arXiv subjects

Kai Liu

Publications and source records attributed to Kai Liu.

At least 469 records · Page 26Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Stationarity of Stochastic Linear Equations with Additive Noise and Delays in the Unbounded Drift Terms

This paper continues the study of [11, 13] for stationary solutions of stochastic linear retarded functional differential equations with the emphasis on delays which appear in those terms including spatial partial derivatives. As a consequence, the associated stochastic equations have unbounded operators acting on the discrete or distributed delayed terms, while the operator acting on the instantaneous term generates a strongly continuous semigroup. We present conditions on the delay systems to obtain a unique stationary solution by combining spectrum analysis of unbounded operators and stochastic calculus. A few instructive cases are analyzed in detail to clarify the underlying complexity in the study of systems with unbounded delayed operators.

math.PR↗

arXiv2014

When and how does a prominence-like jet gain kinetic energy?

A jet is a considerable amount of plasma being ejected from the chromosphere or lower corona into the higher corona and is a common phenomenon. Usually, a jet is triggered by a brightening or a flare, which provides the first driving force to push plasma upward. In this process, magnetic reconnection is thought to be the mechanism to convert magnetic energy into thermal, nonthermal, and kinetic energies. However, most jets could reach an unusual high altitude and end much later than the end of its associated flare. This fact implies that there is another way to continuously transfer magnetic energy into kinetic energy even after the reconnection. The picture described above is well known in the community, but how and how much magnetic energy is released through a way other than reconnection is still unclear. By studying a prominence-like jet observed by SDO/AIA and STEREO-A/EUVI, we find that the continuous relaxation of the post-reconnection magnetic field structure is an important process for a jet to climb up higher than it could through only reconnection. The kinetic energy of the jet gained through the relaxation is 1.6 times that gained from the reconnection. The resultant energy flux is hundreds of times larger than the flux required for the local coronal heating, suggesting that such jets are a possible source to keep the corona hot. Furthermore, rotational motions appear all the time during the jet. Our analysis suggests that torsional Alfvén waves induced during reconnection could not be the only mechanism to release magnetic energy and drive jets.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2014

Quantitative Decoding of Interactions in Tunable Nanomagnet Arrays Using First Order Reversal Curves

To develop a full understanding of interactions in nanomagnet arrays is a persistent challenge, critically impacting their technological acceptance. This paper reports the experimental, numerical and analytical investigation of interactions in arrays of Co nanoellipses using the first-order reversal curve (FORC) technique. A mean-field analysis has revealed the physical mechanisms giving rise to all of the observed features: a shift of the non-interacting FORC-ridge at the low-H$_c$ end off the local coercivity H$_c$ axis; a stretch of the FORC-ridge at the high-H$_c$ end without shifting it off the H$_c$ axis; and a formation of a tilted edge connected to the ridge at the low-H$_c$ end. Changing from flat to Gaussian coercivity distribution produces a negative feature, bends the ridge, and broadens the edge. Finally, nearest neighbor interactions segment the FORC-ridge. These results demonstrate that the FORC approach provides a comprehensive framework to qualitatively and quantitatively decode interactions in nanomagnet arrays.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Mechanically Modulated Tunneling Resistance in Monolayer MoS2

We report on the modulation of tunneling resistance in MoS2 monolayers by nano-indentation using an atomic force microscope (AFM). The resistance between the conductive AFM tip and the bottom electrode separated by a monolayer MoS2 is reversibly reduced by up to 4 orders of magnitude, which is attributed to enhanced quantum tunneling when the monolayer is compressed by the tip force. Under the WKB approximation, the experimental data is quantitatively explained by using the metal-insulator-metal tunneling diode model. As an ideal tunneling medium, the defect-free, nanometer-thick MoS2 monolayer can serve as the active layer for non-impacting nano-electro-mechanical switches.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Investigation of atomic and electronic structures of MgOFeSe studied by the first-principles calculations

In order to assist the search of new superconductors in iron selenide materials by intercalation, we calculate the crystal and electronic structures of MgOFeSe using the first-principles density functional theory. MgOFeSe is isotructural to the parent compound of iron pnictide superconductor LaOFeAs. In LaOFeAs, the anion O$^{2-}$ is located at the center of each LaO tetrahedra. But for MgOFeSe, we find that the crystal structure with the cation Mg$^{2+}$ as the tetrahedral center in the MgO layer is energetically more stable. The low energy band structures around the Fermi surfaces of MgOFeSe are contributed mainly by Fe 3$d$ orbitals. The ground state of MgOFeSe is collinearly antiferromagnetically ordered. The height of Se atoms above the Fe-Fe layer is about 1.38 Å, which is close to the height of As from the Fe-Fe layer in the iron pnictide superconductors with optimal superconducting transition temperatures.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2013

The influence of spin-phonon coupling on antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations in FeSe under pressure: the First-principles calculations with van der Waals corrections

The electronic structures, lattice dynamics, and magnetic properties of crystal β-FeSe under hydrostatic pressure have been studied by using the first-principles electronic structure calculations with van der Waals (vdW) corrections. With applied pressures, the energy bands around the Fermi energy level consisting mainly of Fe-3d orbitals show obvious energy shifts and occupation variations, and meanwhile the frequencies of all optical phonon modes increase. Among these phonon modes, the A1g mode, which relates to the Se height from the Fe-Fe plane, shows a clear frequency jump in the range between 5 and 6 GPa. This is also the pressure range within which the highest superconducting transition temperature Tc of FeSe is reached in experiments. In comparison with the other phonon modes, the zero-point vibration of the A1g mode induces the strongest fluctuation of local magnetic moment on Fe under a pressure from 0 to 9 GPa, and the induced fluctuation reaches the maximum around 5 GPa. These results suggest that the effect of phonon via spin-phonon coupling need to be considered when exploring the superconducting mechanism in iron-based superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2013

Multi-Wavelength Observations of the Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Solar Flares with AIA/SDO: I. Universal Scaling Laws of Space and Time Parameters

We extend a previous statistical solar flare study of 155 GOES M- and X-class flares observed with AIA/SDO (Aschwanden 2012) to all 7 coronal wavelengths (94, 131, 171, 193, 211, 304, 335 \ang) to test the wavelength-dependence of scaling laws and statistical distributions. Except for the 171 and 193 \ang\ wavelengths, which are affected by EUV dimming caused by coronal mass ejections (CMEs), we find near-identical size distributions of geometric (lengths $L$, flare areas $A$, volumes $V$, fractal dimension $D_2$), temporal (flare durations $T$), and spatio-temporal parameters (diffusion coefficient $κ$, spreading exponent $β$, and maximum expansion velocities $v_{max}$) in different wavelengths, which are consistent with the universal predictions of the fractal-diffusive avalanche model of a slowly-driven self-organized criticality (FD-SOC) system, i.e., $N(L) \propto L^{-3}$, $N(A) \propto A^{-2}$, $N(V) \propto V^{-5/3}$, $N(T) \propto T^{-2}$, $D_2=3/2$, for a Euclidean dimension $d=3$. Empirically we find also a new strong correlation $κ\propto L^{0.94\pm0.01}$ and the 3-parameter scaling law $L \propto κ T^{0.1}$, which is more consistent with the logistic-growth model than with classical diffusion. The findings suggest long-range correlation lengths in the FD-SOC system that operate in the vicinity of a critical state, which could be used for predictions of individual extreme events. We find also that eruptive flares (with accompanying CMEs), have larger volumes $V$, longer flare durations $T$, higher EUV and soft X-ray fluxes, and somewhat larger diffusion coefficients $κ$ than confined flares (without CMEs).

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2013

Ion irradiation of Fe-Fe oxide core-shell nanocluster films: Effect of interface on stability of magnetic properties

A cluster deposition method was used to produce films of loosely aggregated nanoclusters (NC) of Fe core-Fe3O4 shell or fully oxidized Fe3O4. Films of these NC on Si(100) or MgO(100)/Fe3O4(100) were irradiated to 10^16 Si2+/cm2 near room temperature using an ion accelerator. Ion irradiation creates structural change in the NC film with corresponding chemical and magnetic changes which depend on the initial oxidation state of the cluster. Films were characterized using magnetometry (hysteresis, first order reversal curves), microscopy (transmission electron, helium ion), and x-ray diffraction. In all cases, the particle sizes increased due to ion irradiation, and when a core of Fe is present, irradiation reduces the oxide shells to lower valent Fe species. These results show that ion irradiated behavior of the nanocluster films depends strongly on the initial nanostructure and chemistry, but in general saturation magnetization decreases slightly.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Reversal mode instability and magnetoresistance in perpendicular (Co/Pd)/Cu/(Co/Ni) pseudo-spin-valves

