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The D(d, n)3He reaction is one of the common monoenergetic neutron sources. We compile the Frag Data table of D(d, n)3He reaction from the literature as an external cross-section data for PHITS. We confirm the validity of the Frag Data table by the calculation of the total and angular neutron yield calculations for an ideal deuterium thin target. Finally, PHITS with the Frag Data table is applied to the angular neutron yield and spectrum calculations of the gas target and the deuterium-loaded titanium target of the Tohoku University Fast Neutron Laboratory.

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an innovative cancer therapy that selectively destroys only cancer cells by utilizing the reaction between boron agents, which selectively accumulate in cancer cells, and neutron beams. However, the irradiation field in BNCT is a mixture of multiple radiation types, making accurate dose evaluation difficult. For dose evaluation in cancer tissue, which is particularly important, it is essential to discriminate between neutrons and γ-rays mixed in the BNCT irradiation field and to measure them correctly. In this paper, we introduce a new method for selective measurement of neutrons and γ-rays using a thermoluminescent phosphor, which is expected to be a promising method for improving the accuracy of dose evaluations.

In the Large Helical Device (LHD) of the National Institute for Fusion Science, the experiments using deuterium plasma were performed from March 2017. Neutrons with the energy of 2.45 MeV are generated by d (d, n) 3He reactions. The evaluation of the neutron flux in the torus hall as well as the LHD vessel is very important for designing the decommissioning of the LHD in the future, and the radiation shielding for workers and components around LHD. In this study, we performed the activation experiments using multiple activation foils to obtain a neutron spectrum in the vacuum vessel of the LHD. The reaction rate of each activation foil was generally consistent with the calculation result by MCNP6. As a result of the unfolding with SAND-II code, we experimentally obtained the neutron spectrum in the vacuum vessel of the LHD for the first time.

A simple dose calculation tool, SiDE, was developed for dose evaluation in a water phantom for boron neutron capture therapy, which makes the calculation time much shorter compared with the conventional particle transportation Monte Carlo codes and is applicable to any type of incident neutron spectra to the phantom. As the SiDE can not only calculate quantitatively the dose distribution in the phantom but also output dose indexes such as advantage depth and peak tumor dose, a comparison between different boron neutron capture therapy neutron sources can be easily performed. Consistency with a Monte Carlo transportation code was verified through comparison with the conventional dose calculation with the Particle and Heavy Ion Transport Code System, and the calculation time was nearly 1/90 in the SiDE. The dose distributions for a reactor and accelerator-based neutron sources were compared, and the differences were found to be small although large differences existed between the incident spectra.

Thermal neutron flux evaluation using a single crystal diamond detector (SDD) was carried out in the core region of the UTR-KINKI reactor where a mixed radiation field by thermal and fast neutrons and gamma-ray exists. The pulse shape discrimination method to extract pulses with a rectangular shape as well as a wide pulse-width was established to exclude pulses induced by gamma-rays. The SDD, using a 6LiF thermal neutron converter, is able to detect pulse events caused not only by fast neutrons but also by thermal neutrons through energy depositions into the diamond by energetic alpha and triton particles induced by thermal neutrons. Additionally, the SDD without the thermal neutron converter was used for the measurement of the energy deposition events only by fast neutrons. A comparison of the pulse counts of the SDD with or without the thermal neutron convertor deduced the energy deposition spectra by thermal neutrons. The thermal neutron flux in the core region of the UTR-KINKI reactor was evaluated to be 7.6 × 106 n cm−2 s−1 W−1 up to a reactor power of 1 W.

The Kyoto University electron linac, KURRI-LINAC, has been used for executing a project to develop methodology for the integrity evaluation of nuclear fuels, named the N-DeMAIN (Development of Non-Destructive Methods Adapted for Integrity test of Next generation nuclear fuels) project in Japan. As a non-destructive method, the neutron resonance transmission analysis was adopted for the identification and the quantification of nuclide in the fuels. Furthermore, determination of temperature distribution in the fuels based on Doppler broadening was also planned as well as traditional transmission imaging. A target-moderator-reflector system (TMRS) and a beam collimator system has been redesigned to obtain the highest intensity with the use of simulation calculation. The neutron beam line is placed at an angle of 135° with respect to the electron beam line. Optimal arrangement of the target and the moderator was investigated. After then, collimator design was performed, and a collimator system to shape the neutron and γ ray beams was designed. Test experiments were performed by using this system. Here, we explain the results of design study of the TMRS and the collimator, and the test experiments.

Residual strains in a punched electrical steel sheet increase the iron loss in the steel sheet. To accurately estimate the effect of residual strain on iron loss, the residual strain distribution in a punched electrical steel sheet should be evaluated. In this study, we demonstrated the two-dimensional imaging of the residual strain distribution in a punched electrical steel sheet using the neutron Bragg-edge transmission imaging method. To improve the accuracy of strain measurement with minimal deterioration of spatial resolution, we applied a process of superposing many specimen images. The tensile strain near the punched edge and the compressive strain inside the core were experimentally confirmed using this method. Finally, the neutron Bragg-edge imaging results and those obtained from kernel average misorientation map using electron backscattered diffraction were compared to verify the validity of the proposed method.

An optical fiber-based neutron detector can be used as a real-time neutron monitor for an intense neutron field. In this study, optical fiber-based neutron detectors were fabricated using Li-glass scintillator. The thermal neutron sensitivity, upper limit of the output linearity, and response to gamma rays from 60Co and Cd were evaluated. The thermal neutron sensitivity was proportional to the mass of the Li-glass scintillator, and the calibration factor was 2.06 × 10^-6 and 3.18 × 10^-6 cps/(n/cm 2/s)/g for the lower-level discrimination of the peak and valley channel, respectively. The detector output linearity was confirmed to be up to nearly 2 Mcps. While evaluating the response to gamma rays, for both 60Co and Cd, the gamma-ray counting rate was found to be smaller than the uncertainty associated with counting statistics in most expected applications where the neutron counting rate was >1 kcps.

The deuterium operation of the large helical device (LHD) began in March 7, 2017, after long-term preparation and commissioning of apparatuses necessary for execution of the deuterium experiment. A comprehensive set of neutron diagnostics was developed and installed onto LHD through numerous efforts in preparation. Neutron diagnostics play an essential role in both neutron yield management for the radiation safety and extension of energetic-particle physics study in LHD. Neutron flux monitor (NFM) characterized by fast-response and wide dynamic range capabilities is successfully working. Total neutron emission rate reached $3.3 \times 10^{15}$ (n/s) in the first deuterium campaign of LHD. The highest neutron emission rate was recorded in inward shifted configuration. Neutron yield evaluated by neutron activation system agrees with neutron yield measured with NFM. Performance of vertical neutron camera was demonstrated. Neutron emission profile was inwardly shifted in the inwardly shifted configuration, whereas it was outwardly shifted in the outwardly configuration. Secondary deuterium-tritium neutrons produced by triton burnup in LHD deuterium plasmas were detected for the first time in stellarator/heliotron devices in the world. Similar to total neutron emission rate, the inward shifted configuration provided highest triton burnup ratio.

To accurately estimate an actual dose during radiotherapy treatment, dosimeters are required to be inserted into the affected region in a patient's body. Therefore, we are developing a small size dosimeter consisting of optical fibers and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) elements. We fabricated two types of small size dosimeters using Eu:BaFBr and Ce:CaF2. We measured the Bragg peak of high energy carbon ions in a water equivalent material. OSL materials showed the quenching effect when irradiated by high linear energy transfer (LET) particles. The sensitivity of Eu:BaFBr and Ce:CaF2 monotonically decreased with different coefficients. The ratio of the signal intensity of these two OSL materials can uniquely determine the sensitivity of each OSL material. We corrected the quenching effect of the OSL dosimeters in the spread out Bragg peak with this relationship.

The single crystal CVD diamond detector (SDD) was installed in the torus hall of the Large Helical Device (LHD) to measure neutrons with high time resolution and neutron energy resolution. The LiF foil with 95.62 % of 6Li isotope enrichment pasted on the detector was used as the thermal neutron convertor as the energetic ions of 2.0 MeV alpha and 2.7 MeV triton particles generated in LiF foil and deposited the energy into SDD. SDD were exposed to the neutron field in the torus hall of the LHD during the 2nd campaign of the deuterium experiment. The total pulse height in SDD was linearly propotional to the neutron yield in a plasma operation in LHD over 4 orders of magnitude. The energetic alpha and triton were separately measured by SDD with LiF with the thickness of 1.9 μm, although SDD with LiF with the thickness of 350 μm showed a broadened peak due to the large energy loss of energetic particles generated in the bulk of LiF. The modeling with MCNP and PHITS codes well interpreted the pulse height spectra for SDD with LiF with different thicknesses. The results above demonstrated the sufficient time resolution and energy discrimination of SDD used in this work.

