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Vijay B. Shenoy

Publications and source records attributed to Vijay B. Shenoy.

49 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Sensory Organ like Response of Zigzag Edge Graphene Nanoribbons

Using a continuum Dirac theory, we study the density and spin response of zigzag edge terminated graphene ribbons subjected to edge potentials and Zeeman fields. Our analytical calculations of the density and spin responses of the closed system (fixed particle number) to the static edge fields, show a highly nonlinear Weber-Fechner type behavior where the response depends logarithmically on the edge potential. The dependence of the response on the size of the system (e.g. width of a nanoribbon) is also uncovered. Zigzag edge graphene nanoribbons, therefore, provide a realization of response of organs such as the eye and ear that obey Weber-Fechner law. We validate our analytical results with tight binding calculations. These results are crucial in understanding important effects of electron-electron interactions in graphene nanoribbons such as edge magnetism etc., and also suggest possibilities for device applications of graphene nanoribbons.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Long Range Coulomb Interactions and Nanoscale Electronic Inhomogeneities in Correlated Oxides

Electronic, magnetic or structural inhomogeneities ranging in size from nanoscopic to mesoscopic scales seem endemic, and are possibly generic, to colossal magnetoresistance manganites and other transition metal oxides. We show here that an extension, to include long range Coulomb interactions, of a quantum two-fluid $\ell-b$ model proposed recently for manganites [Phys. Rev. Lett., {\bf 92}, 157203 (2004)] leads to an excellent description of such inhomogeneities. In the $\ell-b$ model two very different kinds of electronic states, one localized and polaronic ($\ell$), and the other extended or broad band ($b$) co-exist. For model parameters appropriate to manganites, and even within a simple dynamical mean-filed theory (DMFT) framework, it describes many of the unusual phenomena seen in manganites, including colossal magnetoresistance (CMR), qualitatively and quantitatively. However, in the absence of long ranged Coulomb interaction, a system described by such a model would actually phase separate, into macroscopic regions of $l$ and $b$ electrons respectively. As we show in this paper, in the presence of Coulomb interactions, the {\em macroscopic} phase separation gets suppressed, and instead nanometer scale regions of polarons interspersed with band electron puddles appear, constituting a new kind of quantum Coulomb glass. Our work points to an interplay of strong correlations, long range Coulomb interaction and dopant ion disorder as the origin of nanoscale inhomogeneities, rather than disorder frustrated phase competition as is generally believed. Based on this, we argue that the observed micrometer(meso)-scale inhomogeneities owe their existence to extrinsic causes, eg. strain due to cracks and defects. We suggest possible experiments to validate our speculation.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Theory of Radio Frequency Spectroscopy of Polarized Fermi Gases

We present two exact results for singular features in the radio frequency intensity $I(ω)$ for ultracold Fermi gases. First, in the absence of final state interactions, $I(ω)$ has a universal high frequency tail $ Cω^{-3/2}$ for \emph{all} many-body states, where $C$ is Tan's contact. Second, in a \emph{normal} Fermi liquid at T=0, $I(ω)$ has a jump discontinuity of $Z/(1 - m/m^{*})$, where $Z$ is the quasiparticle weight and $m^*/m$ the mass renormalization. We then describe various approximations for $I(ω)$ in polarized normal gases. We show why an approximation that is exact in the $n_\dn=0$ limit, fails qualitatively for $n_{\dn} > 0$: there is no universal tail and sum rules are violated. The simple ladder approximation is qualitatively correct for very small $n_{\dn}$, but not quantitatively.

cond-mat.other↗

Phase Diagram of the Attractive Hubbard Model with Inhomogeneous Interactions

The phase diagram of the attractive Hubbard model with spatially inhomogeneous interactions is obtained using a single site dynamical mean field theory like approach. The model is characterized by three parameters: the interaction strength, the active fraction (fraction of sites with the attractive interaction), and electron filling. The calculations indicate that in a parameter regime with intermediate values of interaction strength (compared to the bare bandwidth of the electrons), and intermediate values of the active fraction, "non-BCS" superconductivity is obtained. The results of this work are likely to be relevant to many systems with spatially inhomogeneous superconductivity such as strongly correlated oxides, systems with negative U centers, and, in future, cold atom optical lattices.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Modified Electron Beam Induced Deposition of Metal Nanostructure Arrays using a Parallel Electron Beam

A modified electron beam induced deposition method using a parallel beam of electrons is developed. The method relies on the build-up of surface potential on an insulating surface exposed to an electron beam. Presence of sharp edges on the insulating surface implies presence of large electric fields that lead to site-specific nucleation of metal vapor on those regions. Feature sizes as small as 20 nm can be deposited without the need to use fine probes and thus the limitation of probe size imposed on the resolution is overcome. The use of pure metal vapor also renders the process inherently clean.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

Possibility of High Tc Superconductivity in doped Graphene

Graphene is at the forefront of condensed matter sciences, because of a variety of interesting phenomena it supports. If graphene could support high Tc superconductivity, after doping for example, it will make it even more valuable. Some authors have suggested possibility of superconductivity in graphite like systems. However, an early suggestion of one of us (Baskaran) was unique in the sense it combined Pauling's classic idea of resonating valence bond physics with band theory to obtain some exciting results for superconductivity. Black-Schaffer and Doniach took this approach further and found an unconventional d + id order parameter. To sharpen our theory and get more convincing and reliable results for superconductivity, we introduce a correlated variational BCS ground state wavefunction and perform extensive Monte Carlo study of the repulsive Hubbard model on the honeycomb lattice. We find that undoped graphene is not a superconductor, consistent with experiments and also mean field results. Interestingly, an appreciable superconducting order is obtained around an optimal doping. This result and a supportive slave particle analysis together suggest the possibility of high temperature superconductivity in doped graphene.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Edge State Magnetism of Single Layer Graphene Nanostructures

