Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Commons^™

Reconstructing Three-Dimensional Shape Envelopes From Time-Resolved Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering Data, Jessica Lamb, Lisa W. Kwok, Xiangyun Qiu, Kurt Andresen, Hye Yoon Park, Lois Pollack

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Modern computing power has made it possible to reconstruct low-resolution, three-dimensional shapes from solution small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data on biomolecules without a priori knowledge of the structure. In conjunction with rapid mixing techniques, SAXS has been applied to time resolve conformational changes accompanying important biological processes, such as biomolecular folding. In response to the widespread interest in SAXS reconstructions, their value in conjunction with such time-resolved data has been examined. The group I intron from Tetrahymena thermophila and its P4–P6 subdomain are ideal model systems for investigation owing to extensive previous studies, including crystal structures. The goal of this …

Photoelectron Spectroscopy And Theoretical Studies Of [Com(Pyrene)N]− (M=1,2 And N=1,2) Complexes, Anil K. Kandalam, Puru Jena, Xiang Li, Soren N. Eustis, Kit H. Bowen

Physics & Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Theoretical Top Quark Cross Section At The Fermilab Tevatron And The Cern Lhc, Nikolaos Kidonakis, Ramona Vogt

Faculty Articles

We present results for the top quark pair cross section at the Tevatron and the LHC. We use the resummed double differential cross section, employing the fully kinematics-dependent soft-anomalous-dimension matrices, to calculate the soft-gluon contributions at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO). We improve and update our previous estimates by refining our methods, including further subleading terms, and employing the most recent parton distribution function sets. The NNLO soft corrections significantly enhance the NLO cross section while considerably reducing the scale dependence. We provide a detailed discussion of all theoretical uncertainties in our calculation, including kinematics, scale, and parton distribution uncertainties, and clarify …

Photoelectron Spectroscopic Study Of The Anionic Transition Metalorganic Complexes [Fe1,2(Cot)]− And [C(Cot)]−, Xiang Li, Soren N. Eustis, Kit H. Bowen, Anil K. Kandalam

Physics & Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Study Of The Irradiance-And-Temperature-Dependence Of Mid-Wave-Infrared (Mwir)Absorption In Indium Antimonide (Insb), John M. Callahan

Theses and Dissertations

This work entails further investigation of the absorption of photons in indium antimonide (InSb). Previously work at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) attributed laser blooming effects in InSb focal plane arrays (FPA’s) to the Burstein-Moss effect. The contributing effect is from a decrease in the absorption of the InSb material, such that the transmitted optical energy scatters off the integrated circuitry beneath the InSb thin film back into the optical system. To evaluate this, irradiance-dependent laser-absorption experiments were performed on thinned, InSb wafers prior to their FPA fabrication. The samples were illuminated with a focused CO2 laser at …

Linear Dichroism In Resonant Inelastic X-Ray Scattering To Molecular Spin-Orbit States, Renaud Guillemin, Stephane Carniato, Wayne C. Stolte, Loic Journel, Richard Taieb, Dennis W. Lindle, Marc Simon

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Research

Polarization-dependent resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) is shown to be a new probe of molecular-field effects on the electronic structure of isolated molecules. A combined experimental and theoretical analysis explains the linear dichroism observed in Cl 2p RIXS following Cl 1s excitation in HCl and CF₃Cl as due to molecular-field effects, including singlet-triplet exchange, indicating polarized-RIXS provides a direct probe of spin-orbit-state populations applicable to any molecule.

Photoelectron Spectroscopic And Theoretical Studies Of Fem − (Coronene)N (M=1,2, N=1,2) Complexes, Xiang Li, Soren Eustis, Kit H. Bowen, Anil K. Kandalam, Puru Jena

Physics & Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of (E, 2e) Collisions And Related Phenomena, Jason Manuel Martinez

Physics Theses & Dissertations

In this thesis I investigate (e, 2e) processes, or electron impact ionization, using several theoretical methods. I first examine the problem using the Born approximations, particularly the Distorted Wave Born Approximation (DWBA), focusing on the underlying processes that dominate for ionization of the 2p state of Argon and Magnesium. I investigate as well the ionization of helium and hydrogen and use the simplicity of the approximation to probe the incident particle effects on the Helium cross section. In both cases the results are compared with experiment. I also produce cross section results for ions near threshold, a regime that …

Oxidation Resistance Studies Of Crain Coatings On 430 Stainless Steel, Kurtis Wickey

