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At least 19 records

Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 70

Spectroscopic data for all nuclei with mass number A = 70 have been evaluated, and the corresponding level schemes from radioactive decay and reaction studies are presented. Since the previous evaluation, the half-life of {sup 70}Mn has been measured and excited states in {sup 70}Fe observed for the first time. Excited states in {sup 70}Ni have been more extensively studied while Coulomb excitation and collinear laser spectroscopy measurements in {sup 70}Cu have allowed for firm Jπ assignments. Despite new measurements, there remain some discrepancies in half-lives of low lying states in {sup 70}Zn. New measurements have extended the knowledge of high-spin band structures in {sup 70}Ge and {sup 70}As. This evaluation supersedes the prior A = 70 evaluation of 2004Tu09.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

The Karlsruhe Astrophysical Database of Nucleosynthesis in Stars Project – Status and Prospects

The KADoNiS (Karlsruhe Astrophysical Database of Nucleosynthesis in Stars) project is an astrophysical online database for cross sections relevant for nucleosynthesis in the s process and the γ process. The s-process database ( (http://www.kadonis.org)) was started in 2005 and is presently facing its 4th update (KADoNiS v1.0). The γ-process database (KADoNiS-p, (http://www.kadonis.org/pprocess)) was recently revised and re-launched in March 2013. Both databases are compilations for experimental cross sections with relevance to heavy ion nucleosynthesis. For the s process recommended Maxwellian averaged cross sections for kT=5−100 keV are given for more than 360 isotopes between {sup 1}H and {sup 210}Bi. For the γ-process database all available experimental data from (p,γ),(p,n),(p,α),(α,γ),(α,n), and (α,p) reactions between {sup 70}Ge and {sup 209}Bi in or close to the respective Gamow window were collected and can be compared to theoretical predictions. The aim of both databases is a quick and user-friendly access to the available data in the astrophysically relevant energy regions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Cross sections for production of the 15.10 MeV and other astrophysically significant gamma-ray lines through excitation and spallation of sup 12 C and sup 16 O with protons

The ratio of the flux of 15.10-MeV gamma rays to the flux of 4.438-MeV gamma rays resulting from excitation of the corresponding states in C-12 as a sensitive measure of the spectrum of the exciting particles produced in solar flares and other cosmic sources. These gamma rays are produced predominantly by interactions with C-12 and O-16, both of which are relatively abundant in the solar photosphere. Gamma ray production cross sections for proton interactions have been reported previously for all important channels except for the production of 15.10-MeV gamma rays from O-16. The first reported measurement of the 15.10-MeV gamma ray production cross section from p + O-16 is presented here. The University of Maryland cyclotron was employed to produce 40-, 65-, and 86-MeV protons which interacted with CH2 and BeO targets. The resultant gamma ray spectra were measured with a high-purity germanium semiconductor detector at 70, 90, 110, 125, and 140 degrees relative to the direction of the incident beam for each proton energy. Other gamma ray lines resulting from direct excitation and spallation reactions with C-12 and 0-16 were observed as well, and their gamma ray production cross sections described.

Lang, F. L.↗

Oxide-Free Three-Dimensional Germanium/Silicon Core–Shell Metalattice Made by High-Pressure Confined Chemical Vapor Deposition

