BACKGROUND
Accelerators have played a very important role in technological development since their first invention. The role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (the IAEA) is to assist Member States in the peaceful utilisation of such nuclear technologies in various domains of research as, industry, natural science, sustainable development, environmental studies, aeronautics, as well as, nuclear energy applications. In view of this, further extension of existing capacity for self-reliance and sustainable activities. Further exploration of activities in the application of accelerators in the real-time methods have to be enhanced and extended to other types of materials.
The research themes where accelerators-based real time methods can be used in particular to answer specific requirements related to the new scientific challenges imposed by some of the current trends like the emerging of an advanced nuclear reactor systems and hydrogen-based energy technologies. Accelerator based real time techniques offer specific advantages and unique capabilities to extend the scientific knowledge in the identified areas of research, such as materials for energy production, materials for nuclear industry and nano-materials. The real-time measurement concepts offer the dynamic experimental investigation in timeframe from (fs) to (hrs). This kind of studies can be carried out either without the influence of the beam probe on the measured process or with the influence accounted for. The investigation of dynamic processes in materials can be applied using most of the accelerator based techniques, specifically using charged particle beams, synchrotron and neutron radiation. It is anticipated that the use of accelerators for characterisation of dynamic processes will play a very important role in future breakthroughs in the areas of advanced materials for energy production, radiation damage of nuclear materials and nano-materials.
The unique properties of synchrotron radiation are its continuous spectrum, high flux and brightness, and high coherence, which make it an indispensable tool in the exploration of matter. The fundamental parameters that we use to perceive the physical world (energy, momentum, position, and time) correspond to three broad categories of synchrotron experimental measurement techniques: spectroscopy (low-energy spectroscopy, soft X-ray spectroscopy, hard X-ray spectroscopy, and optics/calibration/metrology), scattering (hard X-ray diffraction, macromolecular crystallography, soft X-ray scattering, and hard X-ray scattering), and imaging (soft X-ray imaging, hard X-ray imaging, infrared imaging, and lithography). By exploiting the short pulse lengths of synchrotron radiation, each technique can be performed in a timing fashion. Complementary to X-rays/synchrotron radiation in diffraction, spectroscopy and imaging, neutron beams nowadays are indispensable tools for structural and dynamic investigations in condensed matter research. This includes solid state physics, materials science, technological and industrial applications, and the broad but rapidly growing field of soft matter research like polymer science, biology, dispersions and emulsions, tenside solutions, micelles, membranes and many others.
OBJECTIVES
The overall objective of the technical meeting, “Enhancement of accelerator based real-time methods in development and characterization of materials for energy applications” is to present the state-of-the-art in development and application of various accelerator-based real-time techniques, especially in performance testing and characterization of the recent and/or candidate materials for energy applications. The meeting will focus on technological base, concepts and practical utilisation of such techniques with consideration of proposals for further scientific development in this area.
Besides overall objective further specific issues will be addressed during the meeting, in particular;
- Review of current status and the on-going research activities on accelerator-based real-time investigations and facilitate the scientific discussions on consensus / harmonisation of existing concepts, especially concerning last generation of synchrotron light sources.
- Stimulate further enhancement of real-time based techniques via exchange of recent scientific experiences, especially in the area of R&D programs related to the advanced materials for energy applications, such as advanced alloys, steels. ceramics and composites, nuclear structural materials, superconductors and nano-scale materials.
- Support sharing of cross-cutting information between scientists and researchers in corresponding fields and discuss availability of experimental facilities with relevant nuclear techniques and their applicability in various national programmes.
- Establishment of the platform for closer interaction between experts with a special emphasis on sharing best practice and transfer of knowhow and stimulate cooperation among participants from developing countries and international reference laboratories and research institutes (e.g. training courses, advanced schools, etc.).
Following experts’ presentations, working groups will discuss the priorities and gaps in identified scientific areas.
EXPECTED OUTCOME OF MEETING
The outcome of the meeting will be a meeting report summarizing the participants’ activities and recommendations. The report will reflect the importance and relevance of accelerator based real-time methods in development and characterization of materials for energy applications. In addition, the full proceeding will eventually be published electronically or peer-reviewed journal. The final decision will be taken after consideration of quality and scientific impact of individual papers.
MEETING FORMAT
The format of the meeting will be invited and contributed oral presentations presented in sessions devoted to special topics, with subsequent discussions. There will be some restriction on the duration of presentations. An electronic projector with a computer capable of reading CDs and memory sticks will be available (Power Point or Acrobat recommended). The official language of the meeting is English. No interpretation will be provided. It is expected that the meeting will start at 09:00 on 24 January 2011 and will be concluded by 15:00 on 28 January 2011.
PARTICIPATION
In order to participate in the meeting, the following major steps must be completed:
1) Pre-registration
Online pre-registration is open to all interested participants; however, all further steps specified below must be completed in order for final registration to be accepted. For online pre-registration please follow the link Online Pre-registration (http://meeting.iaea.org/default.aspx?meetingid=40585).
2) Abstract Submission
Persons wishing to make a presentation must submit an abstract of maximum one page in total length, in electronic format directly to A.Zeman@iaea.org and ls@anl.gov. The abstract must be text only and must contain the author’s name, affiliation and e-mail address. Acceptable file formats are Microsoft Word, HTML, or plain text. The one page abstract must be received by 20 October 2010. The abstracts will be evaluated by the Scientific Committee, and authors will be informed of the acceptance of their contributions by e-mail, by 18 November 2010. The program agenda and a book of abstracts will be prepared and e-mailed to all participants as PDF file attachments.
Important: Contributors of material to be included in the IAEA’s proceedings are required to assign all copyrights or rights to publish to the IAEA.
The authors should make sure that the files do not include copyrighted fonts or other impediments for reproduction.
The abstract shall be prepared according to the following instructions:
1) Page size: A4 (21 cm by 29.7 mm) – vertical orientation
2) Margins 25mm all around
3) Layout:
- Title: single-spaced, 14-point size, Times New Roman Font (TNR), bold
- Authors: single-spaced, 12-point size, TNR Font
- Affiliation: single-spaced, 12-point size, TNR Font, italic
- Text: 1.5 spaced, 12-point size, TNR Font
- Length: one page
Important: In case of sending Microsoft Word files, authors should use True Type Embedded Fonts (when saving the file, click Tools, then Options, and tick Embed True Type fonts. This will help to prevent change of fonts when the file is read in a different system, as it will be in most of the cases).
3) IAEA participation
A request for participation will only be accepted if the Participation Form is transmitted through the appropriate Governmental representative authority i.e. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Atomic Energy Authority), and their nomination is received at the IAEA by 20 October 2010.
Persons from IAEA Member States or invited international organizations are eligible to attend. Participants should be persons actively involved in the subject matter of the meeting. All persons wishing to participate in the work of this meeting are requested to complete the Participation Form and send it as soon as possible to the IAEA. Participants whose designations have been received by the IAEA will receive further details approximately 6 weeks before the meeting.
PRESENTATIONS
The presentations should be sent either as a Microsoft Word file, Power Point file, or Adobe PDF format file, complete with all text, figures and tables. All presentations will be converted as received, to an Adobe PDF file and placed on a CD-ROM for distribution to all participants at the meeting.
PAPERS
A manuscript will be prepared to be included in the meeting proceedings compiled by the IAEA in CD-ROM format (it will be available on the web and will include the presentations of authors submitting a manuscript). For detailed instructions regarding how to prepare the manuscript please check the link Author Instructions. Authors must submit a signed Paper Submission Form to the IAEA for copyright purposes. Electronic version of papers will be collected during the meeting.
EXPENDITURES AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Costs for the organization of the meeting are borne by the IAEA. No registration fee is charged to participants. As a general rule, the IAEA does not pay for participants´ travel and living expenses. However, limited financial support is available to assist the attendance of selected experts with active presentation, principally those from developing Member States. Usually only one grant for financial support is awarded per Member State. If participants or governments wish to apply for a grant on behalf of one of their experts, they should ensure that applications for grants are:
- Received by the IAEA Scientific Secretaries by 20 October 2010,
- Accompanied by a duly completed and signed Grant Application Form,
- The participant has an accepted contribution.
Applications that do not comply with these requirements will not be considered. The grants awarded will be in the form of lump sums usually covering only part of the cost of attendance. The grants are paid at the meeting. Grants for financial support will be announced around 18 November 2010.
VISA
Designated participants who require a visa to enter USA should submit the necessary application to the nearest diplomatic or consular representative of USA as soon as possible. A letter of invitation, if needed, has to be requested from General Secretariat of the TM (Ms. Jordana Antal, J.Antal@iaea.org).
ACCOMMODATION
It is the responsibility of the participants to arrange their accommodation. Detailed information on transport arrangements to/from Argonne National Laboratory and other items will be sent to all designated participants approximately 6 weeks before the meeting.
DEADLINES
20 October 2010: Submittal of abstracts according to the instructions above closes,
20 October 2010: Submittal of requests to the IAEA for financial support according to the instructions above closes,
18 November 2010: Participants informed of the acceptance of their contributions,
18 November 2010: Participants informed of the acceptance of their request for financial support,
24 January 2009: Meeting begins.
IAEA SCIENTIFIC SECRETARIES
Mr Andrej ZEMAN
NAPC Physics Section
International Atomic Energy Agency
Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100
A1400 Vienna, Austria
Email: A.Zeman@iaea.org
Tel.: 0043 1 2600-21705, Fax: 0043 1 26007-21705
LOCAL ORGANISER:
Ms Lynda SODERHOLM
Argonne National Laboratory
9700 S. Cass Avenue
Argonne, IL 60439.
USA
Email: ls@anl.gov
Tel : 001 630 252 4364, Fax: 001 630 252 4225
GENERAL SECRETARIAT
Ms Jordana ANTAL
NAPC Physics Section
International Atomic Energy Agency
Office A2307
Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100
A1400 Vienna, Austria
Email: J.Antal@iaea.org
Tel.: 0043 1 2600-21754, Fax: 0043 1 26007-21754