General English understanding problem in a scientific (physics) article

Question

Hello,I am translating a scientific article about thin films (I made a lot of research but I am no specialist) and I am not sure I understand a couple of sentences that explain figures. It's not about terminology, but about understanding. Here are the sentences:"It also shows a dramatic increase in PL intensity on going from a dot diameter of 4.7 to 3.5nm."--&gt; Does it mean "...as dot diameter decreases from 4.7 to 3.5nm"?"PL (photoluminescent) results indicate quantum confines properties as evidences by the increase in the photoluminescent energy in PL experiments." --&gt; Does it mean that the increase in photoluminescent energy during PL experiments is a proof that there are effectivily quantum confinement properties? "There is a sharp decrease in the nanocrystal size distribution on reduction in layer thickness from 4.7 to 3.5nm." --&gt; Does it mean that there the nanocristal size distribution is decreasing dramatically as layer thickness is becoming thiner (from 4.7 to 3.5nm)?Can somebody confirm my proposals/give me the correct meaning? Thanks a lot in advance! It's an important post for me, so I'll come back (I mean I'm not just asking people to spend time on it not to come back and look at the answers ;-))

Feebs11 · Accepted Answer

AndreaiHello,

I am translating a scientific article about thin films (I made a lot of research but I am no specialist) and I am not sure I understand a couple of sentences that explain figures. It's not about terminology, but about understanding. Here are the sentences:

"It also shows a dramatic increase in PL intensity on going from a dot diameter of 4.7 to 3.5nm."--> Does it mean "...as dot diameter decreases from 4.7 to 3.5nm"? Yes

"PL (photoluminescent) results indicate [quantum-confined properties] as evidenced by the increase in the photoluminescent energy in PL experiments." --> Does it mean that the increase in photoluminescent energy during PL experiments is a proof that there are effectivily quantum confinement properties? The writer is not stating that there is proof; he is saying that it is indicated - suggested.

"There is a sharp decrease in the nanocrystal size distribution on reduction in layer thickness from 4.7 to 3.5nm." --> Does it mean that there the nanocristal size distribution is decreasing dramatically as layer thickness is becoming thinner (from 4.7 to 3.5nm)? Yes

Can somebody confirm my proposals/give me the correct meaning? Thanks a lot in advance!
It's an important post for me, so I'll come back (I mean I'm not just asking people to spend time on it not to come back and look at the answers ;-))

Andreai · Answer

Thanks for your time, you really helped me!

Anonymous · Answer

Hey ! It's me again with further questions. Can you help me?

“Those data in Fig. 7 show tentative progress towards reasonable conduction, with a significant increase on passivation of defects by hydrogenation.”
--> What does "increse on" mean? Does it mean "increase of"?

“The small thicknesses (of layers) relax the requirements on carrier mobility within the films.”
--> Does this mean that the small thicknesses ease carrier mobility?

I stumbled on the word "mesas" like in "1 mm2 mesas were defined on the sample surface before contacts were applied."
--> I can't find a definition in the context of photovoltaics and thin films. Any idea of what it means?

Do you know the difference between "cross-sectional plane" and "crystal plane"? Is it the same "plane"?

i am correct when I understand that "bulk"means "volume" when it's alone (not like in "bulk semiconductor" for example)?

"So far, in such devices an incident photon is shifted in energy to a longer wavelength with the excess energy lost non-radiatively."
--> Can you explain "radiatively"?

Thanks!

Feebs11 · Answer

1: “Those data in Fig. 7 show tentative progress towards reasonable conduction, with a significant increase on passivation of defects by hydrogenation.” --> What does "increase on" mean? Does it mean "increase of"? From context, I would say yes.

2: “The small thicknesses (of layers) relax the requirements on carrier mobility within the films.” --> Does this mean that the small thicknesses ease carrier mobility? Yes

3: I stumbled on the word "mesas" like in "1 mm2 mesas were defined on the sample surface before contacts were applied." --> I can't find a definition in the context of photovoltaics and thin films. Any idea of what it means? It could be that this is using the concept of the geological "mesa" {a flat-topped elevation with cliff like sides}to describe a slight difference in the surface.

4: Do you know the difference between "cross-sectional plane" and "crystal plane"? Is it the same "plane"? A "crystal plane" = A distinct plane in a crystal lattice, specified by Miller indices. "Cross-sectional plane" = one that is taken across the sample.

5: Am I correct when I understand that "bulk"means "volume" when it's alone (not like in "bulk semiconductor" for example)? This is not easy to answer. It seems that "bulk" may have a special meaning in this context, relating to the resistance of the conduction.

"So far, in such devices an incident photon is shifted in energy to a longer wavelength with the excess energy lost non-radiatively." --> Can you explain "radiatively"? "radiative" means the process of emitting radiant energy OR energy that is emitted in the form of waves or particles. This phrase seems to say the energy is not lost as waves but in some other way.

Anonymous · Answer

OK, thanks for your answers!

General English understanding problem in a scientific (physics) article

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