Overview and main outcomes of the pool scrubbing lumped-parameter code benchmark on hydrodynamic aspects in IPRESCA project

Marchetto, C.*; Ha, K. S*; Herranz, L. E.*; Hirose, Yoshiyasu; Jankowski, T.*; Lee, Y.*; Nowack, H.*; Pellegrini, M.*; Sun, X.*

Proceedings of 19th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (NURETH-19) (Internet), 17 Pages, 2022/03

A Unique high natural background radiation area; Dose assessment and perspectives

Hosoda, Masahiro*; Nugraha, E. D.*; Akata, Naofumi*; Yamada, Ryohei; Tamakuma, Yuki*; Sasaki, Michiya*; Kelleher, K.*; Yoshinaga, Shinji*; Suzuki, Takahito*; Rattanapongs, C. P.*; et al.

Science of the Total Environment, 750, p.142346_1 - 142346_11, 2021/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142346

The biological effects of low dose-rate radiation exposures on humans remains unknown. In fact, the Japanese nation still struggles with this issue after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Recently, we have found a unique area in Indonesia where naturally high radiation levels are present, resulting in chronic low dose-rate radiation exposures. We aimed to estimate the comprehensive dose due to internal and external exposures at the particularly high natural radiation area, and to discuss the enhancement mechanism of radon. A car-borne survey was conducted to estimate the external doses from terrestrial radiation. Indoor radon measurements were made in 47 dwellings over three to five months, covering the two typical seasons, to estimate the internal doses. Atmospheric radon gases were simultaneously collected at several heights to evaluate the vertical distribution. The absorbed dose rates in air in the study area vary widely between 50 nGy h and 1109 nGy h. Indoor radon concentrations ranged from 124 Bq m to 1015 Bq m. That is, the indoor radon concentrations measured exceed the reference levels of 100 Bq m recommended by the World Health Organization. Furthermore, the outdoor radon concentrations measured were comparable to the high indoor radon concentrations. The annual effective dose due to external and internal exposures in the study area was estimated to be 27 mSv using the median values. It was found that many residents are receiving radiation exposure from natural radionuclides over the dose limit for occupational exposure to radiation workers. This enhanced outdoor radon concentration might be as a result of the stable atmospheric conditions generated at an exceptionally low altitude. Our findings suggest that this area provides a unique opportunity to conduct an epidemiological study related to health effects due to chronic low dose-rate radiation exposure.

Mechanism of hardening and damage initiation in oxygen embrittlement of body-centred-cubic niobium

Yang, P.-J.*; Li, Q.-J.*; Tsuru, Tomohito; Ogata, Shigenobu*; Zhang, J.-W.*; Sheng, H.-W.*; Shan, Z.-W.*; Sha, G.*; Han, W.-Z.*; Li, J.*; et al.

Acta Materialia, 168, p.331 - 342, 2019/04

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2019.02.030

Body-centred-cubic metallic materials, such as niobium (Nb) and other refractory metals, are prone to embrittlement due to low levels of oxygen solutes. The mechanisms responsible for the oxygen-induced rampant hardening and damage are unclear. Here we illustrate that screw dislocations moving through a random repulsive force field imposed by impurity oxygen interstitials readily form cross-kinks and emit excess vacancies in Nb. The vacancies bind strongly with oxygen and screw dislocation in a three-body fashion, rendering dislocation motion difficult and hence pronounced dislocation storage and hardening. This leads to unusually high strain hardening rates and fast breeding of nano-cavities that underlie damage and failure.

