Physics Commons^™

Effects Of Htert On Genomic Instability Caused By Either Metals Or Radiation Or Combined Exposure, Antonino Glaviano

Doctoral

There is currently a great interest in delayed chromosomal damage and other damaging effects of low-dose exposure to a variety of agents, which appear collectively to act through induction of stress-response pathways related to oxidative stress (and aging). These agents have been studied mostly in the radiation field but evidence is accumulating that chemicals, especially heavy metals, can also act in the same manner. Therefore, this work investigated the effects of metals and/or radiation in human fibroblasts in vitro. Humans are exposed to metals, including chromium (CR) VI) and vanadium (V) (V) from the environment, industry and surgical implants. Thus …

Radiative Electron Capture Into High- Z Few-Electron Ions: Alignment Of The Excited Ionic States, Andrey S. Surzhykov, Ulrich D. Jentschura, Th H. Stohlker, Stephan Fritzsche

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We lay out a unified formalism for the description of radiative electron capture into excited states of heavy, few-electron ions and their subsequent decay, including a full account of many-electron effects and higher-order multipoles of the radiation field. In particular, the density-matrix theory is applied to explore the magnetic sublevel population of the residual ions, as described in terms of alignment parameters. For the electron capture into the initially hydrogenlike U⁹¹⁺ and lithiumlike U⁸⁹⁺ uranium projectiles, the alignment parameters are calculated, within the multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock approach, as a function of the collision energy and for different ionic states. …

Progress Towards Terahertz Acoustic Phonon Generation In Doping Superlattices, Thomas E. Wilson

Physics Faculty Research

Progress is described in experiments to generate coherent terahertz acoustic phonons in silicon doping superlattices by the resonant absorption of nanosecond-pulsed far-infrared laser radiation. Future experiments are proposed that would use the superlattice as a transducer in a terahertz cryogenic acoustic reflection microscope with sub-nanometer resolution.

Progress Towards Terahertz Acoustic Phonon Generation In Doping Superlattices, Thomas E. Wilson

Physics Faculty Research

Progress is described in experiments to generate coherent terahertz acoustic phonons in silicon doping superlattices by the resonant absorption of nanosecond-pulsed far-infrared laser radiation. Future experiments are proposed that would use the superlattice as a transducer in a terahertz cryogenic acoustic reflection microscope with sub-nanometer resolution.

Fourier Transform Analysis Of Terahertz Radiation, Chikaodira N. Okpo

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Advances in terahertz radiation (T-rays) technology have great promise in various technological areas ranging from medical technology, imaging technology and accelerator technology. At Thomas Jefferson Laboratory, the Free Electron Laser division (FEL) produces very powerful beam of laser light by accelerating electrons in bunches along a beamline. This laser light absorbs and releases energy at various wavelengths. The new FEL upgrade led to the production of very bright terahertz (THz) radiation with an average power of 1 00watts which is about 100,000 times brighter than those produced elsewhere. These T-rays have very significant applications in the Laboratory. The most significant …

Integration Of Vmc++ Into A Commercial Treatment Planning System, Joseph Kingsley Gardner

Theses and Dissertations

Recently, there has been interest to integrate VMC++ into the commercial treatment planning system at VCU as another Monte Carlo code option, since it has been shown to increase efficiency dramatically without introducing a significant amount of systematic error. Also, independent validation of VMC++ for photon beams is of interest since this has not been performed previously in literature. This study included several tests required to integrate VMC++. Output factor normalization was performed and found to agree with experiment to within 1% for all field sizes except 1x1 cm2. Geometric validation was successful. Dosimetric validation was performed with respect to …

A Rapidly-Converging Alternative To Source Iteration For Solving The Discrete Ordinates Radiation Transport Equations In Slab Geometry, Nicholas J. Wager

Theses and Dissertations

I present a numerical technique to solve the time independent Boltzmann Transport Equation for the transport of neutrons and photons. The technique efficiently solves the discrete ordinates equations with a new iteration scheme. I call this new scheme the angle space distribution iteration method because it combines a non-linear, high angular-resolution flux approximation within individual spatial cells with a coarse angular-resolution flux approximation that couples all cells in a spatial mesh. This shown to be an efficient alternative to source iteration. The new method is implemented using the step characteristic and exponential characteristic spatial quadrature schemes. The latter was introduced …

Advances In Space Radiation Shielding Codes, John W. Wilson, Ram K. Tripathi, Garry D. Qualls, Francis A. Cucinotta, Richard E. Prael, John W. Norbury, John H. Heinbockel, John Tweed, Giovanni De Angelis

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Early space radiation shield code development relied on Monte Carlo methods and made important contributions to the space program. Monte Carlo methods have resorted to restricted one-dimensional problems leading to imperfect representation of appropriate boundary conditions. Even so, intensive computational requirements resulted and shield evaluation was made near the end of the design process. Resolving shielding issues usually had a negative impact on the design. Improved spacecraft shield design requires early entry of radiation constraints into the design process to maximize performance and minimize costs. As a result, we have been investigating high-speed computational procedures to allow shield analysis from …

Gamma Echo Interpreted As A Phase-Shift Induced Transparency, Gilbert R. Hoy, Jos Odeurs

Physics Faculty Publications

In the gamma-echo technique a radioactive source is moved, with respect to a nuclear-resonant absorber, during the lifetime of first-excited nuclear state. This introduces a phase shift between the source radiation and the radiation from the absorber. If the source is moved abruptly, introducing a pi phase shift, the time-dependent intensity shows a sharp increase in the intensity at that time, the "gamma echo." Using the recently developed one-dimensional quantum-mechanical model, based on the technique developed by Heitler and Harris, the gamma-echo effect is seen to be a phase-shift-induced transparency. A closed-form solution for the time-dependent transmitted intensity has been …

Exposure To Atmospheric Radon, Daniel J. Steck, R. William Field, Charles F. Lynch

Physics Faculty Publications

We measured radon (²²²Rn) concentrations in Iowa and Minnesota and found that unusually high annual average radon concentrations occur outdoors in portions of central North America. In some areas, outdoor concentrations exceed the national average indoor radon concentration. The general spatial patterns of outdoor radon and indoor radon are similar to the spatial distribution of radon progeny in the soil. Outdoor radon exposure in this region can be a substantial fraction of an individual's total radon exposure and is highly variable across the population. Estimated lifetime effective dose equivalents for the women participants in a radon-related lung cancer …

The Green Dyadic Formulation For Radiation Problems With Arbitrary Sources Embedded In Stratified Multi-Layer Structures : Application To Molecular Fluorescence Problems, Robert Lyle Hartman

Dissertations and Theses

The Green Dyadic method for computing fields due to current sources between parallel interfaces of dielectric materials is studied. Computer implementation of the method as presented in a well-known article leads to the conclusion that significant errors are present. Two dissimilar methods of solution lead to corrected formulations which are shown to be equivalent. The same correction is found in the research literature. For confirmation, computations are performed in examples involving an emitting dipole by both the Green dyadic method and Sommerfeld' s Hertz vector method. Finally, the computational examples are used to compute fluorescence decay rates for emitting dipoles …

Academy Recommendations On The Proposed Yucca Mountain Waste Repository: Overview And Criticisms, Kristin S. Shrader-Frechette

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Offers alternative criticism of the NAS report.

Dosimetry Of High-Energy Heavy-Ion Beams Using Energy-Dependent Green's Functions, Sang Yull Chun

Physics Theses & Dissertations

A theoretical description of the transport of high-charge and high-energy (HZE) ion bombardment of biological tissue is developed. The energy-dependent Green’s functions and particle fluxes are obtained for two boundary distributions - the monoenergetic and the Gaussian. Approximate energy-dependent Green’s functions for the collision terms are obtained for computational simplicity. As an application of the energy-dependent Green’s function method, dosimetric quantities, such as dose, dose-equivalent, and average quality factor, for 600A MeV⁵⁶Fe , 517A MeV ⁴⁰Ar, and 625A MeV ²⁰Ne ion beams incident on a water target are obtained and compared with the values obtained from …

Performance Of An Inertially Coupled, 3-Mode Gravitational-Wave Antenna Prototype, Linda E. Marchese, Mark F. Bocko, Guizhen Zhang, Munawar Karim

Physics Faculty/Staff Publications

A prototype three‐mode gravitational wave antenna which employs a two‐mode torsional transducer has been constructed and tested. For the torsional transducer the coupling from one stage to the next is via inertial forces, whereas in a conventional transducer the stage‐to‐stage coupling is proportional to the relative displacements via the springs. Experiments with our antenna‐torsional transducer prototype demonstrate a maximum antenna bandwidth of 260 Hz (29% of the antenna resonant frequency of 900 Hz) and a mechanical amplification factor of 40. A mathematical model for the three‐mode antenna has been developed and predictions of the system transfer functions and transient response …

High Energy Coupled Nucleon Tranpsort In One Dimension, Stanley L. Lamkin

Physics Theses & Dissertations

The problem of energetic nucleon transport through extended bulk matter is considered in the context of the 'straight ahead' approximation. The applicable form of the Boltzmann transport equation is derived and solved in one dimension. The production term for secondary generation nucleons due to nuclear fragmentation includes 'coupling' of the flux to other types of nucleon projectiles. A physically motivated perturbation series approach is developed to enhance solution convergence. The Boltzmann operator is inverted and the flux is computed using a numerical marching scheme. The secondary production integrals are optimized for second order accuracy using a set of analytical benchmarks. …

Primary Relaxation Processes At The Band Edge Of Sio₂, Peter N. Saeta, Benjamin I. Greene

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

The kinetics of photoinduced defect formation in high-purity silicas has been studied by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy in the visible and ultraviolet. Band edge two-photon excitation produces singlet excitons which decay in 0.25 ps into defects with the absorption spectra of nonbridging oxygen hole centers (≡Si-O⋅) and silicon E’ centers (≡Si⋅). We identify these defect pairs with the self-trapped triplet exciton and the 0.25 ps decay with the motion of the photoexcited oxygen atom. Similar results were obtained with both crystalline and amorphous silica samples.

The Effect Of Ionizing And Displacive Radiation On The Thermal Conductivity Of Alumina, D. P. White

Physics Faculty Publications

The effects of ionizing and displacive radiation on the thermal conductivity of alumina at high temperatures have been studied. The phonon scattering relaxation times for several scattering mechanisms have been used to determine the effect on the thermal conductivity. The scattering mechanisms considered are scattering by electrons excited into the conduction band, vacancies, aluminum precipitates, and voids. It is found that under irradiation conditions where the electrical conductivity and dielectric loss tangent are greatly increased there is not a significant decrease in the thermal conductivity due to phonon-electron scattering. The conditions under which the scattering due to vacancies, aluminum precipitates, …

The Effects Of Electron Radiation On The Glass Transition Temperature Of A Polyetherimide, Kristen Tulloch Kern

Physics Theses & Dissertations

The effects of electron radiation on a polyetherimide (PEI), Ultem*, were investigated. In particular, the changes in the glass transition temperature (T_g) with absorbed radiation dose were studied. The polymer was exposed to mono-energetic beams of 100-keV electrons and 1.0-MeV electrons for doses up to 100 megagray (MGy). Dosimetry for the exposures was based on Monte-Carlo simulations of the transfer of energy from an energetic electron to the polymer and on comparison to Nylon standards. Dynamic mechanical analysis was used to determine the (T_g) for non-exposed PEI and the changes in (T_g) resulting from …

Studies Of Radiation Effects In Three High Polymers, Heidi Rene-Mitchell Ries

Physics Theses & Dissertations

Three high polymers, Mylar®, Ultem®, and Kapton®, were irradiated to total doses of 1, 5, and 9.5 gigarad using 1-MeV electrons. The glass transition temperatures (T_g) of the materials before and after irradiation were measured using an AC electrical dissipation factor technique. From the T_g data, it was found that the electron radiation at these total doses results in net chain scissioning in Mylar and net crosslinking in Ultem, while self-mending is predominant in Kapton. The dielectric constant was measured before and after irradiation, but no significant changes due to irradiation were observed. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) …

Radiation Damage To Gaas Solar Cells Including Isotropic Effects, Larry Victor Stock

Physics Theses & Dissertations

A model is developed for the short circuit current of a GaAs solar cell due to radiation (proton or electron) induced defects in the crystal structure. This model is verified by a comparison with proton and electron irradiation results. For electron radiation and energetic protons (energy> 10 MeV), it is found that the damage in the crystal is independent of the angle of incidence. On the other hand, for lower energy proton radiation, the damage as a function of cell thickness is highly dependent on incident angle and energy. The cell's response to low energy protons is strongly dependent on …

Compton's 'Crucial Test' - Theoretical Preconceptions And Experimental Interpretation, Roger H. Stuewer

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Arthur Holly Compton, as a result of his own research and confidence in the validity of classical electrodynamics, was convinced in 1921 that homogeneous x-rays and gamma rays could be affected in only two possible ways when passing through matter: either they gave rise to "truly scattered" radiation of the same wavelength as that of the incident rays, or they excited "fluorescent" radiation of a longer wavelength. When Compton was led to carry out experiments using homogeneous x-rays and actually found secondary radiation of longer wavelength, he regarded his result as a crucial test between the "truly scattered" and the …

Sensitivity Of A Gas Filter Correlation Instrument To Variations In Atmospheric Profile And Earth Surface Temperatures, Joseph C. Casas

Physics Theses & Dissertations

The Gas Filter Correlation Radiometer Analyzer (GFCR), in application to the remote sensing of trace gases in the atmosphere, is potentially limited by the sensitivity of the measured upwelling thermal radiation to surface temperature and atmospheric temperature conditions. This study has been carried out to examine the principles of operation of the GFCR Analyzer and to obtain quantitative estimates of the errors produced in GFCR Analyzer measurements of CO (4.6μ), S02 (8.6μ), NH3 (11.0μ), and CH4 (8.1μ) resulting from uncertainties in the atmospheric temperature profile and ground temperature.

A simple mathematical prototype GFCR Analyzer was assumed. A line-by-line atmospheric radiative …

Cosmic Radiation And Radio-Carbon Age Determination, Leland S. Bohl

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

No abstract provided.