Isotope Shifts of Nitrogen around 800 nm

The Doppler-limited absorption spectra of ¹⁴N and ¹⁵N atoms were measured around 800 nm using concentration modulation spectroscopy to study their isotope shifts. The nitrogen atoms were generated by discharging molecular nitrogen buffered with helium in a homemade discharge tube. The isotope shifts of four multiplets (3s⁴P_J→3p⁴D_J^o, 3s⁴P_J→3p⁴P_J^o, 3s²D_J→5s²P_J^o, and 3p²P_J^o→5s²D_J^o) were measured and their J-dependent specific mass shifts were observed and discussed.     

Formation of C2(e3πg, C1πg) in the photolysis of CO(X1ϵg+) at 193 nm with an ArF laser

CO(X¹?_g⁺) was irradiated with an ArF laser (193 nm) at room temperature at pressures of 2–20 mbar. C(2 ¹D) atoms were formed by two-photon absorption and observed by the 247.8 nm C(3 ¹P^o→2 ¹S) fluorescence. Fluorescence of C₂ (e ³π_g → a ³π_u, C ¹π_g → A ¹π_g and d ³π_g → a ³π_g) was detected. The emission time dependence led to the conclusion that C₂¹ is formed by recombination of electronically excited carbon atoms.     

A novel and efficient excitation- and ionization-scheme for laser resonance ionization of mercury

A novel, efficient scheme for mercury atomic resonance ionization is proposed and experimentally studied with wavelengths λ₁=254 nm, λ₂=313 nm and λ₃=626 nm. The cross-sections of mercury photoionization from different excited states were estimated using a new imaging method of resonance ionization signal measurement. Almost 100% efficiency of Hg resonance ionization was achieved using the first harmonic of a dye laser at 626 nm to ionize mercury atoms excited into the 6³D₂ state. The photoionization cross-section from this state was found to be 1.5×10⁻¹⁸ cm². Suppression of the ionization signal by coherent effects (electromagnetically-induced transparency) and the efficiency of resonance ionization were also studied.     

Impact of Eu3+ Ions on Physical and Optical Properties of Li2O-Na2O-B2O3 Glass

The lithium sodium borate glasses doped with Eu³⁺ ion are prepared using melt quenching technique, their structural and optical properties have been evaluated. The density of prepared glasses exhibits an inverse behavior to the molar volume ranging from 2.26 g/cm³ to 2.43 g/cm³ and 26.95 cm³ /mol to 26.20 cm³ /mol, respectively. The absence of sharp peaks in XRD patterns confirms the amorphous nature of the prepared glasses. The absorption spectra yield four transitions centered at 391 nm (⁷F₀→⁵L₆), 463 nm (⁷F₀→⁵D₂), 531 nm (⁷F₀→⁵D₁), and 582 nm (⁷F₀→⁵D₀). The most intense red luminescence is observed at 612 nm corresponding to ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition under 390 nm laser excitations.     

Fine structure excitation transfer between the potassium 42P states induced by collisions with caesium atoms

Applying diode-laser resonant fluorescence method, the cross sections for the excitation energy transfer of the collisional process K*(4² P _1/2)+Cs(6² S _1/2)?K*(4² P _3/2)+Cs(6² S _1/2) have been measured. The values we have obtained are σ(1/2→3/2)=77 Ų and σ(3/2→1/2)=48 Ų. These results complete the sequence of data for the fine-structure mixing of the first-resonance states of alkali atoms colliding with the ground-state caesium atoms.     

