Excitation of <Superscript>113<Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis>,115<Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis></Superscript>In by positrons

The photonless annihilation cross sections for ^113m,115m In at a boundary positron energy of 3.9 MeV have been measured for the first time: σ^ef(^115m In)=(5.0 ± 0.4) × 10^?27 cm² and σ^ef(^113m In) = (3.4 ± 0.6) × 10^?27 cm². The cross sections obtained differ by four to five orders of magnitude from the calculated values. A new mechanism of consideration of the positrons involved in photonless annihilation is proposed.     

Excitation of even levels of erbium atoms without a change in the number of 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis> electrons

The excitation of even levels of erbium atoms by slow electrons that occurs without a change in the number of electrons in the 4f shell is experimentally studied. The levels investigated belong to the 4f ¹²6s7s, 4f ¹²5d6s, 4f ¹²6s6d configurations. The cross sections measured at an electron energy of 30 eV lie within the range (0.2–18) × 10^?18 cm².     

Theoretical study of photoionization of the isoelectronic sequence Rb<Superscript>+</Superscript>, Sr<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, and Y<Superscript>3+</Superscript>

The photoionization cross sections for the 4p shell of ions of the Kr isoelectronic sequence Rb⁺, Sr²⁺, and Y³⁺ are calculated. The configuration interaction theory and the perturbation theory are used to describe the many-electron effects. The relativistic effects are taken into account in the Pauli-Fock approximation. The calculated resonance structure of photoionization cross sections for the 4p shell in the region below the 4s threshold associated with the autoionization of the 4s-np singly excited states and the 4p4p-nln′l′ doubly excited states reproduces the results of recent measurements of total photoabsorption cross sections for the Rb⁺, Sr²⁺, and Y³⁺ ions. It is found that, as the nuclear charge in the isoelectronic sequence increases, the ratio between the direct and correlation parts of amplitudes of the 4s-(n/?)p transition changes and, as the consequence, the minimum of the photoionization cross section of the 4s shell shifts from the continuous spectrum to the region of states of discrete spectrum. This accounts for the strong changes in the shape of the 4s-np resonances in the photoionization cross sections for the 4p shell of Rb⁺, Sr²⁺, and Y³⁺, as well as the distinction between the shapes of the 4s-6p _1/2 mirror resonance in the partial 4p _1/2 and 4p _3/2 photoionization cross sections for the Y³⁺ ion which do not suppress each other in the total photoionization cross section, as is the case for similar resonances in Rb⁺ and Sr²⁺.     

Adiabatic elastic moduli in ZnSe : Mn<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and ZnSe : V<Superscript>2+</Superscript> crystals

The temperature dependences of the elastic moduli C ₄₄ (C ₁₁ ? C ₁₂)/2 and C _l = (C ₁₁ + C ₁₂ + 2C ₄₄)/2 of ZnSe : V²⁺ (impurity concentration, 6 × 10¹⁸ cm^?3) and ZnSe : Mn²⁺ (9.4 × 10²⁰ cm^?3) are measured in the temperature range 1.4–100.0 K at frequencies of 52 and 156 MHz. The temperature dependences of the adiabatic elastic moduli are derived. It is established that softening of the symmetry modules is observed only in the crystal with an impurity having orbitally degenerate states.     

Broadening of a two-photon resonance in a zinc atom in collisions with CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>, CO,and NO molecules

The broadening of a two-photon resonance is studied experimentally at the 4s¹S₀?6s³S₁ transition in a zinc atom upon absorption of two waves with a small detuning from an intermediate state in collisions with CO₂, CO, and NO molecules. The measured absolute values of broadening cross sections greatly exceed gas-kinetic cross sections and are (9.4±2.4, 6.5±1.6, and 3.9±1.0)×10^{? 14}cm² for CO², CO, and NO, respectively. Anomalously large rate constants and cross sections obtained in experiments are explained by the efficient resonance quenching of the excited states of zinc atoms in collisions with molecules accompanied by transfer of the energy of excited atoms to vibrational-rotational degrees of freedom of molecules.     

