First demonstration of a single-end readout position-sensitive optical fiber radiation sensor inside the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station based on wavelength-resolving analysis

Terasaka, Yuta; Sato, Yuki; Uritani, Akira*

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 1062, p.169227_1 - 169227_6, 2024/05

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2024.169227

Defect formation simulated by track structure calculation model

Ogawa, Tatsuhiko; Iwamoto, Yosuke

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 549, p.165255_1 - 165255_4, 2024/04

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2024.165255

Atomic defect is one of the critical factors that determines the irradiation effects in materials. The atoms are recoiled by the impulse of incoming radiation, which changes the mechanical, electrical and chemical properties of the target materials. Methods to calculate atomic displacement based on nuclear reaction cross sections and Rutherford scattering cross sections were proposed but they were dedicated to calculation of the defect density in macroscopic scale whereas some phenomena are attributed to the topological arrangements of defects in microscopic scale. Application of a track-structure calculation model, ITSART implemented to a general-purpose radiation transport code PHITS for calculation of the topological arrangement of radiation-induced defects is proposed in this study. To verify the defect production calculated by ITSART, DPA (Displacement Per Atom) cross section in Cu was calculated and compared with literature data. The agreement indicates the accuracy of ITSART for calculating atomic displacement. By using the same methodology to a smaller volume, the defects in SiO exposed to 600 MeV proton beam was calculated. PHITS users can make use of the outputs by forwarding them to other tools, such as molecular dynamics codes, to analyse the further evolution of the defects.

Changes in molecular conformation and electronic structure of DNA under C ions based on first-principles calculations

Sekikawa, Takuya; Matsuya, Yusuke; Hwang, B.*; Ishizaka, Masato*; Kawai, Hiroyuki*; Ono, Yoshiaki*; Sato, Tatsuhiko; Kai, Takeshi

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 548, p.165231_1 - 165231_6, 2024/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2023.165231

One of the main causes of radiation effects on the human body is thought to be damage to DNA, which carries genetic information. However, it is not fully understood what kind of molecular structural changes DNA undergoes upon radiation damage. Since it has been reported that various types of DNA damage are formed when DNA is irradiated, our group has investigated the relationship between DNA damage and various patterns of radiation-induced ionization induced by radiation. Although we have so far analyzed DNA damage in a simple system using a rigid body model of DNA, more detailed calculations are required to analyze the molecular structural changes in DNA, which are considered to be important in considering the effects on the human body. In this study, we attempted to clarify the molecular conformational changes of DNA using OpenMX, a first-principles calculation software that can discuss electronic states based on molecular structures. Specifically, we calculated the most stable structure, band dispersion, and wave function of DNA under the assumption that one and two electrons are ionized by various radiation. In the presentation, we will discuss the relationship between the energy dependence of each incident radiation type and the molecular conformational change of DNA. In addition, the radiation-induced changes in the basic physical properties of DNA (corresponding to the initial stage of DNA damage) will be discussed from the viewpoints of both radiation physics and solid state physics.

Development of 0.5 mm gauge size radial collimators for high-pressure neutron diffraction experiments at PLANET in J-PARC

Hattori, Takanori; Suzuki, Koji*; Miyo, Tatsuya*; Ito, Takayoshi*; Machida, Shinichi*

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 1059, p.168956_1 - 168956_9, 2024/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2023.168956

Radial collimators (RC) with a 0.5 mm gauge size (GS) were specially designed for high-pressure neutron diffraction experiments and their performance and efficacy were investigated. The RCs with nominal GS of 0.75 mm, 1.5 mm, and 3.0 mm effectively exhibited GS of 0.50 mm, 1.07 mm, and 2.78 mm, respectively. The transmissions of all three RCs were almost equivalent. The assessment using a P-E press and a DAC revealed that the anvil scattering was considerably minimized and the sample-to-anvil signal ratio reached values of 0.5 and 2.0 for the PE press and DAC, respectively, when using the 0.5 mm-GS RCs. These results indicate that the 0.5mm-GS RCs have been fabricated as intended and exhibit efficacy for the high-pressure-neutron diffraction experiments, specifically those exceeding 30 GPa. Among those ever manufactured for neutron scattering experiments, the RCs display the smallest GS.

Development of a large-area alpha imaging detector for hand and foot monitors

Morishita, Yuki; Higuchi, Mikio*; Kaneko, Junichi*; Kitagawa, Yuichi*; Akedo, Jun*; Soma, Mitsugu*; Matsui, Hiroaki*

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 1057, p.168702_1 - 168702_8, 2023/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2023.168702

This paper describes the development of a large-area imaging detector capable of measuring the detailed distribution of alpha particles on hands and feet for use in entry/exit control monitors in decommissioning sites such as the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The detector was developed using a commercially available ZnS(Ag) scintillator and an electron multiplying CCD camera. The effectiveness of the detector was evaluated by measuring several types of radiation sources, and the results showed that it was possible to detect the position of alpha particles in a very short time, and contamination levels of up to 11 Bq/cm could be visualized. As a result of the minimal detectable surface activity concentration evaluations, 2.0 minutes or more is required to achieve 4 Bq/cm, and 25.0 minutes or more is required to achieve 0.4 Bq/cm. The field of view of the detector was also checked, and it was confirmed that the setup had a field of view that could cover most of the hand and the sole of the shoe. This detector is expected to be useful for preventing internal uptake and decontamination.

Neutron resonance fission neutron analysis for nondestructive fissile material assay

Hironaka, Kota; Lee, J.; Koizumi, Mitsuo; Ito, Fumiaki*; Hori, Junichi*; Terada, Kazushi*; Sano, Tadafumi*

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

Ion beam induced luminescence analysis of europium complexes in styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer-coated spherical silica by proton and argon ion beams irradiation

Nakahara, Masaumi; Watanabe, So; Takeuchi, Masayuki; Yuyama, Takahiro*; Ishizaka, Tomohisa*; Ishii, Yasuyuki*; Yamagata, Ryohei*; Yamada, Naoto*; Koka, Masashi*; Kada, Wataru*; et al.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 542, p.144 - 150, 2023/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2023.06.012

The structures of Eu complexes in the adsorbents prepared with various extractants were evaluated by ion beam induced luminescence analysis in an extraction chromatography for minor actinides recovery. The luminescence of Eu was measured with a proton beam obtained from the single-ended accelerator and an argon ion beam obtained from the azimuthally varying field cyclotron in Takasaki Ion Accelerators for Advanced Radiation Application in National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology. In this study, it was confirmed that the spectral shape of Eu complexes in the adsorbents varied depending on the kinds of extractants, and the correlation between the change in the spectra and the structures of Eu complexes was investigated.

Status report of JAEA-AMS-TONO; Research and technical development in the last four years

Kokubu, Yoko; Fujita, Natsuko; Watanabe, Takahiro; Matsubara, Akihiro; Ishizaka, Chika; Miyake, Masayasu*; Nishio, Tomohiro*; Kato, Motohisa*; Ogawa, Yumi*; Ishii, Masahiro*; et al.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 539, p.68 - 72, 2023/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2023.03.005

The JAEA-AMS-TONO facility at the Tono Geoscience Center, JAEA has an accelerator mass spectrometer (JAEA-AMS-TONO-5MV). The spectrometer enabled us to use a multi-nuclide AMS of carbon-14 (C), beryllium-10, aluminium-26 and iodine-129, and we have recently been proceeding test measurement of chlorine-36. In response to an increase of samples, we installed a state-of-the-art multi-nuclide AMS with a 300 kV Tandetron accelerator in 2020. Recently, we are driving the development of techniques of isobar separation in AMS and of sample preparation. Ion channeling is applied to remove isobaric interference and we are building a prototype AMS based on this technique for downsizing of AMS. The small sample graphitization for C has been attempted using an automated graphitization equipment equipped with an elemental analyzer.

Measurement of spent nuclear fuel burn-up using a new H method

Nauchi, Yasushi*; Sato, Shunsuke*; Hayakawa, Takehito*; Kimura, Yasuhiko; Suyama, Kenya; Kashima, Takao*; Futakami, Kazuhiro*

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 1050, p.168109_1 - 168109_9, 2023/05

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2023.168109

Measurement of neutrons from spent nuclear fuel is performed in this study using the H method, which detects 2.223 MeV rays from neutron capture reaction of hydrogen using a highly pure germanium (HPGe) detector. The detection of the 2.223 MeV ray is affected by intense ray emission from fission products (FPs) because the emission rate of rays from the FP is seven orders of magnitude higher than the emission rate of neutrons. To shield the intense ray from the FP, the HPGe detector is placed off the axis of a collimator, whereas a polyethylene block is placed on the axis. In this geometry, the detector is shielded from the intense rays from the FP, but the detector can measure 2.223 MeV rays from the H reactions in the polyethylene block. The measured count rate of the 2.223 MeV rays is consistent with the expected rate within the statistical error, which is calculated based on the nuclide composition, which is primary Cm, estimated via depletion and decay calculations. Accordingly, the H method is considered feasible to quantify the number of neutron leakage from spent nuclear fuel assembly, which is applicable to certify burn up of the assembly.

Measurement of H particles generated by residual gas stripping in the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex linac

Tamura, Jun; Futatsukawa, Kenta*; Kondo, Yasuhiro; Liu, Y.*; Miyao, Tomoaki*; Morishita, Takatoshi; Nemoto, Yasuo*; Okabe, Kota; Yoshimoto, Masahiro

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 1049, p.168033_1 - 168033_7, 2023/04

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2023.168033

The Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) linac is a high-intensity accelerator in which beam loss is a critical issue. In the J-PARC linac, H beams are accelerated to 191~MeV by a separated drift tube linac (SDTL) and subsequently to 400~MeV by an annular-ring coupled structure (ACS). Because there are more beam loss mechanisms in H linacs than in proton linacs, it is imperative to investigate the beam loss circumstances for beam loss mitigation. Electron-stripping phenomena, which generate uncontrollable H particles, are characteristic beam loss factors of H linacs. To clarify the beam loss causes in the J-PARC linac, a new diagnostic line was installed in the beam transport between the SDTL and ACS. In this diagnostic line, H particles were separated from the H beam, and the intensity profiles of the H particles were successfully measured by horizontally scanning a graphite plate in the range where H particles were distributed. By examining the intensity variation of the H particles with different residual pressure levels, we proved that half of the H particles in the SDTL section are generated by the residual gas stripping in the nominal beam operation of the J-PARC linac.