Atomic excitations in sputtering studied with the use of composite targets

Atomic excitation phenomena in sputtering have been studied with the following combinations of projectile and target. (i) Be, B, Mg, Al, and Si bombarded with 80 keV Ar⁺ at UHV as well as with the target chamber backfilled with oxygen. (ii) Mg bombarded with 80 keV O⁺, F⁺, Ne⁺, Na⁺ Cl⁺, and Ar⁺. (iii) MgO, MgF₂, MgCl₂, MgSO₄, and several alkali halides bombarded with 80 keV Ar⁺ at UHV. Results are discussed. It is concluded that the excited-state formation takes place as electron tunneling at a fairly large separation between the target surface and the particle being sputtered. It is suggested with composite targets containing a metal element that excitation takes place predominantly at locations of the target surface where the work function is low, due to a thin, metallic surface layer, and that production of ground-state, positive secondary ions mainly takes place at target surface regions with high work function. For semiconductors, the changes caused by presence of oxygen are related to the change of the bonds in the solid from being of covalent nature to being fractionally ionic.     

Electronic structure of zintl compounds (NaTl) and alkali pnictides

The presence of both like and unlike atom nearest neighbours in the NaTl lattice is used to test the dependence of tight-binding interactions on bond type. The atoms are found to be almost neutral, and little evidence of the classic Na⁺Tl^- bonding models is found. The bands of alkali pnictides such as Li₃Sb are calculated by scaling interactions from LiAl. The Li salts are found to have almost neutral sites whereas the Cs salts are strongly ionic. We classify the bonding generally as charge transfer, not covalent.     

A new force field for the adsorption of H2, O2, N2, CO,H2O,and H2S gases on alkali doped carbon nanotubes

The main goal of this work is the generation of a new force field data set to the interaction of several gases such as H₂, O₂, N₂, CO, H₂O, and H₂S with alkali cation-doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using ab initio calculations at the MP2(full)/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. Different alkali cations including Li⁺, Na⁺_, K⁺ and Cs⁺ were used to dope in the CNT. The calculated potential energy curve for the interaction of each gas molecule with each alkali cation-doped CNTs was fitted to an analytical potential function to obtain the parameters of the potential function. A modified Morse potential function was selected for the fitting in which the electrostatic interactions has been accounted by adding the β/r term to the Morse potential. The accuracy of the calculated force field was checked via Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation of the H₂ adsorption on Li-doped graphite and Li-doped CNT. The results of these simulations were compared with the experimental measurements and the closeness of the simulation results with the experimental data indicated the accuracy of the proposed force field. The main merit of this work is the derivation of a specific force field for interaction of each of six gases with four alkali cation-doped CNT, which can be used in molecular simulation of these 24 of systems. The simulation results showed the increase of the H₂ adsorption capacity of nanotube and graphite up to 50% and 10%, respectively, due to the insertion of Li ions.     

RAMAN STUDY ON (Pb) CENTERS IN SINGLE CRYSTALS OF ALKALI HALIDES DOPED WITH LEAD

Low frequency modes were observed in a series of alkali halides doped with lead after X-irradiation at 77K. The peak positions of the Raman signals are at 34cm^-1 for NaCl:Pb²⁺, 30cm^-1 for KCl:Pb²⁺,28cm^-1 for RbCl:Pb²⁺ and 22cm^-1 for KBr:Pb²⁺. They are assigned to the inelastic light scattering caused by the local vibration of X^-_i (Pb⁺) center, which consists of an interstitial halogen ion stabilized by a substitutional ion Pb⁺ . Polarized Raman measurements and Behavior Typer(BT) analysis show that the symmetry of the X^-_i (Pb⁺) center belongs to the point group C_3v A structure model of the X^-_i (Pb⁺) center is proposed based on the Raman data and the result of BT analysis.     

The violet emissions produced by laser excitation of Na vapor in the 570–595 nm region

We have observed atomic Na and molecular Na₂ emissions in the violet region when Na vapor in a heatpipe (～10³—10¹⁶ atoms/cm³) is irradiated with a pulsed dye laser with output wavelength in the 570–597 nm region. The Na atomic emissions probably result from recombination of Na⁺ + e^- and energy-pooling involving highly excited atoms and molecules, while the diffuse violet emission bands are probably produced through collisions among excited Na atoms and Na₂ molecules.     

