Dirac Kondo effect under magnetic catalysis

Hattori, Koichi*; Suenaga, Daiki*; Suzuki, Kei; Yasui, Shigehiro*

Physical Review B, 108(24), p.245110_1 - 245110_11, 2023/12

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.108.245110

We develop a mean-field theory of a novel Kondo effect emerging in systems without a Fermi surface, which instead emerges under strong magnetic fields. We determine the magnitude of the Kondo condensate, which is a particle pairing composed of conducting Dirac fermions and localized impurities. We focus on the competition between the Kondo effect and the energy gap formation that stems from the pairing among the Dirac fermions leading to the dynamical chiral symmetry breaking. We find that this competition induces a quantum critical point. We also investigate finite-temperature effects. This system at vanishing fermion density can be studied with Monte Carlo lattice simulations, which do not suffer from the sign problem.

Dirac/Weyl-node-induced oscillating Casimir effect

Nakayama, Katsumasa*; Suzuki, Kei

Physics Letters B, 843, p.138017_1 - 138017_7, 2023/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2023.138017

The Casimir effect is a quantum phenomenon induced by the zero-point energy of relativistic fields confined in a finite-size system. This effect for photon fields has been studied for a long time, while the realization of counterparts for fermion fields in Dirac/Weyl semimetals is an open question. We theoretically demonstrate the typical properties of the Casimir effect for relativistic electron fields in Dirac/Weyl semimetals and show the results from an effective Hamiltonian for realistic materials such as CdAs and NaBi. We find an oscillation of the Casimir energy as a function of the thickness of the thin film, which stems from the existence of Dirac/Weyl nodes in momentum space. Experimentally, such an effect can be observed in thin films of semimetals, where the thickness dependence of thermodynamic quantities is affected by the Casimir energy.

Development of bearing units used in the rotating shaft system for power generation in the JAEA-Tokai Tandem accelerator

Otokawa, Yoshinori; Matsuda, Makoto; Abe, Shinichi

JAEA-Technology 2022-037, 23 Pages, 2023/03

JAEA-Technology-2022-037.pdf:5.38MB

Bearing units of rotating shaft system for power generation in the JAEA-Tokai Tandem accelerator had a short operating life from the beginning of the accelerator installation, and even after replacing the bearing unit, early failures often occurred. Therefore, the quantity and frequency of replacement are large, and a lot of time is spent in regular maintenance performed by opening the accelerator pressure vessel, and solving this problem has been a long-standing concern. As a result of considering the cause of this early failure, it was considered that the load caused by parallel, angular, and axial misalignment of the upper and lower bearing units was the cause. In order to solve this problem, we have developed a bearing unit having metal disc-spring couplings in the upper and lower flanges to allow for parallel, angular, and axial misalignment of bearing units. As a result, it is now possible to allow variations in the distance between castings and parallel, angular, and axial misalignment of the upper and lower bearing units. By installing the developed new bearing unit on the rotating shaft system and making improvements while continuing to use it in actual operation, we succeeded in reducing the early failure and extending the operating life by more than double. With this development, the maintenance time has been reduced to one week by reducing the number of replacing the bearing unit. In addition, we have realized one regular maintenance that was carried out about three times a year, and as a benefit, we were able to reduce the amount of sulfur hexafluoride (SF) gas, which is a greenhouse gas, to about 3350% per year. We describe about development of new bearing units and these maintenance status from 2006 to 2020.

Analysis of work activities involved in clearance verification process of decommissioning Fugen Nuclear Power Plant

Yamamoto, Kosuke; Yanagihara, Satoshi*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 59(12), p.1527 - 1535, 2022/12

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2022.2071350

A series of work activities involved in clearance verification process was analyzed from the viewpoint of work efficiency at Fugen. As a result, decontamination required the most manpower expenditure. In addition, most of clearance candidate materials were very low contamination before the decontamination work. The analysis indicates that it will be effective for these lower radioactivity parts to reduce effort of decontamination activity or to skip the decontamination scenario considering that radioactivity was enough low. In addition, sample monitoring is possible scenario depending on the degree of contamination rather than to monitor all unit for clearance verification. When the manpower is evaluated based on the actual results of Fugen in consideration of these conditions, the clearance verification process could make the efficiency less than 37% in case of Fugen decommissioning.

Advanced thermal-hydraulic experiments and instrumentation for heavy liquid metal reactors

Pacio, J.*; Van Tichelen, K.*; Eckert, S.*; Wondrak, T.*; Di Piazza, I.*; Lorusso, P.*; Tarantino, M.*; Daubner, M.*; Litfin, K.*; Ariyoshi, Gen; et al.

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 399, p.112010_1 - 112010_15, 2022/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2022.112010

Heavy-liquid metals (HLMs), such as lead and lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE), are proposed as primary coolants in accelerator driven systems and next-generation fast reactors. In Europe, the reference systems using HLMs are MYRRHA (LBE) and ALFRED (lead). This article presents an overview of recent experiences and ongoing activities on pool-type and loop-type HLM experiments. Pool tests include the measurement of forced- and natural-circulation flow patterns in several scenarios representative of nominal and decay heat removal conditions. Loop tests are focused on the evaluation of specific components, like mockups of the fuel assembly, control rod and heat exchangers. They involve the measurement of global variables, such as flow rate and pressure difference, and local quantities like temperature, velocity and vibrations. Advanced instrumentation, capable of sustaining high temperatures and corrosion, is necessary for accurate measurements, often in compact geometries. In addition to traditional techniques, other instrumentation based on optical fibers, ultrasonic and electromagnetic methods are discussed.

Electrical properties and energy band alignment of SiO/GaN metal-oxide-semiconductor structures fabricated on N-polar GaN(000) substrates

Mizobata, Hidetoshi*; Tomigahara, Kazuki*; Nozaki, Mikito*; Kobayashi, Takuma*; Yoshigoe, Akitaka; Hosoi, Takuji*; Shimura, Takayoshi*; Watanabe, Heiji*

Applied Physics Letters, 121(6), p.062104_1 - 062104_6, 2022/08

https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0095468

The interface properties and energy band alignment of SiO/GaN metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) structures fabricated on N-polar GaN(000) substrates were investigated by electrical measurements and synchrotron-radiation X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. They were then compared with those of SiO/GaN MOS structures on Ga-polar GaN(0001). Although the SiO/GaN(000) structure was found to be more thermally unstable than that on the GaN(0001) substrate, excellent electrical properties were obtained for the SiO/GaN(000) structure by optimizing conditions for post-deposition annealing. However, the conduction band offset for SiO/GaN(000) was smaller than that for SiO/GaN(0001), leading to increased gate leakage current. Therefore, caution is needed when using N-polar GaN(000) substrates for MOS device fabrication.

A Design study on a metal fuel fast reactor core for high efficiency minor actinide transmutation by loading silicon carbide composite material

Ohgama, Kazuya; Hara, Toshiharu*; Ota, Hirokazu*; Naganuma, Masayuki; Oki, Shigeo; Iizuka, Masatoshi*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 59(6), p.735 - 747, 2022/06

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2021.2005702

Repeatable photoinduced insulator-to-metal transition in yttrium oxyhydride epitaxial thin films

Komatsu, Yuya*; Shimizu, Ryota*; Sato, Ryuhei*; Wilde, M.*; Nishio, Kazunori*; Katase, Takayoshi*; Matsumura, Daiju; Saito, Hiroyuki*; Miyauchi, Masahiro*; Adelman, J. R.*; et al.

Chemistry of Materials, 34(8), p.3616 - 3623, 2022/04

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.1c03450

Mechanisms responsible for adsorption of molybdate ions on alumina for the production of medical radioisotopes

Fujita, Yoshitaka; Niizeki, Tomotake*; Fukumitsu, Nobuyoshi*; Ariga, Katsuhiko*; Yamauchi, Yusuke*; Malgras, V.*; Kaneti, Y. V.*; Liu, C.-H.*; Hatano, Kentaro*; Suematsu, Hisayuki*; et al.

Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan, 95(1), p.129 - 137, 2022/01

https://doi.org/10.1246/bcsj.20210249

In this work, the mechanisms responsible for the adsorption of molybdate ions on alumina are investigated using in-depth surface analyses carried out on alumina specimens immersed in solutions containing different molybdate ions at different pH values. The obtained results reveal that when alumina is immersed in an acidic solution containing molybdate ions, the hydroxyl groups present on the surface are removed to generate positively charged sites, and molybdate ions (MoO or AlMoOH) are adsorbed by electrostatic interaction. Alumina dissolves slightly in an acidic solution to form AlMoOH, which is more easily desorbed than MoO. Furthermore, the enhancement in the Mo adsorption or desorption property may be achieved by enriching the surface of the alumina adsorbent with many -OH groups and optimizing Mo solution to adsorb molybdate ions on alumina as MoO ions. These findings will assist researchers in engineering more efficient and stable alumina-based adsorbents for molybdenum adsorption used in medical radioisotope (Mo/Tc) generators.

Kondo effect with Wilson fermions

Ishikawa, Tsutomu*; Nakayama, Katsumasa*; Suzuki, Kei

Physical Review D, 104(9), p.094515_1 - 094515_11, 2021/11

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.104.094515

We investigate the Kondo effect with Wilson fermions. This is based on a mean-field approach for the chiral Gross-Neveu model including four-point interactions between a light Wilson fermion and a heavy fermion. For massless Wilson fermions, we demonstrate the appearance of the Kondo effect. We point out that there is a coexistence phase with both the light-fermion scalar condensate and Kondo condensate, and the critical chemical potentials of the scalar condensate are shifted by the Kondo effect. For negative-mass Wilson fermions, we find that the Kondo effect is favored near the parameter region realizing the Aoki phase. Our findings will be useful for understanding the roles of heavy impurities in Dirac semimetals, topological insulators, and lattice simulations.