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X-ray Raman scattering study of MgSiO₃ glass at high pressure: Implication for triclustered MgSiO₃ melt in Earth's mantle

Silicate melts at the top of the transition zone and the core-mantle boundary have significant influences on the dynamics and properties of Earth's interior. MgSiO 3 -rich silicate melts were among the primary components of the magma ocean and thus played essential roles in the chemical differentiation of the early Earth. Diverse macroscopic properties of silicate melts in Earth's interior, such as density, viscosity, and crystal-melt partitioning, depend on their electronic and short-range local structures at high pressures and temperatures. Despite essential roles of silicate melts in many geophysical and geodynamic problems, little is known about their nature under the conditions of Earth's interior, including the densification mechanisms and the atomistic origins of the macroscopic properties at high pressures. Here, we have probed local electronic structures of MgSiO 3 glass (as a precursor to Mg-silicate melts), using high-pressure x-ray Raman spectroscopy up to 39 GPa, in which high-pressure oxygen K-edge features suggest the formation of tricluster oxygens (oxygen coordinated with three Si frameworks; [3] O) between 12 and 20 GPa. Our results indicate that the densification in MgSiO 3 melt is thus likely to be accompanied with the formation of triculster, in addition to a reduction in nonbridging oxygens. The pressure-induced increase in the fraction of oxygen triclusters >20 GPa would result in enhanced density, viscosity, and crystal-melt partitioning, and reduced element diffusivity in the MgSiO 3 melt toward deeper part of the Earth's lower mantle.

Lee, Sung Keun↗

Density scaling approximation for Monte-Carlo simulations of radioactive plumes

The release of radioactive gas into the atmosphere can diffuse into large volumes of air downwind from the point of release. The extent of radioactivity can cover thousands of cubic meters of air. For such large volumes, the weather models used to predict the down-wind distribution of the plume and the radiation transport models used to predict the radiation reaching ground-level from the plume can take tens of hours of computer time on multi-node institutional High-Performance Computing facilities. In this paper we focus on the radiation transport aspect of plume modeling. Here, we describe a phenomenological method for approximating the amounts of radiation that reach ground level from large volumes of a static radioactive plume that can be calculated on a stand-alone personal computer in much shorter computation times than those usually needed for such large volume evaluations. We refer to this method as the Density Scaling Approximation (DSA). Its ability to approximate ground-level count rates of large plumes comes from using a small-plume volume with a scaled-up value of air density to simulate the same number of scatterings that occur during transport in larger plume volumes at normal air density. We demonstrate the DSA by using a 100 m-diameter air-filled hemispherical dome geometry with a uniform volumetric activity of 135 Xe gas throughout the air-filled volume. The DSA for a larger dome diameter is obtained by evaluating the 100 m dome with an air density scaled up by the linear ratio of the larger diameter to the 100 m diameter. We find that this approximation works well for dome diameters up to 1200 m – the largest diameter studied and a size more than sufficient for accounting for all the radiation from 135 Xe. Moreover, most of our DSA results can be calculated over 500 times faster than corresponding full-sized geometry with normal air density. To help evaluate the accuracy of the DSA and gain insight into how well it can reproduce different regions of the spectra, we use three, easily understood regions of interest to compare the DSA results to the full-sized geometry at normal air density results. These regions are the full-energy peak, the region of single-Compton scattering, and the region of multiple-Compton scattering. We show how the dominance of the Compton scattering mechanism determines this division and thus provides insight into how Compton scattering is manifested in spectra from photon scattering through air in general, and how well the DSA approximation works.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

SU-F-T-583: Comparison of EBT3 Radiochromic Film Densitometry with Narrow Bandwidth LED Source in Point, Slot and Full Aperture Geometries

