• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제53권3호
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• pp.942-948
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• 2021

The aim of this work is to help inform the decision for choosing a convenient material for the PGAA (Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis) collimator plug to be installed at the tangential channel of the Moroccan Triga Mark II Research Reactor. Two families of materials are usually used for collimator construction: a mixture of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with boron, which is commonly used to moderate and absorb neutrons, and heavy materials, either for gamma absorption or for fast neutron absorption. An investigation of two different collimator designs was performed using N-Particle Monte Carlo MCNP6.2 code with the ENDF/B-VII.1 and MCLIP84 libraries. For each design, carbon steel and lead materials were used separately as collimator heavy materials. The performed study focused on both the impact on neutron beam quality and the neutron-gamma background at the exit of the collimator beam tube. An analysis and assessment of the principal findings is presented in this paper, as well as recommendations.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.35-44
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• 2003

The neutron induced nuclear data for Eu-153, Gd-155 and Cd-157 are calculated and evaluated in the high energy region. The evaluation procedure for deformed nuclei is setup by using Ecis-Empire codes. The energy dependent optical model potential parameters are searched based on the recent experimental data and applied up to 20 MeV. Optical model, full featured Hauser-Feshbach model and multistep direct and multistep compound model are used in the calculation. The direct-semidirect capture model and the direct coupled-channels contribution to discrete levels are introduced to improve the capture and inelastic scattering cross sections. The theoretically calculated cross sections are compared with the experimental data and the evaluated files. The model-calculated total and capture cross sections are in good agreement with the reference experimental data. The evaluated cross section results are compiled to ENDF-6 format and are expected to improve the ENDF/B-Vl.

• 대한핵의학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.104-111
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• 1993

Trace elements are important components in the biological system, as a structural material and metabolic controller. Neutron activation analysis (NAA) with high neutron flux and high energy resolution Ge (Li) detector coupled to multichannel analyzer (MCA) has been one of the most accurate method for the determination of ultra-trace level components, and is applicable to biological material. In human body, the NAA can be used for quantitation of trace elements in various organs and tissue with endocrinological and metabolic disease and industrial metal poisoning. In this study, Triga Mark III nuclear reactor in Korea Atomic Research Institute was used for quantitation of trace eleement in human lung cancer tissues by neutron activation analysis. In the squamous cell carcinoma tissues, Br, Hg, La, Sb, Sc, Cl, Fe and I content were lower than normal lung tissues, and K, Rb and Se content were higher. In the adenocarcinoma tissues, Fe, Au, La, Sc and Zn content were lower than normal lung tissues, and Rb, Co and Se content were higher. Rb content was higher in the adenocarcinoma tissues than in the squamous cell carcinoma tissues. Fe and Na content were higher in the squamous cell carcinoma tissues than in the adenocarcinoma tissues.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.167-174
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• 2023

Background: A nondestructive test is commonly used to inspect the surface defects and internal structure of an object without any physical damage. X-rays generated from an electron accelerator or a tube are one of the methods used for nondestructive testing. The high penetration of X-rays through materials with low atomic numbers makes it difficult to discriminate between these materials using X-ray imaging. The interaction characteristics of neutrons with materials can supplement the limitations of X-ray imaging in material discrimination. Materials and Methods: The radiation image acquisition process for air-cargo security inspection equipment using X-rays and neutrons was simulated using a GEometry ANd Tracking (Geant4) simulation toolkit. Radiation images of phantoms composed of 13 materials were obtained, and the R-value, representing the attenuation ratio of neutrons and gamma rays in a material, was calculated from these images. Results and Discussion: The R-values were calculated from the simulated X-ray and neutron images for each phantom and compared with those obtained in the experiments. The R-values obtained from the experiments were higher than those obtained from the simulations. The difference can be due to the following two causes. The first reason is that there are various facilities or equipment in the experimental environment that scatter neutrons, unlike the simulation. The other is the difference in the neutron signal processing. In the simulation, the neutron signal is the sum of the number of neutrons entering the detector. However, in the experiment, the neutron signal was obtained by superimposing the intensities of the neutron signals. Neutron detectors also detect gamma rays, and the neutron signal cannot be clearly distinguished in the process of separating the two types of radiation. Despite these differences, the two results showed similar trends and the viability of using simulation-based radiation images, particularly in the field of security screening. With further research, the simulation-based radiation images can replace ones from experiments and be used in the related fields. Conclusion: The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute has developed air-cargo security inspection equipment using neutrons and X-rays. Using this equipment, radiation images and R-values for various materials were obtained. The equipment was reconstructed, and the R-values were obtained for 13 materials using the Geant4 simulation toolkit. The R-values calculated by experiment and simulation show similar trends. Therefore, we confirmed the feasibility of using the simulation-based radiation image.

