arXiv subjects

E. Di Gennaro

Publications and source records attributed to E. Di Gennaro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2021

Orbital selective switching of ferromagnetism in an oxide quasi two-dimensional electron gas

Multi-orbital physics in quasi-two-dimensional electron gases (q2DEGs) triggers unique phenomena not observed in bulk materials, such as unconventional superconductivity and magnetism. Here, we investigate the mechanism of orbital selective switching of the spin-polarization in the oxide q2DEG formed at the (001) interface between the LaAlO$_{3}$, EuTiO$_{3}$ and SrTiO$_{3}$ band insulators. By using density functional theory calculations, transport, magnetic and x-ray spectroscopy measurements, we find that the filling of titanium-bands with 3d$_{xz,yz}$ orbital character in the EuTiO3 layer and at the interface with SrTiO$_{3}$ induces an antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic switching of the exchange interaction between Eu-4f$^{7}$ magnetic moments. The results explain the observation of the carrier density dependent ferromagnetic correlations and anomalous Hall effect in this q2DEG, and demonstrate how combined theoretical and experimental approaches can lead to a deeper understanding of novel electronic phases and serve as a guide for the materials design for advanced electronic applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Symmetry breaking at the (111) interfaces of SrTiO${_3}$ hosting a 2D-electron system

We used x-ray absorption spectroscopy to study the orbital symmetry and the energy band splitting of (111) LaAlO${_3}$/SrTiO${_3}$ and LaAlO${_3}$/EuTiO${_3}$/SrTiO${_3}$ heterostructures, hosting a quasi two-dimensional electron system (q2DES), and of a Ti-terminated (111) SrTiO${_3}$ single crystal, also known to form a q2DES at its surface. We demonstrate that the bulk tetragonal Ti-3d D${_4}$${_h}$ crystal field is turned into trigonal D${_3}$${_d}$ crystal field in all cases. The symmetry adapted a${_1}$${_g}$ and e${^π_g}$ orbitals are non-degenerate in energy and their splitting, Δ, is positive at the bare STO surface but negative in the heterostructures, where the a${_1}$${_g}$ orbital is lowest in energy. These results demonstrate that the interfacial symmetry breaking induced by epitaxial engineering of oxide interfaces has a dramatic effect on their electronic properties, and it can be used to manipulate the ground state of the q2DES.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Free-space graphene/silicon photodetectors operating at 2 micron

This paper presents the design, the fabrication and the characterization of Schottky graphene/silicon photodetectors, operating at both 2 micron and room temperature. The graphene/silicon junction has been carefully: characterized device shows a non ideal behaviour with the increasing temperature and the interfacial trap density has been measured as 1.1x10^14 eV^-1cm^-2. Photodetectors are characterized by an internal (external) responsivity of 10.3 mA/W (0.16 mA/W) in an excellent agreement with the theory. Our devices pave the way for developing hybrid graphene-Si free-space illuminated PDs operating at 2 micron, for free-space optical communications, optical coherence tomography and light-radars.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2016

Octahedral rotation patterns in strained EuFeO3 and other Pbnm perovskite films: Implications for hybrid improper ferroelectricity

We report the relationship between epitaxial strain and the crystallographic orientation of the in-phase rotation axis and A-site displacements in Pbnm-type perovskite films. Synchrotron diffraction measurements of EuFeO3 films under strain states ranging from 2% compressive to 0.9% tensile on cubic or rhombohedral substrates exhibit a combination of a-a+c- and a+a-c- rotational patterns. We compare the EuFeO3 behavior with previously reported experimental and theoretical work on strained Pbnm-type films on non-orthorhombic substrates, as well as additional measurements from LaGaO3, LaFeO3, and Eu0.7Sr0.3MnO3 films on SrTiO3. Compiling the results from various material systems reveals a general strain dependence in which compressive strain strongly favors a-a+c- and a+a-c- rotation patterns and tensile strain weakly favors a-a-c+ structures. In contrast, EuFeO3 films grown on Pbnm-type GdScO3 under 2.3% tensile strain take on a uniform a-a+c- rotation pattern imprinted from the substrate, despite strain energy considerations that favor the a-a-c+ pattern. These results point to the use of substrate imprinting as a more robust route than strain for tuning the crystallographic orientations of the octahedral rotations and A-site displacements needed to realize rotation-induced hybrid improper ferroelectricity in oxide heterostructures.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2014

Film structure of epitaxial graphene oxide on SiC: Insight on the relationship between interlayer spacing, water content, and intralayer structure

