published_or_final_version / Physics / Master / Master of Philosophy

Thesis (M.App.Sc.) - Carleton University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-121). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

M.Phil. (Energy Studies) / This dissertation details the radiation shielding analysis and optimization performed to design a shield for the mineral-PET (Positron Emission Tomography) facility. PET is a nuclear imaging technique currently used in diagnostic medicine. The technique is based on the detection of 511 keV coincident and co-linear photons produced from the annihilation of a positron (produced by a positron emitter) and a nearby electron. The technique is now being considered for the detection of diamonds in Kimberlite rock, in which mineral-PET technology aims to improve diamond mining through the early detection of diamond bearing rocks. High energy photons are produced via Bremsstrahlung (which occurs when electrons from an accelerator, impinge on a high density target)...

The correlation of vacancy concentration with microhardness of Fe-Al alloys was studied on samples quenched from 1000 řC and subsequently annealed at lower temperatures. Using X-ray diffraction the lattice parameter and crystal structure were determined for samples of Fe-Al alloys. By measurements of positron lifetime was revealed the high concentration of vacancies in quenched samples and subsequent annealing caused significant decrease in vacancy concentration while in samples with Al content above 39% also the decrease of microhardness was measured. Measurements of coincidence Doppler broadening of annihilation peak helped to distinguish the annihilations coming from positron trapped or delocalized annihilated by electrons of both atoms, Fe and Al. Comparison of measured results with theoretical quantum-mechanics calculations performed in this diploma thesis determined the most probable defect type as a vacancy on A-sublatice of B2 structure.

Název práce: Studium defekt· v kvazikrystalech Autor: Marián Vlček Katedra: Katedra fyziky nízkých teplot Vedoucí disertační práce: doc. Mgr. Jakub ížek, Ph.D., Katedra fyziky nízkých teplot Abstrakt: V predloženej práci boli pomocou spektroskopie doby života poz- itrónov a koincidenčnej spektroskopie Dopplerovského rozšírenia anihilačného píku študované zliatiny WE43 s prídavkom zinku a ternárne zliatiny Mg-Zn-Y. V týchto zliatinách bola nedávno zistená prítomnos' ikosahedrálnej fázy Mg3Zn6Y1 s kvázikryštalickou štruktúrou, čo pritiahlo pozornos' výskumníkov. Spektroskopia doby života pozitrónov preukázala prítomnos' unikátnych vakanciám podobných defektov na rozhraní ikosahedrálnej fázy a horčíkovej matrice, ktoré sú charakter- istické pre horčíkové zliatiny obsahujúce ikosahedrálnu fázu. Tepelné spracovanie skúmaných zliatin vedie k významným zmenám morfológie hraničných fáz. Ke¤že vakanciám podobné defekty spojené s ikosahedrálnou fázou sa vyskytujú na jej rozhraní s horčíkovou matricou, zmeny v morfológii ikosahedrálnej fázy vedú k výrazným zmenám koncentrácie týchto defektov. "alej boli skúmané vzorky pripravené uhlovým pretláčaním kanálom rovnakého prierezu. Typy defektov prítomné v týchto zliatinách a ich teplotná stabilita bola určená pomocou spektroskopie doby života pozitrónov a merania tvrdosti...

Title: Investigation of vacancies in Fe-Al alloys Author: RNDr. František Lukáč Department: Department of Low Temperature Physics Supervisor: doc. Mgr. Jakub Čížek, Ph.D., Department of Low Temperature Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics Abstract: Fe-Al alloys exhibit relatively high vacancy concentrations, which significantly influence the mechanical properties of these alloys. Positron annihi- lation spectroscopy was employed for investigations of vacancies in this work and the vacancy concentrations in Fe-Al alloys were determined by positron lifetime spectroscopy and measurements of positron diffusion length of implanted mono- genergetic positrons. The correlation of hardness with the vacancy concentration was characterized by determination of the vacancy hardening coefficient in Fe- Al alloys. The thermal evolutions of hardness and the vacancy concentration were compared during the annealing of the Fe-Al alloys with various composi- tions. Coincidence Doppler broadening of annihilation peak was employed for determination of the chemical composition of quenched-in vacancies in Fe-Al al- loys. Increased concentration of Al atoms in surrounding vacancies in Fe-Al alloys was related to the attractive interaction between the Al atoms and the vacancy. Quantum mechanical ab initio calculations were...

This thesis deals with the system of titanium and hydrogen. Interstitial hydrogen alloys and hydrides are subject to intensive investigation, both theoretical and experimental. It has been proved, that absorbed hydrogen lowers the formation energy of defects in metals, and thus works as the so called 'defactant'. Surfactants on the surfaces of liquids lower the surface tension; defactants in solids lower the formation energy of defects. It has also been proved, that titanium absorbs hydrogen readily, when exposed to high temperature, or high pressure (fugacity); while different loading conditions lead to different features of the final sample. Beside ordinary coarse grained titanium, ultra-fine grained titanium shall be studied in present work, due to its high content of defects. Positron Annihilation Life-time Spectroscopy, a non-destructive technique sensitive on open-volume defects, shall be of prime importance in our investigation. We shall further use the X-ray diffraction, Micro-hardness measurements and Differential Scanning Calorimetry together with Thermogravimetry. Lastly, we shall strongly benefit from using existing computational tools like the Vienna ab-initio Simulation Package, or Pos330; a program for positron life--times calculations.

The aim of this diploma thesis is to investigate microstructure and thermal stability of ultra fine grained magnesium alloys. The thesis first summarises methods using plastic deformation in order to achieve ultra fine grained structure that are used to process metals. Then experimental methods employed in the experimental part including microhardness testing, scanning electron microscopy and positron annihilation spectroscopy are described. Brief summary of previous research on MgZnY alloys strengthened by quasicrystalline phases and Mg22Gd alloys is given. Finally, results of experimental investigation of MgZnY alloys with various Zn/Y ratios and Mg22Gd alloy are discussed. These results suggest that presence of phases in MgZnY alloys depend on Zn/Y ratio, hardness of these alloys depends on Zn content and that rapid cooling of MgZnY alloys annealed at 500 řC lead to significant increase in volume fraction of quasicrystalline icosahedral phase. In the second section of the experimental part thermal behaviour of Mg22Gd alloy is investigated. Furthermore, formation of GdH2 particles in Mg22Gd is examined and attributed to reaction of hydrogen decomposed from water vapour with gadolinium in areas rich in gadolinium. Finally, significant hardening of Mg22Gd alloy processed by high pressure torsion has been...

Thin metallic films are particularly interesting as potential hydrogen storage materials as well as hydrogen sensitive optical sensors. Thin films with various microstructure from nanocrystalline to epitaxial can be relatively easily prepared by varying the deposition parameters. Deposition of multi-layers enables preparation of thin films with arbitrary composition. Defects structure plays a key role in hydrogen absorption. Hydrogen atoms segregated at open volume defects reduce their formation energy leading to enhan- ced concentration of hydrogen-induced defects in the material. Moreover hydrogen diffusion along dislocations and grain boundaries facilitates hydrogen absorption in the metal lattice. Thin films clamped to the stiff substrate undergo anisotropic volume expansion during the hydrogen loading. As a consequence high stresses are induced in the film and can result in detachment of the film from the substrate. In this work hydrogen absorption in Gd and Pd films and Pd-Mg multi-layers was studied. Development of the defect structure of hydrogen-loaded films was investigated by means of variable energy positron annihilation spectroscopy com- bined with X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and optical transmittance measurement. Complementary studies of interaction of hydrogen with defects in...