A sustainable PWR fuel cycle with complete TRU recycling using fertile-free fuel

The feasibility of a conventional PWR fuel cycle with complete recycling of TRU elements in the same reactor is investigated. A new Combined Non-fertile and Uranium (CONFU) fuel assembly where about 20% of the uranium fuel pins are replaced with fertile free fuel (FFF) hosting TRU generated in the previous cycle is proposed. In this sustainable fuel cycle based on the CONFU fuel assembly concept, the amount and radiotoxicity of the nuclear waste can be significantly reduced in comparison with the conventional once-through UO 2 fuel cycle. It is shown that under the constraints of acceptable power peaking limits, the CONFU assembly exhibits negative reactivity feedback coefficients comparable in values to those of the reference UO2 fuel. Moreover, the effective delayed neutron fraction is about the same as for UO2-fueled cores. Therefore, feasibility of the PWR core operation and control with complete TRU recycle has been shown in principle. However, gradual build up of small amounts of Cm and Cf challenges fuel reprocessing and fabrication due to the high spontaneous fissions rates of these nuclides and heat generation by some Pu, Am, and Cm isotopes. Feasibility of the processing steps becomes more attainable if the time between discharge and reprocessing is 20 years or longer. The implications for the entire fuel cycle will have to be addressed in future studies.

Dependence of intrinsic defects in ZnO films on oxygen fraction studied by positron annihilation

Defects in ZnO films grown by radio-frequency reactive magnetron sputtering under variable ratios between oxygen and argon gas have been investigated by using the monoenergetic positron beam technique. The dominate intrinsic defects in these ZnO samples are O vacancies (V-O) and Zn interstitials (Zn-i) when the oxygen fraction in the O-2/Ar feed gas does not exceed 70% in the processing chamber. On the other hand, zinc vacancies are preponderant in the ZnO Elms fabricated in richer oxygen environment. The concentration of zinc vacancies increases with the increasing (2) fraction. For the oxygen fraction 85%, the number of zinc vacancies that could trap positrons will be smaller. It is speculated that some unknown defects could shield zinc vacancies. The concentration of zinc vacancies in the ZnO films varies with the oxygen fraction in the growth chamber, which is in agreement with the results of photoluminescence spectra.

Ground state energy of He isoelectronic sequence treated variationally via Hylleraas-like wavefunction

In this study, the energy for the ground state of helium and a few helium-like ions (Z=1-6) is computed variationally by using a Hylleraas-like wavefunction. A four-parameters wavefunction, satisfying boundary conditions for coalescence points, is combined with a Hylleraas-like basis set which explicitly incorporates r12 interelectronic distance. The main contribution of this work is the introduction of modified correlation terms leading to the definition of integral transforms which provide the calculation of expectation value of energy to be done analytically over single-particle coordinates instead of Hylleraas coordinates.

gamma-vibrational states in superheavy nuclei

Recent experimental advances have made it possible to study excited structure in superheavy nuclei. The observed states have often been interpreted as quasiparticle excitations. We show that in superheavy nuclei collective vibrations systematically appear as low-energy excitation modes. By using the microscopic Triaxial Projected Shell Model, we make a detailed prediction on gamma-vibrational states and their E2 transition probabilities to the ground state band in fermium and nobelium isotopes where active structure research is going on, and in (270)Ds, the heaviest isotope where decay data have been obtained for the ground-state and for an isomeric state.

Optimization of the HIRFL-CSR cluster target

A new gas delivery system is designed and installed for HIRFL-CSR cluster target. The original blocked nozzle is replaced by a new one with the throat diameter of 0.12mm. New test of hydrogen and argon gases are performed. The stable jets can be obtained for these two operation gases. The attenuation of the jet caused by the collision with residual gas is studied. The maximum achievable H-2 target density is 1.75x10(13) atoms/cm(3) with a target thickness of 6.3x10(12) atoms/cm(2) for HIRFL-CSR cluster target. The running stability of the cluster source is tested both for hydrogen and argon. The operation parameters for obtaining hydrogen jet are optimized. The results of long time running for H-2 and Ar cluster jets look promising. The jet intensity has no essential change during the test for H-2 and Ar.

Fine structure of alpha decay to rotational states of heavy nuclei

To gain a better insight into alpha-decay fine structure, we calculate the relative intensities of alpha decay to 2(+) and 4(+) rotational states in the framework of the generalized liquid drop model (GLDM) and improved Royer's formula. The calculated relative intensities of a decay to 2(+) states are in good agreement with the experimental data. For the relative intensities of alpha decay to 4(+) states, a good agreement with experimental data is achieved for Th and U isotopes. The formula we obtain is useful for the analysis of experimental data of alpha-decay fine structure. In addition, some predicted relative intensities which are still not measured are provided for future experiments.

Extracting single-particle information for the superheavy mass region by studying excited structure in transfermium nuclei

Recent experimental advances have made it possible to study spectroscopy in very heavy nuclei. We show that from the excited high-spin structure of transfermium isotopes, one may gain useful information on single-particle states for the superheavy mass region, which is the key to locating the anticipated 'island of stability'. In this work, we employ the Projected Shell Model for Cf, Fm, and No isotopes to study rotation alignment of the particles that occupy particular high-j intruder orbitals.

PROPERTIES OF ALPHA DECAY TO ROTATIONAL BANDS OF HEAVY NUCLEI

In the framework of the generalized liquid drop model (GLDM) and improved Royer's formula, we investigate the branching ratios and half-lives of alpha-decay to the members of the ground-state rotational bands of heavy even-even Fm and No isotopes. The calculated results are in good agreement with the available experimental data and some useful predictions are provided for future experiments.

非全裸氟离子与氦原子和氖原子碰撞中的多电子过程研究

本工作采用反冲离子飞行时间技术和散射离子位置灵敏探测技术测量了F~(2+)、F~(3+)离子与He原子和Ne原子碰撞中转移电离截面与单电子俘获截面比和入射离子损失一个电子情况下靶原子多重电离与单重电离的截面比。研究了这些截面比随作用强度κ的变化规律，并对不同的碰撞体系进行了比较，总结了强相互作用区(1.4 < κ < 4.4) F~(2+)、F~(3+)离子与He和Ne原子碰撞中的转移电离过程和入射离子电子损失过程的规律。实验发现：（1）对本工作中所有的碰撞体系，转移电离截面与单电子俘获截面比随作用强度κ的增大而减小；（2）对He原子靶，入射离子损失一个电子时He原子二重电离与单重电离的截面比随作用强度κ的增大而减小；（3）对于Ne原子靶，入射离子损失一个电子时Ne原子四重电离、三重电离、二重电离截面与单重电离截面比随作用强度κ有不同的变化规律。本工作对于上述实验现象进行了定性分析和讨论。在本实验能区，转移电离现象可视作一个电子被俘获、另一个电子被电离的两步过程；当入射离子损失一个电子时，He原子二重电离的主要机制为Two-Step机制，而Ne原子的多重电离则为Two-Step机制和随后的电子重组过程的共同作用的结果。深入研究强相互作用区离子一原子碰撞过程，还需要积更多的实验数据和发展有效的理论模型。

多电荷态硫离子与氦原子和氢分子碰撞中的多电子转移过程研究

本工作采用反冲离子飞行时间技术和散射离子位置灵敏探测技术，实验研究了Sq+离子与He、H2碰撞中的多电子转移过程和分子离子的碎裂现象。研究了转移电离截面与单电子俘获截面比值和入射离子损失一个电子和两个电子的情况下，靶原子双重电离与单重电离的截面比值随入射离子能量和入射离子电荷态的变化规律，并对不同的碰撞体系的结果进行了比较。研究发现：在本工作研究的入射离子能区，对于HZ分子靶，双电子俘获自电离反应道：S2+H2→S(q-l)+2H++e-。是转移电离过程的主要贡献，而直接转移电离的贡献可以忽略；随着入射离子电荷态的增加，双电子俘获自电离的贡献增加，直接转移电离的贡献逐渐减小，但双电子俘获自电离的贡献的增加比理论预言的要慢。建立了蒙特卡罗程序模拟离子与分子碰撞中产生的具有不同的初始动能的离子碎片的飞行时间谱，深入分析和研究了Sq＋与H2分子碰撞中产生的H2+的解离过程和库仑爆炸过程，以及H＋碎片的能量分布。模拟结果与实验测量到的TOF谱的分析比较说明：在Sq＋与H2分子碰撞实验中，库仑爆炸是产生H+的主要反应道，而氢分子离子H2+发生解离产生H+的反应道相对很弱。

基于ECRIS的等电荷态序列离子与氦、氖、氩碰撞反应中的多电子过程研究

本工作设计并建立了一个离子-原子碰撞实验终端。该终端具有一定的通用性，可用于我所EcRIS、ECRIS一300kV高压平台和兰州大学Zxl．7MV串列加速器。终端的设计特别考虑了气体靶实验中系统的动态真空和对高品质弱束流流强的控制。2004年7月-10月，利用我所ECRIS提供的束流，在该终端上进行了首轮实验。本工作指出，除了入射离子的电荷态和速度外，其空能级结构是碰撞反应的另一个主导因素，并在此基础上提出了等电荷态序列离子的概念。为了确定离子空能级结构对碰撞反应的影响，本工作系统研究了等速度的q＝6序列离子（C6＋、N6＋、。6＋、F6＋、Ne6＋、Ar6＋、co6＋）、q＝7序列离子（07＋、F7＋、Ne7＋、57＋、Ar7＋）、q＝8序列离子（FS＋、Nes＋、Ars＋、cos＋）、q：9序列离子（Fg＋、Neg＋、519＋、59＋、Arg＋、cag＋）和叮：11序列离子（Si1、Aill＋、Call＋）与氦、氖、氢的碰撞反应。实验证实，对于等速度、等电荷态序列离子，碰撞反应与离子种类强烈相关。利用同位素纯的13coZ作为EcRIs的工作气体，获得了纯净的全裸离子13C6＋束流，研究了13C6＋离子与氦、氖、氢碰撞反应与碰撞速度的关系。实验发现，在C6十一He的碰撞反应中，纯双电子俘获（DC）与双电子转移（DE）截面比JDcDIZ随碰撞速度的增加而明显下降，这暗示准分子俄歇机制在本能区C6＋一He碰撞反应中的贡献不可忽略。用MCBM描述离子-原子相互作用阶段，用电子蒸发模型统一处理碰撞后多电了激发态散射离子和反冲离子的衰变，作者编写了计算程序COBEEM。经典过垒模型（如ECBM和MCBM）仅用电荷态q一个参数描述入射离子，本工作实验证实了这种描述是不完备的。COBEEM程序对此问题进行了初步修正。该程序还包含了ECBM和Selberg等人提出了经验公式的计算。

长武塬区大气降水中氢氧同位素特征分析

通过测定长武塬区2005年降水水样的氢氧同位素组成,分析了该区降水氢氧同位素组成的基本特征。结果表明,长武塬区大气降水线方程为δD=7.44δ~(18)O+1.69,其斜率和截距与全球以及我国大气降水线相比均偏小,这与研究区地理位置和气候条件有关;降水氘盈余d值4—6月份较大,大于或接近10,7—10月份则小于10;以天为时间单位采集的次降水,其氢氧同位素组成的温度效应和降水量效应均不显著,而连续2 d长历时降水的雨量效应极显著;降水氢氧同位素组成季节变化明显,春季降水的氢氧同位素值较高,夏季同位素值降低,秋季同位素值最小,这在以次降水量为权重的加权平均值中表现得更加明显。

Determination of mercury with a flow injection quartz tube atomic absorption spectrometry

A method was developed for the determination of micro mercury in the soil, plants and the traditional Chinese medicine using flow injection quartz tube-atomic absorption spectrometry. The effect of the factors such as acidity,. the carrier solution, the flow rate of reductive solution and argon gas, etc. on the determination was studied. When vanadic oxide, nitric acid and sulfuric acid were used to decompose the sample reliable result could be obtained. The characteristic mass of the method is 59 pg, the detection limit is 0.028 mug/L, RSD is < 3.9% and the recovery is in the range of 94% &SIM; 102%.

Nanocluster-containing mesoporous magnetoceramics from hyperbranched organometallic polymer precursors

Pyrolysis of hyperbranched poly[1,1'-ferrocenylene(methyl)silyne] (5) yields mesoporous, conductive, and magnetic ceramics (6). Sintering at high temperatures (1000-1200 degrees C) under nitrogen and argon converts 5 to 6N and 6A, respectively, in similar to 48-62% yields. The ceramization yields of 5 are higher than that (similar to 36%) of its linear counterpart poly[1,1'-ferrocenylene(dimethyl)silylene] (1), revealing that the hyperbranched polymer is superior to the linear one as a ceramic precursor. The ceramic products 6 are characterized by SEM, XPS, EDX, XRD, and SQUID. It is found that the ceramics are electrically conductive and possess a mesoporous architecture constructed of tortuously interconnected nanoclusters. The iron contents of 6 estimated by EDX are 36-43%, much higher than that (11%) of the ceramic 2 prepared from the linear precursor 1. The nanocrystals in 6N are mainly alpha-Fe2O3 whereas those in 6A are mainly Fe3Si. When magnetized by an external field at room temperature, 6A exhibits a high-saturation magnetization (M-s similar to 49 emu/g) and near-zero remanence and coercivity; that is, 6A is an excellent soft ferromagnetic material with an extremely low hysteresis loss.

Plasma modification of aromatic polyamide reverse osmosis composite membrane surface

The surface of aromatic polyamide reverse osmosis composite membrane was modified by oxygen and argon plasma. The water permeability of oxygen-plasma-modified membrane increases, and the chlorine resistance of argon-plasma-modified membrane increases. The spectra of the attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and the contact angle of the water were analyzed to explain the improvement of the two performances of the composite membrane. The carboxyl groups were introduced when modified by oxygen plasma, and cross-linking occurred when modified by argon plasma. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.