Background radiation monitoring via manned helicopter and development of technology for radiation monitoring via unmanned airplane for application of nuclear emergency response technique in the fiscal year 2022 (Contract research)

Futemma, Akira; Sanada, Yukihisa; Sasaki, Miyuki; Kawasaki, Yoshiharu*; Iwai, Takeyuki*; Hiraga, Shogo*; Haginoya, Masashi*; Matsunaga, Yuki*; Akutsu, Yuichiro*; Arai, Yoshinori*; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2023-026, 161 Pages, 2024/03

JAEA-Technology-2023-026.pdf:14.66MB

By the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO's) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), caused by tsunami triggered by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake, a large amount of radioactive material was released into the surrounding environment. After the accident, Airborne Radiation Monitoring (ARM) via manned helicopter has been utilized as a method to quickly and extensively measure radiation distribution surrounding FDNPS. In order to utilize ARM and to promptly provide the results during a nuclear emergency, information on background radiation levels, topographical features, and controlled airspace surrounding nationwide nuclear facilities have been prepared in advance. In the fiscal year 2022, we conducted ARM around the Mihama Nuclear Power Station of Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO), the Tsuruga Power Station of Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC), and the Ikata Power Station of Shikoku Electric Power Company (YONDEN), and prepared information on background radiation doses and controlled airspace. In addition, we have developed an aerial radiation detection system via unmanned airplane, which is expected to be an alternative to ARM, during a nuclear emergency. This report summarizes the results and technical issues identified.

Oxygen reduction activity and interfacial structures of LaSrCoO at initial electrochemical process in an alkaline solution

Matsuzaki, Akira*; Hirayama, Masaaki*; Oguchi, Shoya*; Komo, Mamoru*; Ikezawa, Atsunori*; Suzuki, Kota*; Tamura, Kazuhisa; Arai, Hajime*; Kanno, Ryoji*

Electrochemistry (Internet), 90(10), p.107001_1 - 107001_8, 2022/10

https://doi.org/10.5796/electrochemistry.22-00079

Oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR and OER) of perovskite-type LaSrCoO were characterized using two-dimensional model electrodes with different reaction planes. Synthesized by pulsed laser deposition, these thin and flat electrodes can reveal the reaction plane dependence of the ORR activity. From steady-state polarization measurements in KOH (aq.), the ORR activity was the highest on the (001) film during the first ORR/OER cycle, and it decreased significantly during the second cycle. In-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction clarified crystal structure changes in the bulk and surface regions of LaSrCoO, and these changes are associated with forming oxygen defects during the initial electrochemical process. Furthermore, the LaSrCoO surface partially decomposed upon reacting. Therefore, the interfacial structures formed in the electrochemical reaction field is important for enhancing ORR and OER activities.

Thermally altered subsurface material of asteroid (162173) Ryugu

Kitazato, Kohei*; Milliken, R. E.*; Iwata, Takahiro*; Abe, Masanao*; Otake, Makiko*; Matsuura, Shuji*; Takagi, Yasuhiko*; Nakamura, Tomoki*; Hiroi, Takahiro*; Matsuoka, Moe*; et al.

Nature Astronomy (Internet), 5(3), p.246 - 250, 2021/03

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-01271-2

Here we report observations of Ryugu's subsurface material by the Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRS3) on the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. Reflectance spectra of excavated material exhibit a hydroxyl (OH) absorption feature that is slightly stronger and peak-shifted compared with that observed for the surface, indicating that space weathering and/or radiative heating have caused subtle spectral changes in the uppermost surface. However, the strength and shape of the OH feature still suggests that the subsurface material experienced heating above 300 C, similar to the surface. In contrast, thermophysical modeling indicates that radiative heating does not increase the temperature above 200 C at the estimated excavation depth of 1 m, even if the semimajor axis is reduced to 0.344 au. This supports the hypothesis that primary thermal alteration occurred due to radiogenic and/or impact heating on Ryugu's parent body.

