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At least 127 records · Page 7

Porosity evolution in proton irradiated microfine-grained POCO graphite

This work investigated the porosity evolution of POCO ZXF-5Q graphite that has been irradiated by 340 kW, 120 GeV protons inside NT02 target system in Fermilab's NuMI beamline. This POCO graphite has undergone direct bulk dimensional swelling at low dose irradiation and its local microstructural change is still not well-understood during this process. In this work, the (sub-) micrometre scale porosity from six locations across proton beam fluence and temperature gradients have been studied using focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) tomography. Here, a deep learning-based tomographic image segmentation technique has been established and implemented for porosity segmentation and quantification. It has been found that there is a decrease in the total volumetric percentage of the porosity at proton beam centre (~ 8 – 8.4 vol.%), by comparing to un-irradiated POCO (~ 12 – 13vol.%) and to beam 2σ and 5σ radii (~ 12vol.%). This decrease in porosity volume percentage was found to be caused by the reduction in pores with volumes > 0.1 μm 3 induced by material bulk dimensional swelling at proton beam centre area. The porosity reduction in relation to dimensional change and irradiation creep was discussed among with other contributing factors, and further investigations through well-controlled irradiation experiment are still needed.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Total-body irradiation with high-LET particles: acute and chronic effects on the immune system

Although the immune system is highly susceptible to radiation-induced damage, consequences of high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation remain unclear. This study evaluated the effects of 0.1 gray (Gy), 0.5 Gy, and 2.0 Gy iron ion (56Fe(26)) radiation on lymphoid cells and organs of C57BL/6 mice on days 4 and 113 after whole body exposure; a group irradiated with 2.0 Gy silicon ions (28Si) was euthanized on day 113. On day 4 after 56Fe irradiation, dose-dependent decreases were noted in spleen and thymus masses and all major leukocyte populations in blood and spleen. The CD19(+) B lymphocytes were most radiosensitive and NK1.1(+) natural killer (NK) cells were most resistant. CD3(+) T cells were moderately radiosensitive and a greater loss of CD3(+)/CD8(+) T(C) cells than CD3(+)/CD4(+) T(H) cells was noted. Basal DNA synthesis was elevated on day 4, but response to mitogens and secretion of interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were unaffected. Signs of anemia were noted. By day 113, high B cell numbers and low T(C) cell and monocyte percents were found in the 2.0 Gy 56Fe group; the 2.0 Gy 2)Si mice had low NK cells, decreased basal DNA synthesis, and a somewhat increased response to two mitogens. Collectively, the data show that lymphoid cells and tissues are markedly affected by high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation at relatively low doses, that some aberrations persist long after exposure, and that different consequences may be induced by various densely ionizing particles. Thus simultaneous exposure to multiple radiation sources could lead to a broader spectrum of immune dysfunction than currently anticipated.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗

Reliability Methods for Shield Design Process

Providing protection against the hazards of space radiation is a major challenge to the exploration and development of space. The great cost of added radiation shielding is a potential limiting factor in deep space operations. In this enabling technology, we have developed methods for optimized shield design over multi-segmented missions involving multiple work and living areas in the transport and duty phase of space missions. The total shield mass over all pieces of equipment and habitats is optimized subject to career dose and dose rate constraints. An important component of this technology is the estimation of two most commonly identified uncertainties in radiation shield design, the shielding properties of materials used and the understanding of the biological response of the astronaut to the radiation leaking through the materials into the living space. The largest uncertainty, of course, is in the biological response to especially high charge and energy (HZE) ions of the galactic cosmic rays. These uncertainties are blended with the optimization design procedure to formulate reliability-based methods for shield design processes. The details of the methods will be discussed.