Honors Theses

The requirements of low cost and high-cost temperature corrosion resistance for interconnect plates in solid oxide fuel cell stacks has directed attention to the use of metal plates with oxidation resistant coatings. We have investigated the performance of stainless steel plates with homogenous coatings of CrAIN. The coatings were deposited using RF magnetron sputtering, with Ar as a sputtering gas and N as reactive gas. The Cr/A1 composition ratio in the coatings was varied in a combinatorial approach. The coatings were subsequently annealed in air for up to 25 hours at 800°C. The composition of the coated plates and the …

Higgs Production Via B Bbar -> H In Hadron Colliders, Nikolaos Kidonakis

Faculty Articles

I present NNNLO collinear and soft gluon corrections for Higgs production via the process b bbar -> H. I show that the collinear corrections dominate and contribute large enhancements to the cross section at both the Tevatron and the LHC.

Status Of Eikonal Two-Loop Calculations With Massive Quarks, Nikolaos Kidonakis, Philip Stephens

Faculty Articles

We present results for two-loop diagrams with massive quarks in the eikonal approximation. Explicit expressions are given for the UV poles in dimensional regularization of several of the required integrals.

Real-Time Plasma Controlled Chemistry In A Two-Frequency, Confined Plasma Etcher, Vladimir Milosavljevic, Albert R. Ellingboe, Cezar Gaman, John V. Ringwood

Articles

The physics issues of developing model-based control of plasma etching are presented. A novel methodology for incorporating real-time model-based control of plasma processing systems is developed. The methodology is developed for control of two dependent variables (ion flux and chemical densities) by two independent controls (27 MHz power and O2flow). A phenomenological physics model of the nonlinear coupling between the independent controls and the dependent variables of the plasma is presented. By using a design of experiment, the functional dependencies of the response surface are determined. In conjunction with the physical model, the dependencies are used to deconvolve the sensor …

Photoassociative Spectroscopy Of Ultracold Metastable Argon And Study Of Dual Species Trap Loss In A Rubidium-Metastable Argon Mot, Michael K. Shaffer

Physics Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation presents the findings of two experimental investigations in ultracold atomic and molecular physics: The study of the dual species trap loss in a rubidium - metastable argon magneto-optical trap and the photoassociative spectroscopy of ultracold metastable argon. The interspecies trap loss rate coefficients have been measured for ultracold collisions between ⁸⁵Rb and ⁴⁰Ar* in a dual-species magneto-optical trap (MOT) and the two rates have been found to be approximately equal over the range of intensities studied with values of β'_Rb–Ar* = 3.0 ± 1.3 × 10^-11 cm³/s and β'_Ar*–Rb = 1.9 …

Extended Tuning Of An Injection-Locked Diode Laser, M. K. Shaffer, G. Ranjit, C. I. Sukenik

Physics Faculty Publications

We have investigated the application of an electronic feedback technique recently reported by Repasky, et.al. [Appl. Opt. 45, 9013 (2006)] to an injection-locked semiconductor diode laser. We find that without electronic feedback, the injection-locked slave laser will only follow the master for less than 1 GHz, but once the electronic feedback is applied, the slave laser is capable of following for more than 20 GHz, corresponding to the full scan range of the master laser.

Investigation Of Loading Of Pulsed And Continuous-Wave Optical Dipole Force Traps, M. Shiddiq, E. M. Ahmed, M. D. Havey, C. I. Sukenik

Physics Faculty Publications

We have investigated the behavior of an optical dipole force trap realized using a mode-locked Nd:YAG laser and have compared performance to a continuous-wave (cw) trap built using the same laser but running in a cw mode. The traps are used to confine ultracold 85Rb atoms which are loaded from a magneto-optical trap (MOT). In most respects, the two traps behave similarly over a wide range of laser parameters provided that the average potential well depth is the same; however, there is a notable difference in the dipole trap loading efficiency dependence on the detuning of the MOT trap laser …

Cantilever Based Optical Interfacial Force Microscope, Jeremy R. Bonander, Byung I. Kim

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We developed a cantilever based optical interfacial force microscopy (COIFM) that employs a microactuated silicon cantilever and optical detection method to establish the measurement of the single molecular interactions using the force feedback technique. Through the direct measurement of the COIFM force-distance curves, we have demonstrated that the COIFM is capable of unveiling structural and mechanical information on interfacial water at the single molecular level over all distances between two hydrophilic surfaces.

An Image Based Bidirectional Reflectivity Distribution Function Experiment, Michael T. Hagg

Theses and Dissertations

The temperature dependence of Bidirectional Reflectivity Distribution Functions (BRDFs) is not well documented. For the sake of time and customer demand, current measurements are taken at room temperature, but the reflectivity of a material changes as a function of temperature. The assumption is that this change is uniform, and as such, the BRDF will retain its relative angular shape but perhaps be scaled in magnitude as a function of temperature. When BRDFs are to be used at elevated temperatures, a scaling factor is then applied. In addition, BRDF as a function of rate of change of temperature has been identified …

Rabi Oscillations Between Ground And Rydberg States With Dipole-Dipole Atomic Interactions, Todd A. Johnson, E. Urban, T. Henage, L. Isenhower, D. D. Yavuz, T. G. Walker, M Saffman

Physics Faculty Publications

We demonstrate Rabi oscillations of small numbers of ⁸⁷Rb atoms between ground and Rydberg states with n≤43. Coherent population oscillations are observed for single atoms, while the presence of two or more atoms decoheres the oscillations. We show that these observations are consistent with van der Waals interactions of Rydberg atoms.

Locality In The Creation Of Electron-Positron Pairs, T Cheng, S P. Bowen, C C. Gerry, Rainer Grobe

Faculty publications – Physics

We examine the mathematical solutions of the Dirac equation to predict the spontaneous electron-positron pair creation from the vacuum. The Dirac equation contains a position and time-dependent scalar potential to approximate the effect of an external force on the vacuum. We focus on forces that are localized in space as well as in time and find that the resulting creation process is also localized in time but delocalized in space. This illustrates that the Dirac equation can show nonlocal behavior as it predicts that particles can be created even in spatial regions where the force is zero. We also examine …

Limitations Of Decomposition-Based Imaging Of Longitudinal Absorber Configurations, S D. Campbell, S D. Grobe, I L. Goodin, Q Su, Rainer Grobe

Faculty publications – Physics

We examine theoretically and experimentally an imaging scheme that uses the transverse intensity profile of the scattered light to reconstruct the locations of absorbers embedded in a turbid medium. This method is based on an a priori knowledge of the scattered light patterns associated with a single absorber that is located at various positions inside the medium. We discuss the range of validity of this method, and its sensitivity with regard to noise, and propose an algorithm to improve its accuracy.

Charge Order, Dynamics, And Magnetostructural Transition In Multiferroic Lufe2o4, X. S. Xu, M. Angst, T. V. Brinzari, R. P. Hermann, J. L. Musfeldt, A. D. Christianson, D. Mandrus, B. C. Sales, S. Mcgill, J. -W. Kim, Z. Islam

Xiaoshan Xu Papers

We investigated the series of temperature and field-driven transitions in LuFe₂O₄ by optical and Mossbauer spectroscopies, magnetization, and x-ray scattering in order to understand the interplay between charge, structure, and magnetism in this multiferroic material. We demonstrate that charge fluctuation has an onset well below the charge ordering transition, supporting the ‘‘order by fluctuation’’ mechanism for the development of charge order superstructure. Bragg splitting and large magneto-optical contrast suggest a low-temperature monoclinic distortion that can be driven by both temperature and magnetic field.

Photoconductivity In Bifeo3 Thin Films, S. R. Basu, L. W. Martin, Y. H. Chu, M. Gajek, R. Ramesh, R. C. Rai, X. S. Xu, J. L. Musfeldt

Xiaoshan Xu Papers

The optical properties of epitaxial BiFeO₃ thin films have been characterized in the visible range. Variable temperature spectra show an absorption onset near 2.17 eV, a direct gap (2.667±0.005 eV at 300 K), and charge transfer excitations at higher energy. Additionally, we report photoconductivity in BiFeO₃ films under illumination from a 100 mW/cm² white light source. A direct correlation is observed between the magnitude of the photoconductivity and postgrowth cooling pressure. Dark conductivities increased by an order of magnitude when comparing films cooled in 760 and 0.1 Torr. Large increases in photoconductivity are observed in light.

Optical Band Gap Of Bifeo3 Grown By Molecular-Beam Epitaxy, J. F. Ihlefeld, N. J. Podraza, Z. K. Liu, R. C. Rai, X. Xu, T. Heeg, Y. B. Chen, J. Li, R. W. Collins, J. L. Musfeldt, X. Q. Pan, J. Schubert, R. Ramesh, D. G. Schlom

Xiaoshan Xu Papers

BiFeO₃ thin films have been deposited on (001) SrTiO₃ substrates by adsorption-controlled reactive molecular-beam epitaxy. For a given bismuth overpressure and oxygen activity, single-phase BiFeO₃ films can be grown over a range of deposition temperatures in accordance with thermodynamic calculations. Four-circle x-ray diffraction reveals phase-pure, epitaxial films with w rocking curve full width at half maximum values as narrow as 29 arc sec (0.008°). Multiple-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry reveals a direct optical band gap at 2.74 eV for stoichiometric as well as 5% bismuth-deficient single-phase BiFeO₃ films.

Unoccupied Orbital Energies Of 1,4-Benzenedithiol And The Homo–Lumo Gap, Adam M. Scheer, Gordon A. Gallup, Paul Burrow

Paul Burrow Publications

The energies of the temporary anion states of 1,4-benzenedithiol (BDT) are determined by electron scattering and compared with those computed by density functional theory (DFT) and Hartree–Fock (HF) methods. Using semi-empirical scalings derived from the ionization energies and electron affinities of a series of phenyl–ethynyl compounds, we compute the HOMO–LUMO energy gap of BDT. We show that without such scalings the gap is substantially underestimated using DFT and overestimated using HF methods. Scaled gaps are also determined for several related compounds and compared with experimental measurements in the literature.

Are There Π* Shape Resonances In Electron Scattering From Phosphate Groups?, Paul Burrow, Gordon A. Gallup, Alberto Modelli

Paul Burrow Publications

The temporary anion states of trimethyl phosphate and several compounds bearing the P=O group were explored using electron transmission spectroscopy and ab initio calculations to determine if these states have the characteristics of the π* resonances usually associated with multiple bonds. No evidence was found for this in (CH₃O)₃PO and, by extension, we do not expect them to appear in the phosphate group of DNA. Cl₃PO, however, does display such characteristics to some extent, and we show that they arise from the spatial properties of the π* (P-Cl) orbitals rather than from multiple PO …

Search For Novel Molecular Species Formed By Cold Rydberg Atoms In A Magneto-Optical Trap, Alexander Gill

Honors Theses

This describes a search for novel ultra-long-range molecular resonances between rubidium Rydberg atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). We use the technique of photoassociative spectroscopy by directly scanning the wavelength of our Rydberg excitation laser about a 5p3/2 - 90p3/2 transition in a weak electric field and by scanning mm-waves about a 39sl/2 - 39p3/2 transition. The results of both of these surveys are inconclusive.

Diode Lasers For Use In Experiments On Cold Rydberg Atoms, Bill Whitledge

Honors Theses

This project was to measure the atomic density of (85)Rb atoms in a magneto optical trap using a low-intensity probe laser. Additionally, a dark spontaneous force optical trap was constructed in an attempt to boost the trap density. The dark spot failed to appreciably increase the overall trap density (which remained steady at - N = 10^10 atoms/cm^3) but it did increase the density of dark-state atoms in the trap by an order of magnitude. This is a useful result since many experiments on cold Rydberg atoms involve exciting atoms starting in the ground state rather than the first excited …

A Mode-Locked Vertical Extended Cavity Surface Emitting Laser, Aoife Deburca

Theses

Surface emitting lasers are a competitive and flexible alternative to edge emitting lasers. The surface-emitting laser has many useful characteristics, which make it beneficial for many applications. These characteristics include the ease of testing during the growth and the fundamental mode output that is effortlessly achieved

The thesis is focused on the Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Laser due to its increased flexibility beyond that of the Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser. A wide range of possible parameters are detailed allowing for flexibility in design and applications.

Optically pumped pulsed cavity configurations were investigated in relation to intra-cavity devices and …

Resonance Raman Spectroscopy For The Investigation Of Heteroleptic Ruthenium Polypyridine Complexes, Anwar A. Bhuiyan

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Activation Energy Of Surface Diffusion And Terrace Width Dynamics During The Growth Of In (4×3) On Si (100) - (2×1) By Femtosecond Pulsed Laser Deposition, M. A. Hafez, H. E. Elsayed-Ali

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The nucleation and growth of indium on a vicinal Si (100) - (2×1) surface at high temperature by femtosecond pulsed laser deposition was investigated by in situ reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED). RHEED intensity relaxation was observed for the first ∼2 ML during the growth of In (4×3) by step flow. From the temperature dependence of the rate of relaxation, an activation energy of 1.4±0.2 eV of surface diffusion was determined. The results indicate that indium small clusters diffused to terrace step edges with a diffusion frequency constant of (1.0±0.1) × 10¹¹ s^-1. The RHEED specular …