The build–up of 6Li and 3He, that is, the strong thermal neutron absorbers or the so called "neutron poisons", in the beryllium reflector changes the physical characteristics of the reactor, such as reactivity, neutron spectra, neutron flux level, power distribution, etc.; furthermore,gaseous isotopes such as 3H and 4He induce swelling and embrittlement of the reflector. The SAFARI–1 research reactor, operated by Necsa at Pelindaba in South Africa, uses a beryllium reflector on three sides of the core, consisting of 19 beryllium reflector elements in total. This MTR went critical in 1965, and the original beryllium reflectors are still used. The individual neutron irradiation history of each beryllium reflector element, as well as the impact of beryllium poisoning on reactor parameters, were never well known nor investigated before. Furthermore, in the OSCAR{3 code system used in predictive neutronic calculations for SAFARI–1, beryllium reflector burn–up is not accounted for; OSCAR models the beryllium reflector as a non–burnable, 100% pure material. As a result, the poisoning phenomenon is not accounted for. Furthermore, the criteria and hence the optimum replacement time of the reflector has never been developed. This study presents detailed calculations, using MCNP, FISPACT and the OSCAR{3 code system, to quantify the influence of impurities that were originally present in the fresh beryllium reflector, the beryllium reflector poisoning phenomenon, and further goes on to propose the reflector's replacement criteria based on the calculated fluence and predicted swelling. Comparisons to experimental low power flux measurements and effects of safety parameters are also established. The study concludes that, to improve the accuracy and reliability of the predictive OSCAR code calculations, beryllium re flector burn–up should undoubtedly be incorporated in the next releases of OSCAR. Based on this study, the inclusion of the beryllium reflector burn–up chains is planned for implementation in the currently tested OSCAR–4 code system. In addition to beryllium reflector poisoning, the replacement criteria of the reflector is developed. It is however crucial that experimental measurements on the contents of 3H and 4He be conducted and thus swelling of the reflector be quantifed. In this way the calculated results could be verified and a sound replacement criteria be developed. In the absence of experimental measurements on the beryllium reflector, the analysis and quantifcation of the calculated results is reserved for future studies. / Thesis (M.Sc. Engineering Sciences (Nuclear Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

In der Umwelt vorkommende Radionuklide wurden als Tracer für Migrationsverhalten verwendet. Low-level-γ-Spektrometrie und zusätzliche Plutoniumanalysen ermöglichten den Nachweis sehr geringer Konzentrationen radioaktiver Nuklide. Der atmosphärische Eintrag wurde über Regenwasser- und Staubfilterproben gemessen. Untersuchungen an Filterstäuben ermöglichten eine nachträgliche Charakterisierung der Eintragssituation vor und nach dem Tschernobyl-Unfall im Freiberger Raum. Die Radionuklidtiefenverteilungen in Fichtenwald- und Hochmoorböden und deren weiterführende Analyse erlaubten Aussagen zum Stofftransport und zu bodenbildenden Prozessen. Die Migrationsdynamik in weitgehend ungestörten Hochmooren unterscheidet sich von der anthropogen überprägter Moore. Die Eignung verschiedener Radionuklide zur Datierung bzw. zeitlichen Markierung von Moorbodenschichten und damit zur Verwendung in der Moorstratigraphie wurde geprüft. Eine gute Übereinstimmung der Ergebnisse verschiedener Datierungs- und Markierungsmethoden zeigte sich v. a. für die Profile der ungestörten, rezent wachsenden ombrogenen Hochmoore.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:42:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:04:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Dissertação (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:42:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:04:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / No campo da medicina, a radiação ionizante é utilizada tanto para fins terapêuticos como para fins diagnósticos, englobando assim um amplo intervalo de doses de diferentes tipos de radiações. Para assegurar que a finalidade da prática esteja sendo alcançada, são necessários estudos detalhados de detectores e dispositivos que respondam a diferentes tipos de radiações. Neste trabalho foi realizada a caracterização dosimétrica de amostras de BeO utilizando as técnicas de termoluminescência (TL) e luminescência opticamente estimulada (OSL) comparando-se as respostas para as radiações alfa, beta e X e propondose um sistema adequado para sua utilização em monitoração de feixes destas radiações. Dentre os principais resultados obtidos estão: alta sensibilidade à radiação beta para ambas as técnicas empregadas, boa reprodutibilidade das respostas