Pion-nucleus elastic scattering on 12C, 40Ca, 90Zr, and 208Pb at 400 and 500 MeV

Pion-nucleus elastic scattering at energies above the Delta(1232) resonance is studied using both pi+ and pi- beams on 12C, 40Ca, 90Zr, and 208Pb. The present data provide an opportunity to study the interaction of pions with nuclei at energies where second-order corrections to impulse approximation calculations should be small. The results are compared with other data sets at similar energies, and with four different first-order impulse approximation calculations. Significant disagreement exists between the calculations and the data from this experiment

pi+ + d --> p + p reaction between 18 and 44 MeV

A study of the reaction pi+ + d --> p + p has been performed in the energy range of 18 - 44 MeV. Total cross sections and differential cross sections at six angles have been measured at 15 energies with an energy increment of 1 - 2 MeV. This is the most systematic data set in this energy range. No structure in the energy dependence of the cross section has been observed within the accuracy of this experiment.Comment: 20 pages, 7 Postscript figure

Mesonic cloud contribution to the nucleon and delta masses

Pion-nucleon elastic scattering in the dominant $P_{33}$ channel is examined in the model in which the interaction is of the form $\pi + N\leftrightarrow N, \Delta(1232)$. New expressions are found for the elastic pion-nucleon scattering amplitude which differ from existing formula both in the kinematics and in the treatment of the renormalization of the nucleon mass and coupling constant. Fitting the model to the phase shifts in the $P_{33}$ channel does not uniquely fix the parameters of the model. The cutoff for the pion-nucleon form factor is found to lie in the range $\beta = 750\pm350$ MeV/c. The masses of the nucleon and the $\Delta$ which would arise if there were no coupling to mesons are found to be $m_{_N}^{(0)}= 1200\pm 200$ MeV and $m_\Delta^{(0)} = 1500\pm 200$ MeV. The difference in these bare masses, a quantity which would be accounted for by a residual gluon interaction, is found to be $\delta m^{(0)}=350\pm 100$ MeV.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figures, significant rewrit

Alpha contamination assessment for D&D activities: Monitoring inside glove boxes and vessels

We have developed a new approach to glove box monitoring that involves drawing air out of one glove port through a detection grid that collects ions created in the air inside the glove box by ionizing radiation, especially alpha radiation. The charge deposited on the detection grid by the ions is measured with a sensitive electrometer. The air can be circulated back to the glove box through the other glove port, preventing contamination from leaving the glove box and detector system. Initial experiments using a mock-up constructed of sheet metal indicate that this technology provides the measurement technique needed to perform a defensible, non-invasive measurement of alpha contamination inside glove boxes destined for waste disposal. This can result in an enormous cost savings if a given glove box can be shown to fall into the catagory of Low-Level Waste rather than Trans-Uranic Waste. Considering that hundreds of glove boxes contaminated with plutonium will be taken out of service at various nuclear facilities over the next few years, the potential cost savings associated with disposal as LLW rather than TRU waste are substantial

Alpha characterization inside pipes using ion-transport technology

Many DOE facilities have several miles of waste pipe systems that are internally contaminated with various and often undetermined radio nuclides. Unfortunately, currently acceptable alpha detection technologies are inefficient, time consuming, and do not address the problems presented by small diameter or curved pipes. In general, the problem of detecting alpha contamination on the inside surface of pipes is complicated by the fact that alphas do not penetrate the pipe walls. Unlike their conventional counterparts, alpha detectors based on ion transport technology sense alpha particles by collecting the ions created in ambient air as the particle loses its kinetic energy. The ions inside the pipe are transported by a fan-generated air current to an electrode inside the detector, which is attached to one end of the pipe. The collected charge at the electrode is proportional to the number of ions created inside the pipe, which in turn is proportional to the number of alphas emitted. Typically, monitoring for alpha contamination inside pipes or ductwork involves disrupting the operation to access as much surface area as possible for standard alpha monitoring. The detector based on ion transport technology effectively minimizes such disruption and in many circumstances will allow for in situ monitoring of a system that might otherwise not be practically accessible to standard methods

One-sided imaging of large, dense objects using the 511 keV photons from induced pair production

The use of annihilation photons from photon-induced electron-positron pair production as a means of inspecting objects when only one side is accessible is described. The Z2 dependence of the pair production cross section and the high penetration of 511 keV photons suggest that this method should be capable of localizing high Z materials in lower Z matrices. The experimental results for the dependence of the back streaming photon yield on Z indicate that dynamic ranges of the order of 20 may be obtained for materials with 4 < Z < 82. Results for point to point images obtained in line scans of representative geometries are also shown. Simulation studies based on the EGS4 Monte Carlo code were also performed and their results show an agreement with experimental data of the order of 5%

Real-time monitoring for alpha emitters in high-airflow environments

Key problems in detecting alpha contamination for site characterization and decontamination and decommissioning that remain to be solved include measurement of airborne contamination, material holdup within pipes, and leakage of material containers. These problems are very difficult using traditional alpha detectors and systems. The ionization detection method (long-range alpha detection of LRAD) offers a number of specific advantages for these environmental measurements. An LRAD system detects the air molecules ionized by alpha-emitting contamination rather than the alpha particles. Thus, LRAD-based detectors are not limited by the short range of alpha particles and can be used to detect contamination anywhere that air can penetrate. Extending this technology to large enclosures of long pipes requires a system optimized for large airflows. In this paper we will present designs and preliminary results for high-volume flow-through air monitors based on the LRAD technique. In addition, we will discuss the behavior of the monitors and their potential applications

A real-time alpha monitoring system for radioactive liquid waste

A real-time monitor for radioactive liquid waste is being developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). This detector system is designed to monitor for large changes in alpha activity in a liquid waste stream. The detector is unique in that it monitors the ionization created by alpha interactions with air, using long-range alpha detector (LRAD) technology. This is a non-intrusive method that can be used in various complicated geometries. This technique only allows for the monitoring of the surface of the liquid, however, preliminary tests indicate that the technique should allow for real-time, sensitive monitoring of a well-mixed liquid waste stream. This technique will require further research and development, but the final system should be an inexpensive detector system for segregating and monitoring radioactive liquids at national laboratories, processing facilities, and nuclear power plants