In the framework of the MICADO (Measurement and Instrumentation for Cleaning And Decommissioning Operations) European Union (EU) project, aimed at the full digitization of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste management, a set of 32 solid state thermal neutron detectors named SiLiF has been built and characterized. MICADO encompasses a complete active and passive characterization of the radwaste drums with neutrons and gamma rays, followed by a longer-term monitoring phase. The SiLiF detectors are suitable for the monitoring of nuclear materials and can be used around radioactive waste drums possibly containing small quantities of actinides, as well as around spent fuel casks in interim storage or during transportation. Suitable polyethylene moderators can be exploited to better shape the detector response to the expected neutron spectrum, according to Monte Carlo simulations that were performed. These detectors were extensively tested with an AmBe neutron source, and the results show a quite uniform and reproducible behavior.

Several methods to detect thermal neutrons make use of the naturally occurring ⁶Li isotope, as it has a rather high cross-section for neutron capture followed by a decay into an alpha particle and a triton. Due to the high chemical reactivity of lithium, the use of the stable isotopic salt ⁶LiF is generally preferred to the pure ⁶Li. The typical method for depositing thin layers of ⁶LiF on suitable substrates, therefore creating so-called neutron converters, is evaporation under vacuum. The evaporation technique, as well as a newly developed chemical deposition process, are described along with their benefits and drawbacks, and the results of neutron detection tests performed with the two types of converters coupled to silicon diodes show convenient performances.

The Advanced Ion Source for Hadrontherapy (AISHa) is an electron cyclotron resonance ion source operating at 18 GHz, developed at the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare-Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, with the aim of producing high intensity and low emittance highly charged ion beams for hadrontherapy purposes. Moreover, thanks to its unique peculiarities, AISHa is a suitable choice for industrial and scientific applications. In the framework of the INSpIRIT and IRPT projects, in collaboration with the Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica, new candidates for cancer treatment are being developed. In particular, the paper presents the results of the commissioning of four ion beams of interest for hadrontherapy: H+, C4+, He2+, and O6+. Their charge state distribution in the best experimental conditions, their emittance, and brightness will be critically discussed, along with the role of ion source tuning and space charge effects in beam transport. Perspectives for further developments will also be presented.

The equipment for target production and characterisation at the Laboratori Nazionali del Sud – INFN (Catania, Italy) is described. In particular, the CACTUS system used for target thickness and non-uniformity measurements is detailed. First trials in view of the production of Cadmium targets, under development for the NUclear Matrix Elements for Neutrinoless double β decay (NUMEN) project, are reported and discussed.