Magnetohydrodynamic simulation of solid-deuterium-initiated Z-pinch experiments (open access)

Magnetohydrodynamic simulation of solid-deuterium-initiated Z-pinch experiments

Solid-deuterium-initiated Z-pinch experiments are numerically simulated using a two-dimensional resistive magnetohydrodynamic model, which includes many important experimental details, such as ``cold-start`` initial conditions, thermal conduction, radiative energy loss, actual discharge current vs. time, and grids of sufficient size and resolution to allow realistic development of the plasma. The alternating-direction-implicit numerical technique used meets the substantial demands presented by such a computational task. Simulations of fiber-initiated experiments show that when the fiber becomes fully ionized rapidly developing m=0 instabilities, which originated in the coronal plasma generated from the ablating fiber, drive intense non-uniform heating and rapid expansion of the plasma column. The possibility that inclusion of additional physical effects would improve stability is explored. Finite-Larmor-radius-ordered Hall and diamagnetic pressure terms in the magnetic field evolution equation, corresponding energy equation terms, and separate ion and electron energy equations are included; these do not change the basic results. Model diagnostics, such as shadowgrams and interferograms, generated from simulation results, are in good agreement with experiment. Two alternative experimental approaches are explored: high-current magnetic implosion of hollow cylindrical deuterium shells, and ``plasma-on-wire`` (POW) implosion of low-density plasma onto a central deuterium fiber. By minimizing instability problems, these techniques may allow attainment of higher temperatures …
Date: February 1, 1994
Creator: Sheehey, P. T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Instability heating of solid-fiber Z pinches (open access)

Instability heating of solid-fiber Z pinches

The Los Alamos High Density Z Pinch-II (HDZP-II) facility is used to study the dynamics of z-pinch plasmas generated from solid fibers of deuterated polyethylene CD{sub 2} with a range in radii of 3--60 {mu}m. HDZP-II is a pulsed-power generator that delivers a current that rises to 700 kA in 100 ns through an inductive load. A multiframe circular schlieren records the evolution of the shape and size of the plasma on seven images taken at 10-ns intervals. These circular-schlieren images show very strong m=0 instability at the onset of current and a rapid radial expansion of the plasma. No higher-order instabilities are observed. An interferometer is used to infer the electron density and electron line density, giving a measure of the fraction of plasma contained within the outline of the circular-schlieren image at one time during the multiframe sequence. A three-channel x-ray crystal-reflection spectrometer provides the time-resolved, spatially-averaged electron temperature. The magnitude of the x-ray emission at these energies also gives qualitative information about the electron temperature and density at late times. A lower bound on the ion temperature is inferred from the particle pressure needed to balance the magnetic field pressure. The ion temperature rose above that of …
Date: February 1, 1994
Creator: Riley, R. A. Jr.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Z + {gamma} cross-section measurement, {sigma}*BR(Z + {gamma}), in the electron channel for p{bar p} collisions at {radical}s = 1.8 TeV, and limits for the ZZ{gamma} and Z{gamma}{gamma} anomalous couplings (open access)

Z + {gamma} cross-section measurement, {sigma}*BR(Z + {gamma}), in the electron channel for p{bar p} collisions at {radical}s = 1.8 TeV, and limits for the ZZ{gamma} and Z{gamma}{gamma} anomalous couplings

