• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제56권9호
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• pp.3785-3795
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• 2024

The present study concerned with the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides (²³⁸U, ²³⁴U, ²³⁰Th, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K and, ²³⁵U) in ten sedimentary rock samples collected from fault zone, Gabal Um Hamd, southwestern Sinai, Egypt. These samples were investigated to study their behavior during a part of geologic time. The activity concentrations were measured using γ-ray spectrometry (HPGe detector). The investigated samples were analyzed for major oxides using the XRF technique. The results demonstrated high average activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³⁴U, ²³⁰Th, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K and, ²³⁵U than the worldwide average values as reported by UNSCEAR 2008. Theil diagram showed that there are accumulation and leaching of uranium in some samples in the two sides of the fault zone. It is noticed that the ages of uranium depositions for the samples collected from the downthrown of the fault zone vary from 121.5 to 440.1 ky, while for the sample collected from the upthrown of the fault is 210.9 ky. The ²³⁰Th/²³²Th activity ratios range between 4.55 and 91.04 for downthrown samples and between 4.75 and 6.05 for upthrown samples which are smaller than 20 except for two samples, indicating a contamination of the samples by detrital ²³⁰Th. After subtraction of the detrital ²³⁰Th, the corrected ages for downthrown samples vary from 119.1 to 231.7 ky while for upthrown samples vary from 164.4 to 390 ky.

• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• 제2권3호
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• pp.162-166
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• 1996

The effects of NiO addition on the microstructure and microwave dielectric properties of ($Zr_{08}Sn_{02}$)$TiO_4$ (ZST) were investigated. With the NiO addition, a higher density of ZST ceramics than 95% of the theoretical values has been obtained in the sintering temperature range of 1400 to 150$0^{\circ}C$. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) analysis of sintered specimen shows the presence of second phase at grain boundaries, which is considered to be $NiTiO_3$. Dielectric constant of the specimen is found to increase linearly with density. Q-values and TC$_r$ decrease with increasing NiO content. The variation of dielectric properties with NiO content is discussed in terms of the second phase. The ZST ceramics with 0.25 wt% NiO showed ${\varepsilon}_{\gamma}$=38, Q=7000 at GHz and TC$\gamma$=-0.5 ppm/$^{\circ}C$, comparable with the values obtained by the previous investigations.

• Applied Science and Convergence Technology
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.273-277
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• 2015

We investigated secondary electron emission characteristics of ZnO thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition method with respect to the ambient oxygen pressure and the substrate temperature during the deposition. X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectrometry, atomic force microscopy, and ${\gamma}$-FIB were used to examine the structural, optical transmission, surface morphology, and secondary electron emission properties of the films, respectively. The secondary electron emission coefficient of the ZnO films increases as the O/Zn ratio of the films increases which was thought to result from either the ambient oxygen pressure increase or the substrate temperature decrease and as the grain size of the films decreases. It was confirmed that ZnO has better secondary electron emission characteristics than those of MgO, which is currently widely used as a material for PDP protecting layers.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권5호
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• pp.1757-1762
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• 2023

Radiological hazards from external exposure of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) scales residues, generated during the extraction process of oil and gas production in southern Algeria, are evaluated. The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K were measured using high-purity gamma-ray spectrometry (GeHP). Mean activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K, found in scale samples are 4082 ± 41, 1060 ± 38 and 568 ± 36 Bq kg^-1, respectively. Radiological hazard parameters, such as radium equivalent (Ra_eq), external and internal hazard indices (H_ex, H_in), and gamma index (I_γ) are also evaluated. All hazard parameter values were greater than the permissible and recommended limits and the average annual effective dose value exceeded the dose constraint (0.3 mSv y^-1). However, for occasionally exposed workers, the dose rate of 0.65 ± 0.02 mSv y^-1 is lower than recommended limit of 1 mSv y^-1 for public.

• 지질공학
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.577-588
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• 2020

일부 암석의 우라늄 함량이 높은 것으로 알려진 옥천층군 지역의 유효선량을 파악하기 위하여 휴대용 감마선분광분석기를 이용하여 421개 지점에서 지표방사능(40K, eU, eTh)을 측정하였다. 연구지역을 5개의 지질(og1, og2, og3, og4, 화성암)로 구분했을 때 지질별 지표방사능 강도에는 큰 차이가 없었다. 전체 421 암석의 40K, eU, eTh의 함량은 각각 0.7~10.3% (평균 5.2%), 0.6~287.0 ppm (평균 8.5 ppm), 4.0~102.4 ppm (평균 31.3 ppm) 을 보였다. 방사능강도로부터 구한 연구지역의 흡수선량은 28.84~1,714.5 nGy/h의 범위로서(평균 195.4 nGy/h) 지질별 평균값 최저는 og1의 166.3 nGy/h, 최고는 og2의 233.3 nGy/h(중앙값은 198.1 nGy/h였다. 흡수선량으로부터 구한 연구지역의 옥외 유효선량은 0.04~2.10 mSv/y (평균 0.24 mSv/y)의 범위이며 함 우라늄층이 협재된 og2에 위치한 4개 지점을 제외하면 옥외 유효선량이 1 mSv/y를 넘는 지점은 없었다.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.157-165
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• 2003

In order to understand the characteristics of sedimentary environments in Ulleung Basin of the East Sea (Sea of Japan), three sediment cores were taken with a box corer during R/V Tamyang cruise in October 1999. Activities of $^{7}Be,{\;}^{210}Pb,{\;}^{226}Ra,{\;}^{234}Th,{\;}^{238}{\;}and{\;}^{137}Cs$ in sediment samples were determined by non-destructive gamma-ray spectrometry. Rates of sedimentation and particle mixing were estimated by best fitting an advection­diffusion particle mixing model to the data of $^{7}Be,{\;}^{234}Th,{\;}and{\;}^{210}Pb$. Estimated sedimentation rates were 0.06-0.08 cm/yr and particle mixing rates were $0.13-0.65{\;}\textrm{cm}^2/yr$. The use of multiple tracers in our study prevented us from probable up to 38% overestimation of sedimentation rates.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제49권8호
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• pp.1752-1757
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to evaluate the radioactivity levels and radiological impacts of representative black sand samples collected from different locations in the Rashid area, Egypt. These samples were prepared and then analyzed using the high-resolution gamma ray spectroscopy technique with a high-purity germanium detector. The activity concentration ($A_c$), minimum detectable activity, absorbed gamma dose rate, external hazard index ($H_{ex}$), annual effective dose rate equivalent, radium equivalent, as well as external and internal hazard index ($H_{ex}$ and $H_{in}$, respectively) were estimated based on the measured radionuclide concentration of the $^{238}U$($^{226}Ra$) and $^{232}Th$ decay chains and $^{40}K$. The activity concentrations of the $^{238}U$, $^{232}Th$ decay series and $^{40}K$ of these samples varied from $45.11{\pm}3.1Bq/kg$ to $252.38{\pm}34.3Bq/kg$, from $64.65{\pm}6.1Bq/kg$ to $579.84{\pm}53.1Bq/kg$, and from $403.36{\pm}20.8Bq/kg$ to $527.47{\pm}23.1Bq/kg$, respectively. The activity concentration of $^{232}Th$ in Sample 1 has the highest value compared to the other samples; this value is also higher than the worldwide mean range as reported by UNSCEAR 2000. The total absorbed gamma dose rate and the annual effective dose for these samples were found to vary from 81.19 nGy/h to 497.81 nGy/h and from $99.86{\mu}Sv/y$ to $612.31{\mu}Sv/y$, which are higher than the world average values of 59 nGy/h and $70{\mu}Sv/y$, respectively. The $H_{ex}$ values were also calculated to be 3.02, 0.47, 0.63, 0.87, 0.87, 0.51 and 0.91. It was found that the calculated value of $H_{ex}$ for Sample 1 is significantly higher than the international acceptable limit of <1. The results are tabulated, depicted, and discussed within national and international frameworks, levels, and approaches.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.31-36
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• 2013

