National Institute Of Materials Physics - Romania

This report presents the capabilities of the CMS experiment to explore the rich heavy-ion physics programme offered by the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The collisions of lead nuclei at energies root(NN)-N-S = 5(5 TeV, will probe quark and gluon matter at unprecedented values of energy density. The prime goal of this research is to study the fundamental theory of the strong interaction - Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) - in extreme conditions of temperature, density and parton momentum fraction (low-x). This report covers in detail the potential of CMS to carry out a series of representative Pb-Pb measurements. These include \"bulk\" observables, (charged hadron multiplicity, low p(T) inclusive hadron identified spectra and elliptic flow) which provide information on the collective properties of the system, as well as perturbative probes such as quarkonia, heavy-quarks, jets and high p(T) hadrons which yield \"tomographic\" information of the hottest and densest phases of the reaction.

We report here on the characteristics of RF-sputtered 300 nm thick films of TiO2-2xNx prepared on glass substrates at 350 degrees C, by adjusting the N-2:Ar partial pressure ratio in the deposition chamber between 0.00 and 0.33. XRD, XPS, AFM and contact angle data were used to derive film structure, elemental composition and oxidation state of Ti, surface morphology and hydrophilicity, respectively. The band gap was derived from spectral data in the 350-450 nm range. Film structure and composition were changed by adjusting the partial pressure of the reactive gases during sputtering and by post-deposition annealing at 400 degrees C in air, for 90 min. The values of the contact angle of films' surface with de-ionized water and of surface free energy per unit area show that films are super-hydrophilic for high-nitrogen content. Correlations are made between film structure, elemental composition, electronic and wettability properties. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Bloch T-3/2 law is obtained for three-dimensional magnons at low temperatures. When decreasing the dimensionality of the magnetic system, the 3/2 exponent is expected to be equal to one for two-dimensional (2D) systems. I present a theoretical sketch of 2D spin wave theory, in which a long magnon wavelength cutoff is introduced, connected to the lateral size of the 2D system investigated. I report a study by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism at the Ni L-edges on the onset of ferromagnetic, order on 1.5 atomic Ni layers deposited on Cu(1 0 0), with spin and orbital moments' dependence with temperature. A linear dependence is found for both spin and orbital moments with the same initial slope. This temperature dependence can be used to probe the size of the 2D magnetic islands, which is particularly useful for embedded 2D objects. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nitrogen doping was proposed recently as a low-cost means to shift the absorption edge of titania towards 450-500 run. Results are reported here on the preparation of nitrogen-doped 250 nm thick TiO2 films on glass substrates by RF magnetron sputtering. The nitrogen content in the films was modified by changing the N-2 partial pressure in the discharge from 0.00 to 0.27 Pa. An additional amount of oxygen was added in the deposition chamber (Po-2 = 0.11 Pa) to compensate for oxygen depletion in the films. Surface composition and structure were derived from XPS and XRD data, respectively. XRD data revealed a mixture of amorphous phase and rutile polymorph in the as-deposited films, while an anatase-rich phase occurs in the samples deposited under N2 pressure of 0.05 and 0.16 Pa. Above 0.16 Pa, a rutile-rich phase is present. Surface wettability was investigated from contact angle data of de-ionized water with solid surface. The films deposited under mid-range N2 pressure in the discharge are super-hydrophilic. The photo-induced super-hydrophilicity decays after 36 h. Film wettability is discussed in terms of the synergic effects of surface roughness (measured by AFM) and rutile-anatase TiO2 phase transition, induced by doping. The TiO2 surface super-hydrophilicity (and catalytic efficiency) are related to beneficial properties of anatase phase (E-g = 3.2 eV), associated with a low recombination rate of charge carriers in the surface. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The reactive sputtering technique was used to obtain undoped and Fe-doped TiO2 thin films deposited on glass substrates. At 250 degrees C substrate temperature, undoped TiO2 films crystallize in a mixed rutile/anatase phase, while Fe-doped films exhibit the rutile phase only. Presence of Fe3+ ions into the TiO2 lattice is suggested by the intensity variation of forbidden 1s -> 3d transitions between the Ti and Fe K-edges. Ti K-edge EXAFS data are assessed to a mixture of the two kinds of surroundings, a rutile-like crystalline phase, identified also by X-ray diffraction, and a nanosized or amorphous anatase-like surrounding. The local atomic order about Fe atoms is quite different and could be related also to an amorphous phase. The Swanepoel method is used to obtain the dispersion of the refractive index below the interband absorption edge. The dispersion energy, the single-oscillator energy and the coordination number of the Ti atoms are evaluated using the single-oscillator model (Wemple-DiDomenico). (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The aim of the present work is the investigation of the core-shell Fe@Au nanoparticles obtained by the inverse micelles method. Also hybrid structures between Fe@Au nanoparticles and the well-known conducting polymer polypyrrole (PPY) were obtained and investigated. The properties of the composites were investigated by TEM, HRTEM, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and magnetization measurements. The TEM, HRTEM measurements show that two categories of core-shell nanoparticles with mean diameters of 5 nm and 25 nm, respectively, are formed. The XPS investigations of the core-shell Fe@Au nanoparticles indicate that besides Fe-0 inside the cores, small amounts of Fen,111, located onto the gold surface were also formed during the samples preparation. The magnetization of the investigated nanocomposites measured versus increasing and decreasing magnetic field shows no hysteresis loop, this behavior being consistent with a superparamagnetic behavior. The behavior of the SQUID magnetization vs. temperature under field cooled (FC) and zero field cooled (ZFC) at 0.1 T magnetic field for Fe@Au nanoparticles confirmed the existence of superparamagnetism. The superparamagnetic model was used to fit the experimental magnetization vs. applied magnetic field as it was measured by SQUID up to 5 T. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) have been used to investigate the elemental composition, chemical and electronic state of elements that exist within the Herastrau Lake (Bucharest, Romania) sediments. XPS spectra were obtained by irradiating the sediment samples with an Al source of X-rays (1486.6 eV). C, N, O, F, Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb have been determined by XPS and AES techniques. The analysis of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectra revealed an additional free radical peak in the center of Mn2+ sextet, at a g = 2.0038, attributed to SO3- species as well a very intense and broad signal due to Fe3+ ions.

