International audienceThis article gives a detailed description of a single shot electron spectrometer which was used to characterize electron beams produced by laser-plasma interaction. Contrary to conventional electron sources, electron beams from laser-plasma accelerators can produce a broad range of energies. Therefore, diagnosing these electron spectra requires specific attention and experimental development. Here, we provide an absolute calibration of the Lanex Kodak Fine screen on a laser-triggered radio frequency picosecond electron accelerator. The efficiency of scintillating screens irradiated by electron beams has never been investigated so far. This absolute calibration is then compared to charge measurements from an integrating current transformer for quasimonoenergetic electron spectra from laser-plasma interaction

Damage to DNA via dissociative electron attachment has been well-studied in both the gas and condensed phases; however, understanding this process in bulk solution at a fundamental level is still a challenge. Here, we use a picosecond pulse of a high energy electron beam to generate electrons in liquid diethylene glycol and observe the electron attachment dynamics to ribothymidine at different stages of electron relaxation. Our transient spectroscopic results reveal that the quasi-free electron with energy near the conduction band effectively attaches to ribothymidine leading to a new absorbing species that is characterized in the UV-visible region. This species exhibits a nearly concentration-independent decay with a time constant of ~350 ps. From time-resolved studies under different conditions, combined with data analysis and theoretical calculations, we assign this intermediate to an excited anion radical that undergoes N1-C1′ glycosidic bond dissociation rather than relaxation to its ground state.

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The diethyl carbonate, DEC, is an ester that is used as a solvent in Li-ion batteries, but its behavior under ionizing radiation was unknown. The transient optical absorption spectra, the decay kinetics, and the influence of various scavengers have been studied by using the picosecond laser-triggered electron accelerator ELYSE. In neat DEC, the intense near-IR (NIR) absorption spectrum is assigned to the solvated electron. It is overlapped in the visible range by another transient but longer-lived and less intense band that is assigned to the oxidized radical DEC(-H). The solvated electron molar absorption coefficients and radiolytic yield evolution from 25 ps, the geminate recombination kinetics, and the rate constants of electron transfer reactions to scavengers are determined. The radiolytic mechanism, indicating a certain radioresistance of DEC, is compared with that for other solvents.

International audienceWe have studied the H 2 production under ionizing radiation of water confined in synthetic saponite and montmorillonite as a function of the relative humidity. The H 2 radiolytic yields in the dry systems are very similar to that measured in a non-swelling clay mineral. They are 2–3 times higher with one water layer in the interlayer space, evidencing very efficient energy transfers and efficient recombination reactions due to a high confinement. With two water layers, the H 2 yields decrease as compared to the previous case, but remain higher than in bulk water, proving that recombination reactions of hydrogen atoms are less efficient. Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements evidence that reactivity changes significantly with the number of water layers. Saponite and montmorillonite give similar results, showing that reactivity is driven by the amount of water and that the details of the clay structure play a less important role. Lastly, the behavior of natural vs. synthetic swelling clays is discussed. The presence of impurities, even in small quantities, significantly alters energy transfers and has a positive implication for the geological nuclear waste management

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The ageing phenomena occurring in various diethyl carbonate/LiPF6 solutions are studied using gamma and pulse radiolysis as a tool to generate similar species as the ones occurring in electrolysis of Li-ion batteries (LIBs). According to picosecond pulse radiolysis experiments, the reaction of the electron with (Li(+), PF6(-)) is ultrafast, leading to the formation of fluoride anions that can then precipitate into LiF(s). Moreover, direct radiation-matter interaction with the salt produces reactive fluorine atoms forming HF(g) and C2H5F(g). The strong Lewis acid PF5 is also formed. This species then forms various R(1)R(2)R(3) P=O molecules, where R is mainly -F, -OH, and -OC2H5. Substitution reactions take place and oligomers are slowly formed. Similar results were obtained in the ageing of an electrochemical cell filled with the same model solution. This study demonstrates that radiolysis enables a description of the reactivity in LIBs from the picosecond timescale until a few days.