Physics of rare events: insights on Napoleon death. Ezio Previtali - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

▶
physics of rare events insights on napoleon death
SMART_READER_LITE
LIVE PREVIEW

Physics of rare events: insights on Napoleon death. Ezio Previtali - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Jan 04, 2024 212 likes •501 views

Physics of rare events: insights on Napoleon death. Ezio Previtali INFN Sez. Milano Bicocca Universit degli Studi di Milano Bicocca Ezio Previtali Vulcano 2010 Workshop Physics of Rare Events In experiments on Rare Events Physics:

slide-1
SLIDE 1

Physics of rare events: insights on Napoleon death.

Ezio Previtali INFN Sez. Milano Bicocca Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-2
SLIDE 2

Physics of Rare Events

In experiments on Rare Events Physics:

  • double beta decay search
  • solar neutrinos
  • non baryonic dark matter search
  • ……

Very pure materials are needed to minimize experimental background In Neutrinoless Double Beta Decay energy region it is expected a background: 1 counts / (keV ton year) To obtain such low background values, material’s contaminations must be: < 10-12 g/g for 238U and 232Th Specific instrumentations and methodologies are necessary

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-3
SLIDE 3

Physics of Rare Events

Suitable measurement techniques are:

  • ICP MS (Inductive Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry)
  • NAA (Neutron Activation Analysis)
  • AMS (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry)
  • Gamma rays spectrometry with HPGe (for radioactive samples)
  • Cryogenic Particle Detectors (for radioactive samples)

Tecniques

232Th [10-13 g/g] 238U [10-13 g/g]

Characteristics References Bolometers 3 3 All chain MiBi +LNGS HPGe 45 12 γ emitters LNGS ICP MS 2 10 Primordials Pacific NW NAA 9 20 Primordials MiBi+PV-TUM

As examples for solid materials used in low background experiments

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-4
SLIDE 4

By product

Developed techniques can be applied to lot of studies outside Rare Events Physics Environmental studies:

  • Evaluation of air particulate dynamics
  • Study of climatologically evolution of the hearth
  • Date of the geological substrates and ice core samples
  • Evolution of pedological (soils) profile for erosion studies
  • ………….

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-5
SLIDE 5

Ice core historical reconstruction

Nuclear tests – ‘60 Nuclear tests - China

U.S.A. CHINA U.R.S.S.

137Cs in Alp Ice Core

Nuclear tests - China Nuclear tests– Anni ‘60

Total error: few months over 60 years

MegaTons in North Emisphere Superposition137Cs-Megatons

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-6
SLIDE 6

By product

Developed techniques can be applied to lot of studies outside Rare Events Physics Environmental studies:

  • Evaluation of air particulate dynamics
  • Study of climatologically evolution of the hearth
  • Date of the geological ad ice core samples
  • Evolution of pedological profile for erosion studies
  • ………….

Archeological studies:

  • Historical study for sample dating
  • Identification of production sources
  • Technological evolution of the human approaches
  • ………….

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-7
SLIDE 7

Ancient Roman Lead

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-8
SLIDE 8

By product

Developed techniques can be applied to lot of studies outside Rare Events Physics Environmental studies:

  • Evaluation of air particulate dynamics
  • Study of climatologically evolution of the hearth
  • Date of the geological ad ice core samples
  • Evolution of pedological profile for erosion studies
  • ………….

Archeological studies:

  • Historical study for sample dating
  • Identification of production sources
  • Technological evolution of the human approaches
  • ………….

Cultural heritage and historical studies:

  • Determination of the composition in historical samples
  • Studies of the arts manufact
  • Toxicology for historical fact (death of Napoleon)
  • …….

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-9
SLIDE 9

Napoleon at S. Helena island

  • 15 October 1815: Begins the exile of Napoleon on the island of S. Helen
  • Spring 1816: Health of the emperor becomes precarious
  • May 1816: He contacted Dr. O'Meara for insomnia, headache, gout
  • September 1817: Diagnosis of hepatitis, takes calomel
  • Beginning 1818: Dr. O’Meara recalled in London, arrives Dr. Antommarchi
  • 1818: Also Dr. Antommarchi diagnoses illness to the liver: new cares
  • 1820: Despite the cares health worsens: fever, gengiviti, intestinal problems
  • Marc 1821: Napoleone is forced in bed: assumption of emetic tartar
  • May1821: Against to seem of Antommarchi, calomel is administered

