Observed surface features of Co growth on the Cu (111) surface show promise in enhancing electron transport, increasing magnetic sensitivity, and growing quantum wires.\u00a0 Specific features include triangular-shaped islands with a height of two layers above the surface, decoration of the Cu step edges with mixed Co and Cu clusters, and monatomic deep pools of vacancies in the surface.\u00a0 These features, substantiated with detailed experimental evidence, raise questions on the driving mechanisms and how they could be altered to achieve specific properties or particular applications.\u00a0 In this project the BFS (Bozzolo-Ferrante-Smith) method for alloys, a quantum-approximate method particularly suited for large-scale atomistic simulations, will be applied to the Co system.\u00a0 Parameterization of the Co\/Cu system using first-principles calculated data, analytical calculations, and large-scale Monte Carlo simulations will be performed in order to elucidate the characteristics of the system (i.e. formation of islands on the Cu surface, their composition, orientation, and depth).\u00a0\u00a0 Results of these theoretical calculations will be compared to available experimental evidence, and atomistic driving forces for the studied features will be investigated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Joseph Khalil\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0w.\u00a0\u00a0Guillermo Bozzolo\u00a0(Ohio Aerospace Inst.)(Gary Chottiner – Physics co-advisor)Atomistic Modeling of the Co\/Cu(111) Surface\u00a0<\/p>\n
Observed surface features of Co growth on the Cu (111) surface show promise in enhancing electron transport, increasing magnetic sensitivity, and growing quantum wires.\u00a0 Specific features include triangular-shaped islands with a height of two layers above the surface, decoration of the Cu step edges with mixed Co and Cu clusters, and monatomic deep pools of vacancies in the surface.\u00a0 These features, substantiated with detailed experimental evidence, raise questions on the driving mechanisms and how they could be altered to achieve specific properties or particular applications.\u00a0<\/p>\n