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Bonding and optical contrast in phase change memory materials
Author(s) -
Robertson J.,
Huang B.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
physica status solidi (b)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1521-3951
pISSN - 0370-1972
DOI - 10.1002/pssb.201200361
Subject(s) - amorphous solid , superlattice , materials science , contrast (vision) , atomic orbital , resonance (particle physics) , phase (matter) , phase change , high contrast , condensed matter physics , optics , optoelectronics , crystallography , physics , chemistry , atomic physics , engineering physics , quantum mechanics , electron
The large optical contrast between crystalline and amorphous phases of phase change memory materials is shown to arise from a large increase in the optical matrix elements which occurs when resonant bonding is present. Resonance requires aligned p orbitals, and is lost in the amorphous phases, irrespective of coordination number. Transitions in resonance can be engineered by superlattice structures.