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During snowmelt net radiation above a snow surface was measured simultaneously at forty-four locations to permit comparison of measurements in a black spruce forest with those in the open. / Data, obtained during cloudy daylight and at night were used to produce meaningful surface radiation maps of the experimental site. For all periods of observation the range in values recorded between any two sensors was greatest between those positioned in the forest. Spatially, net radiation varied most within the forest. The location of high and low net radiation values recorded during the day are the reverse at night. The spruce canopy reduces net radiation at the snow surface on cloudy days by obstructing a portion of the incident diffuse sky radiation. Conversely, the canopy is shown to exert considerable effect as a source of longwave radiation. Surface net longwave radiation increases sharply with proximity to trees. The effect of local and snow surface topography is greatest on clear days when irradiance is highly directional. On clear nights the forest edge is distinguished by a steep gradient of net radiation. On cloudy nights the variability and range in surface net radiation are greatly reduced.

No description available.

As the technology advances, the feature size of the modern integrated circuits (ICs) has decreased dramatically to nanometer amplitude. On one hand, the shrink brings benefits, such as high speed and low power consumption per transistor. On the other hand, it poses a threat to the reliable operation of the ICs by the increased radiation sensitivity, such as single event effects (SEEs). For example, in 2010, a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) BiCMOS DC/DC pulse width modulator (PWM) IC was observed to be sensitive to neutrons on terrestrial real-time applications, where negative 6-μs glitches were induced by the single event transient (SET) effects. As a result, a project was set up to comprehensively study the failure mechanisms with various test methodologies and to develop SET-tolerant circuits to mitigate the SET sensitivity. First, the pulsed laser technique is adopted to perform the investigation on the SET response of the DC/DC PWM chip. A Ti:Sapphire single photon absorption (SPA) laser with different wavelengths and repetition rates is used as an irradiation source in this study. The sensitive devices in the chip are found to be the bandgap voltage reference circuit thanks to the well-controlled location information of the pulsed laser. The result is verified by comparing with the previous alpha particle and neutron testing data as well as circuit simulation using EDA tools. The root cause for the sensitivity is also acquired by analyzing the circuit. The temperature is also varied to study the effect of the temperature-induced quiescent point shift on the SET sensitivity of the chip. The experimental results show that the quiescent point shifts have different impacts on SET sensitivities due to the different structures and positions of the circuitries. After that, heavy ions, protons, and the pulsed X-ray are used as irradiation sources to further study the SET response of the DC/DC chip. The heavy ion and pulsed laser data are correlated to each other. And the equivalent LETs for laser with wavelengths of 750 nm, 800 nm, 850 nm and 920 nm are acquired. This conclusion can be used to obtain the equivalent heavy ion cross section of any area in a chip by using the pulsed laser technique, which will facilitate the SET testing procedure dramatically. The proton and heavy ion data are also correlated to each other based on a rectangular parallel piped (RPP) model, which gives convenience in Soft Error Rate (SER) estimation. The potential application of pulsed X-ray technique in SET field is also investigated. It is capable of generating similar results with those of heavy ion and pulsed laser testing. Both the advantages and disadvantages of this technique are explained. This provides an alternative choice for the SET testing in the future. Finally, the bandgap voltage reference circuit in the DC/DC PWM is redesigned and fabricated in bulk CMOS 130nm technology and a SET hardened bandgap circuit is proposed and investigated. The CMOS substrate PNP transistor is much less sensitive to SETs than the BiCMOS NPN transistor according to the pulsed laser test results. The reason is analyzed to be the different fabrication processes of the two technologies. The laser test results also indicate that the SET hardened bandgap circuit can mitigate the SET amplitude dramatically, which is consistent with the SPICE simulation results. These researches provide more understandings on the design of SET hardened bandgap voltage reference circuit.

