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At least 703 records · Page 39

Structural evolution in crystalline MoO{sub 3} nanoparticles with tunable size

In this study MoO{sub 3} nanoparticles were prepared in porous Vycor glass by impregnation-decomposition cycles (IDC) with molybdenum(VI) 2-ethylhexanoate. X-ray diffraction data show that the nanoparticles are crystalline and are in the orthorhombic {alpha}-MoO{sub 3} phase. Raman spectroscopy data also indicate the formation of this phase. The profiles in the Raman spectra changed with the number of IDC, indicating a structural evolution of the MoO{sub 3} nanoparticles. The IDC methodology promoted a linear mass increase and allowed tuning the nanoparticle size. Analysis of HRTEM images revealed that for 3, 5 and 7 IDC, the MoO{sub 3} nanoparticle average diameters are 3.2, 3.6 and 4.2 nm. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy indicates a consistent red shift in the band gap from 3.35 to 3.29 eV as the size increases from 3.2 to 4.2 nm. This observed red shift in the band gap of the MoO{sub 3} nanoparticles is presumably due to quantum confinement effects. - Graphical abstract: Modification of profile Raman spectra for crystalline MoO{sub 3} nanoparticles in function of the particle size. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Structural evolution of the MoO{sub 3} nanoparticles as a function of the crystallite size. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Tunable optical properties by controlling the MoO{sub 3} nanoparticle size. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The impregnation-decomposition methodology allowed tuning the nanoparticle size. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The red shift in the band gap of the MoO{sub 3} nanoparticles is due to quantum size effect. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The short-distance order in MoO{sub 3} nanoparticle is function to area/volume ratio.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Error and uncertainty in Raman thermal conductivity measurements

We investigated error and uncertainty in Raman thermal conductivity measurements via finite element based numerical simulation of two geometries often employed -- Joule-heating of a wire and laser-heating of a suspended wafer. Using this methodology, the accuracy and precision of the Raman-derived thermal conductivity are shown to depend on (1) assumptions within the analytical model used in the deduction of thermal conductivity, (2) uncertainty in the quantification of heat flux and temperature, and (3) the evolution of thermomechanical stress during testing. Apart from the influence of stress, errors of 5% coupled with uncertainties of ±15% are achievable for most materials under conditions typical of Raman thermometry experiments. Error can increase to >20%, however, for materials having highly temperature dependent thermal conductivities or, in some materials, when thermomechanical stress develops concurrent with the heating. A dimensionless parameter -- termed the Raman stress factor -- is derived to identify when stress effects will induce large levels of error. Together, the results compare the utility of Raman based conductivity measurements relative to more established techniques while at the same time identifying situations where its use is most efficacious.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Intense femtosecond photoexcitation of bulk and monolayer MoS{sub 2}

The effect of femtosecond laser irradiation on bulk and single-layer MoS{sub 2} on silicon oxide is studied. Optical, field emission scanning electron microscopy and Raman microscopy were used to quantify the damage. The intensity of A{sub 1g} and E{sub 2g}{sup 1} vibrational modes was recorded as a function of the number of irradiation pulses. The observed behavior was attributed to laser-induced bond breaking and subsequent atoms removal due to electronic excitations. The single-pulse optical damage threshold was determined for the monolayer and bulk under 800 nm and 1030 nm pulsed laser irradiation, and the role of two-photon versus one photon absorption effects is discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Annealing temperature and barrier thickness effect on the structural and optical properties of silicon nanocrystals/SiO₂ superlattices

The effect of the annealing temperature and the SiO₂ barrier thickness of silicon nanocrystal (NC)/SiO₂ superlattices (SLs) on their structural and optical properties is investigated. Energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the SL structure is maintained for annealing temperatures up to 1150 °C, with no variation on the nanostructure morphology for different SiO₂ barrier thicknesses. Nevertheless, annealing temperatures as high as 1250 °C promote diffusion of Si atoms into the SiO₂ barrier layers, which produces larger Si NCs and the loss of the NC size control expected from the SL approach. Complementary Raman scattering measurements corroborated these results for all the SiO₂ and Si-rich oxynitride layer thicknesses. In addition, we observed an increasing crystalline fraction up to 1250 °C, which is related to a decreasing contribution of the suboxide transition layer between Si NCs and the SiO₂ matrix due to the formation of larger NCs. Finally, photoluminescence measurements revealed that the emission of the superlattices exhibits a Gaussian-like lineshape with a maximum intensity after annealing at 1150 °C, indicating a high crystalline degree in good agreement with Raman results. Samples submitted to higher annealing temperatures display a progressive emission broadening, together with an increase in the central emission wavelength. Both effects are related to a progressive broadening of the size distribution with a larger mean size, in agreement with TEM observations. On the other hand, whereas the morphology of the Si NCs is unaffected by the SiO₂ barrier thickness, the emission properties are slightly modified. These observed modifications in the emission lineshape allow monitoring the precipitation process of Si NCs in a direct non-destructive way. All these experimental results evidence that an annealing temperature of 1150 °C and 1-nm SiO₂ barrier can be reached whilst preserving the SL structure, being thus the optimal structural SL parameters for their use in optoelectronics.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Nonlocal, kinetic stimulated Raman scattering in nonuniform plasmas: Averaged variational approach

Excitation of continuously phase-locked (autoresonant) plasma waves in a nonuniform plasma via stimulated Raman backscattering is analyzed with a focus on the kinetic regime (k{lambda}{sub D}{approx}1). The dominant nonlinear effect in this regime is that of resonant particles, and the plasma wave excitation is a nonlocal process involving formation and transport of the electron phase space holes. Whitham's averaged variational principle is applied in studying the coupled plasma, laser pump, and seed waves dynamics. A flat-top electron velocity distribution is used as the simplest model allowing a variational formulation within the water bag theory. The corresponding Lagrangian, averaged over the fast phase variable, yields evolution equations for the slow field variables. The adiabatic multiple water bag extension of the theory for application to autoresonant plasma waves in nonuniform plasmas with more realistic initial distributions is also discussed. Numerical solutions of the system of slow variational equations are compared with Vlasov-Ampere simulations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Recovery effects due to the interaction between nuclear and electronic energy losses in SiC irradiated with a dual-ion beam

Single and dual-beam ion irradiations of silicon carbide (SiC) were performed to study possible Synergetic effects between Nuclear (S{sub n}) and Electronic (S{sub e}) Energy Losses. Results obtained combining Rutherford backscattering in channeling conditions, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy techniques show that dual-beam irradiation of SiC induces a dramatic change in the final sample microstructure with a substantial decrease of radiation damage as compared to single-beam irradiation. Actually, a defective layer containing dislocations is formed upon dual-beam irradiation (S{sub n} and S{sub e}), whereas single low-energy irradiation (S{sub n} alone) or even sequential (S{sub n} + S{sub e}) irradiations lead to full amorphization. The healing process is ascribed to the electronic excitation arising from the electronic energy loss of swift ions. These results shed new light on the long-standing puzzling problem of the existence of a possible synergy between S{sub n} and S{sub e} in ion-irradiation experiments. This work is interesting for both fundamental understanding of the ion-solid interactions and technological applications in the nuclear industry where recovery S{sub n}/S{sub e} effects may preserve the integrity of nuclear devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Disorder-induced anomalously signed Hall effect in crystalline GeTe/Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 3} superlattice-like materials

Opposite to the almost persistent p-type conductivity of the crystalline chalcogenides along the GeTe-Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 3} tie line, n-type Hall mobility is observed in crystalline GeTe/Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 3} superlattice-like material (SLL) with a short period length. We suggest that this unusual carrier characteristic originates from the structural disorder introduced by the lattice strain and dangling bonds at the SLL interfaces, which makes the crystalline SLLs behave like the amorphous chalcogenides. Detailed structural disorder in crystalline SLL has been studied by Raman scattering, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, as well as Variable-energy positron annihilation spectroscopy measurements. First-principles calculations results show that this structural disorder gives rise to three-site junctions that dominate the charge transport as the period length decreases and result in the anomalously signed Hall effect in the crystalline SLL. Our findings indicate a similar tetrahedral structure in the amorphous and crystalline states of SLLs, which can significantly reduce the entropy difference. Due to the reduced entropy loss and increased resistivity of crystalline phase introduced by disorder, it is not surprising that the SLLs exhibit extremely lower RESET current and power consumption.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Glass structure and crystallization in boro-alumino-silicate glasses containing rare earth and transition metal cations: a US-UK collaborative program

Nuclear wastes generated from reprocessing of used nuclear fuel tend to contain a large fraction of rare earth (RE, e.g., Nd3+), transition (TM, e.g., Mo6+, Zr4+), alkali (A, e.g., Cs+), and alkaline earth cations (AE, e.g., Ba2+, Sr2+). Various strategies have been considered for immobilizing such waste streams, varying from nominally crystal-free glass to glass-ceramic to multi-phase ceramic waste forms. For glass and glass-ceramic waste forms, the added glass-forming system is generally alkali-alkaline earth-aluminoborosilicate (i.e., Na-Ca-Al-B-Si oxide). In a US-UK collaborative project, summarized here, we investigated the glass structure and crystallization dependence on compositional changes in simulated nuclear waste glasses and glass-ceramics. Compositions ranged in complexity from five – to – eight oxides. Specifically, the roles of Mo and rare earths are investigated, since a proposed glass-ceramic waste form contains crystalline phases such as powellite [(AE,A,RE)MoO4] and oxyapatite [(RE,AE,A)10Si6O26], and the precipitation of molybdenum phases is known to be affected by the rare earth concentration in the glass. Additionally, the effects of other chemical additions have been systematically investigated, including Zr, Ru, P, and Ti. A series of studies were also undertaken to ascertain the effect of the RE size on glass structure and on partitioning to crystal phases, investigating similarities and differences in glasses containing single RE oxides of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Er, Yb, or Lu. Finally, the effect of charge compensation was investigated by considering not only the commonly assessed peralkaline glass but also metaluminous and peraluminous compositions. Glass structure and crystallization studies were conducted by spectroscopic methods (i.e., Raman, X-ray absorption, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), optical absorption, photoluminescence, photoluminescence excitation, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), microscopy (i.e., scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis), scattering (i.e., X-ray and neutron diffraction, small angle measurements), and physical characterization (i.e., differential thermal analysis, liquidus, viscosity, density). This paper will give an overview of the research program and some example unpublished results on glass-ceramic crystallization kinetics, microstructure, and Raman spectra, as well as some examples of the effects of rare earths on the absorption, luminescence, and NMR spectra of starting glasses. The formal collaboration described here has resulted in the generation of a large number of results, some of which are still in the process of being published as separate studies.

McCloy, John S.↗

Optical phonon modes in Al{sub 1−x}Sc{sub x}N

Optical phonons are measured to probe the origins of the reported anomalously high piezoelectric response in aluminum scandium nitride (Al{sub 1−x}Sc{sub x}N). Epitaxial layers with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.16 deposited on sapphire(0001) exhibit a refractive index below the band gap, which increases from 2.03 for x = 0 to 2.16 for x = 0.16, corresponding to a dielectric constant ε{sub ∞} = 4.15 + 3.2x. Raman scattering shows that zone-center E{sub 2}(H) and A{sub 1}(TO) phonon modes shift to lower frequencies with increasing x, following linear relationships: ω(E{sub 2}(H)) = 658–233x (cm{sup −1}) and ω(A{sub 1}(TO)) = 612–159x (cm{sup −1}). Similarly, zone-center E{sub 1}(TO) and A{sub 1}(LO) phonon mode frequencies obtained from specular polarized infrared reflectance measurements red-shift to ω(E{sub 1}(TO)) = 681–209x (cm{sup −1}) and ω(A{sub 1}(LO)) = 868–306x (cm{sup −1}). The measured bond angle decreases linearly from 108.2° to 106.0°, while the length of the two metal-nitrogen bonds increase by 3.2% and 2.6%, as x increases from 0 to 0.16. This is associated with a 3%–8% increase in the Born effective charge and a simultaneous 6% decrease in the covalent metal-N bond strength, as determined from the measured vibrational frequencies described with a Valence-Coulomb-Force-Field model. The overall results indicate that bonding in Al-rich Al{sub 1−x}Sc{sub x}N qualitatively follows the trends expected from mixing wurtzite AlN with metastable hexagonal ScN. However, extrapolation suggests non-linear composition dependencies in bond angle, length, and character for x ≥ 0.2, leading to a structural instability that may be responsible for the reported steep increase in the piezoelectric response.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Disruption of motor behavior and injury to the CNS induced by 3-thienylboronic acid in mice

The scarcity of studies on boron containing compounds (BCC) in the medicinal field is gradually being remedied. Efforts have been made to explore the effects of BCCs due to the properties that boron confers to molecules. Research has shown that the safety of some BCCs is similar to that found for boron-free compounds (judging from the acute toxicological evaluation). However, it has been observed that the administration of 3-thienylboronic acid (3TB) induced motor disruption in CD1 mice. In the current contribution we studied in deeper form the disruption of motor performance produced by the intraperitoneal administration of 3TB in mice from two strains (CD1 and C57BL6). Disruption of motor activity was dependent not only on the dose of 3TB administered, but also on the DMSO concentration in the vehicle. The ability of 3TB to enter the Central Nervous System (CNS) was evidenced by Raman spectroscopy as well as morphological effects on the CNS, such as loss of neurons yielding biased injury to the substantia nigra and striatum at doses ≥ 200 mg/kg, and involving granular cell damage at doses of 400 mg/kg but less injury in the motor cortex. Our work acquaints about the use of this compound in drug design, but the interesting profile as neurotoxic agent invite us to study it regarding the damage on the motor system. - Highlights: • Intraperitoneal 3-thienylboronic acid (3TB) induces tremor in CD1 or C57BL6 mice. • Injury on CNS as well as motor disruption is dose-dependent. • Damage is greater in basal ganglia than in cerebellum or motor cortex. • The DMSO as vehicle plays a key role in the induced effect. • Motor disruption seems to involve basal ganglia and cerebellum damage.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Isotopic Signatures of Lithium Carbonate and Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate Measured Using Raman Spectroscopy

Lithium isotopic ratios have wide ranging applications as chemical signatures, including improved understanding of geochemical processes and battery development. Measurement of isotope ratios using optical spectroscopies would provide an alternative to traditional mass spectrometric methods, which are expensive and often limited to a chemical laboratory. In this work, Raman spectra of 7 Li 2 CO 3 , 6 Li 2 CO 3 , 7 LiOH*H 2 O and 6 LiOH*H 2 O have been measured to determine the effect of lithium isotope substitution on the Raman molecular vibrations. Thirteen peaks were observed in the spectrum of lithium carbonate, with discernable isotopic shifts occurring in eleven of the thirteen vibrations, two of which have not been previously reported in the literature. The spectrum of lithium hydroxide monohydrate contained nine peaks, with discernable isotopic shifts occurring in eight of the nine vibrations, four of which have not been previously reported in the literature. The Raman spectral data reported here for lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide monohydrate are in agreement with the previously reported works in the literature, in which the Raman active modes of these molecules were first identified and assigned. However, due to the stability and resolution of the detection system used in this work, isotopic shifts with a magnitude less than one wavenumber have been identified. Principal Component Regression was used to evaluate the sensitivity to isotopic content of small Raman peak shifts in Li 2 CO 3 and indicates differences greater than 2 atom-% could be reliably determined. These measurements add to the body of work on lithium isotope Raman spectroscopy for these two compounds and increases the number of Raman bands which could be used for lithium isotope content analysis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

In-situ characterization of femtosecond laser-induced crystallization in borosilicate glass using time-resolved surface third-harmonic generation

Coherent phonon dynamics in condensed-phase medium are responsible for important material properties including thermal and electrical conductivities. We report a structural dynamics technique, time-resolved surface third-harmonic generation (TRSTHG) spectroscopy, to capture transient phonon propagation near the surface of polycrystalline CaF{sub 2} and amorphous borosilicate (BK7) glass. Our approach time-resolves the background-free, high-sensitivity third harmonic generation (THG) signal in between the two crossing near-IR pulses. Pronounced intensity quantum beats reveal the impulsively excited low-frequency Raman mode evolution on the femtosecond to picosecond timescale. After amplified laser irradiation, danburite-crystal-like structure units form at the glass surface. This versatile TRSTHG setup paves the way to mechanistically study and design advanced thermoelectrics and photovoltaics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Electronic Raman scattering and the renormalization of the electron spectrum in LuB{sub 12}

The electronic Raman scattering in LuB{sub 12} single crystals of various isotope compositions is studied in the temperature range 10–650 K. The shape and the energy position of spectral maxima depend on the direction and magnitude of a probe wavevector, the temperature, and the excitation symmetry and remain unchanged when the isotope composition changes. Experimental spectra are compared with the spectra simulated on the basis of a calculated electronic structure. The experimental results are successfully described when the electron spectrum renormalization effects caused by electron–phonon coupling are taken into account. This confirms that the origin of the observed spectra in LuB{sub 12} is due to Raman scattering by electrons. A comparison of the calculated and experimental data makes it possible to determine the coupling constant (λ{sub ep} = 0.32) that gives the correct superconducting transition temperature.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Role of annealing temperature on cation ordering in hydrothermally prepared zinc aluminate (ZnAl2O4) spinel

Highlights: • Investigation of the structural anomaly in Zinc Aluminate Spinel/ZAS (ZnAl{sub 2}O{sub 4}) by chemically inducing the defects by annealing temperature and synthetic pressure. • Hydrothermal synthesis of ZnAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} at 240 °C from nitrate precursors. • Study of the role of annealing temperature (300–900 °C) in tuning cation ordering. • Rietveld analysis of powder X-ray diffraction patterns and Raman spectroscopy to showcase disorder-order transition in ZnAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} spinels. - Abstract: Spinels (AB{sub 2}O{sub 4}) form a niche class of ceramics, which is rich in structural (dis)ordering due to the inherent mixing between the constituent tetrahedral and octahedral sites. The cations (A and B) can form antisite defects under the influence of external parameters like pressure, temperature and nuclear irradiation. The current study reports the formation and evolution of disorder-order structural transition in hydrothermally prepared zinc aluminate spinel ZnAl{sub 2}O{sub 4}. The effect of final calcination temperature (300–900 °C for 9 h) on the degree of cation ordering has been investigated with powder X-ray diffraction, Raman and {sup 27}Al solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Rietveld refinement revealed a gradual disorder to order structural transition accompanied by lower inversion parameter (i{sub s}) and smaller lattice parameter (a) with higher calcination temperature. It was further affirmed by Raman analysis and solid-state NMR spectroscopy probing the ZnO{sub 4} and AlO{sub 4} tetrahedra in spinel. Independent of the degree of cation ordering, nanometric particle size with high surface area was observed in ZnAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} spinel.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

One-pot hydrothermal synthesis of silver nanoplates on optical fiber tip for surface-enhanced Raman scattering

We report on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) fiber probe based on silver nanoplates which are fabricated on the tapered tip of the multimode fiber, by a simple, effective and low-cost hydrothermal method. The field-emission scanning electron microscopy and the transmission electron microscopy show that the obtained fiber probe is composed of nanoplates with the thickness of about 40 nm and an average length of 300 nm. The SERS activity of the tapered fiber probe with an optimal cone angle has demonstrated excellent results using the probing molecule of 4-aminothiophenol.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

