High-Intensity and High-Brightness Source of Moderated Positrons Using a Brilliant gamma Beam

Presently large efforts are conducted towards the development of highly brilliant gamma beams via Compton back scattering of photons from a high-brilliance electron beam, either on the basis of a normal-conducting electron linac or a (superconducting) Energy Recovery Linac (ERL). Particularly ERL's provide an extremely brilliant electron beam, thus enabling to generate highest-quality gamma beams. A 2.5 MeV gamma beam with an envisaged intensity of 10^15 s^-1, as ultimately envisaged for an ERL-based gamma-beam facility, narrow band width (10^-3), and extremely low emittance (10^-4 mm^2 mrad^2) offers the possibility to produce a high-intensity bright polarized positron beam. Pair production in a face-on irradiated W converter foil (200 micron thick, 10 mm long) would lead to the emission of 2 x 10^13 (fast) positrons per second, which is four orders of magnitude higher compared to strong radioactive ^22Na sources conventionally used in the laboratory.Using a stack of converter foils and subsequent positron moderation, a high-intensity low-energy beam of moderated positrons can be produced. Two different source setups are presented: a high-brightness positron beam with a diameter as low as 0.2 mm, and a high-intensity beam of 3 x 10^11 moderated positrons per second. Hence, profiting from an improved moderation efficiency, the envisaged positron intensity would exceed that of present high-intensity positron sources by a factor of 100.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

Investigation of the chemical vicinity of crystal defects in ion-irradiated Mg and AZ31 with coincident Doppler broadening spectroscopy

Crystal defects in magnesium and magnesium based alloys like AZ31 are of major importance for the understanding of their macroscopic properties. We have investigated defects and their chemical surrounding in Mg and AZ31 on an atomic scale with Doppler broadening spectroscopy of the positron annihilation radiation. In these Doppler spectra the chemical information and the defect contribution have to be thoroughly separated. For this reason samples of annealed Mg were irradiated with Mg-ions in order to create exclusively defects. In addition Al- and Zn-ion irradiation on Mg-samples was performed in order to create samples with defects and impurity atoms. The ion irradiated area on the samples was investigated with laterally and depth resolved positron Doppler broadening spectroscopy (DBS) and compared with preceding SRIM-simulations of the vacancy distribution, which are in excellent agreement. The investigation of the chemical vicinity of crystal defects in AZ31 was performed with coincident Doppler broadening spectroscopy (CDBS) by comparing Mg-ion irradiated AZ31 with Mg-ion irradiated Mg. No formation of solute-vacancy complexes was found due to the ion irradiation, despite the high defect mobility.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review B on March 20 20076. Revised version submitted on September 28 2007. Accepted on October 19 200

Detection and imaging of the oxygen deficiency in single crystalline YBa2_{\text{2}}Cu3_{\text{3}}O7−δ_{\text{7}-\delta} thin films using a positron beam

Single crystalline YBa$_{\text{2}}$Cu$_{\text{3}}$O$_{\text{7}-\delta}$ (YBCO) thin films were grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) in order to probe the oxygen deficiency $\delta$ using a mono-energetic positron beam. The sample set covered a large range of $\delta$ (0.191<$\delta$<0.791) yielding a variation of the critical temperature $T_{\text{c}}$ between 25 and 90\,K. We found a linear correlation between the Doppler broadening of the positron electron annihilation line and $\delta$ determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Both, the origin of the found correlation and the influence of metallic vacancies, were examined with the aid of ab-initio calculations that allowed us (i) to exclude the presence of Y vacancies and (ii) to ensure that positrons still probe $\delta$ despite the potential presence of Ba or Cu vacancies. In addition, by scanning with the positron beam the spatial variation of $\delta$ could be analyzed. It was found to fluctuate with a standard deviation of up to $0.079(5)$ within a single YBCO film

Quality of Heusler Single Crystals Examined by Depth Dependent Positron Annihilation Techniques

Heusler compounds exhibit a wide range of different electronic ground states and are hence expected to be applicable as functional materials in novel electronic and spintronic devices. Since the growth of large and defect-free Heusler crystals is still challenging, single crystals of Fe2TiSn and Cu2MnAl were grown by the optical floating zone technique. Two positron annihilation techniques -Angular Correlation of Annihilation Radiation (ACAR) and Doppler Broadening Spectroscopy (DBS)- were applied in order to study both, the electronic structure and lattice defects. Recently, we succeeded to observe clearly the anisotropy of the Fermi surface of Cu2MnAl, whereas the spectra of Fe2TiSn were disturbed by foreign phases. In order to estimate the defect concentration in different samples of Heusler compounds the positron diffusion length was determined by DBS using a monoenergetic positron beam

Компресорні установки

Зміст видання відповідає освітньо-професійній програмі підготовки кадрів з вищою освітою напряму „Електротехніка та електротехнології“, зокрема – програмі дисципліни „Енергетичні установки“. Розглянуто основні положення теорії компресорних машин, будову, експлуатаційні особливості та методи регулювання режиму роботи поршневих, ротаційних, гвинтових, водокільцевих і відцентрових компресорів. Посібник адресовано студентам спеціальності „Енергетичний менеджмент“, які вивчають дисципліну „Енергетичні установки“. Він може бути корисним також студентам напрямів „Гірництво“, „Інженерна механіка“ та „Електромеханіка“ при вивченні стаціонарних установок гірничих підприємств

Neutron Halo Isomers in Stable Nuclei and their Possible Application for the Production of Low Energy, Pulsed, Polarized Neutron Beams of High Intensity and High Brilliance

