Institute Of Nuclear Sciences Research Articles

Cuban strategy for reproducing, preserving and developing nuclear knowledge

One of the problems in the changing world is the preservation of knowledge for the next human generation, and nuclear knowledge is not an exception. Cuba has worked for reproducing, preserving, developing and capturing nuclear knowledge, mainly through a higher education centre, the Higher Institute of Nuclear Sciences and Technologies. This institute is a component of a national network in the preparation of manpower not only for nuclear activities but also for environmental and managerial activities too.

Radiation Protection Aspects of Shallow Land Disposal of Low and Intermediate Level Liquid and Solid Radioactive Waste at PINSTECH

Operation of Pakistan Research Reactors 1 and 2, radioisotope production plants, and allied laboratories at the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology (PINSTECH) generates radioactive waste effluents of low and intermediate level. These waste materials are managed in a way to keep the human health and the environment free of radiation associated hazards. The prime practice has been of shallow ground or near-surface disposal type. Different measures and operational procedures at the institute, in step with the international norms for the management of low and intermediate level waste, have been adopted. To ensure the safe disposal practices and radiation safety of the workers and of the general public, radiological safety related routines are practiced with due concern. Some safety aspects of the prevailing practices are discussed in this presentation.

Radiological Impact of the PARR-1 Operation on the Environment

This paper presents a study related to the assessment of the radiological impact on the environment due to the operation of the Pakistan Research Reactor-1 (PARR-1) at the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Sciences and Technology (PINSTECH), Islamabad. The parameters studied include the radioactivity releases in a gaseous form and also those originating from the liquid and solid wastes produced due to the operation of this research facility. The analysis is based on the environmental monitoring data for the last 10 years (1992-2002) and the conclusions have been drawn for the impact of the PARR-1 operation on the occupational workers as well as the general public living in the vicinity of the reactor site. Further, on the basis of this data, yearly average doses and the cumulative doses for the expected life of PARR-1, due to different radiation sources have been estimated. The analysis indicated that the maximum yearly doses at ground level for the occupational workers as well as for the public are a fraction of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) defined limiting values. It is, therefore, concluded that the impact of the PARR-1 normal operation on the environment is negligible and it can be regarded as “ safe to the public as well as the occupational workers”.

Interaction of estrogen and thyroid hormones in the nuclei of uterine tissue

INTERACTION OF ESTROGEN AND THYROID HORMONES IN THE NUCLEI OF UTERINE TISSUE. Zorica Žakula, S. Đurica, S. Radivojsa, T. Milosavljevic and Nevena Ribarac-Stepic. Department of Molecular Biology and Endocrinology, Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro; Internal Medicine Clinic Zvezdara, University Clinical Centre, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro

Acceptance of the channel for modification of materials (L3A) of the Tesla accelerator installation

The channel for modification of materials (L3A) of the Tesla Accelerator Installation, in the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, connected to the mVINIS ion source, consists of an ion beam transport line and an interaction chamber enabling the ion beam assisted deposition. The 8.4 m long beam line, starting at an analyzing slit after an analyzing magnet, contains two electrostatic quadrupole triplet lenses: a 90° bending magnet and an electrostatic beam scanner. The maximal beam transmission coefficient, e.g., for 60 keV N4+ beam, has not exceeded 30%. At the time the beam line was designed, the mVINIS ion source was not commissioned, so that the emittances of the beams it delivered were underestimated. This is one of the reasons for the low transmission performance of the beam line. In this article the results of the beam line acceptance calculations are presented and compared with the measured beam emittances. The calculations are based on the transfer matrix formalism with no space charge taken into account. The suggestions for improving the beam transmission performance of the beam line are given.

Thermal Diffusivity Measurements of Thermographite

This paper presents results of measurements of a graphite proposed to serve as a thermophysical property reference or standard reference material. The reported measurements contribute to a program launched in 1999 by Anter Corp. with the objective to provide a replacement for the NIST thermal property reference material RM AXM-5Q graphite whose supplies were being exhausted. Measurements of the thermal diffusivity performed on five specimens taken from different positions within a large graphite block between room temperature and 1300 K were in good mutual agreement. Measurements of NIST reference AXM-5Q graphite sample supplied to minimize effects of different contributors to a common base were also in good agreement, both with the NBS reference function established by Hust in 1984 and contributions to the NBS project from the Vincca Institute of Nuclear Sciences carried out in 1979. The influence of different data reduction techniques on the measured thermal diffusivity values is illustrated and discussed.

