Thermal neutron cross sections of aluminum and magnesium fluorides and quantum kinetic energy of fluorine
Abstract
We provide the modeling and experimental validation of thermal neutron cross sections, including scattering and absorption contributions, of aluminum fluoride and magnesium fluoride, as well as MgF2–AlF3 and AlF3–LiF mixtures, in the neutron energy range between 0.6 meV and 1 keV. The neutron scattering properties have been investigated as a function of temperature, between 10 and 370 K, and sample microscopic structure, focusing in particular on differences between powder and sintered samples. Concurrent measurements of neutron transmission, neutron diffraction, neutron resonance capture analysis, and neutron Compton scattering provide a comprehensive picture of scattering and transport properties of these materials. We provide crystallographic information at the atomic scale, the effect of sintering on the grain size at the nanometer scale, the related occurrence of small angle scattering, and the impact of fluorine zero-point nuclear energy at different temperatures, requiring the use of an effective temperature to model its scattering within the impulse approximation. Finally, combining this self-consistent experimental information, we discuss the application of the uncertainty principle to the fluorine single-particle potential.
Article Details
Journal Info
The Journal of Chemical Physics
American Institute of Physics
Authors (15)
Margherita Simoni
Physics Department, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata 1 , via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma,
Setareh Fatemi
National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Unit of Pavia 2 , via A. Bassi 6, Pavia 27100,
Lorenzo Airoldi
Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia 3 , V.le Taramelli 12, Pavia I27100,
Silva Bortolussi
National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Unit of Pavia 2 , via A. Bassi 6, Pavia 27100,
Mattia Gaboardi
Physics Department and NAST Centre, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata 1 , via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma,
Matthew Krzystyniak
Anna Marsicano
ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory 5 , Chilton OX11 0QX,
Triestino Minniti
Physics Department, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata 1 , via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma,
Ignacio Porras
Department of Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics, University of Granada 6 , Avenida de Fuentenueva S/N, CP:18071 Granada,
Ian Postuma
National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Unit of Pavia 2 , via A. Bassi 6, Pavia 27100,
Ricardo Ramos
National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Unit of Pavia 2 , via A. Bassi 6, Pavia 27100,
Roberto Senesi
Physics Department, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata 1 , via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma,
Umberto Anselmi Tamburini
National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Unit of Pavia 2 , via A. Bassi 6, Pavia 27100,
Valerio Vercesi
National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Unit of Pavia 2 , via A. Bassi 6, Pavia 27100,
Giovanni Romanelli
Physics Department, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata 1 , via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Roma,