Millisecond dynamics of colloidal suspension studied by X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility

X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy(XPCS)has emerged as a powerful tool for probing the nanoscale dynamics of soft condensed matter and strongly correlated materials owing to its high spatial resolution and penetration capabilities.This technique requires high brilliance and beam coherence,which are not directly available at modern synchrotron beamlines in China.To facilitate future XPCS experiments,we modified the optical setup of the newly commissioned BL10U1 USAXS beamline at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility(SSRF).Subsequently,we performed XPCS measurements on silica suspensions in glycerol,which were opaque owing to their high concentrations.Images were collected using a high frame rate area detector.A comprehensive analysis was performed,yielding correlation functions and several key dynamic parameters.All the results were consistent with the theory of Brownian motion and demonstrated the feasibility of XPCS at SSRF.Finally,by carefully optimizing the setup and analyzing the algorithms,we achieved a time resolution of 2 ms,which enabled the characterization of millisecond dynamics in opaque systems.

SAPT:a synchrotron-based proton therapy facility in Shanghai

Because of its excellent dose distribution,proton therapy is becoming increasingly popular in the medical application of cancer treatment.A synchrotron-based proton therapy facility was designed and constructed in Shanghai.The synchrotron,beam delivery system,and other technical systems were commissioned and reached their expected performances.After a clinical trial of 47 patients was finished,the proton therapy facility obtained a registration certificate from the National Medical Products Administration.The characteristics of the accelerator and treatment systems are described in this article.

The biosafety level-2 macromolecular crystallography beamline(BL10U2)at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility

BL10U2 is an undulator-based macromolecular crystallography(MX)beamline located at the 3.5-GeV Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility.BL10U2 is specifically designed for conducting routine and biosafety level-2(BSL-2)MX experiments utilizing high-flux tunable X-rays with energies from 7 to 18 keV,providing a beam spot size of 20μm(horizontal)×10μm(vertical)at the sample point.Certification by the Shanghai Pudong Municipal Health Commission confirmed the capability to perform BSL-2 MX experiments.The beamline is currently equipped with an Eiger X 16 M detector and two newly developed in-house high-precision diffractometers that can be switched to perform conventional or in situ crystal diffraction experiments.An automatic sample changer developed in-house allows fast sample exchange in less than 30 s,supporting high-throughput MX experimentation and rapid crystal screening.Data collection from both the diffractometer and detector was controlled by an in-house developed data collection software(Finback)with a user-friendly interface for convenient operation.This study presents a comprehensive overview of the facilities,experimental methods,and performance characteristics of the BL10U2 beamline.

Latest developments in EUV photoresist evaluation capability at Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility

Evaluating the comprehensive characteristics of extreme ultraviolet(EUV)photoresists is crucial for their application in EUV lithography,a key process in modern technology.This paper highlights the capabilities of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility(SSRF)08U1B beamline in advancing this field.Specifically,it demonstrates how this beamline can create fringe patterns with a 15-nm half-pitch on a resist using synchrotron-based EUV lithography.This achievement is vital for evaluating EUV photoresists at the advanced 5-nm node.We provide a detailed introduction to the methods and experimental setup used at the SSRF 08U1B beamline to assess an EUV photoresist.A significant part of this research involved the fabrication of high-resolution hydrogen silsesquioxane mask gratings.These gratings,with an aspect ratio of approximately 3,were created using electron beam lithography on an innovative mask framework.This framework was crucial in eliminating the impact of zeroth-order light on interference patterns.The proposed framework propose offers a new approach to mask fabrication,particularly beneficial for achromatic Talbot lithography and multicoherent-beam interference applications.

Review on synergistic damage effect of irradiation and corrosion on reactor structural alloys

The synergistic damage effect of irradiation and corrosion of reactor structural materials has been a prominent research focus.This paper provides a comprehensive review of the synergistic effects on the third-and fourth-generation fission nuclear energy structural materials used in pressurized water reactors and molten salt reactors.The competitive mechanisms of multiple influencing factors,such as the irradiation dose,corrosion type,and environmental temperature,are summarized in this paper.Conceptual approaches are proposed to alleviate the synergistic damage caused by irradiation and corrosion,thereby promoting in-depth research in the future and solving this key challenge for the structural materials used in reactors.

