隠匿された核物質の現場検知システムの開発; 核セキュリティ強化に向けた取組

田辺 鴻典*; 米田 政夫; 藤 暢輔; 北村 康則*; 三澤 毅*

日本原子力学会誌ATOMO, 67(3), p.198 - 202, 2025/03

https://doi.org/10.3327/jaesjb.67.3_198

鉛等で隠匿されたUに対する非破壊測定技術の開発は、長年、核セキュリティ上の最重要課題と言われてきたが、依然として現場レベルでの検知は困難な状況にある。我々はCf回転照射法と呼ばれる新たな核物質非破壊測定手法を提案し、回転照射装置と水チェレンコフ中性子検出器で構成される運搬性の高い現場検知システムを開発、本システムによる核物質検知を実証した。本報では、開発したシステムを概説するとともに今後の展望について解説する。

Performance study of a new LiCAF:Ce detector developed for high-efficient neutron detection in intense -ray fields

冠城 雅晃; 鎌田 圭*; 石井 隼也*; 松本 哲郎*; 真鍋 征也*; 増田 明彦*; 原野 英樹*; 加藤 昌弘*; 島添 健次*

Journal of Instrumentation (Internet), 19(11), p.P11019_1 - P11019_16, 2024/11

https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/19/11/P11019

A new LiCAF:Ce detector with an ultra-thick (99 m) crystal and optimized readout was developed. The LiCAF:Ce and KG2 detectors were used to detect a sealed Cf-252 neutron source (neutron emission rate of ~) using a 5 cm thick high-density polyethylene (HDPE) block located at the front of the detector. At the air kerma rates at the front surface of the HDPE block () of up to 1.07 Gy/h, the effective neutron count rate () for the LiCAF:Ce detector was the same within margins of errors, but it decreased by 5.7 0.8% at 2.97 Gy/h. In contrast, for the KG2 detector, with increased up to 1.07 Gy/h, for KG2 increased up to 20 1.0 % at 1.07 Gy/h. Then, decreased by 20 1.0% at 2.97 Gy/h. Therefore, the LiCAF:Ce detector exhibited a smaller influence on neutron count rates by -rays compared to the KG2 detector because of the faster decay time and optimization of digital pulse processing.

Implementation of a Mini-slab-based neutron detector system to increase the efficiency of safeguards verification of hold-up at MOX fuel fabrication facilities in Japan

Kyffin, J.*; Dia, A.*; Nkosi, G.*; Nizhnik, V.*; 林 昭彦; 長谷 竹晃

Proceedings of 65th Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (Internet), 8 Pages, 2024/07

In collaboration with the Japan Safeguards Office, the Nuclear Material Control Centre, and the JAEA, the IAEA Department of Safeguards is implementing a new neutron detector system for the verification of plutonium hold-up in process gloveboxes at MOX fuel fabrication facilities in Japan. The previous verification technique utilised the so-called Super Glove Box Assay System (SBAS), which, while capable of detecting partial defects, is a heavy and bulky detector system that requires both significant operator support for safe assembly and positioning, and long measurement times. The recent development of a detector system based on two Plutonium Neutron Coincidence Collar (PNCL) miniature neutron slabs provides the capability of detecting gross defects with semi-quantitative plutonium mass measurement, and is sufficient in respect to inspections for timeliness purposes. For regular use, the Mini-slab detector offers several advantages, including improved safety, reduced operator support requirements and shorter measurement times. The Mini-slab detector satisfies the required verification role with a quarter of the inspector-days compared to SBAS. Furthermore, it has the capability to measure in tighter spaces, with the need for such use expected to grow as parts of these facilities begin decommissioning.

