Search

The RIKEN Nishina Center (RNC) executed an accelerator upgrade project for the heavy-ion linac (called RILAC). A superconducting RIKEN linear accelerator (SRILAC) and a new superconducting electron-cyclotron-resonance ion source (SC-ECRIS) to boost the final energy and intensity were constructed, aimed at synthesizing a new superheavy element, 119, through a hot fusion reaction. The project included the construction of a gas-filled recoil ion separator (GARIS-III) suitable for detecting the residues of the hot-fusion reaction. To avoid research interruption during the SRILAC construction period (2017–2019) and gain experience in hot-fusion reaction processes, GARIS-II located in the GARIS experimental hall in LINAC building was moved to the E6 experimental hall in Nishina building. Certain exploratory measurements were performed employing the beams accelerated by RILAC2 and the RIKEN ring cyclotron (RRC), which is a part of the existing accelerator complex of the radioactive isotope beam factory (RIBF). Further, commissioning experiments with the upgraded facility (SRILAC and GARIS-III) were performed. The upgrade project and its commissioning results are chronologically described in this article.

The development of renewable energy technologies is of global importance. To realize a sustainable society, fossil-resource-independent technologies, such as solar- and wind-power generation, should be widely adopted. Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) is one such potential renewable energy technology. PRO requires salt water and fresh water, both of which can be found at seawater desalination plants. The total power generation capacity of PRO, using concentrated seawater and fresh water, is 3 GW. A large amount of energy is required for seawater desalination, therefore, the introduction of renewable energy should be prioritized. Kyowakiden Industry Co., Ltd., has been working on introducing PRO to seawater desalination plants since 2001 and is attracting attention for its ongoing PRO pilot plant with a scale of 460 m3/d, using concentrated seawater and treated sewage water. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of introducing PRO in existing desalination plants. The feasibility was examined based on technology, operation, and economy. Based on the number of seawater desalination plants in each country and the electricity charges, it was determined whether the introduction of PRO would be viable.

We present a precise measurement of the cross section, proton and $\rm ^3He$ analyzing powers, and spin correlation coefficient $C_{y,y}$ for $p$-$\rm ^3He$ elastic scattering near 65 MeV, and a comparison with rigorous four-nucleon scattering calculations based on realistic nuclear potentials and a model with $\Delta$-isobar excitation. Clear discrepancies are seen in some of the measured observables in the regime around the cross section minimum. Theoretical predictions using scaling relations between the calculated cross section and the $\rm ^3 He$ binding energy are not successful in reproducing the data. Large sensitivity to the $NN$ potentials and rather small $\Delta$-isobar effects in the calculated cross section are noticed as different features from those in the deuteron-proton elastic scattering. The results obtained above indicate that $p$-$\rm ^3He$ scattering at intermediate energies is an excellent tool to explore nuclear interactions not accessible by three-nucleon scattering., Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures

We performed the first direct mass measurements of neutron-rich scandium, titanium, and vanadium isotopes around the neutron number 40 at the RIKEN RI Beam Factory using the time-of-flight magnetic-rigidity technique. The atomic mass excesses of ^{58-60}Sc, ^{60-62}Ti, and ^{62-64}V were measured for the first time. The experimental results show that the two-neutron separation energies in the vicinity of ^{62}Ti increase compared to neighboring nuclei. This shows that the masses of Ti isotopes near N=40 are affected by the Jahn-Teller effect. Therefore, a development of Jahn-Teller stabilization appears below the Cr isotopes, and the systematics in Sc, Ti, and V isotopes suggest that ^{62}Ti is located close to the peak of the Jahn-Teller effect.

Almost thirty years ago the criteria that are currently used to verify claims for the discovery of a new element were set down by the comprehensive work of a Transfermium Working Group, TWG, jointly established by IUPAC and IUPAP. The recent completion of the naming of the 118 elements in the first seven periods of the Periodic Table of the Elements was considered as an opportunity for a review of these criteria in the light of the experimental and theoretical advances in the field. In late 2016 the Unions decided to establish a new Joint Working Group, JWG, consisting of six members determined by the Unions. A first meeting of the JWG was in May 2017. One year later this report was finished. In a first part the works and conclusions of the TWG and the Joint Working Parties, JWP, deciding on the discovery of the now named elements are summarized. Possible experimental developments for production and identification of new elements beyond the presently known ones are estimated. Criteria and guidelines for establishing priority of discovery of these potential new elements are presented. Special emphasis is given to a description for the application of the criteria and the limits for their applicability.

