The structural properties of Fe in celadon glazes provide information about its production process and coloration mechanism. We provide a spatial perspective to the Fe properties of reduction-fired celadon glazes using depth-resolved Fe K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) performed on the glaze cross-sections. The XAS spectra collected from the cross-sections were compared to those collected from the surfaces. The depth-resolved XAS results show that surface oxidation occurs with a typical reduction-firing profile. A 30–60μm transition region between two Fe valency proportions near the surface and the glaze interior was observed. The XAS spectra taken from the surfaces showed that it is sensitive to only ∼100–101μm near the surface. The possibility of surface oxidation in synthetic glazes or ceramic artifacts limits the interpretation of fluorescence XAS spectra collected from glaze surfaces because it does not always represent the properties of the glaze interior and the glaze as a whole.

The development and characterization of the optical properties of a neodymium(III)-doped 42.75AlF(3)-33.25CaF(2)-19BaF(2)-5YF(3)(Nd3+-doped BCA-5Y) glass in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) region are reported. Photoluminescence peaks at 180 and 227 nm are observed upon excitation with the 157 nm emission of a F(2)laser. The dominant 180 nm emission peak is assigned to the 4f(2)5d-4f(3)((4)I(9/2)level) transition in Nd3+. This emission peak exhibits a fast, single exponential luminescence with a 16 ns decay time. The strong luminescence intensity and the fast decay time allude to its prospects for scintillator applications.

We studied lanthanide-doped 20Al(PO3)3-80LiF, or simply APLF, as scintillator for neutron detection. Lanthanide-doped APLFs had faster fluorescence decay times by about 10 ns compared to a standard scintillator, GS2. Nd-doped APLF exhibited the fastest decay time of 6.6 ns. The fluorescence of the Pr-doped and GS2 using different radiation sources were also compared. The Pr-doped APLF had faster decay time compared to GS2 regardless of the radioactive excitation source. We demonstrated the potential of the Pr-doped APLF as a scintillator by neutron diagnostics. Lanthanide- doped APLFs can be better alternatives to conventional scintillators. We envision further developments of lanthanide-doped APLF-based neutronscintillators.

We investigate the photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra of 20Al(PO3)3–80LiF+Pr glass (APLF+Pr) and Pr3+-doped LiCaAlF6 crystal (Pr:LiCAF) in order to determine the electronic states of Pr3+ in APLF glass host and to improve APLF+Pr scintillation properties. Ultraviolet (UV) emission bands at around 250 and 340 nm were observed from both materials and these can be ascribed to 4f5d→4f2 transitions in Pr3+. Emission at around 400 nm was also obtained and is principally attributed to 1S0→4f2 transition. Difference in the emission profiles of these two materials was found to be due to the extent of the 5d band and its position relative to the 1S0 state. Increasing the concentration of Pr3+ up to 2 mol % was found to improve UV emission ratio due to the faster cross-relaxation of 4f states. This could improve the quantum efficiency of APLF+Pr as a neutron scintillator for scattered-neutron diagnostics in laser fusion research.

We explore the potential of Pr- or Ce-doped 20Al(PO3)3–80LiF (APLF80+3Pr or +3Ce) scintillator to observe the lower edge of down-scattered neutron and discriminate fusion originated neutron from strong X-ray signals. APLF80+3Pr or +3Ce scintillator exhibits considerably fast decay profiles and negligible slow-decay components. Using these newly developed APLF80+3Pr or +3Ce scintillators, we have successfully observed fusion-originated neutron signal in the midst of strong X-ray-excited fluorescence in an integrated experiment using our 10kJ class GEKKO XII Nd-glass laser system. A sophisticated neutron detection system using APLF80+3Pr or 3Ce will be used for the first fast ignition experiment.

We report the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectroscopy of APLF + Nd and APLF + Er glass, with composition 20Al(PO3)(3)-80LiF + 1NdF(3) and + 1ErF(3) (in mol%). APLF + Nd and APLF + Er have a dominant fluorescence peak at 185 nm and 168 nm with decay times of 4.5 ns and 5.8 ns, respectively. Fluorescence from APLF + Nd is attributed to 4f(2)5d -> 4f(3) transitions in neodymium (Nd) while fluorescence from APLF + Er is due to spin allowed transition in erbium (Er). This is the first report of VUV fluorescence from rare earth ions doped in glass hosts, which could provide the basis for mass production of VUV emitting materials. Our results also suggest the potential of using APLF + Nd and APLF + Er as neutron scintillators during inertial confinement fusion. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Scintillation properties of Ce 3+ -doped 20Al(PO 3 ) 3 -80LiF glasses were investigated in order to seek a candidate for down-scattered neutron scintillator in nuclear fusion diagnostics. The decay constant of APLF80 + 3Ce with 5.5 MeV alpha particles from 241 Am radioisotope excitation was measured to be 32.1 ns. Moreover, sufficiently low afterglow decay profile and improved light output of APLF80 + 3Ce were experimentally demonstrated.

