256 research outputs found
LUNA: Status and Prospects
The essential ingredients of nuclear astrophysics are the thermonuclear
reactions which shape the life and death of stars and which are responsible for
the synthesis of the chemical elements in the Universe. Deep underground in the
Gran Sasso Laboratory the cross sections of the key reactions responsible for
the hydrogen burning in stars have been measured with two accelerators of 50
and 400 kV voltage right down to the energies of astrophysical interest. As a
matter of fact, the main advantage of the underground laboratory is the
reduction of the background. Such a reduction has allowed, for the first time,
to measure relevant cross sections at the Gamow energy. The qualifying features
of underground nuclear astrophysics are exhaustively reviewed before discussing
the current LUNA program which is mainly devoted to the study of the Big-Bang
nucleosynthesis and of the synthesis of the light elements in AGB stars and
classical novae. The main results obtained during the study of reactions
relevant to the Sun are also reviewed and their influence on our understanding
of the properties of the neutrino, of the Sun and of the Universe itself is
discussed. Finally, the future of LUNA during the next decade is outlined. It
will be mainly focused on the study of the nuclear burning stages after
hydrogen burning: helium and carbon burning. All this will be accomplished
thanks to a new 3.5 MV accelerator able to deliver high current beams of
proton, helium and carbon which will start running under Gran Sasso in 2019. In
particular, we will discuss the first phase of the scientific case of the 3.5
MV accelerator focused on the study of C+C and of the two
reactions which generate free neutrons inside stars:
C(,n)O and Ne(,n)Mg.Comment: To be published in Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics 98C
(2018) pp. 55-8
Positronium signature in organic liquid scintillators for neutrino experiments
Electron anti-neutrinos are commonly detected in liquid scintillator
experiments via inverse beta decay, by looking at the coincidence between the
reaction products, neutron and positron. Prior to positron annihilation, an
electron-positron pair may form an orthopositronium (o-Ps) state, with a mean
life of a few ns. Even if the o-Ps decay is speeded up by spin flip or pick off
effects, it may introduce distortions in the photon emission time distribution,
crucial for position reconstruction and pulse shape discrimination algorithms
in anti-neutrino experiments. Reversing the problem, the o-Ps induced time
distortion represents a new signature for tagging anti-neutrinos in liquid
scintillator.
In this paper, we report the results of measurements of the o-Ps formation
probability and lifetime, for the most used solvents for organic liquid
scintillators in neutrino physics (pseudocumene, linear alkyl benzene,
phenylxylylethane, and dodecane). We characterize also a mixture of
pseudocumene +1.5 g/l of 2,5-diphenyloxazole, a fluor acting as wavelength
shifter.
In the second part of the paper, we demonstrate that the o-Ps induced
distortion of the scintillation photon emission time distributions represent an
optimal signature for tagging positrons on an event by event basis, potentially
enhancing the anti-neutrino detection.Comment: 6 pages, 9 figure
Swelling of positronium confined in a small cavity
The electron density at the positron (contact density) in the ground state positronium (Ps) formed in condensed matter is generally found to be lower than in vacuum. This is usually attributed to microscopic electric fields which polarize Ps, by acting on the two particles of the atom. In this paper we quantitatively investigate an opposite effect. It is due to the confinement of Ps in small cavities existing in the host solid (e.g. free volume in polymers), which increases the contact density. Although this phenomenon is greater, the smaller is the size of the cavity, Ps polarization seems to play anyway a predominant role
Tracing U mobility in deep groundwater using Ra isotopes
The mobility of natural U is compared among four boreholes in a fractured granite using Ra isotopes and geochemical modelling. Rn-222/Ra-226 activity ratios (ARs) spanning an order of magnitude underline differences in reactive surface area. (Ra-224/Ra-228)(ARs) up to 9 indicate recent changes in hydrogeochemistry, and (Ra-226/Ra-228)(ARs) 0.6-30 indicate variable deposition of U. Dissolved U is related to dissolution of a solid U(VI) phase by groundwater with HCO3- > 20 mg.L-1. U reduction is hindered by Ca2UO2(CO3)(3)(0)
Herbicides inhibitors of EPSPs: literature review
Os herbicidas inibidores da enzima EPSPs, glyphosate e sulfosate, estĂŁo entre os produtos mais comercializados no Brasil e no mundo. Os objetivos dessa revisĂŁo de literatura sĂŁo sintetizar informações quanto ao espectro de ação, caracterĂsticas fĂsico-quĂmicas, princĂpios da absorção, translocação, metabolização, mecanismo de ação, comportamento ambiental e a resistĂŞncia de plantas aos herbicidas inibidores de EPSPs. Com essa revisĂŁo, espera-se fornecer subsĂdios para que a comunidade agrĂcola possa utilizar esses compostos de forma mais racional, eficaz e econĂ´mica.The herbicides inhibitors ofthe enzyme EPSPs, glyphosate and sulfosate, are among the most used compounds in Brazil and in the world. The objectives ofthis review are to synthesize the information about the weeds controlled, physic-chemical characteristics, fundamentais of absorption, translocation, decomposition, mechanism of action, environmental performance, and plant resistance to the EPSPs inhibitors. With this review, we want to provide to the agricultural community information to obtain a more rational, efficient and economical performance ofthese compounds
First Direct Measurement of the ^{17}O(p,\gamma)^{18}F Reaction Cross-Section at Gamow Energies for Classical Novae
Classical novae are important contributors to the abundances of key isotopes,
such as the radioactive ^{18}F, whose observation by satellite missions could
provide constraints on nucleosynthesis models in novae. The
^{17}O(p,\gamma)^{18}F reaction plays a critical role in the synthesis of both
oxygen and fluorine isotopes but its reaction rate is not well determined
because of the lack of experimental data at energies relevant to novae
explosions. In this study, the reaction cross section has been measured
directly for the first time in a wide energy range Ecm = 200 - 370 keV
appropriate to hydrogen burning in classical novae. In addition, the E=183 keV
resonance strength, \omega \gamma=1.67\pm0.12 \mueV, has been measured with the
highest precision to date. The uncertainty on the ^{17}O(p,\gamma)^{18}F
reaction rate has been reduced by a factor of 4, thus leading to firmer
constraints on accurate models of novae nucleosynthesis.Comment: accepted by Phys. Rev. Let
Blood flow characteristics after aortic valve neocuspidization in paediatric patients: a comparison with the Ross procedure.
AIMS: The aortic valve (AV) neocuspidization (Ozaki procedure) is a novel surgical technique for AV disease that preserves the natural motion and cardiodynamics of the aortic root. In this study, we sought to evaluate, by 4D-flow magnetic resonance imaging, the aortic blood flow characteristics after AV neocuspidization in paediatric patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Aortic root and ascending aorta haemodynamics were evaluated in a population of patients treated with the Ozaki procedure; results were compared with those of a group of patients operated with the Ross technique. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance studies were performed at 1.5 T using a 4D flow-sensitive sequence acquired with retrospective electrocardiogram-gating and respiratory navigator. Post-processing of 4D-flow analysis was performed to calculate flow eccentricity and wall shear stress. Twenty children were included in this study, 10 after Ozaki and 10 after Ross procedure. Median age at surgery was 10.7 years (range 3.9-16.5 years). No significant differences were observed in wall shear stress values measured at the level of the proximal ascending aorta between the two groups. The analysis of flow patterns showed no clear association between eccentric flow and the procedure performed. The Ozaki group showed just a slightly increased transvalvular maximum velocity. CONCLUSION: Proximal aorta flow dynamics of children treated with the Ozaki and the Ross procedure are comparable. Similarly to the Ross, Ozaki technique restores a physiological laminar flow pattern in the short-term follow-up, with the advantage of not inducing a bivalvular disease, although further studies are warranted to evaluate its long-term results
Experimental trials and theoretical background about foaming, slag refractory interaction and feasibility of crude magnesium carbonate injection as foaming agent and its use for EAF refractory protection
A theoretical overview about the slag structure, their compatibility with the refractories and their foaming behaviorhas been realized. Such a theoretical background is the basis for the performed experimental trials focused onthe use of crude MgCO3 injected within the slag. This raw material can develop the gaseous phases (CO2) neededfor the slag foaming and it can provide the MgO useful to make the slag compatible with the refractories. Theexperimentation has been performed through the injection of different specific quantities of MgCO3 and theobtained results pointed out a significant decrease of refractory wear, a saving of the specific electric energy, adecrease of the lime injection and of the anthracite powder needed to induce the foaming effect
Preparation and characterisation of isotopically enriched TaO targets for nuclear astrophysics studies
The direct measurement of reaction cross sections at astrophysical energies
often requires the use of solid targets of known thickness, isotopic
composition, and stoichiometry that are able to withstand high beam currents
for extended periods of time. Here, we report on the production and
characterisation of isotopically enriched TaO targets for the study of
proton-induced reactions at the Laboratory for Underground Nuclear Astrophysics
facility of the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso. The targets were prepared
by anodisation of tantalum backings in enriched water (up to 66% in O
and up to 96% in O). Special care was devoted to minimising the presence
of any contaminants that could induce unwanted background reactions with the
beam in the energy region of astrophysical interest. Results from target
characterisation measurements are reported, and the conclusions for proton
capture measurements with these targets are drawn.Comment: accepted to EPJ
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