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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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DOE OSTI2011

CHEMISTRY OF A PROTOPLANETARY DISK WITH GRAIN SETTLING AND Ly{alpha} RADIATION

We present results from a model of the chemical evolution of protoplanetary disks. In our models, we directly calculate the changing propagation and penetration of a high energy radiation field with Ly{alpha} radiation included. We also explore the effect on our models of including dust grain settling. We find that, in agreement with earlier studies, the evolution of dust grains plays a large role in determining how deep the UV radiation penetrates into the disk. Significant grain settling at the midplane leads to much smaller freeze-out regions and a correspondingly larger molecular layer, which leads to an increase in column density for molecular species such as CO, CN, and SO. The inclusion of Ly{alpha} radiation impacts the disk chemistry through specific species that have large photodissociation cross sections at 1216 A. These include HCN, NH{sub 3}, and CH{sub 4}, for which the column densities are decreased by an order of magnitude or more due to the presence of Ly{alpha} radiation in the UV spectrum. A few species, such as CO{sub 2} and SO, are enhanced by the presence of Ly{alpha} radiation, but rarely by more than a factor of a few.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2013

Standoff alpha radiation detection via excited state absorption of air

A standoff alpha radiation detection technique based on the physical mechanism of excited state absorption of air molecules was explored and is presented in this paper. Instead of directly detecting the radiation via measuring the intensity of radiation induced air fluorescence, the radiation is detected via the excited state absorption of alpha radiation excited/ionized air molecules. Both theoretical analyses and experimental verifications were conducted. The experimental results confirmed that the radiation could be detected via excited state absorption of radiation excited/ionized air molecules at a 10 m standoff distance, which was consistent with the theoretical analyses.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2011

Generation of K{sub {alpha}} radiation by high-efficiency laser targets

The intensity of K{sub {alpha}} radiation emanating from transversely limited thin laser targets with a periodic relief superposed onto its front side was calculated. The relief parameters and the geometrical target dimensions were optimised with the help of an analytic model. The optimal target was shown to possess a nearly 100% absorption coefficient for laser radiation and a high (up to 10{sup -3}) coefficient of laser radiation conversion to the X-ray K{sub {alpha}} radiation. (interaction of laser radiation with matter. laser plasma)

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2016

Alpha Radiation Effects on Silicon Oxynitride Waveguides

Photonic technologies are today of great interest for use in harsh environments, such as outer space, where they can potentially replace current communication systems based on radiofrequency components. However, very much alike to electronic devices, the behavior of optical materials and circuits can be strongly altered by high-energy and high-dose ionizing radiations. Here, we investigate the effects of alpha () radiation with MeV-range energy on silicon oxynitride (SiON) optical waveguides. Irradiation with a dose of 5×1015 cm-2 increases the refractive index of the SiON core by nearly 10-2, twice as much that of the surrounding silica cladding, leading to a significant increase of the refractive index contrast of the waveguide. The higher mode confinement induced by -radiation reduces the loss of tightly bent waveguides. We show that this increases the quality factor of microring resonators by 20%, with values larger than 105 after irradiation.

alpha particles↗

DOE OSTI2013

Isotope effect in the photochemical decomposition of CO{sub 2} (ice) by Lyman-{alpha} radiation

The photochemical decomposition of CO{sub 2}(ice) at 75 K by Lyman-{alpha} radiation (10.2 eV) has been studied using transmission infrared spectroscopy. An isotope effect in the decomposition of the CO{sub 2} molecule in the ice has been discovered, favoring {sup 12}CO{sub 2} photodecomposition over {sup 13}CO{sub 2} by about 10%. The effect is caused by electronic energy transfer from the excited CO{sub 2} molecule to the ice matrix, which favors quenching of the heavier electronically-excited {sup 13}CO{sub 2} molecule over {sup 12}CO{sub 2}. The effect is similar to the Menzel-Gomer-Redhead isotope effect in desorption from adsorbed molecules on surfaces when electronically excited. An enhancement of the rate of formation of lattice-trapped CO and CO{sub 3} species is observed for the photolysis of the {sup 12}CO{sub 2} molecule compared to the {sup 13}CO{sub 2} molecule in the ice. Only 0.5% of the primary photoexcitation results in O-CO bond dissociation to produce trapped-CO and trapped-CO{sub 3} product molecules and the majority of the electronically-excited CO{sub 2} molecules return to the ground state. Here either vibrational relaxation occurs (majority process) or desorption of CO{sub 2} occurs (minority process) from highly vibrationally-excited CO{sub 2} molecules in the ice. The observation of the {sup 12}C/{sup 13}C isotope effect in the Lyman-{alpha} induced photodecomposition of CO{sub 2} (ice) suggests that over astronomical time scales the isotope enrichment effect may distort historical information derived from isotope ratios in space wherever photochemistry can occur.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2011

Mechanism and computational model for Lyman-{alpha}-radiation generation by high-intensity-laser four-wave mixing in Kr-Ar gas

We present a theoretical model combined with a computational study of a laser four-wave mixing process under optical discharge in which the non-steady-state four-wave amplitude equations are integrated with the kinetic equations of initial optical discharge and electron avalanche ionization in Kr-Ar gas. The model is validated by earlier experimental data showing strong inhibition of the generation of pulsed, tunable Lyman-{alpha} (Ly-{alpha}) radiation when using sum-difference frequency mixing of 212.6 nm and tunable infrared radiation (820-850 nm). The rigorous computational approach to the problem reveals the possibility and mechanism of strong auto-oscillations in sum-difference resonant Ly-{alpha} generation due to the combined effect of (i) 212.6-nm (2+1)-photon ionization producing initial electrons, followed by (ii) the electron avalanche dominated by 843-nm radiation, and (iii) the final breakdown of the phase matching condition. The model shows that the final efficiency of Ly-{alpha} radiation generation can achieve a value of {approx}5x10{sup -4} which is restricted by the total combined absorption of the fundamental and generated radiation.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2016

From mirrors to windows: Lyman-alpha radiative transfer in a very clumpy medium

Lyman-alpha (Lyα) is the strongest emission line in the universe and is frequently used to detect and study the most distant galaxies. Because Lyα is a resonant line, photons typically scatter prior to escaping; this scattering process complicates the interpretation of Lyα spectra, but also encodes a wealth of information about the structure and kinematics of neutral gas in the Galaxy. Modeling the Lyα line therefore allows us to study tiny-scale features of the gas. Curiously, observed Lyα spectra can be modeled successfully with very simple, homogeneous geometries (such as an expanding, spherical shell), whereas more realistic, multiphase geometries often fail to reproduce the observed spectra. This seems paradoxical since the gas in galaxies is known to be multiphase. In this Letter, we show that spectra emerging from clumpy geometries with a large number (≳10 for a clump column density of N{sub HI,cl}∼10{sup 17} cm{sup −2}) of clouds along the line of sight converge to the predictions from simplified, homogeneous models. We suggest that this resolves the apparent discrepancy and may provide a way to study the gas structure in galaxies on scales far smaller than can be probed in either cosmological simulations or direct (i.e., spatially resolved) observations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2010

RESONANT SCATTERING AND Ly{alpha} RADIATION EMERGENT FROM NEUTRAL HYDROGEN HALOS

With a state-of-the-art numerical method used for solving the integral-differential equation of radiative transfer, we investigate the flux of the Ly{alpha} photon {nu}{sub 0} emergent from an optically thick halo containing a central light source. Our focus is on the time-dependent effects of the resonant scattering. We first show that the frequency distribution of photons in the halo is quickly approaching a locally thermalized state around the resonant frequency, even when the mean intensity of the radiation is highly time dependent. Since initial conditions are forgotten during the thermalization, some features of the flux, such as the two-peak structure of its profile, are actually independent of the intrinsic width and time behavior of the central source, if the emergent photons are mainly from photons in the thermalized state. In this case, the difference |{nu}{sub {+-}} - {nu}{sub 0}|, where {nu}{sub {+-}} are the frequencies of the two peaks of the flux, cannot be less than 2 times the Doppler broadening. We then study the radiative transfer in the case where the light emitted from the central source is a flash. We calculate the light curves of the flux from the halo. It shows that the flux is still a flash. The time duration of the flash for the flux, however, is independent of the original time duration of the light source but depends on the optical depth of the halo. Therefore, the spatial transfer of resonant photons is a diffusion process, even though it is not a purely Brownian diffusion. This property enables an optically thick halo to trap and store thermalized photons around {nu}{sub 0} for a long time after the cessation of the central source emission. The photons trapped in the halo can yield delayed emission, of which the profile also shows typical two-peak structure as that from locally thermalized photons. Possible applications of these results are addressed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2013

On the Alpha Radiation Damage to the O-Ring Seal of the SAVY-4000 Container

In this memo, the dose to an O-ring from the alpha decay of 238 PuO 2 is calculated. These calculations were made in order to assess possible radiation damage to the O-ring, which could lead to failure and loss of integrity of the seal created by the O-ring. The O-ring being discussed here provides the seal between the lid and bottom of a nuclear materials container. The container will be used for the storage and transport of a number of different radioactive materials. The analysis is made using 238 PuO 2 as it would create the greatest damage to the O-ring when considering the materials that may be stored in it. Contamination of the O-ring is not expected to occur. But in the event radioactive material comes in contact with the O-ring, these calculations provide an estimate of the radiation damage.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

DOE OSTI2011

Lyman-{alpha} radiation of a metastable hydrogen beam to measure electric fields

The interaction between a metastable H(2s) atomic hydrogen beam and an external electric field leads to the emission of the Lyman-{alpha} line. It originates in the Stark mixing of the near-degenerate 2s{sub 1/2} and 2p{sub 1/2} levels separated by the Lamb shift. The quenched radiation proportional to the square of the electric field amplitude is recovered in vacuum by using such an atomic probe beam. We observe the strong enhancement of the signal when the field is oscillating at the Lamb shift frequency. This technique is applied in a plasma, offering an alternative way to measure weak electric fields by direct and non-intrusive means.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2023

INL Alpha Radiation Background Study

During a radiological emergency, swift determination of the extent and intensity of the radiological materials that have been released to the environment are important for decision makers to correctly assess the hazards and recommend protective actions. In a radiological emergency, natural background counts need to be subtracted from the total activity for the actual amount of activity present to be assessed. This study provides documented survey results of the soils in and around the INL using instrumentation utilized by field monitoring teams that support the INL. Over three hundred alpha background counts were taken. The average alpha background count rate on portable instruments in use by field monitoring teams is 5 counts per minute and the decision level for activity that should be considered as having activity greater than background is 10 counts per minute. It was also shown that rain or snow can increase the background and its effects are difficult to quantify.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Demonstrating the β-Ga 2 O 3 Schottky diodes for alpha radiation detection

Schottky barrier diodes were fabricated on (001) monoclinic β-Ga 2 O 3 wafers with low doped epitaxial layers of 7.0 × 10 15 cm −3 . Circular Ni Schottky contacts with area 2 mm 2 were deposited by electron beam evaporation. Devices were characterized electrically by performing forward and reverse current-voltage sweeps with a range of −100 V–2 V, as well as capacitance-voltage sweeps to −30 V. The breakdown voltage was also determined to be −180 V for the devices. Experiments measuring the electrical response from incident X-ray radiation was performed. A response time to X-ray radiation of less than 1 s was recorded and a decay time of approximately 2 s after removing X-ray source, which primarily attribute to X-ray switching on and off time. Energy spectra of alpha particles from a 0.9 μCi 241 Am button source was collected at various voltage biases using devices with the lowest measured leakage current while reverse biased. The total count rate was observed to increase linearly with increasing device bias. In conclusion, the peak channel number was observed to increase with increasing bias with the best resolution of 9.5% at −100 V reverse bias.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2015

Note: Real time optical sensing of alpha-radiation emitting radioactive aerosols based on solid state nuclear track detector

A sensitive radioactive aerosols sensor has been designed and developed. Its design guidance is based on the need for a low operational cost and reliable measurements to provide daily aerosol monitoring. The exposure of diethylene-glycol bis (allylcarbonate) to radiation causes modification of its physico-chemical properties like surface roughness and reflectance. In the present study, optical sensor based on the reflectance measurement has been developed with an aim to monitor real time presence of alpha radioactive aerosols emitted from thorium nitrate hydrate. The results shows that the fabricated sensor can detect 0.0157 kBq to 0.1572 kBq of radio activity by radioactive aerosols generated from (Th(NO{sub 3}){sub 4} ⋅ 5H{sub 2}O) at 0.1 ml/min flow rate. The proposed instrument will be helpful to monitor radioactive aerosols in/around a nuclear facility, building construction sites, mines, and granite polishing factories.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2018

Alpha Radiation Studies and Related Backgrounds in the DarkSide-50 Detector

DarkSide-50 is the current phase of the DarkSide direct dark matter search pro- gram, operating underground at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy. The detector is a dual-phase argon Time Projection Chamber (TPC), designed for direct detection of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), and housed within a veto system of liquid scintillator and water Cherenkov detectors. Since switching to a target of low radioactivity argon extracted from underground sources in April 2015, the background is no longer dominated by naturally occurring $^{39}$Ar. However, alpha backgrounds from radon and its daughters remain, both from the liquid argon bulk and internal detector surfaces. In some cases, the alpha events are a dangerous background in need of mitigation. In others, the alpha events can be used as a tool to deepen our understanding of our detector. We present here several analyses of alpha events in DarkSide-50. An analysis of radon-polonium coincidences is perfo rmed, yielding measurements of ion mobility and charged daughter fraction in liquid argon. These coincidences are also used to place upper limits on XY-resolution and liquid argon motion in the detector. A method for simulating the degraded energy spectra from $^{210}$Po events traveling through surface materials is presented and compared with data from DarkSide-50. Lastly, a pileup background created by the accidental coincidence of scintillation-only $^{210}$Po surface events with random ionization-like pulses is thoroughly discussed. The estimation of this background and its mitigation informed the recent WIMP search analysis performed with 532 live-days of DarkSide-50 data.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2020