Updates to the AMUR code for R-matrix analyses on heavy nuclei

Kunieda, Satoshi; Endo, Shunsuke; Kimura, Atsushi

EPJ Web of Conferences, 281, p.00017_1 - 00017_6, 2023/03

https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202328100017

The AMUR code, which is based on the multi-channel/multi-level R-matrix theory, is under development for the cross-section evaluation with the covariance data in the resolved resonance energy region. Although, the code was initially designed for the analysis of the light-nuclei, the authors extended its capability toward the analysis of heavier nuclei by introducing the Reich-Moore approximation and the free-gas approximation for the Doppler broadening. In this work, we challenge a resonance analysis of neutron cross-section data measured in J-PARC/ANNRI with AMUR, in which the resolution functions and the double-bunching effects were taken into account inside the code. In this presentation, let us show results of resonance analysis on some of the J-PARC/ANNRI measurements together with covariance of the resonance parameters and cross-sections, for the first time. We also plan to discuss differences of correlation matrices among approximations of the R-matrix theory to understand physics underlying on the resonant reaction.

Water contents in aggregates and cement pastes determined by gravimetric analysis and prompt -ray analysis

Kinoshita, Norikazu*; Noto, Takuma*; Nakajima, Hitoshi*; Kosako, Kazuaki*; Kato, Takahiro*; Kuroiwa, Yoichi*; Kurabe, Misako*; Sasaki, Yuki*; Torii, Kazuyuki*; Maeda, Makoto; et al.

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 332(2), p.479 - 486, 2023/02

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-08776-w

Neutron capture cross-section measurement by mass spectrometry for Pb-204 irradiated in JRR-3

Nakamura, Shoji; Shibahara, Yuji*; Kimura, Atsushi; Endo, Shunsuke; Shizuma, Toshiyuki*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 10 Pages, 2023/00

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2023.2172088

In recent years, research has been advanced on lead-cooled fast reactors and accelerator drive systems, and it is required to improve the accuracy of the neutron capture cross section of Pb isotopes. Although Pb has a small natural abundance, it is of importance because it produces the long-lived radionuclide Pb (17.3 million years) by neutron capture reaction. However, it is difficult to measure its cross section by a conventional activation method using a nuclear reactor because the induced radioactivity of Pb is weak. Hence, the cross-section measurement was performed by applying mass spectrometry. This presentation gives the details of the experiment and the results obtained in the neutron capture cross-section measurement of Pb using mass spectroscopy.

Development of a neutron beam monitor with a thin plastic scintillator for nuclear data measurement using spallation neutron source

Nakano, Hideto*; Katabuchi, Tatsuya*; Rovira Leveroni, G.; Kodama, Yu*; Terada, Kazushi*; Kimura, Atsushi; Nakamura, Shoji; Endo, Shunsuke

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 59(12), p.1499 - 1506, 2022/12

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2022.2067598

Am neutron capture cross section measurement and resonance analysis

Rovira Leveroni, G.; Kimura, Atsushi; Nakamura, Shoji; Endo, Shunsuke; Iwamoto, Osamu; Iwamoto, Nobuyuki; Katabuchi, Tatsuya*; Kodama, Yu*; Nakano, Hideto*; Sato, Yaoki*

JAEA-Conf 2022-001, p.91 - 96, 2022/11

https://doi.org/10.11484/jaea-conf-2022-001

Absolute quantification of Cs activity in spent nuclear fuel with calculated detector response function

Sato, Shunsuke*; Nauchi, Yasushi*; Hayakawa, Takehito*; Kimura, Yasuhiko; Kashima, Takao*; Futakami, Kazuhiro*; Suyama, Kenya

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 9 Pages, 2022/10

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2022.2130462

A new non-destructive method for evaluating Cs activity in spent nuclear fuels was proposed and experimentally demonstrated for physical measurements in burnup credit implementation. Cs activities were quantified using gamma ray measurements and numerical detector response simulations without reference fuels, in which 137Cs activities are well known. Fuel samples were obtained from a lead use assembly (LUA) irradiated in a commercial pressurized water reactor (PWR) up to 53 GWd/t. Gamma rays emitted from the samples were measured using a bismuth germinate (BGO) scintillation detector through a collimator attached to a hot cell. The detection efficiency of gamma rays with the detector was calculated using the PHITS particle transport calculation code considering the measurement geometry. The relative activities of Cs, Cs, and Eu in the sample were measured with a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector for more accurate simulations of the detector response for the samples. The absolute efficiency of the detector was calibrated by measuring a standard gamma ray source in another geometry. Cs activity in the fuel samples was quantified using the measured count rate and detection efficiency. The quantified Cs activities agreed well with those estimated using the MVP-BURN depletion calculation code.

Measurements of thermal-neutron capture cross-section of the Np(n, ) reaction with TC-Pn in KUR

Nakamura, Shoji; Endo, Shunsuke; Kimura, Atsushi; Shibahara, Yuji*

KURNS Progress Report 2021, P. 93, 2022/07

https://www.rri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/PUB/report/PR/ProgRep2021/ProgRep2021.html

In terms of nuclear transmutation studies of minor actinides in nuclear wastes, the present work selected Np among them and aimed to measure the thermal-neutron capture cross-section of Np using a well-thermalized neutron field by a neutron activation method because there have been discrepancies among reported cross-section data. A Np standard solution was used for irradiation samples. The thermal-neutron flux at an irradiation position was measured with flux monitors: Sc, Co, Mo, Ta and Au. The Np sample was irradiated together with the flux monitors for 30 minutes in the graphite thermal column equipped in the Kyoto University Research Reactor. The similar irradiation was repeated once more to confirm the reproducibility of the results. After irradiation, the Np samples were quantified using 312-keV gamma-ray emitted from Pa in radiation equilibrium with Np. The reaction rates of Np were obtained from the peak net counts of gamma-rays emitted from generated Np, and then the thermal-neutron capture cross-section of Np was found to be 173.84.7 barn by averaging the results obtained by the two irradiations. The present result was in agreement with the reported data given by a time-of-flight method within a limit of uncertainty.

KeV-neutron capture cross-section measurement of Au with a Cr-filtered neutron beam at the ANNRI beamline of MLF/J-PARC

Rovira Leveroni, G.; Kimura, Atsushi; Nakamura, Shoji; Endo, Shunsuke; Iwamoto, Osamu; Iwamoto, Nobuyuki; Katabuchi, Tatsuya*; Kodama, Yu*; Nakano, Hideto*; Sato, Yaoki*; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 59(5), p.647 - 655, 2022/05

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2021.1997666

Neutron filtering system for fast neutron cross-section measurement at ANNRI

Rovira Leveroni, G.; Iwamoto, Osamu; Kimura, Atsushi; Nakamura, Shoji; Iwamoto, Nobuyuki; Endo, Shunsuke; Katabuchi, Tatsuya*; Terada, Kazushi*; Kodama, Yu*; Nakano, Hideto*; et al.

JAEA-Conf 2021-001, p.156 - 161, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.11484/jaea-conf-2021-001

A New method to reduce systematic uncertainties of capture cross section measurement using a sample rotation system

Kodama, Yu*; Katabuchi, Tatsuya*; Rovira Leveroni, G.; Nakano, Hideto*; Terada, Kazushi*; Kimura, Atsushi; Nakamura, Shoji; Endo, Shunsuke

JAEA-Conf 2021-001, p.162 - 165, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.11484/jaea-conf-2021-001