Optical and ESR studies on Fe doped ZnS nanocrystals

Zn_1 − xFe_xS (x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6) nanocrystals have been obtained by chemical co-precipitation from homogeneous solutions of zinc and iron salt compounds, with S²⁻ as precipitating anion formed by decomposition of thiophenol. The TEM micrographs show a spherical shape for ZnS nanocrystals and their average size is around 7 nm. The optical absorption spectra indicate a blue shift of the absorption edge with increasing Fe-content. The luminescence of nanoparticles excite at about 370 nm with an emission peak at around 490 nm. At room temperature, ESR signal characteristic of Fe³⁺ was observed in samples of all concentrations.     

A microprocessor based autoscanner for electromigration studies in thin films

Mass transport due to electromigration can be estimated if the diffusion coefficientD and the electromigration effective charge numberZ* are known. Neutron activated tracer scanning method determine the radioactivity at different positions. An automatic scanning system for determining the radioactive concentration profiles developed using a microprocessor is described in this paper. Using the radioactive concentration profiles the electromigration shift is determined. From this shift the electromigration effective charge numberZ* is calculated. The system developed was tested for tin thin films.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance and optical absorption spectra of Cr ions in cadmium phosphate glass

EPR and optical absorption investigations of chromium doped cadmium phosphate glass are carried out. Crystal field, spin-Hamiltonian and bonding parameters are evaluated. From the results and analyses of the EPR and optical studies, the site symmetry of Cr³⁺ ion in the glass is ascribed to a distorted octahedron. The bonding parameters suggest the ionic nature of Cr³⁺ ion with the ligands.     

Baseline studies of radon/thoron concentration levels in and around the Lambapur and Peddagattu areas in Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, India

Studies conducted by Atomic Minerals Directorate of Exploration and Research (AMD) of Hyderabad, India had established the presence of higher concentrations of uranium in Lambapur and Peddagattu areas of Nalgonda district, AP, India and it was estimated that it could be a viable source for commercial extraction. The envisaged extraction process involves dispersion of radioactive particulate matter into atmosphere. Environmental radioactive studies in and around proposed mining areas at this point of time will be extremely useful for establishing base line data before a large scale uranium extraction process comes into existence. To this end, Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors were installed to evaluate indoor radon and thoron concentration levels in the dwellings of the area. The geometric means of radon and thoron concentration levels were found to be (7.1±0.2)×10¹ and (6.7±0.3)×10¹ Bq/m³, respectively. Simultaneously, natural background radiation measurements were also made and these levels are found to vary from 770 to 3995 μGy/y in the spatial distribution.     

Artifacts in T(1rho)-weighted imaging: correction with a self-compensating spin-locking pulse

Significant artifacts arise in T(1rho)-weighted imaging when nutation angles suffer small deviations from their expected values. These artifacts vary with spin-locking time and amplitude, severely limiting attempts to perform quantitative imaging or measurement of T(1rho) relaxation times. A theoretical model explaining the origin of these artifacts is presented in the context of a T(1rho)-prepared fast spin-echo imaging sequence. Experimentally obtained artifacts are compared to those predicted by theory and related to B(1) inhomogeneity. Finally, a "self-compensating" spin-locking preparatory pulse cluster is presented, in which the second half of the spin-locking pulse is phase-shifted by 180 degrees. Use of this pulse sequence maintains relatively uniform signal intensity despite large variations in flip angle, greatly reducing artifacts in T(1rho)-weighted imaging.     

On Axially Symmetric Domain Walls and Cosmic Strings in Bimetric Theory

It is shown that the axially symmetric thick domain walls and cosmic strings do not survive in the frame work of bimetric theory of gravitation proposed by Rosen (Gen. Relativ. Gravit. 4:435, 1973). Hence vacuum models are presented and studied.     

Vibration of a two layered ring on periodic radial supports

Natural frequencies of a two layered elastic ring, on equi-spaced, identical radial supports, are obtained by using a wave approach. Two types of support conditions are investigated. With the outer layer viscoelastic, the theory of forced damped normal modes is used to obtain the resonant frequencies and the modal loss factors of the structure. Results presented show the effect of the thickness ratio on the resonant frequency and the modal loss factor. The effect of rotational constraints at the supports is also reported.     

Absorption spectra of Cu2+ in shattuckite and plancheite

Optical and EPR measurements are carried out on shattuckite, a copper bearing silicate. The EPR spectrum observed at 120 K reveales hyperfine structure for parallel and perpendicular components. The measured values are g6 = 2.402, g⊥ = 2.038, A6 = 112 × 10^-4 cm^-1 and A⊥ = 49.5 × 10^-4 cm^-1 and they indicate a tetragonal distortion for the Cu²⁺ion. Further, the constants P and K are evaluated and found to be 0.014 cm^-1 and 0.0112 respectively. The bands observed at 8160, 13330 and 16125 cm^-1 are assigned to the electronic states of Cu²⁺, in a crystal field subjected to tetragonal (C_4V) distortion. The crystal field parameters evaluated are Dq = -1333, Ds = -1565 and Dt = -380 cm^-1. Correlating the EPR and optical data, the orbital reduction factors are calculated as k6 = 0.89 and k⊥ = 0.59. It is confirmed from EPR and optical studies that the Cu²⁺ion in shattuckite is sited in an elongated octahedron. Similar studies are carried out for plancheite. The observed optical absorption spectrum of plancheite is attributed to Cu²⁺ sited in an elongated octahedron and tetragonal field parameters are evaluated.     

Photoelectric cross-sections of light elements and compounds at low photon energies

Total photon mass attenuation coefficients in C, Al, S, Ti, B₂O₃, LiF, ZnO, Y₂O₃ and H₈O₂C₅ (perspex) are measured on a good geometry set-up using proportional counter, Si(Li) and Ge(Li) detecting systems in the energy region from 6.47 to 52.014 keV employing x-rays and gamma rays from radioactive sources. The deduced photoelectric cross-sections are found to agree with the theoretical values of Storm and Israel, Scofield and semiexperimental values of Veigele wherever available within a few percent. The photo-electric cross-sections in elements, S, Ti and Y at their respectiveK-edges obtained by extrapolation technique agree with the theoretical values of Storm and Israel and Scofield at the respectiveK-edges except in S. In the case of S both the theoretical values atK-edges are found to be underestimations, more in the case of Scofield evaluations.