Numerical study of the effect of gas flow in low pressure inductively coupled Ar/N<Subscript>2</Subscript> plasmas

The effect of gas flow in low pressure inductively coupled Ar/N₂ plasmas operating at the rf frequency of 13.56 MHz and the total gas pressure of 20 mTorr is studied at the gas flows of 5–700 sccm by coupling the plasma simulation with the calculation of flow dynamics. The gas temperature is 300 K and input power is 300 W. The Ar fractions are varied from 0% to 95%. The species taken into account include electrons, Ar atoms and their excited levels, N₂ molecules and their seven different excited levels, N atoms, and Ar⁺, N⁺, N₂ ⁺, N₄ ⁺ ions. 51 chemical reactions are considered. It is found that the electron densities increase and electron temperatures decrease with a rise in gas flow rate for the different Ar fractions. The densities of all the plasma species for the different Ar fractions and gas flow rates are obtained. The collisional power losses in plasma discharges are presented and the effect of gas flow is investigated.     

Equilibrium charge state distributions of beam foil excited molecular fragments exiting carbon foils

Summary Equilibrium charge state distributions of ions emerging from solids have been measured. As incident particles were used both atomic (C⁺, N⁺, O⁺) and molecular (N ₂ ⁺ , CO⁺) projectile ions (0.025<E/M<0.108 MeV/u). The data of atomic projectile ions agree well with the data of other authors in a range in which they overlap. Charge state fractions of emerging molecular-fragment ions behind a carbon foil are strongly influenced by the Coulomb explosion and possibly by the wake potential. Supported by BMFT/Bonn.     

Deexcitation of Cd 53P1 atoms in collisions with ground state atoms and molecules

Collisions of excited Cd 5³P₁ atoms were investigated using atomic fluorescence spectroscopy. Cadmium vapor, together with a quenching gas, was irradiated in a quartz fluorescence vessel with Cd 3261 Å resonance radiation and the intensity of the resulting resonance fluorescence was monitored in relation to the gas pressures. The experiments yielded the following cross sections Q₁₀ (in A²) for collisional transfer 5³P₁→5³P₀: CdAr=2×10^?3, CdN₂=8.0, CdH₂=7.0, CdCO=15.6. The cross sections Q for collisional deexcitation to the ground state (quenching) in A² are CdN₂ = 2.6×10^?2, CdH₂ = 11.0, CdCO = 3.4, CdCO₂ = 26.     

A shock-tube measurement of the SiO(E1Σ+ − X1Σ+) transition moment

The sum of the squares of the electronic transition moments, Σ|R_e|², for the E¹Σ⁺ ?X¹Σ⁺ band system of SiO has been determined from absorption measurements conducted in the reflected-shock region of a shock tube. The test gas was produced by shock-heating a mixture of SiCl₄, N₂O and Ar, and the spectra were recorded photographically in the 150–230 nm wavelength range. The values of the Σ|R_e|² were determined by comparing the measured absorption spectra with those produced by a line-be-line synthetic spectrum calculation. The value of the Σ|R_e|² so deduced at an r-centroid value of 3.0 Bohr was 0.86±0.10 atomic units.     

BEC-BCS crossover, phase transitions and phase separation in polarized resonantly-paired superfluids

We study resonantly-paired s-wave superfluidity in a degenerate gas of two species (hyperfine states labeled by ↑, ↓) of fermionic atoms when the numbers N_↑ and N_↓ of the two species are unequal, i.e., the system is “polarized.” We find that the continuous crossover from the Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) limit of tightly-bound diatomic molecules to the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) limit of weakly correlated Cooper pairs, studied extensively at equal populations, is interrupted by a variety of distinct phenomena under an imposed population difference ΔN ≡ N_↑ − N_↓. Our findings are summarized by a “polarization” (ΔN) versus Feshbach-resonance detuning (δ) zero-temperature phase diagram, which exhibits regions of phase separation, a periodic FFLO superfluid, a polarized normal Fermi gas and a polarized molecular superfluid consisting of a molecular condensate and a fully polarized Fermi gas. We describe numerous experimental signatures of such phases and the transitions between them, in particular focusing on their spatial structure in the inhomogeneous environment of an atomic trap.     

Effects of the overlap between wave functions of impurity centers on the activation energy of hopping conduction

The hopping conductivity σ₃ has been studied in samples of slightly counterdoped crystalline Si: B with a boron concentration of 2×10¹⁶ cm^?3<N<10¹⁷ cm^?3 and a compensation of 10^?4≤K≤10^?2. It is found that at K≤10^?3 the activation energy ε₃ is not lower (as it must be according to classical notions at finite K) but larger than the value ε_N=e ² N ^1/3/κ, where e is the electronic charge and κ is the dielectric constant. With decreasing N, the energy ε₃ drops slower and, with decreasing K, grows faster than follows from the standard theory. At K≤10^?4, ε₃ is higher than ε _N by a factor of 1.5–2. The result is explained by the effect of the overlap between wave functions of neighboring impurity centers on the structure of the impurity band.     

Tuning the electronic and magnetic properties of germanene by surface adsorption of small nitrogen-based molecules

The structural, energetic and electronic properties of germanene adsorbed with small nitrogen-based molecules, including N₂, NH₃, NO₂ and NO, have been investigated by using first-principles calculations. The results show that all nitrogen-based molecules considered bind much stronger to germanene than to graphene due to the hybridized sp²-sp³ bonding of Ge atoms. The N₂, NO and NO₂ molecules all act as an acceptor, while the NH₃ molecule donates electrons to germanene. We also found sizable band gaps (2–158 meV) are opened at the Dirac point of germanene through N₂, NH₃, and NO₂ adsorptions, but with only slightly destroying its Dirac cone shape. The NO₂ molecule also shows a heavy p-type doping character and makes germanene to be metallic. Moreover, when adsorbed by NO molecule, the germanene can change to be a ferromagnetic half-metal with 100% spin-polarization at the Fermi level. Overall, the different adsorption behaviors of small nitrogen-based gas molecules on germanene provide a feasible way to exploit chemically modified germanene for a wide range of practical applications, such as field-effect transistors, gas sensors and spintronic devices.     

Multicomponent dense electron gas as a model of Si MOSFET

We solve a 2D model of N-component dense electron gas in the limit N→∞ and in the range of the Coulomb interaction parameter N ^?3/2?r _s ?1. The quasiparticle interaction on the Fermi circle vanishes as ?²/Nm. The ground-state energy and the effective mass are found as series in powers of r _s ^2/3 . In the quantum Hall state on the lowest Landau level at integer filling 1?ν<N, the charge-activation-energy gap and the exchange constant are Δ=log(r _s N^3/2)?ω_H/ν and J=0.66?ω_H/ν.     

Pressure derivatives of bulk and shear modulus of rare gas solids

Expressions for the isothermal bulk and shear modulus and also their first and second order pressure derivatives for rare gas solids are derived by a simple method considering the different interactions i.e. modified variable induce dipoles, short range overlap repulsion and the vibrational contribution. The derived relations for dK_T/dP, dC_S/dP, dC′₄₄/dP, d²K_T/dP², d²C_S/dP² and d²C′₄₄/dP² are used to compute the numerical values of these constants at P=0 for Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe.     

DC discharge experiment in an Ar/N2/CO2 ternary mixture: A laboratory simulation of the Martian ionosphere's plasma environment

A low-pressure DC plasma discharge sustained in a 1.6%Ar–2.7%N₂–95.3%CO₂ ternary mixture is studied. This plasma was generated in a total pressure range from 1.0 to 4.0 Torr, a power of 6.3 W and a 12 l/min flow rate of gases. The electron temperature was found to be 8.41 eV and the ion density, in the order of 10⁹ cm⁻³. The species observed in the plasma mixture were CO₂, CO₂⁺, CN, CO, CO⁺, O₂, O₂⁺, N₂, N₂⁺, NO, C⁺, Ar and Ar⁺. At the pressure range in the present study, the species observed do not change their intensity due to an increase in the pressure and they separate in two groups according to their emission intensity: the band of the first group (CO₂, CO₂⁺ and CN) is approximately a factor of 3 more intense than that of the second group (CO, CO⁺, O₂, O₂⁺, N₂, N₂⁺, NO, C⁺, Ar and Ar⁺). The behavior of the emission intensities may be correlated to the constant ion density and electron temperature measured. Also, we observed the same constant behavior in the ratios of the neutral and positive species intensities to that of the N₂ intensity, as a function of pressure. This may suggest that the different rate coefficients and cross sections of elastic collision, excitation and de-excitation of electronic or vibrational levels, inelastic and superelastic collisions of electrons with the gas phase and products, neutral–neutral interactions, resonant charged transfer processes, recombination, to mention some, to produce these species change in the same proportion, as a function of the pressure to keep the relative ratios of the species almost constant.     

