Pyroelectric effect in layered magnetoelectric PZT/Ni–Zn ferrite composites

The electric response of layered 2-2 connectivity magnetoelectric composites to the action of a modulated heat flow, which is detected by a dynamic method, is studied. The kinetics of the pyroelectric response of the composite material to a pulsed thermal action is calculated. The experimental results and calculation data suggest that a modulated heat action induces a signal due to both the pyroelectric and piezoelectric effects. The latter effect is caused by the mechanical interaction of the layers of lead zirconate titanate ceramic and nickel–zinc (Ni–Zn) ferrite.     

Beta-decay strength measurement,total beta-decay energy determination,and dcay-scheme completeness testing by total absorption <Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis>-ray spectroscopy

Applications of total absorption γ-ray spectroscopy and its combination with high-resolution nuclear spectroscopy methods for measurements of a β-decay strength function S _β (E), determination of the total β-decay energy Q _β , and testing of decay-scheme completeness are presented.     

Transmutation of 129I, 237Np, 238Pu, 239Pu, and 241Am using neutrons produced in target-blanket system ‘Energy plus Transmutation’ by relativistic protons

Target-blanket facility ‘Energy + Transmutation’ was irradiated by proton beam extracted from the Nuclotron Accelerator in Laboratory of High Energies of Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia. Neutrons generated by the spallation reactions of 0.7, 1.0, 1.5 and 2 GeV protons and lead target interact with subcritical uranium blanket. In the neutron field outside the blanket, radioactive iodine, neptunium, plutonium and americium samples were irradiated and transmutation reaction yields (residual nuclei production yields) have been determined using γ-spectroscopy. Neutron field's energy distribution has also been studied using a set of threshold detectors. Results of transmutation studies of ¹²⁹I, ²³⁷Np, ²³⁸Pu, ²³⁹Pu and ²⁴¹Am are presented.      

A study of reaction rates of (n, f ) , (n, \gamma) and (n, 2n) reactions in natU and 232Th by the neutron fluence produced in the graphite set-up (GAMMA-3) irradiated by 2.33 GeV deuteron beam

Spallation neutrons produced in the collision of a 2.33GeV deuteron beam with a large lead target are moderated by a thick graphite block surrounding the target and used to activate the radioactive samples of ^natU and Th put at three different positions, identified as holes “a”, “b” and “c” in the graphite block. Rates of the (n, f), (n, $ \gamma$ and (n, 2n) reactions in the two samples are determined using the gamma spectrometry. The ratios of the experimental reaction rates, R (n, 2n)/R (n, f), for ²³²Th and ^natU are estimated in order to understand the role of the (n, x n) kind of reactions in Accelerator-Driven Sub-critical Systems. For the Th-sample, the ratio is ～ 54 (10)% in the case of hole “a” and ～ 95 (57)% in the case of hole “b” compared to 1.73(20)% for hole “a” and 0.710(9)% for hole “b” in the case of the ^natU sample. Also the ratio of fission rates in uranium to thorium, ^natU (n, f)/ ²³²Th (n, f), is ～ 11.2 (17) in the case of hole “a” and 26.8(85) in hole “b”. Similarly, the ratio ²³⁸U (n, 2n)/ ²³²Th (n, 2n) is 0.36(4) for hole “a” and 0.20(10) for hole “b” showing that ²³²Th is more prone to the (n, x n) reaction than ²³⁸U . All the experimental reaction rates are compared with the simulated ones by generating neutron fluxes at the three holes from MCNPX 2.6c and making use of the LA150 library of cross-sections. The experimental and calculated reaction rates of all the three reactions are in reasonably good agreement. The transmutation power, P _norm as well as P _norm/P _beam of the set-up is estimated using the reaction rates of the (n, $ \gamma$ and (n, 2n) reactions for both the samples in the three holes and compared with some of the results of the “Energy plus Transmutation” set-up and TARC experiment.     

Formation of light isotopes by protons and deuterons of 3.65 GeV/nucleon on separated tin isotopes

We measure cross sections for residual nuclide formation in the mass range 7 ≤ A ≤ 96 caused by bombardment with protons and deuterons of 3.65-GeV/nucleon energy of enriched tin isotopes (^{112,118,120,124}Sn). The experimental data are compared with calculations by the codes FLUKA, LAHET, CEM03, and LAQGSM03. Scaling behavior is observed for the whole mass region of residual nuclei, showing a possible multifragmentation mechanism for the formation of light products (7 ≤ A ≤ 30). Our analysis of the isoscaling dependence also shows a possible contribution of multifragmentation to the production of heavier nuclides, in the mass region 40 ≤ A ≤ 80. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Photovoltaic and pyroelectric effects in self-polarized ferroelectric <Emphasis Type="Italic">PZT</Emphasis>(25/75) films

The stationary photovoltaic effect in self-polarized Pb(Zr_0.25,Ti_0.75)O₃ films with a semitransparent top NiCr electrode was measured. The correlation between the pyroelectric response and short-circuit photocurrent was established. The effect of pre-polarization on the short-circuit photocurrent value is considered. It is assumed that upon film ageing, the abnormal photovoltaic effect degenerates into the barrier effect.     

A study of nuclear transmutation of Th and <Superscript>nat</Superscript>U with neutrons produced in a Pb target and U blanket irradiated by 1.6 GeV deuterons

The spallation lead target in the “Energy plus Transmutation” set-up, covered with uranium blanket, was irradiated by the 1.6GeV deuteron beam from the Nuclotron accelerator at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna. The neutrons generated in the subcritical uranium blanket are used to activate the radioactive uranium and thorium samples outside the blanket. Rates of the (n,g \gamma) , (n, f) and (n, 2n) reactions are determined for some residual nuclei. The ratio of the reaction rates R(n, 2n)/R(n, f) is estimated to be 27(9)%. Contributions of the neutrons with energy E _n > 20 MeV to the (n, f) reaction rate is ∼ 57% for ²³²Th and ∼ 37% for ^natU , respectively. To compare with the experimental results, the reaction rates are simulated by generating the neutron fluxes employing two different models, the beam shapes by the MCNPX 2.6.c code and making use of the appropriate libraries of cross-sections. The transmutation power of the set-up is estimated using the average (n,g \gamma) and (n, 2n) reaction rates and compared with some of the results of the TARC experiment.     

Atomic force microscopy study of ferroelectric films of P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer and composites based on it

The surface structure and local piezoelectric response of film samples of P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer and composites based on it were studied by atomic and piezoelectric force microscopy. Lamellar crystals 2.0 × 0.6 μm in size were detected in nominally pure P(VDF-TrFE) samples. Introduction of crystalline ferroelectrics increases the crystalline phase fraction in the polymer matrix and changes the shape and sizes of lamellar crystallites. Hysteresis loops of the local piezoelectric response for composite regions corresponding to the polymer matrix and crystalline ferroelectric inclusions were obtained.     

Anomalies of dielectric properties of vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene copolymer films

The temperature dependences of the real and imaginary parts of the complex permittivity of vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene copolymer films at temperatures ranging from ?40 to 140°C are determined in the frequency range 10^?1–10⁸ Hz. An analysis of the experimental data has demonstrated that the behavior of the dielectric characteristics of the copolymer in the course of heating to temperatures above the ferroelectric phase transition point and during subsequent cooling differs substantially. In the latter case, the high-frequency dielectric response exhibits properties characteristic of relaxor ferroelectrics. The observed features are discussed in terms of the competition of two mechanisms associated with the short-range and long-range forces.     

On the 0<Superscript>+</Superscript> state with the energy of 681.3 keV in <Superscript>160</Superscript>Dy

A possibility that the 0⁺ state with the energy of 681.3 keV exists in the ¹⁶⁰Dy nucleus is discussed. Calculations based on the interacting vector boson model show that in addition to the known 0⁺ states with the number of bosons n = 2, 5, 6, and 7 there should exist other states with the number of bosons n = 1, 3, 4, and 8 in ¹⁶⁰Dy. It is shown that the peak at the energy 681.3 keV, which we experimentally observed in the ¹⁶⁰Dy internal conversion electron spectrum, can be ascribed to the 0⁺ state with the number of bosons n = 1 or n = 8.