Method of determining absolute cross sections of collisions of the second kind between Hg(63P0,2) atoms and slow electrons

An equation giving the absolute cross sections q₂₁(u) of collisions of the second kind between excited atoms and slow electrons is obtained. The determination of q₂₁(u) entails measurement of the current on the collector which is due to collisions of the second kind and the effective life of the investigated level. The value of q₂₁(u) and Hg(6³P_0,2) was calculated. The value of q₂₁(u) was determined for the following slow-electron energies: in the case of Hg(6³P₀) q₂₁(u)=2.6 · 10^–15 cm² for u=0.13 eV and for Hg(6³P₂) q₂₁(u)=1.1 · 10^–15 cm² for u=0.3 eV. The obtained results are compared with other experimental and theoretical data and are discussed.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika No. 2, pp. 42–45, February 1975.     

Angular distribution of photons in dielectronic recombination

We have calculated the angular distribution of photons emitted after dielectronic recombination of highly charged uranium ions and obtained differential cross sections for resonant transfer and excitation in collisions of U⁹⁰⁺ with C atoms using the impulse approximation. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of molecular nitrogen on the electron mobility in a mixture of argon and optically excited sodium vapor

A parametric study of the electron energy distribution function (EEDF) and the electron mobility in the mixture Na + Ar + N₂ is carried out. An analysis is made of the conditions that obtain in a photoplasma when the detachment of the mean electron energy from the neutral gas temperature is due to superelastic collisions (collisions of the second kind) with excited sodium atoms. The case of low ionization of the medium at low vibrational temperatures of the ground state of the nitrogen molecules is considered. To find the EEDF a numerical solution of the Boltzmann transport equation is carried out. It is found that in the indicated mixture the presence of nitrogen leads to a depletion of the EEDF in the region of efficient vibrational excitation of the molecules and promotes the formation of inversion in the EEDF ∂f(ɛ)/∂ɛ>0 in the energy range corresponding to the Ramsauer minimum in the cross section of elastic collisions of electrons with the argon atoms. It is shown that the nonequilibrium character of the EEDF leads to a complicated dependence of the electron mobility on the partial ratios of the components of the mixture, the degree of ionization of the medium, and the population of the resonantly excited sodium atoms. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 14–19 (April 1999)     

Multiple electron loss by structured heavy ions in fast collisions with complex atoms

A nonperturbative theory of multiple ionization of heavy structured ions in fast collisions with complex neutral atoms is developed. Cross sections are calculated for multiple loss of electrons (up to 15) in collisions of U¹⁰⁺ and U²⁸⁺ with argon atoms and nitrogen molecules. The results are compared with experimental data.     

Dissociative excitation of even states of tin atoms in e-SnCl2 collisions

Dissociative excitation of even levels of tin atoms in collisions of slow electrons with tin dichloride molecules is studied experimentally. The levels studied belong to the configurations 5s ²5pnp ^{1, 3} L (n=6, 7; L=S, P, D) and 5s ²5p 4f. Absolute values of cross sections for dissociative excitation at the electron energy of 100 eV are 1.05–2.56 times greater than cross sections for excitation in electron-atom collisions at the energy of 50 eV.     

Nuclear gamma-transitions via the accompanying atomic excitations

The nuclearγ-transitions via excitation of the atomic electrons (electronic bridges) is considered in the framework of the strong coupling channels method. The nuclearM4 transitions from the lowest isomeric level of nuclei⁹³Nb and¹⁹³Ir in the both mechanisms of elastic and inelastic electronic bridges are investigated. The comparison between the semiclassical and selfconsistent Dirac-Hartree-Fock-Slater calculations is presented. The derived valuesκ _f of a relative probability of nuclearγ-transition via the atomic excitation (inelastic electronic bridge)κ _f(⁹³Nb)=6.9·10^?2 andκ _f(¹⁹³Ir)=1.4·10^?2 are in agreement with the experimental data.     

On the excitation mechanism of the He-Ar hollow cathode laser

Investigations were carried out on the Ar-II 476.5 nm laser to obtain information on possible excitation mechanisms. The He-Ar hollow cathode discharge was excited by square wave current pulses. From the results of measurements it could be concluded that collisions of the second kind between He 2³ S metastable atoms and ground state Ar ions are dominant in the excitation of the upper laser level. This is also supported by results obtained in the case of the He-Kr hollow cathode laser, where the upper level of the Kr-II 469.4 nm laser is excited by a similar collision process.     

