Chemical generator of electron-excited nitrogen N2 (A,B). Possibility of developing an exchange N2 (A)-IF visible-band (λ=625 nm) laser

The feasibility is investigated of chemical generation of electron-excited molecular nitrogen N₂(A, B) and of its use as a donor for the development of short-wave chemical lasers. The spectroscopic and kinetic properties of the molecules as potential acceptors of the excited-nitrogen energy are discussed. The feasibility of producing a chemical N₂(A)-IF laser for the visible band ( = 625 nm) is investigated analytically and numerically. The amplification properties of the active medium are analyzed and the energy characteristics of the laser are calculated.Lebedev Physics Institute, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Preprint No. 136 of the Lebedev Physics Institute, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow, 1988.     

Electronic and electronic-vibrational phenomena in the new organic conductor ϰ-(ET)2[Hg(SCN)2Cl] with a metal-insulator transition

The reflection spectra and optical conductivity spectra of the new organic conductor ϰ-(ET)₂[Hg(SCN)₂Cl] with a metal-insulator transition in the spectral regions 700–5500 and 9000–40 000 cm⁻¹ have been studied in polarized light at 300 K. A comparisonis made between the spectra obtained and the corresponding spectra of related isostructural conductors based on the ET molecule, and also the properties of the crystal structure of the investigated compounds. An electronic transition between the ET molecules of the dimer (ET) ₂ ⁺ in the spectral region 700–5500 cm⁻¹ has been identified, as have the features of the electronic-vibrational structure arising as a consequence of the interaction of this transition with the completely symmetric intramolecular vibrations of the ET molecule. It is found that the conductor with the stronger dimer interaction between the ET molecules has the higher the transition temperature. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 1313–1319 (August 1997)     

Simultaneous magneto-optical trapping of lithium and ytterbium atoms towards production of ultracold polar molecules

We have successfully implemented the first simultaneous magneto-optical trapping (MOT) of lithium (⁶Li) and ytterbium (¹⁷⁴Yb) atoms towards production of ultracold polar molecules of LiYb. For this purpose, we developed the dual atomic oven which contains both atomic species as an atom source and successfully observed the spectra of the Li and Yb atoms in the atomic beams from the dual atomic oven. We constructed the vacuum chamber including the glass cell with the windows made of zinc selenium (ZnSe) for the CO₂ lasers, which are the useful light sources of optical trapping for evaporative and sympathetic cooling. Typical atom numbers and temperatures in the compressed MOT are 7×10³ atoms, 640 μK for ⁶Li, 7×10⁴ atoms, and 60 μK for ¹⁷⁴Yb, respectively.     

Ruthenium dioxide, a fascinating material for atomic scale surface chemistry

Over the past few years, RuO₂ has developed into one of the best-characterized late transition metal oxides in surface science, revealing unique and promising redox properties. The CO oxidation reaction over RuO₂ (110) was intensively studied by low-energy electron diffraction, scanning tunneling microscopy, high resolution core level spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations, connecting structural and electronic properties with chemical properties. On the atomic scale the presence of one-fold coordinatively unsaturated Ru sites (1f-cus Ru) is the primary reason for the high activity of stoichiometric RuO₂ (110) towards the oxidation of CO and other small alcohols. On the stoichiometric RuO₂ (110) surface, CO molecules adsorb strongly (adsorption energy exceeding 1.2 eV) on top of the 1f-cus Ru atoms, from where the actual oxidation reaction step takes place via recombination with under-coordinated lattice oxygen to form CO₂ (the so-called Mars–van Krevelen mechanism); the conversion probability of this process is as high as 80%. This mechanism leads to a (partial) reduction of the RuO₂ (110) surface, producing two-fold coordinatively unsaturated Ru sites (2f-cus Ru) via the removal of bridging O atoms. Therefore, equally important for being a good catalyst is the facile re-oxidation of the mildly reduced RuO₂ (110) surface by oxygen supply from the gas phase. A weakly held oxygen species was found to adsorb on top of the 1f-cus Ru atoms and to actuate the restoration of the reduced RuO₂ (110) surface. On the reduced RuO₂ (110) surface, CO molecules adsorb in bridge sites above the 2f-cus Ru atoms by 1.85 eV, while the CO bond strength over 1f-cus Ru atoms is 1.61 eV. Received: 27 March 2001 / Accepted: 23 July 2001 / Published online: 3 April 2002     