TL e OSL (coeficientes de variação inferiores a 5%), uma dependência energética máxima da radiação X de 28% para técnica TL, e de apenas 7% para a técnica OSL, dentro dos intervalos de energia estudados. As características dosimétricas obtidas neste trabalho mostram a possibilidade de aplicação das amostras de BeO em dosimetria das radiações ionizantes X, alfa e beta, considerando os intervalos de dose empregados, pelas técnicas de TL e OSL. Pelos resultados obtidos, as amostras de BeO apresentaram sua utilização potencial para dosimetria de feixes de radiodiagnóstico e radioterapia. / Dissertação (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Submitted by Pedro Silva Filho (pfsilva@ipen.br) on 2017-11-17T16:39:31Z No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-17T16:39:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / A radiação ionizante é amplamente utilizada em diversas áreas na indústria e na medicina. No campo da medicina, a radiação ionizante é utilizada tanto para fins terapêuticos como para fins diagnósticos, abrangendo assim um grande intervalo de doses de diferentes tipos de radiações. Para certificar que a finalidade da prática esteja sendo alcançada, são necessários estudos detalhados de detectores e dispositivos que atendam aos diferentes tipos de radiações. Neste trabalho foi realizado um estudo das características dosimétricas de amostras de BeO em feixes padronizados de radiodiagnóstico convencional, mamografia e tomografia computadorizada, utilizando as técnicas de termoluminescência (TL) e luminescência opticamente estimulada (OSL) e propondo um sistema adequado para sua utilização em dosimetria de feixes. Os principais resultados obtidos foram: alta sensibilidade à luz branca durante a irradiação, boa reprodutibilidade das respostas TL e OSL (coeficientes de variação inferiores a 5%), parâmetros cinéticos correspondentes aos valores obtidos em todos os métodos testados, sem fading dentro do período estudado para ambas as técnicas. As características dosimétricas obtidas neste trabalho mostram a possibilidade de aplicação das amostras de BeO em dosimetria da radiação X, considerando os intervalos de dose empregados, pelas técnicas de TL e OSL. Assim, as amostras de BeO apresentaram sua utilização potencial para dosimetria de feixes de radiodiagnóstico convencional, mamografia e tomografia computadorizada. / Dissertação (Mestrado em Tecnologia Nuclear) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

The 12C+16O breakup of 28Si and the 12C+12C breakup of 24Mg have been studied following the interaction of a 170 MeV 24Mg beam with 7Li, 9Be,12C and 16O target nuclei. The measurements were performed at the Australian National University in Canberra, using the technique of Resonant Particle Spectroscopy. The breakup fragments from the decay of the resonant nuclei were detected in two Gas-Si-CsI telescopes positioned on opposite sides of the beam axis. The data suggest that the same states in 28Si are populated via the 7Li(24Mg, 12C 16O)3H, 9Be(24Mg,12C 16O)5He and 12c(24Mg,12C 16O)8Be reactions. This implies that the cluster decaying states are populated by direct a-transfer. Breakup has been observed from states in 28Si at excitation energies (spins) of (26.15), 28.17 (13-, 29.51, 29.95, 30.45, 30.76, (31.3), 31.65, 31.90, 32.51, 33.14, 33.41, 33.77, 34.45 (12+,14+) and 35.13 MeV. A consistent theoretical interpretation of the 28Si molecular structures has been given, taking into account the predictions of Nilsson-Strutinsky, a-cluster model and two centre shell model calculations. The present results for the 12C(24Mg,12C 12C)12C reaction agree with previous measurements. In addition, new spin assignments have been proposed for several of the breakup states in 24Mg. States have been observed at excitation energies (spins) of 20.54 (2+), 21.07 (4+), 21.88 (4+), 22.33 (4+), 22.90 (6+), 23.80 (6+,(8+)), 24.56 (8+), 25.14 (6+), 25.72, 26.41 (8+) and 27.12 MeV. Evidence for the population of many of these states via the 16O(24Mg,12C 12C)16O reaction has also been observed. However, the data gave no evidence for either the 7Li(24Mg,12C 12C)7Li or 9Be(24Mg,12C 12C)9Be reactions. The presently available information did not allow an unambiguous determination of the reaction mechanism responsible for the population of the 24Mg breakup states. The performance of the Gas-Si-Csl telescopes has been investigated. For multiplicity 2 events in the silicon strip detectors, a crosstalk has been observed between the two active strips. The energy calibration of the silicon strip detectors for penetrating particles has also been found to differ to that for stopped particles. Empirical corrections for both of these effects have been deduced allowing the simultaneous detection and identification of heavy and light ions within a single telescope. These techniques have been extended to the detection of 8Be → alpha+alpha events over a wide range of alpha-particle energies.

