Electronic structure of dysprosium silicide films grown on a Si(1 1 1) surface

The thickness-dependent electronic structures of Dy silicide films grown on a Si(1 1 1) surface have been investigated by angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. Two (1×1) periodic bands, both of them cross the Fermi level, have been observed in the silicide films formed by Dy coverages of 1.0 monolayer and below, and more than five () periodic bands have been observed in thicker films. Taking the () periodic structure of Dy atoms in the submonolayer silicide film into account, the periodicity of the two metallic bands indicate that they mainly originate from the orbitals of Si atoms, which form a (1×1) structure. Of the () periodic bands observed in thick films, four of them are well explained by the folding of the (1×1) bands into a () periodicity. Regarding the other band, the three () periodic bands would originate from the electronic states related to the inner Si layers that form a () structure, and the one observed in the 3.0 ML film only might originate from the electron located at the interface between bulk Si and the Dy silicide film.     

Fe monolayers on InAs(0 0 1): An in situ study of surface, interface and volume magnetic anisotropy

The magnetic anisotropy of epitaxial Fe films with thicknesses in the range of 2-142 monolayers (ML) grown on {4×2} reconstructed InAs(0 0 1) was investigated by in situ ferromagnetic resonance. The easy magnetization direction was found to be parallel to the -direction for Fe films below 4 ML, while it rotates by 45^° toward the -direction. It is observed that both surface-interface and volume contribution to the perpendicular anisotropy favor an easy axis perpendicular to the film plane. The cubic surface-interface anisotropy is relatively large with easy axes along -directions in contrast to the volume contribution which favors easy axes along the -directions. The volume contribution is found to be larger than the Fe bulk cubic anisotropy. A thickness independent uniaxial anisotropy has been found in films with a thickness of 2 up to 142 ML.     

Near-infrared diode laser spectroscopy of the HCSi radical

The , , and band spectra of HCSi radical were investigated by means of near-infrared diode laser spectroscopy to determine precise molecular constants for the and states. The detailed analysis of the rotationally resolved band spectra, studied for the first time in the present investigation, leads to the precise determination of molecular constants for the state associated with the Renner-Teller interaction. We obtained −0.15126663(53) and 495.00698(30) cm⁻¹ as the Renner-Teller parameter ε and the bending vibrational frequency ω₂, respectively. Based on the molecular constants for the and states, the rotational levels of the state were analyzed to obtain molecular constants and information on upper state perturbations. Using the available spectroscopic data, valence force fields for both the and states were estimated to aid in understanding the vibrational energy levels of the HCSi radical.     

Dynamics of electrons and holes at surfaces

We present ab initio calculation results for electron-phonon (e-ph) contribution to hole lifetime broadening of the surface state on Al(0 0 1). We show that e-ph coupling in this state is significantly stronger than in bulk Al at the Fermi level. It makes the e-ph decay channel very important in the formation of the hole decay in the surface state at . We also present the results for e-e lifetime broadening in a quantum-well state in 1 ML K/Cu(1 1 1). We show that this contribution is not negligible and is much larger than that in a surface state on Ag(1 1 1).     

Thickness and temperature dependence of the dynamic magnetic behavior in disordered FePt films

We present in this work an investigation of the magnetic behavior of FePt films as a function of film thickness and thermal treatment. The films have been sputter-deposited on oxidized Si (1 0 0) crystals and are ferromagnetic at room temperature. Using ferromagnetic resonance techniques at 9.5 GHz we have studied a series of four films with a thickness in the range . The resonance spectra of these films were measured at and also above room temperature. The high temperature measurements produce irreversible changes in the samples which depend on the maximum temperature reached during the experiment. For relatively low measuring temperatures () the magnetic properties are generally improved, probably due to the release of stress formed during film fabrication. For larger temperatures () the absorption linewidth gradually broadens and the line could be hardly observed at room temperature if the measuring temperature exceeded . This behavior is due to the partial transformation of the metastable FCC phase to the ordered L1₀ high anisotropy phase. These data are consistent with the results found in samples annealed outside the resonant cavity.     

Etching and forward transfer of fused silica in solid-phase by femtosecond laser-induced solid etching (LISE)

We present a femtosecond laser-based technique for etching and forward transfer of bulk transparent materials in solid-phase. Femtosecond laser pulses with were focused through a fused silica block onto an absorbing thin film of Cr. A constraining Si wafer was pressed into tight contact with the Cr film to prevent lift-off of the film. A combination of the high temperature and pressure of the Cr, and compressive stress from the Si, resulted in etching of smooth features from the fused silica by cracking. Unlike in conventional ablative or chemical etching, the silica was removed from the bulk as single solid-phase pieces which could be collected on the Si. Using this so-called laser-induced solid etching (LISE) technique, 1-2 m deep pits and channels have been produced in the silica surface, and corresponding dots and lines deposited on the Si. The threshold fluence for etching was found to be with duration pulses. The morphology of the etched features are investigated as functions of fluence and exposure to multiple pulses.     

Submillimeter measurements of N2 and air broadening of hypochlorous acid

The pressure induced broadening of a several pure rotational transitions of hypochlorous acid, HOCl, have been measured as a function of temperature. This set of rotational transitions is the dominant feature of the submillimeter spectrum in the range where several remote sensing instruments currently operate. Additional features throughout the submillimeter spectrum have been recorded at the full-resolution of the room temperature Doppler linewidth using multiplier chains in the 110- wavelengths.     

Observation of internal-conversion electrons induced by inelastic nuclear resonant scattering

Measurements of the internal-conversion electron emission due to the inelastic nuclear resonant excitation are reported. thin films of 20 and 1.3 nm thickness were deposited on Si(1 1 1), and the internal-conversion electrons were measured as a function of the photon energy. From the inelastic part of the spectra, the phonon density of states was obtained. Whereas the phonon density of states of 20-nm thick film resembles that of bulk -Fe, the 1.3-nm thick film revealed an obvious softening of the acoustic mode.     

Terahertz spectroscopy of oxygen, O2, in its Σg and Δ electronic states : THz Spectroscopy of O2

High precision rotational spectra of isotopic oxygen O₂ (with or ) in its electronic ground state have been measured in selected frequency regions between 0.4 and 2.0 THz. The main isotopic species, , was also investigated in its first excited electronic state . The new data, analyzed together with previous measurements, yielded improved spectroscopic parameters.     

Formation of multiple nanoscale twin boundaries that emit intense light in indirect-gap AlGaAs epilayers

Parallel twin boundaries arranged at similar intervals of nanometer length, that emitted an intense monochromatic light polarized parallel to the boundaries, were self-organized in an indirect-gap AlGaAs epilayer; the epilayer was grown on a rough As-deficient surface of an AlGaAs(0 0 1) substrate with any lattice constant, by conventional metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition. Most boundaries were of -type on B, and they extended from the interface between the epilayer and the substrate. There existed no compositional fluctuation around the boundaries. The formation mechanism was discussed.     

The first measured Mn I Stark widths

The shapes of the astrophysically interesting neutral manganese (Mn I) resonance spectral lines (403.075, 403.306, 403.448, 279.481, 279.826 and 280.108 nm) have been observed together with six other prominent Mn I lines in the laboratory helium plasma at a 47 000 K electron temperature and electron density. With these plasma parameters the Stark broadening has been found to be an important mechanism in the Mn I line shape formation. Our measured Mn I Stark widths (W) are the first data in the literature. Stark widths are compared with line hyperfine structure splittings (Δ_hfs). At above mentioned helium plasma conditions the line broadening due to hyperfine structure splitting of the lines is less than that of the Stark and Doppler broadening for the case of the Mn I lines under investigation. We estimate that at electron densities below and electron temperatures below 4000 K the components in the hyperfine structure play an important role in the mentioned Mn I line shape formation.     

Prospects of reactor neutrino experiments

Since the energy of a reactor neutrino is a few MeV, all , and oscillations are accessible by reactor neutrino experiments. KamLAND observed the oscillation and currently Double Chooz, RENO and Dayabay experiments are under construction aiming to detect oscillation. There are still good prospects for future reactor neutrino experiments after them. For example, there is room to further improve sin²2θ₁₃ accuracy at a baseline of ∼1.5 km, a very precise sin²2θ₁₂ measurement and the determination of mass hierarchy may be possible at a baseline ∼50 km, and if KamLAND is enlarged to the SuperKamiokande size, better measurement of and sin²2θ₁₂ will be anticipated. It is important to take into account such possibilities when planning future neutrino program after θ₁₃ is measured by current experiments.     

Metallic nanosieves formed by ultra-short-pulse laser ablation

The formation of free-standing gold nanosieves by ablation with ultra-short laser pulses is demonstrated. Macroscopic areas are generated fast and efficiently by the application of a parallel production technique. The technique is based on a lens array formed by self-assembling quartz microspheres on a thin metal foil. The evaporated foils have a final thickness of 400 nm, and the hole spacing is set by the diameter of the microspheres (∼7 m) while the pore size is ∼700 nm. The characteristic spacing of the generated hole structure is verified by an optical diffraction technique.     

Fluorescence of the C60-pyridine system in electrochemistry reduction processes

Three groups of strong fluorescence peaks of C₆₀, centered at 440, 575 and 700 nm, are observed in the supersaturated C₆₀-pyridine solution, and the onsite fluorescence spectra of this C₆₀-pyridine system in the first and second electrochemistry reduction processes are obtained for the first time. The results indicate that the fluorescence peaks centered at 440 nm originate from C₆₀ molecules dissolved in supersaturated C₆₀-pyridine solution, while fluorescence bands centered at 575 and 700 nm are emitted from undissolved C₆₀. It is also proved that a strong charge transfer interaction, which is significant for the symmetry increase of , as well as the formation of a transmission channel of energy, occurs between and pyridine, as is supported by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra as well.     

High pressure structural studies on SrRuO3

We have performed room temperature high pressure structural studies on the ferromagnetic perovskite SrRuO₃ to 34 GPa. We have also used three different pressure media (silicone fluid, 4:1 methanol:ethanol and argon) to test for possible effects of pressure media on compression data. The orthorhombic perovskite structure is stable to the highest pressure, and the data can be fit with a bulk modulus of with a pressure derivative of for all of the pressure media. We have also examined the high pressure behavior of the RuO₆ octahedra using a model that assumes the octahedra are not distorted. Various tilt angles around the ideal cubic perovskite axes are found and can be used to estimate the Ru-O-Ru bond angle that is known to be directly related to the ferromagnetic Curie temperature. For all pressure media, there appears to be a minimum in the Ru-O-Ru bond angle around 15 GPa. Implications for the observed high pressure magnetic behavior of SrRuO₃ will be discussed.