Charging kinetics in virgin and 1 MeV-electron irradiated yttria-stabilized zirconia in the 300–1000 K range

A study performed with a dedicated scanning electron microscope (SEM) on the surface electrical properties of (1 0 0)-oriented yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) single crystals irradiated with 1 MeV electrons is presented. When compared with virgin YSZ, the 1 MeV-irradiated YSZ shows a decrease of the intrinsic total electron emission coefficient σ₀ and an increase of the time constant τ associated with the charging kinetics of the material at room temperature. These measurements performed with the SEM beam at 10 keV indicate that the defects induced by the 1 MeV-electron irradiation generate a positive electric field of the order of 0.5 × 10⁶ V/m at a depth of about 1 μm that prevents electrons to escape. When the SEM beam with a 1.1 keV energy is used, a smaller field (0.5 × 10³ V/m) is detected closer to the surface (20 nm). The fading of these fields during the thermal annealing in the 400–1000 K temperature range provides information on the nature of defects induced by the 1 MeV-electron irradiation.     

Effect of radiation trapping on the emission properties of Er: I13/2 → I15/2 transition in oxide glasses

The effect of radiation trapping on the emission properties of Er³⁺-doped tellurite and phosphate glasses has been investigated as the function of sample thickness and doping concentration. It was found that radiation trapping exists generally in two glass matrices, even at low doping concentration (0.1 mol% Er₂O₃). The larger effect of radiation trapping in tellurite glasses compared with phosphate glasses is due to its larger emission cross-section at 1.5 μm band and the spectral overlap between the emission and absorption spectra of Er³⁺: ⁴I_13/2 ↔ ⁴I_15/2transition. Due to radiation trapping, the measured lifetime of the Er³⁺: ⁴I_13/2 level in tellurite glasses increases by about 11–37% with increasing the sample thickness at the different erbium doping concentration, while 6–17% for phosphate glasses. And the full-width at half maximum of fluorescence (FWHM) of Er³⁺: ⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transition in tellurite glasses increased by about 15–64% with increasing the sample thickness, while 11–55% for phosphate glasses. It caused a high overestimation on the figure of merits (FOM) for amplifier bandwidth (σ_e × FWHM).     

Thermal neutron cross-section and resonance integral for Dy(n,γ)Dy reaction

The thermal neutron cross-section (σ₀) and the resonance integral (I₀) of the reaction ¹⁶⁴Dy(n,γ)¹⁶⁵Dy were measured by the activation method, using ⁵⁵Mn(n,γ)⁵⁵Mn monitor reaction as a single comparator. The diluted MnO₂ and Dy₂O₃ powder samples within and without a cylindrical Cd shield case were irradiated in an isotropic neutron field obtained from the ²⁴¹Am–Be neutron sources, moderated with paraffin wax. The γ-ray spectra from the irradiated samples were measured by high-resolution γ-ray spectrometry with a calibrated n-type Ge detector. The necessary correction factors for γ-ray attenuation, thermal neutron and resonance neutron self-shielding effects and epithermal neutron spectrum shape factor () were taken into account in the determinations. The thermal neutron cross-section for ¹⁶⁴Dy(n,γ)¹⁶⁵Dy reaction studied has been determined to be 2672±104 b at 0.025 eV. This result has been obtained relative to the reference thermal neutron cross-section value of 13.3±0.1 b for the ⁵⁵Mn(n,γ)⁵⁶Mn reaction. For the thermal neutron cross-section, most of the experimental data and evaluated one in ENDF/B-VI, in general, are in good agreement with the present result. The resonance integral has also been measured relative to the reference value of 14.0±0.3 b for the ⁵⁵Mn(n,γ)⁵⁶Mn monitor reaction using a 1/E¹⁺ epithermal neutron spectrum of the ²⁴¹Am–Be neutron source. By defining Cd cut-off energy 0.55 eV, the resonance integral obtained was 527±89 b. The existing experimental and evaluated data for the resonance integral are distributed from 335 to 820 b. The present resonance integral value agrees with some previously reported values, 520 b by Holden, 505 b by Simonits et al. and 575±100 b by Heft, within the limits of error.     

Development of a momentum determined electron beam in the 1–45 GeV range

A beam line for electrons with energies in the range of 1–45 GeV, low contamination of hadrons and muons and high intensity up to 10⁶ per accelerator spill at 27 GeV was setup at U70 accelerator in Protvino, Russia. A beam tagging system based on drift chambers with 160 μm resolution was able to measure relative electron beam momentum precisely. The resolution σ_p/p was 0.13% at 45 GeV where multiple scattering is negligible. This test beam setup provided a possibility to study properties of lead tungstate crystals (PbWO₄) for the BTeV experiment at Fermilab.     

Structural properties of swift heavy ion beam irradiated Fe/Si bilayers

The Fe/Si multilayers were prepared by electron beam evaporation in a cryo-pumped vacuum deposition system. Ag⁺ and Au⁺ ions of 100 MeV at two different fluencies such as 1 × 10¹² ions/cm² and 1 × 10¹³ ions/cm² at a pressure of 10^− 7 torr were used to irradiate the Fe/Si samples. The irradiated samples were analyzed by High-Resolution XRD and it reveals that the irradiated films are having polycrystalline nature and it confirms the formation of the β-FeSi₂. The structural parameters such as crystallite size (D), strain (ε) and dislocation density (δ) have been evaluated from the XRD spectrum. The role of the substrates and the influence of swift heavy ions on the formation of β-FeSi₂ have been discussed in this paper.     

Feasibility study of in-beam polarization of fluorine

The feasibility of in-beam polarization of nuclear spin in F⁺ beams was studied. It was demonstrated that metastable atomic fluorine could be optically pumped on the closed transition (3s ⁴P_5/2→3p ⁴D_7/2) at 686 nm. The metastable production efficiency in sodium vapor was measured using optical depopulation pumping of the metastable on the (3s ⁴P_5/2→3p ⁴D_5/2) transition at 678 nm. At low helium density, 0.24 (+0.16/−0.03) of the reionized beam was derived from metastables, implying an ion beam polarization of 24% would be feasible if the metastables were fully polarized. The hyperfine structures of the 3s ⁴P_5/2, 3p ⁴D_5/2 and 3p ⁴D_7/2 states in ¹⁹F were measured via laser-induced fluorescence and modulated optical depopulation pumping. Based on these results, a scheme is suggested for polarizing ²⁰F.     

First application of calorimetric low-temperature detectors in accelerator mass spectrometry

For the first time, calorimetric low-temperature detectors were applied in accelerator mass spectrometry, a well-known method for determination of very small isotope ratios with high sensitivity. The aim of the experiment was to determine with high accuracy the isotope ratio of ²³⁶U/²³⁸U for several samples of natural uranium, ²³⁶U being known as a sensitive monitor for neutron flux. Measurements were performed at the VERA tandem accelerator at Vienna, Austria. The detectors consist of sapphire absorbers and superconducting transition edge thermometers operated at T≈ 1.5 K. The relative energy resolution obtained for 17.39 MeV ²³⁸U is ΔE/E=4–9×10⁻³, depending on the experimental conditions. This performance enabled to substantially reduce background from neighbouring isotopes and to increase the detection efficiency. Due to the high sensitivity achieved, a value of ²³⁶U/²³⁸U=6.5×10⁻¹² could be obtained, representing the smallest ²³⁶U/²³⁸U ratio measured until now.     

Estimation of photoneutron yield from beryllium target irradiated by variable energy microtron-based bremsstrahlung radiation

The possibility of setting up microtron-based photoneutron source by utilizing bremsstrahlung radiation interaction with beryllium targets is critically examined. The bremsstrahlung yield for tantalum (Ta) target is obtained by EGS4 simulation. The neutron yield is estimated theoretically by MCNP simulation. The yield was measured experimentally by neutron irradiation of calibrated SSNTD CR-39 films. The total neutron yield is found to be of the order 10¹⁰ n/s for 250 Hz PRR and 10⁹ n/s for 50 Hz PRR. A detailed comparison shows good agreement between theoretical and experimentally measured yields.     

The CPLEAR electromagnetic calorimeter

A large-acceptance lead/gas sampling electromagnetic calorimeter (ECAL) was constructed for the CPLEAR experiment to detect photons from decays of π⁰s with momentum p_π⁰ ≤ 800 MeV/c. The main purpose of the ECAL is to determine the decay vertex of neutral-kaon decays K⁰ → π⁰π⁰ → 4γ and K⁰ → π⁰π⁰π⁰ → 6γ. This requires a position-sensitive photon detector with high spatial granularity in r−, −, and z−coordinates. The ECAL - a barrel without end-caps located inside a magnetic field of 0.44 T - consists of 18 identical concentric layers. Each layer of 1/3 radiation length (X₀) contains a converter plate followed by small cross-section high-gain tubes of 2640 mm active length which are sandwiched by passive pick-up strip plates. The ECAL, with a total of 6X₀ has an energy resolution of and a position resolution of 4.5 mm for the shower foot. The shower topology allows separation of electrons from pions. The design, construction, read-out electronics, and performance of the detector are described.     

Electrical properties of reactively sputtered carbon nitride films

Carbon nitride films with β-C₃N₄ crystals of 200 nm grain size were grown on Si (1 0 0) substrates using magnetron sputtering. These films were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Carbon nitride films had low surface roughness. Maximum N/C ratio of 0.5 was achieved in the films. Chemical bonds of sp, sp² and sp³ coexisted in the films. The fraction of each bond was related to the deposition conditions. The resistivities of the films were measured, which ranged from 1×10³ to 1×10⁷ Ω cm. The measured resistivity results indicated that the carbon nitride films had semiconductive properties. The resistivity largely depended on the sp³/sp² ratio. Effects of N₂ fraction, target current and substrate bias were investigated. All these deposition parameters had influence on the chemical bonds of the films, and on the resistivities too. High sp³/sp² ratio resulted in high resistivity.     

Concepts of UCN sources for the FRM-II

Three concepts for sources of ultra-cold neutrons (UCN) for the reactor FRM-II at Garching near Munich are studied: one, Mini-D₂, is a source with 170 cm³ of solid deuterium in the beam tube SR4 and the second one a large solid-deuterium source (volume about 30 dm³), mounted in the beam tube SR5 as an advanced cold source with a number of neutron guides. The third one, Mark 3000, uses superfluid ⁴He at a cold-neutron guide. A UCN density of up to 7×10⁴ cm⁻³ may possibly be achieved in the storage volumes of Mini-D₂ yielding more than 10⁹ UCN for extraction to an attached experimental setup. The usable UCN flux at the periphery of the large deuterium source is predicted to be 2×10⁷ cm⁻² s⁻¹. Mark 3000, finally, is expected to yield a UCN density of about 10⁵ cm⁻³.     

Design status of an intense 14 MeV neutron source for cancer therapy

Design and development of an intense 14 MeV neutron source for cancer therapy is in progress at the Institute of Nuclear Research of Lanzhou University. The neutrons from the T(d,n)⁴He reaction are produced by bombarding a rotating titanium tritide target with a 40 mA deuteron beam at 600 keV. The designed neutron yield is 8×10¹² n/s and the maximum dose rate at a 100 cm source-to-skin distance is 25 cGy/min. The HV terminal, accelerating column and HV power supply are enclosed inside a stainless steel pressure vessel containing 6 atm SF₆ gas to provide the electrical insulation.     

YO!—a time-of-arrival receiver for removal of helicity-correlated beam effects

A parity violation experiment, G⁰, at Jefferson Lab is sensitive to arrival time differences, at the target, of electron beams in the two helicity states. Instead of the Jefferson Lab standard 499 MHz beam structure, G⁰ uses a 31.1875 MHz structure where only 1 out of 16 microbunches contains electrons. Photon counters triggered by time-of-arrival at the target mandate that timing must be independent of delays associated with different orbits taken by the electrons in two helicity states. Corrections to the parity violating asymmetries due to any arrival time differences require the generation of a clean 31.1875 MHz trigger signal and phase matching this signal to the beam's arrival at the target. The time of arrival receiver, named the YO! receiver, has 10 kHz output bandwidth which is sufficiently larger than the settling time (500 μs) of the ≈30 Hz helicity flip. This enables the correction of each helicity bin for any orbit-induced timing inequalities. The device combines conventional receiver and DSP techniques for maximum sensitivity, bandwidth and flexibility and eliminates the 2π/n phase shifts associated with frequency dividers by means of a sampling phase detection scheme. This paper describes the performance of this device during bench testing, commissioning and in data taking phase of the experiment.     

Spot F positron source electro-deposited on a graphite rod

2.2 GBq of ¹⁸F (half-life 110 min) was effectively deposited on a graphite electrode of diameter 3 or 5 mm. The fraction of the electro-deposited ¹⁸F was as high as 97% of the total ¹⁸F produced in the solution. The fraction of the positrons emitted out of the electrode was 44% of the total β⁺. Thus, as much as 36% of the β⁺ from the produced ¹⁸F is available for the source of slow positron beams.     

The laser wakefield acceleration experiment at Ecole Polytechnique

A laser wakefield electron acceleration experiment has been set-up at Ecole Polytechnique. An electron beam with 3 MeV total energy is injected in a plasma wave generated by laser wakefield using the new LULI CPA laser (400 fs [FWHM], I < 10¹⁷ W/cm²). The first results show an effective acceleration of the order of 1 MeV, with a maximum when the electron density is close to the optimum value for which the laser pulse length is about half the plasma wavelength.     

Structural and optical characterization of β-FeSi2 layers on Si formed by ion beam synthesis

Structural and optical properties have been investigated for surface β-FeSi₂ layers on Si(100) and Si(111) formed by ion beam synthesis using ⁵⁶Fe ion implantations with three different energies (140–50 keV) and subsequent two-step annealing at 600 °C and up to 915 °C. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry analyses have revealed Fe redistribution in the samples after the annealing procedure, which resulting in a Fe-deficient composition in the formed layers. X-ray diffraction experiments confirmed the existence of /gb-FeSi₂ by annealing up to 915 °C, whereas the phase transformation from the β to phase has been induced at 930 °C. In photoluminescence measurements at 2 K, both β-FeSi₂/Si(100) and β-FeSi₂/Si(111) samples, after annealing at 900–915 °C for 2 h, have shown two dominant emissions peaked around 0.836 eV and 0.80 eV, which nearly coincided with previously reported PL emissions from the sample prepared by electron beam deposition. Another β-FeSi₂/Si(100) sample has shown sharp emissions peaked at 0.873 eV and 0.807 eV. Optical absorption measurements at room temperature have revealed the allowed direct bandgap of 0.868–0.885 eV as well as an absorption coefficient of the order of 10⁴ cm⁻¹ near the absorption edge for all samples.     

Synthesis and the luminescent properties of europium-activated Ca2SnO4 phosphors

The synthesis and photoluminescent (PL) properties of calcium stannate crystals doped with europium grown by mechanically activated in a high energy vibro-mill have been investigated. The characteristics of Ca₂SnO₄:Eu³⁺ phosphors were found to depend on the amounts of europium ions. The XRD profiles revealed that the system, (Ca_1−xEu_x)₂SnO₄, could form stable solid solutions in the composition range of x = 0–7% after being calcined at 1200 °C. The calcined powders emit bright red luminescence centered at 618 nm due to ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ electric dipole transition. Both XRD data and the emission ratio of (⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂)/(⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁) reveal that the site symmetry of Eu³⁺ ions decreases with increasing doping concentration. The maximum PL intensity has been obtained for 7 mol% concentration of Eu³⁺ in Ca₂SnO₄.     

An accurate redetermination of the Sn binding energy

The energy of well-known strong γ line from ¹⁹⁸Au, the “gold standard”, has been modified in the light of new adjustments in the fundamental constants and the value of 411.80176(12) keV was determined, which is 0.29 eV lower than the latest 1999 value. An energy calibration procedure for determining the neutron binding energy, B_n, from complicated (n, γ) spectra has been developed. A mathematically simple minimization function consisting only of terms having as parameters the coefficients of the energy calibration curve (polynomial) is used. A priori information about the relationships among the energies of different peaks on the spectrum is taken into account by a Monte-Carlo simulation. The procedure was used in obtaining B_n for ¹¹⁸Sn. The γ-ray spectrum from thermal neutron radiative capture by ¹¹⁷Sn has been measured on the IBR-2 pulsed reactor. γ-rays were detected by a 72 cm³ HPGe detector. For a better determination of B_n it was important to determine B_n for ⁶⁴Cu. This value was obtained from two γ-spectra. One spectrum was measured on the IBR-2 by the same detector. The other spectrum was measured with a pair spectrometer at the Brookhaven High Flux Beam Reactor. From these two spectra, B_n for ⁶⁴Cu was determined to be equal to 7915.52(8) keV. This result essentially differs from the previous value of 7915.96(11) keV. The mean value of the two most precise results of the B_n for ¹¹⁸Sn, was determined to be 9326.35(9) keV. The B_n for ⁵⁷Fe was determined to be 7646.08(9) keV.     

Crystal growth and spectral properties of pure and Co-doped Mg3B2O6 crystal

Novel pure and cobalt-doped magnesium borate crystals (Mg₃B₂O₆) have been grown successfully by the Czochralski technique for the first time. Crystal growth, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis, absorption spectrum, fluorescence spectrum as well as fluorescence decay curve of Co²⁺:Mg₃B₂O₆ (MBO) were described. From the absorption peaks for the octahedral Co²⁺ ions, the crystal-field parameter Dq and the Racah parameter B were estimated to be 943.3 cm⁻¹ and 821.6 cm⁻¹, respectively. The fluorescence lifetime of the transition ⁴T₁(⁴P) → ⁴T₂ centered at 717 nm was measured to be 9.68 ms.     

Studies on the production of monoenergetic neutrons by uniform moderation of d-t neutrons

Investigations have been carried out on the production of approximately monoenergetic neutrons in the fusion technologically important 8 to 12 MeV range through the controlled moderation of 14 MeV d-t neutrons scattering off an hydrogenous scatterer (converter) shaped into the form of a surface of revolution. The centre of the source of the primary neutrons was arranged to lie on one of the two points of intersection of the surface of revolution with its axis of symmetry whilst the secondary moderated neutrons were received at the other point of intersection. A copper beam stopper prevented the primary beam from reaching the secondary beam point. Intensities and energies of the secondary beam have been calculated for a paraffin converter. The contamination of the beam resulting from the scattering by carbon nuclei in the converter, together with the effects of multiple scattering in the converter and the beam stopper and deviations caused by nonideal geometry present in practical cases have been discussed.

A recoil proton fast neutron spectrometer based on a NE 102 plastic scintillator has been fabricated. The agreement between the calculated and the measured values of the different components of the secondary beam was found to be quite satisfactory within the estimated precision limits of the experiment and the calculation.

The secondary beam has been used to measure several (n, p) cross sections of ²⁸Si and ²⁷Al for neutrons in the energy range from 8.6 to 12.1 MeV.