[en] ⁴²Ar is a potential source of background in large volume argon-based detectors. The production of the ⁴²Ar isotope both by cosmic rays and by neutrons produced by testing of nuclear weapons is discussed. We demonstrate that main channel of the ⁴²Ar production is from atmospheric testing of nuclear bombs from 1945 to 1962 and the ⁴²Ar content must be less than 1.3 x 10^-23 parts of ⁴²Ar per part of ^nalAr. (orig.)

[en] We report on a new measurement of the half-life of ⁴²Ar by following its decay over a time period of more than 13 years using γ-ray spectrometry. The obtained value of (39.5 ± 3.6) y confirms the only other, previously measured value of (33 ± 2) y. However, since partial outgassing of the accumulated Ar from the sample cannot be excluded, this value should be understood as a lower limit. The sample has now been stored in a gas-tight quartz ampoule to enable further measurements excluding the outgas effect in order to confirm our finding. (author)

No abstract available

[en] Data from the DBA liquid argon ionization chamber experiment were used to obtain an estimate on the concentration of ⁴²Ar in the Earth’s atmosphere, 9.2^+2.2 _-4.6. 10^-21 atoms of ⁴² Ar/ atom of ⁴⁰Ar. This corresponds to a specific activity of freshly produced liquid argon of 92+²² _-46 / µ Bq/kg. (paper)

No abstract available

[en] Element distribution in soybean plant organ and the agar medium near the root were measured by neutron activation analysis. The concentrations of P, Mg, K and Mn were increased in the order of root, stem and leaf whereas that of Na showed the reverse tendency. In the case of halogens, Br and Cl, there was the maximum concentration in the stem. From the element behavior or requirement in each plant organ was discussed. (author)

[en] On August 8, 2019, an explosion of a military missile occurred at the Nenoksa (also transcribed as Nyonoksa) Missile Test Center (Russian Federation). Russian authorities confirmed a release of radioactive material in the course of this incident, which fueled rumors that it could have involved a nuclear-propelled missile of the Burevestnik/Skyfall type. In this study, our radioanalytical efforts are summarized searching for the ''smoking gun'' of the incident. These included the gamma-measurements of air filters from two vessels that were in some proximity to the event as well as one Greek high-volume air filter. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that radioactive ${}^{42}$Ar may have been used to operate a radiothermal generator. If the incident had released ${}^{42}$Ar, it may have become detectable by measuring characteristic gamma radiation emitted from a tank containing liquefied atmospheric argon. No traces whatsoever were found that could provide clues about the release. It is possible that the presumably small amounts of radionuclides released from either a small nuclear reactor or a powerful radionuclide source dispersed quickly over Russian territory to non-detectable levels before reaching any of our assayed samples. (© 2020 The Authors. Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie published by Wiley-VCH GmbH)

No abstract available

[en] The spectral shape of the electrons from the two first-forbidden unique ${\mathrm{\beta <!--\; ??\; -->}}^{-<!--\; ???\; -->}$ decays of ³⁹Ar and ⁴²Ar were calculated for the first time to the next-to-leading order. Especially the spectral shape of the ³⁹Ar decay can be used to characterize this background component for dark matter searches based on argon. Alternatively, due to the low thresholds of these experiments, the spectral shape can be investigated over a wide energy range with high statistics and thus allow a sensitive comparison with the theoretical predictions, in particular at low electron energies where the shape of the computed β spectrum has a slight dependence on the value of the weak axial-vector coupling constant. (paper)

No abstract available