Anomalous X-ray scattering studies on superionic glassy (As2Se3)-(AgX) systems (X = halides)

Anomalous X-ray scattering experiments for glassy room-temperature superionic conductors (As₂Se₃)_0.4 (AgI)_0.6 and (As₂Se₃)_0.4(AgBr)_0.6 were performed close to the As, Se, Ag, and Br K edges using a third-generation synchrotron radiation facility, ESRF. The differential structure factors, Δ_iS(Q), were obtained from detailed analyses, indicating that Δ_AsS(Q) and Δ_SeS(Q) of both the glassy superionic semiconductors are similar to those of glassy As₂ Se₃ except the prepeak in Δ_SeS(Q). The Δ_AgS(Q) spectrum of (As₂Se₃)_0.4 (AgI)_0.6 looks molten salt-like. However, the Δ_Ag S(Q) of (As₂Se₃)_0.4(AgBr)_0.6 glass have quite different features from that of (As₂Se₃)_0.4 (AgI)_0.6 glass in the low Q range, and the Δ_BrS(Q) has even a pre-shoulder around 13 nm^? 1 unlike molten salts. In the differential pair distribution functions Δ_ig(r) obtained from the Fourier transforms of Δ_iS(Q), the first peaks of Δ_Asg(r) and Δ_Seg(r) show no correlation with those of Δ_Agg(r) and Δ_Brg(r), and vice versa. From these results, it can be concluded that a pseudo-binary mixture of the As₂Se₃ network matrix and AgX-related ionic conduction pathways is a good structural model for these superionic glasses. Differences between the AgBr- and AgI mixtures were found in the second-neighbor structures around the Ag atoms, which may reflect those in the crystal structures of the AgX salts.     

Near-ordering structural transitions in amorphous metal alloys

The temperature variations in the modulus of elasticity (Young’s modulus) E and internal friction Q ⁻¹ of the amorphous metal alloys Ti₅₀Cu_50−x Ni_x (5⩽x⩽20) are studied at temperatures of 300–800 K. There is an anomalous increase in E(T) at temperatures above T _x (which varies from 440 to 525 K, depending on the composition). When the amount of nickel in the alloy is high (x>12 at. %), a small peak shows up in Q ⁻¹(T). These effects are related to structural transitions in near-ordering regions (clusters). A model for structural relaxation of near ordering in amorphous alloys is proposed on the basis of these experiments. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 389–392 (March 1998)     

The electric quadrupole interaction of 111Cd in ZrZn2 and Zn in the samples prepared at 8 GPa

The perturbed angular correlation (PAC) measurements with the ¹¹¹In-¹¹¹Cd nuclear probe embedded into the lattice of the cubic (C15) Laves compound ZrZn₂ showed that ¹¹¹Cd nuclei experienced an axially symmetric electric quadrupole interaction with a frequency ν _Q  = 132.4 MHz at room temperature. The samples were synthesized and doped with the probe at a pressure 8 GPa. The temperature dependence of ν _Q was shown to be linear: ν _Q (T) = 147(1 − 0.033 T) MHz. Since the value of ν _Q is very close to that known for ¹¹¹Cd in the lattice of Zn, we have checked if it could be assigned to residual Zn metal in the sample. For the Zn sample melted and doped with ¹¹¹In at 8 GPa we have obtained ν _Q  = 117.3 MHz at 300 K and 127 MHz at 80 K – both values considerably lower than that for ¹¹¹In doped Zn samples prepared at an ambient pressure. These data, and the fact that ν _Q (T) in Zn is known to follow the T ^3/2 law, allow to attribute the ν _Q value quoted above to ¹¹¹Cd nuclei at the substitutional sites with tetrahedral symmetry in the Zn sublattice of ZrZn₂.     

From macroscopic to atomic motions in liquid metals

Summary In the present review of liquid dynamics studies on liquid metals are reported. Particularly the case of liquid lead is reviewed because this case was carefully studied by neutron scattering technique,S(Q,ω) being determined at two widely different temperaturesT=623 K andT=1170 K and therefore different densities. In addition extensive supplementary MD simulations were made using a 16 384-particle system. The simulations ranged from a determination of an effective pair potential for lead to simulation of the density correlation functionsF(Q,t) andF _s(Q,t), as well as the longitudinal and transversal current correlation functionsJ ₁(Q,t) andJ _T(Q,t). The MD simulation ?calibrated? via the experimentalS(Q) andS(Q,ω) was used to prolong the range of neutron data to draw conclusions regarding such quantities as dispersion relations for the current correlationsJ ₁(Q,t) andJ _T(Q,t), the generalized viscosity functions ν₁(Q,t), ν₁(Q) and ν_s(Q). Information regarding bulk viscosity ν_B(Q) is also gained. Conclusions are drawn regarding the relative importance of the derived pair potential form by comparison to corresponding hard-sphere data. The general framework of linearized hydrodynamic equations for the macroscopic situation transforming to visco-elastic equations of motion for finite wave-length and high frequency works well also for the case of a continuous potential. The region of transition from simple visco-elastic to hydrodynamic behaviour is occurring at wavelengths in the range (12÷20) ? for the cases studied. The spatial properties of the viscosity functions ν₁(r), ν_s(r) and ν_B(r) are found to correlate well with the range of the radial distribution function for the liquid. The general results for liquid lead probably have wide range of applicability to other simple liquids with similarS(Q) andg(r) properties. The authors have agreed not to receive proofs for correction.     

Buffer-gas pressure broadening for the 2ν3 band of methane measured with continuous-wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy

Buffer-gas pressure broadening for the P(1), Q(1), R(0) and R(1) transitions in the 2ν ₃ band of CH₄ was investigated in the 1660 nm region. The pressure broadening coefficients, γ(gas), were determined for a variety of buffer gases: N₂, O₂, He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe. The γ values generally increased with increasing polarizability of the buffer gases. γ(air) are 0.056(2) for P(1), 0.056(1) for R(0), 0.061(1) for R(1) and 0.059(1) for Q(1) in units of cm⁻¹ atm⁻¹ where numbers in parentheses are one standard deviation in units of the last digits quoted. The temperature dependent parameter (broadening exponent) for air is 0.84(7) for P(1) within the temperature range 233–298 K.     

Synthesis and characterization of ZnxHg1?xSeyS1?y quantum dots

This article describes the synthesis of highly water-soluble Zn _x Hg_1−x Se _y S_1−y quantum dots (QDs) in aqueous solution through a simple photo-assisted reaction between ZnSe QDs and mercury(I) nitrate dihydrate [Hg₂(NO₃)₂·2H₂O]. In order to deduce the optimal synthesis conditions, we varied several parameters, including the concentrations of mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA) and Hg₂(NO₃)₂·2H₂O, the illumination time, and the reaction temperature. When irradiated at temperatures below 80 °C, the ZnSe QDs reacted with the S²⁻ ions formed rapidly from MSA and the Hg²⁺ ions formed from Hg₂ ²⁺ ions to form Zn _x Hg_1−x Se _y S_1−y QDs through a process of photo-etching and surface combination. Under different conditions, we prepared a series of Zn _x Hg_1−x Se _y S_1−y QDs that emit fluorescence at the maximum wavelengths ranging from 405 to 760 nm. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectrometry revealed that the content of Hg in the Zn _x Hg_1−x Se _y S_1−y QDs was greater when the synthesis was conducted at higher temperature. The Zn_0.88Hg_0.12Se_0.44S_0.56 QDs exhibit improved photostability than crude ZnSe QDs and possess long lifetimes (τ₁ ~ 38 ns and τ₂ ~ 158 ns).     

Neutron brillouin scattering and liquid metal-molten salt mixtures

Summary The dispersion of collective density fluctuations (extended sound modes) has been measured in mixtures of liquid alkali metals and the corresponding molten alkali-halide salts. Mixtures with salt concentrations from 10 to 40% were investigated for momentum transfersQ between 4 and 14 nm⁻¹. ForQ-values larger than 11 nm⁻¹ the collective modes could even in the most favourable case no longer be separated from the quasi-elastic peak, the width of which increases roughly ∼Q ² in this region of momentum transfers. At a concentration of 10% RbCl in Rb we find a dispersion which would correspond to expanded liquid Rb at the temperature of the mixture (∼1000 K), demonstrating the dominant metallic character of the mixture (screening by nearly free electrons) at this salt concentration. At higher concentrations of salt, where influences from different partial dynamic structure factors interplay, the dispersions deviate from this simple structured dispersion curve, most likely due to the influence of an early onset of some ionic type of screening in the liquid. The proofs of this paper have been supervised by the Scientific Committee.     

Diffusion study of nitrogen implanted into <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-Hf using the nuclear resonance technique

The diffusion of nitrogen in α-Hf was studied in the temperature range of (823–1123) K using the ion implantation and nuclear resonance techniques. The measurements show that the diffusion coefficients follow the Arrhenius behavior D(T)=D ₀exp (−Q/RT) with D ₀=(5.5±2.1)×10⁻⁷ m²/s and Q=(228±1) kJ/mol. A comparison of the present results with the previous one is done.     

Luminescence of CaGa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Se<Subscript>4</Subscript>:Eu crystals

We have studied photoluminescence and thermoluminescence (PL and TL) in CaGa₂Se₄:Eu crystals in the temperature range 77–400 K. We have established that broadband photoluminescence with maximum at 571 nm is due to intracenter transitions 4f⁶ 5d–4f⁷ (⁸S_7/2) of the Eu²⁺ ions. From the temperature dependence of the intensity (log I–10³/T), we determined the activation energy (E _a = 0.04 eV) for thermal quenching of photoluminescence. From the thermoluminescence spectra, we determined the trap depths: 0.31, 0.44, 0.53, 0.59 eV. The lifetime of the excited state 4f6 5d of the Eu²⁺ ions in the CaGa₂Se₄ crystal found from the luminescence decay kinetics is 3.8 μsec. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 76, No. 1, pp. 112–116, January–February, 2009.     

Hyperfine structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P</Emphasis>-wave states in muonic-helium ion

Corrections of order α ⁵ and α ⁶ to the hyperfine structure of S- and P-wave energy levels of the muonic-helium ion are calculated. Electron-vacuum-polarization effects, corrections for the nuclear structure, and recoil effects are taken into account. The numerical values obtained for respective hyperfine splitting, −1334.73 meV (1S), −166.64 meV (2S), −58 712.90 μeV (2P _1/2), and −24 290.69 μeV (2P _3/2), can be viewed as a reliable estimate for a comparison with experimental data, and the hyperfine-structure interval of Δ₁₂ = 8ΔE ^hfs(2S) − ΔE ^hfs(1S) = 1.59 meV can be used to test QED predictions.     

硫系非晶半导体薄膜中的超快光 Kerr效应

利用飞秒激光超外差光Kerr(OHD-OKE)技术研究了As₂S₃, As₂Se₃, GeS₂, GeSe₂, Ge₂₀As₂₅S₅₅, Ge₂₀As₂₅Se₅₅, Ge₁₀As₄₀S_{20关键词： 全光开关 硫系非晶半导体薄膜 飞秒激光超外差光Kerr(OHD-OKE) 三阶非线性}     

Integral energy spectrum of primary cosmic rays at high energies

The integral energy spectrum of primary cosmic rays has been obtained. In the energy range (2.4×10³−1.1×10⁵ GeV), the spectrum of all nuclei is consistent with a power law of indexγ=1.55±0.06 and the flux of all nuclei is:N(⩾E ₀)⋍(5.1±1.8)×10⁻¹×E ₀ ^−1.55 particles/cm² sterad. sec., whereE ₀ is in GeV. The spectrum of primaryα-particles in the energy range (4.4×10³−4.8×10⁴) GeV is also consistent with a power law of indexγ=1.71±0.12 and the flux is:N(⩾E ₀)=(4.2±1.4)×10⁻¹×E ₀ ^−1.71 , particles per cm² sterad. sec, whereE ₀ is in GeV.     

