Properties of 80-MeV oxygen ion irradiated ZnS:Mn nanoparticles and exploitation in nanophotonics

ZnS:Mn nanoparticles of size variation 11–17 nm were synthesized by a simple and inexpensive chemical method and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Presuming electronic energy loss (S _e>S _n, S _n being nuclear energy loss) to be the dominant phenomenon, they were irradiated by 80-MeV energetic oxygen ions with fluence of 10¹¹ to 10¹³ ions/cm². Photoluminescence (PL) spectra revealed three major emission bands ~445 nm, ~582 nm and ~706 nm; which are ascribed to D–A pair transition, Mn emission and surface state led fluorescence activation. The recovery of Mn emission and tunable surface state emission have been observed with ion fluence variation. Infra-red (IR) spectra of irradiated samples show great extent of oscillation with respect to amplitude due to ion fluence variation however, phonon energy (~98 MeV) remains unchanged. The possible applications of these modified properties in nanophotonics are also highlighted.     

Interactions of charmed mesons with nucleons in the ¯<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis> reaction

We study the possibility to measure the elastic ΦN (Φ≡J/ψ,ψ(2S), ψ(3770), χ_2c) scattering cross section in the reaction ˉp+d→Φ+n _sp and the elastic D(ˉD)N scattering cross section in the reaction ˉp+d→D ⁻ D ⁰ p _sp. Our studies indicate that the elastic scattering cross sections can be determined for Φ momenta about 4–6 GeV/c and D/ˉD momenta 2–5 GeV/c by selecting events with p _t≥ 0.4 GeV/c for Φ's and p _t(p _sp) ≥ 0.5 GeV/c for D/ˉD-meson production. Received: 8 November 1999     

Acidichromism and Ionochromism of Luteolin and Apigenin,the Main Components of the Naturally Occurring Yellow Weld: A Spectrophotometric and Fluorimetric Study

Luteolin and apigenin, extracted from Reseda luteola L., were spectrophotometrically and fluorimetrically studied. The spectra were investigated as a function of pH in methanol/water solutions (1/2, v/v) in the 2–12 pH range. The absorption spectra markedly shifted to the red by increasing the pH. Three acid–base dissociation steps were detected for luteolin (pK _a = 6.9; 8.6; 10.3) and two for apigenin (pK _a = 6.6; 9.3). Fluorescence emission was very weak or undetectable (Φ _F < 10⁻⁴) in acidic solution, but increased in intensity with increasing the pH. Both molecules exhibited a great propensity towards complex formation with metal ions, with association constants on the order of 10⁵–10⁷ for the first complexation step; in the presence of excess Al³⁺ ions, multiple equilibria were detected. A marked fluorescence enhancement was observed upon complexation with Al³⁺ ions (Φ _F ∼ 1 for luteolin and ∼10⁻² for apigenin).     

The synthesis of boron-containing nanoparticles inert at room temperature

Boron-containing (C₂B₄H₂) _n nanoparticles with size 6.7, 7.8, and 10.8 nm inert at room temperature were synthesized. The synthesis was performed by the pyrolysis of gaseous carborane C₂B₄H₆ at 1200–1280 K and the initial carborane pressure (5–25) × 10⁻³ MPa. An analytic dependence relating the size of nanoparticles to the temperature and initial carborane pressure was obtained.     

