Multi-step laser excitation of the highly excited states of zinc

We report experimental data on the highly excited states of zinc in the energy range 74,625-75,740 cm⁻¹ using two-step laser excitation scheme in conjunction with a thermionic diode ion detector. The 4s4p ³P₁ inter-combination level at 32501.399 cm⁻¹ was populated using a frequency doubled dye laser. The 4s5s ³S₁ level at 53672.28 cm⁻¹ gets populated from the ASE (amplified spontaneous emission) of the second step dye laser. The Rydberg series 4snp ³P₂ (12 ? n ? 60), 4snp ¹P₁ (16 ? n ? 30) and parity forbidden transitions 4sns ³S₁ (19 ? n ? 44) have been observed. A two parameter fit to excitation energies of the observed series yields the binding energy of the 4s5s ³S₁ level as 22097.03 ± 0.03 cm⁻¹ and consequently, the first ionization potential of zinc is determined as 75769.31 ± 0.05 cm⁻¹, that is in excellent agreement with the earlier work.     

Resonantly enhanced three-photon excitation spectra of lithium

We present the first measurement on the resonantly enhanced three-photon excitation spectra of natural lithium using a Nd:YAG laser pumped dye laser in conjunction with a thermionic diode ion detector. Exploiting the linear and circular polarizations, the np ²P_3/2(8 ? n ? 11) and nf  ²F_7/2 (8 ? n ? 38) series have been observed via three-photon excitation from the ground state. The measured level energies reveal a dynamic shift from calculated values, which increases with an increase of the principal quantum number n. The ac stark shift and line broadening mechanisms are studied as a function of laser intensity. It is noted that the width increases and the line center shifts towards the higher energy side as the laser intensity is increased. The maximum observed shift for the 12f ²F_7/2 line is 0.33 cm⁻¹ corresponding to the laser intensity variation from 1.34 × 10¹² W/m² to 1.03 × 10¹³ W/m², whereas its width increases from 0.36 cm⁻¹ to 0.82 cm⁻¹.     

Λ-Doubling investigation of the 5Πg Rydberg state of Na2 using optical-optical double resonance spectroscopy

The splitting of Λ-doubling in the 5¹Π_g Rydberg state of Na₂, which dissociates to Na(3s) + Na(4d), has been measured using the high-resolution cw optical-optical double resonance technique. The observed data are in the range of 0 ? v ? 22 and 11 ? J ? 83 with Λ-doubling revealed. A set of Dunham coefficients with Λ-doubling constants has been obtained from the experimental results. The splitting of Λ-doubling increases quadratically with the rotational quantum number J and weakly depends on the vibrational quantum number v. These splitting constants are much larger than those in the Na₂B¹Π_u state, which dissociates to Na(3s) + Na(3p). This indicates that the splitting of Λ-doubling in the 5¹Π_g state is affected by both the perturbations by adjacent Σ states and the L-uncoupling.     

Electric field induced hyperfine level-crossings in (nD)Cs at two-step laser excitation: Experiment and theory

The pure electric field level-crossing of m_F Zeeman sublevels of hyperfine F levels at two-step laser excitation is described theoretically and studied experimentally for the nD_3/2 states in Cs with n = 7, 9 and 10, by applying a diode laser in the first 6S_1/2 → 6P_3/2 step and a diode or dye laser for the second 6P_3/2 → nD_3/2 step. Level-crossing resonance signals are observed in the nD_3/2 → 6P_1/2 fluorescence. A theoretical model is presented to describe quantitatively the resonance signals by correlation analysis of the optical Bloch equations in the case when an atom simultaneously interacts with two laser fields in the presence of an external dc electric field. The simulations describe well the experimental signals. The tensor polarizabilities α₂ (in ) are determined to be 7.45(20) × 10⁴ for the 7D_3/2 state and 1.183(35) × 10⁶ for the 9D_3/2 state; the electric field calibration is based on measurements of the 10D_3/2 state, for which α₂ is well established. The α₂ value for the 7D_3/2 state differs by ca. 15% from the existing experimentally measured value.     

Anomalous behavior of optogalvanic signal in a miniature neon discharge lamp

A strong optogalvanic effect has been observed in a negative glow of a miniature neon discharge lamp using tunable pulse dye laser pumped by a copper vapor laser. A comparative study on temporal evolution of optogalvanic signal in a positive and negative dynamic resistance region of the discharge is described. Dye laser beam was tuned to various neon transitions 1s_i → 2p_j (Paschen notations) within 570-617 nm wavelength range. Anomalous behavior of optogalvanic signal was observed at 588.2 nm for (1s₅ → 2p₂) neon transition at low discharge current (<220 μA). This anomalous behavior is the attributes of damped oscillations of optogalvanic signal that correlate with negative dynamic resistance (dV/di < 0) of the discharge. Penning ionization at low discharge current and small energy mismatch is assumed to be the main cause of the negative dynamic resistance. Penning ionization process has been explained by resonantly ionizing energy transfer via collisions between neon buffer gas atoms in the lowest metastable state (1s₅) and electrode sputtered atoms in ground state using their partial energy level diagram.     

Galvanomagnetic properties of air-stable and highly conductive potassium-intercalated graphite sheet

Magnetoresistance and Hall coefficient of air-stable potassium-intercalated graphite sheets (hereafter abbreviated as K-PGS) were determined at room temperature. The magnitude of the magnetoresistance and the absolute value of Hall coefficient of K-PGS decreased with increasing potassium content of K-PGS, n_K/n_C. Two-carrier model was used for calculating carrier density and mobility. The electron density increased with increasing n_K/n_C: 3.07×10²⁰ cm⁻³ (n_K/n_C=0.005), 5.67×10²⁰ cm⁻³ (n_K/n_C=0.008) and 6.40×10²⁰ cm⁻³ (n_K/n_C=0.011). The value of the electron density of K-PGS with n_K/n_C=0.011 (nominal composition KC₉₁) was about 80% of the reported value, 7.8×10²⁰ cm⁻³, for KC₄₈ (n_K/n_C=0.021) prepared from HOPG (highly oriented pyrolytic graphite). The mobility decreased with increasing n_K/n_C: 2.11×10³ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ (n_K/n_C=0.005), 1.42×10³ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ (n_K/n_C=0.008) and 1.34×10³ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ (n_K/n_C=0.011). The value of the mobility of K-PGS with n_K/n_C=0.011 was about 60% of the reported value (2300 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹) for KC₄₈ prepared from HOPG.     

Two-color three-photon excitation studies of thallium Rydberg states

We present new data on the even-parity Rydberg states of atomic thallium using two-step three-photon laser excitation technique in conjunction with a thermionic diode ion detector. Atoms are excited from the 6p ²P_1/2 ground state to the 7p ²P_1/2 intermediate state via two-photon excitation and subsequently promoted to the high lying ns ² S_1/2 and nd ²D_3/2 Rydberg states. The first ionization potential of thallium is determined as 49,266.66(1) cm^-1 using data for the ns ² S_1/2 (25 ≤ n ≤ 54) and nd ²D_3/2 (24 ≤ n ≤ 65) Rydberg series. This value is believed to be more accurate because the contribution due to the hyperfine structure splitting of the 7p ²P_1/2 state (0.07185 cm^-1) is much smaller as compared to that of the 6p ²P_1/2 ground state (0.711 cm^-1).     

Study of vibration-rotation levels in formamide with high resolution FTIR spectroscopy: The ν12, 2ν12, ν11, and ν9 bands

The far infrared and infrared spectra of formamide (HCONH₂) have been recorded at high resolution (0.00125 cm⁻¹) in the region of 90-1060 cm⁻¹. Over 20,000 transitions from the out-of-plane NH₂ wagging motion (n₁₂ = 1 ← 0 fundamental, n₁₂ = 2 ← 0 overtone, n₁₂ = 2 ← 1 difference bands), torsion (n₁₁ = 1 ← 0 bands), and out-of-phase NCO/NH₂ bend (n₉ = 1 ← 0 bands) have been assigned. Molecular parameters have been obtained for the ground state and the unperturbed n₁₂ = 1 state. The least-squares fit calculations were completed with the microwave data available in the literature. The complicated resonance system between the n₁₂ = 2, n₁₁ = 1, and n₉ = 1 states has been investigated carefully. Thus, we have been able to verify almost all resonances (avoided crossing) existing in the region J, K investigated. In the coupled Hamiltonian used for the fit, all Watson’s reduced parameters, including the octic ones and 16 Coriolis coupling parameters were taken into account. The rms deviation obtained from the fit was 0.000247 cm⁻¹.     

