Mechanisms of broadening of emission lines of a laser-induced plasma generated on the surface of rigid targets

This article reports the results of an experimental investigation of the basic mechanisms that cause the broadening of emission lines of a laser-induced plasma generated on the surface of rigid targets in a gaseous atmosphere. The contribution of Stark and resonance mechanisms of emission-line broadening for the resonance doublet Al I 3s²3p²P_3/2,1/2-3s²4s²S_1/2 and triplet Mg I 3s3p³P _0,1,2 ⁰ -3s4s³S₁ is discussed. The concentrations of neutral Al atoms in the laser-induced plasma are evaluated by the magnitude of resonance line broadening. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 67, No. 2, pp. 234–237, March–April, 2000.     

Sheath and electron density dynamics in the normal and self-pulsing regime of a micro hollow cathode discharge in argon gas

A microplasma is generated in the microhole (400 μm diameter) of a molybdenum-alumina-molybdenum sandwich (MHCD type) at medium pressure (30–200 Torr) in pure argon. Imaging and emission spectroscopy have been used to study the sheath and electron density dynamics during the stationary normal regime and the self-pulsing regime. Firstly, the evolution of the microdischarge structure is studied by recording the emission intensity of the Ar (5p[3/2]₁–4s[3/2]₁)_{1}) line at 427.217 nm, and Ar⁺ (4p′ ²P_3/2–4s′ ²D_5/2)_{5/2}) line at 427.752 nm. The maximum of the Ar⁺ line is located in the vicinity of the sheath-plasma edge. In both regimes, the experimental observations are consistent with the position of the sheath edge calculated with an ionizing sheath model. Secondly, the electron density is recorded by monitoring the Stark broadening of the H_b_\beta-line. In the self-pulsing regime at 150 Torr, the electron density reaches its maximum value of 4 × 10¹⁵ cm^-3, a few tens of ns later than the discharge current maximum. The electron density then decays with a characteristic decay time of about 2 μs, while the discharge current vanishes twice faster. The electron density in the steady-state regime is two orders of magnitude lower, at about 6–8 × 10¹³ cm^-3.     

A new bound-exciton emission band in ZnSe crystals and multiplasmon optical transitions

We have investigated cathodoluminescence both in unannealed ZnSe crystals and in crystals annealed in a Bi melt at a temperature of 1200K for 120 h with subsequent quenching. In the wavelength range 450–480 nm we have detected a new line series I _i ^s -nLO-mPl consisting of the bound-exciton emission line I _i ^s with wavelength λ=455.9 nm and its plasmon and LO-phonon echoes I _i ^s -LO (λ ₁=461.3 nm), I _i ^s -2LO (λ ₂=466.8 nm), I _i ^s -3LO (λ ₃=472.4 nm), and I _i ^s -4LO (λ ₄=478.3 nm). We have determined the mean number of emitted LO phonons N _LO=2.2±0.1 per photon. It is shown that the observed finer structure of the band may be due to multiphonon optical transitions. At low plasma densities (ω _p ≪ω _LO ) the Coulomb interaction causes broadening of the I _i ^s -nLO series. In samples with denser plasma, in which the condition ω _p ⩽ω _LO is met, multiplasmon satellites of the series I _i ^s -nLO-mPl are observed. Theoretical calculations of the shape of the emission band agree with experiment. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1176–1180 (July 1999)     

Contribution of three-electron diagrams of two-photon exchange to the energy of 2 s , 2 p 1/2, and 2 p 3/2 states of Li-like multiply charged ions

The contribution of three-electron diagrams of two-photon exchange to the energy of 2s, 2p _1/2, and 2p _3/2 states of Li-like ions is calculated. The consistent quantum-electrodynamic calculation is performed for the nuclear charge Z varying over a wide range with the correction for the finite size of the nucleus taken into account. All the contributions to the energy of the 2p _1/2−2s transition in Li-like ions with Z≥18 calculated to date are collected. __________ Translated from Optika i Spektroskopiya, Vol. 92, No. 3, 2002, pp. 375–384. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2002 by Sysak, Erokhin, Shabaev.     

The pressure broadening and shift for the J=1−0 line of CH3C14N: Resolved and overlapped hyperfine components

Summary Pressure broadening and shift parameters are measured for theJ=1−0 line of CH₃C¹⁴N at 18.4 GHz, both for the three hyperfine components and for the single line which envelopes the hyperfine components, observed at higher pressures (p≥40 mTorr). In agreement with theoretical predictions, these parameters are the same for all the observed lines: Γ _p = (50 ± 5) MHz/Torr,s=(7±2) MHz/Torr. These values are compared with previous measurements, showing a large variance expecially for the shift parameter. The measured broadening parameter is 40% lower than prediction of the Anderson theory.

