This thesis presents transverse magnetoresistance (MR) and Hall resistivity measurements of nickel thin films at temperatures between 280 and 455 K and pressures up to 6 GPa. An experimental system was developed for conducting precise magnetotransport measurements using the current reversal and van der Pauw techniques in combination with a 10 T superconducting magnet. Polycrystalline Ni0.985O0.015 thin film samples were manufactured with preexisting point contacts allowing highly reproducible magnetotransport measurements at pressure in the diamond anvil cell (DAC). The magnetic resistivity above the technical saturation of the magnetization was found to decrease linearly to the highest applied fields, 10 T, while the field derivative, 0.010-0.018 µΩ cm T-1 between 280 and 316 K, increased with temperature and decreased with pressure. The decrease in the magnetoresistance is attributed to spin wave damping of electron-magnon scattering processes at high fields. The magnon mass, 535(14) meV Å2 at 0 K and 0 GPa, determined from longitudinal magnetic resistivity theory is a slightly increasing function of pressure. Correlation between the zero field resistivity and the extraordinary Hall coefficient (EHC) confirmed side jump scattering as the dominant diffusion mechanism at 0 GPa, however, skew scattering was found to become increasingly important with pressure. The effect of oxygen and pressure on the density of states (DOS) at the Fermi level was investigated through total energy band structure calculations using a periodic supercell of 64 atoms to simulate the sample chemistry. The DOS of Ni0.985O0.015 at the Fermi level was found to increase by 27% at 10 GPa relative to 0 GPa. However, when compared to the results for pure Ni, decreases of 60% and 23% occurred for the corresponding calculations at 0 and 10 GPa. The relative differences in the magnetic resistivity are attributed to competing effects between the DOS, average magnetic moment and magnon mass. The technique developed for conducting magnetotransport measurements at pressure is applicable to the study of electronic diffusion in ferromagnets as well as geophysical problems such as the geodynamo.

Le manuscrit HDR de Mme Marie-Claude Dubois-Clochard relate les principaux résultats acquis en synthèse et structuration à l'échelle nanométrique de polymères fonctionnels. Si la synthèse de polymères fonctionnels est à la base des études abordées, l'ordre chronologique des activités de Recherche de 1995 à 2013 montre une évolution des polymérisations classiques en solution vers des polymérisations radio-induites contrôlées par mécanisme RAFT en milieu confiné. L'innovation porte sur le développement de nouveaux objets polymères et composites organique/inorganique façonnés à l'échelle nanométrique aux propriétés physiques et physico-chimiques originales. Trois domaines d'application se détachent : l'Energie-Environnement (Moteurs, Piles à combustible, Capteurs pour la qualité de l'Eau), la Santé (Nanovecteurs pour Thérapie cancéreuse et imagerie, translocation d'ions ou de molécules à travers un nanopore unique dans une membrane polymère) et les Nanotechnologies (Magnétorésistance d'un nanofil magnétique unique de forme cylindrique ou biconique). Les résultats marquants ont été : - l'établissement d'isothermes d'adsorption de type bi-langmuir à l'interface solide/liquide organique pour des macromolécules tensioactives à faible concentration, et, à forte concentration, un comportement particulier de réorganisation de ces mêmes macromolécules, non pas en couches alternées, mais sous forme d'hémicelles inverses. - la synthèse d'un polymère pH-dégradable innovant permettant une dégradation hydrolytique en passant de pH 7.4 (Sang) à pH 5.5 (Lysosome intracellulaire) en vue de délivrer des toxines dans les cellules tumorales (Santé). - la démonstration de l'effet coopératif solvant/polymère en croissance pour la pénétration du greffage induit par irradiation dans des films fluoropolymères. - la synthèse de membranes polymères nanoporeuses à traces attaquées bi-fonctionnelles ayant une fonctionnalité dans les pores et une autre en surface. Cette membrane, après transformation en électrode par simple métallisation aura fait l'objet de projets de valorisation en vue d'une création de start-up et/ou de transfert de technologie pour le développement d'un détecteur de traces métaux lourds dans l'eau traitée (Environnement). Dans la même thématique, la fonctionnalisation directe des traces dans les films de polymères irradiés aux ions lourds rapides du GANIL a permis de développer de nouvelles membranes conductrices de protons pour les piles à combustible (Energie) - l'observation non-décrite d'effets coopératifs sur la mobilité des ions dans un milieu confiné créé par un nanopore cylindrique unique dans une membrane fine de fluoropolymère. L'effet accélérateur ou décélérateur de la mobilité des ions confinés dans le pore aux parois chargées semble dépendre uniquement de la nature chimique des ions et de leur concentration. - L'observation de sauts de résistance bien au-delà de la magnétorésistance d'un nanofil magnétique biconique (constriction de l'ordre de la dizaine de nanomètre) sous champ magnétique ayant une dépendance à la fois en angle et en intensité de courant injecté. Effets de relaxations avant et après saut montrant un système énergétiquement activé. - Le contrôle de taille des nanopores d'une membrane polymère par polymérisation radio-induite contrôlée par mécanisme RAFT.

Condensed matter systems exhibit a variety of dynamical phenomena at low energy scales, from gigahertz (GHz) to terahertz (THz) frequencies in particular, arising from complex interplay between charge, spin, and lattice. A large number of collective and elementary excitations in solids occur in this frequency range, which are further modified and enriched by scattering, interactions, and disorder. Recent advancements in spectroscopic methods for probing low-energy dynamics allow us to investigate novel aspects of charge and spin dynamics in solids. In this dissertation work, we used direct current (DC) conductivity, GHz, THz, and mid-infrared (MIR) techniques to provide significant new insights into interaction and disorder effects in low-dimensional systems. Specifically, we have studied temperature-dependent magnetoresistance (MR) and electron spin resonance (ESR) in single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), intra-exciton scattering in InGaAs quantum wells, and high-field MIR-induced band gaps in graphene. Temperature-dependent resistance and MR were measured in an ensemble of SWCNTs from 0.3 to 350 K. The resistance temperature behavior followed a 3D variable range hopping (VRH) behavior from 0.3 to ~100 K. A positive MR was observed at temperatures above 25 K and could be fit with a spin-dependent VRH model; negative MR was seen at low temperatures. In the GHz regime, the ESR linewidth for SWCNTs was observed to narrow by as much as ~50% as the temperature was increased from 3 to 300 K, a phenomenon known as motional narrowing, suggesting that we are detecting the ESR of hopping spins. From the linewidth change versus temperature, we find the hopping frequency to be 285 GHz. For excitons in InGaAs quantum wells, we demonstrate the manipulation of intra-excitonic populations using intense, narrow-band THz pulses. The THz radiation temporarily quenches the 1s emission, which is then followed by an enhancement and subsequent decay of 2s emission. After the quenching, the 1s emission recovers and then eventually becomes enhanced, a demonstration of energy storage in intra-exciton states known as excitonic shelving. We show that the diffusive Coulomb scattering between the 2p and 2s states produces a symmetry breaking, leading to a THz-field-induced 1s-to-2s exciton population transfer.

This thesis consists of two parts. The first part considers the effect of microwave radiation on magnetotransport in high quality GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure two dimensional electron systems. The effect of microwave (MW) radiation on electron temperature was studied by investigating the amplitude of the Shubnikov de Haas (SdH) oscillations in a regime where the cyclotron frequency $\omega_{c}$ and the MW angular frequency $\omega$ satisfy $2\omega \leq \omega_{c} \leq 3.5\omega$. The results indicate negligible electron heating under modest MW photoexcitation, in agreement with theoretical predictions. Next, the effect of the polarization direction of the linearly polarized MWs on the MW induced magnetoresistance oscillation amplitude was investigated. The results demonstrate the first indications of polarization dependence of MW induced magnetoresistance oscillations. In the second part, experiments on the magnetotransport of three dimensional highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) reveal a non-zero Berry phase for HOPG. Furthermore, a novel phase relation between oscillatory magneto- and Hall- resistances was discovered from the studies of the HOPG specimen.

