Nuclear tracks: present and future perspectives

Current research work related to the development of nuclear tracks comprising: (i) fundamental principles (nuclear track physics and chemistry, as well as development of track detectors and the relevant hard- and software), (ii) development of nuclear instruments and methods (etch track radiometers for ions, neutrons and cosmic rays, radon monitoring devices, radiography and fission track dating) is briefly outlined. The paper concentrates on a literature survey of applications of nuclear tracks in (iii) physical sciences (high-energy physics, nuclear physics and earth sciences), (iv) biomedical sciences (radiation protection, environment, cancer therapy), and (v) technological sciences (materials, nano-technology and nuclear technology).

Presently about 350 papers per year are being published in this field. Increased activity is noted in ion track technology (track-made membranes, modern nano-tech methodology including biological and biological-like samples, nano-electrode bio-electrochemistry, bio-magnetic assays and probes). New applications of nuclear tracks in fundamental (possibility of the detection of neutron quantum states in a gravitational field, nucleus–nucleus interactions, search for new chemical super-heavy elements) and applied science (precise measurements of the behaviour of radiation in human tissue in connection with of long term space missions and treatment of cancer) are surveyed, and possible research in the next decades is presented and examined in this review paper.     

金属环境中低能D(d,p)T反应的研究

近年来一系列实验表明, 金属环境中的低能带电粒子引起的核反应截面与气体靶中的相比出现明显增大, 这种现象通常被归结为电子屏蔽效应。 全面介绍了金属环境中D(d, p)T反应电子屏蔽效应的测量方法、 数据分析和实验结果的规律性, 并简要论述了包括德拜等离子体模型在内的各种理论模型对实验结果的解释。 通过研究, 可以获得有关核物理、 核天体物理和凝聚态物理的宝贵知识。 The cross sections σ(E) of low energy nuclear reactions induced by charged particles in metallic environment are much larger than that in gas. Generally, it was taken as the effect of the electron screening. In this work, the experimental method of the D(d, p)T reaction in metallic environment was introduced. The data analysis and the regularity of experimental results were also discussed. All kinds of theoretical models including the Debye model were discussed, which can roughly explain the results of the experiments. The valuable knowledge of nuclear physics, nuclear astrophysics and condensed state physics can be obtained in the study of low energy nuclear reaction in metallic environment.     

Dirac's Claim and the Chemists

In 1929 Paul A. M. Dirac claimed that “the underlying physical laws necessary for the mathematical theory of ... the whole of chemistry are thus completely known, and the difficulty is only that the exact application of these laws leads to equations much too complicated to be soluble.” This sentence of Dirac's is cited frequently by historians and philosophers of chemistry in the context of discussions on the hypothetical reduction of chemistry to physics. But how did chemists themselves react to Dirac's claim? Did they feel threatened by physicists who felt they could do their job better than themselves? Did they feel indifferent, or did they simply not care? Was Dirac's paper often cited by chemists? Why was it cited? In this paper, I provide answers to these questions on the basis of an analysis of citations to Dirac's 1929 paper in the Science Citation Index. RID="*" ID="*"Ana Sim?es teaches history of science at the University of Lisbon. Her research is in the history of quantum chemistry and in the history of the sciences at the European peripheries.     

~(129)Xe核自旋极化转移增强分子的核磁共振信号

激光极化的12 9Xe核具有极高的非平衡极化度和长的弛豫时间 ,这一特点使得它能够极化转移增强液体、固体或者固体表面分子中原子核自旋极化。因而 ,提高了它们的核磁共振探测灵敏度和扩展了在材料和表面科学研究中的应用。综述激光极化12 9Xe核与其它分子中原子核之间的极化转移研究与进展 ,介绍相关物理机制和参数的测量。     

Maximum Kolmogorov-Sinai Entropy Versus Minimum Mixing Time in Markov Chains

We establish a link between the maximization of Kolmogorov Sinai entropy (KSE) and the minimization of the mixing time for general Markov chains. Since the maximisation of KSE is analytical and easier to compute in general than mixing time, this link provides a new faster method to approximate the minimum mixing time dynamics. It could be interesting in computer sciences and statistical physics, for computations that use random walks on graphs that can be represented as Markov chains.     

