Page 149 - 00. Complete Version - Progress Report IPEN 2014-2016

Nuclear Science and Technology | Progress Report 149

Introduction

The Program on Nuclear Science and Technology comprehends Nuclear and Condensed
Matter Physics, Neutron Activation Analysis, Radiation Metrology, Radioprotection
and Radioactive Waste Management. These activities are developed at the Research
Reactor Center and the Radiation Metrology Center. The Radioprotection activities
are developed at all radioactive and nuclear facilities of IPEN-CNEN/SP.

The Research Reactor Center at IPEN-CNEN/SP is responsible for the safe
operation and maintenance of the Research Reactor IEA-R1 and has a three-fold
mission: promoting basic and applied research in nuclear and neutron related
sciences, providing educational opportunities for students in these fields and
providing services and applications resulting from the reactor utilization.

Specific research programs include nuclear structure study from beta and gamma decay of
radioactive nuclei and nuclear reactions, nuclear and neutron metrology, neutron diffraction
and neutron multiple-diffraction study for crystalline and magnetic structure determination,
perturbed -angular correlation (PAC) using radioactive nuclear probes to study the nuclear
hyperfine interactions in solids and neutron activation analysis, with comparative or
k0 standardization applied to the fields of health, agriculture, environment, archeology,
reference material production, geology and industry. The research in the areas of applied
physics includes neutron imaging, scientific computation and nuclear instrumentation.

The Radiation Metrology Center promotes the development, improvement and
establishment of new methodologies and products in radiation metrology, with the
goal of assuring radiological safety of IPEN workers, community and environment.
The Center offers services to internal and external communities in the fields of
personnel and environmental dosimetry, high dose and accident dosimetry, production
of dosimetric materials, metrology in diagnostic radiology and radiotherapy,
calibration of instruments and radioactivity determination in environmental
samples, in foodstuffs and food commodities imported and exported by Brazil.