World War II, tantalum, and the evolution of modern cranioplasty technique.

PubMed

Flanigan, Patrick; Kshettry, Varun R; Benzel, Edward C

2014-04-01

Cranioplasty is a unique procedure with a rich history. Since ancient times, a diverse array of materials from coconut shells to gold plates has been used for the repair of cranial defects. More recently, World War II greatly increased the demand for cranioplasty procedures and renewed interest in the search for a suitable synthetic material for cranioprostheses. Experimental evidence revealed that tantalum was biologically inert to acid and oxidative stresses. In fact, the observation that tantalum did not absorb acid resulted in the metal being named after Tantalus, the Greek mythological figure who was condemned to a pool of water in the Underworld that would recede when he tried to take a drink. In clinical use, malleability facilitated a single-stage cosmetic repair of cranial defects. Tantalum became the preferred cranioplasty material for more than 1000 procedures performed during World War II. In fact, its use was rapidly adopted in the civilian population. During World War II and the heyday of tantalum cranioplasty, there was a rapid evolution in prosthesis implantation and fixation techniques significantly shaping how cranioplasties are performed today. Several years after the war, acrylic emerged as the cranioplasty material of choice. It had several clear advantages over its metallic counterparts. Titanium, which was less radiopaque and had a more optimal thermal conductivity profile (less thermally conductive), eventually supplanted tantalum as the most common metallic cranioplasty material. While tantalum cranioplasty was popular for only a decade, it represented a significant breakthrough in synthetic cranioplasty. The experiences of wartime neurosurgeons with tantalum cranioplasty played a pivotal role in the evolution of modern cranioplasty techniques and ultimately led to a heightened understanding of the necessary attributes of an ideal synthetic cranioplasty material. Indeed, the history of tantalum cranioplasty serves as a model for innovative

Tantalum recycling in the United States in 1998

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cunningham, Larry D.

2001-01-01

This report describes the flow of tantalum in the United States in 1998 with emphasis on the extent to which tantalum was recycled/reused. Tantalum was mostly recycled from new scrap that was generated during the manufacture of tantalum-related electronic components and new and old scrap products of tantalum-containing cemented carbides and superalloys. In 1998, about 210 metric tons of tantalum was recycled/reused, with about 43% derived from old scrap. The tantalum recycling rate was calculated to be 21%, and tantalum scrap recycling efficiency, 35%.

Semimicrodetermination of tantalum with selenous acid

USGS Publications Warehouse

Grimaldi, F.S.; Schnepfe, M.M.

1958-01-01

Tantalum is separated and determined gravimetrically by precipitation with selenous acid from a highly acidic solution containing oxalic and tartaric acids. The method is selective for the determination of up to 30 mg. of tantalum pentoxide, and tolerates relatively large amounts of scandium, yttrium, cerium, titanium, zirconium, thorium, vanadium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, uranium, iron, aluminum, gallium, tin, lead, antimony, and bismuth. The separation of tantalum from niobium and titanium is not strictly quantitative, and correction is made colorimetrically for the small amounts of niobium and titanium co-precipitating with the tantalum. The method was applied to the determination of tantalum in tantaloniobate ores.

Method of making tantalum capacitors

DOEpatents

McMillan, April D.; Clausing, Robert E.; Vierow, William F.

1998-01-01

A method for manufacturing tantalum capacitors includes preparing a tantalum compact by cold pressing tantalum powder, placing the compact, along with loose refractory metal powder, in a microwave-transparent casket to form an assembly, and heating the assembly for a time sufficient to effect at least partial sintering of the compact and the product made by the method.

Process for manufacturing tantalum capacitors

DOEpatents

Lauf, Robert J.; Holcombe, Cressie E.; Dykes, Norman L.

1993-01-01

A process for manufacturing tantalum capacitors in which microwave energy is used to sinter a tantalum powder compact in order to achieve higher surface area and improved dielectric strength. The process comprises cold pressing tantalum powder with organic binders and lubricants to form a porous compact. After removal of the organics, the tantalum compact is heated to 1300.degree. to 2000.degree. C. by applying microwave radiation. Said compact is then anodized to form a dielectric oxide layer and infiltrated with a conductive material such as MnO.sub.2. Wire leads are then attached to form a capacitor to said capacitor is hermetically packaged to form the finished product.

Process for manufacturing tantalum capacitors

DOEpatents

Lauf, R.J.; Holcombe, C.E.; Dykes, N.L.

1993-02-02

A process for manufacturing tantalum capacitors in which microwave energy is used to sinter a tantalum powder compact in order to achieve higher surface area and improved dielectric strength. The process comprises cold pressing tantalum powder with organic binders and lubricants to form a porous compact. After removal of the organics, the tantalum compact is heated to 1,300 to 2,000 C by applying microwave radiation. Said compact is then anodized to form a dielectric oxide layer and infiltrated with a conductive material such as MnO[sub 2]. Wire leads are then attached to form a capacitor to said capacitor is hermetically packaged to form the finished product.

Analytic Description of Critical Point Nuclei in a Spherical-Axially Deformed Shape Phase Transition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Iachello, F.

2001-07-30

An approximate solution at the critical point of the spherical to axially deformed shape phase transition in nuclei is presented. The eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian are expressed in terms of zeros of Bessel functions of irrational order.

Radiopharmaceutical composition containing tantalum-178 and process therefor

DOEpatents

Neirinckx, Rudi D.; Holman, B. Leonard; Davis, Michael A.; Harris, Gale I.

1989-05-16

A physiologically acceptable solution of tantalum-178 having an activity of 0.1 to 200 millicuries per milliliter of tantalum-178 solution is provided. The solution is obtained from tungsten-178 bound to a column of an anion exchange resin which forms tantalum-178 in situ by eluting the column with a hydrochloric acid solution containing hydrogen peroxide to form an acidic solution of tantalum-178. The acidic solution of tantalum-178 then is neutralized.

Mineral resource of the month: tantalum

USGS Publications Warehouse

,

2011-01-01

The article offers information on a rare transition metal called tantalum. It says that the blue-gray mineral resource was discovered in 1801 or 1802 and was used for capacitors in 1940. It adds that the tantalite ore and other minerals in the ore should be separated in order to generate concentrates of tantalum. The use of tantalum are also cited.

Performance comparison: Aluminum electrolytic and solid tantalum capacitor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hawthornthwaite, B. G.; Piper, J.; Holland, H. W.

1981-01-01

Several key electrical and environmental parameters of latest technology aluminum electrolytic and solid tantalum capacitors were evaluated in terms of price fluctuations of tantalum metal. Performance differences between solid tantalums and aluminum electrolytics are examined.

High strength forgeable tantalum base alloy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buckman, R. W., Jr.

1975-01-01

Increasing tungsten content of tantalum base alloy to 12-15% level will improve high temperature creep properties of existing tantalum base alloys while retaining their excellent fabrication and welding characteristics.

Tantalum-based semiconductors for solar water splitting.

PubMed

Zhang, Peng; Zhang, Jijie; Gong, Jinlong

2014-07-07

Solar energy utilization is one of the most promising solutions for the energy crises. Among all the possible means to make use of solar energy, solar water splitting is remarkable since it can accomplish the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy. The produced hydrogen is clean and sustainable which could be used in various areas. For the past decades, numerous efforts have been put into this research area with many important achievements. Improving the overall efficiency and stability of semiconductor photocatalysts are the research focuses for the solar water splitting. Tantalum-based semiconductors, including tantalum oxide, tantalate and tantalum (oxy)nitride, are among the most important photocatalysts. Tantalum oxide has the band gap energy that is suitable for the overall solar water splitting. The more negative conduction band minimum of tantalum oxide provides photogenerated electrons with higher potential for the hydrogen generation reaction. Tantalates, with tunable compositions, show high activities owning to their layered perovskite structure. (Oxy)nitrides, especially TaON and Ta3N5, have small band gaps to respond to visible-light, whereas they can still realize overall solar water splitting with the proper positions of conduction band minimum and valence band maximum. This review describes recent progress regarding the improvement of photocatalytic activities of tantalum-based semiconductors. Basic concepts and principles of solar water splitting will be discussed in the introduction section, followed by the three main categories regarding to the different types of tantalum-based semiconductors. In each category, synthetic methodologies, influencing factors on the photocatalytic activities, strategies to enhance the efficiencies of photocatalysts and morphology control of tantalum-based materials will be discussed in detail. Future directions to further explore the research area of tantalum-based semiconductors for solar water splitting

Tantalum-copper alloy and method for making

DOEpatents

Schmidt, Frederick A.; Verhoeven, John D.; Gibson, Edwin D.

1984-11-06

A tantalum-copper alloy can be made by preparing a consumable electrode consisting of an elongated copper billet containing at least two spaced apart tantalum rods extending longitudinally the length of the billet. The electrode is placed in a dc arc furnace and melted under conditions which co-melt the copper and tantalum to form the alloy.

Tantalum-copper alloy and method for making

DOEpatents

Schmidt, F.A.; Verhoeven, J.D.; Gibson, E.D.

1983-06-01

A tantalum-copper alloy can be made by preparing a consumable electrode consisting of an elongated copper billet containing at least two spaced apart tantalum rods extending longitudinally the length of the billet. The electrode is placed in a dc arc furnace and melted under conditions which co-melt the copper and tantalum to form the alloy.

Spin singlet and spin triplet pairing correlations on shape evolution in s d -shell N =Z Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ha, Eunja; Cheoun, Myung-Ki; Sagawa, H.

2018-02-01

We study the shape evolution of N =Z nuclei 24Mg,28Si, and 32S in the axially symmetric deformed Woods-Saxon model, taking into account both T =0 and T =1 pairing interactions. We find the coexistence of T =0 and T =1 superfluidity phases in the large deformation region | β2|>0.3 in these three nuclei. The interplay between the two pairing interactions has an important effect on determining the deformation of the ground states in these nuclei. The self-energy contributions from the pairing correlations to the single particle (s.p.) energies are also examined.

Purification of tantalum by plasma arc melting

DOEpatents

Dunn, Paul S.; Korzekwa, Deniece R.

1999-01-01

Purification of tantalum by plasma arc melting. The level of oxygen and carbon impurities in tantalum was reduced by plasma arc melting the tantalum using a flowing plasma gas generated from a gas mixture of helium and hydrogen. The flowing plasma gases of the present invention were found to be superior to other known flowing plasma gases used for this purpose.

Ultraviolet spectrophotometric determination of tantalum with pyrogallol

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dinnin, J.I.

1953-01-01

In a search for a more rapid method for the determination of tantalum in rocks and minerals, an intensive study was made of the tantalum-pyrogallol reaction recommended by Platanov and Krivoshlikov, and a better modified spectrophotometric procedure is given. The improved method consists in measuring the absorbancy of the tantalum-pyrogallol complex at 325 m?? in 4N hydrochloric acid and a fixed concentration (0.0175M) of ammonium oxalate. Beer's law is followed for the concentration range up to 40 ?? per ml. Sensitivity in terms of molar absorbancy index is 4775. Most interferences are additive in character and readily correctable. Separations or major corrections are required in the presence of significant amounts of molybdenum, tungsten, antimony, and uranium. The method has been successfully applied to three ores previously analyzed by gravimetric techniques. The method affords greater speed, sensitivity, and reproducibility in the determination of tantalum in rocks and minerals. A more reliable technique for preparing standard solutions of tantalum has been developed.

Study of constitution diagram aluminum-tantalum

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Glazov, V.M.; Mal'tsev, M.V.; Chistyakov, Y.D.

1988-10-20

Alloys of aluminum with tantalum were for the first time obtained by aluminothermic method in 1868 by Moriniak. Later these alloys were studied in the works of Schirmeister (1915) and Brouwer (1938), moreover Brouwer established that tantalum with aluminum forms the chemical compound TaA1, which has tetragonal crystal lattice with parameters a=5.422 angstroms and c=8.536 angstroms (1). However despite the fact that alloys of aluminum with tantalum long ago are obtained already, constitution diagram of this system is not studied until recently. In connection with the application of tantalum as the modifying additive in aluminum alloys an emergency in themore » construction of this diagram, without the knowledge by which it is not possible to give the correct explanation of the mechanism of the very process of the modification of primary grain. For this purpose was undertaken this work. Russian translations.« less

Niobium and tantalum: indispensable twins

USGS Publications Warehouse

Schulz, Klaus; Papp, John

2014-01-01

Niobium and tantalum are transition metals almost always paired together in nature. These “twins” are difficult to separate because of their shared physical and chemical properties. In 1801, English chemist Charles Hatchett uncovered an unknown element in a mineral sample of columbite; John Winthrop found the sample in a Massachusetts mine and sent it to the British Museum in London in 1734. The name columbium, which Hatchet named the new element, came from the poetic name for North America—Columbia—and was used interchangeably for niobium until 1949, when the name niobium became official. Swedish scientist Anders Ekberg discovered tantalum in 1802, but it was confused with niobium, because of their twinned properties, until 1864, when it was recognized as a separate element. Niobium is a lustrous, gray, ductile metal with a high melting point, relatively low density, and superconductor properties. Tantalum is a dark blue-gray, dense, ductile, very hard, and easily fabricated metal. It is highly conductive to heat and electricity and renowned for its resistance to acidic corrosion. These special properties determine their primary uses and make niobium and tantalum indispensable.

Structure refinement for tantalum nitrides nanocrystals with various morphologies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Lianyun; School of Science, Beijing Jiaotong University, 3 Shang Yuan Cun, Haidian District, Beijing 100044; Huang, Kai

2012-07-15

Graphical abstract: Tantalum nitrides nanocrystals with various phases and morphologies for the first time have been synthesized through homogenous sodium reduction under low temperature with the subsequent annealing process under high vacuum. Highlights: ► The spherical TaN, cuboidal TaN{sub 0.83} and TaN{sub 0.5} nanocrystals have been synthesized through homogenous sodium reduction under low temperature with the subsequent annealing process under high vacuum. ► The crystal structures of different tantalum nitrides were determined by Rietveld refinement on the X-ray diffraction data and the examinations of electron microcopies. ► The specific surface area of the tantalum nitrides powders was around 10 m{supmore » 2} g{sup −1}. ► Tantalum nitrides powders could be suitable for capacitor with high specific capacitance. -- Abstract: Tantalum nitrides (TaN{sub x}) nanocrystals with different phase and morphology have been synthesized through homogenous sodium reduction under low temperature with the subsequent annealing process under high vacuum. The crystal structures of tantalum nitrides were determined by Rietveld refinement based on the X-ray diffraction data. The morphologies of various tantalum nitrides nanocrystals in high quality were analyzed through the electron microcopies examinations. The spherical TaN nanoparticles, cuboidal TaN{sub 0.83} and TaN{sub 0.5} nanocrystals have been selectively prepared at different annealing temperatures. In addition, the specific surface areas of the tantalum nitrides nanocrystals measured by BET method were around 9.87–11.64 m{sup 2} g{sup −1}, indicating that such nano-sized tantalum nitrides could be suitable for capacitor with high specific capacitance.« less

Scintillation Breakdowns in Chip Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2008-01-01

Scintillations in solid tantalum capacitors are momentarily local breakdowns terminated by a self-healing or conversion to a high-resistive state of the manganese oxide cathode. This conversion effectively caps the defective area of the tantalum pentoxide dielectric and prevents short-circuit failures. Typically, this type of breakdown has no immediate catastrophic consequences and is often considered as nuisance rather than a failure. Scintillation breakdowns likely do not affect failures of parts under surge current conditions, and so-called "proofing" of tantalum chip capacitors, which is a controllable exposure of the part after soldering to voltages slightly higher than the operating voltage to verify that possible scintillations are self-healed, has been shown to improve the quality of the parts. However, no in-depth studies of the effect of scintillations on reliability of tantalum capacitors have been performed so far. KEMET is using scintillation breakdown testing as a tool for assessing process improvements and to compare quality of different manufacturing lots. Nevertheless, the relationship between failures and scintillation breakdowns is not clear, and this test is not considered as suitable for lot acceptance testing. In this work, scintillation breakdowns in different military-graded and commercial tantalum capacitors were characterized and related to the rated voltages and to life test failures. A model for assessment of times to failure, based on distributions of breakdown voltages, and accelerating factors of life testing are discussed.

21 CFR 886.3100 - Ophthalmic tantalum clip.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... blood vessels in the eye. (b) Classification. Class II (special controls). The device is exempt from the...) MEDICAL DEVICES OPHTHALMIC DEVICES Prosthetic Devices § 886.3100 Ophthalmic tantalum clip. (a) Identification. An ophthalmic tantalum clip is a malleable metallic device intended to be implanted permanently...

Efficacy of Tantalum Tungsten Alloys for Diffusion Barrier Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smathers, D. B.; Aimone, P. R.

2017-12-01

Traditionally either Niobium, Tantalum or a combination of both have been used as diffusion barriers in Nb3Sn Multi-filament wire. Vanadium has also been used successfully but the ultimate RRR of the copper is limited unless an external shell of Niobium is included. Niobium is preferred over Tantalum when alternating current losses are not an issue as the Niobium will react to form Nb3Sn. Pure Tantalum tends to deform irregularly requiring extra starting thickness to ensure good barrier qualities. Our evaluations showed Tantalum lightly alloyed with 3 wt% Tungsten is compatible with the wire drawing process while deforming as well as or better than pure Niobium. Ta3wt%W has been processed as a single barrier and as a distributed barrier to fine dimensions. In addition, the higher modulus and strength of the Tantalum Tungsten alloy improves the overall tensile properties of the wire.

Prediction of the shapes of deformed nuclei by the polyspheron theory.

PubMed

Pauling, L

1982-04-01

It is pointed out that some features of the shapes of (62) (154)Sm, (68) (166)Er, and (70) (176)Yb as reported by Cooper et al. [Cooper, T., Bertozzi, W., Heisenberg, J., Kowalski, S., Turchinetz, W., Williamson, C., Cardman, L., Fivozinsky, S., Lightbody, J., Jr., & Penner, S. (1976) Phys. Rev. C 13, 1083-1094] from electron-scattering experiments agree reasonably well with the description of these nuclei, derived from the values of the rotational energy levels, as consisting of a large spherical part (essentially (132)Sn) and a cap [Pauling, L. (1969) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 64, 807-809; Pauling, L. & Robinson, A. B. (1975) Can. J. Phys. 53, 1953-1964].

Prediction of the shapes of deformed nuclei by the polyspheron theory

PubMed Central

Pauling, Linus

1982-01-01

It is pointed out that some features of the shapes of 62154Sm, 68166Er, and 70176Yb as reported by Cooper et al. [Cooper, T., Bertozzi, W., Heisenberg, J., Kowalski, S., Turchinetz, W., Williamson, C., Cardman, L., Fivozinsky, S., Lightbody, J., Jr., & Penner, S. (1976) Phys. Rev. C 13, 1083-1094] from electron-scattering experiments agree reasonably well with the description of these nuclei, derived from the values of the rotational energy levels, as consisting of a large spherical part (essentially 132Sn) and a cap [Pauling, L. (1969) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 64, 807-809; Pauling, L. & Robinson, A. B. (1975) Can. J. Phys. 53, 1953-1964]. Images PMID:16593183

Hafnium radioisotope recovery from irradiated tantalum

DOEpatents

Taylor, Wayne A.; Jamriska, David J.

2001-01-01

Hafnium is recovered from irradiated tantalum by: (a) contacting the irradiated tantalum with at least one acid to obtain a solution of dissolved tantalum; (b) combining an aqueous solution of a calcium compound with the solution of dissolved tantalum to obtain a third combined solution; (c) precipitating hafnium, lanthanide, and insoluble calcium complexes from the third combined solution to obtain a first precipitate; (d) contacting the first precipitate of hafnium, lanthanide and calcium complexes with at least one fluoride ion complexing agent to form a fourth solution; (e) selectively adsorbing lanthanides and calcium from the fourth solution by cationic exchange; (f) separating fluoride ion complexing agent product from hafnium in the fourth solution by adding an aqueous solution of ferric chloride to obtain a second precipitate containing the hafnium and iron; (g) dissolving the second precipitate containing the hafnium and iron in acid to obtain an acid solution of hafnium and iron; (h) selectively adsorbing the iron from the acid solution of hafnium and iron by anionic exchange; (i) drying the ion exchanged hafnium solution to obtain hafnium isotopes. Additionally, if needed to remove residue remaining after the product is dried, dissolution in acid followed by cation exchange, then anion exchange, is performed.

Intense photoluminescence from amorphous tantalum oxide films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Minmin; Zhang, Zhengjun; Miao, Wei

2006-07-01

Tantalum oxide films were deposited on silicon substrates at a temperature of ˜450°C by heating a pure tantalum foil in a rough vacuum. The films were amorphous in structure and consisted of fully oxidized Ta2O5 and (TaOx, x <2.5) suboxides. This feature resulted in strong visible light emission from the films further oxidized in the air at temperatures of 200-300°C. The mechanism for this photoluminescence behavior of the amorphous tantalum oxide films was also investigated and discussed. This study suggests that wide-band-gap materials could act as effective visible light emitters and provides a simple route to synthesize such materials.

Neutron displacement cross-sections for tantalum and tungsten at energies up to 1 GeV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Broeders, C. H. M.; Konobeyev, A. Yu.; Villagrasa, C.

2005-06-01

The neutron displacement cross-section has been evaluated for tantalum and tungsten at energies from 10 -5 eV up to 1 GeV. The nuclear optical model, the intranuclear cascade model combined with the pre-equilibrium and evaporation models were used for the calculations. The number of defects produced by recoil atoms nuclei in materials was calculated by the Norgett, Robinson, Torrens model and by the approach combining calculations using the binary collision approximation model and the results of the molecular dynamics simulation. The numerical calculations were done using the NJOY code, the ECIS96 code, the MCNPX code and the IOTA code.

Pseudorapidity configurations in collisions between gold nuclei and track-emulsion nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gulamov, K. G.; Zhokhova, S. I.; Lugovoi, V. V., E-mail: lugovoi@uzsci.net

2010-07-15

A method of parametrically invariant quantities is developed for studying pseudorapidity configurations in nucleus-nucleus collisions involving a large number of secondary particles. In simple models where the spectrum of pseudorapidities depends on three parameters, the shape of the spectrum may differ strongly from the shape of pseudorapidity configurations in individual events. Pseudorapidity configurations in collisions between gold nuclei of energy 10.6 GeV per nucleon and track-emulsion nuclei are contrasted against those in random stars calculated theoretically. An investigation of pseudorapidity configurations in individual events is an efficient method for verifying theoretical models.

An investigation of water production rates by irregularly shaped cometary nuclei.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gutierrez, P. J.; Ortiz, J. L.; Rodrigo, R.; Lopez-Moreno, J. J.

1999-09-01

A computer code has been developed to derive water production rates for rotating irregularly shaped nuclei with topography (both craters and mountains) as a function of heliocentric distance. The code solves the surface energy balance equation including heat diffusion in the normal direction and taking into account shadowing effects, for any combination of orbital parameters, spin axis orientation, rotation period, and physical properties of the nucleus (geometric albedo, emissivity, thermodynamical properties). Preliminary results are presented for several representative objects. The research described in this abstract is being carried out at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía and is supported by the Comision Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología under contracts ESP96-0623 and ESP97-1773-CO3-01.

Electronic structure and charge transport in nonstoichiometric tantalum oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perevalov, T. V.; Gritsenko, V. A.; Gismatulin, A. A.; Voronkovskii, V. A.; Gerasimova, A. K.; Aliev, V. Sh; Prosvirin, I. A.

2018-06-01

The atomic and electronic structure of nonstoichiometric oxygen-deficient tantalum oxide TaO x<2.5 grown by ion beam sputtering deposition was studied. The TaO x film content was analyzed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and by quantum-chemistry simulation. TaO x is composed of Ta2O5, metallic tantalum clusters and tantalum suboxides. A method for evaluating the stoichiometry parameter of TaO x from the comparison of experimental and theoretical photoelectron valence band spectra is proposed. The charge transport properties of TaO x were experimentally studied and the transport mechanism was quantitatively analyzed with four theoretical dielectric conductivity models. It was found that the charge transport in almost stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric tantalum oxide can be consistently described by the phonon-assisted tunneling between traps.

High Temperature Evaluation of Tantalum Capacitors - Test 1

DOE Data Explorer

Cieslewski, Grzegorz

2014-09-28

Tantalum capacitors can provide much higher capacitance at high-temperatures than the ceramic capacitors. This study evaluates selected tantalum capacitors at high temperatures to determine their suitability for you in geothermal field. This data set contains results of the first test where three different types of capacitors were evaluated at 260C.

2017 NEPP Tasks Update for Ceramic and Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander A.

2017-01-01

This presentation gives an overview of current NEPP tasks on ceramic and tantalum capacitors and plans for the future. It includes tasks on leakage currents, gas generation and case deformation in wet tantalum capacitors; ESR degradation and acceleration factors in MnO2 and polymer cathode capacitors. Preliminary results on the effect of moisture on degradation of reverse currents in MnO2 tantalum capacitors are discussed. Latest results on mechanical characteristics of MLCCs and modeling of degradation of leakage currents in BME capacitors with defects are also presented.

METHOD OF PROTECTING TANTALUM CRUCIBLES AGAINST REACTION WITH MOLTEN URANIUM

DOEpatents

Feder, H.M.; Chellew, N.R.

1960-08-16

Tantalum crucibles against reaction with molten uranium by contacting the surfaces to be protected with metallic boron (as powder, vapor, or suspension in a liquid-volatilenonreacting medium, such as acetone and petroleum oil) at about 1800 deg C in vacuum, discontinuing contact with the boron, and heating the crucibles to a temperature of between 1800 aad 2000 deg C, whereby the tantalum boride formed in the first heating step is converted to tantalum monoboride.

Fabrication of a Tantalum-Based Josephson Junction for an X-Ray Detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morohashi, Shin'ichi; Gotoh, Kohtaroh; Yokoyama, Naoki

2000-06-01

We have fabricated a tantalum-based Josephson junction for an X-ray detector. The tantalum layer was selected for the junction electrode because of its long quasiparticle lifetime, large X-ray absorption efficiency and stability against thermal cycling. We have developed a buffer layer to fabricate the tantalum layer with a body-centered cubic structure. Based on careful consideration of their superconductivity, we have selected a niobium thin layer as the buffer layer for fabricating the tantalum base electrode, and a tungsten thin layer for the tantalum counter electrode. Fabricated Nb/AlOx-Al/Ta/Nb and Nb/Ta/W/AlOx-Al/Ta/Nb Josephson junctions exhibited current-voltage characteristics with a low subgap leakage current.

Analysis of shockless dynamic compression data on solids to multi-megabar pressures: Application to tantalum

DOE PAGES

Davis, Jean -Paul; Brown, Justin L.; Knudson, Marcus D.; ...

2014-11-26

In this research, magnetically-driven, planar shockless-compression experiments to multi-megabar pressures were performed on tantalum samples using a stripline target geometry. Free-surface velocity waveforms were measured in 15 cases; nine of these in a dual-sample configuration with two samples of different thicknesses on opposing electrodes, and six in a single-sample configuration with a bare electrode opposite the sample. Details are given on the application of inverse Lagrangian analysis (ILA) to these data, including potential sources of error. The most significant source of systematic error, particularly for single-sample experiments, was found to arise from the pulse-shape dependent free-surface reflected wave interactions withmore » the deviatoric-stress response of tantalum. This could cause local, possibly temporary, unloading of material from a ramp compressed state, and thus multi-value response in wave speed that invalidates the free-surface to in-material velocity mapping step of ILA. By averaging all 15 data sets, a final result for the principal quasi-isentrope of tantalum in stress-strain was obtained to a peak longitudinal stress of 330 GPa with conservative uncertainty bounds of ±4.5% in stress. The result agrees well with a tabular equation of state developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory.« less

Extreme Response in Tension and Compression of Tantalum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Remington, Tane Perry

This research on a model bcc metal, tantalum, has three components: the study of tensile failure; defects generated under a nanoindenter; and dislocation velocities in an extreme regime generated by pulsed lasers. The processes of dynamic failure by spalling were established in nano, poly, and mono crystalline tantalum in recovery experiments following laser compression and release. The process of spall was characterized by different techniques: optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, microcomputerized tomography and electron backscatter diffraction. Additionally, the pull back signal was measured by VISAR and the pressure decay was compared with HYADES simulations. There are clear differences in the microscopic fracture mechanisms, dictated by the grain sizes. In the nano and poly crystals, spalling occurred by ductile fracture favoring grain boundaries. In the monocrystals, grain boundaries are absent, and the process was of ductile failure by void initiation, growth and coalescence. The spall strength of single crystalline tantalum was higher than the poly and nano crystals. It was experimentally confirmed that spall strength in tantalum increases with strain rate. In order to generate dislocations close to the surface, single crystalline tantalum with orientations (100), (110) and (111) was nanoindented with a Berkovich tip. Atomic force microscopy showed pile-ups of dislocations around the perimeter of the nanoindentations. Sections of nanoindentations were focused ion beam cut into transmission electron microscope foils. The mechanisms of deformation under a nanoindentation in tantalum were identified and quantified. Molecular dynamics simulations were conducted and the simulated plastic deformation proceeds by the formation of nanotwins, which rapidly evolve into shear dislocation loops. Dislocation densities under the indenter were estimated experimentally (~1.2 x 1015 m-2), by MD (~7 x1015 m-2) and through an analytical calculation (2.6--19 x10

Fabrication of a tantalum-clad tungsten target for LANSCE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelson, A. T.; O'Toole, J. A.; Valicenti, R. A.; Maloy, S. A.

2012-12-01

Development of a solid state bonding technique suitable to clad tungsten targets with tantalum was completed to improve operation of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Centers spallation target. Significant deterioration of conventional bare tungsten targets has historically resulted in transfer of tungsten into the cooling system through corrosion resulting in increased radioactivity outside the target and reduction of delivered neutron flux. The fabrication method chosen to join the tantalum cladding to the tungsten was hot isostatic pressing (HIP) given the geometry constraints of a cylindrical assembly and previous success demonstrated at KENS. Nominal HIP parameters of 1500 °C, 200 MPa, and 3 h were selected based upon previous work. Development of the process included significant surface engineering controls and characterization given tantalums propensity for oxide and carbide formation at high temperatures. In addition to rigorous acid cleaning implemented at each step of the fabrication process, a three layer tantalum foil gettering system was devised such that any free oxygen and carbon impurities contained in the argon gas within the HIP vessel was mitigated to the extent possible before coming into contact with the tantalum cladding. The result of the numerous controls and refined techniques was negligible coarsening of the native Ta2O5 surface oxide, no measureable oxygen diffusion into the tantalum bulk, and no detectable carburization despite use of argon containing up to 5 ppm oxygen and up to 40 ppm total CO, CO2, or organic contaminants. Post bond characterization of the interface revealed continuous bonding with a few microns of species interdiffusion.

Critical temperature for shape transition in hot nuclei within covariant density functional theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, W.; Niu, Y. F.

2018-05-01

Prompted by the simple proportional relation between critical temperature for pairing transition and pairing gap at zero temperature, we investigate the relation between critical temperature for shape transition and ground-state deformation by taking even-even Cm-304286 isotopes as examples. The finite-temperature axially deformed covariant density functional theory with BCS pairing correlation is used. Since the Cm isotopes are the newly proposed nuclei with octupole correlations, we studied in detail the free energy surface, the Nilsson single-particle (s.p.) levels, and the components of s.p. levels near the Fermi level in 292Cm. Through this study, the formation of octupole equilibrium is understood by the contribution coming from the octupole driving pairs with Ω [N ,nz,ml] and Ω [N +1 ,nz±3 ,ml] for single-particle levels near the Fermi surfaces as it provides a good manifestation of the octupole correlation. Furthermore, the systematics of deformations, pairing gaps, and the specific heat as functions of temperature for even-even Cm-304286 isotopes are discussed. Similar to the relation between the critical pairing transition temperature and the pairing gap at zero temperature Tc=0.6 Δ (0 ) , a proportional relation between the critical shape transition temperature and the deformation at zero temperature Tc=6.6 β (0 ) is found for both octupole shape transition and quadrupole shape transition for the isotopes considered.

ON THE GEOCHEMISTRY OF NIOBIUM AND TANTALUM IN CLAYS (in Russian)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pachadzhanov, D.N.

1963-10-01

With the aid of the spectral method with a preliminary enrichment in tannin, the niobium and tantalum content was determined in some humid and arid clays of the Russian platform. The investigated samples were composed of 354 specimens. The average content of niobium in humid clays is 0.0020%, of tantalum 0.00024% (the Nb/Ta ratio is 8.4) and in arid clays is respectively the content of niobium 0.00133% and the content of tantalum 0.00009% (the Nb/Ta ratio is 14.8). The average value of the content of niobium content for all studied clays is 0.00183% and of the tantalum content 0.00020%, themore » Nb/Ta ratio being 9.1. In clays an interconnection of niobium with tantalum, as well as with aluminium, titanium, zirconium, and hafnium was observed. However, on the background of this connection some separation of the named elements is noted. A tendency for the Nb/Ta ratio shift from the region of matter removal towards the center of the marine basin was observed. The study of niobium and tantalum distribution over different clay fractions showed that one part of elements is connected with zircon and titanium minerals in aleuosand fraction (0.1-- 0.01 mm). Another, approximately similar part is contained in the proper clay fraction (<0. 01 mm), the tantalum somewhat more concentrating in the aleurosand fraction and niobium in the clay fraction. (P.C.H.)« less

Multi-scale Modeling of Plasticity in Tantalum.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lim, Hojun; Battaile, Corbett Chandler.; Carroll, Jay

In this report, we present a multi-scale computational model to simulate plastic deformation of tantalum and validating experiments. In atomistic/ dislocation level, dislocation kink- pair theory is used to formulate temperature and strain rate dependent constitutive equations. The kink-pair theory is calibrated to available data from single crystal experiments to produce accurate and convenient constitutive laws. The model is then implemented into a BCC crystal plasticity finite element method (CP-FEM) model to predict temperature and strain rate dependent yield stresses of single and polycrystalline tantalum and compared with existing experimental data from the literature. Furthermore, classical continuum constitutive models describingmore » temperature and strain rate dependent flow behaviors are fit to the yield stresses obtained from the CP-FEM polycrystal predictions. The model is then used to conduct hydro- dynamic simulations of Taylor cylinder impact test and compared with experiments. In order to validate the proposed tantalum CP-FEM model with experiments, we introduce a method for quantitative comparison of CP-FEM models with various experimental techniques. To mitigate the effects of unknown subsurface microstructure, tantalum tensile specimens with a pseudo-two-dimensional grain structure and grain sizes on the order of millimeters are used. A technique combining an electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD) and high resolution digital image correlation (HR-DIC) is used to measure the texture and sub-grain strain fields upon uniaxial tensile loading at various applied strains. Deformed specimens are also analyzed with optical profilometry measurements to obtain out-of- plane strain fields. These high resolution measurements are directly compared with large-scale CP-FEM predictions. This computational method directly links fundamental dislocation physics to plastic deformations in the grain-scale and to the engineering-scale applications. Furthermore

Automated Segmentation of Nuclei in Breast Cancer Histopathology Images.

PubMed

Paramanandam, Maqlin; O'Byrne, Michael; Ghosh, Bidisha; Mammen, Joy John; Manipadam, Marie Therese; Thamburaj, Robinson; Pakrashi, Vikram

2016-01-01

The process of Nuclei detection in high-grade breast cancer images is quite challenging in the case of image processing techniques due to certain heterogeneous characteristics of cancer nuclei such as enlarged and irregularly shaped nuclei, highly coarse chromatin marginalized to the nuclei periphery and visible nucleoli. Recent reviews state that existing techniques show appreciable segmentation accuracy on breast histopathology images whose nuclei are dispersed and regular in texture and shape; however, typical cancer nuclei are often clustered and have irregular texture and shape properties. This paper proposes a novel segmentation algorithm for detecting individual nuclei from Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stained breast histopathology images. This detection framework estimates a nuclei saliency map using tensor voting followed by boundary extraction of the nuclei on the saliency map using a Loopy Back Propagation (LBP) algorithm on a Markov Random Field (MRF). The method was tested on both whole-slide images and frames of breast cancer histopathology images. Experimental results demonstrate high segmentation performance with efficient precision, recall and dice-coefficient rates, upon testing high-grade breast cancer images containing several thousand nuclei. In addition to the optimal performance on the highly complex images presented in this paper, this method also gave appreciable results in comparison with two recently published methods-Wienert et al. (2012) and Veta et al. (2013), which were tested using their own datasets.

Automated Segmentation of Nuclei in Breast Cancer Histopathology Images

PubMed Central

Paramanandam, Maqlin; O’Byrne, Michael; Ghosh, Bidisha; Mammen, Joy John; Manipadam, Marie Therese; Thamburaj, Robinson; Pakrashi, Vikram

2016-01-01

The process of Nuclei detection in high-grade breast cancer images is quite challenging in the case of image processing techniques due to certain heterogeneous characteristics of cancer nuclei such as enlarged and irregularly shaped nuclei, highly coarse chromatin marginalized to the nuclei periphery and visible nucleoli. Recent reviews state that existing techniques show appreciable segmentation accuracy on breast histopathology images whose nuclei are dispersed and regular in texture and shape; however, typical cancer nuclei are often clustered and have irregular texture and shape properties. This paper proposes a novel segmentation algorithm for detecting individual nuclei from Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stained breast histopathology images. This detection framework estimates a nuclei saliency map using tensor voting followed by boundary extraction of the nuclei on the saliency map using a Loopy Back Propagation (LBP) algorithm on a Markov Random Field (MRF). The method was tested on both whole-slide images and frames of breast cancer histopathology images. Experimental results demonstrate high segmentation performance with efficient precision, recall and dice-coefficient rates, upon testing high-grade breast cancer images containing several thousand nuclei. In addition to the optimal performance on the highly complex images presented in this paper, this method also gave appreciable results in comparison with two recently published methods—Wienert et al. (2012) and Veta et al. (2013), which were tested using their own datasets. PMID:27649496

Development and Applications of Porous Tantalum Trabecular Metal Enhanced Titanium Dental Implants

PubMed Central

Bencharit, Sompop; Byrd, Warren C.; Altarawneh, Sandra; Hosseini, Bashir; Leong, Austin; Reside, Glenn; Morelli, Thiago; Offenbacher, Steven

2013-01-01

Statement of Problem Porous tantalum trabecular metal has recently been incorporated in titanium dental implants as a new form of implant surface enhancement. However, there is little information on the applications of this material in implant dentistry. Methods We, therefore review the current literature on the basic science and clinical uses of this material. Results Porous tantalum metal is used to improve the contact between osseous structure and dental implants; and therefore presumably facilitate osseointegration. Success of porous tantalum metal in orthopedic implants led to the incorporation of porous tantalum metal in the design of root-from endosseous titanium implants. The porous tantalum three-dimensional enhancement of titanium dental implant surface allows for combining bone ongrowth together with bone ingrowth, or osseoincorporation. While little is known about the biological aspect of the porous tantalum in the oral cavity, there seems to be several possible advantages of this implant design. This article reviews the biological aspects of porous tantalum enhanced titanium dental implants, in particular the effects of anatomical consideration and oral environment to implant designs. Conclusions We propose here possible clinical situations and applications for this type of dental implant. Advantages and disadvantages of the implants as well as needed future clinical studies are discussed. PMID:23527899

Hydrocode Analysis of Lateral Stress Gauges in Shocked Tantalum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harris, Ernest; Winter, Ron

2007-06-01

Experiements published by other workers on the resistance change of manganin stress gauges embedded in a lateral orientation in Tantalum targets have been analysed using an Adaptive Mesh Refinement Hydrocode. It was found that for four experiments the shape of the time profile of the computed lateral stress in the mounting layer closely matched the shape of the experimental lateral stress profiles. However, the calculated lateral stresses at the gauge location in the mounting layer are significantly less than the stresses that would have been produced in the target if no gauge had been present. The perturbation caused by the gauge increased as the strength of the applied shock increased. When the perturbations are taken into account values of flow stress that are significantly smaller than those reported in the original research paper are derived. The work demonstrates that the lateral gauge technique can give valuable information on strength provided high resolution simulation is used to compensate for the perturbations caused by the gauges.

Thermal shock and erosion resistant tantalum carbide ceramic material

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Honeycutt, L., III; Manning, C. R. (Inventor)

1978-01-01

Ceramic tantalum carbide artifacts with high thermal shock and mechanical erosion resistance are provided by incorporating tungsten-rhenium and carbon particles in a tantalum carbide matrix. The mix is sintered by hot pressing to form the ceramic article which has a high fracture strength relative to its elastic modulus and thus has an improved thermal shock and mechanical erosion resistance. The tantalum carbide is preferable less than minus 100 mesh, the carbon particles are preferable less than minus 100 mesh, and the tungsten-rhenium particles are preferable elongate, having a length to thickness ratio of at least 2/1. Tungsten-rhenium wire pieces are suitable as well as graphite particles.

International strategic minerals inventory summary report; niobium (columbium) and tantalum

USGS Publications Warehouse

Crockett, R.N.; Sutphin, D.M.

1993-01-01

Major world resources of niobium and tantalum are described in this summary report of information in the International Strategic Minerals Inventory (ISMI). ISMI is a cooperative data-collection effort of earth-science and mineral-resource agencies in Australia, Canada, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Part I of this report presents an overview of the resources and potential supply of niobium and tantalum based on inventory information; Part II contains tables of both geologic and mineral-resource information and includes production data collected by ISMI participants. Niobium is used principally as an alloying element in special steels and superalloys, and tantalum is used mainly in electronics. Minerals in the columbite-tantalite series are principal ore minerals of niobium and tantalum. Pyrochlore is a principal source of niobium. These minerals are found in carbonatite, certain rocks in alkaline igneous complexes, pegmatite, and placer deposits. ISMI estimates show that there are over 7 million metric tons of niobium and almost 0.5 million metric tons of tantalum in known deposits, outside of China and the former Soviet Union, for which reliable estimates have been made. Brazilian deposits, followed by Canadian deposits, contain by far the largest source of niobium. Tantalum production is spread widely among several countries, and Brazil and Canada are the most significant of these producers. Brazil's position is further strengthened by potential byproduct columbite from tin mining. Present economically exploitable resources of niobium appear to be sufficient for the near future, but Brazil will continue to be the predominant world supplier of ferrocolumbium. Tantalum, a byproduct of tin production, has been captive to the fluctuations of that market, but resources in pegmatite in Canada and Australia make it likely that future increases in the present modest demand will be met.

Thermochemistry of tantalum-wall cooling system with lithium and sodium working fluids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tower, L. K.

1972-01-01

Plots are presented which show the distribution of oxygen between liquid lithium and tantalum or niobium, and between liquid sodium and tantalum at elevated temperatures. Additional plots showing the composition of the gas phase above the solutions of oxygen and alkali metal are presented. The use of the plots is illustrated by an example tantalum heat pipe filled with lithium.

Tantalum coatings for inertial confinement fusion dry wall designs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Taylor, L.H.; Green, L.

1996-12-31

The coating on a dry first wall inertial confinement fusion reactor must survive the target explosion and be ductile, inexpensive, and compatible with the materials in the target, i.e. have a high atomic number Z. Calculations indicate that tantalum is the best choice for the coating material. As a test of this design 1 mm tantalum coatings were plasma sprayed onto ferrite steel tubes. They were then subjected to 100 heating-cooling cycles which simulated the stressful thermal cycling which would be encountered during five years of plant startups and shutdowns. The coatings were undamaged and continued to bond well tomore » the steel. Furthermore, chemical reactions should not degrade tantalum coatings.« less

Constitutive behavior of tantalum and tantalum-tungsten alloys

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, S.R.; Gray, G.T. III

1996-10-01

The effects of strain rate, temperature, and tungsten alloying on the yield stress and the strain-hardening behavior of tantalum were investigated. The yield and flow stresses of unalloyed Ta and tantalum-tungsten alloys were found to exhibit very high rate sensitivities, while the hardening rates in Ta and Ta-W alloys were found to be insensitive to strain rate and temperature at lower temperatures or at higher strain rates. This behavior is consistent with the observation that overcoming the intrinsic Peierls stress is shown to be the rate-controlling mechanism in these materials at low temperatures. The dependence of yield stress on temperaturemore » and strain rate was found to decrease, while the strain-hardening rate increased with tungsten alloying content. The mechanical threshold stress (MTS) model was adopted to model the stress-strain behavior of unalloyed Ta and the Ta-W alloys. Parameters for the constitutive relations for Ta and the Ta-W alloys were derived for the MTS model, the Johnson-Cook (JC), and the Zerilli-Armstrong (ZA) models. The results of this study substantiate the applicability of these models for describing the high strain-rate deformation of Ta and Ta-W alloys. The JC and ZA models, however, due to their use of a power strain-hardening law, were found to yield constitutive relations for Ta and Ta-W alloys that are strongly dependent on the range of strains for which the models were optimized.« less

Mineral-deposit model for lithium-cesium-tantalum pegmatites

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bradley, Dwight C.; McCauley, Andrew D.; Stillings, Lisa L.

2017-06-20

Lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites comprise a compositionally defined subset of granitic pegmatites. The major minerals are quartz, potassium feldspar, albite, and muscovite; typical accessory minerals include biotite, garnet, tourmaline, and apatite. The principal lithium ore minerals are spodumene, petalite, and lepidolite; cesium mostly comes from pollucite; and tantalum mostly comes from columbite-tantalite. Tin ore as cassiterite and beryllium ore as beryl also occur in LCT pegmatites, as do a number of gemstones and high-value museum specimens of rare minerals. Individual crystals in LCT pegmatites can be enormous: the largest spodumene was 14 meters long, the largest beryl was 18 meters long, and the largest potassium feldspar was 49 meters long.Lithium-cesium-tantalum pegmatites account for about one-fourth of the world’s lithium production, most of the tantalum production, and all of the cesium production. Giant deposits include Tanco in Canada, Greenbushes in Australia, and Bikita in Zimbabwe. The largest lithium pegmatite in the United States, at King’s Mountain, North Carolina, is no longer being mined although large reserves of lithium remain. Depending on size and attitude of the pegmatite, a variety of mining techniques are used, including artisanal surface mining, open-pit surface mining, small underground workings, and large underground operations using room-and-pillar design. In favorable circumstances, what would otherwise be gangue minerals (quartz, potassium feldspar, albite, and muscovite) can be mined along with lithium and (or) tantalum as coproducts.Most LCT pegmatites are hosted in metamorphosed supracrustal rocks in the upper greenschist to lower amphibolite facies. Lithium-cesium-tantalum pegmatite intrusions generally are emplaced late during orogeny, with emplacement being controlled by pre-existing structures. Typically, they crop out near evolved, peraluminous granites and leucogranites from which they are inferred to be

40 CFR 421.110 - Applicability: Description of the primary columbium-tantalum subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS NONFERROUS METALS MANUFACTURING POINT SOURCE... the production of columbium or tantalum by primary columbium-tantalum facilities. [49 FR 8817, Mar. 8...

Reliability Effects of Surge Current Testing of Solid Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2007-01-01

Solid tantalum capacitors are widely used in space applications to filter low-frequency ripple currents in power supply circuits and stabilize DC voltages in the system. Tantalum capacitors manufactured per military specifications (MIL-PRF-55365) are established reliability components and have less than 0.001% of failures per 1000 hours (the failure rate is less than 10 FIT) for grades D or S, thus positioning these parts among electronic components with the highest reliability characteristics. Still, failures of tantalum capacitors do happen and when it occurs it might have catastrophic consequences for the system. This is due to a short-circuit failure mode, which might be damaging to a power supply, and also to the capability of tantalum capacitors with manganese cathodes to self-ignite when a failure occurs in low-impedance applications. During such a failure, a substantial amount of energy is released by exothermic reaction of the tantalum pellet with oxygen generated by the overheated manganese oxide cathode, resulting not only in destruction of the part, but also in damage of the board and surrounding components. A specific feature of tantalum capacitors, compared to ceramic parts, is a relatively large value of capacitance, which in contemporary low-size chip capacitors reaches dozens and hundreds of microfarads. This might result in so-called surge current or turn-on failures in the parts when the board is first powered up. Such a failure, which is considered as the most prevalent type of failures in tantalum capacitors [I], is due to fast changes of the voltage in the circuit, dV/dt, producing high surge current spikes, I(sub sp) = Cx(dV/dt), when current in the circuit is unrestricted. These spikes can reach hundreds of amperes and cause catastrophic failures in the system. The mechanism of surge current failures has not been understood completely yet, and different hypotheses were discussed in relevant literature. These include a sustained scintillation

Hydrocode Analysis of Lateral Stress Gauges in Shocked Tantalum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harris, E. J.; Winter, R. E.

2007-12-01

Experiments published by other workers, on the resistance change of manganin stress gauges embedded in a lateral orientation in tantalum targets shocked to a range of stresses, have been analysed using an adaptive mesh refinement hydrocode. It was found that for all of the four experiments the shape of the time profile of the computed lateral stress in the mounting layer closely matched the shape of the experimental lateral stress profiles. However, the calculated lateral stresses at the gauge location in the mounting layer are significantly less than the lateral stresses that would have been produced in the target if no gauge had been present. The perturbation caused by the gauge increased as the strength of the applied shock increased. When the perturbations are taken into account values of flow stress that are significantly smaller than those reported in the original research paper are derived. The work shows that the lateral gauge technique can give valuable information on strength provided high resolution simulation is used to compensate for the perturbations caused by the gauges.

Topical Report Tantalum – 2.5% Tungsten Machinability Testing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

L. J. Lazarus

2009-09-02

Protection Association (NFPA). NFPA 484, Standard for Combustible Metals, Chapter 9 Tantalum and Annex E, supplemental Information on Tantalum require cutting oil be used when machining tantalum because it burns at such a high temperature that it breaks down the water in a water-based metalworking fluid (MWF). The NFPA guide devotes approximately 20 pages to this material. The Kansas City Plant (KCP) uses Fuchs Lubricants Ecocut Base 44 LVC as a MWF. This is a highly chlorinated oil with a high flash point (above 200° F). The chlorine is very helpful in preventing BUE (Built Up Edge) that occurs frequentlymore » with this very gummy material. The Ecocut is really a MWF additive that Fuchs uses to add chlorinated fats to other non-chlorinated MWF.« less

Advanced Wet Tantalum Capacitors: Design, Specifications and Performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2016-01-01

Insertion of new types of commercial, high volumetric efficiency wet tantalum capacitors in space systems requires reassessment of the existing quality assurance approaches that have been developed for capacitors manufactured to MIL-PRF-39006 requirements. The specifics of wet electrolytic capacitors is that leakage currents flowing through electrolyte can cause gas generation resulting in building up of internal gas pressure and rupture of the case. The risk associated with excessive leakage currents and increased pressure is greater for high value advanced wet tantalum capacitors, but it has not been properly evaluated yet. This presentation gives a review of specifics of the design, performance, and potential reliability risks associated with advanced wet tantalum capacitors. Problems related to setting adequate requirements for DPA, leakage currents, hermeticity, stability at low and high temperatures, ripple currents for parts operating in vacuum, and random vibration testing are discussed. Recommendations for screening and qualification to reduce risks of failures have been suggested.

Advanced Wet Tantalum Capacitors: Design, Specifications and Performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2017-01-01

Insertion of new types of commercial, high volumetric efficiency wet tantalum capacitors in space systems requires reassessment of the existing quality assurance approaches that have been developed for capacitors manufactured to MIL-PRF-39006 requirements. The specifics of wet electrolytic capacitors is that leakage currents flowing through electrolyte can cause gas generation resulting in building up of internal gas pressure and rupture of the case. The risk associated with excessive leakage currents and increased pressure is greater for high value advanced wet tantalum capacitors, but it has not been properly evaluated yet. This presentation gives a review of specifics of the design, performance, and potential reliability risks associated with advanced wet tantalum capacitors. Problems related to setting adequate requirements for DPA, leakage currents, hermeticity, stability at low and high temperatures, ripple currents for parts operating in vacuum, and random vibration testing are discussed. Recommendations for screening and qualification to reduce risks of failures have been suggested.

Tribological performance of polycrystalline tantalum-carbide-incorporated diamond films on silicon substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ullah, Mahtab; Rana, Anwar Manzoor; Ahmed, E.; Malik, Abdul Sattar; Shah, Z. A.; Ahmad, Naseeb; Mehtab, Ujala; Raza, Rizwan

2018-05-01

Polycrystalline tantalum-carbide-incorporated diamond coatings have been made on unpolished side of Si (100) wafer by hot filament chemical vapor deposition process. Morphology of the coatings has been found to vary from (111) triangular-facetted to predominantly (111) square-faceted by increasing the concentration of tantalum carbide. The results have been compared to those of a diamond reference coating with no tantalum content. An increase in roughness has been observed with the increase of tantalum carbide (TaC) due to change in morphology of the diamond films. It is noticed that roughness of the coatings increases as grains become more square-faceted. It is found that diamond coatings involving tantalum carbide are not as resistant as diamond films with no TaC content and the coefficient of friction for such coatings with microcrystalline grains can be manipulated to 0·33 under high vacuum of 10-7 Torr. Such a low friction coefficient value enhances tribological behavior of unpolished Si substrates and can possibly be used in sliding applications.

Anomalous softening of yield strength in tantalum at high pressures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jing, Qiumin, E-mail: j-qm@163.com; Wu, Qiang; Xu, Ji-an

2015-02-07

The pressure dependence of the yield strength of tantalum was investigated experimentally up to 101 GPa at room temperature using a diamond anvil cell. A yield strength softening is observed between 52 and 84 GPa, whereas a normal trend is observed below 52 GPa and above 84 GPa. The onset pressure of the softening is in agreement with previous results obtained by the pressure gradient method and shock wave experiments. This unusual strength softening in tantalum is not related with structural transformation, preferred orientation, or material damage. Our measurements indicate that microscopic deviatoric strain is the major reason for the observed strength softening inmore » tantalum.« less

Investigating the oxidation mechanism of tantalum nanoparticles at high heating rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DeLisio, Jeffery B.; Wang, Xizheng; Wu, Tao; Egan, Garth C.; Jacob, Rohit J.; Zachariah, Michael R.

2017-12-01

Reduced diffusion length scales and increased specific surface areas of nanosized metal fuels have recently demonstrated increased reaction rates for these systems, increasing their relevance in a wide variety of applications. The most commonly employed metal fuel, aluminum, tends to oxidize rapidly near its melting point (660 °C) in addition to undergoing a phase change of the nascent oxide shell. To further expand on the understanding of nanosized metal fuel oxidation, tantalum nanoparticles were studied due to their high melting point (3017 °C) in comparison to aluminum. Both traditional slow heating rate and in-situ high heating rate techniques were used to probe the oxidation of tantalum nanoparticles in oxygen containing environments in addition to nanothermite mixtures. When oxidized by gas phase oxygen, the oxide shell of the tantalum nanoparticles rapidly crystallized creating cracks that may attribute to enhanced oxygen diffusion into the particle. In the case of tantalum based nanothermites, oxide shell crystallization was shown to induce reactive sintering with the metal oxide resulting in a narrow range of ignition temperatures independent of the metal oxide used. The oxidation mechanism was modeled using the Deal-Grove model to extract rate parameters, and theoretical burn times for tantalum based nanocomposites were calculated.

High efficiency tantalum-based ceramic composite structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stewart, David A. (Inventor); Leiser, Daniel B. (Inventor); DiFiore, Robert R. (Inventor); Katvala, Victor W. (Inventor)

2010-01-01

Tantalum-based ceramics are suitable for use in thermal protection systems. These composite structures have high efficiency surfaces (low catalytic efficiency and high emittance), thereby reducing heat flux to a spacecraft during planetary re-entry. These ceramics contain tantalum disilicide, molybdenum disilicide and borosilicate glass. The components are milled, along with a processing aid, then applied to a surface of a porous substrate, such as a fibrous silica or carbon substrate. Following application, the coating is then sintered on the substrate. The composite structure is substantially impervious to hot gas penetration and capable of surviving high heat fluxes at temperatures approaching 3000.degree. F. and above.

Preparation of isolated nuclei from K 562 haemopoietic cell line for high resolution scanning electron microscopy.

PubMed

Reipert, S; Reipert, B M; Allen, T D

1994-09-01

The aim of the work is to visualise nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) in mammalian cells by high resolution scanning electron microscopy. A detergent-free isolation protocol was employed to obtain clean nuclei from the haemopoietic cell line K 562. Nuclear isolation was performed by mechanical homogenisation under hypotonic conditions followed by purification of the nuclear fraction. The isolated nuclei were attached to silicon chips, fixed, critical point dried, and sputter coated with a thin film (3-4 nm) of tantalum. Analysis of the nuclear surface by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a strong sensitivity of the outer nuclear membrane (ONM) to disruption during the isolation procedure. A significant reduction of the characteristic pattern of damage to the ONM was achieved by means of an isopicnic centrifugation on an isoosmolar balanced Percoll gradient. Analysis of the population of isolated nuclei by flow cytometry showed no signs of cell cycle specific losses of nuclei during isolation. The SEM investigations of the morphology of the nuclear envelope (NE) and of substructural details of NPCs and polyribosomes were performed using an in-lens field emission scanning electron microscope.

Description of transitional nuclei in the sdg boson model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lac, V.-S.; Kuyucak, S.

1992-03-01

We study the transitional nuclei in the framework of the sdg boson model. This extension is necessitated by recent measurements of E2 and E4 transitions in the Pt and Os isotopes which can not be explained in the sd boson models. We show how γ-unstable and triaxial shapes arise from special choices of sdg model hamiltonians and discuss ways of limiting the number of free parameters through consistency and coherence conditions. A satisfactory description of E2 and E4 properties is obtained for the Pt and Os nuclei, which also predicts dynamic shape transitions in these nuclei.

A niobium oxide-tantalum oxide selector-memristor self-aligned nanostack

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diaz Leon, Juan J.; Norris, Kate J.; Yang, J. Joshua; Sevic, John F.; Kobayashi, Nobuhiko P.

2017-03-01

The integration of nonlinear current-voltage selectors and bi-stable memristors is a paramount step for reliable operation of crossbar arrays. In this paper, the self-aligned assembly of a single nanometer-scale device that contains both a selector and a memristor is presented. The two components (i.e., selector and memristor) are vertically assembled via a self-aligned fabrication process combined with electroforming. In designing the device, niobium oxide and tantalum oxide are chosen as materials for selector and memristor, respectively. The formation of niobium oxide is visualized by exploiting the self-limiting reaction between niobium and tantalum oxide; crystalline niobium (di)oxide forms at the interface between metallic niobium and tantalum oxide via electrothermal heating, resulting in a niobium oxide selector self-aligned to a tantalum oxide memristor. A steady-state finite element analysis is used to assess the electrothermal heating expected to occur in the device. Current-voltage measurements and structural/chemical analyses conducted for the virgin device, the electroforming process, and the functional selector-memristor device are presented. The demonstration of a self-aligned, monolithically integrated selector-memristor device would pave a practical pathway to various circuits based on memristors attainable at manufacturing scales.

Analysis of Weibull Grading Test for Solid Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2010-01-01

Weibull grading test is a powerful technique that allows selection and reliability rating of solid tantalum capacitors for military and space applications. However, inaccuracies in the existing method and non-adequate acceleration factors can result in significant, up to three orders of magnitude, errors in the calculated failure rate of capacitors. This paper analyzes deficiencies of the existing technique and recommends more accurate method of calculations. A physical model presenting failures of tantalum capacitors as time-dependent-dielectric-breakdown is used to determine voltage and temperature acceleration factors and select adequate Weibull grading test conditions. This, model is verified by highly accelerated life testing (HALT) at different temperature and voltage conditions for three types of solid chip tantalum capacitors. It is shown that parameters of the model and acceleration factors can be calculated using a general log-linear relationship for the characteristic life with two stress levels.

Hyperheavy nuclei in covariant density functional theory: the existence and stability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gyawali, Abhinaya; Agbemava, Sylvester; Afanasjev, Anatoli

2017-09-01

The limits of existence of finite nuclei is one of interesting questions of modern low-energy nuclear physics. A lot of theoretical efforts have been dedicated to the study of superheavy nuclei with Z < 126. However, very little is known about existence and stability of hyperheavy nuclei with proton numbers Z > 126 . Almost all investigations of such nuclei consider only spherical shapes for the ground states. However, the study of superheavy nuclei indicates that such assumption leads in many cases to misinterpretation of the situation. Thus, we performed a systematic investigation of such nuclei for proton numbers from 122 up to 184 and from two-proton drip line up to two-neutron one within the axial relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory. The calculations are carried out in large deformation space extending from megadeformed oblate shapes via spherical ones up to scission configuration. The stability of such nuclei against fission (including triaxial and octupole shapes) and beta-decays have been investigated and the islands of their stability have been defined. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics under Award No. DE-SC0013037 and by Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration under Award Number DE-NA0002925.

The Tri-lab Tantalum Strength Consortium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flicker, Dawn G.; Arsenlis, Thomas A.; Austin, Ryan; Barton, Nathan R.; Benage, John F.; Bronkhorst, Curt A.; Brown, Justin L.; Brown, Staci L.; Buttler, William T.; Shen, Shuh-Rong; Dattelbaum, Dana M.; Fensin, Sayu J.; Gray, George T., III; Lane, J. Matthew D.; Lim, Hojun; Luscher, D. J.; Mattsson, Thomas R.; McNabb, Dennis P.; Remington, Bruce A.; Park, Hye-Sook; Prisbrey, Shon T.; Prime, Michael B.; Scharff, Robert J.; Schraad, Mark W.; Sun, Amy C.

2017-06-01

A Tri-lab consortium of experimentalists and theorists at SNL, LLNL, and LANL is joining forces to better understand tantalum strength across an unprecedented range of loading conditions. The team is collecting and comparing tantalum strength data from Hopkinson bar, Taylor cylinder, guns, Z, Omega and the NIF. These experiments, all using Ta from a single lot, span pressures from tenths to hundreds of GPa and strain rates from 103 to 107. New experiments are underway to provide more overlap between the platforms. The experiments are being simulated with a variety of models in order to determine which processes are important under which conditions. The presentation will show results to date. Sandia is a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

Observation of oxide particles below the apparent oxygen solubility limit in tantalum

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stecura, S.

1973-01-01

The apparent solubility of oxygen in polycrystalline tantalum as determined by the X-ray diffraction lattice parameter technique is about 1.63 atomic percent at 820 C. However, oxide particles were identified in samples containing as low as 0.5 atomic percent of oxygen. These oxide particles were present at the grain boundaries and within the grains. The number of oxide particles increased with increasing oxygen concentration in tantalum. The presence of oxide particles suggests that the true solubility of oxygen in the polycrystalline tantalum metal is probably significantly lower than that reported in the literature.

Simultaneous determination of tantalum and hafnium in silicates by neutron activation analysis

USGS Publications Warehouse

Greenland, L.P.

1968-01-01

A neutron activation procedure suitable for the routine determination of tantalum and hafnium in silicates is described. The irradiated sample is fused with sodium peroxide and leached, and the insoluble hydroxides are dissolved in dilute hydrofluoric acid-hydrochloric acid. After LaF3 and AgCl scavenges, tantalum and hafnium are separated by anion exchange. Tantalum is obtained radiochemically pure; 233Pa and 95Zr contaminants in the hafnium fraction are resolved by ??-ray spectrometry. The chemical yield of the procedure is detemined after counting by re-irradiation. Values for the 8 U.S. Geological Survey standard rocks are reported. ?? 1968.

Synthesis of Coral-Like Tantalum Oxide Films via Anodization in Mixed Organic-Inorganic Electrolytes

PubMed Central

Yu, Hongbin; Zhu, Suiyi; Yang, Xia; Wang, Xinhong; Sun, Hongwei; Huo, Mingxin

2013-01-01

We report a simple method to fabricate nano-porous tantalum oxide films via anodization with Ta foils as the anode at room temperature. A mixture of ethylene glycol, phosphoric acid, NH4F and H2O was used as the electrolyte where the nano-porous tantalum oxide could be synthesized by anodizing a tantalum foil for 1 h at 20 V in a two–electrode configuration. The as-prepared porous film exhibited a continuous, uniform and coral-like morphology. The diameters of pores ranged from 30 nm to 50 nm. The pores interlaced each other and the depth was about 150 nm. After calcination, the as-synthesized amorphous tantalum oxide could be crystallized to the orthorhombic crystal system. As observed in photocatalytic experiments, the coral-like tantalum oxide exhibited a higher photocatalytic activity for the degradation of phenol than that with a compact surface morphology, and the elimination rate of phenol increased by 66.7%. PMID:23799106

Biological Response of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Commercial Tantalum Coatings with Microscale and Nanoscale Surface Topographies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skoog, Shelby A.; Kumar, Girish; Goering, Peter L.; Williams, Brian; Stiglich, Jack; Narayan, Roger J.

2016-06-01

Tantalum is a promising orthopaedic implant coating material due to its robust mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and excellent biocompatibility. Previous studies have demonstrated improved biocompatibility and tissue integration of surface-treated tantalum coatings compared to untreated tantalum. Surface modification of tantalum coatings with biologically inspired microscale and nanoscale features may be used to evoke optimal tissue responses. The goal of this study was to evaluate commercial tantalum coatings with nanoscale, sub-microscale, and microscale surface topographies for orthopaedic and dental applications using human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs). Tantalum coatings with different microscale and nanoscale surface topographies were fabricated using a diffusion process or chemical vapor deposition. Biological evaluation of the tantalum coatings using hBMSCs showed that tantalum coatings promote cellular adhesion and growth. Furthermore, hBMSC adhesion to the tantalum coatings was dependent on surface feature characteristics, with enhanced cell adhesion on sub-micrometer- and micrometer-sized surface topographies compared to hybrid nano-/microstructures. Nanostructured and microstructured tantalum coatings should be further evaluated to optimize the surface coating features to promote osteogenesis and enhance osseointegration of tantalum-based orthopaedic implants.

Effect of Post-HALT Annealing on Leakage Currents in Solid Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2010-01-01

Degradation of leakage currents is often observed during life testing of tantalum capacitors and is sometimes attributed to the field-induced crystallization in amorphous anodic tantalum pentoxide dielectrics. However, degradation of leakage currents and the possibility of annealing of degraded capacitors have not been investigated yet. In this work the effect of annealing after highly accelerated life testing (HALT) on leakage currents in various types of solid tantalum capacitors was analyzed. Variations of leakage currents with time during annealing at temperatures from 125 oC to 180 oC, thermally stimulated depolarization (TSD) currents, and I-V characteristics were measured to understand the conduction mechanism and the reason for current degradation. Annealing resulted in a gradual decrease of leakage currents and restored their initial values. Repeat HALT after annealing resulted in reproducible degradation of leakage currents. The observed results are explained based on ionic charge instability (drift/diffusion of oxygen vacancies) in the tantalum pentoxide dielectrics using a modified Schottky conduction mechanism.

The Evaluation of Hydroxyapatite (HA) Coated and Uncoated Porous Tantalum for Biomedical Material Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Safuan, Nadia; Sukmana, Irza; Kadir, Mohammed Rafiq Abdul; Noviana, Deni

2014-04-01

Porous tantalum has been used as an orthopedic implant for bone defects as it has a good corrosion resistance and fatigue behaviour properties. However, there are some reports on the rejection of porous Ta after the implantation. Those clinical cases refer to the less bioactivity of metallic-based materials. This study aims to evaluate hydroxyapatite coated and uncoated porous Tantalum in order to improve the biocompatibility of porous tantalum implant and osseointegration. Porous tantalum was used as metallic-base substrate and hydroxyapatite coating has been done using plasma-spraying technique. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) techniques were utilizes to investigate the coating characteristics while Confocal Raman Microscopy to investigate the interface and image. The effect of coating to the corrosion behaviour was assessed by employing potentiodynamic polarization tests in simulated body fluid at 37±1 °C. Based on SEM and FESEM results, the morphologies as well the weight element consists in the uncoated and hydroxyapatite coated porous tantalum were revealed. The results indicated that the decrease in corrosion current density for HA coated porous Ta compared to the uncoated porous Ta. This study concluded that by coating porous tantalum with HA supports to decrease the corrosion rate of pure porous.

NIOBIUM-TANTALUM SEPARATION

DOEpatents

Wilhelm, H.A.; Foos, R.A.

1959-01-27

The usual method for the separation of tantalum and niobium consists of a selective solvent extraction from an aqueous hydrofluoric acid solution of the metals. A difficulty encountered in this process is the fact that the corrosion problems associated with hydrofluoric acid are serious. It has been found that the corrosion caused by the hydrofluoric acid may be substantially reduced by adding to the acidic solution an amine, such as phenyl diethanolamine or aniline, and adjusting pH value to between 4 and 6.

Tantalum modified ferritic iron base alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oldrieve, R. E.; Blankenship, C. P. (Inventor)

1977-01-01

Strong ferritic alloys of the Fe-CR-Al type containing 0.4% to 2% tantalum were developed. These alloys have improved fabricability without sacrificing high temperature strength and oxidation resistance in the 800 C (1475 F) to 1040 C (1900 F) range.

Effect of Compressive Stresses on Leakage Currents in Microchip Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2012-01-01

Microchip tantalum capacitors are manufactured using new technologies that allow for production of small size capacitors (down to EIA case size 0402) with volumetric efficiency much greater than for regular chip capacitors. Due to a small size of the parts and leadless design they might be more sensitive to mechanical stresses that develop after soldering onto printed wiring boards (PWB) compared to standard chip capacitors. In this work, the effect of compressive stresses on leakage currents in capacitors has been investigated in the range of stresses up to 200 MPa. Significant, up to three orders of magnitude, variations of currents were observed after the stress exceeds a certain critical level that varied from 10 MPa to 180 MPa for capacitors used in this study. A stress-induced generation of electron traps in tantalum pentoxide dielectric is suggested to explain reversible variations of leakage currents in tantalum capacitors. Thermo-mechanical characteristics of microchip capacitors have been studied to estimate the level of stresses caused by assembly onto PWB and assess the risk of stress-related degradation and failures. Keywords: tantalum capacitors, leakage current, soldering, reliability, mechanical stress.

The preparation of tantalum powder using a MR-EMR combination process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, Jae Sik; Kim, Byung Il

2007-04-01

In the conventional metallothermic reduction (MR) process used to obtain tantalum powder in batch-type operation, it is difficult to control the morphology and location of the tantalum deposits. In contrast, an electronically mediated reaction (EMR) process is capable of overcoming this difficulty. It has the advantage of being a continuous process, but has the disadvantage of a poor reduction yield. A process known as the MR-EMR combination process is able to overcome the shortcomings of the MR and EMR processes. In this study, an MR-EMR combination process is applied to the production of tantalum powder via sodium reduction of K2TaF7. In the MR-EMR combination process, the total charge passed through an external circuit and the average particle size (FSSS) increase as the reduction temperature increases. In addition, the proportion of fine particles (-325 mesh) decreases as the reduction temperature increasess. The tantalum yield improved from 65 to 74% as the reduction temperature increased. Taking into account the charge, impurities, morphology, particle size and yield, a reduction temperature of 1123 K was found to be optimum for the MR-EMR combination process.

Reliability of High-Voltage Tantalum Capacitors. Parts 3 and 4)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2010-01-01

Weibull grading test is a powerful technique that allows selection and reliability rating of solid tantalum capacitors for military and space applications. However, inaccuracies in the existing method and non-adequate acceleration factors can result in significant, up to three orders of magnitude, errors in the calculated failure rate of capacitors. This paper analyzes deficiencies of the existing technique and recommends more accurate method of calculations. A physical model presenting failures of tantalum capacitors as time-dependent-dielectric-breakdown is used to determine voltage and temperature acceleration factors and select adequate Weibull grading test conditions. This model is verified by highly accelerated life testing (HALT) at different temperature and voltage conditions for three types of solid chip tantalum capacitors. It is shown that parameters of the model and acceleration factors can be calculated using a general log-linear relationship for the characteristic life with two stress levels.

Surface nanotexturing of tantalum by laser ablation in water

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barmina, E V; Simakin, Aleksandr V; Shafeev, Georgii A

2009-01-31

Surface nanotexturing of tantalum by ablation with short laser pulses in water has been studied experimentally using three ablation sources: a neodymium laser with a pulse duration of 350 ps, an excimer laser (248 nm) with a pulse duration of 5 ps and a Ti:sapphire laser with a pulse duration of 180 fs. The morphology of the nanotextured surfaces has been examined using a nanoprofilometer and field emission scanning electron microscope. The results demonstrate that the average size of the hillocks produced on the target surface depends on the laser energy density and is {approx}200 nm at an energy densitymore » approaching the laser-melting threshold of tantalum and a pulse duration of 350 ps. Their surface density reaches 10{sup 6} cm{sup -2}. At a pulse duration of 5 ps, the average hillock size is 60-70 nm. Nanotexturing is accompanied by changes in the absorption spectrum of the tantalum surface in the UV and visible spectral regions. The possible mechanisms of surface nanotexturing and potential applications of this effect are discussed. (nanostructures)« less

Semimicrodetermination of combined tantalum and niobium with selenous acid

USGS Publications Warehouse

Grimaldi, F.S.; Schnepfe, M.

1959-01-01

Tantalum and niobium are separated and determined gravimetrically by precipitation with selenous acid from highly acidic solutions in the absence of complexing agents. Hydrogen peroxide is used in the preparation of the solution and later catalytically destroyed during digestion of the precipitate. From 0.2 to 30 mg., separately or in mixtures, of niobium or tantalum pentoxide can be separated from mixtures containing 100 mg. each of the oxides of scandium, yttrium, cerium, vanadium, molybdenum, iron, aluminum, tin, lead, and bismuth with a single precipitation; and from 30 mg. of titanium dioxide, and 50 mg. each of the oxides of antimony and thorium, when present separately, with three precipitations. At least 50 mg. of uranium(VI) oxide can be separated with a single precipitation when present alone; otherwise, three precipitations may be needed. Zirconium does not interfere when the tantalum and niobium contents of the sample are small, but in general, zirconium as well as tungsten interfere. The method is applied to the determination of the earth acids in tantaloniobate ores.

Dynamic shape transitions in the sdg boson model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuyucak, S.

The dynamic evolution of shapes in the sdg interacting boson model is investigated using the angular momentum projected mean field theory. Deformed nuclei are found to be quite stable against shape changes but transitional nuclei could exhibit dynamic shape transitions in the region L = 10-20. Conditions of existence and experimental signatures for dynamic shape transitions are discussed together with a likely candidate, 192Os.

Tantalum protective coatings for fusion reactor applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brossa, Francesco; Piatti, Giovanni; Bardy, Michel

Tantalum has a very low sputtering yield, high melting point, low vapour pressure and good mechanical properties at low and high temperatures, so it is a very interesting candidate for the first wall and blanket structural components. Tantalum coatings overcome the problems of fabrication and joining bulk Ta, thus reducing also dead weight and cost. Ta coatings were produced by chemical vapour deposition and plasma spraying on four conventional structural materials: Al, Cu, AISI 316 L and Inconel 600. The conditions which improve adherence have been studied. The composition of the films was determined by chemical means and by X-ray analysis. Metallographie examination was employed to define the morphological structure of the deposits. The adherence of the coatings was determined by subjecting the samples to bend tests and to thermal shocks.

Effects of severe stressing on tantalum capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shakar, J. F.; Fairfield, E. H.

1981-01-01

The ultimate capabilities of an all tantalum capacitor were determined and evaluated. The evaluation included: 175 C life; 100 cycle thermal shock; 70 g random vibration; 3000 g shock; and 90 C ase ripple current.

Micro/Nano Structural Tantalum Coating for Enhanced Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow Stem Cells

PubMed Central

Ding, Ding; Xie, Youtao; Li, Kai; Huang, Liping; Zheng, Xuebin

2018-01-01

Recently, tantalum has been attracting much attention for its anticorrosion resistance and biocompatibility, and it has been widely used in surface modification for implant applications. To improve its osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSCs), a micro/nano structure has been fabricated on the tantalum coating surface through the combination of anodic oxidation and plasma spraying method. The morphology, composition, and microstructure of the modified coating were comprehensively studied by employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) as well as transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effects of hierarchical structures as well as micro-porous structure of tantalum coating on the behavior for human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSCs) were evaluated and compared at both cellular and molecular levels in vitro. The experimental results show that a hierarchical micro/nano structure with Ta2O5 nanotubes spread onto a micro-scale tantalum coating has been fabricated successfully, which is confirmed to promote cell adhesion and spreading. Besides, the hierarchical micro/nano tantalum coating can provide 1.5~2.1 times improvement in gene expression, compared with the micro-porous tantalum coating. It demonstrates that it can effectively enhance the proliferation and differentiation of hBMSCs in vitro. PMID:29614022

Micro/Nano Structural Tantalum Coating for Enhanced Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow Stem Cells.

PubMed

Ding, Ding; Xie, Youtao; Li, Kai; Huang, Liping; Zheng, Xuebin

2018-04-03

Recently, tantalum has been attracting much attention for its anticorrosion resistance and biocompatibility, and it has been widely used in surface modification for implant applications. To improve its osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSCs), a micro/nano structure has been fabricated on the tantalum coating surface through the combination of anodic oxidation and plasma spraying method. The morphology, composition, and microstructure of the modified coating were comprehensively studied by employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) as well as transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effects of hierarchical structures as well as micro-porous structure of tantalum coating on the behavior for human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSCs) were evaluated and compared at both cellular and molecular levels in vitro. The experimental results show that a hierarchical micro/nano structure with Ta₂O₅ nanotubes spread onto a micro-scale tantalum coating has been fabricated successfully, which is confirmed to promote cell adhesion and spreading. Besides, the hierarchical micro/nano tantalum coating can provide 1.5~2.1 times improvement in gene expression, compared with the micro-porous tantalum coating. It demonstrates that it can effectively enhance the proliferation and differentiation of hBMSCs in vitro.

Random Vibration Testing of Advanced Wet Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2015-01-01

Advanced wet tantalum capacitors allow for improved performance of power supply systems along with substantial reduction of size and weight of the systems that is especially beneficial for space electronics. Due to launch-related stresses, acceptance testing of all space systems includes random vibration test (RVT). However, many types of advanced wet tantalum capacitors cannot pass consistently RVT at conditions specified in MIL-PRF-39006, which impedes their use in space projects. This requires a closer look at the existing requirements, modes and mechanisms of failures, specifics of test conditions, and acceptance criteria. In this work, different lots of advanced wet tantalum capacitors from four manufacturers have been tested at step stress random vibration conditions while their currents were monitored before, during, and after the testing. It has been shown that the robustness of the parts and their reliability are mostly due to effective self-healing processes and limited current spiking or minor scintillations caused by RVT do not increase the risk of failures during operation. A simple model for scintillations events has been used to simulate current spiking during RVT and optimize test conditions. The significance of scintillations and possible effects of gas generation have been discussed and test acceptance criteria for limited current spiking have been suggested.

Characteristics and production of tantalum powders for solid-electrolyte capacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, Jae Sik; Kim, Byung Il

The effects of using K 2TaF 7 as the raw material and sodium as the reducing agent on the characteristics of tantalum powder are investigated. Batch-type metallothermic reduction (BTMR) is used to charge the reactor with the raw material and the reducing agent, and external continuous supply metallothermic reduction (ESMR) is used to supply the raw material and the reducing agent at a constant rate at the temperature of the reduction reaction. In the case of ESMR, the yield increases by several tens of percent because of the uniform reaction between the raw material and the reducing agent. It is possible to obtain a powder of over 99.5% purity. The powder particles obtained with BTMR are relatively large (4-6 μm) and have a coarse lamellar shape, while those prepared via ESMR are of uniform 1-2 μm size with a coral-like shape. Measurements of the electric properties show that the leakage current and the dielectric dissipation are low with higher reliability in ESMR than in BTMR, and the capacitance is 26,000 and 8400 CV for ESMR and in BTMR, respectively.

Effects of substrate temperature on properties of pulsed dc reactively sputtered tantalum oxide films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jain, Pushkar; Juneja, Jasbir S.; Bhagwat, Vinay; Rymaszewski, Eugene J.; Lu, Toh-Ming; Cale, Timothy S.

2005-05-01

The effects of substrate heating on the stoichiometry and the electrical properties of pulsed dc reactively sputtered tantalum oxide films over a range of film thickness (0.14 to 5.4 μm) are discussed. The film stoichiometry, and hence the electrical properties, of tantalum oxide films; e.g., breakdown field, leakage current density, dielectric constant, and dielectric loss are compared for two different cases: (a) when no intentional substrate/film cooling is provided, and (b) when the substrate is water cooled during deposition. All other operating conditions are the same, and the film thickness is directly related to deposition time. The tantalum oxide films deposited on the water-cooled substrates are stoichiometric, and exhibit excellent electrical properties over the entire range of film thickness. ``Noncooled'' tantalum oxide films are stoichiometric up to ~1 μm film thickness, beyond that the deposited oxide is increasingly nonstoichiometric. The presence of partially oxidized Ta in thicker (>~1 μm) noncooled tantalum oxide films causes a lower breakdown field, higher leakage current density, higher apparent dielectric constant, and dielectric loss. The growth of nonstoichiometric tantalum oxide in thicker noncooled films is attributed to decreased surface oxygen concentration due to oxygen recombination and desorption at higher film temperatures (>~100 °C). The quantitative results presented reflect experience with a specific piece of equipment; however, the procedures presented can be used to characterize deposition processes in which film stoichiometry can change.

Guidelines for the selection and application of tantalum electrolytic capacitors in highly reliable equipment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holladay, A. M.

1978-01-01

Guidelines are given for the selection and application of three types of tantalum electrolytic capacitors in current use in the design of electrical and electronic circuits for space flight missions. In addition, the guidelines supplement requirements of existing military specifications used in the procurement of capacitors. A need exists for these guidelines to assist designers in preventing some of the recurring, serious problems experienced with tantalum electrolytic capacitors in the recent past. The three types of capacitors covered by these guidelines are; solid, wet foil, and tantalum cased wet slug.

Octupole deformation in neutron-rich actinides and superheavy nuclei and the role of nodal structure of single-particle wavefunctions in extremely deformed structures of light nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Afanasjev, A. V.; Abusara, H.; Agbemava, S. E.

2018-03-01

Octupole deformed shapes in neutron-rich actinides and superheavy nuclei as well as extremely deformed shapes of the N∼ Z light nuclei have been investigated within the framework of covariant density functional theory. We confirmed the presence of new region of octupole deformation in neutron-rich actinides with the center around Z∼ 96,N∼ 196 but our calculations do not predict octupole deformation in the ground states of superheavy Z≥slant 108 nuclei. As exemplified by the study of 36Ar, the nodal structure of the wavefunction of occupied single-particle orbitals in extremely deformed structures allows to understand the formation of the α-clusters in very light nuclei, the suppression of the α-clusterization with the increase of mass number, the formation of ellipsoidal mean-field type structures and nuclear molecules.

Star formation around active galactic nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Keel, William C.

1987-01-01

Active galactic nuclei (Seyfert nuclei and their relatives) and intense star formation can both deliver substantial amounts of energy to the vicinity of a galactic nucleus. Many luminous nuclei have energetics dominated by one of these mechanisms, but detailed observations show that some have a mixture. Seeing both phenomena at once raises several interesting questions: (1) Is this a general property of some kinds of nuclei? How many AGNs have surround starbursts, and vice versa? (2) As in 1, how many undiscovered AGNs or starbursts are hidden by a more luminous instance of the other? (3) Does one cause the other, and by what means, or do both reflect common influences such as potential well shape or level of gas flow? (4) Can surrounding star formation tell us anything about the central active nuclei, such as lifetimes, kinetic energy output, or mechanical disturbance of the ISM? These are important points in the understanding of activity and star formation in galactic nuclei. Unfortunately, the observational ways of addressing them are as yet not well formulated. Some preliminary studies are reported, aimed at clarifying the issues involved in study of the relationships between stellar and nonstellar excitement in galactic nuclei.

Electronic transitions of tantalum monofluoride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ng, K. F.; Zou, Wenli; Liu, Wenjian; Cheung, A. S.-C.

2017-03-01

The electronic transition spectrum of the tantalum monofluoride (TaF) molecule in the spectral region between 448 and 560 nm has been studied using the technique of laser-ablation/reaction free jet expansion and laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy. The TaF molecule was produced by reacting laser-ablated tantalum atoms with sulfur hexafluoride gas seeded in argon. Twenty-two vibrational bands with resolved rotational structure have been recorded and analyzed, which were organized into seven electronic transitions. The X3Σ-(0+) state has been identified to be the ground state and the determined equilibrium bond length, re, and vibrational frequency, ωe, are 1.8184 Å and 700.1 cm-1, respectively. The low-lying Λ-S states and Ω sub-states of TaF were also theoretically studied at the MRCISD+Q level of theory with spin-orbit coupling. The Ω = 0+ and 2 sub-states from the -3Σ and 3Φ state have been found to be the ground and the first excited states, respectively, which agrees well with our experimental determinations. This work represents the first experimental investigation of the molecular structure of the TaF molecule.

Performance and Reliability of Solid Tantalum Capacitors at Cryogenic Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2006-01-01

Performance of different types of solid tantalum capacitors was evaluated at room and low temperatures, down to 15 K. The effect of temperature on frequency dependencies of capacitance, effective series resistances (ESR), leakage currents, and breakdown voltages has been investigated and analyzed. To assess thermo-mechanical robustness of the parts, several groups of loose capacitors and those soldered on FR4 boards were subjected to multiple (up to 500) temperature cycles between room temperature and 77 K. Experiments and mathematical modeling have shown that degradation in tantalum capacitors at low temperatures is mostly due to increasing resistance of the manganese cathode layer, resulting in substantial decrease of the roll-off frequency. Absorption currents follow a power law, I approximately t(sup -m), with the exponent m varying from 0.8 to 1.1. These currents do not change significantly at cryogenic conditions and the value of the exponent remains the same down to 15 K. Variations of leakage currents with voltage can be described by Pool-Frenkel and Schottky mechanisms of conductivity, with the Schottky mechanism prevailing at cryogenic conditions. Breakdown voltages of tantalum capacitors increase and the probability of scintillations decreases at cryogenic temperatures. However, breakdown voltages measured during surge current testing decrease at liquid nitrogen (LN) compared to room-temperature conditions. Results of temperature cycling suggest that tantalum capacitors are capable of withstanding multiple exposures to cryogenic conditions, but the probability of failures varies for different part types.

Tantalum-based thin film coatings for wear resistant arthroprostheses.

PubMed

Balagna, C; Faga, M G; Spriano, S

2011-10-01

Cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloys with high carbon content (HC-CoCrMo) are widely used as materials for arthroprosthesis, in particular in metal-on-metal (MoM) hip joints. In spite of their good wear and corrosion resistance, production of metallic wear particles and metal ion release will occur on a large time-scale. An enhancement of the metal ion level in the patient's blood and urine is often reported in clinical data. Hypersensitivity, inflammatory response and cell necrosis can occur as consequence. So implants on young patients and women on childbearing age are not so widespread. The aim of this research is the realization of a thin film coating in order to improve the biocompatibility of Co-based alloys and to reduce debris production, ion release and citotoxicity. The innovative process consists of a thermal treatment in molten salts, in order to obtain a tantalum enriched thin film coating. Tantalum is chosen because it is considered a biocompatible metal with high corrosion resistance and low ion release. Three HC-CoCrMo alloys, produced by different manufacturing processes, are tested as substrates. The coating is a thin film of TaC or it can be composed by a multilayer of two tantalum carbides and metallic tantalum, depending on the temperature of the treatment and on the carbon content of the substrate. The thin films as well the substrates are characterized from the structural, chemical and morphological point of view. Moreover mechanical behaviour of treated and untreated materials is analyzed by means of nanohardness, scratch and ball-on-disc wear tests. The coating increases the mechanical and tribological properties of HC-CoCrMo.

A preliminary deposit model for lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bradley, Dwight; McCauley, Andrew

2013-01-01

This report is part of an effort by the U.S. Geological Survey to update existing mineral deposit models and to develop new ones. We emphasize practical aspects of pegmatite geology that might directly or indirectly help in exploration for lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites, or for assessing regions for pegmatite-related mineral resource potential. These deposits are an important link in the world’s supply chain of rare and strategic elements, accounting for about one-third of world lithium production, most of the tantalum, and all of the cesium.

Tissue response to surface-treated tantalum implants: preliminary observations in primates.

PubMed

Meenaghan, M A; Natiella, J R; Moresi, J L; Flynn, H E; Wirth, J E; Baier, R E

1979-07-01

Samples of capacitor grade tantalum were surface-treated by a variety of methods. These surface treatments allowed testing of the same basic material which was mill-finished, metallurgically polished, electrochemically oxidized, sintered with a porous surface, and glow-discharged. Surface characterization was accomplished by contact angle measurements, Scanning Electron Microscopy, energy-dispensed x-ray analysis, and internal reflection spectroscopy. Subsequent to characterization, the material was surgically implanted in the subperiosteal region of the mandible, the buccal mucosa, and the subcutaneous paravertebral region of the back of Macaca speciosa (stumptail monkey). The tissue reaction at intervals of up to three weeks was evaluated morphologically and ultrastructurally. Significant differences in tissue response were noted at the interfaces with glow-discharge-treated versus lower surface energy samples. Adjacent to the glow-discharge-treated implants, two distinct tissue zones were identified. Zone No. 1, nearest the implant, exhibited an increased cellularity. This consisted of 4-5 layers of highly active mesenchymal cells or fibroblast-like cells with spindle-shaped nuclei and prominent cytoplasmic features. At various foci along the interface, hyperchromatic nuclear forms were noted to project into the space left by removal of the implant. These observations, coupled with a predominance of intercellular ground-substance material and less collagen at the interface, may indicate some form of bioadhesion. The deeper Zone No. 2 was 2-3 times as thick consisted of typical fibroblastic cells with a lamellar configuration, bordered by an occasional delicate-lined space. Independent of implantation site or surface texture, all other implants showed occasional multinucleated giant cells and a decrease in the cellular character of Zone No. 1. Both zones were reduced in thickness and composed of more mature fibroblasts. Some specimens exhibited intracytoplasmic

Deformation of Cases in High Capacitance Value Wet Tantalum Capacitors under Environmental Stresses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2016-01-01

Internal gas pressure in hermetic wet tantalum capacitors is created by air, electrolyte vapor, and gas generated by electrochemical reactions at the electrodes. This pressure increases substantially with temperature and time of operation due to excessive leakage currents. Deformation of the case occurs when the internal pressure exceeds pressure of the environments and can raise significantly when a part operates in space. Contrary to the cylinder case wet tantalum capacitors that have external sealing by welding and internal sealing provided by the Teflon bushing and crimping of the case, no reliable internal sealing exists in the button case capacitors. Single seal design capacitors are used for high capacitance value wet tantalum capacitors manufactured per DLA L&M drawings #04003, 04005, and 10011, and require additional analysis to assure their reliable application in space systems. In this work, leakage currents and case deformation of button case capacitors were measured during different environmental test conditions. Recommendations for derating, screening and qualification testing are given. This work is a continuation of a series of NEPP reports related to quality and reliability of wet tantalum capacitors.

Texture measurement of shaped material by impulse acoustic microscopy

PubMed

Eyraud; Nadal; Gondard

2000-03-01

All the microstructural parameters involved in metallurgical processes are difficult to determine directly on a shaped material. The aim of this paper is to use an impulse line-focus acoustic microscope (LFAM) as a non-destructive alternative to X-ray diffraction for measuring texture of slightly anisotropic materials. We apply it to characterize the rolling and annealing texture for tantalum sheets.

Superconducting characteristics in purified tantalum-foils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Qinghua; Wang, Zhihe

2018-07-01

We have conducted extensive investigations on the electrical transport and magnetization on a purified tantalum foil with extremely sharp resistive transition (transition width ΔTc < 0.02 K) at 0 T and residual resistivity ratio ρ290K/ρ5K= 16.75. Many effects, such as anisotropic field-induced resistive broadening and second peak of the magnetization-hysteresis loop, are observed in the sample. The maximum upper critical field determined by criteria of R/Rn = 0.9 is about 1.08 T rather weak compared to that in cuprate and/or iron-based superconductors. Although the value of upper critical field Hc2(0) and the field dependence of effective pinning energy U show that the flux pinning potential is weaker, the critical current density Jc(2 K, 0 T) = 1.145 × 105 A/cm2 and the effect of second peak indicate that there should be higher collective vortex pinning potential in the tantalum foil. The carriers are dominated by holes with the density n = 6.6 × 1022/cm3.

Microscopic few-body and Gaussian-shaped density distributions for the analysis of the 6He exotic nucleus with different target nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aygun, M.; Kucuk, Y.; Boztosun, I.; Ibraheem, Awad A.

2010-12-01

The elastic scattering angular distributions of 6He projectile on different medium and heavy mass target nuclei including 12C, 27Al, 58Ni, 64Zn, 65Cu, 197Au, 208Pb and 209Bi have been examined by using the few-body and Gaussian-shaped density distributions at various energies. The microscopic real parts of the complex nuclear optical potential have been obtained by using the double-folding model for each of the density distributions and the phenomenological imaginary potentials have been taken as the Woods-Saxon type. Comparative results of the few-body and Gaussian-shaped density distributions together with the experimental data are presented within the framework of the optical model.

Catalytic Hydroamination of Alkynes and Norbornene with Neutral and Cationic Tantalum Imido Complexes

PubMed Central

Anderson, Laura L.; Arnold, John; Bergman, Robert G.

2005-01-01

Several tantalum imido complexes have been synthesized and shown to efficiently catalyze the hydroamination of internal and terminal alkynes. An unusual hydroamination/hydroarylation reaction of norbornene catalyzed by a highly electrophilic cationic tantalum imido complex is also reported. Factors affecting catalyst activity and selectivity are discussed along with mechanistic insights gained from stoichiometric reactions. PMID:15255680

Characterization of Tantalum Polymer Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spence, Penelope

2012-01-01

Overview Reviewed data Caution must be taken when accelerating test conditions Data not useful to establish an acceleration model Introduction of new failure mechanism skewing results Evidence of Anti-Wear-Out De-doping of polymer Decreased capacitance Increased ESR Not dielectric breakdown Needs further investigation Further investigation into tantalum polymer capacitor technology Promising acceleration model for Manufacturer A Possibility for use in high-reliability space applications with suitable voltage derating.

Physically-based strength model of tantalum incorporating effects of temperature, strain rate and pressure

DOE PAGES

Lim, Hojun; Battaile, Corbett C.; Brown, Justin L.; ...

2016-06-14

In this work, we develop a tantalum strength model that incorporates e ects of temperature, strain rate and pressure. Dislocation kink-pair theory is used to incorporate temperature and strain rate e ects while the pressure dependent yield is obtained through the pressure dependent shear modulus. Material constants used in the model are parameterized from tantalum single crystal tests and polycrystalline ramp compression experiments. It is shown that the proposed strength model agrees well with the temperature and strain rate dependent yield obtained from polycrystalline tantalum experiments. Furthermore, the model accurately reproduces the pressure dependent yield stresses up to 250 GPa.more » The proposed strength model is then used to conduct simulations of a Taylor cylinder impact test and validated with experiments. This approach provides a physically-based multi-scale strength model that is able to predict the plastic deformation of polycrystalline tantalum through a wide range of temperature, strain and pressure regimes.« less

Vacuum pyrolysis characteristics and parameter optimization of recycling organic materials from waste tantalum capacitors.

PubMed

Chen, Zhenyang; Niu, Bo; Zhang, Lingen; Xu, Zhenming

2018-01-15

Recycling rare metal tantalum from waste tantalum capacitors (WTCs) is significant to alleviate the shortage of tantalum resource. However, environmental problems will be caused if the organic materials from WTCs are improperly disposed. This study presented a promising vacuum pyrolysis technology to recycle the organic materials from WTCs. The organics removal rate could reach 94.32wt% according to TG results. The optimal parameters were determined as 425°C, 50Pa and 30min on the basis of response surface methodology (RSM). The oil yield and residual rate was 18.09wt% and 74.94wt%, respectively. All pyrolysis products can be recycled through a reasonable route. Besides, to deeply understand the pyrolysis process, the pyrolysis mechanism was also proposed based on the product and free radical theory. This paper provides an efficient process for recycling the organic material from WTCs, which can facilitate the following tantalum recovery. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Corrosion resistance of porous binary tantalum and titanium carbides of various composition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Artyunina, N.P.; Komratov, G.N.; Bolonova, E.A.

1993-12-20

Resistance of porous binary tantalum and titanium carbides in solutions of mineral acids and their mixtures, of several organic acids, and of ammonium and potassium hydroxide was studied. It has been shown that as the content of tantalum in a material increases its resistance in solutions of oxidizing acids is improved, but it is reduced in solutions of sulfuric and hydrofluoric acids and also in solutions of potassium hydroxide.

Superdeformed shapes and configurations in thallium nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Reviol, W.; Mueller, W.F.; Riedinger, L.L.

1997-09-01

Superdeformation studies in {sup 189,191,192}Tl at Gammasphere are discussed. New results on {sup 191}Tl are the observation of interband transitions between the signature partner E2 bands and the measurement of an average quadrupole moment (Q{sub 0} = 18 {+-} 1 eb) for these superdeformed structures. These data enable them to derive absolute M1 strengths and confirm that the 81st proton occupies the [642]5/2 orbital. Tentative data for one superdeformed sequence in {sup 189}Tl are consistent with the prediction of a decrease in quadrupole deformation for the lightest nuclei at the limit of this island of superdeformation.

[Short-term curative effects of Tantalum rod treatment in early avascular necrosis].

PubMed

Ye, Fu-Sheng; Ni, Zhe-Ji; Chu, Xiao-Bing; He, Bang-Jian; Li, Ju; Tong, Pei-Jian

2013-08-01

To explore the recent clinical curative effect of Tantalum rod in treating the early avascular necrosis. From January 2008 to November 2008, the 25 patients (39 hips) with early avascular necrosis accepted tantalum rod placement and included 9 males (11 hips) and 16 females (28 hips) with an average age of 37 years old ranging from 18 to 74 years old. Four patients (6 hips) caused by Alcoholic, 6 patients (8 hips) by hormone, 2 cases (2 hips) by traumatic, 13 cases (23 hips) by idiopathic. Steinberg preoperative stage involved 7 hips in period I, 24 hips in period II, 8 hips in period III. Curative effect analysis included preoperative and postoperative Harris score, radiographic changes and hip replacement for follow-up to accept the end of the femoral head survival rate. All patients were followed up for 6 to 47 months (averaged 37.4 months). All 12 hips imaging appeard progress,including tantalum rod exit in 1 hip, hip hemiarthroplasty collapse in 3 hips, the area increased to avascular necrosis in 8 hips. Six hips accepted total hip replacement, including imaging progress in 5 hips (41.7%, 5/12), no imaging progress in 1 hip (3.7%,1/27). All hips' Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed 6-month survival rate was (97.4 +/- 2.5)% after tantalum stick insertion, 1-year survival rate was (94.7 +/- 3.6), and 2-year survival rate was (88.6 +/- 5.4)%, 3-year survival rate was (72.5 +/- 11.2). It is effective for treatment of avascular necrosis of femoral head in Steinberg I and II by Tantalum rod, and it can effectively relieve femoral head replacement time.

Preparation of etched tantalum semimicro capacitor stimulation electrodes.

PubMed

Robblee, L S; Kelliher, E M; Langmuir, M E; Vartanian, H; McHardy, J

1983-03-01

The ideal electrode for stimulation of the nervous system is one that will inject charge by purely capacitive processes. One approach is to exploit the type of metal-oxide combination used in electrolytic capacitors, e.g., Ta/Ta2O5. For this purpose, fine tantalum wire (0.25 mm diam) was etched electrolytically at constant current in a methanol solution of NH4Br containing 1.5 wt % H2O. Electrolytic etching produced a conical tip with a length of ca. 0.5 mm and shaft diameters ranging from 0.10 to 0.16 mm. The etched electrodes were anodized to 10 V (vs. SCE) in 0.1 vol % H3PO4. The capacitance values normalized to geometric area of etched electrodes ranged from 0.13 to 0.33 micro F mm-2. Comparison of these values to the capacitance of "smooth" tantalum anodized to 10 V (0.011 micro F mm-2) indicated that the degree of surface enhancement, or etch ratio, was 12-30. The surface roughness was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy studies which revealed an intricate array of irregularly shaped surface projections about 1-2 micrometers wide. The etched electrodes were capable of delivering 0.06-0.1 micro C of charge with 0.1 ms pulses at a pulse repetition rate of 400 Hz when operated at 50% of the anodization voltage. This quantity of charge corresponded to volumetric charge densities of 20-30 micro C mm-3 and area charge densities of 0.55-0.88 micro C mm-2. Charge storage was proportionately higher at higher fractional values of the formation voltage. Leakage currents at 5 V were ca. 2 nA. Neither long-term passive storage (1500 h) nor extended pulsing time (18 h) had a deleterious effect on electrode performance. The trend in electrical stimulation work is toward smaller electrodes. The procedures developed in this study should be particularly well-suited to the fabrication of even smaller electrodes because of the favorable electrical and geometric characteristics of the etched surface.

Addition of oxygen to and distribution of oxides in tantalum alloy T-111 at low concentrations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stecura, S.

1975-01-01

Oxygen was added at 820 and 990 C at an oxygen pressure of about .0003 torr. The technique permitted predetermined and reproducible oxygen doping of the tantalum alloy (T-111). Based on the temperature dependency of the doping reaction, it was concluded that the initial rates of oxygen pickup are probably controlled by solution of oxygen into the T-111 lattice. Although hafnium oxides are more stable than those of tantalum or tungsten, analyses of extracted residues indicate that the tantalum and tungsten oxides predominate in the as-doped specimens, presumably because of the higher concentrations of tantalum and tungsten in the alloy. However, high-temperature annealing promotes gettering of dissolved oxygen and oxygen from other oxides to form hafnium oxides. Small amounts of tantalum and tungsten oxides were still present after high temperature annealing. Tungsten oxide (WO3) volatilizes slightly from the surface of T-111 at 990 C but not at 820 C. The vaporization of WO3 has no apparent effect on the doping reaction.

The effects of argon ion bombardment on the corrosion resistance of tantalum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramezani, A. H.; Sari, A. H.; Shokouhy, A.

2017-02-01

Application of ion beam has been widely used as a surface modification method to improve surface properties. This paper investigates the effect of argon ion implantation on surface structure as well as resistance against tantalum corrosion. In this experiment, argon ions with energy of 30 keV and in doses of 1 × 1017-10 × 1017 ions/cm2 were used. The surface bombardment with inert gases mainly produces modified topography and morphology of the surface. Atomic Force Microscopy was also used to patterned the roughness variations prior to and after the implantation phase. Additionally, the corrosion investigation apparatus wear was applied to compare resistance against tantalum corrosion both before and after ion implantation. The results show that argon ion implantation has a substantial impact on increasing resistance against tantalum corrosion. After the corrosion test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyzed the samples' surface morphologies. In addition, the elemental composition is characterized by energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The purpose of this paper was to obtain the perfect condition for the formation of tantalum corrosion resistance. In order to evaluate the effect of the ion implantation on the corrosion behavior, potentiodynamic tests were performed. The results show that the corrosion resistance of the samples strongly depends on the implantation doses.

Stability of superheavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pomorski, K.; Nerlo-Pomorska, B.; Bartel, J.; Schmitt, C.

2018-03-01

The potential-energy surfaces of an extended set of heavy and superheavy even-even nuclei with 92 ≤Z ≤126 and isospins 40 ≤N -Z ≤74 are evaluated within the recently developed Fourier shape parametrization. Ground-state and decay properties are studied for 324 different even-even isotopes in a four-dimensional deformation space, defined by nonaxiality, quadrupole, octupole, and hexadecapole degrees of freedom. Nuclear deformation energies are evaluated in the framework of the macroscopic-microscopic approach, with the Lublin-Strasbourg drop model and a Yukawa-folded mean-field potential. The evolution of the ground-state equilibrium shape (and possible isomeric, metastable states) is studied as a function of Z and N . α -decay Q values and half-lives, as well as fission-barrier heights, are deduced. In order to understand the transition from asymmetric to symmetric fission along the Fm isotopic chain, the properties of all identified fission paths are investigated. Good agreement is found with experimental data wherever available. New interesting features about the population of different fission modes for nuclei beyond Fm are predicted.

An exploration in mineral supply chain mapping using tantalum as an example

USGS Publications Warehouse

Soto-Viruet, Yadira; Menzie, W. David; Papp, John F.; Yager, Thomas R.

2013-01-01

This report uses the supply chain of tantalum (Ta) to investigate the complexity of mineral and metal supply chains in general and show how they can be mapped. A supply chain is made up of all the manufacturers, suppliers, information networks, and so forth, that provide the materials and parts that go into making up a final product. The mineral portion of the supply chain begins with mineral material in the ground (the ore deposit); extends through a series of processes that include mining, beneficiation, processing (smelting and refining), semimanufacture, and manufacture; and continues through transformation of the mineral ore into concentrates, refined mineral commodities, intermediate forms (such as metals and alloys), component parts, and, finally, complex products. This study analyses the supply chain of tantalum beginning with minerals in the ground to many of the final goods that contain tantalum.

STUDIES ON ANALYTICAL METHODS FOR TRACE ELEMENTS IN METALS BY USING RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPE. III. DETERMINATION OF TANTALUM BY MEANS OF ISOTOPE DILUTION METHOD

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Amano, H.

1959-10-01

The determination of tantalum by the isotope dilution method in the presence of niobium was investigated by the use of the radioisotope Ta/sup 185/. Tantalum was separated from niobium as tantalum-tannin precipitate under the optimum conditions of a pH of 1.9 to 2.5 and a tantalum/niobium ratio of up to 1/ 50. If niobium was present in amounts 100 times or more that of tantalum, reprecipitation was needed. The reciprocal of the specific activity of tanthlum pentoxide precipitate was in a linear relation to the change in the amount of tantalum added. The recommended method gave an accurate result inmore » the determination of tantalum in steal. (auth)« less

Thermocouples of tantalum and rhenium alloys for more stable vacuum-high temperature performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morris, J. F. (Inventor)

1977-01-01

Thermocouples of the present invention provide stability and performance reliability in systems involving high temperatures and vacuums by employing a bimetallic thermocouple sensor wherein each metal of the sensor is selected from a group of metals comprising tantalum and rhenium and alloys containing only those two metals. The tantalum, rhenium thermocouple sensor alloys provide bare metal thermocouple sensors having advantageous vapor pressure compatibilities and performance characteristics. The compatibility and physical characteristics of the thermocouple sensor alloys of the present invention result in improved emf, temperature properties and thermocouple hot junction performance. The thermocouples formed of the tantalum, rhenium alloys exhibit reliability and performance stability in systems involving high temperatures and vacuums and are adaptable to space propulsion and power systems and nuclear environments.

Tantalum capacitor behavior under fast transient overvoltages. [circuit protection against lightning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zill, J. A.; Castle, K. D.

1974-01-01

Tantalum capacitors were tested to determine failure time when subjected to short-duration, high-voltage surges caused by lightning strikes. Lightning is of concern to NASA because of possible damage to critical spacecraft circuits. The test was designed to determine the minimum time for tantalum capacitor failure and the amount of overvoltage a capacitor could survive, without permanent damage, in 100 microseconds. All tested exhibited good recovery from the transient one-shot pulses with no failure at any voltage, forward or reverse, in less than 25 microseconds.

SU-E-J-201: Position Verification in Breast Cancer Radiotherapy Using Tantalum Clips in the Lumpectomy Cavity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Santvoort, J van; Van der Drift, M; Kuipers, J

2014-06-01

Purpose: To find out whether tantalum surgical clips can be used for online position verification in treatment of the lumpectomy cavity (LC) in breast cancer patients. Tantalum is a high density metal that could be visible on Electronic Portal Images (EPIs) and be an affordable alternative to gold markers. Clips are considered more representative for the LC position than nearby bony structures. Methods: In twelve patients the surgeon had placed 2 to 5 tantalum clips in the LC. The AP and lateral fields used for portal imaging, were adapted. In doing so, both bony structures and tantalum clips were visiblemore » on EPIs. The following analyses were performed:1. Image degradation, with respect to delineating the CTV, of the axial CT slices by artefacts because of the tantalum clips was evaluated by a radiation oncologist;2. The visibility of the tantalum clips on the EPIs was evaluated by four radiation therapists (RTTs);3. Bony anatomy and tantalum clip matches were performed on the same images independently by two observers. Results: 1. Delineation of the CTV by the radiation oncologist was not hampered by CT image artefacts because of the clips.2. The mean score for visibility of the clips on the EPIs, analysed by the four RTTs, was 5.6 on a scale of 10 (range 3.9 – 8.0).3. In total 12 patients with 16 fractions each were analysed. The differences between clip match and bone match are significant with a mean vector length of 5.2 mm (SD 1.9 mm) for the difference. Conclusion: Results of matches on tantalum clips as compared to matches on bony structures differ substantially. Therefore clip matches can result in smaller CTV to PTV margins than bone matches. Visibility of the clips on EPIs is sufficient, so they can be an alternative to gold markers.« less

Control of cell nucleus shapes via micropillar patterns.

PubMed

Pan, Zhen; Yan, Ce; Peng, Rong; Zhao, Yingchun; He, Yao; Ding, Jiandong

2012-02-01

We herein report a material technique to control the shapes of cell nuclei by the design of the microtopography of substrates to which the cells adhere. Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) micropillars or micropits of a series of height or depth were fabricated, and some surprising self deformation of the nuclei of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) was found in the case of micropillars with a sufficient height. Despite severe nucleus deformation, BMSCs kept the ability of proliferation and differentiation. We further demonstrated that the shapes of cell nuclei could be regulated by the appropriate micropillar patterns. Besides circular and elliptoid shapes, some unusual nucleus shapes of BMSCs have been achieved, such as square, cross, dumbbell, and asymmetric sphere-protrusion. Crown Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The application of porous tantalum cylinder to the repair of comminuted bone defects: a study of rabbit firearm injuries

PubMed Central

Ren, Bo; Zhai, Zhenbo; Guo, Kai; Liu, Yanpu; Hou, Weihuan; Zhu, Qingsheng; Zhu, Jinyu

2015-01-01

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of porous tantalum material in repair tibial defects caused by firearm injuries in a rabbit model. A multifunctional biological impact machine was used to establish a rabbit tibial defect model of firearm injury. Porous tantalum rods were processed into a hollow cylinder. Kirschner wires were used for intramedullary fixation. We compared the differences of the bone ingrowth of the porous tantalum material by gross observations, X-rays and histological evaluations. The radiographic observations revealed that fibrous tissue covered the material surface after 4 weeks, and periosteal reactions and new bone callus extending materials appeared after 8 weeks. After 16 weeks, the calluses of the firearm injury group were completely wrapped around a porous tantalum material. The group with the highest Lane-Sandhu X-rays cores was the firearm injury and tantalum implant group, and the blank control group exhibited the lowest scores. The histological evaluations revealed that the presence of new bone around the biomaterial had grown into the porous tantalum. By the 16th week, the areas of bone tissue of the firearm injury group was significant higher than that of non-firearm injury group (P<0.05). The comminuted fractures treated with tantalum cylinders exhibited greater bone ingrowth in the firearm injury group. In conditions of firearm injuries, the porous tantalum biomaterial exhibited bone ingrowth that was beneficial to the treatment of bone defects. PMID:26131078

Transition of dislocation glide to shear transformation in shocked tantalum

DOE PAGES

Hsiung, Luke L.; Campbell, Geoffrey H.

2017-02-28

A TEM study of pure tantalum and tantalum-tungsten alloys explosively shocked at a peak pressure of 30 GPa (strain rate: ~1 x 10 4 sec -1) is presented. While no ω (hexagonal) phase was found in shock-recovered pure Ta and Ta-5W that contain mainly a low-energy cellular dislocation structure, shock-induced ω phase was found to form in Ta-10W that contains evenly distributed dislocations with a stored dislocation density higher than 1 x 10 12 cm -2. The TEM results clearly reveal that shock-induced α (bcc) → ω (hexagonal) shear transformation occurs when dynamic recovery reactions which lead the formation low-energymore » cellular dislocation structure become largely suppressed in Ta-10W shocked under dynamic (i.e., high strain-rate and high-pressure) conditions. A novel dislocation-based mechanism is proposed to rationalize the transition of dislocation glide to twinning and/or shear transformation in shock-deformed tantalum. Lastly, twinning and/or shear transformation take place as an alternative deformation mechanism to accommodate high-strain-rate straining when the shear stress required for dislocation multiplication exceeds the threshold shear stresses for twinning and/or shear transformation.« less

High-acoustic-impedance tantalum oxide layers for insulating acoustic reflectors.

PubMed

Capilla, Jose; Olivares, Jimena; Clement, Marta; Sangrador, Jesús; Iborra, Enrique; Devos, Arnaud

2012-03-01

This work describes the assessment of the acoustic properties of sputtered tantalum oxide films intended for use as high-impedance films of acoustic reflectors for solidly mounted resonators operating in the gigahertz frequency range. The films are grown by sputtering a metallic tantalum target under different oxygen and argon gas mixtures, total pressures, pulsed dc powers, and substrate biases. The structural properties of the films are assessed through infrared absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements. Their acoustic impedance is assessed by deriving the mass density from X-ray reflectometry measurements and the acoustic velocity from picosecond acoustic spectroscopy and the analysis of the frequency response of the test resonators.

Effect of Reverse Bias Stress on Leakage Currents and Breakdown Voltages of Solid Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander A.

2011-01-01

The majority of solid tantalum capacitors are produced by high-temperature sintering of a fine tantalum powder around a tantalum wire followed by electrolytic anodization that forms a thin amorphous Ta2O5 dielectric layer and pyrolysis of manganese nitrite on the oxide to create a conductive manganese dioxide electrode. A contact to tantalum wire is used as anode terminal and to the manganese layer as a cathode terminal of the device. This process results in formation of an asymmetric Ta -- Ta2O5 -- MnO2 capacitor that has different characteristics at forward (positive bias applied to tantalum) and reverse (positive bias applied to manganese cathode) voltages. Reverse bias currents might be several orders of magnitude larger than forward leakage currents so I-V characteristics of tantalum capacitors resemble characteristics of semiconductor rectifiers. Asymmetric I-V characteristics of Ta -- anodic Ta2O5 systems have been observed at different top electrode materials including metals, electrolytes, conductive polymers, and manganese oxide thus indicating that this phenomenon is likely related to the specifics of the Ta -- Ta2O5 interface. There have been multiple attempts to explain rectifying characteristics of capacitors employing anodic tantalum pentoxide dielectrics. A brief review of works related to reverse bias (RB) behavior of tantalum capacitors shows that the mechanism of conduction in Ta -- Ta2O5 systems is still not clear and more testing and analysis is necessary to understand the processes involved. If tantalum capacitors behave just as rectifiers, then the assessment of the safe reverse bias operating conditions would be a relatively simple task. Unfortunately, these parts can degrade with time under reverse bias significantly, and this further complicates analysis of the I-V characteristics and establishing safe operating areas of the parts. On other hand, time dependence of reverse currents might provide additional information for investigation of

Clustering of transmutation elements tantalum, rhenium and osmium in tungsten in a fusion environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

You, Yu-Wei; Kong, Xiang-Shan; Wu, Xuebang; Liu, C. S.; Fang, Q. F.; Chen, J. L.; Luo, G.-N.

2017-08-01

The formation of transmutation solute-rich precipitates has been reported to seriously degrade the mechanical properties of tungsten in a fusion environment. However, the underlying mechanisms controlling the formation of the precipitates are still unknown. In this study, first-principles calculations are therefore performed to systemically determine the stable structures and binding energies of solute clusters in tungsten consisting of tantalum, rhenium and osmium atoms as well as irradiation-induced vacancies. These clusters are known to act as precursors for the formation of precipitates. We find that osmium can easily segregate to form clusters even in defect-free tungsten alloys, whereas extremely high tantalum and rhenium concentrations are required for the formation of clusters. Vacancies greatly facilitate the clustering of rhenium and osmium, while tantalum is an exception. The binding energies of vacancy-osmium clusters are found to be much higher than those of vacancy-tantalum and vacancy-rhenium clusters. Osmium is observed to strongly promote the formation of vacancy-rhenium clusters, while tantalum can suppress the formation of vacancy-rhenium and vacancy-osmium clusters. The local strain and electronic structure are analyzed to reveal the underlying mechanisms governing the cluster formation. Employing the law of mass action, we predict the evolution of the relative concentration of vacancy-rhenium clusters. This work presents a microscopic picture describing the nucleation and growth of solute clusters in tungsten alloys in a fusion reactor environment, and thereby explains recent experimental phenomena.

Deposition and characterization of magnetron sputtered bcc tantalum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patel, Anamika

The goal of this thesis was to provide scientific and technical research results for developing and characterizing tantalum (Ta) coatings on steel substrates deposited by DC magnetron sputtering. Deposition of tantalum on steel is of special interest for the protection it offers to surfaces, e.g. the surfaces of gun barrels against the erosive wear of hot propellant gases and the mechanical damage caused by the motion of launching projectiles. Electro-plated chromium is presently most commonly used for this purpose; however, it is considered to be carcinogenic in its hexavalent form. Tantalum is being investigated as non-toxic alternative to chromium and also because of its superior protective properties in these extreme environments. DC magnetron sputtering was chosen for this investigation of tantalum coatings on steel substrates because it is a versatile industrial proven process for deposition of metals. Sputter deposited Ta films can have two crystallographic structures: (1) body center cubic (bcc) phase, characterized by high toughness and high ductility and (2) a tetragonal beta phase characterized by brittleness and a tendency to fail under stress. It was found in this work that the bcc Ta coatings on steel can be obtained reliably by either of two methods: (1) depositing Ta on a submicron, stoichiometric TaN seed layer reactively sputtered on unheated steel and (2) depositing Ta directly on steel heated above a critical temperature. For argon sputtering gas this critical temperature was found to be 400°C at a pressure of 5 mtorr. With the heavier krypton gas, this critical temperature is reduced to 350°C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to investigate the structure of tantalum and nitride films, and the composition of the nitride films was measured by nuclear reaction analyses (NRA), which were used to study in detail the enhancement of the bcc phase of Ta on steel. The scratch adhesion tests performed with a diamond hemispherical tip of radius 200 mum

Mineral resource of the month: tantalum

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cunningham, Larry D.

2004-01-01

Tantalum is a metal that is critical to the United States because of its defense-related applications in aircraft, missiles and radio communications. It is ductile, easily fabricated, highly resistant to corrosion by acids, a good conductor of heat and electricity, and has a high melting point. Tantalum’s first commercial usage was as filament material in incandescent electric lamps in the early 1900s.

Tantalum coating of porous carbon scaffold supplemented with autologous bone marrow stromal stem cells for bone regeneration in vitro and in vivo.

PubMed

Wei, Xiaowei; Zhao, Dewei; Wang, Benjie; Wang, Wei; Kang, Kai; Xie, Hui; Liu, Baoyi; Zhang, Xiuzhi; Zhang, Jinsong; Yang, Zhenming

2016-03-01

Porous tantalum metal with low elastic modulus is similar to cancellous bone. Reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) can provide three-dimensional pore structure and serves as the ideal scaffold of tantalum coating. In this study, the biocompatibility of domestic porous tantalum was first successfully tested with bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSCs) in vitro and for bone tissue repair in vivo. We evaluated cytotoxicity of RVC scaffold and tantalum coating using BMSCs. The morphology, adhesion, and proliferation of BMSCs were observed via laser scanning confocal microscope and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, porous tantalum rods with or without autologous BMSCs were implanted on hind legs in dogs, respectively. The osteogenic potential was observed by hard tissue slice examination. At three weeks and six weeks following implantation, new osteoblasts and new bone were observed at the tantalum-host bone interface and pores. At 12 weeks postporous tantalum with autologous BMSCs implantation, regenerated trabecular equivalent to mature bone was found in the pore of tantalum rods. Our results suggested that domestic porous tantalum had excellent biocompatibility and could promote new bone formation in vivo. Meanwhile, the osteogenesis of porous tantalum associated with autologous BMSCs was more excellent than only tantalum implantation. Future clinical studies are warranted to verify the clinical efficacy of combined implantation of this domestic porous tantalum associated with autologous BMSCs implantation and compare their efficacy with conventional autologous bone grafting carrying blood vessel in patients needing bone repairing. © 2016 by the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.

The nucleus is irreversibly shaped by motion of cell boundaries in cancer and non-cancer cells.

PubMed

Tocco, Vincent J; Li, Yuan; Christopher, Keith G; Matthews, James H; Aggarwal, Varun; Paschall, Lauren; Luesch, Hendrik; Licht, Jonathan D; Dickinson, Richard B; Lele, Tanmay P

2018-02-01

Actomyosin stress fibers impinge on the nucleus and can exert compressive forces on it. These compressive forces have been proposed to elongate nuclei in fibroblasts, and lead to abnormally shaped nuclei in cancer cells. In these models, the elongated or flattened nuclear shape is proposed to store elastic energy. However, we found that deformed shapes of nuclei are unchanged even after removal of the cell with micro-dissection, both for smooth, elongated nuclei in fibroblasts and abnormally shaped nuclei in breast cancer cells. The lack of shape relaxation implies that the nuclear shape in spread cells does not store any elastic energy, and the cellular stresses that deform the nucleus are dissipative, not static. During cell spreading, the deviation of the nucleus from a convex shape increased in MDA-MB-231 cancer cells, but decreased in MCF-10A cells. Tracking changes of nuclear and cellular shape on micropatterned substrata revealed that fibroblast nuclei deform only during deformations in cell shape and only in the direction of nearby moving cell boundaries. We propose that motion of cell boundaries exert a stress on the nucleus, which allows the nucleus to mimic cell shape. The lack of elastic energy in the nuclear shape suggests that nuclear shape changes in cells occur at constant surface area and volume. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Tantalum coating of porous carbon scaffold supplemented with autologous bone marrow stromal stem cells for bone regeneration in vitro and in vivo

PubMed Central

Wei, Xiaowei; Wang, Benjie; Wang, Wei; Kang, Kai; Xie, Hui; Liu, Baoyi; Zhang, Xiuzhi; Zhang, Jinsong; Yang, Zhenming

2016-01-01

Porous tantalum metal with low elastic modulus is similar to cancellous bone. Reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) can provide three-dimensional pore structure and serves as the ideal scaffold of tantalum coating. In this study, the biocompatibility of domestic porous tantalum was first successfully tested with bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSCs) in vitro and for bone tissue repair in vivo. We evaluated cytotoxicity of RVC scaffold and tantalum coating using BMSCs. The morphology, adhesion, and proliferation of BMSCs were observed via laser scanning confocal microscope and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, porous tantalum rods with or without autologous BMSCs were implanted on hind legs in dogs, respectively. The osteogenic potential was observed by hard tissue slice examination. At three weeks and six weeks following implantation, new osteoblasts and new bone were observed at the tantalum–host bone interface and pores. At 12 weeks postporous tantalum with autologous BMSCs implantation, regenerated trabecular equivalent to mature bone was found in the pore of tantalum rods. Our results suggested that domestic porous tantalum had excellent biocompatibility and could promote new bone formation in vivo. Meanwhile, the osteogenesis of porous tantalum associated with autologous BMSCs was more excellent than only tantalum implantation. Future clinical studies are warranted to verify the clinical efficacy of combined implantation of this domestic porous tantalum associated with autologous BMSCs implantation and compare their efficacy with conventional autologous bone grafting carrying blood vessel in patients needing bone repairing. PMID:26843518

Antimicrobial activity of tantalum oxide coatings decorated with Ag nanoparticles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cao, Huiliang, E-mail: hlc@mail.sic.ac.cn; Meng, Fanhao; Liu, Xuanyong, E-mail: xyliu@mail.sic.ac.cn

Silver plasma immersion ion implantation was used to decorate silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on tantalum oxide (TO) coatings. The coatings acted against bacterial cells (Staphylococcus epidermidis) in the dark by disrupting their integrity. The action was independent of silver release and likely driven by the electron storage capability of the Schottky barriers established at the interfaces between Ag NPs and the TO support. Moreover, no apparent side effect on the adhesion and differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells was detected when using Ag NPs-modified TO coatings. These results demonstrate that decoration of tantalum oxide using Ag NPs could bemore » a promising procedure for improving the antibacterial properties for orthopedic and dental implants.« less

Application of pyrolysis to recycling organics from waste tantalum capacitors.

PubMed

Niu, Bo; Chen, Zhenyang; Xu, Zhenming

2017-08-05

Tantalum capacitors (TCs) are widely used in electronic appliances. The rapid replacement of electronic products results in generating large amounts of waste TCs (WTCs). WTCs, rich in valuable tantalum, are considered as high quality tantalum resources for recycling. However, environmental pollution will be caused if the organics of WTCs were not properly disposed. Therefore, effectively recycling the organics of WTCs is significant for recovering the valuable parts. This study proposed an argon (Ar) pyrolysis process to recycle the organics from WTCs. The organic decomposition kinetic was first analyzed by thermogravimetry. The results showed that the organics were decomposed in two major steps and the average activation energy was calculated to 234kJ/mol. Then, the suitable pyrolysis parameters were determined as 550°C, 30min and 100ml/min. The organics were effectively decomposed and converted to oils (mainly contained phenol homologs and benzene homologs) and gases (some hydrocarbon). These pyrolysis products could be reutilized as energy sources. Moreover, based on the products and bond energy theory, the pyrolysis mechanisms of the organics were also discussed. Finally, a reasonable technological process for products utilization was presented. This study contributes to the efficient recycling the organics before valuable material recovery from WTCs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Achieving surface chemical and morphologic alterations on tantalum by plasma electrolytic oxidation.

PubMed

Goularte, Marcelo Augusto Pinto Cardoso; Barbosa, Gustavo Frainer; da Cruz, Nilson Cristino; Hirakata, Luciana Mayumi

2016-12-01

Search for materials that may either replace titanium dental implants or constitute an alternative as a new dental implant material has been widely studied. As well, the search for optimum biocompatible metal surfaces remains crucial. So, the aim of this work is to develop an oxidized surface layer on tantalum using plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) similar to those existing on oral implants been marketed today. Cleaned tantalum samples were divided into group 1 (control) and groups 2, 3, and 4 (treated by PEO for 1, 3, and 5 min, respectively). An electrolytic solution diluted in 1-L deionized water was used for the anodizing process. Then, samples were washed with anhydrous ethyl alcohol and dried in the open air. For complete anodic treatment disposal, the samples were immersed in acetone altogether, taken to the ultrasonic tank for 10 min, washed again in distilled water, and finally air-dried. For the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, all samples were previously coated with gold; the salt deposition analysis was conducted with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) system integrated with the SEM unit. SEM images confirmed the changes on tantalum strips surface according to different exposure times while EDS analysis confirmed increased salt deposition as exposure time to the anodizing process also increased. PEO was able to produce both surface alteration and salt deposition on tantalum strips similar to those existing on oral implants been marketed today.

X-ray analyses of thermally grown and reactively sputtered tantalum oxide films on NiTi alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McNamara, Karrina; Tofail, Syed A. M.; Conroy, Derek; Butler, James; Gandhi, Abbasi A.; Redington, Wynette

2012-08-01

Sputter deposition of tantalum (Ta) on the surface of NiTi alloy is expected to improve the alloy's corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. Tantalum is a well-known biomaterial which is not affected by body fluids and is not irritating to human tissue. Here we compare the oxidation chemistry crystal structure evolution of tantalum oxide films grown on NiTi by reactive O2 sputtering and by thermal oxidation of sputter deposited Ta films. The effect of sputtering parameters and post-sputtering treatments on the morphology, oxidation state and crystal structure of the tantalum oxide layer have been investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The study has found that it may be better to avoid oxidation at and above 600 °C. The study establishes that reactive sputtering in presence of low oxygen mixture yields thicker film with better control of the film quality except that the surface oxidation state of Ta is slightly lower.

Synthesis and characterization of polystyrene embolization particles doped with tantalum oxide nanoparticles for X-ray contrast.

PubMed

Morrison, Rachel; Thompson, James; Bird, Luke; Hill, Mark A; Townley, Helen

2015-08-01

Radiopaque and fluorescent embolic particles have been synthesized and characterised to match the size of vasculature found in tumours to ensure effective occlusion of the vessels. A literature search showed that the majority of vessels surrounding a tumour were less than 50 µm and therefore polydispersed polystyrene particles with a peak size of 50 µm have been synthesised. The embolic particles contain 5-8 nm amorphous tantalum oxide nanoparticles which provide X-ray contrast. Embolic particles containing up to 9.4 wt% tantalum oxide were prepared and showed significant contrast compared to the undoped polystyrene particles. The X-ray contrast of the embolic particles was shown to be linear (R(2) = 0.9) with respect to the concentration of incorporated tantalum nanoparticles. A model was developed which showed that seventy-five 50 µm embolic particles containing 10% tantalum oxide could provide the same contrast as 5 cm of bone. Therefore, the synthesized particles would provide sufficient X-ray contrast to enable visualisation within a tumour.

Isospin-symmetry-breaking effects in A˜70 nuclei within beyond-mean-field approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrovici, A.; Andrei, O.

2015-02-01

Particular isospin-symmetry-breaking probes including Coulomb energy differences (CED), mirror energy differences (MED), and triplet energy differences (TED) manifest anomalies in the A˜70 isovector triplets of nuclei. The structure of proton-rich nuclei in the A˜70 mass region suggests shape coexistence and competition between pairing correlations in different channels. Recent results concerning the interplay between isospin-mixing and shape-coexistence effects on exotic phenomena in A˜70 nuclei obtained within the beyond-mean-field complex Excited Vampir variational model with symmetry projection before variation using a realistic effective interaction in a relatively large model space are presented. Excited Vampir predictions concerning the Gamow-Teller β decay to the odd-odd N=Z 66As and 70Br nuclei correlated with the pair structure analysis in the T=1 and T=0 channel of the involved wave functions are discussed.

Effect of the oxygen content in a salt solution on the characteristics of sodium-reduced tantalum powders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kolosov, V. N.; Orlov, V. M.; Miroshnichenko, M. N.; Prokhorova, T. Yu.; Masloboeva, S. M.; Belyaevskii, A. T.

2009-02-01

The characteristics of the tantalum powders produced by sodium thermal reduction from salt melts based on K2TaF7 and NaCl with various amounts of added oxycompounds K3TaOF6 and K2Ta2O3F6 are studied. At a molar ratio of oxygen to tantalum of 1.25 in the initial melt, capacitor tantalum powders with a specific surface area more than 3 m2/g are produced. The specific capacitance of the anodes made from these powders reaches 58 mC/g.

Crystalline phase-stability of tantalum pentoxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walton, Santiago; Padilha, Antonio; Dalpian, Gustavo; Guillén, Jorge; Dalpian's Research Group Collaboration; Grupo de Estado Solido Collaboration; Gritad Collaboration

2013-03-01

Memristive devices are attractive candidates to provide a paradigm change in memory devices fabrication. These new devices would be faster, denser and less power consuming than those available today. However, the mechanism of memristance is not yet well understood. It is believed that a voltage/current-driven phase transition occurs in the material, which leads to significant changes in the device's conductivity. In the particular case of tantalum-oxide-based devices the relevant crystalline phases are still a matter of debate. Some of these phases are not even completely known and there is no agreement about which model best explains the crystallographic results. In this work we have performed ab-initio DFT based calculations to study the structural properties of different phases (and models) of Ta2O5 - the structure which is believed to exist inside Tantalum Oxide based devices. The equations of state for this material were constructed through first principles total energy calculations and we have also calculated the phonon frequencies at Γ. These results show that the most stable phase of this oxide (B-Ta2O5) is in fact composed of octahedral, instead of pentagonal (as L-Ta2O5) or hexagonal (as δ-Ta2O5) bipyramids. Fapesp, CNPq, Capes,CODI-UdeA

Dynamics of hot rotating nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcias, F.; de La Mota, V.; Remaud, B.; Royer, G.; Sébille, F.

1991-02-01

The deexcitation of hot rotating nuclei is studied within a microscopic semiclassical transport formalism. This framework allows the study of the competition between the fission and evaporation channels of deexcitation, including the mean-field and two-body interactions, without shape constraint for the fission channel. As a function of initial angular momenta and excitation energies, the transitions between three regimes is analyzed [particle evaporation, binary (ternary) fussion and multifragmentation], which correspond to well-defined symmetry breakings in the inertia tensor of the system. The competition between evaporation and binary fission is studied, showing the progressive disappearance of the fission process with increasing excitation energies, up to a critical point where nuclei pass directly from evaporation to multifragmentation channels.

