Excited states of Ce-138
Ce 138 excited states identification in beta decay spectra of Pr 138m and Pr 138 sources, using proton target bombardment
Fessler, T. E.↗
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Cyclotron production of I-123: An evaluation of the nuclear reactions which produce this isotope
The use of the various nuclear reactions is described by which I-123,a low radiation dose radiopharmaceutical, can be cyclotron-produced. Methods of directly producing I-123 and those which indirectly produce the radionuclide through the beta (+) decay of its nautral precursor, Xe-123. It is impossible to separate from the radioiodine contaminants, notably I-124, which occur in the direct method. Thus, it is preferable to produce pure I-123 from Xe-123 which is easily separated from the radioiodines. Among the characteristics of I-123 is the capability of reducing the patient dose in a thyroid uptake measurement to a very small percentage of that delivered by the more commonly used I-131.
Sodd, V. J.↗
The evolution of hydrogen-helium stars.
Investigation of the premain sequence evolution and the main sequence evolution of stars of 5, 10, 20, 30, 100, and 200 solar masses. Normal stars in this entire mass range normally convert hydrogen into helium by the CN-cycle on the main sequence. The present hydrogen-helium stars of 5 and 10 solar masses must reach higher central temperatures in order to convert hydrogen to helium by the proton-proton chains. Consequently, the mean densities in the stars are greater, and the surface temperatures are higher than in normal stars. In the stars of 20 solar masses and larger, the proton-proton chains do not succeed in supplying the necessary luminosity of the stars by the time the contraction has produced a central temperature near 10 to the 8th K. At that point triple-alpha reactions generate small amounts of C12, which then acts as a catalyst in the CN-cycle, the rate of which is then limited by the beta-decays occurring within the cycle. During the evolution of these more massive stars, the central temperature remains in the vicinity of 10 to the 8th K, and the surface temperature on the main sequence approaches 100,000.
Ezer, D.↗
Carbon-burning nucleosynthesis with convection
The effect of convection on carbon-burning nucleosynthesis is explored with a limited network of reactions. Convection is simulated by a series of networks at fixed mass points in the core of an evolving 15 solar mass star. Complete mixing is always assumed. Comparison to single network calculations show that the 'half-energy' approximation of Arnett yields reasonable results, although the abundances of nuclei which are created by beta-decays of unstable nuclei tend to be underestimated, by this approximation.
Endal, A. S.↗
On the origin of molecular 'handedness' in living systems
Elementary particle effects (beta-decay) provide only a weakly handed radiation in the biologically effective energy ranges. Global magnetic effects coupled to sunlight are randomized by paleomagnetic reversals. A persistent terrestrial handed bias at possible local biopoetic sites offers a more promising explanation for the origin of the 'handedness' of the molecules found among living systems on earth. Magnetite in lava flows maintains a handed bias for surface catalysis through many magnetic reversals. Indirect evidence for the hypothesis that magnetite contaminated with sulfur is a possible biopoetic site (Granick, 1957) has been provided by the molecular structure of ferredoxin - a single strand of the 14 primordial amino acids wrapped around an FeS core. Lava flows have been suggested as biopoetic sites by Fox (1964), since their temperature and chemical composition might allow for the rapid synthesis of prebiotic compounds at the surface of the primitive earth. The additional fact that magetite in lava flows also provides a persistent handed site for surface catalysis offers a further argument for the experimental investigation of this specific biopoetic environment.
Noyes, H. P.↗
Quantum processes in strong magnetic fields
Quantum-mechanical processes that occur in a piece of matter embedded in a magnetic field with a strength of the order of 10 to the 13th power G are described which either are entirely due to the presence of the field or become modified because of it. The conversion of rotational energy into electromagnetic energy in pulsars is analyzed as a mechanism for producing such a field, and it is shown that a strong magnetic field is not sufficient for quantum effects to play a significant role; in addition, the density must be adjusted to be as low as possible. The pressure and energy density of a free electron gas in a uniform magnetic field are evaluated, neutron beta-decay in the presence of a strong field is examined, and the effect of such a field on neutrino reactions is discussed. The thermal history of a neutron star is studied, and it is concluded that a strong magnetic field helps to increase the cooling rate of the star by producing new channels through which neutrinos can carry away energy.
Canuto, V.↗
The decompression of cold neutron star matter
The ejection of cold neutron-star matter is examined, and an attempt is made to determine whether the final composition of this matter may be similar to that normally associated with the hot high-neutron-flux r-process. A semiempirical liquid-drop model is used for the nucleus, and the equilibrium composition of the matter is determined by assuming it to be in its absolute ground state at a given density. Physical mechanisms operating during the expansion are analyzed, and the composition of the ejected matter is found as a function of its density during expansion. The results indicate that it is virtually impossible for deuterium to form, that neutrons can be captured only after beta decay increases the atomic numbers of nuclei, and that no free neutrons can escape. It is concluded that neutron-star ejecta can produce heavy neutron-rich nuclei and may produce somewhat heavier nuclei than a standard r-process.
Lattimer, J. M.↗
Radiolysis, racemization and the origin of molecular asymmetry in the biosphere
An investigation has been undertaken to determine whether ionizing radiation might engender racemization of optically active amino acids, along with their usual radiolysis. As prototypes, crystalline Dand L-leucine, as well as aqueous solutions of their sodium salts were exposed to the radiation from a 3000 Ci Co-60 gamma-ray source. Gamma-ray doses which caused about 68% radiolysis of solid leucine left a residue which was about 5% racemized, while racemization proved even greater at lower doses for the dissolved sodium salts. In aqueous solution both percent degradation and percent racemization of the sodium salts were proportional to gamma-ray dosage within the range employed (1,000,000-27,000,000 rads). Implications of these observations for the origin of molecular asymmetry by the beta-decay parity violation mechanism are discussed.
Bonner, W. A.↗
Neutron stars
Quantum-mechanical processes associated with the presence of high magnetic fields and the effect of such fields on the evolution of neutron stars are reviewed. A technical description of the interior of a neutron star is presented. The neutron star-pulsar relation is reviewed and consideration is given to supernovae explosions, flux conservation in neutron stars, gauge-invariant derivation of the equation of state for a strongly magnetized gas, neutron beta-decay, and the stability condition for a neutron star.
Canuto, V.↗
Post-development image intensification by autoradiography
A method of post-development intensification of photographic images using a newly developed autoradiographic procedure is described. Radioactive Thiourea-S35 is combined with silver in the developed emulsion, which is then contact printed with a receiver emulsion. The beta decay from S35 produces an enhanced autoradiographic image. The laboratory technique is described and results of astronomical applications are presented.
Askins, B. S.↗
Are large concentration of atomic H storable in tritium-impregnated solid in H2 below 0.10 K
The storage and release of atomic hydrogen produced by the beta decay of tritium contained in a crystalline solid H2 matrix at concentrations greater than 2% and temperatures below 0.80 K are investigated. The temperature of a sample chamber containing tritium-impregnated H2 and placed in the mixing chamber of a dilution refrigerator was measured as the chamber was heated and cooled in order to determine the rates of energy storage and release. It is found that for samples containing 1.2 wt.% tritium, after storage at 0.054 K for 40 h, an increase in sample temperature to a trigger point of 0.17 K leads to an energy release due to the destabilization of atomic H in H2 as predicted by the phenomenological rate process theory. For a tritium weight fraction of 2.5%, energy releases were triggered at 0.54 and 0.82 K after storage at 0.080 K, indicating the trapping of H atoms at the sites of T2 and HT molecules in the sample. The application of a 15 kG magnetic field is shown to increase the storage capacity of T2 traps while reducing that of HT traps, and to lower the trigger temperatures of both. Results suggest that the direct conversion of nuclear energy to chemical energy may become technically feasible in the future.
Rosen, G.↗
The radiolysis of tryptophan and leucine with P-32 beta-radiation
The paper extends earlier experiments on the radiolysis of DL-tryptophan using P-32 beta-radiation to longer reaction times, observing complete destruction of tryptophan by secondary, nonradiolytic processes. In addition DL-leucine is irradiated with P-32 beta-irradiation at -196 C, leading to radiolyses to the extents of about 20-30%, but observing no concomitant asymmetric bias. The complete absence of asymmetric bias in the present and earlier (Bonner et al., 1979) radiolyses of aqueous tryptophan at -25 C and the present radiolyses of water-free leucine at -196 C using P-32 beta-radiation and its accompanying bremsstrahlung leave it an open question whether or not the Vester-Ulbricht beta-decay/bremsstrahlung mechanism for the origin of optical activity is a viable one.
Blair, N. E.↗
Neutron capture time scale of the s-process, estimated from s-process krypton in a meteorite
A krypton fraction enriched in s-process isotopes was extracted from a mineral fraction of the Murchison C2 chondrite. The (Kr-86)/(Kr-84) ratio is enhanced by 6 standard deviations, showing that significant amounts of Kr-86 were made in the s-process, despite the short, 10.8 yr beta-decay half-life of its precursor, Kr-85. Judging from this sample, the mean neutron capture time in the s-process was on the order of 5-100 yr for nuclei with cross sections of 125 mb.
Matsuda, J.-I.↗
Hafnium isotope variations in oceanic basalts
Hafnium isotope ratios generated by the beta(-) decay of Lu-176 are investigated in volcanic rocks derived from the suboceanic mantle. Hf-176/Hf-177 and Lu/Hf ratios were determined to precisions of 0.01-0.04% and 0.5%, respectively, by routine, low-blank chemistry. The Hf-176/Hf-177 ratio is found to be positively correlated with the Nd-143/Nd-144 ratio and negatively correlated with the Sr-87/Sr-86 and Pb-206/Pb-204 ratios, and to increase southwards along the Iceland-Reykjanes ridge traverse. An approximate bulk earth Hf-176/Hf-177 ratio of 0.28295 is inferred from the bulk earth Nd-143/Nd-144 ratio, which requires a bulk earth Lu/Hf ratio of 0.25, similar to the Juvinas eucrite. Midocean ridge basalts are shown to account for 60% of the range of Hf isotope ratios, and it is suggested that Lu-Hf fractionation is decoupled from Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr fractionation in very trace-element-depleted source regions as a result of partial melting.
Patchett, P. J.↗
Investigations of electron helicity in optically active molecules using polarized beams of electrons and positrons
A positronium-formation experiment with a high sensitivity to a possible relation between the helicity of beta particles emitted in nuclear beta decay and the optical asymmetry of biological molecules is presented. The experiment is based on a mechanism in which the electrons in optically active molecules possess a helicity of less than 0.001, too weak to detect in radiolysis experiments, the sign of which depends on the chirality of the isomer. A helicity-dependent asymmetry is sought in the formation of the triplet ground state of positronium when a low-energy beam of polarized positrons of reversible helicity interacts with an optically active substance coating a channel electron multiplier. Asymmetries between positronium decays observed at positive and negative helicities for the same substance can thus be determined with a sensitivity of 0.0001, which represents a factor of 100 improvement over previous positronium experiments.
Gidley, D. W.↗
The elements just beyond iron - Formation during explosive carbon burning
It is pointed out that the details of the synthesis of the elements just beyond iron are unclear. Thus, a reexamination of the role played by neutron-capture reactions during explosive carbon burning is indicated. A description is given of calculations of explosive carbon-burning nucleosynthesis using a complete neutron capture (n-process) computer code with a network extending from Cr through Zr and including not only (n,gamma), (gamma,n) reactions and beta-decay but also (p,n), (n,p), (p,gamma), and (p,alpha) reactions. Initial conditions indicative of the composition of a massive star following core helium burning were selected, and a comparison is made with conditions similar to those used by Howard et al. (1972). It is found that neutron reactions during explosive carbon burning are an important source for the elements just beyond iron.
Wefel, J. P.↗
Dielectric surface discharges: Effects of combined low-energy and high-energy incident electrons
Dielectric surface discharges affected by the addition of high energy electrons at 5 pA/sq cm to a primary 20 keV, 10 nA/sq cm electron beam with the high energy broad spectrum particles coming from the beta decay of Strontium 90 are studied. Kapton exhibits significantly increased discharge strength, increased waiting time between discharges, and a decreased number of discharges per specimen before discharge cessation. Mylar exhibits similar but less pronounced effects, while Teflon is relatively unaffected. With Kapton and Mylar, the high energy electrons act in some way to delay the instant of discharge ignition so that more charge can be accumulated and hence released during discharge.
Balmain, K. G.↗
Search for effect of longitudinally polarized protons on optically active amino acids
The influence of irradiation by longitudinally polarized protons on the differential decomposition of amino acid is investigated in a test of the Vester Ulbricht hypothesis that L-amino acids were produced in preference to the D isomers on the primitive earth due to the effects of parity violation in beta decay. Samples of DL-leucine were irradiated with protons of both positive and negative longitudinal polarization, then analyzed by gas chromatography. Despite advantages of higher polarization, lower velocity and higher ionization density of protons with respect to electrons, proton irradation is found to lead to no detectable asymmetries in DL-leucine degradation, even at 50% gross degradation.
Lemmon, R. M.↗