Corrosion behavior of pure metals(Ni and Ti)and alloys(316H SS and GH3535)in liquid GaInSn

In this study,the interactions between a Ga-based liquid metal,GaInSn,and several metal materials,including pure metals(Ni and Ti)and alloys(316H stainless steel(SS)and GH3535),at 650℃were investigated.The aim was to evaluate the corrosion performance and select a suitable candidate material for use as a molten salt manometer diaphragm in thermal energy storage systems.The results indicated that the alloys(316H SS and GH3535)exhibited less corrosion than pure metals(Ni and Ti)in liquid GaInSn.Ga-rich binary intermetallic compounds were found to form on the surfaces of all the tested metal materials exposed to liquid GaInSn,as a result of the decomposition of liquid GaInSn and its reaction with the constituent elements of the metal materials.The corrosion mechanism for all the tested materials exposed to liquid GaInSn was also investigated and proposed,which may aid in selecting the optimal candidate material when liquid GaInSn is used as the pressure-sensing medium.

Dynamic simulation analysis of molten salt reactor-coupled air-steam combined cycle power generation system

A nonlinear dynamic simulation model based on coordinated control of speed and flow rate for the molten salt reactor and combined cycle systems is proposed here to ensure the coordination and stability between the molten salt reactor and power system.This model considers the impact of thermal properties of fluid variation on accuracy and has been validated with Simulink.This study reveals the capability of the control system to compensate for anomalous situations and maintain shaft stability in the event of perturbations occurring in high-temperature molten salt tank outlet parameters.Meanwhile,the control system’s impact on the system’s dynamic characteristics under molten salt disturbance is also analyzed.The results reveal that after the disturbance occurs,the controlled system benefits from the action of the control,and the overshoot and disturbance amplitude are positively correlated,while the system power and frequency eventually return to the initial values.This simulation model provides a basis for utilizing molten salt reactors for power generation and maintaining grid stability.

Study on the optimal incident proton energy of ^(7)Li(p,n)^(7)Be neutron source for boron neutron capture therapy

Boron neutron capture therapy(BNCT)is recognized as a precise binary targeted radiotherapy technique that effectively eliminates tumors through the^(10)B(n,α)^(7)Li nuclear reaction.Among various neutron sources,accelerator-based sources have emerged as particularly promising for BNCT applications.The^(7)Li(p,n)^(7)Be reaction is highly regarded as a potential neutron source for BNCT,owing to its low threshold energy for the reaction,significant neutron yield,appropriate average neutron energy,and additional benefits.This study utilized Monte Carlo simulations to model the physical interactions within a lithium target subjected to proton bombardment,including neutron moderation by an MgF_(2)moderator and subsequent BNCT dose analysis using a Snyder head phantom.The study focused on calculating the yields of epithermal neutrons for various incident proton energies,finding an optimal energy at 2.7 MeV.Furthermore,the Snyder head phantom was employed in dose simulations to validate the effectiveness of this specific incident energy when utilizing a^(7)Li(p,n)^(7)Be neutron source for BNCT purposes.

Plutonium utilization in a small modular molten-salt reactor based on a batch fuel reprocessing scheme

A molten salt reactor(MSR)has outstanding features considering the application of thorium fuel,inherent safety,sustainability,and resistance to proliferation.However,fissile material^(233)U is significantly rare at the current stage,thus it is difficult for MSR to achieve a pure thorium-uranium fuel cycle.Therefore,using plutonium or enriched uranium as the initial fuel for MSR is more practical.In this study,we aim to verify the feasibility of a small modular MSR that utilizes plutonium as the starting fuel(SM-MSR-Pu),and highlight its advantages and disadvantages.First,the structural design and fuel management scheme of the SM-MSR-Pu were presented.Second,the neutronic characteristics,such as the graphite-irradiation lifetime,burn-up performance,and coefficient of temperature reactivity were calculated to analyze the physical characteristics of the SM-MSR-Pu.The results indicate that plutonium is a feasible and advantageous starting fuel for a SM-MSR;however,there are certain shortcomings that need to be solved.In a 250 MWth SM-MSR-Pu,approximately 288.64 kg^(233)U of plutonium with a purity of greater than 90% is produced while 978.00 kg is burned every ten years.The temperature reactivity coefficient decreases from -4.0 to -6.5 pcm K^(-1) over the 50-year operating time,which ensures a long-term safe operation.However,the amount of plutonium and accumulation of minor actinides(MAs)would increase as the burn-up time increases,and the annual production and purity of^(233)U will decrease.To achieve an optimal burn-up performance,setting the entire operation time to 30 years is advisable.Regardless,more than 3600 kg of plutonium eventually accumulate in the core.Further research is required to effectively utilize this accumulated plutonium.

