162 research outputs found
Irradiation effects in oxide glasses doped with transition and rare-earth elements
International audienceThe effect of -irradiation on silicate and aluminoborosilicate glasses doped with transition metals (TM) and rare earth (RE) elements has been studied using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), Raman and luminescence spectroscopy. Irradiation leads to the reduction of both Cr and Mn ions in both types of glass matrix. It is shown that even small amounts of TM dopants completely block defect production, as occurs under irradiation in non-doped glasses. As well, TM doping results in the disappearance of structural changes in the glass (densification, polymerization increase and Na migration) for doses of ~ 10 Gy. Unlike TM-doped matrices, incorporation of RE ions into aluminoborosilicate glass blocks neither defect production nor structural changes in glass matrices during irradiation. Simultaneously, we observe a reduction of RE ions, most clearly demonstrated for Ce ions in aluminoborosilicate glasses. We propose that the relative stability of the different charge states of the RE ions is linked to the efficiency of the reduction process, and therefore to the evolution of the glass structure during irradiation
Plasmon channels in the electronic relaxation of diamond under high-order harmonics femtosecond irradiation
We used high order harmonics of a femtosecond titanium-doped sapphire system
(pulse duration 25 fs) to realise Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy (UPS)
measurements on diamond. The UPS spectra were measured for harmonics in the
range 13 to 27. We also made ab initio calculations of the electronic lifetime
of conduction electrons in the energy range produced in the UPS experiment.
Such calculations show that the lifetime suddenly diminishes when the
conduction electron energy reaches the plasmon energy, whereas the UPS spectra
show evidence in this range of a strong relaxation mechanism with an increased
production of low energy secondary electrons. We propose that in this case the
electronic relaxation proceeds in two steps : excitation of a plasmon by the
high energy electron, the latter decaying into individual electron-hole pairs,
as in the case of metals. This process is observed for the first time in an
insulator and, on account of its high efficiency, should be introduced in the
models of laser breakdown under high intensity
Study by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Electron Spectroscopy of the Cascade of Electron Multiplication in an Insulator Submitted to an Electric Field
An original method for revealing the dielectric heterogeneities on an insulating surface has been developed on creation of an electron multiplication cascade inside the insulator placed in an electric field. The steps of the physical process are: (i) excitation of electrons into the conduction band, (ii) electric field acceleration of the conduction electrons, (iii) ionization of the valence levels, (iv) creation of many more new defects in the vicinity of dielectric heterogeneities, (v) charge localization on defects and appearance of a local residual potential. The potential map is observable by scanning electron microscopy after propagation of the ionizing cascade, but only during the first scan which smoothes the surface potential. By electron spectroscopy the energy of the secondary negative particles emitted during the cascade can be analysed
Ultra-fast relaxation of electrons in wide-gap dielectrics
Low-energy electrons scattered in the conduction band of a dielectric solid
should behave like Bloch electrons and will interact with perturbations of the
atomic lattice, i.e. with phonons. Thus the phonon-based description of
low-energy scattering within an energy band structure of a solid bears certain
advantages against common free-electron scattering mechanisms. Moreover, the
inelastic scattering is described by the dielectric energy loss function. With
these collective scattering models we have performed the simulation of excited
electron relaxation and attenuation in the insulator SiO2. After excitation to
a mean initial energy of several eV their energy relaxation occurs within a
short time interval of 200 fs to full thermalization. There is a very rapid
impact ionization cooling connected with cascading of electrons at the
beginning during the first 10 fs, followed by much slower attenuation due to
phonon losses in wide-gap dielectrics and insulators
Ionization dynamics in intense pulsed laser radiation. Effects of frequency chirping
Via a non-perturbative method we study the population dynamics and
photoelectron spectra of Cs atoms subject to intense chirped laser pulses, with
gaussian beams. We include above threshold ionization spectral peaks. The
frequency of the laser is near resonance with the 6s-7p transition. Dominant
couplings are included exactly, weaker ones accounted for perturbatively. We
calculate the relevant transition matrix elements, including spin-orbit
coupling. The pulse is taken to be a hyperbolic secant in time and the chirping
a hyperbolic tangent. This choice allows the equations of motions for the
probability amplitudes to be solved analytically as a series expansion in the
variable u=(tanh(pi t/tau)+1)/2, where tau is a measure of the pulse length. We
find that the chirping changes the ionization dynamics and the photoelectron
spectra noticeably, especially for longer pulses of the order of 10^4 a.u. The
peaks shift and change in height, and interference effects between the 7p
levels are enhanced or diminished according to the amount of chirping and its
sign. The integrated ionization probability is not strongly affected.Comment: Accepted by J. Phys. B; 18 pages, 17 figures. Latex, uses
ioplppt.sty, iopl10.sty and psfig.st
Concave and Convex photonic Barriers in Gradient Optics
Propagation and tunneling of light through photonic barriers formed by thin
dielectric films with continuous curvilinear distributions of dielectric
susceptibility across the film, are considered. Giant heterogeneity-induced
dispersion of these films, both convex and concave, and its influence on their
reflectivity and transmittivity are visualized by means of exact analytical
solutions of Maxwell equations. Depending on the cut-off frequency of the film,
governed by the spatial profile of its refractive index, propagation or
tunneling of light through such barriers are examined. Subject to the shape of
refractive index profile the group velocities of EM waves in these films are
shown to be either increased or deccreased as compared with the homogeneous
layers; however, these velocities for both propagation and tunneling regimes
remain subluminal. The decisive influence of gradient and curvature of photonic
barriers on the efficiency of tunneling is examined by means of generalized
Fresnel formulae. Saturation of the phase of the wave tunneling through a stack
of such films (Hartman effect), is demonstrated. The evanescent modes in lossy
barriers and violation of Hartman effect in this case is discussed
Effect of Sm-, Gd- codoping on structural modifications in aluminoborosilicate glasses under beta-irradiation
Two series of Sm-, Gd-codoped aluminoborosilicate glasses with different
total rare earth content have been studied in order to examine the codoping
effect on the structural modifications of beta-irradiated glasses. The data
obtained by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy indicated that
relative amount of Gd3+ ions located in network former position reveals
non-linear dependence on Sm/Gd ratio. Besides, codoping leads to the evolution
of the EPR signal attributed to defects created by irradiation: superhyperfine
structure of boron oxygen hole centres EPR line becomes less noticeable and
resolved with increase of Gd amount. This fact manifests that Gd3+ ions are
mainly diluted in vicinity of the boron network. By Raman spectroscopy, we
showed that the structural changes induced by the irradiation also reveal
non-linear behaviour with Sm/Gd ratio. In fact, the shift of the Si-O-Si
bending vibration modes has a clear minimum for the samples containing equal
amount of Sm and Gd (50:50) in both series of the investigated glasses. In
contrast, for single doped glass there is no influence of dopant's content on
Si-O-Si shift (in case of Gd) or its diminution (in case of Sm) occurs which is
explained by the reduction process influence. At the same time, no noticeable
effect of codoping on Sm3+ intensity as well as on Sm2+ emission or on Sm
reduction process was observed
Characterization of a rat osteotomy model with impaired healing
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Delayed union or nonunion are frequent and feared complications in fracture treatment. Animal models of impaired bone healing are rare. Moreover, specific descriptions are limited although understanding of the biological course of pathogenesis of fracture nonunion is essential for therapeutic approaches.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A rat tibial osteotomy model with subsequent intramedullary stabilization was performed. The healing progress of the osteotomy model was compared to a previously described closed fracture model. Histological analyses, biomechanical testing and radiological screening were undertaken during the observation period of 84 days (d) to verify the status of the healing process. In this context, particular attention was paid to a comparison of bone slices by histological and immunohistological (IHC) methods at early points in time, <it>i.e</it>. at 5 and 10 d post bone defect.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In contrast to the closed fracture technique osteotomy led to delayed union or nonunion until 84 d post intervention. The dimensions of whole reactive callus and the amounts of vessels in defined regions of the callus differed significantly between osteotomized and fractured animals at 10 d post surgery. A lower fraction of newly formed bone and cartilaginous tissue was obvious during this period in osteotomized animals and more inflammatory cells were observed in the callus. Newly formed bone tissue accumulated slowly on the anterior tibial side with both techniques. New formation of reparative cartilage was obviously inhibited on the anterior side, the surgical approach side, in osteotomized animals only.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Tibial osteotomy with intramedullary stabilisation in rats leads to pronounced delayed union and nonunion until 84 d post intervention. The early onset of this delay can already be detected histologically within 10 d post surgery. Moreover, the osteotomy technique is associated with cellular and vascular signs of persistent inflammation within the first 10 d after bone defect and may be a contributory factor to impaired healing. The model would be excellent to test agents to promote fracture healing.</p
Gradient Optics of subwavelength nanofilms
Propagation and tunneling of light through subwavelength photonic barriers,
formed by dielectric layers with continuous spatial variations of dielectric
susceptibility across the film are considered. Effects of giant
heterogeneity-induced non-local dispersion, both normal and anomalous, are
examined by means of a series of exact analytical solutions of Maxwell
equations for gradient media. Generalized Fresnel formulae, visualizing a
profound influence of gradient and curvature of dielectric susceptibility
profiles on reflectance/transmittance of periodical photonic heterostructures
are presented. Depending on the cutoff frequency of the barrier, governed by
technologically managed spatial profile of its refractive index, propagation or
tunneling of light through these barriers are examined. Nonattenuative transfer
of EM energy by evanescent waves, tunneling through dielectric gradient
barriers, characterized by real values of refractive index, decreasing in the
depth of medium, is shown. Scaling of the obtained results for different
spectral ranges of visible, IR and THz waves is illustrated. Potential of
gradient optical structures for design of miniaturized filters, polarizers and
frequency-selective interfaces of subwavelength thickness is considered
Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells Hook into Biocoral Scaffold Forming an Engineered Biocomplex
The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs), as well as human osteoblasts, when challenged on a Biocoral scaffold, which is a porous natural hydroxyapatite. For this purpose, human DPSCs were seeded onto a three-dimensional (3D) Biocoral scaffold or on flask surface (control). Either normal or rotative (3D) cultures were performed. Scanning electron microscopic analyses, at 8, 24 and 48 h of culture showed that cells did not adhere on the external surface, but moved into the cavities inside the Biocoral structure. After 7, 15 and 30 days of culture, morphological and molecular analyses suggested that the Biocoral scaffold leads DPSCs to hook into the cavities where these cells quickly start to secrete the extra cellular matrix (ECM) and differentiate into osteoblasts. Control human osteoblasts also moved into the internal cavities where they secreted the ECM. Histological sections revealed a diffuse bone formation inside the Biocoral samples seeded with DPSCs or human osteoblasts, where the original scaffold and the new secreted biomaterial were completely integrated and cells were found within the remaining cavities. In addition, RT-PCR analyses showed a significant increase of osteoblast-related gene expression and, above all, of those genes highly expressed in mineralized tissues, including osteocalcin, OPN and BSP. Furthermore, the effects on the interaction between osteogenesis and angiogenesis were observed and substantiated by ELISA assays. Taken together, our results provide clear evidence that DPSCs differentiated into osteoblasts, forming a biocomplex made of Biocoral, ECM and differentiated cells
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