---

Riassunto Sono stati misurati i parametri di allargamento e spostamento per pressione della rigaJ=1−0 del CH₃C¹⁴N a 18.4 GHz. Tali misure sono state eseguite, sulle tre componenti iperfini e sul loro inviluppo osservato a pressionip≥40 mTorr. In accordo con le previsioni teoriche, questi parametri risultano gli stessi per tutte le righe osservate: Γ _p = (50 ± 5) MHz/Torr,s=(7±2) MHz/Torr. Questi valori sono confrontati con quelli delle precedenti misure che mostrano una considerevole dispersione, specialmente per quanto riguarda il parametro di spostamento. L'allargamento per pressione è risultato piú basso di quello previsto dalla teoria di Anderson di circa il 40%.

     

Raman scattering in YBa2Cu3O7 single crystals: Anisotropy in normal and superconductivity states

Precise temperature and polarization dependences of Raman spectra have been investigated for fully oxygenated twin-free YBa₂Cu₃O₇ single crystals. We have found a striking superconductivity-induced x−y anisotropy in the temperature behavior of the 340 cm⁻¹ line: the magnitudes of the softening and broadening are quite different in the xx-and yy-polarizations. This anisotropy suggests a contribution of the CuO-chain superconductivity with a pairing symmetry different from that for the CuO₂ plane, or indicates that the superconducting gap amplitudes are different in the k _x and k _y directions. The d+s gap symmetry is the only realistic symmetry in the case of Δ_x≠Δ_y. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 403–412 (March 1998) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Reproduced here with stylistic changes by the Translation Editor.     

Postcollision interaction upon electron excitation of 4sns1S0, 3S1 and 4snd1D2, 3DJ levels of zinc atom

The optical excitation functions (OEFs) for four series of spectral lines of the Zn atom at the transitions 4sn ₁ s ¹ S ₀ → 4s4p ¹ P ₁^∘ (n ₁ = 6–10), 4sn ₂ s ³ S ₁ → 4s4p ³ P ₂^∘ (n ₂ = 6−8), 4sn ₃ d ¹ D ₂ → 4s4p ¹ P ₁^∘ (n ₃ = 4−6), 4sn ₄ d ³ D _{1, 2, 3} → 4s4p ³ P ₂^∘ (n ₄ = 4−7) excited by a monoenergetic (0.04–0.08 eV) electron beam with energies from the excitation threshold to 18–19 eV are measured. In the energy dependences of the excitation cross sections, the effect of post-collision interaction of slow (scattered) and fast (emitted after the autoionization state decay) electrons is observed and described. This interaction leads to the capture of a slow electron into the listed discrete levels and the appearance of maxima in the excitation functions. The energies of the maxima are used to determine the energies and widths of single autoionization states or their groups by approximate formulas of the classical approach. The autoionization levels of the zinc atom responsible for the maxima observed are determined. Possible transfer of the orbital angular momentum between electrons is analyzed.     

Autoionization cross section of lithium atoms excited by electron impact

We measure the full autoionization cross section of lithium atoms excited by electrons in the energy range from the first autoionization threshold at 56.39 to 600 eV. Data are obtained by determining the total intensity of electron spectrum of autoionization states 1sn ₁ l ₁ n ₂ l ₂ detected at the “magic” observation angle of 54.7°. The cross section behavior is characterized by a sharp increase to a maximum value of 1.7 × 10⁻¹⁸ cm² in the energy interval of 56.4–60 eV and a subsequent monotonic drop to a value of 10⁻¹⁸ cm² at 600 eV. We have discovered a “thin” cross section structure that reflects the presence of strong resonances of Li⁻ ions in the near-threshold area of excitation of the lowest energy autoionization states (1s2s2)2S, (1s2s2p)⁴ P, 1s(2s2p ³ P)² P), and 1s(2s2p ¹ P)² P. We have established that the contribution of autoionization to the absolute cross section of single ionization of lithium atoms does not exceed 4%. We perform a comparative analysis of the data with analogous data for potassium and cesium atoms.     

