Optical Abelian lattice gauge theories

We discuss a general framework for the realization of a family of Abelian lattice gauge theories, i.e., link models or gauge magnets, in optical lattices. We analyze the properties of these models that make them suitable for quantum simulations. Within this class, we study in detail the phases of a U(1)$U\left(1\right)$-invariant lattice gauge theory in 2+1$2+1$ dimensions, originally proposed by P. Orland. By using exact diagonalization, we extract the low-energy states for small lattices, up to 4×4$4\times 4$. We confirm that the model has two phases, with the confined entangled one characterized by strings wrapping around the whole lattice. We explain how to study larger lattices by using either tensor network techniques or digital quantum simulations with Rydberg atoms loaded in optical lattices, where we discuss in detail a protocol for the preparation of the ground-state. We propose two key experimental tests that can be used as smoking gun of the proper implementation of a gauge theory in optical lattices. These tests consist in verifying the absence of spontaneous (gauge) symmetry breaking of the ground-state and the presence of charge confinement. We also comment on the relation between standard compact U(1)$U\left(1\right)$ lattice gauge theory and the model considered in this paper.     

Near infrared to UV dielectric functions of Al doped ZnO films deposited on c-plane sapphire substrate using pulsed laser deposition

Transparent conducting polycrystalline Al-doped ZnO (AZO) films were deposited on sapphire substrates at substrate temperatures ranging from 200 to 300 °C by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). X-ray diffraction measurement shows that the crystalline quality of AZO films was improved with increased substrate temperature. The electrical and optical properties of the AZO films have been systematically studied via various experimental tools. The room-temperature micro-photoluminescence (µ-PL) spectra show a strong ultraviolet (UV) excitonic emission and weak deep-level emission, which indicate low structural defects in the films. A Raman shift of about 11 cm⁻¹ is observed for the first-order longitudinal-optical (LO) phonon peak for AZO films when compared to the LO phonon peak of bulk ZnO. The Raman spectra obtained with UV resonant excitation at room temperature show multi-phonon LO modes up to third order. Optical response due to free electrons of the AZO films was characterized in the photon energy range from 0.6 to 6.5 eV by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). The free electron response was expressed by a simple Drude model combined with the Cauchy model are reported.     

Pressure dependence of electronic transitions of Fe,Co and Ni ions in layered dihalides

Abstract

The near infra-red absorption peaks due to transition metal ions in four halides of Fe, Co and Ni have been studied as a function of pressure. The behaviors of these ions' absorption peaks under pressure are found to be quite different. While the energy of the absorption peak in Col₂ increases with pressure similar to the behavior of transition metal ions in cubic crystal fields, the absorption peaks in the Fe halides are found to be almost independent of pressure. In Nil₂ two absorption peaks exhibit level-crossing at about 2GPa. The results have been interpreted in terms of a theory proposed by da Silva and Falicov [Phys. Rev. B 45,11511 (1992)] in which pressure changes the trigonal component of the crystal field at the transition metal ions.     

Optical absorption of zinc selenide doped with cobalt (Zn1−xCoxSe) under hydrostatic pressure

Abstract

The optical absorption of the diluted magnetic semiconductor Zn_1?xCO_xSe (x = 0.02) has been measured at room temperature under hydrostatic pressure up to 14GPa in a membrane diamond-anvil cell. We found two absorption features: (i) an absorption structure in the energy range 1.6?1.8eV, with a negligible pressure shift (i.e., 0.45 ± 0.05 meV/GPa) which we have identified as the Co²⁺(3d⁷) internal transition ⁴A₂(F)→+⁴T₁(P) and (ii) an onset in the energy range 2?2.7eV which redshifts with pressure (?8.1±0.6meV/GPa). We have attributed such absorption edge to charge transfer between the ZnSe valence band and the Co²⁺(3d⁷) levels.     

