Fast Neutron Capture Reaction Data Measurement of Minor Actinides for Development of Nuclear Transmutation Systems

Tatsuya Katabuchi,Atsushi Kimura,Nobuyuki Iwamoto,Jun-Ichi Hori,Gerard Rovira,Osamu Iwamoto,Shota Matsuura,Yuji Shibahara,Kazushi Terada,Shoji Nakamura,Z Ge,Y Chen,H Zhang,N Shu,W Wang

doi:10.1051/epjconf/202023901044

Tatsuya Katabuchi, Atsushi Kimura + Show 13 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202023901044

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Journal: EPJ web of conferences	Publication Date: Jan 1, 2020
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Kyoto University

Abstract

A research project entitled "study on accuracy improvement of fast-neutron capture reaction data of long-lived MAs for development of nuclear transmutation systems" is ongoing as a joint collaboration, including Tokyo Tech, Japan Atomic Energy Agency and Kyoto University in Japan. This project focuses on neutron capture reaction of minor actinides237Np,241Am and243Am, in the fast neutron energy region. The final goal of this project is to improve the neutron capture cross sections utilizing a high-intensity neutron beam from a spallation neutron source of the Japan Proton Research Complex. The overview of the project and the current progress are presented.

Highlights

Long-lived minor actinides (MA) in nuclear waste from nuclear power plants are a serious issue in the nuclear industries
In most of the proposed accelerator-driven system (ADS), a subcritical system sustained by neutron input from an accelerator-based neutron source is adopted
The results showed that the uncertainties of the capture cross section data of 237Np, 241Am and 243Am are sizable components to uncertainties of calculated reactor physics parameters such as criticality or void reactivity

Summary

Introduction

Long-lived minor actinides (MA) in nuclear waste from nuclear power plants are a serious issue in the nuclear industries. To improve reactor physics calculation, more accurate neutron capture cross section data of the MAs are required. This nuclear data demand motivated us to start a research project entitled “Study on accuracy improvement of fast-neutron capture reaction data of long-lived MAs for development of nuclear transmutation systems”. This project focuses on the neutron capture reaction of MAs, especially 237Np, 241Am and 243Am, in the fast neutron energy region. Many nuclear data measurements have been already conducted using ANNRI successfully [6,7,8,9,10,11], this project aims to improve ANNRI, focusing on neutron capture cross section measurement of MAs in the fast neutron energy region, 0.5 - 500 keV.

Neutron beam filter

Sample characteristics assay

Theoretical reaction model study

Findings

Summary