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.

Evaluation of the mass transfer coefficients for the minor actinide separation; Evaluation by the single drop method

Sakamoto, Atsushi; Kibe, Satoshi*; Kawanobe, Kazunori*; Fujisaku, Kazuhiko*; Sano, Yuichi; Takeuchi, Masayuki; Suzuki, Hideya*; Tsubata, Yasuhiro; Ban, Yasutoshi; Matsumura, Tatsuro

JAEA-Research 2021-003, 30 Pages, 2021/06

JAEA-Research-2021-003.pdf:1.81MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been developing a solvent extraction process called SELECT to recover minor actinides (MA) from spent nuclear fuel. In the SELECT process, TDdDGA, HONTA, and ADAAM are used as the extractants for MA + Ln corecovery, MA/Ln separation and Am/Cm separation, respectively. These extractants do not contain phosphorus (P), and consist of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and nitrogen (N). In this study, in order to give beneficial information for designing flowsheet, the mass transfer coefficients of Ln between HNO solution and TDdDGA or HONTA / n-dodecane solvent were evaluated by the single drop technique. Prior to the evaluation of mass transfer coefficient, we had optimized the structure of the single drop apparatus to improve accuracy of the measurement. Based on the mass transfer coefficients obtained in HNO / TDdDGA-n-dodecane system, Ln behaviors in the counter-current extraction and back-extraction using mixer-settlers and centrifugal contactors were estimated by simple calculation, and they had a good agreement with our previous experimental results. We also confirmed the mass transfer coefficients of Ln in HNO / HONTA - n-dodecane system are under 10 m/s.

Homogeneity of neutron transmission imaging over a large sensitive area with a four-channel superconducting detector

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

Superconductor Science and Technology, 34(1), p.015010_1 - 015010_10, 2021/01

https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6668/abc2af

The -electron state of the heavy fermion superconductor NpPdAl and the isostructural family

Metoki, Naoto; Aczel, A. A.*; Aoki, Dai*; Chi, S.*; Fernandez-Baca, J. A.*; Griveau, J.-C.*; Hagihara, Masato*; Hong, T.*; Haga, Yoshinori; Ikeuchi, Kazuhiko*; et al.

JPS Conference Proceedings (Internet), 30, p.011123_1 - 011123_6, 2020/03

https://doi.org/10.7566/JPSCP.30.011123

Rare earths (4) and actinides (5) provide variety of interesting states realized with competing interactions between the increasing number of electrons. Since crystal field splitting of many-body electron system is smaller than the bandwidth, (1) high resolution experiments are needed, (2) essentially no clear spectrum with well defined peaks is expected in itinerant Ce and U compounds, and (3) Np and Pu is strictly regulated. Therefore, systematic research on magnetic excitations by neutron scattering experiments of localized compounds and rare earth iso-structural reference is useful. We describe the electron states of heavy electron compounds NpPdAl and actinide and rare earth based iso-structural family.

Al-impurity-induced magnetic excitations in heavily over-doped LaSrCuAlO

Ikeuchi, Kazuhiko*; Nakajima, Kenji; Kawamura, Seiko; Kajimoto, Ryoichi; Wakimoto, Shuichi; Suzuki, Kensuke*; Fujita, Masaki*

AIP Advances (Internet), 8(10), p.101318_1 - 101318_5, 2018/10

https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5043077

By means of inelastic neutron scattering, we measured magnetic excitations in a sizable single crystal of LaSrCuAlO, which is an Al-substituted system of the heavily hole-doped cuprate system LaSrCuO with an effective concentration of holes of = 0.25.

Neutron inelastic scattering study of the -electron states in NdPdAl

Metoki, Naoto; Yamauchi, Hiroki; Suzuki, Hiroyuki*; Kitazawa, Hideaki*; Kamazawa, Kazuya*; Ikeuchi, Kazuhiko*; Kajimoto, Ryoichi; Nakamura, Mitsutaka; Inamura, Yasuhiro

Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, 87(8), p.084708_1 - 084708_7, 2018/08

https://doi.org/10.7566/JPSJ.87.084708

Inelastic neutron scattering experiments were carried out in order to study the -electron states of NdPdAlThe CEF levels at 0K, 35.4K, 88.3K, 101.5K, and 198.8K were clarified from the excitation spectra. The ground state contains the orbital with as a main component due to a large negative BK, which is the origin of the strong uniaxial anisotropy. The estimated magnetic moment, the calculated susceptibility, magnetization curve, and specific heat are in good agreement with the experimental data. The existence of a common charge distribution with CePdAl and PrPdAl. Indicates that a localized character is important even in actinide-based iso-structural compounds as actually observed in UPdAl and also NpPdAl, in which the valence crossover plays important role for the heavy fermion superconductivity.

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.

Countercurrent extraction/stripping experiments using TDdDGA solvent extractant in a centrifugal contactor system,2; Evaluation on the improved flowsheet for MA recovery

Kibe, Satoshi; Fujisaku, Kazuhiko*; Sakamoto, Atsushi; Sano, Yuichi; Takeuchi, Masayuki; Suzuki, Hideya; Tsubata, Yasuhiro; Matsumura, Tatsuro

JAEA-Research 2016-024, 40 Pages, 2017/02

JAEA-Research-2016-024.pdf:6.73MB

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been developing some flowsheets with TDdDGA (N,N,N,Ntetradodecyldiglycolamide) extractant to recover MA (minor actinide) from raffinate. In this study, countercurrent experiments with the improved flowsheet, e.g. the addition of alcohol into the solvent for preventing the precipitation, were performed using miniature centrifugal contactors in order to compare the extraction/stripping behavior of each element with the mixer-settler type. As a result, no entrainments were observed and sufficient phase separation was achieved by centrifugal contactors without any abnormal fluid behavior, such as overflow. The extraction and stripping of Ln(III) which show the similar tendencies as MA could be achieved successfully, especially their stripping proceeded more efficiently in centrifugal contactors. This might be due to the increase in stripping rates by improving the flowsheet and to superior phase separation performance of centrifugal contactors.

Numerical evaluation of the light transport properties of alternative He-3 neutron detectors using ceramic scintillators

Ozu, Akira; Takase, Misao*; Haruyama, Mitsuo; Kurata, Noritaka*; Kobayashi, Nozomi*; Kureta, Masatoshi; Nakamura, Tatsuya; To, Kentaro; Sakasai, Kaoru; Suzuki, Hiroyuki; et al.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 798, p.62 - 69, 2015/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2015.07.020

The light transport properties of scintillator light inside alternative He-3 neutron detector modules using scintillator sheets have been investigated by a ray-tracing simulation code. The detector module consists of a light-reflecting tube, a thin rectangular ceramic scintillator sheet laminated on a glass plate, and two photo-multiplier tubes (PMTs) mounted at both ends of the detector tube. The light induced on the surface of the scintillator sheet via nuclear interaction between the scintillator and neutrons are detected by the two PMTs. The light output of various detector modules in which the scintillator sheets are installed with several different arrangements were examined and evaluated in comparison with experimental results. The results derived from the simulation reveal that the light transport property is strongly dependent on the arrangement of the scintillator sheet inside the tube and the shape of the tube.