In this thesis, we have performed systematical study of anomalous electric and magnetic behaviors of the 3d transition metal oxides; colossal magnetoresistance (La1−xRxMnO3 where R is a divalent alkaline earth ion) and Multiferroic (Ho1-xLaxMn2O5) systems by X-ray and Neutron scattering techniques. In our study, the enhancement of the transfer temperature for La0.8Ba0.2MnO3 under strain effect from the SrTiO3 substrate could be possible due to two reasons which one is Sr diffusion from SrTiO3 substructure, and other one is the octahedral MnO6 high symmetry are increasing. We focus the intrinsic strain effect on La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 and La0.8Ba0.2MnO3 films, and findings show that due to the different ionic sizes of doped Ca or Ba ions, the strain effect acts differently in the way it deforms. The interfacial strain effect produces opposite influences on the lattice symmetry, the average Mn¡VO bond lengths, the average oxygen disorders, the coupling symmetries inside and in the vicinity of the MnO6 octahedrons, as well as producing an opposing trend in metal-insulator and magnetic transition temperatures of the strained La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 and La0.8Ba0.2MnO3 films. The strain effects on the electronic structures of La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 and La0.8Ba0.2MnO3 thin films have been studied by O K-edge x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. For La0.67Ca0.33MnO3, the first-principles calculations reveal that the features in the XANES spectra are associated with hybridized states between O 2p and Mn minority-spin 3d t2g and eg, La 5d/Ca 3d, and Mn 4s/Ca 4p states. An analysis of these features shows that the tensile strain decreases substantially La¡VO and Ca¡VO hybridization and TC for La0.67Ca0.33MnO3. For La0.8Ba0.2MnO3, the small compressive strain enhances slightly La¡VO and Ba¡VO hybridization and TC. In this thesis, the influence of the local structure distortion on the magnetic transition in La doped HoMn2O5 Multiferroics has been investigated systematically. The orthorhombic crystal structure of Ho1−xLaxMn2O5 is maintained up to x¡Ø0.2 but decomposed into multiphase for x¡Ù0.25. By doping La ions to a concentration of 0.1¡Øx¡Ø0.2, the formation of the RMnO3 1(13) phase can be suppressed and single-phase Ho1−xLaxMn2O5 (0.1¡Øx¡Ø0.2) compounds can be formed under 1 atm flowing oxygen. For x=0.2, a ferromagnetic FM transition at 150 K is superimposed on the paramagnetic background, which implies that the compound undergoes a ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition. This unique FM to AFM transition is observed for the first time. The FM transition is attributed to the formation of magnetic clusters in a host paramagnetic matrix. The anomalous magnetic clusters phenomena observed in Ho0.8La0.2Mn2O5 can be directly attributed to the different properties between Ho and La ions, and the differences of Ho and La ions are not only in the ionic radius but also in the electron negativity. During 90~150K, X-ray scattering diffraction presented the new addition peaks indicates the new electric density distribution, and the Neutron powder scattering diffraction (NPD) refining results show that the local structure of R-O (R: La, Ho) is un-symmetry which is conflict to the La Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) (which shows that the local structure of La-O becomes more symmetry than H-O. Since the refining values of the NPD are an average of entire crystal, such that it cannot tell the local changes. X-ray absorption spectrum (XAS) and EXAFS, in contrarily, can provide the local information. They implies that the temperature evolutions of the coupling strength with O 2p or unoccupied density state are opposite for the Ho and La ions in our Ho0.8La0.2Mn2O5 sample. Therefore, local change of ions position and charge redistribution happens in this specific temperature range.

No description available.

Electronic properties of solids are vitally important for modern technology, one may think of microelectronics, magnetic data storage, communication technologies and others. Sometimes, it seems possible to postpone the step of fundamental understanding when starting the application of a new material. However, lasting success and discovery of principally new approaches is based on it ...

L'observation du renversement d'aimantation induit par courant polarisé (CIMS) dans les jonctions tunnel magnétiques (JTM) a ouvert de nouvelles perspectives d'applications pour l'électronique de spin, en particulier à travers les mémoires magnétiques (MRAM). Cette réalisation exige une bonne maîtrise de l'oxydation de la barrière tunnel mais aussi une connaissance approfondie du phénomène de transfert dans ces dispositifs.<br />En premier lieu, une étude expérimentale de l'influence de l'oxygène sur les propriétés magnétiques d'une tricouche Pt/Co/MOx (MOx est un métal oxydé) est présentée. La modification d'anisotropie magnétique due aux atomes d'oxygène peut être utilisée pour contrôler l'oxydation des barrières tunnel. Le second aspect étudié est la détermination, théorique et expérimentale, des caractéristiques du transfert de spin dans les JTM. Ces caractéristiques sont d'abord discutées à travers un modèle d'électrons libres puis estimatées expérimentalement dans des JTM à travers la réalisation de diagrammes de phase statiques.

In this thesis, we investigate spin-dependent transport through ferromagnet-contacted single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), in which charge transport shows the Fabry-Perot (FP) interference effect, the Kondo effect and the Coulomb blockade effect at low temperatures. Hysteric magnetoresistance (MR) is observed in all three transport regimes, which can be controlled by both the external magnetic field and the gate voltage. The MR in the FP interference regime can be well understood by a model considering the intrinsic electronic structure of SWCNTs and the quantum interference effect. In the strongly interacting Kondo regime, the Kondo effect is not suppressed by the presence of nearby ferromagnetism. Several observed MR features including the non-splitted zero-bias Kondo peak and positive MR switching can be explained by the strong Kondo effect and weak ferromagnetism in the leads. In the Coulomb blockade regime, several effects that can be associated with the magneto-Coulomb effect have been observed, and isolated spin accumulation and transport through the SWCNT quantum dot have been realized by a four-probe non-local measurements. We also studied charge transport behavior through organic semiconductor pentacene thin film transistors (OTFTs) in the limit of single- or a few molecular layers of pentacene films. The charge transport in these devices can be well explained by the multiple trapping and release model. The structural disorders induced by the physical and chemical causes, such as grain boundaries, interactions with gate insulator, metal contacts and ambient conditions can be responsible for the localized trap states in the ultrathin layer OTFTs, which are further confirmed by the electric force microscopy (EFM) measurements. / text

The main aim of this work was to investigate electrical conductivity of La-Ca(Sr)-MnO thin films at high pulsed electric and magnetic fields and to clear up the possibilities to use these materials for high pulsed magnetic field sensor and fault current limiter applications. The dissertation consists of the preface, six chapters, summary and main conclusions, references, list of publications and abstract (in Lithuanian). The main objectives of the work, scientific novelty, goals, validation of results, and statements for defense are presented in the preface. Chapter 1 presents an introduction and review of previous works on electroresistance (ER) and magnetoresistance (MR) phenomena in manganites. Chapter 2 presents a description of two deposition techniques which were used for preparation of thin manganite films: metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) and pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Measurement equipment and methods are described in Chapter 3. The resistance dependence on voltage was investigated using electric pulses with duration of 5–30 ns and amplitude up to 1000 V in the temperature range of 4.2–300 K. For magnetoresistance measurements a pulsed magnetic field generator, which generates magnetic field pulses of 0.6–2 ms duration with amplitude up to 50 T was used. Chapter 4 presents an investigation of surface morphology of prepared films and a characterization of their properties at low electric and magnetic fields. The electric and magnetic properties... [to full text]