• 천문학회보
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.64.1-64.1
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• 2021

Accretion flows around black holes and neutron stars emit high energy radiation with varying spectral and timing properties. Observed timing variations, both short and long-term, point to the existence of a mechanism, dictated by the flow dynamics, and not by the stellar surface or magnetic fields, that is common in both. Spectral energy distributions of multiple sources indicate that the Comptonization process, the dominant mechanism for changing states in X-ray, takes place inside the flow that has similar physical properties in both the objects. In a series of observational and numerical studies, we enquire about the following: 1. Is there a steady state configuration for accreting matter around black holes that can explain spectral and timing properties? 2. Could a similar formalism explain spectral and timing properties of accretion around neutron stars? 3. Could there be a generalized flow configuration for accreting matter around such compact objects? Furthermore, we show that a unified spectral model can be constructed based on the generalized flow configuration, common to black holes and neutron stars.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제2권3호
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• pp.27-31
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• 2008

고에너지 X-ray를 사용하는 방사선 이용 시설에서는 고에너지 광자에 의한 광중성자 등의 발생에 대한 방사선방호 조치가 방사선 안전의 관점에서 매우 중요한 이슈 중의 하나이다. 이러한 광중성자들은 시설 외부로 누설될 경우 skyshine effect에 의해 작업종사자 및 일반 대중에게 예기기 않은 방사선 피폭을 야기할 수 있다. 이 논문에서는 9MeV X-ray를 이용한 화물검색시설을 대상으로 몬테카를로법을 이용하여 광중성자 생성량을 계산하고 이를 통해 시설 외부에서의 중성자 skyshine 방사선량률을 평가하였다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.234-247
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• 1995

Trace elements in airborne particulates were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) under the optimum analytical condition. Neutron irradiation for sample was done at the irradiation hole(neutron flux 1$\times$10$^{13}$ n/$\textrm{cm}^2$.s) of TRIGA MARK-III research reactor in the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. For the verification of the analytical method, NIST SRM-1648 and NIES CRM No.8 ore chosen and analyzed. The accuracy and precision of the analysis of 40 and 24 trace elements in the samples were compared with the certified and reported values, respectively. The analytical method was found to be reliable enough when the analytical data of NIES sample were compared with those of different counties. In the analytical result of two or both of standard reference materials, relative standard deviation wes within the 15％ except a few elements and the relative error was within the 10％. We used this method to analyze 30 trace elements in airborne particulates collected with the high volume air sampler(PM-10) at too different locations and also confirmed the possibility to use this method as a routine monitoring tool to find out environmental pollution sources.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제52권3호
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• pp.647-653
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• 2020

Stainless steel is used commonly in nuclear applications for shielding radiation, so in this study, three different types of new stainless steel samples were designed and developed. New stainless steel compound ratios were determined by using Monte Carlo Simulation program Geant 4 code. In the sample production, iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), silicium (Si), sulphur (S), carbon (C), molybdenum (Mo), manganese (Mn), wolfram (W), rhenium (Re), titanium (Ti) and vanadium (V), powder materials were used with powder metallurgy method. Total macroscopic cross sections, mean free path and transmission number were calculated for the fast neutron radiation shielding by using (Geant 4) code. In addition to neutron shielding, the gamma absorption parameters such as mass attenuation coefficients (MACs) and half value layer (HVL) were calculated using Win-XCOM software. Sulfuric acid abrasion and compressive strength tests were carried out and all samples showed good resistance to acid wear and pressure force. The neutron equivalent dose was measured using an average 4.5 MeV energy fast neutron source. Results were compared to 316LN type stainless steel, which commonly used in shielding radiation. New stainless steel samples were found to absorb neutron better than 316LN stainless steel at both low and high temperatures.

• 한국방사성폐기물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국방사성폐기물학회 2004년도 학술대회지
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• pp.280-280
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• 2004

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.79-86
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• 2015

헬륨-3는 높은 반응효율, 장시간 사용가능성, 감마선에 대한 낮은 반응확률 등과 같은 장점들을 가지고 있기 때문에 대부분의 중성자 검출기의 반응물질로 사용되어 왔다. 그러나 지난 몇 년 사이 전세계적인 헬륨-3의 부족으로 인해 기체의 수급이 어려워지고 있고 이에 따라 가격이 급격히 증가하게 되었다. 이러한 이유로 헬륨-3 대체 물질들을 이용한 고효율의 중성자 검출기의 개발에 대한 연구가 많은 연구그룹에 의해 활발히 진행되기 시작하였다. 이러한 연구에서는 다양한 물질들을 이용하고 있으며, 이 중에서 붕소-10은 다른 대체물질과 비교할 때 상대적으로 높은 중성자 반응확률, 낮은 감마반응효율, 물질의 안정성, 가격적 이점 그리고 기존 헬륨-3를 이용한 검출기의 계측회로의 재활용 가능성 등과 같은 장점들 때문에 많은 연구그룹에서 붕소-10을 이용한 중성자 검출기 개발을 진행하고 있다. 본 논문에서는 중성자 검출기에 사용될 수 있는 붕소-10 박막을 개발하고 이에 대한 성능평가를 수행하였다. 중성자 검출기의 반응물질로 붕소-10을 사용하기 위해서는 중성자와 붕소-10이 반응하여 생성되는 이차방사선을 측정할 수 있어야 한다. 본 연구에서 활용한 기체충진형 중성자 검출기의 경우 붕소-10을 얇은 박막 형태로 제작하여 중성자와 반응하여 생성된 이차방사선이 기체를 이온화 시켜서 생성되는 이온쌍을 측정하는 방법을 이용한다. 그러므로 중성자 반응효율과 이차방사선의 재흡수율을 고려한 붕소-10(탄화붕소)의 적절한 두께를 선정할 필요가 있다. 이를 위해서 본 논문에서는 몬테칼로 기법을 이용하는 MCNP6를 이용하여 다양한 두께에 따른 중성자신호수집효율의 변화를 계산하였다. 또한, 스퍼터링 기법을 이용하여 다양한 두께의 박막을 제작하고 이를 이용하여 중성자 반응신호를 측정하였다. 그리고 제작된 박막의 2차원 모니터링을 위한 다중선 비례계수기의 적용가능성을 타진하기 위해 제작된 붕소박막이 설치된 2차원 다중선 비례계수기를 제작하고 중성자 응답 특성을 평가하였다.