2009 SSRL School on X-ray Spectroscopy Techniques in Environmental and Materials Sciences: Theory and Application

More than 50 students, post-docs, and career scientists from US national laboratories, academic institutions, and the international user community participated in this four-day school, held from June 2–5, 2009, which delved deeply into theoretical and practical aspects of synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy. The fourth annual school on synchrotron techniques in environmental and materials sciences, organized by the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, was designed to introduce new and prospective users to theoretical underpinnings and capabilities of the techniques, data collection procedures, and data analysis approaches. More advanced topics, particularly in data analysis, were also discussed to reinforce and clarify important concepts that are fundamental to data interpretation. Although the school focused principally on applications in environmental and materials sciences, diverse and cross-cutting disciplinary backgrounds were represented, from environmental remediation science and geochemistry, to heterogeneous catalysis and bioinorganic chemistry, to materials sciences and applied physics.     

回旋加速器的应用

回旋加速器在核物理研究中发挥过重要的作用,现在和将来仍然是核物理研究领域的主要工具之一,随着核科学,核技术及核医学等高新技术的发展,回旋加速器在这些领域中的应用空间和发展前景已引起人们的关注,文章介绍了回旋加速器发展概况及其在核物理,核医学与核技术等领域的主要应用。     

New applications of atomic physics to the study of nuclear properties

The hyperfine interaction couples the atomic electrons and the nucleus, and because of this interaction, there is a fundamental link between the fields of atomic physics and nuclear physics. Of course, information flows in both directions through this link. This paper reviews in broad terms the previous applications of atomic physics methods to the study of nuclear properties and fundamental interactions, and then focuses on the possible applications of atom trapping methods to nuclear physics problems.Supported in part by the National Science Foundation.     

核科学百年讲座第七讲核科学技术在材料科学中的应用

核科学技术和材料科学的结合产生了一门新兴的交叉学科——核材料(也称核固体)，主要指核技术在材料分析、物质改性和新材料研制合成中的应用．文章介绍核技术在材料科学中的应用历史、现状及其前景，包括基本物理原理．     

Four decades of nuclear tracks research in India

The science of solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs)—“Trackology”—developed by R.L. Fleischer, P.B. Price and R.M. Walker in the early 1960s of the last century is an interesting and potentially useful concept with something to offer to almost all branches of science and technology. In fact nuclear tracks find applications wherever solid state damage occurs. Apart from the direct applications of far reaching consequences in nuclear physics, other areas as diverse as bio-medical sciences, cosmic rays and space physics, environmental research, geological sciences, material science, microanalysis, mine safety, nuclear technology, uranium prospecting, etc. have been greatly influenced by SSNTDs.

In this presentation, we attempt to provide an overview of the growth of nuclear tracks research in India over the last four decades and the contributions of various groups from Universities, Institutes, Nuclear Track Society of India and the Department of Atomic Energy in nurturing nuclear track research in the country. Finally, a summary of the significant contributions made by Indian scientists is also presented in this paper along with the overall impact it has made at the national and international level in many areas of basic and applied sciences such as cosmic rays and space physics, fusion–fission and particle evaporation, heavy ion ranges and energy-loss measurements, country-wide indoor radon–thoron survey, geochronology, environmental sciences, track-etch membranes and ion tracks technology, material science, physics and chemistry of fission, etc.     

核医学的发展及其与相关学科的关系

核基学是一门多学科相结合的交叉学科。核医学由临床核医学、实验核医学及核医学物理３部分组成。核医学在医疗保健及战胜疾病中发挥了重要作用。核医学所取得的成就和成果与许多相关学科有关,尤其是核物理、核探测技术及计算机科学。２１世纪,核医学的发展面临良好的机遇,但也有严峻的挑战。多学科的渗透和广大物理学专家的积极参与将对核医学的发展做出巨大的贡献。     

浅谈现代物理学与工程技术--献给2005世界物理年

在现代社会进步的历程中，基础性很强的物理科学和应用性很强的工程技术，扮演着不同的角色．但它们之间却存在着紧密的相互联系和深刻的相互作用．文章首先以物理学与核能、激光、航天三个领域的关系为例，说明现代物理学对许多工程技术领域的开创起着先导和引领的作用，而工程技术不仅直接地创造生产力，而且反过来开拓并深化了物理学研究的疆域，为之提供了更加丰富、精致的环境条件和更有力的研究手段．进一步阐明现代物理学与工程技术的这种关系具有普遍性和发展性．物理学与工程技术不仅互相促进、携手并进、相互渗透，而且与哲学、社会科学密切相关，共同推动着经济与社会的发展，从生产方式、生活方式和思想观念上深刻地改变着人类文明的进程．物理学与工程技术在认识世界和改造世界中所担负的责任，要求物理学家和工程技术专家应该具备一些共同的优良品格：高度的社会责任感和为科技事业献身的精神，唯真求实、开拓创新以及科学的思维方法与哲学造诣等．     

