Direct measurements of (p, \gamma) cross-sections at astrophysical energies using radioactive beams and the Daresbury Recoil Separator

There are a number of astrophysical environments in which the path of nucleosynthesis proceeds through proton-rich nuclei. These nuclei have traditionally not been available as beams, and thus proton-capture reactions on these nuclei could only be studied indirectly. At the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF), some of the first direct measurements of (p, $ \gamma$ ) cross-sections on radioactive beams have been made. The Daresbury Recoil Separator (DRS) has been used to separate the recoils of interest from the unreacted primary beam and identify them in an isobutane-filled ionization counter. First data from ¹⁷F (p, $ \gamma$ ¹⁸Ne and ⁷Be (p, $ \gamma$ ⁸B measurements are presented.     

Synthesis of VO2 (B) nanorods for Li battery application

Vanadium dioxide nanorods were synthesized through a hydrothermal reaction from V₂O₅ xerogel, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄). The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electrochemical discharge–charge cycling in lithium battery. SEM images reveal the nanorods to have dimensions on the order of 1–3 μm in length and 10–50 nm in diameter. The measured initial discharge capacity of the lithium battery with a cathode made of VO₂ (B) nanorods was 152 mA h/g.     

Tunka-133: Status 2008 and development of methods for data analysis

The activity on creation of a array with an area of 1 km² for recording extensive air showers using Cherenkov light began in the Tunka valley in 2006. The new array will allow one to study cosmic rays in the energy range 10¹⁵–10¹⁸ eV by the unified method. In the winter of 2007–2008, the array operated with 4 clusters, 7 detectors in each cluster. Experimental data obtained during 270 h of fair weather in moonless nights demonstrated unique capabilities of the new array, related with the possibility of recording the pulse shape with a step of 5 ns from each detector.     

Adsorption of surface functionalized silica nanoparticles onto mineral surfaces and decane/water interface

The adsorption of silica nanoparticles onto representative mineral surfaces and at the decane/water interface was studied. The effects of particle size (the mean diameters from 5 to 75?nm), concentration and surface type on the adsorption were studied in detail. Silica nanoparticles with four different surfaces [unmodified, surface modified with anionic (sulfonate), cationic (quaternary ammonium (quat)) or nonionic (polyethylene glycol (PEG)) surfactant] were used. The zeta potential of these silica nanoparticles ranges from ?79.8 to 15.3?mV. The shape of silica particles examined by a Hitachi-S5500 scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) is quite spherical. The adsorption of all the nanoparticles (unmodified or surface modified) on quartz and calcite surfaces was found to be insignificant. We used interfacial tension (IFT) measurements to investigate the adsorption of silica nanoparticles at the decane/water interface. Unmodified nanoparticles or surface modified ones with sulfonate or quat do not significantly affect the IFT of the decane/water interface. It also does not appear that the particle size or concentration influences the IFT. However, the presence of PEG as a surface modifying material significantly reduces the IFT. The PEG surface modifier alone in an aqueous solution, without the nanoparticles, yields the same IFT reduction for an equivalent PEG concentration as that used for modifying the surface of nanoparticles. Contact angle measurements of a decane droplet on quartz or calcite plate immersed in water (or aqueous nanoparticle dispersion) showed a slight change in the contact angle in the presence of the studied nanoparticles. The results of contact angle measurements are in good agreement with experiments of adsorption of nanoparticles on mineral surfaces or decane/water interface. This study brings new insights into the understanding and modeling of the adsorption of surface-modified silica nanoparticles onto mineral surfaces and water/decane interface.     

Probability of fatigue failure in glass fibers

Abstract

Fracture mechanics provides the background for making long-term failure predictions to assure the mechanical reliability of glass fibers. The fatigue parameters necessary for making these predictions can be obtained from static and dynamic fatigue strength experiments. The failure calculations are best understood by expressing the predictions in terms of a design diagram. The probability of failure in service as well as the proof test stress necessary to ensure a minimum lifetime in service can be obtained from a design diagram.     

Coexistence of observables

Recent results in the theory of integration of complex-valued functions with respect to a positive operator-valued measure are used to generalize the usual notion of coexistent observables. This leads to a connection between effects as observables and the quantization scheme of stochastic quantum mechanics. It also leads to a new viewpoint for the concept of a classical apparatus for quantum measurement which does not require a classical mechanical treatment of the apparatus from the outset.     

High precision analysis of finlines on semiconductor substrate

In this study, the effect of the metallization thickness in finlines on semiconcuctor substrate is researched. The propagation parameters are computed to measure the inluence of the metallization. The theory and numerical results are presented to the propagation constant and characteristic impedance of the bilateral and unilateral finlines. The full wave analysis of the transverse transmission line — TTL method is used to determine the electromagnetic fields of the structure in Fourier transform domain — FTD. Applying the suitable boundary conditions, the moment method and expanding the fields in a set of suitable bases functions, a homogeneous matrix system is obtained and the propagation constant is computed. The characteristic impedance is obtained using the relation of the voltage in the slot and the transmitted power by the structure.Computational programs are developed to obtain numerical results to the propagation parameters composed by the propagation constant and characteristic impedance.This work received financial support by CAPES and CNPq.     

The interaction of C2Cl4 with fe(110)

Quantitative adsorption studies, temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and Auger spectroscopy have been used to study the interaction of C₂Cl₄ with Fe(110) at 90 and 325 K. At 90 K, multilayer C₂Cl₄ adsorption occurs. The following desorption products are observed in the temperature range of 90–1050 K: C₂Cl₄ from the multilayer and the monolayer, FeCl₂, and a high mass iron chloride species with mass spectrometer cracking products FeCl⁺₂, FeCl⁺, and Fe⁺. Irreversible dissociative C₂Cl₄ adsorption occurs at 325 K and the only desorption product which is observed is the high mass iron chloride species. Auger spectroscopy shows that surface carbon from C₂Cl₄ starts to diffuse into the bulk of the crystal at ˜ 480 K while small coverages of chlorine remain on the surface of the crystal even after heating to 1050 K. Comparison of the behavior of C₂Cl₄ and CCl₄ on Fe(110) indicates that radical products (·CCl₃ and :CCl₂) observed to be produced from CCl₄ adsorption are not produced from C₂Cl₄ adsorption. This difference is probably due to the enhanced surface reactivity of the C=C bond in C₂Cl₄. A special reactivity of iron defect sites for C₂Cl₄ is observed through the production of associated FeCl₂ species which desorb via zero-order kinetics with an activation energy of 44.8 ± 8.5 kcal/mol, the sublimation enthalpy of FeCl₂.