Ce travail est une contribution à l’étude de la dégradation des propriétés mécaniques des matériaux métalliques irradiés, dans le contexte de la production d’énergie nucléaire. Cette thèse porte en particulier sur l’étude du comportement des dislocations dans les matériaux ferritiques irradiés, à l’aide de simulations de dynamique des dislocations (DD).L’évolution de la microstructure des défauts d’irradiation est tout d’abord analysée à l'aide d’un code nodal (code NUMODIS). Le Chapitre 2 traite en particulier de la diffusion et l’interaction de boucles prismatiques, en utilisant la dynamique des dislocations dite «stochastique». Ces calculs reproduisent les forces d’interaction élastiques boucle/boucle et les forces stochastiques associées aux fluctuations thermiques ambiantes. Il est ainsi montré que la réorientation des boucles (tilt) a un fort effet sur leur dynamique, en ce qui concerne notamment le taux d’évolution du confinement élastique boucle/boucle.L'effet du glissement dévié sur l’interaction entre dislocation/boucle est ensuite examiné au Chapitre 3. Cette étude fait appel à une configuration initiale spécifique, associée à un changement du plan de glissement d'une source de dislocation vis. De cette manière, il est montré que le glissement dévié réduit considérablement la résistance des défauts/obstacles. Cet effet confirme le rôle critique du glissement dévié durant la déformation plastique post-irradiation.La déformation plastique post-irradiation est étudiée à l’échelle du grain, au Chapitre 4, à l’aide de simulations DD à base de segments (code TRIDIS). Ces simulations traitent les mécanismes de glissement dévié et de glissement thermiquement activé (vis). Chaque condition d’irradiation simulée peut être caractérisée par un «décalage de la température apparente induite par des défauts d’irradiation» (ΔDIAT). Cette quantité est proportionnelle aux évolutions statistiques de la mobilité effective des dislocations. Le ΔDIAT calculé est pratiquement équivalent au décalage de la température de transition fragile à ductile (ΔDBTT) obtenu expérimentalement, pour une taille et densité de défauts d’irradiation donnée. Cette corrélation ΔDIAT/ΔDBTT peut être interprétée à partir de mécanismes de déformation plastique élémentaires, faisant appel à la théorie des dislocations. / The interplay between radiation-generated defects and dislocation networks leads to a variety of changes in mechanical properties and results in a detrimental effect on the structural reactor component lifetime. The present PhD work focuses on studying elementary and collective dislocation mechanisms in irradiated iron-based materials, by means of dislocation dynamics (DD) simulations.Evolutions of the radiation-induced defect microstructure are studied first. Namely, the 1D diffusion of interacting prismatic loops is analyzed using the stochastic dislocation dynamics approach, accounting for the elastic forces acting between the loops and the stochastic forces associated with ambient thermal fluctuations. It is found that the interplay between stochastic forces and internal degrees of freedom of loops, in particular the loop reorientation, strongly influences the observed loop dynamics, especially the reaction rates resulting in the elastic confinement of loops.The cross-slip effect on the dislocation/loop interactions is then examined using a specific initial configuration associated with the glide plane change of a screw dislocation source, due to a single and well defined cross-slip event. It is shown that cross-slip significantly affects the effective strength of dislocation/defect interactions and therefore, post-irradiation plastic strain spreading.Lastly, post-irradiation plastic strain spreading is investigated at the grain scale using segment-based dislocation dynamics simulations, accounting for the thermally activated (screw) dislocation slip and cross-slip mechanisms. It is shown that each simulated irradiation condition can be characterized by a specific “Defect-Induced Apparent Straining Temperature shift” (ΔDIAT) level, reflecting the statistical evolutions of the effective dislocation mobility. It is found that the calculated ΔDIAT level closely matches the ductile to brittle transition temperature shift (ΔDBTT) associated with the corresponding, experimentally-observed defect size and number density. This ΔDIAT/ΔDBTT correlation can be explained based on plastic strain spreading arguments.

