Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) is one of the most sensitive techniques to non-destructively determine the isotopic composition of a sample. The sensitivity of the technique is determined by the isotope of interest, intensity of the neutron source and neutron energy spectrum. In the case of thermal neutron irradiation with a nuclear reactor the minimum detection limits tend...
In order to increase the lifetime of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) civil structures it is imperative to consider enhanced aging management that includes examination, inspection, maintenance and testing of concrete that provide safety and structural functions. Reinforced concrete is the dominant civil engineering construction material for nuclear power plant structures. South Africa...
Gamma-ray spectrometer with a single HPGe or NaI:Tl detector shielded with lead is often used to measure the activity concentration of radionuclides in soil samples. A passive water shield to reduce background radiation reaching the detectors was designed using GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulations and then constructed. IAEA-375 soil and beach sand each placed in Marinelli beaker were measured for 48...
Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT) is a radioactive tracer technique used to track the trajectory of a radioactively labelled macroscopic particle using a variant of Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The primary application of PEPT is to study dynamic flow systems under varying conditions; including a wide range of particle size distributions, physical, and chemical properties (e.g....
Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT) is a radioactive tracer technique used to track the trajectory of a radioactively labelled macroscopic particle using a variant of Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The primary application of PEPT is to study dynamic flow systems under varying conditions; including a wide range of particle size distributions, physical, and chemical properties (e.g....
Positron emission particle tracking (PEPT) is a non-invasive tracking technique best used in understanding the fundamental physics within opaque multiphase flow systems. This dedicated research facility is situated within iThemba LABS and requires accurate and representative tracers to mimic the behaviour of the material of interest for a system under study. This presentation divulges the...
Positron emission particle tracking (PEPT) is a non-invasive tracking technique best used in understanding the fundamental physics within opaque multiphase flow systems. This dedicated research facility is situated within iThemba LABS and requires accurate and representative tracers to mimic the behaviour of the material of interest for a system under study. This presentation divulges the...
Gamma-ray energy spectra from the de-excitation of residual nuclei produced in irradiations of a calcium target with proton beams of energies, Ep = 30, 42, 54 and 66 MeV, have been recorded using the iThemba LABS AFRODITE array equipped with 8 Compton-suppressed HPGe clover detectors. The areas of characteristic peaks for de-excitation gamma-ray lines from low-lying states of several nuclei -...
At UCT, positron imaging techniques are used to investigate systems of flow for science and engineering applications. As an example, positron emission tomography (PET) measurements are performed of the distribution of liquid in 2D flowing foams to investigate bubble coalescence in mineral froth flotation. The impact of the results and the feasibility of more complex measurements, such as...
Prompt Gamma Imaging (PGI) focuses on the detection of secondary (prompt) gammas during a proton therapy treatment. With the use of a Compton camera, PGI is working to create an in-vivo image of the dose deposited within the patient as a dose verification system. I will present an overview of Prompt Gamma Imaging at UCT, the UCT POLARIS detection system and the current work being performed. ...
At iThemba LABS Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT) is used to study dynamic physical processes and multiphase flow phenomena. Studies of these often turbulent systems contribute to understanding of fundamental flow behaviour and are of increasing interest in the current climate of reducing industrial wastes, improving process efficiencies, and developing design lead approaches to...
On 16 November 2018 the member states of the Convention of the Metre agreed at the 26th General Conference on Weights and Measures to a revision to the international measurement system that underpins all global science and trade. On World Metrology Day, 20 May 2019, the SI unit system underwent the most significant change since its conception. The revised system means that measurements are...