Tripathi, R. K.↗

GCR Environmental Models I: Sensitivity Analysis for GCR Environments

Accurate galactic cosmic ray (GCR) models are required to assess crew exposure during long-duration missions to the Moon or Mars. Many of these models have been developed and compared to available measurements, with uncertainty estimates usually stated to be less than 15%. However, when the models are evaluated over a common epoch and propagated through to effective dose, relative differences exceeding 50% are observed. This indicates that the metrics used to communicate GCR model uncertainty can be better tied to exposure quantities of interest for shielding applications. This is the first of three papers focused on addressing this need. In this work, the focus is on quantifying the extent to which each GCR ion and energy group, prior to entering any shielding material or body tissue, contributes to effective dose behind shielding. Results can be used to more accurately calibrate model-free parameters and provide a mechanism for refocusing validation efforts on measurements taken over important energy regions. Results can also be used as references to guide future nuclear cross-section measurements and radiobiology experiments. It is found that GCR with Z>2 and boundary energies below 500 MeV/n induce less than 5% of the total effective dose behind shielding. This finding is important given that most of the GCR models are developed and validated against Advanced Composition Explorer/Cosmic Ray Isotope Spectrometer (ACE/CRIS) measurements taken below 500 MeV/n. It is therefore possible for two models to very accurately reproduce the ACE/CRIS data while inducing very different effective dose values behind shielding.

Slaba, Tony C.↗

The response of thermally and optically stimulated luminescence from Al2O3:C to high-energy heavy charged particles

The thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) response of Al2O3 dosimeters to high-energy heavy charged particles (HCP) has been studied using the heavy ion medical accelerator at Chiba, Japan. The samples were Al2O3 single-crystal chips, of the type usually known as TLD-500, and Luxel(TM) dosimeters (Al2O3:C powder in plastic) from Landauer Inc. The samples were exposed to 4He (150 MeV/u), 12C (400 MeV/u), 28Si (490 MeV/us) and 56Fe (500 MeV/u) ions, with linear energy transfer values covering the range from 2.26 to 189 keV/micrometers in water and doses from 1 to 100 mGy (to water). A 90Sr/90Y beta source, calibrated against a 60Co secondary standard, was used for calibration purposes. For OSL, we used both continuous-wave OSL measurements (CW-OSL, using green light stimulation at 525 nm) and pulsed OSL measurements (POSL, using 532 nm stimulation from a Nd:YAG Q-switched laser). The efficiencies (eta HCP, gamma) of the different HCPs at producing OSL or TL were observed to depend not only upon the linear energy transfer (LET) of the HCP, but also upon the sample type (single crystal chip or Luxel(TM)) and the luminescence method used to define the signal--i.e. TL, CW-OSL initial intensity, CW-OSL total area, or POSL. Observed changes in shape of the decay curve lead to potential methods for extracting LET information of unknown radiation fields. A discussion of the results is given, including the potential use of OSL from Al2O3 in the areas of space radiation dosimetry and radiation oncology. c2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Heavy Ions↗

Track Structure Model for Radial Distributions of Electron Spectra and Event Spectra from High-Energy Ions

An analytic method is described for evaluating the average radial electron spectrum and the radial and total frequency-event spectrum for high-energy ions. For high-energy ions, indirect events make important contributions to frequency-event spectra. The method used for evaluating indirect events is to fold the radial electron spectrum with measured frequency-event spectrum for photons or electrons. The contribution from direct events is treated using a spatially restricted linear energy transfer (LET). We find that high-energy heavy ions have a significantly reduced frequency-averaged final energy (yF) compared to LET, while relativistic protons have a significantly increased yF and dose-averaged lineal energy (yD) for typical site sizes used in tissue equivalent proportional counters. Such differences represent important factors in evaluating event spectra with laboratory beams, in space- flight, or in atmospheric radiation studies and in validation of radiation transport codes. The inadequacy of LET as descriptor because of deviations in values of physical quantities, such as track width, secondary electron spectrum, and yD for ions of identical LET is also discussed.

Cucinotta, F. A.↗

Biological Effectiveness of Accelerated Particles for the Induction of Chromosome Damage Measured in Metaphase and Interphase Human Lymphocytes

Chromosome aberrations were investigated in human lymphocytes after in vitro exposure to 1H-, 3He-, 12C-, 40Ar-, 28Si-, 56Fe-, or 197Au-ion beams, with LET ranging from approximately 0.4-1393 keV/microm in the dose range of 0.075-3 Gy. Dose-response curves for chromosome exchanges, measured at the first mitosis postirradiation using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with whole-chromosome probes, were fitted with linear or linear-quadratic functions. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) was estimated from the initial slope of the dose-response curve for chromosomal damage with respect to low- or high-dose-rate gamma rays. Estimates of RBEmax values for mitotic spreads, which ranged from near 0.7 to 11.1 for total exchanges, increased with LET, reaching a maximum at about 150 keV/microm, and decreased with further increase in LET. RBEs for complex aberrations are undefined due to the lack of an initial slope for gamma rays. Additionally, the effect of mitotic delay on RBE values was investigated by measuring chromosome aberrations in interphase after chemically induced premature chromosome condensation (PCC), and values were up to threefold higher than for metaphase analysis.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗

A quantitative study of retention and release of deuterium and tritium during irradiation of y-LiAlO2 pellets

This study reports on the quantification of deuterium in ion-irradiated gamma-LiAlO2 pellets as a function of dose and temperature. The gamma-LiAlO2 pellets were sequentially irradiated with He+ and D2+ ions to the same fluences of 5E16, 1E17 and 2E17 He++D+/cm2 at 188 K. Additional irradiation was performed to 1E17, 2E17 and 4E17 He++D+/cm2 at 573 K. A set of the pellets irradiated at 188 K was shipped and stored at low temperatures from 80 to 132 K and characterized using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry at ~173 K. The deuterium depth profiles show a Gaussian-like distribution in the low-temperature pellets. The total deuterium retention is found to be directly proportional to the ion fluence. About 27 at.% of the implanted deuterium atoms were released from the pellet irradiated to 2E17 He++D+/cm2 at 188 K during storage at room temperature for ~1 month. Retention of the trapped or bound deuterium during ion irradiation at 573 K increases initially with ion fluence and tends to saturate at a high fluence. The amount of the released deuterium is observed to be quantitatively consistent with that of the released tritium from similar standard pellets during neutron irradiation at 573 K.

Deuterium retention and release, ion irradiation, ↗

Unusual Metal–Organic Framework Topology and Radiation Resistance through Neptunyl Coordination Chemistry

A Np(V) neptunyl metal–organic framework (MOF) with rod-shaped secondary building units was synthesized, characterized, and irradiated with γ rays. Furthermore, single-crystal X-ray diffraction data revealed an anionic framework containing infinite helical chains of actinyl–actinyl interaction (AAI)-connected neptunyl ions linked together through tetratopic tetrahedral organic ligands (NSM). NSM exhibits an unprecedented net, demonstrating that AAIs may be exploited to give new MOFs and new topologies. To probe its radiation stability, we undertook the first irradiation study of a transuranic MOF and its organic linker building block using high doses of γ rays. Diffraction and spectroscopic data demonstrated that the radiation resistance of NSM is greater than that of its linker building block alone. Approximately 6 MGy of irradiation begins to induce notable changes in the long- and short-range order of the framework, whereas 3 MGy of irradiation induces total X-ray amorphization and changes in the local vibrational bands of the linker building block.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Changes in active-site geometry on X-ray photoreduction of a lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase active-site copper and saccharide binding

The recently discovered lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are Cu-containing enzymes capable of degrading polysaccharide substrates oxidatively. The generally accepted first step in the LPMO reaction is the reduction of the active-site metal ion from Cu 2+ to Cu + . Here we have used a systematic diffraction data collection method to monitor structural changes in two AA9 LPMOs, one from Lentinus similis (LsAA9_A) and one from Thermoascus auranti­acus (TaAA9_A), as the active-site Cu is photoreduced in the X-ray beam. For LsAA9_A, the protein produced in two different recombinant systems was crystallized to probe the effect of post-translational modifications and different crystallization conditions on the active site and metal photoreduction. We can recommend that crystallographic studies of AA9 LPMOs wishing to address the Cu 2+ form use a total X-ray dose below 3 × 10 4 Gy, while the Cu + form can be attained using 1 × 10 6 Gy. In all cases, we observe the transition from a hexa­coordinated Cu site with two solvent-facing ligands to a T-shaped geometry with no exogenous ligands, and a clear increase of the θ 2 parameter and a decrease of the θ 3 parameter by averages of 9.2° and 8.4°, respectively, but also a slight increase in θ T . Thus, the θ 2 and θ 3 parameters are helpful diagnostics for the oxidation state of the metal in a His-brace protein. On binding of cello-oligosaccharides to LsAA9_A, regardless of the production source, the θ T parameter increases, making the Cu site less planar, while the active-site Tyr—Cu distance decreases reproducibly for the Cu 2+ form. Thus, the θ T increase found on copper reduction may bring LsAA9_A closer to an oligosaccharide-bound state and contribute to the observed higher affinity of reduced LsAA9_A for cellulosic substrates.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Acute Effects of Simulated Space Radiation and Micro-Gravity on Cancellous Bone Loss in Mice Tibiae

Space radiation and micro-gravity are the two major obstacles impeding human exploration of Mars and beyond. Long-duration space flights expose astronauts to high doses of high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation as well as prolonged periods of skeletal disuse due to weightlessness. One important consequence of both radiation exposure and micro-gravity is acute bone loss. However, biological responses to different radiation types and combined radiation and micro-gravity environments remain unknown. Thus, the purpose of this study is to compare the acute effects of different radiation species and simulated weightlessness on bone degeneration for the purpose of developing accurate risk assessments of prolonged space flight. Mouse models were used to simulate space flight-relevant doses of different radiation types as well as weightlessness via hind-limb unloading. Three groups of mice (n 9) were irradiated with 1 Gy (Gray) H+, 1 Gy 56Fe, and 1 Gy combined H+ and 56Fe (dual ion) respectively and compared to sham irradiated (n 9) and 2 Gy 56Fe irradiated positive controls (n 6). Two groups of mice (n 9) were hind-limb unloaded for three days and then either sham irradiated or dual ion irradiated respectively, followed by subsequent hind-limb unloading for 11 days. Cancellous tissue from tibiae metaphyses were harvested 11 days post-irradiation for ex vivo micro-computed tomography analysis. Microarchitecture parameters including bone volume to total volume ratio (BVTV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular spacing (Tb.S), and connectivity density (Conn.D) will be quantified using a novel automated segmentation procedure developed in our lab. The anticipated results will be instrumental in developing counter-measures against micro-gravity and radiation-induced bone loss. Moreover, possible synergistic effects may provide insight into underlying mechanisms mediating biological response.

Micro-Gravity↗

Upper Limit for the 248 Cm( 50 Ti, x n) 298− x Og Reaction Cross Section

After the synthesis of element 113, nihonium (Nh) via the 209 Bi( 70 Zn,n) 278 Nh cold fusion reaction using the RIKEN heavy-ion Linear ACcelerator (RILAC) and the GAs-filled Recoil Ion Separator (GARIS), the search for the heaviest isotopes of oganesson was initiated with GARIS-II by means of the 248 Cm( 50 Ti,xn) 298−x Og fusion evaporation reaction. The optimal bombarding energy for the 50 Ti + 248 Cm reaction was determined from the quasielastic barrier distribution extracted from the excitation function of quasielastic backscattering. Here, this method optimizes the compound nucleus formation. The search for Og was conducted for 39 days on the basis of the experimentally derived 50 Ti beam energy of 227.9(5) MeV at the middle of 248 Cm target. A precise analysis of the dataset based on multiple event search strategies revealed no decay chains with a total dose on 248 Cm target of 4.93 × 10 18 50 Ti projectiles, reaching a sensitivity of 0.27 pb and a 1σ upper cross section limit of 0.50 pb.

Gall, Benoît Jean-Paul [University of Strasbourg (↗

Initial Testing of Alkaline Earth Metal Ion Absorption on Crystalline Silicotitanate - 20440

The Tank Closure Cesium Removal process at the Savannah River Site (SRS) has processed aqueous tank waste using the inorganic ion exchange media IONSIV{sup TM} R9120-Ba (which is also known as Crystalline Silicotitanate (CST)). Salt-cake in Tank 10H at SRS was dissolved and processed through filters and ion exchange columns. The primary purpose of the process is to remove Cs-137 from the aqueous waste so that it can be disposed as low level waste. It is known that this inorganic media also absorbs strontium from solution, and that strontium competes with cesium ions for absorption sites. The strontium ion is actually more strongly absorbed than the cesium ion from typical tank waste. However, strontium is typically present in low concentrations so does not normally cause a significant impact. Strontium is present as both non-radioactive isotopes and the radioactive Sr-90 isotope; with the non-radioactive isotopes being much more abundant. Although the total strontium solubility is usually much lower than cesium, some tank waste compositions can have a high enough soluble strontium concentration to decrease the cesium absorption. Relatedly, some testing at SRS suggested that another alkaline earth metal, calcium, may also absorb onto CST and may decrease cesium absorption. Barium is also an important species in treatment of tank waste, but is also usually present at low concentrations. However, after the Cs-137 is absorbed onto CST, it emits a beta particle and converts to Ba-137m, which then decays to non-radioactive Ba-137 by emission of a gamma ray. If the Ba-137m were to desorb quickly, it could impact the dose rate in down-stream equipment. In order to understand the impact of these alkaline earth metals on CST, SRNL performed testing using simulants of SRS tank waste that contain soluble barium, strontium, and calcium. Testing examined both removal of the alkaline earth metals and their impact on removal of cesium. Testing involved first developing realistic waste simulant formulations and dissolving the alkaline earth metals to high enough concentrations to potentially impact the Cs absorption. Once the formulations were developed and prepared, computer modeling was used to calculate the expected Cs absorption behavior to determine if the alkaline earth metals impact the performance. Measurements of the alkaline earth metals absorption by the media is also important for disposition of spent media because of the added radionuclide inventory from the Sr-90. These initial tests are examining the general impact and will be used to determine if further testing or measurements are needed. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Impact of Space Radiation with Other Combined Space Environmental Factors on Plant Seeds and Plant Development: from Arabidopsis thaliana to Crops

One of the major concerns for long-term exploration missions beyond Earth’s magnetosphere is radiation risk, primarily from solar particle events (SPE) and galactic cosmic rays (GCR). With the goal of manned Mars exploration, the production of fresh food during long-duration space missions provides critical nutritional supplementation and may also benefit astronauts’ behavioral health. However, the effects of space radiation on plants and plant propagules have not been sufficiently investigated and characterized. To evaluate the effects of space radiation on plant seeds and development, we explored several platforms, including ground-based radiation facilities, the MISSE platform outside the ISS, and other Low Earth Obit (LEO) opportunities. Radiation particle types ranged from neutrons, single charged particles, simulated galactic cosmic rays, simulated solar particle events, the radiation field outside the ISS (total 10 months on the ISS), and the field inside a LEO vehicle (over 3 years). Radiation doses ranged from around 10 cGy to 80 cGy with acute or chronic exposures. In these studies up to 15 types of model plant and crop seeds were evaluated. In addition, tests were conducted to determine whether the combination of radiation exposure and simulated microgravity could have synergetic effects. Exposure to space radiation at the levels tested had no significant impact on the germination rate in Arabidopsis and the seeds from multiple crop plants; however, radiation exposure alone or with other combined factors reduced the viability of some seed types. Overall, the changes within plants grown from irradiated seeds were dose- and ion quality- dependent, with heavier ions causing more severe damage. These changes ranged from cotyledon deformation, shortened root length, smaller seedling size, and other signs of stress, depending on the seed types. Radiation exposure also significantly altered transcriptomic profiles in seedlings grown from irradiated seeds. The impact of space radiation on seeds and plants potentially affects the ability of plants to adapt to other environmental stresses (e.g. microgravity, water stress, and hardware constraints) as well as susceptibility to plant diseases, which need to be furtherly investigated.