Purpose: Film densitometers optimized for radiochromic EBT3 film are not commercially available and flatbed document scanners are limited by broad spectral overlap of the red green and blue channels and polarization effects. Non-polarized, narrow bandwith, intensity stabilized light emitting diode (LED) light sources were constructed and transmission measurements compared for point, slot and full aperture geometries. Methods: LED’s with 10 nm bandwidths were focused to 1 mm spots for point scanning. The LED’s back-illuminated a 6 mm diameter diffuser near the focal point of a 25 cm diameter Fresnel lens for slot and full aperture transmission imaging. Films were located at the aperture plane, 15 cm from the lens and imaged with a 16 bit digital camera with 50 mm lens. Sheets, 10×8 cm, were irradiated to 25 Gy with a 4×4 cm 6 MV photon beam. Transmission measurements with a 633nm, linearly polarized laser were used as lowacceptance angle reference geometry. Results: LED intensity stabilized to <1% within one minute of startup. The useful transmission range increased as the acceptance angle decreased, laser(∼2%)> spot(∼3%)> slot(∼5%)> full aperture(∼10%). The Fresnel lens introduced a 4-fold polarization symmetry that increased radially causing a 2% change in transmission at 10 cm from the optic axis for EBT3 film. Polarized spot densitometer and laser transmission were similar. Conclusion: Spectrally filtered LED sources were effective for transmission measurements of radiochromic films. Because of polarization sensitivity of EBT3 film, the scanning spot geometry is the most general for measuring unpolarised transmission of larger film sizes, ie > 15×15 cm. Due to EBT3 film scatter, spot scanning should provide the most accurate profiles of high dose gradients, for a given acceptance angle. The spot scanning densitometer provided useful transmission to ∼5, 25, >25 Gy with 635, 590 and 530 nm light respectively.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Adsorption, Ordering, and Metalation of Porphyrins on MgO Nanocube Surfaces: The Directional Role of Carboxylic Anchoring Groups

The understanding of porphyrin adsorption on oxide nanoparticles including knowledge about coverages and adsorbate geometries is a prerequisite for the improvement and optimization of hybrid materials. The combination of molecular spectroscopies with small-angle X-ray scattering provides molecular insights into porphyrin adsorption on MgO nanocube dispersions in organic solvents. In particular, we address the influence of terminal carboxyl groups on the adsorption of free base porphyrins, on their chemical binding, on the metalation reaction as well as on the coverage and orientation of adsorbate molecules. We compare the free base form 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21,23H-porphyrin (2HTPP) with the carboxyl-functionalized 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)-21,23H-porphyrin (2HTCPP) and show that without carboxylic anchoring groups the free base form metalates on the nanocube surface and adopts a flat-lying adsorbate geometry. The saturation limit for flat-lying adsorption on nanocubes with an average edge length of 6 nm corresponds to 90 ± 14 molecules per particle. This limit is surpassed when 2HTCPP molecules attach via their terminal carboxyl groups to the surface. The resulting upright adsorption geometry suppresses self-metalation, on the one hand, and allows for much higher porphyrin coverages, on the other (at porphyrin concentrations in the stock solution of 2 × 10 –2 mol·L –1 ). UV–vis diffuse reflectance results are perfectly consistent with conclusions from SAXS data analysis. Here, the experiments reveal concentration dependent 2HTCPP coverages in the range between 0.4 to 1.9 molecules nm –2 which correspond to the formation of a shell of upright standing porphyrin molecules around the MgO nanocubes. In contrast, after adsorption and metalation of nonfunctionalized 2HTPP the resulting porphyrin shells are in the range of a tenth of a nanometer and thus too thin to be captured by SAXS measurements. Related insights advance our opportunities to prepare well-defined nanohybrids containing highly organized porphyrin films.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Radial transport modeling of high density deuterium plasmas in proto-MPEX with the B2.5-Eirene code

High density (≥6 × 10 19 m –3 ), low temperature (2–6 eV) helicon discharges in the Prototype Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (Proto-MPEX) are analyzed with the coupled multifluid plasma, kinetic neutrals code B2.5-Eirene. The interpretative analyses are constrained by data from multiple diagnostics, including Langmuir probes, Mach probes, filterscopes, infrared TV system, Thomson scattering, and baratrons. The objectives of the transport simulations include: investigation of the effects of heating, fueling, and plasma production; pumping, and assumed radial transport models on the calculated density and temperature distributions; plasma flow profiles and power balance. The primary objective in this report is to investigate the effects of the radial transport model in full plasma (the entire length of the plasma column in Proto-MPEX) data-constrained simulations. Results from three assumed forms of the radial transport coefficients are presented, including spatially constant, radially decreasing, and Bohm (D,χ ~T e /|B|). The results from each of the three transport coefficient sets agree qualitatively with the core (near axis) data. With the implicit T e dependence, the Bohm coefficients tend to decrease as functions of radius, although not as strongly as the centrally peaked set. The axial variation in the Bohm coefficients is largely due to the axial structure of the magnetic field. Furthermore, the agreement of the simulations and the diagnostic data with the Bohm set indicates that transport in the plasma column of Proto-MPEX is dominated by Bohm diffusion.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Comparison of total emitted solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) and top-of-canopy (TOC) SIF in estimating photosynthesis

We report many studies have shown that solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) has a good potential to predict gross primary production (GPP) of vegetation. What we measured by remote sensing or near-surface platforms is top-of-canopy (TOC) SIF (SIF toc ), which is not necessarily equal or proportional to total emitted SIF (SIF tot ) from the entire canopy due to the (re)absorption and scattering effects. However, photosynthesis, the process that plants use to fix carbon from the atmosphere, occurs at the entire vertical canopy. Here, by using the recollision theory, we calculated SIF tot at 760 nm from the measured SIF toc , hyperspectral reflectance (R), canopy interception (i) and leaf albedo (ω l ). Among them, both SIF toc and R can be obtained from concurrent TOC spectral measurements; i and ω l in the near-infrared region can be estimated from the open access datasets with a good accuracy. Our result confirms that the measured SIF toc only accounts for a small fraction of SIF tot : the above-the-canopy sensor can only “see” on average 22.9% of SIF tot at Harvard Forest. SIF tot has the following advantages over SIF toc in estimating GPP: (1) SIF tot improves the diurnal estimate of canopy GPP, especially capable to capture the midday depression of photosynthesis which may cause the large discrepancies between SIF toc and GPP on a diurnal basis, (2) SIF tot produces a stronger correlation with GPP from plants with complex canopy structure or under sky conditions with more diffuse irradiance, and (3) the SIF tot -GPP relationship shows a stronger resilience to environmental stresses. The fluorescence escape ratio (f esc ), the ratio between SIF toc multiplied by π and SIF tot , is mostly determined by the sun-canopy-sensor geometry and leaf inclination distribution. The effect of LAI and the leaf chlorophyll concentration on f esc is marginal at the 760 nm wavelength. Our results suggest that converting SIF toc into SIF tot provides a better tool to understand and estimate GPP.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

A LAST LOOK AT THE MICROWAVE HAZE/BUBBLES WITH WMAP

The microwave 'haze' was first discovered with the initial release of the full sky data from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP). It is diffuse emission toward the center of our Galaxy with spectral behavior that makes it difficult to categorize as any of the previously known emission mechanisms at those wavelengths. With now seven years of WMAP data publicly available, we have learned much about the nature of the haze, and with the release of data from the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope and the discovery of the gamma-ray haze/bubbles, we have had a spectacular confirmation of its existence at other wavelengths. As the WMAP mission winds down and the Planck mission prepares to release data, I take a last look at what WMAP has to tell us about the origin of this unique Galactic feature. Much like the gamma rays, the microwave haze/bubbles is/are elongated in latitude with respect to longitude by a factor of roughly two, and at high latitudes, the microwave emission cuts off sharply above {approx}35 Degree-Sign (compared to {approx}50 Degree-Sign in the gammas). The hard spectrum of electrons required to generate the microwave synchrotron is consistent with that required to generate gamma-ray emission via inverse Compton scattering, though it is likely that these signals result from distinct regions of the spectrum ({approx}10 GeV for the microwaves and {approx}1 TeV for the gammas). While there is no evidence for significant haze polarization in the seven-year WMAP data, I demonstrate explicitly that it is unlikely such a signal would be detectable above the noise.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

PARTICLE ACCELERATION AND HEATING BY TURBULENT RECONNECTION

Turbulent flows in the solar wind, large-scale current sheets, multiple current sheets, and shock waves lead to the formation of environments in which a dense network of current sheets is established and sustains “turbulent reconnection.” We constructed a 2D grid on which a number of randomly chosen grid points are acting as scatterers (i.e., magnetic clouds or current sheets). Our goal is to examine how test particles respond inside this large-scale collection of scatterers. We study the energy gain of individual particles, the evolution of their energy distribution, and their escape time distribution. We have developed a new method to estimate the transport coefficients from the dynamics of the interaction of the particles with the scatterers. Replacing the “magnetic clouds” with current sheets, we have proven that the energization processes can be more efficient depending on the strength of the effective electric fields inside the current sheets and their statistical properties. Using the estimated transport coefficients and solving the Fokker–Planck (FP) equation, we can recover the energy distribution of the particles only for the stochastic Fermi process. We have shown that the evolution of the particles inside a turbulent reconnecting volume is not a solution of the FP equation, since the interaction of the particles with the current sheets is “anomalous,” in contrast to the case of the second-order Fermi process.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Theoretical Analysis of the Entrainment–Mixing Process at Cloud Boundaries. Part I: Droplet Size Distributions and Humidity within the Interface Zone

Abstract The problem of a complex entrainment–mixing process is analyzed by solving a diffusion–evaporation equation for an open region in the vicinity of the cloud–dry air interface. Upon normalization the problem is reduced to a one-parametric one, the governing parameter being the potential evaporation parameter R proportional to the ratio of saturation deficit in the dry air to the available liquid water content in the cloud air. As distinct from previous multiple studies analyzing mixing within closed adiabatic volumes, we consider a principally nonstationary problem that never leads to a homogeneous equilibrium state. It is shown that at R < −1 the cloud edge shifts toward the cloud; that is, the cloud dissipates due to mixing with dry air, and the cloud volume decreases. If R > −1, the cloud edge shifts outside; that is, the mixing leads to an increase in the cloud volume. The time evolution of droplet size distribution and its moments, as well as the relative humidity within the expanding cloud–dry air interface, are calculated and analyzed. It is shown that the values of the mean volume radii rapidly decrease within the interface zone in the direction away from the cloud, indicating significant changes in the cloud edge microstructure. Scattering diagrams plotted for the cloud edge agree well with high-frequency in situ measurements, corroborating the reliability of the proposed approach. It is shown that the humidity front moves toward dry air faster than the front of liquid water content. As a result, the mixing leads to formation of a humid air shell around the cloud. The widths of the interface zone and humid shell are evaluated.

Pinsky, Mark↗

Multiwavelength analysis of annihilating dark matter as the origin of the gamma-ray emission from M31

Indirect detection of dark matter (DM) by multiwavelength astronomical observations provides a promising avenue for probing the particle nature of DM. In the case of DM consisting of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), self-annihilation ultimately produces various observable products including e ± pairs and gamma rays. The gamma rays can be detected directly, while the e ± pairs can be detected by radio emission from synchrotron radiation or X rays and soft gamma rays from inverse Compton scattering. An intriguing region to search for astrophysical signs of DM is the Galactic center (GC) of the Milky Way, due in part to an observed excess of gamma rays that could be DM. A recent observation by the Fermi-LAT collaboration of a similar excess in the central region of the Andromeda galaxy (M31) leads us to explore the possibility of a DM-induced signal there as well. We use the RX-DMFIT tool to perform a multifrequency analysis of potential DM annihilation emissions in M31. We consider WIMP particle models consistent with the GC excess and calculate the expected emission across the electromagnetic spectrum in comparison with available observational data from M31. We find that the particle models that best fit the M31 excess favor lower masses than the GC excess. The best-fitting models are for a $b\bar{b}$ final state with M χ = 11 GeV and $\langle$σv$\rangle$ = 2.6 × 10 -26 cm 3 s -1 , as well as an evenly mixed $\bar{b}$b/τ + τ - final state with M χ = 5.8 GeV and $\langle$σv$\rangle$ = 2.03 × 10 -26 cm 3 s -1 . For conservative estimates of the diffusion and magnetic field models the expected radio emissions appear to be in tension with currently available data in the central region of M31, although this constraint has a fairly strong dependence on the values chosen for parameters describing the magnetic field strength and geometry.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

A {sup 13}CO Detection in a Brightest Cluster Galaxy

We present ALMA Cycle 4 observations of CO(1-0), CO(3-2), and {sup 13}CO(3-2) line emission in the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) of RXJ0821+0752. This is one of the first detections of {sup 13}CO line emission in a galaxy cluster. Half of the CO(3-2) line emission originates from two clumps of molecular gas that are spatially offset from the galactic center. These clumps are surrounded by diffuse emission that extends 8 kpc in length. The detected {sup 13}CO emission is confined entirely to the two bright clumps, with any emission outside of this region lying below our detection threshold. Two distinct velocity components with similar integrated fluxes are detected in the {sup 12}CO spectra. The narrower component (60 km s{sup −1} FWHM) is consistent in both velocity centroid and linewidth with {sup 13}CO(3-2) emission, while the broader (130–160 km s{sup −1}), slightly blueshifted wing has no associated {sup 13}CO(3-2) emission. A simple local thermodynamic model indicates that the {sup 13}CO emission traces 2.1 × 10{sup 9} M {sub ⊙} of molecular gas. Isolating the {sup 12}CO velocity component that accompanies the {sup 13}CO emission yields a CO-to-H{sub 2} conversion factor of α {sub CO} = 2.3 M {sub ⊙} (K km s{sup −1}){sup −1}, which is a factor of two lower than the Galactic value. Adopting the Galactic CO-to-H{sub 2} conversion factor in BCGs may therefore overestimate their molecular gas masses by a factor of two. This is within the object-to-object scatter from extragalactic sources, so calibrations in a larger sample of clusters are necessary in order to confirm a sub-Galactic conversion factor.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Study of Nickel Silicide as a Copper Diffusion Barrier in Monocrystalline Silicon Solar Cells

