China Institute Of Atomic Energy Research Articles

Acoustic response of superheated droplet detectors to neutrons

The search for dark matter (DM) is a hot field nowadays, a number of innovative techniques have emerged. The superheated droplet technique is relatively mature; however, it is recently revitalized in a number of frontier fields including the search for DM. In this work, the acoustic response of Superheated Droplet Detectors (SDDs) to neutrons was studied by using a 252Cf neutron source, SDDs developed by the China Institute of Atomic Energy, a sound sensor, a sound card and a PC. Sound signals were filtered. The characteristics of FFT spectra, power spectra and time constants were used to determine the authenticity of the bubbles analyzed.

The physics design of magnet in 14 MeV cyclotron

The 14 MeV, 400 μA compact cyclotron is under construction at China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE). The design of main magnet and the result of beam dynamics in the cyclotron will be described in this paper, including the choice of main parameters of magnet, the method of shimming isochronous field in the compact cyclotron and optimization of the magnetic field in central region. The beam will be accelerated to 14.6 MeV by optimizing the magnet structure.

Shape Evolution in Rotating 178Os

In order to investigate the evolution of X(5) in rotating 178Os, an experiment populating 178Os via the fusion evaporation reaction 154Sm(29Si,5n)178Os was performed at the HI-13 tandem accelerator at the China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE). Lifetimes of excited states above 8+ in the yrast band in 178Os have been measured using the Doppler shift attenuation method. Lifetimes above 12+ states were measured for the first time. The deduced transitional quadruple moments (Qt), together with the previous data using the recoil distance Doppler shift (RDDS) method are compared with theoretical calculations based on the X(5) model and the interaction Boson model (IBM). Above the 10+ states, the Qt values fit well with the X(5) predictions. The present result suggests that the shape of a nucleus 178Os keeps X(5) critical point symmetry as spin increases to at least 14+. The shape change of 178Os with spin increasing is similar to that of 176Os.

A neutron reflectometer with horizontal sample geometry at CARR

Abstract A neutron reflectometer with horizontal sample geometry has been developed by the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ICCAS), and recently installed at China Advanced Research Reactor (CARR) under the participating research team agreement with China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE). This instrument is the first neutron reflectometer in China, and is dedicated to the structural characterization of thin films and multilayers of soft matter. For the cold neutron source and curved guide, the feasible wavelength of the incident neutron beam is 4.75 A monochromated by pyrolytic graphite crystals, and this permits the scattering vector Q ranging from –0.23 to 0.4 A−1. This instrument is equipped with a 3He point detector to measure the incident neutron beam and a 3He point detector or linear position sensitive detector to detect the reflected neutron beam. It allows a step-by-step measurement by isochronously changing the incident and reflective angles, and also can be treated as a simple optical imaging element simultaneously measuring neutron reflectivity of multi incident angles using a loosely collimated beam in the absence of significant off-specular scattering. A detailed description of this flexible instrument and its performance characteristics are given.

BRIF and CARIF progress

China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE) is currently constructing Beijing rare ion beam facility (BRIF) and is proposing China advanced rare ion beam facility (CARIF). This paper is aiming at introducing the progress of BRIF project and the conceptual design CARIF. The ISOL type facility BRIF under construction is composed of a 100 MeV 300 μA proton cyclotron, an ISOL with mass resolution of 20000, and a super-conducting LINAC of 2 MeV/q, and will be commissioned in 2013. CARIF facility proposed is planned to use both ISOL and PF techniques. It is based on a China advanced research reactor CARR that was critical, with ISOL separation of fission fragment, post acceleration to 150 MeV/u, and fragmentation of neutron-rich fission fragment beam like 132Sn. Such unique combination will allow CARIF to deliver beam intensity better than the best world facilities by more than one order of magnitude.

Study of the primordial lithium abundance

Lithium isotopes have attracted an intense interest because the abundance of both 6Li and 7Li from big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) is one of the puzzles in nuclear astrophysics. Many investigations of both astrophysical observation and nucleosynthesis calculation have been carried out to solve the puzzle, but it is not solved yet. Several nuclear reactions involving lithium have been indirectly measured at China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing. The Standard BBN (SBBN) network calculations are then performed to investigate the primordial Lithium abundance. The result shows that these nuclear reactions have minimal effect on the SBBN abundances of 6Li and 7Li.

AMS Measurement of 53Mn at CIAE

The long-lived isotope 53Mn cosmogenically produced in situ is a very useful indicator for geochronological dating. A new 53Mn accelerator-mass-spectrometry (AMS) measurement method is developed based on the HI-13 Tandem Accelerator and ΔE-Q3D detection system at China Institute of Atomic Energy. The performance of 53Cr isobar separation and suppression is tested by a series of 53Mn standards and commercial MnO samples. The results show that the ΔE-Q3D detection system brought about an overall suppression factor of more than 107 for the interfering isobar 53Cr.

