Articles tagged with Neutrons
A team of scientists has successfully observed rare particles of light emitted during the radioactive decay of a neutron, confirming theoretical predictions. The experiment, conducted at NIST's Center for Neutron Research, used novel instruments and techniques to minimize uncertainties and detect elusive photons.
Researchers at NIST have developed a highly sensitive technique called delayed neutron activation analysis to improve the detection of nuclear materials. The technique can detect trace amounts of uranium-235 and plutonium-239 in less than three minutes, making it crucial for homeland security.
Scientists discovered high concentrations of silver in Jerusalem pottery, suggesting significant wealth in the city during the Second Temple period. The findings, published in Archaeometry, used X-ray fluorescence and instrumental neutron activation analysis to analyze 1,200 pottery vessels from 38 sites in Roman Judea.
Researchers can now observe water production and removal in fuel cells under various conditions, enabling better management of water quantities. The facility enhances the understanding of fuel cell performance, reliability, and durability.
Researchers measure lifetimes of low-energy excitations in MnF2, a model system for understanding spin wave interactions. The data provide insight into the nature and strength of these interactions, helping to answer a longstanding question in physics.
The Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has won four prestigious R&D 100 Awards for its innovative technology advances, including a carbon-measuring instrument, high-efficiency solar cells, and neutron generators. These awards recognize the lab's efforts to enhance energy, economic, and national security.
A collaborative study successfully applied neutrons to locate hydrogen atoms in proteins, revealing how water molecules interact with proteins and influencing their function. The research demonstrates potential for understanding hydrogen-atom transfer processes in large biological systems.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers create tabletop accelerator that produces nuclear fusion at room temperature, doubling the acceleration potential of a previous design. The device has commercial applications in non-destructive testing, explosives detection, and medical imaging.
Researchers successfully produced fusion neutrons using sonofusion without an external neutron source, verifying the presence of nuclear emissions. The new setup used natural uranium to produce bubbles through radioactive decay, obviating the need for an external neutron source.
A team led by FSU physicist Sam Tabor has discovered a novel form of radioactive decay in which two protons are ejected simultaneously from a silver atom. This unexpected finding expands knowledge of nuclear physics and has implications for astrophysics and the production of elements on Earth.
Researchers have successfully detected neutrons with energies typical of fusion reactions in a sonofusion experiment, eliminating earlier concerns about data accuracy. Meanwhile, water molecules have been found to form long, squirming filaments through electronic bonds, providing a clearer picture of their interactions.
Scientists conducted precise tests of Einstein's famous formula, confirming the relationship between energy and mass. The experiments used instruments like GAMS4 to measure gamma rays diffracted by crystals, achieving accuracy of four-tenths of 1 part in 1 million.
Researchers discovered an isotopic anomaly in osmium from a primitive meteorite, shedding light on the star types that contributed elements to the solar system. The findings challenge previous theories of incomplete mixing of different dust sources and instead suggest presolar stardust may have survived and preserved its signature.
Researchers find nickel gallium sulfide material exhibits disordered magnetic spin arrangement, characteristic of a liquid magnetic state. The team used neutron experiments to study the material's structure and properties, shedding light on its unique magnetic behavior.
The NUGGET instrument could help scientists determine if primitive forms of life existed on Mars by analyzing fossils embedded in rocks. By generating three-dimensional images, it can quickly identify areas where samples might be taken for further study.
Researchers at Purdue University have confirmed findings by Rusi Taleyarkhan, using a tabletop device to produce nuclear fusion reactions through the use of ultrasound. The experiment produced neutrons in the range of 2.5 MeV and tritium, providing evidence for thermonuclear fusion.
A high-energy photon beam search at Jefferson Lab's CLAS collaboration found no evidence of a pentaquark, contradicting earlier reports. The new analysis, which boasted improved statistics and background understanding, revealed a much weaker signal than initial results, leading researchers to re-evaluate their findings.
Majkrzak's work on neutron reflectometry has significantly improved the field's ability to analyze atomic and magnetic structures. His research findings have numerous applications in biology, particularly in the study of materials at the molecular level.
Researchers at Michigan State University recreated a rare isotope of nickel called Ni-78, which existed briefly in the chain of events that formed elements. This breakthrough reveals that Ni-78 decays up to three times quicker than expected, changing models of element formation before Earth's creation.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory witness continuous structural change in glass under pressure, contradicting long-held theories. They also observe a dense, disordered octahedral structure for the first time, with internal angles deviating from perfect geometry.
The University of Manchester has developed a new technique that allows scientists to study protein molecules in complete detail, doubling the number of visible atoms compared to current methods. This breakthrough enables the creation of more effective medicines by targeting specific proteins.
Researchers analyzed a sample from Gabon's natural nuclear chain reaction site and found how the reactor operated in a 30-minute cycle. The study also revealed the role of alumophosphate as the system's waste absorber, providing insights into safer nuclear reactor operations.
Researchers estimate that a neutron star is about 1.8 times as massive as the sun with a radius of about 7 miles, sparking interest in its equation of state and superfluid properties. The findings rule out free quarks and provide insights into the density-pressure relationship within the star.
Researchers developed a novel imaging process using neutrons, providing better resolution and penetration than visible light. The microscope has potential applications in biology, particularly with samples containing hydrogen.
Artificial viruses are used as standards in research labs to check analysis methods, but measuring their concentration is challenging. NIST scientists now use neutrons to measure the amount of RNA in these 'fake' viruses, allowing for more accurate detection of real viruses at early stages of infection.
Researchers studying lanthanum barium copper oxygen (LBCO) found that adding barium creates electron holes, which are necessary for superconductivity. The study suggests that fluid stripes may be essential for high-temperature superconductivity in these materials.
The Shull Collection spans over five decades of Nobel Prize-winning research on neutron scattering and crystal structures. The archive includes papers, photographs, and videos documenting Shull's work at Carnegie Tech, the Manhattan Project, and his teaching position at MIT.
The study replicates and extends earlier results on bubble fusion, a method for achieving nuclear fusion without strong magnetic fields or lasers. The new data show significant neutron emission rates, consistent with theoretical predictions.
Researchers have discovered a method to generate nuclear reactions using sound waves and tiny bubbles, supporting the development of an inexpensive 'tabletop' device. The process creates conditions comparable to the interior of stars, with temperatures reaching 10 million degrees Celsius.
The Finuda experiment is studying the formation and decay of hypernuclei to explore the weak interaction. By analyzing the localization of lambda particles within nucleus, scientists can gain insights into the strong nuclear force.
The latest research at Jefferson Lab has confirmed the existence of pentaquarks, five-quark particles predicted by scientists for years. This breakthrough provides valuable information on the nature of this new state of matter and its production process.
A new neutron detector is being developed to monitor spacecraft radiation, with a goal of creating a lightweight and portable device that can detect high-energy neutrons. The detector will provide crucial data for exploration missions outside Earth's orbit, where astronauts are exposed to increased radiation levels.
Scientists at NIST have precisely measured the lifetime of neutrons using a powerful technique. The measurement is consistent with current theories about particles and forces of nature, providing valuable insights into the creation of matter immediately after the Big Bang.
A collaboration between IFF and NIST uses slowed-down neutrons to measure fragrance and carrier molecule structures. This information can guide efforts to enhance models for formulating carriers that are optimized for specific fragrances and products.
Researchers observe differences in jet production and particle energy between Deuteron-Gold and Gold-Gold collisions, hinting at the existence of quark-gluon plasma. These findings open up new avenues for studying the strong nuclear force.
Researchers are conducting clinical trials at a new MIT facility dedicated to neutron capture therapy (NCT), which has shown promise in reducing damage to healthy tissues. The treatment involves administering a compound containing boron-10, followed by irradiation with epithermal neutrons, killing tumor cells while sparing healthy ones.
Sandia scientists confirm Z produces fusion neutrons, a crucial step towards self-sustaining fusion reactions. The experiment demonstrates that high-yield fusion is achievable through the application of huge pulses of electricity.
Scientists have detected a rare nuclear fusion process that violates charge symmetry, allowing hydrogen to exist. The rate of this process is expected to provide clues about the cause of the violation, which may be linked to quarks.
A team from Los Alamos National Laboratory has mapped the hydrogen distribution on Mars, indicating significant water reserves near the surface and subsurface. The findings suggest that Mars could support future human exploration with its extensive water resources.
Researchers developed a tiny, portable neutron detector using a small wafer that can detect neutron signals from hidden nuclear weapons and materials. The device operates at minimal voltage and is cost-effective, making it a potential game-changer in detecting weapons of mass destruction.
Researchers at NIST have developed a neutron scattering technique to survey minuscule holes in film samples, revealing the size and volume fraction of pores. This 'Swiss cheese' approach aims to create better insulating materials without compromising barrier properties.
A team of scientists discovered that self-organized spin clusters emerge from competing interactions in geometrically frustrated magnets, shedding light on natural clustering processes. This finding suggests the existence of higher-order organizing principles in nature.
The US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory has developed a small, portable neutron detector that can detect hidden nuclear weapons and materials. The device uses a wafer of gallium arsenide coated with boron or lithium to detect neutrons, producing a cascade of charged particles that is easy to detect.
A new study by Union College geology student Jonathan MacDonald measures the neutron-induced fission tracks on porcelain fragments near ground zero in Hiroshima. The results provide insight into the exposure levels from the atomic bomb, with one sample showing a 2 to 2.5 times higher value than previous estimates.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute used ultrasonic waves to create small cavitation bubbles that could potentially lead to nuclear fusion. The team observed evidence of tritium and sonoluminescence light flashes, which may indicate the fusion of deuterium atoms in the highly compressed bubbles.
Researchers observed statistically significant amounts of tritium above background in cavitation experiments, suggesting the possibility of nuclear reactions. The findings are based on a collaboration that used high-energy neutrons to create bubbles in liquid, which can result in light emissions and potentially nuclear reactions.
Researchers at Stanford University used neutron scattering to study the magnetic properties of insulators with random impurities, discovering a novel model magnet. The introduction of nonmagnetic impurities disrupts long-range magnetic order, leading to unprecedented quantum fluctuations.
Tiny, super-hot bubbles created by acoustic cavitation may be producing nuclear fusion, according to researchers. The experiment produced stable bubbles that could expand to nearly a millimeter before collapsing, and detected higher levels of tritium and neutrons.
A team of physicists has discovered evidence of an unusual, fluctuating magnetic order in high-temperature superconductors, which could be crucial for explaining this phenomenon. This discovery was made using neutron beams to investigate the properties of a high temperature superconductor.
Scientists aim to recreate the hot, dense conditions of the universe's earliest form by smashing gold ions together at nearly the speed of light. The new run is expected to produce 100 times more data and provide a clearer picture of quark-gluon plasma
A dosimeter, a portable device, detects gamma rays and neutrons to ensure workplace safety in nuclear power plants and research labs. It uses lithium isotopes to measure neutron particles and has been recognized as one of the 100 most significant technological achievements for the year 2000.
Physicist Jacquelyn Yanch has devised a new method to combat severe rheumatoid arthritis by injecting boron compounds and exposing joints to neutron beams, killing the synovium lining. Early results on rabbits are promising, but human trials are still needed.
Ohio University researchers are producing precise measurements of neutron direction and speed to develop a new cancer treatment. This technology could lead to fewer side effects and more effective treatment options for patients.
Researchers John Larese and Laurence Passell won the DOE's 1998 Materials Science Award for their pioneering work on neutron scattering studies of films adsorbed on graphite and magnesium oxide surfaces. They developed a new understanding of the structure and properties of these films, which could lead to breakthroughs in adhesion, cor...
Researchers developed portable isotopic neutron spectroscopy (PINS) to analyze warhead contents, revealing most Solomon Islands warheads contained mustard gas. The system uses neutrons from californium to record gamma-ray emission, identifying chemical elements and fills.
Researchers used neutron tunneling to study magnetic properties of thin iron films, discovering a sensitive tool for exploring surfaces. The phenomenon shows promise for studying subtle magnetic phenomena in technological materials.
Researchers outline three unique features that may distinguish strange stars from neutron stars, including higher X-ray energy and pulse emissions. The discovery of a strange star could prove the existence of quark matter, a form of matter made up of quarks.
Researchers are using neutron radiography to study the behavior of corn rootworms, analyze artwork, and investigate environmental issues such as oil spills. The technology also enables non-invasive observation of root growth, water distribution, and soil responses.