Plutonium isotopes concentration in the ground level air and rain samples from Kraków

The aim of the present work was to look at the background levels of plutonium in air and rain samples. Two sets of Petryanov type filters through which ca. 0.5 Mm³ each of air had passed and two large samples of collected rain (170 L and 182 L) were analysed for the content of plutonium alpha-emitters. In the article the radiochemical procedure applied to these samples is described. Obtained Pu activities in air were 0.5±0.1 nBqm^?3 and 0.7±0.1 nBqm^?3 for²³⁸Pu and 3.1±0.2 nBqm^?3 and 8.3±0.6 nBqm^?3 for^239+240Pu. Activities of rain samples were 7.5±0.7 mBqm^?3 and 14.3±0.8 mBqm^?3 for^239±240Pu and 0.4±0.1 mBqm^?3 and 2.1±0.2 mBqm^?3 for²³⁸Pu, respectively, for the two samples. The most interesting finding is the largely different²³⁸Pu to^239+240Pu activity ratios (from 0.03±0.01 to 0.18±0.01) measured in the samples. This result needs conformation, but as now it suggests different origins of plutonium isotopes in incoming to Kraków air.     

Diurnal variability of δ13C and δ18O of atmospheric CO2 in the urban atmosphere of Kraków,Poland

This article presents the results of measurements of the isotopic composition and concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, performed on air samples from Kraków (Southern Poland) in different seasons of the year. A simple isotope mass balance model has been applied to determine the contributions of different sources of CO₂ to the urban atmosphere of Kraków city: the latitudinal/regional background, biospheric contributions and anthropogenic emissions. The calculations show that during the summer and early autumn the dominant contribution to local CO₂ peaks is the biosphere, making up to 20% of atmospheric CO₂ during the nocturnal temperature inversion in the lower troposphere. During early spring and winter, anthropogenic emissions are the main local source.     

Diurnal variability of delta13C and delta18O of atmospheric CO2 in the urban atmosphere of Kraków, Poland

This article presents the results of measurements of the isotopic composition and concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, performed on air samples from Kraków (Southern Poland) in different seasons of the year. A simple isotope mass balance model has been applied to determine the contributions of different sources of CO2 to the urban atmosphere of Kraków city: the latitudinal/regional background, biospheric contributions and anthropogenic emissions. The calculations show that during the summer and early autumn the dominant contribution to local CO2 peaks is the biosphere, making up to 20% of atmospheric CO2 during the nocturnal temperature inversion in the lower troposphere. During early spring and winter, anthropogenic emissions are the main local source.     

On the determination of the potential well depth for a Λ in heavy hypernuclei

The problem of the binding energy of a Λ-particle in a potential well representing a heavy hypernucleus is considered. The exact solution of the Schrödinger equation with a potential of a Fermi (Saxon-Woods) shape is obtained. Also discussed are uncertainties in the well-depth parameter D and the extrapolation from nuclear matter to light hypernuclei. The shape dependence of the well is examined.     

X-ray diffraction studies of specific features in the atomic structure of Fe-Si alloys in the α area of the phase diagram

The atomic structure of Fe-Si alloys with a silicon concentration of 5–8 at % (α-area of the phase diagram) was studied using X-ray diffraction. The effect of quenching after annealing at a disordering temperature of 850°C on the structural state of the alloys was elucidated. It is shown that the quenched samples are characterized by a short-range ordering; namely, there is a local B2-type order at a concentration of 5–6 at % Si and, in addition, DO₃-phase clusters are formed at 8 at % Si. The atomic structure of B2 clusters and their nearest surroundings is established.     

Evidence for particle–hole excitations in the triaxial strongly-deformed well of Tm

Two interacting, strongly-deformed triaxial (TSD) bands have been identified in the Z=69$Z=69$ nucleus ¹⁶³Tm. This is the first time that interacting TSD bands have been observed in an element other than the Z=71$Z=71$ Lu nuclei, where wobbling bands have been previously identified. The observed TSD bands in ¹⁶³Tm appear to be associated with particle–hole excitations, rather than wobbling. Tilted-axis cranking (TAC) calculations reproduce all experimental observables of these bands reasonably well and also provide an explanation for the presence of wobbling bands in the Lu nuclei, and their absence in the Tm isotopes.     

Binding energy of the exciton-phonon system in GaAs-Ga1−xAlxAs quantum well structures

On the basis of the strong-coupling scheme applied to the exciton-phonon system in GaAs/GaAlAs quantum well structures we calculate the ground state binding energy. It is found that the corrections due to electron (hole)-phonon coupling are rather significant.     

Specific features of the local atomic structure of a Fe-Si alloy in the α area of the phase diagram

Physics of the Solid State - The atomic structure of Fe-Si alloys with silicon concentrations of 3–8 at % (α area of the phase diagram) was studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy. It is...     

A Mössbauer spectroscopy study of the corrosion of nodular cast iron in mine waters

The corrosion of ductile cast iron in water containing different amounts of chloride ions was investigated under both static and dynamic conditions. Corrosion/time relationships were established for exposure times of up to 30 days. Post-corrosion investigations were performed, employing Mössbauer spectroscopy, optical microscopy and electrochemical techniques. It was found that the nature of the surface corrosion product formed under static conditions differed morphologically and chemically from that formed under dynamic conditions. The latter was a hard layer consisting of a mixture of - and -FeOOH (situated on an underlying cementite layer), whereas the static tests resulted in a soft, spongy corrosion product, identified as -FeOOH.     

