Radon measurements in the SE and NE flank of Mt. Etna (Italy)

Soil Radon has been monitored at two fixed sites located in the northeastern and southeastern flank of Mt. Etna. In this study we report the comparison between in-soil Radon concentration trend recorded in the SE flank and that one recorded in the NE one, where an in-soil Radon detection system is operating since 2001.The aim of this work was to implement the investigation area finding a suitable radon detection site, in the south-east flank of Mt. Etna, in order to better understand possible links between Radon anomalies and volcano dynamic.Radon data collected in NE and SE sites were compared with the volcanic tremor, frequency of occurrence of earthquakes and seismic strain-release recorded at a fixed 3D digital seismic station placed in the NE site.Same general in-soil Radon trends and anomalies were found in both sites. These results have confirmed the suitability of the chosen southeastern site for the in-soil Radon monitoring at Mt. Etna. The comparison of the recorded Radon concentration anomalies with seismicity and volcanic tremor trends, has also verified a possible link with the volcanic activity, as observed in our previous published studies.     

A nonlinear strategy to reveal seismic precursory signatures in earthquake-related self-potential signals

The time fluctuations of self-potential data, recorded at the monitoring station Acapulco (Mexico) during 1994-1996 in the seismic area of Guerrero-Oaxaca, are analyzed by means of the Fisher Information Measure (FIM), a nonlinear powerful method to investigate complex dynamics in time series. The time evolution of the FIM shows a clear correlation with the largest earthquakes that occurred in the monitored area during the observation period. Seismic precursory patterns in the FIM evolution are also revealed.     

Lava channel formation during the 2001 eruption on Mount Etna: evidence for mechanical erosion

We report the direct observation of a peculiar lava channel that was formed near the base of a parasitic cone during the 2001 eruption on Mount Etna. Erosive processes by flowing lava are commonly attributed to thermal erosion. However, field evidence strongly suggests that models of thermal erosion cannot explain the formation of this channel. Here, we put forward the idea that the essential erosion mechanism was abrasive wear. By applying a simple model from tribology we demonstrate that the available data agree favorably with our hypothesis. Consequently, we propose that erosional processes resembling the wear phenomena in glacial erosion are possible in a volcanic environment.     

Transport of Volcano Etna emissions towards the alpine region using ECMWF data

Summary ECMWF data have been utilised to study the Volcano Etna contribution to the sulphur deposition in the alpine region. Air mass trajectories starting from Etna during the whole 1989 have been computed. Firstly a cluster analysis was applied in order to objectively classify them. Then the total deposition (wet and dry) over Northern Italy of sulphur coming from Volcano Etna was estimated. Paper presented at the IX Congresso del Gruppo Nazionale per la Fisica dell'Atmosfera e dell'Oceano, June 8–10, 1992, Rome.     

Geophysical gas monitoring using optical techniques: volcanoes, geothermal fields and mines

Optical spectroscopy provides powerful means for studying geophysical gas emissions. An extensive research program in this field has been performed by Swedish researchers in collaboration with European partners during the last 10 years, and a review of the activities and results is given. The techniques suitable for geophysical gas monitoring include the differential absorption lidar (DIAL), differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS), diode laser spectroscopy and gas correlation imaging. Field experiments regarding atomic mercury emissions from geothermal fields were performed with a mobile lidar laboratory in Iceland and in Italy. The atomic mercury concentrations and fluxes from mercury mines were also determined at Abbadia S. Salvatore (Italy) and Almadén (Spain). The volcanic emissions of sulfur dioxide were studied in four ship-borne campaigns concerning the three Italian volcanoes Mt. Etna, Stromboli and Vulcano. Comparisons between the results from the DIAL and passive techniques (DOAS and correlation spectroscopy) were performed. Infrared spectroscopy for geophysical applications is now being developed and will also be discussed.     

Optical monitoring of volcanic sulphur dioxide emissions—comparison between four different remote-sensing spectroscopic techniques

The emissions of sulphur dioxide from the Italian volcanoes Mt. Etna and Stromboli were studied in ship-borne underpasses of their plumes. Four different optical spectroscopy techniques were used and inter-compared. All techniques utilise the absorption signature of the gas in the wavelength region of around 300 nm. A differential absorption lidar was employed in active gas concentration assessment. In parallel, a differential optical absorption spectroscopy system (DOAS) provided spectrally resolved absorption spectra. In one configuration the DOAS used a vertically looking telescope and the absorption of the sky-light was studied, while a different DOAS implementation utilised the sun disc as the light source in slant-angle, long-path absorption measurements. Parallel measurements with the customary correlation spectroscopy method were also performed. Path length Monte Carlo simulations of the down-welling radiation through the volcanic plume at different sun altitude and azimuth angles have been performed taking into account also the effects of other geometric parameters as the plume height and extension. The results are discussed with special emphasis on systematic effects due to scattering.     

Minero-petrographic, thermal and microchemical investigation of historical mortars used in Catania (Sicily) during the XVII century A.D.

The combination of X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (SEM-EDS), Differential Thermal Analysis-Thermogravimetry (DTA-TG) and Optical Microscopy (OM) has been used to study several different ancient mortars recovered in the S. Nicola Church (built after the devasting earthquake of the 1693) and other historic buildings located in the historical center of Catania (Eastern Sicily). Investigations have been focused on the identification of raw materials mixed in the different mortars and their provenance as well as on the study of the relevant technological aspects of manufacturing processes. Minero-petrographic data have often shown that local volcanic raw materials have been used as aggregate fractions and, in particular, a new volcanic material, the so-called ghiara, has been largely adopted for the construction of the walls of the monuments after the earthquake. It is worthy to note that ghiara is a by-product of erupted magma during the impressive Etna eruption of 1669, which almost completely covered the centre of Catania. The following reaction with the soil gave rise to the formation of a layer of this typical ochre-coloured material. Moreover, the precise provenance of the ghiara has been determined trough geological surveys of the most important historic quarries. Results have allowed the identification of exploited sources of ghiara.Furthermore, combination of SEM-EDS results and thermal information have indicated the hydraulic nature of the mortars due to the formation of hydraulic phases at the binder-aggregate interface. It, therefore, is due to the fact that the ghiara has slight pozzolanic properties.Present data have an important role for any satisfactory reproduction of the ancient manufacturing techniques to be used for the restoration of the S. Nicola Church. PACS 81.70.Pg; 82.80.d; 61.10.Nz; 61.66.Fn     

Mechanical erosion by flowing lava

Hot lava is a viscous fluid that, driven by gravity, moves along the Earth's surface. Intuitively, one attributes constructional properties to lava–it accumulates in volcanic landforms, compound lava fields and, in the end, entire mountains. On the other hand, there are also examples of the erosive power of lava: on Earth and especially on other planets in the Solar System, there exist channels incised by flowing lava. The origins of these erosive features have long been debated among volcanologists and planetologists. The dominant paradigm is thermal erosion, although it leaves many questions open. After the 2001 eruption on Mount Etna we found a lava channel whose features cannot be explained in the frame of thermal erosion. On the basis of our observations, we have developed a model for mechanical erosion that explains the main field observations, and opens alternative ways to describe erosion by flowing lava.     

The study of radiation damage in metals with the field-ion and atom-probe microscopes

The application of the field-ion microscope (FIM) and the atom-probe FIM techniques to the study of radiation damage in metals is reviewed. The FIM research in the following three areas is discussed: (1) the defect structure of the primary state of irradiated metals; (2) the recovery behavior in Stages I, II and III of irradiated body-centered and face-centered cubic metals (tungsten and platinum); and (3) the recovery behavior in Stages I, II and III of irradiated body-centered and face-centered cubic alloys [tungsten (carbon), tungsten (rhenium) and platinum (gold)]. The data obtained in each of these three categories provide fundamental structural, kinetic and thermodynamic information about the properties of point defects and point-defect clusters. The atom-probe FIM research on the direct measurement of the range of 300 eV He⁺ ions and the mobility of interstitial helium atoms in tungsten is also presented and compared with the theoretical predictions of Wilson, Haggmark and Bisson.     

Combined field ion microscopy and transmission electron microscopy of heavy ion damage in tungsten

Abstract

A field ion microscopy (FIM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigation of radiation damage in tungsten after heavy ion bombardment has been carried out. Field ion specimens of tungsten were irradiated with 180–230 keV Xe⁺ ions. The irradiation doses were varied between 4 × 10¹¹ and 4 × 10¹² ions/cm². The irradiated specimens were examined in FIM. Experiments combining both TEM and FIM were performed in order to compare the results obtainable by these two methods. The distribution of defects visible by TEM was inhomogeneous. The influence of the imaging field in FIM on the defects visible in TEM is discussed.     

Inferring an optimal Fisher measure

It is well known that a suggestive relation exists that links the Schrödinger equation (SE) to the information-optimizing principle based on the Fisher information measure (FIM). We explore here an approach that will allow one to infer the optimal FIM compatible with a given amount of prior information without explicitly solving first the associated SE. This technique is based on the virial theorem and it provides analytic solutions for the physically relevant FIM, that which is minimal subject to the constraints posed by the prior information.     

Field emission and field ionization studies and their impact on the formulation of elementary steps in the heterogeneous activation of gas molecules by transition metal surfaces

The FIM and FEM evidence for the existence of the localized orbitals on transition metal surfaces and the problem of charge density distribution at the “stepped” surfaces (FEM and FIM tips) are reviewed. The role of these localized orbitals and of the nearly free electrons in the activation of gas molecules by transition metal surfaces is discussed.     

Legendre transform structure and extremal properties of the relative Fisher information

Variational extremization of the relative Fisher information (RFI, hereafter) is performed. Reciprocity relations, akin to those of thermodynamics are derived, employing the extremal results of the RFI expressed in terms of probability amplitudes. A time independent Schrödinger-like equation (Schrödinger-like link) for the RFI is derived. The concomitant Legendre transform structure (LTS, hereafter) is developed by utilizing a generalized RFI-Euler theorem, which shows that the entire mathematical structure of thermodynamics translates into the RFI framework, both for equilibrium and non-equilibrium cases. The qualitatively distinct nature of the present results vis-á-vis those of prior studies utilizing the Shannon entropy and/or the Fisher information measure (FIM, hereafter) is discussed. A principled relationship between the RFI and the FIM frameworks is derived. The utility of this relationship is demonstrated by an example wherein the energy eigenvalues of the Schrödinger-like link for the RFI are inferred solely using the quantum mechanical virial theorem and the LTS of the RFI.     

Dynamics of the Langevin model subjected to colored noise: Functional-integral method

We have discussed the dynamics of Langevin model subjected to colored noise, by using the functional-integral method (FIM) combined with equations of motion for mean and variance of the state variable. Two sets of colored noise have been investigated: (a) one additive and one multiplicative colored noise, and (b) one additive and two multiplicative colored noise. The case (b) is examined with relevance to a recent controversy on the stationary subthreshold voltage distribution of an integrate-and-fire model including stochastic excitatory and inhibitory synapses and a noisy input. We have studied the stationary probability distribution and dynamical responses to time-dependent (pulse and sinusoidal) inputs of the linear Langevin model. Model calculations have shown that results of the FIM are in good agreement with those of direct simulations (DSs). A comparison is made among various approximate analytic solutions such as the universal colored noise approximation (UCNA). It has been pointed out that dynamical responses to pulse and sinusoidal inputs calculated by the UCNA are rather different from those of DS and the FIM, although they yield the same stationary distribution.     

Neon gas imaging of gold in the field ion microscope

An improved field ion microscope (FIM) technique has been developed for the neon gas imaging of gold specimens. The technique produces images which are stable at best image voltage at a tip temperature (T_T) of 30 K or less. The first stage of the technique consisted of the development of an end form at 55 K in the presence of a partial pressure of air (～ 2 × 10^?8 Torr gauge pressure) and neon gas (～ 3 × 10^?5 Torr gauge pressure) followed by further field evaporation at 28 K. The second stage involved neon gas imaging of the previously developed end form in a baked FIM in a background pressure of (0.5 to 3) × 10^?9 Torr. The FIM images obtained in conjunction with the field ionization characteristic curves showed that there is a working range (in the sense defined by Southon and Brandon). A detailed study was made of artifact vacancies detected in the {203}, {321}, {315}, {421}, {671} and {731} planes, and it was found that at 28 K their concentration was < 2.5 × 10^?3 at.fr. Approximately 191,000 atomic sites were examined for artifact vacancies. The artifact vacancy concentrations measured in the present study were a factor of 13 to 60 lower than those measured earlier by Schmid and Balluffi who employed a background pressure of ～ 5 × 10^?8 Torr in their FIM. Hence, the artifact vacancy concentrations detected in gold are dependent upon the background partial pressure employed in the FIM. This latter result plus the result that the images are only stable in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions indicates the need for UHV conditions for the successful imaging of gold surfaces.     

