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At least 721 records · Page 40

Recommendations for harmonized reporting of radiation Dosimetry by adoption of Compatibility in Irradiation Research Protocols Expert Roundtable (CIRPER)

Here, in radiobiology, radiation physics, and related areas, there is growing interest in transitioning from cesium-based irradiators to X-ray technologies. Therefore, it makes it imperative for reproducibility purposes, for researchers to provide specifications regarding device parameters, machine calibration details, and experimental setup when innovative X-ray technology is being employed. Several groups have already identified a glaring lack in completeness of critical information on experimental setups, equipment, and physical parameters in published radiation biology studies. The Alternative Technologies Meta Study Report by Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) examined 456 manuscripts published between 2017-2021. Only 64 of the reviewed studies (14.0%) consistently reported methods that could allow for replication of their studies. However, 85% provided information on the manufacturer, the irradiator model and the absorbed radiation dose. Approximately 66% provided information on the energy spectra and the dose rate, but only one third disclosed the filter used. Less than 15% of the reviewed studies reported information on calibration and field geometry, specifically field size and distance from source, which are critical parameters in determining the absorbed radiation dose.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Towards a wavefront-preservation X-ray crystal monochromator for high-repetition-rate FELs

The wavefront preservation of coherent X-ray free-electron laser beams is pushing the requirement on the quality and performance of X-ray optics to an unprecedented level. The Strehl ratio can be used to quantify this requirement. In this paper, the criteria for thermal deformation of the X-ray optics are formulated, especially for crystal monochromators. To preserve the X-ray wavefront, the standard deviation of the height error should be sub-nm for mirrors and less than 25 pm for crystal monochromators. Cryocooled silicon crystals combined with two techniques can be used to achieve this level of performance for monochromator crystals: (1) using a focusing element to compensate the second-order component of the thermal deformation; (2) introducing a cooling pad between the cooling block and silicon crystal and optimizing the effective cooling temperature. Each of these techniques allows the thermal deformation in standard deviation of the height error to be reduced by an order of magnitude. As an example, for the LCLS-II-HE Dynamic X-ray Scattering instrument, the criteria on thermal deformation of a high-heat-load monochromator crystal can be achieved for a 100 W SASE FEL beam. Wavefront propagation simulations confirm that the reflected beam intensity profile is satisfactory on both the peak power density and focused beam size.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Muonic force behind flavor anomalies

We develop an economical theoretical framework for combined explanations of the flavor physics anomalies involving muons: (g - 2) μ , R K(*), and b → sμ + μ - angular distributions and branching ratios, that was first initiated by some of us in ref. [1]. The Standard Model (SM) is supplemented with a lepton-flavored U(1) X gauge group. The U(1) X gauge boson with the mass of O(0.1) GeV resolves the (g - 2) μ tension. A TeV-scale leptoquark, charged under the U(1) X , carries a muon number and mediates B-decays without prompting charged lepton flavor violation or inducing proton decay. We explore the theory space of the chiral, anomaly-free U(1) X gauge extensions featuring the above scenario, and identify many suitable charge assignments for the SM+3ν R fermion content with the integer charges in the range X F i $\in$ [-10, 10]. We then carry out a comprehensive phenomenological study of the muonic force in representative benchmark models. Interestingly, we found models which can resolve the tension without conflicting the complementary constraints, and all of the viable parameter space will be tested in future muonic resonance searches. Finally, the catalog of the anomaly-free lepton-non-universal charge assignments motivated us to explore different directions in model building. We present a model in which the muon mass and the (g - 2) μ are generated radiatively from a common short-distance dynamics after the U(1) X breaking. We also show how to charge a vector leptoquark under U(1) μ-τ in a complete gauge model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Diamond channel-cut crystals for high-heat-load beam-multiplexing narrow-band X-ray monochromators

