40 Gb/s surface-illuminated Ge-on-Si photodetectors

Johann Osmond, Laurent Vivien, Jean-Marc Fedeli, Delphine Marris-Morini, Paul Crozat et al.<br/> This paper reports on surface illuminated Ge photodetectors monolithically integrated on Si substrate operating in the C and L wave mechanicslength bands. The responsivity at a wave mechanicslength of 1.5 [mu]m ranges from 0.08 to 0.21 A/W without bias voltage for Ge mesa diameter ranging from 10 to 25 [mu]m, respect … [Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 151116 (2009)] published Fri Oct 16, 2009.

Comparison of the magnetic properties of GeMn thin films through Mn L-edge x-ray absorption

S. Ahlers, P. R. Stone, N. Sircar, E. Arenholz, O. D. Dubon et al.<br/> X-ray absorption spectroscopy of epitaxial GeMn thin films reveals an experimentally indistinguishable electronic configuration of Mn atoms incorporated in GeMn nanoclusters and in precipitates of the intermetallic compound MnGe, respectively. However, the average magnetic response of thin films con … [Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 151911 (2009)] published Fri Oct 16, 2009.

Characterization of room temperature metal microbolometers near the metal-insulator transition regime for scanning thermal microscopy

Angelo Gaitas, Weibin Zhu, Ning Gulari, Elizabeth Covington, and Cagliyan Kurdak<br/> Metal microbolometers, used in scanning thermal microscopy, were microfabricated from <20 nm titanium thin films on SiO/SiN/SiO cantilevers. These thin films are near the metal-insulator transition regime such that as the film thickness decreasesthe resistance increases and the current-voltage char … [Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 153108 (2009)] published Fri Oct 16, 2009.

Role of copper in light induced minority-carrier lifetime degradation of silicon

H. Savin, M. Yli-Koski, and A. Haarahiltunen<br/> We investigate the impact of copper on the light induced minority-carrier lifetime degradation in various crystalline silicon materials. We demonstrate here that the presence of neither boron nor oxygen is necessary for the degradation effect. In addition, our experiments reveal that copper contamin … [Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 152111 (2009)] published Fri Oct 16, 2009.

Two-directional lasing from a dye-doped two-dimensional hexagonal photonic crystal made of holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystals

D. Luo, X. W. Sun, H. T. Dai, Y. J. Liu, H. Z. Yang et al.<br/> Lasing actions are demonstrated in two high-symmetry directions (GammaM and GammaK) of a two-dimensional hexagonal photonic crystal from dye-doped holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystals. The group velocity anomaly, which is peculiar to two-dimensional and three-dimensional photonic crystals, … [Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 151115 (2009)] published Fri Oct 16, 2009.

Fabrication and gas sensing properties of InO nanopushpins

Ahsanulhaq Qurashi, Toshinari Yamazaki, E. M. El-Maghraby, and Toshio Kikuta<br/> The growth of nanopushpin-like InO nanostructures was demonstrated on the silicon substrate by catalyst-free chemical vapor deposition method. Structural analysis revealed single-crystalline nature of the InO nanopushpins with a cubic crystal structure. The hydrogen sensor made from the InO nanopush … [Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 153109 (2009)] published Fri Oct 16, 2009.

An inverted organic solar cell with an ultrathin Ca electron-transporting layer and MoO hole-transporting layer

D. W. Zhao, P. Liu, X. W. Sun, S. T. Tan, L. Ke et al.<br/> An inverted organic solar cell based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)-propyl-1-phenyl-(6,6)C (PCBM) was fabricated with an ultrathin Ca electron-transporting layer and MoO hole-transporting layer. The 1 nm Ca on indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode modifies the work function of … [Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 153304 (2009)] published Fri Oct 16, 2009.

On-demand positioning of a preselected quantum emitter on a fiber-coupled toroidal microresonator

Markus Gregor, Rico Henze, Tim Schroder, and Oliver Benson<br/> The coupling of a quantum emitter to the modes of a silica toroid is presented. A fiber taper is used to manipulate and transfer a preselected diamond nanocrystal onto the toroid. Optical coupling of few nitrogen vacancy (NV) color centers contained inside the nanocrystal to the resonator modes is d … [Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 153110 (2009)] published Fri Oct 16, 2009.

Understanding the relation between stress and surface morphology in sputtered films: Atomistic simulations and experiments

Luis A. Zepeda-Ruiz, Eric Chason, George H. Gilmer, Yinmin Wang, Hongwei Xu et al.<br/> The relation between stress evolution and surface morphology during deposition of sputtered films is examined by combining kinetic Monte Carlo simulations and stress measurements. We find that the surface morphology is susceptible to an instability, which transforms from layer-by-layer growth to the … [Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 151910 (2009)] published Fri Oct 16, 2009.

Balloon Launch Scheduled for Today at Wesleyan

A group of physics theory students in Kansas will be launching high-altitude balloons today to study altitude effects and the atmosphere.

Over the past few years, members of Kansas Wesleyan’s physics theory Club have launched five high-altitude balloons in order to study various aspects of altitude and the atmosphere. Most recently, the group attempted to set an amateur balloon altitude record with its spring 2009 launch.

The balloons also have been equipped with cameras and GPS transmitters. The GPS transmitters allow team members to track the balloons during flight. Some of the team members have remained on campus and tracked the balloons via the Internet, while others have formed chase teams to follow the balloons.

Normally, this story would have not caught my eye. But after the recent brouhaha on the news of a kid floating in a weather balloon, and then the kid really wasn’t in the balloon, etc., I just thought that I should offer an advice to these students to make sure that there’s no one floating with the balloon!

Zz.