables direct access to atomic-scale dynamics in disordered materials, revealing both spontaneous and X-ray-induced relaxation processes. Here, we study two compositionally similar alloy glasses near their glass transition temperatures: the phase change material (PCM) Ge15Sb85 and the non-PCM alloy Ge15Te85. Both exhibit X-ray induced atomic motion, yet with markedly different responses. Ge15Sb85 undergoes an immediate transition to a photo-induced yielding state, characterised by stationary dynamics governed solely by the absorbed dose. In contrast, Ge15Te85 shows a progressive slowing-down of the relaxation process, accompanied by a crossover from compressed to stretched exponential decay in the density autocorrelation functions. This behaviour is consistent with the emergence of liquid-like collective motion as supported by de Gennes narrowing in the wave-vector dependence of the dynamics at length scales comparable with the first sharp diffraction peak. Unlike Ge15Sb85, this alloy does not reach a stationary regime within experimental timescales, implying that the yielding transition occurs only after thousands of seconds with the available dose rate. Its response is also temperature dependent: at lower temperatures, the dynamics reflects intrinsic stress relaxation processes, whereas at higher temperatures becomes dose-controlled. These findings demonstrate that the dynamical response to X-ray excitation is not determined solely by chemical composition or bonding character, but results from the interplay between irradiation effects and structural relaxation pathways.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Short range order and topology of Te-rich amorphous Ge-Sb-Te alloys

The structure of evaporated amorphous Ge$_x$Sb$_x$Te$_{100-2x}$ ($x =$ 6, 9, 13) alloys was investigated by neutron diffraction, X-ray diffraction and extended X-ray absorption spectroscopy (EXAFS) at the Ge, Sb and Te K-edges. Large scale structural models were generated by fitting the experimental datasets (5 for each composition) simultaneously in the framework of the reverse Monte Carlo simulation technique. It was found that the alloys are chemically ordered (Ge and Sb have predominantly Te neighbors) and within the experimental uncertainty each component satisfies the $8-N$ rule. A comparison with the pair correlation functions of melt quenched Ge$_{20}$Te$_{80}$ revealed that the first minimum of $g_{\mathrm{TeTe}}(r)$ is shallower in the ternary alloys than in Ge$_{20}$Te$_{80}$. On the other hand, the separation of the first and second coordination environments of Ge atoms is stronger in the Ge-Sb-Te alloys investigated.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Short range order and topology of Ge$_{x}$Ga$_{x}$Te$_{100-2x}$ glasses

Chemical short range order and topology of Ge$_{x}$Ga$_{x}$Te$_{100-2x}$ glasses was investigated by neutron- and x-ray diffraction as well as Ge and Ga K-edge extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements. Large scale structural models were obtained by fitting experimental datasets simultaneously with the reverse Monte Carlo simulation technique. Models, relying only on experimental data and basic physical information without constraining the average coordination numbers, give 3.9 - 4.1 for the number of the atoms in the first coordination sphere of Ge atoms, while the average number of first neighbors of Ga atoms scatters around 3.8. The average coordination number of Te atoms is significantly higher than 2 for $x$ = 12.5 and 14.3. It is found that the vast majority of MTe$_4$ (M=Ge or Ga) tetrahedra have at least one corner sharing MTe$_4$ neighbor.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2018

Local order in binary Ge-Te glasses - an experimental study

The structure of $\mathrm{Ge}_x\mathrm{Te}_{100-x}$ (x = 14.5, 18.7, 23.6) glasses prepared by twin roller quenching technique was investigated by neutron diffraction, X-ray diffraction and Ge-K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements. Large scale structural models were obtained for each composition by fitting the experimental datasets in the framework of the reverse Monte Carlo technique. It was found that the majority of Ge and Te atoms satisfy the 8-N rule. Simulation results indicate that Ge-Ge bonding is not significant for x = 14.5 and 18.7. The shape and position of the first peak of the Ge-Ge partial pair correlation function evidence the presence of corner sharing tetrahedra already in compositions (x = 14.5 and 18.7) where 'sharing' of a Te atom by two Ge atoms could be avoided due to the low concentration of Ge.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2008

Structure of chalcogenide glasses by neutron diffraction

The purpose of this work is to study the change in the structure of the Ge-Se network upon doping with Ag. The total structure factor S(Q) for two samples has been measured by neutron diffraction using the two-axis diffractometer dedicated to structural studies of amorphous materials, D4, at the Institut Laue Langevin. We have derived the corresponding radial distribution functions for each sample and each temperature, which gives us an insight about the composition and temperature dependence of the correlation distances and coordination numbers in the short-range. Our results are compatible with the presence of both GeSe4/2 tetrahedra and Se-Se bonds. The Ag atoms are linked to Se in a triangular environment. Numerical simulations allowing the identification of the main peaks in the total pair correlation functions have complemented the neutron diffraction measurements.

physics.chem-ph↗