Electronic structure and magnetic properties of TMRh12 clusters

We report an experimental study of energy pooling collisions involving Cs atoms in the 6P and 5D states. The 5D state was populated by a cw dye-laser tuned to the cesium dipole-forbidden transition 6S → 5D at 685.0 nm. The 6P state was populated by subsequent radiative relaxation of the 5D state. The 6P population density was determined from the absorption of a cw diode-laser probe beam. The population densities of the 5D state and the higher, by energy pooling excited states were determined by measuring the corresponding fluorescence intensities relative to the fluorescence intensity from the optically thin quasi-static wings of the cesium D ₂ line. The rate coefficient for the process Cs*(6P)+Cs*(6P)→Cs**(6D)+Cs(6S) is found to be (4.2±0.13)×10^?10 cm³ s^?1 at T=570 K. In addition, estimates of the rate coefficients for the processes Cs*(6P)+Cs*(5D)→Cs**(7D)+Cs(6S) and Cs*(5D)+ Cs*(5D)→Cs**(7F)+Cs(6S) are given.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of lithium and potassium hexanitroruthenates (II)

A procedure for preparing Li₄[Ru(NO₂)₆]…12H₂O and K₄[Ru(NO₂)₆] is described. We have carried out an X-ray diffraction study of polycrystals (DRON-UM1 diffractometer, R=192mm, CuK_α radiation, Ni filter) and single crystals (CAD-4 automatic diffractometer, MoK_α radiation, graphite monochromator, ω/2? scan mode). Crystal data for Li₄[Ru(NO₂)₆]…12H₂O are a=11.749(9), c=16.807(12) Å, space group $I\bar 4$ , V=2320.0 ų, Z=4, d_calc=1.778 g/cm³; for K₄ [Ru(NO₂)₆]: a=8.595(1) Å, α=53.23 (2)^o, space group $R\bar 3$ , V=367.0 ų, Z=1, d_calc=2.414 g/cm³. The structures are composed of [Ru(NO₂)₆]^4? comple anions, alkaline metal cations, and crystallization water molecules. In both compounds, the coordination polyhedra of Ru are nearly regular octahedra formed by nitrite nitrogen atoms. The Ru-N bond lengths are 2.054–2.102 Å. The NO₂ groups have virtually the same geometric characteristics: the N?O distances are within 1.196–1.316 Å and the O?N?O angles are 112.9–117.4^o. The coordination environment of alkaline metals by oxygen atoms is discussed.     

Designing Upconversion Nanocrystals Capable of 745 nm Sensitization and 803 nm Emission for Deep‐Tissue Imaging

A crystal design strategy is described that generates hexagonal‐phased NaYF₄:Nd/Yb@NaYF₄:Yb/Tm luminescent nanocrystals with the ability to emit light at 803 nm when illuminated at 745 nm. This is accomplished by taking advantage of the large absorption cross‐section of Nd³⁺ between 720 and 760 nm plus efficient spatial energy transfer and migration through Nd³⁺→Yb³⁺→Yb³⁺→Tm³⁺. Mechanistic investigations suggest that a cascaded two‐photon energy transfer upconversion process underlies the emission mechanism. This protocol enables deep‐tissue imaging to be achieved while mitigating the attenuation effect associated with the visible emission and the overheating constraint imposed by conventional 980 nm excitation.     

The collision cross sections for the fine-structure mixing of caesium 6P levels induced by collisions with potassium atoms

The cross section for the fine-structure excitation transfer Cs(6P _1/2) → Cs(6P _3/2), induced by collisions with the ground state potassium atoms, has been measured by resonant Doppler-free two-photon spectroscopy. The population densities of caesium 6P _J (J=1/2, 3/2) levels were probed by thermionic detection of the collisionally ionized caesium atoms from the Cs(6P _J ) → Cs(10S _1/2) excitation channel. The cross section for the transfer process at the temperatureT=503 K has been found to be σ(1/2 → 3/2)=45 Ų ± 20%. The result is compared with previously published experimental cross sections for fine-structure transfer in resonance states of other alkali elements perturbed by potassium and a thoeretical value of the Li(2P _J )-K system calculated in a simple approach.     

Enhanced upconversion emission in Er3+-doped tellurite glass containing silver nanoparticles

Er³⁺-doped tellurite glass containing silver nanoparticles (NPs) has been synthesized. Detailed structural and optical characterizations have been carried out. Infrared to visible frequency upconversion (UC) emission has been observed in Er³⁺-doped tellurite glass on pumping with the 976 nm radiation. Further, an enhancement in UC emission intensity of green bands (²H_11/2 → ⁴I_15/2 and ⁴S_3/2 → ⁴I_15/2) of Er³⁺ ion has been observed up to four times in presence of silver NPs in the glass annealed at 240 °C for 40 h. Though, there is enhancement in intensity in the red band (⁴F_9/2 → ⁴I_15/2) also but it is smaller. The enhancement in fluorescence intensity is attributed to local field effect due to the silver NPs.     

