Effect of coaxial HPGe detector structure on -ray beam measurements

Omer, M.; 静間 俊行*; 小泉 光生; 平 義隆*; Zen, H.*; 大垣 英明*; 羽島 良一*

Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 240, p.113467_1 - 113467_8, 2026/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2025.113467

Coaxial high-purity germanium detectors are widely used in applications requiring high-resolution -ray spectroscopy. However, the internal structure of these detectors, particularly the geometry of the inactive volumes inside the detector core, can significantly influence their performance in beam detection configurations. This study investigates the impact of detector structure on the spectral response to pencil-like -ray beams, based on a comparison of -ray spectra measured with two coaxial high-purity germanium detectors that have similar active volumes but distinct internal geometries. Experimental measurements were conducted at the UVSOR synchrotron facility using collimated laser Compton scattered -ray beams with an energy of MeV. Monte Carlo simulations using the Geant4 toolkit were performed to refine the detector models and replicate experimental results. The results reveal that the front layer thickness and the presence of structural elements such as the cold finger strongly affect the spectral features, particularly the appearance of a coincidence sum peak of the annihilation radiation at 1.022 MeV. Off-axis irradiation significantly improves the detection efficiency and reduces undesired induced interactions within inactive volumes. Additionally, the observed pair production signatures are validated through the available theoretical cross section data, confirming the dominant role of internal structures in shaping the detector response under beam geometry. These findings are essential for optimizing detector configurations in precision -ray beam experiments. This work is a contribution of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under the agreement of the coordinated research program (CRP), J02015 (Facilitation of Safe and Secure Trade Using Nuclear Detection Technology - Detection of RN and Other Contraband). A part of this work was conducted at the BL1U of UVSOR Synchrotron Facility, Institute for Molecular Science (IMS program 23IMS6602).

Generation and measurement of gamma rays with axially symmetric polarization states via Compton scattering

平 義隆*; Yang, Y.*; 静間 俊行*; Omer, M.

Physical Review Research (Internet), 7(3), p.033130_1 - 033130_17, 2025/08

https://doi.org/10.1103/pn68-rjd2

Highly polarized gamma rays with linear or circular polarization are essential light sources for nuclear and particle physics experiments, astronomical detector evaluations, and relativistic electron beam diagnostics. In this study, we demonstrate gamma-ray generation via Compton scattering with unique polarization states, termed axially symmetric polarization. To investigate this, we developed a polarimeter for Compton gamma-ray sources to measure their two-dimensional polarization distribution. We found two methods to generate gamma rays whose polarization axis follows the azimuthal direction. The first method exploits the inherent azimuthal polarization of gamma rays produced using a circularly polarized laser. In this configuration, the gamma rays along the central axis are circularly polarized, while the linear polarization components in the outer region of the beam cross section are aligned azimuthally. The second method utilizes azimuthal polarization that arises in the outer region of the beam due to the incoherent superposition of multiple linearly polarized gamma rays with varying polarization axes, generated by an axially symmetric polarized laser. Additionally, our calculations indicate the feasibility of generating gamma rays with polarization axes oriented along the radial direction. This radial polarization, observed near the beam axis, results from the incoherent superposition of second harmonic gamma rays produced through nonlinear interactions induced by an intense axially symmetric polarized laser.

Nondestructive determination of isotopic abundance using multi-energy nuclear resonance fluorescence driven by laser Compton scattering source

Omer, M.; 静間 俊行*; 羽島 良一*; 小泉 光生

Journal of Applied Physics, 135(18), p.184903_1 - 184903_10, 2024/05

https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0197076

We report on the findings of a quantitative nondestructive analysis of the natural isotopic abundances of hafnium and tungsten elements using nuclear resonance fluorescence. Commercial samples of hafnium and tungsten were irradiated to six quasi-monochromatic -ray beams generated by laser Compton scattering in the energy range of 2.4-3.2 MeV. Multiple nuclei were simultaneously excited at each of the six -ray beam energies. A high-purity germanium detector array detected deexcitations of the nuclei. In total, transitions were unprecedentedly employed to estimate the isotopic abundances of heavy elements nondestructively. The estimated abundances of three hafnium isotopes and three tungsten isotopes are consistent with standard known natural abundances within the experimental uncertainties. The deviation from the standard values ranges from 0.18% to 1.36%. This work is a contribution of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under the agreement of the coordinated research program (CRP), J02015 (Facilitation of Safe and Secure Trade Using Nuclear Detection Technology - Detection of RN and Other Contraband). This work was a part of a study of the nuclear resonance fluorescence aiming at nuclear security and safeguards applications, being supported by the subsidiary for "promotion of strengthening nuclear security or the like" of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT), Japan.

