Granero, D., Vijande, J., Ballester, F., & Rivard, M. J. (2011). Dosimetry revisited for the HDR Ir-192 brachytherapy source model mHDR-v2. Med. Phys., 38(1), 487–494.
Abstract: Purpose: Recently, the manufacturer of the HDR Ir-192 mHDR-v2 brachytherapy source reported small design changes (referred to herein as mHDR-v2r) that are within the manufacturing tolerances but may alter the existing dosimetric data for this source. This study aimed to (1) check whether these changes affect the existing dosimetric data published for this source; (2) obtain new dosimetric data in close proximity to the source, including the contributions from 192Ir electrons and considering the absence of electronic equilibrium; and (3) obtain scatter dose components for collapsed cone treatment planning system implementation. Methods: Three different Monte Carlo (MC) radiation transport codes were used: MCNP5, PENELOPE2008, and GEANT4. The source was centrally positioned in a 40 cm radius water phantom. Absorbed dose and collision kerma were obtained using 0.1 mm (0.5 mm) thick voxels to provide high-resolution dosimetry near (far from) the source. Dose-rate distributions obtained with the three MC codes were compared. Results: Simulations of mHDR-v2 and mHDR-v2r designs performed with three radiation transport codes showed agreement typically within 0.2% for r >= 0.25 cm. Dosimetric contributions from source electrons were significant for r<0.25 cm. The dose-rate constant and radial dose function were similar to those from previous MC studies of the mHDR-v2 design. The 2D anisotropy function also coincided with that of the mHDR-v2 design for r >= 0.25 cm. Detailed results of dose distributions and scatter components are presented for the modified source design. Conclusions: Comparison of these results to prior MC studies showed agreement typically within 0.5% for r >= 0.25 cm. If dosimetric data for r<0.25 cm are not needed, dosimetric results from the prior MC studies will be adequate. c 2011 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.
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Cases, R., Ros, E., & Zuñiga, J. (2011). Measuring radon concentration in air using a diffusion cloud chamber. Am. J. Phys., 79(9), 903–908.
Abstract: Radon concentration in air is a major concern in lung cancer studies. A traditional technique used to measure radon abundance is the charcoal canister method. We propose a novel technique using a diffusion cloud chamber. This technique is simpler and can easily be used for physics demonstrations for high school and university students.
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Guardiola, R., & Navarro, J. (2011). On the Lindemann Criterion for Quantum Clusters at Very Low Temperature. J. Phys. Chem. A, 115(25), 6843–6850.
Abstract: The Lindemann criterion to discern the solid-like or liquid-like nature of a quantum cluster at T = 0 is discussed. A critical analysis of current Lindemann parameters is presented and a new parameter is proposed that is appropriate to study quantum clusters made of identical particles. A simple model wave function is introduced to fix the range of variation of these parameters. The model presents two extreme limits that correspond to either a liquid-like or a solid-like system; besides, it fulfills the Bose symmetry and also permits evaluations without symmetrization. Variational and diffusion Monte Carlo calculations are also performed for clusters of spinless bosons interacting through Lennard-Jones potentials. It is shown that the liquid-like or solid-like character of quantum clusters at zero temperature cannot be simply established in terms of a single parameter.
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Navarro, J., Ancilotto, F., Barranco, M., & Pi, M. (2011). Toward a Density Functional Description of Liquid pH(2). J. Phys. Chem. A, 115(25), 6910–6917.
Abstract: A finite-temperature density functional approach to describe the properties of parahydrogen in the liquid vapor coexistence region is presented. The first proposed functional is zero-range, where the density-gradient term is adjusted so as to reproduce the surface tension of the liquid vapor interface at low temperature. The second functional is finite-range and, while it is fitted to reproduce bulk pH(2) properties only, it is shown to yield surface properties in good agreement with experiments. These functionals are used to study the surface thickness of the liquid vapor interface, the wetting transition of parahydrogen on a planar Rb model surface, and homogeneous cavitation in bulk liquid pH(2).
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de Azcarraga, J. A., Izquierdo, J. M., & Picon, M. (2011). Contractions of Filippov algebras. J. Math. Phys., 52(1), 013516–24pp.
Abstract: We introduce in this paper the contractions B-c of n-Lie (or Filippov) algebras B and show that they have a semidirect structure as their n = 2 Lie algebra counterparts. As an example, we compute the nontrivial contractions of the simple A(n+1) Filippov algebras. By using the. Inonu-Wigner and the generalized Weimar-Woods contractions of ordinary Lie algebras, we compare (in the B = A(n+1) simple case) the Lie algebras Lie B-c (the Lie algebra of inner endomorphisms of B-c) with certain contractions (Lie B)(IW) and (Lie B)(W-W) of the Lie algebra Lie B associated with B.
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