核物理与核探测、核分析技术的应用

文章概要介绍了随着核物理研究发展起来的辐射和粒子探测的原理、方法和主要技术,举例介绍了相关核物理与核探测、核分析的典型技术及其在高精度测量和医学中的广泛应用,如活化分析技术、穆斯堡尔谱学、核磁共振技术、加速器质谱技术、核医学成像、同步辐射技术、中子散射分析、放射性示踪技术等等.     

EXAFS studies of nanoscale and nanostructured materials

Judging from the strong attendance and enthusiastic comments from participants, the three-day, third annual school on synchrotron techniques in environmental and materials sciences held at SSRL May 20–22, 2008, was a success. More than 50 students, post-docs, and career scientists from US national laboratories and academic institutions participated in the school. International participants came from Mexico, Canada, and Jordan. Diverse and crosscutting disciplinary backgrounds were represented, from environmental remediation science and geochemistry, to heterogeneous catalysis and bioinorganic chemistry, to materials sciences and applied physics. Overall, participants commented on the effectiveness and helpfulness of the school and requested that future schools be expanded.     

南开大学奇异性核物理的理论研究

简要介绍了南开大学核物理组在奇异性核物理方面的理论研究工作. 已经完成的工作有核介质内超子平均自由程的理论计算, 奇异性核物理方面已完成的其他4个理论研究课题是, 不同重子杂质对原子核的影响、重味重子超核、核物质内的eta-介子以及K介子原子核的性质.     

近代物理学与核技术

核技术是本世纪最尖端技术之一．它是以１９世纪末和２０世纪发展起来的现代物理学为基础的．核技术发展如此之快，没有现代物理学的支持是不可能的．文章讨论了核技术对经济、科学、技术的影响，着重强调现代物理学的发展直接影响核技术的发展     

Laser applications in nuclear physics: Present and future

The use of lasers for nuclear physics research is widespread and growing rapidly. The major impact in nuclear structure research has come from nuclear size and shape determinations for nuclei far from stability via high resolution isotope shift measurements. In addition, systematic data on nuclear magnetic and quadrupole moments have been obtained via the hyperfine splitting resolved in laser fluorescence studies of atomic spectra in both stable and unstable systems. The tunability, high intensity and inherent polarization of laser light can be used to polarize atomic nuclei for nuclear reaction studies. The rapid efficient polarization of unstable nuclei with lasers also presents opportunities for new research in nuclear physics. In this paper the physics of the laser interaction for the studies indicated will be introduced. Some examples of work completed and in progress will be presented primarily from on-line laser studies at charged particle accelerators. Extensions of current research, particularly with respect to possible studies of short-lived nuclei, are discussed and the synergistic effects of certain advances in quantum electronics and nuclear physics described.     

加速器质谱技术在核物理与天体物理中的应用

介绍了利用加速器质谱技术在核物理与核天体物理中的应用研究工作．包括放射性核素半衰期的测定、核反应截面的测量、超重元素的寻找、宇宙射线和太阳中微子性质等方面的研究工作.The application work which has been done and can be done in the nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics using accelerator mass spectrometry is reviewed. The half-life measurement of long-lived radio isotopes, cross section measurement of nuclear reaction, searching for super heavy elements, cosmic study and solar neutrino detection are the main components which have been discussed     

Nuclear effects in atomic transitions

Atomic electrons are sensitive to the properties of the nucleus they are bound to, such as nuclear mass, charge distribution, spin, magnetisation distribution, or even excited level scheme. These nuclear parameters are reflected in the atomic transition energies. A very precise determination of atomic spectra may thus reveal information about the nucleus, otherwise hardly accessible via nuclear physics experiments. This work reviews theoretical and experimental aspects of the nuclear effects that can be identified in atomic structure data. An introduction to the theory of isotope shifts and hyperfine splitting of atomic spectra is given, together with an overview of the typical experimental techniques used in high-precision atomic spectroscopy. More exotic effects at the borderline between atomic and nuclear physics, such as parity violation in atomic transitions due to the weak interaction, or nuclear polarisation and nuclear excitation by electron capture, are also addressed.