Thermoluminescence properties of nanocrystalline K2Ca2(SO4)3:Eu irradiated with gamma rays and proton beam

Thermoluminescence properties of nanocrystalline K₂Ca₂(SO₄)₃:Eu prepared by ball milling technique have been studied and the nanophosphor’s suitability as an effective gamma radiation and proton beam dosimeter material has been examined. It is found that the nanophosphor is suitable for dosimetry over a very wide range of doses ∼1 Gy to 1 kGy for gamma radiation. And for proton beam the same nanophosphor shows a more or less linear response for the dose range 0.1-100 Gy. A comparative study of this nanophosphor with its corresponding microcrystalline form (prepared by solid-state diffusion method) as well as the nanocrystalline form prepared by (the more conventional) co-precipitation technique has shown that the nanophosphor prepared by the ball milling technique is in almost all respects better than the other two forms reported earlier.     

Thermoluminescence kinetic parameters of Bi4Ge3O12 single crystals

In this work, we present a detailed kinetic study of the thermoluminescence of Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂ (BGO) single crystals grown by the Czochralski technique. A single crystalline phase was confirmed through X-ray diffraction pattern analysis based on the Rietveld profile refinement method. The thermoluminescent (TL) glow curves were induced by UV or beta radiation and measured between 20 °C and 200 °C. The glow curves of BGO crystal presented two peaks at 61 °C and 90 °C for both kinds of radiation. The kinetic parameters, kinetic order (b), activation energy (E) and frequency factor (s), of the TL glow curves have been determined by four different methods. The lifetime of the peaks at room temperature was also determined and used to discuss the stability of the TL peaks at room temperature.     

First principle studies on the electronic structures and absorption spectra in KMgF3 crystal with fluorine vacancy

The experiments indicate that the perfect KMgF₃ crystal has no absorption in the visible range, however the electron irradiation induces a complex absorption spectrum. The absorption spectra can be decomposed by five Gaussian bands peaking at 2.5 eV (488 nm), 3.4 eV (359 nm), 4.2 eV (295 nm), 4.6 eV (270 nm) and 5.2 eV (239 nm), respectively. The purpose of this paper is to seek the origins of the absorption bands. The electronic structures and absorption spectra either for the perfect KMgF₃ or for KMgF₃: with electrical neutrality have been studied by using density functional theory code CASTEP with the lattice structure optimized. The calculation results predicate that KMgF₃: also exhibits five absorption bands caused by the existence of the fluorine ion vacancy and the five absorption bands well coincide with the experimental results. It is believable that the five absorption bands are related to in KMgF₃ crystal produced by the electron irradiation.     

Al2O3:C、LiF:Mg,Ti、LiF:Mg,Cu,P对本底辐射的热释光响应比较

用Al2O3:C、LiF:Mg,Ti、LiF:Mg,Cu,P热释光剂量计(TLD)测量湛江市区本底辐射的热释光响应,以选取适合低辐射场辐射剂量测量的TLD。它们的最低响应剂量依次为Al2O3:C(1–2μGy)、LiF:Mg,Cu,P(约2μGy)和LiF:Mg,Ti(>10μGy)。Al2O3:C的热释光峰温较低,对较长时间段(>30 d)的累积剂量,存在较明显的热释光衰退,剂量响应曲线偏离线性;LiF:Mg,Cu,P和LiF:Mg,Ti的发光峰温较高,数年内都很稳定。综合考虑灵敏度和稳定性,LiF:Mg,Cu,P更宜于低辐射场的累积剂量测量。     

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) of Lu2SiO5:Ce powder: A preliminary study

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) of Lu₂SiO₅:Ce powder (Phosphor Technology Ltd., UK) has been measured by Risø TL/OSL Reader (TL-DA-15). Upon blue photon stimulation (λ_ex ∼470 nm) the material shows strong OSL signal that can detect β-irradiation right up to the dose of ∼0.2 Gy.A brief discussion on this finding is presented by comparing the thermoluminescence of the system with and without optical stimulation. The two key important parameters namely, trap-depth (E) and frequency factor (s) of the main peaks that occur at 85 and 232 °C are determined.     

Elastic and electronic properties and stability of SrThO3, SrZrO3 and ThO2 from first principles

First-principle calculations in the framework of the full-potential linearized-augmented-plane-wave method (FLAPW, as implemented into the WIEN-2k code) have been performed to understand the structural, elastic, cohesive and electronic properties of the meta-stable cubic strontium thorate SrThO₃. The optimized lattice parameters, elastic parameters, formation energies, densities of states, band structures and charge density distributions are obtained and discussed in comparison with those of cubic SrZrO₃ and ThO₂.     

