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Electron Beam Ion Traps (EBITs) serve as efficient tools for producing and studying highly charged ions. In response to the diagnostic requirements of upcoming magnetic confinement fusion devices, a medium-energy atomic spectra research platform based on a compact EBIT is developed. This platform achieves a central magnetic field of up to 1.0 T, with electron beam currents reaching 20 mA and electron energies up to 30 keV, similar to the electron temperature on fusion reactors. The developed atomic spectra platform successfully provided spectral data for elements such as argon, xenon, iron, and tungsten. This platform stands as a valuable asset for advancing research in nuclear fusion, particularly concerning impurity spectroscopic diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a mathematical model derived from an equivalent electrical circuit to describe the dynamic behavior of the high-voltage terminal of a tandem Van de Graaff accelerator. Two approaches are presented for modeling the transit time of the current flowing through the corona needles. The first one considers an equivalent self-inductance in the corona triode, whereas, in the second one, the transit time is represented by a delay in the corona current. The validation of the proposed models was carried out through experimental tests developed at the National Nuclear Research Institute of Mexico. Furthermore, two strategies for controlling the slow variations of the terminal voltage limited by the slow response of the control loop based on corona discharge are evaluated: a Proportional–Integral–Derivative controller and a sliding mode controller. The Root-Mean-Squared Error calculation leads to the conclusion that both control strategies are suitable for regulating the voltage at the accelerator potential terminal. However, the sliding mode controller leads to an overshoot-free response and a shorter settling time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nuclear Safety is the property of Nuclear & Radiation Safety Center and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Lanzhou Heavy Ion Research Facility (LIRF) is the largest heavy ion research facility in China, providing a substantial volume of experimental data for fundamental research in nuclear physics. The Topmetal-CEE is a pixel readout chip specifically designed for tracking detectors. Within the Topmetal-CEE framework, the front-end amplifier and comparator necessitate precisely adjustable bias voltages. Hence, in this paper, a 14-bit resolution DAC with an R-2R resistor network structure is designed, along with an amplifier featuring high driving capabilities as the DAC driver, thus preventing potential impedance issues when driving large pixel arrays. Test results demonstrate that the DAC module, operating under a 3.3 V supply voltage, can consistently output voltages ranging from 0 to 1.8 V. Furthermore, the differential non-linearity error is less than 1.07 LSB, and the integral non-linearity error is less than 1.57 LSB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the field of nuclear physics and its various applications and frontiers. It highlights the importance of collaboration between theory and experiment in making breakthroughs in the field. The article includes contributions from researchers in different subfields of nuclear physics, such as nuclear structure, reactions, dynamics, hadron physics, nuclear astrophysics, and neutrino physics. It also discusses the use of different methodologies, including Monte Carlo approaches and ab initio methods. The article concludes by mentioning upcoming facilities and future opportunities for nuclear physics research. [Extracted from the article]

The Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) is in its final construction stage next to the campus of the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung Helmholtzzentrum for heavy-ion research in Darmstadt, Germany. Once it starts its operation, it will be the main nuclear physics research facility in many basic sciences and their applications in Europe for the coming decades. Owing to the ability of the new fragment separator, Super-FRagment Separator, to produce high-intensity radioactive ion beams in the energy range up to about 2 GeV/nucleon, these can be used in various nuclear reactions. This opens a unique opportunity for various nuclear structure studies across a range of fields and scales: from low-energy physics via the investigation of multi-neutron systems and halos to high-density nuclear matter and the equation of state, following heavy-ion collisions, fission and study of short-range correlations in nuclei and hypernuclei. The newly developed reactions with relativistic radioactive beams (R3B) set up at FAIR would be the most suitable and versatile for such studies. An overview of highlighted physics cases foreseen at R3B is given, along with possible future opportunities, at FAIR. This article is part of the theme issue 'The liminal position of Nuclear Physics: from hadrons to neutron stars'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In synchrotrons, accurate knowledge of the magnetic field generated by bending dipole magnets is essential to ensure beam stability. Measurement campaigns are necessary to characterize the field. The choice of the measurement method for such campaigns is determined by the combination of magnet dimensions and operating conditions and typically require a trade-off between accuracy and versatility. The single stretched wire (SSW) is a well-known, polyvalent method to measure the integral field of magnets having a wide range of geometries. It, however, requires steady-state excitation. This work presents a novel implementation of this method called pulsed SSW, which allows the system to measure rapidly time-varying magnetic fields, as is often needed, to save power or gain beam time. We first introduce the measurement principle of the pulsed SSW, followed by a combined strategy to calculate the absolute magnetic field by incorporating the classic DC SSW method. Using a bending magnet from the Proton Synchrotron Booster located at the European Organization for Nuclear Research as a case study, we validate the pulsed SSW method and compare its dynamic measurement capabilities to a fixed induction coil, showing thereby how the coil calibration must be adjusted according to the field level. Finally, we assess the method's measurement accuracy using the standard SSW as a reference and present an analysis of the primary noise contributors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the dosimetric performance of indigenously developed 106Ru-106Rh ophthalmic plaques for treatment of eye cancer, utilizing Monte Carlo simulation, a custom-built phantom, radiochromic films, and diode detectors. 