We have observed distinct temperature-dependent magnetization reversal modes in a perpendicular (Co/Pd)4/Co/Cu/(Co/Ni)4/Co pseudo-spin-valve, which are correlated with spin-transport properties. At 300 K, magnetization reversal occurs by vertically correlated domains. Below 200 K the hysteresis loop becomes bifurcated due to laterally correlated reversal of the individual stacks. The magnetic configuration change also leads to higher spin disorders and a significant increase in the giant magnetoresistance effect. First order reversal curve measurements reveal that the coupled state can be re-established through field cycling, and allow direct determination of the interlayer coupling strength as a function of temperature.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Size-dependent magnetization switching characteristics and spin wave modes of FePt nanostructures

We present a comprehensive investigation of the size-dependent switching characteristics and spin wave modes of FePt nanoelements. Curved nanomagnets ("caps") are compared to flat disks of identical diameter and volume over a size range of 100 to 300nm. Quasi-static magnetization reversal analysis using first-order reversal curves (FORC) shows that spherical caps have lower vortex nucleation and annihilation fields than the flat disks. As the element diameter decreases, the reversal mechanism in the caps crosses over sooner to coherent rotation than in the disks. The magnetization dynamics are studied using optically induced small angle precession and reveal a strong size dependence that differs for the two shapes. Flat disks exhibit well-known center and edge modes at all sizes, but as the diameter of the caps increases from 100 to 300 nm, additional oscillation modes appear in agreement with dynamic micromagnetic simulations. In addition, we show that the three-dimensional curvature of the cap causes a much greater sensitivity to the applied field angle which provides an additional way for controlling the ultrafast response of nanomagnetic elements.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

The influence of structural disorder on magnetic domain formation in perpendicular anisotropy thin films

Using a combination of resonant soft x-ray scattering, magnetometry, x-ray reflectivity and microscopy techniques we have investigated the magnetic properties and microstructure of a series of perpendicular anisotropy Co/Pt multilayer films with respect to structural disorder tuned by varying the sputtering deposition pressure. The observed magnetic changes in domain size, shape and correlation length originate from structural and chemical variations in the samples, such as chemical segregation and grain formation as well as roughness at the surface and interfaces, which are all impacted by the deposition pressure. For low pressure samples we find evidence of a random "gas-like" distribution of magnetic domains, while in the higher pressure samples the domain structure exhibits only short range "liquid-like" positional ordering. The structural and chemical disorder induced by the higher deposition pressure first leads to an increase in the number of magnetic point defects that limit free domain wall propagation. Then, as the sputtering pressure is further increased, the domain wall energy density is lowered due to the formation of local regions with reduced magnetic moment, and finally magnetically void regions appear that confine the magnetic domains and clusters, similar to segregated granular magnetic recording media.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Tuning magnetic anisotropy in (001) oriented L10 (Fe1-xCux)55Pt45 films

We have achieved (001) oriented L10 (Fe1-xCux)55Pt45 thin films, with magnetic anisotropy up to 3.6x10^7 erg/cm^3, using atomic-scale multilayer sputtering and post annealing at 400 °C for 10 seconds. By fixing the Pt concentration, structure and magnetic properties are systematically tuned by the Cu addition. Increasing Cu content results in an increase in the tetragonal distortion of the L10 phase, significant changes to the film microstructure, and lowering of the saturation magnetization and anisotropy. The relatively convenient synthesis conditions, along with the tunable magnetic properties, make such materials highly desirable for future magnetic recording technologies.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Low-Frequency Raman Modes and Electronic Excitations In Atomically Thin MoS2 Crystals

Atomically thin MoS$_{2}$ crystals have been recognized as a quasi-2D semiconductor with remarkable physics properties. This letter reports our Raman scattering measurements on multilayer and monolayer MoS$_{2}$, especially in the low-frequency range ($<$50 cm$^{-1}$). We find two low-frequency Raman modes with contrasting thickness dependence. With increasing the number of MoS$_{2}$ layers, one shows a significant increase in frequency while the other decreases following a 1/N (N denotes layer-number) trend. With the aid of first-principle calculations we assign the former as the shear mode $E_{2g}^{2}$ and the latter as the compression vibrational mode. The opposite evolution of the two modes with thickness demonstrates novel vibrational modes in atomically thin crystal as well as a new and more precise way to characterize thickness of atomically thin MoS$_{2}$ films. In addition, we observe a broad feature around 38 cm$^{-1}$ (~5 meV) which is visible only under near-resonance excitation and pinned at the fixed energy independent of thickness. We interpret the feature as an electronic Raman scattering associated with the spin-orbit coupling induced splitting in conduction band at K points in their Brillouin zone.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Control of dissipation in superconducting films by magnetic stray fields

