Broadening of hot-spot response spectrum of superconducting NbN nanowire single-photon detector with reduced nitrogen content

The spectral detection efficiency and the dark count rate of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPD) has been studied systematically on detectors made from thin NbN films with different chemical compositions. Reduction of the nitrogen content in the 4 nm thick NbN films results in a more than two orders of magnitude decrease of the dark count rates and in a red shift of the cut-off wavelength of the hot-spot SNSPD response. The observed phenomena are explained by an improvement of uniformity of NbN films that has been confirmed by a decrease of resistivity and an increase of the ratio of the measured critical current to the depairing current. The latter factor is considered as the most crucial for both the cut-off wavelength and the dark count rates of SNSPD. Based on our results we propose a set of criteria for material properties to optimize SNSPD in the infrared spectral region.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure

New Interstellar Extinction Maps Based on Gaia and Other Sky Surveys

We present new three-dimensional (3D) interstellar extinction maps in the $V$ and Gaia $G$ filters within 2 kpc of the Sun, a 3D differential extinction (dust spatial distribution density) map along the lines of sight in the same space, a 3D map of variations in the ratio of the extinctions in the $V$ and Gaia $G$ filters within 800 pc of the Sun, and a 2D map of total Galactic extinction through the entire dust half-layer from the Sun to extragalactic space for Galactic latitudes $|b|>13^{\circ}$. The 3D maps have a transverse resolution from 3.6 to 11.6 pc and a radial resolution of 50 pc. The 2D map has an angular resolution of 6.1 arcmin. We have produced these maps based on the Gaia DR3 parallaxes and Gaia, Pan-STARRS1, SkyMapper, 2MASS, and WISE photometry for nearly 100 million stars. We have paid special attention to the space within 200 pc of the Sun and high Galactic latitudes as regions where the extinction estimates have had a large relative uncertainty so far. Our maps estimate the extinction within the Galactic dust layer from the Sun to an extended object or through the entire dust half-layer from the Sun to extragalactic space with a precision $\sigma(A_\mathrm{V})=0.06$ mag. This gives a high relative precision of extinction estimates even at high Galactic latitudes, where, according to our estimates, the median total Galactic extinction through the entire dust half-layer from the Sun to extragalactic objects is $A_\mathrm{V}=0.12\pm0.06$ mag. We have shown that the presented maps are among the best ones in data amount, space size, resolution, precision, and other properties.Comment: 15 pages, 4 table

The sorption-chromaticity determination of Fe(III) in the waters of the galvanic production

Developed out express Sorption-colorimetric methods for the determination of iron in water, based on the sorption concentration of detecting component of the solution impregnated in the polyurethane foam, the formation on the surface of a colored compound and then its definition in the sorbent matrix by measuring color intensity or chromaticity characteristics. The first method is based on determining the agitation of the sample solution with a tablet impregnated with PPU known mass, from which the air bubbles are removed, the second dynamic – by sampling by suction solution in the analytical cartridge impregnated with PPU. Discoloration polyurethane indicates the presence of iron (III) in water, and its content was determined by comparing the color intensity of foam tablets previously prepared color chart or chromaticity characteristics comparing analyte and standard solutions. The conditions of sorption-photometric analysis: the concentration of the photometric reagent impregnated in the foam, the degree of loading it impregnant, the phases of contact, the acidity of the environment. When using analytical cartridges lower limit of detection is 2 times higher, and the measurement error to 3.5% lower than with the tablets. The proposed test methods using polyurethane enable to carry out the analysis of wash water and the total flow of galvanizing plant before and after neutralization station “on the spot”, without the use of sophisticated instruments and highly skilled operator

Electrical resistivity of liquid CuSn, CuSnBi, CuSnBiIn, CuSnBiInCd alloys of equiatomic compositions

The resistivity of liquid CuSn,CuSnBi, CuSnBiIn, CuSnBiInCd alloys of equiatomic compositions are measured using the rotating magnetic field method to obtain information on their liquid structures. The alloys of equiatomic composition we considered as the high-entropy alloys. The results are discussed in the frame of a microheterogeneous structure of a metallic melt. A conclusion is made about the character of the modification of temperature dependence of the resistivity of liquid alloy due this microheterogeneous structure. All the investigated alloys demonstrated the change in the temperature coefficient of the resistivity for heating and cooling. These changes determined the temperature of destruction the microheterogeneous structure of a metallic melt (T∗). The value of temperature T∗ for all alloys was 1070 K (800 °C). The change in the temperature coefficient of the resistivity of the alloys on heating to 1070 K (800 °C) is interpreted using the Nagel-Tauc model. © 2019 Author(s)

Radiation-induced hydrogen transfer in metals

The paper presents processes of hydrogen (deuterium) diffusion and release from hydrogen-saturated condensed matters in atomic, molecular and ionized states under the influence of the electron beam and X-ray radiation in the pre-threshold region. The dependence is described between the hydrogen isotope release intensity and the current density and the electron beam energy affecting sample, hydrogen concentration in the material volume and time of radiation exposure to the sample. The energy distribution of the emitted positive ions of hydrogen isotopes is investigated herein. Mechanisms of radiation-induced hydrogen transfer in condensed matters are suggested

Low-frequency dynamics of disordered XY spin chains and pinned density waves: from localized spin waves to soliton tunneling

A long-standing problem of the low-energy dynamics of a disordered XY spin chain is re-examined. The case of a rigid chain is studied where the quantum effects can be treated quasiclassically. It is shown that as the frequency decreases, the relevant excitations change from localized spin waves to two-level systems to soliton-antisoliton pairs. The linear-response correlation functions are calculated. The results apply to other periodic glassy systems such as pinned density waves, planar vortex lattices, stripes, and disordered Luttinger liquids.Comment: (v2) Major improvements in presentation style. One figure added (v3) Another minor chang

Electron spin resonance detection and identification of nitrogen centers in nanodiamonds

Individual nitrogen centers N0 and nitrogen pairs N 2 + have been detected and identified in natural diamond nanocrystals by means of the high-frequency electron spin resonance method. The N0 nitrogen centers have been observed in synthetic diamond nanocrystallites with a size of less than 10 nm produced by high-temperature high-pressure sintering of detonation nanodiamonds. Thus, the possibility of the stable state of impurity nitrogen atoms in diamond nanoparticles has been demonstrated. © 2009 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd

Multifrequency EPR and DENR of polyacetylene composite

The organo-inorganic composite MoCl1.9 ± 0.1(C 30 ± 1H30 ± 1), a product of interaction of MoCl5 with C2H2, has been studied by X- and W-band EPR, double electron nuclear resonance, and W-band electron spin echo spectroscopy. The composite consists of nanosized organometallic molybdenum clusters in the polyacetylene matrix. It has been shown that the composite contains three types of magnetic centers: the first is related to the existence of paramagnetic molybdenum atoms in the polyacetylene matrix, and the other two are paramagnetic defects of the matrix. © 2013 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd