• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제54권12호
• /
• pp.4636-4643
• /
• 2022

A time-of-flight and energy (TOF-E) detection system for the measurement of ²³⁶U accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) has been developed to improve the ²³⁶U/²³⁸U sensitivity at Micro Analysis Laboratory, Tandem accelerator (MALT), The University of Tokyo. With observing TOF distribution of ²³⁵U, ²³⁶U and ²³⁸U, this TOF-E detection system has clearly separated ²³⁶U from the interference of ²³⁵U and ²³⁸U when measuring three kinds of uranium standards. In addition, we have developed a novel method combining kernel-based density estimation method and multi-Gaussian fitting method to estimate the ²³⁶U/²³⁸U sensitivity of the TOF-E detection system. Using this new estimation method, 3.4 × 10^-12 of ²³⁶U/²³⁸U sensitivity and 1.9 ns of time resolution are obtained. ²³⁶U/²³⁸U sensitivity of TOF-E detection system has improved two orders of magnitude better than that of previous gas ionization chamber. Moreover, unknown species other than uranium isotopes were also observed in the measurement of a surface soil sample, which has demonstrated that TOF-E detection system has a higher sensitivity in particle identification. With its high sensibility in mass determination, this TOF-E detection system could also be used in other heavy isotope AMS.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제55권2호
• /
• pp.707-716
• /
• 2023

The influence of waste technological waters of thermal and fast reactors of Beloyarsk NPP (Russia) on the accumulation of ⁶⁰Co, ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs in macrophytes and ichthyofauna of the cooling pond has been studied. Critical radionuclides, routes of their entry into the ecosystem and periods of maximum discharge of radioisotopes into the cooling pond have been determined. It is shown that the technology of electricity generation at the Beloyarsk NPP, based on fast reactors, has a much smaller effect on the release of artificial radionuclides into the environment. Therefore, during the entire period of monitoring studies (1976-2019), the decrease in the specific activity of radionuclides of NPP origin in macrophytes was 13-25800 times, in ichthyofauna 1.5-44.5 times. The maximum discharge of artificial radionuclides into the Beloyarsk reservoir was noted during the period of restoration and decontamination work aimed at eliminating the emergencies at the AMB reactors of NPP. The factors influencing the accumulation of artificial radionuclides in the components of the freshwater ecosystem of the Beloyarsk cooling pond have been determined, including: the physicochemical nature of radioisotopes, their concentration in surface water, the temperature of the aquatic environment, the trophicity of the reservoir, the species of hydrobionts.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제55권3호
• /
• pp.919-926
• /
• 2023

To analyze the cause of the destruction of thin, carbon-backed lithium fluoride targets during a measurement of the fusion of ⁷Li and ¹⁷O, we estimate theoretically the lifetimes of carbon and LiF films due to sputtering, thermal evaporation, and lattice damage and compare them with the lifetime observed in the experiment. Sputtering yields and thermal evaporation rates in carbon and LiF films are too low to play significant roles in the destruction of the targets. We estimate the lifetime of the target due to lattice damage of the carbon backing and the LiF film using a previously reported model. In the experiment, elastically scattered target and beam ions were detected by surface silicon barrier (SSB) detectors so that the product of the beam flux and the target density could be monitored during the experiment. The areas of the targets exposed to different beam intensities and fluences were degraded and then perforated, forming holes with a diameter around the beam spot size. Overall, the target thickness tends to decrease linearly as a function of the beam fluence. However, the thickness also exhibits an increasing interval after SSB counts per beam ion decreases linearly, extending the target lifetime. The lifetime of thin LiF film as determined by lattice damage is calculated for the first time using a lattice damage model, and the calculated lifetime agrees well with the observed target lifetime during the experiment. In experiments using a thin LiF target to induce nuclear reactions, this study suggests methods to predict the lifetime of the LiF film and arrange the experimental plan for maximum efficiency.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제55권6호
• /
• pp.2158-2165
• /
• 2023

Marine radioactivity monitoring is critical for taking immediate action in case of unexpected nuclear accidents at nuclear facilities located near coastal areas. Especially when the level of contamination is not predictable, mobile monitoring systems will be useful for wide-area ocean radiation survey and for determination of the level of radioactivity. Here, we used a silicon photomultiplier and a high-efficiency GAGG crystal to fabricate a compact, battery-powered gamma spectroscopy that can be used in an ocean environment. The developed spectroscopy has compact dimensions of 6.5 × 6.5× 8 cm³ and weighs 560 g. We used LoRa, a low-power wireless protocol for communication. Successful data transmission was achieved within 1.4 m water depth. The developed gamma spectroscopy was able to detect radioactivity from a ¹³⁷Cs point source (3.7 kBq) at a distance of 20 cm in water. Moreover, we demonstrated an unmanned radioactivity monitoring system in a real sea by combining unmanned surface vehicle with the developed gamma spectroscopy. A hidden ¹³⁷Cs source (3.07 MBq) was detected by the unmanned system at a distance of 3 m. After successfully testing the developed mobile spectroscopy in an ocean environment, we believe that our proposed system will be an effective solution for mobile real-time marine radioactivity monitoring.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
• /
• 제47권3호
• /
• pp.183-195
• /
• 2024

Additional functional upgrades to the large-area compton camera (LACC) measurement device that can provide characteristics evaluation information (nuclear species and radioactivity) and two-dimensional or three-dimensional distribution imaging information of radioactive materials existing in surface or internal of concrete structures are required in terms of work stability and efficiency in order to apply to actual decommissioning sites such as nuclear power plants or medical cyclotron facilities by using this measurement device. To this purpose, the technology that allows radiation workers to intuitively and visually check the distribution of radioactive materials in advance by matching the two-dimensional distribution imaging information of radioactive materials obtained through the LACC measurement device and visual imaging of the measurement zone (10 m × 5 m) was developed. In addition, the separate system that can automatically adjust the position (height) in units of the measurement area size (0.7 m × 0.3 m × 0.8 m) of the LACC measurement device was developed and the integrated management system for characteristics evaluation information and two-dimensional or three-dimensional distribution imaging information obtained per unit of measurement for radioactive materials was developed. These functional upgrades related to LACC measurement device can improve work efficiency and safety when measuring radioactivity of concrete structures and enable the establishment of appropriate decommissioning strategies using radioactivity measurement information for decommissioning nuclear power plants or medical cyclotron facilities.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
• /
• 제34권3호
• /
• pp.33-39
• /
• 2023

Purpose: FLASH radiotherapy (RT) using ultra-high dose rate (>40 Gy/s) radiation is being studied worldwide. However, experimental studies such as preclinical studies using small animals are difficult to perform due to the limited availability of irradiation devices and methods for generating a FLASH beam. In this paper, we report the initial dosimetry results of a prototype electron linear accelerator (LINAC)-based irradiation system to perform ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) preclinical experiments. Methods: The present study used the prototype electron LINAC developed by the Research Center of Dongnam Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences (DIRAMS) in Korea. We investigated the beam current dependence of the depth dose to determine the optimal beam current for preclinical experiments. The dose rate in the UHDR region was measured by film dosimetry. Results: Depth dose measurements showed that the optimal beam current for preclinical experiments was approximately 33 mA, corresponding to a mean energy of 4.4 MeV. Additionally, the average dose rates of 80.4 Gy/s and 162.0 Gy/s at a source-to-phantom surface distance of 30 cm were obtained at pulse repetition frequencies of 100 Hz and 200 Hz, respectively. The dose per pulse and instantaneous dose rate were estimated to be approximately 0.80 Gy and 3.8×10⁵ Gy/s, respectively. Conclusions: Film dosimetry verified the appropriate dose rates to perform FLASH RT preclinical studies using the developed electron-beam irradiator. However, further research on the development of innovative beam monitoring systems and stabilization of the accelerator beam is required.

• 한국해안·해양공학회논문집
• /
• 제29권3호
• /
• pp.139-146
• /
• 2017

해안선 변동을 제어하기 위해 설치되는 잠제의 효과를 이해하기 위해 해안선과 평행한 단일 잠제 주변 연안의 흐름변화 특성을 수리실험을 통해 연구하였다. 잠제와 입사파 파라미터에 따른 잠제 후면의 흐름패턴을 관측하기 위해 LSPIV(Large-Scale Particle Image Velocimetry) 이미지 분석 기법을 적용하였고, 잠제 주변의 역학적 특성을 파악하기 위해 평균수면 및 파고분포를 관측하였다. 수리실험을 통해 흐름패턴은 잠제에 의한 파고(파랑응력) 분포변화와 그에 따라 발달하는 잠제 후면과 측면 쇄파유도류 및 평균수면상승효과의 상호작용에 의해 변화됨을 알 수 있었다. 잠제 주변의 분기 또는 수렴하는 흐름패턴에 따라 각각 해안선 변동을 침식 또는 퇴적반응으로 구분하는 Ranasinghe et al.(2010)의 경험식과 수리실험 결과를 비교하여, 전반적으로 경험식에 부합하는 흐름패턴을 확인할 수 있었다. 그러나 일부 실험결과에서 기존의 경험식을 적용하여 구분하기 어려운 침식과 퇴적이 혼재된 반응을 유도하는 흐름패턴도 관찰할 수 있었다.

