Solar-Blind Radioluminescence Imaging of Alpha Radiation in Air.
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We combine a cosmological reionization simulation with box size of 100 h {sup -1} Mpc on a side and a Monte Carlo Ly{alpha} radiative transfer code to model Ly{alpha} Emitters (LAEs) at z {approx} 5.7. The model introduces Ly{alpha} radiative transfer as the single factor for transforming the intrinsic Ly{alpha} emission properties into the observed ones. Spatial diffusion of Ly{alpha} photons from radiative transfer results in extended Ly{alpha} emission and only the central part with high surface brightness can be observed. Because of radiative transfer, the appearance of LAEs depends on density and velocity structures in circumgalactic and intergalactic media as well as the viewing angle, which leads to a broad distribution of apparent (observed) Ly{alpha} luminosity for a given intrinsic Ly{alpha} luminosity. Radiative transfer also causes frequency diffusion of Ly{alpha} photons. The resultant Ly{alpha} line is asymmetric with a red tail. The peak of the Ly{alpha} line shifts toward longer wavelength and the shift is anti-correlated with the apparent-to-intrinsic Ly{alpha} luminosity ratio. The simple radiative transfer model provides a new framework for studying LAEs. It is able to explain an array of observed properties of z {approx} 5.7 LAEs in Ouchi et al., producing Ly{alpha} spectra, morphology, and apparent Ly{alpha} luminosity function (LF) similar to those seen in observation. The broad distribution of apparent Ly{alpha} luminosity at fixed UV luminosity provides a natural explanation for the observed UV LF, especially the turnover toward the low luminosity end. The model also reproduces the observed distribution of Ly{alpha} equivalent width (EW) and explains the deficit of UV bright, high EW sources. Because of the broad distribution of the apparent-to-intrinsic Ly{alpha} luminosity ratio, the model predicts effective duty cycles and Ly{alpha} escape fractions for LAEs.
The impact of alpha radiation on cements used to encapsulate intermediate-level waste (ILW) is not well understood. ILW wastes can contain high levels of alpha-emitting radionuclides, meaning that the grouts used to encapsulate them are exposed to significant ionising radiation. Thus, a damaged region could develop in the grout adjacent to the alpha-emitting species. This work attempted to recreate this behaviour through nonradioactive 4 He 2+ ion-accelerator experiments, which have not previously been applied to common encapsulation grouts. The influence of this irradiation on a slag-Portland cement was investigated at different ages via transmission electron microscopy energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (TEM-EDX) and supporting techniques, to assess whether 4 He 2+ irradiation caused textural or chemical zonation. No significant changes in hydrate phases or textures were observed, other than minor variations associated with carbonation. This paper provides a proof of concept for using ion acceleration techniques on cements and furthers knowledge on their radiation response.
We study the clustering properties of z {approx} 5.7 Ly{alpha} emitters (LAEs) in a cosmological reionization simulation with a full Ly{alpha} radiative transfer calculation. Ly{alpha} radiative transfer substantially modifies the intrinsic Ly{alpha} emission properties, compared to observed ones, depending on the density and velocity structure environment around the Ly{alpha}-emitting galaxy. This environment-dependent Ly{alpha} selection introduces new features in LAE clustering, suppressing (enhancing) the line-of-sight (transverse) density fluctuations and giving rise to scale-dependent galaxy bias. In real space, the contours of the three-dimensional two-point correlation function of LAEs appear to be prominently elongated along the line of sight on large scales, an effect that is opposite to and much stronger than the linear redshift-space distortion effect. The projected two-point correlation function is greatly enhanced in amplitude by a factor of up to a few, compared to the case without the environment-dependent selection effect. The new features in LAE clustering can be understood with a simple, physically motivated model, where Ly{alpha} selection depends on matter density, velocity, and their gradients. We discuss the implications and consequences of the effects on galaxy clustering from Ly{alpha} selection in interpreting clustering measurements and in constraining cosmology and reionization from LAEs.
Radiological emergencies that result in the dispersion of radioactive materials to the environment require the deployment of field monitoring teams to determine the quantity and location of the dispersed radioactive material. This information is utilized by the emergency operations center to aid in determining the appropriate protective action recommendations. The background alpha emission rates from normal environmental surfaces of soil, concrete and asphalt as measured by portable instrumentation used by field monitoring teams are not well documented. Idaho National Laboratory conducted a study of the alpha radiation background levels of the environmental surfaces in eastern Idaho to determine the normal background rates. Results for normal dry surfaces and those wetted by precipitation were measured and reported.
A capsule composition comprising: (a) a polyester shell having a thickness of no more than 20 microns, and (b) a solution containing a visual and/or olfactory indicator, wherein the solution is encapsulated by the polyester shell. Also described herein is a method for detecting alpha particle radiation, in which: (i) the capsule composition is placed in contact with an esterase in a location where the presence of alpha particle radiation is being determined; (ii) waiting a period of time for the esterase to degrade the polyester shells, wherein the period of time is insufficient for the esterase to cause leakage of the solution in the absence of alpha particle radiation but is sufficient for alpha particle radiation, if present, to cause leakage from the capsule composition; and (iii) observing whether leakage has occurred at the end of the period of time to determine whether alpha particle radiation is present.
Here, Octylphenyl-N,N-diisobutylcarbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) dissolved in dodecane was subjected to α-irradiation using a He-ion beam, 244 Cm isotopic α-rays, and He and Li ions created by the n,α reaction of 10 B in a nuclear reactor. Post-irradiation samples were analyzed for the radiolytically-induced decrease in CMPO concentration, the appearance of degradation products, and their Am solvent extraction distribution ratios. The –G CMPO -value for the radiolytic degradation of CMPO was found to be very low compared to values previously reported for γ-irradiation. Additionally, isotopic irradiation to absorbed α-doses as high as 600 kGy in aerated solution had no effect on Am solvent extraction or stripping. The main CMPO radiolysis products identified in He-ion beam irradiated samples by ESI-MS include amides, an acidic amide, and amines produced by bond rupture on either side of the CMPO carbonyl group. Deaerated samples irradiated using the reactor in the absence of an aqueous phase, or with a dilute nitric acid aqueous phase showed small but measurable decreases in CMPO concentration with increasing absorbed doses. Higher concentrations of nitric acid resulted in lower decomposition rates for the CMPO. The radio-protection by dissolved oxygen and nitric acid previously found for γ-irradiated CMPO also occurs for α-irradiation. This suggests that similar free-radical mechanisms operate in the high-LET system, but with lower degradation yields due to the lower overall radical concentrations produced.
The purpose of this document is to discuss the construction of two MELCOR Accident Consequence Code System (MACCS) dose conversion factor (DCF) files in some detail, an older file created in 2007 named FGR13DCF.inp and a newer file created in 2018 called FGR13GyEquiv_RevAinp. Very briefly, the difference between the two files is that the older file follows the standard conventions of assigning a radiation weighting factor of 20 for alpha radiation for all tissues and organs; whereas, the newer file complies with the Federal Guidance Report (FGR) 13 health effects modeling and uses modified radiation weighting factors (referred to as relative biological effectiveness (RBE) factors) for alpha radiation of 10 for breast and of 1 for red bone marrow. During an intermediate period, a file called FGR13GyEquiv.inp was created and used for the State-of-the-Art Reactor Consequence Analysis (SOARCA) calculations. This file was not released to the MACCS user community, but it is also discussed briefly in this document.
The purpose of this document is to discuss the construction of two MACCS dose conversion factor (DCF) files in some detail, an older file created in 2007 named FGR13DCF.inp and a newer file created in 2018 called FGR13GyEquiv_RevA.inp. Very briefly, the difference between the two files is that the older file follows the standard conventions of assigning a radiation weighting factor of 20 for alpha radiation for all tissues and organs; whereas, the newer file complies with the FGR 13 health effects modeling and uses modified radiation weighting factors (referred to as relative biological effectiveness (RBE) factors) for alpha radiation of 10 for breast and of 1 for red bone marrow. During an intermediate period the creation of these two DCF files, a file called FGR13GyEquiv was created and used for the SOARCA calculations. This file was not released to the MACCS user community, but it is also discussed briefly in this document. DCF files are used by MACCS to convert air and ground radionuclide concentrations to doses to an organ or to the whole body. The MACCS calculation considers duration and shielding factor for each exposure pathway including cloudshine, groundshine, inhalation, and ingestion. Dose coefficients for cloudshine and groundshine are expressed as dose rates; dose coefficients for inhalation and ingestion are expressed as committed doses. In this document, dose coefficients (newer ICRP terminology) is used to describe the values contained in dose conversion factor (older ICRP terminology) files.
