Spatial mapping of focused surface acoustic waves in the investigation of high frequency strain induced changes

Applications of nanomagnets as dynamical systems: I

When magnets are fashioned into nanoscale elements, they exhibit a wide variety of phenomena replete with rich physics and the lure of tantalizing applications. In this topical review, we discuss some of these phenomena, especially those that have come to light recently, and highlight their potential applications. We emphasize what drives a phenomenon, what undergirds the dynamics of the system that exhibits the phenomenon, how the dynamics can be manipulated, and what specific features can be harnessed for technological advances. For the sake of balance, we point out both advantages and shortcomings of nanomagnet based devices and systems predicated on the phenomena we discuss. Where possible, we chart out paths for future investigations that can shed new light on an intriguing phenomenon and/or facilitate both traditional and non-traditional applications.

Hybrid Magnetodynamical Modes in a Single Magnetostrictive Nanomagnet on a Piezoelectric Substrate Arising from Magnetoelastic Modulation of Precessional Dynamics

Magnetoelastic (or "straintronic") switching has emerged as an extremely energy-efficient mechanism for switching the magnetization of magnetostrictive nanomagnets in magnetic memory and logic, and non-Boolean circuits. Here, we investigate the ultrafast magnetodynamics associated with straintronic switching in a single quasielliptical magnetostrictive Co nanomagnet deposited on a piezoelectric Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-PbTiO₃ substrate using time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect (TR-MOKE) measurements. The pulsed laser pump beam in the TR-MOKE plays a dual role: it causes precession of the nanomagnet's magnetization about an applied bias magnetic field and it also generates surface acoustic waves in the piezoelectric substrate that produce periodic strains in the magnetostrictive nanomagnet and modulate the precessional dynamics. This modulation gives rise to intriguing hybrid magnetodynamical modes in the nanomagnet, with a rich spin-wave texture. The characteristic frequencies of these modes are 5-15 GHz, indicating that strain can affect magnetization in a magnetostrictive nanomagnet in time scales much smaller than 1 ns (∼100 ps). This can enable ∼10 GHz range magnetoelastic nano-oscillators that are actuated by strain instead of a spin-polarized current, as well as ultrafast magnetoelectric generation of spin waves for magnonic logic circuits, holograms, etc.

Energy-efficient switching of nanomagnets for computing: straintronics and other methodologies

The need for increasingly powerful computing hardware has spawned many ideas stipulating, primarily, the replacement of traditional transistors with alternate 'switches' that dissipate miniscule amounts of energy when they switch and provide additional functionality that are beneficial for information processing. An interesting idea that has emerged recently is the notion of using two-phase (piezoelectric/magnetostrictive) multiferroic nanomagnets with bistable (or multi-stable) magnetization states to encode digital information (bits), and switching the magnetization between these states with small voltages (that strain the nanomagnets) to carry out digital information processing. The switching delay is ∼1 ns and the energy dissipated in the switching operation can be few to tens of aJ, which is comparable to, or smaller than, the energy dissipated in switching a modern-day transistor. Unlike a transistor, a nanomagnet is 'non-volatile', so a nanomagnetic processing unit can store the result of a computation locally without refresh cycles, thereby allowing it to double as both logic and memory. These dual-role elements promise new, robust, energy-efficient, high-speed computing and signal processing architectures (usually non-Boolean and often non-von-Neumann) that can be more powerful, architecturally superior (fewer circuit elements needed to implement a given function) and sometimes faster than their traditional transistor-based counterparts. This topical review covers the important advances in computing and information processing with nanomagnets, with emphasis on strain-switched multiferroic nanomagnets acting as non-volatile and energy-efficient switches-a field known as 'straintronics'. It also outlines key challenges in straintronics.

Anisotropic-Strain-Induced Band Gap Engineering in Nanowire-Based Quantum Dots

Tuning light emission in bulk and quantum structures by strain constitutes a complementary method to engineer functional properties of semiconductors. Here, we demonstrate the tuning of light emission of GaAs nanowires and their quantum dots up to 115 meV by applying strain through an oxide envelope. We prove that the strain is highly anisotropic and clearly results in a component along the NW longitudinal axis, showing good agreement with the equations of uniaxial stress. We further demonstrate that the strain strongly depends on the oxide thickness, the oxide intrinsic strain, and the oxide microstructure. We also show that ensemble measurements are fully consistent with characterizations at the single-NW level, further elucidating the general character of the findings. This work provides the basic elements for strain-induced band gap engineering and opens new avenues in applications where a band-edge shift is necessary.

Mannosylated thiolated polyethylenimine nanoparticles for the enhanced efficacy of antimonial drug against Leishmaniasis

AIM

Our aim was to inhibit trypanothione reductase (TR) and P-gp efflux pump of Leishmania by the use of thiolated polymers. Thus, increasing the intracellular accumulation and therapeutic effectiveness of antimonial compounds.

METHODS

Mannosylated thiolated chitosan and mannosylated thiolated chitosan-polyethyleneimine graft were synthesized and characterized. Meglumine antimoniate-loaded nanoparticles were prepared and evaluated for TR and P-gp efflux pump inhibition, biocompatibility, macrophage uptake and antileishmanial potential.

RESULTS

Thiomers inhibited TR with Ki 2.021. The macrophage uptake was 33.7- and 18.9-fold higher with mannosylated thiolated chitosan-polyethyleneimine graft and mannosylated thiolated chitosan nanoparticles, respectively, as compared with the glucantime. Moreover, the in vitro antileishmanial activity showed 14.41- and 7.4-fold improved IC₅₀ for M-TCS-g-PEI and M-TCS, respectively as compared with glucantime.

CONCLUSION

These results encouraged the concept that TR and P-gp inhibition by the use of thiomers improves the therapeutic efficacy of antimonial drugs.

Laboratory X-ray characterization of a surface acoustic wave on GaAs: the critical role of instrumental convolution

Surface acoustic waves of micrometre wavelength travelling on a monocrystal give diffraction satellites around each Bragg peak in an X-ray diffraction diagram. By using a four-crystal monochromator, a secondary two-crystal analyser and masks reducing the footprint to the part of the crystal containing the acoustic modulation, it is possible to observe these satellites on a GaAs (001) surface using a laboratory diffractometer. The finite extension of the satellite diffraction rods and of the crystal truncation rod perpendicular to the surface leads to geometrical correction factors when convoluted with the instrumental resolution function, which had previously been ignored. The calculation of these geometrical correction factors in the framework of the kinematic approximation allows the determination of the surface acoustic wave amplitude, and the study of its attenuation and its dependence on radiofrequency power and duty cycle. The ability to perform such determinations with a laboratory diffractometer should prove useful in optimizing surface acoustic waves, which are presently used in a broad range of condensed matter physics studies.

Micro- and nano-force evaluation of bioengineered muscle cells: a non-contact two-dimensional biosensing using surface acoustic wave devices

A high degree of cell-generated force measurement is required to evaluate the biomechanical performance of bioengineered muscle tissues. However, the conventional cantilever types of direct force measurement methods have limitations in developing a non-contact two-dimensional force sensing device for a single muscle cell. In this paper, a method is proposed and discussed by using focused surface acoustic wave and magneto-optic Kerr measurements. To depict the capability of the proposed method, a conceptual design of such a sensory device is demonstrated for non-contact two-dimensional force measurement of a single muscle cell.