Structural and Electronic Properties Study of Colombian Aurifer Soils by Mössbauer Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction

In this work a study on gold mineral samples is reported, using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS). The auriferous samples are from the El Diamante mine, located in Guachavez-Nariño (Colombia) and were prepared by means of polished thin sections. The petrography analysis registered the presence, in different percentages that depend on the sample, of pyrite, quartz, arsenopyirite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and galena. The XRD analysis confirmed these findings through the calculated cell parameters. One typical Rietveld analysis showed the following weight percent of phases: 85.0% quartz, 14.5% pyrite and 0.5% sphalerite. In this sample, MS demonstrated the presence of two types of pyrite whose hyperfine parameters are δ ₁ = 0.280 ± 0.002 mm/s and Δ ₁ = 0.642 ± 0.002 mm/s, δ ₂ = 0.379 ± 0.002 mm/s and Δ ₂ = 0.613 ± 0.002 mm/s.     

The nonlinear optical coefficient,phasematching, and optical damage in the chalcopyrite AgGaSe2

We have made a direct measurement of the absolute nonlinear coefficient for AgGaSe₂ by phasematched second harmonic generation. The measured value is d₃₆ = (3.24 ± 0.50) × 10^?11 m/V. For CO and Co₂ lasers the observed phasematching angles for second harmonic generation and frequency mixing are within one degree of the values calculated by fitting the reported index of refraction data to Sellmeier equations. At 1.06 μm the optical damage threshold depends on the number of incident laser pulses. For 1000 pulses damage occurs at 11 MW/cm². The samples were cut from crack-free single crystal boules with absorption coefficient smaller than 0.1 cm^? at 10.6 μm.     

Invisible gold in Colombian auriferous soils

Optic microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS), Electron microprobe analysis (EPMA) and secondary ions mass spectroscopy (SIMS) were used to study Colombian auriferous soils. The auriferous samples, collected from El Diamante mine, located in Guachavez-Nariño (Colombia), were prepared by means of polished thin sections and polished sections for EPMA and SIMS. Petrography analysis was made using an optical microscope with a vision camera, registering the presence, in different percentages, of the following phases: pyrite, quartz, arsenopyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and galena. By XRD analysis, the same phases were detected and their respective cell parameters calculated. By MS, the presence of two types of pyrite was detected and the hyperfine parameters are: δ ₁ = 0.280 ± 0.01 mm/s and ΔQ ₁ = 0.642 ± 0.01 mm/s, δ ₂ = 0.379 ± 0.01 mm/s and ΔQ ₂ = 0.613 ± 0.01 mm/s. For two of the samples MS detected also the arsenopyrite and chalcopyrite presence. The mean composition of the detected gold regions, established by EPMA, indicated 73% Au and 27% Ag (electrum type). Multiple regions of approximately 200 × 200 μm of area in each mineral sample were analyzed by SIMS registering the presence of “invisible gold” associated mainly with the pyrite and occasionally with the arsenopyrite.     

Determination of spatial characteristics of the chain reaction wave in silver azide

The paper presents the methodology and results of determination of the spatiotemporal characteristics of the solid-state chain reaction wave in silver azide, initiated by a neodymium laser pulsed. The wave’s leading front width at half maximum is l ₁ = (110 ± 10) μm, the wave’s rear front width at half maximum is l ₂ = (120 ± 20) μm. The spatiotemporal parameters of the reaction wave in silver azide whiskers are calculated using a phenomenological model of the process previously proposed by the authors. It is shown that the calculated values of the velocity and the wave front width are consistent with the available experimental data.     

Laser Stark and laser-microwave double-resonance spectroscopy of the ν2 band of CD3I

The ν₂ fundamental band of CD₃I was investigated by means of the laser Stark spectroscopy using a 10.6 μm CO₂ laser and an N₂O laser as infrared radiation sources. The assignment was established for about 150 Stakr resonances. Laser-microwave double resonance was used to confirm the assignment. A least-squares analysis of the Stark spectrum gave the molecular constants: μ″ = 1.6504 ± 0.0004 D; μ′ = 1.6479 ± 0.0005 D; ν₀ = 28 461 093.8 ± 3.6 MHz; A′ - A″ = 234.0 ± 1.1 MHz; D_K′ - D_K″ = 0.121 ± 0.085 MHz. The uncertainties are 2.5 times the standard deviations. The single and the double primes refer to the ν₂ and the ground vibrational states, respectively.     

