Iraqi Journal of Physics

A model of the sensor nanochip based on germanium/silicon heterostructures (Ge/Si-heterostructures) with Ge quantum dots is suggested. Two-Quasimolecule Spectrum: Infrared radiation can sense the formation of a single exciton quasimolecule. Optical transitions of this state to higher-lying SIE levels lead to the emission of radiation in the infrared part of the spectrum, with the energy of the emitting radiation being ∼70 meV and its normalized intensity ∼0.11. Such a unique type of infrared light can be considered as a strong signature in detection of single exciton quasimolecules in Ge/Si heterostructures. The sensor nanochip model to be proposed would should lay the foundation for both the fundamentals and applications, and the process could lead to the next generation of high-efficient sensor nanochip. Its successful fabrication would open a way for high performance exciton optoelectronic devices, highly sensitive, miniaturized, and CMOS-based infrared detectors for the biomedical, environmental and communication applications.

This work systematically investigates sub-barrier fusion enhancement in oxygen-induced reactions, highlighting the novel roles of projectile structure and coupled-channel dynamics. We demonstrate that the agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental data is significantly enhanced by considering multipole vibrations, multi-phonon excitations, and neutron transfer with negative Q-values, utilizing the BW 91 and AW 95 potentials. Unlike previous studies, this work explains isotope-dependent sub-barrier fusion enhancement across different mass regions by combining BW 91 and AW 95 potentials with multi-phonon excitations and negative Q-value neutron transfer channels. For the systems 16,18O + 62Ni, 116Sn, and 208Pb, fusion excitation functions and barrier distributions are calculated using Wong's formula and a modified CCFULL code. The neutron excess in 18O facilitates specific negative Q-value neutron transfer channels, which contribute to lowering the fusion barrier and enhancing sub-barrier fusion. Barrier distribution analysis shows the crucial role of nuclear structure in determining the fusion probability landscape and serves as a benchmarking technique for assessing theoretical calculations. The 18O + 116Sn reaction resulted in a calculated cross-section value that was twice that of the 16O + 116Sn system. Similarly, the fusion cross-section of 18O + 208Pb is higher than that of 16O + 208Pb, and there is good agreement between the experimental peak and the corresponding barrier distribution as calculated by the three-point method. A similar rate was observed for the ¹⁸O projectile, leading to a broadening energy width of the barrier distribution in comparison with the findings from the ¹⁶O projectile.

This research studied the nuclear deformation of the 65Cu isotope by employing advanced shell model calculations alongside the Hartree-Fock approximation within the framework of the fp-shell model space. A detailed analysis of inelastic electron scattering was conducted, focusing on both the longitudinal and transverse form factors, as well as excitation energies. These calculations were performed using the shell model, incorporating elements of the one-body transition density matrix and leveraging the full fp-shell space to facilitate the JUN45 interaction. Various theoretical wave functions, including the harmonic oscillator (HO), Skyrme Hartree- Fock (SLy4), and Wood-Saxon (WS) potentials, were applied, and their results were meticulously compared with experimental data. Furthermore, the potential energy surfaces were explored as a function of quadrupole deformation parameters through the SLy5 parameterization within the Hartree-Fock approach. Notably, the shell model computations were executed using the NushellX@MSU code without imposing any constraints on the model space, offering a comprehensive and unconstrained insight into the nuclear structure dynamics of 65Cu. Finally, the calculated results were compared with the available experimental data.

To investigate the structural, electrical, and optical properties of a single layer of two-dimensional mercury selenide (HgSe), density functional theory is used for the analysis of the material. To ensure the monolayer's structural and thermal stability, it is of the utmost importance to ascertain the phonon frequency. Computer simulations based on first principles were used in order to investigate the structural lattice parameter, which is in good agreement with experimental results. The two-dimensional HgSe is dynamically stable according to the positive phonon frequencies. The 2D-HgSe has the semiconductor characteristic of a direct band gap of about 1.731 eV, located at the Γ point. The static dielectric constant is 1.34 for a semiconductor characteristic. The HgSe monolayer is a transparent material with a static refractive index of 1.16, besides an anti-reflective characteristic. The refractive index had a lowest value of 0.76 at high energy. 2D-HgSe has a UV optical absorption characteristic.

This research examines the electrical, optical, and structural properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) and tin(IV) oxide (ZnO)1-x (SnO2)x composite thin films made by pulsed laser deposition, as well as the impact of composition concentration. The structural study of (ZnO)1-x (SnO2)x composites and thin films was conducted by X-ray analysis (XRD). Optical properties were investigated by UV–Vis infrared spectroscopy. The structural analysis revealed that all prepared thin-film composites were polycrystalline, exhibiting both hexagonal wurtzite and tetragonal phases for pure ZnO and SnO2, as well as a mixture of both phases for x=0.2 and 0.4. In contrast, the SnO2 phase was predominant for x=0.6 and 0.8. The increase in crystal size in the (ZnO)1-x (SnO2)x composite thin films was observed at x = 0.4 and 1.0. The optical band gap of (ZnO)1-x (SnO2)x composites exhibited a distinct trend as the concentration of tin oxide increased. The average optical transmission ranges from 33% to 65% in the visible region. The maximum electrical conductivity of 1.13×102 (Ωcm)-1 was obtained in the film (ZnO)0.8 (SnO2)0.2. Based on our findings, thin-film solar cells and touchpad control panels could benefit from (ZnO)1-x (SnO2)x composite films due to their enhanced electrical and optical properties.

This work employs the green manufacturing of nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles using rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) extract as a bioreductant. The NiO nanoparticles were combined with recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) to generate a composite material. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to thoroughly examine the NiO/PET nanocomposite. AFM and SEM investigations confirmed NiO nanoparticles' homogeneous distribution and surface shape inside the rPET matrix. EDX validated the elemental composition, whereas XRD revealed information about the crystalline structure of the produced nanoparticles and the nanocomposite. TGA and DSC were used to examine thermal stability and breakdown behavior, demonstrating the NiO/rPET composite's improved thermal characteristics. The composite's anti-corrosion ability was also investigated, and it showed a considerable increase in corrosive resistance when compared to pure rPET. This work emphasizes the feasibility of employing green synthesis methods to produce metal oxide nanoparticles and their application in improving the characteristics of polymer composites, notably their anti-corrosion capabilities.

Solid biopolymer electrolytes (SBEs) consisting of a natural blend that is leak-proof, biodegradable, and flexible are widely studied. In this study, SBE was prepared using the solution casting technique, consisting of a fixed 50:50 ratio of chitosan to polyvinylpyrrolidone (CS: PVP) and varying weight percentages of potassium iodide (KI) at 7.5, 15, 22.5, 30, and 37.5 wt%. The samples were characterized using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and AC conductivity. FTIR analysis showed that the polymer blend of CS: PVP interacted with the potassium salt. The addition of KI was found to disrupt hydrogen bonding between the polymer chains, likely due to the polymer-salt interaction. Only one absorption peak was observed in the UV-Vis spectroscopy of the sample at around 315 nm. The conductivity went up as the amount of KI increased, reaching a value of 3 × 10⁻⁴ S.cm⁻¹ at room temperature for the CS: PVP blend with 37.

This article outlines the methodical process of manufacturing MWCNTs/SWCNTs-Ag and analyzing wideband photodetectors using a combination of electro-explosion techniques, direct mixing, and drop casting techniques. The microstructural, optical, electrical, and photo-responsive analyses of the fabricated layers were thoroughly investigated. The topographical study specifically showed that the diameter ranges from 58 to 82 nm for Ag-NPs. However, the optical spectra of the prominent layers revealed a broad absorption phenomenon along the 200–800 nm scanning wavelength. Simultaneously, the devices fabricated from SWCNTs/MWCNTs-Ag showed significant figures of merit as a function of wavelength and illumination power (365, 460, and 808 nm) in response to the applied bias voltage from 0 to 10 V. In detail, the values attained were 0.575 and 0.06 (A/W) under the 808 nm illumination wavelength for MWCNTs-Ag and SWCNTs-Ag, respectively. The figures of merit characteristics of the fabricated devices were found to be in positive linear correlation as a function of the applied wavelength.

The created copper selenide (Cu:Se) nanoparticles were used in experiments for detecting UV light and in gas sensors. This research prepared Cu:Se nanoparticles with different ratios of 1:9, 2:8, and 3:7 using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet technique. The study looked at the optical properties of Cu:Se nanoparticles using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, which showed that adding more Se made the crystals larger. UV–visible spectroscopy and the calculation of band gap energy were performed. All ratios yielded high transmission values, ranging from 80% to 95%. The band gap energy was found to be 3.80 eV, 3.25 eV, and 4.17 eV for the Cu:Se ratios of 1:9, 2:8, and 3:7, respectively, which are typical and excellent values for semiconductors. The prepared Cu:Se nanoparticles demonstrated good optical properties. The optical absorbance of Cu:Se NPs is in order in the wide region of λ = 200 to 350 nm, which is suitable for UV absorbance materials.

In this work, the correlation between plasma parameters induced by pulsed laser from copper-aluminium (Cu1-x:Alx) targets at varying ratios x = 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 and the characteristics of the ablated nanoparticles is studied, is investigated. The results show an increase in electron number density (ne) and plasma temperature (Te) with increasing pulsed laser energy and target ratio. The crystallite size of Cu and Al in the composite nanoparticles increased with plasma temperature from 12.4 to 17.4 nm, 13.7 to 19.1 nm, and 13.4 to 21.0 nm for Al crystallite, while it increased from 19.8 to 29.1 nm, 15.3 to 23.3 nm, and 12.3 to 18.6 nm for Cu crystallite in the x=0.3, 0.5, 0.7. The higher Te means more energy is transferred to the plasma, which enhances the ablation process. Increasing Te significantly increased the crystallite size of the generated nanoparticles, especially at the highest temperature. The created seed particles inside plasma may be heated by collisions with electrons, which act as a heating source during the growth of the clusters, enhancing crystallization. The crystallite size of Cu is more significant than that of Al at all laser energies for the targets from Cu0.7:Al0.3 and Cu0.5:Al0.5, and is opposite at the Cu0.3:Al0.7 sample. The difference in crystallite size between the two elements in the composite nanoparticles depends on their presence in the target and the pulsed laser energy, resulting from the differing capabilities of laser interaction with the other elements.

This study developed a plasma jet system using a power source that provides a high voltage of 10 kV and a total output power of 30 W. The system operates with three gases: air, nitrogen, and argon. The setup features a plasma torch placed within a steel tube with an internal diameter of 1.4 mm and a length of 5 cm. The research focused on the significance of gas temperature and plasma jet length, investigating how the type of gas and its flow rate influence these parameters. Electrical diagnostics were performed on the system using a high-voltage probe and a calibrated current probe with resistive measurements. The working gas temperature was found to be close to the ambient temperature across various flow rates. Nitrogen exhibited the highest temperature, measuring 22.8°C at a gas flow rate of 1 L/min and decreasing slightly to 22.6°C at 5 L/min. Air showed a relatively stable temperature, with 22.4°C at 1L/min and 22.3°C at 5 L/min. Argon had the lowest temperature, with 22.6°C at 1 L/min, decreasing to 21.8°C at 5 L/min. The plasma jet length varied by gas type, with argon producing the longest jet 5.6 cm, followed by air 4.1 cm and nitrogen 2.6 cm at a gas flow rate of 5 L/min. The jet length increased with higher gas flow rates for all three gases. The system operates with air, nitrogen, and argon, maintaining near-ambient temperatures, making it suitable for biological and medical applications like seed germination and wound sterilization.

Environmental contaminants have become a major worry for countries and communities worldwide. Greenhouse gases, such as CO₂ and CH₄, are among these pollutants that significantly contribute to the worsening of global warming. Deforestation, the conversion of agricultural land, and unsustainable human activities are some of the factors that have increased land use and exacerbated greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of this study is to carefully track and evaluate the pollutants and greenhouse gases produced by human activity at the Al-Daura Refinery between 2013 and 2023, with an emphasis on April and August. The Giovanni platform provided the data for this investigation, using cutting-edge satellite technology to record gas concentrations and emissions worldwide and offering real-time insights authorized by the UN Climate Monitoring Organization. We found a concerning tendency after analyzing this data in ArcGIS and applying Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) technology for predictive mapping:In contrast to 2013, the concentrations of SO₂, CO₂, and CH₄ soared in 2023, particularly in August. In April and August, the SO₂ gas concentrations rose from 457.01 to 458.59 and 452.04 to 459.93, respectively. For CO₂, the concentrations rose from 384.87 to 397.77 in April and from 390.62 to 416.07 in August. The concentrations of the gas rose, increasing from 6.488 to 8.34 in April and from 8.571 to 9.536 in August for CH₄ (2013-2023). This upward trend highlights the significant environmental impact of increased human activities at the Al-Doura refinery, emphasizing that it requires immediate attention and proactive measures to mitigate these harmful effects.

The image fusion technique was employed to generate a high-resolution image from a low-resolution one. A high scale was achieved by increasing the resolution of an image through interpolation, which relies on pixel neighbours. Multispectral images (low-resolution images with high resolution) from different satellites were utilized in this work for obtaining a high-resolution image. The crucial part of image fusion is image registration, which depends on obtaining a good high-resolution image. A scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) was utilized to receive control points with an affine transform. Correct control points are determined depending on the scale of the image (downscaling followed by upscaling), which is necessary for stabilizing match control points between images. Control points were identified using the SIFT algorithm, which utilizes distance and angle to determine the correct match points. A different scale image is used to detect and correspond to the correct control points between the two images, thereby speeding up the process. Also, image scaling with contrast stretching was utilized for preprocessing to stretch brightness to obtain high-quality image features. A morphological operation is applying post-processing to images (scale, contrast stretching, and radiometric operation). Final image fusion is obtained using the colour model (luminosity, hue, and saturation). A metric criterion, root mean square error (RMSE), with peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) is utilizing for determining the goodness of this process, which is used in image fusion.

The green method was chosen for the preparation of nano iron oxide due to its simplicity, ease of preparation, and purity, compared to other methods. Nano iron oxide was made using a substance that causes precipitation and a coating from the alcoholic extract of orange leaves from Iraq. It was examined structurally and spectrally using several techniques, including X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field-emission scanning microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The diagnosis proved that the nano iron oxide was successfully prepared in a spherical form and with an average size of 71.1 nm. The nano iron oxide particles were tested for their ability to remove crystal violet (CV) dye from an aqueous solution using the adsorption technique, achieving a removal percentage of 51% at 298K, with an adsorbent dose of 0.01 g, a contact time of 90 minutes, and an initial dye concentration of 11 mg/L. The adsorption process data were analyzed kinetically using kinetic models. It was found that the process follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, suggesting that the type of adsorption is chemical. The results indicate the potential use of nano iron oxide to protect the aquatic environment.

A model of the sensor nanochip based on germanium/silicon heterostructures (Ge/Si-heterostructures) with Ge quantum dots is suggested. Two-Quasimolecule Spectrum: Infrared radiation can sense the formation of a single exciton quasimolecule. Optical transitions of this state to higher-lying SIE levels lead to the emission of radiation in the infrared part of the spectrum, with the energy of the emitting radiation being ∼70 meV and its normalized intensity ∼0.11. Such a unique type of infrared light can be considered as a strong signature in detection of single exciton quasimolecules in Ge/Si heterostructures. The sensor nanochip model to be proposed would should lay the foundation for both the fundamentals and applications, and the process could lead to the next generation of high-efficient sensor nanochip. Its successful fabrication would open a way for high performance exciton optoelectronic devices, highly sensitive, miniaturized, and CMOS-based infrared detectors for the biomedical, environmental and communication applications.