Journal of Nuclear Physics, Material Sciences, Radiation and Applications
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Cluster Radioactivity
Cluster radioactivity (spontaneous emission of heavy particles from nuclei) is presented from a theoretical point of view in good agreement with experimental results. After a brief historical account, we give details about the analytical super asymmetric fission (ASAF) model extensively used for predicting the half-lives of heavy and superheavy (Z ≥ 104) elements. For the already measured 26 cluster decays (from 14C to 32,34Si of parent nuclides with Z = 87-96) it is clear that cluster radioactivity is a rare phenomenon in the best case about 9 orders of magnitude weaker than the competing alpha decay. Then we show the theoretical possibility of a strong cluster decay compared to alpha decay for some superheavy nuclei with Z ≥ 122, e.g. 306122; 310-314122; 306-324124, and 311-323124
Feasibility of Formation of Ge1-x-y Six Sny Layers With High Sn Concentration via Ion Implantation
By increasing the Sn concentration in Ge1-ySny and Ge1-x-ySixSny systems, these materials can be tuned from indirect to direct bandgap along with increasing electronic and photonic properties. Efforts have been made to synthesize Sn-Ge and Ge-Si-Sn structures and layers to produce lower energy direct bandgap materials. Due to low solid solubility of Sn in Ge and Si-Ge layers, high concentrations of Sn are not achieved by traditional synthesis processes such as chemical vapor deposition or molecular beam epitaxy. Implantation of Sn into Si-Ge systems, followed by rapid thermal annealing or pulse laser annealing, is shown to be an attractive technique for increasing Sn concentration, which can increase efficiencies in photovoltaic applications. In this paper, dynamic ion-solid simulation results are presented. Simulations were performed to determine optimal beam energy, implantation order, and fluence for a multi-step, ion-implantation based synthesis process
Characterizing a Mini Gamma Detector
There are several types of gamma radiation detectors, which have different characteristics depending on its use. We designed and instrumented a gamma detector for low energies of a small and portable size to obtain spectrum from radioactive sources and from that analyze each spectrum. This instrument basically consists of a scintillator crystal coupled to a SiPM this in turn coupled to a PCB card designed with capacitors and resistors for a better signal, a voltage source of 29 volts. For signal acquisition the system must be connected to an oscilloscope this in turn is controlled by a script developed in Python. For the calibration radioactive isotopes with the same dimensions were used, caesium-137 (Cs-137), cobalto-60 (Co-60), sodium-22 (Na-22) and manganese-54 (Mn-54) as gamma ray emission
Development and Validation of an X-ray Imaging Detector for Digital Radiography at Low Resolution
Digital X-ray detectors are required in different sciences and applications, however many high quality devices are expensive although high-resolution images are not always required. We present an easy way to build a detector capable of forming X-ray digital images and video with a very large area (18×18 cm2). The detector is formed by three main components: scintillator, optics lenses and CCD sensor. Basically, the device converts the X-rays into visible light which is then collected by the CCD sensor. The scintillator is Gadox type, from Carestream®, 18×18 cm2, regular type, lambda 547 nm. The optics lenses are generic, with manual focus and widely visual field. The CCD sensor has a size of 1/3″, 752 × 582 pixels, monochrome, 20 FPS, 12 bits ADC and pixel size of 3.8 μm. With the built detector and an X-ray source, we formed an X-ray imaging detection system to generate digital radiographs of biological or inert objects-examples are given-, as well as real-time X-ray video. Additionally, the spatial resolution limit was measured in terms of Modulation Transfer Function by the method of opaque edge from a lead sheet with a result of 1.1 Lp/mm. Finally using a filter, the focal spot of the X-ray source is measured, resulting in a diameter of 0.9 mm (FWHM)
Homogenization Effects of VVER-1000 Fuel Assembly on Criticality Calculations
Due to cost effective and simplicity homogeneous reactors have been widely used for experimental and research purposes. Parameters which are difficult to get from a heterogeneous reactor system can be easily obtained from a homogeneous reactor system and can be applied in the heterogeneous reactor system if the major parametric differences are known. In this study, homogenization effects of VVER (Water Water Energetic Reactor)-1000 fuel assembly on neutronic parameters have been analyzed with the universal probabilistic code MCNP (Monte Carlo N-Particle). The infinite multiplication factor (k∞) has been calculated for the reconfigured heterogeneous and homogenous fuel assembly models with 2 w/o U-235 enriched fuel at room temperature. Effect of mixing soluble boron into the moderator/coolant (H2O) has been investigated for both models. Direct and fission detected thermal to higher energy neutron ratio also has been investigated. Relative power distributions of both models have been calculated at critical and supercritical states. Burnup calculations for both the reconfigured cores have been carried out up to 5 years of operation. Effective delayed neutron fraction (βeff) and prompt removal lifetime (ℓ) also have been evaluated. All the results show significant differences between the two systems except the average relative power
Analysis of Indoor Radon Distribution Within a Room By Means of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Simulation
Radon gas is recognized by international organizations such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) as the main contributor of radiation environmental to which human beings are exposed. Therefore, the evaluation of indoor radon concentration is a matter of public interest. The emanation and the income of the gas inside a room will generate a negative impact on the quality of the air when the place is not properly ventilated. Understanding how this gas will be distributed inside the room will allow to predict the spatial and temporal variations of radon levels and identify these parameters will provide important information that researchers can be used for calculate radiation dose exposure. Consequently, this studies can prevent a health risk for the people that live or work within the room. Currently, several researchers use the technique called Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to simulate the distribution of gas radon, making use of the various commercial programs that exist in the market. In this work, three simulations were developed in rooms that have a similar geometry but different dimensions, in order to observe how the gas is distributed inside a closed space and to analyze how this distribution varies when the volume of the place is increased. The results show that as the volume of the site increases the radon is mitigated more rapidly and therefore has lower levels of concentration of this gas, as long as the level of radon emanation is kept constant
Study of the Erosion of Copper by Hot Plasma
An exhaustive study of the erosion process of a copper cathode exposed to a hot plasma column of 2kJ of energy (T≈0.5-2.0keV) and high electron density (n≈1019-1022cm3) was made, as well as, the radiation field of charged and neutral particles. The characterization of the cumulative damage generated by the plasma/cathode interaction was made by the use of metallographic techniques, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by the analysis of mechanical properties. Damage accumulation produced by the impacts of deuterium plasma discharge created in the copper electrode a deep cavity similar to a crater, modifying the morphology of the surface and below it. The microhardness Vickers test was carried out making indentations from the final part of the cavity to cover 1 cm with indentations every 200 μm. Different areas of hardening were observed, the profile suggests a hardening/recovery front and simultaneous recrystallization in the sample, phenomenon associated with the heating/cooling cycles to which the copper cathode is subjected. Images were captured by SEM at different distances from the center of the surface. The region that showed involvement at the macro level corresponds to 2/3 of the radius of the sample from the center to the outside. These phenomena studied are important to understand the nature of the plasma/wall interaction in any fusion device
Graft-Copolymerization of Acrylate Monomers onto Chitosan Induced by Gamma Radiation: Amphiphilic Polymers and Their Behavior at The Air-Water Interface
Graft polymerization induced by ionizing radiation is a powerful tool in materials science to modifying the physical properties of polymers. Chitosan is a biocompatible, biodegradable, antibacterial, and highly hydrophilic polysaccharide. In this work, we report the obtaining of amphiphilic polymers through graft polymerization of acrylic monomers (methyl acrylate, t-butyl acrylate, and hexyl acrylate) onto chitosan. The polymerization reaction was carried out by simultaneous irradiation of monomers and chitosan using a gamma radiation source of 60Co. The formation of Langmuir films of amphiphilic polymers was studied at the air-water interface through surface pressure versus main molecular area isotherms (Π-A) and hysteresis cycles of compression and decompression. Finally, it was analyzed the transferring of Langmuir films towards solid substrates to obtaining Langmuir-Blodgett films with potential application as an antibacterial coating. The microstructure of the Langmuir-Blodgett films was characterized by AFM microscopy observing a regular topography with roughness ranging between 0.53 and 0.6 μm
A GEANT4 Study of a Gamma-ray Collimation Array
Proton beam therapy uses high-energy protons to destroy cancer cells which are still uncertain about where in the body they hit. A possible way to answer this question is to detect the gamma rays produced during the irradiation and determine where in the body they are produced. This work investigates the use of collimators to determine where the proton interactions occur. GEANT4 is used to simulate the gamma production of a source interacting with a collimator. Each event simulates a number of gammas obtained as a function of the position along the detector. Repeating for different collimator configurations can thus help determine the best characteristics of a detector device
Various Experimental factors behind the Missing Elements in PIXE Spectrum of Charnockite Matrix
In the chemical characterization of charnokite is well investigated by using PIXE and other analytical techniques, but PIXE not given information about some of elements completely, because every technique including PIXE has proper limitations. To obtain the complete geochemical explanation of matrix charnockite composition, the experimental factors behind missing elements in PIXE at 3 MeV techniques with comparison must known and hence are used for the analysis of matrix compositions related to the earth materials like charnockite. In this study, the results obtained from PIXE compared with other analytical techniques and experimental factors of PIXE are discussed. By investigating the geochemical nature of complex charnockite material, the experimental factors which are related to the missing elements in this study of wide range of elements obtained from PIXE spectrum through the previous analytical techniques have been discussed