Effect of dopants on TL characteristics of LiF:Mg,Cu,P detectors

LiF:Mg,Cu,P detectors produced at the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Krakow have shown very good dosimetric characteristics. Understanding of the effect of the concentration and type of dopants is important in the characterization of TL materials. The aim of work was to investigate the influence of the type and concentration of the dopants on the photon energy response of these detectors by irradiations “in air” and on the ISO water phantom in the range of mean photon energies between 33 and 164 keV. The influence of dopants on the glow curves, sensitivity and reproducibility was also examined. Results showed that measured energy dependence values are lower compared to the theoretical values both “in air” and on phantom. The type and concentration of the dopants influence the shape of the glow curves and sensitivity while for energy dependence is more important the presence of certain activators, namely copper.     

Atomic and electronic properties of tert-butanol on the Si(001)-(2×1) surface

The atomic and electronic properties of the adsorption of tert-butanol [(CH₃)₃OH] molecule on the Si(001)-(2×1) surface have been studied by using the ab-initio density functional theory (DFT) based on pseudopotential approach. We have found that tert-butanol bonded the Si(001) surface by oxygen atom, cleaving a O–H bond and producing a Si-H bond and tert-butoxy surface species. We have also investigated the influence of chemisorption of tert-butanol on the electronic structure of the clean Si(001)-(2×1) surface. Two occupied surface states situated entirely below the bulk valence band maximum have been identified, which means that the clean Si(001)-(2×1)surface was passivated by the chemisorption of tert-butanol. In order to explain the nature of the surface components we have also plotted the total and partial charge densities at the [`(K)]\bar{K} point of the surface Brillouin zone (SBZ).     

High repetition rate, tunable, Q-switched diode pumped Tm:YLF laser

The aim of work was to characterize a simple oscillator consisted of Tm:YLF crystal end-pumped by a fiber coupled diode laser and active Q-switch with tunability option. About 7 W with near 35% slope efficiency was demonstrated in a free-running mode. The divergence angle was about 4.3 mrad and estimated parameter M² < 1.3. Continuous tuning by means of Lyot’s filter, consisted of 2 quartz plates in the range of 1879.0–1939.4 nm with less than 1-nm linewidth, was achieved. For the best case (10-ms pump pulse duration, 42-A pump current corresponding to 266 mJ of pump energy), the Q-switched energy was 10.5 mJ with pulse duration of 22 ns corresponding to near 0.5 MW peak power. The 2.5 W of average power with 12.6-kW peak power and 2000-Hz repetition rate was demonstrated for cw pumping regime.     

1H-Pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolines: Synthesis and Properties over 100 Years of Research

This paper summarises a little over 100 years of research on the synthesis and the photophysical and biological properties of 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolines that was published in the years 1911–2021. The main methods of synthesis are described, which include Friedländer condensation, synthesis from anthranilic acid derivatives, multicomponent synthesis and others. The use of this class of compounds as potential fluorescent sensors and biologically active compounds is shown. This review intends to summarize the abovementioned aspects of 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline chemistry. Some of the results that are presented in this publication come from the laboratories of the authors of this review.     

Absorption spectra of poly-N-vinylcarbazole derivatives by experiment and simulation

Geometry molecular optimization and quantum chemical simulations of absorption spectra for newly synthesized poly-N-vinylcarbazole derivatives were performed using a semi-empirical approach. The studied polymers were modified by changing the positions of the carbazole group with respect to the polymer backbone. The absorption spectra were calculated for different numbers of PNVK monomers. A sufficient agreement between the calculated and experimentally measured spectra was observed. A change of the red shift absorption with respect to the blue shift was observed for cases when the number of monomers was higher than 4. The theoretical simulations indicate that this behavior is a consequence of the specific molecular structure of the considered molecules. The results demonstrate the potential of combined simulation and experimental studies in materials engineering and searching of new electro-luminescent materials.     

Transport coefficients of titanium-doped Sb2Te3 single crystals

Titanium-doped single crystals (c_Ti=0-2×10²⁰ atoms cm⁻³) were prepared from the elements Sb, Ti, and Te of 5 N purity by a modified Bridgman method. The obtained crystals were characterized by measurements of the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity, Hall coefficient, Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity in the temperature range of 3-300 K. It was observed that with an increasing Ti content in the samples the electrical resistivity, the Hall coefficient and the Seebeck coefficient increase. This means that the incorporation of Ti atoms into the Sb₂Te₃ crystal structure results in a decrease in the concentration of holes in the doped crystals. For the explanation of the observed effect a model of defects in the crystals is proposed. The data of the lattice thermal conductivity were fitted well assuming that phonons scatter on boundaries, point defects, charge carriers, and other phonons.     

The photoacoustic spectroscopic investigations of the surface preparation of ZnSe crystals with the use of the optimization methods

This paper shows results of the photoacoustic (PA) spectral studies, with the microphone detection, of a series of ZnSe crystals with differently prepared surfaces. All samples exhibited the surface absorption connected with defects states located on their surfaces. The quality of the surface preparation is expressed by the surface absorption coefficient spectra of the samples times the thickness of a damaged layer. In this paper both theoretical and experimental photoacoustic amplitude and phase spectra as also the corresponding computed surface and volume optical absorption coefficient spectra of the samples with differently prepared surfaces are presented and discussed. The procedure of computations of the volume and surface absorption spectra with the use of the optimization method is presented in the paper too.     

Low Pressure Radio Frequency Ammonia Plasma Surface Modification on Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Films and Fibers: Effect of the Polymer Forming Process

We investigated the effect of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) forming process on radiofrequency ammonia plasma surface-treated PET flat films and fibres obtained by melt blowing. Ammonia plasma treatment allowed for the incorporation of amino functionalities on both the film and fibre surfaces, with higher values observed at very short treatment times. This plasma treatment also induced polymer chain scissions which were observed as the formation of hydrophilic nodules that coalesced together and were loosely bound to the underlying polymeric materials. These plasma-induced surface damages were notably more important on the melt-blown PET fibres. Consequently, maximisation of the surface amino groups with minimal polymer chain breaking was achieved using very short plasma treatment times (typically 1 s). We also demonstrated that the polymer forming process must be taken into account when plasma modifications are to be performed on PET, as it may already lead to polymer chain breakings subsequently added to those induced in the plasma environment.     

Analysis of equations of state for a real gas based on the notion of division of strain into free and elastic strains

It is established that, in a general case, the equations of state of a real gas are identical to the constitutive equations of cubic strain of a deformable material. Based on this, we use the fundamental notion of deformation mechanics of the division of strain into free and elastic strain. As a result, we reduce the equation of cubic strain to the form of a generalization of the ideal gas law. We establish specific features of the gaseous state as compared with the solid and liquid states. In particular, the continuum physical meaning of an ideal gas and the universal gas constant is revealed. We construct two-parameter expressions for the compressibility coefficient for an arbitrary state of aggregation, which reveal the physical meaning of the corresponding experimental data and agree with the notions of the molecularkinetic theory of gases.     

Classical spectrum generating algebra of the Kepler-Coulomb system and action-angle variables

The classical spectrum generating algebra for the one-dimensional Kepler-Coulomb system is computed and a set of two corresponding constants of motion depending explicitly on time is obtained. Such constants supply the solution to the motion in an algebraic way. The connection of the spectrum generating algebra and the action-angle variables of the system is also shown.