Crossover between liquidlike and gaslike behavior in CH_{4} at 400 K.

We report experimental evidence for a crossover between a liquidlike state and a gaslike state in fluid methane (CH_{4}). This crossover is observed in all of our experiments, up to a temperature of 397 K, 2.1 times the critical temperature of methane. The crossover has been characterized with both Raman spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction in a number of separate experiments, and confirmed to be reversible. We associate this crossover with the Frenkel line-a recently hypothesized crossover in dynamic properties of fluids extending to arbitrarily high pressure and temperature, dividing the phase diagram into separate regions where the fluid possesses liquidlike and gaslike properties. On the liquidlike side the Raman-active vibration increases in frequency linearly as pressure is increased, as expected due to the repulsive interaction between adjacent molecules. On the gaslike side this competes with the attractive van der Waals potential leading the vibration frequency to decrease as pressure is increased.

Structural origin of light emission in germanium quantum dots.

We used a combination of optically-detected x-ray absorption spectroscopy with molecular dynamics simulations to explore the origins of light emission in small (5 nm to 9 nm) Ge nanoparticles. Two sets of nanoparticles were studied, with oxygen and hydrogen terminated surfaces. We show that optically-detected x-ray absorption spectroscopy shows sufficient sensitivity to reveal the different origins of light emission in these two sets of samples. We found that in oxygen terminated nanoparticles its the oxide-rich regions that are responsible for the light emission. In hydrogen terminated nanoparticles we established that structurally disordered Ge regions contribute to the luminescence. Using a combination of molecular dynamics simulations and optically-detected x-ray absorption spectroscopy we show that these disordered regions correspond to the disordered layer a few Šthick at the surface of the simulated nanoparticle.

Organo-erbium systems for optical amplification at telecommunications wavelengths.

Modern telecommunications rely on the transmission and manipulation of optical signals. Optical amplification plays a vital part in this technology, as all components in a real telecommunications system produce some loss. The two main issues with present amplifiers, which rely on erbium ions in a glass matrix, are the difficulty in integration onto a single substrate and the need of high pump power densities to produce gain. Here we show a potential organic optical amplifier material that demonstrates population inversion when pumped from above using low-power visible light. This system is integrated into an organic light-emitting diode demonstrating that electrical pumping can be achieved. This opens the possibility of direct electrically driven optical amplifiers and optical circuits. Our results provide an alternative approach to producing low-cost integrated optics that is compatible with existing silicon photonics and a different route to an effective integrated optics technology.

Above room temperature ferromagnetism in Si:Mn and TiO(2-delta)Co.

We present recent experimental results on the structural, electrical, magnetic, and magneto-optical properties of Mn-implanted Si and Co-doped TiO(2-delta) magnetic oxides. Si wafers, both n- and p-type, with high and low resistivity, were used as the starting materials for implantation with Mn ions at the fluencies up to 5 x 10(16) cm(-2). The saturation magnetization was found to show the lack of any regular dependence on the Si conductivity type, type of impurity and the short post-implantation annealing. According to XMCD Mn impurity in Si does not bear any appreciable magnetic moment at room temperature. The obtained results indicate that above room temperature ferromagnetism in Mn-implanted Si originates not from Mn impurity but rather from structural defects in Si. The TiO(2-delta):Co thin films were deposited on LaAlO3 (001) substrates by magnetron sputtering in the argon-oxygen atmosphere at oxygen partial pressure of 2 x 10(-6)-2 x 10(-4) Torr. The obtained transverse Kerr effect spectra at the visible and XMCD spectra indicate on intrinsic room temperature ferromagnetism in TiO(2-delta):Co thin films at low (< 1%) volume fraction of Co.

Large-scale, reliable and robust SERS-active nanowire substrates prepared using porous alumina templates.

nanowire arrays for surface-enhanced Raman scattering applications. These nanowire films were synthesized via electrodeposition using porous alumina templates of varying order, thickness and pore diameters. Mechanical polishing has been shown to be a very effective method to prepare nanowire arrays with monodisperse length over comprehensively large dimensions. On the other hand, a convenient synthesis route has been suggested that allows the formation of nanoparticle rrays using very thin and/or large area porous alumina films. It is reckoned that even films with the smallest obtainable pore sizes can be utilized to prepare large area, fine nanoparticle arrays. Such arrays may also find use in other areas, such as solar cells and electrochemistry. Preliminary Raman experiments indicated that the nanowire/nanoparticle arrays are indeed surface-enhanced Raman scattering-active. Finally, the potentials offered by the reported processing methods for fabricating substrates with predictable and high Raman amplifications are discussed.

The rheology of collapsing zeolites amorphized by temperature and pressure.

Low-density zeolites collapse to the rigid amorphous state at temperatures that are well below the melting points of crystals of the same composition but of conventional density. Here we show, by using a range of experimental techniques, how the phenomenon of amorphization is time dependent, and how the dynamics of order-disorder transitions in zeolites under temperature and pressure are equivalent. As a result, thermobaric regions of instability can be charted, which are indicative of polyamorphism. Moreover, the boundaries of these zones depend on the rate at which temperature or pressure is ramped. By directly comparing the rheology of collapse with structural relaxation in equivalent melts, we conclude that zeolites amorphize like very strong liquids and, if compression occurs slowly, this is likely to lead to the synthesis of perfect glasses.

Pressure-induced crossover between diffusive and displacive mechanisms of phase transitions in single-crystalline alpha-GeO2.

We present the first example of the phase transition occurring via the different kinetic mechanisms, displacive or diffusive, competing with each other in quartz-like alpha-GeO2 single crystals. Upon room-pressure heating, alpha-GeO2 transforms to the rutile-type phase (the alpha-->r transition) via the diffusive mechanism. With increase of the treatment pressure the diffusive mode of the temperature-induced alpha-->r transition is substituted at approximately 4 GPa by a displacive-like mode, and then at approximately 6 GPa the transition type changes from the alpha-->r sequence to a displacive martensitic-like transition to a distorted rutile-like phase (alpha-->r'. A crossover between diffusive and displacive transition modes suggests a new way to control the meso- and nanometer-scale morphology of high-pressure phases.

In situ EXAFS, X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence for high-pressure studies.

A new facility for simultaneous extended X-ray absorption of fine structure (EXAFS), X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence measurements under high pressures has been developed for use on station 9.3 at the Daresbury Laboratory Synchrotron Radiation Source. This high-pressure facility can be used at any suitable beamline at a synchrotron source. Full remote operation of the rig allows simultaneous collection of optical and structural data while varying the pressure. The set-up is very flexible and can be tailored for a particular experiment, such as time- or temperature-dependent measurements. A new approach to the collection of high-pressure EXAFS data is also presented. The approach significantly shortens the experimental times and allows a dramatic increase in the quality of EXAFS data collected. It also opens up the possibility for EXAFS data collection at any pressure which can be generated using a diamond cell. The high quality of data collected is demonstrated with a GaN case study. Particular attention will be paid to the use of energy-dispersive EXAFS and quick-scanning EXAFS techniques under pressure.

[Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy on the Sonolith-3000 apparatus]. / Distantsionnaia udarno-volnovaia litotripsiia na apparate "Sonolit-3000".

The authors observed 812 patients with nephrolithiasis who underwent 876 sessions of shock-wave lithotripsy on Sonolith-3000 lithotriptor supplied with an ultrasonic system of the stone localization. The size of nephroliths ranged from 0.7 to 4.2 cm. Large-size nephroliths required repeated sessions and pretreatment establishment of the stent. The procedure proceeded without anesthesia. Subsequent renal colic was reported in 126 (15.5%), an exacerbation of pyelonephritis in 45 (5.5%), subcapsular hematoma in 4 (0.5%) of the patients. 790 patients showed clinical response (97.3%), with a complete destruction of the stone in 446 (54.9%) and partial one in 344 (42.4%) cases. 27 subjects were treated in outpatient setting. According to the authors, lithotripsy is contraindicated in urinary tract obstruction below the stone, renal failure, chronic pyelonephritis in the active phase of inflammation, marked impairment of cardiac rhythm.