ATOMKI Facilities

Terminal voltage	0.8-5 MV
Mass energy product	56 MeV x AMU/e²
Energy stability	< 1 keV
Max beam intensity, direct	50 µA
Max beam intensity, analyzed	10 µA
Ion source	inductively coupled RF source
Ion range	H⁺, D⁺, He⁺, C⁺, N⁺, O⁺, Ne⁺

Further information

Contact: biri at atomki.hu

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1 MV Van de Graaff accelerator

Main beam parameters:

Terminal voltage	50-1500 keV
Mass energy product	19 MeV x AMU/e²
Energy stability	< 1 keV
Max beam intensity, direct	80 µA
Max beam intensity, analyzed	12 µA
Ion source	inductively coupled RF source
Ion range	H⁺, He⁺, C⁺, N⁺

Further information

Contact: biri at atomki.hu

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ECR (Electron Cyclotron Resonance) ion source

This is the only ECR ion source in Hungary.

Ion range: H, He, C, F, N, O, Ne, Fe, Ni, Zn, Kr, Xe, C60
Stripping, Q=1...27
Beam energy: (0.1-30)*Q [keV]

Two configurations are available:
Configuration A. (production of highly charged ions)
Configuration B. (production of large plasmas)

Configuration A. (production of highly charged ions):

Microwave	14,3 GHz, 50 - 1000 W
Resonant magnetic field	0,5 Tesla
Diameter and length of the plasma chamber	5,8 cm x 20 cm

Configuration B. (production of large plasmas):

Microwave	6 - 18 GHz, 0,1 - 20 W
Resonant magnetic field	változtatható
Diameter and length of the plasma chamber	10 cm x 20 - 40 cm

Further information

Contact: biri at atomki.hu

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Debrecen Isotope Separator Laboratory (DISP)

The installation of an electromagnetic isotope separator facility has been initiated to target a broad range of low-energy ion beam applications, which demand high-quality momentum and mass selected beams in an energy region of 100 V to several tens of kV. The facility provides positive single-charged ion beams formed of elements of both gases and solids. Potential ion beam applications may include the formation and modification of surface layers, implantation profiles, isotopically controlled structures and high-purity isotope enrichement for tracing studies.

Further information

Contact: hunyadi at atomki.hu

Special beamlines

Scanning Nuclear Microprobe

Type	Oxford quadrupole triplet
Beam size (@ 100 pA)	1.5 µm
Beam size (@ < 1 pA)	700 nm
Max scanned area	2500 µm
Applications	PIXE, RBS, NRA, PIGE, DIGE, STIM, ERDA, IBIC, PBW

Further information

Contact: rajta at atomki.hu

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ESA-21 electrostatic spectrometer
and universal measuring chamber labortory for atomic collisions

Type	combination of a spherical mirror and a two stage cylindrical mirror
Electron energy range	50 eV - 16 keV
Energy resolution	5 x 10^-4 - 6 x 10^-3
Angular range of electron detection	0^o - 180^o (at 13 angles, by 15^o, simultaneously)

Further information

Contact: sulik at atomki.hu

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Broad spectrum high intensity cyclotron neutron source with Be target

It is one of the most important fast neutron sources in Hungary. It operates at the MGC-20E cyclotron of ATOMKI.

High intensity fast neutron fields can be produced by bombarding a stopping Be-target either with protons (p+Be neutrons) or deuterons (d+Be neutrons). The continuous spectrum of the p+Be neutrons covers the energy range E_n = 0-16 MeV. The continuous spectrum of the d+Be neutrons covers the energy range and E_n = 0-12.5 MeV. The neutron energy and intensity can be controlled by the energy and intensity of the bombarding beam. For 18 MeV protons typically 3x10¹¹ n/s/sr intensity can be achieved at the 0^o +/- 10^o cone.

Applications:

Fast Neutron Activation Analysis (FNAA),
dozimetry,
radiation biology,
radiomutation breeding of plants,
study of neutron induced radiation damage of insulator and/or semiconductor based structures and photonic-electronic devices developed for operating in the radiation environment of high energy particle physics experiments, space and avionics applications and high counting rate applications.

Partners: University of Debrecen, KFKI-RMKI (Budapest, Hungary), CERN: CMS, ALICE, ATLAS; EU FP7

A nuclear analytical and a radiochemistry lab is also available.

