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Biography

Danas Ridikas holds a position at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as a Section Head of Physics Section at the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications. The Physics Section is responsible for planning and implementing activities in the areas of (i) effective utilization of research reactors and accelerator-based neutron sources, (ii) fostering relevant research and development and applications using particle accelerators and nuclear instrumentation, and (iii) controlled fusion research and technology. The IAEA Physics Section also operates the Nuclear Science and Instrumentation Laboratory (NSIL), located at the Agency's Laboratories in Seibersdorf, which assists IAEA Member States to improve the effective utilization of nuclear spectrometry and related instrumentation by providing technical advice, training, QA/QC services, and other assistance on request.

  Danas Ridikas has nuclear physics background, with PhD in experimental nuclear physics in France and MSc in theoretical nuclear physics in Norway. He also holds a BSc degree in physics awarded in Lithuania and a second MSc degree in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Central European University. In 2012 Danas Ridikas has been awarded a French doctor habilitation degree in fundamental sciences.  

Before coming to the IAEA, Danas Ridikas has worked for almost 10 years at the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) as a senior scientist and, later, as a laboratory head in Nuclear Physics Division.

Danas Ridikas is an author of over 100 publications in the international journals, member of various scientific, technical or advisory committees, served as a referee for scientific and technological journals in the areas of nuclear physics, nuclear metrology, research reactors and accelerator-based applications, strategic planning, nuclear energy, nuclear waste transmutation, innovative power reactors, nuclear data measurements and related modelling, nuclear instrumentation, non-destructive testing, and some other areas.

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Abstract

Facilitation of development and promotion of nuclear applications for peaceful purposes and related capacity building are among the IAEA missions where Physics Section contributes most [1]. The relevant activities fall under the IAEA's program on nuclear science and cover three main thematic areas: research and applications with particle accelerators and neutron sources (incl. research reactors), nuclear instrumentation and capacity building, and controlled fusion research and technology development. As a result, the Section helps IAEA’s Member States to advance their capabilities and progress in materials research, energy, environment, food, agriculture, medicine, cultural heritage, forensics, and some other fields with a direct socioeconomic impact. The Section also operates the Nuclear Science and Instrumentation Laboratory (NSIL) at Seibersdorf [2], located 40 km south of Vienna. The NSIL provides expertise, training and support in the effective utilization of nuclear instrumentation and analytical techniques in a broad range of applications, with a focus on mobile radiation monitoring, X-ray spectrometry, and neutron science.

This presentation will provide an overview on the status of research reactors worldwide and describe the IAEA programme related to support of Member States in the area of research reactor utilization and applications, including strategic and business planning for existing and planned research reactors; organization of technical meetings, training workshops, proficiency tests and round robin exercises, coordinated research projects, peer review missions and expert missions; development of guidance documents, technical publications and e-learning tools; and management of relevant portals and data bases. Finally in this presentation, the key challenges and opportunities in sustainable research reactor utilization will be discussed. A new IAEA initiative on Neutrons for Nuclear Sciences and Applications (Neutrons4NA) will be also presented with an open call for cooperation and participation.

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Biography

Jamie Schulz is the Director of the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS) at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). ACNS uses neutrons from Australia’s multi-purpose research reactor, OPAL, to solve complex research questions and industrial problems for Australian and International users. Neutron scattering techniques allow the structure and dynamics materials to be determined, permitting scientists and industry to understand why materials have the properties they do, and helping tailor new materials, devices and systems. He joined ANSTO in 2002 as an instrument scientist at the HIFAR reactor, transitioned to Operations Manager in 2006 and moved to his current role in 2016. His early career was focused on understanding the behaviour of complex fluids systems in the bulk and at interfaces, throughout his PhD at the University of Sydney/Oak Ridge National Laboratory and postdoc at the NIST Center for Neutron Research, USA. He has taken on additional roles whilst at ANSTO including Manager of the ANSTO Safety & Radiation Protection Division, Secondment to NSW Office of Science & Medical Research as well as Director of the Access to Major Research Facilities Program.
As the Director of the ACNS he is responsible for the strategic direction and management of the research, scientific research infrastructure, facilities, equipment through an asset management framework and improvement program to ensure high reliability of assets, productivity, and availability to users.

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Abstract

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) is home to the 20 MW Open Pool Australian Light-water Reactor (OPAL). OPAL is in its 20th year of operation and has been effectively utilised for radioisotope production, silicon transmutation, elemental analysis and neutron scattering applications.  

The neutron beam facilities of OPAL consist of neutron beam tubes that penetrate the reflector vessel, a cold neutron source, beam shutters and neutron guides. A suite of 15 neutron beams instruments utilise both the thermal and cold neutron beams for both atomic and molecular structure determination and dynamics measurements, residual stress measurement and neutron imaging. An overview will be given on the past 20 years of operations of the OPAL reactor and its neutron beam facilities, the performance of instruments and user program, and future plans.

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Biography

Bernard PONSARD (Master in Physics, Université Catholique de Louvain, UCL, Belgium, 1983; Master of Science "Nuclear Energy", Université Catholique de Louvain, UCL, Belgium, 1985) joined in 1985 the 'Belgian Nuclear Research Centre' (SCK CEN) in Mol as reactor physicist of the BR2 High-Flux Material Testing Reactor. In charge of the neutronic calculations of the BR2 reactor core for 30 years, he developed actively BR2's commercial productions of Radioisotopes and NTD-Silicon.
 
