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.

Data comparison of measurement of carbon isotope standards between JAEA-AMS-TONO and JAEA-AMS-MUTSU

Kokubu, Yoko; Matsubara, Akihiro; Fujita, Natsuko; Kuwabara, Jun; Kinoshita, Naoki

JAEA-Technology 2021-028, 33 Pages, 2022/02

JAEA-Technology-2021-028.pdf:2.18MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has two facilities of accelerator mass spectrometry, JAEA-AMS-TONO and JAEA-AMS-MUTSU at Tono Geoscience Center and Aomori Research and Development Center, respectively. In this report, characteristics of each facility and results of standard samples in the inner-comparison test of carbon isotope measurement will be described. Both facilities have been used for research by not only JAEA's staff but also researchers who belong to universities and other institutes on the shared use program of JAEA facilities. Recently, researchers trend to use both facilities with the expansion of demand for the carbon isotope measurement by using the accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS). However, each facility has a spectrometer made by a different manufacturer and equipped with different mechanical components. There is a difference in each ability to the carbon isotope measurement such as background level. This is, for example, due to different ion injection system adapted at each spectrometer. Further, each facility uses a different analytical method adjusted to each main research field. When a researcher uses both facilities, the researcher understands more about the characteristics and need to make a suitable choice of a facility for samples and the analytical method. The report presents a detailed information of characteristics of the spectrometer, sample preparation method and analytical method, and of ability of the measurement based on the inner-comparison test.

Conversion factors bridging radioactive fission product distributions in the primary containment vessel of Fukushima Daiichi NPP and dose rates measured by the containment atmosphere monitoring system

Uchida, Shunsuke; Pellegrini, M.*; Naito, Masanori*

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 380, p.111303_1 - 111303_11, 2021/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2021.111303

Multi-term FP analysis procedures were developed to determine FP distribution all over F1 not only for analyzing accident propagation but also for planning its decommissioning projects. They should be validated based on the measured FP data. One of the useful tools for their validation was application of the dose rate data monitored by the containment atmosphere monitoring system (CAMS). However, in order to compare the data with different characteristics and dimensional units, e.g., FP distribution (kg, Bq) and dose rate (Sv/h), application of the conversion factors bridging them would be effective and useful. In order to prepare speedy, easy-to-handle and tractable procedures to calculate radiation dose rates at the CAMS detector locations, dose rate conversion factors were determined for major source locations and major radionuclides. The dose rates could be easily calculated by multiplying FP amounts obtained with the multiterm FP analysis procedures by the conversion factors.

JAEA-TDB-RN in 2020; Update of JAEA's thermodynamic database for solubility and speciation of radionuclides for performance assessment of geological disposal of high-level and TRU wastes

Kitamura, Akira

JAEA-Data/Code 2020-020, 164 Pages, 2021/03

JAEA-Data-Code-2020-020.pdf:3.11MB
JAEA-Data-Code-2020-020-appendix(DVD-ROM).zip:0.56MB

Part of JAEA's Thermodynamic Database (JAEA-TDB) for solubility and speciation of radionuclides (JAEA-TDB-RN) for performance assessment of geological disposal of high-level radioactive and TRU wastes has been updated with subsuming the database for geochemical calculations (JAEA-TDB-GC). This report has focused to update JAEA-TDB-RN after selecting change in standard Gibbs free energy of formation (), change in standard enthalpy change of formation (), standard molar entropy () and, heat capacity (), change in standard Gibbs free energy of reaction (), change in standard enthalpy change of reaction () and standard entropy change of reaction () as well as logarithm of equilibrium constant (log) at standard state. The extent of selection of these thermodynamic data enables to evaluate solubility and speciation of radionuclides at temperatures other than 298.15 K. Furthermore, the latest thermodynamic data for iron which have been critically reviewed, selected and compiled by the Nuclear Energy Agency within Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD/NEA) have been accepted. Most of previously selected log have been refined to confirm internal consistency with JAEA-TDB-GC. Text files of the updated JAEA-TDB have been provided for geochemical calculation programs of PHREEQC and Geochemist's Workbench.

Synchronized gravitational slope deformation and active faulting; A Case study on and around the Neodani fault, central Japan

Komura, Keitaro*; Kaneda, Heitaro*; Tanaka, Tomoki*; Kojima, Satoru*; Inoue, Tsutomu*; Nishio, Tomohiro

Geomorphology, 365, p.107214_1 - 107214_22, 2020/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107214

On the basis of pit excavations and sediment cores at an off-fault deep-seated gravitational slope deformation (DGSD) site and a trench excavation across the active Neodani fault at a nearby site, we examined the records of DGSD and surface-rupturing paleoearthquakes of the Neodani fault. We found the four most recent DGSD events and the four most recent surface-rupturing earthquakes, respectively and conclude that the ages of events are overlapped each other. We infer that static crustal strain from repeated seismogenic faulting plays an important role in the occurrence of DGSD events, at least in the immediate vicinity of active faults, although coseismic severe shaking would have at least some effect on them. Our case study suggests that off-fault DGSDs can be used to reconstruct or refine the paleoseismic history of a nearby active fault.

A Study of surface stripper for the AMS system with a footprint below 2 m 2 m

Matsubara, Akihiro; Fujita, Natsuko; Kimura, Kenji

Proceedings of the 8th East Asia Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Symposium and the 22nd Japan Accelerator Mass Spectrometry symposium (EA-AMS 8 & JAMS-22), p.57 - 59, 2020/00

no abstracts in English

A Suitable procedure for preparing of water samples used in radiocarbon intercomparison

Takahashi, Hiroshi*; Minami, Masayo*; Aramaki, Takafumi*; Handa, Hiroko*; Kokubu, Yoko; Ito, Shigeru*; Kumamoto, Yuichiro*

Radiocarbon, 61(6), p.1879 - 1887, 2019/12

https://doi.org/10.1017/RDC.2019.104

Water sample for interlaboratory comparison (here after "comparison water") must have inalterable C concentration during the comparison campaign and inter-batches homogeneity. In this study, the procedure for preparing of comparison water was discussed. We employed that comparison waters were artificially made by mixing chemical reagents, controlling C concentration and chemical composition. We could prepare six comparison waters, having 1, 14, 37, 56, 72 and 100 pMC, respectively. The stable carbon isotopic values and chemical compositions of some batches were measured to exanimate the inter- batches homogeneity. The C discrepancies among the batches were negligible for the inter-laboratory comparison. Finally, the results of trial comparison in Japan will be presented. Most of C results of CO extracted by six laboratories showed good agreements each other.

Current status of JAEA-AMS-TONO in the 20th year

Kokubu, Yoko; Fujita, Natsuko; Miyake, Masayasu; Watanabe, Takahiro; Ishizaka, Chika; Okabe, Nobuaki; Ishimaru, Tsuneari; Matsubara, Akihiro*; Nishizawa, Akimitsu*; Nishio, Tomohiro*; et al.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 456, p.271 - 275, 2019/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2019.03.015

JAEA-AMS-TONO has been in operation at the Tono Geoscience Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency since 1998 and 20 years have passed from the beginning of its utilization. The AMS system is a versatile system based on a 5 MV tandem Pelletron type accelerator. The system has been used to measure carbon-14 (C), beryllium-10 (Be) and aluminium-26 (Al). In addition, the development of measurement of iodine-129 (I) has been started. The main use is measurement of C in geological samples for dating studies in neotectonics and hydrogeology. In order to increase the speed of sample preparation, we introduced the automated graphitization equipment and made a gas-strip line to collect dissolved inorganic carbon in groundwater samples. Measurement of Be and Al has been used for geoscience studies and the detection limit in the measurement of Be was improved by Be-counting suppression. Recently tuning of measurement condition of I has been progressed.

C ages and calendar years of Japanese nails measured with accelerator mass spectrometry

Nagata, Kazahiro*; Furunushi, Yasuko*; Matsubara, Akihiro*; Kokubu, Yoko; Nakamura, Toshio*

Tetsu To Hagane, 105(4), p.488 - 491, 2019/04

https://doi.org/10.2355/tetsutohagane.TETSU-2018-137

The Japanese nails had been produced by the traditional ironmaking way of Tatara until the Edo period since the late of 6 Century. The quality of the Japanese nails is affected from steel produced by Tatara in each age. The C ages of 3 Japanese nails collected at shrines and temples at their repair were measured with accelerator mass spectrometry and calibrated to calendar years. Each C age provided plural calendar year periods with definite probabilities, and one of the periods determined in comparison with the history of temples and their repair records. The production ages of nails used in the Daibutuden of the Todaiji temple, the living quarters of the Manjuin temple and the Zaoudo of the Yoshino-Kongoji temple are before 1692, the 12 Century and before 1592, respectively, when they were repaired or reconstructed.

The Twenty years of JAEA-AMS-TONO

Kokubu, Yoko; Fujita, Natsuko; Matsubara, Akihiro*; Nishizawa, Akimitsu*; Nishio, Tomohiro; Miyake, Masayasu; Ishimaru, Tsuneari; Watanabe, Takahiro; Ogata, Nobuhisa; Shimada, Akiomi; et al.

JAEA-Conf 2018-002, p.5 - 8, 2019/02

https://doi.org/10.11484/jaea-conf-2018-002

no abstracts in English