Reactor decay heat in 239Pu: solving the γ discrepancy in the 4-3000-s cooling period

The β feeding probability of (102,104,105,106,107)Tc, 105Mo, and 101Nb nuclei, which are important contributors to the decay heat in nuclear reactors, has been measured using the total absorption technique. We have coupled for the first time a total absorption spectrometer to a Penning trap in order to obtain sources of very high isobaric purity. Our results solve a significant part of a long-standing discrepancy in the γ component of the decay heat for 239Pu in the 4-3000 s range.     

Generation IV reactors and the ASTRID prototype: Lessons from the Fukushima accident

In France, the ASTRID prototype is a sodium-cooled fast neutron industrial demonstrator, fulfilling the criteria for Generation IV reactors. ASTRID will meet safety requirements as stringent as for 3rd generation reactors, and take into account lessons from the Fukushima accident. The objectives are to reinforce the robustness of the safety demonstration for all safety functions. ASTRID will feature an innovative core with a negative sodium void coefficient, take advantage of the large thermal inertia of SFRs for decay heat removal, and provide for a design either eliminating the sodium–water reaction, or guaranteeing no consequences for safety in case such reaction would take place.     

Application of Origen2.1 in the decay photon spectrum calculation of spallation products

Origen2.1 is a widely used computer code for calculating the burnup, decay, and processing of radioactive materials. However, the nuclide library of Origen2.1 is used for existing reactors like pressurized water reactors. To calculate the photon spectrum released by the decay of spallation products, we have made specific libraries for the ADS tungsten spallation target, based on the results given by the FLUKA Monte Carlo code. All the data used to make the Origen2.1 libraries are obtained from Nuclear structure & decay Data (NuDat2.6). The accumulated activity of spallation products and the contribution of nuclides to photon emission are given in this paper.     

High-precision half-life measurements of atomic nuclei

In a series of measurements performed at the IGISOL facility at the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä, the half-lives of ²⁶Si, ²⁹P, ^30,31S, ⁴²Ti and ⁶²Ga were measured with high precision. These half-lives are important ingredients for tests of the weak-interaction standard model and allow, together with other experimental inputs and theoretical correction terms, the determination of the vector coupling constant of the weak interaction. The IGISOL method used in Jyväkylä is an ideal tool for these measurements as it allows to access all elements without distinction of their chemical properties.     

Influence of soot particle aggregation on time-resolved laser-induced incandescence signals

Laser-induced incandescence (LII) is a versatile technique for quantitative soot measurements in flames and exhausts. When used for particle sizing, the time-resolved signals are analysed as these will show a decay rate dependent on the soot particle size. Such an analysis has traditionally been based on the assumption of isolated primary particles. However, soot particles in flames and exhausts are usually aggregated, which implies loss of surface area, less heat conduction and hence errors in estimated particle sizes. In this work we present an experimental investigation aiming to quantify this effect. A soot generator, based on a propane diffusion flame, was used to produce a stable soot stream and the soot was characterised by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) and an aerosol particle mass analyzer coupled in series after a differential mobility analyzer (DMA-APM). Despite nearly identical primary particle size distributions for three selected operating conditions, LII measurements resulted in signal decays with significant differences in decay rate. However, the three cases were found to have quite different levels of aggregation as shown both in TEM images and mobility size distributions, and the results agree qualitatively with the expected effect of diminished heat conduction from aggregated particles resulting in longer LII signal decays. In an attempt to explain the differences quantitatively, the LII signal dependence on aggregation was modelled using a heat and mass transfer model for LII given the primary particle and aggregate size distribution data as input. Quantitative agreement was not reached and reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.     

Prediction of the thermophysical properties of molten salt fast reactor fuel from first-principles

Molten fluorides are known to show favourable thermophysical properties which make them good candidate coolants for nuclear fission reactors. Here we investigate the special case of mixtures of lithium fluoride and thorium fluoride, which act both as coolant and as fuel in the molten salt fast reactor concept. By using ab initio parameterised polarisable force fields, we show that it is possible to calculate the whole set of properties (density, thermal expansion, heat capacity, viscosity and thermal conductivity) which are necessary for assessing the heat transfer performance of the melt over the whole range of compositions and temperatures. We then deduce from our calculations several figures of merit which are important in helping the optimisation of the design of molten salt fast reactors.     

