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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.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

The Karlsruhe Astrophysical Database of Nucleosynthesis in Stars Project – Status and Prospects

The KADoNiS (Karlsruhe Astrophysical Database of Nucleosynthesis in Stars) project is an astrophysical online database for cross sections relevant for nucleosynthesis in the s process and the γ process. The s-process database ( (http://www.kadonis.org)) was started in 2005 and is presently facing its 4th update (KADoNiS v1.0). The γ-process database (KADoNiS-p, (http://www.kadonis.org/pprocess)) was recently revised and re-launched in March 2013. Both databases are compilations for experimental cross sections with relevance to heavy ion nucleosynthesis. For the s process recommended Maxwellian averaged cross sections for kT=5−100 keV are given for more than 360 isotopes between {sup 1}H and {sup 210}Bi. For the γ-process database all available experimental data from (p,γ),(p,n),(p,α),(α,γ),(α,n), and (α,p) reactions between {sup 70}Ge and {sup 209}Bi in or close to the respective Gamow window were collected and can be compared to theoretical predictions. The aim of both databases is a quick and user-friendly access to the available data in the astrophysically relevant energy regions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

THE IMPACT OF HELIUM-BURNING REACTION RATES ON MASSIVE STAR EVOLUTION AND NUCLEOSYNTHESIS

We study the sensitivity of presupernova evolution and supernova nucleosynthesis yields of massive stars to variations of the helium-burning reaction rates within the range of their uncertainties. The current solar abundances from Lodders are used for the initial stellar composition. We compute a grid of 12 initial stellar masses and 176 models per stellar mass to explore the effects of independently varying the {sup 12}C({alpha}, {gamma}){sup 16}O and 3{alpha} reaction rates, denoted R{sub {alpha},12} and R{sub 3{alpha}}, respectively. The production factors of both the intermediate-mass elements (A = 16-40) and the s-only isotopes along the weak s-process path ({sup 70}Ge, {sup 76}Se, {sup 80}Kr, {sup 82}Kr, {sup 86}Sr, and {sup 87}Sr) were found to be in reasonable agreement with predictions for variations of R{sub 3{alpha}} and R{sub {alpha},12} of {+-}25%; the s-only isotopes, however, tend to favor higher values of R{sub 3{alpha}} than the intermediate-mass isotopes. The experimental uncertainty (one standard deviation) in R{sub 3{alpha}}(R{sub {alpha},12}) is approximately {+-}10%({+-}25%). The results show that a more accurate measurement of one of these rates would decrease the uncertainty in the other as inferred from the present calculations. We also observe sharp changes in production factors and standard deviations for small changes in the reaction rates, due to differences in the convection structure of the star. The compactness parameter was used to assess which models would likely explode as successful supernovae, and hence contribute explosive nucleosynthesis yields. We also provide the approximate remnant masses for each model and the carbon mass fractions at the end of core-helium burning as a key parameter for later evolution stages.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Atomic-scale characterization of germanium isotopic multilayers by atom probe tomography

We report comparison of the interfacial sharpness characterization of germanium (Ge) isotopic multilayers between laser-assisted atom probe tomography (APT) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). An alternating stack of 8-nm-thick naturally available Ge layers and 8-nm-thick isotopically enriched {sup 70}Ge layers was prepared on a Ge(100) substrate by molecular beam epitaxy. The APT mass spectra consist of clearly resolved peaks of five stable Ge isotopes ({sup 70}Ge, {sup 72}Ge, {sup 73}Ge, {sup 74}Ge, and {sup 76}Ge). The degree of intermixing at the interfaces between adjacent layers was determined by APT to be around 0.8 {+-} 0.1 nm which was much sharper than that obtained by SIMS.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Cross sections for production of the 15.10 MeV and other astrophysically significant gamma-ray lines through excitation and spallation of sup 12 C and sup 16 O with protons

The ratio of the flux of 15.10-MeV gamma rays to the flux of 4.438-MeV gamma rays resulting from excitation of the corresponding states in C-12 as a sensitive measure of the spectrum of the exciting particles produced in solar flares and other cosmic sources. These gamma rays are produced predominantly by interactions with C-12 and O-16, both of which are relatively abundant in the solar photosphere. Gamma ray production cross sections for proton interactions have been reported previously for all important channels except for the production of 15.10-MeV gamma rays from O-16. The first reported measurement of the 15.10-MeV gamma ray production cross section from p + O-16 is presented here. The University of Maryland cyclotron was employed to produce 40-, 65-, and 86-MeV protons which interacted with CH2 and BeO targets. The resultant gamma ray spectra were measured with a high-purity germanium semiconductor detector at 70, 90, 110, 125, and 140 degrees relative to the direction of the incident beam for each proton energy. Other gamma ray lines resulting from direct excitation and spallation reactions with C-12 and 0-16 were observed as well, and their gamma ray production cross sections described.

Lang, F. L.↗

Temperature dependence of ion-beam mixing in crystalline and amorphous germanium isotope multilayer structures

Self-atom mixing induced by 310 keV gallium (Ga) ion implantation in crystalline and preamorphized germanium (Ge) at temperatures between 164 K and 623 K and a dose of 1 × 10{sup 15} cm{sup −2} is investigated using isotopic multilayer structures of alternating {sup 70}Ge and {sup nat}Ge layers grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The distribution of the implanted Ga atoms and the ion-beam induced depth-dependent self-atom mixing was determined by means of secondary ion mass spectrometry. Three different temperature regimes of self-atom mixing, i.e., low-, intermediate-, and high-temperature regimes are observed. At temperatures up to 423 K, the mixing is independent of the initial structure, whereas at 523 K, the intermixing of the preamorphized Ge structure is about twice as high as that of crystalline Ge. At 623 K, the intermixing of the initially amorphous Ge structure is strongly reduced and approaches the mixing of the crystalline material. The temperature dependence of ion-beam mixing is described by competitive amorphization and recrystallization processes.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Oxide-Free Three-Dimensional Germanium/Silicon Core–Shell Metalattice Made by High-Pressure Confined Chemical Vapor Deposition

Metalattices are crystalline arrays of uniform particles in which the period of the crystal is close to some characteristic physical length scale of the material. In this work, we explore the synthesis and properties of a germanium metalattice in which the similar to 70 nm periodicity of a silica colloidal crystal template is close to the similar to 24 nm Bohr exciton radius of the nanocrystalline Ge replica. The problem of Ge surface oxidation can be significant when exploring quantum confinement effects or designing electronically coupled nanostructures because of the high surface area to volume ratio at the nanoscale. To eliminate surface oxidation, we developed a coreshell synthesis in which the Ge metalattice is protected by an oxide-free Si interfacial layer, and we explore its properties by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The interstices of a colloidal crystal film grown from 69 nm diameter spherical silica particles were filled with polycrystalline Ge by high-pressure confined chemical vapor deposition (HPcCVD) from GeH4. After the SiO2 template was etched away with aqueous HF, the Ge replica was uniformly coated with an amorphous Si shell by HPcCVD as confirmed by TEM-EDS (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) and Raman spectroscopy. Formation of the shell prevents oxidation of the Ge core within the detection limit of XPS. The electronic properties of the core-shell structure were studied by accessing the Ge 3d edge onset using STEM-EELS. A blue shift in the edge onset with decreasing size of Ge sites in the metalattices suggests quantum confinement of the Ge core. The degree of quantum confinement of the Ge core depends on the void sizes in the template, which is tunable by using silica particles of varying size. The edge onset also shows a shift to higher energy near the shell in comparison with the Ge core. This shift along with the observation of Ge-Si vibrational modes in the Raman spectrum indicate interdiffusion of Ge and Si. Both the size of the voids in the template and core-shell interdiffusion of Si and Ge can in principle be tuned to modify the electronic properties of the Ge metalattice.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A Methodology for Determining the Concentration of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials in an Urban Environment

The detection of radioactive sources in an urban setting is greatly complicated by natural background radiation, which emanates from various materials including roadways, sidewalks, soil, and building exteriors. The method presented and demonstrated here represents an effort to characterize the concentration of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in these types of materials. The location surveyed in this work was the Fort Indiantown Gap Combined Arms Collective Training Facility in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Over 70 measurements with a high-purity germanium detector were performed to ascertain the NORM concentrations present in the soil, asphalt, gravel, concrete, and walls found throughout the site. Monte Carlo radiation transport calculations were used to obtain detector responses for these various geometries and materials to convert these measurements into NORM concentration estimates. Lastly, synthetic spectra were simulated using the predicted source terms and compared to actual measurements, showing acceptable agreement.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Characterization of NORM in an Urban Environment using HPGe Measurements and MCNP6 Simulations

