Pure ionization cross section of helium and ionization mechanism

Pure target ionization was investigated for 0.4-6.4 MeV C^q+(q = 1-4) + He and O^q+(q = 1-4) + He collisions. The double-to-single target ionization ratios R₂₁ were measured using coincidence techniques. We compare our results with existing experimental results and find they are in good agreement. The ratio R₂₁ is nearly independent of projectile charge state. The relation of R₂₁ ∼ V is analyzed using the over barrier model (OBM) and ionization probability, which is described in our extended over barrier model. Our calculation agrees well with the experimental results.     

Non-dipole second order parameters of the photoelectron angular distribution for elements Z = 1-100 in the photoelectron energy range 1-10 keV

Presented here are the photoelectron angular distribution non-dipole parameters associated with the terms of the second order O [(kr)²] (k is the photon energy and r is the radius of the ionized atomic shell) for both unpolarized and linearly polarized radiation. The parameters are given for atomic shells with binding energies lower than 2 keV of all elements 1 ? Z ? 100 for four values of photoelectron energy in the range 1−10 keV. In this range, the second-order terms are shown to make a significant contribution (up to ∼30%) to the angular differential cross section. The inclusion of these terms becomes all the more important in calculations of the differential cross section ratio for the fixed geometry of angles which is measured experimentally in the case of linearly polarized radiation. The Dirac-Fock-Slater potential is used in the calculations. The hole left by the emitted electron is taken into account in the frozen orbital approximation.     

Determination of fatigue curve parameters at cyclic strain limited loading according to the mechanical characteristics of power energy structural materials

Over 280 structural materials used in the Russian nuclear power energy industry were tested at Kaunas University of Technology, as commissioned by St. Petersburg Central Research Institute of Structural Materials in the period of 1970-2000. Alloyed structural steels, stainless steels and metals of their welded joints with different types of thermal treatment were under research in the conditions of symmetric low cycle tension-compression (N ≤ (1-2) × 10⁴) at room and elevated (200-350 °C) temperatures. During these experiments the characteristics of monotonic tension, cyclic stress-strain curves and low cycle fatigue curves, which are expressed by linear dependence of the total strain ? on the number of cycles N in co-ordinates log ? − log N, parameters C_1exp and m_1exp were determined. The range of cycle strain ? when this low cycle fatigue curve may be used is determined. The definition of the approached values of low cycle fatigue curves parameters C_1cal and m_1cal at room temperature by the mechanical characteristics of alloyed structural steels and their weld metals, stainless steels and their weld metals is analyzed in this work. The new relationships ln C_1exp − m_1exp among low cycle fatigue curves parameters, obtained by analyzing experimental data of 22-48 materials in each group, are determined. These relationships were used for determination of dependencies of low cycle parameters C_1cal and m_1cal by the mechanical characteristics of analyzed groups of materials. From theoretically and experimentally determined equations by using calculated values C_1cal and m_1cal dependencies for revision of Coffin-Manson fatigue curves parameters C and m were proposed. These parameters for the cyclically hardening or softening materials are calculated by estimating the equivalent value of the cycle plastic strain range. The proposed analytical dependencies make it possible to more exactly calculate the number of cycles N ≤ N₀ (N₀ = 10⁶) before the fatigue crack initiation for the structural materials of analyzed groups under cyclic strain limited loading by using mechanical characteristics of materials.     

Irradiation effect on dielectric properties and electrical conductivity of Au/SiO2/n-Si (MOS) structures

The Au/SiO₂/n-Si (MOS) structures were exposed to beta-ray irradiation to a total dose of 30 kGy at room temperature. Irradiation effect on dielectric properties of MOS structures were investigated using capacitance−voltage (C−V) and conductance−voltage (G/ω−V) characteristics. The C−V and G/ω−V measurements carried out in the frequency range from 1 kHz to 10 MHz and at various radiation doses, while the dc voltage was swept from positive bias to negative bias for MOS structures. The dielectric constant (ε′), dielectric loss (ε″), loss factor (tan δ) and ac electrical conductivity (σ_ac) were calculated from the C−V and G/ω−V measurements and plotted as a function of frequency at various radiation doses. A decrease in the ε′ and ε″ were observed when the irradiation dose increased. The decrease in the ε′ and ε″ of irradiated MOS structures in magnitude is explained on the basis of Maxwell−Wagner interfacial polarization. Also, the σ_ac is found to decrease with increasing radiation dose. In addition, the values of the tan δ decrease with increasing radiation dose and give a peak. From the experimental results, it is confirmed that the peak of loss tangent is due to the interaction between majority carriers and interface states which induced by radiation.     

