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At least 19 records

Long-period Jovian Tilts the Orbits of Two sub-Neptunes Relative to Stellar Spin Axis in Kepler-129

We present the discovery of Kepler-129 d (P{sub d}=7.2{sub -0.3}{sup +0.4} yr, msini{sub d}=8.3{sub -0.7}{sup +1.1} M{sub Jup}, e{sub d}=0.15{sub -0.05}{sup +0.07}) based on six years of radial-velocity observations from Keck/HIRES. Kepler-129 also hosts two transiting sub-Neptunes: Kepler-129 b (P {sub b} = 15.79 days, r {sub b} = 2.40 ± 0.04 R {sub ⊕}) and Kepler-129 c (P {sub c} = 82.20 days, r {sub c} = 2.52 ± 0.07 R {sub ⊕}) for which we measure masses of m {sub b} < 20 M {sub ⊕} and m{sub c}=43{sub -12}{sup +13} M{sub ⊕}. Kepler-129 is a hierarchical system consisting of two tightly packed inner planets and a massive external companion. In such a system, two inner planets precess around the orbital normal of the outer companion, causing their inclinations to oscillate with time. Based on an asteroseismic analysis of Kepler data, we find tentative evidence that Kepler-129 b and c are misaligned with stellar spin axis by ≳38°, which could be torqued by Kepler-129 d if it is inclined by ≳19° relative to inner planets. Using N-body simulations, we provide additional constraints on the mutual inclination between Kepler-129 d and inner planets by estimating the fraction of time during which two inner planets both transit. The probability that two planets both transit decreases as their misalignment with Kepler-129 d increases. We also find a more massive Kepler-129 c enables the two inner planets to become strongly coupled and more resistant to perturbations from Kepler-129 d. The unusually high mass of Kepler-129 c provides a valuable benchmark for both planetary dynamics and interior structure, since the best-fit mass is consistent with this 2.5 R {sub ⊕} planet having a rocky surface.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Studies of the release of radiogenic Xe-129 from Bjurboele: Evidence against simple diffusion models

The I-Xe system, based on the decay of 15.7 Ma I-129, is a potentially precise chronometer of early solar system events. However, it is not known how the system responded to thermal events during the post-formation histories of ordinary chondrites, severely limiting the usefulness of this system. Isothermal experiments on Bjurbole for different heating durations suggest that at least three domains are responsible for the thermal release of radiogenic Xe-129 (Xe*-129) and that the system may be less susceptible to thermal resetting than some calculations indicated. Two scenarios for the release of Xe*-129 were proposed. In one, the mobility of Xe*-129 is governed by diffusion in mineral grains. This leads to predicted closure temperatures comparable to, or less than, metamorphic temperatures. In the second, mineral grains that solidified at specific temperatures trapped I-129 within them, and the resulting Xe*-129 is only released when those minerals melt, such that isotopic closure occurs at the temperature of solidification.

Burkland, M. K.↗

The Use of Silver Chloride Injection in Remediation of Iodine-129 by In Situ Capture as Silver Iodide at the F-Area Seepage Basin - 20225

The Savannah River Site (SRS) produced tritium, plutonium, and special nuclear materials for national defense, medicine, and the space programs. As part of operations, the F-Area Seepage Basins operated until 1988 for the disposition of deionized acidic wastewater from the F Separations Facility. The wastewater contained dilute nitric acid and low concentrations of non-radioactive metals, and radionuclides, with the major isotopes being Cs-137, Sr-90, U-235, U-238, Pu-239, Tc-99, I-129, and tritium. The seepage basins were closed in 1988 and backfilled and capped by 1991. The groundwater emanating from beneath the closed and capped seepage basins is acidic and contains elevated levels of both chemical and radiological contaminants. Releases from the groundwater plumes sourced from the F-Area Seepage Basins have impacted the water quality of Fourmile Branch, which is a small tributary to the Savannah River, a regional water source. A large pump-and-treat system was constructed in 1997 and operated until 2003 in an attempt to capture the releases to Fourmile Branch. The system in F Area and a similar system in H Area were expensive (∼$1.3 M/month) to operate and produced large quantities of radioactive waste, with concentrations of I- 129 too high to be disposed of at the SRS. In 2004, SRS replaced pump-and-treat with a funnel and gate system that along with operation of a base injection system at the gates reduces the flux of contaminants to the wetlands adjacent to Fourmile Branch. The alkaline solution injected into the aquifer neutralizes the acidic plume and immobilizes many of the cationic constituents. However, base injection is not effective in managing the release of iodine-129, an anionic contaminant. To address iodine-129 SRS and the Savannah River National Laboratory developed an in situ technology that uses ultra-fine ground silver chloride (AgCl) as an injectable capture medium for the sequestration of iodine-129. The AgCl amendment has a very small particle size and is designed to be injected into the contaminated aquifer to capture iodine-129. Dissolved iodine-129 forms a stable and highly insoluble solid (silver iodide) upon contact with AgCl. Laboratory studies, a field scale pilot test (2009), and three deployments (2011, 2015 and 2019) of AgCl have been successfully performed at the F-Area Seepage Basins. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Measurements of I-129 in meteorites and lunar rock by tandem accelerator mass spectrometry

Precise measurements of the half-life of I-129 in three different meteorites and one lunar surface rock are reported. The meteorite source of I-129 was produced by cosmic ray secondary neutron reactions on Te, while the source in lunar materials in spallation on barium and rare earth elements. The Abee, Allende, and Dhajala meteorites were examined, together with the lunar rock 14310. Details of the process used to extract the iodine are provided. The Abee and Allende samples exhibited a production of 0.5 atom/min per gm of Te from the (n,2n) reaction and 0.05 atom/min/gm for the (n,gamma) reaction. The I-129 is concluded to be a viable tool for long-lived cosmogenic nuclide studies. Further work to extend the data to include the constancy of the cosmic ray flux, the meteorite bombardment history, and the cosmic exposure age dating by means of the I-129 and Xe-129 method is indicated.

Nizhiizumi, K.↗

Extinct I-129 in C3 chondrites

Eight C3 chondrites were examined by the I-129 to Xe-129 dating method to determine whether their initial I-129/I-127 ratios, or R(0), correlate with any other properties. The R(0)'s range from 1.60 x 10 to the -4th to 1.09 x 10 to the -4th, corresponding to I to Xe ages from 2.0 Myr before to 6.7 Myr after the Murchison magnetite. Three C30's have essentially indistinguishable R(0)'s, while a fourth is undatable. Four C3V's show a distinct spread, ranging from 1.60 + or 0.07 x 10 to the -4th to 1.09 + or - 0.10 x 10 to the -4th. These R(0)'s correlate inversely with four other properties: I, Br, and Cd content, olivine composition, both percent mean deviation, and proportion of iron-poor olivine grains. The simplest model that accounts for the correlations with R(0) involves mixing of two iodine components in the solar nebula, associated with gas and grains, respectively. The second, of lower I-129/I-127 ratio, predominated at later times and thus became enriched in late-formed meteorites.

Crabb, J.↗

The iodine-129 paradox in nuclear waste management strategies

Nuclear energy has an important role in the low-carbon energy transition, but the safety of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) management remains a public concern. Here, in this study, we investigate the interplay between waste management strategies and their environmental impacts with a particular focus on a highly mobile and persistent radionuclide, iodine-129 (I-129), which is the dominant risk contributor from SNF disposal and at existing groundwater contamination sites. The results show that the current recycling practice releases more than 90% of I-129 in SNF into the present-day biosphere using an isotropic dilution strategy, whereas the direct disposal of SNF in geological repositories is likely to delay and reduce the release by 8 orders of magnitude. In addition, our data synthesis of surface water concentrations near four nuclear facilities shows that the release-dilution strategy results in lower concentrations than regulatory standards, while insufficient waste isolation in the past has resulted in locally high concentrations within one site. Our analysis suggests that it is essential to consider effluents more explicitly as a part of the waste, that as society moves from dilution to isolation of waste, the potential risks of waste isolation to local regions should be carefully evaluated, and that excessive burdens of proof could hinder or discourage waste isolation. Comprehensive waste management strategies—considering not just volume but also mobility, isolation technologies and ultimate fates—are needed for persistent contaminants. This study offers valuable insights for optimizing the management of SNF and other persistent contaminants.

Wainwright, Haruko M. [Massachusetts Inst. of Tech↗

Condensation time of the solar nebula from extinct I-129 in primitive meteorites

Mineral separates from five carbonaceous chondrites were dated by extinct 16 million year I-129, in an attempt to establish the condensation time of the solar nebula. Two Fe3O4 or Fe3O4-FeS samples from the Murchison and Orgueil meteorites are older than any other material dated thus far, and apparently formed within 200,000 years of each other. The great age, close isochronism, and primitive nature of the samples suggest that the event recorded was the condensation stage of the solar nebula. It provides a suitable zero point for the chronology of the early solar system. The I-129/I-127 ratio during condensation of the nebula was (1.46 plus or minus 0.04) times 0.0001. The recrystallized C4 chondrite Karoonda began to retain Xe-129 1.8 plus or minus 0.5 million years after the above event. This short cooling time implies rapid accretion (not exceeding 1 million years) and a shallow origin (not exceeding 10 km) below the surface of its parent body.-

Lewis, R. S.↗

Proportional retention of I and radiogenic Xe-129 in preheated Allende

In order to study the effects of heat loss and redistribution of iodine and xenon on the I-Xe age, the iodine-xenon dating technique was applied to a bulk sample of the Allende chondrite and a similar sample preheated to 900 C prior to the irradiation. Little iodine or Xe-129 were lost from the high-temperature fractions of the preheated sample, and the high-temperature isochron was fully preserved. The amounts of I and radiogenic Xe-129 retained by the preheated sample were nearly proportional in those temperature fractions (900-1150 C) where most I and radiogenic X-129 were lost. However, the intermediate-temperature isochron was modified, resulting in an apparent isochron which would predate the high-temperature isochron by 6.7 + or - 1.1 m.y.

Rison, W.↗

Carrier phases for iodine in the Allende meteorite and their associated Xe-129(r)/I-127 ratios - A laser microprobe study

This paper presents the results of a study of the carrier phases of iodine in the Allende meteorite and their associated Xe-129(r)/I-127 ratios, obtained using a new high-sensitivity low-blank mass spectrometer coupled with a low-blank laser extraction system. Two types of experiments were performed: a survey of the Xe-129(r) amounts in unirradiated specimens of fine-grained assemblages and individual coarse mineral grains, and a study of the relationship between chlorine and iodine in irradiated samples of the inclusions, in which the Xe-129(r)/I-127 ratios were determined for various minerals. As a by-product of these measurements, the Ar-40/Ar-39 ages were obtained along with some results on trapped Xe components. A schematic diagram of the new mass spectrometer system is included.

Kirschbaum, C.↗

Characterization of Surface Water Dynamics within Fourmile Branch and its Linkages with Groundwater and I-129 Geochemistry

This research work has been supported by the DOE-FIU Science & Technology Workforce Development Initiative, an innovative program developed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Environmental Management (DOE-EM) and Florida International University’s Applied Research Center (FIU-ARC). During the summer of 2021, DOE Fellow intern, Stevens Charles, spent 10 weeks doing a summer internship at Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory (LBNL) under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Haruko Wainwright from LBNL and Dr. Hansell GonzalezRaymat from Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL). The intern’s project was initiated on June 1, 2020, and continued through August 6, 2020, with the objective of characterizing the surface water dynamics in the F-Area of Savannah River Site (SRS) and analyzing the surface water dynamics to find any linkages with groundwater and Iodine-129(I-129) geochemistry.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Extinct lunar radio activities - Xenon from Pu-244 and I-129 in Apollo 14 breccias.

Two Apollo 14 breccias have been found to contain xenon from the spontaneous fission of 82 my Pu-244. A third contains 60 times as much fission xenon as local uranium can account for and is probably of similar character. One of the breccias shows a Xe-129 excess most likely due to the decay of 17 my I-129. That these components can be separated and identified at all implies that complete isotopic homogenization has not occurred over a period which encompasses both extinction of these radionuclides and compaction of the breccias into their final form. In this sense isotope pre-history has been preserved in some lunar breccias providing information that pre-dates the formation of the rock itself (as determined by conventional techniques).

Behrmann, C. J.↗

Integrated cockpit for A-129

Weight, size, and mission requirements for the A-129 mandated an integrated system approach for the crew/cockpit interface design. Instead of the usual multitude of cockpit controls, indicators, gauges, and lights, the primary crew interface is a single multifunction keyboard and one or more multifunction CRT display units. This cockpit design approach imposed unusual constraints upon the system architecture to overcome the inherent information access limitations of a data input/output window that was restricted by the available space. The conceptual approach and resulting design of the A-129 cockpit with the intent to enhance the development of cockpit standardization are described.

Reina, F.↗

Noble gas component organization in Apollo 14 breccia 14318 I-129 and Pu-244 regolith chronology

Drozd et al. (1972) have first detected the presence of Xe-129 in lunar material. Bernatowicz et al. (1979, 1980) established that this xenon component resides exclusively on grain surfaces and confirmed previous observations that it is less tightly bound than other surface components. The present investigation extends many of the observations made on the basis of a study of the 14301 to 14318, which is the only other lunar regolith breccia for which the isotopic structure of 'parentless xenon' has been accurately resolved. Actually this isotope has two parents, including Pu-244 and I-129, which are both now extinct. Attention is given to the analyzed samples, the employed analytical methods, the petrology and chemistry of the grain size separates, and stepwise heating experiments. On the basis of the obtained results, it is concluded that the I-Pu-Xe system can be used as a chronometer.

Swindle, T. D.↗

Xe-129 - Xe-128 and Ar-40 - Ar-39 chronology of two Antarctic enstatite meteorites

Xe-129 - Xe-128 and Ar-40 - Ar-39 analyses has been performed on two Antarctic enstatite meteorites, the chondrite Y-691 and the aubrite (enstatite achondrite) ALH-78113. Both meteorites have complex Ar-40 - Ar-39 release patterns to which no unambiguous age assignment is possible. Both give apparently satisfactory Xe-129 - Xe-128 correlations corresponding to unusual ages. The I-Xe age of the chondrite Y-691 is 16 Ma after Bjurbole, not unusual for chondrites in general but 10 Ma later than previously known ages for enstatite chondrites. The I-Xe age of the aubrite ALH-78113 is 210 Ma after Bjurbole, the latest age (rather than a limit) so far observed by the I-Xe technique, but this age assignment must be considered tentative because of the possibility that it is significantly influenced by terrestrial I contamination.

Honda, M.↗

Determination of CA-41, I-129 and OS-187 in the Rochester tandem accelerator and some applications of these isotopes

The measurement of Ca-41 and I-129 utilizing the Rochester Tanden Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (TAMS) is discussed. Ca-41, having a half-life of 100,000 yrs., is of potential use for the dating of ground water as well as of bones in the age range between 50,000 and 1 million yrs. A major problem for the measurement of Ca-41 with TAMS is the fact that calcium does not readily form negative atomic ions. It does, however, form negative molecular ions. The production of CaO ions from compounds such as CaO and CaCO3 and from free Ca molecules sprayed with oxygen gas was studied. A project to utilize I-129 as a tracer for hydrothermal convection in sediment-covered oceanic crust is also briefly described. Finally, plans to use the Os-187/Os-186 ratio for the determination of extraterrestrial material in the Ries crater in Germany are summarized.

Fehn, U.↗

Structured plasma sheet thinning observed by Galileo and 1984-129

On December 8, 1990, the Galileo spacecraft used the Earth for a gravity assist on its way to Jupiter. Its trajectory was such that it crossed geosynchronous orbit at approximately local midnight between 1900 and 2000 UT. At the same time, spacecraft 1984-129 was also located at geosynchronous orbit near local midnight. Several flux dropout events were observed when the two spacecraft were in the near-Earth plasma sheet in the same local time sector. Flux dropout events are associated with plasma sheet thinning in the near-profile of the near-Earth plasma sheet while 1984-129 provided an azimuthal profile. With measurements from these two spacecraft we can distinguish between spatial structures and temporal change. Our observations confirm that the geosynchronous flux dropout events are consistent with plasma sheet thinning which changes the spacecraft's magnetic connection from the trapping region to the more distant plasma sheet. However, for this period, thinning occurred on two spatial and temporal scales. The geosynchronous dropouts were highly localized phenomena of 30 min duration superimposed on a more global reconfiguration of the tail lasting approximately 4 hours.

Reeves, G. D.↗

Crystal and Electronic Structures of A 2 NaIO 6 Periodate Double Perovskites (A = Sr, Ca, Ba): Candidate Wasteforms for I-129 Immobilization

The synthesis, structure, and thermal stability of the periodate double perovskites A 2 NaIO 6 (A= Ba, Sr, Ca) were investigated in the context of potential application for the immobilization of radioiodine. A combination of X-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and DFT simulations were applied to determine accurate crystal structures of these compounds and understand their relative stability. The compounds were found to exhibit rock-salt ordering of Na and I on the perovskite B-site; Ba 2 NaIO 6 was found to adopt the Fm- 3 m aristotype structure, whereas Sr 2 NaIO 6 and Ca 2 NaIO 6 adopt the P 2 1 / n hettotype structure, characterized by cooperative octahedral tilting. DFT simulations determined the Fm- 3 m and P 2 1 / n structures of Ba 2 NaIO 6 to be energetically degenerate at room temperature, whereas diffraction and spectroscopy data evidence only the presence of the Fm- 3 m phase at room temperature, which may imply an incipient phase transition for this compound. The periodate double perovskites were found to exhibit remarkable thermal stability, with Ba 2 NaIO 6 only decomposing above 1050 °C in air, which is apparently the highest recorded decomposition temperature so far recorded for any iodine bearing compound. As such, these compounds offer some potential for application in the immobilization of iodine-129, from nuclear fuel reprocessing, with an iodine incorporation rate of 25–40 wt%. The synthesis of these compounds, elaborated here, is also compatible with both current conventional and future advanced processes for iodine recovery from the dissolver off-gas.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Search for Xe-129 in mineral grains from Allende inclusions - An exercise in miniaturized rare gas analysis

The paper considers the use of a static mass spectrometer modified by installation of a Baur-Signer ion source and an ion-counting system to detect xenon from single grains from inclusions in the C3 meteorite Allende. The inferred iodine concentrations increased from pentlandite to melilite, but vary widely from one grain to another, indicating that the iodine resides in a minor phase which is included 'spottily' in the bulk phases. It is likely that the detectability for excess Xe achieved here could be improved; about 23,000 of fissiogenic Xe-132 was detected in the largest melelite sample analyzed, but it cannot be determined from this study whether the PU-244 is 'spotty' like I-129 or is uniformly distributed in the melilite.

Reynolds, J. H.↗