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Multilayer van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures have become an important platform in which to study novel fundamental effects emerging at the nanoscale. Standard nanopatterning techniques relying on electron-beam lithography and reactive ion etching, widely applied to pattern such heterostructures, however, impose some limitations on the edge accuracy and resolution, as revealed through numerous experiments with vdW quantum dots and point contacts. Here we present an alternative approach for electrode-free nanopatterning of thick multilayer vdW heterostructures based on atomic force microscopy (AFM). By applying an AC voltage of a relatively small frequency (1-10 kHz) between the sharp platinum tip and the substrate, we realize high-resolution ($\lesssim 100$ nm) etching of thick multicomponent heterostructures if the latter are deposited onto graphite slabs. Importantly, unlike more conventional electrode-free local anodic oxidation, our method does not require a special environment with excess humidity, can be applied at ambient conditions, and enables the patterning of multilayer heterostructures composed of graphene, graphite, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), NbSe$_{2}$, WSe$_{2}$, and more., Comment: 6 pages; 3 figures

The rapid development of infrared spectroscopy, observational astronomy, and scanning near-field microscopy has been enabled by the emergence of sensitive mid- and far-infrared photodetectors. Owing to their exceptional signal-to-noise ratio and fast photoresponse, superconducting hot-electron bolometers (HEBs) have become a critical component in these applications. While superconducting HEBs are traditionally made from sputtered superconducting thin films like Nb or NbN, the potential of layered van der Waals (vdW) superconductors is untapped at THz frequencies. Here, we report the fabrication of superconducting HEBs out of few-layer NbSe$_2$ microwires. By improving the interface between NbSe$_2$ and metal leads connected to a broadband antenna, we overcome the impedance mismatch between this vdW superconductor and the radio frequency (RF) readout circuitry that allowed us to achieve large responsivity THz detection over the range from 0.13 to 2.5 THz with minimum noise equivalent power of 7~pW$\sqrt{Hz}$. Using the heterodyne sub-THz mixing technique, we reveal that NbSe$_2$ superconducting HEBs are relatively fast and feature a characteristic response time in the nanosecond range limited by the slow heat escape to the bath through a SiO$_2$ layer, on which they are assembled, in agreement with energy relaxation model. Our work expands the family of materials for superconducting HEBs technology, reveals NbSe$_2$ as a promising platform, and offers a reliable protocol for the in-lab production of custom bolometers using the vdW assembly technique.

Twist-controlled moire superlattices (MS) have emerged as a versatile platform in which to realize artificial systems with complex electronic spectra. Bernal-stacked bilayer graphene (BLG) and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) form an interesting example of the MS that has recently featured a set of unexpected behaviors, such as unconventional ferroelectricity and electronic ratchet effect. Yet, the understanding of the BLG/hBN MS electronic properties has, at present, remained fairly limited. Here we develop a multi-messenger approach that combines standard magnetotransport techniques with low-energy sub-THz excitation to get insights into the properties of this MS. We show that BLG/hBN lattice alignment results in the emergence of compensated semimetals at some integer fillings of the moire bands separated by van Hove singularities where Lifshitz transition occurs. A particularly pronounced semimetal develops when 8 electrons reside in the moire unit cell, where coexisting high-mobility electron and hole systems feature a strong magnetoresistance reaching 2350 % already at B=0.25 T. Next, by measuring the THz-driven Nernst effect in remote bands, we observe valley splitting, pointing to an orbital magnetization characterized by a strongly enhanced effective g-factor of 340. Last, using THz photoresistance measurements, we show that the high-temperature conductivity of the BLG/hBN MS is limited by electron-electron umklapp processes. Our multi-facet analysis introduces THz-driven magnetotransport as a convenient tool to probe the band structure and interaction effects in vdW materials and provides a comprehension of the BLG/hBN MS., Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures

We present a detailed temperature-dependent spectroscopic study of DyMnO3 single crystals with distorted perovskite structure. Energies of 36 crystal-field levels of Dy3+ in paramagnetic DyMnO3 were determined. The Dy3+ ground Kramers doublet does not split at T_N^Mn = 39 K and splits below Tlock = 18 K. The splitting grows fast at temperatures near T_N^Dy = 6.5 K and reaches {\Delta}0 = 11 cm-1 at 4 K. Using the experimental temperature dependence {\Delta}0(T), we calculate the dysprosium magnetic moment mDy(T) and the dysprosium contribution into specific heat and magnetic susceptibility. Analysing all the experimental data, we conclude that the Dy-Mn interaction is of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya type., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures

We present a comparative far-infrared reflection spectroscopy study of phonons, phase transitions, spin-phonon and electron-phonon interactions in isostructural multiferroic iron borates of gadolinium and terbium. The behavior of phonon modes registered in a wide temperature range is consistent with a weak first-order structural phase transition (Ts = 143 for GdFe3(BO3)4 and 200 K for TbFe3(BO3)4) from high-symmetry high-temperature R32 structure into low-symmetry low-temperature P3121 one. The temperature dependences of frequencies, oscillator strengths, and damping constants of some low-frequency modes reveal an appreciable lattice anharmonicity. Peculiarities in the phonon mode behavior in both compounds at the temperature of an antiferromagnetic ordering (TN = 32 K for GdFe3(BO3)4 and 40 K for TbFe3(BO3)4) evidence the spin-phonon interaction. In the energy range of phonons, GdFe3(BO3)4 has no electronic levels but TbFe3(BO3)4 possesses several ones. We observe an onset of new bands in the excitation spectrum of TbFe3(BO3)4, due to a resonance interaction between a lattice phonon and 4f electronic crystal-field excitations of Tb3+. This interaction causes delocalization of the CF excitations, their Davydov splitting, and formation of coupled electron-phonon modes., Comment: 26 pages, 4 tables, 8 firgures

Based on original investigations into the stages of nucleation and growth of martensite, a consideration has been given to dynamic models of formation of martensite plates with a fine structure of transformation twins, which are compatible with the supersonic growth rate of martensite crystals. Along with relatively long quasi-longitudinal waves, which determine the orientation of the habit plane, the control wave process includes relatively short longitudinal waves, which act in synchronism and control the growth of the main component of a regular twin structure. Preference is given to a model containing, at the initial moment of time, the only active dynamic cell capable of periodic reproduction in the interphase region at the stage of the martensite crystal growth. Conditions providing the ratio between the components of the twin structure, which would be optimal for minimization of the transformation time, have been discussed. A transition to final deformations, which are two to three orders of magnitude larger than the threshold deformations, have been made. The calculated macroscopic morphological attributes, which were deduced from dynamic considerations, have been compared with the experimental data and crystallogeometrical calculation., Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure

In the current work considering the wave model of the crystal growth control, an influence of heterogeneity of the medium on the forming martensite crystal s profile was examined. The considering of the heterogeneity is provided with the help of putting into operations the space-depending effective attenuation of the waves. The description of the heterogeneity was fulfilled in three different ways: exponential, quadratic and inverse-quadratic. It was shown, that dependently of the heterogeneity of the medium various martensite crystal s profile can be implemented, considering the shape of its butts as well. In particular the plate-like and the wedge-like of the crystal shapes are feasible., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

The dynamical model of forming of martensitic crystals for the bcc-hcp transition is offered. It is shown that all macroscopic morphological characters (the habit plane, the macroshear and the orientational relationship) are expressed through elastic moduluses Cij of an initial bcc phase., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures

A number of laws being characteristic for switching waves are illustrated by the examples of waves of a falling dominoes. The specificity of a switching wave at the martensite crystal growth caused by dynamic structure of interphase area is noted. For the first time the influence of finite deformation on the condition of elastic waves generation by non-equilibrium electrons is discussed. The rigid regime of initial excitation of waves is connected with the influence of finite deformations on the threshold value of an inverse population difference of the electronic states., Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures

For the model electronic spectrum in the tight-binding approximation it is shown that the finite homogeneous deformation essentially increases the quantity of pairs of electronic states which are active in generation of atoms displacement waves. This conclusion gives additional possibilities for the explanation of features of the process of martensitic transformation., Comment: 6, 2

This book is the first monograph in the scientific literature, dedicated to the FCC-BCC transformation in iron-based alloys, in which the dynamical approach is used for the explanation of the martensite growth stage. The rapid growth of a cooling martensite crystal is considered as a self-organized process controlled by the quasi-longitudinal lattice displacement waves (DW). The regime of the DW initial excitation is rigid. DW have the frequencies ~$10^{10} sec^{-1}$ from the hypersound band and the amplitudes providing the level of deformation ~$10^{-3}$. The conditions that are necessary for the generation of DW by non-equilibrium d-electrons are analyzed. A wide range of questions (from peculiarities of the electronic spectrum to macroscopic morphological indicators), connected with the physical interpretation of the FCC-BCC martensitic transformation in iron-based alloys, is discussed. The short review of results having fundamental meaning for the creation of a physical model describing the martensite nucleation process is given in the monograph's conclusion. It is shown, that processes of the heterogeneous nucleation and wave growth have the genetic connection to the FCC-BCC martensitic transformation. The short review of the last author's results revealing features of the physical mechanisms controlling processes of martensite crystal formation for all alternatives of the FCC-BCC martensitic transformation is given in the monograph's epilogue., Comment: 217 pages, 45 figures

The summary of the models offered by the author revealing features of the physical mechanisms controlling processes of martensite crystal formation is resulted. The rapid growth of a cooling martensite crystal is considered as a self-organized process controlled by the quasi-longitudinal lattice displacement waves (DW). It is shown, that processes of the heterogeneous nucleation and wave growth have the genetic connection in case of spontaneous fcc-bcc martensitic transformation. The exposition of strain martensite formation is considered in the context of a cryston model., Comment: 3 figures