Electron-beam-pumped infrared and visible lasers

This paper presents the results of investigations of lasing by electronic transitions of xenon, krypton, and neon atoms, cadmium and zinc ions, and nitrogen molecules and by oscillatory transitions of HF molecules. The processes responsible for the efficiency of each of the lasers have been studied. The maximum radiation energies achieved are as follows: up to 200 J at λ∼2.8 μm for a mixture of H₂−SF₆, up to 100 J at λ-1.73 μm and up to 50 J at λ=2.03 μm for xenon, up to 3 J at λ=358 nm for a mixture of Ar−N₂, and up to 0.5 J at λ=585.5 nm for neon. Institute of High-Current Electronics, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 5, pp. 34–44, April, 2000.     

Anomalous magnetic properties of the complex (ET)2C60

Investigations of the temperature dependences of the magnetic permeability and dielectric permittivity in the temperature range 4.2 K⩽T ⩽300 K and the field dependence of the magnetization M(B) in fields B⩽50 T show that the magnetic properties of the complex (ET)₂C₆₀ cannot be described on the basis of the standard model, which assumes that the paramagnetic oxygen impurity makes the dominant contribution. It is found that the magnetism in (ET)₂C₆₀ is due to the diamagnetic properties of the C₆₀ and ET molecules and to specific paramagnetic centers of the type C ₆₀ ⁻ , which possess an anomalously low g factor |g|≈0.14. An experimentum crucis is proposed for checking the oxygen paramagnetic center model for pure C₆₀ films. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 69, No. 10, 733–738 (25 May 1999)     

On the operating conditions of the electrical blowing module for a periodic-pulse laser based on fluorine atoms and molecules

The results of an investigation of the ignition conditions and characteristics of a multiple-electrode corona discharge, intended to be used in the module which performs electrical blowing of the working media of high pressure lasers operating on fluorine atoms and molecules, in a tip-grid system are reported. The electrical and optical characteristics of corona discharges of positive and negative polarity, which were distributed along the length of a transverse discharge of lasers operating on the transitions F(3s-3p) and F₂(D′-A′), were studied. The characteristics of corona discharges were studied in a mixture He/F₂ at atmospheric pressures. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 68, 84–87 (September 1998)     

Photoprocesses in complex organic compounds

We present the results of investigations of photoprocesses in organic compounds. We have done a theoretical and experimental study of the relationship of photophysical and photochemical processes in organic molecules to the characteristics features of intramolecular and intermolecular interactions and the exciting electromagnetic field. We have developed quantum chemical procedures for theoretical prediction of the structure of organic compounds with specified physicochemical and optical properties. We have designed new active media for lasers with enhanced photostability and increased lifetime. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshkh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 8, pp. 76–86, August, 1998.     

The band electronic structures of (BEDTTTF)2X,X− = BrO4− and ReO4−

The strictly isostructural organic metals, (BEDTTTF)₂ReO₄ and (BEDTTTF)₂BrO₄ consist of sheets of BEDT-TTF (abbreviated ET) donor molecules which form a novel two-dimensional network. Despite the similar structures these salts possess different physical properties. (ET)₂ReO₄ is a highly anisotropic metal down to 80 K but becomes insulating below this temperature. An applied pressure greater than 4.5 kbar reportedly suppresses the MI transition and gives superconductivity at 2 K. However, no superconductivity has yet been observed for (ET)₂BrO₄. Band electronic structure calculations derived from their ET molecule network geometries at 298 and 120 K, and intrastack and interstack energies between nearest neighbor ET molecules, show that (ET)₂ReO₄ and (ET)₂BrO₄ are highly anisotropic metals, and both possess very similar band structures.     

Natural masers:

This paper represents a brief review on some properties of cosmic masers, in particular on OH, H₂O, and SiO sources. Emphasis is given to problems of radiative transfer in the maser line as well as in other lines of the masing molecules. The importance of these effects is an essential difference to laboratory lasers.—Differences and similarities between the radiative properties of cosmic masers and other (NLTE) sources of line emission having no population inversion are pointed out.—Various pumping mechanisms suggested for the interpretation of the observations are summarized. Based on an invited paper presented at the 4th Intern. Conf. on Molecular Energy Transfer (Loccum, Germany, June 30 to July 4, 1975).     

Correlations in 11B NMR spectra of dihalo derivatives of bis(1,2-dicarbollyl)cobalt(III)

In the ¹¹B NMR spectra of dihalo derivatives of bis(dicarbollyl)cobalt(III), we have identified a correlation between the ¹¹B NMR chemical shifts of substituted boron atoms and boron atoms found in other positions on the carborane skeleton. We have observed an increased shielding effect for fluorine atoms (compared with other halogens), manifested in an upfield shift of the ¹¹B NMR signals for antipodal and trans boron atoms. For the fluorine-containing compound Bu₄N⁺ [8,8′-F₂-3,3′-Co(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₀)₂]⁻, we propose the following sequence of electron density transfer: B(8) → {B(6) and B(10)} → B(4, 7). __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 73, No. 4, pp. 547–549 (cont.), July–August, 2006.     

Pulsed lasers pumped with a self-sustained discharge

The results of investigations of UV, visible, and infrared lasers pumped by a self-sustained discharge and operating by transitions of molecules, atoms, and ions are presented and the laser constructions are described. For excitation of the working mixtures, generators with capacitive and inductive energy stores and various preionization systems were used. Optimum conditions for pumping various lasers have been found and simple and reliable prototypes of exciplex, nitrogen, HF, CO₂, and other electric-discharge lasers (Foton, LIDA, DILAN, AIL, and ELAN) for scientific research have been created. Radiation energies from some fractions of a millijoule to 3 J have been obtained for a number of transitions at wavelengths ranging between 157 and 10,600 nm with a high efficiency. Institute of High-Current Electronics, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 5, pp. 45–53, April, 2000.     

Electron density redistribution in Sn-doped Bi2Te3

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is used to investigate the redistribution of the density of electronic states in the valence band, and of the binding energies and chemical shifts of core levels in bismuth telluride caused by introduction of impurity tin atoms. A substantial increase in the density of electronic states below the valence-band top at energies μ≈15–30 meV has been revealed. This feature in the energy spectrum accounts for the unusual behavior of the kinetic coefficients in p-Bi₂Te₃:Sn crystals. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1969–1972 (November 1999)     

Photoreflectance characterization of CdTe thin films grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy on GaAs(100)

CdTe films have been grown on top of GaAs(100) by means of Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) at 300 °C substrate temperature. Different procedures for the CdTe growth and for the preparation of the GaAs substrates resulted in diverse crystalline qualities of the CdTe films. We present the results obtained from PhotoReflectance (PR) measurements of these films employing HeNe and Ar-ion lasers as modulating excitation. For Ar excitation, the ratio of CdTe to GaAs signal strength for the E ₀ transition is enhanced, allowing a differentiation of the contributions from film and substrate. Both the PR line shape and intensity are correlated to the structural quality of the CdTe films. One of the samples presented a below-band-gap transition of the GaAs substrate around 30±5 meV from E ₀ which is attributed to donor states produced by Te atoms diffused in the interface; this result demonstrates the high sensitivity of the photoreflectance technique to the structural properties of interfaces.     

A DFT study on small M-doped titanium (M = V, Fe, Ni) clusters: structures, chemical bonds and magnetic properties

