NASA LogoNTRSNTRS - NASA Technical Reports ServerSearchmore_vertCollectionsAboutNewsHelpLogin Back to ResultsExperimental Observations of Nuclear Activity in Deuterated Materials Subjected to a Low-Energy Photon BeamExposure of highly deuterated materials to a low-energy (nom. 2 MeV) photon beam resulted in nuclear activity of both the parent metals of hafnium and erbium and a witness material (molybdenum) mixed with the reactants. Gamma spectral analysis of all deuterated materials, ErD2.8+C36D74+Mo and HfD2+C36D74+Mo, showed that nuclear processes had occurred as shown by unique gamma signatures. For the deuterated erbium specimens, posttest gamma spectra showed evidence of radioisotopes of erbium ((163)Er and (171)Er) and of molybdenum ((99)Mo and (101)Mo) and by beta decay, technetium (99mTc and 101Tc). For the deuterated hafnium specimens, posttest gamma spectra showed evidence of radioisotopes of hafnium (180mHf and 181Hf) and molybdenum ((99)Mo and (101)Mo), and by beta decay, technetium ((99m)Tc and (101)Tc). In contrast, when either the hydrogenated or non-gas-loaded erbium or hafnium materials were exposed to the gamma flux, the gamma spectra revealed no new isotopes. Neutron activation materials showed evidence of thermal and epithermal neutrons. CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors showed evidence of fast neutrons with energies between 1.4 and 2.5 MeV and several instances of triple tracks, indicating (is) greater than 10 MeV neutrons. Further study is required to determine the mechanism causing the nuclear activity.Document ID20170002584Acquisition SourceGlenn Research CenterDocument TypeTechnical Memorandum (TM)AuthorsSteinetz, Bruce M.*(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)*Benyo, Theresa L.*(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)*Pines, Vladimir*(Pinesci Consulting Avon Lake, OH, United States)*Pines, Marianna*(Pinesci Consulting Avon Lake, OH, United States)*Forsley, Lawrence P.*(JWK International Co. Annandale, VA, United States)*Westmeyer, Paul A.*(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)*Chait, Arnon*(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)*Becks, Michael D.*(Vantage Partners, LLC Cleveland, OH, United States)*Martin, Richard E.*(Cleveland State Univ. Cleveland, OH, United States)*Hendricks, Robert C.*(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)*Penney, Nicholas*(Ohio Aerospace Inst. Brook Park, OH, United States)*Marsolais, Annette M.*(Vantage Partners, LLC Cleveland, OH, United States)*Kamm, Tracy R.*(Vantage Partners, LLC Cleveland, OH, United States)*Date AcquiredMarch 27, 2017Publication DateFebruary 1, 2017Subject CategoryNuclear PhysicsReport/Patent NumberE-19122NASA/TM-2017-218963GRC-E-DAA-TN28816Funding Number(s)CONTRACT_GRANT: NNC14CA16CWBS: WBS 161682.04.01.01.30CONTRACT_GRANT: NNC13BA10BCONTRACT_GRANT: NNC12BA01BDistribution LimitsPublicCopyrightPublic Use Permitted.Available DownloadsNameType20170002584.pdfSTIcloud_downloadcontent_copyvisibilityRelated RecordsThere are no records associated with this record.visibility_offNo Preview Available
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