Optical studies of pulsed-laser fragmentation of biliary calculi

The fragmentation of gallstones and kidney stones using pulsed visible laser radiation has recently been demonstrated; however, the fragmentation mechanism is not well understood. The temporal and spectral characteristics of the bright flash of light accompanying fragmentation of gallstones were studied using 0.8 and 360-s-long, 690-nm-wavelength, dye-laser pulses. Time-resolved visible emission spectra show a broad continuum upon which line spectra are superimposed. The continuum emission is due to free-free and free-bound electron transitions indicative of a plasma and the line spectra are due to neutral and ionized calcium. Initiation of this plasma is fluence rather than intensity dependent. A model is proposed in which laser energy is coupled to the plasma, which then impulsively expands, generating intense acoustic transients which fracture the stone.     

Calculation of radiative heat transfer in argon arc plasmas

Radiation emission and absorption in arc plasmas are important energy transfer processes. Exact calculations, though possible in principle, are usually impossible in practice because of the need to treat a large number of spectral lines and also the continuum radiation in the whole spectrum range. Recently, we have used an approximate method of partial characteristics to evaluate the radiation intensities, radiation fluxes and the divergence of radiation fluxes for SF₆ arc plasma with cylindrical symmetry. In this paper, we have extended our calculations toargon arc plasmas for the plasma pressures of 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 MPa. We have calculated the coefficients of absorption for Ar plasmas at temperatures from 300 to 35 000 K, and have used these coefficients to calculate the partial characteristics. Both the continuum and the line spectra have been included in calculations. We have taken into account the radiative photo-recombination and bremsstrahlung for the continuous spectrum, and over 500 spectral lines for the discrete spectra.The method of partial characteristics has been applied to three-dimensional calculations of radiative heat transfer — i.e. radiation intensity, radiation flux and its divergence — in simplified temperature profiles. Conclusions have been made concerning validity and utilization of the method of partial characteristics in general gas dynamics problems.     

Determination of the Local Parameters of a Cascade‐Arc Plasma by the Profiles of the Lines in the Radiation Spectrum

The transverse distribution of the plasma temperature in the positive column of a d.c. cascade arc in argon at atmospheric pressure has been measured. The measurements have been carried out by the conventional method involving the determination of the emissivity of plasma as well as directly from the radiation spectrum of the arc without recourse to the Abelian inversion. A theoretical and model justification of the applicability of the second method is given. The results of the determination of the temperature profile in the observation direction by the width and shift of the ArI 425.9nm line selected for the diagnostics are presented. An analysis of the data obtained supports the possibility of determining the temperature of an inhomogeneous, optically thin plasma from the profiles of lines in the emission spectrum.     

Mechanisms of the destruction of micron conductors by an electromagnetic pulse with a subnanosecond front

The results of the experiments on the destruction of micron-diameter conductors by an electromagnetic pulse, which is generated in an inhomogeneous coaxial line by a high-voltage power source and has a subnanosecond front, are reported. The role of electrodynamic processes in the surface layer of microconductors and in environment in the formation of the spatial structure of the plasma channel and in the transformation of the energy of the source to the energy of radiation has been revealed. The spectral characteristics of the radiation of the plasma channel have been analyzed. It has been shown that the radiation spectrum at the time of the formation of the plasma corona is continuous. The most intense spectral lines of copper (510.554, 515.324, 521.82 nm) appear at ∼3 ns after the formation of the plasma corona. The temperature has been estimated from the ratio of the intensities of the spectral lines as T _e ∼ 0.7 eV.     

UV Radiation Source Based on the Plasma of a Glow Discharge in a Mixture of Helium with Water Vapors

The results on the optical characteristics of the glow–discharge plasma in an He/H₂O mixture are presented. It has been established that it is a source of UV radiation in the region 306–315 nm (_max = 309.6 nm). Radiation lines of the atoms of hydrogen (H 486.1 nm and H 656.3 nm) and helium (491.1, 501.1, 587.6, and 667.8 nm) were recorded in the visible region of the spectrum; they can be used as diagnostic lines in measuring the parameters of this plasma (n _e, T _e) by the method of emission spectroscopy. The intensity of the UV bands and of the spectral lines HI and HeI have been optimized depending on the partial pressure of helium and the discharge current. The results obtained are of interest for the development of an ecologically pure source of UV radiation on the basis of chemiluminescence of water vapors in a longitudinal glow discharge.     

