Том 126, № 3 (2018)

The selective reflection of laser radiation from the interface between a dielectric window and the atomic vapors confined in a nanocell of thickness L ≈ 350 nm is used to develop effective Doppler-broadening- free spectroscopy of potassium atoms. A small atomic line width and a relation between the signal intensity and the transition probability allowed us to resolve four lines of atomic transitions responsible for the D1 lines of the ³⁹K and ⁴¹K isotopes. Two groups containing four atomic transitions form in an applied magnetic field upon pumping by radiation with circular polarization σ⁺ or σ^–. Different intensities (probabilities) of transitions for the σ⁺ and σ^– excitations are detected in magnetic field B₀ ≈ A_hfs/μ_B ≈ 165 G (A_hfs is the magnetic dipole constant for the ground state and μ_B is the Bohr magneton). A substantially different situation is observed at B ≫ B₀, since high symmetry appears for the two groups formed by radiation with circular polarization σ⁺ or σ^–. Each group is the mirror image of the other group with respect to the frequency of the 4²S_1/2–4²P_1/2 transition, which additionally proves the occurrence of the complete Paschen–Back regime of the hyperfine structure at B ≈ 2.5 kG. A developed theoretical model well reproduces the experimental results. Possible practical applications are described. The results obtained can also be applied to the D₁ lines of ⁸⁷Rb and ²³Na.

The Markov model of spontaneous emission of an atom localized in a spatial region with a broadband electromagnetic field with zero photon density is considered in the conditions of coupling of the electromagnetic field with the broadband field of a neighboring space. The evolution operator of the system and the kinetic equation for the atom are obtained. It is shown that the field coupling constant affects the rate of spontaneous emission of the atom, but is not manifested in the atomic frequency shift. The analytic expression for the radiative decay constant for the atom is found to be analogous in a certain sense to the expression for the decay constant for a singly excited localized ensemble of identical atoms in the conditions when the effect of stabilization of its excited state by the Stark interaction with the vacuum broadband electromagnetic field is manifested. The model is formulated based on quantum stochastic differential equations of the non- Wiener type and the generalized algebra of the Ito differential of quantum random processes.

An experimental value of the spin–spin coupling constant in deuterated molecular hydrogen HD has been obtained, J_pd = (43.112 ± 0.005) Hz (300 K), while investigating two gaseous samples at pressures of 95 and 155 atm. The experimental result does not coincide with Jpd = (43.31 ± 0.05) Hz that was calculated theoretically by Helkager et al. The observed discrepancy ΔJ_pd ≈ (0.20 ± 0.05 Hz) may point to a manifestation of the involvement of light pseudo-scalar (axion-like) bosons with a mass m_a ≈ 1 keV/c² in the spin–spin coupling of the HD proton and deuteron.

Based on the perturbation theory and variational method long known for a “three-dimensional” atom, the ground and first excited state energies are calculated for a “one-dimensional” two-electron atom in the “one-dimensional ortho-helium” configuration, which can be obtained experimentally in principle, as has been already done for a Na Bose condensate, or produced in a super strong magnetic field B ≫ (2α)²B₀ (B₀ = m²c³/eħ ≈ 4.41 × 10¹³ G). The “screening constant” σ for this atom in the ground and excited states was about 0.20 and 0.17, 0.18, respectively, depending on the relative parity PP' of the electronic states, which is somewhat smaller than in “two-dimensional” and “three-dimensional” variants (in these cases, this constant in the ground state is almost the same and about 0.3). The frequencies of the main spectral lines of a “onedimensional” He atom representing a doublet split over the relative parity PP' are found. The presence of the close lines of this doublet in the emission spectrum of magnetars at frequencies ω_{1, 2} ≈ {1.15; 1.17}α²(c/λC) (α = e²/ħc, λ_C =ħ/mc) corresponding to the “one-dimensional ortho-helium” would suggest the existence of a superstrong magnetic field in such astrophysical objects.

A standard way to determine the formation enthalpy H and entropy S of point defect formation in crystals consists in the application of the Arrhenius equation for the defect concentration. In this work, we show that a formal use of this method actually gives the effective (apparent) values of these quantities, which appear to be significantly overestimated. The underlying physical reason lies in temperature-dependent formation enthalpy of the defects, which is controlled by temperature dependence of the elastic moduli. We present an evaluation of the “true” H- and S-values for aluminum, which are derived on the basis of experimental data by taking into account temperature dependence of the formation enthalpy related to temperature dependence of the elastic moduli. The knowledge of the “true” activation parameters is needed for a correct calculation of the defect concentration constituting thus an issue of major importance for different fundamental and application issues of condensed matter physics and chemistry.

