Nuclear Commons^™

Characterization Of The Effects Of Heavy Charged Particle Exposure On The Radiation Resistant Bacterium Deinococcus Radiodurans, Todd A. Bryant

Theses and Dissertations

Although not an extremophile, Deinococcus radiodurans has proven to have exceptional resistance to ionizing radiation, specifically via gamma and X-ray photons. To date, no known experiments have bombarded the bacterium with charged particles larger than hydrogen. This study explored the effects on the organism’s ability to survive high linear energy transfer heavy-charged particle exposures of oxygen ions. It also investigated the effects of low linear energy transfer ultraviolet radiation on various mutants. Two uvrB mutants were created to ascertain the importance of the gene in single-strand break repair following gamma irradiation and two recF mutants were created to explore the …

Characterization Of Silicon Ion Exposure On Deinococcus Radiodurans, Richard F. Daughtry

Theses and Dissertations

Deinococcus radiodurans is a robust bacterium that is known for its extraordinary resistance to ionizing radiation. In general, many of the investigations of this bacterium's resistance have revolved around low linear energy transfer radiation, such as gamma and electron radiation. This study explored Deinococcus radiodurans's ability to survive high linear energy transfer radiation, specifically proton and neutron radiation. Deinococcus radiodurans was dehydrated to reduce the effects of low linear energy transfer radiation. The bacteria were exposed to both neutron and proton radiation of varying amounts and rehydrated. The resulting colonies were counted and compared to colonies of non-irradiated control samples …

Pulse Height Spectra Analysis Of A Neutron Energy Tuning Assembly, Jason R. Stickney

Theses and Dissertations

An energy tuning assembly (ETA) was previously designed and built for the purpose of irradiating samples with a combination of a thermonuclear and a prompt fission neutron spectrum. Initial research was performed to characterize the performance of the ETA at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 88-Inch Cyclotron using 33 MeV deuteron breakup on tantalum as the neutron source. This research analyzes detector responses collected from three EJ-309 detectors used to characterize the ETA generated neutron field. A signal processing chain was developed to reduce the full waveform data into a pulse height spectrum. The primary goal was to develop a …

Using An Astrophysical Model To Characterize Nuclear Dust, Anita N. Dunsmore

Theses and Dissertations

Dust clouds resulting from nuclear explosions are complex phenomena, and knowledge on how they form is lacking. Noting the similarities between supernovae and nuclear explosions led to the concept of modeling a nuclear dust cloud using a supernova simulation. MOCASSIN uses a Monte Carlo approach to model photons traveling through a dust cloud, allowing the cloud's characteristics to be discovered by comparing an observed spectrum to a calculated one and then changing input values to make the spectra match. Data files describing two nuclear fireballs of varying yields were created and analyzed using MOCASSIN, but yielded zero energy spectra. After …

Phenomenology Of Neutron-Antineutron Conversion, Susan Gardner, Xinshuai Yan

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We consider the possibility of neutron-antineutron (n−n¯) conversion, in which the change of a neutron into an antineutron is mediated by an external source, as can occur in a scattering process. We develop the connections between n−n¯ conversion and n−n¯ oscillation, in which a neutron spontaneously transforms into an antineutron, noting that if n−n¯ oscillation occurs in a theory with baryon number minus lepton number (B-L) violation, then n−n¯ conversion can occur also. We show how an experimental limit on n−n¯ …

The "Double Standard" Of Nonproliferation: Regime Type And The U.S. Response To Nuclear Weapons Program, Alina Shymanska

International Journal of Nuclear Security

There is no doubt that the NPT regime is far from being equal for all states involved. As the predominant hegemonic power since WWII, the United States plays a major role in deciding the fates of non-great power proliferators. This article tries to find the logical explanation of the phenomenon whereby some nuclear proliferators are absolved regardless of their active accumulation of nuclear arsenals while others are labeled as “rogue states” and ordered to disarm. The article suggests that a particular proliferator’s political regime could affect the way in which its state is approached by the U.S., known for its …

The Associations Between Self-Reported Exposure To The Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster Zone And Mental Health Disorders In Ukraine, Matthew A. Bolt, Luralyn M. Helming, Nathan L. Tintle

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

In 1986, Reactor 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant near Pripyat, Ukraine exploded, releasing highly-radioactive materials into the surrounding environment. Although the physical effects of the disaster have been well-documented, a limited amount of research has been conducted on association of the disaster with long-term, clinically-diagnosable mental health disorders. According to the diathesis–stress model, the stress of potential and unknown exposure to radioactive materials and the ensuing changes to ones life or environment due to the disaster might lead those with previous vulnerabilities to fall into a poor state of mental health. Previous studies of this disaster have found …

Beam-Energy Dependence Of Directed Flow Of Λ, Λ¯, K±, K0S, And Φ In Au + Au Collisions, L. Adamczyk, J. R. Adams, James K. Adkins, G. Agakishiev, M. M. Aggarwal, Z. Ahammed, N. N. Ajitanand, I. Alekseev, D. M. Anderson, R. Aoyama, A. Aparin, D. Arkhipkin, E. C. Aschenauer, M. U. Ashraf, A. Attri, G. S. Averichev, X. Bai, V. Bairathi, K. Barish, A. Behera, R. Bellwied, A. Bhasin, A. K. Bhati, P. Bhattarai, J. Bielcik, J. Bielcikova, L. C. Bland, I. G. Bordyuzhin, J. Bouchet, J. D. Brandenburg, Renee H. Fatemi, Suvarna Ramachandran

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Rapidity-odd directed-flow measurements at midrapidity are presented for Λ, Λ¯, K^±, K⁰_s, and ϕ at √s_NN = 7.7, 11.5, 14.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4, and 200 GeV in Au + Au collisions recorded by the Solenoidal Tracker detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. These measurements greatly expand the scope of data available to constrain models with differing prescriptions for the equation of state of quantum chromodynamics. Results show good sensitivity for testing a picture where flow is assumed to be imposed before hadron formation and the observed particles are assumed to form …

Azimuthal Transverse Single-Spin Asymmetries Of Inclusive Jets And Charged Pions Within Jets From Polarized-Proton Collisions At √S = 500 Gev, L. Adamczyk, J. R. Adams, James K. Adkins, G. Agakishiev, M. M. Aggarwal, Z. Ahammed, N. N. Ajitanand, I. Alekseev, D. M. Anderson, R. Aoyama, A. Aparin, D. Arkhipkin, E. C. Aschenauer, M. U. Ashraf, A. Attri, G. S. Averichev, X. Bai, V. Bairathi, K. Barish, A. Behera, R. Bellwied, A. Bhasin, A. K. Bhati, P. Bhattarai, J. Bielcik, J. Bielcikova, L. C. Bland, I. G. Bordyuzhin, J. Bouchet, J. D. Brandenburg, Renee H. Fatemi, Suvarna Ramachandran

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We report the first measurements of transverse single-spin asymmetries for inclusive jet and jet + π^± production at midrapidity from transversely polarized proton-proton collisions at √s = 500  GeV. The data were collected in 2011 with the STAR detector sampled from 23  pb⁻¹ integrated luminosity with an average beam polarization of 53%. Asymmetries are reported for jets with transverse momenta 6 < p_T < 55  GeV/c and pseudorapidity |η| < 1. Presented are measurements of the inclusive-jet azimuthal transverse single-spin asymmetry, sensitive to twist-3 initial-state quark-gluon correlators; the Collins asymmetry, sensitive to quark transversity coupled to the polarized Collins fragmentation function; and the first measurement of the “Collins-like” asymmetry, sensitive to linearly polarized gluons. Within the present statistical precision, inclusive-jet and Collins-like asymmetries are small, with the latter allowing the first experimental constraints on gluon linear polarization in a polarized proton. At higher values of jet transverse momenta, we observe the first nonzero Collins asymmetries in polarized-proton collisions, with a statistical significance of greater than 5σ. The results span a range of x similar to results from semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering but at much higher Q². The Collins results enable tests of …

Light-Nuclei Spectra From Chiral Dynamics, M. Piarulli, A. Baroni, L. Girlanda, A. Kievsky, A. Lovato, Ewing Lusk, L. E. Marcucci, Steven C. Pieper, R. Schiavilla, M, Viviani, R. B. Wiringa

Physics Faculty Publications

In recent years local chiral interactions have been derived and implemented in quantum Monte Carlo methods in order to test to what extent the chiral effective field theory framework impacts our knowledge of few- and many-body systems. In this Letter, we present Green's function Monte Carlo calculations of light nuclei based on the family of local two-body interactions presented by our group in a previous paper in conjunction with chiral three-body interactions fitted to bound- and scattering-state observables in the three-nucleon sector. These interactions include Δ intermediate states in their two-pion-exchange components. We obtain predictions for the energy levels and …

Double K-S(0) Photoproduction Off The Proton At Clas, S. Chandavar, J. T. Goetz, K. Hicks, D. Keller, M. C. Kunkel, M. Paolone, D. P. Weygand, K. P. Adhikari, S. Adhikari, Z. Akbar, G. Charles, G. Gavalian, M. Khachatryan, A. Klein, Y. Prok, J. Zhang, Z. W. Zhao, The Clas Collaboration

Physics Faculty Publications

The f₀(1500) meson resonance is one of several contenders to have significant mixing with the lightest glueball. This resonance is well established from several previous experiments. Here we present the first photoproduction data for the f₀(1500) via decay into the K-S(0) K-S(0) channel using the CLAS detector. The reaction γp → f_Jp → K-S(0) K-S(0) p,where J = 0,2, was measured with photon energies from 2.7–5.1 GeV. A clear peak is seen at 1500 MeV in the background subtracted invariant mass spectra of the two kaons. This is enhanced if the measured four-momentum transfer …

Radiation Effects In Tantalum Oxide-Based Resistive Memory Devices, Joshua Stuart Holt

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

There is an increasing need for radiation-hardened electronics as space programs grow in number and scope. Scientific interest in long-term exploration, particularly in high-radiation environments such as Europa, as well as commercial interest in establishing permanent outposts, requires high tolerance of radiation effects. A flash memory device might survive for several years in low Earth orbit, but only a few days in orbit around Europa due to the extremely high levels of radiation encountered there. Meanwhile, commercial interests, including asteroid mining and building a base on the moon or Mars would require electronic systems that could survive for long periods …

Exclusive Production Of Phi Vector Meson During Hera-Ii, Brent Lawson

Honors Theses and Capstones

The Hadron Electron Ring Accelerator (HERA) in Germany, which ran from 1992 to 2007, is to date the only high energy electron and proton collider. The ZEUS detector at HERA measured the collisions of 27.5 GeV electrons with 920 GeV protons. Elastic vector meson production was measured during the first phase of HERA (HERA-I) from 1992 to 2000 before HERA was upgraded in 2003 (HERA-II) with increased luminosity. The goal of this project was to analyze data collected during the HERA-II run to identify and quantify the exclusive production of the  vector meson. Runs from the ZEUS experiment were …

Crab Cavity Requirements For The Jefferson Lab Electron-Ion Collider, Salvador Isaac Sosa Güitrón

Physics Theses & Dissertations

An Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) has been proposed to be the next large facility to explore the dynamics of quarks and gluons inside nuclei. A conceptual design for a Jefferson Lab Electron-Ion Collider (JLEIC) is being developed. It is based on the CEBAF 12 GeV machine as a full energy electron beam injector. Two crucial requirements of JLEIC are high luminosity in the 10³⁴ cm^-2s^-1 range, and full acceptance detection of particles. The full acceptance requirement relies on having the beams collide at a relatively large crossing angle of 50 mrad. Such a large crossing angle, however, …

Electrons For Neutrinos Addressing Critical Neutrino-Nucleus Issues A Run Group Proposal Resubmission To Jefferson Lab Pac 46, A. Ashkenazy, R. Cruz Torres, S. Gilad, O. Hen, G. Laskaris, A. Papadopoulou, M. Patsyuk, A Schmidt, B. Schmookler, E. P. Segarra, F. Hauenstein, M. Hattawy, C. Hyde, M. Khachatryan, Sebastian Kuhn, L. B. Weinstein, E. O. Cohen, M. Duer, E. Piasetzky, D. Higinbotham, S. Stepanyan, H. Szumila-Vance, S. A. Wood, Christopher Marshall, K. Mahn, J. Morrison, L. Pickering, A. Beck, I. Korover, S. Mey-Tal Beck, A. El Alaoui, H. Hakobian, T. Mineeva, J. Miller, W. Brooks, M. Betancourt, T. Katori, I. Balossino, L. Barion, G. Ciullo, M. Contalbrigo, P. Lenisa, A. Movsisyan, L. L. Pappalardo, D. Watts, L. Zana, D. Ireland, D. Sokhan, N. Kalantarians, S. Li

Physics Faculty Publications

The extraction of neutrino mixing parameters from neutrino oscillation experiments relies on the reconstruction of the incident neutrino energy and knowledge of the neutrino-nucleus interaction cross section for various nuclei and incident neutrino energies. The energy reconstruction is done using the yield and kinematics of particles produced from neutrino interactions in nuclei. However, none of these energy reconstruction techniques have been tested experimentally using beams of known energy.

Because neutrinos and electrons are both leptons, they interact with nuclei in similar ways. We propose to measure electron scattering from a variety of targets at a range of beam energies in …

Ψ(2s) Versus J/Ψ Suppression In Proton-Nucleus Collisions From Factorization Violating Soft Color, Yan-Qing Ma, Raju Venugopalan, Kazuhiro Watanabe, Hong-Fei Zhang

Physics Faculty Publications

We argue that the large suppression of the ψ(2S) inclusive cross section relative to the J/ψ inclusive cross section in proton-nucleus (p+A) collisions can be attributed to factorization breaking effects in the formation of quarkonium. These factorization breaking effects arise from soft color exchanges between charm-anticharm pairs undergoing hadronization and comoving partons that are long lived on time scales of quarkonium formation. We compute the short distance pair production of heavy quarks in the color glass condensate (CGC) effective field theory and employ an improved color evaporation model (ICEM) to describe their hadronization into quarkonium at large distances. The …

Measurement Of The Beam Asymmetry Σ And The Target Asymmetry T In The Photoproduction Of Ω Mesons Off The Proton Using Clas At Jefferson Laboratory, P. Roy, K. P. Adhikari, G. Charles, G. Gavalian, A. Klein, M. Mayer, Y. Prok, B. Torayev, J. Zhang, Z. W. Zhao

Physics Faculty Publications

he photoproduction of ω mesons off the proton has been studied in the reaction γp → pω using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) and the frozen-spin target in Hall B at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. For the first time, the target asymmetry T has been measured in photoproduction from the decay ω → π⁺π⁻π⁰, using a transversely polarized target with energies ranging from just above the reaction threshold up to 2.8 GeV. Significant nonzero values are observed for these asymmetries, reaching about 30–40% in the third-resonance region. New measurements for the …

Determination Of The Neutron Beta-Decay Asymmetry Parameter A Using Polarized Ultracold Neutrons, Michael A.-P. Brown

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

The UCNA Experiment at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) is the first measurement of the β-decay asymmetry parameter A₀ using polarized ultracold neutrons (UCN). A₀ , which represents the parity-violating angular correlation between the direction of the initial neutron spin and the emitted decay electron’s momentum, determines λ = g_A /g_V , the ratio of the weak axial-vector and vector coupling constants. A high-precision determination of λ is important for weak interaction physics, and when combined with the neutron lifetime it permits an extraction of the CKM matrix element V_ud solely …

Magnetic Field Design To Reduce Systematic Effects In Neutron Electric Dipole Moment Measurements, James Ryan Dadisman

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

Charge-Conjugation (C) and Charge-Conjugation-Parity (CP) Violation is one of the three Sakharov conditions to explain via baryogenesis the observed baryon asymmetry of the universe (BAU). The Standard Model of particle physics (SM) contains sources of CP violation, but cannot explain the BAU. This motivates searches for new physics beyond the standard model (BSM) which address the Sakharov criteria, including high-precision searches for new sources of CPV in systems for which the SM contribution is small, but larger effects may be present in BSM theories. A promising example is the search for the electric dipole moment of the neutron (nEDM), which …

Probing The Low-X Gluon Helicity Distribution With Dijet Double Spin Asymmetries In Polarized Proton Collisions At √S = 510 Gev, Suvarna Ramachandran

Theses and Dissertations--Physics and Astronomy

The proton is a complex subatomic particle consisting of quarks and gluons, and one of the key questions in nuclear physics is how the spin of the proton is distributed amongst its constituents. Polarized deep inelastic scattering experiments with leptons and protons estimate that the quark spin contribution is approximately 30%. The limited kinematic reach of these experiments, combined with the fact that they are only indirectly sensitive to the electrically neutral gluon, means they can provide very little information about the gluon contribution to the spin of the proton. In contrast, hadronic probes, such as polarized proton collisions provide …