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At least 91 records · Page 5

Channel electron multipliers - Detection efficiencies with opaque MgF2 photocathodes at XUV wavelengths

Detection efficiencies of channel electron multipliers (CEM) with opaque MgF2 photocathodes obtained in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV), 44 A to 990 A, are reported. A stable highly efficient response is reported for that interval, with no adverse effects on CEM performance. Efficiencies twice those of uncoated CEMs are obtained for 50 A to 350 A. The Mullard B419BL and Galileo 4510WL single-stage cone-cathode CEMs were used in the experiments. A rare-gas double ionization chamber was employed as absolute standard detector for 406 A to 990 A, and a flow Geiger counter filled with 96% argon and 4% isobutane for 44 A to 256 A. Absolute detection efficiencies are 10% higher from 67 A to 990 A when photocathodes are illuminated at an angle of incidence 45 deg. The photocathodes suffered no loss of response in storage (in vacuum or air) after an initial aging period. Effects of scattered UV radiation are greatly reduced when MgF2-coated CEMs are used in the XUV.

Lapson, L. B.↗

Radiation measuring instrumentation

Four radiation measuring instruments were developed. These are: (1) improved detector probe, (2) neutron spectrometer--dosimeter, (3) portable ultraviolet spectro-radiometer; and (4) pocket ionization chamber radiation dosimeter. A brief description of each of these devices is presented.

Piltingsrud, H. V.↗

Structure and dynamics of a solar flare - X-ray and XUV observations

Results are presented for an analysis of X-ray and XUV emission from the solar flare that occurred on September 5, 1973. X-ray emission was monitored by ionization chambers aboard the Solrad 9 satellite, and the XUV emission in the wavelength range 170-345 A was recorded by a slitless objective-grating spectroheliograph on Skylab. The physical parameters of the flare plasma, including temperature, density, volume, and magnetic-field configuration, are evaluated. A geometrical loop model is used to determine the volumes of the various emitting regions. The structure of the flare in the rise and decay phases is examined in detail, and conclusions about the effect of various dynamic processes in the flare plasma are made. A major finding is that continued energy release is required well into the flare decay phase. In the rise phase, energy is apparently released only along a small portion of a loop, and in the decay phase apparently throughout most of its length.

Dere, K. P.↗

The impact of gas-surface reactions on mass spectrometric measurements of atomic nitrogen

The paper presents a simplified model of the ion source chemistry, explains several details of the data reduction method used in obtaining atomic-nitrogen (N) densities from OSS data, and discusses implications of gas-surface reactions for the design of future satellite-borne mass spectrometers. Because of various surface reactions, N appears in three different forms in the ion source, as N, NO, and NO2. Considering the rather small spin modulation of NO and NO2 in the semi-open ionization chamber used in the OSS instrument, it is not surprising that these reaction products have not been previously identified in closed source instruments as a measure of the presence of atomic nitrogen. Warmup and/or outgassing of the ion source are shown to drastically reduce the NO2 concentration, thereby making possible reliable measurement of ambient N densities.

Engebretson, M. J.↗

Photoabsorption cross sections of CH3F, CHF3, CH3Cl, and CF2Cl2 from 175 to 760 A

The study of fluorinated and chlorinated hydrocarbons is of great interest because of their suspected effect on the ozone layer in the atmosphere. Using synchrotron radiation as a continuum background, the present study measures photoelectrically the photoabsorption cross sections of CH3F, CHF3, CH3Cl, and CF2Cl2 in the 175-760 A (70.8-16.3 eV) region, using a double ionization chamber. The absolute absorption cross sections and a tentative interpretation of the observed discrete structures are presented.

