The changes in the lifetime of a metastable energy level in Er-doped Si nanocrystals in the presence of an external source of colored noise are analyzed for different values of noise intensity and correlation time. Exciton dynamics is simulated by a set of phenomenological rate equations which take into account all the possible phenomena inherent to the energy states of Si nanocrystals and Er$^{3+}$ ions in the host material of Si oxide. The electronic deexcitation is studied by examining the decay of the initial population of the Er atoms in the first excitation level $^4$I$_{13/2}$ through the fluorescence and the cooperative upconversion by energy transfer. Our results show that the deexcitation process of the level $^4$I$_{13/2}$ is slowed down within wide ranges of noise intensity and correlation time. Moreover, a nonmonotonic behavior of the lifetime with the amplitude of the fluctuations is found, characterized by a maximum variation for values of the noise correlation time comparable to the deexcitation time. The indirect influence of the colored noise on the efficiency of the energy transfer upconversion activated from the level $^4$I$_{13/2}$ is also discussed.
We present a high-resolution photoluminescence study of Er-doped SiO2 sensitized with Si nanocrystals (Si NCs). Emission bands originating from recombination of excitons confined in Si NCs and of internal transitions within the 4f-electron core of Er3+ ions, and a band centered at lambda = 1200nm have been identified. Their kinetics have been investigated in detail. Based on these measurements, we present a comprehensive model for energy transfer mechanisms responsible for light generation in this system. A unique picture of energy flow between subsystems of Er3+ and Si NCs is developed, yielding truly microscopic information on the sensitization effect and its limitations. In particular, we show that most of the Er3+ ions available in the system are participating in the energy exchange. The long standing problem of apparent loss of optical activity of majority of Er dopants upon sensitization with Si NCs is clarified and assigned to appearance of a very efficient energy exchange mechanism between Si NCs and Er3+ ions. Application potential of SiO2:Er sensitized by Si NCs is discussed in view of the newly acquired microscopic insight.
Transient properties of different physical systems with metastable states perturbed by external white noise have been investigated. Two noise-induced phenomena, namely the noise enhanced stability and the resonant activation, are theoretically predicted in a piece-wise linear fluctuating potential with a metastable state. The enhancement of the lifetime of metastable states due to the noise, and the suppression of noise through resonant activation phenomenon will be reviewed in models of interdisciplinary physics: (i) dynamics of an overdamped Josephson junction; (ii) transient regime of the noisy FitzHugh-Nagumo model; (iii) population dynamics.
Er-doped aluminum nitride films, containing different Er concentrations, were obtained at room temperature by reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The prepared samples show a nano-columnar microstructure and the size of the columns is dependent on the magnetron power. The Er-related photoluminescence (PL) was studied in relation with the temperature, the Er content and the microstructure. Steady-state PL, PL excitation spectroscopy and time-resolved PL were performed. Both visible and near infrared PL were obtained at room temperature for the as-deposited samples. It is demonstrated that the PL intensity reaches a maximum for an Er concentration equal to 1 at. % and that the PL efficiency is an increasing function of the magnetron power. Decay time measurements show the important role of defect related non radiative recombination, assumed to be correlated to the presence of grain boundaries. Moreover PL excitation results demonstrate that an indirect excitation of Er 3+ ions occurs for excitation wavelengths lower than 600 nm. It is also suggested that Er ions occupy at least two different sites in the AlN host matrix.
Previous observations of metastable magnetic skyrmions have shown that close to the equilibrium pocket the metastable state has a short lifetime, and therefore rapid cooling is required to generate a significant skyrmion population at low temperatures. Here, we report that the lifetime of metastable skyrmions in Cu$_2$OSeO$_3$ is extended by a factor of 50 with the introduction of only 2.5% zinc doping, allowing over 50% of the population to survive when field-cooling at a rate of just 1 K/min. Our systematic study suggests that the lifetime enhancement is due to the removal of spins by the non-magnetic dopant, which entropically limits the number of skyrmion decay pathways. We expect that doping can be exploited to control the lifetime of the metastable SkL state in other chiral magnets, offering a method of engineering skyrmion materials towards application in future devices.
A series of polycrystalline pyrochlore rare-earth titanate Ho_{2-x}Cr_xTi_2O_7 are synthesized in order to enhance the ferroelectricity of pyrochlore Ho2Ti2O7. For the sample close to the doping level x=0.4, a giant enhancement of polarization P up to 660muC/m2 from 0.54muC/m2 at x=0 is obtained, accompanied with an increment of ferroelectric transition point Tc up to ~140K from ~60K. A magnetic anomaly at T~140K together with the polarization response to magnetic field, is identified, implying the multiferroic effect in Ho2-xCrxTi2O7.
Stefano Spezia
,Davide Valenti
,Dominique Persano Adorno
.
(2014)
.
"Enhancement of the lifetime of metastable states in Er-doped Si nanocrystals by external coloured noise"
.
Bernardo Spagnolo
هل ترغب بارسال اشعارات عن اخر التحديثات في شمرا-اكاديميا