Showing papers on "Electric field published in 2009"
TL;DR: In this paper, a variation of the work function for single and bilayer graphene devices measured by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) is reported, by using the electric field effect, which can be adjusted as the gate voltage tunes the Fermi level across the charge neutrality point.
Abstract: We report variation of the work function for single and bilayer graphene devices measured by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM). By use of the electric field effect, the work function of graphene can be adjusted as the gate voltage tunes the Fermi level across the charge neutrality point. Upon biasing the device, the surface potential map obtained by SKPM provides a reliable way to measure the contact resistance of individual electrodes contacting graphene.
1,205 citations
TL;DR: Simulations confirm that voltage-controlled magnetization switching in magnetic tunnel junctions is possible using the anisotropy change demonstrated here, which could be of use in the development of low-power logic devices and non-volatile memory cells.
Abstract: A voltage-induced symmetry change in a ferromagnetic material can change its magnetization or magnetic anisotropy, but these effects are too weak to be used in memory devices. Researchers have now shown that a relatively small electric field can cause a large change in the magnetic anisotropy of a few atomic layers of iron. The results could lead to low-power logic devices and non-volatile memory cells.
1,201 citations
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that strong cross-coupling of responses exist in solids (i.e., the appearance of magnetization M in an electric field E, or the inverse effect of electric polarization P generated by the application of magnetic field H), and that there may exist systems in which two types of ordering ((ferro)magnetism, the spontaneous order) could exist.
Abstract: Electricity and magnetism were combined into one common discipline in the 19th century, culminating in the Maxwell equations. But electric and magnetic ordering in solids are most often considered separately—and usually with good reason: the electric charges of electrons and ions are responsible for the charge effects, whereas electron spins govern magnetic properties There are, however, cases where these degrees of freedom couple strongly. For example, in the new, large field of spintronics, the effects of spins on the transport properties of solids (and vice versa) allow the possibility to control one by the other. The finding of a strong coupling of magnetic and electric degrees of freedom in insulators can be traced back to Pierre Curie, but the real beginning of this field started in 1959 with a short remark by Landau and Lifshitz in a volume of their Course of Theoretical Physics[1]: “Let us point out two more phenomena, which, in principle, could exist. One is piezomagnetism, which consists of linear coupling between a magnetic field in a solid and a deformation (analogous to piezoelectricity). The other is a linear coupling between magnetic and electric fields in a media, which would cause, for example, a magnetization proportional to an electric field. Both these phenomena could exist for certain classes of magnetocrystalline symmetry. We will not however discuss these phenomena in more detail because it seems that till present, presumably, they have not been observed in any substance.” The situation changed soon thereafter, when Dzyaloshinskii predicted [2], and Astrov observed [3], this type of coupling, which is now known as the linear magnetoelectric effect. This was rapidly followed by the discovery of many other compounds of this class and by a rather complete classification of possible symmetry groups allowing for the effect. A new twist in this problem was the idea that not only can strong cross-coupling of responses exist in solids (i.e., the appearance of magnetization M in an electric field E, or the inverse effect of electric polarization P generated by the application of magnetic field H), but that there may exist systems in which two types of ordering—(ferro)magnetism, the spontaneous orderFIG. 1: Multiferroics combine the properties of ferroelectrics and magnets. In the ideal case, the magnetization of a ferromagnet in a magnetic field displays the usual hysteresis (blue), and ferroelectrics have a similar response to an electric field (yellow). If we manage to create multiferroics that are simultaneously ferromagnetic and ferroelectric (green), then there is a magnetic response to an electric field, or, vice versa, the modification of polarization by magnetic field. And, in principle we have here the basis for making a 4-state logic state: (P + M+), (+−), (−+), (−−). (Illustration: Alan Stonebraker)
1,193 citations
TL;DR: Variation of the work function for single and bilayer graphene devices measured by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) is reported, by use of the electric field effect.
Abstract: We report variation of the work function for single and bi-layer graphene devices measured by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM). Using the electric field effect, the work function of graphene can be adjusted as the gate voltage tunes the Fermi level across the charge neutrality point. Upon biasing the device, the surface potential map obtained by SKPM provides a reliable way to measure the contact resistance of individual electrodes contacting graphene.