A Scalable and deformable stylized model of the adult human eye for radiation dose assessment

El Basha, D.*; Furuta, Takuya; Iyer, S. S. R.*; Bolch, W. E.*

Physics in Medicine & Biology, 63(10), p.105017_1 - 105017_13, 2018/05

https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6560/aab955

With recent changes in the recommended annual limit on eye lens exposures to ionizing radiation by International Commission on Radiological Protection, there is considerable interest in predictive computational dosimetry models of the human eye and its various ocular structures. Several computational eye models to date have been constructed for this purpose but they are typically constructed of nominal size and of a roughly spherical shape associated with the emmetropic eye. We therefore constructed a geometric eye model that is both scalable (allowing for changes in eye size) and deformable (allowing for changes in eye shape), and that is suitable for use in radiation transport studies of ocular exposures and radiation treatments of eye disease. As an example, electron and photon anterior-posterior radiation transport with the constructed eye model was conducted and analyzed resultant energy-dependent dose profiles. Due to anterior-posterior irradiation, the energy dose response was shifted to higher energy for a larger-size eye or an axially deformed eye in prolate shape because the structures were located in deeper depth compared to the normal eye.

Measurements and parameterization of neutron energy spectra from targets bombarded with 120 GeV protons

Kajimoto, Tsuyoshi*; Shigyo, Nobuhiro*; Sanami, Toshiya*; Iwamoto, Yosuke; Hagiwara, Masayuki*; Lee, H. S.*; Soha, A.*; Ramberg, E.*; Coleman, R.*; Jensen, D.*; et al.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 337, p.68 - 77, 2014/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2014.07.019

The energy spectra of neutrons were measured by a time-of-flight method for 120 GeV protons on thick graphite, aluminum, copper, and tungsten targets with an NE213 scintillator at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility. Neutron energy spectra were obtained between 25 and 3000 MeV at emission angles of 30, 45, 120, and 150. The spectra were parameterized as neutron emissions from three moving sources and then compared with theoretical spectra calculated by PHITS and FLUKA codes. The yields of the theoretical spectra were substantially underestimated compared with the yields of measured spectra. The integrated neutron yields from 25 to 3000 MeV calculated with PHITS code were 16-36% of the experimental yields and those calculated with FLUKA code were 26-57% of the experimental yields for all targets and emission angles.

Measurement of thick target neutron energy spectra at 15 and 90 bombarded with 120-GeV protons

Iwamoto, Yosuke; Sanami, Toshiya*; Kajimoto, Tsuyoshi*; Shigyo, Nobuhiro*; Hagiwara, Masayuki*; Lee, H. S.*; Soha, A.*; Ramberg, E.*; Coleman, R.*; Jensen, D.*; et al.

Progress in Nuclear Science and Technology (Internet), 3, p.65 - 68, 2012/10

http://www.aesj.or.jp/publication/pnst003/065.pdf

Neutron energy spectra at 15 and 90 produced from carbon, aluminum, copper and tungsten targets bombarded with 120-GeV protons were measured at Fermilab Test Beam Facility (FTBF) for the validation of simulation codes. The target thicknesses were 60 cm for graphite, 50 cm for aluminum, 20, 40, and 60 cm for copper and 10 cm for tungsten, respectively. The neutron time-of-flight measurements were performed using an NE213 organic liquid scintillator at 5.2 m for 90 and 8.0 m for 15 measuring from the center of the target to the surface of the detector. The raw signals (waveforms) obtained from photomultiplier tubes were recorded using the 10 bit digitizer (Agilent-acqiris DC282) with 0.5 ns sampling and 500 ns duration. To compare the experimental results, Monte Carlo calculations with the PHITS, MARS and FLUKA codes were performed. It was found that these calculated results underestimate the experimental results in the whole energy range.

Neutrino reactions on La and Ta via charged and neutral currents by the quasiparticle random-phase approximation

Cheoun, M. K.*; Ha, E.*; Hayakawa, Takehito; Kajino, Toshitaka*; Chiba, Satoshi

Physical Review C, 82(3), p.035504_1 - 035504_7, 2010/09

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.82.035504

We investigate neutrino-induced reactions on heavy nuclei. Charged current (CC) reactions,Ba(, )La and Hf(, )Ta are calculated by a quasi-particle random phase approximation (QRPA) with pairing correlations. For neutral current (NC) reactions, La()La and Ta()Ta, we generate ground and excited states of odd-even target nuclei, La and Ta, by operating one quasi-particle to even-even nuclei. Numerical results for CC reactions are shown to be consistent with recent semi-empirical data deduced from the Gamow-Teller strength distributions measured in the (He,) reaction. Results for NC reactions are estimated to be smaller by a factor about 4 to 5 rather than those by CC reactions. Finally, cross sections weighted by the incident neutrino flux in the core collapsing supernova are presented for further applications to the network calculations for relevant nuclear abundances.

ITER limiters moveable during plasma discharge and optimization of ferromagnetic inserts to minimize toroidal field ripple

Ioki, Kimihiro; Chuyanov, V.*; Elio, F.*; Garkusha, D.*; Gribov, Y.*; Lamzin, E.*; Morimoto, Masaaki; Shimada, Michiya; Sugihara, Masayoshi; Terasawa, Atsumi; et al.

Proceedings of 21st IAEA Fusion Energy Conference (FEC 2006) (CD-ROM), 8 Pages, 2007/03

http://www-naweb.iaea.org/napc/physics/FEC/FEC2006/html/node143.htm#30838

Two important design updates have been made in the ITER VV and in-vessel components recently. One is the introduction of limiters moveable during a plasma discharge, and the other is optimization of the ferromagnetic insert configuration to minimize the toroidal field ripple. In the new limiter concept, the limiters are retracted by 8 cm during the plasma flat top phase in the divertor configuration. This concept gives important advantages: (1) the particle and heat loads due to disruptions, ELMs and blobs on the limiters will be mitigated approximately by a factor 1.5 or more; (2) the gap between the plasma and the ICRH antenna can be reduced to improve the coupling of the ICRH power. The ferromagnetic inserts have previously not been planned to be installed in the outboard midplane region between equatorial ports due to irregularity of tangential ports for NB injection. The result is a relatively large ripple (1 %) in a limited region of the plasma, which nevertheless seems acceptable from the plasma performance viewpoint. However, toroidal field flux lines fluctuate 10 mm due to the large ripple in the FW region. To avoid problems due to the large TF flux line fluctuation, additional ferromagnetic inserts are now planned to be installed in the equatorial port region.

Resonance capture cross section of Pb

Domingo-Pardo, C.*; Abbondanno, U.*; Aerts, G.*; lvarez, H.*; Alvarez-Velarde, F.*; Andriamonje, S.*; Andrzejewski, J.*; Assimakopoulos, P.*; Audouin, L.*; Badurek, G.*; et al.

Physical Review C, 74(5), p.055802_1 - 055802_6, 2006/11

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.74.055802

The radiative neutron capture cross section of Pb has been measured at the CERN n_TOF facility using the pulse height weighting technique in the resoleved region. The measurement has been performed with an optimized setup of two scintillation detectors, which allowed us to reduce scattered neutron backgrounds down to a negligible level. Resonance parameters have been determined for 16 resonances by means of an R-matrix analysis in the neutron energy range from 3 keV to 320 keV. Good agreement with previous measurements was found at low neutron energies, whereas substantial discrepancies appear beyond 45 keV. With the present results, we obtain an s-process contribution of 778 % to the solar abundance of Pb.

Neutron capture cross section of Th measured at the n_TOF facility at CERN in the unresolved resonance region up to 1 MeV

Aerts, G.*; Abbondanno, U.*; lvarez, H.*; Alvarez-Velarde, F.*; Andriamonje, S.*; Andrzejewski, J.*; Assimakopoulos, P.*; Audouin, L.*; Badurek, G.*; Baumann, P.*; et al.

Physical Review C, 73(5), p.054610_1 - 054610_10, 2006/05

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.73.054610

We have measured the neutron capture reaction yield of Th at the neutron tim-of-flight facility n_TOF at CERN in the energy range from 1 eV to 1 MeV. The average capture cross section has been extracted in the energy range from 4 keV up to 1 MeV with an overall accuracy better than 4 %. An independent IAEA evaluation shows good agreement with the data.