The properties of (CoFeB)_x(LiNbO_y)_100–x nanocomposite films with a ferromagnetic alloy content x = 6–48 at % are comprehensively studied. The films are shown to consist of ensembles of CoFe granules 2–4 nm in size, which are strongly elongated (up to 10–15 nm) in the nanocomposite growth direction and are located in an LiNbO_y matrix with a high content of Fe²⁺ and Co²⁺ magnetic ions (up to 3 × 1022 cm^–3). At T ≤ 25 K, a paramagnetic component of the magnetization of nanocomposites is detected along with a ferromagnetic component, and the contribution of the former component is threefold that of the latter. A hysteresis of the magnetization is observed below the percolation threshold up to x ≈ 33 at %, which indicates the appearance of a superferromagnetic order in the nanocomposites. The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites in the range T ≈ 10–200 K on the metallic side of the metal–insulator transition (44 at % < x < 48 at %) is described by a logarithmic law σ(T) ∝ lnT. This law changes into the law of “1/2” at x ≤ 40 at %. The tunneling anomalous Hall effect is strongly suppressed and the longitudinal conductivity turns out to be lower than in a (CoFeB)_x(AlO_y)_100–x composite material by an order of magnitude. The capacitor structures based on (CoFeB)_x(LiNbO_y)_100–x films exhibit resistive switching effects. They are related to (i) the formation of isolated chains of elongated granules and an anomalously strong decrease in the resistance in fields E > 10⁴ V/cm because of the suppression of Coulomb blockage effects and the generation of oxygen vacancies V_O and (ii) the injection (or extraction) of V_O vacancies (depending on the sign of voltage) into a strongly oxidized layer in the nanocomposites, which is located near an electrode of the structure and controls its resistance. The number of stable resistive switchings exceeds 10⁵ at a resistance ratio R_off/R_on ~ 50.

The oxygen isotope effect in PrBaMn₂^16-18 O_5.97 manganite with an ordered cation arrangement is studied. The field dependences of magnetic susceptibility and magnetization are measured in the temperature range 100–270 K and magnetic fields up to 32 T. A significant increase in the temperature of the spin-reorientation antiferromagnet–ferromagnet phase transition is detected in samples enriched in heavy oxygen ¹⁸O (negative isotope effect). The transition temperature and the isotope effect depend strongly on the magnetic field. An H–T phase diagram is plotted for samples with various isotope compositions. An analysis of the experimental results demonstrates that the detected negative isotope effect and the giant positive isotope effect revealed earlier in doped manganites have the same nature. The mechanisms of appearance of isotope effects are discussed in terms of the double exchange model under a polaron narrowing of the free carrier band.

The dynamics of a quantum vortex toric knot T_P,Q and other analogous knots in an atomic Bose condensate at zero temperature in the Thomas–Fermi regime is considered in the hydrodynamic approximation. The condensate has a spatially inhomogeneous equilibrium density profile ρ(z, r) due to the action of an external axisymmetric potential. It is assumed that z_*= 0, r_*= 1 is the point of maximum of function rρ(z, r), so that δ(rρ) ≈ –(α–)z²/2–(α + )(δr)²/2 for small z and δr. The geometrical configuration of a knot in the cylindrical coordinates is determined by a complex 2πP-periodic function A(ϕ, t) = Z(ϕ, t) + i[R(ϕ, t))–1]. When |A| ≪ 1, the system can be described by relatively simple approximate equations for P rescaled functions \({W_n}(\varphi ) \propto A(2\pi n + \varphi ):i{W_{n,t}} = - ({W_{n,\varphi \varphi }} + \alpha {W_n} - \in W_n^*)/2 - \sum\nolimits_{j \ne n} {1/(W_n^* - W_j^*)} \). For = 0, examples of stable solutions of type W_n = θ_n(ϕ–γt)exp(–iωt) with a nontrivial topology are found numerically for P = 3. In addition, the dynamics of various unsteady knots with P = 3 is modeled, and the tendency to the formation of a singularity over a finite time interval is observed in some cases. For P = 2 and small ≠ 0, configurations of type W₀–W₁ ≈ B₀exp(iζ) + C(B₀, α)exp(–iζ) + D(B₀, α)exp(3iζ), where B₀ > 0 is an arbitrary constant, ζ = k₀ϕ–Ω₀t + ζ0, k₀ = Q/2, and Ω₀ = (–α)/2–2/B₀², which rotate about the z axis, are investigated. Wide stability regions for such solutions are detected in the space of parameters (α, B₀). In unstable zones, a vortex knot may return to a weakly excited state.

The metal–insulator and metal–superconductor phase transitions related to the percolation thresholds in two-component composites are considered. The behavior of effective conductivity σ_e in the vicinity of both thresholds is described in terms of the similarity hypothesis. A one-to-one correspondence between the equations derived for σ_e in both critical regions is found for randomly heterogeneous systems.

The initial stage of a nanosecond discharge in gaps with a high electric field at a cathode is studied by laser methods (interferometric, shadow, schlieren methods). The studies are performed in air at atmospheric pressure. Prominence is given to studying the evolution (appearance and growth) of the plasma channels at an anode and to estimating their parameters.