Spectroscopic Investigation of Tungsten Ions in Lead Scandium Phosphate Glass System

Lead scandium phosphate glasses (PbO-Sc₂O₃-P₂O₅) containing different concentrations of tungsten oxide (WO₃) ranging from 0 to 5 mol% were prepared. A number of studies, viz. differential thermal analysis (DTA), infrared spectra, optical absorption, and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra, have been carried out. The results of DTA indicated the highest glass forming ability for the glass containing 5 mol% of WO₃. The results of spectroscopic studies have been analyzed in light of different oxidation states of tungsten ions.     

Franck–Condon Factors and r‐Centroids for the B–, C–, F–, and G–X Band Systems of YF Molecule

The Franck–Condon factors and r‐centroids, which are very closely related to relative transition probabilities, have been evaluated by a more reliable numerical integration procedure for the B¹π–X¹Σ⁺, C¹Σ⁺–X¹Σ⁺, F¹Σ⁺–X¹Σ⁺, and G¹π–X¹Σ⁺ band systems of the YF molecule, using suitable potentials.     

Optical Analysis of Er3+:Boro-Fluoro-Phosphate Glasses

This paper deals with the preparation and optical analysis of Er³⁺ (0.2 mol%) boro-fluoro-phosphate glasses in the following glass compositions:

• Series A: 69.8 B₂O₃–10 P₂O₅–10(ZnO/CdO/TeO₂)–10 AlF₃

• Series B: 69.8 B₂O₃–10 P₂O₅–10(ZnO/CdO/TeO₂)–10 LiF

Measured Vis-NIR absorption spectra of Er³⁺:boro-fluoro-phosphate glasses have revealed nine absorption bands at 377 nm, 405 nm, 450 nm, 486 nm, 519 nm, 543 nm, 649 nm, 973 nm and 1529 nm, which correspond with the transitions of ⁴I_15/2 → ⁴G_11/2, (²G_9/2,⁴H_9/2), ⁴F_5/2, ⁴F_7/2, ²H_11/2, ⁴S_3/2, ⁴F_9/2, ⁴I_11/2, and ⁴I_13/2, respectively. With an excitation at λ _exci = 375 nm, a bright green emission (⁴S_3/2 → ⁴I_15/2) at 547 nm has been observed from these erbium glasses. Judd–Ofelt characteristic intensity Ω_λ (λ = 2, 4, 6) parameters are obtained from the absorption spectra, and these results were used to compute the radiative properties of Er³⁺:boro-fluoro-phosphate glasses. The NIR emission (⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2) at 1547 nm from these glasses was measured with an Ar⁺ laser (514.5 nm) as an excitation source.     

Vacuum Ultraviolet Absorption Spectrum of Difluoromethane Reinvestigated

The vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) absorption spectrum of difluoromethane (CH₂F₂) was studied using synchrotron radiation from the storage ring Indus-1, Indore, India. Spectra were recorded in the spectral region 1050–1500 Å (～8.3–11.8 eV) at a resolution of 1.5 Å. Three absorption band systems were observed in this region. Overall features observed are in good agreement with previously published work. Some discrepancies in assignments of the observed vibronic bands carried out by previous workers have been resolved. The observed bands have been classified in terms of Rydberg series.     

Studies on defect formation in femtosecond laser-irradiated PMMA and PDMS

We report here our results on the spectroscopic and elemental analysis of femtosecond (fs) laser-modified regions in polymers of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in the context of defect formation and emission in the visible region. Different physical and chemical models are used to explain the changes in modified regions. We found that the emission intensity, recorded from the fs-modified regions of polymers, decreased over time to a constant value. We also demonstrate that these materials are suitable for the preparation of the microstructures en route for light guiding applications. The fs laser-irradiated regions exhibited paramagnetic behavior as was confirmed from electron spin resonance studies through the formation of peroxide-type free radicals. Raman mapping was performed in the modified regions which consisted of defects and found that the modulations in intensity are predominant in the central portion of the structure compared to edges. Elemental analysis has been performed in the modified regions using field emission scanning electron microscope instrument and energy-dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy to estimate the percentage contents of individual elements which resulted in defect formation such as paramagnetic and optical centers.     

Ionizing radiation effects on electrical and reliability characteristics of sputtered Ta2O5/Si interface

This paper describes the effect of ionizing radiation on the interface properties of Al/Ta₂O₅/Si metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) capacitors using capacitance–voltage (C–V) and current–voltage (I–V) characteristics. The devices were irradiated with X-rays at different doses ranging from 100?rad to 1?Mrad. The leakage behavior, which is an important parameter for memory applications of Al/Ta₂O₅/Si MOS capacitors, along with interface properties such as effective oxide charges and interface trap density with and without irradiation has been investigated. Lower accumulation capacitance and shift in flat band voltage toward negative value were observed in annealed devices after exposure to radiation. The increase in interfacial oxide layer thickness after irradiation was confirmed by Rutherford Back Scattering measurement. The effect of post-deposition annealing on the electrical behavior of Ta₂O₅ MOS capacitors was also investigated. Improved electrical and interface properties were obtained for samples deposited in N₂ ambient. The density of interface trap states (D_it) at Ta₂O₅/Si interface sputtered in pure argon ambient was higher compared to samples reactively sputtered in nitrogen-containing plasma. Our results show that reactive sputtering in nitrogen-containing plasma is a promising approach to improve the radiation hardness of Ta₂O₅/Si MOS devices.     

Electron Spin Resonance study of gamma irradiated MA-AMPS copolymer

Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectra of gamma irradiated methylacrylamide-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propanesulphonic acid (MA-AMPS) are recorded to identify the radical species formed during the irradiation of the copolymer. The ESR spectrum observed for irradiated MA-AMPS copolymer at liquid nitrogen temperature (LNT) (77 r K) is an asymmetric triplet; while the spectrum observed at room temperature (RT) is a quintet. The intensity distribution of both the spectra deviated appreciably from the expected theoretical values. Computer simulations are employed to analyze the ESR spectra observed at different temperatures. The triplet spectrum observed at LNT is simulated to be a superposition of component spectra arising from macroradicals of the type～CH 2 - \dot {\rm C} H-CH 2 ～ (I), radicals of the type \dot {\rm C} H 2 SO 3 H (II), and peroxy radicals (III). In contrast, the RT spectrum is simulated to be a superposition of component spectra arising due to radicals I, II, III together with the component quartet assigned to methyl radicals ( \dot {\rm C} H 3 ). The formation of such free radicals in irradiated copolymer is discussed.     

Magnetic properties of carbon nanosheets

Two-dimensional carbon nanosheets have been fabricated using inductively coupled radio frequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition. The structural properties of the nanosheets have been characterised using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometer. The magnetisation of the samples was studied using vibrating sample magnetometer. The magnetisation of the nanosheets was found to be diamagnetic for fast synthesis processes (30 and 60 min). On the other hand, the nanosheets exhibited a weak ferromagnetic response for the slow (120 min) synthesis process. Energy dispersive spectrometry and atomic absorption spectroscopy confirmed that the magnetisation exhibited by the carbon nanosheets was an intrinsic property and that it was not due to contamination from the substrate. Raman spectroscopy studies revealed that the ferromagnetic carbon nanosheets have a higher ratio (1.20) of graphite peak (I _G) to disordered peak (I _D) than normally expected (0.75–0.90). Available data indicated that the magnetisation was due to the presence of structural disorders.     

Hydrostatic pressure effect on the metal-insulator transition in LaO0.7Ca0.3Mn1−x(Fe/Ge)xO3 perovskites

Abstract

The temperature dependences of the resistivity of La_0.7Ca_0.3Mn_1?xFe_xO₃ and La_0.7Ca_0.3Mn_1?xFe_xO₃ (0 < × < 0.04) mixed crystals were studied under hydrostatic pressures up to 15kbar. The substitution of Fe for Mn results in an increase of the resistivity and a continuous decrease of the metal-insulator transition temperature T_mi while the substitution of Ge for Mn leads to a more complicated T_mi(x)-curve. In all cases T_mi shifts under pressure with a rate between 1.6 and 2.9K/kbar and a correlation between T_mi and its pressure derivative dT_mi/dP is observed which is in accordance with the general trend of dT_mi/dP versus T_mi as derived for other manganites and is discussed in terns of a competition between superexchange and double exchange.     

Effect of chemical substitution and oxide additives on the Tc behaviour of the oxide superconductor,Bi4Sr3Ca3Cu4O16

Studies on the superconductivity behaviour of pure and doped (Pb,TI) Bi₄Sr₃Ca₃Cu₄O₁₆ phases are reported. Effect of oxide additives PbO, BaPbO₃ and BaBiO₃ has also been examined. Results show that an oxygen treatment at 600°C for 12 h during the final stages of the synthesis has the beneficial effect of sharpening the T_c ^zero of the 4334 Bi-composition. Pb and TI substitution has only a marginally beneficial effect on the T_c , though it is not definitely known whether substitution is actually occurring in the system. PbO as an additive raises the T_c ^zero to 89 K, whereas other additives do not basically affect the properties of the 4334 system.