Soil radon concentration and effective stress variation at Mt. Etna (Sicily) in the period January 2003–April 2005

In this study we discuss the relationship between the in-soil radon concentration and the effective stress variation at Mt. Etna volcano in the period January 2003–April 2005. The acquired radon concentration trend was compared with the one obtained by the b-value variation analysis in the frequency–magnitude relationship for earthquakes that occurred at Mt. Etna volcano (Sicily) during the investigation period. The b-value calculated using both the maximum likelihood and the least square methods shows a similar trend and, in particular, an increase starting a few months before the 7th September 2004 eruption and a decrease during the following 9 months. A similar trend was recorded during 2003 when a recharging magma phase of the volcano occurred. Results obtained by studying the b-value trend and the comparison with in-soil radon concentration are also discussed.     

Phase diagram and critical properties of the asymmetric Mattis model

We extend the well-known Mattis model to the case of asymmetric bond distributions. Although the partition function is identical with that of the pure ferromagnetic Ising model (FIM) when the external field is absent, the response to the external field is nontrivial even at zero field. There are some exact relations between the present model and the FIM in the correlation functions, from which the phase diagram and critical exponents can be determined. Multicritical behavior and some other interesting phenomena typical for a random system are demonstrated by this model.     

Finite element simulation and analytical analysis for nano field emission sources that terminate with a single atom: A new perspective on nanotips

Nanotips are highly demanded for various applications in nanotechnology. For instance, nanotips with a single atom end can be used as a source of self collimated electron or ion beams. Such tips are usually characterized in the field ion microscope (FIM) or the field emission microscope (FEM), where only a top view can be captured and analyzed. We have noticed that single atom tips fabricated by different methods produce electrons in FEM mode, or ions in FIM mode, at a wide range of applied voltages for the respective mode. In this work we present numerical and analytical analyses to the distribution of the electric field in the vicinity of the nanotip apex that holds the topmost single atom. We demonstrate that although the electric field is relatively enhanced by the nano protrusion it is still significantly dominated by the tip base. The analyses explicitly show that nanotips with broad bases produce even less field than some modest tips, at the same applied voltage. This pronounced effect of the tip base accounts for the relatively high voltages needed at the imaging threshold field. The results reveal that single atom tips are not necessarily sharp at a mesoscopic scale and the tip sharpness has to be determined from the combination of the nanotip apex (FIM or FEM) image and the applied voltage.     

Trapping of a diffusing adatom by a substitutional surface defect

We propose a simple model to explain qualitatively the results of a recent field-ion-microscopy (FIM) study in which a substitutional Ir atom in the Rh(001) surface traps diffusing Rh adatoms [G.L. Kellogg, Phys. Rev. Lett., to be published]. The proposed explanation is supported by an embedded-atom-method investigation of the effect of a substitutional Pt atom in the Pd(001) surface on Pd adatom diffusion. We find a smaller energy barrier for a single adatom to diffuse around the defect than away from it, i.e., the adatom is effectively trapped by this defect in qualitative agreement with the FIM study. We also find that Pd adatom clusters are more strongly bound at the defect than away from it, indicating that such a defect can act as a nucleation site for cluster growth.     

Interaction of hydrogen with palladium surface: FIM and FEM studies

In the present paper, we focus on the geometrical and electronic changes in palladium surface structure which appeared during its interaction with hydrogen in the presence of an external electric field. The interaction process was examined by using the field ion microscopy (FIM) as well as the field emission microscopy (FEM) techniques. In order to study the geometrical changes in substrate surface structure, the distance distribution function (DDF) was constructed on the basis of FIM patterns of both a clean and hydrogen-covered palladium surface. The electronic changes were examined by the measurement of the total energy distribution (TED) of electrons emitted from the palladium tip surface. The most pronounce examples of such changes are an expansion of the equilibrium interatomic distance in palladium surface and a shift of the Fermi level of the metal. These changes may be explained among others by palladium hydrides formation. This process is the most efficient if the field strength exceeds 23 V/nm.