Re-evaluation of Radiation-Energy Transfer to an Extraction Solvent in a Minor-Actinide-Separation Process Based on Consideration of Radiation Permeability

ABSTRACT

Absorbed-dose estimation is essential for evaluation of the radiation tolerance of minor-actinide-separation processes. We propose a dose-evaluation method based on radiation permeability, with comparisons of heterogeneous structures seen in the solvent-extraction process, such as emulsions forming in the mixture of the organic and aqueous phases. A demonstration of radiation-energy-transfer simulation is performed with a focus on the minor-actinide-recovery process from high-level liquid waste with the aid of the Monte Carlo radiation-transport code PHITS. The simulation results indicate that the dose absorbed by the extraction solvent from alpha radiation depends upon the emulsion structure, and that from beta and gamma radiation depends upon the mixer-settler-apparatus size. Non-negligible contributions of well-permeable gamma rays were indicated in terms of the plant operation of the minor-actinide-separation process.     

Combustion synthesis of AlN doped with carbon and oxygen

Carbon-and-oxygen-doped AlN specimens were prepared by combustion synthesis using Al, graphite, and AlN. Graphite addition changed the product color from white to blue. By XRD, the lattice constant increased slightly with increasing carbon content. Blue AlN powder was synthesized with a molar ratio of the diluent AlN of 0.2-0.5 with a fixed graphite content of 0.05. At an AlN molar ratio exceeding 0.6, carbon was not successfully incorporated due to the lower reaction temperature. Calcination at 800°C in air removed residual graphite without changing the crystal structure or product color. Oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon analyses revealed that blue AlN powders contained 0.45-0.54 mass% carbon and 1.4-1.6 mass% oxygen, while the undoped AlN contained 0.021 mass% carbon and 0.94 mass% oxygen. The origin of the white-to-blue color change was investigated via reflection measurements. Blue AlN exhibits an absorption peak at 634 nm (1.96 eV). From first-principles electronic structure calculations, the C-doped AlN and carbon-and-oxygen-doped AlN with a 1:1 ratio could be classified as p-type, whereas the O-doped AlN and 1:3 carbon-and-oxygen-doped AlN were n-type. One reason for the absorption peak at 634 nm may be a transition from the conduction band to an upper unoccupied state. These results suggest the possible control of optical and electronic properties of AlN via carbon-and-oxygen doping.     

Volumetric Change and Surface Properties of Temperature-Sensitive Polyvinylalcohol (PVA) Hydrogel

Polyvinylalcohol (PVA) polymer gel is a temperature sensitive polymeric gel, with a critical transition temperature (with H₂O) of 310 K. At higher than 310 K, this temperature sensitive polymer gel shrinks because of discharging water, whereas at lower temperatures, the gel swelled because of absorbing water. The reversibility of the gel's volume change was confirmed by temperature swing. The adsorption behavior of an organic compound onto the PVA polymer gel in water was tested at various temperatures. The amount of adsorbed organic compound increased remarkably at temperatures higher than about 310 K. Then, it was confirmed that the organic compound in PVA polymer gel could be reversibly adsorbed and desorbed by a temperature change between 293 and 323 K. The mechanism of adsorption of the organic compound onto the PVA polymer gel could be explained by hydration and dehydration of polymer gel.     

Relation between encoder and syndrome former variables and symbol reliability estimation using a syndrome trellis

We derive a linear correspondence between the variables of an encoder and those of a corresponding syndrome former. Using the derived correspondence, we show that the log-likelihood ratio of an information bit conditioned on a received sequence can be equally calculated using the syndrome trellis. It is shown that the proposed method also applies to recursive systematic convolutional codes which are typical constituent codes for turbo codes. Moreover, we show that soft-in syndrome decoding considering a priori probabilities of information bits is possible in the same way as for Viterbi decoding based on the code trellis. Hence, the proposed method can be applied to iterative decoding such as turbo decoding. We also show that the proposed method is effective for high-rate codes by making use of trellis modification.     

1-GHz-spaced 16-channel arrayed-waveguide grating for a wavelength reference standard in DWDM network systems

We fabricated a 1-GHz-spaced 16-channel arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) by using a new AWG configuration where the path of each arrayed waveguide winds backward and forward across a 4-in diameter wafer without crossing any other waveguides. The ultra-narrow (< 1 GHz) and stable transmission bands of this AWG can be used to construct a wavelength reference standard covering the S, C, and L bands in the dense wavelength-division-multiplexing network systems whose frequency deviation is /spl plusmn/160 MHz.     

Low-loss athermal silica-based lattice-form interleave filter with silicone-filled grooves

We describe a low-loss athermal silica-based interleave filter with a lattice-form structure. We athermalize the filter by using a silicone-filled groove formed in each delay line and we employ a low-loss design to reduce the accumulated groove excess loss in the multiple delay lines. By using these designs, we obtained a very low groove excess loss of 0.4 dB and achieved satisfactory temperature insensitivity and optical characteristics with this filter.     

Extremely low-loss 1.5%-/spl Delta/ 32-channel athermal arrayed-waveguide grating multi/demultiplexer

A silica-based 1.5%-/spl Delta/ 100 GHz-spacing 32-channel athermal arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) with compact size and extremely low insertion loss is described. By reducing the fibre coupling loss and the excess loss in a silicone-filled groove, an insertion loss of 1.3 dB was achieved with this athermal AWG.     

Photocatalytic Property and Electronic Structure of Lanthanide-based Oxysulfides

Lanthanide-based oxysulfides and sulfide, LnTaO_3.5S_0.5, Ln₁₀OS₁₄ (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm) and La₄In₅S₁₃, were successively synthesized by sulfurization in a flowing H₂S. The sulfurization decreased the band-gap energies from >4 eV to <3eV, because of the formation of occupied S3p orbitals on the top of valence band. In accordance with the small band gap, the H₂ evolution from a 0.01 M Na₂S and 0.01 M Na₂SO₃ solution system was observed under irradiation of light up to >500 nm. The rate of H₂ evolution under light irradiation of >500 nm increased in the order of Ni/LaTaO_3.5S_0.5 < Ru/La₁₀OS₁₄ < Pt/La₄In₅S₁₃.     

Pharmacological study on circadian rhythms in mammals

Living organisms including humans drive circadian rhythm, and this rhythm influences the social structure and daily life of human beings. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) has been established as a pacemaker for mammalian circadian rhythm. There are many kinds of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in this nucleus. The circadian systems are involved in oscillation, input (entrainment) and output (overt rhythm). Therefore in this review, pharmacological characteristics of circadian systems in relation to the SCN are discussed by focussing especially upon the roles of various neurotransmitters and modulators.