掺Dy,Tm和Mn的MgSO4磷光体的热释光发光谱研究

用高温固相法研制了MgSO₄:Dy,MgSO₄:Tm和MgSO₄:Mn热释光材料,并通过将MgSO₄:Dy和MgSO₄:Mn混合,以及MgSO₄:Tm和MgSO₄:Mn混合烧结得到了双掺杂样品MgSO₄:Dy,Mn,MgSO₄:Tm,Mn。分别测量了这两种样品在不同热处理温度下的三维发光谱。实验结果表明热处理温度为700℃时的样品,在测量加热过程中观察到Dy和Mn离子分别发光,但超过800℃后,Mn发光强度逐渐变弱,而Tm、Dy的高温发光峰逐渐变强,其它温度的发光峰受到抑制。这表明热释光材料中形成的缺陷复合体结构与热处理温度相关,随着热处理温度的升高,愈来愈多的Mn离子与稀土离子结合紧密,因此在热释光发光谱中清楚地观察到Mn离子对稀土离子的能量转移和对Tm、Dy低于400℃发光峰进行抑制的发光过程。     

Thermoluminescence and photoluminescence of cerium doped CaSO4 nanosheets

Thermoluminescence (TL) and photoluminescence (PL) characteristics of CaSO₄:Ce nanocrystalline prepared by hydrothermal method has been studied. Its TL glow curve contains three overlapping glow peaks at around 490, 505 and 521 K. Emission spectra band at 303 and 324 nm were observed for the orthorhombic phase of nanosheets. TL response of the prepared nanocrystalline to β and γ radiation was studied and the sensitivity of the nanosheets was found much more than that of analogous microcrystalline and is around 10 times higher than the well known high sensitive TL dosimeter LiF:Mg, Cu, P (GR-200) hot-pressed chips. TL kinetic parameters of this nanocrystalline are also presented.     

Thermophysical properties of NpO2, AmO2 and CmO2

The information on thermal and mechanical properties of the minor actinide dioxides: NpO₂, AmO₂ and CmO₂, is still very scarce, and a large uncertainty exists because of difficulties related to their fabrication and manipulation. Prognosis based on a set of the sound physical models and the similarity principle can be useful in this situation. Using the combination of the macroscopic and microscopic approaches developed earlier for thermodynamic properties of actinide dioxides, and the Klemmens model for their thermal conductivity, a few relationships bounding the main thermophysical properties of the actinide dioxides were deduced. These relationships were applied for the calculation of the isochoric and isobaric heat capacity, the isobaric thermal expansion coefficient, the isothermal bulk elastic modulus and the thermal conductivity of NpO₂, AmO₂ and CmO₂ in a large temperature range. A rather satisfactory agreement with the available experimental data and recommendations was demonstrated.     

Optical properties of UO2 and PuO2

We perform first-principles calculations of electronic structure and optical properties for UO₂ and PuO₂ based on the density functional theory using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) + U scheme. The main features in orbital-resolved partial density of states for occupied f and p orbitals, unoccupied d orbitals, and related gaps are well reproduced compared to experimental observations. Based on the satisfactory ground-state electronic structure calculations, the dynamical dielectric function and related optical spectra, i.e., the reflectivity, adsorption coefficient, energy-loss, and refractive index spectrum, are obtained. These results are consistent with the available experiments.     

添加Al2O3和SiO2的大晶粒UO2芯块制备研究

研究了Al2O3和SiO2添加剂对UO2芯块晶粒尺寸的影响.结果表明加入少量的Al2O3和SiO2,可有效促进烧结过程中UO2芯块的晶粒度长大,过量加入则会阻碍烧结过程中UO2芯块的致密化;在添加量一定的情况下,添加不同比例的Al2O3和SiO2,对芯块晶粒尺寸有较大影响,只添加SiO2,对芯块晶粒尺寸影响不大,Al2O3添加量增加,芯块晶粒尺寸随之增加;添加Al2O3和SiO2促进UO2芯块晶粒长大的机制是在烧结期间发生了液相烧结.     

Pulsed X-ray induced transient absorption in LiNbO3, TiO2:LiNbO2, and MgO:LiNbO3 at 1061nm

Characteristics of pulsed X-ray induced transient absorption at 1061 mm have been determined for LiNbO₃, TiO₂:LiNbO₃, and MgO:LiNbO₃. The addition of the dopants TiO₂ and MgO reduces the induced absorption significantly. The two materials, LiNbO₃ and TiO ₂:LiNbO₃, decay with an approximate 1/t^1/4 time dependence for the time interval 0.01 to 8 ms. After 8 ms, the decay rate for LiNbO₃ is faster than 1/t^1/4, and the decay rate for TiO₂:LiNbO₃ is slower than that initial rate. A low-intensity absorption which lasts for about 20 μs is observed for the MgO:LiNbO₃. Peak radiation induced absorption coefficients for LiNbO₃, TiO₂:LiNbO₃, and MgO:LiNbO₃ have been determined     

Formation of U2C3 in the reaction of UC2 with UO2

The formation of U₂C₃ by the reaction of UC₂ with UO₂ has been studied by chemical and X-ray analyses at temperatures between 1400 and 1700 °C in vacuo. The reaction is represented by 7 UC₂ + UO₂ → 4 U₂C₃ + 2 CO.     

Thermodynamic modelling of LiF-LnF3 and LiF-AnF3 phase diagrams

The phase diagrams of the LiF-LnF₃ series, where Ln = La-Sm, and of LiF-AnF₃, where An = U, Pu, have been optimized using Redlich-Kister functions. The phase diagrams of LiF-AmF₃ and LiF-PuF₃-AmF₃ have been calculated. The necessary Gibbs energy functions for americium trifluoride were defined by use of a semi-empirical method. The excess Gibbs energy terms, which are expressed as Redlich-Kister polynomials and describe the effect of interaction between the two fluoride components in the liquid phase, were obtained by translating the trends observed in the lanthanide trifluoride series into the actinide series. A single eutectic has been found in the LiF-AmF₃ system with the eutectic point at ?33 mole% AmF₃ and at ?951 K.     

含TBP-HNO3超临界CO2流体静态络合萃取U3O8

建立了一种快速降低萃取系统压力的静态络合萃取实验装置。在此装置上研究了含TBP-HNO₃超临界CO₂静态络合U₃O₈的快速气化测量方法,探索了含TBP-HNO₃超临界CO₂静态络合萃取U₃O₈的行为规律。     

Carbon deposition from a γ-irradiated CO2/CO/CH4/C2H6 gas mixture on the manganese oxides MnO, Mn3O4 and Mn2O3

The composition of oxides formed on steel surfaces within power reactors may influence heat transfer efficiency. Previous studies have indicated that carbon is deposited on spinal-type oxides containing manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel and chromium. In this investigation, characterised manganese oxides have been subjected to γ-irradiation under conditions similar to those experienced in reactors in an effort to understand the catalytic processes involved in deposit initiation and growth. Mn₃O₄ and Mn₂O₃, under the conditions present in the γ-cell, were reduced to MnO during the time of exposure. Relative carbon deposition rates were observed to follow the trend MnO>Mn₃O₄≈Mn₂O₃.     

Determination of self attenuation coefficient and relative TL efficiency of CaSO4:Dy, LiF:Mg,Cu,P and LiF:Mg,Ti TLDs - An alternate approach

Self attenuation of TL and relative TL efficiency of polytetra fluoro ethylene (PTFE) embedded CaSO₄:Dy disc, LiF:Mg,Ti (MTS) disc and LiF:Mg,Cu,P (MCP-N) chip were determined in the present study for photons of energy 10-34 keV. The relative TL efficiency was determined using an alternative approach in which ratio of experimental response and corrected theoretical response was used instead of measuring the absolute TL emission in photon counting mode. For CaSO₄:Dy disc, it was found that with increasing the proportion of CaSO₄:Dy phosphor in the disc, the light attenuation coefficient increases. The light attenuation coefficient of MTS disc and MCP-N chip was found to be 23.4 and 45.5 cm⁻¹, respectively. The relative TL efficiency in the photon energy range of 10-34 keV for MTS discs and MCP-N chips, evaluated in the present study matches well with the reported values in the literature.     

Dosimetric characterization of a new preparation of BaSO4 activated by Eu ions

The results of a thermoluminescent investigation carried out on a new preparation of BaSO₄ activated by Eu ions at different concentrations (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mol%) are reported in this paper. Several batches were prepared by varying Dy, Tm and Sm ions concentrations. The TL sensitivity property of each of the doped barium sulphate samples were compared to the BaSO₄:Eu. The highest sensitivity was found for BaSO₄:Eu (0.5 mol%). The main dosimetric characteristics, i.e. thermoluminescent (TL) response as a function of the dose, reproducibility, lower detection limit, and fading, have been investigated for the BaSO₄:Eu. Furthermore, the kinetic parameters, i.e. activation energy, E, the frequency factor, s, the pre-exponential factor s^* and the kinetic order, b, have been calculated using initial-rise and deconvolution methods. The peak shape methods related to the geometric properties of a TL peak were also used. In order to analyse the TL response at different energies, the effective atomic number (Z_eff = 45–47) for this material was determined.     

Bulk-compositional changes of Ni2Al3 and NiAl3 during ion etching

Bulk-compositional changes of Ni₂Al₃ and NiAl₃ in a Ni-50 wt% Al alloy during ion etching have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analyses. After etching with 7, 5 and 3 keV Ar⁺ ions for 15, 24 and 100 h nickel contents in both Ni₂Al₃ and NiAl₃ exceeded greatly those in the initial compounds and increased with the decrement of the sputtering energy. After 100 h etching with 3 keV Ar⁺ ions the compositions of these two compounds reached a similar value, about Ni_80-83Al_12-15Fe_3-4Cr_1-2 (at%). A synergistic action of preferential sputtering, radiation-induced segregation and radiation-enhanced diffusion enables the altered-layers at the top and bottom of the film extend through the whole film. The bulk-compositional changes are proposed to occur in the unsteady-state sputtering regime of ion etching and caused by an insufficient supply of matter in a thin film.