Hybrid superconducting/magnetic nanostructures on Si substrates have been built with identical physical dimensions but different magnetic configurations. By constructing arrays based on Co-dots with in-plane, out-of-plane, and vortex state magnetic configurations, the stray fields are systematically tuned. Dissipation in the mixed state of superconductors can be decreased (increased) by several orders of magnitude by decreasing (increasing) the stray magnetic fields. Furthermore, ordering of the stray fields over the entire array helps to suppress dissipation and enhance commensurability effects increasing the number of dissipation minima.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

Rapid Size-Controlled Synthesis of Dextran-Coated, 64Cu-Doped Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Research into developing dual modality probes enabled for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) has been on the rise recently due to the potential to combine the high resolution of MRI and the high sensitivity of PET. Current synthesis techniques for developing multimodal probes is largely hindered in part by prolonged reaction times during radioisotope incorporation - leading to a weakening of the radioactivity. Along with a time-efficient synthesis, the resulting products must fit within a critical size range (between 20-100nm) to increase blood retention time. In this work, we describe a novel, rapid, microwave-based synthesis technique to grow dextran-coated iron oxide nanoparticles doped with copper (DIO/Cu). Traditional methods for coprecipitation of dextran-coated iron oxide nanoparticles require refluxing for 2 hours and result in approximately 50 nm diameter particles. We demonstrate that microwave synthesis can produce 50 nm nanoparticles with 5 minutes of heating. We discuss the various parameters used in the microwave synthesis protocol to vary the size distribution of DIO/Cu, and demonstrate the successful incorporation of 64Cu into these particles with the aim of future use for dual-mode MR/PET imaging.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2012

Rapid Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Dextran-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Currently, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are the only nano-sized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents approved for clinical use, yet commercial manufacturing of these agents has been limited or discontinued. Though there is still widespread demand for these particles both for clinical use and research, they are difficult to obtain commercially, and complicated syntheses make in-house preparation infeasible for most biological research labs or clinics. To make commercial production viable and increase accessibility of these products, it is crucial to develop simple, rapid, and reproducible preparations of biocompatible iron oxide nanoparticles. Here, we report a rapid, straightforward microwave-assisted synthesis of superparamagnetic dextran-coated iron oxide nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were produced in two hydrodynamic sizes with differing core morphologies by varying the synthetic method as either a two-step or single step process. A striking benefit of these methods is the ability to obtain swift and consistent results without the necessity for air, pH, or temperature sensitive techniques; therefore, reaction times and complex manufacturing processes are greatly reduced as compared to conventional synthetic methods. This is a great benefit for cost-effective translation to commercial production. The nanoparticles are found to be superparamagnetic and exhibit properties consistent for use in MRI. In addition, the dextran coating imparts the water-solubility and biocompatibility necessary for in vivo utilization.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2012

Deconvoluting Reversal Modes in Exchange Biased Nanodots

Ensemble-averaged exchange bias in arrays of Fe/FeF2 nanodots has been deconvoluted into local, microscopic, bias separately experienced by nanodots going through different reversal modes. The relative fraction of dots in each mode can be modified by exchange bias. Single domain dots exhibit a simple loop shift, while vortex state dots have asymmetric shifts in the vortex nucleation and annihilation fields, manifesting local incomplete domain walls in these nanodots as magnetic vortices with tilted cores.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2012

Positioning Accuracy Improvement via Distributed Location Estimate in Cooperative Vehicular Networks

The development of cooperative vehicle safety (CVS) applications, such as collision warnings, turning assistants, and speed advisories, etc., has received great attention in the past few years. Accurate vehicular localization is essential to enable these applications. In this study, motivated by the proliferation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, and the increasing sophistication of wireless communication technologies in vehicular networks, we propose a distributed location estimate algorithm to improve the positioning accuracy via cooperative inter-vehicle distance measurement. In particular, we compute the inter-vehicle distance based on raw GPS pseudorange measurements, instead of depending on traditional radio-based ranging techniques, which usually either suffer from high hardware cost or have inadequate positioning accuracy. In addition, we improve the estimation of the vehicles' locations only based on the inaccurate GPS fixes, without using any anchors with known exact locations. The algorithm is decentralized, which enhances its practicability in highly dynamic vehicular networks. We have developed a simulation model to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm, and the results demonstrate that the algorithm can significantly improve the positioning accuracy.

cs.DC↗