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Crossover from incoherent to coherent phonon scattering in epitaxial oxide superlattices

Publication Type

Journal Article

Authors

Ravichandran, J., A.K. Yadav, R. Cheaito, P.B. Rossen, A. Soukiassian, S.J. Suresha, J.C. Duda, B.M. Foley, C.-H. Lee, Y. Zhu, A.W. Lichtenberger, J.E. Moore, D.A. Muller, D.G. Schlom, P.E. Hopkins, A. Majumdar, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, M.A. Zurbuchen

DOI

10.1038/nmat3826

Abstract

Elementary particles such as electrons or photons are frequent subjects of wave-nature-driven investigations, unlike collective excitations such as phonons. The demonstration of wave-particle crossover, in terms of macroscopic properties, is crucial to the understanding and application of the wave behaviour of matter. We present an unambiguous demonstration of the theoretically predicted crossover from diffuse (particle-like) to specular (wave-like) phonon scattering in epitaxial oxide superlattices, manifested by a minimum in lattice thermal conductivity as a function of interface density. We do so by synthesizing superlattices of electrically insulating perovskite oxides and systematically varying the interface density, with unit-cell precision, using two different epitaxial-growth techniques. These observations open up opportunities for studies on the wave nature of phonons, particularly phonon interference effects, using oxide superlattices as model systems, with extensive applications in thermoelectrics and thermal management. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.

Journal

Nature Materials

Volume

Year of Publication

2014

ISSN

14761122

Notes

cited By 226

Research Areas

Ramesh Lab