S1←S0 vibronic spectra and the vapor-state molecular structure of propanal and 2-methylpropanal

The vapor-state absorption spectra have been recorded for propanal PA and 2-methylpropanal MP with path lengths up to 120 m. The initial points in the S₁S₀ electronic transitions have been identified together with various fundamental vibrational frequencies of the PA and MP conformers. They contain nonplanar aldehyde groups in the S₁ states with inversion potential barriers of about 600 cm^–1. The parameters of the internal-rotation potential functions in the S₁ states have been determined, and the corresponding potential functions in the S₀ states have been refined.Chemical Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow University. Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 20–25, January–February, 1993.     

HZE ion fragmentation cross-section sensitivity and propagated errors in HZE exposure estimates

It has long been recognized that galactic cosmic rays are of such high energy that they tend to pass through available shielding materials resulting in exposure of astronauts and equipment within space vehicles and habitats. Any protection provided by shielding materials result not so much from stopping such particles but by changing their physical character in interaction with shielding material nuclei forming, hopefully, less dangerous species. Clearly, the fidelity of the nuclear cross-sections is essential to correct specification of shield design and sensitivity to cross-section error is important in guiding experimental validation of cross-section models and database. We examine the Boltzmann transport equation which is used to calculate dose equivalent during solar minimum, with units (cSv/yr), associated with various depths of shielding materials. The dose equivalent is a weighted sum of contributions from neutrons, protons, light ions, medium ions and heavy ions using the ICRP-60 LET dependent quality factors. We investigate the sensitivity of dose equivalent calculations due to errors in nuclear fragmentation cross-sections. We do this error analysis for all possible projectile-fragment combinations (14,365 such combinations) to estimate the sensitivity of the shielding calculations to errors in the nuclear fragmentation cross-sections. Numerical differentiation with respect to the cross-sections will be evaluated in a broad class of materials including polyethylene, aluminum and copper. We will identify the most important cross-sections to ensure adequate experimental study and evaluate their impact on propagated errors in shielding estimates.     

HZE beam transport in multilayered materials

A nonperturbative analytic solution of the high charge and energy (HZE) Green's function is used to implement a computer code for laboratory ion beam transport in multiple-layered materials. The code is established to operate on the Langley nuclear fragmentation model used in space engineering applications. Computational procedures are established to generate linear energy transfer (LET) distributions for a specified ion beam and target for comparison with experimental measurement. Comparison with 56Fe ion with Pb-Al and Pb-(CH2)x targets shows reasonable agreement.     

Predicting charmonium and bottomonium spectra with a quark harmonic oscillator

We present a simple application of the three-dimensional harmonic oscillator which should provide a very nice particle physics example to be presented in introductory undergraduate quantum mechanics course. The idea is to use the nonrelativistic quark model to calculate the spin-averaged mass levels of the charmonium and bottomonium spectra.     

Effects of target fragmentation on evaluation of LET spectra from space radiations: implications for space radiation protection studies

We present calculations of linear energy transfer (LET) spectra in low earth orbit from galactic cosmic rays and trapped protons using the HZETRN/BRYNTRN computer code. The emphasis of our calculations is on the analysis of the effects of secondary nuclei produced through target fragmentation in the spacecraft shield or detectors. Recent improvements in the HZETRN/BRYNTRN radiation transport computer code are described. Calculations show that at large values of LET (> 100 keV/μm) the LET spectra seen in free space and low earth orbit (LEO) are dominated by target fragments and not the primary nuclei. Although the evaluation of microdosimetric spectra is not considered here, calculations of LET spectra support that the large lineal energy (y) events are dominated by the target fragments. Finally, we discuss the situation for interplanetary exposures to galactic cosmic rays and show that current radiation transport codes predict that in the region of high LET values the LET spectra at significant shield depths (> 10 g/cm² of Al) is greatly modified by target fragments. These results suggest that studies of track structure and biological response of space radiation should place emphasis on short tracks of medium charge fragments produced in the human body by high energy protons and neutrons.     

Modelling of particle layer detachment—Role of transient kinetic effects

Particle layers tend to build up on walls in many filtration and separation processes, calling for periodic removal in order to keep the apparatus running. Important factors are the adhesion of the layer on the substrate and the cohesion of the particles in the layer. Models describing such layer detachment generally assume constant and homogeneous conditions for the forces acting on the layer. But in reality detachment is extremely non-stationary concerning place and time, primarily due to changing conditi...     

Estimation of neutron and other radiation exposure components in low earth orbit

The interaction of high-energy space radiation with spacecraft materials generates a host of secondary particles, some, such as neutrons, are more biologically damaging and penetrating than the original primary particles. Before committing astronauts to long term exposure in such high radiation environments, a quantitative understanding of the exposure and estimates of the associated risks are required. Energetic neutrons are traditionally difficult to measure due to their neutral charge. Measurement methods have been limited by mass and weight requirements in space to nuclear emulsion, activation foils, a limited number of Bonner spheres, and TEPCs. Such measurements have had limited success in quantifying the neutron component relative to the charged components. We will show that a combination of computational models and experimental measurements can be used as a quantitative tool to evaluate the radiation environment within the Shuttle, including neutrons. Comparisons with space measurements are made with special emphasis on neutron sensitive and insensitive devices.