Study of the mass attenuation coefficients and effective atomic numbers in some gemstones

The total mass attenuation coefficients for natural beryl, corundum, garnet, pearl, and tourmaline gemstones were measured at 81, 356.5, 661.6, 1173.2, and 1332.5?keV photon energies. The samples were irradiated with ¹³³Ba, ¹³⁷Cs and ⁶⁰Co radioactive point sources using gamma ray transmission method. Total atomic and electronic cross-sections, effective atomic numbers and electron densities were determined experimentally and theoretically. The experimental values were compared with the calculated values for all samples. The calculations were extended for total photon interactions in a wide energy range (1?keV?C100?GeV) using WinXCom program of the most commonly irradiated gemstones with different sources of ionized radiation. The values of these parameters have been found to vary with photon energy and chemical composition of the gemstones. All variations of these parameters against energy are shown graphically for total photon interactions.     

Effective atomic numbers of some polymers and other materials for photoelectric process at 59.54 keV

Effective atomic numbers (Z_eff) of three polymers, an alloy, a compound and an element have been determined for photoelectric process at 59.54 keV from the accurately measured total attenuation coefficients, for γ ray attenuation. Possible conclusions are drawn on electron binding effects and K-edge effects.     

Effective atomic numbers for photoabsorption in alloys in the energy region of absorption edges

For photon interactions, the effective atomic numbers for 25 alloys containing different elements from carbon to bismuth at energies 10, 20, 30, 40 60, 80, 100 and 150 keV are derived. It is expected that the number should not vary with energy in this energy region, since photoabsorption is the dominant process. But, it is noticed that the number is not the same for alloys in the energy region of their respective constituent elemental photoabsorption edges. However, above the energy of the K absorption edge of the highest atomic number involved in each alloy, the number for photoabsorption more or less remains the same.     

Photon interaction cross sections for some amino acids in the range 30–385 keV

Total attenuation cross sections for several amino acids have been measured for Ba¹³³ photons in a narrow beam good geometry setup, using a hyper pure germanium detector. These values are compared with the values calculated using the mixture rule based on the data of Hubbell for the individual elements and found to be in good agreement.     

Determination of mass attenuation coefficients,effective atomic and electron numbers for some natural minerals

The total mass attenuation coefficients (μ_m) for SiO₂ {Quartz (1 1 0 1), Quartz (1 1 0 0) and Quartz (0 0 0 1)}, KAlSi₃O₈ {Orthoclase (0 1 0), Orthoclase (1 0 0)}, CaSO₄·2H₂O (gypsum), FeS₂ (pyrite) and Mg₂Si₂O₆ (pyroxene) natural minerals were measured at 22.1, 25.0, 59.5 and 88.0 keV photon energies. The γ- and X-rays were counted by a Si(Li) detector with a resolution of 160 eV at 5.9 keV. Atomic and electronic cross sections (σ_t and σ_e), the effective atomic and electron numbers or electron densities (Z_eff and N_eff) were determined using the obtained μ_m values for investigated samples.     

Determination of the effective atomic and mass numbers for mixture and compound materials in high energy photon interactions

In consideration the radiological properties of materials and studying the scattering processes in atomic and nuclear physics, the effective atomic and mass numbers is widely employed. These numbers have been calculated for any mixed or composite materials in interaction with high energy photons (Linac in radiation therapy). A pair equation in terms of these numbers is obtained. The first equation has been derived from the conservation of mass energy law and the second by minimizing the binding energy from the semiempirical mass formula (Myers and Swiatecki formula) that gives a relation between atomic and mass numbers for stable nuclei approximately. By these equations one can obtain the effective atomic and mass numbers for any compound or mixed materials uniquely. These numbers are calculated for some materials and compared with the other studies.     

X-ray degradation of penton and its potential use as a dosimeter for the 4–15 keV range

Exposure of poly-3,3-(bischloromethyl)oxetane (Penton) to x-rays produces a linear reduction of the molecular weight, heat of fusion, and melting point with increasing absorbed dose. Optical density measurements fit a smooth curve with absorbed dose. Exposures were made with 25, 50, and 100 cal/cm² integrated incident energy at 50 peak kV with and without zinc and titanium-aluminum filters. Because the molecular weight of Penton is relatively uniform from lot to lot, and because it is difficult to obtain spectral measurement in the 4–15 keV range to which Penton is particularly sensitive, it is believed that the data contained in this report can be used with an interative computer code to determine the spectrum and intensity of radiation in this region.     

Dynamic computer simulations of Cs incorporation in Si during low‐energy (0.2–3 keV) irradiation

The incorporation of Cs atoms in silicon was investigated by dynamic computer simulations using the Monte‐Carlo code T‐DYN that takes into account the gradual change of the target composition due to the Cs irradiation. The implantation of Cs atoms at normal incidence was studied for four energies (0.2, 0.5, 1, and 3 keV) and three different Cs surface‐binding energies U_Cs (0.4, 0.8, and 2.4 eV). The total implantation fluences were 2 × 10¹⁷ Cs cm^?2 for 0.2 keV, 1.5 × 10¹⁷ Cs cm^?2 for 0.5 keV, and 1 × 10¹⁷ Cs cm^?2 for 1 and 3 keV. At these values, a stationary state has been reached. The steady‐state Cs‐surface concentrations exhibit a pronounced dependence both on impact energy and U_Cs, varying between ～1 (at 0.2 keV and U_Cs = 2.4 eV) and ～0.13 (3 keV and U_Cs = 0.4 eV). Under equilibrium, the partial sputtering yield of Si, Y_Si, experiences little influence of U_Cs, but varies with the Cs energy: at U_Cs = 0.8 eV from 0.09 to 1.0 Si atoms/Cs projectile. For all irradiation conditions a strongly preferential sputtering of Cs atoms as compared to Si atoms is found, increasing from 1.8 (at 3 keV and U_Cs = 2.4 eV) to 13.3 (at 0.2 keV and U_Cs = 0.4 eV). Preferential sputtering of Cs increases with decreasing irradiation energy and decreasing U_Cs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of soft X-ray multilayer laminar-type plane gratings and varied-line-spacing spherical grating for flat-field spectrograph in the 1–8 keV region

W/C and Co/SiO₂ multilayer laminar-type holographic plane gratings (groove density 1/σ = 1200 lines/mm) in the 1–8 keV region are developed. For the Co/SiO₂ grating the diffraction efficiencies of 0.41 and 0.47 at 4 and 6 keV, respectively, and for the W/C grating 0.38 at 8 keV are observed. Taking advantage of the outstanding high diffraction efficiencies into practical soft X-ray spectrographs a Mo/SiO₂ multilayer varied-line-spacing (VLS) laminar-type spherical grating (1/σ = 2400 lines/mm) is also developed for use with a flat field spectrograph in the region of 1.7 keV. For the Mo/SiO₂ multilayer grating the diffraction efficiencies of 0.05–0.20 at 0.9–1.8 keV are observed. The FWHMs of the measured line profiles of Hf-Mα₁(1644.6 eV), Si-Kα₁(1740.0 eV), and W-Mα₁ (1775.4 eV) are 13.7 eV, 8.0 eV, and 8.7 eV, respectively.     

Phase behavior of polystyrene–polyisoprene–toluene systems in the temperature range 15–45°c

The phase behavior of narrow molecular weight distribution samples of polystyrene and polyisoprene in the presence of toluene was investigated by means of gel permeation chromatography. Equilibrium phase diagrams, tie lines, and critical points for a number of partially miscible polystyrene-polyisoprene-toluene systems were generated at 15 and 30°C and 1 atm pressure. The data were combined with previously reported results at 45°C. Using the experimentally determined phase compositions along with literature values of the polymer–solvent interaction parameters, the polymer–polymer interaction parameters were evaluated using the Flory–Huggins theory. The influence of temperature, polymer molecular weight, and polymer–solvant interaction parameters on the size, shape, and location of the equilibrium phase curve, the location of the critical point, and the polymer–polymer interaction parameter was studied.     

Recent experimental studies of photon–atom scattering in the X-ray energy region

We present a review of our recent measurements of large angle elastic and inelastic scattering differential cross-sections in the photon energy range 14–88 keV (momentum transfer ranging 1.135 to 6.310 Å⁻¹ covering large number of elements in the atomic region Z=1–92, with special emphasis on the elements having K/Li shell/subshell binding energy in the vicinity of the incident photon energy. These measurements were performed using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) setup involving radioisotope as a photon source and a solid-state photon detector arranged in an annular geometry. The measured scattering differential cross-sections were compared with the theoretical values based on the state-of-art relativistic second order S-matrix calculations and those based on the form factor approximations in order to check their reliability. The KL and KM resonant Raman scattering (RRS) at 59.54 keV incident photon energy was also investigated for some heavy elements.     

A Unified Strategy to 6–5–6–5–6‐Membered Epipolythiodiketopiperazines: Studies towards the Total Synthesis of Scabrosin Diacetate and Haematocin

The family of epipolythiodiketopiperazine (ETP) natural products consists of over 200 members possessing a wide diversity of structures and biological activity. Recently, the subgroup of 6–5–6–5–6‐membered ETPs has gained substantial attention, which has resulted in several total syntheses. Despite all the efforts that have been invested into accessing these complex structures, no synthesis of scabrosin diacetate ( 1 a ) and its related esters has been reported. Herein, our attempts towards scabrosin diacetate ( 1 a ) and haematocin ( 3 ) starting from diketopiperazine 12 a as a late‐stage intermediate are presented. Diketopiperazine 12 a can be conveniently accessed in multigram quantities from aldehyde 18 and diketopiperazine 21 and was envisioned to serve as a general platform for the synthesis of 6–5–6–5–6‐membered ETPs.     

Studies in organic mass spectrometry. 12–Electron impact ionization mass spectra of some 3-nitropyrroles

The positive-ion electron impact ionization mass spectra of eight substituted 3-nitropyrroles were examined. The major fragment ions arise by ortho interactions between the 3-nitro group and the 2-methyl or 2-aryl group.     

Nonstatistical energy flow in the first N–H stretch overtone region of methylamine

Methylamine (CH₃NH₂) molecules, excited to vibrational states lying in the energy window of the first N–H stretch overtone, were studied by room temperature photoacoustic spectroscopy and jet-cooled action spectroscopy. Benefiting from both types of spectra and specifically from the narrowed action spectrum, a multiband structure was revealed. Simulation of the spectral contours allowed retrieving the band origins, band types and transition linewidths. The linewidths indicate that the energy redistribution occurs nonstatistically and that the 2ν₁₀ state (antisymmetric N–H stretch) is relatively longer lived.     

Determination of selenium in human tissues by atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple method is described for the determination of selenium in human tissues without the use of perchloric acid. Digestion with nitric and sulphuric acids is followed by hydride generation and atomic absorption spectrometry. Results for NBS bovine liver and IAEA horse kidney reference materials were in good agreement with assigned concentrations, as was also achieved with the perchloric acid digestion. Recovery of added selenium was >90%, and the relative standard deviation was 5.5% for within-batch and 6.9% for between-batch analyses. The values of selenium in heart tissue were 0.9–1.3 μg g^?1 dry weight.     

High temperature gas chromatography – atomic emission detection of metalloporphyrins in crude oils

High temperature gas chromatography-atomic emission spectroscopy is used for the detection of vanadyl, nickel, and iron porphyrins in crude oils. The operational variables are investigated with regard to the effects on performance in high temperature GC-AED. Under optimal conditions, the method provides charactersitic metal distributions for oils from different sources. The method is also advantageous in the study of decomposition of petroleum metal species. Several crude oils were analyzed for the content of the distillable metals in comparison with total metals as determined by a direct spectroscopic method.