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田辺 鴻典*; 米田 政夫; 藤 暢輔; 北村 康則*; 三澤 毅*; 土屋 兼一*; 相楽 洋*
Scientific Reports (Internet), 14, p.18828_1 - 18828_10, 2024/08
The global challenge of on-site detection of highly enriched uranium (HEU), a substance with considerable potential for unauthorized use in nuclear security, is a critical concern. Traditional passive nondestructive assay (NDA) techniques, such as gamma-ray spectroscopy with high-purity germanium detectors, face significant challenges in detecting HEU when it is shielded by heavy metals. Addressing this critical security need, we introduce an on-site detection method for lead-shielded HEU employing a transportable NDA system that utilizes the Cf rotation method with a water Cherenkov neutron detector. This cost-effective NDA system is capable of detecting 4.17 g of U within a 12 min measurement period using a Cf source of 3.7 MBq. Integrating this system into border control measures can enhance the prevention of HEU proliferation significantly and offer robust deterrence against nuclear terrorism.
土屋 晴文; 藤 暢輔; 大図 章; 古高 和禎; 北谷 文人; 前田 亮; 米田 政夫
Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 60(11), p.1301 - 1312, 2023/11
被引用回数:1 パーセンタイル:63.33(Nuclear Science & Technology)An integrated active neutron non-destructive analysis (NDA) system, Active-N, was developed to gain knowledge of active neutron NDA techniques that are applicable to measurements of nuclear materials in highly radioactive nuclear fuels. Active-N, equipped with a D-T neutron generator, combines three complementary active neutron NDA techniques: Differential Die-away Analysis (DDA), Prompt Gamma-ray Analysis (PGA), and Neutron Resonance Transmission Analysis (NRTA). In this paper, we provide an overview of Active-N and then demonstrate that the compact NRTA system in Active-N can quantify nuclear materials. Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to determine the design of the compact NRTA system including a moderator, flight tubes, and a detector shield. To investigate how accurately the compact NRTA system determines areal densities in a sample, measurements were performed with a Pu pellet-type sample as well as metallic plate samples of In and Ag. The experimental areal densities of Pu, In and Ag were consistent with those calculated for the individual nuclei. These results show that it is feasible to develop a compact NRTA system capable of determining the contents of nuclear materials in nuclear fuels. This research was implemented under the subsidy for nuclear security promotion of MEXT.
米田 政夫; 藤 暢輔
Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 188, p.110391_1 - 110391_6, 2022/10
被引用回数:0 パーセンタイル:0.01(Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear)Active neutron methods using pulsed neutrons can measure nuclear materials with higher performance than passive methods. However, previous active neutron methods have not used the observed data effectively. In this study, we developed a new data processing method with higher performance than the conventional method by using time series data. This method is expected to improve the measurement performance through a significant reduction in measurement time and a sensitivity increase compared to the conventional method.
米田 政夫; 藤 暢輔; 田辺 鴻典*; 北村 康則*; 三澤 毅*
Annals of Nuclear Energy, 159, p.108300_1 - 108300_8, 2021/09
被引用回数:2 パーセンタイル:29.53(Nuclear Science & Technology)The rotation method is a novel method for detecting nuclear materials using a neutron source such as californium. In this method, while a neutron source is rotated rapidly nearby a measurement object, neutron measurement is carried out by synchronizing the rotation motion. If the object contains a nuclear material, as the rotation speed increases, the larger deformation of time distribution of neutron counts is observed, which in turn resulted to the detection of the nuclear material. In addition to its features of low cost and portability, this method is capable of detecting uranium that emits very few spontaneous fission neutrons. This study presents the fundamental principle of this method and its effectiveness for detecting nuclear materials through the experimental verifications.
