Laboratoire de physique des Solides

We have studied the magnetoresistance of (001)Fe/(001)Cr superlattices prepared by molecularbeam epitaxy. A huge magnetoresistance is found in superlattices with thin Cr layers: For example, with ${t}_{\mathrm{Cr}}=9$ \AA{}, at $T=4.2$ K, the resistivity is lowered by almost a factor of 2 in a magnetic field of 2 T. We ascribe this giant magnetoresistance to spin-dependent transmission of the conduction electrons between Fe layers through Cr layers.

We discuss possible motions for one polymer molecule P (of mass M) performing wormlike displacements inside a strongly cross-linked polymeric gel G. The topological requirement that P cannot intersect any of the chains of G is taken into account by a rigorous procedure: The only motions allowed for the chain are associated with the displacement of certain “defects” along the chain. The main conclusions derived from this model are the following: (a) There are two characteristic times for the chain motion: One of them (Td) is the equilibration time for the defect concentration, and is proportional to M2. The other time (Tr) is the time required for complete renewal of the chain conformation, and is proportional to M3. (b) The over-all mobility and diffusion coefficients of the chain P are proportional to M−2. (c) At times t < Tr the mean square displacement of one monomer of P increases only like 〈(rt − r0)2〉 = const t1/4. These results may also turn out to be useful for the (more difficult) problem of entanglement effects in unlinked molten polymers.

We present sets of special points in the Brillouin zone from which the average over the Brillouin zone of a periodic function of wave vector (e.g., energy, charge density, dipole matrix elements, etc.) can be determined in a simple and accurate way once the values of the function at these points are specified. We discuss a method for generating the special-point sets and apply it to the case of crystals with cubic and hexagonal Bravais lattices.

The statistical dynamics of a classical random variable that satisfies a nonlinear equation of motion is recast in terms of closed self-consistent equations in which only the observable correlations at pairs of points and the exact response to infinitesimal disturbances appear. The self-consistent equations are developed by introducing a second field that does not commute with the random variable. Techniques used in the study of the interacting quantum fields can then be employed, and systematic approximations can be obtained. It is also possible to carry out a "charge normalization" eliminating the nonlinear coupling in favor of a dimensionless parameter which measures the deviation from Gaussian behavior. No assumptions of spatial or time homogeneity or of small deviation from equilibrium enter. It is shown that previously inferred renormalization schemes for homogeneous systems were incomplete or erroneous. The application of the method to classical microscopic systems, where it leads from first principles to a coupled-mode description is briefly indicated.

By starting with the Boltzmann equation, we calculate the transport properties of magnetic multilayers for currents perpendicular to the layers. Our model takes into account both volume and interface spin-dependent scattering. We show that the macroscopic equations already used by Johnson et al. or van Son et al. are justified if the spin-diffusion length is much longer than the mean free path, even for individual layer thicknesses of the order of the mean free path. But, second, we show that Johnson's assumption of additive effects from independent interfaces in multilayers is incorrect and we obtain different results by taking into account the interplay between successive interfaces. The simple expressions derived for individual thicknesses much shorter than the spin-diffusion length are in agreement with the analysis of experimental results already proposed. It turns out that data on the perpendicular magnetoresistance can be used to separate clearly the volume and interface contributions to the spin-dependent scattering.

Systematic measurements by light scattering of the linewidth and frequency shift of the $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{q}}=0$ optical phonon in silicon over the temperature range of 5-1400 K are presented. Both the linewidth and frequency shift exhibit a quadratic dependence on temperature at high temperatures. This indicates the necessity of including terms in the phonon proper self-energy corresponding to four-phonon anharmonic processes.

A simple technique is described here that produces aligned arrays of carbon nanotubes. The alignment method is based on cutting thin slices (50 to 200 nanometers) of a nanotube-polymer composite. With this parallel and well-separated configuration of nanotubes it should be possible to measure individual tube properties and to demonstrate applications. The results demonstrate the nature of rheology, on nanometer scales, in composite media and flow-induced anisotropy produced by the cutting process. The fact that nanotubes do not break and are straightened after the cutting process also suggests that they have excellent mechanical properties.

Superconductivity has been observed by resistive measurements in the quasi-one dimensional organic conductor di-(tetramethyltetraselenafulvalene)-hexafluorophosphate, (TMTSF)2PF6 under a hydrostatic pressure of 12 kbar with a transition temperature of 0.9 K. The effect of magnetic fields perpendicular to the chain axis is also reported.

International audience

Vibrational spectra for a single molecule adsorbed on a solid surface have been obtained with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Inelastic electron tunneling spectra for an isolated acetylene (C2H2) molecule adsorbed on the copper (100) surface showed an increase in the tunneling conductance at 358 millivolts, resulting from excitation of the C-H stretch mode. An isotopic shift to 266 millivolts was observed for deuterated acetylene (C2D2). Vibrational microscopy from spatial imaging of the inelastic tunneling channels yielded additional data to further distinguish and characterize the two isotopes. Single-molecule vibrational analysis should lead to better understanding and control of surface chemistry at the atomic level.

Abstract The successful calculation of critical exponents for continuous phase transitions is one of the main achievements of theoretical physics over the last quarter-century. This was achieved through the use of scaling and field-theoretic techniques which have since become standard equipment in many areas of physics, especially quantum field theory. This book provides a thorough introduction to these techniques. Continuous phase transitions are introduced, then the necessary statistical mechanics is summarized, followed by standard models, some exact solutions and techniques for numerical simulations. The real-space renormalization group and mean-field theory are then explained and illustrated. The final chapters cover the Landau-Ginzburg model, from physical motivation, through diagrammatic perturbation theory and renormalization to the renormalization group and the calculation of critical exponents above and below the critical temperature.

Complex transition metal oxides span a wide range of crystalline structures and play host to an incredible variety of physical phenomena. High dielectric permittivities, piezo-, pyro-, and ferroelectricity are just a few of the functionalities offered by this class of materials, while the potential for applications of the more exotic properties like high temperature superconductivity and colossal magnetoresistance is still waiting to be fully exploited. With recent advances in deposition techniques, the structural quality of oxide heterostructures now rivals that of the best conventional semiconductors, taking oxide electronics to a new level. Such heterostructures have enabled the fabrication of artificial multifunctional materials. At the same time they have exposed a wealth of phenomena at the boundaries where compounds with different structural instabilities and electronic properties meet, giving unprecedented access to new physics emerging at oxide interfaces. Here we highlight some of these exciting new interface phenomena.

Iterative diagonalization of the Hamiltonian matrix is required to solve very large electronic-structure problems. Present algorithms are limited in their convergence rates at low wave numbers by stability problems associated with large changes in the Hartree potential, and at high wave numbers with large changes in the kinetic energy. A new method is described which includes the effect of density changes on the potentials and properly scales the changes in kinetic energy. The use of this method has increased the rate of convergence by over an order of magnitude for large problems.

International audience

Abstract This review attempts to present the most salient developments of research on organic conductors and superconductors during the past 10 years. A theoretical introduction treats instabilities of quasi-one-dimensional electron systems and associated precursor effects which are relevant to the experimental results on organic conductors. We then describe the characterization of quasi-one-dimensional organic conductors by their transport, optical and magnetic properties. Finally, two sections are devoted to the experimental investigation of the low temperature instabilities: lattice instability in TTF-TCNQ and related compounds, superconducting or antiferromagnetic instabilities in the (TMTSF)2X series. The importance of one-dimensional fluctuations is emphasized in both lattice and superconducting instabilities.

Abstract The out-of-plane fluctuations of fluid membranes are sterically hindered in multilayer systems. The repulsive interaction associated with the steric or excluded-volume effect is studied theoretically by two methods. The interaction energy per unit area of membrane is derived as a function of temperature, membrane curvature elasticity and mean membrane spacing; it is inversely proportional to the square of the latter. Steric repulsion is estimated for lecithin bilayers in water. There and in other cases, it may compete with van der Waals attraction.

A model describing the process of cluster growth by aggregation of clusters is introduced and investigated with the Monte Carlo method. It is found that the clusters are scale invariant. The fractal dimension of this new class of kinetic critical behavior is $D={\ensuremath{\nu}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}=1.38\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06$ in $d=2$ dimensions as determined by the radii of gyration and the density correlations of the aggregates. The process is compared with other types of kinetic and equilibrium critical phenomena.

Starting from the most general form of the Anderson hamiltonian, the behaviour of magnetic impurities in real metals is considered, taking into account the orbital structure of the local impurity electrons, crystal field and spin orbit splittings. The analysis is carried out in an atomic limit, in which the impurity has a well defined integer valency (a Schrieffer Wolff transformation is then valid). The main steps of a scaling procedure are described in detail. As the temperature goes down, the excited states of the ground state configuration decouple one after the other. The hierarchy of these decouplings, and their interplay with Kondo singularities are analyzed. When a Fermi liquid picture applies as T → 0, the number of independent parameters may be reduced considerably using symmetry and universality arguments which bypass the numerical description of the crossover region. That first part sets a language in which to describe specific problems. We apply that language to the case where the atomic ground state is an orbital singlet. In the absence of anisotropies, the only parameters are the impurity spin S and the number of orbital channels n. We show that an anomalous fixed point occurs at finite coupling when n > 2 S. That fixed point is unstable with respect to anisotropies. The scaling trajectories are discussed for a cubic crystal field for several choices of valencies. The universality of the low temperature behaviour is clarified. A similar analysis is carried out when the atomic ground state only has one electron (or hole). The influence of crystal field and spin orbit interactions is analyzed — and their relevance to the Kondo crossover and to universality is ascertained.

The exciton dissociation yield of macromolecular semiconductors depend fundamentally on their solid-state microstructure and phase morphology.

Turbulence is ubiquitous, from oceanic currents to small-scale biological and quantum systems. Self-sustained turbulent motion in microbial suspensions presents an intriguing example of collective dynamical behavior among the simplest forms of life and is important for fluid mixing and molecular transport on the microscale. The mathematical characterization of turbulence phenomena in active nonequilibrium fluids proves even more difficult than for conventional liquids or gases. It is not known which features of turbulent phases in living matter are universal or system-specific or which generalizations of the Navier-Stokes equations are able to describe them adequately. Here, we combine experiments, particle simulations, and continuum theory to identify the statistical properties of self-sustained meso-scale turbulence in active systems. To study how dimensionality and boundary conditions affect collective bacterial dynamics, we measured energy spectra and structure functions in dense Bacillus subtilis suspensions in quasi-2D and 3D geometries. Our experimental results for the bacterial flow statistics agree well with predictions from a minimal model for self-propelled rods, suggesting that at high concentrations the collective motion of the bacteria is dominated by short-range interactions. To provide a basis for future theoretical studies, we propose a minimal continuum model for incompressible bacterial flow. A detailed numerical analysis of the 2D case shows that this theory can reproduce many of the experimentally observed features of self-sustained active turbulence.