Papers by Keyword: Xenon

Abstract: 3C-SiC layers of different microstructures (monocrystalline (100) and (111) oriented and polycrystalline) were implanted with high energy (800 keV) ¹²⁹Xe⁺⁺ ions. Implantations were performed at room temperature (RT) and at 500 °C using two different fluences of Φ₁ = 1x10¹⁶ and Φ₂ = 1x10¹⁷ at/cm². Surface blistering was only observed for RT and Φ₂ implantations into poly-SiC material while mono-SiC kept rather smooth surface. This was due to more homogeneous Xe bubbles distribution (200 nm deep) in the mono-SiC than in the poly-SiC. Xe retention was found to be almost complete for all samples. Some Xe enhanced diffusion was detected in the poly-SiC material which was attributed to grain boundaries. Some irradiation-induced oxidation effect was evidenced, O element being located at the depth where Xe bubbles are accumulating. This was more pronounced for poly than for mono-SiC. These results demonstrate that SiC microstructure affects many aspects of its behavior upon Xe irradiation.

Abstract: Selecting effective xenon adsorbents is important for preventing significant global nuclear proliferation. The adsorption capacity of coconut shell activated carbons (SAC),zeolite 10X,zeolite 5A, zeolite 13X were researched and the Xenon adsorption of the coconut shell activated carbon modified by KOH(SAC/KOH-1 and SAC/KOH-2) were compared in this paper. The factors of temperature and flow rate that influenced the dynamic adsorption of xenon by 10X were discussed. The order of the Xenon adsorption capacity is as follows: zeolite 10X, SAC/KOH-2, SAC/KOH-1, SAC, zeolite 13X, zeolite 5A.

Abstract: Liquid xenon (LXe) is a very attractive material as a detection medium for ionization detectors due to its high density, high atomic number, and low energy required to produce electron-ion pairs. Therefore it has been used in several applications, like γ detection or direct detection of dark matter. Now Subatech is working on the R & D of LXe Compton telescope for 3γ medical imaging, which can make precise tridimensional localization of a (β⁺, γ) radioisotope emitter. The diffusion of charge carriers will directly affect the spatial resolution of LXe ionization signal. We will report how we measure the transverse diffusion coefficient for different electric field (0.5 ~ 1.2 kV/cm) by observing the spray of charge carriers on drift length varying until 12 cm. With very-low-noise front-end electronics and complete Monte-Carlo simulation of the experiment, the values ​​of transverse diffusion coefficient are measured precisely.

Abstract: Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterizations were carried out on a set of UO₂ thin foils previously implanted at room temperature with 400 keV Xe²⁺ and 250 keV Kr²⁺ ions at the fluence 7.10¹⁵ at.cm^-2 (equivalent to 1 at.%/at. UO₂). The experiment was devoted to the study of the evolution of the fission gases bubbles populations with increasing temperature. Annealings were performed in the laboratory furnace at 600°C, 800°C, 1000°C for 12h, 1400°C for 4h and 1500°C for 2h under Ar-5%H₂ atmosphere. For each annealing condition and for as-implanted specimens the bubble population has been characterized in size and number density. A comparison between Xe and Kr has been done that showed a similar behaviour. Globally, from the as-implanted sample to the 1500°C annealed, the bubbles growth phenomenon and the microstructure evolution with temperature was put in relieve.

Abstract: The dielectric barriers discharges or silent discharges had knew these last years a great progress, particularly in the area of ultraviolet light production, which produced by Xe2* excimer molecules. This new application led to the realization of the nonpolluting excimer lamps. In this work we develop a one-dimensional model of sheath coupled to a kinetic model in NeXe mixture. Calculations were done for sixteen chemicals species in xenon concentration of 10% and under pressure of 400 torr. The results illustrate the spatiotemporal evolution of the charged particles and neutral species as well as the variations of the electric parameters of the lamp during the first pulse discharge.

Abstract: To clarify the origin of a characteristic fine grain structure formed under the high burn-up of the nuclear fuel, the comprehensive first-principles calculations for UO2 containing various types of point defect have been performed by the PAW-GGA+U with lattice relaxation for supercells containing 1, 2 and 8 unit cells of UO2. The electronic structure, the atomic displacement and the defect formation energies of defective systems are obtained, and the effects of supercell size on these properties are discussed. Based on this relatively high precise self-consistent formation energies dataset, thermodynamic properties of various types of point defects in UO2 are further investigated in the framework of the point defects model.

Abstract: SrTiO3 crystals were implanted with 100 keV xenon (Xe+) ions at 673 or 1073 K up to 2.0 × 1020 ions m−2. Defect clusters formed in the ion-implanted samples were investigated with conventional and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Nanometer-sized clusters were formed in the samples. The clusters grew large in size after post-implantation annealing and with increasing the implantation dose. The clusters were faceted with {100}, or {110} of SrTiO3. Though the nano-sized clusters were expected to contain Xe atoms, they were not in crystalline state. The results suggest that even if the clusters contain Xe atoms, they also contain other point defects such as vacancies.