Tritium gas handling system for muon catalyzed fusion research at RIKEN-RAL muon facility

For muon catalyzed fusion (μCF) experiments at RIKEN-RAL muon facility, a tritium gas handling system for a high purity D–T target, free from ³ component, has been constructed to perform precise measurements of α-sticking probability in the μCF cycle. The system has been constructed to enable us to purify the target D–T gas by removing ³He component, to adjust the D/T mixing ratio, and to measure the hydrogen isotope components at the experiment site. The whole performance has been confirmed and a tritium gas with the inventory of 56 TBq (1500 Ci) has been operated in the system. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Atomic effects accompanying the beta decay of tritium

The results of the first experiment designed to measure the difference between the beta-decay constants of atomic and molecular tritium Δλ=λ_a–λ_m are presented. The experimental scheme calls for the creation of two identical samples of a gas mixture containing helium-4 and molecular tritium followed by the treatment of one of them for the purpose of bringing the tritium into the atomic state. The value of Δλ is determined by comparing the growth rates of the ratio of the concentration of radiogenic helium-3 to the concentration of helium-4 in the samples with molecular and atomic tritium. The value Δλ=(4.6±0.8)×10⁻¹² s⁻¹, which corresponds o a relative change in the decay constant amounting to ∼0.26%, is obtained. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 19–21 (September 1999)     

A small and compact AMS facility for tritium depth profiling

Depth profiling measurements of tritium in carbon samples have been performed during the past seven years at the AMS facility installed at the Rossendorf 3 MV Tandetron. The samples have been cut from the inner walls of the fusion experiments ASDEX-upgrade/Garching and JET/Culham. The tritium content of the samples from JET required a dedicated AMS facility to prevent any contamination of the versatile 3 MV Tandetron. On the basis of an air-insulated 100 kV tandem accelerator equipped with a gas stripper an AMS facility exclusively devoted to tritium depth profiling was installed, tested and used for routine measurements. After additional successful tests employing diamond-like carbon (DLC) stripper foils at this accelerator, another small and compact 100 kV tandem accelerator with SF₆ insulation and a DLC stripper has been installed at the AMS facility. Results obtained with the different tandem accelerators are presented.     

Formation of a plane layer of plasma under irradiation by a soft X-ray source

We investigate theoretically the formation of a plasma in a plane layer of polymer foam (density ρ = 0.002 g/cm³ and thickness 800 μm) under the action of an external source of soft X-ray radiation under the conditions of PHELIX experiments. The incident flux is assumed to have a Planck’s distribution over the spectrum with T _rad = 20–40 eV. In numerical calculations, the flux of incident X-ray radiation and the spectral constants of the target substance are varied. The action of an external X-ray radiation source on a low-density foam substance with a density of 2 mg/cm³ causes a plasma to be formed with relatively homogeneous profiles of density and temperature T = 15–35 eV. Absorption of externalradiation energy is distributed in the volume. The plasma temperature increases with increase in the external energy, and the energy passed through the plasma also increases. The results prove to be sensitive to the values of optical constants used in numeral simulation. The spectral flux of external radiation passed through the plasma is chosen as a criterion of correctness of the optical constants used in the calculations. In future experiments using the PHELIX facility, we plan to investigate the slowing-down of an ion beam in a plasma formed as a result of indirect heating of low-density polymer triacetate cellulose (TAC) foam with densities ρ = 0.001–0.01 g/cm³ under the action of a pulse of X-ray radiation, into which the laser radiation is preliminarily transformed.     

Theoretical study of β-decay of a negative tritium ion

A calculation of the probability of the main β-decay channel of a negative tritium ion is described as one of the processes that can affect the β-spectrum of a tritium source near the end point. The appropriate energy parameters have been calculated. This process should be taken into account in interpreting measured β-spectra near the end point in connection with determining the neutrino rest mass. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 112, 1537–1542 (November 1997)     

Generation of the line radiation of argon added to DT gas in Iskra-5 experiments

The first experiments measuring the density of a compressed deuterium and tritium mixture in microtargets of indirect irradiation (x-ray targets) were performed at the Iskra-5 facility. The density was determined according to the broadening of the lines of hydrogen-and helium-like argon added to the DT gas as a diagnostics material. A series of three experiments was performed with x-ray targets in which the central capsule filled with a DT + Ar mixture over a range of shell thicknesses. In two of the experiments, argon emission spectra were recorded and the density of the compressed gas was determined. For a microtarget approximately 280 μm in diameter with a wall approximately 7 μm thick, an analysis of the experimental results yielded an estimated density in the compressed gas of ∼1 g/cm³. Gas-dynamic calculations using the SNDA (spectral nonequilibrium diffusion with absorption) program show that argon emission takes place just after reaching maximum temperature, but much sooner than maximum compression. The results of a calculation for an experiment with low relative Ar concentration are in overall agreement with the experimental data. Additional investigations are needed to interpret experiments at a relatively high concentration. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 114, 837–848 (September 1998)     

A Personal Adventure in Muon-Catalyzed Fusion

Luis Alvarez and colleagues discovered muon-catalyzed fusion of hydrogen isotopes by chance in late 1956. On sabbatical leave at Princeton University during that year, I read the first public announcement of the discovery at the end of December in that well-known scientific journal, The New York Times. A nuclear theorist by prior training, I was intrigued enough in the phenomenon to begin some calculations. I describe my work here, my interaction with Alvarez, and a summary of the surprising developments, both before and after Alvarez’s discovery. The rare proton–deuteron (p–d) fusion events in Alvarez’s liquid-hydrogen bubble chamber occurred only because of the natural presence of a tiny amount of deuterium (heavy hydrogen). Additionally, the fusion rate, once the proton–deuteron–muon (pdμ ⁻ ) molecular ion has been formed, is sufficiently slow that only rarely does an additional catalytic act occur. A far different situation occurs for muons stopping in pure deuterium or a deuterium–tritium (d–t) mixture where the fusion rates are many orders of magnitude larger and the molecular-formation rates are large compared to the muon’s decay rate. The intricate interplay of atomic, molecular, and nuclear science, together with highly fortuitous accidents in the molecular dynamics and the hope of practical application, breathed life into a seeming curiosity. A small but vigorous worldwide community has explored these myriad phenomena in the past 50 years.     

On the conversion of tritium units to mass fractions for hydrologic applications

We develop a general equation for converting laboratory-reported tritium levels, expressed either as concentrations (tritium isotope number fractions) or mass-based specific activities, to mass fractions in aqueous systems. Assuming that all tritium is in the form of monotritiated water simplifies the derivation and is shown to be reasonable for most environmental settings encountered in practice. The general equation is nonlinear. For tritium concentrations c less than 4.5×10¹² tritium units (TU) – i.e. specific tritium activities<5.3×10¹¹ Bq kg^?1 – the mass fraction w of tritiated water is approximated to within 1 part per million by w ≈ c×2.22293×10^?18, i.e. the conversion is linear for all practical purposes. Terrestrial abundances serve as a proxy for non-tritium isotopes in the absence of sample-specific data. Variation in the relative abundances of non-tritium isotopes in the terrestrial hydrosphere produces a minimum range for the mantissa of the conversion factor of [2.22287; 2.22300].     

Fundamental symmetries studies with cold trapped francium atoms at ISAC

Francium combines a heavy nucleus (Z = 87) with the simple atomic structure of alkalis and is a very promising candidate for precision tests of fundamental symmetries such as atomic parity non-conservation measurements. Fr has no stable isotopes, and the ISAC radioactive beam facility at TRIUMF, equipped with an actinide target, promises to provide record quantities of Fr atoms, up to 10¹⁰/s for some isotopes. We discuss our plans for a Fr on-line laser trapping facility at ISAC and experiments with samples of cold Fr atoms. We outline our plans for a measurement of the nuclear anapole moment – a parity non-conserving, time-reversal conserving moment that arises from weak interactions between nucleons – in a chain of Fr isotopes. Its measurement is a unique probe for neutral weak interactions inside the nucleus.      

Time-of-flight system for the multipurpose detector (MPD)

A conceptual design for a multipurpose detector (MPD) [1] is proposed for the study of hot and dense barony matter in collisions of heavy ions over the atomic mass range A = 1–197 at center-of-mass energies of up to 11 GeV (for Au⁷⁹⁺). The MPD experiment is scheduled to be performed at a future JINR accelerator complex facility for heavy ions, the Nuclotron-based Ion Collider Facility (NICA), which is designed to reach the required parameters with an average luminosity of L = 10²⁹ cm⁻² s⁻¹. Identification of charged hadrons (PIDs) at intermediate momenta (0.1–2 GeV/c) is achieved via time-of-flight (TOF) measurements. As a base element of the TOF detector, we consider a 10 gap MRPC with a strip or pad readout. Results from an MRCP prototype test are presented.     

Bilinear optical susceptibilities of potassium dihydrogen phosphate and of III–V,II–VI and I–VII semiconductors

The approximate orbital-approach of Jha and Bloembergen is used to calculate the non-dispersive part of the bilinear optical susceptibility,χ ⁽²⁾, for various compounds. Using bonding and antibonding states of the molecular orbital theory it is shown thatχ ⁽²⁾ satisfies a simple relation in terms of other measurable physical quantities. This relation is used to calculateχ ⁽²⁾ for various III–V, II–VI and I–VII semiconductors, both with cubic zinc blende structure and with hexagonal wurtzite structure. The same procedure is used to obtainχ ⁽²⁾ for potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP). The calculated values are compared with the experimentally observed values and it is found that the present model gives excellent results for II–VI compounds and for KDP.     

Influence of local excitation of octupolar Oligophenylenevinylenes on their dipole moments

Absorption and fluorescence spectra of octupolar centrosymmetric oligophenylenevinylene dyes (E,E)-bis[2-(4-hexyloxyphenyl)ethenyl]-(E,E)-3,6-bis-[2-(4-N,N-dipropylaminophenyl)ethenyl]pyrazine and (E,E,E,E)-2,3,5,6- tetra-[2-(4-hexyloxyphenyl)ethenyl]pyrazine were measured in various solvents. An electro-optical absorption method was used to determine their dipole moments as μ _g  = 6.1∙10^–30 and 3.4∙10^–30 C∙m in the equilibrium ground state and the increased values ∆ ^a μ = 11.9∙10^–30 and 8.2∙10^–30 C∙m upon excitation into a Franck–Condon state. Quantum-chemical calculations showed that the molecules had non-planar configurations. The π,π-conjugated system was localized on the most planar part of the molecule that was responsible for light absorption in the range 300–450 nm due to a change in the geometry of the molecules in the ground state. Localized excitation of the molecules caused their dipole moments ∆ ^a μ to change significantly.     

Recent Result of Muon Catalyzed t–t Fusion at RIKEN-RAL

We have measured X-rays and neutrons associated with the muon catalyzed t–t fusion process at the RIKEN-RAL Muon facility. In the X-ray measurement, we observed K_α and K_β X-rays originating from the muon sticking process in muon catalyzed t–t fusion, and obtained the K_α X-ray yield and the K_β/K_α intensity ratio. An average recoil energy of the (μ⁻α) atoms in a solid T₂ medium was determined from the observed Doppler broadening width of the K_α X-ray line. The obtained t–t fusion neutron has shown an exponential time spectrum with a single component and a continuous energy spectrum with a maximum energy of 9 MeV. We have determined the t–t fusion neutron yield, the t–t fusion cycling rate and the muon sticking probability from the neutron data. The obtained maximum neutron energy is a very peculiar value from the view point of the reaction Q value (11.33 MeV) with the three-particle decay mode at the exit channel: t + t → α + n + n + Q. The obtained neutron energy distribution was analyzed by a simple model with two neutron energy components; reasonable agreement has been obtained, suggesting a strong (n–α) correlation in the exit channel of the t–t muon catalyzed fusion reaction. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Tritium Fuel Cycle for Muon-Catalyzed Intense Neutron Source (MC INS)

The paper presents a schematic design of a Tritium Fuel Cycle for Muon-Catalyzed Intense Neutron Source (MC INS) capable of producing 14 MeV neutrons. Based on the assumption that the fuel mixture should be used in a liquid phase different approaches are proposed to incorporate a DT cell (synthesizer) into the MC INS facility. Estimations of the total tritium inventory in the MC INS facility are given. The calculations of the DT cell operation temperature regime using the code FLOW-3D^(R) are presented. The capability to remove the thermal energy released in the DT cell of the proposed design is shown. The MC INS design is analyzed from the viewpoint of tritium safety requirements. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Experimental investigation of muon-catalyzed t + t fusion

