Sustainability-oriented prioritization of nuclear fuel cycle transitions in China:a holistic MCDM framework under uncertainties

A sustainability-oriented assessment of the nuclear energy system can provide informative and convincing decision-making support for nuclear development strategies in China.In our previous study,four authentic nuclear fuel cycle(NFC)transi-tion scenarios were proposed,featuring different development stages and exhibiting distinct environmental,economic,and technical characteristics.However,because of the multiple and often conflicting criteria embedded therein,determining the top-priority NFC alternative for a sustainability orientation remains challenging.To address this issue,this study proposed a novel hybrid multi-criteria decision-making framework comprising fuzzy AHP,PROMETHEE GAIA,and MOORA.Initially,an improved fuzzy AHP weighting model was developed to determine criteria weights under uncertainty and investigate the influence of various weight aggregation and defuzzification approaches.Subsequently,PROMETHEE GAIA was used to address conflicts among the criteria and prioritize alternatives on a visualized k-dimensional GAIA plane.As a result,the alternative for direct recycling PWR spent fuel in fast reactors is considered the most sustainable.Furthermore,a sensitivity analysis was conducted to examine the influence of criteria weight variation and validate the screening results.Finally,using MOORA,some significant optimization ideas and valuable insights were provided to support decision-makers in shaping nuclear development strategies.

Stepped-up development of accelerator mass spectrometry method for the detection of ^(60)Fe with the HI-13 tandem accelerator

The Moon provides a unique environment for investigating nearby astrophysical events such as supernovae.Lunar samples retain valuable information from these events,via detectable long-lived“fingerprint”radionuclides such as^(60)Fe.In this work,we stepped up the development of an accelerator mass spectrometry(AMS)method for detecting^(60)Fe using the HI-13tandem accelerator at the China Institute of Atomic Energy(CIAE).Since interferences could not be sufficiently removed solely with the existing magnetic systems of the tandem accelerator and the following Q3D magnetic spectrograph,a Wien filter with a maximum voltage of±60 kV and a maximum magnetic field of 0.3 T was installed after the accelerator magnetic systems to lower the detection background for the low abundance nuclide^(60)Fe.A 1μm thick Si_(3)N_(4) foil was installed in front of the Q3D as an energy degrader.For particle detection,a multi-anode gas ionization chamber was mounted at the center of the focal plane of the spectrograph.Finally,an^(60)Fe sample with an abundance of 1.125×10^(-10)was used to test the new AMS system.These results indicate that^(60)Fe can be clearly distinguished from the isobar^(60)Ni.The sensitivity was assessed to be better than 4.3×10^(-14)based on blank sample measurements lasting 5.8 h,and the sensitivity could,in principle,be expected to be approximately 2.5×10^(-15)when the data were accumulated for 100 h,which is feasible for future lunar sample measurements because the main contaminants were sufficiently separated.

Theoretical analysis of the double-differential cross-sections of neutron,proton,deuteron,^(3)He,andαfor the p+^(6) Li reaction

Based on the unified Hauser–Feshbach and exciton model,which can describe the particle emission processes between discrete energy levels with energy,angular momentum,and parity conservations,a statistical theory of light nucleus reaction(STLN)is developed to calculate the double-differential cross-sections of the outgoing neutron and light charged particles for the proton-induced^(6) Li reaction.A significant difference is observed between the p+^(6) Li and p+^(7) Li reactions owing to the discrepancies in the energy-level structures of the targets.The reaction channels,including sequential and simultaneous emission processes,are analyzed in detail.Taking the double-differential cross-sections of the outgoing proton as an example,the influence of contaminations(such as^(1) H,^(7)Li,^(12)C,and^(16)O)on the target is identified in terms of the kinetic energy of the first emitted particles.The optical potential parameters of the proton are obtained by fitting the elastic scattering differential cross-sections.The calculated total double-differential cross-sections of the outgoing proton and deuteron at E_(p)=14 MeV agree well with the experimental data for different outgoing angles.Simultaneously,the mixed double differential cross-sections of^(3) He andαare in good agreement with the measurements.The agreement between the measured data and calculated results indicates that the two-body and three-body breakup reactions need to be considered,and the pre-equilibrium reaction mechanism dominates the reaction processes.Based on the STLN model,a PLUNF code for the p+^(6) Li reaction is developed to obtain an ENDF-6-formatted file of the double-differential cross-sections of the nucleon and light composite charged particles.