The equilibrium structures, electronic properties of bimetallic Ti_1-4M (M=V, Fe, Ni) clusters are investigated by using the density functional method within generalized gradient approximation in conjunction with the valence basis set. Considering the spin multiplicity effect, the geometries with different spins are optimized to find the ground states. For the ground states, the natural bonding orbital analysis (NBO) is performed and shows that the 4s electrons always transfer to the 3d orbital in the bonding atoms so that 4s and 3d orbitals hybridize with each other. The electron transfers from Ti atoms to the ‘impurity’ atoms (V, Fe, and Ni) are also found. The two kinds of electron transfer mechanisms are considered to be the contributor for the stabilities of the studied clusters. The Wiberg bond order and AIM (atoms in molecules) analyses indicate that the relative stabilities of chemical bonds are: $\text{Ti-V/Ti-Fe} > \text{Ti-Ti} > \text{Ti-Ni}$\text{Ti-V/Ti-Fe} > \text{Ti-Ti} > \text{Ti-Ni}. The spin magnetic moments are found to be mostly located at Ti atoms. Several clusters like Ti₂V, Ti₃V, Ti₃Ni and Ti₄Ni present the high moments.     

Anti-stokes luminescence of Zn<Subscript>0.6</Subscript>Cd<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>S solid solutions with adsorbed organic dye molecules and few-atom silver clusters

For microcrystals of Zn_0.6Cd_0.4S with adsorbed molecules of a number of organic dyes, we have observed sensitized anti-Stokes luminescence excited by radiation with wavelengths in the range 610–750 nm and flux density 10¹⁴–10¹⁵ photons/cm²·sec. The positions of the bands in the excitation spectra for such luminescence match those of the absorption spectra for the adsorbed dye molecules, which is evidence in favor of a cooperative mechanism for its appearance. We have shown that enhancement of the anti-Stokes luminescence is possible when silver atoms and few-atom clusters appear on the Zn_0.6Cd_0.4S surface in addition to the dye molecules. We hypothesize that its excitation in the latter case occurs as a result of two-photon optical transitions. These transitions occur sequentially, with transfer of an electron or the electronic excitation energy from the dye molecules to silver atoms and few-atom clusters adsorbed on the surface of Zn_0.6Cd_0.4S, creating deep localized states in the bandgap with photoionization energies 1.80–2.00 eV. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 74, No. 5, pp. 617–621, September–October, 2007.     

Observation of electromagnetically induced transparency in cesium molecules

We have studied electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in diatomic cesium molecules in a vapor cell by using tunable diode lasers. We have observed a sub-natural Λ-resonance in absorption molecular band B ¹Π _u − X ¹Σ _g ⁺ at different cesium vapor pressures. The width of the EIT resonance shows a linear dependence on a cesium vapor pressure.     

Laser frequency offset locking scheme for high-field imaging of cold atoms

We present a simple and flexible frequency offset locking scheme developed for high-field imaging of ultra-cold atoms which relies on commercially available RF electronics only. The main new ingredient is the use of the sharp amplitude response of a “home-made” RF filter to provide an error signal for locking the lasers. We were able to offset lock two independent diode lasers within a capture range of hundreds of MHz, and with a tuning range of up to 1.4 GHz. The beat-note residual fluctuations for offset locked lasers are below 2 MHz for integration times of several hundreds of seconds.     

Influence of interatomic forces on the lattice dynamics of YBa2Cu3O7 (molecular dynamics method)

The method of molecular dynamics is used to study the dynamic properties of the high-temperature superconductor YBa₂Cu₃O₇. It is shown in the system La_2−x Sr_xCuO₄ that, due to the presence of strong anharmonism and a substantial difference in the interatomic forces, local “hot” regions arise around the Ba⁴⁺ charge defects in the CuO₂ and CuO planes, where the mean kinetic energy of the vibrations of the oxygen atoms reaches ∼0.5 eV. All other types of defects: oxygen and copper vacancies, substitutional atoms, and charge defects, do not lead to such effects. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1729–1733 (October 1999)     

MD simulation study of the sputtering process by high-energy gas cluster impact

We performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the characteristic sputtering process with large cluster ion impact. The statistical properties of incident Ar and sputtered Si atoms were examined using 100 different MD simulations with Ar₁₀₀₀ cluster impacting on a Si(0 0 1) target at a total acceleration energy of 50 keV. The results show that the kinetic energy distribution of Ar atoms after impact obeys the high-temperature Boltzmann distribution due to thermalization through high-density multiple collisions on the target. On the other hand, the kinetic energy distribution of sputtered target atoms demonstrates a hybrid model of thermalization and collision-cascade desorption processes.