X-ray spectra produced by interaction of Ar16+ and Ar17+ with Zr

The 10-20 qkeV Ar16+ and Ar17+ ions produced by SECRAL enter on metallic surface of Zr. In this interaction, the multi-electron excitation possibly occurred in the neutralization of the highly charged Ar16+ ions, which produced vacancy in the K shell. Electron of the high n state de-excited to K vacancy gives off X-ray. The experimental results show that X-ray intensities for the Ar hollow atom decrease with increase of incidence energy, and L beta X-ray intensities of target atom Zr increase with increasing incidence energy. K alpha X-ray yield per ion for Ar17+ was five orders of magnitude greater than that for Ar16+

X-ray spectra induced by Xe-129(q+) impacting the metal surface

Using the slow highly charged ions Xe-129(q+) (q = 25, 26, 27; initial kinetic T-0 <= 4.65 keV/a.u.) to impact Au surface, the Au atomic M alpha characteristic X-ray spectrum is induced. The result shows that as long as the charge state of projectile is high enough, the heavy atomic characteristic X-ray can be effectively excited even though the incident beam is very weak (nA magnitude), and the X-ray yield per ion is in the order of 10(-8) and increases with the kinetic energy and potential energy of projectile. By measuring the Au M alpha-X-ray spectra, Au atomic N-level lifetime is estimated at about 1.33x10(-18) s based on Heisenberg uncertainty relation.

Antioxidant N-acetylcysteine attenuates the acute liver injury caused by X-ray in mice

The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of different doses and administration modes of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against X-ray-induced liver damage in mice. Kun-Ming mice were divided into four groups, each composed of six animals: two control groups and two NAC-treated groups. An acute study was carried out to determine alterations in lipid peroxidation (determined by measuring malondiadehyde (MDA) level), glutathione (GSH) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (assayed by colorimetric method), and DNA damage (characterized by DNA-single strand break using with comet assay) as well as cell apoptosis (measured by flow cytometry) at 12 h after irradiation. The results showed that there were dose-related decreases in MDA level, DNA damage and cell apoptosis, and dose-dependent increases in GSH content and SOD activity in all NAC-treated groups compared to control groups, indicating that pre-treatment or post-treatment with NAC significantly attenuates the acute liver damage caused by X-ray. In addition, significant positive correlations were observed between MDA level and DNA damage or cell apoptosis, implying that lipid peroxidation plays a major role in X-ray-induced liver injury. The data suggest that NAC exerts its radioprotective effect by counteracting accumulated reactive oxygen species in the liver through its properties as a direct antioxidant and a GSH precursor, when administered before or after X-ray irradiation.

Study on the apoptosis and Bcl-2/Bax expression of human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells after exposure to heavy-ion and X-ray irradiations

This study is aimed at observing the apoptosis and Bcl-2/Bax gene expression of mammalian cells following heavy-ion and X-ray irradiations. Exponentially growing human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells cultured in vitro were irradiated with a C-12 ion beam of 50 MeV/u (corresponding to a LET value of 44.56 keV/mu m) from Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou (HIRFL) at doses varying from 0 to 3 Gy. The X-ray irradiation (8 MV) was performed in the therapy unit of the General Hospital of the Lanzhou Military Area. Survival fractions of irradiated cells at various doses were measured by means of MTT assay. Apoptotic cells after irradiation were analyzed with fluorescence microscope and flow cytometer (FCM). Immuno-histological assay were applied to detect the expression of Bcl-2/Bax genes in the irradiated cells. The survival fraction of SMMC-7721 cells decreased gradually (vs. control p<0.05) with increasing the dose of the carbon ion beam more obviously than X-ray irradiation, and the carbon ion irradiation efficiently induced cell apoptosis and significantly promoted the expression of Bax gene while Bcl-2 gene expression was restrained. High-LET heavy ion beam would induce cell apoptosis effectively than low-LET X-ray, and the apoptosis rate is correlated with the transcription of Bcl-2/Bax and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax in human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells after irradiation to heavy ion beam.

Test experiments of gamma-ray linear polarization using a Clover detector

We have investigated the performance of a EXOGAM-Segmented-Clover with 16 segments as a Compton polarimeter to measure the linear polarization of gamma rays. The polarization sensitivity of the Clover detector has been measured at the energy of 1332keV through the coincidence measurements of cascade gamma-rays from Co-60. Experimental values were in good accord with our expectation.We have investigated the performance of a EXOGAM-Segmented-Clover with 16 segments as a Compton polarimeter to measure the linear polarization of gamma rays. The polarization sensitivity of the Clover detector has been measured at the energy of 1332keV through the coincidence measurements of cascade gamma-rays from Co-60. Experimental values were in good accord with our expectation.

X-ray emission of hollow atoms formed by highly charged argon and xenon ions below a beryllium surface

The X-ray emission induced by highly charged argon and xenon ions impinging on a beryllium surface is investigated. It is found that spectra of the X-ray induced by Ar-17,Ar-18+ interacting with the surface are very different from those of the X-ray induced by Ar-17,Ar-18+ interacting with residual gases. The result provides an experimental evidence for the existence of hollow atoms below the surface. Several unexpected X-ray lines are also found in the experiment. Firstly, K X-rays are observed when Ar16+ ions which initially have no K shell holes interact with the surface. Secondly, if there are more than 2 M shell vacancies at the initial time, strong M alpha alpha two-electron-one-photon (TEOP) transitions are found in the collisions of Xe-28+,Xe-29+,Xe-30+ ions with the surface.

Adaptive hormetic response of pre-exposure of mouse brain with low-dose C-12(6+) ion or Co-60 gamma-ray on growth hormone (GH) and body weight induced by subsequent high-dose irradiation

The brain of the Kun-Ming strain mice were irradiated with 0.05 Gy of C-12(6+) ion or Co-60 gamma-ray as the pre-exposure dose, and were then irradiated with 2 Gy of 12C6+ ion or Co-60 gamma-ray as challenging irradiation dose at 4 h after per-exposure. Body weight and serum growth hormone (GH) concentration were measured at 35th day after irradiation. The results showed that irradiation of mouse brain with 2 Gy of C-12(6+) ion or Co-60 gamma-ray significantly diminished mouse body weight and level of serum GH. The relative biological effectiveness values of a 2 Gy dose of C-12(6+) ion calculated with respect to Co-60 gamma-ray were 1.47 and 1.34 for body weight and serum GH concentration, respectively. Pre-exposure with a low-dose (0.05 Gy) of C-12(6+) ion or Co-60 gamma-ray significantly alleviated reductions of mouse body weight and level of serum GH induced by a subsequent high-dose (2 Gy) irradiation. The data suggested that low-dose ionizing irradiation can induce adaptive hormetic responses to the harmful effects of pituitary by subsequent high-dose exposure.

X-ray spectra induced in highly charged Ar-40(q+) interacting with Au surface

By use of optical spectrum technology, the spectra of X-ray induced by highly charged Ar-40(q+) ions interacting with Au surface have been studied. The results show that the argon K alpha X-ray were emitted from the hollow atoms formed below the surface. There is a process of multi-electron exciting in neutralization of the Ar16+ ion, with electronic configuration 1s(2) in its ground state below the solid surface. The yield of the projectile K alpha X-ray is related to its initial electronic configuration, and the yield of the target X-ray is related to the projectile kinetic energy.

X-ray emission produced by interaction of highly ionized Arq+ ions with metallic targets

This paper studies the X-ray spectra produced by the interaction of highly charged ions of Arq+ (q = 16, 17, 18) with metallic surface of Be, Al, Ni, Mo and Au respectively. The experimental results show that the K alpha X-ray emerges from under the surface of solid in the interaction of ions with targets. The multi-electron excitation occurred in the process neutralization of the Ar16+ in electronic configuration of 1s(2) in metallic surfaces, which produces vacancy in the K shell. Electron from high n state transition to K vacancy gives off X-ray. We find that there is no obvious relation between the shape of X-ray spectra and the different targets. The X-ray yield of incident ions are associated with initial electronic configuration. The X-ray yield of target is related to the kinetic energy of the incident ions.

X-ray spectroscopy of hollow argon atoms formed on a beryllium surface

The X-rays induced during interaction of highly charged argon ions with a beryllium surface are reported. It is found that the K shell X-ray yield of single particle during interaction of hydrogen-like argon ions was 3.6 x 10(-3), which is five orders more than that of heliumlike argon ions. Moreover, due to the screening the 2s electron, no K X-ray was emitted during interaction of lithium-like argon ions with the beryllium surface. It is also found that the X-ray spectrum induced by Ar17+ interacting with residual gases is very different from that induced by Ar17+ interacting with the surfaces, that provided an experimental evidence for the existence of the hollow atoms below the surface.

Potentiality of phosphorylation of BRCA1 at Ser 1524 to activate p21 in response to X-ray irradiation

The breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 encodes a nuclear phosphoprotein, which functions as a tumor suppressor gene. Many studies suggested that multiple functions of BRCA1 may contribute to its tumor suppressor activity, including roles in cell cycle checkpoints, apoptosis and transcription. It is postulated that phosphorylation of BRCA1 is an important means by which its cellular functions are regulated. In this study, we employed phospho-Ser-specific antibody recognizing Ser-1524 to study BRCA1 phosphorylation under conditions of DNA damage and the effects of phosphorylation on BRCA1 functions. The results showed that 10 Gy X-ray treatment significantly induced phosphorylation of Ser-1524 but not total BRCA1 protein levels. The expression both of p53 and p21 increased after irradiation, but ionizing radiation (IR) -induced activation of p21 was prior to that of p53. The percentages of G0/G1 phase remarkably increased after IR. In addition, no detectable levels of 89 kDa fragment of PARP, a marker of apoptotic cells, were observed. Data implied that IR-induced phosphorylation of BRCA1 at Ser-1524 might activatep21 protein, by which BRCA1 regulated cell cycle, but play no role in apoptosis.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study on GaN crystal irradiated by slow highly charged ions

We utilize slow highly charged ions of Xeq+ and Pbq+ to irradiate GaN crystal films grown on sapphire substrate, and use X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to analyze its surface chemical composition and chemical state of the elements. The results show that highly charged ions can etch the sample surface obviously, and the GaN sample irradiated by highly charged ions has N depletion or is Ga rich on its surface. Besides, the relative content of Ga-Ga bond increases as the dose and charge state of the incident ions increase. In addition, the binding energy of Ga 3d(5/2) electrons corresponding to Ga-Ga bond of the irradiated GaN sample is smaller compared with that of the Ga bulk material. This can be attributed to the lattice damage, which shifts the binding energy of inner orbital electrons to the lower end.

低速高电荷态重离子辐照的GaN晶体表面X射线光电子能谱研究；X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study on GaN crystal irradiated by slow highly charged ions

利用低速高电荷态Xeq+和Pbq+离子对在蓝宝石衬底上生长的GaN晶体膜样品进行辐照,并利用X射线光电子能谱(XPS)对样品表面化学组成和元素化合态进行了分析.结果表明,高电荷态离子对样品表面有显著的刻蚀作用;经高电荷态离子辐照的GaN样品表面氮元素贫乏而镓元素富集;随着入射离子剂量和所携带电荷数的增大,Ga—Ga键相对含量增大;辐照后,GaN样品中Ga—Ga键对应的Ga3d5/2电子的束缚能偏小,晶格损伤使内层轨道电子束缚能向低端方向偏移.

低速~(40)Ar~(17+)离子入射金属Be表面发射的近红外光谱线和X射线谱；Infrared Light and X-ray Emissions of ~(40)Ar~(17+) Impacting on Be Surface ；

用速度不同的(动能EK=272和357keV,速度v=1.14×106和1.72×106m/s)的高电荷态离子40Ar17+分别入射金属Be表面,同时测量这种相互作用过程中产生的近红外光谱线和X射线谱。实验结果表明,在低速范围内(速度小于玻尔速度vBohr=2.19×106m/s),速度较小的40Ar17+离子在到达金属的表面临界距离Rc到进入表面(2—3原子层)的进程中,形成了较多的高激发态Ar原子,其退激辐射较强的光谱线,进而验证了经典过垒模型。

Segmented HPGe平面型位置灵敏探测器阵列的γ成像分析；Gamma-ray imaging analysis by using array of segmented planar HPGe detectors

探测器位置分辨能力的高低是实现γ成像的一个重要指标.Segmented HPGe平面型位置灵敏探测器能够很好地给出γ射线与探测器晶体相互作用的作用点位置信息.利用由这种探测器组成的探测器阵列对~(22)Na标准源进行了γ成像实验.结果能够区分出标准源两个不同的摆放位置的细微差别,并与实际情况符合得很好.从而检验了Segmented HPGe平面型位置灵敏探测器的位置分辨能力.