Evaluation of the 3D Finite Element Method Using a Tantalum Rod for Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head

PubMed Central

Shi, Jingsheng; Chen, Jie; Wu, Jianguo; Chen, Feiyan; Huang, Gangyong; Wang, Zhan; Zhao, Guanglei; Wei, Yibing; Wang, Siqun

2014-01-01

Background The aim of this study was to contrast the collapse values of the postoperative weight-bearing areas of different tantalum rod implant positions, fibula implantation, and core decompression model and to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of tantalum rod implantation in different ranges of osteonecrosis in comparison with other methods. Material/Methods The 3D finite element method was used to establish the 3D finite element model of normal upper femur, 3D finite element model after tantalum rod implantation into different positions of the upper femur in different osteonecrosis ranges, and other 3D finite element models for simulating fibula implant and core decompression. Results The collapse values in the weight-bearing area of the femoral head of the tantalum rod implant model inside the osteonecrosis area, implant model in the middle of the osteonecrosis area, fibula implant model, and shortening implant model exhibited no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) when the osteonecrosis range was small (60°). The stress values on the artificial bone surface for the tantalum rod implant model inside the osteonecrosis area and the shortening implant model exhibited statistical significance (p<0.01). Conclusions Tantalum rod implantation into the osteonecrosis area can reduce the collapse values in the weight-bearing area when osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) was in a certain range, thereby obtaining better clinical effects. When ONFH was in a large range (120°), the tantalum rod implantation inside the osteonecrosis area, shortening implant or fibula implant can reduce the collapse values of the femoral head, as assessed by other methods. PMID:25479830

The effect of tantalum and carbon on the structure/properties of a single crystal nickel-base superalloy. M.S. Thesis. Final Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nguyen, H. C.

1984-01-01

The microstructure, phase chemistry, and creep and hot tensile properties were studied as a function of tantalum and carbon levels in Mar-M247 type single crystal alloys. Microstructural studies showed that several types of carbides (MC, M23C6 and M5C) are present in the normal carbon (0.10 wt % C) alloys after heat treatment. In general, the composition of the MC carbides changes from titanium rich to tantalum rich as the tantalum level in the alloy increases. Small M23C6 carbides are present in all alloys. Tungsten rich M6C carbides are also observed in the alloy containing no tantalum. No carbides are present in the low carbon (0.01 wt % C) alloy series. The morphology of gamma prime is observed to be sensitive to heat treatment and tantalum level in the alloy. Cuboidal gamma prime is present in all the as cast structures. After heat treatment, the gamma prime precipitates tend to have a more spheroidal like morphology, and this tendency increases as the tantalum level decreases. On prolonged aging, the gamma prime reverts back to a cuboidal morphology or under stress at high temperatures, forms a rafted structure. The weight fraction and lattice parameter of the spheroidal gamma prime increases with increasing tantalum content. Changes in the phase chemistry of the gamma prime matrix and gamma prime have also been analyzed using phase extraction techniques. The partitioning ratio decreases for tungsten and aluminum and increases for tantalum as the tantalum content increases for both alloy series; no significant changes occur in the partitioning ratios of the other alloying elements. A reduction in secondary creep rate and an increase in rupture time result from increasing the tantalum content and decreasing the carbon level.

Conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo: global tantalum processing plants, a critical part of the tantalum supply chain

USGS Publications Warehouse

Papp, John F.

2014-01-01

Post-beneficiation processing plants (generally called smelters and refineries) for 3TG mineral ores and concentrates were identified by company and industry association representatives as being the link in the 3TG mineral supply chain through which these minerals can be traced to their source of origin (mine). The determination of the source of origin is critical to the development of a complete and transparent conflict-free mineral supply chain. Tungsten processing plants were the subject of the first fact sheet in this series published by USGS NMIC in August 2014. Background information about historical conditions and multinational stakeholders’ voluntary due diligence guidance for minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas is presented in the tungsten fact sheet. This fact sheet, the second in a series about 3TG minerals, focuses on the tantalum supply chain by listing selected processors that produced tantalum materials commercially worldwide during 2013–14. It does not provide any information regarding the sources of material processed in these facilities.

A novel tantalum-based sol-gel packed microextraction syringe for highly specific enrichment of phosphopeptides in MALDI-MS applications.

PubMed

Çelikbıçak, Ömür; Atakay, Mehmet; Güler, Ülkü; Salih, Bekir

2013-08-07

A new tantalum-based sol-gel material was synthesized using a unique sol-gel synthesis pathway by PEG incorporation into the sol-gel structure without performing a calcination step. This improved its chemical and physical properties for the high capacity and selective enrichment of phosphopeptides from protein digests in complex biological media. The specificity of the tantalum-based sol-gel material for phosphopeptides was evaluated and compared with tantalum(V) oxide (Ta2O5) in different phosphopeptide enrichment applications. The tantalum-based sol-gel and tantalum(V) oxide were characterized in detail using FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and also using a surface area and pore size analyzer. In the characterization studies, the surface morphology, pore volume, crystallinity of the materials and PEG incorporation into the sol-gel structure to produce a more hydrophilic material were successfully demonstrated. The X-ray diffractograms of the two different materials were compared and it was noted that the broad signals of the tantalum-based sol-gel clearly represented the amorphous structure of the sol-gel material, which was more likely to create enough surface area and to provide more accessible tantalum atoms for phosphopeptides to be easily adsorbed when compared with the neat and more crystalline structure of Ta2O5. Therefore, the phosphopeptide enrichment performance of the tantalum-based sol-gels was found to be remarkably higher than the more crystalline Ta2O5 in our studies. Phosphopeptides at femtomole levels could be selectively enriched using the tantalum-based sol-gel and detected with a higher signal-to-noise ratio by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometer (MALDI-MS). Moreover, phosphopeptides in a tryptic digest of non-fat bovine milk as a complex real-world biological sample were retained with higher yield using a tantalum-based sol-gel. Additionally, the sol-gel material

Effect of Temperature Cycling and Exposure to Extreme Temperatures on Reliability of Solid Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2007-01-01

In this work, results of multiple temperature cycling (TC) (up to 1,000 cycles) of different types of solid tantalum capacitors are analyzed and reported. Deformation of chip tantalum during temperature variations simulating reflow soldering conditions was measured to evaluate the possibility of the pop-corning effect in the parts. To simulate the effect of short-time exposures to solder reflow temperatures on the reliability of tantalum capacitors, several part types were subjected to multiple cycles (up to 100) between room temperature and 240 C with periodical measurements of electrical characteristics of the parts. Mechanisms of degradation caused by temperature cycling and exposure to high temperatures, and the requirements of MIL-PRF-55365 for assessment of the resistance of the parts to soldering heat are discussed.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE GEOCHEMISTRY OF TANTALUM AND NIOBIUM IN THE HYDROTHERMAL-PNEUMATHOLYTIC PROCESS (in Russian)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Beus, A.A.; Sitnin, A.A.

1961-01-01

S>Data obtained as a result of geochemical investigations show that tantalum and niobium are typical elements of high-temperature postmagmatic processes (early albitization, greysening) connected with granites. The separation of tantalum and niobium in the hydrothermal-pneumatholytic process (greysening stage), which leads to the concentration of tantalum in albitized and greysenized granites (40 to 100 times compared to the average content in granites) is connected with the different mobility and stability of their acido- complex compounds (in particular fluor- and oxyfluorcomplexes), the existence of which in greysening solutions is suggested. A natural analogy in the behavior of both elements in the processesmore » of postmagmatic metasomatose in granites and granitic pegmatites is suggested. (tr-auth)« less

Early/Late Heterobimetallic Tantalum/Rhodium Species Assembled Through a Novel Bifunctional NHC-OH Ligand.

PubMed

Srivastava, Ravi; Moneuse, Raphaël; Petit, Julien; Pavard, Paul-Alexis; Dardun, Vincent; Rivat, Madleen; Schiltz, Pauline; Solari, Marius; Jeanneau, Erwann; Veyre, Laurent; Thieuleux, Chloé; Quadrelli, Elsje Alessandra; Camp, Clément

2018-03-20

The straightforward synthesis of a new unsymmetrical hydroxy-tethered N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand, HL, is presented. The free ligand exhibits an unusual OH-carbene hydrogen-bonding interaction. This OH-carbene motif was used to yield 1) the first tantalum complex displaying both a Fischer- and Schrock-type carbene ligand and 2) a unique NHC-based early/late heterobimetallic complex. More specifically, the protonolysis chemistry between the ligand's hydroxy group and imido-alkyl or alkylidene-alkyl tantalum precursor complexes yielded the rare monometallic tantalum-NHC complexes [Ta(XtBu)(L)(CH 2 tBu) 2 ] (X=N, CH), in which the alkoxy-carbene ligand acts as a chelate. In contrast, HL only binds to rhodium through the NHC unit in [Rh(HL)(cod)Cl] (cod=cycloocta-1,5-diene), the hydroxy pendant arm remaining unbound. This bifunctional ligand scaffold successfully promoted the assembly of rhodium/tantalum heterobimetallic complexes upon either 1) the insertion of [Rh(cod)Cl] 2 into the Ta-NHC bond in [Ta(NtBu)(L)(CH 2 tBu) 2 ] or 2) protonolysis between the free hydroxy group in [Rh(HL)(cod)Cl] and one alkyl group in [Ta(NtBu)(CH 2 tBu) 3 ]. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Hot pressing of nanocrystalline tantalum using high frequency induction heating and pulse plasma sintering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jakubowicz, J.; Adamek, G.; Sopata, M.; Koper, J. K.; Siwak, P.

2017-12-01

The paper presents the results of nanocrystalline powder tantalum consolidation using hot pressing. The authors used two different heating techniques during hot pressing: high-frequency induction heating (HFIH) and pulse plasma sintering (PPS). A comparison of the structure, microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the bulk nanocrystalline tantalum obtained in both techniques was performed. The nanocrystalline powder was made to start from the microcrystalline one using the high-energy ball milling process. The nanocrystalline powder was hot-pressed at 1000 °C, whereas, for comparison, the microcrystalline powder was hot pressed up to 1500 °C for proper consolidation. The authors found that during hot pressing, the powder partially reacts with the graphite die covered by boron nitride, which facilitated punches and powder displacement in the die during densification. Tantalum carbide and boride in the nanocrystalline material was found, which can improve the mechanical properties. The hardness of the HFIH and PPS nanocrystalline tantalum was as high as 625 and 615 HV, respectively. The microstructure was more uniform in the PPS nanomaterial. The corrosion resistance in both cases deteriorated, in comparison to the microcrystalline material, while the PPS material corrosion resistance was slightly better than that of the HFIH one.

Comet nuclei and Trojan asteroids - A new link and a possible mechanism for comet splittings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hartmann, William K.; Tholen, David J.

1990-01-01

Relatively elongated shapes, implied by recent evidence of a greater incidence of high amplitude lightcurves for comet nuclei and Trojan asteroids than for similarly scaled main belt asteroids, are suggested to have evolved among comet nuclei and Trojans due to volatile loss. It is further suggested that such an evolutionary course may account for observed comet splitting; rotational splitting may specifically occur as a result of evolution in the direction of an elongated shape through sublimation. Supporting these hypotheses, the few m/sec separation velocities projected for rotationally splitting elongated nuclei are precisely in the observed range.

The effect of tantalum on the structure/properties of two polycrystalline nickel-base superalloys: B-1900 + Hf MAR-M247. M.S. Thesis, Final Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Janowski, G. M.

1985-01-01

The microstructure, phase compositions, and phase fractions were studied in conventionally cast B-1900 + Hf and both conventionally cast and directionally solidified MAR-M247 as a function of tantalum concentration. The hot tensile and creep rupture properties of the solutionized and aged MAR-M247-type alloys were also determined as a function of tantalum level. The effects of tantalum on the microstructure and phase compositions of B-1900 + Hf and MAR-M247 (conventionally cast and directionally solidified) were found to be very similar. The addition of tantalum to the as cast and heat treated alloys was shown to cause the partial replacement of the Hf in the MC carbides by Ta, although the degree of replacement was decreased by the solutionizing and aging heat treatment. The gamma prime and minor phase fractions (primarily MC type carbides) both increased approximately linearly with tantalum concentration. The gamma prime phase compositions were relatively insensitive to tantalum variations with the exception of the tantalum and/or hafnium levels. Bulk tantalum additions increased the tantalum, chromium, and cobalt levels of the gamma phase in both alloy series. The increase in the concentrations of the latter two elements in the gamma phase was a result of the decrease in the gamma phase fraction with increasing bulk tantalum concentration and constant gamma/gamma prime partitioning ratio. Tantalum additions increased the yield stress and ultimate tensile strength of the directionally solidified MAR-M247 type alloys and had no significant effect on ductility.

Primary human osteoblasts grow into porous tantalum and maintain an osteoblastic phenotype.

PubMed

Welldon, Katie J; Atkins, Gerald J; Howie, Donald W; Findlay, David M

2008-03-01

Porous tantalum (Ta) has found application in orthopedics, although the interaction of human osteoblasts (HOB) with this material has not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction of primary HOB with porous tantalum, using 5-mm thick discs of porous tantalum. Comparison was made with discs of solid tantalum and tissue culture plastic. Confocal microscopy was used to investigate the attachment and growth of cells on porous Ta, and showed that HOB attached successfully to the metal "trabeculae," underwent extensive cell division, and penetrated into the Ta pores. The maturation of HOB on porous Ta was determined in terms of cell expression of the osteoblast phenotypic markers, STRO-1, and alkaline phosphatase. Despite some donor-dependent variation in STRO-1/AlkPhos expression, growth of cells grown on porous Ta either promoted, or did not impede, the maturation of HOB. In addition, the expression of key osteoblastic genes was investigated after 14 days of culture. The relative levels of mRNA encoding osteocalcin, osteopontin and receptor activator of NFkappaB ligand (RANKL) was not different between porous or solid Ta or plastic, although these genes were expressed differently by cells of different donors. However, bone sialoprotein and type I collagen mRNA species showed a decreased expression on porous Ta compared with expression on plastic. No substrate-dependent differences were seen in the extent of in vitro mineralization by HOB. These results indicate that porous Ta is a good substrate for the attachment, growth, and differentiated function of HOB. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Isospin-symmetry-breaking effects in A∼70 nuclei within beyond-mean-field approach

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Petrovici, A.; Andrei, O.

2015-02-24

Particular isospin-symmetry-breaking probes including Coulomb energy differences (CED), mirror energy differences (MED), and triplet energy differences (TED) manifest anomalies in the A∼70 isovector triplets of nuclei. The structure of proton-rich nuclei in the A∼70 mass region suggests shape coexistence and competition between pairing correlations in different channels. Recent results concerning the interplay between isospin-mixing and shape-coexistence effects on exotic phenomena in A∼70 nuclei obtained within the beyond-mean-field complex Excited Vampir variational model with symmetry projection before variation using a realistic effective interaction in a relatively large model space are presented. Excited Vampir predictions concerning the Gamow-Teller β decay to themore » odd-odd N=Z {sup 66}As and {sup 70}Br nuclei correlated with the pair structure analysis in the T=1 and T=0 channel of the involved wave functions are discussed.« less

Leakage Currents and Gas Generation in Advanced Wet Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2015-01-01

Currently, military grade, established reliability wet tantalum capacitors are among the most reliable parts used for space applications. This has been achieved over the years by extensive testing and improvements in design and materials. However, a rapid insertion of new types of advanced, high volumetric efficiency capacitors in space systems without proper testing and analysis of degradation mechanisms might increase risks of failures. The specifics of leakage currents in wet electrolytic capacitors is that the conduction process is associated with electrolysis of electrolyte and gas generation resulting in building up of internal gas pressure in the parts. The risk associated with excessive leakage currents and increased pressure is greater for high value advanced wet tantalum capacitors, but it has not been properly evaluated yet. In this work, in Part I, leakages currents in various types of tantalum capacitors have been analyzed in a wide range of voltages, temperatures, and time under bias. Gas generation and the level of internal pressure have been calculated in Part II for different case sizes and different hermeticity leak rates to assess maximal allowable leakage currents. Effects related to electrolyte penetration to the glass seal area have been studied and the possibility of failures analyzed in Part III. Recommendations for screening and qualification to reduce risks of failures have been suggested.

Effect of Mechanical Stresses on Characteristics of Chip Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander A.

2007-01-01

The effect of compressive mechanical stresses on chip solid tantalum capacitors is investigated by monitoring characteristics of different part types under axial and hydrostatic stresses. Depending on part types, an exponential increase of leakage currents was observed when stresses exceeded 10 MPa to 40 MPa. For the first time, reversible variations of leakage currents (up to two orders of magnitude) with stress have been demonstrated. Mechanical stresses did not cause significant changes of AC characteristics of the capacitors, whereas breakdown voltages measured during the surge current testing decreased substantially indicating an increased probability of failures of stressed capacitors in low impedance applications. Variations of leakage currents are explained by a combination of two mechanisms: stress-induced scintillations and stress-induced generation of electron traps in the tantalum pentoxide dielectric.

Heat of combustion of tantalum-tungsten oxide thermite composites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cervantes, Octavio G.; Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616; Kuntz, Joshua D.

2010-12-15

The heat of combustion of two distinctly synthesized stoichiometric tantalum-tungsten oxide energetic composites was investigated by bomb calorimetry. One composite was synthesized using a sol-gel (SG) derived method in which micrometric-scale tantalum is immobilized in a tungsten oxide three-dimensional nanostructured network structure. The second energetic composite was made from the mixing of micrometric-scale tantalum and commercially available (CA) nanometric tungsten oxide powders. The energetic composites were consolidated using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique under a 300 MPa pressure and at temperatures of 25, 400, and 500 C. For samples consolidated at 25 C, the density of the CA compositemore » is 61.65 {+-} 1.07% in comparison to 56.41 {+-} 1.19% for the SG derived composite. In contrast, the resulting densities of the SG composite are higher than the CA composite for samples consolidated at 400 and 500 C. The theoretical maximum density for the SG composite consolidated to 400 and 500 C are 81.30 {+-} 0.58% and 84.42 {+-} 0.62%, respectively. The theoretical maximum density of the CA composite consolidated to 400 and 500 C are 74.54 {+-} 0.80% and 77.90 {+-} 0.79%, respectively. X-ray diffraction analyses showed an increase of pre-reaction of the constituents with an increase in the consolidation temperature. The increase in pre-reaction results in lower stored energy content for samples consolidated to 400 and 500 C in comparison to samples consolidated at 25 C. (author)« less

Use of a Tantalum Liner to Reduce Bore Erosion and Increase Muzzle Velocity in Two-Stage Light Gas Guns

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bogdanoff, David W.

2015-01-01

Muzzle velocities and gun erosion predicted by earlier numerical simulations of two stage light gas guns with steel gun tubes were in good agreement with experimental values. In a subsequent study, simulations of high performance shots were repeated with rhenium (Re) gun tubes. Large increases in muzzle velocity (2 - 4 km/sec) were predicted for Re tubes. In addition, the hydrogen-produced gun tube erosion was, in general, predicted to be zero with Re tubes. Tantalum (Ta) has some mechanical properties superior to those of Re. Tantalum has a lower modulus of elasticity than Re for better force transmission from the refractory metal liner to an underlying thick wall steel tube. Tantalum also has greater ductility than Re for better survivability during severe stress/strain cycles. Also, tantalum has been used as a coating or liner in military powder guns with encouraging results. Tantalum has, however, somewhat inferior thermal properties to those of rhenium, with a lower melting point and lower density and thermal conductivity. The present study was undertaken to see to what degree the muzzle velocity gains of rhenium gun tubes (over steel tubes) could be achieved with tantalum gun tubes. Nine high performance shots were modeled with a new version of our CFD gun code for steel, rhenium and tantalum gun tubes. For all except the highest velocity shot, the results with Ta tubes were nearly identical with those for Re tubes. Even for the highest velocity shot, the muzzle velocity gain over a steel tube using Ta was 82% of the gain obtained using Re. Thus, the somewhat inferior thermal properties of Ta (when compared to those of Re) translate into only very slightly poorer overall muzzle velocity performance. When this fact is combined with the superior mechanical properties of Ta and the encouraging performance of Ta liners/coatings in military powder guns, tantalum is to be preferred over Re as a liner/coating material for two stage light gas guns to increase muzzle

Evaluation of Ferrite Chip Beads as Surge Current Limiters in Circuits with Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2014-01-01

Limiting resistors are currently required to be connected in series with tantalum capacitors to reduce the risk of surge current failures. However, application of limiting resistors decreases substantially the efficiency of the power supply systems. An ideal surge current limiting device should have a negligible resistance for DC currents and high resistance at frequencies corresponding to transients in tantalum capacitors. This work evaluates the possibility of using chip ferrite beads (FB) as such devices. Twelve types of small size FBs from three manufacturers were used to evaluate their robustness under soldering stresses and at high surge current spikes associated with transients in tantalum capacitors. Results show that FBs are capable to withstand current pulses that are substantially greater than the specified current limits. However, due to a sharp decrease of impedance with current, FBs do not reduce surge currents to the required level that can be achieved with regular resistors.

Tantalum-containing catalyst useful for producing alcohols from synthesis gas

DOEpatents

Kinkade, Nancy E.

1991-01-01

A catalyst useful for selectively converting a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen to a mixture of lower alkanols consisting essentially of a mixture of molybdenum sulfide, an alkali metal compound and a tantalum compound.

Tantalum-containing catalyst useful for producing alcohols from synthesis gas

DOEpatents

Kinkade, Nancy E.

1992-01-01

A catalyst useful for selectively converting a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen to a mixture of lower alkanols consisting essentially of a mixture of molybdenum sulfide, an alkali metal compound and a tantalum compound.

Inferring Strength of Tantalum from Hydrodynamic Instability Recovery Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sternberger, Z.; Maddox, B.; Opachich, Y.; Wehrenberg, C.; Kraus, R.; Remington, B.; Randall, G.; Farrell, M.; Ravichandran, G.

2018-05-01

Hydrodynamic instability experiments allow access to material properties at extreme conditions, where strain rates exceed 105 s-1 and pressures reach 100 GPa. Current hydrodynamic instability experimental methods require in-flight radiography to image the instability growth at high pressure and high strain rate, limiting the facilities where these experiments can be performed. An alternate approach, recovering the sample after loading, allows measurement of the instability growth with profilometry. Tantalum samples were manufactured with different 2D and 3D initial perturbation patterns and dynamically compressed by a blast wave generated by laser ablation. The samples were recovered from peak pressures between 30 and 120 GPa and strain rates on the order of 107 s-1, providing a record of the growth of the perturbations due to hydrodynamic instability. These records are useful validation points for hydrocode simulations using models of material strength at high strain rate. Recovered tantalum samples were analyzed, providing an estimate of the strength of the material at high pressure and strain rate.

Quadrupole deformation ({beta},{gamma}) of light {Lambda} hypernuclei in a constrained relativistic mean field model: Shape evolution and shape polarization effect of the {Lambda} hyperon

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lu Bingnan; Zhao Enguang; Center of Theoretical Nuclear Physics, National Laboratory of Heavy Ion Accelerator, Lanzhou 730000

2011-07-15

The shapes of light normal nuclei and {Lambda} hypernuclei are investigated in the ({beta},{gamma}) deformation plane by using a newly developed constrained relativistic mean field (RMF) model. As examples, the results of some C, Mg, and Si nuclei are presented and discussed in details. We found that for normal nuclei the present RMF calculations and previous Skyrme-Hartree-Fock models predict similar trends of the shape evolution with the neutron number increasing. But some quantitative aspects from these two approaches, such as the depth of the minimum and the softness in the {gamma} direction, differ a lot for several nuclei. For {Lambda}more » hypernuclei, in most cases, the addition of a {Lambda} hyperon alters slightly the location of the ground state minimum toward the direction of smaller {beta} and softer {gamma} in the potential energy surface E{approx}({beta},{gamma}). There are three exceptions, namely, {sub {Lambda}}{sup 13}C, {sub {Lambda}}{sup 23}C, and {sub {Lambda}}{sup 31}Si in which the polarization effect of the additional {Lambda} is so strong that the shapes of these three hypernuclei are drastically different from their corresponding core nuclei.« less

Upgrading tantalum and niobium oxides content in Bangka tin slag with double leaching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soedarsono, J. W.; Permana, S.; Hutauruk, J. K.; Adhyputra, R.; Rustandi, A.; Maksum, A.; Widana, K. S.; Trinopiawan, K.; Anggraini, M.

2018-03-01

Tantalum has become one of the 14 types of critical materials where the level of its availability is assumed as the midterm critical metal. Benefits of the element tantalum in the electronics field increased the deficit balance of supply / demand, as more variations of electronic products developed. The tantalum experts calculated the level of availability until 2020. Base on the previous studies, tin slag is a secondary source of tantalum and niobium. This study uses tin slag from Bangka, Indonesia, abbreviated, Bangka Tin Slag (BTS). BTS was roasted, water quenched and sieved, abbreviated BTS-RQS.BTS was roasted, water quenched and sieved, abbreviated BTS-RQS.BTS-RQS was roasted at a temperature 700□C given sample code BTS-R700QS, while roasted at 800°C given sample code BTS-R800QS.A variable leaching experiment on BTS-R700QS was solvent concentration variable and on BTS-R800QS was time variable. The entire residue was characterized by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), and the optimum results are on the BTS-R800QS leaching into 5 M NaOH for 20 min followed by 5M HCl for 50 min, with content of Ta2O5 and Nb2O51.56% and 1.11%, respectively. The result of XRF measurement showed was the increasing of TNO content due to the increasing solvent concentration and time of acid leaching. The discussion of thermodynamics this study used was HSC Chemistry 6 as a supporting data.

Evaluation of Polymer Hermetically Sealed Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander A.

2014-01-01

Polymer cathode tantalum capacitors have lower ESR (equivalent series resistance) compared to other types of tantalum capacitors and for this reason have gained popularity in the electronics design community. Their use allows improved performance of power supply systems along with substantial reduction of size and weight of the components used. However, these parts have poor thermal stability and can degrade in humid environments. Polymer hermetically sealed (PHS) capacitors avoid problems related to environmental degradation of molded case parts and can potentially replace current wet and solid hermetically sealed capacitors. In this work, PHS capacitors manufactured per DLA LAM DWG#13030 are evaluated for space applications. Several lots of capacitors manufactured over period from 2010 to 2014 were tested for the consistency of performance, electrical and thermal characteristics, highly accelerated life testing, and robustness under reverse bias and random vibration conditions. Special attention was given to analysis of leakage currents and the effect of long-term high temperature storage on capacitors in as is condition and after hermeticity loss. The results show that PHS capacitors might be especially effective for low-temperature applications or for system requiring a cold start-up. Additional screening and qualification testing have been recommended to assure the necessary quality of capacitors for space projects.

Tantalum-containing catalyst useful for producing alcohols from synthesis gas

DOEpatents

Kinkade, N.E.

1992-04-07

A catalyst is described which is useful for selectively converting a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen to a mixture of lower alkanols. The catalyst consists essentially of a mixture of molybdenum sulfide, an alkali metal compound and a tantalum compound.

Generation of high-energy neutron beam by fragmentation of relativistic heavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yurevich, Vladimir

2016-09-01

The phenomenon of multiple production of neutrons in reactions with heavy nuclei induced by high-energy protons and light nuclei is analyzed using a Moving Source Model. The Lorentz transformation of the obtained neutron distributions is used to study the neutron characteristics in the inverse kinematics where relativistic heavy nuclei bombard a light-mass target. The neutron beam generated at 0∘has a Gaussian shape with a maximum at the energy of the projectile nucleons and an energy resolution σE/E < 4% above 6 GeV.

Frequency spectrum of tantalum at temperatures of 293-2300 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Semenov, V. A.; Kozlov, Zh. A.; Krachun, L.; Mateescu, G.; Morozov, V. M.; Oprea, A. I.; Oprea, K.; Puchkov, A. V.

2010-05-01

The temperature dependence of the frequency spectrum of tantalum in the temperature range from room temperature to 2300 K has been studied for the first time using inelastic slow-neutron scattering. The inelastic slow-neutron scattering spectra have been measured at different temperatures on a DIN-2PI time-of-flight spectrometer installed at the IBR-2 nuclear reactor (Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russia) with the use of a TS3000K high-temperature thermostat. From the measured spectra, the frequency spectra of the tantalum crystal lattice have been determined at temperatures of 293, 1584, and 2300 K by the iteration method. As the temperature increases, the frequency spectrum, on the whole, is softened and the specific features manifested themselves at room temperature are smoothed. The variations observed have been explained by the increase in the role of the effects of vibration anharmonism at high temperatures.

Atomization from a tantalum surface in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gregoire, D. C.; Chakrabarti, C. L.

The mechanism of atom formation of U, V, Mo, Ni, Mn, Cu and Mg atomized from pyrolytic graphite and tantalum metal surfaces has been studied. The mechanism of atom formation for U from a graphite tube atomizer is reported for the first time. The peak absorbance for U and Cu is increased by factors of 59.7 and 2.0, respectively, whereas that of V, Mo and Ni is reduced by several orders of magnitude when they are atomized from a tantalum metal surface. The peak absorbance of Mn and Mg is not appreciably affected by the material of the atomization surface. Interaction of Mn and Mg with the graphite surface and formation of their refractory carbides was found to be negligible. Uranium forms a refractory carbide when heated from a graphite surface.

2014 NEPP Tasks Update for Ceramic and Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander A.

2014-01-01

Presentation describes recent development in research on MnO2, wet, and polymer tantalum capacitors. Low-voltage failures in multilayer ceramic capacitors and techniques to reveal precious metal electrode (PME) and base metal electrode (BME) capacitors with cracks are discussed. A voltage breakdown technique is suggested to select high quality low-voltage BME ceramic capacitors.

Theoretical investigation of α -like quasimolecules in heavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delion, D. S.; Dumitrescu, A.; Baran, V. V.

2018-06-01

Quasimolecular α -like ground rotational bands were evidenced a long time ago in light nuclei, but they cannot be detected in heavy nuclei due to large Coulomb barriers. In order to search for rotational bands built on excited states in these nuclei, we investigate the shape of an α -nucleus quasimolecular potential matched to a realistic external α -daughter interaction by using as input data α -decay widths. It turns out that its Gaussian length parameter lies in a narrow interval, b0∈[0.6 ,0.8 ] fm, and the equilibrium radius is slightly larger than the predicted Mott transition point from nucleonic to the α -cluster phase in finite nuclei, confirming that α clusters are born on the nuclear surface at low densities. We point out that the α emitters above magic nuclei have the largest spectroscopic factors Sα˜10 % . In addition, we predict that for nuclei with b0>0.75 fm, the first excited vibrational resonant state in the quasimolecular potential is close to the Coulomb barrier and therefore the rotational band built on it can be evidenced by the structure of the α -scattering cross section versus energy. Moreover, its detection by a highly sensitive γ -ray beam produced by laser facilities would provide an additional proof for the existence of α molecules in heavy nuclei.

Alkyl group effects on CO insertion into coordinatively unsaturated early-transition-metal alkyls. Preparations and the first structural characterizations of tantalum enolate-O and tantalum. eta. sup 2 -acyl complexes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meyer, T.Y.; Garner, L.R.; Baenziger, N.C.

1990-10-03

Low-pressure carbonylation of the mono(peralkylcyclopentadienyl)tantalum(V) alkyls ({eta}-C{sub 5}Me{sub 4}R)TaR{prime}Cl{sub 3} (R = Me, Et; R{prime} = CH{sub 2}C{sub 6}H{sub 4}-p-Me, CH{sub 2}CMe{sub 3}) yields either the O-bound enolate or the {eta}{sup 2}-acyl as shown by ir/NMR spectroscopy and x-ray diffractometry. The p-tolyl enolate ({eta}-C{sub 5}Me{sub 5})Ta(OCH{double bond}CHC{sub 6}H{sub 4}-p-Me)Cl{sub 3}, derived directly from carbonylation of the tantalum 4-methylbenzyl precursor, is shown to possess a cis configuration in solution and in the solid state. Key structural features from a single-crystal x-ray diffraction study of the tetrahydrofuran-ligated enolate complex are reported. The mechanism of formation of the enolate from carbonylation of themore » 4-methylbenzyl complex is discussed. The previously reported acyl ({eta}-C{sub 5}Me{sub 4}R)Ta(C(O)CH{sub 2}CMe{sub 3})Cl{sub 3} has been reexamined and found to possess a symmetric, strongly distorted {eta}{sup 2}-acyl coordination by solution {sup 1}H NMR spectroscopy and solid-state x-ray diffractometry. The molecular structures of ({eta}-C{sub 5}Me{sub 5})Ta(OCH{double bond}CHC{sub 6}H{sub 4}-p-Me)Cl{sub 3} and ({eta}-C{sub 5}Me{sub 5})Ta(C(O)CH{sub 2}CMe{sub 3})Cl{sub 3}, which are reported here, are the first structural determinations of a tantalum enolate and of a tantalum {eta}{sup 2}-acyl. 41 refs., 2 figs., 8 tabs.« less

Study of surge current effects on solid tantalum capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1980-01-01

Results are presented of a 2,000 hour cycled life test program conducted to determine the effect of short term surge current screening on approximately 47 micron f/volt solid tantalum capacitors. The format provides average values and standard deviations of the parameters, capacitance, dissipation factor, and equivalent series resistance at 120 Hz, 1KHz, abd 40 KHz.

Diffusion-Cooled Tantalum Hot-Electron Bolometer Mixers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Skalare, Anders; McGrath, William; Bumble, Bruce; LeDuc, Henry

2004-01-01

A batch of experimental diffusion-cooled hot-electron bolometers (HEBs), suitable for use as mixers having input frequencies in the terahertz range and output frequencies up to about a gigahertz, exploit the superconducting/normal-conducting transition in a thin strip of tantalum. The design and operation of these HEB mixers are based on mostly the same principles as those of a prior HEB mixer that exploited the superconducting/normal- conducting transition in a thin strip of niobium and that was described elsewhere.

Accurate Detection of Dysmorphic Nuclei Using Dynamic Programming and Supervised Classification.

PubMed

Verschuuren, Marlies; De Vylder, Jonas; Catrysse, Hannes; Robijns, Joke; Philips, Wilfried; De Vos, Winnok H

2017-01-01

A vast array of pathologies is typified by the presence of nuclei with an abnormal morphology. Dysmorphic nuclear phenotypes feature dramatic size changes or foldings, but also entail much subtler deviations such as nuclear protrusions called blebs. Due to their unpredictable size, shape and intensity, dysmorphic nuclei are often not accurately detected in standard image analysis routines. To enable accurate detection of dysmorphic nuclei in confocal and widefield fluorescence microscopy images, we have developed an automated segmentation algorithm, called Blebbed Nuclei Detector (BleND), which relies on two-pass thresholding for initial nuclear contour detection, and an optimal path finding algorithm, based on dynamic programming, for refining these contours. Using a robust error metric, we show that our method matches manual segmentation in terms of precision and outperforms state-of-the-art nuclear segmentation methods. Its high performance allowed for building and integrating a robust classifier that recognizes dysmorphic nuclei with an accuracy above 95%. The combined segmentation-classification routine is bound to facilitate nucleus-based diagnostics and enable real-time recognition of dysmorphic nuclei in intelligent microscopy workflows.

Accurate Detection of Dysmorphic Nuclei Using Dynamic Programming and Supervised Classification

PubMed Central

Verschuuren, Marlies; De Vylder, Jonas; Catrysse, Hannes; Robijns, Joke; Philips, Wilfried

2017-01-01

A vast array of pathologies is typified by the presence of nuclei with an abnormal morphology. Dysmorphic nuclear phenotypes feature dramatic size changes or foldings, but also entail much subtler deviations such as nuclear protrusions called blebs. Due to their unpredictable size, shape and intensity, dysmorphic nuclei are often not accurately detected in standard image analysis routines. To enable accurate detection of dysmorphic nuclei in confocal and widefield fluorescence microscopy images, we have developed an automated segmentation algorithm, called Blebbed Nuclei Detector (BleND), which relies on two-pass thresholding for initial nuclear contour detection, and an optimal path finding algorithm, based on dynamic programming, for refining these contours. Using a robust error metric, we show that our method matches manual segmentation in terms of precision and outperforms state-of-the-art nuclear segmentation methods. Its high performance allowed for building and integrating a robust classifier that recognizes dysmorphic nuclei with an accuracy above 95%. The combined segmentation-classification routine is bound to facilitate nucleus-based diagnostics and enable real-time recognition of dysmorphic nuclei in intelligent microscopy workflows. PMID:28125723

Electron-ion temperature equilibration in warm dense tantalum

DOE PAGES

Doppner, T; LePape, S.; Ma, T.; ...

2014-11-05

We present measurements of electron-ion temperature equilibration in proton-heated tantalum, under warm dense matter conditions. Our results agree with theoretical predictions for metals calculated using input data from ab initio simulations. Furthermore, the fast relaxation observed in the experiment contrasts with much longer equilibration times found in proton heated carbon, indicating that the energy flow pathways in warm dense matter are far from being fully understood.

Self-Affinity and Lacunarity of Chromatin Texture in Benign and Malignant Breast Epithelial Cell Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Einstein, Andrew J.; Wu, Hai-Shan; Gil, Joan

1998-01-01

Methods are presented for characterizing the self-affinity and lacunarity of arbitrarily shaped images. Chromatin appearance in breast epithelial cell nuclei is shown to be statistically self-affine. Spectral and Minkowski dimensions are lesser in nuclei of malignant cases than in nuclei of benign cases, and lacunarity further quantifies morphologic differences such as chromatin clumping and nucleoli. Fractal texture features are used as the basis for an accurate cytologic diagnosis of breast cancer.

Response and representation of ductile damage under varying shock loading conditions in tantalum

DOE PAGES

Bronkhorst, C. A.; Gray, III, G. T.; Addessio, F. L.; ...

2016-02-25

The response of polycrystalline metals, which possess adequate mechanisms for plastic deformation under extreme loading conditions, is often accompanied by the formation of pores within the structure of the material. This large deformation process is broadly identified as progressive with nucleation, growth, coalescence, and failure the physical path taken over very short periods of time. These are well known to be complex processes strongly influenced by microstructure, loading path, and the loading profile, which remains a significant challenge to represent and predict numerically. In the current study, the influence of loading path on the damage evolution in high-purity tantalum ismore » presented. Tantalum samples were shock loaded to three different peak shock stresses using both symmetric impact, and two different composite flyer plate configurations such that upon unloading the three samples displayed nearly identical “pull-back” signals as measured via rear-surface velocimetry. While the “pull-back” signals observed were found to be similar in magnitude, the sample loaded to the highest peak stress nucleated a connected field of ductile fracture which resulted in complete separation, while the two lower peak stresses resulted in incipient damage. The damage evolution in the “soft” recovered tantalum samples was quantified using optical metallography, electron-back-scatter diffraction, and tomography. These experiments are examined numerically through the use of a model for shock-induced porosity evolution during damage. The model is shown to describe the response of the tantalum reasonably well under strongly loaded conditions but less well in the nucleation dominated regime. As a result, numerical results are also presented as a function of computational mesh density and discussed in the context of improved representation of the influence of material structure upon macro-scale models of ductile damage.« less

Cell nuclei and cytoplasm joint segmentation using the sliding band filter.

PubMed

Quelhas, Pedro; Marcuzzo, Monica; Mendonça, Ana Maria; Campilho, Aurélio

2010-08-01

Microscopy cell image analysis is a fundamental tool for biological research. In particular, multivariate fluorescence microscopy is used to observe different aspects of cells in cultures. It is still common practice to perform analysis tasks by visual inspection of individual cells which is time consuming, exhausting and prone to induce subjective bias. This makes automatic cell image analysis essential for large scale, objective studies of cell cultures. Traditionally the task of automatic cell analysis is approached through the use of image segmentation methods for extraction of cells' locations and shapes. Image segmentation, although fundamental, is neither an easy task in computer vision nor is it robust to image quality changes. This makes image segmentation for cell detection semi-automated requiring frequent tuning of parameters. We introduce a new approach for cell detection and shape estimation in multivariate images based on the sliding band filter (SBF). This filter's design makes it adequate to detect overall convex shapes and as such it performs well for cell detection. Furthermore, the parameters involved are intuitive as they are directly related to the expected cell size. Using the SBF filter we detect cells' nucleus and cytoplasm location and shapes. Based on the assumption that each cell has the same approximate shape center in both nuclei and cytoplasm fluorescence channels, we guide cytoplasm shape estimation by the nuclear detections improving performance and reducing errors. Then we validate cell detection by gathering evidence from nuclei and cytoplasm channels. Additionally, we include overlap correction and shape regularization steps which further improve the estimated cell shapes. The approach is evaluated using two datasets with different types of data: a 20 images benchmark set of simulated cell culture images, containing 1000 simulated cells; a 16 images Drosophila melanogaster Kc167 dataset containing 1255 cells, stained for DNA and

The structure, bond strength and apatite-inducing ability of micro-arc oxidized tantalum and their response to annealing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Cuicui; Wang, Feng; Han, Yong

2016-01-01

In this study, the tantalum oxide coatings were formed on pure tantalum (Ta) by micro-arc oxidation (MAO) in electrolytic solutions of calcium acetate and β-glycerophosphate disodium, and the effect of the applied voltage on the microstructure and bond strength of the MAO coatings was systematically investigated. The effect of annealing treatment on the microstructure, bond strength and apatite-inducing ability of the MAO coatings formed at 350 and 450 V was also studied. The study revealed that during the preparation of tantalum oxide coatings on Ta substrate by MAO, the applied voltage considerably affected the phase components, morphologies and bond strength of the coatings, but had little effect on surface chemical species. After annealing treatment, newly formed CaTa4O11 phase mainly contributed to the much more stronger apatite-inducing ability of the annealed tantalum oxide coatings than those that were not annealed. The better apatite-inducing ability of the MAO coatings formed at 450 V compared to those formed at 350 V was attributed to the less amorphous phase and more crystalline phase as well as more Ca and P contained in the MAO coatings with increasing the applied voltage.

Design, Development, manufacture and qualification of wet-slug all-tantalum capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maher, R. H.

1977-01-01

Specifications and qualification tests data are presented for over eleven hundred T3 case all-tantalum capacitors encompassing four ratings. The finalized product has all the advantages of the silver cased wet and is capable of withstanding some reverse potential ac ripple current.

Physics of Shock Compression and Release: NEMD Simulations of Tantalum and Silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hahn, Eric; Meyers, Marc; Zhao, Shiteng; Remington, Bruce; Bringa, Eduardo; Germann, Tim; Ravelo, Ramon; Hammerberg, James

2015-06-01

Shock compression and release allow us to evaluate physical deformation and damage mechanisms occurring in extreme environments. SPaSM and LAMMPS molecular dynamics codes were employed to simulate single and polycrystalline tantalum and silicon at strain rates above 108 s-1. Visualization and analysis was accomplished using OVITO, Crystal Analysis Tool, and a redesigned orientation imaging function implemented into SPaSM. A comparison between interatomic potentials for both Si and Ta (as pertaining to shock conditions) is conducted and the influence on phase transformation and plastic relaxation is discussed. Partial dislocations, shear induced disordering, and metastable phase changes are observed in compressed silicon. For tantalum, the role of grain boundary and twin intersections are evaluated for their role in ductile spallation. Finally, the temperature dependent response of both Ta and Si is investigated.

Age of heart disease presentation and dysmorphic nuclei in patients with LMNA mutations

PubMed Central

Core, Jason Q.; Mehrabi, Mehrsa; Robinson, Zachery R.; Ochs, Alexander R.; McCarthy, Linda A.; Zaragoza, Michael V.

2017-01-01

Nuclear shape defects are a distinguishing characteristic in laminopathies, cancers, and other pathologies. Correlating these defects to the symptoms, mechanisms, and progression of disease requires unbiased, quantitative, and high-throughput means of quantifying nuclear morphology. To accomplish this, we developed a method of automatically segmenting fluorescently stained nuclei in 2D microscopy images and then classifying them as normal or dysmorphic based on three geometric features of the nucleus using a package of Matlab codes. As a test case, cultured skin-fibroblast nuclei of individuals possessing LMNA splice-site mutation (c.357-2A>G), LMNA nonsense mutation (c.736 C>T, pQ246X) in exon 4, LMNA missense mutation (c.1003C>T, pR335W) in exon 6, Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome, and no LMNA mutations were analyzed. For each cell type, the percentage of dysmorphic nuclei, and other morphological features such as average nuclear area and average eccentricity were obtained. Compared to blind observers, our procedure implemented in Matlab codes possessed similar accuracy to manual counting of dysmorphic nuclei while being significantly more consistent. The automatic quantification of nuclear defects revealed a correlation between in vitro results and age of patients for initial symptom onset. Our results demonstrate the method’s utility in experimental studies of diseases affecting nuclear shape through automated, unbiased, and accurate identification of dysmorphic nuclei. PMID:29149195

Age of heart disease presentation and dysmorphic nuclei in patients with LMNA mutations.

PubMed

Core, Jason Q; Mehrabi, Mehrsa; Robinson, Zachery R; Ochs, Alexander R; McCarthy, Linda A; Zaragoza, Michael V; Grosberg, Anna

2017-01-01

Nuclear shape defects are a distinguishing characteristic in laminopathies, cancers, and other pathologies. Correlating these defects to the symptoms, mechanisms, and progression of disease requires unbiased, quantitative, and high-throughput means of quantifying nuclear morphology. To accomplish this, we developed a method of automatically segmenting fluorescently stained nuclei in 2D microscopy images and then classifying them as normal or dysmorphic based on three geometric features of the nucleus using a package of Matlab codes. As a test case, cultured skin-fibroblast nuclei of individuals possessing LMNA splice-site mutation (c.357-2A>G), LMNA nonsense mutation (c.736 C>T, pQ246X) in exon 4, LMNA missense mutation (c.1003C>T, pR335W) in exon 6, Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome, and no LMNA mutations were analyzed. For each cell type, the percentage of dysmorphic nuclei, and other morphological features such as average nuclear area and average eccentricity were obtained. Compared to blind observers, our procedure implemented in Matlab codes possessed similar accuracy to manual counting of dysmorphic nuclei while being significantly more consistent. The automatic quantification of nuclear defects revealed a correlation between in vitro results and age of patients for initial symptom onset. Our results demonstrate the method's utility in experimental studies of diseases affecting nuclear shape through automated, unbiased, and accurate identification of dysmorphic nuclei.

Comet Wild 2 and the two kinds of cometary sub-nuclei population

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Illes-Almar, E.

On the 2nd January 2004 Stardust encountered the nucleus of comet Wild 2 by 240 km. 72 images have been collected - among them the up-till-now best views of a cometary nucleus. The "pockmarked" surface of the comet is peculiar as the "craters" are not normal craters: neither in shape nor in cross section. Their shapes are rather irregular and generally not central or axisymmetric. Furthermore they have flat bottoms and very steep walls that seem almost perpendicular to the surface. One has the feeling that they are not impact craters. In the framework of our `two kinds of cometary sub-nuclei population' hypothesis (Illés-Almár, 1995, 2002) the cavities can be explained by the stronger sublimation where the loose sub-nuclei are exposed to the surface. The almost vertical walls resemble to the vertical walls of the sublimated CO2 ice on the South polar cap of Mars. References: Illés-Almár, E.: On two different populations of cometary sub-nuclei. Antarctic Meteorites XX. June 6-8, 1995, Tokyo. Abstracts pp. 93-94, 1995. Illés-Almár, E.: Comet Borrelly and the two kinds of cometary sub-nuclei population. (submitted to Adv. Sp. Res. in 2002)

Intraoperative Localization of Tantalum Markers for Proton Beam Radiation of Choroidal Melanoma by an Opto-Electronic Navigation System: A Novel Technique

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Amstutz, Christoph A., E-mail: christoph.amstutz@usz.ch; Bechrakis, Nikolaos E.; Foerster, Michael H.

2012-03-15

Purpose: External beam proton radiation therapy has been used since 1975 to treat choroidal melanoma. For tumor location determination during proton radiation treatment, surgical tantalum clips are registered with image data. This report introduces the intraoperative application of an opto-electronic navigation system to determine with high precision the position of the tantalum markers and their spatial relationship to the tumor and anatomical landmarks. The application of the technique in the first 4 patients is described. Methods and Materials: A navigated reference base was attached noninvasively to the eye, and a navigated pointer device was used to record the spatial positionmore » of the tantalum markers, the tumor, and anatomical landmarks. Measurement accuracy was assessed on ex vivo porcine eye specimen by repetitive recording of the tantalum marker positions. The method was applied intraoperatively on 4 patients undergoing routine tantalum clip surgery. The spatial position information delivered by the navigation system was compared to the geometric data generated by the EYEPLAN software. Results: In the ex vivo experiments, the maximum repetition error was 0.34 mm. For the intraoperative application, the root mean square error of paired-points matching of the marker positions from the navigation system and from the EYEPLAN software was 0.701-1.25 mm. Conclusions: Navigation systems are a feasible tool for accurate localization of tantalum markers and anatomic landmarks. They can provide additional geometric information, and therefore have the potential to increase the reliability and accuracy of external beam proton radiation therapy for choroidal melanoma.« less

Novel hierarchical tantalum oxide-PDMS hybrid coating for medical implants: One pot synthesis, characterization and modulation of fibroblast proliferation.

PubMed

Tran, Phong A; Fox, Kate; Tran, Nhiem

2017-01-01

Surface properties such as morphology, roughness and charge density have a strong influence on the interaction of biomaterials and cells. Hierarchical materials with a combination of micron/submicron and nanoscale features for coating of medical implants could therefore have significant potential to modulate cellular responses and eventually improve the performance of the implants. In this study, we report a simple, one pot wet chemistry preparation of a hybrid coating system with hierarchical surface structures consisting of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and tantalum oxide. Medical grade, amine functional PDMS was mixed with tantalum ethoxide which subsequently formed Ta 2 O 5 in situ through hydrolysis and condensation during coating process. The coatings were characterized by SEM, EDS, XPS, confocal scanning microscopy, contact angle measurement and in vitro cell culture. Varying PDMS and tantalum ethoxide ratios resulted in coatings of different surface textures ranging from smooth to submicro- and nano-structured. Strikingly, hierarchical surfaces containing both microscale (1-1.5μm) and nanoscale (86-163nm) particles were found on coatings synthesized with 20% and 40% (v/v) tantalum ethoxide. The coatings were similar in term of hydrophobicity but showed different surface roughness and chemical composition. Importantly, higher cell proliferation was observed on hybrid surface with hierarchical structures compared to pure PDMS or pure tantalum oxide. The coating process is simple, versatile, carried out under ambient condition and requires no special equipment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Shape transition with temperature of the pear-shaped nuclei in covariant density functional theory

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Wei; Niu, Yi-Fei

2017-11-10

The shape evolutions of the pear-shaped nucleimore » $$^{224}$$Ra and even-even $$^{144-154}$$Ba with temperature are investigated by the finite-temperature relativistic mean field theory with the treatment of pairing correlations by the BCS approach. We study the free energy surfaces as well as the bulk properties including deformations, pairing gaps, excitation energy, and specific heat for the global minimum. For $$^{224}$$Ra, three discontinuities found in the specific heat curve indicate the pairing transition at temperature 0.4 MeV, and two shape transitions at temperatures 0.9 and 1.0 MeV, namely one from quadrupole-octupole deformed to quadrupole deformed, and the other from quadrupole deformed to spherical. Furthermore, the gaps at $N$=136 and $Z$=88 are responsible for stabilizing the octupole-deformed global minimum at low temperatures. Similar pairing transition at $$T\\sim$$0.5 MeV and shape transitions at $T$=0.5-2.2 MeV are found for even-even $$^{144-154}$$Ba. Finally, the transition temperatures are roughly proportional to the corresponding deformations at the ground states.« less

Stacked Sparse Autoencoder (SSAE) for Nuclei Detection on Breast Cancer Histopathology Images.

PubMed

Xu, Jun; Xiang, Lei; Liu, Qingshan; Gilmore, Hannah; Wu, Jianzhong; Tang, Jinghai; Madabhushi, Anant

2016-01-01

Automated nuclear detection is a critical step for a number of computer assisted pathology related image analysis algorithms such as for automated grading of breast cancer tissue specimens. The Nottingham Histologic Score system is highly correlated with the shape and appearance of breast cancer nuclei in histopathological images. However, automated nucleus detection is complicated by 1) the large number of nuclei and the size of high resolution digitized pathology images, and 2) the variability in size, shape, appearance, and texture of the individual nuclei. Recently there has been interest in the application of "Deep Learning" strategies for classification and analysis of big image data. Histopathology, given its size and complexity, represents an excellent use case for application of deep learning strategies. In this paper, a Stacked Sparse Autoencoder (SSAE), an instance of a deep learning strategy, is presented for efficient nuclei detection on high-resolution histopathological images of breast cancer. The SSAE learns high-level features from just pixel intensities alone in order to identify distinguishing features of nuclei. A sliding window operation is applied to each image in order to represent image patches via high-level features obtained via the auto-encoder, which are then subsequently fed to a classifier which categorizes each image patch as nuclear or non-nuclear. Across a cohort of 500 histopathological images (2200 × 2200) and approximately 3500 manually segmented individual nuclei serving as the groundtruth, SSAE was shown to have an improved F-measure 84.49% and an average area under Precision-Recall curve (AveP) 78.83%. The SSAE approach also out-performed nine other state of the art nuclear detection strategies.

Light element production by low energy nuclei from massive stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vangioni-Flam, E.; Casse, M.; Ramaty, R.

1997-01-01

The Orion complex is a source of gamma rays attributed to the de-excitation of fast carbon and oxygen nuclei excited through interactions with ambient hydrogen and helium. This has consequences for the production and evolution of light isotopes in the Galaxy, as massive stars appear as prolific sources of C-O rich low energy nuclei. The different stages of massive star evolution are considered in relation to the acceleration of nuclei to moderate energies. It is concluded that the low energy nuclear component originating from massive stars plays a larger role than the usual Galactic cosmic rays in shaping the evolution of Li-6, Be-9, B-10 and B-11, especially in the early Galactic evolution. The enhancement of the B-11/B-10 ratio observed in meteorites and in the interstellar medium is attributed to the interaction of low energy carbon nuclei with ambient H and to a lesser degree, to neutrino spallation.

Nuclear shapes: Quest for triaxiality in 86Ge and the shape of 98Zr

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Werner, V.; Lettmann, M.; Lizarazo, C.; Witt, W.; Cline, D.; Carpenter, M.; Doornenbal, P.; Obertelli, A.; Pietralla, N.; Savard, G.; Söderström, P.-A.; Wu, C.-Y.; Zhu, S.

2018-05-01

The region of neutron-rich nuclei above the N = 50 magic neutron shell closure encompasses a rich variety of nuclear structure, especially shapeevolutionary phenomena. This can be attributed to the complexity of sub-shell closures, their appearance and disappearance in the region, such as the N = 56 sub shell or Z = 40 for protons. Structural effects reach from a shape phase transition in the Zr isotopes, over shape coexistence between spherical, prolate, and oblate shapes, to possibly rigid triaxial deformation. Recent experiments in this region and their main physics viewpoints are summarized.

Effect of oxygen deficiency on electronic properties and local structure of amorphous tantalum oxide thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Denny, Yus Rama; Firmansyah, Teguh; Oh, Suhk Kun

2016-10-15

Highlights: • The effect of oxygen flow rate on electronic properties and local structure of tantalum oxide thin films was studied. • The oxygen deficiency induced the nonstoichiometric state a-TaOx. • A small peak at 1.97 eV above the valence band side appeared on nonstoichiometric Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5} thin films. • The oxygen flow rate can change the local electronic structure of tantalum oxide thin films. - Abstract: The dependence of electronic properties and local structure of tantalum oxide thin film on oxygen deficiency have been investigated by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Reflection Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (REELS),more » and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The XPS results showed that the oxygen flow rate change results in the appearance of features in the Ta 4f at the binding energies of 23.2 eV, 24.4 eV, 25.8, and 27.3 eV whose peaks are attributed to Ta{sup 1+}, Ta{sup 2+}, Ta{sup 3+}/Ta{sup 4+}, and Ta{sup 5+}, respectively. The presence of nonstoichiometric state from tantalum oxide (TaOx) thin films could be generated by the oxygen vacancies. In addition, XAS spectra manifested both the increase of coordination number of the first Ta-O shell and a considerable reduction of the Ta-O bond distance with the decrease of oxygen deficiency.« less

Effect of Surge Current Testing on Reliability of Solid Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2008-01-01

Tantalum capacitors manufactured per military specifications are established reliability components and have less than 0.001% of failures per 1000 hours for grades D or S, thus positioning these parts among electronic components with the highest reliability characteristics. Still, failures of tantalum capacitors do happen and when it occurs it might have catastrophic consequences for the system. To reduce this risk, further development of a screening and qualification system with special attention to the possible deficiencies in the existing procedures is necessary. The purpose of this work is evaluation of the effect of surge current stress testing on reliability of the parts at both steady-state and multiple surge current stress conditions. In order to reveal possible degradation and precipitate more failures, various part types were tested and stressed in the range of voltage and temperature conditions exceeding the specified limits. A model to estimate the probability of post-surge current testing-screening failures and measures to improve the effectiveness of the screening process has been suggested.

Shape coexistence in neutron-rich nuclei near N=40

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carpenter, M. P.; Janssens, R. V. F.; Zhu, S.

2013-04-01

Recent data show that both the 2+ and 4+ levels in the even neutron-rich Cr and Fe isotopes decrease in excitation energy toward N=40. This observation, along with Coulomb excitation and lifetime data, strongly indicates an increase in collectivity near N=40 in contradiction with expectations based on first principles. A straightforward two-band mixing model is used to investigate the structure of these neutron-rich Cr and Fe nuclei. The approach takes advantage of the extensive data available for 60Fe to provide the parameter values with which to reproduce the experimental observations in the 58-64Cr and 60-68Fe isotopic chains. Comparisons between the model and the data suggest marked structural differences for the ground-state configurations of N=40 Cr and Fe.

Evolution of Structure in Nuclei: Meditation by Sub-Shell Modifications and Relation to Binding Energies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Casten, R. F.; Cakirli, R. B.

2009-03-01

Understanding the development of configuration mixing, coherence, collectivity, and deformation in nuclei is one of the crucial challenges in nuclear structure physics, and one which has become all the more important with the advent of next generation facilities for the study of exotic nuclei. We will discuss recent work on phase/shape transitional behavior in nuclei, and the role of changes in sub-shell structure in mediating such transitional regions. We will also discuss a newly found, much deeper, link between nuclear structure and nuclear binding energies.

Beta-spectrum shapes of forbidden β decays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kostensalo, Joel; Suhonen, Jouni

2018-03-01

The neutrinoless ββ decay of atomic nuclei continues to attract fervent interest due to its potential to confirm the possible Majorana nature of the neutrino, and thus the nonconservation of the lepton number. At the same time, the direct dark matter experiments are looking for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) through their scattering on nuclei. The neutrino-oscillation experiments on reactor antineutrinos base their analyses on speculations of β-spectrum shapes of nuclear decays, thus leading to the notorious “reactor antineutrino anomaly.” In all these experimental efforts, one encounters the problem of β-spectrum shapes of forbidden β decays, either as unwanted backgrounds or unknown components in the analyses of data. In this work, the problem of spectrum shapes is discussed and illustrated with a set of selected examples. The relation of the β-spectrum shapes to the problem of the effective value of the weak axial-vector coupling strength gA and the enhancement of the axial-charge matrix element is also pointed out.

Effect of silicon, tantalum, and tungsten doping and polarization on bioactivity of hydroxyapatite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dhal, Jharana

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) ceramics has important applications as bone graft because of the structural and compositional similarities with bone tissue. However, inferior osteogenic capacity to bone and poor mechanical properties have been identified to be major disadvantages of synthetic HAp compared to the living bone tissue. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the effect of doping with higher valent cations (Tungsten, tantalum, and silicon) and polarization or combination of both on change in property of doped HAp and subsequent impact its bioactivity. In vitro study with human osteoblast cells was used to investigate the influences of doping and polarization on bone cell-materials interactions. The bioactivity of doped HAp was compared with pure HAp. Effect of doping and polarization on the change in HAp was investigated by monitoring change in mineral phases, stored charge, and activation energy of HAp. Activation energy of depolarization was used to explain the possible mechanism of polarization in doped samples. Bioactivity of HAp increased when doped with tantalum and tungsten. Polarization further increased the bioactivity of tungsten- and tantalum-doped samples. Increase in bioactivity on polarized and doped samples was attributed to increase in surface energy and increase in surface wettability. Whereas, an increase in bioactivity on doped unpolarized surface was attributed to change in microstructure. Polarized charge calculated from TSDC indicates that polarized charge decreases on tantalum- and tungsten-doped HAp. The decrease in polarized charge was attributed to the presence of significant amount of different phases that may hinder the ionic motion in doped samples. However, for silicon-doped HAp, TSDC study showed no difference in the mechanism of polarization between doped and undoped samples. Increase in silicon doping decreased the grain size though mechanism is not affected by grain size. Total stored charge decreased with increase in

Vertical uniformity of cells and nuclei in epithelial monolayers.

PubMed

Neelam, Srujana; Hayes, Peter Robert; Zhang, Qiao; Dickinson, Richard B; Lele, Tanmay P

2016-01-22

Morphological variability in cytoskeletal organization, organelle position and cell boundaries is a common feature of cultured cells. Remarkable uniformity and reproducibility in structure can be accomplished by providing cells with defined geometric cues. Cells in tissues can also self-organize in the absence of directing extracellular cues; however the mechanical principles for such self-organization are not understood. We report that unlike horizontal shapes, the vertical shapes of the cell and nucleus in the z-dimension are uniform in cells in cultured monolayers compared to isolated cells. Apical surfaces of cells and their nuclei in monolayers were flat and heights were uniform. In contrast, isolated cells, or cells with disrupted cell-cell adhesions had nuclei with curved apical surfaces and variable heights. Isolated cells cultured within micron-sized square wells displayed flat cell and nuclear shapes similar to cells in monolayers. Local disruption of nuclear-cytoskeletal linkages resulted in spatial variation in vertical uniformity. These results suggest that competition between cell-cell pulling forces that expand and shorten the vertical cell cross-section, thereby widening and flattening the nucleus, and the resistance of the nucleus to further flattening results in uniform cell and nuclear cross-sections. Our results reveal the mechanical principles of self-organized vertical uniformity in cell monolayers.

Mechanical positioning of multiple nuclei in muscle cells.

PubMed

Manhart, Angelika; Windner, Stefanie; Baylies, Mary; Mogilner, Alex

2018-06-01

Many types of large cells have multiple nuclei. In skeletal muscle fibers, the nuclei are distributed along the cell to maximize their internuclear distances. This myonuclear positioning is crucial for cell function. Although microtubules, microtubule associated proteins, and motors have been implicated, mechanisms responsible for myonuclear positioning remain unclear. We used a combination of rough interacting particle and detailed agent-based modeling to examine computationally the hypothesis that a force balance generated by microtubules positions the muscle nuclei. Rather than assuming the nature and identity of the forces, we simulated various types of forces between the pairs of nuclei and between the nuclei and cell boundary to position the myonuclei according to the laws of mechanics. We started with a large number of potential interacting particle models and computationally screened these models for their ability to fit biological data on nuclear positions in hundreds of Drosophila larval muscle cells. This reverse engineering approach resulted in a small number of feasible models, the one with the best fit suggests that the nuclei repel each other and the cell boundary with forces that decrease with distance. The model makes nontrivial predictions about the increased nuclear density near the cell poles, the zigzag patterns of the nuclear positions in wider cells, and about correlations between the cell width and elongated nuclear shapes, all of which we confirm by image analysis of the biological data. We support the predictions of the interacting particle model with simulations of an agent-based mechanical model. Taken together, our data suggest that microtubules growing from nuclear envelopes push on the neighboring nuclei and the cell boundaries, which is sufficient to establish the nearly-uniform nuclear spreading observed in muscle fibers.

Ion beam and dual ion beam sputter deposition of tantalum oxide films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cevro, Mirza; Carter, George

1994-11-01

Ion beam sputter deposition (IBS) and dual ion beam sputter deposition (DIBS) of tantalum oxide films was investigated at room temperature and compared with similar films prepared by e-gun deposition. Optical properties ie refractive index and extinction coefficient of IBS films were determined in the 250 - 1100 nm range by transmission spectrophotometry and at (lambda) equals 632.8 nm by ellipsometry. They were found to be mainly sensitive to the partial pressure of oxygen used as a reactive gas in the deposition process. The maximum value of the refractive index of IBS deposited tantalum oxide films was n equals 2.15 at (lambda) equals 550 nm and the extinction coefficient of order k equals 2 X 10-4. Films deposited by e-gun deposition had refractive index n equals 2.06 at (lambda) equals 550 nm. Films deposited using DIBS ie deposition assisted by low energy Ar and O2 ions (Ea equals 0 - 300 eV) and low current density (Ji equals 0 - 40 (mu) A/cm2) showed no improvement in the optical properties of the films. Preferential sputtering occurred at Ea(Ar) equals 300 eV and Ji equals 20 (mu) A/cm2 and slightly oxygen deficient films were formed. Different bonding states in the tantalum-oxide films were determined by x-ray spectroscopy while composition of the film and contaminants were determined by Rutherford scattering spectroscopy. Tantalum oxide films formed by IBS contained relatively high Ar content (approximately equals 2.5%) originating from the reflected argon neutrals from the sputtering target while assisted deposition slightly increased the Ar content. Stress in the IBS deposited films was measured by the bending technique. IBS deposited films showed compressive stress with a typical value of s equals 3.2 X 109 dyn/cm2. Films deposited by concurrent ion bombardment showed an increase in the stress as a function of applied current density. The maximum was s approximately equals 5.6 X 109 dyn/cm2 for Ea equals 300 eV and Ji equals 35 (mu) A/cm2. All

Ion-beam and dual-ion-beam sputter deposition of tantalum oxide films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cevro, Mirza; Carter, George

1995-02-01

Ion-beam sputter deposition (IBS) and dual-ion-beam sputter deposition (DIBS) of tantalum oxide films was investigated at room temperature and compared with similar films prepared by e-gun deposition. The optical properties, i.e., refractive index and extinction coefficient, of IBS films were determined in the 250- to 1100-nm range by transmission spectrophotometry and at (lambda) equals 632.8 nm by ellipsometry. They were found to be mainly sensitive to the partial pressure of oxygen used as a reactive gas in the deposition process. The maximum value of the refractive index of IBS deposited tantalum oxide films was n equals 2.15 at (lambda) equals 550 nm and the extinction coefficient of order k equals 2 X 10-4. Films deposited by e-gun deposition had refractive index n 2.06 at (lambda) equals 550 nm. Films deposited using DIBS, i.e., deposition assisted by low energy Ar and O2 ions (Ea equals 0 to 300 eV) and low current density (Ji equals 0 to 40 (mu) A/cm2), showed no improvement in the optical properties of the films. Preferential sputtering occurred at Ea(Ar) equals 300 eV and Ji equals 20 (mu) A/cm2 and slightly oxygen deficient films were formed. Different bonding states in the tantalum-oxide films were determined by x-ray spectroscopy, whereas composition of the film and contaminants were determined by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS). Tantalum oxide films formed by IBS contained relatively high Ar content (approximately equals 2.5%) originating from the reflected argon neutrals from the sputtering target whereas assisted deposition slightly increased the Ar content. Stress in the IBS-deposited films was measured by the bending technique. IBS-deposited films showed compressive stress with a typical value of s equals 3.2 X 109 dyn/cm2. Films deposited by concurrent ion bombardment showed an increase in the stress as a function of applied current density. The maximum was s approximately equals 5.6 X 109 dyn/cm2 for Ea equals 300 eV and Ji equals

Evaluation of wet tantalum capacitors after exposure to extended periods of ripple current, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Watson, G. W.; Lasharr, J. C.; Shumaker, M. J.