106Ru/106Rh round type eye plaques has been developed from recovered fission product 106Ru, by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), India, to treat retinoblastoma and choroidal melanoma. The plaque is made up of three silver layers of purity 99.9%, namely, a 15.8 mm diameter and 0.9 mm thick backing plate, a 13.3 mm diameter and 0.2 mm thick silver substrate that contains 106Ru, and a 0.1 mm thick silver window. The assembly is spherically shaped with a radius of 12 mm and sealed in a controlled environment during the production process. For dosimetry of the plaques, sources with less than 20% non-uniformity in activity distribution were considered. The dosimetry was carried out using Monte Carlo simulation, a custom-built phantom, radiochromic films, and diode detector. In order to validate the accuracy of the dosimetry methodology, dosimetry parameters for a BEBIG CCA type eye plaque (Eckert & Ziegler BEBIG, Berlin, Germany), were generated and compared. The non-uniformity of the activity distribution within the plaque was determined to be within 14%. The absorbed dose rates to water on the central axis at depths of 1 mm and 2 mm were measured as 138.32 mGy/min and 106.26 mGy/min, respectively, with an extrapolated dose at zero depth of 170.70 mGy/min. For BEBIG CCA, these values were found to be 6.8%, 135.32 mGy/min, 103.74 mGy/min, and 172.50 mGy/min, respectively. Monte Carlo simulated and measured percentage depth dose values exhibit good agreement with each other. Additionally, the measured dose rate for the BARC eye plaque closely aligns with the recommended values outlined in the GEC-ESTRO guidelines. The dosimetry of the indigenously developed 106Ru-106Rh eye plaque was carried out using indigenously designed and developed eye phantom. A robust dosimetry methodology was formulated and rigorously tested against data obtained from a commercially available eye plaque. This cost-effective ophthalmic plaque can be a promising asset in the field of ocular oncology, offering the potential for highly efficient and targeted treatments while minimizing potential harm to healthy ocular structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a practical guide including good laboratory practices followed by a critical review about the application of isotope dilution mass spectrometry (ID-MS) measurement to radionuclide analyses. Several national and international scientific institutions (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, French Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety Institute, European Commission, International Atomic Energy Agency, and Belgian Nuclear Research Centre) participated in this review by sharing their good laboratory practices. ID-MS is one of the primary ratio methods of measurement in the International System of Units. It can produce highly accurate results, as potential sources of bias can be controlled. Many hints are given to obtain the best performance. In addition, a script written with the open source software Octave is provided to calculate the optimal parameters of the {sample–spike} mixture easily. Radionuclide analysis by ID-MS applies to many different fields (environmental, biological, reference materials, irradiated samples, process control, nuclear safeguards and nuclear forensics). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive nuclear data studies have been carried out over the last 30 years in the context of accelerator-based production of radionuclides, especially at energies below 30 MeV, and the achieved database is fairly good. Yet there are some deficiencies or new needs of data. Those needs are generally associated with new emerging clinical applications of radionuclides, e.g. theranostic approach, bimodal imaging, radioimmuno-therapy, etc. This article gives an overview of on-going nuclear data research utilizing charged-particle accelerators in four directions, namely low-energy region, intermediate energy range, use of the α-particle beam, and utilization of fast neutrons generated at accelerators. Wherever possible, a comparison of experimental data with theoretical estimates is presented and evaluated (standardised) data, if available, are also briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Atomic Energy Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Board of Atomic Energy Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Atomic Energy Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Board of Atomic Energy Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, we study the influence of densified microsilica and colloidal nanosilica admixtures on the mechanical strength and the microstructural characteristics of special mortars used for immobilizing radioactive concrete waste. The experimental program focused on the replacement of cement with micro- and/or nanosilica, in different proportions, in the basic composition of a mortar made with recycled aggregates. The technical criteria imposed for such cementitious systems, used for the encapsulation of low-level radioactive waste, imply high fluidity, increased mechanical strength and lack of segregation and of bleeding. We aimed to increase the structural compactness of the mortars by adding micro- and nanosilica, all the while maintaining the technical criteria imposed, to obtain a cement matrix with high durability and increased capacity for immobilizing radionuclides. The samples from all the compositions obtained were analyzed from the point of view of mechanical strength. Also, micro- and nanosilica as well as samples of the optimal mortar compositions were analyzed physically and microstructurally. Experimental data showed that the mortar samples present maximum compressive strength for a content between 6 and 7.5% wt. of microsilica, respectively, for a content of 2.25% wt. nanosilica. The obtained results suggest a synergistic effect of micro- and nanosilica when they are used simultaneously in cementitious compositions. Thus, among the analyzed compositional variants, the mortar composition with 3% wt. microsilica and 2.25% wt. nanosilica showed the best performance, with an increase in compressive strength of 23.5% compared to the control sample (without micro- and nanosilica). Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images highlighted the decrease in pore diameter and the increase in structural compactness, especially for mortar samples with nanosilica content or a mixture of micro- and nanosilica. This study is useful in the field of recycling radioactive concrete resulting from the decommissioning of nuclear research or nuclear power reactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue of the European Physical Journal: Special Topics focuses on the study of nuclear isomers, which are long-lived excited states of atomic nuclei that can store significant amounts of energy. The issue covers various topics related to nuclear isomerism, including theoretical origins, decay mechanisms, and their role in understanding shell evolution and symmetries in nuclei. The preface highlights the importance of studying isomer physics and mentions potential applications in energy storage, nuclear photonics, and nuclear medicine. The authors express gratitude to the contributors and funding agencies that supported the publication of the special issue. [Extracted from the article]

