Coercivity enhancement in exchange biased systems driven by interfacial magnetic frustration

We report the temperature and cooling field dependence of the coercivity of exchange biased MnF2/Fe bilayers. When the antiferromagnetic surface is in a state of maximum magnetic frustration and the net exchange bias is zero, we observe a strong enhancement of the coercivity, which is proportional to the exchange coupling between the layers. Hence, the coercivity can be tuned in a reproducible and repeatable fashion in the same sample. We propose that a frustrated interface provides local energy minima which effectively pin the propagating domain walls in the ferromagnet, leading to an enhanced coercivity

Thorium exposure during tungsten inert gas welding with thoriated tungsten electrodes

The exposure to Th-232 from TIG welding with thoriated electrodes has been determined at five different workshops. Welding with both alternating and direct current was investigated. The exposure levels of Th-232 were generally below 10 mBq m(-3) in the breathing zone of the welders. Two samples from AC welding showed significant higher exposure levels, probably due to maladjustment of the TIG welding power source. Samples of the respirable fraction of Th-232 from grinding thoriated electrodes were also collected showing exposure levels of 5 mBq m(-3) or lower. A dose estimate has been made for two scenarios, one realistic and one with conservative assumptions, showing that the annual committed effective dose from inhalation of Th-232, Th-230, Th-228 and Ra-228, for a full-time TIG welder, in the realistic case is below 0.3 mSv and with conservative assumptions around 1 mSv or lower. The contribution from grinding electrodes was lower, 10 muSv or lower in the realistic case and 63 muSv or lower based on conservative assumptions. The study does not exclude occurrence of higher exposure levels under welding conditions different from those prevailing in this study

Radiocaesium soil-to-wood transfer in commercial willow short rotation coppice on contaminated farm land

The feasibility of willow short rotation coppice (SRC) for energy production as a revaluation tool for severely radiocaesium-contaminated land was studied. The effects of crop age, clone and soil type on the radiocaesium. levels in the wood were assessed following sampling in 14 existing willow SRC fields, planted on radiocaesium-contaminated land in Sweden following Chernobyl deposition. There was only one plot where willow stands of different maturity (R6S2 and R5S4: R, root age and S. shoot age) and clone (Rapp and L78183 both of age category R5S4) were sampled and no significant differences were found. The soils differed among others in clay fraction (3-34%). radiocaesium interception potential (515-6884 meq kg(-1)). soil solution K (0.09-0.95 mM), exchangeable K (0.58-5-77 meq kg(-1)) and cation exchange capacity (31-250 meq kg(-1)). The soil-to-wood transfer factor (TF) of radiocaesium differed significantly between soil types. The TF recorded was generally small (0.00086-0.016 kg kg(-1)), except for willows established on sandy soil (0.19-0.46 kg kg(-1)). Apart from the weak yet significant exponential correlation between the Cs-TF and the solid/liquid distribution coefficient (R-2 = 0.54) or the radiocaesium interception potential. RIP (R-2 = 0.66), no single significant correlations between soil characteristics and TF were, found. The wood-soil solution Cs-137 concentration factor (CF) was significantly related to the potassium concentration in the soil solution. A different relation was, however, found between the sandy Trodje soils (CF = 1078.8 X m(K)(-1.83), R-2 = 0.99) and the other soils (CF = 35.75 X m(K) (-0.61), R-2 =0.61). Differences in the ageing rate of radiocaesium in the soil (hypothesised fraction of bioavailable caesium subjected to fast ageing for Trodje soils only 1 % compared to other soils), exchangeable soil K (0.8-1.8 meq kg(-1) for Trodje soils and 1.5-5.8 meq kg(-1) for the other soils) and the ammonium concentration in the soil solution (0.09-0.31 mM NH4+ for the Trodje soils compared to 0.003-0.11 mM NH4+ for the other soils) are put forward as potential factors explaining the higher CF and TF observed for the Trodje soils. Though from the dataset available it was not possible to unequivocally predict the soil-to-wood- transfer, the generally low TFs observed point to the particular suitability for establishment of SRC on radiocaesium-contaminated land