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77 records · Page 5

Ionizing Organic Compound Based Nanocomposites for Efficient Gamma-Ray Sensor

Thin film and nanocrystalline materials of oxides have been very attractive choice as low cost option for gamma-ray detection and have shown great promise. Our studies on pure oxide films indicated that thickness and microstructure have pronounced effect on sensitivity. Since the interaction of gamma-ray with composites involves all three interaction processes; photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, and pair production, composites containing ionic organics have better chance for enhancing sensitivity. In the composites of ionizing organics oxidation effect of unusual oxides changes much faster and hence increases the sensitivity of radiation. In this study, we have used nickel oxide and titanium oxide in ionic organics to develop composite materials for low energy gamma-ray sensing. We prepared composites containing ethylene carbonate and evaluated the effect of commercial Cs-137 radiation source by studying current-voltage relationship at several frequencies. Radiated samples showed higher resistivity compared to as prepared composites.

Singh, N. B.↗

Organic Matter in Itokawa Particles

The first Hayabusa mission returned samples from the near-Earth S-type asteroid 25143 Itokawa to Earth in 2010[1]. Although Itokawa has a lithology related to ordinary chondrites(OCs) that typically have low organic contents, several Itokawa particles were found to contain organic matter (OM)[2-5]. However, there was not an explicit conclusion to the origin of the observed OMin these early studies. We have extended our search for OM into other Itokawa grains. Here, we report extraterrestrial OM (macromolecular carbon and amino acids) observed in six Itokawa particles(including a category1 particle: RA-QD02-0162[#62; also nicknamed “Amazon”],and five category3 carbon-rich particles:RA-QD02-0012[#12], RA-QD02-0078[#78], RB-CV-0029[#29], RB-CV-0080 [#80] and RB-QD04-0052[#52]).All allocated Itokawa samples were initially analysed by spot and point-by-point mapping Raman spectroscopic analysis at the Open University, UK. Amazon was then transferred and mounted into indium on an aluminium stub, which was studied with a NanoSIMS 50L ion microprobe for its H,C,N isotopic compositions. The rest of the samples were mounted in sterile gold foils, and the amino acid contents of their acid hydrolysed hot water extracts were obtained with a liquid chromatography with tandem fluorescence and accurate mass detection at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA. Based on the observation of the Raman parameters(e.g. the peak locations and widths of the defect (D) and graphite (G) bands)[6], a significant variety of carbonaceous materials has been observed in Amazon. The carbonaceous materials include primitive and unaltered OM that shares similarity with the IOM in primitive (CI,CM,CR) carbonaceous chondrites, as well as OM that has been heavily graphitised. The organic structure of the heated material is best represented by nanocrystalline graphite, comparable to that observed for metamorphosed meteorites (e.g., L3–6 Inman, Tieschitz and New Concord,CV3 Allende, and EH4 Indarch),suggesting peak metamorphic temperatures (PMT) of >~600°C. The thermal history recorded in the graphitic OM agrees with PMT estimates for returned Itokawa regolith grains (600–800°C)[7].We have obtained the H,C,N isotopic compositions for the primitive OM in Amazon, which exhibits unambiguously extraterrestrial isotopic signatures (δD = +4868±2288‰; δ13C = −24±5‰; δ15N = +344±20‰), contrasting to the typically negative isotopic values obtained for terrestrial organic matter[8]. The δD and δ13C values of the organic material in Amazon are comparable to OCs, however, the δ15N value is higher than that typically observed for OCs (δ15N = −47 to +36‰), and is similar to that of CRs (δ15N = +153 to +309‰)[9].Our data suggest a genetic link between the primitive organic material observed in Itokawa to CRs and IDPs for they share similar D, 13C and 15N enrichments[10].The high carbon contents of the five category 3 Itokawa particles suggest potentially higher OM abundances, hence we extracted and analysed amino acids in these samples. Although terrestrial contamination was observed primarily as L-protein amino acids, several terrestrially uncommon non-protein amino acids were also observed at low abundances, such as β-aminoisobutyric acid (β-AIB),β-amino-n-butyric acid (β-ABA), and β-alanine. Itokawa amino acid content observed here was dissimilar to thermally altered OCs, but preliminarily analogous to more aqueously altered CR2s.Continued evolution of Itokawa is evident by the in fall of primitive organic material derived from CRs/IDPs, accounting for a complex interplay between the remnant Itokawa silicates with exogenous organics. The results reported here are the first evidence of extraterrestrial OM in asteroid material from a sample-return mission, showcasing a working protocol for analysing samples returned by the Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx missions

Q. H. S. Chan↗

Unraveling Solar Wind Space Weathering of Carbon-Rich Asterods: Low-Flux VS. High-Flux Ion Irradiation of Murchison