The structure of a neutron-rich ^{25}F nucleus is investigated by a quasifree (p,2p) knockout reaction at 270A MeV in inverse kinematics. The sum of spectroscopic factors of π0d_{5/2} orbital is found to be 1.0±0.3. However, the spectroscopic factor with residual ^{24}O nucleus being in the ground state is found to be only 0.36±0.13, while those in the excited state is 0.65±0.25. The result shows that the ^{24}O core of ^{25}F nucleus significantly differs from a free ^{24}O nucleus, and the core consists of ∼35% ^{24}O_{g.s.}. and ∼65% excited ^{24}O. The result may infer that the addition of the 0d_{5/2} proton considerably changes neutron structure in ^{25}F from that in ^{24}O, which could be a possible mechanism responsible for the oxygen dripline anomaly.

We performed the experiment of p–^{3}3He scattering at 65 MeV by using polarized proton beams and the newly constructed polarized ^{3}3He target. The proton analyzing power A_{y}Ay, the ^{3}3He analyzing power A_{y}^{T}AyT, and the spin correlation coefficient C_{yy}Cyy were measured. In the conference, the experimental data were compared with the rigorous numerical calculations based on various nuclear potentials. Large discrepancies between the experimental data and the calculations were found in the A_{y}^{T}AyT and the {C_{yy}}Cyy at the backward angles.

We measured the cross section and the proton analyzing power A_yAy for pp–^33He elastic scattering at the angles \theta = 26.9^{\circ}θ=26.9∘–170.1^{\circ}170.1∘ in the center of mass system with a 65 MeV polarized proton beam. We compared the data with the rigorous numerical calculations based on the various nucleon–nucleon potentials. For the cross section, clear discrepancy is seen at the angles where the cross section takes minimum. For the proton analyzing power A_yAy, the calculations have moderate agreements with the data. In this proceedings, we show only the experimental results.

We performed the measurement of the cross section and the proton analyzing power \(A_y\) for p–\(^3\)He elastic scattering with a 65 MeV polarized proton beam at Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP), Osaka University. The proton analyzing power \(A_y\) data are compared with the theoretical calculations based on the nucleon–nucleon potential (INOY04).

The new sustainable power generation technique which can convert the salinity gradient energy to the hydroelectric energy is expected. This technique is called Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO). Clarification of the relationship between the performance of the PRO module and permeation characteristics is important. It’s already known that increase of salt concentration can increase the permeation flux through the membrane. As the conventional researches, the effects of increase of fresh water concentration and concentration polarization have evaluated. In this research, relationship between the salt concentration and membrane module is focused. The effects of fresh water dissipation and flow state of salt water in hollow fiber membrane module as new factors are researched with experiment and numerical simulation. As result, in the case of low salt concentration, permeation is not caused sufficiently in module. On the other hand, in the case of high salt concentration, very low permeation flux area exists extensively, and the effects of concentration polarization and fresh water dissipation are relatively large. Therefore salt water flow rate and module shape should be changed for each salt concentration.

This study evaluates the feasibility of a power generation system adopting pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) using seawater and fresh water. The authors measured the membrane power density of a commercially available hollow fiber membrane module. The power density of the current membrane module is 3.1 W/m2, but 6.5 W/m2 is required to realize a commercially feasible power plant adopting PRO. In this case of the net output power is 2.8 W/m2 when the DS pressure was 1.5 MPa and the FS pressure was 0.1 MPa, respectively. The cost of power generation is 0.20 $/kWh assuming a commercial plant that uses 1 million m3 of seawater per day and has the calculated membrane power density. It is necessary to improve the A and B values per membrane module to realize this system. Here, the A and B values are coefficients representing water permeability and salt permeability, respectively. The target membrane power density can be achieved using A and B values per membrane module of 2.05 × 10−6 m/s/MPa and 5.5 × 10−9 m/s, respectively. This evaluation is based on theoretical calculations using the solution-diffusion model of membrane permeation in PRO.