Determination of r Factor of Kalbach-Mann Systematics for Energy Balance

Kalbach Mann systematics is a very useful formula to discrete the double-differential cross sections of emitted particles. However, the energy balance by using this systematics is still a task to be studied. In the form of Legendre polynomial expansion the energy balance has been proved analytically. In terms of this approach, the formula to determine the prc-equilibrium fraction r factor of Kalbach Mann systematics has been obtained for keeping energy balance strictly. This formula could be straightforwardly applied for describing the double-differential cross sections of all projectile types in the eontinuum spectrum emissions. It indicates that Legendre expansion coefficient with l= 1 is the key term in the energy balance.

Simulations of spin/polarization-resolved laser-plasma interactions in the nonlinear QED regime

Strong-field quantum electrodynamics(SF-QED)plays a crucial role in ultraintense laser-matter interactions and demands sophisticated techniques to understand the related physics with new degrees of freedom,including spin angular momentum.To investigate the impact of SF-QED processes,we have introduced spin/polarization-resolved nonlinear Compton scattering,nonlinear Breit-Wheeler,and vacuum birefringence processes into our particle-in-cell(PIC)code.In this article,we provide details of the implementation of these SF-QED modules and share known results that demonstrate exact agreement with existing single-particle codes.By coupling normal PIC simulations with spin/polarization-resolved SF-QED processes,we create a new theoretical platform to study strong-field physics in currently running or planned petawatt or multi-petawatt laser facilities.

Diagnosis of ultrafast ultraintense laser pulse characteristics by machine-learning-assisted electron spin

The rapid development of ultrafast ultraintense laser technology continues to create opportunities for studying strong-field physics under extreme conditions.However,accurate determination of the spatial and temporal characteristics of a laser pulse is still a great challenge,especially when laser powers higher than hundreds of terawatts are involved.In this paper,by utilizing the radiative spin-flip effect,we find that the spin depolarization of an electron beam can be employed to diagnose characteristics of ultrafast ultraintense lasers with peak intensities around 10^(20)–10^(22) W/cm^(2).With three shots,our machine-learning-assisted model can predict,simultaneously,the pulse duration,peak intensity,and focal radius of a focused Gaussian ultrafast ultraintense laser(in principle,the profile can be arbitrary)with relative errors of 0.1%–10%.The underlying physics and an alternative diagnosis method(without the assistance of machine learning)are revealed by the asymptotic approximation of the final spin degree of polarization.Our proposed scheme exhibits robustness and detection accuracy with respect to fluctuations in the electron beam parameters.Accurate measurements of ultrafast ultraintense laser parameters will lead to much higher precision in,for example,laser nuclear physics investigations and laboratory astrophysics studies.Robust machine learning techniques may also find applications in more general strong-field physics scenarios.

Synchronization and Control of Halo-Chaos in Beam Transport Network with Small World Topology

The synchronous conditions of two kinds of the small-world （SW） network are studied. The small world topology can affect on dynamical behaviors of the beam transport network （BTN） largely, if the BTN is constructed with the SW topology, the global linear coupling and special linear feedback can realize the synchronization control of beam halo-chaos as well as periodic state in the BTN with the SW topology, respectively. This important result can provide an effective way for the experimental study and the engineering design of the BTN in the high-current accelerator driven radioactive clean nuclear power systems, and may have potential use in prospective applications for halo-chaos secure communication.

Small World Properties Generated by a New Algorithm Under Same Degree of All Nodes

Based on the model of the same degree of all nodes we proposed before, a new algorithm, the so-called “spread all over vertices” （SAV） algorithm, is proposed for generating small-world properties from a regular ring lattices. During randomly rewiring connections the SAV is used to keep the unchanged number of links. Comparing the SAV algorithm with the Watts-Strogatz model and the “spread all over boundaries” algorithm, three methods can have the same topological properties of the small world networks. These results offer diverse formation of small world networks. It is helpful to the research of some applications for dynamics of mutual oscillator inside nodes and interacting automata associated with networks.

Laser test of the prototype of CEE time projection chamber

A prototype thick-GEM-based cooling storage ring external-target experiment(CEE) time projection chamber(TPC) is constructed and tested with the pulsed ultraviolet laser beams. The results indicate that the prototype TPC has a good performance in three-dimensional track resolution. In X direction the position resolution is about 0.2 mm, and in Y direction the position resolution is about 0.5 mm. The results also determine that the energy resolution is about 5.4%, which achieve the requirements of the CEE experiment and can be used to study the nuclear state equation and the quantum chromo dynamics.

Control of Halo-Chaos in Beam Transport Network via Neural Network Adaptation with Time-Delayed Feedback

Subject of the halo-chaos control in beam transport networks （channels） has become a key concerned issue for many important applications of high-current proton beam since 1990＇. In this paper, the magnetic field adaptive control based on the neural network with time-delayed feedback is proposed for suppressing beam halo-chaos in the beam transport network with periodic focusing channels. The envelope radius of high-current proton beam is controlled to reach the matched beam radius by suitably selecting the control structure and parameter of the neural network, adjusting the delayed-time and control coefficient of the neural network.

Isospin effects on intermediate mass fragments at intermediate energy-heavy ion collisions

In this study,we investigated the isospin properties of intermediate mass fragments(IMFs)for the central collisions of^(112,124)Sn+^(112,124)Sn at a beam energy of50 MeV per nucleon using an improved quantum molecular dynamics model(ImQMD)coupled with a sequential decay model(GEMINI).Three observables were analyzed:(1)the average center-of-mass kinetic energy per nucleon<Ec.m./A>of fragments as a function of their charge number Z;(2)the average neutron number to proton number ratio(<N>/Z)of fragments with a given charge number Z as a function of their center-of-mass kinetic energy per nucleon(Ec.m./A);and(3)the average total neutron number to total proton number ratio(ΣN/ΣZ)and double ratio(DR(N/Z))of IMFs with Z=3-8 as a function of their center-of-mass kinetic energy per nucleon Ec.m./A.Our calculations revealed that the sensitivity of the isospin properties of IMFs relative to the stiffness of the symmetry energy remains even after sequential decay.By comparing the calculations ofΣN/ΣZ and DR(N/Z)with the data,it was found that the soft symmetry energy,i.e.,γ=0.5,is favored.

Preparation of large-area isotopic magnesium targets for the 25Mg(p,γ)^26 Al experiment at JUNA

To study the 25Mg(p,y)^26 Al reaction at the Jinping Underground Nuclear Astrophysics laboratory,a large-area 25Mg target with a uniform thickness is needed.A rotating unit is used to ensure the uniformity of the target thickness during evaporation.After many attempts,19 targets with diameters of 40 mm and a non-uniformity of8.4%were prepared simultaneously.The rate of material utilization was approximately 4.7 times higher than that obtained using a conventional evaporation method.

Analysis of Neutron Double-Differential Cross Sections for n ＋ ^12 C Reaction Below 30 MeV

Based on the light nucleus reaction model （Nucl. Sci. Eng. 133 （1999） 218）, four aspects （neutron incident energy region, reaction channel analysis, the renewed level schemes and the optical model parameters） of n＋ ^12 C reaction are improved to calculate total outgoing neutron double-dilferential cross sections with modified LUNF code below 30 MeV. The calculated results agree fairly well with the experimental data at En = 14.1 MeV and 18 MeV. The analysis shows that the pre-equilibrium mechanism, which is exactly considered the conservation of energy, momentum and parity, dominates the whole reaction process. The contribution of the neutron emission from 5He to total energy- angular spectra is also considered properly. This modified LUNF code will be a useful tool to set up the file of neutron double-differential crass sections below 30 Me V in the neutron evaluation nuclear data library.

Remeasurement of the Half-Life of ^(79)Se with the Projectile X-Ray Detection Method

Remeasurement of the half-life of ^(79)Se has been carried out with the projectile x-ray detection(PXD)in accelerator mass spectrometry.We made two major improvements over our earlier ^(79)Se half-life determination[Nucl.Instrum.Methods B 123(1997)403].Fristly,the PXD technique has been used for separation of ^(79)Se and 75Se from 79Br and 75As isobars respectively.Secondly,the half-life of ^(79)Se has been measured relative to the known precise half-life of ^(75)Se(119.79±0.04d).A more reliable half-life of ^(79)Se measured with the PXD technique is(2.95±0.38)×10^(5)y,about a factor of one lower than the previous value,1.1 × 10^(6)y.The problems in the previous measurement are discussed.