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-10
SLIDE 10

Napoleon at S. Helena island

5 May 1821 Death of Napoleon Bonaparte

  • 5 maggio: Autopsy of Antommarchi: chronic hepatitis and cancerous ulcer (hole 7 mm)
  • 5 e 6 maggio: Marchand cuts the hair of Napoleone to send to the famigliaris

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-11
SLIDE 11

Poisoning Hypothesis

Based to the symptoms Forshufvud in 1960 hypothesizes As chronic poisoning This hypothesis is based on various assumptions: Some found symptoms could be interpreted with assumption of As Napoleon surely had many enemies that wanted him dead

  • Gen. Lowe head of the garrison to S. Helena
  • Dr. Antommarchi physician of Napoleon

Count of Motolon jealous for the relationships of Napoleon with his wife In 1840 the exhumed dead body was in perfect state of maintenance this would be justifiable with heavy assumptions of As The assumption of As from Napoleon has always been correlated to poisoning

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-12
SLIDE 12

Sponsored by Ben Weider numerous measurements were done to search As Various measurement techniques were used on Napoleon’s hairs NAA Harwell AAS FBI

Poisoning Hypothesis

12 ppm

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-13
SLIDE 13

The tapestry of Longwood House was also measured Values of 0.08 g cm-2 of As was found: forbidden values currently

Poisoning Hypothesis

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-14
SLIDE 14

Our approach

The starting point was: we would like to produce a clear result Specific rules were applied: Only certified materials were analyzed (museum) Hair of Napoleon at different ages were selected (child, Elba, S. Helena) Obtained data were compared with relatives (Aiglon,..) Actual hairs were used to set the sensitivity and to check the stability Measurements were performed with the best care Tecnical approach to the measurements: Nuclear Activation Analysis(NAA)

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-15
SLIDE 15

Neutron Activation Analysis

  • +
  • +

+ + + + +

  • Y

Y X X n

A Z A Z A Z A Z 1 1 * 1 1 1  bombarding stable isotopes with thermal neutron they became radioactive  using γ spectrometry these radioactive nuclei were measured  samples are not destroyed by the analysis (we send back samples to museum)  very high sensitivity to very low elemental concentration

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-16
SLIDE 16

Used Instrumentation

Neutron source: Triga Mark II Nuclear Reactor, LENA, Pavia Water moderated Stationary power at standard regime 250kW Nuclear Fuel UZrH enriched at 20% in 235U Integral neutron flux in central channel~1013 cm-2 s-1

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-17
SLIDE 17

Gamma spectroscopy

HPGe detectors were used to high resolution γ rays spectroscopy

Reference Spectrum Reference Spectrum Sample Spectrum Sample Spectrum

Br82 As76 Sb122 Br82 As76 Sb122 Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-18
SLIDE 18

Analized Samples

Measurements were done on: 10 actual hairs (reference samples) 2 Aiglon’s hairs 1816 2 Aiglon’s hairs 1818 2 Aiglon’s hairs 1821 2 Aiglon’s hairs 1826 2 Josephine’s hairs 2 hairs of Napoleon child in Ajaccio 2 hairs of Napoleon exiled at Elba island 6 hairs of Napoleon death in S. Helena, 5 may 1821 2 hairs of Napoleon death in S. Helena, 6 may 1821

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-19
SLIDE 19

Samples preparation

Each sample was washed to remove superficial impurities: Standard IAEA: washed with acetone, and 3 times in ultrapure water Measurements of samples masses: hair masses were very low and the measurements were very critical Sample masses

0,00 100,00 200,00 300,00 400,00 T

  • d

a y 1 T

  • d

a y 2 T

  • d

a y 3 T

  • d

a y 4 T

  • d

a y 5 T

  • d

a y 6 T

  • d

a y 7 T

  • d

a y 8 T

  • d

a y 9 T

  • d

a y 1 A i g l

  • n

1 8 1 2 1 A i g l

  • n

1 8 1 2 2 A i g l

  • n

1 8 1 6 1 A i g l

  • n

1 8 1 6 2 A i g l

  • n

1 8 2 1 1 A i g l

  • n

1 8 2 1 2 A i g l

  • n

1 8 2 6 1 A i g l

  • n

1 8 2 6 2 N a p

  • l

e

  • n

C

  • r

s i c a 1 N a p

  • l

e

  • n

C

  • r

s i c a 2 N a p

  • l

e

  • n

E l b a 1 N a p

  • l

e

  • n

E l b a 2 N a p

  • l

e

  • n

S . H e l e n a 5 m a y 1 N a p

  • l

e

  • n

S . H e l e n a 5 m a y 2 N a p

  • l

e

  • n

S . H e l e n a 5 m a y 3 N a p

  • l

e

  • n

S . H e l e n a 5 m a y 4 N a p

  • l

e

  • n

S . H e l e n a 5 m a y 5 N a p

  • l

e

  • n

S . H e l e n a 5 m a y 6 N a p

  • l

e

  • n

S . H e l e n a 6 m a y 1 N a p

  • l

e

  • n

S . H e l e n a 6 m a y 2 J

  • s

e p h i n e 1 J

  • s

e p h i n e 2

Mass (microgram)

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-20
SLIDE 20

Measurements on actual hairs

Today’s hairs were used for:

  • determine measurement sensitivity
  • direct control of each irradiation (2 modern hairs for each irradiation)
  • determination of the actual concentration of As in hairs

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-21
SLIDE 21

Measurements on Aiglon’s hairs

Measurements on Aiglon’s hairs were important to:

  • determine As concentration in Napoleon’s contemporary
  • estimate possible variation of the concentration on a long period of time
  • compare the obtained values with the actual values

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-22
SLIDE 22

Only two samples of Josephine’s hairs were measured:

  • they were used to verify the measurement
  • they are of difficult historical definition

Obtained results indicated that:

  • As concentrations are one order of magnitude less then Aiglon’s values
  • As concentrations are one order of magnitude higher then today’s values

Measured data confirm an increase of the As concentration respect to actual data However such values are not at the same level as the Aiglon’s ones

Measurements on Josephine’s hairs

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-23
SLIDE 23

Measurements on Napoleon’s hairs were dedicated to determine:

  • As concentration for Napoleon child in Corsica
  • As concentration for Napoleon exiled at Elba island
  • As concentration for Napoleon exiled at S. Helena island (death)

Measurements on Napoleon’s hairs

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-24
SLIDE 24

One hair was cut in few parts and re-measured:

  • an hair grows 2 cm per month
  • used to look for a possible increase of concentration in time
  • possible evidence of a high concentration phase

Fram M(µg) As(ppm) 2A 12 27,6 ± 3,0 2B 22 22,0 ± 2,5 2C 26 21,4 ± 2,5 2D 32 17,5 ± 2,0 2E 32 16,6 ± 1,9 2F 26 20,7 ± 2,4 Problem: <As> = 20,9 ppm => Concentration of As in sample 2 = 16,7 ppm But: m(2A)+m(2B)+m(2C)+m(2D)+m(2E)+m(2F) = 0,150 mg => m(2) = 0,166 mg Variation of the mass due to irradiation process: two data are perfectly compatible

Measurements on Napoleon’s hairs

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-25
SLIDE 25

Are there environmental effect?

Thre are As in the water sources in S. Helena island:

  • this source exist today and it is close to the first
  • France consulate in S. Helen had send to us some water sample

Samples As (µg/L) N.1 1,00 N.2 1,50 N.3 2,00 N.4 1,25 N.5 1,10 N.6 0,80 Mean 1,28 ± .43 Actual limit in Italy 10

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-26
SLIDE 26

And for the other elements?

Other elements were also measured after irradiation For the essential ones (Zn, Br, Na, …..) there was no particular evidences There was a “strange” situation for Sb Corsica 2.1 ppm Elba 44.0 ppm

  • S. Helen

5.5 ppm Sb is normally used in the fire arms: element for black power ignition

1769

  • Aug. 15

Born in Ajaccio 1821 May 5 Death in

  • S. Helen

1814 4th May Napoleon lands at Elba 1815 18th June Battle of Waterloo 1815 15th October arrives at

  • St. Helena,

1794-1814 20 years of Military Campaing

Sb found in the Napoleon hairs at Elba can be related to the long military campaign period before the Elba exile

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-27
SLIDE 27

Napoleon hits againg!

Il cinque maggio (A. Manzoni) .........e i dì nell'ozio chiuse in sì breve sponda, segno d'immensa invidia e di pietà profonda, d'inestinguibil odio e d'indomato amor. The five May (A. Manzoni) ….. and the days in the idleness closed in a so brief bank, sign of immense envy and of deep pity,

  • f inextinguishable hate

and of not tamed love.

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali

slide-28
SLIDE 28

Conclusion

Vulcano 2010 Workshop Ezio Previtali