Comparative study of radiation-induced damage in magnesium aluminate spinel by means of IL, CL and RBS/C techniques

International audienceA comparative study of damage accumulation in magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4) has been conducted using ionoluminescence (IL), cathodoluminescence (CL) and Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry/channeling (RBS/C) techniques. MgAl2O4 single crystal and polycrystalline samples were irradiated with 320 keV Ar+ ions at fluencies ranging from 1 × 1012 to 2 × 1016 cm−2 in order to create various levels of radiation damage. RBS/C measurements provided quantitative data about damage concentration in the samples. These values were then compared to the luminescence measurements. The results obtained by IL and RBS/C methods demonstrate a two-step character of damage buildup process. The CL data analysis points to the three-step damage accumulation mechanism involving the first defect transformation at fluencies of about 1013 cm−2 and second at about 1015 cm−2. The rate of changes resulting from the formation of nonluminescent recombination centers is clearly nonlinear and cannot be described in terms of continuous accumulation of point defects. Both, IL and CL techniques, appear as new, complementary tools bringing new possibilities in the damage accumulation studies in single- and polycrystalline materials

Unexpected luminescence of Cr5+ and Cr3+ ions in ZrSiO4 zircon crystals

Luminescence, decay-times and EPR spectroscopy of Cr-doped ZrSiO4 show the presence of both Cr3+ and Cr5+ active centers, which can be connected with Zr4+ and Si4+ adjacent two-cation replacement. Cr5+ emission occurs within a similar spectral range as for Cr4+ and hence confusion is possible

Megapixel multi-elemental imaging by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, a technology with considerable potential for paleoclimate studies

Paleoclimate studies play a crucial role in understanding past and future climates and their environmental impacts. Current methodologies for performing highly sensitive elemental analysis at micrometre spatial resolutions are restricted to the use of complex and/or not easily applied techniques, such as synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence micro-analysis (μ-SRXRF), nano secondary ion mass spectrometry (nano-SIMS) or laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LAICP-MS). Moreover, the analysis of large samples (>few cm²) with any of these methods remains very challenging due to their relatively low acquisition speed (~1–10 Hz), and because they must be operated in vacuum or controlled atmosphere. In this work, we proposed an imaging methodology based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, to perform fast multi-elemental scanning of large geological samples with high performance in terms of sensitivity (ppm-level), lateral resolution (up to 10 μm) and operating speed (100 Hz). This method was successfully applied to obtain the first megapixel images of large geological samples and yielded new information, not accessible using other techniques. These results open a new perspective into the use of laser spectroscopy in a variety of geochemical applications

Simulation of Eu3+ luminescence spectra of borosilicate glasses by molecular dynamics calculations

Simplified inactive rare-earths doped nuclear waste glasses have been obtained by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation in order to investigate the local structure around the rare-earth by luminescence studies. MD calculations were performed with modified Born–Mayer–Huggins potentials and three body angular terms representing Coulomb and covalent interactions. Atomic positions within the glasses are then determined. Simulations of luminescence spectra were then obtained by calculation of the ligand field parameters affecting each luminescent ion. Considering the C2v symmetry, it is possible to calculate the radiative transition probabilities between the emitter level, 5D0, and the splitted receptor levels, 7FJ (J = 0–3) for each Eu3+ ion. The simulated emission spectra are obtained by convolution of all the Eu3+ ions contributions. A comparison with the experimental data issue from fluorescence line narrowing and microluminescence spectroscopies allowed us not only to validate the simulation of luminescence spectra from simulated environments, but also to confirm the presence and the identification of two major Eu3+ sites distribution in the nuclear glasses thanks to spectra-structure correlations

Mineral maturity and crystallinity index are distinct characteristics of bone mineral

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that mineral maturity and crystallinity index are two different characteristics of bone mineral. To this end, Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (FTIRM) was used. To test our hypothesis, synthetic apatites and human bone samples were used for the validation of the two parameters using FTIRM. Iliac crest samples from seven human controls and two with skeletal fluorosis were analyzed at the bone structural unit (BSU) level by FTIRM on sections 2–4 lm thick. Mineral maturity and crystallinity index were highly correlated in synthetic apatites but poorly correlated in normal human bone. In skeletal fluorosis, crystallinity index was increased and maturity decreased, supporting the fact of separate measurement of these two parameters. Moreover, results obtained in fluorosis suggested that mineral characteristics can be modified independently of bone remodeling. In conclusion, mineral maturity and crystallinity index are two different parameters measured separately by FTIRM and offering new perspectives to assess bone mineral traits in osteoporosis

Diffusion under irradiation of rare earth elements in apatite

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Les gemmes du Livre d'heures de François 1er (Musée du Louvre)

International audienceLe livre d'heures du roi François Ier de France (1515 à 1547) a été acquis par le Musée du Louvre, Paris, en 2017 auprès de S. J. Phillips Ltd à Londres, spécialiste des bijoux anciens européens. C'est un petit livre de prière (8,5 × 8,0 × 2,6 cm) qui tient dans la paume de la main (Figure 1), orné d'or émaillé qui est serti de nombreuses pierres précieuses. L'histoire du livre d'heures est connue de manière quasi continue depuis 1538, date de son acquisition par le roi de France François Ier, jusqu'à nos jours et associée aux différents propriétaires français et anglais. Son histoire a été présenté par Malgouyres (2018) et Panczer et al. (2021). Les gemmes ont été examinées à l'aide d'instruments gemmologiques conventionnels (réfractomètre, loupe, illumination UV), de deux spectromètres Raman portables (785 nm et 532 nm, de résolution spatiale 0,8 mm) et d'un analyseur XRF, pendant une durée limité (une journée). Cet article est un condensé étendu de l'article The Book of Hours of King Francis I of France: History and Gemmological Analysis publié en 2021 par Panczer et al. (2021) dans The Journal of Gemmology

Effect of Temperature on the Ion Beam Induced Luminescence of Oxide Powders Doped with Rare Earth Elements

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