Radiative decay and autoionization in the4 D-states of the 3d 94s5s configuration in CuI

The CuI 3d ⁹4s5s ⁴ D-states, which lie above the ionization limit, were populated by stepwise collisional and laser excitation. With respect to their total angular momentum, the⁴ D-states have completely different decay modes. Whereas the lifetimesτ(⁴ D _7/2)=8.2(4)·10^?9s andτ(⁴ D _1/2)=7.9(6)·10^?9 s are determinrd by radiative transitions and were measured by time-resolved spectroscopy, the lifetimesτ(⁴ D _5/2)=1.59(6)·10^?12s andτ(⁴ D _3/2)=1.28(5)·10^?12s are due to autoionization and were deduced from the widths of the excitation signals observed by ion detection.     

Fluorescence lifetimes and radiative rate constants of alkanes at 25°C

Fluorescence lifetimes of 33 alkanes were measured at 25°C using a 0.7 ns pulse radiolysis system and the relationship between molecular structure, fluorescence lifetime (τ), quantum yield (Φ_f) and radiative rate constant (R = $\text{Φ}{}_{\mathrm{f}}\text{τ}$) is discussed. The τ's showed a large dependence on the molecular structure, however, the R-values were approximately constant for groups of alkanes: R = 1.3×10⁶s^?1 for n-alkanes, R ≈ 4×10⁶ s^?1 for aliphatic vicinally substituted dimethyl alkanes, R = 7×10⁶s^-1 for cyclohexane and alkylcyclohexanes, and R = 10×10⁶s^?1 for di- and trimethylcyclohexanes. The excited state lifetimes of some non-fluorescing alkanes were also determined from steady-state photolytic quenching data and found to be very low (? 0.3 ns).     

Energy transfer from Tb3+ to Eu3+ ions sorbed on SrTiO3 surface

The energy transfer at room temperature between Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions sorbed onto SrTiO₃ powders is investigated, using Time-Resolved Laser-induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy (TRLFS). Several published works deal with the energy transfer between two lanthanide ions in co-doped matrices but it is the first time that transfer processes between two lanthanide ions sorbed on a solid surface is reported. The results show that the energy transfer between sorbed Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions on strontium titanate is a non-radiative process and follows a dipole–dipole type interaction. Moreover, the higher the acceptor ions Eu³⁺ concentration, the more efficient the energy transfer.It is shown that no energy migration between the Tb³⁺ donor ions occurs. A formalism based on the model of Inokuti–Hirayama is used and allows one to fit the non-exponential Tb³⁺ fluorescence decay. It is thus possible to evaluate the critical radius (R₀) of the influence sphere of the sorbed Tb³⁺ ions. According to the previous works, two sorption sites are considered for the sorbed rare-earth. The calculated radii are similar to those obtained for other couples of donor–acceptor lanthanide ions reported in the literature.     

Desorption kinetics and directional dependence of the surface diffusion of potassium on stepped W(100) surfaces

Using a surface ionisation ion microscope the desorption parameters and the diffusion constant of potassium were measured on stepped W(100) surfaces. The activation energy of ionic desorption as well as the corresponding prefactor do not depend on the step density; the mean adsorption lifetime τ can be expressed as τ=1.6×10^?14s exp(2.44 eV/kT).Whereas the surface diffusion of potassium on “flat” W(100) and on W(S)-[9(100)×(110)] was found to be isotropic, on W(S)- [5(100)×(110)] and W(S)-[3(100)×(110)] it occurs preferentially parallel to the step direction. The diffusion constant D_∥ for this direction has roughly the same value for all investigated surfaces: D_∥=7.8×10^?2 cm²s^?1 exp(?0.42 eV/kT). For the direction perpendicular to the steps D⊥ depends on the step density, whereby the activation energy as well as the prefactor increase with increasing step density.     

