IFIN-HH is one of the most important R&D organizations in Romania, contributing with almost 10% to the national scientific output. The institute is dedicated to the research and development in physical and natural sciences, mainly Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Engineering, and in related areas including Astrophysics and Particle Physics, Field Theory, Mathematical and Computational Physics, Atomic Physics and Physics of Condensed Matter, Life and Environmental Physics.
IFIN-HH operates four accelerators: a 9 MV TANDEM accelerator, a 1 MV TANDETRON accelerator dedicated to AMS measurements, a 3 MV TANDETRON accelerator dedicated to IBA measurements and a cyclotron capable of producing intense beams at 13 MeV/amu. These are mainly used for Nuclear Structure and Atomic Physics studies but also for applied research. Other facilities of the institute are the Radioactive Waste Treatment Plant (STDR), the IRASM centre for R&D and gamma industrial irradiation services and a nuclear reactor, currently in conservation. The institute is involved in numerous international collaborations in the field of nuclear physics. It is the main contributor to the Romanian participation to FAIR, ISOLDE and SPIRAL2.
Relevant experience
IFIN-HH has been involved in the following European projects: HadronPhysics (FP6), EURONS (FP6) EURISOL DS (FP6), ANDES (FP7) and ERINDA (FP7).
Role and main tasks
Within CHANDA, a group from IFIN-HH will be involved in the development of an electron detector dedicated to measurements of (n,n') cross sections using the (n,n'e-) technique for materials that are important for the development of the next generation of nuclear systems. The work is part of WP8 (DMC) of CHANDA. Both the detection infrastructure and the experimental technique will have to be developed. Although very challenging from many points of view, the technique may prove extremely powerful allowing the determination of cross sections that are not accessible through other techniques. IFIN-HH will be involved in the development and implementation of the new experimental setup; the 9 MV Tandem accelerator may be used for testing various components.
Scientific and technical personnel involved
- Dr. Alexandru Negret: Senior scientist 2 at IFIN-HH. Has a significant experience in the field of experimental nuclear physics. He did his postdoctoral studies at the GELINA neutron source of IRMM commissioning the GAINS setup. Since his return to IFIN-HH he continued the collaboration with IRMM-Geel, IPHC-Strasbourg and other partners in the field of neutron-induced reactions. He was the responsible from IFIN-HH for the ANDES project, in charge with the development of a covariance generation method for the (n,n'γ) technique used at GAINS. The main scientific interests of Dr. Alexandru Negret include the neutron inelastic scattering measurements and the nuclear structure, in particular nuclear structure data evaluation.
- Dr. Catalin BORCEA: Senior scientist 1 at IFIN-HH. He is a physicist with vast experience in neutron detection methods and gamma spectrometry. He has a lifetime career in the field of nuclear reactions and nuclear structure. His scientific interests are neutron inelastic scattering measurements and, more generally, nuclear reaction experiments and the study of exotic nuclei far from stability.
- Adina Olacel: is a PhD. student that started her doctoral studies a few months ago. She is currently in charge of the analysis of (n,n'γ) data from experiments performed at GAINS.