Effects of γ-ray irradiation on the C-V and G/ω-V characteristics of Al/SiO2/p-Si (MIS) structures

The effect of the ⁶⁰C_o (γ-ray) exposure on the electrical characteristics of Al/SiO₂/p-Si (MIS) structures has been investigated using capacitance-voltage (C-V) and conductance-voltage (G/ω-V) measurements. The MIS structures were stressed with a bias of 0 V during ⁶⁰C_oγ-sources irradiation with the total dose range from 0 to 25 kGy. The C-V and G/ω-V characteristics were measured at 500 kHz and room temperature before and after ⁶⁰C_oγ-ray irradiation. The results indicated that γ-irradiation caused an increase in the barrier height Φ_B, interface states N_ss and depletion layer width W_D obtained from reverse bias C-V measurements. The series resistance R_s profile for various radiation doses was obtained from forward and reverse bias C-V and G/ω-V measurements. Both C-V and G/ω-V characteristics indicate that the total dose radiation hardness of MIS structures may be limited by the decisive properties of the SiO₂/Si interface to radiation-induced damage. After γ-irradiation, the decrease in capacitance of MIS structure results in the increase in the semiconductor depletion width.     

Degradation of elastomer by heat and/or radiation

This article studied various problems on the degradation of elastomers by heat and/or radiation. Three kinds of elastomers were irradiated and evaluated by the radiation resistant property using the measurement of tensile test. The fluorine containing elastomer, which has excellent heat resistant properties, was found to be less durable for irradiation than ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) elastomer. Ten kinds of different compounding formulas of EPDM were prepared to investigate whether the compounding for heat resistant has durability for irradiation. The thermal exposure was performed in an air oven. The duration of thermal exposure at 140 °C was 384 h. The irradiation condition was 5.0 kGy/h at 70 °C, and the total dose was 0.9 MGy. Elongation retained was taken for the evaluation of the stability. It was found that the formulas for improving the thermal stability did not bring radiation resistant of samples in the experiment.The rate constant of the increase in CO concentration by heat and radiation was measured and defined as k_c(h) and k_c(r), respectively. The rate constant of that under the combined addition of the heat and the radiation is expressed as k_c(h + r). Eq. (1) was obtained by the experiment and it was found that there is a synergistic relationship between heat and radiation on the increase in CO concentration

(1)     

Revised transition probabilities for Fe XXV: Relativistic CI calculations

Revised data are provided for transition probabilities between fine-structure components of levels with n ? 6 in Fe XXV. Earlier published data for transitions between fine-structure levels in Fe XXV are found to be in error, especially for certain classes of transitions. The purpose of the present note is to provide a corrected database for transitions in Fe XXV. Wavefunctions and energies for states with n ? 6 and J = 0, 1, 2, 3 are determined using a relativistic configuration interaction (CI) expansion that includes the Breit interaction. To measure and control the numerical accuracy of the calculations, we compare our CI energies and matrix elements with values calculated using relativistic second-order many-body perturbation theory (MBPT), also including the Breit interaction. We obtain good agreement between our CI and MBPT calculations but disagree with earlier calculations for transitions with ΔL = 2 and for intercombination transitions (ΔS = 1). We provide wavelengths, line strengths, and transitions rates for fine-structure transition between levels with n ? 6 in Fe XXV.     

Measurement of L X-ray fluorescence cross-sections for elements with 45 ? Z ? 50 using synchrotron radiation at 8 keV

The L shell fluorescence cross-sections of the elements in range 45 ? Z ? 50 have been determined at 8 keV using Synchrotron radiation. The individual L X-ray photons, Ll, Lα, Lβ_I, Lβ_II, Lγ_I and Lγ_II produced in the target were measured with high resolution Si(Li) detector. The experimental set-up provided a low background by using linearly polarized monoenergetic photon beam, improving the signal-to-noise ratio. The experimental cross-sections obtained in this work were compared with available experimental data from Scofield [1] and [2] Krause [3] and [4] and Scofield and Puri et al. [5] and [6].These experimental values closely agree with the theoretical values calculated using Scofield and Krause data, except for the case of Lγ, where values measured of this work are slighter higher.     

Relative intensities for Li (i = 1-3) and Mi (i = 1-5) subshell X-rays

The intensities for L_i (i = 1-3) subshell X-ray lines have been computed relative to the most intense line in each series, for elements with 30 ? Z ? 92, from published X-ray emission rates based on the Dirac-Fock (DF) model. In the case of M_i (i = 1-5) subshell X-ray lines, complete sets of emission rates based on both the Dirac-Hartree-Slater and the DF models have been generated for elements with 65 ? Z ? 92 by logarithmic interpolation of the data available for a limited number of elements. The intensities for different M X-ray lines have been computed relative to the most intense line in each series using these two sets of emission rates. The L_i (i = 1-3) and M_i (i = 1-5) subshell X-ray relative intensities computed from the DF model based emission rates have been least-squares-fitted to polynomials in the atomic number for use in software packages for quantitative elemental analysis using X-ray emission techniques and for other applications.     

