SO(3)-Structures on 8-manifolds

We study Riemannian 8-manifolds with an infinitesimal action of SO(3) by which each tangent space breaks into irreducible spaces of dimensions 3 and 5. The relationship with quaternionic, almost product- and PSU-geometry is thoroughly explained using representation-theoretical arguments.Comment: 19 pages, 2 figure

Complex homothetic foliations on K\"ahler manifolds

We obtain a local classification of complex homothetic foliations on Kaehler manifolds by complex curves. This is used to construct almost Kaehler, Ricci-flat metrics subject to additional curvature properties.Comment: Final version, up to typos. To appear in BLM

Systems of symplectic forms on four-manifolds

We study almost Hermitian 4-manifolds with holonomy algebra, for the canonical Hermitian connection, of dimension at most one. We show how Riemannian 4-manifolds admitting five orthonormal symplectic forms fit therein and classify them. In this set-up we also fully describe almost Kaehler 4-manifolds.Comment: Final version, to appear in Annali di SNS.added thm. 5.

Infrared and visible scintillation of Ho3+-doped YAG and YLF crystals

In our effort to develop a new kind of detector for low-energy, low-rate energy deposition events we have investigated the cathodo- and radioluminescence of Ho:YAG and Ho:YLF single crystals in an extended wavelength range from 200 nm to 2200 nm. The emission spectra of both crystals show a much more intense emission in the infrared range than in the visible one. We estimate an infrared light yield of several tens of photons/keV when exciting the crystals with X-rays of energy 48 30 keV. The main reason of this high value is due to the Ho3+ ions energy levels scheme that allows efficient cross relaxation processes to occur even at low dopant concentration

Cathodo- and radioluminescence of Tm3+^{3+}:YAG and Nd3+^{3+}:YAG in an extended wavelength range

We have studied the cathodo- and radioluminescence of Nd:YAG and of Tm:YAG single crystals in an extended wavelength range up to $\approx 5\,\mu$m in view of developing a new kind of detector for low-energy, low-rate energy deposition events. Whereas the light yield in the visible range is as large as $\approx 10^{4}\,$photons/MeV, in good agreement with literature results, in the infrared range we have found a light yield $\approx 5\times 10^{4}\,$photons/MeV, thereby proving that ionizing radiation is particularly efficient in populating the low lying levels of rare earth doped crystals.Comment: submitted for publication in Journal of Luminescenc

A new technique for infrared scintillation measurements

We propose a new technique to measure the infrared scintillation light yield of rare earth (RE) doped crystals by comparing it to near UV-visible scintillation of a calibrated Pr:(Lu$_{0.75}$Y$_{0.25}$)$_{3}$Al$_5$O$_{12}$ sample. As an example, we apply this technique to provide the light yield in visible and infrared range up to \SI{1700}{nm} of this crystal.Comment: submitted to NIM