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
Proceedings of INMM & ESARDA Joint Virtual Annual Meeting (Internet), 8 Pages, 2021/08
Since neutrons have exceptional ability to penetrate high-density materials and can induce fission, they are used in non-destructive analysis such as, Differential Die-Away Analysis (DDA), Prompt Gamma-ray Analysis (PGA) and Neutron Resonance Transmission Analysis (NRTA). The different analytical methods give us complementary information, which are particularly useful for the quantification of Special Nuclear Materials in highly radioactive nuclear materials, including spent fuel. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission are collaborating to develop an active neutron NDA system for nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security. In the second phase of the project, an integrated active neutron NDA system: Active-N which enables the simultaneous measurements of DDA, PGA and NRTA has been developed. The DDA detects fission neutrons, and it can determine small amounts of the fissile mass. PGA is utilized for the quantification of neutron absorber and particularly useful for the detection of explosives. NRTA can be used to quantify almost all medium and high-Z elements and considered as one of the most accurate NDA. In this presentation, we will provide an overview of Active-N and report the recent experimental results. This research was implemented under the subsidy for nuclear security promotion of MEXT: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
原田 秀郎; 高山 直毅; 米田 政夫
Journal of Physics Communications (Internet), 4(8), p.085004_1 - 085004_17, 2020/08
原子炉を用いた放射化分析などで重要な中性子共鳴積分値を高精度化するため、熱外中性子スペクトルの新しい近似を定式化した。近似式の導出に当たっては、はじめにモンテカルロ計算コードMVP-3を用いて参照解となる中性子スペクトルを計算し、これから 型の関数型を導出した。従来の近似式に比較し、導出した関数型は、中性子共鳴積分値を高精度に決定できることを示した。この検討は、過去にJRR-3で行われたCsの中性子共鳴積分値の測定データに基づき行われた。また、提唱した近似式に導入したパラメータ及びを実験的に決定するため、3種類のフラックスモニター(Au, Co及びZr)を用いる手法を提唱するとともに、解析手法を定式化した。
大図 章; 前田 亮; 米田 政夫; 藤 暢輔
Proceedings of 2019 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference (NSS/MIC 2019), Vol.1, p.101 - 104, 2020/08
In the fields of safeguards, nuclear non-proliferation, and nuclear security, non-destructive analysis (NDA) techniques useful for highly radioactive nuclear materials (NMs) are not established yet because there are so many technical difficulties to measure the amount of the highly radioactive NMs. A novel NDA system with a pulsed neutron source as the method for determining the composition of mixed NMs has been developing in the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. In the NDA system, a differential die-away analysis (DDA) technique is used to quantify the amount of fissile materials. The detection limit of fissile materials in DDA system is determined by the signal to noise ratio in fast neutron counting. A method to reduce the noise signal by using neutron absorber (BC rubber) sheets mounted on the inner entire surface in the sample cavity is proposed. The effect of the sheets on the reduction of noise signal in the fast neutron counting was investigated in both experimental test and simulation. The experimental results show that it is possible to detect a nuclear fissile material (Pu) of as low as 1 mg in a vial bottle when the absorber sheets with a thickness of 3 mm is used. This paper also presents comparison between experimental data and simulation results.
米田 政夫; 藤 暢輔
Annals of Nuclear Energy, 135, p.106993_1 - 106993_6, 2020/01
被引用回数:2 パーセンタイル:23.17(Nuclear Science & Technology)本研究は全く新しいアクティブ中性子法として、中性子線源を測定対象物の周りで高速移動させ、その残存出力を調べることにより核物質の検知を行う手法について検討したものである。一般に中性子線源を用いて核物質を含む対象物に中性子を照射すると、核分裂中性子に加えて、線源からの中性子も同時に観測される。しかし、中性子線源を非常に高速に移動させて照射を行うと、それら中性子成分が時間的に分離して観測される。この効果を利用することにより核物質の検知が可能となる。本研究手法では、従来のアクティブ中性子法では不可欠であった高価なDT中性子発生管が不要となることから、装置の低コスト化及び簡素化にも貢献することが期待できる。
米田 政夫
ぶんせき, 2019(10), p.459 - 461, 2019/10
原子力施設の操業及び廃止措置時には核燃料物質を含む廃棄物が発生し、原子力事業者はそれら廃棄物に含まれる核燃料物質をオンサイトで計量する必要がある。主な計量の方法は放射線による非破壊測定であり、廃棄物が収納されたドラム缶を開封することなく実施される。また、廃棄物測定用途以外では、核セキュリティ分野等において核物質の非破壊測定が用いられている。核物質の非破壊定量法の分類として、パッシブ法とアクティブ法がある。パッシブ法とは、測定対象物に含まれる核物質等が自発的に崩壊する際に放出されるガンマ線や中性子を測定することにより核物質量を定量する手法である。それに対してアクティブ法とは、測定対象物の外部から中性子等を照射して反応を誘発し、放出される中性子又はガンマ線を測定して核物質量を定量する手法であり、特に中性子を計測する非破壊測定手法を「アクティブ中性子法」と呼んでいる。日本原子力研究開発機構(JAEA)の原子力基礎工学研究センター(NSEC)では、アクティブ中性子法の一つである「高速中性子直接問いかけ法(FNDI法: Fast Neutron Direct Interrogation)」を開発してきた。このFNDI法は、高感度で測定時間が短いというアクティブ中性子法が持つ特長に加え、パッシブ法で問題となる内容物の種類, 嵩密度, 不均一性、及び核物質の偏在の影響を受けにくいという特長も有することもあり、NSECにおいて廃棄物ドラム缶用の核燃料物質測定装置として実用化した。本稿ではアクティブ中性子法の測定原理及びその後の発展・実用化について紹介する。
大図 章; 前田 亮; 米田 政夫; 藤 暢輔
Proceedings of 2018 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference (NSS/MIC 2018) (Internet), 4 Pages, 2019/10
A Differential Die-away Analysis (DDA) system using a compact pulsed neutron (DT: 14 MeV) generator has been successfully developed for nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security in the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The DDA system employing the fast neutron direct interrogation method is designed to quantify fissile materials in samples which have different volume from a vial bottle (4 cc) to pail container (20 liter). It has been demonstrated experimentally that the DDA system is capable of quantifying a nuclear fissile material (Pu-239) less than 10 mg in a vial bottle. The performance of the DDA system with a large measurement sample such as a MOX can container (2 liter) was evaluated through the Monte Carlo simulation studies. The simulation results show that the Pu-239 mass of around 10 mg even in the MOX can container can be detected. The results of the simulation study are discussed and compared to those of the experimental test.
前田 亮; 古高 和禎; 呉田 昌俊; 大図 章; 米田 政夫; 藤 暢輔
Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 56(7), p.617 - 628, 2019/07
被引用回数:3 パーセンタイル:30.79(Nuclear Science & Technology)In order to measure the amount of nuclear materials in the fuel debris produced in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, we have designed a measurement system based on a Fast Neutron Direct Interrogation (FNDI) method. In particular, we have developed a fast response detector bank for fast neutron measurements by Monte Carlo simulations. The new bank has more than an order of magnitude faster response compared to the standard ones. We have also simulated the nondestructive measurements of the nuclear materials in homogeneously mixed fuel debris with various matrices which contain Stainless Steel (JIS SUS304), concrete, and various control-rod (CR) contents in the designed system. The results show that at least some types of the fissile materials in the debris can be measured by using the designed 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
Proceedings of INMM 60th Annual Meeting (Internet), 7 Pages, 2019/07
Nuclear material accountancy plays a key role in nuclear safeguards and security. The collaboration between the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission aims to develop an active neutron NDA system for Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) and Minor Actinides (MA) in highly radioactive nuclear materials. Several active neutron NDA techniques, namely Differential Die-Away Analysis (DDA), Prompt Gamma-ray Analysis (PGA), Neutron Resonance Capture Analysis (NRCA), Neutron Resonance Transmission Analysis (NRTA) and Delayed Gamma-ray Analysis (DGA) have been developed. The different methods can provide complementary information. In the first phase of the project, we developed a combined NDA system, which enables the simultaneous measurements of DDA and PGA. The DDA technique can determine very small amounts of the fissile mass. PGA is valuable for the measurement of light elements. In the second phase, we will continue to conduct additional research to improve the methodology and develop a new integrated NDA system which can use for NRTA as well as DDA and PGA. In this presentation, we will provide an overview of the project and report the recent results, especially the design of new integrated NDA system. This research was implemented under the subsidiary for nuclear security promotion of MEXT.
大図 章; 前田 亮; 米田 政夫; 藤 暢輔; 小泉 光生; 瀬谷 道夫
Proceedings of 2017 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference (NSS/MIC 2017) (Internet), 4 Pages, 2018/11
A Differential Die-away Analysis (DDA) system using a compact pulsed neutron (14 MeV) generator has been newly developed for non-nuclear proliferation and nuclear security in the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). The DDA system was designed to be able to detect a nuclear fissile material (Pu-239) of as low as 10 mg and to handle samples of a different volume: a vial bottle (20 mL), a pail container (20 L), through a Monte Carlo simulation. In the DDA system, the Fast Neutron Direct Interrogation (FNDI) technique, which utilizes fast neutrons for interrogation, was applied to measure the amount of fissile mass contained in the sample. The fundamental performance of the DDA system was investigated in the demonstration experiment. The simulation results show that the Pu-239 masses of less than 10 mg can be detected in the DDA system. The results of the experiment are discussed and compared with those of the simulation.
米田 政夫; 大図 章; 森 貴正; 中塚 嘉明; 前田 亮; 呉田 昌俊; 藤 暢輔
Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 55(8), P. 962, 2018/08
被引用回数:0 パーセンタイル:1.39(Nuclear Science & Technology)以前に発表した論文(アクティブ中性子法における中性子増倍効果に関する研究(J Nucl Sci Technol. 2017;54(11):1233-1239)における式の導出法を訂正する。式の導出法に間違いがあったが、最終的に導出される式は正しい。そのため、論文の結論及び議論に変更は無い。
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; Heyse, J.*; Paradela, C.*; et al.
Proceedings of INMM 59th Annual Meeting (Internet), 9 Pages, 2018/07
Nuclear material accountancy is of fundamental importance for nuclear safeguards and security. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no established technique that enables us to accurately determine the amount of Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) and Minor Actinides (MA) in high radioactive nuclear materials. Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission Collaboration Action Sheet-7 started in 2015. The purpose of this project is to develop an innovative non-destructive analysis (NDA) system using a D-T pulsed neutron source. Active neutron NDA techniques, namely Differential Die-Away Analysis (DDA), Prompt Gamma-ray Analysis (PGA), Neutron Resonance Capture Analysis (NRCA), Neutron Resonance Transmission Analysis (NRTA) and Delayed Gamma-ray Analysis (DGA) have been studied and developed. The different methods can provide complementary information which is particularly useful for quantification of SNM and MA in high radioactive nuclear materials. The second phase of the project has started. In the second phase, we will continue to conduct additional research to improve the methodology and develop an integrated NDA system. This presentation gives an overview of the project and the NDA system and reports the recent results. This research was implemented under the subsidiary for nuclear security promotion of MEXT.
迫田 晃弘; 中塚 嘉明; 石森 有; 中島 伸一; 米田 政夫; 大図 章; 藤 暢輔
Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 55(6), p.605 - 613, 2018/06
被引用回数:1 パーセンタイル:11.24(Nuclear Science & Technology)核物質の計量管理の向上のため、我々は以前、ドラム缶に充填されたウラン廃棄物を対象にした非破壊検査装置(JAWAS-N: JAEA Waste Assay System at Ningyo-toge)を開発した。これは高速中性子直接問いかけ(FNDI)法に基づいている。FNDI法の特性やJAWAS-Nの性能をより明らかにするために、既知量の天然ウランを含む様々な乾燥物質を用いて、実験と計算によるモックアップ試験を行った。その結果、U核分裂に由来した高速中性子の消滅時間()とカウントの間に直線性があることを実験と計算で確認した。また、MCNPによる計算から、U核分裂確率、中性子の検出効率、および感度に対するドラム缶内のウラン分布の影響を議論した。計算結果は既報の実験結果とも一致しており、FNDI法に基づくウラン定量に関して実践的な情報を得た。さらに、JAWAS-Nの名目の検出効率を評価したところ、=0.2, 0.3, 0.4msecの物質でそれぞれ15, 4, 2g(天然ウラン量)であった。本研究で得られた知見は、FNDI法による実ウラン廃棄物のU量評価に貢献する。
大図 章; 前田 亮; 米田 政夫; 古高 和禎; 藤 暢輔
日本核物質管理学会第38回年次大会論文集(インターネット), 9 Pages, 2018/04
原子力機構では、欧州委員会共同研究センターと共同で核不拡散、核セキュリティ用非破壊測定技術の開発に取り組んでおり、従来の技術では測定が難しい核変換用MA-Pu燃料等の高線量核物質や共存物質が多い難測定核物質を測定する技術の確立を目指している。その技術開発において、核分裂性核物質の定量が可能な次世代型アクティブ中性子ダイアウェイ時間差分析(DDA)部と元素分析が可能な即発線分析(PGA)部を組み合わせた、小型DT中性子源を用いるアクティブ中性子統合非破壊測定試験装置"Active-N"を新たに設計、開発した。現在、製作したDDA部の基本性能を評価するために微量のPu酸化物試料を封入したバイアル瓶を用いて測定試験を実施している。本報では、その試験結果をモンテカルロシミュレーション(MCNP)結果と比較して報告する。
長谷 竹晃; 米田 政夫; 芝 知宙; 名内 泰志*; 前田 亮; 相楽 洋*; 小菅 義広*; 呉田 昌俊; 富川 裕文; 奥村 啓介; et al.
Energy Procedia, 131, p.258 - 263, 2017/12
被引用回数:10 パーセンタイル:98.13(Energy & Fuels)This paper provides an interim report for characterization study of four candidate technologies for nuclear material quantification in fuel debris at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (1F). The severe loss-of-coolant accidents of 1F produced fuel debris in the reactor cores of Units 1-3. Because the fuel debris would contain unknown amounts of minor actinides, fission products and neutron absorbers and the mixing rate of them would vary significantly, accurate quantification of nuclear material in fuel debris would be difficult by applying a single measurement technology. Therefore, we consider that an integrated measurement system that combines several measurement technologies would be required to complement the weakness of each technology. For consideration of an integrated measurement system, we conducted a characterization study for each technology. In order to compare the results of applicability evaluation of each technology, common set of simulation models for fuel debris and canister were developed. These models were used for the applicability evaluation of each technology. Then, the comparative evaluation of the result of applicability evaluation among four technologies was conducted.
大図 章; 米田 政夫; 呉田 昌俊; 中塚 嘉明; 中島 伸一
日本原子力学会誌ATOMO, 59(12), p.700 - 704, 2017/12
ウラン廃棄物ドラム缶内のウラン量を定量する従来の非破壊測定法では、内容物の種類やウランの偏在に起因する測定誤差の大きさが問題となるケースや、さらに長時間の測定時間が必要となる測定上の問題がある。このような問題を解決する高速中性子直接問いかけ法というアクティブ中性子非破壊測定法を開発し、実廃棄物ドラム缶のウラン定量に実用化することができた。本報では、本測定法を概説するとともに今後の展望について解説する。
米田 政夫; 大図 章; 森 貴正; 中塚 嘉明; 前田 亮; 呉田 昌俊; 藤 暢輔
Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 54(11), p.1233 - 1239, 2017/11
被引用回数:8 パーセンタイル:60.68(Nuclear Science & Technology)アクティブ中性子法における中性子増倍効果に関して、解析及び実験による研究を実施した。アクティブ中性子法を用いた核物質の測定では、第2世代以降の中性子による中性子増倍の影響を受ける。しかしながら、そのような中性子増倍効果による影響について、これまで十分に調べられてこなかった。本研究では、第3世代中性子による中性子増倍が無視できる場合において、測定データから第2世代中性子による中性子増倍効果の影響を補正する手法について調べ、測定データから中性子増倍の影響を除外する補正方法を提案した。更に、本手法を利用した深い未臨界度の評価手法についても示した。