The Z + {gamma} cross-section x branching ratio in the electron channel has been measured using the inclusive Z data sample from the CDF 1988--1989 collider run, for which the total integrated luminosity was 4.05 {plus_minus} 0.28 pb{sup {minus}1}. Two Z{gamma} candidates are observed from central photon events with {Delta}R/{sub {gamma}} > 0.7 and E{sub t}{sup {gamma}} > 5.0 GeV. From these events the {sigma} * BR(Z + {gamma}) is measured and compared with SM predictions: {sigma} * BR(Z + {gamma}){sub e} = 6.8{sub {minus}5.7}{sup +5.7}(stat + syst)pb {sigma} * BR(Z + {gamma})SM = 4.7{sub {minus}4.7}{sup +0.7}(stat + syst)pb. From this ZZ{sub {gamma}} cross section measurement limits on the Z{sub {gamma}{gamma}} and couplings for three different choices of compositeness scale {Lambda}{sub Z} are obtained. The experimental sensitivity to the h{sub 30}{sup Z,{gamma}}/h{sub 10}{sup Z,{gamma}} couplings is in the range of {Lambda}{sub Z} {approximately} 450--500 GeV and for the h{sub 40}{sup Z{gamma}}/h{sub 20}{sup Z,{gamma}} couplings {Lambda}{sub Z} {approximately} 300 GeV.
Date: February 1, 1994
Creator: Roach-Bellino, M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Search for Anomalous WW/WZ {r_arrow} e{nu}jj Production at D0; Busqueda de Produccion Anomala WW/WZ {r_arrow}e{nu}jj en D-Zero (open access)

Search for Anomalous WW/WZ {r_arrow} e{nu}jj Production at D0; Busqueda de Produccion Anomala WW/WZ {r_arrow}e{nu}jj en D-Zero

A search for anomalous WW and WZ production in p{anti p} collisions at {radical}s = 1.8 TeV using the D0 detector at Fermilab is presented. With a data sample of p{anti p} {r_arrow} e{nu}jjX events corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 76.5 {+-} 4.1pb{sup {minus}1}. 399 candidate events were identified, from which 387.1 {+-} 39.8 events were estimated to be background. No deviations from the Standard Model were seen, which predicts 16.2 {+-} 2.7 events. The 95% CL limit on the cross section {sigma}(p{anti p} {r_arrow} W{sup +}W{sup {minus}}X) was calculated to be 93.8 pb. Limits on the CP-conserving anomalous WW{sub {gamma}} and WWZ coupling parameters were obtained from a binned likelihood fit to the transverse momentum spectrum of the W boson. Assuming that the WW{sub {gamma}} and WWZ coupling parameters are equal, the 95% CL limits on the CP-conserving couplings are {minus}0.56 < {Delta}{kappa} < 0.75 (with {lambda} = 0) and {minus}0.42 < {lambda} < 0.44 (with {Delta}{kappa} = 0), for a form factor scale {Lambda}{sub FF} = 1.5 TeV. Limits on other assumptions are also reported. These results were combined with the previous D0 WW, WZ {r_arrow} e{nu}jj published results (13.7 {+-} 0.7 pb{sup {minus}1}), and the limits …
Date: February 1, 1997
Creator: Hernandez, A. S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
An analytic determination of beta poloidal and internal inductance in an elongated tokamak from magnetic probe measurements (open access)

An analytic determination of beta poloidal and internal inductance in an elongated tokamak from magnetic probe measurements

Analytic calculations of the magnetic fields available to magnetic diagnostics are performed for tokamaks with circular and elliptical cross sections. The explicit dependence of the magnetic fields on the poloidal beta and internal inductances is sought. For tokamaks with circular cross sections, Shafranov`s results are reproduced and extended. To first order in the inverse aspect ratio expansion of the magnetic fields, only a specific combination of beta poloidal and internal inductance is found to be measurable. To second order in the expansion, the measurements of beta poloidal and the internal inductance are demonstrated to be separable but excessively sensitive to experimental error. For tokamaks with elliptical cross sections, magnetic measurements are found to determine beta poloidal and the internal inductance separately. A second harmonic component of the zeroth order field in combination with the dc harmonic of the zeroth order field specifies the internal inductance. The internal inductance in hand, measurement of the first order, first harmonic component of the magnetic field then determined beta poloidal. The degeneracy implicit in Shafranov`s result (i.e. that only a combination of beta poloidal and internal inductance is measurable for a circular plasma cross section) reasserts itself as the elliptic results are collapsed to …
Date: February 1, 1992
Creator: Sorci, J. M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Time-resolved electron thermal conduction by probing of plasma formation in transparent solids with high power subpicosecond laser pulses (open access)

