Practical separation of silicon isotopes by IRMPD of Si2F6

Large-scale silicon isotope separation based on the IRMPD of natural Si₂F₆ has been carried out using a commercially available high power CO₂ TEA laser and a flow reaction system. The decomposition product SiF₄ containing 19–33% of ³⁰Si was obtained at a production rate of 1.5×10^–2–2.6×10^–2 mol·h^–1, depending on experimental parameters such as laser wavelength, laser fluence, pressure, and flow rate. SiF₄ containing 12% of ²⁹Si was obtained under slightly different conditions, i.e., at a shorter wavelength than that for ³⁰Si. When 39% of Si₂F₆ was decomposed at a slow flow rate, residual Si₂F₆ was found to have 99.7% of ²⁸Si. The production rate was 4.2×10^–2 mol·h^–1.     

Studies of divacancy in Si using positron lifetime measurement

The charge state dependence of positron lifetime and trapping at divacancy (V₂) in Si doped with phosphorus or boron has been studied after 15 McV electron irradiation up to a fluence of 8.0×10¹⁷ e/cm². The positron trapping cross sections for V ₂ ^2– , V ₂ ^– and V ₂ ⁰ at 300 K were about 6×10^–14, 3×10^–14 and 0.1–3×10^–14 cm², respectively. For V ₂ ⁺ , however, no positron trapping was observed. The marked difference in the cross sections comes from Coulomb interaction between the positron and the charged divacancy. The trapping rates for V ₂ ⁰ and V ₂ ^2– have been found to increase with decreasing temperature in the temperature range of 10–300 K. These results are well interpreted by a two-stage trapping model having shallow levels with energy of 9 meV (V ₂ ⁰ ) and 21 meV (V ₂ ^2– ). The appearance of a shallow level for V ₂ ⁰ can not be explained by a conventional Rydberg state model. The lifetime (290–300 ps) in V ₂ ⁰ is nearly constant in the temperature range from 10 to 300 K, while that in V ₂ ^2– increases from 260 ps at 10 K to 320 ps at 300 K. The lifetime (260 ps) in V ₂ ^2– is shorter than that in V ₂ ⁰ at low temperature, which is due to the excess electron density in V ₂ ^2– . At high temperature, however, the longer lifetime of V ₂ ^2– than that of V ₂ ⁰ is attributed to lattice relaxation around V ₂ ^2– .     

Tritium isotope separation by CO2-laser irradiation at low temperatures

Tritium isotope separation by CO₂-laser induced multiphoton dissociation of CTF₃ is investigated. For the optimization of the performance of this working substance, trifluoromethane, the conditions to yield high-selectivity at high-operating pressure and low-critical fluence for complete dissociation are studied using our deconvolution procedure. The irradiation conditions are varied over the following ranges; wavenumber: 1052–1087 cm^–1, gas temperature: 25°C to –78°C, CHF₃ pressure: 5–205 Torr. The selectivities exceeding 10⁴ are observed for 85–205 Torr CHF₃ at –78°C by the irradiation at 1057 cm^–1.     

Temperature anomalies in the dispersion and absorption of sound near phase transition points at low temperatures

We examined the attenuation and dispersion of sound during phase transitions with an overdamped soft mode at low temperatures. The obtained temperature and frequency dependences differ from results known at the high-temperature asymptote. The temperature anomalies are sharper. At low frequencies, the attenuation behaves like (T – T_c)^–5/2 for a critical phonon spectrum isotropic in k, and like (T–T_c)^–2 for uniaxial ferroelectrics. The presence of a temperature anomaly is characteristic also for high-frequency attenuation, behaving like (T–T_c)^–1/2 and ln(T–T_c)., respectively. We discuss briefly the results obtained from an experimental test.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 1, pp. 70–74, January, 1989.     

Effects of association of rhodamine 6G compounds on the IR absorption spectra

Results are reported for association with the anions Cl^–, Br^–, I^–, NO ₃ ^– , ClO ₄ ^– , GaCl ₄ ^– , and InBr ₄ ^– , as regards the IR absorption of free and bound N-H modes. The bound N-H mode is found to be characteristic of the anion and to be due to association of ion pairs joined via hydrogen bonds.     

Infrared absorption of silane,ammonia, acetylene and diborane in the range of the CO2 laser emission lines: Measurements and modelling

Absorption spectra of the gases SiH₄, NH₃, C₂H₂ and of SiH₄/Ar and SiH₄/B₂H₆ mixtures have been measured in the spectral range of the CO₂ laser from 9.2 to 10.8 µm. In agreement with literature, silane shows the highest absorption (absorption coefficient = 3.3 × 10^–2 Pa^–1 m^–1). The deviation of the measured absorption behaviour of silane from literature, as far as the pressure dependence is concerned, can be explained by the enhanced spectral energy density in our experiment. This is confirmed by a rate-equation model involving the basic mechanisms of V-V and V-T energy transfer between vibrationally excited silane molecules. In contrast to silane, the absorption coefficient of NH₃ at the 10P(20) laser line is 4.5 × 10^–4 Pa^–1 m^–1 atp = 20 kPa and has its maximum of 4.5 × 10^–3 Pa^–1 m^–1 at the 10R(6) laser line. For C₂H₂ and B₂H₆, is even less ( 2.1 Ò 10^–5 Pa^–1 m^–1 for C₂H₂).     

Radical-Recombination Luminescence of the Uranyl Nitrate Complex in the Adsorbed State

We have investigated the luminescence of uranyl nitrate molecules on the surface of powdery SiO₂ upon excitation by UV light (PhL) and hydrogen atoms (radical-recombination luminescence (RRL)). It has been found that the PhL and RRL spectra have a clearly defined vibrational structure. The luminescence peaks of the adsorbed UO₂ ^2– ion are characterized by a systematic longwave shift from the same peaks of crystalline uranyl nitrate (by 230–430 cm^–1 at 130 K). Moreover, in the adsorption centers the vibration frequencies of UO₂ ^2– are 20–80 cm smaller than in crystalline salt and the RRL bands are 150–350 cm^–1 (130 K) wider than the corresponding PhL bands.     

Fourier transform emission spectroscopy of the TiF radical in the 407 nm region

Ultraviolet emission spectra of the TiF radical in the 407 nm region have been observed at a resolution of 0.04 cm⁻¹ using a Fourier transform spectrometer. A new electronic assignment of ⁴Γ–X⁴Φ has been proposed. Rotational analysis has been obtained for the 0–0 and 1–1 vibrational bands of the ⁴Γ_5/2–X⁴Φ_3/2, ⁴Γ_9/2–X⁴Φ_7/2, and ⁴Γ_11/2–X⁴Φ_9/2 subbands and the 0–0 band of ⁴Γ_7/2–X⁴Φ_5/2. The lower state rotational and centrifugal distortion constants are consistent with the previous results [J. Mol. Spectrosc. 184 (1997) 186; J. Chem. Phys. 119 (2003) 9496], to the conformation that the lower state of the 407 nm band is the ⁴Φ ground electronic state. Rough estimates of the vibrational interval ΔG(1/2) and the spin–orbit coupling constant A in the ⁴Γ state were also obtained.     

R branch tuning characteristics of the13CH3F Raman FIR laser

Summary We described a¹³CH₃F Raman laser pumped by a grating tuned 20 atmospheres CO₂ laser. The emission characteristics of the¹³CH₃F laser extends from 14 cm^–1–35 cm^–1 and from 49 cm^–1–72 cm^–1; about 65% of these frequency ranges can be covered with tunable radiation. The characteristics shows a strong dependence on the rotaional quantum numbers of the states involved in the Raman laser transitions and, within each tuning interval, on the frequency offset with respect to the frequencies of resonant transitions. We obtained, at 51 cm^–1, a maximum FIR laser pulse energy of about 800 J (at a pump energy of 200 mJ), corresponding to a photon conversion of about 8%. In some cases we have observed simultaneous emission at a Raman and a cascade frequency. In addition, FIR emission power dependence on¹³CH₃F gas pressure and pump pulse power were investigated for different J quantum numbers.     

The sub-micrometer thickness n-InSb/i-GaAs epilayers for magnetoresistor applications at room temperatures of operation

Magnetotransport at fields up to 500 mT and LF-noise characteristics are reported for miniature magnetoresistors with ferrite concentrators based on Sn-doped n-InSb/i-GaAs heterostructures grown by MBE. The thickness of the InSb epilayers lie in the range 0.55–1.5 μm giving room temperature mobilities of 2.5–5.5 m² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ with carrier densities of (0.5–1.5)×10¹⁷ cm⁻³. The room temperature magnetoresistance (MR) for our two terminal devices could be as high as 115% at 50 mT which is comparable to the extraordinary MR (ExMR) recently reported in microscopic composite van der Pauw disks four terminal devices [Science 289 (2000) 1530]. In addition, a high signal-to-noise ratio and a good temperature stability of R(B)/R₀=0.5–0.83% K⁻¹ was observed for B<60 mT (below the saturation field B_sat for ferrite). Device resistance stability R₀(T) was equal to 0.27–0.66% K⁻¹ in zero field with a nominal device resistance R₀=197–224 Ω for DC currents in the range I=0.01–1.0 mA. The minimum detectable magnetic field is estimated from the reduced differential MR (∂R/∂B)/R=2000% T⁻¹ at B=31 mT and normalised 1/f current noise power spectral density measured at the same field. The resolution limit B_min=2.6 nT at 10² Hz and B_min=0.82 nT at 10³ Hz. These resolution limits are seven times better than those recently reported for the same material n-InSb/i-GaAs and ferrite fabricated Hall sensors [Magnetotransport and Raman characterization of n-InSb/i-GaAs epilayers, for Hall sensors applications over extremely wide ranges of temperature and magnetic field, Proceedings NGS 10, IPAP Conference Series 2, IPAP, Tokyo, 2001, pp. 151–154].     

Infrared and Raman spectra of M2Cu2O5 (M=Y,Ho)

We report both Raman and infrared reflectivity spectra of M₂Cu₂O₅ (M=Y, Ho) at room temperature in the spectral range of 30–1000 cm^–1.37 (31) ir and 18 (15) Raman active modes of Y₂Cu₂O₅ (Ho₂Cu₂O₅) are observed. A factor group analysis has been performed to identify the symmetries of the observed modes. Comparing the vibrational spectra of these compounds we conclude that the phonons above 300 cm^–1 originate from the Cu–O vibrations and those under 300 cm^–1 from M–O vibrations.Alexander von Humboldt Foundation fellow     

Photoluminescence of erbium ions in titanium oxide xerogel in porous anodic alumina matrices

It is shown that the structures of erbium-doped titanium oxide xerogel/porous anodic alumina manifest strong photoluminescence at 1.53 µm due to the ⁴I_13/2–⁴I_15/2 transition of Er³⁺ ions in the xerogel. In the titanium oxide xerogel, two phases — anatase and rutile — have been detected by the x-ray analysis method. The luminescence excitation spectrum of erbium at 1.53 µm consists of a set of lines that correspond to the intracenter transitions of Er³⁺ ions with a maximum band at 524 nm caused by the ⁴I_15/2–²H_11/2 transition. The lifetime of erbium in such structures is 1.8 msec.__________Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 72, No. 1, pp. 94–98, January–February, 2005.     

Electrical characteristics of the rf-excited oxygen plasma-cathodization-grown SiO2/Si interface

The electrical properties of the SiO₂/n-type Si(100) interface, where the silicon-oxide layer was grown by an electrodeless rf oxygen-plasma-cathodization technique, were investigated usingC-V and DLTS methods. Interface traps with high density in the range of 10¹² eV^–1 cm^–2 and a capture cross section as large as 10^–18 cm² were found in the upper region of the silicon forbidden gap. After a post-annealing process, typically at 400°C for 30 min in dry N₂ atmosphere, their densities and capture cross sections were reduced to the range of 1–2 × 10¹¹ eV^–1 cm^–2 and 10^–19 cm^–2, respectively. Apparant differences in DLTS curves before and after thermal annealing were also observed. Results are qualitatively explained by considering the specific oxidation and annealing mechanism of this low-temperature silicon-oxidation technique.     