Nuclear isomers, the excited meta-stable states of nuclei, offer profound insights into nuclear structure. This article reviews the intersection of nuclear isomer research with mass spectrometry methodologies, particularly focusing on novel capabilities of the multiple-reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MR-TOF-MS) technique. Through a comprehensive examination of established methods for isomer identification and characterization, alongside the technical principles underlying MR-TOF-MS, this review discusses the pivotal role of mass spectrometry in advancing our understanding of nuclear isomers. The operational principles and recent developments in MR-TOF-MS technology are explained and exemplified through case studies from prominent research facilities. Furthermore, this work discusses ongoing efforts to enhance sensitivity, resolution, and measurement capabilities in MR-TOF-MS, promising continued advancements in nuclear physics research and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of nuclear isomer properties and the isomer applications is a current research focus of nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics. Theoretical description of nuclear isomers, the surrounding states, and the interplay of them becomes an important issue. In this article, we present the projected shell model method for describing excited nuclear states in general, and for treating K-isomers in particular. With some examples, we emphasize how to apply the modern nuclear many-body technique to calculate K-isomers and normal excited states on an equal footing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the source location and release rate are critical tasks when assessing the environmental consequences of atmospheric radionuclide releases, but they remain challenging because of the huge multi-dimensional solution space. We propose a spatiotemporally separated two-step framework that reduces the dimension of the solution space in each step and improves the source reconstruction accuracy. The separation process applies a temporal sliding-window average filter to the observations, thereby reducing the influence of temporal variations in the release rate on the observations and ensuring that the features of the filtered data are dominated by the source location. A machine-learning model is trained to link these features to the source location, enabling independent source-location estimations. The release rate is then determined using the projected alternating minimization with L1 norm and total variation regularization algorithm. This method is validated against the local-scale SCK CEN (Belgian Nuclear Research Centre) 41Ar field experiment and the first release of the continental-scale European Tracer Experiment, for which the lowest source-location errors are 4.52 m and 5.19 km , respectively. This presents higher accuracy and a smaller uncertainty range than the correlation-based and Bayesian methods when estimating the source location. The temporal variations in release rates are accurately reconstructed, and the mean relative errors in the total release are 65.09 % and 72.14 % lower than the Bayesian method for the SCK CEN experiment and the European Tracer Experiment, respectively. A sensitivity study demonstrates the robustness of the proposed method to different hyperparameters. With an appropriate site layout, low error levels can be achieved from only a single observation site or under meteorological errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear reactor control is pivotal for the safe and efficient operation of nuclear power plants, facilitating the regulation of reactor reactivity. This study introduces an optimized fractional-order proportional-integral-derivative (FOPID) controller tailored for maintaining reactivity levels in nuclear power plants, particularly during load-following operations. The controller adjusts the position of control rod to regulate power output effectively. We enhance FOPID controller's performance using a modification of Planet Optimization Algorithm (POA-M), leveraging the strengths of the Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm (AOA) to improve its exploitation capabilities. We evaluate the efficacy of POA-M-FOPID controller against traditional techniques, including POA, AOA, and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). We assess its performance using the Egyptian Testing Research Reactor (ETRR-2) as a case study. Our results demonstrate that the POA-M-FOPID controller outperforms alternative algorithms across various control metrics, exhibiting superior resilience and efficiency. Notably, the utilization of the POA-M-FOPID controller yields remarkable improvements in reactor power performance, achieving significantly reduced settling time (25.27 sec) and maximum overshoot (0.67 %) compared to conventional FOPID controllers incorporating POA, AOA, and PSO methods. These findings underscore the effectiveness of POA-M-FOPID in enhancing nuclear reactor control systems, offering potential benefits for broader nuclear power industry in terms of safety, stability, and operational efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea of using nuclear weapons to kill noncombatants is said to evoke strong moral opprobrium among millions of individuals across the globe, such that national leaders should be constrained from using the weapons even when such a decision would be strategically sensible. Classical area scholarship and recent survey evidence suggest that this "nuclear taboo" is strong among the Chinese public, buttressed by culturally grounded preferences for moderation in warfare. Drawing on findings in cultural sociology and political behavior, we argue that previous studies mislead on the extent to which ordinary Chinese