Nanophotonics and nanometrology with planar X-ray waveguide-resonator

The mechanism of X-ray waveguide-resonance propagation or the radiation superstream model, which can become the ground of X-ray nanophotonics, is discussed briefly. Some attention is devoted to features consideration of the simplest devices characterized by the waveguide-resonance transportation of X-ray beams. The experimental data showing the user possibilities of a simplest waveguide-resonators application for diffractometry are presented. We discuss the main reasons to improve the metrological characteristics for total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) analytical method in case when the target exciting beam is formed by a waveguide-resonator. Some problems appearing during the waveguide-resonator application are formulated.     

Low sintering temperature MnZn-ferrites for power applications in the frequency region of 400 kHz

In this paper, the effect of cubic zinc metaborate Zn₄O(BO₂)₆ on the sintering of MnZn-ferrites for medium frequency power applications is investigated. Zinc metaborate is synthesized in the laboratory using zinc oxide and boric acid as metal precursors. As observed, when zinc metaborate is added to the MnZn-ferrites at an optimum amount of 0.02 wt%, it significantly enhances densification and therefore allows, for a given density, reduction of the firing temperature by almost 200 °C. MnZn-ferrites exhibiting power losses of 70 mW/cm³ (measured at a frequency of 400 kHz, magnetic field 50 mT and temperature of 90 °C) are synthesized from conventionally milled powders with average particle diameter 0.6 μm, compacted and fired at 1100 °C. Identical experiments conducted under the same conditions on specimens without zinc metaborate additions revealed power losses greater than 300 mW/cm³, because of insufficient densification.     

Converged properties of clean metal surfaces by all-electron first-principles calculations

All-electron full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave calculations of the surface energy, work function, and interlayer spacings of close-packed metal surfaces are presented, in particular, for the free-electron-like metal surfaces, Mg(0 0 0 1) and Al(1 1 1), and for the transition metal surfaces, Ti(0 0 0 1), Cu(1 1 1), Pd(1 1 1), and Pt(1 1 1). We investigate the convergence of the surface energy as a function of the number of layers in the slab, using the Cu(1 1 1) surface as an example. The results show that the surface energy, as obtained using total energies of the slab and bulk from separate calculations, converges well with respect to the number of layers in the slab. Obviously, it is necessary that bulk and surface calculations are performed with the same high accuracy. Furthermore, we discuss the performance of the local-density and generalized gradient approximations for the exchange-correlation functional in describing the various surface properties.     

Density functional theory investigation of the structure of SO2 and SO3 on Cu(1 1 1) and Ni(1 1 1)

Density functional theory (DFT) slab calculations, mainly using the generalised gradient approximation, have been used to investigate the minimum energy structures of molecular SO₂ and SO₃ on Cu(1 1 1) and Ni(1 1 1) surfaces. On Ni(1 1 1) the optimal local adsorption structures are in close agreement with experimental results for both molecular species obtained using the X-ray standing wavefield technique, although for adsorbed SO₂ the energetic difference between two alternative lateral positions of the lying-down molecule on the surface is marginally significant. On Cu(1 1 1) the results for adsorbed SO₂, in particular, were sensitive to the DFT functional used in the calculations, but in all cases failed to reproduce the experimentally-established preference for adsorption with the molecular plane perpendicular to the surface. This result is discussed in the context of previously published DFT results for these species adsorbed on Cu(1 0 0). The optimal geometry found for SO₃ on Cu(1 1 1) is similar to that on Ni(1 1 1), providing agreement with experiment regarding the molecular orientation but not the adsorption site.     

New interpretations of XPS spectra of nickel metal and oxides

A current interpretation of XPS spectra of Ni metal assumes that the main 6 eV satellite is due to a two hole c3d⁹4s² (c is a core hole) final state effect. We report REELS observation in AES at low voltages of losses (plasmons and inter-band transitions) corresponding to the satellite structures in Ni metal 2p spectra. The satellite near 6 eV is attributed to a predominant surface plasmon loss. A current interpretation of Ni 2p spectra of oxides and other compounds is based on charge transfer assignments of the main peak at 854.6 eV and the broad satellite centred at around 861 eV to the cd⁹L and the unscreened cd⁸ final-state configurations, respectively (L is a ligand hole). Multiplet splittings have been shown to be necessary for assignment of Fe 2p and Cr 2p spectral profiles and chemical states. The assignments of Ni 2p states are re-examined with intra-atomic multiplet envelopes applied to Ni(OH)₂, NiOOH and NiO spectra. It is shown that the free ion multiplet envelopes for Ni²⁺ and Ni³⁺ simulate the main line and satellite structures for Ni(OH)₂ and NiOOH. Fitting the NiO Ni 2p spectral profile is not as straightforward as the hydroxide and oxyhydroxide. It may involve contributions from inter-atomic, non-local electronic coupling and screening effects with multiplet structures significantly different from the free ions as found for MnO. A scheme for fitting these spectra using multiplet envelopes is proposed.     