Wu, C. Y. R.↗

Study of sulfur-containing molecules in the EUV region. I - Photoabsorption cross section of SO2

Using synchrotron radiation as a continuum background, the absorption cross sections of SO2 have been measured using a double ionization chamber. The cross sections range from 10 to a maximum value of 56 Mb in the 175-760 A region. A possible window resonance series was observed and tentatively assigned to a Ryberg series converging to the (6a sub 1) to the -1st ion state. From the fluorescence excitation function the vibrational progressions of the SO2(+) ion states have been measured and found in good agreement with those observed from photoelectron spectroscopy. The same correspondence between peaks in the fragment fluorescence excitation function and the photoelectron spectrum suggests that these ion states of SO2 are dissociative in nature.

Wu, C. Y. R.↗

The UH-nuclei cosmic ray detector on the third High Energy Astronomy Observatory

The third High Energy Astronomy Observatory satellite (HEAO-3) carries a particle telescope for the detection of highly charged cosmic ray nuclei. These nuclei, which have Z equal to or greater than 28, are much rarer than the lower charged nuclei in the cosmic radiation. As a consequence, this particle telescope was required to have a large collecting area as well as an ability to resolve individual elements. This paper describes the telescope, composed of large area parallel plate ionization chambers, multiwire ion chamber hodoscopes and a Cherenkov radiation detector. The resulting telescope has a total geometry factor of 59,000 sq cm sr and is capable of measuring the charges of nuclei in the range Z = 14-120.

Binns, W. R.↗

Study of sulfur-containing molecules in the EUV region. III Photoexcitation of CS2

Using synchrotron radiation as a continuum background, the absorption cross section of CS2 has been measured using a double ionization chamber. The cross sections range from four to a maximum value of 65 Mb in the 175-760 A region. Two new Rydberg series X and XI have been identified and apparently converge to the D2Pi state of CS2(+) at 16.943 eV.

Wu, C. Y. R.↗

Development of cosmic ray techniques

It is pointed out that most advances of cosmic-ray physics have been directly related to the development of observational techniques. A review is presented of the history of the evolution of the techniques and equipment for the study of cosmic-ray physics, taking into account the new scientific advances accompanying each new development related to experimental technology. All of the early observations were performed by means of ionization chambers. These chambers had already been in use for a number of years, when they were first applied to the study of cosmic rays in the early years of this century. However, an application to the low-intensity cosmic radiation required special refinements. Attention is given to the design of suitable electrometers, the development of self-recording instruments, the 'tube counter', the development of the coincidence method, a cosmic-ray 'telescope', a magnetic lens for cosmic rays, an arrangement of Geiger-Mueller counters for the demonstration of secondary radiation, cloud chambers, scintillation counters, and air shower experiments.

Rossi, B.↗

Contributions to the 19th International Cosmic Ray Conference

Studies of heavy nuclei in cosmic radiation were studied in an attempt to determine source abundances for various elements. Much of the data analyzed was supplied by the High Energy Astronomy Observatory 3 (HEAO 3) and employed the use of ionization chambers and Cherenrov counters.

Source record↗

Sidereal anisotropy of cosmic rays

The data of the ionization chamber in Yakutsk for 1954 to 1984 are analyzed. A false sidereal variation caused by the second spherical harmonic in cosmic ray distribution was found and it has the amplitude 0.020 plus or minus 0.002%. The sidereal anisotropy with a very small amplitude (not more than 0.005%) was observed to exist.

Kuzmin, A. I.↗

The influences of the galactic cosmic ray on the atmospheric ozone

The relationship between the yearly variations of cosmic ray intensity and ozone in the atmosphere, and the ozone disturbance initiated by the Forbush decrease of 1965-1976 is analyzed. The data on cosmic ray intensity were selected from the records of the super neutron monitor at Deep River station and the ionization chamber at Beijing station. Ozone data were taken from Resolute (Canada), Bismark (N. Dakota, USA), Kagoshima (Japan), and Kodaikanal (India). The statistical results show that ozone is prominently modulated and disturbed by the 11 year variation and the Forbush decrease in the galactic cosmic ray.

Ye, Z.↗

Tandem-Mirror Ion Source

Improved ion source produces beam of ions at any kinetic energy from 1 to 1,000 eV, with little spread in energy or angle. Such ion beams useful in studies of surface properties of materials, surface etching, deposition, and development of plasma-diagnostic instrumentation. Tandemmirror ion source uses electrostatic and magnetic fields to keep electrons in ionization chamber and assure uniform output ion beam having low divergence in energy and angle.

Biddle, A.↗

Radionuclide measurements by accelerator mass spectrometry at Arizona

Over the past years, Tandem Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (TAMS) has become established as an important method for radionuclide analysis. In the Arizona system the accelerator is operated at a thermal voltage of 1.8MV for C-14 analysis, and 1.6 to 2MV for Be-10. Samples are inserted into a cesium sputter ion source in solid form. Negative ions sputtered from the target are accelerated to about 25kV, and the injection magnet selects ions of a particular mass. Ions of the 3+ charge state, having an energy of about 9MeV are selected by an electrostatic deflector, surviving ions pass through two magnets, where only ions of the desired mass-energy product are selected. The final detector is a combination ionization chamber to measure energy loss (and hence, Z), and a silicon surface-barrier detector which measures residual energy. After counting the trace iosotope for a fixed time, the injected ions are switched to the major isotope used for normalization. These ions are deflected into a Faraday cup after the first high-energy magnet. Repeated measurements of the isotope ratio of both sample and standards results in a measurement of the concentration of the radionuclide. Recent improvements in sample preparation for C-14 make preparation of high-beam current graphite targets directly from CO2 feasible. Except for some measurements of standards and backgrounds for Be-10 measurements to date have been on C-14. Although most results have been in archaeology and quaternary geology, studies have been expanded to include cosmogenic C-14 in meteorites. The data obtained so far tend to confirm the antiquity of Antarctic meteorites from the Allan Hills site. Data on three samples of Yamato meteorites gave terrestrial ages of between about 3 and 22 thousand years.

Jull, A. J. T.↗

Total absorption and photoionization cross sections of water vapor between 100 and 1000 A

Absolute photoabsorption and photoionization cross sections of water vapor are reported at a large number of discrete wavelengths between 100 and 1000 A with an estimate error of + or - 3 percent in regions free from any discrete structure. The double ionization chamber technique utilized is described. Recent calculations are shown to be in reasonable agreement with the present data.

Haddad, G. N.↗

Absolute solar flux measurement shortward of 575 A

A rare-gas ionization chamber was used to obtain an accurate measurement of the absolute solar EUV flux in the 50- to 575-A region. The instrument, operating in total and near-total absorption, was flown on a solar-pointing sounding rocket on August 16, 1983. For the day of the flight, the solar activity indices were F sub 10.7 = 132.1 and R sub I = 80, and the integrated solar irradiance at the earth, corrected for atmospheric absorption, was found to be 4.31 + or - 0.31 x 10 to the 10th photons sq cm s. Almost exactly a year earlier (August 10, 1982) the same instrument measured an integrated solar flux of 5.71 + or - 0.42 x 10 to the 10th photons/sq cm s during a time of enhanced solar activity (F sub 10.7 = 209.5 and R sub I = 155).

Ogawa, H. S.↗

XUV radiometric standards at NBS

The far-UV and XUV detector calibration services at NBS, the properties of the detectors, and the spectrometer calibration facilities at the Synchrotron Ultraviolet Radiation Facility (SURF II) at NBS are described. The method used to calibrate the quantum efficiency of windowless photodiode detectors in the ionization chamber, and the facilities for calibrating photodiodes at various wavelengths are discussed. The cathode and anode of the windowless photodiodes and their operation are examined. Consideration is given to the calculation of spectral irradiance from SURF II; the two stations of the spectrometer facility; the large spectrometer calibration chamber; and sources of error in flux determinations for SURF II.

Ott, W. R.↗