Reactive scattering of alkali dimers K2 + I2, CH2I2, CHI3, CBr4

Angular distribution measurements of KX reactive scattering of a potassium dimer K₂ beam by I₂ and by a series of halomethane molecules are reported. The K₂ + I₂ reactive scattering is similar to that previously observed for K₂ + Br₂. The predominant reaction path yields K + KI + I with the K and KI product recoiling in the forward direction. However, the forward peak of the KI differential cross section is lower than that for K from K₂ + I₂ and is broader than that observed for KBr from K₂ + Br₂. This is attributed to slow dissociation of the I ₂ ^- ion formed in the electron jump mechanism previously proposed for K₂ + Br₂. In the halomethane reactions, both alkali atoms of the K₂ dimer become bound alkali halide molecules in all reactive collisions, despite the direct dynamics of the corresponding supersonic K atom reactions. Thus, these reactions provide compelling evidence for a second electron jump mechanism, previously proposed for the reactions of K₂ dimers with polyhalide molecules. The differential cross sections for the K₂ dimer plus halomethane reactions indicate an osculating collision complex with a lifetime at least comparable to its rotational period, perhaps much longer. This reaction complex is identified with the doubly ionic state formed by the second electron jump transition.     

On the change of polarization of positive muons in alkali halides

Positive muons implanted in nonconducting solids form with high probability hydrogenlike muonium atoms (µ ⁺ e ^–) with properties similar to those ofU ₂-centers. The influence of superhyperfine interactions with neighbor nuclei on the evolution of the polarization of the muon is investigated theoretically. The resulting muon polarization in longitudinal magnetic fields is calculated for muonicU ₂-centers in some alkali halides.     

Tuneable laser operation of F+2 and (F+2)A centers in OH- and SH- doped alkali halides

Stabilization and tuneable laser operation of F⁺₂ and (F⁺₂)_A centers using OH^- and SH^- doped alkali halide crystals are reported. The new stabilization technique improves previously described laser systems and produced a new F⁺₂(KBr) laser (1.72–2 μm), covering an important gap around 2 μm. All crystals can easily be reactivated for laser operation after extended periods of storage at room temperature.     

Ab-initio electronic structure studies of mobility paths in fast-ion conductors—I: Results for MI4−3 clusters

We report results of minimum-basis Pseudopotential Hartree-Fock studies of MI₄^?3 clusters (M = Na⁺, K⁺, Ag⁺, and Cu⁺), and of HgI₄^?2. The calculations are designed to characterize local-site effects on mobility paths in solid state electrolytes. We observe qualitatively correct behavior, with Ag⁺ predicted to be the most mobile ion. Quadrupolar polarizability of the metal ion, which is produced by s-d mixing, lowers the energy of trigonal transition state, thus accounting for the observation that quadrupole polarizable species are ideal mobile ions in close-packed halide frameworks. Mulliken populations show that there is considerable local covalency, so that electrostatic potential studies must be done very carefully. Expansion of the I₄ tetrahedron lowers the barrier energy.     

Physical and Spectral Investigations of Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-Doped Alkali Zinc Borate Glasses

Physical and spectral studies on 20ZnO + xLi₂O + (30-x)Na₂O + 50B₂O₃ (5 ≤ x ≥ 25) doped with 0.1 mol% of paramagnetic CuO impurity are carried out. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns of the glass samples confirm the amorphous nature. The physical parameters of all the glasses were also evaluated with respect to the composition. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of all these glasses exhibit resonance signals that are characteristic of Cu²⁺ ions. The optical absorption spectra also confirm the Cu²⁺ ion in tetragonally elongated octahedral site. Various crystal field, spin-Hamiltonian and bonding parameters are evaluated. It is observed that the mixed alkali effect is significant.     

