Cascade feeding of the 1s3d D level of He I from high-l states excited by proton impact

The 1 s 3 d ³D level of atomic helium cannot be excited directly by proton impact, but it is strongly populated by cascade feeding from 1snl states with l ≥ 3, if 10÷15 keV protons are used for excitation. This cascade feeding process can be analysed in detail by investigating the intensity of the spectral line at λ(1 s 3 d ³ D- 1 s 2 p ³ P ) = 588 nm as a function of an electric field directed parallel and antiparallel to the proton beam. In this paper the intensity functions are calculated assuming collisional excitation of parabolic singlet states | 1 s ; n , n ₁ , n ₂ , m 〉 with large electric dipole moments. The theoretical results are compared with the experimental intensity function published earlier. Excellent agreement is obtained if the excitation cross-sections σ _n of the parabolic states scale as n^-3.     

Dimer dissociation energies of small odd-size clusters

The dimer dissociation energies of gold cluster ions Au ⁺ _n , n = 9, 11, 13, 15 have been determined with an extension of a recently developed model-independent method. Monomer-dimer decay pathway branching ratios provide the energy dependent process which is needed in this method. The measured values are D ₂ ( Au ⁺ ₉ ) = 3.66(8)(9) eV, D ₂ ( Au ⁺ ₁₁ ) = 4.27(11)(8) eV, D ₂ ( Au ⁺ ₁₃ ) = 4.50(9)(7) eV and D ₂ ( Au ⁺ ₁₅ ) = 4.29(10)(6) eV. Received 13 May 2002 / Received in final form 22 July 2002 Published online 24 September 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: manuel.vogel@uni-mainz.de     

Study of : pronounced differences between the and ground states

We present electrical resistivity and specific heat measurements of alloys on the Rh rich side of the phase diagram of the Ce(Rh_1-xPd_x)₂Si₂ system. We compare these results with those obtained at intermediate and low Rh concentrations. The analysis of the concentration and temperature dependence of the entropy and of the scaling behaviour of C _el ( T ) and ρ( T ) clearly confirm a separation of the magnetic phase diagram into two regions: the region x ≤0.3, showing a concentration independent characteristic temperature for the 4 f-electrons with T ₀ ≈ 45 K, while for x > 0.3, T₀ decreases to T ₀ ( x = 1) ≈ 15 K. At low Pd-content, T_N decreases very rapidly from T _N = 36 K in pure CeRh₂Si₂ to T _N = 18 K at x = 0.1. With higher Pd concentration T_N stabilizes at T _N ≈ 15 K whereas the magnitude of the anomalies in C _el ( T ) and in the susceptibility around T_N are further reduced and disappear at x ≈ 0.3. This differs from the behavior found on the Pd-rich side, where T_N decreases continuously to zero with increasing Rh content. The pronounced differences observed between both phase boundaries and the drastic effect of doping on the Rh rich side suggest an itinerant character in CeRh₂ Si₂, in contrast with the localized character of CePd₂Si₂. Further evidence for the itinerant character of CeRh₂Si₂ is given by the ρ( T ) dependence observed for x ≤0.3, which scales with ρ( T ) of the prototype itinerant compound YCo₂. Received 31 December 2001 / Received in final form 6 July 2002 Published online 19 December 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: berisso@cab.cnea.gov.ar     

Ageing of the avalanche angle in immersed granular matter

We have studied the temperature dependent resistivity ρ( T ) of La_2-xSr_xCuO₄ epitaxial thin films in the doping range 0.045 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.25 in pulsed magnetic fields up to 50 T. The zero-field resistivity ρ( T ) of these samples in the pseudogap regime, can be scaled onto one single universal curve in a broad temperature range by using a linear transformation of both temperature and resistivity. The high field data ρ( T ) reveal a metal to insulator transition (MIT) at low temperatures, well into the overdoped regime. For samples having k _F l < 1, with k_F the Fermi wave vector and l the mean free path, this low temperature insulating behavior of the resistivity is described by the variable range hopping conductivity (VRH). For samples with k _F l > 1, the divergence follows ρ( T ) ∼ ln (1/ T ) or a power law, depending upon the Sr-content. We further found that the residual conductivity at the minimum in ρ( T ), appearing due to the MIT, follows a linear behavior with respect to the Sr-content. It is argued that the unusual MIT in compounds with k _F l > 1, is most probably associated with the pseudogap and the behavior of charge stripes at low temperatures. Received 4 January 2002 / Received in final form 7 May 2002 Published online 14 October 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: liesbet.weckhuysen@fys.kuleuven.ac.be     

Study of excitation transfer Li (3 D → 3 P ) occurring in optical collisions with rare gas atoms experimentally

