Publications Repository - Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

Bacterial diversity in a soil sample collected from a uranium mill-tailings called Gittersee and situated near the city of Dresden, Germany, was analysed by using a culture-independent 16S rDNA approach exploiting PCR amplification primers 7F and 1513R. The results were compared with those obtained earlier analysing the same sample by using another primer pair, namely 43F-1404R (Selenska-Pobell et al., 2002). The two 16S rDNA approaches demonstrated that Proteobacteria were the most predominant group in the sample, followed by Citophaga/Flavobacterium/ Bacteroides and by Gram positive bacteria with low and also with high G+C content. Moreover, a large number of the 16S rDNA sequences from the two libraries were identical or almost identical. However, the ratio between the bacterial groups represented in them differed significantly.
The 7F-1513R primer set retrieved in addition to the above mentioned 16S rDNA sequences also such of green non-sulfur bacteria and sequences of representatives of the AD1 and the OP11 divisions. The latter indicates that the 7F-1513R primer set seems to be more reliable in analyses of bacterial diversity.

To characterize the future redox milieu caused by natural degradation of wood in flooded mines, the aquifer of a highland bog ground was studied as a natural analogue site. Going from the surface to a depth of one meter in the bog water, the redox potential measured with a platinum electrode changes from 593 mV to -95 mV. From the depth-water analyses of bog gas extracted from the ground, an Eh value of -119 +/- 5 mV could be calculated. Methane and hydrogen sulfide were found in the gas, characterizing the strongly reducing condition in the bog ground. From that, the conclusion for the future mine situation can be drawn that uranium(VI) and arsenic(V) will be reduced and precipitated as U(OH)₄ and As₂S₃. In that way, decontamination of the mine water takes place as a consequence of a natural attenuation process.

The evolution during growth and subsequent annealing of the <111> fiber texture in magnetron-sputtered nanocrystalline Au films has been studied experimentally using X-ray diffraction with synchrotron radiation. To quantitatively investigate this fiber texture, grain orientation distributions were recorded in situ during growth and during subsequent annealing using Bragg-Brentano geometry. The (111) diffraction intensity was measured as a function of the sample tilt chi, the tilt axis lying at the intersection of the film surface and the scattering plane. As a quantitative measure of the texture, we used the width of the orientation distibutions. The grain-orientation distributions narrowed during annealing. The activation energy for the process behind this texture change was found to be 0.64 ± 0.05 eV, close to the activation energy for grain boundary self-diffusion in nanocrystalline Au. This and the narrowing of the grain orientation distributions led us to suggest that the observed changes in texture originated from grain rotations and not from grain growth. Grain growth did not take place at the lower temperatures, where changes in orientation distributions were observed.

The present paper describes experimental studies of the structure and the corresponding mechanical properties of TiN–Cu nanocomposites synthesised by reactive magnetron sputtering. By X-ray diffraction, the crystalline phases appearing, the texture, the grain size and the microstrain were studied as a function of the deposition temperature and the substrate bias voltage. In addition, the nanostructure was studied by cross-section transmission electron microscopy and the surface orphology by scanning electron microscopy. At low deposition temperatures, a two-phase structure consisting of a fcc TiN phase and a highly disordered crystalline or amorphous Cu-rich phase was formed. Increasing the deposition temperature, a fcc Cu phase was observed in addition to the crystalline TiN phase. The texture varied with the deposition temperature, and the grain size increased and the microstrain decreased with rising deposition temperature. The mechanical properties were measured by nanoindentation. For the nanocomposites Ti41N46Cu13, Ti43N46Cu11 and Ti43N49Cu8, hardness values of 25, 35 and 40 GPa, respectively, were measured.

The volume fraction of martensite continuously increases with the fatigue cycle number. Consequently, the martensite amount can be used for indication of the low cycle fatigue state. Following an exponential decay function, the martensite volume fraction decreases with increasing temperature. No influence of the load frequency was found. The initial material state plays an important role for the martensite formation rate. The amount of martensite formed is much higher after cold-rolling than after solution annealing as final manufacturing process. The martensite shows a fibre texture in the annealed material. The (I 10) planes are preferentially oriented parallel and perpendicular to the loading direction. In the cold-rolled material no significant preferred orientation of this phase was found. The martensite is concentrated in the centre of the specimens. The shape of the distribution seems to be independent on the martensite amount.

The transition from the application of conservative models to the use of best-estimate models raises the question about the uncertainty of the obtained results. This question becomes especially important, if the best-estimate models should be used for safety analyses in the field of nuclear engineering. Different methodologies were developed to assess the uncertainty of the calculation results of computer simulation codes. One of them is the methodology developed by Gesellschaft fuer Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit (GRS) which uses the statistical code package SUSA. In the past, this methodology was applied to the calculation results of the advanced thermal hydraulic system code ATHLET. In the frame of the recently finished EU FP5 funded research project VALCO, that methodology was extended and successfully applied to different coupled code systems, including the uncertainty analysis for neutronics. These code systems consist of a thermal hydraulic system code and a 3D neutron kinetic core model. One of the code systems applied was ATHLET coupled with the Rossendorf kinetics code DYN3D. Two real transients at NPPs with VVER-type reactors documented within the VALCO project were selected for analyses. One of them was a test with the switching-off of one of two main feed water pumps at the VVER-1000 Balakovo-4 NPP. The current paper is dedicated to the different steps of the use and implementation of the GRS methodology to coupled code systems and to the assessment of the results obtained in the calculations of the VVER-1000 transient by the DYN3D/ATHLET code.

Based on the relevant physical processes in the transient, a list of possible sources of uncertainties was compiled. Besides control parameters like control rod movement and thermal hydraulic parameters like secondary side pressure, mass flow rates, and pressurizer heater performance, different neutron kinetic parameters were included into the list of possible sources of uncertainties. These are the burn-up state of the core, the control rod efficiency for different control rod groups and the coefficients for Doppler and moderator density feed back. By use of the SUSA package, sets of input data with statistical variation of the relevant parameter values were generated for a large number of runs of the coupled code. New tools were developed for the automated implementation of the varied input parameters into the different input decks of the DYN3D/ATHLET code. The same concerns the extraction of result parameters from the output data of the calculations and statistical analysis of these results. Time-dependent rank correlation coefficients were calculated showing the influence of the varied parameters on the output parameter under investigation. The most interesting output parameters are the physical parameters for which experimental data are available. First of all, these are the core power, upper plenum pressure, loop temperatures and steam generator levels. The calculation results allowed also the determination of time-dependent tolerance intervals for given coverage and confidence. The comparison of the experimental data, the (best-estimate) reference solution and the tolerance intervals showed how the agreement between experiment and calculation could be quantified. In most of the cases the tolerance intervals include the experimental curves. A compiled list of the most important input parameters based on the rank correlation coefficients shows, which input parameters and models are responsible for the deviations. This list gives indications for further model improvements and code developments.

The motion of single Argon bubbles rising in the eutectic alloy GaInSn under the influence of a DC longitudinal magnetic field was examined. The magnetic field strength was chosen up to 0.3 T corresponding to magnetic interaction parameters N of 1.5. The experiments were carried out in the following parameter range: 2500 < Re < 5500, 2 < Eo < 7, Mo = 2.4?10-13. The liquid metal was in a cylindrical container at rest. Bubble and liquid velocities were measured using Ultrasonic Doppler Velocimetry (UDV). The measured bubble terminal velocity showed oscillations indicating a zig-zag movement of ellipsoidal bubbles. Whereas for small bubbles (de ? 4.6 mm) an increase of the drag coefficient with increasing magnetic interaction parameter was observed, the application of the magnetic field reduces the drag coefficient of larger bubbles (de ? 5.4 mm). The measurements revealed a distinct electromagnetic damping of the bubble induced liquid velocity leading to more rectilinear bubble trajectories. Moreover, significant modifications of the bubble wake structure were observed. Raising of the magnetic field strength causes an enlargement of the eddies in the wake. The Strouhal number St decreases with increasing magnetic interaction parameter.

The origin of two luminescence bands with maxima around 1.05 eV and 0.95 eV is studied in silicon pn diodes prepared by boron implantation. The two peaks are related to the formation of p-type doping spikes on a nanometer scale. These doping spikes are generated by long-time thermal activation of preformed boron clusters. The peak with a larger binding energy stems from spatially indirect excitons bound to doping spikes in a strained environment, while the peak with a lower binding energy is related to doping spikes without strain. The doping spikes are able to capture spatially indirect bound excitons with a low recombination rate, thus effectively suppressing the fast non-radiative recombination at defects. This effect leads to an efficient room temperature electroluminescence in silicon light-emitting diodes prepared by boron implantation.

The reactive middle frequency (MF) dual magnetron sputtering is a favorable process for industrial applications. Production of low resistivity (~10^-4 Ohm*cm) ITO films by this method requires their heat treatment. The ITO film formation and evolution at elevated substrate temperatures is not properly addressed because the phase diagram of this material is not known. Thus, in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) was applied to characterize the growth of ITO films at heated substrates (Ts=RT-510 °C). The results of in situ and ex situ SE were compared with the film resistivity, stoichiometry (elastic recoil detection analysis) and structure (X-ray diffraction).
The in situ SE indicates formation of the rough film with graded optical properties. This grading is stronger for the films deposited without substrate heating. The free electron parameters were determined from parameterization of the film optical constants in Drude-Lorentz approach. Their behavior with increasing Ts agrees with concomitant resistivity dependence, measured by the four point probe method. Thus, in situ SE monitoring of the free electron parameters provides a tool for real-time contactless characterization of the growing film resistivity. Quantitative characterization of the resistivity by SE requires further improvement of the optical model. The existence of the resistivity grading through the film thickness was indicated by this method for the growth without heating. At heated substrates this grading vanishes after deposition of ~50 nm layer and homogeneous film start growing. The films grown at the Ts=400 C have resistivity of 1.2*10^-4 Ohm*cm that is comparable with the best results achieved with ceramic targets. The SE data analysis demonstrated that improvement of the film resistivity with increasing Ts is mainly due to enhancement of the free electron mobility. It is accompanied by improvement of the film stoichiometry, changes of texture and crystallinity.