Thermally stimulated depolarization of Eu2+-cation vacancy dipoles in alkali halide single crystals

Ionic thermocurrent (ITC) measurements have been performed on eight alkali halide single crystals doped with divalent europium. In all cases, the observed ITC peaks were fitted with a mono-energetic model without to appeal to any dipole-dipole interaction. Values for the reorientation parameters have been calculated. The relationship T_M1nτ^?1 α E previously found for I–V complexes in alkali halides has been found to be very well obeyed for the experimental data obtained in this investigation. It is also reported that the logarithm of the experimentally determined energies for free dipole reorientation shows a linear dependence on the interaction distance between the Eu²⁺ ion and the surrounding halogen ions in the distorted cubic site occupied by this impurity in the alkali halides.     

Laser photoluminescence spectra of the M+S2− species in solid argon at 12K

Matrix reactions of alkali metal atoms with S₂Cl₂ and photolyzed H₂S samples have been examined by laser excitation at 457.9 nm. The strong photoluminescence spectrum from 12 300 to 18 300 cm^?1 exhibited vibrational spacings near 550 cm^?1. Observation of the same ZPL spectrum with two different precursors identified the carrier as Na⁺S₂^?. The vibrational numbering was made possible by the Na⁺³²S³⁴S^? species in natural abundance and from a 33% ³⁴S-enriched sample of S₂Cl₂. The spectroscopic constants ν₀₀ = 19 990 ± 10 cm^?, ω₀″ = 586 ± 2 cm^?1 and ω₀x₀″ = 2.8 ± 0.2 cm^?1 are in excellent agreement with those reported for S₂^? in alkali halide crystals at low temperature.     

Influence of the Structure of the MEu(PO3)4 Crystals on Their Luminescent Properties

The influence of the M⁺ cations of alkali metals on the luminescent properties of the Meu(PO₃)₄ crystals, where M represents Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs, is considered. The nonlinear dependences of the spectral position of the barycenters in the J components of the ⁷ F term of Eu³⁺ on the ionic radius R(M⁺), which are individual in the series of crystals of chain and cyclic structure, have been revealed. It is shown that the liability of the ligands of the europium complex in MeEu(PO₃)₄ to the polarizing action of the cations of alkali metals is manifested as an intermediate dependence of the luminescence lifetime of Eu³⁺ on R(M⁺).     

Metastable fragmentation of silver bromide clusters

The abundance spectra and the fragmentation channels of silver bromide clusters have been measured and analyzed. The most abundant species are Ag_nBr_{n - 1} ⁺ and Ag_nBr_{n + 1} ^- and Ag₁₄Br₁₃ ⁺ is a magic number, revealing their ionic nature. However, some features depart from what is generally observed for alkali-halide ionic clusters. From a certain size, Ag_nBr_{n - 1} ⁺ is no more the main series, and Ag_nBr _{n - 2, 3} ⁺ series become almost as important. The fast fragmentation induced by a UV laser makes the cations lose more bromine than silver ions and lead to more silver-rich clusters. Negative ions mass spectra contain also species with more silver atoms than required by stoichiometry. We have investigated the metastable fragmentation of the cations using a new experimental method. The large majority of the cations release mainly a neutral Ag₃Br₃ cluster. These decay channels are in full agreement with our recent ab initio DFT calculations, which show that Ag⁺-Ag⁺ repulsion is reduced due to a globally attractive interaction of their d orbitals. This effect leads to a particularly stable trimer (AgBr)₃ and to quasi-planar cyclic structures of (AgBr)_n clusters up to n = 6. We have shown that these two features may be extended to other silver halides, to silver hydroxides (AgOH)_n, and to cuprous halide compounds. Received 9 November 2000 and Received in final form 25 January 2001     

Compact variational wave functions for bound states in three-electron atomic systems

The variational procedure to construct compact and accurate wave functions for three-electron atoms and ions is developed. The procedure is based on the use of six-dimensional Gaussoids written in the relative four-body coordinates r ₁₂, r ₁₃, r ₂₃, r ₁₄, r ₂₄, and r ₃₄. The nonlinear parameters in each basis function have been carefully optimized. Using these variational wave functions, we have determined the energies and other bound state properties for the ground 1² S-states in a number of three-electron atoms and ions. The three-electron atomic systems considered in this work include the neutral Li atom and nine positively charged lithiumlike ions: Be⁺, B²⁺, C³⁺, ..., Na⁸⁺, and Mg⁹⁺. Our variational wave functions are used to determine the hyperfine structure splitting and field shifts for some lithium-like ions. The explicit formulas of the Q ⁻¹ expansion are derived for the total energies of these three-electron systems. The article is published in the original.     

