Non-destructive determination of plutonium in nuclear fuel rods and pellets

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry - A non-destructive method and an experimental set-up are described by which the Pu content in UO2/PuO2 mixed oxide (MOX) pellets and in fuel rods,...     

Kinetics and mechanism of the acid-catalysed decarboxylation of thecis-α- andcis-β-carbonato(3,6-dimethyl-1,8-diamino-3,6-diazaoctane)-cobalt(III) ions

Summary The acid-catalysed decarboxylation of thecis-- andcis--[CoL(CO₃)]⁺ complexes (L = 3,6-dimethyl-1,8-diamino-3,6-diazaoctane) have been studied over a range of HClO₄ concentrations and the temperatures 25, 35 and 45° at I = 1.0 mol dm^–3 (NaClO₄). The rate expression takes the form k_obs = k₀ + k₁[H⁺] where k_obs is the observed first order rate constant at constant hydrogen ion concentration. The k₀ term makes only a minor contribution to the overall reaction. Both complexes display solvent deuterium isotope effects ofca. 2.6 for the acid-catalysed decarboxylation, consistent with a rapid proton pre-equilibrium mechanism. Activation parameters have been determined and the mechanism of the reaction discussed. The magnitude of the solvent isotope effect is consistent with an A-1 type mechanism involving formation of a 5-coordinate intermediate.     

The continuation of the periodic table up to Z = 172. The chemistry of superheavy elements

The chemical elements up toZ = 172 are calculated with a relativistic Hartree-Fock-Slater program taking into account the effect of the extended nucleus. Predictions of the binding energies, the X-ray spectra and the number of electrons inside the nuclei are given for the inner electron shells. The predicted chemical behaviour will be discussed for all elements betweenZ = 104-120 and compared with previous known extrapolations. For the elementsZ = 121–172 predictions of their chemistry and a proposal for the continuation of the Periodic Table are given. The eighth chemical period ends withZ = 164 located below Mercury. The ninth period starts with an alkaline and alkaline earth metal and ends immediately similarly to the second and third period with a noble gas atZ = 172.

---

Zusammenfassung Mit einem relativistischen Hartree-Fock-Slater Rechenprogramm werden die chemischen Elemente bis zur Ordnungszahl 172 berechnet, wobei der Einfluß des ausgedehnten Kernes berücksichtigt wurde. Für die innersten Elektronenschalen werden Voraussagen über deren Bindungsenergie, das Röntgenspektrum und die Zahl der Elektronen im Kern gemacht. Die voraussichtliche Chemie der Elemente zwischenZ = 104 und 120 wird diskutiert und mit bereits vorhandenen Extrapolationen verglichen. Für die ElementeZ =121–172 wird eine Voraussage über das chemische Verhalten gegeben, sowie ein Vorschlag für die Fortsetzung des Periodensystems gemacht. Die achte chemische Periode endet mit dem Element 164 im Periodensystem unter Quecksilber gelegen. Die neunte Periode beginnt mit einem Alkali- und Erdalkalimetall und endet sofort wieder wie in der zweiten und dritten Periode mit einem Edelgas beiZ = 172.

---

Resumé Les éléments chimiques jusqu'áZ = 172 sont calculés à l'aide d'un programme Hartree-Fock-Slater relativiste en tenant compte de l'extension du noyau. On fournit des prédictions quant aux énergies de liaison, aux spectres X et au nombre d'électrons dans les noyaux pour les couches électroniques internes. Le comportement chimique prévu est discuté pour tous les éléments entreZ = 104–120 et comparé aux extrapolations connues auparavant. Pour les éléments Z =121–172 on effectue des prévisions de propriétés chimiques et l'on propose un prolongement du Tableau Périodique. La huitième période chimique se termine àZ = 164 sous le mercure. La neuviéme période débute avec un métal alcalin et alcalino-terreux et se termine comme la seconde et la troisième période avec un gaz rare àZ = 172.

---

---

This work has been supported by the Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft und Bildung and by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

An inequality linking packing and covering densities of plane convex bodies

For every convex body K in R ², let (K) denote the packing density of K, i.e. the density of the tightest packing of congruent copies of K in R ², and let (K) denote the covering density of K, i.e. the density of the thinnest covering of R ² with congruent copies of K. It is shown here that 4(K)3(K) for every convex body K in R ². This inequality is the strongest possible, since if E is an ellipse, then the equality 4(E)=3(E) holds. Two corollaries are presented, and a summary of known bounds for packing and covering densities is given.     

Asymptotic expansions for dynamic programming recursions with general nonnegative matrices

This paper is concerned with the study of the asymptotic behavior of dynamic programming recursions of the form $$x(n + 1) = \mathop {\max }\limits_{P \in \mathcal{K}} Px(n), n = 0,1,2,...,$$ where ? denotes a set of matrices, generated by all possible interchanges of corresponding rows, taken from a fixed finite set of nonnegative square matrices. These recursions arise in a number of well-known and frequently studied problems, e.g. in the theory of controlled Markov chains, Leontief substitution systems, controlled branching processes, etc. Results concerning the asymptotic behavior ofx(n), forn→∞, are established in terms of the maximal spectral radius, the maximal index, and a set of generalized eigenvectors. A key role in the analysis is played by a geometric convergence result for value iteration in undiscounted multichain Markov decision processes. A new proof of this result is also presented.     

Dual pairs and representations of scattering amplitudes

A procedure for constructing scattering amplitudes for production processes that is exactly unitary, preserves the bosonic character of the many-particle states, and is invariant with respect to an underlying symmetry group is given. Two simple models, dealing with isospin internal symmetry and the two-dimensional Euclidean space group are presented which illustrate how scattering amplitudes can be represented as matrix elements of groups whose action commutes with the action of the invariance group on the relevant Fock space.Invited talk presented at the International Conference Selected Topics in Quantum Field Theory and Mathematical Physics, Bechyn, Czechoslovakia, June 23–27, 1986.Work supported in part by the Department of Energy.