Neutron scattering lengths of molten metals determined by gravity refractometry

Very accurate values of the coherent neutron scattering lengths of the heavy elements Bi and Pb are important quantities for the investigation of the electric interactions of neutrons with atoms. We performed, therefore, a series of experiments to determine accurate scattering lengths by means of neutron gravity refractometry on liquid mirrors of molten metals. The possible perturbations of the necessary reflection measurements have been discussed in details. After taking into account the uncertainties and corrections associated with observable pertubations we obtained the following values for bound atoms:b(Bi)=8.532±0.002 fm,b(Pb)=9.405±0.003 fm,b(Tl)=8.776±0.005 fm,b(Sn)=6.225±0.002 fm andb(Ga)=7.288±0.002 fm. These data are corrected for the local field effect occuring in the reflection on liquids. The recently reported results for the neutron's electric polarizability and the neutron-electron scattering length are supported by the Bi- and Pb-scattering length of this work.     

A new procedure for analysis of single-mode-fiber far-field data

A new procedure for analysis of far-field data on single-mode fibers is proposed; it allows one to obtain mode field diameters with reproducibility of ±0.05 μm or better and to reconstruct reliably and unambiguously the refractive-index profile even for dispersion-modified fibers with moderate requirements on dynamic range of the measurements.     

Relaxation phenomena in ensembles of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles

Collective magnetic behavior of CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles with diameters of 76, 16, 15 and 8 nm, respectively, prepared by different chemical methods has been investigated. Particle composition, size and structure have been characterized by inductive coupled plasma (ICP), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Basic magnetic properties have been determined from the temperature dependence of magnetization and magnetization isotherms measurements. The three samples exhibit characteristic of a superparamagnetic system with the presence of strong interparticle interactions. Magnetic relaxation phenomena have been examined via frequency-dependent ac susceptibility measurements and aging and memory effect experiments. For the particles coated with oleic acid, it has been demonstrated that the sample reveals all attributes of a super-spin glass (SSG) system with strong interparticle interactions.     

Determination of the Disperse Composition of a PbO Suspension Containing Aggregates of Particles of Lamellar Shape by the Laser-Polarimetry Method

The results of measurements of the scattering matrix at a wavelength of 0.63 μm in the range of scattering angles of 10°–155° are presented for an aqueous suspension of lead oxide containing particles of plate form and their aggregates of monomers with dimensions of ~5 nm. The results of the measurements are compared with the results of calculations for axially symmetric scatterers (ellipsoids of rotation, cylinders). It is shown that the presence of aggregates affects the scattering properties of such a medium. The results of reconstructing the distribution of particles of a disperse medium in sizes from the measurements data of the scattering matrix are presented. The reconstruction of the distributions was carried out by solving the problem of optimizing the sum of the squared deviations of the experimental and calculated values of matrix elements in the framework of the model of axially symmetric scatterers. It is shown that the distribution of particles by sizes is more accurately reconstructed by minimizing the sum of the squares of the deviations for the sum of the diagonal elements. The obtained distribution is compared with the distribution measured by the method of dynamic light scattering.     

Lattice expansion of niobium and tantalum due to dissolved hydrogen and deuterium

The volume change of niobium and tantalum due to interstitially dissolved hydrogen and deuterium has been determined by means of X-ray Bragg scattering. The volume increase in niobium is the same for hydrogen and deuterium $\text{δν=(0.174±0.005)Ω}$(Ω: atomic volume). A small isotope effect has been observed in the case of tantalum, $\text{Δν=(0.155±0.002) Ω}$ for hydrogen and $\text{Δν=(0.143±0.005)Ω}$ for deuterium.     

Interference in the ultracold neutron transmission through thin layers

At the time-of-flight spectrometer for ultracold neutrons (UCN) with energies below 10^?4 eV at the FRM, Munich, the perpendicular neutron transmission through carbon and gold films of thickness 450 to 800 Å was measured as a function of neutron velocity in the range 11≧v _z≧3.7 m/s. The transmission curves obtained show the expected interference patterns due to interference between the partial waves transmitted and reflected at the two surfaces. From these curves absolute values for the thickness and density could be obtained. From the UCN transmission through a 4.71 μm thick copper foil a value a_coh=7.5±0.15 F was derived for the nuclear scattering length of Cu.     

双层塑料靶丸的X射线相衬成像

 为对微聚焦X射线相衬成像技术应用于双层以及多层塑料靶丸成像和特征分析进行可行性研究,基于类同轴X射线成像技术,综合考虑成像放大倍数、分辨率和衬度等因素,选择合适的实验参数,成功获得了较为清晰的双层塑料靶丸X射线相衬成像照片;采用数字图像处理技术的图像分割手段,如拉普拉斯高斯边缘检测法等对所成像中靶丸边界特征进行分析处理,获得了双层靶丸内层厚度为（10.5±0.6） μm,外层厚度为（9.2±0.7） μm,靶丸外径为（273.3±1.0） μm等参数。     

SrTiO3基片的晶体质量及表面粗糙结构的X射线研究

用X射线双晶衍射摇摆曲线以及双晶X射线形貌对两个SrTiO₃基片的单晶质量进行了对比研究，并用X射线掠入射镜面反射及漫散射研究了它们的表面粗糙结构．结果表明，两个SrTiO₃基片中都存在镶嵌缺陷，其中一个样品的晶体质量相对较高．两个样品的表面粗糙结构相差很大，包括均方根粗糙度σ和横向相关长度ξ．σ分别为（0.5±0.1）和（1.3±0.1）nm，ξ分别为（1200±200）和（300±20）nm．样品的表面粗糙将增加Ｘ射线的漫散射强度而降低镜面反射的强度．晶体质 关键词：     

Planar dropsizing by elastic and fluorescence scattering in sprays too dense for phase Doppler measurement

An attempt was made to measure, non-intrusively, average droplet sizes in a dense cooling spray of water. The small droplet size and high number density presented severe problems to conventional nonintrusive measurement methodology with phase Doppler anemometry (PDA). A recently developed optical technique, with more promise for measurements in dense sprays, laser sheet dropsizing (LSD), was tried with more success. Sources of error were considered and the uncertainty of the drop sizes measured by LSD was estimated at ±7%, neglecting multiple scattering, dropsize distribution effects and the contributions of droplets at the edge of the laser beam. The greatest of the known contributions to uncertainty is the calibration of the technique against PDA. The greatest of the unknown contributions is likely to be multiple scattering in such dense sprays. Received: 1 March 2000 / Revised version: 25 May 2000 / Published online: 20 September 2000     

II–VI and II1−x Mn x VI semiconductor nanocrystals formed by the pressure cycle method

II–VI and II_1?x Mn _x VI nanocrystals were prepared by the pressure cycle method using the Paris–Edinburgh cell. The recovered samples are nanocrystals in the cubic phase zinc-blend (ZB) structure and were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering. Transmission electron micrographs show that these nanocrystals are nearly spherical with diameters ranging from 20 to 50 nm depending on the sample under investigation. The Raman scattering measurements confirm the existence of II–VI nanocrystals in the cubic phase (ZB). The magnetic properties of Cd_0.5Mn_0.5Te nanoparticles were found to vary with the particle size and were different from those observed for the Cd_0.5Mn_0.5Te bulk initial samples. The χ vs. T data show temperature hysteresis due to spin-glass form, which occurs at T _g=21 K, for both the bulk as well as for the recovered nanoparticle samples. The zero-field cooled and field-cooled χ vs. T curves for the nanoparticles showed a monotonous increase below T _g. Below ～21 K, the M vs. B curve for the recovered nanoparticle samples exhibited magnetic hysteresis, and this is attributed to a weak ferromagnetic contribution. This contribution is also observed in the χ(T) curves and is due to a large surface/volume ratio of the nanoparticles, which enhances the magnetic interaction.     