The role of radicals and clusters in thermal plasma flash evaporation processing

The prominent features of plasma flash evaporation may be caused by cluster deposition under high net flux of radicals. In order to clarify such features quantitatively, the atomic oxygen flux (Γ _o ) and cluster size (d) in 200 Torr RF thermal Ar-O₂ plasma were measured on the substrate. It was found that Γ _o higher than 10¹⁹ atoms/cm²·s can be easily acheived in this processing and this value corresponds to frozen atomic oxygen fraction 7 %. The cluster size of YBCO was estimated to be about 0.3 to 10 nm. 0.8 nm cluster deposition under Γ _o higher than 6 × 10¹⁸ atoms/cm²·s made it possible to deposit fine epitaxial YBCO films with Tc = 90K on SrTiO₃ (100) with extremely high deposition rate around 2.2 μm/min.     

An optically pumped,highly polarized cesium beam for the study of spin-dependent electron scattering

We have set up an atomic beam of cesium for the study of spin-dependent electron-cesium scattering. The beam is produced by an effusive oven with continuous recirculation of the condensed metal. The beam is optically pumped by circularly polarized light from two laser diodes tuned to the 6² S _1/2(F=3)→6² P _3/2(F′=4) and 6² S _1/2(F=4)→6² P _3/2(F′=5) transitions, respectively. Nearly all atoms are transferred into theF=4,m _F =+4 orm _F =?4 Zeeman level of the ground state, depending on the sense of circular polarization of the pumping light. The population distribution in the optically pumped beam is analyzed in terms of them _J =?1/2 andm _J =+1/2 components with a Stern-Gerlach magnet. We find the atomic polarization to be very close to unity at a density of 8×10⁸ atoms/cm³ in the scattering center. The polarization decreases slightly with increasing density of the cesium beam due to radiation trapping. A spin flipper serves as a means of polarization reversal, introducing no systematic errors in the spin asymmetry measurements. Lock-in technique is used to stabilize the atomic beam polarization by detecting fluorescence light signals.     

Hyperfine splitting of the odd 4 F J o , 2 P J o and 4 S J o LaI multiplets

High resolution spectra of LaI lines recorded in the R6G region by laser-induced resonance fluorescence method show well resolved hyperfine structures. The analysis of the hyperfine structure of seven LaI transitions is presented here. It has allowed the deduction of magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole constants of all levels belonging to the excited odd parity multiplets: ⁴ F ^o (J = 3/2-9/2), ² P ^o (J = 1/2,3/2), and ⁴ S ^o (J = 3/2). Some of the results are new and some of them present improved values of the hyperfine splitting constants.     

A detailed consideration of resonance radiation trapping in the argon inductively coupled plasma

The extent and duration of trapping of argon resonance radiation (106.7 and 104.8 nm) in the ICP was calculated using a model incorporating line shape contributions from both Doppler and pressure broadening. The trap was found to be at the pressure-broadened limit, giving an escape factor of 7.9 × 10^?4 when excitation of the 4s states in the plasma annulus is assumed. Theoretical apparent radiative lifetimes τ_app for argon ³P₁ and ¹P₁ resonance states are calculated to be 8 and 1.9μs respectively. The quartet of 4s states, rapidly mixed by electron collisions, are presumed to share an overall apparent radiative lifetime τ_app = 1.6μs for the purpose of plasma modeling. Effects of this radiation trapping on the argon 4s atom density and on electron-ion recombination are discussed.     

Electronic structure of solid state tris(1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanedionato)aquoeuropium(III)

Single crystal orthoaxial absorption spectra are reported for tris(1,3-diphenyl-1,2-propanedionato)aquoeuropium(III) at ambient temperature and 77 K. The hypersensitive ⁷F_o→⁵D₂ and magnetic/electric dipole forbidden ⁷F_o→⁵D_o transitions are found to be unusually intense. Polarizations and absolute oscillator strengths are determined for all observed transitions from the ground state at 77 K.     

Resonantly laser induced plasmas in gases: The role of energy pooling and exothermic collisions in plasma breakdown and heating

The present work is a systematic experimental study of the plasma formation in cesium vapor induced by a continuous laser tuned to the resonance transition 6S_1/2–6P_3/2. Taking into account the measured absolute population densities of Cs ground and excited state atoms as well as the electron densities derived from Stark broadening of the Cs lines, complete local thermodynamic equilibrium in the laser-produced plasma was found for laser power densities ≈ 10 Wcm^− 2 at cesium ground state number densities of about 10¹⁷ cm^− 3. Direct conversion of the excitation energy or parts of the excitation energy in exothermic collisions of laser-excited atoms is concluded to be the major process for atomic vapor heating and subsequent formation of LTE plasmas.     

Quantum efficiency improvement of a cesium based resonance fluorescence detector by helium-induced collisional excitation energy transfer

Quantum efficiency improvement of a cesium based resonance fluorescence detector (RFD) was achieved by enhancing the transfer in a particular channel of the RFD excitation scheme with noble gas-induced collisional excitation energy transfer (CEET). The influence of Cs–Ar and Cs–He collisional mixing between the 6D and 7P states in cesium on the quantum efficiency of the 6S → 6D → 7P → 6S excitation scheme was investigated by fluorescence measurements at relevant transitions. Ar-induced CEET was found to have little effect on the fluorescence response and quantum efficiency of the Cs RFD excitation scheme. However, a 35 fold quantum efficiency increase in the cesium resonance fluorescence detector response at only moderate He pressures was observed.     

Diffusion and localization of o-Ps in D2O determined from positron annihilation in SDS micellar solutions

A microscopic diffusion model is presented for the determination of orthopositronium (o-Ps) lifetime in micellar solutions. Among other parameters, the lifetime density function depends on the o-Ps diffusion coefficient in the water phase. Orthopositronium diffusion coefficients are determined by fitting this lifetime density function to positron annihilation spectra obtained from 1 mol/dm³ solution of sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) in D₂O at different temperatures. The activation energy of the o-Ps diffusion in D₂O obtained from an Arrhenius plot as E_a = 0.9₂₂ ± 0.1₀₃ eV indicates strong localization.     

Rare‐Earth‐Based Nanoparticles with Simultaneously Enhanced Near‐Infrared (NIR)‐Visible (Vis) and NIR‐NIR Dual‐Conversion Luminescence for Multimodal Imaging

Multifunctional NaGdF₄:Yb³⁺,Er³⁺,Nd³⁺@NaGdF₄:Nd³⁺ core–shell nanoparticles (called Gd:Yb³⁺,Er³⁺,Nd³⁺@Gd:Nd³⁺ NPs) with simultaneously enhanced near‐infrared (NIR)‐visible (Vis) and NIR‐NIR dual‐conversion (up and down) luminescence (UCL/DCL) properties were successfully synthesized. The resulting core–shell NPs simultaneously emitted enhanced UCL at 522, 540, and 660 nm and DCL at 980 and 1060 nm under the excitation of a 793 nm laser. The enhanced UCL and DCL can be explained by complex energy‐transfer processes, Nd³⁺→Yb³⁺→Er³⁺ and Nd³⁺→Yb³⁺, respectively. The effects of Nd³⁺ concentration and shell thickness on the UCL/DCL properties were systematically investigated. The UCL and DCL properties of NPs were observed under the optimal conditions: a shell Nd³⁺ content of 20 % and a shell thickness of approximately 5 nm. Moreover, the Gd:Yb³⁺,Er³⁺,Nd³⁺@Gd:20 % Nd³⁺ NPs exhibited remarkable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) properties similar to that of a clinical agent, Omniscan. Thus, the core–shell NPs with excellent UCL/DCL/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) properties have great potential for both in vitro and in vivo multimodal bioimaging.