Instruments

Accelerator capabilities beyond those of conventional drivers for compact accelerator-driven neutron sources (CANSs) are needed to serve applications that require high neutron flux, while remaining compact. These applications include—among others—fusion reactor materials testing, medical isotope production, tritium breeding, and nuclear waste transmutation. The deuteron cyclotron auto-resonance accelerator (dCARA) has been proposed as a compact CANS driver that would replace the conventional radiofrequency quadrupole and superconducting radio frequency linac chain with a single rotating-mode transverse electromagnetic cavity operating in a multi-tesla magnetic field. This paper provides an overview of the current readiness and feasibility of dCARA for this role by synthesizing the theory, simulation, and conceptual design studies, while employing specifications of available subsystem technologies. These include high-current deuteron ion sources, large bore multi-tesla superconducting magnets, and high-power radiofrequency systems. The simulations of ion acceleration in dCARA are consistent with analytical predictions. Furthermore, hardware for each major subsystem has already reached a high level of performance and technology readiness in developments for related systems. Integrated engineering design and experimental validation are ongoing, with the aim of extending CANS technology into high-flux application regimes based on use of the dCARA driver.

Lightweight laser scanning systems on UAV are becoming crucial for agriculture and forestry but require suitable calibration to ensure accuracy. Existing in situ calibration techniques rely on man-made features that may be lacking in field environments and require special manoeuvres. This study proposes a static calibration technique to estimate boresight misalignment angles between the IMU and the laser unit in a controlled setting. The approach can use two distinct control entities: points and planes. The process involves: (1) assembly of a calibration field; (2) levelling the system on a static platform; (3) data acquisition and raw data retrieval; and (4) determination of boresight angles via Least Squares Adjustment (LSA). The mathematical model was modified to integrate points and planes directly from raw sensor data, minimising errors from positioning systems and time synchronisation. The method was evaluated using an Ibeo LUX scanner. After applying the estimated boresight angles, the regenerated point cloud was validated by measuring distances between points and corresponding ground planes. The results yielded a standard deviation of approximately 2.5 cm. The proposed technique achieved suitable accuracy, with errors falling below the sensor’s nominal measurement uncertainty. This suggests the method is a promising pre-flight calibration solution, though further precision gains would require higher-end laser units.

Sediment-associated contaminants pose persistent environmental risks, yet conventional sediment assessment workflows often require laboratory infrastructure and extensive sample preparation, limiting their suitability for rapid field monitoring. This study presents the development of a field-deployable instrument and a novel cuvette-based detection method for rapid effect-based sediment monitoring. Proteotoxic-stress-reporting Escherichia coli TV1061 cells were immobilized in a crosslinked alginate hydrogel at the bottom of standard cuvettes, thereby enabling direct contact with an overlying sediment layer while maintaining physical separation and a clear optical detection zone. The developed instrument enabled rapid sequential cuvette measurements under field conditions. An optimal incubation time (OIT) of 85 min was established. Measurements of sediment extracts showed good agreement with a conventional microplate reader assay (Pearson’s r = 0.977). Analytical characterization using ethanol showed a concentration-dependent response, with 0.75% (v/v), the lowest tested concentration, yielding a significant response on both the instrument and a conventional microplate reader. Direct analysis of unprocessed environmental sediments produced significant inhibition of the bioluminescent responses, and on-site measurements demonstrated the feasibility of operating the complete platform under field conditions. Overall, the platform provides a practical approach for rapid, on-site effect-based screening of environmental sediments while substantially simplifying sample preparation and biosensor operation.