For the measurement of radiation distribution inside the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) buildings, the evaluation of a small-diameter quartz optical fiber as a one-dimensional position-sensitive sensor was conducted. The sensor determines the incident position of radiation into the fiber using the time-of-flight information from the Cerenkov photons generated in the optical fiber. Compared with a conventional sensor using plastic scintillating fiber, the quartz optical fiber has a much higher position resolution, which may be the result of the improvement of timing characteristics due to the prompt emission mechanism of the Cerenkov radiation . Additionally, the response of the quartz fiber sensor under high radiation field was evaluated. A count rate linearity up to a dose rate of at least 20 mSv/h was confirmed using a 10m-long quartz fiber with a diameter of 0.4 mm. Furthermore, the radiation tolerance of the sensor up to an accumulated dose of 1 kGy was evaluated.

Accelerator-driven neutron sources have been developed worldwide for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) instead of nuclear reactors. Nagoya University is currently developing a compact DC accelerator driven BNCT system using a sealed lithium (Li) target. The target receives a high heat load by a proton beam, and the heat then requires efficient removal. This study developed a high-efficiency heat removal technique that uses V-shaped staggered ribs on the heat removal side of the flow channels. We performed experiments using an electron beam to confirm the technique performance. The results showed double the heat removal performance compared to the smooth surface channel. The value expected to sufficiently remove 6.6 MW/m2 of heat load provided by the proton beam at the Nagoya University neutron source for BNCT.

As the commissioning phase of the Nagoya University Accelerator-driven Neutron Source for boron neutron capture therapy, in-phantom thermal neutron flux measurements were conducted using a small ⁶LiF/Eu:CaF₂ scintillator detector and activation foils. The spatial distribution of the measured thermal neutron flux agreed with the Monte Carlo simulation results. Based on this comparison, the free-in-air neutron spectrum, calculated at the exit aperture, was verified and the epithermal neutron flux, at a 0.25 mA proton current, was evaluated as (1.49 ± 0.10) × 10⁷ n/(cm2 s).

Background: We are developing a small size dosimeter for dose estimation in particle therapies. The developed dosimeter is an optical fiber based dosimeter mounting an radiation induced luminescence material, such as an OSL or a scintillator, at a tip. These materials generally suffer from the quenching effect under high LET particle irradiation. Materials and Methods: We fabricated two types of the small size dosimeters. They used an OSL material Eu:BaFBr and a BGO scintillator. Carbon ions were irradiated into the fabricated dosimeters at Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC). The small size dosimeters were set behind the water equivalent acrylic phantom. Bragg peak was observed by changing the phantom thickness. An ion chamber was also placed near the small size dosimeters as a reference. Results and Discussion: Eu:BaFBr and BGO dosimeters showed a Bragg peak at the same thickness as the ion chamber. Under high LET particle irradiation, the response of the luminescence- based small size dosimeters deteriorated compared with that of the ion chamber due to the quenching effect. We confirmed the luminescence efficiency of Eu:BaFBr and BGO decrease with the LET. The reduction coefficient of luminescence efficiency was different between the BGO and the Eu:BaFBr. The LET can be determined from the luminescence ratio between Eu:BaFBr and BGO, and the dosimeter response can be corrected. Conclusion: We evaluated the LET dependence of the luminescence efficiency of the BGO and Eu:BaFBr as the quenching effect. We propose and discuss the correction of the quenching effect using the signal intensity ratio of the both materials. Although the correction precision is not sufficient, feasibility of the proposed correction method is proved through basic experiments.

We have developed a small neutron detector probe as a thermal neutron flux monitor for boron neutron capture therapy. The detector consists of an optical fiber and a small Eu:LiCaAlF 6 scintillator . In order to improve neutron-gamma ray discrimination capability, we use the small-size scintillator, whose size is controlled to be smaller than fast electron range produced by gamma-rays and larger than the range of charged particles induced by 6Li(n,t) reactions. We confirmed the improved neutron-gamma ray discrimination capability by comparing the detector responses between a small-size scintillator and a slab one. We also evaluated the neutron sensitivity of the fabricated optical fiber type neutron detector to be 2×10−4 cm2.

The Pulse shape discrimination (PSD) technique for single crystal CVD diamond detector (SDD) was applied to the real-time thermal neutron measurement during the 3rd campaign of Deuterium-Deuterium (D-D) plasma experiment in the Large Helical Device (LHD). The PSD method is based upon the different shape of electrical pulses produced in diamond by gamma-ray (triangular-shaped pulse) and energetic ions (rectangular-shaped pulse), respectively. An improved PSD was developed which makes use of the full width at half maximum (FWHM) and the full width at 2/3 of the peak height (FW2/3 PH). These two parameters reflect the difference in the pulse shape produced by gamma-rays and energetic ions. The performance of this improved PSD technique was first tested irradiating the SDD by gamma-rays from 60Co and alphas from 241Am radiation sources, respectively. Then, using a 6LiF thermal neutron converter, a successful discrimination between gamma-rays and alpha particles and tritons generated by the 6Li(n,α)3H reaction induced by neutrons from 252Cf spontaneous fission neutron source was achieved. Thanks to this PSD processing technique, the thermal neutron detection efficiency increased about 1.7 times compared to previous measurements performed without the PSD technique. The real-time thermal neutron measurement by SDD with this enhanced PSD processing was also used during D-D plasma discharges in the Large Helical Device (LHD). It was found that both the time integrated counts and the time evolution count rate measured by the SDD reproduced well that of the fission chamber used as official LHD neutron monitor. The capability of the SDD detector using the PSD technique of precise real-time thermal neutron measurement in LHD was demonstrated.

BNCT is a radiation therapy using neutrons. For dosimetry in BNCT, it is important to evaluate the thermal neutron distribution in a water phantom irradiated with neutrons used in the therapy. We proposed application of a small 6Li-based scintillator neutron detector with an optical fiber into a comparison study between simulation and experimental results in BNCT. In this paper, we compared simulation and experimental results for depth profile of 6Li(n,α) reaction rate in a water phantom of BNCT using a developed small 6Li-based scintillator neutron detector. The experimental results well agreed with the simulation ones. However, we found that the self-shielding effect in the detector will be significant even for a small LiF/Eu:CaF2 eutectics scintillator having the mass of 100 μg. We concluded that we have to consider the self-shielding effect in the small 6Li-based scintillator neutron detector when comparing simulation and experimental results of the 6Li(n,α) reaction rate in a water phantom.

We developed a mixed powder neutron scintillator as a novel neutron detection material. Since LiF-Ag:ZnS mixed powder, which is a widely used mixed powder neutron scintillator, is opaque owing to the extremely high refractive index of Ag:ZnS, the scintillator thickness is limited. We proposed the use of LiF-Eu:CaF 2 mixed powder, where both LiF and Eu:CaF2 have almost the same refractive index, as a roughly transparent mixed powder neutron scintillator. Although the just mixed LiF-Eu:CaF2 powder is opaque, it can become translucent by filling the gap in the powder with a liquid glass resin as a refractive index buffer. As a result, we observe a peak shape in the pulse height spectrum obtained from the LiF-Eu:CaF2 mixed powder scintillator when irradiating thermal neutrons .

We developed optical fiber-based neutron detectors that use small pieces of 6Li-based scintillators, namely, Eu:LiCaAlF6 crystals and LiF/Eu:CaF2 eutectics. Considering that these elements have high light yields (more than 10,000 photons/neutron), they can produce pulse height spectra with clear peaks even when using optical fiber light guides. To adjust the neutron sensitivity, we controlled the amount of 6Li in the scintillator. We fabricated three different detectors using Eu:LiCaAlF6 and LiF/Eu:CaF2 with various amounts of 6Li and then evaluated the neutron sensitivity of each detector. This approach confirmed that there was a linear relationship between the neutron sensitivity and amount of 6Li, thus implying that the 6Li mass measured by a high-precision balance could be a good metric of neutron sensitivity. We also checked the linearity of the output of the detector at relatively high neutron fluxes by using an accelerator-based neutron source. Although the detectors showed saturation behavior at high count rate, we were able to cover a relatively wide dynamic range by combining multiple detectors using different amounts of 6Li. After correcting for the pulse height distortion and count loss due to pile-up events, we were able to confirm the linearity of the detectors up to a count rates of 100 kcps.

The Nagoya University Accelerator driven Neutron Source (NUANS) is constructed at the main campus of the Nagoya University. The electrostatic accelerator is used with the maximum proton energy and intensity of 2.8MeV, 15mA(42kW) respectively. Two neutron beamlines are designed at NUANS. The BL1 is dedicated to BNCT development. The BL2 is designed for research and development for neutron devices and neutron imaging. The neutrons used for the BL2 are generated by using the (p, n) reaction from a thin beryllium target. We constructed a compact target station for the BL2 and measured the neutron transmission image.

In situ calibration of the neutron activation system on the Large Helical Device (LHD) was performed by using an intense 252Cf neutron source. To simulate a ring-shaped neutron source, we installed a railway inside the LHD vacuum vessel and made a train loaded with the 252Cf source run along a typical magnetic axis position. Three activation capsules loaded with thirty pieces of indium foils stacked with total mass of approximately 18 g were prepared. Each capsule was irradiated over 15 h while the train was circulating. The activation response coefficient (9.4 ± 1.2) × 10−8 of 115In(n, n′)115mIn reaction obtained from the experiment is in good agreement with results from three-dimensional neutron transport calculations using the Monte Carlo neutron transport simulation code 6. The activation response coefficients of 2.45 MeV birth neutron and secondary 14.1 MeV neutron from deuterium plasma were evaluated from the activation response coefficient obtained in this calibration experiment with results from three-dimensional neutron calculations using the Monte Carlo neutron transport simulation code 6.

As an alternative to the standard 3He neutron detector, we are developing the Transparent RUbber SheeT type (TRUST) Eu doped LiCaAlF6 (Eu:LiCAF) scintillator. This type of neutron scintillator can easily be fabricated as a large area sheet. In order to take advantage of a large area detector, we try to readout scintillation photons using a wavelength-shifting fiber (WLSF) from a TRUST Eu:LiCAF scintillator. The TRUST Eu:LiCAF scintillator with the size of 50×50×5 mm3 was mounted on the WLSF plate and the end of the WLSFs was connected with a PMT. In order to reject high pulse height events induced in the WLSFs, we applied the pulse shape discrimination technique. The gamma-ray intrinsic and neutron absolute detection efficiency is evaluated to be 8.8×10−7 and 9×10−3 cps/ng Cf (2 m) for the TRUST Eu:LiCAF scintillator with the size of 50×50×5 mm3.

We discuss the origin of the fast luminescence component induced by fast electrons generated in gamma-ray interactions in Ce doped LiCaAlF 6 scintillators. Although the slow luminescence component induced by Ce 3+ emissions depends on the Ce concentration in the LiCaAlF 6 scintillator, the fast component is independent. The fast component is suggested to be generated in the host matrix of the LiCaAlF 6 crystal. From quantitative considerations based on Frank–Tamm equation, which shows the light yield of the Cherenkov radiation, the Cherenkov radiation was determined as the origin of the fast component. We, additionally, found that the slow rise time of main Ce 3+ emissions in the Ce:LiCaAlF 6 scintillator plays an important role to perform the pulse shape discrimination.

Transparent ceramic composite of non-doped and Ce-doped YAG was prepared by Konoshima Chemical with the vacuum sintering technique and investigated on pulse shape discrimination capability for functional collimator. Scintillation responses such as X-ray induced radioluminescence and decay time profiles of non-doped and Ce-doped YAG were evaluated. Pulse shape discrimination capability of the composite ceramic was evaluated by 137Cs 662 keV γ-ray irradiation. As a result, clear separation of γ-ray events at non-doped or Ce-doped YAG layers was observed in two dimensional histogram by using signal processing with two different shaping times.

In the Large Helical Device (LHD) of the National Institute for Fusion Science, a deuterium plasma experiment was performed in March 2017. Neutrons with an energy of 2.45 MeV are generated by d (d, n) 3He reactions. The evaluation of this neutron flux in the torus hall, as well as within the LHD vessel, is very important for the decommissioning of the LHD in the future and the radiation shielding for workers and components around the LHD. In this study, we evaluate the spatial distribution of thermal and epithermal neutron flux on the floor level of the LHD torus hall by measuring the neutron activation of gold foils. The flux information obtained in the experiment can be used for the evaluation of radio-activation and the shielding design.