Sea water reverse osmosis (SWRO) would face some problems like energy saving and management of concentrated brine. To solve these problems at the same time, the energy recovery by Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO) was proposed in the Mega-ton Water System project. Prototype plant test was conducted using concentrated brine from SWRO plant and fresh water from regional waste water treatment facility. Hollow-fiber membrane module were examined in the prototype plant and the test operation was carried out for more than one year. We have reached the maximum membrane power density, 13.5 W/m2, using 10-in. module. Followings were still existing obstacles for further effective PRO. It was also challenging how to get clean fresh water from waste or river water without additional cost. Innovative new technologies were also required to address these concerns. We have also estimated plant cost and surveyed financial impacts on the energy saving of SWRO operation, based on the situation of currently operated SWRO plants worldwide, especially about the Mega-ton scale ones. Those studies indicated that potential market of PRO was 1–2 GW, and 10% energy saving was possible on the Megaton scale SWRO plants. Those results indicate that the commercialization plant would be available very near future.

Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes have been widely applied to seawater desalination and wastewater reclamation, and many large RO plants (>100,000 m3/d) have been constructed since 2000. Energy efficiency is indispensable for large plants, especially for future mega-ton scale seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plant (1,000,000 m3/d). In order to reduce energy demand in RO operation, high-efficient low-pressure RO membrane, energy recovery device (ERD), and pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO) which would recover power from salinity gradient between freshwater and concentrated brine were studied in the “Mega-ton Water System” project. A PRO hollow fiber membrane module was newly developed, and a practical continuous operation has been examined at a prototype plant for one year. The maximum 13.5 W/m2 of membrane power density using 10-inch module was established at our prototype PRO plant. As the results of the plant cost estimation and the financial impacts on the energy saving operation at the mega-ton scale...

We perform the first direct mass measurements of neutron-rich calcium isotopes beyond neutron number 34 at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory by using the time-of-flight magnetic-rigidity technique. The atomic mass excesses of ^{55-57}Ca are determined for the first time to be -18650(160), -13510(250), and -7370(990) keV, respectively. We examine the emergence of neutron magicity at N=34 based on the new atomic masses. The new masses provide experimental evidence for the appearance of a sizable energy gap between the neutron 2p_{1/2} and 1f_{5/2} orbitals in ^{54}Ca, comparable to the gap between the neutron 2p_{3/2} and 2p_{1/2} orbitals in ^{52}Ca. For the ^{56}Ca nucleus, an open-shell property in neutrons is suggested.

Almost thirty years ago the criteria that are currently used to verify claims for the discovery of a new element were set down by the comprehensive work of a Transfermium Working Group, TWG, jointly established by IUPAC and IUPAP. The recent completion of the naming of the 118 elements in the first seven periods of the Periodic Table of the Elements was considered as an opportunity for a review of these criteria in the light of the experimental and theoretical advances in the field. In late 2016 the Unions decided to establish a new Joint Working Group, JWG, consisting of six members determined by the Unions. A first meeting of the JWG was in May 2017. One year later this report was finished. In a first part the works and conclusions of the TWG and the Joint Working Parties, JWP, deciding on the discovery of the now named elements are summarized. Possible experimental developments for production and identification of new elements beyond the presently known ones are estimated. Criteria and guidelines for establishing priority of discovery of these potential new elements are presented. Special emphasis is given to a description for the application of the criteria and the limits for their applicability.

The (^{12}N, ^{12}C) charge-exchange reaction at 175 MeV/u was developed as a novel probe for studying the isovector spin giant monopole resonance (IVSMR), whose properties are important for better understanding the bulk properties of nuclei and asymmetric nuclear matter. This probe, now available through the production of ^{12}N as a secondary rare-isotope beam, is exothermic, is strongly absorbed at the surface of the target nucleus, and provides selectivity for spin-transfer excitations. All three properties enhance the excitation of the IVSMR compared to other, primarily light-ion, probes, which have been used to study the IVSMR thus far. The ^{90}Zr(^{12}N,^{12}C) reaction was measured and the excitation energy spectra up to about 70 MeV for both the spin-transfer and non-spin-transfer channels were deduced separately by tagging the decay by γ emission from the ^{12}C ejectile. Besides the well-known Gamow-Teller and isobaric analog transitions, a clear signature of the IVSMR was identified. By comparing with the results from light-ion reactions on the same target nucleus and theoretical predictions, the suitability of this new probe for studying the IVSMR was confirmed.

International audience; The dependence of the single-particle strength on the difference between proton and neutron separation energies is studied for oxygen isotopes in a wide range of isospins. The cross sections of the quasi-free (p, 2p) reaction on 14,16,18,22,24O were measured at intermediate energies. The measured cross sections are compared to predictions based on the distorted wave impulse approximation and shell-model psd valence-space spectroscopic factors. The reduction factors, which are the ratio of the experimental cross sections to the theoretical predictions, show no apparent dependence on the proton–neutron separation energy difference. The result is compatible with the result of the (e, e p) reaction on stable targets and with the predictions of recent ab initio calculations.

