Influence of distant scatterer on air kerma measurement in the evaluation of diagnostic X-rays using Monte Carlo simulation

Tominaga, Masahide*; Nagayasu, Yukari*; Sasaki, Motoharu*; Furuta, Takuya; Hayashi, Hiroaki*; Oita, Masataka*; Nishiyama, Yuichi*; Haga, Akihiro*

Radiological Physics and Technology, 14(4), p.381 - 389, 2021/12

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12194-021-00641-3

Due to recent advance of diagnostic radiology, the increase of diagnostic radiation exposure to patient becomes problem. Diagnostic Reference Levels has been released to optimized the radiation exposure to patients in Japan recently. The evaluation of entrance surface dose (ESD) is recommended to assess the dose level for general X-ray examination. The ESD can be easily evaluated by multiplying the backscatter factor of the patient body on the free-in-air air kerma. The air kerma free-in-air value used to estimate ESD may contain X-rays scattered from obstacles located at the time of measurement, which may induce non-minor error in assessments. We therefore studied the influence of scattered X-rays on air kerma measurement under various environments (distances, field sizes, and materials). It was found that the dependence on the X-ray energy and field size was different for different materials. The X-ray contamination can be ignored for all the materials when the distance to the scatterer exceeds 35 cm.

Dynamics of radiocaesium within forests in Fukushima; Results and analysis of a model inter-comparison

Hashimoto, Shoji*; Tanaka, Taku*; Komatsu, Masabumi*; Gonze, M.-A.*; Sakashita, Wataru*; Kurikami, Hiroshi; Nishina, Kazuya*; Ota, Masakazu; Ohashi, Shinta*; Calmon, P.*; et al.

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 238-239, p.106721_1 - 106721_10, 2021/11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106721

This study was aimed at analysing performance of models for radiocesium migration mainly in evergreen coniferous forest in Fukushima, by inter-comparison between models of several research teams. The exercise included two scenarios of countermeasures against the contamination, namely removal of soil surface litter and forest renewal, and a specific konara oak forest scenario in addition to the evergreen forest scenario. All the models reproduced trend of time evolution of radiocesium inventories and concentrations in each of the components in forest such as leaf and organic soil layer. However, the variations between models enlarged in long-term predictions over 50 years after the fallout, meaning continuous field monitoring and model verification/validation is necessary.

Comparison between Monte Carlo simulation and measurement with a 3D polymer gel dosimeter for dose distributions in biological samples

Furuta, Takuya; Maeyama, Takuya*; Ishikawa, Kenichi*; Fukunishi, Nobuhisa*; Fukasaku, Kazuaki*; Takagi, Shu*; Noda, Shigeho*; Himeno, Ryutaro*; Hayashi, Shinichiro*

Physics in Medicine & Biology, 60(16), p.6531 - 6546, 2015/08

https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9155/60/16/6531

Low reproducibility of dose distribution in inhomogeneous regions such as soft matter near bones is known with the simple dose analysis currently adopted in treatment planning of particle cancer therapy. Therefore a treatment planning system based on Monte Carlo simulation having better accuracy is highly desired. In order to assess the simulation accuracy of a Monte Carlo simulation code in situations closely related to medical application, we performed a comparison of dose distribution in a biological sample obtained by experiment and that by simulation. In particular, we irradiate a carbon beam on a biological sample composed of fresh chicken meat and bones, with a PAGAT gel dosimeter placed behind it, and compare the complex dose distribution in the gel dosimeter created by the beam passing through the inhomogeneous sample. Monte Carlo simulation using PHITS code was conducted by reconstructing the biological sample from its computed tomography images. The simulation accurately reproduced the experimental distal edge structure of the dose distribution with an accuracy under about 2 mm.

Generation of 50-MeV/u He ions in laser-driven ion acceleration with cluster-gas targets

Fukuda, Yuji; Sakaki, Hironao; Kanasaki, Masato; Yogo, Akifumi; Jinno, Satoshi; Tampo, Motonobu*; Faenov, A. Ya.*; Pikuz, T. A.*; Hayashi, Yukio; Kando, Masaki; et al.

Proceedings of SPIE, Vol.8779 (Internet), p.87790F_1 - 87790F_7, 2013/05

https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2018479

We demonstrate a new ion diagnosis method for high energy ions by utilizing a combination of a single CR-39 detector and plastic plates, which enables to detect high energy ions beyond the detection threshold limit of the CR-39. This detection method coupled with a magnetic spectrometer is applied to identify high energy ions of 50 MeV per nucleon in laser-driven ion acceleration experiments using cluster-gas targets.

Identification of high energy ions using backscattered particles in laser-driven ion acceleration with cluster-gas targets

Fukuda, Yuji; Sakaki, Hironao; Kanasaki, Masato; Yogo, Akifumi; Jinno, Satoshi; Tampo, Motonobu; Faenov, A. Ya.*; Pikuz, T.; Hayashi, Yukio; Kando, Masaki; et al.

