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At least 1,063 records · Page 59

Asymptotic Normalization Coefficients (Nuclear Vertex Constants), Three-Body Asymptotic Normalization Functions (On-Shell Vertex Functions) and Nuclear Astrophysics

In the present review work, the main methods of the determination of asymptotic normalization coefficients (or respective nuclear vertex constants) for the A + x → B channel and of threebody asymptotic normalization functions (or respective on-shell vertex functions) for the A + b + c → B channel are briefly discussed. The main attention is paid both to the use of the specific asymptotic normalization coefficients and three-body asymptotic normalization functions as a source of getting the valuable information about the pair (nucleon–nucleon, nucleon–cluster and cluster–cluster) nuclear interactions and to their application for the specific direct nuclear-astrophysical radiative capture and peripheral transfer reactions at low energies.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Off-shell amplitudes and Grassmannians

The Grassmannian representation for gauge-invariant amplitudes for arbitrary number of legs with one of them being off-shell is derived for the case of N = 4 SYM. The obtained formula are successfully checked against known BCFW results for MHV{sub n}, NMHV{sub 4} and NMHV{sub 5} amplitudes.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Mössbauer Studies of Core-Shell FeO/Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} Nanoparticles

FeO/Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles were synthesized by thermal decomposition. Electron microscopy revealed that these nanoparticles were of the core-shell type and had a spherical shape with an average size of ~20 nm. It was found that the obtained FeO/Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles had exchange coupling. The effect of anisotropy on the efficiency of heating (hyperthermic effect) of FeO/Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles by an external alternating magnetic field was examined. The specific absorption rate (SAR) of the studied nanoparticles was 135 W/g in the experiment with an external alternating magnetic field with a strength of 600 Oe and a frequency of 310 kHz. These data led to an important insight: the saturation magnetization is not the only factor governing the SAR, and the efficiency of heating of magnetic FeO/Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles may be increased by enhancing the effective anisotropy. Mössbauer spectroscopy of the phase composition of the synthesized nanoparticles clearly revealed the simultaneous presence of three phases: magnetite Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}, maghemite γ-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}, and wustite FeO.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Measurements of the L-shell X-ray emission of fluorine-like europium

Measurements of the L-shell X-ray emission of fluorine-like europium ions (Eu 54+ ) were made under controlled laboratory conditions on the EBIT-I electron beam ion trap at Livermore using an X-ray calorimeter, extending such measurements to the middle of the rare earth elements. Comparing the calorimeter spectra with atomic data from the flexible atomic code, we have identified and analyzed several prominent n = 3 → n = 2 transitions, including one two-electron, one-photon core changing transition and one electric quadrupole transition. We find that the measured energies are typically up to several eV higher than predicted.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

No-core shell model calculations of the photonuclear cross section of 10B

Results of ab initio no-core, shell model calculations for the photonuclear cross section of 10B are presented using realistic two-nucleon (NN) chiral forces up to next-to-next-to-next-order (N3LO) softened by the similarity renormalization group method (SRG) with λ=2.02 fm -1 . The electric-dipole response function is calculated using the Lanczos method, with the effects of the continuum included via neutron escape widths derived from R-matrix theory and using the Lorentz integral transform method. The calculated cross section agrees well with experimental data in terms of structure as well as in absolute peak height, σ max =4.85 mb at photon energy ω=23.61 MeV, and integrated cross section 85.36 MeV. mb. We also test the Brink hypothesis by calculating the electric-dipole response for the first nine positive-parity states with J≠0 in 10 B and verify that dipole excitations built upon the ground and excited states have similar characteristics.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Leveraging on-shell interference to search for FCNCs of the top quark and the Z boson

Abstract Flavour-changing-neutral currents (FCNCs) involving the top quark are highly suppressed within the Standard Model (SM). Hence, any signal in current or planned future collider experiments would constitute a clear manifestation of physics beyond the SM. We propose a novel, interference-based strategy to search for top-quark FCNCs involving the Z boson that has the potential to complement traditional search strategies due to a more favourable luminosity scaling. The strategy leverages on-shell interference between the FCNC and SM decay of the top quark into hadronic final states. We estimate the feasibility of the most promising case of anomalous tZc couplings using Monte Carlo simulations and a simplified detector simulation. We consider the main background processes and discriminate the signal from the background with a deep neural network that is parametrised in the value of the anomalous tZc coupling. We present sensitivity projections for the HL-LHC and the FCC-hh. We find an expected 95% CL upper limit of $${\mathcal {B}}_{\textrm{excl}}(t\rightarrow Zc) = 6.4 \times 10^{-5}$$ B excl ( t → Z c ) = 6.4 × 10 - 5 for the HL-LHC. In general, we conclude that the interference-based approach has the potential to provide both competitive and complementary constraints to traditional multi-lepton searches and other strategies that have been proposed to search for tZc FCNCs.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

SD-pair shell model: Vibrational and rotational limits in the interacting boson–fermion model for like-nucleon system

Typical features of the Bose–Fermi symmetries associated with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] limits in the interacting boson model are described in the SD-pair shell model (SDPSM) framework for like-nucleon system. It is found that the limiting spectra associated with [Formula: see text] (vibrational) and [Formula: see text] (rotational) in the interacting boson–fermion model can be well reproduced in the SDPSM framework. It is shown that coupling of collective degree of freedom with the single-particle degree of freedom in the pairing interaction almost has no effect on the spectrum of odd-A system comparing to the adjacent even–even system, while the coupling of the collective degree of freedom with the single-particle degree of freedom in the quadrupole–quadrupole interaction results in the level splitting of several excited levels.

