Engineering topics

Bettinelli, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Bettinelli, M..

5 records

DOE OSTI2019

The star formation history of the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxy

ABSTRACT We present the star formation history (SFH) of the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxy based on deep g, r photometry taken with Dark Energy Camera at the Blanco telescope, focusing our analysis on the central region of the galaxy extended up to ∼3 core radii. We have investigated how the SFH changes radially, subdividing the sampled area into four regions, and have detected a clear trend of star formation. All the SFHs show a single episode of star formation, with the innermost region presenting a longer period of star formation of ∼1.5 Gyr and for the outermost region the main period of star formation is confined to ∼0.5 Gyr. We observe a gradient in the mean age which is found to increase going towards the outer regions. These results suggest that Sculptor continued forming stars after the reionization epoch in its central part, while in the peripheral region, the majority of stars probably formed during the reionization epoch and soon after its end. From our analysis, Sculptor cannot be considered strictly as a fossil of the reionization epoch.

Bettinelli, M.↗

DOE OSTI2019

Luminescence Spectroscopy and Decay Kinetics of Pr{sup 3+} Ions in K{sub 3}LuSi{sub 2}O{sub 7}:Pr{sup 3+}

Abstract—: The luminescent characteristics of K{sub 3}LuSi{sub 2}O{sub 7}:Pr{sup 3+} (1%), which is a promising optical material for the use as a scintillator, have been studied using a set of techniques. The luminescence spectra of K{sub 3}LuSi{sub 2}O{sub 7}:Pr{sup 3+} (1%) contain two bands in the UV-range with peaks at 284 and 330 nm, which correspond intraconfigurational 5d → 4f transitions in the Pr{sup 3+} ions. The radiation in the visible and near IR range (480–850 nm) has been represented by the intraconfigurational 4f → 4f transitions. The kinetics of 5d → 4f-luminescence contains a build-up stage (τ{sub rise} ∼ 7–12 ns), nonexponential decay stage (τ{sub 1/2} ∼ 60 ns), and a slow component of the μs-range when excited by high-frequency (∼8 MHz) synchrotron radiation of the X-ray range. The fast component of the decay (τ = 54 ns) dominates in the decay kinetics of luminescence along with the build-up stage while the contribution of the μs decay component is less than 0.5% at the excitation by an pulse electron beam (5Hz). The excitation spectra of d–f- and f–f-photoluminescence in the ultraviolet and vacuum ultraviolet range that are measured using synchrotron radiation reveal features that are caused by both intracenter transitions and processes related to the energy transfer from the intrinsic electronic excitations to the impurity center.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2019

Luminescence of Pr{sup 3+} Impurity Centers and Defects in Sr{sub 9}Sc (PO{sub 4}){sub 7}:Pr{sup 3+}

The spectroscopic characteristics and luminescence decay kinetics of Sr{sub 9}Sc(PO{sub 4}){sub 7}:Pr{sup 3+}(1%) were investigated using synchrotron radiation of ultraviolet (UV), vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and X-ray ranges, as well as pulsed cathodoluminescence (PCL) methods at temperatures of 10, 90, and 295 K. The luminescence spectra contain three groups of bands and lines. In the UV range, the observed bands correspond to interconfigurational 5d → 4f transitions in Pr{sup 3+} ions. In the visible spectrum, the wide luminescence band of defects dominates, as well as narrow lines associated with intraconfigurational 4f → 4f transitions in Pr{sup 3+} ions. When excited by an electron beam (5 Hz), the main component with a decay time τ ∼ 17 ns dominates in the decay kinetics of the 5d → 4f luminescence. The decay kinetics of 5d → 4f luminescence upon excitation with high-frequency (τ ∼ 8 MHz) synchrotron radiation of the X-ray range contains a fast component (τ ∼ 15 ns) against the background of the slow component of the μs-range. An effective nonradiative energy transfer is observed from impurity centers to defects, as well as from the host to Pr{sup 3+} ions and defects.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2017

High-pressure structural, elastic, and thermodynamic properties of zircon-type HoPO 4 and TmPO 4

Zircon-type holmium phosphate (HoPO 4 ) and thulium phosphate (TmPO 4 ) have been studied by single-crystal x-ray diffraction and ab initio calculations. We report on the influence of pressure on the crystal structure, and on the elastic and thermodynamic properties. The equation of state for both compounds is accurately determined. We have also obtained information on the polyhedral compressibility which is used to explain the anisotropic axial compressibility and the bulk compressibility. Both compounds are ductile and more resistive to volume compression than to shear deformation at all pressures. Furthermore, the elastic anisotropy is enhanced upon compression. Finally, the calculations indicate that the possible causes that make the zircon structure unstable are mechanical instabilities and the softening of a silent B 1u mode.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2016

Monazite-type SrCr O 4 under compression

We report a high-pressure study of monoclinic monazite-type SrCrO 4 up to 26 GPa. Therein we combined x-ray diffraction, Raman, and optical-absorption measurements with ab initio calculations, to find a pressure-induced structural phase transition of SrCrO 4 near 8-9 GPa. Evidence of a second phase transition was observed at 10-13 GPa. The crystal structures of the high-pressure phases were assigned to the tetragonal scheelite-type and monoclinic AgMnO 4 -type structures. Both transitions produce drastic changes in the electronic band gap and phonon spectrum of SrCrO 4 . We determined the pressure evolution of the band gap for the low- and high-pressure phases as well as the frequencies and pressure dependencies of the Raman-active modes. In all three phases most Raman modes harden under compression, however the presence of low-frequency modes which gradually soften is also detected. In monazite-type SrCrO 4 , the band gap blueshifts under compression, but the transition to the scheelite phase causes an abrupt decrease of the band gap in SrCrO 4 . Calculations showed good agreement with experiments and were used to better understand the experimental results. From x-ray-diffraction studies and calculations we determined the pressure dependence of the unit-cell parameters of the different phases and their ambient-temperature equations of state. The results are compared with the high-pressure behavior of other monazites, in particular PbCrO 4 . A comparison of the high-pressure behavior of the electronic properties of SrCrO 4 (SrWO 4 ) and PbCrO 4 (PbWO 4 ) will also be made. Lastly, the possible occurrence of a third structural phase transition is discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