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Organische Materialien haben bis zur Mitte des 20. Jahrhunderts hinsichtlich ihrer elektronischen Eigenschaften keine besondere Aufmerksamkeit auf sich gezogen. Größeres Interesse an diesen Materialien entstand erst durch die Entdeckung einer ungewöhnlich hohen elektrischen Leitfähigkeit des organischen Perylen-Bromin Ladungstransfer-Komplexes durch Inokuchi et al. im Jahr 1954. Diese neue Klasse von Materialien besteht typischerweise aus Donor- und Akzeptor-Molekülen, die in einer bestimmten Stöchiometrie aneinander gebunden sind. Elektrische Ladung wird zwischen den Donor- und Akzeptor-Molekülen transferiert. Um diesen Prozess zu beschreiben, entwickelte Robert Mulliken in den 60er Jahren ein theoretisches Gerüst. Abhängig von der Anordnung der Moleküle und transferierten elektrischen Ladung kann der Ladungstransfer-Komplex (oder Salz) ein Isolator, ein Halbleiter, ein Metall oder sogar ein Supraleiter sein. Noch mehr Aufmerksamkeit erhielten Ladungstransfer-Materialien mit der Entdeckung des ersten quasi-eindimensionalen organischen Metalls TTF-TCNQ (tetrathiafulvalene-tetracyanoquinodimethane) im Jahr 1973. ...
Towards a THz Bloch laser
(2011)
The realisation of tunable THz laser sources working at room temperature would give
rise to further applications in this range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The THz
Bloch laser could therefore become the basis for a technological breakthrough. Beside
this practical relevance, the physics of the gain mechanism has been investigated
theoretically for a long time and the experimental implementation of a self-starting
laser still has not been achieved.
At the beginning of this thesis the basic principles of Bloch oscillations and the
related Bloch gain are described. The need of a superlattice structure to make Bloch
oscillations possible in a semiconductor material is discussed. In this context, the effect
of negative differential resistance and its influence on the field distribution due to Gunn
domains is explained. The latter lead to an inhomogeneous field which may suppress
the Bloch gain mechanism. The Krömer criterion is introduced and the concept of
field-pinning layers to improve the field homogeneity is deduced. Finally, the design of
the laser material is shown and different types of laser waveguides are compared.
In chapter 3 detailed recipes for the processing of samples are given. Different types of
contacts (ohmic and Schottky), the wafer bonding process required for double-metal
lasers and the application of different photoresists for different purposes are described.
An explanation of the formation of waveguides due to dry etching, wet etching
and ion implantation follows. Dry etching is an established technique in the field
of microstructure processing but the challenge of etching about 20 μm has led to
problems. The high etching depth also makes wet etching difficult but this method
could be improved due to a hard bake of the photoresist. The protection of critical
areas on the surface of the samples with photoresist during ion implantation was
increased by optimising the spin coating process. However, a full implantation of the
active layer between the waveguides was not achieved which was the reason for the
development of the hybrid technology. Here a prior wet etching of about 10 μm is
performed and the rest of the material is implanted.
The experimental setup is shown in chapter 4. An alternative method for the electrical
contacting with the help of a copper bar is introduced. This improves the current
distribution and the risk of an electrical breakdown during the measurements could
therefore be lowered. Devices for THz beam guidance and spectroscopic measurements
are shown and the method of biasing the samples with pulses below 100 ns and
determining the effective voltage applied to the sample is depicted. These short pulses
are required to prevent the samples heating up drastically due to high power.
Chapter 5 contains the current-voltage characterisation of several structures including
I-V-samples, Bloch laser samples and a quantum cascade laser. Different contacts
(ohmic and Schottky) and different techniques for the formation of the ridges have
been used in the processing of these samples (performed at the University of Frankfurt
in all cases) and their influence on the I-V-dependence is discussed. The properties of
the THz emission of the quantum cascade laser are in good agreement with published
results from lasers processed with the same material. Another important result of
this chapter is that the Bloch laser samples show unstable behaviour compared to the
quantum cascade structure even with short pulses (of about 10 ns) where the risk of an
electrical breakdown or the building of filaments is low. THz radiation emitted from
one of the Bloch laser samples could not be observed.
Two aspects that may have prevented the Bloch laser to emit are discussed in
chapter 6. The saturation of the gain for higher amplitudes of the THz wave is
investigated in single mode and multiple mode operation (the latter could occur due
to the Bloch gain being expected to be broadband). In both cases it is shown that
the saturation effect would limit the output power only to values clearly above the
detection limit. In the subsequent section the distribution of the electric field is
simulated with SILVACO software. Structures with transit layer lengths above the
Krömer criterion are compared with structures which include field-pinning layers. It is
shown that the latter are useful to avoid propagating Gunn domains as they build up
in similar structures without field-pinning layers. Nevertheless, the electric field inside
the superlattice regions is not stable. Beside spatial inhomogeneities also temporal
variations of the field magnitude are observed. The lack of a suitable field distribution
is expected to be the main reason for the samples not to work.
Subject of this thesis is the non-perturbative investigation of the thermal transition in Quantum Chromodynamics by means of lattice gauge theory and a particular type of lattice fermions, the so-called twisted mass fermions. These fermions offer the possibility of improvement as compared to the standard Wilson-type formulation. We investigate the properties of these fermions at finite temperature, i.e. the structure of the bare parameter space as well as leading order cutoff effects in the weak coupling limit. Then we focus on two-flavour simulations at finite pion mass. We identify the (pseudo-)critical temperatures for our set of pion masses (300 to 500 MeV) and discuss the extrapolation to the chiral limit for which the nature of the transition is still an open question. Besides pseudo-critical temperatures we consider the magnetic equation of state and screening observables. We find that the assumption of a second order transition (in the 3d O(4) universality class) agrees with our data without being able to exclude alternatives. Finally, we discuss the future inclusion of strange and charm quarks in dynamical twisted mass simulations and look at the corresponding cutoff effects in the free limit.
The study of meson production in proton-proton collisions in the energy range
up to one GeV above the production threshold provides valuable information about
the nature of the nucleon-nucleon interaction. Theoretical models describe the interaction
between nucleons via the exchange of mesons. In such models, different
mechanisms contribute to the production of the mesons in nucleon-nucleon collisions.
The measurement of total and differential production cross sections provide information
which can help in determining the magnitude of the various mechanisms.
Moreover, such cross section information serves as an input to the transport calculations
which describe e.g. the production of e+e− pairs in proton- and pion-induced
reactions as well as in heavy ion collisions.
In this thesis, the production of ω and η mesons in proton-proton collisions at 3.5
GeV beam energy was studied using the High Acceptance DiElectron Spectrometer
(HADES) installed at the Schwerionensynchrotron (SIS 18) at the Helmholtzzenturm
f¨ur Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt.
About 80 000 ω mesons and 35 000 η mesons were reconstructed. Total production
cross sections of both mesons were determined. Furthermore, the collected statistics
allowed for extracting angular distributions of both mesons as well as performing
Dalitz plot studies.
The ω and η mesons were reconstructed via their decay into three pions (π+π−π0)
in the exclusive reaction pp −→ ppπ+π−π0. The charged particles were identified
via their characteristic energy loss, via the measurement of their time of flight and
momentum, or using kinematics.
The neutral pion was reconstructed using the missing mass method. A kinematic
fit was applied to improve the resolution and to select events in which a π0 was
produced.
The correction of measured yields for the effects of spectrometer acceptance was done
as a function of four variables (two invariant masses and two angles). Systematic
studies of the acceptance for different input distributions were performed.
The measured yields were normalized to the number of measured events of elastic
scattering. Systematic errors due to the methods of the data analysis and the
background subtraction were investigated.
Production angular distributions of ω and η mesons were measured. Both mesons
exhibit a slightly anisotropic angular distribution.
The Dalitz plot of ω meson production shows indications of resonant production.
However, the deviation of the distribution from the one expected by phase space
simulations is not large.