Quantum Anti-Zeno Effect in Artificial Quantum Systems

In this paper, we study a quantum anti-Zeno effect (QAZE) purely induced by repetitive measurements for an artificial atom interacting with a structured bath. This bath can be artificially realized with coupled resonators in one dimension and possesses photonic band structure like Bloch electron in a periodic potential. In the presence of repetitive measurements, the pure QAZE is discovered as the observable decay is not negligible even for theatomic energy level spacing outside of the energy band of the artificial bath. If there were no measurements, the decay would not happen outside of the band. In this sense, the enhanced decay is completely induced by measurements through the relaxation channels provided by the bath. Besides, we also discuss the controversial golden rule decay rates originated from the van Hove's singularities and the effects of the counter-rotating terms.     

Measurement of the thorium-228 activity in solutions cavitated by ultrasonic sound

We show that cavitation of a solution of thorium-228 in water does not induce its transformation at a faster rate than the natural radioactive decay. We measured the activity of a thorium-228 solution in water before, and after, it was subjected to a cavitation at 44 kHz and 250 W for 90 min in order to observe any change in the thorium half-life. The results were compared to the original activity of the sample and we observed no change. Our results and conclusions conflict with those in a recent paper by F. Cardone et al. [1].     

稀土尾矿砂放射性活度的测量与计算分析

准确测量并计算稀土尾矿砂的放射性活度浓度及其变化规律对制定相应的豁免标准和日后的处理处置具有重要的意义。根据选取的特征 射线,分析对比平衡与非平衡状态下铀系、钍系、锕系三个天然衰变系的总活度浓度,结合衰变链的一般动力学方程,计算总放射性活度与每个核素的放射性活度,并研究钍系各核素在平衡被不同程度破坏的情况下随时间的变化规律。结果显示,按照非平衡情况下计算得出的总α 和总β 放射性活度浓度比平衡情况下的更接近实际测量结果,此外,钍系核素在平衡被破坏后的放射性活度随时间变化情况与母体和228Ra 的初始放射性活度浓度有关,若228Ra 小于232Th,则总放射性活度在60 a再次平衡后达到最大值,为10 倍的母体活度;若228Ra 大于232Th,则总放射性活度在3.82 a 出现最大值,为4.57 倍母体活度与5.25 倍第一子体228Ra 的初始活度浓度之和。因此,可知稀土尾矿砂放射性活度已经遭到破坏,其总活度浓度应该采用非平衡情况下的几个特征核素的活度浓度共同计算得到,并且需计算分析其随时间变化出现的最大值,以此来确定是否超过相关法规标准。It is of great significance to measure and calculate rare earth tailing radioactivity for the development of appropriate standards and exemption disposal. The total activity concentration of the three natural decay series (uranium series, thorium series, actinium series) was analyzed under the equilibrium and disequilibrium state according to the selected characteristic  γ-rays. At the same time, we calculated the total activity concentration and the radioactivity for each radionuclide based on the general kinetic equations of decay chain and studied the trend of each radionuclide of thorium-series under different degrees of disequilibrium with time. The results demonstrated that the total radioactivity of and calculated in disequilibrium state was more closed to the actual measurement results compared to that in equilibrium state. In addition, the activity changes with time of thorium series in disequilibrium state are related to the initial activity concentration of the mother nuclide and 228Ra. If the activity concentration of 228Ra is less than that of 232Th, the total activity peak will be 10 times to maternal activity and appear after 60 a when the thorium series become balance again. If the activity concentration of 228Ra is greater than that of 232Th, the maximum total activity will appear in 3.82 a, and will be the sum of 4.57 times of the initial activity concentration of the mother nuclide and 5.25 times of the initial activity concentration of the first daughter 228Ra. Therefore, the rare earth tailings have been in disequilibrium state, and its total activity concentration should be determined based on the activity concentration of several  feature radionuclides. In addition, the maximum value of the activity concentration is profitable to judge whether the activity concentration is fit with relevant regulations and standards.     

Nuclear decay data: Some applications and needs

Nuclear decay data have broad relevance to a number of basic scientific disciplines as well as to many areas of technology. In this paper we discuss selected applications where decay data are making, or promise to make, important contributions. The following specific illustrations are discussed: the 1arge body of precise new actinide-nuclide decay data produced through the work of the recently concluded IAEA Coordinated Research Program on the Measurement and Evaluation of Transactinium Isotope Nuclear Decay Data; the use of actinide-nuclide half-lives as reference standards in nuclear-data measurements; and the relevance of short-lived fission-product decay data to basic physics and reactor technology and some of the problems and challenges that they present to both theory and experiment.     

Effects of heat conduction and sample size on ultrasonic absorption measurements

The absorption coefficient of a material can be determined by measuring the heating which occurs as a result of ultrasonic irradiation. When narrow focused beams are used to heat a sample, or when the available volume of a material is restricted to small dimensions, then the effect of heat conduction to surrounding unheated regions becomes significant, complicating the relation between measured temperatures and acoustic parameters. In this paper new analytical expressions, which account for radial and axial heat flow in a medium, are derived for the case of Gaussian-shaped ultrasonic beam patterns in thin or semi-infinite absorbing materials. Solutions are given for temperature histories resulting from an ultrasonic impulse (pulse decay method) or a step input (rate of heating method). The use of these equations in absorption measurements is discussed, and experimental results are given. These expressions provide flexibility in choice of laboratory ultrasonic parameters, and the results are especially useful for many biomedical measurements where the volume of tissue available is restricted.     

Measurement of upper level lifetime in presence of radiation trapping: A revisitation of the pinhole method

In this work we expose a recently developed theoretical model for the analysis of the measurements obtained with the so-called pinhole method, for the determination of the upper level lifetime in materials where the superimposition between fluorescence and absorption spectra determines significant radiation trapping effect. Under fairly general conditions the fluorescence decay curve after a pulsed excitation of the sample obtained with this experimental set-up can be conveniently described by a double exponential functional form. The faster of the two decay times is close to the intrinsic fluorescence lifetime, with a difference that can be calculated with geometrical considerations. The theoretical results were tested with a suitably designed experiment, where the upper level lifetime of the laser transition of some Yb doped samples were investigated, obtaining results that are consistent with literature data and in good agreement with the theoretical results as for the temporal dependence of the fluorescence decay.     

Dynamics of quantum zeno and anti-zeno effects in an open system

We provide a general dynamical approach for the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno efects in an open quantum system under repeated non-demolition measurements.In our approach the repeated measurements are described by a general dynamical model without the wave function collapse postulation.Based on that model,we further study both the short-time and long-time evolutions of the open quantum system under repeated non-demolition measurements,and derive the measurement-modified decay rates of the excited state.In the cases with frequent ideal measurements at zero-temperature,we re-obtain the same decay rate as that from the wave function collapse postulation(Nature,2000,405:546).The correction to the ideal decay rate is also obtained under the non-ideal measurements.Especially,we find that the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno efects are possibly enhanced by the non-ideal natures of measurements.For the open system under measurements with arbitrary period,we generally derive the rate equation for the long-time evolution for the cases with arbitrary temperature and noise spectrum,and show that in the long-time evolution the noise spectrum is efectively tuned by the repeated measurements.Our approach is also able to describe the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno efects given by the phase modulation pulses,as well as the relevant quantum control schemes.     

Dynamics of quantum zeno and anti-zeno efects in an open system

We provide a general dynamical approach for the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno efects in an open quantum system under repeated non-demolition measurements.In our approach the repeated measurements are described by a general dynamical model without the wave function collapse postulation.Based on that model,we further study both the short-time and long-time evolutions of the open quantum system under repeated non-demolition measurements,and derive the measurement-modified decay rates of the excited state.In the cases with frequent ideal measurements at zero-temperature,we re-obtain the same decay rate as that from the wave function collapse postulation(Nature,2000,405:546).The correction to the ideal decay rate is also obtained under the non-ideal measurements.Especially,we find that the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno efects are possibly enhanced by the non-ideal natures of measurements.For the open system under measurements with arbitrary period,we generally derive the rate equation for the long-time evolution for the cases with arbitrary temperature and noise spectrum,and show that in the long-time evolution the noise spectrum is efectively tuned by the repeated measurements.Our approach is also able to describe the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno efects given by the phase modulation pulses,as well as the relevant quantum control schemes.     

Gamow-Teller decay of118Pd and of neighbouring even isotopes of palladium

Neutron-rich isotopes of palladium were produced via the fission of²³⁸U by 20 MeV protons. These isotopes were selected using the ion guide-fed on-line mass-separator facility IGISOL at Jyväskylä. Their decays were studied byβ-ray,γ-ray and conversion-electron spectroscopy. For¹¹⁴Pd and¹¹⁶Pd, the decay schemes established previously were confirmed; additionally multipolarities were determined for a few transitions. In the case of¹¹⁸Pd, only an approximate half-life was known from a previous radiochemical experiment. In the present study, 15 gamma transitions were observed, most of which were placed in a decay scheme. The half-life and the decay energy were found to beT _1/2=1.9±0.1 s andQ _β=4.0±0.2 MeV. The decay schemes of¹¹⁴Pd,¹¹⁶Pd and¹¹⁸Pd include — respectively — two, two and four 0⁺→1⁺ Gamow-Teller beta transitions with logft values between 4.1 and 5.1. The strength of these transitions is discussed in terms of the extreme single particle shell model with pairing and the spherical proton-neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation. The possible role of deformation is considered using a shell correction method. Predictions for the decay properties of the as yet unobserved¹²⁰Pd are given.     

