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Ultrafast luminescence in Mg was investigated in the infrared region, between 0.35 and 1.05 eV, and compared with the results for Al, using a luminescence upconversion technique. The luminescence intensity of these metals at 0.9 eV was higher than that of platinum with a similar surface roughness under the same excitation density. Although the Mg and Al are adjacent to each other in the periodic table and belong to "light metals," having similar band structures, their luminescence spectra differ significantly. Pronounced peak structures were found for Mg and these were attributed to interband transitions within the conduction bands consisting of 3s and 3p orbitals overlapped on the intraband continuum, based on density functional theory band structure calculation. This result is in contrast to the interband luminescence in noble metals (Au, Ag, and Cu) under continuous-wave blue laser excitation, where the final states have been assigned to the d bands. A comparison of the spectra of rough and specular surfaces suggested that the surface roughness is not essential for mitigating wavenumber mismatch for intraband transitions. The luminescence from light metals, which are harmless to humans, will be attractive for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable and ecofriendly synthesis of transition metal oxide‐based nanomaterials has always been a matter of concern. In this study, a bioinspired synthesis route was adopted to synthesize ZrO2‐Zr3Er4O12‐based mixed nanomaterial using leaf extract of medicinal plant Amaranthus viridis as reducing and stabilizing agent in replacement of the obnoxious chemicals which are a great threat to the sustainable environment. The synthesized material revealed the spherical shaped morphology through scanning electron microscopy, whereas crystal size of 15.7 nm was observed through Xray‐diffraction, and band gap value of 2.7 eV was acquired using Tauc plot. Newly synthesized ZrO2‐Zr3Er4O12 nanocomposite was then investigated for its role as electrocatalyst in a generation of energy through the hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction. The ZrO2‐Zr3Er4O12‐based electrocatalyst showed better potential for hydrogen evolution reaction measurements with the overpotential value of 242 mV. Furthermore, the notable capacitance value of 495.6 F/g was obtained through cyclic voltammetry for energy storage studies. The cyclic stability was also analyzed using linear sweep voltammetry and results showed promising stability for 2000 cycles. Consequently, the green and economical synthesis route as well as promising electrochemical behavior of ZrO2‐Zr3Er4O12‐based electrode make it feasible choice for large scale application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the potential of erbium, chromium-doped:yttrium, scandium, gallium, and garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser irradiation to modify the titanium surface for optimal seeding of fibroblasts and osteoblasts in the treatment of peri-implantitis. Titanium discs were treated using the Er,Cr:YSGG laser, an ultrasonic device with a stainless tip, or titanium scalers. Changes in surface properties were analyzed by profilometer and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Murine fibroblast and osteoblast adhesion and proliferation were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively at 24 and 72 h. Profilometric surface topography and SEM showed that titanium scalers and ultrasonic debridement techniques significantly changed the structure of the machined and rough titanium surfaces. The Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation, on the other hand, did not alter titanium microstructures. The Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation with the 40 Hz group showed a significantly higher attached fibroblast cell numbers than the titanium scaler group at 72 h after treatment (p = 0.023). Additionally, the number of the attached osteoblasts in the Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation with the 40 Hz group was significantly higher than that of the no-treatment groups 24 h after treatment (p = 0.045). The Er,Cr:YSGG laser effectively promoted adherence of fibroblasts and osteoblasts to the titanium surface without significantly altering the titanium surface, suggesting its superiority for treating peri-implantitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the effect of retrogression and re-aging (RRA) on the structure and properties of the new Al–3.5Zn–3.5Mg–3.5Cu–1.6Er–0.2Zr–0.2Cr alloy through the use of scanning electron microscopy, thermodynamic calculations, hardness tests, current density, and corrosion potential. During the crystallization process, chromium is distributed between primary intermetallic compounds with an approximate composition of (Al,Zn)79.8Mg4.7Cu3Cr5.5(Er,Ti)7, with a size of approximately 10 μm and an aluminum solid solution. Following two-stage homogenization heat treatment, the Al8Cu4Er and Mg2Si phases exhibit minimal morphological changes, with the θ‑phase (Al2Cu) being completely dissolved and the T‑phase (Al,Zn,Mg,Cu) transformed into the S‑phase (Al2CuMg). Thermodynamic calculations indicate that the alloy should also contain the Al3Zr and Al45Cr7 phases, which precipitate from the supersaturated solid solution during homogenization. Age hardening in the temperature range of 150–210 °C occurs due to the release of metastable modifications of the T‑phase. The combination of hardness (140 HV) and corrosion resistance (minimum corrosion current density 1 μA/cm2) is optimized by retrogression and re-aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combination of high quality cavity such as glass microsphere and emitting nano-particle coating layers can create novel strongly emitting devices. Herein, we demonstrate an erbium-doped silica microsphere coated by dual-emission carbon quantum dots, which have the sizes of 3–5 nm, emitting green up-conversion with narrow line-width green light at wavelength of 537 nm. The dual-emission carbon quantum dots fabricated by hydrothermal process and have luminescent emission wavelengths in the range of 410–550 nm. The carbon quantum dot coated erbium silica microsphere is pumped at wavelength of 976 nm through the optical fibre on which microsphere attached on the tip. The dual-emission carbon quantum dot layers attributed to the strong green up-conversion light enhancement similar coated noble metallic thin films, however the light enhancement from dual-emission carbon quantum dot coated erbium silica microsphere depended on the thickness of coating layers. This result is useful for making visible emitting micro-devices and photonic integrated circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transparent Er3+,Yb3+:GdMgB5O10 single crystal with dimensions up to 24 × 15 × 12 mm was grown successfully by the high-temperature solution growth on dipped seeds technique from K2Mo3O10-based solvent. The grown crystal was characterized using PXRD, DSC and ATR techniques. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements and SEM analysis of the heat-treated solids revealed Er,Yb:GdMgB5O10 to be an incongruent melting compound with an onset point of 1087 °C. The absorption edge of the Er,Yb:GMBO sample is located in the region of 245 nm, which approximates a value of 4.8 eV. Absorption and emission spectra, and luminescence kinetics, were studied. The energy transfer efficiency from ytterbium to erbium ions was determined. The laser operation in continuous-wave mode was realized and output characteristics were measured. The maximal output power of 0.15 W with a slope efficiency of 11% was obtained at 1568 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical metals such as rare earths are essential for important industrial applications and for producing high-tech materials. Currently, the development of alternative and non-conventional biomaterials has gained significant interest. This work investigated the use of crosslinked sericin-alginate-based natural polymeric particles for the removal of rare earths from water. Affinity tests showed that sericin-alginate/polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether had the highest potential for capturing europium (0.258 mmol/g and 94.33%) and erbium (0.259 mmol/g and 94.55%). Next, erbium was selected based on the affinity with sericin-alginate/polyethylene glycol diglycidyl to investigate the effect of dose/pH, biosorption kinetics, isothermal equilibrium, desorption/reuse, and selectivity. The effect of dose and pH showed that 8.0 g/L (95.91%) and pH 5.0 (97.53%) were more efficient in capturing erbium. The biosorption kinetics showed that the equilibration time was reached within 210 min. The PSO and EMTR models effectively represented the kinetics data. The isothermal equilibrium revealed that the maximum uptake capacity for erbium was 0.641 mmol/g. The isothermal curves better fit the Dubinin-Radushkevich (55 °C) and Langmuir (25 and 40 °C) models. Thermodynamic quantitates indicated that erbium uptake was spontaneous, governed by entropic changes, and endothermic. The recovery of Er3+ was greater than 98% and the reuse of the eluent in the cycles enriched the Er3+ load 10-times (1.0 to 9.91 mmol/L). The beads also showed better performance for capturing Er3+ and Eu3+ with other coexisting ions. Characterization analyzes revealed the ion exchange mechanism between Ca2+/Er3+ prevailed in the Er3+ removal. Thus, the results pointed out that crosslinked sericin-alginate can be used as an alternative and promising biosorbent to remove and recover rare earths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scars can cause aesthetic or functional disturbance. Several interventions had been described to improve their appearance. We propose that the combination of some of those treatments can synergize their effects on the scar. We designed a prospective pilot study with ten patients using the patient as their own control to compare different interventions. In each patient, the scar was divided into four parts treated differently: 1. No treatment (control), 2. Fat grafting only, 3. Fat grafting and Hyaluronic Acid (HA), 4. Fat grafting, HA and with a non-fractional laser. Each part of the scar was evaluated by the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS). Treatment of the scar with the combination of the three modalities showed better results in the observer scale. In addition, a combination of fat injection, HA, and subsequent skin resurfacing with non-ablative laser showed better outcomes for all parameters on the Observer Scale except vascularity, while on the Patient Scale thickness, relief, pliability, surface area, and overall measurement were better. The combination of all three treatments tends to improve scarring results and appears to be safe and effective. However, further studies with larger samples are needed to explore the potential use of this combined treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defects and dopant atoms in solid state materials are a promising platform for realizing single photon sources and quantum memories, which are the basic building blocks of quantum repeaters needed for long distance quantum networks. In particular, trivalent erbium (Er3+) is of interest because it couples C-band telecom optical transitions with a spin-based memory platform. In order to produce quantum repeaters at the scale required for quantum networks it is imperative to integrate these necessary building blocks with mature and scalable semiconductor processes. In this work, we demonstrate the optical isolation of single Er3+ ions in CMOS-compatible titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films monolithically integrated on a silicon-on-insulator photonics platform. Our results demonstrate an initial step toward the realization of a monolithically integrated and scalable quantum photonics package based on Er3+ doped thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of doping with holmium (Ho) and erbium (Er) rare-earth elements (REE) on the main parameters and characteristics of photocells based on p-GaSe/n-InSe heterostructures has been experimentally studied. Photo-electromotive force measurements were performed for undoped and rare-earth doped samples and obtained results comparatively analyzed. The light characteristic of the samples shows that significant improvement are observed in the rare-earth doped crystals. The possibility of targeted control, as well as increasing their reproducibility and stability by changing the content of the introduced impurity (NREE), is shown. The optimal situation is provided by alloying Er with NREE≈10−1 at.%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The visible and near‐infrared (NIR) electroluminescence (EL) from the light‐emitting device (LED) based on the erbium (Er)‐doped Ta2O5 (Ta2O5:Er)/SiO2/Si structure is reported in this study. Wherein, an ≈10 nm thick SiO2 intermediate layer serves as an energy plateau for forming hot electrons, which initially transport from Si via trap‐assisted tunneling mechanism under sufficiently forward bias with the negative voltage connecting with Si. The hot electrons impact‐excite the Er3+ ions incorporated into the Ta2O5 host, leading to the Er‐related EL from the aforementioned LED. It is found that the 750 °Cannealed Ta2O5:Er films are desirable to act as the light‐emitting component. Despite that the Er‐related photoluminescence from the Ta2O5:Er film becomes stronger in turn with the Er‐doping content increasing from nominal 0.75, 1.5 to 3 mol%, it is the Ta2O5:Er film with Er‐doping content of nominal 1.5 mol% rather than 3 mol% that enables the LED to exhibit the strongest EL. Based on the EL lifetime measurement and the structural characterizations, it is believed that the enhanced non‐radiative interactions among the Er3+ ions and the substantial amorphousness of Ta2O5 host caused by the nominal 3 mol% Er‐doping are responsible for the weakened EL as mentioned above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of an oxamate‐containing erbium(III) complex, namely, tetrabutylammonium aqua[N‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)oxamato]erbium(III)–dimethyl sulfoxide–water (1/3/1.5), (C16H36N)[Er(C11H12NO3)4(H2O)]·3C2H6OS·1.5H2O or n‐Bu4N[Er(Htmpa)4(H2O)]·3DMSO·1.5H2O (1), are reported. The crystal structure of 1 reveals the occurrence of an erbium(III) ion, which is surrounded by four N‐phenyl‐substituted oxamate ligands and one water molecule in a nine‐coordinated environment, together with one tetrabutylammonium cation acting as a counter‐ion, and one water and three dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) molecules of