Time-resolved electron thermal conduction by probing of plasma formation in transparent solids with high power subpicosecond laser pulses

This dissertation work includes a series of experimental measurements in a search for better understanding of high temperature (10{sup 4}-10{sup 6}K) and high density plasmas (10{sup 22}-10{sup 24}cm{sup {minus}3}) produced by irradiating a transparent solid target with high intensity (10{sup 13} - 10{sup 15}W/cm{sup 2}) and subpicosecond (10{sup {minus}12}-10{sup {minus}13}s) laser pulses. Experimentally, pump and probe schemes with both frontside (vacuum-plasma side) and backside (plasma-bulk material side) probes are used to excite and interrogate or probe the plasma evolution, thereby providing useful insights into the plasma formation mechanisms. A series of different experiments has been carried out so as to characterize plasma parameters and the importance of various nonlinear processes. Experimental evidence shows that electron thermal conduction is supersonic in a time scale of the first picosecond after laser irradiation, so fast that it was often left unresolved in the past. The experimental results from frontside probing demonstrate that upon irradiation with a strong (pump) laser pulse, a thin high temperature ({approximately}40eV) super-critical density ({approximately}10{sup 23}/cm{sup 3}) plasma layer is quickly formed at the target surface which in turn becomes strongly reflective and prevents further transmission of the remainder of the laser pulse. In the bulk region behind the surface, …
Date: February 1, 1994
Creator: Vu, B. T. V.
System: The UNT Digital Library
An experimental investigation of stimulated Brillouin scattering in laser-produced plasmas relevant to inertial confinement fusion (open access)

An experimental investigation of stimulated Brillouin scattering in laser-produced plasmas relevant to inertial confinement fusion

Despite the apparent simplicity of controlled fusion, there are many phenomena which have prevented its achievement. One phenomenon is laser-plasma instabilities. An investigation of one such instability, stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS), is reported here. SBS is a parametric process whereby an electromagnetic wave (the parent wave) decays into another electromagnetic wave and an ion acoustic wave (the daughter waves). SBS impedes controlled fusion since it can scatter much or all of the incident laser light, resulting in poor drive symmetry and inefficient laser-plasma coupling. It is widely believed that SBS becomes convectively unstable--that is, it grows as it traverses the plasma. Though it has yet to be definitively tested, convective theory is often invoked to explain experimental observations, even when one or more of the theory`s assumptions are violated. In contrast, the experiments reported here not only obeyed the assumptions of the theory, but were also conducted in plasmas with peak densities well below quarter-critical density. This prevented other competing or coexisting phenomena from occurring, thereby providing clearly interpretable results. These are the first SBS experiments that were designed to be both a clear test of linear convective theory and pertinent to controlled fusion research. A crucial part of this …
Date: February 11, 1993
Creator: Bradley, K. S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Theoretical studies of non-Newtonian and Newtonian fluid flow through porous media (open access)

Theoretical studies of non-Newtonian and Newtonian fluid flow through porous media

A comprehensive theoretical study has been carried out on the flow behavior of both single and multiple phase non-Newtonian fluids in porous media. This work is divided into three parts: development of numerical and analytical solutions; theoretical studies of transient flow of non-Newtonian fluids in porous media; and applications of well test analysis and displacement efficiency evaluation to field problems. A fully implicit, integral finite difference model has been developed for simulation of non-Newtonian and Newtonian fluid flow through porous media. Several commonly-used rheological models of power-law and Bingham plastic non-Newtonian fluids have been incorporated in the simulator. A Buckley-Leverett type analytical solution for one-dimensional, immiscible displacement involving non-Newtonian fluids in porous media has been developed. An integral method is also presented for the study of transient flow of Bingham fluids in porous media. In addition, two well test analysis methods have been developed for analyzing pressure transient tests of power-law and Bingham fluids, respectively. Applications are included to demonstrate this new technology. The physical mechanisms involved in immiscible displacement with non-Newtonian fluids in porous media have been studied using the Buckley-Leverett type analytical solution. In another study, an idealized fracture model has been used to obtain some insights into …
Date: February 1, 1990
Creator: Wu, Yu-Shu.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A measurement of the e{sup +}e{sup {minus}} decay width of the Z{sup 0} (open access)

A measurement of the e{sup +}e{sup {minus}} decay width of the Z{sup 0}

This thesis presents a measurement of the partial decay width of the Z{sup 0} to e{sup +}e{sup {minus}} using data recorded by the SLD at the SLAC Linear Collider during the 1992 run. Based on 354 nb{sup {minus}1} of data, the decay width, {Gamma}{sub ee} is measured to be 82.4 {+-} 3.6/3.7 {+-} 0.8 MeV where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic. By combining this measurement of {Gamma}{sub ee} with the SLD measurement of A{sub LR}, the magnitude of the effective vector and axial-vector coupling constants of the electron, {anti g}{sub v}{sup e} and {anti g}{sub a}{sup e}, are determined to be 0.024 {+-} 0.011 and 0.498 {+-} 0.011 respectively.
Date: February 1, 1994
Creator: Yamartino, J. M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A benchmark analysis of radiation flux distribution for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy of canine brain tumors (open access)

A benchmark analysis of radiation flux distribution for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy of canine brain tumors

Calculations of radiation flux and dose distributions for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) of brain tumors are typically performed using sophisticated three-dimensional analytical models based on either a homogeneous approximation or a simplified few-region approximation to the actual highly-heterogeneous geometry of the irradiation volume. Such models should be validated by comparison with calculations using detailed models in which all significant macroscopic tissue heterogeneities and geometric structures are explicitly represented as faithfully as possible. This work describes a validation exercise for BNCT of canine brain tumors. Geometric measurements of the canine anatomical structures of interest for this work were performed by dissecting and examining two essentially identical Labrador Retriever heads. Chemical analyses of various tissue samples taken during the dissections were conducted to obtain measurements of elemental compositions for tissues of interest. The resulting geometry and tissue composition data were then used to construct a detailed heterogeneous calculational model of the Labrador Retriever head. Calculations of three-dimensional radiation flux distributions pertinent to BNCT were performed for the model using the TORT discrete-ordinates radiation transport code. The calculations were repeated for a corresponding volume-weighted homogeneous tissue model. Comparison of the results showed that the peak neutron and photon flux magnitudes were quite …
Date: February 1, 1992
Creator: Moran, J. M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A High-Brightness Thermionic Microwave Electron Gun (open access)

A High-Brightness Thermionic Microwave Electron Gun

In a collaborative effort by SSRL, AET Associates, and Varian Associates, a high-brightness microwave electron gun using a thermionic cathode has been designed, built, tested, and installed for use with the SSRL 150 MeV linear accelerator. This thesis discusses the physics behind the design and operation of the gun and associated systems, presenting predictions and experimental tests of the gun`s performance. The microwave gun concept is of increasing interest due to its promise of providing higher-current, lower-emittance electron beams than possible from conventional, DC gun technology. In a DC guns, accelerating gradients are less than 8 MV/m, while those in a microwave gun can exceed 100 MV/m, providing much more rapid initial acceleration, thereby reducing the deleterious effects of space-charge. Microwave guns produce higher momentum beams than DC guns, thus lessening space-charge effects during subsequent beam transport. Typical DC guns produce kinetic energies of 80--400 KeV, compared to 2--3 MeV for the SSRL microwave gun. ``State-of-the-art`` microwave gun designs employ laser-driven photocathodes, providing excellent performance but with greater complexity and monetary costs. A thermionic microwave gun with a magnetic bunching system is comparable in cost and complexity to a conventional system, but provides performance that is orders of magnitude better. …
Date: February 1991
Creator: Borland, Michael
System: The UNT Digital Library
The dynamics of azulene in liquids and compressed gases on ultrafast timescales (open access)

