μSR study of UTr2Si2, Tr=Co,Rh OR Pt

We have studied bySR spectroscopy the intermetallicsUTr ₂Si₂ where Tr=Co, Rh or Pt. Whereas for the Co compound we only get information on the muon localisation site, from the other two materials we obtain information on their electronic properties. We compare the characteristics of theirSR response.     

Observation of quasi-static spin dynamics in the giant anisotropic ferromagnet PrRu2Si2 by μSR spectroscopy

We report zero field and longitudinal fieldSR measurements on single crystals of the ferromagnet PrRu₂Si₂ (T _c15K). BetweenT=T _c and 250K we observe a quasi-static spin dynamics of the Pr³⁺ ion sub-lattice. BelowT _c, depending on the orientation of the initial muon beam polarisation relative to thec axis of the compound, we find either an oscillating signal or an exponential depolarisation function. These latter data allow us to get information related to the muon in PrRu₂Si₂.     

Relaxed excited states and anomalous hyperfine structure of muonium centers in KBr

We report on the luminescence induced by positive muons implanted (with 4 MeV) into KBr crystal, which evidences a long-lived (lifetime=13.3 s excited state produced by muon radiolysis. The temperature dependence of the luminescence yield has a strong correlation with the amplitude of an anomalous muonium center: both are observed only below 50 K. This correlation strongly suggests that the muonium center is perturbed by the muon-induced excitons to cause the anomalous hyperfine structure. Moreover, the luminescence energy and decay time indicate that the observed luminescence is not associated with the intrinsic or impurity-related self-trapped excitons, but with a relaxed excited state specific to the muon(ium)-KBr system.     

The nature of the C-defects in nickel and their rôle in the interpretation of radiation damage in metals

In previous Perturbed-Angular-Correlation (PAC) studies of the - emission of ¹¹¹In probe nuclei in cold-worked or particle-irradiated nickel, it has been found that thermal annealing in the temperature regime of recovery stage III leads to the formation of so-called C-defects (Cubic defects). This is indicated by the occurrence of a new frequency of about 80 Mrad/s, in addition to the frequency (200 Mrad/s) that is due to ¹¹¹In on substitutional sites. Obviously, the C-defects are complexes consisting of ¹¹¹In and the intrinsic point-defect species that migrates freely in recovery stage III. Therefore, they have played an important rôle in the long-standing controversy on whether the recovery-stage-III defects are vacancies (one-interstitial model) or self-interstitials (two-interstitial model). The present paper reports on a novel experimental effort to reveal the nature of the C-defects by combining PAC studies on nickel samples differently pretreated in a systematic way, investigations of the Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) on In-doped nickel, and measurements of the decay rate of ¹¹¹In nuclei in the Electron-Capture-Induced Decay (ECID). On the basis of the results of these experiments it is concluded that the defects trapped by substitutional ¹¹¹In atoms (In_s) in recovery stage III are self-interstitials (I), as expected according to the two-interstitial model. Moreover, there is evidence that the C-defects are In interstitials on tetrahedral sites (In_i) that form exclusively in the vicinity of the specimen surface from In_s – I pairs via the reaction In_s+I In_i.     

Spectro-streak picosecond studies of intramolecular charge-transfer fluorescence

A spectro-streak photometer, an instrument for simultaneously measuring fluorescence intensity, time, and wavelength,I(t, ), with a single picosecond excitation pulse, has been constructed. Two typical and currently highly topical examples of mesurements are discussed. (1) the temporal development of the fluorescence form the intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) state of the rigid aromatic compound 4,5-(1-methylindolino)3,4-naphthanthracene is studied in the protic solvent hexanol. (2) Propyl chain-linked pyrene/N,N-dimethylaniline is used as the model compound to study conformational changes associated with the transition from a contact ion pair to a sandwich exciplex.     

Photorefractive properties of ruthenium-doped potassium niobate

Photoconductivities and photovoltaic currents of ruthenium-doped KNbO₃ are orders of magnitude larger than that of undoped and ion-doped crystals. KNbO₃:Ru is very sensitive for holographic recording with red light and the photovoltaic current increases sublinearly with light intensity.     

Germination, growth rates, and electron microscope analysis of tomato seeds flown on the LDEF

The purpose of the experiment was to determine cosmic rays long-term effects on living tissue. A batch of tomato seeds were flown in orbit aboard the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) for almost 6 y. During this time, the seeds received an abundant exposure to cosmic radiation. Upon the return of the LDEF to Earth, the seeds were distributed throughout the United States and 30 foreign countries for analysis. Our university analysis included germination and growth rates as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray analysis of the control as well as space exposed tomato seeds.

In analyzing the seeds under the electron microscope, usual observations were performed on the nutritional and epidermis layer of the seed. These layers appeared to be more porous in the space exposed seeds than on Earth-based control seeds. This unusual characteristic may explain the increases in the space seeds growth pattern. (Several test results showed that the space-exposed seeds germinated sooner than Earth-based seeds. Also, the space-exposed seeds grew at a faster rate.) The porous nutritional region may allow the seeds to receive necessary nutrients and liquids more readily, thus enabling the plant to grow at a faster rate.

Roots, leaves and stems were cut into small sections and mounted. After sputter coating the specimens with argon/gold palladium plasma, they were viewed under the electron microscope. Many micrographs were taken. The X-ray analysis displayed possible identifications of calcium, potassium, chlorine, copper, aluminum, silicon, phosphate, carbon, and sometimes sulfur and iron. The highest concentrations were shown in potassium and calcium. As a result of the electron interaction and X-ray production within the open seeds, the traditional layers of the space-exposed seed gave peaks of Mg, P and S, while the Earth seed gave an iron peak, which was not detected in the space-exposed seed because of electron beam positioning difference. The space-exposed seed and the Earth-control seed specimens displayed high concentrations of copper.