arXiv subjects

Phillip N. First

Publications and source records attributed to Phillip N. First.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

g4chargeit: Geant4-based kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of charging in dielectric materials

We present g4chargeit, a kinetic Monte Carlo framework built on Geant4 for self-consistent simulation of time-dependent electrostatic charging in dielectric materials. The model explicitly incorporates stochastic particle transport and scattering processes using validated Geant4 cross-sections, while self-consistently evolving the electric potential and field. As a representative application, we simulate the charging of regolith grains under average dayside conditions on the Moon. The surface of the Moon, in addition to other airless planetary bodies, are regularly exposed to solar ultraviolet photons and solar-wind plasma, creating a radiation environment in which electrostatic interactions among regolith grains become significant. Until now, simulations of regolith charging have often relied on analytical approximations that oversimplify grain geometry and interaction mechanisms. Our Geant4-based simulations reveal charge accumulation within intergrain micro-cavities, leading to repulsive electrostatic forces consistent with experimental observations. The framework establishes a multiscale approach that links microscopic scattering events to the continuity equation of surface charge density and to the formation of macroscopic surface charge patches in complex grain geometries. Although demonstrated here for planetary regolith, the method is general and applicable to a broad range of dielectric charging problems. The code is openly available at https://github.com/kgandhi63/g4chargeit.git.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2025

Creation of Lunar-Like Rims in Ilmenite using Synthetic Solar Wind

Space weathering of lunar minerals, due to bombardment from solar wind (SW) particles and micrometeoroid impacts, modifies the mineralogy within tens of nanometers of the surface, i.e., the rim. Spectroscopic signatures of these modifications, observed via remote sensing, have long been used to gauge surface exposure times on the Moon. However, the relative contributions of SW and micrometeoroids in the creation of rim features are still debated, particularly for the nanometer-scale clusters known as nanophase iron (npFe0), which commonly form in ferrous minerals. We address this issue in the laboratory, using deuterium ions and low-energy electrons as a synthetic solar wind plasma to irradiate ilmenite (FeTiO3), a common lunar mineral. Characterization by high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy-loss spectroscopy shows that the SW alone creates rims with all the main characteristics of lunar samples. We conclusively identify npFe0 and quantify its distribution as a function of depth and fluence, allowing us to estimate the SW exposure of Apollo soil 71501. Our results confirm that small npFe0 particles (<10 nm in diameter) form from SW irradiation. Such experiments provide microscopic details of space weathering, improving the link between surface modification processes and macroscopic remote-sensing data.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2023

Tailoring on-surface molecular reactions and assembly through hydrogen-modified synthesis: From triarylamine monomer to 2D covalent organic framework

Relative to conventional wet-chemical synthesis techniques, on-surface synthesis of organic networks in ultrahigh vacuum has few control parameters. The molecular deposition rate and substrate temperature are typically the only synthesis variables to be adjusted dynamically. Here we demonstrate that reducing conditions in the vacuum environment can be created and controlled without dedicated sources -- relying only on backfilled hydrogen gas and ion gauge filaments -- and can dramatically influence the Ullmann-like on-surface reaction used for synthesizing two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs). Using tribromo dimethylmethylene-bridged triphenylamine ((Br$_3$)DTPA) as monomer precursors, we find that atomic hydrogen blocks aryl-aryl bond formation. Control of the relative monomer and hydrogen fluxes is used to produce large islands of self-assembled monomers, dimers, or macrocycle hexamers. On-surface synthesis of these oligomers, from a single precursor, circumvents potential challenges with protracted wet-chemical synthesis or low precursor volatility for large molecules. Using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS), we show that changes in the electronic states through this oligomer sequence provide an insightful view of the 2D-COF (synthesized in the absence of atomic hydrogen) as the endpoint in an evolution of electronic structures from the monomer.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Designing a boron nitride polyethylene composite for shielding neutrons

Neutrons are encountered in many different fields, including condensed matter physics, space exploration, nuclear power, and healthcare. Neutrons interacting with a biological target produce secondary charged particles that are damaging to human health. The most effective way to shield neutrons is to slow them to thermal energies and then capture the thermalized neutrons. These factors lead us to consider potential materials solutions for neutron shields that maximize the protection of humans while minimizing the shield mass, and which adapt well to modern additive manufacturing techniques. Using hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) as a capture medium and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as a thermalization medium, we aim to design the optimal internal structure of h$^{10}$BN/HDPE composites by minimizing the effective dose, which is a measure of the estimated radiation damage exposure for a human. Through Monte Carlo simulations in Geant4, we find that the optimal structure reduces the effective dose up to a factor of 72x over aluminum (Al) and 4x over HDPE; this is a significant improvement in shielding effectiveness that could dramatically reduce the radiation exposure of occupational workers.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2011

Evidence for Interlayer Electronic Coupling in Multilayer Epitaxial Graphene from Polarization Dependent Coherently Controlled Photocurrent Generation

Most experimental studies to date of multilayer epitaxial graphene on C-face SiC have indicated that the electronic states of different layers are decoupled as a consequence of rotational stacking. We have measured the third order nonlinear tensor in epitaxial graphene as a novel approach to probe interlayer electronic coupling, by studying THz emission from coherently controlled photocurrents as a function of the optical pump and THz beam polarizations. We find that the polarization dependence of the coherently controlled THz emission expected from perfectly uncoupled layers, i.e. a single graphene sheet, is not observed. We hypothesize that the observed angular dependence arises from weak coupling between the layers; a model calculation of the angular dependence treating the multilayer structure as a stack of independent bilayers with variable interlayer coupling qualitatively reproduces the polarization dependence, providing evidence for coupling.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

Grain Boundary Loops in Graphene

Topological defects can affect the physical properties of graphene in unexpected ways. Harnessing their influence may lead to enhanced control of both material strength and electrical properties. Here we present a new class of topological defects in graphene composed of a rotating sequence of dislocations that close on themselves, forming grain boundary loops that either conserve the number of atoms in the hexagonal lattice or accommodate vacancy/interstitial reconstruction, while leaving no unsatisfied bonds. One grain boundary loop is observed as a "flower" pattern in scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies of epitaxial graphene grown on SiC(0001). We show that the flower defect has the lowest energy per dislocation core of any known topological defect in graphene, providing a natural explanation for its growth via the coalescence of mobile dislocations.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2010

Epitaxial Graphene Electronic Structure And Transport

Since its inception in 2001, the science and technology of epitaxial graphene on hexagonal silicon carbide has matured into a major international effort and is poised to become the first carbon electronics platform. A historical perspective is presented and the unique electronic properties of single and multilayered epitaxial graphenes on electronics grade silicon carbide are reviewed. Early results on transport and the field effect in Si-face grown graphene monolayers provided proof-of-principle demonstrations. Besides monolayer epitaxial graphene, attention is given to C-face grown multilayer graphene, which consists of electronically decoupled graphene sheets. Production, structure, and electronic structure are reviewed. The electronic properties, interrogated using a wide variety of surface, electrical and optical probes, are discussed. An overview is given of recent developments of several device prototypes including resistance standards based on epitaxial graphene quantum Hall devices and new ultrahigh frequency analog epitaxial graphene amplifiers.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2010

Epitaxial Graphenes on Silicon Carbide

The materials science of graphene grown epitaxially on the hexagonal basal planes of SiC crystals is reviewed. We show that the growth of epitaxial graphene on Si-terminated SiC(0001) is much different than growth on the C-terminated SiC(000 -1) surface, and discuss the physical structure of these graphenes. The unique electronic structure and transport properties of each type of epitaxial graphene is described, as well as progress toward the development of epitaxial graphene devices. This materials system is rich in subtleties, and graphene grown on the two polar faces differs in important ways, but all of the salient features of ideal graphene are found in these epitaxial graphenes, and wafer-scale fabrication of multi-GHz devices already has been achieved.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2010

Structural Determination of Multilayer Graphene via Atomic Moiré Interferometry

Rotational misalignment of two stacked honeycomb lattices produces a moiré pattern that is observable in scanning tunneling microscopy as a small modulation of the apparent surface height. This is known from experiments on highly-oriented pyrolytic graphite. Here, we observe the combined effect of three-layer moiré patterns in multilayer graphene grown on SiC ($000\bar{1}$). Small-angle rotations between the first and third layer are shown to produce a "double-moiré" pattern, resulting from the interference of moiré patterns from the first three layers. These patterns are strongly affected by relative lattice strain between the layers. We model the moiré patterns as a beat-period of the mismatched reciprocal lattice vectors and show how these patterns can be used to determine the relative strain between lattices, in analogy to strain measurement by optical moiré interferometry.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2008

Hot Dirac Fermions in Epitaxial Graphene

We investigate the ultrafast relaxation dynamics of hot Dirac fermionic quasiparticles in multilayer epitaxial graphene using ultrafast optical differential transmission spectroscopy. We observe DT spectra which are well described by interband transitions with no electron-hole interaction. Following the initial thermalization and emission of high-energy phonons, the electron cooling is determined by electron-acoustic phonon scattering, found to occur on the time scale of 1 ps for highly doped layers, and 4-11 ps in undoped layers. The spectra also provide strong evidence for the multilayer stucture and doping profile of thermally grown epitaxial graphene on SiC.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2007

Epitaxial graphene

Graphene multilayers are grown epitaxially on single crystal silicon carbide. This system is composed of several graphene layers of which the first layer is electron doped due to the built-in electric field and the other layers are essentially undoped. Unlike graphite the charge carriers show Dirac particle properties (i.e. an anomalous Berry's phase, weak anti-localization and square root field dependence of the Landau level energies). Epitaxial graphene shows quasi-ballistic transport and long coherence lengths; properties which may persists above cryogenic temperatures. Paradoxically, in contrast to exfoliated graphene, the quantum Hall effect is not observed in high mobility epitaxial graphene. It appears that the effect is suppressed due to absence of localized states in the bulk of the material.Epitaxial graphene can be patterned using standard lithography methods and characterized using a wide array of techniques. These favorable features indicate that interconnected room temperature ballistic devices may be feasible for low dissipation high-speed nanoelectronics.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Ultrathin epitaxial graphite: 2D electron gas properties and a route toward graphene-based nanoelectronics

We have produced ultrathin epitaxial graphite films which show remarkable 2D electron gas (2DEG) behavior. The films, composed of typically 3 graphene sheets, were grown by thermal decomposition on the (0001) surface of 6H-SiC, and characterized by surface-science techniques. The low-temperature conductance spans a range of localization regimes according to the structural state (square resistance 1.5 kOhm to 225 kOhm at 4 K, with positive magnetoconductance). Low resistance samples show characteristics of weak-localization in two dimensions, from which we estimate elastic and inelastic mean free paths. At low field, the Hall resistance is linear up to 4.5 T, which is well-explained by n-type carriers of density 10^{12} cm^{-2} per graphene sheet. The most highly-ordered sample exhibits Shubnikov - de Haas oscillations which correspond to nonlinearities observed in the Hall resistance, indicating a potential new quantum Hall system. We show that the high-mobility films can be patterned via conventional lithographic techniques, and we demonstrate modulation of the film conductance using a top-gate electrode. These key elements suggest electronic device applications based on nano-patterned epitaxial graphene (NPEG), with the potential for large-scale integration.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