Identification of Pu and U isotopic composition and its applications in environmental and CBRN research

This paper describes the most common presently used methods for detecting uranium and plutonium isotopes after their introduction to environment. Known isotope ratios of U and Pu in different nuclear events are important tool for characterizing the sources of nuclear material. Detection techniques both in field and in laboratory are presented, as well as different models that can be used for identifying the origin and age of the nuclear material. Identification of the source of nuclear material in environmental samples is needed for estimating the quality and quantity of the nuclear hazard. This information is essential in risk assessment and crisis management, in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear(CBRN) research after e.g. a terrorist attack, in radioecology and environmental radioactivity research.

The Role of Nuclei-Nuclei Interactions in the Production of Gamma-ray Lines in Solar Flares

Dramatic extensions of experimental possibilities (spacecraft RHESSI, CORONAS-F and others) in solar gamma-ray astronomy call for urgent, detailed theoretical consideration of a set of physical problems of solar activity and solar-terrestrial relationships that earlier may have only been outlined. Here we undertake a theoretical analysis of issues related to the production of gamma-radiation in the processes of interactions of energetic (accelerated) heavy and middle nuclei with the nuclei of the solar atmosphere (the so-called i-j interactions). We also make an estimate of the contribution of these interactions to the formation of nuclear and isotopic abundances of the solar atmosphere in the range of light and rare elements. The analysis is carried out for solar flares in the wide range of their intensities. We compare our theoretical estimates with RHESSI observations for the flare of 2002 July 23. It was shown that the 24Mg gamma-ray emission in this event was produced by the newly generated Mg nuclei. With a high probability, the gamma-ray line emission of 28Si nuclei from this flare was generated by the same processes.

A novel coated-particle design and fluidized-bed chemical vapor deposition preparation method for fuel-element identification in a nuclear reactor

Particle coating is an important method that can be used to expand particle-technology applications. Coated-particle design and preparation for nuclear fuel-element trajectory tracing were focused on in this paper. Particles that contain elemental cobalt were selected because of the characteristic gamma ray spectra of 60Co. A novel particle-structure design was proposed by coating particles that contain elemental cobalt with a high-density silicon-carbide （SiC） layer. During the coating process with the high-density SiC layer, cobalt metal was formed and diffused towards the coating, so an inner SiC–CoxSi layer was designed and obtained by fluidized-bed chemical vapor deposition coupled with in-situ chemical reaction. The coating layers were studied by X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques. The chemical composition was also determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The novel particle design can reduce the formation of metallic cobalt and prevent cobalt diffusion in the coating process, which can maintain safety in a nuclear reactor for an extended period. The experimental results also validated that coated particles maintain their structural integrity at extremely high temperatures （～1950 °C）, which meets the requirements of next-generation nuclear reactors.

Measurement of Electron-Drift Velocity in Ar＋CH4 Mixtures Using Double-Grid Method

Based on analyzing the induced signals from the double-grids of an ionization chamber, the electron-drift time between the two grids is determined and the electron-drift velocity is derived. A waveform digitizer is employed to record pulses from the two grids of the ionization chamber. The electron-drift velocity is measured as a function of the reduced electric field E/p for eight different ratios of Ar＋CH4 mixtures. By analyzing the experimental data of this study, self-consistency of experimental data is achieved, and formulae for calculating electron-drift velocity in any ratio of Ar＋CH4 mixtures are obtained.

Unification of Gravity and Electromagnetism

Gravity and electromagnetism are two sides of the same coin, which is the clue of this unification. Gravity and electromagnetism are represented by two mathematical structures, symmetric and antisymmetric respectively. Einstein gravitational field equation is the symmetric mathematical structure. Electrodynamics Lagrangian is three parts, for electromagnetic field, Dirac field and interaction term. The definition of canonical energy momentum tensor was used for each term in Electrodynamics Lagrangian to construct the antisymmetric mathematical structure; symmetric and antisymmetric gravitational field equations are two sides of the same Lagrangian.