Spatial-temporal dispersion of the kinetic coefficients near the Anderson transition

A generalization of the Vollhardt-Wölfle localization theory is proposed to make it possible to study the spatial-temporal dispersion of the kinetic coefficients of a d-dimensional disordered system in the low-frequency, long-wavelength range (ω?_F and q?k _F ). It is shown that the critical behavior of the generalized diffusion coefficient D(q,ω) near the Anderson transition agrees with the general Berezinskii-Gor’kov localization criterion. More precisely, on the metallic side of the transition the static diffusion coefficient D(q,0) vanishes at a mobility threshold λ _c common for all q: D(q, 0)∝t=(λ _c ?λ)/λ _c →0, where λ=1/(2π?_F τ) is a dimensionless coupling constant. On the insulator side, q≠0 D(q,ω)∝?iω as ω→0 for all finite q. Within these limits, the scale of the spatial dispersion of D(q,ω) decreases in proportion to t in the metallic phase and in proportion to ωξ ², where ξ is the localization length, in the insulator phase until it reaches its lower limit ～λ _F. The suppression of the spatial dispersion of D(q,ω) near the Anderson transition up to the atomic scale confirms the asymptotic validity of the Vollhardt-Wölfle approximation: D(q,ω)?D(ω) as |t|→0 and ω→0. By contrast, the scale of the spatial dispersion of the electrical conductivity in the insulator phase is of order of the localization length and diverges in proportion to |t|^?v as |t|→0.     

Correction of a misunderstanding about Olbers' paradox

It is sometimes said that, if the universe were not expanding, we all would burn up, (Olbers' paradox). In order to check on this, I have used a solution of Friedmann's equation that seems reasonable, and that predicts a contraction of the universe after it has reached a maximum size. We may then compare the radiation energy density U _n now at age t _n of the universe, with this density (=U ^* ) at a time t ^* during contraction when R(t) takes a value R ^* equal to its present value R _n .We simplify the calculation by choosing 2R _n as maximum of R(t). Then, t _n=(1/2 π?1)R _n/C=6.98 × 10⁹ year for R _n = 1.16× 10²⁸ cm.(The present density would then be ρ_n = 2.4× 10^?29 gram/cm³).We assume the number of galaxies per unit volume = N(t) = η/R(t) ³ with constant η,and we assume a constant average radiative power L per galaxy. Now at t _n we choose N _n L ≈ 10^?31 erg/cm³sec,but our conclusions would be the same for much larger values of this. We split U into three parts: U ₁ is the primordial energy density left over from t ≈ 0.We put U ₁(t _n ) ≈ 6× 10^?13 erg/cm³ corresponding to T ≈ 3°K.U ₂ is the density of the energy flux near the earth emitted by all stars in our own Milky Way. Most of it is the density U _S =L _⊙/4ηr ² c = 4.5 × 10^?5 erg/cm³ in the flux from the sun. Finally, U ₃ is the energy in the radiation emitted by all other galaxies since t ≈ 0, and was going to burn us according to Olbers. Since U ₁ is a function of R(t), we put U ₁(t^*) =U ₁ (t _n ).We shall also assume U ₂ to be unchanged, as it was not the effect of a change of U _s that we were investigating. In calculating U ₃ we shall overestimate it by neglecting the absorption by closer galaxies of some of the light emitted by farther ones.     

Gain studies on a uranine-damc dye mixture laser under nitrogen laser pumping

The radiative and Forster type of energy transfer processes in a dye mixture laser of 7-diethylamino-4-methyl coumarin (donor) and fluorescein disodium salt (acceptor) under nitrogen laser pumping were investigated. The Forster transfer rate calculated from the absorption and emission spectra of acceptor and donor is 1.3 × 10¹¹ liter mole^?1sec^?1. The gain of acceptor at 550 nm was measured for acceptor concentrations N_A from 10^?3M to 3 × 10^?3M for a fixed ratio F = 1 of donor to acceptor concentrations at different pump powers. The results agreed with the rate equation model proposed for the dye mixture laser. The radiative rate constant calculated from these results is 3.1 × 10¹⁰ liter mole^?1sec^?1. Numerical simulation of the rate equations showed that the acceptor reaches peak emission with a time lag of 3 ns with respect to the donor peak emission for F = 0.998, N_A = 10^?5M. This time lag decreases with increasing N_A and becomes zero for N_A = 10^?1M, F = 0.048.     

Observation of pairs of charmed particles produced by high-energy photons in nuclear emulsions coupled with a magnetic spectrometer

Preliminary results of an experiment using nuclear emulsions exposed to a tagged photon beam at the CERN SPS (experiment WA58) are presented. Six events showing pairs of charmed particles have been found. One of these has been interpreted as an associated production of Λ_c⁺ and $\text{D}$⁰. The mean lifetime of the neutral D meson based on three events is τ⁰ = (0.58_?0.2^+0.8 × 10^?13 s,, whereas a statistical analysis of eight charged charmed particles, assumed to be D mesons, leads to an estimate of the mean lifetime of τ^± ≈ 4.4 × 10^?13 s.     

An approach to radially symmetrical solutions of the sine-Gordon equation

The solution φ(r, t) of the radially symmetric sine-Gordon equation is considered in three and two spatial dimensions for initial curves, analogous to a 2π-kink, in the expanding and in the shrinking phase, for R(t)j? R(0). It is shown that the parameterization φ(r, t) = 4 arcian exp[γ(r?R(0)] + x(r, t), where R(t) describes the exact propagation of the maximum of φ,(r, t), is suitable. Using an appoximate differential equation, recently given for the propagation of the solitary ring wave, a rough analytic approximation for the correction function x(r = R(t), t) is found and tested numerically. A relationship between the fluctuations in x(r = R(t), t) and those in $\text{R}\text{?}\text{(t), t)}\text{and}\text{R(t)}$ explains why the solitary wave is almost stable. From x(r = R(t), t) and the supposition x(1, t) ≈ x(∞, t) ≈ 0 an assymetry in φ_r(r, t) with respect to r = R(t) is predicted. It also exhibits fluctuations corresponding to those in x(r = R(t), t). The condition for validity of this approximation apparently is also a limit for the stability of the solitary ring wave.     

Lebensdauern und Oszillatorstärken im Sr I- und Ca I-Spektrum

Radiative lifetimes of some highly excited levels in Sr I were measured by zero-field level crossing technique. These levels have been populated using optical excitation starting from the metastable 4d 5s ¹ D ₂ or 5s5p ³ P _2,1,0 states. The high population of these metastable levels necessary for the experiments was obtained by a discharge in the pure Sr vapour burning in the atomic beam oven. The following lifetimes have been determined (in units of 10^?8 sec):τ(5s 6s³ S ₁)=1.09±0.11,τ(5s 5d ³D₁)=1.67±0.10,τ(5s4f¹ F ₃)=3.43±0.28,τ(4d5p ¹ D ₂)=2.19±0.16,τ(5p ^{2 3}P₁)=0.88±0.12,τ(5p ^{2 3} P ₂)=0.78 _?0.10 ^+0.26 . These results are compared with lifetimes derived from oscillator strengths given in the literature, and the reliability of different oscillator strengths tables is discussed. A corresponding discussion is given for radiative lifetimes of some levels in Ca I published previously. Good agreement with data derived from arc emission oscillator strengths has been found. Ca lifetimes are fairly well consistent with oscillator strengths calculated with semiempirical scaled Thomas-Fermi-wave functions.     

Lifetimes of charged and neutralD mesons

We have measured the lifetimes of hadronically produced charged and neutralD mesons using silicon microstrip detectors and an active silicon target in the NA32 spectrometer at the CERN SPS. We obtainτ _D± = (10.9± _1.5 ^1.9 )·10^?13s andτ _D ^(?)10 = (4.2±0.5)·10^?13s based on 59 and 90 fully reconstructed decays respectively, giving a ratioτ _D±/τ _D ^(?)10 of 2.6 ±0.5.     

The approach to equilibrium in a pure superconductor the relaxation of the Cooper pair density

Electron-phonon and electron-electron collisions are the processes which determine the relaxation timeτ _R of the Cooper pair density. The case is considered for which the deviation of the pair density from equilibrium is small and where the equilibrium state is homogeneous. Starting from the Eliashberg equation, one is able to reduce the problem to a quadrature once the equilibrium Green functions are known. If the deviation is constant in space, andT/T _c?0.5, we find \(\tau _R \approx \sqrt {T_c /(T_c - T)} \tau _c\) , whereτ _c is the collision time (≈10^?8 sec). For a deviation modulated in space,τ _R very quickly reaches the limiting valueτ _c.     

A note on the interface functions

The functions B₁(τ), D₂(τ), and D₃(τ), which arise in the study of radiative transfer through a planar medium with a relative refractive index different from unity, have been investigated. These functions reduce to exponential integrals when the refractive index of the medium is equal to that of the surroundings. Their behavior has been examined and is presented graphically and in tabular form for various ratios of the interface refractive index. When the interface refractive index ratio is larger than 1.2, these functions can be accurately approximated by an exponential of the form a e^?bτ.     

Fluorescence decay dynamics and anneal effect on praseodymium ions doped in lead tungstate single crystal

Fluorescence decay dynamics of main emission manifolds of trivalent praseodymium ions doped in the as-grown and annealed PbWO₄ crystals were analyzed in detail. The fluorescence lifetimes of the ³P₀ and ¹D₂ manifolds were obtained from the fluorescence decay curves measured at room temperature. The main mechanism of fluorescence quenching of the ³P₀ manifold is the non-radiative relaxation to the defect centers coming into being during crystal growth. The dominant non-radiative relaxation for the ¹D₂ manifold is the cross-relaxation energy transfer involving the ¹G₄ and ³F₄ manifolds. The Inokuti–Hirayama model was used to analyze the decay dynamics of the ¹D₂ manifold, and the fluorescence lifetime τ₀ of the as-grown and annealed Pr³⁺:PbWO₄ crystals in absence of cross-relaxation energy transfer are derived as 35.2 μs and 37.9 μs, respectively. The annealing treatment can eliminate most defect centers except for those related to the lead vacancies.     

Experimente mit Erdalkaliatomen in metastabilen Zuständen

An atomic beam source for atoms in metastable states is described. The source was used to produce metastable Ca and Sr atoms in the³ P _0,1,2 and¹ D ₂ and Mg atoms in the³ P _0,1,2 states. The population of these levels was high enough (about 30% of the atoms were in the³ P levels and 3% in the¹ D ₂ level) so that zero field level crossing experiments could be performed at highly excited levels which were populated by an optical excitation starting from the metastable states. The lifetime results obtained for Ca areτ(4s 4d ³ D ₁)=(1.21±0.07)·10^?8sec,τ(4s 4f¹ F ₃)=(2.84±0.23)· 10^?8sec, andτ(3d 4p ¹ F ₃)=(6.15±0.62)·10^?8 sec. The three lifetimes have been evaluated using theg _J values forLS-coupling. The quoted uncertainties include the errors by a possible deviation fromLS-coupling.     

Relaxation times in dissipative heavy-ion collisions

The classical model introduced earlier for analyzing experimental data on dissipative heavy-ion collisions, is generalized to include effects from the gradual dissipation of radial kinetic energy and from the development of fragment deformations during the collision. Relaxation times for the dissipation of radial kinetic energy (τ _R ) and relative angular momentum (τ _l ) as well as for the development of deformations (τ_α) are fitted to the reaction⁸⁶Kr (8.18 MeV/u) +¹⁶⁶Er and applied to three other reactions. A consistent set of relaxation times isτ _R = 0.3 · 10^?21 s,τ _l =1.5 · 10^?21 s andτ _α = 5 · 10^?21 s. Empirical mass transport coefficients are deduced from comparisons with experimental element distributions. Effects from fluctuations in the deflection function are discussed. Evidence is found for the existence of a relaxation time of the order 10^?21 s in the mass-drift coefficient.     

Frozen photoconductivity in PbTe films

We have studied PbTe films of thicknessd=200/10000 A made with telluride vapour deposition on glass substrate at room temperature. The estimate of the donor concentration ～10¹⁹ cm^?3 of the fresh-deposited film compared with the impurity content in the bulk raw material ～10¹⁷ cm^?3 shows that the donors were mainly film defects or nonstoichiometric Pb atoms. Electrical conductivity of the freshly deposited film increased with lowering of the temperature. After deposition the donors were compensated with an oxidation in the laboratory air. Transition to the thermally activated conductivity resulted from oxidation. At temperatures belowT≈100 K the resistance of the compensated films followed Mott’s ruleR=R ₀ exp(T ₀/T)^1/3. The square film value 1 Mohm andT ₀≈100 K ford=1000 A. At low temperatures an exposure to light resulted in sharp decrease of the film resistance. At liquid helium temperatures the resistance dropped 10³–10⁶ times and stayed at the low value for an indeterminate time. The heating of the film aboveT=100 K gave rise to an initial high resistive state. The critical temperatureT _c, when the frozen photoconductivity became negligible, varied with samples in the temperature region 90–120 K. Near the critical temperature we could measure the time dependence of the film resistance after the light exposure, which followed the equationR=A+B.lnt fort>1 sec with the empirical constantsA andB. After a time intervalτ the resistance gained the initial “dark” value and remained stationary. The value lnτ≈α.(T _c?T), where the factorα approximately wasα≈0.5 K^?1. Some results of these experiments were published earlier (Krylov and Nadgorny 1982; Krylov and Pojarkov 1984).     

Anomalous pulse-angle and phase dependence of Hahn’s electron spin echo and multiple-quantum echoes of the spin correlated radical pair P700+A 1 − in photosystem I

In a spin-correlated radical pair system, anomalous pulse-angle and phase dependence of electron spin echo and multiple-quantum echoes were theoretically calculated by Tanget al. (J. Chem. Phys.106, 7471 (1997)). The maximum intensity of the out of phase signal at 45 degree of spin rotation angle was experimentally verified in two-pulse echoes of the light-induced P700⁺A ₁ ^? radical pair in Photosystem I. The values,D = 1.64 G andJ = 0.00 G, fit well with the experimental ESEEM spectra. Single and double quantum echoes were observed at the value oft = τ andT = 2τ with the laser flash-t-P1_70,ζ1-τ-P2_{140, ζ2}-T pulse sequence, which led to determination of the relaxation time T₂₃ between the singlet and triplet ¦T₀〉 states. The relaxation times of the zero and single quantum transitions were determinedT ₂₃ ≈ 100 ns andT ₂ = 1000 ns, respectively. The field sweep ESE signal shape can be fitted with the hyperfine inhomogeneities of 7 G for P700⁺ and of 10 G for A ₁ ^? .     

Exciton spectra and electrical conductivity of epitaxial silicon-doped GaN layers

Optical spectra and electrical conductivity of silicon-doped epitaxial gallium nitride layers with uncompensated donor concentrations N _D — N _A up to 4.8 × 10¹⁹ cm^?3 at T ≈ 5 K have been studied. As follows from the current-voltage characteristics, at a doping level of ～3 × 10¹⁸ cm^?3 an impurity band is formed and an increase of donor concentration by one more order of magnitude leads to the merging of the impurity band with the conduction band. The transformation of exciton reflection spectra suggests that the formation of the impurity band triggers effective exciton screening at low temperatures. In a sample with N _D — N _A = 3.4 × 10¹⁸ cm^?3, luminescence spectra are still produced by radiation of free and bound excitons. In a sample with N _D — N _A = 4.8 × 10¹⁹ cm^?3, Coulomb interaction is already completely suppressed, with the luminescence spectrum consisting of bands deriving from impurity-band-valence band and conduction-band-valence band radiative transitions.     

Intermittency in the atmospheric surface layer: Unresolved or slowly varying?

We present streamwise velocity structure functions 〈δv_L(τ)〉=〈|v(t+τ)−v(t)|^p〉 (with p=1:5) obtained in the near neutral atmospheric surface layer at the Utah SLTEST site at the highest terrestrial Reynolds number Re_τ=O(10⁶). We show that the occurrence of very large scale coherent oscillations in the streamwise velocity throughout the wall region, interpreted as genuine structural features of the canonical turbulent boundary layer, affects the scaling exponents of the p>3 order structure functions. This results in a slight alteration of the intermittent behavior of the velocity field. It was found that for positive (fast) large scale oscillation of the low-pass filtered velocity signal, deviations from the Kolmogorov K41 prediction (absence of multiscaling) are more marked, as compared to negative (slow) excursion. The results are discussed in terms of convergence of statistics from atmospheric boundary layer measurements.