Automated pulsed magnet system for neutron diffraction experiments at the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility in J-PARC

Watanabe, Masao; Kihara, Takumi*; Nojiri, Hiroyuki*

Quantum Beam Science (Internet), 7(1), p.1_1 - 1_10, 2023/03

https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs7010001

A pulsed magnet system has been developed as a new user-friendly sample environment equipment at the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility in Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex. It comprises a vacuum chamber, a 4 K closed-cycle refrigerator for samples, and a nitrogen bath made of a stainless-steel tube with a miniature solenoidal coil. The coil is cooled by liquid nitrogen supplied by an automatic liquid nitrogen supply system, and the sample is cooled by a refrigerator. This combination facilitates the automatic high magnetic field diffraction measurement for the user's operation. A relatively large scattering angle is up to 42 degrees, which is significantly wider than the previous setup. Neutron diffraction experiments were performed on a multiferroic TbMnO and the field dependence of the diffraction peaks was clearly observed. The new pulsed magnet system was established for a practical high magnetic field diffraction for the user program.

Variation of crystallinity and secondary ion quantity of uranium particles with heating temperature of Sample preparation

Tomita, Ryohei; Tomita, Jumpei; Yomogida, Takumi; Suzuki, Daisuke; Yasuda, Kenichiro; Esaka, Fumitaka; Miyamoto, Yutaka

KEK Proceedings 2022-2, p.108 - 113, 2022/11

https://lib-extopc.kek.jp/preprints/PDF/2022/2225/2225002.pdf

Automated Particle Measurement (APM) is the first measurement of environmental sample for safeguard purpose. APM tells us the number of particles in sample, their enrichment and their location. Precision and accuracy of APM is easily affected by particle condition. We have investigated how influential baking temperature in sample preparation are for uranium secondary ion quantity, uranium hydride generation and particle crystallinity. Our experimental results showed that baking temperature of 800C reduced uranium secondary ion quantity to 33% compared with baking at 350C. Uranium hydride generation ratio of the sample baked at 850C was also 4 times higher than the sample baked at 350C. Baking at 850C raised only crystallinity of uranium particles. Baking sample at too high temperature caused less uranium secondary ion generation and much more uranium hydride generation. It made precision and accuracy of APM worse. In our experiment, baking at 350C is suitable for uranium particles in the safeguards sample.

Chemical state analysis of uranium dioxide particles by micro-Raman mapping

Yomogida, Takumi; Kitatsuji, Yoshihiro; Miyamoto, Yutaka

KEK Proceedings 2022-2, p.148 - 153, 2022/11

https://lib-extopc.kek.jp/preprints/PDF/2022/2225/2225002.pdf

The Research Group for Safeguards Analytical Chemistry is currently developing a method to analyze the chemical state of uranium particles in environmental samples collected at nuclear facilities using micro-Raman spectroscopy. The chemical state of uranium particles in environmental samples can be partially oxidized by long-term exposure to air. It is necessary to develop a method to analyze the chemical state of the entire particle. In this study, uranium dioxide stored under atmospheric conditions was analyzed by micro-Raman mapping. The Raman spectra showed that uranium peroxide was locally present in the UO particle. The Raman peaks originating from the structure of UO around 570 cm and 1150 cm could not be observed in the point analysis of the particle center. On the other hand, in mapping analysis, Raman peaks originating from the structure of UO can be observed from the same particle, demonstrating that Raman mapping analysis is an effective method for analyzing the chemical state of the entire particle.

Investigation of radioactive samples for neutron capture reaction measurements using energy-resolved neutron imaging

Segawa, Mariko; Toh, Yosuke; Kai, Tetsuya; Kimura, Atsushi; Nakamura, Shoji

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 167, p.108828_1 - 108828_5, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2021.108828

Quantitation of trace lanthanide and actinide ions in radioactive samples by capillary electrophoresis-laser-induced fluorescence detection

Haraga, Tomoko; Saito, Shingo*

Bunseki Kagaku, 70(12), p.671 - 679, 2021/12

https://doi.org/10.2116/bunsekikagaku.70.671

We developed highly sensitive capillary electrophoresis-laser-induced fluorescence detection methods for lanthanide (Ln) and actinide (An) ions with small sample volume and low emission of waste, by which the radiation risk can be minimized. Specifically, determination of Nd ion in spent nuclear fuel, effective separation between Am and Cm ion, and specific detection of UO in real radioactive samples were achieved by molecular design of fluorescence probes composed of an aminocarboxylate chelating moiety, a fluorophore and a spacer, and unique separation mode based on dynamic ternary complexation. We found that there are appropriate combination of probe and ternary complexation for detection and separation of each Ln and An ions. For example, acyclic and macrocyclic hexadentate is suitable for Ln, Am and Cm, and planer tetradentate with electron system is specific for UO, with ppt-sub ppt level detection.

Document collection of the 37th Technical Special Committee on Fugen Decommissioning

Nakamura, Yasuyuki; Koda, Yuya; Yamamoto, Kosuke; Soejima, Goro; Iguchi, Yukihiro

JAEA-Review 2020-002, 40 Pages, 2020/05

JAEA-Review-2020-002.pdf:8.78MB

Fugen Decommissioning Engineering Center, in planning and carrying out our decommissioning technical development, has been establishing "Technical special committee on Fugen decommissioning" which consists of the members well-informed, aiming to make good use of Fugen as a place for technological development which is opened inside and outside the country, as the central point in the energy research and development base making project of Fukui prefecture, and to utilize the outcome in our decommissioning to the technical development effectively. This report compiles presentation materials "The Current Situation of Fugen Decommissioning", "Development of Dismantling Mon-hours Estimated system by Achieved Data in Fugen", "Future Plan Based on the Operational Status of Clearance System" and "The Result and Future Plan of the Sampling work from Core Internal of Fugen", presented in the 37th Technical special committee on Fugen decommissioning which was held on December 2, 2019.

Sample preparation method for measurement of in-situ belliyum-10 and allumium-26 in terrestrial quartz using accelerator mass spectrometry at Tono Geoscience Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency

Kokubu, Yoko; Matsushi, Yuki*; Ishizaka, Chika*; Hirao, Noriaki*; Yonaga, Yusuke; Yoshikawa, Kiyotaka*

JAEA-Testing 2019-002, 101 Pages, 2019/11

JAEA-Testing-2019-002.pdf:4.69MB

This report provides a description of sample preparation method for measurement of in-situ belliyum-10 (Be) and allumium-26 (Al) in terrestrial quartz using accelerator mass spectrometry at Tono Geoscience Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The report is based on the laboratory manual "Chemistry for in-situ Be and Al measurement for terrestrial quartz by AMS at MALT ver.1.3 and ver.2.2" prepared by ph.D Matsushi at Kyoto University.

Highlight of recent sample environment at J-PARC MLF

Kawamura, Seiko; Hattori, Takanori; Harjo, S.; Ikeda, Kazutaka*; Miyata, Noboru*; Miyazaki, Tsukasa*; Aoki, Hiroyuki; Watanabe, Masao; Sakaguchi, Yoshifumi*; Oku, Takayuki

Neutron News, 30(1), p.11 - 13, 2019/05

https://doi.org/10.1080/10448632.2019.1605790

In Japanese neutron scattering facilities, some SE equipment that are frequently used at an instrument, such as the closed-cycle refrigerator (CCR), have been prepared for the instrument as standard SE. They are operated for user experiments by the instrument group. The advantage of this practice is that they can optimize the design of the SE for the instrument and can directly respond to users' requests. On the other hand, the SE team in the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) in J-PARC has managed commonly used SE to allow neutron experiments with more advanced SE. In this report, recent SE in the MLF is introduced. Highlighted are the SE in BL11, BL19, BL21 and BL17 and other SE recently progressed by the SE team.

Sample environment at the J-PARC MLF

Kawamura, Seiko; Oku, Takayuki; Watanabe, Masao; Takahashi, Ryuta; Munakata, Koji*; Takata, Shinichi; Sakaguchi, Yoshifumi*; Ishikado, Motoyuki*; Ouchi, Keiichi*; Hattori, Takanori; et al.

Journal of Neutron Research, 19(1-2), p.15 - 22, 2017/11

https://doi.org/10.3233/JNR-170046

Sample environment (SE) team at the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) in J-PARC has worked on development and operation of SE equipment and devices. All the members belong to one sub-team at least, such as Cryogenic and magnet, High temperature, High pressure, Soft matter and special environment including Pulse magnet, Hydrogen environment, Light irradiation and He spin filter. Cryostats, a magnet, furnaces, a VX-6-type Paris-Edinburgh press and a prototype of a Spin-Exchange Optical Pumping (SEOP) based He spin filter for polarized neutron beam experiments are in operation. Furthermore, a prototype of compact power supply for a pulsed magnet system is currently developed. In the J-PARC Research Building, several pieces of equipment for softmatter research such as a rheometer and a gas and vapor adsorption measurement instrument have been prepared.

Prospective features for integration of nuclear forensics capability in national framework

Tamai, Hiroshi; Okubo, Ayako; Kimura, Yoshiki; Shinohara, Nobuo; Tazaki, Makiko; Shimizu, Ryo; Suda, Kazunori; Tomikawa, Hirofumi

Proceedings of INMM 58th Annual Meeting (Internet), 6 Pages, 2017/07

Nuclear forensics is a technical measure to analyse and collate samples of illegally used nuclear materials, etc., to clarify their origins, routes, etc. and contribute to criminal identifications. Close collaboration with police and judicial organizations is essential. The national response framework is being built up with international cooperation. Discussions on promoting technical capability and regional cooperation are presented.