Fissile nuclear material identification in shielding conditions using a neutron resonance analysis technique

Rossi, F.; Lee, J.; 吉見 優希*; 弘中 浩太; 小泉 光生; 芝 知宙; 寺田 和司*; 堀 順一*

ESARDA Bulletin (Internet), 67, p.59 - 67, 2025/12

ISCN is developing an advanced neutron resonance analysis system for the identification and quantification of fissile materials. This system integrates three complementary techniques: NRTA, NRCA, and NRFNA, enabling simultaneous detection and improving sensitivity for fissile material identification. To evaluate the system's performance, we conducted a series of experiments using natural uranium samples with a thickness from 1.5 to 6.0 mm enclosed in a 2 cm thick box made of lead. The results show that even if the presence of lead generates significant background noise due to neutron scattering and reflection, a clear identification of U signatures is possible. These findings highlight the system's versatility and effectiveness in shielding scenarios, offering a promising tool for nuclear security and nonproliferation applications. By enabling concurrent measurements, the system improves accuracy and provides an innovative method for enhancing regulatory and safeguard efforts in the nuclear industry. This work is supported by MEXT under the subsidy for the "promotion for strengthening nuclear security and the like".

広域放射線サーベイのためのリアルタイムマッピングソフトウェアの開発

高橋 時音; 小泉 光生; 吉見 優希*; 持丸 貴則*

JAEA-Technology 2025-007, 26 Pages, 2025/11

JAEA-Technology-2025-007.pdf:1.6MB

イベント会場等にテロ行為目的で核・放射性物質が持ち込まれることを防ぐため、放射線検出器により、出入りする人や車両を個別に検査する手法が一般的に用いられている。しかし、こうした検査をすり抜ける可能性があるため、補完的にゲート内の広範囲にわたる放射線サーベイを行い、核・放射性物質が持ち込まれていないことを確認する必要がある。広いエリアを効率的に放射線サーベイする手法として、GPSを搭載したガンマ線検出器を用い、移動しながら測定した位置情報と線量を記録する「放射線マッピング」が有効である。ネットワークを利用すると、複数台の検出器からのGPSと測定データを指揮所で集計し、測定の進行状況や、測定した放射線量マップをリアルタイムで確認することが可能となる。このような仕組みを導入することにより、測定の重複や抜け落ちを防ぐとともに、不審な放射線源を迅速に検出できるようにできる。さらに、ガンマ線検出器にスペクトロメーターを導入すると、放射性同位体の同定に基づく適切な対処が可能となる。このような広域放射線サーベイを行うため、リアルタイムマッピングソフトウェアを開発した。開発したソフトウェアは、GPS付ガンマ線スペクトルメーターから送信される測定データを受け、リアルタイムで逐次処理し、あらかじめダウンロードしておいた地図データ上に描画する。また、線量の上昇した領域でスペクトルを積算することにより放射性同位元素の同定が行え、それに基づいて対処法が決定できるようになった。さらに、本ソフトウェアは、情報セキュリティを向上させるため、ローカルネットワークのみでも利用できるようになっている。本報告書では、開発したソフトウェアの概要を紹介するとともに、エッセンスを簡易化したコードを付録で提供する。提供したコードは、オープンかつフリーのOS、ライブラリ、環境で開発しており、誰でも導入して使用可能である。

Development of active neutron nondestructive assay system

藤 暢輔; 大図 章; 土屋 晴文; 古高 和禎; 北谷 文人; 米田 政夫; 前田 亮; 小泉 光生

EPJ Web of Conferences, 329, p.06001_1 - 06001_4, 2025/06

https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202532906001

There is no acceptable and practicable single nondestructive method for the assay of Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) and Minor Actinides (MA) in highly radioactive nuclear materials. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission have been developing an active neutron nondestructive assay (NDA) system for nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security. We utilize four different NDA techniques, namely Differential Die-Away Analysis (DDA), Prompt Gamma-ray Analysis (PGA), Neutron Resonance Transmission Analysis (NRTA) and Delayed Gamma-ray Analysis (DGA). The techniques give us different and useful analytical results, which could provide complementary information. We developed a combined NDA system, which enables the simultaneous measurements of DDA and PGA in the first phase of the collaboration. The improved DDA is possible to quantify a small amount of the fissile mass as low as 1mg (Pu-239). In the second phase, we developed an advanced NDA system which allows us to measure by NRTA as well as DDA and PGA. The third phase has started to study a compact NRTA system from 2022 for four years. NRTA would be the most promising method for highly radioactive nuclear materials. An overview of the projects and the recent results will be presented. This research was implemented under the subsidiary for nuclear promotion of MEXT (the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan).

レーザー駆動中性子源を用いた非破壊分析技術の開発

小泉 光生; 伊藤 史哲*; Lee, J.; 弘中 浩太; 高橋 時音; 鈴木 敏*; 有川 安信*; 安部 勇輝*; Wei, T.*; 余語 覚文*; et al.

第45回日本核物質管理学会年次大会会議論文集(インターネット), 4 Pages, 2024/11

Neutron resonance transmission analysis (NRTA) is a non-destructive method applicable for measuring nuclear material using a time-of-flight (TOF) technique with a pulsed neutron source. To realize a high resolution compact NRTA system, use of a short-pulsed neutron source is essential. Laser-driven neutron sources (LDNSs) are well-suit for generating such neutron beams due to their short pulse width. The advances in laser technology will further reduce the system's size and improve practicality. In this study, we demonstrate the measurement of a neutron transmission TOF spectrum of a sample containing indium and silver using the LDNS of the Osaka University. The obtained spectrum was analyzed using the least-square nuclear-resonance fitting program, REFIT, showcasing for the first time the potential of an LDNS for nondestructive areal-density material characterization.

Single-shot laser-driven neutron resonance spectroscopy for temperature profiling

Lan, Z.*; 有川 安信*; Mirfayzi, S. R.*; Morace, A.*; 早川 岳人*; 佐藤 博隆*; 加美山 隆*; Wei, T.*; 巽 湧太*; 小泉 光生; et al.

Nature Communications (Internet), 15, p.5365_1 - 5365_7, 2024/07

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49142-y

The temperature measurement of material inside of an object is one of the key technologies for control of dynamical processes. For this purpose, various techniques such as laser-based thermography and phase-contrast imaging thermography have been studied. However, it is, in principle, impossible to measure the temperature of an element inside of an object using these techniques. One of the possible solutions is measurements of Doppler brooding effect in neutron resonance absorption (NRA). Here we present a method to measure the temperature of an element or an isotope inside of an object using NRA with a single neutron pulse of approximately 100 ns width provided from a high-power laser. We demonstrate temperature measurements of a tantalum (Ta) metallic foil heated from the room temperature up to 617 K. Although the neutron energy resolution is fluctuated from shot to shot, we obtain the temperature dependence of resonance Doppler broadening using a reference of a silver (Ag) foil kept to the room temperature. A free gas model well reproduces the results. This method enables element(isotope)-sensitive thermometry to detect the instantaneous temperature rise in dynamical processes.

Development of a combined neutron resonance analysis technique as a nondestructive assay for fissile material quantification

Rossi, F.; Lee, J.; 児玉 有; 弘中 浩太; 小泉 光生; 堀 順一*; 寺田 和司*; 佐野 忠史*

Proceedings of 65th Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (Internet), 8 Pages, 2024/07

Various non-destructive assay techniques are being used to verify different nuclear material. However, one of the difficulties of current NDA is the measurement of highly radioactive materials. Since 2015, the JAEA has been working on the development of various active non-destructive assay techniques to address some of the current challenges in nuclear safeguards. Among the various technologies proposed, the Neutron Resonance Analysis system combines signatures from NRTA, NRCA and the newly proposed NRFNA. The combination of those techniques can provide accurate information on the small fissile content in a sample. Neutrons are generated by a pulsed neutron source and slowed down into the moderator. Neutrons are collimated using lead and borated polyethylene to reach the sample, where various neutron-induced reactions occur. n/g PSD plastic scintillators are used to measure the captured gamma rays and fission neutrons at sample location. GS20 is used to collect the transmitted neutrons downstream of the source-sample beamline. A first measurement campaign was performed using natural uranium sample. The possibility of using NRFNA to identify fissile materials within a sample was clearly demonstrated, but the detectors used were not sufficient to achieve a good n/g PSD. New PSD scintillators were introduced. A first measurement campaign was performed in 2023. The acquired data are currently being analyzed, but preliminary results show distinct fission resonance peaks of increasing intensity with varying thicknesses of the same natural uranium samples. Currently, an assembly of multiple scintillators is being investigated to provide a better signal. The new setup will be tested starting in early 2024. In this paper, we will describe in detail the NRA project development and the latest results from experimental campaign. This work is supported by MEXT under the subsidy for the "promotion for strengthening nuclear security and the like"

Spin and parity assignments for low-lying states in the odd-mass nucleus Ta

静間 俊行*; Omer, M.; 羽島 良一*; 小泉 光生

Physical Review C, 109(5), p.054320_1 - 054320_8, 2024/05

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.109.054320

Low-lying levels in the odd-mass nucleus Ta have been populated via nuclear resonance fluorescence using a quasi-monoenergetic, linearly polarized photon beam at the High Intensity -ray Source (HIS) facility at Duke University. The spin and parity of the levels were determined from the azimuthal intensity asymmetry of resonantly scattered -rays with respect to the polarization plane of the incident photon beam. The electric and magnetic dipole strengths were obtained for excitation energies from 2.2 to 3.2 MeV. The results are discussed in terms of the nuclear scissors mode. This work is a contribution of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under the agreement of the coordinated research program (CRP), J02015 (Facilitation of Safe and Secure Trade Using Nuclear Detection Technology - Detection of RN and Other Contraband). This work was a part of a study of the nuclear resonance fluorescence aiming at nuclear security and safeguards applications, being supported by the subsidiary for "promotion of strengthening nuclear security or the like" of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT), Japan.

Cross section asymmetry of polarized -ray elastic scattering

Omer, M.; 静間 俊行*; 小泉 光生; 羽島 良一*; 橋本 智*; 宮本 修治*

LASTI Annual Report, 24, p.20 - 22, 2023/12

https://www.lasti.u-hyogo.ac.jp/annualreport/LASTI_Annual_Report_vol_24_2022.pdf

Nondestructive elemental analysis is highly valued in many fields such as archeology, paleontology, space sciences, nuclear security, and nuclear nonproliferation. These fields usually impose estimating the elemental composition of bulk, large, and inhomogeneous samples nondestructively. Common elemental analysis techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) may fail in such situations due to self-absorption of low energy X-rays within thin layers of the sample. In the present study, we propose a novel nondestructive method that may be useful in distinguishing the elemental composition of a given sample based on the elastic scattering of linearly polarized and high-energy -rays. Linear polarization of -rays causes asymmetry of the elastic scattering cross sections with respect to the polarization plane of the incident -rays. At specific -ray energies and scattering angles, the asymmetry ratio, R, of the cross sections in two orthogonal planes is characteristic of each element. The measurement of asymmetry ratio of 1.62 MeV linearly polarized -rays at NewSUBARU facility is presented. This work is a contribution of the JAEA to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under the agreement of the coordinated research program (CRP), J02015 (Facilitation of Safe and Secure Trade Using Nuclear Detection Technology - Detection of RN and Other Contraband).

大規模公共イベント等における核・放射性物質モニタリング技術開発

高橋 時音; 山口 郁斗*; 弘中 浩太*; 持丸 貴則*; 小泉 光生; 山西 弘城*; 若林 源一郎*

第44回日本核物質管理学会年次大会会議論文集(インターネット), 4 Pages, 2023/11

原子力機構では、大規模公共イベント等におけるテロ対策強化のため、会場周辺の広い範囲で核・放射性物質を迅速に検知するためのモニタリング技術開発を行っている。本プロジェクトでは、放射線検出器を測位センサや通信機器と組み合わせ、様々な場面で使用可能なマッピング装置を開発を進めている。屋内外でマッピング試験を実施し、放射線量の高い場所を特定できることを確認した。あわせて、核物質を含む中性子線源を探索するための高速中性子検出技術開発を行っている。2本のロッド型検出器を十字に組み合わせた装置を用いて測定を行い、1本の時に比べて線源方向をより精度よく特定することができることを確認した。本稿では、プロジェクトの近況について報告する。

Neutron resonance fission neutron analysis for nondestructive fissile material assay

弘中 浩太; Lee, J.; 小泉 光生; 伊藤 史哲*; 堀 順一*; 寺田 和司*; 佐野 忠史*

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 1054, p.168467_1 - 168467_5, 2023/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2023.168467

We propose neutron resonance fission neutron analysis (NRFNA), an active nondestructive assay (NDA) technique, to improve the capability to identify and quantify a small amount of fissile material in a sample. NRFNA uses pulsed neutrons to induce fission reactions in the sample. Fission neutrons are detected by a neutron-gamma pulse shape discrimination (PSD) scintillation detector with time-of-flight (TOF) technique. The obtained nuclide-specific resonance peaks in the neutron energy spectrum provide information to identify and quantify a fissile material in the sample. The possibility of using PSD for NRFNA was confirmed through a test experiment using a natural uranium sample. We successfully observed the resonance peaks from U(n,f) reaction and showed that NRFNA would be useful for measuring a small amount of fissile material in a sample.