Imaging of laser-polarized solid xenon

The enhanced spin polarization produced by optical pumping of gaseous rubidium/xenon samples has made possible a number of recent experiments in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here we report MRI of laser-polarized xenon in the solid phase at low temperature. Due to the high xenon density in the solid phase and the enhanced spin polarization, it is possible to achieve high intensity and spatial resolution of the image. Signals were observed from xenon films solidified onto the glass container walls and not from an enclosed chili pepper.     

Dissolution of laser-polarized xenon in benzene

The study of the dissolution of laser-polarized xenon in degassed deuterated benzene is reported. We show that the time evolution of the xenon signal implies that a transient convective process takes place. It is characterized by velocity-encoding magnetic resonance measurements and MRI experiments.     

蒙卡燃耗中的氙振荡现象分析及计算研究

根据氙振荡产生的机理,按照燃耗步长来划分:在短步长条件下会产生物理氙振荡,在长步长条件下会产生数值氙振荡。研究发现,当燃耗步长增大到19 h,物理氙振荡的振幅最小,随着燃耗步长继续增大,表现为数值氙振荡,当燃耗步长27 d,数值氙振荡振幅最小。采用平衡氙方法强制使中子通量与氙浓度平衡,在堆芯物理计算程序(RMC)的输运模块中运用平衡氙方法对碘氙的浓度进行不断的迭代更新,在保证收敛的情况下抑制了氙振荡现象的发生。     

Pore-Structure Determinations of Silica Aerogels byXe NMR Spectroscopy and Imaging

Silica aerogels represent a new class of open-pore materials with pore dimensions on a scale of tens of nanometers, and are thus classified as mesoporous materials. In this work, we show that the combination of NMR spectroscopy and chemical-shift selective magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can resolve some of the important aspects of the structure of silica aerogels. The use of xenon as a gaseous probe in combination with spatially resolved NMR techniques is demonstrated to be a powerful, new approach for characterizing the average pore structure and steady-state spatial distributions of xenon atoms in different physicochemical environments. Furthermore, dynamic NMR magnetization transfer experiments and pulsed-field gradient (PFG) measurements have been used to characterize exchange processes and diffusive motion of xenon in samples at equilibrium. In particular, this new NMR approach offers unique information and insights into the nanoscopic pore structure and microscopic morphology of aerogels and the dynamical behavior of occluded adsorbates. MRI provides spatially resolved information on the nature of the flaw regions found in these materials. Pseudo-first-order rate constants for magnetization transfer among the bulk and occluded xenon phases indicate xenon-exchange rate constants on the order of 1 s⁻¹for specimens having volumes of 0.03 cm³. PFG diffusion measurements show evidence of anisotropic diffusion for xenon occluded within aerogels, with nominal self-diffusivity coefficients on the order ofD= 10⁻³cm²/s.     

Time-of-flight remote detection MRI of thermally modified wood

We demonstrate that time-of-flight (TOF) remote detection (RD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides detailed information about physical changes in wood due to thermal modification that is not available with conventional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) based techniques. In the experiments, xenon gas was forced to flow through Pinus sylvestris pine wood samples, and the flow paths and dispersion of gas atoms were observed by measuring ¹²⁹Xe TOF RD MRI images from the samples. MRI sensitivity of xenon was boosted by the spin exchange optical pumping (SEOP) method. Two different samples were studied: a reference sample, dried at low temperature, and a modified sample, which was thermally modified at 240 °C after the drying. The samples were taken next to each other from the same wood plank in order to ensure the comparability of the results. The most important conclusion is that both the smaller dispersion observed in all the TOF RD experiments independent of each other and the decreased amount of flow paths shown by the time projection of z-encoded TOF RD MRI experiment imply that a large amount of pits connecting tracheid cells are closed in thermal modification. Closed pits may be one reason for reduced moisture content and improved dimensional stability of wood achieved in thermal modification. This is the first time biological samples have been investigated by TOF RD MRI.     

Xenon matrix and zeolite Na-Y two methods for study of radical cations

Two new methods for the study of reactive radical cations are outlined. The commonly used freon matrix method for the study of radical cations produced by the γ- radiolysis is augmented by the use of a xenon matrix with an electron scavenger. The use of a zeolite matrix is a new development as the zeolite structure, and the ions in the zeolite can be utilized to stabilize radiolytically produced cations in a remarkable temperature range.     

First results from the XENON10 dark matter experiment at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory

The XENON10 experiment at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory uses a 15 kg xenon dual phase time projection chamber to search for dark matter weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). The detector measures simultaneously the scintillation and the ionization produced by radiation in pure liquid xenon to discriminate signal from background down to 4.5 keV nuclear-recoil energy. A blind analysis of 58.6 live days of data, acquired between October 6, 2006, and February 14, 2007, and using a fiducial mass of 5.4 kg, excludes previously unexplored parameter space, setting a new 90% C.L. upper limit for the WIMP-nucleon spin-independent cross section of 8.8x10(-44) cm2 for a WIMP mass of 100 GeV/c2, and 4.5x10(-44) cm2 for a WIMP mass of 30 GeV/c2. This result further constrains predictions of supersymmetric models.     

