I. Electron-impact ionization and dissociation of C<Subscript>2</Subscript>H<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript></Stack> and C<Subscript>2</Subscript>D<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript></Stack>

Absolute cross-sections for electron-impact ionization and dissociation of C₂H₂⁺ and C₂D₂⁺ have been measured for electron energies ranging from the corresponding thresholds up to 2.5 keV. The animated crossed beams experiment has been used. Light as well as heavy fragment ions that are produced from the ionization and the dissociation of the target have been detected for the first time. The maximum of the cross-section for single ionization is found to be (5.56 ± 0.03)× 10^-17 cm² around 140 eV. Cross-sections for dissociation of C₂ H₂⁺ (C₂D₂⁺) to ionic products are seen to decrease for two orders of magnitude, from C₂D⁺ (12.6 ± 0.3) × 10^-17 cm² over CH⁺(9.55 ± 0.06) × 10^-17 cm², C⁺ (6.66 ± 0.05) × 10^-17 cm², C₂⁺ (5.36 ± 0.27) × 10^-17 cm², H⁺ (4.73 ± 0.29) × 10^-17 cm² and CH₂⁺ (4.56 ± 0.27) × 10^-18 cm² to H₂⁺ (5.68 ± 0.49) × 10^-19 cm². Absolute cross-sections and threshold energies have been compared with the scarce data available in the literature.     

Absolute cross-sections and kinetic-energy-release distributions for electron-impact ionization and dissociation of CD<Stack><Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript></Stack>

Absolute cross-sections have been measured for electron-impact dissociative excitation and ionization of CD₂⁺ leading to formation of CD₂²⁺, CD⁺, C⁺, D₂⁺ and D⁺. The animated crossed-beams method is applied in the energy range from the reaction threshold up to 2.5 keV. The maximum total cross-sections are found to be (1.2±0.1)×10^-17 cm², (6.1±0.7)×10^-17 cm², (6.4±0.7)×10^-17 cm², (26.3±3.8)×10^-19 cm² and (14.9±1.4)×10^-17 cm² for CD₂²⁺, CD⁺, C⁺, D₂⁺ and D⁺ respectively. Individual contributions for dissociative excitation and dissociative ionization are determined for each singly-charged product, which are of significant interest in fusion plasma edge modelling and diagnostics. Conforming to the scheme recently applied in the CD₄⁺ and in the CD₃⁺ articles, the cross-sections are presented in closed analytic forms convenient for implementation in plasma simulation codes. Kinetic-energy-release distributions are determined for each ionic fragment at selected electron energies.     

Aluminium diffusion in titanium nitride films. Efficiency of TiN barrier layers

Two kinds of reactively evaporated titanium nitride films with columnar (B ₀ films) and fine-grained (B ₊ films) film structures, respectively, have been examined as diffusion barriers for preventing aluminium diffusion. The aluminium diffusion profiles have been investigated by 2 MeV ⁴He⁺ Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) at temperatures up to 550° C. The diffusivity from 300° C to 550° C is: D[m²s^–1]=3×10^–18 exp[–30/(RT)] in B ₀ layers and D[m²s^–1]=1.4×10^–16 exp[–48/(RT)] in B ₊ TiN layers. The activation-energy values determined indicate a grain boundary diffusion mechanism. The difference between the diffusion values is determined implicitly by the microstructure of the layers. Thus, the porous B ₀ layers contain a considerable amount of oxygen absorbed in the intercolumnar voids and distributed throughout the film thickness. As found by AES depth profiling, this oxygen supply allows the formation of Al₂O₃ during annealing the latter preventing the subsequent diffusion of the aluminium atoms.     

II. Electron-impact dissociative excitation of C<Subscript>2</Subscript>H<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript></Stack> and C<Subscript>2</Subscript>D<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript></Stack>

Absolute cross-sections for electron-impact dissociative ionization of C₂ H₂⁺ and C₂ D₂⁺ to CH⁺, C⁺, C₂⁺ , H⁺, CH₂⁺ and C₂D⁺ fragments are determined for electron energies ranging from the corresponding threshold to 2.5 keV. Results obtained in a crossed beams experiment are analyzed to estimate the contribution of dissociative ionization to each fragment formation. The dissociative ionization cross sections are seen to decrease for more than an order of magnitude, from CH⁺ (5.37±0.10) × 10^-17 cm² over C⁺ (4.19± 0.16) × 10^-17 cm², C₂D⁺ (3.94±0.38) × 10^-17 cm², C₂⁺ (3.82±0.15) × 10^-17 cm² and H⁺ (3.37±0.21) × 10^-17 cm² to CH₂⁺ (2.66±0.14) × 10^-18 cm². Kinetic energy release distributions of fragment ions are also determined from the analysis of the product velocity distribution. Cross section values, threshold energies and kinetic energies are compared with the data available from the literature. Conforming to the scheme used in the study of the dissociative excitation of C₂H₂⁺ ( C₂ D₂⁺ )\left( {\rm C}_2 {\rm D}_2^+ \right), the cross-sections are presented in a format suitable for their implementation in plasma simulation codes.     

Polarized Raman spectroscopy study of NiSi film grown on Si(001) substrate

We report on the growth of NiSi film on Si(001) substrate with an orientation of NiSi[200]//Si[001]. Polarized Raman spectroscopy was used to assign the symmetry of the NiSi Raman peaks. Raman peaks at 213 cm⁻¹, 295 cm⁻¹, and 367 cm⁻¹ are assigned to be A _g symmetry and peaks at 196 cm⁻¹, and 254 cm⁻¹ are B _3g symmetry.     

Critical evaluation of anharmonic corrections to the equilibrium isotope effect for methyl cation transfer from vacuum to dielectric continuum

Harmonic and anharmonic vibrational frequencies are computed for isotopologues of methyl cation in vacuum and in a polarised continuum model (PCM) dielectric continuum (? = 80) within Gaussian09. Comparison of results in vacuum for two methods (B3LYP and second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory) and three basis sets (6-31+G(d), cc-aug-PVDZ, cc-aug-PVQZ) with published anharmonic frequencies obtained from an accurate vibrational configuration interaction (VCI) method shows the smallest root mean square error in the frequencies from B3LYP/6-31+G(d) with anharmonic corrections. Using this method to calculate isotopic partition function ratios (IPFRs) for all six pairs of CH₃⁺, CH₂D⁺, CHD₂⁺ and CD₃⁺ gives better results for anharmonic frequencies than for unscaled harmonic frequencies, but scaled harmonic frequencies give even better results for less cost. The scaling factor is simply the ratio of the sum of the anharmonic VCI frequencies to the sum of the harmonic B3LYP/6-31+G(d) frequencies, which corresponds to the dominance of zero-point energy changes in determining the IPFRs. Both the scaled and unscaled harmonic frequencies provide reasonable estimates for the equilibrium isotope effects (EIEs) upon transfer of methyl cation from vacuum to PCM ‘water’, but the anharmonic PCM calculations give erratic results. The use of scaled B3LYP/6-31+G(d) harmonic frequencies is recommended for the estimations of EIEs rather than expensive anharmonic corrections.     

Diffusion of silicon in titanium nitride films. Efficiency of TiN barrier layers

Two kinds of reactively evaporated titanium nitride films with columnar (B ₀ films) and fine-grained film structure (B ₊ films) have been examined as diffusion barriers, preventing the silicon diffusion in silicon devices. The silicon diffusion profiles have been investigated by 2 MeV ⁴He⁺ Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) after annealing at temperatures up to 900° C, in view of application of high-temperature processes. The diffusivity from 400 to 900° C: D (m² s^–1)=2.5×10^–18 exp[–31 kJ/mol/(RT)] in B ₀ layers and D (m² s^–1)=3×10^–19 exp[–26 kJ/mol/(RT) in B ₊ TiN layers. The diffusivities determined correspond to grain boundary diffusion, the difference being due to the different microstructure. The very low diffusivity of silicon in B ₊ TiN layer makes it an excellent high-temperature barrier preventing silicon diffusion.     

Electrochemical behavior of cobalt from 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid

The electrodeposition of metallic cobalt from a 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid was investigated. The electrochemical behavior of Co(II) in the ionic liquid on a platinum working electrode at 60 °C was studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The results from the cyclic voltammetry showed that the electrodeposition of metallic Co in the ionic liquid was an irreversible process and controlled by the diffusion of Co(II) on a platinum working electrode. The average value of αn_α was calculated to be 0.35 and the diffusion coefficient (D₀) of Co(II) was calculated to be 1.76 × 10⁻⁸ cm²/s at 60 °C. Chronoamperometric results indicated that the electrodeposition of Co on a platinum working electrode followed the mechanism of instantaneous nucleation and three-dimensional growth with diffusion-controlled. The cobalt plating was uniform, dense, shining in appearance with good adhesion to the platinum substrate at 60 °C. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs were used to confirm that the cobalt plating was denser and finer at 60 °C. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) profile showed that the obtained plating was pure cobalt. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern indicated that there was a preferred orientation direction and the average size of cobalt grains was 40 nm.     

High resolution emission spectroscopy of the E2Π–X2Σ+ transition of SrH and SrD

Emission spectra of SrH and SrD have been studied at high resolution using a Fourier transform spectrometer. The molecules have been produced in a high temperature furnace from the reaction of strontium metal vapor with H₂/D₂ in the presence of a slow flow of Ar gas. The spectra observed in the 18 000–19 500 cm^?1 region consist of the 0–0 and 1–1 bands of the E²Π–X²Σ⁺ transition of the two isotopologues. A rotational analysis of these bands has been obtained by combining the present measurements with previously available pure rotation and vibration–rotation measurements for the ground state, and improved spectroscopic constants have been obtained for the E²Π state. The present analysis provides spectroscopic constants for the E²Π state as ΔG(½) = 1166.1011(15) cm^?1, B_e = 3.805503(32) cm^?1, α_e = 0.098880(47) cm^?1, r_e = 2.1083727(89) Å for SrH, and ΔG(½) = 839.1283(23) cm^?1, B_e = 1.918564(15) cm^?1, α_e = 0.034719(23) cm^?1, r_e = 2.1121943(83) Å for SrD.     

Theoretical investigations of spectroscopic parameters and molecular constants for electronic ground state of Cl2 and its isotopes

The potential energy curve of the Cl 2(X1Σg+) is investigated by the highly accurate valence internally contracted multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) approach in combination with the largest correlation-consistent basis set, aug-cc-pV6Z, in the valence range. The theoretical spectroscopic parameters and the molecular constants of three isotopes, 35Cl2, 35Cl37Cl and 37Cl2, are studied. For the 35Cl2 (X1Σg+), the values of D0 , De , Re , ωe , ωeχe , αe and Be are obtained to be 2.3921 eV, 2.4264 eV, 0.19939 nm, 555.13 cm-1 , 2.6772 cm-1 , 0.001481 cm-1 and 0.24225 cm-1 , respectively. For the 35Cl37Cl(X1Σg+), the values of D0 , De , Re , ωe , ωeχe , αe and Be are calculated to be 2.3918 eV, 2.4257 eV, 0.19939 nm, 547.68 cm-1 , 2.6234 cm-1 , 0.00140 cm-1 and 0.23572 cm-1 , respectively. And for the 37C2 (X1Σg+), the values of D0 , De , Re , ωe , ωeχe , αe and Be are obtained to be 2.3923 eV, 2.4257 eV, 0.19939 nm, 540.06 cm-1 , 2.5556 cm-1 , 0.00139 cm-1 and 0.22919 cm-1 , respectively. These spectroscopic results are in good agreement with the available experimental data. With the potential of Cl2 molecule determined at the MRCI/aug-cc-pV6Z level of theory, the total of 59 vibrational states is predicted for each isotope when the rotational quantum number J equals zero (J = 0). The theoretical vibrational levels, classical turning points, inertial rotation and centrifugal distortion constants are determined when J = 0, which are in excellent accordance with the available experimental findings.     