• 방사성폐기물학회지
• /
• 제18권2_spc호
• /
• pp.305-315
• /
• 2020

방사성폐기물의 심층처분에서 생물권에서의 방사성 핵종 이동을 핵종의 이동 경과 시간을 계산하여 평가하는 방법이 제안되었다. 방사성 핵종은 자연 방벽에서 유출되어 지하 천부의 지하수 흐름을 따라 대규모 지표수체에 도달한다고 가정하였다. 생물권은 기반암 위에 있는 대수층을 포함하는 천부 지하 환경으로 정의하였다. 제안된 방법을 이용하여, 계산 알고리즘을 수립하였고, 알고리즘을 수행하는 컴퓨터 코드를 작성하였다. 작성된 코드는 간단한 사례에서 계산된 모의 결과를 해석해 계산 결과 및 지표 부근에서의 방사성 핵종 이동에 의한 방사선량 평가에 널리 이용되는 공공 프로그램의 계산 결과와 비교하여 검증하였다. 사례 연구 조건을 가상의 심층처분장에서의 방사성 핵종 이동에 대한 이전 연구를 통해 작성하였다. 작성된 코드는 사례 연구에서 생물권의 하천으로 유출되는 핵종의 이동량을 계산하였다. 이전 연구에서는 가상의 처분장에서 모암까지의 방사성핵종의 이동만을 보여주었기 때문에, 이 코드는 모든 경로를 지나가는 방사성 핵종의 전체적인 이동을 파악하는데 도움이 될 수 있었다.

• 한국대기환경학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국대기환경학회 2003년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
• /
• pp.423-423
• /
• 2003

The radiative properties of atmospheric aerosol are determined by the mass and chemical characteristics, and optical properties such as aerosol optical depth (AOD), ngstr m parameter ( $\alpha$) and single scattering albedo (SSA). In particular these aerosol optical properties also determine surface temperature perturbation that may give some information in understanding the regional atmospheric radiative forcing. For understanding the radiative forcing and regional surce of aerosol, this paper summarizes and compares the aerosol optical properties results from and compares the atmospheric aerosol optical properties results from two different experiments: Anmyeon 2000 and Jeju 2001. Korea Global Atmosphere Watch Observatory (KGAWO) at Anmyeon island and ACE-Asia super-site at Gosan Jeju island have measured the radiations and aerosols since the year of 2000. The sites are located in the mid-west and south of Korea peninsula where it is strongly affected by the Asian dust coming from China region in every spring. Aerosol optical properties over both sites were measured through the ground-based sun and sky radiometers were analyzed for understanding the radiation and climate properties. Number concentration and chemical components of aerosol were additionally analyzed for the source estimation in the transportation. The frequency distributions of aerosol optical depth are rather narrow with a modal vaiue of 0.38 at both sites. However, the distributions of show one peak (1.13) at Jeju but two peaks (0.63 and 1.13) at Anmyeon. In the cases of Anmyeon, one peak around 0.63 corresponds to relatively dust-free cases, and the second peak around 1.13 characterizes the situation when Asian dust is presented. The correlation between AOD and resulted high correlation on the wide range with high values of optical depth at Anmyeon, otherwise a narrow range of with moderate to low AOD at Jeju. In dust free condition SSA decrease with waveleneth while in the presence of Asian dust SSA either stays neutral or increases slightly with wavelength. The change of surface temperature shows the stronger positive correlations with aerosol optical depth increase at Anmyeon than Jeju. In the chemical properties the aerosol are related to high concentrations in inorganic matters, SO$^4$, NO$_3$, CA2+ in fine and coarse.

• 한국지구과학회지
• /
• 제36권3호
• /
• pp.210-221
• /
• 2015

지형적인 형태와 지표면의 물리적인 특성은 기상장 뿐 만 아니라 대기질 수치 모델링에서도 가장 중요한 입력변수가 된다. 대부분 복잡지형에서 일어나는 국지적인 기상의 일변동들이 지형적인 불균일성에 의해 지배되기도 한다. 이러한 지형적인 특징들은 열적으로 유도된 대기흐름에 영향을 일으키며 직접적으로는 풍계의 변화를 가져오거나 지표면 가열 온도 자체에서의 중요한 변화를 가져와 간접적으로 영향을 주기도 한다. 복잡지형에서 이러한 변화양상들은 지형적인 특징 즉, 지형적 경사와 성질에 의한 태양복사 에너지의 불균등한 분배에 기인한다. 그러므로 기상장 묘사가 어려운 복잡지형에서는 관측값에 더 가까운 정확한 바람장을 예측하기 위해 상세한 지형 정보와 지표면 자료가 중요하게 된다. 본 연구에서는 상세한 지표면과 지형자료를 지표 경계자료로 활용한 MM5-A2C 모델을 이용하여 복잡한 지형적 조건을 가진 산지지역에서의 바람장 수치모의를 하고자 한다. MM5-A2C에 의해 유도된 기상장은 국지규모의 산지주변에서의 지형강제력에 의한 기상장 해석을 정밀하게 예측하여 모델 내의 지형적 조건이 미치는 영향에 대해 직접적인 영향을 주고 있음을 알 수 있었다.