1974-01-01

The application of tantalum capacitors in the Viking Lander includes both dc voltage and ripple current electrical stress, high temperature during nonoperating times (sterilization), and high vibration and shock loads. The capacitors must survive these severe environments without any degradation if reliable performance is to be achieved. A test program was established to evaluate both wet-slug tantalum and wet-foil capacitors under conditions accurately duplicating actual Viking applications. Test results of the electrical performance characteristics during extended periods of ripple current, the characteristics of the internal silver migration as a function for extended periods of ripple current, and the existence of any memory characteristics are presented.

Evaluation of wet tantalum capacitors after exposure to extended periods of ripple current, volume 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ward, C. M.

1975-01-01

The application of tantalum capacitors in the Viking Lander includes dc voltage and ripple current electrical stress, high temperature during nonoperating times (sterilization), and high vibration and shock loads. The capacitors must survive these severe environments without any degradation if reliable performance is to be achieved. A test program was established to evaluate both wet-slug tantalum and wet-foil capacitors under conditions accurately duplicating actual Viking applications. Test results of the electrical performance characteristics during extended periods of ripple current, the characteristics of the internal silver migration as a function of extended periods of ripple current, and the existence of any memory characteristics are presented.

Niobium (columbium) and tantalum resources of Brazil

USGS Publications Warehouse

White, Max Gregg

1975-01-01

Most of the niobium resources of Brazil occur as pyrochlore in carbonatites within syenitic intrusives of Late Cretaceous to early Tertiary age in western Minas Gerais and southeastern Goils. Minor amounts of it are produced together with tantalum from columbite-tantalite concentrates from pegmatites and placers adjacent to them, in the Sao Joao del Rei district in south-central Minas Gerais. All the niobium and tantalum produced in Brazil is exported. The only pyrochlore mined is from the Barreiro carbonatite deposit near Araxa in Minas Gerais where concentrates and ferroniobium are produced. Exploration work for pyrochlore and other mineral resources are being undertaken on other carbonatites, particularly at Catalao I in southeast Goias and at Tapira and Serra Negra in western Minas Gerais. Annual production and export from the Barreiro deposit are about 8,000 metric tons of pyrochlore concentrate containing about 60 percent Nb205 and about 2,700 metric tons of ferroniobium with 63 percent Nb2O5. The annual production capacity of the Barreiro plant is 18,000 tons of concentrate and 4,000 tons of ferroniobium. Ore reserves of the Barreiro deposit in all categories are 380 million tons with percent Nb2O5. Annual production of tantalite-columbite from the Sao Joao del Rei district, most of which is exported to the United States, is about 290 tons, of which about 79 percent is tantalite and about percent is columbite. Reserves of tantalite-columbite in the Sao Joao del Rei district are about 43,000 tons of proved and 73,000 tons of probable ore.

Development of high temperature materials for solid propellant rocket nozzle applications. [tantalum carbides-tungsten fiber composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Manning, C. R., Jr.; Honeycutt, L., III

1974-01-01

Evaluation of tantalum carbide-tungsten fiber composites has been completed as far as weight percent carbon additions and weight percent additions of tungsten fiber. Extensive studies were undertaken concerning Young's Modulus and fracture strength of this material. Also, in-depth analysis of the embrittling effects of the extra carbon additions on the tungsten fibers has been completed. The complete fabrication procedure for the tantalum carbide-tungsten fiber composites with extra carbon additions is given. Microprobe and metallographic studies showed the effect of extra carbon on the tungsten fibers, and evaluation of the thermal shock parameter fracture strength/Young's Modulus is included.

Use of steel and tantalum apparatus for molten Cd-Mg-Zn alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bennett, G. A.; Burris, L., Jr.; Kyle, M. L.; Nelson, P. A.

1966-01-01

Steel and tantalum apparatus contains various ternary alloys of cadmium, zinc, and magnesium used in pyrochemical processes for the recovery of uranium-base reactor fuels. These materials exhibit good corrosion resistance at the high temperatures necessary for fuel separation in liquid metal-molten salt solvents.

Symmetry remnants in the face of competing interactions in nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Leviatan, A., E-mail: ami@phys.huji.ac.il; Macek, M., E-mail: michal.macek@yale.edu

2015-10-15

Detailed description of nuclei necessitates model Hamiltonians which break most dynamical symmetries. Nevertheless, generalized notions of partial and quasi dynamical symmetries may still be applicable to selected subsets of states, amidst a complicated environment of other states. We examine such scenarios in the context of nuclear shape-phase transitions.

Physics of Unstable Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khoa, Dao Tien; Egelhof, Peter; Gales, Sydney; Giai, Nguyen Van; Motobayashi, Tohru

2008-04-01

]C([symbol], n)[symbol]O by the transfer reaction [symbol]C([symbol]Li, t)[symbol]O / F. Hammache et al. -- SPIRAL2 at GANIL: a world of leading ISOL facility for the physics of exotic nuclei / S. Gales -- Magnetic properties of light neutron-rich nuclei and shell evolution / T. Suzuki, T. Otsuka -- Multiple scattering effects in elastic and quasi free proton scattering from halo nuclei / R. Crespo et al. -- The dipole response of neutron halos and skins / T. Aumann -- Giant and pygmy resonances within axially-symmetric-deformed QRPA with the Gogny force / S. Péru, H. Goutte -- Soft K[symbol] = O+ modes unique to deformed neutron-rich unstable nuclei / K. Yoshida et al. -- Synthesis, decay properties, and identification of superheavy nuclei produced in [symbol]Ca-induced reactions / Yu. Ts. Oganessian et al. -- Highlights of the Brazilian RIB facility and its first results and hindrance of fusion cross section induced by [symbol]He / P. R. S. Gomes et al. -- Search for long fission times of super-heavy elements with Z = 114 / M. Morjean et al. -- Microscopic dynamics of shape coexistence phenomena around [symbol]Se and [symbol]Kr / N. Hinohara et al. -- [symbol]-cluster states and 4[symbol]-particle condensation in [symbol]O / Y. Funaki et al. -- Evolution of the N = 28 shell closure far from stability / O. Sorlin et al. -- Continuum QRPA approach and the surface di-neutron modes in nuclei near the neutron drip-line / M. Matsuo et al. -- Deformed relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov model for exotic nuclei / S. G. Zhou et al. -- Two- and three-body correlations in three-body resonances and continuum states / K. Katō, K. Ikeda -- Pion- and Rho-Meson effects in relativistic Hartree-Fock and RPA / N. V. Giai et al. -- Study of the structure of neutron rich nuclei by using [symbol]-delayed neutron and gamma emission method / Y. Ye et al. -- Production of secondary radioactive [symbol] Na beam for the study of [symbol]Na([symbol], p)[symbol]Mg stellar reaction / D. N. Binh et al

Direct electroplating of copper on tantalum from ionic liquids in high vacuum: origin of the tantalum oxide layer.

PubMed

Schaltin, Stijn; D'Urzo, Lucia; Zhao, Qiang; Vantomme, André; Plank, Harald; Kothleitner, Gerald; Gspan, Christian; Binnemans, Koen; Fransaer, Jan

2012-10-21

In this paper, it is shown that high vacuum conditions are not sufficient to completely remove water and oxygen from the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. Complete removal of water demands heating above 150 °C under reduced pressure, as proven by Nuclear Reaction Analysis (NRA). Dissolved oxygen gas can only be removed by the use of an oxygen scavenger such as hydroquinone, despite the fact that calculations show that oxygen should be removed completely by the applied vacuum conditions. After applying a strict drying procedure and scavenging of molecular oxygen, it was possible to deposit copper directly on tantalum without the presence of an intervening oxide layer.

Degradation of Leakage Currents and Reliability Prediction for Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2016-01-01

Two types of failures in solid tantalum capacitors, catastrophic and parametric, and their mechanisms are described. Analysis of voltage and temperature reliability acceleration factors reported in literature shows a wide spread of results and requires more investigation. In this work, leakage currents in two types of chip tantalum capacitors were monitored during highly accelerated life testing (HALT) at different temperatures and voltages. Distributions of degradation rates were approximated using a general log-linear Weibull model and yielded voltage acceleration constants B = 9.8 +/- 0.5 and 5.5. The activation energies were Ea = 1.65 eV and 1.42 eV. The model allows for conservative estimations of times to failure and was validated by long-term life test data. Parametric degradation and failures are reversible and can be annealed at high temperatures. The process is attributed to migration of charged oxygen vacancies that reduce the barrier height at the MnO2/Ta2O5 interface and increase injection of electrons from the MnO2 cathode. Analysis showed that the activation energy of the vacancies' migration is 1.1 eV.

Synthesis, Consolidation and Characterization of Sol-gel Derived Tantalum-Tungsten Oxide Thermite Composites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cervantes, O

2010-06-01

Energetic composite powders consisting of sol-gel (SG) derived nanostructured tungsten oxide were produced with various amounts of micrometer-scale tantalum fuel metal. Such energetic composite powders were ignition-tested and results show that the powders are not sensitive to friction, spark and/or impact ignition. Initial consolidation experiments, using the High Pressure Spark Plasma Sintering (HPSPS) technique, on the SG derived nanostructured tungsten oxide produced samples with higher relative density than can be achieved with commercially available tungsten oxide. The SG derived nanostructured tungsten oxide with immobilized tantalum fuel metal (Ta - WO3) energetic composite was consolidated to a density of 9.17 g·cm-3more » or 93% relative density. In addition, those samples were consolidated without significant pre-reaction of the constituents, thus retaining their stored chemical energy.« less

The quest for novel modes of excitation in exotic nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paar, N.

2010-06-01

This paper provides an insight into several open problems in the quest for novel modes of excitation in nuclei with isospin asymmetry, deformation and finite-temperature characteristics in stellar environments. Major unsolved problems include the nature of pygmy dipole resonances, the quest for various multipole and spin-isospin excitations both in neutron-rich and proton drip-line nuclei mainly driven by loosely bound nucleons, excitations in unstable deformed nuclei and evolution of their properties with the shape phase transition. Exotic modes of excitation in nuclei at finite temperatures characteristic of supernova evolution present open problems with a possible impact in modeling astrophysically relevant weak interaction rates. All these issues challenge self-consistent many-body theory frameworks at the frontiers of on-going research, including nuclear energy density functionals, both phenomenological and constrained by the strong interaction physics of QCD, models based on low-momentum two-nucleon interaction Vlow-k and correlated realistic nucleon-nucleon interaction VUCOM, supplemented by three-body force, as well as two-nucleon and three-nucleon interactions derived from the chiral effective field theory. Joined theoretical and experimental efforts, including research with radioactive isotope beams, are needed to provide insight into dynamical properties of nuclei away from the valley of stability, involving the interplay of isospin asymmetry, deformation and finite temperature.

Effect of Preconditioning and Soldering on Failures of Chip Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander A.

2014-01-01

Soldering of molded case tantalum capacitors can result in damage to Ta205 dielectric and first turn-on failures due to thermo-mechanical stresses caused by CTE mismatch between materials used in the capacitors. It is also known that presence of moisture might cause damage to plastic cases due to the pop-corning effect. However, there are only scarce literature data on the effect of moisture content on the probability of post-soldering electrical failures. In this work, that is based on a case history, different groups of similar types of CWR tantalum capacitors from two lots were prepared for soldering by bake, moisture saturation, and longterm storage at room conditions. Results of the testing showed that both factors: initial quality of the lot, and preconditioning affect the probability of failures. Baking before soldering was shown to be effective to prevent failures even in lots susceptible to pop-corning damage. Mechanism of failures is discussed and recommendations for pre-soldering bake are suggested based on analysis of moisture characteristics of materials used in the capacitors' design.

NEPP Evaluation of Automotive Grade Tantalum Chip Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sampson, Mike; Brusse, Jay

2018-01-01

Automotive grade tantalum (Ta) chip capacitors are available at lower cost with smaller physical size and higher volumetric efficiency compared to military/space grade capacitors. Designers of high reliability aerospace and military systems would like to take advantage of these attributes while maintaining the high standards for long-term reliable operation they are accustomed to when selecting military-qualified established reliability tantalum chip capacitors (e.g., MIL-PRF-55365). The objective for this evaluation was to assess the long-term performance of off-the-shelf automotive grade Ta chip capacitors (i.e., manufacturer self-qualified per AEC Q-200). Two (2) lots of case size D manganese dioxide (MnO2) cathode Ta chip capacitors from 1 manufacturer were evaluated. The evaluation consisted of construction analysis, basic electrical parameter characterization, extended long-term (2000 hours) life testing and some accelerated stress testing. Tests and acceptance criteria were based upon manufacturer datasheets and the Automotive Electronics Council's AEC Q-200 qualification specification for passive electronic components. As-received a few capacitors were marginally above the specified tolerance for capacitance and ESR. X-ray inspection found that the anodes for some devices may not be properly aligned within the molded encapsulation leaving less than 1 mil thickness of the encapsulation. This evaluation found that the long-term life performance of automotive grade Ta chip capacitors is generally within specification limits suggesting these capacitors may be suitable for some space applications.

Antibacterial properties and cytocompatibility of tantalum oxide coatings with different silver content

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huang, Heng-Li; Chang, Yin-Yu, E-mail: yinyu@mail2000.com.tw; Chen, Hung-Jui

Tantalum (Ta) oxides and their coatings have been proved to increase their applications in the biomedical fields by improving osseointegration and wear resistance. In this study, Ta oxide coatings containing different proportions of Ag are deposited on SS304 materials. A twin-gun magnetron sputtering system is used to deposit the tantalum oxide-Ag coating. In this study, Staphylococcus aureus, which exhibits physiological commensalism on the human skin, nares, and mucosal and oral areas, is chosen as the model for in vitro antibacterial analyses via a fluorescence staining method using Syto9. The cytocompatibility and adhesive morphology of human skin fibroblast cells (CCD-966SK) onmore » the coatings are also determined by using the microculture tetrazolium assay. This study shows that Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5} and Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}-Ag coatings with 12.5 at. % of Ag exhibit improved antibacterial effects against S. aureus and have good skin fibroblast cell cellular biocompatibility.« less

Internal fuse modules for solid tantalum capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dematos, H. V.

1981-01-01

Miniature fuse modules were designed for and incorporated into two styles of solid tantalum capacitors. One is an epoxy molded, radial leaded, high frequency decoupling capacitor; the other is an hermetically sealed device with axial lead wires. The fusible element for both devices consists of a fine bimetallic wire which reacts exothermically upon reaching a critical temperature and then disintegrates. The desirability of having fused devices is discussed and design constraints, in particular those which minimize inductance and series resistance while optimizing fuse actuation characteristics, are reviewed. Factors affecting the amount of energy required to actuate the fuse and reliability of acuation are identified.

Alkali oxide-tantalum, niobium and antimony oxide ionic conductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, R. S.; Brower, W. S.; Parker, H. S.; Minor, D. B.; Waring, J. L.

1975-01-01

The phase equilibrium relations of four systems were investigated in detail. These consisted of sodium and potassium antimonates with antimony oxide and tantalum and niobium oxide with rubidium oxide as far as the ratio 4Rb2O:llB2O5 (B=Nb, Ta). The ternary system NaSbO3-Sb2O4-NaF was investigated extensively to determine the actual composition of the body centered cubic sodium antimonate. Various other binary and ternary oxide systems involving alkali oxides were examined in lesser detail. The phases synthesized were screened by ion exchange methods to determine mobility of the mobility of the alkali ion within the niobium, tantalum or antimony oxide (fluoride) structural framework. Five structure types warranted further investigation; these structure types are (1) hexagonal tungsten bronze (HTB), (2) pyrochlore, (3) the hybrid HTB-pyrochlore hexagonal ordered phases, (4) body centered cubic antimonates and (5) 2K2O:3Nb2O5. Although all of these phases exhibit good ion exchange properties only the pyrochlore was prepared with Na(+) ions as an equilibrium phase and as a low porosity ceramic. Sb(+3) in the channel interferes with ionic conductivity in this case, although relatively good ionic conductivity was found for the metastable Na(+) ion exchanged analogs of RbTa2O5F and KTaWO6 pyrochlore phases.

Computer vision approach to morphometric feature analysis of basal cell nuclei for evaluating malignant potentiality of oral submucous fibrosis.

PubMed

Muthu Rama Krishnan, M; Pal, Mousumi; Paul, Ranjan Rashmi; Chakraborty, Chandan; Chatterjee, Jyotirmoy; Ray, Ajoy K

2012-06-01

This research work presents a quantitative approach for analysis of histomorphometric features of the basal cell nuclei in respect to their size, shape and intensity of staining, from surface epithelium of Oral Submucous Fibrosis showing dysplasia (OSFD) to that of the Normal Oral Mucosa (NOM). For all biological activity, the basal cells of the surface epithelium form the proliferative compartment and therefore their morphometric changes will spell the intricate biological behavior pertaining to normal cellular functions as well as in premalignant and malignant status. In view of this, the changes in shape, size and intensity of staining of the nuclei in the basal cell layer of the NOM and OSFD have been studied. Geometric, Zernike moments and Fourier descriptor (FD) based as well as intensity based features are extracted for histomorphometric pattern analysis of the nuclei. All these features are statistically analyzed along with 3D visualization in order to discriminate the groups. Results showed increase in the dimensions (area and perimeter), shape parameters and decreasing mean nuclei intensity of the nuclei in OSFD in respect to NOM. Further, the selected features are fed to the Bayesian classifier to discriminate normal and OSFD. The morphometric and intensity features provide a good sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 98.53% and positive predicative accuracy of 97.35%. This comparative quantitative characterization of basal cell nuclei will be of immense help for oral onco-pathologists, researchers and clinicians to assess the biological behavior of OSFD, specially relating to their premalignant and malignant potentiality. As a future direction more extensive study involving more number of disease subjects is observed.

Prognostic significance of morphometric parameters of nucleoli and nuclei of invasive ductal breast carcinomas.

PubMed

Karpińska-Kaczmarczyk, Katarzyna; Kram, Andrzej; Kaczmarczyk, Mariusz; Domagała, Wenancjusz

2009-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between seven morphometric parameters of the nucleoli and nuclei of methyl green and pyronin Y (MG-PY) stained tumour cells of invasive ductal breast carcinoma with relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) time. Histological sections from 150 invasive ductal breast cancers were stained with MG-PY and the following parameters were evaluated by computer image analysis: the nucleolar area, long to short nucleolar axis ratio, nucleolar shape parameter assessing the degree of nucleolar roundness, long to short nuclear axis ratio, number of nucleoli in the nucleus and the percentage of the nuclear cross-section surface area occupied by the nucleoli. A statistically significant association between a nucleolar shape polymorphism and the number of nucleoli in the nuclei of tumour cells and the RFS but not OS was found in the entire group of patients as well as patients with axillary lymph node metastases. A higher polymorphism of nucleolar shape and a higher number of nucleoli in the nuclei of breast cancer cells were associated with decreased relapse-free survival (p < 0.05). The remaining morphometric parameters showed no statistically significant association with RFS or OS. The results indicate that morphometry of nucleoli in MG-PY stained histological sections can be useful in the analysis of associations between nucleolar parameters and prognosis of patients with invasive breast cancer.

Fission and Properties of Neutron-Rich Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamilton, Joseph H.; Ramayya, A. V.; Carter, H. K.

2008-08-01

near A= 120 / M. A. Stoyer and W. B. Walters -- Nuclear structure IV. First observation of new neutron-rich magnesium, aluminum and silicon isotopes / A. Stolz ... [et al.]. Spectroscopy of [symbol]Na revolution of shell structure with isospin / V. Tripathi ... [et al.]. Rearrangement of proton single particle orbitals in neutron-rich potassium isotopes - spectroscopy of [symbol]K / W. Królas ... [et al.]. Laser spectroscopy and the nature of the shape transition at N [symbol] 60 / B. Cheal ... [et al.]. Study of nuclei near stability as fission fragments following heavy-ion reactions / N. Fotiadis. [symbol]C and [symbol]N: lifetime measurements of their first-excited states / M. Wiedeking ... [et al.] -- Nuclear astrophysics. Isomer spectroscopy near [symbol]Sn - first observation of excited states in [symbol]Cd / M. Pfitzner ... [et al.]. Nuclear masses and what they imply for the structures of neutron rich nuclei / A. Awahamian and A. Teymurazyan. Multiple nucleosynthesis processes in the early universe / F. Montes. Single-neutron structure of neutron-rich nuclei near N = 50 and N = 82 / J. A. Cizewski ... [et al.]. [symbol]Cadmium: ugly duckling or young swan / W. B. Walters ... [et al.] -- Nuclear structure V. Evidence for chiral doublet bands in [symbol]Ru / Y. X. Luo ... [et al.]. Unusual octupole shape deformation terms and K-mixing / J. O. Rasmussen ... [et al.]. Spin assignments, mixing ratios, and g-factors in neutron rich [symbol]Cf fission products / C. Goodin ... [et al.]. Level structures and double [symbol]-bands in [symbol]Mo, [symbol]Mo and [symbol]Ru / S. J. Zhu ... [et al.] -- Nuclear theory. Microscopic dynamics of shape coexistence phenomena around [symbol]Se and [symbol]Kr / N. Hinohara ... [et al.]. Nuclear structure, double beta decay and test of physics beyond the standard model / A. Faessler. Collective modes in elastic nuclear matter / Ş. Mişicu and S. Bastrukov. From N = Z to neutron rich: magnetic moments of Cu isotopes at and above the

The role of electronegativity on the extent of nitridation of group 5 metals as revealed by reactions of tantalum cluster cations with ammonia molecules.

PubMed

Arakawa, Masashi; Ando, Kota; Fujimoto, Shuhei; Mishra, Saurabh; Patwari, G Naresh; Terasaki, Akira

2018-05-10

Reactions of the free tantalum cation, Ta+, and tantalum cluster cations, Tan+ (n = 2-10), with ammonia are presented. The reaction of the monomer cation, Ta+, with two molecules of NH3 leads to the formation of TaN2H2+ along with release of two H2 molecules. The dehydrogenation occurs until the formal oxidation number of the tantalum atom reaches +5. On the other hand, all the tantalum cluster cations, Tan+, react with two molecules of NH3 and form TanN2+ with the release of three H2 molecules. Further exposure to ammonia showed that TanNmH+ and TanNm+ are produced through successive reactions; a pure nitride and three H2 molecules are formed for every other NH3 molecule. The nitridation occurred until the formal oxidation number of the tantalum atoms reaches +5 as in the case of TaN2H2+ in contrast to other group 5 elements, i.e., vanadium and niobium, which have been reported to produce nitrides with lower oxidation states. The present results on small gas-phase metal-nitride clusters show correlation with their bulk properties: tantalum is known to form bulk nitrides in the oxidation states of either +5 (Ta3N5) or +3 (TaN), whereas vanadium and niobium form nitrides in the oxidation state of +3 (VN and NbN). Along with DFT calculations, these findings reveal that nitridation is driven by the electron-donating ability of group 5 elements, i.e., electronegativity of the metal plays a key role in determining the composition of the metal nitrides.

An experimental study of the solubility and speciation of tantalum in fluoride-bearing aqueous solutions at elevated temperature

DOE PAGES

Timofeev, Alexander; Migdisov, Art. A.; Williams-Jones, A. E.

2016-10-27

Here, the solubility of Ta 2O 5 (solid) and the speciation of tantalum in HF-bearing aqueous solutions have been determined at temperatures of 100-250 °C and vapour-saturated water pressure. Tantalum is transported as the species Ta(OH) 5 0 at low HF concentration and pH ~1-3. At higher HF concentration, tantalum mobility is controlled by the species TaF 3(OH) 3- and TaF 5; the presence of TaF 5 0 is only evident at ≤150 °C. Equilibrium constants range from -17.4 ± 0.45 to -16.4 ± 0.12 for the formation of Ta(OH) 5 from crystalline Ta 2O 5 and from -8.24 ±more » 0.64 to -8.55 ± 0.68 for the formation of TaF 3(OH) 3- at 100 and 250 °C, respectively. For TaF 5 0, they were determined to be 0.13 at 100 °C and -0.35 at 150 °C.« less

Tantalum-tungsten oxide thermite composites prepared by sol-gel synthesis and spark plasma sintering

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuntz, Joshua D.; Gash, Alexander E.; Cervantes, Octavio G.

2010-08-15

Energetic composite powders consisting of sol-gel derived nanostructured tungsten oxide were produced with various amounts of micrometer-scale tantalum fuel metal. Such energetic composite powders were ignition-tested and the results show that the powders are not sensitive to friction, spark and/or impact ignition. Initial consolidation experiments, using the High-Pressure Spark Plasma Sintering (HPSPS) technique, on the sol-gel derived nanostructured tungsten oxide produced samples with higher relative density than can be achieved with commercially available tungsten oxide. The sol-gel derived nanostructured tungsten oxide with immobilized tantalum fuel metal (Ta-WO{sub 3}) energetic composite was consolidated to a density of 9.17 g cm{sup -3}more » or 93% relative density. In addition, those samples were consolidated without significant pre-reaction of the constituents, thus retaining their stored chemical energy. (author)« less

Tantalum-Tungsten Oxide Thermite Composite Prepared by Sol-Gel Synthesis and Spark Plasma Sintering

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cervantes, O; Kuntz, J; Gash, A

2009-02-13

Energetic composite powders consisting of sol-gel derived nanostructured tungsten oxide were produced with various amounts of micrometer-scale tantalum fuel metal. Such energetic composite powders were ignition tested and results show that the powders are not sensitive to friction, spark and/or impact ignition. Initial consolidation experiments, using the High Pressure Spark Plasma Sintering (HPSPS) technique, on the sol-gel derived nanostructured tungsten oxide produced samples with higher relative density than can be achieved with commercially available tungsten oxide. The sol-gel derived nanostructured tungsten oxide with immobilized tantalum fuel metal (Ta - WO{sub 3}) energetic composite was consolidated to a density of 9.17more » g.cm{sup -3} or 93% relative density. In addition those parts were consolidated without significant pre-reaction of the constituents, thus the sample retained its stored chemical energy.« less

Reflection asymmetry in odd-A and odd-odd actinium nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ahmad, I.

1993-09-01

Theoretical calculations and measurements indicate that octupole correlations are at a maximum in the ground states of the odd-proton nuclei Ac and Pa. It has been expected that odd-odd nuclei should have even larger amount of octupole-octupole correlations. We have recently made measurements on the structure of {sup 224}Ac. Although spin and parity assignments could not be made, two bands starting at 354.1 and 360.0 keV have properties characteristic of reflection asymmetric shape. These two bands have very similar rotational constants and also similar alpha decay rates, which suggest similarity between the wavefunctions of these bands. These signatures provide evidencemore » for octupole correlations in these nuclides.« less

Shell Corrections Stabilizing Superheavy Nuclei and Semi-spheroidal Atomic Clusters

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Poenaru, Dorin N.

2008-01-24

The macroscopic-microscopic method is used to illustrate the shell effect stabilizing superheavy nuclei and to study the stability of semi-spheroidal clusters deposited on planar surfaces. The alpha decay of superheavy nuclei is calculated using three models: the analytical superasymmetric fission model; the universal curve, and the semiempirical formula taking into account the shell effects. Analytical relationships are obtained for the energy levels of the new semi-spheroidal harmonic oscillator (SSHO) single-particle model and for the surface and curvature energies of the semi-spheroidal clusters. The maximum degeneracy of the SSHO is reached at a super-deformed prolate shape for which the minimum ofmore » the liquid drop model energy is also attained.« less

FAST TRACK COMMUNICATION High rate straining of tantalum and copper

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Armstrong, R. W.; Zerilli, F. J.

2010-12-01

High strain rate measurements reported recently for several tantalum and copper crystal/polycrystal materials are shown to follow dislocation mechanics-based constitutive relations, first at lower strain rates, for dislocation velocity control of the imposed plastic deformations and, then at higher rates, transitioning to nano-scale dislocation generation control by twinning or slip. For copper, there is the possibility of added-on slip dislocation displacements to be accounted for from the newly generated dislocations.

Synthesis of Monodispersed Tantalum(V) oxide Nanospheres by an Ethylene Glycol Mediated Route

EPA Science Inventory

Tantalum(V) oxide (Ta2O5) nanospheres have been synthesized by a very simple ethylene glycol mediated route. The two-step process involves the formation of glycolate nanoparticles and their subsequent hydrolysis and calcination to generate the final Ta2O5 nanospheres. The synthes...

Degradation of Leakage Currents in Solid Tantalum Capacitors Under Steady-State Bias Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander A.

2010-01-01

Degradation of leakage currents in various types of solid tantalum capacitors under steady-state bias conditions was investigated at temperatures from 105 oC to 170 oC and voltages up to two times the rated voltage. Variations of leakage currents with time under highly accelerated life testing (HALT) and annealing, thermally stimulated depolarization currents, and I-V characteristics were measured to understand the conduction mechanism and the reason for current degradation. During HALT the currents increase gradually up to three orders of magnitude in some cases, and then stabilize with time. This degradation is reversible and annealing can restore the initial levels of leakage currents. The results are attributed to migration of positively charged oxygen vacancies in tantalum pentoxide films that diminish the Schottky barrier at the MnO2/Ta2O5 interface and increase electron injection. A simple model allows for estimation of concentration and mobility of oxygen vacancies based on the level of current degradation.

Heating element support clip

DOEpatents

Sawyer, William C.

1995-01-01

An apparatus for supporting a heating element in a channel formed in a heater base is disclosed. A preferred embodiment includes a substantially U-shaped tantalum member. The U-shape is characterized by two substantially parallel portions of tantalum that each have an end connected to opposite ends of a base portion of tantalum. The parallel portions are each substantially perpendicular to the base portion and spaced apart a distance not larger than a width of the channel and not smaller than a width of a graphite heating element. The parallel portions each have a hole therein, and the centers of the holes define an axis that is substantially parallel to the base portion. An aluminum oxide ceramic retaining pin extends through the holes in the parallel portions and into a hole in a wall of the channel to retain the U-shaped member in the channel and to support the graphite heating element. The graphite heating element is confined by the parallel portions of tantalum, the base portion of tantalum, and the retaining pin. A tantalum tube surrounds the retaining pin between the parallel portions of tantalum.

Heating element support clip

DOEpatents

Sawyer, W.C.

1995-08-15

An apparatus for supporting a heating element in a channel formed in a heater base is disclosed. A preferred embodiment includes a substantially U-shaped tantalum member. The U-shape is characterized by two substantially parallel portions of tantalum that each have an end connected to opposite ends of a base portion of tantalum. The parallel portions are each substantially perpendicular to the base portion and spaced apart a distance not larger than a width of the channel and not smaller than a width of a graphite heating element. The parallel portions each have a hole therein, and the centers of the holes define an axis that is substantially parallel to the base portion. An aluminum oxide ceramic retaining pin extends through the holes in the parallel portions and into a hole in a wall of the channel to retain the U-shaped member in the channel and to support the graphite heating element. The graphite heating element is confined by the parallel portions of tantalum, the base portion of tantalum, and the retaining pin. A tantalum tube surrounds the retaining pin between the parallel portions of tantalum. 6 figs.

Structure Of Neutron-Rich Nuclei In A˜100 Region Observed In Fusion-Fission Reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, C. Y.; Hua, H.; Cline, D.; Hayes, A. B.; Teng, R.; Clark, R. M.; Fallon, P.; Görgen, A.; Macchiavelli, A. O.; Vetter, K.

2003-03-01

Neutron-rich nuclei around A˜100 were populated as fission fragments produced by the 238U(α,f) fusion-fission reaction. The deexcitation γ rays were detected by Gammasphere in coincidence with the detection of both fission fragments by the Rochester 4π heavy-ion detector array, CHICO. This technique allows Doppler-shift corrections to be applied for the observed γ rays on an event-by-event basis thus establishing the origin of γ rays from either fission fragment. In addition, it allows observation of γ-ray transitions from states with short lifetimes and offers the opportunity to study nuclear species beyond the reach of the spontaneous fission process. With these advantages, one can extend the spectroscopic study to higher spins than those derived using the thick-target technique, and to more neutron-rich nuclei than those derived from spontaneous fissions. Among the new and interesting phenomena identified in this rapid shape-changing region, the most distinct result is the evidence for a prolate-to-oblate shape transition occurring at 116Pd, which may have important implications to our understanding of the shell structure for neutron-rich nuclei.

Abnormal subcortical nuclei shapes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Chen, Ji; Zhang, Junxiang; Liu, Xuebing; Wang, Xiaoyang; Xu, Xiangjin; Li, Hui; Cao, Bo; Yang, Yanqiu; Lu, Jingjing; Chen, Ziqian

2017-10-01

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) increases the risk of brain atrophy and dementia. We aimed to elucidate deep grey matter (GM) structural abnormalities and their relationships with T2DM cognitive deficits by combining region of interest (ROI)-based volumetry, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and shape analysis. We recruited 23 T2DM patients and 24 age-matched healthy controls to undergo T1-weighted structural MRI scanning. Images were analysed using the three aforementioned methods to obtain deep GM structural shapes and volumes. Biochemical and cognitive assessments were made and were correlated with the resulting metrics. Shape analysis revealed that T2DM is associated with focal atrophy in the bilateral caudate head and dorso-medial part of the thalamus. ROI-based volumetry only detected thalamic volume reduction in T2DM when compared to the controls. No significant between-group differences were found by VBM. Furthermore, a worse performance of cognitive processing speed correlated with more severe GM atrophy in the bilateral dorso-medial part of the thalamus. Also, the GM volume in the bilateral dorso-medial part of the thalamus changed negatively with HbA 1c . Shape analysis is sensitive in identifying T2DM deep GM structural abnormalities and their relationships with cognitive impairments, which may greatly assist in clarifying the neural substrate of T2DM cognitive dysfunction. • Type 2 diabetes mellitus is accompanied with brain atrophy and cognitive dysfunction • Deep grey matter structures are essential for multiple cognitive processes • Shape analysis revealed local atrophy in the dorso-medial thalamus and caudatum in patients • Dorso-medial thalamic atrophy correlated to cognitive processing speed slowing and high HbA1c. • Shape analysis has advantages in unraveling neural substrates of diabetic cognitive deficits.

Dissolution kinetics of small amounts of oxygen in tantalum alloy T-111 and internal oxide displacement reactions during annealing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stecura, S.

1976-01-01

Oxygen was added to T-111 (Ta-8W-2Hf, wt. %) at 820 and 990 C at an oxygen pressure of about 0.0003 torr. The technique employed permitted predetermined and reproducible doping of T-111 up to 3.0 at. % oxygen. Based on the temperature dependence of the doping reaction, it is concluded that the initial rates of oxygen pickup are probably controlled by solution of oxygen into the T-111 lattice. Although hafnium oxides are more stable than those of tantalum or tungsten, analyses of extracted residues indicate that the latter oxides predominate in the as-doped specimens, presumably because of the higher concentrations of tantalum and tungsten in the alloy. However, high-temperature annealing promotes gettering of dissolved oxygen and of other oxides to form hafnium oxides. Small amounts of tantalum and tungsten oxides were still present after high-temperature annealing. Tungsten oxide (WO3) volatilizes slightly from the surface of T-111 at 990 C. The vaporization of WO3 has no apparent affect on the doping reaction.

Nonplanar core structure of the screw dislocations in tantalum from the improved Peierls-Nabarro theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Xiangsheng; Wang, Shaofeng

2018-02-01

The extended structure of ? screw dislocation in Ta has been studied theoretically using the improved Peierls-Nabarro model combined with the first principles calculation. An instructive way to derive the fundamental equation for dislocations with the nonplanar structure is presented. The full ?-surface of ? plane in tantalum is evaluated from the first principles. In order to compare the energy of the screw dislocation with different structures, the structure parameter is introduced to describe the core configuration. Each kind of screw dislocation is described by an overall-shape component and a core component. Far from the dislocation centre, the asymptotic behaviour of dislocation is uniquely controlled by the overall-shape component. Near the dislocation centre, the structure detail is described by the core component. The dislocation energy is explicitly plotted as a function of the core parameter for the nonplanar dislocation as well as for the planar dislocation. It is found that in the physical regime of the core parameter, the sixfold nonplanar structure always has the lowest energy. Our result clearly confirms that the sixfold nonplanar structure is the most stable. Furthermore, the pressure effect on the dislocation structure is explored up to 100 GPa. The stability of the sixfold nonplanar structure is not changed by the applied pressure. The equilibrium structure and the related stress field are calculated, and a possible mechanism of the dislocation movement is discussed briefly based on the structure deformation caused by the external stress.

Evaluation of tantalum 316 stainless steel transition joints

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stoner, D. R.

1972-01-01

Tubular transition joints providing a metallurgically bonded connection between tantalum and 316 stainless steel pipe sections were comparatively evaluated for durability under thermal cycling conditions approximating the operation of a SNAP-8 mercury boiler. Both coextruded and vacuum brazed transition joints of 50mm (2 inch) diameter were tested by thermal cycling 100 times between 730 C and 120 C(1350 F and 250 F) in a high vacuum environment. The twelve evaluated transition joints survived the full test sequence without developing leaks, although liquid penetrant bond line indications eventually developed in all specimens. The brazed transition joints exhibited the best dimensional stability and bond line durability.

Tantalum induced butterfly-like clusters on Si (111)-7 × 7 surface: STM/STS study at low coverage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shukrynau, Pavel; Mutombo, Pingo; Švec, Martin; Hietschold, Michael; Cháb, Vladimír

2012-02-01

The adsorption of the small amounts of tantalum on Si (111)-7 × 7 reconstructed surface is investigated systematically using scanning tunneling microscopy and tunneling spectroscopy combined with first-principles density functional theory calculations. We find out that the moderate annealing of the Ta covered surface results in the formation of clusters of the butterfly-like shape. The clusters are sporadically distributed over the surface and their density is metal coverage dependent. Filled and empty state STM images of the clusters differ strongly suggesting the existence of covalent bonds within the cluster. Tunneling spectroscopy measurements reveal small energy gap, showing semiconductor-like behavior of the constituent atoms. The cluster model based on experimental images and theoretical calculations has been proposed and discussed. Presented results show that Ta joins the family of adsorbates, that are known to form magic clusters on Si (111)-7 × 7, but its magic cluster has the structural and electronic properties that are different from those reported before.

Studying tantalum-based high-κ dielectrics in terms of capacitance measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stojanovska-Georgievska, L.

2016-08-01

The trend of rapid development of microelectronics towards nano-miniaturization dictates the inevitable introduction of dielectrics with high permittivity (high-κ dielectrics), as alternative material for replacing SiO2. Therefore, studying these materials in terms of their characteristics, especially in terms of reliability, is of great importance for proper design and manufacture of devices. In this paper, alteration of capacitance in different frequency regimes is used, in order to determine the overall behavior of the material. Samples investigated here are MOS structures containing nanoscale tantalum based dielectrics. Layers of pure Ta2O5, but also Hf and Ti doped tantalum pentoxide, i.e. Ta2O5:Hf and Ta2O5:Ti are studied here. All samples are considered as ultrathin oxide layers with thicknesses less than 15 nm, obtained by radio frequent sputtering on p-type silicon substrate. Measuring capacitive characteristics enables determination of several specific parameters of the structures. The obtained results for capacitance in accumulation, the thickness and time evolution of the interfacial SiO2 layer, values of flatband and threshold voltage, density of oxide charges, interfacial and border states, and reliability properties favor the possibilities for more intensive use of studied materials in new nanoelectronic technologies.

Structural and decay properties of Z = 132, 138 superheavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rather, Asloob A.; Ikram, M.; Usmani, A. A.; Kumar, Bharat; Patra, S. K.

2016-12-01

In this paper, we analyze the structural properties of Z = 132 and Z = 138 superheavy nuclei within the ambit of axially deformed relativistic mean-field framework with NL3 * parametrization and calculate the total binding energies, radii, quadrupole deformation parameter, separation energies, density distributions. We also investigate the phenomenon of shape coexistence by performing the calculations for prolate, oblate and spherical configurations. For clear presentation of nucleon distributions, the two-dimensional contour representation of individual nucleon density and total matter density has been made. Further, a competition between possible decay modes such as α-decay, β-decay and spontaneous fission of the isotopic chain of superheavy nuclei with Z = 132 within the range 312 ≤ A ≤ 392 and 318 ≤ A ≤ 398 for Z = 138 is systematically analyzed within self-consistent relativistic mean-field model. From our analysis, we inferred that the α-decay and spontaneous fission are the principal modes of decay in majority of the isotopes of superheavy nuclei under investigation apart from β-decay as dominant mode of decay in 318-322138 isotopes.

Large area graphene ion sensitive field effect transistors with tantalum pentoxide sensing layers for pH measurement at the Nernstian limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fakih, Ibrahim; Sabri, Shadi; Mahvash, Farzaneh; Nannini, Matthieu; Siaj, Mohamed; Szkopek, Thomas

2014-08-01

We have fabricated and characterized large area graphene ion sensitive field effect transistors (ISFETs) with tantalum pentoxide sensing layers and demonstrated pH sensitivities approaching the Nernstian limit. Low temperature atomic layer deposition was used to deposit tantalum pentoxide atop large area graphene ISFETs. The charge neutrality point of graphene, inferred from quantum capacitance or channel conductance, was used to monitor surface potential in the presence of an electrolyte with varying pH. Bare graphene ISFETs exhibit negligible response, while graphene ISFETs with tantalum pentoxide sensing layers show increased sensitivity reaching up to 55 mV/pH over pH 3 through pH 8. Applying the Bergveld model, which accounts for site binding and a Guoy-Chapman-Stern picture of the surface-electrolyte interface, the increased pH sensitivity can be attributed to an increased buffer capacity reaching up to 1014 sites/cm2. ISFET response was found to be stable to better than 0.05 pH units over the course of two weeks.

The plastic response of Tantalum in Quasi-Isentropic Compression Ramp and Release

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moore, Alexander; Brown, Justin; Lim, Hojun; Lane, J. Matthew D.

2017-06-01

The mechanical response of various forms of tantalum under extreme pressures and strain rates is studied using dynamic quasi-isentropic compression loading conditions in atomistic simulations. Ramp compression in bcc metals under these conditions tend to show a significant strengthening effect with increasing pressure; however, due to limitations of experimental methods in such regimes, the underlying physics for this phenomenon is not well understood. Molecular dynamics simulations provide important information about the plasticity mechanisms and can be used to investigate this strengthening. MD simulations are performed on nanocrystalline Ta and single crystal defective Ta with dislocations and point defects to uncover how the material responds and the underlying plasticity mechanisms. The different systems of solid Ta are seen to plastically deform through different mechanisms. Fundamental understanding of tantalum plasticity in these high pressure and strain rate regimes is needed to model and fully understand experimental results. Sandia National Labs is a multi program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corp., for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

Thalamus surface shape deformity in obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia.

PubMed

Kang, Do-Hyung; Kim, Sun Hyung; Kim, Chi-Won; Choi, Jung-Seok; Jang, Joon Hwan; Jung, Myung Hun; Lee, Jong-Min; Kim, Sun I; Kwon, Jun Soo

2008-04-16

The authors performed a three-dimensional shape deformation analysis to clarify the various patterns of specific thalamic nuclei abnormality using three age-matched and sex-matched groups of 22 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 22 patients with schizophrenia and 22 control participants. Compared with the healthy volunteers, the anterior, lateral outward surface deformities of the thalamus were significant in OCD patients, whereas the posterior, medial outward deformities of the thalamus were prominent in schizophrenia patients. In terms of thalamic asymmetry, both OCD and schizophrenia patients exhibited the loss of a leftward pattern of asymmetry on the posterior, medial surface of the thalamus. Different patterns of shape abnormality of specific thalamic nuclei may be related to the different phenomenology of OCD and schizophrenia.

Effect of strain rate and dislocation density on the twinning behavior in Tantalum

DOE PAGES

Florando, Jeffrey N.; El-Dasher, Bassem S.; Chen, Changqiang; ...

2016-04-28

The conditions which affect twinning in tantalum have been investigated across a range of strain rates and initial dislocation densities. Tantalum samples were subjected to a range of strain rates, from 10 –4/s to 10 3/s under uniaxial stress conditions, and under laser-induced shock-loading conditions. In this study, twinning was observed at 77K at strain rates from 1/s to 103/s, and during laser-induced shock experiments. The effect of the initial dislocation density, which was imparted by deforming the material to different amounts of pre-strain, was also studied, and it was shown that twinning is suppressed after a given amount ofmore » pre-strain, even as the global stress continues to increase. These results indicate that the conditions for twinning cannot be represented solely by a critical global stress value, but are also dependent on the evolution of the dislocation density. Additionally, the analysis shows that if twinning is initiated, the nucleated twins may continue to grow as a function of strain, even as the dislocation density continues to increase.« less

Aspects of Shape Coexistence in the Geometric Collective Model of Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Georgoudis, P. E.; Leviatan, A.

2018-02-01

We examine the coexistence of spherical and γ-unstable deformed nuclear shapes, described by an SO(5)-invariant Bohr Hamiltonian, along the critical-line. Calculations are performed in the Algebraic Collective Model by introducing two separate bases, optimized to accommodate simultaneously different forms of dynamics. We demonstrate the need to modify the β-dependence of the moments of inertia, in order to obtain an adequate description of such shape-coexistence.

Direct observation of localized radial oxygen migration in functioning tantalum oxide memristors

DOE PAGES

Kumar, Suhas; Graves, Catherine E.; Strachan, John Paul; ...

2016-02-02

Oxygen migration in tantalum oxide, a promising next-generation storage material, is studied using in operando x-ray absorption spectromicroscopy and is used to microphysically describe accelerated evolution of conduction channel and device failure. Furthermore, the resulting ring-like patterns of oxygen concentration are modeled using thermophoretic forces and Fick diffusion, establishing the critical role of temperature-activated oxygen migration that has been under question lately.

Describing the observed cosmic neutrinos by interactions of nuclei with matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winter, Walter

2014-11-01

IceCube has observed neutrinos that are presumably of extra-Galactic origin. Since specific sources have not yet been identified, we discuss what could be learned from the conceptual point of view. We use a simple model for neutrino production from the interactions between nuclei and matter, and we focus on the description of the spectral shape and flavor composition observed by IceCube. Our main parameters are the spectral index, maximal energy, magnetic field, and composition of the accelerated nuclei. We show that a cutoff at PeV energies can be achieved by soft enough spectra, a cutoff of the primary energy, or strong enough magnetic fields. These options, however, are difficult to reconcile with the hypothesis that these neutrinos originate from the same sources as the ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays. We demonstrate that heavier nuclei accelerated in the sources may be a possible way out if the maximal energy scales appropriately with the mass number of the nuclei. In this scenario, neutrino observations can actually be used to test the ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray acceleration mechanism. We also emphasize the need for a volume upgrade of the IceCube detector for future precision physics, for which the flavor information becomes a statistically meaningful model discriminator as well as a qualitatively new ingredient.

Organization of projections from the raphe nuclei to the vestibular nuclei in rats

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Halberstadt, A. L.; Balaban, C. D.

2003-01-01

Previous anatomic and electrophysiological evidence suggests that serotonin modulates processing in the vestibular nuclei. This study examined the organization of projections from serotonergic raphe nuclei to the vestibular nuclei in rats. The distribution of serotonergic axons in the vestibular nuclei was visualized immunohistochemically in rat brain slices using antisera directed against the serotonin transporter. The density of serotonin transporter-immunopositive fibers is greatest in the superior vestibular nucleus and the medial vestibular nucleus, especially along the border of the fourth ventricle; it declines in more lateral and caudal regions of the vestibular nuclear complex. After unilateral iontophoretic injections of Fluoro-Gold into the vestibular nuclei, retrogradely labeled neurons were found in the dorsal raphe nucleus (including the dorsomedial, ventromedial and lateral subdivisions) and nucleus raphe obscurus, and to a minor extent in nucleus raphe pallidus and nucleus raphe magnus. The combination of retrograde tracing with serotonin immunohistofluorescence in additional experiments revealed that the vestibular nuclei receive both serotonergic and non-serotonergic projections from raphe nuclei. Tracer injections in densely innervated regions (especially the medial and superior vestibular nuclei) were associated with the largest numbers of Fluoro-Gold-labeled cells. Differences were observed in the termination patterns of projections from the individual raphe nuclei. Thus, the dorsal raphe nucleus sends projections that terminate predominantly in the rostral and medial aspects of the vestibular nuclear complex, while nucleus raphe obscurus projects relatively uniformly throughout the vestibular nuclei. Based on the topographical organization of raphe input to the vestibular nuclei, it appears that dense projections from raphe nuclei are colocalized with terminal fields of flocculo-nodular lobe and uvula Purkinje cells. It is hypothesized that

Shape-Coexistence in ^191Tl and ^189Tl.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reviol, W.; Riedinger, L. L.; Carpenter, M. P.; Fischer, S. M.; Janssens, R. V. F.; Nisius, D.; Moore, E. F.

1997-10-01

The Tl isotopes at A ~ 190 are, like the neighboring Hg and Pb nuclei, recognized for a multiplicity of shapes. These shapes reach from spherical or weakly deformed oblate to well-deformed and superdeformed prolate, as mainly inferred from γ -ray spectroscopic studies. We have previously reported on shape-coexistence phenomena in ^191Tl and ^189Tl(W. Reviol et al., Phys. Scr. T56, 167 (1995), and references therein.). Here, we will focus on new results on the ``normally" deformed states in both nuclei obtained from a recent and an upcoming experiment at GAMMASPHERE. The states in ^191Tl and ^189Tl are populated by the reactions ^159Tb(^36S,4n)^191Tl at E_lab = 165 MeV and ^156Gd(^37Cl,4n)^189Tl at E_lab = 171 MeV, respectively. One of the questions to be addressed is about the main level structure in the positive-parity branch of ^191Tl^2. Whether this structure is oblate-collective in nature, like the [505]9/2^- yrast band, we will try to answer on the basis of the available lifetime data.

PHYSICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION OF TANTALUM ON GUN BARREL STEEL (SYSTEMS ANLAYSIS BRANCH, SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY DIVISION, NRMRL)

EPA Science Inventory

This project entails the development of an alternative technology for plating gun barrel steel to replace the process electroplating of chrome (Cr-electroplate) with physical vapor deposition of tantalum (Ta-PVD). Developed by Benet Laboratory at Watervliet Arsenal, this project'...

A proposed CT contrast agent using carboxybetaine zwitterionic tantalum oxide nanoparticles: Imaging, biological, and physicochemical performance

PubMed Central

FitzGerald, Paul F.; Butts, Matthew D.; Roberts, Jeannette C.; Colborn, Robert E.; Torres, Andrew S.; Lee, Brian D.; Yeh, Benjamin M.; Bonitatibus, Peter J.

2016-01-01

Objectives To produce and evaluate a proposed computed tomography (CT) contrast agent based on carboxybetaine zwitterionic (CZ) coated soluble tantalum oxide nanoparticles (CZ-TaO NPs). We chose tantalum to provide superior imaging performance compared to current iodine-based clinical CT contrast agents. We developed the CZ coating to provide biological and physical performance similar to that of current iodinated contrast agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the imaging, biological, and physicochemical performance of this proposed contrast agent compared to clinically-used iodinated agents. Materials and Methods We evaluated CT imaging performance of our CZ-TaO NPs compared to an iodinated agent in live rats, imaged centrally-located within a tissue-equivalent plastic phantom that simulated a large patient. To evaluate vascular contrast enhancement, we scanned the rats’ great vessels at high temporal resolution during and following contrast agent injection. We performed several in vivo CZ-TaO NP studies in healthy rats to evaluate tolerability. These studies included injecting the agent at the anticipated clinical dose (ACD) and at 3 times and 6 times the ACD, followed by longitudinal hematology to assess impact to blood cells and organ function (from 4 hours to 1 week). Kidney histological analysis was performed 48 hours after injection at 3 times the ACD. We measured the elimination half-life of CZ-TaO NPs from blood, and we monitored acute kidney injury biomarkers with a kidney injury assay using urine collected from 4 hours to 1 week. We measured tantalum retention in individual organs and in the whole carcass 48 hours after injection at ACD. CZ-TaO NPs were synthesized and analyzed in detail. We used multi-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to determine surface functionality of the nanoparticles. We measured nanoparticle size and solution properties (osmolality and viscosity) of the agent over a range of tantalum concentrations, including

Isolation of tungsten and tantalum isotopes without supports from. cap alpha. -particle-irradiated hafnium targets

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gasita, S.M.; Iota, B.Z.; Malachkov, A.G.

1985-11-01

An extraction procedure has been developed for successive isolation of tungsten (/sup 178/W and /sup 181/W) and tantalum (/sup 179/Ta and /sup 182/Ta) isotopes without supports from ..cap alpha..particle-irradiated hafnium targets. The target, irradiated on a cyclotron, is dissolved in hydrofluoric acid. Tantalum isotopes are extracted with tributyl phosphate (TBP) from 1-5 M HF and are then reextracted with a 1:1 ammonia solution, and hydrofluoric acid is removed by heating. Tungsten isotopes are extracted with a chloroform solution or N-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine (BPHA) from 11-12 M H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ or ..cap alpha..-benzoin oxime from 4.5-5.5 M H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ and are thenmore » reextracted with a l:l ammonia solution. The yield of tungsten isotopes is not less than 95%, and the content of radioactive impurities of other isotopes is not more than 0.1%.« less

Large area graphene ion sensitive field effect transistors with tantalum pentoxide sensing layers for pH measurement at the Nernstian limit

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fakih, Ibrahim, E-mail: ibrahim.fakih@mail.mcgill.ca; Sabri, Shadi; Szkopek, Thomas, E-mail: thomas.szkopek@mcgill.ca

2014-08-25

We have fabricated and characterized large area graphene ion sensitive field effect transistors (ISFETs) with tantalum pentoxide sensing layers and demonstrated pH sensitivities approaching the Nernstian limit. Low temperature atomic layer deposition was used to deposit tantalum pentoxide atop large area graphene ISFETs. The charge neutrality point of graphene, inferred from quantum capacitance or channel conductance, was used to monitor surface potential in the presence of an electrolyte with varying pH. Bare graphene ISFETs exhibit negligible response, while graphene ISFETs with tantalum pentoxide sensing layers show increased sensitivity reaching up to 55 mV/pH over pH 3 through pH 8. Applying themore » Bergveld model, which accounts for site binding and a Guoy-Chapman-Stern picture of the surface-electrolyte interface, the increased pH sensitivity can be attributed to an increased buffer capacity reaching up to 10{sup 14} sites/cm{sup 2}. ISFET response was found to be stable to better than 0.05 pH units over the course of two weeks.« less

Deformation of nuclei as a function of angular momentum in the U(6) ⊃ SU(3) model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Partensky, A.; Quesne, C.

1982-08-01

Moshińsky proposed recently a hybrid rotational model resulting from a comparison between the Gneuss and Greiner extension of the Bohr-Mottelson model and the interacting boson model. In this hybrid rotational model, we study the shape of nuclei by calculating the average of the expectation value of the square of the deformation parameter β with respect to the rotational states with the same angular momentum belonging to a given irreducible representation of SU(3). This work generalizes to three dimensions the corresponding analysis carried out in two dimensions by Chacón, Moshińsky, and Vanagas. We use the canonical chain of U(3) to obtain an analytical formula for the quantity studied. The overall stretching effect of the angular momentum on the shape of nuclei is demonstrated.

Verification of conventional equations of state for tantalum under quasi-isentropic compression

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Binqiang, Luo; Guiji, Wang; Jianjun, Mo

2014-11-21

Shock Hugoniot data have been widely used to calibrate analytic equations of state (EOSs) of condensed matter at high pressures. However, the suitability of particular analytic EOSs under off-Hugoniot states has not been sufficiently verified using experimental data. We have conducted quasi-isentropic compression experiments (ICEs) of tantalum using the compact pulsed power generator CQ-4, and explored the relation of longitudinal stress versus volume of tantalum under quasi-isentropic compression using backward integration and characteristic inverse methods. By subtracting the deviatoric stress and additional pressure caused by irreversible plastic dissipation, the isentropic pressure can be extracted from the longitudinal stress. Several theoreticalmore » isentropes are deduced from analytic EOSs and compared with ICE results to validate the suitability of these analytic EOSs in isentropic compression states. The comparisons show that the Gruneisen EOS with Gruneisen Gamma proportional to volume is accurate, regardless whether the Hugoniot or isentrope is used as the reference line. The Vinet EOS yields better accuracy in isentropic compression states. Theoretical isentropes derived from Tillotson, PUFF, and Birch-Murnaghan EOSs well agree with the experimental isentrope in the range of 0–100 GPa, but deviate gradually with pressure increasing further.« less

M551 metals melting experiment. [space manufacturing of aluminum alloys, tantalum alloys, stainless steels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Li, C. H.; Busch, G.; Creter, C.

1976-01-01

The Metals Melting Skylab Experiment consisted of selectively melting, in sequence, three rotating discs made of aluminum alloy, stainless steel, and tantalum alloy. For comparison, three other discs of the same three materials were similarly melted or welded on the ground. The power source of the melting was an electron beam unit. Results are presented which support the concept that the major difference between ground base and Skylab samples (i.e., large elongated grains in ground base samples versus nearly equiaxed and equal sized grains in Skylab samples) can be explained on the basis of constitutional supercooling, and not on the basis of surface phenomena. Microstructural observations on the weld samples and present explanations for some of these observations are examined. In particular, ripples and their implications to weld solidification were studied. Evidence of pronounced copper segregation in the Skylab A1 weld samples, and the tantalum samples studied, indicates a weld microhardness (and hence strength) that is uniformly higher than the ground base results, which is in agreement with previous predictions. Photographs are shown of the microstructure of the various alloys.

Collectivity in the light radon nuclei measured directly via Coulomb excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaffney, L. P.; Robinson, A. P.; Jenkins, D. G.; Andreyev, A. N.; Bender, M.; Blazhev, A.; Bree, N.; Bruyneel, B.; Butler, P. A.; Cocolios, T. E.; Davinson, T.; Deacon, A. N.; De Witte, H.; DiJulio, D.; Diriken, J.; Ekström, A.; Fransen, Ch.; Freeman, S. J.; Geibel, K.; Grahn, T.; Hadinia, B.; Hass, M.; Heenen, P.-H.; Hess, H.; Huyse, M.; Jakobsson, U.; Kesteloot, N.; Konki, J.; Kröll, Th.; Kumar, V.; Ivanov, O.; Martin-Haugh, S.; Mücher, D.; Orlandi, R.; Pakarinen, J.; Petts, A.; Peura, P.; Rahkila, P.; Reiter, P.; Scheck, M.; Seidlitz, M.; Singh, K.; Smith, J. F.; Van de Walle, J.; Van Duppen, P.; Voulot, D.; Wadsworth, R.; Warr, N.; Wenander, F.; Wimmer, K.; Wrzosek-Lipska, K.; Zielińska, M.

2015-06-01

Background: Shape coexistence in heavy nuclei poses a strong challenge to state-of-the-art nuclear models, where several competing shape minima are found close to the ground state. A classic region for investigating this phenomenon is in the region around Z =82 and the neutron midshell at N =104 . Purpose: Evidence for shape coexistence has been inferred from α -decay measurements, laser spectroscopy, and in-beam measurements. While the latter allow the pattern of excited states and rotational band structures to be mapped out, a detailed understanding of shape coexistence can only come from measurements of electromagnetic matrix elements. Method: Secondary, radioactive ion beams of 202Rn and 204Rn were studied by means of low-energy Coulomb excitation at the REX-ISOLDE in CERN. Results: The electric-quadrupole (E 2 ) matrix element connecting the ground state and first excited 21+ state was extracted for both 202Rn and 204Rn, corresponding to B (E 2 ;21+→01+) =29-8+8 and 43-12+17 W.u., respectively. Additionally, E 2 matrix elements connecting the 21+ state with the 41+ and 22+ states were determined in 202Rn. No excited 0+ states were observed in the current data set, possibly owing to a limited population of second-order processes at the currently available beam energies. Conclusions: The results are discussed in terms of collectivity and the deformation of both nuclei studied is deduced to be weak, as expected from the low-lying level-energy schemes. Comparisons are also made to state-of-the-art beyond-mean-field model calculations and the magnitude of the transitional quadrupole moments are well reproduced.

Effect of strain rate and dislocation density on the twinning behavior in tantalum

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Florando, Jeffrey N., E-mail: florando1@llnl.gov; Swift, Damian C.; Barton, Nathan R.

2016-04-15

The conditions which affect twinning in tantalum have been investigated across a range of strain rates and initial dislocation densities. Tantalum samples were subjected to a range of strain rates, from 10{sup −4}/s to 10{sup 3}/s under uniaxial stress conditions, and under laser-induced shock-loading conditions. In this study, twinning was observed at 77 K at strain rates from 1/s to 10{sup 3}/s, and during laser-induced shock experiments. The effect of the initial dislocation density, which was imparted by deforming the material to different amounts of pre-strain, was also studied, and it was shown that twinning is suppressed after a givenmore » amount of pre-strain, even as the global stress continues to increase. These results indicate that the conditions for twinning cannot be represented solely by a critical global stress value, but are also dependent on the evolution of the dislocation density. In addition, the analysis shows that if twinning is initiated, the nucleated twins may continue to grow as a function of strain, even as the dislocation density continues to increase.« less

In vivo comparison of tantalum, tungsten, and bismuth enteric contrast agents to complement intravenous iodine for double-contrast dual-energy CT of the bowel

PubMed Central

Rathnayake, Samira; Mongan, John; Torres, Andrew S.; Colborn, Robert; Gao, Dong-Wei; Yeh, Benjamin M; Fu, Yanjun

2016-01-01

To assess the ability of dual-energy CT (DECT) to separate intravenous contrast of bowel wall from intraluminal contrast, we scanned 16 rabbits on a clinical DECT scanner: n=3 using only iodinated intravenous contrast; and n=13 double-contrast enhanced scans using iodinated intravenous contrast and experimental enteric non-iodinated contrast agents in the bowel lumen (5 bismuth-, 4 tungsten-, and 4 tantalum-based). Representative image pairs from conventional CT images and DECT iodine density maps of small bowel (116 pairs from 232 images) were viewed by four abdominal imaging attending radiologists to independently score each comparison pair on a visual analog scale (−100 to +100%) for: 1) preference in small bowel wall visualization; and 2) preference in completeness of intraluminal enteric contrast subtraction. Median small bowel wall visualization was scored 39 and 42 percentage points (95% CI: 30–44% and 36–45%, p<0.001 both) higher at double-contrast DECT than at conventional CT with enteric tungsten and tantalum contrast, respectively. Median small bowel wall visualization at double-contrast DECT was scored 29 and 35 percentage points (95% CI: 20–35% and 33–39%, p<0.001 both) higher with enteric tungsten and tantalum, respectively, than with bismuth contrast. Median completeness of intraluminal enteric contrast subtraction in double-contrast DECT iodine density maps was scored 28 and 29 percentage points (95% CI: 15–31% and 28–33%, p<0.001 both) higher with enteric tungsten and tantalum, respectively, than with bismuth contrast. Results suggest that in vivo double-contrast DECT with iodinated intravenous and either tantalum- or tungsten-based enteric contrast provide better visualization of small bowel than conventional CT. PMID:26892945

Flash melting of tantalum in a diamond cell to 85 GPa

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Karandikar, Amol; Boehler, Reinhard

2016-02-09

Here, we demonstrate a new level of precision in measuring melting temperatures at high pressure using laser flash-heating followed by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Focused Ion Beam Milling. Furthermore, the new measurements on tantalum put unprecedented constraints on its highly debated melting slope, calling for a reevaluation of theoretical, shock compression and diamond cell approaches to determine melting at high pressure. X-ray analysis of the recovered samples confirmed the absence of chemical reactions, which likely played a significant role in previous experiments.

Effects of the [OC6F5] moiety upon structural geometry: crystal structures of half-sandwich tantalum(V) aryloxide complexes from reaction of Cp*Ta(N(t)Bu)(CH2R)2 with pentafluorophenol.

PubMed

Cole, Jacqueline M; Chan, Michael C W; Gibson, Vernon C; Howard, Judith A K

2011-10-01

The synthesis, chemical and structural characterization of a series of pentamethylcyclopentadienyl (Cp*) tantalum imido complexes and aryloxide derivatives are presented. Specifically, the imido complexes Cp*Ta(N(t)Bu)(CH(2)R)(2), where R = Ph [dibenzyl(tert-butylamido) (η(5)-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)tantalum(IV) (1)], Me(2)Ph [tert-butylamido)bis(2-methyl-2-phenylpropyl) (η(5)-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)tantalum(IV) (2)], CMe(3) [(tert-butylamido)bis(2,2-dimethylpropyl) (η(5)-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)tantalum(IV) (3)], are reported. The crystal structure of (3) reveals α-agostic interactions with the Ta atom. The resulting increase in the tantalum core coordination improves electronic stability. As such it does not react with pentafluorophenol, in contrast to the other two reported imido complexes [(1) and (2)]. Addition of C(6)F(5)OH to (1) yields a dimeric aryl-oxide derivative, [Cp*Ta(CH(2)Ph)(OC(6)H(5))(μ-O)](2) [di-μ-oxido-bis[benzyl(pentafluorophenolato) (η(5)-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)tantalum(V)] (4)]. Its crystal structure reveals long Ta-O(C(6)H(5)) bonds but short oxo-bridging Ta-O bonds. This is explained by accounting for the fierce electronic competition for the vacant d(π) orbitals of the electrophilic Ta(V) centre. Steric congestion around each metal is alleviated by a large twist angle (77.1°) between the benzyl and pentafluorophenyl ligands and the ordering of each of these groups into stacked pairs. The imido complex (2) reacts with C(6)F(5)OH to produce a mixture of Cp*Ta(OC(6)F(5))(4) [tetrakis(pentafluorophenolato)(η(5)-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)tantalum(V) (5)] and [Cp*Ta(OC(6)F(5))(2)(μ-O)](2) [di-μ-oxido-bis[bis(pentafluorophenolato)(η(5)-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)tantalum(V)] (6)]. Steric congestion is offset in both cases by the twisting of its pentafluorophenyl ligands. Particularly strong electronic competition for the empty d(π) metal orbitals in (6) is reflected in its bond geometry, and owes itself to the

Modified porous tantalum rod technique for the treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis

PubMed Central

Pakos, Emilios E; Megas, Panayiotis; Paschos, Nikolaos K; Syggelos, Spyridon A; Kouzelis, Antonios; Georgiadis, Georgios; Xenakis, Theodoros A

2015-01-01

AIM: To study a modified porous tantalum technique for the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. METHODS: The porous tantalum rod was combined with endoscopy, curettage, autologous bone grafting and use of bone marrow aspirates from iliac crest aspiration in 49 patients (58 hips) with a mean age of 38 years. The majority of the patients had idiopathic osteonecrosis, followed by corticosteroid-induced osteonecrosis. Thirty-eight hips were of Steinberg stage II disease and 20 hips were of stage III disease. Patients were followed for 5 years and were evaluated clinically with the Merle D’Aubigne and Postel score and radiologically. The primary outcome of the study was survival based on the conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA). Secondary outcomes included deterioration of the osteonecrosis to a higher disease stage at 5 years compared to the preoperative period and identification of factors that were associated with survival. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to evaluate the survivorship of the prosthesis, and the Fisher exact test was performed to test associations between various parameters with survival. RESULTS: No patient developed any serious intraoperative or postoperative complication including implant loosening or migration and donor site morbidity. During the 5-year follow up, 1 patient died, 7 patients had disease progression and 4 hips were converted to THA. The 5-year survival based on conversion to THA was 93.1% and the respective rate based on disease progression was 87.9%. Stage II disease was associated with statistically significant better survival rates compared to stage III disease (P = 0.04). The comparison between idiopathic and non-idiopathic osteonecrosis and between steroid-induced and non-steroid-induced osteonecrosis did not showed any statistically significant difference in survival rates. The clinical evaluation revealed statistically significantly improved Merle d’Aubigne scores at 12 mo postoperatively

Modified porous tantalum rod technique for the treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis.

PubMed

Pakos, Emilios E; Megas, Panayiotis; Paschos, Nikolaos K; Syggelos, Spyridon A; Kouzelis, Antonios; Georgiadis, Georgios; Xenakis, Theodoros A

2015-11-18

To study a modified porous tantalum technique for the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. The porous tantalum rod was combined with endoscopy, curettage, autologous bone grafting and use of bone marrow aspirates from iliac crest aspiration in 49 patients (58 hips) with a mean age of 38 years. The majority of the patients had idiopathic osteonecrosis, followed by corticosteroid-induced osteonecrosis. Thirty-eight hips were of Steinberg stage II disease and 20 hips were of stage III disease. Patients were followed for 5 years and were evaluated clinically with the Merle D'Aubigne and Postel score and radiologically. The primary outcome of the study was survival based on the conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA). Secondary outcomes included deterioration of the osteonecrosis to a higher disease stage at 5 years compared to the preoperative period and identification of factors that were associated with survival. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to evaluate the survivorship of the prosthesis, and the Fisher exact test was performed to test associations between various parameters with survival. No patient developed any serious intraoperative or postoperative complication including implant loosening or migration and donor site morbidity. During the 5-year follow up, 1 patient died, 7 patients had disease progression and 4 hips were converted to THA. The 5-year survival based on conversion to THA was 93.1% and the respective rate based on disease progression was 87.9%. Stage II disease was associated with statistically significant better survival rates compared to stage III disease (P = 0.04). The comparison between idiopathic and non-idiopathic osteonecrosis and between steroid-induced and non-steroid-induced osteonecrosis did not showed any statistically significant difference in survival rates. The clinical evaluation revealed statistically significantly improved Merle d'Aubigne scores at 12 mo postoperatively compared to the

Moving Cell Boundaries Drive Nuclear Shaping during Cell Spreading

PubMed Central

Li, Yuan; Lovett, David; Zhang, Qiao; Neelam, Srujana; Kuchibhotla, Ram Anirudh; Zhu, Ruijun; Gundersen, Gregg G.; Lele, Tanmay P.; Dickinson, Richard B.

2015-01-01

The nucleus has a smooth, regular appearance in normal cells, and its shape is greatly altered in human pathologies. Yet, how the cell establishes nuclear shape is not well understood. We imaged the dynamics of nuclear shaping in NIH3T3 fibroblasts. Nuclei translated toward the substratum and began flattening during the early stages of cell spreading. Initially, nuclear height and width correlated with the degree of cell spreading, but over time, reached steady-state values even as the cell continued to spread. Actomyosin activity, actomyosin bundles, microtubules, and intermediate filaments, as well as the LINC complex, were all dispensable for nuclear flattening as long as the cell could spread. Inhibition of actin polymerization as well as myosin light chain kinase with the drug ML7 limited both the initial spreading of cells and flattening of nuclei, and for well-spread cells, inhibition of myosin-II ATPase with the drug blebbistatin decreased cell spreading with associated nuclear rounding. Together, these results show that cell spreading is necessary and sufficient to drive nuclear flattening under a wide range of conditions, including in the presence or absence of myosin activity. To explain this observation, we propose a computational model for nuclear and cell mechanics that shows how frictional transmission of stress from the moving cell boundaries to the nuclear surface shapes the nucleus during early cell spreading. Our results point to a surprisingly simple mechanical system in cells for establishing nuclear shapes. PMID:26287620

Automated segmentation and isolation of touching cell nuclei in cytopathology smear images of pleural effusion using distance transform watershed method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Win, Khin Yadanar; Choomchuay, Somsak; Hamamoto, Kazuhiko

2017-06-01

The automated segmentation of cell nuclei is an essential stage in the quantitative image analysis of cell nuclei extracted from smear cytology images of pleural fluid. Cell nuclei can indicate cancer as the characteristics of cell nuclei are associated with cells proliferation and malignancy in term of size, shape and the stained color. Nevertheless, automatic nuclei segmentation has remained challenging due to the artifacts caused by slide preparation, nuclei heterogeneity such as the poor contrast, inconsistent stained color, the cells variation, and cells overlapping. In this paper, we proposed a watershed-based method that is capable to segment the nuclei of the variety of cells from cytology pleural fluid smear images. Firstly, the original image is preprocessed by converting into the grayscale image and enhancing by adjusting and equalizing the intensity using histogram equalization. Next, the cell nuclei are segmented using OTSU thresholding as the binary image. The undesirable artifacts are eliminated using morphological operations. Finally, the distance transform based watershed method is applied to isolate the touching and overlapping cell nuclei. The proposed method is tested with 25 Papanicolaou (Pap) stained pleural fluid images. The accuracy of our proposed method is 92%. The method is relatively simple, and the results are very promising.

Microstructural Formations and Phase Transformation Pathways in Hot Isostatically Pressed Tantalum Carbides

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

and wear-resistant brake liners. The phase diagram for the tantalum–carbon system [5] is shown in Fig. 1a with corresponding crystal structures shown... structure ), with carbon atoms occupying the octahe- dral interstitial sites in a tantalum face-centered cubic (fcc) lattice [2,7]. The carbon-deficient...carbon sublattice. The allotropic phase trans- formation temperature between a-Ta2C (CdI2 antitype structure ) and b (L’3 structure ) is 2300 K [1,7]. In

Tantalum films with well-controlled roughness grown by oblique incidence deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rechendorff, K.; Hovgaard, M. B.; Chevallier, J.; Foss, M.; Besenbacher, F.

2005-08-01

We have investigated how tantalum films with well-controlled surface roughness can be grown by e-gun evaporation with oblique angle of incidence between the evaporation flux and the surface normal. Due to a more pronounced shadowing effect the root-mean-square roughness increases from about 2 to 33 nm as grazing incidence is approached. The exponent, characterizing the scaling of the root-mean-square roughness with length scale (α), varies from 0.75 to 0.93, and a clear correlation is found between the angle of incidence and root-mean-square roughness.

Computer-assisted bladder cancer grading: α-shapes for color space decomposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niazi, M. K. K.; Parwani, Anil V.; Gurcan, Metin N.

2016-03-01

According to American Cancer Society, around 74,000 new cases of bladder cancer are expected during 2015 in the US. To facilitate the bladder cancer diagnosis, we present an automatic method to differentiate carcinoma in situ (CIS) from normal/reactive cases that will work on hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) stained images of bladder. The method automatically determines the color deconvolution matrix by utilizing the α-shapes of the color distribution in the RGB color space. Then, variations in the boundary of transitional epithelium are quantified, and sizes of nuclei in the transitional epithelium are measured. We also approximate the "nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio" by computing the ratio of the average shortest distance between transitional epithelium and nuclei to average nuclei size. Nuclei homogeneity is measured by computing the kurtosis of the nuclei size histogram. The results show that 30 out of 34 (88.2%) images were correctly classified by the proposed method, indicating that these novel features are viable markers to differentiate CIS from normal/reactive bladder.

Structural changes in the human vas deferens after tantalum clip occlusion and conventional vasectomy.

PubMed

Kothari, L K; Gupta, A S

1978-02-01

In 15 human subjects, the vasa deferentia were occluded by applying two tantalum clips on one side and by conventional vasectomy with silk ligatures on the other. After 2 weeks, the occluded segments were recovered for histopathologic examination of serial sections. Obstructing the seminal tract did not, as such, produce any significant change in the vas: the distal and proximal segments appeared to be essentially similar and normal. At the actual site of occlusion, however, tantalum clips produced marked flattening of the tube, complete loss of lining epithelium, distortion of the muscular lamellae, and areas of hemorrhage. The lumen was converted into a narrow slit. Under the ligatures, the damage was largely confined to denudation of the mucosal epithelium. The mucosa of the intersegment left unexcised between two clips showed hyalinization, invasion by macrophages, and degeneration of the epithelium. The changes under the clips suggest that, although clip occlusion may offer several advantages, sterility cannot be reversed merely by removing the clips. The mechanisms of these changes, different in the case of clips and ligatures, are discussed and some possible long-term consequences are considered.

Nuclear structure and weak rates of heavy waiting point nuclei under rp-process conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nabi, Jameel-Un; Böyükata, Mahmut

2017-01-01

The structure and the weak interaction mediated rates of the heavy waiting point (WP) nuclei 80Zr, 84Mo, 88Ru, 92Pd and 96Cd along N = Z line were studied within the interacting boson model-1 (IBM-1) and the proton-neutron quasi-particle random phase approximation (pn-QRPA). The energy levels of the N = Z WP nuclei were calculated by fitting the essential parameters of IBM-1 Hamiltonian and their geometric shapes were predicted by plotting potential energy surfaces (PESs). Half-lives, continuum electron capture rates, positron decay rates, electron capture cross sections of WP nuclei, energy rates of β-delayed protons and their emission probabilities were later calculated using the pn-QRPA. The calculated Gamow-Teller strength distributions were compared with previous calculation. We present positron decay and continuum electron capture rates on these WP nuclei under rp-process conditions using the same model. For the rp-process conditions, the calculated total weak rates are twice the Skyrme HF+BCS+QRPA rates for 80Zr. For remaining nuclei the two calculations compare well. The electron capture rates are significant and compete well with the corresponding positron decay rates under rp-process conditions. The finding of the present study supports that electron capture rates form an integral part of the weak rates under rp-process conditions and has an important role for the nuclear model calculations.

Micro- and nanostructure of a titanium surface electric-spark-doped with tantalum and modified by high-frequency currents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fomin, A. A.; Fomina, M. A.; Koshuro, V. A.; Rodionov, I. V.; Voiko, A. V.; Zakharevich, A. M.; Aman, A.; Oseev, A.; Hirsch, S.; Majcherek, S.

2016-09-01

We have studied the characteristics of the porous microstructure of tantalum coatings obtained by means of electric spark spraying on the surface of commercial grade titanium. It is established that, at an electric spark current within 0.8-2.2 A, a mechanically strong tantalum coating microstructure is formed with an average protrusion size of 5.1-5.4 µm and pore sizes from 3.5 to 9.2 µm. On the nanoscale, a structurally heterogeneous state of coatings has been achieved by subsequent thermal modification at 800-830°C with the aid of high-frequency currents. A metal oxide nanostructure with grain sizes from 40 to 120 nm is formed by short-time (~30 s) thermal modification. The coating hardness reaches 9.5-10.5 GPa at an elastic modulus of 400-550 GPa.

Thermal expansion method for lining tantalum alloy tubing with tungsten

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Watson, G. K.; Whittenberger, J. D.; Mattson, W. F.

1973-01-01

A differential-thermal expansion method was developed to line T-111 (tantalum - 8 percent tungsten - 2 percent hafnium) tubing with a tungsten diffusion barrier as part of a fuel element fabrication study for a space power nuclear reactor concept. This method uses a steel mandrel, which has a larger thermal expansion than T-111, to force the tungsten against the inside of the T-111 tube. Variables investigated include lining temperature, initial assembly gas size, and tube length. Linear integrity increased with increasing lining temperature and decreasing gap size. The method should have more general applicability where cylinders must be lined with a thin layer of a second material.

Physical fitness and shapes of subcortical brain structures in children.

PubMed

Ortega, Francisco B; Campos, Daniel; Cadenas-Sanchez, Cristina; Altmäe, Signe; Martínez-Zaldívar, Cristina; Martín-Matillas, Miguel; Catena, Andrés; Campoy, Cristina

2017-03-27

A few studies have recently reported that higher cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with higher volumes of subcortical brain structures in children. It is, however, unknown how different fitness measures relate to shapes of subcortical brain nuclei. We aimed to examine the association of the main health-related physical fitness components with shapes of subcortical brain structures in a sample of forty-four Spanish children aged 9·7 (sd 0·2) years from the NUtraceuticals for a HEALthier life project. Cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and speed agility were assessed using valid and reliable tests (ALPHA-fitness test battery). Shape of the subcortical brain structures was assessed by MRI, and its relationship with fitness was examined after controlling for a set of potential confounders using a partial correlation permutation approach. Our results showed that all physical fitness components studied were significantly related to the shapes of subcortical brain nuclei. These associations were both positive and negative, indicating that a higher level of fitness in childhood is related to both expansions and contractions in certain regions of the accumbens, amygdala, caudate, hippocampus, pallidum, putamen and thalamus. Cardiorespiratory fitness was mainly associated with expansions, whereas handgrip was mostly associated with contractions in the structures studied. Future randomised-controlled trials will confirm or contrast our findings, demonstrating whether changes in fitness modify the shapes of brain structures and the extent to which those changes influence cognitive function.

Moving Cell Boundaries Drive Nuclear Shaping during Cell Spreading.

PubMed

Li, Yuan; Lovett, David; Zhang, Qiao; Neelam, Srujana; Kuchibhotla, Ram Anirudh; Zhu, Ruijun; Gundersen, Gregg G; Lele, Tanmay P; Dickinson, Richard B

2015-08-18

The nucleus has a smooth, regular appearance in normal cells, and its shape is greatly altered in human pathologies. Yet, how the cell establishes nuclear shape is not well understood. We imaged the dynamics of nuclear shaping in NIH3T3 fibroblasts. Nuclei translated toward the substratum and began flattening during the early stages of cell spreading. Initially, nuclear height and width correlated with the degree of cell spreading, but over time, reached steady-state values even as the cell continued to spread. Actomyosin activity, actomyosin bundles, microtubules, and intermediate filaments, as well as the LINC complex, were all dispensable for nuclear flattening as long as the cell could spread. Inhibition of actin polymerization as well as myosin light chain kinase with the drug ML7 limited both the initial spreading of cells and flattening of nuclei, and for well-spread cells, inhibition of myosin-II ATPase with the drug blebbistatin decreased cell spreading with associated nuclear rounding. Together, these results show that cell spreading is necessary and sufficient to drive nuclear flattening under a wide range of conditions, including in the presence or absence of myosin activity. To explain this observation, we propose a computational model for nuclear and cell mechanics that shows how frictional transmission of stress from the moving cell boundaries to the nuclear surface shapes the nucleus during early cell spreading. Our results point to a surprisingly simple mechanical system in cells for establishing nuclear shapes. Copyright © 2015 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Vector Meson Photoproduction on Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Djalali, Chaden

2011-10-01

Chiral symmetry, which is spontaneously broken in vacuum, is predicted to be partially restored in ordinary nuclear matter. The properties of vector mesons, such as their masses and/or widths are expected to change in the medium. The photoproduction reaction off nuclei is a very clean way of producing the ρ, ω and φ mesons, and detect them via their hadronic or leptonic decays. The leptonic decay to e+e- has a small branching ratio but has the advantage of being free from final state interactions. One critical aspect in all these experiments is the correct determination of the shape and magnitude of the combinatorial background. The in-medium mass distributions and yields are compared to those measured in vacuum. No significant shift is observed in the masses of the mesons, however substantial increase in their widths is reported.

Energetic Nuclei, Superdensity and Biomedicine

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baldin, A. M.

1977-01-01

High-energy, relativistic nuclei were first observed in cosmic rays. Studing these nuclei has provided an opportunity for analyzing the composition of cosmic rays and for experimentally verifying principles governing the behavior of nuclear matter at high and super-high temperatures. Medical research using accelerated nuclei is suggested.…

Active galactic nuclei

PubMed Central

Fabian, Andrew C.

1999-01-01

Active galactic nuclei are the most powerful, long-lived objects in the Universe. Recent data confirm the theoretical idea that the power source is accretion into a massive black hole. The common occurrence of obscuration and outflows probably means that the contribution of active galactic nuclei to the power density of the Universe has been generally underestimated. PMID:10220363

Nuclei and the Unitary Limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hammer, H.-W.

2018-07-01

Few-body systems with large scattering length display universal properties which are independent of the details of short-distance dynamics. These features include universal correlations between few-body observables and a geometric spectrum of three- and higher-body bound states. They can be observed in a wide range of systems from ultracold atoms to hadrons and nuclei. In this contribution, we review universality in nuclei dominated by few-body physics. In particular, we discuss halo nuclei and the description of light nuclei in a strict expansion around the unitary limit of infinite scattering length.

Impact of physical confinement on nuclei geometry and cell division dynamics in 3D spheroids.

PubMed

Desmaison, Annaïck; Guillaume, Ludivine; Triclin, Sarah; Weiss, Pierre; Ducommun, Bernard; Lobjois, Valérie

2018-06-08

Multicellular tumour spheroids are used as a culture model to reproduce the 3D architecture, proliferation gradient and cell interactions of a tumour micro-domain. However, their 3D characterization at the cell scale remains challenging due to size and cell density issues. In this study, we developed a methodology based on 3D light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) image analysis and convex hull calculation that allows characterizing the 3D shape and orientation of cell nuclei relative to the spheroid surface. By using this technique and optically cleared spheroids, we found that in freely growing spheroids, nuclei display an elongated shape and are preferentially oriented parallel to the spheroid surface. This geometry is lost when spheroids are grown in conditions of physical confinement. Live 3D LSFM analysis of cell division revealed that confined growth also altered the preferential cell division axis orientation parallel to the spheroid surface and induced prometaphase delay. These results provide key information and parameters that help understanding the impact of physical confinement on cell proliferation within tumour micro-domains.

Phase Transformation Synthesis of Strontium Tantalum Oxynitride-based Heterojunction for Improved Visible Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution.

PubMed

Zeng, Weixuan; Bian, Yuan; Cao, Sheng; Ma, Yongjin; Liu, Yi; Zhu, Anquan; Tan, Pengfei; Pan, Jun

2018-06-07

Tantalum oxynitride-based materials, which possess narrow bandgaps and sufficient band energy potentials, have been of immense interest for water splitting. However, the efficiency of photocatalytic reactions is still low due to the fast electron-hole recombination. Here, a Sr2Ta2O7-xNx/SrTaO2N heterostructured photocatalyst with well-matched band structure was in situ constructed by nitridation of hydrothermal-prepared Sr2Ta2O7 nanosheets. Compared to Sr2Ta2O7-xNx and pure SrTaO2N, the Sr2Ta2O7-xNx/SrTaO2N heterostructured photocatalyst exhibited highest rate of hydrogen evolution, which is ca. 2.0 and 76.4 times of Sr2Ta2O7-xNx and pure SrTaO2N under the similar reaction condition, respectively. The enhanced performance arises from the formation of suitable band matched heterojunction accelerated charge separation. This work provides a promising strategy for the construction of tantalum oxynitride-based heterojunction photocatalysts.

Lifetime measurements in A˜100 nuclei using LaBr3(Ce) arrays.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bruce, A. M.

2018-05-01

The region of the nuclear chart around neutron-rich A˜100 nuclei is one where prolate and oblate nuclear shapes are predicted to be in close competition. An indirect measurement of the shape of the nucleus can be obtained from measuring level lifetimes which relate, via transition rates, to β2 deformation. In order to make measurements of level lifetimes in the sub nanosecond range an array of 36 LaBr3(Ce) detectors has been constructed for use at the FAIR facility in Darmstadt, Germany. This presentation will give an overview of the array and examples of its use in commissioning experiments at the RIKEN Nishina Center in Japan and the Argonne National Laboratory in the USA.

Deformation of nuclei as a function of angular momentum in the U(6) ⊃ SU(3) model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Partensky, A.; Quesne, C.

1981-10-01

In the framework of a hybrid rotational model, proposed recently by Moshinsky as a consequence of a comparison between the Gneuss and Greiner extension of the Bohr and Mottelson model and the interacting boson model, we study the shape of nuclei by calculating the average of the expectation value of the square of the deformation parameter β with respect to the rotational states with the same angular momentum belonging to a given irreducible representation of SU(3). This work generalises to three dimensions the corresponding analysis carried out in two dimensions by Chacón, Moshinsky, and Vanagas. We use the canonical chain for U(3), i.e., the chain U(6) ⊃ U(3) ⊃ U(2) ⊃ U(1), to obtain an analytical formula for the quantity studied. We bring out the overall stretching effect of the angular momentum on the shape of nuclei. The influence of other parameters, such as the boson number and the irreducible representation of SU(3), is also studied.

[Some morphometric parameters of nucleoli and nuclei in invasive ductal breast carcinomas in women].

PubMed

Karpinska-Kaczmarczyk, Katarzyna

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study was to correlate seven morphometric parameters of nucleoli and nuclei of invasive ductal cancer cells with some clinico-pathological factors such as age, tumor size, axillary lymph node status, MIB-1 proliferation index, and estrogen receptor expression in tumor cells. Methyl green-pyronin Y (MG-PY) was used for simultaneous staining of nuclei and nucleoli in histological sections of 150 invasive ductal breast carcinomas. Next, morphometric parameters of nucleoli and nuclei of tumor cells were measured with computerized image analysis. Nuclear area and number of nucleoli in breast tumor cells were greater in younger axillary node-negative patients. The number of nucleoli and nucleolar shape polymorphism were reduced in tumors measuring 20 mm or less or with lower histological grade. Nuclear area, nucleolar number, and nucleolar polymorphism in carcinomas with low proliferation index and estrogen receptor expression were smaller than in carcinomas with high proliferation index and no estrogen receptor expression. Nucleolar area in primary tumors without axillary node involvement was greater than in tumors with more than three axillary nodes positive. MG-PY selectively and simultaneously stains nucleoli and nuclei of tumor cells enabling standardized and reproducible examination of these structures with computerized image analysis. Univariate statistical analysis disclosed that some morphometric parameters of nucleoli and nuclei of tumor cells correlated with several established clinico-pathological prognostic factors. Therefore, the prognostic significance of these parameters should be studied in a larger group of patients with invasive ductal breast carcinomas.

Development of advanced high strength tantalum base alloys. Part 1: Screening investigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buckman, R. W., Jr.

1971-01-01

Five experimental tantalum alloy compositions containing 13-18% W+Re+Hf solid solution solute additions with dispersed phase strengthening achieved by carbon or nitrogen additions were prepared as 1.4 inch diameter ingot processed to 3/8 inch diameter rod and evaluated. Elevated temperature tensile and creep strength increased monotonically with increasing solute content. Room temperature elongation decreased for 20% to less than 2% as the solute content was increased above 16%. Phase identification indicated that the precipitating phase in the carbide containing alloys was Ta2C.

Influence of process parameters on plasma electrolytic surface treatment of tantalum for biomedical applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sowa, Maciej; Woszczak, Maja; Kazek-Kęsik, Alicja; Dercz, Grzegorz; Korotin, Danila M.; Zhidkov, Ivan S.; Kurmaev, Ernst Z.; Cholakh, Seif O.; Basiaga, Marcin; Simka, Wojciech

2017-06-01

This work aims to quantify the effect of anodization voltage and electrolyte composition used during DC plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO), operated as a 2-step process, on the surface properties of the resulting oxide coatings on tantalum. The first step consisted of galvanostatic anodization (150 mA cm-2) of the tantalum workpiece up to several limiting voltages (200, 300, 400 and 500 V). After attaining the limiting voltage, the process was switched to voltage control, which resulted in a gradual decrease of the anodic current density. The anodic treatment was realized in a 0.5 M Ca(H2PO2)2 solution, which was then modified by the addition of 1.15 M Ca(HCOO)2 as well as 1.15 M and 1.5 M Mg(CH3COO)2. The increasing voltage of anodization led to the formation of thicker coatings, with larger pores and enriched with electrolytes species to a higher extent. The solutions containing HCOO- and CH3COO- ions caused the formation of coatings which were slightly hydrophobic (high contact angle). In the case of the samples anodized up to 500 V, scattered crystalline deposits were observed. Bioactive phases, such as hydroxyapatite, were detected in the treated oxide coatings by XRD and XPS.

Progressive supranuclear palsy: neuronal and glial cytoskeletal pathology in the higher order processing autonomic nuclei of the lower brainstem.

PubMed

Rüb, U; Del Tredici, K; Schultz, C; de Vos, R A I; Jansen Steur, E N H; Arai, K; Braak, H

2002-02-01

The medial and lateral parabrachial nuclei (MPB, LPB), the gigantocellular reticular nucleus (GI), the raphes magnus (RMG) and raphes obscurus nuclei (ROB), as well as the intermediate reticular zone (IRZ) represent pivotal subordinate brainstem centres, all of which control autonomic functions. In this study, we investigated the occurrence and severity of the neuronal and glial cytoskeletal pathology in these six brainstem nuclei from 17 individuals with clinically diagnosed and neuropathologically confirmed progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). The association between the severity of the pathology and the duration of the disease was investigated by means of correlation analysis. The brainstem nuclei in all of the PSP cases were affected by the neuronal cytoskeletal pathology, with the IRZ and GI regularly showing severe involvement, the MPB, RMG, and ROB marked involvement, and the LPB mild involvement. In the six nuclear greys studied, glial cells undergo alterations of their cytoskeleton on an irregular basis, whereby diseased oligodendrocytes predominantly presented as coiled bodies and affected astrocytes as thorn-shaped astrocytes. In all six nuclei, the severity of the neuronal or glial cytoskeletal pathology showed no correlation with the duration of PSP. In view of their functional role, the neuronal pathology in the nuclei studied offers a possible explanation for the autonomic dysfunctions that eventually develop in the course of PSP.

Development of tungsten-tantalum generator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leblanc, A.; Babich, J.; Jhingran, S. G.

1985-01-01

The purpose of this project was to develop a useable tungsten (W)/tantalum (Ta) generator. Ta-178 is formed following the decay of its parent, W-178 (half-life: 21.7d) and has a half life of 9.3 minutes in turn yielding stable Hf-178. The decay of the parent isotope (W-178) occurs entirely by electron capture to the 9.3 minute Ta-178 state, without feeding the high spin Ta-178 isomer (half life 2.2 hours). In Ta-178 decay, 99.2% of the disintegrations proceed by electron capture and 0.18% by positron emission. Electron capture results in a 61.2% branch to the ground state of Hf-178 and 33.7% to the first excited state at 93 1KeV. The most prominent features of the radionuclide's energy spectrum are the hafnium characteristic radiation peaks with energies between 54.6 and 65.0 KeV. The radiation exposure dose of Ta-118 was calculated to be approximately one-twentieth that of Tc-99m on a per millicurie basis. A twenty-fold reduction in radiation exposure from Ta-178 compared with Tc-99m means that the usual administered dose can be increased three or four times, greatly increasing statistical accuracy while reducing radiation exposure by a factor of five.

Conflict minerals in the compute sector: estimating extent of tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold use in ICT products.

PubMed

Fitzpatrick, Colin; Olivetti, Elsa; Miller, Reed; Roth, Richard; Kirchain, Randolph

2015-01-20

Recent legislation has focused attention on the supply chains of tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold (3TG), specifically those originating from the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The unique properties of these so-called “conflict minerals” lead to their use in many products, ranging from medical devices to industrial cutting tools. This paper calculates per product use of 3TG in several information, communication, and technology (ICT) products such as desktops, servers, laptops, smart phones, and tablets. By scaling up individual product estimates to global shipment figures, this work estimates the influence of the ICT sector on 3TG mining in covered countries. The model estimates the upper bound of tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold use within ICT products to be 2%, 0.1%, 15%, and 3% of the 2013 market share, respectively. This result is projected into the future (2018) based on the anticipated increase in ICT device production.

Collective excitations in the transitional nuclei 163Re and 165Re

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis-Merry, T. R.; Joss, D. T.; Page, R. D.; Simpson, J.; Paul, E. S.; Ali, F. A.; Bianco, L.; Carroll, R. J.; Cederwall, B.; Darby, I. G.; Drummond, M. C.; Eeckhaudt, S.; Ertürk, S.; Gómez-Hornillos, M. B.; Grahn, T.; Greenlees, P. T.; Hadinia, B.; Jakobsson, U.; Jones, P. M.; Julin, R.; Juutinen, S.; Ketelhut, S.; Leino, M.; Nieminen, P.; Nyman, M.; O'Donnell, D.; Pakarinen, J.; Peura, P.; Rahkila, P.; Revill, J. P.; Ruotsalainen, P.; Sandzelius, M.; Sapple, P. J.; Sarén, J.; Sayǧi, B.; Scholey, C.; Sorri, J.; Thomson, J.; Uusitalo, J.

2015-03-01

Excited states in the neutron-deficient nuclei 75163Re88 and 75165Re90 were populated in the 106Cd( 60Ni ,p 2 n γ ) and 92Mo( 78Kr , 3 p 2 n γ ) fusion-evaporation reactions at bombarding energies of 270 and 380 MeV, respectively. γ rays were detected at the target position using the JUROGAM spectrometer while recoiling ions were separated in-flight by the RITU gas-filled recoil separator and implanted in the GREAT spectrometer. The energy level schemes for 163Re and 165Re were identified using recoil-decay correlation techniques. At low spin, the yrast bands of these isotopes consist of signature partner bands based on a single π h11 /2 quasiproton configuration. The bands display large energy splitting consistent with the soft triaxial shape typical of transitional nuclei above N =82 . The configurations of the excited states are proposed within the framework of the cranked shell model.

Isolation of Nuclei and Nucleoli.

PubMed

Pendle, Alison F; Shaw, Peter J

2017-01-01

Here we describe methods for producing nuclei from Arabidopsis suspension cultures or root tips of Arabidopsis, wheat, or pea. These methods could be adapted for other species and cell types. The resulting nuclei can be further purified for use in biochemical or proteomic studies, or can be used for microscopy. We also describe how the nuclei can be used to obtain a preparation of nucleoli.

Evanescent field Sensors Based on Tantalum Pentoxide Waveguides – A Review

PubMed Central

Schmitt, Katrin; Oehse, Kerstin; Sulz, Gerd; Hoffmann, Christian

2008-01-01

Evanescent field sensors based on waveguide surfaces play an important role where high sensitivity is required. Particularly tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) is a suitable material for thin-film waveguides due to its high refractive index and low attenuation. Many label-free biosensor systems such as grating couplers and interferometric sensors as well as fluorescence-based systems benefit from this waveguide material leading to extremely high sensitivity. Some biosensor systems based on Ta2O5 waveguides already took the step into commercialization. This report reviews the various detection systems in terms of limit of detection, the applications, and the suitable surface chemistry. PMID:27879731

High resolution microscopy reveals the nuclear shape of budding yeast during cell cycle and in various biological states

PubMed Central

Kamgoue, Alain; Normand, Christophe; Léger-Silvestre, Isabelle; Mangeat, Thomas

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT How spatial organization of the genome depends on nuclear shape is unknown, mostly because accurate nuclear size and shape measurement is technically challenging. In large cell populations of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we assessed the geometry (size and shape) of nuclei in three dimensions with a resolution of 30 nm. We improved an automated fluorescence localization method by implementing a post-acquisition correction of the spherical microscopic aberration along the z-axis, to detect the three dimensional (3D) positions of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) in the nuclear envelope. Here, we used a method called NucQuant to accurately estimate the geometry of nuclei in 3D throughout the cell cycle. To increase the robustness of the statistics, we aggregated thousands of detected NPCs from a cell population in a single representation using the nucleolus or the spindle pole body (SPB) as references to align nuclei along the same axis. We could detect asymmetric changes of the nucleus associated with modification of nucleolar size. Stereotypical modification of the nucleus toward the nucleolus further confirmed the asymmetric properties of the nuclear envelope. PMID:27831493

The structure of nuclei far from stability. [Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State Univ. , Baton Rouge, Louisiana

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zganjar, E.F.

1993-01-01

Studies on nuclei near Z=82 contributed to the establishment of a new region of nuclear deformation and a new class of nuclear structure at closed shells. A important aspect of this work is the establishment of the connection between low-lying 0[sup +] states in even[endash]even nuclei and the occurrence of shape coexistence in the odd-mass neighbors (E0 transitions in [sup 185]Pt, shape coexistence in [sup 184]Pt and [sup 187]Au). A new type of picosecond lifetime measurement system capable of measuring the lifetime of states that decay only by internal conversion was developed and applied to the [sup 186,188]Tl decay tomore » determine the lifetime of the 0[sub 2][sup +] and 2[sub 2][sup +] deformed states in [sup 186,188]Hg. A search for the population of superdeformed states in [sup 192]Hg by the radioactive decay of [sup 192]Tl was accomplished by using a prototype internal pair formation spectrometer.« less

Could life have evolved in cometary nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bar-Nun, A.; Lazcano-Araujo, A.; Oro, J.

1981-01-01

The suggestion by Hoyle and Wickramasinghe (1978) that life might have originated in cometary nuclei rather than directly on the earth is discussed. Factors in the cometary environment including the conditions at perihelion passage leading to the ablation of cometary ices, ice temperatures, the absence of an atmosphere and discrete liquid and solid surfaces, weak cometary structure incapable of supporting a liquid core, and radiation are presented as arguments against biopoesis in comets. It is concluded that although the contribution of cometary and meteoritic matter was significant in shaping the earth environment, the view that life on earth originally arose in comets is untenable, and the proposition that the process of interplanetary infection still occurs is unlikely in view of the high specificity of host-parasite relationships.

Titanium modified with layer-by-layer sol-gel tantalum oxide and an organodiphosphonic acid: a coating for hydroxyapatite growth.

PubMed

Arnould, C; Volcke, C; Lamarque, C; Thiry, P A; Delhalle, J; Mekhalif, Z

2009-08-15

Titanium and its alloys are widely used in surgical implants due to their appropriate properties like corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, and load bearing. Unfortunately when metals are used for orthopedic and dental implants there is the possibility of loosening over a long period of time. Surface modification is a good way to counter this problem. A thin tantalum oxide layer obtained by layer-by-layer (LBL) sol-gel deposition on top of a titanium surface is expected to improve biocorrosion resistance in the body fluid, biocompatibility, and radio-opacity. This elaboration step is followed by a modification of the tantalum oxide surface with an organodiphosphonic acid self-assembled monolayer, capable of chemically binding to the oxide surface, and also improving hydroxyapatite growth. The different steps of this proposed process are characterized by surfaces techniques like contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Hotspot detection in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: density approximation by α-shape maps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niazi, M. K. K.; Hartman, Douglas J.; Pantanowitz, Liron; Gurcan, Metin N.

2016-03-01

The grading of neuroendocrine tumors of the digestive system is dependent on accurate and reproducible assessment of the proliferation with the tumor, either by counting mitotic figures or counting Ki-67 positive nuclei. At the moment, most pathologists manually identify the hotspots, a practice which is tedious and irreproducible. To better help pathologists, we present an automatic method to detect all potential hotspots in neuroendocrine tumors of the digestive system. The method starts by segmenting Ki-67 positive nuclei by entropy based thresholding, followed by detection of centroids for all Ki-67 positive nuclei. Based on geodesic distance, approximated by the nuclei centroids, we compute two maps: an amoeba map and a weighted amoeba map. These maps are later combined to generate the heat map, the segmentation of which results in the hotspots. The method was trained on three and tested on nine whole slide images of neuroendocrine tumors. When evaluated by two expert pathologists, the method reached an accuracy of 92.6%. The current method does not discriminate between tumor, stromal and inflammatory nuclei. The results show that α-shape maps may represent how hotspots are perceived.

Raman spectra of ruthenium and tantalum trimers in argon matrices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, Li; Shen, Xiaole; Chen, Xiaoyu; Lombardi, John R.

2000-12-01

The resonance Raman spectra of ruthenium trimers (Ru 3) in argon matrices have been obtained. Three resonance Raman transitions were observed between 570 and 590 nm. Two of them (303.4 and 603.7 cm -1) are assigned to the totally symmetric vibrational progression, giving k e=1.86 mdyne/ Å. The line at 581.5 cm-1 is assigned as the origin of a low-lying electronic state. We also report on the observation of a resonance Raman spectrum of tantalum trimers (Ta 3). Observed lines include 251.2 and 501.9 cm-1 which we assign to the fundamental and the first overtone of the symmetric stretch in Ta 3. This gives k e=2.25 mdyne/ Å.

Anionic tantalum dihydride complexes: heterobimetallic coupling reactions and reactivity toward small-molecule activation.

PubMed

Ostapowicz, Thomas G; Fryzuk, Michael D

2015-03-02

The anionic dihydride complex [Cp2TaH2](-) was synthesized as a well-defined molecular species by deprotonation of Cp2TaH3 while different solubilizing agents, such as [2.2.2]cryptand and 18-crown-6, were applied to encapsulate the alkali-metal counterion. The ion pairs were characterized by multiple spectroscopic methods as well as X-ray crystallography, revealing varying degrees of interaction between the hydride ligands of the anion and the respective countercation in solution and in the solid state. The [Cp2TaH2](-) complex anion shows slow exchange of the hydride ligands when kept under a D2 atmosphere, but a very fast reaction is observed when [Cp2TaH2](-) is reacted with CO2, from which Cp2TaH(CO) is obtained as the tantalum-containing reaction product, along with inorganic salts. Furthermore, [Cp2TaH2](-) can act as a synthon in heterobimetallic coupling reactions with transition-metal halide complexes. Thus, the heterobimetallic complexes Cp2Ta(μ-H)2Rh(dippp) and Cp2Ta(μ-H)2Ru(H)(CO)(P(i)Pr3)2 were synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopies and via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The new hydride bridged tantalum-rhodium heterobimetallic complex is cleaved under a CO atmosphere to yield mononuclear species and slowly exchanges protons and hydride ligands when exposed to D2 gas.

Compaction and High-Pressure Response of Granular Tantalum Oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vogler, Tracy; Root, Seth; Knudson, Marcus; Thornhill, Tom; Reinhart, William

2015-06-01

The dynamic behavior of nearly fully-dense and porous tantalum oxide (Ta2O5) is studied. Two particle morphologies are used to obtain two distinct initial tap densities, which correspond to approximately 40% and 15% of crystalline density. The response is characterized from low pressures, which result in incomplete compaction, to very high pressures where the thermal component of the EOS dominates. Issues related to a possible phase transformation along the Hugoniot and to establishing reasonable error bars on the experimental data will be discussed. The suitability of continuum and mesoscale models to capture the experimental results will be examined. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Company, for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under Contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

Precerebellar and vestibular nuclei of the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus).

PubMed

Ashwell, K W S; Paxinos, G; Watson, C R R

2007-09-01

The monotremes are a unique group of living mammals, which diverged from the line leading to placental mammals at least 125 million years ago. We have examined the organization of pontine, inferior olivary, lateral reticular and vestibular nuclei in the brainstem of the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) to determine if the cyto- and chemoarchitecture of these nuclei are similar to that in placental mammals and marsupials. We have used Nissl staining in conjunction with enzyme-histochemistry for acetylcholinesterase, cytochrome oxidase and NADPH diaphorase as well as immunohistochemistry for non-phosphorylated neurofilament protein (SMI-32 antibody) and calcium binding proteins (parvalbumin, calbindin, calretinin). Homologies could be established between the arch shaped inferior olivary complex of the echidna and the principal, dorsal and medial accessory subdivisions of the therian inferior olivary complex. The pontine nuclei of the echidna included basilar and reticulotegmental components with similar cyto- and chemarchitectural features to therians and there were magnocellular and subtrigeminal components of the lateral reticular nucleus, also as seen in therians. Subdivisions and chemoarchitecture of the vestibular complex of the echidna were both similar to that region in rodents. In all three precerebellar nuclear groups studied and in the vestibular nucleus organization, the cyto- and chemoarchitecture of the echidna was very similar to that seen in therian mammals and no "primitive" or "reptilian" features were evident.

Mid-infrared spectra of comet nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelley, Michael S. P.; Woodward, Charles E.; Gehrz, Robert D.; Reach, William T.; Harker, David E.

2017-03-01

Comet nuclei and D-type asteroids have several similarities at optical and near-IR wavelengths, including near-featureless red reflectance spectra, and low albedos. Mineral identifications based on these characteristics are fraught with degeneracies, although some general trends can be identified. In contrast, spectral emissivity features in the mid-infrared provide important compositional information that might not otherwise be achievable. Jovian Trojan D-type asteroids have emissivity features strikingly similar to comet comae, suggesting that they have the same compositions and that the surfaces of the Trojans are highly porous. However, a direct comparison between a comet and asteroid surface has not been possible due to the paucity of spectra of comet nuclei at mid-infrared wavelengths. We present 5-35 μm thermal emission spectra of comets 10P/Tempel 2, and 49P/Arend-Rigaux observed with the Infrared Spectrograph on the Spitzer Space Telescope. Our analysis reveals no evidence for a coma or tail at the time of observation, suggesting the spectra are dominated by the comet nucleus. We fit each spectrum with the near-Earth asteroid thermal model (NEATM) and find sizes in agreement with previous values. However, the NEATM beaming parameters of the nuclei, 0.74-0.83, are systematically lower than the Jupiter-family comet population mean of 1.03 ± 0.11, derived from 16- and 22-μm photometry. We suggest this may be either an artifact of the spectral reduction, or the consequence of an emissivity low near 16 μm. When the spectra are normalized by the NEATM model, a weak 10-μm silicate plateau is evident, with a shape similar to those seen in mid-infrared spectra of D-type asteroids. A silicate plateau is also evident in previously published Spitzer spectra of the nucleus of comet 9P/Tempel 1. We compare, in detail, these comet nucleus emission features to those seen in spectra of the Jovian Trojan D-types (624) Hektor, (911) Agamemnon, and (1172) Aneas, as well

Deformation of nuclei as a function of angular momentum in the U(6)containsSU(3) model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Partensky, A.

1981-10-15

In the framework of a hybrid rotational model, proposed recently by Moshinsky as a consequence of a comparison between the Gneuss and Greiner extension of the Bohr and Mottelson model and the interacting boson model, we study the shape of nuclei by calculating the average of the expectation value of the square of the deformation parameter ..beta.. with respect to the rotational states with the same angular momentum belonging to a given irreducible representation of SU(3). This work generalises to three dimensions the corresponding analysis carried out in two dimensions by Chacon, Moshinsky, and Vanagas. We use the canonical chainmore » for U(3), i.e.,the chain U(6)containsU(3)containsU(2)containsU(1), to obtain an analytical formula for the quantity studied. We bring out the overall stretching effect of the angular momentum on the shape of nuclei. The influence of other parameters, such as the boson number and the irreducible representation of SU(3), is also studied.« less

Nuclear Shell Structure and Beta Decay I. Odd A Nuclei II. Even A Nuclei

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

Mayer, M.G.; Moszkowski, S.A.; Nordheim, L.W.

1951-05-01

In Part I a systematics is given of all transitions for odd A nuclei for which sufficiently reliable data are available. The allowed or forbidden characters of the transitions are correlated with the positions of the initial and final odd nucleon groups in the nuclear shell scheme. The nuclear shells show definite characteristics with respect to parity of the ground states. The latter is the same as the one obtained from known spins and magnetic moments in a one-particle interpretation. In Part II a systematics of the beta transitions of even-A nuclei is given. An interpretation of the character of the transitions in terms of nuclear shell structure is achieved on the hypothesis that the odd nucleon groups have the same structure as in odd-A nuclei, together with a simple coupling rule between the neutron and proton groups in odd-odd nuclei.

Does flat epithelial atypia have rounder nuclei than columnar cell change/hyperplasia? A morphometric approach to columnar cell lesions of the breast.

PubMed

Yamashita, Yoshiko; Ichihara, Shu; Moritani, Suzuko; Yoon, Han-Seung; Yamaguchi, Masahiro

2016-06-01

Columnar cell lesions of the breast encompass columnar cell change/hyperplasia (CCC/CCH) and flat epithelial atypia (FEA). These have attracted researchers because emerging data suggest that FEA may represent the earliest histologically detectable non-obligate precursor of breast cancer. However, it is occasionally difficult to distinguish FEA from CCC/CCH because of similar histology. Although the nuclei of FEA are frequently described as relatively round compared with those of CCC/CCH, there are few morphometric studies to support this statement. The aim of this study was to provide objective data as to the nuclear shape in columnar cell lesions. As a shape descriptor, we adopted ellipticity that is defined by the formula 2b/2a, where a is the length of the long axis of the ellipse and b is the length of the short axis. Contrary to circularity, ellipticity reflects the overall configuration of an ellipse irrespective of surface irregularity. Our image analysis included generating whole slide images, extracting glandular cell nuclei, measuring nuclear ellipticity, and superimposing graded colors based on execution of results on the captured images. A total of 7917 nuclei extracted from 22 FEA images and 5010 nuclei extracted from 13 CCC/CCH images were analyzed. There was a significant difference in nuclear roundness between FEA and CCC/CCH with mean ellipticity values of 0.723 and 0.679, respectively (p < 0.001, Welch's t test). Furthermore, FEA with malignancy had significantly rounder nuclei than FEA without malignancy (p < 0.001). Our preliminary results suggest that nuclear ellipticity is a key parameter in reproducibly classifying columnar cell lesions of the breast.

A Proposed Computed Tomography Contrast Agent Using Carboxybetaine Zwitterionic Tantalum Oxide Nanoparticles: Imaging, Biological, and Physicochemical Performance.

PubMed

FitzGerald, Paul F; Butts, Matthew D; Roberts, Jeannette C; Colborn, Robert E; Torres, Andrew S; Lee, Brian D; Yeh, Benjamin M; Bonitatibus, Peter J

2016-12-01

The aim of this study was to produce and evaluate a proposed computed tomography (CT) contrast agent based on carboxybetaine zwitterionic (CZ)-coated soluble tantalum oxide (TaO) nanoparticles (NPs). We chose tantalum to provide superior imaging performance compared with current iodine-based clinical CT contrast agents. We developed the CZ coating to provide biological and physical performance similar to that of current iodinated contrast agents. In addition, the aim of this study was to evaluate the imaging, biological, and physicochemical performance of this proposed contrast agent compared with clinically used iodinated agents. We evaluated CT imaging performance of our CZ-TaO NPs compared with that of an iodinated agent in live rats, imaged centrally located within a tissue-equivalent plastic phantom that simulated a large patient. To evaluate vascular contrast enhancement, we scanned the rats' great vessels at high temporal resolution during and after contrast agent injection. We performed several in vivo CZ-TaO NP studies in healthy rats to evaluate tolerability. These studies included injecting the agent at the anticipated clinical dose (ACD) and at 3 times and 6 times the ACD, followed by longitudinal hematology to assess impact to blood cells and organ function (from 4 hours to 1 week). Kidney histological analysis was performed 48 hours after injection at 3 times the ACD. We measured the elimination half-life of CZ-TaO NPs from blood, and we monitored acute kidney injury biomarkers with a kidney injury assay using urine collected from 4 hours to 1 week. We measured tantalum retention in individual organs and in the whole carcass 48 hours after injection at ACD. Carboxybetaine zwitterionic TaO NPs were synthesized and analyzed in detail. We used multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance to determine surface functionality of the NPs. We measured NP size and solution properties (osmolality and viscosity) of the agent over a range of tantalum concentrations

Chaotic dynamics around cometary nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lages, José; Shevchenko, Ivan I.; Rollin, Guillaume

2018-06-01

We apply a generalized Kepler map theory to describe the qualitative chaotic dynamics around cometary nuclei, based on accessible observational data for five comets whose nuclei are well-documented to resemble dumb-bells. The sizes of chaotic zones around the nuclei and the Lyapunov times of the motion inside these zones are estimated. In the case of Comet 1P/Halley, the circumnuclear chaotic zone seems to engulf an essential part of the Hill sphere, at least for orbits of moderate to high eccentricity.

The relationship of bull fertility to sperm nuclear shape

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ostermeier, G.C.; Sargeant, G.A.; Yandell, B.S.; Parrish, J.J.

2001-01-01

group had a linear relationship (r .89, P .05) with fertility. To construct a plot of mean sperm shapes, a novel technique to automatically orient and identify the anterior tip of the sperm head was developed. The mean nuclear shape of high-fertility sperm was more elongated and tapered than those of lower fertility. A discriminant function (P .05) was also constructed that separated the 6 bulls into 2 groups based only on the harmonic amplitudes or sperm nuclear shape. The bulls were correctly classified into the 2 fertility groups. A comparison of sperm chromatin structure analysis (SCSA) and harmonic amplitudes found that overall size variance, anterior roundness, and posterior taperedness of sperm nuclei were related to chromatin stability (P .05). Some of the differences observed in sperm nuclear shape between the high- and lower-fertility bulls may be explained by varying levels of chromatin stability. However, sperm nuclear shape appears to contain additional information from chromatin stability alone. In this particular study, with 6 bulls, all with good chromatin quality, sperm nuclear shape was a better predictor of bull fertility.

Mechanical properties of tantalum-based ceramic coatings for biomedical applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donkov, N.; Walkowicz, J.; Zavaleyev, V.; Zykova, A.; Safonov, V.; Dudin, S.; Yakovin, S.

2018-03-01

The properties were studied of Ta, Ta2O5 and Ta/Ta2O5 coatings deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering on stainless steel (AISI 316) substrates. The compositional, structural and morphological parameters of the coatings were investigated by means of X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The roughness parameters, adhesion strength, hardness, elastic modulus, and H/E ratio were evaluated by standard techniques. The hardness parameters of the Ta2O5 and Ta/Ta2O5 coatings increased in comparison with pure Ta films, while the relatively low Young’s modulus was related to high elastic recovery and high resistance to cracking. The tantalum-based coatings possessed good biomechanical parameters for advanced implant and stent applications.

Acetabular revisions using porous tantalum components: A retrospective study with 5-10 years follow-up

PubMed Central

Evola, Francesco Roberto; Costarella, Luciano; Evola, Giuseppe; Barchitta, Martina; Agodi, Antonella; Sessa, Giuseppe

2017-01-01

AIM To evaluate the clinical and X-ray results of acetabular components and tantalum augments in prosthetic hip revisions. METHODS Fifty-eight hip prostheses with primary failure of the acetabular component were reviewed with tantalum implants. The clinical records and X-rays of these cases were retrospectively reviewed. Bone defect evaluations were based on preoperative CT scans and classified according to Paprosky criteria of Radiolucent lines and periprosthetic gaps; implant mobilization and osteolysis were evaluated by X-ray. An ad hoc database was created and statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 23.0). Statistical analyses were carried out using the Student’s t test for independent and paired samples. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant and cumulative survival was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS The mean follow-up was 87.6 ± 25.6 mo (range 3-120 mo). 25 cases (43.1%) were classified as minor defects, and 33 cases (56.9%) as major defects. The preoperative HHS rating improved significantly from a mean of 40.7 ± 6.1 (range: 29-53) before revision, to a mean of 85.8 ± 6.1 (range: 70-94) at the end of the follow-up (Student’s t test for paired samples: P < 0.001). Considering HHS only at the end of follow-up, no statistically significant difference was observed between patients with a major or minor defect (Student’s t test for independent samples: P > 0.05). Radiolucent lines were found in 4 implants (6.9%). Postoperative acetabular gaps were observed in 5 hips (8.6%). No signs of implant mobilization or areas of periprosthetic osteolysis were found in the x-rays at the final follow-up. Only 3 implants failed: 1 case of infection and 2 cases of instability. Defined as the end-point, cumulative survival at 10 years was 95% (for all reasons) and 100% for aseptic loosening of the acetabular component. CONCLUSION The medium-term use of prosthetic tantalum

Acetabular revisions using porous tantalum components: A retrospective study with 5-10 years follow-up.

PubMed

Evola, Francesco Roberto; Costarella, Luciano; Evola, Giuseppe; Barchitta, Martina; Agodi, Antonella; Sessa, Giuseppe

2017-07-18

To evaluate the clinical and X-ray results of acetabular components and tantalum augments in prosthetic hip revisions. Fifty-eight hip prostheses with primary failure of the acetabular component were reviewed with tantalum implants. The clinical records and X-rays of these cases were retrospectively reviewed. Bone defect evaluations were based on preoperative CT scans and classified according to Paprosky criteria of Radiolucent lines and periprosthetic gaps; implant mobilization and osteolysis were evaluated by X-ray. An ad hoc database was created and statistical analyses were performed with SPSS software (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 23.0). Statistical analyses were carried out using the Student's t test for independent and paired samples. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant and cumulative survival was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. The mean follow-up was 87.6 ± 25.6 mo (range 3-120 mo). 25 cases (43.1%) were classified as minor defects, and 33 cases (56.9%) as major defects. The preoperative HHS rating improved significantly from a mean of 40.7 ± 6.1 (range: 29-53) before revision, to a mean of 85.8 ± 6.1 (range: 70-94) at the end of the follow-up (Student's t test for paired samples: P < 0.001). Considering HHS only at the end of follow-up, no statistically significant difference was observed between patients with a major or minor defect (Student's t test for independent samples: P > 0.05). Radiolucent lines were found in 4 implants (6.9%). Postoperative acetabular gaps were observed in 5 hips (8.6%). No signs of implant mobilization or areas of periprosthetic osteolysis were found in the x-rays at the final follow-up. Only 3 implants failed: 1 case of infection and 2 cases of instability. Defined as the end-point, cumulative survival at 10 years was 95% (for all reasons) and 100% for aseptic loosening of the acetabular component. The medium-term use of prosthetic tantalum components in prosthetic hip revisions is

Cavitation inception from bubble nuclei

PubMed Central

Mørch, K. A.

2015-01-01

The tensile strength of ordinary water such as tap water or seawater is typically well below 1 bar. It is governed by cavitation nuclei in the water, not by the tensile strength of the water itself, which is extremely high. Different models of the nuclei have been suggested over the years, and experimental investigations of bubbles and cavitation inception have been presented. These results suggest that cavitation nuclei in equilibrium are gaseous voids in the water, stabilized by a skin which allows diffusion balance between gas inside the void and gas in solution in the surrounding liquid. The cavitation nuclei may be free gas bubbles in the bulk of water, or interfacial gaseous voids located on the surface of particles in the water, or on bounding walls. The tensile strength of these nuclei depends not only on the water quality but also on the pressure–time history of the water. A recent model and associated experiments throw new light on the effects of transient pressures on the tensile strength of water, which may be notably reduced or increased by such pressure changes. PMID:26442138

Black-sphere approximation to nuclei and its application to reactions with neutron-rich nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohama, Akihisa; Iida, Kei; Oyamatsu, Kazuhiro

2013-09-01

We briefly review our formula for a proton-nucleus total reaction cross section, σR, constructed in the black-sphere approximation of nuclei, in which a nucleus is viewed as a "black" sphere of radius "a". An extension to reactions involving neutron-rich nuclei is also reported.

Precision measurement of the mass difference between light nuclei and anti-nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alice Collaboration; Adam, J.; Adamová, D.; Aggarwal, M. M.; Aglieri Rinella, G.; Agnello, M.; Agrawal, N.; Ahammed, Z.; Ahmed, I.; Ahn, S. U.; Aimo, I.; Aiola, S.; Ajaz, M.; Akindinov, A.; Alam, S. N.; Aleksandrov, D.; Alessandro, B.; Alexandre, D.; Alfaro Molina, R.; Alici, A.; Alkin, A.; Alme, J.; Alt, T.; Altinpinar, S.; Altsybeev, I.; Alves Garcia Prado, C.; Andrei, C.; Andronic, A.; Anguelov, V.; Anielski, J.; Antičić, T.; Antinori, F.; Antonioli, P.; Aphecetche, L.; Appelshäuser, H.; Arcelli, S.; Armesto, N.; Arnaldi, R.; Aronsson, T.; Arsene, I. C.; Arslandok, M.; Augustinus, A.; Averbeck, R.; Azmi, M. D.; Bach, M.; Badalà, A.; Baek, Y. W.; Bagnasco, S.; Bailhache, R.; Bala, R.; Baldisseri, A.; Ball, M.; Baltasar Dos Santos Pedrosa, F.; Baral, R. C.; Barbano, A. M.; Barbera, R.; Barile, F.; Barnaföldi, G. G.; Barnby, L. S.; Barret, V.; Bartalini, P.; Bartke, J.; Bartsch, E.; Basile, M.; Bastid, N.; Basu, S.; Bathen, B.; Batigne, G.; Batista Camejo, A.; Batyunya, B.; Batzing, P. C.; Bearden, I. G.; Beck, H.; Bedda, C.; Behera, N. K.; Belikov, I.; Bellini, F.; Bello Martinez, H.; Bellwied, R.; Belmont, R.; Belmont-Moreno, E.; Belyaev, V.; Bencedi, G.; Beole, S.; Berceanu, I.; Bercuci, A.; Berdnikov, Y.; Berenyi, D.; Bertens, R. A.; Berzano, D.; Betev, L.; Bhasin, A.; Bhat, I. R.; Bhati, A. K.; Bhattacharjee, B.; Bhom, J.; Bianchi, L.; Bianchi, N.; Bianchin, C.; Bielčík, J.; Bielčíková, J.; Bilandzic, A.; Biswas, S.; Bjelogrlic, S.; Blanco, F.; Blau, D.; Blume, C.; Bock, F.; Bogdanov, A.; Bøggild, H.; Boldizsár, L.; Bombara, M.; Book, J.; Borel, H.; Borissov, A.; Borri, M.; Bossú, F.; Botje, M.; Botta, E.; Böttger, S.; Braun-Munzinger, P.; Bregant, M.; Breitner, T.; Broker, T. A.; Browning, T. A.; Broz, M.; Brucken, E. J.; Bruna, E.; Bruno, G. E.; Budnikov, D.; Buesching, H.; Bufalino, S.; Buncic, P.; Busch, O.; Buthelezi, Z.; Buxton, J. T.; Caffarri, D.; Cai, X.; Caines, H.; Calero Diaz, L.; Caliva, A.; Calvo Villar, E.; Camerini, P.; Carena, F.; Carena, W.; Castillo Castellanos, J.; Castro, A. J.; Casula, E. A. R.; Cavicchioli, C.; Ceballos Sanchez, C.; Cepila, J.; Cerello, P.; Chang, B.; Chapeland, S.; Chartier, M.; Charvet, J. L.; Chattopadhyay, Subhasis; Chattopadhyay, Sukalyan; Chelnokov, V.; Cherney, M.; Cheshkov, C.; Cheynis, B.; Chibante Barroso, V.; Chinellato, D. D.; Chochula, P.; Choi, K.; Chojnacki, M.; Choudhury, S.; Christakoglou, P.; Christensen, C. H.; Christiansen, P.; Chujo, T.; Chung, S. U.; Cicalo, C.; Cifarelli, L.; Cindolo, F.; Cleymans, J.; Colamaria, F.; Colella, D.; Collu, A.; Colocci, M.; Conesa Balbastre, G.; Conesa Del Valle, Z.; Connors, M. E.; Contreras, J. G.; Cormier, T. M.; Corrales Morales, Y.; Cortés Maldonado, I.; Cortese, P.; Cosentino, M. R.; Costa, F.; Crochet, P.; Cruz Albino, R.; Cuautle, E.; Cunqueiro, L.; Dahms, T.; Dainese, A.; Danu, A.; Das, D.; Das, I.; Das, S.; Dash, A.; Dash, S.; de, S.; de Caro, A.; de Cataldo, G.; de Cuveland, J.; de Falco, A.; de Gruttola, D.; De Marco, N.; de Pasquale, S.; Deisting, A.; Deloff, A.; Dénes, E.; D'Erasmo, G.; di Bari, D.; di Mauro, A.; di Nezza, P.; Diaz Corchero, M. A.; Dietel, T.; Dillenseger, P.; Divià, R.; Djuvsland, Ø.; Dobrin, A.; Dobrowolski, T.; Domenicis Gimenez, D.; Dönigus, B.; Dordic, O.; Dubey, A. K.; Dubla, A.; Ducroux, L.; Dupieux, P.; Ehlers, R. J.; Elia, D.; Engel, H.; Erazmus, B.; Erhardt, F.; Eschweiler, D.; Espagnon, B.; Estienne, M.; Esumi, S.; Evans, D.; Evdokimov, S.; Eyyubova, G.; Fabbietti, L.; Fabris, D.; Faivre, J.; Fantoni, A.; Fasel, M.; Feldkamp, L.; Felea, D.; Feliciello, A.; Feofilov, G.; Ferencei, J.; Fernández Téllez, A.; Ferreiro, E. G.; Ferretti, A.; Festanti, A.; Figiel, J.; Figueredo, M. A. S.; Filchagin, S.; Finogeev, D.; Fionda, F. M.; Fiore, E. M.; Fleck, M. G.; Floris, M.; Foertsch, S.; Foka, P.; Fokin, S.; Fragiacomo, E.; Francescon, A.; Frankenfeld, U.; Fuchs, U.; Furget, C.; Furs, A.; Fusco Girard, M.; Gaardhøje, J. J.; Gagliardi, M.; Gago, A. M.; Gallio, M.; Gangadharan, D. R.; Ganoti, P.; Gao, C.; Garabatos, C.; Garcia-Solis, E.; Gargiulo, C.; Gasik, P.; Germain, M.; Gheata, A.; Gheata, M.; Ghosh, P.; Ghosh, S. K.; Gianotti, P.; Giubellino, P.; Giubilato, P.; Gladysz-Dziadus, E.; Glässel, P.; Goméz Coral, D. M.; Gomez Ramirez, A.; González-Zamora, P.; Gorbunov, S.; Görlich, L.; Gotovac, S.; Grabski, V.; Graczykowski, L. K.; Grelli, A.; Grigoras, A.; Grigoras, C.; Grigoriev, V.; Grigoryan, A.; Grigoryan, S.; Grinyov, B.; Grion, N.; Grosse-Oetringhaus, J. F.; Grossiord, J.-Y.; Grosso, R.; Guber, F.; Guernane, R.; Guerzoni, B.; Gulbrandsen, K.; Gulkanyan, H.; Gunji, T.; Gupta, A.; Gupta, R.; Haake, R.; Haaland, Ø.; Hadjidakis, C.; Haiduc, M.; Hamagaki, H.; Hamar, G.; Hanratty, L. D.; Hansen, A.; Harris, J. W.; Hartmann, H.; Harton, A.; Hatzifotiadou, D.; Hayashi, S.; Heckel, S. T.; Heide, M.; Helstrup, H.; Herghelegiu, A.; Herrera Corral, G.; Hess, B. A.; Hetland, K. F.; Hilden, T. E.; Hillemanns, H.; Hippolyte, B.; Hristov, P.; Huang, M.; Humanic, T. J.; Hussain, N.; Hussain, T.; Hutter, D.; Hwang, D. S.; Ilkaev, R.; Ilkiv, I.; Inaba, M.; Ionita, C.; Ippolitov, M.; Irfan, M.; Ivanov, M.; Ivanov, V.; Izucheev, V.; Jacobs, P. M.; Jahnke, C.; Jang, H. J.; Janik, M. A.; Jayarathna, P. H. S. Y.; Jena, C.; Jena, S.; Jimenez Bustamante, R. T.; Jones, P. G.; Jung, H.; Jusko, A.; Kalinak, P.; Kalweit, A.; Kamin, J.; Kang, J. H.; Kaplin, V.; Kar, S.; Karasu Uysal, A.; Karavichev, O.; Karavicheva, T.; Karpechev, E.; Kebschull, U.; Keidel, R.; Keijdener, D. L. D.; Keil, M.; Khan, K. H.; Khan, M. Mohisin; Khan, P.; Khan, S. A.; Khanzadeev, A.; Kharlov, Y.; Kileng, B.; Kim, B.; Kim, D. W.; Kim, D. J.; Kim, H.; Kim, J. S.; Kim, Mimae.; Kim, Minwoo; Kim, S.; Kim, T.; Kirsch, S.; Kisel, I.; Kiselev, S.; Kisiel, A.; Kiss, G.; Klay, J. L.; Klein, C.; Klein, J.; Klein-Bösing, C.; Kluge, A.; Knichel, M. L.; Knospe, A. G.; Kobayashi, T.; Kobdaj, C.; Kofarago, M.; Köhler, M. K.; Kollegger, T.; Kolojvari, A.; Kondratiev, V.; Kondratyeva, N.; Kondratyuk, E.; Konevskikh, A.; Kour, M.; Kouzinopoulos, C.; Kovalenko, V.; Kowalski, M.; Kox, S.; Koyithatta Meethaleveedu, G.; Kral, J.; Králik, I.; Kravčáková, A.; Krelina, M.; Kretz, M.; Krivda, M.; Krizek, F.; Kryshen, E.; Krzewicki, M.; Kubera, A. M.; Kučera, V.; Kucheriaev, Y.; Kugathasan, T.; Kuhn, C.; Kuijer, P. G.; Kulakov, I.; Kumar, A.; Kumar, J.; Kumar, L.; Kurashvili, P.; Kurepin, A.; Kurepin, A. B.; Kuryakin, A.; Kushpil, S.; Kweon, M. J.; Kwon, Y.; La Pointe, S. L.; La Rocca, P.; Lagana Fernandes, C.; Lakomov, I.; Langoy, R.; Lara, C.; Lardeux, A.; Lattuca, A.; Laudi, E.; Lea, R.; Leardini, L.; Lee, G. R.; Lee, S.; Legrand, I.; Lehnert, J.; Lemmon, R. C.; Lenti, V.; Leogrande, E.; León Monzón, I.; Leoncino, M.; Lévai, P.; Li, S.; Li, X.; Lien, J.; Lietava, R.; Lindal, S.; Lindenstruth, V.; Lippmann, C.; Lisa, M. A.; Ljunggren, H. M.; Lodato, D. F.; Loenne, P. I.; Loggins, V. R.; Loginov, V.; Loizides, C.; Lopez, X.; López Torres, E.; Lowe, A.; Lu, X.-G.; Luettig, P.; Lunardon, M.; Luparello, G.; Maevskaya, A.; Mager, M.; Mahajan, S.; Mahmood, S. M.; Maire, A.; Majka, R. D.; Malaev, M.; Maldonado Cervantes, I.; Malinina, L.; Mal'Kevich, D.; Malzacher, P.; Mamonov, A.; Manceau, L.; Manko, V.; Manso, F.; Manzari, V.; Marchisone, M.; Mareš, J.; Margagliotti, G. V.; Margotti, A.; Margutti, J.; Marín, A.; Markert, C.; Marquard, M.; Martashvili, I.; Martin, N. A.; Martin Blanco, J.; Martinengo, P.; Martínez, M. I.; Martínez García, G.; Martinez Pedreira, M.; Martynov, Y.; Mas, A.; Masciocchi, S.; Masera, M.; Masoni, A.; Massacrier, L.; Mastroserio, A.; Matyja, A.; Mayer, C.; Mazer, J.; Mazzoni, M. A.; McDonald, D.; Meddi, F.; Menchaca-Rocha, A.; Meninno, E.; Mercado Pérez, J.; Meres, M.; Miake, Y.; Mieskolainen, M. M.; Mikhaylov, K.; Milano, L.; Milosevic, J.; Minervini, L. M.; Mischke, A.; Mishra, A. N.; Miśkowiec, D.; Mitra, J.; Mitu, C. M.; Mohammadi, N.; Mohanty, B.; Molnar, L.; Montaño Zetina, L.; Montes, E.; Morando, M.; Moreira de Godoy, D. A.; Moreno, L. A. P.; Moretto, S.; Morreale, A.; Morsch, A.; Muccifora, V.; Mudnic, E.; Mühlheim, D.; Muhuri, S.; Mukherjee, M.; Müller, H.; Mulligan, J. D.; Munhoz, M. G.; Murray, S.; Musa, L.; Musinsky, J.; Nandi, B. K.; Nania, R.; Nappi, E.; Naru, M. U.; Nattrass, C.; Nayak, K.; Nayak, T. K.; Nazarenko, S.; Nedosekin, A.; Nellen, L.; Ng, F.; Nicassio, M.; Niculescu, M.; Niedziela, J.; Nielsen, B. S.; Nikolaev, S.; Nikulin, S.; Nikulin, V.; Noferini, F.; Nomokonov, P.; Nooren, G.; Norman, J.; Nyanin, A.; Nystrand, J.; Oeschler, H.; Oh, S.; Oh, S. K.; Ohlson, A.; Okatan, A.; Okubo, T.; Olah, L.; Oleniacz, J.; Oliveira da Silva, A. C.; Oliver, M. H.; Onderwaater, J.; Oppedisano, C.; Ortiz Velasquez, A.; Oskarsson, A.; Otwinowski, J.; Oyama, K.; Ozdemir, M.; Pachmayer, Y.; Pagano, P.; Paić, G.; Pajares, C.; Pal, S. K.; Pan, J.; Pandey, A. K.; Pant, D.; Papikyan, V.; Pappalardo, G. S.; Pareek, P.; Park, W. J.; Parmar, S.; Passfeld, A.; Paticchio, V.; Paul, B.; Pawlak, T.; Peitzmann, T.; Pereira da Costa, H.; Pereira de Oliveira Filho, E.; Peresunko, D.; Pérez Lara, C. E.; Peskov, V.; Pestov, Y.; Petráček, V.; Petrov, V.; Petrovici, M.; Petta, C.; Piano, S.; Pikna, M.; Pillot, P.; Pinazza, O.; Pinsky, L.; Piyarathna, D. B.; Płoskoń, M.; Planinic, M.; Pluta, J.; Pochybova, S.; Podesta-Lerma, P. L. M.; Poghosyan, M. G.; Polichtchouk, B.; Poljak, N.; Poonsawat, W.; Pop, A.; Porteboeuf-Houssais, S.; Porter, J.; Pospisil, J.; Prasad, S. K.; Preghenella, R.; Prino, F.; Pruneau, C. A.; Pshenichnov, I.; Puccio, M.; Puddu, G.; Pujahari, P.; Punin, V.; Putschke, J.; Qvigstad, H.; Rachevski, A.; Raha, S.; Rajput, S.; Rak, J.; Rakotozafindrabe, A.; Ramello, L.; Raniwala, R.; Raniwala, S.; Räsänen, S. S.; Rascanu, B. T.; Rathee, D.; Razazi, V.; Read, K. F.; Real, J. S.; Redlich, K.; Reed, R. J.; Rehman, A.; Reichelt, P.; Reicher, M.; Reidt, F.; Ren, X.; Renfordt, R.; Reolon, A. R.; Reshetin, A.; Rettig, F.; Revol, J.-P.; Reygers, K.; Riabov, V.; Ricci, R. A.; Richert, T.; Richter, M.; Riedler, P.; Riegler, W.; Riggi, F.; Ristea, C.; Rivetti, A.; Rocco, E.; Rodríguez Cahuantzi, M.; Rodriguez Manso, A.; Røed, K.; Rogochaya, E.; Rohr, D.; Röhrich, D.; Romita, R.; Ronchetti, F.; Ronflette, L.; Rosnet, P.; Rossi, A.; Roukoutakis, F.; Roy, A.; Roy, C.; Roy, P.; Rubio Montero, A. J.; Rui, R.; Russo, R.; Ryabinkin, E.; Ryabov, Y.; Rybicki, A.; Sadovsky, S.; Šafařík, K.; Sahlmuller, B.; Sahoo, P.; Sahoo, R.; Sahoo, S.; Sahu, P. K.; Saini, J.; Sakai, S.; Saleh, M. A.; Salgado, C. A.; Salzwedel, J.; Sambyal, S.; Samsonov, V.; Sanchez Castro, X.; Šándor, L.; Sandoval, A.; Sano, M.; Santagati, G.; Sarkar, D.; Scapparone, E.; Scarlassara, F.; Scharenberg, R. P.; Schiaua, C.; Schicker, R.; Schmidt, C.; Schmidt, H. R.; Schuchmann, S.; Schukraft, J.; Schulc, M.; Schuster, T.; Schutz, Y.; Schwarz, K.; Schweda, K.; Scioli, G.; Scomparin, E.; Scott, R.; Seeder, K. S.; Seger, J. E.; Sekiguchi, Y.; Selyuzhenkov, I.; Senosi, K.; Seo, J.; Serradilla, E.; Sevcenco, A.; Shabanov, A.; Shabetai, A.; Shadura, O.; Shahoyan, R.; Shangaraev, A.; Sharma, A.; Sharma, M.; Sharma, N.; Shigaki, K.; Shtejer, K.; Sibiriak, Y.; Siddhanta, S.; Sielewicz, K. M.; Siemiarczuk, T.; Silvermyr, D.; Silvestre, C.; Simatovic, G.; Simonetti, G.; Singaraju, R.; Singh, R.; Singha, S.; Singhal, V.; Sinha, B. C.; Sinha, T.; Sitar, B.; Sitta, M.; Skaali, T. B.; Slupecki, M.; Smirnov, N.; Snellings, R. J. M.; Snellman, T. W.; Søgaard, C.; Soltz, R.; Song, J.; Song, M.; Song, Z.; Soramel, F.; Sorensen, S.; Spacek, M.; Spiriti, E.; Sputowska, I.; Spyropoulou-Stassinaki, M.; Srivastava, B. K.; Stachel, J.; Stan, I.; Stefanek, G.; Steinpreis, M.; Stenlund, E.; Steyn, G.; Stiller, J. H.; Stocco, D.; Strmen, P.; Suaide, A. A. P.; Sugitate, T.; Suire, C.; Suleymanov, M.; Sultanov, R.; Šumbera, M.; Symons, T. J. M.; Szabo, A.; Szanto de Toledo, A.; Szarka, I.; Szczepankiewicz, A.; Szymanski, M.; Takahashi, J.; Tanaka, N.; Tangaro, M. A.; Tapia Takaki, J. D.; Tarantola Peloni, A.; Tariq, M.; Tarzila, M. G.; Tauro, A.; Tejeda Muñoz, G.; Telesca, A.; Terasaki, K.; Terrevoli, C.; Teyssier, B.; Thäder, J.; Thomas, D.; Tieulent, R.; Timmins, A. R.; Toia, A.; Trogolo, S.; Trubnikov, V.; Trzaska, W. H.; Tsuji, T.; Tumkin, A.; Turrisi, R.; Tveter, T. S.; Ullaland, K.; Uras, A.; Usai, G. L.; Utrobicic, A.; Vajzer, M.; Vala, M.; Valencia Palomo, L.; Vallero, S.; van der Maarel, J.; van Hoorne, J. W.; van Leeuwen, M.; Vanat, T.; Vande Vyvre, P.; Varga, D.; Vargas, A.; Vargyas, M.; Varma, R.; Vasileiou, M.; Vasiliev, A.; Vauthier, A.; Vechernin, V.; Veen, A. M.; Veldhoen, M.; Velure, A.; Venaruzzo, M.; Vercellin, E.; Vergara Limón, S.; Vernet, R.; Verweij, M.; Vickovic, L.; Viesti, G.; Viinikainen, J.; Vilakazi, Z.; Villalobos Baillie, O.; Villatoro Tello, A.; Vinogradov, A.; Vinogradov, L.; Vinogradov, Y.; Virgili, T.; Vislavicius, V.; Viyogi, Y. P.; Vodopyanov, A.; Völkl, M. A.; Voloshin, K.; Voloshin, S. A.; Volpe, G.; von Haller, B.; Vorobyev, I.; Vranic, D.; Vrláková, J.; Vulpescu, B.; Vyushin, A.; Wagner, B.; Wagner, J.; Wang, H.; Wang, M.; Wang, Y.; Watanabe, D.; Weber, M.; Weber, S. G.; Wessels, J. P.; Westerhoff, U.; Wiechula, J.; Wikne, J.; Wilde, M.; Wilk, G.; Wilkinson, J.; Williams, M. C. S.; Windelband, B.; Winn, M.; Yaldo, C. G.; Yamaguchi, Y.; Yang, H.; Yang, P.; Yano, S.; Yasnopolskiy, S.; Yin, Z.; Yokoyama, H.; Yoo, I.-K.; Yurchenko, V.; Yushmanov, I.; Zaborowska, A.; Zaccolo, V.; Zaman, A.; Zampolli, C.; Zanoli, H. J. C.; Zaporozhets, S.; Zarochentsev, A.; Závada, P.; Zaviyalov, N.; Zbroszczyk, H.; Zgura, I. S.; Zhalov, M.; Zhang, H.; Zhang, X.; Zhang, Y.; Zhao, C.; Zhigareva, N.; Zhou, D.; Zhou, Y.; Zhou, Z.; Zhu, H.; Zhu, J.; Zhu, X.; Zichichi, A.; Zimmermann, A.; Zimmermann, M. B.; Zinovjev, G.; Zyzak, M.

2015-10-01

The measurement of the mass differences for systems bound by the strong force has reached a very high precision with protons and anti-protons. The extension of such measurement from (anti-)baryons to (anti-)nuclei allows one to probe any difference in the interactions between nucleons and anti-nucleons encoded in the (anti-)nuclei masses. This force is a remnant of the underlying strong interaction among quarks and gluons and can be described by effective theories, but cannot yet be directly derived from quantum chromodynamics. Here we report a measurement of the difference between the ratios of the mass and charge of deuterons (d) and anti-deuterons (), and 3He and nuclei carried out with the ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) detector in Pb-Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 2.76 TeV. Our direct measurement of the mass-over-charge differences confirms CPT invariance to an unprecedented precision in the sector of light nuclei. This fundamental symmetry of nature, which exchanges particles with anti-particles, implies that all physics laws are the same under the simultaneous reversal of charge(s) (charge conjugation C), reflection of spatial coordinates (parity transformation P) and time inversion (T).

Precision measurement of the mass difference between light nuclei and anti-nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adam, J.

The measurement of the mass differences for systems bound by the strong force has reached a very high precision with protons and anti-protons. The extension of such measurement from (anti-)baryons to (anti-)nuclei allows one to probe any difference in the interactions between nucleons and anti-nucleons encoded in the (anti-)nuclei masses. Also, this force is a remnant of the underlying strong interaction among quarks and gluons and can be described by effective theories, but cannot yet be directly derived from quantum chromodynamics. Here we report a measurement of the difference between the ratios of the mass and charge of deuterons (d) and anti-deuterons (more » $$-\\atop{d}$$), and 3He and 3$$-\\atop{He}$$nuclei carried out with the ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) detector in Pb–Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 2.76 TeV. Our direct measurement of the mass-over-charge differences confirms CPT invariance to an unprecedented precision in the sector of light nuclei. This fundamental symmetry of nature, which exchanges particles with anti-particles, implies that all physics laws are the same under the simultaneous reversal of charge(s) (charge conjugation C), reflection of spatial coordinates (parity transformation P) and time inversion (T).« less

Precision measurement of the mass difference between light nuclei and anti-nuclei

DOE PAGES

Adam, J.

2015-08-17

The measurement of the mass differences for systems bound by the strong force has reached a very high precision with protons and anti-protons. The extension of such measurement from (anti-)baryons to (anti-)nuclei allows one to probe any difference in the interactions between nucleons and anti-nucleons encoded in the (anti-)nuclei masses. Also, this force is a remnant of the underlying strong interaction among quarks and gluons and can be described by effective theories, but cannot yet be directly derived from quantum chromodynamics. Here we report a measurement of the difference between the ratios of the mass and charge of deuterons (d) and anti-deuterons (more » $$-\\atop{d}$$), and 3He and 3$$-\\atop{He}$$nuclei carried out with the ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) detector in Pb–Pb collisions at a centre-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 2.76 TeV. Our direct measurement of the mass-over-charge differences confirms CPT invariance to an unprecedented precision in the sector of light nuclei. This fundamental symmetry of nature, which exchanges particles with anti-particles, implies that all physics laws are the same under the simultaneous reversal of charge(s) (charge conjugation C), reflection of spatial coordinates (parity transformation P) and time inversion (T).« less

Fabrication of Nano-Crossbar Resistive Switching Memory Based on the Copper-Tantalum Pentoxide-Platinum Device Structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olga Gneri, Paula; Jardim, Marcos

Resistive switching memory has been of interest lately not only for its simple metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure but also for its promising ease of scalability an integration into current CMOS technologies like the Field Programmable Gate Arrays and other non-volatile memory applications. There are several resistive switching MIM combinations but under this scope of research, attention will be paid to the bipolar resistive switching characteristics and fabrication of Tantalum Pentaoxide sandwiched between platinum and copper. By changing the polarity of the voltage bias, this metal-insulator-metal (MIM) device can be switched between a high resistive state (OFF) and low resistive state (ON). The change in states is induced by an electrochemical metallization process, which causes a formation or dissolution of Cu metal filamentary paths in the Tantalum Pentaoxide insulator. There is very little thorough experimental information about the Cu-Ta 2O5-Pt switching characteristics when scaled to nanometer dimensions. In this light, the MIM structure was fabricated in a two-dimensional crossbar format. Also, with the limited available resources, a multi-spacer technique was formulated to localize the active device area in this MIM configuration to less than 20nm. This step is important in understanding the switching characteristics and reliability of this structure when scaled to nanometer dimensions.

Mid-term results of total knee arthroplasty with a porous tantalum monoblock tibial component.

PubMed

Hayakawa, Kazue; Date, Hideki; Tsujimura, Shunzo; Nojiri, Sho; Yamada, Harumoto; Nakagawa, Kenji

2014-01-01

The objectives of the present study were to assess the mid-term results of cementless total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with the porous tantalum monoblock tibial component and to examine the time course of bone changes on plain radiographs. The subjects were 32 patients, 29 patients were available for follow-up. We investigated the mid-term results of TKA after a mean follow-up period of 7 years and 8 months. We also examined changes of the bone over time on plain radiographs. The Knee Society Clinical Rating scores showed significant improvement. Bone changes around the tibial component were as follows: new bone formation and longitudinal trabecular thickening in 41.4% (Type A), only longitudinal trabecular thickening in 41.4% (Type B), and no changes in 17.2% (Type C). Type A and B changes were more frequent in patients with osteoarthritis, whereas Type C was only seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Three knees had an initial gap, but this disappeared in all cases, and no new radiolucent lines were detected. Stress shielding was observed in seven knees (21.9%), but there was no implant loosening related to it. When we examined the relationship between the mechanical axis and the locations of the tips of the tibial pegs in patients with or without stress shielding, no significant differences were found. The results of mid-term follow-up have demonstrated favorable bone ingrowth, suggesting that porous tantalum is a promising material for cementless TKA. © 2013.

Low-lying structure and shape evolution in neutron-rich Se isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, S.; Doornenbal, P.; Obertelli, A.; Rodríguez, T. R.; Authelet, G.; Baba, H.; Calvet, D.; Château, F.; Corsi, A.; Delbart, A.; Gheller, J.-M.; Giganon, A.; Gillibert, A.; Lapoux, V.; Motobayashi, T.; Niikura, M.; Paul, N.; Roussé, J.-Y.; Sakurai, H.; Santamaria, C.; Steppenbeck, D.; Taniuchi, R.; Uesaka, T.; Ando, T.; Arici, T.; Blazhev, A.; Browne, F.; Bruce, A. M.; Caroll, R.; Chung, L. X.; Cortés, M. L.; Dewald, M.; Ding, B.; Flavigny, F.; Franchoo, S.; Górska, M.; Gottardo, A.; Jungclaus, A.; Lee, J.; Lettmann, M.; Linh, B. D.; Liu, J.; Liu, Z.; Lizarazo, C.; Momiyama, S.; Moschner, K.; Nagamine, S.; Nakatsuka, N.; Nita, C. R.; Nobs, C.; Olivier, L.; Orlandi, R.; Patel, Z.; Podolyak, Zs.; Rudigier, M.; Saito, T.; Shand, C.; Söderström, P.-A.; Stefan, I.; Vaquero, V.; Werner, V.; Wimmer, K.; Xu, Z.

2017-04-01

Neutron-rich 88,90,92,94Se isotopes were studied via in-beam γ -ray spectroscopy after nucleon removal reactions at intermediate energies at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. Based on γ -γ coincidence analysis, low-lying excitation level schemes are proposed for these nuclei, including the 21+, 41+ states and 22+ states at remarkably low energies. The low-lying 22+ states, along with other features, indicate triaxiality in these nuclei. The experimental results are in good overall agreement with self-consistent beyond-mean-field calculations based on the Gogny D1S interaction, which suggests both triaxial degree of freedom and shape coexistence playing important roles in the description of intrinsic deformations in neutron-rich Se isotopes.

A highly conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) film with the solvent bath treatment by dimethyl sulfoxide as cathode for polymer tantalum capacitor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Xiaopin; Wang, Xiuyu; Li, Mingxiu; Chen, Tongning; Zhang, Hao; Chen, Qiang; Ding, Bonan; Liu, Yanpeng

2016-06-01

The highly conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) films were prepared on porous tantalum pentoxide surface as cathode for polymer tantalum capacitors (PTC). The electrical performances of PTC with PEDOT:PSS films as cathode were optimized by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) bath treatment. With the DMSO-bath treatment of PTC, the equivalent series resistance (ESR) of PTC decreased from 25 mΩ to 9 mΩ. The ultralow ESR led to better capacitance-frequency performance. The device reliability investigation revealed the enhanced environmental stability of PTC. The enhanced performances were attributed to the conductivity improvement of PEDOT:PSS cathode films and the removal of excess PSS from PEDOT:PSS films.

Multistate Memristive Tantalum Oxide Devices for Ternary Arithmetic

PubMed Central

Kim, Wonjoo; Chattopadhyay, Anupam; Siemon, Anne; Linn, Eike; Waser, Rainer; Rana, Vikas

2016-01-01

Redox-based resistive switching random access memory (ReRAM) offers excellent properties to implement future non-volatile memory arrays. Recently, the capability of two-state ReRAMs to implement Boolean logic functionality gained wide interest. Here, we report on seven-states Tantalum Oxide Devices, which enable the realization of an intrinsic modular arithmetic using a ternary number system. Modular arithmetic, a fundamental system for operating on numbers within the limit of a modulus, is known to mathematicians since the days of Euclid and finds applications in diverse areas ranging from e-commerce to musical notations. We demonstrate that multistate devices not only reduce the storage area consumption drastically, but also enable novel in-memory operations, such as computing using high-radix number systems, which could not be implemented using two-state devices. The use of high radix number system reduces the computational complexity by reducing the number of needed digits. Thus the number of calculation operations in an addition and the number of logic devices can be reduced. PMID:27834352

Activation energy of tantalum-tungsten oxide thermite reactions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cervantes, Octavio G.; Munir, Zuhair A.; Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Davis, CA

2011-01-15

The activation energy of a sol-gel (SG) derived tantalum-tungsten oxide thermite composite was determined using the Kissinger isoconversion method. The SG derived powder was consolidated using the high-pressure spark plasma sintering (HPSPS) technique at 300 and 400 C. The ignition temperatures were investigated under high heating rates (500-2000 C min{sup -1}). Such heating rates were required in order to ignite the thermite composite. Samples consolidated at 300 C exhibit an abrupt change in temperature response prior to the main ignition temperature. This change in temperature response is attributed to the crystallization of the amorphous WO{sub 3} in the SG derivedmore » Ta-WO{sub 3} thermite composite and not to a pre-ignition reaction between the constituents. Ignition temperatures for the Ta-WO{sub 3} thermite ranged from approximately 465 to 670 C. The activation energies of the SG derived Ta-WO{sub 3} thermite composite consolidated at 300 and 400 C were determined to be 38{+-} 2 kJ mol{sup -1} and 57 {+-} 2 kJ mol{sup -1}, respectively. (author)« less

Multistate Memristive Tantalum Oxide Devices for Ternary Arithmetic.

PubMed

Kim, Wonjoo; Chattopadhyay, Anupam; Siemon, Anne; Linn, Eike; Waser, Rainer; Rana, Vikas

2016-11-11

Redox-based resistive switching random access memory (ReRAM) offers excellent properties to implement future non-volatile memory arrays. Recently, the capability of two-state ReRAMs to implement Boolean logic functionality gained wide interest. Here, we report on seven-states Tantalum Oxide Devices, which enable the realization of an intrinsic modular arithmetic using a ternary number system. Modular arithmetic, a fundamental system for operating on numbers within the limit of a modulus, is known to mathematicians since the days of Euclid and finds applications in diverse areas ranging from e-commerce to musical notations. We demonstrate that multistate devices not only reduce the storage area consumption drastically, but also enable novel in-memory operations, such as computing using high-radix number systems, which could not be implemented using two-state devices. The use of high radix number system reduces the computational complexity by reducing the number of needed digits. Thus the number of calculation operations in an addition and the number of logic devices can be reduced.

Multistate Memristive Tantalum Oxide Devices for Ternary Arithmetic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Wonjoo; Chattopadhyay, Anupam; Siemon, Anne; Linn, Eike; Waser, Rainer; Rana, Vikas

2016-11-01

Redox-based resistive switching random access memory (ReRAM) offers excellent properties to implement future non-volatile memory arrays. Recently, the capability of two-state ReRAMs to implement Boolean logic functionality gained wide interest. Here, we report on seven-states Tantalum Oxide Devices, which enable the realization of an intrinsic modular arithmetic using a ternary number system. Modular arithmetic, a fundamental system for operating on numbers within the limit of a modulus, is known to mathematicians since the days of Euclid and finds applications in diverse areas ranging from e-commerce to musical notations. We demonstrate that multistate devices not only reduce the storage area consumption drastically, but also enable novel in-memory operations, such as computing using high-radix number systems, which could not be implemented using two-state devices. The use of high radix number system reduces the computational complexity by reducing the number of needed digits. Thus the number of calculation operations in an addition and the number of logic devices can be reduced.

Effect of the conditions of sintering of sodium-reduced tantalum powders on their characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prokhorova, T. Yu.; Orlov, V. M.; Miroshnichenko, M. N.; Kolosov, V. N.

2014-07-01

The effect of the granulation and heat treatment of sodium-reduced tantalum powders with a specific surface area of 2.5-3.6 m2/g on the bulk density, the powder flow time, and the specific surface area of the powders and the specific capacitance of the anodes made of them is studied. It is shown that heat treatment of a granulated powder in vacuum at 1100°C or in a mixture with magnesium at 800°C makes it possible to achieve the required powder flow time.

Structure and density of cometary nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weissman, Paul R.; Lowry, Stephen C.

2008-09-01

Understanding the nature of the cometary nucleus remains one of the major problems in solar system science. Whipple’s (1950) icy conglomerate model has been very successful at explaining a range of cometary phenomena, including the source of cometary activity and the nongravitational orbital motion of the nuclei. However, the internal structure of the nuclei is still largely unknown. We review herein the evidence for cometary nuclei as fluffy aggregates or primordial rubble piles, as first proposed by Donn et al. (1985) and Weissman (1986). These models assume that cometary nuclei are weakly bonded aggregations of smaller, icy- onglomerate planetesimals, possibly held together only by self-gravity. Evidence for this model comes from studies of the accretion and subsequent evolution of material in the solar nebula, from observations of disrupted comets, and in particular comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, from measurements of the ensemble rotational properties of observed cometary nuclei, and from recent spacecraft missions to comets. Although the evidence for rubble pile nuclei is growing, the eventual answer to this question will likely not come until we can place a spacecraft in orbit around a cometary nucleus and study it in detail over many months to years. ESA’s Rosetta mission, now en route to comet 67P/Churyumov- Gerasimenko, will provide that opportunity.

The effects of Q-nuclei on stellar burning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boyd, R. N.; Turner, R. E.; Sur, B.; Rybarcyk, L.; Joseph, C.

1985-01-01

The effects of anomalous nuclei, Q-nuclei, on stellar burning are examined. The baryon binding energies, beta-decay properties, and thermonuclear reaction rates for the Q-nuclei suggest they could catalyze a cycle in which four protons are combined to form a 4He nucleus. The properties required of the Q-nuclei for them to solve the solar neutrino problem are determined. A solar modelling calculation was performed with Q-nuclei included, and several interesting results therefrom are compared to observations. Finally the solar neutrino detection rates for 71Ga and 115In detectors, in addition to that for 37Cl, are estimated when Q-nuclei are included in the solar burning.

Superconductor to weak-insulator transitions in disordered tantalum nitride films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Breznay, Nicholas P.; Tendulkar, Mihir; Zhang, Li; Lee, Sang-Chul; Kapitulnik, Aharon

2017-10-01

We study the two-dimensional superconductor-insulator transition (SIT) in thin films of tantalum nitride. At zero magnetic field, films can be disorder-tuned across the SIT by adjusting thickness and film stoichiometry; insulating films exhibit classical hopping transport. Superconducting films exhibit a magnetic-field-tuned SIT, whose insulating ground state at high field appears to be a quantum-corrected metal. Scaling behavior at the field-tuned SIT shows classical percolation critical exponents z ν ≈1.3 , with a corresponding critical field Hc≪Hc 2 , the upper critical field. The Hall effect exhibits a crossing point near Hc, but with a nonuniversal critical value ρxy c comparable to the normal-state Hall resistivity. We propose that high-carrier-density metals will always exhibit this pattern of behavior at the boundary between superconducting and (trivially) insulating ground states.

Cracking in dissimilar laser welding of tantalum to molybdenum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Xingwen; Huang, Yongde; Hao, Kun; Chen, Yuhua

2018-06-01

Dissimilar joining of tantalum (Ta) to molybdenum (Mo) is of great interest in high temperature structural component applications. However, few reports were found about joining of these two hard-to-weld metals. The objective of this experimental study was to assess the weldability of laser butt joining of 0.2 mm-thick Ta and Mo. In order to study cracking mechanism in Ta/Mo joint, similar Ta/Ta and Mo/Mo joints were compared under the same welding conditions. An optical microscope observation revealed presence of intergranular cracks in the Mo/Mo joint, while both transgranular and intergranular cracks were observed in Ta/Mo joint. The cracking mechanism of the Ta/Mo joint was investigated further by micro-hardness testing, micro X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that solidification cracking tendency of Mo is a main reason for crack initiation in the Ta/Mo joint. Low ductility feature in fusion zone most certainly played a role in the transgranular propagation of cracking.

A niobium and tantalum co-doped perovskite cathode for solid oxide fuel cells operating below 500 °C

PubMed Central

Li, Mengran; Zhao, Mingwen; Li, Feng; Zhou, Wei; Peterson, Vanessa K.; Xu, Xiaoyong; Shao, Zongping; Gentle, Ian; Zhu, Zhonghua

2017-01-01

The slow activity of cathode materials is one of the most significant barriers to realizing the operation of solid oxide fuel cells below 500 °C. Here we report a niobium and tantalum co-substituted perovskite SrCo0.8Nb0.1Ta0.1O3−δ as a cathode, which exhibits high electroactivity. This cathode has an area-specific polarization resistance as low as ∼0.16 and ∼0.68 Ω cm2 in a symmetrical cell and peak power densities of 1.2 and 0.7 W cm−2 in a Gd0.1Ce0.9O1.95-based anode-supported fuel cell at 500 and 450 °C, respectively. The high performance is attributed to an optimal balance of oxygen vacancies, ionic mobility and surface electron transfer as promoted by the synergistic effects of the niobium and tantalum. This work also points to an effective strategy in the design of cathodes for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells. PMID:28045088

Accurate Segmentation of Cervical Cytoplasm and Nuclei Based on Multiscale Convolutional Network and Graph Partitioning.

PubMed

Song, Youyi; Zhang, Ling; Chen, Siping; Ni, Dong; Lei, Baiying; Wang, Tianfu

2015-10-01

In this paper, a multiscale convolutional network (MSCN) and graph-partitioning-based method is proposed for accurate segmentation of cervical cytoplasm and nuclei. Specifically, deep learning via the MSCN is explored to extract scale invariant features, and then, segment regions centered at each pixel. The coarse segmentation is refined by an automated graph partitioning method based on the pretrained feature. The texture, shape, and contextual information of the target objects are learned to localize the appearance of distinctive boundary, which is also explored to generate markers to split the touching nuclei. For further refinement of the segmentation, a coarse-to-fine nucleus segmentation framework is developed. The computational complexity of the segmentation is reduced by using superpixel instead of raw pixels. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed cervical nucleus cell segmentation delivers promising results and outperforms existing methods.

Review of metastable states in heavy nuclei

DOE PAGES

Dracoulis, G. D.; Walker, P. M.; Kondev, F. G.

2016-05-31

Here, the structure of nuclear isomeric states is reviewed in the context of their role in contemporary nuclear physics research. Emphasis is given to high-spin isomers in heavy nuclei, with A ≳ 150. The possibility to exploit isomers to study some of the most exotic nuclei is a recurring theme. In spherical nuclei, the role of octupole collectivity is discussed in detail, while in deformed nuclei the limitations of the K quantum number are addressed. Isomer targets and isomer beams are considered, along with applications related to energy storage, astrophysics, medicine, and experimental advances.

Dynamics of landslides on comets of irregular shape

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Czechowski, Leszek

2017-04-01

Landslides were observed on a few comet's nuclei, e.g. [1], [2]. The mechanism of their origin is not obvious because of very low gravity. According to [2] fluidization and multiphase transport of cometary material could be an explanation. We investigate here motion of the mass on a comet of irregular shape. The mechanism responsible for the low friction is not considered here. In fact, mass motion often occurs without contact with the surface. The motion could be triggered by meteoroids impacts or by the tidal forces. Comets nuclei are believed to be built of soft materials like snow and dust. The landing of Philae on the comet 67P/Czuriumow-Gierasimienko indicates a different situation. According to [1]: "thermal probe did not fully penetrate the near-surface layers, suggesting a local resistance of the ground to penetration of >4 megapascals, equivalent to >2 megapascal uniaxial compressive strength". Here we assume that elastic properties of comet's nuclei could be similar to elastic properties of dry snow, namely Young modulus is assumed to be 1 - 100 MPa, see [3] and [4]. We consider nucleus of the shape of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko with density 470 kg/m3. The impact or tidal forces result in changing of rotation of the comet. In general, the vector of angular velocity will be a subject to nutation that results in changing of centrifugal force, and consequently could be a factor triggering landslides. Note that nucleus' shape does not resemble the shape of surface of constant value of gravitational potential (i.e. 'geoid'). Our numerical models indicate the parts of the nucleus where landslides start and other parts where landslides stop. Of course, the regolith from the first type of regions would be removed to the regions of the second class. The motion of the mass is often complicated because of complicated distribution of the gravity and complicated shape of the nucleus. Acknowledgement: The research is partly supported by Polish National Science Centre

Nuclear shapes studied with low-energy Coulomb excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zielińska, Magda; Hadyńska-Klȩk, Katarzyna

2018-05-01

Coulomb excitation is one of the rare methods available to obtain information on static electromagnetic moments of short-lived excited nuclear states, including collective non-yrast levels. It is thus an ideal tool to study shape coexistence and shape evolution throughout the nuclear chart. Historically, these experiments were limited to stable isotopes, however the advent of new facilities, providing intense beams of short-lived radioactive species, has opened the possibility to apply this powerful technique to a much wider range of nuclei. Here, we present some recent complex Coulomb-excitation studies and use the example of superdeformed states in 42Ca to demonstrate the sensitivity of the method to second-order effects such as relative signs of electromagnetic matrix elements and quadrupole moments.

Resistively detected NMR line shapes in a quasi-one-dimensional electron system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fauzi, M. H.; Singha, A.; Sahdan, M. F.; Takahashi, M.; Sato, K.; Nagase, K.; Muralidharan, B.; Hirayama, Y.

2017-06-01

We observe variation in the resistively detected nuclear magnetic resonance (RDNMR) line shapes in quantum Hall breakdown. The breakdown occurs locally in a gate-defined quantum point contact (QPC) region. Of particular interest is the observation of a dispersive line shape occurring when the bulk two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) set to νb=2 and the QPC filling factor to the vicinity of νQPC=1 , strikingly resemble the dispersive line shape observed on a 2D quantum Hall state. This previously unobserved line shape in a QPC points to a simultaneous occurrence of two hyperfine-mediated spin flip-flop processes within the QPC. Those events give rise to two different sets of nuclei polarized in the opposite direction and positioned at a separate region with different degrees of electronic spin polarization.

Coupled-cluster computations of atomic nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hagen, G.; Papenbrock, T.; Hjorth-Jensen, M.; Dean, D. J.

2014-09-01

In the past decade, coupled-cluster theory has seen a renaissance in nuclear physics, with computations of neutron-rich and medium-mass nuclei. The method is efficient for nuclei with product-state references, and it describes many aspects of weakly bound and unbound nuclei. This report reviews the technical and conceptual developments of this method in nuclear physics, and the results of coupled-cluster calculations for nucleonic matter, and for exotic isotopes of helium, oxygen, calcium, and some of their neighbors.

Resolved Structure of the Arp 220 Nuclei at λ ≈ 3 mm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakamoto, Kazushi; Aalto, Susanne; Barcos-Muñoz, Loreto; Costagliola, Francesco; Evans, Aaron S.; Harada, Nanase; Martín, Sergio; Wiedner, Martina; Wilner, David

2017-11-01

We analyze the 3 mm emission of the ultraluminous infrared galaxy Arp 220 for the spatially resolved structure and the spectral properties of the merger nuclei. ALMA archival data at ˜0.″05 resolution are used for extensive visibility fitting and deep imaging of the continuum emission. The data are fitted well by two concentric components for each nucleus, such as two Gaussians or one Gaussian plus one exponential disk. The larger components in the individual nuclei are similar in shape and extent, ˜100-150 pc, to the centimeter wave emission due to supernovae. They are therefore identified with the known starburst nuclear disks. The smaller components in both nuclei have about a few 10 pc sizes and peak brightness temperatures ({T}{{b}}) more than twice higher than those in previous single-Gaussian fitting. They correspond to the dust emission that we find centrally concentrated in both nuclei by subtracting the plasma emission measured at 33 GHz. The dust emission in the western nucleus is found to have a peak {T}{{b}}≈ 530 K and an FWHM of about 20 pc. This component is estimated to have a bolometric luminosity on the order of {10}12.5 {L}⊙ and a 20 pc scale luminosity surface density {10}15.5 {{L}}⊙ {{{k}}{{p}}{{c}}}-2. A luminous active galactic nucleus is a plausible energy source for these high values while other explanations remain to be explored. Our continuum image also reveals a third structural component of the western nucleus—a pair of faint spurs perpendicular to the disk major axis. We attribute it to a bipolar outflow from the highly inclined (I≈ 60^\\circ ) western nuclear disk.

Deformation effect on spectral statistics of nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabri, H.; Jalili Majarshin, A.

2018-02-01

In this study, we tried to get significant relations between the spectral statistics of atomic nuclei and their different degrees of deformations. To this aim, the empirical energy levels of 109 even-even nuclei in the 22 ≤ A ≤ 196 mass region are classified as their experimental and calculated quadrupole, octupole, hexadecapole and hexacontatetrapole deformations values and analyzed by random matrix theory. Our results show an obvious relation between the regularity of nuclei and strong quadrupole, hexadecapole and hexacontatetrapole deformations and but for nuclei that their octupole deformations are nonzero, we have observed a GOE-like statistics.

Black-hole model of galactic nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Norman, C.A.; ter Haar, D.

1973-04-01

It is shown that the observed large infrared emission from some galactic nuclei finds a natural explanation, if one takes plasma turbulence into account in Lynden-Bell and Rees' blackhole model of galactic nuclei. (auth)

Well-Known Distinctive Signatures of Quantum Phase Transition in Shape Coexistence Configuration of Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majarshin, A. Jalili; Sabri, H.

2018-06-01

It is interesting that a change of nuclear shape may be described in terms of a phase transition. This paper studies the quantum phase transition of the U(5) to SO(6) in the interacting boson model (IBM) on the finite number N of bosons. This paper explores the well-known distinctive signatures of transition from spherical vibrational to γ-soft shape phase in the IBM with the variation of a control parameter. Quantum phase transitions occur as a result of properties of ground and excited states levels. We apply an affine \\widehat {SU(1,1)} approach to numerically solve non-linear Bethe Ansatz equation and point out what observables are particularly sensitive to the transition. The main aim of this work is to describe the most prominent observables of QPT by using IBM in shape coexistence configuration. We calculate energies of excited states and signatures of QPT as energy surface, energy ratio, energy differences, quadrupole electric transition rates and expectation values of boson number operators and show their behavior in QPT. These observables are calculated and examined for 98 - 102Mo isotopes.

Well-Known Distinctive Signatures of Quantum Phase Transition in Shape Coexistence Configuration of Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majarshin, A. Jalili; Sabri, H.

2018-03-01

It is interesting that a change of nuclear shape may be described in terms of a phase transition. This paper studies the quantum phase transition of the U(5) to SO(6) in the interacting boson model (IBM) on the finite number N of bosons. This paper explores the well-known distinctive signatures of transition from spherical vibrational to γ-soft shape phase in the IBM with the variation of a control parameter. Quantum phase transitions occur as a result of properties of ground and excited states levels. We apply an affine \\widehat {SU(1,1)} approach to numerically solve non-linear Bethe Ansatz equation and point out what observables are particularly sensitive to the transition. The main aim of this work is to describe the most prominent observables of QPT by using IBM in shape coexistence configuration. We calculate energies of excited states and signatures of QPT as energy surface, energy ratio, energy differences, quadrupole electric transition rates and expectation values of boson number operators and show their behavior in QPT. These observables are calculated and examined for 98 - 102Mo isotopes.

Jacobi Shape Transitions Within the LSD Model and the Skyrme-Etf Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartel, Johann; Pomorski, Krzysztof

The "Modified Funny-Hills parametrisation" is used together with the Lublin-Strasbourg Drop Model to evaluate the stability of rotating nuclei. The Jacobi transition into triaxial shapes is studied. By a comparison with selfconsistent semiclassical calculations in the framework of the Extended Thomas-Fermi method, the validity of the present approach is demonstrated and possible improvements are indicated.

The effect of low energy helium ion irradiation on tungsten-tantalum (W-Ta) alloys under fusion relevant conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gonderman, S.; Tripathi, J. K.; Novakowski, T. J.; Sizyuk, T.; Hassanein, A.

2017-08-01

Currently, tungsten remains the best candidate for plasma-facing components (PFCs) for future fusion devices because of its high melting point, low erosion, and strong mechanical properties. However, continued investigation has shown tungsten to undergo severe morphology changes under fusion-like conditions. These results motivate the study of innovative PFC materials which are resistant to surface morphology evolution. The goal of this work is to examine tungsten-tantalum (W-Ta) alloys, a potential PFC material, and their response to low energy helium ion irradiation. Specifically, W-Ta samples are exposed to 100 eV helium irradiations with a flux of 1.15 × 1021 ions m-2 s-1, at 873 K, 1023 K, and 1173 K for 1 h duration. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals significant changes in surface deterioration due to helium ion irradiation as a function of both temperature and tantalum concentration in W-Ta samples. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) studies show a slight lattice parameter expansion in W-Ta alloy samples compared to pure W samples. The observed lattice parameter expansion in W-Ta alloy samples (proportional to increasing Ta wt.% concentrations) reflect significant differences observed in the evolution of surface morphology, i.e., fuzz development processes for both increasing Ta wt.% concentration and target temperature. These results suggest a correlation between the observed morphology differences and the induced crystal structure change caused by the presence of tantalum. Shifts in the XRD peaks before and after 100 eV helium irradiation with a flux of 1.15 × 1021 ions m-2 s-1, 1023 K, for 1 h showed a significant difference in the magnitude of the shift. This has suggested a possible link between the atomic spacing of the material and the accumulated damage. Ongoing research is needed on W-Ta alloys and other innovative materials for their application as irradiation resistant materials in future fusion or irradiation environments.

Tantalum Sulfide Nanosheets as a Theranostic Nanoplatform for Computed Tomography Imaging-Guided Combinatorial Chemo-Photothermal Therapy.

PubMed

Liu, Yanlan; Ji, Xiaoyuan; Liu, Jianhua; Tong, Winnie W L; Askhatova, Diana; Shi, Jinjun

2017-10-19

Near-infrared (NIR)-absorbing metal-based nanomaterials have shown tremendous potential for cancer therapy, given their facile and controllable synthesis, efficient photothermal conversion, capability of spatiotemporal-controlled drug delivery, and intrinsic imaging function. Tantalum (Ta) is among the most biocompatible metals and arouses negligible adverse biological responses in either oxidized or reduced forms, and thus Ta-derived nanomaterials represent promising candidates for biomedical applications. However, Ta-based nanomaterials by themselves have not been explored for NIR-mediated photothermal ablation therapy. In this work, we report an innovative Ta-based multifunctional nanoplatform composed of biocompatible tantalum sulfide (TaS 2 ) nanosheets (NSs) for simultaneous NIR hyperthermia, drug delivery, and computed tomography (CT) imaging. The TaS 2 NSs exhibit multiple unique features including (i) efficient NIR light-to-heat conversion with a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 39%. (ii) high drug loading (177% by weight), (iii) controlled drug release triggered by NIR light and moderate acidic pH, (iv) high tumor accumulation via heat-enhanced tumor vascular permeability, (v) complete tumor ablation and negligible side effects, and (vi) comparable CT imaging contrast efficiency to the widely clinically used agent iobitridol. We expect that this multifunctional NS platform can serve as a promising candidate for imaging-guided cancer therapy and selection of cancer patients with high tumor accumulation.

Characteristics of laser produced plasmas of hafnium and tantalum in the 1-7 nm region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Bowen; Otsuka, Takamitsu; Sokell, Emma; Dunne, Padraig; O'Sullivan, Gerry; Hara, Hiroyuki; Arai, Goki; Tamura, Toshiki; Ono, Yuichi; Dinh, Thanh-Hung; Higashiguchi, Takeshi

2017-11-01

Soft X-ray (SXR) spectra from hafnium and tantalum laser produced plasmas were recorded in the 1-7 nm region using two Nd:YAG lasers with pulse lengths of 170 ps and 10 ns, respectively, operating at a range of power densities. The maximum focused peak power density was 2. 3 × 1014 W cm-2 for 170 ps pulses and 1. 8 × 1012 W cm-2 for 10 ns pulses, respectively. Two intense quasicontinuous intensity bands resulting from n = 4 - n = 4 and n = 4 - n = 5 unresolved transition arrays (UTAs) dominate both sets of experimental spectra. Comparison with calculations performed with the Cowan suite of atomic structure codes as well as consideration of previous experimental and theoretical results aided identification of the most prominent features in the spectra. For the 10 ns spectrum, the highest ion stage that could be identified from the n = 4 - n = 5 arrays were lower than silver-like Hf25+ and Ta26+ (which has a 4 d 104 f ground configuration) indicating that the plasma temperature attained was too low to produce ions with an outermost 4 d subshell, while for the 170 ps plasmas the presence of significantly higher stages was deduced and lines due to 4 d-5 p transitions were clearly evident. Furthermore, we show an enhancement of emission from tantalum using dual laser irradiation, and the effect of pre-pulse durations and delay times between two pulses are demonstrated.

Tibiocalcaneal Arthrodesis With a Porous Tantalum Spacer and Locked Intramedullary Nail for Post-Traumatic Global Avascular Necrosis of the Talus.

PubMed

Cohen, Michael M; Kazak, Marat

2015-01-01

Global avascular necrosis of the talus is a devastating complication that usually occurs as a result of a post-traumatic or metabolic etiology. When conservative options fail, tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis is generally indicated in conjunction with massive bone grafting to maintain the functional length of the extremity. Several bone grafting options are available, including the use of a freeze-dried or fresh-frozen femoral head allograft or autograft obtained from the iliac crest or fibula, all of which pose their own inherent risks. The noted complications with massive bone grafting techniques have included graft collapse, infection, immune response, donor site morbidity, and nonunion. In an effort to avoid many of these complications, we present a case report involving post-traumatic talar avascular necrosis in a 59-year-old male who was successfully treated with the use of a porous tantalum spacer, an autogenic morselized fibular bone graft, and 30 mL of bone marrow aspirate in conjunction with a retrograde tibiocalcaneal nail. Porous tantalum is an attractive substitute for bone grafting because of its structural integrity, biocompatibility, avoidance of donor site complications, and lack of an immune response. The successful use of porous tantalum has been well-documented in hip and knee surgery. We present a practical surgical approach to tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with a large segmental deficit. To our knowledge, this is the first published report describing an alternative surgical technique to address global avascular necrosis of the talus that could have additional applications in salvaging the ankle with a large bone deficiency. Copyright © 2015 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Superconductor to weak-insulator transitions in disordered tantalum nitride films

DOE PAGES

Breznay, Nicholas P.; Tendulkar, Mihir; Zhang, Li; ...

2017-10-31

Here, we study the two-dimensional superconductor-insulator transition (SIT) in thin films of tantalum nitride. At zero magnetic field, films can be disorder-tuned across the SIT by adjusting thickness and film stoichiometry; insulating films exhibit classical hopping transport. Superconducting films exhibit a magnetic-field-tuned SIT, whose insulating ground state at high field appears to be a quantum-corrected metal. Scaling behavior at the field-tuned SIT shows classical percolation critical exponents zν ≈ 1.3, with a corresponding critical field H c << H c2, the upper critical field. The Hall effect exhibits a crossing point near H c, but with a nonuniversal critical valuemore » ρ c xy comparable to the normal-state Hall resistivity. We propose that high-carrier-density metals will always exhibit this pattern of behavior at the boundary between superconducting and (trivially) insulating ground states.« less

76 FR 63702 - In the Matter of the Designation of Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei, aka Conspiracy of the Nuclei of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-13

... DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice: 7643] In the Matter of the Designation of Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei, aka Conspiracy of the Nuclei of Fire, aka Conspiracy of Cells of Fire, aka Synomosia of Pyrinon Tis Fotias, aka Thessaloniki-Athens Fire Nuclei Conspiracy, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist...

Major new sources of biological ice nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moffett, B. F.; Hill, T.; Henderson-Begg, S. K.

2009-12-01

Almost all research on biological ice nucleation has focussed on a limited number of bacteria. Here we characterise several major new sources of biogenic ice nuclei. These include mosses, hornworts, liverworts and cyanobacteria. Ice nucleation in the eukaryotic bryophytes appears to be ubiquitous. The temperature at which these organisms nucleate is that at which the difference in vapour pressure over ice and water is at or close to its maximum. At these temperatures (-8 to -18 degrees C) ice will grow at the expense of supercooled water. These organisms are dependent for their water on occult precipitation - fog, dew and cloudwater which by its nature is not collected in conventional rain gauges. Therefore we suggest that these organism produce ice nuclei as a water harvesting mechanism. Since the same mechanism would also drive the Bergeron-Findeisen process, and as moss is known to become airborne, these nuclei may have a role in the initiation of precipitation. The properties of these ice nuclei are very different from the well characterised bacterial nuclei. We will also present DNA sequence data showing that, although related, the proteins responsible are only very distantly related to the classical bacterial ice nuclei.

The electro-thermal stability of tantalum relative to aluminum and titanium in cylindrical liner ablation experiments at 550 kA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steiner, Adam M.; Campbell, Paul C.; Yager-Elorriaga, David A.; Cochrane, Kyle R.; Mattsson, Thomas R.; Jordan, Nicholas M.; McBride, Ryan D.; Lau, Y. Y.; Gilgenbach, Ronald M.

2018-03-01

Presented are the results from the liner ablation experiments conducted at 550 kA on the Michigan Accelerator for Inductive Z-Pinch Experiments. These experiments were performed to evaluate a hypothesis that the electrothermal instability (ETI) is responsible for the seeding of magnetohydrodynamic instabilities and that the cumulative growth of ETI is primarily dependent on the material-specific ratio of critical temperature to melting temperature. This ratio is lower in refractory metals (e.g., tantalum) than in non-refractory metals (e.g., aluminum or titanium). The experimental observations presented herein reveal that the plasma-vacuum interface is remarkably stable in tantalum liner ablations. This stability is particularly evident when contrasted with the observations from aluminum and titanium experiments. These results are important to various programs in pulsed-power-driven plasma physics that depend on liner implosion stability. Examples include the magnetized liner inertial fusion (MagLIF) program and the cylindrical dynamic material properties program at Sandia National Laboratories, where liner experiments are conducted on the 27-MA Z facility.

Elusive active galactic nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maiolino, R.; Comastri, A.; Gilli, R.; Nagar, N. M.; Bianchi, S.; Böker, T.; Colbert, E.; Krabbe, A.; Marconi, A.; Matt, G.; Salvati, M.

2003-10-01

A fraction of active galactic nuclei do not show the classical Seyfert-type signatures in their optical spectra, i.e. they are optically `elusive'. X-ray observations are an optimal tool to identify this class of objects. We combine new Chandra observations with archival X-ray data in order to obtain a first estimate of the fraction of elusive active galactic nuclei (AGN) in local galaxies and to constrain their nature. Our results suggest that elusive AGN have a local density comparable to or even higher than optically classified Seyfert nuclei. Most elusive AGN are heavily absorbed in the X-rays, with gas column densities exceeding 1024 cm-2, suggesting that their peculiar nature is associated with obscuration. It is likely that in elusive AGN the nuclear UV source is completely embedded and the ionizing photons cannot escape, which prevents the formation of a classical narrow-line region. Elusive AGN may contribute significantly to the 30-keV bump of the X-ray background.

Designer Nuclei--Making Atoms that Barely Exist

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Kate L.; Nazarewicz, Witold

2010-01-01

The physics of nuclei is not a democratic field. It has to be said, some nuclei are just more interesting than others. And some are more useful than others, either to explain the origins of the elements, or the nature of matter itself, or for uses in medicine and other applied fields. The trick is to work out which nuclei are going to be the most…

A systematic study of superheavy nuclei for Z = 114 and beyond using the relativistic mean field approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patra, S. K.; Wu, Cheng-Li; Praharaj, C. R.; Gupta, Raj K.

1999-05-01

We have studied the structural properties of even-even, neutron deficient, Z = 114-126, superheavy nuclei in the mass region A ˜ 270-320, using an axially deformed relativistic mean field model. The calculations are performed with three parameter sets (NL1, TM1 and NL-SH), in order to see the dependence of the structural properties on the force used. The calculated ground state shapes are found to be parameter dependent. For some parameter sets, many of the nuclei are degenerate in their ground state configuration. Special attention is given to the investigation of the magic structures (spherical shell closures) in the superheavy region. We find that some known magic numbers are absent and new closed shells are predicted. Large shell gaps appear at Z = 80, 92, (114), 120 and 138, N = 138, (164), (172), 184, (198), (228) and 258, irrespective of the parameter sets used. The numbers in parenthesis are those which correspond to relatively smaller gaps. The existence of new magic numbers in the valley of superheavy elements is discussed. It is suggested that nuclei around Z = 114 and N = 164 ˜ 172 could be considered as candidates for the next search of superheavy nuclei. The existence of superheavy islands around Z = 120 and N = 172 or N = 184 double shell closure is also discussed.

Systematization of α-decaying nuclei based on shell structures: The case of even-odd nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yarman, Tolga; Zaim, Nimet; Yarman, O.; Kholmetskii, Alexander; Arık, Metin

2017-01-01

Previously, we provided a novel systematization of α-decaying even-even nuclei starting with the classically adopted mechanism (Yarman et al., Eur. Phys. J. A 52, 140 (2016)). The decay half-life of an α-decaying nucleus was framed so that i) the α-particle is taken at the outset to be born inside the parent nucleus with a given probability, ii) where it then keeps on bouncing off of the barrier of the parent nucleus till iii) it finally tunnels through the barrier. Knowing beforehand the measured decay half-life, we have taken into consideration, as a parameter, the probability of the α-particle being first born within the parent before it is emitted. We thence developed a scaffold based on shell properties of families composed of alike even-even nuclei. Nevertheless, our model allows us to incorporate any α-decaying nuclei, and along this line, we present a follow-up systematization of even-odd nuclei, with cases of odd-even and odd-odd α-decaying nuclei pending to be considered in a separate contribution. Notwithstanding, we make an effort herein to expand our approach to investigate the effect of "pairing" ( e.g., when a number of nucleons in the given nucleus becomes an even number, instead of the initial odd number, due to the addition of at least one neutron). Our results show that "pairing", as expected, definitely increases the stability of the given nucleus.

Evaluation of Series T22 Wet Tantalum Capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teverovsky, Alexander

2017-01-01

Several types of advanced wet tantalum capacitors, and series T22 in particular, are designed without internal Teflon sealing that is used for military grade, CLR style capacitors. This raises concerns regarding hermeticity of the single seal parts and their capability to withstand high internal gas pressures that might develop during operation in space. To address these issues, T22 series capacitors rated to 50 V and 125 V were subjected to highly accelerated life testing (HALT) at 125 C and rated voltage and step stress random vibration testing (RVT). To simulate conditions of storage or operation under increased internal gas pressure, the parts were stored at temperature of 150 C for 2500 hr (HTS150). Electrical characteristics of the parts were measured through the storage testing and the hermeticity leak rate was tested before and after HTS150. To assess thermo-mechanical robustness of the part, capacitors were manually soldered onto printed wired boards (PWB) and stressed by 1000 temperature cycles between -55 C and +125 C. The effect of temperature cycling was assessed by additional HALT at different temperatures. Results show that T22 series capacitors have robust design and can satisfy requirements for space applications.

Development of Coatings for Tantalum Alloy Nozzle Vanes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stetson, A. R.; Wimber, R. T.

1967-01-01

A group of silicide coatings developed for the T222 tantalum-base alloy have afforded over 600 hours of protection at 1600 and 2400 F during cyclic exposure in air. These coatings were applied in two steps. A modifier alloy was applied by slurry techniques and was sintered in vacuum prior to siliciding by pack cementation in argon. Application of the modifier alloy by pack cementation was found to be much less effective. The addition of titanium and vanadium to molybdenum and tungsten yielded beneficial modifier alloys, whereas the addition of chromium showed no improvement. After siliciding, the 15Ti- 35W-15V-35Mo modifier alloy exhibited the best performance; one sample survived 1064 hours of oxidation at 2400 F. This same coating was the only coating to reproducibly provide 600 hours of protection at both 1600 and 2400 F; in the second and third of three experiments, involving oxidation of three to five specimens at each temperature in each experiment, no failures were observed in 600 hours of testing. The slurry coatings were also shown to protect the Cb752 and D43 columbium-base alloys.

Nuclear Computational Low Energy Initiative (NUCLEI)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Reddy, Sanjay K.

This is the final report for University of Washington for the NUCLEI SciDAC-3. The NUCLEI -project, as defined by the scope of work, will develop, implement and run codes for large-scale computations of many topics in low-energy nuclear physics. Physics to be studied include the properties of nuclei and nuclear decays, nuclear structure and reactions, and the properties of nuclear matter. The computational techniques to be used include Quantum Monte Carlo, Configuration Interaction, Coupled Cluster, and Density Functional methods. The research program will emphasize areas of high interest to current and possible future DOE nuclear physics facilities, including ATLAS andmore » FRIB (nuclear structure and reactions, and nuclear astrophysics), TJNAF (neutron distributions in nuclei, few body systems, and electroweak processes), NIF (thermonuclear reactions), MAJORANA and FNPB (neutrino-less double-beta decay and physics beyond the Standard Model), and LANSCE (fission studies).« less

Nuclear shape evolution based on microscopic level densities

DOE PAGES

Ward, D. E.; Carlsson, B. G.; Døssing, T.; ...

2017-02-27

Here, by combining microscopically calculated level densities with the Metropolis walk method, we develop a consistent framework for treating the energy and angular-momentum dependence of the nuclear shape evolution in the fission process. For each nucleus under consideration, the level density is calculated microscopically for each of more than five million shapes with a recently developed combinatorial method. The method employs the same single-particle levels as those used for the extraction of the pairing and shell contributions to the macroscopic-microscopic deformation-energy surface. Containing no new parameters, the treatment is suitable for elucidating the energy dependence of the dynamics of warmmore » nuclei on pairing and shell effects. It is illustrated for the fission fragment mass distribution for several uranium and plutonium isotopes of particular interest.« less

Chaos in nuclei: Theory and experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muñoz, L.; Molina, R. A.; Gómez, J. M. G.

2018-05-01

During the last three decades the quest for chaos in nuclei has been quite intensive, both with theoretical calculations using nuclear models and with detailed analyses of experimental data. In this paper we outline the concept and characteristics of quantum chaos in two different approaches, the random matrix theory fluctuations and the time series fluctuations. Then we discuss the theoretical and experimental evidence of chaos in nuclei. Theoretical calculations, especially shell-model calculations, have shown a strongly chaotic behavior of bound states in regions of high level density. The analysis of experimental data has shown a strongly chaotic behavior of nuclear resonances just above the one-nucleon emission threshold. For bound states, combining experimental data of a large number of nuclei, a tendency towards chaotic motion is observed in spherical nuclei, while deformed nuclei exhibit a more regular behavior associated to the collective motion. On the other hand, it had never been possible to observe chaos in the experimental bound energy levels of any single nucleus. However, the complete experimental spectrum of the first 151 states up to excitation energies of 6.20 MeV in the 208Pb nucleus have been recently identified and the analysis of its spectral fluctuations clearly shows the existence of chaotic motion.

INTERACTION OF INTERSTITIAL CLUSTERS WITH RHENIUM, OSMIUM, AND TANTALUM IN TUNGSTEN

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Setyawan, Wahyu; Nandipati, Giridhar; Kurtz, Richard J.

2016-09-01

In the previous semi annual report, we explored the stability of interstitial clusters in W up to size seven. In this report, we study the binding of those clusters to Re, Os, and Ta atoms. For each cluster size, the three most stable configurations are considered to average the binding property. The average binding energy to a Re decreases from 0.79 eV for a size-1 cluster (a [111] dumbbell) to 0.65 eV for a size-7 cluster. For Os, the binding decreases from 1.61 eV for a [111] dumbbell to 1.34 eV for a size-7 cluster. Tantalum is repulsive to interstitialmore » clusters with binding energy ranges from -0.61 eV for a [111] dumbbell to -0.5 eV for a size-7 cluster.« less

Electrical characterization of glass, teflon, and tantalum capacitors at high temperatures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hammoud, A. N.; Baumann, E. D.; Myers, I. T.; Overton, E.

1991-01-01

Dielectric materials and electrical components and devices employed in radiation fields and the space environment are often exposed to elevated temperatures among other things. Therefore, these systems must withstand the high temperature exposure while still providing good electrical and other functional properties. Experiments were carried out to evaluate glass, teflon, and tantalum capacitors for potential use in high temperature applications. The capacitors were characterized in terms of their capacitance and dielectric loss as a function of temperature up to 200 C. At a given temperature, these properties were obtained in a frequency range of 50 Hz to 100 kHz. The DC leakage current measurements were also performed in a temperature range from 20 to 200 C. The obtained results are discussed and conclusions are made concerning the suitability of the capacitors investigated for high temperature applications.

Shape coexistence from lifetime and branching-ratio measurements in 68,70Ni

DOE PAGES

Crider, B. P.; Prokop, C. J.; Liddick, S. N.; ...

2016-10-15

Shape coexistence near closed-shell nuclei, whereby states associated with deformed shapes appear at relatively low excitation energy alongside spherical ones, is indicative of the rapid change in structure that can occur with the addition or removal of a few protons or neutrons. Near 68Ni (Z=28, N=40), the identification of shape coexistence hinges on hitherto undetermined transition rates to and from low-energy 0 + states. In 68,70Ni, new lifetimes and branching ratios have been measured. These data enable quantitative descriptions of the 0 + states through the deduced transition rates and serve as sensitive probes for characterizing their nuclear wave functions.more » The results are compared to, and consistent with, large-scale shell-model calculations which predict shape coexistence. With the firm identification of this phenomenon near 68Ni, shape coexistence is now observed in all currently accessible regions of the nuclear chart with closed proton shells and mid-shell neutrons.« less

Study on the property of low friction complex graphite-like coating containing tantalum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zuoping; Feng, Lajun; Shen, Wenning

2018-03-01

In order to enhance equipment lifetime under low oil or even dry conditions, tantalum was introduced into the graphite-like coating (GLC) by sputtering mosaic targets. The results showed that the introduction of Ta obviously reduced the friction coefficient and hardness of the GLC, while improved the wearability. When the atomic percentage of Ta was larger than 3%, the steady friction coefficient was lower than 0.01, suggesting the coating exhibited super lubricity. When the content of Ta was about 5.0%, the average friction coefficient was 0.02 by a sliding friction test under load of 20 N in unlubricated condition. Its average friction coefficient reduced by 75%, compared with that of control GLC (0.0825).

On the occurrence of nuclei in mature sieve elements.

PubMed

Event, R F; Davis, J D; Tucker, C M; Alfieri, F J

1970-12-01

The secondary phloem of 3 species of the Taxodiaceae and 13 species of woody dicotyledons was examined for the occurrence of nuclei in mature sieve elements. Nuclei were found in all mature sieve cells of Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Sequoia sempervirens and Taxodium distichum, and in some mature sieve-tube members in 12 of the 13 species of woody dicotyledons. Except for nuclei of sieve cells undergoing cessation of function, the nuclei in mature sieve cells of M. glyptostroboides, S. sempervirens and T. distichum were normal in appearance. The occurrence and morphology of nuclei in mature sieve-tube members of the woody dicotyledons were quite variable. Only 3 species, Robinia pseudoacacia, Ulmus americana and Vitis riparia, contained some mature sieve elements with apparently normal nuclei.

Two-dimensional tantalum disulfide: controlling structure and properties via synthesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Rui; Grisafe, Benjamin; Krishna Ghosh, Ram; Holoviak, Stephen; Wang, Baoming; Wang, Ke; Briggs, Natalie; Haque, Aman; Datta, Suman; Robinson, Joshua

2018-04-01

Tantalum disulfide (TaS2) is a transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) that exhibits phase transition induced electronic property modulation at low temperature. However, the appropriate phase must be grown to enable the semiconductor/metal transition that is of interest for next generation electronic applications. In this work, we demonstrate direct and controllable synthesis of ultra-thin 1T-TaS2 and 2H-TaS2 on a variety of substrates (sapphire, SiO2/Si, and graphene) via powder vapor deposition. The synthesis process leads to single crystal domains ranging from 20 to 200 nm thick and 1-10 µm on a side. The TaS2 phase (1T or 2H) is controlled by synthesis temperature, which subsequently is shown to control the electronic properties. Furthermore, this work constitutes the first demonstration of a metal-insulator phase transition in directly synthesized 1T-TaS2 films and domains by electronic means.