Radiation Measurements, 50, p.92 - 96, 2013/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2012.10.010

A new diagnosis method for high energy ions utilizing a single CR-39 detector mounted on plastic plates is demonstrated to identify the presence of the high energy component beyond the CR-39's detection threshold limit. On irradiation with a 25 MeV per nucleon He ion beam from conventional rf-accelerators, a large number of etch pits having elliptical opening shapes are observed on the rear surface. Detailed investigations reveal that these etch pits are created by heavy ions inelastically backscattered from the plastic plates. This ion detection method is applied to laser-driven ion acceleration experiments using cluster-gas targets, and acceleration of ions with energies up to 50 MeV per nucleon are identified.

The Spectra of the multicharged argon hollow ions; Observation, modeling and using for diagnostics of the early stage of the heating of clusters by a supper high contrast femtosecond laser pulses

Pikuz, T.; Faenov, A.*; Skobelev, I.*; Fortov, V. E.*; Boldarev, A.*; Gasilov, V.*; Chen, L. M.*; Zhang, L.*; Yan, W.*; Yuan, D.*; et al.

AIP Conference Proceedings 1465, p.181 - 201, 2012/07

https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4737559

Detection and activity of iodine-131 in brown algae collected in the Japanese coastal areas

Morita, Takami*; Niwa, Kentaro*; Fujimoto, Ken*; Kasai, Hiromi*; Yamada, Haruya*; Nishiuchi, Ko*; Sakamoto, Tatsuya*; Godo, Waichiro*; Taino, Seiya*; Hayashi, Yoshihiro*; et al.

Science of the Total Environment, 408(16), p.3443 - 3447, 2010/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.04.001

Iodine-131 (I) was detected in brown algae collected off the Japanese coast. The maximum measured specific activity of I in brown algae was 0.370.010 Bq/kg-wet. Cesium-137 (Cs) was also detected in all brown algal samples used in this study. There was no correlation between specific activities of I and Cs in these seaweeds. Low specific activity and minimal variability of Cs in brown algae indicated that past nuclear weapon tests were the source of Cs. Although nuclear power facilities are known to be pollution sources of I, there was no relationship between the sites where I was detected and the locations of nuclear power facilities. Most of the sites where I was detected were near big cities with large populations. On the basis of the results, we suggest that the likely pollution source of I, detected in brown seaweeds, is not nuclear power facilities, but nuclear medicine procedures.

Electron optical injection with head-on and countercrossing colliding laser pulses

Kotaki, Hideyuki; Daito, Izuru; Kando, Masaki; Hayashi, Yukio; Kawase, Keigo; Kameshima, Takashi*; Fukuda, Yuji; Homma, Takayuki; Ma, J.*; Chen, L. M.*; et al.

Physical Review Letters, 103(19), p.194803_1 - 194803_4, 2009/11

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.194803

Crystal structure of advanced lithium titanate with lithium oxide additives

Hoshino, Tsuyoshi; Sasaki, Kazuya*; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko; Hayashi, Kimio; Suzuki, Akihiro*; Hashimoto, Takuya*; Terai, Takayuki*

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 386-388, p.1098 - 1101, 2009/04

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2008.12.289

no abstracts in English

Investigation and design of the dismantling process of irradiation capsules containing tritium, 2; Detailed design and trial fabrication of capsule dismantling apparatus and investigation of glove box facility

Hayashi, Kimio; Nakagawa, Tetsuya; Onose, Shoji; Ishida, Takuya; Nakamichi, Masaru; Katsuyama, Kozo; Iwamatsu, Shigemi; Hasegawa, Teiji; Kodaka, Hideo; Takatsu, Hideyuki; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2009-007, 168 Pages, 2009/03

JAEA-Technology-2009-007.pdf:31.88MB

In-pile functional tests of breeding blankets have been planned by Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), using a test blanket module (TBM) which will be loaded in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). In preparation for the in-pile functional tests, JAEA has been being performed irradiation experiments of lithium titanate (LiTiO), which is the first candidate of solid breeder materials for the blanket of the demonstration reactor (DEMO) under designing in Japan. The present report describes (1) results of a detailed design and trial fabrication tests of a dismantling apparatus for irradiation capsules which were used in irradiation experiments by the Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR) of JAEA, and (2) results of a preliminary investigation of a glove box facility for post-irradiation examinations (PIEs). In the detailed design of the dismantling apparatus, datailed specifications and the installation methods were examined, based on results of a conceptual design and basic design. In the trial fabrication, cutting tests were curried out by making a mockup of a cutting component. Furthermore, a preliminary investigation of a glove box facility was carried out in order to secure a facility for PIE work after the capsule dismantling, which revealed a technical feasibility.