A brief introduction to NAA facilities of China Advance Research Reactor at CIAE

China Advance Research Reactor (CARR) at China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE), with a non-perturbed maximum thermal neutron flux of 1 × 1015 cm−2 s−1 at the center of active area, is one of the most powerful research reactors in the world. Three neutron channels have been allocated for conventional neutron activation analysis (NAA), thermal neutron prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA) and cold neutron PGAA, respectively. Two irradiation tube systems are installed in the conventional NAA channel. One of them is for short irradiation with the rabbit size of diameter (Φ)19 × 40 mm, the other one is for long irradiation with the rabbit size of Φ39 × 70 mm. The medium temperature is about 45 °C and the thermal neutron flux is about 3 × 1014 cm−2 s−1 at sample positions. The flux gradient is expected to be very small according to the designed neutron flux distribution. Pneumatic systems are used for samples transfer. The speed of rabbits is designed to be about 20 m/s, and it takes 3 s to travel from irradiation position to detector. Three sets of gamma counting systems and one delayed neutron counting system are being equipped for routine analysis. They are designed for running continuously and automatically. And all the functions can be operated at laboratory or office through remote controlled computer. Software has been made domestically for spectrum peak search, concentration calculation with relative method and k0 method with interference corrections and some other functions for the convenience of users.

Determination of the time resolution for neutron scintillation detectors by multi-coincidence measurement

Based on the multi-coincidence measurement, the time resolution of three liquid scintillation detectors (BC501A) were determined strictly by solving the coincidence equations, where the influence from electronics estimated by self coincidence measurement as well as the background had been considered. The result of this work agreed well with the result that was deduced from the traditional method, and it will be helpful to analyze the energy resolution of neutron time of flight spectra measured by using such detectors at CIAE (China Institute of Atomic Energy).

The cyclotron development activities at CIAE

The cyclotron has an obvious advantage in offering high average current and beam power. Cyclotron development for various applications, e.g. radioactive ion-beam (RIB) generation, clean nuclear energy systems, medical diagnostics and isotope production, were performed at China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE) for over 50 years. At the moment two cyclotrons are being built at CIAE, the 100 MeV, CYCIAE-100, and a 14 MeV, the CYCIAE-14. Meanwhile, we are designing and proposing to build a number of cyclotrons with different energies, among them are the CYCIAE-70, the CYCIAE-800, and the upgrading of CYCIAE-CRM, which is going to increase its beam current to mA level. The contribution will present an overall introduction to the cyclotron development activities conducted at CIAE, with different emphasis to each project in order to demonstrate the design and construction highlights.

Conceptual design of an 800 MeV high power proton driver

This paper outlines the conceptual design work of a high power proton cyclotron proposed by the China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE) for a spallation neutron source, accelerator driven systems, production of radioactive ion beams, and other applications. For this cyclotron the 100 MeV injection proton beam is currently considered to be provided by the CYCIAE-100 cyclotron, which is under construction at CIAE and will be later replaced by a dedicated injector for beam upgrading. In order to minimize beam losses for high intensity operation, large turn separation at the extraction has first priority. After analyzing of different scenarios, including super conducting designs, a warm magnet solution was chosen. The conceptual design, field calculations, RF cavity simulations, etc. will be presented in the paper.

Physics design of a 70 MeV high intensity cyclotron, CYCIAE-70

This paper introduces the physics design of a 70 MeV high intensity cyclotron at China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE), which is aimed for multiple uses including radioactive ion-beam (RIB) production. The machine adopts a compact structure of four straight sectors, capable of accelerating two kinds of beams, i.e. H − and D − . The proton and deuteron beam will be extracted in dual opposite directions by charge exchange stripping devices. The energy of the extracted proton beam is in the range 35–70 MeV with an intensity up to 700 μA. The corresponding values for the deuteron beam are 18–33 MeV and 40 μA. This paper will present the main characteristics and parameters in the design of the 70 MeV cyclotron, the results of the basic beam dynamics study, as well as the physics in the design of the different systems, including the main magnet, RF, injection and extraction systems, etc.

Investigation for the vertical focusing enhancement of compact cyclotron by asymmetrical shimming bar

CYCIAE-100, a 100 MeV H − cyclotron under construction at China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE), is an AVF compact cyclotron. With energy above 70 MeV, the straight-edge sector magnet, instead of the spiral one normally used for AVF cyclotrons in this case, is still used to simplify the engineering procedures. The vertical focusing is likely not strong enough at the outer region and the Walkinshaw resonance may occur, if either the permeability decreasing tolerance in large scale pure iron castings and forgings, or the fabrication tolerance during the magnet construction, are seriously excessive. Theoretical investigation and numerical simulation results presented in this paper show that this kind of risk could be avoided by using a set of specially designed asymmetrical shimming bars between the pole edge and dummy Dee of the RF cavity at the outer region. In this way, the vertical focusing at outer radius region will increase substantially. This investigation provides a protective measure for the main magnet construction of CYCIAE-100.