Orientation and alignment generated from photoionization of closed-shell cations

The orientation parameter A₁₀ and the alignment parameter A₂₀ have been calculated for the single photoionization of the closed-shell cations Na⁺, Al⁺, K⁺, Cu⁺, Ga⁺, Rb⁺, Ag⁺, In⁺, Cs⁺, Au⁺, Tl⁺ and Fr⁺ where all possible vacancies from 2p_1/2 up to 6p_3/2 have been investigated. The calculations have been performed by employing a relaxed-orbital method within a single-configurational Hartree–Fock approach where mass–velocity and Darwin corrections have been incorporated into the non-relativistic approach. To cover the range of a possibly occurring Cooper minimum kinetic energies of the emitted photoelectron up to at least 20 Ry (≈ 272 eV) have been considered. The results are compared with the orientation and alignment parameters of the respective singly photoionized isoelectronic atoms to underline differences in the strength of repulsive barriers and in the energetic position of shape resonances and Cooper minima.     

Photocatalytic TiO2 films deposited by rf magnetron sputtering at different oxygen partial pressure

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) films were deposited onto non-alkali glass substrates by r.f. magnetron sputtering at an [O₂/(Ar + O₂)] flow-rate of 0, 20, 40, 60 and 70%, respectively. The sputtering pressure was 10 mtorr, substrate temperature was around 450 °C after 3 h deposition. The crystalline structure, surface morphology and photocatalytic activity of the TiO₂ films were affected by various [O₂/(O₂ + Ar)] flow-rate ratios. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV–vis–NIR spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction spectra showed that all the films display anatase (1 0 1) preferred orientation. Photoinduced decomposition of methylene blue (MB) and photoinduced hydrophilicity were enhanced when the [O₂/(Ar + O₂)] flow-rate increased to 60%.     

Enhancement effect in photon-stimulated ion desorption for benzene adsorbed on silicon surfaces observed using angle-dependent technique

We have investigated photon-stimulated ion desorption from deuterated benzene (C₆D₆) adsorbed on Si(1 0 0) and Si(1 1 1) surfaces following C 1s core excitation. Using time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with angle-dependent technique, we measured the dependences of mass-spectra of desorption ions on photon energies and on incident angle (θ) of synchrotron beam. We have found the ion yields for adsorbate-derived fragments of CD⁺ and CD₂⁺ are enhanced in very small angles of incident X-rays. Moreover, molecular orientation effect appeared in excitation energy dependences of D⁺ ions from the Si(1 0 0) and Si(1 1 1) surfaces; that is, ion yield spectra measured at θ = 10° are different from that at θ = 65°. Furthermore, it was found that desorption ion yields increase greatly with decreasing incident angles. The angular dependences are consistently similar for all ion species, excitation energies, and indexes of substrates. Possible desorption processes are described on the basis of the observations.     

Absolute cross sections and kinetic energy release distributions for electron-impact ionization and dissociation of CD<Superscript>+</Superscript><Subscript>4</Subscript>

