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N. Shinohara, N. Kohno, K. Suyama, J. Inagawa, Y. Nakahara, S. Kurosawa, K. Watanabe, S. Usuda, M. Oshima, H. Katsuta

Chemical analysis of transuranium nuclides in the uranium solution of the JCO criticality accident

Atom numbers of ²³⁹Np and ²³⁹Pu, which had been produced by the neutron capture reaction of ²³⁸U in the uranium solution of the JCO criticality accident at Tokai-mura, Japan, were determined precisely by a radiochemical method. It was found that the measured atom ratio of ²³⁹Np/²³⁹Pu at termination of the criticality depends sensitively on the history of the neutron capture reaction during the accident (about 20-hours continuance). The history was evaluated by comparing the measured value and those calculated by a burnup calculation code. The percentage of the number of the neutron capture reaction at the initial stage of the criticality during 25 min against the total events was determined to be 24±6%.

Radiochimica Acta, Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag

Print ISSN: 0033-8230
Volume: 89, 03/2001
Pages: 135

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