This work is part of a larger project aimed at producing an operationally relevant, validated simulation environment that can be used as a 'virtual testbed' for counterterrorism and counterproliferation efforts. Examples of such efforts include searches for illicit radiation sources before and during large special events, such as the presidential nominating conventions, inaugurations, and large sporting events. Once validated by laboratory and field measurements, this testbed can be used to test and validate algorithms and detector systems designed for various search missions in an urban environment. The detection of radioactive sources in a city is greatly complicated by natural background radiation, which emanates from various materials common to an urban environment, such as roadways, sidewalks, and building exteriors. The methods and results offered here represent the conclusion of an effort to characterize the concentration of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in various elements in a controlled, but representative, urban environment. Some of the methods discussed in previous work will be briefly reiterated here, but more detail can be found in the preceding work. The location chosen for this effort was a Military Operations on Urban Terrain (MOUT) environment at the Fort Indiantown Gap (FTIG) National Guard training facility in Pennsylvania. This site was chosen because it replicates a small town where traffic and pedestrian access could be easily controlled, as to not interfere with the background measurements. This endeavor involved over 70 measurements using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector designed to ascertain the NORM concentrations in the soil, asphalt roads, gravel lots, concrete intersections, sidewalks, foundations, and walls found throughout the site. The NORM concentrations determined from this work will be incorporated into a large-scale simulation that can be used to investigate various search techniques and algorithms, detector types and setups, and to produce representative synthetic data for future work.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Crystallization of Amorphous Germanium Films and Multilayer a-Ge/a-Si Structures upon Exposure to Nanosecond Laser Radiation

The processes of the crystallization of amorphous germanium films and multilayer germanium/silicon structures upon exposure to nanosecond (70 ns) ruby laser radiation (λ = 694 nm) are studied. The samples are grown on silicon and glassy substrates by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Pulsed laser annealing of the samples is conducted in the range of pulse energy densities E{sub p} from 0.07 to 0.8 J cm{sup –2}. The structure of the films after annealing is determined by analyzing the scanning electron microscopy data and Raman spectra. It is established that, after annealing, the films are completely crystallized and, in this case, contain regions of coarse crystalline grains (>100 nm), whose fraction increases, as E{sub p} is increased, and reaches 40% of the area. From analysis of the position of the Raman peaks, it is conceived that the crystalline grains, whose dimensions exceed 100 nm, either contain structural defects or stretching strains. The correlation length of optical vibrations is determined from the phonon confinement model and found to increase from 5 to 8 nm, as E{sub p} is increased. Pulsed laser annealing of multilayer Ge(10 nm)/Si(5 nm) structures induces partial intermixing of the layers with the formation of Ge–Si alloys.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Self-assembled asymmetric membrane containing micron-size germanium for high capacity lithium ion batteries

We report the formation of novel asymmetric membrane electrode containing micron-size (~5 μm) germanium powders through a self-assembly phase inversion method for high capacity lithium ion battery anode. 850 mA h g -1 capacity (70%) can be retained at a current density of 600 mA g -1 after 100 cycles with excellent rate performance. Such a high retention rate has rarely been seen for pristine micron-size germanium anodes. Moreover, scanning electron microscope studies reveal that germanium powders are uniformly embedded in a networking porous structure consisting of both nanopores and macropores. It is believed that such a unique porous structure can efficiently accommodate the ~260% volume change during germanium alloying and de-alloying process, resulting in an enhanced cycling performance. Finally, these porous membrane electrodes can be manufactured in large scale using a roll-to-roll processing method.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

New Results from the Search for Low-Mass Weakly Interacting Massive Particles with the CDMS low ionization Threshold Experiment

The CDMS low ionization threshold experiment (CDMSlite) uses cryogenic germanium detectors operated at a relatively high bias voltage to amplify the phonon signal in the search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). Results are presented from the second CDMSlite run with an exposure of 70 kg day, which reached an energy threshold for electron recoils as low as 56 eV. A fiducialization cut reduces backgrounds below those previously reported by CDMSlite.

New Results, Low-Mass, Mazzive Particles, CDMS Low↗

Search for Low-Mass Dark Matter with CDMSlite Using a Profile Likelihood Fit

The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search low ionization threshold experiment (CDMSlite) searches for interactions between dark matter particles and germanium nuclei in cryogenic detectors. The experiment has achieved a low energy threshold with improved sensitivity to low-mass (<10 GeV/c2) dark matter particles. We present an analysis of the final CDMSlite data set, taken with a different detector than was used for the two previous CDMSlite data sets. This analysis includes a data "salting" method to protect against bias, improved noise discrimination, background modeling, and the use of profile likelihood methods to search for a dark matter signal in the presence of backgrounds. We achieve an energy threshold of 70 eV and significantly improve the sensitivity for dark matter particles with masses between 2.5 and 10 GeV/c2 compared to previous analyses. We set an upper limit on the dark matter-nucleon scattering cross section in germanium of 5.4×10-42 cm2 at 5 GeV/c2, a factor of ~2.5 improvement over the previous CDMSlite result.

Agnese, R↗

Implosion dynamics measurements at the National Ignition Facility

Measurements have been made of the in-flight dynamics of imploding capsules indirectly driven by laser energies of 1-1.7 MJ at the National Ignition Facility [Miller et al., Nucl. Fusion 44, 228 (2004)]. These experiments were part of the National Ignition Campaign [Landen et al., Phys. Plasmas 18, 051002 (2011)] to iteratively optimize the inputs required to achieve thermonuclear ignition in the laboratory. Using gated or streaked hard x-ray radiography, a suite of ablator performance parameters, including the time-resolved radius, velocity, mass, and thickness, have been determined throughout the acceleration history of surrogate gas-filled implosions. These measurements have been used to establish a dynamically consistent model of the ablative drive history and shell compressibility throughout the implosion trajectory. First results showed that the peak velocity of the original 1.3-MJ Ge-doped polymer (CH) point design using Au hohlraums reached only 75% of the required ignition velocity. Several capsule, hohlraum, and laser pulse changes were then implemented to improve this and other aspects of implosion performance and a dedicated effort was undertaken to test the sensitivity of the ablative drive to the rise time and length of the main laser pulse. Changing to Si rather than Ge-doped inner ablator layers and increasing the pulse length together raised peak velocity to 93% {+-} 5% of the ignition goal using a 1.5 MJ, 420 TW pulse. Further lengthening the pulse so that the laser remained on until the capsule reached 30% (rather than 60%-70%) of its initial radius, reduced the shell thickness and improved the final fuel {rho}R on companion shots with a cryogenic hydrogen fuel layer. Improved drive efficiency was observed using U rather than Au hohlraums, which was expected, and by slowing the rise time of laser pulse, which was not. The effect of changing the Si-dopant concentration and distribution, as well as the effect of using a larger initial shell thickness were also examined, both of which indicated that instabilities seeded at the ablation front are a significant source of hydrodynamic mix into the central hot spot. Additionally, a direct test of the surrogacy of cryogenic fuel layered versus gas-filled targets was performed. Together all these measurements have established the fundamental ablative-rocket relationship describing the dependence of implosion velocity on fractional ablator mass remaining. This curve shows a lower-than-expected ablator mass at a given velocity, making the capsule more susceptible to feedthrough of instabilities from the ablation front into the fuel and hot spot. This combination of low velocity and low ablator mass indicates that reaching ignition on the NIF will require >20 {mu}m ({approx}10%) thicker targets and laser powers at or beyond facility limits.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

X-ray Spectroscopic Studies of a Solid-Density Germanium Plasma Created by a Free Electron Laser

The generation of solid-density plasmas in a controlled manner using an X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) has opened up the possibility of diagnosing the atomic properties of hot, strongly coupled systems in novel ways. Previous work has concentrated on K-shell emission spectroscopy of low Z (<= 14) elements. Here, we extend these studies to the mid-Z(=32) element Germanium, where the XFEL creates copious L-shell holes, and the plasma conditions are interrogated by recording of the associated L-shell X-ray emission spectra. Given the desirability of generating as uniform a plasma as possible, we present here a study of the effects of the FEL photon energy on the temperatures and electron densities created, and their uniformity in the FEL beam propagation direction. We show that good uniformity can be achieved by tuning the photon energy of the XFEL such that it does not overlap significantly with L-shell to M-shell bound-bound transitions, and lies below the L-edges of the ions formed during the heating process. Reasonable agreement between experiment and simulations is found for the emitted X-ray spectra, demonstrating that for these higher Z elements, the selection of appropriate XFEL parameters is important for achieving uniformity in the plasma conditions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Implantation of sodium ions into germanium

The donor properties of Na atoms introduced by ion implantation into p-Ge with the resistivity 20-40 {Omega} cm are established for the first time. Na profiles implanted into Ge (the energies 70 and 77 keV and the doses (0.8, 3, 30) Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 14} cm{sup -2}) are studied. The doses and annealing temperatures at which the thermoprobe detects n-type conductivity on the sample surface are established. After implantation, the profiles exhibit an extended tail. The depth of the concentration maximum is in good agreement with the calculated mean projected range of Na ions R{sub p}. Annealing for 30 min at temperatures of 250-700 Degree-Sign C brings about a redistribution of Na atoms with the formation of segregation peaks at a depth, which is dependent on the ion dose, and is accompanied by the diffusion of Na atoms to the surface with subsequent evaporation. After annealing at 700 Degree-Sign C less than 7% of the implanted ions remain in the matrix. The shape of the profile tail portions measured after annealing at temperatures 300-400 Degree-Sign C is indicative of the diffusion of a small fraction of Na atoms into the depth of the sample.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