Model based prediction of the trap limited diffusion of hydrogen in post‐hydrogenated amorphous silicon

The diffusion of hydrogen within an hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a‐Si:H) layer is based on a trap limited process. Therefore, the diffusion becomes a self‐limiting process with a decreasing diffusion velocity for increasing hydrogen content. In consequence, there is a strong demand for accurate experimental determination of the hydrogen distribution. Nuclear resonant reaction analysis (NRRA) offers the possibility of a non‐destructive measurement of the hydrogen distribution in condensed matter like a‐Si:H thin films. However, the availability of a particle accelerator for NRR‐analysis is limited and the related costs are high. In comparison, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is also a common method to determine the total hydrogen content of an a‐Si:H layer. FTIR spectrometers are practical table‐top units but lack spatial resolution. In this study, an approach is discussed that greatly reduces the need for complex and expensive NRR‐analysis. A model based prediction of hydrogen depth profiles based on a single NRRA measurement and further FTIR measurements enables to investigate the trap limited hydrogen diffusion within a‐Si:H. The model is validated by hydrogen diffusion experiments during the post‐hydrogenation of hydrogen‐free sputtered a‐Si. The model based prediction of hydrogen depth profiles in a‐Si:H allows more precise design of experiments, prevents misinterpretations, avoids unnecessary NRRA measurements and thus saves time and expense. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The structural development of linear canonical transforms

Physics of Atomic Nuclei - We consider that the simultaneous development of the theory of linear canonical integral transforms among two quite distinct scientific communities, provides an...     

Strong electromagnetic field localization near the surface of hemicylindrical particles

We theoretically study the forward and backward plane wave illuminations of hemicylindrical dielectric particles with different radii and refractive indices. Near field effects providing strong field enhancement and narrow beam width are obtained from hemicylindrical particles, which can be associated with whispering gallery modes (WGMs) and photonic nano-jets (PNJs). It should be noted that existence of PNJ and WGM effects depending on forward/backward light illuminations is studied for the first time in all-dielectric hemicylindrical particles. Compared to dielectric cylinders, hemicylindrical aided PNJs show relatively small influences of WGM regime, when exists, to PNJ behavior. Under the backward excitation, on the other hand, typical nano-jet is produced. The designed hemicylindrical structure could be implemented in high-resolution optical imaging and sensing applications.     

Oxygen and hydrogen accumulation at buried implantation-damage layers in hydrogen- and helium-implanted Czochralski silicon

Oxygen and hydrogen accumulations at buried implantation-damage layers were studied after post-implant-ation annealing of hydrogen- and helium-implanted Czochralski (Cz) silicon. Hydrogen implantation was carried out at energies E=180 keV and doses D=2.7×10¹⁶ cm^-2, and helium implantation at E=300 keV and D=10¹⁶ cm^-2. For comparison hydrogen implantation was also done into float-zone (Fz) silicon wafers. Post-implantation annealing at 1000 °C was done either in H₂ or N₂ atmosphere. Hydrogen and oxygen concentration profiles were measured by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). It is shown that the ambient during annealing plays a significant role for the gettering of oxygen at buried implantation-damage layers in Cz Si. For both hydrogen and helium implantations, the buried defect layers act as rather effective getter centers for oxygen and hydrogen at appropriate conditions. The more efficient gettering of oxygen during post-implantation annealing in a hydrogen ambient can be attributed to a hydrogen-enhanced diffusion of oxygen towards the buried implantation-damage layers, where a fast oxygen accumulation occurs. Oxygen concentrations well above 10¹⁹ cm^-3 can be obtained. From the comparison of measurements on hydrogen-implanted Cz Si and Fz Si one can conclude that at the buried defect layers hydrogen is most probably trapped by voids and/or may be stable as immobile molecular hydrogen species. Therefore hydrogen accumulated at the defect layers, and is preserved even after high-temperature annealing at 1000 °C. Received: 3 July 2000 / Accepted: 11 July 2000 / Published online: 22 November 2000     

Port-Hamiltonian representation for pdes with second-order derivatives in the energy density

In this contribution we consider a port-Hamiltonian setting for partial differential equations. A crucial property of this system class is the property to be able to link a power balance relation to the structure of the equations. However, one has to take into account also the effects of energy flows via the boundary. This is straightforward when the Hamiltonian depends on derivative variables of first order, e.g. by using integration by parts. If second-order derivatives appear then integration by parts cannot be used without due care, thus we suggest an approach by using the so-called Cartan-form. We visualize the derivation of a power balance relation by using the Kirchhoff plate as an example. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The ambient gamma dose-rate and the inventory of fission products estimations with the soil samples collected at Canadian embassy in Tokyo during Fukushima nuclear accident

In this study, soil samples were collected at Canadian embassy in Tokyo (about 300 km from Fukushima) on 23 March and 23 May of 2011 for purposes of estimating concentrations of radionuclides in fallout, the total fallout inventory, the depth distribution of radionuclide of interest and the elevated ambient gamma dose-rate at this limited location. Some fission products and actinides were analyzed using gamma-ray spectrometry, alpha spectrometry and liquid scintillation counting. The elevated activity concentration levels of ¹³¹I, ¹³²I, ¹³⁴Cs, ¹³⁷Cs, ¹³⁶Cs, ¹³²Te, ¹²⁹mTe, ¹²⁹Te, ¹⁴⁰Ba and ¹⁴⁰La were measured by the gamma-ray spectrometer in the first sample collected on 23 March. Two months after the accident, the ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs became only detectable nuclides. A mass relaxation depth of 3.0 g/cm² was determined by the activities on the depth distribution of ¹³⁷Cs in a soil core. The total fallout inventory was thus calculated as 225 kBq/m² on March sampling date and 25 kBq/m² on May sampling date. The ambient gamma dose-rates in the sampling area estimated by the fallout fission products inventory and ¹³⁷Cs depth distribution ranged from 184 to 38 nGy/h. There was no detectable americium or plutonium in the soil samples by alpha spectrometry. Although ⁹⁰Sr or ⁸⁹Sr were detected supposedly as a result of this accident, it was less than the detection limit, which was about 0.4 Bq/kg in the soil samples.     

Brownian dynamics simulation of grafted polymer brushes

We present results of computer simulations by the method of Brownian dynamics of polymeric brushes attached to impenetrable planes. For testing both model and method we have used one polymer brush attached to a repulsive plane and compare some results with Monte Carlo results of Lai and Binder on the bond fluctuation model. We have also studied two polymeric brushes attached to two parallel planes at different distances between planes, and investigate the interplay between the interpenetration of the brushes and the configurational properties of the grafted chains.     

Determination of the Absolute Configuration of Super-Carbon-Chain Compounds by a Combined Chemical,Spectroscopic, and Computational Approach: Gibbosols A and B

Marine dinoflagellates produce remarkable organic molecules, particularly those with polyoxygenated long-carbon-chain backbones, namely super-carbon-chain compounds (SCCCs), characterized by the presence of numerous stereogenic carbon centers on acyclic polyol carbon chains. Even today, it is a challenge to determine the absolute configurations of these compounds. In this work, the planar structures and absolute configurations of two highly flexible SCCCs, featuring either a C₆₉- or C₇₁-linear carbon backbone, gibbosols A and B, respectively, each containing thirty-seven stereogenic carbon centers, were unambiguously established by a combined chemical, spectroscopic, and computational approach. The discovery of gibbosols A and B with two hydrophilic acyclic polyol chains represents an unprecedented class of SCCCs. A reasonable convergent strategy for the biosynthesis of these SCCCs was proposed.