Criticality Safety of Low-Enriched Uranium and High-Enriched Uranium Fuel Elements in Heavy Water Lattices

The RB reactor was designed as a natural-uranium, heavy water, nonreflected critical assembly in the Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1958. From 1962 until 2002, numerous critical experiments were carried out with low-enriched uranium and high-enriched uranium fuel elements of tubular shape, known as the Russian TVR-S fuel assembly type, placed in various heavy water square lattices within the RB cylindrical aluminum tank. Some of these well-documented experiments were selected, described, evaluated, and accepted for inclusion in the “International Handbook of Evaluated Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiments,” contributing to the preservation of a rather small number of heavy water benchmark critical experiments.

Return of 80% highly enriched uranium fresh fuel from Yugoslavia to Russia

AbstractThe transport of almost 50 kg of highly enriched (80%) uranium (HEU), in the form of fresh TVR-S fuel elements, from the Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Yugoslavia, to the Russian Federation for uranium reprocessing was carried out in August 2002. This act was a contribution of the Government of the Federal Republics of Yugoslavia (now Serbia and Montenegro) to the world's joint efforts to prevent possible actions of terrorists against nuclear material that, potentially, would be usable for the production of nuclear weapons. Basic aspects of this complex operation, carried out mainly by transport teams of the Vinca Institute and of the Institute for Safe Transport of Nuclear Materials from Dimitrovgrad, Russian Federation, are described in this paper. A team of IAEA safety inspectors and experts from the DOE, USA, for transport and non-proliferation, supported the whole operation.

Workshop on neutrons for engineering held in Sydney

A workshop on “Neutrons for Engineering” was held from September 16–17, 2002 at the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of New South Wales, under the auspices of the university, the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering, the Welding Technology Institute of Australia, and ANSTO.

Dosimetric characteristics of Li2B4O7:Cu,Ag,P solid TL detectors.

The main dosimetric characteristics are presented of newly prepared tissue-equivalent, highly sensitive thermoluminescent detector, Li,B4O7:Cu,Ag,P in the form of sintered pellets, developed at the Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Vinca. As a result of an advancement in the preparation procedure by the sensitising of basic copper activated lithium borate TL material, significant improvement in the TL sensitivity of Li2B4O7:Cu,Ag,P was gained. The glow curve of Li,B4O7:Cu,Ag,P consists of well defined main dosimetric peak situated at about 185-190 degrees C with the TL sensitivity which is about four to five times higher than that of LiF:Mg,Ti (TLD-100). From the experimental results a very wide linear dose response range, up to 10(3) Gy is evident. Dosimetric characteristics make sintered solid Li,B4O7:Cu,Ag,P TL detectors very promising for different dosimetry applications particularly in medical dosimetry and also for individual monitoring.

University–industry partnership for effective industrialization: a framework for Ngumzo

A conceptual framework for partnerships between University and Industry emphasizing the need for Ngumzo (i.e. dialogue with harmony) is presented. This framework is based on the model of a microprocessor. Inputs that encompass University–Industry collaboration when processed lead to different outputs. It is being proposed that national policy and delivery of inputs to our national institutions are not sufficient to change the University–Industry relationships or partnerships. The alternative is that it will be the central role of each individual institution, in all its complexity, to pay more attention in the planning, management and evaluation of its technical education among other inherent activities. The experiences of assembling and marketing of the NUNTM PC at the Institute of Nuclear Science will be presented.

Milan V. Kurepa

Milan V. Kurepa

Lithium borate solid TL detectors

This paper presents the main dosimetric characteristics of newly prepared, complete tissue-equivalent thermoluminescent detectors, Li 2 B 4 O 7 : Cu , In, Ag and Li 2 B 4 O 7 : Cu , In in form of sintered pellets, developed at the Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Vinca.

APS Honors Physics Contributions

APS Honors Physics Contributions

Progress report on the mVINIS ion source

The mVINIS ion source is one of the major machines of the TESLA Accelerator Installation, at the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences. It is an electron cyclotron resonance ion source with multiple applications. It can serve as an injector for an isochronous cyclotron providing heavy ions for several high energy experimental channels (radiation physics, radiation biology, physics of thin crystals, nuclear physics) or as a stand alone machine directly delivering multiply charged ions to the low energy experimental channels (physics of multiply charged ions, surface physics, surface modification of materials). This article describes the completion of mVINIS that included the finalization of its safety and control systems, the fine adjusting and calibration of its gas inlet system, and the installation of the solid substance inlet system. The recent results obtained with ion beams produced from gases and solid substances are presented, showing the wide capabilities of this machine. The ion beams obtained from mVINIS have been used in the channel for modification of materials since May 1998.

The L3A facility at the Vinča Institute: Surface modification of materials, by heavy ion beams from an electron cyclotron resonance ion source

This article describes the L3A experimental facility for surface modification of materials at the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, in Belgrade. This facility was completed and put into operation in May 1998. It is connected to the mVINIS ion source, an electron cyclotron resonance ion source capable of producing a wide range of multiply charged ions from gaseous and solid substances. The heavy ion beams obtained from mVINIS are separated by charge to mass ratio (q/m) and transported to the target chamber for sample irradiation and modification. The target chamber is equipped with a multipurpose target holder, an electron-beam evaporation source for thin layer deposition, a residual gas analyzer, and other auxiliary equipment. There is also an additional low energy argon ion source for target preparation/sputtering and for ion beam assisted deposition. In this article we describe the layout and performances of the L3A facility, the experience gained during 1 yr of operation, and the requirements imposed by the current and future experimental programs. Currently, there are 24 experimental programs competing for the ion beam time at the L3A facility.

Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis of 316-L Stainless Steel

Prompt gamma-rays from thermal neutron capture reaction have been used to measure the concentrations of the main constituents namely Fe, Ni and Cr in 316-L stainless steel using recently established prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) facility at Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH). High resolution, high purity germanium detector with 40% relative efficiency was employed for the gamma-ray spectroscopy of the samples. The interference-free full energy gamma-ray peaks of the elements of interests were selected in the high energy low background region (5.0–9.0 MeV). The efficiency calibration of the detector was performed using ultra pure standards of chromium and chlorine obtained respectively from Merck and Alpha Inorganics. This paper describes, in addition, the salient features as well as the background of establishing PGNAA facility at the Institute.

Thermophysical and Thermal Optical Properties of Vanadium by Millisecond Calorimetry Between 300 and 1900 K

A variant of millisecond-resolution pulse calorimetry in use at the Institute of Nuclear Sciences “Vinca” since 1983 involves measuring the specific heat and electrical resistivity of electrical conductors from room temperature to 2500 K and the hemispherical total emissivity and normal spectral emissivity from about 1300 K to the same maximum operating temperature. The method was applied successfully to different materials: pure metals, ferrous and nickel-base alloys, reactor materials, and refractory metals in thermal characterization of candidates for thermophysical property standard reference materials. This paper presents and discusses new data obtained in the study of thermophysical and thermal optical properties of vanadium.

Thirty years of naa developments and applications at the THETIS reactor of the Institute for Nuclear Sciences, Gent

A survey is given of the past and present fundamental developments and practical applications of neutron activation analysis performed at the reactor THETIS of the Institute for Nuclear Sciences, Gent, which has already now for more than 30 years played an internationally appreciated pioneering role in this domain. Whereas the applications were mainly dealing with the analysis of semiconductor and high-purity materials, biomedical matrices, geological materials, environmental samples and artefacts, the developments were directed towards the elaboration of irradiation, separation and counting schemes, the determination of nuclear activation and decay constants, and especially towards the introduction of a modern (so-called k0-) standardization method which—especially combined with a dedicated software package such as KAYZERO/SOLCOI© issued by DSM Research—proved to make NAA to a manageable and competitive analytical tool, nowadays applied in more than 50 NAA-labs worldwide.

Effects of long-term selenium intake on oxidative changes in brain after ionizing radiation stress: [formula omitted], Michael Simic, Ivana Djujic, Miroslav Demajo. Institute of Nuclear Sciences “Vinca”

Effects of long-term selenium intake on oxidative changes in brain after ionizing radiation stress: [formula omitted], Michael Simic, Ivana Djujic, Miroslav Demajo. Institute of Nuclear Sciences “Vinca”