Luminescence of excitons and antisite defects in Lu<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript>:Ce single crystals and single-crystal films

The luminescence of excitons and antisite defects (ADs) was investigated, as well as the specific features of the excitation energy transfer from excitons and ADs to the activator (Ce³⁺ ion) in phosphors based on Lu₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce (LuAG:Ce) single crystals and single-crystalline films, which are characterized by significantly different concentrations of ADs of the Lu _Al ³⁺ type and vacancy-type defects. The luminescence band with λ_max = 249 nm in LuAG:Ce single-crystal films is due to the luminescence of self-trapped excitons (STEs) at regular sites of the garnet lattice. The excited state of STEs is characterized by the presence of two radiative levels with significantly different transition probabilities, which is responsible for the presence of two excitation bands with λ_max = 160 and 167 nm and two components (fast and slow) in the decay kinetics of the STE luminescence. In LuAG:Ce single crystals, in contrast to single-crystal films, the radiative relaxation of STEs in the band with λ_max = 253.5 nm occurs predominantly near Lu _Al ³⁺ ADs. The intrinsic luminescence of LuAG:Ce single crystals at 300 K in the band with λ_max = 325 nm (τ = 540 ns), which is excited in the band with λ_max = 175 nm, is due to the radiative recombination of electrons with holes localized near Lu _Al ³⁺ ADs. In LuAG:Ce single crystals, the excitation of the luminescence of Ce³⁺ ions occurs to a large extent with the participation of ADs. As a result, slow components are present in the luminescence decay of Ce³⁺ ions in LuAG:Ce single crystals due to both the reabsorption of the UV AD luminescence in the 4f-5d absorption band of Ce³⁺ ions with λ_max = 340 nm and the intermediate localization of charge carriers at ADs and vacancy-type defects. In contrast to single crystals, in phosphors based on LuAG:Ce single-crystal films, the contribution of slow components to the luminescence of Ce³⁺ ions is significantly smaller due to a low concentration of these types of defects.     

Ultraviolet luminescence of single crystals and single-crystal films of YAlO3

The nature of intrinsic emission bands of yttrium orthoaluminate in the UV spectral region at _max=220 nm (5.63 eV) and 330 nm (4.13 eV) is studied on the basis of the luminescence of single crystals and single-crystal films of YAlO₃ and Ce: YAlO₃ excited by synchrotron radiation sources with an energy of 3–25 eV at 9 and 300 K. The single crystals and single-crystal films were obtained, respectively, from solution and solution-melt by liquid-phase epitaxy and are characterized by considerably different concentrations of substitutional and vacancy defects. It is found that only the luminescence band at 300 nm, which has the decay time τ=4.1 ns and is excited in a band shifted from the range of interband transitions by 0.25 eV, has exciton-like character. The luminescence band at 220 nm with τ=0.1 µs at 9K, which is observed only for YAlO₃ single crystals and is absent in the luminescence of single-crystal films, is associated with antisite defects of the Y _Al ³⁺ type, which are a specific type of cationic isoelectronic impurities. It is shown that the phosphors based on single-crystal films of YAlO₃ have a simpler scintillation decay kinetics than their bulk analogues due to the absence of channels of excitation energy dissipation associated with the antisite defects of Y _Al ³⁺ type and vacancy defects.     

Collision-induced dissociation of H 3 + ions

For collision energies between 100 and 500 eV the collision induced dissociation of H ₃ ⁺ colliding with H₂, He and Kr gas targets was measured. We obtained total cross sections and angular distributions of the charged collision fragments for the main reaction channels. H ₃ ⁺ +H₂→H⁺+2H² and H ₃ ⁺ +H₂→H ₂ ⁺ +H₂+H. An analysis of the kinetics yields that the dissociation proceeds via vibrational-rotational excitation of H ₃ ⁺ by mutually induced dipolmoments.     

Near-infrared downconversion through energy transfer from \mathrm{VO}_{4}^{3-} group to Yb3+ in Yb3+ doped YP0.9V0.1O4

Through the study of photoluminescence spectra, fluorescence decay curves, concentration-dependent luminescence and low temperature luminescence, the energy transfer from isolated $\mathrm{VO}_{4}^{3-}$ group to Yb³⁺ is investigated in Yb³⁺ doped YP_0.9V_0.1O₄. The experimental results show that the energy transfer from $\mathrm{VO}_{4}^{3-}$ group to Yb³⁺ is very efficient. Cooperative energy transfer, through which one high-energy photon absorbed by $\mathrm{VO}_{4}^{3-}$ group is converted to two near-infrared photons emitted by Yb³⁺ ions, is proposed to be the energy transfer process. This efficient ultra-violet to near-infrared downconversion could have potential application in improving the efficiency of silicon-based solar cell.     

Interpretation of multifrequency transient EPR spectra of the P 700 + A0Q K − state in photosystem I complexes with a sequential correlated radical pair model: Wild type versus A0 mutants

Transient electron paramagnetic resonance (TR-EPR) spectra of the electron-hole pair state P ₇₀₀ ⁺ A₀Q _K ^? in photosystem I are numerically calculated. Parameter variation concerns mainly the exchange integralJ of the precursor spin pair state P ₇₀₀ ⁺ A ₀ ^? Q_K and its lifetime τ. A prominent emissive feature in the high-field region (P ₇₀₀ ⁺ part) of the EPR spectrum turns out to be diminished with increasing lifetime τ of the precursor pair state in the case of positive exchange couplingJ>0 (ferromagnetic type). Correspondingly, the emissive feature becomes more pronounced with increasing lifetime τ in the case of negative exchange couplingJ<0 (antiferromagnetic type). These results can be used to interpret the changes in the pattern observed in TR-EPR spectra comparing wild-type and specific A₀ mutants. The central ligating amino acid residue to the A₀ chlorophyll cofactor is mutated from native methionine (M) to leucine (L) in either the PsaA or the PsaB branch. Changes are observed only for the A-side mutant: M688L(PsaA). They are consistent with the following parameters in the precursor pair P ₇₀₀ ⁺ A ₀ ^? :J≈0.5÷1.0 mT and τ=1.5÷2 ns (as compared to τ～0.05 ns in the wild type).     

Luminescence centers in silicate and germanate glasses activated by bismuth

Concentration series of silicate and germanate glasses activated by bismuth are studied. It is shown that luminescence in the IR region is controlled by several active centers related to bismuth. Based on a comparison of spectroscopic characteristics of the studied glasses with the data previously obtained for chloride glass, the observed centers were identified as Bi⁺, Bi ₂ ⁴⁺ , and Bi ₅ ³⁺ in germanate glass and Bi⁺, Bi ₂ ⁴⁺ in silicate glass.     

Hints of giant halo in Zr isotopes by resonant RMF+ACCC+BCS approach

In experiments for the synthesis of superheavy elements at the velocity filter SHIP, GSI, we observed fission events, which could not be attributed to decay chains of superheavy isotopes from fusion reactions. Usually, the observation of spontaneous fission is a crucial first step for the detection of decay chains. In order to avoid random correlations and misidentifications of superheavy isotopes, it is therefore essential to know the features and cross-sections of fission events not originating from decay chains of superheavy nuclei. The special properties of the velocity filter allowed us to identify and study the ??background?? fission events as decay products of heavy target-like nuclides populated in nucleon transfer reactions. Here, we will discuss the results obtained in collisions of ₂₀ ⁴⁸ Ca + ₉₆ ²⁴⁸ Cm, ₂₄ ⁵⁴ Cr + ₉₆ ²⁴⁸ Cm and ₂₈ ⁶⁴ Ni + ₉₂ ²³⁸ U, which were applied for the synthesis of elements Z = 116 and 120, respectively.     

E2 andE3 transition strengths in some rare-earth nuclei

Coulomb excitation byα-particles of vibrational-like states in even-mass rare-earth nuclei is used to determine the reduced transition probabilitiesB(E2; 0 _gs ⁺ →2 _γ ⁺ ),B(E2; 0 _gs ⁺ →2 _β ⁺ ),B(E2; 2 _gs ⁺ →0 _β ⁺ ) andB(E2; 0 _gs ⁺ →3 _oct ^? ) in¹⁵⁰Nd,^{152, 154}Sm,^{154, 158}Gd,¹⁶⁴Dy and¹⁶⁶Er. TheB(Eλ; 0 _gs ⁺ →I=λ)-values range from 2.4 to 6.5 single-particle units for transitions to the 2 _γ ⁺ -states, 0.8 single-particle units for the 2 _β ⁺ -states and from 14.1 to 21.7 single-particle units for the 3^?-states.     

Stoßdissoziation von H 2 + - und D 2 + -Ionen

The angular and energy distribution of protons produced by collision-induced dissociations of H ₂ ⁺ ions with energies of 10 and 20 keV were measured in a parabola spectrograph. From these measurements the velocity distribution of the protons in the center of mass system of the H ₂ ⁺ ion can be calculated. This gives information about the type, the abundance, and the anisotropy of the processes involved. The most frequent transitions leading to dissociations are the excitation of the 2pσ_u state, the ionisation of the H ₂ ⁺ ion, the transition into the vibrational continuum, and the electron capture into the 1³ σ _u ⁺ state of the hydrogen. It is shown that the cross section for an electronic transition depends on the velocity of the ion, the distance of the nuclei in the ion, the angle between the internuclear axis and the direction of the primary ion beam, and the excitation energy of the target. The fraction of protons produced by vibrational excitation increases with increasing atomic number of the target. Concerning electronic transitions D ₂ ⁺ ions equal H ₂ ⁺ ions of the same velocity.     

Strange hadron production in d+Au collisions at RHIC

We report the centrality dependence of transverse mass (m _t ) spectra at mid-rapidity for the identified strange hadrons K _S ⁰ , ? $\Lambda + \bar \Lambda $ and $\Xi ^ - + \bar \Xi ^ + $ in d+Au collisions at RHIC. The measured transverse momentum (p _T ) covers 0.4<p _T <6.0 GeV/c for K _S ⁰ , ø, $\Lambda + \bar \Lambda $ and 0.6<p _T <5.0 GeV/c for $\Xi ^ - + \bar \Xi ^ + $ . The binary collision normalized nuclear modification factors R _CP of these hadrons indicate that the Cronin effect in d+Au collisions has a distinct particle-type dependence. the R _CP ratios show a distinct baryons versus mesons dependence: the R _CP for $\Xi ^ - + \bar \Xi ^ + $ follows that for $\Lambda + \bar \Lambda $ while the R _CP for the ? is close to that for the K _S ⁰ . Similar features have also been observed in Au+Au collisions. Initial parton scattering alone is not sufficient to explain this particle-type dependence. Hadronization processes are likely to be important for determining hadron properties in high-energy collisions as suggested by coalescence and recombination models.     

Gyromagnetic ratios of 4+ and 6+ states in156Gd and158Gd

The followingg-factors have been derived from time integral measurements of γ-γ angular correlations in the static magnetic hyperfine field of magnetized gadolinium metal probes:¹⁵⁶Gd:g(4 ₁ ⁺ )=+0.310(19)g(6 ₁ ⁺ )=+0.25(21)g(4 ₃ ⁺ , 1511 keV)=+0.809(27)¹⁵⁸Gd:g(4 ₁ ⁺ )=+0.409(15). The 5.35d ¹⁵⁶Tb sources were produced by the reaction¹⁵⁶Gd(d, 2n)¹⁵⁶Tb in our cyclotron. A carrier-free 150y ¹⁵⁸Tb source was obtained from ISOLDE/CERN. In comparison with the precisely knowng-factors of the 2 ₁ ⁺ states,g(2 ₁ ^su+ ,¹⁵⁶Gd) =+0.386(4) andg(2 ₁ ⁺ ,¹⁵⁸Gd)=0.381(4), we observe a large reduction for the¹⁵⁶Gd 4 ₁ ⁺ state whereasg increases slightly for¹⁵⁸Gd. The half-life of the 4 ₁ ⁺ state of¹⁵⁸Gd was remeasured as¹⁵⁸Gd:T _1/2(4 ₁ ⁺ )=148(2) ps. A measurement of the rotation in the 4 ₃ ⁺ state of¹⁵⁶Gd in external magnetic fields of various strengths up toB _ext=9.5 T did not confirm the anomalous dependence of the magnetic hyperfine field in gadolinium metal on the external field, which has been reported by Persson et al. [29].     

