Spontaneous luminescence due to high density electron-hole plasma in GaAs under nano- and pico-second pulse excitation

Spontaneous luminescence due to high density electron-hole plasma in GaAs is observed at 4.2 K under nano- and pico-second pulse excitation. From the pico-second time-resolved spectra, it is found that the hot carriers are cooled down rapidly within 150 psec, and the changes of spectra are not appreciable in the later stage. One may consider, together with results of the spectral shape analysis, that the electron-hole liquid formation is improbable at least within the time range observed.     

Experiments on plasma heating in the lower hybrid frequency range

Experimental results of lower hybrid heating in a small tokamak are described. When rf power is applied, a high energy tail of ions is produced, whether or not there is a lower hybrid resonance layer (LHR layer) in the plasma column, though bulk ion heating is not observed. The electron temperature in the plasma surface increases, while the electrons in the center lose their energy, which is related to an impurity ion flux diffusing from the outside of the plasma.     

Free vibration of a circular plate elastically restrained along some radial segments

An analysis is presented for the free vibration of a circular plate restrained against deflection along radial segments. With the reaction forces acting on the segments regarded as unknown harmonic loads, the stationary response of the plate to these loads is expressed by the use of the Green function. The force distributions along the segments are expanded into Fourier series with unknown coefficients, and the homogeneous equations for the coefficients are derived by restraint conditions on the supports. The natural frequencies and the mode shapes of the plate are determined by calculating the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the equations. The method is applied to circular plates supported along several radial segments located at equal angular intervals, the natural frequencies and the mode shapes of the plates are calculated numerically and the effect of the supports is discussed.     

Cis-trans isomerization of iodine-doped polyacetylene

A quantitative analysis of the cis—trans isomerization of the lightly doped polyacetylene with iodine at room temperature is reported. The cis—trans ratio was determined on the basis of the infrared absorption measurement. The result clearly demonstrates the promotion of the isomerization with increase in the dopant concentration. The degree of the amount of the isomerization, however, is rather small compared with the previous study based on the nuclear magnetic resonance measurement.     

Adsorption and structure of methyl mercaptoacetate on Cu(1 1 1) surface by XPS and NEXAFS spectroscopy

Methyl mercaptoacetate (MA) on Cu(1 1 1) surface was investigated using synchrotron radiation-based X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. MA adsorbs on the surface via thiolate formation and weak interaction of the carbonyl group with the surface. Two different adsorption states previously reported for methanethiolate and ethanethiolate were confirmed, besides atomic sulfur. NEXAFS measurements support gauche-type conformation of MA whose skeleton lies on the surface.     

Topological Superconductivity in Cu(x)Bi(2)Se(3)

A topological superconductor (TSC) is characterized by the topologically protected gapless surface state that is essentially an Andreev bound state consisting of Majorana fermions. While a TSC has not yet been discovered, the doped topological insulator Cu(x)Bi(2)Se(3), which superconducts below ～3 K, has been predicted to possess a topological superconducting state. We report that the point-contact spectra on the cleaved surface of superconducting Cu(x)Bi(2)Se(3) present a zero-bias conductance peak (ZBCP) which signifies unconventional superconductivity. Theoretical considerations of all possible superconducting states help us conclude that this ZBCP is due to Majorana fermions and gives evidence for a topological superconductivity in Cu(x)Bi(2)Se(3). In addition, we found an unusual pseudogap that develops below ～20 K and coexists with the topological superconducting state.     

Observations of surface modifications induced by the multiple pulse irradiation using a soft picosecond x-ray laser beam

To study the interactions between picosecond soft x-ray laser (SXRL) beams and material surfaces, gold (Au), copper (Cu), and silicon (Si) surfaces were irradiated with SXRL pulses having a wavelength of 13.9 nm and a duration of ～7 ps. Following irradiation, the surfaces of the substrates were observed using a scanning electron microscope and an atomic force microscope. With single pulse irradiation, ripple-like structures were formed on the Au and Cu surfaces. These structures were different from previously investigated conical structures formed on an Al surface. In addition, it was confirmed that the development of modified structures, i.e., growth of hillocks on the Au and Cu surfaces, was observed after multiple SXRL pulse exposures. However, on the Si surface, deep holes that seemed to be melted structures induced by the accumulation of multiple pulses of irradiations were found. Therefore, it was concluded that SXRL beam irradiation of various material surfaces causes different types of surface modifications, and the changes in the surface behaviors are attributed to the differences in the elemental properties, such as the attenuation length of x-ray photons.