Fine fluorescence and absorption spectra of hypericin in a polymer matrix at a temperature of 4.2 K

Monochromatic photoexcitation and selective registration in bands of purely electronic S₁↔S₀ transitions resulted in fine fluorescence and absorption (fluorescence excitation) spectra of hypericin in polyvinylbutyral at a temperature of 4.2 K. Vibration analysis of the spectra is done and conclusions are made about the form of many normal vibrations. It is found that the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds in the hypericin structure has a substantial effect on the relative position of the electronic vibrational levels of the pigment molecule. Institute of Molecular and Atomic Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina ave., Minsk 200072, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 65, No. 4, pp. 539–545, July–August, 1998.     

Infrared multiphoton excitation of polyatomic molecules

Results of investigations of the process of multiphoton excitation of polyatomic molecules by CO₂-laser radiation are presented. The mechanism of formation of the profiles of IR absorption bands of polyatomic molecules is discussed. New experimental methods of investigation of relaxation processes at high levels of vibrational excitation of molecules in the ground and triplet states are considered. For vapors of polyatomic molecules and their mixtures with foreign gases, the quantitative characteristics of the collisional exchange and the vibrational-energy transfer as well as the rates of intercombinational conversion ⇛ and triplet-triplet transfer are presented and their dependences on the vibrational-excitation level are discussed. Institute of Molecular and Atomic Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220072, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 65, No. 5, pp. 675–693, September–October, 1998.     

Role of highly efficient collisions in collisional transfer of vibrational energy in benzophenone-foreign gas mixtures

Collisional losses of vibrational energy in mixtures of benzophenone excited by nitrogen laser radiation (λ=337 nm) and foreign gases (Ar, Kr, SF₆, C₅H₁₂) were studied by time-resolved delayed luminescence. It is established that the intensities and rates of decay of the fast and slow components of delayed luminescence can be used to evaluate the characteristics of V–V– and V–T–transfer of vibrational energy. For the V-V-process, the efficiencies and mean energies transferred in a collision are determined. It is shown that in the mixture with multiatomic gases, vibrational equilibrium is reached after a few collisions, the number of which decreases as the molecule of the foreign gas becomes more complicated. The V–V–process is characterized by high efficiencies of collisions typical for “supercollisions”. The experimental characteristics of V-V-transfer correlate well with ergodic transfer of vibrational energy predicted by statistical theories. 0120 0126 V 3 Institute of Molecular and Atomic Physics of the National Academy of Science of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220072, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 65, No. 3, pp. 340–345, May–June, 1998.     

Franck-Condon transitions and thermodynamics of photoinduced processes of orientational relaxation in polar solutions

Polar luminescence probe+polar medium subsystems are considered. True minimization parameters of the free energy F are obtained. It is shown that Franck-Condon transitions between F-terms of different electronic states are generally not “vertical”. A complete thermodynamic classification of photoinduced processes of orientational relaxation in the excited S₁ and ground S₀ states is presented. Depending on the excitation conditions they can be either exo- or endothermic, spontaneous or induced (not spontaneous), and accompanied by an increase or decrease in entropy. Indifferent processes also take place. Regularities of shifts of fluorescence spectral bands and burned holes in time-resolved experiments are discussed. Institute of Molecular and Atomic Physics, Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220072, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 64, No. 6, pp. 753–765, November–December, 1997.     

Quasiline fluorescence and absorption spectra of NH-isomers of octamethylisobacteriochlorin

Quasiline fluoresence and fluorescence excitation spectra of NH-isomers of 2,2,7,7,12,13,17,18-octamethylisobacteriochlorin (cis- and trans-) in polycrystalline matrices in n-hexane and n-octane at 4.2 K are obtained. A vibration analysis of the spectra in combination with the data of quasiline spectra of cyano-substituted octaethylisobacteriochlorin and octamethylporphin permitted a qualitative interpretation of the vibronic spectra of NH-isomers. It is inferred that for a trans-isomer, the 0–0 transition S₂⇃S₀ is localized in the region of electron-vibrational S₁⇃S₀ transitions; the interval S₂-S₁ has a magnitude of about 1300 cm⁻¹. Reported at the VIIIth International Conference on the Spectroscopy and Chemsitry of Poprhyrins and Their Analogs, Belarus, Minsk, September 22–26, 1998. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 67, No. 1, pp. 79–85, January–February, 2000.     

Dissociation equilibrium of dinitrogen tetroxide in organic solvents: An electron paramagnetic resonance measurement

The dissociation equilibrium of N₂O₄−NO₂ has been measured in hexane, carbon tetrachloride and chloroform at different temperatures. The equilibrium constants at 298.15 K (25°C),K _m (molality basis), are 3.5·10⁻⁵ in hexane, 5.9·10⁻⁶ in carbon tetrachloride and 5.3·10⁻⁶ in chloroform. The EPR technique has been used to quantify the NO₂ radical. These data are compared with gas-phase and solution data of previous reports. The applicability of Hildebrand and Scatchard theory of solutions is also discussed and some thermodynamic properties are deduced, such as Henry’s N₂O₄ and NO₂ constants in different solvents.     

Features of particle excitation in high-frequency capacitive discharge

The efficiencies of excitation of different atomic and molecular levels of a gaseous medium by a low-current high-frequency capacitive discharge (HFCD) and a dc discharge are compared theoretically. It is shown that for transitions between lower vibrational levels of molecules an increase in spectral line intensity by a factor of 1.2–1.6 is observed, and for neon transitions from high-lying levels, by a factor of 1.5–3.0. The stability of low-current HFCD is experimentally investigated for different configurations of gas-discharge gaps. The results of these investigations are used in developing compact planar and coaxial HFCD lasers. B. I. Spepanov Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220071. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 64, No. 3, pp. 291–296, May–June, 1997.     

Luminescence properties of humic substances

A detailed analysis of luminescence properties of humic substances and fulvic acids extracted from peat soil is carried out for the first time. Their fluorescence excitation and emission spectra, fluorescence lifetimes, phosphorescence excitation and emission spectra, and phosphorescence lifetimes at room temperature are investigated. The nature of chromophores of humic substances is discussed. Presented at the International Symposium on Peat Organic Substances, May 15–19, 1995, Minsk, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 64, No. 4, pp. 489–493, July–August, 1997.     

Photophysics ofβ-carotene and related compounds (review)

A review of data on the photophysics of carotenoids is presented. Results of investigations of spectroscopic, temporal, and energy parameters of excited S₁ and S₂ singlet states of β-carotene and related compounds are critically examined. These states give rise to extremely high probabilities (10¹¹–10¹³ sec⁻¹) of radiationless deactivation of the electronic excitation energy in carotenoids. Results of investigations of photophysical properties of triplet states of carotenoids are considered mainly from the standpoint of quenching of singlet oxygen and triplet states of organic molecules by carotenoids. Institute of Molecular and Atomic Physics, Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220072, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 64, No. 1, pp. 5–19, January–February, 1997.     

Extra-liganding effects in Zn-octaethylporphyrin solutions in a temperature interval of 300-77 K

It is established experimentally for the first time that Zn-octaethylporphyrin in a solution of dried methyl cyclohexane is in unliganded form in the temperature interval of 293-77 K. This form is characterized by the shortest-wave position of absorption and luminescence spectra, the independence of the degrees of fluorescence and phosphorescence polarizations from the excitation wavelength, and high phosphorescence time (τ_T=126 μsec) and quantum yield (φp=0.085) at 77 K. Adding electrodonor components to the methyl cyclohexane or going over to alcohol-containing polar media leads to the formation of a monoliganded form of ZnOEP, for which we observe a bathochromic shift of ≈150–350 cm⁻¹ for Q(0,0) absorption and luminescence bands, a splitting of ≈50–100 cm⁻² for the Q(0, 0) absorption band, and phosphorescence quenching (τ_T=60 μsec, φp=0.05-0.03 at 77 K). The effects revealed are explained by a decrease in the symmetry of a ZnOEP molecule in extra liganding and by an increase in the probability of nonradiative activation for a T₁-state due to the extra ligand being involved in the exchange of electron-excitation energy and to the enhancement of a spin-orbital coupling as a result of the disturbance of the planarity, of a macrocycle. Institute of Molecular and Atomic Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220072, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 65, No. 6, pp. 900–907, November–December, 1998.     

Energy transfer in chemical dimers of porphyrins and chlorins by the methods of selective laser spectroscopy at 1.8–10 K

The methods of selective laser spectroscopy applied at 1.8–10 K to a glass-forming tetrahydrofuran-toluene (3∶1) mixture have revealed that in the dimers of tetrapyrrole compounds (ethane-bis-octaethylporphyrins, ethane-bis-Zn-octaethylchlorins, heterodimers of Zn-cyclopentane porphyrins) the exciton interactions (V₁₂≈118 cm⁻¹) and S-S-transfer of energy (of probability F≈11 sec⁻¹) are implemented under conditions of substantial inhomogeneous broadening (δF_1/2≈50 cm⁻¹). Upon excitation of a donor component in the dimers, one observes a strong quenching of its emission, the disappearance of the fine structure in the fluorescence spectra, a decrease in the efficiency of spectral hole burning by, approximately, an order of magnitude, and a 12-fold increase in their halfwidth. To whom correspondence should be addressed. Reported at the VIIIth International Conference on Spectroscopy of Porphyrins and Their Analogs, Minsk, September 22–26, 1998. Institute of Molecular and Atomic Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220072, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 66, No. 4, pp. 500–504, July–August, 1999.     

Luminescence of human blood serum in the longwave spectral region

An investigation is made of the absorption, fluorescence, and fluorescence excitation spectra of human blood serum whole and diluted with a sodium-phosphate buffer solution. Time characteristics of the longwave serum luminescence are obtained. The quantum yield of background fluorescence upon excitation by radiation with λexc=500 is found to be 0.5%. Institute of Molecular and Atomic Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220072, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 66, No. 3, pp. 433–436, May–June, 1999.     

Intramolecular vibrational redistribution and vibrational predissociation in 9-cyanoanthracene-Ar van der waals complexes

Processes of intramolecular vibrational redistribution and vibrational predissociation in 9-cyanoanthracene—Ar van der Waals complexes are investigated; their effect on the probabilities of nonradiative transitions is establsihed. Belarusian State University, 4, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220050, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 65, No. 2, pp. 184–191, March–April, 1998.     

Gain and luminescence spectra of broadband emitters based on asymmetric quantum-well heterostructures

Laser diodes and amplifiers of a new type based on asymmetric quantum-well heterostructures having a set of effective layers of different thickness are considered. In distinction to conventional laser heterostructures, for such modified quantum-well systems the gain spectrum and the set of lasing frequencies can be varied over a wide range by choosing the widths and the component composition of quantum wells and barrier regions. The transformation of the amplification bands for the TE and TM modes with the excitation current was studied. Calculations were performed for the GaAs−Al_xGa_1−xAs system. In a model of direct transitions the subbands of heavy and light holes as well as changes in the polarization factor with the frequency of light are considered. A number of questions associated with spectral broadening of lines and determination of radiation localization and distribution of quasi-Fermi levels in the effective layers are discussed. B. I. Stepanov Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220072, Belarus. Belarusian State University. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 64, No. 1, pp. 221–227, March–April, 1997.     

Photophysical properties of mesonitrophenyl-substituted porphyrins and their dimers at 295 K

It is shown that at 295 K in meso-orthonitrophenyl-substituted octaethylporphyrins and their chemical dimers the steric interactions of the nitro-group and the volume substituents at β-positions of the pyrrole rings favor direct overlapping of molecular orbitals in a donor-acceptor pair. The efficient quenching of fluorescence of the nitroporphyrins in toluene is attributed to direct nonadiabatic electron transfer from the S₁-level of a porphyrin to the lower-lying state with charge transfer by the “through-space” mechanism. Quenching of the T₁-states is related with heat-stimulated transmission to the higher-lying states with charge transfer of the ion-radical pair as well as with enhancement of the probability of the nonradiative T₁→S₀-transition. To whom correspondence should be addressed. Reported at the VIIIth International Conference on Spectroscopy of Porphyrins and Their Analogs, Minsk, September 22–26, 1998. Institute of Molecular and Atomic Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220072, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 66, No. 4, pp. 531–535, July–August, 1999.     

