Prediction of composite neutron source spectra by combination of JENDL-5 and PHITS

Ogawa, Tatsuhiko

Annals of Nuclear Energy, 216, p.111256_1 - 111256_12, 2025/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2025.111256

A novel robust method has been developed to simulate the performance of composite neutron sources composed of an alpha-emitting actinide and a light nucleus with low neutron separation energy. This method is based on the JENDL-5 cross-section data library and the Monte-Carlo radiation transport code PHITS. In contrast to previously devised methods, this approach can predict various quantities of the sources, such as actinide grain size dependence, absolute neutron emission intensity, energy spectra of neutrons and parasitic photons, neutron multiplicity, and time structure, with little approximation. The accurate calculation of stopping power of alpha rays in actinide grains and light elements, as well as the use of (,n) reaction evaluated cross sections, which is one of the unique features of PHITS Ver.3.34 and its later versions, are the essences of the method. This method allows for the calculation of quantities important for practical applications, such as detection signal frequency, coincidence event rate, and the impact of parasitic gamma-rays.

Remote alpha/beta measurement system with support vector machine algorithm

Morishita, Yuki; Miyamura, Hiroko; Sato, Yuki; Matsubara, Jun*; Sumali, B.*; Mitsukura, Yasue*

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, p.170368_1 - 170368_16, 2025/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2025.170368

Decommissioning nuclear reactor sites presents challenges due to the presence of various radionuclides, including alpha emitters (e.g., Pu, Am, Cm) and beta emitters (e.g., Cs, Sr-Y), which pose significant internal exposure risks to workers. Traditional measurement methods require multiple instruments and are time-consuming, particularly in high gamma-ray environments. To address these issues, we developed a remote alpha and beta discrimination measurement system that integrates a stilbene scintillator detector with a silicon photomultiplier, enabling simultaneous detection of both alpha and beta particles. This study further incorporates machine learning techniques, specifically Support Vector Machines (SVM), for automatic discrimination, eliminating the need for user-defined thresholds and ensuring consistent operational conditions. The system was tested with known radiation sources, demonstrating over 96% classification accuracy for alpha and beta particles. Measurements conducted in motion effectively identified contamination sources, confirming the system's capability for real-time analysis. This innovative approach enhances radiation safety and efficiency in nuclear decommissioning operations, making it particularly beneficial in environments where human access is limited.

Development of a method for distinguishing alpha particles from other types of radiation using a high-resolution alpha imager

Morishita, Yuki; Sagawa, Naoki; Fujisawa, Makoto; Kurosawa, Shunsuke*; Sasano, Makoto*; Hayashi, Masateru*; Tanaka, Hiroki*

Radiation Measurements, 181, p.107371_1 - 107371_5, 2025/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2024.107371

The effects of different types of radiation on a high-resolution alpha imager developed using an electron multiplying charge-coupled device (EMCCD) camera were investigated. This imager was originally developed to visualize alpha particles from Pu oxide particles at decommissioning sites. Other types of radiation such as beta particles, gamma rays, and neutrons are also present. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of these background radiations on the imager and to develop a method to discriminate between alpha particles and other types of radiation. When measuring gamma rays, and neutrons, the sensor of the EMCCD camera generated high intensity signals due to gamma rays and neutrons. These radiations were identified by image processing. The image values were binarized and the findContours function was applied to count the number of alpha particle spots. The results showed that alpha and gamma (neutron) radiation can be discriminated by using differences in intensity. This method will be useful for visualizing alpha particles at decommissioning sites.

Development of a high-resolution imaging camera for alpha dust and high-dose rate monitor (Contract research); FY2022 Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project

Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science; Tohoku University*

JAEA-Review 2024-016, 61 Pages, 2024/12

JAEA-Review-2024-016.pdf:2.88MB

The Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science (CLADS), Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), had been conducting the Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project (hereafter referred to "the Project") in FY2022. The Project aims to contribute to solving problems in the nuclear energy field represented by the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO). 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 FY2022, this report summarizes the research results of the "Development of a high-resolution imaging camera for alpha dust and high-dose rate monitor" conducted in FY2022. The present study aims to develop a high-resolution imaging camera for alpha dust and a high-dose rate monitor. To realize the high-resolution imaging camera for alpha dust, we have developed novel scintillation materials with emission bands of 500-800 nm. Moreover, we have prepared several materials for the camera and software. We have also developed novel scintillation materials with emission bands of 650-1,000 nm, and simulation studies have been conducted for the high-dose-rate monitor system consisting of optical fiber.

Development of a new corrosion mitigation technology using nanobubbles toward corrosion mitigation in PCV system under the influence of //-rays radiolysis (Contract research); FY2022 Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project

Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science; Tohoku University*

JAEA-Review 2024-019, 102 Pages, 2024/09

JAEA-Review-2024-019.pdf:4.4MB

The Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science (CLADS), Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), had been conducting the Nuclear Energy Science & Technology and Human Resource Development Project (hereafter referred to "the Project") in FY2022. The Project aims to contribute to solving problems in the nuclear energy field represented by the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO). 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 FY2020, this report summarizes the research results of the "Development of a new corrosion mitigation technology using nanobubbles toward corrosion mitigation in PCV system under the influence of //-rays radiolysis" conducted from FY2020 to FY2022. The present study aims to corrosion, which is considered to be an important factor in the aging degradation of confinement functions (PCV, negative pressure maintenance system, etc.) during the fuel debris removal process. If the chemical species (especially HO) generated by radiolysis become locally concentrated in the areas where short-range - and -radiation emitting nuclides come into contact, the corrosion of steels may be greatly accelerated in those areas.

Lattice dynamics of CH(NH)PbI and CH(NH)SnI investigated by inelastic X-ray scattering and comparison of their elastic properties

Tamatsukuri, Hiromu; Murakami, Yoichi*; Saito, Noriko*; Ohashi, Naoki*; Tsutsui, Satoshi*

Physical Review B, 110(2), p.024301_1 - 024301_8, 2024/07

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.110.024301

Evaluation of quenching characteristics of Li-containing scintillators

Watanabe, Kenichi*; Oshima, Yuya*; Shigyo, Nobuhiro*; Hirata, Yuho

Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 63(5), p.056001_1 - 056001_5, 2024/05

https://doi.org/10.35848/1347-4065/ad39bd

Lithium-containing scintillators are used for neutron detection; Li-containing scintillators detect tritons and alpha rays produced by neutrons. Since these particles deposit higher energy than gamma rays, Li-containing scintillators can separate gamma rays and neutrons. However, the luminescence efficiency of scintillator decreases for ion beams due to a phenomenon called the quenching effect. Evaluation of the quenching effect is necessary to accurately separate neutrons and gamma rays. The Birks equation is used to predict the scintillation efficiency change due to the quenching effect, but it is necessary to determine the quenching coefficient in the Birks equation. In this study, we used PHITS to calculate the luminescence of Li-containing scintillators considering the quenching effect based on Birks' equation with the quenching coefficient as a free parameter. Then, by comparing the simulated results with the experimentally obtained luminescence, the extinction coefficients of Li glass, Ce:LiCaAlF, and Eu:LiCaAlF scintillators were determined.

Application of transition-edge sensors for micro-X-ray fluorescence measurements and micro-X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy; a case study of uranium speciation in biotite obtained from a uranium mine

Yomogida, Takumi; Hashimoto, Tadashi; Okumura, Takuma*; Yamada, Shinya*; Tatsuno, Hideyuki*; Noda, Hirofumi*; Hayakawa, Ryota*; Okada, Shinji*; Takatori, Sayuri*; Isobe, Tadaaki*; et al.

Analyst, 149(10), p.2932 - 2941, 2024/03

https://doi.org/10.1039/D4AN00059E

In this study, we successfully applied a transition-edge sensor (TES) spectrometer as a detector for microbeam X-ray measurements from a synchrotron X-ray light source to determine uranium (U) distribution at the micro-scale and its chemical species in biotite obtained from the U mine. It is difficult to separate the fluorescent X-ray of the U L line at 13.615 keV from that of the Rb K line at 13.395 keV in the X-ray fluorescence spectrum with an energy resolution of approximately 220 eV of the conventional silicon drift detector (SDD). Meanwhile, the fluorescent X-rays of U L and Rb K were fully separated by TES with 50 eV energy resolution at the energy of around 13 keV. The successful peak separation by TES led to an accurate mapping analysis of trace U in micro-X-ray fluorescence measurements and a decrease in the signal-to-background ratio in micro-X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy.

Search for the 6 condensed state in Mg using the C+C scattering

Fujikawa, Y.*; Kawabata, T.*; Adachi, S.*; Hirose, Kentaro; Makii, Hiroyuki; Nishio, Katsuhisa; Orlandi, R.; Suzaki, Fumi; 13 of others*

Physics Letters B, 848, p.138384_1 - 138384_6, 2024/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physletb.2023.138384

Oxygen interstitials make metastable titanium alloys strong and ductile

Chong, Y.*; Gholizadeh, R.*; Guo, B.*; Tsuru, Tomohito; Zhao, G.*; Yoshida, Shuhei*; Mitsuhara, Masatoshi*; Godfrey, A.*; Tsuji, Nobuhiro*

Acta Materialia, 257, p.119165_1 - 119165_14, 2023/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2023.119165

Metastable titanium alloys possess excellent strain-hardening capability, but suffer from a low yield strength. As a result, numerous attempts have been made to strengthen this important structural material in the last decade. Here, we explore the contributions of grain refinement and interstitial additions in raising the yield strength of a Ti-12Mo (wt.%) metastable titanium alloy. Surprisingly, rather than strengthening the material, grain refinement actually lowers the ultimate tensile strength in this alloy. This unexpected and anomalous behavior is attributed to a significant enhancement in strain-induced martensite phase transformation, where in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction analysis reveals, for the first time, that this phase is much softer than the parent phase. Instead, a combination of both oxygen addition and grain refinement is found to realize an unprecedented strength-ductility synergy in a Ti-12Mo-0.3O (wt.%) alloy. The advantageous effect of oxygen solutes in this ternary alloy is twofold. Firstly, solute oxygen largely suppresses strain-induced transformation to the martensite phase, even in a fine-grained microstructure, thus avoiding the softening effect of excessive amounts of martensite. Secondly, oxygen solutes readily segregate to twin boundaries, as revealed by atom probe tomography. This restricts the growth of deformation twins, thereby promoting more extensive twin nucleation, leading to enhanced microstructural refinement. The insights from our work provide a cost-effective rationale for the design of strong yet tough metastable titanium alloys, with significant implications for more widespread use of this high strength-to-weight structural material.