Optical amplification of photoinduced polarizability gratings in phosphate glasses

It is experimentally demonstrated that second-order polarizability gratings preliminarily recorded using bichromatic light in a phosphate glass can be amplified under the action of monochromatic radiation. The amplification effect takes place irrespective of the polarization and direction of propagation of the amplifying radiation and is achieved at various wavelengths. The phenomenon is related to the asymmetry of optical transitions between local centers in an isotropic medium in the presence of electric field. It is theoretically shown that this system may feature the formation of alternating electric field domains with dimensions depending on the grating amplitude.     

Thermodynamically stable fractal-like domain structures in magnetic films

A fractal-like structure of the domain boundaries was revealed in “overcritical” uniaxial Permalloy magnetic films. The fractal dimension of domain boundaries at the film surfaces was determined as a function of the film thickness. It is shown that the phase transition between the two possible types of fractal-like structures is accompanied by a jump in fractal dimension.

     

Spatial-temporal ion structures in the earth’s magnetotail: Beamlets as a result of nonadiabatic impulse acceleration of the plasma

The properties of high-energy ion beams (beamlets) observed in the boundary layer of the plasma sheet of the Earth’s magnetotail during short time intervals (1–2 min) have been considered. Beamlets are induced by nonlinear impulse accelerating processes occurring in the current sheet of the far regions of the geomagnetic tail. Then, moving toward the Earth along the magnetic field lines, they are detected in the magnetotail (in the plasma sheet boundary layer) and in the high-latitude part of the auroral zone in the form of short bursts of high-energy ions (with energies of several tens of keVs). The size of the localization region of the beamlets in the magnetotail and auroral zone has been determined by the epoch-superposition method, and it has been shown that beamlets are concentrated in a narrow region near the plasma sheet boundary, whose latitude size is no more than 0.8δ. This conclusion corroborates the theoretical prediction that the nonadiabatic resonant acceleration of ions occurs in a spatially localized region near the separatrix separating the open magnetic field lines and closed field lines, which contain the hot and isotropic plasmas of the plasma sheet. Based on the CLUSTER multisatellite measurements, the spatial structure of beamlets is analyzed and it has been found that the Alfvén wave arises due to the excitation of fire-hose instability at the instant of the exit of the ion beam from the current sheet to the high-latitude region of the far tail of the Earth’s magnetosphere. The longitudinal (along the magnetic field) and transverse sizes of a beamlet are estimated. It has been found that the beamlet is a dynamic plasma structure whose longitudinal size is several hundred times larger than its transverse size.     

Optical spectroscopy of single InAs/InP quantum dots around λ=1.55 μm

We discuss the preparation and spectroscopic characterisation of a single InAs/InP quantum dot suitable for long-distance quantum key distribution applications around λ=1.55 μm. The dot is prepared using a site-selective growth technique which allows a single dot to be deposited in isolation at a controlled spatial location. Micro-photoluminescence measurements as a function of exciton occupation are used to determine the electronic structure of the dot. Biexciton emission, shell filling and many-body re-normalization effects are observed for the first time in single InAs/InP quantum dots.     

Temperature dependences of the low-frequency internal friction and shear modulus in a bulk amorphous alloy

The logarithmic decrement and shear modulus of a bulk amorphous Zr_52.5Ti₅Cu_17.9Ni_14.6Al₁₀ alloy were studied with an inverse torsion pendulum in the range from room temperature to the crystallization temperature and in the frequency range 5–40 Hz. The activation energy spectra of reversible and irreversible structural relaxation were estimated. The results obtained are discussed in the context of a two-energy-level model.     

The Transformation Matrix of Vibrational Waves

The general theory on the transformation of elastic waves at a rigid nodal junction of an arbitrary number of thin plates is considered. The notion of transformation marix is introduced, and a way for computing it and numerical examples are given. Properties of the transformation matrix resulted from the reciprocity principle and the energy conservatin law are studied. In particular, a new relation that expresses the energy conservation low for the case where a wave damped in the direction of the joint of plates is a source of a field is obtained. Bibliography: 18 titles.     

Appearance of anomalous phase in <Superscript>4</Superscript>He crystal in the presence of small <Superscript>3</Superscript>He impurity

The kinetics of formation of an anomalous phase from a solution with a small ³He impurity was studied in the temperature range 0.2–0.7 K up to a supersaturation of ～30 mbar. The phase diagram was determined for normal and anomalous growths. It is found that, in the presence of impurities, the formation of a fast-growing state is retarded. This experimental fact indicates that the dissipative processes in fluids have an appreciable effect on the phase formation kinetics. The retardation is, possibly, caused by the direct interaction of an impurity with the crystal surface.