Production issues for high aspect ratio Lobster-eye optics using LIGA

 A square packed array of square-channels with long channel axis aligned radially is a useful structure for condensing grazing incidence flux to a focus. These devices, known as Lobster-eye optics for their similarity to the eyes of the macruran crustaceans, show great promise as the focusing optic in the next generation of X-ray all-sky monitors. At X-ray wavelengths the optimal Lobster-eye structure requires an aspect ratio of channel length to width of greater than 30:1. Following recent success in fabricating a low aspect ratio Lobster-eye structure, we discuss some of the parameters for, and production issues involved in making, a useful Lobster-eye prototype using LIGA. We report on our initial attempts to produce high aspect ratio Lobster-eye optics using the LIGA process with a graphite substrate. Received: 10 August 2001/Accepted: 24 September 2001 AGP gratefully acknowledges receipt of an ARC post-doctoral fellowship. This work was supported by the Australian Synchrotron Research Program, which is funded by the Commonwealth of Australia under the Major National Research Facilities Program. Use of the Advanced Photon Source was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences, Office of Energy Research, under Contract No. W-31-109-Eng-38. This paper was presented at the Fourth International Workshop on High Aspect Ratio Microstructure Technology HARMST 2001 in June 2001.     

Radiorecovery Activity of Dicopper(II) Tetrakis(3,5-Diiso propylsalicylate) Includes Recovery of Radiation-Induced Loss of Body Mass and Impaired Mouse Locomotion

Dicopper(II) tetrakis(3,5-diisopropylsalicylate), [Cu(II)(2)(3,5-DIPS)(4)], is effective in increasing survival of lethally irradiated mice when it is administered after irradiation. The possibility that this radiorecovery activity might also facilitate recovery from radiation-induced impaired increase in body mass and locomotion was examined. Cu(II)(2)(3,5-DIPS)(4) was used to treat LD 50/30 gamma irradiated female C57BL/6 mice after irradiation. A dose of 0, 5, 10, or 20 mumol Cu(II)(2) (3, 5-DIPS)(4) /kilogram of body mass was administered subcutaneously 3 hrs after LD 50/30 irradiation and change in body mass and locomotor activity measured daily throughout the 30 day post-irradiation period. Treatment with 5, 10, or 20 mumol Cu(II)(2) (3,5-DIPS)(4) /kg of body mass increased survival, which was statistically significant for the 10 mumol /kg of body mass-treated group compared to the vehicle-treated group (P<0.05), significantly (P<0.05) increased recovery of locomotion from days 13 to 15 post-irradiation onward for all treated groups compared to vehicle-treated mice, and increased recovery of body mass gain from day 14 onward for the 20 mumol /kg of body mass-treated group (P<0.001) and day 21, although not statistically significant, for the 10 mumol /kg of body mass-treated group. There were no statistically significant differences between the increase in survival, recovered increase in body mass, and recovered increase in locomotion for mice treated with 10 mumol or 20 mumol Cu(II)(2)(3,5-DIPS)(4) /kg on day 30 post-irradiation. It is concluded that Cu(II)(2)(3,5-DIPS)(4) in addition to increasing survival of irradiated mice increases the rate of recovery of radiation-induced decrease in body mass and locomotion.     

Study of the reduction of UO2 by magnesium or calcium dissolved in molten chlorides

The reduction of solid UO₂ to uranium by magnesium or calcium dissolved in their molten chlorides has been studied. The rate of reduction per unit area of UO₂ surface, at constant temperature and concentration of reductant in the molten chloride, was found to increase with time to a constant value. The rate of reduction per unit area was observed to be proportional to the concentration of reductant in the molten salt. The small increase observed in the reaction rate over the temperature range 750° to 850°C, suggests that the reduction is controlled by transport of the reductant to the reaction site. Solidified salt, containing UO₂ pellets which had been partially reduced, was sectioned, polished, and examined microscopically. The products of the reduction reaction form concentric layers around the UO₂ pellets. Layers of metallic uranium and oxide containing small amounts of dispersed salt alternated with layers of salt containing small amounts of metallic uranium and oxide. The layers ruptured, presumably because the volume of the products, uranium and oxide, is greater than the volume of the UO₂. Therefore, an impervious layer did not form on the oxide surface to inhibit the reduction reaction.     

Review of Toward a Psychology of the Scientist.

Reviews the book, Toward a Psychology of the Scientist by Sonja C. Graver (1981). The major themes of this highly condensed 92 page book are that all sciences are philosophic and that psychological research provides insight into how scientists formulate and revise theories. The author further contends that the development of science would be enhanced if all scientists (including psychologists) understood the primary importance of the role of theory, imagination and creativity in experimentation. The scientific model suggested is that progress in science occurs by way of reformulations of arbitrary world views, and that scientific activities would be enhanced if the subjective and psychological, particularly cognitive, aspects were stressed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An improved numerical interconversion for creep compliance and relaxation modulus

An imporved method for the numerical evaluation of the convolution integral in the relationship between creep compliance and relaxation modulus is discussed. The better approximation is obtained by the assumption that both functions can be assumed to be linear within a series of increasing time intervals which do not change as the calculation progresses. The calculation is carried out on both hypothetical and real examples which substantiates its applicability and accuracy.     

Thermodynamics of cadmium- and zinc-rich alloys in the Cd−La,Cd−Ce,Cd−Pr,Zn−La,Zn−Ce and Zn−Pr systems

The thermodynamics of the cadmium- and zinc-rich alloys in the Cd?La, Cd?Ce, Cd?Pr, Zn?La, Zn?Ce, and Zn?Pr systems have been studied with a high-temperature galvanic cell method. The values of the standard free energy of formation (kcal per mole) of the intermetallic compounds are given by the equations: $$\begin{gathered} (LaCd_{11} ), \Delta Gf^ \circ = - 72.3 + 43.6 \times 10^{ - 3} T (670^ \circ to 804^ \circ K) \hfill \\ (CeCd_{11} ), \Delta Gf^ \circ = - 70.5 + 44.6 \times 10^{ - 3} T (638^ \circ to 884^ \circ K) \hfill \\ (PrCd_{11} ), \Delta Gf^ \circ = - 69.1 + 44.8 \times 10^{ - 3} T (635^ \circ to 825^ \circ K) \hfill \\ (LaZn_{11} ), \Delta Gf^ \circ = - 92.6 + 48.0 \times 10^{ - 3} T (705^ \circ to 793^ \circ K) \hfill \\ (CeZn_{11} ), \Delta Gf^ \circ = - 87.9 + 45.0 \times 10^{ - 3} T (710^ \circ to 1018^ \circ K) \hfill \\ (PrZn_{11} ), \Delta Gf^ \circ = - 85.3 + 42.7 \times 10^{ - 3} T (696^ \circ to 875^ \circ K) \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ Equations are also given for the partial molar excess free energies of the lanthanide in dilute solutions of the lanthanide in liquid cadmium or zinc. The enthalpy of formation of the intermetallic compounds is discussed in terms of the crystalline structure of these intermetallic compounds. It is shown that the enthalpy of formation is a linear function of the ration/V _c , wheren is the number of zinc or cadmium atoms which are near-neighbors of the lanthanide atom andV _c is the volume of the cage formed by the near-neighbor cadmium or zinc atoms. A linear dependence of the enthalpy of formation onn/V _c is also found for the intermetallic compounds in several other binary systems. These empirical correlations are discussed in terms of a model which involves localized bonds between the lanthanide and zinc or cadmium atoms.     

Catalytic Synthesis of Chemicals from Coal

Abstract

While the oil and gas needed for the production of chemicals in the United States is only a small percentage of the total oil and gas consumed, the manufacture and use of chemicals from these hydrocarbons has a tremendous impact on the economy of the country. A study by A. D. Little, Inc. [1] in 1973 showed that the impact of a 15% decline in production of organic chemicals could result via a “multiplier” effect in a loss of over 1,700,000 jobs and a $65 to 70 billion loss in the production value of goods. One need only look around to see how pervasive and ubiquitous chemicals from petroleum products are in everyday life; our clothes, our food (fertilizers), all sorts of polymers, plastics, drugs and medicinal, tires, tubing, building materials, automobile interiors-the list is long and verge important to the economic health and growth of the country.