L1 and L2 sub-shell fluorescence yields for elements with 64 ? Z ? 70

The L₁ and L₂ sub-shell fluorescence yields have been deduced for elements with 64 ? Z ? 70 from the L_k(k = l, α, β_1,4, β_3,6, β_2,15,9,10,7, γ_1,5 and γ_2,3,4) X-ray production cross sections measured at 22.6 keV incident photon energy using a spectrometer involving a disc type radioisotope of Cd¹⁰⁹ as a photon source and a Peltier cooled X-ray detector. The incident photon intensity, detector efficiency and geometrical factor have been determined from the K X-ray yields emitted from elemental targets with 20 ? Z ? 42 in the same geometrical setup and from knowledge of the K shell cross sections. The present deduced ω₁(exp) values, for elements with 64 ? Z ? 70, are found to be in good agreement with those tabulated by Campbell (J.L. Campbell, Atom. Data Nucl. Data Tables 95 (2009) 115), where as these are, on an average, higher by 19% and 24% than those based on the Dirac-Hartree-Slater model (S. Puri et al., X-ray Spectrometry 22 (1993) 358) and the semi-empirical values compiled by Krause (M.O. Krause, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 8 (1979) 307), respectively. The present deduced ω₂(exp) values are found to be in good agreement with those based on the Dirac-Hartree-Slater model and are higher by up to ∼13% than the semi-empirical values for the elements under investigation.     

Existence theory and simulations for one-dimensional radiative flows

We consider the coupling of the radiative heat transfer equations and the energy equation for the temperature T of a compressible fluid within the finite segment [0, L]. Using the technique of upper and lower sequences associated to integro-parabolic equations, we establish the existence and uniqueness of a classical solution T, 0 ? Λ₋ ? T(x, t) ? Λ₊ < ∞ with corresponding radiative intensity I(x, Ω, ν, t). The boundary is considered to be semi-reflexive with reflection coefficient ρ, 0 ? ρ(μ) ? 1. The existence of the solution for the coupled system does not depend on any additional hypotheses besides that the total absorption coefficient is bounded and that the ratio between the coefficients of scattering and total absorption is uniformly bounded. As well we present numerical results for the coupled evolutive problem. Using the operational representation encountered in the course of establishing the existence theory, we derive vector Green’s functions for the transport equation which allow us to solve numerically the coupled system.     

Li (i = 1-3) subshell X-ray production cross sections and fluorescence yields for some elements with 56 ? Z ? 68 at 22.6 keV

The L_k (k = l, α, β_1,4, β_3,6, β_2,15,9,10,7, γ_1,5 and γ_2,3,4) X-ray production (XRP) cross sections have been measured for six elements with 56 ? Z ? 68 at 22.6 keV incident photon energy using the EDXRF spectrometer. The incident photon intensity, detector efficiency and geometrical factors have been determined from the K X-ray yields emitted from elemental targets with 22 ? Z ? 42 in the same geometrical setup and from knowledge of the K XRP cross sections. The L₁ and L₂ subshell fluorescence yields have been deduced from the present measured L_k XRP cross sections using the relativistic Hartree-Fock-Slater (HFS) model based photoionization cross sections. The present deduced ω₁ (exp) values have been found to be, on an average, higher by 15% and 20% than those based on the Dirac-Hartree-Slater (DHS) model and the semi-empirical values compiled by Krause, respectively, for elements with 60 ? Z ? 68.     

Oxidation kinetics and oxygen diffusion in low-tin Zircaloy-4 up to 1523 K

This paper deals with the study of oxidation kinetics and the identification of oxygen diffusion coefficients of low-tin Zy-4 alloy at intermediate (973 K ? T ? 1123 K) and high temperatures (T ? 1373 K). Two different cases were considered: dissolution of a pre-existing oxide layer in the temperature range 973 K ? T ? 1123 K and oxidation at T ? 1373 K. The results are the following ones: in the temperature range 973-1123 K, the oxygen diffusion coefficient in α_Zr phase can be expressed as D_α = 6.798 exp(−217.99 kJ/RT) cm²/s. In the temperature range 1373-1523 K, the oxygen diffusion coefficients in α_Zr, β_Zr and ZrO₂, were determined using an ‘inverse identification method’ from experimental high temperature oxidation data (i.e., ZrO₂, and α_Zr(O) layer thickness measurements); they can be expressed as follows: D_α = 1.543 exp(−201.55 kJ/ RT) cm²/s, D_β = 0.0068 exp(−102.62 kJ/ RT) cm²/s and D_ZrO2=0.115exp(−143.64kJ/RT)cm²/s. Finally an oxygen diffusion coefficient in α_Zr in the temperature range 973 K ? T ? 1523 K was determined, by combining the whole set of results: D_α = 4.604exp(−214.44 kJ/RT) cm²/s. In order to check these calculated diffusion coefficients, oxygen concentration profiles were determined by Electron Probe MicroAnalysis (EPMA) in pre-oxidized low-tin Zy4 alloys annealed under vacuum at three different temperatures 973, 1073 and 1123 K for different times, and compared to the calculated profiles. At last, in the framework of this study, it appeared also necessary to reassess the Zr-O binary phase diagram in order to take into account the existence of a composition range in the two zirconia phases, α_ZrO2 and β_ZrO2.     

Synchrotron radiation studies of additives in combustion I: Water

Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) measurements have been performed on a partially pre-mixed ethylene-air flame with and without the introduction of a water aerosol for the same flame height. Our measurements are sensitive to particles with radii in the range of 6-78 nm. It is found that water addition leads to soot suppression below the detection limit at low heights along the flame centerline (<11 mm) and to an increased sooting tendency higher up in the flame. There, larger primary particles (R_g∼20-45 nm) shaped as agglomerates with fractal dimension about 2 are observed together with a large number of smaller (R_g ∼ 10 nm) smooth particles, which we identify with sub-primary units observed in previous work on pure diffusion flames. In the case of the un-doped partially pre-mixed flame, however, only relatively (R_g ∼ 20-35 nm) large spherical particles (Porod’s exponent about 4) are observed. An intriguing result is that water addition induces the enhanced formation of sub-primaries, with these having more than 2 orders of magnitude higher number concentration with respect to the spherical particles in the water free flame.     

8 MeV electron irradiation effect on the dielectric and optical properties of iminodiacetic acid doped ferroelectric triglycine sulphate crystals

Single crystal of iminodiacetic acid (5 mol%) doped Tri Glycine Sulphate (IDATGS) was grown by slow evaporation from its aqueous solution at constant temperature, using solution growth method. The dielectric constant (ε′) and pyroelectric current (I_P) were measured over the temperature range of 30-60 °C in the ferroelectric direction. The measured values of ε′ and I_P were found to be smaller compared to pure triglycine sulphate (TGS) crystal parameters. But increased transition temperature was observed for doped crystals. Curie Weiss constants C_P and C_f in the paraelectric and ferroelectric phases were also determined. The doped crystal was irradiated with graded dosages from 5 to 80 kGy of electron beam from 8 MeV Microtron at room temperature and radiation effects on optical and dielectric properties were studied. The UV-Vis absorption spectrum indicates that the UV lower cutoff shifts towards the higher wavelength region (red shift) and the optical band gap is found to be decreasing with the increase of electron dose. It is also observed that the electron irradiation effects in pure and doped TGS were found to be long lasting. The dielectric study shows that there is a gradual reduction in dielectric constant at T_C and shifting of Curie temperature towards lower temperature region with the increase in electron radiation dose. The material figures of merit were found increased after the crystal was irradiated. Induced changes in the physical and optical properties due to irradiation may help one to tailor the device quality and characteristics.     

Computer simulation of primary damage creation in displacement cascades in copper. I. Defect creation and cluster statistics

Atomic-scale computer simulation has been used to investigate the primary damage created by displacement cascades in copper over a wide range of temperature (100 K ? T ? 900 K) and primary knock-on atom energy (5 keV ? E_PKA ? 25 keV). A technique was introduced to improve computational efficiency and at least 20 cascades for each (E_PKA, T) pair were simulated in order to provide statistical reliability of the results. The total of almost 450 simulated cascades is the largest yet reported for this metal. The mean number of surviving point defects per cascade is only 15-20% of the NRT model value. It decreases with increasing T at fixed E_PKA and is proportional to (E_PKA)^1.1 at fixed T. A high proportion (60-80%) of self-interstitial atoms (SIAs) form clusters during the cascade process. The proportion of clustered vacancies is smaller and sensitive to T, falling from 30% to 60% for T ? 600 K to less than 20% when T = 900 K. The structure of clusters has been examined in detail. Vacancies cluster predominantly in stacking-fault-tetrahedron-type configurations. SIAs tend to form either glissile dislocation loops with Burgers vector b = 1/2<1 1 0> or sessile faulted Frank loops with b = 1/3<1 1 1>. Despite the fact that cascades at a given E_PKA and T exhibit a wide range of defect numbers and clustered fractions, there appears to be a correlation in the formation of vacancy clusters and SIA clusters in the same cascade. The size and spatial aspects of this are analysed in detail in part II [unpublished], where the stability of clusters when another cascade overlaps them is also investigated.     

Thermal transport properties of hafnium hydrides and deuterides

The thermal conductivities of δ′-, δ-, δ+ε-, and ε-phase hafnium hydrides and deuterides with various hydrogen isotope concentrations (HfH_x, 1.48 ? x ? 2.03; HfD_x, 1.55 ? x ? 1.94) were evaluated within the temperature range of 290-570 K from the measured thermal diffusivity, calculated specific heat, and density. The thermal conductivities of δ′-, δ-, δ+ε-, and ε-phase HfH_x and HfD_x are independent of the temperature within the range 300-550 K and are in the range 0.15-0.22 W/cm K and 0.17-0.23 W/cm K, respectively; these values are similar to and lower than the observed thermal conductivities of α-phase Hf. The experimental results for the electrical resistivities of δ′-, δ-, δ+ε-, and ε-phase HfH_x and HfD_x and the Lorenz number corresponding to the electronic conduction, obtained from the Wiedemann-Franz rule, indicated that heat conduction due to electron migration significantly influences the thermal conductivity values at high temperatures. On the other hand, heat conduction due to phonon migration significantly affects the isotope effects on the thermal transport properties.     

Deformation mode maps for tensile deformation of neutron-irradiated structural alloys

The deformation microstructures of neutron-irradiated nuclear structural alloys, A533B steel, 316 stainless steel, and Zircaloy-4, have been investigated by tensile testing and transmission electron microscopy to map the extent of strain localization processes in plastic deformation. Miniature specimens with a thickness of 0.25 mm were irradiated to five levels of neutron dose in the range 0.0001-0.9 displacements per atom (dpa) at 65-100 °C and deformed at room temperature at a nominal strain rate of 10⁻³ s⁻¹. Four modes of deformation were identified, namely three-dimensional dislocation cell formation, planar dislocation activity, fine scale twinning, and dislocation channel deformation (DCD) in which the radiation damage structure has been swept away. The modes varied with material, dose, and strain level. These observations are used to construct the first strain-neutron fluence-deformation mode maps for the test materials. Overall, irradiation encourages planar deformation which is seen as a precursor to DCD and which contributes to changes in the tensile curve, particularly reduced work hardening and diminished uniform ductility. The fluence dependence of the increase in yield stress, ΔYS = α(?t)ⁿ had an exponent of 0.4-0.5 for fluences up to about 3 × 10²² n m⁻² (∼0.05 dpa) and 0.08-0.15 for higher fluences, consistent with estimated saturation in radiation damage microstructure but also concurrent with the acceleration of gross strain localization associated with DCD.     

Relativistic multireference Møller-Plesset perturbation theory calculations of the energy levels and transition probabilities in Ne-like xenon, tungsten, and uranium ions

Relativistic multireference many-body Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MR-MP) calculations have been performed on neonlike xenon, tungsten, and uranium ions. The 2s⁻¹n? and 2p⁻¹n? (n ? 5, ? ? 4) energy levels, lifetimes and transition probabilities are reported. The second-order MR-MP calculation of energy levels included mass shifts, frequency-dependent first-order Breit correction and Lamb shifts. The calculated transition energies are compared with other theoretical and experimental data. The synthetic radiative spectra is presented for different wavelength regions.     

Microstructure evolution of Ge implanted silicon oxide thin films upon annealing treatments

The structural evolution of silicon oxide films with Ge⁺ implantation was traced with a positron beam equipped with positron annihilation Doppler broadening and lifetime spectrometers. Results indicate that the film structure change as a function of the annealing temperature could be divided into four stages: (I) T < 300 °C; (II) 300 °C ? T ? 500 °C; (III) 600 °C ? T ? 800 °C; (IV) T ? 900 °C. In comparison with stage I, the increased positron annihilation Doppler broadening S values during stage II is ascribed to the annealing out of point defects and coalescence of intrinsic open volumes in silicon oxides. The obtained long positron lifetime and high S values without much fluctuation in stage III suggest a rather stable film structure. Further annealing above 900 °C brings about dramatic change of the film structure with Ge precipitation. Positron annihilation spectroscopy is thereby a sensitive probe for the diagnosis of microstructure variation of silicon oxide thin films with nano-precipitation.