WP1: Short Term Staff Exchanges
11.4 travel-months of visits by FZU’s experts to CERN.
8.2 travel-months of visits by CERN’s experts to FZU.
The visits, training and education of FZU researchers going to CERN were focused on fast timing and radiation damage. In the former, the role of Mg codoping in Ce-doped garnet crystals and energy transfer in superfast ZnO:Ga-Polystyren composites was measured and discussed. Also, the change of optical and scintillation characteristics - after irradiation by gamma or proton beams - was studied for garnet crystals. Meanwhile, the CERN researchers visiting FZU were introduced to scintillation preparation methods based on nanoparticles (radiation method at Czech Technical University), thin films (nitride quantum wells using a metal organic vapor phase epitaxial system, MOVPE) and bulk approaches (micropulling down technique) as well as methods of time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance available in FZU’s labs.
10.6 travel-months of visits by FZU’s experts to UCBL-ILM.
8.5 travel-months of visits by UCBL-ILM’s experts to FZU.
Regarding education in optical physics on the nanoscale and quantum size effects, during his visit to FZU, the UCBL-ILM professor gave two excellent seminars on the basics of optical properties, luminescence and scintillation in nanoscaled solid state. All visitors from UCBL-ILM were introduced to the radiation method of preparing nanoparticles in the collaboration laboratory of the Czech Technical University and to the preparation of nitride quantum wells using a MOVPE system recently purchased from Aixtron. Meanwhile, the FZU researchers learnt about the details of nanoparticle preparation using laser ablation in the labs of UCBL-ILM as well as about bulk crystal growth from the melt using Czochralski and micropulling down methods.
16.8 travel-months of visits by FZU’s experts to UNIMIB.
9.8 travel-months of visits by UNIMIB’s experts to FZU.
FZU researchers received training in wavelength-resolved TSL, Raman and other optical spectroscopy techniques during extended visits to the UNIMIB labs. For example, TSL measurements on PbMoO4-based single crystals were successfully correlated with EPR experiments made in Prague to reveal qualitative and quantitative features of trapping states actively participating in scintillation mechanism. Based on these results, two joint papers for high impact journals are currently under preparation.
UNIMIB researchers were trained at FZU in time-resolved luminescence experiments. Moreover, a systematic participation in Electron Paramagnetic Resonance experiments substantially contributed to a broadening of experimental skills in this new field. The relationship between electron/hole trapping and delayed radiative recombination processes was especially studied. The potential application of metal-based scintillating nanoparticles to deep-tissue photodynamic therapy is being considered for these nanoscintillators.
WP2: Training Workshops, Conferences and Summer Schools
During Period 1, UNIMIB hosted a summer school in September 2016 attended by 16 young researchers and students from the consortium partners as well as the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering of the Czech Technical University, Charles University, Crytur, National Centre for Nuclear Research in Otwock – Swierk, Poland, Middle East Technical University – Ankara, and St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University. FZU hosted a winter school in December 2016 attended by 16 young researchers and students from the consortium partners and the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering of the Czech Technical University.
During Period 2, CERN hosted a summer school in September 2017 attended by 34 young researchers and students from the consortium partners and other international institutions. Also, FZU hosted a summer school in September 2018 attended by 35 young researchers and students from the consortium partners and other international institutions. Together with the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague (FNSPE), FZU hosted the 10th European Conference on Luminescent Detectors and Transformers of Ionizing Radiation (LUMDETR) during 9-14 September 2018. The conference attracted 197 participants from 32 countries.
The consortium partners presented at 32 international conferences during the project.
WP3: Dissemination and Outreach
A five minute project promotional video was produced which is available on the homepage of the project website and via Youtube (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1tNSirqAko(opens in new window)). It was viewed 400+ times by the end of the project. The project website (www.h2020-ascimat.com) was available from May 2016, which contains the project poster, leaflet, brochure and three newsletters that were produced. The consortium partners held over 20 outreach activities during the project.