Metalattices are crystalline arrays of uniform particles in which the period of the crystal is close to some characteristic physical length scale of the material. In this work, we explore the synthesis and properties of a germanium metalattice in which the similar to 70 nm periodicity of a silica colloidal crystal template is close to the similar to 24 nm Bohr exciton radius of the nanocrystalline Ge replica. The problem of Ge surface oxidation can be significant when exploring quantum confinement effects or designing electronically coupled nanostructures because of the high surface area to volume ratio at the nanoscale. To eliminate surface oxidation, we developed a coreshell synthesis in which the Ge metalattice is protected by an oxide-free Si interfacial layer, and we explore its properties by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The interstices of a colloidal crystal film grown from 69 nm diameter spherical silica particles were filled with polycrystalline Ge by high-pressure confined chemical vapor deposition (HPcCVD) from GeH4. After the SiO2 template was etched away with aqueous HF, the Ge replica was uniformly coated with an amorphous Si shell by HPcCVD as confirmed by TEM-EDS (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) and Raman spectroscopy. Formation of the shell prevents oxidation of the Ge core within the detection limit of XPS. The electronic properties of the core-shell structure were studied by accessing the Ge 3d edge onset using STEM-EELS. A blue shift in the edge onset with decreasing size of Ge sites in the metalattices suggests quantum confinement of the Ge core. The degree of quantum confinement of the Ge core depends on the void sizes in the template, which is tunable by using silica particles of varying size. The edge onset also shows a shift to higher energy near the shell in comparison with the Ge core. This shift along with the observation of Ge-Si vibrational modes in the Raman spectrum indicate interdiffusion of Ge and Si. Both the size of the voids in the template and core-shell interdiffusion of Si and Ge can in principle be tuned to modify the electronic properties of the Ge metalattice.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A Methodology for Determining the Concentration of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials in an Urban Environment

The detection of radioactive sources in an urban setting is greatly complicated by natural background radiation, which emanates from various materials including roadways, sidewalks, soil, and building exteriors. The method presented and demonstrated here represents an effort to characterize the concentration of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in these types of materials. The location surveyed in this work was the Fort Indiantown Gap Combined Arms Collective Training Facility in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Over 70 measurements with a high-purity germanium detector were performed to ascertain the NORM concentrations present in the soil, asphalt, gravel, concrete, and walls found throughout the site. Monte Carlo radiation transport calculations were used to obtain detector responses for these various geometries and materials to convert these measurements into NORM concentration estimates. Lastly, synthetic spectra were simulated using the predicted source terms and compared to actual measurements, showing acceptable agreement.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Characterization of NORM in an Urban Environment using HPGe Measurements and MCNP6 Simulations

This work is part of a larger project aimed at producing an operationally relevant, validated simulation environment that can be used as a 'virtual testbed' for counterterrorism and counterproliferation efforts. Examples of such efforts include searches for illicit radiation sources before and during large special events, such as the presidential nominating conventions, inaugurations, and large sporting events. Once validated by laboratory and field measurements, this testbed can be used to test and validate algorithms and detector systems designed for various search missions in an urban environment. The detection of radioactive sources in a city is greatly complicated by natural background radiation, which emanates from various materials common to an urban environment, such as roadways, sidewalks, and building exteriors. The methods and results offered here represent the conclusion of an effort to characterize the concentration of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in various elements in a controlled, but representative, urban environment. Some of the methods discussed in previous work will be briefly reiterated here, but more detail can be found in the preceding work. The location chosen for this effort was a Military Operations on Urban Terrain (MOUT) environment at the Fort Indiantown Gap (FTIG) National Guard training facility in Pennsylvania. This site was chosen because it replicates a small town where traffic and pedestrian access could be easily controlled, as to not interfere with the background measurements. This endeavor involved over 70 measurements using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector designed to ascertain the NORM concentrations in the soil, asphalt roads, gravel lots, concrete intersections, sidewalks, foundations, and walls found throughout the site. The NORM concentrations determined from this work will be incorporated into a large-scale simulation that can be used to investigate various search techniques and algorithms, detector types and setups, and to produce representative synthetic data for future work.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Crystallization of Amorphous Germanium Films and Multilayer a-Ge/a-Si Structures upon Exposure to Nanosecond Laser Radiation

