Beyond the Bragg peak: hyperthermal heavy ion damage to DNA components

We have observed the destruction of fundamental building blocks of DNA (nucleoside, base, and sugar) by hyperthermal (0.25-1.75 eV/amu) heavy ion impact. Nucleoside damage pathways include base or sugar loss, and complete disintegration of either moiety. Sugar damage dominates, and in DNA will yield a complex strand break. Our results suggest that (a) heavy particle damage to biological media may extend to ion track ends beyond the Bragg peak, and (b) the nascent damage by hyperthermal secondary heavy particles, formed along the primary ion tracks, may be equally complex.     

Atom abstraction in the scattering of state-selected NO+(X1Sigma(+)) on O/Al(111)

The reactive scattering of state-selected NO+(X1Sigma(+)) on oxygen-covered Al(111) is explored at hyperthermal collision energies. Relative ion yields and mean translational energies of scattered NO-2 are presented as a function of oxygen exposure and NO+ collision energy. Above the 9+/-1 eV threshold for reaction, NO-2 products emerge with an average kinetic energy that depends linearly on incident NO+ energy. The formation of NO-2 is assigned to the direct, Eley-Rideal abstraction of an adsorbed O atom by an incident NO molecule.     

Reactive ion scattering study of physisorbed adsorbates: experiment and theory

We have studied reactive ion scattering (RIS) of hyperthermal (1–100 eV) Cs⁺ projectiles from physisorbed surfaces. RIS experiments from physisorbed water on Pt(1 1 1) reveal scattering products of Cs(H₂O)_n⁺ (n=1–3) cluster ions. The yields for RIS products are extremely high compared to those with chemisorbed species. Classical molecular dynamics simulations provide a new mechanism that explains the enhanced RIS yields with physisorbed species. Slow Cs⁺ projectiles pick up physisorbed molecules via an ion–surface abstraction reaction, preferably without direct collisions between projectile and adsorbate. This RIS process is very efficient and mechanistically different from the RIS process responsible for chemisorbed species that occurs through direct collision-induced desorption.     

碳离子辐射诱导秀丽隐杆线虫生殖细胞凋亡研究

重离子辐射具有独特的深度剂量分布和较高的相对生物学效应,被认为是理想的放疗手段。重离子的生物学效应在径迹形成过程中由多个物理参量共同决定,而这些物理参量和离子入射深度紧密相关,因此明确离子不同入射深度的生物学效应对重离子肿瘤放疗方案的设计和优化有着重要的理论和应用价值。使用兰州重离子研究装置HIRFL-CSRe 终端的碳离子束作为辐射源,以活体模式动物线虫作为实验对象,以线虫生殖细胞的凋亡水平作为生物学检测终点,研究了10 和20 Gy 碳离子辐射在辐射的入口、坪区和峰区的当代生物学效应和对后代个体基因组不稳定性的影响。结果表明:10 和20 Gy 碳离子辐射在三个不同的辐照区域内均显著增加了辐射当代的线虫生殖腺细胞的凋亡水平,并表现出一定的辐射区域和辐射剂量依赖性。同时,辐射诱导的后代个体基因组不稳定性也表现出一定的辐射区域和辐射剂量相关性。Heavy ion irradiation is a perfect means in radio-therapy due to its special depth dose distribution and high relative biological effects. The biological effects of heavy ion irradiation are determined by some major physical parameters, and vary along the tracks of heavy ions. Therefore, it is very significant for the tumor radio-therapy to investigate the biological effects along whole range of heavy ion radiation. In the present study, Caenorhabditis elegans, a model in vivo, was irradiated by carbon ion beams from HCRFL-CSRe, The level of germ cell apoptosis of worms was used as a checking endpoint for DNA damage, the effects of carbon irradiation located in the entrance, plateau and peak regions on the genomic instability of the irradiated worm and their progeny were detected. The results showed that the 10 and 20 Gy of carbon ion radiations led to the increased germ cell apoptosis in irradiated worms and these effects depend on the worm location along the range of carbon ions and the irradiation dosage. The results also suggested that heavy ion irradiation induced the up-regulated genomic instability in their progeny, and might be related to both the irradiation dose and the irradiated location.     

High energy heavy ion tracks in bubble detectors

Bubble detectors which are commonly used as neutron detectors have been demonstrated through this study to be good detectors for registration of high energy heavy ion tracks. Large size bubble detectors made in China Institute of Atomic Energy were irradiated to heavy ions Ar and C up to 650 MeV/u and 400 MeV/u, respectively. Very clear features of stringy tracks of high energy heavy ions and their fragmentations are manifested and distinguishable. A single track created by a specific high energy heavy ion is composed of a line of bubbles, which is visible by naked eyes and retained for months wihhout reduction in size. The creation of heavy ion tracks in bubble detectors is governed by a threshold whose essence is approximately a critical value of energy loss rate (dE/dX)_c similar to that of etch track detectors. Ranges of heavy ions in bubble detectors are apparent and predictable by existing formulas. Identification of high energy heavy ions and the applications to heavy ion physics, cosmic rays, exotic particles and cancer therapy monitoring are obviously promising. The experimental and theoretical aspects of high energy heavy ion tracks in bubble detectors as well as the expectable applications are presented and discussed.     

Coupled nano-plasmons

High aspect-ratio nanochannels were fabricated by irradiating polyimide films with swift heavy ions of 2.2 GeV energy and subsequently sensitising and etching the ion tracks in hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochloride, respectively. The nanochannels were analysed by means of small angle X-ray scattering in combination with a new form factor model that considers bi-conical channel geometry. This approach allows us to tune the etching parameters for controlled channel shape adjustment.     

离子(N2+, N+)在氮辉光放电等离子体光辐射中的作用

采用氮辉光放电等离子体电子与重粒子综合的Monte Carlo模型,研究了离子(N2+,N+)与氮分子碰撞产生光辐射的强度分布及其 在氮辉光放电等离子体光辐射中的作用。两种离子产生的各种碰撞激发和辐射都分布在鞘层区内,光辐射强度向阴极方向逐渐 增加,且总强度随放电电压增加而增强。相对于电子产生的碰撞激发辐射,离子(N2+,N+)引起的辐射在阴极附近引起次最大 光强,且原子离子N+的作用较分子离子N2+大。当电压较低时,离子(N2+,N+)引起的辐射可以忽略。模拟结果很好解释了两 种典型的N2辉光放电光学发射谱的实验结果,为等离子体诊断研究中的光谱数据分析提供参考。     

模拟微重力效应对辐射致细胞DNA损伤修复效应的影响

在地面模拟微重力的情况下, 应用碱性单细胞凝胶电泳（SCGE）技术对80 MeV/u Ne离子辐射诱发人血淋巴细胞DNA损伤修复效应进行了研究。 在不同时刻对相同剂量辐照后的淋巴细胞经单细胞电泳处理后显示, 在模拟微重力下孵育的彗星尾更长, 彗星头面积更小。 这表明, 相对地面环境而言, 模拟微重力环境对淋巴细胞的DNA损伤修复有一定的抑制作用。 Effect of the modeled microgravity (MMG) on heavy ion induced lymphocytes DNA repair by using single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) has been studied. The results showed that residual DNA damage induced by Ne ions irradiation increased more in cultures incubated in MMG than in 1 g, which indicated that MMG incubation after Ne ions irradiation reduce the DNA damage repair capacity.     

喷气式Z箍缩等离子体装置中离子束能谱的测量

利用新研制的紧凑型汤姆生离子能谱仪(Thomson Ion Energy Analyzer),对喷气式Z–箍缩等离子体装置中离子能谱进行了测量,在CR-39上得到了清晰的Ar+,Ar2+,Ar3+离子抛物线轨迹,通过分析计算结果表明：离子的最大能量在1MeV左右,离子能谱分布曲线都随其能量增加而单调下降,近似遵循dN/dT/dwμT-2关系。     

Different shapes of tracks in phlogopite, biotite and soda lime glass

Etched track opening geometries in Biotite, Phlogopite and soda-lime glass irradiated with swift heavy ions [¹⁹⁷Au(11.64 MeV/n), ¹³⁶Xe(11.56 MeV/n), ⁵⁸Ni(11.56 MeV/n)] at different angle of incidence have been studied using appropriate chemical etching technique. Different geometries (Hexagonal, irregular polygon, triangular in case of Biotite and Phlogopite, and circular & elliptical in case of soda lime glass detector) of heavy ion tracks are reported in the present investigations using optical microscope. The different shapes of these heavy ions track geometries are found to be related with various target-projectile parameters (viz: type of projectiles, energy, stopping power, angle of incidence of the projectile, density of defects and its reactivity with etchant, etching conditions and chemical structure of the detectors). The dependence of different shapes of heavy ion tracks in isotropic and anisotropic medium on the variation of radiation damage densities along the ion trajectories have also been discussed in the present paper.      

Radiation chemical yields for loss of ether and carbonate ester bonds in PADC films exposed to proton and heavy ion beams

Chemical modification along ion tracks in PADC films has been studied by means of FT-IR spectrometry, which was exposed to proton and heavy ions of He, C, Ne, Ar, Fe, Kr and Xe with energies around the Bragg peaks. This study covers a wide region of the stopping power ranging from 10 to 10,000 keV/μm. Removal cross sections for the loss of ether and carbonate ester bonds are assessed for each ion, as a function of the stopping power. Chemical damage parameters like the damage density, the effective track core radius and the radiation chemical yields, G values (scissions/100 eV), for each bond are also derived. We have found anomalous dependence of these parameters on the stopping power. The G value for the loss of carbonate ester bond decreased from 20 for proton down to 5 for C and Ne ions, and then increased with atomic number of heavy ions up to 8 for Xe ion. Radial dose distribution for each ion has been also calculated. Results are discussed from the viewpoint of polymeric structure of PADC that consists of two parts with different radio-sensitivities.     

喷气式Z箍缩等离子体装置中离子束能谱的测量

利用新研制的紧凑型汤姆生离子能谱仪（ＴｈｏｍｓｏｎＩｏｎＥｎｅｒｇｙＡｎａｌｙｚｅｒ），对喷气式Ｚ－箍缩等离子体装置中离子能谱进行了测量，在ＣＲ－３９上得到了清晰的Ａｒ＋，Ａｒ２＋，Ａｒ３＋离子抛物线轨迹，通过分析计算结果表明：离子的最大能量在１ＭｅＶ左右，离子能谱分布曲线都随其能量增加而单调下降。     

Effect of secondary electrons from latent tracks created in YBCO by swift heavy ion irradiation

Swift heavy ions (SHI) with electronic energy loss exceeding a value of 14.4 keVnm⁻¹ create amorphized latent tracks in YBCO type superconductors. In the low fluence regime of an ion beam where tracks do not overlap, a decrease of the superconducting transition temperature as probed through resistivity studies, is not expected due to availability of percolating current paths. The present study however shows T_c decrease by about 1–3 K in thin films of YBCO when irradiated by 250 MeVAg ions at 79 K at a fluence of 5×10¹⁰–1×10¹² ionscm⁻². The highest fluence used in the present study is three times less than the fluence where track overlapping becomes significant. The T_c tends to increase towards the preirradiation value on annealing the films at room temperature. To explain this unusual result, we consider the effect of ion irradiation in inducing materials modification not only through creation of amorphized latent tracks along the ion path, but also through creation of atomic disorder in the oxygen sublattice in the Cu–O chains of YBCO by the secondary electrons. These electrons are emitted radially from the tracks during the passage of the SHI. Considering the correlation between the charge state of copper and its oxygen coordination, we show in particular that the latter process is a consequence of the inelastic interaction of the SHI induced low-energy secondary electrons with the YBCO lattice, which result in chain oxygen disorder and T_c decrease.     

SHI induced nano track polymer filters and characterization

Swift heavy ion irradiation produces damage in polymers in the form of latent tracks. Latent tracks can be enlarged by etching it in a suitable etchant and thus nuclear track etch membrane can be formed for gas permeation / purification in particular for hydrogen where the molecular size is very small. By applying suitable and controlled etching conditions well defined tracks can be formed for specific applications of the membranes. After etching gas permeation method is used for characterizing the tracks. In the present work polycarbonate (PC) of various thickness were irradiated with energetic ion beam at Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC), New Delhi. Nuclear tracks were modified by etching the PC in 6N NaOH at 60 (±1) °C from both sides for different times to produce track etch membranes. At critical etch time the etched pits from both the sides meet a rapid increase in gas permeation was observed. Permeability of hydrogen and carbon dioxide has been measured in samples etched for different times. The latent tracks produced by SHI irradiation in the track etch membranes show enhancement of free volume of the polymer. Nano filters are separation devices for the mixture of gases, different ions in the solution and isotopes and isobars separations. The polymer thin films with controlled porosity finding it self as best choice. However, the permeability and selectivity of these polymer based membrane filters are very important at the nano scale separation. The Swift Heavy Ion (SHI) induced nuclear track etched polymeric films with controlled etching have been attempted and characterized as nano scale filters.      