Azobenzene-functionalized alkanethiols in self-assembled monolayers on gold

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 4-trifluoromethyl-azobenzene-4′-methyleneoxy-alkanethiols (CF₃– C₆H₄–N=N–C₆H₄–O–(CH₂) _n –SH on (111)-oriented poly-crystalline gold films on mica were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The spectra are analyzed with the help of density-functional-theory calculations of the isolated molecule. Only one doublet is detected in the sulphur 2p spectra of the investigated SAMs, consistent with a thiolate bond of the molecule to the gold surface. The C 1s XP spectra and the corresponding XAS π ^* resonance exhibit a rich structure which is assigned to the carbon atoms in the different chemical surroundings. Comparing XPS binding energies of the azobenzene moiety and calculated initial-state shifts reveals comparable screening of all C 1s core holes. While the carbon 1s XPS binding energy lies below the π ^*-resonance excitation-energy, the reversed order is found comparing core ionization and neutral core excitation of the nitrogen 1s core-hole of the azo group. This surprising difference in core-hole binding energies is interpreted as site-dependent polarization screening and charge transfer among the densely packed aromatic moieties. We propose that a quenching of the optical excitation within the molecular layer is thus one major reason for the low trans to cis photo-isomerization rate of azobenzene in aromatic-aliphatic SAMs.     

Experimental Stark broadening studies of the CI transition 3s1P1o ? 3p1S0 at 833.5 nm

Experimental Stark broadening studies of the infrared CI transition 3s ¹ P ₁ ^o − 3p ¹ S ₀ at 833.5 nm are reported for the first time. A high-current wall-stabilized arc, operated in a mixture of helium, argon, carbon dioxide and hydrogen, was applied as the plasma source. Radiation emitted from homogeneous and optically thin plasma layers was analyzed. Stark broadening studies of the selected CI transition and the hydrogen Balmer β line were performed. As expected from theoretical considerations, the CI line width depends linearly on the electron density of the plasma. Applying theoretical Stark broadening data for the H _gb line, the measured Stark widths of the CI line were calibrated for the purpose of electron density determination in low temperature plasmas.     

Near-IR laser inelastic electronic light scattering spectroscopy on transitions between ground and excited states of acceptor centers in GaAs and InP crystals

We report the development of a method for recording the low-temperature (T=6 K) near-IR inelastic light scattering spectra and the observation of electronic scattering on the transitions 1s _3/2(Γ₈) → 2s _3/2(Γ₈) between the ground and excited states of different shallow acceptor centers in a n-type semi-insulating crystal si-GaAs (n=1.0 × 10⁸ cm⁻³) and in a doped p-InP crystal (p=3.6×10¹⁷ cm⁻³). Moreover, a new line, associated with the transition 1s _3/2(Γ ₈) → 2p _3/2(Γ₈) and due to a dielectric local mode, recorded for the first time in the spectra of narrow-gap semiconductors, was found in the residual-frequency band in the p-InP spectrum between TO(Γ) and LO (Γ) phonons. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 5, 334–339 (10 March 1998)     

Laser-enhanced ionization studies of the blue satellite band in the Ca−Ar system associated with the electric-quadrupole transition 4s 21 S 0→4s3d 1 D 2 of calcium

Summary The collision-assisted electric-quadrupole transition 4s ²¹ S ₀→4s3d ¹ D ₂ of calcium at 4575 ? has been observed using the laser-enhanced ionization technique for the first time. A blue satellite band due to the interaction of calcium 4s3d ¹ D ₂ state with argon¹ S ₀ has also been detected at 4527 ? which is shifted by 48 ? from the isolated atomic calcium line. The line broadening cross-section for the blue satellite has been calculated by measuring its collisional broadening at various argon pressures. Important processes involved in the generation of this blue satellite band are qualitatively discussed. The authors of this paper have agreed to not receive the proofs for correction.     

Critical slowing of local fluctuations near the paraelectric-incommensurate phase transition in Rb2ZnCl4

A study is reported of the anomalous broadening of Mn²⁺ EPR lines on the high-temperature side of the paraelectric-incommensurate phase transition in Rb₂ZnCl₄ crystals. It is shown that the resonant-line broadening is inhomogeneous and due to the contribution of low-frequency fluctuations corresponding to the central peak in the elementary-excitation spectrum. The data obtained have permitted us to obtain the critical correlation-length exponent ν=0.64±0.02 corresponding to the 3d XY model of Heisenberg. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 122–125 (January 1999)     

EPR and NMR line shapes in disordered ferroelectric crystals

A theory is developed for the magnetic resonance line shape in disordered ferroelectric crystals. In a study of the random fields responsible for inhomogeneous line broadening, nonlinear and spatial correlation effects are taken into account. It is shown that homogeneous broadening depends on the temperature and on the magnitude and orientation of the external magnetic field, as well as on the nonlinearity parameters of the ferroelectric material. The resonance line shape is calculated as the envelope of homogeneously broadened Lorentzian spin packets. Analytic expressions for I ₂(ω) and I ₃(ω) are introduced to account for nonlinearity and correlation effects of second and third order, respectively. Calculations are done for centrally symmetric crystals, as well as for those without a center of symmetry. It is shown that homogeneous broadening is important near the line peak, while the wings are determined mainly by inhomogeneous broadening. Manifestations of the predicted effects in the spectrum lines of disordered ferroelectric crystals are discussed. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 340–347 (February 1998)     

Impact broadening and shift rates for the 6p2 3PJ′ → 7s 3P J o transitions of lead induced by collisions with argon and helium

The collisional broadening and shift rate coefficients of the 283.39 nm (6p ^{2 3}P₀ → 7s ³P₁ ^o ), 364.06 nm (6p ^{2 3}P₁ → 7s ³P₁ ^o ), 368.45 nm (6p ^{2 3}P₁ → 7s ³P₀ ^o ) and 405.90 nm (6p ^{2 3}P₂ → 7s ³P₁ ^o ) Pb lines by He and Ar have been measured by fitting the experimental absorption line shapes to theoretical Voigt profiles. The absorption measurements were performed in a resistively heated, Pb loaded oven with an integrated dc noble gas discharge to produce also Pb atoms in the 6p ^{2 3}P¹ and 6p ^{2 3}P² metastable states. The diffusion of the metastable atoms out of the discharge zone into the neutral noble-gas atmosphere enabled the line-shape and shift measurement of the lines involving the metastable states without the influence of the discharge plasma.     

Two-photon resonant four-wave mixing in atomic sodium vapour

Using the 4d- and 5s-states of sodium, two different types of two-photon resonance enhanced four-wave mixing have been observed. In the first type 2v _L =v _IR +v _pIR radiation near 2.34 μm and UV radiation near 320 nm has been detected. In the second typev _P −v _S =v _L +v _IR the UV radiation produced in the first parametric process acted as a pump for stimulated electronic Raman scattering via the 4p-state of sodium. Resonantly enhanced by the two-photon transition 3s–4s, radiation near 1.18 μm was produced in this scheme. The realisation of a tunable coherent IR source based on these four-wave mixing processes is discussed.     

Spectral properties of backward stimulated scattering in liquid carbon disulfide

The spectral structure of backward stimulated scattering from a 10 cm-long CS₂-liquid cell is investigated by using Q-switched 10-ns and 532-nm laser pulses with different spectral linewidths. Under a narrow spectral line (∼0.1 cm⁻¹) pump condition, very strong sharp lines near the pump wavelength (λ ₀) position and the first-order stimulated Raman scattering (λ _s1) position can be observed. However, under a wide line (≈1 cm⁻¹) pump condition, only a strong and superbroadening spectral band can be observed mainly in the red-shift side of the pump wavelength. The different spectral features under these two conditions can be explained by a competition between stimulated Brillouin, Raman, and Rayleigh-Kerr scattering. Under both pump conditions, the broadening spectral distributions are not consistent with the predictions given by stimulated Rayleigh-wing scattering theories, but can be interpreted well utilizing the theoretical model of stimulated Rayleigh-Kerr scattering. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 112, 1563–1573 (November 1997) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Reproduced here with stylistic changes by the Translation Editor.     

Pyroelectric properties of β-BaB2O4 in the temperature range from 2.5 to 90 K

Results are presented of experimental studies of how the spontaneous polarization of β-BaB₂O₄ (BBO) varies with temperature in the range from 2.5 to 90 K. Values of the pyroelectric coefficient γ _s are calculated, and effective values of the Debye temperature (Θ=112 K) and the Einstein temperature (Θ_E=28 K) are estimated. It is shown that the dominant contribution to γ _s comes from acoustic lattice modes. A mechanism is proposed to explain why the temperature dependence of the pyroelectric effect in linear pyroelectric materials is different from that in ferroelectrics. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 1631–1633 (September 1997)     

Nuclear charge radii and electromagnetic moments of scandium isotopes and isomers in the f7/2 shell

Collinear laser spectroscopy experiments on the ScII transition 3d4s ³D₂→3d4p ³F₃ at λ ≈ 363.1 nm were performed on the ^42–46Sc isotopic chain using an ion guide isotope separator with a cooler–buncher. Isotope and isomer shifts and hyperfine structures of five ground states and two isomers were measured. Preliminary results on the nuclear moments and charge radii changes deduced from these measurements are reported.