Dispersion Relation of Longitudinal Waves in Liquid He-4 in the Framework of Quantum Macroscopic Equations derived from Bohm's Potential

He-4 is known to become superfluid at very low temperatures. This effect is now generally accepted to be connected with BEC (Bose-Einstein Condensation). The dispersion relation of pressure waves in superfluid He-4 has been determined at 1.1 {\deg}K by Yarnell et al., and exhibits a non monotonic behavior - with a maximum and a minimum - usually explained in terms of excitations called rotons, introduced by Landau. In the present work an attempt is made to describe the phenomenon within the bohmian interpretation of QM. To this end, the effects of the intermolecular potential, taken to be essentially of the Lennard-Jones type modified to account for molecule finiteness, are included as a Vlasov-type self-consistent field. A dispersion relation is found, that is in quite good agreement with Yarnell's curve. Keywords: Bohm potential; Intermolecular potential; Dispersion relation; Superfluid He-4; First sound. PACS: 05.30.Jp; 05.20.Dd; 03.75.Kk; 67.25.dtComment: 17 pages 3 figures (embedded

Set-up and first operation of a plasma oven for treatment of low level radioactive wastes

An experimental device for plasma treatment of low and intermediate level radioactive waste was built and tested in several design variations. The laboratory device is designed with the intention to study the general effects and difficulties in a plasma incineration set-up for the further future development of a larger scale pilot plant. The key part of the device consists of a novel microwave plasma torch driven by 200 W electric power, and operating at atmospheric pressure. It is a specific design characteristic of the torch that a high peak temperature can be reached with a low power input compared to other plasma torches. Experiments have been carried out to analyze the effect of the plasma on materials typical for operational low-level wastes. In some preliminary cold tests the behavior of stable volatile species e. g., caesium was investigated by TXRF measurements of material collected from the oven walls and the filtered off-gas. The results help in improving and scaling up the existing design and in understanding the effects for a pilot plant, especially for the off-gas collection and treatment

Production of radioisotopes within a plasma focus device

In recent years, research conducted in the US and in Italy has demonstrated production of radioisotopes in plasma focus devices, and particularly, on what could be termed "endogenous" production, to wit, production within the plasma it self, as opposed to irradiation of tar gets. This technique relies on the formation of localized small plasma zones characterized by very high densities and fairly high temperatures. The conditions prevailing in these zones lead to high nuclear reaction rates, as pointed out in previous work by several authors. Further investigation of the cross sections involved has proven necessary to model the phenomena involved. In this paper, the present status of research in this field is re viewed, both with regards to cross section models and to experimental production of radio isotopes. Possible out comes and further development are discussed

CHERNE: prehistory and early days of the network

[EN] While the founding members of CHERNE gradually retire, the memory of the early steps of the network should not be lost. CHERNE (`Cooperation for Higher Education on Radiological and Nuclear Engineering¿) is the product of a specific Erasmus activity possible in the early 2000s: the intensive programmes (IP). The first step was a collaboration of three partners (Czech Technical University CTU, Institut Supérieur Industriel de Bruxelles ISIB, Universitat Politècnica de València UPV) organising in 2002 the 3-year IP `PAN: Practical Approach to Nuclear techniques¿, soon integrating two other partners (Aachen University of Applied Science AcUAS, XIOS Hogeschool Limburg). A second IP `SPERANSA: Stimulating Practical Expertise in RAdiation and Nuclear SAfety¿ was first organised without Erasmus support in 2005. A workshop was held in 2005 at UPV, including colleagues from other universities. Its main goal was to put in contact professors and researchers from European Institutions in order to share experiences in education and research in Radiation Protection and Nuclear Engineering. The creation of an informal group of universities to develop activities for the benefit of students was discussed. With the addition of Università degli Studi di Bologna (UniBo) to the initial group, the CHERNE network was created. It attracted rapidly more members (6 adhesions in 2006). CHERNE was conceived as a non-formal wide-scope open network, easily integrating new members, offering affordable activities to the students and mostly relying on Erasmus subsidies. The main goal was still the organisation of Erasmus IP¿s based on practical activities, benefitting of the access to big experimental facilities offered by several partners, like reactors, accelerators, or a radiochemical laboratory. SPERANSA was organised from 2006 to 2008, `JUNCSS: JÜlich Nuclear Chemistry Summer School¿ from 2007 to 2011 and `RAPIX-NOCOS: Radiation protection in non-conventional sectors¿ in 2007 and 2008 without Erasmus support. The annual workshops triggered exchanges between partners and attracted more institutions. The first workshops saw intense discussions about the network organisation and the types of activities that could be organised. A kind of maturity was reached from 2008.Ródenas Diago, J.; Tondeur, F.; Cechak, T.; Musilek, L.; Janssens, H.; Scherer, UW.; Hoyler, F.... (2019). CHERNE: prehistory and early days of the network. Radiation Effects and Defects in Solids. 174(11-12):954-964. https://doi.org/10.1080/10420150.2019.1683834S95496417411-1

