Technology Applications for Security, Health and Heritage

Research activity aimed at developing knowledge for providing solutions in the sectors of surveillance and monitoring of technological and industrial plants including fusion and fission reactors, for environmental monitoring, conservation of cultural heritage, for safety and security of the citizens from chemical, bacteriological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats and for their health. The Division of Physical Technologies for Safety and Health is committed in the study and development of technologies, processes, materials and products in the domains of optoelectronics, photonics and advanced applications of ionizing and non-ionizing radiations.

The Division’s activities aim:

• to develop dedicated radiation sources in various regions of the electromagnetic spectrum (from X rays to THz), and particle accelerators (electrons and protons), with their applications in processes and products of industrial and biomedical interest, including advanced optical and spectroscopic diagnostic procedures;
• to develop equipment for radiotherapy, biomedical diagnostics, and quality control of foodstuffs;
• to set up suitable diagnostic systems for real-timeanalyses with remote-modeworking capacities also via separate devices, with specific implementations of imaging techniques for safety and protection applications;
• to produce secondary X-ray irradiation systems from linear particle accelerators for processing industrial materials, disinfestation of cultural heritage assets, and sterilisation;
• to develop miniaturized materials and devices for photonics, based on light sources, transport systems that are optical, and using proprietary optic fibre devices, with functionalization of the components by means of nano-structures and micro-machining, including laser;
• to develop detectors and dosimeters for imaging, radiotherapy and nuclear applications;to perform modelling of material-radiation interaction for the purposes of development of integrated systems and of optical, electro-optical and electronic design, for installation of demonstration models; to conduct testing of prototypes in all the fields of application considered;
• Study and experimental development of non-classical light sources (eg entangled states, quantum dots, etc.) and of integrated quantum devices for applications in the field of safety and medical diagnostics.

The experimental facilities of the Division encompasses TOP-IMPLART, a linear proton accelerator for oncological therapy and irradiation of materials, actually operating at 71MeV.  The Laboratories of the Division are also part of  the DTC Lazio and E-RIHS Lazio local nodes of diffuse research infrastructures, both funded as regional projects and dedicated to diagnostics of cultural heritage assets. The Division also has a certified area for the storage and use of energetic, radiological and nuclear materials, on hand for use in national/international testing.

The Division carries out its activities in the context of regional, national and international activities and with research and development projects funded by various players (the Lazio regional government authority, MAECI, the European Union, EDA, ESA and NATO).