Fluorescent Method for the Determination of Sulfide Anion with ZnS:Mn Quantum Dots

Water-soluble Mn²⁺-doped ZnS quantum dots (QDs) were prepared using mercaptoacetic acid as the stabilizer. The optical properties and structure features were characterized by X-Ray, absorption spectrum, IR spectrum and fluorescence spectrum. In pH 7.8 Tris-HCl buffer, the QDs emitted strong fluorescence peaked at 590 nm with excitation wavelength at 300 nm. The presence of sulfide anion resulted in the quenching of fluorescence and the intensity decrease was proportional to the S²⁻ concentration. The linear range was from 2.5 × 10⁻⁶ to 3.8 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ with detection limit as 1.5 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹. Most anions such as F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, CH₃CO₂ ⁻, ClO₄ ⁻, CO₃ ²⁻, NO₂ ⁻, NO₃ ⁻, S₂O₃ ²⁻, SO₃ ²⁻ and SO₄ ²⁻ did not interfere with the determination. Thus a highly selective assay was proposed and applied to the determination of S²⁻ in discharged water with the recovery of ca. 103%.     

Measurement and simulation of specific heat for metastable liquid Ni80Fe10Cu10 alloy

The specific heat of undercooled liquid Ni₈₀Fe₁₀Cu₁₀ alloy was experimentally measured by electromagnetic levitation drop calorimeter, and also numerically simulated by the molecular dynamics method. The achieved maximum undercooling is up to 252 K (0.15 T _L) in the experiments, and the measured result is 41.67 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹. The simulation provides calculated data within 0∼702 K undercooling range, which is much broader than the experimental regime. The simulated value is 37.02 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹. Although there exists a difference of 4.65 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ between them, the result is quite acceptable for simulation. Furthermore, the liquid structure of undercooled Ni₈₀Fe₁₀Cu₁₀ alloy is studied in terms of the total and partial pair distribution functions, which display that the ordered degree of atoms enhances from a normal liquid to metastable state.     

Experimental study of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">πh</Emphasis><Subscript>11/2</Subscript> band in <Superscript>113</Superscript>Sb

In the present work, the excited states of ¹¹³Sb were populated in the ¹⁰⁰Mo(²⁰Ne, p6n) reaction at a beam energy of 136 MeV. States only up to 59/2⁻ were observed in the ΔJ = 2 band. Mean lifetimes for the five states (from 4460 to 7998 keV) were measured for the first time using Doppler shift attenuation method. An upper limit of the lifetime (0.14 ps) was estimated for the 9061 keV, 47/2⁻ state. The B(E2) values, derived from the present lifetime results, correspond to a large quadrupole deformation of β ₂ = 0.32. The observed reduction in the experimental B(E2) values for the 918.4 keV (spin 39/2⁻ → 35/2⁻) and 985 keV (spin 43/2⁻ → 39/2⁻) transitions may be interpreted as due to the proton alignement in the g _7/2 orbital. The dynamic moment of inertia was observed to be about half of the rigid body value at the highest observed frequency.     

New Fluorescent Antitumour Cisplatin Analogue Complexes. Study of the Characteristics of their Binding to DNA by Flow Injection Analysis