Overall design of CYCIAE-14, a 14 MeV PET cyclotron

Based on a 10 MeV CRM cyclotron developed at China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE) with an achieved beam intensity of up to 430 μA, a 14 MeV high intensity compact cyclotron, CYCIAE-14, was designed and being built at CIAE. It is planned that the first machine would be in place with a span of 2 years. CYCIAE-14 is delicately designed to realize strong vertical focusing by adopting a 4-sector, variable hill-gap structure with an external ion source to achieve high intensity. A special design applied to the stripping extraction gives access to dual extraction with four beams. The adoption of sophisticated industrial technology will give the cyclotron advantages, e.g. low power consumption and high reliability. This paper is aimed to present the overall design of the machine, including the basic technical specifications, main magnet and coils, RF, ion source and axial injection, and stripping extraction, etc. It will also give an introduction to its construction schedule as well as the up-to-date progress.

Beam dynamics study for a small, high current 14 MeV PET cyclotron

A 14 MeV high intensity cyclotron CYCIAE-14 dedicated to Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is under construction at China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE). Based on a set of basic technical requirements for the accelerator and its extracted beam, the cyclotron beam dynamics were studied and the results are presented. Static beam dynamics, beam motion inside the machine under imperfection conditions and beam behavior in the extraction process were also investigated. This work gives an in-depth view of the beam dynamics study, numerical simulation as well as the corresponding results and necessary analyses.

Comprehensive test stand for high-intensity cyclotron development

A comprehensive test stand for high-intensity cyclotron development, a 10 MeV 430 μA cyclotron, has been successfully constructed at China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE) for the experimental verification of the viability of a 100 MeV high-intensity cyclotron (CYCIAE-100) being constructed at CIAE. The verification includes the overall design technology, detail design and engineering technology for the crucial parts of the machine, e.g. main magnet and beam diagnostics. It will also pave the way for future enhancement of the beam intensity. The test stand consists of a H− ion source, axial injection system, central region, main magnet and coil, RF resonator, stripping extraction, and auxiliary systems, which include the RF power amplifier, high voltage and DC power supplies, electric apparatus, beam diagnostics, control, vacuum, water cooling, pneumatic system, and safety interlock. This paper presents the work regarding the design and sub-system development of the test sand, and the results of the beam commissioning of the machine.

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/180 Hf 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/180 Hf is achieved.

Differential cross section for neutron scattering fromBi209at 37 MeV and the weak particle-core coupling

Differential scattering cross-section data have been measured at 43 angles from ${11}^{\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}}$ to ${160}^{\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}}$ for 37-MeV neutrons incident on $^{209}\mathrm{Bi}$. The primary motivation for the measurements is to address the scarcity of neutron scattering data above 30 MeV and to improve the accuracy of optical-model predictions at medium neutron energies. The high-statistics measurements were conducted at the China Institute of Atomic Energy using the $^{3}\mathrm{H}$($d,n$)$^{4}\mathrm{He}$ reaction as the neutron source, a pulsed deuteron beam, and time-of-flight (TOF) techniques. Within the resolution of the TOF spectrometer, the measurements included inelastic scattering components. The sum of elastic and inelastic scattering cross sections was computed in joint optical-model and distorted-wave Born approximation calculations under the assumption of the weak particle-core coupling. The results challenge predictions from well-established spherical optical potentials. Good agreement between data and calculations is achieved at 37 MeV provided that the balance between surface and volume absorption in a recent successful model [A. J. Koning and J. P. Delaroche, Nucl. Phys. A 713, 231 (2003)] is modified, thus suggesting the need for global optical-model improvements at medium neutron energies.

The Main Path to C, N, O Elements in Big Bang Nucleosynthesis

The production of C, N, O elements in a standard big bang nucleosynthesis scenario is investigated. Using the up-to-date data of nuclear reactions in BBN, in particular the 8Li (n,γ) 9Li which has been measured in China Institute of Atomic Energy, a full nucleosynthesis network calculation of BBN is carried out. Our calculation results show that the abundance of 12C is increased for an order of magnitude after addition of the reaction chain 8Li(n,γ) 9Li(α,n) 12B(β) 12C, which was neglected in previous studies. We find that this sequence provides the main channel to convert the light elements into C, N, O in standard BBN.

Benchmarking of evaluated nuclear data for uranium by a 14.8 MeV neutron leakage spectra experiment with slab sample

An experimental system for benchmarking of evaluated nuclear data by a 14.8 MeV neutron leakage spectra measurement with slab sample has been setup at China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE). The first measurement of the neutron leakage spectra from a 10 × 10 × 5 cm pure uranium slab sample at 45° and 135° was reported. The experimental results were compared with the calculated ones by MCNP-4C simulation, using the evaluated data of uranium from the CENDL3.0, ENDF/B-VII and JENDL3.3 libraries. This work shows that the apparatus and the data processing procedures work well. And more experiments will be done in the future for benchmarking of the evaluated data, especially for the CENDL data.