Fabrication and characterization of powder metallurgy tantalum components prepared by high compaction pressure technique

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Youngmoo; Agency for Defense Development, Yuseong, P.O. Box 35, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34186, Republic of Korea.; Lee, Dongju

2016-04-15

The present study has investigated the consolidation behaviors of tantalum powders during compaction and sintering, and the characteristics of sintered components. For die compaction, the densification behaviors of the powders are simulated by finite element analyses based on the yield function proposed by Shima and Oyane. Accordingly, the green density distribution for coarser particles is predicted to be more uniform because they exhibits higher initial relative tap density owing to lower interparticle friction. It is also found that cold isostatic pressing is capable of producing higher dense compacts compared to the die pressing. However, unlike the compaction behavior, the sinteredmore » density of smaller particles is found to be higher than those of coarser ones owing to their higher specific surface area. The maximum sintered density was found to be 0.96 of theoretical density where smaller particles were pressed isostatically at 400 MPa followed by sintering at 2000 °C. Moreover, the effects of processing conditions on grain size and texture were also investigated. The average grain size of the sintered specimen is 30.29 μm and its texture is less than 2 times random intensity. Consequently, it is concluded that the higher pressure compaction technique is beneficial to produce high dense and texture-free tantalum components compared to hot pressing and spark plasma sintering. - Highlights: • Higher Ta density is obtained from higher pressure and sintering temperature. • High compaction method enables P/M Ta to achieve the density of 16.00 g·cm{sup −3}. • A P/M Ta component with fine microstructure and random orientation is developed.« less

Effects of Processing Variables on Tantalum Nitride by Reactive-Ion-Assisted Magnetron Sputtering Deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Chao‑Tsang; Shieh, Han‑Ping D.

2006-08-01

The binary compound tantalum nitride (TaN) and ternary compounds tantalum tungsten nitrides (Ta1-xWxNy) exhibit interesting properties such as high melting point, high hardness, and chemical inertness. Such nitrides were deposited on a tungsten carbide (WC) die and silicon wafers by ion-beam-sputter evaporation of the respective metal under nitrogen ion-assisted deposition (IAD). The effects of N2/Ar flux ratio, post annealing, ion-assisted deposition, deposition rate, and W doping in coating processing variables on hardness, load critical scratching, oxidation resistance, stress and surface roughness were investigated. The optimum N2/Ar flux ratios in view of the hardness and critical load of TaN and Ta1-xWxNy films were ranged from 0.9 to 1.0. Doping W into TaN to form Ta1-xWxNy films led significant increases in hardness, critical load, oxidation resistance, and reduced surface roughness. The optimum doping ratio was [W/(W+Ta)]=0.85. From the deposition rate and IAD experiments, the stress in the films is mainly contributed by sputtering atoms. The lower deposition rate at a high N2/Ar flux ratio resulted in a higher compressive stress. A high compressive residual stress accounts for a high hardness. The relatively high compressive stress was attributed primarily to peening by atoms, ions and electrons during film growth, the Ta1-xWxNy films showed excellent hardness and strength against a high temperature, and sticking phenomena can essentially be avoided through their use. Ta1-xWxNy films showed better performance than the TaN film in terms of mechanical properties and oxidation resistance.

Spark plasma sintering of tantalum carbide and graphene reinforced tantalum carbide composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalluri, Ajith Kumar

Tantalum carbide (TaC), an ultra-high temperature ceramic (UHTC), is well known for its exceptional properties such as high hardness (15-19 GPa), melting point (3950 °C), elastic modulus (537 GPa), chemical resistance, and thermal shock resistance. To make TaC to be the future material for hypersonic vehicles, it is required to improve its thermal conductivity, strength, and fracture toughness. Researchers have previously reinforced TaC ceramic with carbides of silicon and boron as well as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), however, these reinforcements either undergo chemical changes or induce defects in the matrix during processing. In addition, these reinforcements exhibit a very minimal improvement in the properties. In the present work, we attempted to improve TaC fracture toughness by reinforcing with graphene nano-platelets (GNPs) and processing through spark plasma sintering at high temperature of 2000 °C, pressure of 70 MPa, and soaking time of 10 min. In addition, we investigated the active densification mechanism during SPS of TaC powder and the effect of ball milling time on mechanical properties of sintered TaC. A relative density of >96% was achieved using SPS of monolithic TaC (<3 μm). Ball milling improved the sintering kinetics and improved the mechanical properties (microhardness, bi-axial flexural strength, and indentation fracture toughness). Activation energy (100 kJ/mol) and stress exponent (1.2) were obtained using the analytical model developed for power-law creep. Grain boundary sliding is proposed as active densification mechanism based on these calculations. Reinforcing GNPs (2-6 vol.% ) in the TaC matrix improved relative density (99.8% for TaC-6 vol.% GNP). Also ˜150% and ˜180% increase in flexural strength and fracture toughness, respectively, was observed for TaC-6 vol.% GNP composite. The significant improvement in these properties is attributed to improved densification and toughening mechanisms such as sheet pull-out and crack

Superheavy nuclei from 48Ca-induced reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oganessian, Yu. Ts.; Utyonkov, V. K.

2015-12-01

The discovery and investigation of the new region of superheavy nuclei at the DGFRS separator based on fusion reactions of 48Ca with 238U-249Cf target nuclei are reviewed. The production cross sections and summaries of the decay properties, including the results of the posterior experiments performed at the SHIP, BGS, and TASCA separators, as well as at the chemistry setups, are discussed and compared with the theoretical calculations and the systematic trends in the α-decay and spontaneous fission properties. The properties of the new nuclei, isotopes of elements 112-118, and their decay products demonstrate significant increases in the stability of the heaviest nuclei with increasing neutron number and closer approach to magic number N = 184.

[Comparison of core decompression with stem cell transplantation and tantalum rod implanting in treating stage II non-traumatic osteonecrosis of femoral head].

PubMed

He, Bang-Jian; Li, Ju; Lyu, Yi; Tong, Pei-Jian

2016-12-25

To compare clinical effects of core decompression with stem cell transplantation and tantalum rod implanting in treating stage II non-traumatic osteonecrosis of femoral head. From March 2012 to September 2012, 45 patients(55 hips)with stage ARCO II non-traumatic osteonecrosis of femoral head were treated and divided into core decompression with stem cell transplantation group(group A) and tantalum rod implanting group(group B) according to number table. In group A, there were 23 cases(28 hips) , including 12 males and 11 females aged from 23 to 51 years old with an average of (36.87±9.52) years, the courses of disease ranged from 2 to 28 months with an average of (17.13±7.74) months, preoperative Harris score was for 35 to 70 with an average of(54.74±11.81), treated with core decompression with stem cell transplantation. In group B, there were 22 cases(27 hips), including 11 males and 11 females aged from 26 to 46 years old with an average of (35.59±7.39) years, the courses of disease ranged from 3 to 26 months with an average of(16.00±7.46) months, preoperative Harris score was for 35 to 76 with an average of (57.18±12.95), treated with core tantalum rod implanting. Operative time, blood loss, hospital stays, hospitalization expenses were observed and compared after treatment between two groups, the clinical effects were evaluated according to Harris criteria. All patients were followed up from 6 to 12 months with an average of 10.8 months. There were significant difference in hospitalization expenses between two groups( P <0.05), while there was no significant statistical difference in blood loss and hospital stay ( P >0.05). At the final following-up, Harris score in group A was(83.04±8.97), 6 cases obtained excellent results, 14 good, 2 good and 1 poor;while Harris score in group A was(84.41±9.94), and 9 cases obtained excellent results, 9 good, 3 good and 1 poor; there was no statistical meaning differences between two groups( P >0.05). Core

Flavanol binding of nuclei from tree species.

PubMed

Feucht, W; Treutter, D; Polster, J

2004-01-01

Light microscopy was used to examine the nuclei of five tree species with respect to the presence of flavanols. Flavanols develop a blue colouration in the presence of a special p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMACA) reagent that enables those nuclei loaded with flavanols to be recognized. Staining of the nuclei was most pronounced in both Tsuga canadensis and Taxus baccata, variable in Metasequoia glyptostroboides, faint in Coffea arabica and minimal in Prunus avium. HPLC analysis showed that the five species contained substantial amounts of different flavanols such as catechin, epicatechin and proanthocyanidins. Quantitatively, total flavanols were quite different among the species. The nuclei themselves, as studied in Tsuga seed wings, were found to contain mainly catechin, much lower amounts of epicatechin and traces of proanthocyanidins. Blue-coloured nuclei located centrally in small cells were often found to maximally occupy up to 90% of a cell's radius, and the surrounding small rim of cytoplasm was visibly free of flavanols. A survey of 34 gymnosperm and angiosperm species indicated that the first group has much higher nuclear binding capacities for flavanols than the second group.

Reflection Asymmetric Shapes in the Neutron-Rich 140,143Ba Isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu Sheng-jiang (S, J. Zhu; Wang, Mu-ge; J, H. Hamilton; A, V. Ramayya; B, R. S. Babu; W, C. Ma; Long, Gui-lu; Deng, Jing-kang; Zhu, Ling-yan; Li, Ming; T, N. Ginter; J, Komicki; J, D. Cole; R, Aryaeinejad; Y, K. Dardenne; M, W. Drigert; J, O. Rasmussen; Ts, Yu Oganessian; M, A. Stoyer; S, Y. Chu; K, E. Gregorich; M, F. Mohar; S, G. Prussin; I, Y. Lee; N, R. Johnson; F, K. McGowan

1997-08-01

Level schemes for the neutron-rich 140,143Ba nuclei have been determined by study of prompt γ-rays in spontaneous fission of 252Cf. The level pattern and enhanced E1 transitions between π = + and π = - bands show reflection asymmetric shapes with simplex quantum number s = +1 in 140Ba and s = ±i in 143Ba, respectively. The octupole deformation stability with spin variation has been discussed.

Brueckner-AMD Study of Light Nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kato, Kiyoshi; Yamamoto, Yuhei; Togashi, Tomoaki

2011-06-28

We applied the Brueckner theory to the Antisymmetrized Molecular Dynamics (AMD) and examined the reliability of the AMD calculations based on realistic nuclear interactions. In this method, the Bethe-Goldstone equation in the Brueckner theory is solved for every nucleon pair described by wave packets of AMD, and the G-matrix is calculated with single-particle orbits in AMD self-consistently. We apply this framework to not only {alpha}-nuclei but also N{ne}Z nuclei with A{approx}10. It is confirmed that these results present the description of reasonable cluster structures and energy-level schemes comparable with the experimental ones in light nuclei.

Exotic Light Nuclei

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cerny, Joseph; Poskanzer, Arthur M.

1978-01-01

Among the light elements, nuclei with unequal numbers of protons and neutrons are highly unstable. Some survive just long enough to be detected and exhibit unusual regimes of radioactive decay. ( Autor/MA)

Effects of alloy composition in alleviating embrittlement problems associated with the tantalum alloy T-111

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stephens, J. R.

1975-01-01

The causes of aging embrittlement in T-111 (Ta-8W-2Hf) and the effect of alloy modification were investigated. Results show that T-111 possesses a critical combination of tungsten and hafnium that leads to loss in ductility at -196 C after aging near 1040 C. It was found that this occurs because tungsten enhances hafnium segregation to grain boundaries, which also leads to increased susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement. Aging embrittlement was not observed in tantalum alloys with reduced tungsten or hafnium contents; most of the alloys studied have lower strengths than T-111 and exhibit susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement.

Open sd-shell nuclei from first principles

DOE PAGES

Jansen, Gustav R.; Signoracci, Angelo J.; Hagen, Gaute; ...

2016-07-05

We extend the ab initio coupled-cluster effective interaction (CCEI) method to open-shell nuclei with protons and neutrons in the valence space, and compute binding energies and excited states of isotopes of neon and magnesium. We employ a nucleon-nucleon and three-nucleon interaction from chiral effective field theory evolved to a lower cutoff via a similarity renormalization group transformation. We find good agreement with experiment for binding energies and spectra, while charge radii of neon isotopes are underestimated. For the deformed nuclei 20Ne and 24Mg we reproduce rotational bands and electric quadrupole transitions within uncertainties estimated from an effective field theory formore » deformed nuclei, thereby demonstrating that collective phenomena in sd-shell nuclei emerge from complex ab initio calculations.« less

Open sd-shell nuclei from first principles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jansen, Gustav R.; Signoracci, Angelo J.; Hagen, Gaute

We extend the ab initio coupled-cluster effective interaction (CCEI) method to open-shell nuclei with protons and neutrons in the valence space, and compute binding energies and excited states of isotopes of neon and magnesium. We employ a nucleon-nucleon and three-nucleon interaction from chiral effective field theory evolved to a lower cutoff via a similarity renormalization group transformation. We find good agreement with experiment for binding energies and spectra, while charge radii of neon isotopes are underestimated. For the deformed nuclei 20Ne and 24Mg we reproduce rotational bands and electric quadrupole transitions within uncertainties estimated from an effective field theory formore » deformed nuclei, thereby demonstrating that collective phenomena in sd-shell nuclei emerge from complex ab initio calculations.« less

Ice nuclei emissions from biomass burning

Treesearch

Markus D. Petters; Matthew T. Parsons; Anthony J. Prenni; Paul J. DeMott; Sonia M. Kreidenweis; Christian M. Carrico; Amy P. Sullivan; Gavin R. McMeeking; Ezra Levin; Cyle E. Wold; Jeffrey L. Collett; Hans Moosmuller

2009-01-01

Biomass burning is a significant source of carbonaceous aerosol in many regions of the world. When present, biomass burning particles may affect the microphysical properties of clouds through their ability to function as cloud condensation nuclei or ice nuclei. We report on measurements of the ice nucleation ability of biomass burning particles performed on laboratory-...

Analysis of isomeric ratios for medium-mass nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Danagulyan, A. S.; Hovhannisyan, G. H., E-mail: hov-gohar@ysu.am; Bakhshiyan, T. M.

Values of the isomeric ratios for product nuclei originating from simple charge-exchange reactions were analyzed. The cross sections for the formation of product nuclei in ground and isomeric states were calculated with the aid of the TALYS 1.4 and EMPIRE 3.2 codes. The calculated values of the isomeric ratios were compared with their experimental counterparts taken from the EXFOR database. For the {sup 86,87}Y, {sup 94,95,96,99}Tc, and {sup 44}Sc nuclei, the experimental values of the isomeric ratios exceed the respective calculated values. The nuclei in question feature weak deformations and have high-spin yrast lines and rotational bands. The possible reasonmore » behind the discrepancy between theoretical and experimental isomeric ratios is that the decay of yrast states leads with a high probability to the formation of isomeric states of detected product nuclei.« less

The Size Distribution of Jupiter-Family Cometary Nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weissman, Paul R.; Lowry, Stephen C.

2003-01-01

Introduction: We are continuing our program to determine the size distribution of cometary nuclei. We have compiled a catalog of 105 measurements of 57 cometary nuclei, drawn from the general literature, from our own program of CCD photometry of distant cometary nuclei (Lowry and Weissman), and from unpublished observations by colleagues. We model the cumulative size distribution of the nuclei as a power law. Previous determinations of the size distribution slope do not agree. Fernandez et al. found a slope of alpha = 2.65+/-0.25 whereas Lowry et al. and Weissman and Lowry each found a slope of alpha = 1.60+/-0.10.

Fundamental Physics with Electroweak Probes of Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pastore, Saori

2018-02-01

The past decade has witnessed tremendous progress in the theoretical and computational tools that produce our understanding of nuclei. A number of microscopic calculations of nuclear electroweak structure and reactions have successfully explained the available experimental data, yielding a complex picture of the way nuclei interact with electroweak probes. This achievement is of great interest from the pure nuclear-physics point of view. But it is of much broader interest too, because the level of accuracy and confidence reached by these calculations opens up the concrete possibility of using nuclei to address open questions in other sub-fields of physics, such as, understanding the fundamental properties of neutrinos, or the particle nature of dark matter. In this talk, I will review recent progress in microscopic calculations of electroweak properties of light nuclei, including electromagnetic moments, form factors and transitions in between lowlying nuclear states along with preliminary studies for single- and double-beta decay rates. I will illustrate the key dynamical features required to explain the available experimental data, and, if time permits, present a novel framework to calculate neutrino-nucleus cross sections for A > 12 nuclei.

Strain-Rate Dependence of Deformation-Twinning in Tantalum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abeywardhana, Jayalath; Germann, Tim; Ravelo, Ramon

2017-06-01

Large-Scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to model quasi-isentropic compression and expansion (QIC) in tantalum crystals varying the rate of deformation between the range 108 -1012s-1 and compressive pressures up to 100 GPa. The atomic interactions were modeled employing an embedded-atom method (EAM) potential of Ta. Isentropic expansion was done employing samples initially compressed to pressures of 60 and 100 GPa followed by uniaxial and quasi-isentropically expansion to zero pressure. The effect of initial dislocation density on twinning was also examined by varying the initial defect density of the Ta samples (1010 -1012cm-2). At these high-strain rates, a threshold in strain-rate on deformation twining is observed. Under expansion or compression, deformation twinning increases with strain rate for strain-rates >109s-1 . Below this value, small fraction of twins nucleates but anneal out with time. Samples with lower fraction of twins equilibrate to defect states containing higher screw dislocation densities from those with initially higher twinning fractions. This work was supported by the Department of Energy under contract DE-AC52-06NA25396 and by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under AFOSR Award No. FA9550-12-1-0476.

Phase transformation in tantalum under extreme laser deformation

DOE PAGES

Lu, C. -H.; Hahn, E. N.; Remington, B. A.; ...

2015-10-19

The structural and mechanical response of metals is intimately connected to phase transformations. For instance, the product of a phase transformation (martensite) is responsible for the extraordinary range of strength and toughness of steel, making it a versatile and important structural material. Although abundant in metals and alloys, the discovery of new phase transformations is not currently a common event and often requires a mix of experimentation, predictive computations, and luck. High-energy pulsed lasers enable the exploration of extreme pressures and temperatures, where such discoveries may lie. The formation of a hexagonal (omega) phase was observed in recovered monocrystalline body-centeredmore » cubic tantalum of four crystallographic orientations subjected to an extreme regime of pressure, temperature, and strain-rate. This was accomplished using high-energy pulsed lasers. The omega phase and twinning were identified by transmission electron microscopy at 70 GPa (determined by a corresponding VISAR experiment). It is proposed that the shear stresses generated by the uniaxial strain state of shock compression play an essential role in the transformation. In conclusion, molecular dynamics simulations show the transformation of small nodules from body-centered cubic to a hexagonal close-packed structure under the same stress state (pressure and shear).« less

Phase Transformation in Tantalum under Extreme Laser Deformation

PubMed Central

Lu, C.-H.; Hahn, E. N.; Remington, B. A.; Maddox, B. R.; Bringa, E. M.; Meyers, M. A.

2015-01-01

The structural and mechanical response of metals is intimately connected to phase transformations. For instance, the product of a phase transformation (martensite) is responsible for the extraordinary range of strength and toughness of steel, making it a versatile and important structural material. Although abundant in metals and alloys, the discovery of new phase transformations is not currently a common event and often requires a mix of experimentation, predictive computations, and luck. High-energy pulsed lasers enable the exploration of extreme pressures and temperatures, where such discoveries may lie. The formation of a hexagonal (omega) phase was observed in recovered monocrystalline body-centered cubic tantalum of four crystallographic orientations subjected to an extreme regime of pressure, temperature, and strain-rate. This was accomplished using high-energy pulsed lasers. The omega phase and twinning were identified by transmission electron microscopy at 70 GPa (determined by a corresponding VISAR experiment). It is proposed that the shear stresses generated by the uniaxial strain state of shock compression play an essential role in the transformation. Molecular dynamics simulations show the transformation of small nodules from body-centered cubic to a hexagonal close-packed structure under the same stress state (pressure and shear). PMID:26478106

Proton bombarded reactions of Calcium target nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tel, Eyyup; Sahan, Muhittin; Sarpün, Ismail Hakki; Kavun, Yusuf; Gök, Ali Armagan; Depedelen, Mesut

2017-09-01

In this study, proton bombarded nuclear reactions calculations of Calcium target nuclei have been investigated in the incident proton energy range of 1-50 MeV. The excitation functions for 40Ca target nuclei reactions have been calculated by using PCROSS nuclear reaction calculation code. Weisskopf-Ewing and the full exciton models were used for equilibrium and for pre-equilibrium calculations, respectively. The excitation functions for 40Ca target nuclei reactions (p,α), (p,n), (p,p) have been calculated using the semi-empirical formula Tel et al. [5].

Characterizing the Shape of Anatomical Structures With Poisson’s Equation

PubMed Central

Haidar, Haissam; Levitt, James J.; McCarley, Robert W.; Shenton, Martha E.; Soul, Janet S.

2009-01-01

Poisson’s equation, a fundamental partial differential equation in classical physics, has a number of properties that are interesting for shape analysis. In particular, the equipotential sets of the solution graph become smoother as the potential increases. We use the displacement map, the length of the streamlines formed by the gradient field of the solution, to measure the “complexity” (or smoothness) of the equipotential sets, and study its behavior as the potential increases. We believe that this function complexity = f (potential), which we call the shape characteristic, is a very natural way to express shape. Robust algorithms are presented to compute the solution to Poisson’s equation, the displacement map, and the shape characteristic. We first illustrate our technique on two-dimensional synthetic examples and natural silhouettes. We then perform two shape analysis studies on three-dimensional neuroanatomical data extracted from magnetic resonance (MR) images of the brain. In the first study, we investigate changes in the caudate nucleus in Schizotypal Personality Disorder (SPD) and confirm previously published results on this structure [1]. In the second study, we present a data set of caudate nuclei of premature infants with asymmetric white matter injury. Our method shows structural shape differences that volumetric measurements were unable to detect. PMID:17024829

Three-Dimensional Maps of All Chromosomes in Human Male Fibroblast Nuclei and Prometaphase Rosettes

PubMed Central

Bolzer, Andreas; Kreth, Gregor; Solovei, Irina; Koehler, Daniela; Saracoglu, Kaan; Fauth, Christine; Müller, Stefan; Eils, Roland; Cremer, Christoph; Speicher, Michael R

2005-01-01

Studies of higher-order chromatin arrangements are an essential part of ongoing attempts to explore changes in epigenome structure and their functional implications during development and cell differentiation. However, the extent and cell-type-specificity of three-dimensional (3D) chromosome arrangements has remained controversial. In order to overcome technical limitations of previous studies, we have developed tools that allow the quantitative 3D positional mapping of all chromosomes simultaneously. We present unequivocal evidence for a probabilistic 3D order of prometaphase chromosomes, as well as of chromosome territories (CTs) in nuclei of quiescent (G0) and cycling (early S-phase) human diploid fibroblasts (46, XY). Radial distance measurements showed a probabilistic, highly nonrandom correlation with chromosome size: small chromosomes—independently of their gene density—were distributed significantly closer to the center of the nucleus or prometaphase rosette, while large chromosomes were located closer to the nuclear or rosette rim. This arrangement was independently confirmed in both human fibroblast and amniotic fluid cell nuclei. Notably, these cell types exhibit flat-ellipsoidal cell nuclei, in contrast to the spherical nuclei of lymphocytes and several other human cell types, for which we and others previously demonstrated gene-density-correlated radial 3D CT arrangements. Modeling of 3D CT arrangements suggests that cell-type-specific differences in radial CT arrangements are not solely due to geometrical constraints that result from nuclear shape differences. We also found gene-density-correlated arrangements of higher-order chromatin shared by all human cell types studied so far. Chromatin domains, which are gene-poor, form a layer beneath the nuclear envelope, while gene-dense chromatin is enriched in the nuclear interior. We discuss the possible functional implications of this finding. PMID:15839726

Robust and automated three-dimensional segmentation of densely packed cell nuclei in different biological specimens with Lines-of-Sight decomposition.

PubMed

Mathew, B; Schmitz, A; Muñoz-Descalzo, S; Ansari, N; Pampaloni, F; Stelzer, E H K; Fischer, S C

2015-06-08

fully automated three-dimensional cell nuclei segmentation method incorporating LoS decomposition. LoS are easily accessible features that ensure correct splitting of apparently touching cell nuclei independent of their shape, size or intensity. Our method showed superior performance compared to state-of-the-art methods, performing accurately for a variety of test images. Hence, our LoS approach can be readily applied to quantitative evaluation in drug testing, developmental and cell biology.

β-Decay half-lives and nuclear structure of exotic proton-rich waiting point nuclei under rp-process conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nabi, Jameel-Un; Böyükata, Mahmut

2016-03-01

We investigate even-even nuclei in the A ∼ 70 mass region within the framework of the proton-neutron quasi-particle random phase approximation (pn-QRPA) and the interacting boson model-1 (IBM-1). Our work includes calculation of the energy spectra and the potential energy surfaces V (β , γ) of Zn, Ge, Se, Kr and Sr nuclei with the same proton and neutron number, N = Z. The parametrization of the IBM-1 Hamiltonian was performed for the calculation of the energy levels in the ground state bands. Geometric shape of the nuclei was predicted by plotting the potential energy surfaces V (β , γ) obtained from the IBM-1 Hamiltonian in the classical limit. The pn-QRPA model was later used to compute half-lives of the neutron-deficient nuclei which were found to be in very good agreement with the measured ones. The pn-QRPA model was also used to calculate the Gamow-Teller strength distributions and was found to be in decent agreement with the measured data. We further calculate the electron capture and positron decay rates for these N = Z waiting point (WP) nuclei in the stellar environment employing the pn-QRPA model. For the rp-process conditions, our total weak rates are within a factor two compared with the Skyrme HF +BCS +QRPA calculation. All calculated electron capture rates are comparable to the competing positron decay rates under rp-process conditions. Our study confirms the finding that electron capture rates form an integral part of the weak rates under rp-process conditions and should not be neglected in the nuclear network calculations.

Excited nuclei, resonances and reactions in neutron star crusts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takibayev, N.; Nasirova, D.; Katō, K.; Kurmangaliyeva, V.

2018-01-01

The short review of research results concerning the study of reactions and processes that occur in the neutron star crusts is given. The peculiarities of electron capture reactions by a nucleus in overdense crystalline structures have been demonstrated for various nuclei, in particular some even-even nuclei at electron capture reactions give daughter nuclei in excited states. Excited nuclei due to nonlinear interactions lead to a high-order harmonic generation. High energy gammas interact with charged particles, give a neutrino radiation and also knock out nucleons from neighbour nuclei. It is also shown that interactions of neutrons with two and more nuclei in an overdence lattice give a large number of new resonance states. These resonances result in a formation of specific local oscillations in the corresponding layers of the lattice. The periodic enhancement of these processes in the dependence on the elemental composition of the primary neutron star matter is considered.

Collective motion in prolate γ-rigid nuclei within minimal length concept via a quantum perturbation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chabab, M.; El Batoul, A.; Lahbas, A.; Oulne, M.

2018-05-01

Based on the minimal length concept, inspired by Heisenberg algebra, a closed analytical formula is derived for the energy spectrum of the prolate γ-rigid Bohr-Mottelson Hamiltonian of nuclei, within a quantum perturbation method (QPM), by considering a scaled Davidson potential in β shape variable. In the resulting solution, called X(3)-D-ML, the ground state and the first β-band are all studied as a function of the free parameters. The fact of introducing the minimal length concept with a QPM makes the model very flexible and a powerful approach to describe nuclear collective excitations of a variety of vibrational-like nuclei. The introduction of scaling parameters in the Davidson potential enables us to get a physical minimum of this latter in comparison with previous works. The analysis of the corrected wave function, as well as the probability density distribution, shows that the minimal length parameter has a physical upper bound limit.

Cross-scale MD simulations of dynamic strength of tantalum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bulatov, Vasily

2017-06-01

Dislocations are ubiquitous in metals where their motion presents the dominant and often the only mode of plastic response to straining. Over the last 25 years computational prediction of plastic response in metals has relied on Discrete Dislocation Dynamics (DDD) as the most fundamental method to account for collective dynamics of moving dislocations. Here we present first direct atomistic MD simulations of dislocation-mediated plasticity that are sufficiently large and long to compute plasticity response of single crystal tantalum while tracing the underlying dynamics of dislocations in all atomistic details. Where feasible, direct MD simulations sidestep DDD altogether thus reducing uncertainties of strength predictions to those of the interatomic potential. In the specific context of shock-induced material dynamics, the same MD models predict when, under what conditions and how dislocations interact and compete with other fundamental mechanisms of dynamic response, e.g. twinning, phase-transformations, fracture. In collaboration with: Luis Zepeda-Ruiz, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Alexander Stukowski, Technische Universitat Darmstadt; Tomas Oppelstrup, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

Analytical fingerprint for tantalum ores from African deposits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Melcher, F.; Graupner, T.; Sitnikova, M.; Oberthür, T.; Henjes-Kunst, F.; Gäbler, E.; Rantitsch, G.

2009-04-01

Illegal mining of gold, diamonds, copper, cobalt and, in the last decade, "coltan" has fuelled ongoing armed conflicts and civil war in a number of African countries. Following the United Nations initiative to fingerprint the origin of conflict materials and to develop a traceability system, our working group is investigating "coltan" (i.e. columbite-tantalite) mineralization especially in Africa, also within the wider framework of establishing certified trading chains (CTC). Special attention is directed towards samples from the main Ta-Nb-Sn provinces in Africa: DR Congo, Rwanda, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Egypt and Namibia. The following factors are taken into consideration in a methodological approach capable of distinguishing the origin of tantalum ores and concentrates with the utmost probability: (1) Quality and composition of coltan concentrates vary considerably. (2) Mineralogical and chemical compositions of Ta-Nb ores are extremely complex due to the wide range of the columbite-tantalite solid solution series and its ability to incorporate many additional elements. (3) Coltan concentrates may contain a number of other tantalum-bearing minerals besides columbite-tantalite. In our approach, coltan concentrates are analyzed in a step-by-step mode. State-of-the-art analytical tools employed are automated scanning electron microscopy (Mineral Liberation Analysis; MLA), electron microprobe analysis (major and trace elements), laser ablation-ICP-MS (trace elements, isotopes), and TIMS (U-Pb dating). Mineral assemblages in the ore concentrates, major and trace element concentration patterns, and zoning characteristics in the different pegmatites from Africa distinctly differ from each other. Chondrite-normalized REE distribution patterns vary significantly between columbite, tantalite, and microlite, and also relative to major element compositions of columbites. Some locations are characterized by low REE concentrations, others are highly enriched. Samples with

Growth and Interaction of Colloid Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lam, Michael-Angelo; Khusid, Boris; Meyer, William; Kondic, Lou

2017-11-01

We study evolution of colloid systems under zero-gravity conditions. In particular, we focus on the regime where there is a coexistence between a liquid and a solid state. Under zero gravity, the dominating process in the bulk of the fluid phase and the solid phase is diffusion. At the moving solid/liquid interface, osmotic pressure is balanced by surface tension, as well as balancing fluxes (conservation of mass) with the kinematics of nuclei growth (Wilson-Frenkel law). Due to the highly nonlinear boundary condition at the moving boundary, care has to be taken when performing numerical simulations. In this work, we present a nonlinear model for colloid nuclei growth. Numerical simulations using a finite volume method are compared with asymptotic analysis of the governing equation and experimental results for nuclei growth. Novel component in our numerical simulations is the inclusion of nonlinear (collective) diffusion terms that depend on the chemical potentials of the colloid in the solid and fluid phase. The results include growth and dissolution of a single colloidal nucleus, as well as evolution of multiple interacting nuclei. Supported by NASA Grant No. NNX16AQ79G.

Influence of tantalum underlayer on magnetization dynamics in Ni{sub 81}Fe{sub 19} films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kwon, Jae Hyun; Deorani, Praveen; Yoon, Jungbum

2015-07-13

The effect of tantalum (Ta) underlayer is investigated in Ni{sub 81}Fe{sub 19} thin films for magnetization dynamics. The damping parameters extracted from spin wave measurements increase systematically with increasing Ta thickness, whereas the damping parameters from ferromagnetic resonance measurements are found to be weakly dependent on the Ta thickness. The difference is attributed to propagating properties of spin wave and short spin diffusion length in Ta. The group velocity of spin waves is found to be constant for different Ta thicknesses, and nonreciprocity of spin waves is not affected by the Ta thickness. The experimental observations are supported by micromagneticmore » simulations.« less

Study the effect of nitrogen flow rate on tribological properties of tantalum nitride based coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chauhan, Dharmesh B.; Chauhan, Kamlesh V.; Sonera, Akshay L.; Makwana, Nishant S.; Dave, Divyeshkumar P.; Rawal, Sushant K.

2018-05-01

Tantalum Nitride (TaN) based coatings are well-known for their high temperature stability and chemical inertness. We have studied the effect of nitrogen flow rate variation on the structural and tribological properties of TaN based coating deposited by RF magnetron sputtering process. The nitrogen flow rate was varied from 5 to 30 sccm. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) were used to determine structure and surface topography of coating. Pin on disc tribometer was used to determine tribological properties of coating. TaN coated brass and mild steel substrates shows higher wear resistance compared to uncoated substrates of brass and mild steel.

Strength of shock-loaded single-crystal tantalum [100] determined using in situ broadband x-ray Laue diffraction.

PubMed

Comley, A J; Maddox, B R; Rudd, R E; Prisbrey, S T; Hawreliak, J A; Orlikowski, D A; Peterson, S C; Satcher, J H; Elsholz, A J; Park, H-S; Remington, B A; Bazin, N; Foster, J M; Graham, P; Park, N; Rosen, P A; Rothman, S R; Higginbotham, A; Suggit, M; Wark, J S

2013-03-15

The strength of shock-loaded single crystal tantalum [100] has been experimentally determined using in situ broadband x-ray Laue diffraction to measure the strain state of the compressed crystal, and elastic constants calculated from first principles. The inferred strength reaches 35 GPa at a shock pressure of 181 GPa and is in excellent agreement with a multiscale strength model [N. R. Barton et al., J. Appl. Phys. 109, 073501 (2011)], which employs a hierarchy of simulation methods over a range of length scales to calculate strength from first principles.

Effect of polarity of electric current on friction behavior of two gallium-lubricated tantalum slipring assemblies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Przybyszewski, J.

1972-01-01

Computer-processed data from low-speed (10 rpm) slipring experiments with two similar (but of opposite polarity) gallium-lubricated tantalum slipring assemblies (hemisphere against disk) carrying 50 amperes dc in vacuum (10 to the minus 9th power torr) showed that the slipring assembly with the anodic hemisphere had significantly lower peak-to-peak values and standard deviations of coefficient-of-friction samples (a measure of smoothness of operation) than the slipring assembly with the cathodic hemisphere. Similar data from an experiment with the same slipring assemblies running currentless showed more random differences in the frictional behavior between the two assemblies.

Disintegration of comet nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ksanfomality, Leonid V.

2012-02-01

The breaking up of comets into separate pieces, each with its own tail, was seen many times by astronomers of the past. The phenomenon was in sharp contrast to the idea of the eternal and unchangeable celestial firmament and was commonly believed to be an omen of impending disaster, especially for comets with tails stretching across half the sky. It is only now that we have efficient enough space exploration tools to see comet nuclei and even - in the particular case of small comet Hartley-2 in 2010 - to watch their disintegration stage. There are also other suspected candidates for disintegration in the vast family of comet nuclei and other Solar System bodies.

Multifractal-based nuclei segmentation in fish images.

PubMed

Reljin, Nikola; Slavkovic-Ilic, Marijeta; Tapia, Coya; Cihoric, Nikola; Stankovic, Srdjan

2017-09-01

The method for nuclei segmentation in fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) images, based on the inverse multifractal analysis (IMFA) is proposed. From the blue channel of the FISH image in RGB format, the matrix of Holder exponents, with one-by-one correspondence with the image pixels, is determined first. The following semi-automatic procedure is proposed: initial nuclei segmentation is performed automatically from the matrix of Holder exponents by applying predefined hard thresholding; then the user evaluates the result and is able to refine the segmentation by changing the threshold, if necessary. After successful nuclei segmentation, the HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) scoring can be determined in usual way: by counting red and green dots within segmented nuclei, and finding their ratio. The IMFA segmentation method is tested over 100 clinical cases, evaluated by skilled pathologist. Testing results show that the new method has advantages compared to already reported methods.

Influence of temperature on the rhombic shape of paracetamol molecular crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belyaev, A. P.; Rubets, V. P.; Antipov, V. V.

2017-04-01

The method of differential scanning ellipsometry has been used to study the influence of heating on the rhombic shape of paracetamol molecular crystals. Rhombic molecular paracetamol crystals have been synthesized in vacuum from the vapor phase of paracetamol as a result of complex transformation, which includes a second-order transition that gives rise to a pretransition phase. It has been found that these crystals contain monoclinic nuclei, which favor the form I-to-form II polymorphic transformation during heating.

Application of a Multiscale Model of Tantalum Deformation at Megabar Pressures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cavallo, R M; Park, H; Barton, N R

A new multiscale simulation tool has been developed to model the strength of tantalum under high-pressure dynamic compression. This new model combines simulations at multiple length scales to explain macroscopic properties of materials. Previously known continuum models of material response under load have built upon a mixture of theoretical physics and experimental phenomenology. Experimental data, typically measured at static pressures, are used as a means of calibration to construct models that parameterize the material properties; e.g., yield stress, work hardening, strain-rate dependence, etc. The pressure dependence for most models enters through the shear modulus, which is used to scale themore » flow stress. When these models are applied to data taken far outside the calibrated regions of phase space (e.g., strain rate or pressure) they often diverge in their predicted behavior of material deformation. The new multiscale model, developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, starts with interatomic quantum mechanical potential and is based on the motion and multiplication of dislocations. The basis for the macroscale model is plastic deformation by phonon drag and thermally activated dislocation motion and strain hardening resulting from elastic interactions among dislocations. The dislocation density, {rho}, and dislocation velocity, {nu}, are connected to the plastic strain rate {var_epsilon}{sup p}, via Orowan's equation: {var_epsilon}{sup p} = {rho}b{nu}/M, where b is the Burger's vector, the shear magnitude associated with a dislocation, and M is the Taylor factor, which accounts for geometric effects in how slip systems accommodate the deformation. The evolution of the dislocation density and velocity is carried out in the continuum model by parameterized fits to smaller scale simulations, each informed by calculations on smaller length scales down to atomistic dimensions. We apply this new model for tantalum to two sets of experiments and

New Equations of State Based on the Liquid Drop Model of Heavy Nuclei and Quantum Approach to Light Nuclei for Core-collapse Supernova Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furusawa, Shun; Sumiyoshi, Kohsuke; Yamada, Shoichi; Suzuki, Hideyuki

2013-08-01

We construct new equations of state for baryons at subnuclear densities for the use in core-collapse simulations of massive stars. The abundance of various nuclei is obtained together with thermodynamic quantities. A model free energy is constructed, based on the relativistic mean field theory for nucleons and the mass formula for nuclei with the proton number up to ~1000. The formulation is an extension of the previous model, in which we adopted the liquid drop model to all nuclei under the nuclear statistical equilibrium. We reformulate the new liquid drop model so that the temperature dependences of bulk energies could be taken into account. Furthermore, we extend the region in the nuclear chart, in which shell effects are included, by using theoretical mass data in addition to experimental ones. We also adopt a quantum-theoretical mass evaluation of light nuclei, which incorporates the Pauli- and self-energy shifts that are not included in the ordinary liquid drop model. The pasta phases for heavy nuclei are taken into account in the same way as in the previous model. We find that the abundances of heavy nuclei are modified by the shell effects of nuclei and temperature dependence of bulk energies. These changes may have an important effect on the rates of electron captures and coherent neutrino scatterings on nuclei in supernova cores. The abundances of light nuclei are also modified by the new mass evaluation, which may affect the heating and cooling rates of supernova cores and shocked envelopes.

Corrosion of oxide dispersion strengthened iron-chromium steels and tantalum in fluoride salt coolant: An in situ compatibility study for fusion and fusion-fission hybrid reactor concepts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Dasher, Bassem; Farmer, Joseph; Ferreira, James; de Caro, Magdalena Serrano; Rubenchik, Alexander; Kimura, Akihiko

2011-12-01

Primary candidate classes of materials for future nuclear power plants, whether they be fission, fusion or hybrids, include oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) ferritic steels which rely on a dispersion of nano-oxide particles in the matrix for both mechanical strength and swelling resistance, or tantalum alloys which have an inherent neutron-induced swelling resistance and high temperature strength. For high temperature operation, eutectic molten lithium containing fluoride salts are attractive because of their breeding capability as well as their relatively high thermal capacity, which allow for a higher average operating temperature that increases power production. In this paper we test the compatibility of Flinak (LiF-NaF-KF) salts on ODS steels, comparing the performance of current generation ODS steels developed at Kyoto University with the commercial alloy MA956. Pure tantalum was also tested for comparative purposes. In situ data was obtained for temperatures ranging from 600 to 900 °C using a custom-built high temperature electrochemical impedance spectroscopy cell. Results for ODS steels show that steel/coolant interfacial resistance increases from 600 to 800 °C due to an aluminum enriched layer forming at the surface, however an increase in temperature to 900 °C causes this layer to break up and aggressive attack to occur. Performance of current generation ODS steels surpassed that of the MA956 ODS steel, with an in situ impedance behavior similar or better than that of pure tantalum.

Three-Dimensional Analysis of Nuclear Size, Shape and Displacement in Clover Root Cap Statocytes from Space and a Clinostat

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, J.D.; Todd, P. W.; Staehelin, L. A.; Holton, Emily (Technical Monitor)

1997-01-01

Under normal (l-g) conditions the statocytes of root caps have a characteristic polarity with the nucleus in tight association with the proximal cell wall; but, in altered gravity environments including microgravity (mu-g) and the clinostat (c-g) movement of the nucleus away from the proximal cell wall is not uncommon. To further understand the cause of gravity-dependent nuclear displacement in statocytes, three-dimensional cell reconstruction techniques were used to precisely measure the volumes, shapes, and positions of nuclei in white clover (Trifolium repens) flown in space and rotated on a clinostat. Seeds were germinated and grown for 72 hours aboard the Space Shuttle (STS-63) in the Fluid Processing Apparatus (BioServe Space Technologies, Univ. of Colorado, Boulder). Clinorotation experiments were performed on a two-axis clinostat (BioServe). Computer reconstruction of selected groups of statocytes were made from serial sections (0.5 microns thick) using the ROSS (Reconstruction Of Serial Sections) software package (Biocomputation Center, NASA Ames Research Center). Nuclei were significantly displaced from the tops of cells in mu-g (4.2 +/- 1.0 microns) and c-g (4.9 +/- 1.4 microns) when compared to l-g controls (3.4 +/- 0.8 gm); but, nuclear volume (113 +/- 36 cu microns, 127 +/- 32 cu microns and 125 +/- 28 cu microns for l-g, mu-g and c-g respectively) and the ratio of nuclear volume to cell volume (4.310.7%, 4.211.0% and 4.911.4% respectively) were not significantly dependent on gravity treatment (ANOVA; alpha = 0.05). Three-dimensional analysis of nuclear shape and proximity to the cell wall, however, showed that nuclei from l-g controls appeared ellipsoidal while those from space and the clinostat were more spherically shaped. This change in nuclear shape may be responsible for its displacement under altered gravity conditions. Since the cytoskeleton is known to affect nuclear polarity in root cap statocytes, those same cytoskeletal elements could also

Direct observation of light focusing by single photoreceptor cell nuclei.

PubMed

Błaszczak, Zuzanna; Kreysing, Moritz; Guck, Jochen

2014-05-05

The vertebrate retina is inverted with respect to its optical function, which requires light to pass through the entire tissue prior to detection. The last significant barrier for photons to overcome is the outer nuclear layer formed by photoreceptor cell (PRC) nuclei. Here we experimentally characterise the optical properties of PRC nuclei using bright-field defocusing microscopy to capture near-field intensity distributions behind individual nuclei. We find that some nuclei efficiently focus incident light confirming earlier predictions based on comparative studies of chromatin organisation in nocturnal and diurnal mammals. The emergence of light focusing during the development of mouse nuclei highlights the acquired nature of the observed lens-like behaviour. Optical characterisation of these nuclei is an important first step towards an improved understanding of how light transmission through the retina is influenced by its constituents.

Transverse momenta of fragments of relativistic sulfur and lead nuclei after their interaction with track-emulsion nuclei at energies of 200 and 160 GeV per nucleon

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lepekhin, F. G., E-mail: lepfed@yandex.ru; Tkach, L. N.

2011-05-15

Transverse-momentum distributions of doubly charged fragments of sulfur and lead nuclei having energies of 200 and 160 GeV per nucleon and interacting with nuclei in a track emulsion were investigated. No trace of compression or heating of nuclear matter in the interaction of these nuclei with track-emulsion nuclei was revealed experimentally. Transverse momenta of fragments of relativistic nuclei were found to obey a normal distribution that corresponds to a degenerate momentum distribution of nucleons in the ground state of a nucleus before its interaction with a track-emulsion nucleus. There is no piece of evidence that fragments of relativistic nuclei originatemore » from some excited state of an intermediate nucleus. This picture of the fragmentation of relativistic nuclei complies with the naive parton model proposed by Feynman and Gribov. In summary, the fragmentation of relativistic nuclei at energies of 160 and 200 GeV per nucleon is cold and fast.« less

Automatic extraction of nuclei centroids of mouse embryonic cells from fluorescence microscopy images.

PubMed

Bashar, Md Khayrul; Komatsu, Koji; Fujimori, Toshihiko; Kobayashi, Tetsuya J

2012-01-01

Accurate identification of cell nuclei and their tracking using three dimensional (3D) microscopic images is a demanding task in many biological studies. Manual identification of nuclei centroids from images is an error-prone task, sometimes impossible to accomplish due to low contrast and the presence of noise. Nonetheless, only a few methods are available for 3D bioimaging applications, which sharply contrast with 2D analysis, where many methods already exist. In addition, most methods essentially adopt segmentation for which a reliable solution is still unknown, especially for 3D bio-images having juxtaposed cells. In this work, we propose a new method that can directly extract nuclei centroids from fluorescence microscopy images. This method involves three steps: (i) Pre-processing, (ii) Local enhancement, and (iii) Centroid extraction. The first step includes two variations: first variation (Variant-1) uses the whole 3D pre-processed image, whereas the second one (Variant-2) modifies the preprocessed image to the candidate regions or the candidate hybrid image for further processing. At the second step, a multiscale cube filtering is employed in order to locally enhance the pre-processed image. Centroid extraction in the third step consists of three stages. In Stage-1, we compute a local characteristic ratio at every voxel and extract local maxima regions as candidate centroids using a ratio threshold. Stage-2 processing removes spurious centroids from Stage-1 results by analyzing shapes of intensity profiles from the enhanced image. An iterative procedure based on the nearest neighborhood principle is then proposed to combine if there are fragmented nuclei. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses on a set of 100 images of 3D mouse embryo are performed. Investigations reveal a promising achievement of the technique presented in terms of average sensitivity and precision (i.e., 88.04% and 91.30% for Variant-1; 86.19% and 95.00% for Variant-2), when compared

Activation Energy of Tantalum-Tungsten Oxide Thermite Reaction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cervantes, O; Kuntz, J; Gash, A

2010-02-25

The activation energy of a high melting temperature sol-gel (SG) derived tantalum-tungsten oxide thermite composite was determined using the Kissinger isoconversion method. The SG derived powder was consolidated using the High Pressure Spark Plasma Sintering (HPSPS) technique to 300 and 400 C to produce pellets with dimensions of 5 mm diameter by 1.5 mm height. A custom built ignition setup was developed to measure ignition temperatures at high heating rates (500-2000 C {center_dot} min{sup -1}). Such heating rates were required in order to ignite the thermite composite. Unlike the 400 C samples, results show that the samples consolidated to 300more » C undergo an abrupt change in temperature response prior to ignition. This change in temperature response has been attributed to the crystallization of the amorphous WO{sub 3} in the SG derived Ta-WO{sub 3} thermite composite and not to a pre-ignition reaction between the constituents. Ignition temperatures for the Ta-WO{sub 3} thermite ranged from approximately 465-670 C. The activation energy of the SG derived Ta-WO{sup 3} thermite composite consolidated to 300 and 400 C were determined to be 37.787 {+-} 1.58 kJ {center_dot} mol{sup -1} and 57.381 {+-} 2.26 kJ {center_dot} mol{sup -1}, respectively.« less

Stabilities and Dynamics of Protein Folding Nuclei by Molecular Dynamics Simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Yong-Shun; Zhou, Xin; Zheng, Wei-Mou; Wang, Yan-Ting

2017-07-01

To understand how the stabilities of key nuclei fragments affect protein folding dynamics, we simulate by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation in aqueous solution four fragments cut out of a protein G, including one α-helix (seqB: KVFKQYAN), two β-turns (seqA: LNGKTLKG and seqC: YDDATKTF), and one β-strand (seqD: DGEWTYDD). The Markov State Model clustering method combined with the coarse-grained conformation letters method are employed to analyze the data sampled from 2-μs equilibrium MD simulation trajectories. We find that seqA and seqB have more stable structures than their native structures which become metastable when cut out of the protein structure. As expected, seqD alone is flexible and does not have a stable structure. Throughout our simulations, the native structure of seqC is stable but cannot be reached if starting from a structure other than the native one, implying a funnel-shape free energy landscape of seqC in aqueous solution. All the above results suggest that different nuclei have different formation dynamics during protein folding, which may have a major contribution to the hierarchy of protein folding dynamics. Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China under Grant No. 2013CB932804, the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 11421063, and the CAS Biophysics Interdisciplinary Innovation Team Project

The major nucleoside triphosphatase in pea (Pisum sativum L.) nuclei and in rat liver nuclei share common epitopes also present in nuclear lamins

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tong, C. G.; Dauwalder, M.; Clawson, G. A.; Hatem, C. L.; Roux, S. J.

1993-01-01

The major nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase) activities in mammalian and pea (Pisum sativum L.) nuclei are associated with enzymes that are very similar both biochemically and immunochemically. The major NTPase from rat liver nuclei appears to be a 46-kD enzyme that represents the N-terminal portion of lamins A and C, two lamina proteins that apparently arise from the same gene by alternate splicing. Monoclonal antibody (MAb) G2, raised to human lamin C, both immunoprecipitates the major (47 kD) NTPase in pea nuclei and recognizes it in western blot analyses. A polyclonal antibody preparation raised to the 47-kD pea NTPase (pc480) reacts with the same lamin bands that are recognized by MAb G2 in mammalian nuclei. The pc480 antibodies also bind to the same lamin-like bands in pea nuclear envelope-matrix preparations that are recognized by G2 and three other MAbs known to bind to mammalian lamins. In immunofluorescence assays, pc480 and anti-lamin antibodies stain both cytoplasmic and nuclear antigens in plant cells, with slightly enhanced staining along the periphery of the nuclei. These results indicate that the pea and rat liver NTPases are structurally similar and that, in pea nuclei as in rat liver nuclei, the major NTPase is probably derived from a lamin precursor by proteolysis.

Involvement of microtubules and 10-nm filaments in the movement and positioning of nuclei in syncytia

PubMed Central

1979-01-01

Previous studies (Holmes, K.V., and P.W. Choppin. J. Exp. Med. 124:501- 520; J. Cell Biol. 39:526-543) showed that infection of baby hamster kidney (BHK21-F) cells with the parainfluenza virus SV5 causes extensive cell fusion, that nuclei migrate in the syncytial cytoplasm and align in tightly-packed rows, and that microtubules are involved in nuclear movement and alignment. The role of microtubules, 10-nm filaments, and actin-containing microfilaments in this process has been investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy using specific antisera, time-lapse cinematography, and electron microscopy. During cell fusion, micro tubules and 10-nm filaments from many cells form large bundles which are localized between rows of nuclei. No organized bundles of actin fibers were detected in these areas, although actin fibers were observed in regions away from the aligned nuclei. Although colchicine disrupts microtubules and inhibits nuclear movement, cytochalasin B (CB; 20-50 microgram/ml) does not inhibit cell fusion or nuclear movement. However, CB alters the shape of the syncytium, resulting in long filamentous processes extending from a central region. When these processes from neighboring cells make contact, fusion occurs, and nuclei migrate through the channels which are formed. Electron and immunofluorescence microscopy reveal bundles of microtubules and 10-nm filaments in parallel arrays within these processes, but no bundles of microfilaments were detected. The effect of CB on the structural integrity of microfilaments at this high concentration (20 microgram/ml) was demonstrated by the disappearance of filaments interacting with heavy meromyosin. Cycloheximide (20 microgram/ml) inhibits protein synthesis but does not affect cell fusion, the formation of microtubules and 10-nm filament bundles, or nuclear migration and alignment; thus, continued protein synthesis is not required. The association of microtubules and 10-nm filaments with nuclear migration and

The study of the physics of cometary nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whipple, F. L.

1983-01-01

On the basis of the icy conglometate model of cometary nuclei various observations demonstrate the spotted nature of many or most nuclei, i.e., regions of unusual activity, either high or low. Rotation periods, spin axes and even precession of the axes have been determined. Narrow dust jets near the nuclei of some bright comets require that small sources be embedded in larger active areas. Certain evidence suggests that very dusty areas and very dusty comets may be less active, respectively, than surrounding areas or other comets.

Charge Transport and the Nature of Traps in Oxygen Deficient Tantalum Oxide.

PubMed

Gritsenko, Vladimir A; Perevalov, Timofey V; Voronkovskii, Vitalii A; Gismatulin, Andrei A; Kruchinin, Vladimir N; Aliev, Vladimir Sh; Pustovarov, Vladimir A; Prosvirin, Igor P; Roizin, Yakov

2018-01-31

Optical and transport properties of nonstoichiometric tantalum oxide thin films grown by ion beam deposition were investigated in order to understand the dominant charge transport mechanisms and reveal the nature of traps. The TaO x films composition was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and by quantum-chemistry simulation. From the optical absorption and photoluminescence measurements and density functional theory simulations, it was concluded that the 2.75 eV blue luminescence excited in a TaO x by 4.45 eV photons, originates from oxygen vacancies. These vacancies are also responsible for TaO x conductivity. The thermal trap energy of 0.85 eV determined from the transport experiments coincides with the half of the Stokes shift of the blue luminescence band. It is argued that the dominant charge transport mechanism in TaO x films is phonon-assisted tunneling between the traps.

Heat Treatment of Tantalum and Niobium Powders Prepared by Magnesium-Thermic Reduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orlov, V. M.; Prokhorova, T. Yu.

2017-11-01

Changes in the specific surface area and porous structure of tantalum and niobium powders, which were prepared by magnesium-thermic reduction of Ta2O5, Mg4Ta2O9, and Mg4Nb2O9 oxide compounds and subjected to heat treatments at temperatures of 600-1500°C, have been studied. It is noted that, owing to the mesoporous structure of the magnesium-thermic powders, the decrease in the surface area during heat treatment, first of all, is related to a decrease in the amount of pores less than 10 nm in size. The heat treatment of a reacting mass is shown to allow us to correct the specific surface area of the powder without any increase in the oxygen content in it. Data on the effect of heat treatment conditions on the specific charge of capacitor anodes are reported.

Copper drift in high-dielectric-constant tantalum oxide thin films under bias temperature stress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jain, Pushkar; Juneja, Jasbir S.; Mallikarjunan, A.; Rymaszewski, E. J.; Lu, T.-M.

2006-04-01

The use of high-dielectric-constant (high-κ) materials for embedded capacitors is becoming increasingly important. Tantalum oxide (Ta2O5) is a prominent candidate as a high-κ material for embedded capacitor use. Metal drift in Ta2O5 (κ˜25) was investigated by bias temperature stress and triangular voltage sweep testing techniques on metal/Ta2O5/SiO2/Si structures. At a temperature of 300°C and 0.75MV/cm bias conditions, Al, Ta, and Ti do not diffuse in Ta2O5, but Cu clearly showed a drift. The Cu drift is attributed to the lack of a stable Cu oxide which can limit Cu ion generation and penetration.

Bead-Level Characterization of Early-Stage Amyloid β42 Aggregates: Nuclei and Ionic Concentration Effects.

PubMed

Hu, Dingkun; Zhao, Wei; Zhu, Yong; Ai, Hongqi; Kang, Baotao

2017-11-16

A growing body of evidence shows that soluble β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregates, oligomers, and even protofibrils, may be more neurotoxic than fibrils. Here, we employ a coarse grain model to investigate the aggregation of 75mer Aβ 42 oligomers and the salt effect, the cornerstone of fibril evolution. We find that the oligomer morphologies generated by seventy-five monomers or mixed by both fifty monomers and five preset pentameric nuclei are different (spherical vs. bar-/disk-shaped) and are characterize by a full of coil content (former) and >70 % β-turn content (latter), indicating a novel role of the nuclei played in the early aggregation stage. The aggregation for the former oligomer adopts a master-nucleus mechanism, whereas for the latter combination of monomers and pentamers a multi-nuclei one is found. The random salt ions will distribute around the aggregates to form several ion shells as the aggregation develops. A unique two-fold gap between the shells is observed in the system containing 100 mm NaCl, endowing the physiological salt concentration with special implications. Meanwhile, an accurate ion-solute cutoff distance (0.66 nm) is predicted, and recommended to apply to many other aggregated biomolecular systems. The present distribution scenario of ions can be generalized to other aggregated systems, although it is strictly dependent on the identity of a specific aggregate, such as its charge and composition. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON ARTIFICIAL CONDENSATION NUCLEI,

DTIC Science & Technology

NH4Cl, CaCl2, P205, NH4NO3, (NH4)2SO4, etc.) and suspensoids such as camphor , silicon minerals, kaolin, lamp black, and calcium lime (CaO). The...findings reveal that the above mentioned soluble nuclei and camphor powder are active artificial hygroscopic condensation nuclei and that lamp black

Systematic Morphometry of Catecholamine Nuclei in the Brainstem.

PubMed

Bucci, Domenico; Busceti, Carla L; Calierno, Maria T; Di Pietro, Paola; Madonna, Michele; Biagioni, Francesca; Ryskalin, Larisa; Limanaqi, Fiona; Nicoletti, Ferdinando; Fornai, Francesco

2017-01-01

Catecholamine nuclei within the brainstem reticular formation (RF) play a pivotal role in a variety of brain functions. However, a systematic characterization of these nuclei in the very same experimental conditions is missing so far. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immune-positive cells of the brainstem correspond to dopamine (DA)-, norepinephrine (NE)-, and epinephrine (E)-containing cells. Here, we report a systematic count of TH-positive neurons in the RF of the mouse brainstem by using stereological morphometry. All these nuclei were analyzed for anatomical localization, rostro-caudal extension, volume, neuron number, neuron density, and mean neuronal area for each nucleus. The present data apart from inherent informative value wish to represent a reference for neuronal mapping in those studies investigating the functional anatomy of the brainstem RF. These include: the sleep-wake cycle, movement control, muscle tone modulation, mood control, novelty orienting stimuli, attention, archaic responses to internal and external stressful stimuli, anxiety, breathing, blood pressure, and innumerable activities modulated by the archaic iso-dendritic hard core of the brainstem RF. Most TH-immune-positive cells fill the lateral part of the RF, which indeed possesses a high catecholamine content. A few nuclei are medial, although conventional nosography considers all these nuclei as part of the lateral column of the RF. Despite the key role of these nuclei in psychiatric and neurological disorders, only a few of them aspired a great attention in biomedical investigation, while most of them remain largely obscure although intense research is currently in progress. A simultaneous description of all these nuclei is not simply key to comprehend the variety of brainstem catecholamine reticular neurons, but probably represents an intrinsically key base for understanding brain physiology and physiopathology.

Systematic Morphometry of Catecholamine Nuclei in the Brainstem

PubMed Central

Bucci, Domenico; Busceti, Carla L.; Calierno, Maria T.; Di Pietro, Paola; Madonna, Michele; Biagioni, Francesca; Ryskalin, Larisa; Limanaqi, Fiona; Nicoletti, Ferdinando; Fornai, Francesco

2017-01-01

Catecholamine nuclei within the brainstem reticular formation (RF) play a pivotal role in a variety of brain functions. However, a systematic characterization of these nuclei in the very same experimental conditions is missing so far. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immune-positive cells of the brainstem correspond to dopamine (DA)-, norepinephrine (NE)-, and epinephrine (E)-containing cells. Here, we report a systematic count of TH-positive neurons in the RF of the mouse brainstem by using stereological morphometry. All these nuclei were analyzed for anatomical localization, rostro-caudal extension, volume, neuron number, neuron density, and mean neuronal area for each nucleus. The present data apart from inherent informative value wish to represent a reference for neuronal mapping in those studies investigating the functional anatomy of the brainstem RF. These include: the sleep-wake cycle, movement control, muscle tone modulation, mood control, novelty orienting stimuli, attention, archaic responses to internal and external stressful stimuli, anxiety, breathing, blood pressure, and innumerable activities modulated by the archaic iso-dendritic hard core of the brainstem RF. Most TH-immune-positive cells fill the lateral part of the RF, which indeed possesses a high catecholamine content. A few nuclei are medial, although conventional nosography considers all these nuclei as part of the lateral column of the RF. Despite the key role of these nuclei in psychiatric and neurological disorders, only a few of them aspired a great attention in biomedical investigation, while most of them remain largely obscure although intense research is currently in progress. A simultaneous description of all these nuclei is not simply key to comprehend the variety of brainstem catecholamine reticular neurons, but probably represents an intrinsically key base for understanding brain physiology and physiopathology. PMID:29163071

Processes in massive nuclei reactions and the way to complete fusion of reactants. What perspectives for the synthesis of heavier superheavy elements?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mandaglio, G.; Nasirov, A. K.; Curciarello, F.; De Leo, V.; Romaniuk, M.; Fazio, G.; Giardina, G.

2012-12-01

By using the dinuclear system (DNS) model we determine the capture of reactants at the first stage of reaction, the competition between the DNS decay by the quasifission (QF) and the complete fusion (CF) process up to formation of the compound nucleus (CN) having compact shape. Further evolution of the CN is considered as its fission into two fragments or formation of evaporation residues (ER) by its cooling after emission of neutrons or/and charged light particles. Disappearance of the CN fission barrier due to its fast rotation leads to the fast fission (FF) by formation of fissionlike fragments. The results of calculations for the mass symmetric 136Xe+136Xe reaction, almost mass symmetric 108Mo+144Ba reaction, and mass asymmetric like 24Mg+238U and 34S+248Cm reactions are discussed. The fusion probability PCN calculated for many massive nuclei reactions leading to formation of superheavy nuclei have been analyzed. The reactions which can lead in perspective to the synthesis of superheavy elements in the Z = 120 - 126 range and, eventually, also to heaviest nuclei, are discussed.

Cluster preformation law for heavy and superheavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, K.; Zhang, H. F.

2017-08-01

The concept of cluster radioactivity has been extended to allow emitted particles with ZC>28 for superheavy nuclei by nuclear theory [Poenaru et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 062503 (2011), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.062503]. The preformation and emission mechanics of heavy-ion particles must be examined again before the fascinating radioactivity is observed for superheavy nuclei in laboratory. We extract the cluster preformation factor for heavy and superheavy nuclei within a preformed cluster model, in which the decay constant is the product of the preformation factor, assault frequency, and penetration probability. The calculated results show that the cluster penetration probability for superheavy nuclei is larger than that for actinide elements. The preformation factor depends on the nuclear structures of the emitted cluster and mother nucleus, and the well-known cluster preformation law S (AC) =S (α) (AC-1 )/3 [Blendowske and Walliser, Phys. Rev. Lett. 61, 1930 (1988), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.61.1930] will break down when the mass number of the emitted cluster Ac>28 , and new preformation formulas are proposed to estimate the preformation factor for heavy and superheavy nuclei.

"To be or not to be in a good shape": diagnostic and clinical value of nuclear shape irregularities in thyroid and breast cancer.

PubMed

Bussolati, Gianni; Maletta, Francesca; Asioli, Sofia; Annaratone, Laura; Sapino, Anna; Marchiò, Caterina

2014-01-01

Variation in both nuclear shape and size ("pleomorphism"), coupled with changes in chromatin amount and distribution, remains the basic criteria for microscopy in a cytologic diagnosis of cancer. The biological determinants of nuclear shape irregularities are not clarified, so, rather than on the genesis of nuclear irregularities, we here focus our attention on a descriptive analysis of nuclear pleomorphism. We keep in mind that evaluation of nuclear shape as currently practiced in routine preparations is improper because it is indirectly based on the distribution of DNA as revealed by the affinity for basic dyes. Therefore, over the last years we have been using as criteria morphological features of nuclei of thyroid and breast carcinomas as determined by immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, and 3D reconstruction. We have translated this approach to routine diagnostic pathology on tissue sections by employing immunoperoxidase staining for emerin. Direct detection of nuclear envelope irregularities by tagging nuclear membrane proteins such as lamin B and emerin has resulted in a more objective definition of the shape of the nucleus. In this review we discuss in detail methodological issues as well as diagnostic and prognostic implications provided by decoration/staining of the nuclear envelope in both thyroid and breast cancer, thus demonstrating how much it matters "to be in the right shape" when dealing with pathological diagnosis of cancer.

A flexible and robust approach for segmenting cell nuclei from 2D microscopy images using supervised learning and template matching

PubMed Central

Chen, Cheng; Wang, Wei; Ozolek, John A.; Rohde, Gustavo K.

2013-01-01

We describe a new supervised learning-based template matching approach for segmenting cell nuclei from microscopy images. The method uses examples selected by a user for building a statistical model which captures the texture and shape variations of the nuclear structures from a given dataset to be segmented. Segmentation of subsequent, unlabeled, images is then performed by finding the model instance that best matches (in the normalized cross correlation sense) local neighborhood in the input image. We demonstrate the application of our method to segmenting nuclei from a variety of imaging modalities, and quantitatively compare our results to several other methods. Quantitative results using both simulated and real image data show that, while certain methods may work well for certain imaging modalities, our software is able to obtain high accuracy across several imaging modalities studied. Results also demonstrate that, relative to several existing methods, the template-based method we propose presents increased robustness in the sense of better handling variations in illumination, variations in texture from different imaging modalities, providing more smooth and accurate segmentation borders, as well as handling better cluttered nuclei. PMID:23568787

Effect of dielectric stoichiometry and interface chemical state on band alignment between tantalum oxide and platinum

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lebedinskii, Yu. Yu.; National Research Nuclear University MEPhI; Chernikova, A. G.

