Spectroscopic investigation of Nd ion in LiNbO3, MgO:LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 single crystals relevant for laser applications

The polarized absorption and luminescence properties of Nd³⁺ doped isostructural LiNbO₃, MgO:LiNbO₃ and LiTaO₃ nonlinear bulk single crystals are reported. Pump-probe experiments associated with the Judd-Ofelt approach are used to estimate two types of room temperature cross sections: polarized emission cross sections of the dominant ⁴F_3/2 → ⁴I_1//2 transition near 1085 and 1093 nm and polarized excited-state absorption cross sections in the same spectral domain and in the green spectral range corresponding to self frequency doubling. Self frequency-doubling results are also given in Nd:LiNbO₃ and Nd:MgO:LiNbO₃ versus sample temperature.     

ENERGY LOSS AND ENERGY STRAGGLING OF LIGHT IONS IN FULLERITE

To determinate the stopping cross section in fullerite a feasible approach, taking into account the high radiation sensitivity and mechanical fragility of fullerite films, should be employed. In this work, the stopping cross sections of ¹H, ³H, ⁴He and ⁷Li ions for several selected energies were measured by Rutherford backscattering, neutron depth profiling and alpha spectroscopy using sandwich structures of samples composed of fullerite deposited on a firm substrate (Si, steel) with an intermediate marker (Au, N, Li, B, Pu). In addition, ion transmission through a thin C film supporting a fullerite layer was also utilized. The measured stopping cross sections follow the theoretical predictions calculated for carbon, but are systematically (10-35%) higher than the theoretical ones (with the exception of 5 — 5.5 MeV ⁴He). The observed deviation of the experimental data can partly be explained by the chemical state effects in fullerite, which accounts for about 20-50% of the difference. The measured energy straggling exceeds Bohr's value by a factor of about 2 for alpha spectroscopy and ion transmission, and 2.5 or 9.5 for Rutherford backscattering and neutron depth profiling, respectively. The discrepancy can be explained by a thickness variation, such as surface roughness of the fullerite films.     

The use of a gas-filled-magnet in experiments with radioactive ion beams

A detection system has been developed for experiments with radioactive beams which have considerable contamination from a stable isobar. The system uses the gas-filled magnet technique and identifies reaction products according to nuclear charge and mass with good resolution even at energies below 1 MeV/u. In a first experiment the device has been used to measure cross sections for the ¹⁸F(p, )¹⁵O reaction in the energy range between 650 and 840 keV/u.     

Measurement of high momentum transfer reactions by recoil detection

A method is described for studying reactions at medium energies by measuring the magnetic rigidity, time of flight, and energy loss of the resulting recoil products. The method works best for reactions with two-body final states where one of the outgoing particles is relatively light. A magnetic spectrometer with a special focal plane detector has been used. The detector consists of two position sensitive parallel plate avalanche counters and two proportional counters. Differential cross sections for the ¹²C(p, π⁺¹³C reaction at recoil angles which correspond to the pion being emitted at a backward angle in the center of mass have been measured at bombarding energies of 166 and 186 MeV. Data were also obtained for previously unobserved ¹²C(p, π⁰)¹³N reaction. Several advantages of the method are discussed.     

Neutron irradiation of Nb3Sn and NbTi multifilamentary composites

NbTi and Nb3Sn multifilamentary composites have been irradiated with fast-neutrons at 60 ± 5°C to fluences of 1.2×10²⁰n/cm²(E > 1 MeV). The NbTi samples show only a moderate reduction of Icas a function of neutron fluence in an applied field of 40 kG. Reductions in Icwere observed for fluences greater than 3 × 10¹⁷n/cm²and saturate at 18% for fluences greater than 3-4 × 10¹⁹n/cm². The Nb3Sn composites showed large neutron radiation induced changes in Tc, Icand Hc2. Reductions in Tcwere observed for fluences greater than 7 × 10¹⁷n/cm². No measurable changes in Ic(40 kG) were observed below 10¹⁸n/cm². Between 2 and 3×10¹⁸n/cm², however, there is an apparent threshold where a very rapid reduction in Ic(40 kG) is initiated. At the threshold the decrease in Tcis 13%. Between the threshold and 1.1 × 10¹⁹n/cm², I2(40 kG) has been reduced to 4% of the unirradiated value. These changes in superconducting properties in NbTi and Nb3Sn are analyzed in terms of the radiation induced defects. The impact of the response to irradiation of both materials on their applications in fusion reactor magnets is discussed.     

TRASMA, a detector for γ-charged particle coincidences

An apparatus for detecting light and heavy fragments, in coincidence with γ-rays is described. Its use is foreseen for studying heavy ion complete and incomplete fusion reactions at low and intermediate energy.

The ΔE-E and TOF techniques are used for charged particle identification at small angles using a combination of Si strip detectors and CsI(Tl) crystals. The γ-ray detection is performed by using a coverage of 9 clusters, each consisting of 7 BaF₂ crystals, similar to the TAPS configuration, resulting in a large solid angle and a high granularity. We report on recent results about the charged particle discrimination and the time and energy resolution for the whole detector. Initial tests were performed using ¹²C, ¹⁹F and ²⁸Si beams accelerated by the 15 MV tandem of the Laboratorio Nazionale del Sud in Catania.     

The kinematic separator VASSILISSA performance and experimental results

Within the last five years the kinematic separator VASSILISSA [A.V. Yeremin et al., Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 274 (1989) 528; and A.V. Yeremin et al., Preprint JINR E15-90-347, Dubna 1990] has been used for investigations of neutron deficient evaporation residues (ER) produced in heavy ion fusion reactions. In the course of this work optimization of the ion-optical and other systems of the separator including improvements of the focal plane detector system have been made. As a result, the separation efficiency values ranging from 3 to 30% were achieved for ERs produced in the reactions with heavy ions ranging from ¹⁶O to ⁴⁰Ar. The suppression factors >10¹⁹ for the full energy beam particles and >10⁴ for multinucleon transfer reaction products were achieved. The results of the performed experiments illuminating the separator performance are briefly presented.     

Studies on the production of monoenergetic neutrons by uniform moderation of d-t neutrons

Investigations have been carried out on the production of approximately monoenergetic neutrons in the fusion technologically important 8 to 12 MeV range through the controlled moderation of 14 MeV d-t neutrons scattering off an hydrogenous scatterer (converter) shaped into the form of a surface of revolution. The centre of the source of the primary neutrons was arranged to lie on one of the two points of intersection of the surface of revolution with its axis of symmetry whilst the secondary moderated neutrons were received at the other point of intersection. A copper beam stopper prevented the primary beam from reaching the secondary beam point. Intensities and energies of the secondary beam have been calculated for a paraffin converter. The contamination of the beam resulting from the scattering by carbon nuclei in the converter, together with the effects of multiple scattering in the converter and the beam stopper and deviations caused by nonideal geometry present in practical cases have been discussed.

A recoil proton fast neutron spectrometer based on a NE 102 plastic scintillator has been fabricated. The agreement between the calculated and the measured values of the different components of the secondary beam was found to be quite satisfactory within the estimated precision limits of the experiment and the calculation.

The secondary beam has been used to measure several (n, p) cross sections of ²⁸Si and ²⁷Al for neutrons in the energy range from 8.6 to 12.1 MeV.     

Spectral properties of Eu-activated yttrium oxysulfide red phosphor

The effects of Eu on the spectral properties of Y₂O₂S have been investigated. The Y₂O₂S:Eu phosphor powders were prepared with a flux fusion method and electrophoretically deposited on an ITO-coated glass substrate to form a thin layer. Both cathodoluminescence and photoluminescence emission spectra of Y₂O₂S:Eu were measured. The highly intense emission lines at 616 and 626 nm are attributed to the transition from ⁵D₀ to ⁷F₂ levels. The color of Y₂O₂S:Eu phosphor varies from orange to red as the Eu concentration increases from Eu/Y=0.025 (molar ratio) to 0.06. The luminescence decay times are shorter than 1.1 ms for Eu concentrations ranging from 0.025 to 0.06 (Eu/Y molar ratio). The luminescent color becomes redder but less bright as the Eu concentration is increased.     

