Space

ANSTO provides a range of capabilities using neutrons, X-rays and infrared radiation to study the solids, liquids and gases that might be found in materials in our solar system and beyond.

Material researchers at ANSTO use a range of in-house capabilities in the development, testing and characterisation of existing and emerging materials for extreme environments of the novel nuclear (fission/fusion) based energy-generation systems.

The high-energy heavy-ion microprobe is used for the characterisation or modification of material properties at depths from approximately 1 micrometre to maximum depths of up to 500 micrometres from the material surface. 

In space, without the protection of the magnetosphere, the type and dose of radiation is considerably different to what is naturally experienced on earth. However, it is the secondary particles of lower energies created when galactic and cosmic radiation interacts with shielding that is of concern for astronauts.

ANSTO infrastructure and capabilities are ideally suited for solving problems relating to the development and characterisation of advanced materials, the engineering of manufactured components and manufacturing processes.

Our services include the use of techniques to develop innovative radiation detector technology, such as performing alpha spectroscopy to characterise charge collection capability and radiation transport simulation.  We also have expertise in measuring the electrical characteristics of novel detectors and semiconductor devices.