Application of Fast Neutrons in Science, Industry and Border Monitoring
A special issue of Instruments (ISSN 2410-390X).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2020) | Viewed by 3246
Special Issue Editor
Interests: 14 MeV neutrons - physics and application; trace elements in biology and medicine; origins of life; vines and wines; magnetic field effects
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Applications of analytical methods using fast neutrons can be found in almost every conceivable field of scientific inquiry. While it is correctly identified as a method of “chemical analysis” because of the information it can generate, it is based on nuclear rather than atomic or molecular properties. Neutrons can be obtained by several nuclear reactions, the best known is d+t →α+n reaction producing the beam of 14 MeV neutrons. Simplicity of design and inherent safety of operation makes the use of neutron generators very attractive. The 14 MeV neutrons have recently been again in the spot mainly because of the development of smart analytical instrumentation for explosive and drugs detection. Oil industry has recognized advantage provided by the use of neutron probes some time ago and 14 MeV neutrons are widely used in well-lodging activities.
Recent advances in technology of neutron generator fabrication has led to extension of instrument lifetime and improved reliability of operation. Reduction in size made online analysers very popular especially in coal and cement industry for monitoring the composition of the raw material on the conveyor belts. Homeland security in today’s world depends on our ability to monitor borders for the potential trafficking of explosives, special nuclear material, drugs and chemicals. The container inspection systems are using penetrating radiations in the scanning geometry, with the detection of transmitted or radiation produced in investigated object. Tagged neutron beams have been used for the inspection of shipping container for the presence of the threat materials hidden within cargo.
We invite contributions in the form of expert comprehensive reviews or research articles dealing with applications, new instrumentation developments, other uses of fast neutrons from a wide perspective.
Contributions are expected to address, but are not limited to, the following issues:
- New developments in Accelerator Technology
- Collimated Neutron Beams, Slow and Fast
- Instrumentation for Biological and Medical Applications
- Nuclear Well Logging
- Underwater Surveillance System for the Inspection of Strategic Coastal Installations
- Neutron Generators in Extreme Conditions
- Use of Tagged Neutron Beam for Sea Container Inspection
- Radiological Risks from Irradiation of Food in Neutron Inspection Systems
- Detection of Special Nuclear and Other Threat Material
- Carbon in Soil
- Diamond Detection in Kimberlite
- Process Control of Industrial Production Processes
- QA/QC Measures, Reference Materials, Standards and Simulants
Dr. Vlado Valkovic
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Instruments is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- Fast neutron analysis
- 14 MeV neutrons, explosive detection
- drug detection, QA/QC procedures
- explosive simulants
- drag simulants
- container inspection
- smart border, special nuclear material
