Dependence of PXR beam performance on the operation of the pulsed electron linac

Advanced applications of parametric X-ray radiation (PXR) such as energy-dispersive X-ray absorption fine structure (DXAFS) analysis and phase-contrast imaging have been developed at the Laboratory for Electron Beam Research and Application (LEBRA) of Nihon University. To improve the electron beam quality and geometrical stability of the target crystal, the cooling-water system for the linac and the PXR target was replaced with a new one capable of more precise control. As a result, the reliability of the experimental data in PXR applications, especially in X-ray imaging, has improved. The effect of the electron beam focusing on the target crystal was also investigated. The results of X-ray imaging with a long propagation distance and measurement of the time-structure of the PXR intensity suggest that the correlation between the electron beam profile and the X-ray coherence is rather complicated. It is possible that incident electrons cause some deformation of the target crystal, becoming the dominant factor restricting the quality of intense PXR.     

A Novel Glass Membrane for Low Temperature H2/O2 Fuel Cell Electrolytes

A novel structure for an H₂/O₂ fuel cell with a proton conducting glass electrolyte and a Pt/C catalyst was developed. The performance of the fuel cell, which was impregnated with a glass electrolyte and a gaseous hydrogen–oxygen feed at low temperature in a humidified atmosphere was significantly improved by introducing membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) consisting of heteropolyacids (HPAs) (phosphotungstic acid, PWA and phosphomolybdic acid, PMA) doped with a P₂O₅‐SiO₂ glass electrolyte. The HPAs containing porous glass electrolytes show promise for applications in low temperature H₂/O₂ fuel cells. The electrochemical behaviour of these materials was studied by measuring the current–voltage profile from polarisation curves. A maximum power density of ≈ 35 mW cm^–2 was obtained at 30 °C and 30% RH (relative humidity) using a PMA/PWA‐P₂O₅‐SiO₂ glass electrolyte membrane. The impedance measurements displaying the total cell ohmic resistance for 12 h at 0.5 V were evaluated at 30 °C. The resistance value was 3.5 Ω for an operating time of 12 h. This MEA showed the best and the most stable performance for use in an H₂/O₂ fuel cell.     

Effect of Phosphorus Ions on the Proton Conductivity in the Sol–Gel-Derived Porous Glasses

The effect of phosphorus ions on the proton conductivity was examined for the sol–gel-derived glasses. The porous glasses were prepared through hydrolysis of PO(OCH₃)₃ and Si(OC₂H₅)₄, in which the phosphorus ions consisted of the POH bonds and were dissolved into the silica matrix without any P-O-Si bond. The electrical conductivity increased in a humid atmosphere and reached ∼30 mS/cm at 50°C under 70% RH. High conductivity is achieved by both the POH bonds and the molecular water bonded to the POH bonds. The conductivity increased with a change in humidity from 40% to 80% RH. The phosphorus ions were selectively dissolved in water, resulting in a lower conductivity.     

Metal-induced reconstructions of the silicon(111) surface

We have used scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) to study changes in the structure of the Si(111) surface induced by deposition of the group III metals In and Ga. For both metals, several different ordered reconstructions are seen as a function of coverage. The STM images provide new structural information on each of these reconstructions. With In metal deposition, we have seen the surface reconstructions √3×, √3, √31× √31, √7×√3 and 4×1 as the coverage increases. In the case of Ga on Si(111), we have studied structures that exist up to 0·7 ML. At 1/3 ML, there is a √3×√3 structure identical to that of In. Above 0·3 ML there is a different phase that may correspond to the (6·3times6·3) RHEED pattern reported in this coverage range. This surface tends to grow as triangular islands at higher coverages.     

Photochromism of spiropyran and diarylethenedoped silica gels prepared by the sol-gel process

Spiropyran and diarylethene were doped in silica gels which were prepared from Si(OCH₃)₄ and Si(OC₂H₅)₄, respectively, and their photochromic properties were compared. In the gels, both organics are incorporated with open modifications and show the photochromism between red and colourless modifications. The closed form of spiropyran, which is converted from the open one by irradiation with light, is thermally backed into the open form after the light is blocked. The activation energy of thermochemical reaction is 0.86 eV. Diarylethene shows no thermochemical reaction below 140°C, but shows a photochemically reversible change on alternate irradiation by light of 436.5 and 578 nm.     

A spiral antenna backed by a conducting plane reflector

An Archimedean planar spiral antenna is numerically analyzed in the presence of a conducting plane reflector. The analysis shows that the spiral antenna backed by the plane reflector has two distinct regions in the current distribution, which explain the radiation of a circularly polarized wave for the outer circumferenceCranging over about1.3 lambda < C < 1.5 lambdaandC > 2.9 lambda, wherelambdais a free-space wavelength. Further consideration is given to a truncated spiral antenna whose outer circumference is on the order of1.4 lambda. The truncated spiral antenna maintains a decaying current distribution and radiates a circularly polarized wave over a 1:1.2 frequency bandwidth. It is also demonstrated that a power gain on the order of 8.5 dB is realized over the same frequency range.