A set of differential cross-section data of the 1 H(d, pp)n breakup reaction at 130 MeV deuteron beam energy has been measured in the domain of very forward polar angles with the use of the Germanium Wall detector at the Forschungszentrum Julich. The data obtained for over 1000 kinematical points (112 geometries) are compared with the theoretical predictions based on various models of the three-nucleon (3N) dynamics. They comprise: the realistic nucleon-nucleon potentials alone or combined with the three-nucleon force (3NF), the coupled-channel calculations with the explicit treatment of the Δ-isobar excitation and finally, the potentials derived from chiral perturbation theory. In the part of the phase space studied, the Coulomb interaction between protons has a strong impact on the differential cross section of the breakup reaction. The strongest Coulomb effects are found in regions where the relative energy of the two protons is the smallest. In these regions the data are well reproduced exclusively by calculations which include the electromagnetic repulsion between protons. In spite of the dominance of the Coulomb force in the phase space studied, the contribution of 3NF effects is also observed.

A large set of cross-section data for the H-1 (d,pp)n breakup reaction was measured at 130 MeV deuteron beam energy with the Germanium Wall setup covering the range of very forward polar angles. In the investigated part of the phase-space, the dynamics is dominated by the Coulomb force influence. The data are compared with results of theoretical calculations based on the realistic Argonne V18 potential supplemented with the long-range electromagnetic component. The predictions also include the Urbana IX three nucleon force model. The cross-section data reveal seizable Coulomb force effects.

The (10Be,10B [1.74 MeV]) charge-exchange reaction at 100 AMeV is presented as a new probe for isolating the isovector (ΔT = 1) non-spin-transfer (ΔS = 0) response of nuclei, with 28Si being the rst nucleus studied. By using a secondary 10Be beam produced by fast fragmentation of 18O nuclei at the NSCL Coupled Cyclotron Facility, applying the dispersion-matching technique with the S800 magnetic spectrometer to determine the excitation energy in 28Al, and performing high- resolution -ray tracking with the Gamma-Ray Energy Tracking Array (GRETINA) to identify the 1022-keV ray associated with the decay from the 1.74-MeV T = 1 isobaric analog state in 10B, a ΔS = 0 excitation-energy spectrum in 28Al was extracted. Monopole and dipole contributions were determined through a multipole-decomposition analysis, and the isovector giant dipole (IVGDR) and monopole (IVGMR) resonances were identi ed. The results show that this probe is a powerful tool for studying the elusive IVGMR, which is of interest for performing stringent tests of modern density functional theories at high excitation energies and for constraining the bulk properties of nuclei and nuclear matter. The extracted distributions were compared with theoretical calculations based on the normal-modes formalism and the proton-neutron relativistic time-blocking approximation. Calculated cross sections based on these strengths underestimate the data by about a factor of two, which likely indicates de ciencies in the reaction calculations based on the distorted wave Born approximation.

We have measured a complete set of deuteron analyzing powers in deuteron–proton elastic scattering at 190, 250, and 294 MeV/nucleon. The obtained data are compared with the Faddeev calculations based on the modern nucleon–nucleon forces together with the Tucson-Melbourne’99, and UrbanaIX three nucleon forces. The data are also presented with the calculations based on the N4LO NN potentials of the chiral effective field theory.

Precise and large sets of cross section, vector $A_{x}, A_{y}$ and tensor$ A_{xx}, A_{xy}, A_{yy}$ analyzing power data for the $^{1}H\left ( d, pp \right )n$ breakup reactions were measured at 100 and 130 MeV deuteron beam energies with the SALAD and BINA detectors at KVI and the Germanium Wall setup at FZ-Jülich. Results are compared with various theoretical approaches which model the three-nucleon system dynamics. The cross section data reveal a sizable three-nucleon force (3NF) and Coulomb force influence. In case of the analyzing powers very low sensitivity to these effects was found and the data are well describe by 2N models only. For $A_{xy}$ at 130 MeV, serious disagreements were observed when 3NF models are included in the calculations.

Low-pressure multi-wire drift chambers have been developed to track high-intensity radioactive isotope beams at the energies of around 200 MeV/nucleon. In order to minimize the effect of multiple scattering by radioactive isotope beam, the thickness of the detectors were minimized by using isobutane gas at low pressure (10 kPa). The performance of the position resolution, the tracking efficiency, and the beam intensity capability were evaluated as a function of atomic number and applied voltage. As a result, an overall position resolution of 300 μm was achieved for radioactive isotope beams with an intensity of 1 MHz. The details of the design specifications and performances of the low-pressure multi-wire drift chambers are described.

The paper describes recent developments of diamond detector at CNS and discusses the timing signal transfer system suitable for optimizing its performance. The diamond detector is well known to have good properties as a radiation detector such as fast response and good radiation hardness. Consequently, it is an excellent candidate for serving as a high-resolution thin timing detector. CNS and NSCL/MSU started a collaboration to develop diamond detectors, and manufactured a detector with a size of 28 × 28 mm2 and thickness of 200 μm. An irradiation experiment of the detector was performed by using a 32-MeV α beam to check its basic performance. The CNS detector had almost 100% efficiency and a timing resolution of 27 ps ( σ ). Jitter in long optical-fiber signal-transfer lines was examined and found to be 10.7 ps ( σ ). Diamond detectors and signal transfer system using a optical fiber enable us to provide time-of-flight measurements with extremely high resolution.

The SHARAQ spectrometer and High-Resolution Beamline, which began operation in March 2009, have been put into use for six experiments using charge exchange reactions with radioactive isotope beams. For experiments at SHARAQ, detector developments and ion optics studies continue to improve performance in high-resolution nuclear spectroscopy. We have introduced improved timing resolution with CVD diamond detectors, high count-rate beamline tracking detectors and development of multi-particle detection by cathode-readout drift chambers. Ion-optics studies for the high-resolution achromatic (HA) and dispersion-matching (DM) transport modes are also reported here. Momentum tagging in the HA mode demonstrated an improvement in spectroscopic resolution with respect to the momentum spread of the radioactive beam. For the DM transportation mode, a momentum resolution of 1 / 8100 (FWHM) was achieved by taking into account the positions and angles of the beam at the third focal plane of BigRIPS.

We have developed a new background reduction method based on single photoelectron counting of scintillators for the WIMP search experiment. We introduced this method to our detector system ELEGANT VI, which has an active shield in all directions ( 4 π ) using a pulse height or, equivalently, the difference in the number of photoelectrons between two (left and right) photomultiplier tubes attached to CaF2 scintillators. The number distribution is uniquely described by a binomial function, via which we developed the unambiguous background subtraction method. This method reduces the backgrounds further compared to charge-sensitive ADC and offers improved sensitivity for the search for WIMPs.

We have measured all deuteron analyzing powers \({(A_{y}^{d}, A_{yy}, A_{xx}, A_{xz})}\) for deuteron-proton elastic scattering at 294 MeV/nucleon in order to study the properties of three nucleon forces (3 NFs). Measurement was made at in an angular range of \({\theta_{{\rm c.m.}} = 35.6^{\circ} - 163.0^{\circ}}\). Obtained data were compared with Faddeev calculations with and without the 3 NFs. At \({\theta_{{\rm c.m.}}\lesssim 120^{\circ}}\) all the data have general agreement with the calculations, while the measured data at \({\theta_{{\rm c.m.}} \gtrsim 120^{\circ}}\) are not explained by any theoretical calculations. These results were consistent with those at 250 MeV/nucleon.

Removal of pathogenic organisms from reprocessed surgical instruments is essential to prevent iatrogenic infections. Some bacteria can make persistent biofilms on medical devices. Contamination of non-disposable equipment with prions also represents a serious risk to surgical patients. Efficient disinfection of prions from endoscopes and other instruments such as high-resolution cameras remains problematic because these instruments do not tolerate aggressive chemical or heat treatments. Herein, we develop a new washing system that uses both the alkaline and acidic water produced by electrolysis. Electrolyzed acidic water, containing HCl and HOCl as active substances, has been reported to be an effective disinfectant. A 0.15% NaCl solution was electrolyzed and used immediately to wash bio-contaminated stainless steel model systems with alkaline water (pH 11.9) with sonication, and then with acidic water (pH 2.7) without sonication. Two bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and a fungus (Candida albicans) were effectively removed or inactivated by the washing process. In addition, this process effectively removed or inactivated prions from the stainless steel surfaces. This washing system will be potentially useful for the disinfection of clinical devices such as neuroendoscopes because electrolyzed water is gentle to both patients and equipment and is environmentally sound.