Optical and transport studies of atomic hydrogen and chalcogen impurities in alkali metals

Atomic hydrogen and chalcogen (0 and Te) impurities in alkali metal thin films have been studied. Their optical properties were determined by transmission measurements in the vacuum ultraviolet and transport properties were probed by means of electrical resistance. The observed optical absorption and small residual resistivities of Hand 0 indicate unambiguously that these elements enter alkali metals as interstitial atoms much as in bcc transition metals. The optical spectra lack prominent features other than a very sharp peak at ~11.5 eV induced by the interstitial (but not by substitutional) atoms in Cs. This important monitor of impurity structure apparently arises from the perturbation by the interstitial impurities of the O2 ,3 core absorption edge of neighboring Cs atoms. It probably occurs near the outer core optical threshold for all alkali metals. Te impurity spectra lack this feature and their substitutional location is confirmed by a tenfold increase in resistivity over that of O. The resistance data indicate that it exists mainly as a Te--ion in alkali metal host lattices, and the observed energy width and concentration dependence of the optical profile confirms this deduction.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physics

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Layton, Ralph Phillip

Contributors dc:contributor

• Flynn, C.P.

• optical studies
• transport studies
• atomic hydrogen
• chalcogen impurities
• alkali metals
• alkali metal thin films

Statement dc:rights

• 1977 Ralph Phillip Layton

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

2859927

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/25642