Photoelectric properties ofp-CuInSe2 thin films obtained by pulsed laser vaporization

Using the method of phase-sensitive detection, we investigated the photoconductivity spectra of polycrystalline p-CuInSe₂ films obtained in vacuum by the method of pulsed laser vaporization of initial single crystals. We show that, in contrast to single crystals, films are characterized by monopolar photoconductivity in the extrinsic and intrinsic regions of optical absorption and by a linear mechanism of recombination of nonequilibrium charge carriers at the intensities of illumination 0–100 mW/cm² in the temperature range 80–300 K. Institute of the Solid-State and Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 17, P. Brovka St., Minsk 220072, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii. Vol. 66, No. 1, pp. 138–141, January–February, 1999.     

Investigation of the Raman spectra of CuxAgl−xGaS2 solid solutions

Raman spectra in (┴, ┴) and (║, ║) polarizations are investigated on crystals of CuGaS₂, AgGaS₂ compounds and Cu_xAg_l−xGaS₂ solid solutions. The frequencies of longitudinal and transverse optical phonons are determined, their concentration dependences are constructed, and the behavior of the vibrational modes in Cu_xAg_l−xGaS₂ solid solutions is established. Belarusian State University of Information Science and Radioelectronics, 6P, Brovka St., 220069, Minsk, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 65, No. 3, pp. 447–449, May–June. 1998.     

Device for UV irradiation of blood with a disposable blood flow system

A device for extracorporal irradiation of blood by UV light with λ=300–400 nm is described. A disposable blood flow system with a specially profiled polymer cuvette is proposed. Mixing of blood during irradiation ensures uniform irradiation of blood cells passing through the cuvette, which makes it possible to enhance the healing effect of the procedure. B. I. Stepanov Institute of Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220072, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 66, No. 2, pp. 289–292, March–April, 1999.     

Spectral characteristics of heterocyclic compounds with a chain structure, cooled in an ultrasonic jet

We have recorded the fluorescence excitation spectra of three heterocyclic compounds with a chain structure [BPO (2-phenyl-5-(4-diphenylyl)oxazole), POPOP (1,4-di[2-(5-phenyloxazolyl)]benzene, and TOPOT (1,4-di[2-(5-n-tolyloxazolyl)]benzene] and the fluorescence spectra of POPOP, under conditions where the molecules were cooled in an ultrasonic helium jet. A line structure is observed in the spectra of POPOP and TOPOT; for the BPO molecules, whose configuration changes considerably during electronic excitation, vibrational structure is apparent only in the low-frequency region of the excitation spectrum, and a diffuse spectrum is recorded starting from ν ₀ ⁰ + 200 cm⁻¹. For all the compounds, in the spectra we recorded vibrations with frequencies up to 100 cm⁻¹, arising due to the flexibility of the molecular structure. The rotational contours of the lines for the electronic and vibronic transitions of the POPOP molecules (T_rot = 10.5 K) and TOPOT molecules (T_rot = 15 K) are structureless and bell-shaped. The degree of polarization of the fluorescence P_fl for the jet-cooled POPOP molecules for excitation of vibrations along the absorption band up to 2000 cm⁻¹ above ν ₀ ⁰ is practically constant (∼8.4%) and matches P_fl for high-temperature vapors. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 73, No. 6, pp. 728–734, November–December, 2006.     

Concentration self-quenching in solid solutions of complex organic molecules under intense excitation

A theoretical study was carried out to investigate concentration self-quenching which is nonlinear in intensity in a molecular system caused by nonradiative electronic excitation energy transfer to relatively long-lived acceptors that are formed in a solution and whose function is performed by molecules that have acquired the triplet state. It is shown that at ratios of constants of radiative and nonradiative transitions typical of complex molecules at concentrations of ∼10⁻³–10⁻² mole/liter substantial (2- to 10-fold) fluorescence takes place at intensities of excitation of ∼10⁴–10³ of the intensity of saturation for a singlet subsystem. Polarization characteristics of the system are analyzed. Belarusian State University, 4, F. Skorina Ave., 220050, Minsk, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 64, No. 6, pp. 729–733, November–December, 1997.