Surface science done at third generation synchrotron radiation facilities

In this paper we present a few examples of surface science done at third generation synchrotron facilities. As explained in the introduction, third generation sources are characterised by a gain in brightness of three or four orders of magnitude. This allows performing experiments which were difficult or impossible before. The first part of the paper is dealing with experiments on magnetic materials and shows how dichroism and surface diffraction can bring new information. In the second part, we discuss two examples related to catalysis: the elementally resolved imaging of chemical waves and the structure of chemisorbs layers on a nickel surface at atmospheric pressure.

How do atoms assemble in monatomic liquids? Do they form clusters? This question has been without answer for many years and it is only recently that an X-ray experiment has solved the problem. The fourth part of the paper describes recent results on the electronic properties of high T_c superconductors and heavy fermions, studied by high resolution photoemission. Finally, we present a prospect of a few experiments that could be done in the near future.     

The experimental facilities at ISAC

The ISAC accelerator facility provides rare isotope beams in three different areas at low (20–60 keV), medium-high (up to 1.8 AMeV) or higher energies (up to 16 AMeV, depending on the mass-to-charge ratio of the isotopes). There is a corresponding suite of experimental installations on the floor, most of them permanently, which are uniquely matched to the requirements of the scientific goals as well as to the conditions as the arise at rare-beam facilities, like ISAC. An introduction to the three distinct experimental areas, given by the available energy of beams, is given.     

Intrinsic recombination radiation from GaP

Intrinsic recombination radiation has been detected in GaP crystals grown by vapour transport on GaAs and GaP substrates and in the form of needles, using 50 KeV electron beam excitation in the temperature range 25°K to 80°K. The three major components of the radiation are associated with the decay of free excitons with the emission of the transverse acoustic, longitudinal acoustic and transverse optic phonons which conserve momentum for transitions across the indirect energy gap. Structure has also been observed associated with the emission of two phonons, and for T > 77 >K a phonon absorption component can also be detected. In crystals grown on GaAs substrates, a no-phonon component has been observed with a threshold at the intrinsic exciton energy gap. This is thought to be associated with the presence of arsenic and there is a corresponding shift in the band gap to lower energy. close agreement is observed between the measured shapes of the emission components and those computed by the principle of detailed balance from the intrinsic edge absorption spectrum, when the broadening associated with the crystal imperfections and anomalous structure in the absorption spectrum are taken into account. The phonon energies derived from the emission spectra are in good agreement with the values determined from intrinsic edge absorption measurements.     

Modeling the acoustic radiation force in microfluidic chambers

A procedure is demonstrated to quantitatively evaluate the acoustic radiation forces in microfluidic particle manipulation chambers. Typical estimates of the acoustic pressure and the acoustic radiation force are based on an analytical solution for a simple one-dimensional standing wave pattern. The complexities of a typical microfluidic channel limit the usefulness of this approach. By leveraging finite elements, and a generalized equation for the acoustic radiation force, channel designs can be investigated in two and three dimensions. Calculations and experimental observations in this report and the literature, confirm these claims.     

The use of soil gas as radon source in radon chambers

A procedure is described in which soil gas is utilized as an alternative to the ²²⁶Ra source for the supply of the radon gas required to fill a radon chamber where radon-measuring devices are calibrated. The procedure offers opportunities to vary the radon concentration within the chamber around an average value of about 500 Bq/m³, which is considered to be sufficient for calibrating indoor radon detectors. The procedure is simple and the radon source does not require radiation protection certification (for import and/or use), unlike the commercially produced standard radioactive (²²⁶Ra) sources.     

Using plastic track detectors to solve radiation safety problems at nuclear reactor facilities

Three options of the method to determine microconcentrations of fissile materials in water solutions are developed. They utilize plastic track detectors to measure concentrations. The options are as follows a “wet” method, “thin-layer inorganic sorbent-plastic track detectors”, and a method of selective extraction and coprecipitation. These methods are used to check up fuel cladding integrity at the research reactor IVV-2M and liquid radioactive waste contamination by uranium and plutonium at the Beloyarskaya Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).     

Muon facilities at TRIUMF

TRIUMF provides its user community with a wide variety of muon beams for use in μSR and fundamental particle studies. The existing muon channels and their characteristics are described along with a proposed superconducting solenoid to be constructed in 1987.     

The spectrum and decay of the recombination radiation from strongly excited silicon

The spectral distribution of the recombination radiation from silicon during and after excitation by a Q-switched ruby laser has been measured and analyzed. The interpretation assumes a third-order (Auger) recombination process and a simple parabolic band structure. It takes into account the heating of the sample at the surface and the reduction of the band gap due to the high carrier density. Measurements of the spectral distribution as a function of time gives a value of the Auger transition rate factor γ₃ = 2·10⁻³¹ cm⁶sec⁻¹.     

Far-infrared recombination radiation from impact-ionized donors in germanium

We studied the far-infrared emission spectrum resulting from recombination of an electron with an ionized impurity of As and Sb in germanium under impact ionization at liquid, helium temperatures. The emission peaks at the position corresponding to the transition from the 2p _± excited state to the ground state. This observation indicates that recombination occurs through the capture by the excited states of the donor impurity, which is consistent with the cascade trap model. The intensity of emission radiation is of the order of 10⁻⁷ watts for the excitation power of about one watt, which implies a dominant process of recombination to be accompanied by phonon emission.     

Comparison of phantom materials for use in quality assurance of microbeam radiation therapy

Microbeam radiation therapy (MRT) is a promising radiotherapy modality that uses arrays of spatially fractionated micrometre‐sized beams of synchrotron radiation to irradiate tumours. Routine dosimetry quality assurance (QA) prior to treatment is necessary to identify any changes in beam condition from the treatment plan, and is undertaken using solid homogeneous phantoms. Solid phantoms are designed for, and routinely used in, megavoltage X‐ray beam radiation therapy. These solid phantoms are not necessarily designed to be water‐equivalent at low X‐ray energies, and therefore may not be suitable for MRT QA. This work quantitatively determines the most appropriate solid phantom to use in dosimetric MRT QA. Simulated dose profiles of various phantom materials were compared with those calculated in water under the same conditions. The phantoms under consideration were RMI457 Solid Water (Gammex‐RMI, Middleton, WI, USA), Plastic Water (CIRS, Norfolk, VA, USA), Plastic Water DT (CIRS, Norfolk, VA, USA), PAGAT (CIRS, Norfolk, VA, USA), RW3 Solid Phantom (PTW Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany), PMMA, Virtual Water (Med‐Cal, Verona, WI, USA) and Perspex. RMI457 Solid Water and Virtual Water were found to be the best approximations for water in MRT dosimetry (within ±3% deviation in peak and 6% in valley). RW3 and Plastic Water DT approximate the relative dose distribution in water (within ±3% deviation in the peak and 5% in the valley). PAGAT, PMMA, Perspex and Plastic Water are not recommended to be used as phantoms for MRT QA, due to dosimetric discrepancies greater than 5%.     

High-pressure facilities at the ESRF

Abstract

Several beamlines at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble are being designed with high-pressure experiments in mind. Among the first seven beamlines the Microfocus Beamline, the Materials Science Beamline, the Laue White Beamline and the High Energy Beamline are of particular interest for high-pressure diffraction experiments. These experimental stations are outlined and their characteristics are compared.

Presented at the IUCr Workshop on ‘Synchrotron Radiation Instrumentation for High Pressure Crystallography’, Daresbury Laboratory 20-21 July 1991     

Relativistic particle separation by means of transition radiation utilizing multiwire proportional chambers

Investigations have been made on a transition radiation detection system consisting of a series of radiator-wire proportional chamber sandwiches and its feasibility for particle separation. A method for eliminating the “Landau” tail in the ionization distribution of a charged particle is described.     

Investigation of the recombination radiation from layers of n-CdSiAs2

Complex investigations of the recombination radiation from monocrystals of p-CdSiAs₂, thermally processed together with pure indium, which is accompanied by a conversion to p n conductivity at a given depth, are reported. The effect of the thermal processing on the spectral shape and position of the maxima in the formed energy bands was determined. It was found that an increase in the time and temperature of the thermal processing is associated with a band shift in the direction of longer wavelength portion of the spectrum. The nature of the dominant radiative transitions is discussed.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 10, pp. 78–84, October, 1991.     

Solid state detectors for neutron radiation monitoring in fusion facilities

The purpose of this communication is to summarize the main solid state based detectors proposed for neutron diagnostic in fusion applications and their applicability under the required harsh conditions in terms of intense radiation, high temperature and available space restrictions. Activation systems, semiconductor based detectors, luminescent materials and Cerenkov fibre optics sensors (C-FOS) are the main devices that are described.     

Review of radiation sources,calibration facilities and simulated workplace fields

A review on radiation sources, calibration facilities and realistic fields is presented and examples are given. The main characteristics of the fields are shortly described together with their domain of applications. New emerging fields are also mentioned and the question of needs for additional calibration fields is raised.