Multiple gamma-ray glows and a downward TGF observed from nearby thunderclouds

Hisadomi, Shohei*; Nakazawa, Kazuhiro*; Wada, Yuki*; Tsuji, Yuna*; Enoto, Teruaki*; Shinoda, Taro*; Morimoto, Takeshi*; Nakamura, Yoshitaka*; Yuasa, Takayuki*; Tsuchiya, Harufumi

Journal of Geophysical Research; Atmospheres, 126(18), p.e2021JD034543_1 - e2021JD034543_12, 2021/09

https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JD034543

Meteorological aspects of gamma-ray glows in winter thunderstorms

Wada, Yuki*; Enoto, Teruaki*; Kubo, Mamoru*; Nakazawa, Kazuhiro*; Shinoda, Taro*; Yonetoku, Daisuke*; Sawano, Tatsuya*; Yuasa, Takayuki*; Ushio, Tomoo*; Sato, Yosuke*; et al.

Geophysical Research Letters, 48(7), 11 Pages, 2021/04

https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL091910

During three winter seasons from November 2016 to March 2019, 11 gamma-ray glows were detected at a single observation site of our ground-based gamma-ray monitoring network in Kanazawa, Japan. These events are analyzed with observations of an X-band radar network, a ceilometer, a disdrometer, and a weather monitor. All the detected glows were connected to convective high-reflectivity regions of more than 35 dBZ, developed up to an altitude of 2 km. They were also accompanied by heavy precipitation of graupels. Therefore, graupels in the lower layer of thunderclouds that correspond to high-reflectivity regions can form strong electric fields producing gamma-ray glows. Also, these events are compared with a limited sample of nondetection cases, but no significant differences in meteorological conditions were found between detection and nondetection cases in the present study.

Photonuclear reactions in lightning, 2; Comparison between observation and simulation model

Wada, Yuki*; Enoto, Teruaki*; Nakazawa, Kazuhiro*; Yuasa, Takayuki*; Furuta, Yoshihiro; Odaka, Hirokazu*; Makishima, Kazuo*; Tsuchiya, Harufumi

Journal of Geophysical Research; Atmospheres, 125(20), p.e2020JD033194_1 - e2020JD033194_15, 2020/10

https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JD033194

Photoneutron detection in lightning by gadolinium orthosilicate scintillators

Wada, Yuki*; Nakazawa, Kazuhiro*; Enoto, Teruaki*; Furuta, Yoshihiro; Yuasa, Takayuki*; Makishima, Kazuo*; Tsuchiya, Harufumi

Physical Review D, 101(10), p.102007_1 - 102007_6, 2020/05

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.101.102007

Downward terrestrial gamma-ray flash observed in a winter thunderstorm

Wada, Yuki*; Enoto, Teruaki*; Nakazawa, Kazuhiro*; Furuta, Yoshihiro; Yuasa, Takayuki*; Nakamura, Yoshitaka*; Morimoto, Takeshi*; Matsumoto, Takahiro*; Makishima, Kazuo*; Tsuchiya, Harufumi

Physical Review Letters, 123(6), p.061103_1 - 061103_6, 2019/08

AA2018-0706.pdf:0.79MB

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.061103

Termination of electron acceleration in thundercloud by intracloud/intercloud discharge

Wada, Yuki*; Bowers, G. S.*; Enoto, Teruaki*; Kamogawa, Masashi*; Nakamura, Yoshitaka*; Morimoto, Takeshi*; Smith, D.*; Furuta, Yoshihiro*; Nakazawa, Kazuhiro*; Yuasa, Takayuki*; et al.

Geophysical Research Letters, 45(11), p.5700 - 5707, 2018/06

https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL077784

High-resolution Compton cameras based on Si/CdTe double-sided strip detectors

Odaka, Hirokazu*; Ichinohe, Yuto*; Takeda, Shinichiro*; Fukuyama, Taro*; Hagino, Koichi*; Saito, Shinya*; Sato, Tamotsu*; Sato, Goro*; Watanabe, Shin*; Kokubun, Motohide*; et al.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 695, p.179 - 183, 2012/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2011.12.061

We have developed a new Si/CdTe semiconductor double-sided strip detector (DSD) Compton camera. The camera consists of a 500-m-thick Si-DSD and four layers of 750-m-thick CdTe-DSDs all of which have common electrode configuration segmented into 128 strips on each side with pitches of 250m. In order to realize high angular resolution and to reduce size of the detector system, a stack of DSDs with short stack pitches of 4 mm is utilized to make the camera. Taking advantage of the excellent energy and position resolutions of the semiconductor devices, the camera achieves high angular resolutions of 4.5 degrees at 356 keV and 3.5 degrees at 662 keV. To obtain such high resolutions together with an acceptable detection efficiency, we demonstrate data reduction methods including energy calibration using Compton scattering continuum and depth sensing in the CdTe-DSD. We also discuss imaging capability of the camera and show simultaneous multi-energy imaging.

High-temperature continuous operation of the HTTR

Takamatsu, Kuniyoshi; Sawa, Kazuhiro; Kunitomi, Kazuhiko; Hino, Ryutaro; Ogawa, Masuro; Komori, Yoshihiro; Nakazawa, Toshio*; Iyoku, Tatsuo; Fujimoto, Nozomu; Nishihara, Tetsuo; et al.

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 10(4), p.290 - 300, 2011/12

https://doi.org/10.3327/taesj.J11.020

A high temperature (950C) continuous operation has been performed for 50 days on the HTTR from January to March in 2010, and the potential to supply stable heat of high temperature for hydrogen production for a long time was demonstrated for the first time in the world. This successful operation could establish technological basis of HTGRs and show potential of nuclear energy as heat source for innovative thermo-chemical-based hydrogen production, emitting greenhouse gases on a "low-carbon path" for the first time in the world.

Observation of an energetic radiation burst from mountain-top thunderclouds

Tsuchiya, Harufumi*; Enoto, Teruaki*; Torii, Tatsuo; Nakazawa, Kazuhiro*; Yuasa, Takayuki*; Torii, Shunsuke*; Fukuyama, Taro*; Yamaguchi, Takahiro*; Kato, Hiroshi*; Okano, Shinji*; et al.

Physical Review Letters, 102(25), p.255003_1 - 255003_4, 2009/06

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.255003

During thunderstorms on 2008 September 20, a simultaneous detection of -rays and electrons was made at a mountain observatory in Japan located 2770 m above sea level. Both emissions, lasting 90 seconds, were associated with thunderclouds rather than lightning. The photon spectrum, extending to 10 MeV, can be interpreted as consisting of bremsstrahlung -rays arriving from a source which is 60-130 m in distance at 90% confidence level. The observed electrons are likely to be dominated by a primary population escaping from an acceleration region in the clouds.

Rise-to-power test in High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor; Test progress and summary of test results up to 30MW of reactor thermal power

Nakagawa, Shigeaki; Fujimoto, Nozomu; Shimakawa, Satoshi; Nojiri, Naoki; Takeda, Takeshi; Saikusa, Akio; Ueta, Shohei; Kojima, Takao; Takada, Eiji*; Saito, Kenji; et al.

JAERI-Tech 2002-069, 87 Pages, 2002/08

JAERI-Tech-2002-069.pdf:10.12MB

Rise-to-power test in the HTTR has been performed from April 23rd to June 6th in 2000 as phase 1 test up to 10MW, from January 29th to March 1st in 2001 as phase 2 test up to 20MW in the rated operation mode and from April 14th to June 8th in 2001 as phase 3 test up to 20MW in the high temperature test operation mode. Phase 4 test to achieve the thermal reactor power of 30MW started from October 23rd in 2001. On December 7th it was confirmed that the thermal reactor power reached to 30MW and the reactor outlet coolant temperature reached to 850C. JAERI obtained the certificate of pre-operation test from MEXT because all the pre-operation tests by MEXT were passed successfully. From the test results of rise-up-power test up to 30MW, the performance of reactor and cooling system were confirmed, and it was confirmed that an operation of reactor facility could be performed safely. Some problems to be solved were found through tests. By means of solving them, the reactor operation with the reactor outlet coolant temperature of 950C will be achievable.