Transient behaviour of the mechanoluminescence induced by impulsive deformation of fluorescent and phosphorescent crystals

When a crystal is fractured impulsively by the impact of a moving piston, then initially the mechanoluminescence (ML) intensity increases quadratically with time, attains a peak value and later on it decreases with time. Considering that the solid state ML and gas discharge ML are excited due to the charging and subsequent production of electric field near the tip of moving cracks, expressions are derived for the transient ML intensity I, time t_m and intensity I_m corresponding to the peak of ML intensity versus time curve, respectively, the total ML intensity I_T, and for fast and slow decays of the ML intensity. It is shown that the decay time for the fast decrease of the ML intensity after t_m, is related to the decay time of the strain rate of crystals, and the decay time of slow decay of ML, only observed in phosphorescent crystals, is equal to the decay time of phosphorescence. The value of t_m decreases with the increasing impact velocity, I_m increases with the increasing impact velocity, and I_T initially increases and then it tends to attain a saturation value for higher values of the impact velocity. The values of t_m, I_m and I_T increase linearly with the thickness, area of cross-section and volume of the crystals, respectively. So far as the rise, attainment of ML peak, and fast decay of ML are concerned, there is no any significant difference in the time-evolution of solid state ML, gas discharge ML, and the ML emission consisting of both the solid state ML and gas discharge ML. From the time-dependence of ML, the values of the time-constant for decrease of the surface area created by the movement of a single crack, the time-constant for the decrease of strain rate of crystals, and the decay time of phosphorescence of crystals can be determined. A good agreement is found between the theoretical and experimental results. The importance of fracto ML induced by impulsive deformation of crystals is discussed.     

Mechanoluminescence and thermoluminescence of Mn doped ZnS nanocrystals

This paper reports the synthesis of ZnS:Mn nanocrystals by the chemical route in which mercaptoethanol was used as the capping agent. The particle size of such nanocrystals was measured using XRD and TEM patterns and was found to be in between 3and 5 nm. It was found that the peak position of TL glow curve and the TL intensity of ZnS:Mn nanoparticles increases as the particle size is decreased. The isothermal decay technique is used to determine the trap-depth. The stability of the charge carriers in the traps increase with the decrease in size of the nanoparticles. The higher stability may be attributed to the higher surface/volume ratio and also to the increase in the trap-depth with decreasing particle size. When a ZnS:Mn nanocrystal is deformed the peak intensity I_m increases linearly with the increasing height of the load. After I_m, initially the ML intensity decreases at a fast rate, and later on it decreases at a slow rate. The ML in ZnS:Mn nanocrystals can be understood on the basis of the piezoelectrically induced electron detrapping model.     

Pulse-induced mechanoluminescence of ultraviolet-irradiated SrAl2O4:Eu,Dy phosphors

The SrAl₂O₄:Eu,Dy phosphors prepared by solid state reaction technique in a reduced atmosphere of 95% Ar+5% H₂ exhibit very intense mechanoluminescence (ML) which can be seen in daylight with naked eye. When the phosphors are deformed by the impact of a low-power electric hammer, initially the ML intensity increases with time, attains a maximum value and then decreases with time. After the threshold pressure, the peak of ML intensity I_m and the total ML intensity I_T increase with the increasing value of the impact pressure. For the ML excited by the pressure pulse of short duration, two decay times of ML are observed; however, for the ML excited by the pressure pulse of long duration, only one decay time is observed. The ML intensity decreases with successive applications of pressure on SrAl₂O₄:Eu,Dy phosphors. For the low applied pressure in the range below the limit of elasticity recovery of ML intensity takes place when the sample is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. This fact indicates that the vacant traps produced during the application of pressure pulses get filled during the exposure of the sample to UV light. The ML in the elastic region of SrAl₂O₄:Eu,Dy phosphors can be understood on the basis of the piezoelectrically induced detrapping model. The non-irradiated SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺,Dy³⁺ phosphors exhibit ML during the fracture of the compact mass of phosphors whose ML intensity is less when compared to that of the UV-irradiated compact masses. The ML induced by pressure pulses may be useful for determining the magnitude and rise time of unknown pressure pulses and to determine the lifetime of charge carriers in shallow traps.     

