A vibrationally compensated far infrared laser interferometer for plasma density measurements

A modulated far-infrared laser interferometer which is presently operating on the PDX experiment at Princeton is described. The interferometer geometry permits the characterization of inside D, outside D as well as circular discharges. To achieve this versatility, a titanium corner cube reflector, mounted inside the PDX vacuum vessel is used in conjunction with a second visible wavelength interferometer for vibration corrections. In addition, the use of room temperature quasi-optical Schottky diodes in the far-infrared interferometer is reported. The minimum detectable line average density of the system is 5×10¹¹ cm^–3.     

Scanning tunnelling microscopy of charge-density waves in transition metal chalcogenides

We have used scanning tunnelling microscopes (STMs) operating at liquid helium and liquid nitrogen temperatures to image the charge-density waves (CDWs) in transition metal chalcogenides. The layer structure dichalcogenides TaSe₂, TaS₂, NbSe₂, VSe₂, TiSe₂ and TiS₂ have been studied including representative polytype phases such as 1T, 2H and 4Hb. Experimental results are presented for the complete range of CDW amplitudes and structures observed in these materials. In most cases both the CDW and the surface atomic structure have been simultaneously imaged. Results on the trichalcogenide NbSe₃ are also included.

The formation of the CDW along with the associated periodic lattice distortion gaps the Fermi surface (FS) and modifies the local density-of-states (LDOS) detected by the tunnelling process. The tunnelling microscopes have been operated mostly in the constant current mode which maps the LDOS at the position of the tunnelling tip. The relative amplitudes and profiles of the CDW superlattice and the atomic lattice have been measured and confirm on an atomic scale the CDW structures predicted by X-ray, electron and neutron diffraction. The absolute STM deflections are larger than expected for the CDW induced modifications of the LDOS above the surface and possible enhancement mechanisms are reviewed.

In the 2H trigonal prismatic coordination phases the CDWs involve a relatively small charge transfer and the atomic structure dominates the STM images. In the 1T octahedral coordination phases the charge transfer is large and the CDW structure dominates the STM image with an anomalously large enhancement of the STM profile. Systematic comparison of the STM profiles with band structure and FS information is included.

In the case of the 4Hb mixed coordination phases at the lowest temperatures two nearly independent CDWs form in alternate sandwiches. STM studies on 4Hb crystals with both octahedral and trigonal prismatic surface sandwiches have been carried out. The STM scans detect the relative strengths of the two CDWs as well as the interactions between the two types of CDW structure.

The STM scans are also able to detect defects and domain structure in the CDW image. Several examples will be given demonstrating the potential of the STM to detect these local variations in LDOS on an atomic scale. In contrast to the layer structure crystals the linear chain compound NbSe₃ shows a complex surface atomic structure as well as the formation of two CDWs. The surface atomic structure is resolved in the STM scans and profiles have detected the presence of the CDW modulation at 77K and 4.2K. These results demonstrate the feasibility of detecting CDW structure in the presence of complex atomic structure and using materials where dynamical CDW effects can also be studied by STM.

The range of STM results presented here show that the STM scans are extremely sensitive to the detail of the CDW structure and its effect on the LDOS. Although much of this structure has been deduced from diffraction studies, the ability to examine the CDW structure on an atomic scale with the STM is new. The sensitivity of the STM method suggests potential applications to a wide range of electronic structures in materials.     

Inclusive ϱ0,K *±(892) andf production in\bar p p Interactions at 12 GeV/c

Inclusive production of ?⁰,K ^*±(892), andf is studied in \(\bar p\) p interactions at 12 GeV/c. The inclusive cross sections for ?⁰,K ^*±(892), andf are found to be 6.7±0.3 mb, 1.0±0.2 mb, and 1.4±0.3 mb, respectively. The differential cross sections are presented as a function of c.m. rapidity, Feynmanx and square of the transverse momentump _T ² . Comparison with the correspondingpp data shows some interesting differences which can be attributed to the \(\bar p\) p annihilation. The results are compared with the predictions of the quark fusion model.     

Kaon production in\bar pp interactions at c.m. energies from 200 to 900 GeV

A detailed analysis ofK _s ⁰ production in \(\bar pp\) |<2.5 the average transverse momentum is found to be 0.53±0.07 GeV/c at 200 GeV and 0.62±0.08 GeV/c at 900 GeV, which is an increase with respect to data at c.m. energies below 60 GeV. TheK _s ⁰ production cross sections in inelastic collisions are 29±4 mb at 200 GeV and 63±6 mb at 900 GeV, showing an increase compared to lower energy data. The central kaon density is found to increase as a logarithmic function of energy. At 900 GeV, where statistics are sufficient to allow one to draw conclusions, the average transverse momentum is higher in events with large charged multiplicity than in events with low multiplicity.