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H. Tsertos

Publications and source records attributed to H. Tsertos.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
arXiv2004

A Comprehensive Study of Natural Gamma Radioactivity Levels and Associated Dose Rates from Surface Soils in Cyprus

A survey was carried out to determine activity concentration levels and associated dose rates from the naturally occurring radionuclides Th-232, U-238, and K-40, in the various geological formations appearing throughout the geographically accessible area of Cyprus, by means of high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. A total number of 115 representative soil samples were collected from all over the bedrock surface of the island, based on the different lithological units of the study area, sieved through a fine mesh, sealed in 1000-mL plastic Marinelli beakers, and measured in the laboratory with respect to their gamma radioactivity for a counting time of 18 hours each. From the measured spectra, activity concentrations were determined for Th-232 (range from 1.0x10^-2 to 39.8 Bq/kg), U-238 (from 1.0x10^-2 to 39.3 Bq/kg) and K-40 (from 4.0x10^-2 to 565.8 Bq/kg). Gamma absorbed dose rates in air outdoors were calculated to be in the range of 1.1x10^-2 - 51.3 nGy/h, depending on the geological features, with an overall mean value of 8.7 nGy/h and a standard deviation of 8.4 nGy/h. This value is by a factor of about 7 below the corresponding population-weighted world-averaged value of 60 nGy/h reported by UNSCEAR (2000), and one of the lowest that has been reported from similar investigations worldwide. Assuming a 20% occupancy factor, the corresponding effective dose rates outdoors equivalent to the population were calculated to be between 1.3x10^-2 and 62.9 micro Sv/y, with an arithmetic mean value of 10.7 micro Sv/y and a standard deviation of 10.3 micro Sv/y.

physics.med-ph↗
arXiv2003

Radiometric Determination of Uranium in Natural Waters after Enrichment and Separation by Cation-Exchange and Liquid-Liquid Extraction

The alpha-radiometric determination of uranium after its pre-concentration from natural water samples using the cation-exchange resin Chelex-100, its selective extraction by tributylphosphate and electrodeposition on stainless steel discs is reported. The validity of the separation procedure and the chemical recoveries were checked by addition of uranium standard solution as well as by tracing with U-232. The average uranium yield was determined to be (97 +- 2) % for the cation-exchange, (95 +- 2) % for the liquid-liquid extraction, and more than 99% for the electrodeposition. Employing high-resolution alpha-spectroscopy, the measured activity of the U-238 and U-234 radioisotopes was found to be of similar magnitude; i.e. ~7 mBq/L and ~35 mBq/L for ground- and seawater samples, respectively. The energy resolution (FWHM) of the alpha-peaks was 22 keV, while the Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA) was estimated to be 1 mBq/L (at the 95% confidence limit).

physics.med-ph↗
arXiv2003

Gamma radiation measurements and dose rates in commercially-used natural tiling rocks (granites)

The gamma radiation in samples of a variety of natural tiling rocks (granites) imported in Cyprus for use in the building industry was measured, employing high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy. The rock samples were pulverized, sealed in 1 litre plastic Marinelli beakers, and measured in the laboratory with an accumulating time between 10 and 14 hours each. From the measured gamma-ray spectra, activity concentrations were determined for Th-232 (range from 1 to 906 Bq/kg), U-238 (from 1 to 588 Bq/kg) and K-40 (from 50 to 1606 Bq/kg). The total absorbed dose rates in air calculated from the concentrations of the three radionuclides, Th-232 and U-238 series and K-40, ranged from 7 to 1209 nGy/h for full utilization of the materials, from 4 to 605 nGy/h for half utilization and from 2 to 302 nGy/h for one quarter utilization. The total effective dose rates per person indoors were determined to be between 0.02 to 2.97 mSv/y for half utilization of the materials. Applying dose criteria recently recommended by the EU for superficial materials, 25 of the samples meet the exemption dose limit of 0.3 mSv/y, two of them meet the upper dose limit of 1 mSv/y and only one exceeds clearly this limit.

physics.med-ph↗
arXiv2003

Indoor radon (Rn-222) concentration measurements in Cyprus using high-sensitivity portable detectors

