High-energy nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics at the Radium Institute

Research into high-energy nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics at the Radium Institute is briefly reviewed. The history of cosmic-ray research is outlined, from the early years of the Institute, as well as the history of research on high-energy physics. The basic work on nuclear astrophysics, cosmochronology, and astrochemistry is described. Research at the Institute on direct nuclear reactions, nuclear fragmentation and multifragmentation, deeply inelastic nuclear processes, nuclear fission at high exciting energies, nuclide formation at the limit of stability, multiple particle formation in relativistic internuclear reactions, and other topics is considered. Scientific and methodological accomplishments are noted. V. G. Khlopin Radium Institute. Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 86, No. 6, pp. 419–426, June, 1999.     

Fundamental influences on the ultrasonic inspection at cladded nuclear components

The ultrasonic inspection at cladded nuclear components is limited by random fluctuations of the sensitivity, by a reduced signal-to-noise ratio and by disturbing phantom indications of different provenience. The influences of the cladding on the ultrasonic inspectability of the near cladding area and of the ferritic base material can be characterized by typical ultrasonic parameters like V-transfer echo and its random fluctuations and by the signal-to-noise ratio for the detection of near cladding reference reflectors. The complex physical mechanism influencing the propagation of ultrasound in claddings cannot sufficiently be described by theoretical models. Therefore simple but characteristic measurements on test blocks have been proposed in this contribution.     

Thirty years of work at the first nuclear laboratory at Dubna

Conclusions In the past 30 years the Nuclear Reactions Laboratory has grown into a major scientific institute, the international staff of which includes around 900 highly qualified scientists, engineer, and technicians with various specialist skills, from the 11 member-nations of JINR.The scientific research conducted at the NRL has made a large, generally recognized contribution to one of the most important areas of science in the world today — the physics of elementary particles and the atomic nucleus, and accelerator physics and technology.The scientists and engineers of the NRL enjoy high scientific status and respect among specialists. Today, many great experimental physicists and specialists in methodological research trained at the NRL lead large scientific teams and are successfully conducting work in the major nuclear centers of the Soviet Union and other JINR member-nations.Founded in 1948 as the national nuclear center of the Soviet Union, the Nuclear Reactions Laboratory provides a base for fruitful scientific research by scientists of many of the central institutes (IAE, ITEP, the Institute of Chemical Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, the N. I. Vernadskii Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, and the V. G. Khlopin Radium Institute) and universities (Leningrad State University, Moscow State University, etc.), and also the institutes of a number of Siviet Republics (Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, etc.).The successes of the NRL staff in nuclear-physics research, the design of improved modern accelerators, the development of new equipment and methods for physical experiments, and also its role in training young scientists and engineers have received wide recognition.Throughout the whole of its 30 years of existence, the NRL has received—and continues to receive —understanding and support from the State Committee of the Institute of Atomic Energy of the USSR, the Committee of Official Representatives of JINR member-nations, and the JINR authorities.The laboratory is proud that, among the works of its scientists awarded the Lenin and State prizes, there is work that has won the I. V. Kurchatov gold medal and prize.Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 44, No. 1, pp. 50–65, January, 1978.     

The nuclear microprobe at the University of Arizona

A nuclear microprobe has been operational at the University of Arizona since early 1994. It utilizes a magnetic quadrupole doublet (model QL-300 from Microscope Associates, Inc.) with an 11 mm diameter aperture and lens lengths of 6 cm each. The magnetic pole tips are electrically insulated to enable electric rotational alignment and beam rastering by application of varying voltages to the pole tips. Ion beams are obtained from a 5.5 MV model CN, High Voltage Engineering Corp. Van de Graaff accelerator with a Penning type ion source. Present mininum beam spot size is about 2 μm obtained with a 4 MeV H₂⁺ beam with a current of about 40 pA. To date, the instrument has been successfully used to map concentrations of Hg, Cr, and As in rabbit renal slices using PIXE.     

A new physical protection measure for evaluating risks at nuclear facilities

The Physical Protection (PP) measures for evaluating risks at nuclear facilities have been developed. The developed measures can be used to not only evaluate the physical protection status of operational nuclear facilities, but also for the next generation of nuclear systems such as the SFR (Sodium Fast Reactor) and the VHTR (Very High Temperature Reactor). These measures can substitute those existing methodologies developed by the Gen-IV PR&PP group and the INPRO. These measures have been adapted to hypothetical nuclear facilities, and scenarios have been created to analyze PP risk quantitatively. The PP measures developed in this study contain Probability of Interruption (PI), Probability of Neutralization (PN), Consequences (C), Fissile Material Type (MT) and Effectiveness of Physical Protection Resources (EPR). In this paper, tools and tables for calculating each PP measure are suggested and illustrated in detail. The PI and PN measures can be calculated quantitatively using these tools. A new computer code for calculating PI has also been developed. The EPR, MT and C measures were obtained from tables developed by collecting and analyzing related information. Computational results of the PP measures in five different scenarios, and at three different facilities demonstrate the effectiveness of the methodology developed. The results obtained are represented in a spider diagram (after normalizing the measure calculated). The value of PI and C changed because of the scenario; but the other three measures, EPR, MT and PN (determined by the characteristics of the facility) did not vary. It is expected that by using a larger number of refined scenarios more reliable information will be provided. It is also anticipated that the PP measures developed in this study can be applied to operational nuclear facilities, as well as a future nuclear systems under development.     

建在我国核分析技术实验室的生物环境标本库

阐明了生物环境标本库（BESB）在全球或环境监测中的重要意义。介绍了建在美国和德国的BESB的运作状况。对建在中国科学院核分析技术开放实验室的BESB运行情况和取得的一些主要研究结果作了较为详细的介绍。     

中药知母有效组分——知母皂甙元“滋阴”作用的研究

本工作以~(123)I-心得静结合分析法及环核苷酸RIA法观察了知母中提取得到的知母皂甙元对甲亢模型(模拟“阴虚”)βAR-cAMP系统的作和,结果表现,知母皂甙元明显降低甲亢小鼠脑β受体的RT值,显著降低甲亢小鼠β受体-cAMP系统的反应性,重现了知母水煎剂的下调作用。体外竞争抑制实验表明,知母皂甙元和知母皂甙元半琥珀酸都不能抑制~(125)I-心得静与β受体的结合。     

A new paradigm for core design aimed at the sustainability of nuclear energy: The solution of the extended equilibrium state

The future expansion of nuclear energy, a technology identified as one of the main candidates for reducing the world’s dependence on fossil fuels, requires a thorough analysis of the sustainability of this energy source for long-term supply. Generation-IV nuclear systems could represent a turning point for energy production by minimizing the environmental footprint of the fuel cycle. A new paradigm is thus required for reactor design, focusing, at the core design level, on both the closure of the fuel cycle and the effective utilization of natural resources.     

Radioecology and the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant

The ecological features of the 1986 Chernobyl accident and the principles of radiation monitoring of the environment are described. The laws of migration of radionuclides in different media in the environment and the accumulation of radioactive substances in food products are presented. The effect of radiation on the plant and animal worlds in the region of the accident is assessed. A system of protective and remediation measures in the agricutural, forestry, and water spheres is presented, and their radiological and cost effectiveness are estimated. The significance of the complicated and contradictory political and economic conditions during the time of the accident in the USSR (Commonwealth of Independent States) for the assessment of the ecological consequences of the accident is indicated. __________ Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 100, No. 4, pp. 267–276, April, 2006.     

Stained glasses under the nuclear microprobe: A window into history

Stained glass fragments from the 15th, 16th and 20th centuries, belonging to Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitória, Batalha (Portugal), were characterised non-destructively in a nuclear microprobe. The work aimed at finding the composition of the glasses and glass paintings and relating these with the corresponding production periods.The elemental compositions of the glass fragments were obtained by means of scanning micro-beam Particle Induced X-ray Emission (μ-PIXE) spectrometry in selected cross-sections. These were complemented by micro X-Ray fluorescence spectrometry. Characterisation of colour was performed by optical absorption spectroscopy in the UV–vis range, while the corrosion products were identified by optical microscopy and μ-FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra Red) spectroscopy in combination with the data generated by μ-PIXE.Nuclear microprobe analysis allowed unveiling the compositions and structures, in particular of glass paintings and corrosion products. While it is not surprising that Fe, Cu and Pb were the main elements identified in the grisaille paintings of all studied periods, as well as Ag and Cu found in the glasses decorated with yellow silver painting, their distribution gave important clues on the materials and techniques used to manufacture these stained glasses. Furthermore, it allowed establishing a definite relation between the compositions found and the periods of production, with the added bonus of correctly reassigning the manufacturing period of some samples.     

Recent advances in nuclear power: A review

The rise in oil prices and the increased concern about environmental protection from CO₂ emissions have promoted the attention to the use of nuclear power as a viable energy source for power generation. This review presents the recent advances in the field of nuclear power and addresses the aspects of nuclear economics, safety, nuclear reactor design and spent fuel processing and waste management.