Next-generation high-brilliance X-ray photon sources call for new X-ray optics. Here we demonstrate the possibility of using monolithic diamond channel-cut crystals as high-heat-load beam-multiplexing narrow-band mechanically stable X-ray monochromators with high-power X-ray beams at cutting-edge high-repetition-rate X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) facilities. The diamond channel-cut crystals fabricated and characterized in these studies are designed as two-bounce Bragg reflection monochromators directing 14.4 or 12.4 keV X-rays within a 15 meV bandwidth to 57 Fe or 45 Sc nuclear resonant scattering experiments, respectively. The crystal design allows out-of-band X-rays transmitted with minimal losses to alternative simultaneous experiments. Only ≲2% of the incident ∼100 W X-ray beam is absorbed in the 50 µm-thick first diamond crystal reflector, ensuring that the monochromator crystal is highly stable. Other X-ray optics applications of diamond channel-cut crystals are anticipated.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

X-ray Free Electron Laser Accelerator Lattice Design Using Laser-Assisted Bunch Compression

We report the start-to-end modeling of our accelerator lattice design employing a laser-assisted bunch compression (LABC) scheme in an X-ray free electron laser (XFEL), using the proposed Matter-Radiation Interactions in Extremes (MaRIE) XFEL parameters. The accelerator lattice utilized a two-stage bunch compression scheme, with the first bunch compressor performing a conventional bulk compression enhancing the beam current from 20 A to 500 A, at 750 MeV. The second bunch compression was achieved by modulating the beam immediately downstream of the first bunch compressor by a laser with 1-μm wavelength in a laser modulator, accelerating the beam to the final energy of 12 GeV, and compressing the individual 1-μm periods of the modulated beam into a sequence of microbunches with 3-kA current spikes by the second bunch compressor. The LABC architecture presented had been developed based on the scheme of enhanced self-amplified spontaneous emission (ESASE), but operated in a disparate regime of parameters. Enabled by the novel technology of the cryogenic normal conducting radiofrequency photoinjector, we investigated an electron beam with ultra-low emittance at the starting point of the lattice design. Our work aimed at mitigating the well-known beam instabilities to preserve the beam emittance and suppress the energy spread growth.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Effects of Ionizing Radiation on the Thermodynamic Stability of Boehmite and Gibbsite

Here, in this study, we examined the effect of gamma radiation on the stabilities of aluminum hydroxide (gibbsite) and aluminum oxyhydroxide (boehmite) nanoparticles in relation to their thermal decomposition. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed no significant differences in mineral components or morphology before and after radiation. However, thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC) analyses showed that both boehmite and gibbsite nanoparticles experienced decreased mass loss following irradiation. Raman and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transfer infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra indicated that a fraction of the hydroxyl content in both cases was selectively cleaved by radiation, primarily at the particle surfaces. Quantitative analyses of thermal mass loss behavior demonstrated that irradiated boehmite and gibbsite nanoparticles had higher activation energies than their pristine counterparts, with the extent of the increase dependent on the total dose. Taken together, these findings suggest that exposure to a sufficient dose of ionizing radiation alters these materials such that they are less prone to decomposition by dehydration. This increased stability may be due to the decreased hydrous nature of the samples after radiation exposure, which was supported by further high temperature drop calorimetry. Additionally, a radiation-induced amorphous phase on the nanoparticle surfaces appears to have a permanent and positive influence on their thermodynamic stabilities.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Ultra-compact x-ray spectrometer for high-repetition-rate laser–plasma experiments

Here, we present in this work the development of an ultra-compact, multi-channel x-ray spectrometer (UCXS). This diagnostic has been specially built and adapted to perform at high-repetition-rate (>1 Hz) for high-intensity, short-pulse laser plasma experiments. X-ray filters of varying materials and thicknesses are chosen to provide spectral resolution up to ΔE ≈ 1 keV over the x-ray energy range of 1–30 keV. These filters are distributed over a total of 25 channels, where each x-ray filter is coupled to a single scintillator. The UCXS is designed to detect and resolve a large variety of laser-driven x-ray sources such as low energy bremsstrahlung emission, fluorescence, and betatron radiation (up to 30 keV). Preliminary results from commissioning experiments at the ABL laser facility at Colorado State University are provided.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

A Flat Analyzer Polycapillary Spectrometer for X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Dilute Transition Metals at X-ray-Free Electron Lasers

