Application of solid state track recorders for neutron spectra measurements in a reactor irradiation facility

Abstract

In connection with the IAEA-neutron seed irradiation Programme, a standard neutron irradiation facility has been constructed. The application of solid state track recorders for fast neutron spectra measurements inside this facility is discussed. Fissionable targets of ²³⁵U, ²³⁹Pu, ²³⁷Np, ²³⁸W and ²³²Th will be used, an approximative solution for the incident neutron spectrum will be obtained by a five-group method.     

The infrared spectrum of NH3-dn trapped in solid neon

The infrared spectra of normal and deuterium-enriched Ne:NH₃=1600:1 deposits at 4.3 K have been observed, and the structure associated with almost all of the vibrational fundamentals has been assigned. Although the most prominent absorptions arise from the ground-state J=0 level(s), incomplete nuclear-spin equilibration enhances the contribution of absorptions arising from the ground-state J=1 levels. As had been proposed in an earlier study, the inversion splitting for the ν₂ fundamental is appreciably reduced from that observed for the gas-phase molecule, and the rotational structure associated with the J=1 levels of the vibrationally excited molecule is somewhat perturbed. Ammonia is trapped in two different types of site in solid neon. Matrix shifts from the corresponding gas-phase absorptions amount to only a few cm⁻¹, and are smaller than those previously reported for ammonia trapped in an argon matrix.     

Flame structure studies of rich ethylene-oxygen-argon mixtures doped with CO2, or with NH3, or with H2O

Structures of several premixed ethylene-oxygen-argon rich flat flames burning at 50 mbar have been established by using molecular beam mass spectrometry in order to investigate the effect of CO₂, or NH₃, or H₂O addition on species concentration profiles. The aim of this study is to examine the eventual changes of profiles of detected hydrocarbon intermediates which could be considered as soot precursors (C₂H₂, C₄H₂, C₅H₄, C₅H₆, C₆H₂, C₆H₄, C₆H₆, C₇H₈, C₆H₆O, C₈H₆, C₈H₈, C₉H₈ and C₁₀H₈). The comparative study has been achieved on four flames with an equivalence ratio (f) of 2.50: one without any additive (F2.50), one with 15% of CO₂ replacing the same quantity of argon (F2.50C), one with 3.3% of NH₃ in partial replacement of argon (F2.50N) and one with 13% of H₂O in replacement of the same quantity of argon (F2.50H). The four flat flames have similar final flame temperatures (1800 K).CO₂, or NH₃, or H₂O addition to the fresh gas inlet causes a shift downstream of the flame front and thus flame inhibition. Endothermic processes CO₂ + H = CO + OH and H₂O + H = H₂ + OH are responsible of the reduction of the hydrocarbon intermediates in the CO₂ and H₂O added flames through the supplementary formation of hydroxyl radicals. It has been demonstrated that such processes begin to play at the end of the flame front and becomes more efficient in the burnt gases region.The replacement of some Ar by NH₃ is responsible only for a slight decrease of the maximum mole fraction of C₂H₂, but NH₃ becomes much more efficient for C₄H₂ and C₅ to C₁₀ species. Moreover, the efficiency of NH₃ as a reducing agent of C₅ to C₁₀ intermediates is larger than that of CO₂ and H₂O for equal quantities added.     

Al2O3-Y2O3-ZrO2三相复合陶瓷的介电谱研究

采用传统的固相反应法,在1400–1500 ℃下烧结,制备得到Al₂O₃-Y₂O₃-ZrO₂三相复合陶瓷.样品的结构、形貌和电性能分别用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)及介电谱表征.XRD表明此三相复合体系无其他杂相,加入Y₂O₃及ZrO₂后使得Al₂O₃成瓷温度降低;SEM表明此体系晶粒直径为200–500 nm,并且样品随烧结温度的升高而变得更加致密,晶界更加清晰;介电损耗谱中出现峰值弛豫现象,根据Cole-Cole复阻抗谱得出其为非德拜弛豫. 关键词： 2O₃-Y₂O₃-ZrO₂三相陶瓷')" href="#">Al₂O₃-Y₂O₃-ZrO₂三相陶瓷 介电弛豫 阻抗谱 热导率     

Ion implantation effects in glasses

Abstract

Ion implantation can be used to introduce network damage and to alter the chemical composition in glasses. Structural changes can be inferred from IR measurements near 1000 cm^?1 and by optical absorption near 2150 Å. Implantation-induced damage decreases the implanted volume in fused silica with consequent changes in the refractive index, the near-surface hardness, and the tensile surface stress. Prior work in these areas is reviewed. Implantation into alkali silicate glasses depletes the alkali content in the implanted region. These changes allow preferential surface crystallization in Li₂O-2SiO₂ glasses. Crystallization of amorphous SiO2 can be induced by implantation of Li. Insight into the crystallization process is obtained by following the associated ion movement by elastic recoil detection (ERD) and optical techniques. Implantation of 20keV H shows that saturation of implanted H-sites in fused silica occurs at about 2.2 × 10²¹ H/cm³ in agreement with free volume estimates of the maximum number of available interstitial sites. Details of H and D interactions in fused silica were studied as a function of fluence and temperature. Results are of interest in studies of corrosion in glasses considered for nuclear waste encapsulation and for components in fusion reactors.

IV Summary     

Fiber Optic Spectrophotometer for Noninvasive Transmission and Diffuse Reflection Studies

We describe the construction of a simple but versatile single-beam spectrophotometer that uses no sample holder at all; one arm of a bifurcated fiber optic bundle illuminates the specimen, while the other receives the remitted light. Though designed with an eye to recording the diffuse reflection spectra of scattering-and-absorbing substances, it can also be used for conventional studies (ie transmission spectroscopy) by merely placing a plane mirror behind the cuvette. The performance of the instrument is evaluated and representative spectra of several powders, solutions, and biomaterials are presented.     

New experimental measurements and theoretical analysis of the collision-induced absorption in N2-H2 pairs

We present new experimental data on the collision-induced fundamental absorption in N₂-H₂ mixtures at room temperature and at low enough pressures so that the binary contribution is dominant. Previous measurements have been made at pressures where the ternary and possibly higher absorption coefficients are significant, and this makes it difficult to obtain accurate values for the binary absorption enhancement coefficient. To obtain the enhancement spectrum from the measurements of the mixture, it is necessary to subtract out both the spectra of pure H₂ and N₂, along with some CO₂ impurities thus increasing the experimental uncertainty. Nevertheless, we obtain a value for the integrated intensity of 1.15×10⁻⁴ cm⁻² amagat⁻² that is in good agreement with the previous value of 1.38×10⁻⁴. We also discuss how one can scale this result to high temperatures for application to brown dwarf or methane dwarf atmospheres.     

对流作用下枝晶形貌演化的数值模拟和实验研究

合金凝固过程中存在于枝晶尖端液相区的强制对流和自然对流均能改变溶质扩散层厚度,从而会对枝晶形貌产生较大影响.在元胞自动机模型基础上,耦合液体流动方程、热传导方程和溶质对流扩散方程,建立了新的计算微观组织演化的数值模型,并利用该模型研究了强制对流和自然对流对枝晶生长的影响.三维数值模拟结果再现了强制对流作用下等轴枝晶的生长过程,揭示了强制对流对枝晶生长速率和尖端半径的影响特点.同时利用该模型模拟了NH₄Cl-H₂O溶液定向凝固过程中自然对流对柱状晶生长的影响,并采用相应的实验进行验证.模拟结果与实验结果符合良好,从而证明该模型是可靠的,可推广到实际合金系中. 关键词： 元胞自动机 对流 4Cl-H₂O溶液')" href="#">NH₄Cl-H₂O溶液 定向凝固     

The effects of thermal annealing in NH3 -ambient on the p-type ZnO films

Thermal annealing in NH₃-ambient was carried out to form p-type ZnO films. The properties were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Hall-effect measurement, photoluminescence (PL), and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Electron concentrations in ZnO films were in the range of 10¹⁵–10¹⁷/cm³ with thermal annealing in NH₃-ambient. The activation thermal annealing process was needed at 800 C under N₂-ambient to obtain p-type ZnO. The electrical properties of the p-type ZnO showed a hole concentration of 1.06×10¹⁶/cm³, a mobility of 15.8 cm²/V s, and a resistivity of 40.18 Ω cm. The N-doped ZnO films showed a strong photoluminescence peak at 3.306 eV at 13 K, which is closely related to neutral acceptor bound excitons of the p-type ZnO. The incorporation of nitrogen was confirmed in the SIMS spectra.     

A new high-pressure polymorph of Ti2O3: implication for high-pressure phase transition in sesquioxides

The post-corundum phase transition has been investigated in Ti₂O₃ on the basis of synchrotron X-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell and transmission electron microscopy. The new polymorph of Ti₂O₃ was found at about 19 GPa and 1850 K, and this phase was stable even at about 40 GPa. A new polymorph of Ti₂O₃ can be indexed on a Pnma orthorhombic cell, and the unit-cell parameters are a=7.6965 (19) Å, b=2.8009 (9) Å, c=7.9300 (23) Å, V=170.95 (15) Å³ at 19 GPa, and a=7.8240 (2) Å, b=2.8502 (1) Å, c=8.1209 (3) Å, V=181.10 (1) Å³ at ambient conditions. The Birch–Murnaghan equation of state yields K ₀=206 (3) GPa and K′₀=4 (fixed) for corundum phase, and K ₀=296 (4) GPa and K′₀=4 (fixed) for the post-corundum phase. The molar volume decreases by 12% across the phase transition at around 20 GPa. The structural identification was carried out on a recovered sample by the Rietveld method, and a new polymorph of Ti₂O₃ can be identified as Th₂S₃-type rather than U₂S₃-type structure. The transition from corundum-type to Th₂S₃-type structure accompanies the drastic change of the form of polyhedron: from TiO₆ octahedron in the corundum-type to TiO₇ polyhedron in the Th₂S₃-type structures.     

Computational study on mechanisms and pathways of the atmospheric NH2 + IO reaction

ABSTRACT

The potential-energy surfaces of the amino radical (NH₂) with IO reaction have been studied at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ//MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level. Two kinds of pathways are revealed, namely H-abstraction and addition/elimination. Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus theory and transition state theory are employed to calculate the overall and individual rate constants over a wide range of temperatures and pressures. It is predicted that, at atmospheric pressure with N2 as bath gas, the formation of P1 (HI?+?HNO) is the dominant pathways at 200–700?K, while the direct H-abstraction leading to P3 (³NH?+?HOI) takes over the reaction at a temperature above 700?K. At the high-pressure limit, IM1 [IONH₂] formed by collisional stabilisation is dominant at 200–700?K; the direct H-abstraction resulting in P3 (³NH?+?HOI) plays an important role at higher temperatures. However, the total rate constants are independence on the pressure; however, the individual rate constants are sensitive to pressure. The atmospheric lifetime of NH₂ in IO is around one week. TD-DFT computations imply that IM1 [IONH₂], IM1A [IONH₂′], IM2 [IN(H₂)O], IM3 [OINH₂], IM4 [HOINH], tra-IM5 [tra-HON(H)I] and cis-IM5 [cis-HON(H)I] will photolyze under the sunlight.     

Optimization of electromagnetic matching of carbonyl iron/BaTiO3 composites for microwave absorption

Microwave absorbing materials filled with BaTiO₃ and carbonyl iron (CI) particles with various weight fractions (BaTiO₃/CI particles=100/0 to 0/100) are investigated. The dielectric and magnetic properties of the absorbers can be tuned by changing the weight ratio of BaTiO₃/CI particles in the frequency range of 2-18 GHz. Numerical simulations are also performed to design a single-layer and double-layer absorber. The minimum reflection loss of the composite filled with 20 wt% BaTiO₃ and 60 wt% CI particles at 2.0 mm thickness can be reached to −42 dB at 4.1 GHz. With the weight ratio of CI particles in the composite increased, the microwave absorption peak shifted to the lower frequency region. By using a double-layer absorber structure, the microwave absorption performance of the absorber is enhanced. The result shows that the total thickness of the absorber can be reduced below 1.4 mm by using a matching layer filled with 50 wt% BaTiO₃, and an absorption layer filled with 60 wt% BaTiO₃ and 20 wt% CI particles, whereas the reflection loss below −10 dB can be obtained in the frequency range of 10.8-14.8 GHz and the minimum reflection loss of −59 dB can be obtained at 12.5 GHz.     

Stability of La2O3 and GeO2 passivated Ge surfaces during ALD of ZrO2 high-k dielectric

La₂O₃ grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) and thermally grown GeO₂ are used to establish effective electrical surface passivations on n-type (1 0 0)-Ge substrates for high-k ZrO₂ dielectrics, grown by ALD at 250 °C substrate temperature. The electrical characterization of MOS capacitors indicates an impact of the Ge-surface passivation on the interfacial trap density and the frequency dependent capacitance in the inversion regime. Lower interface trap densities can be obtained for GeO₂ based passivation even though a chemical decomposition of the oxidation states occur during the ALD of ZrO₂. As a consequence the formation of a ZrGeO_x compound inside the ZrO₂ matrix and a decline of the interfacial GeO₂ are observed. The La₂O₃ passivation provides a stable amorphous lanthanum germanate phase at the Ge interface but also traces of Zr germanate are indicated by X-ray-Photoelectron-Spectroscopy and Transmission-Electron-Microscopy.     

Heat generation ability in AC magnetic field of nano MgFe2O4-based ferrite powder prepared by bead milling

Nanosized MgFe₂O₄-based ferrite powder having heat generation ability in an AC magnetic field was prepared by bead milling and studied for thermal coagulation therapy applications. The crystal size and the particle size significantly decreased by bead milling. The heat generation ability in an AC magnetic field improved with the milling time, i.e. a decrease in crystal size. However, the heat generation ability decreased for excessively milled samples with crystal sizes of less than 5.5 nm. The highest heat ability (ΔT=34 °C) in the AC magnetic field (370 kHz, 1.77 kA/m) was obtained for fine MgFe₂O₄ powder having a ca. 6 nm crystal size (the samples were milled for 6-8 h using 0.1 mm ? beads). The heat generation of the samples was closely related to hysteresis loss, a B-H magnetic property. The reason for the high heat generation properties of the samples milled for 6-8 h using 0.1 mm ? beads was ascribed to the increase in hysteresis loss by the formation of a single domain. Moreover, the improvement in heating ability was obtained by calcination of the bead-milled sample at low temperature. In this case, the maximum heat generation (ΔT=41 °C) ability was obtained for a ca. 11 nm crystal size sample was prepared by crystal growth during the sample calcination. On the other hand, the ΔT value for Mg_0.5Ca_0.5Fe₂O₄ was synthesized using a reverse precipitation method decreased by bead milling.     

强冲击压缩下LiF，Al2O3和LiTaO3单晶的透光性

在二级轻气炮上，用高速电子相机扫描照相技术和改进的Mallory实验装置，对z切LiF，Al₂O₃(蓝宝石)和LiTaO₃单晶材料的冲击透光性进行了对比测量，并用黑密度计提取出动态图像定量化的光强对比度变化曲线.结果表明，LiF单晶在102 GPa压强下能够保持长时间的初始透光性不变，与公认的LiF具有优良的高压下透明性的认识一致.LiTaO₃单晶在实验压力(139GPa)下变成基本不透明.而Al_{关键词： 2}O₃')" href="#">Al₂O₃ LiF 3')" href="#">LiTaO₃ 光学透明性     

Phase behavior of pure and mixed systems at high pressure

Abstract

Our knowledge of intermolecular potentials, equations of state theories, and methods of handling chemical reactions are at a stage where one can perform rigorous calculations on pure and mixture systems at high pressures and temperatures.     

Magnetic characterization of Mn5SiB2 and Mn5Si3 phases

In this work the Mn₅Si₃ and Mn₅SiB₂ phases were produced via arc melting and heat treatment at 1000 °C for 50 h under argon. A detailed microstructure characterization indicated the formation of single-phase Mn₅Si₃ and near single-phase Mn₅SiB₂ microstructures. The magnetic behavior of the Mn₅Si₃ phase was investigated and the results are in agreement with previous data from the literature, which indicates the existence of two anti-ferromagnetic structures for temperatures below 98 K. The Mn₅SiB₂ phase shows a ferromagnetic behavior presenting a saturation magnetization M_s of about 5.35×10⁵ A/m (0.67 T) at room temperature and an estimated Curie temperature between 470 and 490 K. In addition, AC susceptibility data indicates no evidence of any other magnetic ordering in 4-300 K temperature range. The magnetization values are smaller than that calculated using the magnetic moment from previous literature NMR results. This result suggests a probable ferrimagnetic arrangement of the Mn moments.     

Effects of RE2O3 (RE = Tm, Sc, Yb) addition on the superconducting properties of ErBa2Cu3Oy

We investigated the effects of added Tm₂O₃, Sc₂O₃, and Yb₂O₃ on the superconducting properties of sintered Er123 samples. Tm₂O₃ addition caused the least T_c degradation, exhibiting a T_c above 90 K even for 17 vol% addition. Samples with added Sc₂O₃ maintained a T_c at above 90 K up to an addition of 7.2 vol%, while Yb₂O₃-containing samples showed a monotonic decrease in T_c with increased vol% of added Yb₂O₃. Tm₂O₃-containing samples exhibited a slight increase in J_c(0.1 T)/J_c(0) and had constant J_c values even for 17 vol% addition. XRD and SEM results indicate that the Tm₂O₃ is very stable in the superconducting matrix.     

Theoretical analysis of structure, thermodynamic properties, and optical properties of Ge-doped amorphous SiO2

Different stable geometric configurations of Ge doped amorphous SiO₂ (a-SiO₂) system, originating from one, two, or three Si atoms in various places of the a-SiO₂ substituted by Ge atoms randomly have been investigated using interatomic potentials in this work. The most stable structures have been identified and corresponding evolutional rules obtained. The structural growth pattern for Ge-doped a-SiO₂ system is that Ge atoms tend to spread far away from each other and keep away from the center. Furthermore, the thermodynamic properties including speci?c heat, Debye temperature, vibrational entropy, and so on are calculated from the structure with 16 Si atoms of the constructed a-SiO₂ cell replaced by Ge atoms and with the biggest Ge-Ge distance. It can be seen that entropy of Ge doped system with larger specific heat is higher than that of the pure system with smaller specific heat. At last, optical properties including optical absorption spectrum and electron energy loss function of nGe-doped a-SiO₂ (n=0-3, 8) system is also obtained.