Strong lattice anharmonicity exhibited by the high-energy optical phonons in thermoelectric material

Wu, P.*; Fan, F.-R.*; Hagihara, Masato*; Kofu, Maiko; Peng, K.*; Ishikawa, Yoshihisa*; Lee, S.*; Honda, Takashi*; Yonemura, Masao*; Ikeda, Kazutaka*; et al.

New Journal of Physics (Internet), 22(8), p.083083_1 - 083083_9, 2020/08

https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/aba98f

Thermoelectric material SnSe has aroused world-wide interests in the past years, and its inherent strong lattice anharmonicity is regarded as a crucial factor for its outstanding thermoelectric performance. However, the understanding of lattice anharmonicity in SnSe system remains inadequate, especially regarding how phonon dynamics are affected by this behavior. In this work, we present a comprehensive study of lattice dynamics on NaSnSeS by means of neutron total scattering, inelastic neutron scattering, Raman spectroscopy as well as frozen-phonon calculations. Lattice anharmonicity is evidenced by pair distribution function, inelastic neutron scattering and Raman measurements. By separating the effects of thermal expansion and multi-phonon scattering, we found that the latter is very significant in high-energy optical phonon modes. The strong temperature-dependence of these phonon modes indicate the anharmonicity in this system. Moreover, our data reveals that the linewidths of high-energy optical phonons become broadened with mild doping of sulfur. Our studies suggest that the thermoelectric performance of SnSe could be further enhanced by reducing the contributions of high-energy optical phonon modes to the lattice thermal conductivity via phonon engineering.

Experimental study on local interfacial parameters in upward air-water bubbly flow in a vertical 66 rod bundle

Han, X.*; Shen, X.*; Yamamoto, Toshihiro*; Nakajima, Ken*; Sun, Haomin; Hibiki, Takashi*

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 144, p.118696_1 - 118696_19, 2019/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.118696

Enhancement of element production by incomplete fusion reaction with weakly bound deuteron

Wang, H.*; Otsu, Hideaki*; Chiga, Nobuyuki*; Kawase, Shoichiro*; Takeuchi, Satoshi*; Sumikama, Toshiyuki*; Koyama, Shumpei*; Sakurai, Hiroyoshi*; Watanabe, Yukinobu*; Nakayama, Shinsuke; et al.

Communications Physics (Internet), 2(1), p.78_1 - 78_6, 2019/07

https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-019-0165-1

Searching for effective pathways for the production of proton- and neutron-rich isotopes through an optimal combination of reaction mechanism and energy is one of the main driving forces behind experimental and theoretical nuclear reaction studies as well as for practical applications in nuclear transmutation of radioactive waste. We report on a study on incomplete fusion induced by deuteron, which contains one proton and one neutron with a weak binding energy and is easily broken up. This reaction study was achieved by measuring directly the cross sections for both proton and deuteron for Pd at 50 MeV/u via inverse kinematics technique. The results provide direct experimental evidence for the onset of a cross-section enhancement at high energy, indicating the potential of incomplete fusion induced by loosely-bound nuclei for creating proton-rich isotopes and nuclear transmutation of radioactive waste.

Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex, 2; Neutron scattering instruments

Nakajima, Kenji; Kawakita, Yukinobu; Ito, Shinichi*; Abe, Jun*; Aizawa, Kazuya; Aoki, Hiroyuki; Endo, Hitoshi*; Fujita, Masaki*; Funakoshi, Kenichi*; Gong, W.*; et al.

Quantum Beam Science (Internet), 1(3), p.9_1 - 9_59, 2017/12

https://doi.org/10.3390/qubs1030009

The neutron instruments suite, installed at the spallation neutron source of the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC), is reviewed. MLF has 23 neutron beam ports and 21 instruments are in operation for user programs or are under commissioning. A unique and challenging instrumental suite in MLF has been realized via combination of a high-performance neutron source, optimized for neutron scattering, and unique instruments using cutting-edge technologies. All instruments are/will serve in world-leading investigations in a broad range of fields, from fundamental physics to industrial applications. In this review, overviews, characteristic features, and typical applications of the individual instruments are mentioned.

Photoelectron diffraction from laser-aligned molecules with X-ray free-electron laser pulses

Nakajima, Kyo*; Teramoto, Takahiro*; Akagi, Hiroshi; Fujikawa, Takashi*; Majima, Takuya*; Minemoto, Shinichiro*; Ogawa, Kanade*; Sakai, Hirofumi*; Togashi, Tadashi*; Tono, Kensuke*; et al.

Scientific Reports (Internet), 5, p.14065_1 - 14065_11, 2015/09

https://doi.org/10.1038/srep14065

We report on the measurement of deep inner-shell 2p X-ray photoelectron diffraction (XPD) patterns from laser-aligned I molecules using X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) pulses. The XPD patterns of the I molecules, aligned parallel to the polarization vector of the XFEL, were well matched with our theoretical calculations. Further, we propose a criterion for applying our molecular-structure-determination methodology to the experimental XPD data. In turn, we have demonstrated that this approach is a significant step toward the time-resolved imaging of molecular structures.

