arXiv subjects

Manel Molina-Ruiz

Publications and source records attributed to Manel Molina-Ruiz.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Microsecond-Pulsed Nanocalorimetry: A Scalable Approach for Ultrasensitive Heat Capacity Measurements

We introduce a nanocalorimetric technique based on microsecond-pulsed heating (μs-PHnC) that enables high-sensitivity, quasi-isothermal heat capacity measurements on nanoscale samples. Such resolution is critical for exploring thermodynamic signatures in low-dimensional materials, where conventional techniques fall short. By confining thermal excitation to microsecond timescales, this approach minimizes lateral heat diffusion, reduces heat capacity addenda to below 10^{-9} J K^{-1}, and achieves noise densities as low as 75 pJ K^{-1} Hz^{-1/2} mm^{-2}, unlocking precise thermodynamic characterization of subnanogram samples in areas as small as 30 x 30 μm^{2}. The method delivers exceptional temperature homogeneity, as demonstrated by resolving sharp phase transitions, such as the antiferromagnetic transition in ultrathin CoO films, with unprecedented clarity. Its quasi-static operation is inherently compatible with external stimuli, including magnetic and electric fields, thereby expanding its utility for in-operando thermodynamic studies. This advancement establishes a robust and scalable platform for probing thermal phenomena in nanostructured and low-dimensional materials, significantly broadening the scope of nanocalorimetry.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Strategies to reduce the thermoelastic loss of multimaterial coated finite substrates

Thermoelastic loss is an important energy dissipation mechanisms in resonant systems. A careful analysis of the thermoelastic loss is critical to the design of low-noise devices for high-precision applications, such as the mirrors used for gravitational-wave detectors. In this paper, we present analytical solutions to the thermoelastic loss due to thermoelasticity between different materials that are in contact. We find expressions for the thermoelastic loss of multimaterial coatings of finite substrates, and analyze its dependencies on material properties, mirror design and operating experimental conditions. Our results show that lower operating mirror temperature, thinner layers and higher number of interfaces in the coating, and the choice of the first layer of the coating that minimizes the thermal expansion mismatch with the substrate are strategies that reduce the thermoelastic loss and, therefore, diminish the thermal noise that limits the resolution in sensing applications. The results presented in this paper are relevant for the development of low-noise gravitational-wave detectors and for other experiments sensitive to energy dissipation mechanisms when different materials are in contact.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Observation of spin-momentum locked surface states in amorphous Bi$_{2}$Se$_{3}$

Crystalline symmetries have played a central role in the identification of topological materials. The use of symmetry indicators and band representations have enabled a classification scheme for crystalline topological materials, leading to large scale topological materials discovery. In this work we address whether amorphous topological materials, which lie beyond this classification due to the lack of long-range structural order, exist in the solid state. We study amorphous Bi$_2$Se$_3$ thin films, which show a metallic behavior and an increased bulk resistance. The observed low field magnetoresistance due to weak antilocalization demonstrates a significant number of two dimensional surface conduction channels. Our angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy data is consistent with a dispersive two-dimensional surface state that crosses the bulk gap. Spin resolved photoemission spectroscopy shows this state has an anti-symmetric spin texture resembling that of the surface state of crystalline Bi$_2$Se$_3$. These experimental results are consistent with theoretical photoemission spectra obtained with an amorphous tight-binding model that utilizes a realistic amorphous structure. This discovery of amorphous materials with topological properties uncovers an overlooked subset of topological matter outside the current classification scheme, enabling a new route to discover materials that can enhance the development of scalable topological devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Temperature effects on the structure and mechanical properties of vapor deposited a-SiO2

Amorphous silica (a-SiO2) exhibits unique thermo-mechanical behaviors that set it apart from other glasses. However, there is still limited understanding of how this mechanical behavior is related to the atomic structure and to the preparation conditions of a-SiO2. Here, we used electron beam (e-beam) physical vapor deposition (PVD) to prepare a series of a-SiO2 films grown at different substrate temperatures and then combined molecular simulations with Positronium Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy and nanoindentation experiments to establish relations among processing, structure, and mechanical response of the films. Specifically, we found that increase in the growth temperature leads to increase in the elastic moduli and hardness of the films. The relative porosity in the films also increases while the a-SiO2 network itself becomes denser, resulting in an overall increase in density despite increased porosity. In addition, we found that the a-SiO2 films exhibit the same anomalous temperature dependence of elastic modulus as bulk a-SiO2. However, the rate of increase in the elastic modulus with the measurement temperature was found to depend on the density of the a-SiO2 network and therefore on the growth temperature. Our findings provide new insights into the influence of the atomic network structure on the anomalous thermomechanical behavior of a-SiO2 and in turn guidance to control the mechanical properties of a-SiO2 films.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Compositional Trends in Surface Enhanced Diffusion in Lead Silicate Glasses

In this work, we use molecular dynamics simulations to study the enhancement of surface over bulk diffusion (surface enhanced diffusion) in (PbO)x(SiO2)1-x glasses. This work is motivated to better understand surface diffusion in glasses and its connection to fragility, and to enhance surface diffusion in silica and related glasses for greater thermodynamic stability during vapor-deposition. By adding PbO to silica, the fragility of glass increases continuously for 10% <= x <= 70% during experiments. The increase in fragility may correspond to an increase in surface enhanced diffusion, as fragility and surface diffusion are correlated. We observe that for the silicates investigated, while surface enhanced diffusion increases with fragility, the enhancement is quite small. The slower diffusing Si and O atoms have higher enhancements, which could allow for some surface stabilization effects. We demonstrate that there are only small changes in atomic arrangements, consistent with the similar diffusion rates, at the surface as compared to bulk. Finally, we examine the trend of bulk versus surface diffusion in view of previous observations in organic and metallic glasses and found that in oxides, fragility increase may not be strongly linked to enhanced surface diffusion.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

A Cryogenic Silicon Interferometer for Gravitational-wave Detection

The detection of gravitational waves from compact binary mergers by LIGO has opened the era of gravitational wave astronomy, revealing a previously hidden side of the cosmos. To maximize the reach of the existing LIGO observatory facilities, we have designed a new instrument that will have 5 times the range of Advanced LIGO, or greater than 100 times the event rate. Observations with this new instrument will make possible dramatic steps toward understanding the physics of the nearby universe, as well as observing the universe out to cosmological distances by the detection of binary black hole coalescences. This article presents the instrument design and a quantitative analysis of the anticipated noise floor.

astro-ph.IM↗