Studies of high-field QED with the LUXE experiment at the European XFEL

The LUXE experiment aims at studying high-field QED in electron-laser and photon-laser interactions, with the 16.5 GeV electron beam of the European XFEL and a laser beam with power of up to 350 TW. The experiment will measure the spectra of electrons and photons in non-linear Compton scattering where production rates in excess of 109 are expected per 1 Hz bunch crossing. At the same time positrons from pair creation in either the two-step trident process or the Breit-Wheeler process will be measured, where the expected rates range from 10−3 to 104 per bunch crossing, depending on the laser power and focus. These measurements have to be performed in the presence of low-energy high radiation-background. To meet these challenges, for high-rate electron and photon fluxes, the experiment will use Cherenkov radiation detectors, scintillator screens, sapphire sensors as well as lead-glass monitors for back-scattering off the beam-dump. A four-layer silicon-pixel tracker and a compact sampling electromagnetic calorimeter will be used to measure the positron spectra. The layout of the experiment and the expected performance under the harsh radiation conditions will be presented.

Radiation Dose Assessment of the Fog Lead Acrylic Shields during Coronary Angiography: A Phantom Study

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of fogging on the effectiveness of a lead glass shield in protecting an operator from radiation exposure during conventional coronary angiography (CAG). Optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLDs) were used to measure the effects of fogged lead glass shields (FLSs) and clear lead glass shields (CLSs) on the radiation doses of a cardiac catheterization surgeon. We simulated the scatter radiation incident on the operator with five angiographic projections with 10-s exposures. Experiments were conducted with a field of view of 25 cm, maximum of 100 cm between the X-ray tube and image intensifier, and 80 cm between the image intensifier and operator. Lead glass fogging had no significant effect at any angiographic projection. The average dose at the lens of the eye, thyroid glands, and gonads did not differ significantly between FLS and CLS. Although most surgeons view ceiling-suspended shields as hindrances during surgical procedures, the radiation dose at the operator’s eyes and thyroid glands increased by 13 and 10 times without the shield. The fogging of the shield is probably caused by post-surgery UV decontamination or detergents. An operator has no cause for concern regarding the radiation protection afforded by an FLS during CAG procedures.

Experimental Arrangement for Testing the Effectiveness of Lead Glass for Shielding Against Ionizing Radiation in Low Earth Orbit for Future Space Vehicles

The present times are exhilarating, full of possibilities, which humans, just a century ago, would deem impossible. One of them is space travel: an effort to step one foot in the vast cosmic ocean. Through this experimental arrangement, we want to make the journey a little bit affordable, easier, and most importantly, more enjoyable. The future of transportation is in space. The future space vehicle needs a material that is transparent, cheap, and safe by blocking ionizing radiation. Lead glass which is abundantly found on earth and is cheap is proved to be effective in shielding ionizing radiation. The problem is that it is tested in the earth’s environment for less energy radiation. Our experiment arrangement is designed to test the effectiveness of lead glass and if effective, the thickness of lead glass required for effective shielding of skin cells and microdrive. The experiment is designed as such to accommodate the whole setup in a cube of 3cm*3cm*3cm, so that experiment will be portable enough and easy to transport in low earth orbit This paper, however, doesn’t address the structural engineering solutions regarding implementation of lead glass as the material for space vehicles. Keywords: Ionizing radiation, radiation shielding, lead glass, low earth orbit, future space vehicles

From Glass to Glaze in al-Andalus: Local Invention and Technological Transfer

It has long been assumed that lead glazing technology preceded glassmaking in the Western world and that the technological transfer was from glazes to glass. Here, we present new evidence for the reverse, the indigenous innovation of glassmaking and its transfer to glazes in early Islamic al-Andalus (Spain). Compositional analyses show that Islamic lead glazes from Córdoba are intimately related to a distinct type of high-lead glass, suggesting a connection between the two technologies. The archaeological remains from a pottery workshop indicate that the glazing process initially involved the production of a lead glass and is not linked to earlier Roman or other contemporary glazing technologies. The data also demonstrate that the potters not only used the same materials and techniques but borrowed stylistic and decorative models from glassmaking.

Local Irradiation of Mouse Tooth Germ Gives Insight into the Direct Effects of Irradiation on Root Development

To elucidate the mechanism underlying the failure of root formation after irradiation, we established a method of local irradiation of the molar tooth germ and demonstrated that radiation directly affected dental root development. In the current study, to locally irradiate the lower first molars of 5-day-old C57BL/6J mice, we used lead glass containing a hole as a collimator. We confirmed that our local irradiation method targeted only the tooth germ. The irradiated root was immature in terms of apical growth, and dentin formation was irregular along the outside of the root apices. Moreover, calcified tissue apically surrounded Hertwig's epithelial root sheath, which disappeared abnormally early. This method using a local irradiation experimental model will facilitate research into radiation-induced disorders of dental root formation.

Radiation Protection of Personnel in Contact Radiation Therapy in Ophthalmology

Purpose: To ensure radiation safety of medical staff personal protective equipment (PPE). Material and methods: In order to not make assumptions of possible protective materials optical distortion, estimated the dependence of light transmission in the wavelength range 330–660 nm leaded glass brands of TF-1 and TF-5, as well as the intensity of glow glasses when exposed to light and X-rays. Results: We trace the degree of browning and the nature of the recovery of transparency of glass after irradiation. To determine the optimum thickness of lead glass for eyewear experimentally evaluated attenuation of X-rays with energy efficiency 30 and 80 keV. Lead equivalent values for lead glass, was determined so for Eeff ~ 20 keV at a multiplicity of weakening k = 10 lead glass brand TF-5 thickness 2.0 mm equivalent 0.8 mm Pb, etc. For the possible use of other additives in the window shows the curves of the attenuation of photon radiation radionuclide 241Am (20–60 keV) filters from 9Be, 26Al, 56Fe, 64Cu, 99Mo, 112Cd, 184W, 207Pb Conclusion: Possible introduction of new dose limits for the lens of the eye can be successful only in case of both existing and newly developed PPE. To reduce the impact of domestic lead glass radiation can be used for staff in the form of screens and glasses.

Historical lead glass in museum collections: determination of the composition by a portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer

A method for the determination of the glass composition in the systems PbO – SiO2 and K2O – PbO – SiO2 with different additives present both in historical and modern art glass is considered. Development of a non-destructive method for determining the glass composition in conditions of museum storage is an important goal for museum practice. We propose a method for determining the composition of those glasses using a portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer (XRF). To select the optimal software suitable for measurements, we have synthesized a number of standard glass samples with the composition determined by ICP-AES. A glass sample of was dissolved in an autoclave in a mixture of nitric, hydrofluoric, and perchloric acids. The lead content in standard samples was simultaneously determined gravimetrically after fusion of the sample with sodium carbonate. Using XRF measurements of standard samples we development of a method for determination of the glass composition with an accuracy sufficient to assign the glass to one of the groups of historical glasses. The results obtained can be used for attribution of lead glass products. The content of potassium oxide in historical samples was estimated by XRF method using two independent programs with subsequent averaging of the data obtained. When using our method, the error of potassium, silicon and lead determination does not exceed 10%, which is sufficient for a museum description and attribution of an item. The developed procedure was tested in analysis of the items from the collection of the State Museum of Ceramics («Kuskovo Estate of the 18th century»).