Non-destructive analysis of archeological samples by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence

Summary A non-destructive method is described for the determination of major and minor constituents in archeological specimens by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Homogeneity tests are made by measuring at various sites of the specimen. In the same way, mean values are obtained for inhomogeneous specimen without taking samples. For calibration, powder standards are used. In case of the determination of elements with numbers up to 14 (Si) a vacuum chamber is used and the dimensions of the specimens are limited by the dimensions of that vacuum chamber, whereas for the determination of elements from K up to U specimens of any size, form or weight are suitable.

---

Zerstörungsfreie Analyse von archäologischen Proben mit Hilfe der Energie-dispersiven Röntgenfluorescenzanalyse

Zusammenfassung Eine zerstörungsfreie Methode für die Bestimmung von Haupt- und Nebenbestandteilen in archäologischen Proben mit Hilfe der Energie-dispersiven Röntgenfluorescenzanalyse wird beschrieben. Für Homogenitätstests wird an mehreren Stellen der Probe gemessen. In der gleichen Weise werden für inhomogene Proben Mittelwerte erhalten ohne Probenahme. Für die Eichung werden Pulverstandards verwendet. Im Falle der Bestimmung von Elementen mit Ordnungszahlen bis 14 (Si) wird eine Vakuumkammer eingesetzt, und die Dimensionen der Proben sind durch die Dimensionen dieser Vakuumkammer begrenzt, während für die Bestimmung der Elemente K bis U Proben jeder Größe, jeder Form oder jeden Gewichts verwendbar sind.

     

Atomistic packing models for experimentally investigated swelling states induced by CO2 in glassy polysulfone and poly(ether sulfone)

Atomistic packing models have been created, which help to better understand the experimentally observed swelling behavior of glassy polysulfone and poly (ether sulfone), under CO₂ gas pressures up to 50 bar at 308 K. The experimental characterization includes the measurement of the time‐dependent volume dilation of the polymer samples after a pressure step and the determination of the corresponding gas concentrations by gravimetric gas‐sorption measurements. The models obtained by force‐field‐based molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics methods allow a detailed atomistic analysis of representative swelling states of polymer/gas systems, with respect to the dilation of the matrix. Also, changes of free volume distribution and backbone mobility are accessible. The behavior of gas molecules in unswollen and swollen polymer matrices is characterized in terms of sorption, diffusion, and plasticization. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1874–1897, 2006     

Heavy element research at GSI — Recent results and perspectives

The nuclear shell model predicts that the next doubly magic shellclosure beyond ²⁰⁸Pb is at a proton number between Z=114 and 126 and at a neutron number N=184. The outstanding aim of experimental investigations is the exploration of this region of spherical ‘Superheavy Elements’. This article describes the experiments that were performed recently at the GSI SHIP. They resulted in an unambiguous identification of elements 110 to 112. They were negative so far in searching for elements 113, 116, and 118. The measured decay data are compared with theoretical predictions. Some aspects concerning the reaction mechanism are also presented.     

Magnetic order in RCr\mathsf{_{2}}Si\mathsf{_{2}} intermetallics

The magnetic structure and ordering temperatures of three intermetallic compounds which crystallize in the tetragonal ThCr₂Si₂ structure, TbCr₂Si₂, HoCr₂Si₂ and ErCr₂Si₂, have been determined by neutron diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and magnetization measurements. The Cr-sublattice orders anti-ferromagnetically with Néel temperatures of 758 K for TbCr₂Si₂, 718 K for HoCr₂Si₂ and 692 K for ErCr₂Si₂. Chromium atoms located at 4d crystallographic sites are aligned anti-parallel along the c-axis, with G_ZCr magnetic modes. In contrast with metallic bcc Cr, the refined room temperature value of the ordered Cr moment is anomalously large for all three compounds. No long range magnetic order of the R sublattice in TbCr₂Si₂ and HoCr₂Si₂ is observed, whilst the Er sublattice in ErCr₂Si₂ orders independently of the Cr sublattice below 2.4 K with moments ferromagnetically aligned in the basal plane.Received: 4 November 2003, Published online: 30 January 2004PACS: 75.25. + z Spin arrangements in magnetically ordered materials (including neutron and spin-polarized electron studies, synchrotron-source X-ray scattering, etc.) - 75.30.Cr Saturation moments and magnetic susceptibilities - 75.50.Ee Antiferromagnetics     

TR-LII for sizing of carbon particles forming at room temperature

Time-resolved laser-induced incandescence (TR-LII) was applied for the determination of particle sizes during carbon-particle formation from supersaturated atomic carbon vapor that was generated by laser photolysis of carbon suboxide (C₃O₂) at room temperature. Thus, the solid carbon particles were formed under hydrogen-free conditions. The TR-LII technique was used for in situ size measurement of growing carbon particles and samples of final particles were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the particles grow to a final size of 4–12 nm within 0.02–1 ms. The properties of the obtained particles depend on the initial conditions in the reaction volume, i.e. concentration of carbon suboxide, pressure and type of gas diluter, photolysis wavelength, and laser pulse energy. The comparison of TR-LII and TEM particle sizing results yields information about the effective thermal energy accommodation coefficients for He, Ar, CO, and C₃O₂ molecules on carbon particles. PACS 61.46.Df; 07.60.-j; 78.70.-g     

Semi-insulating electrical properties of undoped inp after heat treatment in a phosphorus atmosphere

Nominally undoped InP wafers have been annealed in a phosphorus atmosphere under a pressure of about 5 bar at temperatures of 900 °C for about 80 h. It was found that the electrical properties of the samples changed considerably after this treatment. A room temperature resistivity of up to 2×10⁷cm (semi-insulating behaviour) was obtained in the bulk of the samples. The resistivity finally obtained depends on the starting carrier concentration of the untreated samples. The Hall coefficient and Hall mobility have been measured up to 600 °C. The results can be interpreted in terms of a deep electronic level (E _A=0.63 ... 0.65 eV below the conduction band). The Hall coefficient was always found to be negative resulting in a Hall mobility of 1.4 to 4.9×10³ cm²/Vs. The highest resistivity in nominally undoped bulk InP so far reported in the literature [1] was =3.6 × 10⁵cm. Therefore, this paper demonstrates for the first time that a really semi-insulating behaviour of >10⁷ cm can be achieved for bulk InP with the purity of nominally undoped material (10¹⁵ to 10¹⁶cm^–3).