Materials Science Forum Vol. 607

Abstract: An interlaboratory comparison for positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) measurements for pure nickel and fused silica was performed. Based on the reported positron (for nickel) and positronium (for fused silica) lifetimes, the uncertainties in the PAL measurements were estimated.

Abstract: In this paper, we present the Monte-Carlo simulation that we developed and used to design and to interpret the data of a new kind of lifetime spectrometer especially constructed for the determination of the ortho-positronium (o-Ps) re-emission yield from thin mesoporous silica films. The main issue was to have the detection efficiency independent of the o-Ps re-emission energy. This was done in order to avoid a bias of the results related to the positron implantation energy. Furthermore, the simulation is used to calculate the detection efficiencies for annihilation events yielding 2 and 3 gamma photons allowing a precise evaluation of the absolute yield of o-Ps produced in the samples. Calculations were performed using the GEANT4 package. New classes were written to describe the different decay types related to the Ps formation in matter. Moreover, the propagation and interaction of the o-Ps reemitted in a vacuum cavity were also included in the simulation.

Abstract: In this work a novel detector setup for PALS-studies on biomolecular materials is presented. When pursuing optimal detecting efficiency and lifetime component resolution one must make compromises when using only one detector pair. With smaller scintillation heads the resolution is higher, but the detecting efficiency decreases and vice versa. When measuring biological materials that do not withstand long measurement periods, sacrifices are made for gaining efficiency. The price of this optimization is low resolution of the lifetime components, namely separating the always present water’s lifetime component of ~1.8 ns from the actual material’s lifetime component, typically >2 ns. A solution to this problem is measuring the annihilation spectra with two individual detector pairs simultaneously. Using analog setup, it would require duplicate ADC-hardware that are both expensive and degrade by time. With a fully digital setup, the need for hardware is smaller and the precision of the setup is constant during its service life.

Abstract: Self-assembled amphiphile systems are utilized in a wide variety of applications including drug delivery and energy storage. Nano-scale physical and chemical interactions govern the packing of self-assembled amphiphilic molecules, resulting in thermodynamically stable phases of defined geometries. Possible phases include micellar, hexagonal, cubic, lamellar and sponge phases. The internal nano-structure of the amphiphile self-assembly materials plays an important role in the properties of these systems and their application. To date small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) has been the most common technique used to characterise their structure. We explore positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) as an alternative and/or complementary technique for this purpose, using the phytantriol/water system. While PALS is a well established technique for characterising many materials, the coexistence of aqueous and hydrophobic regions in a soft self-assembled amphiphile material poses a challenge to the analysis and interpretation of the results. In order to alleviate these difficulties we developed a computer program for general-purpose PALS data analysis called PAScual. Amongst the most salient features of this new code are the possibility to perform bounded fits and the option of using advanced algorithms to provide a more robust and unbiased fit: on the one hand, it incorporates a global nonlinear optimisation routine based on the Simulated Annealing algorithm and, on the other hand it gives information on the reliability of the results by means of a Markov Chain Monte-Carlo Bayesian Inference method. In this work we present the newly developed PALS data analysis techniques as well as the results for the phytantriol/water system, comparing them with additional data obtained from complementary techniques.

Abstract: A new strategy for the treatment of positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) spectra in viscous liquids is proposed, enabling to extract values of the Ps reaction rate constants with intratrack radiolytic products as well as parameters of the free volume distribution in viscous media.

Abstract: Slow positron beam was injected into a non-tapered glass capillary which was tilted angle of θ from the beam axis by a movable stage. Beam profiles of the positrons transported through the capillary were observed with a phosphor screen combined with micro channel plates as a function of θ. Some fraction of positrons was deflected with the tilting angle of the capillary.

Abstract: We have developed a positron microbeam using magnetic lenses based on the commercial scanning electron microscope. The minimum beam diameter was 1.9 μm on target. Two-dimensional image of S parameter was successfully obtained. Using this apparatus, S parameter distribution around the crack tip introduced by a stress corrosion cracking of a stainless steel was obtained. S parameter increases at the further region of the tip of the crack. This shows that vacancy type defects may be generated as crack precursor.