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) coupled with highly intense pulses from an X-ray-free electron laser (XFEL) can be used to track ultrafast chemical dynamics. Nonetheless, measurements for dilute samples (≤1 mM) have been exceptionally challenging, as scattering background signals dominate over the sample’s X-ray fluorescence. We show that femtosecond time-resolved XAS measurements of sub-millimolar transition metal solutions are now possible at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) using a high-throughput polycapillary XAS spectrometer, designed, developed, and commissioned at LCLS and the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL). The instrument integrates three polycapillary optics that collect and collimate X-ray fluorescence emitted from the interaction point with a high solid angle. X-ray collimated fluorescence is then selectively diffracted by coupled graphite analyzer crystals. As a result, the contribution of scattered photons is suppressed. Experiments at the Pt L 3 -edge on 0.1 mM aqueous K 2 PtCl 6 (delivered via a 100 μm liquid jet) were successfully performed in the laser pump X-ray probe configuration at the LCLS XCS and XPP instruments. We report the transient spectra of hexachloroplatinate within the first 10 ps after a 266 nm photoexcitation. We observed a short-lived reduced intermediate (≈2 ps). The polycapillary X-ray spectrometer at LCLS now enables the efficient study of the dynamics of ultradilute transition metals in solution. This capability opens the door to investigating plasmonic systems, photocatalysts, enzymes, and other scarce and dilute samples.

LCLS↗

Twin-pulse seeding enables pump-probe capabilities in the EUV to soft X-ray spectrum at synchrotron light sources

Having previously reported that separating the two stages of echo-enabled harmonic generation (EEHG) with one or more bending magnet (BM) sections allows the BMs to serve as the desired source of momentum compaction, here we demonstrate that this arrangement can greatly reduce the total energy modulation required by any 4th generation synchrotron light source, leading to higher repetition rates as well as stronger coherent radiation output power, with significant benefits. Since the EEHG beamline performance is mainly determined by the momentum compaction, beam emittances and beta functions of a storage ring lattice, allowing for different separations between the two stages is a straightforward way to increase the momentum compaction of chicane 1. This also enables pump-probe capabilities in a novel context, where twin-pulse seeding on the same electron bunch would allow two distinct radiation pulses with an adjustable delay in the range of 0.1 to 10 ps. In the twin-pulse seeding scheme, the same electron bunch could undergo modulation from two distinct laser pulses. Later stages would produce independent harmonics in subsequent straight sections. There are two variations of this twin-pulse seeding scheme, supporting different scientific applications. With a common modulation in stage 1, the first option allows simultaneously two independent radiation sources, with a full coverage of the EUV (2.5 to 50 nm) to soft X-ray (1.25 to 2.5 nm) spectrum; for the second option, the same stage 2 undulator could generate two coherent pulses both fitting within the FEL bandwidth, or at distinct harmonics. We present particle tracking simulation studies based on the APS-U lattice, including quantum excitation and radiation damping. These simulations indicate that there is no degradation of the modulated longitudinal phase space even when the two stages are separated by as many as 10 BM sections.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Application of FISH based G2-PCC assay for the cytogenetic assessment of high radiation dose exposures: Potential implications for rapid triage biodosimetry

The main goal of this study is to test the utility of calyculin A induced G2-PCC assay as a biodosimetry triage tool for assessing a wide range of low and acute high radiation dose exposures of photons. Towards this initiative, chromosome aberrations induced by low and high doses of x-rays were evaluated and characterized in G2-prematurely condensed chromosomes (G2-PCCs) by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using human centromere and telomere specific PNA (peptide nucleic acid) probes. A dose dependent increase in the frequency of dicentric chromosomes was observed in the G2-PCCs up to 20 Gy of x-rays. The combined yields of dicentrics and rings in the G2-PCCs showed a clear dose dependency up to 20 Gy from 0.02/cell for 0.1 Gy to 14.98/cell for 20 Gy. Centric rings were observed more frequently than acentric ring chromosomes in the G2-PCCs at all the radiation doses from 1 Gy to 20 Gy. A head-to-head comparison was also performed by FISH on the yields of chromosome aberrations induced by different doses of x-rays (0 Gy -7.5 Gy) in colcemid arrested metaphase chromosomes and calyculin A induced G2-PCCs. In general, the frequencies of dicentrics, rings and acentric fragments were slightly higher in G2-PCCs than in colcemid arrested metaphase chromosomes at all the radiation doses, but the differences were not statistically significant. To reduce the turnaround time for absorbed radiation dose estimation, attempt was made to obtain G2-PCCs by reducing the culture time to 36 hrs. The absorbed doses estimated in x-rays irradiated (0,1,2 and 4 Gy) G2-PCCs after 36 hrs of culture were grossly like that of G2-PCCs and colcemid arrested metaphase chromosomes prepared after 48 hrs of culture. Our study indicates that the shortened version of calyculin A induced G2-PCC assay coupled with the FISH staining technique can serve as an effective triage biodosimetry tool for large-scale radiological/nuclear incidents.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