Reactive pulsed magnetron sputtering was used to produce conductive and transparent tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) films with low thickness inhomogeneity. Due to the parallel operation of two magnetrons, the deposition system allows in situ investigations of the plasma influence on the film properties. The distribution of the film resistivity, refractive index, structure and stoichiometry along the substrate are presented and related to the spatial distribution of the plasma flow escaping the magnetrons, and the substrate temperature. A higher plasma flow likely causes a localized relaxation of the distorted In–O bonds in amorphous phase which prevails in ITO films prepared at unheated substrates. This leads to a decrease of the film resistivity due to free electrons density and mobility enhancement. The free electron density increase is caused likely by generation of oxygen vacancies. Deposition on a heated substrate (Ts /Tm=0.3) leads to a change of the film growth mode due to enhanced surface diffusion of the adatoms which results in a textured low resistivity film. This also causes significant improvements of the homogeneity of the film properties that is important for ITO applications.

Strong ultraviolet electroluminescence with an external quantum efficiency above 1% is observed from an indium-tin oxide/SiO2:Gd/Si metal-oxide-semiconductor structure. The SiO2:Gd active layer is prepared by thermal oxidation followed by Gd+ implantation and annealing. The electroluminescence spectra show a sharp peak at 316 nm from the 6P7/2 to 8S7/2 transition of Gd3+ions. Micrometer sized electroluminescent devices are demonstrated.

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Natural aquatic and terrestrial environments exert large variations in redox state due to oxygen diffusion on one hand and microbial processes on the other hand. Actinides with their large number of oxidation states are especially susceptible to these redox changes, forming a large number of aqueous complexes which may greatly differ by solubility and mobility. These complexes are often difficult to investigate due to their thermodynamic metastability. Therefore, we developed a new spectro-electrochemical cell, which allows to study the structure and speciation of aqueous actinide complexes in-situ by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), while applying and maintaining a constant potential.

While in-situ investigations by combining electrochemical cells with XAS are not new, the prevention of any gas-releasing electrode reaction due to the special safety regulations for actinides required a new electrochemical approach. We used an Ag metal electrode as anode, where Ag+ is released and precipitates as AgCl. The cell itself consists of a double confinement following the safety regulations for the use of radioactive materials at the ESRF. The cell body and the windows are machined from one piece of chemically resistant material, which is closed by air-tight cover plates.

First U L3-edge XAS spectra have been obtained from aqueous solutions of U(VI) and U(IV) in the presence of different ligand systems. The reduction of U(VI) to U(IV) was performed by applying a constant potential for several hours. Independent UV/vis measurements of the solutions were performed in order to verify that uranium was completely reduced. A quantitative analysis of the uranium redox species during the reduction procedure was performed by iterative transformation factor analysis of the XANES spectra. Finally, EXAFS measurements were used to solve the structure of the uranium redox species.

We have investigated intersubband transitions in strain-compensated AlAs/(In,Ga)As heterostructures, demonstrating both absorption and quantum-cascade laser emission at short wavelengths. Short-wavelength optical transitions in such structures are associated with a number of challenges in both the growth and design, including managing the internal strain and designing around indirect valleys. We achieve absorption peaks at wavelengths as short as 1.7 micrometer in fully strain-compensated AlAs/(In,Ga)As structures. Quantum cascade lasers based on similar heterojunctions exhibit laser emission as short as 3.7 micrometer. These lasers exhibit low-temperature threshold current densities of 860 A/cm2 in pulsed mode and output power as high as 6W per facet (12W total). At room temperature, the threshold current density is 4.5 kA/cm2 and the maximum power 240 mW per facet.

Materialforschung mit Positronen ist eine anerkannte Spezialrichtung der Halleschen Physik. In Kooperation zwischen dem Großforschungszentrum Rossendorf und dem Interdisziplinären Zentrum für Materialwissenschaften der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg befindet sich eine hochintensive Positronenquelle im Aufbau. Nach Fertigstellung wird das Labor als ein europäisches Kompetenzzentrum für Materialforschung mit Positronen auch externen Nutzern zur Verfügung stehen.

This work investigates the role of the lift force in the transition from homogeneous to heterogeneous bubble column. On rising bubbles the lift force acts in a lateral direction, when gradients of the liquid velocity are present. Non-uniform liquid velocity fields may be induced if the gas fraction is not equally distributed, e.g. caused by local disturbances. This feedback mechanism is studied in the paper. It was found, that a positive lift coefficient (small bubbles) stabilizes the flow, while a negative coefficient (large bubbles) leads to unstable gas fraction distributions, and thus it favours the appearance of a heterogeneous bubble column regime. The turbulent dispersion force has always a stabilizing action, i.e. it partially compensates the destabilisation induced by a negative lift coefficient. A stability analysis for a mono-dispersed system nevertheless showed, that influence of the lift force is much larger, compared to the influence of the turbulent dispersion force, if only bubble induced turbulence is considered. Thus the stability condition is practically the positive sign of the lift force coefficient. The extension of the analysis to two bubbles classes, from which one being small enough to have a positive lift coefficient, results in a minimum fraction of small bubbles needed for stability. Finally a generalized criterion for N bubble classes and for a continuous bubble size distribution is given.

More than 40 years of uranium production in Germany left abandoned equipment and mine wastes, which have to be disposed to avoid the release of contaminants into the biosphere. The separation of uranium(VI) from aqueous solution by calixarenes by means of solvent extraction has been described in literature. Calixarenes are macrocyclic ligands formed by the base inducted condensation reaction of para-substituted phenols and formaldehyde. Substituents at the hydroxyl groups control the selectivity of the ligand for the complexation of uranium(VI) ions.
The present work describes the development of a textile filter material for the separation of uranium(VI) from mine and seepage water using uranophile calixarenes. These ligands are permanently fixed on a textile substrate by a process comparable to a disperse dying procedure. For this purpose the calixarenes are statistically functionalized by spacer groups. The filter materials are especially applicable for the remediation of uranium contaminated waters at low concentration levels.

Calix[n]arenes are macrocyclic molecules synthesized by the base induced reaction of para-substituted phenols and formaldehyde. These ligands are known to form complexes with suitable guest substances. The selectivity of the calix[n]arenes is influenced by their size and functional groups. The present paper describes the preparation and application of calix[6]arene derivatives statistically functionalized with 1-alkyl groups at the upper rim. The separation of copper(II), nickel(II), cobalt(II) and uranium(VI) from aqueous solutions has been investigated by solvent extraction, as well as by using calix[6]arene-finished polyester felt. Uranium(VI) separation was studied as a function of pH value and uranium(VI) concentration. Furthermore, the recycling of calix[6]arene finished polyester felts loaded with uranium(VI) ions by elution with different solvents was examined. The suitability for the remediation of uranium contaminated water especially at low concentration levels was shown.

Lorentz forces originating from surface-mounted actuators of permanent magnets and electrodes in weakly conducting fluids like seawater can be used to control flow separation at hydrofoils. The numerical results presented here are based on direct numerical simulation in the laminar flow regime, limited to Reynolds numbers of about 500. Control by steady forcing at the suction side and by oscillatory forcing near the leading edge of the foil is investigated in the post-stall regime.

By applying a strong enough steady control, separation can be completely suppressed. Oscillatory forcing always has to compete with the natural shedding process, lock-in behavior may occur. Lift-optimum control for strong amplitudes is found in a frequency band around the natural shedding frequency. In terms of the momentum coefficient describing the control effort, appropriate excitation frequencies in relation to the natural vortex shedding frequency allow for a more effective lift control than steady forcing.

During so called boron dilution transients at pressurized water reactors too weakly borated water might enter the reactor core. This can be the case e.g. during re-start of the first main coolant pump after a deborated slug has formed for instance in the loop seal of the cold leg during stop of coolant circulation under Small Break Loss of Coolant Accident (SBLOCA) conditions. The deboration results in the insertion of positive reactivity and possibly leads to a power excursion. This scenario was studied in the 1:5 scaled VVER-1000 reactor model at OKB “Gidropress”.

The deborated slug was modeled by water with lower temperature entering during the start-up of the coolant pump the hot water inside the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV). The experiments were repeated 5-6 times to get statistically independent results. The mass flow rate was varied in a series of experiments studying Reynolds-number effects.

The 3-D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes provide an effective tool for mixing calculations. In recent years, the rapid development of both the software and the computers has made it feasible to study the coolant mixing in sufficient detail and to perform the calculations for transient conditions. The experiment with the final mass flow rate of 175 m³/h was taken for CFD-validation. The CFD-Code used was CFX-5.

The geometric details of the construction internals inside the RPV have a strong influence on the flow field and on the mixing. Therefore, an exact representation of the cold leg, the inlet region, the spacer in the downcomer, the elliptical perforated plate and the complicated structures in the lower plenum were modeled in detail. Some parts of the lower plenum internals were modeled using resistance coefficients. The computational grid contained 2.5 Mio. tetrahedral elements. The inlet boundary conditions (velocity, temperature) were set at the cold leg. As an initial guess of the turbulent kinetic energy and the dissipation rate the medium intensity was used. The outlet boundary conditions were pressure controlled. As in the experiment, the temperature differences for describing the boron dilution processes were used. A constant temperature at the RPV walls was assumed.

In the VVER-1000 reactor, the same characteristic flow pattern is observed in the case of the start-up of one pump like for Western type PWR. Due to a strong momentum insertion into the flow at the inlet nozzle, also a horizontal component of the flow is generated in the upper part of the downcomer. The injected flow is distributed into two main jets, the minimum boron concentration at the core inlet appears at two outer regions of the core inlet near the affected loop. The experiment and the CFX calculation showed that for the given slug volume a rather good mixing of the slug and the ambient coolant occur.

A comparison of measured and calculated degree of mixing is performed. Reasons for deviation and directions of further model improvements are discussed.

For the validation of the Trio_U code an experiment with constant flow rate in one loop (magnitude of natural circulation) and 10% density difference between ECC and loop water was taken. For this study a LES approach was used for mesh sizes between 340000 – 1.7 mil-lion control volumes. As a result in the experiment as well as in the calculation the ECC water only partly mixes with ambient coolant in the cold leg. A stratified flow is developing during the injection. In the downcomer a momentum driven flow field is still present at the begin-ning, after this the ECC water propagates downwards the downcomer below CL 1. Trio_U calculations show a good qualitative agreement with the experiment, while at local positions some differences in the concentration field occur.

The obtained results can be used for further studies of the core behaviour using coupled thermo-hydraulic-neutron-kinetic code systems.

A special designed high-temperature vacuum chamber for in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements was used to study kinetics of structural phase formation and transformation in molybdenum during oxygen ion implantation and post-annealing treatment. Oxygen ions with an energy of 1.5 MeV were implanted in polycrystalline molybdenum up to a fluence of 3×10¹⁸ O⁺/cm² at different temperatures (160°C - 700°C). Subsequently, implanted samples were annealed up to 700°C for in situ studying during synthesis of buried oxide layers. Complementary, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and sputter Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) were employed to receive depth dependent information concerning the crystal structure and the elemental composition. The formation of different molybdenum oxides during oxygen implantation and post-implantation annealing process could be observed by in situ x-ray analysis. The XRD spectra of samples implanted at 160°C show that MoO₃ and/or Mo₄O₁₁ precipitates have been formed, whereas implantation in the temperature range 300°C - 700°C preferably leads to the MoO₂ phase formation.

It has been proposed to investigate the magnetorotational instability at a large scale liquid sodium facility. This sort of laboratory astrophysics is encouraged by the recent successful dynamo experiments. We report on our experiences with the Riga dynamo experiment where magnetic field self-excitation is achieved in a cylindrical vessel filled with approximately 2 cube meters of liquid sodium which can reach flow velocities up to 20 m/s. The main experimental results on the kinematic and the saturation regime are compared with numerical modelling. Some focus is also laid on the spectra of the magnetic field and the pressure.

The magnetorotational instability (MRI) can destabilize hydrodynamically stable flows which are characterized by an angular momentum that is increasing with the radius and by an angular velocity that is decreasing with radius. Its astrophysical importance comes from the fact that the Kepler flow shows exactly such a behaviour. In order to investigate MRI in a laboratory experiment, the Taylor-Couette flow has been proposed as a substitute for the Kepler flow. In this paper we consider the Taylor-Dean flow as another example of a flow profile which can exhibit the necessary radial dependence. Taylor-Dean flows are a combination of the traditional Taylor-Couette flow with an additional flow that is produced by an azimuthal force. Special focus is laid on the case that the Taylor-Couette part of the flow is a rigid body rotation and the magnitude of the Dean flow is adjusted in such a way that in the outer part of the flow the conditions for MRI are fulfilled. Based on the dispersion relation derived by Ji, Kageyama and Goodman, in combination with some preliminary global instability analysis, we give some first estimates for the physical parameters of a Taylor-Dean MRI experiment with liquid sodium.

In-beam positron emission tomography (PET) is currently the only method for an in-situ monitoring of charged hadron therapy. However, in-beam PET data, measured at beams with a sub-microsecond-microstructure due to the accelerator radiofrequency (RF), are highly corrupted by random coincidences arising from prompt gamma-rays following nuclear reactions as the projectiles penetrate the tissue. Therefore, since random-correction techniques from conventional PET cannot be applied, at the clinical in-beam PET at the therapy facility at the Gesellschaft fuer Schwerionenforschung (GSI) Darmstadt merely events registered in the pauses (2-3s) between the beam macropulses (< 2s) are reconstructed. Image statistics may increase up to 50% if coincidences acquired during the macropulse, but out of the micropulses, are taken into account. Two methods for suppressing the micropulse-induced random coincidences have been successfully tested at GSI with carbon ion beams. They rely on the synchronization of the gamma-gamma-coincidences measured by the positron camera with the time microstructure of the beam, either by using the RF-signal from the accelerator or the signal of a thin diamond detector placed in the beam path in front of the target. Time and energy correlated spectra, first-measured during the macropulses, together with the corresponding tomographic images of the beta⁺ activity induced by the beam in a phantom, clearly confirm the feasibility of the proposed random supression methods.

Abstract – Assuming the hypothetical scenario of a severe accident with subsequent core meltdown and formation of a melt pool in the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) lower plenum of a Light Water Reactor (LWR) leads to the question about the behav-ior of the RPV. One accident management strategy could be to stabilize the in-vessel debris configuration in the RPV as one major barrier against uncontrolled release of heat and radio nuclides.
To get an improved understanding and knowledge of the melt pool convection and the vessel creep and possible failure processes and modes occurring during the late phase of a core melt down accident the FOREVER-experiments (Failure Of REactor VEssel Retention) have been performed at the Division of Nuclear Power Safety of the Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm. These experiments are simulating the behavior of the lower head of the RPV under the thermal loads of a convecting melt pool with decay heating, and under the pressure loads that the vessel experiences in a depressurization scenario. The geometrical scale of the experiments is 1:10 com-pared to a common LWR.
Accompanying the experiments metallographical and numerical work is performed at the Forschungszentrum Rossendorf. An axisymmetric Finite Element model is devel-oped based on the multi-purpose code ANSYS®. To describe the viscoplastic defor-mation a numerical creep data base (CDB) is developed where the creep strain rate is evaluated in dependence on the current total strain, temperature and equivalent stress. In this way the use of a single creep law, which employs constants derived from the data for a limited stress and temperature range, is avoided. For an evalua-tion of the failure times a damage model according to an approach of Lemaitre is ap-plied. The microstructural investigations give insight to the material state of the vessel wall at different positions. This can be compared with the numerical damage value calculated in the Finite Element Model.
This paper deals with the experimental, numerical, and metallographical results of the creep failure experiment EC-FOREVER-4, where the American pressure vessel steel SA533B was applied for the lower head. For comparison the results of the experi-ment EC-FOREVER-3B, build of the French 16MND5 steel, are discussed, too. Em-phasis is put on the differences in the viscoplastic behaviour of different heats of the RPV steel. For this purpose, the creep tests in the frame of the LHF/OLHF experi-ments are reviewed, too. As a hypothesis it is stated that the sulphur content could be responsible for differences in the creep behaviour.

After giving an overview about various approaches for silicon based light emitters, we will present our results on Si light emitting diodes prepared by high-dose boron implantation. The electroluminescence (EL) increases with temperature, resulting in a wall-plug efficiency of 0.1% at room temperature. Extensive low-temperature EL measurements allow us to put forward a model, which is based on the interplay between free excitons/carriers and excitons localized at nanoscale boron doping spikes. Finally, we demonstrate an electrically driven resonant-cavity LED based on silicon.

Recently some remarkable advances concerning silicon based light emission have been reported. This has triggered the hope that a practical Si based light source may soon become reality. Several approaches are pursued by research groups worldwide: porous Si, Si nanocrystals and Er3+ in SiO2, Er3+ doped Si, Si/Ge quantum cascade structures, and also more “conventional” Si pn diodes. I will give a survey on some of these approaches and then concentrate on Si pn diodes, fabricated by high-dose boron implantation.

In these structures the electroluminescence (EL) increases with temperature, resulting in a wall-plug efficiency of 0.1% at room temperature. Extensive low-temperature EL measurements allow us to put forward a model, which is based on the interplay between free excitons/carriers and excitons localized at nanoscale boron doping spikes, similar to delta-doped layers produced by MBE. Within this model we are able to explain the EL dependence on current and temperature, as well as an electrical bistability occurring at low temperature. Finally, we have fabricated what is, to our knowledge, the first electrically driven resonant-cavity LED based on silicon.

Leuchtdioden (LED, engl.: light emitting diode) und Laserdioden haben bereits vielfältigen Einzug in unser Alltagsleben gefunden, beispielsweise im CD- und DVD-Spieler. In dem Vortrag werden die Funktionsweisen von LEDs und Laserdioden erklärt, insbesonder wird erklärt, wie die verschiedenen Farben erreicht werden und warum gerade die Farbe Blau so wichtig ist. Unterschiedliche Konzepte für Weißlichtquellen auf der Basis von LEDs werden vorgestellt. Die Wirkungsgrade von LEDs werden diskutiert und ein Ausblick auf die Palette von Anwendungen wird geboten.

Nach einer kurzen Darstellung des Laserprinzips wird erklärt, wie in einem Titan-Saphir-Laser durch passeive Modenkopplung ultrakurze Lichtpulse erzeugt werden. Weiterhin wird gezeigt, wie mit Hilfe von nichtlinearen optischen Effekten eine Veränderung der Laserwellenlänge möglich ist. Als typisches Beispiel des Einsatzes von Kurzpuls-Lasern in der Forschung wird die Anrege-Abfrage-Technik vorgestellt. Abschließend werden praktische Beispiele vom Einsatz von Kurzpuls-Lasern in der physikalischer Forschung, Materialbearbeitung und Medizintechnik gezeigt.

Die faszinierende Erfolgsgeschichte von Leuchtdioden (engl.: light emitting diode, LED) und Laserdioden wird vorgestellt. Es wird erklärt, wie Licht unterschiedlicher Farbe mit LEDs erzeugt wird und welche besondere Rolle blaue LEDs spielen. Neben weißen Leuchtdioden, die ein hohes Potential für zukünftige Alltagsbeleuchtung besitzen, werden auch aktuelle Forschungsergebnisse zu siliziumbasierenden LEDs diskutiert.

The search for Bloch gain in doped semiconductor superlattices is still a field of considerable interest. Our approach is to obtain the dynamic conductivity of doped biased GaAs/AlGaAs superlattices by measuring the transmission in the terahertz frequency range. We present experimental results on the electric transport in a wide temperature range and preliminary results for the THz transmission through superlattice mesa elements.

We investigate the electronic properties of weakly and more strongly coupled n-doped GaAs/AlGaAs superlattices by time domain spectroscopy in the low frequency range from 0.5 to 3.5 THz. The sample properties are modulated either by applying an AC voltage via a gate electrode or by injecting a vertical current. The transmission signal is detected at the frequency of the modulation voltage with a lock-in amplifier leading to a signal-to-noise ratio superior compared to conventional FTIR spectroscopy in this frequency range. We will discuss the observation of inter-miniband transitions, confined donor transitions, plasmon excitations and the measurement of intra-miniband THz conductivity in a wide range of lattice temperatures.

We present a planar large-area photoconductor based on GaAs for impulsive generation of THz radiation. The device consists of an interdigitated electrode metal-semiconductor-metal structure (MSM) with 5 µm electrode spacing. The MSM structure is masked by an opaque metallization layer isolated from the MSM electrodes in a way that optical excitation takes place only in regions with unidirectional electric field. Constructive interference of the THz emission from accelerated carriers leads to amplitudes that are 10⁴ times higher than from the same MSM structure without second metallization layer.

The optimization of emitters for THz radiation pulses has gained a lot of interest in recent years. They can be based on accelerating charge carriers, which are photoexcited by fs-laser pulses in the surface field of a semiconductor. We studied the THz emission from GaSb samples that were annealed at different temperatures in the range from 300 °C to 700 °C. Without annealing, no THz emission was observed under fs excitation at 800 nm. This is consistent with the fact, that for GaSb no surface states in the band gap have been found [1]. The THz emission was strongest for the annealing temperature of 450 °C with amplitudes comparable to that of an InGaAs emitter. We attribute the THz emission to a surface field caused by decomposition of the surface of the annealed samples. The decomposition is confirmed by measuring the surface stoichiometry using Auger electron spectroscopy. We suggest that the decrease of THz intensity for the higher annealing temperatures is due to a lowering of the carrier mobility. Our experiment demonstrates the possibility to modify materials for THz emission in a very simple way.

[1] P.W. Chey, I.A. Babalado, T. Sukegawa, and W.E. Spicer, Phys. Rev. Lett. 35, 1602 (1975).

Structural investigations of the ion irradiated polycrystalline NiFe/FeMn exchange bias bilayer system were carried out by means of transmission electron microscopy. Key structural parameters like average grain size, lattice constant, and texture, as well as their dependence upon ion irradiation could be determined. For this purpose, a detailed analysis of a series of bright field images, dark field images, and diffraction patterns was performed. Also in this context, a previously established model was tested which ascribes changes in the magnetic properties upon irradiation with 5 keV He+ to the creation of point defects within the antiferromagnetic layer and to the intermixing between the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic layers. The obtained results indirectly support this model by excluding the aforementioned structural parameters as a possible source of the observed changes of the magnetic properties.

All-optical control of the magnetization of polycrystalline exchange bias bilayer systems is achieved using short picosecond laser pulses. Due to the photoexcitation, the spin temperature across the interface between the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic layer is elevated, resulting in a collapse of the interfacial exchange coupling. Thus, within the first 10 ps, a fast reduction of both the exchange bias field and the coercive field is observed for three different exchange bias systems comprising both different ferromagnets and antiferromagnets. The fast thermal unpinning is followed by a slower heat diffusion dominated relaxation process, which strongly depends on the thermal conductivity of the used buffer layers and substrates. The fast optical unpinning can be understood in terms of an internal anisotropy pulse field capable of triggering ultrafast precessional magnetization dynamics of the ferromagnetic layer, which makes heat-assisted coherent magnetization rotation feasible.

We prepared efficient THz emitters based on photoexcited (fs-laser pulses) carriers in GaSb. Annealing (range 300 °C - 700 °C) provided a simple way for optimization. This is due to a surface field caused by a decomposition of the surface induced by the annealing. The decomposition is confirmed by Raman spectroscopy.

It is well known that reactor pressure vessel steels suffer a degradation of the mechanical properties caused by neutron irradiation. Unfortunately, the ultra-fine microstructural features produced by irradiation cannot be directly detected by means of microscopic imaging techniques. Indirect evidence can, however, be obtained on the basis of Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy (PAS) and Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS). The latter method has the advantage of high sensitivity to particle sizes from less than 1 to more than 10 nm in conjunction with integrating over a macroscopic volume (Fig. 1). Volume integration is important, because the difference between SANS intensities for neutron-irradiated material and unirradiated reference becomes independent of local fluctuations of both composition and microstructure. Furthermore, both size distribution and volume fraction of irradiation-induced defects can be calculated from measured SANS intensities. The ratio of SANS intensities for magnetic and nuclear scattering reveals also information on the composition of defects. In the Institute of Safety Research at the Forschungszentrum Rossendorf SANS experiments on Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) steels have been systematically and successfully designed, performed and analysed for a period of more than 10 years. In the present paper a short overview of the main results obtained by the Rossendorf group is given. Some open questions are summarized. On the other hand, one will not be able to obtain optimum information on the basis of a single experimental technique alone in most cases. From this viewpoint, supplementary experimental methods and numerical simulation techniques are considered.

We report on the terahertz emission from GaSb surfaces with modified surface stochiometry. While very weak emission is observed from virgin GaSb wafers, the emission is significantly increased by a single thermal treatment of the wafers. Optimum emission is observed for 500 °C thermal annealing. The reason for the THz emission is a surface electric field induced by thermal decomposition of the surface as corroborated by Raman spectroscopy.

The presentation starts from sustainability considerations of different energy carries like oil, hoard cool, or nuclear energy.
It is highlighted, that in terms of sustainability nuclear energy suffers from the danger of proliferation of weapons grade material, the maximum damage of a conceivable severe accident, and the extremely long isolation period of the nuclear waste in the final disposal. Discussing the safety analysis of so called boron dilution transients in PWRs, the behaviour of the reactor pressure vessel during a severe core melt accident, and the possibilities of the transmutation of long lived radio-nuclides it is shown how modern nuclear safety research can contribute to improved sustainability performance of nuclear energy.

Boron 10 is a strong thermal neutron absorber. As boric acid solved in the coolant of PWRs, it is used to compensate the excess reactivity of the reactor especially at the beginning of the fuel cycle. Therefore, an inadvertent or even unavoidable reduction of the boron concentration means an increase of reactivity that might result in a power excursion, a so called boron dilution transient.
The reactivity increase depends on the of mixing of the underborated water with the coolant inventory in the downcomer (DC) and lower plenum (LP) where the boron concentration is still on the normal high level.
After introducing the different boron dilution scenarios, results of the latest PKL (Primärkreislauf test facility at FANP) experiments will be presented aiming at the assessment of the maximum slug volume for the different safety injection cases. Moreover, the ROCOM (Rossendorf Coolant Mixing) tests will be discussed that were performed to study mixing phenomena inside the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) and which provided typical boron concentration profiles at the core entrance for the different flow regimes. These experiments are used to develop and validate calculation models for boron mixing. Such models are needed to get information about realistic time dependent boron concentration profiles over the cross section of the core entrance. The obtained concentration profiles are used as boundary conditions for coupled neutronic / thermal-hydraulic core calculations to show whether recriticality of the shut down reactor is reached and how high the maximum power peak can be. The results of such calculations will be presented proving that these deborated slugs can cause prompt criticality. Nevertheless, due to the fast Doppler feedback no core damage occurs even with the maximum slug volume of 36m³ .

Boron 10 is a strong thermal neutron absorber. As boric acid solved in the coolant of PWRs, it is used to compensate the excess reactivity of the reactor especially at the beginning of the fuel cycle. Therefore, an inadvertent or even unavoidable reduction of the boron concentration means an increase of reactivity that might result in a power excursion, a so called boron dilution transient.
The reactivity increase depends on the of mixing of the underborated water with the coolant inventory in the downcomer (DC) and lower plenum (LP) where the boron concentration is still on the normal high level.
After introducing the different boron dilution scenarios, results of the latest PKL (Primärkreislauf test facility at FANP) experiments will be presented aiming at the assessment of the maximum slug volume for the different safety injection cases. Moreover, the ROCOM (Rossendorf Coolant Mixing) tests will be discussed that were performed to study mixing phenomena inside the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) and which provided typical boron concentration profiles at the core entrance for the different flow regimes. These experiments are used to develop and validate calculation models for boron mixing. Such models are needed to get information about realistic time dependent boron concentration profiles over the cross section of the core entrance. The obtained concentration profiles are used as boundary conditions for coupled neutronic / thermal-hydraulic core calculations to show whether recriticality of the shut down reactor is reached and how high the maximum power peak can be. The results of such calculations will be presented proving that these deborated slugs can cause prompt criticality. Nevertheless, due to the fast Doppler feedback no core damage occurs even with the maximum slug volume of 36m³ .

We present the transverse momentum and rapidity spectra of charged pions in central Ru + Ru collisions at 400A and 1528A MeV. The data exhibit enhanced productions at low transverse momenta compared to the expectations from the thermal model that includes the decay of Delta(1232)-resonances and thermal pions. Modification of the Delta-spectral function and the Coulomb interaction are necessary to describe the detailed shape of the transverse momentum spectra. Within the framework of the thermal model, the freeze-out radii of pions are similar at both beam energies. The IQMD model also reproduces the shapes of the transverse momentum and rapidity spectra of pions, but the predicted absolute yields are larger than in the measurements, especially at lower beam energy.

Der Small Punch Test (SPT) ist ein Kleinstprobenversuch, der sich zur Bestimmung des aktuellen lokalen Materialzustandes in technischen Anlagen unter Betriebsbedingungen eignet. Dieser Artikel stellt ein kombiniertes experimentell-numerisches Verfahren zur Identifikation von Verfestigungs- und Versagenseigenschaften duktiler Werkstoffe aus dem SPT vor. Ein schädigungsmechanisches Materialmodell dient zur Beschreibung des Probenverhaltens.
Die Einflüsse der Parameter des schädigungsmechanischen Materialmodells auf das Versuchsergebnis werden anhand von FEM-Simulationen des SPT dargestellt. Neuronale Netze werden mit diesen Simulationen trainiert und stellen so einen generalisierten Zusammenhang zwischen Materialparametern und Versuchsergebnis dar, der in einem Optimierungsalgorithmus zur Identifikation der unbekannten schädigungsmechanischen Materialparameter benutzt wird. Die identifizierten Materialparameter lassen sich auf andere Probengeometrien übertragen und ermöglichen eine Vorhersage von bruchmechanischen Werkstoffkennwerten.

On using of nuclear reaction analysis, X-ray analysis, electron microscopy, the mechanisms of structure and phase composition change of thin vanadium films at treatment in a flow consisting of molecular and atomic hydrogen (AH) have been studied. A comparative analysis on regularities of the film saturation with hydrogen and its resistance changing was carried out. It has been settled that the resistance dependence on hydrogen concentration in the case of thin film hydrogenised in AH flow differs from the analogous dependence for the bulk material hydrogenised in an atmosphere of molecular hydrogen in the conditions of thermodynamic equilibrium. Nevertheless, the found peculiarities of thin film resistance dependence on hydrogenation time, the same as in the case of bulk material, are determined by formation of vanadium hydride -phase in the film. It is shown that with transient metal films it is possible to measure AH flow densities under reduced pressure of gas (10^-1 to 10^-3 Pa). The principle of measurement is based on dependence analysis of the film resistance increment determined by hydrogen solubilization in the film versus exposure time in AH flow. The suggested measurement method is characterized by high selectivity to AH allowing measurement of partial density of atomic flow over the range from 5×10¹³ up to 10¹⁶ at /cm²/s in a mixed atomic–molecular flow. The sensor made on the basis of this method can find applications in microelectronic techniques where semiconductor treatment by atomic hydrogen flows is employed.

This Paper compares two different methods for the identifikation of ductile properties of materials using the small punch test to measure the material response under loading. The finite element method is used to calculate the load displacement curve of the punch depending on the parameters of a hardening law. Via systematical variation of the material parameters a data base is built up, which is used to train neural networks. The second method allows the indentification of material parameters by using a conjugate directions algorithm, which minimizes the error between an experimental load displacement curve and one calculated by the network function.

Small-angle neutron scattering experiments have been performed on a homogeneously deformed specimen (uniform elongation 18.5%) of commercial thin-sheet wrought aluminium alloy AA 6013 (Al-Mg-Si-Cu) aged at room temperature. Comparisons with undeformed material revealed characteristic deformation-induced anisotropy of the two-dimensional X-ray and neutron scattering pattern, which can be interpreted as being due to deformation-induced arrangements of preferentially aligned dislocation segments. The results turn out to be helpful for the understanding of anisotropic small-angle X-ray scattering patterns obtained from the crack-tip plastic zone of cracked specimens of the aluminium alloy AA 6013 tempered at 190°C to maximum hardness.

We analyse the centrality dependence of thermal parameters deduced from hadron multiplicities in Au + Au collisions at sqrt{s_{NN}} = 130\ GeV. While the chemical freeze-out temperature and chemical potentials are found to be roughly centrality-independent, the strangeness saturation factor gamma_S increases with participant number towards unity, supporting the assumption of equilibrium freeze-out conditions in central collisions.

We demonstrate the design and implementation of a broad-gain and low-threshold (Jth = 860 A/cm2 at 8 K) quantum-cascade laser emitting between 3.7 and 4.2 µm. The active region design is based on strain-compensated In0.73Ga0.27As–AlAs on InP. Laser operation in pulsed mode is achieved up to a temperature of 330 K with maximum single-facet output peak powers of 6 W at 8 K and 240 mW at 296 K. The temperature coefficient T0 is 119 K.

Der prätherapeutischen Identifikation prognosebestimmender Parameter des Tumormikromilieus, z. B. dem Ausmaß der Hypoxie kommt eine besondere Bedeutung für die Individualisierung der Tumortherapie zu. Entsprechende Informationen können heute grundsätzlich durch die biologisch-funtionelle Bildgebung zur Verfügung gestellt werden. Ein wesentliches Problem sämtlicher bildgebender Verfahren ist jedoch, dass nicht zwischen klonogenen, also rezidivfähigen, und nicht -klonogenen Zellen unterschieden werden kann. Klonogene Zellen machen oft nur einen verschwindend kleinen Anteil aller Zellen im Tumor aus und können ausschließlich durch funktionell-tumorbiologische Methoden erfasst werden. Voraussetzung für die Entwicklung und Validierung funktioneller Bildgebungsmethoden ist daher die Integration von Methoden der Strahlen- und Tumorbiologie mit bildgebenden Untersuchungensverfahren. Diese Integration setzt den Aufbau und die gezielte Förderung entsprechender fachübergreifender Gruppen voraus. Bisherige Ergebnisse zur funktionellen Bildgebung des Tumormikromilieus, die anhand eines Beispiels illustriert werden, zeigen eine hohe Relevanz für unser Verständnis der Biologie von Krebserkrankungen. Es besteht wenig Zweifel daran, dass in der Zukunft die Integration der funktionellen Bildgebung in die Krebsbehandlung, z. B. in die computergeschützte Strahlentherapieplanung, wesentliche Impulse für die Verbesserung der Therpaie krebskranker Patienten bieten wird.

Bekanntlich bewirkt das Strahlungsfeld schneller Neutronen in der Umgebung des Reaktorkerns eine Verschlechterung der mechanischen Eigenschaften des Druckbehälters. Zur Vertiefung des Verständnisses und zur quantitativen Beschreibung der Zusammenhänge zwi-schen Gefüge, mechanischen Eigenschaften und Strahlenbelastung wurden an Reaktor-druck-behälter-(RDB)-Stählen Strukturuntersuchungen mit Neutronen-Kleinwinkelstreuung (SANS) durchgeführt. Dazu wurden Proben aus verschiedenen Chargen von west- und ost-europäischen RDB-Stählen verwendet, die im Rahmen des Bestrahlungsprogramms am ehemaligen Proto-typ-Reaktor WWER-2 in Rheinsberg oder der Versprödungsüberwachungsprogramme laufender WWER-Reaktoren (u. a. in Loviisa, Finnland) bestrahlt worden sind.
Die bestrahlungsbedingten Strukturveränderungen sind abhängig vom Stahltyp. Charakteristische Parameter der Strahlendefekte, wie Anzahldichte, Größenverteilung und Volumen-gehalt wurden bestimmt und mögliche Defektzusammensetzungen abgeschätzt. Es zeigte sich, dass mit zunehmender Strahlenbelastung für einen bestimmten Stahltyp der Gehalt an Defekten nicht proportional ansteigt, wobei die Größenverteilung nahezu unverändert bleibt. Defektradien bis 3 nm treten auf. Das Maximum der Größenverteilung liegt bei 1 nm. Zudem kann sich mit der Bestrahlungszeit auch die mittlere Zusammen-setzung der Punktdefekt-agglomerate aus Leer-stellen und Fremdatomen ändern. Kupferverunreinigungen im Stahl beeinflussen die Clusterbildung am stärksten. Reine Kupfer-ausschei-dungen wurden nicht beobachtet.
Eine Wärmebehandlung über 400 °C reduziert den Anteil an Defekten, aber stabilisiert kupferreiche Cluster.
Erstmals wurden SANS-Untersuchungen an nach einer Ausheilwärmebehandlung (475 °C / 100 h) wiederbestrahltem RDB-Stahl durchgeführt. Die Defekterzeugung war im zweiten Bestrahlungszyklus wesentlich geringer. Auch die Zusammensetzung der neuen Strahlendefekte wich von der des ersten Bestrahlungszustandes ab.

Extensive numerical experiments were carried out to study the effect of cylinder heating on the characteristics of the flow and heat transfer in a two-dimensional horizontal laminar flow of air past a heated circular cylinder for the range of Reynolds numbers $0.001 \le Re \le 170$. The fluid was treated as incompressible (density is independent of the pressure) while the variation of the fluid properties with temperature was taken into account. By including the transient density term of the continutiy equation, which was neglected in a previous study by Lange et al.(IJHMT, 41(22), 1998), we were able to predict correctly the vortex shedding frequency at various overheat ratios using an incompressible flow solver. The effect of dynamic viscosity and density variations on the flow dynamics occurring with the cylinder heating was analyzed separately. Another emphasis of the work was to investigate the physical mechanism behind the ``effective Reynolds number'' concept widely applied in engineering correlations. Similarity was discovered for the distribution of the local dimensionless viscous force, the vorticity and the Nusselt number at the cylinder surface and the pressure force in the rear part of the cylinder. Two characteristic temperatures, T_{ef\!f} = T_\infty + 0.28(T_W-T_\infty) for the flow dynamics and T_{f} = T_\infty + 0.5(T_W-T_\infty) for the heat transfer, were identified.