Muonium centers in the alkali halides

Muonium centers (Mu) in single crystals and powdered alkali halides have been studied using the high-timing-resolution transverse field μSR technique. Mu has been observed and its hyperfine parameter (HF) determined inevery alkali halide. For the rocksalt alkali halides, the HF parameter A_μ shows a systematic dependence on the host lattice constant. A comparison of the Mu HF parameter with hydrogen ESR data suggests that the Mu center is the muonic analogue of the interstitial hydrogenH _i ⁰ -center. The rate of Mu diffusion can be deduced from the motional narrowing of the nuclear hyperfine interaction. KBr shows two different Mu states, a low-temperatureMu ^I -state and a high-temperatureMu ^II -state.     

Radiolysis of ferrous ammonium sulphate in alkali nitrate and alkali halide matrices

Radiolysis of ferrous ammonium sulphate (FAS) dispersed in (a) alkali nitrates [KNO₃, NaNO₃, Ba(NO₃)₂, CO(NH₃)₆(NO₃)₃] (b) alkali halides [KCl, KBr] and (c) binary mixtures of above [KNO₃ + KCl, Ba(NO³)₂ + BaCl₂) has been extensively investigated. FAS becomes oxidized and Fe³⁺ formation seems to depend upon the nitrate concentration and gamma dose but is independent of halide concentration. Mossbauer studies confirm these findings and it appears that basic ferric sulphate may be formed during the oxidation process.     

二价Ba2+、Pb2+和四价Ti4+在硼硅酸盐玻璃系统中对Li+/Na+离子交换的影响

本文讨论了在硼硅酸盐玻璃系统中引入二价Ba²⁺、Pb²⁺和四价Ti⁴⁺后,由于Pb²⁺和Ti⁴⁺配位结构的变化,引起Pb²⁺、Ti⁴⁺场强及其与O^2-离子间距的变化,对Li⁺/Na⁺离子交换产生影响,从而改变折射率差值(ΔN)和折射率分布.     

Electron-stimulated desorption of sodium atoms initiated by their reverse motion

This paper reports on the first measurement of the yield and energy distributions of sodium atoms in electron-stimulated desorption at T = 160 K from sodium layers adsorbed on tungsten with a gold film atop. The Na atom yield has a resonant pattern with an appearance threshold of 30 eV, which can be attributed to exciton excitation in the Na 2p level. The Na yield is associated with the formation of a semiconducting Na _x Au _y film at T ∼ 300 K and sodium and gold coverages in excess of one monolayer. Sodium atoms are desorbed through Auger neutralization of Na²⁺ ions in their reverse motion toward the surface and is limited by the resonant ionization of Na atoms as they pass through the adsorbed layer of Na⁺ ions. The energy distributions of Na atoms are bell shaped with a maximum at about 0.56 eV.     

Hofmeister series and ionic effects of alkali metal ions on DNA conformation transition in normal and less polarised water solvent

Normal and less polarised water models are used as the solvent to investigate Hofmeister effects and alkali metal ionic effects on dodecamer d(CGCGAATTCGCG) B-DNA with atomic dynamics simulations. As normal water solvent is replaced by less polarised water, the Hofmeister series of alkali metal ions is changed from Li⁺ > Na⁺ ? K⁺ ? Cs⁺ ? Rb⁺ to Li⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺ > Rb⁺ > Cs⁺. In less polarised water, DNA experiences the B→A conformational transition for the lighter alkali metal counterions (Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺). However, it keeps B form for the heavier ions (Rb⁺ and Cs⁺). We find that the underlying cause of the conformation transition for these alkali metal ions except K⁺ is the competition between water molecules and counterions coupling to the free oxygen atoms of the phosphate groups. For K⁺ ions, the ‘economics’ of phosphate hydration and ‘spine of hydration’ are both concerned with the DNA helixes changing.