Using high--sensitivity radon (Rn-222) portable detectors (passive electronic devices of the type RADIM3), the airborne Rn-222 concentration in the interior of various Cypriot buildings and dwellings was measured. For each preselected building and dwelling, a calibrated detector was put into a closed room, and the Rn-222 concentration was registered in sampling intervals of 2 to 4 hours for a total counting time of typically 48 hours. Rn-222 activity concentrations were found to be in the range of 6.2 to 102.8 Bq/m**3, with an overall arithmetic mean value of (19.3 +- 14.7) Bq/m**3. This value is by a factor of two below the world average (population-weighted) value of 39 Bq/m**3. The total annual effective dose equivalent to the Cypriot population was calculated to be between 0.16 and 2.6 mSv with an overall arithmetic mean value of (0.49 +- 0.37) mSv.

physics.med-ph↗
arXiv2002

Gamma-ray measurements of naturally occurring radioactive samples from Cyprus characteristic geological rocks

Using high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy, the terrestrial gamma radiation in all the predominant types of geological rock formations appearing in Cyprus was measured. Soil samples were collected from each rock type, sealed in 1-litre plastic Marinelli beakers, and measured in the laboratory for 24 hours each. From the measured gamma-ray spectra, activity concentrations were determined for Th-232 (range from 1.3 to 52.8 Bq/kg), U-238 (from 0.9 to 90.3 Bq/kg) and K-40 (from 13 to 894 Bq/kg). Elemental concentrations mean values of (2.8 +- 0.7) ppm, (1.3 +- 0.3) ppm and (0.6 +- 0.1) % were extracted, for thorium, uranium and potassium, respectively. Absorbed dose rates in air outdoors were calculated to be in the range of 0.1-50 nGy/h, depending on the geological features, with an overall mean value of (14.7 +- 7.3) nGy/h. The corresponding effective dose rates per person outdoors were estimated to be between 0.1 and 61.4 microSv/y, assuming a 20% occupancy factor.

physics.med-ph↗
arXiv2000

Positron spectra from internal pair conversion observed in {238}U + {181}Ta collisions

We present new results from measurements and simulations of positron spectra, originating from 238U + 181Ta collisions at beam energies close to the Coulomb barrier. The measurements were performed using an improved experimental setup at the double-Orange spectrometer of GSI. Particular emphasis is put on the signature of positrons from Internal-Pair-Conversion (IPC) processes in the measured e+ energy spectra, following the de-excitation of electromagnetic transitions in the moving Ta-like nucleus. It is shown by Monte Carlo simulations that, for the chosen current sweeping procedure used in the present experiments, positron emission from discrete IPC transitions can lead to rather narrow line structures in the measured energy spectra. The measured positron spectra do not show evidence for line structures within the statistical accuracy achieved, although expected from the intensities of the observed $γ$ transitions (E$_γ~1250-1600$ keV) and theoretical conversion coefficients. This is due to the reduced detection efficiency for IPC positrons, caused by the limited spatial and momentum acceptance of the spectrometer. A comparison with previous results, in which lines have been observed, is presented and the implications are discussed.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv1998

A versatile dielectron trigger for nucleon-nucleon and nucleus-nucleus collisions

A novel approach for a versatile first level dielectron trigger is presented. This trigger operates in the low multiplicity environment of nucleon-nucleon reactions as well as in the high multiplicity situation of nucleus-nucleus collisions. For optimal trigger performance, time of flight conditions for the two fastest particles of the event are combined with event multiplicity requirements. The dielectron trigger efficiency is given. The event reduction factor of such a trigger approach is studied for a low, a medium and a high multiplicity environment. The impact parameter dependence of the event reduction is given. The timing properties of the trigger signal are described. The losses due to deadtime are specified. Finally, the first level trigger rate is reported.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv1998

First Energy and Angle differential Measurements of e^+e^- -pairs emitted by Internal Pair Conversion of excited Heavy Nuclei

We present the first energy and angle resolved measurements of e+e- pairs emitted from heavy nuclei (Z>=40) at rest by internal pair conversion (IPC) of transitions with energies of less than 2MeV as well as recent theoretical results using the DWBA method, which takes full account of relativistic effects, magnetic substates and finite size of the nucleus. The 1.76MeV E0 transition in Zr90 (Sr source) and the 1.77MeV M1 transition in Pb207 (Bi source) have been investigated experimentally using the essentially improved set-up at the double-ORANGE beta-spectrometer of GSI. The measurements prove the capability of the setup to cleanly identify the IPC pairs in the presence of five orders of magnitude higher beta- and gamma background from the same source and to yield essentially background-free sum spectra despite the large background. Using the ability of the ORANGE setup to directly determine the opening angle of the e+e- pairs, the angular correlation of the emitted pairs was measured. In the Zr90 case the correlation could be deduced for a wide range of energy differences of the pairs. The Zr90 results are in good agreement with recent theory. The angular correlation deduced for the M1 transition in Pb207 is in strong disagreement with theoretical predictions derived within the Born approximation and shows almost isotropic character. This is again in agreement with the new theoretical results.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv1997

Weak e+e- lines from internal pair conversion observed in collisions of 238U with heavy nuclei

We present the results of a Doppler-shift correction to the measured e+e- sum-energy spectra obtained from e+e- coincidence measurements in 238U + 206Pb and 238U + 181Ta collisions at beam energies close to the Coulomb barrier, using an improved experimental setup at the double-Orange spectrometer of GSI. Internal-Pair-Conversion (IPC) e+e- pairs from discrete nuclear transitions of a moving emitter have been observed following Coulomb excitation of the 1.844 MeV (E1) transition in 206Pb and neutron transfer to the 1.770 MeV (M1) transition in 207Pb. In the collision system 238U + 181Ta, IPC transitions were observed from the Ta-like as well as from the U-like nuclei. In all systems the Doppler-shift corrected e+e- sum-energy spectra show weak lines at the energies expected from the corresponding $γ$-ray spectra with cross sections being consistent with the measured excitation cross sections of the $γ$ lines and the theoretically predicted IPC coefficients. No other than IPC e+e- sum-energy lines were found in the measured spectra. The transfer cross sections show a strong dependence on the distance of closest approach (R_min), thus signaling also a strong dependence on the bombarding energy close to the Coulomb barrier.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv1996

e+e- pairs from 238U + 206Pb collisions

We present the results from e+e- coincidence measurements in 238U + 206Pb collisions at a beam energy of 5.93 MeV/u, using an improved experimental setup at the double-Orange spectrometer of GSI. The capability of our device to detect Internal-Pair-Conversion (IPC) e+e- pairs from discrete nuclear transitions of a moving emitter is demonstrated by investigating the known 1.844 MeV (E1) transition in 206Pb and the 1.770 MeV (M1) transition in 207Pb, excited via Coulomb excitation and a neutron transfer reaction, respectively. The Doppler-shift corrected e+- sum-energy spectra show weak lines at the expected energies with cross sections being consistent with the measured excitation cross sections of the corresponding $γ$ lines and the theoretically predicted IPC coefficients. No other e+e- sum-energy lines were found in the measured spectra. The observed transfer cross sections show a strong dependence on the distance of closest approach (R_min), thus signaling also a strong dependence on the bombarding energy close to the Coulomb barrier.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv1996

Simulation studies of the HADES first level trigger PART I: Performance in heavy-ion induced reaction

The first level trigger of the HADES spectrometer is studied for the heavy-ion collision systems Au+Au and Ne+Ne. The trigger efficiency for central events is given in dependence of the imposed charged particle multiplicity condition. The timing properties of the trigger signal are described. The losses due to deadtime are specified. Finally, the first level trigger rate is reported.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv1996

New Results on e+e- Line Emission in U+Ta Collisions

We present new results obtained from a series of follow-up e+e- coincidence measurements in heavy-ion collisions, utilizing an improved experimental set-up at the double-Orange beta-spectrometer of GSI. The collision system U+Ta was reinvestigated in three independent runs at beam energies in the range (6.0-6.4)xA MeV and different target thicknesses, with the objective to reproduce a narrow sum-energy e+e- line at ~635 keV observed previously in this collision system. At improved statistical accuracy, the line could not be found in these new data. For the ''fission'' scenario, an upper limit (1 sigma) on its production probability per collision of 1.3x10^{-8} can be set which has to be compared to the previously reported value of [4.9 +- 0.8 (stat.) +- 1.0 (syst)]x10^{-7}. In the light of the new results, a reanalysis of the old data shows that the continuous part of the spectrum at the line position is significantly higher than previously assumed, thus reducing the production probability of the line by a factor of two and its statistical significance to < 3.4sigma.

nucl-ex↗
arXiv1996

Acceptance and resolution simulation studies for the dielectron spectrometer HADES at GSI

Design studies for a second generation Dilepton Spectrometer to be built at the SIS accelerator of GSI are presented. The basic design parameters of this system are specified and the different detector components for charged particle tracking and for lepton identification are described. The geometrical acceptance for lepton pairs is given. Results on single track momentum resolution and on lepton pair mass resolution are reported.

nucl-ex↗