Maurice B. Aufderheide

Nuclear shell model calculations of neutralino-nucleus cross sections for 29Si and 73Ge.

We present the results of detailed nuclear shell model calculations of the spin-dependent elastic cross section for neutralinos scattering from \si29 and \ge73. The calculations were performed in large model spaces which adequately describe the configuration mixing in these two nuclei. As tests of the computed nuclear wave functions, we have calculated several nuclear observables and compared them with the measured values and found good agreement. In the limit of zero momentum transfer, we find scattering matrix elements in agreement with previous estimates for \si29 but significantly different than previous work for \ge73. A modest quenching, in accord with shell model studies of other heavy nuclei, has been included to bring agreement between the measured and calculated values of the magnetic moment for \ge73. Even with this quenching, the calculated scattering rate is roughly a factor of 2 higher than the best previous estimates; without quenching, the rate is a factor of 4 higher. This implies a higher sensitivity for germanium dark matter detectors. We also investigate the role of finite momentum transfer upon the scattering response for both nuclei and find that this can significantly change the expected rates. We close with a brief discussion of the effects of some of the non-nuclear uncertainties upon the matrix elements.

The QCD phase transition and supernova core collapse

Author(s): Gentile, NA; Aufderheide, MB; Mathews, GJ; Swesty, FD; Fuller, GM | Abstract: We examine the implications for stellar core collapse of a phase transition occurring at densities of a few times nuclear matter density. We use a schematic equation of state motivated by the Skyrme model low-energy approximation to QCD, which contains a phase transition corresponding to the conversion of bulk nuclear matter to a chirally symmetric quark-gluon phase. We analyze the stability of the core against gravitational collapse with respect to the amount of gravitational binding energy released and the kinematic energy of the shock. We show that a first-order phase transition actually gives rise to two shocks which quickly coalesce. More importantly, we show that there are significant differences in the evolution of cores with or without first- or second-order phase transitions which may eventually lead to observational signatures in the neutrino signal.

Blurring artifacts in megavoltage radiography with a flat‐panel imaging system: Comparison of Monte Carlo simulations with measurements

Originally designed for use at medical-imaging x-ray energies, imaging systems comprising scintillating screens and amorphous Si detectors are also used at the megavoltage photon energies typical of portal imaging and industrial radiography. While image blur at medical-imaging x-ray energies is strongly influenced both by K-shell fluorescence and by the transport of optical photons within the scintillator layer, at higher photon energies the image blur is dominated by radiation scattered from the detector housing and internal support structures. We use Monte Carlo methods to study the blurring in a notional detector: a series of semi-infinite layers with material compositions, thicknesses, and densities similar to those of a commercially available flat-panel amorphous Si detector system comprising a protective housing, a gadolinium oxysulfide scintillator screen, and associated electronics. We find that the image blurring, as described by a point-spread function (PSF), has three length scales. The first component, with a submillimeter length scale, arises from electron scatter within the scintillator and detection electronics. The second component, with a millimeter-to-centimeter length scale, arises from electrons produced in the front cover of the detector. The third component, with a length scale of tens of centimeters, arises from photon scatter by the back cover of the detector. The relative contributions of each of these components to the overall PSF vary with incident photon energy. We present an algorithm that includes the energy-dependent sensitivity and energy-dependent PSF within a ray-tracing formalism. We find quantitative agreement (approximately 2%) between predicted radiographs with radiographs of copper step wedges, taken with a 9 MV bremsstrahlung source and a commercially available flat-panel system. The measured radiographs show the blurring artifacts expected from both the millimeter-scale electron transport and from the tens-of-centimeters length scale arising from the scattered photon transport. Calculations indicate that neglect of the energy-dependent blurring would lead to discrepancies in the apparent transmission of these wedges of the order of 9%.

Flash radiography with 24 GeV/c protons

The accuracy of density measurements and position resolution in flash (40 ns) radiography of thick objects with 24 Gev/c protons is investigated. A global model fit to step wedge data is shown to give a good description spanning the periodic table. The parameters obtained from the step wedge data are used to predict transmission through the French Test Object (FTO), a test object of nested spheres, to a precision better than 1%. Multiple trials have been used to show that the systematic errors are less than 2%. Absolute agreement between the average radiographic measurements of the density and the known density is 1%. Spatial resolution has been measured to be 200 μm at the center of the FTO. These data verify expectations of the benefits provided by high energy hadron radiography for thick objects.

HADES, a radiographic simulation code

We describe features of the HADES radiographic simulation code. We begin with a discussion of why it is useful to simulate transmission radiography. The capabilities of HADES are described, followed by an application of HADES to a dynamic experiment recently performed at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. We describe quantitative comparisons between experimental data and HADES simulations using a copper step wedge. We conclude with a short discussion of future work planned for HADES.

System-Independent Characterization of Materials Using Dual-Energy Computed Tomography

We present a new decomposition approach for dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) called SIRZ that provides precise and accurate material description, independent of the scanner, over diagnostic energy ranges (30 to 200 keV). System independence is achieved by explicitly including a scanner-specific spectral description in the decomposition method, and a new X-ray-relevant feature space. The feature space consists of electron density, ρe, and a new effective atomic number, Ze, which is based on published X-ray cross sections. Reference materials are used in conjunction with the system spectral response so that additional beam-hardening correction is not necessary. The technique is tested against other methods on DECT data of known specimens scanned by diverse spectra and systems. Uncertainties in accuracy and precision are less than 3% and 2% respectively for the (ρe, Ze) results compared to prior methods that are inaccurate and imprecise (over 9%).

Proton radiography as a means of material characterization

We describe how protons with energies of 800 MeV or greater can be used as radiographic probes for material characterization. A feature which distinguishes protons from x-rays is their charge, which results in multiple Coulomb scattering effects in proton radiographs. Magnetic lensing can ameliorate these effects and even allow mixed substances to be disentangled. We illustrate some of these effects using 800 MeV protons radiographs of a composite step wedge composed of Aluminum, Foam, and Graphite. We discuss how proton radiographs must be manipulated in order to use standard tomographic reconstruction algorithms. We conclude with a brief description of an upcoming experiment, which will be performed at Brookhaven National Laboratory at 25 GeV.

Diffusion coefficients and inhomogeneous big-bang nucleosynthesis

Abstract We study the effects of recently calculated baryon diffusion coefficients on the yields of primordial light elements in baryon-inhomogeneous big-bang models. The new coefficients are an improvement over previously used values in that they go to the correct nonrelativistic limit for neutron-electron scattering and give a more correct numerical value for the nucleon-nucleon scattering contribution. The largest effect of these new coefficients on nucleosynthesis is through neutron-proton scattering. We find that the somewhat larger value for D np in the present work shifts the optimum separation distance between fluctuations, at which the effects of inhomogeneities are maximized, to slightly larger distance scales. Otherwise, the nucleosynthesis yields derived using these new diffusion coefficients are similar to those obtained previously thereby confirming the robustness of earlier derived constraints.

Simulation of Phase Effects in Imaging for Mesoscale NDE

High energy density experiments, such as those planned at the National Ignition Facility (NIF), use mesoscale targets with the goals of studying high energy density physics, inertial confinement fusion, and the support of national security needs. Mesoscale targets are typically several millimeters in size and have complex micrometer‐sized structures composed of high‐density metals and low‐density foams and ices. These targets are designed with exacting tolerances that are difficult to achieve at present. Deviation from these tolerances can result in compromise of experimental goals and thus it is necessary to determine as‐built properties of these targets using NDE techniques. Radiography and computed tomography are being used to investigate these targets, but the mix between phase and absorption information is difficult to separate, making interpretation of results difficult. We have recently improved the HADES radiographic simulation code to include phase in simulations, as an aid for doing NDE on mesos...

Data analysis techniques for extracting Gamow–Teller strengths from data

Abstract Techniques are described to obtain absolute normalizations for Gamow–Teller strength functions from (p,n) spectra. A method using data taken at two different proton energies and a method using polarization transfer data are discussed. Both methods require determining the number of counts due to the Fermi transition which is usually not completely resolved. We discuss methods for normalizing to unresolved Fermi peaks and handling peak shapes encountered in real time-of-flight spectra.