Geometric depolarization in patterns formed by backscattered light

We formulate a framework to extend the idea of Berry's topological phase to multiple light scattering, and in particular to backscattering of linearly polarized light. We show that the randomization of the geometric Berry's phases in the medium leads to a loss of the polarization degree of the light, i.e., to a depolarization. We use Monte Carlo simulations in which Berry's phase is calculated for each photon path. Then we average over the distribution of the geometric phases to calculate the form of the patterns, which we compare with experimental patterns formed by backscattered light between crossed or parallel polarizers.     

Design of two-dimensional random surfaces with specified scattering properties

A method is proposed for designing a two-dimensional randomly rough Dirichlet surface that, when illuminated at normal incidence, scatters a scalar plane wave with a specified angular distribution of its intensity. The method is validated by computer simulation calculations.     

Mössbauer and XRD Comparative Study of Host Rock and Iron Rich Mineral Samples from Paz del Rio Iron Ore Mineral Mine in Colombia

The local environment of implanted ¹¹¹Ag (t _1/2 = 7.45 d) in single-crystalline [0001] ZnO was evaluated by means of the perturbed angular correlation (PAC) technique. Following the 60 keV low dose (1 × 10¹³ cm⁻²) ¹¹¹Ag implantation, the PAC measurements were performed for the as-implanted state and following 30 min air annealing steps, at temperatures ranging from 200 to 1050°C. The results revealed that 42% of the probes are located at defect-free S_Zn sites (ν _Q ∼ 32 MHz, η = 0) in the as-implanted state and that this fraction did not significantly change with annealing. Moreover, a progressive lattice recovery in the near vicinity of the probes was observed. Different EFGs assigned to point defects were furthermore measured and a general modification of their parameters occurred after 600°C. The 900°C annealing induced the loss of 30% of the ¹¹¹Ag atoms, 7% of which were located in regions of high defects concentration.     

Synthesis and structural determination of twisted MoS<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanotubes

In the present work we report the synthesis of MoS₂ nanotubes with diameters greater than 10 nm using a template method. The length and properties of these nanotubes are a direct result of the preparation method. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy is used to study the structure of these highly curved entities. Molecular dynamics simulations of MoS₂ nanotubes reveal that one of the stable forms of the nanotubes is a twisted one. The twisting of the nanotubes produces a characteristic contrast in the images, which is also studied using simulation methods. The analysis of the local contrast close to the perpendicular orientation shows geometrical arrays of dots in domain-like structures, which are demonstrated to be a product of the atomic overlapping of irregular curvatures in the nanotubes. The configuration of some of the experimentally obtained nanotubes is demonstrated to be twisted with a behavior suggesting partial plasticity. PACS 61.16.Bg; 79.60.Jv; 61.46.+w; 61.50.Ah     

Growth and characterization of Nd-doped SBN single crystal fibers

The growth from ceramic pedestals of single crystal fibers of strontium barium niobate (SBN), doped with different Nd concentrations, was studied. High-quality fibers were grown for Nd doping levels of up to 4.2 at.%, and doping levels as high as 9.9 at.% were reached. No signs of core effects were observed, even for the highest concentration samples. The emission spectra of Nd³⁺ ions in the fibers did not differ from those obtained from bulk SBN crystals, showing very broad bands due to the typical disorder of the crystallographic tungsten-bronze structure. Fluorescence quenching was clearly observed for Nd doping levels above 2 at.%. PACS 81.10.Fq; 78.55.-m     

Effect of process parameters on the mechanical properties of carbon nitride thin films synthesized by plasma assisted pulsed laser deposition

We present an investigation of the effect of the process parameters, namely deposition pressure and laser intensity, on the growth and mechanical properties of carbon nitride (CN_x) thin films synthesized by plasma assisted pulsed laser deposition. Deposition at high remote plasma pressure (200 mTorr) enhances both growth rate and nitrogen incorporation (up to 40 at.%), but nano-indentation measurements indicate that these films are very soft and have poor mechanical properties. At low remote plasma pressure (0.5 mTorr), the nitrogen content varies from 24 to 16 at.% with increasing laser intensity as the films become much harder and more elastic, with hardness and Youngs modulus values reaching 24 GPa and 230 GPa, respectively. These effects are explained in terms of a thermalization of the laser plasma at 200 mTorr and indicate that plasma activation of nitrogen does not provide any particular benefit to the film properties when deposition is performed at high pressure. However, at low pressure, the benefit of plasma activation is evidenced through enhanced nitrogen incorporation in the films while preserving the highly energetic species in the ablation plume. Such conditions lead to the synthesis, at room temperature, of hard and elastic films having properties close to those of fullerene-like CN_x. PACS 81.15.Fg; 81.05.Gc; 68.60.Bs     

On <Emphasis Type="Italic">osp</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis>∣2<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>) Integrable Open Spin Chains

We consider open spin chains based on osp(M2n) Yangians and solve the reflection equations for some classes of reflection matrices, including the diagonal ones. Having then integrable open spin chains, we write the analytical Bethe Ansatz equations. More details and references can be found in D. Arnaudon et al.: Nucl. Phys B 668 (2003) 469 and 687 (2004) 257.     

Time-resolved analysis of the X-ray emission of femtosecond-laser-produced plasmas in the 1.5-keV range

Recent experimental results on ion beams produced in high-intensity laser–solid interactions indicate the presence of very intense electric fields in the target. This suggests the possibility of efficiently heating a solid material by means of the fast electrons created during the laser–solid interactions and trapped in the target, rather than by the laser photons themselves. We tested this mechanism by irradiating very small cubic aluminum targets with the LULI 100-TW, 300-fs laser at 1.06-m wavelength. X-ray spectra were measured with an ultra-fast streak camera, coupled to a conical Bragg crystal, providing spectra in the 1.5-keV range with high temporal and spectral resolution. The results indicate the creation of a hot plasma, but a very low coupling between the rapid electrons and the solid. A tentative explanation, in agreement with other experimental results and with preliminary particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, points out the fatal role of the laser prepulse. PACS 52.50.Jm; 52.38.Ph; 52.38.Kd     

On the Second Law of Thermodynamics and the Piston Problem

The piston problem is investigated in the case where the length of the cylinder is infinite (on both sides) and the ratio m/M is a very small parameter, where m is the mass of one particle of the gaz and M is the mass of the piston. Introducing initial conditions such that the stochastic motion of the piston remains in the average at the origin (no drift), it is shown that the time evolution of the fluids, analytically derived from Liouville equation in a previous work, agrees with the Second Law of thermodynamics. We thus have a non equilibrium microscopical model whose evolution can be explicitly shown to obey the two laws of thermodynamics.     

Analysis of the Abraham-Minkowski Controversy by Means of Two Simple Examples

Using a very simple example, H. M. Lai [1] argued in favor of Abraham's proposal for defining electromagnetic field momentum density. Later, using another simple device, Johnson et al. [2] argued in favor of Minkowski's proposal. This indicates that the Abraham-Minkowski controversy remains open. Both models consider nonmagnetic media ( = 1). In this work we analyze both models pointing out some weak points and extend the analysis to magnetic media ( 1). We show that in this case Minkowski's proposal is better than Abraham's. Our analysis throws some light on this very old controversy.