General coordinate invariance and conformal invariance in nonrelativistic physics: Unitary Fermi gas

We show that the Lagrangian for interacting nonrelativistic particles can be coupled to an external gauge field and metric tensor in a way that exhibits a nonrelativistic version of general coordinate invariance. We explore the consequences of this invariance on the example of the degenerate Fermi gas at infinite scattering length, where conformal invariance also plays an important role. We find the most general effective Lagrangian consistent with both general coordinate and conformal invariance to leading and next-to-leading orders in the momentum expansion. At the leading order the Lagrangian contains one phenomenological constant and reproduces the results of the Thomas-Fermi theory and superfluid hydrodynamics. At the next-to-leading order there are two additional constants. We express various physical quantities through these constants.     

Time evolution of non-Hermitian quantum systems and generalized master equations

We inquire into the time evolution of quantum systems associated with pseudo-or quasi-Hermitian Hamiltonians. We obtain, in the pseudo-Hermitian case, a generalized Liouville-von Neumann equation for closed systems. We show that quantum systems with quasi-Hermitian Hamiltonians admit the proper interpretation in terms of open quantum system and derive a generalized Lindblad-Kossakowski equation. Finally, we extend such formalism to the study of decaying systems. Partially supported by PRIN “Sintesi”.     

Electron spin resonance of diluted solid solutions of MnO2 in Y2O3

Electron spin resonance spectra of Mn²⁺ in diluted solid solutions of MnO₂ in Y₂O₃ have been studied at room temperature for Mn concentrations between 0.20 and 2.00 mol%. Isolated Mn²⁺ ions in sites with two different symmetries were observed, as well as Mn²⁺ ions coupled by the exchange interaction. The relative concentration of isolated to coupled Mn²⁺ ions decreases with increasing manganese concentration. The results are consistent with the assumption that the manganese ions occupy preferentially the C₂ symmetry sites. A theoretical calculation based on this model yields an effective range of the exchange interaction between Mn²⁺ ions of 0.53 nm, of the same order as that of Mn²⁺ ions in CaO.     

Spatial structure of acousto-optic phase matching in uniaxial crystals

The spatial structure of Bragg angles and the transfer functions of an acousto-optic cell are calculated for the cases of isotropic and anisotropic light diffraction in a uniaxial crystal. Their change with ultrasound frequency is traced. The possibility of image processing by acousto-optic filtration of the spatial spectrum of an image is considered. The results of experimental visualization of the transfer functions of a calcium molybdate crystal cell are presented.     

Carbon precipitation and diffusion in SiGeC alloys under silicon self-interstitial injection

In this work we investigate the diffusion and precipitation of supersaturated substitutional carbon in 200-nm-thick SiGeC layers buried under a silicon cap layer of 40 nm. The samples were annealed in either inert (N₂) or oxidizing (O₂) ambient at 850 °C for times ranging from 2 to 10 h. The silicon self-interstitial (I) flux coming from the surface under oxidation enhances the C diffusion with respect to the N₂-annealed samples. In the early stages of the oxidation process, the loss of C from the SiGeC layer by diffusion across the layer/cap interface dominates. This phenomenon saturates after an initial period (2–4 h), which depends on the C concentration. This saturation is due to the formation and growth of C-containing precipitates that are promoted by the I injection and act as a sink for mobile C atoms. The influence of carbon concentration on the competition between precipitation and diffusion is discussed. Received: 19 October 2001 / Accepted: 19 December 2001 / Published online: 20 March 2002 / Published online: 20 March 2002     

Formation of hydrogenated amorphous carbon films from polymer pyrolysis

Free-standing and supported hydrogenated amorphous carbon films (a:C–H) were prepared upon pyrolysis of the polymer formed by ethanolamine (EA) and citric acid (CA), under an ambient atmosphere at 300 °C. EA facilitates the formation of the macroscopic films, while CA is essential for obtaining the a:C–H microstructure, which comprises a mixture of sp² and sp³ carbon. Received: 29 May 2001 / Accepted: 17 August 2001 / Published online: 20 December 2001     

Magnetic-field-induced valence transition in EuNi2(Si1−x Gex)2 in fields up to 500 T

The critical fields of the valence transition induced by a magnetic field in the EuNi₂(Si_1?x Ge_x)₂ (x=0.5–0.75) compound in an intermediate valence state are measured. The magnetic-field-induced valence transition is observed in the low-concentration range down to x=0.5. It is demonstrated that the critical field increases linearly with a decrease in the germanium concentration.     

Coherent Type-B e + e- Pair Production by Photons in a Crystal

An overview of theoretical and experimental studies of the coherent type-B e ⁺ e-pair production by photons in aligned crystals performed at Nuclear Physics Institute at Tomsk Polytechnic University is given.