JAEA's contribution to development of J-MOX safeguards system

Nagatani, Taketeru; Nakajima, Shinji; Kawakubo, Yoko; Shiromo, Hideo; Asano, Takashi; Marlow, J.*; Swinhoe, M. T.*; Menlove, H.*; Rael, C.*; Kawasue, Akane*; et al.

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/000065.pdf

https://www.iaea.org/safeguards/symposium/2014/home/eproceedings/sg2014-slides/000065.pdf

Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended (MCNPX) simulation for passive neutron measurement of fuel debris at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants

Nagatani, Taketeru; Nakajima, Shinji; Kosuge, Yoshihiro*; Shiromo, Hideo; Asano, Takashi

Proceedings of INMM 55th Annual Meeting (Internet), 10 Pages, 2014/07

Meltdown of the reactor cores of Units 1-3 occurred at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants (1F). Fuel debris at 1F contains minor actinides and fission products and neutron absorber. These materials make it difficult to quantify fertile nuclear materials in fuel debris by the conventional passive neutron technique. We consider that DDSI and PNAR which focused on fissile material are promising techniques to quantify the nuclear materials in the fuel debris. A concept of application of these techniques to fuel debris measurement was investigated and presented at the last INMM annual meeting. In order to evaluate the applicability of these techniques to fuel debris measurement, we investigated the neutron behavior in the fuel debris by using MCNPX simulation code. Because property of fuel debris is not clear, source term data used were prepared by referring TMI data. This paper provides results of MCNPX simulation for fuel debris measurement at 1F with passive neutron techniques.

Progress of manufacturing trials for the ITER toroidal field coil structures

Iguchi, Masahide; Morimoto, Masaaki; Chida, Yutaka*; Hemmi, Tsutomu; Nakajima, Hideo; Nakahira, Masataka; Koizumi, Norikiyo; Yamamoto, Akio*; Miyake, Takashi*; Sawa, Naoki*

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, 24(3), p.3801004_1 - 3801004_4, 2014/06

https://doi.org/10.1109/TASC.2013.2294422

no abstracts in English

Feasibility study on passive neutron technique applied to fuel debris measurement at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants

Nagatani, Taketeru; Nakajima, Shinji; Asano, Takashi

Proceedings of INMM 54th Annual Meeting (CD-ROM), 8 Pages, 2013/07

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants (1F) were struck by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011 and meltdown of the reactor cores of Units 1-3 occurred. Japan decided decommissioning of them. For decommissioning of 1F, Japan plans to recover fuel debris safely and to account nuclear material in it adequately. Survey of applicable technologies for nuclear material quantification of fuel debris, currently, is being conducted by Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and United States Department of Energy (DOE) under the collaborative agreement. This survey will identify technologies with the most promising capability to meet IAEA safeguards needs. As one of candidate technologies of plutonium quantification in fuel debris, we, Plutonium Fuel Development Center of JAEA, consider the application of the passive neutron technique which is wildly applied to the field of material accountancy and safeguards in plutonium handing facilities. Fuel debris contains minor actinides and fission products which are intense neutron and ray emitter due to burn-up of fuel in the reactor. It also contains neutron absorber such as gadolinium included in fuel to moderate burn-up and boron added after accident to avoid re-criticality. These materials make it difficult to quantify plutonium by the current passive neutron technique. Therefore, R&D activities regarding selective counting for neutron derived from plutonium, reduction of ray influence and estimation of neutron absorber influence are required in order to overcome above difficulties. This paper provides a concept for application of passive neutron technique to fuel debris measurement.

Interim report of performance test of the advanced verification for inventory sample system (AVIS)

Nagatani, Taketeru; Nakajima, Shinji; Asano, Takashi; Marlow, J. B.*; Swinhoe, M. T.*; Menlove, H. O.*; Rael, C. D.*; Kawasue, Akane*; Iso, Shoko*; Kumakura, Shinichi*; et al.

Proceedings of INMM 53rd Annual Meeting (CD-ROM), 9 Pages, 2012/07

The advanced verification for inventory sample system (AVIS) is a nondestructive assay (NDA) system designed to measure small samples of bulk plutonium uranium mixed oxide (MOX) powder and pellets at the proposed Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited (JNFL) mixed oxide fuel fabrication plant (J-MOX). The system consists of a He-based passive neutron well counter with an integrated high-purity germanium system. The AVIS is intended to meet a performance specification of a total measurement uncertainty of less than 0.5% in the neutron (Pu effective) measurement. It is intended that the AVIS measurement will be substituted for a fraction of the DA samples from J-MOX. JAEA has conducted performance testing on the AVIS in order to confirm the system performance before installation and to minimize the period of calibration at J-MOX site. In this paper, we provide a summary of the result of performance test phase 1 and the test plan of performance test phase 2 of the AVIS.