A comparative study of the sol-gel films prepared in the SiO2-P2O5 system starting with triethylphosphate, triethylphosphite and phosphoric acid as P precursors was performed. The work addresses basic aspects of physics, chemistry, and engineering of oxide films for applications in microelectronics, sensing, nano-photonics, and optoelectronics by establishing the influence of different precursors on the composition, structure and optical properties of the obtained films. The influence of the type of substrate (glass and indium tin oxide coated glass) and of the thermal treatment (200 and 500 degrees C on their structure and properties was studied. By spectroscopic ellipsometry, X-Ray photoemission spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy measurements the high vaporization of the phosphorous during the densification of the films by thermal treatment was noticed when P-alkoxides were used. The phosphoric acid that forms chemical bond with silica network during the sol-gel process leads to better incorporation of P in the silica network as compared to the P-alkoxides. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

CMS is a general purpose experiment, designed to study the physics of pp collisions at 14 TeV at the Large Hadron Collider ( LHC). It currently involves more than 2000 physicists from more than 150 institutes and 37 countries. The LHC will provide extraordinary opportunities for particle physics based on its unprecedented collision energy and luminosity when it begins operation in 2007. The principal aim of this report is to present the strategy of CMS to explore the rich physics programme offered by the LHC. This volume demonstrates the physics capability of the CMS experiment. The prime goals of CMS are to explore physics at the TeV scale and to study the mechanism of electroweak symmetry breaking - through the discovery of the Higgs particle or otherwise. To carry out this task, CMS must be prepared to search for new particles, such as the Higgs boson or supersymmetric partners of the Standard Model particles, from the start- up of the LHC since new physics at the TeV scale may manifest itself with modest data samples of the order of a few fb(-1) or less. The analysis tools that have been developed are applied to study in great detail and with all the methodology of performing an analysis on CMS data specific benchmark processes upon which to gauge the performance of CMS. These processes cover several Higgs boson decay channels, the production and decay of new particles such as Z\' and supersymmetric particles, B-s production and processes in heavy ion collisions. The simulation of these benchmark processes includes subtle effects such as possible detector miscalibration and misalignment. Besides these benchmark processes, the physics reach of CMS is studied for a large number of signatures arising in the Standard Model and also in theories beyond the Standard Model for integrated luminosities ranging from 1 fb(-1) to 30 fb(-1). The Standard Model processes include QCD, B-physics, diffraction, detailed studies of the top quark properties, and electroweak physics topics such as the W and Z(0) boson properties. The production and decay of the Higgs particle is studied for many observable decays, and the precision with which the Higgs boson properties can be derived is determined. About ten different supersymmetry benchmark points are analysed using full simulation. The CMS discovery reach is evaluated in the SUSY parameter space covering a large variety of decay signatures. Furthermore, the discovery reach for a plethora of alternative models for new physics is explored, notably extra dimensions, new vector boson high mass states, little Higgs models, technicolour and others. Methods to discriminate between models have been investigated. This report is organized as follows. Chapter 1, the Introduction, describes the context of this document. Chapters 2-6 describe examples of full analyses, with photons, electrons, muons, jets, missing E-T, B-mesons and tau\'s, and for quarkonia in heavy ion collisions. Chapters 7-15 describe the physics reach for Standard Model processes, Higgs discovery and searches for new physics beyond the Standard Model.

TiO2 thin films prepared by sol-gel method and by RF magnetron sputtering deposited on p-Si(111), n-GaAs(100), and glass have been investigated by XRD, XPS and AFM techniques. The characteristics of the film: colour, adherence and composition are presented in the case of thermal treatments (500 degrees C and 800 degrees C) for sol-gel deposited films as well as for RF sputtering. The TiO2 plasma deposited film is uniform, homogeneous and stoichiometric.