Carbon nitride films by RF plasma assisted PLD: Spectroscopic and electronic analysis

Carbon nitride (CNx) thin films have been grown on Si 〈1 0 0〉 by 193 nm ArF ns pulsed laser ablation of a pure graphite target in a low pressure atmosphere of a RF generated N₂ plasma and compared with samples grown by PLD in pure nitrogen atmosphere. Composition, structure and bonding of the deposited materials have been evaluated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman scattering. Significant chemical and micro-structural changes have been registered, associated to different nitrogen incorporation in the two types of films analyzed. The intensity of the reactive activated species is, indeed, increased by the presence of the bias confined RF plasma, as compared to the bare nitrogen atmosphere, thus resulting in a different nitrogen uptake in the growing films. The process has been also investigated by some preliminary optical emission studies of the carbon plume expanding in the nitrogen atmosphere. Optical emission spectroscopy reveals the presence of many excited species like C⁺ ions, C atoms, C₂, N₂; and CN radicals, and N₂⁺ molecular ions, whose relative intensity appears to be increased in the presence of the RF plasma. The films were also characterised for electrical properties by the “four-probe-test method” determining sheet resistivity and correlating surface conductivity with chemical composition.     

CO2 dial for monitoring atmospheric pollutants at the University of Calabria

Summary In this report we introduce the infrared lidar-dial apparatus developed at the University of Calabria. It has been carried out as a tool in the investigation of both the atmospheric pollution of trace gases and other atmospheric parameters as water vapour. The general scheme of the station is described, as well as the performances of the home-made CO₂ laser sources. Finally preliminary measurements of average concentration of ozone and water vapour over a range of about 3 km are presented and discussed in the report.     

A numerical scheme for the integration of the Vlasov–Poisson system of equations, in the magnetized case

We present a numerical algorithm for the solution of the Vlasov–Poisson system of equations, in the magnetized case. The numerical integration is performed using the well-known “splitting” method in the electrostatic approximation, coupled with a finite difference upwind scheme; finally the algorithm provides second order accuracy in space and time. The cylindrical geometry is used in the velocity space, in order to describe the rotation of the particles around the direction of the external uniform magnetic field.Using polar coordinates, the integration of the Vlasov equation is very simplified in the velocity space with respect to the cartesian geometry, because the rotation in the velocity cartesian space corresponds to a translation along the azimuthal angle in the cylindrical reference frame. The scheme is intrinsically symplectic and significatively simpler to implement, with respect to a cartesian one. The numerical integration is shown in detail and several conservation tests are presented, in order to control the numerical accuracy of the code and the time evolution of the entropy, strictly related to the filamentation problem for a kinetic model, is discussed.     

Recent developments in laser resonator design

The problems related to resonators suitable for generation of diffraction-limited beams of high power or energy, and a few of the most significant recent solutions, are reviewed. In particular, this paper is addressed to two promising resonator configurations developed mainly for Nd:YAG (yttrium aluminium garnet) lasers: dynamically stable resonators of minimum misalignment sensitivity for lasers with a strong thermal lensing in the active rod and unstable resonators with variable reflectivity output mirrors of super-Gaussian profile. For both cases experimental data and simple design guidelines are discussed.     

Determination of electron temperature in low pressure gas discharges by resonant laser light scattering

It is shown that the electron temperature in low pressure discharges can be estimated from the drift velocity of the ions towards the wall. Velocity measurements by resonant laser light scattering lead to electron temperatures consistent with such values obtained by probe measurements.     

Das Neutralgasprofil und die Elektronentemperatur in der Freifallsäule bei hohem Ionisationsgrad

The formula for the ion density is corrected. Furthermore, for different accommodation coefficients at the wall numerical values of the neutral atom velocities in argon ion lasers are estimated. The neutral gas heating by electron collisions is relatively small in argon ion lasers.     

A 1-MW, 1-mm continuous-wave FELtron for toroidal plasma heating

A powerful, continuous-wave millimeter radiation source is presented. An electrostatic Cockcroft-Walton accelerator (2.5 MV) drives an FEL (free-electron laser) of 1 MW power. The accelerator has a new design in order to obtain a very powerful (50 MW) electron beam and very small ripple. A recovery system is used to increase RF power and efficiency. The FEL oscillator is 1.5-m long, with a permanent magnet helical wiggler. The cavity is equipped with Bragg mirrors. The FEL is set at the high voltage terminal     

The influence of the radial ion drift in the population densities in cw argon ion lasers

By solving the equations of continuity and of momentum transfer it has been found that in some cases the population densities in cw argon ion lasers are noticeably reduced by the ion drift towards the wall. This effect is investigated in dependence on various parameters.     

Investigating the interactions of hyaluronan derivatives with biomolecules. The use of diffusional NMR techniques

[Chemical structure: see text] The interactions between a biomaterial and biomolecules present in body fluids often determine the fate of the biomaterial. This paper presents a study on hyaluronan (HA)-containing materials (in soluble or colloidal form) that focuses on their interactions with lipids and proteins and for the first time uses PFG NMR as an analytical technique for probing these events. The interactions of HA-based polymers with phospholipids (DPPC and DPPG liposomes) are shown to depend both on charge and hydrophobicity factors. Despite the difference in behavior between albumin (substantially non-adhesive) and fibrinogen (adhesive), the interactions of the polymers with proteins do not seem to be based on hydrophobic effects but on surface polar interactions.