Fibrinogen is a major plasma protein. Previous investigations of structural changes of fibrinogen due to adsorption are mostly based on indirect evidence after its desorption, whereas our measurements were performed on fibrinogen in its adsorbed state. Specific enzyme linked immunosorption experiments showed that the amount of adsorbed fibrinogen increased as the surface became more hydrophobic. AFM investigations revealed the trinodular shape of fibrinogen molecules adsorbed on hydrophilic surfaces, whereas all of the molecules appeared globular on hydrophobic surfaces. The distribution of secondary structures in adsorbed fibrinogen was quantified by in-situ FTIR analysis. Substrates of identical chemical bulk composition but different surface hydrophobicity permit direct comparison among them. Adsorption properties of fibrinogen are different for each degree of hydrophobicity. Although there is some increase of turn structure and decrease of β-sheet structure, the secondary structure of adsorbed fibrinogen on hydrophilic surface turned out to be rather similar to that of the protein in solution phase with a major α-helix content. Hydrophilic surfaces exhibit superior blood compatibility as required for medical applications.

Predictions on formation and self-alignment of Si nanocrystals (NCs) at ion-irradiated SiO₂-Si interfaces have been proven by cross-section transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The model is based on ion-mixing of SiO₂-Si interfaces resulting in a region of SiO_x (x<2). During annealing, the interface restores and in the tail of the mixing profile Si excess precipitates and forms a self-aligned layer
of Si NCs in SiO₂. This Si NC delta-layer structure can hardly be observed by conventional TEM techniques due to the very low mass contrast of tiny Si NCs embedded in SiO₂. Here, a contrast enhancing method is presented based on alloying of these Si NCs with Ge. For this purpose, a thin Ge layer is embedded into the oxide sufficiently far from the interface mixing range, thus, preventing interference with the Si precipitate formation. During annealing, diffusing Ge monomers attach to the Si NCs, mainly due to the energetically favored Si-Ge bond, resulting in Si_1-xGe_x NCs with an enhanced mass contrast in TEM.

The renormalization method of Bogoljubov-Parasuik-Hepp-Zimmermann (BPHZ) is used in order to derive the renormalized energy shift due to the gauge invariant Källén-Sabry diagram of the two-photon vacuum polarization (VPVP) as well as the self energy vacuum polarization S(VP)E beyond the Uehling approximation. It is outlined, that no outer renormalization is required for the two-photon vacuum polarization and that only the inner renormalization has to be accomplished. It is shown that the so-called nongauge invariant sourious term is absent for a wide class of vacuum polarization (VP) diagrams if one applies the widely used sherical expansion of bound and free-electron propagator. This simplifies significantly calculations in bound state quantum electrodynamis. As one result of our paper the use of the BPHZ-approach in bound state QED is established.

The parameters of an envisaged undulator at the radiation source ELBE for the production of IR radiation up to 150 microns are presented.

He ion irradiation in an applied magnetic field allows to tailor the magnetic properties of thin films and nanostructures after preparation due to structural phase transformations, interfacial mixing, chemical ordering and magnetic ordering. Some examples for the case of exchange bias films, soft magnetic films and FePt nanoparticles will be demonstrated.
In addition ion implantation can be used for the doping of magnetic materials to modify the Curie temperature, the saturation magnetization or the magnetic damping behavior of ferromagnetic films. First results of these ion implantation studies will be presented.

Aufgrund der reduzierten Dimensionen in ultradünnen magnetischen Schichten und Nanopartikeln hängen die magnetischen Eigenschaf-ten, wie z. B. magnetische Anisotropien und Austauschkopplung, empfindlich von der Grenzflächen- bzw. Oberflächenmorphologie ab. Zusätzlich werden chemisch geordnete intermetallische Verbindungen zunehmend anwendungsrelevant. In beiden vorgenannten Bereichen bietet die Ionenbestrahlung eine exzellente Möglichkeit nach der Prä-paration die magnetischen Eigenschaften gezielt auf einer lokalen Skala zu beeinflussen. Somit lässt sich eine rein magnetische Na-nostrukturierung ohne Veränderung der Oberflächentopographie reali-sieren.
Der Vortrag gibt eine Übersicht über die neuen Möglichkeiten mit Hilfe der Ionenbestrahlung künstliche magnetische Strukturen herzustellen und ordnet diese im Bezug auf deren Anwendungsrelevanz ein.

X-ray reflectivity, neutron reflectivity studies and Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect measurements (MOKE) have been carried out on thermally evaporated FeMn-FeNi exchange biased films before and after ion irradiation by helium ions. MOKE shows that ion irradiation reduces the exchange bias characteristics of the samples with increased dose. Modelling of the reflectivity data infers that atoms from the buffer layer are displaced by the ions and imbedded into the substrate material. The correlation between these strong structural modifications by irradiation with the reduction of the exchange bias will be discussed.

In order to study the role of the exchange interaction at and near the interface, Ni81Fe19/Fe50Mn50 bilayers have been studied, which have an intervening layer of varying thickness and position in the antiferromagnetic Fe50Mn50 layer. The role of the intervening layer is to generate partial exchange decoupling. As a result, samples were obtained, where in one in-plane direction the position of the intervening layer varies from the interface to the top surface of the Fe50Mn50 layer at a constant intervening layer thickness, and in the other in-plane direction the intervening layer thickness varies. Two-dimensional maps of the resulting exchange bias field and the coercive field were obtained from magneto-optic Kerr effect magnetometry measurements. The role of the position and strength of the partial decoupling within the antiferromagnetic layer on the exchange bias effect and the coercive field is discussed.

A picosecond all-optical pump-probe technique is used to investigate magnetization dynamics and magnetic damping behaviour in the Ni81Fe19/Fe50Mn50 exchange bias system. Within the laser excitation the spin temperature is elevated resulting in a collapse of the exchange bias field. Thus, a fast anisotropy field pulse is launched which triggers the magnetization precession. The extracted Gilbert damping increases linearly with the exchange bias field magnitude which can be understood taking local fluctuations of the interfacial exchange coupling as an additional dissipation mechanism into account.

A hot spin and phonon gas in exchange biased metallic bilayers is induced by an 8.5 ps laser excitation. The spin-lattice temperature dynamics is sensed in real time by the time evolution of the exchange bias field on the picosecond timescale. A calibration with temperature dependent quasistatic Kerr measurements explains a pump pulse induced temperature increase of about 100°C at the interface. Upon photoexcitation the exchange coupling across the interface between the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic layer is reduced within the first 10 ps, leading to a reduction of the bias field to about 50% of its initial value. The fast thermal unpinning of the exchange coupling is followed by a heat diffusion dominated recovery with a relaxation time on the order of 160 ps. A heat transport analysis reveals the diffusivity of the studied bilayer system.

Ion nitriding is an important surface modification technique used routinely in the advanced technology industries aiming at producing high added value components with increased hardness and wear resistance. To further improve the performance of critical-part components, new methods for surface strengthening are being developed with success, like plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) and hybrid surface treatments combining PIII and ion nitriding. In particular, a combination of high-pressure (40 Pa), high-temperature (up to 450 degreesC) glow discharge nitriding with low-pressure (8 x 10(-2) Pa) ion nitriding was implemented. Analysis of the SS304 samples treated by this hybrid method was carried out using the technique of grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and the results were supported by both normal XRD and AES (Auger electron spectroscopy) measurements. Depending on the particular conditions of the treatment and the depth probed, mixed phases Of gamma(N), and gamma were measured. The improvement in hardness of the obtained surfaces (up to a factor of 2.7) was also in accordance with the results of other analysis.

Thermal or radiation enhanced diffusion of nitrogen are extensively utilized for the surface hardening of metallic components. Plasma-immersion ion implantation (PIII) is a newly developed technology, which provides ion implantation at moderate energy (10-50 keV), and thereby allowing penetration depths deeper than the surface oxide barrier. The damage caused by ion implantation together with the surface sputtering may create favorable boundary conditions for an efficient subsequent diffusive treatment such as nittiding. Surface modification of aluminum alloy 5052, Ti6A14V alloy and steels (AISI 304 and H13) by a combination of PIII and plasma nitriding (PN) has been investigated. Nitrogen ions were implanted into specimens at 15 W and then ion nitrided at low pressure with bias of - 800 V. Compared to the untreated samples the hardness of Ti6Al4V alloy and AISI 304 steel could be improved significantly. The hardness of H13 steel can be increased by 20+ACU- using a duplex process with 4-h nitriding time. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results have shown some structural modification of the metallic samples and formation of a double-layer structure in AISI 304, treated by PIII and PN. Nitrogen depth profile of the same stainless steel sample, obtained by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), shows two rather well-defined nitrogen enriched regions with different N contents: high (25-30 at.+ACU-) in a surface layer and medium (similar to 10+ACU-) in a subsurface layer.

In this paper, we describe the use of plasma based ion implantation (PBII) together with physical vapour deposition (PVD) to achieve low intrinsic stress and influence the microstructure of coatings. A model is proposed to explain the physical mechanisms responsible for observed changes in stress. The model is compared with other available models and all are tested against data obtained using a cathodic vacuum arc in background gas to deposit aluminium nitride, titanium nitride and carbon in the presence of high voltage pulsed bias on the substrate. In all three systems, application of PBII resulted in large reductions in intrinsic stress as the voltage and frequency of the pulses was increased. We observed a trade off between applied bias voltage and pulsing frequency. The crystalline systems, aluminium nitride and titanium nitride showed changes in preferred orientation in PBII treated films. An important conclusion of significance to industry is that even relatively low energy (0.5¿5 keV) ion implantation can be effectively employed to achieve stress relief.