Absolute cross sections for electron-impact dissociative excitation and ionization of CD⁺ ₄ leading to formation of ionic products (CD²⁺ ₄, CD⁺ ₃, CD⁺ ₂, CD⁺, C⁺, D⁺ ₃, D⁺ ₂, and D⁺) have been measured. The animated crossed-beams method is applied in the energy range from the reaction threshold up to 2.5 keV. Around 100 eV, the maximum cross sections are found to be (3.8±0.2) ×10^-19 cm²,  cm², (7.1±0.8) ×10^-17 cm², (9.0±0.8) × 10^-17 cm² and (3.7±0.4) ×10^-17 cm² for the heavy carbonaceous ions CD²⁺ ₄, CD⁺ ₃, CD⁺ ₂, CD⁺ and C⁺ respectively. For the light fragments, D⁺ ₃, D⁺ ₂, and D⁺, the cross sections around the maximum are found to be (5.0±0.6) ×10^-19 cm², (1.7± 0.2) ×10^-17 cm² and (10.6±1.0) ×10^-17 cm², respectively. The cross sections are presented in closed analytic forms convenient for implementation in plasma simulation codes. The analysis of ionic product velocity distributions allows determination of the kinetic energy release distributions which are seen to extend from 0 to 9 eV for heavy fragments, and up to 14 eV for light ones. The comparison of present energy thresholds and kinetic energy release with available published data gives information about states contributing to the observed processes. Individual contributions for dissociative excitation and dissociative ionization are determined for each detected product. A complete database including cross sections and energies is compiled for use in fusion application.     

Measurement of Large-angle πp elastic scattering at 5 GeV/c

The differential cross-section for 5 GeV/cπ⁺p and π⁻p elastic scattering have been measured in the c.m. angular region 27° < θ_cm < 130° corresponding to 0.5 < |t| < 7.8 (GeV/c)². Dips are observed in both reactions at −t = 2.8 and 4.8 (GeV/c)² where the cross-sections are approximately 0.1 μb/(GeV/c)².     

Detection and analysis of four new bands in CRDS 16O3 spectra between 7300 and 7600 cm−1

The absorption spectrum of the ¹⁶O₃ isotopologue of ozone was recorded in the 7000–7920 cm^?1 region by using high sensitivity CW-Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy (α_min ～ 10^?10 cm^?1). This report is devoted to the analysis of the 7300–7600 cm^?1 region dominated by four A-type bands: 6ν₁ + ν₃ centred around 7395 cm^?1, 3ν₁ + 5ν₂ + ν₃ and 2ν₁ + 4ν₂ + 3ν₃ lying in the 7450 cm^?1 region and 5ν₁ + 2ν₂ + ν₃ centred around 7579 cm^?1. 213 transitions of the 6ν₁ + ν₃ band were assigned and the corresponding line positions were modeled using an effective Hamiltonian including a Coriolis resonance interaction between the (601) upper state and a A-type dark state. The two very close 3ν₁ + 5ν₂ + ν₃ and 2ν₁ + 4ν₂ + 3ν₃ bands were analysed using a similar effective Hamiltonian scheme involving the anharmonic resonance coupling between the (351) and (243) states. For these two bands, 304 transitions were assigned. The modelling also includes a first Coriolis resonance interaction between the (351) bright state and the (530) dark state, and a second one between the (243) bright state and the (144) dark state. In the 7579 cm^?1 region, 205 transitions of the 5ν₁ + 2ν₂ + ν₃ band were assigned and modelled taking into account the Coriolis resonance interactions between the (521) upper state and the (700), (342) and (280) dark states.The dipole transition moment parameters of the four analysed bands were determined by a least-squares fit to the measured line intensities. For the studied band systems, the effective Hamiltonian and transition moment operator parameters were used to generate line lists provided as Supplementary Materials.     

The emission spectrum of the CΣ–XΣ system of AlH

The ultraviolet spectrum of AlH has been investigated at high resolution between 42 000 and 45 000 cm⁻¹ using a conventional spectroscopic technique. The AlH molecules were formed and excited in an aluminium hollow-cathode lamp with two anodes, filled with a mixture of Ne carried gas and a trace of NH₃. The emission from the discharge was observed with a plane grating spectrograph and recorded by a photomultiplier tube. The 0–0, 1–1 and 1–2 bands of the C¹Σ⁺–X¹Σ⁺ transition have been identified and rotationally analyzed. The new data were elaborated with help of recent X¹Σ⁺ state parameters reported by White et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 99 (1993) 8371–8378] and by Szajna and Zachwieja [Eur. Phys. J. D. 55 (2009) 549–555]. Determined constants of the excited C¹Σ⁺ state include: T_e = 44 675.3711(57) cm⁻¹, ω_e = 1575.3357(42) cm⁻¹, ω_ex_e = [125.5] cm⁻¹, B_e = 6.66804(32) cm⁻¹, α_e = 0.55839(56) cm⁻¹, D_e = 2.23(13) × 10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹, β_e = 6.13(25) × 10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹ and r_e = 1.613132(39) Å. The C¹Σ⁺ state is found to be extensively perturbed in the v = 0 and 1 vibrational level at J = 20, 22 − 27 and J = 5 − 9, respectively. This was probably caused by the interaction with the vibrational levels of the outer minimum.     

Electron-impact ionization and dissociation of C<Subscript>2</Subscript>D<Superscript>+</Superscript>

Absolute cross sections for electron-impact single ionization, dissociative excitation and dissociative ionization of the ethynyl radical ion (C₂D⁺)^+) have been measured for electron energies ranging from the corresponding reaction thresholds to 2.5 keV. The animated crossed electron-ion beam experiment is used and results have been obtained for the production of C₂D²⁺, C²⁺, C₂⁺_2^+ , CD⁺, C⁺ and D⁺. The maximum of the cross section for single ionization is found to be (2.01 ± 0.02) × 10^-17 cm², at the incident electron energy of 105 eV. Absolute total cross sections for the various singly charged fragments production are observed to decrease by a factor of almost three, from the largest cross-section measured for C⁺, over C₂⁺_2^+ and CD⁺ down to that of D⁺. The maxima of the cross sections are obtained to be (14.5 ± 0.5) × 10^-17 cm² for C₂⁺_2^+, (12.1 ± 0.1) × 10^-17 cm² for CD⁺, (27.7 ± 0.2) × 10^-17 cm² for C⁺ and (11.1 ± 0.8) × 10^-17 cm² for D⁺. The smallest cross section is measured to be (1.50 ± 0.04) × 10^-18 cm² for the production of the doubly charged ion C²⁺. Individual contributions for dissociative excitation and dissociative ionization are determined for each singly-charged product. The cross sections are presented in closed analytic forms convenient for implementation in plasma simulation codes. Kinetic energy release distributions of dissociation fragments are seen to extend from 0 to 6 eV for the heaviest fragment C₂⁺_2^+, up to 11.0 eV for CD⁺, 14.2 eV for C⁺ and 11.2 eV for D⁺ products.     

Contribution of the DK continuum in the QCD sum rule for D<Subscript>sJ</Subscript>(2317)

Using the soft-pion theorem and the assumption on the final-state interactions, we include the contribution of the DK continuum into the QCD sum rules for the D_sJ(2317) meson. We find that this contribution can significantly lower the mass and the decay constant of the D_s(0⁺) state. For the value of the current quark mass m_c(m_c) = 1.286 GeV, we obtain the mass of D_s(0⁺) M=2.33 ± 0.02 GeV in the interval s₀ = 7.5–8.0 GeV², being in agreement with the experimental data, and the vector current decay constant of D_s(0⁺) f₀=0.128 ± 0.013 GeV, much lower than those obtained in the previous literature. PACS  12.39.Hg; 13.25.Hw; 13.25.Ft; 12.38.Lg     

Fabrication and characteristics of a surface acoustic wave UV sensor based on ZnO thin films grown on a polycrystalline 3C-SiC buffer layer

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were deposited onto a polycrystalline (poly) 3C-SiC buffer layer for surface acoustic wave (SAW) ultraviolet (UV) sensing using a magnetron sputtering system. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra showed that the ZnO film grown on 3C-SiC/Si had a dominant c-axis orientation, a lower residual stress, and higher intensity of luminescence at 380 nm of ZnO thin film. The SAW resonator UV detector were fabricated on ZnO/Si structures with a 3C-SiC buffer layer. The SAW resonator exposed under UV illumination had a linear response with sensitivity of 85 Hz/(μW/cm²) in ZnO/3C-SiC/Si structures, as compared to 25 Hz/(μW/cm²) in ZnO/Si structures with UV intensity varied until 600 μW/cm².