Development of nuclear security technologies for a large public event (Collaboration research)

Takahashi, Tone; Mochimaru, Takanori*; Koizumi, Mitsuo; Yoshimi, Yuki*; Yamanishi, Hirokuni*; Wakabayashi, Genichiro*; Ito, Fumiaki*

JAEA-Review 2025-039, 34 Pages, 2025/11

JAEA-Review-2025-039.pdf:2.18MB

To prevent acts of terrorism involving nuclear or radioactive materials at major public events, it is required to have surveillance technologies that either prevent these materials from being brought in or detect quickly if somebody brings them in secretly. Setting radiation gate monitors to survey pedestrians and vehicles is one of the effective methods. However, considering the possibility of individuals bypassing these monitors, complementary technologies are needed to continuously survey areas inside the gates. To survey extensive areas, radiation mapping is effective. By using multiple detectors and aggregating the data, the survey becomes much more efficient. We have developed mobile detectors capable of simultaneously measuring location data and radiation levels outdoors, with the ability to aggregate measurement results via a network and immediately visualize them on a map. For indoor environments, we have developed a technology that integrates radiation measurement results with environmental mapping created using SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) to produce 3D maps of the surveyed areas. Additionally, we have been working on the development of a source search technology using a fast neutron detector to quickly detect neutron sources, including nuclear materials. In this report, we describe a concept of the wide area survey system and report technology development results so far.

Demonstration of shape analysis of neutron resonance transmission spectrum measured with a laser-driven neutron source

Koizumi, Mitsuo; Ito, Fumiaki*; Lee, J.; Hironaka, Kota; Takahashi, Tone; Suzuki, Satoshi*; Arikawa, Yasunobu*; Abe, Yuki*; Lan, Z.*; Wei, T.*; et al.

Scientific Reports (Internet), 14, p.21916_1 - 21916_9, 2024/09

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-72836-8

Relationship between neutron moderator and time-dependent background for neutron time-of-flight measurement

Lee, J.; Hironaka, Kota; Ito, Fumiaki*; Koizumi, Mitsuo; Hori, Junichi*; Sano, Tadafumi*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 61(1), p.23 - 30, 2024/01

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2023.2224330

Laser-driven neutron generation realizing single-shot resonance spectroscopy

Yogo, Akifumi*; Lan, Z.*; Arikawa, Yasunobu*; Abe, Yuki*; Mirfayzi, S. R.*; Wei, T.*; Mori, Takato*; Golovin, D.*; Hayakawa, Takehito*; Iwata, Natsumi*; et al.

Physical Review X, 13(1), p.011011_1 - 011011_12, 2023/01

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevX.13.011011

Designs and neutronic characteristics of an epithermal neutron moderator at ambient temperature for neutron time-of-flight measurements

Lee, J.; Ito, Fumiaki*; Hironaka, Kota; Takahashi, Tone; Suzuki, Satoshi*; Koizumi, Mitsuo

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 59(12), p.1546 - 1557, 2022/12

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2022.2077259

Design and actual performance of J-PARC 3 GeV rapid cycling synchrotron for high-intensity operation

Yamamoto, Kazami; Kinsho, Michikazu; Hayashi, Naoki; Saha, P. K.; Tamura, Fumihiko; Yamamoto, Masanobu; Tani, Norio; Takayanagi, Tomohiro; Kamiya, Junichiro; Shobuda, Yoshihiro; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 59(9), p.1174 - 1205, 2022/09

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2022.2038301

In the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex, the purpose of the 3 GeV rapid cycling synchrotron (RCS) is to accelerate a 1 MW, high-intensity proton beam. To achieve beam operation at a repetition rate of 25 Hz at high intensities, the RCS was elaborately designed. After starting the RCS operation, we carefully verified the validity of its design and made certain improvements to establish a reliable operation at higher power as possible. Consequently, we demonstrated beam operation at a high power, namely, 1 MW. We then summarized the design, actual performance, and improvements of the RCS to achieve a 1 MW beam.