By selective optical excitation of collision pairs and observation of the reemitted fluorescence information is obtained on the role of the molecular channels involved in inelelastic collisions. As an example case we have studied experimentally the Li( 3 D → 3 P) excitation transfer in Li(3D)X systems with X = Ne, Ar by means of the optical collision process Li (2 P ) + X + h ν→ LiX (3 D Λ) → Li (3 P , 3 D ) + X where LiX (3 D Λ) collision molecules dissociate into Li(3P, 3D) atoms following laser excitation h ν of Li (2 P ) + X pairs. For this purpose we measured the Li 3P/3D population ratio by the fluorescence from these levels as function of the laser detuning Δν from the Li(2P-3D) transition and the rare gas pressure, and determined from this the 3P/3D excitation ratio B (Δν) for single collision conditions. The experiments were performed using two step cw laser excitation of gaseous mixtures Li + X at temperatures around 600 K in the detuning range |Δν| ? 100 cm^-1. The B (Δν) profiles obtained display strong blue-red wing asymmetries both for Li ^* Ne and Li ^* Ar. This reflects different dissociation probabilities from the 3 D Σ or 3 D (Π,Δ) states that are initially prepared by blue wing or red wing excitation, respectively. The results are qualitatively discussed in terms of new ab initio potentials for the two systems. Received 23 February 2000 and Received in final form 5 July 2000     

Improving Visible Light Sensitization of Luminescent Europium Complexes

The synthesis and characterization of the new ligands L ₁ , L ₂ and L ₄ are described with the series of four europium complexes of formula [EuL _n (TTA)₃] in which TTA refers to 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate and L _n to tridentate ligands with nitrogen containing heterocyclic structure, such as a 2,6-bis(3-methyl-pyrazolyl)-4-(p-toluyl-ethynyl)-triazine for L ₁ , or terpyridines functionalized at the 4′ position by a phenyl-vinylene for L ₂ , a p-dimethylamino-phenylene for L ₃ , or a p-aminophenyl-ethynylene for L ₄ . The spectroscopic properties of the ligands and of the complexes are studied by means of UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, as well as steady-state and time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy. All complexes display europium centred luminescence upon ligand excitation. Careful examination of the excitation spectra revealed differences in the ligand based sensitization efficiencies. For complexes of L ₁ and L ₂ , excitation of europium is mainly achieved through the TTA moieties and the photo-physical studies on [EuL ₁ (TTA)₃] evidenced a weaker coordination of the bispyrazolyltriazine tridentate ligand, resulting from a partial decomplexation upon dilution. Complexes of L ₃ and L ₄ display intense excitation through the tridentate units, which extend down to 460 nm in the visible region. In the case of L ₃ , selective excitation reveals the presence of a ligand-centred emission band at 520 nm which is likely ascribed to a L ₃ centred charge transfer state.     

Ab initio calculation of excited state dipole polarizability - Application to the first 1, 3 Σ + g,u states of Li 2

Firstly, imaginary frequency-dependent dipole polarizabilities of Li in its ² S ground state and the first ² P excited state are calculated from a time-dependent gauge-invariant method using effective core pseudo-potentials and the multi-configuration one-electron wave function. C₆ dispersion coefficients of the 2 s + 2 s and 2 s + 2 p dissociations are deduced and also compared with all-electron values. Then, static polarizabilities of Li₂ in its ground and first excited ^{1, 3} Σ ⁺ _g,u states are obtained at interatomic distance corresponding to the energy minimum of each state. Received 10 May 2001 and Received in final form 14 September 2001     

Formation of Cs molecules via Feshbach resonances stabilized by spontaneous emission: theoretical treatment with the Fourier grid method

This paper proposes a general method to investigate Feshbach resonances in atomic collisions similar to Cs(6 s ) + Cs(6 p ) in the thermal or cold regime. In order to compute the predissociation widths of the C ¹ Π _u (6 s + 5 d ) bound vibrational levels of Cs₂, coupled both with the (2) ³ Σ ⁺ _u (6 s + 6 p ) continuum and with the (2) ³ Π _u (6 s + 5 d ) vibrational series, a Fourier grid method is implemented, with an optical potential. A convenient way of optimizing the latter is proposed. A large number of resonances are found and calculations of their cross-sections for stabilization into ground state molecules show that the rate may be important. This confirms the interpretation of Lintz and Bouchiat [Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 2570 (1998)] who observed dimer formation in cell experiments. Possible generalization to the cold regime relies on the possibility to tune the position of a resonance to coincide with the maximum of the collisional energy distribution. Received 14 February 2002 Published online 28 June 2002     

Experimental and theoretical analysis of the 5 pnpJ =0 e , 1 e , 2 e autoionizing spectrum of Sr