Persistent mechanoluminescence induced by elastic deformation of ZrO2:Ti phosphors

ZrO₂:Ti phosphors show such a strong mechanoluminescence (ML) that it can be seen in day light with naked eye. When a pellet of ZrO₂:Ti phosphor mixed in epoxy resin is deformed in the elastic region at a fixed strain rate using a testing machine, ML intensity increases linearly with time, and when the deformation is stopped, ML intensity decreases exponentially with time. For a given strain rate, ML intensity increases linearly with pressure, and for a given pressure, ML intensity increases linearly with the strain rate. The total ML intensity, in the deformation region, increases quadratically with pressure; however, the total ML intensity in the post-deformation region increases linearly with pressure. ML intensity decreases with successive number of pressings, whereby the reduced ML intensity can be recovered by UV-irradiation of the sample. ML intensity increases linearly with density of filled electron traps and it is optimum for a particular concentration of Ti in ZrO₂. ML intensity should change with increasing temperature of the phosphors. Although ZrO₂ is non-piezoelectric as a whole, it seems that the local structures near the Ti ions in ZrO₂ crystals are in the piezoelectric phase. The elastico ML in ZrO₂ phosphors can be understood on the basis of the localized piezoelectrification-induced detrapping model. According to this model, the localized piezoelectric field near Ti ions causes detrapping of electrons and subsequently the detrapped electrons moving in the conduction band are captured by the energy state of excited Ti⁴⁺ ions, whereby excited Ti⁴⁺ ions are produced and consequently the decay of excited Ti⁴⁺ ions gives rise to the light emission. The expressions derived on the basis of this model are able to explain satisfactorily the characteristics of ML. The relaxation time of localized piezoelectric charges and the threshold pressure for the ML emission can be determined from ML measurements. The long decay of elastico ML indicates the possibility of exploring persistent elastico ML, which may be useful for the fabrication of dim light sources capable of operating without any external power.     

Mechanoluminescence response to the plastic flow of coloured alkali halide crystals

The present paper reports the luminescence induced by plastic deformation of coloured alkali halide crystals using pressure steps. When pressure is applied onto a γ-irradiated alkali halide crystal, then initially the mechanoluminescence (ML) intensity increases with time, attains a peak value and later on it decreases with time. The ML of diminished intensity also appears during the release of applied pressure. The intensity I_m corresponding to the peak of ML intensity versus time curve and the total ML intensity I_T increase with increase in value of the applied pressure. The time t_m corresponding to the ML peak slightly decreases with the applied pressure. After t_m, initially the ML intensity decreases at a fast rate and later on it decreases at a slow rate. The decay time of the fast decrease in the ML intensity is equal to the pinning time of dislocations and the decay time for the slow decrease of ML intensity is equal to the diffusion time of holes towards the F-centres. The ML intensity increases with the density of F-centres and it is optimum for a particular temperature of the crystals. The ML spectra of coloured alkali halide crystals are similar to the thermoluminescence and afterglow spectra. The peak ML intensity and the total ML intensity increase drastically with the applied pressure following power law, whereby the pressure dependence of the ML intensity is related to the work-hardening exponent of the crystals. The ML also appears during the release of the applied pressure because of the movement of dislocation segments and movements of dislocation lines blocked under pressed condition. On the basis of the model based on the mechanical interaction between dislocation and F-centres, expressions are derived for the ML intensity, which are able to explain different characteristics of the ML. From the measurements of the plastico ML induced by the application of loads on γ-irradiated alkali halide crystals, the pinning time of dislocations, diffusion time of holes towards F-centres, the energy gap E_a between the bottom of acceptor dislocation band and the energy level of interacting F-centres, and work-hardening exponent of the crystals can be determined. As in the elastic region the strain increases linearly with stress, the ML intensity also increases linearly with stress, however, as in the plastic region, the strain increases drastically with stress and follows power law, the ML intensity also increases drastically with stress and follows power law. Thus, the ML is intimately related to the plastic flow of alkali halide crystals.     

Strong mechanoluminescence induced by elastic deformation of rare-earth-doped strontium aluminate phosphors

When rare-earth-doped strontium aluminate phosphor mixed in an epoxy resin, is deformed elastically by applying a uniaxial pressure, then initially the mechanoluminescence (ML) intensity increases with time, attains a peak value I_m at a particular time t_m, and later on it decreases with time. After t_m, initially, the ML intensity decreases exponentially at a fast rate and then it decreases exponentially at a slow rate. The ML appears after a threshold pressure and then, initially at low pressure, the peak intensity I_m of ML increases linearly with the magnitude of applied pressure, and for high pressure, I_m increases exponentially with the magnitude of applied pressure. The value of I_m increases linearly with the density of filled hole traps. The ML emission also takes place during the release of applied pressure. There should be a significant effect of temperature on the ML intensity of rare-earth-doped strontium aluminate phosphors. The ML intensity of rare-earth-doped strontium aluminates decreases with successive number of the applications of pressure and the diminished ML intensity can be recovered with the exposure of the samples to UV-radiation. The ML spectra of rare-earth-doped strontium aluminate phosphors are similar to their photoluminescence spectra. As only the piezoelectric-phase of the strontium aluminate phosphors exhibit ML during their elastic deformation, the ML emission can be attributed to the piezoelectrification of the crystals. Considering that the piezoelectric field causes decrease in the trap-depth of the hole traps and, therefore, the holes transferred from traps to the valence band recombine with (Eu¹⁺)^* ions, whereby the Eu²⁺ ions are excited, expressions are derived for different parameters of ML, which are able to satisfactorily explain the experimental results. It is shown that the lifetimes of holes in the shallow traps in stressed and unstressed materials, and the threshold pressure P_t for the ML emission, and other parameters of the ML, can be determined from the ML measurements. Finally, the criteria for tailoring strong elasico-mechanoluminescent materials are explored.     

Modeling of transient electroluminescence overshoot in bilayer organic light-emitting diodes using rate equations

When a voltage pulse is applied under forward biased condition to a spin-coated bilayer organic light-emitting diode (OLED), then initially the electroluminescence (EL) intensity appearing after a delay time, increases with time and later on it attains a saturation value. At the end of the voltage pulse, the EL intensity decreases with time, attains a minimum intensity and then it again increases with time, attains a peak value and later on it decreases with time. For the OLEDs, in which the lifetime of trapped carriers is less than the decay time of the EL occurring prior to the onset of overshoot, the EL overshoot begins just after the end of voltage pulse. The overshoot in spin-coated bilayer OLEDs is caused by the presence of an interfacial layer of finite thickness between hole and electron transporting layers in which both transport molecules coexist, whereby the interfacial energy barrier impedes both hole and electron passage. When a voltage pulse is applied to a bilayer OLED, positive and negative space charges are established at the opposite faces of the interfacial layer. Subsequently, the charge recombination occurs with the incoming flux of injected carriers of opposite polarity. When the voltage is turned off, the interfacial charges recombine under the action of their mutual electric field. Thus, after switching off the external voltage the electrons stored in the interface next to the anode cell compartment experience an electric field directed from cathode to anode, and therefore, the electrons move towards the cathode, that is, towards the positive space charge, whereby electron–hole recombination gives rise to luminescence. The EL prior to onset of overshoot is caused by the movement of electrons in the electron transporting states, however, the EL in the overshoot region is caused by the movement of detrapped electrons. On the basis of the rate equations for the detrapping and recombination of charge carriers accumulated at the interface expressions are derived for the transient EL intensity I, time t_m and intensity I_m corresponding to the peak of EL overshoot, total EL intensity I_t and decay of the intensity of EL overshoot. In fact, the decay prior to the onset of EL overshoot is the decay of number of electrons moving in the electron transporting states. The ratio I_m/I_s decreases with increasing value of the applied pulse voltage because I_m increases linearly with the amplitude of applied voltage pulse and I_s increases nonlinearly and rapidly with the increasing amplitude of applied voltage pulse. The lifetime τ_t of electrons at the interface decreases with increasing temperature whereby the dependence of τ_t on temperature follows Arrhenius plot. This fact indicates that the detrapping involves thermally-assisted tunneling of electrons. Using the EL overshoot in bilayer OLEDs, the lifetime of the charge carriers at the interface, recombination time of charge carriers, decay time of the EL prior to onset of overshoot, and the time delay between the voltage pulse and onset time of the EL overshoot can be determined. The intense EL overshoot of nanosecond or shorter time duration may be useful in digital communication, and moreover, the EL overshoot gives important information about the processes involving injection, transport and recombination of charge carriers. The criteria for appearance of EL overshoot in bilayer OLEDs are explored. A good agreement is found between the theoretical and experimental results.     

Fracto-mechanoluminescence and mechanics of fracture of solids

The present paper explores the correlation between fracto-mechanoluminescence and fracture of solids and thereby provides a clear understanding of the physics of fracto-mechanoluminescence. When a fluorescent or non-photoluminescent crystal is fractured impulsively by dropping a load on it, then initially the mechanoluminescence (ML) intensity increases linearly with time, attains a maximum value I_m at a particular time t_m and later on it decreases exponentially with time. However, when a phosphorescent crystal is fractured impulsively by dropping a load on it, then initially the ML intensity increases linearly with time, attains a maximum value I_m at a particular time t_m and later on it decreases initially at a fast rate and then at a slow rate. For low impact velocity the value of t_m is constant, however, for higher impact velocity t_m decreases logarithmally with the increasing impact velocity. Whereas the peak ML intensity I_m increases linearly with the impact velocity, the total ML intensity I_T, initially increases linearly with the impact velocity and then it tends to attain a saturation value for higher values of the impact velocity. The value of t_m increases logarithmally with the thickness of crystals, I_m increases linearly with the area of cross-section of crystals and I_T increases linearly with the volume of crystals. Generally, the ML of non-irradiated crystals decreases with increasing temperature of crystals. Depending on the prevailing conditions the ML spectra consist of either gas discharge spectra or solid state luminescence spectra or combination of the both. On the basis of the rate of generation of cracks and the rate of creation of new surface area of crystals, expressions are derived for the ML intensity and they are found to explain satisfactorily the temporal, spectral, thermal, crystal-size, impact velocity, surface area, and other characteristics of ML. The present investigation may be useful in designing of damage sensors, fracture sensors, ML-based safety management monitoring system, fuse-system for army warheads, milling machine, etc. The present study may be helpful in understanding the processes involved in earthquakes, earthquake lights and mine-failure as they basically involve fracture of solids.     

Effect of capping on the mechanoluminescence of γ-irradiated ZnS:Cu nanophosphors

Mechanoluminescence (ML) properties of γ-irradiated and non-irradiated capped ZnS:Cu nanophosphors have been investigated. The nanoparticles were prepared by wet chemical method using different capping agents. The samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). ML was excited impulsively by dropping a load on to the sample. Two peaks have been observed in the ML intensity versus time curve. It has been found that ML intensity rises with time, attains a maximum and then decays. The ML intensity of γ-irradiated SiO₂ capped ZnS:Cu nanophosphors was found to be the highest amongst the presently investigated nanophosphors. Mechanism of ML has been explained on the basis of piezoelectrically induced charge carrier detrapping model.     

Mechanoluminescence by impulsive deformation of γ-irradiated Er-doped CaF2 crystals

An impulsive technique has been used for mechanoluminescence (ML) measurements in γ-irradiated Er doped CaF₂ crystals. When the ML is excited impulsively by the impact of moving piston on to γ-irradiated CaF₂:Er crystals, two peaks are observed in ML intensity with time and it is seen that the peak intensities of first and second peaks (I_m1 and I_m2) increase with increasing impact velocity. However the time corresponding to first and second peaks (t_m1 and t_m2) shifts towards shorter time values with increasing impact velocity. It is also seen that the total ML intensity I_Total initially increases with the impact velocity and then it attains a saturation value for higher values of the impact velocity. We have presented a theoretical explanation for the observed results.     

Dynamics of the mechanoluminescence induced by elastic deformation of persistent luminescent crystals

When a composite of suitable dimension formed by mixing the microcrystalline or nanocrystalline persistent luminescent materials in epoxy resin is deformed at a fixed pressing rate, then the elastico mechanoluminescence (EML) emission takes place after a threshold pressure, in which the EML intensity increases linearly with the applied pressure. When the applied pressure is kept constant or decreased linearly, then the EML intensity decreases with time, in which depending on the prevailing condition, the EML intensity initially decreases at a fast rate and then at a slow rate or sometimes it decreases exponentially having only one decay time. When a small ball is dropped from a low height onto the film of a persistent luminescent material, then initially the EML intensity increases with time, attains a peak value and then it decreases initially at a fast rate and later on at a slow rate. In this case, both the peak EML intensity and the total EML intensity increase linearly with the height through which the ball is dropped onto the film. Considering the piezoelectrically induced detrapping model based on successive detrapping of exponentially distributed traps a theoretical approach is made to the dynamics of light emission induced by elastic deformation of persistent luminescent crystals and thin films. It is shown that the EML intensity depends on several parameters such as pressure, pressing rate or strain rate, temperature, density of filled electron traps, piezoelectric constant near defect centers, etc. Both, in the case of slow deformation and impact stress, the fast decay time is related to the time-constant for the decrease of pressing rate of the samples and the slow decay time of EML is related to the lifetime of electrons in the shallow traps lying in the normal piezoelectric region of the crystals. Both, the EML produced during the release of pressure and the EML produced during the successive applications of pressure take place due to the detrapping of retrapped electrons in the vacant electron traps near activator ions, in which retrapping is caused by the thermally released electrons from the filled shallow traps lying in the normal piezoelectric region of the crystals, which get filled during the detrapping of stable traps at the time of increase of pressure. On the basis of the proposed model, the dependence of EML intensity on different parameters, dynamics of EML and physical concepts of the threshold pressure, characteristic piezoelectric field for detrapping, coefficient of deformation detrapping, nonlinear increase of the EML intensity of some crystals at high pressure and higher EML intensity in the crystals having higher coefficient of deformation detrapping can be satisfactorily understood. A good agreement is found between the theoretical and experimental results. It is shown that the present study may be helpful in tailoring the intense persistent elastico mechanoluminescent materials having long lasting time.     

Mechanoluminescence Study of Europium Doped CaZrO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Phosphor

Behaviour displayed by mechanoluminescence (ML) in CaZrO₃:Eu³⁺ doped phosphors with variable concentration of europium ions are described. When the ML is excited impulsively by the impact of a load on the phosphors the ML intensity increases with time, attains a maximum value and then it decreases. In the ML intensity versus time curve, the peak increases and shifts towards shorter time values with increasing impact velocities. Sample was synthesized by combustion synthesis method with variable concentration of Eu³⁺ ions (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 1.5 mol%) and characterized by X-ray diffraction technique. The total ML intensity I_T is defined as the area below the ML intensity versus time curve. Initially I_T increases with impact velocity V₀ of the load and then it attains a saturation value for higher values of impact velocities which follow the relation I_T = I_T ⁰ exp.(?V_c/V₀) where I_T ⁰ and V_c are constants. Total ML intensity increases linearly with the mass of the phosphors for higher impact velocities. The ML intensity I_m, corresponding to the peak of ML intensity versus time curve increases linearly with the impact velocities. The time t_m, is found to be linearly related to 1000/V₀. The mechanoluminescence induced by impulsive excitation in europium doped CaZrO₃ phosphors plays a significance role in the understanding of biological sensors and display device application.     

Mechanoluminescence and lyoluminescence characterization of Li2BaP2O7:Eu phosphor

In this work mechanoluminescence and lyoluminescence properties of Li₂BaP₂O₇: Eu phosphor are reported. Phosphor was synthesized through high temperature solid state diffusion method. Analysis of phosphor was made through various characterization techniques such as mechanoluminescence (ML), lyoluminescence (LL), x-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and photoluminescence (PL). It was observed that ML intensity showed good enhancement with variation in time, concentration of dopant Eu, mass of piston and impact velocity. Lyoluminescence intensity was also found to increase with change in time and mass of the sample. Variation in gamma doses imparted to Li₂BaP₂O₇: Eu phosphor was observed to affect both the ML and LL intensities' respectively. Both the ML and LL intensity attain a maximum value I_m at a particular time t_m but afterwards, it decreases and finally disappears. Morphology of Li₂BaP₂O₇: Eu luminescent material was also studied using scanning electron microscope technique. The average particle size in Eu doped lithium barium diphosphate phosphor was around 2 μm.     