European Atlas of Natural Radiation

Natural ionizing radiation is considered as the largest contributor to the collective effective dose received by the world population. The human population is continuously exposed to ionizing radiation from several natural sources that can be classified into two broad categories: high-energy cosmic rays incident on the Earth’s atmosphere and releasing secondary radiation (cosmic contribution); and radioactive nuclides generated during the formation of the Earth and still present in the Earth’s crust (terrestrial contribution). Terrestrial radioactivity is mostly produced by the uranium and thorium radioactive families together with potassium. In most circumstances, radon, a noble gas produced in the radioactive decay of uranium, is the most important contributor to the total dose. This Atlas aims to present the current state of knowledge of natural radioactivity, by giving general background information, and describing its various sources. This reference material is complemented by a collection of maps of Europe displaying the levels of natural radioactivity caused by different sources. It is a compilation of contributions and reviews received from more than 80 experts in their field: they come from universities, research centres, national and European authorities and international organizations. This Atlas provides reference material and makes harmonized datasets available to the scientific community and national competent authorities. In parallel, this Atlas may serve as a tool for the public to: • familiarize itself with natural radioactivity; • be informed about the levels of natural radioactivity caused by different sources; • have a more balanced view of the annual dose received by the world population, to which natural radioactivity is the largest contributor; • and make direct comparisons between doses from natural sources of ionizing radiation and those from man-made (artificial) ones, hence to better understand the latter.JRC.G.10-Knowledge for Nuclear Security and Safet

European Atlas of Natural Radiation

Natural ionizing radiation is considered as the largest contributor to the collective effective dose received by the world population. The human population is continuously exposed to ionizing radiation from several natural sources that can be classified into two broad categories: high-energy cosmic rays incident on the Earth’s atmosphere and releasing secondary radiation (cosmic contribution); and radioactive nuclides generated during the formation of the Earth and still present in the Earth’s crust (terrestrial contribution). Terrestrial radioactivity is mostly produced by the uranium and thorium radioactive families together with potassium. In most circumstances, radon, a noble gas produced in the radioactive decay of uranium, is the most important contributor to the total dose.This Atlas aims to present the current state of knowledge of natural radioactivity, by giving general background information, and describing its various sources. This reference material is complemented by a collection of maps of Europe displaying the levels of natural radioactivity caused by different sources. It is a compilation of contributions and reviews received from more than 80 experts in their field: they come from universities, research centres, national and European authorities and international organizations.This Atlas provides reference material and makes harmonized datasets available to the scientific community and national competent authorities. In parallel, this Atlas may serve as a tool for the public to: • familiarize itself with natural radioactivity;• be informed about the levels of natural radioactivity caused by different sources;• have a more balanced view of the annual dose received by the world population, to which natural radioactivity is the largest contributor;• and make direct comparisons between doses from natural sources of ionizing radiation and those from man-made (artificial) ones, hence to better understand the latter.Additional information at: https://remon.jrc.ec.europa.eu/About/Atlas-of-Natural-Radiatio

X-RAY EMISSION FROM LASER-HEATED SPHERICAL PLASMAS.

A model has been developed for calculating x-ray line emission from spherical plasmas. The main features of this method are: (1) Plasma parameters are obtained from a one-dimensional Lagrangian hydrodynamics and heat flow code. (2) Multi-frequency groups: the line structure can be reproduced with the desired accuracy by adjusting the number of frequency groups. (3) Self consistent, time dependent excited level populations and radiation fluxes: the code starts with coronal populations, calculates the ensuing radiation flux and then recalculates the populations and so on, iterating until convergence is reached. (4) Goemetrical groups of rays groups by spherical impact parameters. (5) Line broadening due to ionic thermal agitation and Doppler shift due to the net plasma flow velocity. Inclusion of the flow velocity shift would be different without the multi-frequency group treatment. The method has been applied to an aluminum target, and the results are in good agreement with previous experimental work. The total energy, summed over all lines, as well as the line intensity ratios (which are a sensitive measure of agreement with experiment) were predicted with good accuracy. The pictures that would be seen by a pinhole camera are also calculated by the code