Spontaneous magnetic field and disorder effects in BaPtAsSb with a honeycomb network

Adachi, Tadashi*; Ogawa, Taiki*; Komiyama, Yota*; Sumura, Takuya*; Saito-Tsuboi, Yuki*; Takeuchi, Takaaki*; Mano, Kohei*; Manabe, Kaoru*; Kawabata, Koki*; Imazu, Tsuyoshi*; et al.

Physical Review B, 111(10), p.L100508_1 - L100508_6, 2025/03

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.111.L100508

SR studies on copper minerals

Fujihara, Masayoshi; Okabe, Hirotaka*; Koda, Akihiro*

Interactions (Internet), 245(1), p.13_1 - 13_6, 2024/12

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10751-024-01856-7

Quantum states are difficult to observe experimentally. In addition, ideal model materials have not been found for some of the lattice systems in which exotic quantum states are predicted to be realized. Numerous candidates for low-dimensional quantum magnets are hidden in copper minerals, and the number of candidates is increasing every year. We succeeded to synthesize seven copper minerals by imitating the environment where they are discovered and reported their quantum states. The properties of pulsed muons are very suitable for investigating the spin state of artificial copper minerals.

Muon spin relaxation in mixed perovskite (LaAlO)(SrAlTaO) with

Ito, Takashi; Higemoto, Wataru; Koda, Akihiro*; Nakamura, Jumpei*; Shimomura, Koichiro*

Interactions (Internet), 245(1), p.25_1 - 25_7, 2024/12

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10751-024-01866-5

Recent research trends on indications for radon spa therapy and their mechanisms

Kataoka, Takahiro*; Sakoda, Akihiro; Kanzaki, Norie; Mitsunobu, Fumihiro*; Yamaoka, Kiyonori*

Nihon Onsen Kiko Butsuri Igakukai Zasshi, 16 Pages, 2024/11

https://doi.org/10.11390/onki.2363

Spa therapy in Misasa (Tottori Prefecture, Japan) is renowned worldwide for its radon therapy (particularly high-concentration radon hot-air bath therapy) along with mine therapy in Bad Gastein (Austria) and Montana (USA). Radon therapy is indicated for diseases related to the respiratory system, pain, digestive disorders, chronic degeneration, and aging caused by reactive oxygen species; however, most of these indications are based on empirical prescriptions. To address this, the authors have been conducting basic research to experimentally and mathematically identify significant radon and its progeny exposure pathways and their related behaviors in the body. The aim is to quantitatively evaluate the relationship between the biological reactions caused by radon inhalation and the absorbed doses in tissues and organs, and to elucidate new mechanisms related to these indications. Therefore, the mechanisms are being elucidated in terms of a series of moderate physiological stimuli caused by small amounts of oxidative stress induced by radon inhalation. Specifically, radon inhalation enhances antioxidant, immune regulation, and damage-repair functions; promotes anti-inflammation, hormone secretion, and circulatory metabolism; and induces apoptosis and heat shock proteins. New indications have been suggested, including inflammatory and neuropathic pain, inflammatory edema, gastric mucosal damage, ulcerative colitis, hyperuricemia, type 1 diabetes, liver and kidney damage, transient cerebral ischemia, and depression. Furthermore, combining radon therapy with antioxidants and therapeutic agents has been suggested to synergistically enhance the disease-suppressing effects of the therapy. Further clinical verification of the combined effects of radon therapy and conventional treatments is required to reduce the dosage of drugs that cause severe side effects.

Evaluation of indoor radon risk for discussion on national action in Japan

Sakoda, Akihiro; Ishimori, Yuu

Hoken Butsuri (Internet), 59(3), p.109 - 117, 2024/09

International organizations such as WHO and ICRP recommended reference levels with the range of 100300 Bq/m against residential radon exposure. In Japan, indoor radon activity concentration is generally low, and a national plan and reference level have not been set so far. This study aimed to evaluate the risks of indoor radon among Japanese populations and to discuss the effectiveness of an assumed reference level in terms of reduction in the number of lung cancer deaths. The US EPA model was used to calculate lifetime risks and population attributable fractions for ever smokers and never smokers using the recent Japanese-specific information such as demographic data and smoking prevalence. The result indicated that the number of lung cancer deaths was very low (i.e., less than 10 in 2020) among the population exposed to more than 100 Bq/m. This means that even if a reference level of 100 Bq/m is set, the statistically significant reduction in lung cancer deaths could not be observed. Given the risk evaluation, we believe that expected national actions in Japan are to support individuals who consider taking measures for the own risk perception and control of lifetime risk, rather than to introduce regulations. Comprehensive argument and judgement would also be desired for better public health, based on information on not only radon but also other common modifiable risk factors.

Seasonal variations in radon and thoron exhalation rates from solid concrete interior walls observed using in situ measurements

Sakoda, Akihiro; Ishimori, Yuu; Hasan, Md. M.*; Jin, Q.*; Iimoto, Takeshi*

Atmosphere (Internet), 15(6), p.701_1 - 701_12, 2024/06

https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15060701

Building materials such as brick and concrete are known indoor radon (Rn) and thoron (Rn) sources. Most radon and thoron exhalation studies are based on the laboratory testing of pieces and blocks of such materials. To discuss if laboratory findings can be applied to a real-world environment, we conducted intensive in-situ exhalation tests on two solid concrete interior walls of an apartment in Japan for over a year. Exhalation rates of radon () and thoron () were measured by a measurement system, mainly consisting of an accumulation chamber and dedicated monitors. The indoor air temperature () and absolute humidity () were measured in parallel, and the wall-surface temperature and water content were occasionally measured. All data obtained here were investigated to reveal environmental and material-associated factors affecting exhalation from the concrete walls. There were weak correlations between or and T or at one tested wall, and moderate correlations of and strong correlations of with or at the other wall. Our findings on were consistent with those in a previous laboratory work where a concrete sample was subject to various temperatures, although a corresponding laboratory study of could not be collected. Additionally, moderate or strong correlation between and was observed for both tested walls. The comparison of the measured data and theoretical calculations revealed a new issue on how much impact each process of the emanation and migration within concrete pore spaces has on radon and thoron exhalation. This study provides an insight into parameterizing radon and thoron source inputs in modeling the spatiotemporal dynamics of indoor radon and thoron.

Local electronic structure of interstitial hydrogen in MgH inferred from muon study

Kadono, Ryosuke*; Hiraishi, Masatoshi*; Okabe, Hirotaka*; Koda, Akihiro*; Ito, Takashi

Journal of Physics; Condensed Matter, 35(28), p.285503_1 - 285503_13, 2023/07

https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-648X/acccc7

Sodium diffusion in hard carbon studied by small- and wide-angle neutron scattering and muon spin relaxation

Oishi, Kazuki*; Igarashi, Daisuke*; Tatara, Ryoichi*; Kawamura, Yukihiko*; Hiroi, Kosuke; Suzuki, Junichi*; Umegaki, Izumi*; Nishimura, Shoichiro*; Koda, Akihiro*; Komaba, Shinichi*; et al.

Journal of Physics; Conference Series, 2462, p.012048_1 - 012048_5, 2023/03

https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2462/1/012048

Spin gap in the weakly interacting quantum spin chain antiferromagnet KCuPOHO

Fujihara, Masayoshi; Hagihara, Masato; Morita, Katsuhiro*; Murai, Naoki; Koda, Akihiro*; Okabe, Hirotaka*; Mitsuda, Setsuo*

Physical Review B, 107(5), p.054435_1 - 054435_8, 2023/02

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.107.054435

The = 1/2 Heisenberg linear chain antiferromagnet is the simplest spin model; nevertheless it serves as a platform for various quantum many-body phenomena. Here, we report the magnetic behavior of a quasi-one-dimensional antiferromagnet KCuPOHO. A long-range commensurate antiferromagnetic order with ordered moment 0.31(1) per spin occurs at = 11.7(1) K. Above , the inelastic neutron excitation is characterized by a two spinon continuum. The intrachain interaction and interchain interaction are estimated to be 172 K and 4.25(4) K, respectively; thus the ratio of the / = 0.0247(3). At lower energies, below , a spin gap is observed in the dispersive excitations. These results are consistent with characteristics observed in weakly interacting = 1/2 Heisenberg chain system.

Birchite CdCu(PO)SO 5HO as a model antiferromagnetic spin-1/2 Heisenberg - chain

Fujihara, Masayoshi; Jeschke, H. O.*; Morita, Katsuhiro*; Kuwai, Tomohiko*; Koda, Akihiro*; Okabe, Hirotaka*; Matsuo, Akira*; Kindo, Koichi*; Mitsuda, Setsuo*

Physical Review Materials (Internet), 6(11), p.114408_1 - 114408_8, 2022/11

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.6.114408

= 1/2 Heisenberg - chain antiferromagnets have been investigated extensively due to their exotic magnetic states. Here, we report the magnetic behavior of birchite CdCu(PO)SO5HO and its effective spin model. Experimental studies by magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, heat capacity, and SR measurements indicate the absence of long-range order down to 0.4 K. Theoretical studies reveal that birchite is a model compound for the - antiferromagnetic chain: the intrachain interactions and are antiferromagnetic and their magnitude is about 100 times larger than the interchain interactions. The magnitude of is two to three times larger than that of , thus the spin gap is expected to be only a few percent of that of . The temperature dependence of the specific heat shows a broad peak at about 1 K ( 0.036 ), which suggests the presence of a spin gap.