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F. M. Peeters

Publications and source records attributed to F. M. Peeters.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources

Ballistic spin transport through electronic stub tuners: spin precession, selection, and square-wave transmission

Ballistic spin transport is studied through electronic tuners with double stubs attached to them. The spins precess due to the spin-orbit interaction. Injected polarized spins can exit the structure polarized in the opposite direction. A nearly square-wave spin transmission, with values 1 and 0, can be obtained using a periodic system of symmetric stubs and changing their length or width. The gaps in the transmission can be widened using asymmetric stubs. An additional modulation is obtained upon combining stub structures with different values of the spin-orbit strength.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Spin-current modulation and square-wave transmission through periodically stubbed electron waveguides

Ballistic spin transport through waveguides, with symmetric or asymmetric double stubs attached to them periodically, is studied systematically in the presence of a weak spin-orbit coupling that makes the electrons precess. By an appropriate choice of the waveguide length and of the stub parameters injected spin-polarized electrons can be blocked completely and the transmission shows a periodic and nearly square-type behavior, with values 1 and 0, with wide gaps when only one mode is allowed to propagate in the waveguide. A similar behavior is possible for a certain range of the stub parameters even when two-modes can propagate in the waveguide and the conductance is doubled. Such a structure is a good candidate for establishing a realistic spin transistor. A further modulation of the spin current can be achieved by inserting defects in a finite-number stub superlattice. Finite-temperature effects on the spin conductance are also considered.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Dynamic response of artificial bipolar molecules

We calculate the equilibrium properties and the dynamic response of two vertically coupled circular quantum dots populated by particles of different electrical charge sign, i.e. electrons and holes. The equilibrium density profiles are obtained and used to compute the frequencies and oscillator strengths of magnetoplasma excitations. We find a strong coupling between the modes derived from the center-of-mass modes of the individual dots which leads to an anticrossing with a pronounced oscillator strength transfer from the ``acoustic'' to the ``optical'' branch. Also, due to breaking of the generalized Kohn theorem a number of other than center-of-mass modes are excited whose oscillator strengths, however, are rather weak.

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Correlated few-particle states in artificial bipolar molecule

We investigate the ground and excited states of a bipolar artificial molecule composed of two vertically coupled quantum dots containing different type of carriers -- electrons and holes -- in equilibrium. The approach based on exact diagonalization is used and reveals an intricate pattern of ground-state angular momentum switching and a rearrangement of approximate single-particle levels as a function of the inter-dot coupling strength.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Coupled mesoscopic superconductors

The magnetic coupling between two concentric mesoscopic superconductors with non-zero thickness is studied using the nonlinear Ginzburg-Landau theory. We calculated the free energy, the expelled field, the total field profile, the Cooper-pair density and the current density distribution. By putting a smaller superconducting disk or ring in the center of a larger ring, the properties change drastically. Extra ground state transitions are found, where the total vorticity stays the same, but the vorticity of the inner superconductor changes by one. Due to the magnetic coupling, the current in the external ring exhibits extra jumps at the transition fields where the vorticity of the inner superconductor changes. In this case, for certain temperatures, re-entrant behaviour and switching on and off of the superconducting behavior of the rings are found as function of the magnetic field. A H-T phase diagram is obtained for the situation where the inner ring has a higher critical temperature than the outer ring. An analytic expression for the magnetic coupling is obtained for thin rings and extreme type-II superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Stationary phase slip state in quasi-one-dimensional rings

The nonuniform superconducting state in a ring in which the order parameter vanishing at one point is studied. This state is characterized by a jump of the phase by $π$ at the point where the order parameter becomes zero. In uniform rings such a state is a saddle-point state and consequently unstable. However, for non-uniform rings with e.g. variations of geometrical or physical parameters or with attached wires this state can be stabilized and may be realized experimentally.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Structural Transitions in a Classical Two-Dimensional Molecule System

The ground state of a classical two-dimensional (2D) system with finite number of charged particles, trapped by two positive impurities charges localized at a distance (zo) from the 2D plane and separated from each other by a distance xp are obtained. The impurities are allowed to carry more than one positive charge. This classical system can form a 2D-like classical molecule that exhibits structural transitions and spontaneous symmetry breaking as a function of the separation between the positive charges before it transforms into two independent 2D-like classical atoms. We also observe structural transitions as a function of the dielectric constant of the substrate which supports the charged particles, in addition to broken symmetry states and unbinding of particles.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Stable and metastable states in a superconducting "eight" loop in applied magnetic field

The stable and metastable states of different configurations of a loop in the form of an eight is studied in the presence of a magnetic field. We find that for certain configurations the current is equal to zero for any value of the magnetic field leading to a magnetic field independent superconducting state. The state with fixed phase circulation becomes unstable when the momentum of the superconducting electrons reaches a critical value. At this moment the kinetic energy of the superconducting condensate becomes of the same order as the potential energy of the Cooper pairs and it leads to an instability. Numerical analysis of the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equations shows that the absolute value of the order parameter changes gradually at the transition from a state with one phase circulation to another although the vorticity change occurs abruptly.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Single and vertically coupled type II quantum dots in a perpendicular magnetic field: exciton groundstate properties

The properties of an exciton in a type II quantum dot are studied under the influence of a perpendicular applied magnetic field. The dot is modelled by a quantum disk with radius $R$, thickness $d$ and the electron is confined in the disk, whereas the hole is located in the barrier. The exciton energy and wavefunctions are calculated using a Hartree-Fock mesh method. We distinguish two different regimes, namely $d<<2R$ (the hole is located at the radial boundary of the disk) and $d>>2R$ (the hole is located above and below the disk), for which angular momentum $(l)$ transitions are predicted with increasing magnetic field. We also considered a system of two vertically coupled dots where now an extra parameter is introduced, namely the interdot distance $d_{z}$. For each $l_{h}$ and for a sufficient large magnetic field, the ground state becomes spontaneous symmetry broken in which the electron and the hole move towards one of the dots. This transition is induced by the Coulomb interaction and leads to a magnetic field induced dipole moment. No such symmetry broken ground states are found for a single dot (and for three vertically coupled symmetric quantum disks). For a system of two vertically coupled truncated cones, which is asymmetric from the start, we still find angular momentum transitions. For a symmetric system of three vertically coupled quantum disks, the system resembles for small $d_{z}$ the pillar-like regime of a single dot, where the hole tends to stay at the radial boundary, which induces angular momentum transitions with increasing magnetic field. For larger $d_{z}$ the hole can sit between the disks and the $l_{h}=0$ state remains the groundstate for the whole $B$-region.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

The response function of a Hall magnetosensor

Patterned two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) systems into micrometer Hall bars can be used as Hall magnetosensors to provide detailed information on the magnetic field distribution. In this way, ballistic Hall probes have already been studied and used successfully. Here, the response function of a Hall sensor is determined in the diffusive regime, which allows this device to be used as a magnetosensor for the determination of inhomogeneous magnetic field distribtutions. Furthermore, the influence of the geometry of the Hall bar on this response function, such as circular corners and asymmetry in the probes, is also investigated and appears to be non-negligible.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Vortex structure in mesoscopic superconductors

The nonlinear Ginzburg-Landau equations are solved numerically in order to investigate the vortex structure in thin superconducting disks of arbitrary shape. Depending on the size of the system and the strength of the applied magnetic field giant vortex, multi-vortex and a combination of both of them are found. The saddle points in the energy landscape are identified from which we obtain the energy barriers for flux penetration and expulsion.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Confined magnetic guiding orbit states

We show how snake-orbit states which run along a magnetic edge can be confined electrically. We consider a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) confined into a quantum wire, subjected to a strong perpendicular and steplike magnetic field $B/-B$. Close to this magnetic step new, spatially confined bound states arise as a result of the lateral confinement and the magnetic field step. The number of states, with energy below the first Landau level, increases as $B$ becomes stronger or as the wire width becomes larger. These bound states can be understood as an interference between two counter-propagating one-dimensional snake-orbit states.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Magnetic coupling between mesoscopic superconducting rings

Using the nonlinear Ginzburg-Landau theory we investigated the dependence of the magnetic coupling between two concentric mesoscopic superconducting rings on their thickness. The size of this magnetic coupling increases with the thickness of the rings.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Multi-vortex states of a thin superconducting disk in a step-like external magnetic field

The vortex states in a thin mesoscopic disk are investigated within the phenomenological Ginzburg-Landau theory in the presence of a step-like external magnetic field with zero average which could model the field resulting from a ferromagnetic disk or a current carrying loop. The regions of existence of the multi-vortex state and the giant vortex state are found. We analyzed the phase transitions between them and found regions in which ring-shaped vortices contribute. Furthermore, we found a vortex state consisting of a central giant vortex surrounded by a collection of anti-vortices that are located in a ring around this giant vortex.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Giant vortices in small mesoscopic disks: an approximate description

We present an approximate description of the giant vortex state in a thin mesoscopic superconducting disk within the phenomenological Ginzburg-Landau approach. Analytical asymptotic expressions for the energies of the states with fixed vorticity are obtained when a small magnetic flux is accumulated in the disk. The spectrum of the lowest Landau levels of such a disk is also discussed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Vortex structure of thin mesoscopic disks in the presence of an inhomogeneous magnetic field

The vortex states in a thin mesoscopic disk are investigated within the phenomenological Ginzburg-Landau theory in the presence of different ''model'' magnetic field profiles with zero average field which may result from a ferromagnetic disk or circulating currents in a loop near the superconductor. We calculated the dependences of both the ground and metastable states on the magnitude and shape of the magnetic field profile for different values of the order parameter angular moment, i.e. the vorticity. The regions of existence of the multi-vortex state and the giant vortex state are found. We analysed the phase transitions between these states and studied the contribution from ring-shaped vortices. A new transition between different multi-vortex configurations as the ground state is found. Furthermore, we found a vortex state consisting of a central giant vortex surrounded by a collection of anti-vortices which are located in a ring around this giant vortex. The limit to a disk with an infinite radius, i.e. a film, will also be discussed. We also extended our results to ''real'' magnetic field profiles and to the case in which an external homogeneous magnetic field is present.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Strongly interacting $σ$-electrons and MgB$_2$ superconductivity

MgB$(p^{n_σ}p^{n_π})_{2}$ is classified as a system with strongly interacting $σ$-electrons and non-correlated $π$-electrons of boron ions. The kinematic and Coulomb interaction V between the orbitally degenerated $σ$-electrons provide the superconducting state with an anisotropic gap of s*-wave symmetry. The critical temperature $T_c$ has a non-monotonic dependence on the distance r between the centers of gravity of $σ$- and $π$-bands. MgB$_2$ corresponds to r=0.085 eV and V=0.45 eV in our model with flat bands. The derived superconducting density of electronic states is in good agreement with available experimental and theoretical data. The possibilities for increasing $T_c$ are discussed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Magneto-exciton in single and coupled type II quantum dots

We studied the exciton energy in a type II quantum disk as a function of the magnetic field, disk radius R and height d. We found angular momentum transitions for dots with d >> 2R. Application of an electric field perpendicular to the disk showed a non-linear Stark shift. In the case of three vertically coupled dots angular momentum transistions were found for small interdot distances which disappeared with increasing interdot distance.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