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We report different growth modes and corresponding magnetic properties of thin EuSe films grown by molecular beam epitaxy on BaF2, Pb1−xEuxSe, GaAs, and Bi2Se3 substrates. We show that EuSe grows predominantly in the (001) orientation on GaAs(111) and Bi2Se3, but along the (111) crystallographic direction on BaF2 (111) and Pb1−xEuxSe (111). High resolution transmission electron microscopy measurements reveal a sharp and highly crystalline interface for both (001) and (111) EuSe films. In agreement with previous studies, ordered magnetic phases include antiferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, and ferromagnetic phases. In contrast to previous studies, we found a strong hysteresis of the antiferromagnetic–ferrimagnetic transition. The ability to grow epitaxial films of EuSe on Bi2Se3 and of Bi2Se3 on EuSe enables further investigation of interfacial exchange interactions between various phases of an insulating metamagnetic material and a topological insulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the self-collimation phenomenon in photonic crystals (PhC) of wide bandgap materials for ultra-fast and high spatial resolution x-ray detection. We work on various heavy inorganic scintillators: BaF2, GaN, ZnO, CsI:Tl, NaI:Tl, LYSO, WO4 compounds, and plastic scintillators. Conventional scintillator detectors do not rely on a direct detection mechanism; hence, they require intricate design and fabrication processes. We offer a PhC design to observe self-collimation phenomena and overcome the ongoing spatial resolution challenges with these types of materials. We investigate the photonic band diagrams and iso-frequency contours. Fourier transforms based on finite-difference time-domain and frequency domain simulations are done for verifying and analyzing the self-collimation with the selected material. Light extraction efficiency at the PhC–air interface, depending on the truncation distance from the excitation point, is measured. Beam divergence values are calculated at 1 mm propagation distance. The vertical field profiles are obtained to observe the confinement. For the spatial resolution analysis, cross-sectional beam profiles have been examined. Gaussian envelopes are fitted to beam profiles for a consistent data analysis, and full-width-at-half-maximum values are considered. As a result, we theoretically prove and demonstrate the spatially resolved x-ray detection at the sub-micrometer level for a wide range of scintillator materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ErF3-doped TeO2–Ga2O3–BaF2–AlF3–Y2O3 (TGBAY) glasses with high fluorescence efficiency and a high thermal damage threshold were developed for potential mid-infrared fiber laser applications. A model 2.7-μm fiber laser based on this material was analyzed using rate and propagation equations. Under 808 and 980 nm laser pumping, fluorescence emissions with central wavelength at 1.55 and 2.73 μm were detected. Based on the Judd–Ofelt (J–O) theory, the intensity parameters (Ωλ, λ = 2, 4, and 6) and radiative transition property were calculated and characterized through absorption and emission spectra. The results indicated that tellurite–gallium oxyfluoride glass had a high glass transition temperature (Tg, ∼391 °C), large emission cross sections at 1.55 μm (6.32 × 10−21 cm2) and 2.73 μm (9.68 × 10−21 cm2) as well as a longer fluorescence lifetime (6.84 ms at 1.55 μm and 262 μs at 2.73 μm) relative to the conventional Er3+-doped tellurite glass. The temperature dependence of the emission spectra indicated that TGBAY-2Er glass was more favorable to achieve infrared emission at low temperatures. Numerical simulation revealed the feasibility of achieving a ∼2.7 μm fiber laser operation based on the developed Er3+-doped tellurite–gallium oxyfluoride glass fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]