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Nuclear Data Sheets for A=85

Evaluated experimental data are presented for 13 known nuclides of mass 85 (Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Br, Kr, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo). Since the previous 1990 evaluation of A=85, {sup 85}Zn, {sup 85}Ga, {sup 85}Ge and {sup 85}nuclides are newly added here. Excited state data for {sup 85}Se, {sup 85}Zr have become available from radioactive decay and in–beam γ–ray studies. New and improved high–spin data are available for {sup 85}Br, {sup 85}Kr, {sup 85}Rb, {sup 85}Y, {sup 85}Nb and {sup 85}Mo. New direct and precise measurement of atomic masses of {sup 85}Ge, {sup 85}As, {sup 85}Se, {sup 85}Br, {sup 85}Rb, {sup 85}Zr, {sup 85}Nb and {sup 85}Mo have greatly improved the landscape of β decay–Q values and separation energies in this mass region. In spite of extensive experimental work on the isobaric nuclei of this mass chain several deficiencies remain. No excited states are known in {sup 85}Zn, {sup 85}Ga, {sup 85}As. Only a few excited state are assigned in {sup 85}Ge from {sup 85}Ga β– decay. From radioactivity studies, the decay schemes of {sup 85}Zn and {sup 85}Mo are not known, and those for {sup 85}Ga, {sup 85}Ge, {sup 85}As and 10.9–s isomer of {sup 85}Zr are incomplete. Level lifetimes are not known for excited states in {sup 85}Se, {sup 85}Br, {sup 85}Nb and {sup 85}Mo. The {sup 85}Tc nuclide has not been detected in fragmentation experiments at GANIL, alluding to its unbound nature for proton emission. The {sup 85}Kr, {sup 85}Rb, {sup 85}Sr, and {sup 85}Y nuclides remain the most extensively studied from many different reactions and decays. The evaluation of A=85 nuclides has been done after a span of 23 years, thus includes an extensive amount of new data for almost each nuclide. This work supersedes the data for A=85 nuclides presented in earlier full NDS publication by J. Tepel in 1980Te04 and a later one published in an update mode by H. Sievers in 1991Si01.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

New Beta-delayed Neutron Measurements in the Light-mass Fission Group

A new accurate determination of beta-delayed neutron emission probabilities from nuclei in the low mass region of the light fission group has been performed. The measurements were carried out using the BELEN 4π neutron counter at the IGISOL-JYFL mass separator in combination with a Penning trap. The new results significantly improve the uncertainties of neutron emission probabilities for {sup 91}Br, {sup 86}As, {sup 85}As, and {sup 85}Ge nuclei.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

High resolution spectroscopy from low altitude satellites

The P 78 1 satellite to be placed in a synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of 550-660 km will carry two identical high resolution spectrometers each consisting of a single (approximately 85 cc) intrinsic germanium IGE detector. The payload also includes a pair of phoswitch scintillators, an array of CdTe detectors and several particle detectors, all of which are mounted on the wheel of the satellite. The intrinsic high purity IGE detectors receive cooling from two Stirling cycle refrigerators and facilitate the assembly of large and complex detector arrays planned for the next generation of high sensitivity instruments such as those planned for the gamma ray observatory. The major subsystems of the spectrometer are discussed as well as its capabilities.

Nakano, G. H.↗

A dark matter search using the final CDMS-II data and 100 mm SuperCDMS germanium detector ionization test

