Zhongfeng Xu

X-ray emission of Xe 30+ ion beam impacting on Au target

X-ray emission from Xe 30+ ions at 350–600 keV impacting on an Au target was investigated at the Heavy Ion Research Facility at Lanzhou. Characteristic X-rays of Xe ions at energy of about 1.65 keV were observed. This X-ray emission is induced by the decay of very high Rydberg states of Xe ions. It was also found that the yield of such characteristic X-rays is decreasing with increasing the projectile kinetic energy. Simultaneously, the yield of the characteristic Au X-rays from the M shell increases also. These phenomena are qualitatively analyzed with the classical Coulomb over the Barrier Mode (COBM) for highly charged ions interacting with solid state surfaces.

Bromide (Br) - Based Synthesis of Ag Nanocubes with High-Yield

The geometry of metal nanoparticles greatly affects the properties of the localized surface plasmon resonance and surface-enhanced Raman scattering. The synthesis of metal nanoparticles with controllable geometry has thus attracted extensive attentions. In this work, we report a modified polyol synthesis approach of silver (Ag) nanocubes through tuning the concentration of bromide ions (Br− ions). We have systematically investigated the effect of Br− ions in the polyol process, and find that higher concentration of Br− ions can enhance oxidative etching effect, which is the dominative factor in determining nanostructure geometry. Therefore, one can realize control over nanostructure geometry by manipulating the concentration of Br− ions. Our work provides an effective approach to control the shape of metallic nanostructures for potential applications.

Control on Surface Plasmon Polaritons Propagation Properties by Continuously Moving a Nanoparticle along a Silver Nanowire Waveguide

Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs)-based nanowire waveguides possess potential applications for nanophotonic circuits. Precise control on the propagation of SPPs in metal nanowires is thus of significant importance. In this work, we report the control on SPPs propagation properties by moving a silver nanoparticle (Ag NP) along a silver nanowire (Ag NW). The emission intensity at NP can be attenuated to about 25% of the maximum emission value with increasing the distance between excitation end and NP. When NP is gradually moved away from excitation end, the intensity of emission light at Ag NP shows an exponential decay with a superposition of wavy appearance, while the emission at NW end is almost a constant value. It is found that the former is related to the local SPPs field distribution in NW, and the latter is dependent on the distance between excitation end and NW terminal. Moreover, the propagation loss in Ag NP-NW structure has been investigated. Our experiments demonstrate the important role of NP location in NW-based waveguides and provide an effective method of tuning scattering light in NW, which is instructive to design the future specialized function of SPPs-based nanophotonic circuits and devices.

Influence of symmetry breaking degrees on surface plasmon polaritons propagation in branched silver nanowire waveguides

Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs)-based nanowire (NW) waveguides demonstrate promising potentials in the integrated nanophotonic circuits and devices. The realization of controlling SPPs propagation in NWs is significant for the performance of nanophotonic devices when employed for special function. In this work, we report the effect of symmetry breaking degrees on SPPs propagation behavior in manually fabricated branched silver NW structures. The symmetry breaking degree can be tuned by the angle between main NW and branch NW, which influences the emissions at the junction and the main NW terminal in a large extent. Our results illustrate the significance of symmetry breaking degree on SPPs propagation in NW-based waveguides which is crucial for designing the future nanophotonic circuits.

Target Z dependence of Xe L x-ray emission in heavy ion–atom collision near the Bohr velocity: influence of level matching

X-ray yields for the projectile L-shell have been measured for collisions between Xe20+ and thick solid targets throughout the periodic table with incident energies near the Bohr velocity. The yields show a very pronounced cyclic dependence on the target atomic number. This result indicates that Xe L x-ray emission intensity is greatly enhanced either in near-symmetric collisions or if the binding energy of the Xe M-shell matches the L- or N-shell binding energy of the target.

Temperature and energy effects on secondary electron emission from SiC ceramics induced by Xe 17+ ions

Secondary electron emission yield from the surface of SiC ceramics induced by Xe17+ ions has been measured as a function of target temperature and incident energy. In the temperature range of 463–659 K, the total yield gradually decreases with increasing target temperature. The decrease is about 57% for 3.2 MeV Xe17+ impact, and about 62% for 4.0 MeV Xe17+ impact, which is much larger than the decrease observed previously for ion impact at low charged states. The yield dependence on the temperature is discussed in terms of work function, because both kinetic electron emission and potential electron emission are influenced by work function. In addition, our experimental data show that the total electron yield gradually increases with the kinetic energy of projectile, when the target is at a constant temperature higher than room temperature. This result can be explained by electronic stopping power which plays an important role in kinetic electron emission.

Study of the angular distribution of W-L X-ray intensity ratios in photoionization

The angular distribution of W-Lα, Lβ1 and Lβ2 X-rays induced by 13.1 keV bremsstrahlung has been measured at different emission angles from 110∘ to 140∘ at intervals of 10∘. The investigation of angular dependence of L X-ray intensity ratios by bremsstrahlung is barely found in previous works. The Lβ1 X-ray yield shows isotropic emission, while the measured Lα and Lβ2 X-ray yields are found to be spatially anisotropic. At last, the anisotropy parameters for Lα and Lβ2 X-rays have been derived.

Anisotropic deformation of Au nanoparticles by highly charged ion Xe21+ irradiation

We present a detailed study of the deformation of Au nanoparticles (NPs) caused by the irradiation of highly charged ions (HCIs). When spherical Au NPs with a diameter of 19.8?nm were irradiated by 1?MeV Xe21+ ions with a fluence of 2???1014?cm?2, their anisotropic deformation was observed by atomic force microscopy. The results show that spherical Au NPs expand perpendicular to the ion beam changing their shape to oblate ellipsoidal. The size aspect ratio (major over minor axis) of the observed deformed Au NPs is about 1.23. The deformation process is described by a viscoelastic thermal spike model. The HCI beam deformation technique provides a unique method to tailor the shape of noble metal NPs.