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Lee, J.; Kodama, Yu; Rossi, F.; Hironaka, Kota; Koizumi, Mitsuo; Hori, Junichi*; Sano, Tadafumi*
Dai-44-Kai Nihon Kaku Busshitsu Kanri Gakkai Nenji Taikai Kaigi Rombunshu (Internet), 4 Pages, 2023/11
no abstracts in English
Nb by activation method and half-life of 
Nb by mass analysisNakamura, Shoji; Shibahara, Yuji*; Endo, Shunsuke; Kimura, Atsushi
Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 60(11), p.1361 - 1371, 2023/11
Times Cited Count：1 Percentile：72.91(Nuclear Science & Technology)The thermal-neutron capture cross section (
) and resonance integral (I) for Nb among nuclides for decommissioning were measured by an activation method and the half-life of Nb by mass analysis. Niobium-93 samples were irradiated with a hydraulic conveyer installed in the research reactor in Institute for Integral Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University. Gold-aluminum, cobalt-aluminum alloy wires were used to monitor thermal-neutron fluxes and epi-thermal Westcott's indexes at an irradiation position. A 25-
m-thick gadolinium foil was used to sort out reactions ascribe to thermal-and epi-thermal neutrons. Its thickness provided a cut-off energy of 0.133 eV. In order to attenuate radioactivity of 
Ta due to impurities, the Nb samples were cooled for nearly 2 years. The induced radio activity in the monitors and Nb samples were measured by 
-ray spectroscopy. In analysis based on Westcott's convention, the and I values were derived as 1.11
0.04 barn and 10.50.6 barn, respectively. After the -ray measurements, mass analysis was applied to the Nb sample to obtain the reaction rate. By combining data obtained by both -ray spectroscopy and mass analysis, the half-life of Nb was derived as (2.000.15)
10
years.
Nakamura, Shoji; Shibahara, Yuji*; Kimura, Atsushi; Endo, Shunsuke; Shizuma, Toshiyuki*
Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 60(9), p.1133 - 1142, 2023/09
Times Cited Count：0 Percentile：0.01(Nuclear Science & Technology)In recent years, research has been advanced on lead-cooled fast reactors and accelerator drive systems, and it is required to improve the accuracy of the neutron capture cross section of Pb isotopes. Although 
Pb has a small natural abundance, it is of importance because it produces the long-lived radionuclide 
Pb (17.3 million years) by neutron capture reaction. However, it is difficult to measure its cross section by a conventional activation method using a nuclear reactor because the induced radioactivity of Pb is weak. Hence, the cross-section measurement was performed by applying mass spectrometry. This presentation gives the details of the experiment and the results obtained in the neutron capture cross-section measurement of Pb using mass spectroscopy.
Hironaka, Kota; Lee, J.; Koizumi, Mitsuo; Ito, Fumiaki*; Hori, Junichi*; Terada, Kazushi*; Sano, Tadafumi*
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 1054, p.168467_1 - 168467_5, 2023/09
Times Cited Count：0 Percentile：0.02(Instruments & Instrumentation)Nakamura, Shoji; Endo, Shunsuke; Kimura, Atsushi; Shibahara, Yuji*
KURNS Progress Report 2022, P. 73, 2023/07
The present study is concerned with the neutron capture cross-sections that contribute to the evaluation of the amount of radionuclides possessing problems in decommissioning. In this study, 
Sc, 
Cu, 
Zn, 
Ag, 
In and 
W were selected among the objective nuclides, and their thermal-neutron capture cross-sections were measured using TC-Pn equipment of the KUR of the Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University. High purity metal samples were prepared. A gold-aluminum ally wire, cobalt and molybdenum foils were used to monitor the neutron flux at the irradiation position of TC-Pn. The flux monitors and metal samples were irradiated for 1 hour at 1-MW operation of the KUR. After irradiation, the irradiation capsule was opened, samples and flux monitors were enclosed in a vinyl bag one by one, and then rays emitted from the samples and monitors were measured with a high-purity Ge detector. The thermal-neutron flux component was derived with the reaction rates of flux monitors (
Au, 
Co and 
Mo) on the basis of Westcott's convention, and found to be (5.920.10)10
n/cm
/sec at the irradiation position. The measured reaction rate for each metal sample divided by the evaluated thermal-neutron capture cross-section should give the same value of the thermal-neutron flux component if the cross section is suitable. This time, we found that the cross sections of Sc and Zn were consistent with the evaluated one, but those of other nuclides were inconsistent with their evaluated ones; that is, it turned out that their thermal-neutron capture cross-sections should be modified.
Tc separation/concentration technology from 
Mo by (n, ) methodFujita, Yoshitaka; Hu, X.*; Takeuchi, Tomoaki; Takeda, Ryoma; Fujihara, Yasuyuki*; Yoshinaga, Hisao*; Hori, Junichi*; Suzuki, Tatsuya*; Suematsu, Hisayuki*; Ide, Hiroshi
KURNS Progress Report 2022, P. 110, 2023/07
no abstracts in English
Lee, J.; Ito, Fumiaki*; Hironaka, Kota; Takahashi, Tone; Suzuki, Satoshi*; Koizumi, Mitsuo; Hori, Junichi*; Terada, Kazushi*
Dai-43-Kai Nihon Kaku Busshitsu Kanri Gakkai Nenji Taikai Kaigi Rombunshu (Internet), 4 Pages, 2022/11
no abstracts in English
Nakamura, Shoji; Shibahara, Yuji*; Endo, Shunsuke; Kimura, Atsushi
Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 59(11), p.1388 - 1398, 2022/11
Times Cited Count：0 Percentile：0.01(Nuclear Science & Technology)The present study selected 
Np among radioactive nuclides and aimed to measure the thermal-neutron capture cross-section for Np in a well-thermalized neutron field by an activation method. A Np standard solution was used for irradiation samples. A thermal-neutron flux at an irradiation position was measured with neutron flux monitors: Sc, Co, Mo, 
Ta and Au. The Np sample and flux monitors were irradiated together for 30 minutes in the graphite thermal column equipped with the Kyoto University Research Reactor. The similar irradiation was carried out twice. After the irradiations, the Np samples were quantified using 312-keV gamma ray emitted from 
Pa in a radiation equilibrium with Np. The reaction rates of Np were obtained from gamma-ray peak net counts given by 
Np, and then the thermal-neutron capture cross-section of Np was found to be 173.84.4 barn by averaging the results obtained by the two irradiations. The present result was in agreement with the reported data given by a time-of-flight method within the limit of uncertainty.
Np(n, ) reaction with TC-Pn in KURNakamura, Shoji; Endo, Shunsuke; Kimura, Atsushi; Shibahara, Yuji*
KURNS Progress Report 2021, P. 93, 2022/07
In terms of nuclear transmutation studies of minor actinides in nuclear wastes, the present work selected Np among them and aimed to measure the thermal-neutron capture cross-section of Np using a well-thermalized neutron field by a neutron activation method because there have been discrepancies among reported cross-section data. A Np standard solution was used for irradiation samples. The thermal-neutron flux at an irradiation position was measured with flux monitors: Sc, Co, Mo, Ta and Au. The Np sample was irradiated together with the flux monitors for 30 minutes in the graphite thermal column equipped in the Kyoto University Research Reactor. The similar irradiation was repeated once more to confirm the reproducibility of the results. After irradiation, the Np samples were quantified using 312-keV gamma-ray emitted from Pa in radiation equilibrium with Np. The reaction rates of Np were obtained from the peak net counts of gamma-rays emitted from generated Np, and then the thermal-neutron capture cross-section of Np was found to be 173.84.7 barn by averaging the results obtained by the two irradiations. The present result was in agreement with the reported data given by a time-of-flight method within a limit of uncertainty.
Mo/Tc generator by (n, ) method, 4Fujita, Yoshitaka; Seki, Misaki; Ngo, M. C.*; Do, T. M. D.*; Hu, X.*; Yang, Y.*; Takeuchi, Tomoaki; Nakano, Hiroko; Fujihara, Yasuyuki*; Yoshinaga, Hisao*; et al.
KURNS Progress Report 2021, P. 118, 2022/07
no abstracts in English
)O
( = Th, Np) prepared by supercritical hydrothermal synthesisShirasaki, Kenji*; Tabata, Chihiro*; Sunaga, Ayaki*; Sakai, Hironori; Li, D.*; Konaka, Mariko*; Yamamura, Tomoo*
Journal of Nuclear Materials, 563, p.153608_1 - 153608_11, 2022/05
Times Cited Count：2 Percentile：53.91(Materials Science, Multidisciplinary)We focused on the direct synthesis of (U, )O solid solution (=Th, Np) by extending our recent progress in hydrothermal synthesis with additives. The homogeneity of the (U, )O ( = Th, Np) systems prepared by supercritical hydrothermal reactions was investigated through crystallographic analysis based on Vegard's law, and the 
Na nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurement of (U, Np, Na)O solid solutions. Our experimental and analytical results revealed that (i) an optimal additive is ammonium carbonate and starting uranium valence is IV in the case of (U, Th)O
, and (ii) an optimal additive is ethanol and starting uranium valence is VI in the case of (U, Np)O, for producing the homogeneous solid solutions by hydrothermal synthesis.
Mo adsorption and Tc elution with alumina columnsFujita, Yoshitaka; Seki, Misaki; Sano, Tadafumi*; Fujihara, Yasuyuki*; Suzuki, Tatsuya*; Yoshinaga, Hisao*; Hori, Junichi*; Suematsu, Hisayuki*; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko
Journal of Physics; Conference Series, 2155, p.012018_1 - 012018_6, 2022/01
Technetium-99m (Tc), the daughter nuclide of Molybdenum-99 (Mo), is the most commonly used radioisotope in radiopharmaceuticals. The research and development (R&D) for the production of Mo by the neutron activation method ((n, ) method) has been carried out from viewpoints of no-proliferation and nuclear security, etc. Since the specific activity of Mo produced by the (n, ) method is extremely low, developing Al
O
with a large Mo adsorption capacity is necessary to adapt (n, )Mo to the generator. In this study, three kinds of AlO specimens with different raw materials were prepared and compared their adaptability to generators by static and dynamic adsorption. MoO pellet pieces (1.5g) were irradiated with 5 MW for 20 min in the Kyoto University Research Reactor (KUR). Irradiated MoO pellet pieces were dissolved in 6M-NaOH aq. In dynamic adsorption, 1 g of AlO was filled into a PFA tube (
1.59 mm). The Mo adsorption capacity of AlO specimens under dynamic condition was slightly reduced compared to that under static condition. The Tc elution rate was about 100% at 1.5 mL of milking in dynamic adsorption, while it was around 56-87% in static adsorption. The Mo/Tc ratio of dynamic condition was greatly reduced compared to that of static condition. Therefore, the Tc elution property is greatly affected by the method of adsorbing Mo, e.g., the column shape, the linear flow rate, etc.
Nakamura, Shoji; Shibahara, Yuji*; Endo, Shunsuke; Kimura, Atsushi
Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 58(10), p.1061 - 1070, 2021/10
Times Cited Count：5 Percentile：56.94(Nuclear Science & Technology)In a well-thermalized neutron field, it is principally possible to drive a thermal-neutron capture cross-section without considering an epithermal neutron component. This was demonstrated by a neutron activation method using the graphite thermal column (TC-Pn) of the Kyoto University Research Reactor. First, in order to confirm that the graphite thermal column was a well-thermalized neutron field, neutron irradiation was performed with neutron flux monitors: Au, Co, Sc, Cu, and Mo. The TC-Pn was confirmed to be extremely thermalized on the basis of Westcott's convention, because the thermal-neutron flux component took a constant value regardless of the sensitivity of each flux monitor to epithermal neutrons. Next, as a demonstration, the thermal-neutron capture cross section of Ta(n,)
Ta reaction was measured using the graphite thermal column, and then derived to be 20.50.4 barn, which supported the evaluated value of 20.40.3 barn. The Ta nuclide could be useful as a flux monitor that complements the sensitivity between Au and Mo monitors.
Np using graphite thermal columnNakamura, Shoji; Endo, Shunsuke; Kimura, Atsushi; Shibahara, Yuji*
KURNS Progress Report 2020, P. 94, 2021/08
The present study selected Np among radioactive nuclides and aimed to converge a contradiction between reported thermal-neutron capture cross sections. Neutron irradiation was carried out using the graphite thermal column equipped with the Kyoto University Research Reactor. A solution equivalent to 950 Bq order of radioactivity was pipetted out of a Np standard solution and dropped onto a fiber filter, which was then dried with an infrared lamp to prepare a Np sample. The Np sample was quantified using 312-keV gamma ray emitted from Pa in a radiation equilibrium with Np. To monitor a thermal-neutron flux component at an irradiation position, the Np sample was irradiated together with several stable nuclides as neutron flux monitors: Sc, Co, Mo, Ta and Au. The reaction rate of Np was obtained from gamma-ray yields given by Np and Pa, and then the thermal-neutron capture cross section of Np was derived.
Mo/Tc generator by (n, ) method, 3Fujita, Yoshitaka; Seki, Misaki; Namekawa, Yoji*; Nishikata, Kaori; Daigo, Fumihisa; Ide, Hiroshi; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko; Sano, Tadafumi*; Fujihara, Yasuyuki*; Hori, Junichi*; et al.
KURNS Progress Report 2020, P. 136, 2021/08
no abstracts in English
Am(n,)
Am and Am(n,)
Am reactionsNakamura, Shoji; Shibahara, Yuji*; Endo, Shunsuke; Kimura, Atsushi
Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 58(3), p.259 - 277, 2021/03
Times Cited Count：5 Percentile：53.85(Nuclear Science & Technology)Research and development were made for accuracy improvement of neutron capture cross section data on Am among minor actinides. First, the emission probabilities of decay rays were obtained with high accuracy, and the amount of the ground state of 
Am produced by reactor neutron irradiation of Am was examined by -ray measurement. Next, the total amount of isomer and ground states was examined by 
-ray measurement. Thermal-neutron capture cross sections and resonance integrals were derived both for the Am(n,)Am and for Am(n,)Am reactions.
Nagai, Takayuki; Okamoto, Yoshihiro; Akiyama, Daisuke*; Uehara, Akihiro*; Fujii, Toshiyuki*; Sekimoto, Shun*
KURNS Progress Report 2019, P. 257, 2020/08
To understand the influence of glass structural change by neutron irradiation and boron isotope composition, glass samples were made from enrichment boric acid reagents and neutron irradiation of those samples was carried out in Pn-2 of KUR. The structural change of glass sample after the irradiation will be estimated in 2020FY. Before neutron irradiation test of glass samples, the Si-O bridging structure difference by boron isotope composition compared by using a Raman spectrometry.
Am(n,)Am, Am reactionsNakamura, Shoji; Endo, Shunsuke; Kimura, Atsushi; Shibahara, Yuji*
KURNS Progress Report 2019, P. 132, 2020/08
Research and development were made for accuracy improvement of neutron capture cross section data on Am among minor actinides. First, the emission probabilities of decay rays were obtained with high accuracy, and the amount of the ground state of Am produced by reactor neutron irradiation of Am was examinded by -ray measurement. Next, the total amount of isomer and ground states was examoned by -ray measurement.
Mo/Tc generator by (n,) method, 2Fujita, Yoshitaka; Seki, Misaki; Namekawa, Yoji*; Nishikata, Kaori; Kato, Yoshiaki; Sayato, Natsuki; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko; Sano, Tadafumi*; Fujihara, Yasuyuki*; Hori, Junichi*; et al.
KURNS Progress Report 2019, P. 157, 2020/08
no abstracts in English
Fukushima, Masahiro; Oizumi, Akito; Yamanaka, Masao*; Pyeon, C. H.*
KURNS Progress Report 2019, P. 143, 2020/08
For the design study of ADS, integral experimental data of nuclear characteristics of LBE is necessary to validate cross sections of lead (Pb) and bismuth (Bi). The calculation agree with experiment for the Bi sample worth. On the other hand, the calculation overestimates for the Pb sample worth.