X-ray spectra from highly ionized dense plasmas produced by ultrashort laser pulses

Hydrogen-like and helium-like X-ray spectra (between 7.1 and 8.2 , i.e., 1500 to 17.50 eV, respectively) from solid aluminium targets irradiated with high intensity (up to 10¹⁷ W/cm²) subpicosecond (0.7 ps) laser pulses have been measured. The spectra show that the resonance lines are very broad and very asymmetric. Evidence for a Doppler-shifted reabsorption of the resonance line emission has been found. The spectra have been simulated by a computer code for the calculation of spectral-line intensities and linewidths. Electron densities exceeding the critical density have been estimated for different laser intensities by comparing the observed and simulated intensity ratio of different dielectronic satellite lines. From the X-ray spectra generated byp- ands-polarized radiation fat different laser intensities, the thresholds for the formation of hydrogen-like and helium-like ions have been determined.     

Optically Activated Luminescence in a Natural Quartz

The spectral and kinetic characteristics of some natural quartz samples were studied by the method of optically stimulated afterglow. Defects with an unusually long time of luminescence decay of intracenter type ( = 179 msec, = 450 msec) have been revealed. Some of the parameters of these centers (stimulation and luminescence spectra, kinetics of afterglow decay, EPR spectrum, their temperature dependences, and also the stable behavior of these centers on exposure to thermal and optical effects) have been determined. Their role in the appearance of a luminescence signal ineffaceable in the process of formation of geological deposits and the possible processes leading to the afterglow of these centers are discussed.     

Pinch plasmas as intense EUV sources for laboratory applications

Compact pinch plasma devices are intense sources of pulsed EUV radiation with output energies of several joules per pulse in single lines. Their spectrum peaks in a wavelength range where conventional x-ray tubes provide poor intensity. With correct optimization, both continuous radiation or line radiation with / > 1000 can be produced for broadband and narrowband applications, respectively. Because of their low cost and their compact size, pinch plasmas seem well suited to supplement research activities based on synchrotron radiation.In this paper, pinch plasma sources developed for x-ray lithography and x-ray microscopy are described. Their emission characteristics are optimized with regard to specific requirements given by the particular application and are compared to laser produced plasmas. The lithography source is compatible with the electron storage ring printing process with respect to its spectrum and enables full-depth exposures in 1-m-thick 60 mJ cm^-2 sensitivity resist at resolution below 0.2 m within 10 minutes. The source for microscopy applications enables flash imaging of biological specimens with suboptical resolution (0.1–0.2 m) at nanosecond exposure times. In addition, the averaged plasma parameters meet the requirements for an EUV laser medium. The nitrogen 2–3 transition is especially promising for achieving amplified spontaneous emission of hydrogen-like or helium-like ions excited by three-body or charge exchange recombination.     

基于HITRAN数据库的深海甲烷辐射光谱仿真研究

研发能够精确、实时、原位获取热液甲烷数据的深海甲烷传感器对深海研究具有非常重要的意义。前期研制的两款深海甲烷光学成像干涉系统,均利用甲烷辐射光谱开展甲烷状态参数探测和反演。首先,以分子光谱辐射理论为基础,建立了分子辐射光谱与浓度、温度、压强的理论关系式,结合深海高压环境特点,建立了基于Lorentz线型的深海分子辐射模型,该模型为利用光谱法定量反演分子浓度、温度、压强等状态参数提供理论依据,同时为深海分子光谱仿真提供有力工具。接着,借助HITRAN分子光谱数据库提供的分子基本谱线参数,挑选出甲烷成像干涉系统的光源谱线。对比CH₄分子与CO₂, H₂S, H₂O等分子的特征吸收谱线,在5 990～6 150 cm-1波段范围内,CH₄谱线强度比CO₂, H₂S, H₂O等三种干扰分子的谱线强度约高2～3个数量级,且此波段内甲烷六条有效谱线分布均匀,谱线间距皆约为2～3 nm,非常适合采用光谱法进行分子状态参数探测,因此选择谱线干扰较弱、谱线分布均匀、谱线间距适中的甲烷六条谱线(1 640.37, 1 642.91, 1 645.56, 1 648.23, 1 650.96和1 653.72 nm)作为甲烷成像干涉探测系统的目标光源谱线。最后,基于深海分子辐射模型和HITRAN数据库的甲烷分子基本谱线参数,人工合成了甲烷任意浓度,任意温度和任意压强的辐射光谱数据,并分析了甲烷辐射光谱随浓度、温度和压强的变化特征。对于单一中心谱线,甲烷分子辐亮度随着浓度的升高而线性增大,随着温度的升高而非线性增大,随着压强的升高而非线性减小。对于全波段谱线,甲烷辐射光谱的全线宽随着浓度、温度的升高而变宽,随着压强的升高而变窄。建立的深海甲烷辐射光谱理论和仿真分析结果,可以为基于光谱法的海洋原位甲烷传感器的研制和数据反演提供数据支撑和理论依据。     

Soft X-ray gain in hydrogenic ions: Line pumping,ionization pumping and transient excitation

In a plasma containing hydrogenic ions which is irradiated by appropriate X-ray radiation, gain on the n=3n=2 (Balmer-) transition can be generated. Depending on the spectrum of the pump radiation, there are two different ways of obtaining the inversion: direct excitation of the upper laser level by line radiation, or ionization of the hydrogenic ions by broad band radiation with subsequent population of the upper level by recombination.In the first part of this paper, we present numerical calculations which compare the two pumping methods. The gain is evaluated under idealized conditions, i.e., with a pump spectrum containing only radiation useful for generating an inversion and under more realistic conditions, with a pump spectrum containing radiation at other frequencies as well.In the second part of the paper the possibility of obtaining Balmer- gain in hydrogenic ions under highly transient conditions is investigated, assuming a pump pulse with a duration comparable to the decay time of the lower laser level. Considerable gain is predicted even for a black-body pump spectrum.     

Brightness-Spectrum Characteristics of the Surface Laser Plasma of Polymeric Targets in the VUV Spectral Region

The brightness-spectrum and energy parameters in the VUV range of the spectrum (h 9–70 eV) of the surface laser plasma of polymeric targets in vacuum are determined experimentally. Using the experimental technology of double open and closed ionization chambers (as radiation detectors) requiring no absolute energy calibration in a wide range of regulation parameters of the effect of standard laser frequencies, we obtained new data on multifactor radiative gasdynamic processes of effect which are needed to determine emission and mass-output characteristics of the targets irradiated under vacuum.     

Spectroscopy of resonant excitation of exciton luminescence of GaSe–GaTe solid solutions

The luminescence excitation spectra of localized excitons in GaSe_0.85Te_0.15 solid solutions have been investigated at the temperature T = 2 K. It has been shown that the excitation spectra of excitons with the localization energy ε > 10 mV exhibit an additional maximum M _E located on the low-energy side of the maximum corresponding to the free exciton absorption band with n = 1. It has been found that the shift in the position of the maximum M _E in the excitation spectrum with respect to the energy of detected photons increases as the energy of detected photons decreases, i.e., with an increase in the localization energy of excitons. Under the resonant excitation of localized excitons by a monochromatic light from the region of the exciton emission band, in the exciton luminescence spectrum on the low-energy side from the excitation line, there is also a maximum of the luminescence (M _L ). The energy distance between the position of the excitation line and the position of the maximum in the luminescence spectrum increases with a decrease in the frequency of the excitation light. The possible mechanisms of the formation of the described structure of the luminescence excitation and exciton luminescence spectra of GaSe_0.85Te_0.15 have been considered. It has been concluded that the maximum M _E in the excitation spectrum and the maximum M _L in the luminescence spectrum are attributed to electronic–vibrational transitions with the creation and annihilation of localized excitons, respectively.     

Dynamics of the Emission of Light by C2 and C3 Molecules in a Laser Plasma Produced by Two-Pulse Irradiation of the Target

The laser plasma produced by irradiation of a graphite target simultaneously by the first and second harmonics of two Nd³⁺:YAG lasers has been studied by emission spectroscopy methods. The delay between radiation pulses () varied from 0 to 700 sec. It is established that in the absence of a delay between pulses ( = 0) the increase in the intensity of plasma emission at the wavelengths corresponding to the radiative transitions of the C₂ and C₃ molecules is of nonradiative character. The plasma produced by laser radiation at the wavelength = 1064 nm exerts its influence on the radiation spectrum of the plasma produced by laser radiation at the wavelength = 532 nm, if the magnitude of the delay between laser pulses does not exceed 30 sec. The most probable reason for this character of influence of the prepulse on the laser plasma radiation spectrum is sublimation of soot particles caused by laser radiation at = 532 nm.     

The first measured Mn I Stark widths

The shapes of the astrophysically interesting neutral manganese (Mn I) resonance spectral lines (403.075, 403.306, 403.448, 279.481, 279.826 and 280.108 nm) have been observed together with six other prominent Mn I lines in the laboratory helium plasma at a 47 000 K electron temperature and electron density. With these plasma parameters the Stark broadening has been found to be an important mechanism in the Mn I line shape formation. Our measured Mn I Stark widths (W) are the first data in the literature. Stark widths are compared with line hyperfine structure splittings (Δ_hfs). At above mentioned helium plasma conditions the line broadening due to hyperfine structure splitting of the lines is less than that of the Stark and Doppler broadening for the case of the Mn I lines under investigation. We estimate that at electron densities below and electron temperatures below 4000 K the components in the hyperfine structure play an important role in the mentioned Mn I line shape formation.     

