Micro-ERDA studies of hydrogen in polycrystalline CVD diamond windows

The incorporation of hydrogen in thick polycrystalline chemical vapour deposition diamond plates has been studied by elastic recoil detection with a 2.8 MeV He⁺ microbeam. Hydrogen-rich inclusions of lateral dimensions 50–100 μm have been found and analysed quantitatively by depth resolved hydrogen area maps and line scans. The laterally averaged hydrogen content and its depth profile were also characterized by the ¹H(¹⁵N, γ)¹²C reaction. The observed hydrogen-rich inclusions correlate with features visible in optical microscopy but not with the optically visible crystallite topography.     

Hydrogen profiling of Nb-Hf-Nb layers by the N method

Investigations of the behavior of hydrogen in thin Nb-Hf-Nb layers were performed by the nuclear reaction ¹H(¹⁵N, γ)¹²C. The preparation of the samples as well as first studies of the surfaces and interfaces of this system by Auger electron spectroscopy and low-energy electron diffraction are described. The influence of lattice distortions at the metal-metal interfaces on the depth profile of the hydrogen concentration is discussed.     

The Stuttgart positron beam, its performance and recent experiments

A monoenergetic MeV positron (e⁺) beam, with a flux at present of 6 × 10⁴ e⁺/s in the energy range of 0.5 to 6.5 MeV, has been installed at the Stuttgart Pelletron accelerator. The stabilization and the absolute calibration of the energy E is monitored by a Ge detector with real-time feedback; a relative energy stability of ΔE/E 10⁻⁴ is obtained. So far, e⁺e⁻ scattering and annihilation-in-flight experiments for investigating the low-energy e⁺e⁻ interaction as well as β⁺ γ positron lifetime measurements in condensed matter have been performed. The advantages of the β⁺ γ method compared to the conventional γγ coincidence technique have been demonstrated. Recently, triple-coincidence positron “age-momentum correlation” measurements have been carried out on fused quartz. A brief account is given on the development of a “positron clock” aiming at a substantial improvement of the time resolution of the β⁺ γ positron lifetime measurements.     

3D hydrogen profiling by elastic recoil detection analysis in transmission geometry

An analytical procedure and a simulation-optimization algorithm are described for hydrogen determination based on elastic recoil detection induced by low-energy ⁴He ions ( 3 MeV) using transmission geometry. Hydrogen concentration depth profiles can be derived from the experimental recoil spectra for a depth range of up to 6 μm with a resolution better than 40 nm at the surface. The method is applied to thin polyimide films irradiated by high-energy heavy ions. The 3D hydrogen distribution is determined with a ⁴He⁺ mubeam. A high-hydrogen-concentration zone below the surface is shown. The hydrogen distribution is seen to evolve during the ⁴He⁺ irradiation.     

The performance of the Ljubljana ion microprobe

In August 2000 the setup of the Ljubljana ion microprobe, based on OM 150 triplet, has been completed. The beam line is installed at the 10° exit port of the 2 MeV Tandetron accelerator. It is equipped with motor driven slits, a precise five-axis goniometer and a spherically shaped measuring chamber with detectors for PIXE, PIGE, PESA, SE and RBS. In order to understand the beam optics along the complete system, consisting of the tandem accelerator and the beam line optical elements, an interactive computer code, based on a linear approximation, has been developed. The program is used both to determine the optimal parameters of the tandem focusing system in its daily use and to develop new beam line configurations. Test measurements performed on a copper grid yielded a spatial resolution of 1.0×1.5 μm² in the high current mode (30–100 pA) and 0.5×0.9 μm² in low current mode (10⁴ counts/s). First analytical results confirmed excellent performance of the new Ljubljana ion microprobe.     

Analysis of Cu and O in high-Tc superconductors by 7–9 MeV protons

The use of proton-induced γ-ray emission for the simultaneous analysis of Cu and O in high-T_c superconductors is demonstrated. Utilizing 7–9 MeV protons, the ratio of O relative to Cu can be determined reliably to a few percent accuracy in homogeneous bulk samples and films thicker than 130 μm using standard bulk samples of O and Cu. Results of the present method are compared with those of the analysis of YBa₂Cu₃O_7xdone by the Rutherford scattering of particles and the non-Rutherford scattering through the ¹⁶O(p,p₀)¹⁶O reaction.     

