Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2021) 136: 558
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-021-01430-y

Regular Article

Small accelerators and their applications in the CANAM research infrastructure at the NPI CAS

¹ Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v. v. i., Husinec-Řež 130, 250 68, Řež, Czech Republic
² Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, J.E. Purkinje University, Pasteurova 3632/15, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
³ Department of Nuclear Chemistry, Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University, Břehová 7, 115 19, Praha 1, Czech Republic

^a mackova339@gmail.com

Received: 17 November 2020
Accepted: 10 April 2021
Published online: 19 May 2021

Abstract

The Nuclear Physics Institute (NPI) of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS) operates, among other facilities, a Tandetron linear accelerator, TR-24 and U-120M cyclotrons, and an MT25 microtron. A new accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) instrument, MILEA, has recently been acquired. Except for the MT25, all facilities are synergic parts of the Centre of Accelerators and Nuclear Analytical Methods Research Infrastructure (CANAM RI) (http://canam.ujf.cas.cz). This paper demonstrates the instrumental, scientific and application capabilities of the devices for many fundamental nuclear physics experiments and a wide spectrum of applications. The Tandetron Laboratory has a full arsenal of ion-beam analytical methods, ion-beam nano- and microstructuring techniques, as well as tools for the doping and synthesis of new progressive materials using energetic ion beams. It uniquely utilises ion beams for 3D elemental mapping; it studies internal morphology using ion-microprobe methods applicable in many scientific branches. The TR-24 and U-120M cyclotrons provide the primary beams of accelerated ions as well as the generated secondary fast neutrons, including the necessary instrumentation and the target technology, and enable fundamental experiments in nuclear physics, astrophysics, dosimetry, etc. The microtron MT25 is a source of relativistic electrons (the primary electron beam), the secondary photon beam (bremsstrahlung) and neutrons from photonuclear reactions which are used, e.g. for analysis and preservation of cultural heritage. The MILEA AMS system offers a highly sensitive isotopic ratio measurement of very long-lived radionuclides at levels up to 10^–15.