<p>Nuclear fission energy has developed for more than five decades and become one of the most important low-carbon energy forms. The extreme environment in the advanced reactors, including high operating temperature and high neutron radiation dose, raises new challenges for structural materials. To date, no materials are immune to radiation damage. Bombardment by energetic particles displaces atoms from their original sites, leaves various forms of defect aggregates after cascade, and degrades the properties of the irradiated materials. FeCrAl alloys, known for their excellent high-temperature oxidation resistance, were developed under the accident tolerant fuel program in hope to replace the Zr cladding alloys in future reactors. The radiation response and mechanical properties of FeCrAl alloy have attracted great attention. The objective of this thesis is two-fold. First, investigate the high temperature mechanical behavior of coarse-grained FeCrAl alloys with and without irradiation from the perspective of small-scale testing. Second, develop a fine-grained FeCrAl alloy variant and evaluate its mechanical properties and radiation tolerance.</p> <p>Critical resolved shear stress of pristine and proton irradiated CG FeCrAl alloy was quantified at elevated temperatures. {112}<111> slip system exhibited higher irradiation induced hardening compared with the {110}<111> slip system. Gradient FeCrAl alloy was fabricated through surface mechanical grinding treatment. In situ pillar compression tests revealed an excellent combination of strength and deformability of ultra-fine-grained (UFG) FeCrAl alloys. The activation energy for plastic deformation of a nanolaminate (NL) FeCrAl alloy was determined through strain rate jump tests. Ex situ Fe-ion irradiation showed the interplay between dislocation loops and grain coarsening and their contributions to the mechanical properties of the irradiated UFG FeCrAl alloys. In situ Kr ion irradiation studies on the helium pre-injected NL FeCrAl and CG FeCrAl show that the helium induced swelling was effectively reduced in NL alloy due to their abundant grain boundaries serving as defect sinks. The findings in this thesis may provide innovative perspectives on the design and manufacture of novel FeCrAl alloys with outstanding mechanical properties and radiation tolerance.</p> <p><br></p>

No processo de fabricação do gerador de 99Mo/99mTc é fundamental, não só evitar a introdução de contaminantes microbianos, como também avaliar o efeito que a atividade radioativa pode provocar em microrganismos. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: estudar os processos de esterilização por radiação gama (60Co) dos acessórios e da coluna de alumina (Al2O3) que compõem o sistema do gerador de 99Mo/99mTc, e avaliar a eficácia da radiação gama na morte de microrganismos em geradores de 99Mo/99mTc na mínima (9,25 GBq) e na máxima (74 GBq) atividade radioativa. Acessórios do gerador foram irradiados com doses absorvidas de 15, 25 e 50 kGy e as colunas de alumina com 10, 15, 25 e 50 kGy. A alumina das colunas irradiadas foi avaliada por análise combinada de microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e análise elementar por espectroscopia de energia dispersiva (EDS), e difração de raios X. O Teflon&reg; foi avaliado por termogravimetria (TGA) e calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC). Cálculos dosimétricos foram realizados para o alvo de maior dose na coluna do gerador de 9,25 GBq e 74 GBq. Suspensões quantificadas de B. subtilis e esporos de B. pumilus foram inoculadas em colunas irradiadas a 25 kGy e observou-se que a coluna de alumina representou uma barreira física para a contaminação do eluato, pois a recuperação microbiana foi reduzida. Verificou-se que o B. subtilis na forma vegetativa mostrou menor afinidade pela alumina em relação aos esporos de B. pumilus. A recuperação microbiana foi menor no gerador com atividade radioativa em relação ao gerador sem radioatividade. Foi desenvolvido um indicador biológico de esporos de B. pumilus que consistiu em uma tira de alumínio com sílica gel colocado externamente à coluna e as quantidades recuperadas tanto no gerador de 9,25 GBq quanto no de 74 GBq mostraram redução na viabilidade. O uso de filtros Sep-Pak&reg; e 0,22 &mu;m no sistema do gerador mostrou eficiência na retenção de 4,9 x 106 UFC de B. subtilis, garantindo a esterilidade do produto terminado. / In the manufacturing process of the 99Mo/99mTc generator it is essential not only to prevent the introduction of microbial contaminants, but also evaluate the effect of the radioactivity in microorganisms. The objectives of this work were to study the sterilization processes by gamma rays (60Co) of accessories and alumina column (Al2O3) that take part in the generator system and assess the effectiveness of gamma radiation in the death of microorganisms in 99Mo/99mTc generators of minimum (9.25 GBq) and maximum (74 GBq) radioactivities. Accessories were irradiated with 15, 25 and 50 kGy absorbed doses and alumina columns with 10, 15, 25 and 50 kGy. Alumina from irradiated columns were examined by combined analysis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and elemental analysis by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction. Teflon&reg; was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Dosimetric calculations were made for the highest dose target on 9.25 GBq and 74 GBq generator columns. Quantified suspensions of B. subtilis and B. pumilus spores were inoculated into columns irradiated at 25 kGy and it was observed that the alumina column represented a physical barrier to contamination of the eluate, as microbial recovery was reduced. It was found that B. subtilis in vegetative form showed lower affinity for alumina when compared to B. pumilus spores. Microbial recovery was lower in the generator with radioactivity than with the generator without radioactivity. A biological indicator of B. pumilus spores was developed which consisted of an aluminum strip with silica gel placed externally to the column and the microbial recovery in both 9.25 and 74 GBq generators showed reduction in viability. The use of Sep-Pak&reg; and 0.22 &mu;m filters in the generator system has shown efficiency in the retention of 4.9 x 106 CFU of B. subtilis, ensuring the sterility of the finished product.

No processo de fabricação do gerador de 99Mo/99mTc é fundamental, não só evitar a introdução de contaminantes microbianos, como também avaliar o efeito que a atividade radioativa pode provocar em microrganismos. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: estudar os processos de esterilização por radiação gama (60Co) dos acessórios e da coluna de alumina (Al2O3) que compõem o sistema do gerador de 99Mo/99mTc, e avaliar a eficácia da radiação gama na morte de microrganismos em geradores de 99Mo/99mTc na mínima (9,25 GBq) e na máxima (74 GBq) atividade radioativa. Acessórios do gerador foram irradiados com doses absorvidas de 15, 25 e 50 kGy e as colunas de alumina com 10, 15, 25 e 50 kGy. A alumina das colunas irradiadas foi avaliada por análise combinada de microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e análise elementar por espectroscopia de energia dispersiva (EDS), e difração de raios X. O Teflon&reg; foi avaliado por termogravimetria (TGA) e calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC). Cálculos dosimétricos foram realizados para o alvo de maior dose na coluna do gerador de 9,25 GBq e 74 GBq. Suspensões quantificadas de B. subtilis e esporos de B. pumilus foram inoculadas em colunas irradiadas a 25 kGy e observou-se que a coluna de alumina representou uma barreira física para a contaminação do eluato, pois a recuperação microbiana foi reduzida. Verificou-se que o B. subtilis na forma vegetativa mostrou menor afinidade pela alumina em relação aos esporos de B. pumilus. A recuperação microbiana foi menor no gerador com atividade radioativa em relação ao gerador sem radioatividade. Foi desenvolvido um indicador biológico de esporos de B. pumilus que consistiu em uma tira de alumínio com sílica gel colocado externamente à coluna e as quantidades recuperadas tanto no gerador de 9,25 GBq quanto no de 74 GBq mostraram redução na viabilidade. O uso de filtros Sep-Pak&reg; e 0,22 &mu;m no sistema do gerador mostrou eficiência na retenção de 4,9 x 106 UFC de B. subtilis, garantindo a esterilidade do produto terminado. / In the manufacturing process of the 99Mo/99mTc generator it is essential not only to prevent the introduction of microbial contaminants, but also evaluate the effect of the radioactivity in microorganisms. The objectives of this work were to study the sterilization processes by gamma rays (60Co) of accessories and alumina column (Al2O3) that take part in the generator system and assess the effectiveness of gamma radiation in the death of microorganisms in 99Mo/99mTc generators of minimum (9.25 GBq) and maximum (74 GBq) radioactivities. Accessories were irradiated with 15, 25 and 50 kGy absorbed doses and alumina columns with 10, 15, 25 and 50 kGy. Alumina from irradiated columns were examined by combined analysis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and elemental analysis by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction. Teflon&reg; was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Dosimetric calculations were made for the highest dose target on 9.25 GBq and 74 GBq generator columns. Quantified suspensions of B. subtilis and B. pumilus spores were inoculated into columns irradiated at 25 kGy and it was observed that the alumina column represented a physical barrier to contamination of the eluate, as microbial recovery was reduced. It was found that B. subtilis in vegetative form showed lower affinity for alumina when compared to B. pumilus spores. Microbial recovery was lower in the generator with radioactivity than with the generator without radioactivity. A biological indicator of B. pumilus spores was developed which consisted of an aluminum strip with silica gel placed externally to the column and the microbial recovery in both 9.25 and 74 GBq generators showed reduction in viability. The use of Sep-Pak&reg; and 0.22 &mu;m filters in the generator system has shown efficiency in the retention of 4.9 x 106 CFU of B. subtilis, ensuring the sterility of the finished product.