Optical and scintillation properties of Pr-doped Li-glass, 20Al(PO3)3-80LiF:Pr 3%, have been studied for applications in neutron detection systems. Based on optical transmission and reflectivity, the absorption coefficient and refractive index were calculated from the Beer Lambert law. The absorption edge was apparently shifted to the longer wavelength from 160nm to 240nm due to 4f→5d transitions of Pr ions. The strong absorption peaks of praseodymium 4f→4f transitions were observed from 420nm to 500nm and around 590nm. The radio-luminescence spectrum excited by 241Am 5.5MeV α source was measured. Strong emission peaks were observed around 250nm. The α-ray excited pulse height spectrum and decay kinetics were also examined. Light yield was estimated to be 400±40 photons/5.5MeV α and the main component of the decay time was evaluated to be about 12ns. Furthermore, the pulse height spectrum of the glass excited by 252Cf neutrons was also measured, and the light yield was estimated to be 140±10 photons/neutron.

An accident in a nuclear power plant, which can be caused by an unpredictable event such as an explosion, fire, and earthquake, has severe and far-reaching consequences. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully and constantly monitor the plant and precisely detect any radiation source. Radiation contamination in laboratories and in the environment due to nuclear fallout is among the issues that require an immediate solution. Radiation detection has become increasingly important because of the increasing number of nuclear power plants that have been established to replace conventional power plants, as part of the effort to suppress carbon dioxide emission. For these purposes, this chapter will discuss the principle and method of mapping flying radiations. Visual mapping of intensity and direction of

Scintillation properties of Pr3+-doped 20Al (PO3)3- 80LiF glasses melted in N2 were investigated in order

Scintillation properties of Pr3+-doped 20Al(PO3)(3)-80 LiF glasses melted in N-2 were investigated to seek a candidate for a scattered neutron scintillator in nuclear fusion diagnostics. The fluorescence lifetime of the sample with 217 nm ultraviolet femtosecond pulse excitation was measured to be 19.5 ns. More importantly, the fluorescence lifetime with alpha particles from Am-241 radioisotope excitation was determined to be 6.7 ns. Based on our material design strategy, we have successfully developed the fast response time praseodymium-doped Li-6 glass scintillator for scattered neutron diagnostics.

Experimental results are presented on the properties of a custom-designed fast-response lithium-6 glass scintillator for inertial confinement fusion diagnostics. This newly developed scintillator promises as an indispensable tool in the realization of scattered neutron diagnostics.

Antimicrobial activities of porcelain glazes with antimicrobial agents made of clay minerals intercalated with silver chelate and the effect of additives to the antimicrobial agents on those activities were investigated. The glazes with 10 mass % antimicrobial agents, fired at 1573 K in a reducing atmosphere, showed negative antimicrobial activities. On the other hand, the antimicrobial activities of the glazes with 1-10 mass % of the agents fired in an oxidizing atmosphere were positive. The glaze with an agent doped with Zr had a high antimicrobial activity by adding only 0.2 mass To of the agent, which included only 0.008 mass % Ag in the glaze. Wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, used for ingredient analysis, showed that the negative activity resulted from the disappearance of the Ag in the glaze fired in the reducing atmosphere. (C)2010 The Ceramic Society of Japan All rights reserved

The effect of mixing ratio, firing temperature and matrix glass composition on afterglow luminance property of SrAl2O4: Eu2+,Dy3+-glass composites were investigated. As a result, the brightness showed a maximum at 35 mass % of the mixing ratio of the phosphor for the glass and 780 degrees C of the firing temperature. And it was increased with decreasing the Na2O content of the matrix glass. From the backscattered electron and the EDX analysis, it is thought that the intermediate layers generated between the phosphors and the Na2O-poor matrix glass work as antireflective and the phosphor particles in the composite emit phosphorescent light more efficiently. As higher the basicity parameter, B, the intermediate layer was clearer, which means that the reactivity at the phosphor/glass boundaries was lower, and the narrow reaction layers was formed. 2010 The Ceramic Society of Japan. All rights reserved.

The characteristics of an APLF80+3Ce scintillator are presented. Its sufficiently fast decay profile, low afterglow, and an improved light output compared to the recently developed APLF80+3Pr, were experimentally demonstrated. This scintillator material holds promise for applications in neutron imaging diagnostics at the energy regions of 0.27 MeV of DD fusion down-scattered neutron peak at the world's largest inertial confinement fusion facilities such as the National Ignition Facility and the Laser Mégajoule.

A novel custom-developed scintillator for laser fusion diagnostics is reported. With the aim of diagnosing scattered neutrons from the imploded high-density fusion plasma, a fast response lithium-6 glass scintillator has been developed. Praseodymium, instead of the more widely-used cerium was chosen as the dopant. Sufficiently fast luminescence lifetime for scattered neutron diagnostics (<20ns) was experimentally observed, and the feasibility was successfully shown in laser-fusion experiments at the GEKKO XII facility of the Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University.

Experimental results are presented on the neutron scintillating properties of a custom-designed Pr3+ (praseodymium)-doped lithium (Li) glass. Luminescence was observed at 278 nm wavelength, originating from the 5d-4f transition. Time-resolved measurements yielded about 20 ns decay times for ultraviolet and x-ray excitation while much faster decay times of about 6 ns were observed for alpha particle and neutron excitation. Actual time-of-flight data in laser fusion experiments at the GEKKO XII facility of the Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University reveal that it can clearly discriminate fusion neutrons from the much stronger x-rays signals. This material can promise improved accuracy in future scattered neutron diagnostics.