Absorptionsspektrum des Ce3+-Ions und Kristallfeld im La(Ce)Cl

The absorption spectrum of single crystals of La_(1?x)Ce _x Cl₃(x=0,05 ... 0,005) has been observed at low temperatures in the region of the 4f→4f infrared transitions. Values for the crystal-field parameters V ₂ ⁰ , V ₄ ⁰ , V ₆ ⁰ , V ₆ ⁶ and for the spin-orbit coupling constant of the ion in the crystalline environment are determined by fitting the observed splittings of the multiplet-components\({}^2F_{\tfrac{5}{2}} \) and\({}^2F_{\tfrac{7}{2}} \) in the crystal-field. The parameters are found to be consistent with values extrapolated from rare earth-ions with neighbouring atomic numbers in the same host-lattice. The only exception is the parameter V ₆ ⁶ , which is found to be smaller in La(Ce)Cl₃ than in other rare-earth-trichlorides (V ₆ ⁶ /V ₆ ⁰ =?6,23 in La(Ce)Cl₃, V ₆ ⁶ /V ₆ ⁰ ≈?10 in other trichlorides). The correct relation V ₆ ⁶ /V ₆ ⁰ in La(Ce)Cl₃ is obtained by fitting the parameters to the observed crystal-field-splitting of the\({}^2F_{\tfrac{5}{2}} \) — component and to the observed Zeeman-splitting-factors taken from the literature. The discrepancies between the two fitting procedures are explained by an effect of nonlinear shielding of the crystal-field.     

The effect of air impurities on pure neon luminescence

The luminescence decay curves of the 2p ₁ level of the NeI atom (the transition 3p??[1/2]₀?3s??[1/2] ₁ ^° , ?? = 585.2 nm) and the B ²?? _u ⁺ level of the N ₂ ⁺ molecule (the transition B ²?? _u ⁺ (?? = 0)?X ²?? _g ⁺ (??? = 0), ?? = 391.4 nm) in pure and air-containing neon are measured. The gas was excited by electron beam pulses (E _e = 150 keV, ?? = 5 ns, I _max = 500 A). It is shown that the molecular gases contained in air strongly quench the long-lived component of neon luminescence exciting due to dissociative recombination of Ne ₂ ⁺ molecular ions. The relative light yield at a wavelength of 585.2 nm as a function of the partial pressure of air in neon is determined to be ?? = (1+ 2??p)^?1, where p is the air pressure in Torr.     

Spin-reorientation transition at isoelectronic substitution in double-layer manganites (La1−z Prz)1.2Sr1.8Mn2O7

The transport, magnetic, and thermal properties of single crystal double-layer manganites of the Ruddlesden-Popper series (La_1?z Pr_z)_1.2Sr_1.8Mn₂O₇ (z=0.1 or 0.4) were studied. The compounds exhibit the colossal negative magnetoresistance effect in the region of a transition into a ferromagnetic state. Upon the isoelectronic substitution of Pr³⁺ for La³⁺, the Curie temperature decreases, while the easy magnetization axis rotates from the ab plane to the c axis. The observed effect is related to a change in the occupancy of $d{x^2-y^2} $ and $d{3z^2-r^2} $ orbitals as a result of stretching of the MnO₆ octahedra.     

