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At least 19 records

Nuclear Data Sheets for A=40

The experimental nuclear structure data and decay data are evaluated for the known nuclides of mass 40 (Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, Ar, K, Ca, Sc, Ti). Detailed evaluated nuclear structure information is presented with the best values recommended for level energies, half-lives, γ-ray energies and intensities, decay properties (energies, intensities and placement of radiations), and other spectroscopic data. The {sup 40}Ca and {sup 40}K nuclides remain as the most extensively studied from many different reactions and decays; no excited states are known in {sup 40}Mg, {sup 40}Al, {sup 40}P and {sup 40}Ti. This work supersedes the earlier full evaluation of A=40 by J. Cameron and B. Singh (2004Ca38).

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Form factors for dark matter capture by the Sun in effective theories

In the effective theory of isoscalar and isovector dark matter-nucleon interactions mediated by a heavy spin-1 or spin-0 particle, 8 isotope-dependent nuclear response functions can be generated in the dark matter scattering by nuclei. We compute the 8 nuclear response functions for the 16 most abundant elements in the Sun, i.e. H, {sup 3}He, {sup 4}He, {sup 12}C, {sup 14}N, {sup 16}O, {sup 20}Ne, {sup 23}Na, {sup 24}Mg, {sup 27}Al, {sup 28}Si, {sup 32}S, {sup 40}Ar, {sup 40}Ca, {sup 56}Fe, and {sup 59}Ni, through numerical shell model calculations. We use our response functions to compute the rate of dark matter capture by the Sun for all isoscalar and isovector dark matter-nucleon effective interactions, including several operators previously considered for dark matter direct detection only. We study in detail the dependence of the capture rate on specific dark matter-nucleon interaction operators, and on the different elements in the Sun. We find that a so far neglected momentum dependent dark matter coupling to the nuclear vector charge gives a larger contribution to the capture rate than the constant spin-dependent interaction commonly included in dark matter searches at neutrino telescopes. Our investigation lays the foundations for model independent analyses of dark matter induced neutrino signals from the Sun. The nuclear response functions obtained in this study are listed in analytic form in an appendix, ready to be used in other projects.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

ISOCHRONS IN PRESOLAR GRAPHITE GRAINS FROM ORGUEIL

Primitive meteorites contain tiny dust grains that condensed in stellar outflows and explosions. These stardust grains can be extracted from their host meteorites and studied in detail in the laboratory. We investigated depth profiles of the Al-Mg, Ca-K, and Ti-Ca isotopic systems obtained during NanoSIMS isotopic analysis of presolar graphite grains from the CI carbonaceous meteorite Orgueil. Large {sup 26}Al/{sup 27}Al, {sup 41}Ca/{sup 40}Ca, and {sup 44}Ti/{sup 48}Ti ratios, inferred from {sup 26}Mg, {sup 41}K, and {sup 44}Ca excesses from the decay of the short-lived radioisotopes {sup 26}Al, {sup 41}Ca, and {sup 44}Ti, indicate a supernova (SN) origin. From the depth distribution of the radiogenic isotopes and the stable isotopes of their parent elements we constructed isochron-type correlation plots. The plots indicate quantitative retention of radiogenic {sup 26}Mg, {sup 41}K, and {sup 44}Ca in most grains. Deviations from straight lines in the Al-Mg and Ca-K plots can be explained by contamination with {sup 27}Al and isotopically normal Ca, respectively. For the Ti-Ca system in some grains, the lack of parent-daughter correlation indicates either redistribution of radiogenic {sup 44}Ca or heterogeneity in the initial {sup 44}Ti/{sup 48}Ti ratio. We also obtained Si isotopic depth profiles in three graphite grains with large {sup 29}Si and {sup 30}Si excesses, for which a SN origin has been proposed. In two grains no Si-rich subgrains are observed; in the third grain with an apparent Si-rich subgrain the anomalous Si isotopic ratios in the subgrain are the same as in the rest of the graphite host. Our studies show that by measuring depth profiles, information on presolar grains can be obtained that cannot be obtained by whole-grain analysis.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Transverse piezoelectric coefficient measurement of flexible lead zirconate titanate thin films

