South African participation in ECNS

This year marked the first truly global participation at ECNS. Neutron scatterers from four different regions, namely Europe, Asia-Oceania, Africa, and America met in St. Petersburg between 30 June and 5 July 2019 to present their research results and engage in informative discussions on the current trends and future possibilities in neutron science.

BrightnESS² supported the participation of Andrew Venter, a research scientist and section leader from one of our project partners – the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa). During his plenary talk on 1 July 2019, Andrew presented a vision of neutron scattering in Africa and the related activities that are planned within the framework of BrightnESS². We talked to Andrew to find out more about his experience at ECNS and the project activities he is involvement in.

Why was it important for the South African consortium within BrightnESS² to participate in ECNS 2019?

I have participated with a number of ECNS conferences over the years when finances allowed. I see the ECNS is a pinnacle event within the neutron scattering community, a community within which I have been a user of a number of facilities. Apart from providing an extensive view of the hot topics and trends where neutron sciences are contributing to technological advances and research interests, it enables personal contact with prominent role players. This information enables us to suitably advise and suggest linkages for South African researchers within our network of influence.

What is your takeaway from the conference?

Neutron scattering is alive and well in Europe! Not only is there the ESS [editor's note: European Spallation Source is currently under construction in Lund, Sweden] as the brightest neutron source within the extensive network of existing facilities in the European neutron landscape, but also seeing the participation by so many enthusiastic and knowledgeable young people. Even the very last session on Friday, 5 July was very well attended. Notwithstanding the future role of the ESS vastly expanding the European neutron landscape, the role played by the existing large scale facilities and the strong reliance and prominence of the medium flux facilities, builds a very strong interactive network of facilities and capabilities in Europe.

What activities in BrightnESS² are you involved in? What’s their goal and how are they progressing?

South Africa is involved in Work Package 2: A strategy to deliver neutrons for Europe and beyond, Tasks 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3. The activities within Tasks 2.1 and 2.2 are driven by a vibrant collaboration between Department of Science and Technology (DST), iThemba LABS and Necsa SOC Ltd. These activities encompasses two workshops, i.e. “1st South African Workshop on Capacity Building: Neutron Research” during August 2019; a follow-up 2nd workshop during 2020 to facilitate the formulation of a position paper on the future of neutron scattering in South Africa and its role in the European neutron landscape. Task 2.3 is directed at the establishment of an Engineering Quality Standard on Neutron Strain Scanning. This task involves leading expert scientists from Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Technische Universität München - FRM II, as well as participation by the Necsa SAFARI-1 research reactor facility. BrightnESS² enables our participation with some in-person meetings and measurement campaigns.

Necsa and iThemba LABS are organising a BrightnESS² workshop that will take place in Cape Town this August. What is the aim of the workshop?

To establish strategy platforms for South African (SA) researchers to become involved with the European neutron landscape, enhance current neutron scattering initiatives and create new interest in neutron sciences and technology to grow the SA neutron community through:

• Familiarise potential new users to the existing research prospects that neutron sciences can offer;
• Assess the activities and compilation of a database of all relevant role players (researchers and institutions) within the area of neutron research in SA; the available expertise, current researchers that are actively involved, capabilities and infrastructure;
• Agreement of the areas on neutron research of relevance to SA;
• Agreement of the need to enter into partnership with the ESS to enhance the neutron research capacities and capabilities in SA;
• Agreement on the high impact research areas that will form the basis of possible collaboration with the ESS.

What international platforms do South Africa-based neutron scientists use to interact with their European peers?

Many collaborations exist, based on personal interactions facilitated by mobility mechanisms made available within the National Research Foundation (NRF), with prominent research groups in Europe, as well as other international centres. Access to neutron facilities is gained through normal User Access programmes, as well as programmes with research counterparts. In addition contacts are established and nurtured on personal levels through participation with topical conferences that serve as catalysts for mutually beneficial research interests. Various South African researchers serve on international topical bodies. The ones that I am familiar within (from my frame of reference, that is by no means exhaustive) are the IUCr, MECA SENS, ISNR, NOBUGS, etc.

You work at Necsa which operates the SAFARI-1 Research Reactor. Could you tell us more about the neutron activities at SAFARI-1?

SAFARI-1 is a very well maintained and managed (active aging management programme) tank-in-pool Oak Ridge type design materials testing reactor with an estimated operational lifetime till 2030, and hopefully even longer. Neutrons are used for the production of medical isotopes, in-core and ex-core irradiation services, INAA, as well as beamline facilities. With reference to the latter, we have two neutron diffraction instruments, named MPISI and PITSI, applied to neutron strain scanning, as well as neutron powder diffraction under non-ambient temperature conditions. A neutron radiography facility, named NDLOVU, that has advanced tomography capabilities is under construction to be commissioned soon (awaiting licencing approval by the National Nuclear Regulator). Notwithstanding only a small number of beamline facilities being used, these facilities provide capabilities of international standard to researchers in South African, as well as the African region. Beamline User Access is based on peer review, similar to international centres. Should the need arise, other beam lines are available to be equipped. These are limited by finances and human resources.