Physics Commons^™

Afci Quarterly Input – Unlv October Through December, 2003, Harry Reid Center For Environmental Studies. Nuclear Science And Technology Division

Transmutation Research Program Reports (TRP)

Quarterly report highlighting research projects and objectives of the Transmutation Research Program at the Nuclear Science & Technology Division, Harry Reid Research Center.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas supports the AFCI through research and development of technologies for economic and environmentally sound refinement of spent nuclear fuel. The UNLV program has four components: infrastructure, international collaboration, student-based research, and management and program support.

Magnetic Storage Device Using Induced Magnetic Reversal Of A Cobalt Element Array, Hanning Chen, Scott L. Whittenburg

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The effects of the applied field, cell size, and cutting area on the ‘‘seed’’ induced magnetic reversal of a cobalt element array have been studied by a stochastic dynamic micromagnetics code using the Laudau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation. Three magnetic reversal mechanisms under different magnitudes of the applied field have been investigated by examining the energy profiles. To minimize the effect of the thermal fluctuations on the switching time, an applied field with magnitude around 0.7 or 0.8 T and an element array with cutting area less than 10 nm X 10 nm are required. By using the smaller cellsize, the switching time …

Pressure-Induced Insulating State In An Organic Superconductor, Gary L. Gard, Javid Mohtasham, J. A. Schlueter, C. Pfleiderer, J. Wosnitza, J. Hagel

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

The electronic-transport properties of the quasi-two-dimensional organic superconductor β″–(BEDT-TTF)₂SF₅CH₂CF₂SO₃, where BEDT-TTF stands for bisethylenedithio-tetrathiafulvalene, have been investigated in magnetic fields up to 15 T and under hydrostatic pressure up to about 14 kbars. Shubnikov–de Haas data reveal a nonmonotonic pressure dependence of the holelike Fermi surface, a roughly linear increase of the electron g factor, and an approximately linear decrease of the cyclotron effective mass. By assuming that the latter reflects the pressure-induced reduction of the superconducting coupling parameter λ the rapid reduction of the superconducting transition temperature Tc(p) can be reasonably well described by the modified McMillan equation. Above …

Afci Quarterly Input – Unlv July Through September, 2003, Harry Reid Center For Environmental Studies. Nuclear Science And Technology Division

Transmutation Research Program Reports (TRP)

Quarterly report highlighting research projects and objectives of the Transmutation Research Program at the Nuclear Science & Technology Division, Harry Reid Research Center.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas supports the AFCI through research and development of technologies for economic and environmentally sound refinement of spent nuclear fuel. The UNLV program has four components: infrastructure, international collaboration, student-based research, and management and program support.

Dramatic Nondipole Effects In Low-Energy Photoionization: Experimental And Theoretical Study Of Xe 5s, Oliver Hemmers, Renaud Guillemin, E. P. Kanter, B. Krassig, Dennis W. Lindle, S. H. Southworth, R. Wehlitz, J. Baker, A. C. Hudson, M. Lotrakul, D. Rolles, Wayne C. Stolte, I. Tran, A. Wolska, S. Yu, M. Ya Amusia, K. T. Cheng, L. V. Chernysheva, W. R. Johnson, S. T. Manson

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

The Xe 5s nondipole photoelectron parameter γ is obtained experimentally and theoretically from threshold to ∼200  eV photon energy. Significant nondipole effects are seen even in the threshold region of this valence shell photoionization. In addition, contrary to previous understanding, clear evidence of interchannel coupling among quadrupole photoionization channels is found.

Photofragmentation Dynamics Of Core-Excited Water By Anion-Yield Spectroscopy, Wayne C. Stolte, M. M. Sant'anna, Gunnar Ohrwall, Maria Novella Piancastelli, I. Dominguez-Lopez, Dennis W. Lindle

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Research

Partial-anion and- cation yields from H₂O are presented for photon energies near the oxygen K edge. The O^- yield exhibits a feature above threshold attributed to doubly excited states, in contrast to the H^- and cation yields, which are nearly featureless above threshold. Additionally, the lack of the OH^- fragment indicates radiative decay and provides a negligible amount of anion formation.

Dielectric Permittivity And Electric Modulus In Bi2ti4o11, Jianjun Liu, Chun-Gang Duan, Wei-Guo Yin, Wai-Ning Mei, Robert W. Smith, John R. Hardy

Physics Faculty Publications

Frequency and temperature dependences of dielectric permittivity and electric modulus of pure and Ba-doped Bi2Ti4O11 were studied in the ranges of 1021–106 Hz and 2150–350 °C, respectively. We found that the antiferroelectric phase transition temperature of Bi2Ti4O11 decreases with Ba doping. In the permittivity studies, we also observed dielectric relaxation peaks shift to higher temperature with increasing frequency. Furthermore, in the electric modulus formalism, conducting peaks were uncovered above 150 °C in addition to the dielectric relaxation peak. We discussed the mechanisms for the dielectric relaxation and conduction processes based on TiO6 octahedra distortion and a space-charge model.

E1-E2 Interference In The Vuv Photoionization Of He, E. P. Kanter, B. Krassig, S. H. Southworth, Renaud Guillemin, Oliver Hemmers, Dennis W. Lindle, R. Wehlitz, M. Ya Amusia, L. V. Chernysheva, N. L. S. Martin

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

We have measured the forward-backward asymmetry of photoelectron angular distributions produced in the vacuum ultraviolet photoionization of helium. This asymmetry, a consequence of the breakdown of the dipole approximation, measures the real part of the ratio of the quadrupole and dipole matrix elements. In the autoionization region, the strong energy dependence of the asymmetry permits an experimental separation of the ratio of those magnitudes from their phase difference. We experimentally determined the Fano parameters of the 2p²¹D₂ quadrupole resonance, and report improved values of the width Γ and line profile parameter q from those previously available …

Afci Quarterly Input – Unlv April Through June, 2003, Harry Reid Center For Environmental Studies. Nuclear Science And Technology Division

Transmutation Research Program Reports (TRP)

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas supports the AFCI through research and development of technologies for economic and environmentally sound refinement of spent nuclear fuel. The UNLV program has four components: infrastructure, international collaboration, student-based research, and management and program support.

Thickness Dependence Of Magnetic Blocking In Granular Thin Films With Interacting Magnetic Particles, Jian Qing Wang, Zhi Dong Zhao, Scott L. Whittenburg

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Interparticle interaction among single domain nanosize magnetic particles embedded in nonmagnetic matrix was studied. Attention was paid to concentrated Cu–Co granular thin films with a fixed magnetic volume fraction (20%). By analyzing theoretical models and comparing with experimental results, a dimensional constraint on the magnetic properties was found. As the film thickness reduces toward the thin limit the interparticle interaction plays important roles in modifying the magnetic behavior. The dipolar interaction energy was calculated among magnetic particles including far-neighbor interaction for films with different thickness values. When magnetization variation is included in the calculation, the resulting calculated interaction energy versus …

Enhanced Magnetic Quantum Oscillations In The Mixed State Of A Two-Dimensional Organic Superconductor, J. Wosnitza, J. Hagel, P. J. Meeson, D. Bintley, J. A. Schlueter, Javid Mohtasham, Rolf Walter Winter, Gary L. Gard

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

We report on de Haas–van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations observed in the mixed state of the organic superconductor β″–(BEDT-TTF)₂SF₅CH₂CF₂SO₃ (BEDT-TTF stands for bisethylenedithio-tetrathiafulvalene) utilizing the field-modulation technique and torque magnetometry. At low temperatures (30 mK), the dHvA signal persists down to 1.4 T well below the upper critical field Bc2≈3.6T. Contrary to most theoretical predictions and previous experimental findings, no additional damping of the dHvA-oscillation amplitude, but a reduced damping of the dHvA signal is found. This highly unusual effect might indicate a reduced quasiparticle scattering rate or an additional oscillatory contribution in the superconducting state.

Microscopic Theory Of Network Glasses, Randall W. Hall, Peter G. Wolynes

Collected Faculty and Staff Scholarship

A theory of the glass transition of network liquids is developed using self-consistent phonon and liquid state approaches. The dynamical transition and entropy crisis characteristic of random first-order transitions are mapped as a function of the degree of bonding and density. Using a scaling relation for a soft-core model to crudely translate the densities into temperatures, theory predicts that the ratio of the dynamical transition temperature to the laboratory transition temperature rises as the degree of bonding increases, while the Kauzmann temperature falls explaining why highly coordinated liquids are “strong” while van der Waals liquids without coordination are “fragile.”

Experimental Investigation Of Steel Corrosion In Lead Bismuth Eutectic (Lbe): Characterization, Species Identification, And Chemical Reactions, John Farley, Dale L. Perry, Allen L. Johnson

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

The goal of the present research is to achieve a basic understanding of corrosion of steels by Lead Bismuth Eutectic (LBE). Liquid LBE is under consideration in the transmuter as both a spallation target and as a blanket coolant. There have been previous studies of LBE, especially by the Russians, who have over 80 reactor-years experience with LBE coolant in their Alpha-class submarine reactors. The Russians found that the presence of small amounts (ppm) of oxygen in the LBE significantly reduced corrosion. However, a fundamental understanding and verification of its role in the corrosion of steels is still very incomplete. …

Corrosion Of Steel By Lead Bismuth Eutectic: Quarterly Report November- December 2002 January 2003, John Farley

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

We continue to get valuable data from sputter depth profiling of steel samples. We meet weekly to discuss progress. We took depth-profiling data on D9 steel that had been exposed to LBE. This the first time we have examined this type of steel. This is important because it will enable us to separate out two effects and determine their effect on corrosion: composition of the steel vs surface preparation.

We started to plan a small experiments using a crucible of heated LBE, with the research program to be conducted at UNLV, on basic aspects of corrosion in this system. The …

Infrared-Active Vibron Bands Associated With Substitutional Impurities In Solid Parahydrogen, Robert Hinde

Chemistry Publications and Other Works

We present a model for the line shapes of infrared-active Q₁(0) vibron bands observed in solid parahydrogen doped with low concentrations of spherical substitutional impurities. The line shapes are highly sensitive to the H₂ vibrational dependence of the dopant–H₂ interaction. When this vibrational dependence is strong, the dopant can trap the infrared-active vibron in its first solvation shell; in this case, the trapped vibron manifests itself in the absorption spectrum as a narrow feature to the red of the pure solid’s vibron band.

Nuclear Criticality, Shielding, And Thermal Analyses Of Separations Processes For The Transmutation Fuel Cycle, William Culbreth, Denis Beller

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The first step in any transmutation strategy is the separation of radionuclides in used nuclear fuel. The current separation strategy supporting the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI) program is based on the use of a solvent extraction separation process to separate the actinides, fission products, and uranium from used commercial nuclear fuel, and on the use of pyrochemical separation technologies to process used transmuter fuels. To separate the fission products and transuranic elements from the uranium in used fuel, the national program is developing a new solvent extraction process, the Uranium Extraction Plus, or UREX+, process, based on the traditional …

Corrosion Of Steel By Lead Bismuth Eutectic, John Farley, Allen L. Johnson, Dale L. Perry

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

Materials for transmuter systems must be able to tolerate high neutron fluxes, great temperatures, and chemical corrosion. For lead bismuth eutectic (LBE) systems, there is an additional challenge in that the corrosive behaviors of materials in LBE are not well understood. Most of the available information on LBE systems has come from the Russians, who have over 80 reactor-years experience with LBE coolant in their Alpha-class submarine reactors. The Russians found that the presence of small amounts of oxygen (on the order of parts per million) in the LBE significantly reduced corrosion. However, a fundamental understanding and verification of its …

Surface Studies Of Corrosion Of Stainless Steel By Lead Bismuth Eutectic, Daniel Koury, Brian D. Hosterman, John Farley, Dale L. Perry, D. Parsons, J. Manzerova, Allen L. Johnson

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

Why is Lead Bismuth Eutectic Important?

• Changing national security stances have led to reexamination of nuclear waste reprocessing

• Dangerous actinides can be separated and

• Transmuted into safer products, creating a waste form dangerous for only hundreds of years, in addition to the production (up to 1/3 of the original fission energy) of useful energy

• Non-moderating coolants or spallation targets for production of fast neutrons is required for transmutation

• Russian experience with LBE coolants in their nuclear submarine fleet makes LBE an attractive possible transmutation coolant technology

• Corrosion of steel by LBE is an important …

Comparison Between The Ultraviolet Emission From Pulsed Microhollow Cathode Discharges In Xenon And Argon, Isfried Petzenhauser, Leopold D. Biborosch, Uwe Ernst, Klaus Frank, Karl H. Schoenbach

Bioelectrics Publications

We measured the dynamic I–V characteristics and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) emission lines of the second continuum in xenon (170 nm) and argon (130.5 nm) from pulsed microhollow cathode discharges (MHCD). For pulse lengths between 1 and 100 μs the dynamic I–V characteristics are similar in both inert gases. Only the time variation of the VUV emission line at 170 nm for xenon can be related to the dimer excited states. In argon the energy transfer between the Ar*₂ dimers and the oxygen impurity atoms is responsible for a qualitatively different time behavior of the resonance line at 130.5 nm. …

Molecular Dynamics Simulation Of The Order- Disorder Phase Transition In Solid Nano2, Wei-Guo Yin, Chun-Gang Duan, Wai-Ning Mei, Jianjun Liu, Robert W. Smith, John R. Hardy

Physics Faculty Publications

We present molecular dynamics simulations of solid NaNO2 using pair potentials with the rigid-ion model. The crystal potential surface is calculated by using an a priori method which integrates the ab initio calculations with the Gordon-Kim electron gas theory. This approach is carefully examined by using different population analysis methods and comparing the intermolecular interactions resulting from this approach with those from the ab initio Hartree-Fock calculations. Our numerics show that the ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition in solid NaNO2 is triggered by rotation of the nitrite ions around the crystallographical c axis, in agreement with recent x-ray experiments @Gohda et al., …

How To Establish Successful Cooperative Student Learning Centers For Stem Courses, Ronald James Bieniek, Douglas R. Carroll, Cesar Mendoza, Oran Allan Pringle, Ekkehard Sinn, Kai-Tak Wan, Donald C. Wunsch

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Students learn more if they are actively involved in the learning process, particularly in a cooperative manner. Several UMR faculty have operated course-based learning centers (LCs) as part of the campus-wide Learning Enhancement Across Disciplines (LEAD) Program of student learning assistance and enhancement. LCs are designed to assist large numbers of students in a cost- and time-efficient manner that promotes student engagement without requiring undue amounts of faculty time. Course instructors spend time in the open learning environment of the LC, in lieu of office hours, guiding students to master course material and skills in their evolution from novice to …