Introduction: Space weathering processesalter the microstructural, compositional, and optical properties of airless planetary surfaces.Solar wind space weatheringforms ion-damaged rims within the outermost ~100 nm of regolith grains through atomic-displacements and implantation of energetic H+and He+ions[1]. Transmission electron microscope(TEM)studies of space weathered Itokawa and lunar olivine particles reveal predominantly nanocrystalline solar wind-damaged rims with only minor regions of amorphization[2-5]. This finding differs from laboratoryion irradiation experiments in which samples become amorphous at fluences 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than the independentlyconstrained fluences for still-crystalline natural samples [6-7].Ion flux is generally considered to have a secondaryeffectcompared to fluence in these irradiation experiments. However, solar wind irradiation of natural samples occurs at a flux that is ~4-5 orders of magnitude lower than whatisused inlaboratory simulations (e.g., [6,8-9]). Constraining how the very low ion flux of solar wind influences the microstructural, chemical, and spectral alteration of silicate minerals will improve our understanding of solar wind space weathering and aid in the analysis of returned samples from the Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx missions. Here we report results from low-and high-flux ion irradiation experiments on the Murchison (CM2)meteoritewithcomparable total fluences. Methods: We performed low-flux and high-flux He+(4 keV) and H+(1 keV) irradiation experiments on separate, dry-cut Murchison slabs. Low-flux He+irradiation reached a total fluence of 2.1 x 1016ions/cm2(~400 years of exposure at Bennu) using a flux of 3.6 x 1011ions/cm2/s; low-flux H+irradiation reached a total fluence of 3.9 x 1016ions/cm2(~30 years) using a flux of 6.6 x 1011ions/cm2/s. High-flux He+irradiation reached a total fluence of 2.0 x 1016ions/cm2(~400 years)using a flux of 9.1 x 1012ions/cm2/s; high-flux H+irradiation reached a total fluence of 5.8 x 1016ions/cm2(~50 years)using flux of 8.4 x 1012ions/cm2/s. By irradiating to similar total fluences in both the low-flux and high-flux experiments, we can better isolate and evaluatethe effects of ion flux. Differences between unirradiatedand irradiated surfaces are determined using threeanalytical techniques:(1) in situX-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) reveals changes in surface chemistry,(2) visible to near-infrared spectroscopy (VNIR; 0.35-2.5 μm) highlights changes in spectraltrends, such as albedo and slope, and (3) TEM and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) identifieschanges in nanoscale structure and elemental composition within olivine and matrix electron-transparent thin sections prepared using focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM). Results and Discussion: XPS analyses of the low-fluxand high-fluxHe+-and H+-irradiated samples showa minorreduction in surface carbon contentand chemicalreduction ofFe3+to Fe2+. The latter result is consistent with the higher Fe2+/Fe3+ratios observed in phyllosilicate-rich space weathered rims of Ryugu grains [10].VNIR analyses suggest that the low-flux H+-irradiated spectrum has a slightly bluer slope (over 0.65-2.5 μm) compared to the unirradiated VNIR spectrum from [9] while the low-flux He+-irradiated spectral slope is comparable to the unirradiated surface. Both the high-flux He+-and H+-irradiated VNIR spectra exhibitslightlyhigheralbedos at shorter wavelengths relativeto their unirradiated counterparts, with He+irradiation yielding a greater change. Thus far, the low-flux He+-irradiated matrix and olivine FIBsections as well as the low-flux H+-irradiated olivine FIBsection have been examined with TEM. The surfaces of all three samplesshowless vesiculation than high-flux/high-fluenceirradiated matrix and olivine samples from [9]. The depth of phyllosilicate amorphization in thelow-fluxHe+-irradiated matrix FIBsection varieslaterally, with crystalline domains occurring as shallow as ~25 nm in some regions. Thelow-flux He+-irradiated olivine FIBsection has acontinuous,~40-90 nm thick ion-affected layer with polycrystalline and amorphous microstructures. The low-flux H+-irradiated olivine sampleexhibits a distinct, ~10-40 nm ion-affected layer whose uppermost ~20 nmin thicker regions is predominantly amorphous.Continuing to compare results from this work to those from [9] will provide a comprehensive understanding of how ion flux impacts the microstructural, chemical, and optical modification of various mineral phases and, in turn,help identify space weathering features from parent body alteration in Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx returned samples.

D L Laczniak↗

SURFACE EXOSURE TIMESCALES OF APOLLO CORE SAMPLE 73002 SPACE WEATHERED GRAINS

Introduction: Space weathering causes the surface regolith on airless bodies like the Moon to be morphologically, microstructurally, and chemically altered due to micrometeoroid bombardment and solar wind irradiation[1]. These processes produce a multitude of microstructural and chemical changes in individual soil grains that accumulate as grains are exposed on the surface over time. One microstructural feature produced by exposure to the solar wind is the development of ion-damaged rims on regolith grains via H+ and He+ ion irradiation. Also present are solar energetic particle (SEP) tracks, which are nanoscale lineations of ionization damage within grain interiors formed by high energy solar flare ions(primarily Fe group nuclei) which penetrate millimeters below the surface [2]. Recent work has confirmed that the thickness of solar wind-damaged amorphous rims on anorthite grains, nanocrystalline rims on olivine grains, and their respective SEP track densities are correlated with their surface exposure ages [3].Core sample 73002, recently released under the Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis (ANGSA) Program, has provided an opportunity to study material collected from the light mantle formation during Apollo 17. The light mantle is thought to have been deposited via a landslide originating from the neighboring South Massif [4]. Spectral profiles and ferromagnetic resonance measurements of bulk soils sampled at cm-intervals from 73002 indicate the existence of mature regolith extending ~8 cm below the surface, suggesting the presence of an in-situ reworking zone in the core[5,6].Here we present the distribution of SEP track densities, solar wind damaged rim widths, and the corresponding surface exposure ages of grains residing in the proposed in-situ reworking zone of core 73002. Methods: Bulk samples of regolith from the first eight intervals and every following fourth interval down the core (dissection Pass 2) were delivered to Purdue University as <45 μm size fractions. The first eight0.5 cm intervals, representing the top 4cmof regolith, were individually dry sieved to a<20 μm size fraction, and grains were prepared by ultramicrotomy for analysis in the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). Bright field (BF) and dark field (DF) STEM images of solar flare tracks and solar wind damaged rims were acquired on a JEOL 2500SE TEM, equipped with a 60 mm2ultra-thin window silicon drift energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometer at NASA John-son Space Center. Grain compositions were determined by EDX compositional spectrum imaging. SEP track densities and amorphous rim thicknesses were measured on BF and DF images. Results: The fraction of grains with discernable space weathering features decreased with depth, with 100% in the first interval exhibiting space weathering features as opposed to ~60% in Interval 8.BF and DF STEM images show splash-melt and vapor deposited rims on outermost grain margins with embedded Fe-bearing nanoparticles ranging in size up to ~10 nm in diameter. Images also show solar-wind damaged rims below the vapor deposits, and SEP tracks present in grain interiors. The rim thicknesses and SEP track densities were determined using the methods of [3] for 54grains spanning the top 4 cm. ~80% of the grains analyzed were anorthite and ~20% were olivine. The track production rate from[3] was used to estimate the surface exposure times of the grains in this study. The majority of exposure times are in the 1 -5 MY range for all intervals. The lowest value was 3.8x 10¬5years in Interval 8and the highest value was1.1x 107years in Interval 6. Grains with the highest solar wind damage rim thicknesses and SEP track densities are found in Interval 6.The highest rim thickness and track density observed for anorthiteis126.5 nm and4.7 x 1011tracks/cm2, while for olivine they are 98.6 nm and 1.83 x 1011tracks/cm2, respectively. Discussion: Intervals from the top 4 cm of 73002 show similar SEP track density and solar wind damaged rim thickness distributions. Spectral and ferromagnetic resonance measurements of 73002 indicate an in-situ reworking zone up to~8 cm below the surface[5,6].The depth analyzed in this work is within the core’s uppermost in-situ reworking zone and may serve as an explanation to the homogenous distribution of exposure ages. The decreasing abundance of space weathered features with depth is consistent with regolith mixing models showing an exponential decay in regolith maturity with depth over time[7].A maximum surface exposure age determined via SEP track density is approximately 10million years. This timescale is consistent with the lower estimate of surface exposure ages of the light mantle determined in previous studies, which can range from 10s to over 100 Ma [4].It also falls within the core regolith reworking development timescale of ~17 Ma [5,6]. Additional analysis will be performed for a further seven intervals in 73002.

J A McFadden↗

Calculation of Transformer Leakage Inductance by Simplified Flux Path Geometries

Series inductance is a critical energy storage element in isolated power converters. Many have explored methods of estimating the total leakage inductance of transformers as an integrated series inductance without external inductors. However, this poses challenges with medium frequency converters and magnetic ribbon-based cores, e.g., metal amorphous nanocrystalline. The material’s relatively high conductivity allows eddy currents to develop when magnetic flux intersects wide surfaces. These eddy currents result in significant additional losses that increase with increasing power flow. This paper presents a simplified and accurate method of estimating leakage flux while identifying separate leakage flux paths that correlate with the magnetic material surfaces. This enables an understanding the proportion of leakage flux that will contribute to extra losses. The methods presented are applicable to both leakage and fringing (around heterogeneous material interfaces) fluxes. This paper includes detailed FEA studies and 3D flux vector measurements matching the presented analytical models.

transformer↗