Electroweak instantons,axions, and the cosmological constant

If there is explicit violation of baryon plus lepton number at some energy scale, then the electroweak theory depends upon a θ-angle. Due to a singular integration over small scale size instantons, this θ  -dependence is sensitive to very high momentum scales. Assuming that there is no new physics between the electroweak and Planck scales, for an electroweak axion the energy difference between the vacuum at θ≠0$\theta \ne 0$, and that at θ=0$\theta =0$, is of the correct order of magnitude to be the dark energy observed in the present epoch.     

Excitation and luminescence of rare earth-doped lead phosphate glasses

Excitation and luminescence properties of Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺ and Er³⁺ ions in lead phosphate glasses have been studied. From excitation spectra of Eu³⁺ ions, the electron–phonon coupling strength and phonon energy of the glass host were calculated and compared to that obtained by Raman spectroscopy. Main intense and long-lived luminescence bands are related to the ⁵D₀–⁷F₂ (red) transition of Eu³⁺, the ⁵D₄–⁷F₅ (green) transition of Tb³⁺ and the ⁴I_13/2–⁴I_15/2 (near-infrared) transition of Er³⁺. The critical transfer distances, the donor–acceptor interaction parameters and the energy transfer probabilities were calculated using the fitting of the luminescence decay curves from ⁵D₀ (Eu³⁺), ⁵D₄ (Tb³⁺) and ⁴I_13/2 (Er³⁺) excited states. The energy transfer probabilities for Eu³⁺ (⁵D₀), Tb³⁺ (⁵D₄) and Er³⁺ (⁴I_13/2) are relatively small, which indicates low self-quenching luminescence of rare earth ions in lead phosphate glasses.     

Optical transitions of Eu3+ and Dy3+ ions in lead phosphate glasses

Lead phosphate glasses containing Eu(3+) and Dy(3+) have been studied. Local structure was verified using Fourier transform (FT)-IR spectroscopy. Emission bands of Eu(3+) and Dy(3+) ions in lead phosphate glasses are observed in the visible spectral range, which correspond to 5D0→7F(J) (J=0,1,2,4) and 4F(9/2)→6H(J/2) (J=15,13,11) transitions, respectively. Shorter luminescence decays from excited states of Eu(3+) and Dy(3+0 are due to the presence of PbO in phosphate glass.     

Compositional-dependent lead borate based glasses doped with Eu ions: Synthesis and spectroscopic properties

New multicomponent lead borate based glasses with various PbO/B₂O₃ weight ratio were prepared. The glass samples were analyzed in detail by using Raman and IR absorption spectroscopy. Optical properties of Eu³⁺ ions have been investigated in lead borate based systems, in which PbO/B₂O₃ weight ratios were changed from 1:2 to 8:1 in glass composition. The values of the phonon energy of the host and ⁵D₀ lifetime of Eu³⁺ decrease, whereas absorption and emission intensities, as well as bonding parameter increase with increasing PbO concentration. Additionally, spectral lines are shifted in direction to the lower frequency region. Non-monotonic dependence of the fluorescence intensity ratio R (⁵D₀-⁷F₂/⁵D₀-⁷F₁) upon PbO/B₂O₃ content has been observed in contrast to bonding parameter that is also non-linear but monotonic. Some structural and spectroscopic aspects for Eu-doped lead borate based glasses are presented.     

Luminescence spectroscopy of rare earth-doped oxychloride lead borate glasses

Ln-doped oxychloride lead borate glasses were studied using luminescence spectroscopy. Rare earth ions were limited to trivalent Pr³⁺, Tm³⁺, Eu³⁺ and Er³⁺. Luminescence spectra were registered, which correspond to ³P₀-³H₄ and ¹D₂-³H₄ transitions of Pr³⁺, ¹G₄-³H₅ and ¹G₄-³F₄ transitions of Tm³⁺, ⁵D₀-⁷F_J (J=0, 1, 2, 3, 4) transitions of Eu³⁺ and ⁴S_3/2,²H_11/2-⁴I_15/2 and ⁴I_13/2-⁴I_15/2 transitions of Er³⁺. Luminescence decays from the excited states of Ln³⁺ ions were analyzed in detail. The experimental results indicate that relatively high phonon energy of the host gives important contribution to the excited state relaxation of rare earth ions.