The epitaxial sexiphenyl (0 0 1) monolayer on TiO2(1 1 0): A grazing incidence X-ray diffraction study

A para-sexiphenyl monolayer of near up-right standing molecules (nominal thickness of 30 Å) is investigated in-situ by X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation and ex-situ by atomic force microscopy. A terrace like morphology is observed, the step height between the terraces is approximately one molecular length. The monolayer terraces, larger than 20 μm in size, are extended along the [0 0 1] direction of the TiO₂(1 1 0) substrate i.e. along the Ti-O rows of the reconstructed substrate surface. The structure of the monolayer and its epitaxial relationship to the substrate is determined by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction. Extremely sharp diffraction peaks reveal high crystalline order within the monolayer, which was found to have the bulk structure of sexiphenyl. The monolayer terraces are epitaxially oriented with the (0 0 1) plane parallel to the substrate surface (out-of-plane order). Four epitaxial relationships are observed. This in-plane alignment is determined by the arrangement of the terminal phenyl rings of the sexiphenyl molecules parallel to the oxygen rows of the substrate.     

Structural studies of Cr-doped mullite derived from single-phase precursors

Cr-doped mullites were prepared from single-phase precursors containing up to 9.60 wt% Cr₂O₃ using a sol-gel technique followed by thermal treatment. Particle induced X-ray emission spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction were used to characterize the samples. Mullites were orthorhombic, space group Pbam. Cr doping caused the increase of unit-cell parameters. Strongest expansion was noticed along c-axis followed by a and b (Δc/c=0.089, Δa/a=0.061, Δb/b=0.045% per mole Cr₂O₃). A second phase, namely θ-(Al,Cr)₂O₃, was revealed by XRD in the sample containing 9.60 wt% Cr₂O₃. The structure of mullites was refined by the Rietveld method, location of Cr³⁺ was performed by the EPR spectroscopy. At low chromium doping level (Cr₂O₃ content less than ∼5 wt%) Cr³⁺ ions were substituted for Al³⁺ in the AlO₆ octahedra of the mullite structure (M1 site). For higher doping level, Cr³⁺ ions were additionally substituted for Al³⁺ in the AlO₆ octahedra of the second phase [θ-(Al,Cr)₂O₃ at 1400 °C, or α-(Al,Cr)₂O₃ at 1600 °C] which segregated in the system. Substitution of Cr³⁺ for Al³⁺ on M1 site in the mullite structure resulted in increase of average distances in (M1)O₆ octahedron and decrease of average distances in T*O₄ tetrahedron, while average distances in TO₄ tetrahedron stayed almost constant.     

Study of nitrogen ion implantation and diffusion phenomena on thin chromium layers followed by the atomic force microscopy and secondary ion mass spectroscopy techniques characterization

This research investigates the effect of ion implantation dosage level and further thermal treatment on the physical characteristics of chromium coatings on Si(1 1 1) substrates. Chromium films had been exposed to nitrogen ion fluencies of 1 × 10¹⁷, 3 × 10¹⁷, 6 × 10¹⁷ and 10 × 10¹⁷ N⁺ cm⁻² with a 15 keV energy level. Obtained samples had been heat treated at 450 °C at a pressure of 2 × 10⁻² Torr in an argon atmosphere for 30 h. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images showed significant increase in surface roughness as a result of nitrogen ion fluence increase. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) studies revealed a clear increased accumulation of Cr₂N phase near the surface as a result of higher N⁺ fluence. XRD patterns showed preferred growth of [0 0 2] and [1 1 1] planes of Cr₂N phase as a result of higher ion implantation fluence. These results had been explained based on the nucleation-growth of Cr₂N phase and nitrogen atoms diffusion history during the thermal treatment process.     

“阳”加速器钼丝X-pinch初步实验研究

 在“阳”加速器上进行了直径分别为10, 15, 20 μm, 交叉角为32°,45°,60°的钼（Mo）丝X-pinch实验。“阳”加速器产生的电流峰值约520 kA，上升时间80 ns。实验中通过X射线功率谱仪和纳秒分幅相机等仪器对Mo丝X-pinch辐射特性进行了诊断。实验表明：Mo丝X-pinch过程中会出现多次X射线爆发，箍缩过程中产生的热点辐射出能量超过3 keV的X射线，探测到的最小热点直径小于30 μm。