arXiv subjects

Atsushi Kimura

Publications and source records attributed to Atsushi Kimura.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

First Constraint on P-odd/T-odd Cross Section in Polarized Neutron Transmission through Transversely Polarized $^{139}$La

We report the first constraint on time-reversal invariance violating (TRIV) effects in polarized neutron transmission through a transversely polarized $^{139}$La target. We formulate the transmission asymmetry within the density matrix formalism, explicitly incorporating the forward scattering amplitude of $^{139}$La including tensor polarization terms up to third-rank. The formalism is applied to existing transmission data originally obtained to measure the spin-dependent cross section near the $0.75$~eV $p$-wave resonance. Since these data were not optimized for P-odd/T-odd observables, the attainable sensitivity is intrinsically limited; nevertheless, they provide a useful test of the formalism on real experimental data. No statistically significant TRIV signal is observed. By analyzing the global $χ^2$ structure in the parameter space, we obtain an upper limit of $|W_T|<15~\mathrm{eV}$ at the 90\% confidence level. This corresponds to an upper limit on the resonance-averaged TRIV cross section of $|Δσ_{\not{T}\not{P}}|<8.3\times10^2~\mathrm{b}$. These results validate the present theoretical framework and provide guidance for future dedicated TRIV searches in polarized neutron transmission experiments.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

Measurement of the $^{35}Cl(n, p)^{35}S$ cross-section at the CERN n\_TOF facility from subthermal energy to 120 keV

Background: The $^{35}Cl(n, p)^{35}S$ reaction is of special interest in three different applications. First, in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy due to the presence of $^{35}Cl$ in brain and skin tissue. Second, it is involved in the creation of $^{36}S$, whose astrophysical origin remains unresolved. Third, in the designing of fast nuclear reactors of new generation based on molten salts. Purpose: To measure the $^{35}Cl(n, p)^{35}S$ cross-section from thermal energy to 120 keV, determine the resonance parameters in this range and Maxwellian Averaged Cross-Section (MACS). Method: We made use of the Time-of-Flight technique with microMEGAS detectors at Experimental Area 2 (EAR-2) of n\_TOF facility at CERN. The $^{10}B(n, α)^{7}Li$ and $^{235}U(n, f)$ reactions were used as references. Rutherford Back-scattering Spectrometry technique was performed at Centro Nacional de Aceleradores (CNA) in Sevilla, in order to accurately determine the masses of the irradiated samples. Results: We obtain a thermal cross-section of $0.470 \pm 0.009$ barns. The $1/v$ energy dependence of the cross-section is observed up to the first resonance at 0.398 keV, the resonances up to 120 keV are analyzed and MACS calculated for $k_{B} T$ from 1 to 100 keV. Conclusions: The $^{35}Cl(n, p)^{35}S$ cross-section has been obtained over a wide energy range for the first time, with high accuracy across the aforementioned range. The thermal cross-section and first two resonances are in agreement with latest evaluation in ENDF/B-VIII.1, while lower resonance strength was found for high energy resonances. These data are used to calculate the MACS for different $k_{B} T$.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2023

Measurements of neutron total and capture cross sections of $^{139}$La and evaluation of resonance parameters

Neutron total and capture cross sections of Lanthanum(La)-139 were measured at the Accurate Ne-utron-Nucleus Reaction measurement Instrument (ANNRI) of the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) in the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC). The total cross section was largely different from that in evaluated libraries, such as JENDL-5, in the energy range from 80 to 900~eV. Resonance parameters for four resonances including one negative resonance were obtained using a resonance analysis code, REFIT. The resonance analysis revealed discrepancies in several resonance parameters with the evaluated libraries. Furthermore, the information about the scattering radius was also extracted from the results of the total cross section. The obtained scattering radius was larger than that recorded in the evaluated libraries.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2023

Angular correlation of the two gamma rays produced in the thermal neutron capture on gadolinium-155 and gadolinium-157

The ANNRI-Gd collaboration studied in detail the single $γ$-ray spectrum produced from the thermal neutron capture on $^{155}$Gd and $^{157}$Gd in our previous publications. Gadolinium targets were exposed to a neutron beam provided by the Japan Spallation Neutron Source (JSNS) in J-PARC, Japan. In the present analysis, one new additional coaxial germanium crystal was used in the analysis in combination with the fourteen germanium crystals in the cluster detectors to study the angular correlation of the two $γ$ rays emitted in the same neutron capture. We present for the first time angular correlation functions for two $γ$ rays produced during the electromagnetic cascade transitions in the (n, $γ$) reactions on $^{\rm 155}$Gd and $^{\rm 157}$Gd. As expected, we observe the mild angular correlations for the strong, but rare transitions from the resonance state to the two energy levels of known spin-parities. Contrariwise, we observe negligibly small angular correlations for arbitrary pairs of two $γ$ rays produced in the majority of cascade transitions from the resonance state to the dense continuum states.