Inclusive∑ ± production in\bar pp interactions at 12 GeV/c

Inclusive production of∑ ^±(1385) resonances is studied in \(\bar pp\) interactions at 12 GeV/c. The cross sections for∑ ⁺(1385)+cc and∑ ^? are determined to be 251±38 μb and 123±30 μb, respectively. The inclusive spectra are presented as a function of Feynman x, c.m. rapidity and the squared transverse momentump _T ² . Significant differences with the correspondingpp data are found in the longitudinal momentum distributions. The qualitative features of the production can be explained by simple quark ideas.     

Spatial distribution of EAS radio emission at 32 MHz

The results of the reprocessing of the experimental data on radio emission from extensive air showers (EAS) earlier obtained at the EAS facility (Moscow State University) are reported. The maximum depth distribution of showers is found from analysis of the width of the spatial distribution of radio emission. The average maximum depth is X _max = 655 ± 8 g/cm² for the primary particle energy E ₀ ～ (3–4) × 10¹⁷ eV. The normalized field strength at E ₀ = 10¹⁷ eV is 3.2 ± 0.6 and 2.8 ± 0.4 μV/(m MHz) at distances of 50 and 100 m from the axis, respectively. The accuracy of E ₀ determination from the radio emission field strength at 50 m from the axis is about 20%.     

Interference in the ultracold neutron transmission through thin layers

At the time-of-flight spectrometer for ultracold neutrons (UCN) with energies below 10^?4 eV at the FRM, Munich, the perpendicular neutron transmission through carbon and gold films of thickness 450 to 800 Å was measured as a function of neutron velocity in the range 11≧v _z≧3.7 m/s. The transmission curves obtained show the expected interference patterns due to interference between the partial waves transmitted and reflected at the two surfaces. From these curves absolute values for the thickness and density could be obtained. From the UCN transmission through a 4.71 μm thick copper foil a value a_coh=7.5±0.15 F was derived for the nuclear scattering length of Cu.     

Properties of ceramic manganite (La0.65Sr0.35)1 − x Mn1 + x O3 ± Δ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2) sintered at a temperature of 1500°C

It has been shown for the first time that the structure of (La_0.65Sr_0.35)_{1 ? x} Mn_{1 + x} O_{3 ± Δ} (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2) ceramics sintered at 1500°C substantially depends on the content of superstoichiometric Mn. It has been found that the average grain size increases from 10 to >100 μm with increasing x from 0 to 0.2. It has been revealed that grains of the ceramic samples sintered from powders with excess Mn have an internal nanoscale layered structure. A correlation has been revealed between the size and structure of grains and and the magnetoresistive properties.     

Efficiency of applying ammonium oxalate for protection of monumental limestone by poultice, immersion and brushing methods

Samples of cretaceous limestone have been treated with three application methods (poultice, immersion and brushing) using different concentrations of ammonium oxalate solution (AmOx) and varying treatment time in order to test the efficiency of surface and in-depth formation of a protective layer of calcium oxalate (CaOx). Synchrotron-based microanalytical techniques (SR-μXRD with 12.5 μm×7.5 μm (H×V) probe size, SR-μFTIR with 10 μm×10 μm and 8 μm×20 μm probe sizes) and laboratory μFTIR, XRD and SEM have been employed for analysis of the treated samples. Synchrotron-based techniques showed variations in the CaOx distribution along the surface on a micrometer scale. All treatments resulted in the development of a CaOx layer with a maximum thickness of approximately 40 μm. Application by the brushing method with 10 1-min applications with 5-min breaks during one hour showed a development of the calcium oxalate layer equivalent to the poultice treatment taking 10 h. This treatment could be preferred for large marble or limestone surfaces where poultice usage is economically not feasible.     

Two-Photon Absorption of Nonchain HF Laser Radiation in Germanium Single Crystals

Some results of experimental and numerical studies on the transmission of a nonchain high-frequency (HF) laser beam through germanium (Ge) single crystals of differing thickness and specific resistance are presented. Based on the experimental data for the HF(DF) lasing spectrum, the coefficient of two-photon absorption in germanium has been estimated as K₂ = 55 ± 10 cm/GW at λ = 2.8 μm. The results are in good agreement with theory. The developed experimental data-processing software has enabled the numerical study of the transmission of a high-power beam with λ = 2.6–3 μm through Ge at any laser-pulse-impact moment. It has been shown that thin germanium coatings can efficiently smoothen the distribution of energy over the beam aperture for high-power laser radiation with λ = 2.6–4 μm.     

Growth of high quality non-linear optical crystal zinc germanium phosphide for Mid-infrared optical parametric oscillator

ZnGeP₂ single crystals were grown from Vertical Bridgman method. High-quality near-stoichiometric ZnGeP₂ single crystals were obtained in the diameter of 30 mm and length of 120 mm. The results showed that after thermal annealing of the crystals the optical absorption coefficient was below 0.03 cm^?1 at 2.05 μm, and ～0.02 cm^?1 at 3–8 μm. The low absorption loss ZnGeP₂ samples with dimension of 6 × 6 × 18 mm³ were cut from the annealed ingots for 3–5 μm optical parametric oscillation (OPO) experiments. For OPO experiment, we obtained up to 8.7 W output in the 3–5 μm wavelength range (with signal of 3.80 μm and idler of 4.45 μm, respectively) pumped by a 16.3 W 2.05 μm Tm,Ho:GdVO₄ laser at pulse repetition rate of 10 kHz, which corresponded to a conversion efficiency of 53.4% and slope efficiency of 64.8%, respectively.     

Oxide thickness measurements up to 120 Å on silicon and aluminum using the chemically shifted auger spectra

Thicknesses of oxides on Si or Al can be determined up to about 120 Å using Auger electron spectroscopy, without ion-mill depth profiling, by using the ratio of the chemically shifted and unshifted peaks from the oxide and substrate, respectively. Measurement standard deviations of ± 1 Å at oxide thickness of 30 Å and spatial resolution < 10 μm are readily attainable. The absolute accuracy of the present calibration is about ± 30% at 30 Å for SiO₂. A comparison of the measured thickness d with ellipsometry revealed a disagreement which was largest at $\text{d(}\text{ellips.}\text{) = 50}\text{A}\text{?}$, where d(Auger) was 33 Å. We propose that most of this disagreement is a consequence of the finite extent of the oxide/Si interface, and the measurement of different physical parameters in the two techniques. It is demonstrated that the milling rate of SiO₂ (within about 100 Å from the SiO₂/Si interface) can be determined from ion-mill depth profiles alone and the position of the interface in the depth profile can be located within serveral Å. The electron mean free path in SiO₂ at 1615 eV was determined to be 31 ± 9 Å.     

A Mössbauer study of iron and iron–cobalt nanotubes in polymer ion-track membranes

Iron and iron–cobalt nanostructures that were synthesized in polymer ion-track membranes have been studied via Mössbauer spectroscopy combined with raster electron microscopy, energy-dispersion analysis, and X-ray diffraction data. The obtained nanostructures are single-phase bcc Fe_1–xCo_x nanotubes with a high degree of polycrystallinity, whose length is 12 μm; their diameter is 110 ± 3 nm and the wall thickness is 21 ± 2 nm. Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ cations were detected in the nanotubes, which belong to iron salts that were used and formed in the electrochemical deposition. The Fe nanotubes exhibit eventual magnetic moment direction distributions of Fe atoms, whereas Fe/Co nanotubes have a partial magnetic structure along the nanotube axis with a mean value of the angle between the magnetic moment and nanotube axis of 34° ± 2°. Substituting the Fe atom with Co in the nearest environment of the Fe atom within the Fe/Co structure of nanotubes leads to a noticeable increase in the hyperfine magnetic field at the ⁵⁷Fe nuclei (by 8.7 ± 0.4 kOe) and to a slight decrease in the shift of the Mössbauer line (by 0.005 ± 0.004 mm/s).     

Frequency measurement of the 496 μm line of a CH3F FIR laser

A direct frequency measurement of the 496 μm, K = 2 line from a CH₃F laser is reported. Our laser is a metallic wave-guide device pumped by a frequency stabilized CO₂ laser; its output is mixed in a CaAs-Au Schottky barrier diode with a 100 GHz klystron and the beat note is observed on a spectrum analyzer. The result is f_CH3F(496 μm, K = 2) = 604 297.5 ± 0.2 MHz.     

脉冲激光作用下铝靶的层裂

 本文报导波长为1.06 μm脉宽（FWHM）约4 ns的强脉冲激光辐照下，铝靶发生层裂的实验结果。当入射功率密度在2.0×10¹¹~5×10¹¹ W/cm²范围的激光束作用下，厚度为0.1 mm、0.2 mm的靶在超临界条件下发生层裂，层裂厚度分别在(17±6) μm及(35±5) μm范围。文中使用一种简化模型对阈值条件下不同厚度的靶发生层裂时的层裂片厚度作了近似估算，并与已有的实验结果较好地符合。     

Thermal neutron induced α-particle reaction on64, 65, 67Zn and77Se

The (_n th,α) reaction spectroscopy was done on^{64, 65, 67}zn and⁷⁷Se at the 87 m curved thermal neutron guide of the Grenoble high flux reactor. In each of the⁶⁴Zn(n, α)⁶¹ Ni and⁶⁷ Ni(n, α) ⁶⁴Ni reactions, one line showed up corresponding to anα-particle transition to the first excited state in⁶¹Ni and⁶⁴Ni withσ _α1=11±3 μb and 159±20 μb respectively. In the case of the radioactive⁶⁵Zn(T _1/2=244d) nucleus, two lines showed up corresponding to the ground state and the first excited state transitions in⁶²Ni with large values ofσ _α0=1.0±0.1b andσ _α1=1.0±0.1b. For the⁷⁷Se(n, α)⁷⁴Ge reaction, the ground state and first excited transitions were present withσ _α0=940±20 μb andσ _α1 = 30±5 μb respectively. The spin-parity (J ^π) of the neutron resonance contributing at thermal energy are discussed.     

Targets for studying the dynamic and radiative properties of material with laser facilities

The technology of target preparation for direct and indirect laser irradiation is developed to study the shock compressibility of materials on the Sokol-2 and Iskra-5 laser facilities. Copper and aluminum films with a density close to that of the bulk materials are prepared by ion-beam deposition. The difference in the densities of the film and bulk materials is 0.8–1.7%, and the accuracy of density measurement is 0.4–1.5%. Processes for the preparation of porous materials (aluminum, copper, nickel, gold, etc.) are also devised. Porous cop-per samples of thickness 10–50 μm, pore size 0.1–5.0 μm, mean density 0.065–0.4 g/cm³, and porosity 20–140 are obtained. The preparation of freely suspended film targets 0.1–0.2 μm thick that are irradiated by picosecondlaser shots on the Progress-P and élas-PS facilities is described.     

Muon-spin-rotation study of muon polarization losses in plastic scintillators and quartz

Muon polarization losses in plastic scintillators of two types and in fused quartz have been studied by the μSR method. The muon and muonium spin precession spectra have been measured on the μSR setup placed at the output of the muon channel of the Gatchina synchrocyclotron. It has been shown that a significant fraction of stopped muons participate in the formation of the muonium. As a result, these muons lose their polarization completely. The magnitude of muon depolarization depends considerably on the type of plastic. It has been found that the muon spin precession frequency in fused quartz in an external magnetic field (F _{Q, μ} = 0.116 ± 0.002 MHz) is shifted with respect to that in plastic scintillators (F _{1, μ} = 0.101 ± 0.005 MHz and F _{2, μ} = 0.101 ± 0.002 MHz).     

High brightness 735 nm tapered lasers – optimisation of the laser geometry

High brightness tapered laser diodes with different resonator geometries were fabricated and analysed. The devices consist of an index-guided straight section and a gain-guided tapered section. Lasers with a total length L = 2 and 4 mm and different length of the ridge waveguide L _RW (500 μm ≤ L _RW ≤ 1250 μm for L = 2 mm and 500 μm ≤ L _RW ≤ 2000 μm for L = 4 mm) were processed to study the influence of the straight section on the spatial mode filtering. The power–voltage–current-characteristics, the beam waist, the far field, and the beam propagation factor M ² were measured. From the experiments, it can be stated that the lasers with a small L _RW reach higher output powers compared to those with larger L _RW. Concerning the beam quality the length L _RW should exceed a minimal value to guarantee efficient spatial mode filtering. Devices optimised concerning maximum output power and excellent beam quality reach a beam propagation factor smaller than 2.1 at an output power P = 2 W.