Accelerator Science Project Profile

The Accelerator Science project provides sustained excellence in accelerator-based science at ANSTO for the delivery of leading edge ion beam research and technological innovations. The Accelerator Science Project oversees the Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), Ion Beam Analysis (IBA) and Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) capabilities and facilities of ANSTO.

Project Leader: Dr David Cohen

Objectives/aims:
To develop and enhance novel accelerator-based knowledge and facilities in order to:-

• Create opportunities for ANSTO to participate in competitive national and international research programs and grants.
• increase ANSTO's nuclear and atomic scientific reputation by publishing leading-edge research on the application of accelerator based nuclear techniques.
• To operate accelerator based facilities and capabilities so that ANSTO is the provider of choice for unique nuclear expertise and services and can meet the requests of Australian Universities, industries and international researchers.
• To train Australian and international researchers, postdocs, postgrads and students in quality leading edge accelerator based nuclear techniques and their applications.
• Tto ensure the three ANSTO accelerators are maintained and operated safely, to the highest standards with minimum risk to personnel and equipment.

Achievements:

• Undertaken new radiation damage studies for detection systems for microdosimetry.
• Applied novel heavy ion beam, X-ray and synchrotron methods, to gain a better Understanding of hyper-accumulating heavy metal plant and biological systems uptake.
• Used nuclear techniques to study thin films, multi-layers and interfaces for materials characterisation with monolayer resolution in some cases.
• Developing new methods for harmonisation of nuclear techniques of analysis, in particular, accelerator based PIXE, PIGE and RBS methods in collaboration with IAEA.
• Developing new systems on ANTARES and STAR that will allow automated and unattended running to increase total accelerator usage while minimizing the need for operator intervention.

Significant Collaborations:

• All 37 Australian Universities through AINSE
• Australian Coal Association
• Victorian EPA
• OK Tedi Mines, Papua New Guinea
• CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research, Aspendale , Victoria
• IAEA, Vienna

Key Publications:
Long Term Accuracy and Precision of PIXE and PIGE Measurements for Thick and Thin Sample Analysis, 9th Int PIXE Conf., Guelph, Canada, 8-12 June 2000

IBA Methods for Characterisation of Fine Particulate Atmospheric Pollution: A local, regional and global research problem., Nucl. Instr. and Methods B219-220 (2004) 145-152.

Multi-elemental Analysis and Characterisation of Fine Aerosols at Several Key ACE-Asia Sites., Journal of Geophysical Research, 109 (2004) D19S12, doi:10.1029/2003JD003569.

Heavy Metal Pathways and Archives in Biological Tissue, IBA-15 Int. Conf., Cairns, Australia, 15-20 July 2001.

Ion Beams for Materials Analysis, Book Chapter, 11 p, Encycl. Phys. Sci. & Technol. 2001, Academic Press

For Further Information

Contact: Dr David Cohen