citizens might oppose the use of nuclear weapons in a real military clash, primarily due to a failure to distinguish baseline preferences for nuclear nonuse from the willingness to approve of governmental decisions to use these weapons. Results from an original survey experiment fielded in mainland China show that many individuals who personally dislike the idea of using nuclear weapons are nonetheless willing to support their leaders' decision to do so. Our study contributes new and systematic knowledge about Chinese nuclear attitudes and highlights the value of harnessing interdisciplinary insights to inform the research agenda on the nuclear taboo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research paradigm in physics has evolved through three distinct phases: empirical observation and induction, theoretical modeling and deduction and computational numerical analysis and simulation. We are now situated within a novel epoch wherein the scientific research paradigm is increasingly shaped by the preeminence of large-scale data and artificial intelligence, particularly within the realm of AI for science applications. The advent of high-energy colliders coupled with Monte Carlo simulations has given rise to an unprecedented accumulation of data. Nested within this transformative research paradigm, machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies have been extensively harnessed for the analysis of these vast data sets. Within the domain of high-energy nuclear physics, two prevalent machine learning techniques have emerged: Bayesian analysis and deep learning. The former employs comprehensive fitting methodologies that compare extensive data sets against theoretical models, enabling the extraction of critical information pertaining to the initial nuclear structure, parton distributions, the equation of state governing hot and dense nuclear matter, and the transport coefficients of the quark–gluon plasma, among other parameters. Conversely, the latter capitalizes on the unparalleled pattern recognition capabilities of deep learning to discern robust features from high-dimensional raw data, specifically targeting individual physical parameters. This paper elucidates the fundamental principles of machine learning and delineates its potential to augment high-energy nuclear physics research endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work deals with diffusion of gases in fully saturated porous media. We test and validate the gas transport mechanism of dissolution and diffusion, implemented in the TH2M process class in the open-source finite-element software OpenGeoSys. We discuss the importance of gas diffusion for the integrity of the multi-barrier system. Furthermore, we present a multi-component mass balance equation implementation in Python, which serves as a reference for the two-component TH2M implementation and allows for a discussion of multi-component gas diffusion in liquids. We verify and validate the numerical implementations as follows: First, we come up with a set of numerical benchmarks in which solutions obtained by the two-component TH2M and multi-component implementations are compared. Thus, we show under which conditions predictions made by the TH2M model can be used for multi-component gas systems. Finally, the work is validated using a through diffusion experiment performed at Belgium's Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN and a sensitivity analysis is conducted based on the featured experiment. The results of this work illustrate that predictions by both the two- and four-component models match the laboratory findings very well. Therefore, we conclude that also the two-component implementation can reflect the multi-component processes well under the given constraints such as full saturation. Highlights: Numerical modelling of a laboratory scale gas diffusion experiment using Boom Clay samples. Validation of numerical implementation by comparison of experimental and numerical results. Extension of a two-component two-phase flow model towards a multi-component model including comparison of the two implementations. Sensitivity analysis identifies and quantifies the influence of key diffusion parameters, such as the Henry coefficient and diffusivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nuclear dd-fusion reaction can proceed by three possible channels: , , . Interest in dd-fusion has been aroused by both fundamental research and astrophysics and applied science, particularly in the field of fusion reactor development. In the 1970s, the idea of studying the nuclear dd-fusion reaction using polarized deuteron beams was proposed at the Kurchatov Institute. The development of this idea was continued in the PolFusion (polarized fusion) nuclear physics experiment, which aims at studying the reaction of nuclear dd synthesis with polarized source particles in the low energy region. The experiment is planned to measured the scattering asymmetries of dd-fusion reaction products in the final state at different mutual orientation of the spins of colliding deuterons in the energy range 10–100 keV. The authors present an overview of the status of the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In introductory physics labs, a challenge arises when students are asked to measure a well-known quantity, such as the free fall acceleration, g. Students often don't perform a proper error analysis if they already know the correct answer, and their result is "close enough." Masking, or disguising the correct answer, as is often done in nuclear and particle physics research, encourages students to be more careful. In this paper, we introduce a new unit of measurement; in these units, students don't know what the value of g should be, leading to a more engaging and authentic scientific experience. Additionally, we instituted a mock "conference" in which students settled on a consensus value of g in this new system of units. When students quantitatively compare their measurements of an unknown quantity, it motivates them to perform a detailed error analysis. Student feedback on this reformed lab was largely positive. Experimental research in physics often involves repeated measurements of an unknown quantity by different groups. Ultimately (after careful analysis and comparison of results), a scientific consensus can be reached. This process often differs from a traditional undergraduate lab experience, where students might already know the result and simply aim to confirm it. In this article, the authors describe one way to make the lab experience more scientifically authentic: by developing special measuring devices which employ a newly created, nonstandard system of units. This article will be of interest to readers who would like to develop curricula which foster scientific reasoning and research skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to provide a new deterministic model for the SLOWPOKE-2 nuclear research reactor at École Polytechnique de Montréal (EPM) with LEU (Low Enriched Uranium) core. Using the latest release of the code system DRAGON5 and DONJON5 and the cross-section data library ENDFB.VII rel.1 evaluation, the developed model is applied to simulate the neutronic behavior of the SLOWPOKE-2 research reactor. We studied the separate temperature effects of the main components of the core (i.e., fuel, coolant/moderator, beryllium reflector, and water reflector). The contribution of different physical phenomena to the RTC was assessed. The temperature reactivity feedback calculated using the deterministic approach based on the DRAGON5 and DONJON5 code system using the ENDF/B-VII.1 evaluated nuclear data library produced in the WIMD-D4 format is in good agreement. Therefore, this work proves the capability of DRAGON5 and DONJON5 codes, normally used for power reactors, to reliably simulate a low-power research reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tokamak is an important device for controlled nuclear fusion research. The plasma electronic density control system (PEDCS) is an important system for controlling the Tokamak discharge process, which should be of high stability, rapidity, and accuracy. Gas seeding systems are widely used in many Tokamak devices to achieve plasma electronic density control. According to the mechanism model analysis for the plasma electronic density object, an adapted single neuron proportion integration differentiation (PID) control algorithm with the radial basis function (RBF) neural network tuning is studied. The principle and the implementation of the intelligent control algorithm are described in detail in this paper. The intelligent controller enables the system to optimize the PID parameters online according to the density state in the discharge process. The experimental results show that the adapted algorithm achieves a good control effect and also improves the control performance. The proposed method provides a useful reference for Tokamak devices and other similar control systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review on the research contributions from the nuclear and particle physics laboratory of Rajshahi University is presented. Special emphasis has been given to the nuclear physics research using the molecular nucleus-nucleus (NN) potentials derived from the Pauli-laden energy density functional (EDF) theory. The successes of EDF-derived non-monotonic (NM) NN potentials, compared to other familiar optical model potentials such as Woods-Saxon (WS), Squared Woods-Saxon (SWS), double folding (DF) for NN interactions, have been discussed. The phenomenal successes of NM potentials with a repulsive core have been found to suggest that the true nature of NN potential is NM with the Pauli-compliant EDF as its root. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autonomous nuclear reactor monitoring is a key aspect of the International Atomic Energy Agency's strategy to ensure nonproliferation treaty compliance. From the rise of small modular reactor technology, decentralized nuclear reactor fleets may strain the capacities of such monitoring and requires new approaches. We demonstrate the superior capabilities of a gamma detection system to monitor the criticality of a zero power nuclear reactor from beyond typical vessel boundaries, offering a powerful alternative to neutron-based systems by providing direct information on fission chain propagation. Using the case example of the research reactor CROCUS, we demonstrate how two bismuth germanate scintillators placed outside the reactor vessel can precisely observe reactor criticality using so called noise methods and provide core status information in seconds. Our results indicate a wide range of applications due to the newly gained geometric flexibility that could find use in fields beyond nuclear safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the Proton Therapy and Research Cyclotron Facilities at the IFJ PAN Krakow in Poland. The facilities were initially used for nuclear physics experiments and neutron cancer therapy, but have since expanded to include proton therapy for eye melanoma patients. The center operates an IBA C230 cyclotron for proton therapy, and also conducts nuclear physics experiments during weekends. The facilities offer a range of research opportunities in the fields of medical physics, radiotherapy, and nuclear physics. [Extracted from the article]

The work investigated the sorption of no-carrier-added 177Lu isolated from neutron-irradiated 176Yb2O3, and carrier-added 177Lu obtained by irradiation of natLu2O3, by commercial and oxidized nanodiamonds (NDs) of various grades from aqueous solutions to identify among them a promising carrier for further research in the field of nuclear medicine. A promising sorbent was found: oxidized NDs of the STP grade (ox-STP); conditions for the fast sorption of lutetium with it in an amount equivalent to 1.2 GBq of no-carrier-added 177Lu were determined, which corresponds to the activity used in therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed machine learning algorithms for distinguishing scintillation signals from a plastic-liquid coupled detector known as a phoswich. The challenge lies in discriminating signals from organic scintillators with similar shapes and short decay times. Using a single-readout phoswich detector, we successfully identified y radiation signals from two scintillating components. Our Boosted Decision Tree algorithm demonstrated a maximum discrimination power of 3.02 ± 0.85 standard deviation in the 950 keV region, providing an efficient solution for self-shielding and enhancing radiation detection capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The given text provides a summary of the 18th board meeting of the Asian Nuclear Physics Association (ANPhA) held in Korea. It mentions the admission of Uzbekistan and Singapore as new member countries of ANPhA and discussions on the Network of National Nuclear Research Institutes (NNRI) and the formation of an "A3 consortium" for collaboration in low-energy nuclear physics. The meeting concluded with a tour of the RAON facility and plans for future board meetings in Chinese Taipei and Huizhou, China. The text also highlights presentations on the status of RAON and national activities in nuclear physics from Chinese Taipei, Japan, India, and China. It discusses various research activities, discoveries, and ongoing efforts in the field of nuclear physics, including the search for superheavy elements and theoretical aspects of the field. This information can be valuable for library patrons conducting research in nuclear physics. [Extracted from the article]

