An imaging neutron/gamma-ray spectrometer

We present the test results of a neutron/gamma-ray imaging spectrometer for the identification and location of radioactive and special nuclear materials. Radioactive materials that could be fashioned into a radiation dispersal device typically emit gamma rays, while fissile materials such as uranium and plutonium emit both neutrons and gamma rays via spontaneous or induced fission. The simultaneous detection of neutrons and gamma rays is a clear indication of the presence of fissile material. The instrument works as a double-scatter telescope, requiring a neutron or gamma ray to undergo an interaction in two detectors to be considered a valid event. While this requirement reduces the detector efficiency, it yields information about the direction and energy of the incident particle, which is then used to reconstruct an image of the emitting source. Because of this imaging capability background events can be rejected, decreasing the number of events required for high confidence detection and thereby greatly improving its sensitivity. The instrument is optimized for the detection of neutrons with energies from 1-20 MeV and gamma rays from 0.4 to 10 MeV. Images and energy spectra for neutron and gamma rays are reported for several sources including depleted uranium and plutonium. In addition, the effect of neutron source shielding is investigated

Regioselective Synthesis of Indene from 3-Aryl Propargylic gem -Dipivalates Catalyzed by N -Heterocyclic Carbene Gold(I) Complexes

International audience1-Aryl-3,3-bis(pivaloyloxy)propynes can be converted in good to high yields into either 1,3-or 1,2-bis(pivaloyloxy)indenes, depending on the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) gold(I) hexafluoroantimonate catalyst used. Almost exclusive formation of 1,3-di(oxycarbonyl)indene derivatives was achieved with cationic gold complexes containing the embracing N,N'-1,3-bis(9-butylfluorenyl)benzimidazolylidene ligand (nBu FNHC). The regioselective issue of the reaction was rationalized by the specific spatial distribution of the steric bulk in the nBu FNHC ligand. In contrast, only modest selectivities in favor of 1,2-disubstituted indenes were observed with more classical NHC gold complexes, the best selectivity being then obtained with N,N'-1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazolylidene gold chloride (SIPrAuCl) as precatalyst

Ring-Opening Polymerisation of rac-Lactide Using a Calix[4]arene-Based Titanium (IV) Complex

cone-25,27-Dipropyloxy-26,28-dioxo-calix[4]arene titanium (IV) dichloride(1)has been assessed in the ring-opening polymerisation ofrac-lactide (L,D-LA). The polymers formed (PLDA) turned out to display an isotactic stereoblock microstructure (determined by NMR) despite the fact that the catalyst hasC2vsymmetry. Two techniques were applied for initiating the polymerisation reaction, microwave irradiation, and conventional thermal treatment. The polymers obtained were all characterised by NMR, IR, HPLC-SEC, DSC, and MALDI-TOF analysis. The use of microwave irradiation, applied for the first time to calixarene-based catalysts in the presence of therac-lactide monomer, increased the polymerisation rate compared with that obtained by the other method. On the other hand, standard thermal treatment enabled a slightly better control than microwave irradiation over the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the polylactides formed