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High-energy heavy ion beams produced by conventional RF-driven accelerators are a basic research tool in nuclear and particle physics but they also find applications in other domains such as high energy-density physics or materials science. With their potential to be more compact and less complex, laser-driven ion accelerators are considered to be a promising alternative or supplement to RF-driven accelerators. However, for achieving GeV or multi-GeV ion energies, multi-PW laser drivers and ultrarelativistic laser beam intensities (≥ 1023 W/cm²) are required. Such multi-PW lasers are currently being built, in particular in Europe, as part of the Extreme Light Infrastructure project. In this paper, the results of numerical studies on the acceleration of heavy ions from a gold sub-micrometer target irradiated by a 30-fs, multi-PW laser pulse of ultra-relativistic intensity (≈ 1023 W/cm²) and with linear or circular polarization are reported. The numerical simulations were performed using advanced, multi-dimensional (2D3V) particle-in-cell code PICDOM which includes, in particular, the dynamic ionization of the target and the accelerated ions as well as radiation losses due to synchrotron radiation emitted by ultra-relativistic electrons. It was found that the effect of radiation losses on the ion beam parameters is stronger for the linear polarization laser beam and radiation losses influences first of all the maximum ion energy. However, the effect of radiation losses on the mean ion energy, ion beam fluence and intensity and the ion pulse shape is insignificant, below 1-2%, both for the circular or linear polarization beam. For both beam polarizations, the multi-PW laser pulse generates an ultra-intense multi-GeV gold ion beam of intensities (> 1020 W/cm²) and durations (< 100 fs) which are presently unattainable in RF-driven accelerators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principle of Open Access (OA) is about the breaking of any paywall to the knowledge coming from research funded by public monies. After twenty years of statements not much has changed and the market of scientific journals is still in the hands of oligopolistic companies. Plan S is a disruptive initiative created by research funders in Europe and US which aims to foster the transition to Open Access by acting against hybrid journals and citation index. The Italian Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) has signed Plan S and, in close relationship with the Universities, the Conference of Rectors (CRUI), and the National Research Council (CNR), is outreaching the academic communities to discuss strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. In this work both a description of Plan S and a brief status report of other initiatives are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Applied nuclear physics is an essential part of the research activity at many particle accelerators. New, large accelerator facilities are currently under construction in Europe, Asia, and USA. These machines will be able to produce radioactive ion beams, and to increase the intensity and the energy of the heavy ions well beyond the limits currently available at the therapy or research facilities. The upcoming facilities open new opportunities for research in biomedical applications that require these special properties, such as particle radiography, radioactive beam imaging, ultra-high dose rates and new ions for therapy. Moreover, space radiation research and materials science can successfully exploit these new centers. The new facilities can pave the way to many future applications of nuclear physics for the benefit of the society. In this paper we will summarize the current status of applied sciences at high-energy accelerators, describe the characteristics of some of the machines under construction (FAIR, NICA, RAON, ELI) and discuss the new opportunities offered by these facilities in applied sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The EURADOS (European Radiation Dosimetry Group) working group (WG2) on Harmonisation of Individual Monitoring in Europe has shown that intercomparisons are fundamental for harmonisation of individual monitoring. As a result of these considerations, EURADOS started to prepare a series of continuous intercomparisons for individual monitoring services (IMS) in Europe. EURADOS has now successfully executed two intercomparison exercises, one for whole body dosemeters (2008) and one for extremity dosemeters (2009). Both exercises were performed without external funding, all costs being covered by the participants’ fees. More than 120 (!) different – mainly passive – dosimetry systems were tested from all over Europe until now and the results were analysed and compared. Although scientific studies were not the primary objective of these exercises specific additional information about the tested systems supplied by the participants for statistical analysis allows a detailed analysis of these results with respect to different parameters like dosemeter type, detector material, filter thickness or others design parameters. The influence of such parameters on the response values of the dosemeters is analysed and discussed in this paper. Both energy response as well as directional response for beta and photon radiation are considered. The influence of different design parameters e.g. detector material, is analysed by comparing the frequency distribution of the response values for different dosemeter groups. Pronounced differences for different detector materials (LiF:Mg,Ti, LiF:Mg,Cu,P and Li2B4O7/CaSO4) were found. The paper gives a comprehensive overview on the performance of various European dosimetry services and the influence of the dosemeter design on the resulting response values. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: European R&D for ADS design and fuel development is driven in the 6th FP of the EU by the EUROTRANS Programme. In EUROTRANS two ADS design routes are followed, the XT-ADS and the EFIT. The XT-ADS is designed to provide the experimental demonstration of transmutation. The EFIT, the European Facility for Industrial Transmutation, aims at a conceptual design of a full transmuter. A key R&D issue is the choice of an adequate fuel. Various fuel forms have been assessed and CERCER and CERMET fuels, specifically the matrices MgO and Mo, have finally been selected. Within EUROTRANS, the domain ‘AFTRA’ is responsible to more deeply assess the behavior of these dedicated fuels and to provide the fuel database for the EFIT. The EFIT is optimized towards: a good transmutation efficiency, high burnup, low reactivity swing, low power peaking, adequate subcriticality, reasonable beam requirements and a high safety level. In the current paper the fuels under investigation are described, including their production route and their safety limits. First core designs of CERCER and CERMET fuelled 400MWth EFITs have been developed within AFTRA. The trends found in the design studies and first safety analyses are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

EURISOL is a preliminary design study of the European next-generation isotope separation on line (ISOL) radioactive nuclear beam (RNB) facility, which should extend and amplify, beyond 2010, the exciting work presently carried out with the first-generation ISOL/RNB facilities in Europe and all around the world. The present paper presents a status report, as to 1 May 2002, on the various tasks identified within the project. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article offers information on the 21st meeting of the Hellenic Society of Nuclear Medicine in Thessaloniki, Greece and the May Day celebration in Vienna, Austria is presented. The Hellenic Society meeting is noted to have discussed the role of nuclear medicine in the treatment of prostate cancer and thyroid cancer. While, the May Day celebration is a traditional day off in Europe with some nuclear physicians taking the Fellows of the European Board of Nuclear Medicine (FEBNM) examination.

The section offers news briefs related to nuclear physics in Europe. The European Collaboration on Stable ion beams (ECOS) town-meeting was held in Paris, France on October 5-6, 2006. The Italian Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) and Ansaldo Nucleare agreed to collaborate on nuclear energy research for energy production. Enzo De Sanctis has been appointed as the new Editor-in- Chief of the "European Physical Journal A (EPJA)."