BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//CERN//INDICO//EN BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:A new Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis facility at UCT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T094500Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T100000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260719T092015Z UID:indico-contribution-335-1636@indico.tlabs.ac.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Sizwe Mhlongo (University of Zululand)\nInstrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) is one of the most sensitive technique s to non-destructively determine the isotopic composition of a sample. The sensitivity of the technique is determined by the isotope of interest\, i ntensity of the neutron source and neutron energy spectrum. In the case of thermal neutron irradiation with a nuclear reactor the minimum detection limits tend towards the level of ppb. We are in the process of implementin g a new INAA facility within the Metrological and Applied Sciences Univers ity Research Unit (MeASURe) in the Department of Physics\, University of C ape Town. The n-lab currently offers two neutron sources\, a D-T sealed t ube neutron generator (STNG) and radioisotopic 241Am/9Be source. The STNG produces mono-energetic neutrons of around 14 MeV\, with an intensity of 1 0E8 neutrons per second\, and the 220 GBq AmBe source produces neutrons wi th a broad energy spectrum\, ranging from thermal to 11 MeV.\n\nThe first experimental phase will determine the limits of detection for a range of i sotopes with the existing experimental set-up. This will be supplemented w ith simulation driven designs for neutron moderators\, multipliers and ref lectors in order to lower these limits.\n\nhttps://indico.tlabs.ac.za/even t/92/contributions/1636/ LOCATION:Zoom URL:https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1636/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Investigation of limit of detection using standard radioactive sou rces with a LaBr3(Ce) detector DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T093000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T094500Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260719T092015Z UID:indico-contribution-335-1582@indico.tlabs.ac.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Ferdie van Niekerk ()\nInvestigation of limit of det ection using standard radioactive sources with a LaBr3(Ce) detector\nF. va n Niekerk1\, S.R. Johnson2\, P. Jones3\n1Department of Physics\, Universit y of Stellenbosch.\n2Department of Physics\, University of Cape Town.\n3De partment of Subatomic Physics\, iThemba LABS.\n\nKeywords: LaBr3(Ce) detec tor\; Background radiation\; Gamma radiation\n\nAbstract\n\nAmbient backgr ound radiation has been measured using a LaBr3(Ce) detector. This backgrou nd gamma-radiation is mainly a result of construction materials (such as c oncrete) and air. Radionuclides that form part of the background have been identified after an energy calibration of the detector was performed usin g 22Na\, 60Co and 152Eu radiation sources. These same sources have been me asured at increasing distances from the detector. The study focussed mainl y on the determination of the detection limits of each radiation source ta king into account the presence of background radiation. Therefore\, the ch ange in the intensity measured for each source as a function of increasing distance from the detector has been emphasised. This application is in re lation to the solid angle between the points of the radiation source and t he active detector volume. Further studies and application of all data ava ilable will focus on the relevant factors in order to calculate the limit of detection for a specific activity for each radiation source. \n\nThis s tudy forms part of a broader research project that entails the design\, bu ilding and commissioning of a prototype mobile gamma-ray detection system equipped with a LaBr3(Ce) detector. The successful development of such a d etector system will enable in situ measurements of radiation in various ro bust terrestrial environments with improved sensitivity and spectral resol ution.\n\nhttps://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1582/ LOCATION:Zoom URL:https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1582/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Development of a digital data acquisition system for neutron metro logy DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T091500Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20210913T093000Z DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260719T092015Z UID:indico-contribution-335-1591@indico.tlabs.ac.za DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Chloé Sole (UCT )\nFast neutron fields are found in a wide variety of contexts\, for example at accelerator and medical radia tion facilities\, around nuclear power plants\, in airplanes in flight and space stations. These fields often vary widely with respect to both energ y and intensity which complicates measurements of energy dependent fluence . Bonner sphere systems remain widely in use\, although systems based on s cintillator detectors offer distinct advantages including improved energy resolution on the fast neutron energy range (above 1 MeV). Since scintilla tors are typically sensitive to all types of radiation\, including gamma r ays\, it is necessary to select neutron-only events\, and pulse shape disc rimination capabilities of selected scintillators is typically used for th is purpose. Digital pulse processing electronics offer several distinct ad vantages over analogue systems\, including being more cost effective and c ompact\, but most importantly the flexibility of analyzing raw pulses in l ist mode. \n \nWithin the neutron metrology and spectrometry community dig ital pulse processing systems are being developed for a variety of purpose s. New digital data acquisition systems need to be benchmarked against the current metrology standards\, typically based on analogue systems. We pre sent a comparison between the IRSN fast neutron metrology analogue acquisi tion system to an off-the-shelf CAEN desktop digitizer. Measurements were made using a BC-501A scintillator detector at IRSN AMANDE accelerator base d facility. Uncertainty budgets for measurements of neutron energy depende nt fluence distributions are compared for the analogue and digital acquisi tion systems. The broader aim of this project is to further the developmen t of a digital data acquisition system for fast neutron metrology using ad vanced scintillator technology for use in neutron fields where time-of-fli ght may or may not be available.\n\nhttps://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/co ntributions/1591/ LOCATION:Zoom URL:https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/92/contributions/1591/ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR