An introduction to the trapping of clusters with ion traps and electrostatic storage devices

This paper presents an introduction to the application of ion traps and storage devices for cluster physics. Some experiments involving cluster ions in trapping devices such as Penning traps, Paul traps, quadrupole or multipole linear traps are briefly discussed. Electrostatic ion storage rings and traps which allow for the storage of fast ion beams without mass limitation are presented as well. We also report on the recently developed mini-ring, a compact electrostatic ion storage ring for cluster, molecular and biomolecular ion studies.

Two-electron-one-photon M1 and E2 transitions between the states of the 2p(3) and 2s(2)2p odd configurations for B-like ions with 18 <= Z <= 92

Two-electron-one-photon (TEOP) M1 and E2 transition energies, line strengths and transition probabilities between the states of the 2p(3) and 2s(2)2p odd configurations for B-like ions with 18 <= Z <= 92 have been calculated using the GRASP2K package based on the multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock (MCDHF) method. Employing active-space techniques to expand the configuration list, we have systematically considered the valence, core-valence and core-core electron correlation effects. Breit interaction and quantum electrodynamical (QED) effects were also included to correct atomic state wavefunctions and the corresponding energies. Influences of electron correlation, Breit interaction and QED effects on transition energies and line strengths of the TEOP M1 and E2 transitions were analysed in detail. The present results were also compared with other theoretical and experimental values.

Relativistic photoionization cross sections for atomic Mg

The photoionization cross sections of the ground level (3s(2) S-1(0)) of atomic Mg have been studied theoretically in the energy region between the Mg+(3s) and Mg+(3p) threshold using the fully relativistic R-matrix method. The positions and widths of resonances have also been obtained and compared with a recent experiment (Wehlitz et al 2007 J. Phys. B 40 2385). Excellent agreement is shown between our theoretical calculations and experimental measurements. In the present calculations, five Rydberg series of doubly excited states have been exhibited, i.e. 3pns P-1, 3pnd P-1, 3pns P-3, 3pnd D-3 and 3pnd P-3, where 3pnd P-3 are confirmed as the fifth series in contrast to the previous theoretical results.

Hyperfine quenching of the 3s3p P-3(0) level in Mg-like ions

Hyperfine quenching rates of the 3s3p P-3(0) level in Mg-like ions were calculated using the GRASP2K package based on the multi-configuration Dirac-Hartree-Fock method. Valence and core-valence correlation effects were accounted for in a systematic way. Breit interactions and QED effects were included in the subsequent relativistic CI calculations. Calculated rates were compared with other theoretical values and with experiment, and a good agreement with the latest experimental value for the Al-27(+) ion (Rosenband et al 2007 Phys. Rev. Lett. 98 220801) was found. Furthermore, we showed in detail the contributions from Breit interaction and QED effects to concerned physical properties. Finally, electronic data were presented in terms of a general scaling law in Z that, given isotopic nuclear spin and magnetic moment, allows hyperfine-induced decay rates to be estimated for any isotope along the isoelectronic sequence.

High negative ion production yield in 30 keV F2+ + adenine (C5H5N5) collisions

In collisions between slow F2+ ions (30 keV) and molecular targets, adenine, scattered particle production yields have been measured directly by simultaneous detection of neutrals, positive and negative ions. The relative cross-section for a negative ion formation channel was measured to be 1%. Despite a slight decrease compared to a larger target, the fullerene C-60, the measured negative ion formation cross section is still at least one order of magnitude larger than the yield in ion-atom interactions.

Electron impact excitation of xenon from the metastable state to the excited states

The electron impact excitation cross sections from the lowest metastable state 5p(5)6sJ = 2 to the six lowest excited states of the 5p(5)6p configuration of xenon are calculated systematically by using the fully relativistic distorted wave method. In order to discuss the effects of target state descriptions on the electron impact excitation cross sections, two correlation models are used to describe the target states based on the multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock (MCDF) method. It is found that the correlation effects play a very important role in low energy impact. For high energy impact, however, the cross sections are not sensitive to the description of the target states, but many more partial waves must be included.

Single-electron capture in keV Ar15+...18++He collisions

Single-electron capture in 14 keV q(-1) Ar15+...18++He collisions is investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Partial cross sections and projectile scattering angle dependencies have been deduced from the target ion recoil momenta measured by the COLTRIMS technique. The comparison with close-coupling results obtained from a two-centre extension of the basis generator method yields good overall agreement, demonstrating the applicability of close-coupling calculations to collision systems involving highly charged ions in charge states up to 18+.

Theoretical study of the 4d photoabsorption of the Cs+ ion

Calculations of the 4d absolute photoabsorption cross sections of the Xe-like Cs+ ion covering the energy region from 80 to 190 eV have been performed by using the multi-configuration Dirac-Fock method. The calculated cross sections are compared with the absolute experimental photoabsorption cross-section spectrum (Kjeldsen et al 2002 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 35 2845) and other available theoretical results. In the 80-90 eV region, the discrete structure resulting from photoexcitation of a 4d electron into nf and np orbits are successfully identified. Above the 4d threshold, i.e. in the 90-190 eV energy region, a reasonable agreement between experiment and computations is found for the intense 4d -> epsilon f shape resonance.

The effect of hyperfine interaction on the lifetime of the 3s3p P-3(2) level of Mg-like ions

On the basis of previous work, the hyperfine-induced 3s3p P-3(2) -> 3s(2) S-1(0) E1 transition probabilities of Mg-like ions were further calculated using the GRASP2K package based on the multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock method. The contribution to the lifetime of the P-3(2) level from the 3s3p P-3(2) -> 3s(2) S-1(0) hyperfine-induced E1, 3s3p P-3(2) -> 3s3p P-3(1) M1, 3s3p P-3(2) -> 3s(2) S-1(0) M2 and 3s3p P-3(2) -> 3s3p P-3(0,1) E2 transition was discussed in detail. It was found that hyperfine interaction has an obvious effect on the lifetime at the beginning of the Mg-like isoelectronic sequence.

NATURAL RADIATIVE LIFETIMES OF THE EXCITED-LEVELS OF THULIUM

The radiative lifetimes of eight excited levels of thulium have been measured with the method of stepwise excitation from the 4f13(F-degrees-7/2)6s2(1S0)\7/2\ ground state to the states studied using two pulsed dye lasers. Optical transients were recorded through observing fluorescences and evaluated with regard to the decay time. The accuracy of the measured lifetime values is about 10%.

Lateral periodicity in highly-strained (GaIn)As/Ga(PAs) superlattices investigated by X-ray scattering techniques

In this work we investigate the lateral periodicity of symmetrically strained (GaIn)As/GaAs/Ga(PAs)/GaAs superlattices by means of X-ray scattering techniques. The multilayers were grown by metalorganic Vapour phase epitaxy on (001)GaAs substrates, which were intentionally off-oriented towards the [011]-direction. The substrate off-orientation and the strain distribution was found to affect the structural properties of the superlattices inducing the generation of laterally ordered macrosteps. Several high-resolution triple-crystal reciprocal space maps, which were recorded for different azimuth angles in the vicinity of the (004) Bragg diffraction and contour maps of the specular reflected beam collected in the vicinity of the (000) reciprocal lattice point, are reported and discussed. The reciprocal space maps clearly show a two-dimensional periodicity of the X-ray peak intensity distribution which can be ascribed to the superlattice periodicity in the direction of the surface normal and to a lateral periodicity in a crystallographic direction coinciding with the miscut orientation. The distribution and correlation of the vertical as well as of the lateral interface roughness was investigated by specular reflectivity and diffuse scattering measurements. Our results show that the morphology of the roughness is influenced by the off-orientation angle and can be described by a 2-dimensional waviness.

CALCULATIONS OF THE EIGENVALUES OF PURE QUADRUPOLE INTERACTION IN MOSSBAUER-EFFECT STUDIES

Two approximate formulae to calculate the eigenvalues of pure quadrupole interaction in Mossbauer effect studies have been proposed and the eigenvalue coefficients in the formulae have been given for various excited states and ground states of the nucleus with different spin. All the eigenvalues of pure quadrupole interaction between both excited state and ground state of nucleus with spin I = 3/2 divided-by 9/2 and the electric-field gradient with different asymmetry parameter (eta = 0 divided-by 1.0) have been calculated by these formulae. The results show that the accuracies in all the calculations are more satisfactory or same in comparison with those obtained by the formula of Shenoy and Dunlap, especially when the asymmetry parameter of electric-field gradient is larger than 0.8 for the nucleus with spin I = 5/2.