He is currently Stakeholder Manager for Radioisotopes and NTD-Silicon Production at the BR2 reactor, Chairman of the “Nuclear Medicine Europe Security of Supply Working Group” (NMEU), strongly involved in securing global supply of medical radioisotopes as Mo-99/Tc-99m, I-131 and Lu-177, Chairman of the “Nuclear Medicine Europe Emergency Response Team” (ERT) for the crisis management of the Radioisotope Supply Chain, Co-Chairman of the "European Observatory on the Supply of Medical Radioisotopes" and President-Elect of the “World Council on Isotopes” (WCI).

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Abstract

Research reactors are multipurpose facilities playing a key role in the production of radioisotopes for various applications. The BR2 High-Flux reactor operated by the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN) is for example considered as a major facility worldwide for the routine production of radioisotopes for nuclear medicine (Mo-99/Tc-99m, I-131, Xe-133, Lu-177, Tb-161, Ir-192, Re-186, Sm-153, Er-169, Y-90, P-32, Sn-117m, W-188/Re-188, Sr-89, …), industry (Ir-192, …) and research (Sc-47, …).  

While the number of accelerators involved in the production of medical radioisotopes (F-18, Cu-64, Cu-67, Zr-89, Ge-68/Ga-68, At-211, Ac-225, …) is increasing, the supply of reactor-produced radioisotopes for nuclear medicine relies on a limited number of research reactors.  

This is especially the case to produce Mo-99, a very crucial radioisotope as it decays into Tc-99m which is used in 80% of the 40 million radiodiagnosis nuclear medicine procedures carried out worldwide annually. Since the definitive shutdown of the OSIRIS reactor (France) in 2015 and the NRU reactor (Canada) in 2018, the global Mo-99 supply chain relies on the irradiation of HALEU (‘High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium’) solid targets in only six research reactors: BR2 (Belgium), HFR (The Netherlands), LVR-15 (Czech Republic), MARIA (Poland), SAFARI (South Africa) and OPAL (Australia). The irradiated targets are processed by four facilities: IRE (Belgium), CURIUM (The Netherlands), NTP (South Africa) and ANSTO (Australia). The recovered fission Mo-99 is then sent as bulk to Mo-99/Tc-99m generator manufacturers or central radiopharmacies to supply the hospitals. The supply chain is based on proven technology involving logistic networks but is subject to disruption risks as research reactors are ageing and requesting regular maintenance periods to ensure safe and reliable operation. Unexpected shutdown periods are affecting the security of supply, leading to shortages in hospitals despite the considerable efforts made through coordinated actions to mitigate the impact.  

Initiatives as replacement projects (JHR, PALLAS, KJRR, RA-10, FRM-II, …) and alternative production technologies (NorthStar, SHINE, …) encountered significant delays in the past years but will improve the security of supply in future together with suitable action plans. Nuclear Medicine Europe (NMEU) is coordinating and monitoring the weekly available irradiation capacity in research reactors to meet the weekly demand of 9000 Ci ‘6-day calibrated’ Mo-99. The EU Observatory is providing high political visibility to ensure a secure supply of medical radioisotopes. The OECD/NEA ‘High-Level Group on the Security of Supply of Medical Radioisotopes’ (HLG-MR) implemented principles to ensure sustainability of the supply chain. The European Commission is supporting different projects (SAMIRA, ERVI, SECURE, TOURR, PRISMAP, …) aiming to secure domestic production of radioisotopes for nuclear medicine.  

The involvement of CANDU nuclear power reactors in Canada (Bruce Power, Laurentis) demonstrated already their ability for large scale production of therapeutic radioisotopes as Lu-177nca for prostate cancer treatment. They will contribute together with research reactors to meet the explosive increasing demand for this particular radionuclide and to provide a reliable supply in future.

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Biography

Soo Hyun Byun is a Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at McMaster University, Canada. Byun’s research interests include radiation detection, radiation dosimetry and industrial applications of radiation science & technology. Byun’s research program is focused on development of advanced radiation detectors, signal processing systems and real-time data analysis algorithms to address the fundamental limitations that are encountered at spectrometric or doismetric measurements at nuclear workplaces and low Earth orbit space. Byun’s research has been funded by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Canadian Space Agency and nuclear industries.

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Abstract

McMaster Nuclear Reactor (MNR) is a 5 MW multi-purpose research reactor and currently serves as the only major neutron source in Canada. Slow neutron beams extracted through the MNR horizontal beam tubes are used for neutron powder diffraction and small angle neutron scattering instruments that are essential in advancing the Quantum Condensed Matter Physics. With the recent establishment of the Canadian Neutron Beam Laboratory (CNBL) at McMaster University, a new powder diffractometer is currently under development. Additionally, a neutron stress-scanner and a neutron reflectometer will be relocated to MNR from the former Canadian Neutron Beam Centre (CNBC). Several beamlines at MNR are also dedicated to industrial neutron radiography and intense positron beam experiments. Medical radioisotope production represents another major area of MNR’s research program. MNR ranks among the world’s top ten producers of medical radioisotopes and is the leading global supplier of 125I and 166Ho. Extensive studies are ongoing at MNR to optimize productions of 177Lu and 225Ac, which are currently the radionuclides of great importance in targeted radionuclide therapy. The Centre for Advanced Nuclear Systems (CANS) at McMaster offers world-class capabilities for nuclear materials research. Its Nuclear Materials Post-Irradiation Examination Facility features unique custom-designed hot cells with five independent workstations for machining, sample preparation, and mechanical testing of irradiated materials, which are followed by shielded scanning and transmission electron microscopes. This presentation will focus on recent progress in fundamental and applied research at MNR. Additionally, a brief overview for the research program in radiation spectrometry and dosimetry for CANDU nuclear plants and space science will be introduced.