arXiv subjects

M. C. Sullivan

Publications and source records attributed to M. C. Sullivan.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Enhancement in neuromorphic NbO2 memristive device switching at cryogenic temperatures

The electrical properties and performance characteristics of niobium dioxide (NbO$_\mathrm{2}$)-based memristive devices are examined at cryogenic temperatures. Sub-stoichiometric Nb$_\mathrm{2}$O$_\mathrm{5}$ was deposited via magnetron sputtering and patterned in microscale (2$\times$2 - 15$\times$15 $\mu$m$^2$) cross-bar Au/Ru/NbO$_\mathrm{x}$/Pt devices and electroformed at 3-5 V to make NbO$_\mathrm{2}$ filaments. At cryogenic temperatures, the threshold voltage ($V_\mathrm{th}$) increased by more than a factor of 3. The hold voltage ($V_\mathrm{h}$) was significantly lower than the threshold voltage for fast voltage sweeps (200 ms per measurement). If the sample is allowed to cool between voltage measurements, the hold voltage increases, but never reaches the threshold voltage, indicating the presence of non-volatile Nb$_\mathrm{2}$O$_\mathrm{5}$ in the filament. The devices have an activation energy of $E_a \approx 1.4$ eV, lower than other NbO$_\mathrm{2}$ devices reported. Our works shows that even nominally ``bad" memristive devices can be improved by reducing the leakage current and increases the sample resistance at cryogenic temperatures.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2023

Investigating the Magnetic Field outside small Accelerator Magnet Analogs via Experiment, Simulation, and Theory

Particle accelerators use powerful and complex magnetic fields to turn, shape, and eventually collide beams of near-light-speed particles, yet the fundamental magnetic principles behind the accelerator magnets can be understood by undergraduate students. In this paper we use small-scale accelerator magnet analogs in a multi-faceted, low-cost exploration of the magnetic field exterior to accelerator magnets. These fields are best understood using the multipole expansion of the field. If we assume that the magnetic field is created by ideal magnetic dipoles, we can derive a theoretical model that shows that each accelerator magnet configuration is dominated by a single multipole moment and obeys $B \propto 1/r^{l+2}$, where $l$ is the multipole order (with $l = 1, 2, 3, 4$ for the dipole, quadrupole, octopole, and hexadecapole moments, respectively). Using commercially available NdFeB magnets and the magnetic field sensor inside a smartphone, we experimentally verify the power-law dependence of the accelerator magnet configurations. Finally, we use the open-source Python library Magpylib to simulate the magnetic field of the permanent magnet configurations, showing good agreement between theory, experiment, and simulation.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2014

Complex oxide growth using simultaneous in situ RHEED and x-ray reflectivity: When is one layer complete?

During layer-by-layer homoepitaxial growth, both the Reflection High-Energy Electron Diffraction (RHEED) intensity and the x-ray reflection intensity will oscillate, and each complete oscillation indicates the addition of one monolayer of material. However, it is well documented, but not well understood, that the phase of the RHEED oscillations is not constant and thus the maxima in the RHEED intensity oscillations do not necessarily occur at the completion of a layer. We demonstrate this using simultaneous in situ x-ray reflectivity and RHEED during layer-by-layer growth of SrTiO$_3$. We show that we can control the RHEED oscillation phase by changing the pre-growth substrate annealing conditions, changing the RHEED oscillation phase by nearly 180$^\circ$. In addition, during growth via pulsed laser deposition, the exponential relaxation times between each laser pulse can be used to determine when a layer is complete, independent of the phase of the RHEED oscillation.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2010

Scaling analysis of the static and dynamic critical exponents in under, over, and optimally-doped Pr$_{2-x}$Ce$_x$CuO$_{4-y}$ films

We report on current-voltage measurements of the zero-field normal-superconducting phase transition in thin films of Pr$_{2-x}$Ce$_x$CuO$_{4-y}$ as a function of doping. We find that the small size of the critical regime in these materials ($\approx 25$ mK) gives rise to mean-field behavior at the phase transition with a static exponent of $ν\approx 0.5$ for all dopings (in contrast to hole-doped $\mathrm{YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{7-δ}}$). We also find mean-field behavior in the dynamic exponent $z$. This indicates that Pr$_{2-x}$Ce$_x$CuO$_{4-y}$ behaves similarly to conventional superconductors in contrast to other cuprate superconductors. However, as the transition width in our samples decreases, the dynamic critical exponent approaches $z=1.5$, similar to the critical exponent found in hole-doped $\mathrm{YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{7-δ}}$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2008

A Classroom Demonstration of Levitation and Suspension of a Superconductor over a Magnetic Track

The suspension and levitation of superconductors by permanent magnets is one of the most fascinating consequences of superconductivity, and a wonderful instrument for generating interest in low temperature physics and electrodynamics. We present a novel classroom demonstration of the levitation/suspension of a superconductor over a magnetic track that maximizes levitation/suspension time, separation distance between the magnetic track and superconductor and also insulator aesthetics. The demonstration as described is both inexpensive and easy to construct.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2008

Dynamical scaling of $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-δ}$ thin film conductivity in zero field

We study dynamic fluctuation effects of $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-δ}$ thin films in zero field around $T_c$ by doing frequency-dependent microwave conductivity measurements at different powers. The length scales probed in the experiments are varied systematically allowing us to analyze data which are not affected by the finite thickness of the films, and to observe single-parameter scaling. DC current-voltage characteristics have also been measured to independently probe fluctuations in the same samples. The combination of DC and microwave measurements allows us to precisely determine critical parameters. Our results give a dynamical scaling exponent $z=1.55\pm0.15$, which is consistent with model E-dynamics.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

Effects of Self-field and Low Magnetic Fields on the Normal-Superconducting Phase Transition

Researchers have studied the normal-superconducting phase transition in the high-$T_c$ cuprates in a magnetic field (the vortex-glass or Bose-glass transition) and in zero field. Often, transport measurements in "zero field" are taken in the Earth's ambient field or in the remnant field of a magnet. We show that fields as small as the Earth's field will alter the shape of the current vs. voltage curves and will result in inaccurate values for the critical temperature $T_c$ and the critical exponents $ν$ and $z$, and can even destroy the phase transition. This indicates that without proper screening of the magnetic field it is impossible to determine the true zero-field critical parameters, making correct scaling and other data analysis impossible. We also show, theoretically and experimentally, that the self-field generated by the current flowing in the sample has no effect on the current vs. voltage isotherms.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2004

Normal-Superconducting Phase Transition Mimicked by Current Noise

As a superconductor goes from the normal state into the superconducting state, the voltage vs. current characteristics at low currents change from linear to non-linear. We show theoretically and experimentally that the addition of current noise to non-linear voltage vs. current curves will create ohmic behavior. Ohmic response at low currents for temperatures below the critical temperature $T_c$ mimics the phase transition and leads to incorrect values for $T_c$ and the critical exponents $ν$ and $z$. The ohmic response occurs at low currents, when the applied current $I_0$ is smaller than the width of the probability distribution $σ_I$, and will occur in both the zero-field transition and the vortex-glass transition. Our results indicate that the transition temperature and critical exponents extracted from the conventional scaling analysis are inaccurate if current noise is not filtered out. This is a possible explanation for the wide range of critical exponents found in the literature.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2004

The zero-field superconducting phase transition obscured by finite-size effects in thick $\mathrm{\bf{YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{7-δ}}}$ films

We report on the normal-superconducting phase transition in thick $\mathrm{YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{7-δ}}$ films in zero magnetic field. We find significant finite-size effects at low currents even in our thickest films ($d = 3200$ Å). Using data at higher currents, we can unambiguously find $T_c$ and $z$, and show $z = 2.1 \pm 0.15$, as expected for the three-dimensional XY model with diffusive dynamics. The crossover to two-dimensional behavior, seen by other researchers in thinner films ($d \leq 500$ Å), obscures the three-dimensional transition in both zero field and the vortex-glass transition in field, leading to incorrect values of $T_c$ (or $T_g$), $ν$, and $z$. The finite-size effects, usually ignored in thick films, are an explanation for the wide range of critical exponents found in the literature.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

Probing the limits of superconductivity

DC voltage versus current measurements of superconductors in a magnetic field are widely interpreted to imply that a phase transition occurs into a state of zero resistance. We show that the widely-used scaling function approach has a problem: Good data collapse occurs for a wide range of critical exponents and temperatures. This strongly suggests that agreement with scaling alone does not prove the existence of the phase transition. We discuss a criterion to determine if the scaling analysis is valid, and find that all of the data in the literature that we have analyzed fail to meet this criterion. Our data on YBCO films, and other data that we have analyzed, are more consistent with the occurrence of small but non-zero resistance at low temperature.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2000

Is there a vortex-glass transition in high-temperature superconductors?

We show that DC voltage versus current measurements of a YBCO micro-bridge in a magnetic field can be collapsed onto scaling functions proposed by Fisher, Fisher, and Huse, as is widely reported in the literature. We find, however, that good data collapse is achieved for a wide range of critical exponents and temperatures. These results strongly suggest that agreement with scaling alone does not prove the existence of a phase transition. We propose a criterion to determine if the data collapse is valid, and thus if a phase transition occurs. To our knowledge, none of the data reported in the literature meet our criterion.

cond-mat.supr-con↗