Determination of the 209Bi(n,γ) capture cross section at a cold neutron beam

Summary The total capture cross section of ²⁰⁹Bi was determined at the cold neutron beam PGAA-NIPS facilities at the Budapest Neutron Centre. The measurements were performed using a coaxial HPGe detector with Compton suppression. The total and partial gamma-ray production cross sections were deduced relative to the ¹⁴N(n,γ) partial gamma-ray production cross section. By using a bismuth nitrate stoichiometric compound as the sample, we excluded various systematic uncertainties. The total capture cross section is in very good agreement with the compilation of Mughaghab, but is slightly lower than the most recent value determined at the high flux reactor of the ILL in Grenoble, France. We also performed measurements using a 0.5 mm thin Bi metal disc. The relative intensities determined from the Bi disc and the compound samples are in good agreement.     

Direct synthesis of radioactive carbon labeled fullerences using nuclear reactions

The¹¹C and¹⁴C labeled fullerenes were produced by charged-particle and neutron irradiation, of C₆₀, C₇₀ and their mixture. It was found that a carbon atom of fullerence can be easily exchanged with a radioactive carbon atom produced by a nuclear reaction. The HPLC method was effective for identification and purification of various labeled fullerene families as chemically stable compounds. The radiochemically interesting aspect of the results is not only the production of¹¹C and¹⁴C labeled fullerenes but also the formation of radioactive higher fullerenes which can be simultaneously produced with high yield and in carrier-free form.     

Isotopic fractionation during pretreatment for accelerator mass spetrometer measurement of (D<Subscript>3</Subscript>C)<Subscript>2</Subscript>O containing <Superscript>14</Superscript>C produced by nuclear reaction

A (D₃C)₂O (d₆-acetone) target was irradiated with semi-monoenergetic neutrons generated from ⁹Be(p,n)⁹B reaction with 20 MeV protons to convert ¹³C and oxygen nuclides in the target into ¹⁴C. With both liquid scintillation counting (LSC) and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) we measured the (D₃C)₂O (d₆-acetone) liquid targets, which were combustible and easy to afford CO₂ for the AMS measurements. The ¹⁴C yield measured by the LSC method turned out to be 80 times larger than that by the AMS method. This large discrepancy may be attributed to the loss of ¹⁴C atoms during the sample pretreatment in the AMS method such as combustion and cryogenic trapping of CO₂. It means that ¹⁴C newly produced by nuclear reactions can exist in various chemical forms, i.e., C₃D₆O, CO, CO₂, hydrocarbons, etc., and a simple sample pretreatment right after production can cause serious isotopic fractionation. Therefore, using the AMS method, extreme caution in sample pretreatment should be exercised when the ¹⁴C yield produced immediately by nuclear reaction is measured.     

Carbon-10: Example of cyclotron production of positron emitters as an open research field

This paper supports the thesis that significant improvement of PET output response to clinical questions can be achieved by innovation in radionuclide production. Moreover, that development can be performed with the resources available at a clinical centre. Carbon-10 production parameters studies are used as example. A technical methodology for measurement of excitation function of nuclear reactions yielding short-lived radionuclides, performed to measure cross section values of the ¹⁰B(p,n)¹⁰C reaction in a PET-devoted cyclotron, is presented.     

Mesoionic compounds — structure and NMR parameters

It has been shown that¹H,¹³C,¹⁴N,¹⁵N,¹⁷O, and⁷⁷Se NMR are very successful techniques for the identification and investigation of potential valence tautomerism in all types of mesoionic compounds. Especially the combined use of¹⁴N and¹⁵N NMR studies has been shown to be very effective in solving structural problems. From¹⁵N NMR it is possible to obtain accurate chemical shifts and spin-spin couplings, whereas the¹⁴N NMR spectra provide us with nuclear relaxation and some chemical shift data. In particular¹⁴N NMR is very useful for the identification of charged nitrogen atoms in molecules containing non equivalent nitrogen positions. This information is available from the relative¹⁴N signal widths, which depend upon the rates of¹⁴N relaxation, positively charged nitrogen atoms usually have relatively slow¹⁴N relaxation rates thus giving rather sharp NMR signals. Some solid state, CP MAS,¹³C and¹⁵N NMR results are available for comparison with the solution NMR data.Published in Khimiya Geterotsiklischeskikh Soedinenii, No. 9, pp. 1180–1199. September 1995.     

Zur borbestimmung in silizium und germanium durch aktivierung mit protonen und deuteronen

The determination of boron via the nuclear reaction ¹¹B(p,n)¹¹C was studied in detail; the nitrogen reaction ¹⁴N(p,a)¹¹C interferes. Nitrogen also interferes deuteron activation via the nuclear reactions 10B(d,n)¹¹C and ¹¹B(d,2n)¹¹C, this interference must be attributed to the nuclear reaction ¹⁴(d,αn)¹¹C. Both interferences were investigated quantitatively. The conditions for the accurate determination of boron and for a simultaneous determination of boron and nitrogen by proton activation were established. An analytical method with chemical separation of the radioisotope ¹¹C was developed for silicon and germanium.     

Heteronuclear Cross‐Relaxation Effects in the NMR Spectroscopy of Hyperpolarized Targets

Dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) enables high‐sensitivity solution‐phase NMR experiments on long‐lived nuclear spin species such as ¹⁵N and ¹³C. This report explores certain features arising in solution‐state ¹H NMR upon polarizing low‐γ nuclear species. Following solid‐state hyperpolarization of both ¹³C and ¹H, solution‐phase ¹H NMR experiments on dissolved samples revealed transient effects, whereby peaks arising from protons bonded to the naturally occurring ¹³C nuclei appeared larger than the typically dominant ¹²C‐bonded ¹H resonances. This enhancement of the satellite peaks was examined in detail with respect to a variety of mechanisms that could potentially explain this observation. Both two‐ and three‐spin phenomena active in the solid state could lead to this kind of effect; still, experimental observations revealed that the enhancement originates from ¹³C→¹H polarization‐transfer processes active in the liquid state. Kinetic equations based on modified heteronuclear cross‐relaxation models were examined, and found to well describe the distinct patterns of growth and decay shown by the ¹³C‐bound ¹H NMR satellite resonances. The dynamics of these novel cross‐relaxation phenomena were determined, and their potential usefulness as tools for investigating hyperpolarized ensembles and for obtaining enhanced‐sensitivity ¹H NMR traces was explored.     

Preparation and properties of phenyl‐modified natural rubber

We prepared phenyl‐modified natural rubber using a two‐step process. In the first step, natural rubber was brominated using N‐bromosuccinimide in a dichloromethane solution of natural rubber. The amount of N‐bromosuccinimide controlled the bromine content. In the second step, a Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction of the brominated natural rubber with phenyl boronic acid in the presence of a palladium catalyst replaced the bromine atoms with phenyl groups. ¹H‐nuclear magnetic resonance and ¹³C‐nuclear magnetic resonance measurements characterized the products. The signals around 7 ppm in the ¹H‐nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the products were assigned to the phenyl protons, and based on the assigned signals, the estimated conversion of the cross‐coupling reaction under mild conditions was more than 70 mol%. The amount of phenyl groups present affected both the loss tangent and the glass transition temperature of natural rubber, which increases from ?62°C to ?30°C. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The production rates of rare earth nuclides by 70 MeV bremsstrahlung for photon activation analysis

The combination of photon activation and solid state γ-ray detection provides a very effective method of analysis of rare earths. The present report describes the production rates of almost all of the product nuclides found in yttrium and 14 rare earths irradiated with 70 MeV bremsstrahlung photons from an electron synchrotron. A 20 cm³ lithium-drifted germanium diode was used as a detector. Sensitivities of this method have been summarized for photon activation analysis, and experimental reaction yields have been obtained in order to discuss the reactivity of high-energy photons with nuclei in the rare earth region. Work was performed at the Ames Laboratory of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. Contribution No. 2556     

Synthesis of14C-propoxur (o-isopropoxyphenyl N-methylcarbamate-14C) insecticide

Propoxur (Baygon^®) is an insecticide with a broad spectrum of activity and a very low order of mammalian toxicity. Radiosynthesis of propoxur was performed by the reaction of acetyl-1¹⁴C chloride and sodium azide to produce methyl isocyanate which then reacted with o-isopropoxyphenol at 100°C. A two compartment reaction tube with a break seal was utilized. Chromatographic procedures for isolating the N-methylcarbamates from their reaction mixtures are reported. Acetyl-1–¹⁴C chloride was prepared from thionyl chloride and sodium acetate-1–¹⁴C. Grignard reaction between methyl iodide and carbon –14 dioxide yielded acetic acid –¹⁴C which was neutralized by sodium hydroxide solution to give sodium acetate 1-¹⁴C.     