CPU and memory efficient coherent mode decomposition for the partially coherent x-ray simulations

In this work, the method of the Coherent Mode Decomposition (CMD) is applied to numerical wave propagation calculations for partially-coherent X-rays, using the Fourier optics and compatible methods. Its CPU and memory efficiency is discussed in various cases of the wavefront at the source and the beam waist. With the absence of the quadratic phase terms, the required sampling density of the electric fields is effectively reduced. The problem size is thus moderate and the method is feasible to be implemented on a single-node CPU server. In other cases, the same argument holds with proper treatments of the quadratic phase terms. Tests on CMD and the modes propagation are done for the case of the Coherent Hard X-ray beamline of the National Synchrotron Light Source II, using the Synchrotron Radiation Workshop software. We observe a few hundred or less dominant decomposed modes that resemble the electric fields converge to the wavefront intensity at a high accuracy of over 99%.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

X-Ray Polarization of the Magnetar 1E 1841−045

We report on IXPE and NuSTAR observations beginning 40 days after the 2024 outburst onset of magnetar 1E 1841−045, marking the first IXPE observation of a magnetar in an enhanced state. Our spectropolarimetric analysis indicates that both a blackbody (BB) plus double power-law (PL) and a double blackbody plus power-law spectral model fit the phase-averaged intensity data well, with a hard PL tail (Γ = 1.19 and 1.35, respectively) dominating above ≈5 keV. For the former model, we find the soft PL (the dominant component at soft energies) exhibits a polarization degree (PD) of ≈30% while the hard PL displays a PD of ≈40%. Similarly, the cool BB of the 2BB+PL model possesses a PD of ≈15% and a hard PL PD of ≈57%. For both models, each component has a polarization angle (PA) compatible with celestial north. Model-independent polarization analysis supports these results, wherein the PD increases from ≈15% to ≈70% in the 2–3 keV and 6–8 keV ranges, respectively, while the PA remains nearly constant. We find marginal evidence for phase-dependent variability of the polarization properties, namely a higher PD at phases coinciding with the hard X-ray pulse peak. We compare the hard X-ray PL to the expectation from resonant inverse Compton scattering (RICS) and secondary pair cascade synchrotron radiation from primary high-energy RICS photons; both present reasonable spectropolarimetric agreement with the data, albeit the latter does so more naturally. We suggest that the soft PL X-ray component may originate from a Comptonized corona in the inner magnetosphere.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Novel fabrication technique for high-resolution spherical crystal analyzers using a microporous aluminium base

Modern inelastic X-ray spectrometers employ curved, bent and diced analyzers to capture sufficiently large solid angles of radially emitted scattered radiation emanating from the sample. Fabricating these intricate analyzers, especially when a high energy resolution of a few millielectronvolts is required, is very time-consuming, expensive and often a hit-or-miss affair. A novel fabrication technique is introduced, utilizing a concave-spherical, microporous aluminium base to hold an assembly of a thin glass substrate with a diced crystal wafer bonded to it. Under uniform vacuum forces, the glass substrate is drawn into the aluminium base, achieving the desired bending radius, while dicing of the diffracting crystal layer prevents bending strain from being imposed on the individual crystal pixels. This technique eliminates the need for permanently bonding the crystal assembly to the concave lens, offering the opportunity for correcting figure errors, avoiding long-term degradation of the permanent bond, and making both lens and crystal reusable. Process and material costs are thus substantially decreased. Two analyzers, Si(844) and Ge(337) with intrinsic resolutions of 14.6 meV and 36.5 meV, respectively, were produced in this fashion and characterized in resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) measurements. The achieved overall energy resolutions for both analyzers were 29.4 meV for Si(844) and 56.6 meV for Ge(337). Although the RIXS technique is veru sensitive to analyzer imperfections, the analyzers were found to be equal, if not superior, in quality to their traditional, permanently bonded counterparts.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Copper-nickel electroplating of 3D-printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene for interference and radiation shielding applications

Here, in this study, electromagnetic and radiation shielding structures were fabricated by 3D printing acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) structures via fused filament fabrication and electroplating with copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) metals. Prior to electroplating, the printed ABS materials were made conductive by surface electrodeposition of polypyrrole (PPy). ABS adsorbs the pyrrole monomer, which subsequently polymerizes via oxidation forming conductive PPy layer on the printed structures. The successful anchoring of PPy layer can be attributed to its hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions with ABS. Thermal analysis, optical, and electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray were employed to characterize the printed shielding structures, while the interference and radiation shielding effectiveness were evaluated using a spectrum analyzer and dosimeter, respectively. The interference shielding was found to be effective at 60 ± 5 dB over relatively small frequency range. Shielding was also apparent against gamma and X-ray ionizing rays, but more significantly effective against beta rays. Furthermore, the Cu/Ni coating was able to reduce any heat-induced dimensional changes for the 3D printed ABS substrate without compromising the mechanical integrity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Chemical speciation correlated with microstructural heterogeneity of interdicted uranium materials

Two uranium powders seized by law enforcement in Victoria, Australia, have been characterized by established nuclear forensic methods in a previously published study. Here, in this work, the results of further characterization by a scanning transmission x-ray microscope (STXM) operating in the soft x-ray regime are reported. STXM images are used to estimate the elemental distribution in micrometer-scale particles of each powder, and oxygen K-edge absorption spectra are used to determine the chemical state of uranium. The results of the current study are consistent with the previous analysis; the first powder is found to be a potassium-uranium hydrate, while the second powder is determined to be a mixture of uranium oxides primarily consisting of UO 3 .

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Focusing with saw-tooth refractive lenses at a high-energy X-ray beamline

The Advanced Photon Source 1-ID beamline, operating in the 40–140 keV X-ray energy range, has successfully employed continuously tunable saw-tooth refractive lenses to routinely deliver beams focused in both one and two dimensions to experiments for over 15 years. The practical experience of implementing such lenses, made of silicon and aluminium, is presented, including their properties, control, alignment, and diagnostic methods, achieving ∼1 µm focusing (vertically). Ongoing development and prospects towards submicrometre focusing at these high energies are also mentioned.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Influence of Compositional Complexity on Amorphization Resistance of Swift Heavy Ion Irradiated Titanate Pyrochlores

Compositionally complex oxides have garnered attention recently for their potential technological applications in harsh environments such as thermal barrier coatings and nuclear waste forms. Therefore, their response to extreme conditions, including high temperature and intense irradiation fields, must be thoroughly investigated. Here, the structural evolution of two pyrochlore oxides with comparable cation size ratio, r A /r B , (Yb 0.2 Er 0.2 Dy 0.2 Tb 0.2 Gd 0.2 ) 2 Ti 2 O 7 and Ho 2 Ti 2 O 7 , was evaluated after irradiation with 946 MeV Au ions up to a fluence of 8 × 10 12 ions/cm2 using synchrotron X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The overall radiation response is comparable for both titanate oxides and is dominated by a loss of crystallinity. When compared to a series of conventional titanate pyrochlore compositions, the amorphous track diameter of (Yb 0.2 Er 0.2 Dy 0.2 Tb 0.2 Gd 0.2 ) 2 Ti 2 O 7 is slightly larger than that of Ho2Ti2O7 and more in line with the diameter of the endmember with the maximum A-site cation size (Gd 2 Ti 2 O 7 ). Density functional theory calculations suggest that this behavior may be linked to local lattice distortions and the associated energetics of cation antisite formation. TEM and Raman analyses show that a disordered, crystalline shell surrounds the amorphous ion tracks in (Yb 0.2 Er 0.2 Dy 0.2 Tb 0.2 Gd 0.2 ) 2 Ti 2 O 7 , and the corresponding short-range structure resembles a weberite-type atomic arrangement.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