Detection efficiency of fission tracks in apatite related to mica external detectors by the spike irradiation technique

Detection efficiency of fission tracks in non-annealed and annealed Durango apatite crystals related to mica external detectors for fission track dating was estimated experimentally using the spike irradiation technique [Suzuki, 2002a. Abstracts of 21st International Conference on Nuclear Tracks in Solids, p. 22]. The relation of the fission track density between apatite samples and mica external detectors is an important parameter for the determination of fission track ages using an absolute approach especially for crystalline minerals. Spike irradiation of uranium-235-induced fission fragments was carried out using a high uranium content glass, GE1497, fixed firmly on the sample surface. Experimental works were carried out for sections parallel and perpendicular to the crystallographic c-axis of apatite. The detection efficiency of fission tracks in non-annealed apatite related to the mica external detectors was estimated to be 0.90 for the prism face and 0.99 for the basal face. The fission track age of Durango apatite averaged for the prism and basal faces was estimated to be 30.6 (±2.5) Ma, which is concordant with reference values reported previously, using the detection efficiency data with a B₀ value of the CN5 monitor glass and a U-238 spontaneous decay constant value of . The results also indicate that the B₀ age calibration method can be used effectively for the absolute evaluation of fission track ages of apatite.     

Modeling the fission track etching process in apatite: Segmentation or crystallography influence

In this study, two factors which can influence fission track etching in apatite are considered: track segmentation (induced by thermal annealing) and variable radial etching speed (due to the reagent diffusion during the etching process).

During the latent track annealing, two distinguishable steps can be identified by measuring track lengths or diameters. A length reduction is firstly observed, followed by a segmentation process which leads to the emergence of disrupted regions (gaps).

At present time, electron microscopy studies on fission tracks in apatite show profiles which lead to hypotheses of a variable radial etching speed versus depth. These variations can be interpreted in terms of acid diffusion along the track. Moreover, the existence of several bulk etching speeds related to crystallographic orientation is approached.

Taking into account these different points, a software program, integrating parameters as original track orientation and depth, number of gaps, etc., is developed in order to model the track profile evolution during the etching process. Comparison with experiments in Durango apatite (Mexico) are also undertaken.     

Vortex lattice accommodation on twin boundaries in studied by neutron diffraction

An extensive study of small angle neutron scattering was performed in twinned YBa₂Cu₃O₇ crystals in its superconducting state as a function of the angle between the c-axis of the crystal and the magnetic field. The half of the twin boundaries are oriented in the horizontal plane, which also contains the neutron beam and the magnetic field. Two different diffraction patterns are studied as a function of at 5 K and B = 0.5 T, one along the c-axis of the crystal, the other one along the applied field. These variations are interpreted in the model of accommodation of the vortices on the twin planes by zigzagging from these planes to the ab-planes of the crystal, in order to minimize their energy. Received: 9 March 1998 / Revised and Accepted: 12 June 1998     

Kinematic grouping of reflections of parametric X-ray radiation

A model of parametric X-ray radiation (PXR) of moderately relativistic particles is developed within the kinematic theory taking into account radiation absorption. The model allows calculation of the PXR reflection intensity in a given direction taking into account diffraction of virtual photons on a set of “incidental” low-index crystallographic planes. It is shown that when a charged particle moves along certain crystallographic directions, the effect of kinematic grouping of reflections, at which lines of parametric radiation from various planes practically coincide, is observed.     

Long-period shear structure in lanthanum cuprate

In non-superconducting, oxygen-deficient La₂CuO_4–x a long-period shear structure is formed to accommodate the local non-stoichiometry. Based on the results of electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy a model is proposed for this new structure. The model is based on edge-sharing octahedra along the crystallographic shear planes. Observations suggest that the shear takes place above the tetragonal-orthorhombic phase transition. The space group of the new phase has been determined as Plcl.     

The crystallographic shear planes of the non-stoichiometric molybdenum oxides as revealed by RHEED: Investigation from the Mo18O52(100) surface

Large Mo₁₈O₅₂ crystals are obtained by an appropriate crystallization method. The examination of their well developed surfaces by the use of reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) proves that these are (100) surfaces stepped along [010] directions. It is concluded that this oxide surface conformation can be connected to the particular Mo₁₈O₅₂ structure which is built up of MoO₃ slabs of finite width mutually joined by crystallographic shear planes (CS planes). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis from Mo₁₈O₅₂ crystal flakes confirms that these are single crystals without disorder in the periodicity of the CS planes.     

Hydrogen Bond and 19F NMR Chemical Shift Akisotropy in Apatite

Abstract

The fluoroapatite minerals, Ca₅-F(PO₄)₃ usually contain some hydroxyis, instead of fluorine. From infrared spectra it was concluded, that there are weak hydrogen bonds OH … F along apatite hexagonal axis¹. In order to receive more detailed information about the character of F^?and OH^?bonds with the nearest atoms in apatites we studied the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of protons and fluorines in natural apatite single crystal, in which approximately 15% of fluorines is substituted by hydroxyis.     

Magnetic structure of low-dimensional LiCu2O2 multiferroic according to 63,65Cu and 7Li NMR studies

The complex NMR study of the magnetic structure of LiCu₂O₂ multiferroic has been performed. It has been shown that the spin spirals in LiCu₂O₂ are beyond the ab, bc, and ac crystallographic planes. The external magnetic field applied along the c axis of the crystal does not change the spatial orientation of spirals in Cu²⁺ chains. A magnetic field of H ₀ = 94 kOe applied along the a and b axes rotates the planes of spin spirals in chains, tending to orient the normal n of spirals along the external magnetic field. The rotation angle of the planes of the magnetic moments are maximal at H ₀ ?? b.     

Stress at alloyed metal contacts with silicon and gallium arsenide

An optical-polarization procedure is described for determining the residual stress at alloyed metal contacts on the primary crystallographic planes of semiconductors. Equations are derived for the birefringence and the angle between the stress and one of the optic axes for various directions of uniaxial stress in {100} and {110} planes. These equations can be used to calculate the mechanical stress in T_d, O, and O_h cubic crystals (43 m, 432, and m3m). The stress has been determined experimentally for the cases of alloyed metal contacts on various crystallographic planes of silicon and gallium arsenide.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii Fizika, No.3, pp. 7–12, March, 1971.In conclusion the authors thank V. F. Konusov and V. I. Nikitenko for consultation and discussion of these results.     

Geometry of etched charged particle tracks in crystalline detectors

Studies on the shape of etched fission tracks in crystalline detectors show that the track geometry carries valuable information on the crystal structure of the detector involved. The geometry of the etched tracks in crystalline detectors is a prism formed of certain crystal planes. In mica detectors, for given etching conditions the type and number of the planes depend on the incident angle and the extent of the radiation damage along the track. In a single track the type of crystal planes forming the track prism may change along the track resulting in dramatic variations of the track geometry at certain depth of focus.     

Atomic structure and microtopography of interfaces between crystalline and amorphous phasees in tungsten

The morphology of the interface between crystalline and amorphous phases in tungsten is investigated at the atomic level. Interfacial incoherence and a high degree of localization of imperfections are found. It is found that in the region near the interface the close-packed crystallographic planes are in register with the paraplanes. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 66, No. 7, 475–480 (10 October 1997)     

Coherent phonons in NdBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> single crystals: Optical-response anisotropy and hysteretic behavior

Femtosecond pump-probe measurements of reflection from crystallographic planes are performed to investigate lattice relaxation dynamics in the NdBa₂Cu₃O_{7? x} high-temperature superconductor. Ultrafast phonon response is examined over a wide temperature range for various orientations of the pump and probe polarization vectors with respect to particular crystallographic axes. The initial phases of coherent phonons are measured, and hysteretic behavior is revealed in the transition between two temperature regions above T_c for the ac plane.     

On the perfection of cleavage planes of potassium bichromate single crystals

The relative perfection of the 001, 100 and 100 cleavage planes of potassium bichromate single crystals is analysed by calculations of the surface energy of main crystallographic planes. The surface energy was determined for the three cleavage planes as well as for planes corresponding to other theoretically possible orientations. It was found that: (1) among different planes the calculated values of the surface energy of the 001, 100 and 010 cleavage planes of potassium bichromate are the lowest, (2) among the three cleavage planes the 001 perfect cleavage plane has the lowest surface energy, (3) the relative perfection of different cleavage planes can be explained by using the coefficient δ proportional to the ratio of the surface energy of the hkl cleavage plane to the energy of dislocations emerging on the plane, and (4) the lower the values of the coefficient δ for a cleavage plane, the better is the cleavage perfection.     