Experimental investigation of excitation of argon metastables by an electron swarm in argon nitrogen gas mixtures

Excitation of argon metastable levels (4³ P ₂+4³ P ₀) in a nonselfsustained discharge in Ar(≧99%)+N₂(≦1%) gas mixtures has been investigated by measuring N₂ second positive group which is the result of excitation transfer from Ar metastables to N₂ molecules. The method is based on the assumption, experimentally verified, that addition of small quantities of N₂ do not change markedly the probability of Ar excitation. The obtained excitation coefficients for production of Ar ^m in theE/N range (20–70)×10^?21Vm² are (3.5–13)×10^?22m² with an estimated uncertainty of ±50%. Simultaneously, excitation coefficients for direct excitation of nitrogenC-state by swarm electrons in Ar-N₂ mixtures have been obtained. A comparison of nitrogen spectra excited by electrons and by argon metastables showed significant differences in relative population of vibrational and rotational levels of the N₂(C ³ Π _U state in these two cases.     

Simplified components of the spin-other-orbit interaction near the middle of the atomic f shell

To honour the memory of Brian Garner Wybourne, an analysis is presented of three components of the spin-other-orbit interaction for f electrons using the kind of Lie groups he would have been familiar with. The components have been named z ₆, z ₈ and z ₁₀. They all belong to the irreducible representation (IR) (30) of Racah’s group G₂. Near the middle of the f shell it is often found that fewer independent blocks of numbers are needed to express their matrix elements than the Wigner–Eckart theorem, generalized to the IRs U of G₂, would indicate. Each block corresponds to a given U and U?′, and possesses rows and columns labelled by the angular momenta L and L′. The number of independent blocks would be expected to be given by Racah’s multiplicity function c(UU?′ (30)); but near the middle of the shell the number c(UU?′ (20)) (or less) often suffices. For this to occur, z ₈ and z ₁₀ have to be replaced by linear combinations corresponding to IRs of the types (20)×(10) and (21)×(10) of the direct product group G_2A×G_2B, where A and B refer to electrons with their spins up (A) and spins down (B). A detailed example is provided by the IR (31) of G₂, which occurs in the configurations f ⁵ through f ⁹. In addition, two antiHermitian operators (z _a6 and z _a7) that also belong to the IR (30) of G₂ are discussed.     

Energy dependence of the Penning ionization electron spectrum of Ne* (3P2,0)+Kr

A crossed beam experiment is carried out to measure the energy of electrons emitted in Penning ionization processes by Ne^*(³P_2,0)–Kr collisions. The electron energy spectra have been measured at four different collision energies: 0.050, 0.140, 0.190, 0.460 eV. The analysis of the results allows the separation of spin orbit contributions both in the entrance and in the exit channels providing the related cross-section ratios. Some theoretical considerations have been made to clarify nature and role of interatomic potentials driving the collisions and some general features about the role of atomic fine structure in the Penning ionization processes.     

Isotopieverschiebungskonstanten von Th,U, Pu und Am

The isotope shifts of unperturbed electron configurations have been determined from isotope shift measurements in the spectra of Th, U, Pu, and Am. The screening of the 7s electron charge density at the nucleus by 6d, 7s, and 7p electrons is discussed. It turns out that the same screening factors as for the 6s electron in lighter elements can be used. The screening of the 7s electron charge density at the nucleus by one 5f electron amounts to about 25%: [δT(f ⁿ s)?δT(f ⁿ )]/[δT(f ⁿ }s)?δ(f ^n} )]=0.7₅. The charge density at the nucleus due to the filleds (andp _1/2) shells is considerabely screened by anf electron. The isotope shiftδT(f^n}-1 d ^m +2)?δT(f ⁿ d ^m ) produced by this effect is of the same order of magnitude as the isotope shiftδT(f ⁿ d ^m s)-δT(f ⁿ d ^m ) due to ans electron. The experimental isotope shift constants are found to be:Β C _exp(Th²³⁰–Th²³²)=880±120;Β C _exp(U²³³–U²³⁵)=1000±180;Β C _exp(U²³⁴–U²³⁶)=1070±200;Β C _exp(U²³⁶–U²³⁸)=1080±180;Β C _exp(Pu²³⁸–Pu²⁴⁰)=1200±120;Β C _exp(Pu²³⁹–Pu²⁴¹)=1060±100;Β C _exp(Pu²⁴⁰–Pu242)=900 ±90;Β C _exp(Am²⁴¹–Am²⁴³)=890±50 [10^?3cm^?1]. The ratiosΒ C _exp/C _th are discussed.     

Electron energy spectra in helium observed in a microplasma collisional electron spectroscopy detector

The energy spectra of fast electrons resulting from pair collisions between metastable atoms and from collisions of the second kind with electrons are observed in the afterglow of a helium-filled microplasma collisional electron spectroscopy (CES) detector at a pressure of 5?C40 Torr. It is demonstrated that impurities present in the main inert gas can be detected and their composition can be determined using a planar double-electrode detector in which the cathode simultaneously serves as an analyzer of electrons in the afterglow.     

Spectres auger et sections efficaces d'ionisation de la couche L23 du magnésium et de l'aluminium sous impact de protons et d'ions lourds (10–100 keV)

A comparison of Auger structures observed on the energy distributions of secondary electrons emitted from Mg and A1 solid targets bombarded by either light particles (H⁺ and He⁺) or heavy ions (Ne⁺, Ar⁺, …) is presented. With incident protons, it essentially appears a broad peak corresponding to a L₂₃VV transition and a weak shoulder due to the surface and bulk plasmon excitation. The Auger structures obtained with heavy ions are richer and the peaks which compose it are sharper. Such atomic-like structures correspond to Auger transitions from excited (with one or two L₂₃ holes) moving recoiling atoms. The experimental L₂₃ Mg and A1 ionization cross sections were determined from Auger spectra. In H⁺?Mg (or A1) collisions our results are in good agreement with the theoretical values calculated in a PWBA model. In the case of heavy ion-target interactions, we compared the experimental measurements with ionization cross section calculations obtained in a Landau-Zener model.     

Excitation mechanisms in CW He-Hg lasers

The collision processes responsible for populating and de-populating upper and lower levels of the cw He-Hg ion laser are investigated using flowing afterglow techniques. It is shown that the superior performance of the laser at 6150 Å compared to that at 7945 Å is not due to a difference in excitation mechanism — both are excited by charge transfer from He⁺ — but instead reflects a greater effectiveness of second kind collisions of electrons in depopulating the 7p²P_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} upper level of the 7945 Å transition. The charge transfer, excitation rate constants for several Hg II levels are compared, and values for the rate constant for the electron collision de-excitation process are deduced.     

Emission of electrons from mim systems: Discussion of processes in the cathode

Experimentally derived emission characteristics — the transfer ratio, angular distribution, energy distributionsN(E) andN(E _x ) and energy-angular distribution of emitted electrons — are discussed on the basis of our theoretical model of the sandwich cathode. It was found that electrons during their transfer through the cathode are scattered in the dielectric layer mostly by interactions with optical phonons and traps and in the top metal electrode by collisions with conduction electrons. Comparison of our model with experimental results gave us approximate values of mean free paths and further cathode parameters.     

TheL 1 subshell fluorescence and Coster-Kronig yields forZ=96

High resolution Si(Li)-Si(Li) and Si(Li)-Ge(Li) detector arrangements have been used to studyL x-ray spectra in coincidence withL-shell internal conversion electrons, gamma rays, andK x-rays emitted in²⁴⁹Cf decay. TheL ₁ subshell fluorescence and Coster-Kronig yields determined forZ=96 from these spectra are ω₁=0.25±0.06,f ₁₂≦0.10, andf ₁₃=0.69 ±0.08. The presence of theL ₁-L ₃ radiative transition is also further confirmed in this work.     

The K0 SK0 S final state in two-photon collisions and SU(3) tensor nonets

The K⁰ _SK⁰ _S final state in two-photon collisions is studied with the L3 experiment at LEP, using orbital angular momentum operators. The mass spectrum is dominated by the formation of tensor mesons, their two-photon partial width are determined. A signal at 1700-1800MeV is found to be a new tensor state f ₂(1750) with mass M = (1755±10)MeV and width Γ = (67±12)MeV. All observed tensor resonances obey SU(3) relations. The f ₂(1750) state forms a second tensor nonet together with f ₂(1560) and a ₂(1700). The SU(3) analysis allows us to determine with good accuracy mixing angles between nonstrange and strange components of the isoscalar members of tensor nonets.     

Surface analysis by ion-electron spectroscopy; Silicon target

The energy spectra of secondary elections emitted from a Si(111) surface due to bombardment by 6 keV He⁺ and O⁺₂ ions have been examined. The fine structure in the spectra is explained on the basis of a novel mechanism of creation of Auger electrons at the surface. There are two stages of interaction between incoming ions and the substrate via adsorbed atoms. In the first stage, due to a level promotion mechanism, vacancies in the adsorbed atoms are created. In the second stage, Auger neutralization processes accompanied by the emission of electrons from a solid with characteristic energies take place. These electrons provide a good indication of the degree of coverage of the silicon surface with contaminant atoms. The energy losses of escaping electrons are also discussed.