New method for visualizing the dose rate distribution around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant using artificial neural networks

Sasaki, Miyuki; Sanada, Yukihisa; Katengeza, E. W.*; Yamamoto, Akio*

Scientific Reports (Internet), 11, p.1857_1 - 1857_11, 2021/01

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81546-4

This study proposed a new method to visualize the ambient dose rate distribution using artificial neural networks from the results of airborne radiation monitoring. The method used airborne radiation monitoring conducted around Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant by an unmanned aerial vehicle. A lot of survey data which had obtained in the past was used as training data for building a network. The reliability of the artificial neural network method was evaluated by comparison with the ground-based survey data. The dose rate map that was created by the artificial neural networks method reproduced the ground-based survey results better than traditional methods.

Application of the forest shielding factor to the maximum-likelihood expectation maximization method for airborne radiation monitoring

Sasaki, Miyuki; Sanada, Yukihisa; Yamamoto, Akio*

Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 184(3-4), p.400 - 404, 2019/10

https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncz095

The maximum-likelihood expectation maximization (ML-EM) method is expected to improve the accuracy of airborne radiation monitoring using an unmanned aerial vehicle. The accuracy of the ML-EM method depends on various parameters, including detector efficiency, attenuation factor, and shielding factor. In this study, we evaluate the shielding factor of trees based on several field radiation measurements. From the actual measurement, the shielding factors were well correlated with the heights of the trees. The evaluated shielding factors were applied to the ML-EM method in conjunction with the measured data obtained from above the Fukushima forest. Compared with the conventional methods used for calculating the dose rate, the proposed method is found to be more reliable.

Estimation of sensitivity coefficient based on lasso-type penalized linear regression

Katano, Ryota; Endo, Tomohiro*; Yamamoto, Akio*; Tsujimoto, Kazufumi

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 55(10), p.1099 - 1109, 2018/10

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2018.1479988

In this study, we propose the penalized regression "adaptive smooth-lasso" for the estimation of sensitivity coefficients of the neutronics parameters. The proposed method estimates the sensitivity coefficients of the neutronics parameters using the variation of the microscopic cross sections and the neutronics parameter obtained by random sampling. The proposed method utilizes only the forward calculations. Thus, the proposed method can be applied for the complex reactor analysis for which the application of the adjoint method is difficult. In this study, we proposed a penalty term considering the characteristics of the sensitivity coefficients of the neutronics parameter to the microscopic multi-group cross sections. Through verification calculation, we show that the proposed method achieves high accuracy with less computational cost compared to the method based on random sampling proposed in the previous studies.

Research and development roadmap for reactor physics 2017; Future of reactor physics projected by next generations

Yamamoto, Akio*; Chiba, Go*; Kirimura, Kazuki*; Miki, Yosuke*; Yokoyama, Kenji

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai-Shi ATOMO, 60(4), p.241 - 245, 2018/04

no abstracts in English

Cross-section adjustment methods based on minimum variance unbiased estimation

Yokoyama, Kenji; Yamamoto, Akio*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 53(10), p.1622 - 1638, 2016/10

AA2015-0624.pdf:0.29MB

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2016.1146637

On the basis of the minimum variance approach, the unified formulation for three types of the cross-section adjustment methods has been derived in a straightforward way without assuming the normal distribution. These methods are intended to minimize the variances of the predicted target core parameters, the adjusted cross-section set, and the calculated integral experimental values. The first and the second methods are found to be slightly different from the extended and the conventional cross-section adjustment methods based on the Bayesian approach with the normal distribution assumption, respectively. However, they become equivalent in some cases and results. The third method is a new method, which is necessary from the viewpoint of the symmetry of the formulation. The derivation procedure proposed in the present paper is potentially applicable to developing more sophisticated cross-section adjustment methods because of the less assumptions on the probability density function.

Proceedings of the International Conference on Physics of Reactors (PHYSOR 2014); September 28-October 3, 2014, Kyoto, Japan

Suyama, Kenya; Sugawara, Takanori; Tada, Kenichi; Chiba, Go*; Yamamoto, Akio*

JAEA-Conf 2014-003, 76 Pages, 2015/03

JAEA-Conf-2014-003.pdf:5.13MB
JAEA-Conf-2014-003-appendix(CD-ROM).zip:360.78MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency organized an international conference PHYSOR 2014 on the reactor physics which is one of basic researches in the nuclear engineering, in cooperation with Research Reactor Institute of Kyoto University. PHYSOR is the world's largest scale international conference in the reactor physics field. It originates in the conference held in Marseille, France in 1990, which originally had been organized in the United States as a Physics of Reactors Topical Meeting of the reactor physics division of the American Nuclear Society every two years. More than 500 papers had been submitted and finally 472 papers were presented in the conference after the paper review process. This report contains the presented papers, which the PHYSOR organizing committee has decided to publish in an official JAEA report with the permission by authors, except for several selected papers to be published in the Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan.

Progress of manufacturing trials for the ITER toroidal field coil structures

Iguchi, Masahide; Morimoto, Masaaki; Chida, Yutaka*; Hemmi, Tsutomu; Nakajima, Hideo; Nakahira, Masataka; Koizumi, Norikiyo; Yamamoto, Akio*; Miyake, Takashi*; Sawa, Naoki*

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, 24(3), p.3801004_1 - 3801004_4, 2014/06

https://doi.org/10.1109/TASC.2013.2294422

no abstracts in English

Annual report of Nuclear Emergency Assistance and Training Center (April 1, 2012 - March 31, 2013)

Sato, Takeshi; Muto, Shigeo; Okuno, Hiroshi; Katagiri, Hiromi; Akiyama, Kiyomitsu; Okamoto, Akiko; Koie, Masahiro; Ikeda, Takeshi; Nemotochi, Toshimasa; Saito, Toru; et al.

JAEA-Review 2013-046, 65 Pages, 2014/02

JAEA-Review-2013-046.pdf:11.18MB

When a nuclear emergency occurs in Japan, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has the responsibility of providing technical support to the National government, local governments, police, fire stations and nuclear operators etc., because the JAEA has been designated as the Designated Public Institution under the Basic Act on Disaster Control Measures and the Act on Response to Armed Attack Situations, etc.. The Nuclear Emergency Assistance and Training Center (NEAT) of JAEA provides a comprehensive range of technical support activities to an Off-Site Center in case of a nuclear emergency. Specifically, NEAT gives technical advice and information, dispatches specialists as required, and supplies the National Government and local governments with emergency equipments and materials. NEAT provides various exercise and training courses concerning nuclear disaster prevention to those personnel taking an active part in emergency response organizations at normal times. The tasks of NEAT, with its past experiences as a designated public institution including the responses to TEPCO's Fukushima Accident, have been shifted to technical supports to the national government for strengthening its abilities to emergency responses; the NEAT therefore focused on maintenance and operation of its functions, and strengthening its response abilities in cooperation with the national government. This annual report summarized these activities of JAEA/NEAT in the fiscal year 2012.

Preparation of polymer gel dosimeters based on less toxic monomers and gellan gum

Hiroki, Akihiro; Sato, Yuichi*; Nagasawa, Naotsugu; Ota, Akio*; Seito, Hajime; Yamabayashi, Hisamichi*; Yamamoto, Takayoshi*; Taguchi, Mitsumasa; Tamada, Masao; Kojima, Takuji

Physics in Medicine & Biology, 58(20), p.7131 - 7141, 2013/10

https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9155/58/20/7131

Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project, Annual report for fiscal year 2011

Kunimaru, Takanori; Mikake, Shinichiro; Nishio, Kazuhisa; Tsuruta, Tadahiko; Matsuoka, Toshiyuki; Ishibashi, Masayuki; Sasao, Eiji; Hikima, Ryoichi; Tanno, Takeo; Sanada, Hiroyuki; et al.

JAEA-Review 2013-018, 169 Pages, 2013/09

JAEA-Review-2013-018.pdf:15.71MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) at Tono Geoscience Center (TGC) is pursuing a geoscientific research and development project namely the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) Project in crystalline rock environment in order to construct scientific and technological basis for geological disposal of High-level Radioactive Waste (HLW). The MIU Project has three overlapping phases: Surface-based Investigation phase (Phase I), Construction phase (Phase II), and Operation phase (Phase III). The MIU Project has been ongoing the Phase II and the Phase III in 2011 fiscal year. This report shows the results of the investigation, construction and collaboration studies in fiscal year 2011, as a part of the Phase II and Phase III based on the MIU Master Plan updated in 2010.