crystallization. Variable‐temperature static (dc) and dynamic (ac) magnetic measurements were carried out for this mononuclear complex, revealing that it behaves as a field‐induced single‐ion magnet (SIM) below 5.0 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have investigated a tunable and high transmission efficiency plasmonic power splitter and also a wavelength demultiplexer based on metal–insulator-metal surface. By using Finite Difference Time Domain method, the power splitter exhibits high transmission peaks of about 45% in each output port. Additionally, the simulation results demonstrate that the equal transmitted wavelengths of the two output ports can be easily tuned by changing the geometric parameters of the waveguide. Subsequently, the structure was amended to become a demultiplexer with selecting wavelengths of 1272 and 912 nm, and transmission efficiencies of 76.44 and 88.03%, respectively. Following that, the dependence of demultiplexing wavelengths on geometrical parameters of the structure is investigated. Besides being highly compact and efficient, having narrow-band spectra and low reflectance coefficient are the other main advantages of these devices. The compact power splitter presented in this study is one of the critical components of an integrated processor and hence can be of great interest in a wide range of applications, from highly integrated photonic circuits to on-chip optoelectronic modules and other optical devices such as erbium-doped fiber amplifiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new vibration-based mechanism of optical frequency/wavelength sweeping in fiber lasers induced by optical path length modulation of a laser cavity section is proposed. The mechanism is implemented for an erbium-doped fiber ring laser with a saturable absorber. Without the vibrations, the laser generates a single longitudinal mode (SLM) radiation. We show experimentally for the first time that mechanical vibrations of the laser cavity section can lead to mode dynamics in both frequency and time domains. The possibility of obtaining various mode dynamics, such as vibration-induced sweeping in a wavelength range of up to 2.2 nm or SLM generation with periodic mode hopping between two fixed longitudinal modes depending on the pump wavelength, is experimentally shown. In this vibration-based approach, the interval between changes in the laser cavity modes has good stability, because it directly relates to the vibration period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angiofibromas are a common facial manifestation of tuberous sclerosis (TS). However, current treatments have proven ineffective due to high recurrence rates and noncompliance. To address this issue, we developed a new triple laser therapy protocol for more effective management of angiofibromas. We conducted tests to validate its efficacy. This is a prospective study of 10 patients with TS (4 women and 6 men, mean age 26.3 years [15–37 years]) with angiofibromata who received triple sequential laser therapy at our private dermatological clinic conducted from January 2000 to December 2022. We evaluated the outcome with the Facial Angiofibromata Severity Index (FASI) via clinical photography (0, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). All patients had a successful recovery without any complications. Among these 10 patients, 4 experienced localized recurrences at their 6-month follow-up. These recurrences were treated with a second single carbon dioxide laser session. After 2 years of follow-up, we observed no recurring facial cutaneous manifestations. Furthermore, all patients experienced a decrease in their FASI score after treatment. According to the Visual Analogue Scale, patients reported 95% satisfaction, and DLQI indicated only a minor impact on their everyday lives. We believe that this protocol of three-step laser treatment is effective, safe, and compliable for patients with facial angiofibromata, providing a satisfactory outcome adaptable to the daily dermatological and plastic surgery practice.

The study of thin-film nanocomposites, including crystalline and amorphous silicon nanoparticles embedded in silicon oxide layers, is a key direction in the field of materials for optoelectronics. This study explored the interest in such composites, including erbium silicide (ErSi2-x), in the context of their applications in non-volatile memory and photovoltaic devices. Particular attention was paid to the structure and properties of such materials, including the analysis of defects in erbium-doped silicon. The results of the study, based on Raman spectroscopy and X-ray phase analysis, made it possible to identify the characteristics of the composition and structure of the studied samples. The identified data confirmed the presence of crystalline phases of Si and Er in the p-Si-Er composite, and also showed the substitution of Er in the p-Si/SiO2 structure. Additionally, X-ray microanalysis data confirmed the presence of Si, O and Er in the expected concentrations in the composite film. Further research showed that the introduction of erbium atoms onto the silicon surface leads to minor changes in some signals and the appearance of new vibrations in the Raman spectra of the samples. The decrease in the intensity of the peaks belonging to silicon is associated with the weakening and breaking of some bonds in the structure of the silicon crystal lattice and due to the formation of new bonds in which erbium atoms participate. Thus, the results of this study represent a significant contribution to the understanding of the properties and potential of thin film nanocomposites for applications in optoelectronics, and also enrich our knowledge of the effect of doping on the structure and properties of silicon materials.

Distinguishing between microscopic variances in temperature in both space and time with high precision can open up new opportunities in optical sensing. In this paper, we present a novel approach to optically measure temperature from the fluorescence of erbium:ytterbium doped tellurite glass, with fast temporal resolution at micron-scale localisation over an area with sub millimetre spatial dimensions. This confocal-based approach provides a micron-scale image of temperature variations over a 200 μ m × 200 μ m field of view at sub-1 second time intervals. We test our sensing platform by monitoring the real-time evaporation of a water droplet over a wide field of view and track it's evaporative cooling effect on the glass where we report a net temperature change of 6.97 K ± 0.03 K. This result showcases a confocal approach to thermometry to provide high temporal and spatial resolution over a microscopic field of view with the goal of providing real-time measures of temperature on the micro-scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vitiligo is an acquired depigmentation condition. It affects around 0.1%-2% of the general population, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status of the affected individuals. Vitiliginous patches contain either reduced melanin or no pigment at all. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Erbium: YAG (Er: YAG) laser plus pimecrolimus and narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) (on the right side) in comparison with Er: YAG laser plus topical steroid and NB-UVB (on the left side of the same patient) in treatment of vitiligo in the resistant localizations. Patients and methods: The study comprised thirty patients with persistent non-segmental vitiligo and at least two symmetrical lesions on bony prominences and/or extremities. Patients were selected from the Outpatient Dermatological Clinic of Mataria Teaching Hospital. Results: Regarding the area of the lesion on the right side, there was statistically significant difference between the area of the lesion before and after treatment at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th month of treatment. On the left side, there was also statistically significant difference between the area of the lesion before and after treatment at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th month of treatment. The higher percentage of improvement was seen in the knees followed by the elbows, while the lateral malleolus has 0% of improvement on both the right and left sides. Conclusion: From this study we concluded that skin ablation by Er: YAG laser followed by NB-UVB in combination with either pimecrolimus or hydrocortisone is one of the alternative treatment modalities in treatment of stable, resistant vitiligo patches with almost no difference between the two treatment lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physicochemical characteristics, optical uniformity and photorefractive properties of a series of four LiNbO3:Er:Zn single crystals have been studied. Single crystals have been obtained by the Czochralski method. The erbium content in the crystals was ~0.5 mol % and the zinc content in the crystals was ~4.02, 4.41, 4.65, 4.66 mol %. The dopant distribution in the LiNbO3:Er:Zn melt—crystal system has been studied, and the optimal concentration ranges of erbium and zinc in the initial melt have been determined. The ranges provide crystals with high chemical, optical uniformity and resistance to optical damage for applications in optoelectronics and laser technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The features of glass batch preparation in the production of colorless sheet glass with increased transparency are considered. A non-standard algorithm for dosing and loading selenium, cobalt oxide, erbium oxide, and iron oxide into the mixer was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angiofibromas are a common facial manifestation of tuberous sclerosis (TS). However, current treatments have proven ineffective due to high recurrence rates and noncompliance. To address this issue, we developed a new triple laser therapy protocol for more effective management of angiofibromas. We conducted tests to validate its efficacy. This is a prospective study of 10 patients with TS (4 women and 6 men, mean age 26.3 years [15–37 years]) with angiofibromata who received triple sequential laser therapy at our private dermatological clinic conducted from January 2000 to December 2022. We evaluated the outcome with the Facial Angiofibromata Severity Index (FASI) via clinical photography (0, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). All patients had a successful recovery without any complications. Among these 10 patients, 4 experienced localized recurrences at their 6-month follow-up. These recurrences were treated with a second single carbon dioxide laser session. After 2 years of follow-up, we observed no recurring facial cutaneous manifestations. Furthermore, all patients experienced a decrease in their FASI score after treatment. According to the Visual Analogue Scale, patients reported 95% satisfaction, and DLQI indicated only a minor impact on their everyday lives. We believe that this protocol of three-step laser treatment is effective, safe, and compliable for patients with facial angiofibromata, providing a satisfactory outcome adaptable to the daily dermatological and plastic surgery practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this demonstration, we present two erbium-doped fiber (EDF) lasers, with series and parallel three sub-ring configurations, respectively, to achieve tunable channel output and stable single longitudinal mode (SLM) operation in the L-band range. Here, the fiber ring cavity contains the L-band EDF as a gain medium. Based on the measured results of the two quad-ring structures of the EDF lasers, tunable output bandwidth for the two lasers can be obtained from 1558.0 to 1618.0 nm simultaneously. All the 3 dB linewidths measured for both fiber lasers are 312.5 Hz over the effective wavelength output range. Furthermore, the related optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR), output power, output stabilities of the central wavelength and power, and equal output power range of the two proposed EDF lasers are also examined and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long band (L-Band) passive optical networks (PONs) are attracting a lot of attention these days, thanks to rising capacity demands. Because of PONs requesting more and more channels, fault detection/monitoring is critical. Fault detection in the conventional band (C-Band) employing reflecting Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) and a probe signal integrating an additional amplified spontaneous noise (ASEN) source has been frequently demonstrated. However, interference occurs when ASEN and transmitter signals are in the same wavelength band, and adding additional ASEN sources to the network raises the overall cost. So, in L-Band PONs, a cost-effective, low-complexity fault detection/monitoring system is required. Therefore, in this work, a fault detection/monitoring system for L-Band PON using C-Band ASEN from inline erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) and dual purpose FBG, i.e. (1) ASEN reflection for fault monitoring and (2) dispersion compensation is proposed. A 4 × 10 Gbps L-Band PON is investigated over 40 km feeder fiber (FF) and 1 km drop fibers (DFs) that serve 32 optical network units (ONUs)/different input powers, dispersion values, and laser linewidths in terms of reflective power of FBGs, eye opening factor, and bit error rate (BER), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated how the concentration of erbium (0.0, 1, 2 mol% Er) affects the structural and optical properties of thin films made from sol-gel sodium silicate doped with erbium nitrate, thermally treated at 250 °C. Through systematic investigation, we explore the structural evolution and optical behavior of the thin films across varying Er3+ concentrations. The sol-gel demonstrated effective capabilities for substantial concentrations of Er3+ oxides through doping at lower calcination temperatures. The spectroscopic characteristics were studied using visible-near infrared spectroscopy (UV–vis–NIR), transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Increasing the Er ratio decreased both the transmission and the energy band gap (3.6–3.34 eV) of the films while the absorption peak increased. The obtained results suggest that Er3+ activators demonstrate advantageous optical properties in the evaluated sodium silicate glass matrix. With the introduction of Er, optical transmittance ranges from 85 to 55% in the visible and near-infrared (NIR) regions, highlighting their advantageous characteristics. This research contributes to advancing the understanding of erbium-doped thin films for potential applications in optoelectronic devices and photonics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the biological potential of an Er complex that contains a 2,2'-bipyridine ligand, various techniques such as multispectral and molecular modeling procedures were utilized to examine its DNA-binding ability, BSA binding affinity, antimicrobial effects, and anticancer properties. By analyzing fluorescent information and employing the vant' Hoff equation, important parameters such as the innate docking coefficient (Kb), Stern-Volmer coefficient (KSV), and thermodynamic properties including modifications in liberated energy (ΔG°), enthalpy (ΔH°), and entropy (ΔS°) were determined. The trial findings suggest that the compound can bind to DNA, primarily through groove binding. Additionally, the engagement between the Er compound and the protein BSA was examined using emission spectroscopy technique, revealing a powerful binding affinity between the compound and BSA. The Er complex binds to BSA primarily via hydrogen links and van der Waals forces, as indicated by the adverse values of ΔH° and ΔS°. Through a static quenching process, the complex significantly reduces the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA. Molecular binding calculations and rivalrous binding trials confirm that this compound dock to hydrophobic remains found in site III of BSA. Additionally, the Er complex demonstrates promising results in terms of its anticancer and antimicrobial activities based on screening tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To support the development of Generation IV nuclear reactors, in-pile and out-of-pile test loops with miniature, submersible direct-current electromagnetic pumps (DC-EMPs) are used to investigate compatibility and corrosion issues of nuclear fuel and structure materials with flowing molten lead and alkali liquid metals. Owing to the absence of detailed experimental measurements and because of its simplicity and low computational cost, the equivalent circuit model (ECM) is widely used to predict the pump characteristics. The simplifying assumptions in the ECM contribute to overpredicting the pump characteristics by >10%. To gain insight into the pump operation and assess the effect of various assumptions in ECM, not possible even experimentally, this work performed three-dimensional (3-D), magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) analyses of a 66.8-mm-diameter, submersible, dual-stage DC-EMP, recently developed by the authors, for circulating molten Pb and liquid Na at up to 500°C. The solution of the coupled electromagnetism equations and the momentum and energy balance equations calculates the pump characteristics and provides 3-D images of the flow, electric current, and magnetic field strength distributions in the flow duct. The grid convergence index (GCI) criterion confirmed the adequacy of the employed numerical mesh refinement and the results conversion. Results demonstrate strong dependence of the magnetic field strength distribution in the flow duct on the value and the distribution of the electric current but negligible effects of the fluid temperature on joule heating and pump characteristics. The Lorentz force highest densities occur at the entrance of the two pumping stages, and approximately 10.0% of the total force occurs in the fringe regions upstream and downstream of pumping stages. The MHD pump characteristics are in general agreement with, but consistently lower than, the ECM predictions. For molten lead and liquid sodium, the difference between the calculated characteristics increases with increased flow rate and input current, up to 12% and 14%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we study the mechanisms of X‐ray induced darkening in the Dy/Al/P co‐doped silica glasses at visible wavelengths and explore the role of P/Al ratio played in the enhancement of irradiation resistance. The absorption, emission spectra and lifetime, Raman, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of pristine and irradiated Dy‐silica glasses as a function of P/Al ratio were measured and analyzed. The Si‐related defects (Si‐E′ and non‐bridge oxygen hole center), Al‐related defects (Al‐E′ and Al‐related oxygen hole center), P‐related defects (P‐OHC and P2), and Dy2+ ions were studied and analyzed. Results demonstrate that increasing P/Al is efficient to suppress the photodarkening in Dy‐silica glasses at visible wavelengths. Results imply that Dy‐silica glasses with P/Al > 1 may be a promising candidate for efficient visible fiber lasers operated at around 575 nm wavelength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Er3+ ions doped Sr9Y2W4O24 (SYW) phosphors have been synthesised using solid‐state reaction technique. For optical thermometry and solid state lighting applications, the crystal structure, morphological, and luminescence features of the SYW : Er3+ phosphors were explored. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) reveal that synthesized phosphors having single phase with a tetragonal crystal structure and I41/a space group. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the morphological behaviour and presence of composition elements. The optical bandgap of the phosphor was evaluated using UV‐Vis diffuse reflection spectra (DRS). The photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra were captured under 380 nm excitation, and the peak with the maximum intensity was identified at 563 nm ascribed to transition 4S3/2→4I15/2, that emits green color in visible region. The temperature dependent PL (TD‐PL) spectra show that SYW phosphor is substantially more thermally stable, having thermal activation energy of about 0.247 eV. Additionally, the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) was used to study the optical sensing characteristics of the thermal quenching transitions (2H11/2, 4S3/2) with maximum relative sensitivity (SR) and an absolute sensitivity (SA) being 1.33 % K−1and 0.307 % K−1, respectively. All of the aforementioned findings demonstrate that SYW : Er3+ ions doped phosphors have potential for optical thermometry and other photonic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erbium‐incorporated silicophosphate glasses are very desirable in principal sectors such as photonics, optoelectronics, lasers, and illuminating diodes. The focus of the current investigation has been on determining how the erbium dopant affects the optical, physical, and structural characteristics of the silicophosphate‐based glasses. The pure silicophosphate glasses and doped with various contents of erbium were prepared by the sol–gel process in this work. The noncrystalline character of the glasses synthesized was confirmed by the XRD patterns that were obtained. The optical measurement showed that the addition of trivalent erbium ions resulted in an increase in the refractive index of the samples and a decrease in their energy band gap values. It demonstrated the presence of P–O–P linkage stretching vibration modes that were both symmetrical and asymmetrical, P–O in PO4 bending vibration modes, OH group elongating and flexure vibrations, and P–O–H water absorption in glasses. The theoretical values of the optical basicity (Ʌth) increased from 0.465 to 0.472, while the values of the interaction parameter (A) decreased from 0.218 to 0.214 Å−3$$ {\overset{\ocirc }{\mathrm{A}}}^{-3} $$. Silicophosphate glasses doped with trivalent erbium ions show promise as optoelectronic and optical filter system materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spectral addressing of many individual rare‐earth dopants in optical resonators offers great potential for realizing distributed quantum information processors. To this end, it is required to understand and control the spectral properties of the emitters in micron‐scale devices. Here, erbium emitters are investigated in a Fabry–Perot resonator that contains a 10 µm thin membrane of crystalline yttrium orthosilicate that is co‐doped with europium. The co‐doping allows for tailoring the inhomogeneous distribution of the emitter frequency. With this approach, more than 360 spectrally resolved emitters are observed with Purcell factors exceeding 35, each of which constitutes an individually addressable qubit within the micron‐scale resonator. In addition to this spectral multiplexing, the optical coherence is preserved up to 0.62(3) ms under dynamical decoupling. Without decoupling, the coherence still reaches the lifetime limit for the emitters with the strongest Purcell enhancement that leads up to a 110‐fold lifetime reduction, down to 0.104(9) ms. Future work may combine this with long‐lived nuclear spin memories, which makes the investigated co‐doped membranes a promising platform for quantum repeaters and distributed quantum computers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports for the first time on a new layered magnetic heterometallic erbium telluride EuErCuTe3. Single crystals of the compound were obtained from the elements at 1120 K using CsI as a flux. The crystal structure of EuErCuTe3 was solved in the space group Cmcm (a = 4.3086(3) Å, b = 14.3093(9) Å, and c = 11.1957(7) Å) with the KZrCuS3 structure type. In the orthorhombic structure of erbium telluride, distorted octahedra ([ErTe6]9−) form two-dimensional layers ( E r (T e 1) 2 / 2 e (T e 2) 4 / 2 k − ) ∞ 2 , while distorted tetrahedra ([CuTe4]7−) form one-dimensionally connected substructures ( C u (T e 1) 2 / 2 e (T e 2) 2 / 1 t 5 − ∞ 1 ) along the [100] direction. The distorted octahedra and tetrahedra form parallel two-dimensional layers ( C u E r T e 3 2 − ∞ 2) between which Eu2+ ions are located in a trigonal-prismatic coordination environment ( E u T e 6 10 −) . The trigonal prisms are connected by faces, forming chains ( E u (T e 1) 2 / 2 (T e 2) 4 / 2 2 − ∞ 1 ) along the [100] direction. Regularities in the variations in structural parameters were established in the series of erbium chalcogenides (EuErCuCh3 with Ch = S, Se, and Te) and tellurides (EuLnCuTe3 with Ln = Gd, Er, and Lu). Ab-initio calculations of the crystal structure, phonon spectrum, and elastic properties of the compound EuErCuTe3 were performed. The types and wavenumbers of fundamental modes were determined, and the involvement of ions in the IR and Raman modes was assessed. The experimental Raman spectra were interpreted. The telluride EuErCuTe3 at temperatures below 4.2 K was ferrimagnetic, as were the sulfide and selenide derivatives (EuErCuCh3 with Ch = S and Se). Its experimental magnetic characteristics were close to the calculated ones. The decrease in the magnetic phase transition temperature in the series of the erbium chalcogenides was discovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a crucial energy-storing and energy-changing half-process in water splitting. It is critical to expand the availability of renewable energy reservoirs, and effective electrodes must be robust and possess a high level of catalytic activity. However, it is difficult to eliminate overpotential and improve the performance of OER. In this study, Erbium (Er)-doped samarium oxide (Sm 2 O 3) was synthesized by a facile co-precipitation technique. Using X-ray diffraction analysis, it was determined that a Sm 2 O 3 cubic structure was formed when sharp peaks were observed. Using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR spectroscopy) and scanning electron spectroscopy (SEM) pictures, the existence of Sm 2 O 3 crystals was detected and surface geometry was observed. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirm the successful Er doping in Sm 2 O 3. The OER activities of pure Sm 2 O 3 and Sm 2 O 3 coupled with Er were determined using electrochemical. In comparison to pure Sm 2 O 3 , a high amount of Er-doped Sm 2 O 3 possessed a low overpotential (365 mV for the OER) and a small Tafel slope (47 mV/dec). Consequently, OER became extremely active, metal oxide's structure and catalytic capabilities were altered by inclusion of rare earth metals. Erbium is an essential component when doped in Sm 2 O 3 that improves the performance of OER. Among all 2% Er doped Sm 2 O 3 is an excellent material for energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Er content on microstructures and mechanical properties of Er-doped CoCrNi medium entropy alloys (MEAs) were studied in this work. A series of Er-doped CoCrNi MEAs with 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, and 1.3 at.% Er was fabricated by high-vacuum arc melting. It was found that Er element addition led to the formation of Er-Ni riched hexagonal phase (CaCu5 type) precipitates embedded in the original FCC matrix. The volume fraction of the HCP phase increased with the increasing Er content. The grain size decreased from 18.1 to 5.1 µm as the Er content increased from 0 to 1.3 at.%. Both the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and Vickers hardness increased with the increasing Er content, while the ductility decreased. Compared to CoCrNi MEA, the UTS and Vickers hardness of (CoCrNi)98.7Er1.3 MEA increased from 878 to 1143 MPa and 212 to 263 HV, respectively. In addition, the nanoindentation measurements on different phases indicated that the HCP precipitates had a high hardness (~ 7.87 GPa), which was almost two times of that of the FCC matrix (~ 4.72 GPa). The strengthening mechanisms included solid-solution, grain refinement, and precipitation strengthenings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the generation of broadband noise-like pulses in an Er:Yb doped fiber laser with a tunable bandpass filter in the cavity. Benefit from the filter enhanced spectrum at shorter wavelengths and Raman effect assisted spectrum at longer wavelengths, an excellent flat spectrum with a 3 dB spectral width of 130.2 nm is obtained. This is different from previous traditional methods to achieve broadband noise-like pulses, and the results also represent the widest spectrum directly obtained in an erbium doped fiber laser without the use of any special fibers within the cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing highly tunable multifunctional performances in one ferroelectric system is in line with the integration trend of electronic equipment. Herein, rare earth erbium (Er) modulated 0.95K 0.5 Na 0.5 NbO 3 –0.05Bi(Li 0.5 Nb 0. 5)O 3 – x %Er photoluminescent–ferroelectric energy storage multifunctional ceramics are prepared. All the compositions exhibit a similar grain size and compact microstructure. In addition, the optimized Er dopant enhances the enhanced relaxor characteristic and reduces oxygen vacancies. The introduction of Er3+ into perovskite lattice contributes to the observed photoluminescence behavior. Therefore, high effective energy storage density (W rec) of 7.17 J/cm3, energy storage efficiency (η) of 65.4%, and strong green/red upconversion photoluminescence are obtained in x = 0.2 sample. This work opens up a paradigm to develop multifunctional ferroelectric ceramics for application in electro-optical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-entropy materials are one of the most studied topics in recent years due to the extraordinary properties they exhibit. High entropy oxide (HEO) is a group of materials that have been studied for different applications. However, the effects of HEOs on the radiation properties of glasses are not well known. In this study, the structural, radiation and neutron shielding properties of SiO 2 glass systems doped erbium oxide reinforced with refractory high entropy oxide (RHEO) with the formula TiMoNbTaWZrO 11 were investigated. RHEAs used in the study were produced and characterized in our laboratory. Then, they were added to the glass samples at different rates together with Erbium oxide. As a result of SEM-EDS and XRD analyses, it was determined that the additives were distributed very homogeneously on the glass. The composition of glass systems is [95SiO 2 +(5-x)Er 2 O 3 +x TiMoNbTaWZrO 11 ], where (x = 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 %, mol). The linear and mass attenuation coefficients (LAC and MAC), mean free path (MFP), half-value layer (HVL) and effective atomic numbers (Z eff) and effective electron density (N el) of the glass structures were experimentally measured at the energy region of 53.16–661.62 keV. Also, the equivalent dose rates due to fast neutrons absorption were measured by using an 241Am–Be fast neutron source. Exposure buildup factor (EBF) and fast neutron removal cross section (ΣR) were theoretically determined. The proton and alpha shielding parameters of glasses were calculated. It is observed that glasses containing higher amounts of refractory high entropy oxide, within the SiO 2 –Er 2 O 3 composition, demonstrated enhanced capabilities for shielding against radiation and neutrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fast and simple method for the synthesis of solid solutions based on erbium-doped yttrium oxide (Y1–xErx)2O3 was developed. The crystal structures of the samples were determined by x-ray diffraction methods. The compounds exhibited greenish-yellow upconversion emission upon IR laser excitation (980 nm). An increase in the erbium concentration in (Y1–xErx)2O3 caused a color change and a growth in the intensity of the upconversion luminescence. The maximum upconversion luminescence intensity was observed for the oxide with x = 0.05. A two-photon excitation mechanism was determined based on the dependence of the emission line intensities associated with 2H11/2/4S3/2 → 4I15/2 and 4F9/2 → 4I15/2 transitions on the pumping power. The absolute and relative sensitivities were calculated from the temperature dependences of the ratio of emission lines corresponding to transitions from thermally coupled excited 2H11/2 and 4S3/2 levels and showed the promise of the oxides as materials for noncontact temperature sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The luminescent properties of erbium(III)-doped fluorozirconate glass and fluorozirconate phosphate glass and glass ceramics containing NaPO3 were compared. The glasses were obtained by rapid melt quenching and were characterized using luminescence spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. When NaPO3 was added, the relative luminescence intensity of Er(III) in the near infrared (NIR) region doubled at 1530 nm (4I13/2 → 4I15/2 transition). The luminescence intensity of other bands in the visible and NIR regions decreased. Luminescence quantum yields and lifetimes of the studied samples were measured. The reasons for the change in luminescence intensity after addition of NaPO3 and heat treatment of the samples were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A possibility of using an industrially produced anionic surfactant, alkylbenzenesulfonic acid, for the precipitation and flotation extraction of neodymium(III), erbium(III), and thulium(III) ions is investigated. The influence of the concentration and ratio of the reacting components and the concentrations of sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide on the degree of precipitation of metal ions is considered. The composition of the resulting compounds is established and their conditional solubility products are calculated. Conditions for the flotation of metal ions with alkylbenzenesulfonic acid are optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete computational model of a low-mode ytterbium-erbium doped fiber amplifier, based on the numerical analysis of rate equations, was developed. In contrast to existing models, we considered the effects of the secondary energy transfer and the upconversion as well as the presence of isolated ytterbium ions and clustered erbium ions in the aggregate. In addition, the presence of several transverse modes and the effect of transverse spatial hole burning were took into account, too. Necessary parameters of the active medium were determined experimentally by measuring the luminescence decay of active ions and the output power and optical spectrum of a fiber amplifier. The proposed model allows one to calculate both the power and spectral characteristics of ytterbium-erbium doped fiber amplifiers, and the nonstationary dynamics of the population inversion and the luminescence of active ions. This can help one to select the required concentrations of active ions, the geometry and the length of active fibers for each specific task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The processes at platinum electrodes during the cathode polarization in an alcohol solution of erbium nitrate are discussed. The current density maxima on the cathode branch of voltammograms were found to correspond to the potentials of the hydrogen reduction reactions. The gel-like deposit Er(OH)x(NO3)y(С2Н5О)z·nH2O, x + y + z = 3, formed during the cathode treatment was shown to be not a product of the electron exchange between the cathode and the solution components. The following formation mechanism of the erbium-containing deposit has been suggested. First, the electrochemical process of the hydrogen cathode reduction is implemented. This process leads to the ionic unbalance and causes the alkalinization of the cathode space. This creates conditions for the chemical process of the gel-like erbium hydroxide formation, which is physically adsorbed on the cathode surface as a precipitate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This article aims to review the safety and efficacy of the Er:YAG laser in debonding dental accessories. Methods: This review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Articles published between 2010 and 2022 on the removal of dental accessories using erbium laser were searched. The selected articles were then classified according to the accessories used: adhesives, brackets, restorations, or implant crowns. Enamel surface roughness, shear bond strength, adhesive remnant index, duration time (t), pulp chamber temperature (T), morphology (M), and other variables were then noted. Results: The dental accessories and adhesives used were described along with the laser parameters used, such as frequency, pulse width, irradiation time, scanning mode, water-air cooling, and other variables. Conclusions: Laser removal using Er:YAG laser of