Study of <Superscript>179</Superscript>Hf<Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis>2</Superscript> excitation

Isomeric ratios of ¹⁷⁹Hf ^m2,g yields in the (γ, n) reaction and the cross section for the ¹⁷⁹Hf ^m2 population in the (α, p) reaction are measured for the first time at the end-point energies of 15.1 and 17.5 MeV for bremsstrahlung photons and 26 MeV for alpha particles. The results are σ = (1.1 ± 0.11) × 10^?27 cm² for the ¹⁷⁶Lu(α, p)¹⁷⁹Hf ^m2 reaction and Y _m2/Y _g = (6.1 ± 0.3) × 10^?6 and (3.7 ± 0.2) × 10^?6 for the ¹⁸⁰Hf(γ, n)¹⁷⁹Hf ^m22 reaction at Е _ep =15.1 and 17.5 MeV, respectively. The experimental data on the relative ¹⁷⁹Hf ^m2 yield indicate a single-humped shape of the excitation function for the ¹⁸⁰Hf(γ, n)¹⁷⁹Hf ^m2 reaction. Simulation is performed using the TALYS-1.4 and EMPIRE-3.2 codes.     

Intensity parameters for Er<Superscript>3+</Superscript> ions in calcium-niobium-gallium garnet crystals

Based on the analysis of the absorption spectra of Er-doped calcium-niobium-gallium garnet (Er:CNGG) crystals according to the Judd-Ofelt theory, the intensity parameters for these crystals are determined to be Θ₂ = 3.43 × 10^?20 cm² Θ₄ = 1.20 × 10^?20 cm², and Θ₆ = 0.58 × 10^?20 cm². The parameters found are compared with the intensity parameters for other laser oxide crystals. Using these intensity parameters, the probabilities of radiative transitions between the energy levels of Er³⁺ ions in CNGG crystals and the luminescence branching ratios β_JJ’ are calculated. From the measured lifetime of the ⁴ I _11/2 level of Er³⁺ ions (τ = 626 μs) and the probability of the radiative transition from this level (A = 192 s^?1), it is found that about 88% of the excitation energy in the Er:CNGG crystals is nonradiatively transferred from the ⁴ I _11/2 to the ⁴ I _13/2 level. It is suggested that an increase in the oscillator strength and in the line strength of the ⁴ I _15/2 → ² H _11/2 transition of Er³⁺ in CNGG crystals, as well as an increase in the intensity parameter Θ₂ with respect to the corresponding parameters for other garnet crystals are caused by the existence in CNGG crystals of Er³⁺ centers with the environment symmetry lower than D ₂.     

Data on photoneutron reactions from various experiments for <Superscript>133</Superscript>Cs, <Superscript>138</Superscript>Ba and <Superscript>209</Superscript>Bi nuclei

Basic methods for determining cross sections for photoneutron partial reactions are examined. They are obtained directly in experiments with quasimonoeneregetic annihilation photons or from the cross section for the (γ, xn) = (γ, 1n) + 2(γ, 2n) + 3(γ, 3n) +... neutron-yield reaction in experiments with bremsstrahlung photons by introducing corrections based on statistical nuclear-reaction theory. The difference in the conditions of these experiments, which leads to discrepancies between their results because of sizable systematic errors, is analyzed. Physical criteria are used to study the reliability of data on the photodisintegration of ¹³³Cs, ¹³⁸Ba, and ²⁰⁹Bi nuclei. The cross sections for partial and total reactions satisfying the reliability criteria are evaluated within the experimental–theoretical method (σ^eval(γ, in) = F_i^theor × σ^expt(γ, xn)) on the basis of the experimental cross sections σ^expt(γ, xn) and the results of the calculations within the combined model of photonuclear reactions.     

Extreme-ultraviolet emissivity from Xe<Superscript>8+</Superscript> to Xe<Superscript>12+</Superscript> by using a detailed line-by-line method

A theoretical model has been developed to calculate the emissivity of low densityxenon plasmas (from Xe⁸⁺ to Xe¹²⁺) by employing a detailed lineaccounting formalism. A complete set of atomic datasuch as transition probabilities for electric (magnetic) dipoleand quadruple E1, E2, M1 and M2 and electron impact excitationcollision strength, which is accurate to fine-structure level,was calculated using a full configuration interaction formalismand was used to solve the rate equation which determines thepopulation of different levels. Detailed results are given forpure Xe¹⁰⁺ ion, which is essential for extreme-ultravioletemission at 13.5 nm, and for low density plasmas (the electron densitywas taken to be 10¹² cm^-3) at temperatures of 30, 45, 55, 65and 75 eV. The fraction of different ionization stages was obtained by acompletely coupled rate equation from neutral atom to Xe²⁰⁺ by usinga detailed configuration accounting method. The results show that theemissivity of the dipole forbidden lines of transition array4s ²4p ⁶4d ⁷5s \(\rightarrow\) 4s ²4p ⁶4d ⁸ of Xe¹⁰⁺is very sensitive to the temperature, which should be a useful tool todiagnose the temperature in EBIT plasmas.     

