New high-energy luminescence bands from Co2+ in ZnSe

Three sharp absorption features in the energy range 2.36–2.55 eV have been detected in the transmission spectrum of Co-diffused ZnSe, and a number of luminescence transitions originating from the lowest of these states at 2.361 eV have been observed. Photoluminescence excitation spectra prove that these are high energy excited states of the Co²⁺_Zn impurity, a conclusion confirmed by comparison of measured and predicted luminescence energies. This represents the first identification of luminescence branching from a higher excited state of a transition metal ion in any semiconductor. The sharp, weakly phonon-coupled transitions involve either intra-impurity excitation or transitions from the impurity to localised states split off from a minimum in the conduction band. The implications of these observations for the mechanism of host-impurity energy transfer and for the nature of the excited state wavefunctions are discussed.     

Nanodiamond pretreatment for the modification of diamond electrodes by platinum nanoparticles

The preparation of Pt-modified diamond electrodes by electrodeposition is known to be hampered by poor particle adhesion and a lack of uniformity in the spatial distribution of the deposit over the electrode surface. Here we demonstrate the results can be improved significantly if the electrode is given a simple ultrasonic treatment in the presence of diamond powders prior to electrodeposition. An improvement in spatial distribution and a higher Pt dispersion are seen and, especially, a greater Pt particle stability is observed. Application of these Pt modified diamond electrodes in the electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen peroxide is demonstrated.     

Charge-state distribution and Doppler effect in an expanding photoionized plasma

The charge state distributions of Fe, Na, and F are determined in a photoionized laboratory plasma using high resolution x-ray spectroscopy. Independent measurements of the density and radiation flux indicate unprecedented values for the ionization parameter xi=20-25 erg cm s(-1) under near steady-state conditions. Line opacities are well fitted by a curve-of-growth analysis which includes the effects of velocity gradients in a one-dimensional expanding plasma. First comparisons of the measured charge state distributions with x-ray photoionization models show reasonable agreement.     

Control of density fluctuations and electron transport in the reversed-field pinch

Contrary to what has been observed thus far collision-induced light scattering (CILS) can be completely polarized. This exceptional behavior characterizes the very far wing of the binary CILS spectrum by gaseous helium. This conclusion is drawn from an experimental study of the depolarization ratio of He (2) in a much extended, previously unexplored, spectral domain. Our analysis shows that this property, unique thus far, is mainly due to an almost perfect cancellation between polarization and exchange pair polarizability contributions to the depolarized spectrum, taking place at internuclear distances shorter than the atomic diameter.     

Momentum transport from nonlinear mode coupling of magnetic fluctuations

A cause of observed anomalous plasma momentum transport in a reversed-field pinch is determined experimentally. Magnetohydrodynamic theory predicts that nonlinear interactions involving triplets of tearing modes produce internal torques that redistribute momentum. Evidence for the nonlinear torque is acquired by detecting the correlation of momentum redistribution with the mode triplets, with the elimination of one of the modes in the triplet, and with the external driving of one of the modes.     

Isochoric heating of solid-density matter with an ultrafast proton beam

A new technique is described for the isochoric heating (i.e., heating at constant volume) of matter to high energy-density plasma states (>10(5) J/g) on a picosecond time scale (10(-12)sec). An intense, collimated, ultrashort-pulse beam of protons--generated by a high-intensity laser pulse--is used to isochorically heat a solid density material to a temperature of several eV. The duration of heating is shorter than the time scale for significant hydrodynamic expansion to occur; hence the material is heated to a solid density warm dense plasma state. Using spherically shaped laser targets, a focused proton beam is produced and used to heat a smaller volume to over 20 eV. The technique described of ultrafast proton heating provides a unique method for creating isochorically heated high-energy density plasma states.     

Chemical vapour deposition on silicon: In situ surface studies

The decomposition of Fe(CO)₅ to produce Fe films on Si(100) has been examined in situ using Auger electron spectroscopy. Processes occurring during pyrolytic, UV photolytic and electron beam deposition are determined. The nature of the surface films produced by these different methods is compared and contrasted.     

Structural and reactive properties at the metal-halogen interface: The interaction of bromine with chromium (110)

The chemisorption and subsequent reaction of bromine on Cr(110 has been studied by Auger spectroscopy, LEED, Δφ, and thermal desorption measurements. For gas doses of < 7.5 × 10¹⁸ molecules m^?2, very efficient dissociative chemisorption leads to a series of well-ordered, out-of-registry compression structures. Uniquely, however, the overlayer falls back into registry at saturation coverage; at this point the appearance of glide symmetry indicates that the three-fold coordinated adsorption sites are occupied exclusively. Bromine → metal charge transfer occurs during adsorption (in contrast to Cr(100)). On raising the temperature at low coverages, the surface phase decomposes by evaporation as CrBr molecules; at higher coverages the desorption product switches to CrBr₂. Continuous growth of bulk CrBr₂ sets in at high gas exposures, this corrosion reaction proceeding at a rate which is ten times slower than the rate of overlayer formation. The chromium dibromide layer also evaporates as CrBr₂(g). Structural relationships with related metal-halogen systems are discussed.     

Qualitative properties of modified equations

Suppose that a consistent one-step numerical method of orderr is applied to a smooth system of ordinary differential equations.Given any integer m 1, the method may be shown to be of orderr + m as an approximation to a certain modified equation. Ifthe method and the system have a particular qualitative propertythen it is important to determine whether the modified equationsinherit this property. In this article, a technique is introducedfor proving that the modified equations inherit qualitativeproperties from the method and the underlying system. The techniqueuses a straightforward contradiction argument applicable toarbitrary one-step methods and does not rely on the detailedstructure of associated power series expansions. Hence the conclusionsapply, but are not restricted, to the case of Runge-Kutte methods.The new approach unifies and extends results of this type thathave been derived by other means: results are presented forintegral preservation, reversibility, inheritance of fixed points.Hamiltonian problems and volume preservation. The techniquealso applies when the system has an integral that the methodpreserves not exactly, but to order greater than r. Finally,a negative result is obtained by considering a gradient systemand gradient numerical method possessing a global property thatis not shared by the associated modified equations.     

Principal Components plots for exploratory investigation of reactions using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy: application to the formation of benzophenone phenylhydrazone

The use of Principal Components plots in the exploratory investigation of reactions monitored by UV-Vis spectroscopy is described. The effects of different types of pre-processing (raw, mean-centred, and standardised) are illustrated. Four types of plot (scores versus time, loadings versus wavelength, scores versus scores, and loadings versus loadings) are considered. The approach is used to investigate the reaction between phenylhydrazine and benzophenone to give a hydrazone. Observable deviations from ideal behaviour indicate differential crystallisation of the product, and the presence of small quantities of an intermediate during the reaction. Additional information about the reaction is gained by comparing selected components from several batches. PCA is easily performed at- or on-line, and the information gained can be used to help decide upon a suitable harder model for further analysis.