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arXiv2020

Gamma Ray Spectra from Thermal Neutron Capture on Gadolinium-155 and Natural Gadolinium

Natural gadolinium is widely used for its excellent thermal neutron capture cross section, because of its two major isotopes: $^{\rm 155}$Gd and $^{\rm 157}$Gd. We measured the $γ$-ray spectra produced from the thermal neutron capture on targets comprising a natural gadolinium film and enriched $^{\rm 155}$Gd (in Gd$_{2}$O$_{3}$ powder) in the energy range from 0.11 MeV to 8.0 MeV, using the ANNRI germanium spectrometer at MLF, J-PARC. The freshly analysed data of the $^{\rm 155}$Gd(n, $γ$) reaction are used to improve our previously developed model (ANNRI-Gd model) for the $^{\rm 157}$Gd(n, $γ$) reaction, and its performance confirmed with the independent data from the $^{\rm nat}$Gd(n, $γ$) reaction. This article completes the development of an efficient Monte Carlo model required to simulate and analyse particle interactions involving the thermal neutron captures on gadolinium in any relevant future experiments.

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arXiv2018

Gamma Ray Spectrum from Thermal Neutron Capture on Gadolinium-157

We have measured the $γ$-ray energy spectrum from the thermal neutron capture, ${}^{157}$Gd$(n,γ){}^{158}$Gd, on an enriched $^{157}$Gd target (Gd$_{2}$O$_{3}$) in the energy range from 0.11 MeV up to about 8 MeV. The target was placed inside the germanium spectrometer of the ANNRI detector at J-PARC and exposed to a neutron beam from the Japan Spallation Neutron Source (JSNS). Radioactive sources ($^{60}$Co, $^{137}$Cs, and $^{152}$Eu) and the reaction $^{35}$Cl($n$,$γ$) were used to determine the spectrometer's detection efficiency for $γ$ rays at energies from 0.3 to 8.5 MeV. Using a Geant4-based Monte Carlo simulation of the detector and based on our data, we have developed a model to describe the $γ$-ray spectrum from the thermal ${}^{157}$Gd($n$,$γ$) reaction. While we include the strength information of 15 prominent peaks above 5 MeV and associated peaks below 1.6 MeV from our data directly into the model, we rely on the theoretical inputs of nuclear level density and the photon strength function of ${}^{158}$Gd to describe the continuum $γ$-ray spectrum from the ${}^{157}$Gd($n$,$γ$) reaction. Our model combines these two components. The results of the comparison between the observed $γ$-ray spectra from the reaction and the model are reported in detail.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2017

Characterization of Germanium Detectors for the Measurement of the Angular Distribution of Prompt gamma-rays at the ANNRI in the MLF of the J-PARC

In this study, the germanium detector assembly, installed at the Accurate Neutron-Nuclear Reaction measurement Instruments (ANNRI) in the Material and Life Science Facility (MLF) operated by the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC), has been characterized for extension to the measurement of the angular distribution of individual gamma-ray transitions from neutron-induced compound states. We have developed a Monte Carlo simulation code using the GEANT4 toolkit, which can reproduce the pulse-height spectra of gamma-rays from radioactive sources and (n,gamma) reactions. The simulation is applicable to the measurement of gamma-rays in the energy region of 0.5-11.0 MeV.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2009

The Earth-Moon system during the Late Heavy Bombardment period

The Late Heavy Bombardment (LHB) period is the narrow time interval between 3.8 and 3.9 Gyr ago, where the bulk of the craters we see on the Moon formed. Even more craters formed on the Earth. During a field expedition to the 3.8 Gyr old Isua greenstone belt in Greenland, we sampled three types of metasedimentary rocks, that contain direct traces of the LHB impactors by a seven times enrichment (150 ppt) in iridium compared to present day ocean crust (20 ppt). We show that this enrichment is in agreement with the lunar cratering rate, providing the impactors were comets, but not if they were asteroids. Our study is a first direct indication of the nature of the LHB impactors, and the first to find an agreement between the LHB lunar cratering rate and the Earth's early geochemical record (and the corresponding lunar record). The LHB comets that delivered the iridium we see at Isua will at the same time have delivered the equivalent of a km deep ocean, and we explain why one should expect a cometary ocean to become roughly the size of the Earth's present-day ocean, not only in terms of depth but also in terms of the surface area it covers.

astro-ph.EP↗