Modern African Nuclear DEtector LAboratory
Lead Research Organisation:
University of York
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
The University of York (UoY) nuclear applications group is presently running a one-year GCRF project called NuTRAIN with University of Western Cape (UWC) and University of Zululand (UZ) in South Africa. They are transferring expertise in working with scintillators and silicon photomultipliers which can be applied to applications in environmental monitoring, experimental nuclear physics and medicine. Six South African students have visited York to receive training and funds have been provided to establish small detector development laboratories at UWC and UZ. The present MANDELA project intends to build on this initial training in the form of a genuine distributed project to develop the components for a new and inexpensive type of positron emission tomography (PET) scanner for medical imaging. This will be based on plastic scintillator and make use of a newly developed UK-based supply chain for plastic scintillator established by LabLogic, a company based in Sheffield close by to UoY. Students in South Africa will be trained to carry out GEANT4 simulations - a method that allows the response of radiation detectors to be studied and hence, novel detectors can be designed. Importantly, UoY will provide these simulations "in the cloud" avoiding the need for high performance computers based locally. The simulations could even be run on a web browser or on a smartphone. Based on the simulations, prototype detectors will be fabricated. Based on training received at York, the SA students will evaluate these and determine the best silicon photomultipliers and fibre optic configurations for scintillation light detection. The MANDELA project will provide funding to upgrade their detector laboratory so they can undertake the necessary work. The project will lead to a solid design for the basic components of a novel PET scanner which can be pursued through a further collaborative R&D phase or move rapidly to commercialisation.
Planned Impact
This project seeks to establish a platform for a future PET scanner based on plastic scintillator. It will do this through GEANT4 simulation to establish a design which will then be produced by LabLogic in the UK. The prototype scintillator tiles will be evaluated with a range of
Publications
Kapoor K
(2019)
Modern African nuclear detector laboratory Development of state-of-the-art in-house detector facility at the University of the Western Cape
in Hyperfine Interactions
| Description | Despite disruption to the original timeline during to COVID, the original aims of the project were realised. Under difficult conditions, we were able to procure equipment and install it at the two participating Universities of University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the University of Zululand (UZ). Indeed, both UWC and UZ contributed funds to the refurbishment of laboratory spaces in the two universities and, in the case of UZ, they contributed to additional equipment. The combined laboratory across the two universities was called the Modern African Nuclear DEtector LAboratory (MANDELA). As soon as conditions allowed, following relaxation of COVID rules, we had a formal opening of the laboratory in March 2022. This was attended in-person and remotely by many relevant parties including the funders and the British Council. We were also able to bring people to York to provide the training and upskilling required in the grant. Again, this was challenging in the circumstances. Indeed, the initial visit by staff and students from UWC and UZ in January 2020 coincided with the first COVID cases in the UK being discovered in York in the very hotel where the visitors were staying. In addition, project-specific objectives were achieved including GEANT4 simulation of plastic scintillator elements which might be used in a future PET (positron emission tomography) scanner. Prototype detector elements were also fabricated and tested. |
| Exploitation Route | The MANDELA laboratory is commissioned and open for use at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the University of Zululand. It is already in use for further projects and student training. The legacy should continue for many years to come. Further to this, the PI has recently obtained funding for an Africa-UK Partnership Project funded by STFC which will in part make use of the MANDELA laboratory for training further collaborators from Ghana, Rwanda and Tanzania. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment Healthcare |
| URL | https://physicsworld.com/a/mandela-nuclear-physics-laboratories-open-in-south-africa/ |
| Description | NUTRAIN partnership |
| Organisation | University of Zululand |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We provided training for six students from the two South African universities in our nuclear applications lab. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They developed the MANDELA laboratory at UWC for nuclear applications work. They sent their students to York for training. |
| Impact | lorem ipsum |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | NUTRAIN partnership |
| Organisation | University of the Western Cape |
| Department | Department of Physics |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We provided training for six students from the two South African universities in our nuclear applications lab. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They developed the MANDELA laboratory at UWC for nuclear applications work. They sent their students to York for training. |
| Impact | lorem ipsum |
| Start Year | 2017 |