Domain state–dependent magnetic formation of Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanoparticles analyzed via magnetic resonance

Magnetic properties, arising from surface exchange and interparticle interactions of the Fe₃O₄ (magnetite) nanoparticles, were investigated in the temperature range of 5–300 and 120–300 K using vibrating sample magnetometer technique and electron spin resonance spectroscopy, respectively. The research was based on to figure out the origin of intraparticle interactions and the change of interparticle interactions in wide size range Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The analyses were done for samples having almost same particle size distributions. The average particle sizes were changed in between 30 ± 2 and 34 ± 2 nm. The observed magnetization values were demonstrated the mixture of single-domain size particles, exhibiting both single-domain (SD) and superparamagnetic (SPM) states. The symmetry of resonance curves changed according to the ratio of SD and SPM-stated particles in mixture under located temperature. The changes of anisotropy up to domain state were understood by freezing magnetic moment in glycerol matrix from room temperature to 120 K under 5-kG field. The shift of H _R values to higher magnetic fields and the more symmetric resonance spectrum proved the effect of anisotropy and interparticle interactions fields on magnetic behave. In addition, the origin of intra-interaction was exposed from Fe³⁺ centers and exchange coupling in between Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, and O⁻, and Fe³⁺ centers found from g factor (g).     

Effect of particle size of graphites on electrical conductivity of graphite/polymer composite

The effect of particle size of graphite particles on the dispersion state of graphite particles and electrical conductivity of graphite/low-density polyethylene (LDPE) composites is investigated. Graphite particles which have plate-like and spherical shapes and mean particle sizes of 2.1 to 82.6 μm are used. Scanning electron microscopy observation showed that graphite particles are not aggregated and ordered along the direction of mixing-roll in the polymer matrix. X-ray diffraction measurements show that crystallite size of the (110) plane of polyethylene crystal and the crystallinity are significantly affected by the particle size of graphite particles. These results were interpreted as due to the orientation of PE crystallites. The electrical conductivity of composites changes discontinuously at the critical volume fraction of particles, Ø_c. The Ø_c values given by the percolation equation increase with decreasing of the particle size of graphites. The plate-like graphite particles with a mean particle size of 2.1 μm could induce conductivity at Ø_c of 0.135. The values of Ø_c increased linearly with increasing of the mean particle sizes of the plate-like graphites. The value of Ø_c of spherical graphite particle is the largest value, 0.292, in all specimens.     

Using a wide-aperture argon ion beam to finish the outer surfaces of tubular samples

The effect ion-beam treatment with a wide-aperture beam of argon ions has on the outer surfaces of tubular samples is investigated. Samples are treated on the specialized KVK-10 installation. Experiments are performed for tubes 500 mm in length (Ø9.15 mm; wall thickness, 0.65 mm) made of E110 zirconium alloy that are used in the nuclear power industry as the shells of fuel elements. Analysis of the samples shows that surfaces can cleaned and polished via ion-beam treatment, and roughness R _a can be reduced from 2.0 ± 0.5 μm to 0.6 ± 0.1 μm.     

Size Measurement of Very Small Spherical Particles by Mie Scattering Imaging (MSI)

The Mie Scattering Imaging method (MSI) gathers out‐of‐focus images of dispersed spherical particles present in a laser light sheet and extracts the individual particle diameter from these images. The general idea of the method has been around for more than a decade and a number of papers has dealt with it over recent years. Our work focuses on small particle sizes from 20 μm down to 2 μm, a range which has not been tackled so far although it is of great importance in particle systems. We present an optical set‐up with a special arrangement of camera lenses that allows to work in this range. An evaluation algorithm based on correlation of the experimental optical information with theoretical Mie scattering was found to give the most accurate results for particle sizing. Besides accuracy measurements on solid spheres the versatility of the method is demonstrated by an example of transient droplet growth between 2–7 μm.     

The X-ray Debye temperature of CdTe

The X-ray Debye temperature of CdTe has been measured by diffraction on single crystal and on powder samples. From measurements in the temperature range 8 to 335 ?C the average values 140±3 K and 145±8 K were determined for single crystal and powder samples respectively. The value 141±5 K was obtained from angular measurements on powder samples at room temperature.     

Small-angle neutron scattering study of the nano-sized features in an oxide dispersion-strengthened Fe12Cr alloy

Small-angle neutron scattering experiments, along with positron lifetime measurements and transmission electron microscopy observations, were performed on samples of an oxide dispersion-strengthened (ODS) Fe12Cr alloy and its non-ODS counterpart in order to characterize their nano-sized features. The nuclear and magnetic scattering data were analysed using the maximum entropy approach for obtaining the size distribution of the scattering centres in these materials. The positron annihilation results and the TEM information have made possible an interpretation of the volume distribution of the scattering centres having sizes below ~16 nm and their proper quantitative analyses. The smaller scattering centres in the ODS alloy exhibit distributions with modal values at ~6–7 and 12–14 nm. The peak at ~6–7 nm appears to be due to the overlapping of more than one type of scattering centres, while the one at ~12–14 nm can be exclusively attributed to the Y-rich centres. The quantitative analysis of the magnetic scattering data yields a volume fraction and number density of the Y-rich particles estimated in 0.70?±?0.03% and 0.77 × 10²² m^?3, respectively.     

Investigation of the closed porosity of functional ceramic materials by spin-echo small-angle neutron scattering

The closed porous structure in ceramic materials is investigated by spin-echo small-angle neutron scattering. A series of ceramic samples of oxygen–ion conductors based on bismuth molybdate with the general formula Bi_12.8 X _0.2Mo₅O_{34 ± δ} (X = Mg, Ba, Ca, Sr) is obtained by powder sintering for 6?45 h at a temperature close to the melting point. The samples are characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray fluorescence analysis. It is found that they had a stoichiometric chemical composition, are singlephase, and contain clean pores between crystal grains. The pore size is determined by spin-echo small-angle neutron scattering and ranges from 2.2 to 3.5 μm. It is demonstrated that longer sintering times correspond to larger pores (the increase in their average diameter is as large as 30%). It is found that the studied materials lack a fractal pore structure.     

Gummic acid stabilized γ-Fe2O3 aqueous suspensions for biomedical applications

Biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles depend critically on their preparation as aqueous colloidal suspensions, or ferrofluids, with long term stability under physiological conditions. Dispersion of the magnetic nanoparticles is generally achieved by the use of protein cages, polysaccharide, polypeptide and charged macromolecular coatings, which minimize interparticle magnetic interactions, particle agglomeration and precipitation. The synthesis and characterization of gummic-acid stabilized maghemite ferrofluids is reported. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope and dynamic light scattering measurements give a γ-Fe₂O₃ magnetic core diameter of 8 nm and a nanocomposite particle hydrodynamic diameter of 50 nm. Mössbauer and magnetization measurements indicate the presence of isolated, sterically stabilized superparamagnetic nanoparticles resistant to aging, and thus, promising agents for the production of novel magneto-pharmaceuticals.     

基于辅助光学系统的KB显微镜瞄准方法

 研究了利用辅助可见光系统精确瞄准KB显微镜物点的方法。设计了工作能点8 keV的周期多层膜KB显微镜系统,通过光线追迹和X射线成像实验,得到5 μm空间分辨率所对应的视场和景深,进而计算出诊断实验对应的指向和景深要求。基于KB系统的物像关系和精度要求,设计了辅助的可见光成像系统,实现了可见光系统与X射线KB系统间的等效瞄准,利用耦合好的系统进行了瞄准和X射线成像实验。实验结果表明:辅助光路可以实现±20 μm的垂轴面和±300 μm的轴向定位精度,满足KB显微镜的瞄准要求。