5,689 research outputs found
Nuclear isotope thermometry
We discuss different aspects which could influence temperatures deduced from
experimental isotopic yields in the multifragmentation process. It is shown
that fluctuations due to the finite size of the system and distortions due to
the decay of hot primary fragments conspire to blur the temperature
determination in multifragmentation reactions. These facts suggest that caloric
curves obtained through isotope thermometers, which were taken as evidence for
a first-order phase transition in nuclear matter, should be investigated very
carefully.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure
Space Shuttle/TDRSS communication and tracking systems analysis
In order to evaluate the technical and operational problem areas and provide a recommendation, the enhancements to the Tracking and Data Delay Satellite System (TDRSS) and Shuttle must be evaluated through simulation and analysis. These enhancement techniques must first be characterized, then modeled mathematically, and finally updated into LinCsim (analytical simulation package). The LinCsim package can then be used as an evaluation tool. Three areas of potential enhancements were identified: shuttle payload accommodations, TDRSS SSA and KSA services, and shuttle tracking system and navigation sensors. Recommendations for each area were discussed
Investigation of remote sensing techniques of measuring soil moisture
Major activities described include development and evaluation of theoretical models that describe both active and passive microwave sensing of soil moisture, the evaluation of these models for their applicability, the execution of a controlled field experiment during which passive microwave measurements were acquired to validate these models, and evaluation of previously acquired aircraft microwave measurements. The development of a root zone soil water and soil temperature profile model and the calibration and evaluation of gamma ray attenuation probes for measuring soil moisture profiles are considered. The analysis of spatial variability of soil information as related to remote sensing is discussed as well as the implementation of an instrumented field site for acquisition of soil moisture and meteorologic information for use in validating the soil water profile and soil temperature profile models
On Determining Dead Layer and Detector Thicknesses for a Position-Sensitive Silicon Detector
In this work, two particular properties of the position-sensitive, thick
silicon detectors (known as the "E" detectors) in the High Resolution Array
(HiRA) are investigated: the thickness of the dead layer on the front of the
detector, and the overall thickness of the detector itself. The dead layer
thickness for each E detector in HiRA is extracted using a measurement of alpha
particles emitted from a Pb pin source placed close to the detector
surface. This procedure also allows for energy calibrations of the E detectors,
which are otherwise inaccessible for alpha source calibration as each one is
sandwiched between two other detectors. The E detector thickness is obtained
from a combination of elastically scattered protons and an energy-loss
calculation method. Results from these analyses agree with values provided by
the manufacturer.Comment: Accepted for publication in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in
Physics Researc
Tidal effects and the Proximity decay of nuclei
We examine the decay of the 3.03 MeV state of Be evaporated from an
excited projectile-like fragment following a peripheral heavy-ion collision.
The relative energy of the daughter particles exhibits a dependence on
the decay angle of the Be, indicative of a tidal effect. Comparison of
the measured tidal effect with a purely Coulomb model suggests the influence of
a measurable nuclear proximity interaction.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Neutron Calibration Sources in the Daya Bay Experiment
We describe the design and construction of the low rate neutron calibration
sources used in the Daya Bay Reactor Anti-neutrino Experiment. Such sources are
free of correlated gamma-neutron emission, which is essential in minimizing
induced background in the anti-neutrino detector. The design characteristics
have been validated in the Daya Bay anti-neutrino detector.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figure
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