SAIP WEBINARS

Speaker: Dr. Peane Maleka

Date: 07 May 2021

Registration Link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KNJVGLY1RKyadbkAfaKnWw                                                                                                    

Abstract:

iThemba LABS is a national facility of the National Research Foundation, South Africa. Activities at the facility are based around a number of subatomic particle accelerators. The largest, a K-200 separated sector cyclotron, accelerates protons to a maximum energy of 200 MeV and heavier particles to much higher energies. The iThemba LABS neutron beam experimental vault is one of the few facilities available to provide quasi-monoenergetic neutron beams in the energy range, 30 MeV to 200 MeV. Quasi-monoenergetic neutron beams in this range are produced in the neutron experimental vault via the 7 Li(p,xn) or 10 Be(p,xn) reactions for varying thicknesses of Li and Be targets. Collimated fan beams are possible at neutron emission angles amongst others of 0˚ and 16˚. The neutron beam facility is designated by the National Metrology Institute of South Africa as an entity responsible for providing traceability for the medium and high-energy neutron measurements in South Africa. Thus, the facility is
intended to support neutron metrology community and neutron science research. For this contribution, we highlight some of the previous activities of the facility, ongoing developments and future plans.

Brief CV:

Peane Maleka is a research scientist based at the National Research Foundation (NRF) facility, iThemba LABS in Cape Town. His main activities are currently centred on the development of accelerator-based neutron sources and their prospect for the future of neutron science. He is coordinating the development of neutron beam vault at iThemba LABS in collaboration with National Metrology Institute of South Africa, Physics Department
of the University of Cape Town, PTB (in Germany), IRSN (in France) and NPL (UK). In addition, iThemba LABS and Necsa participate within the BrightnESS² consortium, an integrated program in support of long-term sustainability of the European Spallation Source, its community and the network of neutron sources in Europe and beyond. His research interests are still in the field of applied nuclear science. Peane has (co)supervised a number of postgraduate students from various universities in South Africa and other African countries on projects related to applied nuclear science