Demonstration of a neutron resonance transmission analysis system using a laser-driven neutron source

Hironaka, Kota; Ito, Fumiaki*; Lee, J.; Koizumi, Mitsuo; Takahashi, Tone; Suzuki, Satoshi*; Yogo, Akifumi*; Arikawa, Yasunobu*; Abe, Yuki*

Dai-42-Kai Nihon Kaku Busshitsu Kanri Gakkai Nenji Taikai Kaigi Rombunshu (Internet), 4 Pages, 2021/11

Neutron resonance transmission analysis (NRTA) is a method for non-destructive measurement of nuclear material by using a time-of-flight (TOF) technique with a pulsed neutron source. For NRTA system to carry out the short-distance TOF measurements with high resolutions, a short-pulsed neutron source is required. Laser-driven neutron sources (LDNSs) is very suitable as such a neutron source because of its short pulse width. Moreover, the compactness of the laser system is also expected due to the remarkable development of laser technology in recent years. In the present study, we have developed a technology for applying LDNS to the NRTA system and conducted the demonstration experiment using the LFEX laser at Osaka University to investigate the feasibility of the system. In this experiment, we successfully observed the neutron resonance peaks of indium and silver samples.

Development of a neutron sintillator for a compact NRTA system

Ito, Fumiaki*; Lee, J.; Hironaka, Kota; Takahashi, Tone; Suzuki, Satoshi*; Hori, Junichi*; Terada, Kazushi*; Koizumi, Mitsuo

KURNS Progress Report 2020, P. 98, 2021/08

A compact Nuclear Resonance Transmission Analysis (NRTA) system using a Laser Driven Neutron Source (LDNS) has been developed as a part of the development of nuclear non-proliferation technology supported by the MEXT. In NRTA, the neutron energy emitted from a pulsed neutron source is measured using the time-of-flight (TOF) method. LDNS is of interest because of its short pulse width, which is necessary for accurate TOF measurements over short flight distances. In the short-distance TOF measurement, there will be a large gamma-ray background event due to the coincidence of the timing of the arrival of 2.2 MeV gamma-rays due to neutron capture on hydrogen in the moderator and the timing of the arrival of neutrons around the resonance energy. Since the LDNS is still under development, the neutron flux is not sufficient and it is desirable to use a detector with high detection efficiency. For these reasons, we have developed a detector with low efficiency to gamma-rays and high efficiency to neutrons (multilayer neutron detector). As one of the results of this year's experiments, we confirmed that the multilayer neutron detector have low sensitivity to gamma-rays.

Electronic structure and magnetic properties of the half-metallic ferrimagnet MnVAl probed by soft X-ray spectroscopies

Nagai, Kodai*; Fujiwara, Hidenori*; Aratani, Hidekazu*; Fujioka, Shuhei*; Yomosa, Hiroshi*; Nakatani, Yasuhiro*; Kiss, Takayuki*; Sekiyama, Akira*; Kuroda, Fumiaki*; Fujii, Hitoshi*; et al.

Physical Review B, 97(3), p.035143_1 - 035143_8, 2018/01

AA2017-0644.pdf:1.01MB

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.97.035143

We have studied the electronic structure of ferrimagnetic MnVAl single crystals by means of soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray absorption magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), and resonant soft X-ray inelastic scattering (RIXS). We have successfully observed the XMCD signals for all the constituent elements. The Mn L XAS and XMCD spectra are reproduced by spectral simulations based on density-functional theory, indicating the itinerant character of the Mn 3 states. On the other hand, the V 3 electrons are rather localized since the ionic model can qualitatively explain the V L XAS and XMCD spectra. This picture is consistent with local excitations revealed by the V L RIXS.

Measurement of air dose rates over a wide area around the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant through a series of car-borne surveys

Ando, Masaki; Nakahara, Yukio; Tsuda, Shuichi; Yoshida, Tadayoshi; Matsuda, Norihiro; Takahashi, Fumiaki; Mikami, Satoshi; Kinouchi, Nobuyuki; Sato, Tetsuro*; Tanigaki, Minoru*; et al.

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 139, p.266 - 280, 2015/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.05.014

A series of car-borne surveys using the KURAMA and KURAMA-II systems was conducted in a wide area in eastern Japan from June 2011 to December 2012 to evaluate the distribution of air dose rates around the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant, and to determine the time-dependent trend of decrease in air dose rates. An automated data processing system was established, which enables analyses of large amounts of data obtained with the use of about 100 units of the measurement system in a short time. The initial data for studying the migration status of radioactive cesium was obtained in the first survey, followed by the other car-borne surveys having wider measurement ranges. Comparing the measured air dose rates obtained in each survey, it was found that the decreasing trend of air dose rates measured through car-borne surveys was larger than that expected from the physical decay of radioactive cesium and that measured using NaI (Tl) survey meters around the road.