Accurate nuclear reaction data are essential for 21st century nuclear technology and scientific applications. In 2021, experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency reviewed the available experimental and theoretical information on (a,n) reactions and – since they are insufficient for many modern applications – made proposals for further experiments in the form of a so-called “white paper” (further details: INDC(NDS)-0836). Within the framework of the TKCS-2024/56 project, we measure cross sections of several nuclear reactions with high accuracy in the relevant energy range using experimental techniques that have not been used before.

• Applicant: HUN-REN ATOMKI
• Co-applicant: Budapest University of Technology and Economics
• Budget for years 2025-27: 248.9 MHUF

1. The project involves the applications of nuclear technology based on the data collected through the fundamental research, that's why it is indispensable to determine nuclear structure as well as nuclear reaction data by using experimental technique.
2. One of the important area of the nuclear technology is the production of radioisotopes, on the one hand as a radiation source, on the other hand as an additive, as well as in the volume of the material to be investigated. These tracers can then applied for following processes in a rapid and economic way.
3. Production of new surface layers by irradiation and investigation of those, elaboration of irradiation and measurement methods for wear measurement of materials of novel constitution and structure. Development of novel nuclear particle detectors based on nanotechnology.
4. Development of accelerator based production on therapeutic and diagnostic radionuclides, elaboration of their radiochemical separation. Development of theranostic radioisotopes and targeted radionuclide therapy.

Budget: 1.191.526.000 HUF

The consortium of 18 partners from 9 countries aims at development of a new portal monitor system and a 3D tomography method that will be suitable for fast and reliable screening of bulk cargo and vehicles. The system must identify hidden persons and hidden illicit and dangerous materials (nuclear materials, explosives, weapons, drugs, contrabands). The screening will be done employing mainly X-ray photons emitted by laser based radiation sources. Advanced methods will be developed for detection of the nuclear particles that leak the screened volume and for evaluation of the large amount of the data measured by the particle detectors. The project helps the efficient management of national and European Union level security, law enforcement and custom problems.

ATOMKI participates in developments of methods for detection of the neutrons emitted by the laser based radiation sources.

Net EU contribution: 6 989 608.75 EUR; part of ATOMKI: 56 062.50 EUR.

In the frame of this project, research infrastructure units of Atomki are set into a control software framework thus establishing a remotely controllable virtual laboratory. The aim of the system integration is to create a complex infrastructure suitable to make radiobiological and radiation hardening measurements. The subsystems involved in the integration: cyclotron accelerator - neutron source and vertical beam-end for isotope production, tandetron accelerator, Van de Graaff accelerator, Co-60 source, MiniPET-3 small animal Positron Emission Tomograph and radiochemical laboratory, ESCA (Electron Spectrometer for Chemical Applications), MGGL (Matra Gravitational and Geophysical Laboratory), ECR ion source, PEM (Physical Environment Monitoring) system.

Leader of consortium:

• Evopro NPA Kft, former Evopro Systems Engineering Kft (support: 398.725.723 Ft, 57%)

Members of consortium:

• Atomki (support: 185.500.010 Ft, 100%)
• Biological Research Centre (support: 145.561.008 Ft, 100%)
• University of Szeged (support: 239.834.823 Ft, 100%)

A neutrínó tömegének meghatározása még a laikus emberek számára is felfogható rendkívüli jelentőséggel bír, hisz általa megbecsülhetővé válik az Univerzum tömege, amiből magának az Univerzumnak a létrejöttére és további sorsára vonatkozólag is következtetések vonhatók le. A 163-Holmium hosszú felezési idejének és úgynevezett tiszta béta bomlásának köszönhetően ideális alanya lenne a neutrínó tömegmérésnek, ugyanakkor milligramm közeli nagyságrendben való előállítására nincs semmilyen kémiai tapasztalat, sőt az előállításához nélkülözhetetlen képződési hatáskeresztmetszetek sem ismertek. Ezért a kitűzött feladat fontossága mellett úttörő kutatásnak is nevezhető.