우라늄($^{238}U$)의 붕괴과정에서 생성되는 방사성기체인 라돈($^{222}Rn$)은 발생원 중 토양에서 85 % 이상으로 토양의 공극률이 클수록 토양 밖으로 방출할 수 있는 가능성이 많은 동위원소이다. 라돈으로부터 인체를 보호하기 위해서 적절한 대책을 세우는데 무엇보다도 정확한 측정기술의 개발이 선행되어야 한다. 이에 본 연구는 고순도게르마늄(HPGe) 검출기를 이용한 감마선 분광분석법으로 라돈을 측정할 경우에는 불안정한 자연방사능의 백그라운드 문제를 줄일 수 있고, 라듐과 라돈의 딸 핵종들을 방사평형에 이르게 한 후 라돈 농도를 측정하였으며, 토양시료에서의 감마선 방출핵종 및 에너지 스펙트럼을 분석하였다.

• 분석과학
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.293-299
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• 2016

본 연구는 남한강 수계 하천 퇴적물 중 $^{137}Cs$의 방사능 농도 분포 실태를 조사하고, 국외 연구사례와 비교하여 국내 하천퇴적물 중 $^{137}Cs$의 농도수준을 평가하였다. 감마선분광분석기를 이용하여 퇴적물 중 $^{137}Cs$의 방사능 농도를 분석한 결과, 농도범위는 <$MDA{\sim}3.80{\pm}0.14Bq/kg{\cdot}dry$로 국내 토양 중 $^{137}Cs$ 농도와 비슷한 수준을 보였다. 국외 연구사례를 조사한 결과, 원전사고나 방사성물질 유출 등에 의한 오염원이 존재할 경우 $^{137}Cs$의 농도범위는 $3.7{\sim}15,396Bq/kg{\cdot}dry$로 국가별, 오염원 발생시기, 조사시점 등에 따라 다양한 농도 분포를 보였다. 또한, 오염원이 없는 국외 하천 호소 퇴적물 중 $^{137}Cs$의 농도는 대부분 $10Bq/kg{\cdot}dry$ 미만으로 본 연구결과와 유사한 수준으로 나타났다. 본 연구결과는 우리나라 하천퇴적물 중 $^{137}Cs$의 배경농도를 제공하고, 하천의 $^{137}Cs$ 오염여부를 판단하는 기초자료로 활용할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• 방사성폐기물학회지
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.321-328
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• 2019

본 연구에서는 원자력 사고 또는 방사선 비상 시 지표면에 침적될 수 있는 감마선방출 핵종의 방사능을 신속하게 평가하기 위해 이용될 수 있는 NaI(Tl), $LaBr_3$(Ce) 및 $CeBr_3$ 섬광검출기의 성능을 비교 평가하였다. 검출성능은 최소검출가능방사능(MDA, Minimum Detectable Activity)을 통해 평가하였으며, 각 검출기의 지표면 침적 감마선방출 핵종에 대한 검출효율은 수학적 모델링과 점선원을 이용하여 반실험적으로 산출하였다. MDA 평가를 위한 백그라운드 감마선에너지스펙트럼은 비교적 넓고 평탄한 초지에서 측정되었으며, 원자력 사고 시 방출될 수 있는 주요 핵종에 대한 각 검출기의 MDA를 산출하였다. 그 결과 일반 환경방사능 준위에서 지표면 침적 감마핵종에 대한 각 검출기의 MDA 크기는 대체로"NaI(Tl)> $LaBr_3$(Ce)> $CeBr_3$"로 평가되었으며, 백그라운드 준위가 유사한 에너지 영역에서는 분해능이 가장 우수한 $LaBr_3$(Ce)에서 최소 값을 보였다. 이는 관심 핵종의 감마선에너지 영역에 대한 각 검출기의 자체 및 측정 환경 백그라운드, 측정 효율, 그리고 에너지 분해능 특성을 바탕으로 비교 분석되었다.