A reconstruction technique based on the solution of the Radon transform in terms of Jacobi polynomials is used to obtain the 3D electron momentum density rho(p) from nine high-resolution Compton profiles (CPs) for a Cu0.9Al0.1 disordered alloy single crystal. The method was also applied to theoretical CPs computed within the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker coherent potential approximation (KKR-CPA) first-principles scheme for the same nine orientations of the crystal. The experimental density rho(p) is in satisfactory agreement with the theoretical density and shows most details of the Fermi surface (FS) and exhibits electron correlation effects. We comment on the map of the FS obtained by folding the reconstructed rho(p) into the first Brillouin zone which yields the occupation number density, rho(k). A test of the validity of data via a consistency condition (within our reconstruction algorithm) as well as the propagation of experimental noise in the reconstruction of both rho(p) and rho(k) are investigated.
A simultaneous analysis of high-resolution directional Compton profiles and two-dimensional angular correlation of positron annihilation experimental data has been performed by studying both a directional anisotropy of measured spectra and reconstructed densities. The results were compared with theoretical fully-relativistic augmented plane-wave calculations with and without including correlation effects. Estimated symmetry selection rules have allowed us to establish some values of Fermi momenta. Both experiments show exactly the same shape of the anisotropy of the momentum densities, in agreement with the band structure results. In the positron annihilation data electron-positron correlations are not seen while in both experiments electron-electron correlations are observed.
Electron momentum density and Compton profiles in Lithium along $<100 >$, $<110>$, and $<111>$ directions are calculated using Full-Potential Linear Augmented Plane Wave basis within generalized gradient approximation. The profiles have been corrected for correlations with Lam-Platzman formulation using self-consistent charge density. The first and second derivatives of Compton profiles are studied to investigate the Fermi surface breaks. Decent agreement is observed between recent experimental and our calculated values. Our values for the derivatives are found to be in better agreement with experiments than earlier theoretical results. Two-photon momentum density and one- and two-dimensional angular correlation of positron annihilation radiation are also calculated within the same formalism and including the electron-positron enhancement factor.
The effect of temperature controlled annealing on the confined valence electron states in CdSe nanocrystal arrays, deposited as thin films, was studied using two-dimensional angular correlation of annihilation radiation (2D-ACAR). A reduction in the intensity by ~35% was observed in a feature of the positron annihilation spectrum upon removal of the pyridine capping molecules above 200 degrees Celsius in a vacuum. This reduction is explained by an increased electronic interaction of the valence orbitals of neighboring nanocrystals, induced by the formation of inorganic interfaces. Partial evaporation of the nanoporous CdSe layer and additional sintering into a polycrystalline thin film was observed at a relatively low temperature of ~486 degrees Celsius.
Terahertz time-domain conductivity measurements in 2 to 100 nm thick iron films resolve the femtosecond time delay between applied electric fields and resulting currents. This current response time decreases from 29 fs for thickest films to 7 fs for the thinnest films. The macroscopic response time is not strictly proportional to the conductivity. This excludes the existence of a single relaxation time universal for all conduction electrons. We must assume a distribution of microscopic momentum relaxation times. The macroscopic response time depends on average and variation of this distribution; the observed deviation between response time and conductivity scaling corresponds to the scaling of the variation. The variation of microscopic relaxation times depends on film thickness because electrons with different relaxation times are affected differently by the confinement since they have different mean free paths.
Terahertz time-domain conductivity measurements in 2 to 100 nm thick iron films resolve the femtosecond time delay between applied electric fields and resulting currents. This response time decreases for thinner metal films. The macroscopic response time depends on the mean and the variance of the distribution of microscopic momentum relaxation times of the conducting electrons. Comparing the recorded response times with DC-conductivities demonstrates increasing variance of the microscopic relaxation times with increasing film thickness. At least two electron species contribute to conduction in bulk with substantially differing relaxation times. The different electron species are affected differently by the confinement because they have different mean free paths.