NMR studies of single crystals of the topological insulator Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript> at low temperatures

A powder sample and single-crystal plates of the topological insulator Bi₂Te₃ have been investigated using the ¹²⁵Te NMR method at room temperature and at low temperatures in the range from 12.5 to 16.5 K. The NMR spectra of the single-crystal plates have been studied in the orientation where the crystallographic axis c is directed parallel or perpendicular to the magnetic field. The spectra have been obtained by means of recording spin-echo signals and plotting their envelopes. It has been shown that the NMR spectra for the bismuth telluride powder and plates with the orientation c ⊥ B consist of two lines, which are presumably attributed to tellurium nuclei in two crystallographic positions in the bulk of the sample. The position and shape of the lines are determined by the chemical shift and the Knight shift. For the orientation of the plates c || B, the spectrum contains an additional component in the high-frequency region, which cannot appear due to the angular dependence of the line shifts caused by tellurium nuclei in the bulk of the topological insulator. At a low temperature, the additional line dominates in the spectrum.     

Line-shape study of water vapour by tunable diode laser spectrometer in the 822–832 nm wavelength region

A near-infrared tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer is set up to measure the air-induced broadening coefficients and the line-strength parameters of water-vapour overtone transitions within the (2,1,1)(0,0,0) band in the 822–832 nm wavelength region. A Hitachi HL8311 E double hetero-junction structure diode laser is used as a probe. The diode laser controller is home-built and stable within ±10 A and ±10 mK, respectively. The laser-head mount has a simple design and provides easy access whenever changing of the laser head is required. The diode laser emission wavelength is thermally tuned between 50 °C and 12 °C. Thermal tuning of the diode laser emission wavelength is used to reveal the mode structure of the diode laser and to probe the overtone-band transitions of water vapour within its operating wavelength range. Current tuning of the diode laser is used at a fixed laser temperature to study the transitions one at a time. A balanced detector is used to improve the S/N ratio of the spectrum. A phase sensitive detection technique is followed to obtain the first-derivative spectra of the overtone transitions. The first-derivative spectra have been recorded at different air pressures inside the sample cell while the water-vapour pressure is kept fixed. The first-derivative spectrum is numerically integrated to obtain the original line shape. The original line shape is fitted with a Voigt profile by using a nonlinear least-squares fit program to extract the air-broadening coefficient and the line-strength parameter. The data obtained in our work is compared with the results of the HITRAN database. PACS 33.70.-w; 33.70.Fd; 33.70.Jg     

An Electrodischarge Source of Ultraviolet Radiation on Chlorine Molecules

We investigated the characteristics of a transverse glowing discharge and of a volume discharge in a system of sphereplane electrodes in chlorine of low pressure (P = 40–160 Pa). The formation of a single plasma domain has been revealed. It is a selective source of UV radiation at electronicvibrational transitions of the chlorine molecule. Due to the development of the discharge plasma instability in chlorine, the radiation of the plasma is represented in the form of pulses with a repetition rate f = 1–50 kHz on increase in the mean discharge current from 2 to 50 mA. For this range of discharge currents, the dependence of the brightness of the radiation bands for molecular chlorine with = 200 and 257 nm has a character which increases with the current. The plasma of the chlorinebased domain can be used in a source of shortwave radiation source having no quartz discharge tube (or any other tube transparent in the UV–VUV range of wavelengths) which contracts the plasma and needs cooling and when in the source of the lamp pumping there are no commutators (thyratrons, tacitrons, or spark gaps).     

Experimental study of the amorphous phases of group-IV semiconductors by the119mSn Mössbauer probe

The amorphous phases of silicon, germanium, and -tin have been studied by Mössbauer emission spectroscopy on ion-implanted, radioactive^119mSn. Amorphous samples have been produced by ion implantations of various elements and by vacuumevaporation techniques. The same well-defined type of complex spectrum is observed for all investigated amorphous samples. These spectra are characterized by an increase in average isomer shift of (0.15±0.03) mm/s, a line broadening of 20±2%, and the same Debye temperature as compared with spectra of substitutional Sn in the respective crystalline host lattices. The spectra are proposed to originate from Sn atoms incorporated substitutionally in the amorphous host with distorted local surroundings. The recrystallization of the amorphous phase upon thermal and laser annealing has been monitored. After appropriate annealing, spectra characteristic of crystalline materials are observed for most samples. An exception are high-dose, inert-gas implanted samples where different complex defects seem to be formed in the annealing process.