Two-dimensional confinement of 3d{1} electrons in LaTiO_{3}/LaAlO{3} multilayers

We report spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements of the anisotropy of the interband transitions parallel and perpendicular to the planes of (LaTiO3)n(LaAlO3)5 multilayers with n=1-3. These provide direct information about the electronic structure of the two-dimensional (2D) 3d{1} state of the Ti ions. In combination with local density approximation, including a Hubbard U calculation, we suggest that 2D confinement in the TiO2 slabs lifts the degeneracy of the t{2g} states leaving only the planar d{xy} orbitals occupied. We outline that these multilayers can serve as a model system for the study of the t{2g} 2D Hubbard model.

Spectroscopic evidence for competing reconstructions in polar multilayers LaAlO3/LaVO3/LaAlO3

We have studied the valence redistribution of V in LaAlO(3)/LaVO(3)/LaAlO(3) trilayers, which are composed of only polar layers grown on SrTiO3 (001) substrates, by core-level photoemission spectroscopy. We have found that the V valence is intermediate between V3+ and V4+ for thin LaAlO3 cap layers, decreases with increasing cap-layer thickness, and finally recovers the bulk value of V3+ at approximately 10 unit-cell thickness. In order to interpret these results, we propose that the atomic reconstruction of the polar LaAlO3 surface competes with the purely electronic V valence change so that the polar catastrophe is avoided at the cost of minimum energy.

Vanishing hall coefficient in the extreme quantum limit in photocarrier-doped SrTiO3

We explore the extreme quantum limit of photogenerated electrons in quantum paraelectric SrTiO3. This regime is distinct from conventional semiconductors, due to the large electron effective mass and large dielectric constant. At low temperature, the magnetoresistance and Hall resistivity saturate at a high magnetic field, deviating from conventional behavior. As a result, the Hall coefficient vanishes on the scale of the ratio of the Landau level splitting to the thermal energy, indicating the essential role of lowest Landau level occupancy, as limited by thermal broadening.

Polar discontinuity doping of the LaVO_{3}/SrTiO_{3} interface

We have investigated the transport properties of LaVO_{3}/SrTiO_{3} Mott-insulator-band-insulator heterointerfaces for various configurations. The (001)-oriented n-type VO_{2}/LaO/TiO_{2} polar discontinuity is conducting, exhibiting a LaVO3 thickness-dependent metal-insulator transition and low temperature anomalous Hall effect. The (001) p-type VO_{2}/SrO/TiO_{2} interface, formed by inserting a single layer of bulk metallic SrVO3 or SrO, drives the interface insulating. The (110) heterointerface is also insulating, indicating interface conduction arising from electronic reconstructions.

Nanometer scale electronic reconstruction at the interface between LaVO3 and LaVO4

Electrons at interfaces, driven to minimize their free energy, are distributed differently than in bulk. This can be dramatic at interfaces involving heterovalent compounds. Here we profile an abrupt interface between V 3d2 LaVO3 and V 3d0 LaVO4 using electron energy loss spectroscopy. Although no bulk phase of LaVOx with a V 3d1 configuration exists, we find a nanometer-wide region of V 3d1 at the LaVO3/LaVO4 interface, rather than a mixture of V 3d0 and V 3d2. The two-dimensional sheet of 3d1 electrons is a prototypical electronic reconstruction at an interface between competing ground states.

Narrow photoemission peak at the Fermi level in Fe/Cu(111)

We have studied electronic states of Fe adatoms deposited on Cu(111) by photoemission spectroscopy and have found a narrow peak at the Fermi level in the Fe 3d spectral function. The Fe 3d spectral function would be consistent with the Anderson impurity model, which has been widely used for the interpretation of bulk Ce and Yb compounds. This result indicates a strong reduction of hybridization between the Fe 3d state and the conduction-band states and an enhancement of effective Coulomb interaction for the Fe 3d electrons in an Fe adatom on Cu(111).

Muscle oxygenation trends during constant work rate cycle exercise in men and women

PURPOSE

To examine the relationship between muscle oxygenation and arteriovenous oxygen difference [(a - v)O2diff)] at four constant rate workloads in healthy men and women and to compare these responses between the genders.

METHODS

Nineteen men and 14 women consented to perform an incremental test to identify the lactic acidosis threshold (LAT) and maximal aerobic power (VO2max) and an intermittent constant work rate test at an oxygen uptake corresponding to 40% LAT, 80% LAT, 25% LAT-VO2max, and 50% LAT-VO2max. Each exercise interval was 5 min long followed by 2 min of recovery. Cardiac output was measured by CO2 rebreathing at each workload from which (a - v)O2diff was computed. Tissue absorbency was measured from the vastus lateralis in both the test sessions using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Muscle oxygenation during constant work rate exercise and recovery was expressed as a percentage (%Mox) of the maximum range observed during incremental exercise and recovery.

RESULTS

A systematic decrease was observed in %Mox with increasing intensity, followed by a proportional increase during recovery from each exercise bout. Significant inverse relationships were observed between %Mox and (a - v)O2diff in men (r = -0.34) and women (r = -0.31) across the four intensities. Mean %Mox was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in women compared with men, suggesting lesser deoxygenation at the same relative exercise intensity.

CONCLUSIONS

%Mox was not an accurate predictor of mixed (a - v)O2diff during exercise because of the low common variance between these two variables, and it is unclear whether the gender difference in %Mox is a true physiological phenomenon or whether it is an artifact of the NIRS technique.

Detection of ventilatory threshold using near infrared spectroscopy in men and women

The onset of anaerobic (lactate) metabolism during incremental exercise, which may be a result of an imbalance between tissue oxygen supply and demand, has been associated with the gas exchange ventilatory threshold (VT). This study was designed to examine whether near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) could be used to detect the VT in healthy subjects. Twenty-one men and 19 women completed incremental cycle ergometry during which NIRS measurements were obtained from the right vastus lateralis and gas exchange measurements were monitored simultaneously using a metabolic cart. The VT was identified from the metabolic data by the V-slope method and from NIRS data as the intensity at which tissue absorbency crossed the resting baseline value observed immediately prior to the initiation of exercise. Pearson correlations for the relative oxygen uptake and power output observed for the two methods of detecting VT were 0.90 and 0.88, respectively, in men and 0.89 and 0.86, respectively, in women (P < 0.01). No significant differences were observed between the two methods of detecting VT for any of the physiological responses (P > 0.05). No significant (P > 0.05) gender differences were observed in muscle oxygenation values at the VT, 32% in men and 38% in women. These results validate the use of NIRS as an alternate noninvasive method for detecting VT during cycle exercise in healthy subjects.