We study edge state magnetism in graphene nanostructures using a mean field theory of the Hubbard model. We investigate how the magnetism of the zigzag edges of graphene is affected by the presence of other types of terminating edges and defects. By a detailed study of both regular shapes, such as polygonal nanodots and nanoribbons, and irregular shapes, we conclude that the magnetism in zigzag edges is very robust. Our calculations show that the zigzag edges that are longer than three to four repeat units are always magnetic, irrespective of other edges, regular or irregular. We, therefore, clearly demonstrate that the edge irregularities and defects of the bounding edges of graphene nanostructures does not destroy the edge state magnetism.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Competition between antiferromagnetism and superconductivity, electron-hole doping asymmetry and "Fermi Surface" topology in cuprates

We investigate the asymmetry between electron and hole doping in a 2D Mott insulator, and the resulting competition between antiferromagnetism (AF) and d-wave superconductivity (SC), using variational Monte Carlo for projected wave functions. We find that key features of the T = 0 phase diagram, such as critical doping for SC-AF coexistence and the maximum value of the SC order parameter, are determined by a single parameter which characterises the topology of the "Fermi surface" at half filling defined by the bare tight-binding parameters. Our results give insight into why AF wins for electron doping, while SC is dominant on the hole doped side. We also suggest using band structure engineering to control the parameter for enhancing SC.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Rate of Excitation Energy Transfer between Fluorescent Dyes and Nanoparticles

Long range resonance energy transfer (RET) between a donor and an acceptor molecule is increasingly being used in many areas of biological and material science. The phenomenon is used to monitor the in vivo separation between different (bio) polymers/units of (bio) polymers and hence the dynamics of various biomolecular processes. Because of the sensitivity of the rate on to the distance between the donor (D) and the acceptor (A), the technique is popularly termed as "spectroscopic ruler". In this work we examine the distance and orientation dependence of RET in three different systems: (i) between a conjugated polymer and a fluorescent dye, (ii) between a nanometal particle (NMP) and a fluorescent dye and (iii) between two NMP. We show that in all the three cases, the rate of RET follows a distance dependence of d^(- sigma) where exponent sigma approaches 6 at large d (F"orster type dependence) but has a value varying from 3-4 at short to intermediate distance. At short separation, the amplitude of rate is considerably smaller than predicted by the F"orster theory.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

Coulomb Interactions and Nanoscale Electronic Inhomogeneities in Manganites

We address the issue of endemic electronic inhomogeneities in manganites using extensive simulations on a new model with Coulomb interactions amongst two electronic fluids, one localized (polaronic), the other extended (band-like), and dopant ions. The long range Coulomb interactions frustrate phase separation induced by the strong on site repulsion between the fluids. A single quantum phase ensues which is intrinsically and strongly inhomogeneous at a nano-scale, but homogeneous on meso-scales, with many characteristics (including colossal responses)that agree with experiments. This, we argue, is the origin of nanoscale inhomogeneities in manganites, rather than phase competition and disorder related effects as often proposed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Possible ferro-spin nematic order in NiGa2S4

We explore the possibility that the spin-1 triangular lattice magnet NiGa2 S4 may have a ferro-nematic ground state with no frozen magnetic moment but a uniform quadrupole moment. Such a state may be stabilized by biquadratic spin interactions. We describe the physical properties of this state and suggest experiments to help verify this proposal. We also contrast this state with a `non-collinear' nematic state proposed earlier by Tsunetsugu and Arikawa for NiGa2S4 .

cond-mat.str-el↗

Size-dependent Rigidities of Nanosized Torsional Elements

A theory for the prediction of the size dependence of torsional rigidities of nanosized structural elements is developed. It is shown that, to a very good approximation, the torsional rigidity (D) of a nanosized bar differs from the prediction of standard continuum mechanics $(D_c)$ as $(D-D_c)/D_c = A h_0/a$ where A is a non-dimensional constant, a is the size scale of the cross-section of the bar and $h_0$ is a material length equal to the ratio of the surface elastic constant to the bulk elastic constant. The theory developed is compared with direct atomistic calculations (``numerical experiment'') of the torsional rigidity bars made of several FCC metals modeled using the embedded atom method. Very good agreement is obtained between theory and simulation. The framework presented here can aid the development of design methodologies for nanoscale structural elements without the need for full scale atomistic simulations.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Finite Sized Atomistic Simulations of Screw Dislocations

The interaction of screw dislocations with an applied stress is studied using atomistic simulations in conjunction with a continuum treatment of the role played by the far field boundary condition. A finite cell of atoms is used to consider the response of dislocations to an applied stress and this introduces an additional force on the dislocation due to the presence of the boundary. Continuum mechanics is used to calculate the boundary force which is subsequently accounted for in the equilibrium condition for the dislocation. Using this formulation, the lattice resistance curve and the associated Peierls stress are calculated for screw dislocations in several close packed metals. As a concrete example of the boundary force method, we compute the bow out of a pinned screw dislocation; the line-tension of the dislocation is calculated from the results of the atomistic simulations using a variational principle that explicitly accounts for the boundary force.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