Excitation of the Yb II transitions terminating on the low-lying odd levels

Excitation of the transitions from the even levels of a singly charged ytterbium ion that terminate on the low-lying odd levels 4f ¹³(² F°)6s ^{2 2} F°, 4f ¹⁴(¹ S)6p ² P°, and 4f ¹³(² F°_7/2)5d6p(³ D)³[3/2]° is experimentally studied by measuring 51 excitation cross sections at an electron energy of 50 eV, and 16 optical excitation functions are determined within the electron energy range 0–200 eV. The largest magnitudes of the measured cross sections exceed 3 × 10^?17 cm².     

Lithium diffusion in Li<Subscript>3</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>-based electrodes: a joint analysis of electrochemical impedance,cyclic voltammetry,pulse chronoamperometry,and chronopotentiometry data

In order to establish the mechanism and to determine the parameters of lithium transport in electrodes based on lithium-vanadium phosphate (Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃), the kinetic model was designed and experimentally tested for joint analysis of electrochemical impedance (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), pulse chronoamperometry (PITT), and chronopotentiometry (GITT) data. It comprises the stages of sequential lithium-ion transfer in the surface layer and the bulk of electrode material’s particles, including accumulation of lithium in the bulk. Transfer processes at both sites are of diffusion nature and differ significantly, both by temporal (characteristic time, τ) and kinetic (diffusion coefficient, D) constants. PITT data analysis provided the following D values for the predominantly lithiated and delithiated forms of the intercalation material: 10^?9 and 3 × 10^?10 cm² s^?1, respectively, for transfer in the bulk and 10^?12 cm² s^?1 for transfer in the thin surface layer of material’s particles. D values extracted from GITT data are in consistency with those obtained from PITT: 3.5–5.8 × 10^?10 and 0.9–5 × 10^?10 cm² s^?1 (for the current and currentless mode, respectively). The D values obtained from EIS data were 5.5 × 10^?10 cm² s^?1 for lithiated (at a potential of 3.5 V) and 2.3 × 10^?9 cm² s^?1 for delithiated (at a potential 4.1 V) forms. CV evaluation gave close results: 3 × 10^?11 cm² s^?1 for anodic and 3.4 × 10^?11 cm² s^?1 for cathodic processes, respectively. The use of complex experimental measurement procedure for combined application of the EIS, PITT, and GITT methods allowed to obtain thermodynamic E,c dependence of Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ electrode, which is not affected by polarization and heterogeneity of lithium concentration in the intercalate.     

Reliability of the data on the cross sections of the partial photoneutron reaction for <Superscript>63,65</Superscript>Cu and <Superscript>80</Superscript>Se nuclei

The cross sections of partial photoneutron reactions are evaluated for the ^63,65Cu and ⁸⁰Se isotopes. The cross sections are free of systematic uncertainties from shortcomings of the experimental methods for neutron multiplicity sorting based on measurements of neutron energy used in experiments with quasimonoenergetic annihilation photon beams. An experimental-theoretical method is used to evaluate cross sections σ^eval(γ, in)= F_i^theor σ^exp(γ, xn), where ratios F_i^theor = σ^theor(γ, in)/σ^theor(γ, xn) = σ^theor(γ, in)/σ^theor[(γ, 1n) + 2(γ, 2n) + …] are calculated using a combined model of photonuclear reactions, and σ^exp(γ, xn) is the experimental cross section of the neutron yield reaction free from neutron multiplicity sorting problems. The cross sections are evaluated for reactions (γ, 1n) and (γ, 2n) for the ^63,65Cu and ⁸⁰Se isotopes, and for the total photoneutron reaction σ(γ, Sn) = σ[(γ, 1n) + (γ, 2n) + …]. It is shown that noticeable deviations of the experimental cross sections from the evaluated values result from the unreliable sorting of neutrons between the channels with multiplicities 1 and 2.     

Analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis><Superscript>10</Superscript>B scattering within Glauber theory

The differential cross sections for p ¹⁰B scattering are calculated at the energies of 197, 600, and 1000 MeV within Glauber theory. The contributions of single and double collisions are taken into account in the multiple-scattering operator. The contributions of proton collisions with nucleons belonging to various (1s, 1p) shells are estimated in the single-scattering cross sections. A comparison with experimental data and with the result of calculations in the distorted-wave Born approximation (DWBA) at 197 MeV showed that the differential cross sections for p ¹⁰B scattering are adequately described in the region forward scattering angles.     

Two-dimensional electron-hole system in a HgTe-based quantum well

A two-dimensional electron-hole system consisting of light high-mobility electrons with a density of N _s = (4–7) × 10¹⁰ cm^?2 and a mobility of μ _n = (4–6) × 10⁵ cm²/V s and heavier low-mobility holes with a density of P _s = (0.7–1.6) × 10¹¹ cm^?2 and a mobility of μ _p = (3–7) × 10⁴ cm²/V s has been discovered in a quantum well based on mercury telluride with the (013) surface orientation. The system exhibits a number of specific magnetotransport properties in both the classical magnetotransport (positive magnetoresistance and alternating Hall effect) and the quantum Hall effect regime. These properties are associated with the coexistence of two-dimensional electrons and holes.     

Manifestation of the Coster-Kronig effect in the near-threshold electron-impact excitation of the Cd<Superscript>+</Superscript> ion

The near-threshold portions of the energy dependences of the effective excitation cross sections of the resonance transition 4d¹⁰5p²P_1/2° → 4d¹⁰5s²S_1/2 and the two-electron forbidden transition 4d⁹5s²²D_5/2 → 4d¹⁰5p²P_3/2° in the spectrum of the Cd⁺ ion were investigated by the spectroscopic method in crossed electron and ion beams. In the region of energy splitting of the ²P° and ²D levels, a significant resonance contribution of the autoionizing states of cadmium (decaying during the Coster-Kronig process) to the effective excitation cross sections of the noted transitions was revealed for the first time. It is found that the resonance contribution manifests itself much more strongly for the forbidden transition in comparison with the more intense resonance transition; i.e., the manifestation of the Coster-Kronig effect in the electron excitation of ions depends strongly on the cross section of the direct process. It is ascertained that, during the Coster-Kronig process, the main contribution to the resonance excitation of both the resonance and the two-electron forbidden spectral transitions is from the low-lying terms of the series of autoionizing states 4d¹⁰5p(²P_3/2°)ns, md and 4d⁹(²D_3/2)5s²ns, md, which are in the splitting region of the ²P_{1/2, 3/2}° and ²D_{5/2, 3/2} levels, rather than from the high-lying atomic autoionizing states of cadmium, which are located near the ionization limits (corresponding to the and ²P_3/2° and ²D_3/2 levels).     

Many-electron character of Rydberg series converging to the ionization thresholds of the 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis><Superscript>4</Superscript>5<Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis> states of KrII

The photoionization cross sections of the 4p shell and the 4s main level and 4p ⁴(³ P) 5s ⁴ P _{5/2, 3/2} satellite subvalence levels of KrII have been calculated in the 4s-near-threshold range of excitation energies from 28.48 to 28.70 eV. The calculation takes into account the core relaxation by the methods of the theory of non-orthogonal orbitals, the interaction between resonant states through autoionization channels by solving the complex secular equation, and the interaction between the channels of the continuous spectrum in all orders of the perturbation theory by the K-matrix method. Good quantitative agreement between the energy-integrated theoretical and experimental photoionization cross sections for the satellite levels has been obtained for the first time. It is shown that only simultaneous consideration of the above-mentioned effects leads to such agreement. The resonant structure of the photoionization cross sections in this excitation energy range is related to the autoionization decay of the 4p ⁴5s(⁴ P _1/2)np and 4p ⁴5s(² P _3/2)np Rydberg series. The specificity of this process is that both series manifest themselves not independently but owing to their strong electrostatic interaction with the prominent 4p ⁴(¹ D)5s ² D _5/2 6p _3/2 resonance, which lies in this excitation energy range.     

Spectroscopic study of erbium-activated crystals of double calcium yttrium fluoride Ca<Subscript>0.89</Subscript>Y<Subscript>0.11</Subscript>F<Subscript>2.11</Subscript>:Er<Superscript>3+</Superscript>: I. Intensity of spectra and luminescence kinetics

Ca_0.89Y_0.11F_2.11:Er³⁺ (CYF:Er) crystals with an erbium content of 1–15 at % have been grown. The optical spectra and luminescence kinetics of CYF:Er crystals have been investigated at low (～5 K) and room temperatures. Based on an analysis of the absorption spectra at low temperature, the structure of Stark splitting of erbium levels in CYF:Er crystals is determined. Room-temperature absorption spectra are used to calculate the spectra of absorption cross sections and oscillator strengths of transitions from the erbium ground state to excited multiplets. It is shown that the absorption spectrum of CYF:Er crystals contains broad bands in the ranges of 790–815 and 965–980 nm, which correspond to the range of emission of laser diodes. For the band peaking near 967 nm, the peak absorption cross section is σ _abs ^max = 2.7 × 10^?21 cm². The intensity parameters are determined by the Judd-Ofelt method to be Ω₂ = 1.39 × 10^?20, Ω₄ = 1.34 × 10^?20, and Ω₆ = 2.24 × 10^?20 cm². The radiative transition probabilities, radiative lifetimes, and branching ratios are calculated with these values. The luminescence decay kinetics from excited erbium levels upon selective excitation is investigated and the experimental lifetimes of the 4F _9/2, ⁴ S _3/2, and ⁴ G _11/2 radiative erbium levels are determined. The dependences of multiphonon relaxation rates on the energy gap in CYF:Er crystals are obtained. The rates of nonradiative multiphonon relaxation from radiative erbium levels are determined.     

Very high energy γ rays from close active galactic nuclei Mkn 421, Mkn 501, and NGC 1275

The results of observations of two types of metagalactic sources, BLLacs Mkn 421 (z = 0.031) and Mkn 501 (z = 0.034) and the Seyfert galaxy NGC 1275 (z = 0.017) are reported. These observations have been carried out with the SHALON mirror telescope (Lebedev Institute of Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences). The γ-ray fluxes (with energies E > 0.8 TeV) from Mkn 421 and Mkn 501, averaged over the entire observation period, were estimated to be (0.63 ± 0.14) × 10^?12 and (0.86 ± 0.13) × 10^?12 cm^?2 s^?1, respectively. The flux from the source NGC 1275 was (0.78 ± 0.13) × 10^?12 cm^?2 s^?1. The energy spectra of γ rays and images of the sources are reported.     

Electrophysical parameters of <Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>-oriented Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript> films with a low concentration of antistructural defects

Epitaxial c-oriented Bi₂Te₃ films 1.2 μm in thickness are grown by the hot wall method for a low supersaturation of the vapor phase over the surface of mica substrates. The hexagonal unit cell parameters a = 4.386 Å and c = 30.452 Å of the grown films almost coincide with the corresponding parameters of stoichiometric bulk Bi₂Te₃ crystals. At T = 100 K, the Hall concentration of electrons in the films is on the order of 8 × 10¹⁸ cm^?3, while the highest values of the thermoelectric coefficient (α ≈ 280 μV K^?1) are observed at temperatures on the order of 260 K. Under impurity conduction conditions, conductivity σ of the films increases upon cooling in inverse proportion to the squared temperature. In the temperature range 100–200 K, thermoelectric power parameter α²σ of Bi₂Te₃ films has values of 80–90 μW cm^?1 K^?2.     

Investigating the Double Beta Decay of <Superscript>58</Superscript>Ni

Double beta decay (β + EC, EC/EC) of ⁵⁸Ni is investigated at France’s Modane Underground Laboratory (4800 m water equivalent) using the OBELIX ultralow-background HPGe detector with a sensitive volume of 600 cm³ and a natural nickel sample of ~68% 58Ni with a mass of ~21.7 kg. After preliminary analysis of the experimental data accumulated over ~144 days, new experimental limits are obtained for the 2νβ⁺EC decay of ⁵⁸Ni to the 0⁺ ground state and the 2 ₁ ⁺ , 811 keV excited state of ⁵⁸Fe, and for the 2νEC/EC decay of ⁵⁸Ni to the 2 ₁ ⁺ , 811 keV and 2 ₂ ⁺ , 1675 keV excited states of ⁵⁸Fe. The limits are T_1/2(β⁺EC,0→0⁺) > 1.7 × 10²² yr, T_1/2(β⁺EC,0→2 ₁ ⁺ ) > 2.3 × 10²² yr, T_1/2(EC/EC,0→2 ₁ ⁺ ) > 3.3 × 10²² yr, and T_1/2(EC/EC,0→2 ₂ ⁺ ) > 3.4 × 10²² yr. Experimental limit T_1/2(0νEC/EC–res, 1918 keV > 4.1 × 10²² yr is obtained for resonant neutrinoless radiative EC/EC decay with an energy of 1918.3 keV. All limits are at 90% CL.