Development of a DO/HO vapor generator for contrast-variation neutron scattering

有馬 寛*; 高田 慎一; 笠井 聡*; 大内 啓一*; 森川 利明*; 宮田 登*; 宮崎 司*; 青木 裕之; 岩瀬 裕希*; 廣井 孝介; et al.

Journal of Applied Crystallography, 56(6), p.1802 - 1812, 2023/12

https://doi.org/10.1107/S1600576723009780

The contrast-variation technique in neutron scattering experiments plays a pivotal role in distinguishing partial structures within multi-component complexes, facilitating the elucidation of distinct sample constituents. This differentiation is achieved using different isotopes, namely hydrogen and deuterium, which possess varying neutron scattering characteristics. This study presents a novel vapor generator designed for neutron scattering experiments, enabling continuous control of the DO/HO ratio of the vapor. This feature is especially useful for contrast-variation studies. The generator features two saturators and four mass flow controllers, allowing for the rapid and independent generation of DO/HO vapors. Additionally, the incorporation of the two-temperature method ensures accurate dew point control within a margin of 0.2Cdp. This setup proves useful for conducting time-resolved experiments and can accelerate research on functional polymers, such as polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel cells, where water potential assumes critical importance.

Impact of the Ce states in the electronic structure of the intermediate-valence superconductor CeIr

藤森 伸一; 川崎 郁斗; 竹田 幸治; 山上 浩志; 雀部 矩正*; 佐藤 芳樹*; 清水 悠晴*; 仲村 愛*; Maruya, A.*; 本間 佳哉*; et al.

Electronic Structure (Internet), 5(4), p.045009_1 - 045009_7, 2023/11

https://doi.org/10.1088/2516-1075/ad0a3d

The electronic structure of the -based superconductor was studied by photoelectron spectroscopy. The energy distribution of the state was revealed by the resonant photoelectron spectroscopy. The state was mostly distributed in the vicinity of the Fermi energy, suggesting the itinerant character of the state. The contribution of the state to the density of states (DOS) at the Fermi energy was estimated to be nearly half of that of the states, implying that the state has aconsiderable contribution to the DOS at the Fermi energy. The core-level and X-ray absorption spectra were analyzed based on a single-impurity Anderson model. The number of the state in the ground state was estimated to be 0.8-0.9, which is much larger than the values obtained in the previous studies (i.e., 0-0.4).

Neutron reflectivity study on the suppression of interfacial water accumulation between a polypropylene thin film and Si substrate using a silane-coupling agent

下北 啓輔*; 山本 勝宏*; 宮田 登*; 有馬 寛*; 中西 洋平*; 竹中 幹人*; 柴田 基樹*; 山田 悟史*; 瀬戸 秀樹*; 青木 裕之; et al.

Langmuir, 38(41), p.12457 - 12465, 2022/10

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c01599

We measured the neutron reflectivity (NR) of isotactic polypropylene (PP) thin films deposited on Si substrates modified by hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) at the saturated vapor pressure of deuterated water at 25C and 60C/85% RH to investigate the effect of HMDS on the interfacial water accumulation in PP-based polymer/inorganic filler nanocomposites and metal/resin bonding materials. We found that the amount of water accumulated at the PP/Si interface decreased with increasing immersion time of the Si substrate in a solution of HMDS in hexane prior to PP film deposition. During the immersion of the Si substrate, the HMDS molecules were deposited on the Si substrate as a monolayer without aggregation. Furthermore, the coverage of the HMDS monolayer on the Si substrate increased with increasing immersion time. At 60C and 85% RH, only a slight amount of interfacial water was detected after HMDS treatment for 1200 min. As a result, the maximum concentration of interfacial water was reduced to 0.1 from 0.3, where the latter corresponds to the PP film deposited on the untreated substrate.

大洗研究所における放射性廃棄物の放射能濃度評価手法確立に係る取り組み; 令和2年度活動報告書

朝倉 和基; 下村 祐介; 堂野前 寧; 阿部 和幸; 北村 了一; 宮越 博幸; 高松 操; 坂本 直樹; 磯崎 涼佑; 大西 貴士; et al.

JAEA-Review 2021-020, 42 Pages, 2021/10

JAEA-Review-2021-020.pdf:2.95MB

原子力の研究開発施設から発生する放射性廃棄物の処理処分は、取り扱う核燃料物質や材料が多種多様なこと等を踏まえ、放射能濃度を求める必要がある。大洗研究所は、廃棄物を処理する施設のみならず、廃棄物を発生させる施設も含め、埋設処分を見据えた検討に着手している。本報告書は、大洗研究所内で発生する放射性廃棄物の埋設処分に向けて、主要課題のひとつである放射能濃度評価手法について、令和2年度の検討結果を取りまとめたものである。

もんじゅ模擬燃料集合体製造に係る技術報告

榊原 博; 青木 伸廣; 武藤 雅祐; 小田部 隼; 高橋 謙二*; 藤田 直幸*; 檜山 和彦*; 鈴木 宏和*; 鴨川 敏幸*; 横須賀 徹*; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2020-020, 73 Pages, 2021/03

JAEA-Technology-2020-020.pdf:8.26MB

高速増殖原型炉もんじゅでは、現在、廃止措置が進められており、その第一段階として、炉心に装荷している燃料を取り出す工程がある。炉心の燃料集合体は、エントランスノズルが炉心支持板の連結管に挿入され自立しており、周辺の集合体によりパッド部を介して支え合い炉心体系を維持する構造となっている。そのため、燃料を取り出した場所に模擬燃料集合体を装荷し、燃料集合体を安定させる必要があった。このような背景を受け、もんじゅ炉心燃料集合体の製造経験のあるプルトニウム燃料技術開発センターへ、もんじゅ側から模擬燃料集合体の製造依頼があり、製造を行った。この報告書は、装荷する模擬燃料集合体の設計、製造、出荷について報告するものである。

Lens dosimetry study in Sr+Y beta field; Full-face mask respirator shielding and dosemeter positioning

辻村 憲雄; 星 勝也; 山崎 巧; 百瀬 琢麿; 青木 克憲; 吉富 寛; 谷村 嘉彦; 横山 須美*

KEK Proceedings 2020-5, p.21 - 28, 2020/11

To investigate the shielding effects of full-face respirator masks and the suitable positioning of lens dosemeters, irradiation experiments of Sr+Y beta particles were performed using an anthropomorphic head phantom into the eyes of which small thermoluminescence dosemeters (TLDs) were loaded, and the lens doses measured by these TLDs were compared with the doses measured by commercially available personal dosemeters attached around the eyes of the phantom. The three tested masks reduced the beta lens dose to 9-14% as compared to the lens doses in the absence of a mask. As for the suitable positioning of lens dosemeters, the (0.07) evaluated by the (0.07) dosemeter attached at the center of the forehead gave an over-response to the lens dose by a factor of 2.5-8.4 regardless of the presence of masks. The (3) evaluated by the (3) dosemeters, even though placed at extreme positions near the outside corners of the eyes, provided better lens dose estimates with a response of 0.38-1.7.

Relationship between the microstructure and local corrosion properties of weld metal in austenitic stainless steels

鴇田 駿*; 門井 浩太*; 青木 聡; 井上 裕滋*

Corrosion Science, 175, p.108867_1 - 108867_8, 2020/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.corsci.2020.108867

本研究の目的は、溶接金属の耐食性を電気化学的手法によって評価し、微細組織と耐食性の関係について議論することである。耐粒界腐食性および耐孔食性をそれぞれ電気化学的再活性化率(EPR)試験および孔食電位測定を用いて測定した。再活性化率および孔食電位はそれらの化学成分と対応した。CrおよびMoをより多く含有した試料はより高い耐食性を示した。EPR試験では相対的にCr濃度が低いデンドライトコア部が腐食した。孔食電位測定では、Nb炭化物が孔食の起点となり、孔食はデンドライトセル組織に沿って進展した。

Gas-flow humidity control system for neutron reflectivity measurements

有馬 寛*; 宮田 登*; 吉田 鉄生*; 笠井 聡*; 大内 啓一*; Zhang, S.*; 宮崎 司*; 青木 裕之

Review of Scientific Instruments, 91(10), p.104103_1 - 104103_7, 2020/10

https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0021128

We developed a novel humidity control system for neutron reflectivity measurements based on the two-way gas-flow method that can generate up to 85% relative humidity (RH) within a temperature range of 5-85C. The system consists of a gas-flow-type humidity generator and a thermostatic sample chamber, each of which can independently control the temperature. The key features include rapid humidity response and long stable operation time. The humidity reaches equilibrium within 2 to 5 min during the humidity change, and the system exhibited acceptable stability over a three-day, nonstop experimental measurement duration, with a precision of 1% RH at 85C and 85% RH. The sample chamber is capable of measuring substrate samples with dimensions of up to 2-in. in diameter and 5-mm in thickness. We demonstrate the reflectivity data measured at a pulsed neutron facility, MLF BL17, in the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex. The combined use of this system with neutrons permits in situ, time-resolved studies of the swelling process of polyvinyl alcohol and adhesive materials.

Eye lens dosimetry for workers at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, 2; Field study using humanoid phantoms

辻村 憲雄; 星 勝也; 青木 克憲; 吉富 寛; 谷村 嘉彦; 横山 須美*

Radiation Measurements, 134, p.106305_1 - 106305_5, 2020/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2020.106305

We performed a field study of eye lens dosimetry for workers involved in the decommissioning operation at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. In this study, humanoid phantoms equipped with different personal dosemeters were placed at selected locations in the workplace. The experiment showed that (3) at the head is about 20% higher than (10) (or (3)) at the trunk. This level of dose gradient is generally interpreted as being "almost uniform" in radiological control; therefore, tasks conducted in open areas with such relatively small dose gradients (1.2) will not require specific monitoring with eye lens dosemeters, except when the eye lens dose approaches the dose limit.

Detailed structural study on the poly(vinyl alcohol) adsorption layers on a Si substrate with solvent vapor-induced swelling

宮崎 司*; 宮田 登*; 吉田 鉄生*; 有馬 寛*; 津村 佳弘*; 鳥飼 直也*; 青木 裕之; 山本 勝宏*; 金谷 利治*; 川口 大輔*; et al.

Langmuir, 36(13), p.3415 - 3424, 2020/04

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b03964

We investigated in detail the structures in the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) adsorption layers on a Si substrate, which remained on the substrate after immersing the relatively thick 30 - 50 nm films in hot water, by neutron reflectometry under humid conditions. For the PVA with a degree of saponification exceeding 98 mol %, the adsorption layer exhibits a three-layered structure in the thickness direction. The bottom layer is considered to be the so-called inner adsorption layer that is not fully swollen with water vapor. This may be because the polymer chains in the inner adsorption layer are strongly constrained onto the substrate, which inhibits water vapor penetration. The polymer chains in this layer have many contact points to the substrate via the hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl groups in the polymer chain and the silanol groups on the surface of the Si substrate and consequently exhibit extremely slow dynamics. Therefore, it is inferred that the bottom layer is fully amorphous. Furthermore, we consider the middle layer to be somewhat amorphous because parts of the molecular chains are pinned below the interface between the middle and bottom layers. The molecular chains in the top layer become more mobile and ordered, owing to the large distance from the strongly constrained bottom layer; therefore, they exhibit a much lower degree of swelling compared to the middle amorphous layer. Meanwhile, for the PVA with a much lower degree of saponification, the adsorption layer structure consists of the two-layers. The bottom layer forms the inner adsorption layer that moderately swells with water vapor because the polymer chains have few contact points to the substrate. The molecular chains in the middle layer, therefore, are somewhat crystallizable because of this weak constraint.