Initially, the growth of particle detectors was focused on the identification of particles, but new detector designs have made it possible to build new diagnostic techniques. Clinical settings and medical research facilities utilize cutting-edge methods developed from particle accelerators, detectors, and physics computers, including imaging technologies, accelerators specifically designed for cancer therapy, simulations, data analysis, and nuclear medicine. It is still obvious that research in nuclear and basic particle physics is what motivates and propels the development of particle detectors for medical applications. The applications of the particle physics detector in medical science will be the main topic of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accurate image-derived input function (IDIF) from highly sensitive large axial field of view (LAFOV) PET/CT scanners could avoid the need of invasive blood sampling for kinetic modelling. The aim is to validate the use of IDIF for two kinds of tracers, 3 different IDIF locations and 9 different reconstruction settings. Methods: Eight [18F]FDG and 10 [18F]DPA-714 scans were acquired respectively during 70 and 60 min on the Vision Quadra PET/CT system. PET images were reconstructed using various reconstruction settings. IDIFs were taken from ascending aorta (AA), descending aorta (DA), and left ventricular cavity (LV). The calibration factor (CF) extracted from the comparison between the IDIFs and the manual blood samples as reference was used for IDIFs accuracy and precision assessment. To illustrate the effect of various calibrated-IDIFs on Patlak linearization for [18F]FDG and Logan linearization for [18F]DPA-714, the same target time-activity curves were applied for each calibrated-IDIF. Results: For [18F]FDG, the accuracy and precision of the IDIFs were high (mean CF ≥ 0.82, SD ≤ 0.06). Compared to the striatum influx (Ki) extracted using calibrated AA IDIF with the updated European Association of Nuclear Medicine Research Ltd. standard reconstruction (EARL2), Ki mean differences were < 2% using the other calibrated IDIFs. For [18F]DPA714, high accuracy of the IDIFs was observed (mean CF ≥ 0.86) except using absolute scatter correction, DA and LV (respectively mean CF = 0.68, 0.47 and 0.44). However, the precision of the AA IDIFs was low (SD ≥ 0.10). Compared to the distribution volume (VT) in a frontal region obtained using calibrated continuous arterial sampler input function as reference, VT mean differences were small using calibrated AA IDIFs (for example VT mean difference = -5.3% using EARL2), but higher using calibrated DA and LV IDIFs (respectively + 12.5% and + 19.1%). Conclusions: For [18F]FDG, IDIF do not need calibration against manual blood samples. For [18F]DPA-714, AA IDIF can replace continuous arterial sampling for simplified kinetic quantification but only with calibration against arterial blood samples. The accuracy and precision of IDIF from LAFOV PET/CT system depend on tracer, reconstruction settings and IDIF VOI locations, warranting careful optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide a catalogue of 17 700 unique coastal-based instances distributed throughout the globe and derived from bathymetric and topographic data made publicly available by the GEneral Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) as of 2022. These instances, or Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), are delivered in the form of raster grids with a 15 arc-seconds resolution and are divided equally into three libraries "A", "B" and "C". In a given library, the dimensions range from a minimum of 10×10 cells to a maximum of 300×300 with an incremental step of 5, i.e. 59 unique dimensions with 100 instances per dimension. In addition, for each dimension, these instances are ordered by increasing number of maritime cells and have in common the presence of a unique maritime connected component with a ratio of maritime cells lying between 25 % and 95 %, so as to cover a broad spectrum of different coastlines geometries. In this paper, we will describe in detail the procedure used for their automated generation. The resulting catalogue can be downloaded from Zenodo, a general-purpose repository operated by CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research) and developed under the European OpenAIRE program, at the following persistent address: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10530247 (last access: February 15th, 2024) (Thuillier et al. (2024b)). Additionally, a set of 18 colour palettes specifically designed for the visualisation of DEMs has been derived for this occasion and is available at the following address: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10530296 (last accessed: February 15th, 2024) (Thuillier et al. (2024c)). Both of these repositories come with a comprehensive documentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the course of the program for the development of high-resolution photographic materials for research in neutrino physics, the possibility of obtaining a nuclear emulsion with a resolution that exceeds the known materials by 5 times has been shown. The sensitivity in such materials is maintained at a high level, sufficient for the registration of nuclear radiation. With an increase in the concentration of silver halide up to 80 wt %, nuclear photographic materials can be used to solve many physical problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time detection of X/gamma radiation dose rates holds particular significance in nuclear science research. In this study, we developed a portable X/gamma-ray survey meter for large-scale distributed real-time monitoring of ambient dose equivalent rates in the surrounding environment. This innovative device uses a silicon photomultiplier coupled with a CsI(Tl) scintillator and can connect to an Internet of Things network. Additionally, it facilitates a wide spectrum of dose rate measurements by modifying the frequency of a pulse-frequency modulation-type DC-DC power supply mode. The energy response of the survey meter, which is improved through Geant4 simulations and a multi-comparator design, ranges from 48 keV to 1.3 MeV, encompassing various common protection level applications. It effectively measures gamma radiation dose rates ranging between 0.1 p. Svh-1 and 100 mSvh-1 for 60Co. Temperature compensation of the detector was achieved through a series of experiments. The meter exhibits a deviation of -25 % to +25 % at temperatures between -40 °C and +40 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the wastewater treatment units in the Tehran Research Nuclear Reactor (TRNR) is an evaporator unit, which consists of a semi-batch single-stage kettle-type evaporator with heating coils and auxiliary equipment. The concentrate of this unit is immobilized in cement. So, the precipitate specie, concentrate composition, and its amount are important parameters for further waste treatment steps. In this research, a new bulk mathematical model is developed based on the total mass balance, the partial mass balance of ions in the concentrate and precipitates, as well as the energy balance to investigate the performance of the Tehran Research Nuclear Reactor evaporator. The resulting ordinary differential equations are solved numerically with a proposed algorithm. In this simulation, Pitzer equations are used to calculate the activity coefficient of water and ions, density, and solubility of salts. The temperature and pressure dependence of the developed model parameters are also considered. Moreover, the effect of precipitate formation on the overall heat transfer coefficient with time dependence correlation is also taken into account. Results show a good agreement between the experimental data and the developed model, and the relative error of different parameters is reported between 2% and 13%. • New model developed to estimate performance of Tehran Nuclear Reactor evaporator. • Conservation of ions mass as well as the energy are considered in this model. • New algorithm proposed to solve the ordinary differential equations. • Thermophysical properties of ions and concentrate are derived from pitzer equation. • Mathematical model predict the experimental data by the relative error of 2 - 13%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multigap cavities are used extensively in linear accelerators to achieve velocities up to a few percent of the speed of light, driving nuclear physics research around the world. Unlike for single-gap structures, there is no closed-form expression to calculate the output beam parameters from the cavity voltage and phase. To overcome this, we propose to use a method based on the integration of the first and second moments of the beam distribution through the axially symmetric time-dependent fields of the cavity. A beam-based calibration between the model's electric field scaling and the machine's rf amplitudes is presented, yielding a fast online energy change method, returning cavity amplitude and phase necessary for a desired output beam energy and energy spread. The method is validated with 23Na6+ beam energy measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In consultation with The Department of State and the USAEC, and other state and non-state actors – including the Atomic Industrial Forum Inc. and the Fund for Peaceful Atomic Development – organized the first international missions to investigate if and how nuclear technologies could be mobilized as commodities and symbols of possible futures to the rest of the world, with a special focus on underdeveloped countries. Nevertheless, they soon realized that selling atomic development required a set of skills, tools, and knowledge not found in the usual and tested aid programs for agriculture and public health. Based on John Krige's reflections on the co-production of knowledge and the writing of transnational history, we will explore how knowledge for nuclear development was co-produced in countries like Egypt, Turkey, Mexico, and the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations of the gases 12CO2, 13CO2, СН4, and Н2О and the trends of Earth degassing under changing atmospheric pressure were analyzed remotely for the first time using a differential absorption lidar. To reduce the influence of external meteorological factors, the sensing was carried out in a dead-end tunnel of the Baksan Neutrino Observatory of the Institute for Nuclear Research, Russian Academy of Sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molten slag has different properties depending on its composition. The relationship between its composition, structure, and properties has been the focus of attention in industrial manufacturing processes. This review describes the atomistic scale mechanisms by which oxides of different compositions affect the properties and structure of slag, and depicts the current state of research in the atomic simulation of molten slag. At present, the research on the macroscopic properties of molten slag mainly focuses on viscosity, free-running temperature, melting point, and desulphurization capacity. Regulating the composition has become the most direct and effective way to control slag properties. Analysis of the microevolution mechanism is the fundamental way to grasp the macroscopic properties. The microstructural evolution mechanism, especially at the atomic and nanoscale of molten slag, is reviewed from three aspects: basic oxides, acidic oxides, and amphoteric oxides. The evolution of macroscopic properties is analyzed in depth through the evolution of the atomic structure. Resolution of the macroscopic properties of molten slag by the atomic structure plays a crucial role in the development of fundamental theories of physicochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article considers the following aspects: naturally distributed chemical elements and their enrichments, and the increased occurrence of PTEs due to anthropogenic and urban activities, as well as due to the geochemical uniqueness of certain geochemical landscapes, depending on the lithological environment. The review article is the result of many years of successful cooperation between the Geological Survey of Slovenia and the Faculty of Natural Sciences in Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, as well as several other institutions from North Macedonia, Russia and Romania but, also, through the voluntary and enthusiastic work of Prof. Trajče Stafilov's PhD and Master's students. To create the Geochemical Atlas, the territory of North Macedonia was covered with 995 sampling locations, but 16 separate areas with soil contamination were additionally sampled. The total sum of all collected soil samples was 3983 from 2449 different sampling sites in the period from 2006 to 2017. The analyses were performed at the Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences in Skopje, at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia, at the Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation (ICIA), Cluj-Napoca, Romania, at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia, and at Acme Labs in Vancouver, Canada. The sum of all analysed soil samples in all four mentioned laboratories was 7991 from 2006 to 2017. Using advanced mathematical methods such as multivariate statistical methods (HCA, FA, PCA) and artificial neural networks–multilayer perceptron (ANN-MP), predictions were made about the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and their distribution in real space. In less than two decades (2007–2023) of fruitful collaboration, a large number of scientific works have been published: 188 scientific publications, 8 geochemical atlases and 23 chapters in monographs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During TRIGA reactor operation significant amounts of liquid radioactive waste are generated requiring appropriate management to ensure their safe disposal. Radiological characterization is an important activity needed to accomplish the waste acceptance criteria for different management steps including disposal. The purpose of this paper is to assess the activity concentrations of the ³1H. 383890Sr, 63286328Ni(difficult-to-measure), and gamma emitters (easy-to-measure) radionuclides in liquid radioactive waste generated by the TRIGA reactor operation and to establish a correlation among them to determine the scaling factors for this waste category. The radiological protocols applied for 6328Niand 3890Sr, separation and purification involve extraction chromatography using selective resins, while for H separation the distillation technique was applied. The assessment of gamma emitters was carried out using gamma-ray spectrometry and the detection of ³1H. 3890Sr, and 6328Niwas performed by liquid scintillation counting. The chemical yield of each experiment was determined by measuring the carrier added in each test by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The activity concentrations of 3890Sr, and 6328Niobtained were correlated with the activity concentration of 3860Co for establishing the scaling factor for the liquid radioactive waste stream. There were obtained good correlations but more experimental data are needed to determine the relevant scaling factors for these difficult-to- measure radionuclides. The scaling factors, once established, will improve and optimize the radiological characterization methodology applied for liquid radioactive waste as an easy and rapid method for assessment of concentration activities of difficult-to-measure radionuclides. Until now, no scaling factors data were reported for this liquid radioactive waste generated by TRIGA reactor operated by Institute for Nuclear Research Pitesti. The results obtained in this work represent preliminary data for establishing correlations between difficult-to-measure and easy-to-measure radionuclides and will be used for developing a scaling factor methodology. This will further be used to determine the inventory of difficult- to-measure radionuclides in different waste streams generated by TRIGA operation and decommissioning (foreseen after 2035). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma-ray spectroscopy is an effective technique for radioactive material characterization, routine inventory verification, nuclear safeguards, health physics, and source search scenarios. Gamma-ray spectrometers typically cannot be operated in the immediate vicinity of nuclear reactors due to their high flux fields and their resulting inability to resolve individual pulses. Low-power reactor facilities offer the possibility to study reactor gamma-ray fields, a domain of experiments hitherto poorly explored. In this work, we present gamma-ray spectroscopy experiments performed with various detectors in two reactors: The EPFL zero-power research reactor CROCUS, and the neutron beam facility at the Ohio State University Research Reactor (OSURR). We employed inorganic scintillators (CeBr3), organic scintillators (trans-stilbene and organic glass), and high-purity germanium semiconductors (HPGe) to cover a range of typical—and new—instruments used in gamma-ray spectroscopy. The aim of this study is to provide a guideline for reactor users regarding detector performance, observed responses, and therefore available information in the reactor photon fields up to 2 MeV. The results indicate several future prospects, such as the online (at criticality) monitoring of fission products (like Xe, I, and La), dual-particle sensitive experiments, and code validation opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is a government research facility that has been conducting scientific research on nuclear energy and military applications for over 70 years. INL has made significant contributions to the nuclear energy industry, including generating the first usable electricity from nuclear power and developing nuclear propulsion systems for Navy submarines and aircraft carriers. However, there is also a dark side to the INL, as it has been responsible for worker health issues, pollution, and radioactive waste. The article highlights concerns about worker safety, hazardous conditions, and retaliation against those who report safety concerns. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: The accurate prognosis of reactor accidents is essential for deploying effective strategies that prevent radioactive releases. However, research in the nuclear sector is limited. This paper introduces a novel Temporal Fusion Transformer (TFT) model-based method for accident prognosis that incorporates multi-headed self-attention and gating mechanisms. Methods: Our proposed method combines multi-headed self-attention and gating mechanisms of TFT with multiple covariates to enhance prediction accuracy. Additionally, we employ quantile regression for uncertainty assessment. We apply this method to the HPR1000 reactor to predict outcomes following loss of coolant accidents (LOCAs). Results: The experimental results reveal that our proposed method outperforms existing deep learning-based prediction models in both prediction accuracy and confidence intervals. We also demonstrate increased robustness through interference experiments with varying signal-to-noise ratios and ablation studies on static covariates. Discussion: Our method contributes to the development of intelligent and reduced-staff maintenance methods for reactor systems, showcasing its ability to effectively extract and utilize features of static and historical covariates for improved predictive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]