Noncommutative electromagnetism as a large <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis> gauge theory

We map noncommutative (NC) U(1) gauge theory on ℝ _C ^d ×ℝ _NC ²ⁿ to U(N→∞) Yang–Mills theory on ℝ _C ^d , where ℝ _C ^d is a d-dimensional commutative spacetime while ℝ _NC ²ⁿ is a 2n-dimensional NC space. The resulting U(N) Yang–Mills theory on ℝ _C ^d is equivalent to that obtained by the dimensional reduction of (d+2n)-dimensional U(N) Yang–Mills theory onto ℝ _C ^d . We show that the gauge-Higgs system (A _μ ,Φ ^a ) in the U(N→∞) Yang–Mills theory on ℝ _C ^d leads to an emergent geometry in the (d+2n)-dimensional spacetime whose metric was determined by Ward a long time ago. In particular, the 10-dimensional gravity for d=4 and n=3 corresponds to the emergent geometry arising from the 4-dimensional N=4{\mathcal{N}}=4 vector multiplet in the AdS/CFT duality. We further elucidate the emergent gravity by showing that the gauge-Higgs system (A _μ ,Φ ^a ) in half-BPS configurations describes self-dual Einstein gravity.     

Fluorescence of N,N-di(2-carboxyethyl)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-anisidine in solution and crystalline states

The fluorescence properties of N,N-di(2-carboxyethyl)-p-anisidine (I) in solvents of various nature and in the crystalline state have been studied at room temperature (273 K) and at the boiling point of liquid nitrogen (77 K). Fluorescence in aqueous solutions of I with protonated (λ _ex /λ _fl ^max = 225/290 nm) and unprotonated (λ _ex /λ _fl ^max = 270/380 nm) amino nitrogen has been detected. On going from aqueous solutions to nonaqueous, the fluorescence band of unprotonated I experiences a blue shift and its intensity rises. The fluorescence intensity of the band in aprotic polar solvents is higher than that in protic solvents. A linear dependence of the fluorescence intensity of deprotonated I on Cu(II) concentration (ranging from 1.0 to 5.0 mg/dm³) in aqueous solution has been found. The fluorescence intensity of I in aqueous solutions at 77 K and pH 1–6 has been shown to increase in the presence of Zn(II) (1–170 mg/dm³) and Cd(II) (2–330 mg/dm³) although a similar dependence is not observed at 293 K.     

New perovskite oxides LaBa<Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis>CoO<Subscript>5 + δ</Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis> = Fe,Cu): Synthesis,structure, and properties

The electrical resistivity ρ and the thermopower S of ceramic materials LnBaCuFeO_{5 + δ} (Ln= La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd-Lu) are measured in air at temperatures in the range from 300 to 1100 K. All the studied ferrocuprates are p-type semiconductors. The electrical resistivity ρ and the thermopower S of these compounds increase with a decrease in the radius of the Ln ³⁺ cation (with an increase in the number of 4f electrons n in Ln ³⁺). The nonmonotonic behavior of the dependences ρ=f(n) and S=f(n) indicates that the electrical properties of the layered ferrocuprates LnBaCuFeO_{5 + δ} depend on the electronic configuration of the Ln ³⁺ cation. The power factors P calculated for the LnBaCuFeO_{5 + δ} ceramic materials from the experimental values of ρ and S increase with increasing temperature and, at T = 1000 K, reach the maximum values P = 102.0 and 54.1 μW m⁻¹ K⁻² for Ln = Pr(4f ²) and Sm(4f ⁵), respectively, and become close to each other and equal to 30–35 μW m⁻¹ K⁻² for Ln = Gd(4f ⁷), Dy(4f ⁹), and Ho(4f ¹⁰).     

Saturable absorption dynamics of mode-locking dye DODCI

0 –S₁–S_m–S_n multilevel system. An S_m→S₁ absorption recovery time of τ^S1 _A=(600±100) fs is determined. The picosecond and femtosecond pulse excitation leads to S₀→S₁ ground-state absorption bleaching and S₁→S_m first excited-state absorption bleaching. The excited-state absorption cross-sections σ^S1 _ex(S₁→S_m) and σ^Sm _ex(S_m→S_n) are determined. Received: 3 June 1996     

Synthesis of Benzimidazoles Containing Pyrazole Group and Quantum Chemistry Calculation of Their Spectroscopic Properties and Electronic Structure

Five benzimidazole compounds containing pyrazole group were synthesized via one-step reaction of o-phenylenediamine and 1-arylpyrazole-4-carbaldehyde in ethanol under mild conditions. The composition and structure of resultant benzimidazole compounds were analyzed by means of elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and X-ray single crystal diffraction. The ultraviolet–visible light spectra and fluorescent spectra of the products were measured. Their ground-state (S ₀) equilibrium geometries and vibrational frequencies were determined based on B3LYP method, and their first excited-state (S ₁) geometries were fully optimized based on 6–31G (d, p) basis set of TD-B3LYP method. Besides, the spectroscopic properties of the products were computed based on cc-pVTZ basis set of TD-B3LYP method and compared with corresponding experimental data. It has been found that benzimidazole compounds containing pyrazole group can be readily synthesized in a high yield via one-step reaction of o-phenylenediamine and 1-arylpyrazole-4-carbaldehyde in ethanol solvent. The fluorescence properties of the five synthesized compounds are closely related to their molecular structure; and their computed fluorescence spectra well correspond to their experimental values. Moreover, they have stable structure and strong fluorescence, showing potential application in time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay and DNA probe.     

Luminescence of oxotetrahydrobenzo[c]phenanthridine in polar and nonpolar solvents: Inversion of the energy levels of the Sππ* and Tnπ* states

The spectral-luminescent properties and electronic-level structure of a derivative of oxotetrahydrobenzo[c]phenanthridine—3,3-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[c]phenanthridine-1-one (DTP)—in polar and nonpolar solutions are studied by the luminescence and picosecond spectroscopy techniques at 293 and 77 K. It is shown that DTP exhibits ππp* fluorescence only in polar proton-containing methanol, ethanol, and n-propanol and that this fluorescence is associated with a chromophore + alcohol complex. Solutions of DTP in n-propanol and the nonpolar mixture methylcyclohexane + toluene (6:1) at 77 K display ππp* phosphorescence with a quantum yield Φ_Ph=0.1, a lifetime τ_Ph=1.9 s, and a frequency of the 0-0 transition equal to 21550 cm⁻¹. The fact that DTP fluorescence is absent in aprotic solvents and exists in alcohols is explained by the inversion of the energy levels of the S _ππ* and T _n π* states, as a result of which the energy level of the fluorescing S _ππ* state in alcohol becomes the lowest. The picosecond spectra and kinetics of the inducedS _n (ππ*) ← S ₁(π π*) and T _k (ππ*) ← T ₁(ππ*) absorption made it possible to estimate the lifetime of the S ₁(ππ*) state of DTP in n-propanol at 293 K (20±10 ps) and the position of the triplet-triplet absorption peak (495 nm). __________ Translated from Optika i Spektroskopiya, Vol. 94, No. 6, 2003, pp. 993–998. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2003 by Bondarev, Knyukshto, Tikhomirov, Pyrko.     

Probing the field-induced variation of the chemical potential in Bi2Sr2CaCu2Oy via magneto-thermopower measurements

Approximating the shape of the magneto-thermoelectric power (TEP) ΔS(T,H) measured in Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_y by an asymmetric linear triangle of the form ΔS(T,H)≃S _p (H)±B ^±(H)(T _c −T) with positive B ⁻(H) and B ⁺(H) defined below and above T _c , we observe that B ⁺(H) ≃2B ⁻(H). To account for this asymmetry, we explicitly introduce the field-dependent chemical potential μ(H) of holes into the Ginzburg-Landau theory and calculate both an average ΔS _av(T,H) and fluctuation contribution ΔS _fl(T,H) to the total magneto-TEP ΔS(T,H). As a result, we find a rather simple relationship between the field-induced variation of the chemical potential in this material and the above-mentioned magneto-TEP data around T _c , viz. Δ μ(H)∝S _p (H). Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 116, 257–262 (July 1999) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Reproduced here with stylistic changes by the Translation Editor.     

Assessment of the possibility of determination of the electrophysical characteristics of CdxHg1–xTe p+–n-structures using differential hall measurements

The process of reconstuction of the distribution profile of hole concentration in the p ⁺–n structure by the method of differential Hall measurements upon implantation of ions As⁺ (Е = 190 keV, D = 3.10¹⁴ cm^-2, j = 0.025 μA/cm²) into epitaxial films Cd _x Hg_1–x Te for x ~ 0.2, with the initial electron concentration and mobility n = 10¹⁴ cm^-3 and μ = 2∙10⁵ cm²∙V^–1∙s^–1 is numerically simulated. The dependences of degree of reconstruction of the hole-concentration distribution profile on the depth of a shunting n-layer and magnitude of the magnetic field, at which the electrophysical parameters of the p ⁺–n structure are measured, are calculated. The dependence of the limiting magnetic field determining the magnetic-field range for measurements on the n-layer depth is found. It is shown that in calculations one should use the conduction values measured at the same magnetic fields as the Hall coefficients for determination of the holeconcentration distribution profile using the Petritz model.     

Influence of chirality on the electron spin resonance in molecular magnets [MnII(H L )(H2O)][MnIII(CN)6] · 2H2O with chiral ligands L

Chiral and racemic molecular ferrimagnets [Mn^II(HL)(H₂O)][Mn^III(CN)₆] · 2H₂O, where L = S-or R-1,2-diaminopropane for chiral samples (S-pn, R-pn) and L = rac-pn for racemic samples, are investigated by the electron spin resonance technique. It is revealed that the electron spin resonance spectra of the chiral and racemic samples differ from each other at temperatures below the Curie temperature T _C = 21 K. The maximum in the temperature dependence of the integrated magnetic susceptibility χ(T) calculated by the double integration of the line centered at a negative field of −250 Oe for the racemic samples is broadened as compared to the maxima in the corresponding dependences for the enantiomers of the chiral samples with “right” (R) and “left” (S) symmetry. The new compounds under investigation differ from the previously synthesized crystals by the strong spin-orbit interaction between Mn³⁺ ions, which leads to a dependence of their magnetic properties on the chirality of the structure. Original Russian Text ? R.B. Morgunov, F.B. Mushenok, M.V. Kirman, 2008, published in Fizika Tverdogo Tela, 2008, Vol. 50, No. 7, pp. 1252–1256.     

Thermally stimulated recombination processes and luminescence in Li<Subscript>6</Subscript>(Y,Gd,Eu)(BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> crystals

The thermally stimulated recombination processes and luminescence in crystals of the lithium borate family Li₆(Y,Gd,Eu)(BO₃)₃ have been investigated. The steady-state luminescence spectra under X-ray excitation (X-ray luminescence spectra), the temperature dependences of the X-ray luminescence intensity, and the glow curves for the Li₆Gd(BO₃)₃, Li₆Eu(BO₃)₃, Li₆Y_0.5Gd_0.5(BO₃)₃: Eu, and Li₆Gd(BO₃)₃: Eu compounds have been measured in the temperature range 90–500 K. In the X-ray luminescence spectra, the band at 312 nm corresponding to the ⁶ P _J → ⁸ S _7/2 transitions in the Gd³⁺ ion and the group of lines at 580–700 nm due to the ⁵ D ₀ → ⁷ F _J transitions (J = 0–4) in the Eu³⁺ ion are dominant. For undoped crystals, the X-ray luminescence intensity of these bands increases by a factor of 15 with a change in the temperature from 100 to 400 K. The possible mechanisms providing the observed temperature dependence of the intensity and their relation to the specific features of energy transfer of electronic excitations in these crystals have been discussed. It has been revealed that the glow curves for all the crystals under investigation exhibit the main complex peak with the maximum at a temperature of 110–160 K and a number of weaker peaks with the composition and structure dependent on the crystal type. The nature of shallow trapping centers responsible for the thermally stimulated luminescence in the range below room temperature and their relation to defects in the lithium cation sublattice have been analyzed.     

