Functions

According to its statutes, the functions of the CNA are:

• Research in the field of Particle Accelerators and their applications.

• Cooperation with the Andalusian, Spanish, and international scientific communities, as well as with public and private companies, in the development of scientific and technological projects.

• Facilitating the use of particle accelerators for researchers interested in applying the techniques available at the CNA to solve their scientific problems.

• Dissemination of the scientific and technical capabilities of particle accelerators and their applications through courses, seminars, participation in postgraduate programs, etc.

• Promoting the exchange of knowledge and the training of scientific and technical personnel, both academic and from companies, to improve their expertise in the use of particle accelerators and their applications.

• Providing technical services through the use of its resources and analytical methods, depending on availability.

• Any other functions agreed upon by the signatory institutions.

To fulfill these functions, the CNA has a 3 MV Van de Graaff tandem accelerator, an 18 MeV cyclotron, and a 1 MV Cockcroft-Walton type Tandem Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS). With this infrastructure, a wide range of work of interest can be carried out in many scientific and even non-scientific disciplines.

Indeed, associated with the 3 MV tandem, there are six beam lines where measurements are performed using so-called IBA techniques (Ion Beam Analysis) in all their forms, which are useful in fields such as Art, Archaeometry, Biomedicine, Environment, Materials Science, etc. A seventh line is used for experiments in Basic Nuclear Physics.

With the cyclotron, PET radionuclides are currently produced to label radiopharmaceuticals used routinely in Nuclear Medicine or to research new radiopharmaceuticals. There is an associated radiopharmacy laboratory where this labeling is carried out. For preclinical research, an animal PET facility (micro-PET) is in operation, where radiopharmaceuticals can be tested on animals.

The Accelerator Mass Spectrometer is the youngest member of the facility. It is used to perform measurements using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), an ultra-sensitive analytical technique that can address research problems in Archaeology, Geology, Hydrology, Glaciology, Biomedicine, Environmental Science (both current and historical), Materials Science, Astrophysics, etc. This is possible because it allows the detection of extremely small amounts of 14C, 10Be, 26Al, 129I, and plutonium isotopes in various types of samples. Associated with this accelerator is a 14C Dating Service that can be used to determine the age of relevant samples.

And most importantly, alongside this high-quality infrastructure, there is a dedicated and competent team, smaller than we would like, it must be said, but whose effort ensures everything functions properly and effectively.

On behalf of this team, I welcome all users of this Center, both regular and occasional, reaffirming our commitment to offering our scientific capabilities to researchers from universities, public or private companies, hospitals, public and private research organizations, etc., in accordance with the founding objectives of this Center.

• Next