A simple and reliable monitoring system for 3H and 14C in radioactive airborne effluent

Summary A simple and reliable sampling system for ³H and ¹⁴C in airborne release from nuclear facilities was designed. The sampling system can collect ³H and ¹⁴C simultaneously with a condensation technique using a commercially available cold trap equipment and a CO₂ absorption technique using an organic alkali monoethanolamine solution, respectively. In situ performance tests for the effluent from a reprocessing plant showed that the system has high and stable efficiencies for collecting ³H and ¹⁴C for a one-week batch sampling at a sampling flow rate of 0.4 l ^. min^-1. These collection techniques also provided a simple procedure of following sample preparation for activity measurements by liquid scintillation counting. The detectable concentrations of the proposed monitoring method were 3.0 Bq ^. m^-3 for ³H and 1.6 Bq ^. m^-3 for ¹⁴C, respectively. The sensitivity would be on an acceptable level for routine monitoring of airborne release at nuclear facilities.     

A novel method for the cyclotron production no-carrier-added <Superscript>93m</Superscript>Mo for nuclear medicine

Amongst the various radioisotopes of molybdenum, ^93mMo in its no-carrier added form might be a potential candidate radionuclide in the field of nuclear medicine due to its suitable half-life (T _1/2 = 6.85 h) and for its intense gamma line at 263.14 keV. Aim of the presented study is to compare the calculated cross sections for the production of ^93mMo incident proton energy up to 30 MeV, theoretical calculation of production yield and calculation of target thickness requirement. Also, deposition of ⁹³NbO₂ on Cu substrate was carried out via two special sedimentation methods for the production of ^93mMo and a simple and selective extraction of molybdenum was described.     

Collision dynamics of excited NaK. I. Reactive KNaK and elastic HeNaK collisions

The collision dynamics of excited NaK have been studied using the technique of circularly polarised laser fluorescence. A very unusual m-dependent rate is observed for KNaK* reactive or quenching collisions which is different depending on whether the initial excitation is via Q or P, R transitions. A model is presented attributing this to the spatial distribution of the ¹Π Λ-doublet components and the influence of the nuclear function. Elastic HeNaK collisions are observed and a reorientation cross section for f = 30 was evaluated. This was found to have an upper limit of 0.3 Ų. Comparison of this with HeLi₂ reorientation cross sections indicate that the presence of a permanent dipole moment has little effect on the reorientation rate in rare gas-alkali dimer collisions.     

The development of nuclear microprobe techniques for the spatial determination of13C and13C/12C ratios

Sensitive and selective nuclear reaction methods have been sought for the nuclear microprobe measurement of the spatial distributions of¹³C and¹³C/¹²C ratios. The¹³C(α, n)¹⁶O reaction, with neutron detection, is the most selective for¹³C, and has a sensitivity of ca. 100 ppm. The reactions¹³C(d, p)¹⁴C and¹²C(d, p)¹³C, with proton detection, are the most sensitive for the simultaneous measurement of¹³C and¹²C, with detection limits of 30 and 2 ppm respectively. Less sensitive alternative reaction pairs are;¹³C(³He, p)¹⁵N and¹²C(³He, p)¹⁴N;¹³C(d, nγ)¹⁴N and¹²C(d, pγ)¹³C;¹³C(³He, pγ)¹⁵N and¹²C(³He, pγ)¹⁴N. The conditions governing their use, particularly light element interferences, are detailed.     

Calculations of the magnetic shielding constants of heavy nuclei in polyatomic molecules

Coupled Hartree-Fock perturbation theory has been applied to compute the nuclear magnetic shielding tensors for ¹⁷O, ¹⁴N, and ¹³C in the molecules of water, ammonia, and methane with four wave functions of increasing accuracy, expanded over basis sets of Gaussian functions. The agreement with the experimental data available for ammonia and methane is very good. Quantities necessary to evaluate the shilding for an arbitrary gauge are also given. The degree of gauge-invariance of the calculated properties is nt satisfactory in the ammonia, while better results are found for water.     

Probable nuclear reactions to produce proton rich rhenium radionuclides

The crux of the present work is to explore the various channels leading to the production of proton rich rhenium radionuclides, ^181–186Re, for different applications. The possible production routes encompass both light and heavy ion induced reactions up to a maximum 100 MeV projectile energy starting from threshold. The nuclear reaction model codes ALICE91 and PACE-II were employed in this endeavour. Excitation functions of the rhenium radionuclides have been calculated using the aforesaid nuclear reaction model codes and compared with the measured data wherever available. The contributions of preequilibrium and equilibrium reaction mechanisms to the total reaction cross section were analysed. For the first time, this study talks about the possibility of light-heavy ion (^6,7Li and ⁹Be) induced production of proton rich rhenium radionuclides.     

Optimation of the production of Na18F by use of the Szilard-Chalmers reaction following irradiation of fluorine compounds with 14 MeV neutrons

Studies intended to optimize the production of Na¹⁸F, in aqueous solution following irradiation of organic fluorine compounds with 14 MeV neutrons are described. The use of Szilard-Chamers conditions was chosen to enhance the yield of¹⁸F, given the low fluxes available and the inherently low cross section of the (n, 2n) reaction. Twenty five potential target compounds were tested. The most suitable one, both in terms of the cost of the target material and of the efficiency of production of water-soluble Na¹⁸F, was found to be perfluoro n-hexane. A simple production method for¹⁸F^– is outlined.     

Formation of dimer, trimer, and tetramer of C60 and C70 by γ-ray, charged-particle irradiation, and their HPLC separation

C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerenes were irradiated by high-energy γ-rays and charged particles. Coalesced products of C₆₀ and C₇₀ have been isolated and detected in the liquid phase by a radiochromatographic technique. It was found that not only ¹¹C radioactive fullerene dimer, trimer, and possibly tetramer were produced by a recoil implantation process following nuclear reaction, but also such non-radioactive coalesced products were produced by the recombination process after ionization by γ-rays or charged particles.     

A facile preparation of ammonium [<Superscript>14</Superscript>C]thiocyanate

Summary An attractive and simple method has been developed for the preparation of ammonium [¹⁴C]thiocyanate from [¹⁴C]thiourea which eliminates the necessity of handling highly hazardous potassium [¹⁴C] cyanide. [¹⁴C]thiourea was isomerized to ammonium [¹⁴C]thiocyanate by heating the aqueous solution of thiourea (12%) in a sealed tube at 160 °C for 24 hours. The product formed was purified by silica-gel column chromatography. A radiochemical yield of 92.7% was obtained based on [¹⁴C]thiourea. The specific activity of the product obtained was 53.3 mCi/mmol (1.97 GBq/mmol) and the radiochemical purity was greater than 99%. This method has not been reported so far for the production of this labeled compound.     

Nuclear excitation in <Superscript>176</Superscript>Lu by positron annihilation on K-shell electrons

In the process of nuclear excitation in positron-electron annihilation (NEPEA) experimental results have been found to be larger than theoretical predictions. In our previous works we have analyzed the NEPEA experimental data for 1078 keV in ¹¹⁵In and for 1330 keV in ¹¹¹Cd, respectively, by applying our model of indistinguishable quantum oscillators. In the present work we extend this model to estimate the cross section of nuclear excitation in positron-electron annihilation for ¹⁷⁶Lu from the experimentally measured effective cross section of σ ^eff = (2.6±0.9)·10⁻²⁹ cm². The estimated NEPEA cross section of σ=2.7·10⁻²⁶ cm² is in very good agreement with that of the theoretical prediction σ ^th=2.2·10⁻²⁶ cm².