Xenon NMR measurements of permeability and tortuosity in reservoir rocks

In this work we present measurements of permeability, effective porosity and tortuosity on a variety of rock samples using NMR/MRI of thermal and laser-polarized gas. Permeability and effective porosity are measured simultaneously using MRI to monitor the inflow of laser-polarized xenon into the rock core. Tortuosity is determined from measurements of the time-dependent diffusion coefficient using thermal xenon in sealed samples. The initial results from a limited number of rocks indicate inverse correlations between tortuosity and both effective porosity and permeability. Further studies to widen the number of types of rocks studied may eventually aid in explaining the poorly understood connection between permeability and tortuosity of rock cores.     

NMR study of the dissolution of laser-polarized xenon

NMR of laser-polarized xenon is used to probe the dissolution behaviour of the noble gas in different liquids. The dissolution and self-relaxation rates are extracted via a macroscopic model, and comparison of the decay rate of the xenon magnetization in deuterated and non-deuterated solvent pairs allows the determination of the pure dipole-dipole contribution to relaxation. A transient convective effect, tentatively assigned to the xenon concentration gradient, is observed and characterized by diffusion encoding MRI experiments. The flow of xenon penetrates inside the solvent near the walls of the NMR tube, the longitudinal images showing a “” shape, the transverse ones a “O” shape. This convection effect has implications for delivery conditions of laser-polarized xenon in continuous flow experiments and magnetic resonance imaging. Received 29 April 2002 / Received in final form 26 July 2002 Published online 22 October 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: hdesvaux@cea.fr RID="b" ID="b"URA CNRS/CEA 331     

常温下氙气以及氢氙混合气体形成的团簇的特性研究

利用瑞利散射法可以对团簇的尺寸以及团簇形成的演变过程进行研究, 这种方法非常简单易行且对团簇是非破坏性的. 通过对纯氙气以及氢氙混合气体形成的团簇的瑞利散射进行测量, 研究并分析了瑞利散射强度随时间、初始背压 以及气体混合比例的变化, 由此估算了在不同情况下形成团簇的平均尺寸. 通过获得的氢氙混合气体瑞利散射强度与背压的关系I=(1.5 ×10^-5)P^6.47, 发现了混合气体中氢气对氙团簇形成的促进作用, 并从热力学和分子间作用力的角度进行了理论分析, 得到了氢氙混合气体不易于液化这一新现象, 为实现高背压下更大尺寸团簇的产生提供了可能. 所获得的结果为今后基于氙团簇的X射线产生实验, 以及基于氘氙混合气体的中子产生实验研究提供了良好的实验依据.     

触发预电离一体化脉冲氙灯电源设计

采用高压触发预电离为一体+脉冲形成网络触发氙灯的技术路线,分别设计了脉冲氙灯电源系统中高压触发、预燃电流维持两个功能单元。根据脉冲氙灯160mm×9mm、极间距70mm的技术指标,成功设计了一台具有手动和电脉冲触发功能的方波脉冲氙灯电源。氙灯充电电压300~900V可调,光脉冲宽度为150μs±20μs,光脉冲上升时间不超过90μs,触发延迟不超过90μs,触发抖动在±2μs范围内。给出了单次触发情况下脉冲氙灯电源输出的实验结果,验证了所采用的设计原理和技术方法的可行性。     

Energy spectra and temperature distributions of clusters produced during ion-beam sputtering of metals

A method for evaluating the energy spectra and temperature dependences of the yield of neutral and charged clusters that consist of N≥5 atoms and are produced by ion bombardment of metals is proposed. The results are presented in the form of simple formulas. Theoretical energy spectra of clusters emitted as a result of bombarding niobium, tantalum, and iron targets by atomic ions of gold or xenon and temperature dependences of the yield of silver clusters produced by bombarding the targets with xenon ions are compared with experimental data.

     

电容损耗对脉冲氙灯放电特性的影响

研究了储能电容自身损耗对氙灯放电特性的影响,对脉冲氙灯放电回路进行了分析与改进。在实际电容自身损耗不为零的情况下,将电容等效为理想电容与损耗阻抗的串联,给出了计算氙灯放电特性的改进公式,并详细计算和分析了电容自身损耗增大情况下的氙灯放电电流和放电功率变化情况,计算结果表明:损耗增大会导致氙灯放电电流、功率峰值下降,闪光时间缩短,显著影响激光泵浦效率;电容损耗增大还会导致LC放电回路出现电容反充电现象,影响氙灯正常工作并缩短灯的寿命。实际的储能电容充放电实验证明,电容损耗增大会导致氙灯闪光的波形峰值下降、闪光时间缩短和电极溅射加剧,验证了理论分析的合理性。另外,实验证明环境因素对储能电容自身损耗的增大具有非常显著的影响。     

Crystallization of amorphous FeNiZrB and FeNiCoZrB alloys

Solid xenon layers are proposed as an alternative to graphite catchers for collecting samples at on-line separators. The formation of solid xenon layers is described. Sample atoms of bismuth have been held for up to a day in such layers before being released as cold free atoms for laser spectroscopy measurement. An application to studying daughter nuclei produced by α-decay is considered. It involves a two-stage process where daughter recoils are first accumulated in the xenon layer and subsequently released into flowing helium for laser-ionization and counting.     

Fast nuclear spin relaxation in hyperpolarized solid 129Xe

We report extensive new measurements of the longitudinal relaxation time T1 of 129Xe nuclear spins in solid xenon. For temperatures T<120 K and magnetic fields B>0.05 T, we found T1 on the order of hours, in good agreement with previous measurements and with the predicted phonon-scattering limit for the spin-rotation interaction. For T>120 K, our new data show that T1 can be much shorter than the phonon scattering limit. For B = 0.06 T, a field often used to accumulate hyperpolarized xenon, T1 is approximately 6 s near the Xe melting point T(m) = 161.4 K. From T = 50 K to T(m), the new data are in excellent agreement with the theoretical prediction that the relaxation is due to (i) modulation of the spin-rotation interaction by phonons, and (ii) modulation of the dipole-dipole interaction by vacancy diffusion.     

Measurement of diffusion coefficients in polystyrene using xenon-129 NMR

A sample of polystyrene beads, 18 μm in diameter, has been sealed in an NMR tube under 10 atm of xenon gas. Two dimensional,¹²⁹Xe NMR spectra show cross peaks between the resonances corresponding to xenon in the free gas and the sorbed state, indicating that appreciable exchange occurs during the mixing time of the NMR experiment. Selective saturation of the free gas resonance attenuates the integrated intensity of the sorbed xenon resonance as a function of saturation time, thus allowing the accurate measurement of the exchange rates between the gas and the sorbed states. A model has been developed using a slightly modified form of Crank’s treatment of diffusion in a sphere which allows for the accurate determination of the diffusion coefficient for xenon in the sorbed state. The diffusion coefficient for xenon in polystyrene at 25°C is determined to be 2.9·10^?9 cm²/s.     

脉冲氙灯放电过程分析与实验测定

脉冲氙灯是一种新型光源,利用量子理论以及气体放电理论分析了脉冲氙灯放电过程,设计了放电测试系统,实验测定了放电过程中的电压、电流和光脉冲信号。结果表明：在预电离阶段自由电子浓度较低,能量较低;气体放电阶段灯内形成电子崩,使得自由电子浓度的增大,放电电流迅速上升,电压下降;离子复合时释放出光子形成光脉冲,氙灯脉冲的光能量输出和光谱特性与复合电子能量、氙气复合能级相关,而当输入能量与氙灯的能耗不一致的时候,将导致充电电容反复充放电,而使电路产生振荡。对于分析脉冲氙灯放电过程,优化放电回路参数设计和脉冲氙灯的生产具有重要意义。     

129Xe NMR studies of the dynamics of xenon in siliceous ZSM-12 zeolite

The adsorption of xenon in siliceous zeolite ZSM-12 has been studied by static, magic angle spinning and 2D-EXSY¹²⁹Xe NMR. Anisotropic lines were observed with parameters dependent on the Xe loading and the temperature of the experiment. The observed dependence of the isotropic chemical shift is at variance with the predictions of the mean-free-path model, which casts further doubt on the applicability of this model to the interpretation of Xe NMR data in porous systems. Based on the continuous changes of anisotropic parameters with the loading, we conclude that there are several adsorption sites for xenon in the pores. A qualitative model for the distribution and rapid exchange of the xenon atoms between several sites is discussed. The observed lines arise from a dynamic average of the chemical shift tensors for the different types of site weighted by their populations. 2D-EXSY spectra show two kinds of slow exchange of Xe: (a) particle to particle and, (b) particle to interparticle gas phase.     

Co-axially pumped,narrow band,continuously tunable,high power VUV xenon laser

High efficiency spectral narrowing to 0.13 nm and frequency tuning from 169 nm to 176 nm has been produced with a new design of coaxial-pumped xenon laser employing a single intra-cavity prism. The laser peak power is 3 MW (9 mJ) and becomes 0.7 MW (power density 10 MW cm^-2) when frequency narrowed.     

Galvanomagnetic and Thermomagnetic Properties of a Nonideal Xenon Plasma at Megabar Pressures in Megagauss Magnetic Fields

A method has been developed for the calculation of tensors of the electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity of a nonideal plasma in a magnetic field within a unified approach where the kinetic coefficients are calculated together with the equation of state of the nonideal plasma within a quasichemical model. The calculations have shown that the Seebeck coefficient in xenon reaches 3 mV/K, which is slightly smaller than that in hydrogen or deuterium, and the figure of merit appears to be insignificantly higher in xenon. Consequently, the transition from hydrogen (deuterium) to xenon does not result in the expected noticeable improvement of thermoelectric properties. This is due to lower values of the Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity, as well as to a fast increase in the thermal conductivity of neutral xenon with an increase in its density. It has been shown for the first time that there is a density range where all components of the Seebeck tensor in xenon change their sign because of the Ramsauer minimum in the cross section for scattering of electrons on neutral atoms in the region of comparable values of cyclotron and transport frequencies of electrons.