Reflection-pattern study of the anisotropy of the etching of gallium antimonide

An etchant has been found for the selective etching of gallium antimonide, and a study has been made of the anisotropy of the dissolution along the main crystallographic directions. The dissolution rates of the gallium antimonide faces obey $$v_{\left( {111} \right)B} > v_{\left( {1 \cdot 0} \right)} > v_{\left( {110} \right)} > v_{\left( {111} \right)A} .$$ An optical method has been developed for orienting gallium antimonide crystals on the basis of the main crystallographic planes. Reflection patterns from GaSb differ from those from gallium arsenide, germanium, and silicon.     

Ionic conductivity of isostructural crystals of the superionic conductors Li3Fe2(PO4)4 and Li3Sc2(PO4)3

The results of measurements of the ionic conductivity σ in Li₃M₂(PO₄)₃ (M=Fe, Sc) single crystals along various crystallographic directions are analyzed. Possible causes of the different behavior of σ in the isostructural crystals are discussed: a jump of the conductivity in the transition to the superionic phase in Li₃Sc₂(PO₄)₃ and its absence in Li₃Fe₂(PO₄)₃; the existence of a conductivity maximum in different crystallographic directions (along the c axis in Li₃Sc₂(PO₄)₃ and along the a axis in Li₃Fe₂(PO₄)₃). Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 83–86 (January 1997)     

The influence of etching parameters on the sensitivity of plastics

Abstract

It seems that the critical rate of primary ionization for track registration must also depend on the etching conditions. Simple experimental methods are presented to show a possible change in registration sensitivity as a function of the chemical parameters. It was proved, from investigations of α-particle tracks, that the sensitivity of a cellulose acetate detector can considerably depend on the concentration and type of etching reagent. Quantitative data are given on the ratio of the rate of chemical etching along the track and on the detector surface as a function of concentration of NaOH solution for tracks of fission fragments registered in plastics of cellulose acetate, polycarbonate and polyethylene-terephthalate.     

X-ray diffraction investigation of the thermochromic phase transition in an [NH2(C2H5)2]2CuCl4 crystal

The unit cell parameters of an [NH₂(C₂H₅)₂]₂CuCl₄ crystal are determined using x-ray diffraction analysis, and the thermal expansion coefficients along the principal crystallographic directions are calculated in the temperature range 100–330 K. The behavior of the intensities of the diffraction reflections from the (100), (010), and (001) crystallographic planes is studied in the vicinity of the thermochromic phase transition temperature. The occurrence of a first-order phase transition in the [NH₂(C₂H₅)₂]₂CuCl₄ crystal at T ≈ 324 K is confirmed experimentally.     

Crystallographic shear of polymorphic TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanocondensates with enhanced Cr<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> dissolution via pulsed laser ablation

TiO₂ nanoparticles with enhanced solid solution of Cr up to 16 wt% in polymorphs of rutile, anatase, brookite, α-PbO₂-type, and occasionally baddeleyite-type were synthesized via pulse laser ablation on ceramic TiO₂ target dissolved with Cr₂O₃ or clamped Cr/Ti plates in air. Analytical electron microscopic observations indicated these nanocondensates have prevalent crystallographic shear (CS) along specific planes to form superstructures. The rutile type typically shows (100) and (010) CS besides the conventional ones rotating about the [111] zone axis as reported for ambient samples. The CS planes are parallel to (001) for anatase, (001) and ([`1] \overline{1} 10) for brookite, whereas (001) and {1[`3] \overline{3} 1} for the α-PbO₂-type TiO₂ with varied extent of Cr dissolution. Surface modification, as a result of Cr dissolution and/or internal stress, was observed for all the polymorphs.     

Microstresses in textured polycrystals studied by the multireflection diffraction method and self-consistent model

A new version of the X-ray diffraction method for determining macrostresses and microstresses in textured polycrystalline material is presented. In this method the lattice strains for various orientation of the scattering vector as well as for various crystallographic planes {hkl} are measured. The interpretation of the experimental data is based on the least-squares fitting procedure, in which the diffraction elastic constants and theoretical values of microstresses are used. The diffraction elastic constants and the microstresses are calculated by the self-consistent model. The new method was successfully applied for stress determination in one- and two-phase steels subjected to elastoplastic deformation, and the significant anisotropy of the incompatibility stresses was observed in textured samples.