First observation of electronic structure of the even parity boron acceptor states in diamond

We use electronic Raman scattering for studying the band structure of the ns$\mathrm{n}s$ boron acceptor states in diamond. For the first time, the spin–orbit splitting of these acceptor states and the 1s→ns$1s\to \mathrm{n}s$ Lyman series of transitions are observed. The spin–orbit splitting linearly increases with n number. Lyman series exhibit fine structure consisting of four bands each. The energy spacing between series is equal to ∼13 meV$\sim 13\text{meV}$. Evolution of Raman spectra of the boron-doped diamond with increasing boron concentration is shown. Mott transition is revealed in Raman spectrum. Correct values of Luttinger parameters for diamond are specified.     

Template-free sonochemical synthesis of flower-like ZnO nanostructures

Flower-like ZnO nanostructures have been successfully synthesized via a facile and template-free sonochemical method, using zinc acetate and potassium hydroxide as reactants only. The as-synthesized flower-like ZnO nanostructures were composed of nanorods with the width of ∼300–400 nm$\sim 300\text{–}400\text{nm}$ and the length of ∼2–3 μm$\sim 2\text{–}3\text{μm}$. The structures, morphologies and optical properties of the as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectrophotometry and Raman-scattering spectroscopy. A plausible formation mechanism of flower-like ZnO nanostructures was studied by SEM which monitors an intermediate morphology transformation of the product at the different ultrasonic time (t=80,90,95,105, and 120 min$t=80,90,95,105\text{, and}120\text{min}$).     

High substitution of Fe for Zr in ZrV1.6P0.4O7 with small amount of FeV0.8P0.2O4 for low thermal expansion

Fe³⁺-doped ZrV_1.6P_0.4O₇ with Fe:Zr molar ratios of 1:9, 2:8, 3:7 and 4:6 was synthesized to reduce phase transition and obtain low thermal expansion. It is shown that the phase transition temperature of Fe-doped ZrV_1.6P_0.4O₇ is reduced obviously with increasing the content of Fe. Fe³⁺ ion with lower valence and smaller radius than that of Zr⁴⁺ favors to extend the bond angle of V–O–V(P) close to 180° in ZrV_1.6P_0.4O₇, which is considered responsible for the normal structure at room temperature and low thermal expansion. The thermal expansion coefficients of Fe-doped ZrV_1.6P_0.4O₇ for Fe:Zr molar ratios from 1:9 to 4:6 are calculated to be from −4.33×10⁻⁶$-4.33\times {10}^{-6}$ to 5.2×10⁻⁷ K⁻¹$5.2\times {10}^{-7}{\text{K}}^{-1}$ by linear thermal expansion measurement. The effect of small amount of FeV_0.8P_0.2O₄ formation with higher content of Fe³⁺ on thermal expansion coefficients of the samples is discussed.     

He2 and HeH molecular ions in a strong magnetic field: The Lagrange-mesh approach

Accurate calculations for the ground state of the molecular ions He³⁺₂ and HeH²⁺ placed in a strong magnetic field B?10² a.u.$B?{10}^2\text{a.u.}$ (≈2.35×10¹¹ G$\approx 2.35\times {10}^{11}\text{G}$) using the Lagrange-mesh method are presented. The Born–Oppenheimer approximation of zero order (infinitely massive centers) and the parallel configuration (molecular axis parallel to the magnetic field) are considered. Total energies are found with 9–10 s.d. The obtained results show that the molecular ions He³⁺₂ and HeH²⁺ exist at B>100 a.u.$B>100\text{a.u.}$ and B>1000 a.u.$B>1000\text{a.u.}$, respectively, as predicted in Turbiner and López Vieyra (2007) [1] while a saddle point in the potential curve appears for the first time at B∼80 a.u.$B\sim 80\text{a.u.}$ and B∼740 a.u.$B\sim 740\text{a.u.}$, respectively.     

Probing a possible vacuum refractive index with γ-ray telescopes

We have used a stringy model of quantum space–time foam to suggest that the vacuum may exhibit a non-trivial refractive index depending linearly on γ  -ray energy: η−1∼Eγ/M_QG1$\eta -1\sim E_{\gamma }/M_{\mathrm{QG}1}$, where MQG$M_{\mathrm{QG}}$ is some mass scale typical of quantum gravity that may be ∼¹⁰¹⁸ GeV$\sim {10}^{18}\text{GeV}$: see [J. Ellis, N.E. Mavromatos, D.V. Nanopoulos, Phys. Lett. B 665 (2008) 412] and references therein. The MAGIC, HESS and Fermi γ-ray telescopes have recently probed the possible existence of such an energy-dependent vacuum refractive index. All find indications of time-lags for higher-energy photons, but cannot exclude the possibility that they are due to intrinsic delays at the sources. However, the MAGIC and HESS observations of time-lags in emissions from AGNs Mkn 501 and PKS 2155-304 are compatible with each other and a refractive index depending linearly on the γ  -ray energy, with M_QG1∼¹⁰¹⁸ GeV$M_{\mathrm{QG}1}\sim {10}^{18}\text{GeV}$. We combine their results to estimate the time-lag Δt   to be expected for the highest-energy photon from GRB 080916c measured by the Fermi telescope, which has an energy ∼13.2 GeV$\sim 13.2\text{GeV}$, assuming the redshift z=4.35±0.15$z=4.35\pm 0.15$ measured by GROND. In the case of a refractive index depending linearly on the γ  -ray energy we predict Δt=26±11 s$\mathrm{\Delta }t=26\pm 11\text{s}$. This is compatible with the time-lag Δt?16.5 s$\mathrm{\Delta }t?16.5\text{s}$ reported by the Fermi Collaboration, whereas the time-lag would be negligible in the case of a refractive index depending quadratically on the γ-ray energy. We suggest a strategy for future observations that could distinguish between a quantum-gravitational effect and other interpretations of the time-lags observed by the MAGIC, HESS and Fermi γ-ray telescopes.     

Terahertz spectroscopy of multiferroic EuFe3(BO3)4

The terahertz spectra of a rare-earth iron borate with the huntite structure are obtained for the first time. We study the low-temperature (4.0–90 K) α-polarized transmittance spectra of the EuFe₃(BO₃)₄ single crystal in the region 0.9–6.0 THz. Pronounced shifts of phonon frequencies and appearance of new phonon modes at the temperature _TS=58 K$T_S=58\text{K}$ of the R32→P₃₁21$R32\to P{3}_{1}21$ structural phase transition are observed. Additional shifts of phonon frequencies occur at the temperature _TN=34 K$T_N=34\text{K}$ of the magnetic ordering of the Fe subsystem, thus evidencing the spin–phonon coupling in this multiferroic material.     

Electron dynamics in CaB6 induced by one- and two-color femtosecond laser

We simulate nonlinear electron dynamics in CaB₆ crystal within the framework of time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) under one-color femtosecond laser fields (400 nm, 800 nm) and two-color cases (400 nm+800 nm$400\text{nm}+800\text{nm}$) with different relative phases of ?=0$?=0$, ?=π/4$?=\pi /4$, ?=π/2$?=\pi /2$. The time-dependent Kohn–Sham equation (TDKS) is solved in real-time and real-space evolution scheme. We investigate the energy absorption and the electron excitation of CaB₆ crystal in detail. Besides, the electron density distributions and occupations are shown after each external field ends. Computational results indicate that for one-color case, the excitation behaviors are distinct due to the different frequencies; for two-color laser, we adjust the phase and obtain the asymmetric field, which causes the change of the dynamics response comparing with the symmetric field. At the end of laser, the electron occupation is broadly distributed in the energy range of 2.4–42.4 eV, which means a high excitation rate in the narrow-gap semiconductor under intense laser field. The occurrence of the breakdown is also checked for each case in the Letter.     

Can charge drag explain the Pioneer anomaly?

According to precise measurements of Doppler shift for the signals from Pioneers 10 and 11, these two spacecraft have been experiencing a drag-like force of about 2×¹⁰⁻⁷ Newtons$2\times {10}^{\mathrm{-7}}\text{ Newtons}$ since they passed into the outer solar system. Recently, Nieto et al. [M.M. Nieto, et al., Phys. Lett. B 613 (2005) 11] have estimated the drag on these craft that would be caused by impacting dust grains in the region beyond 20 AU. They conclude that the amount of dust required to explain the anomaly is excessive, about 3×¹⁰⁻¹⁹ g/cc$3\times {10}^{\mathrm{-19}}\text{ g}/\text{cc}$. However, if the two spacecraft carry a large electric charge, then charge drag against the dusty plasma in this region could be significant. In the present Letter, estimates of this force are made, and conditions are found under which the observed level of drag is obtained. A density of charged dust of around 5×¹⁰⁻²² g/cc$5\times {10}^{\mathrm{-22}}\text{ g}/\text{cc}$ at a kinetic temperature of 10⁵ K suffices, provided that the dust grains are very small (mass ∼100 amu$\sim 100\text{ amu}$) and the spacecraft charge is near its reported maximum (Z∼¹⁰¹²$Z\sim {10}^{12}$).     

Effect of electric field of the electrosphere on photon emission from quark stars

We investigate the photon emission from the electrosphere of a quark star. It is shown that at temperatures T∼0.1–1 MeV$T\sim 0.1\text{–}1\text{MeV}$ the dominating mechanism is the bremsstrahlung due to bending of electron trajectories in the mean Coulomb field of the electrosphere. The radiated energy flux from this mechanism exceeds considerably both the contribution from the bremsstrahlung due to electron–electron interaction and the tunnel e⁺e⁻$e^{+}{e}^{-}$ pair creation.     

Comparative kinetic stability of classical and non-classical fullerenes C46

Molecular dynamics is used to study the kinetic stability of a classical fullerene C₄₆ and its non-classical analog with a square. The lifetimes of both clusters till the moments of their isomerization are directly calculated as functions of temperature. The activation energies _Ea$E_a$ of isomerization processes are determined from the fits of the results obtained to the Arrhenius law. For the non-classical fullerene, the value of _Ea=3.1±0.2 eV$E_a=3.1\pm 0.2\text{eV}$ is found to be considerably below that for the classical one, _Ea=4.5±0.3 eV$E_a=4.5\pm 0.3\text{eV}$. In view of rather low kinetic stability of non-classical C₄₆, its experimental registration in a gas phase seems to be problematic.     

Strange stars properties calculated in the framework of the Field Correlator Method

We calculate the strange star properties in the framework of the Field Correlator Method. We find that for gluon condensate values G₂$G_2$ in the range 0.006–0.007 GeV⁴$0.006\text{–}0.007{\text{GeV}}^4$, which give a critical temperature Tc∼170 MeV$T_c\sim 170\text{MeV}$ at μc=0${\mu }_c=0$, the sequences of strange stars are compatible with some of the semi-empirical mass–radius relations and data obtained from astrophysical observations.