Anisotropic photoionization as a mechanism of axial iron center alignment in KTaO3

An EPR study has revealed light-induced recharging and optical alignment of the Fe _Ta ⁴⁺ -V _O tetragonal complexes in KTaO₃. The data on the optical creation and destruction of this center by light of different polarizations and wavelengths are discussed together with similar results obtained for the Fe _K ³⁺ -O_i center. These two centers were established to undergo mutual charge transfer, in which the electron released in the photoionization of the Fe _K ²⁺ -O_i center is trapped by the Fe _Ta ⁵⁺ -V _O center. Irradiation by light with a photon energy below 2.05 eV, which is the ionization threshold of Fe _K ²⁺ -O_i, reverses this process. In both cases, the absorption cross section depends on the orientation of the center axis relative to the light polarization vector. As a result, the Fe _Ta ⁴⁺ -V _O and Fe _K ³⁺ -O_i tetragonal centers in KTaO₃ acted upon by polarized light undergo orientation-sensitive light-induced recharging and the defects with the given charge state are no longer characterized by an equally probable distribution of the orientations of their axes over the three 〈100〉 directions. This mechanism, which does not involve real reorientations of the Fe_Ta-V _O and Fe_K-O_i complexes, gives rise, nevertheless, to the alignment of the centers along (or at right angles to) the light polarization vector.     

Symmetric and asymmetric fission of charged sodium clusters

A deformed-jellium model is used to calculate the fission barrier height of Na ₂₄ ²⁺ → Na ₂₁ ⁺ +Na ₃ ⁺ and Na ₄₂ ²⁺ → 2Na ₂₁ ⁺ within the Kohn—Sham Density Functional Theory (i.e., including shell effects). Although the shape of the barrier obviously depends on the parametrization of the fission path, we have found that the barrier maximum corresponds to a configuration in which the emerging fragments are already formed and rather well apart. The two examples chosen serve to illustrate the influence of the electronic shell effects.     

Pion photoproduction on197Au to ground and isomeric states in197Hg

The lifetime of the 331.3 keV 0 ₂ ⁺ state in¹⁰⁰Zr has been measured at the gas-filled recoil separator for fission products JOSEF. By observing the delayed coincidences between theβ-particles populating the level and theE0 conversion electrons from its decay into the ground state, a half-life of 3.37±0.30 ns has been obtained. From the measured lifetime and the relative intensities of the 0 ₂ ⁺ →0 ₁ ⁺ and 0 ₂ ⁺ →2 ₁ ⁺ transitions, values of 0.493±0.015 for theE0 strength parameterρ, and of 16 single particle units forB(E2,2 ₁ ⁺ → 0 ₂ ⁺ ) have been deduced. The enhanced nature of theE0 transitions suggests mixing of the 0 ₁ ⁺ and 0 ₂ ⁺ states which may be estimated by comparing the experimentalB(E2) values for the 2 ₁ ⁺ →0 ₁ ⁺ and 2 ₁ ⁺ →0 ₂ ⁺ transitions with the predictions of the asymmetric VMI model.     

Relative tensor calculus and the tensor time derivative

A relative tensor calculus is formulated for expressing equations of mathematical physics. A tensor time derivative operator ▽ _b ^a is defined which operates on tensors λ^ia...ib. Equations are written in a rigid, flat, inertial or other coordinate system a, altered to relative tensor notation, and are thereby expressed in general flowing coordinate systems or materials b, c, d, .... Mirror tensor expressions for ▽ _b ^a λ^ic...id and ▽ _b ^a λ_ic...id exist in a relative geometry G if and only if a rigid coordinate system a exists in G, where ▽ _b ^a λ^ic = λ _,0c ^ic + λ^kev _ckc ^aic + λ _kc ^ic v _b ^ckc , ▽_jcλ^ic = λ _,jc ^ic + λ^kcΓ _{jc kc} ^ie , and v _b ^aic is the velocity of b relative to a with components in c. These operators are convenient in theoretical analyses and can be incorporated into machine programs for the numerical solution of physical problems.     

The 235 ns 9+ isomer in 63 148 Eu85

From (p, xn) in-beamγ-ray and electron measurements aT _1/2=235(14) ns isomer at 720 keV was identified in ₆₃ ¹⁴⁸ Eu₈₅ and the levels populated in its decay have been characterized. The results determineI ^π=9⁺ for the isomeric state, and we assign it as the (πh _11/2 j ₀ ^?2 ν f ₇ ^2/3 )9⁺ shell model state, analogous to the configuration of the 235 μs isomer in ₆₃ ¹⁴⁶ Eu₈₃.