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Impact of Nuclear Deformation on Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collisions: Assessing Consistency in Nuclear Physics across Energy Scales
In the hydrodynamic framework of heavy-ion collisions, elliptic flow v 2 is sensitive to the quadrupole deformation β of the colliding ions. This enables one to test whether the established knowledge on the low-energy structure of nuclei is consistent with collider data from high-energy experiments. We derive a formula based on generic scaling laws of hydrodynamics to relate the difference in v 2 measured between collision systems that are close in size to the value of β of the respective species. We validate our formula in simulations of 238 U + 238 U and 197 Au + 197 Au collisions at top Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) energy, and subsequently apply it to experimental data. Using the deformation of 238 U from low-energy experiments, we find that RHIC v 2 data implies 0.16 ≲ | β | ≲ 0.20 for 197 Au nuclei, i.e., significantly more deformed than reported in the literature, posing an interesting issue in nuclear phenomenology.
Computing the cross sections of nuclear reactions with nuclear clusters emission for proton energies between 30 MeV and 2.6 GeV
The cross sections of nuclear reactions involving emission of clusters of light nuclei in proton collisions with a heavy-metal target are computed for incident-proton energies between 30 MeV and 2.6 GeV. The calculation relies on the ALICE/ASH and CASCADE/INPE computer codes. The parameters determining the pre-equilibrium cluster emission are varied in the computation.
An Overview of Nuclear vs. Non-Nuclear Design Code Requirements for a Candidate Steam Supply System for Commercial Applications
The objective is to identify (mostly for industrial end-users) the difference between a Section III nuclear steam generator (classified as Structures, Systems and Components (SSC)) and a Section VIII steam generator in the same general conditions, but used in a conventional application. Specifically, applicable temperature and pressure ranges and a more quantitative description of how materials change, design margins change and required design rigor changes are of interest. This overview focuses on the steam generator pressure boundary but the downstream piping will also be considered. Within the designations of Section III and Section VIII there are subcategories with their specific regions of applicability. Each of these subcategories has evolved their own unique features with respect to design rules and their implementation. A general overview of the various design codes will be provided in sufficient detail to illustrate the major differences; however, a detailed discussion of the various design requirements and their implementation is beyond the scope of this discussion. References (1) and (2) are sources of more detailed information. Also, example wall sizing calculations will be provided to illustrate the application of the relevant design codes under the candidate design conditions. The candidate steam supply Design Conditions are 600C (1112F) and 24MPa (3,480psi). The Operating Conditions or Service Levels will be somewhat lower and the difference shows up in some of the various design methodologies employed.
Nuclear Theory for Nucleosynthesis: Contribution to the 2014 DNP White Paper on Nuclear Physics in Astrophysics
Nuclear structure and reaction theories play crucial roles for advancing our knowledge of nucleosynthesis in astrophysical environments. The status of relevant theoretical formalisms and tools is briefly summarized and areas in need of development are highlighted.
The LLNL Program in Nuclear Structure and Nuclear Astrophysics (NSNA) (FY19 Annual Report)
Our major efforts in FY18-19 were devoted to carrying out the second GRETINA/CHICO2 campaign at ANL and the JANUS campaign at MSU/NSCL. Among a total of 13 fielded experiments, three were for Ph.D. thesis projects; two students at MSU and one at UNC at Chapel Hill. Two experiments in the JANUS campaign were led by LLNL; namely, the study of nuclear structure in 72 Se and 76 Se using the sub-barrier Coulomb excitation method. The data analysis was completed for both selenium isotopes and the results were published. The 72 Se results have been submitted to DOE/SC/NP as a science highlight and the article won a prestigious LLNL S&T Excellence in Publication Award in FY19. For experiments fielded in FY17 at TRIUMF/ISAC2 using TIGRESS/Bambino, the data analysis was completed recently and the 21 Mg results were published in FY19. For the results on the mirror nuclei 23 Mg and 23 Na, the manuscript was written and is in circulation among the coauthors. We intend to submit it for publication later this calendar year. These efforts address the isospin symmetry in the sd shell nuclei in terms of the electromagnetic properties measured with the sub-barrier Coulomb excitation method. The proposal to upgrade CHICO2 to CHICOX by resizing the detector chamber to be compatible to GRETA was approved in FY17 with a budget spread over three fiscal years starting FY18. The preliminary design was completed but cannot be finalized until the design for the GRETA holding frame is completed by the LBNL GRETA team in FY19. The fabrication will proceed once the physical compatibility of CHICOX to GRETA holding frame is confirmed. The narrative below focuses on the research efforts for which LLNL led or played a key role. This report includes two sections: 1) Evolution of shell structure and collectivity in neutron-rich nuclei, and 2) Investigating nucleosynthesis and the Standard Model with β decay.
AIACHNE's contribution for Nuclear Energy Agency Working Party on International Nuclear Data Evaluation Co-operation Subgroup 50
The AIACHNE (AI/ML Informed cAlifornium CHi Nuclear data Experiment) project aims at designing an experiment for the 252 Cf Prompt Fission Neutron Spectrum (PFNS) that explores systematic biases in an experimental database retrieved from the EXFOR databases. To that end, machine learning (ML) methods were applied to pint-point measurement features likely related to bias. From that information, we selected a feature that should be explored by the AIACHNE experiment. Measurement features are metadata encapsulating all pertinent information about the physical measurement and analysis techniques. Examples are, for instance, what neutron and fission detectors were used for the physical metadata, and what background reduction techniques were employed for analysis techniques. Such metadata were retrieved both from EXFOR entries as well as the literature of data sets described in detail in Reference 2 (at the end of the article).
Nuclear Balance-of-Plant Analysis for Heat and Electricity Calculations in Several Advanced Nuclear Reactor Concepts
In addition to producing electricity, advanced nuclear reactors can also serve as a source of process heat for a wide range of industrial or residential applications. In cases where the heat application requires low-temperature heat, waste heat from the balance of plant (BOP) can be utilized with minimal impact on electricity generation. For applications requiring higher-temperature heat, heat can be extracted from the BOP, though this will reduce the amount of electricity generated. In either case, the optimal BOP design will be case-specific and depend on multiple factors, including the reactor type and the thermal requirements of the heat application.
Kilonovae Across the Nuclear Physics Landscape: The Impact of Nuclear Physics Uncertainties on r-process-powered Emission
Merging neutron stars produce “kilonovae”—electromagnetic transients powered by the decay of unstable nuclei synthesized via rapid neutron capture (the r-process) in material that is gravitationally unbound during inspiral and coalescence. Kilonova emission, if accurately interpreted, can be used to characterize the masses and compositions of merger-driven outflows, helping to resolve a long-standing debate about the origins of r-process material in the Universe. We explore how the uncertain properties of nuclei involved in the r-process complicate the inference of outflow properties from kilonova observations. Using r-process simulations, we show how nuclear physics uncertainties impact predictions of radioactive heating and element synthesis. For a set of models that span a large range in both predicted heating and final abundances, we carry out detailed numerical calculations of decay product thermalization and radiation transport in a kilonova ejecta with a fixed mass and density profile. The light curves associated with our models exhibit great diversity in their luminosities, with peak brightness varying by more than an order of magnitude. We also find variability in the shape of the kilonova light curves and their color, which in some cases runs counter to the expectation that increasing levels of lanthanide and/or actinide enrichment will be correlated with longer, dimmer, redder emission.
EFFECTS OF NUCLEAR RADIATION IN A LIQUID HYDROGEN MEDIUM, COLLECTION BETWEEN PARALLEL PLATES OF IONIZATION PRODUCED BY NUCLEAR RADIATION IN CRYOGENIC MEDIA.
Collection between parallel plates of ionization produced by nuclear radiation in cryogenic media
Spermine stimulation of a nuclear NII kinase from pea plumules and its role in the phosphorylation of a nuclear polypeptide
We have previously demonstrated that spermine stimulates the phosphorylation of a 47 kilodalton nuclear polypeptide from pea plumules (N Datta, LK Hardison, SJ Roux 1986 Plant Physiol 82: 681-684). In this paper we report that spermine stimulates the activity of a cyclic AMP independent casein kinase, partially purified from a chromatin fraction of pea plumule nuclei. This effect of spermine was substrate specific; i.e. with casein as substrate, spermine stimulated the kinase activity, and with phosvitin as substrate, spermine completely inhibited the activity. The stimulation by spermine of the casein kinase was, in part, due to the lowering of the Mg2+ requirement of the kinase. Heparin could partially inhibit this casein kinase activity and spermine completely overcame this inhibition. By further purification of the casein kinase extract on high performance liquid chromatography, we fractionated it into an NI and an NII kinase. Spermine stimulated the NII kinase by 5- to 6-fold but had no effect on the NI kinase. Using [gamma-32P]GTP, we have shown that spermine promotes the phosphorylation of the 47 kilodalton polypeptide(s) in isolated nuclei, at least in part by stimulating an NII kinase.
At the Frontier: Floating Nuclear Power Plants and the Nuclear and Maritime Security Challenge
The short news brief provides information on the potential Floating Nuclear Power Plant concept.
A non-destructive internal nuclear forensic investigation at Argonne: discovery of a Pu planchet from 1948
A plutonium alpha standard dating from 1948 was discovered at Argonne National Laboratory and characterized using a number of non-destructive analytical techniques. The principle radioactive isotope was found to be 239 Pu and unique ring structures were found across the surface of the deposition area. Due to chronological constraints on possible sources and its high isotopic purity, the plutonium in the sample was likely produced by the Oak Ridge National Lab X-10 Reactor. As a result, it is proposed that the rings are resultant through a combination of polishing and electrodeposition, though the hypothesis fails to address a few key features of the ring structures.
Case Studies of a Nuclear Forensics Examination
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Direct Reactions for Nuclear Structure and Nuclear Astrophysics
Direct reactions are powerful probes for studying the atomic nucleus. Modern direct reaction studies are illuminating both the fundamental nature of the nucleus and its role in nucleosynthetic processes occurring in the cosmos. This report covers experiments using knockout reactions on neutron-deficient fragmentation beams, transfer reactions on fission fragment beams, and theoretical sensitivity studies relating to the astrophysical r-process. Results from experiments on 108,106 Sn at the NSCL, and on 131 Sn at HRIBF are presented as well as the results from the nucleosynthesis study.
Precise Lifetime Measurements in Light Nuclei for Benchmarking Modern Ab-initio Nuclear Structure Models
A new generation of ab-initio calculations, based on realistic two- and three-body forces, is having a profound impact on our view of how nuclei work. To improve the numerical methods, and the parameterization of 3-body forces, new precise data are needed. Electromagnetic transitions are very sensitive to the dynamics which drive mixing between configurations. We have made a series of precise (< 3%) measurements of electromagnetic transitions in the A=10 nuclei {sup 10}C and {sup 10}Be by using the Doppler Shift Attenuation method carefully. Many interesting features can be reproduced including the strong α clustering. New measurements on {sup 8}Be and {sup 12}Be highlight the interplay between the alpha clusters and their valence neutrons.
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.