The Surface composition of asteroid 162173 Ryugu from Hayabusa2 near-infrared spectroscopy

Kitazato, Kohei*; Milliken, R. E.*; Iwata, Takahiro*; Abe, Masanao*; Otake, Makiko*; Matsuura, Shuji*; Arai, Takehiko*; Nakauchi, Yusuke*; Nakamura, Tomoki*; Matsuoka, Moe*; et al.

Science, 364(6437), p.272 - 275, 2019/04

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aav7432

The near-Earth asteroid 162173 Ryugu, the target of Hayabusa2 sample return mission, is believed to be a primitive carbonaceous object. The Near Infrared Spectrometer (NIRS3) on Hayabusa2 acquired reflectance spectra of Ryugu's surface to provide direct measurements of the surface composition and geological context for the returned samples. A weak, narrow absorption feature centered at 2.72 micron was detected across the entire observed surface, indicating that hydroxyl (OH)-bearing minerals are ubiquitous there. The intensity of the OH feature and low albedo are similar to thermally- and/or shock-metamorphosed carbonaceous chondrite meteorites. There are few variations in the OH-band position, consistent with Ryugu being a compositionally homogeneous rubble-pile object generated from impact fragments of an undifferentiated aqueously altered parent body.

An Evaluation method of reflectance spectra to be obtained by Hayabusa2 Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRS3) based on laboratory measurements of carbonaceous chondrites

Matsuoka, Moe*; Nakamura, Tomoki*; Osawa, Takahito; Iwata, Takahiro*; Kitazato, Kohei*; Abe, Masanao*; Nakauchi, Yusuke*; Arai, Takehiko*; Komatsu, Mutsumi*; Hiroi, Takahiro*; et al.

Earth, Planets and Space (Internet), 69(1), p.120_1 - 120_12, 2017/12

AA2017-0327.pdf:1.53MB

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-017-0705-4

We have conducted ground-based performance evaluation tests of the Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRS3) onboard Hayabusa2 spacecraft and established a method for evaluating its measured reflectance spectra. Reflectance spectra of nine powdered carbonaceous chondrite samples were measured by both NIRS3 and a FT-IR spectrometer. Since raw data obtained by NIRS3 had considerable spectral distortion caused by systematic offsets in sensitivity of individual pixels, we have established two methods for correcting the NIRS3 data by comparing them with the corresponding FT-IR data. In order to characterize the absorption bands in NIRS3 spectra, the depth of each band component D is defined for each wavelength (m). Reflectance spectra of asteroid Ryugu, the target asteroid of Hayabusa2, to be recorded by the NIRS3 are expected to reveal the characteristics of the surface materials by using the evaluation technique.

Development of prototype reactor maintenance, 2; Application to piping support of sodium-cooled reactor prototype

Arai, Masanobu; Kunogi, Kosuke; Aizawa, Kosuke; Chikazawa, Yoshitaka; Takaya, Shigeru; Kubo, Shigenobu; Kotake, Shoji*; Ito, Takaya*; Yamaguchi, Akira*

Proceedings of 2017 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP 2017) (CD-ROM), 6 Pages, 2017/04

Applications for maintenance program on piping support of prototype fast breeder reactor Monju are studied. Based on degradation mechanism, snubbers in Monju primary cooling system showed lifetime more than the plant lifetime of 30 years by experiments conservatively. For the first step during construction, visual inspection on accessible all supports could be available. In that visual inspection, mounting conditions and damages of all accessible supports could be monitored. One of major features of the Monju primary piping system is large thermal expansion due to large temperature difference between maintenance and operation conditions. Thanks to that large thermal expansion, integrity of the piping support could be monitored by measuring piping displacement. When technologies of piping displacement monitoring are matured in Monju, visual inspection on piping support could be shifted to piping displacement monitoring. At that stage, the visual inspection could be limited only on representative supports.

First online multireflection time-of-flight mass measurements of isobar chains produced by fusion-evaporation reactions; Toward identification of superheavy elements via mass spectroscopy

Schury, P.*; Wada, Michiharu*; Ito, Yuta*; Kaji, Daiya*; Arai, Fumiya*; MacCormick, M.*; Murray, I.*; Haba, Hiromitsu*; Jeong, S.*; Kimura, Sota*; et al.

Physical Review C, 95(1), p.011305_1 - 011305_6, 2017/01

AA2016-0638.pdf:0.71MB

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.95.011305

Using a multireflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph located after a gas cell coupled with the gas-filled recoil ion separator GARIS-II, the masses of several -decaying heavy nuclei were directly and precisely measured. The nuclei were produced via fusion-evaporation reactions and separated from projectilelike and targetlike particles using GARIS-II before being stopped in a helium-filled gas cell. Time-of-flight spectra for three isobar chains, Fr-Rn-At-Po, Fr- Rn-At-Po-Bi, and Fr-Rn-At, were observed. Precision atomic mass values were determined for Fr, Rn, and At. Identifications of Bi, Po, Rn, and At were made with N10 detected ions, representing the next step toward use of mass spectrometry to identify exceedingly low-yield species such as superheavy element ions.

New AESJ thermal-hydraulics roadmap for LWR safety improvement and development after Fukushima accident

Nakamura, Hideo; Arai, Kenji*; Oikawa, Hirohide*; Fujii, Tadashi*; Umezawa, Shigemitsu*; Abe, Yutaka*; Sugimoto, Jun*; Koshizuka, Seiichi*; Yamaguchi, Akira*

Proceedings of 16th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (NURETH-16) (USB Flash Drive), p.5353 - 5366, 2015/08

Inelastic neutron scattering on iron-based superconductor BaFe(As,P)

Ishikado, Motoyuki; Kodama, Katsuaki; Kajimoto, Ryoichi; Nakamura, Mitsutaka; Inamura, Yasuhiro; Wakimoto, Shuichi; Iyo, Akira*; Eisaki, Hiroshi*; Arai, Masatoshi; Shamoto, Shinichi

Physica C, 471(21-22), p.643 - 646, 2011/11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physc.2011.05.016

Superconducting gap symmetry of 1111 system, which has the highest in iron-based superconductors, is considered to be full gap wave based on magnetic penetration depth and neutron scattering measurements. On the other hand, a line node gap symmetry is proposed in BaFe(As,P) based on magnetic penetration depth and thermal conductivity measurements despite comparatively its high- (=30 K). Inelastic neutron scattering of BaFe(As,P) may exhibit different magnetic excitations in the -position or -dependence of a resonant peak from that of La1111 system. In this study, we performed inelastic neutron scattering measurement on 36g polycrystalline powder sample of optimally-doped BaFe(As,P) using Fermi chopper spectrometer 4SEASONS in J-PARC. We will discuss about the possible superconducting gap symmetry based on our inelastic neutron scattering results.

-like spin resonance in the iron-based nodal superconductor BaFe(AsP) observed using inelastic neutron scattering

Ishikado, Motoyuki; Nagai, Yuki; Kodama, Katsuaki; Kajimoto, Ryoichi; Nakamura, Mitsutaka; Inamura, Yasuhiro; Wakimoto, Shuichi; Nakamura, Hiroki; Machida, Masahiko; Suzuki, Katsuhiro*; et al.

Physical Review B, 84(14), p.144517_1 - 144517_5, 2011/10

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.84.144517

We performed inelastic neutron scattering on a powder sample of iron-based superconductor BaFe(AsP) with = 30 K. Although this system is expected to have line nodes in its superconducting order parameter, we have observed spin resonance at the same scattering vector as that appeared in the -wave iron-based superconductors without line nodes. Moreover, the resonance enhancement, which can be a measure of the area of sign reversal between the hole and electron Fermi surfaces (FSs), is comparable to those without line nodes. These facts indicate that the sign reversal between the FSs is still dominant in this system, and the line nodes should create only limited area of sign-reversal on a single FS. Hence the system can hold higher Tc than the other iron-based superconductors with nodal symmetry, such as LaFePO and KFeAs ( 10 K).