The even parity 5 pnpJ = 0, 1 and 2 doubly excited autoionizing states of strontium were investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Sr atoms in an atomic beam were excited through the two-step Isolated Core Excitation (ICE) scheme 5s^{2 1} S ₀ -λ ₁ → 5 sn'p ¹ P ₁ ( n' = 12-16)-λ ₂ → [5 p _3/2 np ] _J . The final ICE transition probes the [5 p _3/2 np ] _J resonances. However, the [5 p _1/2 np ] _J series below the 5 p _1/2 threshold were excited also due to their mixing with the [5 p _3/2 np ] _J perturbers. An extended energy region was covered below and above the 5 p _1/2 ionization limit by saturating the central ICE lobe and recording as many as possible “red” and “blue” secondary lobes. J identification was achieved by using mutually parallel and perpendicular linear polarizations of the laser beams. The ICE spectra were compared to those obtained by employing a two-step excitation scheme using the bound 4 d 5 p ¹ P ₁ valence state as an intermediate one. Final identification for very complex structures was achieved after comparison with theoretical energy level positions and excitation profiles produced by the R-matrix method combined with the multichannel quantum defect theory (MQDT) method. The agreement between theoretical and observed structures is quite satisfactory. Received 31 May 2000     

Superconductivity of SrTiO

Superconducting SrTiO _{3 - δ} was obtained by annealing single crystalline SrTiO₃ samples in ultra high vacuum. An analysis of the V ( I ) characteristics revealed very small critical currents I _c which can be traced back to an unavoidable doping inhomogeneity. R ( T ) curves were measured for a range of magnetic fields B at I ≪ I _c , thereby probing only the sample regions with the highest doping level. The resulting curves B _c2 ( T ) show upward curvature, both at small and strong doping. These results are discussed in the context of bipolaronic and conventional superconductivity with Fermi surface anisotropy. We conclude that the special superconducting properties of SrTiO _{3 - δ} can be related to its Fermi surface and compare this finding with properties of the recently discovered superconductor MgB₂. Received 4 December 2002 / Received in final form 10 March 2003 Published online 23 May 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: jourdan@uni-mainz.de     

Hydrogen atom transfer in indole clusters: formation dynamics of , n = 1-6, fragments

The H atom transfer reaction in electronically excited indole(NH ₃ ) _n clusters is studied in pump-probe experiments with femtosecond laser pulses. By applying different probe photon energies we are able to detect the dissociation products (NH ₃ ) _{n - 1} NH ₄ for n = 1-6. Furthermore we show that the analysis of the corresponding ion signals is not distorted by contributions from larger cluster ions due to evaporation of NH ₃ molecules. The formation times of the products are ca. 140ps for n = 2-4 and about 80ps for n = 5, 6. Received 30 April 2002 / Received in final form 29 May 2002 Published online 13 September 2002     

69,71Ga NMR studies of a superconducting Ga 84 cluster compound

We present ^69,71Ga-NMR experiments on microcrystalline samples of the recently discovered supramolecular compound Ga ₈₄ [ N ( SiMe ₃ ) ₂ ] ₂₀ Li ₆ Br ₂ ( thf ) ₂₀ ^. 2 toluene, which is composed of ligand-coordinated Ga₈₄ metal clusters, packed together in a fully ordered crystalline matrix. The compound is highly conducting and even shows superconductivity below T _c ~ 7.2 K. Our preliminary results between 10-300 K show a metallic-like behavior: the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate T ₁ ^-1 follows the Korringa law ⁶⁹ ( T ₁ T ) ^-1 = 0.36 s ^-1 K ^-1 , but with a relaxation rate approximately three times smaller than in bulk -Ga metal. No quantum-size effects are observed, the Korringa law being followed down to 10 K, whereas the quantum-gaps for individual clusters should amount to ~ 10 ³ K. These results therefore suggest a transport process based on intermolecular charge transfer, similar as in alkali-doped fullerenes and silicon-clathrates.     

Transport properties of La 1 - x Ca x MnO 3 ( 0.5 ? x < 1)

The transport properties of the La_1-xCa_xMnO₃ ( 0.5 ? x < 1) system in magnetic fields up to 14 T were studied. We found that the relationship between the charge ordering temperature T _CO and Mn⁴⁺ content n _{Mn4 +} obeys the formula T _CO / T _max = 1 - a ( n _{Mn4 +} - n ₀ ) ² , here n₀ and a are constants and T _max is the maximum of T _CO . For x = 0.65, T _CO arrives at the maximum value of 249.5 K in zero magnetic field, while the charge ordered (CO) state is most stable around x = 0.75. For x = 0.5 when H < 6 T the resistivity displays Mott's variable-range hopping (VRH) behavior, when 6 < H < 12 T it is suggested that two kinds of conduction mechanism, i.e., VRH and magnetic polarons, coexist in the material, and when H > 12 T the resistivity shows metallic-like behavior and the transport mechanism is attributed to coexistence of magnetic polarons and free carriers. For x = 0.95, the conduction mechanism accords with the coexistence of VRH and magnetic polarons. Received 4 January 2002 and Received in final form 28 January 2002     