We propose to search for neutron halo isomers populated via $\gamma$-capture in stable nuclei with mass numbers of about A=140-180 or A=40-60, where the $4s_{1/2}$ or $3s_{1/2}$ neutron shell model state reaches zero binding energy. These halo nuclei can be produced for the first time with new $\gamma$-beams of high intensity and small band width ($\le$ 0.1%) achievable via Compton back-scattering off brilliant electron beams thus offering a promising perspective to selectively populate these isomers with small separation energies of 1 eV to a few keV. Similar to single-neutron halo states for very light, extremely neutron-rich, radioactive nuclei \cite{hansen95,tanihata96,aumann00}, the low neutron separation energy and short-range nuclear force allows the neutron to tunnel far out into free space much beyond the nuclear core radius. This results in prolonged half lives of the isomers for the $\gamma$-decay back to the ground state in the 100 ps-$\mu$s range. Similar to the treatment of photodisintegration of the deuteron, the neutron release from the neutron halo isomer via a second, low-energy, intense photon beam has a known much larger cross section with a typical energy threshold behavior. In the second step, the neutrons can be released as a low-energy, pulsed, polarized neutron beam of high intensity and high brilliance, possibly being much superior to presently existing beams from reactors or spallation neutron sources.Comment: accepted for publication in Applied Physics

Practical implications of GPR investigation using 3D data reconstruction and transmission tomography

Non-destructive investigation using ground penetrating radar is becoming more popular in the inspection of civil structures. Currently, traditional 2D imaging is used as a preliminary tool to fi nd possible areas of interest for more detailed inspection, which can be accomplished by more advanced techniques like 3D image reconstruction or tomography. In this paper, a general overview of the work done at University of Minho regarding these techniques is presented, together with their limitations and advantages over typical radargrams, with implications for civil engineering applications. For this purpose, data acquisition on two large masonry walls and one large concrete specimen have been carried out, using refl ection mode, 3D reconstruction and transmission tomography. The specimens have been specially built for non-destructive inspection techniques testing, incorporating different materials and internal voids. Radar tomography and 3D image reconstruction techniques provided much more detailed information about structural integrity and shapes and location of the voids, when compared to 2D imaging originally used for potential target identification.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - POCTI SFRH/BD/6409/2001"Sustainable Bridges" European project - FP6-PLT-0165

Cold neutral atoms via charge exchange from excited state positronium: a proposal

We present a method for generating cold neutral atoms via charge exchange reactions between trapped ions and Rydberg positronium. The high charge exchange reaction cross section leads to efficient neutralisation of the ions and since the positronium-ion mass ratio is small, the neutrals do not gain appreciable kinetic energy in the process. When the original ions are cold the reaction produces neutrals that can be trapped or further manipulated with electromagnetic fields. Because a wide range of species can be targeted we envisage that our scheme may enable experiments at low temperature that have been hitherto intractable due to a lack of cooling methods. We present an estimate for achievable temperatures, neutral number and density in an experiment where the neutrals are formed at a milli-Kelvin temperature from either directly or sympathetically cooled ions confined on an ion chip. The neutrals may then be confined by their magnetic moment in a co-located magnetic minimum well also formed on the chip. We discuss general experimental requirements

UV radiation enhanced oxygen vacancy formation caused by the PLD plasma plume

Pulsed Laser Deposition is a commonly used non-equilibrium physical deposition technique for the growth of complex oxide thin films. A wide range of parameters is known to influence the properties of the used samples and thin films, especially the oxygen-vacancy concentration. One parameter has up to this point been neglected due to the challenges of separating its influence from the influence of the impinging species during growth: the UV-radiation of the plasma plume. We here present experiments enabled by a specially designed holder to allow a separation of these two influences. The influence of the UV-irradiation during pulsed laser deposition on the formation of oxygen-vacancies is investigated for the perovskite model material SrTiO3. The carrier concentration of UV-irradiated samples is nearly constant with depth and time. By contrast samples not exposed to the radiation of the plume show a depth dependence and a decrease in concentration over time. We reveal an increase in Ti-vacancy–oxygen-vacancy-complexes for UV irradiated samples, consistent with the different carrier concentrations. We find a UV enhanced oxygen-vacancy incorporation rate as responsible mechanism. We provide a complete picture of another influence parameter to be considered during pulsed laser depositions and unravel the mechanism behind persistent-photo-conductivity in SrTiO3

The relationship between processing speed and regional white matter volume in healthy young people

Processing speed is considered a key cognitive resource and it has a crucial role in all types of cognitive performance. Some researchers have hypothesised the importance of white matter integrity in the brain for processing speed; however, the relationship at the whole-brain level between white matter volume (WMV) and processing speed relevant to the modality or problem used in the task has never been clearly evaluated in healthy people. In this study, we used various tests of processing speed and Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) analyses, it is involves a voxel-wise comparison of the local volume of gray and white, to assess the relationship between processing speed and regional WMV (rWMV). We examined the association between processing speed and WMV in 887 healthy young adults (504 men and 383 women; mean age, 20.7 years, SD, 1.85). We performed three different multiple regression analyses: we evaluated rWMV associated with individual differences in the simple processing speed task, word–colour and colour–word tasks (processing speed tasks with words) and the simple arithmetic task, after adjusting for age and sex. The results showed a positive relationship at the whole-brain level between rWMV and processing speed performance. In contrast, the processing speed performance did not correlate with rWMV in any of the regions examined. Our results support the idea that WMV is associated globally with processing speed performance regardless of the type of processing speed task