Parity assignment for low-lying dipole states in Ni

静間 俊行*; Omer, M.; 早川 岳人*; 湊 太志*; 松葉 俊哉*; 宮本 修治*; 清水 則孝*; 宇都野 穣

Physical Review C, 109(1), p.014302_1 - 014302_7, 2024/01

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.109.014302

Low-lying dipole states in the singly closed-shell nucleus Ni were studied via nuclear resonance fluorescence experiments using a quasi-monoenergetic, linearly polarized photon beam. The parity quantum numbers of the dipole states were determined by the intensity asymmetry of resonantly scattered -rays with respect to the polarization plane of the incident photon beam. The electric and magnetic dipole (E1 and M1) strengths at excitation energies between 5.9 and 9.8 MeV were obtained based on dipole strengths taken from literature. The E1 and M1 strength distributions were compared with large-scale shell-model predictions in the -shell using the SDPFSDG-MU interaction.

Impact of the temperature on the non-destructive nuclide assay in the transmission NRF method

Omer, M.; 静間 俊行*; 小泉 光生; 平 義隆*; Zen, H.*; 大垣 英明*; 羽島 良一

UVSOR-50, P. 37, 2023/08

https://www.uvsor.ims.ac.jp/eng/activity/2022/pdf/ActivityReport2022.pdf

核共鳴蛍光(NRF)を用いた非破壊分析において、試料温度によるドップラー効果による影響を調べることを目的とした研究を開始した。今回は、波長1980nmのファイバーレーザーを加速エネルギー746MeVの電子ビームと衝突させて生成した最大エネルギー5.54MeVのレーザーコンプトンガンマ線をPb標的に照射し、共鳴散乱ガンマ線を3台の高純度ゲルマニウム検出器を用いて測定した。その結果、レーザーコンプトンガンマ線最大エネルギーよりも高いエネルギーで、複数のガンマ線ピークが観測された。これらのガンマ線は、実験室内の制動放射線によって発生した中性子が測定装置の周囲の物質と反応した後に放出された中性子捕獲即発ガンマ線であると考えられる。そのため、バックグラウンドガンマ線の低減のため、ゲルマニウム検出器の周囲を厚さ10cmの鉛を用いて遮蔽した。その結果、即発ガンマ線のバックグラウンドは抑制され、Pbの共鳴散乱ガンマ線を観測することができた。

Accurate estimation of spectral density of LCS gamma-ray source

Omer, M.; 静間 俊行*; 羽島 良一*; 小泉 光生

第43回日本核物質管理学会年次大会会議論文集(インターネット), 3 Pages, 2022/11

Gamma-rays originated from laser Compton scattering (LCS) are convenient photon sources for nondestructive interrogation of nuclear materials. LCS can be used with nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF), the two of which are considered photon-based active interrogation techniques. However, an accurate estimation of the incident LCS -ray flux is crucial. The -ray flux is customarily measured using high purity germanium (HPGe) detectors, usually calibrated using standard point-like radioactive -ray sources. These standard sources are entirely different from LCS beams in terms of detection geometry. Therefore, the calibration process must be corrected to meet the LCS beam conditions. Here, we demonstrate how to implement the required corrections and provide experimental validation of these corrections.

Evaluation of analyzing power of gamma-ray polarimeter

遠藤 駿典; 静間 俊行*; Zen, H.*; 平 義隆*; Omer, M.; 河村 しほり*; 安部 亮太*; 奥平 琢也*; 北口 雅暁*; 清水 裕彦*

UVSOR-49, P. 38, 2022/08

To measure the circular polarization of gamma-rays, the gamma-ray polarimeter was developed. The analyzing power of the polarimeter was measured using circularly polarized gamma-rays in UVSOR BL1U. Magnetic hysteresis of the polarimeter was also observed. The analyzing power was obtained as 2.120.04%.

Compton scattering of quasi-monochromatic -ray beam

Omer, M.; 静間 俊行*; 羽島 良一*

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 951, p.162998_1 - 162998_6, 2020/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2019.162998

Compton scattering of a single-energy -ray results in a one-to-one relationship between the incident and scattered photon energies. This relationship is altered when the incident beam has a definite energy distribution because of the broadening occurring in the energy distribution upon Compton scattering. This broadening causes a change in the spectral density of the Compton-scattered spectra. To restore the spectral density, the energy distribution of the scattered radiation must be manifested as a function of the scattering kinematics. Here, we propose a simple analytic way to calculate the energy spread of the scattered photons in terms of the geometry of the scattering process and the energy spread of the incident photon beam. The predictions of the model agree with measurements of Compton scattering of quasi-monochromatic -ray beams, carried out at the High Intensity -ray Source (HIS) facility, Duke University. As a benchmark of our method, we measured the intensity profile of energy-distributed -ray beams by direct measurements as well as by Compton scattering. We found that only when the spectral density of the scattered radiation is restored, the measured intensity profile agrees with the actual profile of the incident beam. The proposed method can continuously measure the flux of an energy-distributed -ray beams in the real time and on a bin-by-bin basis. Such online monitoring of -ray beams is indispensable for in-beam measurements and applications. This work was supported by the subsidiary for promotion of strengthening nuclear security or the like of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT), Japan.

Testing enrichment meter based on nuclear resonance fluorescence

Omer, M.; 静間 俊行*; 羽島 良一*; 小泉 光生

日本核物質管理学会第40回年次大会プロシーディングス集, p.59 - 62, 2019/11

Nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) is a phenomenon that a nuclide-specific -ray is resonantly absorbed and re-emitted. This method is considered useful for the nondestructive detection of nuclear materials. In order to demonstrate how accurate the NRF method is able to measure the isotopic abundance, we performed NRF experiments on natural tungsten as a surrogate of nuclear materials at the High Intensity -ray Source (HIS) facility, Duke University. Our results show that the relative deviations between the reference and measured abundances are less than 4%. This work was supported by the subsidiary for promotion of strengthening nuclear security or the like of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT), Japan.

Geant4 physics process for elastic scattering of -rays

Omer, M.; 羽島 良一*

JAEA-Data/Code 2018-007, 32 Pages, 2018/06

JAEA-Data-Code-2018-007.pdf:2.64MB
JAEA-Data-Code-2018-007-appendix(CD-ROM).zip:22.71MB

原子核蛍光共鳴散乱(NRF)は、核物質の非破壊検査(NDA)において有用な技術である。NRFは同位体に固有のエネルギーをもったガンマ線と物質の相互作用であることから、同位体を識別したNDAを実現できる。しかしながら、NRFと競合する他の光核相互作用が存在し、そのため、NRFによるNDAの測定性能が制限される可能性がある。競合する相互作用のうち原子核によるガンマ線の弾性散乱(デルブリュック散乱)は、これまでのモンテカルロコードでは考慮されていなかった。日本原子力研究開発機構では、平成27年度からNRFに基づくNDAシステムの開発プログラムを開始し、その一環としてガンマ線の弾性散乱がNRF測定に及ぼす影響を評価するために、Geant4にガンマ線の弾性散乱を追加するためのコードを新規に開発した。今回刊行するJAEA-データ/コードレポートでは、シミュレーションコードの詳細な説明と、コード入力に用いたガンマ線弾性散乱断面積、および、コードの検証と妥当性確認に用いた計算結果を示す。このレポートを公開することで、当該コードの信頼性向上に必要なユーザーからのフィードバックの機会が得られる。本研究は文部科学省の核セキュリティ強化等推進事業費補助金の支援を受けた。