1,130 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a nonlinear effect of a circularly polarized light can open a gap in the Dirac cone, which is predicted to lead to photoinduced dc Hall current.
Abstract: Response of electronic systems in intense lights (ac electric fields) to dc source-drain fields is formulated with the Floquet method. We have then applied the formalism to graphene, for which we show that a nonlinear effect of a circularly polarized light can open a gap in the Dirac cone, which is predicted to lead to a photoinduced dc Hall current. This is numerically confirmed for a graphene ribbon attached to electrodes with the Keldysh Green's function.
1,083 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, it was shown that the "compact layer" and "shear plane" effectively advance into the liquid, due to the crowding of counterions, and that ionic crowding against a blocking surface expands the diffuse double layer and thus decreases its differential capacitance; each trend is enhanced by dielectric saturation.
800 citations
TL;DR: The observation of the photon-induced near-field effect in ultrafast electron microscopy demonstrates the potential for many applications, including those of direct space-time imaging of localized fields at interfaces and visualization of phenomena related to photonics, plasmonics and nanostructures.
Abstract: In materials science and biology, optical near-field microscopies enable spatial resolutions beyond the diffraction limit, but they cannot provide the atomic-scale imaging capabilities of electron microscopy. Given the nature of interactions between electrons and photons, and considering their connections through nanostructures, it should be possible to achieve imaging of evanescent electromagnetic fields with electron pulses when such fields are resolved in both space (nanometre and below) and time (femtosecond). Here we report the development of photon-induced near-field electron microscopy (PINEM), and the associated phenomena. We show that the precise spatiotemporal overlap of femtosecond single-electron packets with intense optical pulses at a nanostructure (individual carbon nanotube or silver nanowire in this instance) results in the direct absorption of integer multiples of photon quanta (nhomega) by the relativistic electrons accelerated to 200 keV. By energy-filtering only those electrons resulting from this absorption, it is possible to image directly in space the near-field electric field distribution, obtain the temporal behaviour of the field on the femtosecond timescale, and map its spatial polarization dependence. We believe that the observation of the photon-induced near-field effect in ultrafast electron microscopy demonstrates the potential for many applications, including those of direct space-time imaging of localized fields at interfaces and visualization of phenomena related to photonics, plasmonics and nanostructures.
583 citations
TL;DR: The optical conductivity of bilayer graphene with an efficient electrolyte top gate for a photon energy range of 0.2-0.7 eV is measured and the emergence of new transitions as a band gap opens is seen.
Abstract: It has been predicted that application of a strong electric field perpendicular to the plane of bilayer graphene can induce a significant band gap. We have measured the optical conductivity of bilayer graphene with an efficient electrolyte top gate for a photon energy range of 0.2-0.7 eV. We see the emergence of new transitions as a band gap opens. A band gap approaching 200 meV is observed when an electric field approximately 1 V/nm is applied, inducing a carrier density of about 10(13) cm(-2)}. The magnitude of the band gap and the features observed in the infrared conductivity spectra are broadly compatible with calculations within a tight-binding model.
536 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of a tiny gap in a metal substrate on incident terahertz radiation in the regime where the gap's dimensions are smaller than the metal's skin-depth is investigated.
Abstract: The effect of a tiny gap in a metal substrate on incident terahertz radiation in the regime where the gap's dimensions are smaller than the metal's skin-depth are investigated. The results and theoretical analysis show that the gap acts as a capacitor charged by light-induced currents, and dramatically enhances the local electric field.
497 citations
TL;DR: It is found that trilayer graphene is a semimetal with a resistivity that decreases with increasing electric field, a behaviour that is markedly different from that of single-layer and bilayer graphene.
Abstract: Graphene-based materials are promising candidates for nanoelectronic devices because very high carrier mobilities can be achieved without the use of sophisticated material preparation techniques. However, the carrier mobilities reported for single-layer and bilayer graphene are still less than those reported for graphite crystals at low temperatures, and the optimum number of graphene layers for any given application is currently unclear, because the charge transport properties of samples containing three or more graphene layers have not yet been investigated systematically. Here, we study charge transport through trilayer graphene as a function of carrier density, temperature, and perpendicular electric field. We find that trilayer graphene is a semimetal with a resistivity that decreases with increasing electric field, a behaviour that is markedly different from that of single-layer and bilayer graphene. We show that the phenomenon originates from an overlap between the conduction and valence bands that can be controlled by an electric field, a property that had never previously been observed in any other semimetal. We also determine the effective mass of the charge carriers, and show that it accounts for a large part of the variation in the carrier mobility as the number of layers in the sample is varied.
445 citations
TL;DR: The fluorescence from the organic fluorophores that are embedded in a mesostructured silica shell around individual gold nanorod is enhanced by the longitudinal plasmon resonance of the nanorods, and a linear correlation between the emission peak wavelength and the longitudinal Plasmon wavelength is obtained.
Abstract: We report on the strong polarization dependence of the plasmon-enhanced fluorescence on single gold nanorods. The fluorescence from the organic fluorophores that are embedded in a mesostructured silica shell around individual gold nanorods is enhanced by the longitudinal plasmon resonance of the nanorods. Our electrostatic calculations show that under an off-resonance excitation, the electric field intensity contour around a nanorod rotates away from the length axis as the excitation polarization is varied. The polarization dependence of the plasmon-enhanced fluorescence is ascribed to the dependence of the averaged electric field intensity enhancement within the silica shell on the excitation polarization. The measured fluorescence enhancement factor is in very good agreement with that obtained from the electrostatic calculations. The fluorescence enhancement factor increases as the longitudinal plasmon wavelength is synthetically tuned close to the excitation wavelength. In addition, the polarization de...
TL;DR: In this paper, strong magnetoelectric coupling (ME) and giant microwave tunability were demonstrated by a electrostatic field induced magnetic anisotropic field change in multiferroic heterostructures.
Abstract: Multiferroic heterostructures of Fe 3 O 4/ PZT (lead zirconium titanate), Fe 3 O 4 / PMN-PT (lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate) and Fe 3 O 4 /PZN-PT (lead zinc niobate-lead titanate) are prepared by spin-spray depositing Fe 3 O 4 ferrite film on ferroelectric PZT, PM N-PT and PZN-PT substrates at a low temperature of 90 °C. Strong magnetoelectric coupling (ME) and giant microwave tunability are demonstrated by a electrostatic field induced magnetic anisotropic field change in these heterostructures. A high electrostatically tunable ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) field shift up to 6000e, corresponding to a large microwave ME coefficient of670e cm kV ―1 , is observed in Fe 3 O 4 /PMN-PT heterostructures. A record-high electrostatically tunable FMR field range of 860 Oe with a linewidth of 330―380 Oe is demonstrated in Fe 3 O 4 /PZN-FT heterostructure, corresponding to a ME coefficient of 08 Oe cm kV ―1 . Static ME interaction is also investigated and a maximum electric field induced squareness ratio change of 40% is observed in Fe 3 O 4 /PZN-PT In addition, a new concept that the external magnetic orientation and the electric field cooperate to determine microwave magnetic tunability is brought forth to significantly enhance the microwave tunable range up to 10000e. These low temperature synthesized multiferroic heterostructures exhibiting giant electrostatically induced tunable magnetic resonance field at microwave frequencies provide great opportunities for electrostatically tunable microwave multiferroic devices.
TL;DR: The effects of an external electric field on the magnetocrystalline anisotropy in ferromagnetic transition-metal monolayers are demonstrated to show that the MCA in an Fe(001) monolayer can be controlled by the electric field through a change in band structure.
Abstract: Controlling and designing quantum magnetic properties by an external electric field is a key challenge in modern magnetic physics. Here, from first principles, the effects of an external electric field on the magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) in ferromagnetic transition-metal monolayers are demonstrated which show that the MCA in an Fe(001) monolayer [but not in Co(001) and Ni(001) monolayers] can be controlled by the electric field through a change in band structure, in which small components of the p orbitals near the Fermi level, which are coupled to the d states by the electric field, play a key role. This prediction obtained opens a way to control the MCA by the electric field and invites experiments.
TL;DR: In this article, the electric field-induced phase transformation from a pseudocubic to tetragonal symmetry has been studied in 93% (Bi0.5Na 0.5 Na 0.7% BaTiO3 polycrystalline ceramic, where high energy x-ray diffraction is used to illustrate the microstructural nature of the transformation.
Abstract: The electric-field-induced strain in 93%(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–7%BaTiO3 polycrystalline ceramic is shown to be the result of an electric-field-induced phase transformation from a pseudocubic to tetragonal symmetry. High-energy x-ray diffraction is used to illustrate the microstructural nature of the transformation. A combination of induced unit cell volumetric changes, domain texture, and anisotropic lattice strains are responsible for the observed macroscopic strain. This strain mechanism is not analogous to the high electric-field-induced strains observed in lead-based morphotropic phase boundary systems. Thus, systems which appear cubic under zero field should not be excluded from the search for lead-free piezoelectric compositions.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors performed kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of polaron-pair dissociation in donor-acceptor blends, considering delocalized charge carriers along conjugated polymer chain segments and showed that the resulting fast local charge carrier transport can indeed explain the high experimental quantum yields in polymer solar cells.
Abstract: The separation of photogenerated polaron pairs in organic bulk heterojunction solar cells is the intermediate but crucial step between exciton dissociation and charge transport to the electrodes. In state-of-the-art devices, above 80% of all polaron pairs are separated at fields of below ${10}^{7}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{m}$. In contrast, considering just the Coulomb binding of the polaron pair, electric fields above ${10}^{8}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{V}/\mathrm{m}$ would be needed to reach similar yields. In order to resolve this discrepancy, we performed kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of polaron-pair dissociation in donor-acceptor blends, considering delocalized charge carriers along conjugated polymer chain segments. We show that the resulting fast local charge carrier transport can indeed explain the high experimental quantum yields in polymer solar cells.
TL;DR: A detailed study of the intrinsic electrical conduction process in individual monolayers of chemically reduced graphene oxide down to a temperature of 2 K shows conductance can be consistently interpreted in the framework of two-dimensional variable-range hopping in parallel with electric-field-driven tunneling.
Abstract: We have performed a detailed study of the intrinsic electrical conduction process in individual monolayers of chemically reduced graphene oxide down to a temperature of 2 K. The observed conductance can be consistently interpreted in the framework of two-dimensional variable-range hopping in parallel with electric-field-driven tunneling. The latter mechanism is found to dominate the electrical transport at very low temperatures and high electric fields. Our results are consistent with a model of highly conducting graphene regions interspersed with disordered regions, across which charge carrier hopping and tunneling are promoted by strong local electric fields.
TL;DR: Electro properties tomography derives the patient's electric conductivity, along with the corresponding electric fields, from the spatial sensitivity distributions of the applied RF coils, which are measured via MRI, which might lead to significantly higher spatial image resolution.
Abstract: The electric conductivity can potentially be used as an additional diagnostic parameter, e.g., in tumor diagnosis. Moreover, the electric conductivity, in connection with the electric field, can be used to estimate the local SAR distribution during MR measurements. In this study, a new approach, called electric properties tomography (EPT) is presented. It derives the patient's electric conductivity, along with the corresponding electric fields, from the spatial sensitivity distributions of the applied RF coils, which are measured via MRI. Corresponding numerical simulations and initial experiments on a standard clinical MRI system underline the principal feasibility of EPT to determine the electric conductivity and the local SAR. In contrast to previous methods to measure the patient's electric properties, EPT does not apply externally mounted electrodes, currents, or RF probes, thus enhancing the practicality of the approach. Furthermore, in contrast to previous methods, EPT circumvents the solution of an inverse problem, which might lead to significantly higher spatial image resolution.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the electronic properties of silicon nanoribbons (SiNRs) and found that the armchair SiNRs can be metals or semiconductors depending on width.
Abstract: Using first principles calculations, we investigate the electronic properties of silicon nanoribbons (SiNRs). We find that the armchair SiNRs can be metals or semiconductors depending on width. For the zigzag SiNRs, the antiferromagnetic semiconducting state is the most stable one. Under transverse electric field, the zigzag SiNRs become half-metals. These results show that SiNRs have both rich electronic and magnetic properties with potential applications in silicon-based electronic and spintronic nanodevices.
TL;DR: Although the magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) density reveals large variation around the atoms, the intrinsic contribution to the MAE is found to mainly come from the Fe layer, and the surface without the capping Pt layer also shows similar linear dependence.
Abstract: We investigate crystalline magnetic anisotropy in the electric field (EF) for the FePt surface which has a large perpendicular anisotropy, by means of the first-principles approach. Anisotropy is reduced linearly with respect to the inward EF, associated with the induced spin density around the Fe layer. Although the magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) density reveals large variation around the atoms, the intrinsic contribution to the MAE is found to mainly come from the Fe layer. The surface without the capping Pt layer also shows similar linear dependence.
TL;DR: Results indicate that the relative disorder strength strongly increases across the superconductor-insulator transition, and superconductivity can be suppressed at both positive and negative gate bias.
Abstract: Caviglia et al. [Nature (London) 456, 624 (2008)] have found that the superconducting LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface can be gate modulated. A central issue is to determine the principal effect of the applied electric field. Using magnetotransport studies of a gated structure, we find that the mobility variation is almost 5 times that of the sheet carrier density. Furthermore, superconductivity can be suppressed at both positive and negative gate bias. These results indicate that the relative disorder strength strongly increases across the superconductor-insulator transition.
TL;DR: The Coulomb phase is an emergent state for lattice models (particularly highly frustrated antiferromagnets) which have local constraints that can be mapped to a divergence-free "flux" as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The "Coulomb phase" is an emergent state for lattice models (particularly highly frustrated antiferromagnets) which have local constraints that can be mapped to a divergence-free "flux". The coarse-grained version of this flux or polarization behave analogously to electric or magnetic fields; in particular, defects at which the local constraint is violated behave as effective charges with Coulomb interactions. I survey the derivation of the characteristic power-law correlation functions and the pinch-points in reciprocal space plots of diffuse scattering, as well as applications to magnetic relaxation, quantum-mechanical generalizations, phase transitions to long-range-ordered states, and the effects of disorder.
TL;DR: Ristenpart et al. as discussed by the authors showed that oppositely charged drops moving towards each other in a strong electric field do not coalesce when the field strength exceeds a certain value but rather "bounce off one another".
Abstract: The movement of drops in electric fields plays a role in processes as diverse as storm cloud formation, ink-jet printing and lab-on-a-chip manipulations. An important factor in practical applications is the tendency for adjacent drops to coalesce, usually assumed to be favoured if drops are oppositely charged and attracted to each other. Now Ristenpart et al. show that when oppositely charged drops move towards each other in an electric field whose strength exceeds a critical value, the drops simply 'bounce' off one another. This observation calls for a re-evaluation of our understanding of all processes involving electrically induced drop motion. Adjacent drops of fluid coalesce, and oppositely charged drops have long been assumed to experience an attractive force that favours their coalescence. However, here it is observed that oppositely charged drops moving towards each other in a strong electric field do not coalesce when the field strength exceeds a certain value but rather 'bounce' off one another. This observation calls for a re-evaluation of our understanding of processes such as storm cloud formation and ink-jet printing, which involve electrically induced droplet motion. Electric fields induce motion in many fluid systems, including polymer melts1, surfactant micelles2 and colloidal suspensions3. Likewise, electric fields can be used to move liquid drops4. Electrically induced droplet motion manifests itself in processes as diverse as storm cloud formation5, commercial ink-jet printing6, petroleum and vegetable oil dehydration7, electrospray ionization for use in mass spectrometry8, electrowetting9 and lab-on-a-chip manipulations10. An important issue in practical applications is the tendency for adjacent drops to coalesce, and oppositely charged drops have long been assumed to experience an attractive force that favours their coalescence11,12,13. Here we report the existence of a critical field strength above which oppositely charged drops do not coalesce. We observe that appropriately positioned and oppositely charged drops migrate towards one another in an applied electric field; but whereas the drops coalesce as expected at low field strengths, they are repelled from one another after contact at higher field strengths. Qualitatively, the drops appear to ‘bounce’ off one another. We directly image the transient formation of a meniscus bridge between the bouncing drops, and propose that this temporary bridge is unstable with respect to capillary pressure when it forms in an electric field exceeding a critical strength. The observation of oppositely charged drops bouncing rather than coalescing in strong electric fields should affect our understanding of any process involving charged liquid drops, including de-emulsification, electrospray ionization and atmospheric conduction.
TL;DR: Concepts from the field of metamaterials are used to probe the magnetic field of light with an engineered near-field aperture probe and visualized with subwavelength resolution the magnetic- and electric-field distribution of propagating light.
Abstract: Light is an electromagnetic wave composed of oscillating electric and magnetic fields, the one never occurring without the other. In light-matter interactions at optical frequencies, the magnetic component of light generally plays a negligible role. When we "see" or detect light, only its electric field is perceived; we are practically blind to its magnetic component. We used concepts from the field of metamaterials to probe the magnetic field of light with an engineered near-field aperture probe. We visualized with subwavelength resolution the magnetic- and electric-field distribution of propagating light.
TL;DR: In this paper, the electronic and magnetic properties of a half-hydrogenated graphene sheet can be delicately tuned by surface modification, where the unpaired electrons in the unsaturated C sites give rise to magnetic moments, coupled through extended p-p interactions.
Abstract: We have demonstrated that the electronic and magnetic properties of graphene sheet can be delicately tuned by surface modification. Applying an external electric field to a fully hydrogenated graphene sheet can unload hydrogen atoms on one side, while keeping the hydrogen atoms on the other side, thus forming a half-hydrogenated graphene sheet, where the unpaired electrons in the unsaturated C sites give rise to magnetic moments, coupled through extended p-p interactions. Furthermore, the electronic structure of the resulting half-hydrogenated graphene sheet can be further tuned by introducing F atoms on the other side, making a nonmagnetic semiconductor with a direct band gap.
TL;DR: In this article, the characteristics of charge trapping and detrapping in low density polyethylene under dc electric field have been investigated using the pulsed electroacoustic technique, and a simple trap-and-detrapping model based on two trapping levels has been proposed.
Abstract: Space charge formation in polymeric materials can cause some serious concern for design engineers as the electric field may severely be distorted, leading to part of the material being overstressed At the worst, this may result in material degradation and possibly premature failure It is therefore important to understand charge generation, trapping, and detrapping processes in the material In the present paper, the characteristics of charge trapping and detrapping in low density polyethylene under dc electric field have been investigated using the pulsed electroacoustic technique It has been found that the charge decay shows very different characteristics for the sample with different periods of electric field application To explain the results a simple trapping and detrapping model based on two trapping levels has been proposed Qualitative analysis revealed the similar features to those observed experimentally
TL;DR: Electrostatic field-induced doping in La0.8Ca0.2MnO3 transistors using electrolyte as a gate dielectric for positive gate bias drives a transition from a ferromagnetic metal to an insulating ground state.
Abstract: We have studied electrostatic field-induced doping in ${\mathrm{La}}_{0.8}{\mathrm{Ca}}_{0.2}{\mathrm{MnO}}_{3}$ transistors using electrolyte as a gate dielectric. For positive gate bias, electron doping drives a transition from a ferromagnetic metal to an insulating ground state. The thickness of the electrostatically doped layer depends on bias voltage but can extend to 5 nm requiring a field doping of $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{15}$ charges per ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ equivalent to 2.5 electrons per unit cell area. In contrast, negative gate voltages enhance the metallic conductivity by 30%.
TL;DR: A novel design of micron-sized particle trap that uses negative dielectrophoresis (nDEP) to trap cells in high conductivity physiological media is presented, which is scalable and suitable for trapping large numbers of single cells.
Abstract: We present a novel design of micron-sized particle trap that uses negative dielectrophoresis (nDEP) to trap cells in high conductivity physiological media. The design is scalable and suitable for trapping large numbers of single cells. Each trap has one electrical connection and the design can be extended to produce a large array. The trap consists of a metal ring electrode and a surrounding ground plane, which create a closed electric field cage in the centre. The operation of the device was demonstrated by trapping single latex spheres and HeLa cells against a moving fluid. The dielectrophoretic holding force was determined experimentally by measuring the displacement of a trapped particle in a moving fluid. This was then compared with theory by numerically solving the electric field for the electrodes and calculating the trapping force, demonstrating good agreement. Analysis of the 80 µm diameter trap showed that a 15.6 µm diameter latex particle could be held with a force of 23 pN at an applied voltage of 5 V peak–peak.
TL;DR: In this paper, a multiferroic heterostructures were fabricated by growing ferrimagnetic CoFe2O4 films on ferroelectric Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.7Ti0.3O3 substrates using pulsed laser deposition.
Abstract: Multiferroic heterostructures were fabricated by growing ferrimagnetic CoFe2O4 films on ferroelectric Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.7Ti0.3O3 substrates using pulsed laser deposition. Upon applying an electric field, the in-plane magnetization of the heterostructures increases and the out-of-plane magnetization decreases. Sharp and reversible changes in magnetization under electric field were also observed for the poled sample. The relative change in magnetization-electric field hysteresis loops were obtained for both the in-plane and out-of-plane magnetizations. Analysis of the results suggests that the electric field induced change in magnetic anisotropy via strain plays an important role in the magnetoelectric coupling in the heterostructures.
TL;DR: In this paper, the ponderomotive force on electrons is identified as the driving mechanism, leading to probably the highest observed acceleration on neutral atoms in an external field to date, with a magnitude as high as ∼1014 times the Earth's gravitational acceleration.
Abstract: A Nature paper of 1957 (
http://go.nature.com/LDtDIb
) described a force on charged particles in an inhomogeneous electric field originating from the equations for the electromagnetic Lorentz force. It was soon realized that this 'ponderomotive force' could be used to trap and control electrons. But the force is weak and it was not until the advent of modern lasers that it has been exploited, in particle accelerators and inertial confinement fusion devices. Now a new incarnation of the force has been identified. Ulrich Eichmann et al. observed previously unconsidered strong kinematic forces on neutral atoms in short-pulse laser fields. The ponderomotive force on electrons is the driving mechanism, producing ultra-strong acceleration of neutral atoms greater that Earth's gravitational acceleration by 14 orders of magnitude. A force of such strength may lead to new applications in both fundamental and applied physics. On the cover, a record of the deflection of neutral helium atoms after interaction with a focused laser beam. The force experienced by a charged particle in an oscillating electric field is proportional to the cycle-averaged intensity gradient. This 'ponderomotive' force plays a major part in a variety of physical situations. Extremely strong kinematic forces are now observed on neutral atoms in short-pulse laser fields; the ponderomotive force on electrons is identified as the driving mechanism, leading to probably the highest observed acceleration on neutral atoms in an external field to date. A charged particle exposed to an oscillating electric field experiences a force proportional to the cycle-averaged intensity gradient. This so-called ponderomotive force1 plays a major part in a variety of physical situations such as Paul traps2,3 for charged particles, electron diffraction in strong (standing) laser fields4,5,6 (the Kapitza–Dirac effect) and laser-based particle acceleration7,8,9. Comparably weak forces on neutral atoms in inhomogeneous light fields may arise from the dynamical polarization of an atom10,11,12; these are physically similar to the cycle-averaged forces. Here we observe previously unconsidered extremely strong kinematic forces on neutral atoms in short-pulse laser fields. We identify the ponderomotive force on electrons as the driving mechanism, leading to ultrastrong acceleration of neutral atoms with a magnitude as high as ∼1014 times the Earth’s gravitational acceleration, g. To our knowledge, this is by far the highest observed acceleration on neutral atoms in external fields and may lead to new applications in both fundamental and applied physics.
TL;DR: New aspects of the response of vesicles with charged or neutral membranes, in fluid or gel-phase, and embedded in different solutions, to strong direct current pulses are described including novel applications of vESicle electrofusion for nanoparticle synthesis.
Abstract: This review focuses on the effects of electric fields on giant unilamellar vesicles, a cell-size membrane system. We describe various types of behavior of vesicles subjected to either alternating fields or strong direct current pulses, such as electrodeformation, -poration and -fusion. The vesicle response to alternating fields in various medium conditions is introduced and the underlying physical mechanisms are highlighted, supported by theoretical modeling. New aspects of the response of vesicles with charged or neutral membranes, in fluid or gel-phase, and embedded in different solutions, to strong direct current pulses are described including novel applications of vesicle electrofusion for nanoparticle synthesis.