Dynamics of electron excitation of low-energy quartet states of the potassium atom

The electron excitation function for the lowest (3p ⁵3d4s)⁴ P autoionizing quartet level of the potassium atom is measured in the energy range from the threshold of the process to 102 eV at the energy resolution of 0.3 eV or better. The near-threshold energy region is studied in detail for the first time. The main processes that govern the dynamics of excitation of the low-lying quartet levels in the potassium atom are analyzed by comparing these data with the excitation functions obtained earlier for the (3p ⁵4s4p)⁴ S and (3p ⁵4s4p)⁴ D levels. In particular, the resonances of negative ions in the near-threshold energy region are shown to play a dominant role, as well as to significantly affect the efficiency of the cascade transitions from higher-lying quartet levels.     

Charge exchange and excitation cross sections at collisions of alpha particles with be-like impurity oxygen ions in a plasma

The charge exchange and excitation cross sections at collisions of alphas with O⁴⁺(1s ²2s ²) impurity atoms in a hot plasma for striking energies E _c varying from 20 keV to 2 MeV are determined for the first time. The cross sections are calculated using the method of close-coupling equations with 13 singlet four-electron quasi-molecular states taken as a basis. The partial cross sections of charge transfer to the 1s, 2s, and 2p states of a He⁺ ion and for O⁴⁺(1s ²2s ²) → O⁴⁺(1s ²2lnl’) (n = 2, 3) electronic excitation of an oxygen ion are found. The maximal value of the charge exchange total cross section roughly equals 2.2 × 10^?16 cm² at E _c ≈ 0.7 MeV. The excitation total cross section has a maximum of ≈ 7.7 × 10^?16 cm² at E _c ≈ 80 keV for single-electron excitation and ≈6.5 × 10^?16 cm² at E _c ≈ 0.7 MeV for two-electron excitation.     

Laser-induced effects for overlapping autoinoizing rydberg states of xenon

The effect of a laser field on the cross section of photoionization of an atom by probe radiation in the region of closely lying autoionizing resonances is studied theoretically. The cross sections in the region of the overlapping autoionizing Rydberg states 5p ⁵(² P _1/2)6d′ J = 1 and 5p ⁵(² P _1/2)8s′ J = 1 resonantly coupled with the discrete state 5p ⁵(² P _3/2)7p[1/2]₁ in the xenon atom are calculated. The behavior of the shape and position of resonances in relation to the frequency and intensity of laser radiation is studied.     

Ionization,charge exchange,and excitation during collisions of sodium ions with argon

The absolute values of cross sections of ionization, charge exchange, and excitation during Na⁺-Ar collisions are measured in the ion energy range 0.5–10.0 keV. Experiments are performed by a modified method of transverse electric field and by the optical spectrometry method. The mechanisms for realization of inelastic channels are explained qualitatively on the basis of a schematic correlation diagram of diabatic quasi-molecular energy levels of a system of colliding particles. The quasi-molecular nature of interaction is revealed for excitation processes. The excitation mechanisms of collision partners are established. A noticeable contribution to the excitation of the 4s state of the argon atom comes from the cascade transition from upper-lying 4p and 3d levels. An oscillatory structure is observed in the excitation functions of atomic lines of ArI (104.8 and 106.7 nm). The shape of the curve describing the dependence of the charge-exchange cross section on the collision energy is explained by the presence of two nonadiabaticity regions. In the low-energy region (up to E = 2 keV), charge exchange is due to electron capture to the ground state as a result of Σ–Σ transitions, while Σ–Π transitions associated with the rotation of internuclear axis play the leading role in charge exchange in the energy range E > 3 keV. The contribution of a number of inelastic channel is estimated for the ionization process. It is found that the main contribution to ionization is associated with the decay of self-ionization states in an isolated atom.     

On the possibility of laser generation without inversion on the fine-structure levels of a helium atom

It is shown that laser generation is possible in principle upon coherent excitation according to the V-scheme of the (1s2p)³ P _j levels with j = 1, 2 of a helium atom from the (1s2s)³ S ₁ level of the same atom when the latter level is, in turn, populated by electron or proton impact.     

Efficient field-free orientation of CO molecules using a three-step excitation scheme

We report results from detailed state selective photo-recombination study along with the doubly excited autoionizing resonances in Be-like C²⁺ and Al⁹⁺ ions. In the present investigation, the primary focus is on detailed energy profiles of the individual photo-recombination cross sections. The calculation was carried out for the excited Rydberg states of type 1s ²2sns(¹S^e) which interact with the odd-parity continua up to the C³⁺ and Al¹⁰⁺ 2p threshold limit. The numerical evaluation has been performed at a fine energy mesh across all the autoionizing Rydberg series of resonances 1s ²2pns(¹P⁰) converging to Li-like ion 2p threshold. The method of calculation keeps the essential ingredients of the Feshbach projection operator approximation. The photo-ionization cross sections have been evaluated with and without relativistic effects included into the R-matrix numerical procedures, while the allowance for both quantum interference between dielectronic and radiative recombination, and overlapping resonances has been done utilizing results from the earlier R-matrix Floquet calculation. We discuss all these results with respect to the effect of quantum interference term on the energy dependence profile of photo-recombination cross section for studied transitions.     

Spectroscopy of coherent dark resonances in multilevel atoms for the example of samarium vapor

A universal theory for calculating coherent population trapping resonances in multilevel atoms is suggested. The theory allows arbitrary schemes of multilevel atoms and their excitations to be calculated taking into account the influence of relaxation effects in atoms, applied magnetic field, and the Doppler effect. The experimental data obtained by high-precision diode spectroscopy of coherent dark resonances in samarium vapor are systematically analyzed using the suggested theory. In the absence of a magnetic field, the model of samarium is based on consideration of a degenerate Λ system of the 4f⁶6s²(⁷F₀) ? 4f⁶(⁷F)6s6p(³P⁰)⁹F ₁ ⁰ ?4f⁶6s²(⁷F₁) active transitions. If the fourth 4f⁶6s²(⁷F₂) level is taken into account, this Λ system becomes open. Numerical simulation of coherent population trapping resonances shows that the open character of the system decreases the contrast of resonance curves in absorption spectra without changing resonance widths. The system under applied external longitudinal and transverse magnetic fields is correctly described by 7-and 12-level models of atomic transitions, respectively.     

Excitation of transitions terminating at the 4f 12(3 H)5d6s 2(6,3/2) levels of the thulium atom

The excitation of transitions terminating at the 4f ¹²(³ H)5d6s ²(6,3/2) levels of the thulium atom are studied experimentally. Seventy-five cross sections of the TmI spectral lines are measured at an excitation electron energy of 50 eV. Five optical excitation functions are recorded in the electron energy range of 0–200 eV.     

Energies and decay channels of negative ion resonances in acetaldehyde

Negative ion mass spectroscopy and electron impact spectroscopy were employed for a detailed study of the electronic structure and decay channels of the acetaldehyde negative ion. The energy-dependence of the vibrational excitation revealed a very broad σ shape resonance peaking at 6.8 eV, in addition to the already known π shape resonance at 1.2 eV. Energy dependence of the excitation of the ³(π, π) state revealed a ²(π, π²) core excited resonance at 8.1 eV. This resonance, besides decaying into its parent valence excited state, also dissociates to form O⁻. Two Feshbach resonances, ²(n3s²) at 6.34 eV and ²(n,3s3p) at 6.64 eV, are observed in the dissociative attachment yields of CH⁻₃ and H⁻, as well as in energy-loss spectra near threshold. Time resolved energy-loss spectra suggest that a fraction of the CH₃⁻ ions are formed in low vibrationally excited states, which subsequently undergo slow autodetachment on the 0.1–1 μs time scale. Study of partially deuterated acetaldehyde showed no 'hydrogen scrambling' prior to dissociation of the Feshbach resonances, and further permitted the assignment of the vibrations excited in the two Feshbach resonances as v₆ (C-H bend) and v₇, (CH₃ deformation).     

Excited atoms in argon gas discharge plasma

General principles are discussed for a gas discharge plasma involving excited atoms where electron-atom collision processes dominate. It is shown that an optimal kinetic model of this plasma at not large electric field strengths can be based on the rate constants of quenching excited atom states by electron impact. The self-consistent character of atom excitation in gas discharge plasma is important and results in the tail of the energy distribution function of electrons being affected by the excitation process, which in turn influences the excitation rate. These principles are applied to an argon gas discharge plasma where excitation and ionization processes have a stepwise character and proceed via formation of argon atom states with the electron shell 3p ⁵4s.     

Simultaneous electron-photon excitation of hydrogen and helium

Total and differential cross sections for simultaneous excitation of H(2s), H(3s) and He(1s 2s) by electron impact in the presence of a photon field have been calculated in second-order perturbation theory. The characteristics of the results are interpreted in terms of their physical origin. The off-shell excitation cross section for the He(1s 2s) state is found to be one order of magnitude smaller than that for excitation of the H(2s) state. This is consistent with our expection that atoms with higher dipole-polarisability should favour larger off-shell cross sections for transitions betweens-states.     

Behavior of the excitation cross sections of the perturbed series of the xenon atom

Behavior of the excitation cross sections of the perturbed 6s[3/2]_n°?np[1/2]₀ spectral series of the xenon atom is experimentally studied. By using the methods of extended electron beam and optical spectroscopy, the cross sections are measured and the optical excitation functions are recorded for the transitions of this series with n=6–13. A deviation of the dependence Q=f(n) from a power-law function is revealed, as well as changes in the form of optical excitation functions and in the nature of the branching caused by perturbation of the 7p[1/2]₀ level by levels of the 5p ⁵(² P _1/2°)6p configuration.     

Damping of the giant spin-flip dipole and spin-flip quadrupole charge exchange modes in 90Zr

The damping of the giant spin-flip dipole (L=1, S=1, T=1, J^π=0⁻, 1⁻, 2⁻) and spin-flip quadrupole (L=2, S=1, T=1, J^π=1⁺, 2⁺, 3⁺) charge exchange resonances in ⁹⁰Zr is calculated in a microscopic nuclear structure model which includes both one-particle-one-hole (1p1h) and two-particle-two-hole (2p2h) configurations in a systematic way. It is shown that the coupling to 2p2h configurations gives rise to a strongly energy dependent spreading width which shifts a large fraction of transition strength to high excitation energies. The implications for the analysis of intermediate energy ⁹⁰Zr(p,n) data is discussed.     

Pulsed dephotolysis in emulsion nanocrystals of silver halides: I. Recombination processes at early stages of photolysis

Early stages of formation of few-atom clusters of photolytic silver in AgBr nanocrystals are studied using the pulsed dephotolysis technique. It is shown that dephotolysis is characterized by a clearly pronounced dependence on the pulse duration of nonactinic and actinic radiations, the highest efficiency of dephotolysis being achieved for nanosecond pulses. The rate constant of recombination of free electrons with captured holes is determined (κ_p = (6 ± 1) × 10^?9 cm³ s^?1) and the dependence of the recombination rate on the level of excitation is found. The maximum recombination rate for the highest excitation level is found to be V _p ^max = 10⁹ s^?1 and the surface concentration of recombination centers is determined to be N _r = (2 ± 0.5) × 10¹¹ cm^?2.     

The11B(p,p′)11B* reaction: An extended coupled-channels treatment

The predictions of a multi-configurational shell model continuum calculation for the¹¹B(p, p) and¹¹B(p,p′) reaction channels are discussed. In the calculated excitation function for the (p, p ₁) channel theT=1, 2^? resonances play a dominant role in the region of 22 MeV to 24 MeV excitation in¹²C. These model predictions are consistent with the known parent states in the¹²B system. Corroborative evidence is also obtained by comparing theory with the differential cross section data.     

Possibility of the use of the magnetic field for creating a quantum filter on the <Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis><Subscript>1</Subscript><Superscript>87</Superscript>Rb line

The possibility of the use of the F = 2?F = 1 transition of the D ₁ absorption line of the ⁸⁷Rb atom for creating of a single-photon quantum filter based on coherent population trapping (CPT) has been analyzed. It has been shown that the external magnetic field is necessary for ensuring the creation of the quantum filter on boson isotopes of alkali atoms. The field strength should be enough for the manifestation of the splitting of the Zeeman CPT resonances that is much larger than their spectral widths. The splittings of the CPT resonances, which characterize the nonlinearity of the Zeeman effect, have been measured for the ⁸⁷Rb atom and the possibility of the use of this system for the quantum filter is concluded.     

The shape of saturated-absorption polarimetric resonances caused by transitions between degenerate states of the neon atom

We have studied experimentally and theoretically the shapes of spectropolarimetric resonances of a linearly polarized probe wave for the transitions 1s ₅-2p ₂ and 1s ₅-2p ₄ in the neon atom in the presence of a strong counterpropagating circularly polarized wave of the same frequency. Physical processes that lead to a change in the shape of polarimetric resonances under the action of a longitudinal magnetic field have been determined.     

Adsorption of SO2 on Li atoms deposited on MgO (1 0 0) surface: DFT calculations

The adsorption of sulfur dioxide molecule (SO₂) on Li atom deposited on the surfaces of metal oxide MgO (1 0 0) on both anionic and defect (F_s-center) sites located on various geometrical defects (terrace, edge and corner) has been studied using density functional theory (DFT) in combination with embedded cluster model. The adsorption energy (E_ads) of SO₂ molecule (S-atom down as well as O-atom down) in different positions on both of O⁻² and F_s sites is considered. The spin density (SD) distribution due to the presence of Li atom is discussed. The geometrical optimizations have been done for the additive materials and MgO substrate surfaces (terrace, edge and corner). The oxygen vacancy formation energies have been evaluated for MgO substrate surfaces. The ionization potential (IP) for defect free and defect containing of the MgO surfaces has been calculated. The adsorption properties of SO₂ are analyzed in terms of the E_ads, the electron donation (basicity), the elongation of S-O bond length and the atomic charges on adsorbed materials. The presence of the Li atom increases the catalytic effect of the anionic O⁻² site of MgO substrate surfaces (converted from physisorption to chemisorption). On the other hand, the presence of the Li atom decreases the catalytic effect of the F_s-site of MgO substrate surfaces. Generally, the SO₂ molecule is strongly adsorbed (chemisorption) on the MgO substrate surfaces containing F_s-center.     

Observation of occupied 5d states in f.c.c. Yb metal

We propose experimental evidences for the sd character of the occupied band states of f.c.c. Yb metal. Photoionization cross-section σ¹ in the range 24–65 eV, covering the 5p core electron energies have been measured for both Yb (4ƒ¹⁴6s²5d⁰) and Lu (4ƒ¹⁴6s²5d¹). Both the hv dependence of σ¹ for the Yb valence band and the presence of photoemission resonances above the 5p edges of Lu and Yb indicate the presence of occupied 5d states at the top of the valence band of solid Yb. The Yb 4ƒ σ¹ is presented in order to distinguish the 5d band resonances from the 5p-5d giant dipole autoionization decays. L_{2, 3} X-ray absorption white lines for Yb provide a measure of the 5d bandwidth.