The flow injection technique is applied to study the binding to DNA of new platinum complexes—E₁: ethylenediaminechlorocholylglycinateplatinum(II): [PtCl(CG)(en)], C₅₄H₉₂O₁₂Pt and E₂: ethylenediaminebischolylglycinateplatinum(II): [Pt(CG)₂(en)], C₂₈H₅₀ClN₃O₆Pt—derived from cisplatin in which the exchangeable ligands were replaced by bile acids, such that these anticancer drugs have less toxicity and less resistance is developed towards them. Both compounds are fluorescent and their fluorescence is enhanced when they form adducts with DNA, a property that is extremely useful for monitoring the cytotoxic activity and their mechanisms of action. The binding parameters to DNA of E₁ [apparent intrinsic binding constant K_E1: (11.2 ± 0.4) × 10³ M⁻¹ and maximum number of binding sites per nucleotide, n _E1: 0.121 ± 2 × 10⁻³) and E₂ (K_E2: 9.2 ± 0.7) × 10³ M⁻¹ and n _E2 0.098 ± 2 × 10⁻³] were determined following the Scatchard method and the type of binding was studied experimentally through the modifications introduced by each of the compounds into the ethidium bromide–DNA bond.     

Binding of Quercetin to Lysozyme as Probed by Spectroscopic Analysis and Molecular Simulation

The binding of quercetin to lysozyme (LYSO) in aqueous solution was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and molecular simulation at pH 7.4. The fluorescence quenching of LYSO by addition of quercetin is due to static quenching, the binding constants, K _a , were 3.63 × 10⁴, 3.31 × 10⁴ and 2.85 × 10⁴ L·mol⁻¹ at 288, 298 and 308 K, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters, enthalpy change, ∆H, and entropy change, ∆S, were noted to be −7.56 kJ·mol⁻¹ and 61.07 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹. The results indicated that hydrophobic interaction may play a major role in the binding process. The distance r between the donor (LYSO) and acceptor (quercetin) was determined as 3.34 nm by the fluorescence resonance energy transfer. The synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy showed the polarity around the tryptophan residues increased and the hydrophobicity decreased. Furthermore, the study of molecular simulation indicated that quercetin could bind to the active site (a pocket made up of 24 amino-acid residues) of LYSO mainly via hydrophobic interactions and that there were hydrogen interactions between the residues (Gln 57, Ile 98) of LYSO and quercetin. The accessible surface area (ASA) calculation verified the important roles of tryptophan (Trp) residues during the binding process.     

Magnetic penetration depth in the Chevrel phase superconductors SnMo6SySe8−y and PbMo6SzSe8−z

We report on transverse field (300 mT)μ ⁺ SR measurements in the Chevrel phase superconductors SnMo₆S_ySe_8−y (y=1, 4, 7, 8) and PbMo₆S_zSe_8−z (z=4.8) using the field cooling procedure (from room temperature down to 2.2 K). The London penetration depth λ_L was determined by the analysis of the fits with a single Gaussian relaxation function and by comparing the measured field distributions with calculated ones, where a broadening due to small random displacements of the vortices was taken into account.     

Effect of mean-square amplitude of atomic vibrations on the creep behaviour of cubic crystals

Correlation between the activation energyQ of high-temperature creep and the Debye-Waller thermal parameterB, which is proportional to the mean-square amplitude of atomic vibrations, has been examined in the case of 17 faced-centred cubic, body-centred cubic and diamond-structure cubic elements. It is observed thatQ is a function ofB, irrespective of the crystal structure;Q decreases asB increases. The correlation is governed by the power-lawQ=Q ₀(B/B ₀) ^M0 , whereQ ₀=0.095eV andM ₀=−0.62 are numerical constants determined by least-squares fit method, and the constantB ₀=1 nm².     

Q 2 dependence of the measured asymmetry A 1: A test of the Bjorken sum rule

We analyze the proton and deutron data on the spin-dependent asymmetry A ₁(x, Q ²), supposing that the DIS structure functions g ₁(x, Q ²) and F ₃(x, Q ²) have a similar Q ² dependence. As a result, we have found that Λ ₁ ^p −Λ ₁ ⁿ =0.190±0.038 at Q ²=10 GeV² and Λ ₁ ^p −Λ ₁ ⁿ =0.165±0.026 at Q ²=3 GeV²; these values are in the best agreement with the Bjorken sum rule predictions. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 65, No. 1, 9–14 (10 January 1997) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.