Astrophysical observations indicate that approximately 85% of the matter in the universe is nonluminous, nonbaryonic, and nonrelativistic (cold) dark matter. Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) are a particularly well motivated dark matter particle candidate. They would be thermally produced in the early universe and their relics account for the current dark matter abundance. WIMP candidate particles are naturally provided by extensions to the Standard Model of particle physics, such as supersymmetry. The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS) experiment operates cryogenic germanium and silicon particle detectors in the low-background environment of the Soudan Underground Laboratory in northern Minnesota to search for WIMP-nucleus scatters while rejecting electron-recoil background. The detectors simultaneously measure the ionization and phonon energies of each scattering event. The difference in ionization yield (ratio of ionization energy to recoil energy) discriminates nuclear recoils from the electron-recoil background efficiently.More sensitive detectors are required to probe the WIMP parameter space with lower WIMP-nucleon scattering cross sections. To support the R&D effort especially the detector R&D and characterization of the SuperCDMS experiment, a new CDMS test facility has been developed on the University of Minnesota campus. This thesis documents the test facility and the work involved in its development. In the test facility, we performed the first ionization collection efficiency measurements of the ionization test devices. The test devices are fabricated with detector-grade germanium crystals that are 100 mm in diameter, which is the largest available, and 33 mm in thickness. The measured efficiencies are consistent with the earlier measurements conducted with smaller Ge crystals, demonstrating that these 100 mm crystals can be used for development of the next generation dark matter detectors.Improvements of data analysis methods can also potentially improve the sensitivity of an experiment. The data taken during the last four runs of CDMS II with total raw exposure 612 kg-day were reprocessed with improved ionization pulse reconstruction algorithm. We present the classic timing analysis with the reprocessed data in this thesis. For the four runs combined, this analysis resulted in a new WIMP-nucleon cross section 4.4×10 -44 cm 2 for a WIMP mass of 70 GeV, which is a factor of 1.6 improvement compared to the original c58 classic timing analysis.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A Segmented, Enriched N-type Germanium Detector for Neutrinoless Double Beta-Decay Experiments

We present data characterizing the performance of the _rst segmented, N- type Ge detector, isotopically enriched to 85% 76Ge. This detector, based on the Ortec PT6x2 design and referred to as SEGA (Segmented, Enriched Germanium Assembly), was developed as a possible prototype for neutrinoless double beta-decay measurements by the Majorana collaboration. We present some of the general characteristics (including bias potential, efficiency, leakage current, and integral cross-talk) for this detector in its temporary cryostat. We also present an analysis of the resolution of the detector, and demonstrate that for all but two segments there is at least one channel that reaches the Majorana resolution goal below 4 keV FWHM at 2039 keV, and all channels are below 4.5 keV FWHM.

detector↗

Adhesion of Antireflective Coatings in Multijunction Photovoltaics

The development of a new composite dual cantilever beam (cDCB) thin-film adhesion testing method is reported, which allows the measurement of adhesion on the fragile thin substrates used in multijunction photovoltaics. We address the adhesion of several antireflective coating systems on multijunction cells. By varying interface chemistry and morphology, we demonstrate the ensuing effects on adhesion and help to develop an understanding of how high adhesion can be achieved, as adhesion values ranging from 0.5 J/m2 to 10 J/m2 were measured. Damp Heat (85 degrees C/85% RH) was used to invoke degradation of interfacial adhesion. We show that even with germanium substrates that fracture easily, quantitative measurements of adhesion can still be made at high test yield. The cDCB test is discussed as an important new methodology, which can be broadly applied to any system that makes use of thin, brittle, or otherwise fragile substrates.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

SU-F-I-56: High-Precision Gamma-Ray Analysis of Medical Isotopes

Purpose: Advanced, time-resolved, Compton-suppressed gamma-ray spectroscopy with germanium detectors is implemented for assaying medical isotopes to study the radioactive decay process leading to a more accurate appraisal of the received dose and treatment planning. Lowell’s Array for Radiological Assay (LARA), a detector array that is comprised of six Compton-suppressed high-purity germanium detectors, is currently under development at UMass-Lowell which combines Compton-suppression and time-and-angle correlations to allow for highly efficient and highly sensitive measurements. Methods: Two isotopes produced Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer (BLIP) were investigated. {sup 82}Sr which is the parent isotope for producing {sup 82}Rb is often used in cardiac PET. {sup 82}Sr gamma-ray spectrum is dominated by the 511keV photons from positron annihilation which prevent precise measurement of co-produced contaminant isotopes. A second project was to investigate the production of platinum isotopes. Natural platinum was bombarded with protons from 53MeV to 200MeV. The resulting spectrum was complicated due to the large number of stable platinum isotopes in the target, the variety of open reaction channels (p,xn), (p,pxn), (p,axn). Results: By using face-to-face NaI(Tl) counters 90-degrees to the Compton-suppressed germaniums to detect the 511keV photons, a much cleaner and more sensitive measurement of {sup 85}Sr and other contaminants was obtained. For the platinum target, we identified the production of {sup 188–189–191–195}Pt, {sup 191–192–193–194–195–196}Au and {sup 186–188–189–190–192–194–189–190–192–194}Ir. For example, at the lower energies (53 and 65MeV), we measured {sup 191}Pt production cross-sections of 144mb and 157mb. Considerable care was needed in following the process of dissolving and diluting the samples to get consistent results. The new LARA array will help us better ascertain the absolute efficiency of the counting system and more reliable production cross-sections. Conclusion: Modern HPGe spectroscopic techniques provide enhanced sensitivity, promising precise quantification of the quality of radioisotopes used in medical physics. Using new decay information may have non-trivial impact on treatment planning and dose-assessment.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Quantitative adhesion characterization of antireflective coatings in multijunction photovoltaics

We discuss the development of a new composite dual cantilever beam (cDCB) thin-film adhesion testing method, which enables the quantitative measurement of adhesion on the thin and fragile substrates used in multijunction photovoltaics. In particular, we address the adhesion of several 2- and 3-layer antireflective coating systems on multijunction cells. By varying interface chemistry and morphology through processing, we demonstrate the marked effects on adhesion and help to develop an understanding of how high adhesion can be achieved, as adhesion values ranging from 0.5 J/m2 to 10 J/m2 were measured. Damp heat (85 degrees C/85% RH) was used to invoke degradation of interfacial adhesion. We demonstrate that even with germanium substrates that fracture relatively easily, quantitative measurements of adhesion can be made at high test yield. The cDCB test is discussed as an important new methodology, which can be broadly applied to any system that makes use of thin, brittle, or otherwise fragile substrates.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Low-Background Method of Isotope Markers for Measuring the Efficiency of Intercalation of Graphite by Potassium Atoms

The result of low-background measurements of the gamma activity of graphite-potassium intercalated sample is presented. A germanium gamma spectrometer, used for measurements, was located in the low-background chamber of Baksan Neutrino Observatory. For 384 hours of exposure, 768 decays of K-40 isotope nuclei were registered. This activity corresponds to 85 μg/cm{sup 2} potassium atoms embedded in to graphite lattice. A computer simulation of the intercalation process and the gamma-ray spectrum set is also presented. The accuracy of the potassium concentration determination can be brought to 10{sup –}11–10{sup –}12 g/g for mixture enriched with K-40 isotope.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Factors affecting eluation characteristics of sorption generators of technetium-99m

The influence of the adsorbed mass of molybdenum on the width of eluation profiles of generators and the patterns of molybdenum distribution in the amount of chromatographic columns by scanning them on the germanium-gallium detector using collimating device are studied. The boundary conditions under which the maximum value of {sup 99m}Tc yield from generators Y{sub e} = 1 are defined. After scanning the columns, it was found out that the degree of filling the columns with molybdenum Q and the value of its maximum adsorption depend naturally on the total weight of the adsorbed mass. In order to achieve the condition Y{sub e} = 1 the value of Q should be at least 85%.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

High-precision measurements of half-lives for 69 Ge, 73 Se, 83 Sr, 85 mSr, and 63 Zn radionuclides relevant to the astrophysical p-process via photoactivation at the Madison Accelerator Laboratory

The ground state half-lives of 69 Ge, 73 Se, 83 Sr, 63 Zn, and the half-life of the 1/2 - isomer in 85 Sr have been measured with high precision using the photoactivation technique at an unconventional bremsstrahlung facility that features a repurposed medical electron linear accelerator. The γ -ray activity was counted over about 6 half-lives with a high-purity germanium detector, enclosed into an ultra low-background lead shield. The measured half-lives are: T 1/2 ( 69 Ge) = 38.82 ± 0.07 (stat) ± 0.06 (sys) h; T 1/2 ( 73 Se) = 7.18 ± 0.02 (stat) ± 0.004 (sys) h; T 1/2 ( 83 Sr) = 31.87 ± 1.16 (stat) ± 0.42 (sys) h; T 1/2 ( 85m Sr) = 68.24 ± 0.84 (stat) ± 0.11 (sys) min; T 1/2 ( 63 Zn) = 38.71 ± 0.25 (stat) ± 0.10 (sys) min. These high-precision half-life measurements will contribute to a more accurate determination of corresponding ground-state photoneutron reaction rates, which are part of a broader effort of constraining statistical nuclear models needed to calculate stellar nuclear reaction rates relevant for the astrophysical p -process nucleosynthesis.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

The Effect of Solvent on the Capacity Retention in a Germanium Anode for Lithium Ion Batteries

A thin and mechanically stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is desirable for a stable cyclic performance in a lithium ion battery. For the electrodes that undergo a large volume expansion such as Si, Ge and Sn, the presence of a robust SEI layer can improve the capacity retention. In this work, the role of solvent choice on the electrochemical performance of Ge electrode is presented by a systematic comparison of the SEI layers in EC-based and FEC-based electrolytes. The results show that the presence of FEC as a co-solvent in a binary or ternary solvent electrolyte results in an excellent capacity retention of ~ 85% after 200 cycles at the current density of 500 mA·g-1; while EC-based electrode suffers a rapid capacity degradation with a capacity retention of just 17% at the end of 200 cycles. Post analysis by an extensive use of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was carried out, which showed that the presence of Li2O in FEC-based SEIs was the origin for the improved electrochemical performance.

Mishra, Kuber↗

A Search For Weakly Interacting Massive Particles Utilizing A Profile Likelihood Ratio Technique With The Super CDMS Soudan Experiment

Dark matter accounts for ~26.8% of the universe’s mass and ~85% of the matter of the universe. The majority of dark matter is in the form of non-baryonic dark matter. Among all the dark matter particle candidates, the Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) is considered the most promising. Tens of experiments around the world are under the searches of WIMPs. The Super Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (SuperCDMS) is one of the leading direct dark matter search experiments. Its latest experiment was located in the Soudan Underground Laboratory in northern Minnesota. By placing its germanium (Ge) detectors deep underground, it aimed at performing a rare-event search in the case that a WIMP would collide with a Ge nucleus and leave a Ge nuclear recoil signal in the detectors. These Ge detectors were operated at a temperature of ~50 mK to reduce the noise from disturbing the ionization and phonon signal collections. A high mass WIMP search analysis is performed on the recent collected data sets at Soudan. It aims at exploring WIMPs with masses from the order of 10 GeV/c 2 and above. With a raw exposure of 1657.54 kg-days, an exclusion limit is set on the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon cross section at 1.32 ×10 -44 cm 2 for a 75 GeV/c2 WIMP at a 90% confidence level by the profile likelihood ratio technique. Neutrons are the most dangerous background in a direct dark matter search experiment. The nuclear recoil signal that a neutron produces in a Ge detector is indistinguishable from vii that a WIMP produces. Protection against them is one of the key aspects for the next generation of SuperCDMS experiment at SNOLAB. An active neutron veto system was proposed to be implemented in this future experiment to make it more robust from neutrons. The feasibility of both the plastic and liquid neutron veto systems was studied.

Qiu, Hang↗

The metallization and superconductivity of dense hydrogen sulfide

Hydrogen sulfide (H{sub 2}S) is a prototype molecular system and a sister molecule of water (H{sub 2}O). The phase diagram of solid H{sub 2}S at high pressures remains largely unexplored arising from the challenges in dealing with the pressure-induced weakening of S–H bond and larger atomic core difference between H and S. Metallization is yet achieved for H{sub 2}O, but it was observed for H{sub 2}S above 96 GPa. However, the metallic structure of H{sub 2}S remains elusive, greatly impeding the understanding of its metallicity and the potential superconductivity. We have performed an extensive structural study on solid H{sub 2}S at pressure ranges of 10–200 GPa through an unbiased structure prediction method based on particle swarm optimization algorithm. Besides the findings of candidate structures for nonmetallic phases IV and V, we are able to establish stable metallic structures violating an earlier proposal of elemental decomposition into sulfur and hydrogen [R. Rousseau, M. Boero, M. Bernasconi, M. Parrinello, and K. Terakura, Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 1254 (2000)]. Our study unravels a superconductive potential of metallic H{sub 2}S with an estimated maximal transition temperature of ∼80 K at 160 GPa, higher than those predicted for most archetypal hydrogen-containing compounds (e.g., SiH{sub 4}, GeH{sub 4}, etc.)

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Localization of electrons in dome-shaped GeSi/Si islands

We report on intraband photocurrent spectroscopy of dome-shaped GeSi islands embedded in a Si matrix with n{sup +}-type bottom and top Si layers. An in-plane polarized photoresponse in the 85–160 meV energy region has been observed and ascribed to the optical excitation of electrons from states confined in the strained Si near the dome apexes to the continuum states of unstrained Si. The electron confinement is caused by a modification of the conduction band alignment induced by inhomogeneous tensile strain in Si around the buried GeSi quantum dots. Sensitivity of the device to the normal incidence radiation proves a zero-dimensional nature of confined electronic wave functions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

In-situ characterization of the optical and electronic properties in GeTe and GaSb thin films

GeTe and GaSb thin films obtained by pulsed laser deposition were investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry at controlled temperatures. The GeTe films were fully amorphous, while the GaSb films were partially crystalized in the as-deposited state. The Tauc-Lorentz model was employed to fit the experimental data. From the temperature study of the optical constants, it was observed the crystallization in the 150–160 °C range of GeTe amorphous films and between 230 and 240 °C of GaSb amorphous phase. A second transition in the resonance energy and the broadening parameter of the Lorentz oscillator was observed due to the crystallization of Sb after 250 °C. The temperatures of 85 °C and 130 °C are noticed as the start of the relaxation of the amorphous GeTe phase and as-deposited GaSb. The peaks of the imaginary part of the dielectric function red shifted after the phase change, while the variation with temperature of the crystalline phase follows the Varshni law. The electron-phonon coupling constants are 2.88 and 1.64 for c-GeTe and c-GaSb, respectively. An optical contrast up to 60% was obtained for GeTe films and a maximum value of 7.5% is revealed in the case GaSb, which is altered by the partial crystallinity of the as-deposited films.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Effect of high pressure on the electrical resistivity of Ge−Te−In glasses

The variation in the electrical resistivity of the chalcogenide glasses Ge{sub 15}Te{sub 85-x}In{sub x} has been studied as a function of high pressure for pressures up to 8.5GPa. All the samples studied undergo a semi-conductor to metallic transition in a continuous manner at pressures between 1.5-2.5GPa. The transition pressure at which the samples turn metallic increases with increase in percentage of Indium. This increase is a direct consequence of the increase in network rigidity with the addition of Indium. At a constant pressure of 0.5GPa, the normalized resistivity shows some signature of the existence of the intermediate phase. Samples recovered after a pressure cycle remain amorphous suggesting that the semi-conductor to metallic transition arises from a reduction of the band gap due to pressure or the movement of the Fermi level into the conduction or valence band.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Low temperature epitaxy of Ge-Sb-Te films on BaF{sub 2} (111) by pulsed laser deposition

Pulsed laser deposition was employed to deposit epitaxial Ge{sub 2}Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 5}-layers on the (111) plane of BaF{sub 2} single crystal substrates. X-ray diffraction measurements show a process temperature window for epitaxial growth between 85 °C and 295 °C. No crystalline growth is observed for lower temperatures, whereas higher temperatures lead to strong desorption of the film constituents. The films are of hexagonal structure with lattice parameters consistent with existing models. X-ray pole figure measurements reveal that the films grow with one single out-of-plane crystal orientation, but rotational twin domains are present. The out-of-plane epitaxial relationship is determined to be Ge{sub 2}Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 5}(0001) || BaF{sub 2}(111), whereas the in-plane relationship is characterized by two directions, i.e., Ge{sub 2}Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 5} [-12-10] || BaF{sub 2}[1-10] and Ge{sub 2}Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 5}[1-210] || BaF{sub 2}[1-10]. Aberration-corrected high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy was used to resolve the local atomic structure and confirm the hexagonal structure of the films.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