The processes of the crystallization of amorphous germanium films and multilayer germanium/silicon structures upon exposure to nanosecond (70 ns) ruby laser radiation (λ = 694 nm) are studied. The samples are grown on silicon and glassy substrates by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Pulsed laser annealing of the samples is conducted in the range of pulse energy densities E{sub p} from 0.07 to 0.8 J cm{sup –2}. The structure of the films after annealing is determined by analyzing the scanning electron microscopy data and Raman spectra. It is established that, after annealing, the films are completely crystallized and, in this case, contain regions of coarse crystalline grains (>100 nm), whose fraction increases, as E{sub p} is increased, and reaches 40% of the area. From analysis of the position of the Raman peaks, it is conceived that the crystalline grains, whose dimensions exceed 100 nm, either contain structural defects or stretching strains. The correlation length of optical vibrations is determined from the phonon confinement model and found to increase from 5 to 8 nm, as E{sub p} is increased. Pulsed laser annealing of multilayer Ge(10 nm)/Si(5 nm) structures induces partial intermixing of the layers with the formation of Ge–Si alloys.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Self-assembled asymmetric membrane containing micron-size germanium for high capacity lithium ion batteries

We report the formation of novel asymmetric membrane electrode containing micron-size (~5 μm) germanium powders through a self-assembly phase inversion method for high capacity lithium ion battery anode. 850 mA h g -1 capacity (70%) can be retained at a current density of 600 mA g -1 after 100 cycles with excellent rate performance. Such a high retention rate has rarely been seen for pristine micron-size germanium anodes. Moreover, scanning electron microscope studies reveal that germanium powders are uniformly embedded in a networking porous structure consisting of both nanopores and macropores. It is believed that such a unique porous structure can efficiently accommodate the ~260% volume change during germanium alloying and de-alloying process, resulting in an enhanced cycling performance. Finally, these porous membrane electrodes can be manufactured in large scale using a roll-to-roll processing method.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

New Results from the Search for Low-Mass Weakly Interacting Massive Particles with the CDMS low ionization Threshold Experiment

The CDMS low ionization threshold experiment (CDMSlite) uses cryogenic germanium detectors operated at a relatively high bias voltage to amplify the phonon signal in the search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). Results are presented from the second CDMSlite run with an exposure of 70 kg day, which reached an energy threshold for electron recoils as low as 56 eV. A fiducialization cut reduces backgrounds below those previously reported by CDMSlite.

New Results, Low-Mass, Mazzive Particles, CDMS Low↗

Search for Low-Mass Dark Matter with CDMSlite Using a Profile Likelihood Fit

The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search low ionization threshold experiment (CDMSlite) searches for interactions between dark matter particles and germanium nuclei in cryogenic detectors. The experiment has achieved a low energy threshold with improved sensitivity to low-mass (<10 GeV/c2) dark matter particles. We present an analysis of the final CDMSlite data set, taken with a different detector than was used for the two previous CDMSlite data sets. This analysis includes a data "salting" method to protect against bias, improved noise discrimination, background modeling, and the use of profile likelihood methods to search for a dark matter signal in the presence of backgrounds. We achieve an energy threshold of 70 eV and significantly improve the sensitivity for dark matter particles with masses between 2.5 and 10 GeV/c2 compared to previous analyses. We set an upper limit on the dark matter-nucleon scattering cross section in germanium of 5.4×10-42 cm2 at 5 GeV/c2, a factor of ~2.5 improvement over the previous CDMSlite result.

Agnese, R↗

X-ray Spectroscopic Studies of a Solid-Density Germanium Plasma Created by a Free Electron Laser

The generation of solid-density plasmas in a controlled manner using an X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) has opened up the possibility of diagnosing the atomic properties of hot, strongly coupled systems in novel ways. Previous work has concentrated on K-shell emission spectroscopy of low Z (<= 14) elements. Here, we extend these studies to the mid-Z(=32) element Germanium, where the XFEL creates copious L-shell holes, and the plasma conditions are interrogated by recording of the associated L-shell X-ray emission spectra. Given the desirability of generating as uniform a plasma as possible, we present here a study of the effects of the FEL photon energy on the temperatures and electron densities created, and their uniformity in the FEL beam propagation direction. We show that good uniformity can be achieved by tuning the photon energy of the XFEL such that it does not overlap significantly with L-shell to M-shell bound-bound transitions, and lies below the L-edges of the ions formed during the heating process. Reasonable agreement between experiment and simulations is found for the emitted X-ray spectra, demonstrating that for these higher Z elements, the selection of appropriate XFEL parameters is important for achieving uniformity in the plasma conditions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Nonlinear harmonic mixing in an InGaAs/InGaP/GaAs laser on a germanium substrate

An InGaAs/InGaP/GaAs laser with quantum wells, grown on a lightly doped germanium substrate, is experimentally investigated. Generation on the second and sum harmonics is observed in this composite cavity laser, which confirms the possibility of efficient difference-harmonic generation. (lasers)

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Measurements and non-local thermodynamic equilibrium modeling of mid-Z plasma emission

The x-ray yields from laser-irradiated thin foils of iron, copper, zinc, and germanium have been measured in the soft and multi-keV x-ray ranges at the OMEGA laser at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. The incident laser power had a pre-pulse to enhance the x-ray emission of a 1 ns flat-top main pulse. The experimental results have been compared with post-shot simulations performed with the two-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamics code FCI2. A new non-local thermodynamic equilibrium model, NOO-RAD, have been incorporated into FCI2. In this approach, the plasma ionization state is in-line calculated by the atomic physics NOHEL package. In the soft x-ray bands, both simulations using RADIOM [M. Busquet, Phys. Fluids B 5, 4191 (1993)] and NOO-RAD clearly over-predict the powers and energies measured by a broad-band spectrometer. In one case (the iron foil), the discrepancy between the measured and simulated x-ray output is nevertheless significantly reduced when NOO-RAD is used in the simulations. In the multi-keV x-ray bands, the simulations display a strong sensitivity to the coupling between the electron thermal conductivity and the NLTE models, and for some particular combinations of these, provide a close match to the measured emission. The comparison between the measured and simulated H-like to He-like line-intensity ratios deduced from high-resolution spectra indicates higher experimental electron temperatures were achieved, compared to the simulated ones. Measurements of the plasma conditions have been achieved using the Thomson-scattering diagnostic. The electron temperatures are found to range from 3 to 5 keV at the end of the laser pulse and are greater than predicted by the simulations. The measured flow velocities are in reasonable agreement with the calculated ones. This last finding gives us confidence in our numerical predictions for the plasma parameters, which are over that time mainly determined by hydrodynamics, such as the mass densities and the ion temperatures.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Review of laser produced multi-keV X-ray sources from metallic foils, cylinders with liner, and low density aerogels

Experimental results obtained within the last fifteen years on multi-keV X-ray sources irradiated with nanosecond scale pulse duration 3ω laser light at TW power levels by CEA and collaborators are discussed in this review paper. Experiments were carried out on OMEGA and GEKKO XII laser facilities where emitting materials in the 5–10 keV multi-keV energy range are intermediate Z value metals from titanium to germanium. Results focused on conversion efficiency improvement by a factor of 2 when an underdense plasma is created using a laser pre-pulse on a metallic foil, which is then heated by a second laser pulse delayed in time. Metal coated inner surface walls of plastic cylindrical tube ablated by laser beam impacts showed that plasma confinement doubles X-ray emission duration as it gives adequate plasma conditions (electron temperature and density) over a long period of time. Low-density aerogels (doped with metal atoms uniformly distributed throughout their volume or metal oxides) contained in a plastic cylinder have been developed and their results are comparable to gas targets. A hybrid target concept consisting of a thin metal foil placed at the end of a cylinder filled with low density aerogel has emerged as it could collect benefits from pre-exploded thin foils, efficient laser absorption in aerogel, and confinement by cylinder walls. All target geometry performances are relatively close together at a given photon energy and mainly depend on laser irradiation condition optimizations. Results are compared with gas target performances from recent NIF experiments allowing high electron temperatures over large dimension low density plasmas, which are the principal parameters for efficient multi-keV X-ray production.

Girard, Frédéric↗

Evidence for variability of the hard X-ray feature in the Hercules X-1 energy spectrum

The hard X-ray spectrum of HER X-1 was measured for the first time with a high resolution (1.4 keV FWHM) germanium spectrometer. The observation was performed near the peak of the on-state in the 35 day cycle and the 1.24 pulsations were observed between the energies of 20 keV and 70 keV. The feature corresponds to an excess of 7.5 sigma over the low energy continuum. Smooth continuum models are poor fits to the entire energy range (chance probabilities of 2 percent or less). The best fit energies are 35 keV for an absorption line and 39 keV for an emission line. These are significantly lower energies than those derived from previous experiments. A direct comparison of our data with the results of the MPI/AIT group shows statistically significant variations which strongly suggest variability in the source.

Tueller, J.↗

Evidence for variability of the hard X-ray feature in the Hercules X-1 energy spectrum

The hard X-ray spectrum of HER X-1 was measured for the first time with a high resolution (1.4 keV FWHM) germanium spectrometer. The observation was performed near the peak of the on-state in the 35 day cycle and the 1.24 pulsations were observed between the energies of 20 keV and 70 keV. The feature corresponds to an excess of 7.5 sigma over the low energy continuum. Smooth continuum models are poor fits to the entire energy range (chance probabilities of 2 percent or less). The best fit energies are 35 keV for an absorption line and 39 keV for an emission line. These are significantly lower energies than those derived from previous experiments. A direct comparison of the data with the results of the MPI/AIT group shows statistically significant variations which strongly suggest variability in the source. Previously announced in STAR as N83-37036

Tueller, J.↗

Electron temperature and density measurements of laser induced germanium plasma

The germanium plasma produced by the fundamental harmonics (1064 nm) of Nd:YAG laser in single and double pulse configurations have been studied spectroscopically. The plasma is characterized by measuring the electron temperature using the Boltzmann plot method for neutral and ionized species and electron number density as a function of laser irradiance, ambient pressure, and distance from the target surface. It is observed that the plasma parameters have an increasing trend with laser irradiance (9–33 GW/cm{sup 2}) and with ambient pressure (8–250 mbar). However, a decreasing trend is observed along the plume length up to 4.5 mm. The electron temperature and electron number density are also determined using a double pulse configuration, and their behavior at fixed energy ratio and different interpulse delays is discussed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Cumulative fission yields of short-lived isotopes under natural-abundance-boron-carbide-moderated neutron spectrum

The availability of gamma spectroscopy data on samples containing mixed fission products at short times after irradiation is limited. Due to this limitation, data interpretation methods for gamma spectra of mixed fission product samples, where the individual fission products have not been chemically isolated from interferences, are not well-developed. The limitation is particularly pronounced for fast pooled neutron spectra because of the lack of available fast reactors in the United States. Samples containing the actinide isotopes 233, 235, 238U, 237Np, and 239Pu individually were subjected to a 2$ pulse in the Washington State University 1 MW TRIGA reactor. To achieve a fission-energy neutron spectrum, the spectrum was tailored using a natural abundance boron carbide capsule to absorb neutrons in the thermal and epithermal region of the spectrum. Our tailored neutron spectrum is unique to the WSU reactor facility, consisting of a soft fission spectrum that contains some measurable flux in the resonance region. This results in a neutron spectrum at greater than 0.1 keV with an average energy of 70 keV, similar to fast reactor spectra and approaching that of 235U fission. Unique fission product gamma spectra were collected from 4 minutes to 1 week after fission using single-crystal high purity germanium detectors. Cumulative fission product yields measured in the current work generally agree with published fast pooled fission product yield values from ENDF/B-VII, though a bias was noted for 239Pu. The present work contributes to the compilation of energy-resolved fission product yield nuclear data for nuclear forensic purposes.

Finn, Erin C.↗