Self-consistent description of the halo nature of 31Ne with continuum and pairing correlations

Using a Glauber model with our relativistic fully microscopic structure model input, we give a full description of the halo nature of $^{31}$Ne that includes a self-consistent use of pairing and continuum contributions that makes predictions consistent with reaction cross section measurements. Our predictions of total reaction and one-neutron removal cross sections of $^{31}$Ne on a Carbon target were significantly enhanced compared with those of neighboring Neon isotopes, agreeing with measurements at 240 MeV/nucleon and consistent with a single neutron halo. Furthermore, our calculations of the inclusive longitudinal momentum distribution of the $^{30}$Ne and valence neutron residues from the $^{31}$Ne breakup reaction indicate a dilute density distribution in coordinate space, another halo signature.

SARS-CoV-2 Inactivation Simulation Using 14 MeV Neutron Irradiation

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is deadly, contagious, can cause COVID-19 disease, and endangers public health and safety. The development of SARS-CoV-2 inactivation technology is crucial and imminent in current pandemic period. Neutron radiation is usually used to sterilize viruses because neutron radiation is 10 times more effective than gamma-rays in inactivating viruses. In this work we established a closed SARS-CoV-2 inactivation container model by the Monte Carlo method and simulated the inactivation performance by using several different neutrons sources. To study the effects of inactivation container factors, including the reflector thickness, the type of the reflector material, the SARS-CoV-2 layer area and the distance from the radiation source on the energy deposition of a single neutron particle in SARS-CoV-2 sample, we simulated the neutron energy deposition on a SARS-CoV-2 sample. The simulation results indicate that the saturated thicknesses of reflector materials for graphite, water and paraffin are approximately 30 cm, 15 cm, and 10 cm, respectively, and the energy deposition (radiation dose) becomes larger when the SARS-CoV-2 layer area is smaller and the SARS-CoV-2 layer is placed closer to the neutron source. The calculated single-neutron energy deposition on 10 × 10 cm2 SARS-CoV-2 layer is about 3.0059 × 10−4 MeV/g with graphite as the reflection layer, when the 14 MeV neutron source intensity is 1012 n/s and the SARS-CoV-2 layer is 5 cm away from the neutron source. If the lethal dose of SARS-CoV-2 is assumed as the IAEA recommended reference dose, 25 kGy, the SARS-CoV-2 could be decontaminated in about 87 min, and the sterilization time could be less than 52s if the 14 MeV neutron intensity is increased to 1014 n/s.

Characterization of a medium-sized CLLB scintillator: single neutron/gamma detector for radiation monitoring

The use of a single neutron/gamma detector is an interesting solution to detect and identify gamma emitters and also special nuclear materials (SNM), being able to discriminate between the two kinds of particles and also to perform good-resolution gamma spectroscopy. In this framework, we present a comprehensive characterization of a medium sized (2" × 2") CLLB (Cs2LiLaBr6:Ce) scintillation detector, in order to give the necessary information to assess its deployment in applications regarding homeland security and radiation monitoring. In particular, the parameters studied are: energy resolution, full-energy peak gamma efficiency, time resolution, thermal neutron/gamma discrimination capability, decay time of the signals, high counting rate performance and minimum detectable activities (of 137Cs and 252Cf sources). We employed digital nuclear electronics combined with a pulse shape discrimination algorithm to acquire and analyze the data. We compared our results with reported data for smaller CLLB scintillators, finding good agreement. Experiments were combined with Monte Carlo simulations (using GEANT4 v10.6.0 and MCNP5 v1.60) in order to complement the characterization. The obtained results suggest that the 2” × 2” CLLB detector offers better performance with respect to other scintillators of the same size such as NaI(Tl), CsI, CeBr, etc. which are commonly used in a radiation monitoring systems.

Neutron interactions with electromagnetic fields and single-neutron solitons

We address the bound-state dynamics of a neutron with anomalous magnetic dipole moment in the presence of electromagnetic (EM) fields described by a generalized Dirac–Pauli equation. This generalization consists of including appropriate couplings between Lorentz scalar and pseudoscalar fields with EM fields in the Lagrangian of the system. We exactly solve two single-particle problems: first, a Hydrogen-like system; second, a relativistic Schrödinger-like equation for a linear confining potential. We comment on the relevance of this approach to explore fermion (e.g. neutron) self-interactions as solitonic models of the neutron.

Establishment of multi-target neutron capture therapy with multiple boron drugs for brain tumours

Surgery can be used to remove cancerous tumours but isn't perfect. It entails risks for the patients, bits of the tumour can be missed and there are parts of the body that can't be reached. Radiation and pharmaceuticals provide additional treatment methods but aren't completely accurate. A new method of radiation therapy called Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) may provide improved accuracy. Associate Professor Shinji Kawabata, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan, is interested in BNCT, particularly for treating brain tumours. He and his team introduced BNCT using a nuclear reactor in 2002 and the researchers have been actively working on it since then. The researchers have shown that the treatment is safe and effective. Kawabata conducted a multi-institutional clinical trial in which he set out to compare BNCT against existing standard treatments and found that BNCT significantly exceeded this benchmark. He and his team also found that multi-target BNCT, which uses multiple types of target drugs at once and irradiates a single neutron, outperforms single agents in terms of usefulness and safety. At the moment, Kawabata and the team are refining the treatment based on the multi-treatment type protocols and want to expand the treatment to encompass other types of cancer.

Shell Model Calculations for Some Properties of 29-34Mg Isotopes

The calculations of the shell model, based on the large basis, were carried out for studying the nuclear 29-34Mg structure. Binding energy, single neutron separation energy, neutron shell gap, two neutron separation energy, and reduced transition probability, are explained with the consideration of the contributions of the high-energy configurations beyond the model space of sd-shell. The wave functions for these nuclei are used from the model of the shell with the use of the USDA 2-body effective interaction. The OBDM elements are computed with the use of NuShellX@MSU shell model code that utilizes the formalism of proton-neutron.