Compositional effects on the optical and thermal properties of sodium borophosphate glasses

A series of sodium borophosphate glasses of the composition (1−x)NaPO₃−xB₂O₃ have been synthesised from Na₂CO₃, B₂O₃ and P₂O₅ and their optical and thermal properties investigated. The results show that refractive index (n) and glass transition temperature (T_g) show a maximum at about B/(B+P)=0.6 while thermal expansion coefficient (α) and thermo-optic coefficient (dn/dT) change monotonically with the B/(B+P) ratio. These observations can be interpreted based on the incorporation of BO₃ and BO₄ units into the glass structural network.     

Thermo-optical properties of uniaxial NaT(XO4)2 laser host crystals (where T = Y, La, Gd or Bi, and X = W or Mo)

Thermo-optic coefficients dn _o/dT and dn _e/dT were measured in tetragonal double tungstate and double molybdate crystals NaT(XO₄)₂ (where T = Y, La, Gd or Bi and X = W or Mo) by a laser beam deviation method in the spectral range 0.4–1.1 μm. Thermal expansion coefficients in the directions of a and c crystallographic axes were also measured. Analytical expressions for thermo-optic dispersion formulas were derived as series in 1/λ ². All dn/dT values for NaT(XO₄)₂ crystals were found to be negative. Their absolute values satisfy the relation |dn _e/dT| > |dn _o/dT| for crystals without Bi and |dn _o/dT| > |dn _e/dT| for crystals with Bi. A clear tendency for dn/dT values to decrease with the increase of the volumetric thermal expansion coefficient α _vol of the crystal was observed. This is related with dominant contribution of volumetric thermal expansion effect to the temperature dependence of the refractive index. Thermal coefficients of the optical path W = dn/dT + (n ? 1)α _T governing thermal lensing effect were calculated for different light propagation directions and polarizations as well as crystal athermal directions.     

Linear optical properties of γ-modification of bismuth borate BiB3O6

The refractive index dispersion of the ??-BiB₃O₆ crystal in the wavelength range 0.43?C0.81 ??m has been measured. It has been shown that the principal refractive indices n ₁, n ₂, and n ₃ are on average higher than those of ??-BiB₃O₆, but are slightly lower than those of ??-BiB₃O₆. The temperature dependences of the rotation angle ??(T) of the optical indicatrix and birefringence ??n ₂(T) = (n ₁ ? n ₃)(T) have been studied in the temperature range 100?C963 K. It has been shown that the ??-BiB₃O₆ crystal is stable in this temperature region.     

Finite-size scaling of O(n) models in higher dimensions

We propose a finite-size scaling hypothesis for O(n) models, with n ⩾ 2, in geometry L^d−d′ × ∞^d′, with d > 4 and d′ ⩽ 2, subject to periodic boundary conditions. Several predictions, for T < T_c as well as T ≈ T_c, are made and are verified analytically for the special case of the spherical model (n = ∞).     

Resonant two-photon absorption in the Cr2O3 antiferromagnet

Two-photon absorption (TPA) spectra of the Cr₂O₃ model antiferromagnet have been studied for two polarization configurations at energies ranging from 2.5 to 3.55 eV. Several strong TPA peaks with the maximum coefficient β ～ 0.08 cm/MW are observed in the 2.7–3.1-eV range characterized by the ⁴ A ₂(F) → ⁴ T ₁(F) d-d one-photon transition of the Cr³⁺ ion. An analysis of the results obtained suggests that the general form of the TPA spectrum in this range is primarily determined by the resonance at the ² E(G) and ² T ₁(G) intermediate levels. At energies above 3.44 eV, the TPA coefficient sharply increases up to β ～ 0.1 cm/MW due to transitions between the valence and conduction bands.     

Predominant factors affecting the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of bismuth-containing complex perovskite solid solution

To study the factors affecting the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of bismuth-containing complex perovskites, the solid solution (1−x)Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-xBi(Mg_2/3Nb_1/3)O₃ was prepared by the solid state reaction method and its dielectric and piezoelectric properties were investigated. It is found that (1) at room temperature, the nonlinearity of the DE-loop for Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ is completely suppressed at a rather low x (<5%); (2) dielectric constant versus temperature curves deviate from the Curie-Weiss law at a temperature T_d much higher than the dielectric constant peak temperature T_m and T_m−T_d decreases considerably with increasing x; and (3) frequency dispersion ΔT_m=T_m (1 MHz)−T_m (10 kHz) increases with increasing x. Possible factors responsible for the variation of the dielectric and piezoelectric properties with x are discussed.     

Optical characterization of fourfold (Td)- and sixfold (Oh)-transition-metal species in MgAl2O4:Co by time-resolved spectroscopy

This work investigates the origin of novel visible photoluminescence (PL) bands observed in the spinel MgAl₂O₄:Co²⁺. Besides the well-known fourfold-coordinated Co²⁺(T_d) PL at 670 nm [N.V. Kuleshov, V.P. Mikhailov, V.G. Scherbitsky, P.V. Prokoshin and K.V. Yumashev, J. Lumin. 55 (1993) 265.], a rich structured PL band at 686 nm was also observed that we associate with uncontrolled impurities of sixfold coordinated Cr³⁺(O_h) by time-resolved spectroscopy and lifetime measurements and their variation with temperature. We also show that the lifetime of the Co²⁺(T_d) emission at 670 nm varies from τ=6.7 μs to 780 ns on passing from T=10 to 290 K. This unexpected behaviour for T_d systems is related to the excited-state crossover (⁴T₁↔²E), making the emission band to transform from a narrow-like emission from ²E at low temperature to a broad structureless band from ⁴T₁ at room temperature.     

Thermal expansion of ZrFe2 and some rare-earth iron compounds

The thermal expansion coefficient of the compounds ZrFe₂, TiFe₂, YFe₂, ErFe₂, ErFe₃, Er₆Fe₂₃ and Er₂Fe₁₇ has been determined from room temperature up to 700°C. The anomalous thermal expansion of some of these compounds observed at temperatures below their Curie temperature (T_c) is shown to be related to a strong pressure dependence of T_c. (dT_c/dP is large and negative).     

Determination of the Néel temperature from measurements of the thermal conductivity of the Co3O4 antiferromagnet nanostructured in porous glass channels

The Néel temperature T _N(n) of the Co₃O₄ antiferromagnet nanostructured in channels of porous borosilicate glass with channel cross sections of ??7 nm has been determined from thermal conductivity measurements. It has been shown that the Néel temperature T _N(n) of this nanomaterial is approximately equal to 20 K, which is considerably lower than T _N = (30?C40) K for the bulk Co₃O₄ sample.     

Piezoelectric properties of new ternary Bi1/2(Na, Li)1/2TiO3–(Bi1/2K1/2)TiO3–Ba0.85Ca0.15Ti0.90Zr0.10O3 ceramics

0.852[Bi_1/2(Na_1?x Li _x )_1/2]TiO₃?C0.110(Bi_1/2K_1/2)TiO₃?C0.038Ba_0.85Ca_0.15Ti_0.90Zr_0.10O₃ (BNLT?CBKT?CBCTZ-x) new ternary piezoelectric ceramics were fabricated by the conventional solid-state method, and their piezoelectric properties as a function of the Li content were mainly investigated. A?stable solid solution with a single perovskite structure has been formed, and the depolarization temperature (T _d) of these ceramics was identified by using the temperature dependence of the dielectric loss. The T _d value of these ceramics gradually decreases, while the T _m value increases with increasing the Li content. The dielectric constant increases and the dielectric loss decreases with increasing the Li content, and an enhanced piezoelectric behavior of d ₃₃??223 pC/N and k _p??35.2?% has been demonstrated in these ceramics with x=0.06.     

Temperature dependence of muonium spin exchange with O2 in the range 88 K to 478 K

Our group at TRIUMF reported earlier a study of the spin exchange reactions of Mu with O₂ and NO in the range 295 K to 478 K. We have extended the measurement with O₂ to a low temperature region down to 88 K. From 135 K to 296 K, the spin depolarization rate constantk _d(T) was found to vary according to the relative velocity of the colliding species,T ^1/2, which indicates that the spin exchange cross section of Mu-O₂ is temperature independent in this temperature range. The value ofk _d(T) at 296 K is in good agreement with our earlier study. However, it was found that below 105 K and above 400 K,k _d(T) tends to have stronger temperature dependences (T ⁿ , withn>1/2). This deviation fromT ^1/2-behavior can be attributed to the velocity (energy) dependence of the spin exchange cross section.     

Effects of SrO/ZnO on structure and properties of UV-transmitting borophosphosilicate glass

UV-transmitting borophosphosilicate glasses series, 2Al₂O₃−xSrO-(18−x)ZnO-33.3P₂O₅-16.7B₂O₃-30SiO₂ glasses with x=0-18 mol% were prepared and studied. The substitution of SrO for ZnO increases the density and the thermal expansion coefficient (α), but decreases the molar volume (V_m). The glass transition temperatures (T_g) and softening points (T_d) vary within a small range. The relative chemical durability was determined by measuring the weight loss of a polished glass sample after immersion in deionized water at 50 °C for 24 h, the chemical durability of the glasses increases when x≤9, and drops when x>9. With the increasing SrO content, the UV transmittance of the glasses decreases mildly. The compositional dependence of E_opt shows a decrease trend with increasing SrO content. The structural changes with the glass compositions were examined by FT-IR and Raman spectra.     

Coherence transition in granular high temperature superconductors

We have studied experimentally the electrical conductivity and specific heat near the superconducting transition of granular samples of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ, YBa₂(Cu_2.98Zn_0.02)O_7−δ and GdBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ. The results show that the transition proceeds in two stages. Careful analysis of the conductivity in the regime of approach to the zero resistance state reveals the occurrence of a coherence transition, which is related to the connective nature of the granular samples. This transition occurs when the fluctuating phases of the order parameter in individual grains become long-range ordered. We obtain the exponent for fluctuation conductivity and the relevant critical temperature, T_co, which is close to the point where resistivity vanishes. The specific heat results, when analyzed as dC/dT, show a weak but reproducible cusp-like anomaly at T_co. This finding gives strong support to the interpretation of the coherence transition as a genuine critical phenomenon.     

Sign of the electric field gradient at 57Fe nuclei in Eu3Sc2Fe3O12 garnet

The ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect in conjunction with an external magnetic field H_ext has been used to measure the signs of quadrupole coupling constants Δ at the octahedral (a) and tetrahedral (d) iron sites in the Eu₃Sc₂Fe₃O₁₂ garnet. It is shown that application of H_ext to the sample at temperatures T above the Néel temperature T_N slows down the relaxation effects, whose influence on the spectra depends upon the temperature difference T-T_N. By comparing a spectrum measured at 203.0 K and in H_ext=62.4 kOe with theoretical spectra computed for different combinations of Δ(a), Δ(d) signs, it is concluded that Δ(d) is negative. The sign of Δ(a) could not be determined.     

Macroscopic and microscopic parameters of laser dye solvents: m-xylene and dioxane

For the laser designer and other users the optical, electrical and refractive parameters have been obtained for pure nonpolar laser dye solvents m-xylene and dioxane. The refractive index (n) and its thermo-optic constant (dn/dT) at argon laser wavelength 514.5 nm and He–Ne laser wavelength 632.8 nm, are measured. The values of n and dn/dT are used to calculate the optical permittivity ε=n² and its variation with temperature dε/dT. Applying Cauchy's equation the optical and dielectric dispersion (dn/dλ and dε/dλ) are determined. The variation of −dn/dT, −dε/dT, molar refractivity and thermal volume expansion coefficient as a function of wavelength are calculated and represented. Furthermore Cauchy's constants A and B as a function of temperature are plotted. The specific and molar refractivities, specific and molar dispersivity total polarizability, distortion polarizability, ratio of atomic to electronic polarizability, molecular radius, relaxation time, electric susceptibility characteristic impedance, and other physical parameters were calculated. Additionally, density, thermal linear expansion coefficient and molar polarization as a function of temperature were calculated at the laser wavelengths 514.5 nm.     

Pressure effect on magnetization for (CoTm)90Zr10 (Tm = Cr,Mo) amorphous alloys

Temperature dependences of the forced volume magnetostriction dω/dH and the saturation magnetization σ_s for (CoTm)₉₀Zr₁₀ (Tm = Cr, Mo) amorphous alloys have recently been measured by the 3-terminal capacitance method and a vibrating sample magnetometer and magnetic balance at temperatures from 77 K to the Curie temperature T_c or the crystallization temperature. The pressure coefficient of σ_s0 at 0 K, d ln σ_s0/dp, is estimated from (dω/dH)₀ extrapolated to 0 K using the thermodynamical relation. The values of d ln σ_s0/dp increase in negative value with increasing Tm concentration. The relation between d ln σ_s0/dp and the pressure coefficient of T_c, d ln T_c/dp, estimated indirectly from dω/dH is discussed.     

Electrical transport of (1−x)La0.7Ca0.3MnO3+xAl2O3 composites

We report the resistivity (ρ)-temperature (T) patterns in (1-x)La_0,7Ca_0,3MnO₃+xAl₂O₃ composites (0≤x≤0.05) over a temperature regime of 50-300 K. Al₂O₃ addition has increased the resistivity of these composites. The Curie temperature (T_C) is almost independent on the Al₂O₃ content and is about 250 K for all the samples, while the metal-insulator transition temperature (T_MI) decreases with increasing Al₂O₃ content. Based on the phenomenological equation for conductivity under a percolation approach, which is dependent on the phase segregation of ferromagnetic metallic clusters and paramagnetic insulating regions, we fitted the experimental data (ρ−T) from 50 to 300 K and find that the activation barrier increases as Al₂O₃ content increases.     

Decay properties of the 19/2− isomers in113,117Sb

By means of the generalized centroid-shift method, the following half-lives were determined:T _1/2(3045 keV)=3.7±0.3 ns in¹¹³Sb using the reaction¹⁰⁴Pd(¹²C,p2n) as well asT _1/2 (1322.8 keV)=3.5±0.3 ns,T _1/2(2779.8 keV) =0.50±0.15ns,T _1/2(2874.9 keV)<0.2 ns andT _1/2(3072.9 keV)<0.1 ns in¹¹⁷Sb using the¹¹⁶In(α, 2n) reaction. Three-quasiparticle configurations of the type πd _5/2ν(h_11/2 d _3/2) in^113,117Sb are found to dominate in the wave functions of the 19/2^? states at 3045 and 2780 keV in¹¹³Sb and¹¹⁷Sb, respectively. TheB(E2, 19/2^? → 15/2^?) values in^113–119Sb are discussed.     

BaAl12O19:Mn green emitting nanophosphor for PDP application synthesized by solution combustion method and its Vacuum Ultra-Violet Photoluminescence Characteristics

Nanostructured BaAl₁₂O₁₉:Mn²⁺ phosphor particles of nano-rod morphology with diameter 40-100 nm and length up to 200-600 nm has been synthesized by solution combustion method and its photoluminescence characteristics have been studied by Vacuum Ultra-Violet Photoluminescence spectrometer (VUVPL) under 147 nm excitation. The crystallographic phase purity of BaAl₁₂O₁₉:Mn²⁺ nanostructured phosphor particle synthesized by solution combustion approach is confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The broadening of XRD diffraction peaks indicates nanocrystalline nature of particles present in powder. The emission spectrum of BaAl₁₂O₁₉:Mn²⁺ nanophosphor on 147 nm excitation consists of a wide green band with a peak at about 515 nm, which is due to a 3d⁵ (⁴T_1g)-3d⁵ (⁶A_1g) transition corresponds of Mn²⁺ ions. It is found that the concentration quenching is obtained when Mn²⁺ content (x) is 0.05 in BaAl₁₂O₁₉:xMn²⁺ nanophosphor on 147 nm excitation. The decay time of 3d⁵ (⁴T_1 g)-3d⁵ (⁶A_1 g) transition of Mn²⁺ ions at 147 nm excitation is about 23 ms for BaAl₁₂O₁₉:Mn²⁺ nanophosphor. This nanostructured green emitting BaAl₁₂O₁₉:Mn²⁺ phosphor can find potential application in Plasma Display Panels (PDPs) and mercury-free fluorescent lamps.