Time-resolved emission spectroscopy of gadolinium vanadate ceramics (GdVO4:Bi3+)

The preparation of GdVO₄:Bi³⁺ ceramics is indicated. Bismuth shows a strong tendency to evaporate during the sintering process. Time-resolved emission spectroscopy shows for sufficiently low Bi³⁺ concentrations subsequently: blue VO ₄ ^3– emission with a decay time corresponding to the transfer rate (10⁶ s^–1), yellow VO ₄ ^3– –Bi³⁺ emission, rare-earth impurity emission and VO ₄ ^3– –Bi³⁺ afterglow.     

Ion–ion interactions of LiPF6 and LiBF4 in propylene carbonate solutions

Self-diffusion coefficients of Li⁺ D_Li⁺, PF₆⁻ D_PF6⁻ and solvent propylene carbonate (PC) D_PC in LiPF₆−PC solutions were determined at 298 K by the pulse gradient spin echo (PGSE) NMR technique over the salt concentration range of 0.1–3.0 M (M = mol dm^– 3). The order of the diffusion coefficients was found to be D_Li⁺ < D_PF6⁻ < D_PC over the concentration range examined, and they were monotonically decreased with increasing the salt concentration. Haven ratio Λ/Λ_NMR, where Λ and Λ_NMR represent the ionic conductivity measured electrochemically and that estimated via the Nernst-Einstein equation using the diffusion coefficient, respectively, was evaluated as the measure of the ion–ion interaction in the LiPF₆–PC solutions. Though Λ/Λ_NMR values for LiPF₆-solutions decrease with increasing the salt concentration, they were greater than those for LiBF₄–PC solutions over the whole concentration range examined, which indicates that the ion pair formation ability of PF₆^– ion is weaker than that of the BF₄^– ion. The smaller value of the ionic conductivity for the highly concentrated LiPF₆–PC solution (above 2.0 M) than that of the LiBF₄-solutions can be attributed to the more rapidly increased viscosity relative to the LiBF₄-solution. Classic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for the respective LiPF₆ and LiBF₄-solution of 0.5 and 1.0 M were also carried out based on the effective pair potentials. Diffusion coefficients, ionic conductivity and Haven ratio for these solutions were calculated from MD trajectories, and they qualitatively agree with those evaluated by experiments. Pair correlation functions g_LiO(r) (for Li⁺–O (PC) pair) and g_LiPF6(r) (for Li⁺–PF₆^– pair) or g_LiBF4(r) (for Li⁺–BF₄^– pair) revealed that the lithium ion weakly forms the contact ion pairs with PF₆^–, whilst strongly with BF₄^–, which supports the present experimental results. Moreover, the simulation results show that both anions in the contact ion pairs predominantly take the monodentate form, which is in contrast to the multidentate coordination predicted by ab initio calculation in gas phase.     

Time and temperature dependent breakdown characteristics of ZnS:Mn films obtained by rf-magnetron sputtering

Breakdown delay times (t_del) for films of managanese-doped zinc sulfide (ZnS:Mn) were measured in the range 10^–6–10^–1 s. The maximum value was t_del=10^–3–10^–2 s. The electrical strength (E_br) was found to increase as the voltage pulse duration was reduced, the more so the thinner the ZnS:Mn film. The temperature dependence of E_br exhibited a weak reduction in E_br as the temperature was raised to roughly 80°C and a sharp reduction in E_br for T>130°C. A maximum in E_br was observed at T130°C which is presumably explained by a structural modification of the ZnS:Mn film. The experimental results obtained are explained in terms of a combined electronic and thermal breakdown mechanism.State Academy of Control Systems and Radioelectronics, Tomsk. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 4, pp. 3–6, April, 1994.     

Visible laser spectroscopy of cobalt monofluoride

The laser-induced fluorescence excitation spectrum of jet-cooled CoF molecules has been studied in the range of 18 800–22 000 cm⁻¹. Ten observed vibronic bands have been classified into three transitions with the 0–0 band at 18 909, 19 236, and 20 654 cm⁻¹, assigned as the [18.8]³Φ₄–X³Φ₄, [19.2]³Φ₄–X³Φ₄, and [20.6]³Γ₅–X³Φ₄ transition, respectively, the two ³Φ states, [18.8]³Φ and [19.2]³Φ, are consistent with Adam’s results (10). The previously unanalyzed [20.6] state is identified in the current work. A rotational analysis of [20.6]³Γ₅–X³Φ₄ transition has been performed and effective equilibrium molecular constants have been determined for the first time. In addition, lifetime measurements of the three electronic transitions were carried out under the collision-free condition. From the lifetime analysis, we consider that the V=1, 2, and 3 vibrational levels of [18.8]³Φ state are perturbed by another state.     

Electrical conductivity of Ag/Na ion-exchanged titanosilicate glasses

The Ag₂O–TiO₂–SiO₂ glasses were prepared by Ag⁺/Na⁺ ion-exchange method from Na₂O–TiO₂–SiO₂ glasses at 380–450 °C below their glass transition temperatures (T_g), and their electrical conductivities were investigated as functions of TiO₂ content and the ion-exchange ratio (Ag/(Ag+Na)). In a series of glasses 20R₂O·xTiO₂·(80−x)SiO₂ with x=10, 20, 30 and 40 in mol%, the electrical conductivities at 200 °C of the fully ion-exchanged glasses of R=Ag were in the order of 10⁻⁵ or 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ and were 1 or 2 orders of magnitude higher than those of the initial glasses of R=Na. The glass of x=30 exhibited the highest increase of conductivity from 3.8×10⁻⁷ to 1.3×10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at 200 °C by Ag⁺/Na⁺ ion exchange among them. When the ion-exchange ratio was changed in 20R₂O·30TiO₂·50SiO₂ system, the electrical conductivity at 200 °C exhibited a minimum value of 7.6×10⁻⁸ S cm⁻¹ around Ag/(Ag+Na)=0.3 and increased steeply in the region of Ag/(Ag+Na)=0.5–1.0. When the ion-exchange temperature was changed from 450 to 400 °C, the conductivity of the ion-exchanged glass of x=30 decreased. The infrared spectroscopy measurement revealed that the ion-exchange temperature of 450 °C induced a structural change in the glass of x=30. The T_g of the fully ion-exchanged glass of x=30 was 498 °C. It was suggested that the incorporated silver ions changed the average coordination number of titanium ions to form higher ion-conducting pathway and resulted in high conductivity in the titanosilicate glasses.     

Magnetic and magnetotransport properties of Co-doped manganites with perovskite structure

A systematic study of the doping of the Mn-sites by cobalt in three series of manganites — La_0.76Ba_0.24(Mn_1−xCo_x)O₃ single crystals, La_2/3Ba_1/3(Mn_1−xCo_x)O₃ and La(Mn_1−xCo_x)O₃ ceramics has been performed. It was found that La(Mn_1−xCo_x)O₃ annealed at 800°C in the range 0.4x0.9 is a mixture of ferromagnetic domains with ordered Mn and Co ions and ionically disordered spin-glass domains. In the quenched samples the fraction of spin-glass-type component increases strongly. The La_2/3Ba_1/3(Mn_1−xCo_x)O₃ solid solutions exhibit also an evidence for phase separation in the range 0.5x0.8. All the La(Mn_1−xCo_x)O₃ samples show an insulating behavior, however, magnetoresistance reduces strongly when the cobalt content rises to x=0.5. The La_0.76Ba_0.24(Mn_1−xCo_x)O₃ single crystals show first-order phase transition below their Curie points associated with a change of ground state of the Co²⁺ ions. The magnetic phase diagrams are depicted. The results are discussed in terms of positive Mn³⁺–O–Mn⁴⁺, Mn³⁺–O–Mn³⁺, Mn⁴⁺–O–Co²⁺ and negative Mn⁴⁺–O–Mn⁴⁺, Co²⁺–O–Co²⁺, Co²⁺–O–Mn³⁺ superexchange interactions as well as Co²⁺ and Mn⁴⁺ ionic ordering.