The limb to limb Lyman-alpha reflectivities observed with the Voyager ultraviolet spectrometer (UVS) instruments during the fly-by of Saturn are reanalyzed using a revised H Lyman-alpha sensitivity for the Voyager 1 instrument. The new sensitivity reconciles the measured intensities to those of Voyager 2 and gives a coherent set of data. To fit the UV airglow observations, four sources are considered: (1) H resonance and H2 Rayleigh scattering of solar Lyman-alpha radiation, (2) the interplanetary Lyman-alpha radiation, (3) a possible internal source of unknown origin, (4) the possibility of atmospheric turbulence recently proposed to explain the Lyman-alpha bulge of Jupiter. The analysis supports neither a dominant collisional excitation source for the UV emissions nor the presence of strong atmospheric turbulence. The best fit, in terms of brightness but also in terms of shape of the limb to limb profile (that is to say independent on the absolute calibrations), is obtained for pure resonance and Rayleigh scattering of solar and interstellar wind line in an atmosphere enriched in atomic hydrogen up to three times the standard model. Influx of water from the rings of Saturn may provide a means for producing such enhanced H densities in the upper atmosphere.
The changes in reflectance of thermal aluminum coating samples exposed to different irradiating utraviolet wavelengths are discussed. It is shown that the coating is damaged faster and further by 180 to 210 in radiation than by Lyman alpha radiation. On an equivalent incident energy basis, Lyman alpha does less damage than 180 to 210 nm radiation. Above 300 nm no degradation is observed for long exposures and below 300 nm increasing degradation with decreasing wavelength is found. It is concluded that Lyman alpha radiation need not be included in laboratory testing of this thermal coating for spacecraft structures.
Heliospheric neutral hydrogen scatters solar Lyman-alpha radiation from the Sun with '27-day' intensity modulations observed near Earth due to the Sun's rotation combined with Earth's orbital motion. These modulations are increasingly damped in amplitude at larger distances from the Sun due to multiple scattering in the heliosphere, providing a diagnostic of the interplanetary neutral hydrogen density independent of instrument calibration. This paper presents Cassini data from 2003-2004 obtained downwind near Saturn at approximately 10 AU that at times show undamped '27-day' waves in good agreement with the single-scattering models of Pryor et al., 1992. Simultaneous Voyager 1 data from 2003- 2004 obtained upwind at a distance of 88.8-92.6 AU from the Sun show waves damped by a factor of -0.21. The observed degree of damping is interpreted in terms of Monte Carlo multiple-scattering calculations (e.g., Keller et al., 1981) applied to two heliospheric hydrogen two-shock density distributions (discussed in Gangopadhyay et al., 2006) calculated in the frame of the Baranov-Malama model of the solar wind interaction with the two-component (neutral hydrogen and plasma) interstellar wind (Baranov and Malama 1993, Izmodenov et al., 2001, Baranov and Izmodenov, 2006). We conclude that multiple scattering is definitely occurring in the outer heliosphere. Both models compare favorably to the data, using heliospheric neutral H densities at the termination shock of 0.085 cm(exp -3) and 0.095 cm(exp -3). This work generally agrees with earlier discussions of Voyager data in Quemerais et al., 1996 showing the importance of multiple scattering but is based on Voyager data obtained at larger distances from the Sun (with larger damping) simultaneously with Cassini data obtained closer to the Sun.
Near infrared (NIR) emitting colloidal quantum dots (QDs) such as PbSe are interesting materials for implementation in various optoelectronic devices such as solar cells, photodetectors, and radiation detectors. Material properties like size tunable emission wavelengths, facile solution processability, the possibility of carrier multiplication and Auger assisted up-conversion, and high Z number provide PbSe QDs with unique advantages over many currently available commercial materials used in these devices. In this dissertation, after an introduction to QDs in general, we first focus on synthesis of PbSe-based heterostructured QDs for study via optical spectroscopy. PbSe/CdSe QDs synthesized via cation exchange reaction were used as seeds to study the proper conditions for further CdSe or CdS shell growth. Optical spectroscopy studies show that growth of thicker CdSe shells leads to tunable visible emission, while growth of thick CdS shells can greatly increase the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) observed from the intermediate CdSe shell. NIR PL lifetimes can be greatly enhanced by the growth of CdS shells, due to strong delocalization of the hole wavefunction within the PbSe core, while the electron is delocalized throughout the QD including in the CdS shell, resulting in radiative lifetimes in the tens of microseconds. Two pulse delay measurements show that Auger assisted up conversion is also taking place in these engineered QD dot heterostructures. In the sections that follow, we look at QD devices, first with a focus on novel devices fabricated from PbSe QDs, using an amine synthesis method that allows for facile in-solution ligand exchange. QD film mobilities are measured for PbSe QDs capped with various short ionic ligands. Carrier densities in PbSe QD films are calculated from C-V measurements, showing for the first time that carrier densities can be modulated by simply changing the capping ligand. vii Radiation detectors utilizing PbSe QDs capped with KI and NH4I ligands show tangible response to incident alpha radiation. Current output response to alpha radiation is dependent on strength of radiation source and amount of bias voltage applied. In the final section a critical review of hybrid layered 2D-QD photodetectors is presented. In a typical example, PbSe and PbS QDs act as the absorbing layer in phototransistor devices which utilize layered 2D materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides as transport layers. Resulting devices display high gains and improved directivities compared to QD only and 2D only devices.
Intensity and state of polarization of solar L-alpha photons as they diffuse through an inhomogeneous, spherically symmetric, isothermal geocorona are theoretically determined. The fine structure of L-alpha and Doppler redistribution of frequencies are taken into account. The calculation use the Monte Carlo technique involving Stokes vectors. Comparison of the results with OGO-4 and OSO-4 observed intensities at an altitude of 650 km shows good agreement. Calculations of the polarization versus solar zenith angle show a residual polarization at large zenith angles which is mainly due to multiply scattered photons.
The solar Lyman-alpha radiation pressure affects the orbits and the velocities of the interstellar particles entering the solar system. This leads to enhanced particle losses in the heliosphere, since particles spend a longer time crossing it. This causes a stronger decrease of the density with decreasing distances from the sun than had been calculated without accounting for the radiation pressure. Furthermore, the emission pattern of the solar Lyman-alpha radiation is anisotropic and rotates with the sun in a 27-day period. This causes a temporal change in the location of the intensity extrema. At the same time it produces hydrogen density anisotropies with extrema deviating in their directions from those which had been calculated without consideration of the radiation pressure.
Low-level radioactive waste (LLW) and mixed waste (MW) disposal facilities in the US are required to have a service life in excess of 1000 yr. Understanding the rate of degradation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geo-membranes (GMs) used in LLW and MW facilities is necessary to assess their service life when conducting a performance assessment for a disposal facility. In LLW and MW disposal facilities, GMs may be exposed to radionuclides that may accelerate antioxidant depletion and degradation. This paper evaluates how radiation dosage affects antioxidant depletion in HDPE GMs and makes inferences regarding the impact of radiation on GM service life. Specimens of 0.04-mm-, 0.1-mm-, and 2-mm-thick HDPE GMs were exposed to a sealed source of Am-241 to simulate alpha radiation from LLW leachate (e.g., uranium). The specimens were exposed to the sealed source for 1-50 h, followed by oxidative induction time (OIT) testing to determine depletion of antioxidants in response to exposure. Penetration of alpha particles in the HDPE GM exposed to the sealed source was evaluated with the program Geometry And Tracking (GEANT4). The GEANT4 modeling indicates that physical dose deposition for alpha particles largely occurs on the superficial layers and decreased monotonically with depth to a negligible dose (∼ 28 μm). For a 2-mm-thick HDPE GM, there was no change in OIT after exposure, whereas in much thinner GMs (e.g., 0.04 mm), significant antioxidant depletion occurred after exposure, reflecting the shallow penetration of alpha radiation at the surface of HDPE GM. (authors)