dental accessories such as brackets, crowns, and veneers is fundamentally safe, time-saving, and does not cause damage to the enamel nor the underlying dentin. However, there was no distinct advantage with laser removal seen, such as those residual adhesives of brackets on the tooth surface and temporary adhesives of restorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ca9Y(VO4)7 phosphor activated with Er3+ ions have been developed by the urea-aided solution combustion technique. XRD profiles assisted with Rietveld refinement executed over-developed Er3+-activated Ca9Y(VO4)7 powder, revealed a trigonal phase with the R3c space group. The electron microscope techniques namely TEM and SEM characterize the size and surface-linked qualities of the developed nanopowder, respectively. The uniform distribution of various elements in the nanocrystalline sample is authenticated by an energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) system. The Eg (band gap) value of 3.64 eV for Ca9Y0.9Er0.1(VO4)7 and 3.74 eV for Ca9Y(VO4)7 has been estimated. Upon 382 nm excitation, Er3+: Ca9Y(VO4)7 phosphor gives rise to the bright green emission owing to the 4S3/2 → 4I15/2 transition. The concentration quenching after 10 mol% composition of trivalent erbium ions is attributed to dipole-dipole interlinkages in accordance with Dexter's theory. The radiative lifetime (1.1083 ms), non-radiative rates (0.2079 ms− 1), quantum efficiency (79%), along with colorimetric parameters i.e. CIE x (= 0.2577), y (= 0.4566), and CCT quantities offer Ca9Y0.9Er0.1(VO4)7 as a proficient green radiating nanomaterial for RGB phosphors in solid-state applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large core size and bending resistance are very important properties of mid-infrared energy transfer fibers, but large core sizes usually lead to the deterioration of bending properties. A negative-curvature nested node-free anti-resonant hollow-core fiber (AR-HCF) based on quartz is proposed. It was made by adding a nested layer to a previous AR-HCF design to provide an additional anti-resonance region while keeping the gap between adjacent tubes strictly correlated with the core diameter to produce a node-free structure. These features improve the fiber's bending resistance while achieving a larger core diameter. The simulation results show that the radial air–glass anti-resonant layer is increased by the introduction of the nested anti-resonant tube, and the weak interference overlap between the fiber core and the cladding mode is reduced, so the fiber core's limiting loss and sensitivity to bending are effectively reduced. When the capillary wall thickness t of the fiber is 0.71 μm, the core diameter D is 70 μm, the ratio of the inner diameter of the cladding capillary to the core diameter d/D is 0.62, the diameter of the nested tube is d0 = 29 μm, the fiber has a lower limiting loss at the wavelength of 2.79 μm, and the limiting loss is 3.28 × 10−4 dB/m. At the same time, the optimized structure also has good bending resistance. When the bending radius is 30 mm, the bending loss is only 4.72 × 10−2 dB/m. An anti-bending low-loss micro-structure hollow fiber with a bending radius of less than 30 mm was successfully achieved in the 2.79 μm band. An anti-bending low-loss anti-resonant hollow-core fiber with this structure constitutes a reliable choice for the light guiding system of a 2.79 μm band Er, Cr: YSGG laser therapy instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of 0.2%Cr addition on the structure, phase composition, and mechanical properties of the novel cast and wrought Al-2.5Zn-2.5Mg-2.5Cu-0.2Zr-Er(Y) alloys were investigated in detail. Chromium is distributed between primary crystals (5.7–6.8%) of the intermetallic phase and the aluminum solid solution (0.2%) (Al). The primary crystals contain for the main part Cr, Ti, Er(Y). The experimental phase composition is in good correlation with the thermodynamic computation data. The micron-sized solidification origin phases (Al8Cu4Er(or Y) and Mg2Si) and supersaturated (Al) with nano-sized Al3(Zr,Ti) and E (Al18Mg3Cr2) precipitates are presented in the microstructure of the novel alloys after solution treatment. The nucleation of η (MgZn2) (0.5%), S (Al2CuMg) (0.4%), and T (Al,Zn,Mg,Cu) (8.8%) phase precipitates at 180 °C, providing the achievement of a maximum hardness of 135 HV in the Al2.5Zn2.5Mg2.5CuYCr alloy. The corrosion potential of the novel alloy is similar to the Ecor of the referenced alloy, but the corrosion current density (0.68–0.98 µA/sm2) is still significantly lower due to the formation of E (Al18Mg3Cr2) precipitates and S phase precipitates of the aging origin, in addition to the T phase. The formation of E (Al18Mg3Cr2) precipitates under the solution treatment provides a lower proportion of recrystallized grains (2.5–5% vs. 22.4–25.1%) and higher hardness (110 HV vs. 85–95 HV) in the Cr-rich alloys compared to the referenced alloys. Solution treated, hot and cold rolled, recrystallized, water quenched and aged at 210 °C alloys demonstrate an excellent microstructure stability and tensile properties: YS = 299–300 MPa, UTS = 406–414 MPa, and El. = 9–12.3%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a graphene–metal metasurface with bound states in the continuum (BICs) for the enhancement of terahertz (THz) third-harmonic generation (THG). With the adjustment of graphene Fermi level, the parameter-tuned BICs produced by the graphene–metal metasurface can make the transition to distinct quasi-BICs. It enables strong confinement of the localized field in monolayer graphene. By exploiting the large third-order nonlinearity of graphene, the efficient THG process at the quasi-BICs can be boosted under low pump threshold. With the 50 kW/cm2 of fundamental THz incidence, a THG conversion efficiency as high as ∼3% is achievable at the quasi-BICs regime. This renders the BIC metasurfaces very attractive for THz nonlinear photonics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study addresses the effect of 1580 and 1590 alloys cold rolled strip annealing practices on the alloys’ grain structure and mechanical properties. The 1590 alloy differs from the 1580 alloy by hafnium and erbium additions. Samples of such alloys were produced by casting into a steel mold. After that they were homogenized during 4 h at 440°С. Then the samples were hot rolled at 440°С, with further cold rolling to 2 mm, with the cumulative percentage reduction equal to 66%. The cold rolled strip was annealed at the temperature ranging from 330 to 440°С with 1 h soaking. The sizes and morphology of Al3Sc strengthening nanoparticles were examined in homogenized condition using transmission microscopy. The mechanical properties and grain structure were defined in cold rolled and annealed conditions. During homogenizing annealing in the 1590 alloy finer strengthening nanoparticles are formed compared to the 1580 alloy. Such features of the microstructure can be explained by the presence of erbium, promoting formation of additional Al3Sc-type nanoparticles nuclei, and hafnium, preventing their further growth. Non-recrystallized structure was identified in both alloys after cold rolling and final annealing. The 1590 alloy has better mechanical properties, regardless of the annealing temperature, which is explained by a larger portion and smaller size of strengthening nanoparticles.