2015-10-05

The tantalum oxide–platinum interface electronic properties determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are found to depend on the dielectric stoichiometry and platinum chemical state. We demonstrate the slow charging of the tantalum oxide in cases of Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}/Pt and Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5−y}/Pt interfaces under the X-ray irradiation. This behavior is proposed to be related to the charge accumulation at oxygen vacancies induced traps. Based on the proposed methodology, we define the intrinsic conductive band offset (CBO) ∼1.3 eV (both for Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}/Pt and Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5−y}/Pt) and CBO after the full saturation of the traps charging ∼0.5 eV, while the lastmore » one defines the energy position of charged traps below the bottom of conduction band. We demonstrate also the pining at the both Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5}/Pt and Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5−y}/Pt interfaces even in the “intrinsic” state, apparently induced by the presence of additional interfacial states. No shifts of Ta4f line and band alignment in over stoichiometric Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5+x}/Pt structure during X-ray irradiation, as well as the absence of pinning, resulting in increase of CBO up to 2.3 eV are found. This behavior is related to the PtO{sub 2} interfacing layer formation at Ta{sub 2}O{sub 5+x}/Pt, blocking the charging of the surface states and associated dipole formation.« less

Simulations of X-ray diffraction of shock-compressed single-crystal tantalum with synchrotron undulator sources.

PubMed

Tang, M X; Zhang, Y Y; E, J C; Luo, S N

2018-05-01

Polychromatic synchrotron undulator X-ray sources are useful for ultrafast single-crystal diffraction under shock compression. Here, simulations of X-ray diffraction of shock-compressed single-crystal tantalum with realistic undulator sources are reported, based on large-scale molecular dynamics simulations. Purely elastic deformation, elastic-plastic two-wave structure, and severe plastic deformation under different impact velocities are explored, as well as an edge release case. Transmission-mode diffraction simulations consider crystallographic orientation, loading direction, incident beam direction, X-ray spectrum bandwidth and realistic detector size. Diffraction patterns and reciprocal space nodes are obtained from atomic configurations for different loading (elastic and plastic) and detection conditions, and interpretation of the diffraction patterns is discussed.

Infrared fine-structure line diagnostics of shrouded active galactic nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Voit, G. M.

1992-01-01

The ultraluminous far-IR galaxies revealed by IRAS, quasar-like in luminosity but smothered in molecular gas, probably conceal either immense starbursts or luminous active nuclei. In both scenarios, these objects ought to produce copious infrared fine-structure emission with several lines comparable to H-beta in luminosity. We show how these lines, if detected, can be used to determine the electron densities and far-IR obscurations of shrouded photoionized regions and to constrain the shape and ionization parameter of the ionizing spectra. The presence of Ne v emission in particular will distinguish shrouded AGNs from shrouded starbursts. Since all active galaxies photoionize at least some surrounding material, these diagnostics can also be applied to active galaxies in general and will aid in studying how an active nucleus interacts with the interstellar medium of its host galaxy.

Morphology of subcortical brain nuclei is associated with autonomic function in healthy humans.

PubMed

Ruffle, James K; Coen, Steven J; Giampietro, Vincent; Williams, Steven C R; Apkarian, A Vania; Farmer, Adam D; Aziz, Qasim

2018-01-01

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a brain body interface which serves to maintain homeostasis by influencing a plethora of physiological processes, including metabolism, cardiorespiratory regulation and nociception. Accumulating evidence suggests that ANS function is disturbed in numerous prevalent clinical disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia. While the brain is a central hub for regulating autonomic function, the association between resting autonomic activity and subcortical morphology has not been comprehensively studied and thus was our aim. In 27 healthy subjects [14 male and 13 female; mean age 30 years (range 22-53 years)], we quantified resting ANS function using validated indices of cardiac sympathetic index (CSI) and parasympathetic cardiac vagal tone (CVT). High resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired, and differences in subcortical nuclei shape, that is, 'deformation', contingent on resting ANS activity were investigated. CSI positively correlated with outward deformation of the brainstem, right nucleus accumbens, right amygdala and bilateral pallidum (all thresholded to corrected P < 0.05). In contrast, parasympathetic CVT negatively correlated with inward deformation of the right amygdala and pallidum (all thresholded to corrected P < 0.05). Left and right putamen volume positively correlated with CVT (r = 0.62, P = 0.0047 and r = 0.59, P = 0.008, respectively), as did the brainstem (r = 0.46, P = 0.049). These data provide novel evidence that resting autonomic state is associated with differences in the shape and volume of subcortical nuclei. Thus, subcortical morphological brain differences in various disorders may partly be attributable to perturbation in autonomic function. Further work is warranted to investigate these findings in clinical populations. Hum Brain Mapp 39:381-392, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Matter distribution and spin-orbit force in spherical nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Co', G.; Anguiano, M.; De Donno, V.; Lallena, A. M.

2018-03-01

We investigate the possibility that some nuclei show density distributions with a depletion in the center, a semibubble structure, by using a Hartree-Fock plus Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer approach. We separately study the proton, neutron, and matter distributions in 37 spherical nuclei mainly in the s -d shell region. We found a relation between the semibubble structure and the energy splitting of spin-orbit partner single particle levels. The presence of semibubble structure reduces this splitting, and we study its consequences on the excitation spectrum of the nuclei under investigation by using a quasiparticle random-phase-approximation approach. The excitation energies of the low-lying 4+ states can be related to the presence of semibubble structure in nuclei.

Investigation of the refractive index repeatability for tantalum pentoxide coatings, prepared by physical vapor film deposition techniques.

PubMed

Stenzel, O; Wilbrandt, S; Wolf, J; Schürmann, M; Kaiser, N; Ristau, D; Ehlers, H; Carstens, F; Schippel, S; Mechold, L; Rauhut, R; Kennedy, M; Bischoff, M; Nowitzki, T; Zöller, A; Hagedorn, H; Reus, H; Hegemann, T; Starke, K; Harhausen, J; Foest, R; Schumacher, J

2017-02-01

Random effects in the repeatability of refractive index and absorption edge position of tantalum pentoxide layers prepared by plasma-ion-assisted electron-beam evaporation, ion beam sputtering, and magnetron sputtering are investigated and quantified. Standard deviations in refractive index between 4*10^-4 and 4*10^-3 have been obtained. Here, lowest standard deviations in refractive index close to our detection threshold could be achieved by both ion beam sputtering and plasma-ion-assisted deposition. In relation to the corresponding mean values, the standard deviations in band-edge position and refractive index are of similar order.

Alpha Decay Potential Barriers and Half-Lives and Analytical Formula Predictions for Superheavy Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Royer, Guy; Zhang, Hongfei

The α decay potential barriers are determined in the cluster-like shape path within a generalized liquid drop model including the proximity effects between the α particle and the daughter nucleus and adjusted to reproduce the experimental Qα. The α emission half-lives are determined within the WKB penetration probability. Calculations using previously proposed formulae depending only on the mass and charge of the alpha emitter and Qα are also compared with new experimental alpha-decay half-lives. The agreement allows to provide predictions for the α decay half-lives of other still unknown superheavy nuclei using the Qα determined from the 2003 atomic mass evaluation of Audi, Wapstra and Thibault.

Space Shuttle ice nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turco, R. P.; Toon, O. B.; Whitten, R. C.; Cicerone, R. J.

1982-08-01

Estimates are made showing that, as a consequence of rocket activity in the earth's upper atmosphere in the Shuttle era, average ice nuclei concentrations in the upper atmosphere could increase by a factor of two, and that an aluminum dust layer weighing up to 1000 tons might eventually form in the lower atmosphere. The concentrations of Space Shuttle ice nuclei (SSIN) in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere were estimated by taking into account the composition of the particles, the extent of surface poisoning, and the size of the particles. Calculated stratospheric size distributions at 20 km with Space Shuttle particulate injection, calculated SSIN concentrations at 10 and 20 km altitude corresponding to different water vapor/ice supersaturations, and predicted SSIN concentrations in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere are shown.

Penning Trap Experiments with the Most Exotic Nuclei on Earth: Precision Mass Measurements of Halo Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brodeur, M.; Brunner, T.; Ettenauer, S.; Lapierre, A.; Ringle, R.; Delheij, P.; Dilling, J.

2009-05-01

Exotic nuclei are characterized with an extremely unbalanced protons-neutrons ratio (p/n) where for instance, the halo isotopes of He and Li have up to 3X more n than p (compared to p/n = 1 in ^12C). The properties of these exotic halo nuclei have long been recognized as the most stringent tests of our understanding of the strong force. ^11Li belongs to a special category of halos called Borromean, bound as a three-body family, while the two-body siblings, ^10Li and 2 n, are unbound as separate entities. Last year, a first mass measurement of the radioisotope ^11Li using a Penning trap spectrometer was carried out at the TITAN (Triumf's Ion Trap for Atomic and Nuclear science) facility at TRIUMF-ISAC. Penning traps are proven to be the most precise device to make mass measurements, yet until now they were unable to reach these nuclei. At TRIUMF we managed to measure the mass of ^11Li to an unprecedented precision of dm/m = 60 ppb, which is remarkable since it has a half-life of only 8.8 ms which it the shortest-lived nuclide to be measured with this technique. Furthermore, new and improved masses for the 2 and 4 n halo ^6,8He, as well has the 1 n halo ^11Be have been performed. An overview of the TITAN mass measurement program and its impact in understanding the most exotic nuclei will be given.

The Structure of 34Mg Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luna, Benjamin

2017-09-01

In the chart of nuclei below the beta-stability line, there are regions called islands of inversion where nuclei are expected have a spherical ground state, but it has been determined that these nuclei have a deformed ground state. This project was part of an ongoing investigation with the goal of obtaining new information about 34Mg and 34Al, which lie near an island of inversion. A beam of 34Mg was sent to the center of an array of plastic scintillators and HPGe detectors to collect data from the isotope's beta decay. This isotope beta decays to 34Al and to 34Si. The analysis softwares ROOT and GRSISort were used to sort the data into analysis trees, from which certain histograms were extracted. These histograms were used to determine an initial list of gamma ray transitions associated with the relatively fast decays of 34Mg and 34Al. Since the efficiencies of gamma ray detection are known, the true number of counts from each transition can be determined. This was done to order the gamma ray transitions into a nuclear level scheme. Future work on this subject will include the analysis of the angular correlations of the transitions found to determine spins of states populated in the 34Al and Si daughter nuclei as well as shedding light on the isomer in 34Al.

Incipient plasticity of single-crystal tantalum as a function of temperature and orientation

DOE PAGES

Franke, O.; Alcalá, J.; Dalmau, R.; ...

2014-08-28

The nanocontact plastic behavior of single-crystalline Ta (1 0 0), Ta (1 1 0) and Ta (1 1 1) was studied as a function of temperature and indentation rate. Tantalum, a representative body centred cubic (BCC) metal, reveals a unique deformation behavior dominated by twinning and the generation of stacking faults. Experiments performed at room temperature exhibit a single pop-in event, while at 200 °C, above the critical temperature, a transition to multiple pop-ins was observed. The experimental results are discussed with respect to the orientation as well as temperature and correlated to the defect structures using both anisotropic finitemore » element and MD simulations. In addition, the serrated flow observed at 200 °C is related to differences in the quasi-elastic reloading originating from changes in the defect mechanism.« less

A multiscale strength model for tantalum over an extended range of strain rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barton, N. R.; Rhee, M.

2013-09-01

A strength model for tantalum is developed and exercised across a range of conditions relevant to various types of experimental observations. The model is based on previous multiscale modeling work combined with experimental observations. As such, the model's parameterization includes a hybrid of quantities that arise directly from predictive sub-scale physics models and quantities that are adjusted to align the model with experimental observations. Given current computing and experimental limitations, the response regions for sub-scale physics simulations and detailed experimental observations have been largely disjoint. In formulating the new model and presenting results here, attention is paid to integrated experimental observations that probe strength response at the elevated strain rates where a previous version of the model has generally been successful in predicting experimental data [Barton et al., J. Appl. Phys. 109(7), 073501 (2011)].

Development of a fused slurry silicide coating for the protection of tantalum alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Packer, C. M.; Perkins, R. A.

1974-01-01

Results are reported of a research program to develop a reliable high-performance, fused slurry silicide protective coating for a tantalum-10 tungsten alloy for use at 1427 to 1538 C at 0.1 to 10 torr air pressure under cyclic temperature conditions. A review of silicide coating performance under these conditions indicated that the primary wear-out mode is associated with widening of hairline fissures in the coating. Consideration has been given to modifying the oxidation products that form on the coating surface to provide a seal for these fissures and to minimize their widening. On the basis of an analysis of the phase relationships between silica and various other oxides, a coating having the slurry composition 2.5Mn-33Ti-64.5Si was developed that is effective in the pressure range from 1 to 10 torr.

Nuclear quantum shape-phase transitions in odd-mass systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quan, S.; Li, Z. P.; Vretenar, D.; Meng, J.

2018-03-01

Microscopic signatures of nuclear ground-state shape-phase transitions in odd-mass Eu isotopes are explored starting from excitation spectra and collective wave functions obtained by diagonalization of a core-quasiparticle coupling Hamiltonian based on energy density functionals. As functions of the physical control parameter—the number of nucleons—theoretical low-energy spectra, two-neutron separation energies, charge isotope shifts, spectroscopic quadrupole moments, and E 2 reduced transition matrix elements accurately reproduce available data and exhibit more-pronounced discontinuities at neutron number N =90 compared with the adjacent even-even Sm and Gd isotopes. The enhancement of the first-order quantum phase transition in odd-mass systems can be attributed to a shape polarization effect of the unpaired proton which, at the critical neutron number, starts predominantly coupling to Gd core nuclei that are characterized by larger quadrupole deformation and weaker proton pairing correlations compared with the corresponding Sm isotopes.

Contributions to the NUCLEI SciDAC-3 Project

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bogner, Scott; Nazarewicz, Witek

This is the Final Report for Michigan State University for the NUCLEI SciDAC-3 project. The NUCLEI project, as defined by the scope of work, has developed, implemented and run codes for large-scale computations of many topics in low-energy nuclear physics. Physics studied included the properties of nuclei and nuclear decays, nuclear structure and reactions, and the properties of nuclear matter. The computational techniques used included Configuration Interaction, Coupled Cluster, and Density Functional methods. The research program emphasized areas of high interest to current and possible future DOE nuclear physics facilities, including ATLAS at ANL and FRIB at MSU (nuclear structuremore » and reactions, and nuclear astrophysics), TJNAF (neutron distributions in nuclei, few body systems, and electroweak processes), NIF (thermonuclear reactions), MAJORANA and FNPB (neutrinoless double-beta decay and physics beyond the Standard Model), and LANSCE (fission studies).« less

Nuclei of plants as a sink for flavanols.

PubMed

Feucht, W; Polster, J

2001-01-01

Onion cepa (L.) and Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. were investigated histochemically on the association of flavanols to nuclei. The young roots of Onion cepa are totally devoid of flavanol structures. Therefore, the excised roots tips were directly incubated into different solutions of flavanols. After 3 h of incubation a flavanol binding on the nuclei was recognizable, as seen by a yellowish-brown tanning reaction. Still to ensure the presence of flavanols on the nuclei, subsequent staining with the p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde reagent (DMACA) resulted in an intense blue colouration. Tsuga canadensis has significant amounts of vacuolar flavanol deposits in all parts of the tree as indicated by the DMACA reagent. It is obvious that also the nuclei were associated strongly with flavanols which can be demonstrated particularly elegant in the cells of the seed wings by histochemical methods. However, the mode of flavanol release from the original deposits is not yet clear.

Analysis of variances of quasirapidities in collisions of gold nuclei with track-emulsion nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gulamov, K. G.; Zhokhova, S. I.; Lugovoi, V. V., E-mail: lugovoi@uzsci.net

2012-08-15

A new method of an analysis of variances was developed for studying n-particle correlations of quasirapidities in nucleus-nucleus collisions for a large constant number n of particles. Formulas that generalize the results of the respective analysis to various values of n were derived. Calculations on the basis of simple models indicate that the method is applicable, at least for n {>=} 100. Quasirapidity correlations statistically significant at a level of 36 standard deviations were discovered in collisions between gold nuclei and track-emulsion nuclei at an energy of 10.6 GeV per nucleon. The experimental data obtained in our present study aremore » contrasted against the theory of nucleus-nucleus collisions.« less

Studies of Heavy-Ion Reactions and Transuranic Nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schroeder, W. Udo

2016-07-28

Studies of heavy-ion reactions and transuranic nuclei performed by the University of Rochester Nuclear Science Research Group have been successful in furthering experimental systematics and theoretical understanding of the behavior of nuclear systems excited to their limits of stability. The theoretical results explain specifically the “boiling” and “vaporization” of atomic nuclei, but are more generally applicable to isolated, quantal many-particle systems which, under thermal or mechanical stresses, all disintegrate by evaporation, via surface cluster emission, or via fission-like processes. Accompanying experimental investigations by the group have demonstrated several new types of dynamical instability of nuclei: In central, “head-on” collisions, targetmore » nuclei exhibit limited ability to stop energetic projectile nuclei and to dissipate the imparted linear momentum. Substantial matter overlap (“neck”) between projectile and target nuclei, which is observed at elevated collision energies, can be stretched considerably and break at several places simultaneously. These results provide new testing grounds for microscopic theory of the cohesion of nuclear matter. This property has remained elusive, even though the elementary nucleon-nucleon forces are well known since some time. Technical R&D has resulted in a detailed characterization of a novel plastic material, which can now be used in the design of sensitive diagnostic systems for various types of radio-activity. Innovative application of powerful laser systems has produced intense, controllable sources of exotic particle radioactivity for nuclear investigations. Several students have received their Ph.D. degree in experimental nuclear science for their work on basic nuclear research or R&D projects.« less

Deuteron-induced nucleon transfer reactions within an ab initio framework: First application to p -shell nuclei

DOE PAGES

Raimondi, Francesco; Hupin, Guillaume; Navratil, Petr; ...

2016-05-10

Low-energy transfer reactions in which a proton is stripped from a deuteron projectile and dropped into a target play a crucial role in the formation of nuclei in both primordial and stellar nucleosynthesis, as well as in the study of exotic nuclei using radioactive beam facilities and inverse kinematics. Here, ab initio approaches have been successfully applied to describe the 3H(d,n) 4He and 3He(d,p) 4He fusion processes. An ab initio treatment of transfer reactions would also be desirable for heavier targets. In this work, we extend the ab initio description of (d,p) reactions to processes with light p-shell nuclei. Asmore » a first application, we study the elastic scattering of deuterium on 7Li and the 7Li(d,p) 8Li transfer reaction based on a two-body Hamiltonian. We use the no-core shell model to compute the wave functions of the nuclei involved in the reaction, and describe the dynamics between targets and projectiles with the help of microscopic-cluster states in the spirit of the resonating group method. The shapes of the excitation functions for deuterons impinging on 7Li are qualitatively reproduced up to the deuteron breakup energy. The interplay between d– 7Li and p– 8Li particle-decay channels determines some features of the 9Be spectrum above the d+ 7Li threshold. Our prediction for the parity of the 17.298 MeV resonance is at odds with the experimental assignment. Deuteron stripping reactions with p-shell targets can now be computed ab initio, but calculations are very demanding. Finally, a quantitative description of the 7Li(d,p) 8Li reaction will require further work to include the effect of three-nucleon forces and additional decay channels and to improve the convergence rate of our calculations.« less

Deuteron-induced nucleon transfer reactions within an ab initio framework: First application to p -shell nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Raimondi, Francesco; Hupin, Guillaume; Navratil, Petr

Low-energy transfer reactions in which a proton is stripped from a deuteron projectile and dropped into a target play a crucial role in the formation of nuclei in both primordial and stellar nucleosynthesis, as well as in the study of exotic nuclei using radioactive beam facilities and inverse kinematics. Here, ab initio approaches have been successfully applied to describe the 3H(d,n) 4He and 3He(d,p) 4He fusion processes. An ab initio treatment of transfer reactions would also be desirable for heavier targets. In this work, we extend the ab initio description of (d,p) reactions to processes with light p-shell nuclei. Asmore » a first application, we study the elastic scattering of deuterium on 7Li and the 7Li(d,p) 8Li transfer reaction based on a two-body Hamiltonian. We use the no-core shell model to compute the wave functions of the nuclei involved in the reaction, and describe the dynamics between targets and projectiles with the help of microscopic-cluster states in the spirit of the resonating group method. The shapes of the excitation functions for deuterons impinging on 7Li are qualitatively reproduced up to the deuteron breakup energy. The interplay between d– 7Li and p– 8Li particle-decay channels determines some features of the 9Be spectrum above the d+ 7Li threshold. Our prediction for the parity of the 17.298 MeV resonance is at odds with the experimental assignment. Deuteron stripping reactions with p-shell targets can now be computed ab initio, but calculations are very demanding. Finally, a quantitative description of the 7Li(d,p) 8Li reaction will require further work to include the effect of three-nucleon forces and additional decay channels and to improve the convergence rate of our calculations.« less

Enrichment of heavy nuclei in the April 17, 1972 solar flare

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fleischer, R. L.; Hart, H. R., Jr.; Renshaw, A.; Woods, R. T.

1974-01-01

Cosmic ray nuclei from the April 17, 1972 solar flare were recorded in polycarbonate plastic and phosphate glass track detectors exposed on the Apollo 16 flight. The energy spectra of iron group nuclei and of carbon and heavier nuclei were measured down to about 0.02 MeV/nucleon, revealing that the enrichment of iron relative to carbon and heavier nuclei increases markedly in this very low energy region.

EMC effect for light nuclei: New results from Jefferson Lab

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aji Daniel

High energy lepton scattering has been the primary tool for mapping out the quark distributions of nucleons and nuclei. Measurements of deep inelastic scattering in nuclei show that the quark distributions in heavy nuclei are not simply the sum of the quark distributions of the constituent proton and neutron, as one might expect for a weakly bound system. This modification of the quark distributions in nuclei is known as the EMC effect. I will discuss the results from Jefferson Lab (JLab) experiment E03-103, a precise measurement of the EMC effect in few-body nuclei with emphasis on the large x region.more » Data from the light nuclei suggests that the nuclear dependence of the high x quark distribution may depend on the nucleon's local environment, rather than being a purely bulk effect. In addition, I will also discuss about a future experiment at the upgraded 12 GeV Jefferson Lab facility which will further investigate the role of the local nuclear environment and the influence of detailed nuclear structure to the modification of quark distributions.« less

The mass function of Seyfert 1 nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Padovani, P.; Burg, R.; Edelson, R. A.

1990-01-01

The first mass function of Seyfert 1 nuclei is derived from optical spectra of the complete CfA sample of Seyfert galaxies by estimating the mass for each object from a dynamical relation. An independent estimate is also derived using a complete infrared-selected sample. The two mass functions are indistinguishable. The mean mass of Seyfert 1 nuclei is about 2 x 10 to the 7th solar masses, and the integrated mass density is about 6 x 10 to the 11th solar masses/cu Gpc. This is approximately two orders of magnitude less than the value inferred from the energetics associated with quasar counts. A careful analysis of the various parameters and assumptions involved suggests that this large difference is not due to systematic errors in the determinations. Therefore, the bulk of mass related to the accretion processes connected with past quasar activity does not reside in Seyfert 1 nuclei. Instead, the remnants of past activity must be present in a much larger number of galaxies, and a one-to-one relation between distant and local active galactic nuclei seems then to be excluded.

Equation of State and Viscosity of Tantalum and Iron from First Principles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miljacic, Ljubomir; Demers, Steven; van de Walle, Axel

2011-03-01

To understand and model at continuum level the high-energy-density dynamic response in transition metals like Tantalum and Iron, as it arises in hypervelocity impact experiments, an accurate prediction of the underlying thermodynamic and kinetic properties for a range of temperatures and pressures is of critical importance. The relevant time scale of atomic motion in a dense gas, liquid, and solid is accessible with ab-initio Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. We calculate EoS for Ta and Fe via Thermodynamical Integration in 2D (V,T) phase space throughout different single and two-component phases. To reduce the ab-initio demand in selected regions of the space, we fit available gas-liquid data to the Peng-Robinson model and treat the solid phase within the Boxed-quasi-harmonic approximation. In the fluid part of the 2D phase space, we calculate shear viscosity via Green-Kubo relations, as time integration of the stress autocorrelation function.

Performance of Surface-Mount Ceramic and Solid Tantalum Capacitors for Cryogenic Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patterson, Richard L.; MacDonald, Thomas L.; Hammoud, Ahmad; Gerber, Scott

1998-01-01

Low temperature electronics are of great interest for space exploration programs. These include missions to the outer planets, earth-orbiting and deep-space probes, remote-sensing and communication satellites. Terrestrial applications would also benefit from the availability of low temperature electronics. Power components capable of low temperature operation would, thus, enhance the technologies needed for the development of advanced power systems suitable for use in harsh environments. In this work, ceramic and solid tantalum capacitors were evaluated in terms of their dielectric properties as a function of temperature and at various frequencies. The surface-mount devices were characterized in terms of their capacitance stability and dissipation factor in the frequency range of 50 Hz to 100 kHz at temperatures ranging from room temperature (20 deg. C) to about liquid nitrogen temperature (-190 deg. C). The results are discussed and conclusions made concerning the suitability of the capacitors investigated for low temperature applications.

Occurrence of Partial Nuclei in Eggs of the Sand Dollar, Clypeaster japonicus.

PubMed

Yoneda, M; Nemoto, S I

1990-10-01

Females of Clypeaster japonicus bearing eggs with multiple nuclei were occasionally found. DAPI (4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) stained all these nuclei. The summed volume of the two nuclei in binucleate eggs was similar to the nuclear volume in mononucleate eggs from the same batch. On fertilization, two partial nuclei migrated to the center of the egg with a time-course similar to that taken by a single nucleus; they then participated in forming the zygote nucleus, which subsequently formed a single mitotic spindle. These multiple nuclei thus appear to function as genuine nuclei. Possibly they result from the failure of a single nucleus to form during oogenesis.

Modulation of strain, resistance, and capacitance of tantalum oxide film by converse piezoelectric effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jia, Yanmin; Tian, Xiangling; Si, Jianxiao; Huang, Shihua; Wu, Zheng; Zhu, Chenchen

2011-07-01

We deposited tantalum oxide film on a laminate structure composed of a Si substrate and a piezoelectric 0.72Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.28PbTiO3 single crystal and achieved in situ modulation of the resistance and capacitance of the Ta2O5 film. The modulation arises from the induced lattice strain in the Ta2O5 film, which is induced by the electric-field-induced strain in the piezoelectric crystal. Under an external electric field of ˜2 kV/cm, the longitudinal gauge factor of the Ta2O5 film is ˜3300. The control of the strain using the converse piezoelectric effect may be further extended to tune the intrinsic strain of other oxide thin films.

A study of tantalum pentoxide Ta 2O 5 structures up to 28 GPa

DOE PAGES

Stavrou, Elissaios; Zaug, Joseph M.; Bastea, Sorin; ...

2017-05-02

In this study, tantalum pentoxide Ta 2O 5 with the orthorhombic L-Ta 2O 5 structure has been experimentally studied up to 28.3 GPa (at ambient temperature) using synchrotron angle-dispersive powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The ambient pressure phase remains stable up to 25 GPa where with increased pressure a crystalline to amorphous phase transition occurs. A detailed equation of state (EOS), including pressure dependent lattice parameters, is reported. The results of this study were compared with a previous high-pressure XRD study by Li et al. A clear discrepancy between the ambient-pressure crystal structures and, consequently, the reported EOSs between the twomore » studies was revealed. Finally, he origin of this discrepancy is attributed to two different crystal structures used to index the XRD patterns.« less

Systematic study of fission barriers of excited superheavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheikh, J. A.; Nazarewicz, W.; Pei, J. C.

2009-07-01

A systematic study of fission-barrier dependence on excitation energy has been performed using the self-consistent finite-temperature Hartree-Fock + BCS (FT-HF + BCS) formalism with the SkM* Skyrme energy density functional. The calculations have been carried out for even-even superheavy nuclei with Z ranging between 110 and 124. For an accurate description of fission pathways, the effects of triaxial and reflection-asymmetric degrees of freedom have been fully incorporated. Our survey demonstrates that the dependence of isentropic fission barriers on excitation energy changes rapidly with particle number, pointing to the importance of shell effects even at large excitation energies characteristic of compound nuclei. The fastest decrease of fission barriers with excitation energy is predicted for deformed nuclei around N=164 and spherical nuclei around N=184 that are strongly stabilized by ground-state shell effects. For the nuclei Pu240 and Fm256, which exhibit asymmetric spontaneous fission, our calculations predict a transition to symmetric fission at high excitation energies owing to the thermal quenching of static reflection asymmetric deformations.

Medium-heavy nuclei from nucleon-nucleon interactions in lattice QCD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inoue, Takashi; Aoki, Sinya; Charron, Bruno; Doi, Takumi; Hatsuda, Tetsuo; Ikeda, Yoichi; Ishii, Noriyoshi; Murano, Keiko; Nemura, Hidekatsu; Sasaki, Kenji; HAL QCD Collaboration

2015-01-01

On the basis of the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock method with the nucleon-nucleon forces obtained from lattice QCD simulations, the properties of the medium-heavy doubly magic nuclei such as 16O and 40Ca are investigated. We found that those nuclei are bound for the pseudoscalar meson mass MPS≃470 MeV. The mass number dependence of the binding energies, single-particle spectra, and density distributions are qualitatively consistent with those expected from empirical data at the physical point, although these hypothetical nuclei at heavy quark mass have smaller binding energies than the real nuclei.

Nuclei and Fundamental Symmetries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haxton, Wick

2016-09-01

Nuclei provide marvelous laboratories for testing fundamental interactions, often enhancing weak processes through accidental degeneracies among states, and providing selection rules that can be exploited to isolate selected interactions. I will give an overview of current work, including the use of parity violation to probe unknown aspects of the hadronic weak interaction; nuclear electric dipole moment searches that may shed light on new sources of CP violation; and tests of lepton number violation made possible by the fact that many nuclei can only decay by rare second-order weak interactions. I will point to opportunities in both theory and experiment to advance the field. Based upon work supported in part by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics and SciDAC under Awards DE-SC00046548 (Berkeley), DE-AC02-05CH11231 (LBNL), and KB0301052 (LBNL).

Dynamic fracture of tantalum under extreme tensile stress.

PubMed

Albertazzi, Bruno; Ozaki, Norimasa; Zhakhovsky, Vasily; Faenov, Anatoly; Habara, Hideaki; Harmand, Marion; Hartley, Nicholas; Ilnitsky, Denis; Inogamov, Nail; Inubushi, Yuichi; Ishikawa, Tetsuya; Katayama, Tetsuo; Koyama, Takahisa; Koenig, Michel; Krygier, Andrew; Matsuoka, Takeshi; Matsuyama, Satoshi; McBride, Emma; Migdal, Kirill Petrovich; Morard, Guillaume; Ohashi, Haruhiko; Okuchi, Takuo; Pikuz, Tatiana; Purevjav, Narangoo; Sakata, Osami; Sano, Yasuhisa; Sato, Tomoko; Sekine, Toshimori; Seto, Yusuke; Takahashi, Kenjiro; Tanaka, Kazuo; Tange, Yoshinori; Togashi, Tadashi; Tono, Kensuke; Umeda, Yuhei; Vinci, Tommaso; Yabashi, Makina; Yabuuchi, Toshinori; Yamauchi, Kazuto; Yumoto, Hirokatsu; Kodama, Ryosuke

2017-06-01

The understanding of fracture phenomena of a material at extremely high strain rates is a key issue for a wide variety of scientific research ranging from applied science and technological developments to fundamental science such as laser-matter interaction and geology. Despite its interest, its study relies on a fine multiscale description, in between the atomic scale and macroscopic processes, so far only achievable by large-scale atomic simulations. Direct ultrafast real-time monitoring of dynamic fracture (spallation) at the atomic lattice scale with picosecond time resolution was beyond the reach of experimental techniques. We show that the coupling between a high-power optical laser pump pulse and a femtosecond x-ray probe pulse generated by an x-ray free electron laser allows detection of the lattice dynamics in a tantalum foil at an ultrahigh strain rate of [Formula: see text] ~2 × 10 8 to 3.5 × 10 8 s -1 . A maximal density drop of 8 to 10%, associated with the onset of spallation at a spall strength of ~17 GPa, was directly measured using x-ray diffraction. The experimental results of density evolution agree well with large-scale atomistic simulations of shock wave propagation and fracture of the sample. Our experimental technique opens a new pathway to the investigation of ultrahigh strain-rate phenomena in materials at the atomic scale, including high-speed crack dynamics and stress-induced solid-solid phase transitions.

Dynamic fracture of tantalum under extreme tensile stress

DOE PAGES

Albertazzi, Bruno; Ozaki, Norimasa; Zhakhovsky, Vasily; ...

2017-06-02

The understanding of fracture phenomena of a material at extremely high strain rates is a key issue for a wide variety of scientific research ranging from applied science and technological developments to fundamental science such as laser-matter interaction and geology. Despite its interest, its study relies on a fine multiscale description, in between the atomic scale and macroscopic processes, so far only achievable by large-scale atomic simulations. Direct ultrafast real-time monitoring of dynamic fracture (spallation) at the atomic lattice scale with picosecond time resolution was beyond the reach of experimental techniques. We show that the coupling between a high-power opticalmore » laser pump pulse and a femtosecond x-ray probe pulse generated by an x-ray free electron laser allows detection of the lattice dynamics in a tantalum foil at an ultrahigh strain rate of Embedded Image ~2 × 10 8 to 3.5 × 10 8 s -1. A maximal density drop of 8 to 10%, associated with the onset of spallation at a spall strength of ~17 GPa, was directly measured using x-ray diffraction. The experimental results of density evolution agree well with large-scale atomistic simulations of shock wave propagation and fracture of the sample. Our experimental technique opens a new pathway to the investigation of ultrahigh strain-rate phenomena in materials at the atomic scale, including high-speed crack dynamics and stress-induced solid-solid phase transitions.« less

Dynamic fracture of tantalum under extreme tensile stress

PubMed Central

Albertazzi, Bruno; Ozaki, Norimasa; Zhakhovsky, Vasily; Faenov, Anatoly; Habara, Hideaki; Harmand, Marion; Hartley, Nicholas; Ilnitsky, Denis; Inogamov, Nail; Inubushi, Yuichi; Ishikawa, Tetsuya; Katayama, Tetsuo; Koyama, Takahisa; Koenig, Michel; Krygier, Andrew; Matsuoka, Takeshi; Matsuyama, Satoshi; McBride, Emma; Migdal, Kirill Petrovich; Morard, Guillaume; Ohashi, Haruhiko; Okuchi, Takuo; Pikuz, Tatiana; Purevjav, Narangoo; Sakata, Osami; Sano, Yasuhisa; Sato, Tomoko; Sekine, Toshimori; Seto, Yusuke; Takahashi, Kenjiro; Tanaka, Kazuo; Tange, Yoshinori; Togashi, Tadashi; Tono, Kensuke; Umeda, Yuhei; Vinci, Tommaso; Yabashi, Makina; Yabuuchi, Toshinori; Yamauchi, Kazuto; Yumoto, Hirokatsu; Kodama, Ryosuke

2017-01-01

The understanding of fracture phenomena of a material at extremely high strain rates is a key issue for a wide variety of scientific research ranging from applied science and technological developments to fundamental science such as laser-matter interaction and geology. Despite its interest, its study relies on a fine multiscale description, in between the atomic scale and macroscopic processes, so far only achievable by large-scale atomic simulations. Direct ultrafast real-time monitoring of dynamic fracture (spallation) at the atomic lattice scale with picosecond time resolution was beyond the reach of experimental techniques. We show that the coupling between a high-power optical laser pump pulse and a femtosecond x-ray probe pulse generated by an x-ray free electron laser allows detection of the lattice dynamics in a tantalum foil at an ultrahigh strain rate of ε. ~2 × 108 to 3.5 × 108 s−1. A maximal density drop of 8 to 10%, associated with the onset of spallation at a spall strength of ~17 GPa, was directly measured using x-ray diffraction. The experimental results of density evolution agree well with large-scale atomistic simulations of shock wave propagation and fracture of the sample. Our experimental technique opens a new pathway to the investigation of ultrahigh strain-rate phenomena in materials at the atomic scale, including high-speed crack dynamics and stress-induced solid-solid phase transitions. PMID:28630909

Laplace-Beltrami Eigenvalues and Topological Features of Eigenfunctions for Statistical Shape Analysis

PubMed Central

Reuter, Martin; Wolter, Franz-Erich; Shenton, Martha; Niethammer, Marc

2009-01-01

This paper proposes the use of the surface based Laplace-Beltrami and the volumetric Laplace eigenvalues and -functions as shape descriptors for the comparison and analysis of shapes. These spectral measures are isometry invariant and therefore allow for shape comparisons with minimal shape pre-processing. In particular, no registration, mapping, or remeshing is necessary. The discriminatory power of the 2D surface and 3D solid methods is demonstrated on a population of female caudate nuclei (a subcortical gray matter structure of the brain, involved in memory function, emotion processing, and learning) of normal control subjects and of subjects with schizotypal personality disorder. The behavior and properties of the Laplace-Beltrami eigenvalues and -functions are discussed extensively for both the Dirichlet and Neumann boundary condition showing advantages of the Neumann vs. the Dirichlet spectra in 3D. Furthermore, topological analyses employing the Morse-Smale complex (on the surfaces) and the Reeb graph (in the solids) are performed on selected eigenfunctions, yielding shape descriptors, that are capable of localizing geometric properties and detecting shape differences by indirectly registering topological features such as critical points, level sets and integral lines of the gradient field across subjects. The use of these topological features of the Laplace-Beltrami eigenfunctions in 2D and 3D for statistical shape analysis is novel. PMID:20161035

The Heavy Nuclei eXplorer (HNX) Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Binns, W. R.; Adams, J. H.; Barbier, L. M.; Craig, N.; Cummings, A. C.; Cummings, J. R.; Doke, T.; Hasebe, N.; Hayashi, T.; Whitaker, Ann F. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

The primary scientific objectives of HNX, which was recently selected by NASA for a Small Explorer (SMEX) Mission Concept Study, are to measure the age of the galactic cosmic rays (GCR) since nucleosynthesis, determine the injection mechanism for the GCR accelerator (Volatility or FIP), and study the mix of nucleosynthetic processes that contribute to the source of GCRs. The experimental goal of HNX is to measure the elemental abundances of all individual stable nuclei from neon through the actinides and possibly beyond. HNX is composed of two instruments: ECCO, which measures elemental abundances of nuclei with Z greater than or equal to 72, and ENTICE. which measures elemental abundances of nuclei with Z between 10 and 82. We describe the mission and the science that can be addressed by HNX.

Beta decay rates of neutron-rich nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marketin, Tomislav; Huther, Lutz; Martínez-Pinedo, Gabriel

2015-10-01

Heavy element nucleosynthesis models involve various properties of thousands of nuclei in order to simulate the intricate details of the process. By necessity, as most of these nuclei cannot be studied in a controlled environment, these models must rely on the nuclear structure models for input. Of all the properties, the beta-decay half-lives are one of the most important ones due to their direct impact on the resulting abundance distributions. Currently, a single large-scale calculation is available based on a QRPA calculation with a schematic interaction on top of the Finite Range Droplet Model. In this study we present the results of a large-scale calculation based on the relativistic nuclear energy density functional, where both the allowed and the first-forbidden transitions are studied in more than 5000 neutron-rich nuclei.

A simple method for estimating the size of nuclei on fractal surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeng, Qiang

2017-10-01

Determining the size of nuclei on complex surfaces remains a big challenge in aspects of biological, material and chemical engineering. Here the author reported a simple method to estimate the size of the nuclei in contact with complex (fractal) surfaces. The established approach was based on the assumptions of contact area proportionality for determining nucleation density and the scaling congruence between nuclei and surfaces for identifying contact regimes. It showed three different regimes governing the equations for estimating the nucleation site density. Nuclei in the size large enough could eliminate the effect of fractal structure. Nuclei in the size small enough could lead to the independence of nucleation site density on fractal parameters. Only when nuclei match the fractal scales, the nucleation site density is associated with the fractal parameters and the size of the nuclei in a coupling pattern. The method was validated by the experimental data reported in the literature. The method may provide an effective way to estimate the size of nuclei on fractal surfaces, through which a number of promising applications in relative fields can be envisioned.

Analysis of the M-shell spectra emitted by a short-pulse laser-created tantalum plasma

PubMed

Busquet; Jiang; Coinsertion Markte CY; Kieffer; Klapisch; Bar-Shalom; Bauche-Arnoult; Bachelier

2000-01-01

The spectrum of tantalum emitted by a subpicosecond laser-created plasma, was recorded in the regions of the 3d-5f, 3d-4f, and 3d-4p transitions. The main difference with a nanosecond laser-created plasma spectrum is a broad understructure appearing under the 3d-5f transitions. An interpretation of this feature as a density effect is proposed. The supertransition array model is used for interpreting the spectrum, assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) at some effective temperature. An interpretation of the 3d-4f spectrum using the more detailed unresolved transition array formalism, which does not assume LTE, is also proposed. Fitted contributions of the different ionic species differ slightly from the LTE-predicted values.

Simulations of X-ray diffraction of shock-compressed single-crystal tantalum with synchrotron undulator sources

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tang, M. X.; Zhang, Y. Y.; E, J. C.

Polychromatic synchrotron undulator X-ray sources are useful for ultrafast single-crystal diffraction under shock compression. Here, simulations of X-ray diffraction of shock-compressed single-crystal tantalum with realistic undulator sources are reported, based on large-scale molecular dynamics simulations. Purely elastic deformation, elastic–plastic two-wave structure, and severe plastic deformation under different impact velocities are explored, as well as an edge release case. Transmission-mode diffraction simulations consider crystallographic orientation, loading direction, incident beam direction, X-ray spectrum bandwidth and realistic detector size. Diffraction patterns and reciprocal space nodes are obtained from atomic configurations for different loading (elastic and plastic) and detection conditions, and interpretation of themore » diffraction patterns is discussed.« less

Breaking of axial symmetry in excited heavy nuclei as identified in giant dipole resonance data

DOE PAGES

Grosse, E.; Junghans, A. R.; Massarczyk, R.

2017-11-28

Here, a recent theoretical prediction of a breaking of axial symmetry in quasi all heavy nuclei is confronted to a new critical analysis of photon strength functions of nuclei in the valley of stability. For the photon strength in the isovector giant dipole resonance (IVGDR) regime a parameterization of GDR shapes by the sum of three Lorentzians (TLO) is extrapolated to energies below and above the IVGDR. The impact of non-GDR modes adding to the low energy slope of photon strength is discussed including recent data on photon scattering and other radiative processes. These are shown to be concentrated inmore » energy regions where various model calculations predict intermediate collective strength; thus they are obviously separate from the IVGDR tail. The triple Lorentzian (TLO) ansatz for giant dipole resonances is normalized in accordance to the dipole sum rule. The nuclear droplet model with surface dissipation accounts well for positions and widths without local, nuclide specific, parameters. Very few and only global parameters are needed when a breaking of axial symmetry already in the valley of stability is admitted and hence a reliable prediction for electric dipole strength functions also outside of it is expected.« less

Breaking of axial symmetry in excited heavy nuclei as identified in giant dipole resonance data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Grosse, E.; Junghans, A. R.; Massarczyk, R.

Here, a recent theoretical prediction of a breaking of axial symmetry in quasi all heavy nuclei is confronted to a new critical analysis of photon strength functions of nuclei in the valley of stability. For the photon strength in the isovector giant dipole resonance (IVGDR) regime a parameterization of GDR shapes by the sum of three Lorentzians (TLO) is extrapolated to energies below and above the IVGDR. The impact of non-GDR modes adding to the low energy slope of photon strength is discussed including recent data on photon scattering and other radiative processes. These are shown to be concentrated inmore » energy regions where various model calculations predict intermediate collective strength; thus they are obviously separate from the IVGDR tail. The triple Lorentzian (TLO) ansatz for giant dipole resonances is normalized in accordance to the dipole sum rule. The nuclear droplet model with surface dissipation accounts well for positions and widths without local, nuclide specific, parameters. Very few and only global parameters are needed when a breaking of axial symmetry already in the valley of stability is admitted and hence a reliable prediction for electric dipole strength functions also outside of it is expected.« less

Octupole deformation in odd-odd nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sheline, R.K.

1988-01-01

Comparison of the experimental and theoretical ground-state spins of odd-odd nuclei in the region 220less than or equal toAless than or equal to228 generally shows agreement with a folded Yukawa octupole deformed model with epsilon/sub 3/ = 0.08 and some lack of agreement with the same model with epsilon/sub 3/ = 0. Thus in spite of limited spectroscopic information, the ground-state spins suggest the existence of octupole deformation in odd-odd nuclei in the region 220less than or equal toAless than or equal to228.

Systematization of α-decaying nuclei based on shell structures: The case of odd-even and odd-odd nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yarman, Tolga; Zaim, Nimet; Yarman, Ozan; Kholmetskii, Alexander; Arık, Metin

In previous studies, we provided a novel systematization of α-decaying even-even and even-odd nuclei starting with the classically adopted mechanism [T. Yarman et al., Eur. Phys. J. A 52 (2016) 140; Eur. Phys. J. A 53 (2017) 4]. Knowing beforehand the measured decay half-life, we had taken as a parameter the probability of the α-particle as being first born in a unit period of time, within the parent nucleus before it is emitted out. We thence developed a scaffold based on shell properties of families composed of “alike nuclei”. Along the same line, we now present a systematization of odd-even (OE) as well as odd-odd (OO) nuclei. We apply our approach further to the investigation of the effect of pairing (e.g., the effect when the number of nucleons is increased by one neutron), and that of unpairing (e.g., the effect when the number of nucleons is decreased by one neutron); thus it becomes an even number for the case of odd-even nuclei (Case OE), and an odd number in the case of odd-odd nuclei (Case OO). For the first case (OE), we pick the exemplar set 161Re, 217Fr, 243Bk, 263Db; where we delineate by, respectively, Re, Fr, Bk, and Db all of the odd-even or odd-odd isotopes that neighbor the four mentioned odd-even isotopes on the proposed scaffold. We proceed in the same way for the second case (OO). Thus, we choose the exemplar set of odd-odd nuclei 172Ir, 218Ac, 244Es. We then gather all of the Ir, Ac, and Es odd-odd and odd-even isotopes that neighbor the three mentioned odd-odd isotopes on the proposed scaffold. We show that, in the former case, pairing, as expected, generally increases stability of the given nucleus; and in the latter case, unpairing works in just the opposite direction — i.e., it generally increases instability. We disclose “stability peaks” versus Z for both sets of nuclei, we tackle here. Furthermore, we present a study to highlight an outlook of “odd-A nuclei” at hand. Contrary to the general expectation, we unveil no

In-operando synchronous time-multiplexed O K-edge x-ray absorption spectromicroscopy of functioning tantalum oxide memristors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kumar, Suhas; Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305; Graves, Catherine E.

2015-07-21

Memristors are receiving keen interest because of their potential varied applications and promising large-scale information storage capabilities. Tantalum oxide is a memristive material that has shown promise for high-performance nonvolatile computer memory. The microphysics has been elusive because of the small scale and subtle physical changes that accompany conductance switching. In this study, we probed the atomic composition, local chemistry, and electronic structure of functioning tantalum oxide memristors through spatially mapped O K-edge x-ray absorption. We developed a time-multiplexed spectromicroscopy technique to enhance the weak and possibly localized oxide modifications with spatial and spectral resolutions of <30 nm and 70 meV, respectively.more » During the initial stages of conductance switching of a micrometer sized crosspoint device, the spectral changes were uniform within the spatial resolution of our technique. When the device was further driven with millions of high voltage-pulse cycles, we observed lateral motion and separation of ∼100 nm-scale agglomerates of both oxygen interstitials and vacancies. We also demonstrate a unique capability of this technique by identifying the relaxation behavior in the material during electrical stimuli by identifying electric field driven changes with varying pulse widths. In addition, we show that changes to the material can be localized to a spatial region by modifying its topography or uniformity, as against spatially uniform changes observed here during memristive switching. The goal of this report is to introduce the capability of time-multiplexed x-ray spectromicroscopy in studying weak-signal transitions in inhomogeneous media through the example of the operation and temporal evolution of a memristor.« less

Source spectral index of heavy cosmic ray nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Engelmann, J. J.; Ferrando, P.; Koch-Miramond, L.; Masse, P.; Soutoul, A.; Webber, W. R.

1985-01-01

From the energy spectra of the heavy nuclei observed by the French-Danish experiment on HEAO-3, the source spectra of the mostly primary nuclei (C, O, Ne, Mg, Si, Ca and Fe) in the framework of an energy dependent leaky box model (Engelmann, et al., 1985) were derived. The energy dependence of the escape length was derived from the observed B/C and sub-iron/iron ratios and the presently available cross sections for C and Fe on H nuclei (Koch-Miramond, et al., 1983). A good fit to the source energy spectra of all these nuclei was obtained by a power law in momentum with an exponent gamma = -2.4+0.05 for the energy range 1 to 25GeV/n (Engelmann, et al., 1985). Comparison with data obtained at higher energy suggested a progressive flattening of these spectra. More accurate spectral indices are sought by using better values of the escape length based on the latest cross section measurements (Webber 1984, Soutoul, et al., this conference). The aim is also to extend the analysis to lower energies down to 0.4GeV/n (kinetic energy observed near Earth), using data obtained by other groups. The only nuclei for which a good data base is possessed in a broad range of energies are O and Fe, so the present study is restricted to these two elements.

Effect of deformations on the compactness of odd-Z superheavy nuclei formed in cold and hot fusion reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaur, Gurjit; Sandhu, Kirandeep; Sharma, Manoj K.

2018-03-01

Using the extended fragmentation theory, the compactness of hot and cold fusion reactions is analyzed for odd-Z nuclei ranging Z = 105- 117. The calculations for the present work are carried out at T = 0MeV and ℓ = 0 ħ, as the temperature and angular momentum effects remain silent while addressing the orientation degree of freedom (i.e. compact angle configuration). In the hot fusion, 48Ca (spherical) + actinide (prolate) reaction, the non-equatorial compact (nec) shape is obtained for Z = 113 nucleus. On the other hand, Z > 113 nuclei favor equatorial compact (ec) configuration. The distribution of barrier height (VB) illustrate that the ec-shape is obtained when the magnitude of quadrupole deformation of the nucleus is higher than the hexadecupole deformation. In other words, negligible or small -ve β4-deformations support ec configurations. On the other hand, large (+ve) magnitude of the β4-deformation suggests that the configuration appears for compact angle θc < 90 °, leading to nec structure. Similar deformation effects are observed for Bi-induced reactions, in which not belly-to-belly compact (nbbc) configurations are seen at θc = 42 °. In addition to the effect of β2 and β4-deformations, the exclusive role of octupole deformations (β3) is also analyzed. The β3-deformations do not follow the reflection symmetry as that of β2 and β4, leading to the possible occurrence of compact configuration within 0° to 180° angular range.

Structure of exotic light nuclei: Z = 2, 3, 4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fortune, H. T.

2018-03-01

I examine the history and current state of knowledge of the structure of so-called "exotic" light nuclei with Z=2-4, from 7He to 16Be . I review the available experimental information and the models that have been applied to these nuclei. I pay particular attention to the interplay among energies, widths (or strengths), and microscopic structure. Throughout the presentation, I focus on a unified description of these nuclei. I point out contradictions within the data, and I suggest experiments that are still needed.

Magnetic moments of excited states in nuclei far from stability

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wolf, A.; Berant, Z.; Gill, R.L.

1985-01-01

Magnetic moments of excited states in nuclei far from stability have been measured by gamma-gamma angular correlation at the output of the fission product separators TRISTAN and JOSEF. The results obtained until now will be reviewed. They provide important nuclear structure information about nuclei around closed shells, and transitional nuclei in the A = 100 and 150 regions. 22 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.

Effect of broken axial symmetry on the electric dipole strength and the collective enhancement of level densities in heavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grosse, E.; Junghans, A. R.; Wilson, J. N.

2017-11-01

The basic parameters for calculations of radiative neutron capture, photon strength functions and nuclear level densities near the neutron separation energy are determined based on experimental data without an ad hoc assumption about axial symmetry—at variance to previous analysis. Surprisingly few global fit parameters are needed in addition to information on nuclear deformation, taken from Hartree Fock Bogolyubov calculations with the Gogny force, and the generator coordinator method assures properly defined angular momentum. For a large number of nuclei the GDR shapes and the photon strength are described by the sum of three Lorentzians, extrapolated to low energies and normalised in accordance to the dipole sum rule. Level densities are influenced strongly by the significant collective enhancement based on the breaking of shape symmetry. The replacement of axial symmetry by the less stringent requirement of invariance against rotation by 180° leads to a novel prediction for radiative neutron capture. It compares well to recent compilations of average radiative widths and Maxwellian average cross sections for neutron capture by even target nuclei. An extension to higher spin promises a reliable prediction for various compound nuclear reactions also outside the valley of stability. Such predictions are of high importance for future nuclear energy systems and waste transmutation as well as for the understanding of the cosmic synthesis of heavy elements.

Magnesium and Calcium in Isolated Cell Nuclei

PubMed Central

Naora, H.; Naora, H.; Mirsky, A. E.; Allfrey, V. G.

1961-01-01

The calcium and magnesium contents of thymus nuclei have been determined and the nuclear sites of attachment of these two elements have been studied. The nuclei used for these purposes were isolated in non-aqueous media and in sucrose solutions. Non-aqueous nuclei contain 0.024 per cent calcium and 0.115 per cent magnesium. Calcium and magnesium are held at different sites. The greater part of the magnesium is bound to DNA, probably to its phosphate groups. Evidence is presented that the magnesium atoms combined with the phosphate groups of DNA are also attached to mononucleotides. There is reason to believe that those DNA-phosphate groups to which magnesium is bound, less than 1/10th of the total, are metabolically active, while those to which histones are attached seem to be inactive. PMID:13727745

Beta decay rates of neutron-rich nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marketin, Tomislav; Huther, Lutz; Petković, Jelena; Paar, Nils; Martínez-Pinedo, Gabriel

2016-06-01

Heavy element nucleosynthesis models involve various properties of thousands of nuclei in order to simulate the intricate details of the process. By necessity, as most of these nuclei cannot be studied in a controlled environment, these models must rely on the nuclear structure models for input. Of all the properties, the beta-decay half-lives are one of the most important ones due to their direct impact on the resulting abundance distributions. In this study we present the results of a large-scale calculation based on the relativistic nuclear energy density functional, where both the allowed and the first-forbidden transitions are studied in more than 5000 neutron-rich nuclei. Aside from the astrophysical applications, the results of this calculation can also be employed in the modeling of the electron and antineutrino spectra from nuclear reactors.

Population of Nuclei Via 7Li-Induced Binary Reactions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Clark, Rodney M.; Phair, Larry W.; Descovich, M.

2005-08-08

The authors have investigated the population of nuclei formed in binary reactions involving {sup 7}Li beams on targets of {sup 160}Gd and {sup 184}W. The {sup 7}Li + {sup 184}W data were taken in the first experiment using the LIBERACE Ge-array in combination with the STARS Si {Delta}E-E telescope system at the 88-Inch Cyclotron of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. By using the Wilczynski binary transfer model, in combination with a standard evaporation model, they are able to reproduce the experimental results. This is a useful method for predicting the population of neutron-rich heavy nuclei formed in binary reactions involvingmore » beams of weakly bound nuclei formed in binary reactions involving beams of weakly bound nuclei and will be of use in future spectroscopic studies.« less

An image processing pipeline to detect and segment nuclei in muscle fiber microscopic images.

PubMed

Guo, Yanen; Xu, Xiaoyin; Wang, Yuanyuan; Wang, Yaming; Xia, Shunren; Yang, Zhong

2014-08-01

Muscle fiber images play an important role in the medical diagnosis and treatment of many muscular diseases. The number of nuclei in skeletal muscle fiber images is a key bio-marker of the diagnosis of muscular dystrophy. In nuclei segmentation one primary challenge is to correctly separate the clustered nuclei. In this article, we developed an image processing pipeline to automatically detect, segment, and analyze nuclei in microscopic image of muscle fibers. The pipeline consists of image pre-processing, identification of isolated nuclei, identification and segmentation of clustered nuclei, and quantitative analysis. Nuclei are initially extracted from background by using local Otsu's threshold. Based on analysis of morphological features of the isolated nuclei, including their areas, compactness, and major axis lengths, a Bayesian network is trained and applied to identify isolated nuclei from clustered nuclei and artifacts in all the images. Then a two-step refined watershed algorithm is applied to segment clustered nuclei. After segmentation, the nuclei can be quantified for statistical analysis. Comparing the segmented results with those of manual analysis and an existing technique, we find that our proposed image processing pipeline achieves good performance with high accuracy and precision. The presented image processing pipeline can therefore help biologists increase their throughput and objectivity in analyzing large numbers of nuclei in muscle fiber images. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Adaptive segmentation of nuclei in H&S stained tendon microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chuang, Bo-I.; Wu, Po-Ting; Hsu, Jian-Han; Jou, I.-Ming; Su, Fong-Chin; Sun, Yung-Nien

2015-12-01

Tendiopathy is a popular clinical issue in recent years. In most cases like trigger finger or tennis elbow, the pathology change can be observed under H and E stained tendon microscopy. However, the qualitative analysis is too subjective and thus the results heavily depend on the observers. We develop an automatic segmentation procedure which segments and counts the nuclei in H and E stained tendon microscopy fast and precisely. This procedure first determines the complexity of images and then segments the nuclei from the image. For the complex images, the proposed method adopts sampling-based thresholding to segment the nuclei. While for the simple images, the Laplacian-based thresholding is employed to re-segment the nuclei more accurately. In the experiments, the proposed method is compared with the experts outlined results. The nuclei number of proposed method is closed to the experts counted, and the processing time of proposed method is much faster than the experts'.

Gradient Nanostructured Tantalum by Thermal-Mechanical Ultrasonic Impact Energy.

PubMed

Chae, Jong-Min; Lee, Keun-Oh; Amanov, Auezhan

2018-03-20

Microstructural evolution and wear performance of Tantalum (Ta) treated by ultrasonic nanocrystalline surface modification (UNSM) at 25 and 1000 °C were reported. The UNSM treatment modified a surface along with subsurface layer with a thickness in the range of 20 to 150 µm, which depends on the UNSM treatment temperature, via the surface severe plastic deformation (S²PD) method. The cross-sectional microstructure of the specimens was observed by electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) in order to confirm the microstructural alteration in terms of effective depth and refined grain size. The surface hardness measurement results, including depth profile, revealed that the hardness of the UNSM-treated specimens at both temperatures was increased in comparison with those of the untreated ones. The increase in UNSM treatment temperature led to a further increase in hardness. Moreover, both the UNSM-treated specimens with an increased hardness resulted in a higher resistance to wear in comparison with those of the untreated ones under dry conditions. The increase in hardness and induced compressive residual stress that depend on the formation of severe plastically deformed layer with the refined nano-grains are responsible for the enhancement in wear resistance. The findings of this study may be implemented in response to various industries that are related to strength improvement and wear enhancement issues of Ta.

Gradient Nanostructured Tantalum by Thermal-Mechanical Ultrasonic Impact Energy

PubMed Central

Chae, Jong-Min; Lee, Keun-Oh; Amanov, Auezhan

2018-01-01

Microstructural evolution and wear performance of Tantalum (Ta) treated by ultrasonic nanocrystalline surface modification (UNSM) at 25 and 1000 °C were reported. The UNSM treatment modified a surface along with subsurface layer with a thickness in the range of 20 to 150 µm, which depends on the UNSM treatment temperature, via the surface severe plastic deformation (S2PD) method. The cross-sectional microstructure of the specimens was observed by electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) in order to confirm the microstructural alteration in terms of effective depth and refined grain size. The surface hardness measurement results, including depth profile, revealed that the hardness of the UNSM-treated specimens at both temperatures was increased in comparison with those of the untreated ones. The increase in UNSM treatment temperature led to a further increase in hardness. Moreover, both the UNSM-treated specimens with an increased hardness resulted in a higher resistance to wear in comparison with those of the untreated ones under dry conditions. The increase in hardness and induced compressive residual stress that depend on the formation of severe plastically deformed layer with the refined nano-grains are responsible for the enhancement in wear resistance. The findings of this study may be implemented in response to various industries that are related to strength improvement and wear enhancement issues of Ta. PMID:29558402

Hydrometallurgical Separation of Niobium and Tantalum: A Fundamental Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nete, Motlalepula; Purcell, Walter; Nel, Johann T.

2016-02-01

A mixture of pure Ta2O5 and Nb2O5 was dissolved using two different fluxes, namely NH4F·HF and Na2HPO4/NaH2PO4·H2O. Selective precipitation and ion exchange were used as separation techniques. Selective precipitation using p-phenylediamine in a fluoride matrix resulted in the isolation of 73(3)% tantalum accompanied by 23(5)% niobium. A separation factor of 11(4) was obtained. A single solvent extraction step using methyl-isobutyl ketone at a 4 M H2SO4 yielded excellent Ta and Nb separation in the fluoride solution with 80% of the Ta and only 2% Nb recovered in the organic layer. A two-step extraction recovered 100% Ta at 0.5-4 M H2SO4 with a separation factor of ~2000. A study of the extraction mechanism indicated that the stability of the protonated compounds such as H2TaF7/H2NbOF5 is in the extraction and separation determining steps in this process. A K' (double de-protonated constant) of approximately 0.2 was calculated for H2TaF7. Only 91.7% Nb and 73.4% Ta were recovered from anion separation using strong Amberlite resin and 96.1% Nb and 52.3% using the weak Dowex Marathon resin from fluoride dissolution.

Electron-capture Rates for pf-shell Nuclei in Stellar Environments and Nucleosynthesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suzuki, Toshio; Honma, Michio; Mori, Kanji; Famiano, Michael A.; Kajino, Toshitaka; Hidakai, Jun; Otsuka, Takaharu

Gamow-Teller strengths in pf-shell nuclei obtained by a new shell-model Hamltonian, GXPF1J, are used to evaluate electron-capture rates in pf-shell nuclei at stellar environments. The nuclear weak rates with GXPF1J, which are generally smaller than previous evaluations for proton-rich nuclei, are applied to nucleosynthesis in type Ia supernova explosions. The updated rates are found to lead to less production of neutron-rich nuclei such as 58Ni and 54Cr, thus toward a solution of the problem of over-production of neutron-rich isotopes of iron-group nuclei compared to the solar abundance.

Enrichment of heavy nuclei in the 17 April 1972 solar flare.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fleischer, R. L.; Hart, H. R., Jr.

1973-01-01

Polycarbonate and glass detectors exposed on Apollo 16 to the Apr. 17, 1972, solar flare were used to measure the spectrum of iron-group cosmic-ray nuclei down to about 0.02 MeV/nucleon. The enrichment of iron relative to lighter nuclei previously seen at higher energies increases markedly in this new, very-low-energy region. The energy spectrum of carbon and heavier nuclei inferred from sensitized Lexan polycarbonate reveals the enrichment of iron relative to carbon and heavier nuclei down to about 0.03 MeV/nucleon.

New dimensions of the periodic system: superheavy, superneutronic, superstrange, antimatter nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Greiner, Walter

2010-12-23

The possibilities for the extension of the periodic system into the islands of superheavy (SH) elements, to and beyond the neutron drip line and to the sectors of strangeness and antimatter are discussed. The multi-nucleon transfer processes in low-energy damped collisions of heavy actinide nuclei may help us to fill the gap between the nuclei produced in the ''hot'' fusion reactions and the continent of known nuclei. In these reactions we may also investigate the ''island of stability''. In many such collisions the lifetime of the composite giant system consisting of two touching nuclei turns out to be rather longmore » ({>=}10{sup -20} s); sufficient for observing line structure in spontaneous positron emission from super-strong electric fields (vacuum decay), a fundamental QED process not observed yet experimentally. At the neutron-rich sector near the drip line islands and extended ridges of quasistable nuclei are predicted by HF calculations. Such nuclei, as well as very long living superheavy nuclei may be provided in double atomic bomb explosions. A tremendously rich scenario of new nuclear structure emerges with new magic numbers in the strangeness domain. Various production mechanisms are discussed for these objects and for antinuclei in high energy heavy-ion collisions.« less

Investigation to synthesis more isotopes of superheavy nuclei Z = 118

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manjunatha, H. C.; Sridhar, K. N.

2018-07-01

We have studied the α-decay properties of superheavy nuclei Z = 118 in the range 275 ≤ A ≤ 325. Most of the predicted, unknown nuclei in the range 291 ≤ A ≤ 301 were found to have α-decay chains. Of these the nuclei 293-301118 were found to have long half-lives and hence could be sufficient to detect them if synthesized in a laboratory. Fusion barries for different projectile-target combinations to synthesis superheavy nuclei Z = 118 are studied and are also represented in simple relations. We have also studied the evaporation residue cross section, compound nucleus formation probability (PCN) and survival probability (PSurv) of different projectile-target combinations to synthesis superheavy element Z = 118. The selected most probable projectile-target combinations are Ca+Cf, Ti+Cm, Sc+Bk, V+Am, Cr+Pu, Fe+U, Mn+Np, Ni+Th and Kr+Pb. We have formulated simple relations for maximum evaporation residue cross sections and its corresponding energies. This helps to identify the projectile-target combinations quickly. Hence, we have identified the most probable projectile-target combinations to synthesis these superheavy nuclei. We hope that our predictions may be a guide for the future experiments in the synthesis of more isotopes of superheavy nuclei Z = 118.

Reaction Studies With Light, Unstable Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ernst Rehm, K.

2006-10-01

The availability of beams of exotic nuclei allows us for the first time to study in a terrestrial laboratory reactions, which occur in stellar explosions, such as Novae, Supernovae or X-ray bursts. In this talk I will present results from recent experiments performed with beams of light, unstable nuclei, which are produced via the in-flight technique at the ATLAs accelerator at Argonne. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy, Nuclear Physics Division, under contract No. W-31-109-ENG-38 and by the NSF Grant No. PHY-02-16783 (Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics).