Observation of transverse polarization asymmetries of charged pion pairs in e+e- annihilation near √s = 10.58 GeV

The interference fragmentation function translates the fragmentation of a quark with a transverse projection of the spin into an azimuthal asymmetry of two final-state hadrons. In e(+)e(-) annihilation the product of two interference fragmentation functions is measured. We report nonzero asymmetries for pairs of charge-ordered π(+)π(-) pairs, which indicate a significant interference fragmentation function in this channel. The results are obtained from a 672 fb(-1) data sample that contains 711 × 10(6) π(+)π(-) pairs and was collected at and near the Υ(4S) resonance, with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider.     

Structural and phase transformations during initial stages of copper condensation on Si(001)

Auger-electron spectroscopy, electron-energy loss spectroscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, and atomic-force microscopy are employed to investigate the growth mechanism, composition, structural and phase states, and morphology of Cu films (0.1–1 nm thick) deposited on a Si(001)-2 × 1 surface at a lower temperature of Cu evaporation (900°C) and room temperature of a substrate. The Cu film phase is shown to start growing on the Si(001)⁻² × 1 surface after three Cu monolayers (MLs) are condensed. It has been revealed that atoms of Cu and Si(001) are mixed, a Cu₂Si film phase is formed, and, thereafter, Cu₃Si islands arise at a larger coating thickness. Annealing of the first Cu ML leads to reconstruction of the Si(001)-1 × 1-Cu surface layer, thereby modifying the film growth mechanism. As a consequence, the Cu₂Si film phase arises when the thickness reaches two to four MLs, and bulk Cu₃Si silicide islands begin growing at five to ten MLs. When islands continue to grow, their height and density reach, respectively, 1.5 nm and 2 × 10¹¹ cm⁻² and the island area is 70% of the substrate surface at a thickness of ten MLs.     

Reflective and photoacoustic infrared spectroscopic techniques in assessment of binding media in paintings

This study proposes a method to estimate the lipid content in binding media in paintings that can be used at any laboratory equipped with an infrared spectrometer. The lipid content estimator, termed greasiness index (GI), is defined as a ratio of lipid ν(C=O) and protein amide I bands at 1743 and 1635 cm⁻¹, respectively. Three Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) sampling techniques were evaluated for GI determination: reflective attenuated total reflection—ATR, specular reflection microscopy—μSR and photoacoustic—PAS. A set of model painting samples containing three tempera binding media (casein, egg, egg + oil), seven pigments and one varnish type were used in the study. Multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the resulting data. A good reproducibility of GI was obtained by ATR and PAS but not with μSR. The discriminative power of the technique is higher for unvarnished samples, but, generally, the GI estimator can be used for the categorisation of binding media in large populations of painting samples analysed with the same FTIR technique (sampling technique, detection, etc.).     

On scattering of light by small axially symmetric particles

Light scattering by small dielectric particles of an arbitrary axially symmetric shape is analyzed. A simple approximate expression that governs the polarizability of the particle is found under the assumption of field homogeneity inside of these particles. The expression includes four relatively simple one-dimensional integrals that can be calculated analytically for some types of particles (except for spheroids). A comparison with the numerical data obtained for various Chebyshev particles and finite cylinders showed that the obtained approximation yields acceptable results, even when the shape of scatterers is significantly different from spheroidal. For spheroids, our approximation coincides with the Rayleigh one.     

Bandwidth-tunable band-rejection filter based on helicoidal fiber grating pair of opposite helicities

We have developed a new type of all-fiber band-rejection filter consisting of a helicoidal long-period fiber grating pair of opposite helicities, which provides highly flexible spectral control over the rejection bandwidth. The detailed fabrication method and operation principles of the proposed bandwidth-tunable band-rejection filter are described. The proposed device enables unique rejection bandwidth tuning over more than 14 nm at the rejection level of 15 dB, with low insertion loss and polarization-dependent loss achieved by adjusting torsion stress.     

Investigation of the chemical state of ultrathin Hf-Al-O films during high temperature annealing

Al₂O₃ incorporated HfO₂ films grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) were investigated by high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HRXPS). The core level energy state of a 15 Å thick film showed a shift to higher binding energy, as the result of a silicate formation and Al₂O₃ incorporation. The incorporation of Al₂O₃ into the HfO₂ film had no effect on silicate formation at the interface between the film and Si, while the ionic bonding characteristics and hybridization effects were enhanced compared to a pure HfO₂ film. The dissociation of the film in an ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) is effectively suppressed compared to a pure HfO₂ film, indicating an enhanced thermal stability of Hf-Al-O. Any dissociated Al₂O₃ on the film surface was completely removed into the vacuum by vacuum annealing treatment over 850 °C, while HfO₂ contributed to Hf silicide formation on the film surface.