Magnetic properties of LiNi<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.47</Subscript>Al<Subscript>0.03</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> as positive electrode for Li-ion batteries

The layered LiNi_0.5Mn_0.47Al_0.03O₂ was synthesized by wet chemical method and characterized by X-ray diffraction and analysis of magnetic measurements. The powders adopted the α-NaFeO₂ structure. This substitution of Al for Mn promotes the formation of Li(Ni_0.47²⁺Ni_0.03³⁺Mn_0.47⁴⁺Al_0.03³⁺)O₂ structures and induces an increase in the average oxidation state of Ni, thereby leading to the shrinkage of the lattice unit cell. The concentration of antisite defects in which Ni²⁺ occupies the (3a) Li lattice sites in the Wyckoff notation has been estimated from the ferromagnetic Ni²⁺(3a)–Mn⁴⁺(3b) pairing observed below 140 K. The substitution of 3% Al for Mn reduces the amount of antisite defects from 7% to 6.4–6.5%. The analysis of the magnetic properties in the paramagnetic phase in the framework of the Curie–Weiss law agrees well with the combination of Ni²⁺ (S = 1), Ni³⁺ (S = 1/2) and Mn⁴⁺ (S = 3/2) spin-only values. Delithiation has been made by the use of K₂S₂O₈. According to this process, known to be softer than the electrochemical one, the nickel ions in the (3b) sites are converted into Ni⁴⁺ in the high spin configuration, while Ni²⁺(3a)–Mn⁴⁺(3b) ferromagnetic pairs remain, as the Li⁺(3b) ions linked to the Ni²⁺(3a) ions in the antisite defects are not removed. The results show that the antisite defect is surrounded by Mn⁴⁺ ions, implying the nonuniform distribution of the cations in agreement with previous NMR and neutron experiments.     

A simple thermal decomposition synthesis, magnetic properties, and cytotoxicity of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 nanoparticles

This study reports the new and simple synthesis of magnetic La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ (LSMO) nanoparticles by thermal decomposition method using acetate salts of La, Sr and Mn as starting materials. To obtain the LSMO nanoparticles, thermal decomposition of the precursor is carried out at the temperatures of 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000°C for 6 hours. The synthesized LSMO nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TEM and SEM. Structural characterization shows that the prepared particles consisted of two phases of LaMnO₃ (LMO) and LSMO with crystallite sizes ranging from 18 to 55 nm. All the prepared samples have a perovskite structure which changes from cubic to rhombohedral with the increase in the thermal decomposition temperature. Basic magnetic characteristics such as saturation magnetization (M _S) and coercive field (H _C) are evaluated by sample vibrating magnetometry at room temperature (20°C). The samples show soft ferromagnetic behavior with M _S values of ∼9–55 emu/g and H _C values of ∼8–37 Oe, depending on the crystallite size and thermal decomposition temperature. The relationship between the crystallite size and the magnetic properties is presented and discussed. The cytotoxicity of synthesized LSMO nanoparticles was also evaluated with NIH 3T3 cells and the result showed that the synthesized nanoparticles were not toxic to the cells as determined from cell viability in response to the liquid extraction of LSMO nanoparticles.     

Paramagnetic and spin-glass properties of pyrochlore-like oxides Ln2Mn2/3Mo4/3O7 (Ln=Sm, Gd, Tb, or Y)

The magnetic properties of complex oxides Ln ₂Mn_2/3Mo_4/3O₇ (Ln=Sm, Gd, Tb, or Y) with a pyrochlore-type structure are studied in the temperature range 2–300 K. For all compounds in the paramagnetic state, the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility is described by a generalized Curie-Weiss law with a temperature-independent component of ∼10⁻⁶ cm³/g and with a Weiss constant Θ<0 and |Θ|<16 K. At low temperatures (T<10–12 K), the compounds have spin-glass properties; they exhibit magnetic and temperature hysteresis and the typical dependences of the imaginary and real parts of the dynamic magnetic susceptibility on temperature and the frequency of an ac magnetic field in a wide range of magnetization relaxation times. The data obtained suggest that d electrons are responsible for the formation of frustrated exchange interactions in the compounds and that 4f electrons in the compounds with Sm or Tb provide strong magnetic-anisotropy effects. __________ Translated from Fizika Tverdogo Tela, Vol. 46, No. 2, 2004, pp. 287–295. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2004 by Korolev, Bazuev.     

Superconducting transition temperature in mercury HTSC-cuprates under hydrostatic pressure

A study is made of the properties of the homologous series of mercury HTSC-cuprates HgBa₂Ca_n−1Cu_nO_2n +2+δ with n=1–8. Experiments are conducted under pressure for samples with n=1–5. The Hg-1223 and Hg-1234 phases were synthesized using a controlled high pressure chamber. The oxygen content of an initial mixture corresponding to the Hg-1234 phase was varied by changing the composition of the initial BaO/BaO₂ oxides. The dependence of the superconducting transition temperature T _c on the lattice constant a (and, therefore, on the oxygen content) and of T _c ^max and dT _c ^max /dp on n are convex upward up to n=4, 5. The maximum values always correspond to the Hg-1223 phase. Experimental T _c ^max (n) curves for the phases with n=1–6 and dT _c ^max /dp curves for n=1–5 are compared with Anderson’s theory (the so-called RVB model). A general analysis of these results indicates that the mercury cuprates have an ideal structure for HTSC. The Hg-1223 phase is the “champion” in this ideal structure and the critical temperature corresponding to this phase (T _c =135 K) is the highest at atmospheric pressure. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 113, 1474–1483 (April 1998)     

Effect of mixed glass formers on the crystallization kinetics in AgI–Ag<Subscript>2</Subscript>O–V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>–MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript> glassy superionic system

The crystallization and glass transition kinetics using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in 50AgI–33.33Ag₂O–16.67[(V₂O₅)_1−x –(MoO₃) _x ] superionic glassy system is discussed. Thermal stability of glass, studied using various criteria, does not vary significantly with glass former variation. However, the activation energies for structural relaxation (E _s) at glass transition temperature and crystallization (E _c) obtained using Moynihan and Kissinger, Matusita-Sakka formulations found to exhibit interesting trends with MoO₃ substitution in the glass matrix. It is noticed that the electrical conductivity (σ)–temperature (T) cycles obtained at a typical heating rate of 1 °C/min do exhibit significant thermal events. The conductivity after first heating cycle at room temperature is found to be increasing with MoO₃ content and maximum for x = 0.3 (~10⁻³ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 30 °C) which is comparable to that of the host 50AgI–33.33Ag₂O–16.67V₂O₅ glassy system. The parameters obtained from σ–T plots and DSC scans do complement each other in a particular range of composition.     

Pressure dependence of the superconducting state parameters of metallic glass superconductor Mg70Zn30

Explicit expressions have been derived for the volume dependence of electron-phonon coupling strength (λ) and the Coulomb pseudopotential (μ^*) considering the variation of Fermi momentum (κ _F) and Debye temperature (θ _D) with volume. Ashcroft’s model pseudopotential and RPA form of dielectric screening have been used for obtaining pressure dependence of transition temperature (T _C) and the logarithmic volume derivative (Φ) of the effective interaction strength (N ₀ V) for metallic glass superconductor Mg₇₀Zn₃₀. It has been observed that T _C of the metallic glass Mg₇₀Zn₃₀ decreases rapidly with increase of pressure and the superconducting phase disappears at about 30% decrease of volume, for which the μ^* curve shows a minimum and an elbow is formed in the Φ graph.