武定恐龙化石的显微拉曼光谱研究

本文首次利用激光显微拉曼光谱、原子光谱和偏光显微镜等方法 ,对云南武定的恐龙化石进行了分析研究。实验发现 ,恐龙化石表面和截面的拉曼光谱 ,均为典型的方解石 (CaCO3 )晶体的拉曼谱 ,并未发现有其他成分的拉曼谱。原子发射光谱的分析结果表明 ,恐龙化石中的主要元素有Ca(>10 % ) ,其次是Si(5 0 % )和P(4 0 % ) ,还有Fe(1 0 % )等 ,但未发现铱、钍等稀有元素。由恐龙化石截面在偏光显微镜下的图像可以知道 ,恐龙化石表面层的成分主要是方解石晶体 ;内部的主要成分为方解石 (CaCO3 )晶体 ,此外还有纤维状一水二氧化硅 (分子式SiO2 ·nH2 O ,属非晶态 )等成分。激光拉曼光谱能快速无损地准确检测出恐龙化石的主要成分是方解石 (CaCO3 ) ,拉曼光谱对恐龙化石的分析结果与原子光谱、偏光显微镜的分析结果是一致的     

Differentiation between tracks and damages in SSNTD under the atomic force microscope

We have observed three-dimensional sponge-like structures as well as strips of connecting pits on the surface of the LR 115 detector after etching, which can be confused with the small tracks formed after short etching time. We have employed an atomic force microscope (AFM) to study these “damages” as well as genuine alpha tracks for short etching time. It was found that while the track and damage openings could be similar in size and shape, the depths for the damages were consistently smaller. Therefore, the depth of the pits will serve as a clear criterion to differentiate between tracks and other damages. The ability to discriminate between genuine tracks from other damages is most important for etching for short time intervals.     

Lichens as biomonitors for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Caracas Valley,Venezuela

Biomonitoring of PAH air pollution using lichens was carried out. Sixteen PAHs were studied in 11 locations along the valley of Caracas (Venezuela). The results of this work indicate that 14 of the 16 analysed PAHs were highly accumulated into the lichen thalli of Pyxine coralligera Malme. PAH levels in the samples revealed that the several volatile PAHs (naphthalene, acenaphtylene, acenaphtene, and fluoranthene) have the highest levels in the majority of the studied locations. The fluoranthene/pyrene and phenantrene/antracene ratios suggested that the major sources of PAHs are anthropogenic, mainly associated with gasoline and diesel combustion (pyrolytic) and unburnt oil derivates (petrogenic). The total PAH concentrations obtained in the present study were in the range of 0.24 to 9.08?µg/g, similar to those reported by other works in European and Asian cities.     

Electrochemical Determination of Organic Compounds in Automotive Fuels

This article critically reviews the electroanalytical methods devoted for the determination of organic compounds in automotive fuels that can range from contaminants to additives typically introduced into liquid biofuels and liquid fossil fuels. Contaminants such as aldehydes and ketones in bioethanol, free fatty acids and glycerol in biodiesel, and sulfur and nitrogen organic compounds in gasoline and diesel fuel, and additives such as colour markers and antioxidants added to fuels were determined by electroanalytical methods. Special focus is given to electrodes, electrochemical techniques, and sample preparation strategies. Future directions of research on electroanalysis of liquid fuels are presented.     

Designing polymers for nuclear track detection

This article describes our attempts since 1996 to systematically design and synthesize monomers and corresponding polymers for nuclear track detection. So far more than 15 homopolymers/copolymers have been prepared and tested by us for this purpose. Some of these polymers show better track detection characteristics vis-á-vis commercially available poly allyl diglycol carbonate (PADC) track detectors.      

Comparison of responses of LR-115A, CR-39 and PM-355 track detectors to pulsed low-energy proton streams

The paper concerns applications of LR-115A, CR-39 and PM-355 solid-state nuclear-track detectors (SSNTDs) for investigation of pulsed fluxes of protons below 300 keV. The proton streams were generated by the RPI-IBIS device operated with hydrogen puffing [Baranowski et al. 2000. Studies of hydrogen discharges in RPI-type devices with different electrode configurations. Czech. J. Phys. 50 (Suppl. S3), 101–107]. To perform ion mass- and energy-analysis, a Thomson mass-spectrometer equipped with a special input system and exchangeable detectors was used. A quantitative analysis of proton tracks upon Thomson parabolas was performed by means of an optical microscope equipped with a CCD camera. It made possible to measure proton tracks and to determine their statistics. The paper presents proton energy spectra recorded with the selected detectors, and responses of these detectors to protons of energy from about 30 to 300 keV. The results are important for verification of detector characteristics and for measurements of protons at different experimental conditions.     

Topological laminations on surfaces

We present and prove a topological characterization of geodesic laminations on hyperbolic surfaces of finite type.     

Optimization of the heavy nuclei track etching in olivine crystals from meteorites

The investigation of the track etching velocity dependence for nuclei with Z50 on pH of the etching solution in the olivine crystals from Marjalahti and Eagle Station meteorites, containing galactic cosmic-ray nuclear tracks and also the crystals from Marjalahti meteorite, calibrated at the UNILAC (GSI, Darmstadt) with 14.17 MeV/N ²⁰⁸Pb nuclei, were performed.

The pH of the etching solution were changed from 7.8 to 9.4. It is shown that the optimal track etch condition were realised at pH of etching solution in the interval from 8.4 to 8.8.

The results of the Galactic cosmic-ray nuclei tracks with Z83 revealed in olivine crystals are presented. They were additionally irradiated at 90% to the surface with accelerated 14 MeV/N ¹³²Xe nuclei.     

Determination of microquantities of Be in samples using α-sensitive track etch detectors

A new technique of determining Be content in samples using 4.66 MeV γ-rays is proposed. This energy range is sufficient to knock out the neutron from the ⁹Be nucleaus and to excite the first 2.9 MeV level of the ⁸Be nuclei. 1.5 MeV alpha particles are registered by means of CR-39 or cellulose nitrate detectors. Alpha particles produced in the reaction of γ-rays with Li nuclei which are contained in samples may cause the background. The latter is excluded by heating of samples before irradiation for Li molecules to be evaporated. ¹¹B nuclei do not produce alpha particles at the energy range of γ-rays presented above.The results obtained in the experiments of determining Be content in natural beryl crystal samples are in good agreement with their known chemical composition. Microparticles containing Beryllium were found in soil samples from the Ust-Kamenogorsk are deposit region, which contains 10⁻³ − 10⁻⁴ g/g of Be. The sensitivity of the method is 10⁻⁶ g/g of Be in solids.     

Conductivity of aged non-overlapping and overlapping tracks in ion irradiated polyimide

Non-overlapping as well as overlapping tracks of energetic ions have been introduced into polyimide foils. After aging their conductivity was measured. This — to our knowledge — first systematic study shows that conductivity does not only result from multiple track overlapping, but can be found already in single ion tracks. This conductivity is shown to be primarily a consequence of electronic energy transfer. The conductivity of single ion tracks is higher than that of typical insulators, but still orders of magnitude lower than that of typical semiconductors. The conductivity is independent of the applied electric field strength until at excessive voltages the electric current increases nonlinearly up to complete breakthrough. The total conductivity of an irradiated polyimide foil increases proportionally with ion fluence for large ion track spacings, and approaches saturation when the electronically active track regimes begin to overlap. Above some thousand times track overlapping however, new chemical and structural changes in the irradiated material lead to another strong increase in conductivity.