Extended defects in CdZnTe crystals: Effects on device performance

We explored some unique defects in a batch of cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) crystals, along with dislocations and Te-rich decorated features, revealed by chemical etching. We extensively investigated these distinctive imperfections in the crystals to identify their origin, dimensions, and distribution in the bulk material. We estimated that these features ranged from 50 to 500 μm in diameter, and their depth was about ∼300 μm. The density of these features ranged between 2×10² and 1×10³ per cm³. We elaborated a model of them and projected their effect on charge collection and spectral response. In addition, we fabricated detectors with these defective crystals and acquired fine details of charge-transport phenomena over the detectors’ volume using a high-spatial resolution (25 μm) X-ray response mapping technique. We related the results to better understand the defects and their influence on the charge-transport properties of the devices. The role of the defects was identified by correlating their signatures with the findings from our theoretical model and our experimental data.     

Atomic-scale structure of dislocations revealed by scanning tunneling microscopy and molecular dynamics

The intersection between dislocations and a Ag(111) surface has been studied using an interplay of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and molecular dynamics. Whereas the STM provides atomically resolved information about the surface structure and Burgers vectors of the dislocations, the simulations can be used to determine dislocation structure and orientation in the near-surface region. In a similar way, the subsurface structure of other extended defects can be studied. The simulations show dislocations to reorient the partials in the surface region leading to an increased splitting width at the surface, in agreement with the STM observations. Implications for surface-induced cross slip are discussed.     

Strong field dual-pulse excitation of Ag<Subscript>N</Subscript>

The ionization of silver clusters exposed to pairs of intense femtosecond laser pulses strongly depends on the optical delay. Enhanced production of a certain atomic charge state z is obtained by a z-dependent delay. This may open a possible route to control the excitation process and populate specific charge states. The optimum pulse separation which maximizes the generation of highly ionized species varies by more than one order of magnitude when the mean size of the clusters increases from to . Semiclassical Vlasov simulations applied to a model system reveal the importance of the initial ionic motion in the ionization process.     

Controlling the coulomb explosion of silver clusters by femtosecond dual-pulse laser excitation

Silver clusters grown in helium nanodroplets are excited by intense femtosecond laser pulses resulting in the formation of a hot electron plasma far from equilibrium. The ultrafast dynamics is studied by applying optically delayed dual pulses, which allows us to pursue and control the coupling of the laser field to the clusters on a femtosecond time scale. A distinct influence of the optical delay on the ionization efficiency gives strong evidence that a significant contribution of collective dipolar electron motion is present, which is verified by corresponding Vlasov dynamics simulations on a model system. The microscopic approach demonstrates the outstanding role of giant resonances in clusters also in intense laser fields.     

Spectral correlation in incommensurate multiwalled carbon nanotubes

We investigate the energy spectra of clean incommensurate double-walled carbon nanotubes, and find that the overall spectral properties are described by the critical statistics similar to that known in the Anderson metal-insulator transition. In the energy spectra, there exist three different regimes characterized by Wigner-Dyson, Poisson, and semi-Poisson distributions. This feature implies that the electron transport in incommensurate multiwalled nanotubes can be either diffusive, ballistic, or intermediate between them, depending on the position of the Fermi energy.     

Experimental indications for the response of the spectators to the participant blast

Precise momentum distributions of identified projectile fragments, formed in the reactions 238U+Pb and 238U+Ti at 1A GeV, are measured with a high-resolution magnetic spectrometer. With increasing mass loss, the velocities first decrease as expected from previously established systematics, then level off, and finally increase again. Light fragments are on the average even faster than the projectiles. This finding is interpreted as the response of the spectators to the participant blast. The reacceleration of projectile spectators is sensitive to the nuclear mean field and provides a new tool for investigating the equation of state of nuclear matter.     

Diffusion-limited extraction of organic ions by a track-membrane interfaced vacuum inlet

Glycerol-wetted track membranes (polyethylene terephthalate) were used to interface a low-vacuum facility (approximately (10(-3) Torr) to an ambient pressure liquid analyte. High-field charge extraction conditions were routinely maintained between the liquid samples and a grid collector. The latter was positioned just near to the vacuum-facing side of such membranes. Upon establishing a steady-state charge extraction regime, the collector currents were monitored and recorded at various solute concentration levels. The collector currents, which depend on solute concentration, were found to agree with recent theoretical treatments of such processes. Both positively- and negatively-charged species from organic solutions were routinely extracted. Ion injection for the low- and the high-mobility species has favored the diffusion-limited and the evaporation-limited schemes, respectively. Variable concentrations of 1-pyrenoyl-methylpyridinium bromide as well as naphthylacetic and anthracenecarboxylic acids in glycerol were used.     

Temperature dependent magnetic spin and orbital moments of mass-filtered cobalt clusters on Au(111)

Mass-filtered cobalt clusters with a size of 8 nm have been deposited in-situ under soft-landing conditions onto Au(111). The spin and orbital moments of the Co nanoparticles on a Au (111) single crystal have been investigated as a function of the temperature using the element-specific method of X-ray magnetic circular dichroism in photoabsorption. The results hint at an temperature-dependent spin-reorientation transition which is discussed with respect to different contribution to the magnetic anisotropy. Furthermore, by means of an in-situ oxidation experiment, the influence of an exposure to oxygen on the properties of the cobalt clusters has been investigated.     

A study of the global chirp dependence on the interaction of intense colored double pulses with clusters

The yields of highly charged atomic ions produced in the exposure of xenon clusters embedded in helium nanodroplets by intense colored double pulses show a notable sensitivity on the order of the subpulses. The only slight difference in their spectral composition leads to a flipping of the optimal laser parameters for effective multielectron ionization above certain charge states, which appears to be quite robust with respect to the chosen pulse fluence and reflects an avalanche-like developing cluster ionization scenario.