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The proposed Mitchell Institute Neutrino Experiment at Reactor (MINER) experiment at the Nuclear Science Center at Texas A&M University will search for coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering within close proximity (about 2 meters) of a 1 MW TRIGA nuclear reactor core using low threshold, cryogenic germanium and silicon detectors. Given the Standard Model cross section of the scattering process and the proposed experimental proximity to the reactor, as many as 5 to 20 events/kg/day are expected. We discuss the status of preliminary measurements to characterize the main backgrounds for the proposed experiment. Both in situ measurements at the experimental site and simulations using the MCNP and GEANT4 codes are described. A strategy for monitoring backgrounds during data taking is briefly discussed., Comment: 12 pages, 14 figures

Since the early 1960s, Abrikosov-Gorkov theory has been used to describe superconductors with paramagnetic impurities. Interestingly, the density of states resulting from the theoretical framework has to date only been known approximately, as a numeric solution of a complex polynomial. Here we introduce an exact analytic solution for the density of states of a superconductor with paramagnetic impurities. The solution is valid in the whole regime of Abrikosov-Gorkov theory; both where there is an energy gap and gapless. While of fundamental interest, we argue that this solution also has computational benefits in the evaluation of integrals for tunneling conductances and allows for an analytic description of materials with densities of states that are modeled from the basic Abrikosov-Gorkov density of states., Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure

Thin films of the Single Molecule Magnet (Mn12-acetate) have been fabricated on a Si-substrate by the Dip-and-Dry method, a simple and robust technique. Atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterizations reveal that homogeneous, thin films of a few molecular layers with smoothness at the molecular level are deposited. Significant changes in magnetic properties of Mn12-acetate exposed to the same solvent were observed in zero-field-cooled and field-cooled magnetization, as well as ac-susceptibility measurements. The blocking temperature was found to increase to TB > 10 K at low magnetic fields, indicating an enhanced magnetic anisotropy., Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures

Thin films of the molecular magnet Mn12-acetate, [Mn12 O12(CH3COO)16 (H2O)4] 2CH3COOH 4H2O, have been prepared using a laser ablation technique with a nitrogen laser at low laser energies of 0.8 and 2 mJ. Chemical and magnetic characterizations show that the Mn12-acetate cores remain intact and the films show similar magnetic properties to those of the parent molecular starting material. In addition, the magnetic data exhibit a peak in the magnetization at 27 K indicating the creation of an additional magnetic phase not noted in previous studies of crystalline phases., Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, In Press - J. Mag. Mag. Mat

Films of the molecular nanomagnet, Mn12-acetate, have been deposited using pulsed laser deposition and a novel variant, matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation. The films have been characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and magnetic hysteresis. The results indicate that an increase in laser energy and/or pulse frequency leads to fragmentation of Mn12, whereas its chemical and magnetic integrity is preserved at low laser energy (200 mJ). This technique allows the fabrication of patterned thin film systems of molecular nanomagnets for fundamental and applied experiments., Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, Solid State Communications (in press)

We demonstrate a straightforward way to lithographically fabricate Mn12-acetate (Mn12O12(CH3COO)16(H2O)4 2CH3COOH 4H2O) thin film patterns on Si/SiO2 surfaces, a significant step in light of the chemical volatility of this organic complex. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of the film patterns allow the determination of the pattern dimensions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data indicate that the patterned material is the intact Mn12-acetate complex. Magnetic measurements of the Mn12-acetate film confirm that the film properties are reminiscent of crystalline Mn12-acetate, suggesting that this approach can be used to fabricate lithographically patterned devices of Mn12-acetate., Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, Applied Physics Letter (in press)

We investigate the spin-current linear response conductivity tensor to an electric field in a paramagnetic two dimensonal electron gas with both Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling in the weak scattering regime. In the ususal case where both spin-orbit-split bands are occupied, we find that the spin-Hall conductivity depends only on the sign of the difference in magnitude of the Rashba and Dresselhaus coupling strengths except within a narrow window where both coupling strengths are equal. We also find a new effect in which a spin current is generated in the direction of the driving field whenever the Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling is nonzero. We discuss experimental implications of this finding taking into account the finite mobility and typical parameters of current samples and possible experimental set ups for its detection., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures

We performed detailed conductivity and tunneling mesurements on the amorphous, magnetically doped material $\alpha$-Gd$_x$Si$_{1-x}$ (GdSi), which can be driven through the metal-insulator transition by the application of an external magnetic field. Conductivity increases linearly with field near the transition and slightly slower on the metallic side. The tunneling conductance, proportional to the density of states $N(E)$, undergoes a gradual change with increasing field, from insulating, showing a soft gap at low bias, with a slightly weaker than parabolic energy dependence, i.e. $N(E) \sim E^c$, $c \lesssim 2$, towards metallic behavior, with $E^d$, $0.5 \lt d \lt 1$ energy dependence. The density of states at the Fermi level appears to be zero at low fields, as in an insulator, while the sample shows already small, but metal-like conductivity. We suggest a possible explanation to the observed effect., Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures

We demonstrate Josephson tunneling in vacuum tunnel junctions formed between a superconducting scanning tunneling microscope tip and a Pb film, for junction resistances in the range 50-300 k$\Omega$. We show that the superconducting phase dynamics is dominated by thermal fluctuations, and that the Josephson current appears as a peak centered at small finite voltages. In the presence of microwave fields (f=15.0 GHz) the peak decreases in magnitude and shifts to higher voltages with increasing rf power, in agreement with theory., Comment: 4 pages, REVTeX, submitted to PRL

Superconducting scanning tunneling microscope tips have been fabricated with a high degree of reproducibility. The fabrication process relies on sequential deposition of superconducting Pb and a proximity-coupled Ag capping layer onto a Pt/Ir tip. The tips were characterized by tunneling into both normal-metal and superconducting films. The simplicity of the fabrication process, along with the stability and reproducibility of the tips, clear the way for tunneling studies with a well-characterized, scannable superconducting electrode., Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, REVTeX. Submitted to Rev. Sci. Instrum