Radiation Safety Division
Target area
1: Understanding the effects of radiation on life and the environment
- Radiation DNA damage mechanism
- Understanding the effects of radiation on the human body
- Relationship between nuclear reaction products represented by tritium and the living environment
- Application of nuclear reaction product treatment to decommissioning and environmental restoration
2: Safe handling of next-generation energy such as high-temperature gas reactors and nuclear fusion reactors
- Development of handling technology for high concentration and large amounts of tritium
Research content
- Effects of radiation on the human body and living things such as DNA damage
- Elucidation of the contamination mechanism by radionuclides and development of decontamination technology
- Development of rapid measurement method for environmental tritium
- Elucidation of cell and DNA damage mechanisms using unsealed radionuclides containing tritium
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Image of the human resources we want to produce from research and education
Atomic science researchers and engineers who have advanced knowledge of radiation, understand the biological effects of radiation, and can develop new technologies.
Advanced Reactor Research Division
Target area
1: Numerical analysis of thermal fluid phenomena inside a nuclear reactor
- Hydrogen stratification in pressure vessels
- Interaction of liquid and molten metal
- Gas entrainment phenomenon in fast breeder reactors
2: Research and development on next-generation innovative reactors (in collaboration with JAEA, QST, IES, etc.)
- High temperature gas furnace
- Innovative light water reactor (small module reactor)
- Nuclear fusion etc.
3: Exploring future-oriented methods of utilizing nuclear energy
- Regional revitalization through the use of high temperatures and waste heat
- High temperature utilization industries, decomposition and utilization of carbon dioxide, generation and utilization of hydrogen and hydrocarbon compounds, creation of new agriculture and fisheries industries
- Improving the safety of nuclear reactors (improving the safety of conventional light water reactors)
- Establishment of next-generation nuclear fuel cycles (thorium fuel, high-temperature gas breeder reactors, nuclear transmutation technology, etc.)
Research content
- Numerical analysis of thermal fluid phenomena inside a nuclear reactor
- Research and development of next-generation innovative reactors (especially focusing on phenomenon analysis)
- Hydrogen generation and carbon compound (secondary energy source) generation using residual heat obtained from high-temperature gas furnaces
- Development of high temperature resistant materials (high temperature resistant ion exchange membranes, etc.) that contribute to improving thermal efficiency
- Study of next-generation nuclear fuel cycle: feasibility of thorium fuel, study of nuclear fuel cycle including high temperature gas reactor and breeder reactor
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Image of the human resources we want to produce from research and education
Developing advanced practitioners (operation management and maintenance personnel) who have knowledge of conventional nuclear reactors and can contribute to research and development regarding next-generation nuclear reactors.
Applied Atomic Science Division
Advanced evaluation using quantum beam scattering, imaging, and holography, elucidation of the hierarchical structure of substances, and observation of atomic sites that exhibit functionality in semiconductors, etc.
Target area
1: Sophistication of microscopic evaluation methods of physical properties and functions using radiation (quantum beams) that contributes to the creation of new materials and progress in the biomedical field
- Synchrotron radiation X-ray scattering
- Neutron scattering
- Neutron holography
- Muon measurement
- Imaging
- AI analysis
2: Based on atomic science knowledge obtained from increasingly sophisticated physical property and functional evaluation methods
- Infrastructure materials (high temperature materials)
- Device material
- Creation of energy-saving materials
Research content
- Advanced control of X-rays and neutron beams to advance material structure evaluation methods
- Common imaging technology and analysis development project for neutrons, synchrotron radiation, and muons in collaboration with J-PARC, JAEA, KEK, etc.
- Development of functional materials and structural materials based on knowledge of novel physical phenomena
- Heat utilization in JAEA innovative reactor: Thermoelectric conversion project
- Hydrogen utilization from JAEA innovative reactor: e-fuel production project
- Regional energy supply based on the development of elemental technologies (substances/materials) linked to innovative reactor research: Towards social implementation of new cogeneration systems
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Image of the human resources we want to produce from research and education
Developing engineers and researchers with knowledge of advanced material measurement methods using high-performance quantum beams such as X-rays and neutron beams
Division for Collaborative Solution of Social / Regional Issues
The role of our division is to be a window of RECAS to society. We plan and develop projects in order to find solutions of social / regional issues by integrating various professional activities on atomic sciences such as nuclear engineering, radiation physics, quantum beam applications in RECAS. We intensively communicate with local community, and collaborate with national research institutes, and industries mainly in Ibaraki prefecture, especially, Tokai, O-oarai, and Hitachi areas. We will promote projects and activities to establish future energy system and innovative atomic science applications, and contribute to create new industry for achieving a sustainable society.