Nature of structural instabilities in superconducting SrIrSn

Kaneko, Koji; Cheung, Y. W.*; Hu, Y.*; Imai, Masaki*; Tanioku, Yasuaki*; Kanagawa, Hibiki*; Murakawa, Joichi*; Moriyama, Kodai*; Zhang, W.*; Lai, K. T.*; et al.

JPS Conference Proceedings (Internet), 30, p.011032_1 - 011032_6, 2020/03

https://doi.org/10.7566/JPSCP.30.011032

R&D strategy on mid- and long-term behavior of fuel debris

Yano, Kimihiko; Kitagaki, Toru; Washiya, Tadahiro; Miyamoto, Yasuaki; Ogawa, Toru

Progress in Nuclear Science and Technology (Internet), 5, p.225 - 228, 2018/11

https://doi.org/10.15669/pnst.5.225

According to the roadmap for decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi NPS, fuel debris retrieval will start from 2021, after a decade from fuel debris generation. Fuel debris will stay in the reactors until the end of defueling. In addition, it is not hard to anticipate that storage is necessary for fuel debris removed from reactors. In order to consider such a post-accident operation for fuel debris, it is indispensable to discuss the states and characteristics of fuel debris during several decades. Therefore, JAEA directed R&D strategy on mid- and long-term behavior of fuel debris tentatively and is making a start of fundamental studies on this issue in corporation with the domestic universities and other research institutes.

High spectral resolution of diode laser absorption spectroscopy for isotope analysis using a supersonic plasma jet

Kuwahara, Akira; Aiba, Yasuaki*; Yamasaki, Shinya*; Nankawa, Takuya; Matsui, Makoto*

Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 33(7), p.1150 - 1153, 2018/07

https://doi.org/10.1039/C8JA00120K

Although high-temperature plasma sources have been used for direct isotope analysis of solid samples, the spectral resolution of diode laser absorption spectroscopy in high-temperature plasma is limited by the Doppler broadening of atomic absorption lines. Thus, a decrease in translational temperature is necessary to enhance the spectral resolution and distinguish isotope shifts due to mass number. In this study, a supersonic plasma wind tunnel, also called an arc-jet plasma wind tunnel, was used to enhance spectral resolution drastically, and a demonstration was carried out using natural stable xenon isotopes. As a result, the temperature was found to be about 180 K and the spectral resolution was about one order of magnitude higher than that of the conventional high-temperature source. Additionally, the method proposed herein was verified by using two xenon isotopes.

Study on effects of coupled phenomenon on long-term behavior for crystalline rock (Joint research)

Kimoto, Kazushi*; Ichikawa, Yasuaki*; Matsui, Hiroya

JAEA-Research 2017-009, 18 Pages, 2017/11

JAEA-Research-2017-009.pdf:6.5MB

JAEA has started this study as joint research with Okayama University from 2016. In fiscal year 2016, several kinds of elastic wave velocity were measured using ultra sonic sensors and laser Doppler vibrometer to evaluate the anisotropy of different elastic wave in granite. The velocity measurements were carried out focused on transmitted wave and surface wave. The results showed that strong anisotropy was observed in transmitted P- wave velocity while weak anisotropy was observed in transmitted S-wave and group velocity estimated by surface velocity measurement. In addition, data obtained from surface velocity measurement was partitioned into transmitted and reflected waves and analyzed them in detail. It resulted that elastic wave due to mineral particles consist of granite was dispersed; however, significant dispersion was only observed at specific location.

Study on effects of coupled phenomenon on long-term behavior for crystalline rock; FY2015 (Contract research)

Ichikawa, Yasuaki*; Kimoto, Kazushi*; Matsui, Hiroya; Kuwabara, Kazumichi; Ozaki, Yusuke

JAEA-Research 2016-018, 23 Pages, 2016/12

JAEA-Research-2016-018.pdf:4.41MB

It is important to evaluate the stability of a repository for high-level radioactive waste not only during the design, construction and operation phases, but also during the post-closure period, for time frames likely exceeding several millennia or longer. The rock mass around the tunnels could be deformed through time in response to time dependent behavior. On the other hand, it was revealed that the chemical reaction of groundwater in a rock had an influence on the long-term behavior. An evaluation of the microcracks to have an influence on this mechanical and chemical coupled phenomena should be worked on chiefly. In fiscal year 2015, using a laser Doppler vibrometer that extends a frequency band up to 20 MHz, and measuring the surface wave transmitted through the granite specimens were estimated group velocity. As a result, group velocity until 100 kHz 500 kHz, revealed that tends to decrease while vibrating. The group speed estimate from a group delay was shown to be easier than the estimate by wave number - frequency spectrum. This is because in order to improve reliability, the estimated frequency band is by using a spatially averaged waveform. As a result obtained, in the case of the modeling by the viscoelastic theory of the granite and a microcrack nondestructiveness evaluation, it is thought that it is useful information in the future. In order to use the knowledge of this study, there is a need to clarify the correspondence between the microscopic properties of the medium such as a crack and crystal grain and the change of the group velocity.

Simulation of discharge in insulating gas from initial partial discharge to growth of a stepped leader using the percolation model

Sasaki, Akira; Kato, Susumu*; Takahashi, Eiichi*; Kishimoto, Yasuaki*; Fujii, Takashi*; Kanazawa, Seiji*

Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 55(2), p.026101_1 - 026101_10, 2016/02

https://doi.org/10.7567/JJAP.55.026101

A percolation model of discharge, which can reproduce stochastic behaviors of initial partial discharge to the growth of a stepped leader, is presented. The model uses macroscopic cells, from which a network of electric circuits is defined, and the spatial and temporal evolutions of the electric field and current in the discharge medium are calculated. For each cell, one of two states, either insulator or conductor, which corresponds to neutral gas or ionized plasmas, respectively, is decided. The decision is made on the basis of probability for each calculation cell at each time step, taking the effects of local electric field and current, which enhance ionization and sustain the discharge channel, respectively, into account. The stochastic behavior of discharge is discussed, in conjunction with the characteristic feature of ionization, that is, the ionization occurs not only ahead of the streamer tip where the electric field is enhanced but randomly in the discharge medium.

Study on effects of coupled phenomenon on long-term behavior for crystalline rock; FY2013 (Contract research)

Ichikawa, Yasuaki*; Kimoto, Kazushi*; Sato, Toshinori; Sanada, Hiroyuki; Kuwabara, Kazumichi

JAEA-Research 2014-027, 25 Pages, 2015/02

JAEA-Research-2014-027.pdf:16.92MB

The rock and the rock mass are known to show time-dependent behavior such as creep and the stress-relaxation. It is to evaluate long-term rock mechanics stability that the important theme understanding the property. From the research study until now, it is rock mechanics and chemical coupled phenomenon to have an influence on the long-term behavior. It is a theme to develop technique to model this coupled phenomenon, and to analyze. About an evaluation of the microcrack to have an influence on this coupled phenomenon, it is the theme that we should work on in a long-term rock mass behavior study chiefly. This study developed numerical analysis to check the ultrasonic scattering decrement behavior by the microcrack of the crystalline rock and the measurement technique. The FDTD method which modelled a crack was used for numerical analysis by split node. It depends on the simulation technique that it developed that useful knowledge was provided by elastic wave modeling. On the other hand, the ultrasonic measurement in a rock sample was measured by the water immersion method. As a result, we understood that we could acquire useful information to evaluate the scattering decrement of an elastic wave in a rock sample.

Theoretical study of rock for estimating long-term behavior; FY2012 (Contract research)

Ichikawa, Yasuaki*; Kimoto, Kazushi*; Sato, Toshinori; Tanno, Takeo; Hikima, Ryoichi; Sanada, Hiroyuki

JAEA-Research 2013-045, 69 Pages, 2014/03

JAEA-Research-2013-045.pdf:9.51MB

Rock mass is a complex material including several classes of discontinuities and inhomogeneous/anisotropic minerals. If observing rock samples, we know that crystalline rock is a complex of minerals, grain boundaries and microcracks. In this study, the series of experiments were managed by a flow-through type changing temperature, pH and applied stress. Attenuation of ultrasonic waves in rock is investigated experimentally using an intact but coarse-grained granite core sample. For ultrasonic measurements, piezoelectric transducers are used in a through-transmission mode. With the estimated response function, phase and amplitude spectra of the transmitted ultrasonic waves are investigated quantitatively to evaluate the attenuation and change in travel time.

Quantitative measurement of hard X-ray spectra for high intensity laser produced plasma

Zhang, Z.*; Nishimura, Hiroaki*; Namimoto, Takura*; Fujioka, Shinsuke*; Arikawa, Yasunobu*; Nishikino, Masaharu; Kawachi, Tetsuya; Sagisaka, Akito; Hosoda, Hirokazu*; Orimo, Satoshi; et al.

Review of Scientific Instruments, 83(5), p.053502_1 - 053502_5, 2012/05

https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4717677

X-ray line spectra ranging from 17 to 77 keV were quantitatively measured with a Laue spectrometer, composed of a cylindrically curved crystal and a detector. Either a visible CCD detector coupled with a CsI phosphor screen or an imaging plate can be chosen, depending on the signal intensities and exposure times. The absolute sensitivity of the spectrometer system was calibrated using pre-characterized laser-produced X-ray sources and radioisotopes. The integrated reflectivity for the crystal is in good agreement with predictions by an open code for X-ray diffraction. The energy transfer efficiency from incident laser beams to hot electrons, as the energy transfer agency for specific X-ray line emissions, is derived as a consequence of this work.

Theoretical study of rock for estimating long-term behavior; FY2009 (Contract research)

Ichikawa, Yasuaki*; Choi, J. H.*; Tanno, Takeo; Hirano, Toru*; Matsui, Hiroya

JAEA-Research 2011-007, 91 Pages, 2011/06

JAEA-Research-2011-007.pdf:8.75MB

We first surveyed the classical theories of fracture mechanics, and discussed the subcritical crack growth (SCG), which is observed under less load than the fracture toughness Kc. This SCG is a result of coupled mechanical and chemical effect. The SCG for granite was treated on this basis. We performed pressure dissolution experiments using specimens of single crystal quartz, since the dissolution reaction is engaged with a deformation and failure process of polycrystalline rock. The series of experiments were managed by a flow-through type changing temperature, pH and applied stress. Si concentrations we here measured. We first surveyed the theories of pressure solution. Then we proposed a theory of saluting velocity of quart which accounts for the effects of temperature, chemical (pH), solid pressure and pore pressure.