ThO2的比热

ＴｈＯ₂的比热Ｃ_p是其它用作核反应堆燃料的锕系二氧化物例如ＵＯ₂ＰｕＯ₂等的Ｃ_p中的声子部分．它的精确确定有助于弄清其它因素对锕系二氧化物Ｃ_p的贡献．通过对ＴｈＯ₂的Ｃ_p的研究发展了一个可用于研究其它固体Ｃ_p的普遍方法．在这种方法里，对一种固体的三种不同性质的实验测量——比热、热膨胀和Ｄｅｂｙｅ-Ｗａｌｅｒ因子     

Quantum Zeno effect by general measurements

It was predicted that frequently repeated measurements on an unstable quantum state may alter the decay rate of the state. This is called the quantum Zeno effect (QZE) or the anti-Zeno effect (AZE), depending on whether the decay is suppressed or enhanced. In conventional theories of the QZE and AZE, effects of measurements are simply described by the projection postulate, assuming that each measurement is an instantaneous and ideal one. However, real measurements are not instantaneous and ideal. For the QZE and AZE by such general measurements, interesting and surprising features have recently been revealed, which we review in this article. The results are based on the quantum measurement theory, which is also reviewed briefly. As a typical model, we consider a continuous measurement of the decay of an excited atom by a photodetector that detects a photon emitted from the atom upon decay. This measurement is an indirect negative-result one, for which the curiosity of the QZE and AZE is emphasized. It is shown that the form factor is renormalized as a backaction of the measurement, through which the decay dynamics is modified. In a special case of the flat response, where the detector responds to every photon mode with an identical response time, results of the conventional theories are reproduced qualitatively. However, drastic differences emerge in general cases where the detector responds only to limited photon modes. For example, against predictions of the conventional theories, the QZE or AZE may take place even for states that exactly follow the exponential decay law. We also discuss relation to the cavity quantum electrodynamics.     

Integrating artificial neural networks and empirical correlations for the prediction of water-subcooled critical heat flux

The critical heat flux (CHF) is an important parameter for the design of nuclear reactors, heat exchangers and other boiling heat transfer units. Recently, the CHF in water-subcooled flow boiling at high mass flux and subcooling has been thoroughly studied in relation to the cooling of high-heat-flux components in thermonuclear fusion reactors. Due to the specific thermal-hydraulic situation, very few of the existing correlations, originally developed for operating conditions typical of pressurized water reactors, are able to provide consistent predictions of water-subcooled-flow-boiling CHF at high heat fluxes. Therefore, alternative predicting techniques are being investigated. Among these, artificial neural networks (ANN) have the advantage of not requiring a formal model structure to fit the experimental data; however, their main drawbacks are the loss of model transparency (‘black-box’ character) and the lack of any indicator for evaluating the accuracy and reliability of the ANN answer when ‘never-seen’ patterns are presented. In the present work, the prediction of CHF is approached by a hybrid system which couples a heuristic correlation with a neural network. The ANN role is to predict a datum-dependent parameter required by the analytical correlation; this parameter was instead set to a constant value obtained by usual best-fitting techniques when a pure analytical approach was adopted. Upper and lower boundaries can be possibly assigned to the parameter value, thus avoiding the case of unexpected and unpredictable answer failure. The present approach maintains the advantage of the analytical model analysis, and it partially overcomes the ‘black-box’ character typical of the straight application of ANNs because the neural network role is limited to the correlation tuning. The proposed methodology allows us to achieve accurate results and it is likely to be suitable for thermal-hydraulic and heat transfer data processing.     

Nuclear levels in228Th populated in the decay of228Pa

The electron-capture decay of²²⁸Pa to levels in²²⁸Th has been studied using mass-separated sources and high-resolutionγ-ray and conversion-electron spectroscopy. A level at 979.5 keV is assigned as 2⁺ member of a second excited K_π=0⁺ band, with the 0⁺ band head at 938.6 keV. The 2⁺ and 3⁺ members of a second excited K_π=2⁺ band at 1153.5 and 1200.5 keV, which decay by strongE0 transitions to the 969 keVγ-vibrational band, are confirmed. In addition we tentatively propose a K_π=1⁺ band at 944 keV. The K_π=0^?, 1^? and 2^? members of the octupole quadruplet are confirmed, and theγ decay of these levels is analysed in an approach, in which the mixing of the octupole bands by the Coriolis interaction is taken into account. It is suggested that octupole correlations might be important for theE1 transition moments. A total of 29 levels is observed between ～1.4 and ～2.0 MeV, for which the nuclear structure, and the possible assignment to rotational bands, is unclear.