Determination of sulphur and copper depth distribution in patina layers using nuclear reaction techniques

A method for Cu and S profiling in patina layers was developed by applying a combination of nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS). The copper profiling was performed by using the 1327 keV γ-ray deexciting the third excited state to the ground state of ⁶³Cu produced by the reaction ⁶³Cu(p,p^′γ)⁶³Cu. For the determination of sulphur the 2230 keV γ-ray was used deexciting the first excited state to the ground state of ³²S formed through the reaction ³²S(p,p^′γ)³²S, which exhibits three sharp resonances at projectile energies 3.094, 3.195 and 3.379 MeV. The relevant cross-sections were measured in the energy range between 3.0 and 3.7 MeV in steps of 20 keV at 125° to the incident proton beam direction. The technique was tested using artificially produced and natural copper patina layers. Supporting information on the depth distribution of the constituent elements of the patina samples was obtained by p-RBS (E_p: 1.5 MeV, θ: 160°).     

Measurement of the cross sections for the reactions Cr(n,2n)Cr, Zn(n,2n)Zn, Y(n,2n)Y and Zr(n,2n)Zr from 13.5 to 14.8 MeV

Cross section measurements for the reactions ⁵²Cr(n,2n)⁵¹Cr, ⁶⁶Zn(n,2n)⁶⁵Zn, ⁸⁹Y(n,2n)⁸⁸Y and ⁹⁶Zr(n,2n)⁹⁵Zr were carried out in the neutron energy range 13.47–14.79 MeV applying the activation technique. Neutrons were produced via the T(d,n)⁴He reaction, making use of the variation of neutron energy with the emission angle. The neutron fluences incident on the samples were determined relative to the well-evaluated cross section for the reaction ⁹³Nb(n,2n)^92mNb.

The induced γ-ray activities of the irradiated Zn, Zr and Y₂O₃ samples and their monitor foils were measured by means of a calibrated Ge(Li) γ-ray detector at the KFI, Debrecen. At the IRK, Vienna, relative γ-ray measurements using a high-purity Ge detector were combined with integral γ-ray counting by means of a NaI(TI) well-type detector on the Cr, Zn and Zr foils of highest activity and on some Nb monitor foils; integral γ-ray counting only was applied in the case of the Y₂O₃ samples. All necessary corrections were taken into account.

The results are compared to the corresponding results of cross section measurements published in the literature. The uncertainties obtained in this work are considerably smaller in most cases than the uncertainties given by other authors.     

脉冲离子束作用下金属氚化物氦释放测量技术研究

为认识脉冲离子束作用下金属氚化物的氦释放行为,建立了脉冲离子束作用下金属氚化物氦释放测量系统。利用标准体积气体取样装置,采用气体反扩散法,对系统的容积比、灵敏度进行了实验标定。在此基础上,发展了脉冲离子束作用下金属氚化物氦释放的测量技术,开展了脉冲离子束作用下金属氚化物氦释放实验研究。结果显示,单次脉冲离子束作用下金属氚化物的氦释放呈脉冲式,释放量最大可达10~(13)个原子以上。     

The external beam microprobe facility in Florence: Set-up and performance

An external beam microprobe facility, based on a quadrupole doublet supplied by Oxford Microbeam Ltd, has been installed on a new beamline at the 3 MV single-ended Van de Graaff accelerator in Florence. The goal was to obtain a beam with a spot size on target of 10–20 μm and a current in the order of at least 1 nA, in order to allow PIXE, PIGE and RBS elemental analysis in air or in a helium atmosphere. The beam was extracted from the vacuum lines through a 0.1 μm thick Si₃N₄ window to minimise lateral straggling. The design goals have been successfully achieved; the measurements of the beam spot characteristics in vacuum as well as in air and in helium atmosphere, are here reported.     

PECVD Si nitride and Si oxide layers — Hydrogen analysis and etching after ion implantation

lon-implantation-induced selective etching of dielectric materials is considerably diminished with increasing hydrogen content. Making use of the ¹H(¹⁵N,γ)¹²C resonance reaction, low-temperature PECVD Si oxide and Si nitride layers were observed to contain 12 and 23 at.% H, respectively. For different reagents etch rates were measured regarding the virgin and ion—implanted-He⁺ Ne⁺ at 60, 100 keV — PECVD films.     

The cross section for the K(n,p)Ar reaction between 14.2 and 17.2 MeV

Activation techniques have been used to measure the cross section for the ⁴¹K(n,p)⁴¹Ar reaction between 14.2 and 17.2 MeV. Neutrons were produced by the ³H(d,n)⁴He reaction, and the mixed-power method was used to measure the neutron flux through the ²⁷Al(n,)²⁴Na reaction. The activated samples were counted for the 1294 keV, 1.827 h γ-activity of ⁴¹Ar and the 1369 keV, 15.03 h γ-activity of ²⁴Na using a 16% Ge(Li) detector and a 4096-channel analyzer. The cross sections for the ⁴¹K(n,p)⁴¹Ar reaction using the mixed-power method were found to be 53 ± 3 mbarn at 14.2 ± 0.2 MeV, 47 ± 3 mbarn at 15.2 ± 0.2 MeV, 41 ± 3 mbarn at 16.2 ± 0.2 MeV and 36 ± 4 mbarn at 17.2 ± 0.2 MeV. The associated-particle method was also used for measuring the neutron flux in order to check the mixed-powder result at 14.2 MeV. The average cross section for three associated-particle runs at 14.2 MeV was found to be 50 ± 3 mbarn which, within experimental error, agrees with the mixed-powder value.     

Measurement of β-ray maximum energy with an HPGe detector by means of β-annihilation photons coincidence

A β⁺-ray detection system free from summation of annihilation photons has been constructed for the determination of Q_EC-values. It consists of an HPGe β-ray detector and two pairs of BaF₂ scintillation detectors for annihilation photons. A Q_EC-value of 4.83(4) MeV is obtained for ¹²⁶Cs separated with the JAERI on-line isotope separator.     

Conclusions concerning the delayed neutron data for the major actinides

The conclusions which relate to the delayed neutron yield data for ²³⁵U, ²³⁸U and ²³⁹Pu recommended for use in calculations of the effective delayed neutron fraction, β_eff in conventional thermal and fast reactors, as described in the present issue of Progress in Nuclear Energy, are summarised and discussed.     

Measurement of the H2-D mass difference with a nuclear microprobe

A 1.24 MeV deuteron (D) beam mixed with a H₂ molecular beam was separated with a microslit system of a nuclear microprobe consisting of a 100 μm diameter object and a 1 mm diameter aperture diaphragm. D was distinguished from H₂ by Rutherford backscattering (RBS) on a thin Au film. By slightly changing the magnetic field strength of the beam steerer installed in front of the object diaphragm, the maximum and the minimum RBS D/H₂ ratios were found to be 50.3 and 1.5, respectively. M/ΔM = 3.9 × 10³ was obtained as the mass resolution of the nuclear microprobe. The transmission of this system was 2 × 10⁻³.     

Ion beam induced damage in InP during heavy-ion elastic recoil detection analysis

Heavy-Ion Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis (HIERDA) is an analytical technique which has undergone rapid development in the past few years with the availability of high-energy Tandem accelerators for materials science applications. HIERDA has found application in the study of various semiconductor systems, particularly III–V compounds. The technique employs a high-energy heavy-ion analysing beam to knock constituent nuclei from the target material and a time of flight and energy (ToF-E) detector system to extract mass and depth of origin information from these recoiling nuclei. Present work examines the sample damage produced in InP under typical analysis conditions. The depth distribution of damage induced by an ¹²⁷I analysing beam of varying energy (54–98 MeV) and dose (10¹³−2 × 10¹⁴ ions/cm²) in InP has been examined using RBS channelling, and cross-sectional TEM.     

Production, acceleration and use of radioactive ion beams at Louvain-la-Neuve

The production and acceleration of radioactive beams using two cyclotrons coupled by an electron cyclotron resonance ion source is described. Pure beams of ¹³N(T1/2 = 9.96 min) and ¹⁹Ne(T1/2 = 17 s) with an energy around 1 MeV/amu are obtained with intensities larger than 50 ppA. As an example, cross section measurements using a ¹³N beam on hydrogen and deuteron targets are presented. Finally, the ARENAS³ project, a future plan for the production of radioactive beams in Belgium, is described.     

Power density effect on feasibility of water cooled thorium breeder reactor

Breeding is made possible by the high value of neutron regeneration ratio η for ²³³U in thermal energy region. The reactor is fueled by ²³³U–Th oxide and it has used the light water as moderator. Some characteristics such as spectrum, η value, criticality, breeding performance and number density are evaluated. Several power densities are evaluated in order to analyze its effect to the breeding performance. The η value of fissile ²³³U obtains higher value than 2 which may satisfy the breeding capability especially for thermal reactor for all investigated MFR. The increasing enrichment and decreasing conversion ratio are more significant for MFR < 0.3. The required enrichment and conversion ratio do not change significantly caused by power density change for very tight lattice cell (MFR < 0.3), however, its strongly depends on the power density change for higher MFR (MFR ≥ 0.3). Breeding condition of all investigated power densities can be achieved for burnup ≥ 30 GW d/t at MFR = 0.3 and it requires about 3.5% of required ²³³U enrichment. Number density of ²³³Pa decreases significantly with decreasing power density which leads the reactor has better breeding performance because lower capture rate of ²³³Pa.     

Hydrogen dynamics in electrochromic multilayer systems investigated by the N technique

The resonant reaction ¹H(¹⁵N, γ)¹²C was used to determine the depth distribution of hydrogen in two electrochromic multilayer systems. The systems can be bleached and colored by applying an external voltage. To test models explaining this effect by a change of H content (c_H) in electrochromic layers, H profiles of the systems were measured as a function of the applied voltage. For NiO_x, c_H was found to vary as predicted, whereas for WO₃, c_H changes were smaller than expected. Additionally, H uptake into the ITO electrode was observed.     

Influence of ageing heat treatment on alloy A-286 microstructure and stress corrosion cracking behaviour in PWR primary water

The influence of ageing heat treatment on alloy A-286 microstructure and stress corrosion cracking behaviour in simulated Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) primary water has been investigated. A-286 microstructure was characterized by transmission electron microscopy for ageing heat treatments at 670 °C and 720 °C for durations ranging from 5 h to 100 h. Spherical γ′ phase with mean diameters ranging from 4.6 to 9.6 nm and densities ranging from 8.5 × 10²² m⁻³ to 2 × 10²³ m⁻³ were measured. Results suggest that both the γ′ phase mean diameter and density quickly saturate with time for ageing heat treatment at 720 °C while the γ′ mean diameter increases significantly up to 100 h for ageing heat treatment at 670 °C. Grain boundary η phase precipitates were systematically observed for ageing heat treatment at 720 °C even for short ageing periods. In contrast, no grain boundary η phase precipitates were observed for ageing heat treatments at 670 °C except after 100 h. Hardening by γ′ precipitation was well described by the dispersed barrier hardening model with a γ′ barrier strength of 0.23. Stress corrosion cracking behaviour of A-286 was investigated by means of constant elongation rate tensile tests at 1.5 × 10⁻⁷ s⁻¹ in simulated PWR primary water at 320 °C and 360 °C. In all cases, initiation was transgranular while propagation was intergranular. Grain boundary η phase precipitates were found to have no significant effect on stress corrosion cracking. In contrast, yield strength and to a lesser extent temperature were found to have significant influences on A-286 susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking.