Short and Long-Range Order in Phase Change Materials

2009 ◽  
pp. 149-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Fons
Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3514
Author(s):  
Jiong Wang ◽  
Dongyu Cui ◽  
Yi Kong ◽  
Luming Shen

Unusual force constants originating from the local charge distribution in crystalline GeTe and Sb2Te3 are observed by using the first-principles calculations. The calculated stretching force constants of the second nearest-neighbor Sb-Te and Ge-Te bonds are 0.372 and −0.085 eV/Å2, respectively, which are much lower than 1.933 eV/Å2 of the first nearest-neighbor bonds although their lengths are only 0.17 Å and 0.33 Å longer as compared to the corresponding first nearest-neighbor bonds. Moreover, the bending force constants of the first and second nearest-neighbor Ge-Ge and Sb-Sb bonds exhibit large negative values. Our first-principles molecular dynamic simulations also reveal the possible amorphization of Sb2Te3 through local distortions of the bonds with weak and strong force constants, while the crystalline structure remains by the X-ray diffraction simulation. By identifying the low or negative force constants, these weak atomic interactions are found to be responsible for triggering the collapse of the long-range order. This finding can be utilized to guide the design of functional components and devices based on phase change materials with lower energy consumption.


2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (04) ◽  
pp. 405-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
YUANBAO LIAO ◽  
JIAJIA WU ◽  
LING XU ◽  
FEI YANG ◽  
WENQING LIU ◽  
...  

Chalcogenide phase change material Ge1Sb2Te4 (GST) nanoparticle arrays with long-range-order were fabricated by using a monolayer of self-assembled polystyrene (PS) spheres as mask. The morphology of nanoparticle arrays can be controlled via changing RIE processing conditions. Images of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that highly uniform GST nanoparticle arrays with particle density around 109 cm-2 were formed. The sizes of nanoparticles can be reduced to a tiny diameter in the range of 30–40 nm (top diameter). The GST nanoparticle arrays exhibit a prominent peak near 580 nm in reflectance spectra, which indicates that they possess a photonic band gap. These results confirm that GST nanoparticle arrays have a 2D periodicity and long-range order. The method of nanosphere lithograph may apply to manufacturing of high density memory devices based on phase change-based memory materials.


Author(s):  
Norman J. Morgenstern Horing

Chapter 13 addresses Bose condensation in superfluids (and superconductors), which involves the field operator ψ‎ having a c-number component (<ψ(x,t)>≠0), challenging number conservation. The nonlinear Gross-Pitaevskii equation is derived for this condensate wave function<ψ>=ψ−ψ˜, facilitating identification of the coherence length and the core region of vortex motion. The noncondensate Green’s function G˜1(1,1′)=−i<(ψ˜(1)ψ˜+(1′))+> and the nonvanishing anomalous correlation function F˜∗(2,1′)=−i<(ψ˜+(2)ψ˜+(1′))+> describe the dynamics and elementary excitations of the non-condensate states and are discussed in conjunction with Landau’s criterion for viscosity. Associated concepts of off-diagonal long-range order and the interpretation of <ψ> as a superfluid order parameter are also introduced. Anderson’s Bose-condensed state, as a phase-coherent wave packet superposition of number states, resolves issues of number conservation. Superconductivity involves bound Cooper pairs of electrons capable of Bose condensation and superfluid behavior. Correspondingly, the two-particle Green’s function has a term involving a product of anomalous bound-Cooper-pair condensate wave functions of the type F(1,2)=−i<(ψ(1)ψ(2))+>≠0, such that G2(1,2;1′,2′)=F(1,2)F+(1′,2′)+G˜2(1,2;1′,2′). Here, G˜2 describes the dynamics/excitations of the non-superfluid-condensate states, while nonvanishing F,F+ represent a phase-coherent wave packet superposition of Cooper-pair number states and off-diagonal long range order. Employing this form of G2 in the G1-equation couples the condensed state with the non-condensate excitations. Taken jointly with the dynamical equation for F(1,2), this leads to the Gorkov equations, encompassing the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) energy gap, critical temperature, and Bogoliubov-de Gennes eigenfunction Bogoliubons. Superconductor thermodynamics and critical magnetic field are discussed. For a weak magnetic field, the Gorkov-equations lead to Ginzburg–Landau theory and a nonlinear Schrödinger-like equation for the pair wave function and the associated supercurrent, along with identification of the Cooper pair density. Furthermore, Chapter 13 addresses the apparent lack of gauge invariance of London theory with an elegant variational analysis involving re-gauging the potentials, yielding a manifestly gauge invariant generalization of the London equation. Consistency with the equation of continuity implies the existence of Anderson’s acoustic normal mode, which is supplanted by the plasmon for Coulomb interaction. Type II superconductors and the penetration (and interaction) of quantized magnetic flux lines are also discussed. Finally, Chapter 13 addresses Josephson tunneling between superconductors.


1984 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Williamson ◽  
G. Mourou ◽  
J.C.M. Li

ABSTRACTThe technique of picosecond electron diffraction is used to time resolve the laser-induced melting of thin aluminum films. It is observed that under rapid heating conditions, the long range order of the lattice subsists for lattice temperatures well above the equilibrium point, indicative of superheating. This superheating can be verified by directly measuring the lattice temperature. The collapse time of the long range order is measured and found to vary from 20 ps to several nanoseconds according to the degree of superheating. Two interpretations of the delayed melting are offered, based on the conventional nucleation and point defect theories. While the nucleation theory provides an initial nucleus size and concentration for melting to occur, the point defect theory offers a possible explanation for how the nuclei are originally formed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 102 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Colcelli ◽  
N. Defenu ◽  
G. Mussardo ◽  
A. Trombettoni

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (S1) ◽  
pp. 952-954
Author(s):  
Suk Hyun Sung ◽  
Yin Min Goh ◽  
Noah Schnitzer ◽  
Ismail El Baggari ◽  
Kai Sun ◽  
...  

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