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At least 1,009 records · Page 56

Distinguishing resonance symmetries with energy-resolved photoion angular distributions from ion-pair formation in O 2 following two-photon absorption of a 9.3 eV femtosecond pulse

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study on the photodissociation dynamics of ion-pair formation in O 2 following resonant two-photon absorption of a 9.3 eV femtosecond pulse, where the resulting O + ions are detected using 3-D momentum imaging. Ion-pair formation states of $^3\Sigma^-_g$ and $^3\Pi_g$ symmetry are accessed through predissociation of optically dark continuum Rydberg states converging to the B $^2\Sigma^-_g$ ionic state, which are resonantly populated via a mixture of both parallel-parallel and parallel-perpendicular two-photon transitions. This mixture is evident in the angular distribution of the dissociation relative to the light polarization, and varies with the kinetic energy release (KER) of the fragmenting ion-pair. The KER-dependent photoion angular distribution reveals the underlying two-photon absorption dynamics involved in the ion-pair production mechanism and indicates the existence of two nearly degenerate continuum resonances possessing different symmetries, which can both decay by coupling to ion-pair states of the same total symmetry through internal conversion.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Characterization of an RF-driven argon plasma at atmospheric pressure using broadband absorption and optical emission spectroscopy

Atmospheric pressure plasmas in argon are of particular interest due to the production of highly excited and reactive species enabling numerous plasma-aided applications. In this contribution, we report on absolute optical emission and absorption spectroscopy of a radio frequency (RF) driven capacitively coupled argon glow discharge operated in a parallel-plate configuration. This enabled the study of all key parameters including electron density and temperature, gas temperature, and absolute densities of atoms in highly electronically excited states. The space and time-averaged electron density and temperature were determined from the measurement of the absolute intensity of the electron-atom bremsstrahlung in the visible range. Considering the non-Maxwellian electron energy distribution function, an electron temperature (T e ) of 2.1 eV and an electron density (n e ) of 1.1 × 10 19 m –3 were obtained. The time-averaged and spatially resolved absolute densities of atoms in the metastable (1s 5 and 1s 3 ) and resonant (1s 4 and 1s 2 ) states of argon in pure Ar and Ar/He mixture were obtained by broadband absorption spectroscopy. The 1s 5 metastable atoms had the largest density near the sheath region with a maximum value of 8 × 10 17 m –3 , while all other 1s states had densities of at most 2 × 10 17 m –3 . Here, the dominant production and loss mechanisms of these atoms were discussed, in particular, the role of radiation trapping. We conclude with a comparison of the plasma properties of the argon RF glow discharges with the more common He equivalent and highlight their differences.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Mapping wave packet bifurcation at a conical intersection in CH 3 I by attosecond XUV transient absorption spectroscopy

Extreme ultraviolet (XUV) transient absorption spectroscopy has emerged as a sensitive tool for mapping the real-time structural and electronic evolution of molecules. Here, attosecond XUV transient absorption is used to track dynamics in the A-band of methyl iodide (CH 3 I). Gaseous CH 3 I molecules are excited to the A-band by a UV pump (277 nm, ~20 fs) and probed by attosecond XUV pulses targeting iodine I(4d) core-to-valence transitions. Owing to the excellent temporal resolution of the technique, passage through a conical intersection is mapped through spectral signatures of nonadiabatic wave packet bifurcation observed to occur at 15 ± 4 fs following UV photoexcitation. The observed XUV signatures and time dynamics are in agreement with previous simulations [H. Wang, M. Odelius, and D. Prendergast, J. Chem. Phys. 151, 124106 (2019)]. Furthermore, due to the short duration of the UV pump pulse, coherent vibrational motion in the CH 3 I ground state along the C-I stretch mode (538 ± 7 cm -1 ) launched by resonant impulsive stimulated Raman scattering and dynamics in multiphoton excited states of CH 3 I are also detected.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Experimental upper bounds for resonance-enhanced entangled two-photon absorption cross section of indocyanine green

Resonant intermediate states have been proposed to increase the efficiency of entangled two-photon absorption (ETPA). Although resonance-enhanced ETPA (r-ETPA) has been demonstrated in atomic systems using bright squeezed vacuum, it has not been studied in organic molecules. We investigate for the first time r-ETPA in an organic molecular dye, indocyanine green (ICG), when excited by broadband entangled photons in near-IR. Similar to many reported virtual state mediated ETPA (v-ETPA) measurements, no r-ETPA signals are measured, with an experimental upper bound for the cross section placed at 6(±2) × 10 −23 cm 2 . In addition, the classical resonance-enhanced two-photon absorption (r-TPA) cross section of ICG at 800 nm is measured for the first time to be 20(±13) GM, where 1 GM equals 10 −50 cm 4 s, suggesting that having a resonant intermediate state does not significantly enhance two-photon processes in ICG. Furthermore, the spectrotemporally resolved emission signatures of ICG excited by entangled photons are also presented to support this conclusion.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Thermometry of an open spatially inhomogeneous flame by diode laser absorption spectroscopy

Features of a single-beam variant of diode laser absorption spectroscopy (DLAS) used for temperature measurements in a spatially inhomogeneous hot zone are studied. A flame temperature of a commercial burner is measured by using water molecule absorption lines. The flame is probed by a diode laser radiation at various heights and in various directions. The correctness of DLAS measurement results is verified by comparing DLAS data with temperatures measured by the method of coherent anti-Stokes scattering (CARS). It is shown that in homogeneous flame domains the temperatures obtained by both the methods coincide. Temperature inhomogeneity along the probe beam direction is a principal problem of DLAS, in which case the method yields information about some effective temperature along the light trace. The difference in data obtained by DLAS and CARS is estimated. In probing traces with temperature gradients the difference reaches 700 K. Possibilities of accounting for temperature inhomogeneities along the trace in DLAS measurements are discussed. A method of differential spectra is suggested, which in certain conditions can provide substantially better coincidence of results for the two methods. (laser spectroscopy)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Study of saturated-absorption resonances on the {sup 3}P{sub 0, 1, 2} – {sup 3}D{sub 1, 2, 3} transitions of magnesium atoms in a hollow-cathode discharge cell

The saturated-absorption resonances on the {sup 3}P{sub 0, 1, 2} – {sup 3}D{sub 1, 2, 3} transitions of magnesium atoms in a hollow-cathode discharge cell are studied. The line width (FWHM) for the observed saturated-absorption resonance on the 3{sup 3}P{sub 0} → 3{sup 3}D{sub 1} transition turns out to be ∼220 MHz. Experiments are performed using a system based on a 766-nm diode laser with amplification and frequency doubling in a nonlinear BiBO crystal. The results obtained are of interest for sub-Doppler cooling on the 3{sup 3}P{sub 2} → 3{sup 3}D{sub 3} transition. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Photoisomerization transition state manipulation by entangled two-photon absorption

Significance Entangled two-photon absorption has attracted considerable interest due to its potential applications for low–photon flux spectroscopy and microscopy. The entanglement parameters in the twin-photon state can be exploited to control two-photon excitation processes. Here we demonstrate that photon entanglement provides a powerful novel control knob for the nuclear wave packets in an optically dark electronic state. We show that the transition states in the trans–cis photoisomerization of azobenzene, initiated by an entangled two-photon absorption process, can be manipulated significantly by entangled light. These effects can be monitored experimentally by coherent stimulated X-ray Raman signals which reveal electronic coherences during the passage through conical intersections.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Spectro-temporal comparisons of optical emission, absorption, and laser-induced fluorescence for characterizing ns and fs laser-produced plasmas

We performed simultaneous measurement of absorption, emission, and laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopic signatures for determining nanosecond and femtosecond laser-produced plasma’s physical properties throughout its lifecycle. Plasmas are produced by focusing either ~6 ns, 1064 nm pulses from an Nd:YAG or ~35 fs, ~800 nm pulses from a Ti:Sapphire laser on an Inconel target that contains Al as a minor alloying addition. A continuous-wave narrowband tunable laser was used for performing absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy while a fast-gated detection system was used for emission spectroscopy. The temporal evolution of emission, fluorescence, and absorbance of Al transitions are compared for both ns and fs laser-produced plasms. Time-resolved absorbance was also used for evaluating linewidth, lineshape, temperature, and column-averaged atomic number density at late times of ns and fs plasma evolution. Our results demonstrate that lower and excited-state populations of fs laser produced plasmas are short-lived in comparison to those in ns plasmas. The lower state population is observed to reach a maximum value earlier in time for the fs plasma versus the ns plasma, while the kinetic temperature for the ns plasma was higher than for the fs plasma at most times of the plasma evolution.

