First nuclear transmutation of ²³⁷ Np and ²⁴¹ Am by accelerator-driven system at Kyoto University Critical Assembly

Abstract

This study demonstrates, for the first time, the principle of nuclear transmutation of minor actinide (MA) by the accelerator-driven system (ADS) through the injection of high-energy neutrons into the subcritical core at the Kyoto University Critical Assembly. The main objective of the experiments is to confirm fission reactions of neptunium-237 (237Np) and americium-241 (241Am), and capture reactions of 237Np. Subcritical irradiation of 237Np and 241Am foils is conducted in a hard spectrum core with the use of the back-to-back fission chamber that obtains simultaneously two signals from specially installed test (237Np or 241Am) and reference (uranium-235) foils. The first nuclear transmutation of 237Np and 241Am by ADS soundly implemented by combining the subcritical core and the 100 MeV proton accelerator, and the use of a lead-bismuth target, is conclusively demonstrated through the experimental results of fission and capture reaction events.