Partial molar adiabatic compressibilities of transfer of some amino acids from water to aqueous lactose solutions at different temperatures

Apparent molar adiabatic compressibilities (K_{?, s}) of glycine, L-alanine, L-valine, and L-leucine have been determined in aqueous and mixed aqueous solutions of lactose (2 to 6 mass%) at T = (293.15, 298.15, 303.15, and 308.15) K. From these data partial molar adiabatic compressibilities at infinite dilution (K_{?, s}⁰) have been evaluated to calculate corresponding transfer function. The transfer partial molar adiabatic compressibilities at infinite dilution (ΔK_{?, s}⁰) are found to be positive. The decrease in the magnitude of transfer partial molar adiabatic compressibilities from glycine to L-leucine indicates the dominance of hydrophobic-hydrophobic interactions between the increasing side chains of amino acids. Also, the contributions of NH₃⁺COO⁻ , and CH₂ groups have been calculated by the linear correlation of K_{?, s}⁰ with number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain of amino acids.     

Broadband photoluminescence from pulsed laser deposited Er2O3 films

Photoluminescence (PL) with the bandwidth of 45 nm (1523-1568 nm at the level of 3 dB) was observed in amorphous Er₂O₃ films grown on to the quartz substrate by pulsed laser ablation of erbium oxide stoichiometric target. Optical transmission spectrum has been fitted to Swanepoel formula to determine the dispersion of refractive index and to extract resonance absorption peaks at 980 and 1535 nm. The maximum gain coefficient of 800 dB/cm at 1535 nm was estimated using McCumber theory and experimental spectrum of the resonance absorption. In 5.7 mm-long waveguide amplifier a theory predicts the spectral gain of 20 dB with 1.4 dB peak-to-peak flatness in the bandwidth of 31 nm (1532-1563 nm) when 73% of Er³⁺ ions are excited from the ground state to the ⁴I_13/2 laser level. Strong broadband PL at room temperature and inherently flat spectral gain promise Er₂O₃ films for ultra-short high-gain optical waveguide amplifiers and integrated light circuits.     

Electric field induced anomalies in frequency shift and collisional perturbations in the 5snd D2 Rydberg series of strontium in a heatpipe setup with ionization detection

We have examined the effect of weak DC electric field (2-20 V/cm) complimented by foreign gas collisions on the bound J = 2 even-parity 5snd ¹D₂ Rydberg states of neutral strontium. We use resonant two-photon transverse excitation, employing a narrow bandwidth tunable dye laser and an atomic jet in a heatpipe setup with ionization detection. In this paper we report certain anomalies in the observed spectra covering principal quantum number range n = 27-42 indicating a frequency shift reversal with nearly quadratic dependence on the field strength above an anti-resonance region. Furthermore, we have observed the emergence of highly localized doubly-excited 4d² states, including a remarkably broad perturber with large angular momentum, uncovering orbital contraction effect. This non-Rydberg excitation, which intrudes upon the two-photon spectrum with large energy overlap is due to single-photon excitations from the 5s5p ¹P₁ resonance level following molecular dissociation of the Sr₂ dimers suitably governed by binary atomic collisions. Our study which involves laser excitation complimented by electric field and collisions using inexpensive home-made setup opens up the possibilities for a new class of experiments, with considerable simplicity in the choice of excitation schemes for both Rydberg and non-Rydberg transitions, to reach states lying at high energies which cannot otherwise be accessed from the ground state due to parity and selection rules, while allowing one to probe localization properties of atomic wave functions.     

Electro-optical features of antiferroelectric liquid crystal material (S)-(+)-4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl) phenyl 4′-(6-octanoyloxyhex-1-oxy) biphenyl-4-carboxylate in its ferro and antiferroelectric phases

A detailed investigation of the electro-optical switching parameters of an antiferroelectric liquid crystal (S)-(+)-4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl) phenyl 4′-(6-octanoyloxyhex-1-oxy) biphenyl-4-carboxylate (abbreviated as S-7H6Bi) has been carried out. S-7H6Bi has paraelectric (SmA^?) and ferroelectric (SmC^?) phases in addition to antiferroelectric (SmC^?_A) phase. Switching parameters viz. spontaneous polarization and switching time were determined by polarization reversal method. The spontaneous polarization (P_s) is found to be highly temperature dependent and decreases with temperature. The maximum value of P_s is found to be ∼90 nC/cm² whereas the switching time (t_s) is found to be of the order 1-2 ms. The temperature dependent torsional viscosity (γ_t) is of the order 10 Pa sec. It increases with decrease in temperature.     

The far-infrared and microwave spectra of the CH radical in the v = 1 level of the XΠ state

Transitions between the spin-rotational levels of the ¹²CH radical in the v = 1 level of the X²Π state have been studied by the technique of laser magnetic resonance at far-infrared wavelengths. The data have been combined with a measurement of lambda-doubling transition frequencies at 7 GHz to determine an improved set of molecular parameters for CH in the v = 1 level. The parameters provide information on the effects of vibrational excitation on the structural properties of CH. Accurate predictions of the transition frequencies between the low-lying levels of the radical in the absence of a magnetic field have also been made.Small inconsistencies in the least-squares fit of the laser magnetic resonance data prompted re-measurement of three far-infrared laser frequencies, the 122.5 μm line of CH₂F₂ pumped by 9R(22), the 122.5 μm line of CH₂F₂ pumped by 9P(8) and the 554.4 μm line of CH₂CF₂ pumped by 10P(14). The new measurements differ by as much as 3.8 MHz from those made previously and are more accurate; they also remove the inconsistencies in the fit. The re-measured frequencies of the two 122.5 μm lines are identical within experimental error which suggests that the far-infrared lasing transition is the same, namely the ^rR₂₃(32) transition in the v₉=1 level of CH₂F₂.     

Fiber laser annealing of nanocrystalline PZT thick film prepared by aerosol deposition

Nanocrystalline PZT thick films (1 mm square and over 10 μm thick) directly deposited onto stainless-steel substrates (PZT/SUS) by aerosol deposition (AD) technique and then annealed using focused laser beam with a fiber laser to suppress thermal damage to the back sides of the PZT/SUS and substrate near the film edge and to retain the dielectric and/or ferroelectric properties of the PZT/SUS. Compared with CO₂ laser annealing, fiber laser annealing suppressed thermal damage to the substrate. Compared with PZT/SUS annealed at 600 °C using an electric furnace, PZT/SUS annealed at 600 °C using a fiber laser showed superior properties, namely, dielectric constant ? > 1200 at a frequency of 100 Hz, remanent polarization P_r > 30 μC/cm², and coercive field strength E_c < 50 kV/cm at a frequency of 10 Hz. Furthermore, the grain growth for the PZT/SUS formed by AD technique and annealed by fiber laser irradiation was occurred within the laser spot size.     

Diode laser absorption spectrum of cold bands of C2HD at 6500 cm

The absorption spectrum of acetylene-d has been observed at high resolution between 6470 and 6630 cm⁻¹ using an external cavity diode laser. Three cold bands have been observed: the strong 2ν₁ band, the weaker ν₁ + ν₂ + 2ν₅ band, and the (ν₁ + ν₃ + ν₅)¹ band, which gains its intensity through Coriolis resonance with 2ν₁. Centers of unblended lines are determined with an accuracy of approximately 10 MHz.     

Propagation regimes of intense circularly polarized laser beam in magnetoactive plasma

This paper presents an analytical and numerical investigation of an intense circularly polarized wave propagating along the static magnetic field parallel to oscillating magnetic field in magnetoactive plasma. In the relativistic regime such a magnetic field is created by pulse itself. The authors have studied different regimes of propagation with relativistic electron mass effect for magnetized plasma. An appropriate expression for dielectric tensor in relativistic magnetoactive plasma has been evaluated under paraxial theory. Two modes of propagation as extraordinary and ordinary exist; because of the relativistic effect, ultra-strong magnetic fields are generated which significantly influence the propagation of laser beam in plasma. The nature of propagation is characterized through the critical-divider curves in the normalized beam width with power plane For given values of normalized density (ω_p/ω) and magnetic field (ω_c/ω) the regions are namely steady divergence (SD), oscillatory divergence (OD) and self-focusing (SF). Numerical computations are performed for typical parameters of relativistic laser-plasma interaction: magnetic field B = 10-100 MG; intensity I = 10¹⁶ to 10²⁰ W/cm²; laser frequency ω = 1.1 × 10¹⁵ s⁻¹; cyclotron frequency ω_c = 1.7 × 10¹³ s⁻¹; electron density n_e = 2.18 × 10²⁰ cm⁻³. From the calculations, we confirm that a circularly polarized wave can propagate in different regimes for both the modes, and explicitly indicating enhancement in wave propagation, beam focusing/self-guiding and penetration of E-mode in presence of magnetic field.     

Parametric study on femtosecond laser pulse ablation of Au films

Ablation process of 1 kHz rate femtosecond lasers (pulse duration 148 fs, wavelength 775 nm) with Au films on silica substrates has been systemically studied. The single-pulse threshold can be obtained directly. For the multiple pulses the ablation threshold varies with the number of pulses applied to the surface due to the incubation effect. From the plot of accumulated laser fluence N × ?_th(N) and the number of laser pulses N, incubation coefficient of Au film can be obtained (s = 0.765). As the pulse energy is increased, the single pulse ablation rate is increasing following two ablation logarithmic regimes, which can be explained by previous research.     

Infrared laser magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the ν3 fundamental and associated hot bands of the NCO free radical

The v₃ = 1 ← 0 (out-of-phase stretching vibration) transition wavenumbers of gas-phase NCO have been measured, in many cases with sub-Doppler resolution, by mid-infrared laser magnetic resonance (LMR) spectroscopy. In addition to the fundamental transition from the ²Π ground vibronic state, hot bands from the v₂ = 1 ²Σ and ²Δ and from the v₂ = 2 ²Φ vibronic states were detected and analyzed. The ²Σ vibronic level, with a spin-orbit coupling only partly quenched by the Renner-Teller effect, is characterised by complex and rapid tuning of energies in the magnetic field. This is the first successful analysis of magnetic resonance spectra for non-unique Renner-Teller vibronic states. The new LMR transitions were combined with data from previous studies and analysed, using an effective Hamiltonian in a 40-parameter fit to 660 transitions and combination differences. Several new coupling parameters are required, having magnitudes generally consistent with predictions from standard vibration-rotation theory.     

Impact broadening and shifts for 6sns 1S0 and 6snd 1D2 series of barium

Impact broadening and shifts of Ba transitions to parity forbidden Rydberg states have been measured using two-photon laser spectroscopy techniques. Broadening and shift rates for the 6sns ¹S₀ (10 < n < 19) and 6snd ¹D₂ (8 < n < 26) levels due to thermal collisional interactions with Xe, Kr and Ar as perturber gases are plotted. Perturbations due to configuration interactions are discussed.     

On the energy distribution profile of interface states obtained by taking into account of series resistance in Al/TiO2/p-Si (MIS) structures

The energy distribution profile of the interface states (N_ss) of Al/TiO₂/p-Si (MIS) structures prepared using the sol-gel method was obtained from the forward bias current-voltage (I-V) characteristics by taking into account both the bias dependence of the effective barrier height (?_e) and series resistance (R_s) at room temperature. The main electrical parameters of the MIS structure such as ideality factor (n), zero-bias barrier height (?_b0) and average series resistance values were found to be 1.69, 0.519 eV and 659 Ω, respectively. This high value of n was attributed to the presence of an interfacial insulator layer at the Al/p-Si interface and the density of interface states (N_ss) localized at the Si/TiO₂ interface. The values of N_ss localized at the Si/TiO₂ interface were found with and without the R_s at 0.25-E_v in the range between 8.4×10¹³ and 4.9×10¹³ eV⁻¹ cm⁻². In addition, the frequency dependence of capacitance-voltage (C-V) and conductance-voltage (G/ω-V) characteristics of the structures have been investigated by taking into account the effect of N_ss and R_s at room temperature. It can be found out that the measured C and G/ω are strongly dependent on bias voltage and frequency.