Y Zhang↗

Investigation of the Semicoa 2N7616 and 2N7425 and the Microsemi 2N7480 for Single-Event Gate Rupture and Single-Event Burnout

Single-event-effect test results for hi-rel total-dose-hardened power MOSFETs are presented in this report. The 2N7616 and the 2N7425 from Semicoa and the 2N7480 from International Rectifier were tested to NASA test condition standards and requirements. The 2N7480 performed well and the data agree with the manufacture's data. The 2N7616 and 2N7425 were entry parts from Semicoa using a new device architecture. Unfortunately, the device performed poorly and Semicoa is withdrawing power MOSFETs from it line due to these data. Vertical metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) are the most commonly used power transistor. MOSFETs are typically employed in power supplies and high current switching applications. Due to the inherent high electric fields in the device, power MOSFETs are sensitive to heavy ion irradiation and can fail catastrophically as a result of single-event gate rupture (SEGR) or single-event burnout (SEB). Manufacturers have designed radiation-hardened power MOSFETs for space applications. See [1] through [5] for more information. The objective of this effort was to investigate the SEGR and SEB responses of two power MOSFETs recently produced. These tests will serve as a limited verification of these parts. It is acknowledged that further testing on the respective parts may be needed for some mission profiles.

Scheick, Leif↗

A Deterministic Electron, Photon, Proton and Heavy Ion Radiation Transport Suite for the Study of the Jovian System

A deterministic suite of radiation transport codes, developed at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), which describe the transport of electrons, photons, protons, and heavy ions in condensed media is used to simulate exposures from spectral distributions typical of electrons, protons and carbon-oxygen-sulfur (C-O-S) trapped heavy ions in the Jovian radiation environment. The particle transport suite consists of a coupled electron and photon deterministic transport algorithm (CEPTRN) and a coupled light particle and heavy ion deterministic transport algorithm (HZETRN). The primary purpose for the development of the transport suite is to provide a means for the spacecraft design community to rapidly perform numerous repetitive calculations essential for electron, proton and heavy ion radiation exposure assessments in complex space structures. In this paper, the radiation environment of the Galilean satellite Europa is used as a representative boundary condition to show the capabilities of the transport suite. While the transport suite can directly access the output electron spectra of the Jovian environment as generated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Galileo Interim Radiation Electron (GIRE) model of 2003; for the sake of relevance to the upcoming Europa Jupiter System Mission (EJSM), the 105 days at Europa mission fluence energy spectra provided by JPL is used to produce the corresponding dose-depth curve in silicon behind an aluminum shield of 100 mils ( 0.7 g/sq cm). The transport suite can also accept ray-traced thickness files from a computer-aided design (CAD) package and calculate the total ionizing dose (TID) at a specific target point. In that regard, using a low-fidelity CAD model of the Galileo probe, the transport suite was verified by comparing with Monte Carlo (MC) simulations for orbits JOI--J35 of the Galileo extended mission (1996-2001). For the upcoming EJSM mission with a potential launch date of 2020, the transport suite is used to compute the traditional aluminum-silicon dose-depth calculation as a standard shield-target combination output, as well as the shielding response of high charge (Z) shields such as tantalum (Ta). Finally, a shield optimization algorithm is used to guide the instrument designer with the choice of graded-Z shield analysis.

Norman, Ryan B.↗

Comparison of TID Response and SEE Characterization of Single and Multi Level High Density NAND Flash Memories

Heavy ion single-event measurements and TID response for 8Gb commercial NAND flash memories are reported. Radiation results of multi-level flash technology are compared with results from single-level flash technology. In general, these commercial high density memories appear to be much less susceptible to SEE and have better TID response compared to older generations of flash memories. The charge pump survived up to 600 krads.

nonvolatile memory↗