Phase separation in Fe2CrSi thin films

Kinetics of spinodal phase separation in unstable thin liquid films.

We study universality in the kinetics of spinodal phase separation in unstable thin liquid films, via simulations of the thin film equation. It is shown that, in addition to morphology and free energy, the number density of local maxima in the film profile can also be used to identify the early, late, and intermediate stages of spinodal phase separation. A universal curve between the number den...

Ultrafast photoinduced phase separation dynamics in Pr0.6Ca0.4MnO3 thin films

The time resolved Magnetooptical Kerr effect in the substrate-strain-induced insulating ferromagnetic phase in (Pr0.6Ca0.4)MnO3 thin films on two different substrates was measured in a magnetic field up to 1.1T. The photoinduced Kerr rotation and ellipticity show remarkably different magnetic-field dependence. From the comparison of the magnetic field dependencies of the photoinduced and static...

Phase-Separation-Induced Surface Patterns in Thin Polymer Blend Films

Atomic force microscopy (AFM), neutron reflection (NR) and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) are used to examine phase separation in symmetrically segregating thin polymer blend films (e1000 Å). Phase separation in the film leads to undulations of the liquid-air interface, provided the film is sufficiently thin to suppress surface-directed spinodal decomposition waves. Flattened droplets a...

Phase separation during co-deposition of Al-Ge thin films

We present the results of a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of phase separation and microstructure development in co-deposited Al-Ge thin films. For small film thicknesses and deposition temperatures above 150 °C the phase-separated films consist of an array of domains of the Aland Ge-rich terminal phases (lateral phase separation). Films deposited at 100 °C or less containe...

Competitive Phase Growth in Stressed Thin Films