Theoretical Design of a 104MHz Ladder Type IH-RFQ Accelerator

Beam dynamics and rf designs of a 104 MHz ladder type IH-RFQ （L-IH-RFQ） accelerator are finished at Peking University for the acceleration of 14C＋ from 40 keV to 500 keV. As a specific feature, the output beam energy spread is as low as 0.6% achieved with the internal discrete bunching method, which makes potential applications of RFQ feasible, such as accelerator mass spectrometry and ion implantation. Tolerances of the beam dynamics design are studied by means of changing the input beam parameters, and the results are quite satisfying. On the other hand, the L-IH-RFQ structure is employed, taking advantage of its mechanical stability and the absence of inter-electrode voltage asymmetry. Radio-frequency properties are studied and optimized for reducing power loss with Microwave Studio （MWS）. Tuning of the field flatness and frequency is investigated in principle.

High Power THz Undulator Radiation from Linear Accelerator

A 30-MeV femto-second electron linac is built at the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, which can produce high power, coherent THz undulator radiation. We report the experimental facility and measurement of the power, frequency spectrum. First experiments show the averaged power at THz to be about 20mW.

Progress in AMS Measurement of 182Hf at CIAE

Accelerator mass spectrometry （AMS） is one of the most promising methods to detect minute amounts of 182Hf. However, the sensitivity of 5×10^-11 for ^182Hf/180Hf obtained previously by the AMS method at China Institute of Atomic Energy （CIAE） cannot meet the requirement of some applications. We present some new improvements of measurement method for AMS measurement of 182Hf at the CIAE HI？13 tandem accelerator system. As a result, a sensitivity of 1.0×10^-11 for 182Hf/180Hf is achieved.

Use of multiscale particle simulations in the design of nuclear plant decommissioning

The application of a digital modelling method that can faithfully take account of three-dimensional shape and inherent physical and chemical properties of each particulate component provides an essential tool in decommissioning design. This is useful in handling of high, medium and low level radioactive waste. The processes involve making decisions on where to cut existing plant components and then how to pack these components into boxes, which are then cemented and kept for long term storage as the level of radioactive declines with time. We illustrate the utility of the method and its ability to take data at plant scale （m-scale） and then deduce behaviours at sub millimetre scale in the packed containers. A variety of modelling approaches are used as a part of this approach including cutting algorithms, geometric and dynamic （distinct element） force models, and lattice Boltzmann methods. These methods are applicable to other complex particulate systems including simulation of waste, building recycling, heap leaching and related minerals processes. The paper introduces the basic concepts of this multi-scale and multi-model approach.

Time-Resolved Measurement of Radiatively Heated Iron 2p-3d Transmission Spectra

An experimental measurement of radiatively heated iron plasma transmission spectra was performed on Shenguang II laser facility. In the measurement, the self？emission spectrum, the backlighting spectrum, and the absorption spectrum were imaged with a flat filed grating and recorded on a gated micro channel plate detector to obtain the time-resolved transmission spectra in the range 10-20 ？ （approximately 0.6-1.3 keV）. Experimental results are compared with the calculation results of an unsolved transition array （UTA） code. The time-dependent relative shift in the positions of the 2p-3d transmission array is interpreted in terms of the plasma temperature variations.

Proton Ratio of HL-2A Bucket Ion Source

For heating the tokamak plasma effectively, the ion source must be capable of producing ions with high proton ratio. The proton ratio, which is found to be more than 65.6% at the ion current of 19.6A with the extraction voltage of 39.6 k V, is measured with an image spectrograph by Doppler shift effect of Balmer-α-radiation spectrum emitted from fast hydrogen particles. The tendency of proton ratio with the ion density in experiment is almost the same as the mode devised by Zhang et al. Okumura et al. only gave the affection of the plasma volume and ion loss area on the proton ratio, but the relationship between the ion density in chamber and the proton ratio was not presented. We give the relationship.

Assessment of Primordial Radionuclides in Pakistani Red Bricks and Associated Radiation Doses

Specific activity of primordial radionuclides and associated radiation hazards due to 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th have been measured in backed red brick samples, collected from five highly populated areas of the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. For the detection, analysis and data acquisition, a high purity germanium detector was used. Associated external doses were calculated using a Monte Carlo neutron photon transport code. A theoretical model to determine the gamma dose rate at 1 m height from the floor, made of bricks, was employed for the calculation of mass attenuation coefficient and self-absorption in the floor for the gamma energies of these radionuclides and their progeny. Monte Carlo simulation shows that in this study the floor, having more than an effective thickness of 15 cm, contributes very little to the external gamma dose rate. The values of the external dose rate and annual effective dose are found to be much lower than the world average as well as from other countries of the world.