The dynamics of azulene in liquids and compressed gases on ultrafast timescales

The ultrafast dynamics of vibrationally hot ground state azulene molecules have been time resolved by picosecond transient absorption spectroscopy in a variety of solvents including hexane, chloromethanes, methanol, CClF{sub 3}, Xe and Kr. A high pressure optical cell was used to liquify gases for use as solvents and change their density and temperature, independently, over the entire liquid density range. Experimental results indicate the vibrational cooling rate is strongly solvent dependent, with cooling rates of approximately 20 psec in molecular solvents and approximately 150 psec in atomic solvents. Comparison of the rates in Xe and Kr at constant density demonstrates the strong effect of solvent mass on energy transfer. The effect of solvent temperature on vibrational cooling is minimal, as is the effect of solvent density. This latter result is quite surprising in light of earlier experiments on simpler molecular systems, such as I{sub 2} in Xe. This anomalous density effect is examined in light of Isolated Binary Collision (IBC) theory and bulk thermal transport models. Both theories accurately model all experimental results obtained with the exception of the density effort. Possible explanations for the breakdown of the IBC theory in this case are offered along with methods to improve …
Date: February 1, 1992
Creator: Schultz, K. E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A study of the {sup 16}O (e, e'p) reaction at deep missing energies (open access)

A study of the {sup 16}O (e, e'p) reaction at deep missing energies

The {sup 16}O(e,e'p)#8; reaction was studied in the #6;first physics experiment performed at Jefferson lab Hall A. In the quasielastic region cross sections were measured for both quasi#11;parallel and perpendicular kinematics at q = 1000 MeV and #2;{omega} = 445#14;#14;#15; MeV. From the data acquired in quasi#11;parallel kinematics#4; longitudinal and transverse response functions#4; R{sub L} and R{sub T} were separated for E{sub miss} < 60 MeV. The perpendicular kinematics data were used to extract R{sub LT}, #4; R{sub T},#4; and R{sub L#16;} + V{sub TT}/V{sub L}R{sub TT} response functions for the same E{sub miss} range and for P{sub miss} < 310 MeV#18;c. The {sub 16}O(#7;e,#4;e'p)#8; cross section was measured in the dip region at q = 1026 MeV and #2; {omega} = 586#12;#15;#19;#2; MeV for 10 MeV <#3; E{sub miss} < 320 MeV. This thesis presents the results for the missing energy continuum (#7;E{sub miss}>25#4; #3;#15; MeV)#8; from this experiment.
Date: February 1, 1999
Creator: Liyanage, Nilanga
System: The UNT Digital Library
Theoretical Studies of Non-Newtonian and Newtonian Fluid Flowthrough Porous Media (open access)

Theoretical Studies of Non-Newtonian and Newtonian Fluid Flowthrough Porous Media

A comprehensive theoretical study has been carried out on the flow behavior of both single and multiple phase non-Newtonian fluids in porous media. This work is divided into three parts: (1) development of numerical and analytical solutions; (2) theoretical studies of transient flow of non-Newtonian fluids in porous media; and (3) applications of well test analysis and displacement efficiency evaluation to field problems. A fully implicit, integral finite difference model has been developed for simulation of non-Newtonian and Newtonian fluid flow through porous media. Several commonly-used rheological models of power-law and Bingham plastic non-Newtonian fluids have been incorporated in the simulator. A Buckley-Leverett type analytical solution for one-dimensional, immiscible displacement involving non-Newtonian fluids in porous media has been developed. Based on this solution, a graphic approach for evaluating non-Newtonian displacement efficiency has been developed. The Buckley-Leverett-Welge theory is extended to flow problems with non-Newtonian fluids. An integral method is also presented for the study of transient flow of Bingham fluids in porous media. In addition, two well test analysis methods have been developed for analyzing pressure transient tests of power-law and Bingham fluids, respectively. Applications are included to demonstrate this new technology. The physical mechanisms involved in immiscible displacement with …
Date: February 1, 1990
Creator: Wu, Y.S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Principles and techniques for designing precision machines (open access)

Principles and techniques for designing precision machines

This thesis is written to advance the reader's knowledge of precision-engineering principles and their application to designing machines that achieve both sufficient precision and minimum cost. It provides the concepts and tools necessary for the engineer to create new precision machine designs. Four case studies demonstrate the principles and showcase approaches and solutions to specific problems that generally have wider applications. These come from projects at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in which the author participated: the Large Optics Diamond Turning Machine, Accuracy Enhancement of High- Productivity Machine Tools, the National Ignition Facility, and Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography. Although broad in scope, the topics go into sufficient depth to be useful to practicing precision engineers and often fulfill more academic ambitions. The thesis begins with a chapter that presents significant principles and fundamental knowledge from the Precision Engineering literature. Following this is a chapter that presents engineering design techniques that are general and not specific to precision machines. All subsequent chapters cover specific aspects of precision machine design. The first of these is Structural Design, guidelines and analysis techniques for achieving independently stiff machine structures. The next chapter addresses dynamic stiffness by presenting several techniques for Deterministic Damping, damping designs that …
Date: February 1, 1999
Creator: Hale, L C
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Effects Of Structural Setting On The Azimuthal Velocities Of Blast Induced Ground Motion In Perlite (open access)

The Effects Of Structural Setting On The Azimuthal Velocities Of Blast Induced Ground Motion In Perlite

A series of small scale explosive tests were performed during the spring of 1994 at a perlite mine located near Socorro, NM. The tests were designed to investigate the azimuthal or directional relationship between small scale geologic structures such as joints and the propagation of explosively induced ground motion. Three shots were initiated within a single borehole located at ground zero (gz) at depths varying from the deepest at 83 m (272 ft) to the shallowest at 10 m (32 ft). The intermediate shot was initiated at a depth of 63 m (208 ft). An array of three component velocity and acceleration transducers were placed in two concentric rings entirely surrounding the single shot hole at 150 and 300 azimuths as measured from ground zero. Data from the transducers was then used to determine the average propagation velocity of the blast vibration through the rock mass at the various azimuths. The rock mass was mapped to determine the prominent joint orientations (strike and dip) and the average propagation velocities were correlated with this geologic information. The data from these experiments shows that there is a correlation between the orientation of prominent joints and the average velocity of ground motion. It …
Date: February 1, 1995
Creator: Beattie, Susan G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Nodal approximations of varying order by energy group for solving the diffusion equation (open access)

Nodal approximations of varying order by energy group for solving the diffusion equation

The neutron flux across the nuclear reactor core is of interest to reactor designers and others. The diffusion equation, an integro-differential equation in space and energy, is commonly used to determine the flux level. However, the solution of a simplified version of this equation when automated is very time consuming. Since the flux level changes with time, in general, this calculation must be made repeatedly. Therefore solution techniques that speed the calculation while maintaining accuracy are desirable. One factor that contributes to the solution time is the spatial flux shape approximation used. It is common practice to use the same order flux shape approximation in each energy group even though this method may not be the most efficient. The one-dimensional, two-energy group diffusion equation was solved, for the node average flux and core k-effective, using two sets of spatial shape approximations for each of three reactor types. A fourth-order approximation in both energy groups forms the first set of approximations used. The second set used combines a second-order approximation with a fourth-order approximation in energy group two. Comparison of the results from the two approximation sets show that the use of a different order spatial flux shape approximation results in …
Date: February 1, 1992
Creator: Broda, J. T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Femtosecond Photoelectron Spectroscopy: A New Tool for the Study of Anion Dynamics (open access)

Femtosecond Photoelectron Spectroscopy: A New Tool for the Study of Anion Dynamics

A new experimental technique for the time-resolved study of anion reactions is presented. Using femtosecond laser pulses, which provide extremely fast ({approx} 100 fs) time resolution, in conjunction with photoelectron spectroscopy, which reveals differences between anion and neutral potential energy surfaces, a complex anion reaction can be followed from its inception through the formation of asymptotic products. Experimental data can be modeled quantitatively using established theoretical approaches, allowing for the refinement of potential energy surfaces as well as dynamical models. After a brief overview, a detailed account of the construction of the experimental apparatus is presented. Documentation of the data acquisition program is contained in the Appendix. The first experimental demonstration of the technique is then presented for I{sub 2}{sup -} photodissociation, modeled using a simulation program which is also detailed in the Appendix. The investigation of I{sub 2}{sup -} photodissociation in several size-selected I{sub 2}{sup -}(Ar){sub n} (n = 6-20) and I{sub 2}{sup -}(CO{sub 2}){sub n} (n = 4-16) clusters forms the heart of the dissertation. In a series of chapters, the numerous effects of solvation on this fundamental bond-breaking reaction are explored, the most notable of which is the recombination of I{sub 2}{sup -} on the ground {tilde …
Date: February 1, 1999
Creator: Greenblatt, B. J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Collision-induced dissociation reactions and pulsed field ionization photoelectron (open access)

Collision-induced dissociation reactions and pulsed field ionization photoelectron

This report summarized the four parts of the research study and describes the general conclusions. Individual chapters have been removed for separate processing. The chapter titles are: A study of the dissociation of CH{sub 3}SH{sup +} by collisional activation: Observation of non-statistical behavior; High resolution vacuum ultraviolet pulsed field ionization photoelectron band for OCS{sup +}(X{sup 2}{Pi}): An experimental and theoretical study; Rotationally resolved pulsed field ionization photoelectron bands of H{sub 2}{sup +} ({Chi}{sup 2}{Sigma}{sup +}{sub g}, v{sup +} = 0--18); and Rotationally resolved pulsed field ionization photoelectron bands of HD{sup +} ({Chi}{sup 2}{Sigma}{sup +}, v{sup +} = 0--21).
Date: February 12, 1999
Creator: Stimson, S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Historical Exposures to Chemicals at the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant: A Pilot Retrospective Exposure Assessment (open access)

Historical Exposures to Chemicals at the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant: A Pilot Retrospective Exposure Assessment

In a mortality study of white males who had worked at the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant between 1952 and 1979, an increased number of deaths from benign and unspecified intracranial neoplasms was found. A case-control study nested within this cohort investigated the hypothesis that an association existed between brain tumor death and exposure to either internally deposited plutonium or external ionizing radiation. There was no statistically significant association found between estimated radiation exposure from internally deposited plutonium and the development of brain tumors. Exposure by job or work area showed no significant difference between the cohort and the control groups. An update of the study found elevated risk estimates for (1) all lymphopoietic neoplasms, and (2) all causes of death in employees with body burdens greater than or equal to two nanocuries of plutonium. There was an excess of brain tumors for the entire cohort. Similar cohort studies conducted on worker populations from other plutonium handling facilities have not yet shown any elevated risks for brain tumors. Historically, the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant used large quantities of chemicals in their production operations. The use of solvents, particularly carbon tetrachloride, was unique to Rocky Flats. No investigation of the …
Date: February 1, 1999
Creator: Robertson, Janeen Denise
System: The UNT Digital Library
Optically detected magnetic resonance studies on {pi}-conjugate polymers and novel carbon allotropes (open access)

Optically detected magnetic resonance studies on {pi}-conjugate polymers and novel carbon allotropes

This report describes the following: introduction to photoluminescence detected magnetic resonance (PLDMR); introduction to {pi}-conjugated systems; PLDMR measurements on poly(p-phenylene)-type ladder polymers; PLMDR measurements on poly(p-phenylene ethylene); and PLDMR measurements on C{sub 70}, polythiophene, poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and Dan-40. Appendices to this report describe: Operation of ODMR (optically detected magnetic resonance) spectrometer; ODMR system parameters; and Special purpose circuitry.
Date: February 12, 1999
Creator: Partee, J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Syntheses and studies of organosilicon compounds (open access)

Syntheses and studies of organosilicon compounds

The syntheses of polycarbosilanes and polysilanes as silicon carbide ceramic precursors have been active research areas in the Barton Research Group. In this thesis, the work is focused on the preparation of polycarbosilanes and polysilanes as stoichiometric silicon carbide precursor polymers. The syntheses of the precursor polymers are discussed and the conversions of these precursors to silicon carbide via pyrolysis are reported. The XRD pattern and elemental analyses of the resulting silicon carbide ceramics are presented. Silicon monoxide is an important intermediate in the production of silicon metal. The existence of silicon monoxide in gap phase has been widely accepted. In the second part of this thesis, the generation of gaseous silicon monoxide in four different reactors and the reactions of gaseous silicon monoxide towards organic compounds are discussed.
Date: February 12, 1999
Creator: Xie, R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Single- and multi-photon ionization studies of organosulfur species (open access)

Single- and multi-photon ionization studies of organosulfur species

Accurate ionization energies (IE`s) for molecular species are used for prediction of chemical reactivity and are of fundamental importance to chemists. The IE of a gaseous molecule can be determined routinely in a photoionization or a photoelectron experiment. IE determinations made in conventional photoionization and photoelectron studies have uncertainties in the range of 3--100 meV (25--250 cm{sup {minus}1}). In the past decade, the most exciting development in the field of photoionization and photoelectron spectroscopy has been the availability of high resolution, tunable ultraviolet (UV) and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) laser sources. The laser pulsed field ionization photoelectron (PFI-PE) scheme is currently the state-of-the-art photoelectron spectroscopic technique and is capable of providing photoelectron energy resolution close to the optical resolution. The author has focused attention on the photoionization processes of some sulfur-containing species. The studies of the photoionization and photodissociation on sulfur-containing compounds [such as CS{sub 2}, CH{sub 3}SH, CH{sub 3}SSCH{sub 3}, CH{sub 3}CH{sub 2}SCH{sub 2}CH{sub 3}, HSCH{sub 2}CH{sub 2}SH and C{sub 4}H{sub 4}S (thiophene) and sulfur-containing radicals, such as HS, CS, CH{sub 3}S, CH{sub 3}CH{sub 2}S and CH{sub 3}SS], have been the major subjects in the group because sulfur is an important species contributing to air pollution in the atmosphere. The …
Date: February 12, 1999
Creator: Cheung, Y. S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Capillary electrophoretic study of individual exocytotic events in single mast cells (open access)

Capillary electrophoretic study of individual exocytotic events in single mast cells

The peak profile of individual degranulation events from the on-column release of serotonin from single rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs) was monitored using capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced native fluorescence detection (CE-LINF). Serotonin, an important biogenic amine, is contained in granules (0.25 fL) within RPMCs and is extruded by a process termed exocytosis. The secretagogue, Polymyxin B sulfate, was used as the CE running buffer after injection of a single RPMC into the separation capillary to stimulate the release of the granules. Because the release process occurs on a ms time scale, monitoring individual exocytotic events is possible with the coupling of high-speed CE and LINF detection.
Date: February 12, 1999
Creator: Ho, A.M.W.
System: The UNT Digital Library