arXiv subjects

X. F. Wang

Publications and source records attributed to X. F. Wang.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

The first 48: Discovery and progenitor constraints on the Type Ia supernova 2013gy

We present an early-phase $g$-band light curve and visual-wavelength spectra of the normal Type Ia supernova (SN) 2013gy. The light curve is constructed by determining the appropriate S-corrections to transform KAIT natural-system $B$- and $V$-band photometry and Carnegie Supernova Project natural-system $g$-band photometry to the Pan-STARRS1 $g$-band natural photometric system. A Markov Chain Monte Carlo calculation provides a best-fit single power-law function to the first ten epochs of photometry described by an exponent of $2.16^{+0.06}_{-0.06}$ and a time of first light of MJD 56629.4$^{+0.1}_{-0.1}$, which is $1.93^{+0.12}_{-0.13}$ days (i.e., $<48$~hr) before the discovery date (2013 December 4.84 UT) and $-19.10^{+0.12}_{-0.13}$ days before the time of $B$-band maximum (MJD 56648.5$\pm0.1$). The estimate of the time of first light is consistent with the explosion time inferred from the evolution of the Si II $λ$6355 Doppler velocity. Furthermore, discovery photometry and previous nondetection limits enable us to constrain the companion radius down to $R_c \leq 4\,R_{\odot}$. In addition to our early-time constraints, we use a deep +235 day nebular-phase spectrum from Magellan/IMACS to place a stripped H-mass limit of $< 0.018\,M_{\odot}$. Combined, these limits effectively rule out H-rich nondegenerate companions.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2018

Freezing out of a low-energy bulk spin exciton in SmB6

The Kondo insulator SmB6 is purported to develop into a robust topological insulator at low temperature. Yet there are several puzzling and unexplained physical properties of the insulating bulk. It has been proposed that bulk spin excitons may be the source of these anomalies and may also adversely affect the topologically-protected metallic surface states. Here, we report muon spin rotation measurements of SmB6 that show thermally-activated behavior for the temperature dependences of the transverse-field (TF) relaxation rate below 20 K and muon Knight shift below 5-6 K. Our data are consistent with the freezing out of a bulk low-energy (~ 1 meV) spin exciton concurrent with the appearance of metallic surface conductivity. Furthermore, our results support the idea that spin excitons play some role in the anomalous low-temperature bulk properties of SmB6.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Suppressed carrier density for the patterned high mobility two-dimensional electron gas at gamma-Al2O3/SrTiO3 heterointerfaces

The two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at the non-isostructural interface between spinel gamma-Al2O3 and perovskite SrTiO3 is featured by a record electron mobility among complex oxide interfaces in addition to a high carrier density up to the order of 1E15 cm-2. Herein, we report on the patterning of 2DEG at the gamma-Al2O3/SrTiO3 interface grown at 650 °C by pulsed laser deposition using a hard mask of LaMnO3. The patterned 2DEG exhibits a critical thickness of 2 unit cells of gamma-Al2O3 for the occurrence of interface conductivity, similar to the unpatterned sample. However, its maximum carrier density is found to be approximately 3E13 cm-2, much lower than that of the unpatterned sample (1E15 cm-2). Remarkably, a high electron mobility of approximately 3,600 cm2V-1s-1 was obtained at low temperatures for the patterned 2DEG at a carrier density of 7E12 cm-2, which exhibits clear Shubnikov-de Hass quantum oscillations. The patterned high-mobility 2DEG at the gamma-Al2O3/SrTiO3 interface paves the way for the design and application of spinel/perovskite interfaces for high-mobility all-oxide electronic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Quantum spin fluctuations in the bulk insulating state of pure and Fe-doped SmB6

The intermediate-valence compound SmB6 is a well-known Kondo insulator, in which hybridization of itinerant 5d electrons with localized 4f electrons leads to a transition from metallic to insulating behavior at low temperatures. Recent studies suggest that SmB6 is a topological insulator, with topological metallic surface states emerging from a fully insulating hybridized bulk band structure. Here we locally probe the bulk magnetic properties of pure and 0.5 % Fe-doped SmB6 by muon spin rotation/relaxation methods. Below 6 K the Fe impurity induces simultaneous changes in the bulk local magnetism and the electrical conductivity. In the low-temperature insulating bulk state we observe a temperature-independent dynamic relaxation rate indicative of low-lying magnetic excitations driven primarily by quantum fluctuations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Ultrafast terahertz responses in monolayer graphene

We theoretically investigate the ultrafast terahertz(THz) properties of monolayer graphene. The analytical formulations of the photon carrier, electric polarization and optical current are obtained by solving the Bloch-equations in present of the ultrafast THz Gaussian pulse. Graphene shows a large nonlinear and ultrafast optical response at THz frequencies due to the gapless and relativistic Dirac particles with nearly linear energy dispersion. It is found that the photon carrier density, electric polarization and optical current density increase with increasing the frequency of the THz pulse. These theoretical results are in agreement with recent experimental findings. This study confirms further that graphene exhibits important features and is relevant to the applications in the ultrafast THz fields.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Tunable electronic anisotropy in single-crystal A2Cr3As3 (A = K, Rb) quasi-one-dimensional superconductors

Single crystals of A2Cr3As3 (A = K, Rb) were successfully grown using a self-flux method and studied via structural, transport and thermodynamic measurement techniques. The superconducting state properties between the two species are similar, with critical temperatures of 6.1 K and 4.8 K in K2Cr3As3 and Rb2Cr3As3, respectively. However, the emergence of a strong normal state electronic anisotropy in Rb2Cr3As3 suggests a unique electronic tuning parameter is coupled to the inter-chain spacing in the A2Cr3As3 structure, which increases with alkali metal ionic size while the one-dimensional [(Cr3As3)^{2-}]_{\infty} chain structure itself remains essentially unchanged. Together with dramatic enhancements in both conductivity and magnetoresistance (MR), the appearance of a strong anisotropy in the MR of Rb2Cr3As3 is consistent with the proposed quasi-one-dimensional character of band structure and its evolution with alkali metal species in this new family of superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2015

Spin and orbital moments of nanoscale Fe3O4 epitaxial thin film on MgO/GaAs(100)

Nanoscale Fe3O4 epitaxial thin film has been synthesized on MgO/GaAs(100) spintronic heterostructure, and studied with X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). We have observed a total magnetic moment of (3.32 +- 0.1) uB/f.u., retaining 83% of the bulk value. Unquenched orbital moment of (0.47 +- 0.05) uB/f.u. has been confirmed by carefully applying the sum rule. The results offer direct experimental evidence of the bulk-like total magnetic moment and a large orbital moment in the nanoscale fully epitaxial Fe3O4/MgO/GaAs(100) heterostructure, which is significant for spintronics applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2014

Extending the supernova Hubble diagram to z~1.5 with the Euclid space mission

We forecast dark energy constraints that could be obtained from a new large sample of Type Ia supernovae where those at high redshift are acquired with the Euclid space mission. We simulate a three-prong SN survey: a z<0.35 nearby sample (8000 SNe), a 0.2<z<0.95 intermediate sample (8800 SNe), and a 0.75<z<1.55 high-z sample (1700 SNe). The nearby and intermediate surveys are assumed to be conducted from the ground, while the high-z is a joint ground- and space-based survey. This latter survey, the "Dark Energy Supernova Infra-Red Experiment" (DESIRE), is designed to fit within 6 months of Euclid observing time, with a dedicated observing program. We simulate the SN events as they would be observed in rolling-search mode by the various instruments, and derive the quality of expected cosmological constraints. We account for known systematic uncertainties, in particular calibration uncertainties including their contribution through the training of the supernova model used to fit the supernovae light curves. Using conservative assumptions and a 1-D geometric Planck prior, we find that the ensemble of surveys would yield competitive constraints: a constant equation of state parameter can be constrained to sigma(w)=0.022, and a Dark Energy Task Force figure of merit of 203 is found for a two-parameter equation of state. Our simulations thus indicate that Euclid can bring a significant contribution to a purely geometrical cosmology constraint by extending a high-quality SN Hubble diagram to z~1.5. We also present other science topics enabled by the DESIRE Euclid observations

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2014

Single and multiple doping effects on electron transport in zigzag silicene nanoribbons

A nonequilibrium Green's function technique combined with density functional theory is used to study the spin-dependent electronic band structure and transport properties of zigzag silicene nanoribbons (ZSiNRs) doped with aluminum (Al) or phosphorus (P) atoms. The presence of a single Al or P atom induces quasibound states in ZSiNRs that can be observed as new dips in the electron conductance. The Al atom acts as an acceptor whereas the P atom acts as a donor when it is placed at the center of the ribbon. This behavior is reversed when the dopant is placed on the edges. Accordingly, an acceptor-donor transition is observed in ZSiNRs upon changing the dopant's position. Similar results are obtained when two silicon atoms are replaced by two impurities (Al or P atoms) but the conductance is generally modified due to the impurity-impurity interaction. When the doping breaks the two-fold rotational symmetry about the central line, the transport becomes spin dependent.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2014

Spin negative differential resistance in edge doped zigzag graphene nanoribbons

The nonlinear spin-dependent transport properties in zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) edge doped by an atom of group III and V elements are studied systematically using density functional theory combined with non-equilibrium Greens functions. The dopant type, acceptor or donor, and the geometrical symmetry, odd or even, are found critical in determining the spin polarization of the current and the current-voltage characteristics. For ZGNRs substitutionally doped on the lower-side edge, the down (up) spin current dominates in odd-(even-)width ZGNRs under a bias voltage around 1V. Remarkably, in even-width ZGNRs, doped by group III elements (B and Al), negative differential resistance (NDR) occurs only for down spins. The bias range of the spin NDR increases with the width of ZGNRs. The clear spin NDR is not observed in any odd-width ZGNRs nor in even-width ZGNRs doped by group V elements (N, and P). This peculiar spin NDR of edge doped ZGNRs suggests potential applications in spintronics.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Vacancy Effects on Electric and Thermoelectric Properties of Zigzag Silicene Nanoribbons

We study the crystal reconstruction in the presence of monovacancies (MVs), divacancies (DVs) and linear vacancies (LVs) in a zigzag silicene nanoribbon (ZSiNR) with transversal symmetry. Their influence on the electric and thermoelectric properties is assessed by the density functional theory combined with the nonequilibrium Green's functions. In particular, we focus on the spin resolved conductance, magnetoresistance and current-voltage curves. A 5-atom-ring is formed in MVs, a 5-8-5 ring structure in DVs, and a 8-4-8-4 ring structure in LVs. The linear conductance becomes strongly spin dependent when the transversal symmetry is broken by vacancies especially if they are located on the ribbon's edges. The giant magnetoresistance can be smeared by asymmetric vacancies. Single spin negative differential resistance may appear in the presence of LVs and asymmetric MVs or DVs. A strong spin Seebeck effect is expected at room temperature in ZSiNRs with LVs.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2014

High performance current and spin diode of atomic carbon chain between transversely symmetric ribbon electrodes

We demonstrate that giant current and high spin rectification ratios can be achieved in atomic carbon chain devices connected between two symmetric ferromagnetic zigzag-graphene-nanoribbon electrodes. The spin dependent transport simulation is carried out by density functional theory combined with the non-equilibrium Green's function method. It is found that the transverse symmetries of the electronic wave functions in the nanoribbons and the carbon chain are critical to the spin transport modes. In the parallel magnetization configuration of two electrodes, pure spin current is observed in both linear and nonlinear regions. However, in the antiparallel configuration, the spin-up (down) current is prohibited under the positive (negative) voltage bias, which results in a spin rectification ratio of order 104. When edge carbon atoms are substituted with boron atoms to suppress the edge magnetization in one of the electrodes, we obtain a diode with current rectification ratio over 10e6.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2014

Spin-dependent ballistic transport properties and electronic structures of pristine and edge-doped zigzag silicene nanoribbons: large magnetoresistance

The electronic structure and conductance of substitutionally edge-doped zigzag silicene nanoribbons (ZSiNRs) are investigated using the nonequilibrium Green's function method combined with the density functional theory. Two-probe systems of ZSiNRs in both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic states are considered. Doping effects of elements from groups III and V, in a parallel or antiparallel magnetic configuration of the two electrodes, are discussed. Switching on and off the external magnetic field, we may convert the metallic ferromagnetic ZSiNRs into insulating antiferromagnetic ZSiNRs. In the ferromagnetic state, even- or odd-width ZSiNRs exhibit a drastically different magnetoresistance. In an odd-width edge-doped ZSiNR a large magnetoresistance occurs compared to that in a pristine ZSiNR. The situation is reversed in even-width ZSiNRs. These phenomena result from the drastic change of the conductance in the antiparallel configuration.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2014

Giant magnetoresistance and spin Seebeck coefficient in zigzag a-graphyne nanoribbons

We investigate the spin-dependent electric and thermoelectric properties of ferromagnetic zigzag-graphyne nanoribbons (ZGNRs) using the density-functional theory combined with the non-equilibrium Green's function method. A giant magnetoresistance is obtained in the pristine even-width ZGNRs and can be as high as 10e6 %. However, for the doped systems, a large magnetoresistance behavior may appear in the odd-width ZGNRs rather than the even-width ones. This suggests that the magnetoresistance can be manipulated in a wide range by the dopants on edges of ZGNRs. Another interesting phenomenon is that in the B- and N-doped even-width ZGNRs the spin Seebeck coefficient is always larger than the charge Seebeck coefficient, and a pure-spin-current thermospin device can be achieved at specific temperatures.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2014

Half-metallicity in aluminum-doped zigzag silicene nanoribbons

The spin-dependent electronic structures of aluminum-(Al) doped zigzag silicene nanoribbons (ZSiNRs) are investigated by first-principles calculations. When ZSiNRs are substitutionally doped by a single Al atom on different sites in every three primitive cells, they become half-metallic in some cases, a property that can be used in spintronic devices. More interestingly, spin-down electrons can be transported at the Fermi energy when the Al atom is placed on the sub-edge site. In contrast, spin-up electrons can be transported at the Fermi energy when the ZSiNRs are doped on sites near their center. The magnetic moment on edge is considerably suppressed if the Al atom is doped on edge or near-edge sites. Similar results are obtained for a phosphorus-(P) and boron-(B) doped ZSiNR. When two or more Si atoms are replaced by Al atoms, in general the half-metallic behavior is replaced by a metallic, spin gapless semiconducting or semiconducting one. When a line of six Si atoms, along the ribbon's width, are replaced by Al atoms, the spin resolution of the band structure is suppressed and the system becomes nonmagnetic.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Polarity-driven surface metallicity in SmB$_6$

By a combined angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory study, we discover that the surface metallicity is polarity-driven in SmB$_6$. Two surface states, not accounted for by the bulk band structure, are reproduced by slab calculations for coexisting B$_6$ and Sm surface terminations. Our analysis reveals that a metallic surface state stems from an unusual property, generic to the (001) termination of all hexaborides: the presence of boron $2p$ dangling bonds, on a polar surface. The discovery of polarity-driven surface metallicity sheds new light on the 40-year old conundrum of the low-temperature residual conductivity of SmB$_6$, and raises a fundamental question in the field of topological Kondo insulators regarding the interplay between polarity and nontrivial topological properties.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2012

Enhanced Superconductivity by Rare-earth Metal-doping in Phenanthrene

We successfully synthesized La- and Sm-doped phenanthrene powder samples and discovered superconductivity at $T_{\rm c}$ around 6 K in them. The $T_{\rm c}$s are 6.1 K for LaPhenanthrene and 6.0 K for SmPhenanthrene, which are enhanced by about 1 K and 0.5 K compared to those in $A_3$Phenanthrene ($A$=K and Rb) and in $Ae_{1.5}$Phenanthrene ($Ae$ = Sr and Ba) superconductors respectively. The superconductive shielding fractions for LaPhenanthrene and SmPhenanthrene are 46.1%$ and 49.8$%$ at 2 K, respectively. The little effect of the doping of the magnetic ion Sm$^{3+}$ on $T_c$ and the positive pressure dependence coefficient on $T_{\rm c}$ strongly suggests unconventional superconductivity in the doped phenanthrene superconductors. The charge transfer to organic molecules from dopants of La and Sm induces a redshift of 7 cm$^{-1}$ per electron for the mode at 1441 cm$^{-1}$ in the Raman spectra, which is almost the same as those observed in $A_3$Phenanthrene ($A$=K and Rb) and $Ae_{1.5}$Phenanthrene ($Ae$ = Sr and Ba) superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

Transport Properties and Electronic Phase Diagram of Single-Crystalline Ca$_{10}$(Pt$_3$As$_8$) ((Fe$_{1-x}$Pt$_x$)$_2$As$_2$)$_5$

Sizable single-crystalline samples of Ca$_{10}$(Pt$_3$As$_8$)((Fe$_{1-x}$Pt$_x$)$_2$As$_2$)$_5$ (the 10-3-8 phase) with 0$\leq x<$0.1 have been grown and systematically characterized via X-Ray diffraction, magnetic, and transport measurements. The undoped sample is a heavily doped semiconductor with no sign of magnetic order down to 2 K. With increasing Pt content, the metallic behavior appears and superconductivity is realized for $x\geq$0.023. $T_{\rm c}$ rises to its maximum of approximately 13.6 K at the doping level of $x\sim$0.06, and then decreases for higher $x$ values. The electronic phase diagram of the 10-3-8 phase was mapped out based on the transport measurements. The mass anisotropy parameter $Γ\sim$10 obtained from resistive measurements in magnetic fields indicates a relatively large anisotropy in the iron-based superconductor family. This strong 2D character may lead to the absence of magnetic order. A linear $T$-dependence of susceptibility at high temperature is observed, indicating that spin fluctuations exist in the underdoped region as in most of the Fe-pnictide superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