Application of NAA to develop a chemostratigraphy of volcanic deposits on Nisyros and Telos, Greece

Deposits formed by explosive volcanic eruptions offer remarkable reliability when used as time-markers. Especially in time periods where radiometric dating is not applicable, sequences of volcanic layers can be used instead for relative dating. At the very least, a perfect synchronization can be established for every place where a certain volcanic layer is present. This paper deals with the development of a chronology for quaternary sediments on the island Telos. It is based upon the volcanic sequences of the islands Nisyros, Giali, and Kos. The eruptions left their traces also on the non-volcanic island Telos. During the Quaternary period, i.e., the last 1.5 million years, it has been inhabited by several groups of mammals, including elephants. These elephants underwent an outstanding dwarfing process. The time span necessary for this evolutionary process is not known and the use of the volcanic chronometer should contribute significant information to that question. Highly conveniently, at Telos itself no volcanic activity took place, but there are deposits from the eruptions mentioned above. Neutron Activation Analysis has already proven most useful for setting up an analytical database for the identification by “chemical fingerprinting” of volcanic eruption products by their element concentration patterns. A suitable number of elements, in particular As, Ba, Ce, Cr, Co, Cs, Eu, Fe, Hf, K, La, Lu, Na, Nd, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Ta, Tb, Th, U, Yb, Zn, Zr, is determined after one irradiation and two measurement cycles. The results show that a clear distinction between the eruption deposits of interest is possible and the sequencing of the deposits on Telos leads to the intended time scale.     

Multiple magma reservoirs for the 1707 eruption of Fuji volcano,Japan

In 1707, approximately 0.7 km³ of magma erupted from new vents on the southeastern slope of Fuji volcano. The air-fall clasts of this explosive eruption are composed of vesicular dacite pumice, andesitic dense scoria, basaltic dense scoria, and vesiculated basalt scoria, stratified from bottom to the top of the fallout unit. Some compositional gaps are found in the variation from basalt to dacite indicating that three independent magmas, basalt, andesite and dacite, existed just prior to the eruption. Andesite and dacite magmas are mixed just prior to or during the eruption showing a linear two component mixing in the major and trace element concentration. Basalt in the later stage of the eruption shows no compositional affinity with the above two magmas. Basalt magma might have acted as a heat source to remobilize the andesite and dacite magmas, and the explosive eruption of basalt could have been caused by the abrupt pressure release due to precursory mixing and eruption of dacite and andesite magmas.     

The transport and eruption of magma from volcanoes: A review

Volcanic eruptions are amongst the most spectacular of natural phenomena. During the past few years, our knowledge of the basic physics and chemistry of magmatic and volcanic processes has been transformed. We now understand how rocks melt and how the resulting magmas migrate upward and eventually accumulate to form magma chambers. We can model a range of physical and chemical processes in these chambers, and we recognize why chamber walls fracture and how magma flows away from chambers through fractures in the crust. Experimental and theoretical work on bubble nucleation and growth has improved models of magma ascent and explosive volcanic eruption mechanisms. Detailed geophysical, geochemical and field research has led to major advances in understanding the mechanisms that trigger changes between lava-forming (or effusive) eruptions and explosive eruptions. Numerical models that simulate processes involved in explosive and effusive eruptions are at an advanced stage but are capable of further refinement. Many of these advances have been made through interdisciplinary collaboration between geologists and colleagues in other areas, especially physics and mathematics. In this contribution, we review the results of some of this work, and draw attention to areas where future collaboration will help to unravel outstanding problems in volcanology.     

Power spectrum crossover in sediments of a paleolake disturbed by volcanism

We study density fluctuations from sediments of a paleolake in central Mexico that was subjected to volcanic perturbations by means of computed tomography (CT) measurements on blocks chiselled out of mines at the lake's bed. The mine walls show laminations corresponding to the alternation of low density diatom sediments and high density volcanic ash depositions. We have previously shown that there is a range of scales where these fluctuations present a self-similar behavior [1]. Here we relate density correlation calculations to the power spectrum of the fluctuations. We show that a scaling region in the power spectrum coincides with the scaling region in the correlations produced by relaxation from intense volcanic perturbations to steady state fluctuations. There appears to be a kink-like crossover in the power spectrum from mid range scaling to a shorter range scale invariance. This, together with the density probability distribution of the fluctuations, draws attention to the dominant role of rare events. We believe that our analysis may be useful for the understanding of other phenomena with similar power spectrum properties, in which a scale invariance in the unperturbed system is altered by external perturbations that induce an additional scaling behavior.     

First-time lidar measurement of water vapor flux in a volcanic plume

The CO₂ laser-based lidar ATLAS has been used to study the Stromboli volcano plume. ATLAS measured water vapor concentration in cross-sections of the plume and wind speed at the crater. Water vapor concentration and wind speed were retrieved by differential absorption lidar and correlation technique, respectively. Lidar returns were obtained up to a range of 3 km. The spatial resolution was 15 m and the temporal resolution was 20 s. By combining these measurements, the water vapor flux in the Stromboli volcano plume was found. To our knowledge, it is the first time that lidar retrieves water vapor concentrations in a volcanic plume.     

Rise and flow of volcanic clouds observed from the ground and from satellites

Typical patterns of volcanic clouds from Mt. Sakurajima are discussed with photographs and satellite images. Volcanic clouds are classified into three types, i.e., eruption cloud, steady flow as a plume, and sequential puffs, according to the variation of the ejection activity with time. While the rise of eruption clouds depends on the strength of the eruption, the vertical shapes of the plumes are sensitive to the velocity of the cross winds around and above the summit of the volcanic mountain. Very strong winds cause blowing down and bouncing up of the plume along the mountain lee wave. Various patterns of horizontal dispersion are observed from the ground and from satellites; typical ones are linear advection, fan- and belt-type spreads, and flat stagnation. These patterns are essentially determined by the wind shear within the vertical thickness of the volcanic cloud.     

基于光纤SPR光谱分析的污水降解过程监测研究

讨论了光纤表面等离子体波传感器的工作原理,并对将其用于监测以甲基橙为代表的环境污水降解过程的可行性进行了探讨。用光纤SPR传感器监测了50 mL初始浓度为30 mg·L-1的甲基橙原溶液在降解过程浓度的变化,对降解过程中光纤SPR传感器的光谱进行了详细的分析;同时采用紫外-分光光度计对降解过程中溶液浓度的变化进行了监测,并对2种方法所测的数据进行了分析对比。结果表明,光纤SPR同常规方法的测量结果一致,随着降解时间的增加,甲基橙溶液的吸光度和浓度逐渐减小,光纤SPR传感器的共振波长逐渐发生蓝移,同初始标定的甲基橙原溶液共振光谱比较,说明甲基橙逐渐被降解,且在2 h内降解率达到73%,说明用光纤SPR传感器监测污水降解过程是完全可行的。研究结果不仅为环境污水降解过程提供了一种新的监测方法,同时促进了我国SPR传感技术与环保监测研究结合,为光纤SPR技术走向实用,并最终实现产业化积累了经验。     

Four-Wave Scattering of a Laser Beam by Induced Collective Oscillations of Solid Nanoparticles in Suspensions

Spectra of coherent scattering at four-wave mixing of two diode laser radiation in liquid suspensions of dielectric nanoparticles are obtained for the first time. Dependence of the scattering resonance width on the concentration of nanoparticles in the suspension is studied. It is shown that the experimentally observed dependences of the width of the scattered radiation spectrum on the concentration of nanoparticles in the suspension result from the collective excitation of acoustic phonons.     

Thermal quenching of far-red Fe3+ thermoluminescence of volcanic K-feldspars

Strong thermal quenching is observed from 77 to 550 K in the far-red luminescence of K-feldspars. This far-red emission, next to the emission in the UV-to-blue spectrum recorded for thermoluminescence (TL), is reported in most alkaline feldspars with a characteristic peak centered on 710 nm with a width of 100 nm. This emission was observed by cathodoluminescence (CL) at room temperature (RT) for more than 30 K-feldspars, ranging from volcanic sanidines to granitic microclines and sediments and it is attributed to an Fe³⁺ impurity. Contrary to ‘blue’ emission in volcanic feldspars, the far-red emission displays very low anomalous fading (AF). This makes it attractive for dating purposes; however, it has weak natural TL intensity, even at saturation, which competes with the black-body emission of the heater plate. This is in contrast to an intense tunneling afterglow at liquid nitrogen temperature (LNT). Further observations show that the disadvantage of weak TL can be overcome. Photoluminescence (PL) under UV shows a very strong thermal quenching effect of the far-red emission from 77 to 550 K, which accounts for the above contrast. Near the LNT, the far-red Fe³⁺ photoluminescence is at a maximum and is dominant over other emissions in the spectrum. However, as the temperature increases, the efficiency decreases, falling to well below one percent, whereas the ‘blue’ emissions remain stable. This thermal quenching effect in photoluminescence is paralleled in TL. After irradiation and during storage at RT, whereas the ‘blue’ emission in volcanic feldspars is affected by ‘fast’ anomalous fading, charge trapped at Fe³⁺ centers as latent far-red emission is almost stable. As the TL evolves and the extant ‘blue’ emission is emitted, more and more of the trapped charge associated with far-red emission recombines non-radiatively, resulting in an efficiency for emission in natural TL that is less than one percent. A modified band model, which calls for 'hopping' conductivity during the storage, accounts for the anomalous fading. Trap emptying at lower temperatures should lead to better use of the stable latent far-red stored charge for the dating of volcanic deposits.     

Explosive Instability due to four-wave mixing

It is known that an explosive instability can occur when nonlinear waves propagate in certain media that admit 3-wave mixing. The purpose of this Letter is to show that explosive instabilities can occur even in media that admit no 3-wave mixing. Instead, the instability is caused by 4-wave mixing: four resonantly interacting wave trains gain energy from a background, and all blowup in a finite time. Unlike singularities associated with self-focussing, these singularities can occur with no spatial structure-the waves blowup everywhere in space simultaneously. We have not yet investigated the effect of spatial structure on a 4-wave explosive instability.     

FAE装置参数对燃料抛撒与爆炸威力影响的实验研究

 采用高速运动分析系统对FAE实验装置爆炸抛撒过程进行观测,描述了燃料抛撒过程的不同阶段,实验研究了比药量、长径比、壳体材质等装置参数对燃料抛撒与爆炸威力的影响。结果表明,燃料抛撒过程可分为射流形成与扩散运动阶段、燃料两向膨胀运动阶段和气液融合运动阶段。不同阶段对应不同的流体动力学特征,对云团形成的贡献不同。在实验装置总体优化条件下,适当增大比药量可提高云团覆盖面积与体积;在实验范围内长径比不是影响云团状态的显著因素,但长径比较大时可使燃料抛撒均匀性更好;采用钢质壳体时云雾抛撒状态明显优于铝质壳体。实验证明,采用碳钢壳体、比药量3%左右、长径比为3~5且装置参数良好匹配时,可获得理想的云团状态和高威力爆炸波毁伤效应。     

Fluorochrome-labeled monoclonal antibody with characteristic M-shaped spectral peak for optical imaging: Dual-labeling versus mixture of fluorochromes

In this work two different fluorochromes(Alexa 594 and Alexa 680) are conjugated to the same monoclonal antibody(Cetuximab) for obtaining a characteristic M-shaped dual-peak spectrum. Dual-labeling of Cetuximab by mixing both fluorochromes before the conjugation step gives spectral results similar to those of mixing of fluorochrome-labeled Cetuximab after the conjugation step eP 0.05 T. In conclusion, both methods may be used equivalently for producing a dual-labeled single-antibody probe. Future studies may test whether the M-shaped spectrum may increase the diagnostic confidence in tumor-targeted multispectral optical imaging.     

超高速发射实验模型的数值计算

 采用三阶精度PPM（Parabolic Piecewise Method）方法和VOF（Volume of Fluid）相结合,运用Lagrange-Remapping算法,编制了多介质流体高精度欧拉计算程序MFPPM,可以对多介质复杂流场进行数值计算。对程序计算精度进行了测试,并应用于超高速发射实验模型数值计算,对Sandia实验室不带会聚作用的实验模型进行了一维计算以及带会聚作用的实验模型进行二维计算并与其实验结果和CTH计算结果进行对比,其中一维计算最大相对误差1%,二维计算相对误差4.7%,在此基础上对超高速发射设计模型进行了初步计算。     

Pulsed Field Gradient Selection in Two-Dimensional Magic Angle Spinning NMR Spectroscopy of Dipolar Solids

The utility of gradient selection in MAS spectroscopy of dipolar solids is explored in two examples. In the first, rotor-synchronized gradients of appropriate strength and duration are applied to select¹H double-quantum coherences. The resulting DQ MAS spectrum of adamantane is compared with that acquired by the corresponding phase-cycling technique. As a second example, a¹H 2D exchange MAS experiment is performed on an elastomer sample. In this experiment, a gradient is applied to remove undesired coherences that would otherwise distort the spectrum for short mixing times. The diagonal-peak intensities in the resulting spectrum show a linear decrease with increasing mixing time indicating cross-relaxation by slow chain motions as the relevant process. Both types of experiments demonstrate the potential of gradient-selection techniques for MAS spectroscopy of dipolar solids.     

Nonlinear interference between two sets of frequency conversion processes with widely spaced pump wavelengths in an optical fiber

The processes of nonlinear interaction of two high-power pump waves with widely spaced frequencies are studied in an optical fiber. Substantially increased output power of the Stokes components, generated via stimulated Raman scattering or stimulated four-wave mixing by one of the pump waves have been obtained in the field of the other pump wave and its Stokes components. For the first time the possibility to excited new spectral lines in the spectrum of one of the pump waves with frequency shifts characteristic for the other one, is experimentally demonstrated.     

Continuous Mixing of Fine Particles

The efficiency of reactors fed with particulate mixtures is often reduced by segregation of solids. Placing continuous mixers directly ahead of a reactor may be a solution to this problem. The performance of such mixers can be monitored for appropriate binary solids systems with an optical in-line measuring system. The tracer concentration (SiC or Irgalite) in Al(OH)₃ was registered with high time resolution, thus making possible an extended statistical analysis of mixing processes using the power density spectrum. Experimental mixers with a maximum -throughput of 300 kg/h were fed with a fluctuating tracer concentration and the variance reduction ratios were determined. A model was developed that takes into account feeding constancy, residence time distribution and the limited homogeneity of particulate mixtures. Diagrams for continuous solids mixing processes are derived therefrom. They demonstrate the importance of high-accuracy feed-rate control.     

Optical modeling of vesicular volcanic ash particles

We present a realistic shape model for nonspherical, vesicular particles and use the model to derive single-scattering properties of volcanic fine-ash particles. Light-scattering computations with discrete-dipole approximation reveal that, qualitatively, scattering by the model particles resembles that of the measured, real volcanic ash particles. Comparison of compact and vesicular ash shows that porosity promotes positive degree of linear polarization and decreases the depolarization ratio for both large and small vesicles. Yet, the single-scattering properties of ash particles with large vesicles are found to be surprisingly similar to those of compact ash particles. A comparison with Mie computations of equal-volume spheres indicates that for small size parameters, the spherical shape underestimates the asymmetry parameter of volcanic ash particles; whereas, for larger size parameters, it is overestimated.     

Resonance properties of magmatic structures

The observation of quasi-harmonic spectral components in the response of volcanic structures to distant seismic events is reported. The resonance frequencies are associated with the presence of a magma center and a magma chamber that contain gas cavities or bubbles. The presence of the region with a reduced density in the vicinity of the Elbrus volcano is confirmed by independent gravimetric measurements and by the results of analyzing the geological data.     

Soil radon response around an active volcano

Soil radon behavior related to the volcanic eruptive period 1997–1999 of Popocatepetl volcano has been studied as a function of the volcanic activity. Since the volcano is located 60 km from Mexico City, the risk associated with an explosive eruptive phase is high and an intense surveillance program has been implemented. Previous studies in this particular volcano showed soil radon pulses preceding the initial phase of the eruption. The radon survey was performed with LR-115 track detectors at a shallow depth and the effect of the soil moisture during the rainy season has been observed on the detectors response. In the present state of the volcanic activity the soil radon behavior has shown more stability than in previous eruptive stages.     

Broadband source generated by stimulated Raman scattering and four-wave mixing in a highly nonlinear optical fiber ring cavity

A novel high-power broadband source based on the combined action of stimulated Raman scattering and parametric four-wave mixing in a highly nonlinear dispersion-shifted fiber ring cavity is investigated experimentally. An output spectrum of 1510-1580 nm with a stable power of 91 mW is demonstrated with a dual-wavelength pumping scheme.