Investigation of Nd2CuO4 crystal structure at high pressure by neutron diffraction

Abstract

The crystal structure of Nd₂CuO₄ has been studied by neutron diffraction at pressure up to 5 Gpa. The volume compressibility value was determined as 5·6·10^?3/Gpa. The decrease of positional parameter of neodymium at high pressure has been observed. This structural change is explained by pressure induced neodymium ions charge increase.     

Neutron optical study of the domain structure of ferromagnets

Neutron optical methods with high angular resolution have been used for determination of internal domain structure characteristics for bulk ferromagnets single and polycrystals. It has been found that several systems of domain boundaries coexist in the whole volume of single crystal multiaxial ferromagnets. The internal domain structure seems to be more stable than the surface pattern of closure domains.     

Study of matter at high pressure using small angle scattering and depolarization of neutrons

Abstract

The method of studying matter under high pressure using the measurement of the transmitted neutron beam is proposed. Method is based on the very small angle scattering and depolarization of neutrons combined with the anvil pressure technique. Test experiments have been carried out demonstrating feasibility of the method for studying phase transitions accompanied with the change of density or magnetization and equations of state. The obtainable pressure range of the method is discussed.     

Prostatic Zn determination for prostate cancer diagnosis

We present our studies of prostatic Zn concentration measurements, carried out in the light of a novel prostate cancer (CAP) diagnosis method proposed by us. The method is based on in vivo prostatic Zn mapping by XRF trans-rectal probe.

We report on the extensive clinical studies, intended to assess the validity of the novel proposed diagnostic method. Zn content was measured in vitro in needle-biopsy samples from several hundreds of patients, and was correlated with histological findings and other patient parameters. For this purpose, a technique of absolute Zn content determination in 1 mm³ fresh tissue samples by XRF was developed. The experimental details and the main clinical-evaluation results are presented.

We further outline the suggested design of the XRF trans-rectal probe for an efficient in vivo detection and mapping of the Zn fluorescence radiation from the prostate through the rectal wall. Laboratory phantom studies, a preliminary design concept and its expected performance are also reported.     

XRF study of archaeological and metallurgical material from an ancient copper-smelting site near Ein-Yahav, Israel

A movable XRF instrument (a bench-top designed machine modified to work in the field for archaeological purposes) was used for analysis of artifacts and sediments during the field study (01–07 April 2003) of a small copper-smelting site in the Negev (about 30 km west of the Feinan complex of ancient copper mines and smelting sites in Jordan). The site consists of a relatively small hill with blackened slopes, covered mainly by crushed copper slag. The surface collection of datable objects (i.e. pottery shards and stone tools) indicated that the site had functioned at the end of the Early Bronze Age and during the Roman/Byzantine time.

The analysis of Cu concentration in the ash and in the ground as well as the analysis of ore and slag, were used as markers for the identification of the operation centers and for locating the remains of the smelting devices used at the end of the Early Bronze Age for smelting copper. The ore in use typically contained 35–45% Cu, up to 1% Mn and up to several percent Fe. The slag contained 13–20% Mn and 1–5% Cu and Fe. From these results we are able to estimate the Cu production scale during the first and most active period on this site, at the end of the Early Bronze Age.