(280.4788) Optical Sensing, (300.2140) Emission Sp↗

Effect of lattice excitations on transient near-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy

Here, time-dependent and constituent-specific spectral changes in soft near-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) of an [Fe/MgO] 8 metal/insulator heterostructure after laser excitation are analyzed at the O K-edge with picosecond time resolution. The oxygen absorption edge of the insulator features a uniform intensity decrease of the fine structure at elevated phononic temperatures, which can be quantified by a simple simulation and fitting procedure presented here. Combining XAS with ultrafast electron diffraction measurements and ab initio calculations demonstrates that the transient intensity changes in XAS can be assigned to a transient lattice temperature. Thus, the sensitivity of transient near-edge XAS to phonons is demonstrated.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Efficient core-excited state orbital perspective on calculating x-ray absorption transitions in determinant framework

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is an explicit probe of the unoccupied electronic structure of materials and an invaluable tool for fingerprinting various electronic properties and phenomena. Computational methods capable of simulating and analyzing such spectra are therefore in high demand for complementing experimental results and for extracting valuable insights therefrom. In particular, a recently proposed first-principles approach titled many-body XAS (MBXAS), which approximates the final (initial) state as a Slater determinant constructed from Kohn-Sham (KS) orbitals optimized in the absence (presence) of the relevant core electron has shown promising prospects in evaluating the transition amplitudes. In this article, we show that the MBXAS approach can be rederived using a transition operator expressed entirely in the basis of core-excited state KS orbitals and that this reformulation offers substantial practical and conceptual advantages. In addition to circumventing previous issues of convergence with respect to the number of unoccupied ground-state orbitals, the aforementioned representation reduces the computational expense by rendering the calculation of such orbitals unnecessary altogether. Furthermore, the reformulated approach also provides a direct pathway for comparing the many-body approximation with the so-called single-particle treatment and indicates the relative importance in observed XAS intensity of the relaxation of the valence occupied subspace induced by the core excitation. Finally, using the core-excited state basis, we define auxiliary orbitals for x-ray absorption and demonstrate their utility in explaining the spectral intensity by contrasting them with single-particle approximations to the excited state.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Single-Shot Multi-keV X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy Using an Ultrashort Laser-Wakefield Accelerator Source

We report that single-shot absorption measurements have been performed using the multi-keV x rays generated by a laser-wakefield accelerator. A 200 TW laser was used to drive a laser-wakefield accelerator in a mode which produced broadband electron beams with a maximum energy above 1 GeVand a broad divergence of ≈15 mrad FWHM. Betatron oscillations of these electrons generated 1.2 ± 0.2 x 10 6 photons/eV in the 5 keV region, with a signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 300:1. This was sufficient to allow high-resolution x-ray absorption near-edge structure measurements at the K edge of a titanium sample in a single shot. We demonstrate that this source is capable of single-shot, simultaneous measurements of both the electron and ion distributions in matter heated to eV temperatures by comparison with density functional theory simulations. The unique combination of a high-flux, large bandwidth, few femtosecond duration x-ray pulse synchronized to a high-power laser will enable key advances in the study of ultrafast energetic processes such as electron-ion equilibration.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Understanding the unique optical and vibrational signatures of sequential infiltration synthesis derived indium oxyhydroxide clusters for CO 2 absorption

Sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) is a vapor phase synthesis technique with potential to exert precise control over metal oxyhydroxide incorporation into polymer scaffolds. Here, we observe strong size-dependent properties of InO x (OH) y few-atom clusters deposited with variable SIS cycle numbers within a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) matrix. Infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy reveal that the metal atom coordination and optical properties of the clusters depend on the number of SIS cycles performed as well as the choice of processing parameters. The incorporation of indium oxyhydroxide in PMMA via SIS presents an opportunity to improve the CO 2 absorption capacity and gas selectivity of inexpensive polymers.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Short-Lived Electron Excitations in FeTe{sub 1 –x}Se{sub x} as Revealed by Microwave Absorption

The Fe{sub 1 +y}Te{sub 1 –x}Se{sub x} single crystals with the various Se/Te ratios were studied by the microwave absorption and direct current resistivity measurements. The comparison of the microwave absorption data and the resistivity versus temperature made it possible to separate the contributions of two types of spin fluctuations. One of them is due to the anisotropic magnetic (nematic) fluctuations. It is observed over the wide temperature range from ~30 to 150 or 200 K. In FeSe it has the maximum close to the structural transition temperature. Another MWA anomaly is located in the narrow temperature range above the superconducting transition. It is likely due to the antiferromagnetic fluctuations. Annealing of a sample at the temperature around 300°C in the oxygen atmosphere made it possible to exclude the effect of excess iron on the observed anomalies.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Experimental Study and Analysis of Absorption Spectra of Ni{sup 2+} Ions in Nickel Orthoborate Ni{sub 3}(BO{sub 3}){sub 2}

The results of studies of the absorption spectra of nickel orthoborate Ni{sub 3}(BO{sub 3}){sub 2} in the range of electronic d–d-transitions are reported. The obtained data are analyzed in the framework of the crystal field theory. The Ni{sup 2+} ions are located in two crystallographically nonequivalent positions 2a and 4f with point symmetry groups C{sub 2h} and C{sub 2}, respectively, surrounded by six oxygen ions forming deformed octahedra. The absorption spectra exhibit three intense bands corresponding to spin-resolved transitions from the ground state of nickel ion {sup 3}A{sub 2g} ({sup 3}F) to the sublevels of the {sup 3}T{sub 2g} ({sup 3}F), {sup 3}T{sub 1g} ({sup 3}F) and {sup 3}T{sub 1g} ({sup 3}P) triplets split by the spinorbit interaction and the rhombic component of the crystal field. At temperatures below 100 K, the spectra exhibit a thin structure, in which phonon-free lines can be distinguished. Comparison of the calculated frequencies of the zero-phonon transitions with the experimental data allows estimating parameters of the crystal field acting on the nickel ions in the 2a- and 4f-positions, as well as the parameters of electrostatic interaction between the 3d electrons and spin-orbit interaction constants.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Intraband Radiation Absorption by Free Holes in GaAs/InGaAs Quantum Wells with Allowance for Nonsphericity of the kP Hamiltonian

A system of Kane’s equations has been derived and solved with allowance for elastic stresses and nonsphericity of the kP Hamiltonian. On this basis, analytic expressions for the energy spectra of charge carriers have been obtained and calculations of the optical absorption coefficient for heavy holes with transition to a spin-orbit-split hole band in GaAs/InGaAs quantum wells (QWs) have been performed for various polarization directions of the incident radiation. It is established that the maximum absorption in GaAs/InGaAs heterostructure takes place at a QW width of 4–6 nm.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Comparison of excitation and kinetic temperatures in a laser-produced plasma using absorption spectroscopy

High-resolution tunable laser absorption spectroscopy is used to measure time-resolved absorption spectra for six neutral uranium transitions in a laser-produced plasma. Here analysis of the spectra shows that kinetic temperatures are similar for all six transitions, but excitation temperatures are higher than kinetic temperatures from 10–100 μs, indicating departures from local thermodynamic equilibrium.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Coupled surface plasmon–phonon polariton nanocavity arrays for enhanced mid-infrared absorption

Abstract Resonant optical cavities are essential components in mid-infrared applications. However, typical film-type cavities require multilayer stacks with a micron-thick spacer due to mid-infrared wavelengths, and their performance is limited by narrow frequency tunability and angular sensitivity. We propose and experimentally demonstrate the subwavelength-scale (≈ λ 0 /150) resonant nanocavity arrays that enhance the absorption spectrum of the device in the mid-infrared (10–12 microns) via excitation of coupled surface plasmon–phonon polaritons. The proposed metal–insulator–polar dielectric (gold–silicon–silicon carbide) structure supports a guided mode of the coupled surface polaritons in the lateral direction while vertically confining the mid-infrared wave within the 80 nm thick dielectric spacer. In particular, the subwavelength-scale (≈ λ 0 /10) gratings are imposed to form Fabry–Pérot cavity arrays displaying angle-insensitive and frequency-tunable absorption of up to 80% of the optical power in the mid-infrared. Our work should benefit diverse mid-infrared applications and novel designs of polariton-based photonic devices.

42 ENGINEERING↗