ABINIT: Overview and focus on selected capabilities

ABINIT is probably the first electronic-structure package to have been released under an open-source license about 20 years ago. It implements density functional theory, density-functional perturbation theory (DFPT), many-body perturbation theory (GW approximation and Bethe–Salpeter equation), and more specific or advanced formalisms, such as dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT) and the “temperature-dependent effective potential” approach for anharmonic effects. Relying on planewaves for the representation of wavefunctions, density, and other space-dependent quantities, with pseudopotentials or projector-augmented waves (PAWs), it is well suited for the study of periodic materials, although nanostructures and molecules can be treated with the supercell technique. The present article starts with a brief description of the project, a summary of the theories upon which ABINIT relies, and a list of the associated capabilities. It then focuses on selected capabilities that might not be present in the majority of electronic structure packages either among planewave codes or, in general, treatment of strongly correlated materials using DMFT; materials under finite electric fields; properties at nuclei (electric field gradient, Mössbauer shifts, and orbital magnetization); positron annihilation; Raman intensities and electro-optic effect; and DFPT calculations of response to strain perturbation (elastic constants and piezoelectricity), spatial dispersion (flexoelectricity), electronic mobility, temperature dependence of the gap, and spin-magnetic-field perturbation. The ABINIT DFPT implementation is very general, including systems with van der Waals interaction or with noncollinear magnetism. Community projects are also described: generation of pseudopotential and PAW datasets, high-throughput calculations (databases of phonon band structure, second-harmonic generation, and GW computations of bandgaps), and the library libpaw. ABINIT has strong links with many other software projects that are briefly mentioned.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Controlled growth of vertically aligned MoO{sub 3} nanoflakes by plasma assisted paste sublimation process

In this work, we have successfully developed plasma assisted paste sublimation route to deposit vertically aligned MoO{sub 3} nanoflakes (NFs) on nickel coated glass substrate in oxygen plasma ambience with the assistant of Ni thin layer as a catalyst. In our case, sublimation source (Mo strip surface) is resistively heated by flowing current across it. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of NFs have been investigated systematically using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED), High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Studies reveal that the presence of oxygen plasma and the nickel thin layer are very essential for the growth of vertically aligned NFs. The observed results divulge that α-MoO{sub 3} NFs are deposited uniformly on large scale with very high aspect (height/thickness) ratio more than 30 and well aligned along [0 k 0] crystallographic direction where k is even (2, 4, 6). Raman spectrum shows a significant size effect on the vibrational property of MoO{sub 3} nanoflakes. The PL spectrum of MoO{sub 3} NFs was recorded at room temperature and four prominent peaks at 365 nm, 395 nm, 452 nm, and 465 nm corresponding to UV-visible region were observed. In this paper, a three step growth strategy for the formation of MoO{sub 3} NFs has been proposed in detail.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Ultrafast laser and swift heavy ion irradiation: Response of Gd 2 O 3 and ZrO 2 to intense electronic excitation

In order to investigate the response of materials to extreme conditions, there are several approaches to depositing extremely high concentrations of energy into very small volumes of material, including ultrafast laser and swift heavy ion (SHI) irradiation. In this study, crystalline-to-crystalline phase transformations in cubic Gd 2 O 3 and monoclinic ZrO 2 have been investigated using ultrafast laser irradiation. The phases produced by the extreme conditions of irradiation were characterized by grazing incidence x-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Gd 2 O 3 exhibited a cubic-to-monoclinic phase transformation, as evidenced by the appearance of the monoclinic (40$\bar{2}$), (003), (310), and (112$\bar{2}$) peaks in the GIXRD pattern and of four A g and three B g Raman modes. ZrO 2 underwent a monoclinic-to-tetragonal phase transformation, as evidenced by the emergence of the tetragonal (101) peak in the GIXRD pattern and of E g and A 1g Raman modes. The new phases formed by ultrafast laser irradiation are high temperature polymorphs of the two materials. No evidence of amorphization was seen in the GIXRD data, though Raman spectroscopy indicated point defect accumulation. These results are identical to those produced by irradiation with SHIs, which also deposit energy in materials primarily through electronic excitation. Finally, the similarity in damage process and material response between ultrafast laser and SHI irradiation suggests a fundamental relationship between these two techniques.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