The Kinetics of Correlated Annealing of F, I Centres in KBr Crystals

Comparative ab initio calculations of SrTiO3 and CaTiO3 polar (111) surfaces

We present the results of calculations of SrTiO3 and CaTiO3 polar (111) surface relaxations, rumplings, energetics, optical band gaps, and charge distributions using the ab initio code CRYSTAL and a hybrid description of exchange and correlation. We have calculated the surface relaxation of the two possible terminations (Ti and SrO3 or CaO3) of the SrTiO3 and CaTiO3 (111) surfaces. According to our calculations, atoms of the first surface layer relax inwards for Ti-, SrO3-, and CaO3-terminated (111) surfaces of both materials. The only exception is outward relaxation of the SrO3-terminated SrTiO3 (111) surface upper layer Sr atom. For both Ti-terminated SrTiO3 and CaTiO3 (111) surfaces our …

First-principles calculations on surface hydroxyl impurities in BaF2

Abstract OH − impurities located near the (1 1 1) BaF 2 surface have been studied by using density functional theory (DFT) with hybrid exchange potentials, namely DFT-B3PW. Twenty surface OH − configurations were studied, and the hydroxyls located on the first surface layer are the energetically most favorable configurations. For the (1 1 1) BaF 2 surface atomic layers, the surface hydroxyls lead to a remarkable XY -translation and a dilating effect in the Z -direction, overcoming the surface shrinking effect in the perfect slab. Bond population analysis shows that the surface effect strengthens the covalency of surface OH − impurities. The studies on band structures and density of states (…

Ab initiocalculations of theFcenters in MgF2bulk and on the (001) surface

We present and discuss the results of atomic and electronic structure calculations of the F centers in MgF2 bulk and on the (001) surface. The calculations are based on the B3PW Hartree–Fock and density functional theory hybrid exchange-correlation functional. Most of the electronic density of a missing fluorine ion is localized in the bulk vacancy and a little bit less—in a surface vacancy. It is shown that the electronic F center is a deep donor. The lattice distortion and defect formation energy on the neutral (001) surface and in the bulk are also compared.

Ab initio Calculations of Bulk and (001) Surface F-centers in ABO3 Perovskites

We analyzed systematic trends in BaTiO 3, SrTiO 3 , PbZrO 3 and SrZrO 3 bulk as well as very rarely performed (001) surface F-center ab initio calculations. The nearest neighbor atomic displacements around the bulk F-center in the ABO 3 perovskites are considerably smaller than the relevant neighbor atomic displacements around the (001) surface $F$ -centers. The $F$ -center electrons are more delocalized for the ABO 3 perovskite (001) surface $F$ -center than for the bulk $F$ -center. Our calculated formation energy differences between the BaTiO 3 , SrTiO 3 , PbZrO 3 and SrZrO 3 bulk and its (001) surface $F$ -centers triggers the $F$ -center segregation from the bulk crystal towards the AB…

Ab initio calculations of MgF2 (001) and (011) surface structure

We present the results of calculations of surface relaxations, rumplings, and charge distribution for the MgF2 (0 0 1) and (0 1 1) surfaces using ab initio code Crystal-2003 and the hybrid exchange-correlation B3PW functional. These two neutral and polar surfaces show very small relaxation and negligible increase of covalent contribution to the chemical bonding thus remaining considerably ionic. The calculated bulk optical band gap is in a good agreement with the experimental value, whereas optical band gap for the polar (0 1 1) surface is reduced by 0.6 eV compared with the calculated bulk value, in contrast to the (0 0 1) surface gap which remains very close to the bulk.

Semi-empirical calculations of the Nb-ion positions in doped crystals

The atomic and electronic structures of Nb impurities in doped perovskite KTaO3 crystals are calculated using the semi-empirical quantum chemical method of the intermediate neglect of the differential overlap (INDO) and a supercell model. When seven Ta ions are replaced by seven Nb ions, the latter clearly demonstrate self-ordering effects which are related to the experimentally observed impurity-induced phase transition. A single Nb impurity reveals an off-centre displacement which is very close to that found in XAFS experiments. The relevant energy gain is very small, approximately 0.0375 eV, which is much smaller than the Nb-clustering energy gain (0.12 eV). These results led us to the c…

Ab initio calculations of the atomic and electronic structure of MgF2 (011) and (111) surfaces

Abstract The results of ab initio slab calculations of surface relaxations, rumplings and charge distribution for the different terminations of the MgF2 (011) and (111) polar surfaces are presented and discussed. We have employed the computer code CRYSTAL with the Gaussian basis set and the hybrid B3PW exchange-correlation functional. Despite the ionic nature of the chemical bonding at both surfaces, a considerable decrease of the optical band gap is predicted (1.3 eV or 10%) for the (111) surface as compared to the bulk.

Kinetics of correlated annealing of radiation defects in alkali halide crystals

Abstract Kinetics of the correlated annealing of pairs of neutral (F-H) Frenkel defects in the KBr crystal is treated theoretically, taking into account defect diffusion, and annihilation at short distances stimulated by an elastic interaction. It is shown that an elastic interaction affects the annealing kinetics and the survival probability of close geminate detects considerably. The widespread description of the correlated annealing in terms of a first-order reaction fails for close defects yielding effective energies which in fact differ essentially from an activation energy of diffusion. Ea, even if it is corrected by an interaction energy. The effect of the initial distribution of def…

Short-lived luminescence of mixed silver halides

Abstract Two kinds of excitonic luminescence were investigated for the entire series of solid solutions, AgBr1−xClx, (0 ⪕ x ⪕ 1). The time-resolved spectra observed around 2.5 eV after both pulsed high-power electron beam and N2-laser irradiations are analyzed in terms of the diffusion-controlled recombination of Frenkel defects Ag0i and Ag2+V-c. It is shown that the effective activation energy of Ag0i migration is a linear function of the composition x; and predominantly two kinds of nearest neighbours contribute to this process. The position of maximum of the excitonic molecule luminescence found in mixed monocrystals and fibers reveals a distinctive dependence on the composition x. Its a…

A comparative study of the atomic and electronic structure of F centers in ferroelectric KNbO3: Ab initio and semi-empirical calculations

Abstract The linear muffin-tin-orbital method combined with density functional theory (in a local density approximation) and the semi-empirical method of the intermediate neglect of the differential overlap (INDO) based on the Hartree-Fock formalism are used for the supercell study of the F centers (O vacancy with two electrons) in cubic and orthorhombic ferroelectric KNbO3 crystals. The two electrons are found to be considerably delocalized even in the ground state of the defect. Their wave functions extend over the two Nb atoms closest to the O vacancy and over other nearby atoms. Thus, the F center in KNbO3 resembles much more electron defects in the partly covalent SiO2 crystal (the so-…

<title>Computer modeling of point defects, polarons, excitons, and surfaces in perovskite ferroelectrics</title>

We review results of our recent large-scale computer simulations of point defects, excitons and polarons in ABO3 perovskite crystals, focusing mostly on KNbO3 and KTaO3 as representative examples. We have calculated the atomic and electronic structure of defects, their optical absorption and defect-induced electron density redistribution. The majority of results are obtained using the quantum chemical method of the intermediate neglect of differential overlap (INDO) based on the Hartree-Frock formalism. The main findings are compared with results of ab initio Density Functional Theory (FP-LMTO) first-principles calculations. The results of the electronic structure calculations for different…

<title>Large-scale first-principles calculations of Fe-doped SrTiO<formula><inf><roman>3</roman></inf></formula></title>

The energy level positions in the optical gap and atomic geometry for the Fe4+ impurity substituting for a host Ti atom in SrTiO3 are calculated using the Unrestricted Hartree-Fock (UHF) method and supercells containing up to 320 atoms. In agreement with experiment, the high spin (S = 2) state is much lower in energy than the zero-spin state. The energy level positions strongly depend on the asymmetric displacements of six nearest O ions which is a combination of the Jahn-Teller and breathing modes. A considerable covalent bonding between the Fe ion and four nearest O ions takes place. We predict a strong dependence of optical absorption energies on the crystal compression or internal tensi…

Semi-empirical defect calculations for the perovskite KNbO3

A new parametrization of the classical shell model for the cubic phase of the perovskite KNbO3 has been derived and used to calculate the structural, elastic and dielectric properties of this material. Using this parametrization, the defect formation and migration energies, as well as atomic displacements, have been calculated. In parallel, the quantum mechanical method of the intermediate neglect of the differential overlap (INDO) has been applied to the same problem. The migration energies for the O vacancy obtained by these quite different methods are reasonably close (0.68 eV and 0.79 eV, respectively) and also agree with the only experimental estimate available of approximately 1 eV. A…

Ab Initio Calculations of SrTiO3 (111) Surfaces

The paper presents the results of calculations of SrTiO3 polar (111) surface relaxations and energetics using the ab initio code CRYSTAL and a hybrid description of exchange and correlation. Using a hybrid B3LYP approach, the surface relaxation has been calculated for the two possible Ti and SrO3 SrTiO3 (111) surface terminations. For both Ti and SrO3-terminated SrTiO3 (111) surfaces upper layer atoms, with the sole exception of SrO3-terminated surface Sr atom, relax inwards. The calculated surface relaxation energy for Ti-terminated SrTiO3 (111) surface is almost five times larger, than the surface relaxation energy for SrO3-terminated SrTiO3 (111) surface. The surface energy for Ti-termin…

Self-Ordered Second-Component Nb Clusters in KNbxTa1?xO3 Solid Solutions and Their Physical Properties

Semi-empirical Hartree-Fock calculations using the intermediate neglect of the differential overlap (INDO) method, for self-ordered cubic symmetry clusters of seven Nb ions in KTaO 3 are performed with the aim of verifying the cluster model [1] of second component-induced phase transitions in ferroelectric perovskite matrices. It is shown that a seven-particle cluster in KTaO 3 :Nb has two types of states with different nature. Namely, a state with a dilatation combined with an off-center displacement of the central Nb ion in [111] directions in the cluster, and a state with a full-symmetric compression without any off-center effect. The consequences of such cluster structures on the multi-…

Theoretical and experimental study of primary radiation defects in KNbO3 perovskite crystals

Abstract The results of large-scale computer simulations of point defects – F-type electron centers and hole polarons bound to a potassium vacancy – in perovskite KNbO3 crystals are presented. One-site polarons and two-site (molecular) polarons are expected to coexist, both are characterized by close absorption energies around 1 eV. The transient absorption spectra and decay kinetics observed after ns-pulsed electron beam irradiation have been measured for different KNbO3 crystals. The relaxation kinetics of the optical density vary considerably for different impurity concentrations and sample stoichiometries. Experimental data are discussed in the light of the presented calculations.

First-principles simulations of H centers in CaF2

Abstract H center, a hole trapped at an interstitial anion site, placed in the bulk and the (1 1 1) surface of calcium fluoride CaF2, has been studied by using density functional theory (DFT) with hybrid exchange potentials, namely DFT-B3PW. The H center orients the (1 1 1) direction for the bulk case and the (1 0 0) direction for the surface case, and the hole is mainly localized on the interstitial fluorine. The surface H center leads to a remarkable XY-translation of the surface atoms. Spin and hyperfine coupling calculations show a considerable interaction between the unpaired spin and the spin of neighboring nuclei, and the surface effect strengthens the spin polarization and hyperfine…

Ab initio calculations for the F-center transfer and R centers in SrF2

We have simulated the F-center transfer and R center in SrF2 crystal by using density functional theory (DFT) with a hybrid B3PW description of exchange and correlation. Our calculations show that the F-center diffusion barrier is equal to 1.84 eV. During the F-center transfer, the trapped electron is more delocalized than that in the regular F-center case, and the gap between defect level and conduction bands (CB) in the a-spin state decreases. The formation energy calculations of R center show the trend of F centers to aggregate in SrF2. During the F-center aggregation, a considerable covalency forms between two neighboring fluorine vacancies with trapped electrons. Three incompletely pai…

Ab Initio Calculations of Hydroxyl Impurities in CaF2

OH– in CaF2 crystal and the (111) surface have been studied by using density functional theory (DFT) with hybrid exchange potentials, namely, DFT-B3PW. Three bulk and 20 surface OH– configurations ...

Ab initio calculations of Nb doped SrTiO3

We present and discuss the results of the large scale Hartree–Fock calculations of Nb impurities substituting for Ti ions in SrTiO3 using ab initio computer code CRYSTAL and several supercells containing up to 135 atoms. The local structure optimisation, the electronic charge redistribution, chemical bond covalence and the band-structure changes induced by the defect are analysed. According to the results of our calculations, Nb is a shallow donor; six nearest O ions are slightly displaced outwards from the Nb ion. The calculated bond population between nearest Ti and O ions (64 me) is much larger than that between Nb and O ions (8 me), since Nb impurity is more ionic than the host Ti.

Optical properties of silver halide fibres: ageing effects

The relation between the structure of fibres extruded from mixed silver halides and their IR optical losses and luminescence properties is studied. The recently established ageing effect of the considerable growth of mean grain size of the fibre's polycrystalline structure (typically from 20 to 1000 nm in two years) is correlated with IR and luminescence measurements. IR spectra measured in the interval show growth of the concentrations of molecular impurities. The luminescence measurements are used for the characterization of the fibre's structure ordering. The luminescence decay kinetics is analysed theoretically in terms of the diffusion-controlled recombination of spatially well-correla…