Electronic-excitation transfer collisions in flames—V. Cross sections for quenching and doublet-mixing of K(42P)-doublet by N2, O2, H2 and H2O

Weighted average cross sections for quenching of the K(4²P)-doublet by N₂, H₂, O₂ and H₂O, measured in flames, show no significant temperature dependence in the range from 1500 to 2500K. Doublet mixing cross sections for K(4²P$\text{3}\text{2}$?4²P$\text{1}\text{2}$) transitions were measured at 1720K for N₂, O₂, H₂O. The ratios of both mixing cross sections were measured independently and were found to agree with the detailed balance condition within 2 per cent. It is shown that an ionic intermediate-state model cannot explain the large magnitude of N_2? mixing cross sections.     

The infrared spectrum of diazirine: . Rovibrational analysis of the ν3 fundamental

Diazirine is one of the seven possible isomers of diazomethane. The medium-resolution infrared spectrum of this cyclic compound, which seems to be very stable in the gas phase, was reported by Ettinger. The mid-infrared spectra of diazirine and of the substituted isotopic species D₂CN₂, H₂¹³CN₂, and H₂C¹⁵N₂ were recorded with a resolution of 0.08 cm^?1. The overall assignment of these spectra is reported here. The ν₃ fundamental of the main species at 1459.15 cm^?1 (CH₂ deformation) is an A-type parallel band but presents a complicated band structure since diazirine is an asymmetric rotor with κ = ?0.427. The rovibrational assignment and the analysis of this band, together with the determination of the molecular constants, is given.     

Relative intensities in x-ray photoelectron spectra. Part VI. The spectra of He(I), He(II), Y Mζ and Zr Mζ

The 2s- and 2p-electron photoionization cross-sections at photon energies up to 190 eV have been calculated, using the RPAE method for averaged configurations of the C, N, O and Ne atoms. The RPAE method ensures a more accurate relation between the cross-sections, 2s/2p, than that obtained using the Hartree—Fock method. Within the framework of the Gelius—Siegbahn model, but with the use of theoretical atomic cross-sections, we have calculated the photoionization cross-sections for He(I), He(II), Y Mζ, Zr Mζ for CH₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, C₂H₄, C₂H₂, NH₃, H₂O, CN^?, N₂, CO, CO₂, N₂O and NO₂^? molecules. For CO, N₂, CO₂, N₂O and H₂O molecules, a comparison is made between the theoretical and experimental cross-sections for hν < 60 eV. The calculated absolute and relative values of the molecular-orbital cross-sections are in reasonable agreement with experiment, especially at hν ? 40 eV. The calculations correctly reproduce the change in intensities under the transition He(I) → He(II). We have shown that our calculations have a significant advantage over those performed using the PW and OPW approximations. It is shown for NO, N₂, CO, H₂O, CH₄, NH₃ and N₂O molecules that the total photoionization cross-section calculated taking into account the real structure of the molecular orbitals is in better agreement with the experimental photoabsorption cross-section than is the sum of the cross-sections for the atoms in a molecule.     

Atomic resonance behavior in laser-induced Rb atom desorption—the effect of ambient gas atoms and molecules

We report an observation that in a typical optical pumping cell containing Rb metal and 150 Torr N₂ gas, a cw laser beam of a few tens of mW and beam size 5.5 mm² can desorb Rb films on cell surfaces when the laser is tuned to the Rb D₁ line. The frequency dependence of the Rb desorption rate displays atomic resonance behavior. The desorption is suggested to be mediated by the ambient gas atoms (Rb) and molecules (N₂). The phenomenon was used to provide evidence for the existence of thin Rb films on seemingly clear cell surfaces.     

Nonlinear laser ablation from solid rare-gas films

Optical breakdown on Ar films is studied in an intensity range from 10⁶ to 2 × 10⁹ W/cm² for wavelengths of 228, 281 and 282.8 nm. The amount of ablated H₂O, N₂, O₂ and Ar increases quadratically with laser intensity and depends strongly on the exposure time to residual gas and on substrate temperature around 24 K. The results can be explained by a model which assumes that the dominant process causing ablation is the heating of a condensed residual gas layer by two-photon absorption.     

