Orientation mapping of YbSn single crystals based on Bragg-dip analysis using a delay-line superconducting sensor

Shishido, Hiroaki*; Vu, TheDang*; Aizawa, Kazuya; Kojima, Kenji M*; Koyama, Tomio*; Oikawa, Kenichi; Harada, Masahide; Oku, Takayuki; Soyama, Kazuhiko; Miyajima, Shigeyuki*; et al.

Journal of Applied Crystallography, 56(4), p.1108 - 1113, 2023/08

https://doi.org/10.1107/S1600576723005204

High spatial resolution neutron transmission imaging using a superconducting two-dimensional detector

Shishido, Hiroaki*; Nishimura, Kazuma*; Vu, TheDang*; Aizawa, Kazuya; Kojima, Kenji M*; Koyama, Tomio*; Oikawa, Kenichi; Harada, Masahide; Oku, Takayuki; Soyama, Kazuhiko; et al.

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, 31(9), p.2400505_1 - 2400505_5, 2021/12

https://doi.org/10.1109/TASC.2021.3111396

In this study, we employed a superconducting detector, current-biased kinetic-inductance detector (CB-KID) for neutron imaging using a pulsed neutron source. We employed the delay-line method, and high spatial resolution imaging with only four reading channels was achieved. We also performed wavelength-resolved neutron imaging by the time-of-flight method. We obtained the neutron transmission images of a Gd-Al alloy sample, inside which single crystals of GdAl were grown, using the delay-line CB-KID. Single crystals were well imaged, in both shapes and distributions, throughout the Al-Gd alloy. We identified Gd nuclei via neutron transmissions that exhibited characteristic suppression above the neutron wavelength of 0.03 nm. In addition, the Gd resonance dip, a dip structure of the transmission caused by the nuclear reaction between an isotope and neutrons, was observed even when the number of events was summed over a limited area of 15 m 12 m. Gd selective imaging was performed using the resonance dip of Gd, and it showed clear Gd distribution even with a limited neutron wavelength range of 1 pm.

Polarization analysis for small-angle neutron scattering with a He spin filter at a pulsed neutron source

Okudaira, Takuya; Ueda, Yuki; Hiroi, Kosuke; Motokawa, Ryuhei; Inamura, Yasuhiro; Takata, Shinichi; Oku, Takayuki; Suzuki, Junichi*; Takahashi, Shingo*; Endo, Hitoshi*; et al.

Journal of Applied Crystallography, 54(2), p.548 - 556, 2021/04

https://doi.org/10.1107/S1600576721001643

Neutron polarization analysis (NPA) for small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments using a pulsed neutron source was successfully achieved by applying a He spin filter as a spin analyzer for the scattered neutrons. The He spin filter covers a sufficient solid angle for performing SANS experiments, and the relaxation time of the He polarization is sufficient for continuous use over a few days, thus reaching the typical duration required for a complete set of SANS experiments. Although accurate evaluation of the incoherent neutron scattering, which is predominantly attributable to hydrogen atoms in samples, is practically difficult using calculations based on the sample elemental composition, the developed NPA approach with consideration of the influence of multiple neutron scattering enabled reliable decomposition of the SANS intensity distribution into the coherent and incoherent scattering components. To date, NPA has not been well established as a standard technique for SANS experiments at pulsed neutron sources. This work is anticipated to greatly contribute to the accurate determination of the coherent neutron scattering component for scatterers in various types of organic sample systems in SANS experiments at J-PARC.

Energy-resolved neutron imaging using a delay line current-biased kinetic-inductance detector

Shishido, Hiroaki*; Nishimura, Kazuma*; Vu, TheDang*; Kojima, Kenji M*; Koyama, Tomio*; Oikawa, Kenichi; Harada, Masahide; Miyajima, Shigeyuki*; Hidaka, Mutsuo*; Oku, Takayuki; et al.

Journal of Physics; Conference Series, 1590, p.012033_1 - 012033_8, 2020/10

https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1590/1/012033

Energy-resolved neutron imaging with high spatial resolution using a superconducting delay-line kinetic inductance detector

Iizawa, Yuki*; Shishido, Hiroaki*; Nishimura, Kazuma*; Vu, TheDang*; Kojima, Kenji M*; Koyama, Tomio*; Oikawa, Kenichi; Harada, Masahide; Miyajima, Shigeyuki*; Hidaka, Mutsuo*; et al.