In Medizin und Technik besteht ein Bedarf an flexiblen, miniaturisierten Dosisleistungs-messgeräten mit hoher Ortsauflösung für den Einsatz in Strahlungsfeldern hoher Dosisleistung und Dosisleistungsgradienten. Lichtwellenleiterbasierte Dosisleistungsmess-systeme können diese Anforderungen erfüllen. Sie bestehen aus einem strahlungssensitiven Leuchtstoff, welcher über einen flexiblen Lichtleiter an einen Lichtdetektor gekoppelt ist. Die Eliminierung des dominierenden Störeinflusses, des bei Bestrahlung des Lichtleiters generierten Stem-Effekts, ist eine inhärente Herausforderung aller lichtwellenleiter¬basierten Dosisleistungsmesssysteme. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird ein solches System unter Verwendung der Lumineszenz der gewebeäquivalenten Detektormaterialien Berylliumoxid und Lithiumtetraborat realisiert. Der Schwerpunkt liegt dabei auf der Untersuchung von Methoden der Stem-Eliminierung unter Nutzung der zeitlichen Charakteristik der Lumineszenzmaterialien sowie der zeitlichen Struktur des Strahlungsfeldes oder einer modulierten optischen Stimulation. Eine performante Ausleseelektronik auf FPGA-Basis ermöglicht Echtzeit-Messungen mit einer Abtastung von 10 ns. Verschiedene Auswertemethoden generieren aus den Rohdaten in Zeitstempelform eine stem-unabhängige, dosisleistungsproportionale Detektorantwort. / In medicine and technology there is a demand for flexible, miniaturized dose rate measurement systems with high spatial resolution for the application in radiation fields of high dose rates and dose rate gradients. Fiber optic coupled dosimeters can meet these requirements. They consist of a radiation sensitive luminescent material which is connected to a light detector with a flexible light guide. The elimination of the dominant perturbation, which is the stem effect generated by irradiation of the light guide, is one inherent challenge of all fiber optic dosimeters. In the present work such a system is realized, using the luminescence of the two tissue equivalent detector materials beryllium oxide and lithium tetraborate. The main focus is on the investigation of methods of stem elimination, exploiting the temporal characteristics of the luminescent materials, as well as the time structure of the irradiation or a modulated optical stimulation. For this purpose, capable FPGA-based read out electronics are employed, which enable real time measurements with 10 ns sampling. Different methods of analysis process the time stamp raw data and generate a stem-free, dose rate proportional detector response.

In der Umwelt vorkommende Radionuklide wurden als Tracer für Migrationsverhalten verwendet. Low-level-γ-Spektrometrie und zusätzliche Plutoniumanalysen ermöglichten den Nachweis sehr geringer Konzentrationen radioaktiver Nuklide. Der atmosphärische Eintrag wurde über Regenwasser- und Staubfilterproben gemessen. Untersuchungen an Filterstäuben ermöglichten eine nachträgliche Charakterisierung der Eintragssituation vor und nach dem Tschernobyl-Unfall im Freiberger Raum. Die Radionuklidtiefenverteilungen in Fichtenwald- und Hochmoorböden und deren weiterführende Analyse erlaubten Aussagen zum Stofftransport und zu bodenbildenden Prozessen. Die Migrationsdynamik in weitgehend ungestörten Hochmooren unterscheidet sich von der anthropogen überprägter Moore. Die Eignung verschiedener Radionuklide zur Datierung bzw. zeitlichen Markierung von Moorbodenschichten und damit zur Verwendung in der Moorstratigraphie wurde geprüft. Eine gute Übereinstimmung der Ergebnisse verschiedener Datierungs- und Markierungsmethoden zeigte sich v. a. für die Profile der ungestörten, rezent wachsenden ombrogenen Hochmoore.

Nuclear electromagnetic breakup processes at low energy are particularly relevant in the astrophysical context. In this Thesis we analyse the Beryllium-9 photodisintegration reaction, whose inverse process, under certain astrophysical conditions, is related to the Carbon-12 formation. A preliminary study of the Carbon-12 photodisintegration is also carried out. The interaction of these nuclei with a low-energy photon induces a transition to a state consisting of cluster sub-units, the alpha-particles, and possibly a neutron, n. The theoretical study of the cross section in the low-energy regime is conducted by using a three-body ab initio approach. Beryllium-9 exhibits a clear separation of energy scales, since its alpha-alpha-n three-body binding energy is shallow compared to the binding of the alpha-particle. Within this framework a halo/cluster Effective Field Theory (EFT) can be developed. The alpha-alpha and alpha-n effective interactions are defined in momentum space as a series of contact terms, regularized by a momentum-regulator function. The Low Energy Constants are expressed in terms of scattering observables, i.e. scattering length and effective range. A three-body potential is also introduced in the model. Carbon-12 is studied on the same footing. By means of an integral transform approach, the problem of the transition to a state in the continuum can be advantageously reformulated in terms of a bound-state problem: in the calculations we use the Lorentz Integral Transform method, in conjunction with the Non-Symmetrized Hyperspherical Harmonics method. In determining the low-energy photodisintegration cross section, the nuclear current matrix element is evaluated through the electric dipole, or quadrupole, transition operator (Siegert theorem). Since the continuity equation is used explicitly, the contribution of the one-body and the many-body current operators is implicitly included in the calculation. By comparing the results with those obtained by using a one-body convection current, the effect of the many-body terms can be quantified. The dependence of the results on different EFT parameters is discussed, always in connection with the experimental data available in the literature. By following the power counting dictated by the EFT approach for Beryllium-9, the inclusion of different partial waves in the potential model is explored. In addition to a alpha-alpha S-wave, a alpha-n P-wave and a three-body effective interaction, a alpha-n S-wave term is also required to obtain results more consistent with the experimental data. The contribution of the many-body currents to the cross section is found to be non-negligible. Although at an early stage, Carbon-12 results show interesting features. The formalism presented in this Thesis can be extended to study the photodisintegration of Oxygen-16 within a fully four-body ab initio approach.

Submitted by Marco Antonio Oliveira da Silva (maosilva@ipen.br) on 2016-12-21T12:55:48Z No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-21T12:55:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / O reator IEA-R1 do Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPENCNEN/ SP) é um reator de pesquisa tipo piscina aberta, projetado e construído pela empresa norte-americana \"Babcock & Wilcox\", tendo, como refrigerante e moderador, água leve deionizada e berílio e grafite como refletores. Até cerca de 1988, os sistemas de segurança do reator recebiam alimentação de uma única fonte de energia. Nos anos de 1989 e 1990, uma reforma de modernização do sistema elétrico para aumentar a potência do reator e, também, para atender às normas técnicas da Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear (CNEN) e da Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT) foi realizada. Este trabalho tem o objetivo de mostrar a relação entre o sistema de energia elétrica e a segurança do reator IEA-R1. Além disso, ele demonstra que, caso ocorra alguma interrupção de energia elétrica durante a operação do reator, esta ocorrência não irá começar um evento de acidente. / Dissertação (Mestrado em Tecnologia Nuclear) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP