Positrons and positronium in macromolecules; Consequences of different charge states

Kobayashi, Yoshinori*; Sato, Kiminori*; Yamawaki, Masato*; Michishio, Koji*; Oka, Toshitaka; Washio, Masakazu*

Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 202, p.110590_1 - 110590_6, 2023/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2022.110590

Because of their different charge states, positrons and positronium (Ps) behave quite differently in macromolecules. The behavior of positively charged positrons is strongly influenced by electrostatic interactions. In nonpolar macromolecules such as polyethylene, energetic positrons, if not incorporated into Ps, fall into a delocalized state. These positrons are sensitively trapped by polar groups, if any. On the other hand, charge-neutral Ps is localized in a free volume regardless of the macromolecule's chemical structure. In this study, we discuss the behavior and annihilation characteristics of positrons and Ps in various macromolecules, emphasizing their differences.

Structural analysis of high-energy implanted Ni atoms into Si(100) by X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy

Entani, Shiro*; Sato, Shinichiro*; Honda, Mitsunori; Suzuki, Chihiro*; Taguchi, Tomitsugu*; Yamamoto, Shunya*; Oshima, Takeshi*

Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 199, p.110369_1 - 110369_7, 2022/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2022.110369

Ni silicide synthesis by Ni ion beam irradiation into Si attracts attention due to its advantages including the ability of formation of local structures, the controllability of ion beams, the formability of silicide without heat treatment and the high reproducibility of the resulting specimen. In this work, we investigate the local atomic structure of Si implanted with 3.0 MeV Ni ions. Analysis of Ni K-edge fluorescent-yield extended X-ray absorption fine structure reveals that Ni atoms have mixed structure of metallic-like face-centered cubic Ni and NiSi phases at the initial stage of the irradiation and the formation of NiSi promotes significantly with the ion fluence above 10 ions cm. With consideration of the agreement between the ion fluence threshold for the structural transition and the critical Si-amorphization fluence, it is concluded that the amorphization of Si plays an important role in the synthesis of the NiSi phase in Ni-irradiated Si.

Dense radical formation in L-alanine-3,3,3-d3 and L-alanine-d4 by 1.5 keV soft X-ray irradiation

Nakagawa, Seiko*; Oka, Toshitaka; Fujii, Kentaro*; Yokoya, Akinari*

Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 192, p.109884_1 - 109884_5, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2021.109884

Radicals produced in crystalline L-alanine-3,3,3-d3 and L-alanine-d4 were observed by the electron spin resonance (ESR) technique during 1.5 keV soft X-ray irradiation. The line width of the ESR spectra obtained by the soft X-ray irradiation was 1.5 times wider than that of hard X-rays from a previous report, meaning a higher density of radicals. The efficiency of the radical yield by the soft X-ray irradiation was 10 relative to that by -irradiation. For the soft X-ray irradiation, many radicals will be lost by the efficient radical-radical recombination due to the higher density of the radicals, just as the high-LET irradiation by heavy ions. We concluded that the high LET nature of the lower energy photons leads to the dense radical formation in the crystalline alanine powder.

Performance of in situ gamma-ray spectrometry in the assessment of radioactive cesium deposition around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

Ji, Y.-Y.*; Ochi, Kotaro; Hong, S. B.*; Nakama, Shigeo; Sanada, Yukihisa; Mikami, Satoshi

Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 179, p.109205_1 - 109205_11, 2021/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2020.109205

In situ gamma-ray spectrometry using diverse survey platforms has been conducted in contaminated areas with several dose rate levels around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP). Six survey sites, including two evacuation zones around the FDNPP, were selected for ground-based gamma-ray spectrometry using HPGe (high purity Ge) and LaBr(Ce) detectors to assess the radioactive cesium deposition in the ground. The diverse levels of radioactivity of Cs were then distributed to six survey sites from 30 to 3000 kBq m in the measurement period of October 2018. A method to directly calculate the depth profile using in situ measurement was introduced so as to have representation over a wide area, and the results were successfully compared with those of sample analysis at one point in the site.

X-ray absorption study of platinum nanoparticles on an ion-irradiated carbon support

Kakitani, Kenta*; Kimata, Tetsuya*; Yamaki, Tetsuya*; Yamamoto, Shunya*; Matsumura, Daiju; Taguchi, Tomitsugu*; Terai, Takayuki*

Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 153, p.152 - 155, 2018/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2018.09.017

Identification of penetration path and deposition distribution of radionuclides in houses by experiments and numerical model

Hirouchi, Jun; Takahara, Shogo; Iijima, Masashi; Watanabe, Masatoshi; Munakata, Masahiro

Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 140, p.127 - 131, 2017/11

BB2016-0282.pdf:0.39MB

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2017.02.005

Evaluation of annealing and double ion beam irradiation by a laser-induced and laser-detected surface acoustic wave diagnostic system

Kitazawa, Sin-iti*; Wakai, Eiichi; Aoto, Kazumi

Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 127, p.264 - 268, 2016/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2016.07.009

The effects of annealing and double ion irradiation on nuclear structural materials were investigated using a novel, non-destructive, non-contact diagnostic method. A laser-induced and laser-detected surface acoustic wave (SAW) was adopted as a diagnostic system. The SAWs propagation velocity and the SAWs vibration velocity along the normal direction of the surface were measured to investigate mechanical properties of the substrates. Change of the shear modulus was detected in the annealed substrates. Non-linear effect on amplitude of the excited SAW was observed on the double ion irradiated materials. The potential of the SAW diagnostic system for assessing nuclear structural materials was demonstrated.

Radiolysis of boiling water

Yang, S.*; Katsumura, Yosuke*; Yamashita, Shinichi*; Matsuura, Chihiro*; Hiroishi, Daisuke*; Lertnaisat, P.*; Taguchi, Mitsumasa

Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 123, p.14 - 19, 2016/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2016.02.008

-radiolysis of boiling water has been investigated. The G-value of H evolution was found to be very sensitive to the purity of water. In high-purity water, both H and O gases were formed in the stoichiometric ratio of 2:1; a negligible amount of HO remained in the liquid phase. The G-values of H and O gas evolution depend on the dose rate: lower dose rates produce larger yields. To clarify the importance of the interface between liquid and gas phase for gas evolution, the gas evolution under Ar gas bubbling was measured. A large amount of H was detected, similar to the radiolysis of boiling water. The evolution of gas was enhanced in a 0.5 M NaCl aqueous solution. Deterministic chemical kinetics simulations elucidated the mechanism of radiolysis in boiling water.

Evaluation of a cesium adsorbent grafted with ammonium 12-molybdophosphate

Shibata, Takuya; Seko, Noriaki; Amada, Haruyo; Kasai, Noboru; Saiki, Seiichi; Hoshina, Hiroyuki; Ueki, Yuji

Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 119, p.247 - 252, 2016/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2015.10.026

Thermal equilibrium and prehydration processes of electrons injected into liquid water calculated by dynamic Monte Carlo method

Kai, Takeshi; Yokoya, Akinari; Ukai, Masatoshi*; Fujii, Kentaro; Watanabe, Ritsuko

Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 115, p.1 - 5, 2015/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2015.05.021

Role of secondary electrons on DNA damage have not been understood sufficiently because there still exists a lack of study for thermalization process of an electron in liquid phase. We calculated thermalization lengths and spatial distributions of an electron in liquid water using cross sections for rotation and phonon excitations in a liquid phase. Obtained thermalization lengths are in good agreement with experimental results reported by literatures. Thermalization time was also estimated from time evolution of spatial distributions of the incident electron to be hundreds femtoseconds. From these results, we predict that thermalization and pre-hydration of electron might progress simultaneously. These electrons possibly cause damage in biological molecules in a cell. Particularly severe types of DNA damage consisting of proximately located multiple lesions are potentially induced by reaction of DNA with the thermalized electrons by dissociative electron transfer.