The muon-catalyzed fusion (μCF) process in tritium was studied by the μCF collaboration on the muon beam of the JINR Phasotron. The measurements were carried out with a liquid tritium target at the temperature 22 K and density approximately 1.25 of the liquid hydrogen density (LHD). Parameters of the μCF cycle were determined: the ttμ muonic molecule formation rate λ _ttμ = 2.84(0.32) μs⁻¹, the ttμ fusion reaction rate λ _f = 15.6(2.0) μs⁻¹, and the probability of muon sticking to helium ω _tt = 13.9(1.5)%. The results agree with those obtained earlier by other groups, but better accuracy was achieved due to our unique experimental method. The article is published in the original.     

Search for lepton-flavor-violating rare muon processes

A new approach to seeking three lepton-flavor-violating rare muon processes (μ → e conversion, μ → e + γ, and μ → 3e) on the basis of a single experimental facility is proposed. This approach makes it possible to improve the sensitivity level of relevant experiments by factors of 10⁵, 600, and 300 for, respectively, the first, the second, and the third of the above processes in relation to the existing experimental level. The approach is based on employing a pulsed proton beam and on combining a muon source and the detector part of the facility into a unified magnetic system featuring a nonuniform field. A new detector design involving separate units andmaking it possible to study all three muonic processes at a single facility that admits a simple rearrangement of the detectors used is discussed.     

The First Observation of the Temperature-Dependent Phenomenon of Muon Catalyzed Fusion in Solid D–T Mixtures

A systematic study on muon catalyzed fusion (μCF) was conducted in solid deuterium and tritium (D–T) mixture. A variety of experimental conditions were investigated, i.e., tritium concentrations from 20 to 70%, temperatures from 5 to 16 K. A preliminary analysis result suggests a steep decrease in the dtμ-molecule formation rate with decreasing temperature, and also an increase in the probability for a muon reactivation after an α-sticking phenomenon. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Measurement of the nuclear magnetic moment of tritium to nine-digit accuracy

A series of ten pair spectra has been obtained by simultaneously detecting the proton and tritium NMR spectra of the gaseous TH sample, which is an analogue of molecular hydrogen. The numerical processing of the data yields the ratio F(TH)/F(HT) = 1.066 639 8933(7) of the magnetic moments of tritium and proton in the TH molecule. The relative statistical error of this result is 7 × 10⁻¹⁰. To find the nuclear magnetic moment of tritium from F(TH)/F(HT), it is sufficient to use the previously calculated correction factor δ = (1 + 20.4 × 10⁻⁹), which originates from a small asymmetry of the electron cloud of the molecule.     

Detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-isomers of hydrocarbon residues of lipid molecules by IR absorption

IR spectroscopy is used for a comparative analysis of the trans-isomerization of double bonds in hydrocarbon residuals of lactic and hydrogenated lipids. The maximum of the absorption band of the trans-isomers for all the lipid samples is found to lie at 965 cm⁻¹. An absorption band at 970 cm⁻¹ is discovered in the spectra of the lactic lipids near the analytic band of the trans-isomers at 965 cm⁻¹. Based on a gaussian approximation for their absorption spectral bands, the trans-isomer content in the lactic lipid samples is 10–11%. The absorption by lipid molecules at 970 cm⁻¹ has to be taken into account when determining the trans-isomer content of fat and oil products. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 76, No. 1, pp. 138–142, January–February, 2009.     

Exotic, narrow, resonance searches in ΛK S 0 systems

A number of peculiarities were found in the effective mass spectrum of the ΛK _S ⁰ system in the ranges of 1650–1680, 1740–1750, 1785–1805, 1835–1860, and 1925–1950 MeV/c ² during the collision of a 10-GeV/c ² momentum proton with propane. Detailed research of a mass spectrum structure has shown that significant enhancements have been obtained in two effective mass ranges of 1750 and 1795 MeV/c ². These peaks could be interpreted as possible candidates of two pentaquark states: the N ⁰ with quark content udsds decaying into ΛK ⁰ and the Ξ⁰ resonance with quark content udsds decaying into . The text was submitted by the authors in English.