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P. López

Publications and source records attributed to P. López.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Boosting the Memory Window of Memristive Stacks via Engineered Interfaces with High Ionic Mobility

Realizing the potential of oxide-based memristive devices for high-density data storage and energy-efficient computing still relies on overcoming key technical challenges, including the need for a larger number of stable resistance states, faster switching speeds, lower SET/RESET voltages, improved endurance, and reduced variability. Addressing these limitations requires innovative material design strategies. Here, we demonstrate that introducing a thin layer of oxide-ion conductor SrCoO3-x between the metal and the SrTiO3-based memristive elements expands the number of distinguishable resistance states from about 8 to about 22. This modification also reduced the SET/RESET voltage by 50% and markedly improved device endurance, albeit with a trade-off of reduced state retention. To assess the performance of this architecture, we trained a two-layer fully connected neural network using the experimental SrTiO3/SrCoO3-x memristor characteristics on the MNIST handwritten digit dataset. Networks with hidden-layer sizes between 64 and 256 neurons achieved classification errors below 7%. Finally, we confirmed the transferability of this interface-engineering approach by applying it to HfOx-based devices, achieving a consistent enhancement in the resistive state window.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Luminous Type II supernovae for their low expansion velocities

We present optical and near-IR data of three Type II supernovae (SNe II), SN 2008bm, SN 2009aj, and SN 2009au. These SNe display the following common characteristics: signs of early interaction of the ejecta with circumstellar material (CSM), blue $B\!-\!V$ colours, weakness of metal lines, low expansion velocities, and $V$-band absolute magnitudes 2-3 mag brighter than those expected for normal SNe II based on their expansion velocities. Two more SNe reported in the literature (SN 1983K and LSQ13fn) share properties similar to our sample. Analysing this set of five SNe II, which are luminous for their low expansion velocities (LLEV), we find that their properties can be reproduced assuming ejecta-CSM interaction that lasts between 4-11 weeks post explosion. The contribution of this interaction to the radiation field seems to be the dominant component determining the observed weakness of metal lines in the spectra rather than the progenitor metallicity. Based on hydrodynamic simulations, we find that the interaction of the ejecta with a CSM of ~3.6 M$_\odot$ can reproduce the light curves and expansion velocities of SN 2009aj. Using data collected by the Chilean Automatic Supernova Search, we estimate an upper limit for the LLEV SNe II fraction to be 2-4 per cent of all normal SNe II. With the current data-set, it is not clear whether the LLEV events are a separated class of SNe II with a different progenitor system, or whether they are the extreme of a continuum mediated by CSM interaction with the rest of the normal SN II population.

astro-ph.HE

Type II Supernovae as Distance Indicators at Near-IR Wavelengths

Motivated by the advantages of observing at near-IR wavelengths, we investigate Type II supernovae (SNe II) as distance indicators at those wavelengths through the Photospheric Magnitude Method (PMM). For the analysis, we use $BVIJH$ photometry and optical spectroscopy of 24 SNe II during the photospheric phase. To correct photometry for extinction and redshift effects, we compute total-to-selective broadband extinction ratios and $K$-corrections up to $z=0.032$. To estimate host galaxy colour excesses, we use the colour-colour curve method with the $V\!-\!I$ versus $B\!-\!V$ as colour combination. We calibrate the PMM using four SNe II in galaxies having Tip of the Red Giant Branch distances. Among our 24 SNe II, nine are at $cz>2000$ km s$^{-1}$, which we use to construct Hubble diagrams (HDs). To further explore the PMM distance precision, we include into HDs the four SNe used for calibration and other two in galaxies with Cepheid and SN Ia distances. With a set of 15 SNe II we obtain a HD rms of 0.13 mag for the $J$-band, which compares to the rms of 0.15-0.26 mag for optical bands. This reflects the benefits of measuring PMM distances with near-IR instead of optical photometry. With the evidence we have, we can set the PMM distance precision with $J$-band below 10 per cent with a confidence level of 99 per cent.

astro-ph.CO