Influence of spin–orbit interactions on the polaron properties in wurtzite semiconductor quantum well

We have study the simultaneous effect of Rashba and Dresselhaus spin–orbit interactions on the polaron properties in wurtzite semiconductor quantum wells. The linear and cubic contributions of the bulk Dresselhaus spin–orbit coupling and the effects of phonon confinement on electron–optical-phonon interaction Hamiltonians are taken into account. We have found analytical solutions for the polaron energies as well as polaron effective mass within the range of validity of perturbation theory. It is shown that the polaron energy and effective mass correction are both significantly enhanced by the spin–orbit coupling. Wave number dependent phonon contribution on the electron energy has minima and varies differently of the spin-up and spin-down states. Polaron self-energy due to interface optical phonon modes has larger values than of the confined optical phonon modes ones. The polaron effective mass exhibits anisotropy and the contribution of the Dresselhaus spin–orbit coupling term on the polaron effective mass is dominated by Rashba one.     

Photoluminescence response of a quantum well to a change in the magnetic field of the Mn δ Layer in InGaAs/GaAs heterostructures

Ferromagnetic ordering of two types (depending on the sample geometry) is found to occur in a thin Ga_{1 − x} Mn _x As alloy layer (Mn δ layer) in heterostructures containing an InGaAs/GaAs quantum well. Singular samples in which the δ Mn layer is parallel to the (001) GaAs plane exhibit the “3/2” Bloch temperature dependence of magnetization, and vicinal samples in which the δ Mn layer deviates from the (001) GaAs plane exhibit a “percolation” ferromagnetic transition. The photoluminescence polarization of the quantum well is shown to follow changes in the magnetization of the Mn δ layer as a function of temperature according to the Bloch law in the singular samples and to a percolation law in the vicinal samples.     

Radon levels in underground workplaces – results of a nationwide survey in Italy

In Italy an extensive survey has been carried out with the aim to evaluate annual average radon concentration in underground workplaces.The survey covered 933 underground rooms located in 311 bank workplaces spread throughout in all Italian regions; at this scope the sampling was stratified random in order to be representative on national scale. The annual radon concentration was estimated by using passive radon dosemeters (NRPB/SSI type holder and CR-39 as detector): the devices were exposed for a period of about 3 months and 4 cycles were performed to cover a solar year. The radon levels in underground workplaces ranged from 27 to 4851 Bq/m³ with an overall mean value of 153 Bq/m³. As expected, radon distribution is not uniform throughout Italy: in several regions high radon annual averages have been found, confirming previous surveys.The analysis of data shows a high variability among regions and intra-region but low spread among rooms belonging to the same workplace.About 5% of underground workplaces displayed radon concentration exceeding 400 Bq/m³, and the 4.4% exceeds 500 Bq/m³, the national action level for the exposure to natural radioactivity in workplaces.     

Comparison of the Radon–Nikodym Method with a Multistage Relaxation Model in the Analysis of the Fluorescence Dynamics of a Cold Atomic Ensemble

Optics and Spectroscopy - The fluorescence of cold atoms, cooled to ultra-low temperatures and excited by pulsed laser radiation, is calculated. The fluorescence of cold atoms is calculated based...     

Excitonic influences on the anticrossing gap of Wannier–Stark levels in a wide well superlattice

In this paper we compare different theoretical calculations with experimental data of anticrossings of a wide well semiconductor superlattice in the Wannier–Stark regime. Calculations have been performed by using a variation method and a numerical method. For the variation method we used different approaches to minimize energy. With the numerical model, continuum states were calculated and anticrossing of 1s states with continuum states were found. Calculations have been performed for h1e1(0)–h1e2( − 1) and h1e1(1)–h1e2(0) anticrossings and are compared with data from photocurrent experiments.     

Monte Carlo study of the universal area distribution of clusters in the honeycomb O（n） loop model

We investigate the area distribution of clusters (loops) in the honeycomb O(n) loop model by means of the worm algorithm with n = 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2. At the critical point, the number of clusters, whose enclosed area is greater than A, is proportional to A-1 with a proportionality constant C. We confirm numerically that C is universal, and its value agrees well with the predictions based on the Coulomb gas method.     

A one-parameter formula for estimating the Λ well depth

A one parameter, semi-empirical formula for Λ-binding energy of heavy hypernuclei in the inverse powers of core mass number (A _c) has been developed in the framework of the folding model. Unlike similar calculations reported by other authors (Deloff 1971; Daskaloyanniset al 1985), we are able to take into account the effect arising from the difference in the number of protons and neutrons of the core nuclei having same mass number. The radius and diffuseness are parametrized using the experimentally known charge density data of a fairly large number of medium and heavy nuclei. The well depth parameter (i.e. Λ-binding energy in infinite nuclear matter) in the formula is obtained from a fit to theB _Λ data of _Λ ²⁸ Si, _Λ ⁴⁰ Ca, _Λ ⁵¹ V and _Λ ³⁹ Y. Using the original Λ-nucleus potential, theB _Λ of ground and the experimentally known excited states of these hypernuclei have also been calculated by solving numerically the two-body Schrödinger equation. The agreement with the experimental data is satisfactory.     

w d =−1 in interacting quintessence model

A model consisting of a quintessence scalar field interacting with cold dark matter is considered. The conditions required to reach w _d =?1 are discussed. It is shown that, depending on the potential considered for the quintessence, crossing the phantom divide line puts some constraints on the interaction between dark energy and dark matter. This also may determine the ratio of dark matter to dark energy density at w _d =?1.