Improved measurement of the 0 transition strength for Se using the SPICE spectrometer

Smallcombe, J.; Garnsworthy, A. B.*; Korten, W.*; Singh, P.*; Ali, F. A.*; Andreoiu, C.*; Ansari, S.*; Ball, G. C.*; Barton, C. J.*; Bhattacharjee, S. S.*; et al.

Physical Review C, 106(1), p.014312_1 - 014312_9, 2022/07

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.106.014312

Provenance of uranium particulate contained within Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 ejecta material

Martin, P. G.*; Louvel, M.*; Cipiccia, S.*; Jones, C. P.*; Batey, D. J.*; Hallam, K. R.*; Yang, I. A. X.*; Satou, Yukihiko; Rau, C.*; Mosselmans, J. F. W.*; et al.

Nature Communications (Internet), 10, p.2801_1 - 2801_7, 2019/06

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-10937-z

Synchrotron radiation (SR) analysis techniques alongside secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) measurements have been made on sub-mm particulate material derived from reactor Unit 1 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP). Using these methods, it has been possible to investigate the distribution, state and isotopic composition of micron-scale U particulate contained within the larger Si-based ejecta material. Through combined SR micro-focused X-ray fluorescence (SR-micro-XRF) and absorption contrast SR micro-focused X-ray tomography (SR-micro-XRT), the U particulate was found to be located around the exterior circumference of the highly-porous particle. Synchrotron radiation micro-focused X-ray absorption near edge structure (SR-micro-XANES) analysis of a number of these entrapped particles revealed them to exist within the U(IV) oxidation state, as UO, and identical in structure to reactor fuel. Confirmation that this U was of nuclear origin (U-enriched) was provided through secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) analysis with an isotopic enrichment ratio characteristic of a provenance from reactor Unit 1 at the FDNPP. These results provide clear evidence of the event scenario (that a degree of core fragmentation and release occurred from reactor Unit 1), with such spent fuel ejecta existing; (i) within the stable U(IV) oxidation state; and (ii) contained within a bulk Si-based particle. While this U is unlikely to represent an environmental or health hazard, such assertions would likely change, however, should break-up of the Si-containing bulk particle occur. However, more important to the long-term decommissioning of the reactors (and clean-up) on the FDNPP, is the knowledge that core integrity of reactor Unit 1 was compromised with nuclear material existing outside of the reactors primary containment.

Neutron-hole states in Sn and spin-orbit splitting in neutron-rich nuclei

Orlandi, R.; Pain, S. D.*; Ahn, S.*; Jungclaus, A.*; Schmitt, K. T.*; Bardayan, D. W.*; Catford, W. N.*; Chapman, R.*; Chipps, K. A.*; Cizewski, J. A.*; et al.

Physics Letters B, 785, p.615 - 620, 2018/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2018.08.005

A Remote-operated system to map radiation dose in the Fukushima Daiichi primary containment vessel

Nancekievill, M.*; Jones, A. R.*; Joyce, M. J.*; Lennox, B.*; Watson, S.*; Katakura, Junichi*; Okumura, Keisuke; Kamada, So*; Kato, Michio*; Nishimura, Kazuya*

Proceedings of 5th International Conference on Advancements in Nuclear Instrumentation Measurement Methods and their Applications (ANIMMA 2017) (USB Flash Drive), 6 Pages, 2017/06

We are developping a submersible ROV system, coupled with radiation detectors aimed at mapping the interior of the reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. To map the -ray intensity environment a cerium bromide (CeBr) inorganic scintillator detector sensitive to -rays has been incorporated into the ROV to measure -ray intensity and identify radioactive isotopes. The ROV is a cylindrical shape with a diameter of about 150 mm, and it have two end caps of five pumps each allowing control of the ROV in 5 degree of freedom. It is possible to directly replace the CeBr detector with a single crystal chemical vapour deposition (CVD) neutron detector with a Li convertor foil that is capable of mapping the thermal neutron flux.

First prompt in-beam -ray spectroscopy of a superheavy element; The Rf

Rubert, J.*; Dorvaux, O.*; Gall, B. J. P.*; Greenlees, P. T.*; Asfari, Z.*; Piot, J.*; Andersson, L. L.*; Asai, Masato; Cox, D. M.*; Dechery, F.*; et al.

Journal of Physics; Conference Series, 420, p.012010_1 - 012010_10, 2013/03

https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/420/1/012010

The first prompt in-beam -ray spectroscopy of a superheavy element, Rf, has been performed successfully. A development of an intense isotopically enriched Ti beam using the MIVOC method enabled us to perform this experiment. A rotational band up to a spin of 20 has been discovered in Rf, and its moment of inertia has been extracted. These data suggest that there is no evidence of a significant deformed shell gap at = 104.