Development of a DDA+PGA-combined non-destructive active interrogation system in "Active-N"

古高 和禎; 大図 章; 藤 暢輔

Nuclear Engineering and Technology, 55(11), p.4002 - 4018, 2023/11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2023.07.015

An integrated neutron interrogation system has been developed for non-destructive assay of highly radioactive special nuclear materials, to accumulate knowledge of the method through developing and using it. The system combines a differential die-away (DDA) measurement system for the quantification of nuclear materials and a prompt gamma-ray analysis (PGA) system for the detection of neutron poisons which disturb the DDA measurements; a common D-T neutron generator is used. A special care has been taken for the selection of materials to reduce the background gamma rays produced by the interrogation neutrons. A series of measurements were performed to test the basic performance of the system. The results show that the DDA system can quantify plutonium of as small as 20~mg and it is not affected by intense neutron background up to 4.2~TBq and gamma ray of 2.2~TBq. As a result of the designing of the combined system as a whole, the gamma-ray background counting rate at the PGA detector was reduced down to s even with the use of the D-T neutron generator. The test measurements show that the PGA system is capable of detecting less than 1~g of boron compound and about 100~g of gadolinium compound in~30 min. This research was implemented under the subsidy for nuclear security promotion of MEXT.

Design and characterization of the fission signature assay instrument for nuclear safeguards

Rossi, F.; 小泉 光生; Rodriguez, D.; 高橋 時音

Proceedings of INMM & ESARDA Joint Annual Meeting 2023 (Internet), 5 Pages, 2023/05

Since 2015, the Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security (ISCN) of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been working on the development of the Delayed Gamma-ray Spectroscopy non-destructive assay technique for the quantification of fissile-nuclide content in mixed nuclear materials. Thanks to the efforts and lessons learned from past experiments, the ISCN has successfully designed and fabricated a final integrated instrument. The instrument is composed of a moderator and dose shield where different neutron sources, like Cf-252 and neutron generators, can be inserted to irradiate the sample. Within the moderator, a series of neutron detectors are installed for perform prompt neutron analysis and continuous monitoring of the neutron source emission. Thanks to an innovative transfer system, the sample is then moved to the gamma-ray detector in less than 1.5s providing a fast and reliable movement while being safe from possible contamination. In this work, we will describe the design details of this new instrument. This work is supported by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) under the subsidy for the "promotion for strengthening nuclear security and the like".

Applicability of differential die-away self-interrogation technique for quantification of spontaneous fission nuclides for fuel debris at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants

長谷 竹晃; 相樂 洋*; 小菅 義広*; 能見 貴佳; 奥村 啓介

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 60(4), p.460 - 472, 2023/04

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2022.2114958

This paper provides an overview of the applicability of the Differential Die-Away Self-Interrogation (DDSI) technique for quantification of spontaneous fissile nuclides in fuel debris at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants. In this research, massive fuel debris stored in a canister was evaluated, and the void space of the canister was assumed to be filled with water for wet storage and air for dry storage. The composition of fuel debris was estimated based on elements such as the inventory in the reactor core and operation history. The simulation results show that for wet storage, the DDSI technique can properly evaluate the neutron leakage multiplication and quantify spontaneous fissile nuclides with a total measurement uncertainty (TMU) of approximately 8%. For dry storage, the known-alpha technique, which was previously established, can be applied to quantify spontaneous fissile nuclides with a TMU of approximately 4%. In both cases, the largest uncertainty factor is the variation in water content in the canister. In the case of wet storage, the uncertainty could be significantly increased in cases where the fuel debris is extremely unevenly distributed in the canister.

Development of delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy for nuclear safeguards, 2; Forward to a practical DGS instrument

Rossi, F.; 小泉 光生; Rodriguez, D.; 高橋 時音

Proceedings of INMM 63rd Annual Meeting (Internet), 5 Pages, 2022/07

With the initial goal of fissile-nuclide content quantification in small samples containing uranium and plutonium, the Integrated Support Center for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Nuclear Security of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency is developing the Delayed Gamma-ray Spectroscopy non-destructive assay technique. For this, while in the past years several experiments were conducted to prove the feasibility of the technique, a new instrument was designed considering the previous lessons learned. It includes a modular insertion for different neutron sources, like radioisotopes or neutron generators; a gamma-ray detector with improved data acquisition system allowing for real-time dead-time correction; and a full new mechanism for the sample transfer between irradiation and measurement. Together with this, neutron detectors are integrated to supplement the DGS mass analysis and monitor the source intensity. In this work, we will describe the new instrument and the preliminary results obtained from instrument characterization compared to previous experiments. This work is supported by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) under the subsidy for the "promotion for strengthening nuclear security and the like". This work was done under the agreement between JAEA and EURATOM in the field of nuclear material safeguards research and development.

JAEA-JRC collaborative development of delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy for nuclear material evaluation, 3; Fissile mass estimation with uranium samples

Rossi, F.; 小泉 光生; Lee, H.-J.; Rodriguez, D.; 高橋 時音; Abbas, K.*; Bogucarska, T.*; Crochemore, J.-M.*; Pedersen, B.*; Varasano, G.*

61st Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM 2020), Vol.2, p.907 - 911, 2021/00

Delayed Gamma-ray Spectroscopy (DGS) is a nondestructive assay technique with the capability to quantify the fissile composition of small nuclear material samples from reprocessing plants. In recent years, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency in collaboration with the Joint Research Centre performed several experiments using uranium and plutonium standard samples. In this paper, we present some of our recent experiment results showing the feasibility of DGS for fissile mass estimation. In particular, we interrogate uranium samples of different enrichment and we are showing that we were able to qualify significant peaks even for a depleted uranium sample above 2.7 MeV. Applying correction factors for neutron self-shielding and gamma self-absorption, we obtained a mass linear correlation when considering total integrated counts above 3.3 MeV as well as specific individual peak counts. This work is supported by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) under the subsidy for the "promotion for strengthening nuclear security and the like". This work was done under the agreement between JAEA and EURATOM in the field of nuclear material safeguards research and development.

Development of delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy for nuclear material analysis

Rodriguez, D.; Rossi, F.; 高橋 時音; 瀬谷 道夫; 小泉 光生; Crochemore, J. M.*; Varasano, G.*; Bogucarska, T.*; Abbas, K.*; Pedersen, B.*

Proceedings of INMM 59th Annual Meeting (Internet), 7 Pages, 2018/07

DGS has great potential for HRNM, since it determines fissile nuclide compositions by correlating the observed DG spectrum to the unique FY of the individual nuclides. Experiments were performed with LRNM using both PUNITA and a JAEA designed Cf-shuffler tested in PERLA. The data was analyzed using an inverse MC method that both determines DG peak intensity correlations and provides an evaluation of the uncertainty of the measurements. The results were used to verify DG signatures for varying fissile compositions, total fissile content, and DGS interrogation timing patterns. Future development will focus on measuring HRNM and designing a compact system by evaluating different neutron sources, moderating materials, and detection capabilities. This presentation summarizes the JAEA/JRC DGS program to date and the future direction of this collaborative work performed using the MEXT subsidy for the promotion of strengthening nuclear security.

Application of probability generating function to the essentials of nondestructive nuclear materials assay system using neutron correlation

細馬 隆

JAEA-Research 2016-019, 53 Pages, 2017/01

JAEA-Research-2016-019.pdf:5.71MB

核物質非破壊測定システムの基礎への確率母関数の適用について研究を行った。最初に、高次の中性子相関を七重相関まで代数的に導出し、その基本的な性格を調べた。高次の中性子相関は、漏れ増倍率の増大に応じて急速に増大し、検出器の効率や設定によるが漏れ増倍率が1.3を超えると、より低次の中性子相関と交わり追い越してゆくことを見出した。続いて、高速中性子と熱中性子が共存する系において、高速中性子による核分裂数と二重相関計数率及び熱中性子による核分裂数と二重相関計数率を、代数的に導出した。従来の測定法と、differential die-away self-interrogation法によって得られるRossi-alpha結合分布と各エリアの面積比を用いれば、高速中性子と熱中性子それぞれの単位時間あたりの誘導核分裂数、ソース中性子1個あたりそれぞれの誘導核分裂数(1未満)及びそれぞれの二重相関計数率を、推定可能であることを見出した。