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Madey, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Madey, R..

Neutron yields from 435 MeV/nucleon Nb stopping in Nb and 272 MeV/nucleon Nb stopping in Nb and Al

Neutron fluences were measured from 435 MeV/nucleon Nb ions stopping in a Nb target and 272 MeV/nucleon Nb ions stopping in targets of Nb and Al for neutrons above 20 MeV and at laboratory angles between 3 degrees and 80 degrees. The resultant spectra were integrated over angles to produce neutron energy distributions and over energy to produce neutron angular distributions. The total neutron yields for each system were obtained by integrating over the angular distributions. The angular distributions from all three systems are peaked forward, and the energy distributions from all three systems show an appreciable yield of neutrons with velocities greater than the beam velocity. Comparison of the total neutron yields from the two Nb + Nb systems suggests that the average neutron multiplicity decreases with decreasing projectile energy. Comparison of the total yields from the two 272 MeV/nucleon systems suggests that the total yields show the same dependence on projectile and target mass number as do total inclusive neutron cross sections. The data are compared with Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck model calculations.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗

Production of neutrons from interactions of GCR-like particles

In order to help assess the risk to astronauts due to the long-term exposure to the natural radiation environment in space, an understanding of how the primary radiation field is changed when passing through shielding and tissue materials must be obtained. One important aspect of the change in the primary radiation field after passing through shielding materials is the production of secondary particles from the breakup of the primary. Neutrons are an important component of the secondary particle field due to their relatively high biological weighting factors, and due to their relative abundance, especially behind thick shielding scenarios. Because of the complexity of the problem, the estimation of the risk from exposure to the secondary neutron field must be handled using calculational techniques. However, those calculations will need an extensive set of neutron cross section and thicktarget neutron yield data in order to make an accurate assessment of the risk. In this paper we briefly survey the existing neutron-production data sets that are applicable to the space radiation transport problem, and we point out how neutron production from protons is different than neutron production from heavy ions. We also make comparisons of one the heavy-ion data sets with Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck (BUU) calculations.

Non-NASA Center↗

An experimental study of adsorption interference in binary mixtures flowing through activated carbon

The isothermal transmission through activated carbon adsorber beds at 25 C of acetaldehyde-propane and acetylene-ethane mixtures in a helium carrier gas was measured. The inlet concentration of each component was in the range between 10 ppm and 500 ppm. The constant inlet volumetric flow rate was controlled at 200 cc (STP)/min in the acetaldehyde-propane experiments and at 50 cc (STP)/min in the acetaldehyde-ethane experiments. Comparison of experimental results with the corresponding single-component experiments under similar conditions reveals interference phenomena between the components of the mixtures as evidenced by changes in both the adsorption capacity and the dispersion number. Propane was found to displace acetaldehyde from the adsorbed state. The outlet concentration profiles of propane in the binary mixtures tend to become more diffuse than the corresponding concentration profiles of the one-component experiments. Similar features were observed with mixtures of acetylene and ethane; however, the displacement of acetylene by ethane is less pronounced.

Madey, R.↗

Adsorption interference in mixtures of trace contaminants flowing through activated carbon adsorber beds

Adsorption interference in binary and ternary mixtures of trace contaminants in a helium carrier gas flowing through activated carbon adsorber beds are studied. The isothermal transmission, which is the ratio of the outlet to the inlet concentration, of each component is measured. Interference between co-adsorbing gases occurs when the components are adsorbed strongly. Displacement of one component by another is manifested by a transmission greater than unity for the displaced component over some range of eluted volume. Interference is evidenced not only by a reduction of the adsorption capacity of each component in the mixture in comparison with the value obtained in a single-component experiment, but also by a change in the slope of the transmission curve of each component experiment.

Madey, R.↗

A dispersion model approach to the preliminary design of adsorber beds for trace contaminants

It is shown that a dispersion model for the transport of a gas through a porous medium can be useful in the preliminary design of adsorber beds for the control of trace contaminants. The transmission function is considered, taking into account the transmission of 102-ppm acetaldehyde in helium flowing at various flow rates through an absorber bed. The experiments were conducted at a temperature of 25.0 C. Attention is given to a representation of the experimental breakthrough curve, the volume adsorption capacity, temperature studies, and correlations.

Madey, R.↗

Transport of trace contaminants through porous media

Research accomplishments in the following areas are discussed: (1) the calibration of the gas chromatograph for acetaldehyde and ethanol; (2) the development of data reduction and analysis methods; (3) the generation and analysis of experimental data for the transport of 100 ppm acetaldehyde through a cylindrical bed packed with activated carbon granules; (4) the generation and analysis of experimental data for the transport of 100 ppm ethanol through a cylindrical bed packed with activated carbon granules; and (5) a comparison of the volume adsorption capacity of activated carbon for 100 ppm concentrations of acetaldehyde, ethanol, and acetone. Activities in progress and planned activities are reviewed.

Madey, R.↗

Frequency of light-flashes induced by Cerenkov radiation from heavy cosmic-ray nuclei

The expected frequency was calculated for light flashes induced in the dark-adapted eye by Cerenkov radiation from the flux of heavy nuclei that exists in space beyond the geomagnetic field. The expected frequency of light flashes depends on the threshold number of photons that must be absorbed in a rod cluster. The results of the calculation are presented as a curve of the mean frequency of light flashes versus the threshold number of absorbed photons. The results are not sensitive to variations in the path length from 5 to 15 grams per square centimeter of water-equivalent before the nucleus reaches the retina. Calculations were based on the fluxes and energy spectra of galactic cosmic ray nuclei of helium to iron, measured at a time of minimum solar modulation. The expected light flash frequencies induced by Cerenkov radiation are consistent with the frequencies reported by the astronauts on Apollo missions 11 through 14.

Madey, R.↗

Direct stimulation of the retina by the method of virtual-quanta for heavy cosmic-ray nuclei

The contribution to the frequency of visual sensations induced in the dark-adapted eye by the virtual photon field was calculated, this field is associated with the heavy nuclei that exist in space beyond the geomagnetic field. In order to determine the probability that the virtual photon field induces a light flash, only the portion of the virtual photon spectrum that corresponds to the known frequency dependence of the sensitivity of human rods to visible light was utilized. The results can be expressed as a curve of the mean frequency of light flashes induced by the absorption of at least R virtual photons versus the threshold number R. The contribution to the light flash frequency from the virtual photon field of heavy cosmic ray nuclei is smaller than that from Cerenkov photons. The flux and energy spectra of galactic cosmic ray nuclei helium to iron were used.

Mcnulty, P. J.↗