NiSi as a conductive diffusion barrier to silicon has been studied. We demonstrate that the NiSi films formed using the single step annealing process are as good as the two step process using XRD and Raman. Quality of NiSi films formed using e-beam Ni and electroless Ni process has been compared. Incomplete surface coverage and presence of constituents other than Ni are the main challenges with electroless Ni. We also demonstrate that Cu reduces the thermal stability of NiSi films. The detection of Cu has proven to be difficult due to temperature limitations.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

PROPERTIES OF DIFFUSE INTERSTELLAR BANDS AT DIFFERENT PHYSICAL CONDITIONS OF THE INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM

Diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) can trace different conditions of the interstellar medium (ISM) along the sightline toward the observed stars. A small survey was made in optical wavelengths, producing high-resolution and high signal-to-noise spectra. We present measurements of 19 DIBs' properties in 50 sightlines toward hot stars, distributed at a variety of galactic coordinates and interstellar reddening. Equivalent widths were obtained by fitting asymmetric Gaussian and variable continua to DIBs. Conditions of the ISM were calculated from eight atomic and molecular interstellar lines. Two distinctly different types of DIBs were identified by carefully comparing correlation coefficients between DIBs and reddening and by different behavior in UV-shielded ({zeta}) and nonshielded ({sigma}) sightlines. A ratio of DIBs at 5780 A and 5797 A proved to be reliable enough to distinguish between two different sightline types. Based on the linear relations between DIB equivalent width and reddening for {sigma} and {zeta} sightlines, we divide DIBs into type I (where both linear relations are similar) and type II (where they are significantly different). The linear relation for {zeta} type sightlines always shows a higher slope and larger x-intercept parameter than the relation for {sigma} sightlines. Scatter around the linear relation is reduced after the separation, but it does not vanish completely. This means that UV shielding is the dominant factor of the DIB equivalent width versus reddening relation shape for {zeta} sightlines, but in {sigma} sightlines other physical parameters play a major role. No similar dependency on gas density, electron density, or turbulence was observed. A catalog of all observed interstellar lines is made public.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Diffuse neutrinos from luminous and dark supernovae: prospects for upcoming detectors at the $\mathcal{O}$(10) kt scale

Here we estimate the Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background (DSNB) using the simulation results for neutron star-forming and black hole-forming stellar collapses from the Garching group. Scenarios with different distributions of black-hole forming collapses with the progenitor mass are discussed, and the uncertainty on the cosmological rate of collapses is included. The $\bar{v}_e$ component of the DSNB above 11 MeV of energy is found to be φ ≃ (1.4–3.7) cm -2 s -1 ; the contribution of black hole-forming collapses could dominate the flux above ~ 25 MeV . We calculate the potential of detecting the DSNB at SuperK-Gd and JUNO, in about a decade-long period of operation. We find that, in our model, it is likely that a significant excess above the background will be obtained at JUNO, while detection will be more difficult at SuperK-Gd. The potential when the two experimental results are examined jointly is discussed as well. We also consider an example of a future Script $\mathcal{O}$(10) kt slow liquid scintillator detector, and show that there the odds of detection are very good. Our results motivate experimental efforts in reducing the backgrounds due to neutral current scattering of atmospheric neutrinos in SuperK-Gd.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Collaborative Project. 3D Radiative Transfer Parameterization Over Mountains/Snow for High-Resolution Climate Models. Fast physics and Applications

Under the support of the aforementioned DOE Grant, we have made two fundamental contributions to atmospheric and climate sciences: (1) Develop an efficient 3-D radiative transfer parameterization for application to intense and intricate inhomogeneous mountain/snow regions. (2) Innovate a stochastic parameterization for light absorption by internally mixed black carbon and dust particles in snow grains for understanding and physical insight into snow albedo reduction in climate models. With reference to item (1), we divided solar fluxes reaching mountain surfaces into five components: direct and diffuse fluxes, direct- and diffuse-reflected fluxes, and coupled mountain-mountain flux. “Exact” 3D Monte Carlo photon tracing computations can then be performed for these solar flux components to compare with those calculated from the conventional plane-parallel (PP) radiative transfer program readily available in climate models. Subsequently, Parameterizations of the deviations of 3D from PP results for five flux components are carried out by means of the multiple linear regression analysis associated with topographic information, including elevation, solar incident angle, sky view factor, and terrain configuration factor. We derived five regression equations with high statistical correlations for flux deviations and successfully incorporated this efficient parameterization into WRF model, which was used as the testbed in connection with the Fu-Liou-Gu PP radiation scheme that has been included in the WRF physics package. Incorporating this 3D parameterization program, we conducted simulations of WRF and CCSM4 to understand and evaluate the mountain/snow effect on snow albedo reduction during seasonal transition and the interannual variability for snowmelt, cloud cover, and precipitation over the Western United States presented in the final report. With reference to item (2), we developed in our previous research a geometric-optics surface-wave approach (GOS) for the computation of light absorption and scattering by complex and inhomogeneous particles for application to aggregates and snow grains with external and internal mixing structures. We demonstrated that a small black (BC) particle on the order of 1 μm internally mixed with snow grains could effectively reduce visible snow albedo by as much as 5–10%. Following this work and within the context of DOE support, we have made two key accomplishments presented in the attached final report.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

IBS for RHIC operation below transition energy and various RF systems

Following first successful runs in RHIC at low energies for physics (Beam Energy Scan I) there is a strong interest in further low-energy RHIC operation in the range of γ=4-10 but with higher luminosity (Beam Energy Scan II). An electron cooling was proposed to increase luminosity at these low energies. Both transverse and longitudinal Intra-beam Scattering (IBS) can be counteracted with electron cooling. In addition, the phase-space density of the hadron beams can be further increased by providing stronger cooling. Unfortunately, the defining intensity limitation for low energies in RHIC is expected to be the space charge. Experimental studies of the space-charge effects and beam lifetime in RHIC were reported. Additional limitations at low energies and their possible mitigations were discussed. It was suggested that better luminosity performance may be expected by using lower frequency RF system and longer bunches compared to the baseline 28 MHz RF, which is being used for RHIC operation with heavy ions. Recently, even lower frequency RF of 4.5 MHz was proposed for future low-energy RHIC operation. Although low-frequency RF systems in RHIC (either 9 or 4.5 MHz) seem to address possible limitations of beam lifetime observed at low energies, the resulting ion beam temperatures in beam rest frame get further from an equilibrium which lead to a much stronger longitudinal IBS. This would put stronger requirement on electron cooling system under consideration. However, operation below transition energy allows us to exploit an IBS feature that drives the transverse and longitudinal beam temperatures towards equilibrium by minimizing the longitudinal diffusion rate using larger longitudinal beam emittance and larger RF voltage. Such studies were performed before to explore IBS redistribution at low energies for the 28 and 56 MHz RHIC RF systems. This Note presents results of similar studies for newly proposed 4.5 and 9 MHz RF systems.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

High temperature oxidation behavior of Ni-based superalloy GH202

The isothermal oxidation kinetic and oxidation behavior of Ni-based superalloy GH202 were investigated at temperatures from 800 °C to 1100 °C. The microstructure of GH202 was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD). The composition and morphologies of oxide scales of the surface and cross-section samples were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and SEM combined with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results show that the growth of the oxide scales on GH202 obeyed a parabolic law with an activation energy of 247.8 KJ·mol{sup −1} from 800 °C to 1100 °C. The continuous and dense oxide scales that formed at 800 °C and 900 °C were composed of Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}, NiCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} and a small amount of TiO{sub 2}. Beneath the oxide scales, aluminum-rich oxides formed along the grain boundaries due to internal oxidation. After treatment at 1000 °C for 150 h, the oxide scale was separated into two layers, the outer layer with sparse holes that was mainly composed of Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} and TiO{sub 2} and an inner layer of dense Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}. At 1100 °C for 100 h the outer layer was spalled, due to the looser oxide scale with large blocks of TiO{sub 2} and NiCr{sub 2}O{sub 4} which provided channels for oxygen diffusion. - Highlights: •Isothermal oxidation kinetic of GH202 obeys a parabolic law from 800 °C to 1100 °C. •The activation energy of GH202 is closed to the diffusion activation of Cr{sup 3+}. •The evolution process of oxide scales from 800 °C to 1100 °C is displayed by EPMA. •The oxidation behavior of GH202 is mainly controlled by Cr{sup 3+} and Ti{sup 4+}.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