Electron temperature and ion density measurements in a glow discharge of an Ar–N2 mixture

A DC glow discharge produced in N₂ gas can generate several species that are important in different applications, such as the modification of surface properties of materials. A low-pressure glow discharge apparatus was used for the the analysis of the Ar–N₂ mixture at a total pressure of 2.0 Torr, a power of 20 W and 40 l/min flow rate of gases. The emission bands were measured in the wavelength range of 200–1100 nm. The principal elements are N₂, N ₂⁺ and Ar I. The electron temperature was found in the range of 1.72–2.08 eV, and the ion density was in the order of 10¹⁰ cm^?3.     

Field-induced ionization and Coulomb explosion of nitrogen

Femtosecond-laser field-induced ionization and Coulomb explosion of diatomic nitrogen were systematically investigated using time-of-flight mass and photoelectron spectrometry. Both linearly and circularly polarized femtosecond laser pulses were used at intensities varying from 5×10¹³ to 2×10¹⁵ W/cm². Strong N₂ ⁺, N₂ ²⁺, N⁺, N²⁺ and N³⁺ ion signals were observed for horizontally polarized pulses. Moreover, signals from the atomic ions exhibited a double-peak structure. Suppression of ionization was observed for circularly polarized pulses, while for vertically polarized pulses, only N₂ ⁺ and N₂ ²⁺ ions were observed. The angular distributions of the ions were measured under zero-field conditions in the ionization zone. The atomic ions N⁺, N²⁺ and N³⁺ exhibited highly anisotropic distributions, with maxima along the laser polarization vector and zeroes normal to the laser polarization vector. In contrast to the atomic ions, N₂ ⁺ exhibited a strong isotropic angular distribution. These observations indicate that dynamic alignment is responsible for the observed anisotropic angular distribution of the atomic ions. The kinetic energy spectrum of the photoelectrons is featureless and broad, extending above the ponderomotive potential of the laser pulse. The angular distribution is markedly anisotropic, with a maximum along the laser polarization vector. These observations further support the notion that the field-ionization mechanism is dominant under our experimental conditions. Received: 29 January 2002 / Revised version: 15 March 2002 / Published online: 12 July 2002     

Nuclear shapes of the transitional nuclei 186, 188, 190, 192Os

Excitation functions at θ_lab = 130° have been measured for inelastic scattering of 13–24 MeV alpha particles from ^{186,188,190,192}Os. Data have been obtained for 0⁺, 2⁺, 4⁺, 2⁺' states in ^186,188,192Os and for 0⁺, 2⁺ states in ¹⁹⁰Os. Charge and mass quadrupole deformations, β₂^c and β₂^N, were deduced from coupled-channels analysis of the 2⁺ data. No simple model could provide good fits to the 4⁺ data over the entire energy range but the very deep interference minima observed establish the charge and mass hexadecapole moments, β₄^c and β₄^N, to be negative. The energies of the interference minima for the 4⁺ states could be reproduced by coupled-channels calculations only if large differences in β₄^c and β₄^N were allowed. Data for the (J, K)^π = (2, 2)⁺ states are inconsistent with an asymmetric rotational model.     

Comparison and semiconductor properties of nitrogen doped carbon thin films grown by different techniques

Amorphous carbon nitride (a-CN_x) thin films have been synthesised by three different deposition techniques in an Ar/N₂ gas mixture and have been deposited by varying the percentage of nitrogen gas in the mixture (i.e. the N₂/Ar + N₂ ratio) from 0 to 10%. The variation of the electrical conductivity and the gap values of the deposited films versus the N₂/Ar + N₂ ratio were investigated in relation with their local microstructure. Film composition was analysed using Raman spectroscopy and optical transmission experiments. The observed variation of electrical conductivity and optical properties are attributed to the changes in the atomic bonding structures, which were induced by N incorporation, increasing both the sp² carbon content and their relative disorder. The low N content samples seem to be an interesting material to produce films with interesting properties for optoelectronic applications considering the facility to control the gas composition as a key parameter.     

Emissivity and band-model parameters for infrared bands of nitrous oxide

Narrow band-model parameters S/d, γ_N/d and B have been obtained experimentally for the v₃, v₁ and 2v₂ bands of N₂O in the temperature range from 200°K to 500°K. The exponential-wide band-model parameters have been determined for all of the contributing bands and have been found to differ greatly from the values of Tien et al. Data of revised total gas emissivities are presented.