The low- and medium-spin states of the N = 50 neutron-rich, ₃₇ ⁸⁷Rb, ₃₅ ⁸⁵Br, ₃₄ ⁸⁴Se and ₃₂ ⁸²Ge isotones have been populated in deep-inelastic processes produced by the interaction of 460 MeV 82Se ions with a 192Os target. The subsequent gamma decay has been investigated at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro using the GASP gamma-ray detector array. The comparison of the experimentally observed excited states with shell-model calculations performed with and without neutron degrees of freedom has allowed the investigation of the role of the neutron-core breaking excitations and therefore of the N = 50 shell gap. The inclusion of neutron configurations in the shell-model calculations results in an improved agreement between the experimental and calculated level energies at medium and high spin. These results highlight the considerable contribution of neutron-core particle-hole excitations across the N = 50 shell gap to the level configurations. The overall agreement of the measured excited states with the shell-model predictions is indicative of the persistence of the N = 50 shell gap down to Z = 32.

Si nanocrystals for multi-dot floating-gate memories have been produced by non-conventional ion beam synthesis (IBS). Due to ion beam mixing irradiation with 1015-1016 Si+ cm-2 at 50-100 keV through 50 nm poly-Si and 15 nm SiO2 on (001)Si results in a considerable Si excess within the oxide. At the upper and lower interfaces of the gate oxide, this ion irradiation forms a metastable SiOx (x < 2) composition. Post-irradiation RTA thermal treatment leads to phase separation into Si and SiO2. Adjacent to the recovering interfaces, narrow SiO2 zones become denuded of excess Si. More distant excess Si precipitates as Si NCs in the gate oxide. MOSFET characteristics in terms of write/erase voltage, duration of the programming time, endurance and retention have been evaluated.

The paper presents the results of a thermal hydraulic experiment conducted at the PMK-2 test facility in the frame of the IMPAM-VVER project. The test was dedicated to a scenario assuming a loss-of-coolant event dur-ing the cool-down phase of the plant, when neither core flooding tanks nor safety injections systems are available by an automatic action. This may lead to core heat-up in case of a larger LOCA. The assumed break size in the test was 30%. The experiment has shown that an overheat of the fuel rod cladding occurs. Finally, one of four lines of the low pressure ECC injection system is sufficient to handle the situation and to cool down the reactor safely. A speciality of the scenario is the fact that the primary circuit is pressurised with nitrogen. In the course of the transient, non-condensable gas can enter the primary circuit from the pressurizer during the blow-down phase. In order to study the transport of the nitrogen along the primary circuit, the test facility PMK-2 was equipped with a novel type of probe: a local void probe equipped with an integrated micro-thermocouple. The new probes delivered a global picture of the process. Nitrogen coming from the pressurizer after its depletion enters the circuit via the surge line and turns first in the direction of the main coolant flow towards the steam generator and finally towards the break in the cold leg. However, nitrogen is also moving in the opposite direc-tion and reaches the reactor outlet and enters even the upper plenum of the reactor closely after the main circulation pump has stopped. RELAP5 was found to be able to predict the behaviour of the non-condensable gas in the primary circuit. Despite of some delay in the prediction of the time of the appearance of the gaseous phase in the begin of the process, most details of the transient were reproduced by the calculation with a good accuracy.

The modified Rossendorf Cs sputter ion source 860-C presented at the SNEAP 2002 [1] was opened in July 2004 for maintenance after 4100 operation hours. The main reason for this first source opening after its installation in July 2002 was a short circuit of the sputter voltage due to material deposition on the cathode insulator. Beside the long lifetime the modification of the source has resulted in a reduced erosion of the spherical ioniser and in a concentrated deposition of the sputtered material on the front side of the additional shielding electrode and on the cathode-shielding electrode. After cleaning all inner source parts can be reused in the ion source.

[1] M. Friedrich and H. Tyrroff, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B 201 (2003) 645.

The increasing importance of ultra-thin layers for novel technologies demands quantitative analysis techniques with a depth resolution of atomic monolayers, which can be obtained for RBS and ERDA by magnetic spectrometers.

We operate at the 3 MV Tandetron accelerator a magnetic spectrometer consisting of an UHV scattering chamber and a simple dipole magnet with circular field boundaries (Browne¿Buechner spectrometer). Since in many cases of high resolution ion beam analysis the samples must be prepared in situ in UHV, the chamber with a base vacuum of 4 × 10^-10 mbar is equipped with an ion sputter gun and two low rate e-beam evaporators for in situ layer deposition. A RHEED system is used to check the surface reconstruction and monitor the layer growth. Samples are transferred, together with a BN heater, to the precision 5-axes channelling goniometer. The magnet with a mean radius of 0.65 m is mounted vertically and can be positioned either at 35.5° or 144.5°. The backward position offers the advantage of a high mass resolution, but the Rutherford cross sections are a factor of about 100 lower than at the forward angle, which is the preferred position if kinematically possible.

At the 5 MV tandem accelerator a QQDS magnetic spectrometer is being installed. The facilities for in situ sample preparation in UHV are similar. These spectrometers are described in detail and recent applications are discussed.

We have studied the Dr7C3 phase by means of ab initio calculations and found covalentionic Cr-C-Cr chains in a metallic matrix. Furthermore the structure of thin films, synthesized by Rf magnetron sputtering, is schown to be in good agreement with our theoretical prediction.

We have measured the differential cross section for the b3;n࢐c0;^-p and b3;n࢐c0;⁺ reactions at c.m. = 90° in the photon energy range from 1.1 to 5.5 GeV at Jefferson Lab (JLab). The data at E3.3 GeV exhibit a global scaling behavior for both c0;^- and c0;⁺ photoproduction, consistent with the constituent counting rule and the existing c0;⁺ photoproduction data. Possible oscillations around the scaling value are suggested by these new data. The data show enhancement in the scaled cross section at a center-of-mass energy near 2.2 GeV. The cross section ratio of exclusive c0;^- to c0;⁺ photoproduction at high energy is consistent with the prediction based on one-hard-gluon-exchange diagrams.

Evidence is presented for multiphonon excitations based on a high-spin (25) intrinsic state in the deformed nucleus ¹⁸²Os. Angular momentum generation by this mode competes with collective rotation. The experimental data are compared with tilted-axis cranking calculations, supporting the vibrational interpretation. However, the lower experimental energies provide evidence that more complex interactions of states are playing a role.

A comparative study of clustering of sp² -bonded atoms in the as-deposited and annealed tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) films is presented. The as-deposited ta-C with a grown-in compressive stress of ~10 GPa is modelled using amorphous networks generated by ion-beam film deposition simulations with a modified hydrocarbon potential of Brenner. The ta-C networks were annealed in the temperature range of 600-1200 K, using molecular-dynamics with the same interatomic potential. The size and type of the sp² clusters were analysed as a function of the annealing temperature as well as the simulation parameters for the stress and temperature control. An essential finding of this study is that at the density less than 3.0 g/cm³ the structure of ta-C can become unstable with respect to formation of large sp² clusters. The influence of the sp² clustering on the film stress is also discussed.

We present new measurements of the ⁷Be(p,gamma)⁸B cross section from p_c.m. = 116 to 2460 keV (where c.m. means center-of-mass), which incorporate several improvements over our previously published experiment, also discussed here. Our new measurements lead to S₁₇(0) = 22.1±0.6(expt)±0.6(theor) eV b based on data from p_c.m. = 116 to 362 keV, where the central value is based on the theory of Descouvemont and Baye. The theoretical error estimate is based on the fit of 12 different theories to our low-energy data. We compare our results to other S₁₇(0) values extracted from both direct [⁷Be(p,gamma)⁸B] and indirect (Coulomb-dissociation and heavy-ion reaction) measurements, and show that the results of these three types of experiments are not mutually compatible. We recommend a "best" value, S₁₇(0) = 21.4±0.5(expt)±0.6(theor) eV b, based on the mean of all modern direct measurements below the 1+ resonance. We also present S factors at 20 keV which is near the center of the Gamow window: the result of our measurements is S17(20) = 21.4±0.6(expt)±0.6(theor) eV b, and the recommended value is S17(20) = 20.6±0.5(expt)±0.6(theor) eV b.

Isotopic series of 58 neutron-deficient secondary projectiles (205,206At, 205,209Rn, 208,212,217,218Fr, 211,223Ra, 215,226Ac, 221,229Th, 226,k231Pa, 231,234U) were produced by projectile fragmentation using a 1 A GeV 238U beam. Cross sections of fission induced by nuclear and electromagnetic interactions in a secondary lead target were measured. They were found to vary smoothly as a function of proton and neutron number of the fissioning system, also for nuclei with large ground-state shell effects near the 126-neutron shell. No stabilization against fission was observed for these nuclei at low excitation energies. Consequences for the expectations on the production cross sections of super-heavy nuclei are discussed.

Analyses of the centrality binned identified hadron multiplicities at SPS (Ýa;s = 17 AGeV) and RHIC (Ýa;s = 130 AGeV) within the statistical-thermal model point to strangeness saturation with increasing centrality and energy

Dipole and quadrupole excitations in the semimagic N=50 Nucleus ⁸⁸Sr were investigated at the superconducting Darmsatdt linear accelerator S-DALINAC with bremsstrahlung of an endpoint energy of 6.8 MeV. Many new dipole excitations could be identified, and their reduced transition probabilities were determined. The experimental findings are discussed in the context of quasiparticle-phonon-model and shell-model calculations. A breaking of the N=50 core is essential to describe the structure of the observed excitations. The two-phonon quadrupole-octupole J^pi=1^- state exhibits unusual features which are presently not understood.

Two new octahedral rhenium cluster complexes, [Re₆S₇O(3,5-Me₂PzH)₆]Br₂*3,5-Me₂PzH and [Re₆Se₇O(3,5-Me₂PzH)₆]Br₂*3,5-Me₂PzH, with the organic ligand 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (3,5-Me₂PzH) have been synthesized by reaction of rhenium chalcobromides Cs₃[Re₆(μ₃-Q₇Br)Br₆] (Q = S, Se) with molten dimethylpyrazole. During the reaction all six apical bromine ligands of the cluster complexes are substituted by the organic ligand which is coordinated via the aromatic nitrogen N2. Additionally, the inner ligand μ₃-Br in the cluster core [Re₆(μ₃-Q₇Br)]³⁺ is substituted by oxygen given cluster cores, [Re₆(μ₃-Q₇O)]²⁺, with mixed chalcogene/oxygen ligands.

Two novel star-like cyclam derivatives with appended four amino groups and four PEG-arms have been synthesized. The complex formation of cyclam and the cyclam derivatives and with Cu(II) has been studied by UV-Vis and time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence (TRLFS) measurements. The cyclam ligands investigated form 1:1 complexes with Cu(II). Rapid complex formation was found for cyclam and the pegylated derivative. By way of contrast, complete attainment of complexation between Cu(II) and cyclam ligand having external primary amino groups needs approx. 1 hour. By TRLFS measurements a quench effect of the Cu(II) on the fluorescence of the ligand was found. This behaviour was used to determine the complex formation between Cu(II) and the ligands.

Experimental investigations and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calculations on coolant mixing in Pressurised Water Reactors (PWR) have been performed within the EC project FLOMIX-R. The project aims at describing the mixing phenomena relevant for both safety analysis, particularly in steam line break and boron dilution scenarios, and mixing phenomena of interest for economical operation and the structural integrity. Measurement data from a set of mixing experiments have been gained by using advanced measurement techniques with enhanced resolution in time and space. Slug mixing tests simulating the start-up of the first main circulation pump are performed with two 1:5 scaled facilities: the Rossendorf Coolant Mixing model ROCOM and the Vattenfall test facility. Additional data on slug mixing in a VVER-1000 type reactor have been gained at a 1:5 scaled metal mock-up at EDO Gidropress. Experimental results on buoyancy driven mixing of fluids with density differences have been obtained at ROCOM and the Fortum PTS test facility.
Concerning mixing phenomena of interest for operational issues and thermal fatigue, flow distribution data available from commissioning tests at PWRs and VVER are used together with the data from the ROCOM facility as a basis for the flow distribution studies.
In part 1 of the paper, the experiments performed are described, results of the mixing experiments are shown and discussed. In part 2, efforts on computational fluid dynamics codes validation on selected mixing tests under steady-state flow conditions will be reported about. The application of Best Practice Guidelines in code validation will be demonstrated.

For calculations of Lower Head Failure experiments like FOREVER it is necessary to model the melt pool convection and the temperature field within the vessel as well as creep and plasticity processes. Therefore a 2D Finite Element Model is developed based on a commercial Finite-Element-code. The CFD module is used to calculate the thermodynamics. The resulting temperature field of the vessel wall is applied to the mechanical model. To describe the visco-plastic deformation a numerical creep data base (CDB) is developed where the creep strain rate is evaluated in dependence on the current total strain, temperature and equivalent stress. In this way the use of a single creep law, which employs constants derived from the data for a limited stress and temperature range, is avoided. For an evaluation of the failure times a damage model is applied.
After pre- and post-test calculations of the ealier FOREVER-experiments, pre-test calculations for the forthcoming experiments were performed. Taking into account both - experimental and numerical results - gives a good opportunity to improve the simulation and understanding of real accident scenarios.
After analyzing the results of the calculations, it seems to be advantageous to provide a vessel support, which can unburden the vessel from a part of the mechanical load and, therefore, avoid the vessel failure or at least prolong the time to failure. This can be a possible accident mitigation strategy. Additionally, it may be advantageous to install a passive automatic control device to initiate the flooding of the reactor pit to ensure external vessel cooling in the event of a core melt down.

wird nachgereicht

Si-SiO2 structures irradiated with 11-MeV electrons for 10 s and then implanted with B+ ions with an energy of 10 keV at a dose of 1.0×1012 cm-2 through the oxide were annealed at different temperatures. MOS capacitors including such oxide layers were studied by quasi-static C/V and thermally stimulated current (TSC) methods. A comparison of the radiation defect annealing of double-treated (electron-irradiated and ion-implanted) samples and of implanted-only samples was carried out. It is shown that a preceding low-dose high-energy electron irradiation of the samples leads to a lowering of the annealing temperature of radiation defects introduced by ion implantation. After annealing at 500 °C for 15 min, no TSC spectra for the double-treated samples were observed. The spectra of the other samples (which were not previously irradiated) showed that after the same thermal treatment only some of the radiation defects introduced by ion implantation are annealed. The difference between the annealed interface state density of previously electron-irradiated and current MOS structures is also demonstrated. A possible explanation of the results is proposed .

By means of magnetic measurements as a function of temperature and magnetic field, the coordination polymer Cu(II)-2,5-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)-1,4-dihydroxybenzene has been identified as a model system for a homogeneous antiferromagnetic S=1/2 Heisenberg spin chain with a moderate exchange-coupling constant |J| = 21.5 K/k_B. Measurements of the longitudinal elastic constant in pulsed fields up to 50 T, i.e., across the saturation field gmu(B)B(S)=2|J|, reveal a pronounced acoustic anomaly near B_S at T<|J|k_B. We show that this feature is directly related to the shape of the magnetization curve and thus represents a generic property of a one-dimensional S=1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet with finite spin-lattice interaction.

Low-dimensional spin systems in high magnetic fields reveal new and unexpected physical phenomena. Typical examples are the distinct plateaus in the magnetization found in quasi- 1d and 2d compounds. Even for the well known case of the quasi-1d homogeneous Heisenberg spin chain or its dimerized variant, unexpected elastic anomalies can be detected in high magnetic fields. Since the exchange constants of these low-dimensional spin systems are of the order of the dominant energy scale, pulse-field experiments are particularly well suited for investigations of the magnetic properties. In this contribution we present and discuss our results for selected low-dimensional compounds such as the homogeneous antiferromagnetic Heisenberg spin chain Cu(II)-bispyrazoldihydroxybenzene, which is a new quasi-1d Cu(II)-coordination polymer, the dimerized spin chain (VO)₂P₂O₇, and the plateau systems SrCU₂(BO₃)₂ and NH₄CUCl₃.

The production and the propagation of K+- and of K--mesons in heavyion collisions at beam energies of 1 to 2 A GeV have systematically been investigated with the Kaon Spectrometer (KaoS) at the SIS at the GSI. The ratio of the K+-production excitation function for Au+Au and for C+C reactions increases with decreasing beam energy, which is expected for a soft nuclear equation-of-state. At 1.5 A GeV a comprehensive study of the K+- and of the K--emission as a function of the size of the collision system, of the collision centrality, of the kaon energy, and of the polar emission angle has been performed. The K-/K+ ratio is found to be nearly constant as a function of the collision centrality. The spectral slopes and the polar emission patterns are different for K- and K+. These observations indicate that K+-mesons decouple earlier from the reaction zone than K--mesons.

The final state in heavy-ion collisions has a higher degree of strangeness saturation than the one produced in collisions between elementary particles such as p-p or p-(p) over bar. A systematic analysis of this phenomenon is made for C-C, Si-Si and Pb-Pb collisions at the CERN SPS collider and for Au-Au collisions at RHIC and at AGS energies. Strangeness saturation is shown to increase smoothly with the number of participants at AGS, CERN and RHIC energies.

This paper discusses the experimental realisation of two types of X-ray interferometer based on pinhole diffraction. In both interferometers the beam splitter was a thin metal foil containing micrometer pinholes to divide the incident X-ray wave into two coherent waves. The interference pattern was studied using an energy-dispersive detector to simultaneously investigate in a large spectral range the diffraction properties of the white synchrotron radiation. For a highly absorbing pinhole mask the interference fringes from the classical Young's double-pinhole experiment were recorded and the degree of coherence of X-rays could be determined. In the case of low absorption of the metal foil at higher X-ray energies (> 15 keV) the interference pattern of a point diffraction interferometer was observed using the same set-up. The spectral refraction index of the metal foil was determined.

With the Dresden EBIT (electron beam ion trap) a room temperature, compact and long-term stable source of slow highly charged ions (HCIs) has been developed and prepared for small series production. A wide spectrum of ions such as Ar18+, Fe24+ and Xe44+ have been produced and extracted with energies less than q x 10 keV (q - ion charge). At ion-surface interactions the high neutralization energy of the ionic projectiles leads to high power densities of 10(12)-10(13) W/cm(2) at the surface. Thus, these ions can produce nanoscale material modifications and can be used for surface analysis techniques as well. Examples of extracted and magnetically analyzed ion beams are given. Fields of applications of slow highly charged ions are summarized.

A buried layer of iron disilicide was synthesized by ion implantation in (111) Si p-type maintained at 500 degreesC using 195 keV Fe ions with a dose of 2 x 10(17) at./cm(2), followed by annealing in a N-2 atmosphere at 850 degreesC for 90 min. The investigation of the phase composition is carried out by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), whereas the structural characterization is obtained by means of both X-ray diffraction (XRD) pole figure and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM). The precipitates favor epitaxial growth with respect to (111) Si planes with epitaxial relationships (220) beta-FeSi(2)parallel to(111) Si and/or (202) beta-FeSi(2)parallel to(111) Si. A mixture of beta-FeSi2 and alpha-FeSi2 Silicides is observed in the as-implanted state. After annealing of the samples at 1000 degreesC, the XRD pole figures show the transition from beta-phase to alpha-phase.

The nucleus-nucleus Liege intranuclear-cascade+percolation+evaporation model has been applied to the C-12+Au-197 data measured by the INDRA-ALADIN collaboration at GSI. After the intranuclear cascade stage, the data are better reproduced when using the Statistical Multiframentation Model as afterburner. Further checks of the model are done on data front the EOS and KAOS collaborations.