alpha-particle production in the scattering of 6He by 208Pb at energies around the Coulomb barrier

New experimental data from the scattering of 6He+208Pb at energies around and below the Coulomb barrier are presented. The yield of breakup products coming from projectile fragmentation is dominated by a strong group of $\alpha$ particles. The energy and angular distributions of this group have been analyzed and compared with theoretical calculations. This analysis indicates that the $\alpha$ particles emitted at backward angles in this reaction are mainly due to two-neutron transfer to weakly bound states of the final nucleus.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures. Nuclear Physics A792 (2007) 2-1

Ion beam analysis of fusion plasma-facing materials and components : facilities and research challenges

Following the IAEA Technical Meeting on ‘Advanced Methodologies for the Analysis of Materials in Energy Applications Using Ion Beam Accelerators’, this paper reviews the current status of ion beam analysis (IBA) techniques and some aspects of ion-induced radiation damage in materials for the field of materials relevant to fusion. Available facilities, apparatus development, future research options and challenges are presented and discussed. The analysis of beryllium and radioactivity-containing samples from future experiments in JET or ITER represents not only an analytical but also a technical challenge. A comprehensive list of the facilities, their current status, and analytical capabilities comes alongside detailed descriptions of the labs. A discussion of future issues of sample handling and the current status of facilities at JET complete the technical section. To prepare the international IBA community for these challenges, the IAEA technical meeting concludes the necessity for determining new nuclear reaction cross-sections and improving the inter-laboratory comparability by defining international standards and testing these via a round-robin test.Peer reviewe

Elastic scattering of 15N ions by 12C at 23 MeV

Scattering of 15N ions with the energy of Elab = 23 MeV on the CH2(Au) target is investigated.  Elastic scattering of these ions in the angular range of 7°-19° was measured by employing the silicon strip detector, “LEDA”. Using the measured scattering data, deviation of ion beam, number of incident ions on the target and differential cross sections of the 12C(15N, 15N)12C elastic scattering in the angular range of 7°-19° were determined.  Moreover, by applying the optical model and using the Fresco software, the scattering cross sections in the angular range of 0°-60° in the laboratory framework were obtained by entering the extrapolated optical parameters.  The obtained cross section data were then compared with the experimental ones.  The theoretical cross section data resulting from the optical potential exhibit meaningful difference with the experimental data obtained in this research work in the covered angular range

Broad beam electron gun: an experimental approach

Electron curtain accelerator is a type of low-energy electron accelerator, which plays an important role in many different industries such as printing, coating and packing to promote product quality, while reducing volatile organic compounds for protecting global environment. Electron emitter is one of the main components of this type of accelerators. Multi-filament cathodes and grid structures within filament housing have been designed carefully to generate uniform broad beam distribution. Compared to single filament  cathode, multi-filament cathodes are more preferred in width expansion and beam uniformity. Distortion of linear filament due to thermal expansion is one of the major problems in this type of electron source. The aim of this study is to design and fabricate an appropriate mechanical system to maintain the filament in its initial shape and position when heating. In addition, dependence of emitted electrons on anode voltage (at constant cathode temperature), as well as dependence of emitted electrons on filament current (at constant anode voltage) have been experimentally investigated.   &nbsp

Elemental Analysis of Lapis Lazuli sample, using complementary techniques of IBIL and MicroPIXE

Ion Beam Induced Luminescence (IBIL) is a useful IBA technique which could be utilized to obtain information about the nature of chemical bonds in materials. Regarding the probed area, this non-destructive and fast technique is a suitable complementary one for MicroPIXE. Since most minerals are luminescent, IBIL is an applicable analytical technique in mineralogy. In this research work, to characterize a Lapis lazuli sample, a 2.7 MeV proton beam is utilized. After data collection and analysis of the results obtained from both techniques of IBIL and MicroPIXE, elemental maps of the sample were developed. Comparison of the results with other available ones in the literature indicates the capability and accuracy of the combination of the two complementary techniques for characterization of minerals as well as precious historical object

PIXE Analysis of Persian Miniature Used in 16th Century Poetry Manuscript

In Persian culture, precious poetry manuscripts used to be decorated by miniature paintings and illuminations to visualize the story of the poem to the reader. The Joseph and Zulaikha story written in Persian by Jami (1414-1492) is one of the poetry books which has attracted considerable attention and has been copied and decorated by calligraphers and painters several times. This paper will focus on characterization of Persian miniature of the Joseph and Zulaikha created in the 15th-16th century in the Bokhara school. To collect the required information for preservation, restoration, and authenticity of the masterpiece, the elemental composition of the applied pigments in the miniature paintings as well as the elemental composition of the employed ink and paper was analyzed by external PIXE

Development of a Reference Database for Particle-Induced Gamma-ray Emission spectroscopy

Particle-Induced Gamma-ray Emission (PIGE) is a powerful analytical technique that exploits the interactions of rapid charged particles with nuclei located near a sample surface to determine the composition and structure of the surface regions of solids by measurement of characteristic prompt γ rays. The potential for depth profiling of this technique has long been recognized, however, the implementation has been limited owing to insufficient knowledge of the physical data and lack of suitable user-friendly computer codes for the applications. Although a considerable body of published data exists in the nuclear physics literature for nuclear reaction cross sections with γ rays in the exit channel, there is no up-to-date, comprehensive compilation specifically dedicated to IBA applications. A number of PIGE cross-section data had already been uploaded to the Ion Beam Analysis Nuclear Data Library (IBANDL) (http://www-nds.iaea.org/ibandl) by members of the IBA community by 2011, however a preliminary survey of this body of unevaluated experimental data has revealed numerous discrepancies beyond the uncertainty limits reported by the authors. Using the resources and coordination provided by the IAEA, a concerted effort to improve the situation was made within the Coordinated Research Project on the Development of a Reference Database for PIGE spectroscopy, from 2011 to 2015. The aim of the CRP was to create a data library for Ion Beam Analysis that contains reliable and usable data on charged particle γ-ray emission cross sections that would be made freely available to the user community. As the CRP has reached its completion, we shall present its main achievements, including the results of nuclear cross-section evaluations and the development of a computer code that will become available to the public allowing for the implementation of a standardless PIGE technique. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved