Technical Meeting on the
Socio-Economic Benefits of Ion Beam
Accelerators for Developing
Member States
Vienna, Austria
19–23 October 2015
Ref. No.: F1-TM-49620
Information Sheet
A.
Background
Ion beam accelerators are extensively used in interdisciplinary research, in the development of
modern materials and for the provision of health care services, such as radiotherapy treatment
and the production of radioisotopes for medical applications. Accelerators are customarily
classified, according to the principle of acceleration and the energy of the ions, as low or
medium energy linear accelerators (up to about 6 MeV for protons) and high energy
cyclotrons (from about 7 to 70 MeV). The low or medium energy accelerators can be used for
carrying out a group of material characterization techniques (ion beam analysis, or IBA)
which can offer near surface compositional elemental/isotopic depth profile analysis (from the
first atomic layer to a depth of a fraction of a millimetre) with sensitivity that reaches µg/g
(ppm) concentration levels in the more favourable cases. Based on these quite unique
analytical features, IBA techniques support a plethora of interdisciplinary applications for
material characterization, whereas the irradiation capabilities create opportunities for
Page 2
industrial (ion implantation of semiconductors) and biomedical (single cell ion irradiation)
applications. High energy cyclotrons are mostly dedicated to the production of radioisotopes
for medical uses, without excluding applications for trace element analysis and studies of
nuclear reactions, among other possibilities.
Several examples can serve to highlight the socio-economic impact of ion beam accelerator
based applications for developing Member States. IBA techniques can support an integrated
non-destructive characterization of materials for different applications. For Member States
actively exploiting mineral resources, IBA techniques help to identify pollution sources by
analysing the elemental composition of airborne particulate matter (APM) and by monitoring
the levels of toxic elements in water, soil and biological compartments, thus providing
environmental policy bodies with data pertinent to compliance with internationally
established guidelines and acceptable thresholds, and helping to minimize potential adverse
health effects. Advanced micro- or even nano-ion probes can investigate 2D and 3D
intracellular distribution of toxic and essential elements in biological tissues, thus
significantly enhancing understanding of drug delivery mechanisms and the role of certain
elements in diseases and/or metabolic reactions.
For over 20 years, the Physics Section and the Nuclear Science and Instrumentation
Laboratory (NSIL, formerly NSAL and, before that, the Instrumentation Unit) have run an
accelerator programme coordinating the efforts of the international community to strengthen
the interdisciplinary applications of ion beam accelerators. Technical Meetings and
workshops disseminate the effective utilization of ion beam accelerators among the IAEA’s
Member States, while the Physics Section and NSIL staff, via the technical backstopping of
17 active national and regional technical cooperation projects (with a total budget of
approximately 3.6 million euros), are currently helping 56 Member States to establish and
improve their accelerator infrastructure and supporting activities to train human resources.
Since 1997, the NSIL has had a cooperation agreement with the Ruđer Bošković Institute in
Zagreb, Croatia to access and operate a dedicated accelerator beam line that has been used
regularly over the last 15 years in various analytical applications.
A consultancy meeting held in Vienna and Seibersdorf (Future Perspectives for the Nuclear
Spectrometry and Applications Laboratory in Seibersdorf, 21–25 March 2011) recommended
that the laboratory facilitate Member States’ access to ion beam accelerator and synchrotron
facilities, enhancing existing mechanisms and developing new synergies and cooperation
schemes.
Following the recommendations from the consultancy meeting, the NSIL has developed and
installed an ultra-high vacuum chamber (UHVC) facility that is operated as a beam line end
station of the XRF beam line at the Elettra facility (Trieste, Italy) to use different advanced Xray spectrometry techniques. This experimental facility has been fully operational since
November 2014 and facilitates practical training, access and utilization by IAEA Member
States. The installation of an ion beam accelerator in Seibersdorf has been envisaged as a
possible component of the Renovation of the Nuclear Applications Laboratories (ReNuAL)
project carried out by the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications.
A Technical Meeting is planned to review and highlight the specific socio-economic benefits
for the IAEA’s developing Member States brought about by IAEA activities fostering the
utilization of ion beam accelerators.
Page 3
B.
Objectives
The Technical Meeting aims to provide a discussion forum among experts from Member
States, with the following objectives:
C.
•
To review the relevant experience of the utilization of ion beam accelerator facilities
on a regional and international scale for research, development and industrial
applications;
•
To highlight and quantify the socio-economic benefits for developing Member States
brought by the utilization of ion beam accelerators;
•
To address the current needs of IAEA Member States that do not have accelerators or
require effective access to such facilities;
•
To discuss the future role of the NSIL in supporting developing Member States’
activities to effectively apply ion beam accelerator techniques;
•
To discuss the role of an ion beam accelerator, installed and operated by the NSIL at
the Agency’s Laboratories in Seibersdorf, in fostering training programmes in nuclear
science and nuclear instrumentation and strengthening accelerator applications in
developing Member States.
Participation
A person will be eligible to participate only if nominated by the Government of an IAEA
Member State (Ministry of Foreign Affairs or National Atomic Energy Authority) or by an
organization invited to participate. The participation form (Form A) should be received by the
IAEA not later than 16 July 2015. The participant should be involved in the field of
accelerator-based techniques and methods for characterization of materials or be designated
by the country to provide an assessment of the country’s needs in these fields. A short
abstract from the participant covering his/her work relevant to the objectives of the meeting
will be necessary for consideration for participation.
The abstract should be prepared according to the following instructions:
1) Page size: A4 (21 cm by 29.7 cm) – vertical orientation
2) Margins: 25 mm all around
3) Layout:
Title: single-spaced, 14-point size, Times New Roman Font (TNR), bold
Authors: single-spaced, 12-point size, TNR Font
Affiliation: single-spaced, 12-point size, TNR Font, italic
Text: 1.5 spaced, 12-point size, TNR Font
Length: one page
Page 4
Important: In case of sending Microsoft Word files, authors should use True Type Embedded
Fonts (when saving the file, click Tools, then Options, and tick Embed True Type fonts. This
will help to prevent change of fonts when the file is read in a different system, as is expected
in most of the cases). PDF files are preferred.
D.
Financial Support
The IAEA is generally not in a position to bear the travel and other costs of participants in the
meeting. The IAEA has, however, limited funds at its disposal to help meet the cost of
attendance of certain participants. Such assistance may be offered upon specific request to
normally one participant per country provided that, in the IAEA’s view, the participant on
whose behalf assistance is requested will make an important contribution to the meeting. The
application for financial support should be made at the time of nominating the participant.
E.
Meeting Format
To facilitate proceedings, participants are invited to contribute with an oral presentation on a
subject relevant to the scope and objectives of this meeting. Participants should submit an
abstract of their proposed presentation along with their nomination. The official language of
the meeting is English. No interpretation services will be provided. It is expected that the
meeting will start at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, 19 October 2015, and conclude by 4:00 p.m. on
Friday, 23 October 2015.
The outputs of discussions will be recorded for possible dissemination to Member States as an
IAEA technical publication. Contributors of material to be included in Agency proceedings
are required to assign all copyrights or rights to publish to the Agency. Please complete and
sign Form B and send it to the IAEA Scientific Secretary by fax or email. Authors should
ensure that material they make available for possible publication by the IAEA does not
include copyrighted material or other impediments to reproduction.
F.
Local Arrangements
It is the responsibility of all participants to make their own travel arrangements to/from
Austria. Detailed information on accommodation, local transport to/from the meeting venue,
and other organizational details will be sent to all designated participants well in advance of
the meeting.
G.
Visa
Designated participants who require a visa to enter Austria should submit the necessary
application to the nearest diplomatic or consular representative of Austria well in advance of
entry. An official letter of invitation will be issued to all designated participants by the IAEA
Scientific Secretary.
Page 5
H.
I.
Deadlines
•
16 July 2015: Deadline for submission of applications to the IAEA for participation
and financial support
•
14 August 2015: Participants informed of result of their application for participation
and financial support
Organization
IAEA Scientific Secretary:
Mr Yacouba Diawara
Laboratory Head
Nuclear Science and Instrumentation Laboratory
Physics Section
Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre
PO Box 100
1400 VIENNA
AUSTRIA
Tel: +43 1 2600 28236
Fax: +43 1 2600 28222
Email: [email protected]
Administrative Secretary:
Ms Anna Naftaliev
Physics Section
Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre
PO Box 100
1400 VIENNA
AUSTRIA
Tel.: +43 1 2600 28227
Fax: +43 1 2600 28222
Email: [email protected]