NMR analysis of oils from pine nuts (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sibirica</Emphasis>) and seeds of common pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus silvestris L.</Emphasis>)

We studied the fatty-acid composition of oils from pine nuts and seeds of common pine using PMR and ¹³C NMR and gas chromatography. We found that the main components of the glycerides are palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, γ-linolenic, pinolenic, and cis-9-eicosenoic acids. The oils contain about 2% sn-1,2-diacylglycerides in addition to triglycerides. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 74, No. 4, pp. 528–532, July–August, 2007.     

NMR determination of the composition of balsams from scotch pine resin

We have used ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy to study the composition of pine resin balsams from Scotch pines grown in different regions of the Republic of Belarus. We have established that their chemical composition does not depend very much on the region where they are grown or the level of contamination of the forests by radioactive and industrial emissions. Prolonged storage of the balsams leads to a substantial change in their compositions, due to isomerization of the resin acids. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 75, No. 3, pp. 411–415, May–June, 2008.     

Environmental monitoring based on NMR analysis of the composition of essential oil from Canadian spruce needles

We have used ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy to analyze the chemical composition of essential oil from needles of Canadian spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) grown in different regions of the Republic of Belarus. We consider the change in the composition of the oil depending on the area where the spruce was grown. We suggest using spruce needle essential oil as a biological indicator for environmental conditions in the area.     

Isotope effect for the thermal expansion coefficient of germanium

The first experimental and theoretical investigation of the difference in the temperature behavior of the linear expansion coefficients of single crystals grown from isotopically highly enriched and natural germanium is reported. A comparison of the data for ⁷⁰Ge and ^natGe crystals reveals the significant influence of isotopic composition over a wide range of temperatures 30–230 K. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 115, 243–248 (January 1999)     

Epitaxial growth and spectroscopic investigation of BaSO4:Mn6+ layers

We report on the first layer growth of a Mn⁶⁺-doped material. Large-size BaSO₄ substrates of 10×6×4 mm³ were grown from a LiCl solvent by the flux method. Flat surfaces of undoped BaSO₄ were then achieved by use of liquid-phase epitaxy (LPE) from a CsCl–KCl–NaCl solvent. Finally, BaSO₄:Mn⁶⁺ layers were grown by LPE with growth velocities of approximately 3 μm h^-1, at temperatures of 550–508 °C. Absorption, luminescence, luminescence-excitation and luminescence-decay measurements confirmed the incorporation of manganese solely in its hexavalent oxidation state. This material possesses potential as a near-infrared tunable laser with a wavelength range larger than Ti:sapphire. Received: 7 January 2002 / Revised version: 30 March 2002 / Published online: 8 August 2002     

Prediction and Measurement of Electron Density and Collision Frequency in a Weakly Ionised Pine Fire

Pine litter flame is a weakly ionised medium. Electron-neutral collisions are a dominant form of particle interaction in the flame. Assuming flame electrons to be in thermal equilibrium with neutrals and average electron-neutral collision frequency to be much higher than the plasma frequency, the propagation of microwaves through the flame is predicted to suffer signal intensity loss. A controlled fire burner was constructed where various natural vegetation species could be used as fuel. The burner was equipped with thermocouples and used as a cavity for microwaves with a laboratory quality network analyzer to measure wave attenuation. Electron density and collision frequency were then calculated from the measured attenuation. The parameters are important for numerical prediction of electromagnetic wave propagation in wildfire environments. A controlled pine litter fire with a maximum flame temperature of 1080 K was set in the burner and microwaves (8–10.5 GHz) were caused to propagate through the flame. A microwave signal loss of 1.6–5.8 dB was measured within the frequency range. Based on the measured attenuation, electron density and electron-neutral collision frequency in pine fire were calculated to range from 0.51–1.35 × 10¹⁶ m⁻³ and 3.43–5.97 × 10¹⁰ s⁻¹ respectively.     

Luminescence of aggregate centers in CsBr:Eu2+ single crystals

We have used the Bridgman method to grow CsBr:Eu²⁺ single crystals, adding an activator to the mix in the form of Eu₂O₃ in amounts of 0.0125, 0.0250, and 0.0500 mole %. At T = 300 K, we studied the absorption spectra, the photoluminescence (PL) spectra, and the photostimulated luminescence (PSL) spectra of the grown crystals. We have established that the structure of the photoluminescence and photostimulated luminescence centers in crystals grown from the CsBr:Eu₂O₃ mix includes isolated dipole centers Eu²⁺-V_Cs, emitting in bands with maxima at 432 nm and 455 nm respectively, and in crystals grown at activator concentrations of 0.025 and 0.050 mole % they also include aggregate centers (AC) based on CsEuBr₃ nanocrystals with emission bands at 515 m and 523 nm. We have shown that the maximum concentration of aggregate centers of the CsEuBr₃ nanocrystal type in CsBr:Eu²⁺ crystals is achieved for an activator content in the mix within the range 0.01–0.05 mole %. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 73, No. 3, pp. 359–362, May–June, 2006.     

Spectral measurements of dielectric characteristics of petroleum and petroleum oils in the millimeter wave range

We obtain experimental data on the complex refractive index N = n+ik of petroleum, five petroleum oils, and water-petroleum emulsion in the frequency range f = 75–120 GHz. Measurements were performed in a quasioptical equipment with a backward-wave oscillator generating the radiation and an OAP-7 optical-acoustic receivers for a temperature of 27°C of studied liquids. The refractive indices n of petroleum and oil have a weak negative dispersion (dn/df < 0) and close values. At a frequency of 100 GHz, they lie in the range n = 1.477–1.495. The absorption indices k have different frequency dependences such that k increases for four oils, while it decreases for petroleum and SM-4.5 oil with increasing f. At the frequency f = 100 GHz, the values of k vary in a wide range from 2.4 · 10⁻⁴ to 1.7 · 10⁻³. The measurement results for petroleum and oils are compared with experimental results obtained by other authors. The frequency dependences of n and k of water-petroleum emulsion for water concentrations 0.11% and 0.58% are compared with the data calculated using various analytical models of dielectric mixtures. The dependences n(f) and k(f) calculated by the Kubo-Nakamura formula are the closest to the experimental data. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 50, No. 6, pp. 485–495, June 2007.     

Optical properties of indium nitride powder and films

Using photoluminescence and transmission measurements, we have studied the optical properties of indium nitride powder and thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The bandgap for InN powder with electron concentration ∼ 4·10¹⁹ cm⁻³ was 0.94 eV, and for InN films with electron concentrations ∼10¹⁸ cm⁻³ it was 0.7 eV. We have established that when the electron concentration is increased to 8·10¹⁹ cm⁻³, the bandgap of InN increases to 1.0 eV. The change in the bandgap as a function of the concentration is due to the appearance of the Burstein-Moss effect. Report given at the Fifth Belorussian-Russian Seminar on Semiconductor Lasers and Systems Based on Semiconductor Lasers, June 1–5, 2005, Minsk, Belarus. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 73, No. 1, pp. 86–89, January–February, 2006.     

Spectral kinetic properties of Yb3+:Na4Y6F22 and Yb3+:LiLuF4 crystals

Yb³⁺ (2.7 at.%):Na₄Y₆F₂₂ and Yb³⁺(1 at.%):LiLuF₄ crystals were grown by the Bridgman-Stockbarger method. We measured the temperature dependences of the thermal conductivity of the crystals and the absorption spectra. We determined the radiative lifetime of the Yb³⁺ ion in these crystals (1.94 msec and 2.13 msec) and calculated the stimulated emission cross section spectra. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 74, No. 6, pp. 761–766, November–December, 2007.     

Nd3+:GGG and Cr4+:GGG epitaxial films for neodymium lasers

An efficient technology was developed for growing the gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) single-crystal films doped with Nd³⁺ or Cr and Ca ions. The films with thickness up to 100 μm have been grown by liquid-phase epitaxy method on undoped GGG substrates of small and big sizes (5–8 mm and up to 76 mm in diameter, respectively). The dependence of absorption, luminescence spectra and optical losses at the wavelength of 1 μm on growth temperature and melt-solution composition was studied. We demonstrated that Cr⁴⁺ centers have been implemented in epitaxial films and these films may be used as passive Q-switches for laser systems.     

Pulsed cathodoluminescence of feldspars

We have studied the spectral and kinetic characteristics of pulsed cathodoluminescence of feldspars (albite, microcline, amazonite) in the time range 10⁻⁸–10⁻² sec and the temperature range 28–300 K. We have shown that the bands in the UV region of the spectrum (5.39, 4.35, and 3.75 eV) are due to intrinsic luminescence of the crystals. The ratio of the intensities of these bands characterizes the phase composition of the mineral: in the luminescence spectra of microcline, for all temperatures the 4.35 eV band dominates; in the pulsed cathodoluminescence spectra of albite, the bands at 3.75 eV (at 300 K) and 5.39 eV (at 28 K) dominate. The parameters of the luminescence decay kinetics for the impurity ions Fe³⁺ and Mn²⁺ are more sensitive to local perturbations of the lattice structure than the position of the emission band maximum, and can be an effective indicator of the origin of the mineral. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 73, No. 3, pp. 339–343, May–June, 2006.     

More progressive technology of GaSb single crystal growth

GaSb single crystals were grown by the Czochralski method without encapsulant in an atmosphere of ionized hydrogen. It has been found that the resistivity increased by more than one order of magnitude (0.8–1.0Ω cm) and free carrier concentration decreased to the value of (1–2) × 10¹⁶ cm⁻³ in comparison with the crystals grown under molecular hydrogen atmosphere. A certain asymmetry in acceptor and donor passivation is assumed because the Hall concentration does not vary along the direction of crystal growth. Donors are passivated more than acceptors, which should be confirmed by increasing resistivity and decreasing mobility. Presented at the 6th Joint Seminar “Development of Materials Science in Research and Education”, Karlštejn, Czech Republic, 17–19 September 1996.     

Application of MEH-PPV/SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> bilayer as hybrid solar cell

The effects of oxygen content in the sputtering gas on the crystallographic and optoelectronic properties of 210 nm-thick Zr–doped In₂O₃ (Zr–In₂O₃) films by rf magnetron sputtering were initially studied. The results of X-ray diffraction show that the Zr–In₂O₃ films grown on glass substrates exhibit mixed crystallographic orientations. Moreover, the Zr–In₂O₃ film grown in an Ar atmosphere promotes the appearance of crystallographic orientation of (222). The surface of the Zr–In₂O₃ film becomes rougher as the oxygen content in the sputtering gas decreases; the current images obtained by conductive atomic force microscopy reveal that the surfaces of the Zr–In₂O₃ films exhibit a distribution of coexisting conducting and nonconducting regions, and that the area of the nonconducting surface increases with the oxygen content in the sputtering gas. The resistivity is minimized to 3.51×10⁻⁴ Ω cm when the Zr–In₂O₃ film is grown in an Ar atmosphere and the average transmittance in the visible light region is ∼85%. The optical band gap decreases as the oxygen content in the sputtering gas increases.     

The electrical characteristics of MBE n-Hg1–xCdxTe (x?=?0.29–0.31) MIS structures with sharp inhomogeneities in composition

The effect of regions with periodic sharp 48–54 nm thick inhomogeneities in composition on the electrophysical characteristics of MIS structures based on graded-gap n-Hg_1–x Cd _x Te (x = 0.29–0.31) grown by molecular-beam epitaxy is studied. It is found that major electro-physical and photo-electrical characteristics are qualitatively similar for MIS structures based on n-Hg_1–x Cd _x Te with sharp inhomogeneities in composition (barriers) and without “barriers”. It is shown that the electrical characteristics are mostly affected by the “barrier regions” located close to the insulator – semiconductor interface. This effect is manifested in an increase of the effective dielectric thickness, which can be due to the fact that the regions of enhanced composition form potential barriers for electrons, and in a decrease in the relaxation time of non-equilibrium carriers due to recombination at the boundaries of the regions with sharp changes in composition.     

Pulsed laser deposition of Zr–N codoped <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-type ZnO thin films

Present p-type ZnO films tend to exhibit high resistivity and low carrier concentration, and they revert to their natural n-type state within days after deposition. One approach to grow higher quality p-type ZnO is by codoping the ZnO during growth. This article describes recent results from the growth and characterization of Zr–N codoped p-type ZnO thin films by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on (0001) sapphire substrates. For this work, both N-doped and Zr–N codoped p-type ZnO films were grown for comparison purposes at substrate temperatures ranging between 400 to 700 °C and N₂O background pressures between 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻² Torr. The carrier type and conduction were found to be very sensitive to substrate temperature and N₂O deposition pressure. P-type conduction was observed for films grown at pressures between 10⁻³ to 10⁻² Torr. The Zr–N codoped ZnO films grown at 550 °C in 1×10⁻³ Torr of N₂O show p-type conduction behavior with a very low resistivity of 0.89 Ω-cm, a carrier concentration of 5.0×10¹⁸ cm⁻³, and a Hall mobility of 1.4 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. The structure, morphology and optical properties were also evaluated for both N-doped and Zr–N codoped ZnO films.     

The dynamics of accumulation of electrically active radiation defects on implantation of graded-band-gap HgCdTe films grown by MBE

The dynamics of accumulation of electrically active radiation defects under ion doping of epitaxial Cd _x Hg _1−x Te films is studied for various distributions of film composition in the implantation region. The epitaxial films were irradiated by boron ions at room temperature in the continuous regime, with the dose ranging within 10¹¹−3·10¹⁵ cm⁻², energy — 20–150 keV, and ion current density — j = 0.001–0.2 μA·cm⁻². It is found that the natural logarithm of the introduction rate of electrically active radiation defects linearly depends on the epitaxial-film composition in the range of mean projected path of implanted ions. An analysis of the experimental data shows that the dynamics of accumulation of electrically active radiation defects is determined by the epitaxial-film composition in the implantation region. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 25–28, September, 2006.     

Absorption and scattering of high-power laser radiation in low-density porous media

We have experimentally investigated the interaction of high-power neodymium laser pulses in the intensity range 10¹³–10¹⁴ W/cm² with flat low-density (0.5–10 mg/cm³) agar-agar targets under conditions of interest for problems of inertial nuclear fusion. Optical and x-ray methods with high temporal and spatial resolution were used to examine the dependence of absorption and scattering of the incident beam on the initial mean density and thickness of the irradiated samples. We show that when a porous target is irradiated, a bulk absorption layer of high-temperature plasma is produced inside the target whose dimensions are determined by the initial density of the material. The time dependence and spectral composition of the harmonics 2ω ₀ and 3ω ₀/2 observed in the plasma-scattered radiation are measured. A theoretical model is developed that describes the interaction of high-power laser pulses with a porous medium. Predictions of the model, based on the hypothesis of two stages of homogenization of the target material—a fast stage (0.1–0.3 ns) and a slow stage (1–3 ns), are in good agreement with the experimental data. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 115, 805–818 (March 1999)     

Cathodoluminescence of Eu2+ in EuGa2S4 and Ga2S3:Eu2O3

We present the results of an investigation of the cathodoluminescence of the Eu²⁺ ion in gallium chalcogenides (Ga₂S₃) and europium thiogallate (EuGa₂S₄). We show that the intense wide-band radiation of these compounds is due to the 4f-5d transitions of the Eu²⁺ ions. With increase in the Eu²⁺ percent composition from 0.1 to 5.0 mol.% the luminescence brightness increases and then decreases. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektrskopii, Vol. 67, No. 2, pp. 268–270, March–April, 2000.     

Characterization of the essential oil of Agastache rugosa by NMR spectroscopy

The composition of essential oil from Agastache rugosa (Fish. et Mey) O.Kuntze was studied by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Essential oil was isolated from the aerial part of plants growing in the Central Botanical Garden of the NAS of Belarus during flowering and fruiting. The oil chemical composition was found to depend little on the sampling time. It was shown that NMR spectroscopy could be successfully used to both monitor the content of the hepatotoxic substance (pulegone) and characterize the quality and authenticity of essential oils.