Gadolinium nuclear properties

Gadolinium-dendrimer conjugates have been used as blood pool contrast agents in vivo for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of tumors [65]. The efficacy of the conjugates in such applications is dependent on their biodistribution properties, and these properties vary as a function of dendrimer molecular weight and chemical composition [50]. Dendrimer architecture and synthesis... 

As one might expect, the nuclear industry has not been slow to put this property to good use and today gadolinium, in the form of its oxide, is an essential component of certain fuel systems where it is employed as a burnable poison, providing rapid core control under emergency conditions. 

Gries, H. and Miklautz, H. (1984) Some physicochemical properties of the gadolinium-DTPA complex, a contrast agent for MRI. Physiological Chemistry and Physics and Medical Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, 16, 105-112. 

The attainment of still lower temperatures, down to about 10" K, is achieved by making use of nuclear magnetic properties. The nuclear magnets are about 2000 times smaller than the magnet in a paramagnetic substance such as gadolinium sulfate, yet there is still a significant difference between the nuclear entropies even at temperatures as low as 10" K-... 

Two of the Gd isotopes, namely, d and Gd, have excellent neutron-capture characteristics but are present in nature in only low concentrations. As a result, Gd has a very fast burnout rate and has limited use as nuclear control rod material in reactors and power plants [2]. Compounds of gadolinium are used in making phosphors for color TV tubes. The metal has superconductive properties. As little as 1% of the element has been found to improve the workability and resistance of iron, chromium, and related alloys to high temperatures and oxidation. The ethyl sulfate compound has extremely low noise characteristics. Hence, it may find use in multiplying the performance of high-frequency amplifiers. 

Although the CSEWG nuclear data benchmarks are adequate for testing Uranium cross sections, more accurate plutonium experiments are needed. The benchmark set should also be expanded to include temperature-dependent experiments, (e.g., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Stanford U self-indication measurements), as well as experiments sensitive to moderator properties (e.g., fission neutron age in water) and to control material properties (e.g., criticality of gadolinium loaded lattices). A considerable number of existing experiments performed in Europe and Japan as well as in the United States diould be considered as candidates for extending the data and methods validation benchmark sets. 

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