Keisuke Sueki

Assessment of individual radionuclide distributions from the Fukushima nuclear accident covering central-east Japan

A tremendous amount of radioactivity was discharged because of the damage to cooling systems of nuclear reactors in the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in March 2011. Fukushima and its adjacent prefectures were contaminated with fission products from the accident. Here, we show a geographical distribution of radioactive iodine, tellurium, and cesium in the surface soils of central-east Japan as determined by gamma-ray spectrometry. Especially in Fukushima prefecture, contaminated area spreads around Iitate and Naka-Dori for all the radionuclides we measured. Distributions of the radionuclides were affected by the physical state of each nuclide as well as geographical features. Considering meteorological conditions, it is concluded that the radioactive material transported on March 15 was the major contributor to contamination in Fukushima prefecture, whereas the radioactive material transported on March 21 was the major source in Ibaraki, Tochigi, Saitama, and Chiba prefectures and in Tokyo.

Experiment on the Synthesis of Element 113 in the Reaction 209Bi(70Zn,n)278113

The convincing candidate event of the isotope of the 113th element, 278 113, and its daughter nuclei, 274 111 and 270 Mt, were observed, for the first time, in the 209 Bi + 70 Zn reaction at a beam energy of 349.0 MeV with a total dose of 1.7 ×10 19 . Alpha decay energies and decay times of the candidates, 278 113, 274 111, and 270 Mt, were (11.68 ±0.04 MeV, 0.344 ms), (11.15 ±0.07 MeV, 9.26 ms), and (10.03 ±0.07 MeV, 7.16 ms), respectively. The production cross section of the isotope was deduced to be 55 +150 -45 fb (10 -39 cm 2 ).

Observation of Second Decay Chain from 278113

RIKEN (The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research), Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Department of Physics, Saitama University, Saitama 338-8570 Center for Instrumental Analysis, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181 Center for Nuclear Study, University of Tokyo, Wako, Saitama 351-0198 Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1195 Department of Chemistry, Niigata University, Niigata 950-2181 University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8571 Department of Physics, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578 Department of Physics, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560

New Result in the Production and Decay of an Isotope, 278113, of the 113th Element

An isotope of the 113th element, i.e., 278 113, was produced in a nuclear reaction with a 70 Zn beam on a 209 Bi target. We observed six consecutive α-decays following the implantation of a heavy particle in nearly the same position in the semiconductor detector under an extremely low background condition. The fifth and sixth decays are fully consistent with the sequential decays of 262 Db and 258 Lr in both decay energies and decay times. This indicates that the present decay chain consisted of 278 113, 274 Rg ( Z =111), 270 Mt ( Z =109), 266 Bh ( Z =107), 262 Db ( Z =105), and 258 Lr ( Z =103) with firm connections. This result, together with previously reported results from 2004 and 2007, conclusively leads to the unambiguous production and identification of the isotope 278 113 of the 113th element.

Experiment on Synthesis of an Isotope 277112 by 208Pb+70Zn Reaction

The production and decay of 277 112 have been investigated using a gas-filled recoil ion separator in irradiations of 208 Pb targets with a 70 Zn beam at 349.5 MeV. We have observed two α-decay chains that can be assigned to subsequent decays from 277 112 produced in the 208 Pb( 70 Zn,n) reaction. After emitting four consecutive α-particles, both the chains terminate by spontaneous fission decays of 261 Rf, and the decay energies and decay times of both the chains obtained in the present work agree well with those reported by a group at Gesellschaft fur Schwerionenforschung (GSI), Germany. The present result gives the first clear confirmation of the discovery of 277 112 and its α-decay product 273 Ds reported previously.

Nondestructive Determination of Major Elements in a Large Sample by Prompt γ Ray Neutron Activation Analysis.

An internal monostandard method is proposed for the nondestructive determination of major elements in large samples by prompt γ ray neutron activation analysis. It successfully overcomes the problems characteristic of large samples, such as the absorption and scattering of incident neutrons and the absorption of emitted γ rays. In order to make this proposed method understood theoretically, an equation is presented and its validity for the analysis of large samples discussed. In principle, the proposed method gives relative contents in large solid samples, whereas it allows absolute determination for samples in solution form. As a demonstration for the analysis of a large solid sample, we analyzed an earthen vessel, and the major elements in the sample (Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, and Fe) were determined within the uncertainty of 10%, except for Mn. This method was also tested for samples in solution form, and it was found that the absolute content of a target element could be obtained by constructing a calibration curve using several known standard solutions of different concentrations. Residual radioactivity after irradiation was also examined and found to be so little that the sample could be taken outside the radiation-controlled area within a few days after the irradiation.

Production and decay properties of 272111 and its daughter nuclei

The production and decay of 272 111 has been investigated using a gas-filled recoil ion separator in irradiations of 209 Bi targets with 64 Ni beam at 320, 323 and 326 MeV. We have observed 14 α-decay chains in total, that can be assigned, on the basis of their time correlations, to subsequent decays from 272 111 produced in the 209 Bi( 64 Ni,1n) reaction. The present result is the first clear confirmation for the discovery of 272 111 and its α-decay products, 264 Bh and 268 Mt, reported previously by a GSI group. New information on their half-lives and decay energies as well as the excitation function is presented.

Hexafluoro complex of rutherfordium in mixed HF/HNO3 solutions

Summary Formation of anionic fluoride-complexes of element 104, rutherfordium, produced in the 248Cm(18O,5n) 261Rf reaction was studied by anion-exchange on an atom-at-a-time scale. It was found that the hexafluoro complex of Rf, [RfF6]2−, was formed in the studied fluoride ion concentrations of 0.0005–0.013 M. Formation of [RfF6]2− was significantly different from that of the homologues Zr and Hf, [ZrF6]2− and [HfF6]2−; the evaluated formation constant of [RfF6]2− is at least one-order of magnitude smaller than those of [ZrF6]2− and [HfF6]2−.

Extraction behavior of rutherfordium into tributylphosphate from hydrochloric acid

The extraction behavior of rutherfordium (Rf) into tributylphosphate (TBP) from hydrochloric acid (HCl) has been studied together with those of the lighter group-4 elements Zr and Hf. The extractability of 261Rf, 169Hf, and 85Zr into TBP was investigated under identical conditions in 7.2–8.0 M HCl by on-line reversed-phase extraction chromatography. The percent extractions of Rf, Hf, and Zr into the TBP resin increase steeply with increasing HCl concentration, and the order of extraction is Zr > Hf ≈ Rf. By considering the order of chloride complexation among these elements, it is suggested that the stability of the TBP complex of Rf tetrachloride is lower than those of Zr and Hf.

Neutron Emission from Fracture of Piezoelectric Materials in Deuterium Atmosphere

We have studied nuclear reaction during a fracture process of piezoelectric materials in D2 atmosphere. Neutrons are generated in d–d nuclear reaction through the fracture process of LiNbO3 (lithium niobate) at the D2 gas pressure of 30 kPa or above; the emission rate is 108±27 /h with the statistical significance of 4.0 σ, although at 18 kPa or below, neutrons are not generated. We have not observed neutrons from other tested piezoelectric materials.