The Institute of Nuclear Technology and Application (INTA), one of the earliest established research institutes in DEP, primarily engages in the study of the theories, methods and technologies for radiation particles’ generation, detection, and radiation imaging. INTA covers two second-level disciplines under the first-level discipline of nuclear science and technology, namely, nuclear technology and application, and radiation protection and environment protection. Currently, INTA has 56 faculty members, including 17 full professors and 34 associate professors. The number of graduate students exceeds 170 of which more than 130 are doctoral candidates.
INTA is devoted in solving scientific and technical problems associated with radiation imaging and the provision of hi-tech equipment and solutions for anti-smuggling, anti-terrorism and non-destructive testing (NDT) of large equipment. The products commercialized through these high technologies have been installed and used in over 150 countries around the world, setting up a model of ‘Created-in-China’. INTA won the First Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award in 2003, the First Prize of State Technological Invention Award in 2010, and the National Science and Technology Progress Award (Innovative Research Team) in 2013.
1.1 Accelerator Physics and Technology Division
The Accelerator Physics and Technology Division mainly focuses on research in acceleration physics and technology, and education in this field, including the following: application of low-energy linacs, development of RF structure, photo-injector, X-ray sources based on Thomson scattering, laser plasma acceleration, and THz sources based on the relativistic electron bunch. The low-energy linacs have been applied widely throughout the world, and the s-band photocathode RF guns have been installed in several accelerator labs. With efforts on the development of Tsinghua Thomson scattering X-ray source (TTX), high flux scattering X-ray was obtained. A world class advanced Compact Pulsed Hadron Source (CPHS) facility has been developed and constructed, which is driven by an intense proton linear accelerator and achieved 3MeV pulsed proton and neutron beams.
1.2 Radiation Physics and Detection Division
The Radiation Physics and Detection Division are mainly engaged in teaching and research in the field of radiation physics and detection technology. It provides a national-level quality course Nuclear Radiation Physics and Detection. In research, the division develops detectors for large scientific research facilities and application of nuclear technology, including gaseous, scintillation and semiconductor detectors. In the division, more than 100 papers have been published, and tens of patents have been granted. A lot of projects have been finished, including the detector sub-system for large-container inspection systems, and high energy X-ray ICT systems, TOF system for RHIC- STAR, GEM-TPC prototype for ILC, CDEX, and novel neutron detectors.
1.3 Particle Information Acquisition and Processing Division
The Particle Information Acquisition and Processing Division (PIAP) is dedicated to the teaching and research of information acquisition and processing techniques. Imaging physics/modalities research includes: X-ray attenuation/phase contrast imaging, plasma-sphere imaging, muon tomography, terahertz spectroscopy and imaging; concentrating research mainly on digital image processing, design/optimization of CT and reconstruction theories/methods, 3D visualization, performance evaluation, and information extraction/fusion for these modalities. Targeted application fields include medical imaging, non-destruction-testing, and security inspection.
PIAP which having 2 professors, it includes 5 associate professors and 1 assistant professor. It teaches 5 courses: Intelligent Physical Instrument Design, Radiation Imaging Systems, Image Reconstruction Methods, Signals and Systems, and Iterative Image Reconstruction Methods. PIAP has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, and supervised more than 30 graduate students.
1.4 Nuclear Electronics and System Control Division
The Nuclear Electronics and System Control Division (NESC) focus on teaching and research in the fields of nuclear electronics emphasized with ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) technique, high power electromagnetic measurement and effects, and signal processing, data acquisition and system control technologies for high-energy physics experiments and nuclear instruments. Various radiation detector readout ASICs and high power transient EM sensors have been developed in past years, as well as advancing distributed synchronization technology, low background high sensitive environmental radiation measurement and instrument development, data acquisition, data processing and transmission technology, embedded control system. The division not only contributes in many scientific research projects like LHCb, Dayabay Reactor neutrino experiment and high altitude air shower observatory, but also participates in commercial systems development like container and vehicle inspection system, industrial CT inspection devices.
1.5 Radiation Protection and Environment Protection Division
The laboratory of Radiation Protection and Environment Protection Division mainly studies various effects of ionizing radiation on the environment and personnel, as well as a variety of protective measures to prevent and reduce radiation hazards to the environment and personnel. At the same time, the laboratory also carries out the teaching work in the field of radiation protection and monitoring, environmental protection, application of Monte Carlo method on nuclear technology, etc. At present, the main research areas of the lab include radiation dose calculation and measurement, radiation measurement methods and instrumentation, ultralow radioactivity measurement and monitoring method and technology, Monte Carlo method research and program development, radiation protection and radiation physics problems of large scientific facilities, measurement evaluation and control of natural radiation, environment particle identification method and technology, indoor environmental quality monitoring and evaluation, industry online monitoring based on nuclear technology, etc.
