[en] A series of tests has been carried out to study elastic-plastic-creep behaviors of the model structures of the primary coolant piping components under some monotonic or cyclic loading and to investigate creep-buckling properties of the structures caused by accumulated creep strains under monotonic loading or to investigate their creep fatigue interactions under cyclic loadings and thermal ratcheting properties. Outlines of test rigs that are used for the tests, test procedures, test results and future test programs are presented

[en] Monju, an internationally valuable power plant of fast reactor, is expected to advance research and development for utilization of FR, transparently to both domestic and international researchers, as is remarked in the Long-Term Program for Research, Development and Utilization of Nuclear Energy of Japan. From this point of view, JNC will exert more effort to provide information on the design, construction and operation of Monju in 'Knowledge Preservation of Fast Reactors' by IAEA/TWGFR. On the other hand, if this activity, 'Knowledge Preservation of Fast Reactors' by IAEA/TWGFR is extended to make it clear what data are most desirable to be added for development and utilization of FRs in the near future based on the accumulated data, and the results are introduced to the Monju project, then the international contribution of Monju can become more effective and this contribution seems to correspond to expectation by the public in Japan

No abstract available

[en] Nuclear energy is a superior form of energy in that it delivers stable power supplies and counters global warming, and it is important to promote nuclear power generation as the core power sources for a nation. However, the Japanese environment surrounding nuclear energy is changing drastically, following the liberalization of market and recent series of troubles or falsifications shaking public confidence in nuclear energy. In the above mentioned situation, nuclear industries and organizations must fulfill their individual roles, and amass its strength to work toward enhancing industry initiatives for safety activities, securing safe / stable plant operations, restoring public confidence and initiate revitalization of nuclear energy operations. The Japan Nuclear Technology Institute (JANTI) has been established as a new entity for supporting and leading the industry's further progress in March 2005. Members of JANTI are not only utilities but also component manufacturers and constructors. JANTI enhance the technological foundation of nuclear energy based on scientific and rational data, coordinates its use among a wide range of relevant organizations, and helps members enhance their voluntary safety activities. At the same time, it is independent of utilities, and exercises a function of checking industry at the objective, third-party standpoint. As for the activities of JANTI itself, information disclosure and the establishment of a council comprising external members will enhance administration transparency. (author)

[en] In La214, the electronic specific heat coefficient γ (=C_el/T) is gradually suppressed with lowering T below a certain temperature T*(> Tc), where the in-plane resistivity ρ and magnetic susceptibility χ also tend to be suppressed slightly. Temperature T*, increasing with lowering x, is in qualitative agreement with the mean field Tc(T_co), estimated from the superconducting gap amplitude 2Δ_o at T much_lt Tc, as the onset temperature T* of a pseudogap in Bi2212. The gradual suppression of γ below approximately T_co implies that a pseudogap will also open up below approximately T_co in La214 as in Bi2212. In underdoped samples, whose pseudogap-like behaviors in C_el(T) become marked, the anomaly of C_el around Tc is rather different from the BCS expectation

[en] Nucleation phenomena in a-Si_1-xGe_x films on SiO₂ were examined in order to achieve low-temperature solid-phase crystallization. First, film thickness dependence of nucleation was investigated. The nucleation frequency per unit area increased with increasing film thickness, which was attributed to that bulk nucleation was dominant compared with interface or surface nucleation. Next, in order to enhance bulk nucleation in thin films, effects of the initial amorphicity modulation induced by Ar⁺ irradiation (25 keV, 1x10¹⁶ cm^-2) before annealing were investigated. The incubation time for nucleation in pre-irradiated samples during subsequent annealing at 600 deg. C was significantly decreased to 1/20 of that without pre-irradiation, which was tentatively assigned to enhancement of atomic arrangement induced by densification of a-Si_1-xGe_x films. It is expected that optimization of the irradiation conditions will realize low-temperature (<500 deg. C) formation of poly-Si_1-xGe_x films on SiO₂

[en] The absolute cross section for photodissociation of Ar₂N₂⁺ was measured as a function of wavelength in the 470-550 nm range. A structureless broad band was observed; the cross section has a maximum of ≅ 210x10^-18 cm² at ≅ 500 nm. The measurement of the photofragment time-of-flight spectrum shows that (1) N₂⁺, Ar⁺ and Ar₂⁺ are produced in the photodissociation of Ar₂N₂⁺ in the wavelength range studied, and that (2) the observed visible absorption band is ascribable to a parallel-type transition of Ar₂N₂⁺, which possibly retains a linear geometry. (orig.)

[en] High-resolution images of IRAS 09371 + 1212 in the J, H, and K bands show that this source is a small bipolar nebula viewed in the equatorial plane. A spectrum of this object in the 2.0-3.4 micron region shows a very narrow ice feature, interpreted as absorption by primarily pure crystalline water ice. 24 references

[en] This report describes the research and development activities on fast reactors in Japan thru April 2001 to March 2002. In December 2001, the Cabinet decided the Plan for Reorganization of Government-funded Corporations including the merger of JNC and the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI). A law to set up a new entity is supposed to be submitted to the National Diet by the Japanese Fiscal Year (JFY) 2004. In the Experimental Fast Reactor Joyo, thirty-five duty cycle operations and thirteen special tests with the MK-II core were completed by June 2000 without any fuel pin failures or serious plant trouble. The reactor is currently being upgraded to the MK-III core. Though a fire broke out in the maintenance building of Joyo in October 2001, the Mk-III construction work was restarted in February 2002. In the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor Monju, countermeasures against sodium leakage have already been drawn up based on Monju comprehensive safety review. The safety licensing examination for the plant modification of Monju is undergoing. As for the Feasibility Study on Commercialized Fast Reactor Cycle Systems, JFY2001 was the first year of its second phase. A three-year period from JFY2001 to 2003 is the initial term of this phase. During this term, research activities are being focused on the design of the candidate concepts and fundamental tests of key technologies. An interim summary of these activities will be checked and reviewed, and based on the results; the research for JFY 2004 to 2005 will be conducted in order to narrow down the number of alternatives for the fast reactor cycle. (author)

No abstract available