Research
The activity of the Department of Neutron and Ion Methods has been focusing basically in two directions:
- Fundamental and Applied Research with Thermal Neutrons at the Reactor LVR-15
- Nuclear Analytical Methods with Charged Particles at the Tandetron accelerator
Fundamental and Applied Research with Thermal Neutrons
Neutron Physics Laboratory (NPL) is a part of the CANAM infrastructure. NPL mission is to perform neutron-physics experiments according to the NPI research programme as well as to provide experimental facilities and research experience to external users from Czech Republic and all over the world in Open Access mode. The neutron channels hired at nuclear research reactor LVR-15 of the Research Centre Řež are employed for materials research using neutron diffraction as well as for experiments in nuclear physics and for neutron activation analysis.
Scattering of neutrons is used to study structure of materials in various size scales, from ordering of atoms in crystal lattice to microscopic heterogeneities on nano- and microscopic scales. High penetration of neutrons in most materials permits to carry out these tests non-destructively in the bulk and/or inside special sample environment (low and high temperatures, mechanical load).
Nuclear reactions of neutrons with matter are employed to analyze concentrations or concentration profiles of elements in solids as well as for fundamental nuclear physics.
The group of Neutron Activation Analyses (NAA) is involved in development and applications of advanced methods of neutron and photon activation analyses that serve to determine occurrence of a large variety of chemical elements, especially elements present only in trace and ultra-trace amounts, in diverse types of materials. These methods can be applied in geo- and astrochemistry, materials engineering, agriculture, food technology, archeological research, environmental studies and protection of cultural heritage. High sensitivity of activation methods, especially in combination with radiochemical separation, is beneficial in analysis of small and rare samples e.g. from meteorites or fine art masterpieces. Another tool employed in the group for analysis of elements is the X-ray fluorescence suitable especially for non-destructive determination of composition of metalic archeological artifacts.
Nuclear Analytical Methods with Charged Particles
The main research directions of the Laboratory of Tandetron (LT) include the preparationand characterisation of micro- and nanostructured materials, which are of interest for basic andoriented research in material, environmental and biomedical sciences. Ion-beam analytical(IBA) methods are employed in the investigation of materials coming from material research,industry, micro- and nanotechnology, electronics, optics and laser technology, and in chemical, biological and environmental investigation in general. We thoroughly improve the instrumentation of the LT to make it competitive in the European scientific space and to enlarge theportfolio of our ion-beam instruments. We have a very fruitful collaboration with severalexcellent ion-beam centres in Europe (Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany;Ion-Beam Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, ATOMKI, Hungary, etc.). The LTis closely connected to other ion-beam centres in Europe, mainly to the RADIATE consortium, unifying the most important ion-beam centres in Europe.