The Dalitz plot of η meson production shows a signal of the production via the
N(1535) resonance, The contribution of N(1535) to the production was quantified
to be about 47%. The angular distribution of η mesons does not show significant
differences between resonant and non resonant production.
The total production cross section of ω mesons in the reaction pp −→ ppω was
determined to be 106.5 ± 0.9 (stat) ± 7.9 (sys) [μb] where stat indicates statistical
error and sys indicates systematic error, while that of η mesons was determined to
be 136.9 ± 0.9 (stat) ± 10.1 (sys) [μb] in the reaction pp −→ ppη
The phenomenon of magnetism is a pure quantum effect and has been studied since the beginning of civilization. The practical use of magnetic materials for technical purposes was well established in the 19th century; still nowadays there is no lack of new high-tech applications based on magnetism for example in information technology to store and process data. This thesis does not focus on the development of new applications of magnetism in technology, nor enhancement of known fields of application. Instead, the intention is to use a quantum theory of magnetism for obtaining new insights on physical effects that accompany the phenomenon of magnetism. Therefore three different model systems, each of which are believed to describe a class of real compounds, are considered. Starting from the idea that magnetism can be understood by use of the so-called Heisenberg model that microscopically characterizes the interaction between localized magnetic moments, we restrict ourselves to the case where a long-range magnetic order is present. In order to deduce consequences resulting from this microscopic picture we use the spin-wave theory that is introduced in the first chapter. Central objects of this theory are the magnons which are elementary quantum excitations in ordered magnets. An application of these mathematical techniques to a model that describes an antiferromagnet in an external magnetic field is presented in the second chapter. Quantities like the spin-wave velocity and the damping of magnons are calculated using a Hermitian operator approach in the framework of spin-wave theory. A strong renormalization of the magnetic excitations arises because the symmetry of the system is reduced due to the external magnetic field. In the second model system, that describes thin films of a ferromagnet, concepts of classical physics meet quantum physics: The magnetic dipole-dipole interaction that is also known in everyday life from the magnetic forces between magnets and was initially formulated in the theory of electromagnetism, is included in the microscopic model. Having a special compound in mind where the magnetic excitations are directly accessible in experiments, the energy dispersions of magnon modes in thin-film ferromagnets are deduced. Our approach is essentially a basis for further investigations beyond this thesis to describe strong correlations and condensation of magnons. A recent realization of data processing devices with spin waves puts the understanding of physical processes in these ferromagnetic films in the focus of upcoming research. The third model system brings in the so-called frustration where the interactions between the spins are such that the total energy cannot be minimized by an appropriate alignment of the magnetic moments in the classical picture. In the simplest case this appears because the antiferromagnetically coupled spins are located on a triangular lattice. This situation will lead to strong quantum fluctuations which make this model system interesting. Finally the overall symmetry is reduced by inclusion of spin anisotropies and an external magnetic field. Instead of focusing on the properties of the magnetic excitations, the effect of the magnetic field on the properties of the lattice vibrations is subject to the investigation. This is interesting because the characteristics of lattice vibrations can be measured experimentally using the supersonic technique.
This thesis has light mesons and their vacuum interactions as its topic. In particular, the work examines the question where the scalar antiquark-quark states are found in the physical spectrum -- in the energy region below or above 1 GeV. Contrary to the naive expectation, the mentioned states are found in the region above 1 GeV. This has consequences for the building of order parameters for the chiral symmetry breaking of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD).
This work deals with the use of dielectrics with high permeability, so-called high-k dielectrics in organic thin-film field-effect transistors (FETs). The central part was the preparation of the high-k dielectric and its implementation in transistors, in which organic semiconductors were used as active layer. A field-effect transistor can be used to measure the charge carrier mobility. Employing high-k dielectrics the carrier concentration in the active layer can be greatly increased. In this way, high charge carrier concentrations in organic layers can be achieved without chemical doping. As high-k dielectric strontium titanate (STO) was selected. It is also available as a niobium-doped and therefore conducting substrate material. Thus, one has an ideal substrate for the growth of the dielectric layer in conjunction with a substrate which acts as gate electrode. As the organic semiconductor the small molecules pentacene and copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) were sublimated, as electrical contacts gold was used. As a key part of this work an ultra high vacuum chamber system was constructed for in situ preparation of field effect transistors. For the deposition of the organic thin films a molecular beam deposition chamber was built, including a manipulator and effusion cells as evaporation sources. For the preparation of the dielectric a sputtering chamber was set-up. Another chamber was used in conjunction with an effusion cell for the deposition of the gold contacts. For the structured deposition of the different layers in the devices a shadow mask system was implemented. Movable masks could be positioned by means of a wobble stick onto the sample carriers. The system thus allowed for the use of masks in all chambers. The different thin films required in the transistor structure were first individually prepared and characterized. For the characterization primarily X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy were used. The growth of pentacene was analyzed on aplha-AlO substrates. With X-ray diffraction the (00l) reflections of the thin film phase were observed. In growth studies of CuPc aplha-AlO and STO substrates were used. With X-ray diffraction the aplha-phase was detected. With increasing substrate temperature an increase in crystallinity, but also an increase in surface roughness was observed. The sputtering of STO as a high-k dielectric was studied and optimized. Simultaneously, a high deposition rate, a smooth film surface and good crystallinity of the layer were required. As the most important parameters the substrate temperature, pressure and sputtering power were identified. Argon and oxygen were employed as sputtering gases, as substrate MgO was used. The films showed in comparison to crystalline STO a distortion to larger lattice constants. The degree of distortion decreased with increasing chamber pressure, on the other hand, deposition rate decreased with increasing chamber pressure as well. By combining the individual deposition processes FETs in bottom-gate geometry were prepared. The first step was always sputtering of the STO dielectric on niobium-doped STO substrates. Subsequently, the electrodes and the organic layer were deposited. For comparison transistors on silicon substrates with silicon dioxide (SiO2) as the dielectric were prepared. To study the transistor properties a measurement setup was build. A dielectric constant of about 190 for the STO in the transistors was achieved. The transistors with CuPc as active layer showed p-type conduction behavior. The transistors with STO as dielectric had a much stronger response than those with SiO2. They reached mobilities of 2E-4 cm2/Vs at very low applied voltages of 3V. It could thus be demonstrated that STO is suitable as a dielectric for organic FETs, and that through the use of high-k dielectrics high charge carrier densities can be achieved.
Nonequilibrium phase transitions in chiral fluid dynamics including dissipation and fluctuation
(2011)
Chiral fluid dynamics combines the fluid dynamic expansion of a hot and dense plasma created in a heavy-ion collision with the explicit propagation of fluctuations at the chiral phase transition of quantum chromodynamics. From systems in equilibrium long-range fluctuations are expected at a conjectured critical point. Heavy-ion collisions are, however, finite in size and time and very dynamic. It is thus likely that nonequilibrium effects diminish the signal of a critical point. They can, however, stimulate phenomena at a first order phase transitions, like nucleation and spinodal decomposition. Both of phase transition scenarios are investigated in this work. Based on the linear sigma model with constituent quarks a consistent quantum field theoretical approach using the two-particle irreducible effective action is developed to derive both, the local equilibrium properties of the expanding quark fluid and the damping and noise terms in the Langevin equation of the order parameter of the phase transition, the sigma field. Within this formalism it is possible to obtain a conserved energy-momentum tensor of the coupled system. It describes the energy dissipation from the sigma field to the heat bath during relaxation. Within this model we investigate nonequilibrium phenomena in a scenario with a critical point and a first order phase transition. We observe long relaxation times at the phase transition, phase coexistence at the first order phase transition and critical slowing down at the critical point. We find a substantial supercooling in a first order phase transition in our model and due to the energy-momentum exchange also reheating is present. While at the critical point the correlation length increases slightly we find an enhanced intensity of nonequilibrium fluctuations at the first order phase transition, which leads to an increased production of sigma mesons.
