Counterion condensation in ionic micelles as studied by a combined use of SANS and SAXS

We report a combined use of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to the study of counterion condensation in ionic micelles. Small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering measurements have been carried out on two surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTACl), which are similar but having different counterions. SANS measurements show that CTABr surfactant forms much larger micelles than CTACl. This is explained in terms of higher condensation of Br⁻ counterions than Cl⁻ counterions. SAXS data on these systems suggest that the Br⁻ counterions are condensed around the micelles over smaller thickness than those of Cl⁻ counterions.     

A new probe of neutron skin thickness

The correlation between neutron-to-proton yield ratio (R_np) and neutron skin thickness (δ_np) in neutron-rich projectile induced reactions is investigated within the framework of the Isospin-Dependent Quantum Molecular Dynamics (IQMD) model. The density distribution of the Droplet model is embedded in the initialization of the neutron and proton densities in the present IQMD model. By adjusting the diffuseness parameter of neutron density in the Droplet model for the projectile, the relationship between the neutron skin thickness and the corresponding R_np is obtained. The results show strong linear correlation between R_np and δ_np for neutron-rich Ca and Ni isotopes. It is suggested that R_np may be used as an experimental observable to extract δ_np for neutron-rich nuclei, which is very interesting in the study of the nuclear structure of exotic nuclei, the equation of state (EOS) of asymmetric nuclear matter and neutron-rich matter in astrophysics, etc.     

Multi-modal calculations of prompt fission neutrons from 238U（n,f） at low induced energy

Properties of prompt fission neutrons from ²³⁸U(n, f) are calculated for incident neutron energies below 6 MeV using the multi-modal model, including the prompt fission neutron spectrum, the average prompt fission neutron multiplicity, and the prompt fission neutron multiplicity as a function of the fission fragment mass υ(A) (usually named “sawtooth” data) The three most dominant fission modes are taken into account. The model parameters are determined on the basis of experimental fission fragment data. The predicted results are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Preliminary shielding analysis in support of the CSNS target station shutter neutron beam stop design

The construction of China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) has been initiated in Dongguan, Guangdong, China. Thus a detailed radiation transport analysis of the shutter neutron beam stop is of vital importance. The analyses are performed using the coupled Monte Carlo and multi-dimensional discrete ordinates method. The target of calculations is to optimize the neutron beamline shielding design to guarantee personal safety and minimize cost. Successful elimination of the primary ray effects via the two-dimensional uncollided flux and the first collision source methodology is also illustrated. Two-dimensional dose distribution is calculated. The dose at the end of the neutron beam line is less than 2.5 μSv/h. The models have ensured that the doses received by the hall staff members are below the standard limit required.     

Be(d,n)反应中子源能谱测量及应用

 利用中子飞行时间技术和BC501A液体闪烁探测器的粒子分辨特性,测量了0°方向、20 MeV氘束轰击厚金属铍靶反应产生的中子源能谱,测量的中子能谱范围为0.7～25.0 MeV。在60°方向放置芪晶体闪烁探测器,由刻度好的BC501A液体闪烁探测器归一校正后,用于中子源强度监测。利用Be(d, n) 反应中子源,采用单粒子灵敏度标定方法,实验标定了0.75~15.75 MeV能量范围内的薄膜闪烁探测器中子能量响应曲线,实验结果与蒙特卡罗模拟计算结果在8%的不确定度范围内一致。     

Neutron diffraction study on composite compound Nd2Co7

The crystallographic and the magnetic structures of the composite compound Nd₂Co₇ at 300 K are investigated by a combined refinement of X-ray diffraction data and high-resolution neutron diffraction data. The compound crystallizes into a hexagonal Ce₂Ni₇-type structure and consists of alternately stacking MgZn₂-type NdCo₂ and CaCu₅-type NdCo₅ structural blocks along the c axis. A magnetic structure model with the moments of all atoms aligning along the c axis provides a satisfactory fitting to the neutron diffraction data and coincides with the easy magnetization direction revealed by the X-ray diffraction experiments on magnetically pre-aligned fine particles. The refinement results show that the derived atomic moments of the Co atoms vary in a range of 0.7 μ_B-1.1 μ_B and the atomic moment of Nd in the NdCo₅ slab is close to the theoretical moment of a free trivalent Nd³⁺ ion, whereas the atomic moment of Nd in the NdCo₂ slab is much smaller than the theoretical value for a free Nd³⁺ ion. The remarkable difference in the atomic moment of Nd atoms between different structural slabs at room temperature is explained in terms of the magnetic characteristics of the NdCo₂ and NdCo₅ compounds and the local chemical environments of the Nd atoms in different structural slabs of the Nd₂Co₇ compound.     

Study of radiation background at the north crossing point of the BEPCⅡ in collision mode

Understanding the radiation background at the north crossing point (NCP) in the tunnel of BEPCII is crucial for the performance safety of the High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector, and in turn of great significance for long-term stable running of the energy measurement system. Therefore, as the first step, a NaI(Tl) detector is constructed to continuously measure the radiation level of photons as background for future experiments. Furthermore, gamma and neutron dosimeters are utilized to explore the radiation distribution in the vicinity of the NCP where the HPGe detector will be located. Synthesizing all obtained information, the shielding for neutron irradiation is studied based on model-dependent theoretical analysis.     

Static and dynamic properties of KCN<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Cl<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>

An extended three-body force shell model (ETSM) has been applied to investigate the static and dynamic properties of KCN _x Cl_1−x for the compositionx = 0.56 and 1.0 at 300 K. The phonon dispersion curves computed by us are compared with the single crystal neutron diffraction data. The unusual features of these curves are the upward curvature seen in some of the acoustic branches. This is a result ofK-dependent softening of the phonon due to translation-rotation coupling. The transverse acoustic branch is more soft near the zone centre.     

Carbide precipitates in solution-quenched PH13-8 Mo stainless steel: A small-angle neutron scattering investigation

This paper deals with the small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) investigation on solution-quenched PH13-8 Mo stainless steel. From the nature of the variation of the functionality of the profiles for varying specimen thickness and also from the transmission electron microscopy (TEM), it has been established that the small-angle scattering signal predominantly originates from the block-like metallic carbide precipitates in the specimen. The contribution due to double Bragg reflection is not significant in the present case. The single scattering profile has been extracted from the experimental profiles corresponding to different values of specimen thickness. In order to avoid complexity and non-uniqueness of the multi-parameter minimization for randomly oriented polydisperse block-like precipitate model, the data have been analyzed assuming randomly oriented polydisperse cylindrical particle model with a locked aspect ratio.     

Some applications of polarized inelastic neutron scattering in magnetism

A brief account of applications of polarized inelastic neutron scattering in condensed matter research is given. We show that full polarization analysis is the only tool allowing to discriminate unambiguously between different magnetic modes in various magnetic materials. We show by means of recent results in the Heisenberg ferromagnet EuS that the effects of dipolar interactions can be studied on a microscopic scale. Moreover, we have found for the first time indications for the divergence of the longitudinal fluctuations belowT _c. In the itinerant antiferromagnet chromium we demonstrate that the dynamics of the longitudinal and transverse excitations are very different, resolving a long standing puzzle concerning the slope of their dispersion. Finally, we show that a measurement of the polarization-dependent part of the cross section of non-centrosymmetric MnSi proves directly that the chirality of the magnetic fluctuations is left-handed.