A New convention for the epithermal neutron spectrum for improving accuracy of resonance integrals

Harada, Hideo; Takayama, Naoki; Komeda, Masao

Journal of Physics Communications (Internet), 4(8), p.085004_1 - 085004_17, 2020/08

https://doi.org/10.1088/2399-6528/aba735

A new convention of epithermal neutron spectrum is formulated for improving accuracy of resonance integrals. The new type function is proposed as an approximating function of epithermal neutron spectrum based on calculations by the state-of-art Monte Carlo code MVP-3. Bias effects on determination of resonance integrals due to utilizing approximating functions of the traditional types and the new type are compared. The other bias effect is also investigated, which is caused by neglecting position dependence of a neutron spectrum inside an irradiation capsule. For demonstrating the bias effects due to these assumptions on neutron spectrum quantitatively in a practical case, the thermal neutron-capture cross section and resonance integral of Cs measured at a research reactor JRR-3 are re-evaluated. A superior property of the proposed new convention is discussed. The experimental method is proposed to determine the new shape factor introduced in the convention by a combinational use of triple flux monitors (Au, Co and Zr), and its analytical methodology is formulated.

Measurements of thermal-neutron capture cross-section of cesium-135 by applying mass spectrometry

Nakamura, Shoji; Shibahara, Yuji*; Kimura, Atsushi; Iwamoto, Osamu; Uehara, Akihiro*; Fujii, Toshiyuki*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 57(4), p.388 - 400, 2020/04

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2019.1691077

The thermal-neutron capture cross-section () and resonance integral(I) were measured for the Cs(n,)Cs reaction by an activation method and mass spectrometry. We used Cs contained as an impurity in a normally available Cs standard solution. An isotope ratio of Cs and Cs in a standard Cs solution was measured by mass spectrometry to quantify Cs. The analyzed Cs samples were irradiated at the hydraulic conveyer of the research reactor in Institute for Integral Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University. Wires of Co/Al and Au/Al alloys were used as neutron monitors to measure thermal-neutron fluxes and epi-thermal Westcott's indices at an irradiation position. A gadolinium filter was used to measure the , and a value of 0.133 eV was taken as the cut-off energy. Gamma-ray spectroscopy was used to measure induced activities of Cs, Cs and monitor wires. On the basis of Westcott's convention, the and I values were derived as 8.570.25 barn, and 45.33.2 barn, respectively. The obtained in the present study agreed within the limits of uncertainties with the past reported value of 8.30.3 barn.

Measurements of thermal-neutron capture cross-section and resonance integral of neptunium-237

Nakamura, Shoji; Kitatani, Fumito; Kimura, Atsushi; Uehara, Akihiro*; Fujii, Toshiyuki*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 56(6), p.493 - 502, 2019/06

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2019.1598304

The thermal-neutron capture cross-section()and resonance integral(I) were measured for the Np(n,)Np reaction by an activation method. A method with a Gadolinium filter, which is similar to the Cadmium difference method, was used to measure the with paying attention to the first resonance at 0.489 eV of Np, and a value of 0.133 eV was taken as a cut-off energy. Neptunium-237 samples were irradiated at the pneumatic tube of the Kyoto University Research Reactor in Institute for Integral Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University. Wires of Co/Al and Au/Al alloys were used as monitors to determine thermal-neutron fluxes and epi-thermal Westcott's indices at an irradiation position. A -ray spectroscopy was used to measure activities of Np, Np and neutron monitors. On the basis of Westcott's convention, the and I values were derived as 186.96.2 barn, and 100990 barn, respectively.

Study on neutron beam pulse width dependence in the nuclear fuel measurement by the neutron resonance transmission analysis

Kitatani, Fumito; Tsuchiya, Harufumi; Toh, Yosuke; Hori, Junichi*; Sano, Tadafumi*; Takahashi, Yoshiyuki*; Nakajima, Ken*

KURRI Progress Report 2017, P. 99, 2018/08

https://www.rri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/PUB/report/PR/ProgRep2017/CO2.pdf

Evaluation of neutron resonance parameters for Zr isotopes

Ichihara, Akira

JAEA-Conf 2017-001, p.103 - 108, 2018/01

https://doi.org/10.11484/jaea-conf-2017-001

In the Nuclear Data Center of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA-NDC), we are engaged in the evaluation activity for the next version of the Japanese Evaluated Nuclear Data Library, JENDL-4.0. Zirconium is an important structural material in nuclear reactors, and zircaloys are being employed in fuel rods. Also, Zr is a long-lived fission product (LLFP) with a half-life of 1.6110 years. At present we are investigating resonance parameters of Zr isotopes using experimental data published after the evaluation of JENDL-4.0. Through this work, a negative resonance of Zr in JENDL-4.0 was removed to reproduce the J-PARC/MLF/ANRRI experiment. The resonance parameters for other natural Zr isotopes will be altered by adopting the data obtained at CERN n-TOF experiments.

Development of neutron resonance densitometry as a technique of material accountancy of nuclear materials with complicated shapes and components; Development of a technique of nuclear material measurements in particle like debris

Koizumi, Mitsuo; Harada, Hideo; Schillebeeckx, P.*

Nippon Genshiryoku Gakkai-Shi, 58(9), p.563 - 567, 2016/09

no abstracts in English

Techniques of neutron resonance capture analysis and prompt -ray analysis for active neutron NDA

Koizumi, Mitsuo; Tsuchiya, Harufumi; Kitatani, Fumito; Kureta, Masatoshi; Seya, Michio; Harada, Hideo; Heyse, J.*; Kopecky, S.*; Mondelaers, W.*; Paradela, C.*; et al.

Proceedings of 37th ESARDA Annual Meeting (Internet), p.852 - 858, 2015/08

JAEA-ISCN development programs of advanced NDA technologies of nuclear material

Seya, Michio; Kobayashi, Naoki; Naoi, Yosuke; Hajima, Ryoichi; Soyama, Kazuhiko; Kureta, Masatoshi; Nakamura, Hironobu; Harada, Hideo

Book of Abstracts, Presentations and Papers of Symposium on International Safeguards; Linking Strategy, Implementation and People (Internet), 8 Pages, 2015/03

https://www.iaea.org/safeguards/symposium/2014/home/eproceedings/sg2014-papers/000069.pdf

https://www.iaea.org/safeguards/symposium/2014/home/eproceedings/sg2014-slides/000069.pdf

JAEA-ISCN has been implementing basic development programs of the advanced NDA technologies for nuclear material (NM) since 2011JFY (Japanese Fiscal Year), which are (1) NRF (Nuclear resonance fluorescence) NDA technology using laser Compton scattered (LCS) -rays (intense mono-energetic -rays), (2) Alternative to He neutron detection technology using ZnS/BO ceramic scintillator, and (3) NRD (Neutron resonance densitometry) using NRTA (Neutron resonance transmission analysis) and NRCA (Neutron resonance capture analysis). These programs are going to be finished in 2014JFY and have demonstration tests in February - March 2015.

Neutron resonance spectroscopy for the characterization of materials and objects

Schillebeeckx, P.*; Becker, B.*; Harada, Hideo; Kopecky, S.*

Landolt-Brnstein Group 1, Vol.26; Numerical Data and Functional Relationships in Science and Technology, Subv.A; Neutron Resonance Parameters, p.4 - 52, 2015/00

The probability that neutrons interact with nuclei strongly depends on the energy of the incoming neutron. There are resonances at specific energies for each nuclide.Since resonances appear at energies that are specific for each nuclide, they can be used to determine the elemental and in some cases even the isotopic composition of materials and objects. The resonance structures in total and capture cross sections are the basis of Neutron Resonance Transmission Analysis (NRTA) and Neutron Resonance Capture Analysis (NRCA), respectively. Principles of NRTA and NRCA are reviewed. Neutron Resonance Densitometry (NRD) combining NRTA and NTCA is also reviewed as a non-destructive method to characterize particle-like debris of melted fuel.

Neutron cross-section evaluations for Ge

Iwamoto, Osamu; Herman, M.*; Mughabghab, S. F.*; Oblozinsk, P.*; Trkov, A.*

AIP Conference Proceedings 769, p.434 - 437, 2005/05

https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1945041

Entirely new evaluations for all the Ge isotopes, from thermal energy to 20 MeV, has been performed with focus on photon production. In the resonance region, parameters were improved considerably compared to earlier evaluations. In the fast region, code EMPIRE-2.19 was used. Validation was done against photon data on Fe and Nb. Isotopic evaluations for Ge were summed up and compared with available measurements on natural Ge. Various quantities related to photon production, showing strong dependence on neutron incident energy, are discussed.