Highly flexible lead zirconate titanate, Pb(Zr,Ti)O{sub 3} (PZT), thin films have been realized by modified sol-gel process. The transverse piezoelectric coefficient d{sub 31} was determined from the tip displacement of bending-mode actuators made of PZT cantilever deposited onto bare or RuO{sub 2} coated aluminium substrate (16 μm thick). The influence of the thickness of ruthenium dioxide RuO{sub 2} and PZT layers was investigated for Pb(Zr{sub 0.57}Ti{sub 0.43})O{sub 3}. The modification of Zr/Ti ratio from 40/60 to 60/40 was done for 3 μm thick PZT thin films onto aluminium (Al) and Al/RuO{sub 2} substrates. A laser vibrometer was used to measure the beam displacement under controlled electric field. The experimental results were fitted in order to find the piezoelectric coefficient. Very large tip deflections of about 1 mm under low voltage (∼8 V) were measured for every cantilevers at the resonance frequency (∼180 Hz). For a given Zr/Ti ratio of 58/42, it was found that the addition of a 40 nm thick RuO{sub 2} interfacial layer between the aluminium substrate and the PZT layer induces a remarkable increase of the d{sub 31} coefficient by a factor of 2.7, thus corresponding to a maximal d{sub 31} value of 33 pC/N. These results make the recently developed PZT/Al thin films very attractive for both low frequency bending mode actuating applications and vibrating energy harvesting.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

A LOWER INITIAL ABUNDANCE OF SHORT-LIVED {sup 41}Ca IN THE EARLY SOLAR SYSTEM AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR SOLAR SYSTEM FORMATION

The short-lived radionuclide {sup 41}Ca plays an important role in constraining the immediate astrophysical environment and the formation timescale of the nascent solar system due to its extremely short half-life (0.1 Myr). Nearly 20 years ago, the initial ratio of {sup 41}Ca/{sup 40}Ca in the solar system was determined to be (1.41 {+-} 0.14) Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -8}, primarily based on two Ca-Al-rich Inclusions (CAIs) from the CV chondrite Efremovka. With an advanced analytical technique for isotopic measurements, we reanalyzed the potassium isotopic compositions of the two Efremovka CAIs and inferred the initial ratios of {sup 41}Ca/{sup 40}Ca to be (2.6 {+-} 0.9) Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -9} and (1.4 {+-} 0.6) Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -9} (2{sigma}), a factor of 7-10 lower than the previously inferred value. Considering possible thermal processing that led to lower {sup 26}Al/{sup 27}Al ratios in the two CAIs, we propose that the true solar system initial value of {sup 41}Ca/{sup 40}Ca should have been {approx}4.2 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -9}. Synchronicity could have existed between {sup 26}Al and {sup 41}Ca, indicating a uniform distribution of the two radionuclides at the time of CAI formation. The new initial {sup 41}Ca abundance is 4-16 times lower than the calculated value for steady-state galactic nucleosynthesis. Therefore, {sup 41}Ca could have originated as part of molecular cloud materials with a free decay time of 0.2-0.4 Myr. Alternative possibilities, such as a last-minute input from a stellar source and early solar system irradiation, could not be definitively ruled out. This underscores the need for more data from diverse CAIs to determine the true astrophysical origin of {sup 41}Ca.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Beam imaging in the injection line of the INFN-LNS superconducting cyclotron

A cheap and efficient diagnostic system for beam monitoring has been recently developed at INFN-LNS in Catania. It consists of a high sensitivity CCD camera detecting the light produced by an ion beam hitting the surface of a scintillating screen and a frame grabber for image acquisition. A scintillating screen, developed at INFN-LNS and consisting of a 2 μm BaF{sub 2} layer evaporated on an aluminium plate, has been tested by using {sup 20}Ne and {sup 40}Ar beams in the keV energy range. The CAESAR ECR ion source has been used for investigating the influence of the frequency and magnetic field tuning effects, the impact of the microwave injected power, and of the focusing solenoids along the low energy beam transport on the beam shape and current. These tests will allow to better understand the interplay between the plasma and beam dynamics and, moreover, to improve the transport efficiency along the low energy beam line and the matching with the superconducting cyclotron, particularly relevant in view of the expected upgrade of the machine.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Broad Frequency Shift of Parametric Processes in Epsilon-Near-Zero Time-Varying Media

The ultrafast changes of material properties induced by short laser pulses can lead to a frequency shift of reflected and transmitted radiation. Recent reports highlight how such a frequency shift is enhanced in spectral regions where the material features a near-zero real part of the permittivity. Here, we investigate the frequency shift for fields generated by four-wave mixing. In our experiment, we observed a frequency shift of more than 60 nm (compared to the pulse width of ~40 nm) in the phase conjugated radiation generated by a 500 nm aluminium-doped zinc oxide (AZO) film pumped close to the epsilon-near-zero wavelength. Our results indicate applications of time-varying media for nonlinear optics and frequency conversion.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Low bias stress and reduced operating voltage in SnCl{sub 2}Pc based n-type organic field-effect transistors

Vacuum deposited tin (IV) phthalocyanine dichloride (SnCl{sub 2}Pc) field-effect transistors were fabricated on polymethylmethacrylate/aluminum oxide (PMMA/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}) bilayer gate dielectric, with reduced operating voltage and low contact resistance. The devices with top contact Ag electrodes exhibit excellent n-channel behavior with electron mobility values of 0.01 cm{sup 2}/Vs, low threshold voltages ∼4 V, current on/off ratio ∼10{sup 4} with an operating voltage of 10 V. Bias stress instability effects are investigated during long term operation using thin film devices under vacuum. We find that the amount of bias stress of SnCl{sub 2}Pc based thin film transistor is extremely small with characteristic relaxation time >10{sup 5} s obtained using stretched exponential model. Stressing the SnCl{sub 2}Pc devices by applying 10 V to the gate for half an hour results in a decrease of the source drain current, I{sub DS} of only ∼10% under low vacuum. These devices show highly stable electrical behavior under multiple scans and low threshold voltage instability under electrical dc bias stress (V{sub DS} = V{sub GS} = 10 V, for 2 h) even after 40 days.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Role of angular momentum in the production of complex fragments in fusion and quasifission reactions

The influence of angular momentum on the competition between complete fusion followed by the decay of compound nucleus and quasifission channels is treated within the dinuclear system model. The charge distributions of the products in the reactions {sup 28}Si+{sup 96}Zr, {sup 4}He+{sup 130}Te, and {sup 40}Ca+{sup 82}Kr are predicted at bombarding energies above the Coulomb barrier. The results of calculations for the reactions {sup 93}Nb+{sup 9}Be,{sup 12}C,{sup 27}Al; {sup 84}Kr+{sup 27}Al; {sup 86}Kr+{sup 63}Cu; {sup 139}La+{sup 12}C,{sup 27}Al; and {sup 45}Sc+{sup 65}Cu are compared with the available experimental data.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Flux growth and magnetic properties of rare earth cobalt germanide, RE{sub 6}Co{sub 5}Ge{sub 1+x}Al{sub 3−x} (RE=Pr, Nd; x≈0.8)

The intermetallic compounds RE{sub 6}Co{sub 5}Ge{sub 1+x}Al{sub 3−x} (RE=Pr{sub ,} Nd) were synthesized from the reaction of germanium and aluminum in RE/Co eutectic flux. These phases crystallize with the Nd{sub 6}Co{sub 5}Ge{sub 2.2} structure type in hexagonal space group P-6m2 (a=9.203(2)Å, c=4.202(1) Å, R{sub 1}=0.0109 for Pr{sub 6}Co{sub 5}Ge{sub 1.80}Al{sub 2.20}; and a=9.170(3) Å, c=4.195(1) Å, R{sub 1}=0.0129 for Nd{sub 6}Co{sub 5}Ge{sub 1.74}Al{sub 2.26}). The structure features chains of face-sharing Ge@RE{sub 9} clusters intersecting hexagonal cobalt nets linked by aluminum atoms. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that both phases exhibit ferromagnetic ordering of the cobalt layers with T{sub C} in the range of 130–140 K. The magnetic moments of the rare earth ions order at lower temperature (30–40 K). Magnetic measurements on oriented crystals of Nd{sub 6}Co{sub 5}Ge{sub 1.74}Al{sub 2.26} show a strong preference of the moments to order along the c-axis. - Graphical abstract: RE{sub 6}Co{sub 5}Ge{sub 1+x}Al{sub 3−x} (RE=Pr{sub ,} Nd) were grown as large crystals from reactions of Ge and Al in RE/Co eutectic melts. Magnetic measurements indicate ordering of the 2-D cobalt nets at 130–140 K, and ordering of the rare earth moments at 30–40 K. Display Omitted - Highlights: • RE{sub 6}Co{sub 5}Ge{sub 1+x}Al{sub 3−x} (RE=Pr{sub ,} Nd) grown as large crystals from RE/Co eutectic flux. • RE{sub 6}Co{sub 5}Ge{sub 1+x}Al{sub 3−x} structure features hexagonal cobalt nets stacked along c-axis. • Cobalt layers order ferromagnetically with T{sub c}=130–140 K. • Rare earth magnetic moments order at low temperature (30–40 K).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Characterisation of a complex thin walled structure fabricated by selective laser melting using a ferritic oxide dispersion strengthened steel

Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) alloys exhibit superior mechanical and physical properties due to the presence of nanoscopic Y(Al, Ti) oxide precipitates, but their manufacturing process is complex. The present study is aimed at further investigation of the application of an alternative, Additive Manufacturing (AM) technique, Selective Laser Melting (SLM), to the production of consolidated ODS alloy components. Mechanically alloyed PM2000 (ODS-FeCrAl) powders have been consolidated and a fine dispersion of Y-containing precipitates were observed in an as built thin-walled component, but these particles were typically poly-crystalline and contained a variety of elements including O, Al, Ti, Cr and Fe. Application of post-build heat treatments resulted in the modification of particle structures and compositions; in the annealed condition most precipitates were transformed to single crystal yttrium aluminium oxides. During the annealing treatment, precipitate distributions homogenised and localised variations in number density were diminished. The resulting volume fractions of those precipitates were 25–40% lower than have been reported in conventionally processed PM2000, which was attributed to Y-rich slag-like surface features and inclusions formed during SLM. - Highlights: • A wall structure was grown from ODS steel powder using selective laser melting. • A fine dispersion of nano-precipitates was apparent in as-build material. • Precipitates were multi-phased containing several elements, e.g. O, Ti, Al, Fe, Cr, Y. • Post-build annealing changed those into typically single-crystalline Y–Al–O. • The anneal also reduced and stabilised the volume fraction of precipitates to ~ 0.006.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Elucidating potential-induced degradation in bifacial PERC silicon photovoltaic modules

This paper elucidates the behavior and underlying mechanism of potential-induced degradation (PID) on the rear side of p-type monocrystalline silicon bifacial passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) photovoltaic modules. At 50 degrees C, 30% relative humidity, and -1000 V bias to the solar cells with aluminium foil on the rear glass surface, the rear-side performance of bifacial PERC modules at standard testing conditions degraded dramatically after 40 hours with a 40.4%, 36.2%, and 7.2% loss in maximum power (Pmpp), short-circuit current (Isc), and open-circuit voltage (Voc), respectively. The front-side standard testing condition performance, on the other hand, showed less degradation; Pmpp, Isc, and Voc dropped by 12.0%, 5.2%, and 5.3%, respectively. However, negligible degradation was observed when the solar cells were positively biased. Based on I-V characteristics, electroluminescence, external quantum efficiency measurements, and the effective minority-carrier lifetime simulation, the efficiency loss is shown to be caused by the surface polarization effect; positive charges are attracted to the passivation/antireflection stack on the rear surface and reduce its field effect passivation performance. Extended PID testing to 100 hours showed an increase in device performances (relative to 40 hours) due to the formation of an inversion layer along the rear surface. In addition, replacing ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer with polyolefin elastomer films significantly slows down the progression of PID, whereas a glass/transparent backsheet design effectively protects the rear side of bifacial PERC modules from PID. Furthermore, PID on the rear side of bifacial PERC modules is fully recoverable, and light greatly promotes recovery of the observed PID.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

EFFECTS OF DUST GROWTH AND SETTLING ON THE IONIZATION BY RADIONUCLIDES. I. FORMULATION AND RESULTS IN A QUIESCENT STATE OF PROTOPLANETARY DISKS

We investigate the evolution of the ionization rates by the decay of radionuclides in protoplanetary disks at the early stage of planet formation where size growth and settling of dust particles proceed extensively. Because most of the nuclides to ionize gas, such as short-lived nuclide {sup 26}Al and long-lived one {sup 40}K, are refractory elements, they are contained in the solid material of dust particles. Thus, the ionization by these nuclides is affected by the following three processes: (1) the change of the relative abundance of dust particles due to the settling toward the midplane of the disk, (2) the energy loss of emitted energetic particles inside the solid material of dust particles, and (3) the absorption of energetic particles by the other dust particles located nearby. In this series of papers we comprehensively investigate the basic physical processes, calculate the settling and size growth of dust particles numerically, and clarify the evolution of the ionization rates relative to their initial values in various disk models at this stage. In this paper we investigate the energy-loss processes concerning dust particles, formulate the coalescence equation for settling particles, and apply them to quiescent disk models that are similar to the solar nebula. For simplicity, dust particles are assumed to be compact spheres that remain perfect sticking for mutual collisions. Because the settling of dust particles is not appreciable in the first 10{sup 3} yr, the ionization rate varies little except in the outermost part near the disk surface. As the settling proceeds, the rate around the midplane increases considerably. The maximum ionization rates by {sup 26}Al in the minimum mass solar nebula are about 100, 51, and 14 times larger than their initial values for the orbits R = 0.5, 1, and 5 AU, respectively, which are close to or exceed the ionization rate by cosmic ray in the interstellar medium. The rates by {sup 40}K also increase by factors of about 36, 19, and 5 at the same orbits. In the inner orbital regions, these rates exceed the rates by the attenuated cosmic rays by an order of magnitude. The rates in the residual parts decrease extensively as time goes by, because amounts of the floating dust particles decrease continuously.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Supercritical cryo-compressed hydrogen storage for fuel cell electric buses

Liquid hydrogen (LH 2 ) truck delivery and storage at dispensing sites is likely to play an important role in an emerging H 2 infrastructure. Here, we analyzed the performance of single phase, supercritical, on-board cryo-compressed hydrogen storage (CcH 2 ) with commercially-available LH 2 pump enabled single-flow refueling for application to fuel cell electric buses (FCEB). We conducted finite-element stress analyses of Type 3 CcH 2 tanks using ABAQUS for carbon fiber requirement and Fe-Safe for fatigue life. The results from these analyses indicate that, from the standpoint of weight, volume and cost, 2-mm 316 stainless steel liner is preferred to aluminium 6061 alloy in meeting the required 15,000 charge-discharge cycles for 350–700 bar storage pressures. Compared to the Type 3, 350 bar, ambient-temperature H 2 storage systems in current demonstration FCEBs, 500-bar CcH 2 storage system is projected to achieve 91% improvement in gravimetric capacity, 175% improvement in volumetric capacity, 46% reduction in carbon fiber composite mass, and 21% lower system cost, while exceeding >7 day loss-free dormancy with initially 85%-full H 2 tank.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Quantum confinement effect in Bi anti-dot thin films with tailored pore wall widths and thicknesses

We investigated quantum confinement effects in Bi anti-dot thin films grown on anodized aluminium oxide templates. The pore wall widths (w{sub Bi}) and thickness (t) of the films were tailored to have values longer or shorter than Fermi wavelength of Bi (λ{sub F} = ∼40 nm). Magnetoresistance measurements revealed a well-defined weak antilocalization effect below 10 K. Coherence lengths (L{sub ϕ}) as functions of temperature were derived from the magnetoresistance vs field curves by assuming the Hikami-Larkin-Nagaoka model. The anti-dot thin film with w{sub Bi} and t smaller than λ{sub F} showed low dimensional electronic behavior at low temperatures where L{sub ϕ}(T) exceed w{sub Bi} or t.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Counting the number of correlated pairs in a nucleus

We suggest that the number of correlated nucleon pairs in an arbitrary nucleus can be estimated by counting the number of proton-neutron, proton-proton, and neutron-neutron pairs residing in a relative S state. We present numerical calculations of those amounts for the nuclei {sup 4}He, {sup 9}Be, {sup 12}C, {sup 27}Al, {sup 40}Ca, {sup 48}Ca, {sup 56}Fe, {sup 63}Cu, {sup 108}Ag, and {sup 197}Au. The results are used to predict the values of the ratios of the per-nucleon electron-nucleus inelastic scattering cross section to the deuteron in the kinematic regime where correlations dominate.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

The evaluation of half-lives and other decay data used in nuclear astrophysics and cosmochronology

The current status of some decay data used in nuclear astrophysics and cosmochronology is presented. The half-life of {sup 79}Se has been evaluated as 3.6(3) Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 5} yr. The total energy of non-neutrino radiation released in act of {sup 37}Ar decay has been obtained being 2.709 (16) keV per disintegration. The recommended half-life values of the long-lived radionuclides (T{sub 1/2} Greater-Than-Or-Equivalent-To 10{sup 6} yr) of {sup 26}Al, {sup 40}K, {sup 53}Mn, {sup 60}Fe, {sup 87}Rb, {sup 93}Zr, {sup 98}Tc, {sup 107}Pd, {sup 129}I, {sup 135}Cs, {sup 146}Sm, {sup 176}Lu, {sup 182}Hf, {sup 187}Re, {sup 205}Pb, {sup 232}Th, {sup 235}U, {sup 238}U, {sup 244}Pu, and {sup 247}Cm are given based on the evaluations published until 2010.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Re{sup 3+} : YAG laser ceramics: synthesis, optical properties and laser characteristics

Highly transparent yttrium aluminium garnet ceramics doped with holmium or ytterbium or neodymium are synthesised. The ceramics were made of a mixture of nanopowders synthesised by laser ablation. The structural and spectral characteristics of ceramics are studied. In the samples with holmium Ho{sup 3+} and neodymium Nd{sup 3+} ions, lasing was achieved with a slope efficiency of 40% and 35.3%, respectively; the maximum laser power exceeded 4 W. The internal absorption and scattering losses for 1% Nd : YAG ceramics are estimated to be 1.6 × 10{sup -2} cm{sup -1}. (extreme light fields and their applications)

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