Further information

Contact: fenyvesi at atomki.hu

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Quazi-monoenergetic fast neutron source

It is one of the most important fast neutron sources in Hungary. It operates at the MGC-20E cyclotron of ATOMKI.

d+D fast neutrons are produced by bombarding a D₂-gas target with deuterons. Quasi-monoenergetic neutrons can be obtained in the E_n = 3 - 12 MeV energy range. The neutron energy, the neutron intensity and the energy spread of the emitted neutrons can be varied by changing the energy and intensity of the bombarding beam and the pressure of the filling D₂-gas of the target cell. 3 orders of magnitude of neutron intensity range can be covered. After evacuation of the target cell and changing its W beam stop plate to a thick Be disc it is also possible to produce d+Be neutrons with well known spectra at the same irradiation site and geometry.

A pneumatic rabbit system is available for movement of the irradiated radioactive sample between the irradiation and counting positions. This enables cyclic irradiation and counting of activated samples when the activation processes lead to the formation of short lived radioactive products.

Applications:

measurement of excitation function of neutron induced nuclear reactions,
detektor calibration, measurement of response function,
benchmark experiments,
Fast Neutron Activation Analysis (FNAA),
teaching,

Partners: University of Debrecen, IAEA (Vienna, Austria), IRMM (Geel, Belgium)

Further information

Contact: fenyvesi at atomki.hu

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Nuclear and astrophysics Laboratory

Split pole magnetic spectrometer for proton and heavy ion measurements

K value	80 (26)
Angle of the focal plane	45^o
Length of the focal plane	120 cm
Length of the Si detector	72 cm
resolution	1 mm
bending radius	40 - 90 cm
Max field	1.6 (0.8) T
Max solid angle	5.4 msr
Energy range E_max/E_min	4.8
Horizontal magnification	0.34
Vertical magnification	1.7 - 3.3
Energy dispersion Δx/ΔE/E	10 mm/%
Energy resolution ΔE/E	1x10^-3

Further information

Contact: kraszna at atomki.hu

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Scattering chamber equipped with Si detector telescopes

The 78.8 cm inner diameter scattering chamber is equipped with 2 independently controlled wheel which can hold up to 10 silicon detectors. For the monitoring of the beam and target properties 2 additional detectors are mounted permanently on the chamber wall at ±15 degrees relative to the incoming beam. Up to 8 targets can be placed on the remote controlled sample holder. The target to beam angle and the height of the target can be changed as needed.

Contact: kraszna at atomki.hu and ggkiss at atomki.hu

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DIAMANT, light charged particle detector system

3 mm thich CsI detectors, with photodiode readout
Charge sensitive preamps + VXI electronics

Energy resolution (5.5 MeV for α-particles)	2%
Efficiency for protons	70%
Efficiency for α-particles	50%

Contact: nyako at atomki.hu

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Obelisk TOF spectrometer for fission products

Low pressure (P=5 mbar, isobutane) gas multi wire proportional counters, delayed line readout.

Time resolution	< 0.4 ns
Angular resolution	< 1^o
Mass resolution	5 amu
Solid angle	50% (from 4π)

Contact: kraszna at atomki.hu

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CLOVER gamma spectrometers with BGO anti-Comton shield

Volume	470 cm³
Efficiency (@ 1332 keV, in add-back mode)	125 %
Energy resolution (@ 1332 keV)	~ 2.2 keV
Compton supression	~ 3

(One of them belong to ATOMKI, the other two are borrowed)

Contact: kraszna at atomki.hu

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2 pcs Canberra GR10024 N-type 100% relative efficiency koaxial HPGe detector

One of the detectors is "Ultra Low Background" and comes with a TEMA DSF-3 low background lead shield

Volume	400 cm³
Efficiency (@ 1332 keV, in add-back mode)	100 %
Energy resolution (@ 1332 keV)	2.4 keV

Contact: gyurky at atomki.hu

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GL2015R type LEPS-low energy gamma spectrometer

Ge crystal thickness	15 mm
Ge crystal active area	2000 mm²
Energy resolution FWHM at 5.9 keV	400 eV
Energy resolution FWHM at 122 keV	700 eV

Contact: ggkiss at atomki.hu

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High energy (5-20 MeV) electron-positron pair spectrometer

(Multi wire proportional counters for localization of impact spots, and ΔE-E plastic scintillator telescopes for identification of particles and measurement of their energy)

Time resolution	< 1 ns
Angular resolution	< 3^o
Energy resolution	< 10%
Coincidency efficiency	2 - 3 %

Contact: kraszna at atomki.hu

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Superconducting magnetic electronspectrometer

(Under construction)

B(max)	2 T
ΔB/B (500 mm long)	< 3 %
Inner diameter of the solenoid	85 mm
Length of the solenoid	400 + 160 mm

Contact: kraszna at atomki.hu

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ELENA neutron TOF spectrometer

(EU FP6 supported project for investigation of giant resonances in radioactive beams)

Time resolution	< 0.8 ns
Angular resolution (L= 1 m)	< 1^o
Energy resolution (E_n = 1 MeV)	< 10 %
Detection efficiency ( E_n= 0.5 - 5 MeV)	20 - 40 %

Contact: kraszna at atomki.hu

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Leybold UNIVEX 350 vacuum evaporator

Main parts:
- turbomolecular pump
- ohmic and electron-bombarding evaporator sources
- automatic source closure
- vibration quarz thickness sensor
- rotatable sample holder

Contact: gyurky at atomki.hu

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Materials Science Laboratory

(HAS-ATOMKI - University of Debrecen)

TOF electronspectrometer

Type	electron TOF
Electron energy range	5 - 20 eV
Energy resolution	6% - 10%
Angular range	0^o +/- 10^o
Coincidence measurements between four independent energies

Further information: Meas. Sci. Technol. 17 (2006) 84.

Contact: sarkadil at atomki.hu

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Low Temperature Physics Laboratory

The laboratory consists of a cryotechnic supply system and low temperature experimental equipments. The most important part of the cryo-system is a KGU-600/15-150/4,5-40 type helium liquifier, which can produce 40 l of liquid helium per hour. It is also connected with a gas collecting pipe system networked in most laboratories of the institute. The system supplies external users as well.

Experimental facilities:

1) R 160 type general purpose cryostat
Specifications:

a.)	Liquid helium volume: 40 l
b.)	Built in superconductive magnet max field 9 T, vertical
c.)	Built in tempertaure controlled measurement chamber: temp range 2÷300 K, controlled by low pressure He gas flow above 4.2 K, and circulated liquid He bath below 4.2 K.
d.)	Top loading chamber, diameter 30 mm

2) ³He/⁴He dilution refrigerator
Specifications:

a.)	Lowest available temperature 6 mK
b.)	Vertical sample chamber, max 1,8 T magnetic field inside a superconductive magnet
c.)	Connectable to an optical or particle beam by a window system

3) Measurement system for solid state physics
Specifications:

a.)	NI PXI based data acquisition
b.)	lock-in analyser
c.)	electronic signal processing units
d.)	probes for measurements of magnetic and current transport properties

Contact: ms at atomki.hu

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Electronspectroscopy Laboratory

ESA-22 Multiparameter electronspectrometer

Type	combination of a spherical and a cylindrical mirror
Electron energy range	20 eV - 10 keV
Energy resolution	2 x 10^-4 - 4 x 10^-3
Angular range	0^o - 360^o (continuously)
Energy- and angular measurements	Simultaneously
Coincidence measurements	between two independent energy electrons
Solid and gas phase samples	applicable
Equipped with	Electron gun (up to 5 kV) Ion gun for surface cleaning

Contact: ricz at atomki.hu

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ESA-31 Electrostatic electronspectrometer

Type	half sphere analyzer
Electron energy range	20 eV - 10 keV
Energy resolution	max. 3 x 10^-5
Ultra high vacuum	5 x 10^-10 mbar
Equipped with	4 X-ray sources (from 1467 eV to 8048 eV) Electron gun (up to 10 keV), Ion gun for surface cleaning

Contact: dvarga at atomki.hu

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X-ray Spectroscopy Laboratory

Double function X-ray analyzer

1. X-ray diffractometer

Type	horizontal Bragg-Brentano setup, graphite monochromator
Angular range (2θ)	0.5^o - 120^o
Smallest step size (2θ)	0.005^o

2. X-ray fluorescent analyzer

Type	energy dispersive
Detector	30 mm² Si(Li)
Source	X-ray tube/secondary target
Analitical range	Z > 11
Concentration range	~ 1 ppm - 100%

Contact: kvm at atomki.hu

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Laboratory for Multilayer structure and kinetics

Preparation and structural analysis of thin films/multilayers

Magnetron Sputtering System

Using magnetron sputtering techniques with UHV vacuum system we are able to produce metallic, semiconducting and insulating type thin films or multilayers with 2-3 nm individual layer thicknesses. Our main research area is the investigation of thermal stability of multilayers, motion and transformation of interfaces, studies of diffusional movement of atoms, and solid-state reactions in layered structures.

Contact: glanger at tigris.klte.hu and csik at atomki.hu

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SNMS/SIMS (Secondary Neutral/Ion Mass Spectrometer)

The Secondary Neutral/Ion Mass Spectrometry (SNMS/SIMS) is a suitable technique for depth profiling of surface coatings or multilayered structures (up to 1-2 nm modulation length), to analyse the depth distribution of impurities/doppants in semiconductor and polymer systems.

Main parameters:

Sputtering gases	Ar, Ne, Kr, Xe
Typical sputtering speed	~0,1 nm/s
Ion energy	100 eV - 2 keV
Mass spectrometer	Balzers QMG 422
Mass range	0 - 340 amu
Detection limit	1 ppm
Depth resolution	1-2 nm
Sample holder	Up to 600 ^oC
	Down to -180 ^oC
	x - y translator

Further information

Contact: vad at atomki.hu and csik at atomki.hu

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Profilométer

With AMBIOS XP-I profilometer by measuring the vertical stylus displacement as a function of position we are able to measuring surface flatness, waviness and topography in nanometer vertical resolution with stylus loads from 10 mg down to 0.05 mg.

Főbb paraméterek:

Scan length range	max. 30 mm
Sample thickness	max. 20 mm
Vertical resolution	0.5 nm at 10 µm 1.5 nm at 100 µm
Stylus tip radius	2.0 µm
Sample viewing	Colour camera with 100X magnification

Contact: csik at atomki.hu

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AFM and Electronmicroscopy Laboratory (DE-ATOMKI)

The Laboratory provides a wide range of investigation possibilties for the micro and nanostructure primarily in materials science and technology applications and research. For microscopy measurements the necessary sample preparation units and the operating manpower and experience is also available. The laboratory can produce compund phase and unequilibrium, nanostructured materials and heat treatments.

We offer regional service for companies and research institutes.

Facilities of the Laboratory:

TEM: JEOL 2000 FXII + EDS*
SEM: Hitachi S-4300 CFE +EDS*, AMRAY 1830-I
AFM/STM/MFM: NT-MDT P7*
Optical Microscopes
Sample preparation for metallography, Ion beam thinning
High energy ball mill*
Arc melting oven, Vacuum evaporator
DSC (Perkin-Elmer DSC-7)
Tearing machine
Microhardness tester

Facilities marked with * are jointly operated by HAS-ATOMKI and the University of Debrecen.

Contact: iaszabo at tigris.unideb.hu

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Hertelendi Laboratory of Environmental Studies

One of the subdivisions of the Section of Environmental and Earth Sciences is the Laboratory of Environmental Studies (LES), a multidisciplinary team dedicated to research in nuclear analytical methods, stable isotope measurements and systems technology. In operation for more than 15 years it has established a national and international reputation as a premier analytical laboratory, known for pioneering efforts in radiometric and stable isotope analysis techniques. It has considerable expertise in isotope measurements, radiocarbon dating, tritium measurements, monitoring activity around nuclear facilities and modelling of radionuclides in the environment, most of its projects being strongly related to the Paks NPP activity.

Further information

Contact: svingor at atomki.hu

Main equipments, facilities:

Static vacuum noble gas mass spectrometer Fisons VG-5400

The VG-5400 mass spectrometer is suitable for determination of isotope ratios of all noble gases. This is the first noble gas mass spectrometer in Hungary which has the sensitivity, accuracy and resolution required by various important fields of research, like environmental research, nuclear fission safety, waste disposal and geochronology.

The sample inlet line is equipped with pneumatically activated NUPRO valves SS-4-BK, controlled by a computer. The line is made of stainless steel with UHV connections (VCR) with copper or aluminium gaskets. Four samples can be analyzed in a row without any manual intervention. The line includes two vacuum units: one ion pump for the inlet section, one turbomolecular pump with its rotary pump for evacuating the purification section. This provides a high vacuum in the system (<10^-8 torr). The pressure is controlled manually and via the computer at different stages in the system with Pirani and Penning gauges connected to the computer through an HP-IB interface.

The purification section consists of an unfilled trap and a charcoal trap, placed in the same Dewar filled with liquid nitrogen, the level of which is regulated automatically by thermal sensors and an electrically activated valve connected to a liquid nitrogen tank. These two traps are followed by a SAES getter pump for removing the hydrogen.

The mass spectrometer has a magnet of 90^o deflection and 27 cm deflection radius with an extended geometry. The sensitivity is 1x10^-3 A/mbar for Ar and 2x10^-4 A/mbar for He. The resolution is adjusted to 600 which is sufficient for the resolution of ³He⁺, H₃⁺ and HD⁺ beams. The abundance sensitivity measured as contribution from mass 40 at mass 39 is less than 0.5 ppm at 10^-7 torr. The static vacuum level in the 1.3 l volume deflection chamber is 1x10^-12 cm³ STP/min at mass 40.

Installed: 1998.

Thermo Finnigan Delta plus XP type stable isotope mass spectrometer

The various isotopes of an element have slightly different chemical and physical properties because of their mass differences. For elements of low atomic numbers, these mass differences are large enough for many physical, chemical, and biological processes or reactions to "fractionate" or change the relative proportions of various isotopes. Changes of isotope ratios can provide important information about the underlying processes. Natural isotope fractionation processes change the ratios only to a very small amount therefore very precise, high sensitivity measurements are needed. For the geological and hydrological applications a Thermo Finnigan Delta plus XP type stable isotope mass spectrometer is operated in the lab to study the five most important elements in geochemistry (S, C, H, O, N).

The isotope ratios are measured in the forms of H₂, N₂, CO₂, SO₂. In most cases the samples are in solid or liquid phase. They have to be converted to gas, using the sample preparations units of the mass spectrometer. On-line measurements are also available by connecting the different peripheries. Thus isotope ratios in the following materials can be analysed:
- water (O, H)
- sulfate, nitrate, ammonia diluted in water (S, N)
- carbonates (O, C)
- organic materials (C, N, O)
- carbohydrates (C, H)

Accuracy:
δ²H: ±3‰, this means ±1ppm for the deuterium content of water;
δ¹⁸O: ±0,2‰, δ¹³C: ±0,1‰, δ¹⁵N és δ³⁴S: ±0,3‰

We can determine the infiltration temperature of water, or the origin of sulfate or nitrate contamination of water.

The measurement of carbon isotope ratios allows us to measure the presence of iso-sugar mixed in honey.

Installed: 2002.

Omnistar quadrupole mass spectrometer Balzers GSD 30002

The quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with a capillary inlet system is able to measure the main components of gas samples. Its range of analysis cover the interval from 1 amu to 200 amu. Weighting 45 kg it might be transported easily and applied in situ measurements. The resolution of the instrument is between 50 and 100 at mass 40. The spectrometer can be supplied with a membrane inlet system, which makes it suitable to measure dissolved gas in liquids.

Installed: 1999.

Elemental Analyser Fisons NA1500 NCS

The instrument is devoted to pre-treatment of samples for stable mass spectrometry.

The analytical method is based on the complete and instantaneous oxidation of the sample by "flash combustion" which converts all organic and inorganic substances into combustion products. The resulting combustion gases pass through a reduction furnace and are swept into the chromatographic column by the carrier gas (helium). The gases are separated in the column and detected by the thermal conductivity detector (TCD) which gives and output signal proportional to the concentration of the individual components of the mixture.

A few parameters:

Sample (mg)	0.5-100
KH (ppm)	10
Measurement time (min)	10
Range (%)	0,01-100

Installed: 1994.

Counter system for high-precision ¹⁴C dating + pre-treatment unit

The gas proportional counting system was developed for high precision radiocarbon dating and consists of nine electrolytic copper proportional counters of identical diameters with sensitive volumes of 0.35-0.73 dm³ and filled with CO₂ at 1115 mbar and 2 bar. The inner counters are surrounded by an anticoincidence shield consisting of five multiwire proportional flat counters filled with propane. The pulses of the detectors are handled by integrated amplifiers, discriminators and anticoincidence units interfaced to a microprocessor-controlled data evaluation unit. Software is written in BASIC using ASSEMBLER sub-routines. The overall precision of the system for modern carbon samples is better than 4 ‰ after a counting period of seven days.

Installed: 1974.

	Counters
System parameters	1	2	3	4	5	6	8	9
Total active volume (dm³)	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.5	0.35	0.35	0.7
Standard counting rate (S) (cpm)	4.9256	8.7715	4.8603	4.7992	6.5739	4.6498	4.7617	4.8602
Background (B) (cpm)	0.4945	0.6074	0.5084	0.5373	0.5328	0.4498	0.4566	0.5828
Figure of merit (S/ÖB)	7.00	11.25	6.82	6.55	9.00	6.93	7.05	6.34
Max. measurable age (2 days) (yr)	33705	37516	33530	33171	35724	33624	33762	32909

LSC instrument Canberra-Packard TRICARB 3170 TR/SL

A completely computer controlled benchtop liquid scintillation analyzer, provided by Canberra-Packard Instruments, specially configured for extremely low level radioactivity analysis, featuring:

The time-resolved liquid scintillation counting circuitry employs a multiparameter multichannel analyzer (effective resolution of 1/10 keV), and three-dimensional analysis of both the prompt and afterpulses to discriminate between true beta events and background pulses.
The instrument employs a bismuth germanium oxide (BGO) detector guard to lower backgrounds for ³H to 1.0-0.75 CPM, and ¹⁴C backgrounds to below 0.3 CPM. High sensitivity is achieved using less cocktail (reducing waste) - the E²/B ratio is about 800 for ³H and 6000 for ¹⁴C; limits of detectability are greatly reduced (less than 1 Bq/l of tritium can be measured in water samples in 500 minutes without enrichment).
The instrument includes a built-in computer, which controls all system functions including sample changer, CRT display and data output. Dynamic color quench correction automatically corrects results for the optical quenching effects of highly colored samples, while the luminescence detection and correction feature automatically detects, quantitates and corrects for unwanted or unexpected luminescence in liquid scintillation samples.
The LSC analyzer is equipped with a cassette-loaded bidirectional sample conveyor with sample capacity for either 408 standard 20 ml vials or 720 small 4 or 7 ml vials with Varisette sample changer for intermixing large and small vial cassettes without requiring special adapters.

Installed: 1999.

Low background gamma-spectrometer Canberra-Packard BE5030-7915-30ULB

The HPGe γ-ray spectrometer (Canberra Model BE5030) situated in the underground low background laboratory of the Institute is equipped with a preamplifier (Canberra model 2002 CP) and an U-type cryostat. The detector has an active diameter of 80 mm and a carbon epoxy window with 0.5 mm thickness. The γ-ray spectral data are recorded by a multichannel analyzer (DSA-2000) processed by peak search and nuclide identification software (Genie 2000).

The protection against cosmic rays and other background noises is realized by the 777B type lead shield. The dewar is located beside the shield and the horizontal arm extends through the side of the shield.

The main parameters of the γ-detector are the following:

Izotóp	⁵⁵Fe	²⁴¹Am	⁵⁷Co	⁶⁰Co
Energy (keV)	5,9	59,5	122	1332,5
FWHM (eV)	437	555	659	2025
FWTM (eV)	-	1024	1221	3799

Installed: 2000.

Mobile, high-precision atmospheric CO₂ monitoring station (FOCAM)

As a part of an ongoing research project being carried out in Hungary to investigate the amount and temporal and spatial variations of fossil fuel CO₂ in the near surface atmosphere we developed a mobile and high-precision atmospheric CO₂ monitoring station. The measuring system is designed for continuous, unattended monitoring of CO₂ mixing ratio in the near surface atmosphere based on an Ultramat 6F (Siemens) infrared gas analyzer. In the station one atmospheric ¹⁴CO₂ sampling unit is also installed which was developed and widely used for more than one decade by ATOMKI. Using the FOCAM station we plan to determine the fossil fuel CO₂ amount in the air of different cities and other average industrial regions in Hungary.

Installed: 2008.

Graphite target production line for AMS radiocarbon measurements

Radiocarbon dating by gas proportional counting has a long tradition in the Institute. Recently we would like to enlarge our ¹⁴C dating possibilities by purchasing of a Single Stage Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (SSAMS).

To establish a modern AMS laboratory the whole lab building was completely renewed implementing an enhanced air filtration and conditioning system. The investment was financed by Isotoptech Ltd and supported by the Baross Gábor Innovation Programme.

Sample preparation systems for AMS radiocarbon measurements are currently under development. The first Hungarian AMS graphite production facility was established in 2005 and the purity of the graphite was tested in CEDAD, University of Salento. Several sets of blanks and known-activity graphite samples were processed and tested in cooperation with the NSF Arizona ¹⁴C AMS facility in Tucson, Arizona. Although all of the graphite samples from ATOMKI were processed in a completely different manner than is usual at the NSF Arizona Lab, the mean value of the VIRI (Fifth International Radiocarbon Intercomparison) B samples measured by the NSF Arizona AMS is consistent with measured by gas proportional counting technique in ATOMKI and with the consensus value for this sample.

Further information

Contact: svingor at atomki.hu

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K-Ar Laboratory

The K-Ar method is suitable to determine the age of geological objects. The ⁴⁰K izotope, that can be found in stones, decays with 10⁹ years half life into ⁴⁰Ar.

Contact: balogh at atomki.hu

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Other equipment

High intensity Co-60 gamma source

Gamma photon energy 1173 keV and 1332 keV.
Activity on 2009.02.23: 3.7 TBq
Dose-rate at 1 m distance: 1.13 Gy/h

The source is available for various applications:

Radiation damage studies
Radiation biology research
Dose measurements
Many samples can be irradiated simultaneously without interferences
Irradiations can last for a prolonged time over several months

Partners: University of Debrecen, KFKI-RMKI, CERN: CMS, ALICE, ATLAS; ESA: SSC
Major achievements employing this facility:

Several tests for selecting radiation tolerant photonics-electronics materials, structures and components developed for applications in harsh radiation environments in the following fields:

high energy physics: several devices for subsystems of the CMS, ALICE and ATLAS experiments at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN (Geneva, Switzerland),
space applications: ICs of the on-board mass memory of the European Space Agency's SMART-1 mission; the satellite with solar-electric propulsion operated in the van Allen radiation belts of Earth and in lunar orbits,
radiotherapy applications: on line dosimeters, radiobiology experiments for studying effects of compounds having radiosensitizing or radioprotecting effects, etc.

Expected outcomes:

New knowledge in the fields of particle physics, planetary and earth sciences, space sciences, bio-medical sciences, radiation protection, radiotherapy.

Effects on society:

The Co-60 source is part of the national portfolio of irradiation facilities in Hungary. It contributes to the development of new competences, high value added products and services offered by domestic and international partners in the R&D&I and education and SME sectors.

Contact: dajko at atomki.hu

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B-level Radiochemical Laboratory

Radioactive isotopes produced on the 20 MeV cyclotron of the ATOMKI are chemically separated from the irradiated targets in the B-level Radiochemical Laboratory. From these radioisotopes radiopharmaceuticals can be synthesized for diagnostic (PET: ¹¹C, ⁶¹Cu, ⁶⁴Cu, ⁷⁶Br, ¹²⁴I; SPECT: ¹²³I, ¹¹¹In) and therapeutic (¹⁰³Pd, ¹³¹Cs, ¹⁶⁵Er, ¹⁶⁹Yb, ¹⁸⁶Re, ^209,210At) applications. Part of these labeled compounds can be used also for agricultural investigations and animal diagnostics.

In the laboratory we also perform catalytic and corrosion investigations as well as analysis of radioactive water samples. The laboratory is equipped with instruments and devices as well as sterile rooms for the above works.

The B-level Radiochemical Laboratory is part of the ATOMKI Cyclotron Laboratory.

Contact: kovacsz at atomki.hu

CMS Muon Barrel Positioning System calibration laboratory (CERN)

In this laboratory submillimeter precise calibration procedures of the alignment elements of the CMS Muon System are performed. These calibration methods make use the combination of both the high precision industrial alignment technologies (LTD, photogrammetry) and the custom built electonics and informatics system designed for the CMS Muon Alignment Project. Devices that are calibrated there are able determine the position of the CMS Drift Tubes within the system of coordinates of the CMS experiment. Achieved precision of this position measurement is about 200 microns everywhere inside the full volume of CMS. Beyond the aforementioned devices located and used in the laboratory, expertise gained during the design, buliding and operatrion phase of the Muon Alignment System could be used in future projects on alignment.

Contact: szillasi at atomki.hu

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Infrastructure

Accelerator Centre

Special beamlines

Nuclear and astrophysics Laboratory

Materials Science Laboratory

(HAS-ATOMKI - University of Debrecen)

Hertelendi Laboratory of Environmental Studies

Other equipment