Use of neutron-activation techniques for studying elemental distributions: applications in geochemistry, ecology and technology

The radiography method is developed for the investigation of ionizing radiation sources distribution on the sample surface by means of a two-dimensional image, produced in a photoemulsion or dielectric track detector. Its sensitivity is within a range of 10⁻² - 10⁻⁷ g/mm² and resolution from 0.01 to 100 μm. Statistical analysis and computer processing of the radiographic images have allowed us to solve the two main tasks of the method, namely, the determination the true distributions of ionizing radiation sources on the surface and the quantitative estimation of the local content of different chemical elements within a given accuracy.     

Neutron dosimetry at low and high fluences with CR-39

In the Laboratory of Nuclear Microanalysis, we have developed two techniques for neutron dosimetry; the first for low fluence, the second for high fluence. These two techniques use a Solid State Nuclear Track Detector (SSNTD): the CR-39. The low fluence technique is based on the measurement of etched tracks resulting from a neutron-proton conversion. A Monte Carlo code performs a simulation of the (n,p) collision in the detector, and a numerical computer code of latent track etching allows the evaluation of the etched track parameters. The object of this is to obtain characteristics of a neutron fluence from the measured etched track parameters. When there is a high fluence and high doses, CR-39 is unsuited for optical microscopy analysis. This is because of track overlapping which makes it impossible to carry out counting and exploitation. We have therefore developed a new method permitting the reading of samples based on the measurement of the angular distribution of coherent light (He---Ne laser) transmitted through the irradiated etched SSNTD. We present these two techniques and our initial results.     

Ternäre intermetallische Phasen des Lithiums mit Elementen der 4. Neben- und 5. Hauptgruppe mit statistischer Metallverteilung im „Kationen”︁-Teilgitter

Ternary Intermetallic Phases of Lithium, Transition Metals of the 4^th Group and Elements of the 5^th Maingroup with Statistical Metal Distribution in the ?Cation”?-Substructure The results of X-ray investigations and neutron diffraction on new and in some cases already known [1, 2] ternary intermetallic phases of Lithium with transition metals of the 4^th group (b) and those of the 5^th main group (X = P, As, Sb, Bi) will be reported. They crystallize in a partly ?filled”? antifluorite type structure with a statistical Li/B-distribution in the tetrahedral sites. The structures are obviously stabilized by small amounts of enclosed d-elements.     

贫金属星的中子俘获元素

利用分量系数公式并结合太阳系元素丰度的最新数据,计算了6?4颗贫金属星的中子俘获元素丰度.结果显示,快中子俘获过程(r过程)是贫金属星中子俘获元素的主要来源,且金属丰度小于–2.5的贫金属星的重中子俘获元素产量可能来自于纯r过程;重中子俘获元素与轻中子俘获元素来自于不同的天体物理场所     

Effect of neutron irradiation on optical spectra of α-Al2O3 and α-SiO2 single crystals

Using two crystal dielectrics (α-Al₂O₃ and α-SiO₂) as examples, the author studied the effect of large neutron-radiation doses on their optical spectra. The variation in IR spectra in the region of α-SiO₂ stretching and deformation vibrations is investigated; its relation to changes in the structure of the irradiated crystal is discussed. Institute of Nuclear Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ulugbek Settlement, Tashkent, 702132. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 66, No. 1, pp. 135–138, January–February, 1999.     

Neutron skin thickness of 90Zr and symmetry energy constrained by charge exchange spin-dipole excitations

