• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.158-165
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• 2017

Background: Nuclear facilities in South Korea have generally adopted pressurized ion chambers to measure ambient gamma ray exposure rates for monitoring the impact of radiation on the surrounding environment. The rates assessed with pressurized ion chambers do not distinguish between natural and man-made radiation, so a further step is needed to identify the cause of abnormal variation. In contrast, using NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors to detect gamma energy rates can allow an immediate assessment of the cause of variation through an analysis of the energy spectra. Against this backdrop, this study was conducted to propose a more effective way to monitor ambient gamma exposure rates. Materials and Methods: The following methods were used to analyze gamma energy spectra measured from January to November 2016 with NaI detectors installed at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) dormitory and Hanbat University. 1) Correlations of the variation of rates measured at the two locations were determined. 2) The dates, intervals, duration, and weather conditions were identified when rates increased by $5nSv{\cdot}h^{-1}$ or more. 3) Differences in the NaI spectra on normal days and days where rates spiked by $5nSv{\cdot}h^{-1}$ or more were studied. 4) An algorithm was derived for automatically calculating the net variation of the rates. Results and Discussion: The rates measured at KAERI and Hanbat University, located 12 kilometers apart, did not show a strong correlation (coefficient of determination = 0.577). Time gaps between spikes in the rates and rainfall were factors that affected the correlation. The weather conditions on days where rates went up by $5nSv{\cdot}h^{-1}$ or more featured rainfall, snowfall, or overcast, as well as an increase in peaks of the gamma rays emitted from the radon decay products of $^{214}Pb$ and $^{214}Bi$ in the spectrum. This study assumed that $^{214}Pb$ and $^{214}Bi$ exist at a radioactive equilibrium, since both have relatively short half-lives of under 30 minutes. Provided that this assumption is true and that the gamma peaks of the 352 keV and 1,764 keV gamma rays emitted from the radionuclides have proportional count rates, no man-made radiation should be present between the two energy levels. This study proved that this assumption was true by demonstrating a linear correlation between the count rates of these two gamma peaks. In conclusion, if the count rates of these two peaks detected in the gamma energy spectrum at a certain time maintain the ratio measured at a normal time, such variation can be confirmed to be caused by natural radiation. Conclusion: This study confirmed that both $^{214}Pb$ and $^{214}Bi$ have relatively short half-lives of under 30 minutes, thereby existing in a radioactive equilibrium in the atmosphere. If the gamma peaks of the 352 keV and 1,764 keV gamma rays emitted from these radionuclides have proportional count rates, no man-made radiation should exist between the two energy levels.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.107-115
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• 1993

In this study, to develop highly sensitive radiation sensors, $CaSO_4$ : Tm phosphors and its disc-type TLD elements embedded PTFE(polytetrafluoroethylene) are fabricated. The highest sensitivity of $CaSO_4$ : Tm phosphors is obtained when phosphors have been doped with 0.5mol % Tm and sintered in atmosphere at $600^{\circ}C$ for two hours. Fabricated disc-type elements are made from a homogeneous mixture of phosphors and PTFE powder. They are first cold-pressed and then polymerized at $370^{\circ}C$ in air for one hour. The dose dependence of the prepared $CaSO_4$ : Tm TLD radiation sensors is linear within the range of $100{\mu}Gy{\sim}10Gy$ for X-rays and ${\gamma}-rays$. The response of $CaSO_4$ : Tm to 30keV X-rays is ten times higher than that of 1.25MeV $^{60}Co\;{\gamma}-rays$. The fading rate of the main peak is about 2% per a month. The spectral peaks of TL emission spectrum are at about 350nm and 475nm. The $CaSO_4$ : Tm TLD radiation sensors prepared in this work may be used as radiation dosimeter for personal and environmental monitoring because of their high sensitivity and little fading.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.2287-2290
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• 2003

The electrical characteristics of power devices such as BJT (Bipolar Junction Transistor), and MOSFET (Metal Oxide Field Effect Transistor), etc, are altered due to impinging photon radiation and temperature in the nuclear or the space environment. In this paper, BJT and MOSFET are the two devices subjected to ${\gamma}$ radiation. In the case of BJT, the current gain (${\beta}$) and the collector to Emiter breakdown voltage ($V_{CEO}$) are the two main parameters considered. When it was subjected to ${\gamma}$ rays, the ${\beta}$ decreases as the dose level increases, whereas, $V_{CEO}$ gradually increases as the dose level increases. In the case of MOSFET, the threshold voltage is decreasing as the dose level increases. Here it has been observed the decent rate is an increasing function of the threshold voltage. The on-resistance does not change with respect to the dose. Both the devices recover back the original specification after the annealing is finished. No permanent damage has been occurred.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.101-120
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• 2014

The nature of the exotic stellar corpses which reincarnate by consuming their companion is reviewed. Apart from sucking life from their partners, they are actually eating the doomed companions away by their deadly and powerful particle/radiation beams. Such situation resembles that a female "black widow" spider that eats its mate after mating. These celestial zombies are called - Millisecond pulsars (MSPs). In this review article, I will focus on the effort of Fermi Asian Network (FAN) in exploring these intricating objects over the last five years. Two special classes of MSPs are particularly striking. Since Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has started surveying the gamma-ray sky, the population of "black widows" has been boosted. Another dramatic class is so-called "redbacks" (Australian cousin of "black widows") which has just emerged in the last few years. These MSPs provide us with a long-sought missing link in understanding the transition between accretion-powered and rotation-powered systems. The strategy of hunting MSPs through mulitwavelength observations of the unidentified Fermi objects is also reviewed.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.83.2-83.2
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• 2010

During the formation of cosmic web, collisionless shock waves are produced around and inside the substructures. In these shock waves electrons and ions are accelerated to such high energies that they can produce gamma rays in several ways. Many authors have studied the contribution of shock-induced radiation to the cosmic gamma-ray background. However not all the important physical processes are included in their calculation. By considering more complete physical process, we re-investigate the problem. In our model, the energy distribution of the cosmic rays (CRs) are calculated by widely accepted diffusive shock acceleration model, both primary and secondary CR electrons are included, both inverse Compton scattering and bremsstrahlung process are considered. The difference of the results are discussed.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.124-127
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• 2004

W/n-GaN Schottky diodes were irradiated with $^{60}Co\;{\gamma}-rays$ to doses up to 315Mrad. The barrier height obtained from current-voltage (I-V) measurements showed minimal change from its estimated initial value of ${\sim}0.4eV$ over this dose range, though both forward and reverse I-V characteristics show evidence of defect center introduction at doses as low as 150 Mrad. Post irradiation annealing at $500^{\circ}C$ increased the reverse leakage current, suggesting migration and complexing of defects. The W/GaN interface is stable to high dose of ${\gamma}-rays$, but Au/Ti overlayers employed for reducing contact sheet resistance suffer from adhesion problems at the highest doses.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.64-69
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• 1982

Directional correlation measurements for the Co-60 and Cs-134 cascade gamma-rays have been performed in the angular range from 90$^{\circ}$ to 180$^{\circ}$ by use of the fast coincidence scintillation spectrometer incorporated with a gamma-ray polarimeter based on the Compton scattering effect to determine the polarization correlations. The experimental method together with the theoretical background is described, and the results are shown graphically to represent the consistency of the measurement with approximate theoretical estimates.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.363-371
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• 2019

In this study, physical properties of normal concrete, magnetite concrete, EAF concrete, and EAF concrete with added iron powder were evaluated and a feasibility of radiation shielding is also evaluated through irradiation tests against X-rays and gamma-rays. While the unit weight of EAF concrete (3.21 t/㎥) appeared lower than that of magnetite concrete (3.50 t/㎥), the results in compressive strength of EAF concrete were greater than those in magnetite and normal concrete. While the radiation transmission rate of normal concrete reaches 26.0% in the X-ray irradiation test, only 6.0% and 9.0% of transmission rate were observed in magnetite concrete and linear relationship with unit volume weight and radiation shielding. In the gamma-ray irradiation test, the performance of EAF and magnetite concretes appeared to be similar. Through the results on the excellent physical properties and radiation shielding performance a potential applicability of EAF concrete to radiation shielding was verified.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.123-127
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• 2014

The Cs-137 irradiator is widely used to irradiate biological samples for radiobiological research. To obtain the accurate outcomes, correct measurements of the delivered absorbed dose to a sample is important. The IAEA protocols such as TRS-277 and TRS-398 were recommended for the Cs-137 reference dosimetry. However in TRS-398 protocol, currently known as the most practical dosimetry protocol, the quality factor ($k_{Q,Q_0}$) for Cs-137 gamma rays is not suggested. Therefore, the use of TRS-398 protocol is currently unavailable for the Cs-137 dosimetry directly. The calculation method previously introduced for high energy photon beams in radiotherapy was used for deriving the Cs-137 beam qualities ($k_{Q,Q_0}$) for the 15 commercially available farmer type ionization chambers in this study. In conclusion, $k_{Q,Q_0}$ values were ranged from 0.998 to 1.002 for Cs-137 gamma rays. These results can be used as the reference and dosimeter calibrations for Cs-137 gamma rays in the future radiobiological researches.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.145-149
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• 2006

Textile and pigment wastewater samples collected from an industrial complex showed toxic effect on Daphnia magna. For textile wastewater, 48 h acute toxicity of effluent was not detected while toxic unit (TU) of influent was 1.79. The toxicity of influent was completely disappeared by gamma-ray treatment at 10 kGy or by suspended solids (SS) removal. In case of pigment wastewater, both influent and effluent were toxic to D. magna though the effluent satisfied current water quality standards. Gamma-ray treatment had little effect on the toxicity reduction of pigment wastewater since the toxicity was mainly caused by metal ions, in particular, Cr(VI). This work suggests the bioassay technique for monitoring adverse effects of wastewater should be introduced, and also shows the usefulness of gamma-rays as an advanced treatment technique for textile wastewater.