Carbon-based nanomaterials cause toxicity by oxidative stress to the liver and brain in Sprague-Dawley rats

Carbon-based nanomaterials have important research significance in various disciplines,such as composite materials,nanoelectronic devices,biosensors,biological imaging,and drug delivery.Recently,the human and ecological risks associated with carbon-based nanomaterials have received increasing attention.However,the biological safety of carbon based nanomaterials has not been systematically studied.In this study,we used different types of carbon materials,namely,graphene oxide(GO),single-walled carbon nanotubes(SWCNTs),and multiwalled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs),as models to observe their distribution and oxidative damage in vivo.The results of Histopathological and ultrastructural examinations indicated that the liver and lungs were the main accumulation targets of these nanomaterials.SR-μ-XRF analysis revealed that SWCNTs and MWCNTs might be present in the brain.This shows that the three types of carbon-based nanomaterials could cross the gas-blood barrier and eventually reach the liver tissue.In addition,SWCNTs and MWCNTs could cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in the cerebral cortex.The increase in ROS and MDA levels and the decrease in GSH,SOD,and CAT levels indicated that the three types of nanomaterials might cause oxidative stress in the liver.This suggests that direct instillation of these carbon-based nanomaterials into rats could induce ROS generation.In addition,iron(Fe)contaminants in these nanomaterials were a definite source of free radicals.However,these nanomaterials did not cause obvious damage to the rat brain tissue.The deposition of selenoprotein in the rat brain was found to be related to oxidative stress and Fe deficiency.This information may support the development of secure and reasonable applications of the studied carbon-based nanomaterials.

The study of intelligent algorithm in particle identification of heavy-ion collisions at low and intermediate energies

Traditional particle identification methods face timeconsuming,experience-dependent,and poor repeatability challenges in heavy-ion collisions at low and intermediate energies.Researchers urgently need solutions to the dilemma of traditional particle identification methods.This study explores the possibility of applying intelligent learning algorithms to the particle identification of heavy-ion collisions at low and intermediate energies.Multiple intelligent algorithms,including XgBoost and TabNet,were selected to test datasets from the neutron ion multi-detector for reaction-oriented dynamics(NIMROD-ISiS)and Geant4 simulation.Tree-based machine learning algorithms and deep learning algorithms e.g.TabNet show excellent performance and generalization ability.Adding additional data features besides energy deposition can improve the algorithm’s performance when the data distribution is nonuniform.Intelligent learning algorithms can be applied to solve the particle identification problem in heavy-ion collisions at low and intermediate energies.

Efficient and selective removal of Pb(Ⅱ) from landfill leachate using L-serine-modified polyethylene/polypropylene nonwoven fabric synthesized via radiation grafting technique

In this study,to efficiently remove Pb(Ⅱ) from aqueous environments,a novel L-serine-modified polyethylene/polypropylene nonwoven fabric sorbent(NWF-serine)was fabricated through the radiation grafting of glycidyl methacrylate and subsequent L-serine modification.The effect of the absorbed dose was investigated in the range of 5–50 kGy.NWF-serine was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,thermogravimetric analysis,and scanning electron microscopy.Batch adsorption tests were conducted to investigate the influences of pH,adsorption time,temperature,initial concentration,and sorbent dosage on the Pb(Ⅱ) adsorption performance of NWF-serine.The results indicated that Pb(Ⅱ) adsorption onto NWF-serine was an endothermic process,following the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model.The saturated adsorption capacity was 198.1 mg/g.NWF-serine exhibited Pb(Ⅱ) removal rates of 99.8% for aqueous solutions with initial concentrations of 100 mg/L and 82.1% for landfill leachate containing competitive metal ions such as Cd,Cu,Ni,Mn,and Zn.Furthermore,NWF-serine maintained 86% of its Pb(Ⅱ) uptake after five use cycles.The coordination of the carboxyl and amino groups with Pb(Ⅱ) was confirmed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis.

Preliminary safety analysis for heavy water-moderated molten salt reactor

The heavy water-moderated molten salt reactor(HWMSR)is a newly proposed reactor concept,in which heavy water is adopted as the moderator and molten salt dissolved with fissile and fertile elements is used as the fuel.Issues arising from graphite in traditional molten salt reactors,including the positive temperature coefficient and management of highly radio-active spent graphite waste,can be addressed using the HWMSR.Until now,research on the HWMSR has been centered on the core design and nuclear fuel cycle to explore the viability of the HWMSR and its advantages in fuel utilization.However,the core safety of the HWMSR has not been extensively studied.Therefore,we evaluate typical accidents in a small modular HWMSR,including fuel salt inlet temperature overcooling and overheating accidents,fuel salt inlet flow rate decrease,heavy water inlet temperature overcooling accidents,and heavy water inlet mass flow rate decrease accidents,based on a neutronics and thermal-hydraulics coupled code.The results demonstrated that the core maintained safety during the investigated accidents.

Intensity correlation properties of x-ray beams split with Laue diffraction

Beam splitting is one of the main approaches to achieving x-ray ghost imaging, and the intensity correlation between diffraction beam and transmission beam will directly affect the imaging quality. In this paper, we investigate the intensity correlation between the split x-ray beams by Laue diffraction of stress-free crystal. The analysis based on the dynamical theory of x-ray diffraction indicates that the spatial resolution of diffraction image and transmission image are reduced due to the position shift of the exit beam. In the experimental setup, a stress-free crystal with a thickness of hundredmicrometers-level is used for beam splitting. The crystal is in a non-dispersive configuration equipped with a double-crystal monochromator to ensure that the dimension of the diffraction beam and transmission beam are consistent. A correlation coefficient of 0.92 is achieved experimentally and the high signal-to-noise ratio of the x-ray ghost imaging is anticipated.Results of this paper demonstrate that the developed beam splitter of Laue crystal has the potential in the efficient data acquisition of x-ray ghost imaging.

Bunch-length measurement at a bunch-by-bunch rate based on time–frequency-domain joint analysis techniques and its application

This paper presents a new technique for measuring the bunch length of a high-energy electron beam at a bunch-by-bunch rate in storage rings.This technique uses the time–frequency-domain joint analysis of the bunch signal to obtain bunch-by-bunch and turn-by-turn longitudinal parameters,such as bunch length and synchronous phase.The bunch signal is obtained using a button electrode with a bandwidth of several gigahertz.The data acquisition device was a high-speed digital oscilloscope with a sampling rate of more than 10 GS/s,and the single-shot sampling data buffer covered thousands of turns.The bunch-length and synchronous phase information were extracted via offline calculations using Python scripts.The calibration coefficient of the system was determined using a commercial streak camera.Moreover,this technique was tested on two different storage rings and successfully captured various longitudinal transient processes during the harmonic cavity debugging process at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility(SSRF),and longitudinal instabilities were observed during the single-bunch accumulation process at Hefei Light Source(HLS).For Gaussian-distribution bunches,the uncertainty of the bunch phase obtained using this technique was better than 0.2 ps,and the bunch-length uncertainty was better than 1 ps.The dynamic range exceeded 10 ms.This technology is a powerful and versatile beam diagnostic tool that can be conveniently deployed in high-energy electron storage rings.

Conceptual design of a 714-MHz RFQ for compact proton injectors and development of a new tuning algorithm on its aluminium prototype

Radio frequency quadrupoles(RFQs),which are crucial components of proton injectors,significantly affect the performance of proton accelerator facilities.An RFQ with a high frequency of 714 MHz dedicated to compact proton injectors for medi-cal applications is designed in this study.The RFQ is designed to accelerate proton beams from 50 keV to 4 MeV within a short length of 2 m and can be matched closely with the downstream drift tube linac to capture more particles through a preliminary optimization.To develop an advanced RFQ,challenging techniques,including fabrication and tuning method,must be evaluated and verified using a prototype.An aluminium prototype is derived from the conceptual design of the RFQ and then redesigned to confirm the radio frequency performance,fabrication procedure,and feasibility of the tuning algorithm.Eventually,a new tuning algorithm based on the response matrix and least-squares method is developed,which yields favorable results based on the prototype,i.e.,the errors of the dipole and quadrupole components reduced to a low level after several tuning iterations.Benefiting from the conceptual design and techniques obtained from the prototype,the formal mechanical design of the 2-m RFQ is ready for the next manufacturing step.

Correction to:Assembly-level analysis on temperature coefficient of reactivity in a graphite-moderated fuel salt reactor fueled with low-enriched uranium

Following publication of the original article,the authors observed that both Fig.5 and Fig.4 depict the same image.Figure 5 was inaccurately referenced and displayed.The correct Fig.5 is copied below:The original article has been updated.

High-precision X-ray polarimeter based on channel-cut crystals

We report on using synthetic silicon for a high-precision X-ray polarimeter comprising a polarizer and an analyzer,each based on a monolithic channel-cut crystal used at multiple Brewster reflections with a Bragg angle very close to 45°.Experiments were performed at the BL09B bending magnet beamline of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility using a Si(800)crystal at an X-ray energy of 12.914 keV.A polarization purity of 8.4×10^(-9)was measured.This result is encouraging,as the measured polarization purity is the best-reported value for the bending magnet source.Notably,this is the firstly systematic study on the hard X-ray polarimeter in China,which is crucial for exploring new physics,such as verifying vacuum birefringence.

Ultrahigh spatiotemporal resolution beam signal reconstruction with bunch phase compensation

Various electromagnetic signals are excited by the beam in the acceleration and beam-diagnostic elements of a particle accelerator.It is important to obtain time-domain waveforms of these signals with high temporal resolution for research,such as the study of beam–cavity interactions and bunch-by-bunch parameter measurements.Therefore,a signal reconstruction algorithm with ultrahigh spatiotemporal resolution and bunch phase compensation based on equivalent sampling is proposed in this paper.Compared with traditional equivalent sampling,the use of phase compensation and setting the bunch signal zero-crossing point as the time reference can construct a more accurate reconstructed signal.The basic principles of the method,simulation,and experimental comparison are also introduced.Based on the beam test platform of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility(SSRF)and the method of experimental verification,the factors that affect the reconstructed signal quality are analyzed and discussed,including the depth of the sampled data,quantization noise of analog-to-digital converter,beam transverse oscillation,and longitudinal oscillation.The results of the beam experiments show that under the user operation conditions of the SSRF,a beam excitation signal with an amplitude uncertainty of 2%can be reconstructed.

A new horizon for neuroscience:terahertz biotechnology in brain research

Terahertz biotechnology has been increasingly applied in various biomedical fields and has especially shown great potential for application in brain sciences.In this article,we review the development of terahertz biotechnology and its applications in the field of neuropsychiatry.Available evidence indicates promising prospects for the use of terahertz spectroscopy and terahertz imaging techniques in the diagnosis of amyloid disease,cerebrovascular disease,glioma,psychiatric disease,traumatic brain injury,and myelin deficit.In vitro and animal experiments have also demonstrated the potential therapeutic value of terahertz technology in some neuropsychiatric diseases.Although the precise underlying mechanism of the interactions between terahertz electromagnetic waves and the biosystem is not yet fully understood,the research progress in this field shows great potential for biomedical noninvasive diagnostic and therapeutic applications.However,the biosafety of terahertz radiation requires further exploration regarding its two-sided efficacy in practical applications.This review demonstrates that terahertz biotechnology has the potential to be a promising method in the field of neuropsychiatry based on its unique advantages.