Neutron background in large-scale xenon detectors for dark matter searches

Simulations of the neutron background for future large-scale particle dark matter detectors are presented. Neutrons were generated in rock and detector elements via spontaneous fission and (α,n) reactions, and by cosmic-ray muons. The simulation techniques and results are discussed in the context of the expected sensitivity of a generic liquid xenon dark matter detector. Methods of neutron background suppression are investigated. A sensitivity of 10⁻⁹–10⁻¹⁰ pb to WIMP-nucleon interactions can be achieved by a tonne-scale detector.     

Water transport from the North-east Irish Sea to western Scottish coastal waters: Further observations from time-trend matching of Sellafield radiocaesium

Radiocaesium isotopes, discharged into the North-east Irish Sea from the Sellafield (formerly Windscale) nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Cumbria, have been employed as flow monitors to update and extend the record of coastal water movement from the Irish Sea to the Clyde Sea area and, further north, to Loch Etive. The temporal trends in radiocaesium levels have been used to determine the extent of water mixing en route and to define mean advection rates. Flow conditions from the Irish Sea have changed considerably since the mid-1970s, the residence time of northern Irish Sea waters being ～12 months during 1978–1980 inclusive. Average transport times of four and six months are estimated for the Sellafield to Clyde and Sellafield to Etive transects respectively. Sellafield ¹³⁷Cs levels in seawater were diluted by factors of 27 and 50 respectively during current movement to the Clyde and Etive areas. The decrease in salinity-corrected ¹³⁷Cs concentrations between the Clyde and Etive suggests that dilution by Atlantic water occurs, the latter mainly entering the Firth of Lorne from the west. The majority (～94%) of the radiocaesium supply to Loch Etive enters the Firth of Lorne via the portion of the coastal current circulating west of Islay, only ～6% arriving via the Sound of Jura.     

Zircon coronas around Fe–Ti oxides: a physical reference frame for metamorphic and metasomatic reactions

Ilmenite in coronitic gabbros from the Bamble and Kongsberg sectors, southern Norway, is surrounded by zircons ranging in diameters from a fraction of a micrometer to 10 μm across. The zircons are inert during subsequent metamorphism (amphibolite- to pumpellyite–prehnite facies) and metasomatism (scapolitization and albitization) and can be found as trails in silicates (phlogopite, talc, chlorite, amphibole, albite, and tourmaline) in the altered rocks. The trails link up to form polygons outlining the former oxide grain boundary. This 3-dimensional framework of zircons is used to (a) recognize metasomatic origin of rocks, (b) quantify the mobility of elements during mineral replacement, (c) establish the growth direction of reaction fronts and to identify the reaction mechanism as dissolution–reprecipitation. Zircon coronas on Fe–Ti oxides have been described from a number of terrains and appear to be common in mafic rocks (gabbros and granulites) providing a tool for a better understanding of metasomatic and metamorphic reactions.     

海水中234Th的超低水平液闪谱仪测定

本文提出了利用超低水平液闪谱仪测定海水中234Th的方法.海水经氢氧化铁吸附共沉淀富集后,接着用阴离子交换和TBP/煤油萃取进行Th同位素的分离与纯化.对一系列测定条件进行了详细的研究,提出了测定海水中234Th的适宜程序,即在含有234Th和产额示踪剂230Th的纯化后的5mol/dm3HNO3溶液中加入TBP/煤油进行萃取,然后用0.1mol/dm3HNO3反萃取,后者是先用契伦柯夫计数法测量234Th(通过234mPa),后加入闪烁液Hisafe 3用α/β模式测量α放射体230Th.对于α和β放射体液闪谱仪的计数效率分别为100%和55.7%±2.7%.234Th的化学回收率和总探测效率分别为70%～80%和30%～45%.该法测定海水中的234Th快速、简便和高效.     

北太平洋亚热带环流区表层水中226Ra和228Ra的分布与变化

对1999年9～10月采自北太平洋亚热带环流区的19份表层海水样品的Ra同位素分析表明。研究海域表层水中的^226Ra、^228Ra放射性比度分别介于0．67～0．92、0．08～0．30Bq／m^3之间，平均值分别为0．74、0．11Bq/m^3．^226Ra/^228Ra)A．R．活度比的变化范围为0．11～0．44，平均值为0．19．上述数值明显低于近岸海域水体的相应值，表现为典型的开阔大洋水的特征．从空间分布的特征看，研究海域Ra同位素含量与^226Ra/^228Ra)A.R.值均呈均匀分布态势．将本研究结果与历史数据进行对比后发现，本研究获得的^226Ra、^228Ra放射性比度比20世纪60～80年代得到的数据来得低，可能与水体层化作用加强导致的Ra补充量的减少以及生物生产力升高导致的Ra迁出量的增加有关．北太平洋亚热带环流区表层水中Ra同位素的时间变化与文献报道的该海域叶绿素a、硅酸盐、磷酸盐含量与初级生产力的历史变化趋势相吻合．     

阳江东平核电站邻近海区鱼卵和仔鱼调查研究

广东阳江东平核电站邻近海区生态调查于1998年4月(春季)和10月(秋季)进行。春季采获鱼卵101个、仔鱼45尾，隶属于4目9科11种和4个未定种；秋季采获鱼卵82个、仔鱼104尾，隶属于5目9科13种和3个未定种。对一些主要种类如康氏小公鱼Anchoviella commersoni、裘氏小沙丁鱼Sardinella jussieu、斑鲦Clupainddon punctatus、杜氏棱鳗Thrissa dussumieri、无齿鲦Andontostoma chacunda等的数量分布特征作了描述。就影响鱼卵、仔鱼种类数量分布的因素作了探讨，还对核电站建成后温排水对鱼卵、仔鱼的影响进行了预测。     

基于组件GIS的核勘查数据处理的关键问题

摘要：在核地球物理勘查中,对获取的核地球物理数据进行处理很重要。介绍了采用组件GIS技术-MapObjects控件来对核地球物理数据进行处理。研究了核地球物理数据处理中的几个关键问题：数据网格化,shape文件的形成和点数据图层分级显示。     

地面核磁共振模型约束反演含水层参数

导电模型的地面核磁共振感应电动势是含水量的非线性函数.引入模型约束的迭代反演方法求解该非线性问题的反演.在反演过程中,根据理论公式计算迭代过程中灵敏度矩阵,并采用平坦模型和光滑模型两种约束.对均匀半空间、层状导电模型和实际数据进行了反演模拟,结果表明,模型约束迭代反演方法能从地面核磁共振感应电动势获得含水层较为合理的含水量及分布,且该结果可以从作为初始模型的均匀含水量分布反演得到.对无噪音数据,平坦模型和光滑模型约束对反演的含水量分布影响不大;但当数据存在一定的噪音时,平坦模型约束将比光滑模型约束获得更为精确的含水层参数.