Investigation of debris dynamics from laser-produced tin plasma for EUV lithography light source

The dynamics of debris from the laser-produced tin (Sn) plasma was investigated for an extreme ultraviolet light source in order to establish the guideline for the optimum design of a mitigation system, such as a mass-limited target. The dissemination of the Sn atoms from the different shapes of a wire and a mass-limited droplet target were investigated using the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) imaging method. The Sn droplet targets with a diameter in the range of 5 to 17 μm were prepared by a new droplet generating technique using a pulsed laser. There was a large difference in the angular distribution of Sn atoms in the plane parallel and perpendicular to the wire axis, indicating the curvature of the target surface governed the angular distribution of the ablated species. The spatial distributions of Sn atoms from the droplet targets were similar to those from the curved surface of the wire targets. The ablation dynamics of the droplet observed by a high-speed imaging camera is also discussed.     

Higgs boson mass bounds in the Standard Model with type III and type I seesaw

In type III seesaw utilized to explain the observed solar and atmospheric neutrino oscillations the Standard Model (SM) particle spectrum is extended by introducing three SU(2)_L triplet fermion fields. This can have important implications for the SM Higgs boson mass (MH$M_H$) bounds based on vacuum stability and perturbativity arguments. We compute the appropriate renormalization group equations for type III seesaw, and then proceed to identify regions of the parameter space such that the SM Higgs boson mass window is enlarged to 125 GeV?MH?174 GeV$125\text{GeV}?M_H?174\text{GeV}$, with the type III seesaw scale close to TeV. We also display regions of the parameter space for which the vacuum stability and perturbativity bounds merge together for large neutrino Yukawa couplings. Comparison with type I seesaw is also presented.     

Rapid reduction of titanium dioxide nano-particles by reduction with a calcium reductant

Micro-, submicron-, and nano-scale titanium dioxide particles were reduced by reduction with a metallic calcium reductant in calcium chloride molten salt at 1173 K, and the reduction mechanism of the oxides by the calcium reductant was explored. These oxide particles, metallic calcium as a reducing agent, and calcium chloride as a molten salt were placed in a titanium crucible and heated under an argon atmosphere. Titanium dioxide was reduced to metallic titanium through a calcium titanate and lower titanium oxide, and the materials were sintered together to form a micro-porous titanium structure in molten salt at high temperature. The reduction rate of titanium dioxide was observed to increase with decreasing particle size; accordingly, the residual oxygen content in the reduced titanium decreases. The obtained micro-porous titanium appeared dark gray in color because of its low surface reflection. Micro-porous metallic titanium with a low oxygen content (0.42 wt%) and a large surface area (1.794 m² g⁻¹) can be successfully obtained by reduction under optimal conditions.     

Enhancement of sonochemical reaction of terephthalate ion by superposition of ultrasonic fields of various frequencies

The ultrasonic reactor with dual frequency was used and the effect of frequency on the fluorescence intensity of terephthalate ion was experimentally investigated in the frequency range from 176 to 635 kHz. The sonochemical reaction fields were visualized by using sonochemical luminescence of luminol solution. Compared with the fluorescence intensity of terephthalate ion for single frequency, the fluorescence intensity for dual frequency increased. The fluorescence intensity ratio of dual frequency to single frequency had maximum value when the frequency of transducer attached at the bottom wall was comparable in magnitude to that at the side wall. In the case of dual frequency, the sonochemical reaction fields became more extensive in the reactor and more intensive around the center of the reactor.     

Br NQR relaxation and successive phase transitions of CH3NH3HgBr3

The measurement of ⁸¹Br NQR in CH₃NH₃HgBr₃ has been carried out in the temperature range between 80 and 300 K using a pulse NQR method. The temperature dependence of ⁸¹Br NQR frequencies in CH₃NH₃HgBr₃ has revealed that it undergoes three characteristic successive phase transitions at T?=?123, 184 and 239 K. The phase transition temperature at T?=?239 K is the second-order type, whereas those at T?=?184 and 123 K are the first-order nature of the phase transitions. Each phase transition seems to be closely related to the motions of methyl ammonium cation as a partial or whole. The enhancement of 1/T ₁ at T?=?239 K indicates the onset of the molecular motion of the cation as a whole with increasing temperatures.     

Magnetic properties of La-Co substituted M-type strontium hexaferrites prepared by polymerizable complex method

Magnetic properties of La-Co substituted M-type strontium hexaferrites were studied. The samples were prepared by polymerizable complex method. Crystal structure of samples has been investigated by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Single-phase M-type strontium hexaferrites with chemical composition of Sr_1.05−xLa_xFe_12−xCo_xO₁₉ (x=0-0.4) were formed by heating at 1173 K for 24 h in air. Magnetic properties were discussed by measurements of M-H curves with vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). La-Co substituted M-type strontium hexaferrites prepared by polymerizable complex method showed typical magnetic hysteresis of hard ferrite. The coercive force increased significantly by La-Co substitution with polymerizable complex method. Maximum coercive force achieved in this study is 8.0 kOe (640 kA/m). Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the prepared ferrite particles have plate-like shape of diameter range between 20 and 500 nm.     

Age-dependent plasticity in the superior temporal sulcus in deaf humans: a functional MRI study

Background  

Sign-language comprehension activates the auditory cortex in deaf subjects. It is not known whether this functional plasticity in the temporal cortex is age dependent. We conducted functional magnetic-resonance imaging in six deaf signers who lost their hearing before the age of 2 years, five deaf signers who were >5 years of age at the time of hearing loss and six signers with normal hearing. The task was sentence comprehension in Japanese sign language.     

High energy spectroscopy in Ce and La compounds

X-ray photoemission, X-ray photoabsorption and bremmstrahlung isochromat spectroscopy in Ce and La compounds are theoretically analyzed by using the single-site Anderson model incorporated with various final state interactions. Discussions are given on the physical information derived from the analysis and also on similarities and differences in spectral features between metallic and insulating systems.     

Spatial distribution of YO molecules ejected from laser-ablated YBa2 Cu3 O7−x

One-dimensional imaging laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy has been used for in-situ measurements of spatial distributions of YO molecules produced during the ArF-laser ablation of YBa₂ Cu₃ O _7–x in vacuum and oxygen gas environment. The time-integrated angular distribution of particles ejected in vacuum has a cos ⁿ form, where 11 <n < 13. When oxygen gas was introduced, YO molecules were confined in a smaller volume, and temporal changes of their spatial distribution were interpreted in terms of blast-wave formation.     

A predissociative triplet Rydberg state of the nitrogen molecule studied by near-infrared diode laser kinetic spectroscopy

A new ³Π-³Σ band was observed in a discharge plasma of the nitrogen molecule and helium using near-infrared diode laser kinetic spectroscopy. All the lines in this band exhibited line broadening of more than 0.1 cm⁻¹. Rotational analysis revealed that the lower state of the transition was the state of N₂, which had already been studied in the D³Σ-E³Σ band. The term value and rotational constant suggested that the upper state is the G³Π_u Rydberg state with an electron configuration of (N₂⁺:X²Σ core)(3pπ_u). The line broadening is attributed to predissociation through a homogeneous interaction with a repulsive Π_u state.