Nanotechnology is a rapidly developing branch of science, which is focused on the study of phenomena at the nanometer scale, in particular related to the possibilities of matter manipulation. One of the main goals of nanotechnology is the development of controlled, reproducible, and industrially transposable nanostructured materials.
The conventional technique of thin-film growth by deposition of atoms, small atomic clusters and molecules on surfaces is the general method, which is often used in nanotechnology for production of new materials. Recent experiments show, that patterns with different morphology can be formed in the course of nanoparticles deposition process on a surface. In this context, predicting of the final architecture of the growing materials is a fundamental problem worth studying.
Another factor, which plays an important role in industrial applications of new materials, is the question of post-growth stability of deposited structures. The understanding of the post-growth relaxation processes would give a possibility to estimate the lifetime of the deposited material depending on the conditions at which the material was fabricated. Controllable post-growth manipulations with the architecture of deposited structures opens new path for engineering of nanostructured materials.
The task of this thesis is to advance understanding mechanisms of formation and post-growth evolution of nanostructured materials fabricated by atomic clusters deposition on a surface. In order to achieve this goal the following main problems were addressed:
1. The properties of isolated clusters can significantly differ from those of analogous clusters occurring on a solid surface. The difference is caused by the interaction between the cluster and the solid. Therefore, the understanding of structural and dynamical properties of an atomic cluster on a surface is a topic of intense interest from the scientific and technological point of view. In the thesis, stability, energy, and geometry of an atomic cluster on a solid surface were studied using a liquid drop approach which takes into account the cluster-solid interaction. Geometries of the deposited clusters are compared with those of isolated clusters and the differences are discussed.
2. The formation scenarios of patterns on a surface in the course of the process of cluster deposition depend strongly on the dynamics of deposited clusters. Therefore, an important step towards predicting pattern morphology is to study dynamics of a single cluster on a surface. The process of cluster diffusion on a surface was modeled with the use of classical molecular dynamics technique, and the diffusion coefficients for the silver nanoclusters were obtained from the analysis of trajectories of the clusters. The dependence of the diffusion coefficient on the system’s temperature and cluster-surface interaction was established. The results of the calculations are compared with the available experimental results for the diffusion coefficient of silver clusters on graphite surface.
3. The methods of classical molecular dynamics cannot be used for modeling the self-assembly processes of atomic clusters on a surface, because these processes occur on the minutes timescale, what would require an unachievable computer resource for the simulation. Based on the results of molecular dynamics simulations for a single cluster on a surface a Monte-Carlo based approach has been developed to describe the dynamics of the self-assembly of nanoparticles on a surface. This method accounts for the free particle diffusion on a surface, aggregation into islands and detachment from these islands. The developed method is allowed to study pattern formation of structures up to thousands nm, as well as the stability of these structures. Developed method was implemented in MBN Explorer computer package.
4. The process of the pattern formation on a surface was modeled for several different scenarios. Based on the analysis of results of simulations was suggested a criterion, which can be used to distinguish between different patterns formed on a surface, for example: between fractals or compact islands.This criteria can be used to predict the final morphology of a growing structure.
5. The post-growth evolution of patterns on a surface was also analyzed. In particular, attention in the thesis is payed to a systematical theoretical analysis of the post-growth processes occurring in nanofractals on a surface. The time evolution of fractal morphology in the course of the post-growth relaxation was analyzed, the results of these calculations were compared with experimental data available for the post-growth relaxation of silver cluster fractals on graphite substrate.
All the aforementioned problems are discussed in details in the thesis.
In the work presented herein the microscopic transport model BAMPS (Boltzmann Approach to Multi-Parton Scatterings) is applied to simulate the time evolution of the hot partonic medium that is created in Au+Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and in Pb+Pb collisions at the recently started Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The study is especially focused on the investigation of the nuclear modification factor R_{AA}, that quantifies the suppression of particle yields at large transverse momentum with respect to a scaled proton+proton reference, and the simultaneous description of the collective properties of the medium in terms of the elliptic flow v_{2} within a common framework.