Deep levels in GaInAs grown by molecular beam epitaxy and their concentration reduction with annealing treatment

X-ray diffraction (XRD), current–voltage (IV), capacitance–voltage (CV), deep-level transient Fourier spectroscopy (DLTFS) and isothermal transient spectroscopy (ITS) techniques are used to investigate the thermal annealing behaviour of three deep levels in Ga_0.986In_0.014As heavily doped with Si (6.8 × 10¹⁷ cm⁻³) grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The thermal annealing was performed at 625 °C, 650 °C, 675 °C, 700 °C and 750 °C for 5 min. XRD study shows good structural quality of the samples and yields an In composition of 1.4%. Two main electron traps are detected by DLTFS and ITS around 280 K, with activation energies of 0.58 eV and 0.57 eV, capture cross sections of 9 × 10⁻¹⁵ cm² and 8.6 × 10⁻¹⁴ cm² and densities of 2.8 × 10¹⁶ cm⁻³ and 9.6 × 10¹⁵ cm⁻³, respectively. They appear overlapped and as a single peak, which divides into two smaller peaks after annealing at 625 °C for 5 min.

Annealing at higher temperatures further reduces the trap concentrations. A secondary electron trap is found at 150 K with an activation energy of 0.274 eV, a capture cross section of 8.64 × 10⁻¹⁵ cm² and a density of 1.38 × 10¹⁵ cm⁻³. The concentration of this trap level is also decreased by thermal annealing.     

可见光波段稀土激光晶体的研究进展

可见光激光在数据存储、光通讯、激光显示、激光医疗、激光打印以及科学研究等领域具有非常重要的应用价值。随着蓝光LD泵浦源的商用化, 直接泵浦稀土离子掺杂激光晶体实现可见光激光输出吸引了人们极大的研究兴趣。目前, 可见光稀土离子主要集中在Pr ³⁺、Dy ³⁺、Tb ³⁺和Sm ³⁺等。其中, Pr ³⁺的研究较多, 发光波长涵盖面较广, 发射波段覆盖蓝光、绿光、红光、橙光; Dy ³⁺和Tb ³⁺因为能够发射黄光以填补Pr ³⁺的不足也吸引了广泛的研究; 此外, Sm ³⁺和Eu ³⁺也是典型的可见波段稀土发光离子。本文综述了近几年可见波段稀土离子掺杂激光晶体的研究现状, 主要以Pr ³⁺、Dy ³⁺、Tb ³⁺和Sm ³⁺掺杂YAlO₃ (YAP)、Mg : SrAl₁₂O₁₉ (SRA)等晶体为研究对象, 总结了一套适合Pr ³⁺掺杂材料的判据, 对晶体生长、结构、热学性能、偏振光谱性能和激光性能进行了系统的研究。     

Precision energy and intensity measurements for γ transitions from Cs decay

The precision energies and relative intensities of 11 γ transitions from the decay of ¹³⁴Cs have been determined. ¹⁹²Ir, ²²⁸Th, ¹³⁷Cs, ^110mAg, ⁶⁰Co, and ²⁰⁷Bi served as energy calibration standards, and ¹⁵²Eu and ¹⁹²Ir as relative intensity calibration standards. Special care was taken in the analysis of data for the weaker transitions. The results are incorporated into a self-consistent decay scheme.     

Detection of particle unbound states using a single Gas–Si–CsI hybrid telescope

A Gas–Si–CsI hybrid detector telescope is described and its performance assessed in measuring breakup reactions leading to particle unbound states. The telescope consists of an ionisation chamber, a silicon strip detector and a CsI(Tl) scintillator-photodiode detector. The segmentation of the strip detector allows the simultaneous detection, identification and reconstruction of heavy and light ions within a single hybrid telescope. For double hits in the strip detector, crosstalk between the two active strips modifies the measured energies requiring a correction to the energy calibrations. The technique has been extended to the detection of energetic -particles from the decay of ⁸Be_gs fragments. Using two telescopes, a measurement of the ¹²C(²⁴Mg, ¹⁶O ¹²C) reaction at 170 MeV has identified final states where the ¹²C ion and -particle originate from unbound states in ¹⁶O. The sensitivity to small relative energies between the fragments makes the telescope particularly suitable for the study of near-threshold states of astrophysical interest.     

Blue, green and 0.8 μm Tm, Ho doped upconversion laser glasses, sensitized by Yb

To obtain efficient upconversion laser glass, the optical properties of Tm³⁺ and Ho³⁺ were investigated in various glasses. Fluoride glass was selected as base glass for upconversion. The efficient upconversion fluorescences corresponding to the ¹G₄→³H₆ and ³H₄→³H₆ transitions of Tm³⁺ and the ⁵S₂→⁵I₈ transition of Ho³⁺ were observed in Yb³⁺-Tm³⁺ and Yb³⁺-Ho³⁺ doped aluminozircofluoride glasses excited at 980 nm. The very stronge blue and green emission light can be observed visually. The upconversion processes observed were two-photon processes for ³F₄→³H₆, ⁵S₂→⁵I₈ transitions and three-photon processes for the ¹G₄→³H₆ transition and can be described by a rate equation model. The energy transfer and energy back-transfer were analyzed in Yb³⁺-Tm³⁺ and Yb³⁺-Ho³⁺ systems. The relationship between emission intensity, pumping intensity and dopant concentrations is described using a rate equation model and shows good agreement with experiments. The dynamics of excited state ( ) is also analyzed with the diffusion-limited model based on Yokota-Tanimoto theory.     

Erbium-doped tellurite glasses with high quantum efficiency and broadband stimulated emission cross section at 1.5 μm

Optical transitions of Er³⁺ ion in two tellurite glasses of molar composition 75TeO₂:12ZnO:10Na₂O:2PbO:1Er₂O₃ and 75TeO₂:12ZnO:10Na₂O:2GeO₂:1Er₂O₃ were investigated. The measured absorption and emission spectra were analysed by Judd–Ofelt and McCumber theories, in order to obtain radiative transition rates and stimulated emission cross sections. It was found that these glasses have high and broadband absorption and stimulated emission cross sections at 1.5 μm. For the metastable ⁴I_13/2 level, by comparing the measured lifetime with the calculated radiative decay time, quantum efficiency higher than 80% was found.     

The influence of low temperature neutron irradiation on superconducting magnet systems for fusion reactors

The components (insulation, stabilization material and the superconductor) of a superconducting coil system for a fusion reactor are exposed to fast neutrons, probably with a dose of about 10¹⁸n/cm²during the lifetime of a reactor, and with an energy spectrum comparable with the one of a fission reactor. Experimental investigations were made on the influence of low temperature neutron irradiation on the stability of a superconductor and of the superconducting properties of NbTi wires with different initial jc and pre-treatment. The influence on jcand Tcof Nb3Sn was investigated.     

Anomalous elastic response of amorphous alloys suggesting collective motions of many atoms

The dynamic Young’s modulus, E, of amorphous (a-) Zr₆₀Cu₃₀Al₁₀ (numbers indicate at.%) alloy was measured as a function of frequency, f, with a strain amplitude, _t, of 10⁻⁶, E(10⁻⁶,f), and also as a function of _t for f near 10² Hz, E(_t,10² Hz), by means of the vibrating reed methods. The elasticity study under the passing of electric current (PEC) was carried out too. E(10⁻⁶,f) is lower than E₀ for f between 10 and 10⁴ Hz showing local minima near 5×10, 5×10² and 5×10³ Hz, which are indicative of the resonant collective motion of many atoms, where E₀ is the static Young’s modulus. E(_t,10² Hz) increases showing saturation with increasing _t. Qualitatively, the outlines of E(10⁻⁶,f) and E(_t,10² Hz) observed for a-Zr₆₀Cu₃₀Al₁₀ are similar to those reported for various a-alloys. Quantitatively, a change in E(_t,10² Hz) for a-Zr₆₀Cu₃₀Al₁₀ is smallest among that reported for various a-alloys, presumably reflecting that the crystallization volume, (ΔV/V)_x, is smallest for a-Zr₆₀Cu₃₀Al₁₀. The effective charge number, Z^*, estimated from the change in E(10⁻⁶,10² Hz) due to PEC is 3.0×10⁵, which is comparable with Z^* reported for various a-alloys. We surmise that the number of atoms in the collective motions excited near 10² Hz is similar among various a-alloys. The E(10⁻⁶,f) data suggest that the spatial sizes of the density fluctuations may show a distribution.     

Optical properties, fluorescence mechanisms and energy transfer in Tm, Ho and Tm -Ho doped near-infrared laser glasses, sensitized by Yb

The optical properties of the rare elements Tm³⁺, Ho³⁺ and Yb³⁺ were systematically investigated in various glasses. The Tm³⁺ doped aluminozircofluoride glass shows higher quantum efficiency, longer lifetime and stronger fluorescence intensity than Tm³⁺ doped YSGG crystal and other Tm³⁺ doped glasses for the ³H₄ → ³H₆ transition. Similar quantum efficiency, longer lifetime and stronger fluorescence intensity were also found in Ho³⁺ doped aluminozircofluoride glass for the ⁵I₇ → ⁵I₈ transition. The higher quantum efficiencies of Tm³⁺ and Ho³⁺ in aluminozircofluoride glass are due to the longer lifetime and the lower phonon energy. The fluorescence mechanisms and energy transfer in the Yb³⁺ -Tm³⁺ system, Yb³⁺ -Ho³⁺ system and Yb³⁺ - Tm³⁺ -Ho³⁺ system were studied. The very strong fluorescence intensities in the Yb³⁺ -Tm³⁺ system for Tm³⁺ and the Yb³⁺ -Tm³⁺ -Ho³⁺ system for Ho³⁺ which are 1.68 times that of Tm³⁺ doped YSGG crystal and 2.25 times that of Tm³⁺---Ho³⁺ codoped YSGG crystal are attributed to the efficient Yb³⁺ → Tm³⁺, Yb³⁺ → Ho³⁺ and Tm³⁺ → Ho³⁺ energy transfer processes. The fluorescence processes are described by cross relaxations of ²F_5/2 → ³H₅ → ³H₄ → ³H₆ → ²F_7/2 and²F_5/2 → ³H₅ (or ²F_5/2 → ⁵I₆ → ³H₅) → ³H₄ → ⁵I₇ → ⁵I₈ → ³H₆ → ²F_7/2.     

Effect of Tb ions on X-ray-induced defect formation in phosphate containing glasses

The study of radiation-induced defect formation in glasses is of growing interest for applications in optics and photonics. The influence of Tb³⁺ ions on X-ray-induced defects has been examined in glasses with different phosphate contents. The defects have been characterized by optical absorption and ESR spectroscopy. (Tb³⁺)⁺ ions are formed by X-ray irradiation. They exhibit a broad charge transfer band at 370 nm. The formation of (Tb³⁺)⁺ hole centres suppresses the formation of intrinsic phosphate-related hole centres, absorbing in the visible region. PO₃ defects absorbing in the ultraviolet region contribute mainly to the electron centres corresponding to the (Tb³⁺)⁺ hole centres. Immediately after X-ray irradiation, 5–10% of the Tb³⁺ ions have been oxidized. The amount of (Tb³⁺)⁺ ions increases with increasing phosphate content. The stability of the (Tb³⁺)⁺ ions at room temperature depends on glass composition and melting conditions.     

First application of calorimetric low-temperature detectors in accelerator mass spectrometry

For the first time, calorimetric low-temperature detectors were applied in accelerator mass spectrometry, a well-known method for determination of very small isotope ratios with high sensitivity. The aim of the experiment was to determine with high accuracy the isotope ratio of ²³⁶U/²³⁸U for several samples of natural uranium, ²³⁶U being known as a sensitive monitor for neutron flux. Measurements were performed at the VERA tandem accelerator at Vienna, Austria. The detectors consist of sapphire absorbers and superconducting transition edge thermometers operated at T≈ 1.5 K. The relative energy resolution obtained for 17.39 MeV ²³⁸U is ΔE/E=4–9×10⁻³, depending on the experimental conditions. This performance enabled to substantially reduce background from neighbouring isotopes and to increase the detection efficiency. Due to the high sensitivity achieved, a value of ²³⁶U/²³⁸U=6.5×10⁻¹² could be obtained, representing the smallest ²³⁶U/²³⁸U ratio measured until now.