Development of gel filler that facilitates fuel debris retrieval (Contract research); FY2018 Center of World Intelligence Project for Nuclear Science/Technology and Human Resource Development

Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science; Osaka University*

JAEA-Review 2019-029, 36 Pages, 2020/02

JAEA-Review-2019-029.pdf:2.33MB

JAEA/CLADS, had been conducting the Center of World Intelligence Project for Nuclear Science/Technology and Human Resource Development (hereafter referred to "the Project") in FY2018. The Project aims to contribute to solving problems in nuclear energy field represented by the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. For this purpose, intelligence was collected from all over the world, and basic research and human resource development were promoted by closely integrating/collaborating knowledge and experiences in various fields beyond the barrier of conventional organizations and research fields. The sponsor of the Project was moved from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to JAEA since the newly adopted proposals in FY2018. On this occasion, JAEA constructed a new research system where JAEA-academia collaboration is reinforced and medium-to-long term research/development and human resource development contributing to the decommissioning are stably and consecutively implemented. Among the adopted proposals in FY2018, this report summarizes the research results of the "Development of Gel Filler that Facilitates Fuel Debris Retrieval". When gel materials such as polymer, silicate and clay minerals with adjusted viscosity are used in the process of debris retrieval, the gel would not leak down from the damaged parts, resulting in the reduction of surrounding air dose rate. In addition, gel materials can reduce the diffusion and scattering of dust that is produced by cutting. For these reasons, we propose a method where inside of a containment vessel is filled by gel materials in order to simplify the debris retrieval.

Lattice dynamics in FeSe via inelastic X-ray scattering and first-principles calculations

Murai, Naoki; Fukuda, Tatsuo; Nakajima, Masamichi*; Kawamura, Mitsuaki*; Ishikawa, Daisuke*; Tajima, Setsuko*; Baron, A. Q. R.*

Physical Review B, 101(3), p.035126_1 - 035126_6, 2020/01

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.101.035126

We report an inelastic X-ray scattering investigation of phonons in FeSe superconductor. Comparing the experimental phonon dispersion with density functional theory (DFT) calculations in the non-magnetic state, we found a significant disagreement between them. A better overall agreement was obtained by allowing for spin-polarization in DFT calculations, despite the absence of magnetic order in FeSe. This calculation gives a realistic approximation, at DFT level, of the disordered paramagnetic state of FeSe, in which strong spin fluctuations are present.

Structural change of borosilicate glass by neutron irradiation

Nagai, Takayuki; Kobayashi, Hidekazu; Okamoto, Yoshihiro; Akiyama, Daisuke*; Sato, Nobuaki*; Uehara, Akihiro*; Fujii, Toshiyuki*; Sekimoto, Shun*

KURNS Progress Report 2018, P. 105, 2019/08

http://www.rri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/PUB/report/PR/ProgRep2018/KURNS_Progress_Report2018_web.pdf

To understand this structural change of a borosilicate glass by a neutron irradiation in detail, the irradiation test was carried out in KUR in 2017FY. The glass structure was estimated by using Raman spectrometry in 2018FY. Comparing with the Raman spectra of glass samples before and after irradiation, it could be observed the change of peak height of Si-O bridging structure by the irradiation.

Synthesis and characterization of CeO-based simulated fuel containing CsI

Takamatsu, Yuki*; Ishii, Hiroto*; Oishi, Yuji*; Muta, Hiroaki*; Yamanaka, Shinsuke*; Suzuki, Eriko; Nakajima, Kunihisa; Miwa, Shuhei; Osaka, Masahiko; Kurosaki, Ken*

Nippon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 17(3/4), p.106 - 110, 2018/12

https://doi.org/10.3327/taesj.J17.025

In order to establish the synthesis method of simulated fuel contacting Cesium (Cs) which is required for the evaluation of physical/chemical characteristics in fuel and release behavior of Cs, sintering tests of the cerium dioxide (CeO) based simulated fuels containing Cesium iodide (CsI) are performed by using spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. The sintered CeO pellets with homogeneous distribution of several micro meter of CsI spherical precipitates were successfully obtained by optimizing SPS conditions.

Temperature stability of PIN-PMN-PT ternary ceramics during pyroelectric power generation

Kim, J.*; Moro, Takuya*; Kim, J.*; Yamanaka, Satoru*; Murayama, Ichiro*; Kato, Takanori*; Nakayama, Tadachika*; Takeda, Masatoshi*; Yamada, Noboru*; Nishihata, Yasuo; et al.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 768, p.22 - 27, 2018/11

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.07.182

Revising the 4 symmetry in CeCuGe; Soft X-ray absorption and hard X-ray photoemission spectroscopy

Aratani, Hidekazu*; Nakatani, Yasuhiro*; Fujiwara, Hidenori*; Kawada, Moeki*; Kanai, Yuina*; Yamagami, Kohei*; Fujioka, Shuhei*; Hamamoto, Satoru*; Kuga, Kentaro*; Kiss, Takayuki*; et al.

Physical Review B, 98(12), p.121113_1 - 121113_6, 2018/09

AA2018-0352.pdf:1.16MB

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.98.121113

Investigation of clustering with knockout reactions

Yoshida, Kazuki; Ogata, Kazuyuki*; Kanada-En'yo, Yoshiko*

Physical Review C, 98(2), p.024614_1 - 024614_6, 2018/08

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.98.024614

In clustering studies, it is very important to probe the cluster amplitude at nuclear surface since spectroscopic factor is not necessarily a direct measure of the clustering. We consider Ne(,)O and Sn(,)Cd at 100 - 400 MeV within the distorted wave impulse approximation (DWIA) framework. We introduce a which shows how the reaction amplitude in the nuclear interior is suppressed and defines the probed region of the cluster wave function. It is clearly shown by means of the masking function that thanks to the absorption of distorting potentials, the knockout reaction probes the cluster amplitude in the nuclear surface region, which is the direct measure of well-developed cluster states.

Variation of half-life and internal-conversion electron energy spectrum between U oxide and fluoride

Shigekawa, Yudai*; Kasamatsu, Yoshitaka*; Yasuda, Yuki*; Kaneko, Masashi; Watanabe, Masayuki; Shinohara, Atsushi*

Physical Review C, 98(1), p.014306_1 - 014306_5, 2018/07

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.98.014306

The nuclear half-life of U has been reported to vary depending on the chemical environment. In this study, both the half-life and the internal-conversion (IC) electron energy spectrum were measured for U with identical chemical environments for the first time. U oxide and fluoride samples were subjected to these measurements, and clear differences in the half-life and the energy spectrum between these samples were observed. The peaks in the energy spectra were identified with the relativistic density functional theory calculation, and the molecular orbital states of the U oxide and fluoride estimated from the energy spectra and the calculation qualitatively explained the difference in the half-lives between the samples.

Effect of electron correlations on spin excitation bandwidth in BaKFeAs as seen via time-of-flight inelastic neutron scattering

Murai, Naoki; Suzuki, Katsuhiro*; Ideta, Shinichiro*; Nakajima, Masamichi*; Tanaka, Kiyohisa*; Ikeda, Hiroaki*; Kajimoto, Ryoichi

Physical Review B, 97(24), p.241112_1 - 241112_6, 2018/06

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.97.241112

We use inelastic neutron scattering (INS) to investigate the effect of electron correlations on spin dynamics in iron-based superconductor BaKFeAs. Our INS data show a spin-wave-like dispersive feature, with a zone boundary energy of 200 meV. A first principles analysis of dynamical spin susceptibility, incorporating the mass renormalization factor of 3, as determined by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, provides a reasonable description of the observed spin excitations. This analysis shows that electron correlations in the Fe-3d bands yield enhanced effective electron masses, and consequently, induce substantial narrowing of the spin excitation bandwidth. Our results highlight the importance of electron correlations in an itinerant description of the spin excitations in iron-based superconductors.

Electronic structure and magnetic properties of the half-metallic ferrimagnet MnVAl probed by soft X-ray spectroscopies

Nagai, Kodai*; Fujiwara, Hidenori*; Aratani, Hidekazu*; Fujioka, Shuhei*; Yomosa, Hiroshi*; Nakatani, Yasuhiro*; Kiss, Takayuki*; Sekiyama, Akira*; Kuroda, Fumiaki*; Fujii, Hitoshi*; et al.

Physical Review B, 97(3), p.035143_1 - 035143_8, 2018/01

AA2017-0644.pdf:1.01MB

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.97.035143

We have studied the electronic structure of ferrimagnetic MnVAl single crystals by means of soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray absorption magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD), and resonant soft X-ray inelastic scattering (RIXS). We have successfully observed the XMCD signals for all the constituent elements. The Mn L XAS and XMCD spectra are reproduced by spectral simulations based on density-functional theory, indicating the itinerant character of the Mn 3 states. On the other hand, the V 3 electrons are rather localized since the ionic model can qualitatively explain the V L XAS and XMCD spectra. This picture is consistent with local excitations revealed by the V L RIXS.