About Book

Atomic spectra are defined as the spectrum of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed during transitions of electrons between energy levels within an atom. Each element has a characteristic spectrum by which it can be recognized. Atomic structure is the concept of an atom as a central positively charged nucleus consisting of protons and neutrons surrounded by a number of electrons. The study of atomic spectra provides most of our knowledge about atoms. In modern science, atomic spectra are used to identify species of atoms in a range of objects, from distant galaxies to blood samples at a crime scene. Every solid, liquid, gas and plasma, are composed of neutral or ionized atoms. Atomic structure is the foundation of materials science. Form a basic materials science point of view, the arrangement of the electrons is the most important aspect of atomic structure. This field is also closely related to molecular, atomic and optical physics. This book attempts to understand the multiple branches that fall under the discipline of atomic physics and how such concepts have practical applications. It deals with atomic force microscopy, superconducting structures, nanotubes, atomic structure of graphene, atomic level, atomic gases, atomic-nuclear reactions and memristor effects. Different approaches, evaluations and methodologies and advanced studies on this subject have been included in the book. As this field is emerging at a rapid pace, the contents of this book will help the readers understand the modern concepts and applications of the subject. The aim of this book is to present these topics in the easiest to comprehend language. This book is an essential guide for both academicians and those who wish to pursue this discipline further.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Silicon Nanocrystals and Amorphous Nanoclusters in SiOx and SiNx: Atomic, Electronic Structure, and Memristor Effects..............1

Abstract ..................................................................................................1

1. Introduction............................................................................................2

2. Forming of Si NCs and amorphous nanoclusters in dielectric

films.........................................................................................................2

3. Raman scattering in SiOx and SiNx films: phonon confinement in

Si NCs ....................................................................................................3

4. IR absorption in SiOx and SiNx films: the evidence of deviation

from the RM model ..........................................................................12

5. New structural model explaining nanofluctuations of potential

in SiOx and SiNx..................................................................................16

6. Memristor effects in SiOx films........................................................22

7. Conclusions .........................................................................................26

Acknowledgements ...........................................................................27

Chapter 2 Synthesis of Chemical Elements and Solid Structures in Atomic-Nuclear Reactions in Dense Gas-Metal Systems Irradiated by γ Rays..............................................................................................................31

Abstract ............................................................................................................................................31

1. Introduction and historical outline..................................................32

2. Experimental setup.............................................................................35

3. Induced effects in gas (D2) and metal-gas systems (Pd-D2).......38

4. Induced effects in binary metal-gas system (Pd-Re-D2)..............42

5. Induced effects in pure gases...........................................................48

6. Conclusions..........................................................................................57

Acknowledgements.............................................................................58

Chapter 3 Vortex Structures in Ultra-Cold Atomic Gases.................................61

Abstract.................................................................................................61

1. Introduction..........................................................................................61

2. Review of experiments on vortices in quantum gases...............63

3. Building a theory of ultra-cold bosonic gases..............................67

4. Basic properties of a vortex in a superfluid.................................74

5. Vortex formation in Bose-Einstein condensates...........................84

6. Several basic vortex configurations.................................................98

7. The Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition................115

8. Concluding section...........................................................................118

Acknowledgments.............................................................................122

Chapter 4 Structure of the Metallic Glass and Evolution of Electronical

Properties during Glass Transition in Atomic Level.....................127

Abstract...............................................................................................127

1. Introduction........................................................................................128

2. Part 1, atomic level structure of metallic glass...........................129

3. Part 2, the evolution of structural properties during the glass

transition process..............................................................................132

4. Part 3, the dynamical properties of the nucleation and glass

forming process of liquids..............................................................138

5. Part 4, electronic density of states of the glass transition of the

alloy.....................................................................................................140

6. Part 5, electronic charge densities of the amorphous solid.....141

7. Part 6, evolution of the electronical properties of the metallic

glass.....................................................................................................142

8. Conclusion..........................................................................................143

Chapter 5 Atomic Structure of Graphene and h-BN Layers and Their

Interactions with Metals.......................................................................147

1. Introduction........................................................................................147

2. Graphene and h-BN fabrication.....................................................150

3. Transmission electron microscopy................................................154

4. TEM characterisation of pristine graphene.................................156

5. TEM characterisation of pristine h-BN.........................................161

6. Metal-graphene interactions...........................................................163

7. Metal-h-BN interactions...................................................................170

8. Conclusions........................................................................................172

Chapter 6 Synthesis, Atomic Structures and Properties of Boron Nitride Nanotubes.................................................................................................179

1. Introduction........................................................................................179

2. Synthesis of BN nanotubes.............................................................180

3. Atomic structures of BN nanotubes..............................................196

4. Metal nanowires encapsulated in BN nanotubes.......................209

5. Conclusion..........................................................................................214

Acknowledgments.............................................................................215

Chapter 7 Characterization of Complex Spintronic and Superconducting Structures by Atomic Force Microscopy Techniques.....................218

1. Introduction ......................................................................................218

2. The use of AFM technique for the characterization of multilayer

stacks for spintronic devices .........................................................219

3. The use of AFM/MFM techniques for the study of hybrid

interface systems between high temperature superconductors

and magnetic structures .................................................................235

4. Conclusions .......................................................................................246

5. Acknowledgments.............................................................................247

Chapter 8 Analyzing DNA Structure Quantitatively at a Single-Molecule Level by Atomic Force Microscopy....................................................251

1. Introduction ......................................................................................251

2. Materials and methods ...................................................................255

3. Results and discussion.....................................................................256

4. Summary ...........................................................................................269

5. Acknowledgements .........................................................................270

Citation......................................................................................................275

Index...........................................................................................................277

About Author

Jurex Kiser pursued his Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Public State University, Dubna. He is a Visiting Professor at Community College, Aarhus. Kiser’s interest areas of academic research include atomic physics and plasma physics. He has won an “Outstanding Professor Award” for his valuable contribution towards the researcher community especially in the higher education programs. His books and research papers in the field of atomic physics, electronic structure, atomic spectra, and geometry of molecules have been published worldwide. He also serves on the several editorial boards of leading international scientific journals.