Saturable absorbers for passive Q-switching of erbium lasers emitting in the region of 3 μm

The phototropic properties of Fe:ZnSe, Co:ZnSe, and Co:ZnS single crystals have been investigated. It is shown that these crystals can be used to advantage as the saturable absorbers in solid-state erbium lasers emitting in the region of the 3-μm range. The absorption cross sections of the ground states of the Co²⁺ ion in the ZnSe (σ_GSA = 11·10⁻²⁰ cm²) and ZnS (σ_GSA = 5.6·10⁻²⁰ cm²) crystals and of the Fe²⁺ ion in the ZnSe (σ_GSA = 50·10⁻²⁰ cm²) crystal at λ = 2.79 μm were determined experimentally. It has been established that the above-indicated crystals in the excited state absorb light weakly. The use of these crystals as passive Q switches made it possible to realize, for the first time, the regime of Q-switching of a Cr,Er:YSGG laser emitting at a wavelength of 2.79 μm. Single pulses with an energy of 60 mJ and a duration of 170 nsec were obtained in the regime of passive Q-switching. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 72, No. 6, pp. 747–751, November–December, 2005.     

Indication of asymptotic scaling in the reactions dd → p3H, dd → n3He, and pd → pd

It is shown that the differential cross sections of the reactions dd → n ³He and dd → p ³H measured at a c.m.s. scattering angle θ_cm = 60° in the interval of the deuteron beam energy 0.5–1.2 GeV demonstrate the scaling behavior dσ/dt ∼ s ⁻²², which follows from constituent quark counting rules. It is found also that the differential cross section of the elastic dp → dp scattering at θ_cm = 125°–135° follows the scaling regime ∼s ⁻¹⁶ at beam energies 0.5–5 GeV. These data are parameterized here using the Reggeon exchange. From Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, Vol. 81, No. 7, 2005, pp. 387–390. Original English Text Copyright ? 2005 by Uzikov. This article was submitted by the author in English.     

Electron screening in backward elastic scattering

Abstact: The elastic scattering cross sections, σ (E,θ), for the systems He+Ta and He+W have been measured at θ_lab=165° and E _lab=76.1 keV to 3.988 MeV using targets with a thickness of a few atomic layers. The results are smaller than the results given by the Rutherford scattering law, σ_R(E,θ), due to the effects of electron screening and can be described by σ(E,θ)/σ_R(E,θ)=(1+U_e/E)⁻¹, where U _e is an atomic screening potential energy. The deduced average value, U _e=28 ± 3 keV, is consistent with the Moliére- and Lenz-Jensen-models as well as electron binding energies. Received: 25 May 1998     

Electrical transport properties of CuWO4

The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity, thermoelectric power and dielectric constant of the antiferromagnetic CuWO₄ have been studied in the temperature range 300–1000 K. The conductivity results can be summarised by the equations σ_I=6.31 × 10⁻³ exp (−0.29 eV/kT) ohm⁻¹ cm⁻¹ in the temperature range 300–600 K and σ_II=3.16 × 10⁵ exp (−1.48 eV/kT) ohm⁻¹ cm⁻¹ between 600 K and 1000 K. The thermoelectric power can be expressed byθ=[− 1.25 (10³/T) + 3.9] mV/K. Initially dielectric constant increases slowly but for high temperatures its increase is fast.     

Non-steady-state photo-EMF in nanostructured GaN and polypyrrole within porous matrices

We report an experimental investigation of the non-steady-state photoelectromotive force in nanostructured GaN within porous glass and polypyrrole within chrysotile asbestos. The samples are illuminated by an oscillating interference pattern created by two coherent light beams and the alternating current is detected as a response of the material. Dependences of the signal amplitude versus temporal and spatial frequencies, light intensity, and temperature are studied for two wavelengths λ=442 and 532 nm. The conductivity of the GaN composite is measured: σ=(1.1–1.6)×10⁻¹⁰ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ (λ=442 nm, I ₀=0.045–0.19 W/cm², T=293 K) and σ=(3.5–4.6)×10⁻¹⁰ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ (λ=532 nm, I ₀=2.3 W/cm², T=249–388 K). The diffusion length of photocarriers in polypyrrole nanowires is also estimated: L _D=0.18 μm.     

Excess 1/f noise in systems with an exponentially wide spectrum of resistances and dual universality of the percolation-like noise exponent

The excess 1/f noise in a random lattice with bond resistances r∼exp(−λx), where x is a random variable and λ≪1, is studied theoretically. It is shown that if the correlation function {δr ²}∼r r ^θ+2, then the relative spectral density of the noise in the system is expressed as C _e∼λ^m exp(−λ(1−p _c)), where p _c is the percolation threshold and m=νd (ν is the critical exponent of the correlation length and d is the dimensionality of the problem). It is hypothesized that the exponent m possesses a dual universality: It is independent of 1) the geometry of the lattice and 2) the θ-mechanism responsible for the generation of the local noise. Numerical modeling in a three-dimensional lattice gives m=52.3 for θ=1 and θ=0, in agreement with the hypothesis. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 63, No. 8, 614–618 (25 April 1996)     

Investigation of cross sections for the formation and destruction of negative boron ions

The electron loss and electron capture cross sections σ _i,i+m and σ _i,i−m for boron ions and atoms traveling at the velocities V=1.19 and 1.83 a.u. in H₂, He, N₂, Ne, Ar, and Xe are measured. The known experimental data on these cross sections at velocities near the cross-section maximum are analyzed. It is found that the electron loss cross sections can be described by a formula which was previously derived in the free-collision approximation and takes into account features of both the ions and the ambient atoms. As the nuclear charge Z _t of the ambient atoms increases, the cross sections vary nonmonotonically, increasing on average as Zt _t ^1/2 . A formula based on the model of independent electrons is proposed for electron capture by ions with small values of the charge i. It describes the dependence of the electron capture cross section σ _i,i−1 on the mean binding energy of an electron in an ion with the charge i−1. The total electron capture cross section σ _i,i−1 is proportional to the number of vacancies in the unfilled electron shell nearest the nucleus. The cross sections 0σ _i,i−1 exhibit substantially nonmonotonic variation with Z _t, increasing on average as Z _t ^1/3 . Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 116, 1539–1550 (November 1999)     

Luminescence and lasing properties of neodymium- and uranium-activated inorganic laser liquids

An attempt was made to describe and show the possibilities of new inorganic neodynium- and uranium-activated laser liquids: SO₂-GaCl₃-NdCl₄; SO₂Cl₂-GaCl₃-NdCl₃-UO₂Cl₂; POCl₂-MCl_n-NdCl₃-UO₂Cl₂ for development and synthesis of direct nuclear reaction-excited lasers. Luminescence data presented in the work were used to calculate the luminescence parameters of the laser liquids such as oscillator strengths f, probability of spontaneous radiation A, intermultiplet luminescence branching coefficient β, cross-section for induced radiation σ, luminescence decay time τ, quantum yield η, and others. It is shown that the oscillator strengths of the normal absorption bands of Na³⁺, which play the main part in the pumping processes, exceed the oscillator strengths of Na³⁺ for aqueous and many other nonaqueous systems. In the luminescence excitation spectra of the Na³⁺ ion, bands are isolated in the range 400–1000 nm atλ _rec =1.06 μm. With excitation, luminescence occurs through the⁴F_3/2→⁴I_{9/2,11/2.13/2} channels. Luminescence spectral data are related to the lasing parameters. The threshold lasing energy is∼18 J/cm³. For a resonator with mirros h₁=100% and h₂=20, 40, 56, and 80%, the lasing energy is∼20–120 MJ/cm³ in the pumping energy range 18–180 J/cm³. The differential efficiency is ∼0.2% The substantial angular radiation divergence (θ∼4·10⁻² rad) and strong thermostatic distortions that occur in the active element (dn/dT≈−1.9·10⁻⁴K⁻¹) are a disadvantage of laser liquids. It is shown that operation of neodymium- and uranium-activated inorganic liquid lasers is stable under the present conditions. A. I. Gertsen Russian State Pedagogical University, Moika Embankment, 48, St. Petersburg, 191186, Russia. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 64, No. 5, pp. 607–619, September–October, 1997.     

K*0 and φ meson production in proton–nucleus interactions at ?s=41.6\textGeV\sqrt{s}=41.6\text{GeV}

The inclusive production cross sections of the strange vector mesons K^*0, K̄^*0, and φ have been measured in interactions of 920 GeV protons with C, Ti, and W targets with the HERA-B detector at the HERA storage ring. Differential cross sections as a function of rapidity and transverse momentum have been measured in the central rapidity region and for transverse momenta up to p_T = 3.5 GeV/c. The atomic number dependence is parametrised as σ_pA=σ_pN*A^α, where σ_pN is the proton–nucleon cross section. Within the phase space accessible, α(K^*0)=0.86±0.03, α(K̄^*0)=0.87±0.03, and α(φ)=0.96±0.02. The total proton–nucleon cross sections, determined by extrapolating the differential measurements to full phase space, are σ_pN→K*0=(5.06±0.54) mb, σ_pN→K̄*0=(4.02±0.45) mb, and σ_pN→φ=(1.17±0.11) mb. For all resonances the Cronin effect is observed; compared to the measurements of Cronin et al. for K^± mesons, the measured values of α for φ mesons coincide with those of K⁺ mesons for all transverse momenta, while the enhancement for K^*0/K̄^*0 mesons is smaller.     

Kinetics of formation of O2(1Σ) molecules in reactions involving excited O2(1Δ) oxygen molecules and I(2P1/2) iodine atoms

The results of our experimental study of the kinetics of formation of O₂(¹Σ) molecules in energy-exchange reactions O₂(¹Δ) + I(⁵ p,² P _1/2) and O₂(a,¹Δ) + O₂(a,¹Δ) are presented. The ratio of rate constants was obtained for these reactions (4800 ± 300). Setting the rate constant of the deactivation of O₂(¹Σ) molecules on CO₂ molecules at 4.1 · 10^–13 cm³/s, we evaluated the rate constants for these reactions at a temperature of approximately 330 K: (1.7 ± 0.2) · 10⁻¹³ and (3.6 ± 0.5) · 10⁻¹⁷ cm³/s, respectively.     

Dual-beam laser analyzer for inhomogeneities in active regions of multielement photodetectors

We describe equipment and a procedure for measuring inhomogeneities in active regions of solar cells, photoelectric transducers, and multielement photodetectors, based on a computer-controlled dual-beam laser scanner including a Pentium III personal computer, an HP-34401A digital multimeter with RS-232 serial interface;, a platform movable along the Y coordinate with the sample multielement photodetector to be tested and a microprobe device for picking up the photocurrents, an optical head with laser photodiodes in the visible (λ₁ = 0.68 μm) and IR (λ₂ = 0.82 μm) ranges scanning along the X coordinate, and a control unit for focusing the laser beams λ₁, λ₂, stabilizing the laser radiation power, and controlling the step motors for the X,Y coordinates. The equipment and procedure enable laser scanning of sample multielement photodetectors, with external dimensions 10 × 10 μm2 to 150 × 150 mm², along the X, Y coordinates at a maximum rate of 100 mm/sec; minimum radiation power of the laser diodes, 10 mW; range of laser beam diameters, 2–50 μm; range of scanning steps along the X, Y coordinates, 5–100 μm; current sensitivity 1·10⁻⁸ A, voltage sensitivity 1·10⁻⁷ V; measurement and analysis accuracy at least 0.5%; storage of color plots of the inhomogeneities in the active regions of the multielement photodetectors on the hard disk of the personal computer, with output of analysis results to a monitor and color printer, 32 color gradations. Software written in Delphi 7.0. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 73, No. 2, pp. 277–280, March–April, 2006.     

Triboluminescence,a new tool to investigate fracture-initiation time of crystals under stress

The present paper reports that triboluminescence (TBL) does not appear at the instant of impact of the load but a certain time lag is required for its appearance which depends on the value of the stress applied to the crystal. Since TBL appears in sugar crystals during the creation of new surfaces, the fracture-initiation time of the crystal has been taken to be the delay time in observing TBL pulse after the application of stress. The dependence of fracture-initiation time,t _f ^σ , of crystals on the stress, σ, may be expressed ast _f ^σ =t _o exp (− ασ), wheret _o and α are constants. The values of the lattice energy, and the change in lattice energy per unit stress, of sugar crystals have been calculated from TBL measurements and they have been found to be 21·2 kcal mole⁻¹ and 0·41 × 10⁻⁸ kcal mole⁻¹ dyne⁻¹ cm² respectively.     

Spectroscopic characteristics of erbiumand ytterbium-activated laser media

Judd–Ofelt parameters (Ω₂ = 5.09∙10^–20, Ω₄ = 0.92∙10^–20, and Ω₆ = 0.63∙10^–20 cm²) and oscillator strengths of fundamental optical transitions involved in lasing at wavelength 1.54 μm have been calculated for borosilicophosphate glass co-activated with Er³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions based on experimental luminescence and absorption spectra and refractive indices. The results were used to determine the emission (6∙10^–23 cm²) and absorption (5∙10^–21 cm²) cross sections for λ = 1.54 μm and the gain cross section as a function of inverse population levels.     

Experimental research of temperature and velocity fields in high-temperature flow of liquid heavy metal coolant

Presented are the results of experimental research of temperature and velocity fields for lead and lead-bismuth coolant flows in channels having circular and annular cross sections under varying oxygen content in the coolant and varying characteristics of insulating coatings. Tests are performed under the following operating conditions: (1) lead-bismuth eutectic—temperature T = 400−520°C, thermodynamic oxygen activity a = 10⁻⁵–10⁰, average flow velocity of the coolant w = 0.12−1.84 m/s, value of magnetic induction B = 0−0.85 T, Reynolds number Re = (0.24–3.5) × 10⁵, Hartmann number Ha = 0−500, and Peclet number Pe = 320−4600; (2) lead coolant-T = 400−550°C, a = 10⁻⁵−10⁰, w = 0.1−1.5 m/s, Re = (2.36−2.99) × 10⁵, and Pe = 500−7000.     

Measurements of elastic scattering for 7Be, 7Li + 9Be systems and fusion cross sections for 7Li + 9Be system

Elastic scattering angular distributions have been measured for ⁷Be + ⁹Be system at E_lab = 17, 19 and 21 MeV in the angular range θ_cm=26^○–58°, and for ⁷Li + ⁹Be system at E_lab= 15.75, 24 and 30 MeV. An optical model (OM) analysis of these data have been carried out. For the ⁷Li + ⁹Be system fusion cross sections were obtained at E_lab = 15.75, 24 and 30 MeV by measuring the α-evaporation spectra from the compound nucleus at backward angles. The measured α-evaporation spectra were reproduced by the statistical model calculations and fusion cross sections were extracted therefrom. The ratios of the experimental fusion cross sections to the total reaction cross sections (obtained form OM analysis) were found to be rather small. This result suggests that break-up process has a strong influence on fusion process leading to a reduction in fusion cross section.     

Absolute cross sections of electron attachment to molecular clusters. Part II: Formation of (H2O) N? , (N2O) N? , and (N2) N?

Absolute cross sections σ⁻(E, N) of electron attachment to clusters (H₂O) _N , (N₂O) _N , and (N₂) _N for varying electron energy E and cluster size N are measured by using crossed electron and cluster beams in a vacuum. Continua of σ⁻(E) are found that correlate well with the functions of electron impact excitation of molecules’ internal degrees of freedom. The electron is attached through its solvation in a cluster. In the formation of (H₂O) _N ⁻ , (N₂O) _N ⁻ , and (N₂) _N ⁻ , the curves σ⁻(N) have a well-defined threshold because of a rise in the electron thermalization and solvation probability with N. For (H₂O)₉₀₀, (N₂O)₃₅₀, and (N₂)₂₆₀ clusters at E = 0.2 eV, the energy losses by the slow electron in the cluster are estimated as 3.0 × 10⁷, 2.7 × 10⁷, and 6.0 × 10⁵ eV/m, respectively. It is found that the growth of σ⁻ with N is the fastest for (H₂O) _N and (N₂) _N clusters at E → 0 as a result of polarization capture of the s-electron. Specifically, at E = 0.1 eV and N = 260, σ⁻ = 3.0 × 10⁻¹³ cm² for H₂O clusters, 8.0 × 10⁻¹⁴ cm² for N₂O clusters, and 1.4 × 10⁻¹⁵ cm² for N₂ clusters; at E = 11 eV, σ⁻ = 9.0 × 10⁻¹⁶ cm² for (H₂O)₂₀₀ clusters, 2.4 × 10⁻¹⁴ cm² for (N₂O)₃₅₀ clusters, and 5.0 × 10⁻¹⁷ cm² for (N₂)₂₆₀ clusters; finally, at E = 30 eV, σ⁻ = 3.6 × 10⁻¹⁷ cm² for (N₂O)₁₀ clusters and 3.0 × 10⁻¹⁷ cm² for (N₂)₁₂₅ clusters. Original Russian Text ? A.A. Vostrikov, D.Yu. Dubov, 2006, published in Zhurnal Tekhnicheskoĭ Fiziki, 2006, Vol. 76, No. 12, pp. 1–15.     

The Co-luminescence Effect of Eu–Gd–Ofloxacin–SDBS System and its Analytical Application

A fluorescence enhancement phenomenon in the europium (Eu)–Ofloxacin (OF)–Sodium Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonate (SDBS) fluorescence system was observed when Gd³⁺ was added. The fluorescence intensity of the systems was measured (λ _ex/λ _em = 280/612 nm) at pH 7.8. Under optimum conditions, a linear relationship between the enhanced fluorescence intensity and the Eu³⁺ concentration in the range of 5.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ ∼ 2.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol·L⁻¹ was observed. The detection limit of Eu³⁺ was 1.46 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol·L⁻¹ (S/N = 3). This method was used for the determination of trace amounts of europium in synthetic rare earth samples with satisfactory results. In addition, the interaction mechanism is also studied.     

The rate constants of singlet oxygen collision-induced emission at 634 and 703 nm wavelengths

Absolute spectral luminosity from an O₂–O₂(a)-H₂O gas flow formed by a chemical singlet oxygen generator was measured at 600–800 and 1230–1310 nm wavelengths. The results were used to determine the rate constants for O₂(a, 0) + O₂(a, 0) → O₂(X, 0) + O₂(X, 0) + hν (λ = 634 nm) and O₂(a, 0) + O₂(a, 0) → O₂(X, 1) + O₂(X, 0) + hν (λ = 703 nm) collision-induced emission ((6.72 ± 0.8) × 10⁻²³ and (7.17 ± 0.8) × 10⁻²³ cm³/s, respectively).     

New data for the 197Au(γ, nX) and 197Au(γ, 2nX) reaction cross sections

The results from experimental and theoretical studies of the total and partial cross sections of photoneutron reactions on the ¹⁹⁷Au isotope were analyzed. The cross sections for reactions σ(γ, nX) = σ(γ, n) + σ(γ, np) + … + σ(γ, 2nX) = σ(γ, 2n) + σ(γ, 2np) + … were evaluated in the energy range 7 ≤ E _γ ≤ 30 MeV using an approach free of the shortcomings of experimental photoneutron multiplicity sorting methods. The total photoneutron reaction cross sections σ^exp(γ, xn) = σ^exp(γ, nX) + 2σ^exp(γ, 2nX) + … = σ^exp(γ, n) + σ^exp(γ, np) + 2σ^exp(γ, 2n) + 2σ^exp(γ, 2np) + … were used as the initial experimental data. The contributions from the cross sections σ(γ, nX) and σ(γ, 2nX) to the cross sections σ^exp(γ, xn) were separated using the multiplicity transition functions F ₁ ^theor = σ^theor(γ, 1nX)/σ^theor(γ, xn) and F ₂ ^theor = σ^theor(γ, 2nX)/σ^theor(γ, xn), calculated within an updated version of the pre-equilibrium model of photonuclear reactions. New evaluated data for both partial reaction cross sections, i.e., σ^eval (γ, 1nX) = F ₁ ^theorσ^exp(γ, xn) and σ^eval(γ, 2nX) = F ₂ ^theorσ^exp(γ, xn), were obtained. The cross sections σeval(γ, nX) and σ^eval.(γ, 2nX) evaluated using the theoretically calculated functions F _1,2^theor are consistent with the Livermore data, but substantially contradict the Saclay data.     

Positron scattering from hydrocarbons

The total cross sections for positron impact on hydrocarbons have been calculated using the additivity rule in which the total cross section for a molecule is the sum of the total cross section for the constituent atoms. The energy range considered is from a few eV to several thousand eV. The total cross sections for positron impact on an atom are calculated by employing a complex spherical potential which comprises of a static, polarization and an absorption potential. We have good agreement with the experimental results for hydrocarbons for positron energy ⩾100 eV. Our results also agree with the available calculations for CH₄ and C₂H₂ which employed full molecular wavefunctions beyond 100 eV. Our absorption cross sections also agree with molecular wave-function calculations for C₂H₂ and CH₄ beyond 100 eV. We have shown the Bethe plots fore ⁺−C ande ⁺−H scattering systems and Bethe parameters have been extracted. We have fitted the cross section for positron impact on hydrocarbons in the formσ _t(C _n H _m )=naE ⁻ b+mcE ⁻ d in the energy range 300–5000 eV wherea=195.0543,b=0.7986,c=371.1757 andd=1.1379 withE in eV andσ _t in 10⁻¹⁶ cm².