Multi-goal Control of Chaotic Connected Complex Networks

Beam transport network(BTN)with small world(SW)(so-called BTN-SW)and Lorenz chaotic connectednetwork with scale-free(SF)are taken as two typical examples,we proposed a global linear coupling and combined withlocal error feedback methods in sub-networks to realize multi-goal control method of halo and chaos in two networksabove.The simulation results show that the methods above is effective for any chaotic connected networks and has apotential of applications in based-halo-chaos secure communication.

Response functions of a 4π summing gamma detector in β-Oslo method

The response functions of a 4π summing BGO detector were established using extensive experimental measurements and GEANT4 simulation. The partial and total efficiencies for all components of the γ-ray interaction with the BGO detector were also measured. These response functions and efficiencies will be used in the β-Oslo method experiments to study the neutron capture cross sections of radioactive heavy ions. The application of the response functions of the BGO detector under simulated continuum γ-rays and source measurement γ-rays proves that the method and response functions are reliable.

Effects of Scale-Free Topological Properties on Dynamical Synchronization and Control in Coupled Map Lattices

In the paper, we study effects of scale-free （SF） topology on dynamical synchronization and control in coupled map lattices （CIVIL）. Our strategy is to apply three feedback control methods, including constant feedback and two types of time-delayed feedback, to a small fraction of network nodes to reach desired synchronous state. Two controlled bifurcation diagrams verses feedback strength are obtained respectively. It is found that the value of critical feedback strength γc for the first time-delayed feedback control is increased linearly as e is increased linearly. The GML with SF loses synchronization and intermittency occurs if γ 〉 γc. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate all results.

Theoretical Analysis of Neutron Double-Differential Cross Section of n ＋^19F at 14.2 MeV

A new light nuclear reaction model has been developed and the double-differential measurements of lp shell nuclei have been analyzed successfully. Now, the application of this model is expanded to 19F of the 2s-ld shell nucleus. The double-differential cross section of total outgoing neutron for n ＋^19F reactions at En=14.2 MeV has been calculated and analyzed, which agrees fairly well with the experimental measurements. In this paper, the contributions from different reaction channels to the double-differential cross sections have been analyzed in detail. The calculations indicate that this light nudear reaction model is also able to be used for the 2s-ld shell nucleus so long as the related level scheme couM be provided sufficiently.

Study of Pre-equilibrium Fission Based on Diffusion Model

In terms of numerical method of Smoluchowski equation the behavior of fission process in diffusion model has been described and analyzed, including the reliance upon time, as well as the deformation parameters at several nuclear temperatures in this paper. The fission rates and the residual probabilities inside the saddle point are calculated for fissile nucleus n＋^238U reaction and un-fissile nucleus p＋^208Pb reaction. The results indicate that there really exists a transient fission process, which means that the pre-equillbrium fission should be taken into account for the fissile nucleus at the high temperature. Oppositely, the pre-equilibrlum fission could be neglected for the un-fissile nucleus. In the certain case the overshooting phenomenon of the fission rates will occur, which is mainly determined by the diffusive current at the saddle point. The higher the temperature is, the more obvious the overshooting phenomenon is. However, the emissions of the light particles accompanying the diffusion process may weaken or vanish the overshooting phenomenon.

Further Analysis of Neutron Double-Differential Cross Section of n ＋ ^16O at 14.1 MeV and 18 MeV

By using a new reaction model for light nuclei, the double-differential cross section of total outgoing neutron with LUNF code for n＋^16O reactions at En=14.1 MeV and 18 MeV have been calculated and analyzed. In this paper the opened reaction channels, which have contribution to emitting the neutrons, are listed in detail. To improve the fitting results the direct inelastic scattering mechanism is involved. The calculating results agree fairly well with the experimental data at E,~ = 14.1 MeV and the deviation from calculated results and experimental data in low energy region at En= 18 MeV has been analyzed. Since the possibility of 5He has been affirmed theoretically [J.S. Zhang, Sci. Chin. G 47 （2004） 137], so 5He emission from n＋ ^16O reaction is taken into account, which plays an important role at the region of the outgoing neutron energy εn〈3 MeV in total outgoing neutron energy-angular spectrum. The calculated results indicate that the pre-equilibrium mechanism dominates the whole reaction processes, and the recoil effect in light nuclear reactions is essentially important.