Design and actual performance of J-PARC 3 GeV rapid cycling synchrotron for high-intensity operation

Yamamoto, Kazami; Kinsho, Michikazu; Hayashi, Naoki; Saha, P. K.; Tamura, Fumihiko; Yamamoto, Masanobu; Tani, Norio; Takayanagi, Tomohiro; Kamiya, Junichiro; Shobuda, Yoshihiro; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 59(9), p.1174 - 1205, 2022/09

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2022.2038301

In the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex, the purpose of the 3 GeV rapid cycling synchrotron (RCS) is to accelerate a 1 MW, high-intensity proton beam. To achieve beam operation at a repetition rate of 25 Hz at high intensities, the RCS was elaborately designed. After starting the RCS operation, we carefully verified the validity of its design and made certain improvements to establish a reliable operation at higher power as possible. Consequently, we demonstrated beam operation at a high power, namely, 1 MW. We then summarized the design, actual performance, and improvements of the RCS to achieve a 1 MW beam.

Comparison of the therapeutic effects of [At]NaAt and [I]NaI in an NIS-expressing thyroid cancer mouse model

Watabe, Tadashi*; Liu, Y.*; Kaneda, Kazuko*; Sato, Tatsuhiko; Shirakami, Yoshifumi*; Oe, Kazuhiro*; Toyoshima, Atsushi*; Shimosegawa, Eku*; Wang, Y.*; Haba, Hiromitsu*; et al.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Internet), 23(16), p.9434_1 - 9434_11, 2022/08

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23169434

In this study, we compare the therapeutic effect between [At]NaAt and [I]NaI. In vitro analysis of double-stranded DNA break (DSB) and colony formation assay were performed using K1-NIS cells. [At]NaAt induced higher numbers of DSBs and had a reduced colony formation than [I]NaI. In K1-NIS mice, dose-dependent therapeutic effects were observed in both [At]NaAt and [I]NaI. The superior therapeutic effect of [At]NaAt suggests the promising clinical applicability of targeted alpha therapy using [At]NaAt in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer refractory to standard [I]NaI treatment.

Stabilization treatment of nuclear fuel material contained with organic matter

Senzaki, Tatsuya; Arai, Yoichi; Yano, Kimihiko; Sato, Daisuke; Tada, Kohei; Ogi, Hiromichi*; Kawanobe, Takayuki*; Ono, Shimpei; Nakamura, Masahiro; Kitawaki, Shinichi; et al.

JAEA-Testing 2022-001, 28 Pages, 2022/05

JAEA-Testing-2022-001.pdf:2.33MB

In preparation for the decommissioning of Laboratory B of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratory, the nuclear fuel material that had been stored in the glove box for a long time was moved to the Chemical Processing Facility (CPF). This nuclear fuel material was stored with sealed by a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bag in the storage. Since it was confirmed that the PVC bag swelled during storage, it seems that any gas was generated by radiolysis of the some components contained in the nuclear fuel material. In order to avoid breakage of the PVC bag and keep it safety for long time, we began the study on the stabilization treatment of the nuclear fuel material. First, in order to clarify the properties of nuclear fuel material, radioactivity analysis, component analysis, and thermal analysis were carried out. From the results of thermal analysis, the existence of organic matter was clarified. Then, ion exchange resin with similar thermal characteristics was selected and the thermal decomposition conditions were investigated. From the results of these analyzes and examinations, the conditions for thermal decomposition of the nuclear fuel material contained with organic matter was established. Performing a heat treatment of a small amount of nuclear fuel material in order to confirm the safety, after which the treatment amount was scaled up. It was confirmed by the weight change after the heat treatment that the nuclear fuel material contained with organic matter was completely decomposed.

Numerical reproduction of dissolved U concentrations in a PO-treated column study of Hanford 300 area sediment using a simple ion exchange and immobile domain model

Saito, Tatsuo; Sato, Kazuhiko; Yamazawa, Hiromi*

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 237, p.106708_1 - 106708_9, 2021/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106708

We succeeded at numerical reproduction of dissolved U concentrations from column experiments with PO-treated Hanford 300 Area sediment. The time-series curves of dissolved U concentrations under various Darcy flow rate conditions were reproduced by the numerical model in the present study through optimization of the following parameters:(i) the mass of U in mobile domain (on surface soil connected to the stream) and the rest of the total U left as precipitation in immobile domain (isolated in deep soil);(ii) the mixing ratio between immobile and mobile domains, to fit the final recovering curve of concentration; and (iii) the cation exchange capacity (CEC) and equilibrium constant (k) of the exchange reaction of UO and H on simulated soil surface (), to fit the transient equilibrium concentration, forming the bed of the bathtub curve.

A Model intercomparison of atmospheric Cs concentrations from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, phase III; Simulation with an identical source term and meteorological field at 1-km resolution

Sato, Yosuke*; Sekiyama, Tsuyoshi*; Fang, S.*; Kajino, Mizuo*; Qurel, A.*; Qulo, D.*; Kondo, Hiroaki*; Terada, Hiroaki; Kadowaki, Masanao; Takigawa, Masayuki*; et al.

Atmospheric Environment; X (Internet), 7, p.100086_1 - 100086_12, 2020/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeaoa.2020.100086

The third model intercomparison project for investigating the atmospheric behavior of Cs emitted during the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident (FDNPP-MIP) was conducted. A finer horizontal grid spacing (1 km) was used than in the previous FDNPP-MIP. Nine of the models used in the previous FDNPP-MIP were also used, and all models used identical source terms and meteorological fields. Our analyses indicated that most of the observed high atmospheric Cs concentrations were well simulated, and the good performance of some models improved the performance of the multi-model ensemble. The analyses also confirmed that the use of a finer grid resolution resulted in the meteorological field near FDNPP being better reproduced. The good representation of the wind field resulted in the reasonable simulation of the narrow distribution of high deposition amount to the northwest of FDNPP and the reduction of the overestimation over the area to the south of FDNPP. In contrast, the performance of the models in simulating plumes observed over the Nakadori area, the northern part of Gunma, and the Tokyo metropolitan area was slightly worse.

Enhancement of element production by incomplete fusion reaction with weakly bound deuteron

Wang, H.*; Otsu, Hideaki*; Chiga, Nobuyuki*; Kawase, Shoichiro*; Takeuchi, Satoshi*; Sumikama, Toshiyuki*; Koyama, Shumpei*; Sakurai, Hiroyoshi*; Watanabe, Yukinobu*; Nakayama, Shinsuke; et al.

Communications Physics (Internet), 2(1), p.78_1 - 78_6, 2019/07

https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-019-0165-1

Searching for effective pathways for the production of proton- and neutron-rich isotopes through an optimal combination of reaction mechanism and energy is one of the main driving forces behind experimental and theoretical nuclear reaction studies as well as for practical applications in nuclear transmutation of radioactive waste. We report on a study on incomplete fusion induced by deuteron, which contains one proton and one neutron with a weak binding energy and is easily broken up. This reaction study was achieved by measuring directly the cross sections for both proton and deuteron for Pd at 50 MeV/u via inverse kinematics technique. The results provide direct experimental evidence for the onset of a cross-section enhancement at high energy, indicating the potential of incomplete fusion induced by loosely-bound nuclei for creating proton-rich isotopes and nuclear transmutation of radioactive waste.

Online chemical adsorption studies of Hg, Tl, and Pb on SiO and Au surfaces in preparation for chemical investigations on Cn, Nh, and Fl at TASCA

Lens, L.*; Yakushev, A.*; Dllmann, Ch. E.*; Asai, Masato; Ballof, J.*; Block, M.*; David, H. M.*; Despotopulos, J.*; Di Nitto, A.*; Eberhardt, K.*; et al.

Radiochimica Acta, 106(12), p.949 - 962, 2018/12

AA2018-0417.pdf:0.99MB

https://doi.org/10.1515/ract-2017-2914

Online gas-solid adsorption studies with single atom quantities of Hg, Tl, and Pb on SiO and Au surfaces were carried out using short-lived radioisotopes with half-lives in the range of 4-49 s. This is a model study to measure adsorption enthalpies of superheavy elements Cn, Nh, and Fl. The short-lived isotopes were produced and separated by the gas-filled recoil separator TASCA at GSI. The products were stopped in He gas, and flushed into gas chromatography columns made of Si detectors whose surfaces were covered by SiO or Au. The short-lived Tl and Pb were successfully measured by the Si detectors with the SiO surface at room temperature. On the other hand, the Hg did not adsorb on the SiO surface, but adsorbed on the Au surface. The results demonstrated that the adsorption properties of short-lived Hg, Tl, and Pb could be studied with this setup, and that this method is applicable to the experiment for Cn, Nh, and Fl.

Model intercomparison of atmospheric Cs from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident; Simulations based on identical input data

Sato, Yosuke*; Takigawa, Masayuki*; Sekiyama, Tsuyoshi*; Kajino, Mizuo*; Terada, Hiroaki; Nagai, Haruyasu; Kondo, Hiroaki*; Uchida, Junya*; Goto, Daisuke*; Qulo, D.*; et al.

Journal of Geophysical Research; Atmospheres, 123(20), p.11748 - 11765, 2018/10

https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD029144

A model intercomparison of the atmospheric dispersion of Cs emitted following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident was conducted by 12 models to understand the behavior of Cs in the atmosphere. The same meteorological data, horizontal grid resolution, and an emission inventory were applied to all the models to focus on the model variability originating from the processes included in each model. The multi-model ensemble captured 40% of the observed Cs events, and the figure-of-merit in space for the total deposition of Cs exceeded 80. Our analyses indicated that the meteorological data were most critical for reproducing the Cs events. The results also revealed that the differences among the models were originated from the deposition and diffusion processes when the meteorological field was simulated well. However, the models with strong diffusion tended to overestimate the Cs concentrations.

Complex chemistry with complex compounds

Eichler, R.*; Asai, Masato; Brand, H.*; Chiera, N. M.*; Di Nitto, A.*; Dressler, R.*; Dllmann, Ch. E.*; Even, J.*; Fangli, F.*; Goetz, M.*; et al.

EPJ Web of Conferences, 131, p.07005_1 - 07005_7, 2016/12

https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201613107005

In recent years gas-phase chemical studies assisted by physical pre-separation allowed for the productions and investigations of fragile single molecular species of superheavy elements. The latest highlight is the formation of very volatile hexacarbonyl compound of element 106, Sg(CO). Following this success, second-generation experiments were performed to measure the first bond dissociation energy between the central metal atom and the surrounding ligand. The method using a tubular decomposition reactor was developed and successfully applied to short-lived Mo(CO), W(CO), and Sg(CO).

Mechanical properties and microstructure of dissimilar friction stir welds of 11Cr-ferritic/martensitic steel to 316 stainless steel

Sato, Yutaka*; Kokawa, Hiroyuki*; Fujii, Hiromichi*; Yano, Yasuhide; Sekio, Yoshihiro

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, 46(12), p.5789 - 5800, 2015/12

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-015-3152-5

Dissimilar friction stir welding (FSW) of an 11% Cr ferritic/martensitic stee (PNC-FMS) to 316-grade austenitic stainless steel was attempted with a view to its potential application to the wrapper tubes of next-generation fast reactors. The mechanical properties and microstructure of the resulting welds were systematically examined, which revealed that FSW produces a defect-free stir zone in which material intermixing is notably absent. That is, both steels are separately distributed along a zigzagging interface in the stir zone when PNC-FMS is placed on the retreating side, with the tool plunging at the butt line. This interface did not act as a fracture site during small-sized tensile testing of the stir zone. Furthermore, the microstructure of the stir zone was refined in both the PNC-FMS and 316 stainless steel sides, resulting in improved mechanical properties over the respective base material regions.