Modeling of neutron induced backgrounds in x-ray framing cameras

Fast neutrons from inertial confinement fusion implosions pose a severe background to conventional multichannel plate (MCP)-based x-ray framing cameras for deuterium-tritium yields >10(13). Nuclear reactions of neutrons in photosensitive elements (charge coupled device or film) cause some of the image noise. In addition, inelastic neutron collisions in the detector and nearby components create a large gamma pulse. The background from the resulting secondary charged particles is twofold: (1) production of light through the Cherenkov effect in optical components and by excitation of the MCP phosphor and (2) direct excitation of the photosensitive elements. We give theoretical estimates of the various contributions to the overall noise and present mitigation strategies for operating in high yield environments.     

Experimental study of neutron induced background noise on gated x-ray framing cameras

A temporally gated x-ray framing camera based on a proximity focus microchannel plate is one of the most important diagnostic tools of inertial confinement fusion experiments. However, fusion neutrons produced in imploded capsules interact with structures surrounding the camera and produce background to x-ray signals. To understand the mechanisms of this neutron induced background, we tested several gated x-ray cameras in the presence of 14 MeV neutrons produced at the Omega laser facility. Differences between background levels observed with photographic film readout and charge-coupled-device readout have been studied.     

Untersuchungen zum Verhalten von mit Nanopartikeln imprägniertem Holz bei Freibewitterung

Es wurde die Witterungsbeständigkeit von Fichtenholz und Buchen holz nach Beschichtung mit verschiedenen nanoskaligen Hydrophobierungsmitteln und vergleichsweise dazu mit einem üblichen Lack getestet. Die Imprägnierung des Holzes erfolgte über Streich‐ oder Druckimprägnierung. Erfasst wurden Änderungen der Farbkennwerte, der Benetzungswinkel, der Holzfeuchte sowie der visuelle Gesamteindruck. Bei allen Materialien und Beschichtungs arten trat bereits nach kurzer Zeit eine Vergrauung auf. Diese war beim Standardlack am geringsten. Diese Tendenz spiegeln auch die Farbmessungen wieder. Der Benetzungsrandwinkel reduzierte sich zunehmend, das zeigt, dass der Hydrophobierungseffekt nach lässt. Beim Standardlack war der Effekt deutlich geringer ausgeprägt. Insgesamt zeigt sich, dass es weder mit Streich‐ noch mit Druckimprägnierung gelang, das Imprägnierungsmittel ausreichend tief in das Holz einzubringen und zu fixieren. Dies deckt sich mit den Ergebnissen der Flüssigkeitsaufnahmekoeffizienten, über die in vorangegangenen Arbeiten berichtet wurde. Investigation regarding the behaviour of wood impregnated with nano‐particles and exposed to the open weather. The weather resistance of Norway spruce and beech wood has been tested following coating with various nano‐scale hydrophobising compounds, and has been compared with reference samples that were coated with a standard varnish. The impregnation of the timber was carried out by brush coating or a pressure process. The test results focused on changes in colorimetric values, wetting angle, timber moisture and the overall appearance. All materials and types of coating were subject to a greying of colour after a short while. The standard varnish showed the least discoloration. This tendency was also reflected in the colorimetric measurements. The wetting edge angle increasingly reduced, indicating that the hydrophobising effect was also reducing. With the standard varnish, this effect was clearly less pronounced. Overall, the tests showed that it had not been possible to inject the timber sufficiently deeply with the impregnation compound, and fix it, with either the brush or pressure impregnation method. This confirms the findings obtained in fluid retention co‐efficient tests which were reported in previous articles.     

Versagensverhalten eines Kohlenstoff‐Faserverbundwerkstoffs unter Druckbeanspruchung

In this work the properties of Carbon/Carbon‐material are investigated under quasi‐static compression and model‐like characterized. The investigated material was produced by pyrolysis of a Carbon/Carbon – composite of bidirectionally reinforced fabric layers. For the compression tests, a device to prevent additional bending stress was made. The stress‐strain behaviour of this material has been reproduced in various publications. This will be discussed on the fracture behaviour and compared the experimental results from the compression tests with the characteristics of tensile and shear tests. The different compression and tensile properties of stiffness, poisson and strength were assessed. Differences between the tensile and compression behaviour resulting from on‐axis tests by micro buckling and crack closure and off‐axis experiments by superimposed pressure normal stresses that lead to increased shear friction.     