Bacterial production of organic acids enhances HO-dependent iodide oxidation

Li, H.-P.*; Yeager, C. M.*; Brinkmeyer, R.*; Zhang, S.*; Ho, Y.-F.*; Xu, C.*; Jones, W. L.*; Schwehr, K. A.*; Otosaka, Shigeyoshi; Roberts, K. A.*; et al.

Environmental Science & Technology, 46(9), p.4837 - 4844, 2012/03

https://doi.org/10.1021/es203683v

In order to develop an understanding of the role that microorganisms play in the transport of I in soil-water systems, naturally occurring bacteria isolated from the F-area subsurface of the Savannah River Site (SRS) were assessed for iodide oxidizing activity. Spent liquid medium from a number of SRS bacterial cultures enhanced iodide oxidation 2-10 fold in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (HO). From a time-series measurements of peroxidase activities and organic acid concentrations, it was hypothesized that microbial organic acid exudate promoted iodide oxidation via following mechanisms; (1) organic acids interact with HO to form strong iodide oxidizing agents, peroxy carboxylic acids, and (2) organic acid secretion led to enhanced rates of HO-dependent iodide oxidation by lowering the pH of the culture medium.

Search for a 2-quasiparticle high- isomer in Rf

Robinson, A. P.*; Khoo, T. L.*; Seweryniak, D.*; Ahmad, I.*; Asai, Masato; Back, B. B.*; Carpenter, M. P.*; Chowdhury, P.*; Davids, C. N.*; Greene, J.*; et al.

Physical Review C, 83(6), p.064311_1 - 064311_7, 2011/06

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.83.064311

We have identified an isomer with a half-life of 17 s in Rf through a calorimetric conversion electron measurement tagged with implanted Rf nuclei using the fragment mass analyzer at Argonne National Laboratory. The low population yield for this isomer suggests that this isomer should not be a 2-quasiparticle high- isomer which is typically observed in the N = 152 isotones, but should be a 4-quasiparticle one. Possible reasons of the non-observation of a 2-quasiparticle isomer are this isomer decays by fission with a half-life similar to that of the ground state of Rf. Another possibility, that there is no 2-quasiparticle isomer at all, would imply an abrupt termination of axially symmetric deformed shape at Z=104.

Weakly deformed oblate structures in Os

Podolyk, Zs.*; Steer, S. J.*; Pietri, S.*; Xu, F. R.*; Liu, H. J.*; Regan, P. H.*; Rudolph, D.*; Garnsworthy, A. B.*; Hoischen, R.*; Grska, M.*; et al.

Physical Review C, 79(3), p.031305_1 - 031305_4, 2009/03

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.79.031305

rays de-exciting isomeric states in the neutron-rich nucleus Os have been observed following relativistic projectile fragmentation of a 1 GeV per nucleon Pb beam. The ground-state band has properties compatible with oblate deformation. The evolution of the structure of Os isotopes characterized by sudden prolate-oblate shape change is discussed and contrasted with the smooth change known in the Pt chain.

Neutron-proton pairing competition in nuclei; Metastable state decays in the proton dripline nuclei Nb and Tc

Garnsworthy, A. B.*; Regan, P. H.*; Cceres, L.*; Pietri, S.*; Sun, Y.*; Rudolph, D.*; Grska, M.*; Podolyk, Z.*; Steer, S. J.*; Hoischen, R.*; et al.

Physics Letters B, 660(4), p.326 - 330, 2008/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2008.01.017

The low-lying structures of the self-conjugate () nuclei Nb and Tc have been investigated using isomeric-decay spectroscopy following the projectile fragmentation of a Ag beam. These represent the heaviest odd-odd nuclei in which internal decays have been identified to date. The resulting level schemes shed light on the shape evolution along the line between the doubly-magic systems Ni and Sn and support a preference for states in odd-odd nuclei at low excitation energies associated with a neutron-proton pairing gap. Comparison with Projected Shell Model calculations suggests that the decay in Nb may be interpreted as an isospin-changing isomer.

Recent results in fragmentation isomer spectroscopy with rising

Pietri, S.*; Regan, P. H.*; Podolyk, Zs.*; Rudolph, D.*; Steer, S. J.*; Garnsworthy, A. B.*; Werner-Malento, E.*; Hoischen, R.*; Grska, M.*; Gerl, J.*; et al.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 261(1-2), p.1079 - 1083, 2007/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2007.04.219

The first results from the stopped beam RISING experimental campaign performed at the GSI laboratory in Darmstadt, Germany, are presented. RISING constitutes a major new experimental program in European nuclear structure physics research aimed at using relativistic energy (typically around 1 GeV per nucleon) projectile fragmentation reactions to populate nuclei with highly exotic proton-to-neutron ratios compared to the line of beta stability. In its high-efficiency stopped beam configuration, the RISING -ray spectrometer consists of 105 individual germanium crystals which view a focal plane in which the exotic nuclei are brought to rest. Here, decays from metastable states with half-lives in the nano to milliseconds range can be observed. Results of initial commissioning experiments are also shown and details of the planned future experimental program are given.