纳秒激光电离分子团簇产生高离化离子的激光波长效应

利用脉冲分子束-激光电离-飞行时间质谱仪,在109～1012 W·cm-2激光功率密度条件下,考察了Nd：YAG激光器输出的1 064,532,266 nm波长的激光与苯、氨、硫化氢等团簇的相互作用。发现1 064 nm的激光可以电离分子束产生高离化态的C4+,N5+,S6+等离子;波长为532 nm的激光则电离产生价态较低的C3+,C2+,N3+,N2+, S4+,S3+以及S2+ 等离子;在266 nm波长条件下进行实验,没有产生任何高价离子。提出了一个“多光子电离引发-逆轫致吸收加热-电子碰撞电离”模型来解释高价离子的产生。激光场下电子在团簇内部的逆轫致加热是整个过程的关键步骤,电子被加热的速度正比于激光波长的平方。这可以解释为何长波长的激光有利于更高价态离子的产生。     

纳秒激光电离分子团簇产生高离化离子的激光波长效应

 利用脉冲分子束-激光电离-飞行时间质谱仪,在10⁹～10¹² W·cm^-2激光功率密度条件下,考察了Nd：YAG激光器输出的1 064,532,266 nm波长的激光与苯、氨、硫化氢等团簇的相互作用。发现1 064 nm的激光可以电离分子束产生高离化态的C⁴⁺,N⁵⁺,S⁶⁺等离子;波长为532 nm的激光则电离产生价态较低的C³⁺,C²⁺,N³⁺,N²⁺, S⁴⁺,S³⁺以及S²⁺ 等离子;在266 nm波长条件下进行实验,没有产生任何高价离子。提出了一个“多光子电离引发-逆轫致吸收加热-电子碰撞电离”模型来解释高价离子的产生。激光场下电子在团簇内部的逆轫致加热是整个过程的关键步骤,电子被加热的速度正比于激光波长的平方。这可以解释为何长波长的激光有利于更高价态离子的产生。     

Effect of Surface Potentials on Interaction between Ions and Surfaces

It is shown by studying the scattering of helium and neon ions with hyperthermal energies on the surfaces of semiconductors that the crystal surfaces reflect some incident ions by means of pairwise interaction and some ions with no loss of energy. Reflection without loss of energy is also assumed to occur due to pairwise interaction between ions and surface atoms bound to underlying atoms by a rigid interaction potential.     

Formation of ion damage tracks

The formation of damage tracks in insulators from the passage of energetic (MeV/amu) ions indicates that the energy lost by an ion to electronic excitation is partially transferred to atomic motion. It is known that a track consists of localized regions of extended defects that are separated by lengths that exhibit only point defects. The utility of tracks for selective detection of various types of ions arises because of preferential chemical etching along the track as compared to etching the bulk material. In this letter we propose a new model to explain both the localized damage regions and the preferential etching of damage tracks. The formation of each region of extended defects is initiated by the Auger decay of a vacancy produced in an inner electronic shell of an atom of the insulator by the incident ion. This decay produces an intense source of ionization within a small volume around the decaying atom, which causes decomposition of the material in a manner similar to that observed in pulsed laser irradiation. The resulting chemical or crystalline modification of the material is the latent track, which because of its changed structure can be preferentially etched.     

不同形貌锰氧化物对重金属离子吸附的AAS和AFS分析

通过简单的水热法控制性合成了两种不同形貌的锰氧化物(层状OL和隧道状OMS),并考察了这两种材料对几种重金属离子Pb2+,Cu2+,Ni2+,Hg2+的吸附。通过原子吸收光谱(AAS)和原子荧光光谱(AFS)测定吸附前后离子浓度,比较两种材料的吸附性能,以及对不同离子的选择性吸附。实验表明OMS形貌的锰氧化物是一种良好吸附剂,对铅离子具有很好的选择性吸附,两分钟内吸附率达98%。由此可建立一种简单、绿色、高效地去除污水中重金属离子的方法。     

A search for superheavy nuclei tracks in extraterrestrial olivine crystals

A study is made for the search of superheavy nuclei in Marjalahti, Eagle Station and in other pallasite olivines. The olivine crystals are calibrated for heavy ion track lengths by using heavy ion beams from cyclotrons. The calibration for ultra heavy ions which are presently not available with sufficient energy to produce volume tracks in olivine crystals, is based on Katz and Kobetich model of track formation. The length spectrum of volume tracks, revealed by puncturing them with focussed Nd-glass laser beam, is measured and the abundances of different nuclei groups are calculated. Partial annealing has been used at 430°C for 32 hr which eliminates the interfering tracks due to nuclei of atomic numberS ≤ 50. During the scanning 4 cm³ olivine crystals, about 360 long tracks of uranium group as well as two very long tracks have been found. If these tracks belong to superheavy nuclei, the relative abundance of super heavies is found to be 6 × 10⁻¹¹ in galactic cosmic rays.