Experimental and theoretical studies of electronic energy states of methyl benzoate derivatives

Spectroscopic steady state studies of four monosubstituted derivatives of methyl benzoate dissolved in methylcyclohexane (McH), tetrahydrofuran (THF), ethanol (EtOH) and isopentane-diethyl ether mixture (IP-DE) have been performed at 293 and 77 K. The determined electronic energy values and oscillator strengths are compared with those obtained from quantum chemical calculations. Good agreement between experimental and theoretical energy values is noted. The average value is smaller than 5 percent. A reasonable agreement is noted between intensities of separated bands and oscillator strength of corresponding transitions. The relative ratio of fluorescence to phosphorescence intensity I_fl/I_ph of ortho-substituted compounds dissolved in non-polar, polar and protic solvents is higher than that of the para-substituted derivatives of methyl benzoate. The spectroscopic studies show that methyl ortho-hydroxy benzoate in the excited state S₁ forms H-bonded dimers in the solvents used. At 77 K the dimer fluorescence dominates the phosphorescence emission. The long wavelength absorption band (C) of amino-substituted methyl benzoates consists of two transitions in agreement with our theoretical calculations and a suggestion made by Shabestary and El-Bayoumi [N. Shabestary, M.A. El-Bayoumi, Chem. Phys. Lett. 106 (1984) 107].     

Silicon solar cells with Al2O3 antireflection coating

The paper presents the possibility of using Al₂O₃ antireflection coatings deposited by atomic layer deposition ALD. The ALD method is based on alternate pulsing of the precursor gases and vapors onto the substrate surface and then chemisorption or surface reaction of the precursors. The reactor is purged with an inert gas between the precursor pulses. The Al₂O₃ thin film in structure of the finished solar cells can play the role of both antireflection and passivation layer which will simplify the process. For this research 50×50 mm monocrystalline silicon solar cells with one bus bar have been used. The metallic contacts were prepared by screen printing method and Al₂O₃ antireflection coating by ALD method. Results and their analysis allow to conclude that the Al₂O₃ antireflection coating deposited by ALD has a significant impact on the optoelectronic properties of the silicon solar cell. For about 80 nm of Al₂O₃ the best results were obtained in the wavelength range of 400 to 800 nm reducing the reflection to less than 1%. The difference in the solar cells efficiency between with and without antireflection coating was 5.28%. The LBIC scan measurements may indicate a positive influence of the thin film Al₂O₃ on the bulk passivation of the silicon.     

Time-resolved streak camera system with solid state laser and optical parametric generator in different spectroscopic applications

Apparatus to study time-evolution of emission spectra over very wide time and spectral range is described. Excitation part of the equipment consists of solid state Nd:YAG laser and optical parametric generator. The heart of the detection system consists of spectrograph and streak camera. The significance of optics and electronics built in the system for proper, fast and convenient measurements is underlined. The results of donor-acceptor energy transfer in a rigid polyvinyl alcohol matrix serve here as an example of application our equipment to study complex systems.     

Natural radioactivity in groundwater--a review

The issue of natural radioactivity in groundwater is reviewed, with emphasis on those radioisotopes which contribute in a significant way to the overall effective dose received by members of the public due to the intake of drinking water originating from groundwater systems. The term 'natural radioactivity' is used in this context to cover all radioactivity present in the environment, including man-made (anthropogenic) radioactivity. Comprehensive discussion of radiological aspects of the presence of natural radionuclides in groundwater, including an overview of current regulations dealing with radioactivity in drinking water, is provided. The presented data indicate that thorough assessments of the committed doses resulting from the presence of natural radioactivity in groundwater are needed, particularly when such water is envisaged for regular intake by infants. They should be based on a precise determination of radioactivity concentration levels of the whole suite of radionuclides, including characterisation of their temporal variability. Equally important is a realistic assessment of water intake values for specific age groups. Only such an evaluation may provide the basis for possible remedial actions.     

Origin of the magnetic field induced changes of the transverse plasma mode in the c-axis infrared response of underdoped YBa2Cu3O(7-δ)

We report on results of our theoretical study of magnetic field induced changes of the c-axis infrared response of bilayer cuprate superconductors using the phenomenological multilayer model involving the conductivity of the spacing layers and that of the bilayer units. For H perpendicular to the planes, the local conductivities have been expressed in terms of a two-fluid approximation--as weighted averages of the superconducting state ones and the normal state ones representing contributions of the vortex cores, the weight of the latter increasing linearly with the field. This allows us to reproduce and interpret the fast decrease with increasing H of the well known 400 cm(-1) peak (transverse plasma mode) in the c-axis conductivity, observed by LaForge and co-workers. For the local conductivities of underdoped YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-δ) with T(c)=58 K reported by Dubroka and co-workers and the fraction of the normal state (T ≈ T(c)) component given by (μ(0)H/25 T), the computed field induced changes of the reflectivity are in quantitative agreement with the data. This suggests that the response at H=0 and T ≈ T(c) is close to that at H=25 T < H(c2) and T ? T(c), in accord with theories attributing the above T(c) state to that of a superconductor lacking long-range phase coherence. Also discussed are changes of the response induced by H parallel to the CuO(2) planes.     

SICs and Algebraic Number Theory

We give an overview of some remarkable connections between symmetric informationally complete measurements (SIC-POVMs, or SICs) and algebraic number theory, in particular, a connection with Hilbert’s 12th problem. The paper is meant to be intelligible to a physicist who has no prior knowledge of either Galois theory or algebraic number theory.     

Studies on the level structure of154Gd via the β-decay of154Eu nucleus

The excited states of¹⁵⁴Gd populated by theβ-decay of¹⁵⁴Eu (T _1/2=8.5y) have been studied. With a HPGe-NaI (T1) Compton suppression spectrometer and a HPGe-NaI(T1) coincidence circuitυ-ray singles spectra, coincidence spectra and theγ-γ directional correlational functions have been obtained. The deduced mixing ratios of multipolarities are presented. The energy levels and the relativeB(E2) values of the variousγ-transitions in¹⁵⁴Gd nucleus have been calculated both in the IBA model and it's extended version with boson surface delta interaction (BSDI).