×

Biography

Kazuaki Iwasa was born in Tokyo, Japan and received his Ph.D. from Keio University. He was a Research Associate at Tokyo Metropolitan University, an Associate Professor at Tohoku University, and he became a Professor at Ibaraki University. From 2024, he is a director of Research and Education Center for Atomic Sciences. His research subjects are magnetic and structural phenomena of asymmetric and strongly correlated electron systems studied using neutron and x-ray scattering.

×

Abstract

Topological electronic states in chiral and noncentrosymmetric crystal structures have been extensively investigated [1, 2]. Recently, the Remeika phase of Ln3Tr4Sn13 (Ln = rare earth, Tr = Co, Rh, and Ir) has a candidate system showing spontaneous formation of topological electronic states because of the structural transformation to low-temperature chiral crystal structure categorized in the cubic space group with chirality or noncetrosymmetry [3–5]. The Ce-based materials are considered to be Weyl–Kondo semimetals associated with the asymmetric spin-orbit interaction [6]. In addition, the magnetic ordering and structural instability of Nd3Tr4Sn13 (Tr = Co and Rh) are characterized by frustration effect on the chiral lattice [7]. The Eu3Tr4Sn13 (Tr = Rh and Ir) materials exhibit considerably suppressed ordered magnetic moment caused by competitions between symmetric and antisymmetric magnetic interactions [8]. The presentation will provide such characteristic antisymmetric effect on the electronic states in the Remeika phase compounds.

×

Biography

Dr Weijian Lu has a PhD in physics from the Australian National University. He is currently the Manager of Nuclear Analysis Section in Reactor Operations at ANSTO, where a group of reactor physicists and neutronic and thermohydraulic specialists provide computational support to the safety, operation and production of the OPAL reactor.  Dr Lu has worked at ANSTO for over 25 years and participated in the OPAL reactor’s tender, design, construction, commissioning and operation.  One of his areas of specialty is the cold neutron source (CNS), where insight gained from major fault findings in the last 20 years provides him and his colleagues with expertise to achieve near 100% reliable operation of the OPAL CNS until it reached its 15-year design lifetime and the successful replacement by an optimized and equally reliable Mk II since September 2024.  Dr Lu is one of the main authors of IAEA-TECDOC-2025 Cold Neutron Sources: Practical Considerations and Modern Research (2023).

×

Abstract

The OPAL cold neutron source (CNS) was designed and installed as an integral part of the OPAL reactor.  It has a 20 L liquid deuterium (LD2) moderator maintained in sub-cooled liquid phase around 24 K by a vertical thermosiphon and delivers cold neutrons to numerous neutron instruments in the neutron guide hall.  The CNS moderator cell was made of aluminium alloy AlMg-5 which reached its design lifetime under irradiation of 15 years in 2024.  A CNS Replacement Project was initiated at ANSTO in 2016.  Neutronic and thermohydraulic studies were conducted to seek optimisation in CNS MKII and found marginal improvement in cold neutron flux by increasing the moderator chamber height (volume increased from 20 L to 24 L) without excessively increasing LD2 temperature.  The dimensional change was confined to the CNS In-Pile and had minimal impact to the process (i.e. refrigeration, vacuum, gas blanketing, moderator reservoir and control/protection systems).  The additional heat load could be absorbed by the margin in the helium cooling system.  In order to practise the CNS replacement manoeuvre in every conceivable detail the Project constructed a true-dimensional mock-up to simulate ¼ of the reactor pool with all relevant piping and structures.  In 2019, two new CNS In-Pile assemblies (one spare) were delivered by the contractor HNFT (Hungary).  During a six-month shutdown of the OPAL reactor in 2024 the CNS was replaced by the manoeuvre team who had been trained for the job for 12 months.  The collective dose to the manoeuvre team was below 10 mSv/hr.  By September 2024, all services were restored, and CNS MKII was commissioned for operation.  The predicted increase of ~400 W in heat load has been verified and easily handled by the existing helium cooling system.  CNS gain, the ratio of neutron flux between with-moderation and without-moderation, has shown an increase up to 10% at long wavelength thanks to the extra LD2 volume.  In March 2025, the neutron spectrum of CNS MKII was measured at the reactor face by time-of-flight and normalised by gold foil activation. 

The old OPAL CNS operated with near 100% reliability in the ten years leading to its replacement averaging 300 days per year.  The new CNS (MKII) has operated with the same reliability so far since its installation.  The replacement has been a success.  Several aspects of the Project will be discussed in this presentation.

×

Biography

A/Prof Brett Paterson has a PhD from the University of Melbourne and is Head of Radiochemistry at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at the University of Queensland. His research focusses on the development of metal-based targeted radiopharmaceuticals for imaging and therapy. The team uses inorganic/organic chemistry to design and synthesise new targeted radiopharmaceuticals, radiochemistry and in vitro techniques, and advanced molecular imaging to investigate the interplay between molecular structure and function in vivo. Recently, this has involved the development of theranostic radiopharmaceuticals for targeted radionuclide therapy. A/Prof Paterson is a chief investigator on ARC and NHMRC grants and is a co-inventor on three patents that have been licenced to companies.

×

Abstract

One approach for cancer diagnosis and therapy is to use a radionuclide for diagnostic imaging and another radionuclide to deliver therapeutic radiation. Selectivity for cancer tissue is possible by incorporating metallic radionuclides into chelates that are attached to molecules that selectively bind to enzymes or receptors that are over-expressed in tumours. Our work into designing radiometal complexes that target prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a zinc enzyme that is overexpressed in prostate cancer, and the somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2), a protein that is overexpressed in neuroendocrine tumours, will be presented. We have radiolabelled these targeting molecules with copper-64 for diagnostic PET imaging, technetium-99m for diagnostic SPECT imaging, and terbium-161and lead-212 for targeted radionuclide therapy. The synthetic chemistry, in vitro as well as pre-clinical evaluation in tumour models will be presented.

×

Biography

Saed Almomani holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear and Quantum Engineering from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon. His research focuses on neutron and X-ray scattering techniques and instrumentation, as well as the fabrication and characterization of nanomaterials. He currently serves as a specialist at the Utilization Division of the Jordan Research and Training Reactor (JRTR), where he is involved in the development and design of neutron beam instruments as well as establishing JRTR’s R&D core, and fostering a scientific stakeholder community. Recently, he has been actively contributing to JRTR’s national project on the design and installation of a Neutron Transmutation Doping (NTD) facility.

×

Abstract

The Jordan Research and Training Reactor (JRTR), the nation’s first nuclear research facility, features an open tank-in-pool design with a thermal power of 5 MW (upgradable to 10 MW). Since its commissioning on December 7, 2016, JRTR has become a cornerstone of Jordan’s nuclear infrastructure, supporting radioisotope production (RIP), elemental analysis, education and training, and nuclear-related scientific research. To date, JRTR has successfully produced various radioisotopes, including 131I, 161Tb, 166Ho, and 177Lu for medical applications, as well as 192Ir for industrial use. Additionally, JRTR has supported archaeologists and environmental scientists at Jordanian universities by providing the Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) technique for the investigation of artifacts, minerals, and geological samples. Furthermore, JRTR has played a vital role in delivering hands-on experience to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as professionals from local and international institutions, in nuclear engineering and nuclear physics. Building on this success, JRTR is currently focusing on enhancing its utilization by expanding the scientific stakeholder community, implementing neutron transmutation doping (NTD) technology, and developing neutron beamlines for advanced research applications. This presentation will highlight the reactor’s current status and outline strategic plans to position JRTR as a scientific hub for advancing nuclear technology in Jordan and the broader Middle East region.