Physics Commons^™

Doppler-Broadening Of Light Nuclei Gamma-Ray Spectra, Melinda D. Whitfield

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Non-destructive methods of material interrogation are used to locate hidden explosives and thwart terrorism attempts. In one such method materials are bombarded with neutrons which react with the nuclei of the atoms within causing a de-excitation process emitting a gamma-ray. The spectrum displayed by the collection of these gamma-rays gives valuable information regarding the material’s elemental make-up. It has been hypothesized that gamma-rays from neutron-induced gamma-ray reactions on light elements with atomic numbers less than 20, including most of the gamma-rays of interest in explosives detection, are Doppler-broadened. This thesis focuses on the gamma ray spectra from the 4438 keV …

Color Changes In Stochastic Light Fields Propagating In Non-Kolmogorov Turbulence, Olga Korotkova, Elena Shchepakina

Physics Articles and Papers

The dependence of spectral shifts and switches in optical stochastic beams propagating through nonclassic turbulent medium on the slope of the power spectrum of fluctuations in the refractive index is revealed.

Time Dilation In Relativistic Two-Particle Interactions, B T. Shields, Rainer Grobe, E V. Stefanovich, M R. Ware, Qichang Su, M C. Morris

Faculty publications – Physics

We study the orbits of two interacting particles described by a fully relativistic classical mechanical Hamiltonian. We use two sets of initial conditions. In the first set (dynamics 1) the system's center of mass is at rest. In the second set (dynamics 2) the center of mass evolves with velocity V. If dynamics 1 is observed from a reference frame moving with velocity-V, the principle of relativity requires that all observables must be identical to those of dynamics 2 seen from the laboratory frame. Our numerical simulations demonstrate that kinematic Lorentz space-time transformations fail to transform particle observables between the …

Spatio-Temporal Coupling Of Random Electromagnetic Pulses Interacting With Reflecting Gratings, Min Yao, Yangjian Cai, Olga Korotkova, Qiang Lin, Zhaoying Wang

Physics Articles and Papers

Matrix optics is applied to a class of random, in time and space, electromagnetic pulsed beam-like (REMPB) radiation interacting with linear optical elements. A 66 order matrix describing transformation of a six-dimensional state vector including four spatial and two temporal positions within the field is used to derive conditions for spatio-temporal coupling. An example is included which deals with a spatio-temporal coupling in a typical REMPB on reflection from a reflecting grating. Electromagnetic nature of such interaction is explored via considering dependence of the degree of polarization of the reflected REMPB on its source and on the structure of the …

Measurement And Modeling Of Infrared Nonlinear Absorption Coefficients And Laser-Induced Damage Thresholds In Ge And Gasb, Torrey J. Wagner, Matthew J. Bohn, Ronald A. Coutu Jr., L. P. Gonzales, J. M. Murray, K. L. Schepler, S. Guha

Faculty Publications

Using a simultaneous fitting technique to extract nonlinear absorption coefficients from data at two pulse widths, we measure two-photon and free-carrier absorption coefficients for Ge and GaSb at 2.05 and 2.5 µm for the first time, to our knowledge. Results agreed well with published theory. Single-shot damage thresholds were also measured at 2.5 µm and agreed well with modeled thresholds using experimentally determined parameters including nonlinear absorption coefficients and temperature dependent linear absorption. The damage threshold for a single-layer Al₂O₃ anti-reflective coating on Ge was 55% or 35% lower than the uncoated threshold for picosecond or nanosecond …

Two-Loop Soft Anomalous Dimensions For Single Top Quark Associated Production With A W- Or H-, Nikolaos Kidonakis

Faculty and Research Publications

I present results for the two-loop soft anomalous dimensions for associated production of a single top quark with a W boson or a charged Higgs boson. The calculation uses expressions for the massive cusp anomalous dimension, which are presented in different forms, and it allows soft-gluon resummation at next-to-next-to-leading-logarithm (NNLL) accuracy. From the NNLL resummed cross section I derive approximate NNLO cross sections for bg→tW- and bg→tH- at LHC energies of 7, 10, and 14 TeV.

Site-Specific Photocatalytic Splitting Of Methanol On Tio2(110), Chuanyao Zhou, Zefeng Ren, Shijing Tan, Zhibo Ma, Xinchun Mao, Dongxu Dai, Hongjun Fan, Xueming Yang, Jerry L. Larue, Russell Cooper, Alec M. Wodtke, Zhou Wang, Zhenyu Li, Bing Wang, Jinlong Yang, Jianguo Hou

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Clean hydrogen production is highly desirable for future energy needs, making the understanding of molecular-level phenomena underlying photocatalytic hydrogen production both fundamentally and practically important. Water splitting on pure TiO₂ is inefficient, however, adding sacrificial methanol could significantly enhance the photocatalyzed H₂ production. Therefore, understanding the photochemistry of methanol on TiO₂ at the molecular level could provide important insights to its photocatalytic activity. Here, we report the first clear evidence of photocatalyzed splitting of methanol on TiO₂ derived from time-dependent two-photon photoemission (TD-2PPE) results in combination with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). STM tip induced molecular manipulation …

Space-Time Properties Of A Boson-Dressed Fermion For The Yukawa Model, R E. Wagner, M R. Ware, Q Su, Rainer Grobe

Faculty publications – Physics

We analyze the interaction of fermions and bosons through a one-dimensional Yukawa model. We numerically compute the energy eigenstates that represent a physical fermion, which is a superposition of bare fermionic and bosonic eigenstates of the uncoupled Hamiltonian. It turns out that even fast bare fermions require only low-momentum dressing bosons, which attach themselves to the fast fermion through quantum correlations. We compare the space-time evolution of a physical fermion with that of its bare counterpart and show the importance of using dressed observables. The time evolution of the center of mass as well as the wave packet's spatial width …

Full Multiple Scattering Analysis Of Xanes At The Cd L 3- And O K- Edges In Cdo Films Combined With A Soft-X-Ray Emission Investigation, I. N. Demchenko, J. D. Denlinger, M. Chernyshova, K. M. Yu, D. T. Speaks, P. Olalde-Velasco, Oliver Hemmers, W. Walukiewicz, A. Derkachova, K. Lawniczak-Jablonska

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) at the cadmium L3 and oxygen K edges for CdO thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition method, is interpreted within the real-space multiple scattering formalism, FEFF code. The features in the experimental spectra are well reproduced by calculations for a cluster of about six and ten coordination shells around the absorber for L3 edge of Cd and K edge of O, respectively. The calculated projected electronic density of states is found to be in good agreement with unoccupied electronic states in experimental data and allows to conclude that the orbital character of the …

Testing Quantum Randomness In Single-Photon Polarization Measurements With The Nist Test Suite, David Branning, Matthew Bermudez

Faculty Scholarship

A binary sequence was constructed from 1.7×10⁷ polarization measurements of single photons from a spontaneous parametric downconversion source, under pumping conditions similar to those used in optical quantum cryptography. To search for correlations in the polarization measurement outcomes, we subjected the sequence to a suite of tests developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for the assessment of algorithmic random-number generators. The bias of the sequence was low enough to allow all fifteen tests to be applied directly to the polarization outcomes without using any numerical unbiasing procedures. No statistically significant deviations from randomness were observed, …

Time-Resolved Compton Scattering For A Model Fermion-Boson System, R E. Wagner, Rainer Grobe, Q Su

Faculty publications – Physics

We study the scattering of a boson with a fermion with full spatial and temporal resolution based on the one-dimensional Yukawa Hamiltonian. In quantum field theory this interaction is described by the annihilation and creation of bosons with intermediate virtual particle states. We show that this process can be modeled in the center-of-mass frame by a scattering potential, permitting us to interpret the absorption and re-emission processes in quantum mechanical terms of a characteristic force. This Compton force between the fermion and boson is repulsive for large distances and attractive for shorter spacings. We also examine the periodic dynamics of …

Communications: Chain And Double-Ring Polymeric Structures: Observation Of Alnh3n+1 − (N=4–8) And Al4h14 −, Xiang Li, Andrej Grubisic, Kit H. Bowen, Anil K. Kandalam, Boggavarapu Kiran, Gerd F. Gantefoer, Puru Jena

Physics & Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Collisional Transfer Of Population And Orientation In Nak, Seth T. Ashman, C. M. Wolfe, J. Huennekens, B. Beser, J. Bai, A. M. Lyyra