Development of mechanoluminescence technique for impact studies

A new technique called, mechanoluminescence technique, is developed for measuring the parameters of impact. This technique is based on the phenomenon of mechanoluminescence (ML), in which light emission takes place during any mechanical action on solids. When a small solid ball makes an impact on the mechanoluminescent thin film coated on a solid, then initially the elastico ML (EML) intensity increases with time, attains a maximum value I_m at a particular time t_m, and later on it decreases with time. The contact time T_c of ball, can be determined from the relation T_c=2t_c, where t_c is the time at which the EML emission due to compression of the sample becomes negligible. The area from where the EML emission occurs can be taken as the contact area A_c. The maximum compression h is given by h=A_c/(πr), where r is the radius of the impacting ball, and thus, h can be determined from the known values of A_c and r. The maximum force at contact is given by F_m=(2mU₀)/T_c, where m is the mass of the impacting ball and U₀ is the velocity of the ball at impact. The maximum impact stress σ_m can be obtained from the relation, σ_m=F_m/A_c=(2mU₀)/(T_cA_c). Thus, ML provides a real-time technique for determining the impact parameters such as T_c, A_c, h, F_m and σ_m. Using the ML technique, the impact parameters of the SrAl₂O₄:Eu film and ZnS:Mn coating are determined. The ML technique can be used to determine the impact parameters in the elastic region and plastic region as well as fracture. ML can also be used to determine the impact parameters for the collision between solid and liquid, if the mechanoluminescent material is coated on the surface of the solid. The measurement of fracto ML in microsecond and nanosecond range may provide a tool for studying the fragmentations in solids by the impact. Using the fast camera the contact area and the depth of compression can be determined for different intervals of time.     

Mechanoluminescence induced by elastic and plastic deformation of coloured alkali halide crystals at fixed strain rates

Mechanoluminescence (ML) emission from coloured alkali halide crystals takes place during their elastic and plastic deformation. The ML emission during the elastic deformation occurs due to the mechanical interaction between dislocation segments and F-centres, and the ML emission during the plastic deformation takes place due to the mechanical interaction between the moving dislocations and F-centres. In the elastic region, the ML intensity increases linearly with the strain or deformation time, and in this case, the saturation region could not be observed because of the beginning of the plastic deformation before the start of the saturation in the ML intensity. In the plastic region, initially the ML intensity also increases linearly with the strain or deformation time, and later on, it attains a saturation value for large deformation. When the deformation is stopped, initially the ML intensity decreases at a fast rate; later on, it decreases at a slow rate. The decay time for the fast decrease of the ML intensity gives the relaxation time of dislocation segments or pinning time of the dislocations, and the decay time of the slow decrease of the ML intensity gives the diffusion time of holes in the crystals. The saturation value of the ML intensity increases linearly with the strain rate and also with the density of F-centres in the crystals. Initially, the saturation value of the ML intensity increases with increasing temperature, and for higher temperatures the ML intensity decreases with increasing temperature. Therefore, the ML intensity is optimum for a particular temperature of the crystals. From the ML measurements, the relaxation time of dislocation segments, pinning time of dislocations, diffusion time of holes and the energy gap between the bottom of the acceptor dislocation band and interacting F-centre level can be determined. Expressions derived for the ML induced by elastic and plastic deformation of coloured alkali halide crystals at fixed strain rates indicates that the ML intensity depends on the strain, strain rate, density of colour centres, size of crystals, temperature, luminescence efficiency, etc. A good agreement is found between the theoretical and experimental results.     

Investigation on trap distribution and photoelectronic effect due to UV,IR and visible light excitation in self-activated zns crystals

Photoelectronic effects in IR sensitive ZnS crystals are found for IR, UV and visible light excitations. The transient rise characteristic of UV excited photoluminescence (UPL) saturates faster than UV produced photoconductivity (UPC). The UPC shows a typical S-shaped rise curve for any 365 run excitation irradiance and temperature. Simultaneously measured transient behaviors of IR induced photoconductivity (INP) and IR stimulated luminescence (STL) have a strong IR excitation intensity dependence for λ_IR = 2.5?4.6 microm. A unique phenomenon, quick rise followed by quick decay during the initial 20 msec, is found in INP before reaching final maximum but is not observed in STL. During UV steady irradiation, additional photoconductivity and luminescence are quickly induced by an abrupt IR excitation of 2.5 microm. Then, the photoconductivity reaches a new steady state level below UPC steady state. However, the luminescence sets the same UPL steady state level. This means that photoconductivity exhibits an IR optical quenching but not stimulation, while neither optical quenching nor stimulation is found in luminescence. It is also possible to quench the UPC response with visible light excitation at 570 nm. These observations support the previously reported discussion that IR absorbing impurity centers and shallow traps, including recombination (or luminescence) centers must be involved in IR stimulable ZnS crystals. They also indicate the presence of deep trap centers for E_T ≈ 2.18 eV, which have a strong role in slow UPC rise.     

An effective lagrangian for multiphoton processes and a non-linear Born-Infeld lagrangian

An effective lagrangian for multiphoton processes (of Euler-Heisenberg type) is computed for an electromagnetic field interacting with massive scalar, fermion and vector particles. It is found that if the charges g_I, masses m_I and numbers N_I of massive particles satisfy the “supersymmetric” conditions, N_Sm_S⁴+3N_Vm_V⁴?2N_Fm_F⁴=0 and g_I²/m_I⁴ is I-independent, where I=S, F, V stands for scalars, fermions and vectors respectively, then not only quartic divergences (poles at n=0 in dimensional regularization) proportional to constant terms cancel out but also maximally helicity changing interaction terms vanish in the effective lagrangian. A possibility to relate a non-linear Born-Infeld lagrangian to the effective lagrangian is examined.     

Photocurrent growth and decay behavior of crystal violet dye-based photoelectrochemical cell in photovoltaic mode

Crystal violet dye-doped photoelectrochemical cells (PEC) show different and unusual behavior in their electrical and optical characteristics. In this work, we have studied the photocurrent growth and decay behavior of crystal violet dye-based solid-state PEC in photovoltaic mode. Photocurrent growth and decay are studied for different intensities of illumination. They follow a power law relationship with time which is of the form I _ph?～?t ^±α , where I _ph is the photocurrent and α is a constant. The positive and negative signs are used to indicate the growth and decay of the photocurrent, respectively. This power law relation is explained by dispersive transport model which was originally developed by Scher and Montrol and subsequently modified by different workers. The constant, α is termed as dispersion parameter, and it is related to the disorder. It is observed that the value of this parameter depends on the intensity of incident illumination. Dependence of this dispersion parameter on incident intensity is studied in this work. Variations of α with intensity for growth and decay have been discussed. In our system, the value of α is 0.325?±?0.005 for decay whereas, in the growth region, its value varies from 0.55 to 0.33, when intensity varies from minimum to maximum. The value of the disorder parameter, α, decreases as the intensity of illumination increases for growth of current whereas it remains nearly constant for decay of current. This work will be helpful in understanding the charge transport mechanism of dye-based PEC cell.     

Photoluminescence spectra of thin films containing CdSe/ZnS quantum dots irradiated by 532-nm laser radiation and gamma-rays

We have investigated temporal behavior of the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of thin films containing CdSe/ZnS quantum dots irradiated by 532 nm laser radiation and gamma-rays. Under ∼100 W/cm² laser radiation, the PL intensity (I_PL) increases with irradiation time upto about 500 s and thereafter declines linearly. The wavelength of the PL emission (λ_peak) exhibits a blue-shift with exposure time. Upon simultaneous irradiation by 100 W/cm² 532-nm laser, as well as 0.57 and 1.06 MeV gamma-rays, the temporal behaviors of both I_PL and λ_peak are significantly different; I_PL increases to a saturation level, and the magnitude of the blue-shift in λ_peak is reduced. We discuss possible mechanisms underlying these results.