Spectroscopy of gadolinium gallium garnet crystals doped with Y b3 + revisited
The optical spectroscopy measurements of gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) crystals doped with Yb show evidence of the presence of non-equivalent optical centers with very similar radiative decay rates. The energy level schemes of those centers have been determined on the basis of optical absorption, luminescence and Raman experiments. Crystal field fitting resulted in two sets of slightly different crystal field parameters for two non-equivalent Yb centers. Both sets of parameters describe perfectly the experimentally detected Y b3 + energy levels. Correlation between systematic trends in the experimental energy level schemes and crystal field parameters is discussed.
Spectroscopy of Mn4+-doped Ca-substituted gadolinium gallium garnet.
The results of optical studies of Ca- and Mg-substituted Gd 3 Ga 5 O 12 garnets doped with Mn 4+ are reported. Multiple sites of Mn 4+ ions are revealed at liquid-helium temperature by laser excitation and emission spectra and analysis of decay kinetics. Use of different charge-compensating ions allows one to obtain information on the nature of some sites occupied by the Mn 4+ ions
The Intuitive Physics of the Equilibrium of the Lever and of the Hydraulic Pressures: Implications for the Teaching of Elementary Physics.
The research field of intuitive physics focuses on discrepancies between 
theoretical and intuitive physical knowledge. Consideration of these 
discrepancies can help in the teaching of elementary physics. However, 
evidence shows that theoretical and intuitive physical knowledge may also 
be congruent. Physics teaching could further benefit from understanding the 
reasons for this congruence. The present study explored these reasons by 
investigating the intuitive physics of the equilibrium of the lever and of the 
hydraulic pressures. It was found that the intuitive-physics law of the lever 
was multiplicative for all participants while the intuitive-physics law of the 
hydraulic pressures differed among participants. Since these laws are 
equally simple and the layman probably has had extensive experience with 
the lever and scarce or no experience with the hydraulic lift, these findings 
support the general hypothesis that physical laws and corresponding 
intuitive-physics laws are congruent when people have had experience with 
the respective phenomena. The results and theoretical considerations suggest 
two strategic principles for teaching elementary physics.