Physics↗

Reduction Reaction Activity on Pt-Monolayer-Shell PdIr/Ni-core Catalysts

Platinum monolayer oxygen reduction reaction catalysts present promising way of reducing the Pt content without scarifying its fuel cell performance. We present a facile way of preparing Pt monolayer shell PdIr-based core catalysts, which showed much higher activity for oxygen reduction reaction than that of TKK 46.6% Pt/C catalyst. Among tested samples, PtMLPd2Ir/Ni/C performs the best with Pt and Platinum Group Metal mass activity around 9 and 0.25 times higher of that of TKK 46.6% Pt/C. In addition, accelerated aging test indicates its excellent durability.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity on Pt-Monolayer-Shell PdIr/Ni-Core Catalysts

Platinum monolayer oxygen reduction reaction catalysts offer the most promising possibility of reducing the Pt content without sacrificing its fuel cell performance. Here, we present a facile way of preparing Pt monolayer shell on PdIr-based core catalysts with and without Ni sub-core. They showed much higher activity for oxygen reduction reaction than commercial Pt/C catalyst. Among tested samples, PtMLPd2Ir/Ni/C performs the best having Pt mass activity 14 times and Platinum Group Metal mass activity 0.8 times higher than that of Pt/C. In addition, accelerated durability test indicates its excellent durability, which was demonstrated by a 7.5% decrease in Platinum Group Metal mass activity compared to 64% for the commercial Pt/C catalyst. As a result, the role of Ni sub-core in oxygen reduction reaction activity and durability of PtML on PdIr-based catalysts was also elucidated.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Shell Model Studies of Competing Mechanisms to the Neutrinoless Double-Beta Decay in 124 Sn, 130 Te, and 136 Xe

Neutrinoless double-beta decay is a predicted beyond Standard Model process that could clarify some of the not yet known neutrino properties, such as the mass scale, the mass hierarchy, and its nature as a Dirac or Majorana fermion. Should this transition be observed, there are still challenges in understanding the underlying contributing mechanisms. We perform a detailed shell model investigation of several beyond Standard Model mechanisms that consider the existence of right-handed currents. Our analysis presents different venues that can be used to identify the dominant mechanisms for nuclei of experimental interest in the mass A ~ 130 region ( 124 Sn, 130 Te, and 136 Xe). In conclusion, it requires accurate knowledge of nine nuclear matrix elements that we calculate in addition to the associated energy-dependent phase space factors.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Plasma measurements of the Fe XVII L-shell emission and blending with F VIII and F IX

We measured the L-shell emission spectrum of Fe XVII in a low-density, low-gradient magnetically confined laboratory plasma that contains predominantly C, O, Fe, and Ni as trace elements and find excellent agreement with the relative spectral emission obtained in solar and astrophysical observations. However, we obtained spectra that appear to have an usually large 1s^22s^22p^5_{1/2}3d_{3/2} --> 1s^22s^22p^6 Fe XVII resonance transition, commonly labeled 3C, from hot plasmas that also contain F. The wavelength of the Ly-alpha feature of F IX is coincident with the wavelength of the Fe XVII line 3C within one part in 538, and its flux, therefore, enhances the Fe XVII resonance line. Moreover, the resonance and forbidden lines of F VIII are close to the 3s --> 2p transitions in Fe XVII, and may further alter the inferred apparent Fe XVII line ratios, particularly in spectrometers with moderate spectral resolution. The enhanced emission of line 3C, thus, can serve as a new spectral diagnostic for the detection of fluorine in astrophysical plasmas.

Atomic processes↗

In-situ biogas upgrading during anaerobic digestion of food waste amended with walnut shell biochar at bench scale

Here, a modified version of an in-situ CO 2 removal process was applied during AD of food waste with two types of walnut shell biochar (WSB) at bench-scale under batch operating mode. Compared to the coarse WSB, the fine WSB has a higher ash content (43 vs. 36 wt%) and higher concentrations of calcium (31 vs. 19 wt% of ash), magnesium (8.4 vs. 5.6 wt% of ash) and sodium (23.4 vs. 0.3 wt% of ash), but a lower potassium concentration (0.2 vs. 40% wt% of ash). The 0.96 - 3.83 g biochar (g VS added ) -1 fine WSB amended digesters produced biogas with 77.5-98.1% CH 4 content by removing 40-96% of the CO 2 compared to the control digesters at mesophilic and thermophilic temperature conditions. In a direct comparison at 1.83 g biochar (g VS added ) -1 , the fine WSB amended digesters (85.7% CH 4 content and 61% CO 2 removal) outperformed the coarse WSB amended digesters (78.9% CH 4 content and 51% CO 2 removal). Biochar addition also increased alkalinity as CaCO3 from 2,800 mg L -1 in the control digesters to 4,800-6,800 mg L -1 providing process stability for food waste AD.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Gram scale synthesis of Fe/Fe x O y core–shell nanoparticles and their incorporation into matrix-free superparamagnetic nanocomposites

In this paper, significant reductions recently seen in the size of wide-bandgap power electronics have not been accompanied by a relative decrease in the size of the corresponding magnetic components. To achieve this, a new generation of materials with high magnetic saturation and permeability are needed. Here, we develop gram-scale syntheses of superparamagnetic Fe/Fe x O y core–shell nanoparticles and incorporate them as the magnetic component in a strongly magnetic nanocomposite. Nanocomposites are typically formed by the organization of nanoparticles within a polymeric matrix. However, this approach can lead to high organic fractions and phase separation; reducing the performance of the resulting material. Here, we form aminated nanoparticles that are then cross-linked using epoxy chemistry. The result is a magnetic nanoparticle component that is covalently linked and well separated. By using this ‘matrix-free’ approach, we can substantially increase the magnetic nanoparticle fraction, while still maintaining good separation, leading to a superparamagnetic nanocomposite with strong magnetic properties.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Pseudoscalar pair production via off-shell Higgs in composite Higgs models

We propose a new type of search for a pseudoscalar particle $\eta$ pair produced via an off-shell Higgs, $pp$ → $h*$ → $\eta\eta$. The search is motivated by a composite Higgs model in which the $\eta$ is extremely narrow and decays almost exclusively into Z in the mass range 65 $\lesssim$ GeV $m_{\eta}$ $\lesssim$ 160 GeV. We devise an analysis strategy to observe the novel Zγ Zγ channel and estimate potential bounds on the Higgs-$\eta$ coupling. The experimental sensitivity to the signatures depends on the power to identify fake photons and on the ability to predict large photon multiplicities. This search allows us to exclude large values of the compositeness scale $f$, being thus complementary to other typical processes.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Single-Shell Tank Structural Integrity Assessment Report

Integrity assessments are required to determine that the existing single-shell tanks (SST) located at the Hanford Site have structural integrity such that they will not collapse, rupture, or fail. This is a requirement of the Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order Tri-Party Agreement (TPA)1 Change Request M-45-10-01 which established SST Integrity Project interim milestones and targets in January 2011. Interim Milestone M-045-91I established the requirement for this SST structural integrity assessment to be completed with an Independent Qualified Registered Professional Engineer (IQRPE) certification by September 30, 2018.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Hanford Double Shell Waste Tank Corrosion Studies - Final Report FY2017

Corrosion studies of Hanford Double-Shell Tanks (DSTs) at Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) were focused on New Limits testing using statistically design matrices for a high concentration of hydroxide (1.2 M) and testing at various interior points to establish corrosion control guidelines towards pitting corrosion. Ammonia was also added into the statistical design to determine inhibition effects. Additional electrochemical studies of individual organic species and nitrous oxide were tested in a AN-102 based simulant with no organics to compare inhibiting properties of a specific specie and measure any electrochemical improvement towards pitting corrosion.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Stable Perovskite Core-Shell Nanocrystals as Down-Converting Phosphors for Solid State Lighting

Colloidal perovskite quantum dots (QDs) or nanocrystals (NCs) with structure of CsPbX 3 (X = Cl, Br, I) are promising materials as down-converting phosphors due to their high quantum yield up to >90%, extremely narrow emission band ~15-30 nm, and tunable emission wavelengths of ~410-700 nm via size or composition control. Compared to other QD materials, the optical and electronic properties of perovskite NCs are much more tolerant to defects so highly efficient light-emitting NCs can be easily prepared without carefully removing surface defects. Also, precision size control is not required for obtaining perovskite NCs with narrow emission <30 nm and can greatly enhance the reproducibility and yield rate during mass production. The challenges in using perovskite NCs as LED phosphors are their hygroscopic nature and self-absorption as observed from other QDs. We propose to synthesize core-shell structure perovskite NCs to improve their stability by over-coating a SiO 2 layer, followed by further sol-gel processing into stable micro-sized glass beads. To increase Stokes shift and avoid self-absorption, core/graded-shell/shell structure such as CsSnBr 3 /CsSn 1-x Pb x Br 3 /CsPbBr 3 NCs will be prepared, similar to a concept we demonstrated before in CdSe/Cd 1-x ZnxSe 1-y S y /ZnS structure with significantly separated absorption and emission bands. These NC materials will be integrated into films and used as remote or on-chip downconverters for high efficiency, high CRI and warm white LED. To achieve this goal, PhosphorTech Corporation (PTC) has teamed with Georgia Tech (GT) to develop this unique perovskite system for pcLEDs that offers the promise of high luminous efficacy over a broad temperature and optical flux range.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