Photocatalytic degradation efficacy of Bi4Ti3O12 micro-scale platelets over methylene blue under visible light

〈001〉 textured Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ platelets with micro scale size were synthesized by a facile molten salt method. The photocatalytic activities of the as-prepared samples were measured with the photodegradation of methylene blue at room temperature under visible light irradiation. The Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ with the aspect ratio of 35 exhibited good absorption in the visible light region and the photodegradation against methylene blue was higher than that of anatase TiO₂ reference, showing that the high degree of preferred {001} facets on the plate surface benefits the electronic transmission. In addition, the layer-pervoskite structure facilitates the mobility of the photogenerated carriers and hampers their recombination. The above results indicated that the large specific surface area of the as-prepared samples could attribute to the presence of a number of oxygen vacancies and then lead to the good photo-electric property. This work proposed an alternative way to tailor the structure of micro-sized platelets to get excellent properties comparable to the nano materials.     

Optical Properties of Gamma Irradiated Soda-Lime Silicate Glasses Exchanged with Copper

The effect of copper ion exchange upon the optical absorption and room temperature gamma colouration of soda lime silicate glasses has been investigated. After ion exchange performed at 720 K, copper ions substitute mainly the alkali ions and do modify the optical absorption spectra of the specimens. It has been shown that gamma irradiation does not induce the formation of colloidal copper. Moreover, the colouration process itself is independent of the presence of copper ions. The generated colour centres are rather related to the presence of sodium and potassium ions. The optical bleaching by the UV light occurs in two stages. First disappear centres related to the Na-type defects and next those related to the K-type defects.     

Interaction Between Pr3☎ Pairs and Excitons in CsCdBr3

CsCdBr₃ consists of linear chains of [CdBr₆]^4- octahedra separated by Cs^? ions. The excited states of the covalently bound [CdBr₆]^4- octahedra form the lowest excitonic states of the crystal lattice. The trivalent Pr ions substitute for the divalent Cd ions. For reasons of charge compensation in the linear Cd^2? chains, pair centers of the form Pr^3?-(Cd vacancy)-Pr^3? are predominantly formed. In CsCdBr₃ the optical band gap is wider than the electronic one. This allows to study the interaction between Pr^3? ions and excitons by means of optical spectroscopy. The interaction leads to quantum up- and down-conversion generating one photon from two lower ones in energy and vice versa. Related experiments are discussed.     

Cooperative Processes in Nd3☎/Yb3☎ Co-Doped Yag Nanocrystallites

The cooperative processes in doubly doped Nd/Yb:YAG nanocrystallites were investigated. An extremely strong Yb^3? ion concentration influence on absorption intensities was noticed. An efficient Nd^3? → Yb^3? energy transfer in YAG nanocrystallites was found. However no back transfer was observed. The mechanisms of cooperative interactions between Nd^3? and Yb^3? ions in YAG nanocrystallites responsible for the observed concentration effects are discussed.     

Atomistics of helium diffusion in copper and tungsten

Using previously determined interatomic potentials, the activation energy for migration of a single substitutional helium atom in copper and tungsten has been determined. The mechanism of migration involves the jump of the helium atom out of the vacancy concurrent with the jump of a host atom into that vacancy. The helium then occupies the vacant site created by the jumping host atom, resulting in a substitutional helium at a distance of √2 r ₀ (√3r ₀) from its original site in copper (tungsten). The rate-limiting step in the process is found to be the jump of the helium out of the vacancy, the activation energy for which is 2.15 eV in copper and 4.69 eV in tungsten.     

Rare complication resulting from radiotherapy of spinal cord malignancy

A rare complication of irradiation is reported of a ten-year-old boy who had been treated by supervoltage irradiation following decompressive-laminectomy for his primary spinal cord neoplasm.

He probably received average dose of (4500) rads to a limited segment of his duodenum, within the six weeks. He developed this complication nine months after the completion of treatment. The dose-time-volume factors are considcred sufficient enough to produce such complications, however, there were apparent contributory factors such as unusual duodenal fixation and duodeno-jejunal ligament foreshortening.