The charge exchange spin-dipole (SD) excitations of \begin{document}$ ^{90} $\end{document}Zr are studied using the Skyrme Hartee-Fock plus proton-neutron random phase approximation with SAMi-J interactions. The experimental value of the model-independent sum rule obtained from the SD strength distributions of \begin{document}$ ^{90} $\end{document}Zr(p, n)\begin{document}$ ^{90} $\end{document}Nb and \begin{document}$ ^{90} $\end{document}Zr(n, p)\begin{document}$ ^{90} $\end{document}Y is used to deduce the neutron skin thickness. The neutron skin thickness \begin{document}$ \Delta r_{np} $\end{document} of \begin{document}$ ^{90} $\end{document}Zr is extracted as \begin{document}$ 0.083\pm0.032 $\end{document} fm, which is similar to the results of other studies. Based on the correlation analysis of the neutron skin thickness \begin{document}$ \Delta r_{np} $\end{document} and the nuclear symmetry energy J as well as its slope parameter L, a constraint from the extracted \begin{document}$ \Delta r_{np} $\end{document} leads to the limitation of J to \begin{document}$ 29.2 \pm 2.6 $\end{document} MeV and L to \begin{document}$ 53.3 \pm 28.2 $\end{document} MeV.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Properties of SrC(NH)3, a Nitrogen‐Based Carbonate Analogue with the Trinacria Motif

Strontium guanidinate, SrC(NH)₃, the first compound with a doubly deprotonated guanidine unit, was synthesized from strontium and guanidine in liquid ammonia and characterized by X‐ray and neutron diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and density‐functional theory including harmonic phonon calculations. The compound crystallizes in the hexagonal space group P6₃/m, constitutes the nitrogen analogue of strontium carbonate, SrCO₃, and its structure follows a layered motif between Sr²⁺ ions and complex anions of the type C(NH)₃^2?; the anions adopt the peculiar trinacria shape. A comparison of theoretical phonons with experimental IR bands as well as quantum‐chemical bonding analyses yield a first insight into bonding and packing of the formerly unknown anion in the crystal.     

Diselenophosphate‐Induced Conversion of an Achiral [Cu20H11{S2P(OiPr)2}9] into a Chiral [Cu20H11{Se2P(OiPr)2}9] Polyhydrido Nanocluster

A polyhydrido copper nanocluster, [Cu₂₀H₁₁{Se₂P(OiPr)₂}₉] ( 2_H ), which exhibits an intrinsically chiral inorganic core of C₃ symmetry, was synthesized from achiral [Cu₂₀H₁₁{S₂P(OiPr)₂}₉] ( 1_H ) of C_3h symmetry by a ligand‐exchange method. The structure has a distorted cuboctahedral Cu₁₃ core, two triangular faces of which are capped along the C₃ axis, one by a Cu₆ cupola and the other by a single Cu atom. The Cu₂₀ framework is further stabilized by 9 diselenophosphate and 11 hydride ligands. The number of hydride, phosphorus, and selenium resonances and their splitting patterns in multinuclear NMR spectra of 2_H indicate that the chiral Cu₂₀H₁₁ core retains its C₃ symmetry in solution. The 11 hydride ligands were located by neutron diffraction experiments and shown to be capping μ₃‐H and interstitial μ₅‐H ligands (in square‐pyramidal and trigonal‐bipyramidal cavities), as supported by DFT calculations on [Cu₂₀H₁₁(Se₂PH₂)₉] ( 2_H′ ) as a simplified model.     

[Cu32(H)20{S2P(OiPr)2}12]: The Largest Number of Hydrides Recorded in a Molecular Nanocluster by Neutron Diffraction

An air‐ and moisture‐stable nanoscale polyhydrido copper cluster [Cu₃₂(H)₂₀{S₂P(OiPr)₂}₁₂] ( 1_H ) was synthesized and structurally characterized. The molecular structure of 1_H exhibits a hexacapped pseudo‐rhombohedral core of 14 Cu atoms sandwiched between two nestlike triangular cupola fragments of (2×9) Cu atoms in an elongated triangular gyrobicupola polyhedron. The discrete Cu₃₂ cluster is stabilized by 12 dithiophosphate ligands and a record number of 20 hydride ligands, which were found by high‐resolution neutron diffraction to exhibit tri‐, tetra‐, and pentacoordinated hydrides in capping and interstitial modes. This result was further supported by a density functional theory investigation on the simplified model [Cu₃₂(H)₂₀(S₂PH₂)₁₂].