Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ENSAR2 (European Nuclear Science and Application Research 2)

Teaser

ENSAR2 is the integrating activity for European nuclear scientists who are performing research in three of the major subfields defined at European level: Nuclear Structure and Dynamics, Nuclear Astrophysics and Nuclear Physics Tools and Applications. The novel and innovative...

Summary

ENSAR2 is the integrating activity for European nuclear scientists who are performing research in three of the major subfields defined at European level: Nuclear Structure and Dynamics, Nuclear Astrophysics and Nuclear Physics Tools and Applications. The novel and innovative developments that will be achieved by ENSAR2 will also assure state-of-the-art technology needed for the new large-scale projects. Our community of nuclear scientists profits from the diverse range of world-class research infrastructures all over Europe that can supply different ion beams and energies and, with ELI-NP facility, high-intensity gamma-ray beams up to 20 MeV. The most advanced and novel equipment needed to pursue the excellent scientific programmes are developed and state-of-the-art developments are applied to other fields and to benefit humanity (e.g., archaeology, medical imaging). Together with multidisciplinary and application-oriented research at the facilities, these activities ensure a high-level socio-economic impact. To enhance the access to these facilities, Research and Development actions deal with novel and innovative technologies to improve the operation of the facilities. The networks of ENSAR2 have been set-up with specific actions to strengthen the communities’ coherence around certain research topics and to ensure a broad dissemination of results and stimulate multidisciplinary, application-oriented research and innovation.

Work performed

ENSAR2 core aim is to provide access to nine of the complementary world-class large-scale facilities in nuclear physics: GANIL (F) and ALTO (F), LNL-LNS (I), CERN-ISOLDE (CH), JYFL (FI), GSI (G), KVI-CART (NL), NLC (PL), IFIN-HH/ELI-NP (RO) and a theoretical physics infrastructure: ECT* (I). During the first reporting period, ENSAR2 infrastructures provided, in total, more than 14000 hours of access to particle accelerators and more than 900 of workshop days.
To enhance the access to these facilities, the Joint Research Activities of ENSAR2 involve all facets of operation of an accelerator facility starting with the improvement of laser techniques for the production and study of Rare Ion Beams (RESIST), in which many of the intended developments have already been met and, in several cases, exploited for physics. Furthermore, various developments for ISOL beam production and use (EURISOL), as Boron beam at ISOLDE, have been realised.
In parallel, technological developments on accelerators, spectrometers and electronics are performed for stable-ion beam facilities with direct applications to production of radioisotopes for medicine and the improvement of identification of reaction products at low energies (TecHIBA). In particular, the GES-FPCSA chip, that is extra high dynamic range microelectronics pre-amplifier, was developed during the first period.
Complementary activities develop new technologies and methods for the simultaneous detection of particles and gamma rays with same type of detectors (PASPAG) and 3-dimensional gamma-ray tracking with high-resolution germanium detectors (PSeGe). Within PASPAG, the status of new scintillator materials and their basic characterisation and the sensor characterisation and base design of hybrid detectors were investigated. The PSeGe team proceeded, for instance, to the implantation of Boron in planar detectors to produce new contact technologies.
In addition, general platforms for physics models, event generators and analysis tools are created and a study on data management is performed (SATNuRSE). More specifically, a complete simulation of the experimental setup foreseen for the reaction of aluminium on silicon ions has been developed.
The development of modern theoretical tools for describing, interpreting, and predicting experimental results will support the work in nuclear-physics facilities (TheoS). TheoS team develops new theoretical approaches for both nuclear structure and nuclear dynamics.
The network activities of ENSAR2 have been set-up with specific actions to strengthen the community work. In this vein, the scientific interests of the nuclear structure and nuclear astrophysics communities are discussed within NUSPRASEN to optimise use of the large RIs. The “Workshop on nuclear structure” was organised in December 2016 and three schools were supported by NUSPRASEN.
Furthermore, cooperation about ECR ion sources (MIDAS) completes beam developments in JRAs. MIDAS team organised four hands-on trainings.
Dissemination on nuclear spectroscopy instrumentation (NUSPIN) and gas-filled detectors and systems (GDS) ensures an efficient transfer of knowledge between scientists. Within NUSPIN, two workshops and two meetings of working groups were organised. The GDS team organised the Topical Meeting “GDS coupling to auxiliary detection systems”.
Enhancement of collaboration between large-scale and small-scale facilities improves the development and facilitates tests of high-level equipment and enhances training of young researchers (ENSAF). The main event for ENSAF was the organisation of the “International Workshop on Accelerator Operation and Management” in October 2016.
Networks stimulate also innovation, relationships with industry (NuPIA) and application-oriented research, in particular about technologies for nuclear medicine and studies of radiation biological effects (MediNet). For example, in order to enhance communication about innovation activities within ENSAR2, N

Final results

ENSAR2 will foster international collaboration for the benefit of progress in nuclear physics and beyond. It will also significantly contribute to develop the next generation of European research infrastructures (RIs), which are at the heart of the project. These RIs in Nuclear Physics have a culture of cooperation between them at all levels. The ENSAR2 world-class facilities are excellent with regards to accelerator specifications and available instrumentation.
ENSAR2 will make use of the possibilities of networking to foster a culture of cooperation between the participants and the European nuclear-physics community, which will benefit from the research infrastructures.
The Joint Research Activities of ENSAR2 deal with novel and innovative technologies to improve the operation of the facilities and enhance their access. They are in general relevant to more than one facility.
In matter of innovation, ENSAR2 infrastructures devote a part of their beam time to industrial activities and applications. ENSAR2 emphasises this innovation activity through the network NuPIA. In addition, ENSAR2 will perform developments for innovation at short- and/or mid-term in NA MIDAS and MediNet and in JRA PASPAG, PSeGe, and TecHIBA.
The socioeconomic impacts of the ENSAR2 RIs span multidisciplinary research and industrial applications, training of engineers and scientists for industry, employment of highly-qualified personnel, increase of the competitiveness of the national industries, injection of budget in the local economy, and creation of start-ups.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.ensarfp7.eu/.