Chemical oxidation of multilayer graphene grown on silicon carbide yields films exhibiting reproducible characteristics, lateral uniformity, smoothness over large areas, and manageable chemical complexity, thereby opening opportunities to accelerate both fundamental understanding and technological applications of this form of graphene oxide films. Here, we investigate the vertical inter-layer structure of these ultra-thin oxide films. X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and IR experiments show that the multilayer films exhibit excellent inter-layer registry, little amount (<10%) of intercalated water, and unexpectedly large interlayer separations of about 9.35 Å. Density functional theory calculations show that the apparent contradiction of "little water but large interlayer spacing in the graphene oxide films" can be explained by considering a multilayer film formed by carbon layers presenting, at the nanoscale, a non-homogenous oxidation, where non-oxidized and highly oxidized nano-domains coexist and where a few water molecules trapped between oxidized regions of the stacked layers are sufficient to account for the observed large inter-layer separations. This work sheds light on both the vertical and intra-layer structure of graphene oxide films grown on silicon carbide, and more in general, it provides novel insight on the relationship between inter-layer spacing, water content, and structure of graphene/graphite oxide materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2014

Growth and characterization of conducting LaAlO3/EuTiO3/SrTiO3 het-erostructures

We studied the structural, magnetic and transport properties of LaAlO3/EuTiO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures grown by Pulsed Laser Deposition. The samples have been characterized in-situ by electron diffraction and scanning probe mi-croscopy and ex-situ by transport measurements and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. LaAlO3/EuTiO3/SrTiO3 films show a ferromagnetic transition at T<7.5 K, related to the ordering of Eu2+ spins, even in samples characterized by just two EuTiO3 unit cells. A finite metallic conductivity is observed only in the case of samples composed by one or two EuTiO3 unit cells and, simultaneously, by a LaAlO3 thickness equal or above 4 unit cells. The role of ferromagnetic EuTiO3 on the transport properties of delta-doped LaAlO3/EuTiO3/SrTiO3 is critically discussed.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Carrier-number fluctuations in the 2-dimensional electron gas at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface

The voltage-spectral density SV(f) of the 2-dimensional electron gas formed at the interface of LaAlO3 /SrTiO3 has been thoroughly investigated. The low-frequency component has a clear 1/f behavior with a quadratic bias current dependence, attributed to resistance fluctuations. However, its temperature dependence is inconsistent with the classical Hooge model, based on carrier-mobility fluctuations. The experimental results are, instead, explained in terms of carrier-number fluctuations, due to an excitation-trapping mechanism of the 2-dimensional electron gas.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2011

Isotropic properties of the photonic band gap in quasicrystals with low-index contrast

We report on the formation and development of the photonic band gap in two-dimensional 8-, 10- and 12-fold symmetry quasicrystalline lattices of low index contrast. Finite size structures made of dielectric cylindrical rods were studied and measured in the microwave region, and their properties compared with a conventional hexagonal crystal. Band gap characteristics were investigated by changing the direction of propagation of the incident beam inside the crystal. Various angles of incidence from 0 \degree to 30\degree were used in order to investigate the isotropic nature of the band gap. The arbitrarily high rotational symmetry of aperiodically ordered structures could be practically exploited to manufacture isotropic band gap materials, which are perfectly suitable for hosting waveguides or cavities.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2009

Hybrid photonic-bandgap accelerating cavities

In a recent investigation, we studied two-dimensional point-defected photonic bandgap cavities composed of dielectric rods arranged according to various representative periodic and aperiodic lattices, with special emphasis on possible applications to particle acceleration (along the longitudinal axis). In this paper, we present a new study aimed at highlighting the possible advantages of using hybrid structures based on the above dielectric configurations, but featuring metallic rods in the outermost regions, for the design of extremely-high quality factor, bandgap-based, accelerating resonators. In this framework, we consider diverse configurations, with different (periodic and aperiodic) lattice geometries, sizes, and dielectric/metal fractions. Moreover, we also explore possible improvements attainable via the use of superconducting plates to confine the electromagnetic field in the longitudinal direction. Results from our comparative studies, based on numerical full-wave simulations backed by experimental validations (at room and cryogenic temperatures) in the microwave region, identify the candidate parametric configurations capable of yielding the highest quality factor.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2008

Mode Confinement in Photonic Quasi-Crystal Point-Defect Cavities for Particle Accelerators

In this Letter, we present a study of the confinement properties of point-defect resonators in finite-size photonic-bandgap structures composed of aperiodic arrangements of dielectric rods, with special emphasis on their use for the design of cavities for particle accelerators. Specifically, for representative geometries, we study the properties of the fundamental mode (as a function of the filling fraction, structure size, and losses) via 2-D and 3-D full-wave numerical simulations, as well as microwave measurements at room temperature. Results indicate that, for reduced-size structures, aperiodic geometries exhibit superior confinement properties by comparison with periodic ones.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2008

Pendellosung effect in photonic crystals

At the exit surface of a photonic crystal, the intensity of the diffracted wave can be periodically modulated, showing a maximum in the "positive" (forward diffracted) or in the "negative" (diffracted) direction, depending on the slab thickness. This thickness dependence is a direct result of the so-called Pendellosung phenomenon, consisting of the periodic exchange inside the crystal of the energy between direct and diffracted beams. We report the experimental observation of this effect in the microwave region at about 14 GHz by irradiating 2D photonic crystal slabs of different thickness and detecting the intensity distribution of the electromagnetic field at the exit surface and inside the crystal itself.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2007

A parametric study of the lensing properties of dodecagonal photonic quasicrystals

We present a study of the lensing properties of two-dimensional (2-D) photonic quasicrystal (PQC) slabs made of dielectric cylinders arranged according to a 12-fold-symmetric square-triangle aperiodic tiling. Our full-wave numerical analysis confirms the results recently emerged in the technical literature and, in particular, the possibility of achieving focusing effects within several frequency regions. However, contrary to the original interpretation, such focusing effects turn out to be critically associated to local symmetry points in the PQC slab, and strongly dependent on its thickness and termination. Nevertheless, our study reveals the presence of some peculiar properties, like the ability to focus the light even for slabs with a reduced lateral width, or beaming effects, which render PQC slabs potentially interesting and worth of deeper investigation. Key words: Photonic quasicrystals; negative refraction; superlensing.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2006

Linear and nonlinear electrodynamic response of bulk CaC6 in the microwave regime

The linear and nonlinear response to a microwave electromagnetic field of two c-axis oriented polycrystalline samples of the newly discovered superconductor CaC6 (Tc = 11.5 K) is studied in the superconducting state down to 2 K. The surface resistance Rs and the third order intermodulation distortion, arising from a two-tone excitation, have been measured as a function of temperature and microwave circulating power. Experiments are carried out using a dielectrically loaded copper cavity operating at 7 GHz in a "hot finger" configuration. The results confirm recent experimental findings that CaC6 behaves as a weakly-coupled, fully gapped, superconductor. The weak power dependence of Rs encourages a further investigation of this novel superconductor as a possible alternative to Nb in specific microwave applications.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Critical-state effects on microwave losses in type-II superconductors

We discuss the microwave energy losses in superconductors in the critical state. The field-induced variations of the surface resistance are determined, in the framework of the Coffey and Clem model, by taking into account the distribution of the vortex magnetic field inside the sample. It is shown that the effects of the critical state cannot generally be disregarded to account for the experimental data. Results obtained in bulk niobium at low temperatures are quantitatively justified.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Microwave losses of bulk CaC6

We report a study of the temperature dependence of the surface resistance RS in the graphite intercalated compound (GIC) CaC6, where superconductivity at 11.5 K was recently discovered. Experiments are carried out using a copper dielectrically loaded cavity operating at 7 GHz in a "hot finger" configuration. Bulk CaC6 samples have been synthesized from highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. Microwave data allows to extract unique information on the quasiparticle density and on the nature of pairing in superconductors. The analysis of RS(T) confirms our recent experimental findings that CaC6 behaves as a weakly-coupled, fully gapped, superconductor.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Microwave Harmonic Emission in MgB2 Superconductor: Comparison with YBaCuO

We report results of microwave second-harmonic generation in ceramic samples of MgB2, prepared by different methods. The SH signal has been investigated as a function of the temperature and the static magnetic field. The results are discussed in the framework of models reported in the literature. We show that the peculiarities of the SH signal are related to the specific properties of the sample. A comparison with the results obtained in ceramic and crystalline YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7) shows that the second-harmonic emission in MgB2 is weaker than that observed in ceramic YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7).

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Intrinsic nonlinearity probed by intermodulation distortion microwave measurements on high quality MgB2 thin films

The two tone intermodulation distortion arising in MgB2 thin films synthesized by hybrid physical-chemical vapour deposition is studied in order to probe the influence of the two bands on the nonlinear response of this superconductor. The measurements are carried out by using a dielectrically loaded copper cavity operating at 7 GHz. Microwave data on samples having critical temperatures above 41 K, very low resistivity values, and residual resistivity ratio larger than 10, are shown. The dependence of the nonlinear surface losses and of the third order intermodulation products on the power feeding the cavity and on the temperature is analyzed. At low power, the signal arising from distortion versus temperature shows the intrinsic s-wave behavior expected for this compound. Data are compared with measurements performed on Nb and YBCO thin films using the same technique.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Experimental evidence of s-wave superconductivity in bulk CaC$_{6}$

The temperature dependence of the in-plane magnetic penetration depth, $λ_{ab}(T)$, has been measured in a c-axis oriented polycrystalline CaC$_{6}$ bulk sample using a high-resolution mutual inductance technique. A clear exponential behavior of $λ_{ab}(T)$ has been observed at low temperatures, strongly suggesting isotropic s-wave pairing. Data fit using the standard BCS theory yields $λ_{ab}(0)=(720\pm 80)$ Angstroem and $Δ(0)=(1.79\pm 0.08)$ meV. The ratio $2Δ(0)/k_{_B}T_{c}=(3.6\pm 0.2)$ gives indication for a conventional weakly coupled superconductor.

cond-mat.supr-con↗