Brillouin scattering study of transverse elastic waves in the α, incommensurate and β phases of AlPO4

Transverse and pseudo-transverse elastic waves have been studied in several scattering geometries in order to investigate the temperature dependences of C E ₆₆ and C E ₁₄ over the range 300-1100 K, including the transitions near 860 K. These results complete those on C E ₄₄ we have obtained in a previous work. All these constants display discontinuities at the lock-in transition. In the phase, the results are analysed in term of lowest order couplings between strains (e) and the order parameter (Q). The main features are described by the lowest order biquadratic e2Q2 coupling, in particular for C E ₄₄ in a large temperature range. However, it appears that a contribution of the next coupling term arises for C E ₆₆ below K and that the first two lowest order terms have to be taken into account even just below the lock-in transition in the case of C E ₁₄ . The temperature dependence of Q has been deduced and it can be well described in the framework of Landau's theory. Received: 2 October 1997 / Received in final form: 3 December 1997 / Accepted: 29 January 1998     

Aging dynamics of Edwards-Anderson spin glasses

We analyze by means of extensive computer simulations the out of equilibrium dynamics of Edwards-Anderson spin glasses in d = 4 and d = 6 dimensions with ± J interactions. In particular, we focus our analysis on the scaling properties of the two-time autocorrelation function in a wide range of temperatures from T = 0.07 T _c to T = 0.75 T _c in both systems. In both the 4 d and 6 d models at very low temperatures we study the effects of discretization of energy levels. Strong sub-aging behaviors are found. We argue that this is because in the times accessible to our simulations the systems are only able to probe activated dynamics through the lowest discrete energy levels and remain trapped around nearly flat regions of the energy landscape. For temperatures T ≥ 0.5 T _c in 4 d and 6 d we find logarithmic scalings that are compatible with simple dynamical ultrametricity. Nevertheless the behaviour of the systems, even in 6 d is very different from the mean field SK model results. Received 21 October 2002 / Received in final form 13 January 2003 Published online 11 April 2003 RID="a" ID="a"Associate researcher of the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics; e-mail: stariolo@if.ufrgs.br; http://www.if.ufrgs.br/stariolo RID="b" ID="b"Present address: The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34014 Trieste, Italy e-mail: mmontemu@ictp.trieste.it RID="c" ID="c"e-mail: tamarit@famaf.unc.edu.ar     

The shapes of Auger decay lines in photoelectron satellite spectra

The theory of the shapes of Auger decay lines of satellite two-hole-one particle states accompanying photoionization based on the Green's function method is developed. The lineshapes of Auger decay of satellite states [2 s 2 p ]( ^1,3 P )3 s ( ² P ), [2 s 2 p ]( ¹ P )4 s ( ² P ) and [3 s 3 p ]( ³ P )4 s ( ² P ) in valence p-photoelectron spectra of Ne and Ar atoms are calculated (hole states are indicated by square brackets throughout). It is shown that in some cases the Auger lineshapes reproduce the shape of the photoelectron satellite line, but in other cases Auger line may be narrower then the photoelectron line and may have opposite direction of asymmetry. The theoretical results are in agreement with experimental low-energy Auger spectra. Received: 25 May 1998 / Accepted: 2 October 1998     

Two-photon laser-induced fluorescence of H O and D O molecules at ambient pressure

We have carried out experiments of two-photon excitation of vapor phase H₂O and D₂O molecules at atmospheric pressure. A narrow-band tunable UV OPO laser is used in the experiments. Transient B ₁ → B ₁ emission from the excited predissociating state is seen in both cases. The complete B ₁ ← A ₁ fluorescence excitation spectrum in the spectral range of 245-250 nm is measured and compared with theory. It is shown that the predissociation rate increases with the rotational quantum number K' _a > 2 more strongly than with K ^′2 _a . No perturbation effects on the measured LIF spectra are observed at a laser power density below 2 GW/cm². Experimental results indicate a negligible contribution from both molecular association and collisions with atmospheric gases. Only an extremely weak vibrational progression belonging to the second positive system of N₂ has been observed, which appears to be due to energy and charge transfer in N ⁺ ₂ ^* + H ₂ O collisions. Received 25 January 2002 / Received in final form 27 May 2002 Published online 4 March 2003