Amorphous hydrogenated silicon (a-Si:H) is an important material for surface defect passivation of photovoltaic silicon (Si) wafers in order to reduce their recombination losses. The material is, however, unstable with regard to hydrogen (H) desorption at elevated temperatures, which can be an issue during processing and device manufacturing. In this work, we determine the temperature stability of a-Si:H by structural characterization of a-Si:H/Si bilayers with neutron reflectometry and X-ray reflectometry combined with photoconductance measurements, yielding the minority carrier lifetime. The neutrons are sensitive to light elements such as H, while the X-rays, which are insensitive to the H concentration, provide an independent constraint on the layer structure. It is shown that H desorption takes place at a temperature of approximately T = 425 degrees C, and that the H content and minority carrier lifetimes have a strongly correlated linear relationship, which can be interpreted as one H atom passivating one defect.

The modification of geometry and interactions in two-dimensional magnetic nanosystems has enabled a range of studies addressing the magnetic order(1-6), collective low-energy dynamics(7,8) and emergent magnetic properties(5,9,10) in, for example, artificial spin-ice structures. The common denominator of all these investigations is the use of Ising-like mesospins as building blocks, in the form of elongated magnetic islands. Here, we introduce a new approach: single interaction modifiers, using slave mesospins in the form of discs, within which the mesospin is free to rotate in the disc plane(11). We show that by placing these on the vertices of square artificial spin-ice arrays and varying their diameter, it is possible to tailor the strength and the ratio of the interaction energies. We demonstrate the existence of degenerate ice-rule-obeying states in square artificial spin-ice structures, enabling the exploration of thermal dynamics in a spin-liquid manifold. Furthermore, we even observe the emergence of flux lattices on larger length scales, when the energy landscape of the vertices is reversed. The work highlights the potential of a design strategy for two-dimensional magnetic nano-architectures, through which mixed dimensionality of mesospins can be used to promote thermally emergent mesoscale magnetic states.

By means of relativistic, first principles calculations, we investigate the microscopic origin of the vanishingly low magnetic anisotropy of Permalloy, here proposed to be intrinsically related to the local symmetries of the alloy. It is shown that the local magnetic anisotropy of individual atoms in Permalloy can be several orders of magnitude larger than that of the bulk sample and 5–10 times larger than that of elemental Fe or Ni. We furthermore show that locally there are several easy axis directions that are favored, depending on local composition. The results are discussed in the context of perturbation theory, applying the relation between magnetic anisotropy and orbital moment. Permalloy keeps its pronounced soft ferromagnetic nature due to the exchange energy to be larger than the magnetocrystalline anisotropy. Our results shine light on the magnetic anisotropy of permalloy and of magnetic materials in general, and in addition enhance the understanding of pump-probe measurements and ultrafast magnetization dynamics.

In order to explain and predict the properties of many physical systems, it is essential to understand the interplay of different energy scales. Here we present investigations of the magnetic order in thermalized artificial spin-ice structures, with different activation energies of the interacting Ising-like elements. We image the thermally equilibrated magnetic states of the nanostructures using synchrotron-based magnetic microscopy. By comparing results obtained from structures with one or two different activation energies, we demonstrate a clear impact on the resulting magnetic order. The differences are obtained by the analysis of the magnetic spin structure factors, in which the role of the activation energies is manifested by distinct short-range order. These results highlight the potential of artificial spin-ice structures to serve as model systems for designing various energy-scale hierarchies and investigating their impact on the collective dynamics and magnetic order.

Different lengths of WR3 (220-330 GHz) and WR10 (75-110 GHz) waveguides are fabricated through direct metal laser sintering (DMLS). The losses in these waveguides are measured and modelled using the Huray surface roughness model. The losses in WR3 are around 0.3 dB/mm and in WR10 0.05 dB/mm. The Huray equation model is accounting relatively good for the attenuation in the WR10 waveguide but deviates more in the WR3 waveguide. The model is compared to finite element simulations of the losses assuming an approximate surface structure similar to the resulting one from the DMLS process.

Polarized neutron reflectometry is used to determine the sequence of magnetic switching in interlayer exchangecoupled Fe/MgO(001) superlattices in an applied magnetic field. For 19.6 Å thick MgO layers we obtain a 90◦periodic magnetic alignment between adjacent Fe layers at remanence. In an increasing applied field the toplayer switches first followed by its second-nearest neighbor. For 16.4 Å MgO layers, a 180◦periodic alignment isobtained at remanence and with increasing applied field the layer switching starts from the two outermost layersand proceeds inwards. This sequential tuneable switching opens up the possibility of designing three-dimensionalmagnetic structures with a predefined discrete switching sequence

The chemical diffusion coefficient of hydrogen in a 50 nm thin film of vanadium (0 0 1) is measured as a function of concentration and temperature, well above the known phase boundaries. Arrhenius analysis of the tracer diffusion constants reveal large changes in the activation energy with concentration: from 0.10 at 0.05 in II V-1 to 0.5 eV at 0.2 in II V-1. The results are consistent with a change from tetrahedral to octahedral site occupancy, in that concentration range. The change in site occupancy is argued to be caused by the uniaxial expansion of the film originating from the combined hydrogen induced expansion and the clamping of the film to the substrate.

We study the effect of bilayer thickness at fixed volume fraction on the structural quality of Fe/V (001)superlattices. We find that such artificial metallic superlattices can be manufactured with excellent crystalquality and layering up to at least 50 Å in repeat distance (K = LFe +LV). For an intended fixed ratio of theconstituents: LFe/LV= 1/7, out-of-plane coherence lengths comparable to the thicknesses of the sampleswere obtained. We evaluate the strain in- and out-of-plane of both layers as a function of the bilayer thicknessand comment on the growth using the framework of linear elasticity theory. We interpret the stabilityof the superlattice against crystal degradation due to the alternating compressive and tensile strain, yieldingclose to ideal lattice matching to the substrate.

We report on investigations of the influence of one dimensional confinement on the diffusion of hydrogen, in the low concentration limit (alpha-phase). The confinement is obtained by utilising single crystal Fe/V(001) superlattices, in which hydrogen preferably resides in the V layers. The diffusion along the [110] direction in the V(001) layers can thereby be determined. Activation energy and attempt jump rates are extracted from an Arrhenius analysis. No effects are observed from the confinement on the hydrogen diffusion in the thickness range 7-28 monolayers (approximate to 1.1-4.2 nm) of V(001).

We investigate the hysteresis obtained in the hydrogen absorption and desorption cycle for a single crystal Pd/V-28 [Fe-4/V-28](11) superlattice. Below the critical temperature, a small but clear hysteresis is observed in the pressure-composition isotherms, while it is absent above. The experimental results thereby prove the relevance of macroscopic energy barriers for obtaining hysteresis in coherent structural transformations. The textured Pd layer exhibits substantially larger hysteresis effects, which can be related to an irreversible energy loss caused by defect generation in Pd.