Engineering & Physics Faculty Publications

We report current work to study transfer of population and orientation in collisions of NaK molecules with argon and potassium atoms using polarization labeling (PL) and laser- induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy. In the PL experiment, a circularly polarized pump laser excites a specific NaK A1Σ +(v 0=16, J 0 ) ← X1Σ +(v 00=0, J 0 ± 1) transition, creating an orientation (non-uniform MJ0 level distribution) in both levels. The linearly polarized probe laser is scanned over various 31Π(v, J 0±1) ← A1Σ +(v 0=16, J 0 ) transitions. The probe laser passes through a crossed linear polarizer before detection, …

Experimental Studies Of The Nacs 53Π0 And 1(A)3Σ+ States, Seth T. Ashman, Brett Mcgeehan, Christopher Wolfe, Carl Faust, John Huennekens

Engineering & Physics Faculty Publications

We present experimental studies of the NaCs molecule that are currently underway in our laboratory. The opticaloptical double resonance method is used to obtain Doppler-free excitation spectra for several excited states. Selected data from the 53Π0 electronic state are used to obtain Rydberg-Klein-Rees (RKR) and Inverse Perturbation Approach (IPA) potential curves. We are also mapping the repulsive wall of the 1(a) 3Σ +potential using many resolved bound-free fluorescence spectra from individual ro-vibrational levels of the 53Π0 electronic state to the 1(a) 3Σ + state. Using the determined 53Π0 state potential we fit the repulsive wall of the 1(a) 3Σ + …

Exponential Enhancement Of Field-Induced Pair Creation From The Bosonic Vacuum, R E. Wagner, M R. Ware, Q Su, Rainer Grobe

Faculty publications – Physics

Using numerical solutions to quantum field theory, the creation of boson-antiboson pairs from the vacuum under a very strong localized external electric field is explored. The simulations reveal that the initial linear increase of the number of particles turns into an exponential growth. This self-amplification can be understood as the result of the interaction of the previously generated particles with the creation process. While the number of particles keeps increasing, the spatial shape of the (normalized) charge density of the created particles reaches a universal form that can be related to the bound states of the supercritical potential well. We …

Design Of Electronics For A High-Energy Photon Tagger For The Gluex Experiment, Mitchell "Woody" Underwood

Honors Scholar Theses

In quantum chromodynamics (QCD), quarks and antiquarks are held together inside hadrons by the nuclear strong force, which is mediated by exchange particles known as gluons. The simplest type of hadron, the meson, consists of a single quark and a single antiquark bound by a gluonic field. The flux-tube model of QCD says that this gluonic field forms a tube of color-electric field lines between the quark and the antiquark which can under the right conditions be made to vibrate. Such mesons with excited glue are called hybrid mesons.

GlueX is a high-energy nuclear physics experiment which will study hybrid …

Measurement Of Γ-Emission Branching Ratios For 154,156,158Gd Compound Nuclei: Tests Of Surrogate Nuclear Reaction Approximations For (N,Γ) Cross Sections, N. D. Scielzo

Physics Faculty Publications

The surrogate nuclear reaction method can be used to determine neutron-induced reaction cross sections from measured decay properties of a compound nucleus created using a different reaction and calculated formation cross sections. The reliability of (n,γ) cross sections determined using the Weisskopf-Ewing and ratio approximations are explored for the ^{155, 157}Gd(n,γ) reactions. Enriched gadolinium targets were bombarded with 22-MeV protons and γ rays were detected in coincidence with scattered protons using the Silicon Telescope Array for Reaction Studies/Livermore-Berkeley Array for Collaborative Experiments (STARS/LiBerACE) silicon and germanium detector arrays. The γ-emission probabilities for the ^{154, 156, …}

Reactivity Of Neutral And Charged B13 Clusters With O2: A Theoretical Study, William J. Slough, Anil K. Kandalam, Ravindra Pandey

Physics & Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Bosonic Analog Of The Klein Paradox, R E. Wagner, M R. Ware, Q Su, Rainer Grobe

Faculty publications – Physics

The standard Klein paradox describes how an incoming electron scatters off a supercritical electrostatic barrier that is so strong that it can generate electron- positron pairs. This fermionic system has been widely discussed in textbooks to illustrate some of the discrepancies between quantum mechanical and quantum field theoretical descriptions for the pair creation process. We compare the fermionic dynamics with that of the corresponding bosonic system. We point out that the direct counterpart of the Pauli exclusion principle (the central mechanism to resolve the fermionic Klein paradox) is stimulated emission, which leads to the resolution of the analogous bosonic paradox.

Unusual Resistance Hysteresis In N-Layer Graphene Field Effect Transistors Fabricated On Ferroelectric Pb(Zr0.2ti0.8)O3, X. Hong, J. Hoffman, A. Posadas, K. Zou, C. H. Ahn, J. Zhu

Xia Hong Publications

We have fabricated n-layer graphene field effect transistors on epitaxial ferroelectric Pb(Zr_0.2Ti_0.8)O₃ (PZT) thin films. At low gate voltages, PZT behaves as a high-k dielectric with k up to 100. An unusual resistance hysteresis occurs in gate sweeps at high voltages, with its direction opposite to that expected from the polarization switching of PZT. The relaxation of the metastable state is thermally activated, with an activation barrier of 50–110 meV and a time constant of 6 h at 300 K. We attribute its origin to the slow dissociation/recombination dynamics of water molecules adsorbed at …

Deposition Of High-Quality Hfo2 On Graphene And The Effect Of Remote Oxide Phonon Scattering, K. Zou, X. Hong, D. Keefer, J. Zhu

Xia Hong Publications

We demonstrate atomic layer deposition of high-quality dielectric HfO₂ films on graphene and determine the magnitude of remote oxide surface phonon scattering in dual-oxide structures. The carrier mobility in these HfO₂-covered graphene samples reaches 20 000 cm²/Vs at low temperature. Distinct contributions to the resistivity from surface optical phonons in the SiO₂ substrate and the HfO₂ overlayer are isolated. At 300 K, surface phonon modes of the HfO₂ film centered at 54 meV limit the mobility to approximately 20 000 cm²/Vs.

Magnetodielectric Coupling Of Infrared Phonons In Single-Crystal Cu2oseo3, K. H. Miller, X. S. Xu, H. Berger, E. S. Knowles, D. J. Arenas, M. W. Meisel, D. B. Tanner

Xiaoshan Xu Papers

Reflection and transmission as a function of temperature (5–300 K) have been measured on a single crystal of the magnetoelectric ferrimagnetic compound Cu₂OSeO₃ utilizing light spanning the far infrared to the visible portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The complex dielectric function and optical properties were obtained via Kramers-Kronig analysis and by fits to a Drude-Lortentz model. The fits of the infrared phonons show a magnetodielectric effect near the transition temperature (T_c~60 K). Assignments to strong far-infrared phonon modes have been made, especially those exhibiting anomalous behavior around the transition temperature.

Dynamical Theory Calculations Of Spin-Echo Resolved Grazing-Incidence Scattering From A Diffraction Grating, Rana Ashkar, P. Stonaha, A. L. Washington, V. R. Shah, M. R. Fitzsimmons, B. Maranville, C. F. Majkrzak, W. T. Lee, W. L. Schaich, Roger Pynn

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

Neutrons scattered or reflected from a diffraction grating are subject to a periodic potential analogous to the potential experienced by electrons within a crystal. Hence, the wavefunction of the neutrons can be expanded in terms of Bloch waves and a dynamical theory can be applied to interpret the scattering phenomenon. In this paper, a dynamical theory is used to calculate the results of neutron spin-echo resolved grazing-incidence scattering (SERGIS) from a silicon diffraction grating with a rectangular profile. The calculations are compared with SERGIS measurements made on the same grating at two neutron sources: a pulsed source and a continuous …

Demonstration Of A Neutral Atom Controlled-Not Quantum Gate, L. Isenhower, E. Urban, X. L. Zhang, A. T. Gill, T. Henage, Todd A. Johnson, T. G. Walker, M. Saffman

Physics Faculty Publications

We present the first demonstration of a CNOT gate between two individually addressed neutral atoms. Our implementation of the CNOT uses Rydberg blockade interactions between neutral atoms held in optical traps separated by >8  μm. Using two different gate protocols we measure CNOT fidelities of F=0.73 and 0.72 based on truth table probabilities. The gate was used to generate Bell states with fidelity F=0.48±0.06. After correcting for atom loss we obtain an a posteriori entanglement fidelity of F=0.58.

Imaging Live Cells Grown On A Three Dimensional Collagen Matrix Using Raman Microspectroscopy, Franck Bonnier, Peter Knief, Basil Lim, Aidan Meade, Jennifer Dorney, Kunal Bhattacharya, Fiona Lyng, Hugh Byrne

Articles

Three dimensional collagen gels have been used as matrices for the imaging of live cells by Raman spectroscopy. The study is conducted on a human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) and a spontaneously immortalized human epithelial keratinocyte (HaCaT) cell line. The lateral resolution of the system has been estimated to be

Investigation Of The Influence Of High Risk Human Papillomavirus On The Biochemical Composition Of Cervical Cancer Cells Using Vibrational Spectroscopy, Kamila Ostrowska, Alison Malkin, Aidan Meade, John O'Leary, Cara Martin, Cathy Spillane, Hugh Byrne, Fiona Lyng

Articles

The main aetiology of cervical cancer is infection with high risk human papillomavirus (HPV). Cervical cancer is almost 100% curable if detected in the early stages. Thus, information about the presence and levels of HPV in patient samples has high clinical value. As current screening methods, such as the Pap smear test, are highly subjective and in many cases show low sensitivity and specificity, new supportive techniques are desirable to improve the quality of cervical cancer screening. In this study, vibrational spectroscopic techniques (Raman and Fourier Transform Infra Red absorption) have been applied to the investigation of four cervical cancer …

A Systematic Study Of The Dispersion Of Swnts In Organic Solvents, Qiaohuan Cheng, Sourabhi Debnath, Luke O'Neill, Theresa Hedderman, Elizabeth Gregan, Hugh Byrne

Articles

Dispersions of as-produced HiPco single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in a series of organic solvents were prepared by dilution with the aid of tip sonication. Mild centrifugation (~ 945 g) was carried out to remove large bundles. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies revealed that the bundle size decreased as the dispersion was diluted. By measuring the UV-vis-NIR absorption before and after centrifugation as a function of the concentration, the dispersion limit of SWNTs in each solvent can be determined. Correlations between the dispersion limit and solvent solubility parameters, including the Hildebrand solubility parameter and three dimensional Hansen solubility parameters, are explored, …

Infrared Skin Damage Thresholds From 1940-Nm Continuous-Wave Laser Exposures, Jeffrey W. Oliver, David J. Stolarski, Gary D. Noojin, Harvey M. Hodnett, Corey A. Harbert, Kurt J. Schuster, Michaedl F. Foltz, Semih S. Kumru, Clarence P. Cain, C. J. Finkeldei, Gavin Buffington, Isaac D. Noojin, Robert J. Thomas

Physics Faculty Publications

A series of experiments are conducted in vivo using Yucatan mini-pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) to determine thermal damage thresholds to the skin from 1940-nm continuous-wave thulium fiber laser irradiation. Experiments employ exposure durations from 10 ms to 10 s and beam diameters of approximately 4.8 to 18 mm. Thermal imagery data provide a time-dependent surface temperature response from the laser. A damage endpoint of minimally visible effect is employed to determine threshold for damage at 1 and 24 h postexposure. Predicted thermal response and damage thresholds are compared with a numerical model of optical-thermal interaction. Results are compared …

Sulfur K-Edge Photo-Fragmentation Of Ethylene Sulfide, Wayne C. Stolte, Gunnar Ohrwall

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Research

We have investigated the photofragmentation properties of the three-membered ring heterocyclic molecule ethylene sulfide or thiirane, C₂H₄S, by time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. Positive ions have been collected as a function of photon energy around the S K ionization threshold. Branching ratios were derived for all detected ions, which are informative of the decay dynamics and photofragmentation patterns of the core-excited species. We present a new assignment of the spectral features around the S K-edge.

Lattice Dynamical Probe Of Charge Order And Antipolar Bilayer Stacking In Lufe2o4, X. S. Xu, J. De Groot, Q.-C. Sun, B. C. Sales, D. Mandrus, M. Angst, A. P. Litvinchuk, J. L. Musfeldt

Xiaoshan Xu Papers

We investigated the infrared response of LuFe₂O₄ through the series of charge, magnetic, and structural transitions. All vibrational modes couple strongly to the charge order, whereas the LuO zone-folding modes are also sensitive to magnetic order and structural distortion. The dramatic splitting of the LuO₂ layer mode is attributed to charge-rich/poor proximity effects and its temperature dependence reveals the antipolar nature of the W layer pattern.