Superconductor Science and Technology, 32(12), p.125009_1 - 125009_8, 2019/12

https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6668/ab4e5c

Proceedings of the 21st Meeting of the International Collaboration on Advanced Neutron Sources (ICANS-XXI); Sep. 29 - Oct.3, 2014, Ibaraki Prefectural Center, Mito, Japan

Oku, Takayuki; Nakamura, Mitsutaka; Sakai, Kenji; Teshigawara, Makoto; Tatsumoto, Hideki*; Yonemura, Masao*; Suzuki, Junichi*; Arai, Masatoshi*

JAEA-Conf 2015-002, 660 Pages, 2016/02

JAEA-Conf-2015-002.pdf:168.34MB

The twenty first meeting of the International Collaboration on Advanced Neutron Source (ICANS-XXI) was held at Ibaraki Prefectural Culture Center in Mito from 29 September to 3 October 2014. It was hosted by Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) and Comprehensive Research Organization for Science and Society (CROSS). In the meeting, new science and technology in the new era with the high power neuron sources were discussed in mostly "workshop style" sessions. In each session, various kinds of issues related to not only the hardware, but also the software and even radiation safety were discussed with the keyword of "INTERFACE". More than 200 Papers were presented in the meeting and 72 contributed papers are compiled in the proceedings.

Development of portable polarized He neutron spin filter and its application to magnetic field imaging at J-PARC

Sakai, Kenji; Oku, Takayuki; Hayashida, Hirotoshi; Kira, Hiroshi*; Shinohara, Takenao; Oikawa, Kenichi; Harada, Masahide; Kakurai, Kazuhisa; Aizawa, Kazuya; Arai, Masatoshi; et al.

Journal of Physics; Conference Series, 528, p.012016_1 - 012016_7, 2014/07

https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/528/1/012016

In polarized neutron experiments, it is interested in expanding measurable neutron energy region up to epithermal neutrons. For realizing this situation, a Polarized He Spin Flipper (PHSF) has a key role because it can polarize from cold to epithermal neutrons, and flip neutron spins by flipping the He nuclear spin direction. We have developed the portable PHSF consisting of a cylindrical glass cell filled with He gas which is installed a solenoid coil of 20 cm in diameter and 30 cm long. After polarizing the He gas by irradiating a laser light based on a SEOP technique, the PHSF is brought by hands to experimental areas with kept its polarization. We carried out the feasibility test on our portable PHSF in the MLF of J-PARC and demonstrated it worked well by evaluating flipping ratios of polarized neutrons and attempting to visualize magnetic fields generated by sample coils.

Isothermal temperature coefficient evaluation for the Monju restart core

Mori, Tetsuya; Maruyama, Shuhei; Hazama, Taira; Suzuki, Takayuki

Nuclear Technology, 179(2), p.286 - 307, 2012/08

https://doi.org/10.13182/NT12-A14099

The present paper describes the evaluation of the isothermal temperature coefficient data obtained in the Monju restart core. As in the preceding evaluations on the criticality and the control rod worth, the best-estimate value and its uncertainty are evaluated as accurately as possible. Data obtained in the previous test is evaluated in the same level of detail. The measured data shows that the fuel composition change from the previous test decreases the magnitude of the temperature coefficient by 8%. Through a sensitivity analysis, it is confirmed that the decrease is mainly brought by the composition of Pu and Am. The best accuracy within the experimental uncertainty of 2% is attained for the previous core by a calculation with JENDL-4.0. Results for the restart core show inconsistent behavior and require a further investigation.

Development of reactivity feedback effect measurement techniques under sub-critical condition in fast reactors

Kitano, Akihiro; Nishi, Hiroshi; Suzuki, Takayuki; Okajima, Shigeaki; Kanemoto, Shigeru*

Proceedings of International Conference on Physics of Reactors; Advances in Reactor Physics; Linking Research, Industry, and Education (PHYSOR 2012) (CD-ROM), 14 Pages, 2012/04

The "Synthesis Method", a systematic and sophisticated method of sub-criticality measurement, is proposed in this work to ensure the safety margin before operation. The "Synthesis Method" is based on the modified source multiplication method (MSM) combined with the noise analysis method to measure the reference sub-criticality level for MSM. As a result of numerical simulation, it was suggested that a neutron detector located above the core center and three or more neutron detectors located above the radial blanket region enable the measurement of sub-criticality within 10% uncertainty from -0.5 to -2 and within 15% uncertainty for the deeper sub-criticality.

Uncertainty quantification of Doppler coefficient for MONJU

Chiba, Go*; Hazama, Taira; Kinjo, Hidehito*; Nishi, Hiroshi; Suzuki, Takayuki

JAEA-Research 2011-034, 42 Pages, 2011/12

JAEA-Research-2011-034.pdf:1.88MB

Uncertainty of Doppler coefficient is quantified for a Monju core, reflecting present knowledge. Various uncertainty sources are evaluated: (1) Nuclear data and numerical method, (2) Fission product nuclear data, (3) Control rod position, (4) Approximated treatment of temperature dependence, (5) Averaged fuel temperature, (6) Approximated treatment of temperature spatial distribution, etc. Resulting uncertainty for Doppler coefficient is estimated at 11.7% for the 2 reliability.