Systematic analysis of the PSI experiment to directly measure the sticking probabilityω s in dt fusion

Starting in 1989 an experiment was run at PSI to directly measure the final sticking probability in muon catalyzed dt fusion. This experiment was based on an active-target ionization chamber (IC) built at Gatchina, Russia, and an array of plastic neutron counters. In three runs approximately 5×10⁶ isolated alpha signals were recorded with around one half of these occurring in the inner chamber region where we have more complete understanding of the systematic errors. Particularly from a long run in 1992 we were able to obtain a very clean sticking peak of some 5000 events. However, to reach an accurate value of sticking, all systematic effects and several major backgrounds had to be understood in detail. To this end a Monte Carlo code was written to simulate the full electrostatic environment of the IC and to recreate completely each signal type including the actual tritium decay noise from the live experiment. A slightly model dependent value of approx. 0.56±0.04% is obtained for final sticking.     

Atomic Absorption Assay of Noble Metals in Ores with the Use of Sample Decomposition by Ultrasound

An atomic absorption assay of gold, silver, and palladium in various types of ores is performed with the use of ultrasound at the fire assay stage. It is shown that ultrasound can reduce the temperature and duration of fusion and increase the recovery of noble metals into the lead button.     

Optical Gain of 1550-nm Range Multiple-Quantum-Well Heterostructures and Limiting Modulation Frequencies of Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers Based on Them

Results of investigation of 1550 nm range stripe semiconductor lasers fabricated from heterostructures with different designs of the gain medium are presented. It is shown that the proposed designs of the gain medium allow obtaining the effective lasing at high level of total optical losses, comparable with the typical optical losses in the vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. The evaluation of modal gain in different types of the gain mediummade it possible to estimate the possible frequencies of the small-signal modulation of vertically emitting lasers and proposed the ways to increase them up to 20 GHz or more.     

Dependence of the Elastic Properties of H5-Chondrites (NWA 12370) on Pressure

Doklady Physics - The mechanical properties of NWA 12370 chondrite, petrological type H5, depending on the external hydrostatic pressure were studied using ultrasonic waves. This meteorite is a...     

High precision study of muon catalyzed fusion in D2 and HD gas

Muon catalyzed dd fusion in D₂ and HD gases in the temperature range from 28 to 350 K was investigated in a series of experiments based on a time-projection ionization chamber operating with pure hydrogen. All main observables in this reaction chain were measured with high absolute precision including the resonant and non-resonant ddμ formation rates, the rate for hyperfine transitions in dμ atoms, the branching ratio of the two charge symmetric fusion channels ³He + n and t + p and the muon sticking probability. The report presents the final analysis of the data together with a comprehensive comparison with calculations based on recent μCF theories. The energy of the loosely bound ddμ state with quantum numbers J = 1, ν = 1, which is central to the mechanism of resonant molecule formation, is extracted with precision ?₁₁(fit) = ?1.9651(7) eV. in impressive agreement with the latest theoretical results ?₁₁(theory) = ?1.9646 eV.     

Plane vortex flow induced by a mass source (sink) in a rotating viscous fluid

A solution of the self-similar type, describing the development with time of a plane vortex flow excited by an axisymmetric mass source (sink) in a rotating viscous fluid, is obtained. Sources of two kinds — impulsive and of constant strength — are considered. The solutions for the velocity and vorticity fields are expressed in the form of functions similar to incomplete gamma functions and are presented in the form of graphs for various flow Reynolds numbers.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 4, pp. 172–175, July–August, 1991.     

Parameters of a closed arc stabilized by a longitudinal flow of argon

This article sets forth the results of an investigation of the temperature, velocity, dynamic head, and static pressure in high-current argon arcs used in plasma metallurgy. It is shown that the velocity and the amount of gas pumped through the column of the arc are determined by the current of the arc. A calculation is made and equations are presented which permit calculating this type of arc on the basis of a simplified equilibrium model. Experiment is compared with theory.Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Mekhaniki i Tekhnicheskoi Fiziki, No. 1, pp. 66–74, January–February, 1973.