Mechanical Properties of Topologically Interlocked Structures with Elements Produced by Freeze Gelation of Ceramic Slurries

In the present paper, the force‐fit connection of discrete ceramic components by means of geometrically interlocking surfaces is studied. These surfaces possess a concavo‐convex topology permitting assembly of structures in which each individual element is kinematically locked by its neighbors. Such structures have a tuneable bending stiffness, allow for large deformations and are tolerant to missing or destroyed elements. These properties of topologically interlocked structures make them particularly attractive in construction with brittle materials. The elements used were produced by freeze gelation of ceramic slurries, leading to near net shape with the coefficient of shrinkage below 3%. It is shown that planar assemblies of interlocked ceramic elements can withstand flexural deflections up to a ten‐fold of those a solid plate from the same material can sustain. The response of these structures to concentrated load can be divided into an elastic and a quasi‐plastic, i.e., irreversible, part. After the point of maximum load, the interlocked structures investigated were still able to withstand further deformation, whereas solid plates showed brittle failure.     

Modeling of glass sintering applied for the fabrication of porous glass bodies

The sintering behavior of borosilicate and soda-lime mono-sized glass beads was investigated with the aim to fabricate transparent porous glass balls and cylinders. As the glasses tend to crystallize, temperatures where the sintering was in advantage compared to crystallization were used. Isothermal studies were undertaken for modeling the evolution of sintering necks as a function of radii of beads, temperature and time. The Frenkel model of viscous flow was applied to predict first and second stage of sintering. As the sintering of the glasses without crystallization was only possible at high temperatures the process is very fast and has to be controlled precisely. The results of this work were applied for the fabrication of porous bodies with specific characteristics: different geometries and sizes, transparency, high porosities to be achieved during first stage sintering of spherical glass beads. The porous parts with these characteristics are used for the investigation of hydrodynamic processes in the pore network of glass parts.     

Theory of semiconductor quantum-dot laser dynamics

A theory for describing nonequilibrium dynamics in a semiconductor quantum-dot laser is presented. This theory is applied to a microcavity laser with a gain region consisting of an inhomogeneous distribution of quantum dots, a quantum-well wetting layer, and injection pumped bulk regions. Numerical results are presented and the effects of spectral hole burning, plasma heating, and many-body effects are analyzed.     

Vibrio anguillarum resistance to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) serum: role of O-antigen structure of lipopolysaccharide

The sensitivity of Vibrio anguillarum to the bactericidal effect of rainbow trout serum was investigated with different strains of serogroups O1 and O2a, which are the most frequently found serogroups in clinical outbreaks of vibriosis. All of the V. anguillarum strains were able to activate complement in rainbow trout serum, but smooth strains of V. anguillarum serogroup O1 were resistant to complement-mediated killing in the absence of specific antibodies. In the case of V. anguillarum serogroup O2a strains, 80% of the analyzed strains were resistant to rainbow trout serum even when specific antibodies were present. Analysis of the lipopolysaccharide structures of the tested V. anguillarum strains showed a positive correlation between the O-antigen size of the lipopolysaccharide and resistance to serum killing. The classical complement pathway was responsible for the antibody-dependent serum killing of susceptible V. anguillarum strains. When serum-resistant V. anguillarum serogroup O2a strains were grown in glucose-enriched Lennox L broth, they produced lipopolysaccharide molecules with fewer high-molecular-weight O-antigen units than did strains grown in broth without the addition of glucose. Strains grown in glucose-enriched medium became sensitive to rainbow trout serum killing, indicating that the high-molecular-weight O-antigen side chains prevented the activated complement from damaging the bacterium.